#and yet she's acting like protestors caused a scene

[waitingforminjae]

not my mom being a kirk cameron stan

[robotslenderman]

Eternal Hearts Liveblog, pt 1

Special thanks to @missn11​, who is probably mortified their name is associated with this travesty of a post, for letting me get my filthy little hands on this piece of embarrassing VTM history.

Okay guys, time to do the thing that’s gonna get me cancelled by fifteen-year-olds in the year 2032:

I’m gonna liveblog Eternal Hearts.

I once promised myself I would never make a rape joke, but today I break that vow because even the rape scenes are (sometimes) just that fucking ridiculous that I had to make fun of them.

This book is just.

Guys.

It’s GLORIOUS.

In the first twenty-four pages alone we have:

A guy is confronted by a locked door, so he whips his dick out. Everyone else acts like this is completely normal.

A guy meeting Final Death because a politician sat on his face. RIP in pieces Noah.

A mortal setting herself on fire, waving her arms around and running at a bunch of vampires yelling “DIE, YOU BASTARDS!”

A guy using his dick as a key ring. (Yeah, it’s the locked door guy.)

Lucita given the Hallowe’en treatment, in that she’s covered with sewage -- but sexy!

Daddy kink on top of the Washington monument.

Only some of the above makes sense in context. Some of it is as baffling in context as it is out of context.

This is the funniest shit I’ve ever read. Nobody told me about this when I went in holy shit.

Time to open this sucker up!

Liveblog under the cut!

DEAD DOVE, DO NOT EAT, THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT ETERNAL HEARTS IS, DO NOT READ THIS LIVEBLOG, HOLY SHIT.

You’re in for a ride, and it’s the edgiest, unsexiest ride ever.

First thing I notice: Eternal Hearts is, in fact, written by a woman. Which may mean that if she wanted to scare the shit out of her female readers, she'd know exactly how to do it.

gulp.

(^ I wrote that back when I thought I was gonna traumatise myself by reading this. OH BOY)

Next bit, the rape book is opened by the following foreword:

What follows is an essay that basically boils down to "no! :D but we wrote it anyway!”

Partway through that is this quote:

We’ll come back to that quote later. Several times, I predict.

Aaaand we open straight into a gang rape scene! Oh joy. And there’s church spires, to make it extra edgy.

Oh but then they give her the Kiss so she enjoys it! Yay!

Oh.

She's a shovelhead.

They never mentioned THIS part of the Sabbat recruitment process.

and now she's underground and buried and being raped again? Somehow. Like somebody’s got their entire goddamn fist in there. While under six feet of dirt. I know someone’s got their entire damn fist in there because the Shovelhead’s thinking about how somebody got their entire goddamn fist in there.

(Yeah this is the bit I had to make jokes about because it was that fucking ridiculous. I started this out trying to be respectful. I failed. Miserably. I just can’t fucking do it this is too -- too -- Eternal Hearts-y.)

Like the author just turned to the other people in the credits page and pitched this idea: “guys. Hear me out. What do you think is scarier than being raped or being buried alive?”

“idk what?”

“being raped after being buried alive!”

“That’s a GREAT idea!”

(”Lucy didn’t even break the rules as much as I was willing to let her” Remember that quote? Thank god for that.)

Jean - for that is our poor Shovelhead's name, RIP - seems only mildly concerned about the rape. and the fact it’s still happening.

Like yeah, serious talk, putting my respectful hat on: to be fair, everyone responds to trauma differently. You know how I respond to trauma? I make jokes about it. Like I’m the kind of person to say “what are you gonna do, STAB ME?” for the lols when a guy is pointing a knife at me.

Okay, respectful hat back off, back to edgy humour.

Anyway she’s being fisted by somebody while also six feet underground, somehow, and daydreaming about the guy she’s stalking and about how she’s in love with him, hmm, maybe he had something to do with it? She’s not entirely sure.

(ETA: So an anonymous Discord friend was reading my liveblog and said this:

and I laughed so hard my dog actually pawed at me because she was worried.

Yeah, I’m going to hell, but at least I know I’m taking you guys with me.)

Anyway she starts digging her way out, and I guess she’s still being fisted while she’s digging her way out???? IDK they didn’t say it stopped??? Like that’s gotta make digging your way out difficult.

And then cut to Lucita!

Walking past a protest outside a sex shop. There’s a bunch of Christian protestors outside because they’re bored or something. We get straight back into rapiness with a Dominate:

Damn Lucita, if jizzing your own brains isn't the hottest image you can give a guy, I don't know how what is.

Lucita decides to snack instead of raping him, but does sexually assault him by taking his dick from his pants and leaving it in his hand when he’s unconscious.

Lucita walks into a meeting at a brothel. There are “slaves”. I’m not sure if they’re sex slaves or if they’re actually ghouls, but then again, this is Eternal Hearts so probably both.

She expects Pieterzoon to be there, but he's not. When the others start talking like he's missing, she is completely unconcerned and immediately starts talking as if she knows he's missing.

They move on. Pieterzoon has paid Lucita to assassinate Marcus Vitel. Good fucking luck with that one. Everyone at the meeting is trying to stop her from doing it. Lucita’s like “tough shit he’s already paid me bitch is gonna die”.

Also the Brujah woman present is apparently this scene’s titillation or something because the author loves to remind us about how tight her clothes are and how she's "seductively cuddling" people.

no fucking kidding

I like how the VTM universe goes out of its way to avoid using the terms “son” and “daughter” to avoid the Unfortunate Implications when people inevitably start fucking their Sires

and the author’s like "nah fuck that let’s daddy kink it up.”

Oh and he does it ON TOP OF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT!! Like gang rape in a churchyard wasn’t edgy enough I guess.

the author can't go a paragraph without reminding us that sex exists and everyone is utterly sex crazed. The bit I blacked out above? That was Lucita daydreaming about hiring a prostitute. Like that’s not erotica, erotica is arousing, this is just voyeurism.

Lucita apparently hasn't yet noticed she's in a porno.

Somebody makes a joke about the Christian protestors gang raping the prostitutes outside. It’s a Ventrue. Of course it is.

Apparently the slave (I guess the word “ghoul” isn’t sexy enough) in the above screenshot is a fucking senator. Pun not intended. She soothes the cranky Brujah by suggesting they get somebody called Torres deported? I have no idea what that has to do with Lucita assassinating Marcus Vitel, but there's almost certainly going to be fucking involved.

(ETA 23/1/21 -- I regret to inform you all that there wasn’t “fucking” involved so much as gang rape. Never mind.)

Lucita and the Brujah guy almost start stabbing each other (so much for that soothing), but somebody has just set the brothel on fire so they have to GTFO.

The mortal senator can't quite fit inside the escape tunnel because her skirt is huge and keeping it on is apparently more important than not dying of smoke inhalation. But it’s okay, she manages it.

The skirt will be important later, unfortunately.

They come to a locked door in the passage. Oh no, whatever will they do?

Will they take a key out of their pocket and unlock it?

Nah, that’s too fucking sensible.

The Brujah that tried to punch Lucita whips out his dick.

Yes.

He actually fucking does that.

Weird flex, but okay.

(ETA 21/1/21 -- I just realised... what if it’s somebody ELSE’S penis he just whipped out? Like the thing was actually just chilling out and he pulls it out the way somebody else pulls out a cucumber. It’s not attached to his body, it’s just THERE?)

Everyone is completely unfazed by this. Both by the fact he whipped his dick out, and the fact he uses it as a fucking key ring.

Like. Is this a habit of his????? APPARENTLY IT IS.

(ETA: Anonymous Discord friend says:

SDFADLFJASDLFJASDF)

They end up in a sewer.

Garinson keeps a key to a sewer on his dick key ring.

(”Lucy didn’t even break the rules as much as I was willing to let her” yeah I just remembered another place more fitting for a sewer key)

THEN!!!

PLOT TWIST!!

The senator suddenly threatens everyone with a lighter!!

After the kindred are done laughing their ass off, she covers herself in whiskey, sets herself on fire and charges them.

I'm sorry but the way it's worded - pin wheeling, cringing - just makes this the funniest shit. It gets even funnier when you remember they’re knee-deep in water. Ever tried to run in water? It’s. not exactly easy. So presumably she’s tripping and stumbling the entire time and somehow still on fire as she does so.

A kindred tries to escape by clawing his way up the wall. He falls. The senator assassinates him by flinging her skirt over his head and sitting on his face. That part of her is also on fire. The skirt and her thighs are on fire.

And I guess they’re obviously not thigh-deep in water any more ‘cause the poor fuck doesn’t survive this.

what a way to fucking go: death by fire pussy.

Everyone panics, except Lucita, who's like "fuck this", cuts off her head, puts out the corpse, then, uh. uses it as a shield against the remaining flames. as you do.

(Between that and the above screenshot, there’s graphic descriptions of what, exactly, the fire is doing to the senator, and how said senator doesn’t give a flying fuck that fire is kinda hurty because she hates vampires that fucking much.)

Lucita meets a Nosferatu who offers to guide her from the sewers. On the next page, we have an illustration of Lucita, in sewage, looking up at the Nosferatu.

You couldn’t possibly make that picture sexy, could you?

Welp the artist went “Challenge accepted!”

So I wanted to show you guys the picture but I didn’t want to get too banned from Tumblr for an Eternal Hearts liveblog, so I went to my friends for help. One of them, @intimidatethevoid​, answered the call to arms:

Well.

This is awkward.

And so she bestowed upon me this glorious, but also cursed, image:

Yeah.

Her shirt’s somehow come off. And she isn’t wearing any knickers. Hence the Filthy Frank sticker.

And that’s gonna wrap up part 1 of my Eternal Hearts liveblog!

For more, like this post in secret shame so that none of your followers have to see it. To cancel me, send angry anon messages and death threats to my inbox.

[brooktrout96]

Battle for Freedom

Freedom

free·dom [ˈfrēdəm]

1.the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

TVs blared with the exact same report all over the US as android were being sent away to be destroyed

At 6AM this morning, a national curfew was declared. Civilian movement will be strictly controlled, the right to assembly is suspended, all electronic communications are restricted, and I have granted enhanced powers to our security agencies. In addition to these measures, all androids must be handed over to the authorities immediately. Temporary camps are being set up in all our major cities to contain and destroy them. I am now asking all civilians to co-operate with the authorities, and rest assured that everything in our power is being done to guarantee the security of our nation.” President Warren gave her press conference to the whole world

Please! Madam President!”

Is it true that the androids could hack our IT systems, like nuclear power plants and military bases?”

All androids working on sensitive sites have been neutralized and all IT systems have been suspended to avoid any risks of hacking. The situation is under control.” She replied as more question were sent her way

Has the leader of the deviants been apprehended?”

The deviant that is known as Markus has not been located yet, but we will soon track it down and neutralize it.” She answered the question

A convoy of medical cobalt is reported missing. Army weapon stores are also said to have been robbed. Can you confirm these reports?”

I have no information on that at this time.” Warren seemed flustered, but her face didn’t show it as more questions were throwin her way.

What's gonna happen to CyberLife? Will androids be banned definitively?”

We're working very closely with CyberLife to neutralize all deviants. I won't make any comments about anything else until we have dealt with the android in question.” She hide the worried look on her face as quickly as it appeared

Many believe that androids are a new form of intelligent life. Do you have any comment?”

That's ridiculous. Next question, please?”  She said dismissively

What can you tell us about the assault that happened last night?”

The FBI raided an abandoned freighter in Detroit at 10:45PM yesterday. Several hundred androids were destroyed or captured. Our forces are now combing the streets to ensure that none got through the net. We are going to find them one by one and destroy them.”

Madam President, public opinion seems to have become increasingly favorable to the deviants, particularly since they've adopted a peaceful approach. How do you feel about this?”

Public opinion is one thing; the security of the state is another. These deviants are dangerous, and my highest priority is to protect the American people. Thank you. That will be all.” She turned and walked away from the podium.

One last question, Madam President!” Then another news report came in.

We're coming to you live from Detroit where thousands of androids are marching through the city at this very moment. The leader of the deviants, the one they call Markus, is at the head of the march.

~***~

10:56 PM

Hart Plaza

Here we are.... The moment of truth.” Markus said as he glanced back at the few thousand of androids who decided to marching behind him with Y/N beside him

Surrender immediately or we will open fire! Stand by!” the soldiers all cocked their gun ready to fire on the androids

We don't want confrontation! We are protesting peacefully.” Markus said as he and the androids held their position  “We ask that you release all androids detained in camps and cease all aggression against us. We are peaceful. We will not resort to violence. But we are not leaving until our people are free.”

FIRE! FIRE!” The leader of the soldiers said as Y/N spoke

Are you gonna open fire on unarmed protestors‽” The solider raised his hand to stop the others as he realized that there was a human with the androids as he spoke

All teams hold your fire!” The man in the helicopter spoke to the camera as he let the whole world know what was going on

....Yes, Michael, we are less than a hundred meters away, and events are unfolding as we speak. We will continue to bring you live updates. Joss Douglas, Channel 16. Michael? Back to you.” Then Y/N turned to Markus and looked him in his two-tone eyes

Markus, what do we do now?” He let out a sigh as he spoke to her

We hold out. As long as we can....”

