#The object of desire is continually deferred

[lavideenrose]

[patchwork-crow-writes]

I've just realised that Ralsei's spell being called "Pacify" potentially houses a double meaning - one which strengthens his connection to Kris and the Dreemurrs.

Obviously, the spell's function is to "pacify" TIRED enemies, and in that sense it does exactly what it says on the tin. But to pacify is also to soothe, to appease, to subdue. And this is something that Ralsei is always attempting to do, particularly when it comes to Kris. He constantly reassures them, offers to give gifts or perform services for them, and most tellingly of all, sweeps troubling concerns under the rug in exchange for nice-sounding but ultimately meaningless platitudes. He does all of this in an attempt to keep them onside, to keep them behaving and to keep them doing what they need to do.

Think about how we use the term "pacify" in our lives. Generally we use it in relation to young children and infants - in the US, you literally have an object called a pacifier to soothe troubled babies and toddlers. Now think about how such objects are used - they can bring comfort to a distressed child, but arguably their main purpose is to give the parent(s) a means to make that child behave, to render them docile and passive, to get them to comply, to grant the caregivers in that child's life a reprieve from their big and troubling emotions.

Once you understand this, Toriel giving the horned headband to Kris takes on a new and troubling context. On its surface, it seems like a cute, harmless gesture that affirms their desired identity as a boss monster, as a true member of the Dreemurr family. But think about it some more, and you realise that all she was meaningfully doing was deferring their distress, granting them a quick fix to soothe them but allowing the underlying issue to fester underneath.

It's hard not to infer that Toriel giving Kris the headband was more for her benefit than it was for theirs - she wanted them to feel safe and secure, but she either couldn't face up to the difficult discussions regarding their nascent species dysmorphia, or she didn't think it really mattered enough to do so. So instead, she PACIFIED Kris with a superficial object in place of the genuine understanding and patience they needed.

So. Is it any wonder that Ralsei turned out the same way? Is it any wonder that he takes the path of least resistance when faced with troubling issues that can't be solved nice and neatly in the present moment? After all, he is just continuing to do what he believes is his purpose - to Soothe Kris's troubles, to Affirm their identity and importance, to Subdue their distress no matter how painful or pressing it might be. THAT was the purpose which Toriel instilled in him when she gave the headband to Kris - to PACIFY is literally in his nature.

With all of this in mind, Chapter 3 is shaping up to be very, very interesting.

(these ideas were gleaned from this excellent post by @dyke-dreemurr which I highly encourage y'all to read if you haven't - essentially going over Toriel's well-meaning but inadequate parenting towards Kris. I also riffed on that post with thoughts of my own which I refined and made into this post here! Thanks for the inspo!)

[onetwofeb]

'

“Desire is always ‘the desire for something else’, since it is impossible to desire what one already has.

The object of desire is continually deferred, which is why desire is a metonymy.”

Jacques Lacan, Écrits

'

[meredithhk8702]

Keep scrolling, nothing but bait for ai here.

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[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

We live and suffer according to the hopes and expectations we hold. I mean this in a general sense. The things we long for drive how we behave. And that longing makes the wait to be experienced as a type of suffering. To not have what is deeply desired is painful. It makes the heart sick.

The author of Proverbs noticed this reality: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Prov. 13:12). Like my initial statement, this verse seems to depict a general reality about human psychology. When the object of our longings—of our hopes—is delayed, our hearts grow tired and discouraged. The continuous lacking that is perceived becomes a...

[nicholastrimbleus]

A Comprehensive Guide to Financial Planning with Nick Trimble

In today's ever-changing financial landscape, navigating the complexities of personal and business finances can be daunting. As a Nick Trimble Financial Advisor, the right guidance is essential when looking to build wealth, prepare for retirement, or manage your assets efficiently. A trusted financial advisor can help you make informed decisions, ensuring your financial future is secure.

As a Nick Financial Advisor, the primary role is to provide expert advice tailored to an individual's unique financial situation. Their extensive knowledge and experience enable them to craft customized strategies to help clients achieve their financial goals. With years of expertise in financial planning, they offer services in budgeting, investing, tax planning, and retirement strategies.

Personalized Financial Planning

Financial planning isn't one-size-fits-all. A good financial advisor works closely with you to understand your needs and goals. They consider various aspects of your life, including family dynamics, career path, and current financial standing, before suggesting strategies. Nick takes a holistic approach to financial planning, ensuring every part of your financial life is addressed and aligned with your broader objectives.

Investment Strategies

A significant area of financial advising is investment. A well-constructed portfolio can help you achieve long-term financial success. The key to successful investing is diversification. By spreading investments across a variety of assets, you reduce risk while maximizing potential returns. Nick helps clients identify their risk tolerance and investment preferences to develop a diversified investment strategy that fits their goals.

Whether you're just beginning your investment journey or have an established portfolio, ongoing guidance ensures your investments remain aligned with your evolving financial goals.

Tax Planning

Tax planning is an often-overlooked aspect of financial advising, but it’s crucial for minimizing your tax liability. By carefully analyzing your income, investments, and expenses, a skilled advisor like Nick can recommend strategies to reduce your tax burden. This might include investing in tax-deferred accounts or utilizing tax-efficient strategies to ensure you keep more of your hard-earned money.

Retirement Planning

Planning for retirement is one of the most important steps in securing financial independence. Retirement may seem far off, but the earlier you start saving, the more time your money has to grow. Nick helps clients design a comprehensive retirement plan that accounts for factors such as expected retirement age, desired lifestyle, and inflation. They provide guidance on choosing the right retirement accounts and developing withdrawal strategies that will sustain you throughout retirement.

Estate Planning

Many people overlook the importance of estate planning, yet it’s a critical part of managing your finances. Estate planning ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes after you’re gone. It also helps minimize estate taxes and prevents potential legal challenges. Nick works with clients to create a detailed estate plan, including drafting wills, establishing trusts, and designating beneficiaries to secure your family’s financial future.

Debt Management

Managing and eliminating debt is another area where a financial advisor can be instrumental. Whether it’s student loans, credit card debt, or a mortgage, high levels of debt can create significant financial stress. A Nick Financial Advisor can help you develop a strategy to reduce or eliminate your debt. This could include restructuring your debt, consolidating loans, or refinancing to obtain a lower interest rate. With expert guidance, you can regain control over your finances and work towards a debt-free future.

Continuous Monitoring and Adjustments

Financial planning is not a one-time event; it’s an ongoing process. Your financial goals and the market landscape may change over time, so it’s essential to review and adjust your strategy regularly. A Nick Financial Advisor provides ongoing support, helping you adapt to changes in your personal circumstances, tax laws, or the economy. Regular check-ins ensure that your financial plan remains relevant and effective in helping you achieve your objectives.

Why Choose a Financial Advisor?

In a world filled with financial products, investments, and retirement plans, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. A financial advisor is a valuable resource who provides objective guidance, helps simplify complex concepts, and takes the stress out of decision-making. With their expertise, you can feel more confident in your financial choices and make the best decisions for your future.

Choosing a Nick Trimble Financial Advisor means working with someone who is dedicated to understanding your specific financial needs and delivering a tailored plan that ensures your success. Their comprehensive approach covers all areas of your financial life, helping you plan for today and tomorrow.

Financial advising isn’t just about managing money—it's about crafting a strategy that leads to long-term success. Working with a professional like Nick Trimble ensures that every aspect of your finances is addressed with expertise and attention to detail. Whether you're planning for retirement, managing investments, or looking to create a comprehensive financial plan, expert guidance can make all the difference in achieving your goals.

[linneajospeh]

What Are Investment Advisory Services And How Do They Help You Grow Wealth?

Experts offering investment advisory services in Fort Worth, TX play a critical role in helping individuals and businesses grow their wealth through effective investment strategies and financial management. These services are typically provided by licensed financial advisors or investment firms who specialize in managing portfolios, offering personalized investment advice, and creating tailored plans to help clients achieve their financial goals. Here’s an overview of investment advisory services and how they help clients grow their wealth.

Personalized Investment Strategies

Investment advisory services begin with understanding a client’s financial situation, goals, and risk tolerance. Advisors take the time to learn about the client’s current assets, income sources, future needs, and preferences. Based on this information, they create a customized investment strategy designed to meet the client’s objectives. Whether it’s planning for retirement, funding education, or building long-term wealth, advisors offer specific guidance on how to allocate investments effectively, balancing risk and reward according to individual goals.

Diversification of Investment Portfolio

One of the core principles of wealth management is diversification. Advisors help clients diversify their portfolios by recommending investments across various asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, and alternative investments. Diversification reduces the risk of significant losses by spreading investments across different sectors, industries, and geographic locations. By having a diversified portfolio, clients are less vulnerable to market fluctuations, which increases the likelihood of stable, long-term growth.

Active Monitoring and Portfolio Rebalancing

Investment advisory services go beyond initial recommendations. Advisors continuously monitor market conditions, economic trends, and the performance of investments to ensure that the portfolio remains aligned with the client’s goals. Over time, certain investments may outperform others, causing the portfolio to become unbalanced. Investment advisors regularly rebalance portfolios, selling overperforming assets and buying underperforming ones to maintain the desired allocation. This ongoing management helps ensure that the client’s wealth grows steadily and consistently, even in changing market environments.

