#of course the US isn't the only nation to get this treatment but as the current Capitalist-Imperialist hegemon it receives it the most

[psychotrenny]

When Liberals describe a piece of media dealing with contemporary war or politics as being "Morally Ambiguous" they mean nearly always mean that it questions the specific decisions of those in power, not the basic ideological assumptions that their power rests upon. Like it's always "Was it a good idea to invade this tyrannical terrorist shithole in order to spread freedom and democracy?" or "Is it okay to torture evil terrorists shitheads to save people from their oppression", never questioning whether the US actually are protecting the innocent and spreading prosperity or if their enemies really are straightforwardly sadistic oppressors. It may question whether the US is acting like a good guy, but it always affirms that the US inherently is good or at least has the greatest capacity to be. Even in Liberal media where the doesn't come off looking the best, they still make sure to present their enemies as even worse. Not to mention the way that any atrocities the US does commit are presented as either mistakes, malicious perversions of the system (probably orchestrated by enemy infiltrators anyway) or tragic but necessary evils. Meanwhile the atrocities committed by their foes are the proof of their innate evil and strong necessity of stopping them; this is the basis of that whole discussion around whether terrible means should be adopted to achieve the noble end of defeating these villains.

And like a story apparently "isn't making a political statement" when it doesn't give a clear answer on these terms, but the terms themselves are never up for discussion. Like I heard someone call Call of Duty: Modern Warfare "apolitical" because it neither justifies nor condemns stuff like those SAS soldiers torturing Arabs and killing sleeping or unarmed Russians (leaving it for the player to decide oooooooooh sooooo deep), as though its choice of antagonists and decision to present them as unambiguously evil isn't a statement in of itself. And like its choice to give Soviet imagery to the Russian Ultranationlists is apparently just a silly oversight (like ooooh real Ultranationalists hate those Soviet lefties hahaha) that says nothing at all about the creator's view of international politics and anti-US ideologies.

As far as your average Liberal is concerned, media contains political statements are when a character turns directly to the camera and says "This thing is good/bad". Anything else is deep stuff that makes you think and lets you come to your own conclusions. Just play the game, don't worry about who set the rules

[etherealstar-writes]

I WANNA BE YOURS | WOSO X READER | PT 16

pairings: woso x reader

summary: in which you're accidentally added to a random group chat, not knowing they're all actually famous footballers, and obliviously end up having many of them competing for your love and attention.

part: sixteen

part one here

✦ ——— ✦ ——— ✦

THE NATIONAL DIVING TEAM

the imposter aka y/n ❤️

felt lotte 😔

neev you went to a wsl match and to an arse-nal one of all ?! i thought you were a chelsea supporter y/n 😔 how could you do this to me bae

kyra who the hell would be sane enough to support chelshit?

elton PLS

willybum CHELSHIT HAHAHA

neev are we seeing this rn sam @ samtheskippa the disrespect

sam the skippa kyra lillee cooney-cross

kyra erm mum, save me @ stephy

stephy i ain't getting involved in this

kyra 😔

meado oh my lord

tom holland's twin i have a concussion y/n ✌️ twinning

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ want me to come over and we can watch movies i'll bring ice-cream

tom holland's twin pls do 🙏

stairway why is lotte getting special treatment? i sprained my ankle the other day

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ sucks to be you

elton are you seriously still mad at us for accidentally giving you a concussion

the imposter aka y/n ❤️

neev i'll make it up to you with nandos i'll pay 🙏

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ okay

willybum that's all it took for you to forgive her? nandos?

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ hey, nandos is fire 🔥 only ppl with taste can understand

mccard real

kyra real

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ and i can never stay mad at you guys for long

the REAL karate kid yayyy

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ but tillies are still my number one

willybum NOOO

kyra YESSS as you should 💪

the REAL karate kid okay but you support arsenal yeah? 🥺🙏

neev NAHH chelsea 🤍💙🥺🙏

brightness chelsea 🤍💙

flaming hot chelsea 🤍💙

sam the skippa aye up the blues 🤍💙

elton NAHH yanited 🔛🔝

earpsy yesss ❤️🖤

zelem ❤️🖤

turner ❤️🖤

hempo it's actually mancity thank you very much

lani ayeee

esme yess

chloe that's right

kyra nah y'all are absolutely delulu it's fairly obvious y/n should support ausenal we're superior 💪

wilybum you mean arsenal 🤨 ❤️🤍

kyra yeah that of course 😁 ❤️🤍

the REAL karate kid ❤️🤍

meado ❤️🤍

tom holland's twin ❤️🤍

mccard ❤️🤍

ford ❤️🤍

stephy ❤️🤍

stairway NAH WHAT THE FLIIP WE HAVE MOST OF THE ARSENAL TEAM HERE THIS IS UNFAIR

neev YEAH UNFAIR FR

cha cha i was gonna suggest spurs ....

willybum OH HELL NAH

the REAL karate kid NO

elton ABSOLUTY NOT

cha cha okay okay geez

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ i think i should remain unspoken about this topic before things get more out of hand ....

neev NAH this is an important life decision y/n

rusty metal wait y/n barca will welcome you with open arms

willybum THEY AREN'T A WSL TEAM LUCY

rusty metal i thought it was just clubs in general 😔

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ barca is lookin very convicing ngl and i most def support ausenal (and lotte) 🇦🇺✊

mccard technically i'm an honorary aussie so do i count in ausenal 👀

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ of course

neev i thought we had a connection y/n 😔

willybum why not lionessenal 😔

meado that is a terrible name

the REAL karate kid fr

willybum sue me for tryin why don't you think of something better then

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ nahh doesn't hit the same as ausenal

willybum i liked it better when you didnt know who we were and supported me 😔

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ that isn't very cash money of you willybum

ona you should come to barcelona y/n!

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ anything for you ona 🙏

stairway nahhh come support bayern in germany 💪

kie barca is superior actually

rusty metal that's right!

willybum they're overrated

kie you did not

ona added la reina

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ MOTHER ALEXIA EKBHFlkuweqBFQLUEB NO WAY OMG IVE PASSED AWAY

neev HELP the alexia putellas being added to this gc was NOT on my bingo card this year 😭

ona alexia, leah williamson just said barca is overrated

willybum deleted a chat

willybum i don't know what she's talking about alexia you're amazing

la reina thank you? your nickname is ... creative

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ alexia will you adopt me?

la reina what?

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ what? erm you are insanely peng oml

ona i thought i was peng 😔

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ YOU ARE

ona then you need another compliment for her

kyra alexia is very mother actually

cha cha she is fr

neev seconded

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ but steph is mother for me 🙏 alexia is literally la reina, my queen 😩

stephy what in the world are you guys talking about 😭

rusty metal wait what am i then?

neev grandma duh

rusty metal i shouldn't have asked 😭

ona grandma lucy hahaha

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ ona i'm packing my bags rn coming to barca right away for you

ona i shall be waiting

willybum i can't believe we're being forgotten about 😔

kyra no one cares lord farquaad

willybum you pest 😒

willybum changed kyra's name to pest

pest wow

willybum suits you very well

pest that's not gonna stop me from pestering you, willybum you do realise that

willybum steph control your child

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ but i never did anything 😔

willybum NOT YOU ALSO SINCE WHEN HUH? 😭

stephy do you have a problem with my children, williamson?

willybum erm no

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ mother, kyra is hogging your favourite son from your favourite daughter

stephy kyra give calvin back to y/n

pest wow i'm the neglected middle child i guess 😒

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ L

✦ ——— ✦ ——— ✦

not me finally posting another crappy chapter 🤭

next part here

[zuko-always-lies]

Hey, as a long viewer of your anti iroh posts, which, as a person who just recently watched ATLA, I have a very controversial theory/headcanon based on my knowledge of general psychology (not a psychologist so disregard if incorrect) and perspective of Iroh's character and by the attitude of his fans that can possibly get me hate messages and even death threats. So I came to the conclusion that Iroh expresses an uncomfortable character of NPD or particularly a certain "sub" that you will, being Benevolent/Vulnerable Narcissim.