~***~

Fifty minutes later the androids are rushing around making a large barricade to protect themselves as they waited for the army next move on them

We all know that's not gonna stop them.... Just hope it buys us some time.” Simon said as he looked resigned to his fate

No, there is a way, if we have to fight, we will fight back to protect ourselves, but we should try to be as peaceful as we can be.” Y/N said as she looked at the remaining androids as an android spoke

Many of our people have fallen.... The humans have no pity for those who are different....” Y/N and Markus let out a sigh

What are we gonna do if they attack?” Josh asked as he looked over at Markus as Markus spoke to him and the remaining androids.

Resist and do what Y/N said to do.... That's the only thing we can do.” Y/N let out a sigh and smiled at her lover as Simon shook his head

Do you think Connor has any chance of making it?” He asked as Y/N shook her head

If there is a chance, it would be a god damn miracle for Connor to save our hide.”

For now, we can only count on ourselves now....” Markus said as he let out a sigh as he grabbed Y/N’s arm

Y/N would you stay away from this. I want you to live and if you are found out.” Y/N interrupted him

Markus, I love you and I would do anything for you. You save me more then you know, and I want to help save your…. No! Our people.” She was interrupted by North as she ran up to them.

This won't hold them for long but.... I guess it's better than nothing....” Markus then turned to the remaining androids and glanced at the recycling center then back at the androids

They're slaughtering us on the other side of that barbed wire.... There's nothing we can do about it…. Did I make the right choices? Maybe we could have avoided all of this.... I hoped they would finally understand.... That they would realize how much they're hurting us.... Why do they refuse to see what we are? How many more of us have to die? Is there any cause worth giving your life for?” He muttered to himself as Y/N put her hand on his shoulder and said to him

You're the hope of your, no our people. I trust you. We all trust you. No matter what happens now, we're making history, and something will give.” Markus nodded as he turned to prepare his next move as an FBI agent arrived on the scene and north let him know what was going on

Markus! Markus, come look!”

Markus!” The agent yelled as Y/N gave him a hated looked as she let his name pass threw her lips

Perkins!”

I've come to talk to you, Markus! Come on, you have my word, they won't try anything.” He said as he gestured to the solders as Simon stopped Markus

Don't go, it's a trap.” Perkins continued to speak

I'm unarmed, Markus. I just want to talk.” Markus let out a sigh as he turned to the other leaders of Jericho

I need to hear what he has to say.” North looked him in the eyes and asked him

What if they kill you?”

That's a chance I'll have to take.” He said to her as he left the safety of the barricade to talk to Perkins

In a few minutes, the troops will be ordered to charge. None of you will survive.... It will all be over. But you can avoid that, Markus.”

What do you mean?” Markus asked in a questioning tone

Surrender.” Perkins said as he looked at the leader of the Deviants. “Surrender and I give you my word your life will be spared.” He gestured to the other Deviants “They'll be detained but, none of you will be destroyed.” Markus wasn’t as trusting of the man’s words

What happened to the other androids demonstrating in the camps?” he asked as he study the man and scanned him to see if he was telling the truth. “If I accept your offer, how do I know you'll keep your word?”

You're not in any position to be demanding guarantees, Markus. All you can do right now is decide whether you want to trust me or not. You're it. You're the last remaining deviants.” Markus let out a sigh

“I'm not afraid to die. If I have to give my life for what I believe in, then I won't have lived in vain.” Perkins looked over to where Y/N was standing holding a flag with the symbol of the Deviants, of Jericho on it

Y/N.... You seem to really care about her.... Dare I say in love with her. You don't want her to die, do you, she is just a human? You know, you could both be free. You could forget about all this, you could.... start a new life someplace else, just the two of you.... Her life is in your hands, Markus. Just say the word and she'll be spared.” Perkins tried to use Y/N as leverage over Markus and he hope that he would take it to protect the woman that he loved but then Y/N dropped the flag as she had a feeling at what Perkins was trying to do, and she jumped over the barricade and walked over to her lover, shaking her head at Perkins

Perkins, you are wrong about me. I haven’t been human since I was caught in a terrorist attack by Russia that the FBI were supposed to stop but didn’t.” She hissed as she disabled her skin as her whole body became the white plastic of an android. “If the US is going to recycle all of their androids that mean I , a human who was turned into an android to survive and live another day will be too.” She then looked at the helicopter and then back at Perkins as she declared something that most people that knew her never knew except for one

I am the first android-human hybrid and the first android to have emotions. I am the one that the Deviants call Ra9.” She declared as the remaining androids looked in awe. “I am the one that the Deviants say will sent them free. I am a human turned into an android because a friend didn’t what me to die.” She smiled as the androids cheered and she waited for them to quiet down. “Android can have emotions, it’s not a glitch in their programing, it has never been that way, they were made to be like us. Who would want something or someone who looked like a human but didn’t act like a human.” Y/N stared at the helicopter and the camera zoom in on her white featureless face as she spoke.

“Right now, Madam President you are doing what Hitler did to the Jewish and people that didn’t fit his mold. You are killing innocent lives, people who just want to live, who want to be free.” Y/N became silent as Markus took a step next to her and he shook his head. “I'd rather die here than betray my people, the ones who if they knew the truth before all this, they wouldn’t shun me because of what I am. Unlike humans who think anything that dosen’t seem human is a slave for them to do what they please to.” He took Y/N’s white plastic hand, turned and they walked back to the androids and their barricades as Perkins yelled at them

Well, you just signed your own death warrant.”

What happened, Markus? Y/N? What did he say?” North had a worried look on her face as she looked the two over. Y/N had a somber look on her face as Markus had a determined look on his face as he spoke to the remaining androids

The humans are about to launch an attack. And we will show them that we are not afraid. If we must die today, then we will die free.”

[metalotaku-da]

GREATEST SHOWMAN VOLTRON

Keith is from a rich upbringing, his parents lotor and axca are of the upper class during the civil war in nyc.shiro is his childhood friend. Shiro’s father did various labor for keith’s family. After shiro’s father dies, he goes off to join the railroad. He meets up with keith whenever he can. Confessing his love to him in an abandoned house as he spins tales to entertain him like he did in their youth. However, Keith's parents try to forbid him from seeing him. Keith finally decided after a harsh evening of words that he has had enough. And runs away from home to be with shiro. The two move into together in the slums. Where they meet two young orphans shortly after named nadia and silvio. They take them in like their own children. When shiro loses his job and banks everything on an ill gotten loan for hsi oddities museum. Keith and th4 kids throw everything they have into helping him make it a success.

From the idea he got from the kids, shiro went to recruit the local conjoined twins matt and pidge holt. It took a lot of persuasion. Next he meets Allura, an albino freed slave and her friend and former master's daughter, Corana, a bearded and mustache red headed woman at the wash house. Then shiro and keith hold open auditions at the museum. 

One of the first acts they sign are lance also more often known as lucrecia and their sister veronica as trapeze artists. They are escaped former slaves from cuba. Lance/lucrecia and veronica tell their story to shiro and Keith over drinks. The two are twins and they choose to take their chances at escape after their former master sold off their other family members.  Lance disguised themself as a woman in their escape to America, and found that most days they prefered to be seen as a woman and choose the name lucrecia when dressed as a woman. Shiro and Keith respond with kindness and acceptance as do the rest of their troupe. Keith even asks Lance/Lucrecia how they’d like to be addressed. And they responded with a ��shrug and a “i guess whatever i am perceived as, but i don’t think i care much really either way. I am used to being called many things, especially when people find out.” and Shiro and Keith respond with the others to do their best respect whatever choice lance makes with his appearance. And in front of the audience they will never be misgendered. 

They are also joined at the auditions by the very large and strongman Hunk. Who is a recently emancipated slave. He and Lance/Lucrecia hit it right off the bat, becoming quick friends. He is the first of the new acts they confide in. 

A troupe of four women also joined them, Zenthrid, a giant strong woman, Ezor the tumblist and fire eater, and Narti a blind fortune teller. 

Along with many others. 

After their first big windfall after the show opens shiro buys his family a huge new house. And enrolls Nadia in ballerina school like she has always wanted. Through the new experience of high society parties, keith introduces him to jame’s family. A rich upper class family who back the north and the abolitionists. James has returned recently with a friend from europe. A famous playwright, whose works are the talk of Europe and america. Many of the guests are shocked when they discover the man they thought to be his servant to be the famous playwright, a black man named Ryan kinkaide. James is drunk and over eager to introduce Ryan to more friendly faces at the party. In a bid to tease keith about his newly reclaimed status by a string or highwire. He drags Ryan over for introduction and eagerly throws him to shiro and keith when neither blanche nor snubs his friend. Speaking to him as equals. Though with a bit more politeness and manners from Keith than the other had been shooting james. Shiro asks the two to meet keith and him at a local bar later.

Once there they discuss the two of them joining their circus. With Ryan helping to right acts and shows. And James helping with behind the scenes things. With the upper class. It takes some haggling and James chooses to enter a business venture as a silent partner. but would like to look around the show before any papers are signed. Who knows he might change his mind after seeing the behind the scenes. 

The act performing when they arrive is the trapeze. And Ryan finds himself captivated by one of the twins in a pink wig he comes face to face with. “Who is that?” Ryan asks, still staring out the balcony he had come face to face with them in. Shiro gives a wicked grin knowing he has Ryan there. Keiht gives him a warning glance before he answers the playwright. “Lucrecia. One of our trapeze twins from the exotic cuban plantations of the southernmost ocean to touch this country.”

“Their act is truly captivating isn’t it?” Keith says with a smile. 

“Yes, she is.” Ryan responds, eyes still glued till the act is complete. James and Ryan sign on, splitting a 10 percent take. Ryan and James quickly work themselves into the group. The two are later on introduced to lance on day during the week. When he joins them at lunch. Learning he is Veronica's brother. “And lucrecia’s? Will she be joining us today too?” Ryan asked hopefully. Keith looked to the other quickly at Ryan's words. Lance responds with a sad smile. “Afraid not. Just me today. She had other things to do. Maybe another time.”

“Yes, maybe another time. It’s a pleasure to meet you lance. I’m sorry we haven't had a chance to be introduced yet. Hopefully we can get to know each more as we work together.”

“Maybe.” lance responds with a slightly more genuine smile. Taking his lunch to sit by veronica and hunk. The holts check James's shoulder as the other squints in judgment of lance as he sits. The two joining the others. 

“Why would you say that?” Keith asked Lance later. The other still dressed as a male. “They are part of the crew now. He’s going to figure it out eventually.”

Lance shrugged headed to his changing area. “Gives me sometime to see if he’s safe. Or if both are. It just gives me some time. When he figures it out it will show how he really feels about lucrecia. Helps to find out if he’s feelings are for me or for the act.”

“You are lucrecia. You are lance. They are the same person because they are you.” Shiro says kindly joining the two. A hand on Keith's shoulder in support. 

“The show is the act. Not you.” Keith says strongly. They give him a thankful smile before going behind the screen to change to more feminine clothing. Once again joining the others as Lucrecia. 

James and Ryan join the others a few days later with news. They got a response to their letter from the queen of England and they had been granted an audience with the queen. Lucrecia asks if it’s for all of them. James gives a nervous smile, but Ryan is quick to state it’s all of them or none. 

When they are leaving via ship Ryan asks where lance is having not seen him board. Lucrecia is quick to tell him not to worry. He is around. It leaves a pleasant smile on her lips as he excuses himself to other tasks. Lance makes a few appearances here or there on the trip. However once again is nowhere to be seen once they reach the shores of england. Which finally starts setting up questions in ryan and james. As they start to notice the two might just be one. 

At court they meet the queen and after a small flub that is quickly saved all goes well for the group. James introduces Shiro and Keith to Adam the swedish nightingale. A singer also there to see the queen who is known throughout europe for his amazing singing voice. Shiro is quick to make an offer for an american tour. Not even lying to Adam's question if he had ever heard him sing. 

Ryan introduces some of his royal court acquaintances to his friends in the circus. Lucrecia and Corana are quick to leave after some comments about their masculine features. That Ryan chooses not to address more than looking away. Veronica and Allura leave shortly after noticing their missing family.

Back in the states, Ryan James and Shiro work hard on the show for adam. 

Adam’s show in new york goes well. However Ryan's still budding feelings for Lucrecia cause a bit of anguish at the show as he chooses to hold Lucrecia's hand during the performance, but drops his hold once he is given a disapproving look from James and his parents from the audience. Who James had told his suspicions on Lance/Lucrecia to. She tries to keep her tears in check for the rest of the evening. Keith’s parents show up to the after party having been to see the show. Lotor and Axca finally meet Nadia and Silvio. Axca seems happy to see them but Lotor and Shiro get into an argument where Lotor before he throws them out. When shiro tries to block them from the after party leaving them in the back once more, sans Ryan, the rest of the group decides they are tired of being treated as background act only to be seen in a tent as an attraction only and not people. Crashing the party despites Shiro's words. After facing the upper class in their own party the group leaves the stares, headed back to the circus. The trip forced them to face an angry mob of protestors on the way. But they perform their evening show without a hitch to a sold out crowd cheering them. Lucrecia uses the opening act to throw shade at ryan. Doing the trapeze number as lance. 

