#a woman who was visibly wearing a hearing aid AND had her friends signing to her

[killsaki]

i hate how uncool social media has become in the way that everyone is trying to be cool. why do people need to “boycott” perfectly good products that could be donated to people in need—by mass buying them and destroying them on video, or why do we film strangers in public, harassing them and then getting angry and painting them to be a horrible person online for millions of people to see when they just wanted to be left alone. in public. but this also includes the platforms themselves. kinda wish that they would just shut up and make their apps function. make them easier to use, add more settings for how we want to navigate our time on the apps. why does twitter come out with a new “feature” every week? why does instagram and facebook to copy every single other app in existence? why do these people think that fucking pinterest and tiktok are so popular? because they keep the same format, they keep their apps usable, and they don’t add unnecessary shit every 5 seconds.

[motherofbulldogs]

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN: I know the efforts aides made to make Meghan welcome. She didn't want their help

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-9334003/ALEXANDRA-SHULMAN-know-efforts-aides-make-Meghan-welcome-didnt-want-help.html

Before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex married, a professional creative, well used to the intricacies and diplomacy involved in working with Royal households, was interviewed for a role by Meghan.

A mutual friend ran into the candidate immediately after the interview and asked excitedly how the experience had been.

The reply did not sound encouraging. ‘Well. Let’s just say it was like The Devil Wears Prada. And I was not Meryl Streep.’

Judging by the bullying allegations that have now emerged in a leaked email from the Royal couple’s then communications secretary, Jason Knauf, this was not an uncommon reaction.

It turns out that Meghan did not want guidance or support, or certainly not of the kind she was getting. No, as we later learnt in her interview with Tom Bradby on the South Africa tour, she wanted to be asked how she felt

I have met Knauf many times and I have to say that he must have felt pretty hard-pushed to do something that could undermine any of his bosses.

With her beautiful son Archie, current pregnancy, dashing Prince, stonking commercial deals, Montecito mansion and now her global fame, you would think that the Duchess of Sussex might feel… job done.

What more could she possibly wish for? But as we will be hearing on her Oprah interview (and how I wish I was strong-willed enough not to watch it), that is very far from how she feels.

She is aggrieved. She is a woman much misunderstood. She was, until she was able to flee to Santa Barbara, a voiceless victim like so many of the abused women she constantly tells us she supports.

And who were these tormentors? Well, first up are, apparently, the British media, whom her husband has long also disliked. But a close second are those Royal courtiers and aides who peopled the world she was expected to operate in when she arrived to live here.

One of the striking things about Kensington Palace – the centre of ops for both the Cambridges and Harry when Meghan Markle moved in – is how very old-fashioned it is; think brick-walled cloisters, Jammie Dodgers and hunting prints, strangely muted and dim.

She is aggrieved. She is a woman much misunderstood. She was, until she was able to flee to Santa Barbara, a voiceless victim like so many of the abused women she constantly tells us she supports. Meghan is pictured above with Harry while the aide whose email exposed bullying claims is seen left

KP, as everyone calls it, is actually a labyrinth of small rooms and neatly proportioned apartments with battalions of young staff steering visitors around the corridors to their final destination.

Like many palaces, it is literally inward-looking with not much of a view and a little bit claustrophobic. As a confirmed California girl, Meghan no doubt found it so. And probably a bit depressing.

The staff who work at KP, like those at Clarence House and Buckingham Palace, are a hugely industrious bunch, happy to put in incredibly long hours for comparatively low salaries because they enjoy the status of working for the Royal Family. And they care. They care a great deal about protecting the Royals in every way, from organising the details of daily life to their image and security.

I remember meeting Knauf for the first time. He was a good-looking young American (a direct contemporary of Harry) wearing a formal grey suit and the requisite palace lanyard, and I found him quite daunting.

He didn’t seem big on small talk or even the smallest joke, and clearly took the view that this meeting was mine to lose. He was the one in control. As I got to know him better, I discovered he has a great sense of humour but, even off-duty, he was implacably loyal to his bosses.

The idea that he, or anyone working alongside him, would have had any interest in not supporting the incoming Meghan Markle as she tried to navigate this new world is simply not credible.

In truth, the opposite is true. Even before Meghan arrived, I know for a fact that the KP team were busy rallying a group of interesting and influential people who might be helpful and friendly to her in a new country.

They had learnt from the sad story of Princess Diana that letting a newcomer flounder in the somewhat archaic Royal pool, where they could feel isolated and unsupported, could be disastrous.

But herein lay the problem. It turns out that Meghan did not want guidance or support, or certainly not of the kind she was getting. No, as we later learnt in her interview with Tom Bradby on the South Africa tour, she wanted to be asked how she felt.

Knauf’s email raising concerns about Meghan’s intimidating behaviour came about after a growing number of complaints – all from women – in Kensington Palace.

At that time in 2018, the corporate world was finally beginning to take accusations of bullying and bad workplace practice seriously – and Knauf, an accomplished corporate professional, had his ear close enough to the ground to know that such things couldn’t be allowed to fester, even in a palace.

The decision to confront this toxic situation would have been nightmarish to make. The last thing Knauf would have wanted was the idea that he and his colleagues were ganging up against Meghan.

In addition, Harry and William were still linked by their joint foundation and a huge amount of behind-the-scenes work had been put into developing the notion of the two brothers as emotionally literate, empowering, modern Princes – and nobody wanted the whole thing to fall apart because of the new wife on the scene.

So, no doubt to begin with, allowances would have been made for Meghan being used to a different workplace culture. The serried ranks of polite young women in KP, with their unassuming clothes and understated make-up, all used to working quietly and cautiously in a certain way, may have appeared lacklustre to her.

But reports that staff were bothered by her sending 5am emails from her yoga mat, as if that were too demanding, would have been wide of the mark. Employees in the Royal offices know they have signed up for 24/7. Pretty well every day of the year. It’s less of a job than a vocation involving a big slurp of the Kool Aid and being prepared to put your own life on the back-burner.

Although we might think that we Brits have a more hierarchical culture than the Americans, the US workplace is far more status-led, with much more visible deference expected from juniors to seniors.

Meghan would have been used to the noisy can-do ethos of that arena in contrast to the measured but often more effective British approach.

In the States, at least until very recently, it was not uncommon for employers to scream and shout when they couldn’t get what they wanted – right now. Harry’s ‘What Meghan wants, Meghan gets’ admonishment, so jarring to our ears, would have been an entirely acceptable mantra in many an American institution.

But perhaps more difficult than a clash over working styles for the team who worked for Meghan, and possibly for Meghan herself, is that they seemed unable to provide her with what she wanted. Or even to know what that was.

What was clear though was what she didn’t want: being told what she could and couldn’t do.

I have always thought that an American woman I know found me patronising because, on our first meeting when she was new in town, I suggested places and people she might be interested in. She lost no time in telling me that she knew it all already. Meghan clearly felt similarly.

One of the striking things about Kensington Palace – the centre of ops for both the Cambridges and Harry when Meghan Markle moved in – is how very old-fashioned it is; think brick-walled cloisters, Jammie Dodgers and hunting prints, strangely muted and dim

Unlike the Princess of Wales, Meghan arrived on the scene as a woman in her 30s, with friends and connections, experience and opinions all bedded in. She knew what she liked and wanted, and had no interest in anyone thinking there might be any gaps where she would appreciate a bit of advice.

And unlike Catherine Middleton, who, by the time she married Prince William, had experienced years of living in the Royal goldfish bowl with its oxygen of protocol and precedence, Meghan would have been confounded by what might seem ridiculous prohibitions and rules.

Maybe it’s not surprising that she shot the hapless messengers, venting frustration on the team trying to help, and drove them away. Her lawyers deny bullying ever took place, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard a bully acknowledge themselves as such. Often they don’t even recognise they are doing it.

You have only to hear the way Meghan refers to The Firm (Prince Philip’s term for the working Royals), as if it were a cross between the Cosa Nostra and the Scientologists, to know that Team Sussex will no doubt regard the timing of the release of these accusations as directly targeting Meghan in revenge for the Oprah interview. And they may well be right.

But such is the Oprah machine’s build-up of the revelations of this interview (and let’s not forget one being broadcast as Prince Philip lies in hospital, which unless the Sussexes had rubbish lawyers, they would have reserved the ability to postpone), it was probably too much too expect, of even our usually buttoned-up Royals, to sit back and take it.

After all, they, like Meghan, are only human.

[kateyandthecloset]

Sect Bound . Aaron Hotchner [1.5]

Request . Prompts . Masterlist . Sect Bound

A charismatic leader was all it took to twist her trauma to faith; A charismatic leader was all it took to send her running, washing his blood from her hands.

Jennifer Jareau was the first person to cross the bullpen that morning. At an attempt to tackle the ever-growing pile of paperwork, before they were called away to another case, she had traded the family breakfast for a coffee and muffin to go. Though, that didn't mean she had missed vital time with her boys. After the sudden appearance of his old friend, Aaron had sent each member home early, ordering them to spend the time wisely. Each agent knew that he wasn't referring to paperwork, but to spending the time with whatever family and friends when they could given their often-hectic work patterns. Jennifer has done just that; by the end of the night, she was sure her boys must be bored of her.

She had barely touched her stack when Penelope pushed open the door to her office, taking the seat opposite her own and tapping her nails on the desk. Jennifer knew the woman well enough to tell that she had a secret she wanted to share; she also knew that the analyst was fighting with her conscience. Deciding to continue with her paperwork, Jennifer didn't make eye contact with Penelope.

The eccentric blonde's fingers stopped tapping after a while, an auditable exhale filling the office as she gave into her desire to gossip with her friend. Pushing her glasses back up her nose, she muttered, "I did a thing."

"What thing?" Jennifer asked, not looking up from the paperwork. While she, under any other circumstance, would have given her friend her undying attention, she had sacrificed her family breakfast to work at on the pile of files so she would be dammed if she didn't make a mark.

Penelope leaned forwards, tapping her fingers once more, "I may have gone back over everything I knew about Annabel Bradey."

In that moment, Jennifer's attention snapped, the paperwork no longer being her priority. The woman before her had promised the team that she wouldn't go back into their boss' personal life, each of them agreeing it was overstepping the boundaries that had been in place since they had all begun to work together. From a simple glance at Penelope's face it was clear that she felt guilty, but that didn't stop Jennifer's face from forming that of a disappointed mother.

"I know, I know, you don't have to give me that look," rambled the woman who was now fidgeting in her seat. "But I have confirmed that that is her, different hair colour but that is Annabel Bradey."

"A decade's a long time to be missing and remain alive." Jennifer announced running her fingers through her hair as she pushed her file to the side. "Was there any more information about the disappearance?"

Penelope shook her head, all that she had found had been the same as every other time she had looked. It was Aaron who had last seen her before his and Haley's wedding, and then nothing for ten years. Living off the grid was almost impossible, but somehow this woman had. That caused Penelope's mind to travel to the worst picture she had seen, most of the victims they saw were kept in horrendous conditions for small lengths of time before they were rescued or killed, but Annabel had been gone for a decade. To have been a captive prisoner for that long, she wondered how she was holding her relative sanity.

Looking at Jennifer, the bubbly woman added, "The missing person's report is still active too, Hotch hadn't changed the status."

"Maybe he's protecting her, she gave a fake name when she checked in yesterday. She had to be hiding from someone." Jennifer announced, her voice trailing off as she caught sight of her boss out the window; he was side by side with the woman at the centre of the current conversation. From where she was sat, Jennifer could tell that the woman was visibly exhausted and on edge. She was hugging her torso protectively, her eyes flickering through the open space as if she were waiting for someone to approach her maliciously.

"What are you looking-" Penelope's voice trailed off as she joined Jennifer's gaze. However, it wasn't the behaviour that she had noticed, but the way that the t-shirt she was wearing had been tied in a knot to stop if from handing too noticeably. From a quick glance, she knew the shirt must have been Aaron's. "That poor girl must have come with nothing."

"I wish I could do something to help," Jennifer stated, shaking her head at how little she was able to offer in support. "You should probably go back to work."

"I'll meet you for lunch," Penelope announced, not questioning in her tone. It had been the same since they had begun working together at the bureau, not once shifting while they were both in the same country. Yet, still, Jennifer nodded in response before returning to the paperwork.

Having lost track of time as she worked through the endless files, signing the necessary reports and sending her apologies to the offices that they couldn't help, Jennifer began to feel the all too familiar cramping in her legs. So, after determining that there was a conversation taking place in the bullpen, the Liaison locked her computer before exiting her office, with every intention to join the socialising members of the team. However, as she closed her office door, she noticed her boss crossing his office from the desk removing his jacket as he moved. When she saw him return to his seat, she assumed that the woman he had brought with him that morning had fallen asleep.

While they had all promised to grant Aaron his privacy, Jennifer knew that, if she didn't offer her help, she would never forgive herself. So, she changed her destination, placing a light knock on the door, hearing the man stand from his desk and cross the room she took the cue to gently push the door open.

"Is there a case JJ?" He asked, his voice low due to his fear of waking the woman, who had finally allowed herself to drift to sleep.

The blonde woman shook her head, "I wanted to let you know that, if you need it, I can help in any way you need. I can bring some clothes if you want."

"I would really appreciate that." He replied, gesturing for Jennifer to follow him into the office. "She only had what she came here in."

The employee nodded in understanding, noticing how he wouldn't go more than a few seconds without glancing back at the woman. Had she have been unaware of the situation; Jennifer would have come to the conclusion that her boss had become fixated and obsessed with the woman. However, from experience, she knew that Aaron was fiercely protective of those he cared deeply for. Annabel was clearly one of those people, he had held onto the hope that he would find her for the last decade which would have been nearing impossible had he have not felt strongly about the women.

"Hotch, you can't bring her here every day, what happens when we get called to a case?" Jennifer asked breaking the silence, her voice a whisper as to not risk waking the woman sleeping on the couch. She had seen how tired she had looked when she walked in and assumed that this was the first time she had let herself sleep, Jennifer wasn't about to ruin the rest of any other person. "She can't come with us."

"I can't leave her in the apartment alone, JJ, she's terrified." Aaron sighed, his eyes flicking to Annabel before returning to his blonde co-worker. "She didn't sleep last night; I woke up to her muttering apologies to a photo. When I sat beside her, not even asking her anything, she rushed away to the bathroom."

Jennifer let out a soft sigh, shaking her head lightly, "Do you have any idea what she's running from?"

"From what she said, she was targeted by a group who enticed her in and then kept her captive." Aaron explained, leaning against his desk. "I don't know how to handle this situation, JJ, I can't leave her unprotected."

Leaning next to her boss, Jennifer asked, "Have you thought about contacting the Marshals? If she's in danger they can take her into protective custody."

"She won't share enough," He shook his head, knowing that had the woman told him anything more then he could have helped her. The little information she had given had been enough for him to become aware of the danger she was in but had not been enough for him to be able to get aid from other agencies. That hadn't been an accident on her end.

"Are you sure she didn't tell you anything that indicated where she's been?" Jennifer asked, knowing that even careful people slipped up. Seeing him shake his head, she added, "No locations, cities or names?"

"She gave me a name." Aaron declared, having forgot about the start of their conversation the night before. "She said it wasn't his legal name, but Garcia could track any evidence of him under that persona."

Jennifer nodded her head, passing him a scrap of paper to write the name on. After he had written the name, the Liaison took it from his hand letting hers linger on his for a second. He nodded his head, silently thanking her for the support before returning to the file that was on his desk.

She left the room, glancing at the name she had been given. Even from a quick glance, she knew that the likelihood of the name being a given name was slight. The symbolism of both names was too much of a coincidence, especially from the other information that Aaron had given her. Gabriel Martyr was likely a charismatic leader, and Annabel Bradey was, in Jennifer's estimate, one of his many followers.

Taglist: @fandoms-unite14 (Message to be added.)

[incomplete-nano-stash]

Mneme the Forgetter Chapter 1

              Footfalls. Breathing. The only sounds coming to the young man’s ears as he frantically rushed through the brush back to the village were the sounds of his own body in panic mode. He crashed through bushes and trees, barely cognizant of the brightly lit sky, the moon hanging high overhead.

              Run, boy, or you are finished. The one thought pouring through his mind. Run. Survive.

              The dense forest began to lighten, the surest sign that he was approaching the village he called home. Desperate to reach safety, he clung to his satchel, the one thing the beasts had been after, with the passion of a drowning man thrown a rope. His breathing became ragged and quicker as he saw familiar buildings … a smithy here, a residence there … the market roundel where the crop workers brought their harvests …

              Where would be safe to hide? Who would hide him?

              His senses suddenly became aware of another sound invading his personal space, the loud roar of creatures pursuing him, dragging themselves and each other to push their party faster to catch up. The young man caught a glimpse behind him, catching a quick count of his assailants.

              Fifteen. Heavily armed, and all greedy and wanting what he had.

              He stumbled, regained his footing, and ran into the closest building, the village inn. Rumor was that zomroll bandits would not go inside human-made constructs. Right now, he prayed that rumor was true.

              “Alec! Boy, you know the rules!”

              The innkeeper’s booming voice echoed above the din of the assembled crowd within the inn’s modest pub. Slamming down a pint tumbler on the bar, he scowled at the young man.

              “Sorry, Theric, but it’s an emergency, and I need to get away.”

              Theric, slapping his bar towel over his shoulder, crossed his arms suspiciously. “Sure. So was the last time, when you said you got chased by wolves. I’m not buying it. Are any of you?”

              Laughter, derisive and biting, chimed from around the room. Alec was keenly aware of his reputation in the place, knew that it would take a lot of talk, a lot of convincing, to prove his case. His eyes scanned the occupants of the place … many of them were field hands, all of them locals, all of them knew him and wanted nothing to do with him.

              Wait, there was one figure that he did not recognize. A slumped figure at the bar, fully cloaked, the only visible part of their body being a single, gloved hand which kept motioning for drinks. Occasionally a silver lock of hair dropped from the cloak’s hood.