Iroh loves to present himself as "wise, kind and fatherly," but his actions showcase the total opposite, and his supposed identity appears far more shallow and self-centred. He never properly mentors or shows to really know Zuko. Instead, he simply uses Zuko to serve as his act of penance, which is why he never meaningfully teaches Zuko to become a better person or to realise that his father is at fault and that his sister is not his real enemy. But no, instead, he lays off to do the bare minimum. He shows less to no remorse for Zuko's predicament that was caused by him for not standing up to his brother when he was banished. Nor does Iroh show any for Zuko's victims. Instead, Iroh operates under the mindset that supporting Zuko and making him Firelord will accomplish his penance. His lack of care for Azula is precisely because she is an obstacle not just for Zuko but for his "penance" as well.

It's also interesting the lack of self-awareness that Iroh has. He calls Azula crazy for doing what he did for decades. The only difference is that Azula genuinely cares for her nation while Iroh doesn't really care except his glory. He sent his son to the front lines to fight his own battles for him, which isn't that different from Ozai's treatment of Azula and Zuko. Oh, and at the finale, what does he do? Send Zuko and Katara into danger while abandoning them to satisfy his selfish desire. Of course, as you mentioned, he also doesn't live up to his own "wisdom" instead using that wisdom to appear smart and confuse others. Because in all honesty, Zuko NEVER applies any of Iroh's suppose wisdom because Iroh doesn't ever think to teach BLUNTLY to Zuko, like any basic teacher can look at Iroh and already have their hands in their face, but of course the further issue is that instead of applying basic healthy logic, Iroh instead utilises the toxic sibling rivalry to manipulate Zuko into becoming his "perfect" son. Zuko becomes a better person despite Iroh not because of him, Zuko's "metamorphosis" (aka breakdown) is the best example of how unhealthy Iroh's parenting is.

Iroh is also shameless when it comes to his mistakes. He never feels guilt or apologises to June for his blatant sexual harassment. He has no shame for being friends with the Rough Rhinos or assisting Zhao in the further conquest and bloodshed of the Northen Water Tribe. He never thinks or comes clean with his crimes against the Earth Kingdom, instead choosing to profit off the very same people he victimised. He never apologises to Zuko for being a shitty mentor/Uncle.

Iroh reminds me of ALOT of narcissistic so called "benevolent" or "vulnerable" people who will appear kind and even express self hatred but only for further validation and without taking risks or responsibility whatsoever for their mistakes, instead blaming others or doing "good" little things to create a narrative that they are "saints" and that people who disagree or despise them are "crazy or evil".

This might be far-fetched, but when you consider that to this day, the majority of ATLA fans have been juiced in this narrative that Iroh = 50 year old warmonger is a Saint who should be worshipped and that Zuko should be "thankful and grateful" of said Iroh, and that Azula = 14 year old abused child soldier who did the least messed up things and is the youngest member is demonised for being "crazy" and even Aang gets treated inferior to Iroh, well it already feels right at home with typical narcissistic narratives

I've had similar thoughts myself, but I really don't like applying medical diagnoses to fictional characters living in a very different society, so I never quite articulated them. Certainly Iroh seems to be an extraordinarily self-centered person who puts major effort into pretending not be so self-centered.

[fatphobiabusters]

I was a bit curious if anyone here had seen this study and their thoughts on it. The results of it seem questionable to me. Although I do agree with him that the BMI is bull.

https://www.colorado.edu/today/2023/02/23/excess-weight-obesity-more-deadly-previously-believed

Firstly health doesn't equal worth or morals, always worth saying that.

On a quick review I can't say that he's taken into the account the damage of yo yo dieting. Those who are naturally lower BMI have no reason to put their bodies through the damage of a diet over and over whereas higher BMI people are harassed into.

I can't access the whole original paper, however "The statistical analysis of nearly 18,000 people also shines a light on the pitfalls of using body mass index (BMI) to study health outcomes," 18,000? Where are these people from? what's their diet history? did the higher BMI people have surgeries for weight loss?

"Masters mined the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1988 to 2015, looking at data from 17,784 people, including 4,468 deaths.

He discovered that a full 20% of the sample characterized as “healthy” weight had been in the overweight or obese category in the decade prior. When set apart, this group had a substantially worse health profile than those in the category whose weight had been stable. "

Weight loss does damage to your body??? Also "decade prior" how did these people lose weight because 10 years is ASTOUNDING to not have regained weight. Unless of course they were permanently on their diet which is, again, DAMAGING.

"Meanwhile, 37% of those characterized as overweight and 60% of those with obese BMI had been at lower BMIs in the decade prior. Notably, those who had only recently gained weight had better health profiles." The idea that people have natural ideal weights kind of leads to this. Your weight will fluctuate as you age and if your ideal weight goes up then its healthiest at that weight.

"Contrary to previous research, the study found no significant mortality risk increases for the “underweight” category." My first thought is does this include people who qualify for a DSM 5 diagnosis for anorexia? (This means they have weight loss, yes weight loss is required by the book don't get me started) 1 in 100 girls are estimated to struggle with anorexia alone. Are these people removed from the underweight category because they recently lost weight ??? How does that make sense! DIETING CAUSES DAMAGE, EATING DISORDERS CAUSE DAMAGE.

So my impression of this is its great at further proving BMI is crap at health but unless you account for the damage dieting does to a body you cannot say these statistics exist in a vaccum. It's astounding that in 2024 we are still accepting half the picture of weight analysis and statistics. Fat bodies don't just exist, we get pressured to do damaging and terrifying things to our body, we get our health ignored for weight first treatment.

Is our health really that bad or are there these other factors preventing equality in care?

Like in Sweden they left obese patients to die during COVID. Or having treatment stop over weight gain fears.

Or the time they decided polluting water because fat people drink it was okay.

So I guess my tldr is, this isn't saying what people might think it's saying. At least not as presented in this article. This really just proves weight loss is bad imo.

-mod squirrel

[sag-dab-sar]

The Need to Recognize Christmas' Preferential Treatment 🎄

Christmas is seen as "stolen" from pre-Christian traditions or described as "not really Christian". Some of it is legitimate (e.g with specific local or national folk traditions), a lot of it is pseudo-history (e.g Mithras birthday, an entire Christmas tree, lights) but frankly neither actually matter. Because, in our modern world, Christmas holds a prestigious place due to Christianity.

.🔹.

Here are examples that showcase Christmas' ubiquitous, unquestioned place in many Culturally Christian nations and why we need to recognized its ubiquity:

Appropriation of Judaism, re-imagined for Christmas exists like this. @/koshercosplay has basically an infinite amount of examples to use for these posts and even gets sent asks of more examples.

There is no Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu or other religions' holidays reserved as an official federal holiday in the US. So all non-Christian religious holidays are labeled as "accommodations" while Christmas is a given.

While my post targets the US because thats were I am from, this isn't US only. Christmas is a public holiday in a large protion of countries around the world (see map).

Hallmark Christmas movies, that are made by the dozens at this point and are a US Christmas staple, are propaganda longing for a better ""family friendly"" white washed Christian version of America that never existed.