 Shiro is quick to choose to leave with Adam to do more shows around the states. Which is confusing to James and ryan. As he didn’t consult either on the elaborate plan and the payout is poultry if any as it’s a very risky business venture. James even offers to go on tour in his stead Since he is the one without a family to be away from. His parents worry the least about his travel with the war going on. Where Shiro was leaving behind Keith and the kids. Keith was protesting loudly the choice when he was informed only a day before shiro was to leave But shiro was adamant that it needed to be him to go. Getting more into the day to day shows for when shiro left. Nadia and Silvio chase after the carriage carrying him and Adam as they leave.

Just before shiro left he did a favor for ryan leaving two tickets at the theatre for lucrecia and ryan. Telling lance as he got ready for practice he left one under the name lucrecia. Ryan in his excitement tells the others all about it. Which is good since he needed to be reminded as he was almost late to go meet her. 

Lucrecia is confused when the ticket master presents her with two tickets. At first thinking it was a mistake. But is surprised when Ryan shows up. Asking for her to go with him to the play. And he wasn’t sure if she’d have said yes had he asked her directly. Lucrecia is nervous at first, but when Ryan presents his hand, she does take it. He loops her hand in his arm and escorts her up the stairs through the coloreds only entrance. Commenting on always wanting to see the theatre and excitement to do so. As they ascend they run into James and his parents climbing the stairs next to them through the white entrance. Ryan is quick to introduce lucrecia to James's parents. Who snubs her, refusing to address her and ask Ryan if he has any shame. Being seen with something like that. Lucrecia is quick to excuse herself and run off back to the circus. Ryan stays behind to defend lucrecia. Telling James and his family they don’t even know her, before leaving to go after her. James follows grabbing his arm at the bottom of the stairs countering quickly, “do you even know her? Does she even exist? no matter who they are, they have been lying to us. To you this whole time ryan.”

“Lucrecia will tell me when they are ready to tell me.” he states pulling back his own arm. 

“And yet, you only keep your eyes for lucrecia. What will you do when they confirm they have been lying to you? Can you bring yourself to choose both if they are truly one in the same or will you choose to only care for them as lucrecia?” Ryan doesn’t respond but leaves James behind to return to the circus. 

He finds lucrecia there changed from her evening out wear to her practice outfit. Hair lightly pulled back but down. Ryan is quick to apologize, and says they are small minded people. He will drag James in himself to apologize for his rudeness. But she shouldn’t care what they think of her. And asks why she does. They don’t know her. Lucrecia is quick to inform him it’s not just James or his parents. It is from others too. Everyone outside these walls looks at them the same way. 

“They give me dirty looks too. I’ve learned to ignore them.” Ryan states bring himself closer to her.

“We may get the same looks for being of darker complexion ryan, but it’s not the look i’m talking about, and you know it. You're a rich black man from across the ocean who has never been a slave. Before you came here did anyone even look down on you? Treat you as less than an animal? As a freak in need of beating the devil from?” Lucrecia walks away from him to undo the ropes for her practice. “I didn’t think so.”

Ryan chooses to open himself up and lay out his heart. “You know I want you. It’s not a secret I try to hide. I know you want me.” The two go back and forth while lucrecia and him fight over the equipment and she still gets some practice in. Ryan even shows how much attention he has paid to the act, keeping up a little bit with her. 

“It doesn’t matter how we feel Ryan because it can not be. You are in love with an act not with me. I can not give you what you want.” lucrecia says in frustration. 

“How can you say that? While I stand before you telling you how my heart feels for you Lucrecia?” Ryan pleads, holding her close by the arms.

She jerks back away from him. Frustrated tears clinging to her eyes. As she wipes furiously at her face with her arm, and pulls off her wig in a dramatic fling. “Because Lucrecia is an act! And your heart is only for Lucrecia. You barely have words for me as Lance lest it is to ask of Lucrecia. As Lucrecia I can’t give you a family, a future.'' Lance's chest is heaving at his declaration and reveal. Taking in Ryan's shocked face and silence. “I can’t have you as Lance, I will not have you as Lucrecia.” with those parting words lance turned on his heels and left Ryan alone on the stage. 

Keith and the kids try to keep things normal while Shiro is gone. But his absence is noticeable at every recital and around the circus and their large empty house. The rest of the cast members notice and try to step up as much as they can.

On tour with Adam, Shiro is enjoying himself grandly. The same bright smile graces his face at each performance of adams. The two grow close as the tour continues. At around the 30th performance, Shiro gets a little more introspective. Feeling a bit of guilt at the gentle and casual touches between him and adam. Missing Keith and his kids. He tries to set up Adam to continue the tour alone. Bring it up to him in his room. Adam is taken aback and angry. Thinking the feelings he was acting on flirting with Shiro were mutual. Shiro apologizes for the misunderstanding, but shares that he deeply loves keith. Misses him and his kids. But he has everything taken care of for Adam to finish the tour alone without him as a distraction. Adam becomes even more angry at the words. Refusing to continue the tour. Shiro tells him he has ot. To not would ruin him. Adams informs him he ruined himself by playing with others like pawns. He did perform the show that was due to go in mere hours after their argument leaving shiro to think all is well.

Adams' performance is affected greatly by his emotional argument with Shiro prior. But Shiro still takes the stage with him for the final bow. Where Adam sneaks a kiss to his mouth for the camera’s to shiro’s horror. Adam tells him it’s his parting gift before saying goodbye. Leaving shiro to face the fallout alone.

Shiro returns home and  Nadia and Silvio come running down the stairs at the sight of him. Throwing their arms around him and asking why he came back early.  He tells them because he missed them. He asks them to come with him to see how the circus is doing.

The circus is facing a growing number of protestors. A few buy tickets to the show and stay after the closing act to address them. Led by a local man named sendak. The men throw insults and slurs at them demanding they leave town. James and Ryan confront them together and ask them to leave. James asks them to leave nicely one more time. When sendak throws the first punch zenthrid charges, followed by the others in the circus and the rest of sendak's gang. A fire is started by a brawler intentionally knocking over a lamp and smashing into a store of animal feed.

Once he reaches town they learn the circus is on fire. Shiro wastes no time jumping from the carriage to check on his friends. The fire department works as best they can. Ryarn and James are looking over everyone checking in when shiro joins them. And he asks about the animals looking around at the performers. Hunk informs him they let them out. It was all they could do. Ryan’s eyes go wide at the words. “Where’s lance? Where is lucrecia?” hunk looks back at the burning building. They had been the most adamant about getting all the animals. Without an answer Ryan runs back in the building. Veronica tries to follow but hunk and shiro hold her back. Right after Ryan enters the building Lance runs up from the alley beside the building having been chasing the animals away from the fire and trying to get them to circle back around. Just as Keith and kids break into the crowd. He is told Ryan went in after him and James and Veronica grab him next as he screams. Shiro looks at hias family before running off towards the burning building.

The building collapses with shiro and ryan inside. The crowd is in despair thinking they lost just as shiro comes out carrying an unconscious ryan. Ryan is taken by the paramedics to the hospital. Lance and James follow after them to stay by his side for his stay.

Shiro shows up to the burned circus the next day to see if anything could be salvaged. He is met on the steps by his newspaper critic iverson. They have a little chat. He shares first that the thugs who did this were arrested, and Iverson tells him he hopes he rebuilds. Even if he doesn’t personally enjoy it, he knows others do. And during these times where this very nation is fighting and many of their statesman dying trying to define for the future who is and not worthy of being seen as people and equals, that in this moment in history what shiro is doing portraying all of those performers as people and equals is important for the future. He says well at least we can borrow off the profits from Adam's tour. Iverson cringes, you haven’t heard? Heard what? Iverson shows him the day's paper. Front page is a picture of him and Adam kissing. The story is how Adam nor Shiro appeared at any of the other scheduled show stops. Shiro takes off running for home at the sight. Knowing Keith will have seen it.

Shiro runs into the house to see people removing items from the house. And Keith walked out with the kids in tow to a waiting carriage packed with their personal belongings. Shiro tries to stop them. Keith, wiat, please, just wait. Nothing happened. I swear to you. “Nothing happened shiro! We’ve hidden away our true relationship and you are on the cover of the newspaper kissing that man! For the whole world to see!” “ He set me up for that in a jealous rage. Nothing happened. i don’t love him keith! I love you!” “no shiro, you don’t. You only love yourself and your new found fame.” “please just tell me where you are going?” “home shiro. I’m taking the kids and going home.” “this is our home.” That's when Keith informs him he knows about the risky loan and the bank sent eviction papers over already. They already lost the house. And he was done listening to his excuse and lies. He never had to lie to him. Then he leaves Shiro standing on the stoop alone. 

Corana and the holts lead the others to Shiro's favorite bar. Where they find the man drunk and depressed laying half across it. Matt is the first to speak when shiro ignores their entrance. “Should’ve figured we’d find you here feeling sorry for yourself.” Shiro doesn’t even look at them as the others settle around him. Tell them he can’t pay them all the money's gone. They are over. Pidge is next telling him to shut up and taking his drink away. The others take the time to explain what shiro did for them with his show and how much the show means to them. How it didn't feel like work but a family. Family some of them never had the pleasure of having before the circus. He can’t give up because they all want their home back and that includes him and his family too. After a little more pep talk Shiro smiles at them before taking off to Keith's parents house to win the love of his life back.

Shiro is greeted by Lotor at the door, who refuses to give shiro information on his son’s whereabouts. But the kids make it down the stairs and are happy to see him when asked where Keith is. They happily tell him Keith is at the beach. Shiro smiles brightly at his kids, thanking them and takes off towards the beach. Where he apologizes to Keith and fesses up to his mistakes. Telling him he just wanted to do more for them and go bigger and bigger he didn’t mean to let it get to his head or to get so out of control. He loves him, he loves the kids. He loves the family they made with the circus crew. They all miss him  and the kids. Keith tells him he will give him another chance. That he always loved him. He didn’t need all the bells and whistles he just wanted shiro. 

Ryan wakes up to the sight of lance with his head draped across his chest half asleep and James passed out in a chair at the foot of the bed. His groaning wakes the two as rayn brings a hand up to the back of Lance's head. The other throws his arms around Ryan's neck in tears of joy at the sight of seeing him awake. He goes to pull back at the looks the nurses were giving him but is instead pulled forward by Ryan to meet him in a deep kiss. James just laughs and grabs his friend's leg, his own happy tears falling down his cheeks as Lance melts into ryans kiss easily with his own.

They all meet up at the steps of the circus. Shiro informs everyone that the bank wouldn’t give him a new loan. Nor any in the nearby towns. And he probably couldn't swindle any other banks in the world to give him a loan. He is sorry to disappoint everyone. Matt is quick to inform him not to worry. Pidge adds on that he was always a disappointment. Shiros gives a sarcastic thanks for that. Lucrecia, Ryan and James join them after being released from the hospital. The others have worked together to get them some clothes to be able to return to presenting as a woman when they so choose to do so. Having lost their own in the fire. James is quick to inform him he had once had an inheritance and connections that could have helped them but now all he had was his friendship with all of them. Oh and his and Ryan's 10 percent share of the door. Which he was smart enough to collect every week to prevent Shiro from causing a disaster with it and Ryan also stated he had some modest savings from his plays. As they were still doing well in Europe. 

Shiro tried to protest. Saying he couldn’t let them risk all they had left on him. Corana protesting loudly for him to not turn sensible on them now. James counters with asking them all three to be equal partners. With equal say in everything as they move forward. Shiro quickly agrees to their terms. They discuss logistics as even with their bit of funding they can’t afford to repair the building. Instead they get a tent and some cheap land on the outskirts of town by the docks. One big enough for their entire extended family to safely call home. The group salvaged all they could from the rubble together before leaving it behind. The tent gives them more room to bigger and better shows and bring in even more acts. 

[gtorres21ahsgov]

Media Assessment of Racial Injustice

Brands Have Nothing Real to Say About Racism  https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/06/brands-racism-protests-amazon-nfl-nike/612613/

Subject: This source talks about the powers of the media. How huge brands with massive followings have participated or rarely peek their head out on the comments of racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd. Why is it that big platforms as Nike,Twitter, and even the NFL have hardly touched on this subject? Is it because of political backlash like the majority of them claim it is?

Author: Amanda Mull is a staff writer for the Atlantic. She’s written on a wide variety of topics such as nutrition, health, beauty, but also branches out towards feminism, sports, and the changing culture of America.

Context: Article was published on June 3, 2020 weeks after the death of George Floyd. This article followed even after the media outrage sparked due to George’s death as millions protested, rioted, and spoke amongst themselves and the community. With big brand names getting called out to say their views on the situation at hand this article is a good representation on how big brands deal with real life social issues. How easily they can be dragged into discussion and what they will provide to their audience because of the recent event which was so widespread throughout the United States and possibly even the world.