Tax Efficiency and Planning

Tax efficiency is another key element of investment advisory services. Investment advisors help clients minimize the tax impact on their investments by recommending tax-efficient strategies, such as tax-deferred accounts (like IRAs and 401(k)s) or tax-exempt investments. They also assist with strategies like tax-loss harvesting, where losses are sold to offset gains, reducing taxable income. By optimizing tax efficiency, clients can keep more of their investment returns and grow their wealth faster.

Risk Management

Investing inherently involves risk, but good investment advisory services focus on managing and mitigating that risk. Advisors help clients understand their risk tolerance and create portfolios that align with their comfort levels. They recommend appropriate investment vehicles to manage volatility, such as bonds or hedging strategies, and adjust the portfolio over time as market conditions change or the client’s risk tolerance evolves. By effectively managing risk, advisors protect clients from major losses that could jeopardize wealth-building efforts.

Long-Term Wealth Building

Investment advisors emphasize the importance of a long-term approach to building wealth. They guide clients through market ups and downs, encouraging disciplined investing and helping them stay focused on their goals. Advisors also educate clients on the power of compound growth, where reinvested earnings generate additional returns over time. By staying committed to a long-term investment strategy, clients can take advantage of compound growth and steadily accumulate wealth.

Conclusion

Investment advisory services offer tailored strategies designed to help individuals and businesses grow their wealth through informed, strategic investments. Advisors provide personalized investment plans, diversify portfolios, manage risk, and focus on tax efficiency to maximize returns. By taking a long-term approach to wealth building and continuously monitoring progress, investment advisory services play an invaluable role in helping clients achieve financial success and security.

[onetwofeb]

“Desire is always the desire for something else, since it is impossible to desire what one already has.

The object of desire is continually deferred, which is why desire is a metonymy.”

Jacques Lacan, Écrits

[lavernewilsonvalis]

Safeguarding Your Investments as You Age: A Guide to Financial Security

As you age and continue through life, your financial needs and priorities evolve, particularly as you approach retirement age. While you’ve spent years diligently building your investment portfolio, the transition into retirement demands a shift in focus from growth to preservation. Safeguarding your investments becomes paramount to ensure financial security in your golden years. Let’s explore some essential strategies for protecting your investments as you age.

Diversification: Maintaining a well-diversified portfolio is key to mitigating risk, especially as you near retirement. You can create a more diverse portfolio by investing in various asset classes, which include stocks, real estate, bonds, and alternative investments. Diversification can help cushion your portfolio against market volatility and economic downturns, reducing the impact of potential losses on your overall wealth.

Asset Allocation: As you age, consider adjusting your asset allocation to showcase the changing risk tolerance and financial goals. Shift towards a more conservative allocation by reducing exposure to volatile assets like stocks and increasing allocation to more stable investments like bonds and cash equivalents. This adjustment can help safeguard your investments against market fluctuations while providing a steady income stream during retirement.

Regular Portfolio Review: Complete reviews of your investment portfolio to confirm that it is best aligned with your financial objectives. As you age, your risk tolerance, income needs, and time horizon may change, necessitating adjustments to your investment strategy. Regular portfolio rebalancing can help you better maintain the desired asset allocation and keep your investments on track to meet your long-term goals.

Focus on Income Generation: During retirement, the primary objective shifts from wealth accumulation to generating a reliable income stream to cover living expenses. Consider investing in dividend-paying stocks, bonds, annuities, or rental properties that offer steady income streams. Prioritizing income generation can provide financial stability and peace of mind throughout your retirement years.

Risk Management: Incorporate risk management strategies to help protect your investments from unforeseen events such as market downturns, inflation, or unexpected expenses. This may include purchasing insurance policies like long-term care insurance, maintaining an emergency fund, and exploring estate planning options to safeguard your wealth for future generations.

Tax-Efficient Investing: Optimize your investment strategy for tax efficiency to maximize returns and minimize tax liabilities. Utilize retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s, which offer tax advantages such as tax-deferred growth or tax-free withdrawals in the case of Roth accounts. Additionally, consider tax-efficient investment vehicles like municipal bonds or index funds, which can help reduce the impact of taxes on your investment returns.

Seek Professional Advice: It is beneficial to contact a financial professional to help with creating a strong retirement plan based on your goals. A qualified advisor can provide personalized guidance, portfolio management services, and ongoing monitoring to ensure your investments remain on track for long-term success.

Safeguarding your investments as you age will help you build financial security, leading to peace of mind during retirement. By diversifying your portfolio, adjusting your asset allocation, focusing on income generation, managing risks, optimizing tax efficiency, and seeking professional advice, you can protect and preserve your wealth for a comfortable retirement lifestyle. Remember, proactive planning and prudent investment decisions are key to securing your financial future as you embark on this new chapter of life.

[priya8826]

 Best Plane Finance .

**Navigating Your Financial Flight: Setting a Course for Success**

Just as a pilot meticulously plans each aspect of a flight, managing your finances requires careful planning, foresight, and execution. From takeoff to landing, every decision plays a crucial role in determining your financial trajectory. Here, we outline the essential steps for charting your financial course and achieving your goals.

**1. Set Clear Financial Objectives**

Before embarking on your financial journey, it's essential to establish clear and achievable objectives. Ask yourself: What do I want to accomplish financially? Whether it's buying a home, saving for retirement, paying off debt, or starting a business, defining your goals provides direction and purpose. Ensure your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART), allowing you to track your progress and stay motivated along the way.

**2. Create a Budgetary Flight Plan**

Similar to a flight plan outlining the route, fuel requirements, and estimated time of arrival, a budget serves as your financial roadmap. Start by tracking your income and expenses to understand your cash flow. Identify areas where you can trim expenses or reallocate resources to align with your priorities. Allocate funds for essentials such as housing, transportation, food, and healthcare, while also budgeting for savings and discretionary spending. Regularly review and adjust your budget as needed to stay on course towards your financial goals.

**3. Build a Strong Financial Foundation**

Just as a sturdy aircraft requires a solid foundation, your financial stability rests on key pillars such as emergency savings, insurance coverage, and debt management. Establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses and mitigate financial setbacks. Ensure you have adequate insurance coverage, including health, life, disability, and property insurance, to protect against unforeseen risks. Manage debt responsibly by prioritizing high-interest debt repayment and avoiding excessive borrowing.

**4. Invest in Your Future**

Investing is the engine that propels your financial growth and allows you to reach your long-term goals. Develop a diversified investment strategy that aligns with your risk tolerance, time horizon, and financial objectives. Consider investing in a mix of assets such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, real estate, and retirement accounts. Regularly review your investment portfolio and rebalance as needed to maintain your desired asset allocation. Stay informed about market trends and seek professional advice when making investment decisions.

**5. Plan for Smooth Retirement Landing**

Just as a successful flight concludes with a smooth landing, your financial journey culminates in retirement. Start planning for retirement early by estimating your future expenses and determining how much you need to save to maintain your desired lifestyle. Take advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k)s or individual retirement accounts (IRAs) to maximize tax-deferred savings. Consider factors such as inflation, healthcare costs, and longevity when calculating your retirement needs. Continuously monitor your retirement plan and make adjustments as necessary to ensure a comfortable landing in your golden years.

**6. Navigate Tax Efficiency**

Tax planning is akin to adjusting your flight path to minimize turbulence and maximize efficiency. Take advantage of tax-advantaged accounts such as 401(k)s, IRAs, and health savings accounts (HSAs) to reduce your taxable income and grow your savings faster. Utilize tax-loss harvesting strategies to offset capital gains and optimize your investment returns. Stay informed about changes in tax laws and regulations that may impact your financial planning decisions. Consult with a tax professional to develop a tax-efficient strategy tailored to your individual circumstances.

**7. Stay on Course with Professional Guidance**

Just as a seasoned pilot relies on air traffic controllers for guidance, seeking professional financial advice can help you navigate complex financial decisions with confidence. Consider working with a certified financial planner or advisor who can provide personalized guidance and expertise tailored to your unique needs and goals. Collaborate with professionals who act as fiduciaries, meaning they are legally obligated to prioritize your best interests. Regularly review your financial plan and seek guidance when facing major life events or changes in your financial situation.

In conclusion, navigating your financial flight requires careful planning, discipline, and vigilance. By setting clear objectives, creating a budgetary flight plan, building a strong financial foundation, investing for the future, planning for retirement, navigating tax efficiency, and seeking professional guidance, you can chart a course towards financial success and achieve your goals. Remember, just like flying, financial planning is an ongoing journey that requires adjustments and adaptability along the way.

[boredtechnologist]

Adventure International's "Strange Odyssey" for the TRS-80 computer offers a rich narrative playground for a philosophical exploration steeped in themes of existential isolation, the quest for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe, and the navigation of liminal spaces. This analysis will delve into existentialist, phenomenological, and postmodern perspectives to offer a unique and darkly introspective view of the game.

1. Existential Isolation and the Absurd: "Strange Odyssey" immerses the player in a cosmic voyage across alien landscapes, emphasizing themes of isolation and the search for purpose. Albert Camus’s philosophy of the absurd is particularly apt here, as the protagonist navigates unfamiliar terrains without clear guidance or purpose. Camus argues that life is fundamentally devoid of meaning, a notion echoed in the player's wanderings through the cosmos. Each decision in the game, much like in Camus’s myth of Sisyphus, becomes a defiant assertion of individual will against the absurdity of the universe.