Hallmark has added anti-semitism into it's Christmas movies.

A Hanukkah presentation was banned in a Florida school meanwhile the same school was celebrating Christmas activities and decorations. Justified by Florida's Parental Rights Bill ("Don't say gay" bill) "obligating us to follow the 5th grade standards [...] At this time, a Chanukah presentation is not in our standards." It was only reversed to to social media outcry.

Something similar also happened in a Vancouver school where Christmas decorations were allowed because they "aren't religious" while Hanukkah ones were explicitly denied.

Fasting and breaking for prayer during Ramadan is seen as an inconvenience to employers, who need "guidance" on how to "accommodate" their Muslim employees. And has led to Muslims being straight up fired. Whereas Christmas decorations, events, or music in a work setting is fine.

Universities won't hold classes on Christmas but will reverse their practice of not holding classes on Yom Kippur & Rosh Hashanah because not holding classes on those holidays is "intended to insure greater continuity in the academic schedule and minimize course disruption for students." Those two holidays are a debate at the university— Christmas is never a debate.

Not holding classes on Eid al-Adha is also controversial! This also included reversing the decision to not have classes. The decisions to not hold classes on the holiday is a debate at the school board— Christmas is never a debate.

To make it all worse in the US: Christian Nationalism is dramaticlly increasing x x x

.🔹.

No matter what pagan-ness or secular aspects can be found in Christmas it has a privileged special place in our culture— that is afforded to no other religion— specifically because it is Christian. There are a few examples where this isn't the case (e.g Japan) but those are very few and far between

In my strong opinion: if you choose to celebrate the holiday, as a Christian or non-Christian, you should recognize the special spot & privilege it has.

You shouldn't dismiss that fact and the above examples because "pagan origins" or "celebrating it in a secular way"

Maybe next time when your classmate, your child's classmates, or you sibling's friend want to put up Hanukkah decorations in school next to the Christmas ones you can speak against the school administration that bans it, or against the teacher who gets upset at the idea.

Or perhaps you can be the person at the school board meeting who points out that Christmas isn't any more special than Yom Kippur or Eid al-Adha so why are those debatable when Christmas isn't.

Recognizing these things is not raining on Christmas' parade nor does it mean you should feel guilty for celebrating, its simply a matter of expanding you view of the world and learning the obstacles other people face.

.🔹.

P.S

Recognizing its preferential spot is paramount imo but if you'd also like to touch on the history of the matter:

Here is some info on the "Christmas is stolen" argument, as well as tracing secular and religious history of the holiday.

The origins of Christmas and its traditions are marred with psudeo-history plastered all over news websites, blogs, and supposedly reputable sources. But many of this comes down to secondary sources citing each other in a loop without primary sourcing. Here is an example of how that can happen (not xmas related).

-

-Dyslexic, not audio proof read- | -repost-

[narrativelysignificantturtleduck]

anytime there's harry potter discourse i think about the many times over the years that the veil was pulled aside, that the illusion of the books being a fun escape was shattered. bc jkr's transphobia isn't the first time this happened, it's only the most recent and the biggest. one of those moments that i remember wasn't really a specific moment - it was just a new thread of analysis about the series. specifically, it was about how dumbledore was actually kind of awful and manipulative, basically orchestrating harry's life so he'd be willing to sacrifice himself to stop voldemort. as kids, dumbledore was this cool wise mentor, but as adults, people looked at the text and saw an adult manipulating a child. though we are meant to see more depth in dumbledore over the course of the series, this realization shattered the illusion of comfort in a way i don't think jkr intended.

it's interesting to compare this to the treatment of iroh, another character from kids media who starts out as a kooky sweet old man and is later revealed to have depth and a great deal of power over the world. but realizing that iroh actually has an agenda, that he's working secretly to make sure zuko plays the role he wants him to play, doesn't feel as much like a shattering. it all comes down to the way the two characters handle abuse.

dumbledore places harry with the dursleys ostensibly in an attempt to give him a normal childhood, away from being treated as a celebrity in the wizarding world. but he's keeping tabs on him enough to know that he's sleeping in a cupboard, and yet he does nothing to remove him from that abusive situation. in fact, mcgonagall warns him in the first chapter of the first book that the dursleys are not good people, and he still leaves him there. the only implication we can take from this is that the dursleys' abuse was the normal childhood that dumbledore wanted harry to have.

meanwhile, iroh's machinations are all about getting zuko free of his abuser. yes, iroh has this grand plan of zuko defeating azula and becoming the new good fire lord who will end the war, but that can only happen once zuko's free of ozai's influence, and so that's most of what iroh does. he keeps offering zuko fun, pleasant things, like tea and good food and music nights, and he sabotages zuko's quest for the avatar by falling asleep in a hot spring and pretending to lose a pai sho tile. he's trying to show zuko that having fun is more important than a quest from his abusive father. he poisons himself in the earth kingdom so that zuko is forced to seek help, forced to interact with people of the earth kingdom and see that that the way the fire nation treats people is wrong. everyone in the earth kingdom will assume that a burn scar like zuko's is a sign of fire nation abuse, even if they're wrong about the details, and that could make zuko realize they're right.

neither iroh nor dumbledore are super upfront with their intentions, but iroh's playing it subtle because people trapped in trying to please an abuser can be resistant to people trying to remove them from that situation, while dumbledore doesn't tell harry because then he might not want to be the sacrifice he needs to be. iroh's secrets are because he cares about zuko and wants to help him as best he can, dumbledore's are about using harry as a tool.

it also reflects a more nuanced understanding of abuse. iroh can't directly remove zuko (or azula, for that matter) from their abusive situation because they are caught up in loyalty to their father and ozai wouldn't want to give up his control over them. dumbledore can't remove harry from the dursleys because...he doesn't want to? harry was pretty willing to leave and they seemed like they'd be pretty happy to be rid of him. plus, ozai has power over everyone - including iroh - as fire lord, while dumbledore is far more powerful than the dursleys. if a muggle authority had tried to intervene with harry, the dursleys might have resisted, but if a wizard wants to fly their nephew away, they can't physically or legally stop him. we're left to wonder if perhaps dumbledore has some old-fashioned "experiencing hardship is good for the soul" mentality, or if maybe that he thought harry would be more likely to sacrifice himself for the wizarding world if it was his escape from abuse.

but of course harry potter wasn't going to address the reality of what keeps people trapped in abusive situations. it was constantly marketed as an escapist fantasy - that you could be whisked away from your abusive family to a magical world where you were loved and powerful. getting out has to be easy, but we also have to keep going back to the abusive situation so that the wizarding world keeps seeming magical.

atla, meanwhile, is its own magical world, and the show is about bringing hope and childlike joy back to a world ravaged by war and colonialism. depicting the reality of abuse, how hard it is to break the cycle but also how essential it is to do so, reinforces the themes of the show.

and so the mastermind adult, orchestrating the defeat of evil and the breaking of the cycle, does it out of love for a child.