              Theric quickly passed his eyes between Alec and the stranger, then back to Alec. “No. Don’t even think about it.” He leaned closer to the younger man. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to generate foreign custom in these parts? I’ll not have you chasing my first out-of-town guest in five years away over your blasted issues.”

              Alec swallowed. He looked over the stranger carefully. The shape under the cloak was slightly slender, but seemed too muscular to be someone not wearing some sort of armor. A long lump along the figure’s spine seemed to confirm it for the man. This person could help him. He shrugged off Theric’s warning and made his way over to the stranger.

              “Alec, what wild stories are you telling today?” A mocking voice bellowed from the back of the room. “Dragons? Orcs? Fairies?” More roaring laughter.

              Alec slowly made his way to the shrouded figure’s position, taking the stool next to the mystery individual. He faced the bar, trying not to seem conspicuous, in case the person wouldn’t …

              “Seems that the custom here has an issue with you and your actions in the past.”

              The enigma’s words interrupted Alec’s train of thought. He jumped slightly at the sound. The mystery figure had an androgynous, neutral voice.

              “They don’t understand me. I am pursued by many of the creatures that inhabit this world, and for no reason I can calculate I am meant to be their prey.”

              The figure nodded their hooded head slowly. A gloved hand raised. Alec, this close, could see the glove was ringed with plate armor: a gauntlet. “Publican, more mead. And one for my companion here.”

              Theric grumbled, but dutifully poured two tumblers of mead, bringing them over to Alec and the mysterious figure. As he set them down, he leaned close to the enigma. “Are you sure about this, my friend? Alec is a well known liar in this town, he makes up stories and sets up panics left and right.”

              The gloved hand dismissively waved Theric away. He glared more daggers at Alec … a dirty look that clearly said “don’t bother the clientele” in non-verbal terms … and returned to cleaning up the opposite end of the bar.

              “You entered the inn with great urgency,” the enigma continued, catching Alec’s attention again. “Like you were being pursued.”

              “Yes.”

              “Could you tell who was pursuing you?”

              Alec sighed. “You won’t believe me even if I tell you the honest truth.”

              The enigma chuckled. “Try me.”

              Alec cast worried looks around the rest of the room, at the disapproving looks of the other occupants. None of them gave Alec as much as the time of day any other time in the village, and those that did bother would only give it if it meant they could accompany the information with a clap to the back of Alec’s head. Many felt he was touched, not right mentally. A few questioned his family.

              The young man bore up his fears, took a deep breath, and responded. “Zomrolls. A bandit party of fifteen.”

              The room’s temperature seemed to chill as soon as the words left his mouth. Alec watched the enigma’s shoulders jump upward. The figure raised up from their slouched posture, taking up their mead tumbler and chugging down the contents in a single swallow. The empty vessel clattered to the bar’s surface, and the figure reached their gauntleted hands up to drop their hood.

              She, Alec decided. Definitely she. The stranger’s eyes focused on Alec with fiery intensity. “Fifteen, you say?”

              Alec nodded, suddenly struck mute by the woman’s intensity. He picked up his mead tumbler and shakily took a sip to calm his nervousness.

              “Very well. You have my sword. We will discuss payment later.” The woman dropped four coins on the bar counter, as Alec finished his mead. “Publican, a little extra for your trouble.”

              She stood up, having struck the entire room silent with the revelation of herself. She turned toward the assembled group of rowdies.

              “Good villagers, I understand the problem you have had in the past with this young man … what is your name, boy?”

              Alec cleared his throat. “It’s Aleciares, but most folks here call me Alec.”

              She nodded. “Alec it is, then. I intend to investigate young Alec’s claim of trouble, and if it is proven to be false I shall be dealing with him post haste. If it is proven to be true, however …” Her eyes narrowed and grew more intense. “If his claim is proven true, then all here had better beg his forgiveness, or I shall be hearing of it.”

              The collected men in the room looked around at each other, confused. One finally chimed up. “Milady, what puts you in position to back up a bold claim like that?”

              She had heard this all her life, it seemed. She pulled the cloak behind her and drew her sword. “I am the slayer Mneme, bane of dragonkind and destroyer of zomrolls. I will come to this man’s aid, for if he speaks truth then your village is soon to be under assault by the zomroll hordes, and may your gods be merciful if that should come to pass.” She motioned toward Alec. “Come, boy, take me to the trouble.”

              Mneme strode confidently through the crowd in the inn, many of whom had forgotten about their drinks on the tables, simply to watch her move through their midst. She sheathed her sword on the move and, after making sure Alec was following her, pushed the door of the inn open and walked into the darkness.

              They walked quietly through the streets of the village until they reached the outskirts, where buildings became sparse, before the silence was broken. Mneme turned around to her new companion. “Where were they?”

              Alec was startled by the woman speaking to him, lifting his face up to hers. “Oh … yes, they were here, they chased me to this point at least. I saw them following me.”

              Mneme cleared her throat. “Why were they following you, anyway?”

              Alec clutched his satchel closer. “Well, to tell the truth I’m not sure why. I have been foraging all day, there’s really no reason for it.”

              Mneme looked back at the village, then back at Alec. “Foraging? You live in a village, why do you need to forage?”

              Alec shrugged his shoulders. “I guess I’m not the most rowdy and social person in town.” He sighed deeply. “I don’t have a field position, I don’t have an establishment in town.”

              “No income, eh?” The woman sighed. “That explains some things.” She turned her attention back to the thick woods.

              “I do odd jobs around town, and I’m generally just the kid people call when they need someone to abuse.” Alec sighed. “It’s my lot, that’s all.”

              Mneme’s eyes focused intently. She motioned quickly behind her to quiet Alec down, crouching lower to the ground. Her eyes narrowed, her hand went quietly and smoothly to her weapon. In the distance, a clatter arose, making the woman prick up her ears gently.

              “Is it …?”

              “Shh!” She planted her hand on Alec’s mouth. The commotion approached faster, the sounds of marching boots and battle cries. Mneme growled. “I hate barbarians, and I hate zomrolls more.” She ground her teeth, unsheathing her sword and coming out of concealment. Alec stood behind her, approaching slowly as she rose to her full height.

              The zomrolls, for their part, finally noticed the woman standing up to them. The largest one, clearly the leader of the party, brandished a battle axe and hunched in a threatening pose. He stepped forward and bellowed at Mneme with a scratchy voice. “Woman, you better run if you know what’s good for you!”

              Mneme growled. “This village is out of bounds to you and your party.” She assumed a two-hander posture, raising her sword. “Approach at your own peril. Turn back or die.”

              The leader’s eyes took on a yellow glow, illuminating the sickly skin of his party, peeling and sallow and rotting. His voice took an even more hellish timbre as he responded. “Woman doesn’t know when to run. Time to die!” He raised his axe and broke into a run toward Mneme, the rest of the party on his heels.

              Mneme raised an alarming cry, raising her own sword and rushing toward the fight. The clash of the two weapons reverberated around the field, loud as a thunderclap.

              The commotion roused some of the people of the village, one of which approached Alec. “What’s going on, boy?”

              Alec turned and pointed toward the battle. The villagers assembling around him turned their attention toward the fight, as Mneme launched herself deep into the party of zomrolls. Weapons clanged, their reports filling the air with the symphony of violence. Soon the screams started.

              Screams from the zomrolls.

              Mneme was oddly quiet as her sword started cutting through one zomroll after another, as their limbs flew away from the battle site, separated from their original hosts by the woman’s sword. The zomrolls were nowhere near as quiet, emitting howls of anguish as the woman cut through them with little resistance. Blood flew into the night air, the scent becoming heavier the more damage the zomrolls took.

              Finally, the only remaining adversary was the leader, cowering at Mneme’s feet. He had no hands, having lost them far earlier in the fight. “Mercy, great warrior, please!”

              Mneme glared at the leader, taking in his pathetic display, his kneeling and prostration before her. She crouched down to his eye level, narrowing her own eyes at him. In the moonlight, they seemed to take on a glow of their own.

              “No.” The whispered word hit the zomroll like a gunshot, quickly followed by the woman’s sword running through his skull, pinning him to the ground until his body stopped thrashing. When she was satisfied with her work, Mneme withdrew the sword, wiping it gently on the zomroll’s tunic before returning it to her scabbard. She stood completely upright, turning back toward where Alec had been waiting for her.

              Alec now had a large crowd of villagers surrounding him, watching the action along with him. Consternation flashed on every face as the woman approached, breathing deeply to relieve herself from the tension of the fight. The glow in her eyes subsided, her breathing deepened, and she slowly approached the assembly.

              “They will not be a bother to you any more. To be safe, though, I would recommend taking two of their heads and piking them at the entrances to your village, just to keep others away.” Mneme approached Alec. “Thank you for alerting me to their presence, boy.”

              Alec swallowed hard, nodding in acknowledgment. Behind him, though, Theric scowled. “He got lucky, that’s all. I swear, boy, if this had been any other time and another of your stunts …”

              “But it wasn’t, right?” Alec challenged Theric directly. “The danger was real, and it’s lucky for us Lady Mneme was here to …”

              “Yeah, lucky.” Theric narrowed his eyes at the woman. “Why are you passing through here, warrior? This is a peaceful village, we have no need for this kind of trouble …”

              “This trouble came to you. I am hunting it.” Mneme’s calm, neutral voice belied the violence she had been participating in just minutes before. “Perish the thought that those zomrolls were allowed free rein in your village, there wouldn’t be a village left in that case.”

              Theric grumbled. He turned his back on both Mneme and Alec. “I think it’s best that you leave by morning, milady. Our village does not need your brand of trouble here.” He began walking back into the main part of the village, with several of the other villagers following him. The crowd dwindled until simply Alec and Mneme stood at the scene.

              Mneme looked over at the lone young man. “And you? Are you going with your village?”

              Alec sighed sadly. “It’s not my village. Not anymore.” He turned back toward the woman. “Let me come with you, Lady Mneme. I can make myself useful to you, I swear.”

              Mneme sighed, picking up her cloak and wrapping it around her shoulders once again. “I’m afraid that the life I lead is not one for men such as yourself. I would be upset if you were to come to harm at my aid.”

              Alec scoffed gently. “And the way the village treats me doesn’t cause me harm? I’m the village bastard, how much worse can being with you be?”

              Mneme shook her head. “I’m afraid my answer is still no.” She placed a hand gently on his shoulder. “Thank you for your assistance tonight, my friend, but I must ask that our affiliation end here and now. At morning’s light I will be gone.”

              Alec let out a sad sigh, nodding. “As you wish, Lady Mneme. You have my thanks.”

              Mneme gave an encouraging squeeze and what looked like the beginning of a smile to the young man before making her way back toward the village inn. Alec took a deep breath, looking back toward the moonlit battlefield, where the dead zomrolls remained piled where they had dropped.

              “There must be a way.” Alec steeled himself for the gruesome task ahead, and marched over to the pile of zomrolls.

[tu-mint]

WELCOME TO UA!

[OC Jade Lofota/Dome Introduction]

Hey everyone! Hope all is going well and that you���re all staying safe and washing your hands and wearing masks! So I just wanted to write a little piece introducing my OC to UA High and explaining the AU I chose to have My Hero Academia based in. A very special S/O to @gureii and @camurica for allowing me to add their OCs into my story (follow them on Tiktok to learn more about their characters!)

International AU!

Word Count: 4K+

The goodbye felt much too soon from her family, but her father and mother had firmly assured there was nothing she needed to worry about. She sighed. Lies. There was rarely a time where worry wasn't weighing on her shoulders, contemplating her parents' well-being or if her siblings made it home safely or if the house survived another week untouched...she couldn't allow herself to forget why she was doing this. For them.

She was only a few years into elementary when the news came about of new institutions being established in select locations. UA High, only the highest ranked school for hero education in Japan had eventually received this rating internationally and now began putting forth effort in providing the best of their assets around the world. School boards had apparently been planning this concept for years, seeing it as the opportunity for nations to come together and give the world a "brighter future". It made her scoff in amusement. The program was officially named "UA International: Heroes of Tomorrow", and the idea was to input UA institutions on every continent. Hundreds of thousands of students began registration immediately while retired or fellow Pro Heroes displayed interest in supplying staff; it became the hot topic across the globe. Los Angeles was one of lucky bunch to become an official location and it left townsfolk ecstatic. She overheard conversations between her family and schoolmates and neighbors about the wonders of attending such a prestigious named school, but to her, it didn't matter all that much. Yes, UA may live up to the pedestal it sat on, but to have the best of heroes derive from only there? Fat chance. Her father was a prime example of heroism without the grand background.

Lima was his hero name; it translated to 'hand' from Samoan language and was chosen because his hands were where his quirk was strongest when used. He often liked to tell his children deeper reasons for his name so it wouldn't sound boorish, but they never thought such things. It always filled Jade's chest with pride knowing her father had served as a mighty and fearless leader, never relying upon a title or popularity to carry his duties. Her parents never pressured her or her siblings into joining UA, though they all easily could've been considered because of Lima. While she had no intention of going in the first place, it seemed as though fate made the decision for her one early morning.

Being one of the eldest, Jade often carried out all most of her parents requests, and going to the corner store for chips and soda was a common task. A burglary had taken place shortly after she entered. She recalled a masked stranger pointing a gun at the cashier while holding down a woman by her neck using his knee. The woman was visibly shaking and had a growing red spot on her shoulder. It was the first time Jade had experienced a life threatening situation with no one to guide her, but she knew standing around would do nothing to help. She couldn’t be afraid. Fear will get you killed. Her mind shifted into gear, and swiftly she’d gotten her hands around the burglar’s head, manipulating their mind into moving away from the woman while dropping their weapon. Police arrived shortly after, along with her parents, relived to see their daughter unscathed. In the midst of news reporters and flashing cameras, the injured woman approached from the back of an ambulance and revealed herself to be an admin under UA Los Angeles. “I was passing through and stopped by to get a small snack, but a little altercation took place and I found myself on the floor. My quirk doesn’t aid me in combat, so I really was helpless, but,” she paused and peered down at Jade, “this brave little girl had stepped in and stopped the perpetrator. At such a young age with no help at all, she took a huge risk in ensuring the safety of another; that’s an admirable act of heroism.” The admin bent down to the child’s level and grinned. “It's not often I meet people as fearless as you, little one. You have the passion of a hero, to bring justice and light to the world. UALA is going to be looking forward to your attendance in a few years. I hope to see you there.”

And thus, that interaction was what brought Jade to this point. She and roughly a hundred other kids were flown to Japan as representatives from their schools to partake in a trip to the original UA to learn of its origins and meet with some of the world's best acclaimed heroes. When they'd arrived, two double decker buses were present, each driver holding a list designating which schools would be riding with them. Musutafu was said to be at a far distance, so Jade took time to observe the students among her. Some were rather calm and sat quietly, occupying themselves with a book or music. Others showed more bubbly and extroverted nature, introducing themselves to the students behind or in front of them, laughing and telling jokes in a language she couldn't understand. All kids from different UA schools...if I remember correctly, Principal Tomar told me the people on this trip were handpicked by the national school board, meaning that these are the best of the best. I have to be prepared at all times. I won't let my time here be a waste, not while my family depends on me. "Thinkin' a bit hard over there, aren't ya?"

Jade snapped out of her thoughts and turned to the seat across from her. There sat a slender female who looked about her age with horns that stuck out either side of her head and long, thick waves of hair falling past her waist. Her most prominent features were her eyes, two sets with a cat-like shape, one atop the other, with red irises and deep onyx scleras.

"It's a habit," Jade replied sheepishly, flashing a small smile. It wasn't unlike her to be consumed in thought, she couldn't help it. After all, it was an inevitable tendency that began after her brother--

"Happens to best of us," the girl across shrugged. "Can't exactly blame you, we are training to become pro heroes, am I right?" She moved a bit closer to the walkway of the bus and stuck out a hand. "Kou Maeda, or in America it would be Maeda Kou if I'm not mistaken."

It's a different setting, so respect their culture. In Japan, you address by surname, not first lest they say otherwise. "A pleasure to meet you, Kou. I'm Jade Lofota, or vice versa in the Japanese language, but you may refer to me as Jade." She took the girl's hand and gave a firm shake.

The fellow student grinned and leaned against her seat with her shoulder. "I appreciate your courtesy, but Maeda is fine. Which UA institution are you from?"

"UA Los Angeles."

"Los Angeles? I've heard so much about that place, home to Hollywood and some of the best films I've seen. I've been thinkin' about flying out there with my friends for a little getaway after we graduate, ya know? Enjoy our freedom before hittin' the reality of adulthood and dedicating our lives to being heroes."

Jade refrained herself from saying something negative that would ruin the friendly aura. "That sounds nice, but let me just tell you from firsthand experience, LA is not everything it's made to seem like on TV; it does have its ups and downs. Traffic for one is cra-a-a-zy, and most, if not everything, is expensive over there. I would probably suggest Hawaii, at least there you won't have to worry about drivers with road rage." She smiled seeing Maeda laugh. If anything, angry drivers would be the last of her problems when she saw the crime rate level down south -- but she didn't need to know that.

Maeda tapped her chin in thought. "Hm, that doesn't sound like such a bad idea. I've always wanted to visit that pineapple patch I heard about, and ride a few waves while I'm at it. Any who, I'm actually from the original UA and supposed to be your tour guide, but some of you guys looked a bit too worn out to hear me blabbering." She gestured to the back of the bus at everyone who'd fallen asleep. "I figured that whole travelling process must have been a lot to sort through and you guys didn't get much shut eye."

H O N K ! H O N K !

The sound of the bus's horn abruptly going off shocked the students out of their slumber as they began speaking frantically among each other. Jade heard Maeda swear under her breath before standing up and walking to the front. What the hell is going on right now? She peered out her window trying to see what the hold up was but could only make out a large crowd and thousands of flashing lights. As other students on the bus fought to get a look outside, a voice came over the speakers. "Students of UA International, this is your tour guide speaking. I ask that you please remain calm as we are currently experiencing a few difficulties getting to our designated building. In the meantime, please return to your seats and ensure that you have all your carry on items with you. We are not responsible for any lost or stolen items, though as a hero in training, such an act should not be of a concern lest you wish to face consequences." There was a pause before she continued, "Further instructions will be given at the dorms. For now, sit tight and get to know the people around you, you're going to be with them for the next few months. This is your tour guide, Kou Maeda, signing off. Thank you for choosing UA International: Heroes of Tomorrow." About fifteen minutes passed until the bus began moving again and the four eyed female returned.

