#challenge: scorch value embarrass

[whimsicalmeerkat]

scorch, value, embarrass - teen wolf

On AO3

Derek looks at the red & white striped sweater then back to his boyfriend. Stiles looks a mix of hopeful and guilty with a definite air of mischief.

“I wouldn’t dress up as Waldo even if it was Halloween, Stiles.”

“I think it has more of a candy cane look, myself.”

Derek just looks at him.

“Like you don’t always look scorching hot. It was on a great sale! I couldn’t pass up that kind of value. Think what that would do to my reputation! It would be downright embarrassing.”

“That would be embarrassing.”

“OK, fine,” Stiles huffs.

Derek smiles, victorious.

~

Written for @sterekdrabbles for the 12/15/2023 challenge words “scorch, value, embarrass”.

[this-is-krikkit]

Heyy Krikkit! How's everything? I'd like to request number 24 “Well, that’s embarrassing", please and thank you 🙃

hey Alice! everything's alright, i hope you're well too! 🥰

this was initially going to be light and fun, but i got a different idea so i changed it up a bit. hope you like it, thank you so much for sending a prompt!! ♥️♥️

send me a number and a ship/character, and i'll write you a drabble!

Relief (ao3 link because now it's a multichap canon divergent fic woot woot)

Characters: Levi, Hange, The 104th kids, Onyankopokon

Tags: snk 132, canon divergent, fix it fic sort of, hange is alive and well, i mean... yeah hange's alive, angst, just imagine those mechanics were better at their jobs than in canon ok? ok thx

.

The honest shock in the gasp that escaped Hange's lips when Levi's fist hit their chest, louder than the sound of countless Colossals approaching, burned its way into his ears and engraved itself into his memory with so much force he almost backed away then. He stopped thinking as a Captain and a soldier for a second, stopped putting the entire world's value above what their life meant to his, and almost disregarded their last order to let them go and look as cool as possible to everyone else while he alone would be stuck remembering their shaking hands and voice as they prepared themself to fly off to their death –if he even made it out alive himself.

Except Hange had been his closest friend for a decade and outstanding leader for almost half that time; Hange had been steering the wheel of this sorry army of theirs with the last bit of strength in their formidable spirit and visionary mind in those direst of circumstances, and Hange wouldn't request this of him if they hadn't thought every other possibility through and weren't past ready to cross that line.

Hange had always dedicated their heart to the cause they rightfully supported, and now wasn't the time for Levi to challenge their last command. Now was the time for him to dedicate his own, and let them go –no matter if he shattered it in the process.

"Shinzou wo sasageyo,” he recited solemnly, looking ahead, thankful for once for their mirrored injuries, and their current position that prevented either of them from seeing the other's face.

He still heard and felt the sharp intake of breath they drew in after the words had tumbled from his mouth, and for a second there when he could feel their heart starting to beat harder and faster under his fingers, could feel the cruel scorch of unrealistic hope –that those words might have made a difference, that Hange might have perceived the corrosive sting that declaration inflicted on his tongue and the meaning under it and somehow changed their mind– flowing from the veins of his left hand directly into his heart.

Their posture straightened soon after anyway, their sternum pushing back against his hand that he let fall in defeat as their feet carried them away from him and a chuckle made its way through their lips.

"Ha, ha! It's the first time I've ever heard you-

The sound of quick, human-light steps drowned the rest of their sentence and Levi's head shot up to watch Mikasa nearing their spot, her mouth opening as she closed in on them.

"Hange-san, wait! Onyankopon just said the plane's ready to go!"

Levi felt more than he saw Hange turn around again to face the kid as he took in the words she'd just spoken, praying Gods he never believed in that his ears and eye weren't playing tricks on him under the loud sound of the advancing Rumbling and the dust that was starting to saturate the air all around them.

“Are you shitting us right now?” he asked, not recognizing his own voice, not sure it even carried far enough that she'd hear him.

“Come on, hurry up!” Mikasa shouted again, before sprinting away back where she'd come from.

The faked glee faded from Hange's face and they stared at Levi like they had that day they'd reached the Jeager basement and found out about the world outside the Walls, like they needed him to confirm his relative's words.

He could be of little help to them right now, when his own brain was having trouble understanding the situation, when his mind hadn't nearly recovered from this most recent whiplash. But he still nodded their way and started moving.

The two veterans walked towards the others and the plane, and Levi couldn't help but wonder if Hange, only a few meters ahead of him, was matching his pace out of kindness to not leave him behind, or if their legs too felt like they had to move through thick, ton-weighing mud with each step.

“Guess I'm not dying today after all,” they said suddenly.

Their humorless tone made a shiver run down Levi's spine and he looked at them sharply, his hand wrapping around their wrist.

“Hange,” he called when the contact didn't prove enough to make them turn around and face him.

But they only laughed a strangled, wet chuckle that sounded so unlike them, and refused to look back at him. Instead, they shook his hold off and picked up their pace, quickly reaching the others and helping them push the repaired floating plane into the water.

He didn't hear them speak again until they were all safe sitting inside the aircraft and they turned to face Armin, still panting from the effort they'd all just put into getting out of the hangar that had now been crushed by rubble the Colossals had shot its way while advancing.

"Well, that's embarrassing after that goodbye speech but... Armin, would you mind if I back-pedalled on that Commander promotion? At least for the time being?" they asked, a familiar, playful grin splitting their face as they looked at everyone but Levi.

"Of course not!” Armin replied, blushing at the direct address. “I'm only relieved you didn't have to sacrifice yourself for us.”

Agreeing noises could be heard from the other Scouts.

"Right, me too,” they said, their smile faltering ever so slightly. “Me too.”

“Everyone, hang on tight! We're taking off,” Onyankopon warned from the cockpit.

The cabin shook and thundered, but the deafening noise and trembling floor weren't distraction enough for Levi to detach his stare from the surreal vision of Hange, still alive and breathing, settling in the seat directly across from his own.

They readjusted their cape around their slumped frame, their still shaking hands lingering against the spot his fist had touched minutes ago. He let his eye wander to their face, spotted the tensed jaw, the downward edges of their mouth now, and the tears welling up under their one iris, and he knew for sure then.

Hange wasn't relieved one bit.

[wulfnerd]

Sterekdrabbles Challenges – December 2023

[Challenge Blog] [Tag] [AO3]

For 29 Dec (vacation, miss, round)

Just Us Next Time, sterek, t, 100w ◌ Derek and Stiles go on vacation. The pack joins them.

For 29 Dec (vacation, miss, round; theme: Winter)

In It for the Win, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Trivia brings out the worst in Stiles.

For 27 Dec (wary, curious, squeal)

The Gift of a Child, sterek, g, 100w ◌ The Nemeton gives Stiles an unexpected gift.

For 27 Dec (wary, curious, squeal; theme: Winter)

Tree Shopping, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Eli searches for the perfect tree.

For 25 Dec (child, holiday, event)

Black Tie Grocery Run, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Eli eats Stiles’s cookies, and Derek is overdressed for shopping.

For 25 Dec (child, holiday, event; theme: Winter)

Sleighing the Competition, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Stiles and Derek are competitive during the holidays.

For 22 Dec (prickly, annoy, live)

Kiss Me Under the Holly, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Derek mansplains; Stiles is magnanimous.

The Early Human, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Stiles catches some sleepy wolves.

For 20 Dec (disgust, rice, example)

Should’ve Skipped the Rice, sterek, g, 100w ◌ The Sheriff lies to his grandson.

A Sweet Stakeout, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Derek tries something new.

For 18 Dec (like, loud, tickle)

Laugh for Me, sterek, t, 100w ◌ Stiles discovers something new about Derek.

Longing for Scissors, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Derek has trouble sleeping.

For 15 Dec (scorch, value, embarrass)

Three Word Surprise, pre-sterek, g, 100w ◌ Stiles surprises himself and Derek at the same time.

Missing Your Warmth, sterek, t, 100w ◌ Stiles has a hard time sleeping.

For 13 Dec (mine, invite, mighty)

Little Werewolf Superhero, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Derek plays with his son.

Anniversary Discovery, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Stiles is late, and Derek discovers a new craving.

For 11 Dec (title, lovely, stupid)

What’s in a Title?, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Derek and Stiles attend a werewolf summit.

Supernatural Separation Anxiety, sterek, t, 100w ◌ Stiles learns a lesson the hard way.

For 08 Dec (salty, popcorn, become)

The Silver Screen Beckons, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Stiles is still recovering, but movie night won’t be denied.

Finger Licking Good, sterek, t, 100w ◌ Derek joins the Stilinski’s for movie night.

For 06 Dec (spiky, hook, friend)

Familiar Hair, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Eli gets a haircut.

Back at the Start, sterek, t, 100w ◌ Stiles and Lydia decide to alter their future.

For 04 Dec (depend, vibrant, flame)

Running Away With You, sterek, t, 100w ◌ Stiles and Derek endure a cold night.

Can’t Stop the Worry, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Derek worries needlessly.

For 01 Dec (active, slow, phone)

Overprotective Dad, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Stiles tests Derek’s patience.

Ready for the Call, sterek, g, 100w ◌ Eli has a hard time during a sleepover.

[lordrethandus]

Daily Writing Challenge 2021 Day 11

Watch ( @daily-writing-challenge​ )

World: Warcraft

Theme: Anilah - Warrior 

T’aarth told her not to go. He warned her if she tried to visit her old home she would not like what she found. Some wounds long since scarred could reopen at the slightest touch, and many wounds on her people would never truly heal. Trying to find solace on Argus seemed like a waste of time to many, knowing it would only bring back memories too painful to endure.