[jarvis-cockhead]

Okay one person has given me an excuse to yap so:

An Overview of Moz Politics

Disclaimer this is super informal but essentially I think I've cracked the Morrissey code as to why he seems to hold so many conflicting beliefs at once. My finding is that he doesn't, actually, his beliefs just play out differently within the UK vs the US. This means a man can side with both Bernie Sanders and Nigel Farage and not be contradicting himself, somehow. Anyway. The key Moz policies to be aware of:

- Anti royalist & despises the monarchy

- Hates Thatcher

- Hates the Conservatives (I think it's very funny that in 2010 he backed up Marr on saying David Cameron isn't allowed to like The Smiths)

- Anti war (? evidence inconclusive especially recent events, this is mostly an assumption based on his 2013 criticisms of Bush for the Iraq war)

- Believes Obama should've done more to tackle police brutality

- Sexuality inconclusive but we know he supports gay rights. Criticised Trump for not having any sympathy for the victims of the Pulse shooting

- Speaking of Trump, in 2017 when asked if he would push a button to kill Trump, he said yes, "for the safety of the human race"

- Early in the 2016 election he endorsed Clinton but later praised Bernie Sanders as "sane and intelligent" and said the media should've given him more coverage

However 😸

- His views on animal rights have led him to support PETA and call Chinese people a 'subspecies' because of their treatment of animals

- Said in 2019 he thinks Farage would be a good prime minister

- 'Nearly voted' UKIP (2013)

- Doesn't like the EU, presumably voted leave

- Claimed to have nothing against people from other countries but said in 2007 that British identity is disappearing due to immigration

- Endorsed Anne Marie Waters far-right party For Britain in 2018. "She believes in British heritage, freedom of speech, and she wants everyone in the UK to live under the same law. I find this compelling"

- Supported anti-islam activist Tommy Robinson under the guise of free speech, "It's very obvious that Labour or the Tories do not believe in free speech"

- In response to racism accusations he claimed that "everyone prefers their own race"

All of this is taken from his Wikipedia page, and there haven't been any updates on recent politics, so as of right now this is all we have to go off.

The TLDR:

Morrissey hates conservatives and capitalism, he's pro 'the people' and British heritage, and is so far up himself he'll let his animal rights beliefs turn into abhorrent racism.

His own personal description of his politics:

The way I've come to understand it is that when it comes to British politics, since he hates capitalism, the Conservatives (and he doesn't seem to think much of Labour either), the monarchy, and seems very strong on heritage, his views align closer to working class far-right groups like UKIP and For Britain. In America on the other hand you're a bit more limited to Republican vs Democrat, and of course he isn't going to support the super capitalist Republicans. He also doesn't have any ties to heritage to muddy his choices.

His racism in relation to animal rights is it's own thing but clearly shows he has no issues with racist views.

... And that's essentially it. Probably the only Morrissey hypocrisy is him stating in 2004 that The National Front Disco is him expressing sadness and regret for anyone who joins far-right movements, when later he'll go and do... Just that. Aside from that, he's very unchanging in his principles. It just depends on the playing field.

I don't care to go into the morals and ethics of liking his music/The Smiths, he just fascinates me as a person. Do I still wish he'd get his head out of his own arse? Absolutely.

[adhd-bisexual-pink]

"Basically, I think it’s ridiculous that people are so hateful of a 14-year-old, who was brainwashed from birth, for committing actions that any person actively involved in a war would commit." So what about the 16/17 year Azula who tries to overthrow her brother by using a letter that says he isn't Ozai's kid (& she knows it is a lie) & later becomes a domestic terrorist in an effort to make Zuko into tryant like his forefathers. Are we wrong for hating her then or her lack of accountability?

this has sat in my inbox for months and i want to chat again about the treatment of azula in the show / comics

i hate what they did to her in the comics

like do i blame a 14 year old girl who was brainwashed from birth to believe something. was never shown / told it was wrong by someone she would believe and who was then locked up for two years for committing those actions

long story short. no.

azula should have been treated with compassion and dignity and maybe she wouldn’t have done those things.

am i saying i support those actions. of course not. do i think zuko should be ruling the fire nation. absolutely. that opinion does not counteract my initial point

azula is treated so poorly by everyone in the show. and i would have loved to see her get a redemption arc because we can see that she isn’t an awful person and i truly believe that if she was given the opportunity she would do amazing things in the context of this world

in modern day terms. azula being abused for the majority of her life. only to be locked up and not given any treatment for her mental health conditions fully explains her actions. it doesn’t justify them however.

a girl needs therapy and some actual compassion from her family (i maintain my fuck iroh for saying his 14 year old heavily abused and brainwashed niece is beyond saving) and maybe she wouldn’t have turned out so batshit insane

[phoenix-flamed]

Headcanon time, as I'm talking about plot wishlists with Phoenix.

Elwin has a few fatal flaws, so to speak -- the most obvious one being his stubbornness. There is actually another, much more prevalent one, and it's something that has been an issue for my Elwin ever since the day he first accompanied his father to Oriflamme as a child.

Two words: righteous indignation.

From a young age, Elwin has had a very strong sense of justice with regards to fairness and equality, especially when it comes to Bearers. As he grew, his outspokenness on the subject, and his quickness to jump in and defend those who are being mistreated, have only grown along with him -- often prompting him during his teenage years to get into physical altercations over unfair treatment of others(much to the unending dismay of his parents).

Once his father passed away and he took the throne, the young man seemed to "settle down" with regards to his behavior, but this wasn't because his opinions changed; rather, it was because he recognized that he was now in a position of power, and thus could use that power to enact the changes he'd always been an advocate for.

The word "firebrand" honestly describes him incredibly well, and it always has.

But doubling back to the purpose of this post --

This strong sense of justice can sometimes blind him to logic and reason and make him reckless in his actions, which is why the counsel of people like Rodney and Hanna and Byron for example are so vital to keeping him in check, especially in his younger years. Now, under ordinary circumstances, Elwin is not a vindictive person. He really isn't. He doesn't believe in revenge, he tries not to hold onto grudges, he believes in things like second chances and redemption. Where this tends to go out the window is when it comes to one pivotal plot point: Anabella's, and to a lesser extent Sylvestre's, betrayal.

The grudge he bears towards Anabella has potential to, if either left to fester or if enabled, be the stuff of legends. His fury towards her is akin to a wildfire -- it's fast, violent, uncontrolled, and all-consuming. It holds no distinction between friend and foe, nor any regard for its bearer. It, quite simply, burns.

In the Embers and Ashes AU verse, as well as to a lesser extent the From the Fire AU verse, Elwin -- or Miles, rather -- bides his time over the years, amassing as much information as he can regarding the Sanbrequian royal family(particularly Anabella) and their state, as well as keeping abreast on the goings-on across Valisthea as a whole(especially Rosaria).

What he eventually chooses to do with all of this information, or what he had intended to do with it, isn't necessarily clarified, so I assume it'd be thread-dependent if it ever did happen to come up.

Now, the problem with "Miles" is that generally speaking he still harbors all of this anger, specifically towards Anabella -- at least until her death. He takes fault for so much of what happened to Rosaria, but he will not take the blame for Anabella's cruelty towards their people, or for the countless deaths by her direct order throughout the years of her rule. Her heartlessness is her own doing, her own choice.

So, about that "righteous indignation".

Elwin is no stranger to making decisions he regrets or disagrees with or that contradict his personal moral compass or feelings for the "greater good". Under normal circumstances, again, he is not a vindictive person, and he would never go to war with another nation over something like revenge. But Anabella is a special case. A unique situation in that this man, who is usually very level-headed and diplomatic when it comes to relations with other territories, if pushed far enough or enabled to would burn a nation to ashes if it meant getting his hands on Anabella Lesage.

The reason he would be able to do this, and the reason why he would delude himself into believing it's justified to cause the deaths of so many innocent people during this course, is because of that righteous indignation and the fact that it would pacify his guilt with the (wrong) belief that the destruction and death is a justified means to an ultimate end, with that "end" being taking Anabella down(and likely going down along with her).

It is important to note, however, that this isn't something that is scripted to happen in any of my AU verses -- it's more of a hypothetical "Bad End" scenario that I absolutely do not have on my mental wishlist of plots I would love to explore at some point.