2. Phenomenology and the Experience of the "Other" World: Drawing from Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology, which focuses on the structures of consciousness as experienced from the first-person point of view, "Strange Odyssey" can be seen as a study in the encounter with the 'Other.' The alien environments and artifacts that the player encounters do not merely represent external objects but are integral to the player's conscious experience and perception of the game world. This phenomenological interaction challenges the player to construct meanings and navigate spaces that are radically different from familiar earthly contexts, mirroring Husserl’s concept of the 'lifeworld' — our subjective interpretation of the world formed through direct experience.

3. Nietzsche and the Will to Power: Friedrich Nietzsche’s idea of the "will to power" can be interpreted through the player’s actions in "Strange Odyssey," which are driven by a desire to explore, manipulate, and understand the alien worlds. Nietzsche’s notion that life’s fundamental essence is not survival but a fundamental force to exert and enhance one’s power over the environment resonates with the player's continuous efforts to master the challenges presented by the game. Each victory over a puzzle or obstacle can be seen as an affirmation of the player’s will to power.

4. Heidegger and Being-toward-Death: Martin Heidegger’s concept of "Being-toward-Death" provides a framework for understanding the existential stakes of the player’s journey in "Strange Odyssey." Heidegger suggests that a genuine acknowledgment of one’s mortality can lead to a more authentic existence. In the game, the omnipresent risk of death (from making incorrect choices or failing to solve puzzles) forces the player to confront their vulnerability and finitude, potentially leading to a deeper existential appreciation of their actions and choices within the game world.

5. Derrida and Deconstruction: Jacques Derrida’s theory of deconstruction, which explores how meaning is constructed through language, can be applied to the text-based interface of "Strange Odyssey." Derrida argues that language is fraught with indeterminacies and that meaning is always deferred. This notion reflects the player’s experience of interpreting the game’s descriptions and commands, where the meaning and consequences of actions are often uncertain and open to multiple interpretations. This instability of language and meaning adds a layer of complexity to the player’s decision-making process.

6. Baudrillard and Simulacra: Jean Baudrillard’s concept of simulacra and simulation provides a postmodern critique of the player’s engagement with "Strange Odyssey." According to Baudrillard, simulacra are copies or representations that become more real than the reality they imitate. In "Strange Odyssey," the simulated world of text-based alien environments challenges the player’s sense of reality, suggesting that their engagement with the game world might become as meaningful, or even more so, than their real-world experiences.

In conclusion, "Strange Odyssey" serves as more than a game; it is a philosophical inquiry into the nature of existence, the quest for meaning, and the construction of reality through language. By navigating through its text-based universe, players engage with profound philosophical questions, making their journey through alien landscapes a metaphor for the existential voyage through life itself.

[destinyketoacvgummies2]

Destiny Keto ACV Gummies Reviews [Fraudulent Exposed 2024] Don't Buy Till You Read This

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It added that the speculation adds limit with respect to GLP-1 items, alluding to the dynamic fixing in its spearheading weight reduction drug Destiny Keto Gummies and in the lower-portion adaptation Ozempic, which has likewise been utilized for weight reduction beyond its endorsed use against diabetes.

The French government has pitched the extension plan as an indication of recently reestablished French modern intensity.

The interest in Chartres, where Novo as of now utilizes almost 2,000 individuals making pre-filled injector pens and insulin, will prompt the formation of 500 positions, the organization said.

Destiny Keto ACV Gummies peculation reflects a comparative move by U.S. rival Eli Lilly, which last week spread out plans to fabricate a $2.5 billion assembling site in Germany because of taking off interest for its new diabetes and corpulence treatments.

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[motivationaquotes1]

Tracking down Motivation in Hardik Pandya Quotes

In the domain of cricket, Hardik Pandya stands not just as a wellspring of motivation for his on-field ability yet in addition for his smart words that resound a long ways past the limits of the cricket pitch. His excursion of highs and lows, combined with his steadfast soul, is reflected in Hardik Pandya Quotes that perfectly catch his uplifting perspective on life and his affection for the game. In this blog, we will dive into probably the most rousing statements from Hardik Pandya, fit for elevating and spurring anybody, no matter what their experience or interests.

"Dreams require committed work to appear."

These basic yet significant words from Hardik Pandya highlight the meaning of difficult work and commitment in accomplishing one's goals. While it's not difficult to have dreams, changing them into reality requests predictable exertion, assurance, and a readiness to contribute the essential time. This statement fills in as an update that achievement is the result of a continuous excursion of placing in the hours and taking a stab at greatness.

"I approach every day as though it very well may be my last."

In a world loaded up with vulnerability, Pandya's assertion exemplifies the substance of embracing the current second and doing your absolute best with. Whether on the cricket field or in regular day to day existence, treating every day with most extreme energy and enthusiasm can prompt a daily existence lived without laments. It's a call to quickly jump all over chances and capitalize on each second, similar as on the battleground.

"Keep up with confidence in yourself in any event, when others question."

Pandya's ascent to notoriety was joined by various difficulties and doubters, at this point his self-assurance stayed unshaken. This statement urges us to have confidence in our capacities, even notwithstanding suspicion from others. Confidence can be a main impetus that drives us forward, assisting us with conquering hindrances and arrive at new levels.

"Remain hopeful, work determinedly, and transform dreams into the real world."

Energy and difficult work remain closely connected, and Hardik Pandya Quotes represents this wonderfully. Keeping a positive outlook is essential for conquering difficulties and supporting the center expected to accomplish our objectives. When joined with diligent exertion, inspiration turns into a strong asset that can change desires into unmistakable accomplishments.

"Achievement isn't an objective; it's a persistent excursion."

In a world focused on results, Pandya's words advise us that achievement is definitely not a last objective however a continuous journey. It's about development, learning, and consistent advancement. This point of view moves the concentration from the final product to the encounters and examples acquired en route, making the quest for progress a satisfying undertaking.

"Honor the game; it will respond."

Pandya's profound love for cricket is apparent, and this statement mirrors his significant regard for the game that has given him to such an extent. Past cricket, it fills in as a similitude for life itself. Moving toward our undertakings with deference and commitment can prompt relating rewards. This prudent rule highlights the significance of difficult work and lowliness in all parts of life.

Conclusion:

Hardik Pandya Quotes rise above the limits of sports and resound with people from varying backgrounds. His words are a demonstration of his excursion, his personality, and his enduring soul. From persistence to energy, his statements offer significant bits of knowledge that can motivate anybody to seek after their fantasies with genuineness and excitement. Allow us to embrace the insight implanted in these statements and imbue our lives with the very energy and assurance that Hardik Pandya brings to the cricket field. All things considered, as he reminds us, "Dreams don't work except if you do."

Source: https://wordpress.com/post/motivationaquotes.wordpress.com/94

[feminist-space]

"I’m going to say this bluntly: you are very, very wrong about this situation, both as a manager and as a human.

Your company didn’t pay Jane money they owed her in the timeframe in which they were legally obligated to pay it. They did this twice.

Your company messed up, and their mistake impacted someone’s income. That’s a very big deal.

The payroll department handled this exactly as they should: they apologized, cut her a check immediately, and helped repair the damage their mistake had caused. Jane shouldn’t have to suffer for their error, and their remedies were appropriate and warranted.

Your objection to this because the company shouldn’t be responsible for Jane’s finances is nonsensical. Your company is responsible for paying the wages they’ve agreed to pay in the timeline they’ve agreed to pay them in. They didn’t meet that obligation, and so they fixed it. That’s not about them being responsible for Jane’s debts; it’s about them being responsible for adhering to a legal wage agreement and treating an employee well after failing at a basic responsibility and causing that person hardship.

Suggesting that someone who needs the paycheck they earned to be delivered to them on time “didn’t prioritize her bills or save smartly” is wildly out of touch with the reality of many people’s finances in this country and how many people live paycheck to paycheck (particularly someone entry-level who just started a job two months ago and may have been unemployed before that). But frankly, even if Jane didn’t save smartly, it’s irrelevant; your company’s mistake is what caused the problem, and it’s what’s at issue here.

Your speculation that Jane might be lying about her financial situation is bizarre and reflects poorly on you. It’s irrelevant and you don’t seem to have any reason for wondering that other than an apparent desire to cast Jane in a bad light.

You’re absolutely right that there’s a respect gap in this situation — but it’s from you toward your employees, not from Jane toward her employer.

There’s nothing disrespectful about Jane advocating for herself and explaining that she’d be unable to stay in the job if the payroll mistakes weren’t corrected. She gets to make that choice for herself, it’s not an unreasonable one, and it’s not disrespectful for her to spell it out. In fact, I’d argue it’s actively respectful since respect requires clear, polite, direct communication and she gave you that.

When you say Jane doesn’t seem to understand she’s entry-level and not in charge … Jane is very much in charge of where she’s willing to work and what she will and won’t tolerate. Every employee is, regardless of how junior or senior they might be.

Corporate power structures require deference in things like decision-making on a project, but not the sort of obeisance in all things that you seem to be looking for.

Somewhere along the way, you picked up a very warped idea of what employees owe their employers, but you don’t seem to have thought much about what employers owe their employees. You urgently need to do some rethinking and recalibration if you’re going to continue managing people."

https://www.askamanager.org/2021/10/my-employee-wasnt-respectful-enough-after-the-company-messed-up-her-paycheck.html

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1-3

May, 1984

THE WAR BEGINS

Oof, here we go.

Just gotta replicate the pace that let me do the Hawkeye miniseries in one go, three times in a row.