"You make quite the speaker," Jade commented cleaning up her area.

Maeda smirked and flicked her wrist. "You flatter me too much. It just gets annoying always having to deal with all those news reporters and the media. They made a barrier in front of the other bus and refused to move, so we had to call in some escorts and extra security."

"Ah, I see," said Jade as she looked at the faces the vehicle passed, seeing a Pro Hero holding off the crowd. They were a lot more compliant compared to the crowds in LA, so she was fine having to deal with that for the next few months. Commotion picked up within the students again as the bus stopped before a huge building. The structure stood wide with three stories and a sturdy looking wall surrounding it. What caught Jade's eye, however, was the overwhelming amounts of people that were surrounding the buses and standing at the entrance. It was a jumble of cameras, flashes, confetti, signs, whistles, streamers -- They're really that excited to see UA International students? Huh, well that means I've got eyes and ears from all directions. Gotta be careful of my interactions. She tugged on her gloves and got out of her seat, taking a deep breath before stepping out into the open.

Automatically, strangers fought their way closer to the students, firing questions and pushing mics or recorders into their faces. Jade was thankful for the great amount of Pro Heroes in attendance, otherwise she would've been trampled alive. After retrieving her luggage, she peered around looking for Maeda, frowning when she failed to spot her. "Hmph," Jade grumbled to herself, "I swear she was right by the bus--" A loud and dramatic laugh boomed in the distance, cutting off the girl's thoughts. The sound had apparently excited the crowd even more, but Jade barely had enough time to turn around before other travelling students were running with their luggage. They're rushing down the aisle to the entrance, but for wh--a gasp caught in her throat. At the wall stood a tall and lanky man, fists at either hip. His chest was puffed out proudly and nose high with pride, but there was no denying the striking blonde hair and trademark smile that gleamed from a mile away. Jade looked on in disbelief, realizing the former Symbol of Peace, the great All Might, was merely a few steps away from her. It came as a shock to everyone the news of his retirement and true form, but even in this state confidence and power radiated heavily from him. She snapped out of her starstruck gaze when more students roughly pushed past her, dying to get close to the world known hero. Jade began moving, but her current speed didn't match those around her and resulted in students now stepping on her shoes or ramming into her shoulder. She growled under her breath in irritation. Keep calm Jade, everyone's just a little excited, don't get pissed off and--ack! In that moment, she'd accidentally tripped over her own foot, too focused on trying to not get her toes squashed. Everything felt in slow motion as her carry on bag slipped off her outstretched arm, flying a few feet ahead of her. She swore up and down in her mind as her body lurched forward. This for sure was gonna be the new hot topic, she thought, clumsy girl from UALA makes a fool of herself before even entering the building. Jade shut her eyes and readied herself for collision with the cement ground...

But it never came.

The girl instead found herself leaning against a solid wall, except this wall didn't feel so...brick like, and it apparently boarded around her arms, stopping her fall entirely. She opened her eyes and was face to face with a bulky arm decorated with a few scars. It took her a second to realize her cheek was pressed against someone's chest and she quickly pulled away in embarrassment. "I am so sorry about that!" she spewed out with a nervous laugh, unable to meet her savior's gaze. Jade noticed they too adorned the UA uniform and mentally swore again. This person had to be a UA student, great! Just my damn luck! So much for first impressions, Jade! "I just got so caught up seeing All Might standing at the entrance, and everyone began running--"

"Hey hey, don't sweat it! I know it wasn't your fault" the stranger chuckled. The girl peered up; before her stood a young male who she assumed was older by a year or two. His physique was hulking and towered over her own, which in her eyes was impressive considering the fact that she wasn't petite nor slender. Fair skin, blonde hair, and a grand smile, he could've easily been mistaken as a younger version of All Might, she thought, observing him. Hm, nice voice, pretty face, takes care of his body...not bad, I'll give him that much. "Heh, glad you're enjoying the view there." Crap.

"My bad, I didn't mean to stare," Jade faked another laugh, rubbing her shoulder in embarrassment.

"It's all good, you're quite the sight yourself," replied the boy coolly, handing her the carry on bag she'd dropped. The girl’s face felt hot at his comment as she pursed her lips. "My name's Togata Mirio, I'm a third year student here at the original UA."

"Lofota Jade, but Jade is fine. I'm a second year student from UA Los Angeles."

Togata tapped his chin and cocked his head in thought. "Jade, like the gemstone? Pretty name for a pretty face, eh?" She couldn't hold back her smile that time and let her head down, face now feeling like it was on fire. Kid knows how to spit game—gotta be one of the school flirts. It wasn't often Jade received this kind of playful attention as many feared her appearance or incredible strength, believing they'd get beat to a pulp for any kind of joke. While that technically was an open possibility, she wasn't one to get mad at harmless banter. Still, it was fascinating to watch this stranger do it so openly, not hesitating on his words.

"Mirio!" Both heads snapped in the direction of a woman attempting to run towards them. She was dressed in all black and held a camera in her hands. Jade noticed how the woman wasn't stopped by any of the Pro Heroes or policemen, and the blonde guy didn't seemed bothered by her, so she remained put. "Thank goodness you were able to get a hold of one of the international students! Many of them zipped past me to see All Might down there," she heaved, moving some locks out of her face. The shades she wore were pushed atop her head as she smiled at Jade. "Sorry if I scared you, hon, I'm Exposure. I work here at the original UA as their photographer, and I'm supposed to be taking pictures of the students coming from overseas. Is it alright if I could snap a few photos?"

"Oh! Well I don't exactly look my best right--"

"Nonsense! You look great, Jade!" All heads turned to find Maeda and two other students walking towards them. A male and a female with young faces. "Sorry for leaving you, I wanted you to meet my friends. We're all second year students, so we'll be seeing each other pretty often while you're here." The two students stepped forward with warm expressions.

"Ishikawa Ren, at your service," said the female student; her voice was light and feathery. She had short silver locks pulled back into a low ponytail, and eyes of the same color. Her snowy white skin gave her complexion that of a porcelain doll's.

"Arata Kubo, nice to meet you." Jade nodded at the male when he introduced himself. While he also had the snowy skin complexion, his hair was a deep umber hue. She was unable to see his eyes as his bangs draped just above his nose, but she swore an electric blue eye peeked out at her. He stood a few inches above her, not necessarily Togata's height, but enough to where she looked upwards.

"Lofota Jade, but please call me Jade. It's nice to meet you both as well." Just before she could continue speaking, she heard clicking and snapping. Jade turned to find Exposure getting to work with her camera, holding it at different angles and pausing momentarily to look back over her images. She smiled at the students.

"Please, go on ahead! This is what I was hoping to capture, our local and travelling students conversing freely and getting to know one another. It really helps people to see visuals of any and everything involving this program."

Jade nodded, then got an idea. "Is it possible if I can take a group picture with these students, miss? I really need to be heading inside the building to check into my dorm soon, but I do wish to remember those who welcomed me first upon my arrival."

Exposure nodded excitedly. "That's a clever and kind idea, Jade. I totally forgot about the sign in procedures, but we can make this quick, I promise!" She used her hand to gesture to the four other students. "C'mon now everyone! We can't have an international student late on her first day here. Quick quick!" Maeda and Ishikawa stood closest to Jade on either side while Arata squatted in front of her. Mirio stood behind at a respectful distance and held peace signs behind her head, a goofy smile stretched on his face. Exposure leveled the camera with her eye and stood immobile, her finger moving at a rapid pace. She suddenly stopped and the grin she initially wore fell; she slowly pulled the device away from her face. Jade saw her eyes were focused on the image she'd just snapped, but she looked concerned, like she'd seen something she wasn't expecting to. The international student's expression also became that of concern. Did something happen while she was taking our picture?

"Everything okay, Miss Exposure?"

Immediately, the woman's look changed into one of relief. She chuckled softly while shaking her head, "Yeah, my screen just went blank for a sec, thought my battery died just now. I would've been dead had that happened, though I probably could've had you help me, Kubo." He and the two female students laughed then chatted among themselves, but Jade kept her gaze focused on Exposure. I don't know if they could tell, but that was definitely a cover up. Her laugh was nervous, and I saw clear as day that she took the picture, no black screen or nothin'! She must’ve seen something caused by her camera, but she played it off saying there was a malfunction. Her eyes briefly met Jade's before she glanced around at the other students. "Well kids, thank you for your time. Maeda, Ren, Kubo, if you'd be kind enough to walk this young lady to her designated room that'd be great. Mirio, I'm gonna need some help trying to snap photos of the crowd." She waved before turning on her heel and walking away, heels clicking on the pavement.

The blonde haired student looked at the second year kids and gave a cheeky grin before following suit. "See ya later, gemstone," he called over his shoulder as he strutted away. Jade rolled her eyes at the nickname and gripped her luggage tighter. Annoying boy. A hand lightly fell on her shoulder; she turned to see it was Maeda.

"C'mon newbie," she said, "we gotta get you in and settled, then we can show you around to some cool places." Jade nodded and began walking towards the entrance. She conversed with the three students, learning about them and their quirks: Maeda could manipulate glass, Arata could possess electronic devices and Ishikawa had blood that could heal whoever consumed it. She shared about her quirk of mind manipulation, being sure not to touch on too many details, and further explained how wearing gloves was in connection to it. Jade couldn't deny how pleasing it was to see the trio and their genuine efforts in getting to know her. It put her mind at ease and for once since arriving she'd felt sedate.

After getting some help from the girls into her dorm room, the ringing of a cellphone went off. Ishikawa pulled out her phone and held it to her ear after tapping it; she smiled and slipped into the hallway, giggling and cracking bird related jokes. Jade raised a brow and looked to the four eyed girl. "It’s probably her boyfriend,” she shrugged in response, moving closer to the door. “Anyways, Ren, Kubo and I are gonna go back to our dorms to freshen up, then we'll meet you at the entrance in two hours. You got my number, so call me if anything happens, okay?"

"Gotcha," Jade replied with a smile. "Thank you for the welcome, I seriously appreciate it from you and your friends."

"Oh, we're not done with our version of welcoming," Maeda winked. "There's a lot we have planned, so get some shut eye, you're gonna need your energy fully restored."

"Heh, okay bet!" Maeda tilted her head to the side with a confused expression. Forgot they probably wouldn't understand US slang. "It's an informal way of speaking, I'm not actually making a bet." She nodded, her lips forming an O shape, then made her exit out of the room.

Jade let out a huge sigh and fell back on her bed. This was where she'd be for the next few months, alone in a completely new environment. She'd almost felt as though she'd returned to that corner store, to the seven year old version of her watching and making heavy decisions with nobody to direct her. Though her life wasn't in danger (at least not yet) in this moment, Jade knew that she could not afford to have her guard down, even with her newfound friends. She would not let her parents or her siblings down. You can't let them down, they look up to you. Mom and Dad are watching you, anything you do can and will affect them. The girl sighed again and stared at a family photo she'd packed with her clothes. Her thumb ran over all the faces, then stopped at a male that stood beside her. They both wore wide smiles and ridiculous poses; she smiled at the picture before a tear escaped her eye and dropped onto the male's face. Don't you worry, Manu, I didn't forget you. This is especially for you, and I know you meant well with everything you did. I'm gonna give my absolute best to take care of Mom and Dad and the little ones. Your spirit resides within the family crest, and I will always honor you with the ancestors. I hope to see you again someday. I love you, brother. Jade wiped her eyes with her sleeve and placed the photo down. She would be strong, she had to be. It was now her who had to take on the leadership role. She would carry on the mantle of her bloodline and stand tall for her family. She would fight to her last breath for them. Anything for them.

~

For further information on Jade, click HERE to read more (: Hope you guys enjoyed this! School starts up again soon, so updates may slow down, but I hope my character can keep you entertained during quarantine!

[neruma-us]

A look into the Past- Chapter One

Chapter One

The sun still sat in the sky heating the earth many walked on through the Barrens. The very same hot winds blew this day, giving little relief to those who traveled through. Two Shu’halo marched onward towards the Crossroads seeking refuge and a night’s stay, at the least. With heavy footfalls a female marched as if following the drums of war. She was adorned in the heavy plate armor of the Horde army with a cloak wrapping around her body as it whipped in the winds. It could not hide the exposed left shoulder of the female as a symbol laid branded to her body. The symbol of the Horde and surrounding it a blood oath burned brightly as a symbol of devotion that never wavered. Her  fur was mostly black with a spotted white chest and a snout filled with sand of the winds. With labored breaths, she carried the weight of a short sword on her hip and a large tower shield strapped to her back. Her pitch black mane was thick, with a single braid running down her back, matching the horns sticking from the top of the head which gleamed in the sun.

Beside her walked a bull wearing much less in the means of gear. This dark chocolate-furred Shu’halo wore a thick green leather robe that looked worn from the sun and road. With a staff in one hand and a large bag on his back, he kept pace with the female, ever watching her. Three separate chin braids hung down, swaying with each step while a pair of white horns pointed forward with his face visible. He didn’t bear any marks or signs of belonging to any specific group. It may have been his desire to be unaffiliated or maybe not express it to those around. The hood of his robe remained pulled over his head keeping the sun from his eyes. Their trek had taken them far from Orgrimmar, home of the Orcs, in search of Mulgore’s rolling plains. They wished to see them but fate did not give them the time to arrive at their destination before nightfall. The north entrance of the Crossroads stood guarded by two Horde members, a male and female Orc in armor reflecting Grunts of the army. Both sentries watched the Shu’halo pair approach before intercepting them.

The male Orc grunted, reaching a hand to his hilted axe before speaking in a small snarl, “Welcome to the Crossroads.  You here to cause trouble or just passing through?” It did not take even a second for the female Shu’halo to open her eyes revealing the stern glare of orange eyes with a biting response. “Begone, grunts. We’re just passing through. If you get in my way, I will cut you down.”

All the bull could do was just let out a belly laugh.  “Please don’t get us thrown out. You're in no condition to...”

His words are interrupted as the female Shu’halo growls “Shut your trap. I don’t have time…”

She shifts slightly with the cloak whipping in the winds exposing her stomach to the female Orc. The female Orc’s eyes spot the arm holding the front of her breast plate on that stuck out abnormally unlike a possible wound. Everything about this female Shu’halo felt off as the Orc stared at a soldier who could be injured. The fact the Shu’halo still had all her gear on made her doubt, and in the end, not have a idea what is happening with her. Only thing to come to her studying the armor worn and the mark on her shoulder was indeed a soldier, not just any soldier but a high ranking one.

Stepping to the male Orc, the female Orc speaks in a growl, “Let them through. There is no need to stop them. Unless you want your head cleaved off by her.” With that she returned to her post watching the pair of Shu’halo.

The male Shu’halo spoke up. “She is right. This one here, even in her state, would not flinch at cutting your head off. For Legionnaire Tar’shal Ebonhorn is not afraid to take a life.” He grins and looks to Tar’shal.  

Tar’shal shifts her gaze to the Bull with a raised voice, “Please don’t speak my name. People don’t need to know it if they can’t recognize me.”

With that, Tar’shal just pressed past the male Orc who looks a bit mortified by what was said. Did he just make his death wish? He didn’t want to find out, instead returning to his job. Tar’shal kept walking a short distance more until stopping with a focused expression covering her face. The bull even stopped to stare looking for a clue for her reaction. He spoke up “What is it? Something happening?” His face filled with a bit of worry not hearing a immediate response. In the silence she held the look and stare though she was not looking at anything specific. After a minute she blinks coming back looking to the Bull with a bit of worry and panic for once. “We have to hurry. Staying here may not be good at this rate. Getting to Mulgore is important and part of the agreement Sidec. I can’t be held up here for a period of time.”

With that Sidec began letting a belly laugh out “I know. But if you rush this. You will have more issues. Rest for Earth Mother's sake. I can’t believe you're carrying all that and in your current state. Stubborn woman.” He said with a smile.

With a bit of a skip he walked ahead of her looking around the small village. It was mostly barren besides those trying to prove their hunting skills. Some vendors kept a stand trying to call travelers over to see their wares. His eyes settle on the Inn at the heart of the village. A much newer building that looked to house a possible resting spot for them. Not wasting time entering his nose was filled with grilled meats on a nearby meat rack, the smell of wolf and Kodo steaks good enough to make a mouth water. Settling on a older Orc tending to a book for lodging with one patron taking their leave to find a bed to rest. Sedic approaches the Orc with a bow “Greetings brother.” The Orc looked up with squinting eyes to the Shu’halo speaking up with a tried voice “Hail friend. Is there something I can do for you? I’m about to close up lodging for the night.” He asks setting down a piece of charcoal to grab a nearby cup and quench a thirst brought by the areas heat. Sedic nods his head reaching to pull his hood back being respectful to his host. “I am. Possibly a room for the night. I have company of a female that's...in a delicate state. Were trying to get to Mulgore but her body might not make it. Which also...do you know anyone good with births around?”

His request made the Orc spit out his drink at the requests. Running a arm across his face he wiped away the loose water before speaking. “Birthing? She is with child? How close is she?” He rattled out the questions trying to grasp the situation.

Sedic let out a belly laugh “I love everyone who reacts like that.” He calmed himself with a slowing of breaths. “She is due any time now. When I fear is any day but she is determined to get to Mulgore before that. Sadly I don't think it will be happening. So I want to make her comfortable for the inevitable.”

The Orc just stared at Sedic a moment at what he said trying to understand if he was serious from the chuckle. A grunt left his mouth picking up the charcoal to make a note for two beds without names then walked around him. “Get her in the bed to the north of the Inn. I have to ask for some help in case. This is probably the least wanted location to have a child.” With that note he marched out seeking locals help and any passer bys of any aid. Tar’shal watched the Orc leave with a look of confusion while Sedic walked up “What are you standing there for?” He asks with a smirk. “Come inside. Being in that heat with all the armor will not be good for you and the child.”