[askcharaandfriends]

Goldy, can you elaborate.

Goldy: I'm assuming you meant for my tidbit about the US?

Very well. Warning though, this is a mouthful!

The US does indeed have a xenophobic approach to Monsters, yes... but that doesn't mean it's the only reason to keep them out, nor does it mean that there isn't a point to it. Racism is not the only explanation, nor is there an absence of good reason for the country to not engage with the issue. At least not yet.

Here's what to take into account: We've got this entire civilization coming out of the blue, with technology far more advanced than anything humanity has at this point. Said civilization is also not human, composed of an extremely diverse array of peoples with different needs, and to top it all off, they can summon magic from nothing as a means of self-defense and take SOULs.

Oh yeah! The soul is also now confirmed to actually exist! If Religions and the Occult were out of style before, they surely won't be now. Taking stuff with the SOUL into account would potentially destroy the legal barrier that seperates Church and State, which could create precident for crazy stuff to happen in the country; not the least of which being the potential to become an actual theocracy. ...I'll let that idea and its implications speak for itself.

Anyways, the way US Law works, it can only be effective when there's something already written that deals with a similar issue. Now, there's probably some stuff that can be done right away, but also a lot of stuff that doesn't have precedent. For starters, the idea of inalienable rights in the US Constitution? The wording there explicitly names humans as the beneficiaries. I know what that looks like, but I'm not trying to split hairs; what I'm saying is that the law was literally made for humans, and didn't predict that nonhumans would be a thing. That's a legitimate roadblock in the law. If Monsters came to the US now, there isn't much the system could do to actually help or accommodate them. It's a Monkey's Paw. Exact wording matters and whatnot.

Entire structures of society would need to be rebuilt from the ground up in order to ensure that Monsters would actually be able to get true and equal representation within the law. I'm talking Healthcare, Housing, Employment, Education... All of which are already contested, hot-button issues in US Politics. On top of that, the country would also have to take into account how all this advanced tech and magic would be handled within the law- and the bureaucratic process can be really... frustrating when it comes to that. They've got hammerspace storage here for crying out loud. Phones that can turn into guns and jetpacks. And of course, the CORE, once they make a version that's compatible with the surface power grids. This stuff alone can make or break entire employment fields. Research and data-gathering are direly needed.

As absolutely terrible the situation for monsters is, being deported and whatnot... I'm afraid that might actually be the best possible thing for the US can do for monsters, because there's literally not much else. What would happen if an accident or a death occurs related to magic or advanced tech and nobody would be able to do anything about it in the law? Or worse, a hate crime when the law doesn't have any way to accommodate Monsters? What if a monster gets seriously injured and hospitals don't know what to do because there's nothing in medical records about magic unless you count superstitious practices and alternative medicines/treatments of questionable efficiency? No functioning nation would want to tackle all of these issues at once while knowing next to nothing on the subject.

Is it xenophobic? For sure. Don't get me wrong. Monsters are the ones getting the short end of the stick. But if Monsters took the time to actually consider all of this... Why would they even want to come to the US? They're not being denied anything because there's nothing for Monsters in the US right now. It's that woefully underprepared. Not that there was any way to foresee this in the first place.

My guess is, they're watching the situation in Canada right now. They'll probably do so for a number of years, even with better leaders in charge, and come up with a plan to work with Monsters based on that. That's if the US government's still not too scared, and not entirely without reason. For Monsters, it's like the Yellowstone Zone of Death. If an accident or a crime happens to a monster, there's literally nothing in US law that would explicitly ID it as such, and therefore nothing any law enforcement agency could even do in the first place. Sorting that out will not be quick or easy.

[dumdaradumdaradum]

Hehe , socialist hun mein

Aap kya sochte hai kee aap jis desh mein reh rahe hai waha pe religion wala matter solve hona chiye ya nahi !

I mean your views about this issue 😔🤌

Hello anon! Socialism ha? What's your understanding of it? (If you ever see this)

Religion ki baat kre toh. Apni country m religion problems ka mtlb h dharmic and abrahamic ideologies ka clash. Actually clash in ideologies k interpretations ka h but still let's entertain.

I believe in multiple truths. One truth isn't the only one.

In our case, if you talk to a person who was a teen or even a kid during partition then you'll realise that people of Punjab and sindh never really wanted partition. Muslim league hadnt even won the election there. It were the nawabs of Lucknow and nizams of Hyderabad along miniscule support from few other parts of the country who pushed for partition.

In Punjab, Hindus and muslims lived peacefully. They were brothers.

That's one truth.

Next one is the history of country, the countless invasions done in the name of ghazwa-e-hind. It isn't hidden that many conquers came to our land with a tunnel vision and, one goal and one goal only. Countless ruined temples are testimony of it.

This is the next truth.

Moving on, let's take an interesting case of Aurangzeb. Most people know him as a tyrant, cold blooded murderer who hated Hindus and didnt even spare his own father. All of it is true. To give context, it was a Mughal tradition to ascend the throne over one's relative's blood. Jahangir did it. Shah Jahan did it, and when time came Aurangzeb followed the tradition as well.

There was rule of Mughal succession, rule or die.

Dara, his brother was an avid learner of dharmic religions. He loved learning and commenting about them. Aurangzeb knew it, he also knew that Dara was Shah Jahan's favourite. So to stake his claim and secure it, he used dara's interest and weaponised it. He gathered his army and fuelled them with hatred for his brother and his interests.

Of course this doesn't make Aurangzeb's treatment of Hindus right but he just didn't care. He knew that the way to get to the throne was to turn his army against Hindus and he did that. He didn't care who died in the process.

Third truth of the discussion is that religion is a tool.

As for present situation, there has been a shift in past few years. While the mutual respect increased a little, the agenda and hatred spread two folds. Everyday people take to their social media and say all sorts of things about each other without a single care. Everyday we see some report of a hate crime.

Sadly, i don't see this fight resolving anytime soon. When you put two starkly different idealogies together and fail make them both feel secure next to each other, conflicts are bound to crop up.

Our only fault is that we haven't had an excellent leadership who would string us together as one nation in centuries. The only thing that would bring everyone together would be a careful and knowledgeable leadership.

[izzy-b-hands]

my brain is buzzing with random au ideas and shit while im sitting here awake entirely too early

and i just. Fucking Niche AUs I'll probably never finish part two:

-Call Center AU: Ed and Stede are middle managers learning to work together (and falling in love of course) after their companies and staff merged in a new big ass building (for fun: many rumors it's haunted. It isn't, Buttons just hates getting up early for work so during the week he hides out and lives in the basement.) Badminton & Co are trying to buy out their newly merged company with plans to fire everyone. Is this one just so I can shove in Murray Hewitt references with Stede? Partially! It's also bc i can throw in The Office references for my mum, who thus far will only read fic if I have a few in there & it's mainly comedy, and she hasn't read like any of my stuff fic or original in ages so. Yeah skdnfng

-NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) AU aka did u know aviation is another special interest of mine? u do now!!:

Ed and Stede lead separate teams as part of Aotearoa's TAIC (their version of the NTSB), and are called in to assist with an NTSB investigation re: a crashed plane & a dead Badminton bro as a result ( Either of the two we've seen thus far, w/subplot abt him being a dick who was super rich bc of a shit ton of rental properties in Aotearoa that he didn't keep up well and hiked rent on constantly bc he seems like the landlord type.)

However, as it progresses it becomes clear there's more at stake than just a plane accident investigation (tho obvi also v important still) bc it appears there might be sabotage involving ppl in both the states and Aotearoa (aka hi jack!! and any other random pirates or historical ppl i might add in lol.)