But J’azel was not like many Draenei, and this wasn't about her. This was about her family.

The gentle trumpet of her lightforged elekk forced her to smile as they traveled across the ruined outskirts of Mac’Aree. Ko’duun was born among the stars and never set foot on the birthplace of his ancestors, but he could sense his master's pain. He avoided walking through the tall grass that managed to survive the Burning Legion’s wrath as well as the crumbling potholes along the road, not because he feared an ambush, but because this land was unstable; one wrong step could drop them both into a molten current. One day J’azel would set him free into the wilds of Azeroth to give him the closest thing she could to a natural elekk life; returning to what once was is often all she could think about, yet when Ko’duun neared the remains of the Kratisaan talbuk farms, she could barely think at all.

“Kath tonesk.” The command was friendly yet firm, causing Ko’duun to obey without delay; the massive elekk bull knelt on his front legs and waited for J’azel to climb off before sitting down completely. He snorted out a loud whine in her direction while she walked down the shattered street, but she didn't pay him any attention; she was adrift in a flood of memories that rushed her back to her tragically ended way of life.

Hardly anything remained of Kratisaan. Most of the buildings were reduced to little more than piles of rubble, with the crystal reservoirs scorched from felfire spells almost as old as she was. The overgrowth covering the few remaining walls almost concealed her own home from J’azel, but she knew exactly where she was going. The living room was in shambles just as she expected, with most of the floor covered in dirt, grass, and debris from the roof that threatened to collapse on top of her. The cupboards and nearby closet were seemingly ransacked only a month or so ago, but J’azel knew any clothing would have disintegrated long before. The other rooms either had the door sealed by dirt and foliage, or were completely caved in from years of rot and abandonment; either way they were inaccessible.

“Ku… ku...k-k-kuuu-uu-uuu…” A faint voice whispered from beneath the packed dirt mere inches behind her hooves. Immediately she turned to investigate, scooping handfuls to toss aimlessly away; the sight of her family's arcane-infused construct made her heart flutter. Such a simple machine lasting this long without maintenance was a testament to Argussian ingenuity.

Still, it was in some seriously bad shape. Dirt has been causing the little construct considerable trouble, preventing fine motor control and likely breaking hardware it needed to properly function. J’azel was careful when she pulled it out of the ground like a vegetable, fearing it would crumble in her hands at the slightest pressure. “A-a-a-alert… planeta-a-a-ary invasion in progress-ess. E-e-evacuate immediately-y. Eredar safety-y top priori-i-i...”

“Poor Tilbi… stuck in mode for twenty five thousand years...” J’azel cradled the construct in her arms, occasionally flicking clumps of dirt away from its sensors. “Deactivate emergency protocols. Run diagnostics.”

“Voice recogni-i-ized. Diagnostics… c-c-c-c-omplete.” Tilbi tried to move its arms, but the damage rendered it paralyzed. “E-e-e-error. Internal-al power core… f-fail…ure….” The Draenei was quickly running out of time; if she didn’t restore power, the data stored within would be lost forever. Unfortunately it used arcane magic to power itself, and it was far too outdated for J’azel to requisition anything useful from the Vindicaar before it was too late. She was forced to improvise, and use the only thing left she had at her disposal. Her runic tattoos lit up with the Gift of the Light Mother, which surged forth from the Draenei’s hands and enveloped the construct in a soft golden light. “P… p… p-p-power restored. Retrievink-ink archived video recordink.” It was not her intention to put any strain on Tilbi way out here. J’azel merely wanted to sustain it until she could return to the Vindicaar for repairs, but when it managed to turn its head around to face the center of the living room, and the grainy projection started playing, all she could do was stare wide-eyed with her mouth hanging open.

“Alright alright! Gather ‘round, little ones!” Her father's booming voice sent chills up her spine moments before he stepped in front of the camera. His giant face filled the entire living room and his hardened eyes stared right through her while he fiddled with Tilbi, clearly struggling to make it do what he wanted. “Damn zing too tiny for hands… ah! I got it! Hurry before picture taken!”

Her mother appeared next, slowly stepping into view with both of her hands resting on her extended belly. “Miraan! J’azel! Get out here so father let me rest!” She was more beautiful than J’azel remembered; an absolutely stunning woman aglow with her pregnancy. She struggled to pull out a chair to sit down in, but her father moved faster than Tilbi could follow, causing his image to sputter and glitch when he rushed to her aid. J’azel held the ancient construct with trembling hands which made the image shake and shudder; with another surge of light she soothed herself to continue watching.

Miraan staggered out of her room with an obnoxious yawn. She was so innocent back then, before the Legion came and took her away; J’azel didn’t know how to feel in knowing her older sister was now a power-hungry tyrant who serves the very monsters that murdered their parents and molested their homeworld. “Miraan... vhere is sister? Ve are runnink out of time, yes?” She gave their mother a carefree shrug and plopped down next to her. What an absolute brat.

“Ah- I vill fetch her. One moment.” Her father hurried out of sight to return a minute later, slowly leading a tiny J’azel into frame by her hand. The Draenei couldn't help but laugh at her four year old self with her stubby legs and messy crown of hair; back then her horns were still barely visible too, sticking maybe an inch or two out of her head. It looked like she was rudely interrupted from a nap. “This vay little Comet.” Her father swept her up into his massive arms and carried her the rest of the way. “Alright! Everyone ready? Lean in close!” J’azel felt her eyes begin to burn, but she did her best to stay as quiet and as still as she was able. “Three! Two! One!”

“SOVAAKI" They all shouted at once, except J’azel, who was already falling back asleep in her father's arms. They kept their grins for a few more moments until her mother began growing impatient. Watching her family stare at her put the biggest smile on the her face. She couldn't stop the gigantic tears from falling either, but she neither noticed nor cared. There was so much she wanted to tell them. So much they needed to know. J’azel would give up what little she had for just five minutes to speak to them again… but they were long gone.

“Vhere is flash?” Their mother asked, mildly annoyed. “Did you set Tilbi to camera or video?”

“It is video.” Miraan confirmed before stretching. “Next time I vill set Tilbi. Father bad at this.”

Their father let out an embarrassed chuckle before scratching the back of his head. “Kids and their tech these days… I vill figure it out after vork, yes? Vhen J’azel wakes up, tell h-her d-d-daddy-y l-lo-o-ov…” The images began to flicker in and out, causing J’azel to stiffen with fear; at long last Tilbi was shutting down! She was blinded by her tears and desperate to hear the rest of this recording. Another surge of Light flowed from her trembling palms, but the intensity became too much for the decrepit construct! The frozen image of her and her family turned a sickly yellowish brown before they melted before her eyes like hot wax; Tilbi twitched in her trembling hands before drooping its head and popping, its internal hardware catching on fire with a low whirring sounding off Tilbi’s death rattle.

The last thing she had of her family was destroyed. J’azel pressed the remains of the construct against her breastplate and began sobbing uncontrollably; what started as weak sniffling and whimpering devolved into a loud wail, a lamented crescendo for twenty five thousand years of anguish out at once, at last.

Then the house shook, snapping her out of her mindless suffering just long enough for her to drop Tilbi and reach for her sword. Was it a demon attack? A wild animal fighting Ko’duun? Horde scavengers hunting down anything of value? Possibilities kept dancing around in her h-

The filtered light from her left cast in the living room was blocked by a giant shadow. J’azel snapped her gaze to the remains of the window, seeing a beady eye with long eyelashes blinking at her before a concerned trumpeting whine shook the house again. “I'm fine… I'm fine…” She tried to wipe her face dry, but the tears refused to stop. Unconvinced the elekk bull reached into the window with his trunk and began tugging at the wall to get inside. J’azel had just enough time to scramble onto her hooves before his third tug, which ripped what was left of the house apart.

The Draenei covered her head while the rest of the house came down around her in a thick cloud of smoke. When she opened her eyes she found herself standing atop an unrecognizable ruin, surrounded by shattered stone and twisted debris. Ko’duun waddled forward with a guilty snort, and watched her closely with his shimmering eyes. J’azel wanted to yell at him for what he did, but once he slowly wrapped his trunk around her slender waist and lifted her into the air, any anger she had disappeared. He gently swung her around until she started laughing again.

Eventually J’azel wrapped her arms around his lumpy face and pressed her forehead against him, listening to his steady breathing and the subtle grinding of his flat teeth. “Thank you, Ko’duun.” She sighed, feeling her hooves touch the ground again. She was ready to leave Kratisaan and never return to this tragic place again.

“Let us go home.”

[merakiui]

Wow! An imagines blog for afterlife! First one as far as I can see... I wish you lots of fun with this! I wonder what your favourite characters from the game are? For me it's going to be Sian and Quincy (I first think I was going to hate this little devil brat but here I am XD). If you don't mind you can do relationship hc's with them and characters of your choice if you don't mind. I don't really have anything specific in mind, just something fluffy, sorry for that! Welcome and have a nice day!

(Is it really the first? Whoa! My favorites so far would have to be Ell and Verine! There’s something refreshing about Ell’s optimistic energy, and Verine seems so soft uwu But Sian and Quincy are also growing on me too. Either way, you’ve got good taste~ Please enjoy these hcs and thank you for being the first request, anon! :D)

Relationship HCs (Sian, Quincy, Ell, and Verine)

🎤 Sian 🎤

He refuses to admit to his feelings in the beginning. Why, you may ask? Simple: It’s embarrassing.

So he does what any normal tsundere would do in that sort of situation. He pushes you away by feigning his disinterest.