Tar’shal looked to Sedic with a glare snapping “I’m fine! This heat is nothing to me.” Saying as she started moving inside the Inn, out of the heat. Hoofs clack on the stone floor with the grind of metal of her plate taking in the room. “This is a Inn? Looks less than even a barrack.”

Sedic gave a smile to her comments as he checked a bed for comfort, sticking hands into the hay. “I would keep your comments to yourself here. If not for them then you would be outside. But that would not bother you, would it?”

The words made Tar’shal snort responding “Whatever. Is that where I am staying?” Looking at the bed she did not look to enthused by it but she has seen worse.

Sedic stepped aside nodding as she worked unloading the pack on his back and seeking some regents from within. “It is. Now get out of that armor and get in bed. You need rest.” Out of the bag a mortar and pedestal with a few herbs were placed on a nearby table preparing to make some medicine. Tar’shal glares at Sedic that breaks into a small sign of happiness that she would never admit. “Understood. I’m surprised you're still here. Dealing with a hard head such as me.” She says beginning to unload her gear.

He began to let a small chuckle out “Because in our deal I want to see my promise kept. If you do chase me off then I get all you stuff. What's more luring then seeing a female like yourself in the buff?”

Both sword and shield were laid against the nearby wall looking well worn and used through many battles and fights. Pulling the cloak off to hang it off her tower shield she exposed her stomach hidden in the loose breast plate. She could not buckle any of it at the time even for as tall as she was, standing over Sedic when they were next to each other. Soon she began stripping each piece of the black plate armor, setting it into a pile. The top half was the easiest for her but when working on the pants and leg wraps she found the large round stomach a issue to bend over that made her sit on the bed to finish. Thoughts of why she wanted to do this in the first place filled her mind only to be quelled by images of a calf running around. All that was left once the large female had shed her last piece of armor was a Shu’halo that looked a mess. From the thick unmaintained mane to the shaggy fur on her shoulders that also hanged down around her hooves. How anyone survived in this heat with that much fur baffled even a Orc. Though all Sedic could do was stare and blush at the large rack before him. The black with spotty white fur helped detail her figure and muscle structure from training. Even in this state she held a stern look from her duty as a soldier trying not to give in to certain emotions.

The traveling pair had settled down in the small village of Crossroads to rest and prepare for what could come. Sedic would spend the night as if part of a norm of his life getting Tar’shal medication to help with pain and soothe muscles of her body with oils and massages. One could say it looked like a pair of mates but during the day it was another story.

Outside the Inn the keeper managed to find a few helping hands directing them in while the town had another group of guests arriving from the west. A caravan of at least three Kodo long approaches with eight Shu’halo guiding and guarding it. All the Kodo carried boxes and bags of trades collected from their travels with another destination in mind. Their trek had been long and a rest was needed. The Head bull directed the Kodo and half the party to behind the Inn to settle the Kodo and get their thirst quenched while the rest took in the scene. To the locals the group looked secretive besides the white paint many of them displayed on their muzzles.

While some looked at a few stalls the others saw the commotion the Innkeeper had stirred up in the middle of the street. Two bulls moved up trying to hear the Orc call out to the crowd, pushing aside a few elves. Over the crowd the Orc calls “If anyone else is able to help. My Inn has no medical experts but I need one or two more hands to help in case a child is born! A pair of Shu’halo arrived with one with child.” He looked around waiting for any response.

The bulls looked to each other in thought and possibilities as their trade run had not come off with as much of a profit as they hoped. But maybe they can find something else to bring back that be a aid to the tribe. One gave a small smirk turning to the Orc calling out. “Brother! We have two hands that can help. If and when we will be behind this Inn here tending to our caravan.”

The Orc turns pounding a fist to his chest “I thank you! This is my Inn as it is so please come seek me if you need anything.” With that the Orc had his need filled and headed back inside to check on things as it would be a long night he assumed. With their own people secured in helping the pair of bulls headed back to the caravan to enlist two females to the task. It would be their job to find out the details of the parents and what the child will be like. Luck had fallen on their side this night it had seemed, though the females seemed reluctant to do the job of medical aids. But they had little ability to argue as they too had known their trip this time has come up shorter than usual. Everything was set as the sun began to sink below the hills with the moon's starting to grace the night sky. The night grew late as many waited on edge for the one call out. Some were given coffee in hopes to help keep them awake. Sitting very still Tar’shal could not help but look around at the makeshift screens used to block the view to others for privacy, if it ever meant anything to her as a soldier. She felt uneasy with this treatment as usually in the event she was hurt. All they did was patch her up and send her off to fight again. Not all this attention and waiting...But next to her Sedic sat with a pipe writing into a scroll of the day's events. He looked at ease as if done this before or it was more he was used to the brute that he kept company. She did make him chuckle many times over and even had some tender moments with her. The nearby table sat tools and medical herbs in aiding with pain all just waiting…

The Storyteller stopped looking to her guest with a smile “It amazes me how some people handle these situations. Some are more aware at these difficulties but others do it and find out later it is bad.”

The guest smiles at her note with his voice speaking up “Had she always been like this? Even before the military?”

She pondered a moment at the question before finding an answer “She was not as tough in the past. She was devoted but the Horde made her stronger in devotion and...hard to get into emotionally. Especially when she was the last of her blood. It was those who she tried bringing honor to her name that way.” Nodding the guest goes quiet in thought waiting as the Storyteller continued with a star passing in the night sky behind them.

[the-master-cylinder]

Elisabeth was born on July 2, 1951 in Toronto, Ontario and adopted by William Harrison “Sandy” Luyties Jr. (1927-1996) and his wife Joan (née Brooks; 1935-2010) when she was 6 months old.

Out on the west coast, Elisabeth balanced her career goals with fostering her infant son. While waitressing at both L.A.’s Roxy Club and the then exclusive upstairs affixture On the Rox, she became acquainted with Hollywood high-rollers, including Warren Beatty, Harry Dean Stanton and Jack Nicholson (with whom she claims to have had a wild six-month relationship). While working an onset babysitting assignment, she was discovered by the actor Don “Red” Barry. It was never clear to me what specific contribution he made, but shortly after her introduction to the actor, she made her television debut in an episode of the NBC series, EMERGENCY (1972-1977).

Elisabeth subsequently earned prime time visibility from guest appearances on hits like Starsky and Hutch and made the telefilm Heart to Heart. Brooks also made the rounds at Universal Studios, appearing on The Rockford Files, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman and even The Night Stalker. She played a nurse’s aide on the episode, “The Spanish Moss Murders.”

She tells of her first role in a Universal movie: a small bit in Alfred Hitchcock’s Family Plot (1976). “I had a very small part,” she admits, “and when I first got on the set, I overheard the make-up man and wardrobe people and crew talking about how he [Hitchcock] had not talked to anyone in two weeks. He just wasn’t a friendly person to the crew. He wasn’t rude to them, he just didn’t talk to them. He didn’t spend much time talking to anyone. He didn’t care to get into conversations with actors so he had an Assistant Director give all the directions.

“When I started to do my two lines, he sent the AD over to the guy I was working with to give him some directions and the AD came to me and said, ‘Mr. Hitchcock suggests…’ and way in the corner I hear this booming voice saying, ‘Young lady…’ and he started talking to me and I got very nervous and I was the talk of the set because I was the first actress he had directed on the film directly. I felt really impressed

“And of course the first few times I screwed up. I got him to laugh. I was very nervous and I dropped my purse right in the middle of everything and he started laughing and I said, ‘I’m sorry…’ and he said, “That’s all right, that’s all right.’ This was just a small start.”

For nine months, Brooks lived in New York and played an ex-alcoholic country singer on the soap opera, Days of Our Lives. It also brought Brooks her first fan mail. “She was kind of a spaced-out character,” ‘Brooks says with a laugh. “She wasn’t too sure what was wrong, what was right and what she was going to do next. She ran off to be a rock and roll star.” It was on that show that Brooks began singing, and writing her own music and lyrics. “During the show I opened my own publishing company and I did a couple of my songs on the show. The part I played was not a good singer and so it was easy,” she chuckles. She is now taking lessons and is planning on performing when ready.

Elisabeth was best known for her role as Marsha. the tempestuous werewolf in Joe Dante’s cult classic, THE HOWLING (1981). Brooks had never heard of the novel, The Howling, but she received a call at home, telling her Avco Embassy was making the movie and they wanted her to come in and read for a part. “I went in and I was given a script and I read it and came back. I did a scene for the producer, Mike Finnell, and the director, Joe Dante, and came back again and did another scene, or the same scene for the executive producers, Daniel Blatt and Steven Lane. And then I had to come back with a long, dark wig on.” Brooks was wearing short, blondish hair at the time.

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Marsha is described in the film as “elemental” with vast untapped powers. She’s also a seductress, who has little use for men and even less use for women. She’s accused of taking men and bending them to her will for whatever purpose she chooses and no one can understand her motives.

“I was told not to read the novel,” Brooks explains. Marsha may be one of the few elements to remain similar to the book’s depiction. Marsha Quist is also the toughest role Brooks has undertaken. She describes Marsha as an animal. “And in being an animal, she has no compassion or desire to be associated with human beings. She has very definite points of view on the human race and being an animal, she finds them extremely threatening to her unless she can control them. And she does control the humans.” To her, it was an extremely challenging role and she feels she accomplished what she set out to do: create a complex character and make her believable.

What disappoints her is the final cut of the film. She describes working with Director Dante as being very easy. “We really didn’t have any trouble until I saw the film–and then we really didn’t have any trouble. I had a meeting with him to voice my complaints, I felt he didn’t leave enough substance to my character. He just centered on the sexually stimulating parts of her which are fine. Those are just actor’s and director’s opinions. He had to make his movie work. That’s the way he said he could make the movie work. I am upset as an actress because I worked very hard on developing a character that I spent a lot of time and energy trying to develop. It’s a little disheartening when you work so hard on something and you see so little of it up there except something that you were told wouldn’t be the substance of the character and all of a sudden that’s the substance and everything else you worked on isn’t there anymore. I know how much was not left in and I’m a little upset but it’s ok,” she says.

“For Marsha,” Brooks continues after taking a breath, “I was told to think of a cat. A very sexual, soft and feminine cat but very dignified. The type of thing a cat is. A cat gets it victims through sex-they have a very sexual outlook. I think a lot of that was left out of the film. A lot of the power was left out. The power that was left in was sexual power. So that’s ok. Joe and I had many talks about it but by the time I found out about the cuts, it was too late to go back and change anything.”

Part of the sexual nature of Marsha is also very visual since Brooks had to do a scene with full frontal nudity. “It was freezing,” she remembers. “It was done very late at night and it was extremely cold. We did it very quickly. It was my first such experience and hopefully one of my last.”

What made the love scene so difficult was not just the cold. Both Brooks and Christopher Stone had to go through partial transformation into werewolves while supposedly making love. Both wore fangs in their mouths that slid into place when wires were tripped with their tongues.

Thinking about Marsha, the young actress goes on to discuss her, “In the film and the character and the script I read, my character had a lot of substance and credibility to it. And this person I played had a lot of dimension that in the actual cut of the film, I feel, has been diminished. I think The Howling is a cartoon brought to life. In looking at it as a cartoon, my character is a cartoon character, totally different from me as a person. I think it will be a very, very big hit.

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“It is fun and it doesn’t gross you out. They didn’t put a lot of traditional horror elements in it, yet it encompasses all of it. I’ve heard it’s almost a classic type of film. I think it will reach for more than the horror audience. Everyone has a good time.”

She was very vocal in her objections to scenes that required full-frontal nudity. “I was signed to do the movie on my acting ability alone. I was told the sex shots would be smoke screened by a bonfire and that you wouldn’t be able to see anything.” Playboy published the nude footage, without Elisabeth’s approval, in the magazine’s annual “Sex in the Cinema” retrospect. With no heat waves nor smoke, she disrobed near the embers of a modest blaze. Elisabeth was further quoted, “In the past, I’ve always refused to do nude magazine work because I believe in the Bible and have morals.” Elisabeth later told me that she had a reputation to consider as a single mom; she was referring to Jeremy, who was seven years old when THE HOWLING was released. Elisabeth refused to marry the boy’s father.

To make Marsha come alive, and turn into a carnal werewolf, Rob Bottin worked with her. Brooks says of him, “He’s a sweetheart, really easy to work with. They put a mask on my face when I turn into a werewolf. My face gets all distorted. They put a plaster cast over your whole face and it’s a total freak-out, totally blows you away because you can’t breathe. The whole time I was there, knowing Rob was there … he never stops talking, never. He has a soothing voice and you get comfortable and you don’t get scared. Anytime I started to get scared, he would sense it and he’d say, ‘It’s ok Elisabeth, sit still … He explains every step that he is doing so you know what’s going on. He’s fabulous to work with and he’s like that with everyone.”

While THE HOWLING cleaned-up at the box office, Elisabeth required a hysterectomy to recover from PID (pelvic inflammatory disease). The illness was one reason that she backed-out of THE HOWLING II, though initially agreed to do the sequel. But there was another reason. Friend Kristy McNichol, an actress formerly tied to a popular TV series (FAMILY, 1976-1980), had wielded some influence on HOWLING II’s failed salary negotiations.

Elisabeth said she had met Kristy while babysitting on movie sets. They actually performed together in a movie aptly titled THE FORGOTTEN ONE (1990). It was reported in the Star tabloid (Dec. 1994) that McNichol, upon learning about Brooks’ diagnosed cancer, “ran to her side.” Their relationship, while sometimes tumultuous, was very close.  After a 33-month struggle with brain cancer, Brooks died in Haven Hospice near her home in Palm Springs, California at the age of 46.

CREDITS/REFERENCES/SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Fangoria#12 Femme Fatales v07n02

Elisabeth Brooks: Sexy She Wolf Elisabeth was born on July 2, 1951 in Toronto, Ontario and adopted by William Harrison "Sandy" Luyties Jr.

[illusion-of-sea-axes]

(A little thing that gives some backstory to the Fake AH Crew in the Cybernetic Au)

Words:  1873

Everyone in Fake AH Crew has scars. It’s about as obvious as saying the sky is blue.

Jack’s wrists are scarred up relatively little where the flesh and muscle turns to metal and circuits. There are other scars dotting her skin. From nearly-failed escapes back when she was a ameteur thief, from skimmings with bullets too close for comfort, or from the few occasions she’s been cornered by rival gangs. The occasions were rare, of course. No one could quite forget the mystery surrounding the warehouse full of dead gang members who were lacking in the appendages that Jack had incidentally also been lacking. Only these ones were dead before they could steal a new pair of cybernetic hands.  

Gavin himself hadn’t ever been to the warehouse or asked the woman about it, but he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to start looking for a full set of cybernetic hands even if his hands were mostly cybernetic anyway.

Geoff’s most visible scars are from fights. Fist fights, knife fights, gun fights, whatever other kind of fight that went on in Los Santos’ back alleys. The ones that people are actually able to see usually is the small dents in his cybernetic arms, the small patches of brighter looking paint meant to hide small flaws that came from whatever job the man decided to take.

Geoff had been the one to teach Gavin how to fully clean his cybernetic additions after a job and even showed him how to paint them without fucking them up.

Ryan wasn’t quite like either of them. He was either always wearing his skull mask or had skull patterns painted on his face. The only time you ever saw his skin was his ears or some of his neck. Something Gavin had picked up on relatively quickly was that Ryan had cybernetic eyes. No one’s eyes glow that vibrant of blue naturally. When Gavin first asked Ryan about his cybernetics, the man hadn’t answered. When he asked him again, Ryan told him that unless he wanted to try and cut the Vagabond open that he would never fully know. When Gavin had asked him if he had any scars from his cybernetics, Ryan said that Gavin would never get to see them. One day though, Ryan finally gave. Sort of. He was sitting next to Gavin in Geoff’s apartment, Michael chilling with Jeremy over at the kitchen bar and out of earshot. It had been silent, as things usually were with the Vagabond. Then, just seemingly out of nowhere, he unzipped his jacket to his sternum and tugged on his shirt collar. Gavin had never seen the Vagabond expose that much skin, let alone willingly. He sort’ve understood why.

There were a lot of tiny scars, crisscrossing over the flesh of his neck and shoulder, but it was all a bunch of scrapes compared to the giant scar that Gavin could only assume was from someone trying to cut off Ryan’s head. It was the nastiest scar Gavin had ever seen in his life. He didn’t ask Ryan about scars ever again after that.

Jeremy had plenty of scars. Gavin had gotten to see one before when the man had gotten drunk of his arse and stripped off his shirt. It was a kinda disturbing sight.

Scars covered his back, the biggest ones looking the oldest. His back had no ridges were his spine pressed against  his skin like Gavin, but there was a large scar that spanned from the base of his neck down to his waist. His shoulder blades stuck against his skin, but they looked oddly smooth beneath the skin.

Gavin decided he never wanted to hear the story.

Now, for Gavin himself, he had plenty of scars. The flesh of his hands where they meshed into golden cybernetic fingers was a clear sign of that.

His left hand was still mostly organic, asides from the wires running alongside the veins. He’d gotten the cybernetics in his right hand after some of his fingers had been shot off in a gunfight and then he’d broken his thumb while ducking for cover.

The cybernetic plating in his shoulder, unlike rumors, wasn’t entirely cosmetic. It was replaced for the same reason the thumb and pointer finger of his left hand were replaced.

The first time he’d been kidnapped by a rival gang. They were trying to get some leverage over Geoff, so they decided to start cutting off digits. First the cut off the pointer finger and as Gavin later learned, mailed it directly to Geoff. After that, they cut off Gavin’s thumb and then mailed it to Jack like fucking idiots.

By the time Geoff and Jack finally figured out where they were keeping him, the gang had decided to brand him. They cut their own insignia into Gavin’s back and decided to leave it untreated.  According to what Gavin had heard, they were proud to be able to say they branded on of Geoff’s crew.