Audience: The source was published for everyone that is involved with big brand companies or even media itself. And with media widely available for everyone in the United States it is hard not to be sucked in. The reliability for the source can be supported on the fact these big brand names are supported by hundreds of millions of people in the United states. Those who are the media lab rats who are conducted to be glued to their phone and exposed to all the trending media simply by swiping their fingers. It’s purpose is to awaken those who are trapped in this mindless media usage when this can be a big factor in everyone's lives.

Perspective: This is leaning towards liberal as it comes from a perspective of an individual who can be related to many other individuals who are in agreement with her view of society and the issues we live in,

Significance: Amanda Mull uses behind the scenes credentials such as Nike’s video discussing the racial injustice cause. With the words “Just don’t do it” going against their original slogan of “Just do it”. After this many smaller branches of sports media and even athletes followed up on the discussion which in attention brought millions of eyes to the topic. Famous athletes following up on the discussion will then engage their audience to speak up about the issues as well. With horrific videos being broadcasted all over the media reaching even young children it shows importance to those empowered that we must have changed now.

The Evils of Injustice and the Danger of Mobocracy

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-evils-of-injustice-and-the-danger-of-mobocracy/

Subject: Source discusses the mobs that have risen throughout these racial injustice times. Claims a rise of mobocracy which is a rule or dominations from the masses. It states that issues don't address the cycle of angry mobs that can be cited from any point in time of history even before the discovery of the United States that people will seek to come to power. And if issues are not to come to a conclusion that works amongst the angry protestors and activists then the cycle of history will continuously repeat itself.

Author:Yuval Levin the director of social, cultural, and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute and the editor of National Affairs, a quarterly journal of essays on domestic policy and politics. He has been a member of the White House domestic-policy staff under President George W. Bush and a congressional staffer. Because Yuval Levin has political office experience it gives him more of an insight view and knowledge that most other people don’t have. Can be very in-formatting and widen audience understanding.

Context: Published on June 2,2020 again following after the media outrage of George Floyd with riots and protest rising out as a consequence. The post explains how higher authorities have failed to grasp the concept in which people desire a unity of law and social norms. That no one in our society should have to in any way show they are no harm to a higher authority and this issue has sparked outrage on millions of activists who will continuously seek change until change is given. Easily due to his previous experience working as an office member he can read the president's intention and motives. Accurately giving a breakdown on the thought process that is behind our very own president.

Audience: The targets are aimed towards the ones who may oversee this issue as just another media outrage without understanding the cycle of mobs and angry masses of people being a cycle of history. One’s who are blind or give a shoulder to the people who seek change and ask for the help and support to make those changes come through. The focus is to discuss the negative outcomes will only become worse if help is not involved with the people. And for those who simply are a viewer on the sidelines it talks about getting on the field with your people and to believe in a cause you stand for. And if the cause you stand for is not met then make it a primary objective to meet that standard with your higher authority or the history will always repeat itself.

Perspective: Perspective comes from a conservative standpoint because it explains the history and promotes social institutions for context of civilizations in which addresses how people can get involved and what even different levels of involvement people can be into. Instead of activists simply being informed on the topic is simply enough to get others in discussion. And to see past media and to believe in your own social norms.

Significance: “Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”  A quote said from Lincoln who had the ability to see pass this wall that constricts people's outlook on society. That wall is the ideas and beliefs that are passed down from generation to generation and that wall will forever be continuously there until we are able to overcome the wall and see the things we aren’t supposed to see.

17 Year old arrested after 2 killed during unrest in Kenosha

https://www.themonitor.com/2020/08/26/17-year-old-arrested-2-killed-unrest-kenosha/

Subject: Shows how even young generations can be negatively involved in a social cause as a 17 year old shoots down two innocent people in a third straight night protest. One of them being Jacob Blake who tragically died over an irrational decision that was brought by the 17 year old. This shows acts can be facilitated through horrific actions such as shooting those who are against your belief. Explains how ununified we actually are in America more than we thought.

Author: Mike Householder and Scott Bauer are first response reporters. Their jobs are to collect hard cold facts and make them broadcasted. Obtaining those facts throughout interviews and quickly arriving at scenes where destruction is caused where they can then see first had the issues that rise and write about it from their perspectives followed by factual evidence.

Context: Published on August 26,2020 it accurately follows the events that took place during the Protest in Kenosha. Because it was published soon after events took place it gave them a more accurate writing as there was little to no time at all for other media to cover the issues and change the story. The true story is that the 17 year old was convicted of homicides in which he killed 2 and injured 1 person after sparking a shooting at the protest against those supporting the racial injustice movement.

Audience: Shows to everyone that this generation being involved in this negativity is a greatly disgusting and horrific thing to see and hear about. A child who had possibly his whole life ahead of him is not facing sentence in jail for killing and gunning down people. Does it not frighten those who have kids that this is the world in which their own children can me sucked into. And as young adults ourselves how possibly someone like this can be around us in supposedly safe environments maybe even such as school. The audience targeted are the ones who see the cause for change.

Perspective: Objective because of the facts and evidence that are amongst the article. They just talk about the event in which it took place as well as the reasoning behind the shooting. Simple and hardcore evidence of large social issue.

Significance: Again makes people question the world we live in. With just the topic itself a 17 year old boy had the courage to attend this event and shoot people. Obviously a lack of education is in fault of parenting and the school system for not addressing more knowledge on these kids in which in turn around these kids whose brains are like sponges are not only absorbing the negativity in which is presented in front of them and only know that. Article shows the needs for change with evidence provided .

The similarities are all the discussion on change for a more positive outlook on society. How we all are wanting change but our actions of negativity are actually straying us from our goal further and further. The differences are how people are expressing those wants and needs. Many are protesting either peacefully or violently. We need to come to a common conclusion that we all see fit as we all who are involved in the movement just want to see a common goal be achieved which is the ability to see others who are different in race and be socially accepted.

The source I identify most with would be The Evils of Injustice and rise of Mobocracy because I do believe that higher powers are failing to understand our true desires and only see our negativity as a rebellious act when it is trying to gain their attention that we want change. 

[applsauss]

Mors Ab Alto [3/8] - Act 1

Description: Tieria’s arm twitches, and he frowns, then looks away, testing his fingers by curling them into his palm. After moment’s hesitation he raises a gloved hand to the glass, pressing his palm lightly against the window, low, by his waist. He meets your gaze, and it’s a concession, you realize. He doesn’t smile; neither do you, but you press your palm against glass of your own, mirroring his, and his shoulders slack enough for you to notice.

Fandom: 
Gundam 00

Pairing: 
Tieria Erde/Reader

Word Count: 4.1k+


Warning(s): Talk of Cancer. Death Caused by Cancer.

One year before the armed interventions. Lagrange Three, The Ptolemaios (Krung Threp).

     The news anchor’s voice is pitchless as she speaks into the camera, face pretty, dark eyes steady. With her back to the gathering crowd of protestors, she enunciates her words clearly, the familiar english rolling off her tongue without effort, like it belongs in her mouth. The microphone slips a millimeter through her gloves, she gestures widely to the scene behind her, and your chest begins to feel tight, hot with an emotion you’ve yet been unable to smooth a label over. 

The crowd of veterans and supporters jeers, then swells. You breathe out harshly through your nose, and pull yourself forward towards the screen, then push yourself back; one foot hooked under the handrailing, another flat on top. On screen, the wind picks up, and you pull your sweater tighter over your middle. Earth is frigid, the Ptolemaios is frigid.

Docked in Krung Thep, and still not the full-time residence of its future crew, the environmental controls haven’t been optimized. You’d do it yourself, here and now, but you’re off-duty, and the twilit corridors are inhospitable--abandoned, except for the strange shadows cast around corners.

It’s the graveyard shift, most normal operations have halted and non-essential personnel have retreated to their quarters for rest, but you’re too amped up on what’s happening down on Earth to sleep--too amped up on the promise of the armed interventions, not even a year away. You’ve got a buzz in your limbs and a stutter in your chest that won’t leave you alone. 

The projection of protestors is wide across the screen, the scene a familiar city, but not your home. Shots of the Washington Monument turn into pans over the Reflecting Pool as the crowd only expands and intensifies; Bulky jackets and brightly colored hats filling the broad avenues of the Union’s capital city. 

The lag between the commentator’s question and the anchor’s response is long enough for the shouting of the crowd to be heard, but there’s no unifying chant, it’s just angry noise. Above their heads, they’re waving scraps of cardboard and picketed signs scrawled with slogans: ‘Veterans! Unite and fight back,’ ‘medals for jobs,’ ‘what happened to social SECURITY?’ and, ‘we fought for you. Now you fight for us.”

The civil unrest settles at the bottom of your stomach until memories rise like bile. You should be down there, with a catchphrase of your own, but instead you’re on a space colony, watching the Earth churn far, too far, down below; and your mom should be there, marching for her life, but instead her ashes were taken by the wind and dumped into the rolling waters of the Pacific. Her life her own until it wasn’t, after the Union refused to give it back.

You can still feel the warmth of the sun, her hands, the ghost of her voice--but soldiers are soldiers until they’re useless, and though she still had arms for hugging and a voice full of reason, she couldn’t march or use a wrench and so they let her die, hollowed out and bedridden.

The protestors are flanked by riot police, they’ve got the streets intersecting the path of the march taped off and manned. With machined guns strapped to their fronts, and the snow feathering the ground, they paint a distinctly dystopian picture: Grey slosh falling around black helmets strapped under white faces, but it doesn’t look like it’ll get ugly. There’s no telling for sure, the anger at injustice is potent in the air, but this is a crowd filled with tired soldiers done with fighting wars.

The door to your left hisses open, and you tear yourself away from the railing, curling in slightly as you look towards the entrance way.

Tieria’s suspicious look melts into indifference at the sight of you, and after some deliberation, he pulls himself into the room. The news anchor picks up her commentary, bullet-pointing the protesters’ demands, and his eyes drift towards the screen.

“Too excited for tomorrow to sleep?” you ask in an attempt to draw his attention away from the broadcast, the display too close to home to share. 

He stares critically at the feed for a lingering moment, then seemingly writes it off as unimportant. He pulls himself farther into the room, catching himself on the railing closest to the door, and gives you a look that tells you he’s not going to dignify your flippant comment with a response.

“What are you doing up this late?” you rephrase when some more movement on the screen catches his attention. The protesters are testing the boundaries of the police tape, and beginning to throw taunts over the riot shields. Maybe you were wrong about tired soldiers and wars.

Tieria blinks as you switch channels. Quickly, the screen is filled with images of smoke rising off the shell of a town, mobile suits flying overhead. After a few seconds of the anchor reviewing the carnage in french, you cut the feed entirely. No such thing as a tired soldier.

Tieria looks at you, then huffs. “I was performing a systems check on Veda’s terminal aboard the Ptolemaios.” 

You shift uncomfortably. “Why?”

“You can never be too careful.”

You nod, then for lack of a better response, shrug his empty answer off. “You’re not tired though?”

“Are you?”

You don’t expect the laugh that his quick reply pulls from you, and neither does he. His eyes widen fractionally and his face loses its serious grimace. Huffing, you bend your knees, pulling yourself towards the handrail you’ve been anchored to, and grasp it, twisting your body around to mimic sitting on it. He’s quiet as you do this, his glasses picking up glare from the ring of lights embedded on the floor, lining the walls. You notice he’s wearing something that would more resemble sleep-wear than casual clothing: A plain shirt, his sweater hung open at the front, and loose fitting leggings, though he’s still wearing work boots, like he’s caught between worlds, unable to ever fully relax. 

The clothes don’t fit right, not without gravity to pull them down, and so the normally appropriately buttoned sweater billows around his waist and rounds off his shoulders. You remember his question. “I guess I am,” you say, covering an ill-timed yawn. “Don’t rat me out?”

Tieria scoffs. “As long as it doesn’t affect your work.” And maybe it’s the late hour, or the hazy, violet light that’s swathed the briefing room, but you think his words come out kinder than they usually do. He’s off-kilter, his tone is smooth, borderline soft, and he seems to realize this, if his sudden frown is anything to go by. He doesn’t meet your eyes, and you wring your hands around the railing.

The briefing room smells like formaldehyde, there’s an open panel of exposed wires in the corner, and there’s this buzzing in your head, like an early-warning system that’s perpetually being tripped. You’re reminded of why you’re here, and what you’re meant to do, the crescendo this is all building towards. Your stomach flips.

“Are you…” You suck in a breath like it’d clear your head of the fog. Cold, uncomfortable air fills your lungs instead “...Do you think you’re ready for the interventions?”

The corners of his mouth twitch downwards. “Of course I am.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

He folds his arms in front of his chest, and lets himself float away from the bar towards the wall. “Of course not.”

You exhale, long and slow, and scrub your face with cold hands. The skin around your eyes feels tight, and this upset growing in your gut is so volatile you can’t rest--not with the protests, not with the armed interventions, and not with Tieria, as fragile as he is. Every conversation you have with him leaves you floundering to make him stay, and you don’t have the time to think about why--you don’t want to think about why.