This is probably too much effort considering its Secret Wars (or more accurately Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars) and maybe there’s not going to be a lot of big changes from this in the Avengers book to really justify it.

But we’re getting Jim Shooter writing the Avengers and his non-consecutive runs were a lot better than I had remembered. And it continues the theme he had from the Avengers book.

It just makes sense in a nonsense way to cover this story.

Last relevant time in Avengers! Acting Completely Normal Vision warned the Avengers about some weird, possibly hostile energy surges right in time for an energy surge to surge energetically in Central Park.

When the Avengers went to investigate, they found a weird structure that looked like a techy coliseum maybe. When some of the Avengers wandered into it (apparently the most bankable Avengers? Sucks to be Vision and Wanda, shrug) they vanished.

In the next issue, after several days, these heroes returned, speaking of a secret war they fought. Weird stuff like She-Hulk taking the Thing’s place on the Fantastic Four happened. In other books, Spidey got a cool new suit.

Would you know more?

After being raptured in their various books, the missing superheroes all end up on one of those distinctive structures like the one that appeared in Central Park, except IN SPACE.

Its cool that the Avengers will have some company.

We’ve got a terrific 3/4ths of the Fantastic Four, the X-Men (including Lockheed but not including Kitty Pryde for some reason), the Avengers, Iron Man, Spider-Man, the totally Articulate Hulk, and hilariously Magneto is also here.

Maybe Secret Wars is just setting up the most awkward moment in the universe, as a prank show.

I think I’d enjoy a big event that turned out to be a prank show at the last minute. The fan discontent. Imagine.

Everyone introduces themselves to each other but mostly the audience and Ben Grimm claims his new codename as the Easter Bunny.

Checking, marvel wiki doesn’t have Easter Bunny listed as one of Ben’s known aliases. Cowards.

Looking up into space, Captain America spots another one of the totally cool constructs and Professor X scans that it contains EEEEEEEVIL.

Specifically Amora the Enchantress, Ultron, the Wrecking Crew, the Absorbing Man, the Lizard, VICTOR VON DOOOOOM, Kang the Conqueror, Doctor Octopus, and Molecule Man. Also, hilariously, Galactus is there.

I’m more convinced than ever that this is a prank show.

You know what would be more hilarious? If Punisher ended up on this construct.

The distribution of villains is kind of odd though. Galactus and Doctor Doom map to the FF. Doctor Octopus and the Lizard to Spider-Man. Ultron, Molecule Man, and Kang are Avengers foes. The Absorbing Man and the Wrecking Crew can go a couple ways but started off as Thor villains. And Amora is usually a Thor villain but supposedly has chilled out around this time or at least is less of a pain than her horny sister.

No X-Men villains. Because Magneto is chilling with them in the generally heroic pod.

Also, all the heroes were raptured from Earth while the villains were grabbed from Earth, from space, from Asgard, resurrected just to be here, or from the FUTURE.

I know marketing is wagging the dog but be consistent, secret organizer who we don’t know yet.

The Thing points out that Magnet is off-sides, re: being in the hero construct, and Magneto is like ‘hey, chill out dudes’ and denies specifically doing murders.

Magneto: “I know not what power transported me here from my secret lair, nor why I was placed among you -- but I find it more appropriate to ask why such as you were judged fit to be placed in my presence!”

Oof.

Burn.

Then the conversation is put on halt on account of the wildest shit any of them have ever seen.

An entire galaxy vanishes but probably not due to a wave of anti-matter.

Thor: “It’s gone! Gone -- ! Swept away like dust before some unseen, giant hand!”

And then around that last star left unswept, various chunks merge together to form some sort of world, perhaps for battle.

A nice touch for later is that you can definitely see that one of the chunks is a stray chunk of city.

Some of the villains start squabbling because close quarters, ego, etc.

But Ultron goes hey we’re allowed to fight? I’m the best at that.

Ultron: “I am Ultron! I do not understand the events transpiring! I do not understand how I came to be resurrected... nor how I came to be here! Nothing computes... Insignificant! I am Ultron! My purpose is to slay that which lives. You are all living things, ergo -- Ultron must destroy you!”

With the benefit of having read all the Avengers up to now, I feel that Ultron got up on the wrong side of the resurrection a little.

He’s not not like this but he’s not usually this turned on?

(Then again, maybe he just came back cranky)

DOOM grabs and shakes Molecule Man to do something about this because given enough time even the mighty DOOM might fall before Ultron.

Ultron is famously annoying to defeat, what with that adamantium.

But Molecule Man is in therapy after the Avengers kicked his shit and Tigra yelled at him for being a punk. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone.

So Doom with all his brilliant genius tells MM a cool way to help out that won’t hurt anyone. Directly.

Using his Molecule Man power over molecules to lightly toss Ultron into Galactus.

So that Galactus goes ‘who the fuck scuffed my boots’ and rips out all the energy in Ultron’s Ultron.

He can do that.

Why wouldn’t he? If he can do that to a planet, he can do it to a pissbaby robot. Even one apparently containing more power than an atom bomb.

Then, because this is one of those plots where things are always thenning, a rift opens in the nothingness of space and a heavenly esque light shines out. A warbly voice commands the action figures beat each other up.

I mean. Its more like

The Beyonder: “I am from beyond! Slay your enemies and all you desire shall be yours! Nothing you dream of is impossible for me to accomplish!”

But you have to admire that this toy commercial of a comic book is being honest and upfront about being a story where action figures bonk off of each other.

Galactus just hears ‘i can finally shake off these persistent forever munchies’ and flies off to demand prepayment for action figure bonking, with DOOM following behind him.

The Beyonder speaks up warning Galactus that hey, personal space. And that a guy that can effortlessly wipe out a galaxy is gonna have a sweet barrier but Galactus wants the hunger pangs gone and does not listen.

DOOM recognizes a bad idea when he sees one once in a while and hangs back but still gets blown out of space by the force of Galactus bonking off the Beyonder’s barriers.

Captain America: “They were swatted back like flies!”

Professor X: “To the Beyonder, even Galactus is less than a fly, Captain!”

Interruption dealt with, the Beyonder gets the show on the road and sends the two constructs to different parts of the patchwork planet.

The Marvel Super Heroes And Magneto land on some hill and quickly make sure that there are no villains excepting Magneto around.

With Magneto around, the non-X-Men raise an objection to Magneto being around.

He sank a Russian submarine with all hands back in X-Men #150 but he insists that it was self-defense and also they started it.

The X-Men’s position is ‘hey he’s a jerk but he’s our jerk plus we could use his help? The bad guys get GALACTUS, how is that fair?’

Well, they don’t say it but they’re probably thinking it.

And Hawkeye decides to be a little racist today.

Hawkeye: “You mutants stick together, huh? Well, sticking to a blood-soaked maniac like him doesn’t speak well of you, pal!”

Dude, Clint. Your dear old friend is Wanda.

Wait, why ISN’T Wanda here? Did the toy people really not want her? Fools. Her husband is toyetic as all get out.

Also, point of order, Wolverine? If anyone qualifies as ‘hey he’s a jerk but he’s our jerk!’ here its you.

Johnny “good life choices” Storm decides he’ll just kick Magneto’s ass and end the debate but yeah. Yeah, no. Magneto makes a fool of him.

And then Magneto decides eff this noise and flies off.

With Magneto alienated (good job, guys), Professor X decides this group needs some dang leadership and throws a nomination to Reed Richards. Reed defers since he’s thinking of Sue, left at home and not able to participate in the event.

Wasp, the cool leader of the Avengers, nominates instead Captain America.

Wasp: “We’re off in a strange land, up to our ears in a little secret war that may decide the fate of the universe! Some people don’t know me well! They might have doubts... and there’s no room for that!”

I’m baffled that there’s people here who don’t know Wasp who has been heroing since the 60s but sure. Cap(tain America) probably gets more crossovers and whatever.

I mean, heck, we’re talking a group of heroes consisting of the Avengers (who she already leads), the Fantastic Three (who she’s well acquainted with), and the X-Men (who I’m sure she’s met, although awkwardly its going to later be revealed that Wasp is in the Hellfire Club, but only the sex parts).

And I guess Wolverine’s extensive backstory with Cap doesn’t exist yet because Wolverine isn’t keen on him being the leader, describing him as the least of the assembled heroes. When Hawkeye is right there!

I kid because I love.

Meanwhile, DOOM wakes up adjacent to Galactus ankle and heads to a nearby fortress which he correctly assumes is where the villains have ended up.

Wait, the heroes get beamed down to a random hill while the villains get sent to an advanced fortress with weaponry and we later learn vehicles sold separately?

Kinda stacking the deck, the Beyonder.

You gave the villains GALACTUS and A FORTRESS PLAYSET right out of the gate.

The other villains tell Doom that they’ve (mostly) decided that he should be their leader. But Doom has bigger fish to fry than the prizes that the Beyonder is offering.

In typical Doomesque fashion, he wants the whole kettle. But the other villains what with their petty concerns think he’s too afraid to fight.

So he ditches.

He goes to steal-borrow a spaceship and even though he hates the thought, takes off to go talk to Richards. And then Kang shoots him out of the sky with a GIANT GUN THAT THE VILLAIN FORTRESS ALSO HAS? to stop him from allying with the heroes.

Said (marvel super) heroes see the distant explosion and fly as a group in the most hilarious way possible to check it out.