The gang leader was found with the FAHC logo drawn all over his flesh with the same knife found pinning his genitals to the front door.

But Michael, Michael was the one Gavin couldn’t seem to crack. The Jersey man didn’t like talking about the time before he started rolling with Geoff in his crew. He never wanted to act as if life had been any different and he never once talked about his own cybernetics except in passing.

Gavin seemed to be the only one interested in asking what his cybernetics were.

When he first asked Michael about his cybernetics, the Jersey man had told him in a very colorful way to fuck off. He chose to ask Geoff, since he was the one who had dragged Michael back to the apartment after one of his jobs.

Geoff told him that if Michael wouldn’t tell him, then neither would he. It was his own business. Gavin thought that was bullshit. They were all enhanced with cybernetics, so why would Michael not talk about his own?

Gavin tried to catch Michael without his usual leather jacket on. He’d gotten a door slammed into his face and a whole new set of curses that could only come from Michael. Although he did get to see the scars that ran up the length of Michael’s arms.

Since that failed, Gavin asked Jack next. He ended up begging her to tell him like a small child, his Golden Boy charm never once being pulled into the conversation. No one in the crew fell for his golden boy charm. Jack told him that Geoff had only told her Michael was a street fighter for a few months before they met.

It would explain why he looked so absolutely fucked up when Gavin first saw him passed out on their couch.

He asked Ryan, who shrugged. He asked for theories and Ryan suggested that maybe he has a bad history with his cybernetics. Maybe they got his parents into a debt they couldn’t crawl out of. Ryan said he’d seen it happen.

Gavin was persistent person, so he didn’t give up. He managed to slip it into conversation. Casually asked how Michael’s family was.

The man stared at him for a good moment before answering. “Hopefully fucking rotting in a ditch.” He spent the rest of his night in his room.

When Gavin finally got to see Michael’s scars, he thought the man was going to die.

Michael had just be shot in the side and slammed into a car by the blast of one of his signature explosives. Gavin had used all his strength to heave the man to the safety of an alleyway.

He was grateful Ray had decided to join them for this heist, what with him shooting down anyone who got too close to the alleyway.

Michael’s breath was heaving, painful as his chest rose and fell in a rapid pace. Gavin was never the medic of the crew, so being as useless as he was in that situation made him hate the world for forcing this situation on him and his friend.

“Shit.. Shit..” He hissed, watching the blood in coming out of Michael seeping into his jacket and the concrete.

“Call Jack..” Michael coughed, blood bubbling out of his lips. “Fuck- Call her!” Gavin did just that and within minutes, the woman had pulled up in Michael’s armored kuruma.

Gavin didn’t even ask for help as he carefully hauled Michael into the backseat and slammed the door, nearly knocking himself unconscious by the sudden acceleration as Jack started to take them somewhere safer.

“Gavin, you gotta take care of that wound. At least until we get to the safehouse!”

“But I dunno what the fuck to do!”

“I’ll tell you what to do. There’s a first aid kit under the seats.” It was normal for all the FAHC members to keep a first aid kit in their vehicles. They always managed to hurt themselves at some point or another.

“Alright.” Gavin hated looking at his crew members when they were injured, but Michael’s eyes were already rolling backwards so he didn’t have time to dwell on it.

The backseats were a cramped space, but Gavin made do.

“Alright, you gotta take off the jacket and the shirt. Take out the bandages first.” Gavin followed the instructions, pulling out gauze before he started to pull of the soot and blood covered jacket. His eyes caught on a scar line that ran down Michael’s forearm, but he quickly went back to stripping off the shirt.

That was when he saw the wound. And the scars.

Michael’s whole body was covered in scars, his skin razed with uneven flesh and white lines. But now he could see the scars ran from behind his neck, over his shoulders and down his arms.

“You’re gonna have to lift him up to wrap the bandages.” Jack instructed and Gavin swallowed the growing lump in his throat before doing so.

As he reached around to wrap the bandage around his torso, he saw the scars that ran down his back. The scars went over his shoulder blades, connecting at exposed metal embedded in flesh between his shoulderblades and then running down his spine. He felt slightly disturbed by the small lump in the base of his neck.

“Holy shit…”

“GAV!” The brit shook himself and went back to applying the bandages, his hands shaking as he felt Michael’s breathing go softer and softer.

Fortunately, they managed to get to the safehouse before he was on the verge of death.

Gavin finally decided to ask Michael one day, when everyone was off doing their own thing and they were alone in the livingroom.

Michael had stared at him and Gavin had expected him to curse at him again. Instead, he was greeted with a sad look in the freckled man’s eyes.

“I don’t like to look at them. They.. They don’t remind me of good things.”

Gavin had let up on the questioning after that. He didn’t want to force Michael to tell him what it was that led to him needing cybernetics, even if he did really want to know.

Some things just weren’t meant to be known.    

[dlthrack]

   The Mixed Bag Company had been waiting around for a couple of weeks, but no new jobs had come through. They had settled into a decent rhythm at the Inn, and Fortis had become almost a mascot to the robed wizards and over time more of them would stop by the Notched Axe for a drink or a meal at the end of the day. At the same time, as Barsal’s distiller friends felt they were getting closer to replicating the dwarven spirits they remembered from their homeland, and would come by to taste test samples on adventurous inn goers and an enthusiastic Blackfeet. As often happens when friends in Palanthas get together, they would kill time with pickup games of three dragon ante.    Soon mages began playing in games, and word started to get out that if you wanted to play in town, there was at least one game a night open to players at the Notched Axe. At some point, casual games turned into friendly rivalries between the dwarves and robes coming in to play, and the inn would even host more formal team competitions. One evening, ahead of a tournament, a young acolyte from the Library walked in to the inn with a letter from Stan addressed to Taney. After reading it, Taney immediately got up to leave, but paused and pulled Gwen aside to place her bet that the dwarves would win since she wouldn’t be there for the starting rounds of the competition.    Into the second round of the tournament, the remaining members of the company were watching Barsal’s game with excitement. Blackfeet, having particularly enjoyed the newest batch of mushroom spirits, was really getting into the action of each gambit. In the door walked Rawsel Half-kender.    Rawsel approached Iname, who was sipping wine watching the game from a set near the fireplace. The young half-kender looked nervous but asked for the company’s help in recovering something stolen from a friend. The elf brought in the remaining members of the group at the inn to hear Rawsel out, but upon hearing that he didn’t come offering any pay and that he needed them to come with him to meet a contact who might have information on the theft, they were hesitant. He suggested that not only would this job help make useful contacts for the party, and that they likely would find other things that had been stolen which the rightful owners would pay to have returned. The Mixed Bag Company, less Taney Greytail, agreed it was worth their time to at least go to the meeting and accept the job on spec.    Rawsel asked the group to follow him to the enormous fish market, One Eyed Kate’s near the docks, where he meaningfully told a bored looking teenager behind a stall that, “This cod looks *lethargic.*” When this elicited no useful reply, he repeated the phrase with even more emphasis, and the boy finally seemed to get the message and went in the back to return with a hulking older man in an apron stained with blood and fish guts. Rawsel repeated the code, and the man replied, “But the *snapper* are *really hopping*,” at which Rawsel nodded appreciatively. The fishmonger took a snapper and wrapped it up below the table, and sold it to the group. Walking around the corner, Rawsel opened the package to read the hidden note inside giving them a location and near time to arrive, then handed the fish to Mittens.    On the way there, Iname noticed a pair of humans following them, taking turns but they slipped up enough to be noticed. When she mentioned this to Rawsel, he said not to worry about it apparently recognizing the two, and only just catching himself short of waving at them. The meeting location turned out to be a neighborhood café in the middle of the Purple Hills district of the New City. The company and Rawsel were clearly expected, and were waved into the back where a stockroom had a ladder leading into the sewers. Down there they were met by a young human woman who introduced herself as Imogen, the liaison to the Thieves Guild from Legion of Steel.    Imogen, after hearing who the odd assortment of strangers around Rawsel were, exasperatedly asked what he wanted and why he had to turn meeting with “her” into this big production going through the fish market. Rawsel embarrassedly answered he was trying to help his friend Kavra, the proprietor of Zeboim’s Purse, who had an item very important to her stolen. He said he had no leads, but thought “she” might because she keeps track of notable comings and goings in the city.    Imogen lead them circuitously through the sewers, occasionally stopping and observing the surrounding area with an air of long familiarity. They arrived, somewhat grumblingly, in a large open room that looked to have originally been a storage cellar, but which had been converted into a surprisingly comfortable command center and meeting room. They were greeted by a middle-aged elven woman wearing an eye patch, who started to talk to Rawsel in irritation. After Rawsel again apologized for making this complicated, and Kate backtracked and said, “Where are my manners, I’m Ioleena the current One-Eyed Kate.” Iname replied in elven, then switched to common to introduce the rest of the Mixed Bag Company.    Ioleena offered everyone drinks, and motioned them to sit down with her at the long table in the center of the room. Upon hearing all their orders, she called into the back room for Gorp, an extremely wild and hairy looking gully dwarf in ragged clothing who came out of a kitchen area and grunted. “Two drinks, please Gorp.” He surveyed the party, grunted again and left. A minute later he returned with the exact orders given in clean glassware, to the visible shock of some of the party.    Rawsel explained the information he was after, but Kate told him that while she had what he wanted, it would come at a price. Hearing this, the adventurers were clearly annoyed, but no one more than Fortis, who finally exclaimed, “*We* have to pay?! Not only are we not getting paid, we have to pay for this job? AND we didn’t have to go through the sewers?! WE WALKED THROUGH POO!” The little gnome just glared at the cringing half-kender.    Io quickly clarified that the price was not money, but she needed them to recover something for the Thieves Guild first. And that in order to retrieve the Eye of Palanthas, an heirloom of the guild since nearly its founding, they would need to break into the Lord Knight’s house and raid the vault of the late Sir Elstone Kinsaid, Knight of the Lily. The Thieves Guild had intelligence from a former servant on how to access the manorhouse as well as the magical rod that activated the entry portal to the vault, but would not be accompanying them inside.    To the great annoyance of Fortis, the group set out into the sewers once again, led by Imogen. They arrived at a subterranean storage area below the Lord Knight’s manor. The group noticed some house linens stored in between barrels and crates and did their best to remove the muck.    The company made their way to the manor library, where Imogen used the Thieves Guild’s intelligence to locate a bookcase which swung away to reveal a blank wall with a large round keyhole. They used the rod to open the portal to Kinsaid’s vault, which illuminated in a shimmering swirl of blue. Imogen explained the rod could only be used to trigger the portal once per day, so no one would be able to follow them for 24 hours. Seeing the concern that the adventurers showed at the news, Imogen said she would take the rod with her so it would be safe and they would be able to send someone after the group if they did not return in that time. She didn’t offer to actually send anyone, however. Wishing them luck, the legionnaire watched them pass through the portal, and removed the rod. Around the company was a stone walled entrance room brightly lit by torches. They were quickly able to find the keyhole on this side of the portal, but without a rod on this side in their possession they would not be able to leave until locating another device.    Looking around, they were able to see the torches gave off only light, without producing smoke or heat. Fortis examined them and explained they were magical, so it was possible no one had been inside the hall in the two years since Lord Kinsaid died. They continued up some grand carpeted stairs, looking for any sign of other people or creatures. Upon reaching the main grand hall with pillars carved from the stone cavern around them and decorated by large wrought chandeliers, the adventurers spotted flickering firelight coming from an entryway at the end of a long hallway.    Iname carefully peered into the archway and saw a large more natural cavern bisected by a small brook. She watched carefully and saw the firelight came from a glowing forge on one side of the room, with a large research area and library near the entrance. On the far side across the underground stream was a huge stone golem chained to the wall. Below the golem was an older gnome with thinning hair seated at a small desk. The elf could see the aproned figure hunched over notes, rapidly scribbling down thoughts and periodically glancing up at the golem on the wall.    Deciding a relatable stranger’s face would be better received than a blue elf, a towering half-orgre, a scaled draconian, or a sheepish half-kender, the group sent in Fortis. With her usual enthusiasm and creative improvisation with the truth, Fortis convinced the startled gnome that she was also an expert in golems sent by Lord Kinsaid to aid in his work. The slightly miffed gnome introduced himself as Gindolearanyadoorfanbool… (but everyone around there called him just Gindo). He led Fortis back to the research area and pointed to a bizarre looking large domed contraption covered in copper wires and chunks of black stone, at the very center of which was a round stone medallion carved with a skull. Gindo explained his theory that golems are controlled by divine, rather than arcane magic, as conventionally believed. He had “dismantled” a nearby shrine to Takhisis in order to obtain relics with divine spark he could channel into the golem.    Gindo became irritated when stating he had since discovered the items he had appropriated had no apparent divine energy in them. He then questioned what Fortis could offer that he didn’t already know, and Fortis started improvising again, and the rest of the group entered before her web of lies unraveled. Fortis introduced her companions, and Blackfeet offered a sour lemon candy to Gindo. The older gnome initially just licked it and immediately began taking down observations; Blackfeet took offense insisted Gindo put in his mouth and eat it. The gnome was delighted and suggested they should give some to Wren, who brought him bread for meals because she would like them.    The group pressed subtly for more details about this other occupant, and learned Wren was apparently a young girl who made sure he ate regularly and would occasionally listen to his theories about the golem. In addition, he provided the group with a rough labeled map of the complex and added they would probably find Wren in the meeting room. Of interest on the map were two areas marked with question marks, one marked ‘Private’, and a door marked ‘Vault’.    The first place the company checked was the vault door, which was an impressive golden door that appeared to require three round medallion keys. They returned to Gindo’s lab, and Fortis once again distracted him to allow Korg to mold some nearby earth into a facsimile of the skull medallion and Rawsel’s deft hands to make the switch unobserved.    The group continued exploring, eventually winding up in front of a massive locked door. Rawsel capably picked the lock, but failed to see there was a trap and triggered it. Luckily, he reacted just swiftly enough and the poisoned needle pierced only the very top dead skin at the tip of his finger. Finally they arrived at one of the two rooms marked with question marks on Gindo’s map. The company guardedly entered the room to see a long rectangular room carved more roughly from the natural stone of the mountain. The long opposite wall was a fully mirrored flat surface; in its reflection the group could see the two doors leading into the room and the carved detail on the floor depicting a circle of thorns and the motto, “One who follows the heart finds it will bleed. Feel nothing but victory.”    As the person entered the room, the doors in the reflection vanished, and to their dismay, they saw the doors behind them had as well. Rawsel, curious, walked up to the mirror and touched his reflection. Suddenly the figures reflected in the mirror all began to change. Blackfeet saw his reflection become shorter and stockier as one of his wings shriveled then disappeared. Rawsel watched his reflection shrink and take on more true kender features while his complexion lightened. The image of Korg shrank dramatically, turning slender while growing long dark hair and pointed ears of an elf. Mittens vanished entirely. The blue elven figure in the mirror turned fair with freckles and red hair while getting shorter but more muscular. Fortis saw herself suddenly sprout a beard and salt and pepper dreadlocks, getting slightly taller and significantly bulkier.    As the mirror itself vanished and the room seemed to double in size, the two groups looked at each other in shock and began shouting. After several people asked who the others were, Iname seemed to recognize the others and stated their names (Barsal, Gwen, Lefty, Teamin and Suska) to show she knew who they were to try to avoid fighting. But the one-winged draconian shouted, “Who cares, kill ‘em!” and charged at Blackfeet. Pandemonium erupted.    Through chance or magic, it seemed at first even the attacks between parties were mirrored, but finally the stocky dwarf stumbled at Fortis’ feet and she used the Tear of Mishakal to dispel evil. The creature that appeared to be a younger Barsal shattered in a shower of glass. After realizing these were not truly their friends from the Notched Axe and their old companions, the Mixed Bag Company (plus Rawsel) rallied and began pressing the others in combat. Unexpectedly, they heard a quiet knocking as of on a door. Korg melded the earth away from the seemingly solid wall to reveal the door they entered in previously. In the door, they caught a glimpse of a short girl in a blue sundress, who asked, “Whatcha doin’?” Seeing the battle inside she added, “Oh, sorry, I’ll come back.” She quickly and quietly closed the door behind her.    Several of the party were injured, but eventually the last illusion shattered into glass, which disappeared as the mirror reformed. A small stone disk engraved with a thorned stem lay in the middle of the design on the floor and the doors returned. The adventurers packed away the second medallion and set out for the meeting room.

[unholyhelbiglinked]

Lips Of Holly

Written By: hartbigfordays [Wattpad]

While hanging the Christmas lights outside, she hears a vehicle pull up in the driveway next to hers. Normally, she wouldn't think twice about it but the house next door has been vacant for years until today, apparently. The U-Haul truck parks and a redheaded woman steps out of it, making her way to the back of the truck. She wonders why the woman is by herself; usually people hire others to help them move in. Grace finds herself staring and leaning back to get a better look at the woman. The ladder shakes from underneath her and she swears as she falls to the ground with the ladder following her. She groans and squeezes her eyes shut. When she opens them, she sees the redhead standing over her with red lips and a worried look on her face.

"Are you alright?"

Grace immediately sits up, embarrassed by her fall.

"Oh yeah. Um I'm good."

The redhead grins and offers her hand to the clumsy blonde.

"Thanks." Grace says as she takes her hand, "You must be my new neighbor."

"Yeah! I'm Mamrie!"

"Grace." She says, smiling slightly while brushing off her clothes, clearly still embarrassed. "So, ah I see you're moving everything in by yourself."

"Ah yeah. I would hire people to help me but that's too much money. Plus, I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself. That's what I told the U-Haul people, at least. They looked at me like I was crazy; probably because they didn't believe a woman could possibly do some heavy lifting without the aid of a man. Ridiculous." Mamrie rolls her eyes.

Grace smirks because this women is independent and confident. She likes it.

"Care for some aid from a woman?"