Naturally, his behavior comes off as rude and abrupt, but you’re able to see past that cold exterior.

Whenever you send a smile his way or compliment him for his good work, he’s quick to deny it. Though the bright blush on his cheeks always contradicts whatever he might say.

Sometimes he thinks you just enjoy messing with him, if only to see him turn red. It’s quite cute, and you can’t help but giggle when he starts to yell.

“It’s not adorable, so stop laughing! And don’t call me cute either!”

Once you’re together, Sian drops his rude act and becomes very affectionate. He still gets shy over small aspects of your relationship, such as holding hands in public or even mustering the courage to kiss you whenever he feels like it.

Kati will definitely tease Sian whenever he talks about his wonderful, loving manager, and Cyrille will provide him with all sorts of scientific facts about the prospect of being in love, how long it exactly lasts, and why relationships are so important in terms of social interaction.

Sian does his best to ignore them, but he always finds himself getting embarrassed. “Stay out of my personal life! I don’t need your help!” Yes, he’s also blushing while he says this.

Underneath that tsundere behavior is a sweet boy who does his best to give you a perfect relationship.

He’ll take you to his favorite places to eat, claiming that you have to try some of the foods he normally gets. In return, you’ll open his horizons to the things you enjoy eating.

Definitely goes to karaoke with you! The two of you sing to your hearts’ content, sharing a few laughs at the impossible-to-hit high notes. Sian manages to surprise you the first time you hear him sing, and when you make a comment he gets extremely flustered.

On days where the weather isn’t the best, the two of you might stay inside to play card games, making small bets every now and then. Most of these bets are about the number of kisses or hugs the other will receive, and when that’s on the line Sian plays exceptionally better.

He’s written songs before, and now that the two of you are in a relationship some of these are about you. You wouldn’t have known about this had you not found a journal detailing different lyrics and song titles.

Waiting for a Sian x [insert utaite name here] collaboration.

When you confronted Sian about it, he became a mess.

Sian’s never let anyone see any of his creative work before, so this was enough to bring him close to tearing up out of pure embarrassment. He feels as though he could just die on the spot.

You understand his reaction, so you’re quick to close the journal, assuring him that you won’t pry further unless he willingly tells you more.

It takes a bit before he’s confident to actually show you and explain his thought process behind certain lyrics, but he trusts you enough and he knows you won’t laugh at him.

You’re his biggest muse when it comes to songwriting. (You’re also his biggest supporter.)

You’ll catch him humming under his breath to certain songs, and he’ll even start to mumble lyrics he’s made up on the spot. You’ll chime in with your own input, and he’ll be quick to write it down if it strikes a chord in his inspiration.

Unfortunately, his memory isn’t the best, so he often forgets things like anniversaries and special dates. He’ll always apologize with his head bowed whenever this happens, but you never seem too bothered. How can you be upset with someone as affectionate and caring as him?

In times of need, he’ll be there to assist you, as he doesn’t want you to stress yourself out. After all, it isn’t fair for his precious lover to carry overwhelming burdens all on their own.

You’ll always find yourself waking up beside the best boyfriend in the world, who will do absolutely anything for you. At the start of the relationship, he tried to do so many things to impress you. He cooked, cleaned, and made sure to always message you when you’re apart. Eventually, you had to tell him to just be himself and to stop taking advice from relationship blogs.

Please give this boy all the love in the world, and he’ll return it tenfold—albeit with a flustered stutter and pink cheeks.

🔥 Quincy 🔥

As the future Lord of the Underworld, Quincy’s quick to let others know of his position as a devil. Bow before him because it’s either his way or the highway.

He has high hopes for you and even higher hopes for himself.

Quincy will be especially impressed if you’re forward and confident in the relationship, but if you’re not that’s fine. It just means he’ll have to take the lead, which is obviously the best course of action, right? His judgement is flawless!

Just know that if anyone messes with his beloved manager, he’ll have no problem putting a curse on the unfortunate soul who decided to bother you. It’s all in good fun, so don’t worry about those silly humans who are now suffering under the weight of a heavy enchantment.

“Looks like my finger slipped. Guess you’ll have to use your puny brain to figure a way out of that. Hmph!” (Based on that cocky smirk, you’d say he’s quite satisfied with his work.)

He may even teach you a few things about the different types of magic, as he wants you to be as good as he is. Oh, but not too good! Quincy prides himself on his skills far too much to let anyone surpass him.

Every now and then, he’ll tease you about anything and everything—no matter how insignificant it is. Maybe you were late to clock in and Nyang Lead Manager scolded you, or perhaps you accidentally forget your lunch. Either way, he’s going to poke fun at those mishaps.

“Ehh? How could you forget when I reminded you earlier? Well, I suppose you can have some of my lunch. ...If you can handle it, that is.”

Spicy food is his life. He probably participates in those challenges at restaurants just to prove that he can absolutely own the competition.

Petition to get Quincy on Hot Ones.

If you’re also a fan of spicy things, it’ll be a contest to see who can handle the most spice. He ends up winning most of the time, but that’s mainly just because he’s a devil who’s used to scorching heat.

If you aren’t, he’ll be pleased to hold the title as someone who can handle extreme foods really well.

Quincy doesn’t like wasting his time on anything small, so there will always be a purpose behind what he does.

Your dates are quite the colorful variety, ranging from spending the day mixing up new elixirs to sharing stories about the Underworld. One day he’d like to show you around if you’re up for it, but the scenery might take some getting used to.

He’ll ensure that you’re never bored by dragging you around to do whatever the two of you deem exciting. When you get to relax from purifying vengeful spirits, you might find yourselves in the human world disguised under the deceptive properties of Humanizer to visit amusement parks, food vendors, and even occult shops.

The relationship is upbeat, and it keeps you on your toes. You’re never going to feel bored again with Quincy around.

Despite his teasing remarks and overflowing pride, Quincy values you a lot, and when it’s just the two of you he’ll be very endearing. It tends to catch you off guard; one minute he’s laughing about messing with Sian and the next he’s moving in to steal a quick kiss.

You’ll have to deal with any reptiles or insects that happen to cross his path, as he can’t stand them. But if you can’t handle them either, then you’ll seek out Jamie. At least he can keep them safe from Kirr and Aitachi. And from your spooked boyfriend, who wants those critters out of his sight. 

Quincy will remind you to come to him if you’re ever worried over something. His advice may not be the most ground-breaking, but it’s the thought that counts. He’s willing to spend hours giving you a friendly pep-talk, and you’re bound to come out of your gloom with a fresh perspective.

☀️ Ell ☀️

He’s a ball of energetic sunshine, so be ready for a very fun, joyful relationship!

Ell always puts you first, ensuring your happiness and well-being.

Honesty is key in this relationship, and that’s mainly because he can’t lie due to his constant sneezing.

And that’s okay because he has nothing to lie about anyways! He doesn’t want to hide anything from you; he’d rather you know than try to keep it a secret.

Imagine all of the cute dates! The both of you could go to bakeries and and sweet shops to try all sorts of delicious treats. Ell would be fond of anything sugary, insisting on playfully feeding you while you’re out in public. Or the two of you could visit craft stores so he can get more supplies for his needle felting.

He’s very big on PDA. Expect lots of hand-holding, random hugs, and kisses on the cheek—even around others when you least expect it. He’ll always smile at you, commenting on how charming you look when you blush at his sudden displays of affection.

Though he’ll try his best to tone it down if Nyang Lead Manager says something about it during work hours. He’ll quietly whine and protest as he tries to explain that it’s hard to resist. He just loves you so much! His complaints tend to get cut off once he starts to sneeze, though.

Along with gifting you his needle felting creations, he’ll also play the lyre for you. He’d be so excited to show you all of the beautiful music it can make. Sometimes he’ll play a few soothing melodies if you have trouble falling asleep.

Speaking of sleep, he adores cuddling. You’ll probably wake up each morning with him clinging to you, the blanket cast aside.

If you’re fond of taking photos, he’ll let you use the light from his halo to brighten the pictures. It makes for a perfect ring light, and he doesn’t mind others wanting to use it. After all, Licht and Kati like to use it for their SNS, so you should too.

If you’re ever having a bad day, Ell will be there to make it better. He’ll do all sorts of things for you, hearing you out when you vent to him about what’s bothering you and even attempting to make a few tiny miracles happen. Anything for his favorite person in the world!

There are times when he feels down as well, but it’s not for long. You’ll always be there to cheer him up. He’s fortunate that you have the patience to help him put his negative emotions into words, and you’ll even sit through all of the times he sneezes. For that, he’s very grateful.

His heart beats faster and he gets bashful when you praise him, but he’ll always fire back with plenty of genuine compliments so you won’t feel left out. There’s lots of love to go around.

Overall, the relationship is so sweet and enjoyable. Ell makes sure there’s never a dull moment when you’re with him, and he truly believes that the two of you will be together for a long time.

He loves you with all of his angelic heart.

“I wish we could spend more time together, but Nyang Lead Manager is giving us so much work. It’s really not—achoo!”

💊 Verine 💊

At first, Verine wonders if the reason you chose to be near him is because of the desire to protect such a sickly Soul Reaper. It bothers him to no end, as he does his best to stay strong despite always having to take different medicines and vitamins.

Once he realizes that you’re not there to pester him about his health, he’s pleasantly surprised. He’s used to others giving him looks of pity, so when you offer your support he can’t help but feel warm inside.

It actually takes him quite a while to confess; the stress of it all was like attempting to find the correct medicine for a specific ailment.