God, I have always loved this image. Its squished down into the bottom third of the page but its a delight.

They find Doom sprawled in the crash site, rambling that he’ll only speak to RICHARRRRRDS and about the Beyonder’s power. But Cap offends Doom mightily but offering him a hand up and because Doom sees pity in Cap and RICHARRRRRRDS eyes.

So he blasts the heroes and fucks off.

How very Bakugou of him.

And right as the heroes recover from that, a bunch of villains arrive to get this secret war started.

I have a fondness for this particular issue. For a long while, issue 1 was the only issue of Secret Wars I could find. So I just had the start of this story with all these non-Spider-Man non-X-Men heroes I barely knew cliffhangering into an attack by villains I really didn’t recognize except for Doc Ock and the Lizard.

It was a window into another side of the Marvel Universe. And for child me, this first issue worked perfectly to intrigue me. All these characters, the very straightforward conflict, all the complications that immediately pop up like Magneto, Galactus, and Doom. Alas, small child resources.

June, 1984

PRISONERS of War!

The heroes react slowly to the sudden villain attack but thankfully, the villains aren’t working together well. Unthankfully, half of the heroes were already knocked out by the first attack.

Meanwhile, over at Doctor Doom’s side of the plot, he flies back over to where Galactus just in time to see him finally rouse from being slapped down by the Beyonder.

Galactus floats to his feet and wanders off.

Doom: “He ignored me! As though I were a gnat buzzing at his feet! And so I am... Just as all of us, even Galactus himself, are but insects to the all-powerful Beyonder! Thus, the others have chosen to play the Beyonder’s simple game -- thereby, in effect, paying homage to him. Should I, too, pay homage? Should I worship at the feet of this god-like being -- or chose another path... one only Doom would dare!”

I think anyone that knows Doom knows which option he’s gonna choose.

He heads back to the villain fortress and finds Ultron’s deactivated body and decides Doom can use this.

Meanwhile, back at the first secret battle of the secret war, the heroes rally and start fighting back under Cap(tain America)’s leadership.

She-Hulk even gets a designated girl fight with the only female villain on the villain team.

I’d complain, I would. But at least She-Hulk isn’t the only heroine on the hero side.

She-Hulk: “Hiya! I’m the She-Hulk! You must be the Enchantress! Gee, I’ve heard so much about you -- ! You’re a not-nice lady!”

Enchantress: “A green woman? Is there no end to the varieties of mortals?”

The Enchantress magic slaps She-Hulk away and comments that she could crush She-Hulk physically but its beneath her.

Yeah, all Asgardians have some level of super strength, that’s right. Even the squishy wizards.

But all She-Hulk heard was, ‘someone I can really punch!’

She-Hulk: “I don’t often duke it out with someone solid enough to really unload on -- and slow enough to let me! Oh, wow! That was, like tubular, you know -- to the max!”

Uh. Jen, are you okay? Did you have a stroke? You don’t usually talk so much in Mario World secret world levels.

I think maybe Jim Shooter didn’t have a good grasp on her. I don’t think he’s ever written for her. And the other heroes mostly don’t vary too much from generic hero speaking patterns. Add some smart for smart characters, add some rude to Wolverine, and so on.

The battle wraps up with Kang, the Enchantress, and the Wrecking Crew captured and the rest of the villains fleeing when the battle didn’t go their way.

Cap sends Storm off to scout for a cool playset that they can use as shelter and she does so, noting that the winds on Battleworld are super easy to control. Like Battleworld was created to create ideal fighting conditions for everyone. Pretty neat, the Beyonder.

Storm finds a particularly rad fortress (”Bigger than fifty-four and a half Pentagons, I’d estimate!” Wow!) and the heroes move in.

I unironically enjoy how toyetic this story is with the fortresses and the vehicles and the weapons. Because I’m almost positive that Mattel barely capitalized on it.

There were only two playsets. Pitiful.

Over in their new headquarters, Reed stashes the captured villains in some form of psychostasis which “works by controlling aggression through brainwave modulation!”

He also sticks Enchantress in a healing pod to address that nasty case of being She-Hulked right in the face. Nothing will salve her ego though.

Captain America: “It’s no wonder that the name Mister Fantastic is renowned for compassion as well as courage! You give added meaning to the word hero, Richards!”

Whenever someone loudly announces that Reed is super compassionate, it makes me feel like they’re overcompensating.

Nobody ever makes note of, say, Captain America’s compassion.

With the prisoners (of war? Is that the whole reason for the title?) accommodated, Cap calls everyone for a meeting in a cool meeting dome he found which has a small waterfall for aesthetic and so everyone has to yell to be heard.

Wolverine yells that they should mop up the rest of the villains and get this over with.

Not mentioning that in order to “win it” they’d have to kill the villains, which none of the heroes have shown any interest in doing so far.

Cap(tain America) replies that A) planet big and they have no idea where the villains got to. And B) the remaining villains slash antagonists are Galactus, Doctor Doom, Molecule Man, Doctor Octopus, the Wrecker, the Absorbing Man, and Magneto. Not really people you mop up.

In a fun logistics bit, Cap sends out a patrol to make sure the area is secure but he also sends out two additional groups to find  if there are any places in this fortress they can sleep and whether there's any... food.

Makes me imagine a Secret Survival War where the sides have to wrestle over limited resources.

Hours later, the villains that escaped the fracas arrive back at their fortress.

I’m sort of confused here.

Maybe it took so long because they had to make sure they weren’t followed. Or maybe because they didn’t have the sweet tripod vehicle anymore. But think about the flow of events of: everyone beamed down to Battleworld > Doom ditches the villains and gets shot down > heroes investigate and Doom ditches > villains show up for cliffhanger fight.

The villain fortress should be pretty close to where that fight took place. And then the heroes find a nearby fortress of their own so their fortress should be pretty close to the villain fortress. Maybe not in the same neighborhood but surely the same zip code.

Anyway, they find that while they were gone, Doom swanned in and renamed the place the Doombase.

If they have problems with it, they can talk to his Ultron.

Which I’m surprised he didn’t rename Doomtron.

Doom also tells them that he’s in charge now.

Absorbing Man: “Aw! Who gives a hoot! I need a meal an’ sleep! You wanna be in charge, Doom? Okay by me!”

If you think about it, this is just some steps added what the villains wanted all along.

They wanted Doom to be their leader but he told them he had bigger fish to fry and fucked off. Now he’s fucked back on and told them all that he’s their leader. They initially object before reconsidering due to Doomtron but, yeah, its all gone full circle.

Doom is a lot more cordial to Molecule Man though.

Doom: “Molecule Man... uh, Mr. Reece, I believe it is? I trust you were not inconvenienced.”

Molecule Man: “Well, being absolute master of molecules I can just assimilate molecules when I want, so I never have to be hungry, and I can just shoo away dirt molecules, so I’m always nice and clean -- but I am tired!”

Doom: “I have prepared a special chamber for you! I hope you like it!”

Molecule Man: “If not, I can always reconstruct the molecules -- !”

Heh.

Nice to see Jim Shooter able to follow up on the trajectory he sent Molecule Man on.

The rest of the villains head off but Doctor Octopus, the only other brain cell in this group, hangs back to talk to DOOM.

He wants to know what he plans to do about Galactus and then shows Doom on the biggest screen TV that Galactus is standing on a mountain glowing with an awesome power.

Doom just retorts that his plans are for his forces to triumph.

Doctor Octopus: Something tells me he’s got ambitions that dwarf merely triumphing in the Beyonder’s little contest! The question is whether he will destroy us in trying to achieve them -- or immediately after fulfilling them?!

Like I said, the only other brain cell in this group.

Meanwhile, while Magneto secretly sneaks into the hero fortress for Reasons, the heroes have a quiet moment that lets this Secret Wars biz really sink in.

Wasp: “I’d be having tea in my studio now, Jenny... And lunch on my patio tomorrow... This... um... situation we’re in... is kind of... much, you know? I feel there’s just a little thin wall inside me holding back a flood of despair!”

Its a nice touch, if intentional, that Wasp only admits this kind of thing now that she’s passed off the leadership responsibilities to Captain America. Its been a recurring character beat that she’s been keeping these sorts of worries to herself as chairwoman.

Over in another part of the fortress, Cyclops complains that he was right in the middle of his dang honeymoon when he was yanked into this event.

Cyclops: “I don’t know about you, Richards, but more than angry or afraid, I feel cheated! I -- I was on the verge of real happiness...”

Oof. This really sets the tone for his marriage with Madelyne Pryor.

Spider-Man and the Human Torch even have a little conversation.

Spider-Man: “You mean it doesn’t shake you, Torch, being here? What if we don’t get home?”

Human Torch: “The Fantastic Four have been off on space missions a couple of times, Spider-Man! We’ll get back! Believe me!”

I like when they’re friends.

So, I’m not sure what Magneto’s plan actually was. He was going to sabotage the fortress’ fusion generator as a distraction but Spider-Man’s Spider-Sense Spider-Alerts him to shenanigans afoot and he runs off to the power plant while Johnny Storm goes to get the other heroes.

Magneto decides to abandon whatever his plan was and captures Wasp as a consolation prize.

Gasp, another prisoner of war!

The Thing tries to give chase but inexplicably turns back to normal, smooth skinned Ben Grimm.

Also, Magneto escapes with the Wasp.

It’s like the aardvark says, you can get what you want and still not be happy.