Mamrie smiles. She's not used to people reacting that way when she goes on, what people call, a "feminist rant."

"As long as you let me help you with those lights. You clearly need someone to spot you." Mamrie chuckles.

"Wow. Harsh." Grace laughs as she walks over to the truck and carries boxes into her neighbor's house.

Grace discovers that Mamrie is quite a funny girl. She's also an attractive woman so of course, Grace embarrasses herself every time she interacts with her. However, they don't talk all that much. Sometimes they see each other outside and smile at each other and maybe talk about the weather but their relationship doesn't seem to be going anywhere. She notices a lot of things about Mamrie though. She seems to always where a red lipstick that matches the Holly hung around her house. She seems to love decorating and getting in the Christmas spirit. Grace would love to be friends with Mamrie but the redhead seems to be busy with other, more important things. She wonders if it'd be weird to ask her to come over and have a drink or two with her. Yeah...it would be weird. Grace thinks.

It's 9 AM on a Sunday morning and Mamrie has just woken up. She looks out her window and sees Grace unlocking her door. Her hair is tied up and she's got workout clothes on with headphones in her ears. She must've just gotten back from a run. Mamrie smiles and pads into the kitchen to make herself some coffee. She looks through the window above the sink and sees Grace across the way in the bathroom. Apparently the blonde had forgotten that her blinds were up and the older woman could see everything that Grace was doing. She turned the shower on before lifting her t shirt above her head and taking off her pants. Mamrie knows she shouldn't be looking but Grace's bare back is incredibly smooth and she wonders what it would be like to-

No. She catches herself and closes her blinds. She turns around and leans against the counter, hands moving to her cheeks to cool them down.

Grace is going to be brave. She's going to be brave and bring Mamrie some Christmas cookies because it's Christmas Eve and she made way too many cookies to begin with. She practices what she's going to say in the mirror because she gets so nervous when talking to the redhead and she needs to not embarrass herself again. She stacks different types of cookies all around the plate and covers them with Saran Wrap. As she makes her way over to Mamrie's house, she panics. What if she's got family over? What if I'm interrupting something? What if she's sleeping and I wake her up accidentally? As all of these thoughts are running through her head, she steps onto a patch of ice and slips. She falls right on her ass and the plate of cookies shatters. She groans because of course this would happen to her. Instead of getting up, she lays flat on her back asking herself why this always happens to her. It must not be meant to be. It must be a sign.

"Uh oh. Not again." Mamrie walks out of her front door and towards the blonde laying on the cold concrete.

Grace groans once more and sits up to look at the redhead who's wearing the same red lipstick as she always does. Fuck.

"You've fallen. Again." Mamrie states, holding out her right hand to the younger woman for the third time this month.

"Listen, the ice is barely visible. It's easy to slip and fall out here, ya know." Grace attempts to defend herself but she ends up just chuckling to herself.

"Hm yeah. It has nothing to do with you being clumsy at all." Mamrie says sarcastically. She notices the shattered plate and baked goods on the ground.

"What's that?" She asks.

"Oh um I was bringing you over some cookies," Grace pauses, looking down at the glass, "but I seem to have ruined that."

Grace sees this as her opportunity to hang out with Mamrie so she takes it.

"I have more. In my house, I mean. If you'd like to maybe come over and get some." Grace

blushes as she looks up at Mamrie.

"I appreciate the offer but I'm vegan." Mamrie bites her bottom lip and smiles cautiously.

"Of course you are." Grace says disappointingly. She turns to Mamrie again when she realizes that what she said sounded bad.

"I mean, no! That came out wrong. It's great that you're a vegan! I just meant that of course the one chance I get to-" Grace stops herself from speaking more.

"One chance for what?" Mamrie smirks. She finds Grace's nervousness super adorable.

"No. Nothing. Never mind." Grace mumbles, "It's just, I'm spending Christmas alone and I wanted some company I guess."

"You're spending Christmas alone? So am I! I couldn't make it to my family's house this year so I'm kinda just stuck here for the holiday."

"Oh. Yeah. Okay. Cool. Well, I'm gonna go now. Enjoy your Christmas!" Grace turns to go because she's still beyond embarrassed for slipping.

"Hey Grace?"

Grace turns toward Mamrie again.

"Why don't you come inside? I've got some vegan cookies." Mamrie smirks.

That night Grace discovers that the red lipstick also looks good on her own lips. Well, she's sure it would look better if it weren't so messy around her mouth, but for now, she likes it.

[newstwitter-blog]

New Post has been published on News Twitter

New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/03/09/la-times-women-are-the-backbone-of-this-country-thousands-across-the-nation-skip-work-wear-red-and-rally-7/

La Times: ‘Women are the backbone of this country’: Thousands across the nation skip work, wear red and rally

Women across the nation took Wednesday off, refrained from shopping, dressed in red and attended rallies to bring attention to their economic clout and the discrimination they face in the workplace and beyond.

Dubbed “A Day Without A Woman,” it was a second act by the organizers of the massive “Women’s March” in Washington and around the globe the day after President Trump was inaugurated.

The impact was hard to gauge. A number of schools and businesses closed for the day or gave female employees the day off. But the crowds who turned out in Washington, New York, Los Angeles and many other places were tiny compared with the millions who flooded the streets on Jan. 21.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, flanked by other Democratic congresswomen and Hill staff members, addressed a group of cheering supporters from the steps of the Capitol. Many carried signs reading “Women’s rights are human rights” and “Equal pay for equal work.”

“We are in solidarity with women across the country and across the world,” said Pelosi, who delivered a call for girls’ education and the full participation of women in electoral politics. “When women succeed, the world succeeds.”

Watching from the crowd, Nancy McInerney and her friend Janine Dunne were thrilled. “So great to see them all out there together on the steps, dressed in red,” said McInerney, who works for the Smithsonian Institution.

“And to hear about the importance of all these issues — healthcare, women’s economic importance, keeping families together,” said Dunne, a teacher. “It’s not just a flash in the pan.”

But for all their excitement, working women were a visible presence here and in other cities, serving coffee, waiting tables, operating cash registers, mopping floors and issuing parking citations.

Some said they had not heard of “A Day Without A Woman.” Others were just too busy or cash-strapped to take part.

“I can’t afford it,” Sabrina Lott said as she hauled a trash can, bucket and mop through a busy food court at the Peachtree Center business complex in downtown Atlanta. Without the $60 she earns from her daily cleaning shift, she said, she would struggle to pay her bills, buy groceries and care for her sick brother.

Others said the protests could have been better promoted.

“I guess we didn’t get the memo,” said Tonya Murray, a call center worker who was smoking a cigarette on Peachtree Street during her morning break. “We have 60 people working, and only two guys.”

Even if she had known, though, she wouldn’t have participated. She started her job just two weeks ago and didn’t want to give her boss the wrong impression.

Still, she thought a strike was a good idea.

“Women are the backbone of this country,” she said. “We do it all — we are the most organized and compassionate workers — and we do it knowing our counterparts are paid more.”

Organizers acknowledged that many women couldn’t afford to take time off and said on their website, “We strike for them.” They also encouraged women to wear the color red as a sign of solidarity.

The protests were timed to coincide with International Women’s Day, which dates back to the early 1900s and is marked around the world with strikes and rallies to celebrate the achievements of women and call for gender equality.

Organizers also drew inspiration from last month’s “Day Without An Immigrant,” which shut down restaurants and grocery stores as Trump took aim at illegal immigration.

Trump urged his legions of Twitter followers to join him Wednesday in “honoring the critical role of women here in America & around the world.”

“I have tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy,” he tweeted.

Women make up more than 47% percent of the U.S. workforce and dominate certain professions, including nursing and teaching, census data show.

School districts including Alexandria City Public Schools in Virginia, Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools in North Carolina canceled classes because of the number of staffers who requested time off.

In Prince George’s County, a district of 130,000 students, the closures sent many parents scrambling for last-minute child care. Unaware of the protest, some showed up at schools with kids to drop off.

“I am lucky my boy is big and could be alone, because I needed to get to work,” said Alex Martins, a taxi driver and the sole guardian of his 17-year-old nephew, a senior at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, Md. “For people with little ones, it was a bad surprise.”

District officials in Alexandria tried to alleviate such problems by opening city recreation centers to the 15,000 kids getting an unexpected day off.

In Madison, Wis., hundreds of high school students walked out of class to march to the state capitol. In Providence, R.I., the municipal court was closed due to insufficient staff.

Women in New York joked that the first participant in the strike was none other than the city’s most illustrious female resident, Lady Liberty.

For several hours Tuesday night, the Statue of Liberty went dark, her body and robes cloaked in black with only her torch shining on New York Harbor. The National Park Service, which operates the monument, blamed a “technical glitch.” But to some, the timing seemed too perfect to be coincidental.

“Lady Liberty got the memo,’’ the protest organizers crowed on Twitter. “Thank you Lady Liberty for standing with the resistance and going dark for #DayWithoutAWoman.”

Women in New York were also delighted by the sudden appearance on Wall Street of a bronze statue of a young girl, who appears to be staring down the iconic statue of a bull in one of New York’s most testosterone-fueled neighborhoods. Called “Fearless Girl,” it was commissioned by the financial firm State Street Global Advisors to protest the shortage of women on corporate boards.

“I think it is exactly what needs to be here,’’ said Layah Shagalow, who works in the financial district.

Small demonstrations popped up around the city, including a midday gathering of several thousand women — and some men — in Central Park.

Friederike Fleschenberg, a historian from Berlin now living in New York, said she wasn’t really able to take the day off because she is caring full time for her young children. So she bundled up her year-old daughter in red and brought her to the demonstration.

“As a historian, I’ve spent much of my life trying to understand how could the Holocaust happen, and so I know we have to work hard to protect the freedoms we have,’’ Fleschenberg said.

At least 13 women were arrested as they tried to encircle the Trump International Hotel at the southwest corner of the park. “We are blocking traffic as a form of civil disobedience,’’ the march organizers said on their official Twitter account.

In Washington, marchers gathered in a downtown plaza to protest the restoration of a policy requiring that overseas family-planning groups refrain from performing or promoting abortions as a condition for receiving U.S. aid.

Another rally, staged outside the Department of Labor, was meant to spotlight issues such as wage inequality but drew marchers worried about everything from minority rights to environmental causes.

With flashes of red standing out on the streets — hoodies, sweaters, scarves — a number of Washington businesses lent symbolic support and made cash donations to women’s causes.

Chef Ruth Gresser, who owns four eateries in Washington, offered paid leave to all female employees and served up a special menu with half the usual food and beverage offerings, representing women’s share of the population.

“It was really busy without them,” said bartender Daniel Weber, who was filling in for female colleagues at a Pizzeria Paradiso branch near downtown where the lines were out the door. “But I support them and what they are standing up for, so I didn’t mind at all.”

Although International Women’s Day has not attracted the same attention in the U.S. in years past, it is a bigger occasion in other parts of the world.

Across Russia, men bought flowers for their wives, mothers and daughters. Four women were briefly detained after a group of feminist activists unfurled a banner outside the Kremlin reading, “Men have been in power for 200 years! Get out!”

Women in Poland held marches to demand protection from gender-based violence. In Ireland, thousands marched through the capital, Dublin, to protest the country’s restrictive abortion laws, bringing traffic to a standstill. In Spain, women gathered in a Madrid Square to protest a culture of “machismo.”

Many women in France stopped working at 3:40 p.m., the hour from which they claimed they would be working for free, given differences in pay with their male colleagues.

“People talk a lot about human rights and equality in France, but in reality it’s not applied,” said Nathalie Andrieux-Hennequin, a social worker, who joined a demonstration in Paris.

There was some grumbling in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, when women’s voices were initially drowned out by male colleagues at a union-backed rally to demand equal rights for all.

“I understand the demands that they’re making, but they shouldn’t be doing this here, and they shouldn’t be doing it today,” said Fernanda Obregon, a cultural researcher. “It shows how much we really need this day. It is so disrespectful to women.”

There were also demonstrations of solidarity from governments and businesses.

The government in Iceland said it would introduce legislation this month requiring employers to prove that they offer equal pay for equal work.

The British government unveiled a new budget that includes an additional $24 million for charities that fight domestic violence.

In Germany, the airline Lufthansa had six all-female crews flying from several cities to the capital, Berlin.

Times staff writers Zavis, King and Demick reported from Los Angeles, Washington and New York, respectively. Special correspondent Jarvie reported from Atlanta. Staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian and special correspondents Christina Boyle, Kim Willsher, Mansur Mirovalev and Jill Langlois contributed from Los Angeles, London, Paris, Moscow and Sao Paulo respectively.

alexandra.zavis@latimes.com

Twitter: @alexzavis

laura.king@latimes.com

Twitter: @laurakingLAT

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

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  UPDATES:

6:35 p.m.: Updated with additional details about the international protests.

4:35 p.m.: Updated with additional details about the U.S. protests.

12:40 p.m.: The article was updated with tweets from President Trump.

This article was originally published at 12 p.m.

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link

[viralhottopics]

Janelle Mone: I am the whole package

Shes a musician whose work has brought her massive acclaim. Shes also an outspoken activist in the Black Lives Matter movement, and now Janelle Mone is in Moonlight, one of the most talked about films of the year

One of Janelle Mones earliest childhood memories is of being hugged by her grandmother, a former sharecropper from Mississippi, and listening to her stories from the past: her years as a cotton picker; how their family came to be in Kansas City; the importance of connection to others. It was there, in her grandmas arms, that a slip of a six-year-old girl decided that one day she would become a storyteller, too. She wrote precocious plays and poems, sang and entered talent competitions that she often won, and gave her mother the winnings to help towards the electricity bill.

Twenty five years later, and Mones an acclaimed musician, record label boss and activist who is about to make her acting debut. Ive never viewed myself as just a musician or singer, she says. Im a storyteller who wants to tell untold, meaningful, universal stories in unforgettable ways. I want to do it all, study it all and find my place in it.

Her first role provides a great opportunity for telling an unforgettable story. Barry Jenkinss Moonlight is the coming-of-age tale of Chiron, an African American boy dealing with his sexuality. Its based on the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by award-winning writer Tarell Alvin McCraney and is all but certain of Oscar nominations when theyre announced on Tuesday. Mone plays Teresa and she and her drug dealer boyfriend Juan become surrogate parents to little Chiron. Mone calls it her Neo from The Matrix moment, explaining that this film, and her recent move into acting, has always been her destiny, that she doesnt believe in coincidence: Things dont just happen, she says. Its all connected.

Its odd to hear her say this, as in person Mone doesnt feel very connected. When we meet she wears huge, round mirrored shades which obscure her face and stay firmly on throughout our interview, reflecting my own face back at me twice over. She sits neatly at the table, her legs curled beneath her. Shes courteous and friendly and businesslike. She chooses her words carefully.

I had a strong visceral reaction to the Moonlight script, partly because I felt I knew all of these characters, she says. I grew up with a drug dealer like Juan in my neighbourhood who was a mentor to local young people. I had a family member who was addicted to crack, like Paula [Chirons biological mother, played by Naomie Harris]. Chiron himself reminded me of my little cousin they were all characters I could relate to from my upbringing. And Ive played the role of Teresa in real life: my family and friends always have a shoulder to lean on with me, she says.

About 40 minutes into Moonlight, Chiron, sitting at Teresa and Juans table, asks what a faggot is and whether he is one. Theres no music in this scene; Juan doesnt grab a gun and try to blow anyone away. Instead, he gracefully picks the word apart. Its an unexpected reaction.

The misconception is that drug dealers are all monolithic, says Mone, that what you see on TV is how they are in real life. The dealers I knew growing up were hustling and making choices they may not be proud of, but they were also giving back to the community, mentoring young boys and girls, helping people to pay their bills. They can be surrogate mothers and fathers to people in their communities, just like in Moonlight.

Mone grew up in Kansas City with her mother, a janitor, her truck driver stepfather and a sister. Money was tight but her large, devoutly Christian family she has more than 50 first cousins were close. My grandmother had 11 children and although we didnt have a whole lot of money, what we did have was a lot of love, she says. My grandmother was the matriarch. If you didnt have a place to stay, if you needed food, if you were just coming out of jail or rehab, you went to her. Watching her in our family and our wider community was what inspired me and still does.

Doing her sums: in Hidden Figures with Taraji P Henson and Octavia Spencer. Photograph: Allstar/20th Century Fox

Life was tough. There was a lot of nonsense growing up so I reacted by creating my own world, she says. The arts local theatre groups, singing and drama classes gave Mone the drive and focus to finish high school and temporarily work alongside her mother as a maid to save enough money to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York.

She then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, after she finished her studies. Shed update her MySpace profile while working at Office Depot to make ends meet, and came to the attention of fellow Atlantan Big Boi of Outkast. They became collaborators and, in 2006, he introduced her to Sean Diddy Combs, who offered her a recording contract. Mone was initially wary of signing her creative control away, but took the chance and it paid off. Diddy was hands off and wanted me to do my thing. Thats why hed offered to sign me in the first place, because I was different and I was the whole package.

For Mone, at 31, with three albums and six Grammy award nominations under her belt, her own record label up and running and two film roles in the pipeline (she also co-stars in the film Hidden Figures, the true story of the African American female mathematicians who helped catapult US astronaut John Glenn into space in the 1960s), 2016 was a year of professional triumphs but personal heartache. She had spent the early part of the year working on new music with her close friend and collaborator, Prince. He was actually helping me with my new music during the time before he transitioned. I was lucky enough to see his last show and tell him how much I loved him. He was a giver people dont know that. He gave so much: advice, very quiet donations to charities. He was a truly incredible soul.

Making her point: on a Black Lives Matter march in San Francisco. Photograph: Breningstall/REX Shutterstock

Still mourning for Prince, Mone was grief-struck a second time last year when, in August, her cousin was killed in a drive-by shooting. The 37-year-old was shot several times when the gunman sprayed bullets into the Kansas City home where she and her three children were sleeping. The gunman remains free. Mone, a long-time advocate of tighter gun control and an active voice in the Black Lives Matter movement pauses, and says quietly: My family is heartbroken and Im still devastated. My cousin was an innocent mother of three children. How? How can this be real life? She continues: We have to do something about gun laws. And we also have to do something about police brutality towards African American people. She points out that they are two different issues, but that we need more allies. People need to continue to speak out about the way African American people are being treated. An injustice to one black man or woman is an injustice to everybody.