“Sorry, I’ve just been out of it lately.” 

It’s an off-hand confession, unthought-out and rough ‘round the edges, and you’re prepared to face the detached silence that’ll surely follow when he asks, “Does this have anything to do with what you were watching when I entered?”

You pull your face out of your hands with mild urgency, but before you can figure out how to respond, he wrinkles his nose, and looks towards the dark screen once more. In a flatter tone he says, “I am eager to have our operations underway.” 

“...What?”

“The armed interventions,” he clarifies. His arms are still crossed, and he doesn’t meet your eyes. He stays where he is, displaced against the stark white of the wall behind him. 

“Oh…” You swallow thickly. “Me, too.” 

He kicks off the wall towards the exit, pauses briefly in front of the door, then retreats back to Krung Threp proper. When you hear the distant clang of Ptolemy’s airlock, signaling you’re once again alone on the ship, you turn the projector back on, but the protesters are gone and replaced by a daytime talk show.

***

Present day. Lagrange One, The Ptolemaios.

      Ptolemy lurches and groans under the unnaturally tight turns Lichty forces the ship to follow through with. It’s awful, the stench of your own breath and fear as you fumble with Dynames, the dome of your helmet colliding with the scraped metal as you rush through repairs. 

You never meant to work on weapons of war, despised them for all your life, and yet here you are, elbow deep in a mobile suit responsible for nothing but war, trying to bring it back online. On the good days, you can convince yourself that you’re okay with giving up what makes you human so long as you can be a shepherd ushering in change. 

Today is not a good day. 

A violent shutter moves through Ptolemy’s bones, and Dynames is jostled in its supposedly shock-absorbant restraints. The adrenaline makes you hyper aware, but your fingers are clumsy, and you have no idea what’s happening outside the hangar, whether you’re winning or losing, suffering through the beginning, middle, or end of a battle. 

The hangar is your world, and it is even larger without the other Gundams occupying the space, and it is even lonelier while The Ptolemaios is in battle mode, with the lights dimmed and flashing. The utter silence is only broken by the aftereffects of explosions. 

One of Dynames’s restraints comes loose and you see it as Ptolemy’s momentum sends it towards you. You feel the impact, but don’t remember anything after that. 

When you wake up, Dynames is gone, the hangar is even more empty, and Haro is in your cracked helmet chanting Lockon’s name over and over again. You can’t help but feel like you’re fast approaching the end of everything you’ve fought for.

***

Present day. Lagrange One, The Ptolemaios.

      The background hum of the GN drives surges in the overbearing silence while you wait for the doctor’s final verdict. Dull pain and disbelief numb your thought process, sift everything out except for the singular longing for a universal pause button. 

Tieria didn’t even look at you when you tried to pull him off Setsuna, just stopped his clenched, white fist from flying into your face, and then Miss Sumeragi issued her orders with a tone so stern and warm that it made you want to throw up--because she’s a military woman born from everything you despise and no matter how far anyone walks, they can never quite shake their past. 

“Nine to ten hours.” Doctor Moreno pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and you frown. “The damage is extensive, it would never heal right without the regeneration pod.”

You’re sitting sideways on the examination table, cradling your right arm in your lap. The heavy leaded vest you wore during your x-ray is tangled with your feet. Your hospital slippers are weightless, and slowly slipping towards the center of the room. The walls are a mocking beige, their voices are cold, and the hallway is quiet as death.

You look away towards the door as Doctor Moreno and Miss Sumeragi begin discussing your treatment between themselves, trading words back and forth; the doctor in his chair, Miss Sumeragi with an errant arm keeping her anchored to the desk. Her joints are locked; her hair swims around her. 

You dig your nails into the synthetic leather of the bench and hold your tongue. You can’t help but feel distinctly betrayed by the garden of conspiracy they’re taking turns watering. 

“You’re undergoing the treatment,” Miss Sumeragi finally addresses you after a moment of intense thought, and behind her, you spy the regeneration pods. They seem to loom over her shoulder, distorted through the glass separating this room from the one beyond. You see Lockon’s ghost in one of them. You see your ghost in the other. Your stomach sinks. 

“It’s just a fracture,” you say, eyes fixed on your fate behind her, fingers moving to pick the velcro on your wrist guard. “And besides, you need me right now. I’ve still got a good hand-”

“You’re undergoing the treatment.”

“I’m fine-”

“You’ve got three broken fingers and a fractured wrist!” her voice wavers, loud. Your mouth snaps shut, and she at least does you the service of looking apologetic before continuing, this time more reasonably, “You’re not fine. We can’t risk this again. I won’t make the same mistake twice. Lockon...he…” She wipes her hands on her pants. “It would be a disservice.”

“This is...” You suck in a breath as your right hand twitches in pain. “...Different.”

“It’s not.”

“It is!”

“No.” Miss Sumeragi pulls herself closer to the desk with a resolute grimace. “It’s not.” She turns to look at the regeneration pods in the room behind her, then says, “It’s just nine hours--no time at all.” The words are quiet and insecure and convince no one. 

You look at your feet as Miss Sumeragi’s grip on the desk tightens, shoulders knotting, and then she lets out a breath and returns to herself. “Make the preparations.” She nods to Doctor Moreno, and then she pushes off the desk and towards the door. It slides open, you see purple lingering in the hallway, and Miss Sumeragi begins speaking. It shuts before you hear what she has to say.

And you seethe.

A couple minutes later, the door opens again. 

Tieria doesn’t say anything as he enters, barely acknowledges you. He’s got a far off look in his eyes, and you can’t tell if it’s the guilt or the grief that’s eating him, probably both. Doctor Moreno wisely excuses himself, holding his data pad to his chest as he disappears into the next room. The air grows heavier once the door shuts behind him. 

Tieria’s got his uniform on, but he’s gone and switched out his contacts for his glasses--he’s this odd mismatched version of dressed and undressed, one foot in the battle field, the other in his grave.

You can’t bounce your knee in zero gravity, so you settle for agitatedly tapping your thumb against your thigh, though it’s clumsy with your off hand; You can’t keep a steady rhythm.

Tieria crosses his arms in front of his chest, and the silence begins to make you itch.

“Are you okay?” The question burns your tongue before you manage to spit it out. 

He’s quiet for a beat too long, and then opens with, “I agree with Miss Sumeragi--”

“I know!” you grit out. He drags you right back into the pit of overwhelming indignation Miss Sumeragi tossed you down. “I’m doing it. Just stop talking about it.”

You can never guess his mood or what he’ll say next and it drives you up the wall when you’re in a bad mood. You can never tell what you are to him, he’ll act like he cares one day and then ignore you the next and it makes old insecurities surface no matter how hard you try and hold your head up high.

You both watch Doctor Moreno through the glass as he tucks his sunglasses into his breast pocket and begins fiddling with a regeneration pod. You feel the familiar unease begin to crawl under your skin. 

“Are you alright?” is the only thing you can ask, and it’s stupid, the way you’re just repeating yourself. You kick the leaded vest away from your feet, and watch it meet your slippers, then make them spin out in the center of the room. Tieria’s eyes follow the movement. 

He unfolds his arms, then folds them again. He doesn’t answer. Through the window, you accidently meet Doctor Moreno’s eyes, and quickly pretend to be interested only in your purple fingers. 

“Why’d you even come here if all you’re going to do is avoid talking to me?”

“I wasn’t aware I was required to answer questions by virtue of you asking them.”

“Tieria-”

“I’m fine.”

Your skin prickles, and you can feel it in your chest, the familiar need to be comforted. It makes your limbs buzz. You miss being held, you want him to hold you, but he...he just doesn’t understand, and you can’t find the means or resolve to explain. 

Your hands tighten around the edge of the bed, nails digging into faux leather. You don’t want to go in. You don’t want to be afraid. Your chest tightens. Your hands are cold. You bite your cheek and keep your gaze steady, expression neutral. 

You are afraid of missing something while you’re in there. You’re afraid of ending up like Lockon. You’re afraid of ending up like your Mother. 

Doctor Moreno approaches the door. You see him through the glass. Resigned, you curl forward, careful of your arm, then push off the bed with both feet. He holds the door open for you, but you’re clumsy and have trouble making it through the doorway. He helps you through.

“You’ll be out before you know what hit you,” Doctor Moreno jokes as he pulls the sling over your head and undoes your wrist guard. “Won’t feel like a minute’s passed.” When he moves onto your splinted fingers, he tugs just on the wrong side of too much, making you wince. 

He offers you an apologetic smile, but doesn’t stop.

Careful to keep your hand still, the doctor helps you into the regeneration pod. You lay down as he walks away, look to your left, and see Tieria waiting on the other side of the glass, watching you with eyes unfocused. The doctor joins him, and turns his attention down to the control panel at his fingers.

You’re surprised by the glass cover when it slips into place above you. The lid seals, then pressurizes slowly. “See?” Doctor Moreno’s voice comes on, rough, over the speakers. “Easy.” You watch Tieria and the doctor through the window. “Almost done,” he continues as the hissing dies down.

Tieria’s arm twitches, and he frowns, then looks away, testing his fingers by curling them into his palm. After moment’s hesitation he raises a gloved hand to the glass, pressing his palm lightly against the window, low, by his waist. He meets your gaze, and it’s a concession, you realize. He doesn’t smile; neither do you, but you press your palm against glass of your own, mirroring his, and his shoulders slack enough for you to notice. 

“Can you count down from ten for me, please?”

You nod your head, and begin: “Ten.” The air suddenly tastes too sweet, it makes your teeth ache and your toes curl. 

“Nine.” Your vision grows fuzzy, and your breathing picks up, which only makes you fall under faster. 

“Eight.” Your hands are freezing, but your chest is warm -– like black fabric in the sun. 

There’s no more sound. There’s no resolution. You don’t make it to seven.

***

One Year before the armed interventions. Lagrange Three, Krung Thep.

      Gundam Dynames is forest green, and it matches Lockon’s flight suit, though Dynames, nor his pilot, have been at the forefront of your mind as of late.Your thoughts keep returning to the image of dim corridor lights on rich purple and pale pink, eyes that you sometimes think glow. You’d bumbled along diligently through the start of your shift, turning over last night’s encounter in your head until Lockon made an appearance to check up on Dynames and you enthusiastically welcomed the distraction, the chance to tease and air some grievances. He has a habit of yanking too hard on the controls in the cockpit.

You reach up and pull the targeting apparatus down into place, then push it up, and pull it down again to make a point. “See?” you ask, continuing to mess with the attachment, your arms hanging above your head. “So smooth. No need to yank this baby off its hinges. It’s even got a lil’ bit of --” You let go with some flare, and watch as it floats back into its proper stowed position above you--“hydraulic magic.”

“I know how it works,” Lockon grumbles from outside the cockpit. He’s got Haro tucked under his arm, and his vest is open and breezy.

“He knows! He knows!” Haro chants, and you pull yourself out of the seat, then float up next to the pair with a playfully terse grin.

“If ‘you know, you know,’ then why do I have to keep fixing it?” You catch yourself on the ridge of Dynames’ chest plate, then stall to push your sleeves up your forearms, the grip of your gloves rough on your skin.

Lockon opens his mouth to retort, stares at you for a moment, and shuffles Haro under his other arm. “Right.” He wrinkles his nose and offers you a sheepish smile. “I’ll remember that for...next time.”

“Next time! Next time!”

“Mmhm.” You cross your arms, then uncross them and pull your sleeves down to your wrists when the cold makes the hairs on your arms stand up. You’ll never get used to how freezing the Ptolemaios is.

The door to the hangar opens, and you both watch as Tieria enters. He lets himself drift towards the railing, scanning the large room until his eyes find yours. You raise a hand in greeting, offer a smile, and then his eyes flick to Lockon. He turns suddenly and begins inspecting a terminal on the wall.

Lockon laughs and you look back to him.

“What?”

“Nothing,” he says. “He’s jealous.”

You snort. “Yea...maybe.” Your tone is just shy of disbelieving, and you roll your eyes because the conversation is familiar and worn to dirt, but you can’t help but wonder sometimes. You’re not completely oblivious to your own feelings, to the strange tug in your chest when Tieria’s around, and you know that he at least likes you more than most, that he unconsciously seeks your company after a hard day, after a good day, after a normal day. 

You both push off Dynames and the cockpit closes behind you, “Y’know,” you address Lockon again. “Be more gentle and Dynames might not take it’s revenge next time.” You nod up to the dark bruise on his forehead, and he laughs good-naturedly.

“Alright, alright. You got me there.”

The muted tap of foreign boots on metal is the only warning you get before Tieria appears beside you. “You should be more concerned with the damage he’s done to Gundam Dynames rather than himself.”

Lockon sighs. “Gee, Tieria, nice to know you care.”

“I don’t.”

“Mmhm.” Lockon gives Tieria a reproachful look, then mock shrugs his shoulders in agreement. “Well, I guess you’re right. We don’t matter very much, do we? We’re replaceable, cogs in a machine and all that...” A rhetorical question.