This is difficult tho, bc like. they didn't like this Badminton of course so him being dead is like well this will be positive for his renters at least maybe, but also holy fuck other ppl died as a result jfc what the fuck. so then it's a matter of do we or do we not reveal the whole truth & open up what would be a can of worms re: Badminton, but would be an utter disservice to the rest of the victims' families if NOT revealed.

Substitute Teacher AU:

A school has had just. horrible luck and a few scandals and now the entire staff has been fired and the district really doesn't wanna spend that much money on new ppl yet so

enter Stede and Ed as separate teams of substitutes, attempting to cover all the topics at a decently large school where tbh they could use even more teachers (enter Doug, Mary, Spanish Jackie who actually teaches French & likes how her nickname fucks w/the kids a bit lmaoo, & Jack as additional help)

Nigel & Chauncey both have kids at the school, and expect special treatment as a reward for donating generously to the school (not really that generously tho), which means they are Nightmare Parents. Like yes it's sad they're both divorced but like if u talked to them for five mins u would Understand.

Big events in it would be Parent/Teacher Conferences (Izzy and Jim end up having to manhandle a screaming Nigel outside after Roach asks him to tell his kid to stop trying to set things on fire in Home Ec), at least one school dance ("Ed, they're vaping in the bathroom, what do I do?" "Idk join them?" "Ed!" "What? They'll do it regardless!!") and the graduation of the oldest grade (I think middle schoolers would be both the cruelest and funniest option for this au) and how they'll actually miss these goddamn kids, & don't know if they'll be contracted for the same school next year as permanent or called in to sub more or what

Topics for everyone thus far:

Jackie-French as noted above. She also enjoys that the kids always think Frenchie should teach her class purely based on his name. Doesn't tolerate any bs during class & will send u to the principals, but if everyone behaves they get an extra point added to their grade just for showing up and being polite. For some kids, for various reasons, it's a life saver.

Frenchie-joint band and choir director with The Swede. Treated like a local rock star by the kids bc he tells them how back home he plays in a few bands, and plays gigs in between teaching contracts/assignments. A couple make fan shirts after they google and manage to find out the name of the band he usually performs with. They give him one too and he can't help but well up bc. kids man. one minute little assholes the next moment doing something so kind and unexpected!

The Swede- mainly choir director but helps with the band bc they have a huge class size but of course the district doesn't care abt that.

Ed & Stede-joint principals, also Theater. Ed jokes that he's the Fun Principal bc he occasionally lets the kids get away with like. smoking near the school or playing hooky. If he catches them they get a 'guys cmon if u keep this up i gotta stop u forever so like. be mindful' talk. Stede thinks he's truly the Fun One tho bc he keeps making up ideas for those funny dress up weeks schools do in the states and Ed we are teaching here so we should do as the Romans do, so to speak! (how does that work, it doesn't really as far as i know with a lot of teaching jobs but shhhhh fiction time.)

Buttons-shop related classes, any and all, including woodworking and a v basic automotive class (obvi they won't pay for a garage set up, so he has to rely on drawing and otherwise illustrating & using texts to teach.) Also serves as the lunch room monitor bc the kids are p sure the rumor that he once ate a guy is true, and no one wants to Test Him.

Jim-Gym. Took it on purely bc they think it's funny to hear the kids go 'its time for gym/Jim!' Another beloved teacher for being supportive when kids struggle with the class, and also bc if everyone has good attendance each quarter then they'll take a day to show them knife throwing (after permission slips are signed of course.)

Olu-Spanish, but defers to Jim a lot bc then he gets to talk to Jim and no he doesn't have a crush on Jim! Also occasionally bemoans to Jim for them teaching the kids to swear in Spanish. Jim finally kisses him during one such lovingly made complaint.

Wee John-Home Ec, sewing & other textile based art. One of the fave teachers bc he always has snacks in his classroom, and will let any exhausted kids nap during class so long as they turn in finished projects (first is a lil plushie, then a bigger one, finally they have to design & attempt an article of clothing. Doesn't have to be anywhere near perfect or even complete, he just wants them to try.) Once freed Stede after he accidentally sewed his finger to some fabric while mucking abt after school in the classroom.

Fang-any and all math classes. No one knows how he handles the work load, but he's always chill af abt it. Another student fave for being kind and taking extra time with kids that suck at math, or flat out have dyscalculia & require the extra tutoring as part of their IEP.

Ivan-Social Studies. He knows the kids find it boring, so he does his best to give it some extra shine by making up projects for the kids to do that are graded a little bit kinder than regular hw bc he's more concerned that they have fun (and might retain the info better as a result.) One of the kids' faves ends up being a journal assignment abt the Oregon Trail, aka write an Oregon Trail story that can be as dramatic and/or like the video game as they want.

Izzy-Head Librarian. Cannot believe they fired the library staff as well as everyone else at the school. cannot get over how little the district does to help keep up said library (books are heavily damaged & still on the shelf, new books rarely ordered, and literally the shelves are not in Dewey order. That makes a vein in his forehead twitch every day until he takes an evening to correctly label and reshelve everything.) Winds up staying late a lot to repair books, order new books (when he runs out of what little funding there is, he puts them on his own cc and just doesn't tell anyone, claiming them as charitable donations from 'an anon donor'), and otherwise do any additional upkeep to get the place up to par. Realizes halfway thru the year no one got assigned to teach the Health class, and begrudgingly takes it on as well. He teaches in a section of the library, with Mary taking over main library duties for that time. Has to deal with all the horribleness that is teaching middle schoolers that topic ("You can't all keep laughing every time I say penis or we'll never get through this chapter. And that's hell for you as much as it is for me!")

Roach-Home Ec, cooking class. also helps in the lunch room bc literally they did not actually hire any kitchen staff, the subs are told to do that too. He winds up telling the kids they can help by prepping the ingredients for their lunch in his classroom, then he'll take it all to be finished for lunchtime in the industrial kitchen. They end up loving it after the first week, bc he brings in recipes that are decently healthy but that most the kids are up to trying or already like.

Mary-painting substitute if Doug is out for a day, but mainly works alongside Izzy in the library as the assistant librarian. Yes they gossip abt Ed and Stede. Yes they have a running bet on when they'll finally announce a relationship and fill out that paperwork with HR (this immediately starts a side convo for them abt the shoddy quality of the paperwork & how slowly it gets filed. They admit to being sticklers at times, but also they're right.)

Doug-art, painting and sculpture. Always up for weird art ideas, and has the graduating grade (even if they don't take his elective course) make a mural before the end of the year. They each get a framed pic of it, and he plans to have each graduating class redo the wall each year, should he be contracted for another full year.

Jack-biology/gen science. Encourages the kids to 'really get into' the dissections. Does his best to try and get the district to agree to a field trip to the local morgue to see a full on embalming, but is told uhhhh no bud. Accidentally reveals a parentage issue for a few kids while using eye & hair color to teach Punett squares.

Lucius-Creative Writing. Has a loving feud with Pete bc most of the kids are in both their classes. Said kids have bets on if Pete or Lucius will propose to each other or not by the end of the year. Makes a point to be a safe place for any kids with writing that may point to some other issues going on in life (based off my hs lit mag teacher Dr. Brenda Werner. No joke, she saved my life as a kid, I think Lucius would be the same for his class.)