Still, he manages to push his self-consciousness aside in favor of his heart’s wishes, and it succeeds! Luckily for him, since Verine believed his chances were very slim.

While Mori considers him to be a paper doll, you think the opposite. Your boyfriend may be physically weak, but he’s got a strong will and is incredibly gentle with you.

Even if he acts like the presences of others disturbs him, he’s actually quite happy to be near the Soul Reapers. He’s always interacting with the Reapers in Diluculo, but he finds that your company is by far the best.

Most of your dates consist of staying indoors, since Verine doesn’t like the overwhelming temperatures of the outside world. (Occasionally, he’ll sacrifice his comfort so that you can enjoy the outdoors every now and then.)

However, the two of you still find plenty of things to do while inside. From watching your favorite films to assisting Verine with his medicinal herb garden, a lot of these cozy dates are quite serene.

He loves it when you cook his favorite foods. Any meal prepared by your loving hands is a gift he treasures—so much so that he thoroughly believes it’ll heal his aches and pains. Sometimes he doesn’t know how to return the gesture, so you’ll have to reassure him that you don’t need anything. Just his love is enough, and that makes him smile a bit.

Verine is touch-starved since most of his living life was spent in a hospital bed and the only contact he ever received was from doctors checking his vitals. So he’s always eager to let you hug and kiss him.

He might not be into cuddling at first only because he’s afraid his constant coughing will disrupt the calm atmosphere, but once you explain that that doesn’t bother you he’s willing to give it a try. He ends up liking it more than he thought he would, which results in lazy days where the two of you just nap in each other’s arms.

He’ll always be there for you no matter what, and he checks to make sure you’re healthy. Your physical and mental health is very important to him.

If the the two of you ever get into a disagreement, he may bottle up his true feelings for the sake of pacifying you. In the end, both of you talk through it, and this allows Verine to slowly but surely open up about how he really feels.

Verine might keep a lot of his emotions to himself when around the others, but with you he doesn’t have to.

“Ah, I must’ve fainted again. I really am useless.”

When he gets like that, just tell this sweetheart he’s in no way useless. He’s perfect in your eyes, even with his coughing and eternal illnesses, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

[markoplayssims]

Road to Nowhere: Prelude - The New Guy In Town

Although it was a dream career for him since childhood, Ajay Loner���s job as an SCIA investigator hasn’t been easy. But considering his most recent assignment and subsequent relocation to Strangetown of all places, it’s about to get much, much harder.

He wouldn’t have gone for the job if he expected it to be an easy one, he enjoys a challenge and likes to solve mysteries - especially hard ones - but Strangetown was... different.

His colleagues warned him about the rumors and the mysteries surrounding the town, telling him to stay away if he valued his sanity. Usually, Ajay would’ve listened... but something about this case, perhaps the town itself, it called to him, and Ajay was determined to answer.

Before he knew it, he found himself driving down the infamous Road to Nowhere to greet his employer for his newest assignment.

His mission? Figure out what happened to Lyla Grunt.

Ajay wasn’t entirely sure what he was expecting when he first drove down the main road into the desert, but he found himself surprised with what he got. For a place located in the middle of nowhere, it was far from a ghost town.

And for a desert, it was actually quite lovely.

Well, it was, until he stepped out of the car. Leaving a nicely air conditioned vehicle and remembering the sensation of scorching summer heat was nauseating, but this is what he signed up for when he took on the case, so he wasn’t allowed to complain.

A part of him wished he got to investigate the Bella Goth case instead, he’d get the chance to spend more time in the much milder climate of Pleasantview before having to come here. But that was out of the SCIA’s hands now...

As Ajay approached the Grunt family house, he saw none other than General Buzz himself walk out, his gait stiff and disciplined. In fact, ‘stiff and disciplined’ could describe everything about him. It was kind of eerie just how much he exemplified his military role.

The General had a perpetual neutral half-scowl on his face - even when he turned to greet his visitor with a wave - and he spoke in a formal and terse manner. “Greetings. You must be Agent Loner.”

“That’s me.” Ajay replied with a (somewhat forced) smile, walking up to the other man and offering a hand to shake. “Agent Loner at your service, sir.”

Rather than accept the offering, the General lowered his waving hand and clasped them both behind his back. “I don’t have much time before I have to go to work, so let’s cut straight to the chase.”

Ajay couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something about the General’s demeanor and tone of voice told him that the man seemed... embarrassed to have to rely on the SCIA to ‘fix’ his problems.

“As I’m sure you already know, my wife -” He quickly catches himself mid-sentence, “- ex wife - has gone missing, and she has been gone for over a month. I need you to find her.”

Naturally, Ajay took note of - and subsequently honed in on - the apparent sore spot that the General exposed, whether he meant to or not. “Are you sure she didn’t just leave town? You know, considering...”

“Of course I am.” He half-spoke, half-spat in reply. It was clear that this question struck a nerve. “She grew up here, had plenty of friends, and we had three sons together, the lives of whom she wanted to remain a part of after we divorced. I can tell you with full confidence that it's not in her nature to willfully disappear.”

“Noted.” Ajay said, doing exactly that by jotting everything down in a little notebook before looking back up to find that the General’s scowl had grown much wider. There was anger in his eyes, and it didn’t take much for Ajay to figure out why. “I didn’t mean to assume anything, sir. I’m just trying to cover all of the bases. Speaking of, what about the local law enforcement? The SCIA isn’t exactly someone’s first choice when it comes to these situations.”

“Do you think I’d trust our boneheaded sheriff to do anything right by the people in this town? When I realized something was wrong, I told him that Lyla had gone missing, and you know what he said?”

Ajay opened his mouth to reply, but Buzz didn’t wait for an answer before mockingly mimicking the town sheriff, paired with surprisingly exaggerated gestures. It was probably the most emotion Ajay had seen out of him so far. “‘Just wait a little bit, she’ll be back by morning,’ talking as if she had been abducted. Whether she was or not, his indifference and inaction is infuriating. I have no idea how he still has a job.”

Unsure of how to reply to that spiel, Ajay continued his questioning. “So, do you think it was aliens? I’ve heard abductions are pretty common around here.”

“Indeed they are. I don’t doubt the possibility that she was abducted, but I know the enemy very well. They don’t typically abduct women for over twenty four hours, give or take the rare cases where they have.” Buzz stated, his tone returning straight back to ‘serious’ in record time. “For that reason, if they did take her, I suspect that this was a targeted attack against me.”

During the General’s speech, Ajay had been taking plenty of notes. Once he was finished, he asked, “And that’s where the SCIA comes in, I take it?”

“Yes, though it’s not the only possibility on the table. There could’ve been foul play.” The General glowered as he spoke of such a dark possibility. “If that’s the case, I already have a few suspects in mind.”

“And that would be who, exactly?” Ajay asked, hiding his dread with a veneer of intrigue. Unfortunately, his voice was quickly drowned out by the whirring of helicopter blades as the General’s ‘carpool’ had finally arrived.

“That’s my cue to leave. We’ll talk more about this later.” The General spoke just loud enough to be heard as he marched off. “For now, I think you should start investigating the Smiths. I’m almost certain they’re a family of alien spies. Their house is up the road from here, at 101 Road to Nowhere. Best of luck to you.”

As the helicopter took off, Ajay jotted down the family’s name and the address, quickly realizing that he’s going to be living right next door to the suspects. That would make his investigation significantly easier.

Once the General had well and truly departed for work, Ajay got back into his car and drove off, passing by his new neighbors on the way to his own place, a little rental house at 91 Road to Nowhere.

It was a quaint little house, with some basic decoration and furniture. Ajay wasn’t about to complain, he never had an eye for interior decoration. He was just happy to be out of the sun.

More importantly, he was looking to get started on his investigation, the first suspects of which are, of course, his next-door neighbors, the Smith family.

[briteboy]

WOW I’M FINALLY DOING THESE CHARACTER ASKS I NEVER ANSWERED SORRY

this is literally so long RIP me

33. Do they own any objects of significant personal importance?

rooney - “So...this is going to sound bad, but during my childhood, I spent my summers in France, and whenever we’d take trips to Paris I had this habit of stealing little knick-knacks from different shops...often little tourist-y things, kind of just a challenge for myself to see if I’d get away with it. I always did, and I kept it up throughout my teen years. I know, it’s bad. I lost most of the stuff, but I still have a lot of it and they’re all special to me even though I got them by very immoral means...gimme a break, I was a kid! Oh, and I also really treasure my grand-mere’s family recipes. And my tea garden, of course.”

gianni - “Truthfully, I don’t tend to value material things...I try to minimize my attachment to personal belongings so that I’d be able to get up and go anywhere with a moment’s notice if I wanted to. That being said, however, I do have quite a hefty collection of books that I’d probably miss if they were to perish in some disaster. I also have an incredibly unorganized collection of personal writings that I’d hate to part with...even though I can’t even begin to sort through them all in the first place.”

santi - “letters...a bong shaped like an elephant...but most of the important things stay in my head.”