His tone is too light to properly support the harsh reality he’s reintroduced into the forefront of your thoughts--and you don’t really want to think about your personal worth judged comparatively to Celestial Being’s ultimate goal right now, especially since Lockon seems intent on getting an answer he won’t find in Tieria.

Nobody says anything, Lockon’s stubbornly waiting for a response, Tieria’s narrowing his eyes like he’s been challenged, and you’re left floating between the two, floundering in the sudden and unpleasant turn the conversation took. Even Haro seems unusually subdued, and so you force yourself to scoff nervously and say, “Speak for yourself.” You try and break the clouds with some humor. “I’m indispensable!” 

It works. Tieria looks annoyed again, and Lockon laughs, then takes the dip in the conversation as his chance to slip away. “Yea, yea, whatever you say,” he says, his body already facing away so you can’t see his face, but his voice still carries an airy tone.

Haro flaps happily, still under Lockon’s arm. “Whatever you say! Whatever you say!”

Both you and Tieria watch as Lockon leaves, Tieria more tense, intense than you, and then you turn to him with a smile. “How are you today?” you ask like you hadn’t met him in the middle of the night barely ten hours ago.

He looks startled by your sudden question, then settles back into his usual self. “Fine. How are you?”

You melt a little at his tone. “Good. Did you need something?”

A/N: Tsunami, Told Slant.

Masterlist | Posting Schedule 

[ty-talks-comics]

Best of Marvel: Week of August 21st, 2019

Best of this Week: Tony Stark: Iron Man #15 (Legacy #615) - Dan Slott, Jim Zub, Juanan Ramirez, Francesco Manna, Edgar Delgado and Joe Caramagna

Tony Stark may not be the man he says he is anymore.

Since the landmark 600th issue of Iron Man, Tony Stark hasn’t been entirely sure that he is actually himself and not just a strange collection of nanobots and machines strung together in the form of the billionaire tech wizard. After the horrible incident surrounding eScape, Tony Stark’s virtual reality world, leads to the deaths of a few people and millions or more in property damage, Tony has to take the stand and address what exactly happened. 

He’s grilled pretty thoroughly on what an AI is and how much was his responsibility vs. how much can be blamed on Controller, the supervillain who hacked into the supposedly secure network and caused all of this damage. Overseeing the hearing is a surprising character from another mechanical superheroes past. Senator Miles Brickman, a character that originally appeared as something of an anti-machine/anti-AI character in the pages of Machine Man’s original series, it livid and irate at Tony Stark. Showing a bit of prejudice in his questioning, he asks has Tony Stark ever made any changes to his body using technology, then follows by asking “Can you prove that you’re not some form of artificial intelligence?”

Tony initially tries to dance around the question, but upon being reminded that he’s under oath, reveals that it is actually quite possible as his body was put back together cell by cell while he was in his coma. This shocks everyone, from Rhodey to Bethany Cabe, his head of security at Stark Unlimited, and even his brother Arno Stark who is watching the hearing from his office at Baintronics, the rival technology company.

AI Tony calls for a recess after a few snarky lines as we cut to Vision and Wonder Man arriving at Avengers mansion, thinking they’ve been called to assist in Tony’s hearing. Immediately some red flags might want to be set off with the characters involved, especially when Jarvis lets them in and soon after betrays them with a large piece of metal embedded in the back of his head with a familiar design. 

Things start to heat up as Brickman produces the Tony Stark AI that was used by Riri Williams while Tony was in a coma and asks does this fully functioning, autonomous copy have legal rights and responsibilities. What makes me so uncomfortable about this scene is that it plays on the fear of the unknown.

Brickman has tried to have Machine Man destroyed in the past and even knowing that Tony Stark has saved the world in the past, he’s not willing to consider that he still has right once it’s admitted that he may not be fully human anymore. In a way it mirrors some of our own discussions as it pertains to AI and whether or not we’ll allow them autonomy once they become advanced enough for it. There’s a whole discussion for sex robots that no one is qute ready for just yet.

The Wasp, Janet van Dyne, flies through a robot protest on her way to meet Tony for lunch and catches him talking to Tony AI. Tony AI agrees to be loaded into the Iron Man suit and they all fly off when suddenly they’re met with a gross amalgamation of Vision and Wonder Man fused together. Ramirez’s art makes him look so horrifying with only half of Wonder Man’s luxurious hair and cracking skin that’s as red as Vision’s. He rushes at Tony in a rage and promises to rip the human and AI halves of him apart, displaying an anger that neither character has ever presented. 

In the middle of their fight, Jarvis appears and zaps Janet, who was knocked out of the fight during the initial rush. He places her in his pocket and leaves thereafter. Tony and WonderVision continue their fight, destroying the robot protestors in the process. Tony realizes that they only way to stop them is to use a localized EMP which will also kill Tony AI. The technological Tony isn’t fazed and just tells Tony to kiss Jan a bunch and feel vaguely bad about it later.

Unfortunately, this leaves Tony in the middle of the carnage. He’s surrounded by broken robots, likely to take the blame for all of it and realizes that Jocasta was right, he only sees everything as data. He breathes a small sigh that he’s still alive and that WonderVision didn’t take Janet… until he can’t find her. We then cut to the surprising return of The Avengers greatest enemy as his new gambit to destroy Tony Stark and spark a new machine age is in full effect.

What I liked most about this issue is that Tony’s mistakes really catch up to him in a bad way. He’s always managed to skate by the skin of his teeth when his machines have gone haywire. While Brickman was being an asshole for the trial, he made a good point in that we don’t quite know if we can trust this Tony. Given what we as the audience know thus far, he’s falling hard. Almost going back to the drink, questioning his own existence, not even having the trust of the brother that’s been by his side since his appearance in the mid 2000s (in this universe).

And that ending, finally seeing the seeds of what’s been sewn for months now starting to take form, is always fun. I had wondered what happened to this character since Infinity Wars (2018) and I can’t wait to see where exactly this story is going to go and what the repercussions of that event will be. I also can’t wait to see how exactly he’ll scar Tony and his extended family now that he’s returned. High recommend!

---------------------------------------------------

Things were looking up for Otto Octavius. He had found a nice woman and was slowly falling in love, he had mended fences with Anna-Maria in a way. After the events of War of the Realms, he was a respected and loved hero in San Francisco and then it all came crashing down.

Runner Up: The Superior Spider-Man #10 (Legacy #43) - Christos Gage, Mike Hawthorne, Wade von Grawbadger, Jordie Bellaire and Clayton Cowles

After taking the lovely Emma on a swing through the city, The Spider-Man of San Francisco goes on to visit the child he saved all the way back in issue #4 and help his new adoptive parents get custody of him. These small moments of warmness are a far cry from the maniacal nature that we were once accustomed to from Octavius. Bellaire colors most these scenes in a nice, warm orange. Giving us this feeling of joy and some happiness for Otto… at least until he’s discussing having a child with Emma and she alerts him to the news report that asks if the SF Spider-Man is really Otto Octavius. 

Things start to spiral even further as Spider-Man is interviewed and dances around the question and the Brothers Grimm acknowledge that he hired them for some temp work if they went straight, alluding to the first arc of the book. Otto is furious, Anna-Maria gives him snark and Emma tells him that he needs to face things head on, getting in front of it all. He can prove that he’s changed. Unfortunately, Anna-Maria brings up the kid as an example of someone who he’s helped and he swings to the apartment to find the foster parents angry and the child sad that he lied. Normally Otto wouldn't think twice about lying to someone or omitting information, but looking into that child's eyes as he began to cry, Otto reveals that he lied because he wanted the kid to like him and they hug. 

Soon after, Otto is called back to Horizon University where he is known as Professor Tolliver. Max Modell is waiting for him as he's received an email telling him that Tolliver is actually Otto Octavius. Surprisingly to Otto, Max already knew. Max Modell may act like a goof, but he's not considered one of the brightest minds in Marvel for no reason. He ran a DNA test to confirm soon after his emergence and gave "Tolliver" a chance to prove himself a changed man and given that he has, he's been trying to help clear his name. 

With Max's security footage and his own enhanced suit, Otto is able to determine that it was actually Spiders-Man that sent all of the incriminating data to everyone. Once Spiders-Man realizes he's caught, the thousands of spiders that make up his form reconstitute until Ock defeats him and compresses the former Peter Parker's consciousness into one Spider-Body. After some pushing, Spiders-Man reveals that it was Norman Osborn's idea. This Norman Osborn, however, is from another dimension where he's the Spider Totem and his main enemy was a Green Goblin Peter Parker, if I remember right. 

Spiders-Man also tells Otto that Norman is in his own dimension, safe from harm. During the events of Spider-Geddon, the Web of Fate was destroyed, making dimensional travel much harder for Spider people. Octavius hits a wall until Anna-Maria comes out that she's saved a bit of Terrax's energy from the first arc in the Living Brain robot, in case Otto ever reverted. This makes him sink even lower, but ultimately he understands and tries to use the power to make a portal...only Norman planned for this and over loads the machine, causing it to destroy the building almost killing everyone inside if not for Otto. 

Otto manages to save Max and Anna-Maria, but is swiftly defeated and left for dead by Norman who was there the entire time. When Otto asks why Norman is doing this, he responds in the most Norman Osborn way possible by saying, "You insulted me."

Just when Otto Octavius was finding his place in the world as a hero, forces mostly belong his control have made their move in an effort to derail him. Otto finally seems happy, even helping out a young child that he absolutely has no obligation to and starting a budding new relationship with an older woman that's just as smart as he. Things were going well, he even got a key to the city for crying out loud!

But, as fate befalls all Spiders, his terrible actions in the past are coming back to haunt him. Who's to say that Mephisto doesn't have a little bit of a hand in this as well? We can only hope things turn out well for Otto in the end, but not before Norman makes things much, much worse.

[skypalacearchitect]

On Monday, a pipe bomb, most likely hand-delivered, was discovered in the mailbox of philanthropist George Soros's New York suburban home. The culprit was unknown, but it was just the start. Yesterday, as CNN anchors were reporting live on explosive devices addressed to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama, a fire alarm went off in the background. The anchors hurried off the air as the CNN offices in New York City were evacuated due to a suspicious package.

Soon reports came that more suspicious packages were also sent to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), former FBI director John Brennan, and former attorney general Eric Holder. The return address on the package to Holder, as it was for others, was for former DNC chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-Fl.). And because the delivery address on the Holder package was incorrect, it was sent to Wasserman Schultz's Florida office, prompting an evacuation. Police later intercepted similar packages addressed to Former Vice President Joe Biden and outspoken Trump critic Robert De Niro; the San Diego building housing Sen. Kamala Harris's (D-Calif.) headquarters was also evacuated because of suspicious packages. Altogether, there were three evacuations and 11 bomb scares in the span of a couple days. We don't yet know who sent the explosive devices or what his or her motivations were, but we do know who the intended victims are and their connection to one another is no mystery.

The targets—predominantly the former and current Democratic leadership—were the very same ones at which Trump has aimed his vitriol since his political debut in 2008: Obama, the subject of the racist birther conspiracy theory, and Soros, the subject of an anti-Semitic one; Waters denigrated as having "extraordinarily low IQ"; "loudmouth partisan hack" Brennan; "enemy of the people" CNN; and Wasserman Schultz, whom he accused of "corruption." Even in light of botched explosives, there was no sign that Trump supporters would abate in their parroting of this invective bombast. On the very same day an explosive device was sent to Clinton, the MAGA mob at a Mosinee, Wisconsin rally howled "LOCK HER UP! LOCK HER UP!" Nevermind that the original offense—Clinton's potentially exposing sensitive information via e-mail—was the one Trump was guilty of, as reported that day in The New York Times, by making calls on smartphones, despite aides warning that they were not secure from Chinese spying.

As soon as reports on the bombs came out, the white knights of false equivalency galloped to the scene, brandishing swords of both-siderism. Former Vice President Joe Biden, offered vague and meaningless pablum: "This country has to come together. This division, this hatred, this ugliness has to end." Chuck Schumer took a step further, implicating liberals: "Make no mistake: Despicable acts of violence and harassment are being carried out by radicals across the political spectrum—not just by one side." Meghan McCain equated the explosive devices with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell getting heckled at restaurants. The National Review's David French asked if "there was any momentum for toning things down,"citing this week's bomb scares, as well a recent ricin threat to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and the 2017 shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.). "We are still blessed with relative political peace. But we shouldn't fool ourselves. That can change," French later wrote. "The late Sixties and early Seventies saw a surge of political violence on a scale that would shock the conscience of Americans today."

Herein was the issue: flattening political discourse to nothingness, as if the civil rights activists struggling for voting rights and white supremacists agitating to suppress them were on equal sides of the same coin. In the '60s and '70s, as today, it was fringe activists, like the Weather Underground, who engaged in political violence on the left, while on the right, the political violence, including police beatings and mob murders of non-violent civil rights activists, was openly sanctioned by establishment political figures. Sure, a former Bernie Sanders volunteer, as Press Secretary Sarah Sanders cited in defense of Trump, shot up a GOP baseball game, but Bernie, unlike Trump, doesn't offer incitements of violence as a regular feature of his speeches. There are, of course, loonies and extremists of all political stripes, but only the leaders of one political party have consistently encouraged extrajudicial violence, viciously attacked the free press, and advocated for the imprisonment of political opponents: the GOP.