Mone has led marches for Black Lives Matter, performed at a concert in aid of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, alongside Stevie Wonder last year, and released a protest song, Hell You Talmbout, in October in response to the police brutality. Unsurprisingly, she is no fan of Donald Trump. Millennials will not be silenced were the powerhouse now. Were not going to let those who want to make America great again truly take over. Because what Trump means by making America great again is oppressing women, oppressing minorities, creating hate. Were not allowing him to run the world, even though he thinks he is.

I ask her how she feels she can make a difference personally. Mone takes a deep, considered breath and says calmly: Music is my weapon. I wont remain silent. Michelle Obama having been our First Lady for eight years set an example of how we need to be. We need to be visible and we need to be loud. Were not objects. For the first time during the interview, Mone shows more than a crack of emotion not much but enough to know that the sunglasses stay on for a reason.

Moonlight opens in the UK on 17 February

Read more: http://ift.tt/2jk9GDX

from Janelle Mone: I am the whole package

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New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/03/09/la-times-women-are-the-backbone-of-this-country-thousands-across-the-nation-skip-work-wear-red-and-rally-6/

La Times: ‘Women are the backbone of this country’: Thousands across the nation skip work, wear red and rally

Women across the nation took Wednesday off, refrained from shopping, dressed in red and attended rallies to bring attention to their economic clout and the discrimination they face in the workplace and beyond.

Dubbed “A Day Without A Woman,” it was a second act by the organizers of the massive “Women’s March” in Washington and around the globe the day after President Trump was inaugurated.

The impact was hard to gauge. A number of schools and businesses closed for the day or gave female employees the day off. But the crowds who turned out in Washington, New York, Los Angeles and many other places were tiny compared with the millions who flooded the streets on Jan. 21.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, flanked by other Democratic congresswomen and Hill staff members, addressed a group of cheering supporters from the steps of the Capitol. Many carried signs reading “Women’s rights are human rights” and “Equal pay for equal work.”

“We are in solidarity with women across the country and across the world,” said Pelosi, who delivered a call for girls’ education and the full participation of women in electoral politics. “When women succeed, the world succeeds.”

Watching from the crowd, Nancy McInerney and her friend Janine Dunne were thrilled. “So great to see them all out there together on the steps, dressed in red,” said McInerney, who works for the Smithsonian Institution.

“And to hear about the importance of all these issues — healthcare, women’s economic importance, keeping families together,” said Dunne, a teacher. “It’s not just a flash in the pan.”

But for all their excitement, working women were a visible presence here and in other cities, serving coffee, waiting tables, operating cash registers, mopping floors and issuing parking citations.

Some said they had not heard of “A Day Without A Woman.” Others were just too busy or cash-strapped to take part.

“I can’t afford it,” Sabrina Lott said as she hauled a trash can, bucket and mop through a busy food court at the Peachtree Center business complex in downtown Atlanta. Without the $60 she earns from her daily cleaning shift, she said, she would struggle to pay her bills, buy groceries and care for her sick brother.

Others said the protests could have been better promoted.

“I guess we didn’t get the memo,” said Tonya Murray, a call center worker who was smoking a cigarette on Peachtree Street during her morning break. “We have 60 people working, and only two guys.”

Even if she had known, though, she wouldn’t have participated. She started her job just two weeks ago and didn’t want to give her boss the wrong impression.

Still, she thought a strike was a good idea.

“Women are the backbone of this country,” she said. “We do it all — we are the most organized and compassionate workers — and we do it knowing our counterparts are paid more.”

Organizers acknowledged that many women couldn’t afford to take time off and said on their website, “We strike for them.” They also encouraged women to wear the color red as a sign of solidarity.

The protests were timed to coincide with International Women’s Day, which dates back to the early 1900s and is marked around the world with strikes and rallies to celebrate the achievements of women and call for gender equality.

Organizers also drew inspiration from last month’s “Day Without An Immigrant,” which shut down restaurants and grocery stores as Trump took aim at illegal immigration.

Trump urged his legions of Twitter followers to join him Wednesday in “honoring the critical role of women here in America & around the world.”

“I have tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy,” he tweeted.

Women make up more than 47% percent of the U.S. workforce and dominate certain professions, including nursing and teaching, census data show.

School districts including Alexandria City Public Schools in Virginia, Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools in North Carolina canceled classes because of the number of staffers who requested time off.

In Prince George’s County, a district of 130,000 students, the closures sent many parents scrambling for last-minute child care. Unaware of the protest, some showed up at schools with kids to drop off.

“I am lucky my boy is big and could be alone, because I needed to get to work,” said Alex Martins, a taxi driver and the sole guardian of his 17-year-old nephew, a senior at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, Md. “For people with little ones, it was a bad surprise.”

District officials in Alexandria tried to alleviate such problems by opening city recreation centers to the 15,000 kids getting an unexpected day off.

In Madison, Wis., hundreds of high school students walked out of class to march to the state capitol. In Providence, R.I., the municipal court was closed due to insufficient staff.

Women in New York joked that the first participant in the strike was none other than the city’s most illustrious female resident, Lady Liberty.

For several hours Tuesday night, the Statue of Liberty went dark, her body and robes cloaked in black with only her torch shining on New York Harbor. The National Park Service, which operates the monument, blamed a “technical glitch.” But to some, the timing seemed too perfect to be coincidental.

“Lady Liberty got the memo,’’ the protest organizers crowed on Twitter. “Thank you Lady Liberty for standing with the resistance and going dark for #DayWithoutAWoman.”

Women in New York were also delighted by the sudden appearance on Wall Street of a bronze statue of a young girl, who appears to be staring down the iconic statue of a bull in one of New York’s most testosterone-fueled neighborhoods. Called “Fearless Girl,” it was commissioned by the financial firm State Street Global Advisors to protest the shortage of women on corporate boards.

“I think it is exactly what needs to be here,’’ said Layah Shagalow, who works in the financial district.

Small demonstrations popped up around the city, including a midday gathering of several thousand women — and some men — in Central Park.

Friederike Fleschenberg, a historian from Berlin now living in New York, said she wasn’t really able to take the day off because she is caring full time for her young children. So she bundled up her year-old daughter in red and brought her to the demonstration.

“As a historian, I’ve spent much of my life trying to understand how could the Holocaust happen, and so I know we have to work hard to protect the freedoms we have,’’ Fleschenberg said.

At least 13 women were arrested as they tried to encircle the Trump International Hotel at the southwest corner of the park. “We are blocking traffic as a form of civil disobedience,’’ the march organizers said on their official Twitter account.

In Washington, marchers gathered in a downtown plaza to protest the restoration of a policy requiring that overseas family-planning groups refrain from performing or promoting abortions as a condition for receiving U.S. aid.

Another rally, staged outside the Department of Labor, was meant to spotlight issues such as wage inequality but drew marchers worried about everything from minority rights to environmental causes.

With flashes of red standing out on the streets — hoodies, sweaters, scarves — a number of Washington businesses lent symbolic support and made cash donations to women’s causes.

Chef Ruth Gresser, who owns four eateries in Washington, offered paid leave to all female employees and served up a special menu with half the usual food and beverage offerings, representing women’s share of the population.

“It was really busy without them,” said bartender Daniel Weber, who was filling in for female colleagues at a Pizzeria Paradiso branch near downtown where the lines were out the door. “But I support them and what they are standing up for, so I didn’t mind at all.”

Although International Women’s Day has not attracted the same attention in the U.S. in years past, it is a bigger occasion in other parts of the world.

Across Russia, men bought flowers for their wives, mothers and daughters. Four women were briefly detained after a group of feminist activists unfurled a banner outside the Kremlin reading, “Men have been in power for 200 years! Get out!”

Women in Poland held marches to demand protection from gender-based violence. In Ireland, thousands marched through the capital, Dublin, to protest the country’s restrictive abortion laws, bringing traffic to a standstill. In Spain, women gathered in a Madrid Square to protest a culture of “machismo.”

Many women in France stopped working at 3:40 p.m., the hour from which they claimed they would be working for free, given differences in pay with their male colleagues.

“People talk a lot about human rights and equality in France, but in reality it’s not applied,” said Nathalie Andrieux-Hennequin, a social worker, who joined a demonstration in Paris.

There was some grumbling in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, when women’s voices were initially drowned out by male colleagues at a union-backed rally to demand equal rights for all.

“I understand the demands that they’re making, but they shouldn’t be doing this here, and they shouldn’t be doing it today,” said Fernanda Obregon, a cultural researcher. “It shows how much we really need this day. It is so disrespectful to women.”

There were also demonstrations of solidarity from governments and businesses.

The government in Iceland said it would introduce legislation this month requiring employers to prove that they offer equal pay for equal work.

The British government unveiled a new budget that includes an additional $24 million for charities that fight domestic violence.

In Germany, the airline Lufthansa had six all-female crews flying from several cities to the capital, Berlin.

Times staff writers Zavis, King and Demick reported from Los Angeles, Washington and New York, respectively. Special correspondent Jarvie reported from Atlanta. Staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian and special correspondents Christina Boyle, Kim Willsher, Mansur Mirovalev and Jill Langlois contributed from Los Angeles, London, Paris, Moscow and Sao Paulo respectively.

alexandra.zavis@latimes.com

Twitter: @alexzavis

laura.king@latimes.com

Twitter: @laurakingLAT

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

ALSO

From social media blackouts to celeb tweets, Hollywood salutes International Women’s Day

At the Made in America Store, it’s a challenge to keep the aisles full

Fearful immigrants in U.S. make perilous winter crossing to seek protection in Canada

  UPDATES:

6:35 p.m.: Updated with additional details about the international protests.

4:35 p.m.: Updated with additional details about the U.S. protests.

12:40 p.m.: The article was updated with tweets from President Trump.

This article was originally published at 12 p.m.

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link

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New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/03/09/la-times-women-are-the-backbone-of-this-country-thousands-across-the-nation-skip-work-wear-red-and-rally-5/

La Times: ‘Women are the backbone of this country’: Thousands across the nation skip work, wear red and rally

Women across the nation took Wednesday off, refrained from shopping, dressed in red and attended rallies to bring attention to their economic clout and the discrimination they face in the workplace and beyond.

Dubbed “A Day Without A Woman,” it was a second act by the organizers of the massive “Women’s March” in Washington and around the globe the day after President Trump was inaugurated.

The impact was hard to gauge. A number of schools and businesses closed for the day or gave female employees the day off. But the crowds who turned out in Washington, New York, Los Angeles and many other places were tiny compared with the millions who flooded the streets on Jan. 21.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, flanked by other Democratic congresswomen and Hill staff members, addressed a group of cheering supporters from the steps of the Capitol. Many carried signs reading “Women’s rights are human rights” and “Equal pay for equal work.”

“We are in solidarity with women across the country and across the world,” said Pelosi, who delivered a call for girls’ education and the full participation of women in electoral politics. “When women succeed, the world succeeds.”

Watching from the crowd, Nancy McInerney and her friend Janine Dunne were thrilled. “So great to see them all out there together on the steps, dressed in red,” said McInerney, who works for the Smithsonian Institution.

“And to hear about the importance of all these issues — healthcare, women’s economic importance, keeping families together,” said Dunne, a teacher. “It’s not just a flash in the pan.”

But for all their excitement, working women were a visible presence here and in other cities, serving coffee, waiting tables, operating cash registers, mopping floors and issuing parking citations.

Some said they had not heard of “A Day Without A Woman.” Others were just too busy or cash-strapped to take part.

“I can’t afford it,” Sabrina Lott said as she hauled a trash can, bucket and mop through a busy food court at the Peachtree Center business complex in downtown Atlanta. Without the $60 she earns from her daily cleaning shift, she said, she would struggle to pay her bills, buy groceries and care for her sick brother.

Others said the protests could have been better promoted.

“I guess we didn’t get the memo,” said Tonya Murray, a call center worker who was smoking a cigarette on Peachtree Street during her morning break. “We have 60 people working, and only two guys.”

Even if she had known, though, she wouldn’t have participated. She started her job just two weeks ago and didn’t want to give her boss the wrong impression.

Still, she thought a strike was a good idea.

“Women are the backbone of this country,” she said. “We do it all — we are the most organized and compassionate workers — and we do it knowing our counterparts are paid more.”

Organizers acknowledged that many women couldn’t afford to take time off and said on their website, “We strike for them.” They also encouraged women to wear the color red as a sign of solidarity.

The protests were timed to coincide with International Women’s Day, which dates back to the early 1900s and is marked around the world with strikes and rallies to celebrate the achievements of women and call for gender equality.

Organizers also drew inspiration from last month’s “Day Without An Immigrant,” which shut down restaurants and grocery stores as Trump took aim at illegal immigration.

Trump urged his legions of Twitter followers to join him Wednesday in “honoring the critical role of women here in America & around the world.”

“I have tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy,” he tweeted.

Women make up more than 47% percent of the U.S. workforce and dominate certain professions, including nursing and teaching, census data show.

School districts including Alexandria City Public Schools in Virginia, Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools in North Carolina canceled classes because of the number of staffers who requested time off.

In Prince George’s County, a district of 130,000 students, the closures sent many parents scrambling for last-minute child care. Unaware of the protest, some showed up at schools with kids to drop off.

“I am lucky my boy is big and could be alone, because I needed to get to work,” said Alex Martins, a taxi driver and the sole guardian of his 17-year-old nephew, a senior at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, Md. “For people with little ones, it was a bad surprise.”

District officials in Alexandria tried to alleviate such problems by opening city recreation centers to the 15,000 kids getting an unexpected day off.

In Madison, Wis., hundreds of high school students walked out of class to march to the state capitol. In Providence, R.I., the municipal court was closed due to insufficient staff.

Women in New York joked that the first participant in the strike was none other than the city’s most illustrious female resident, Lady Liberty.

For several hours Tuesday night, the Statue of Liberty went dark, her body and robes cloaked in black with only her torch shining on New York Harbor. The National Park Service, which operates the monument, blamed a “technical glitch.” But to some, the timing seemed too perfect to be coincidental.

“Lady Liberty got the memo,’’ the protest organizers crowed on Twitter. “Thank you Lady Liberty for standing with the resistance and going dark for #DayWithoutAWoman.”

Women in New York were also delighted by the sudden appearance on Wall Street of a bronze statue of a young girl, who appears to be staring down the iconic statue of a bull in one of New York’s most testosterone-fueled neighborhoods. Called “Fearless Girl,” it was commissioned by the financial firm State Street Global Advisors to protest the shortage of women on corporate boards.

“I think it is exactly what needs to be here,’’ said Layah Shagalow, who works in the financial district.

Small demonstrations popped up around the city, including a midday gathering of several thousand women — and some men — in Central Park.

Friederike Fleschenberg, a historian from Berlin now living in New York, said she wasn’t really able to take the day off because she is caring full time for her young children. So she bundled up her year-old daughter in red and brought her to the demonstration.

“As a historian, I’ve spent much of my life trying to understand how could the Holocaust happen, and so I know we have to work hard to protect the freedoms we have,’’ Fleschenberg said.

At least 13 women were arrested as they tried to encircle the Trump International Hotel at the southwest corner of the park. “We are blocking traffic as a form of civil disobedience,’’ the march organizers said on their official Twitter account.

In Washington, marchers gathered in a downtown plaza to protest the restoration of a policy requiring that overseas family-planning groups refrain from performing or promoting abortions as a condition for receiving U.S. aid.

Another rally, staged outside the Department of Labor, was meant to spotlight issues such as wage inequality but drew marchers worried about everything from minority rights to environmental causes.

With flashes of red standing out on the streets — hoodies, sweaters, scarves — a number of Washington businesses lent symbolic support and made cash donations to women’s causes.

Chef Ruth Gresser, who owns four eateries in Washington, offered paid leave to all female employees and served up a special menu with half the usual food and beverage offerings, representing women’s share of the population.

“It was really busy without them,” said bartender Daniel Weber, who was filling in for female colleagues at a Pizzeria Paradiso branch near downtown where the lines were out the door. “But I support them and what they are standing up for, so I didn’t mind at all.”

Although International Women’s Day has not attracted the same attention in the U.S. in years past, it is a bigger occasion in other parts of the world.

Across Russia, men bought flowers for their wives, mothers and daughters. Four women were briefly detained after a group of feminist activists unfurled a banner outside the Kremlin reading, “Men have been in power for 200 years! Get out!”

Women in Poland held marches to demand protection from gender-based violence. In Ireland, thousands marched through the capital, Dublin, to protest the country’s restrictive abortion laws, bringing traffic to a standstill. In Spain, women gathered in a Madrid Square to protest a culture of “machismo.”

Many women in France stopped working at 3:40 p.m., the hour from which they claimed they would be working for free, given differences in pay with their male colleagues.

“People talk a lot about human rights and equality in France, but in reality it’s not applied,” said Nathalie Andrieux-Hennequin, a social worker, who joined a demonstration in Paris.

There was some grumbling in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, when women’s voices were initially drowned out by male colleagues at a union-backed rally to demand equal rights for all.

“I understand the demands that they’re making, but they shouldn’t be doing this here, and they shouldn’t be doing it today,” said Fernanda Obregon, a cultural researcher. “It shows how much we really need this day. It is so disrespectful to women.”

There were also demonstrations of solidarity from governments and businesses.

The government in Iceland said it would introduce legislation this month requiring employers to prove that they offer equal pay for equal work.

The British government unveiled a new budget that includes an additional $24 million for charities that fight domestic violence.

In Germany, the airline Lufthansa had six all-female crews flying from several cities to the capital, Berlin.