39. Tell us about one of the times they got injured?

rooney - “When I was five I climbed an apple tree and fell about 10 feet and landed right on my back. It knocked the wind out of me and then an apple fell on my head and I had a bump on my forehead for a month, much to Audrey’s amusement. I’ve also suffered a lot of twisted ankles due to clumsiness.”

gianni - “I used to do a lot of sports in my youth, so injuries were like second nature to me...I must’ve broken every extremity at least once. They probably never healed right, either, because I was never one for resting.”

santi - “just one? well...i got into a pretty bad car accident once. no wait, okay okay, how about the time i wiped out so bad at the skate park that i broke my toe and the bone was literally sticking out? that was pretty good. or the time i broke my...nah nevermind, no one wants to hear about that. just take my word of advice: be careful in the cowgirl position, folks”

58. Do they ever have nightmares? If so, what about?

rooney - “I used to have a recurring nightmare where I’d be in a car that was driving except there was no driver. Every time I’d panic and take the wheel, except I didn’t know how to drive...I don’t remember anything past that, just that every time it happened, I woke up with my heart racing. I probably stopped having those dreams when I actually learned to drive, haha!”

gianni - “I periodically have dreams where I’m sucked into the couch into an alternate dimension. Some of them have turned into nightmares, but most are just bizarre.”

santi - “ha.”

(lmfao this b*tch)

65. If they knew they were going to die, what would they do/say?

rooney - “Probably just...‘I love you.’ No matter who I’d be saying it to...I’d just like to think the last words that leave my lips would be full of love. Unless, of course, I was brutally murdered by some serial killer. Then it’d probably be ‘Vete a la verga culero.’”

gianni - “’It’s all happening.’”

santi - “‘hey...wanna see a dead body?’”

32. Pet peeves?

FIRST OF ALL I’M SO GLAD YOU SENT THIS FOR BB FIONA OMG ;__; I CRY

anyway fiona’s pet peeves are line cutters, bad liars, commercials, when someone uses up all the peanut butter and forgets to throw the jar away, when people sugarcoat things or skirt around the truth, and when people call her fifi. do not ever call her fifi.

57. What D&D alignment are they?

OOOOOH FUCK YEAH fiona would be...honestly i think she’d be lawful evil lmao. or chaotic neutral. somewhere in between the two.

60. What is something that they’re sure to laugh at?

fart jokes 100%. 

4. What is their most embarrassing memory?

santi - getting caught streaking in boarding school and sub-sequentially losing a bet to drako. or spilling coffee beans all over himself in an attempt to impress a cute waitress at the bakery he worked at 🙃

gianni - when he first met rooney’s parents he had just begun learning spanish and tried to say he was embarrassed for spilling a drink on himself in all his nerves but accidentally used the word “embarazada”, thinking it meant embarrassed. so instead of saying “estoy muy avergonzado” (i am very embarrassed) he said “estoy muy embarazada” (i am very pregnant.) rooney’s dad had a good laugh out of that one.

rooney - most of rooney’s embarrassing moments are borne from her clumsiness. one time in middle school she tripped over thin air in front of her crush and rolled all the way down a hill and got a black eye from hitting her face on a rock at the bottom. she’s beauty she’s grace

lou - lou is one of those people who refuses to be embarrassed because she hates showing weakness. so if something embarrassing happens to her she’ll shrug and brush it off even if she’s secretly dying inside. often she’s always one step ahead, so if anything, she’ll be the one to catch you in the act and embarrass you.

7. Which of their relationships have impacted them most positively?

rooney - i think it goes without saying, gianni. audrey and her parents, and maisie and mars as well because she's learning the ropes of parenting through the way audrey interacts with them. her bffs 5ever, eli and cosmic <3 also idiot boy santi because in a way she is a lot like him, though not as lost. they help each other out when they’re in similar mindsets.

gianni - rooney of course, his parents, his bb boy santi ;-; all of his old dorm mates at boarding school, and his little one on the way (same goes for rooney)

santi - gianni, rooney, avey, his family even though he would fake his death in order to avoid them, his old dorm mates, eli and yes-- even miyu, lion-hearted girl, la pelirrojita, and.............fiona, above all. ;_____;

lou - fiona, her mother, audrey (and the rest of the wallace fam, but especially audrey because she works at the bakery with her), and.........orejudo.

20. Fears?

LMFOADSKGJKD 420 PLS I H8 U...i already did 4 so u just get 20 SORRY

santi has...a lot of fears. lmao. in fact, they kind of dictate everything he does, in case you couldn’t tell by his debilitating anxiety. rejection, failure, loneliness, disappointing his loved ones, confirmation that he really is as terrible a person as he thinks he is...and hurting the people he loves. that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

8. What’s the weirdest thing they’ve ever eaten?

rooney - one time her grandmother made her eat tripe. never again. she also used to eat bugs for money and candy when she was a kid.

gianni - he’ll try literally anything at least once, so he’s eaten a lot of weird shit. one time drako dared him to eat haggis. no ragrets

9. Describe the way that they sleep.

rooney - constant cuddler. she attaches herself to gianni’s body and makes it impossible for him to turn in the middle of the night. it’s okay, he doesn’t mind.

gianni - he spreads out and takes up the entire bed and somehow messes up the sheets and the covers in the process. rooney doesn’t need that much space when she’s constantly spooning him anyway tho

10. What is their favorite food/kind of food?

rooney loooooves egyptian food and middle eastern food. she always looked forward to taking trips to morocco when she lived in spain because they had the best food. she also has a weakness for lebanese cookies. and gianni is a big fan of indian food...but his mama’s lasagna has always been his favorite ;-;

19. Are they right or left handed?

both rooney and gianni are right handed! but gianni is trying to teach himself to be ambidextrous...emphasis on trying.

21. Favorite kind of weather?

rooney - sunny, blustery days where you can hear the trees whispering.

gianni - he loves the scorching heat of summer like nothing else.

30. Sunrise or sunset?

rooney - sunset

gianni - sunrise (he’s weird)

31. Are they more messy or more organized?

both rooney and gianni are messy people...that’s why their house is so cluttered. RIP

45. Do they believe in ghosts?

rooney and gianni both believe in supernatural things. rooney’s a lot more into it and will believe superstitions whereas gianni is a bit more practical, although he also accepts that there won’t be answers for everything and some phenomenons are just unexplainable. 

51. How do they usually celebrate their birthday?

rooney usually throws a star wars party because her birthday is may 4th. it’s usually her, gianni and santi, but also sometimes eli, miyu and audrey as well. last year they marathonned the OT and played a star wars drinking game (take a shot every time luke whines lmao)

gianni takes his bbys on a camping trip every year for his birthday, as you saw last year hehe

86. Do they like sweet foods?

rooney definitely has a sweet tooth. but she has a unique taste in desserts and likes to try new things, especially from different cultures. and if it’s too sweet, she won’t like it. gianni doesn’t really, but he does make an exception every time he visits the wallace’s bakery.

24. Do they prefer either hot or cold weather more?

santi definitely prefers hot to cold. he tries to preserve summer for as long as he can. it makes him feel like a phoenix starting anew.

36. Least favorite smell?

santi’s least favorite smell is probably the weird smell your pee gets after you eat a lot of asparagus. also artificial candle smells that are so sweet they’re gagworthy.

64. Upon seeing a slice of chocolate cake, what is their first reaction?

he kind of gets grossed out because it reminds him of that scene in matilda where the fat kid eats the entire chocolate cake. but then he’d probably eat it anyway because hey it’s cake!

28. Are they happy where they are currently?

santi - NO lmao. well...it fluctuates. it was good for a while...now he’s stuck again.

lou - she wants to be happy but she won’t let herself be because she feels an impending sense of letdown. she always gets let down.

29. Are they a morning person?

santi - hell fckin no lmao

lou - not if she can help it. both she and fiona hate waking up in the morning to get fi ready for school. but they suffer for the sake of education

30. Sunrise or sunset?

santi- sunset, always sunset (i think i answered that before but whatev)

lou - sunrise. she’s only seen one once in her life, so it’s a pretty special time to her. but referring to the last question, she’s not a morning person, so...

31. Are they more messy or more organized?

santi is messy as fuck. but we knew that. lou tries to stay as organized as possible, but sometimes she just gets overwhelmed and lives in the mess for a little while.

32. Pet peeves?

santi - when you only get like one wonton in your wonton soup, remembering something specific that’s just on the tip of your tongue but never quite getting it, that level of drunk/high where you start to feel yourself coming down and you realize just how lackluster everything is again.

lou - talking in circles, bullshit, repeating herself, family feud episodes that don’t feature steve harvey as the host, dirty dishes and bad reception.

33. Do they own any objects of significant personal importance?

already answered this for santi aheh

but lou treasures the few baby pictures she has of fiona because she wasn’t able to afford a camera or even a nice phone at the time. ;-;

34. Least favorite food?

santi - lobster. he fucking hates lobster. also those cheap chocolates with the cherry inside, blech. also not a fan of mushrooms.

lou - PEEPS. she ate too many one easter as a kid and now she gags at the sight of them. oh and tomatoes.

35. Least favorite color?

santi - grey, but not silver. he likes silver.

lou - chartreuse. and most shades of green. she only likes one very specific shade of blue-toned green.

36. Least favorite smell?

already did this for santi ohoho

as for lou, she can’t stand the smell of bacon. it’s too overpowering. it’s fine at first but then it gets to be too much, and she doesn’t even care for bacon anyway. also that garbage smell the periodically wafts through the air in the city, especially when you’re driving through new jersey lmao

37. When was the last time they cried?

santi? who tf knows. he’s always crying. he’s probably crying as we speak. lou, though...she hates crying. it makes her feel vulnerable. if she cries in front of you, it’s the real deal. especially if u make her cry...then wow. ur a monster

38. Were they with anybody the last time they cried?

U ALREADY KNOW THIS ABOUT SANTI. but lou...probably not. she’s kind of a loner, especially when showing that side of herself :{

[itsfinancethings]

The NBA finds itself caught between two cultures after a tweet about Hong Kong protests sparked criticism from China that threatens the U.S. basketball league’s expansion efforts in its most important international market.