Trump has led the way, explicitly promoting violence and assailing the press. He has repeatedly struck an offensive on facts and reporting, sliming the media as "fake news," "dishonest," and "a real problem in this country," attacking CNN, in particular, as the "enemy of the people." At his rallies, journalists have become a punching bag, with hecklers screaming insults and obscenities in their faces. There is simply nothing bearing any resemblance to this attack on the First Amendment, nevermind an equivalence, coming from the Democratic leadership. This morning, unsurprisingly reversing on his brief call for unity, Trump tweeted out a victim-blaming and threatening assessment of the attempted bombings: "A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!"

For many years now, Trump has condoned extrajudicial violence in no uncertain terms. He has repeatedly expressed admiration for murderous dictators, particularly those who dispose of adversarial journalists. Last week, at a Montana rally, he praised Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.), who assaulted a reporter last spring, as "my kind of guy" specifically because he had "body-slammed a reporter." Gianforte was never censured by his Republican colleagues for physically attacking a journalist. By contrast, Democratic leaders, like Schumer, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and former Obama advisor David Axelrod have gone out of their way to scold liberal protest—the nonviolent exercise of free speech—at restaurants.

On the 2016 campaign trail, Trump leaned heavily on violent fantasy, urging supporters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to "knock the crap out of" protestors, promising to pay their legal fees; telling a Las Vegas crowd "I'd like to punch him in the face, I'll tell you" of another protestor; and directing security at a winter Vermont rally to confiscate protestors' coats before kicking them out. The crowd ate it up. Trump security choked a Time photographer in Virginia rally. And in North Carolina, a Trump supporter punched a Black Lives Matter protester at a rally, and another protester was beaten by a mob in Alabama. Of the latter attack, Trump complained on Fox News that the protester "was so obnoxious and so loud" that "maybe he should have been roughed up."

While Trump has unequivocally called for actual violence, his administration has lashed out at non-violent political protest, like a 26-seat farm-to-table restaurant refusing service to Press Secretary Sanders, denouncing, along with the pearl-clutching political class, so-called "leftist mobs" for exercising political speech. After Rep. Waters encouraged progressives to confront "anybody from that Cabinet" in public to "push back" on the policy of family separation at the border, Trump twisted it into an us-versus-them attack, issuing a warning: "she has just called for harm to supporters…of the Make America Great Again movement. Be careful what you wish for Max." Of Kavanaugh's critics, he said "these people are evil." While the president cares little for policy, wavering back and forth on issues, one of the few consistencies in his political ideology is that it is premised on the debasement and dehumanization of the other.

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[humanrightsnewsfa20]

Upon viewing this article, the visible bias towards the right-wing government is evident. Not only is the title a misrepresentation of what the women are trying to accomplish by staging these protests, but it also makes their demands for the right to healthcare and to a choice sound as though they are abhorrent. “Angry women block traffic across Poland over abortion ban” makes the assumption that these women do not have a cause or rather the cause is unjustified. Additionally, calling the women “angry” reinforces a negative connotation towards their actions. By doing this, it makes the reader question their morals as if they are acting impulsively and also implying that these actions are stimulated by irrational thought. It is clear that in using this image and title the platform wants the viewers to associate the right to protest with defying the law. The image itself paints the picture that these women are not civilized and are possibly violent. This is an image that should be used to spread empowerment amongst women everywhere but instead, the way that the author is depicting it is as women standing on top of vehicles, shirtless, with their fists in the air while causing a public disturbance in blocking streets and stopping traffic during a raging pandemic.

While the author enforces these implications on the actions of the women and encourages assumptions to be made about their character, they also reject the concerns that these women have for their reproductive health by juxtaposing those images that are made to appear violent with one of an older woman in a stopped train car, appearing to be fearful. In doing so, the author is making the older woman out to be a victim of the protestors ‘carelessness.’ This sets the scene as one that is harmful to the elderly community and is directly harmful to that older woman in the train car. The placement too of the elderly woman is clever as she sits underneath a social distancing sign looking off to her left and clutching her purse as if she was fearful for her life. Which in truth could be so but the older woman is wearing a mask and is distanced from the other protestors. In the following images, there are men and women standing on top of vehicles and holding handmade posters in the air showing their outrage towards the newly formed law (that has yet to be implemented). In these pictures they are holding flares in the air that are meant to appear dangerous in addition to colored smoke bombs that are also appearing to be an apparent nuisance to the drivers trying to make their way through the roundabout. In addition to this, the news coverage of these protests by Fox describes the women as using obscene language and putting obscenities on their posters. However, there are both women and men present at the protest and yet the author is only referring to the posters the women are holding as being ones with obscenities written on them. 

The protests in Poland have been getting a lot of news coverage, however, it is news coverage like this that is reaching the public eye and not the issues that are behind the reasoning for the rallies. In misrepresenting these women in this manner by saying that they are defying the laws of the pandemic, it gives the audience the wrong impression that they think they are above the law. What the news article doesn’t mention is that although they are not adhering to the social distancing laws, it is clearly visible that these men and women are masked. The writer goes on to say, “...to express their fury at a top court ruling that tightens the predominantly Catholic nation’s already strict abortion law.” Once again, the writer is portraying a biased approach against the women, stating that their fury is what is prompting all of this and not the thought behind the court ruling or obvious violation of human rights. Furthermore, the author goes on to refer to the ruling but does not go on to explain what this means for these women who require this form of procedure. This article does not accurately portray the events that are occurring in Poland while undermining the pro-choice movement. 

[inhumansforever]

Ms. Marvel #22 Review

spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers

The topical ‘Mecca’ story-arc comes to an unexpected conclusion in this latest issue of Ms. Marvel from the creative team of  G. Willow Wilson, Marco Falla and Ian Herring.  Full recap and review following the jump.

The story so far has seen the municipal government of Jersey City taken over by the dastardly Chuck Worthy.  Worthy, a villain who has had ties to Hydra, has weaseled his way into the mayoral office, riding a wave of xenophobia and demagoguery.  Jersey City is right across the Hudson from New York; in the Marvel Universe New York is filled with all manner if super powered beings, heroes and villain, Mutants and Inhumans.  Worthy has proposed to make Jersey City free of such weirdness, a place where only normal, non-powered humans are allowed.  And through the power of fear and some tricky back-door political shenanigans, Worthy has replaced the mayor and instituted his normies-only agenda.  And to enforce this agenda, Worthy’s office has deputized a force of baseball hat-clad goons to round up and deport anyone who doesn’t fit in with their idea of what constitutes normalcy, led by the chief lieutenants, Lockdown and Discord (two teenagers empowered by specialized suits).  

The xenophobic fever has spread through Jersey City, with neighbor rating out neighbor and Worthy’s goon squad roving the streets, apprehending anyone they see as not belonging.  Among these detainees has been Ms. Marvel’s brother, Aamir, who possessed superpowers for a short while during the Last Days story-arc.  

Of course Ms. Marvel (Jersey City’s very own super hero) is the one ‘freak’ Worthy’s forces is most interested in detaining and deporting - seeing her as the main source of what has brought Manhattan-style super powered mayhem to the peaceful confines of Jersey City.  

Ms. Marvel had helped Aamir and many of the others escape, but was overpowered and were forced to flee, taking refuge the Masjib (a local Muslim community center).  Yet the villains tracked them down for a final confrontation.  Discord’s suit enables him electricity powers and it turns out this is a substantial weakness for her.  Te electrical volts appeared to have a weakening effect on Ms. Marvel, draining her energies and making it all but impossible for her to use her powers.  

In their final battle, Ms. Marvel unmasked Discord, only to discover his true identity as Josh, one of Kamal’s classmates and longtime friend.  In turn, Kamla removed her own mask and Josh was shocked to discover this enemy he had fought so hard against was actually someone he grew up with.   Their true identities doesn’t change the predicament they find themselves in.  This is whop Josh has decided to be.  It doesn’t matter that that he can be better, that he’s shown himself to be a better person in the past.  Putting back on his mask, Josh states that he will let Kamala go, and keep her identity a secret, but from here on out, they are enemies.   Ms. Marvel departs, ingloriously by flopping out of a window and Discord covers her escape.  

Meanwhile, a large group of citizens have gathered to march in opposition to the unconstitutional actions of the Worthy Administration.  Front and center of this march is Kamala’s sister-in-law, Tyesha and her best friend, Nakia.  Making their way to the Masjib, Tyesha and Nakia have a very interesting discussion of the modernized and more traditional usages of the hijab.   

Armed with a bullhorn. Tyesha demands that Worthy’s forces disperse and release all of the individuals they have illegally detained.  When the head goon asks on whose authority Tyesha can make these demands, she produces a piece of paper and replies: ‘The Third Circuit Court of Appeals.’   Boom

A quick civics lesson.  The American government is split into three separate but equal branches: the executive branch (made up of the president and their cabinet), the legislative branch (composed of congress, the senate and house of representatives) and the judicial branch (which includes the supreme court and state based federal courts).  This divide into three branches is designed so that no one face can try to impose laws that defy the basic tenets of the American Constitution.  

For example, when the trump Administration instituted a travel ban on Muslim majority countries it was unconstitutional in that the constitution stipulates that individuals cannot have laws forced against them on the basis of their religious faith.  The legislation originally came from the executive branch, but was stopped by the judicial branch (namely the ninth circuit court of appeals).  This is how it is supposed to work, with the three branches keeping each other in check and ensuring that no one branch oversteps its authority.    

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals serves New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Virgin Islands.  The Worthy administration’s institution of a ban on Mutants and Inhumans was a vast overstep of its authority and the Third Circuit Court has issued a judgement that the act was unconstitutional.   Of course, Worthy’s goons are armed and think their cause is righteous.  They not going to give in to the mob’s demands.  This all changes, however, when the state police arrive to enforce the decision of the Third Circuit Court.

Elsewhere, Ms. Marvel stumbles down the street thoroughly exausted.  She wants to help, but is just too tired and depleted.  It’s hard for her not to feel forlorn.  She’s tired, has just discovered that a boy she’s known since childhood has turned into a super villain; plus she’s still reeling from the fact that Bruno hates her and half of Jersey City wants her gone.  It feels like everyone and everything has abandoned her.  And it is just then that help arrives in an unexpected form.  

As shown in a recent issue of Black Bolt, Lockjaw seems to possess a sixth sense that enables him to know when his friends are most in need.  He teleports onto the scene and takes Ms. Marvel to a local Mediterranean restaurant where the manager sets her up with a deluxe combo and an extra large coffee.  

Ms. Marvel’s embiggining powers use up a huge amount of calories, and gorging herself on an extra large wrap of lamb and vegetables with a bunch of fries is just what she needs to recalibrate her powers.  As she eats, the waiters and patrons comment on how Jersey City has seemed to have lost its mind; that it needs Ms. Marvel now more than ever.  These comments offer Kamala just as much sustenance as the food.  Not all of Jersey City has turned its back on her, just a part of it… the world isn’t black and white, all good or all bad.  Different people have different views and Kamala was naive to think that she could have everybody like her.  She has to stick with what she thinks is right and just and make peace with the fact that everybody is not going to agree with it… but there will always be plenty of folks out there who do agree and Kamala is going to have to fight extra hard for them.  

Invigorated by the food and pep talk, Ms. Marvel and Lockjaw teleport to the Masjib to take on Lockdown and Discord before they can attack the protestors.  Lockjaw tackles Discord before he can use his electrical attack on Ms. Marvel while Ms. Marvel slams Lockdown with a well-deserved embiggoned-fist punch.  Seeing her forces as overwhelmed, Lockdown calls in an airstrike.  Discord argues against such an action, noting that civilians (and themselves) would be caught in the ensuring carnage.  Yet Lockdown is too blinded by rage to listen.  Before she can initiate the airstrike, however, Ms, Marvel uses her powers in a new fashion, reforming her malleable body into a blanket like form, swooping over and completely covering Lockdow.  It’s kind of icky, but nonetheless effective.  

The villains are defeated and former Mayor Machesi has arrived, noting the the Third Circuit has nullified Worthy’s coup and reinstated her as the rightful Mayor.  Discord manages to escape, but Lockdown and her goons are all rounded up and arrested.  Sheikh Abdullah emerges from the Mosque and notes that the Masjib is open to all, just in time for evening prayers.   It’s a happy ending, yet it is clear that much has changed for Kamala.  

And it is here that the story-arc’s title ‘Mecca’ finally makes sense.   To go to Mecca entails a pilgrimage, a journey of self discovery.  One cannot return from such a journey unchanged, horizons are broadened and perspective becomes more focused.  The enhanced perspective allows one to see things more clearly, a more multidimensional fashion.  What was simple has become complex and the pilgrim has to contend with the fact that world is not as safe and simple and easily discernible and they may have once believed.  