Captain Marvel is holding the randomly anti-mutant ball for Hawkeye here and comments that none of the X-Men showed up to help stop Magneto.

Cap(tain America) tells her to belay that.

Captain America: “Let’s keep our minds on solving problems, not creating more!”

And they can’t even go after Magneto or rescue the Wasp right now because they have bigger problems: Galactus glowing with an awesome power and a massive storm that’s forming on Battleworld.

July, 1984

TEMPEST WITHOUT, CRISIS WITHIN!

The Beyonder has thrown in a nice stage hazard to keep things fresh in the form of a massive storm raging on Battleworld, with lighting that shatters mountains and winds that could tear someone’s limbs clean off.

Or perhaps its the unintentional result of just slapping a planet together out of random stuff you have lying around. The climate must be shot to shit.

I like it either way. Secret Wars has a lot of very toyetic collisions between groups of characters so its nice when Battleworld itself manages to be an obstacle.

Over in his giant U-shaped fortress, Magneto finally unwraps Wasp from the ball of random metal crap he has her in.

He lets her wander around until she finds him so that he can be all casual and eating a space scone.

Magneto: “Do not bother trying to attack me, my dear! My person is magnetically shielded!”

Wasp: “Well, la-de-da!”

Wasp: -blows up his space scone- “You think I have to strike at you directly to hurt you, monster?”

Hilarious spite, thy name is Janet van Dyne.

She also makes the point that magnetic shielding or no, she could bring this whole room down. Her being able to knock over a small house with her pew pew hasn’t stopped being true.

Magneto hastens to ask her not to do that because neither of them want to be out in the storm outside.

Besides, he just wants to talk! And flirt!

Magneto: “You are obviously a woman of intelligence and understanding as well as great beauty -- and I am not the monster you believe I am -- which is precisely what I wish to discuss!”

Wasp: “Oh? My intelligence, understanding and beauty or your non-monsterhood?”

Magneto: “Why... both!”

Back at the hero base (which is apparently ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF CHICAGO?? I want that playset), the storm has almost completely flooded the area, leaving just the top dome and such poking above the water.

The storm keeps dropping chunks of mountain at the base but Thor is standing on top, protecting it while grinning like a loon.

Captain Marvel even speculates that Thor could calm the storm but is whipping it up into a greater frenzy instead. Those storm gods, amirite?

Hawkeye is also standing by, with his explosive arrow, thinking to himself that if Thor fails, Hawkeye will totally save the day.

I don’t know whether that’s sad or endearing.

Mostly though he’s trying to distract himself from thinking about the new wife he left behind.

Cap, Reed, and Hulk are watching the villain base because apparently they do know where it is. The storm is keeping the villains in too but Cap figures they’ll pull one desperate attack as soon as the storm breaks.

They’ve already lost four of their dudes. Plus, Galactus isn’t a team player.

Spider-Man is just swinging around, enjoying how good for swinging the random technological pipes and tubes and whatsits are when he stumbles upon the X-Men having a secret meeting.

Professor X has decided, possibly on the basis of two (2) rude comments from Hawkeye and Captain Marvel, that the X-Men just don’t belong here and that they’d be better off going and teaming up with Magneto.

This... sure is a take.

Rogue comments that the Avengers don’t trust her because of that time she kicked their asses collectively. Which, hey, very possibly. They haven’t really had a thing to say about you though. They’ve mostly been grouchy about Magneto.

Which is kinda born out by the way he tried to blow up their base and definitely kidnapped the Wasp?? And is even now aggressively eating scones at her?

That’s the Magneto you guys want to go join because he’s more your people than the Fantastic Avengers and friends are?

You know, there’s a pattern I sometimes see with the X-Men where they loudly insist that the other superheroes don’t help them and don’t care about mutant stuff while at the same time doing shit like this.

“Should we get Reed Richards, smartest dick in the world to help with the legacy virus or the techno-organic virus Stryfe shot into Xavier? NAHHHH Beast can handle it.”

“Should we stick with the other superheroes or go hang with Magneto instead in a cool mutants only U-shaped fortress? Well, U is the coolest letter that isn’t X...”

If you squint, you can definitely see Krakoa all the way in the future.

Anyway, Spider-Man overheard all of this and goes ‘I’M TELLING!’

Wolverine tries to tell him that snitches get stitches but the thing is?

Spider-Man is ridiculous. He’s a ridiculously good combination of skills and powers which lets him make chumps out of entire groups at a time.

He’s embarrassed the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and now he’s about to embarrass the X-Men.

After making them all feel foolish, Spider-Man gets away and goes to tell Reed what that doody-head Xavier said when Xavier uses his psychic powers to just wipe the entire encounter out of Spider-Man’s memory.

Yeah, it’s to cover their imminent blowing off but also? I don’t think he wants anyone else to find out how badly his X-Men just got stomped.

Psychics are too OP, I tell you what.

In fairness IN FAIRNESS, the X-Men kind of have the right to fuck right off if they wish. I don’t even know what it had to be in secret. In fact, doing it in secret is a massive dick move of its own for reasons.

What would the Fantastic Avengers have done if the X-Men had just said ‘hey we’re heading out’? Would they have put them in stasis tube jail? I doubt it.

Professor X made the decision to handle this the stupidest way for whatever reason. That scamp.

Speaking of Magneto, he’s over at the U-Lair turning down a partnership offer from DOOM. So, hey, he has standards.

Wasp has become less ‘i’ll blow up this room and your breakfast’ about him over the course of whatever the hell they discussed in their offscreen chat.

Magneto even starts to make out with her and Wasp is like ehhhhhhhhhh what the fuck why not.

Why is this happening?

I guess he has a...................... magnetic personality?

Eh? Eh??

No, but seriously, I do have a theory that I heard someplace but it’ll have to wait.

What’s weird is that there’s a Marvel What If about some spinoff babies that come about if the heroes and villains got stuck on Battleworld and never managed to leave.

Wasp has a son with Human Torch. Which is pretty weird and comes from nowhere. I guess a lot can happen during a massive time skip. My point being though, its weird that they didn’t have a Wasp/Magneto baby instead given the weird chemistry they have here.

Meanwhile, over at DOOMBASE, DOOM has some women in giant tubes.

That’s So Doom.

Doctor Doom: “All is ready -- ! This alien technology, so rich, so subtle... so easily harnessed to serve my purpose... Energy, tapped from the raging tempest... And two mortal subjects who dare to gamble for power -- knowing that to lose is death, for truly, here I shall test the limits of power a human body can contain! With the throwing of a switch... so -- the die is cast! Hear me -- ! Power must be seized -- ! Crave it! Welcome it! Drink it in, despite the pain... or it will destroy you.”

And thus are Volcana and Titania created!

Talk about lasting effects of Secret Wars! Titania is going to be around forever! Mostly annoying She-Hulk!

Where did Doom find two random women to give superpowers?

Denver, Colorado.

No, seriously.

That city chunk we saw as Battleworld formed? That’s Denver, Colorado, USA, EARTH.

Why isn’t there a miniseries or one-shot about a normal ass civilian from Denver having to deal with OH MY GOD WHERE DID EARTH GO?

I actually read an interesting thing re: this scene. It exists because Mattel asked Marvel to introduce some new female characters so Shooter wrote in these two and a third who I’ll get to when I do.

Mattel then promptly used none of these characters for the associated toyline.

The toyline, in fact, used none female characters at all. It made toys of characters who weren’t in the story but did not have a single female character.

So its very weird that they asked Marvel to introduce some but I’m not going to knock the results.

Doom introduces these two new characters to the other villains.

Hilariously, Absorbing Man guesses that Doctor Doom just made women from scratch. Because doesn’t it sound like something he could do?

Volcana and Molecule Man immediately hit it off, her being attracted to his sensitivity and him being attracted to... positive attention at all, I guess?

He muses that he could easily stop the storm outside, because molecules, but his therapist told him to let nature take its course. “Unless Doom asks me to!”

And Titania and Absorbing Man. They don’t hit it off. She either wants to hit him or hit that and its not clear and it might be both.

(Spoilers: Its both)

Titania: “You! Absorbing Man! You look like the toughest man here! Get up!”

Absorbing Man: “Whatcha got in mind?”

Titania: “I’m going to do anything I want to you! Everything I always wanted to do to everybody who used to be bigger and stronger than me! Maybe I’ll just play with you... or maybe I’ll make you eat dirt... or maybe...”

Absorbing Man: “Woman, if you got somethin’ to prove, prove it tomorrow against the guys we’re fightin’!”

Titania: “You’re backing down?”

Absorbing Man: “Nope! I just ain’t getting up! I got nothin’ to prove... to a dame!”

Would you believe that they become one of the healthiest and most stable romantic relationships in Marvel?

Speaking of weird relationships, back over at hero base, Thor goes and pops the lid on Enchanteress’ healing tube because he’s bored and wants to talk to a peer. A god peer.

Enchantress is at first more characteristically worried about what her face looks like after being She-Hulked.

But she then creates a portal so she and Thor can go have a chat.

Later, it’s morning and Hulk has been too busy stressing over losing his Banner smarts to actually keep watch or wake up Cap for watch like he was supposed to.

So when the villains ram an airship into the hero base, the heroes are not at all prepared.

Titania hurls a giant slab of wall through the room the Terrific Three are sharing, breaking Johnny Torch’s arm and ribs and knocking out the other two. He manages to get himself and co out of danger by melting through the floor.