The controversy erupted after Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets, one of the most popular U.S. basketball teams in China, appeared to support Hong Kong demonstrators in a tweet late Friday. While the message was deleted and both Morey and the National Basketball Association tried to distance themselves from it, the damage reverberated across both China and the U.S.

For the Chinese, the incident is seen as the latest example of a Western organization challenging the nation’s sovereignty over its territory. In the U.S., meanwhile, the NBA’s response was met with scorching bipartisan criticism from politicians including Senator Ted Cruz. The situation puts the league at risk of either offending fans in its biggest international market, or exposing itself to charges of kowtowing to China at the expense of American values.

“Chinese Rockets fans are first Chinese. We love Chinese red more than Rockets red,” Kang Hui, an anchor for CCTV News Channel, said in a video on an official CCTV Weibo account. “Morey, this time you really fouled. If you foul, you have to pay the price.”

At stake is a business that has been notching double-digit growth in China every year since 2008. The league has achieved the kind of success there that other international sports leagues covet. About 800 million Chinese watch NBA programming on TV, digital media or smartphones in a season, with top games attracting more viewers than in the U.S.

The NBA has a host of licensing and retail deals in China, including a $500 million pact with Tencent Holdings Ltd. and a 30-plus-years partnership with state-run broadcaster CCTV. Tencent has seen Internet viewership of NBA games nearly triple over the past four years.

The fallout was swift following Morey’s tweet, which contained an image that read “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.” Chinese sportswear maker Li Ning Co. and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Credit Card Center suspended cooperation with the Rockets, while CCTV and Tencent said they will halt broadcasting the team’s games.

Searches for Rockets gear on Chinese e-commerce sites operated by JD.com Inc. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. didn’t return any results on Monday.

1/ I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China. I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives.

— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) October 7, 2019

2/ I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided and I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention. My tweets are my own and in no way represent the Rockets or the NBA.

— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) October 7, 2019

The NBA is just the latest international business feeling the heat from the standoff between pro-democracy demonstrators and Hong Kong authorities that has escalated since June. From Starbucks Corp. to Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., brands and companies are being targeted if they’re seen to be supporting either side in the dispute.

But the reaction to the NBA has been more intense as the world of sports gets dragged into the controversy. The NBA tried to limit the damage, saying in a statement that Morey’s comments were “regrettable.”

“We have great respect for the history and culture of China and hope that sports and the NBA can be used as a unifying force to bridge cultural divides and bring people together,” the NBA said.

In the Chinese version of the statement, it added a further comment: “We are deeply disappointed about Morey’s inappropriate comment and he undoubtedly has hurt Chinese fans’ feelings severely.”

The NBA’s response echoed the cautious approach other companies have been taking in an effort not to offend China, but it immediately generated protests from U.S. politicians.

Cruz, a Texas Republican and longtime Rockets fan, tweeted that the NBA “is shamefully retreating” and said he was “proud” to see Morey’s original comment. Both Democratic presidential candidates from Texas also blasted the NBA, with Beto O’Rourke calling the apology “an embarrassment” and Julian Castro saying the U.S. can’t allow American citizens “to be bullied by an authoritarian government.”

We’re better than this; human rights shouldn’t be for sale & the NBA shouldn’t be assisting Chinese communist censorship.

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 7, 2019

Tony Fratto, former White House deputy press secretary under George W. Bush and founder of Hamilton Place Strategies in Washington, tweeted that the NBA “crossed the line to stand with China and against American values.”

Stepping in to try to bridge the gap was Joe Tsai, co-founder of Alibaba who this summer became the owner of the Brooklyn Nets. In an open letter on Facebook, Tsai attempted to explain China’s anger to Western audiences.

Tsai called the Hong Kong protests a separatist movement, saying support for such movements is a “third-rail” issue in China as its citizens stand united when it comes to the nation’s territorial integrity.

“I don’t know Daryl personally,” Tsai wrote of Morey. “I will take at face value his subsequent apology that he was not as well informed as he should have been. But the hurt that this incident has caused will take a long time to repair.”

The issue is particularly sensitive for the Rockets because the team has worked hard to establish a loyal fan base in China.

The Rockets have more ties to China than most NBA teams. Yao Ming, arguably the greatest Chinese basketball player who now leads the Chinese Basketball Association, starred for the Rockets for many years and was the first Chinese player inducted into the NBA’s Hall of Fame.

The CBA, in a statement Sunday on its official microblog account, said the association is “strongly opposed” to Morey’s comment and will halt communications and cooperation with the club. It canceled four games with the NBA minor league scheduled for later this month.

Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, a tabloid run by the People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s flagship newspaper, laid out the Rockets’ dilemma in a tweet:

“Daryl Morey has the right to express his values, and Chinese fans of the Houston Rockets have the right to abandon this team,” he wrote.

[thisdaynews]

Emails show Stephen Miller pressed hard to limit green cards

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/emails-show-stephen-miller-pressed-hard-to-limit-green-cards/

Emails show Stephen Miller pressed hard to limit green cards

White House senior adviser Stephen Miller’s previously undisclosed emails could raise legal questions about whether the public charge rule was rushed to completion. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

immigration

One former Trump official said White House senior adviser Stephen Miller has maintained a “singular obsession” with the public charge rule.

White House senior adviser Stephen Miller wasn’t getting an immigration regulation he wanted. So he sent a series of scorching emails to top immigration officials, calling the department an “embarrassment” for not acting faster, according to emails obtained by POLITICO.

The regulation in question would allow the Department of Homeland Security to bar legal immigrants from obtaining green cards if they receive certain government benefits. The rule will likely be released in the coming days, according to a pair of current and formerTrump officials briefed on the timeline.

Story Continued Below

The emails, which POLITICO obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, shed new light on how aggressively Miller has pressured the Department of Homeland Security to move faster on regulations to limit immigration. Critics say the new rule will be used to shore up Trump’s political base in the coming election year, and that it’s an illegitimate tool to reduce legal immigration.

One former Trump official said Miller has maintained a “singular obsession” with the public charge rule, which he’s argued would bring about a transformative change to U.S. immigration.

At the receiving end of Miller’s pressure campaign was U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Director Francis Cissna, an immigration hawk with strong support from restrictionist groups who resigned in May amid a broader Homeland Security Department shakeup that also saw the exit of former Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and other top officials.

In an email sent on June 8, 2018, Miller lambasted Cissna for the pace of his efforts to implement the public charge rule. “Francis — The timeline on public charge is unacceptable,” Miller wrote. “The public charge reg has been in the works for a year and a half. This is time we don’t have. I don’t care what you need to do to finish it on time. You run an agency of 20,000 people.”

In the message, Miller derided Cissna’s overall performance at USCIS, the agency charged with screening visa applicants and processing immigration paperwork. Cissna was known for his deliberate approach to the regulatory process.

“It’s an embarrassment that we’ve been here for 18 months and USCIS hasn’t published a single major reg,” Miller barked.

According to a version of the ruleproposedin October 2018, the regulation would allow federal immigration officials to deny green cards to legal immigrants who’ve received food stamps, welfare, Medicaid, prescription drug subsidies or Section 8 housing vouchers. It could also deny green cards to immigrants deemed likely to receive such government benefits in the future.

With Trump poised to make immigration a centerpiece of his 2020 reelection campaign, a new crackdown on legal immigrants who receive government assistance could energize voters who view immigration — even when done legally — as a fiscal drain and cultural danger.

“This is something that will play well going into the next election, especially considering the prevailing view among the Democratic candidates who are talking about admitting more immigrants and offering more benefits,” said Jessica Vaughan, a director with the Center for Immigration Studies, which pushes for lower levels of both legal and illegal immigration.

But Miller’s previously undisclosed emails could raise legal questions about whether the public charge rule was rushed to completion. The regulatory process will almost certainly be challenged in court, according to opponents bracing for the change.

In addition, the emails could reinvigorate Democratic efforts to compel Miller to testify before Congress. The White House in April denied a voluntary invitation to testify before the House Oversight Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.). The committee chairman had pressed Miller to explain his role in the development of what he called “troubling” immigration policies.

Acting USCIS Director Ken Cuccinelli — Cissna’s replacement at the agency and another immigration hawk — said the public charge regulation will demonstrate that Trump remains committed to his immigration agenda.

“People assign value to leaders who keep their promises,” Cuccinelli said during an interview with POLITICO. “And that’s what the president is doing here.”

The acting director said that Miller was involved with the rulemaking process, but that Trump is “the driving force” behind the public charge effort.

The regulation received more than 266,000 public comments and the final version, which will incorporate feedback from those comments, may differ from the earlier draft rule.

Pro-migrant advocates fear the chilling effect of the regulation will cause migrant families to forgo essential services, even if the benefits aren’t barred under the measure.

“The real fear and danger is that so many families that have an immigrant family member are going to be afraid to go to the doctor, are going to be afraid to go to school,” said Sonya Schwartz, a senior policy attorney with the Los Angeles-based National Immigration Law Center.

Cuccinelli said his agency will work to ensure that legal immigrants understand what benefit use could trigger a possible pubic charge determination.

“We’re going to try to make sure people have clear knowledge of the expectations, so they are not scared off of what they have the right to claim,” he said.

Miller has frequently checked on the status of the public charge regulation since the start of Trump’s tenure, according to a second former official. However, department attorneys were more concerned with crafting a regulation that would withstand legal challenges.

“They understand that for a reg to stick they need to be extremely careful and cross their T’s and dot their I’s,” the person said of the department staff.