Times staff writers Zavis, King and Demick reported from Los Angeles, Washington and New York, respectively. Special correspondent Jarvie reported from Atlanta. Staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian and special correspondents Christina Boyle, Kim Willsher, Mansur Mirovalev and Jill Langlois contributed from Los Angeles, London, Paris, Moscow and Sao Paulo respectively.

alexandra.zavis@latimes.com

Twitter: @alexzavis

laura.king@latimes.com

Twitter: @laurakingLAT

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

ALSO

From social media blackouts to celeb tweets, Hollywood salutes International Women’s Day

At the Made in America Store, it’s a challenge to keep the aisles full

Fearful immigrants in U.S. make perilous winter crossing to seek protection in Canada

  UPDATES:

6:35 p.m.: Updated with additional details about the international protests.

4:35 p.m.: Updated with additional details about the U.S. protests.

12:40 p.m.: The article was updated with tweets from President Trump.

This article was originally published at 12 p.m.

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link

[newstwitter-blog]

New Post has been published on News Twitter

New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/03/09/la-times-women-are-the-backbone-of-this-country-thousands-across-the-nation-skip-work-wear-red-and-rally-4/

La Times: ‘Women are the backbone of this country’: Thousands across the nation skip work, wear red and rally

Women across the nation took Wednesday off, refrained from shopping, dressed in red and attended rallies to bring attention to their economic clout and the discrimination they face in the workplace and beyond.

Dubbed “A Day Without A Woman,” it was a second act by the organizers of the massive “Women’s March” in Washington and around the globe the day after President Trump was inaugurated.

The impact was hard to gauge. A number of schools and businesses closed for the day or gave female employees the day off. But the crowds who turned out in Washington, New York, Los Angeles and many other places were tiny compared with the millions who flooded the streets on Jan. 21.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, flanked by other Democratic congresswomen and Hill staff members, addressed a group of cheering supporters from the steps of the Capitol. Many carried signs reading “Women’s rights are human rights” and “Equal pay for equal work.”

“We are in solidarity with women across the country and across the world,” said Pelosi, who delivered a call for girls’ education and the full participation of women in electoral politics. “When women succeed, the world succeeds.”

Watching from the crowd, Nancy McInerney and her friend Janine Dunne were thrilled. “So great to see them all out there together on the steps, dressed in red,” said McInerney, who works for the Smithsonian Institution.

“And to hear about the importance of all these issues — healthcare, women’s economic importance, keeping families together,” said Dunne, a teacher. “It’s not just a flash in the pan.”

But for all their excitement, working women were a visible presence here and in other cities, serving coffee, waiting tables, operating cash registers, mopping floors and issuing parking citations.

Some said they had not heard of “A Day Without A Woman.” Others were just too busy or cash-strapped to take part.

“I can’t afford it,” Sabrina Lott said as she hauled a trash can, bucket and mop through a busy food court at the Peachtree Center business complex in downtown Atlanta. Without the $60 she earns from her daily cleaning shift, she said, she would struggle to pay her bills, buy groceries and care for her sick brother.

Others said the protests could have been better promoted.

“I guess we didn’t get the memo,” said Tonya Murray, a call center worker who was smoking a cigarette on Peachtree Street during her morning break. “We have 60 people working, and only two guys.”

Even if she had known, though, she wouldn’t have participated. She started her job just two weeks ago and didn’t want to give her boss the wrong impression.

Still, she thought a strike was a good idea.

“Women are the backbone of this country,” she said. “We do it all — we are the most organized and compassionate workers — and we do it knowing our counterparts are paid more.”

Organizers acknowledged that many women couldn’t afford to take time off and said on their website, “We strike for them.” They also encouraged women to wear the color red as a sign of solidarity.

The protests were timed to coincide with International Women’s Day, which dates back to the early 1900s and is marked around the world with strikes and rallies to celebrate the achievements of women and call for gender equality.

Organizers also drew inspiration from last month’s “Day Without An Immigrant,” which shut down restaurants and grocery stores as Trump took aim at illegal immigration.

Trump urged his legions of Twitter followers to join him Wednesday in “honoring the critical role of women here in America & around the world.”

“I have tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy,” he tweeted.

Women make up more than 47% percent of the U.S. workforce and dominate certain professions, including nursing and teaching, census data show.

School districts including Alexandria City Public Schools in Virginia, Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools in North Carolina canceled classes because of the number of staffers who requested time off.

In Prince George’s County, a district of 130,000 students, the closures sent many parents scrambling for last-minute child care. Unaware of the protest, some showed up at schools with kids to drop off.

“I am lucky my boy is big and could be alone, because I needed to get to work,” said Alex Martins, a taxi driver and the sole guardian of his 17-year-old nephew, a senior at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, Md. “For people with little ones, it was a bad surprise.”

District officials in Alexandria tried to alleviate such problems by opening city recreation centers to the 15,000 kids getting an unexpected day off.

In Madison, Wis., hundreds of high school students walked out of class to march to the state capitol. In Providence, R.I., the municipal court was closed due to insufficient staff.

Women in New York joked that the first participant in the strike was none other than the city’s most illustrious female resident, Lady Liberty.

For several hours Tuesday night, the Statue of Liberty went dark, her body and robes cloaked in black with only her torch shining on New York Harbor. The National Park Service, which operates the monument, blamed a “technical glitch.” But to some, the timing seemed too perfect to be coincidental.

“Lady Liberty got the memo,’’ the protest organizers crowed on Twitter. “Thank you Lady Liberty for standing with the resistance and going dark for #DayWithoutAWoman.”

Women in New York were also delighted by the sudden appearance on Wall Street of a bronze statue of a young girl, who appears to be staring down the iconic statue of a bull in one of New York’s most testosterone-fueled neighborhoods. Called “Fearless Girl,” it was commissioned by the financial firm State Street Global Advisors to protest the shortage of women on corporate boards.

“I think it is exactly what needs to be here,’’ said Layah Shagalow, who works in the financial district.

Small demonstrations popped up around the city, including a midday gathering of several thousand women — and some men — in Central Park.

Friederike Fleschenberg, a historian from Berlin now living in New York, said she wasn’t really able to take the day off because she is caring full time for her young children. So she bundled up her year-old daughter in red and brought her to the demonstration.

“As a historian, I’ve spent much of my life trying to understand how could the Holocaust happen, and so I know we have to work hard to protect the freedoms we have,’’ Fleschenberg said.

At least 13 women were arrested as they tried to encircle the Trump International Hotel at the southwest corner of the park. “We are blocking traffic as a form of civil disobedience,’’ the march organizers said on their official Twitter account.

In Washington, marchers gathered in a downtown plaza to protest the restoration of a policy requiring that overseas family-planning groups refrain from performing or promoting abortions as a condition for receiving U.S. aid.

Another rally, staged outside the Department of Labor, was meant to spotlight issues such as wage inequality but drew marchers worried about everything from minority rights to environmental causes.

With flashes of red standing out on the streets — hoodies, sweaters, scarves — a number of Washington businesses lent symbolic support and made cash donations to women’s causes.

Chef Ruth Gresser, who owns four eateries in Washington, offered paid leave to all female employees and served up a special menu with half the usual food and beverage offerings, representing women’s share of the population.

“It was really busy without them,” said bartender Daniel Weber, who was filling in for female colleagues at a Pizzeria Paradiso branch near downtown where the lines were out the door. “But I support them and what they are standing up for, so I didn’t mind at all.”

Although International Women’s Day has not attracted the same attention in the U.S. in years past, it is a bigger occasion in other parts of the world.

Across Russia, men bought flowers for their wives, mothers and daughters. Four women were briefly detained after a group of feminist activists unfurled a banner outside the Kremlin reading, “Men have been in power for 200 years! Get out!”

Women in Poland held marches to demand protection from gender-based violence. In Ireland, thousands marched through the capital, Dublin, to protest the country’s restrictive abortion laws, bringing traffic to a standstill. In Spain, women gathered in a Madrid Square to protest a culture of “machismo.”

Many women in France stopped working at 3:40 p.m., the hour from which they claimed they would be working for free, given differences in pay with their male colleagues.

“People talk a lot about human rights and equality in France, but in reality it’s not applied,” said Nathalie Andrieux-Hennequin, a social worker, who joined a demonstration in Paris.

There was some grumbling in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, when women’s voices were initially drowned out by male colleagues at a union-backed rally to demand equal rights for all.

“I understand the demands that they’re making, but they shouldn’t be doing this here, and they shouldn’t be doing it today,” said Fernanda Obregon, a cultural researcher. “It shows how much we really need this day. It is so disrespectful to women.”

There were also demonstrations of solidarity from governments and businesses.

The government in Iceland said it would introduce legislation this month requiring employers to prove that they offer equal pay for equal work.

The British government unveiled a new budget that includes an additional $24 million for charities that fight domestic violence.

In Germany, the airline Lufthansa had six all-female crews flying from several cities to the capital, Berlin.

Times staff writers Zavis, King and Demick reported from Los Angeles, Washington and New York, respectively. Special correspondent Jarvie reported from Atlanta. Staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian and special correspondents Christina Boyle, Kim Willsher, Mansur Mirovalev and Jill Langlois contributed from Los Angeles, London, Paris, Moscow and Sao Paulo respectively.

alexandra.zavis@latimes.com

Twitter: @alexzavis

laura.king@latimes.com

Twitter: @laurakingLAT

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

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  UPDATES:

6:35 p.m.: Updated with additional details about the international protests.

4:35 p.m.: Updated with additional details about the U.S. protests.

12:40 p.m.: The article was updated with tweets from President Trump.

This article was originally published at 12 p.m.

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La Times: ‘Women are the backbone of this country’: Thousands across the nation skip work, wear red and rally

Women across the nation took Wednesday off, refrained from shopping, dressed in red and attended rallies to bring attention to their economic clout and the discrimination they face in the workplace and beyond.

Dubbed “A Day Without A Woman,” it was a second act by the organizers of the massive “Women’s March” in Washington and around the globe the day after President Trump was inaugurated.

The impact was hard to gauge. A number of schools and businesses closed for the day or gave female employees the day off. But the crowds who turned out in Washington, New York, Los Angeles and many other places were tiny compared with the millions who flooded the streets on Jan. 21.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, flanked by other Democratic congresswomen and Hill staff members, addressed a group of cheering supporters from the steps of the Capitol. Many carried signs reading “Women’s rights are human rights” and “Equal pay for equal work.”

“We are in solidarity with women across the country and across the world,” said Pelosi, who delivered a call for girls’ education and the full participation of women in electoral politics. “When women succeed, the world succeeds.”

Watching from the crowd, Nancy McInerney and her friend Janine Dunne were thrilled. “So great to see them all out there together on the steps, dressed in red,” said McInerney, who works for the Smithsonian Institution.

“And to hear about the importance of all these issues — healthcare, women’s economic importance, keeping families together,” said Dunne, a teacher. “It’s not just a flash in the pan.”

But for all their excitement, working women were a visible presence here and in other cities, serving coffee, waiting tables, operating cash registers, mopping floors and issuing parking citations.

Some said they had not heard of “A Day Without A Woman.” Others were just too busy or cash-strapped to take part.

“I can’t afford it,” Sabrina Lott said as she hauled a trash can, bucket and mop through a busy food court at the Peachtree Center business complex in downtown Atlanta. Without the $60 she earns from her daily cleaning shift, she said, she would struggle to pay her bills, buy groceries and care for her sick brother.

Others said the protests could have been better promoted.

“I guess we didn’t get the memo,” said Tonya Murray, a call center worker who was smoking a cigarette on Peachtree Street during her morning break. “We have 60 people working, and only two guys.”

Even if she had known, though, she wouldn’t have participated. She started her job just two weeks ago and didn’t want to give her boss the wrong impression.

Still, she thought a strike was a good idea.

“Women are the backbone of this country,” she said. “We do it all — we are the most organized and compassionate workers — and we do it knowing our counterparts are paid more.”

Organizers acknowledged that many women couldn’t afford to take time off and said on their website, “We strike for them.” They also encouraged women to wear the color red as a sign of solidarity.

The protests were timed to coincide with International Women’s Day, which dates back to the early 1900s and is marked around the world with strikes and rallies to celebrate the achievements of women and call for gender equality.

Organizers also drew inspiration from last month’s “Day Without An Immigrant,” which shut down restaurants and grocery stores as Trump took aim at illegal immigration.

Trump urged his legions of Twitter followers to join him Wednesday in “honoring the critical role of women here in America & around the world.”

“I have tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy,” he tweeted.

Women make up more than 47% percent of the U.S. workforce and dominate certain professions, including nursing and teaching, census data show.

School districts including Alexandria City Public Schools in Virginia, Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools in North Carolina canceled classes because of the number of staffers who requested time off.

In Prince George’s County, a district of 130,000 students, the closures sent many parents scrambling for last-minute child care. Unaware of the protest, some showed up at schools with kids to drop off.

“I am lucky my boy is big and could be alone, because I needed to get to work,” said Alex Martins, a taxi driver and the sole guardian of his 17-year-old nephew, a senior at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, Md. “For people with little ones, it was a bad surprise.”

District officials in Alexandria tried to alleviate such problems by opening city recreation centers to the 15,000 kids getting an unexpected day off.

In Madison, Wis., hundreds of high school students walked out of class to march to the state capitol. In Providence, R.I., the municipal court was closed due to insufficient staff.

Women in New York joked that the first participant in the strike was none other than the city’s most illustrious female resident, Lady Liberty.

For several hours Tuesday night, the Statue of Liberty went dark, her body and robes cloaked in black with only her torch shining on New York Harbor. The National Park Service, which operates the monument, blamed a “technical glitch.” But to some, the timing seemed too perfect to be coincidental.

“Lady Liberty got the memo,’’ the protest organizers crowed on Twitter. “Thank you Lady Liberty for standing with the resistance and going dark for #DayWithoutAWoman.”

Women in New York were also delighted by the sudden appearance on Wall Street of a bronze statue of a young girl, who appears to be staring down the iconic statue of a bull in one of New York’s most testosterone-fueled neighborhoods. Called “Fearless Girl,” it was commissioned by the financial firm State Street Global Advisors to protest the shortage of women on corporate boards.

“I think it is exactly what needs to be here,’’ said Layah Shagalow, who works in the financial district.

Small demonstrations popped up around the city, including a midday gathering of several thousand women — and some men — in Central Park.

Friederike Fleschenberg, a historian from Berlin now living in New York, said she wasn’t really able to take the day off because she is caring full time for her young children. So she bundled up her year-old daughter in red and brought her to the demonstration.

“As a historian, I’ve spent much of my life trying to understand how could the Holocaust happen, and so I know we have to work hard to protect the freedoms we have,’’ Fleschenberg said.

At least 13 women were arrested as they tried to encircle the Trump International Hotel at the southwest corner of the park. “We are blocking traffic as a form of civil disobedience,’’ the march organizers said on their official Twitter account.

In Washington, marchers gathered in a downtown plaza to protest the restoration of a policy requiring that overseas family-planning groups refrain from performing or promoting abortions as a condition for receiving U.S. aid.

Another rally, staged outside the Department of Labor, was meant to spotlight issues such as wage inequality but drew marchers worried about everything from minority rights to environmental causes.

With flashes of red standing out on the streets — hoodies, sweaters, scarves — a number of Washington businesses lent symbolic support and made cash donations to women’s causes.

Chef Ruth Gresser, who owns four eateries in Washington, offered paid leave to all female employees and served up a special menu with half the usual food and beverage offerings, representing women’s share of the population.

“It was really busy without them,” said bartender Daniel Weber, who was filling in for female colleagues at a Pizzeria Paradiso branch near downtown where the lines were out the door. “But I support them and what they are standing up for, so I didn’t mind at all.”

Although International Women’s Day has not attracted the same attention in the U.S. in years past, it is a bigger occasion in other parts of the world.

Across Russia, men bought flowers for their wives, mothers and daughters. Four women were briefly detained after a group of feminist activists unfurled a banner outside the Kremlin reading, “Men have been in power for 200 years! Get out!”

Women in Poland held marches to demand protection from gender-based violence. In Ireland, thousands marched through the capital, Dublin, to protest the country’s restrictive abortion laws, bringing traffic to a standstill. In Spain, women gathered in a Madrid Square to protest a culture of “machismo.”

Many women in France stopped working at 3:40 p.m., the hour from which they claimed they would be working for free, given differences in pay with their male colleagues.

“People talk a lot about human rights and equality in France, but in reality it’s not applied,” said Nathalie Andrieux-Hennequin, a social worker, who joined a demonstration in Paris.

There was some grumbling in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, when women’s voices were initially drowned out by male colleagues at a union-backed rally to demand equal rights for all.

“I understand the demands that they’re making, but they shouldn’t be doing this here, and they shouldn’t be doing it today,” said Fernanda Obregon, a cultural researcher. “It shows how much we really need this day. It is so disrespectful to women.”

There were also demonstrations of solidarity from governments and businesses.

The government in Iceland said it would introduce legislation this month requiring employers to prove that they offer equal pay for equal work.

The British government unveiled a new budget that includes an additional $24 million for charities that fight domestic violence.

In Germany, the airline Lufthansa had six all-female crews flying from several cities to the capital, Berlin.

Times staff writers Zavis, King and Demick reported from Los Angeles, Washington and New York, respectively. Special correspondent Jarvie reported from Atlanta. Staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian and special correspondents Christina Boyle, Kim Willsher, Mansur Mirovalev and Jill Langlois contributed from Los Angeles, London, Paris, Moscow and Sao Paulo respectively.

alexandra.zavis@latimes.com

Twitter: @alexzavis

laura.king@latimes.com

Twitter: @laurakingLAT

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

ALSO

From social media blackouts to celeb tweets, Hollywood salutes International Women’s Day

At the Made in America Store, it’s a challenge to keep the aisles full

Fearful immigrants in U.S. make perilous winter crossing to seek protection in Canada

  UPDATES:

6:35 p.m.: Updated with additional details about the international protests.

4:35 p.m.: Updated with additional details about the U.S. protests.

12:40 p.m.: The article was updated with tweets from President Trump.

This article was originally published at 12 p.m.

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link