Pete-Newspaper/Yearbook. Very big on making sure stories are accurate, bc 'ppl doubt my stories a lot, so you need your details and shit in order.' The kids: ooooh he swore!!!! and promptly do not absorb this knowledge fully. But they enjoy his class bc he's chill and is happy to let them explore what options journalism can offer, and to research odder stories for internal class articles vs school paper ones (Missing: David, Where's Shelly? vs Cilantro: Should Roach Use It In Our Lunch Or Does It Taste Like Soap.)

[bllsbailey]

The Morning Briefing: Dems Don't Know It, but Trump Is Steamrolling Kamala's Honeymoon

Top O' the Briefing

Happy Thursday, dear Kruiser Morning Briefing friends. Cortash felt he was at his most poetic when wearing his Sunday dungarees and casually nibbling a ren faire turkey leg. 

My frequent, work-related trips down the mainstream media rabbit hole have been weirder than ever before since July 21. When Joe Biden anointed Kamala Harris as his babbling heir apparent, the Dem media lapdogs snapped out of their post-debate funk and immediately got back to being the full-time chroniclers of the doings in Bizarroworld. 

Okay, they're the creators of Bizarroworld as well. 

They've been in full "SLAY QUEEN" mode, proclaiming Madame Veep to be an unassailable juggernaut who is running roughshod over whatever momentum Donald Trump had coming out of the Republican National Convention. It's a story that's playing well with the faithful, but there is precious little evidence that the Kamala show is wowing the undecided flyover country voters. 

The flying monkeys in the mainstream media have been coddling Harris. As our sister site Twitchy notes, Harris has yet to face an interview. That's right, tough girl Kamala doesn't have the guts to field a bunch of softballs from the likes of George Stephanopoulos or even Rachel Maddow. 

So brave!

Harris has also been appearing in fairly safe, mostly blue parts of the country. The Kamala Harris honeymoon momentum has been nothing more than timid, well-choreographed political theater. It's the 2020 basement campaign but with more trips outside. 

The reality-free media fan-fest is only going to get worse, as my friend Stephen Green reminded us yesterday:

But everything you've had to read and hear since Harris was crowned the defacto presidential nominee is mere prologue to what's to come in August.

While the Democrats' saccharine circus has been playing to friendly audiences, Donald Trump and JD Vance have been conducting a real presidential campaign.  

As we've discussed before, Trump is willing to go places and do things that Republican candidates of yesteryear wouldn't. My HotAir colleague Beege Welborn covered Trump's latest foray outside of the traditional GOP candidate comfort zone:

So former President Trump did what only he does best today and walked into the proverbial "lion's den" at the National Association of Black Journalists conference. It was by invitation - they also issued one to his opponent, whoever it was at the time and now isn't - but Trump is the only one who showed up. That in itself is hysterical. The guy, God bless him, is fearless. Rachel Scott was "hosting," but judging by the immediate hostile tone and rude interrogatories, she was loaded for bear and wanted to earn her bad-a** badge. I don't think she did, even as hard as she pushed. 

Rachel Scott is the Senior Congressional Correspondent for ABC News, and yet another in a long line of mainstream media embarrassments to what used to be journalism. Her treatment of Trump was petulant and pathetic. Here was my quick response after watching Scott's flailing "Gotcha!" attempt with Trump and his masterful response:

.@rachelvscott led off like a foot-stompy high school mean girl who's mad that the guy she likes won't even notice her. It is impossible to loathe the MSM too much these days. https://t.co/B7c0gow1oP— SFK (@stephenkruiser) July 31, 2024

Trump, of course, doesn't have the luxury of being surrounded by fawning fake journalists who blow smoke up his backside. That doesn't mean, however, that he has to subject himself to situations like this. He could just stick to huge rallies in deep red parts of the country to soak up the adulation. He's trying to win an election though.

He's also exposing the leftists in the media, which is something that happens far too infrequently in the Republican Party. Trump leans into their awful treatment of him, makes them even more frustrated and miserable, and then draws energy from the conflict. It's a lot of fun to watch, especially when he triggers the lefties like he did yesterday when he told Scott that Kamala Harris was "always of Indian heritage" until "she happened to turn black."

They'll be too busy heading to the fainting couches over that for a few days to focus on crafting a real defense of Kamala Harris's policy baggage. 

As Stephen said in his column, we have to "hang tough" while this nauseating honeymoon phase continues. It helps to remember that little has changed except the name at the top of the Democratic ticket. Trump is still pressing his advantage and isn't sweating the media hoopla surrounding Harris. 

He's more focused than ever, which the Dems are almost certainly sweating. 

Click the button below to get the Morning Briefing emailed to you every weekday. Have your coffee with me, people. It's free and it supports conservative media!  

The Mailbag of Magnificence contributions can be sent to morningbriefing@pjmedia.com.

Everything Isn't Awful

I will never fall out of love with the internet. VOLUME UP.

This is my favorite video on the internet pic.twitter.com/UoJgreccsQ— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) July 31, 2024

SFK of the Day

Word of the Day: 'Harrissplaining'

"What's particularly rich here is the very notion that a little media touch-up here and there will somehow cast a soft glow over the harsh reality of the nightmare that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have created on our southern border. That's a pig that won't even let you get within a mile of putting lipstick on it."

[terinour]

The end / La fin

The end

“I have to warn you,” said the nurse. “Your grandfather is going senile. You have to be patient with him, even if he tells you things that may seem strange to you.” “What about his exams?” “During his coma we discovered generalized cancer ... I'm sorry”

She led him to her room and nodded “Stay strong”

He watched the nurse walk away and entered. His grandfather was preparing his luggage. “But what are you doing?” asked the young man. The old man sighed “You don't say hello anymore?” “Excuse me... Hello… Do you really think they'll let you out?” “Of course, since you're going to help me.” “No, no, no don't even think about it!” “I did a lot more than think about it Kevin! By the way, do you know why your parents gave you a first name straight out of a stupid sitcom? You never wanted to sue against them?”

Kevin looked at his feet.

“Well I bet they don't know why they gave you that name either!” He added. “We are both different. We never knew what we were doing there. I can see how you've been behaving since you were a young boy. We always look lost. We don’t know what we want to do because society doesn’t offer us anything suitable for us, right? The truth is we are not really lost and failed, we do not see things like the others, that is all. So we have to act differently.”

His grandfather had always been eccentric. His words had hit the mark but Kevin still had too much inner resistance. “But there is only one here that you can be healed ...” “You would really make a poor comedian. You are not even convinced yourself by what you say. I know I have a cancer. And what will happen? I'll tell you: treatments that will turn me into a vegetable and in the end I will end up in palliative care with morphine. Is that how you see my end too?” “Nonsense!” “Help me get out of here, I don't want to die here, I want to see the sun set behind the mountains and over the ocean one last time. Is that too much to ask? These are my last wishes, I'll give you a waiver if I have to!” “I dont know” “How that you do not know? Well it's time for you to find out. I have a couple more things to do before the end. I'm not asking you much in the end, just to come with me. I inquired, it's just missing a signature. Your parents don't want to, they haven't even come to see me. Nobody cares. Everyone except you Kevin.”

Kevin looked out the window and sighed “Okay...” “Good boy!”

They walked down the hall. Kevin signed the waiver and picked up a bag of medicine and painkillers. Inside there was also a leaflet indicating the location of the area's hospitals, emergency services, morgues and funeral directors. His grandfather was waiting for him outside, his gaze raised to the sky, eyes closed. The wind caressed her face. Kevin didn't dare disturb him and went to get the car. He put the bag in the back and came up to him. It’s true that his grandfather had looked weird for some time. Perhaps because he sense death near. Kevin was lost in his thoughts and jumped when his grandfather slammed the door.