“Stephen’s expectations for timelines were always in conflict with what the bureaucracy could do, or in some cases, wanted to,” said a third former Trump official. “[The public charge regulation] was a priority, nobody disputed that, including Cissna. It’s just [that] these things take time.”

The New York Times reported in April that Miller blasted top immigration officials about the lack of progress on public charge and other regulations during a meeting at the White House.

Miller sent his emails as the Trump administration was grappling with fallout over the president’s “zero tolerance” border strategy, which separated thousands of migrant families during a three-month period that began in April 2018. A federal judge ordered the separated families reunited in late June 2018, but a recent court filing by the American Civil Liberties Union contends more than 900 migrant children — including infants and toddlers — have been split apart from parents since then.

USCIS redacted Cissna’s response to Miller’s criticism, but Miller forwarded the reply to Craig Symons, the agency’s chief counsel at the time.

“Months! This needs to be days or weeks!!” Miller wrote to Symons, adding that Mick Mulvaney “promised the president” that it would happen quickly.

Symons responded that agency officials would attempt to get the regulation to the White House budget office before the end of that month. DHS ultimately published a draft version in October — four months later.

A senior administration official criticized the pace of the regulatory process in an April interview with POLITICO, citing concerns “that the career bureaucracy is just slowing things down or engaging in dilatory tactics that keeps things from moving quickly.”

The public charge rule and other measures related to asylum and detaining migrant children were chief concerns, the official said.

The senior official added that Cissna’s agency had “become a bottleneck” for top immigration priorities and that the administration would become more focused on results and “getting wins on the board“ in coming months.

The regulatory measure could allow Trump to demonstrate to voters how he’s been able to reshape the legal immigration system despite an inability to get his policies approved by Congress.

Trump endorsed a Senate bill in 2017, S. 354 (115), that would have cut legal immigration in half over a decade, but the measure — sponsored by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) — failed to gain traction with Senate Republicans and received no support from Democrats.

More recently, another top adviser — Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner —has worked to developan immigration reform package that he hopes can unify Republicans. The still-unreleased measure reportedly would rework the legal immigration to value skills over family ties, but without cutting the overall number of immigrants allowed to enter the U.S. each year.

Some opponents of the public charge regulation argue it will lead to lower levels of legal immigration and enable federal officials to deny visas or green cards to an unnecessarily broad pool of immigrants — essentially accomplishing what couldn’t be done through legislation.

“It’s really a rule designed to reduce legal immigration to the United States,” said Stuart Anderson, executive director of the pro-migrant National Foundation for American Policy. “It’s clear this has been a Miller goal from the beginning.”

Federal law alreadybarsimmigrants likely to become a public charge, but the statute provides little detail and has been used infrequently as a basis for denial. Guidance issued in 1999 clarified that the designation should apply to immigrants who are “primarily dependent“ on cash assistance or the use of long-term, institutionalized care. The pending regulation, judging from its proposed form, would greatly expand the criteria to include non-cash assistance like food stamps and Medicaid.

Beyond the DHS rule, the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict visas to immigrants based on their likelihood to use public benefits is already underway.

The State Departmentchangedits foreign affairs manual in 2018 to toughen the public charge standard and saw denials on that basis skyrocket.

Consular officers rejected 13,450 visa applications based on public charge criteria in fiscal year 2018, according to department figures. They denied only 1,076 applicants in fiscal year 2016, the last full year under former President Barack Obama.

The Justice Department also plans to issue a companion regulation that will outline the grounds to deport someone in the U.S. based on their use of certain public benefits. A draft version of that measure remains under review at the White House budget office.

Nancy Cook and Gabby Orr contributed reporting.

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[torentialtribute]

The real story of Sunderland’s takeover… Donald and Methven could pocket £40m by selling again

Sunderland The owners used £ 32million of Premier League Parachute payments to buy the club from Ellis Short last year.

Evidence seen by Sportsmail has revealed that chairman Stewart Donald and executive director Charlie Methven committed only £ 5m of Donald's money as part of the £ 37m takeover to secure control of the club a year ago.

They could both make millions if they push through with plans to sell for £ 50m, although no rules will have been broken.

Donald on Wednesday night confirmed that the takeover involved a payment of '£ 15m plus last summer's parachute payment of £ 25m', although evidence suggested close to £ 10m of that first payment was also parachute money.

The Sunderland chairman, a popular figure with fans, also insisted is still committed to the club ahead of Sunday's League One play-off final against Charlton. He said: "The notion that I am going to leave Sunderland in the short term, being made a quick profit, is simply wrong."

In correspondence seen by this newspaper, however, the desire to sell to a new owner is made clear.

Charlie Methven (left) and Stewart Donald (right) bought the club with only £ 5million

If Sunderland secure promotion back to the Championship on Sunday with victory over Charlton at Wembley, the fans may salute two people they regard as the saviors of their club.

But, as a Sportsmail investigation reveals, Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven truck a deal with former owner Ellis Short to buy the club using Premier League parachute payments.

Only now – after being challenged by this newspaper – they have admitted this was central to an agreement that saw Donald commit onl y £ 5million of his own money in the £ 37m takeover.

If they succeed with their plan, which has broken no laws nor breached any regulations, to sell Sunderland only 12 months on, they stand to make a fortune . Donald would pocket some £ 37m if they achieve their £ 50m asking price, while Methven would make around £ 3m for his stake.

This time last year, Donald and Methven arrived on Wearside, the former a 44-year -old insurance millionaire who sounds a little like David Brent, the latter a smooth-talking financial PR man and former journalist Private Eye recently described as a 'Brylcreemed, perma-tanned, Thatcher worshipping Old Etonian Hooray'.

They declared Sunderland 'debt-free' after succeeding Short as owners. Short did agree to write off most of the clubs £ 150m debt but Sports mail can now confirm that almost £ 32million or that was covered by Sunderland via parachute payments – and not Donald and Methven – after the takeover was completed.

Donald took a per cent share with Methven getting the remainder. They are promised to re-engage with the club's disenchanted supporters.

Ellis Short allowed the pair to buy the club using Premier League parachute payments

Oxford-educated Methven has been particularly masterful. He can stroll into the Colliery Tavern, a pub across the road from the Stadium of Light, in his red chinos on match days and enjoy a pint with the locals.

The supporters see Donald and Methven as the antithesis of Short, the billionaire who came to be regarded as aloof, elusive and neglectful. The American lost some £ 250m in his bungled attempt to establish Sunderland as a Premier League powerhouse, only to see them drop to the third tier.

On May 21, 2018, only 24 hours after Short had fired manager Chris Coleman and declared he was off, too, Donald and Methven assured supporters in an interview with Sunderland fan podcast Smoker Report that life would be different on their watch.

This would no longer be a club where people could come in and 'take the p ***' financially.

They invited supporters to help replace the stadium's sun-scorched pink seats, which had become a source of some embarrassment, while feeding them citizens and beers. Donald's insurance company offered discounts to Sunderland fans.

A one-time Samson the Cat, the club mascot, was appointed their new managing director. Tony Davison returned to the club he had supported since childhood, after working as a commercial director at Tottenham and Oxford United, as well as at Methven's communications firm in London.

Sunderland director Juan Sartori (L) with fellow director Methven (right) and supporters

The host of the podcast was also hired after being one of those questioning the details of the takeover deal, in particular Donald planned to pay Short with Premier League parachute payments rather than his own money.

Executive director Methven answered at the time: 'The way in which Ellis has allowed us to do it is to pay some of the £ 40m in internships, to help us with the cash flow requirement this summer.

'The reality when you do this child or deal, and there is still money outstanding on the deal, is that the person who has that money outstanding will want to take security against something so that if the owners did not pay, he would have something to cover his money.

'That money is secured against parachute payments but that is just him making sure he gets the full value of the £ 40m from us. '

This, however, does not exactly mean tally with the precise details of the deal that have now been uncovered by this newspaper.

According to evidence seen by Sportsmail, allied with a forensic examination of published accounts at Companies House, Donald committed only £ 5m in the form of a loan. The remaining part of the deal – just shy of £ 32million – was covered with parachute payment cash. While there are no Premier League regulations regarding how a club spends the money, the payments were introduced to protect clubs from the financial pressures or relegation from the top flight.

Short did agree to accept the money in instalments, with Donald declaring in July 2018 that an initial £ 15m had been paid to the American. It was actually £ 14.6m, with £ 9.6m from the club accounts and a further £ 5m provided by the new majority shareholder owner.

The owners have only been in a year but could still flip the club for a handsome profit

Donald endeared himself to the locals and insists he is still in it for the long haul

When contacted by Sportsmail, Methven did not deny any of this. He did not deny that parachute money was then used to cover the remaining part of the deal, with the final £ 8.4m or the £ 31,988m paid only last month.

Methven said the money was not, however, paid to Short but to SBC (the Security Benefit Corporation) in America.

Asked specifically if the parachute money had been paid to Short, Methven replied: "I don't accept so many words we have (paid Short) because effectively the money has never touched either us or Short. It's gone straight to SBC, the bank. "Asked then if that was part of the deal with Short, Methven replied:" Yes. The money was channeled through Madrox Partners Limited, a company incorporated on May 2, 2018 by Donald and Methven and used, in Methven's. words, as 'an accounting route' because 'parachute payment money has been paid into the club accounts'.

Methven insists it remains a great deal for a club which had debts or more than £ 150m.

He argued this week that a year in charge has cost Donald a further £ 10m, although he provided no evidence of this. The figure is disputed by sources given that an injection of cash was received as a result of selling a 20 per cent stake in the club to Uruguayan businessman Juan Sartori. Insiders believe the total expense for Donald is closer to £ 7m.