Meanwhile, She-Hulk is carrying a big heavy as she’s been doing since the previous night and is caught unaware by Volcana who blasts her off her feet and then collapses the room on top of her.

Doctor Octopus knocks out Captain Marvel who is in the hot springs dome but gets chased away by Hawkeye, claiming that long-range firepower is his weakness.

I’m stunned at the implication that Doc Ock is one of Spider-Man’s most dangerous foes but could be scared off by Hawkeye while Spider-Man could pretty easily drop Clint’s ass. There’s some rock-paper-scissors nonsense at play here.

Spider-Man and Iron Man are also taken unawares by Ultron but manage to hide under some rubble.

Hulk leaps into the fray at Molecule Man and Doom but Cap convinces him to fall back to a defensible position.

The villains reconvene with all the captured villains freed except Enchantress (since she fucked off to have a chat with Thor) and the heroes scattered and buried under various rubbles. How the fortunes of Secret War turn.

Sure would have been nice if the X-Men had been around to help or if they mentioned they wouldn’t be. Sure would have been.

Doom: “We have accomplished much here today! And to finish it, we shall level this place so that no stone remains on stone!”

No wonder Mattel didn’t make a playset of this base! Dammit Doom, you’re ruining the merchandising!

Follow @essential-avengers​ for more of Secret Wars! At this same pace! Its sustainable! This is fine! Like and reblog too!

[the-girl-in-the-box]

Not Today XXXIII

A/N: And we're back?? With hopefully better more regular updates again??? So, I am apologising with some serious fluff at the end. Oopsies <3 And, without further ado, thank you for your patience and enjoy chapter thirty-three XD Skål!

Summary: When Ivar takes the throne of Kattegat, Lagertha flees to Wessex along with Björn, Ubbe, Torvi, and the Bishop Heahmund. There, they seek the aid of King Alfred. This aid comes in the form of his sister, Aethelind, who agrees to travel to Kattegat and try to reason Ivar, who she spent some time with during their youth, when her grandfather King Ecbert hosted Ragnar Lothbrok in their castle. Now, she is the only hope for Lagertha and her supporters to retake Kattegat from Ivar the Boneless.

Masterlist

--

No rest came for Asta after that night, or at least, it didn’t come easily. Ivar couldn’t get out of her what she’d seen, not about anything. He’d convinced her to tell him she had seen something, convinced her to tell him each thing she’d seen- Hvitserk sick, Björn falling when she fought him that final time in Kattegat, but she wouldn’t tell him why she’d woken speaking of Lagertha.

Ivar was certain now, if of nothing else, that Asta was a Prophet. He just wished that she was a Prophet who could sleep some, as she’d barely done so since the night she’d woken. In fact, as they now sat around the table for another meal with Oleg, Katia, and Igor, she seemed to be starting to doze, and Ivar had to keep gently waking her.

They were currently having a conversation about how they’d entertain themselves through the winter, and Katia’s description of bathing in a hot spring had made Asta’s brows crease, looking up at her slowly. Katia was smirking at her, smirking at Ivar as well, and Asta decided right then and there that she just wanted to take Ivar back to their room and go to sleep. Forget any dreams she may have- that would be better than how awkward she felt just then.

“And you, dear Ivar?” Oleg asked. “The future King of all Scandinavia… what would you like?”

“I would like to walk,” Ivar replied, after a few long moments of thought. Oleg began to chuckle, and Asta narrowed her eyes at him.

“That would be a miracle,” he pointed out, as if laughing Ivar’s desires off. But Ivar didn’t laugh, not at all, and Asta began to wonder if he was going to get angry at Oleg.

“I’ve heard that your God performs miracles,” he began. “Jesus Christ raised a man from the dead. He made a lame man walk. He fed a thousand people with just a few loaves and fishes. I don’t think it’s too much to ask of Him to cure a simple cripple, is it?”

Clearly, Oleg was irritated. The idea made Asta smirk, in a way which mirrored Ivar’s own smirk. Irritating that man was now something which Asta thoroughly enjoyed.

“We will all pray for that miracle, Ivar the Boneless,” he said tensely. Asta smiled softly, taking Ivar’s hand under the table.

“We will,” Asta agreed, nodding, and Ivar turned to her with a small smile, before turning back to their host.

“What about you, Prince Oleg?” he questioned. “What is it that… amuses you?” He was silent for a moment, and then reiterated, “What is it that you really want?”

Once the question was asked, Ivar lifted his cup to drink from it, and Oleg replied, “As usual, I want the impossible. I want to go back into my mother’s womb. I want to float there, in that small, limitless universe, among the stars. With no beginning, no end. Waiting for the new world to begin.”

There was a far off look in his eye, and yet Asta still found herself opening her eyes wider, her brows lifting a bit as she took a sip of her drink. Impossible, indeed, she thought to herself. She turned to Ivar then, who looked almost like he might pity the man, and so her eyes turned to Katia, who seemed as if she were… not quite enthralled, by him, but she certainly listened intently. Ivar followed Asta’s gaze, and so Katia turned to look at them both, a strange smirk on her lips.

“I know we have all been here before,” Oleg continued on. “We’re constantly reborn. It’s what I believe.” He seemed to watch, then, the way his wife interacted with the Vikings at their table. Ivar looked away as Katia returned her attention to her husband, and Asta returned her attention to her drink. “Don’t you, Ivar?” he asked.

Katia looked back to Ivar, and it was then Asta became aware of what was happening here. Rebirth… Rebirth, like the face of one’s late wife, now being the face of a new ally’s wife. The statement was designed to draw attention to that once again. Her eyes narrowed a bit, as she heard Ivar thoughtfully answer, “Yes. That’s also what I believe.” He glanced back to Katia, a nearly anxious look in his eyes, and Katia smiled gently at him. The Shieldmaiden wished she could take him from the room, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t risk upsetting Oleg without due cause, not now that Dir was free, even if it meant letting Ivar continue to be subjected to this sort of mental torture.

“Well,” Asta said, hoping to interrupt this conversation and change it again. “Isn’t anybody going to ask what I’d like this winter?” Ivar chuckled a little at the pouty expression she wore, as if feeling a bit left out.

“My apologies, my Queen,” he said, inclining his head to her as if he were deferring to her authority. He even gave a little flourish with one of his hands, and earned a small giggle from the woman.

Asta turned back to him, and put a hand on his cheek affectionately. “I’d like to spend some time with my husband,” she began, “perhaps having a drink in front of a warm hearth, enjoying his presence with me here. I count it a blessing every day that we are here together, and this winter, I want to be sure I don’t take that for granted.”

Ivar smiled softly at her, and covered her hand with his own. He pulled it away from his cheek so that he could kiss the back of it, before turning it and lacing his fingers with her own. “I think I would like that as well,” he said. “If my legs will not be healed, then I should like to spend some time with my wife, being grateful for the fact she remains at my side, even after all we have been through together.”

She gave his hand a small squeeze, and her free hand lifted to cup his cheek once more. “Then we will,” she promised him. And, whether he knew it or not, her want for that winter served more than one purpose. Of course, she meant all she said, about wanting to spend time with him, and not taking it for granted, but at the same time, she sent a message to Oleg and Katia, who she could still sense trying to mess with Ivar. She wasn’t going to stand by while this happened, and in fact, intended to actively stand in the way. Whatever they thought about that, she didn’t care. All Asta cared about, was that she was there for Ivar, and kept them from hurting him any more than he’d already been hurt.

Fortunately, the rest of the night passed without incident, and the next day Asta and Ivar found theirselves standing up above the market of Kiev, watching as Igor skated around on the ice beneath them, just as he’d said he wanted to do. The people around them cheered the young prince on, and Asta and Ivar were no exception. However, a man soon approached them, and stopped to stand on Ivar’s right, where Asta stood to his left. Neither of the Vikings acknowledged him, but he still spoke.

“I have a message for you, Ivar the Boneless, and Asta the Prophet,” he began, and finally earned their attention. “Prince Dir sends you greetings. He is safe, well, and restored. But for the time being, still in hiding.” The two looked back toward Igor, ensuring it couldn’t be noticed, not easily, that they had just been talking to the man who’d approached them. “However,” he continued. “He hopes that one day he will be strong enough to help you achieve your ambition… which, is also his ambition.”

Cheers and applause went up as Igor finished his skating, and stopped to bow as if having just finished an elaborate performance. Ivar and Asta, as well as their apparent visitor, joined the crowd in congratulating the Prince on not falling over, though the former two wore proud smiles on their faces. While the crowd was thoroughly distracted, the messenger sat a small, metallic object down on the banister on which Ivar leaned, a brief motion before clapping again as well.

“He sends you this cross, by which you will know him, and is a token of his enduring friendship,” he explained, and Ivar casually sat a hand down over it, as if just balancing himself. He picked up his crutch as well, in time for the messenger to say, “Now, I must leave. Please do not turn or watch me go.”

They did as asked, and the man left their side just as quickly as he had come to it. A thoughtful expression took Ivar’s face as he left, and he shared a look with Asta. Things were in motion still, it seemed, and they’d certainly have much to discuss that evening. Ivar turned then to lift his hand, looking down at the cross which had been left by Dir’s messenger. It looked quite different from the crosses Asta was used to seeing in Wessex, having two bars across the top as opposed to the one, and a diagonal bar across the longer section of the bottom. She figured, to represent the sign held above Christ’s head, and to represent the place His feet were nailed to the cross.