This story arc was something of Kamala’s own pilgrimage to a metaphorical Mecca.  Having returned from the pilgrimage she must now contend with a world that is far more complicated than she had once thought it to be.  Not everyone can be trusted; she cannot hope that everyone will love her.  Sometime those who she thought were good and honorable turn out to be bad and selfish.  And there will be people who hate her not for what she has done, but who she is… leaving it her job to fight on and stay true to her own sense of right and wrong.  

Wow, another really intense story-arc in the pages of Ms. Marvel.  With the Civil Warr II story, followed by the Doc.X story and now this, Ms. Marvel has become a pretty heavy book.  Poor Kamala deserves a break.  Cover art for the next issue promises an adventure alongside The Red Dagger and I’m kind of hoping the tale proves a light-hearted (possibly romantic) romp… it’s make for a welcome change of pace.

At the same time, I don’t at all blame Wilson and company for wanting to put forward such a pertinent and topical tale.  I don’t really know how long it takes to write illustrate and produce a comic, but I would not be surprised to learn that this story was born out of dismaying goings-on when the Muslim Travel ban was first instituted by The trump Administration.  Whether you agree or disagree with the rational behind this ban, it’s impossible not to sympathize with all who are effected and the basic message it puts forth.  Religious freedom has and will always be a central tenet to what America is all about.  The ban defies this tenet, hidden behind the guise of keeping the nation safe.  It’s merely a power play meant to further galvanize those who believe the United States should be a Christian Nation (despite the fact that persecuting others is just about the most non-Christian thing one can do (John 3:16).  

Super hero comics have always been an especially fertile soil for metaphor.  Some such metaphors are heavier handed than others, yet sometimes such heavy handedness is warranted.  Ms. Marvel is one of the only (and certainly the most popular) heroes who is herself a Muslim.  It would be irresponsible to completely sidestep the very pressing real-world issues facing American and would-be American Muslims.  Mayor Worthy’s anti-Inhuman legislation is a metaphorical stand in for President trump’s Muslim Ban.  And just as the third circuit facilitated an injunction against Worthy’s unconstitutional actions so too did the ninth circuit facilitated an injunction against trump’s similarly unconstitutional actions.  The ban is now scheduled to be argued in front of the Supreme Court and there is no way of knowing on what side the Court will ultimately come down on.  It’s all pretty frightening… strike that, it’s terrifying.  Instituting laws on the basis of an individual’s religion is as slippery a slope as it gets and ratification of the ban by the Supreme Court could very well usher dark, dark days here in the states.

Considering how frightening this all is, being able to grapple with the matter in the relatively safe confines of The Marvel Universe makes for a nice respite.  

Definitely recommended.  Four out of Five Lockjaws.

[orendrasingh]

An Indianapolis man was fatally shot by police after a high-speed chase in an incident that appeared to have been broadcast on Facebook Live, sparking outcry and protests throughout the night.More than 100 people from the community gathered at the scene of the shooting to express their outrage Wednesday night, chanting “No justice, no peace!” as they demanded answers from police about the latest officer-involved death. Protestors continued demonstrating Thursday, with dozens marching through the streets before congregating outside of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department headquarters. “We deserve better,” one community activist told The Indianapolis Star. “I am disgusted, horrified, tired, and angry.”‘You’re Gonna Kill Me’: Body-Cam Footage Shows Cops Mocking Dallas Man as He DiesThe Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said the incident began around 6 p.m. when officers began pursuing a man who they observed to be driving recklessly. After the driver exited the car, an officer chased him on foot before gunfire was “exchanged” at around 6:14 p.m., police said in a press release, without revealing who fired first. In the unconfirmed Facebook video of the incident, at least 13 or 14 gunshots can be heard. In another video obtained by The Indianapolis Star, a detective who arrived after the shooting can be heard saying: “Looks like it’s going to be a closed casket, homie.” “We are aware of inappropriate comments made by an IMPD detective” on the live stream, Indianapolis MPD Chief Randal Taylor said at a Thursday press conference. “Let me be clear: These comments are unacceptable and unbecoming of our police department.” While Taylor did not confirm the authenticity of the Facebook live stream, he did stress he was “concerned with the things on social media,” stating he thinks that some comments online “lack trust as to what occurred.” Authorities have not yet identified the name of the driver but said he and the officer who shot him were both black men. Family members identified the driver to local media outlets as 21-year-old Dreasjon “Sean” Reed. The officer who fired the fatal shot has been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.“I feel like to lose a life, especially at a young age, there’s never going to be justice,” Jazmine Reed, the 21-year-old’s sister, told WISH, adding that her family watched the pursuit and shooting on Facebook as it happened. “Cause he’s gone—there’s never justice for that. Even if somebody was to get time or whatever for it, it’s never going to be justice because he’s never coming back.” The sister said she drove to the scene after watching the video, not knowing whether her brother was still alive. “I shouldn’t have to bury my little brother,” she added.The Indianapolis MPD said the incident began after two officers saw a Toyota Corolla being driven “recklessly.” They followed the driver in unmarked cars and asked for assistance as they said the vehicle continued “at a high rate of speed” and the operator was “disobeying all traffic signals” and nearly hit another car. In the Facebook video, titled “High-speed case lol,” Reed, who is shirtless, appears nervous as he speaks to his 2,000 viewers and points his camera to show the moving police cars behind him.“Almost lost him y’all!” he says. “Almost got rid of his ass!”Video Shows Florida Deputy Violently Yanking Middle Schooler’s Hair During ArrestAt one point, he appears to pull over and stop his car. Authorities say the driver disregarded “the officers’ verbal commands to stop” and ran out of the car, prompting an officer to chase him on foot.“I’m on 62nd and Michigan,” Reed says in the video, just before exiting the vehicle. “I just parked... I’m gone.” He added: “Please come get me! Please come get me! Please come get me!”Reed can then be heard running for approximately 30 seconds, as a voice behind him yells: “Stop! Stop!”“Fuck you,” Reed replies. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said during a Wednesday news conference that the officer first used his taser, but it’s unclear if it worked and is not seen on the purported video from the scene.“It is believed at this time that shots were fired by both the officer and the suspect,” Bailey said.In the video, Reed appears to start screaming before collapsing on the ground. About eight seconds later, 11 or 12 gunshots can be heard in rapid succession. The live stream did not show Reed talking about a gun or firing a weapon. After a brief pause, two more shots can be heard as the camera faces the sky while the opening lyrics of Young Dolph’s “16 Zips” appears to be playing off the phone. By the end of the gunfire, more than 4,000 people had tuned in to watch the live stream, according to the Star.Bailey said Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services arrived shortly after and pronounced the driver dead at the scene. The officer was uninjured.Taylor on Thursday stated that a “loaded gun” was recovered at the scene that appeared to have been fired twice and that it belonged to the driver. He added that disciplinary action will be taken against the detective who made the “casket” comment.After the incident, the Facebook Live video, which has been widely shared on social media, was removed from the victim’s account, Bailey said. Bailey added that authorities are aware of Facebook videos.Cop Charged With Assault After Video Shows Him Slamming Suspect’s Head Into Pavement“Both the officers and the detectives have done their due diligence in preserving that evidence through the proper legal channels, and if it’s associated that there’s information on there that’s appropriate for the investigation, they’ll utilize it,” he said.Taylor added Thursday the police officers involved in the shooting were not wearing body cameras, but he has no reason to believe they acted inappropriately. But after the press conference, dozens of protesters took to the streets demanding more police action, shouting “all lives matter,” as drivers stopped their cars and put their fists out their windows in solidarity.About eight hours after that shooting, Indianapolis police fatally shot another man during an investigation into a burglary at an apartment complex. Authorities said that around 1:30 a.m. Thursday, four officers responded to the apartment and were immediately fired upon by a man with a rifle. All four officers “returned fire” and hit the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said in a news release. In response to both incidents, Taylor stressed at a Thursday press conference that he will provide residents with “the truth whether we are right or wrong.”“We have long talked about the kind of police department we want to be—one that serves with the community, that's not policed at—a police department that is trusted, one where every resident feels a comfortable calling,” Taylor said. “We recognize and are saddened that this mutual trust that is so valued has been eroded over the last 24 hours.”Investigators are now conducting a separate investigation into that shooting, and police said there’s evidence the victim called 911 with the intent of ambushing the responding officers. “Our hearts this morning are with the families who lost loved ones during these tragic events. All of us are trying to make a new normal in an un-normal time. Incidents like these do not help restore normalcy to our community,” Chrystal Ratcliffe, the president of the NAACP branch in Indianapolis said in a statement.The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana on Thursday called for a “prompt, thorough, and transparent investigation” into Reed’s death.“Whether someone is unarmed or armed, compliant or resistant, police officers should be properly trained in de-escalation tactics and turn to the use of force only as a last resort, not a first option,” the statement read. Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

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[journalismtandp-blog]

JOURNALISM

WHITENESS IN NEWS ROUTINES                                          Thomas Ryder.   

This is a review of news coverage regarding the stabbing of 18 year old Oakland resident Nia Wilson in June 2018. She was brutally murdered by a white supremacist.

There are three details of this highly relevant media-covered event that I would argue to be indicative of a society with a media who’s gatekeeping routines are rooted in an investment in  whiteness.

The fact they showed her picture with a gun.

The way they switched to covering the protests and police action on television.

The lack of news coverage surrounding the fact that justice has not yet been served.

While it is mainly the job of the journalist to appear objective in their practice, there are inherent factors of sourcing which make it impossible for a journalist to truly remain un-bias in their reporting. When a journalist enters a community other than their own, they are inevitably causing change, whether it be by their own presence, or the fact they are bringing attention to a specific group of people or region.

When a news outlet creates coverage of such a highly emotional topic, there is more room for error. One news organization in particular Kron 4 news, was quick to cover the story of the slain Oakland girl. When they broadcasted the story, they boldly put a picture of the girl from her social media account, where she was seen holding a cell phone case that was made to look like a pistol, however they showed only enough of the picture to make the audience believe the plastic phone case was an actual gun. As a means of gatekeeping, the publisher here selected this photo to be the cover photo, rather than a photo of an innocent girl. This picture invokes all the wrong ideas in the audience who are not critical enough of what they see. A picture can be more meaningful than the article underneath it. From the fact that they sourced the photo from supposedly the girls facebook account, you can tell the author was in a rush to create a story. This is a known consequence of sourcing and the high demand to turn out stories from a journalists higher-ups. The photo has been since removed.

“Gans locates the construction of news not in the journalist, the publisher, or in the gatekeeping editor, but in the process by which all parts, routines, and arrangements of the organization are engaged for the creation of news,” (Shoemaker 77). This quote tells us that the individual players, as well as the sourcing routines they use, such as limited time spent researching, both indicate the societal values that we deem newsworthy.

After the initial few days of reporting the tragedy, searching for and finding the murderer,the excitement has begun to die down and news agencies needed to stretch this story to get more out of it. This is where media switched to televising the riots and mischief of the protestors. By representing the protestors as a threat to public safety, the coverage undermined the intent of many protestors, which was to demand justice. The next day after this occurrence, the bart station was fully operating and available to the public, as if it was not the crime scene of a little girl lost to a hate crime. All stories produced by a news organization, however objective in their intent, cannot avoid representation of their own values when reporting a story with sociological context. For a hate crime such as this one, you might expect the news to lean on the side of the victim. The fact that a mugshot was posted of the young black victim, not the white murderer, illustrates underlying values held by the editors of the article on Kron 4.  In an effort to explain the interests that drive a news organization to act as they do, Becker references Epstein’s studies, “..all the events of significance would be reflected by television news. Network news..was a highly prioritizing news-gathering operation,” (Becker 60).

When reporting a story, sometimes the important details are swept underneath what the news deems worthy to the audience.

Becker explains how a study on the coverage of an anti-war demonstration showed the media spinning the story to fit their agenda.

“The media all focused on the issue of violence. The authors claimed that is was...the result of what those news orgs. Defined as newsworthy,” (61).

In the 6 months following this occurrence, media coverage has decreased by far. This is no longer an issue of any relevance to front page news, but rather a dying topic that cannot be used anymore to gain attention. “These include the routines of covering occurrences close to when they happened and then decreasing attention over time,” (62). We do not see front page headlines about this story anymore, so one would have to do more research to find out whether the killer was indicted. One would need to research more on how his trial played out after being able to claim mental instability; just another chance for whiteness to prevail and cause further injustice.

Citations:

Asperin, Alexa Mae.  “Man Accused of Fatally Stabbing Nia Wilson May Be Incompetent to Stand Trial.”  KRON 4, 28 December, 2018.  www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/man-accused-of-fatally-stabbing-nia-wilson-may-be-incompetent-to-stand-trial/1677951596#.

Becker, Lee and Tudor Vlad.  "News Organizations and Routines."  The Handbook of Journalism Studies.  Eds. Karin Wahl-Jorgensen and Thomas Hanitzsch.   Abingdon, UK: Routledge, 2008.  Print.

Shoemaker, Pamela, Vos, Tim and Stephen Reese.  "Journalists as Gatekeepers."  The Handbook of Journalism Studies.  Eds. Karin Wahl-Jorgensen and Thomas Hanitzsch.   Abingdon, UK: Routledge, 2008.  Print.