Donald just had to demonstrate he could finance running the club to take over

There is still £ 8.6m or parachute money due to Sunderland between August 2019 and July 2020. But an £ 11.92m loan from merchant banking group Close Brothers, which was secured in April, has enabled the payments up until August to be advanced and much or it paid out through Madrox Partners.

WHO ARE "BATMAN AND ROBIN"?

Stewart Donald:

A multi-millionaire and lifelong Oxford United fan who owned National League club Eastleigh for six years.

The former insurance man is now the Sunderland chairman who has enamored himself with fans with sound bites like 'the club is not a toy, it's the heart of the community' and by appointing Jack Ross as manager.

Charlie Methven:

Methven's smooth-talking executive director was educated at Eton and Oxford, and previously worked for Sporting Life and the Daily Telegraph.

He co-founded the PR firm Dragon Advisory and remains chairman.

With his trademark slicked-back hairstyle, Methven is the main frontman for Sunderland.

Sportsmail can reveal that of the £ 56.5m or parachute money received between last June and next July, only £ 24.5m of it will have gone towards the working capital of the club.

Methven argued that, while it might have been more palatable for Short to have cleared all the debt and then demanded the full £ 40m from Donald, the end result would have been no different. But it would, because Donald would have been forced to find the money up rather than commit future parachute payments to the deal. That was not feasible for a man Methven claims is worth 'somewhere between 50m and 60m', and it was not the deal on the table.

It was a deal that apparently made the English Football League nervous until Short made it clear to EFL chief Shaun Harvey and his executives that the alternative would be ruinous for Sunderland. In what has been described on a tense exchange, Short is said to have stressed that he was losing so much money – reportedly as much as £ 500,000 a week – he was ready to simply pull the plug.

Sportsmail understands that Donald only had to demonstrate he could finance the running of the club to meet the EFL criteria for ownership. The EFL knew parachute money formed part of a deal and still allowed the takeover to go ahead. On Wednesday the EFL said they would not comment on specific details.

Sunderland overcame Portsmouth to reach the play-final and they will take on Charlton

Donald and Methven have never provided any real clarity on the importance of the parachute money to the takeover. In September, Methven revealed in program notes that the £ 25m due in summer parachute payments had been 'ringfenced to pay down bank debt', but there was no mention of it being used as part of the £ 40m owed to Short for the purchase of

A month earlier Donald admitted money he was paying for the club to Short was being used to pay off debt, but failed to specify that the club's parachute payments were being used.

On Wednesday, however, in a statement to Sportsmail, Donald said: 'Madrox agreed a deal worth £ 40m with Ellis Short. This was £ 15m plus last summer's parachute payment or £ 25m, which came in just after we took over and was ring-fenced to pay off the last bit of bank debt.

'So together Ellis and I ensured that the club would be debt free. Ellis by writing off his own debt or £ 80m and then, with the assistance of that last parachute payment, paying off the £ 70m or bank debt the club had accrued. And me by refusing to "port" Ellis' debt on our books.

"Instead of having last summer's parachute payment to settle these debts, Juan Sartori and I have had to inject our own money and continue to do so even now, effectively writing down the £ 25m parachute payment that was advanced to Ellis. I am clear that I wish to retain a significant investment in the club for the long term. The notion that I am going to leave Sunderland in the short term, having made a quick profit, is simply wrong. "

But Sportsmail has seen evidence that £ 9.6m or that initial £ 15m payment was also financed using parachute money already sitting in Sunderland's accounts.

Sunderland supporters were sold a long term strategy by Methven and Donald

The concern, expressed by insiders , Donald has the funds or inclination to continue financing Sunderland.

Methven insists Donald could still remain as a shareholder, from anywhere from '25 to 55 per cent ', but Sportsmail has seen correspondence that makes clear Donald and Methven's desire to sell for £ 50m.

No regulations will have been broken and no laws would have been broken. But two men who seduced Sunderland's fans with their long-term vision for 'a family club' would return to their own family homes in Oxfordshire significantly richer.

On Sunday the focus will only be on Sunderland's ability to beat Charlton . If they do so perhaps those two in the Royal Box will be the toast or Weirside. But the club's return to the second tier of English football will have come at a cost.

Sources say the Sunderland academy that has long been the club's crown jewel is in danger of losing its Category One status.

A sizeable chunk of the parachute money has gone, meaning any new owner has to use their own money to finance the club.

"They've been portrayed as Batman and Robin," said one insider on Wednesday . "Well the deal is not quite what we thought it was and let's see what happens now."

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[itsfinancethings]

October 07, 2019 at 08:35AM

The NBA finds itself caught between two cultures after a tweet about Hong Kong protests sparked criticism from China that threatens the U.S. basketball league’s expansion efforts in its most important international market.

The controversy erupted after Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets, one of the most popular U.S. basketball teams in China, appeared to support Hong Kong demonstrators in a tweet late Friday. While the message was deleted and both Morey and the National Basketball Association tried to distance themselves from it, the damage reverberated across both China and the U.S.

For the Chinese, the incident is seen as the latest example of a Western organization challenging the nation’s sovereignty over its territory. In the U.S., meanwhile, the NBA’s response was met with scorching bipartisan criticism from politicians including Senator Ted Cruz. The situation puts the league at risk of either offending fans in its biggest international market, or exposing itself to charges of kowtowing to China at the expense of American values.

“Chinese Rockets fans are first Chinese. We love Chinese red more than Rockets red,” Kang Hui, an anchor for CCTV News Channel, said in a video on an official CCTV Weibo account. “Morey, this time you really fouled. If you foul, you have to pay the price.”

At stake is a business that has been notching double-digit growth in China every year since 2008. The league has achieved the kind of success there that other international sports leagues covet. About 800 million Chinese watch NBA programming on TV, digital media or smartphones in a season, with top games attracting more viewers than in the U.S.

The NBA has a host of licensing and retail deals in China, including a $500 million pact with Tencent Holdings Ltd. and a 30-plus-years partnership with state-run broadcaster CCTV. Tencent has seen Internet viewership of NBA games nearly triple over the past four years.

The fallout was swift following Morey’s tweet, which contained an image that read “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.” Chinese sportswear maker Li Ning Co. and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Credit Card Center suspended cooperation with the Rockets, while CCTV and Tencent said they will halt broadcasting the team’s games.

Searches for Rockets gear on Chinese e-commerce sites operated by JD.com Inc. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. didn’t return any results on Monday.

1/ I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China. I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives.

— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) October 7, 2019

2/ I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided and I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention. My tweets are my own and in no way represent the Rockets or the NBA.

— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) October 7, 2019

The NBA is just the latest international business feeling the heat from the standoff between pro-democracy demonstrators and Hong Kong authorities that has escalated since June. From Starbucks Corp. to Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., brands and companies are being targeted if they’re seen to be supporting either side in the dispute.

But the reaction to the NBA has been more intense as the world of sports gets dragged into the controversy. The NBA tried to limit the damage, saying in a statement that Morey’s comments were “regrettable.”

“We have great respect for the history and culture of China and hope that sports and the NBA can be used as a unifying force to bridge cultural divides and bring people together,” the NBA said.

In the Chinese version of the statement, it added a further comment: “We are deeply disappointed about Morey’s inappropriate comment and he undoubtedly has hurt Chinese fans’ feelings severely.”

The NBA’s response echoed the cautious approach other companies have been taking in an effort not to offend China, but it immediately generated protests from U.S. politicians.

Cruz, a Texas Republican and longtime Rockets fan, tweeted that the NBA “is shamefully retreating” and said he was “proud” to see Morey’s original comment. Both Democratic presidential candidates from Texas also blasted the NBA, with Beto O’Rourke calling the apology “an embarrassment” and Julian Castro saying the U.S. can’t allow American citizens “to be bullied by an authoritarian government.”

We’re better than this; human rights shouldn’t be for sale & the NBA shouldn’t be assisting Chinese communist censorship.

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 7, 2019

Tony Fratto, former White House deputy press secretary under George W. Bush and founder of Hamilton Place Strategies in Washington, tweeted that the NBA “crossed the line to stand with China and against American values.”

Stepping in to try to bridge the gap was Joe Tsai, co-founder of Alibaba who this summer became the owner of the Brooklyn Nets. In an open letter on Facebook, Tsai attempted to explain China’s anger to Western audiences.

Tsai called the Hong Kong protests a separatist movement, saying support for such movements is a “third-rail” issue in China as its citizens stand united when it comes to the nation’s territorial integrity.

“I don’t know Daryl personally,” Tsai wrote of Morey. “I will take at face value his subsequent apology that he was not as well informed as he should have been. But the hurt that this incident has caused will take a long time to repair.”

The issue is particularly sensitive for the Rockets because the team has worked hard to establish a loyal fan base in China.

The Rockets have more ties to China than most NBA teams. Yao Ming, arguably the greatest Chinese basketball player who now leads the Chinese Basketball Association, starred for the Rockets for many years and was the first Chinese player inducted into the NBA’s Hall of Fame.

The CBA, in a statement Sunday on its official microblog account, said the association is “strongly opposed” to Morey’s comment and will halt communications and cooperation with the club. It canceled four games with the NBA minor league scheduled for later this month.

Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, a tabloid run by the People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s flagship newspaper, laid out the Rockets’ dilemma in a tweet:

“Daryl Morey has the right to express his values, and Chinese fans of the Houston Rockets have the right to abandon this team,” he wrote.