So caught up in what had happened as they were, they barely noticed as Igor approached them, and asked, “Who was that?”

“He didn’t tell me his name,” Ivar answered him honestly. “But, he told me that Prince Dir is safe,” he paused to uncover the cross for Igor to see it, “and that he is prepared to help us when the time has come.”

Igor nodded and looked up and out, saying, “Then he is an angel sent from God.”

Ivar made a face as if considering what Igor said, and he smiled a bit as he replied, “You’re right. An angel sent from the gods.”

Asta smiled as that conversation naturally reached its conclusion, and she moved around Ivar to go and hug Igor tightly. “And you, Igor, skated just like a little angel yourself!” she complimented him, and he grinned up at her.

“Do you really think so?” he asked happily, which earned a nod from her.

“I know so,” she answered with a smile. “You were so smooth out there! Perhaps you could teach me, hm? Though I may be too old to learn…”

She started to walk with him back to the Palace, and Ivar stood behind them and watched them go. He could hear Igor laughing, and telling her she wasn’t old, and certainly she wasn’t as old as Oleg, which made her laugh as well.

A small smile formed on his lips as he watched this, and watched them, before finally following along after them. Not that he figured he’d catch up now, but he didn’t mind. It was nice to sit back and watch the two interact, really. Asta, though still young, seemed to have a very natural way with children, and it occurred to him that he was thinking of this for the second time about her- ironically, it was also the second time he’d really just watched her with Igor.

She even walked with an arm around the boy’s shoulders, a move that seemed both protective and affectionate all at once. But, he noticed that they really did look like mother and son as they walked along, and it occurred to him once more that he rather liked the idea of them being his family, now. It wasn’t a difficult fantasy to entertain, as often as they spent time together in the ways a family would. And, truth be told, he didn’t find it a harmful fantasy in the slightest. In fact, it even seemed to warm him from the inside out- a hard thing to do in the cold Rus climate.

Once Igor had been returned to his chambers, Asta and Ivar had said goodbye to him and returned to their own, which felt a bit colder to them now as the winter wore on. Asta, ever one to take up an opportunity, smirked and said to Ivar, “I think I’m going to have a servant come and light our hearth, perhaps bring us something to drink. What do you think of that?”

Ivar chuckled a bit at the suggestion, remembering the previous night at dinner. “You want to make your winter wish come true tonight, do you?” he asked her teasingly. “I think it is a fine idea, though, you are lacking a husband to sit with, are you not?”

Asta giggled a little and walked closer to him cupping his cheek and answering, “What need do I have of a husband when I have you, dear Ivar?” She gave his cheek a quick kiss, and then went to the door to pop out and begin her search for a servant.

Perhaps dangerously, Ivar found himself considering, quite seriously, the idea of really making her his wife, making himself her husband. The idea of entering another marriage unsettled him, as horribly as the last one had gone, and he was comfortable with Asta, the way they were. Yes, they flirted, far more than was needed for the story they sold to Oleg and Katia, and every other person there in Kievan Rus’, and he felt nearly certain that what they shared was something real.

But what damage could he do by giving voice to it, by truly setting the idea before her? He would be putting his heart at her feet, he knew that, and the last time he’d given his heart away, it had been handed back to him crushed, if not tossed back down at his feet. Was he ready to risk such a thing again, to risk Asta rejecting him, for whatever reason, and perhaps leaving him alone, pulling away? He thought it must have been better to have what he did with her, than to ask for more, and lose it all.

His time to debate this ran out as Asta soon returned with a servant, one who came into their chambers and immediately began to tend to their hearth, lighting it and coaxing the flame into a full, warm fire by which they could sit and warm themselves. The servant left once it was ready, to go and fetch them some drinks, and Asta hauled one of the many furs off the bed and dragged it over to the hearth, sitting down under it as Ivar eased himself down beside her.

At first, when she offered him the blanket, he had declined and said he wasn’t all too cold. A quip had been made about Saxons, and how less prepared they were for such cold temperatures, but by the time drinks had been brought to them, and they’d had one or two, he found his shoulder pressed up to hers beneath the blanket. It was far more comfortable than trying to weather the cold alone.

And, that applied to his current dilemma with her, too, didn’t it? Perhaps it was the slight buzz he felt, the alcohol in his blood which loosened his lips, or perhaps he’d truly just made up his mind that he didn’t want to let the possibility fade away, too comfortable with what he had to possibly gain something better. It didn’t really matter, he didn’t guess, because he still opened his mouth, and still asked, “Asta?”

She turned to him with a quiet, “Hm?” not even seeming to be upset that he’d cut her off. He figured that was a good thing, given he wanted her happy when he put his question to her. But oh, how to ask this? How to even begin?

“What do you think you will do when all this is over, hm?” he settled on, tilting his head just a bit. She gave a thoughtful hum, and turned to look at the fire in front of him. 

After a few moments debating, she turned back and asked him, “What will you do?”

“That was not the question,” he answered with a chuckle. “I want to know what you want after this.”

She sighed and returned her gaze to the fire, the flames lighting up her face with their red glow, and reflecting in her eyes. “I’m not sure,” she confessed. “Part of me wishes to return to Wessex, and visit my brother. But at the same time… I’m not certain I’d be very welcome there anymore.”

Ivar’s brows creased together some as he asked, “Why would you not be welcome there now?”

“I’ve made quite a name for myself as your Queen, don’t you think? No doubt he’s been told that I’m with you, as opposed to in Kattegat with your brothers. If word has travelled to Kattegat of what I’m called here, then word may reach him, and I don’t know that he’d want to receive me now. Not to mention, we live together as though we’re husband and wife, without being… They’re liable to condemn me as an apostate.”

Asta chuckled, but Ivar could tell it lacked all humor. She was anxious, nervous about what her life since she’d left Wessex might have done to the relationship she had with her final living relative. He could sort of relate to that, having lost all his brothers either to death or simply falling out. His hand moved to rest on her leg, meant to be a comforting gesture, and Asta smiled and covered his hand with her own, taking it. Now, he thought. Now is the time.

“We could… always change that, you know,” he began. 

Asta’s brows creased as she turned to him and asked, “Change what?”

He swallowed. “You say it would offend your people, and possibly drive a wedge between yourself and your brother, if it was discovered that we lived together as though we were married, when we are not,” he said. “But we could…” Her face fell, and something cold seized his heart.

“Ivar,” she said. “No, I don’t mean to say that I want to stop. Believe me, I don’t… I don’t know how I’d go back to life before this. Being with you like this, it’s good. It makes me happy. I never felt alone before, but I know now that if I lost this, I would. I’d rather they mistake me for an apostate than lose this.”

Ivar shook his head, and turned to face her more, reaching across so he could take both her hands in his. “Asta, that is not my meaning. My meaning is that, we could change how they would see us living together this way.” Her eyes widened a bit as she seemed to realise where he was leading with this, and her lips parted slightly.

“Ivar…” she managed, but he held her hands a little tighter, and pushed through.

“Asta, if we were married, they would have no way to criticise the way we behave. And nothing would have to change. We live as husband and wife as it is, and we tell all we encounter here that we are. Why should we not be?” he questioned. “Asta, marry me.”

Her hands tightened in his, and he could see a thousand thoughts running behind her eyes, almost as if she were trying to calculate if this could work. Eventually, she managed to say, “You realize I never want to marry a second time, yes? So if I say yes right now, and we do it…”

She was considering it. Somehow, he’d not believed he would even get this far with it, and yet she was actually considering the possibility.

“I can’t lose you,” she finished. “I know I’ve said so before, but I mean it more so than ever if I agree to this. If we were wed, I could not stand to lose you. I don’t want you to offer this just to save my dignity before my brother and the people of Wessex. I may already be outcasted enough for having become, essentially, Viking. So if you’re only doing this for that reason, and don’t truly want to be my husband… Please, say so now, and we’ll leave it be.”

Ivar shook his head. “We would have to wait until all is done here, as to marry now would reveal we have not been married all along, and it would ruin the little trust we have with Oleg. But when this is done, before we return to Wessex, we could be married.”

Asta smiled at him, in such a way as she seemed about to say yes, but then her face fell, and she sighed. “You can’t know how badly I wish to say yes right now,” she confessed. “I want to say yes, to marry you somewhere between Rus and Wessex, and to truly become your Queen. But if we are honest, do we think Alfred will approve of this? I may have all but given up my titles, but that’s here. In Wessex, they will still expect me to uphold those traditions. You would be expected to ask Alfred to wed me, as no other relatives of mine still live.”

He huffed and rolled his eyes a bit. “You are a Viking Queen,” he said. “Why should you need the permission of a Saxon King to marry, huh?”

Asta gave a small chuckle and shook her head. “I’m not a Viking Queen,” she reminded him. “It’s a story we fabricated to protect us, or have you forgotten?”

“I haven’t forgotten,” Ivar said, lifting his hand to cup her cheek. “You are my Queen, and when we take Kattegat back from my brothers, I want you to be Kattegat’s Queen, too.”

Asta swallowed, and for a moment, she allowed herself to indulge in a world where she could simply say yes. So, she smiled, covered his hand with hers, and leaned slightly toward him. It came as no shock to her when Ivar leaned in fully, and captured her lips with his.

For the night, Asta decided, she would believe she could be whatever she wished, and she would let herself believe that she could be his.

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