“Here we go!” “Which way ?” “Westward Ho!” “And where will we sleep?” “In fact, I must tell you my project. I bought a van to make the trip to California. I also plan to visit a few national parks on the way.”

He pointed to the horizon. “It’s waiting for me a little further in a garage. I've been preparing for a long time, since the death of your grandmother to be honest. Little by little, I set up this van myself. There are only the essentials on board plus a few memories, records and books ... And then there was my car crash and during the coma they discovered a cancer. That’s what made me decide to sell the house and get rid of the useless. This van will accompany me until the end from now on.” “You mean ... until ...” “Death, yes. Does the word scare you? Often people are afraid even of the word, as if it brings bad luck. Isn't that weird? For me this is a sign that our society is sick. In fact, it is society that makes us sick. But don't worry about me. I'm sure now that there isn't really any death, at least not in the way you mean it.” “What do you mean?” “When I came out of the coma I felt like I came back to life. However, I also lived during my coma and I continued to exist despite everything. The only thing that had disappeared during my coma was my awakened consciousness. But my deep conscience, I don't know what to call it, was still there. It's like a light bulb that you turn on or off. Whatever its state, the bulb is still there, unchanging, only the rest is changing. This is what makes me weird to people I'm trying to explain this to. Who’s right ? who's wrong ? I don't care and I'm not trying to convince anyone. I'm just asking for my freedom and I'm not hurting anyone.” “Alright ... I'll help you as long as it takes” “Thank you Kevin, I knew I could trust you”

Then they drove for many kilometers without speaking to each other. Kevin watched the scenery go by, like his certainties. The day was drawing to a close when they arrived at the garage. There was an old school bus repainted in blue parked. “There it is, park next and wait for me, I'll get the keys at the office.”

He returned with a young Indian man. “Joe was looking for a taxi to get to a reserve. As it is our direction, I offered to drop it off in passing. If we drive all night taking turns, we'll be there tomorrow morning.”

At the first light of dawn the bus stopped. Kevin saw his grandfather leaning over the steering wheel. “Is there something wrong” Kévin said. “It's just a crisis. Pass me the painkiller bag.”

Kévin turned pale. “Damn, I left it in the car” “Give me some whiskey instead, that'll do.”

The young Indian watched Kevin empty the cupboards one after the other while the old man was curled up on the floor. He walked over to him and took out a small vial. “Take this. They are plants of the desert, useful for communicating with the Great Spirit but they also relieve pain.”

Kevin returned with an amber bottle, incredulous. “Help me get him outside, you have to be in the open air. We must not lock up spirits” Joe said

Outside there was a group of stacked rocks. The slant of the sunrise made it look like a fantastic creature. Also, the rocks at the base looked like a door. “Strange, really strange to have precisely stopped here. It's a sign” The young Indian man said. “Why?” “It is a sacred place. This door leads to an ancient lake… How is your grandfather?” “He is…”

Kevin looked to the right and to the left but he saw no one. Suddenly the beginning of The End resonated. Kevin then saw his grandfather. The old man was walking into the desert. “You okay?” Kevin shouted.

This is the end

Beautiful friend

Joe took a sip from the vial and handed it to Kevin. “Grandpa John has already started the journey” He said.

Kevin hesitated and drank in his turn. After a while the shapes became unstable. The rocks looked like mirages, rippling in the orange-red light. Their heads were on fire. Their conscience …

So limitless and free

Slowly roamed the world, their fears, their follies ...

In a… desperate land

Walk, move forward, go through the door …

To the lake, the ancient lake

From there, the road looked like a snake ...

The snake is long, seven miles

A voice said ...

Get here, and we’ll do the rest

Everything was mixed, the blue bus seemed to float ...

Driver, where’re you takin’us

To a place located at the edge of our memory, to confront ancient and obscure desires and uproot even the slightest root of the ego ...

kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill,

And then...

This is the end

This is liberation ...

The end of nights we tried to die

Geometric figures went by. It was as if they were sucked into a tunnel, once in a while coming across a familiar face, an animal. The light became blinding. The sun was already high when they came to their senses. It was a new day, a renewal, a rebirth. Kevin opened his eyes. He was on top of the rock. He looked around for his grandfather and saw him on the roof of the blue bus. The young Indian was in the back. He motioned to him through the window. The men gathered at the entrance of the bus. They were silent. It was the young Indian who broke the silence. “My reserve is there.” “Did you see him in a vision?” “No on google maps”.

They laughed for a long time, as if to delay the moment to say goodbye.

“Where are you going now?” Joe said. “We will pass through the Great Smoky Mountains and then continue west to California and the ocean” “We might end up on the road.” “Maybe ... have a good trip!”

The young Indian man went off with his backpack. He thought of the Great Spirit. If He wanted to, their roads would cross again.

John and Kevin watched him go. It was then that the old man saw the half-empty vial lying on the dashboard. John took it and stowed it discreetly in the glove compartment. “Hope we see him again. I don't know what was in his mixture but I don't remember ever having experienced something like this.” John said as he starts up. “Did you see the same as me?” “With the tunnel at the end and everything, yeah. It was really crazy stuff.” “But how come we had a similar experience?” “I think we went through a trance” “How can you be so sure?”

“When I found out that I had cancer I did some research and found that a study was underway to assess the therapeutic effects of trance. Neuropsychologists have revealed that a trance is a special state of the brain and that it takes different stages to get there. These steps are universal because they are an integral part of the human nervous system. Only the meanings attributed to everything we see during trance are conditioned by our culture.” John said

“And in this study they make people take drugs?”

“Not at all. They use sound loops based on the sounds of drums and chanting chants. Everyone has access to these altered states of consciousness. That night I really felt a powerful connection with you and Joe, with nature, with the world.”

“I don't know what to think about it yet. It’s so confusing.”

“It's normal Kevin. It was only when I knew I was going to die that I started to see things differently and all of my certainties collapsed. I felt like I was moving around a setting, nothing looked real. I then focused on the one thing that seemed fixed to me when everything around everything was impermanence. All my life I have been distracted, drawn to the lights. I was like a butterfly. Now I let things come to me. It might just be sheer foolishness to believe that something will remain after I die, whatever. It makes me feel good.”

“I understand grandpa.” “But let's talk about you. Do you have any projects ?”

“I started writing a story some time ago. It is on my usb key. I had given up a bit but these days I got new ideas.”

“You can sit back there and write during the trip”

“Yes, but I hadn't planned on leaving like this. I didn't take my laptop when I came to see you. So I only have a notebook.”

“I will fix it.”

Kevin settled in and took over his project from the start. John bought back-up batteries, a laptop, a printer, additional solar panels… Kevin had set up a full office and had already done a good job when the blue bus arrived at Gatlinburg and got onto the US 441 in the direction of from Cherokee. “Here we are on the Newfound Gap Road Kévin. Lift your head from your screen and look at this landscape!”John said victoriously.

Kevin was stuck in a passage. He put on the music of the Indian flute and drums, drowning his gaze on the landscape that stretched out before him as far as the eye could see.

John parked at Morton Overlook. “Take your things, we'll stretch our legs before night falls!”

Kevin had his head elsewhere and looked for his papers. He couldn't remember where he had put his wallet. He looked everywhere and opened the glove box. This is where he saw the vial. He took it and closed the box. John suddenly arrived. “What's the matter ? You make a face!”

“I don't feel very well, maybe because of the turns in the mountains.”

“Get on the roof and get some fresh air. I take a little tour.”

John walked away with his trekking poles, grumbling about the fragile health of the young people today.

Kevin was facing the mountains, his helmet on his ears. There was no one on the horizon. He opened the vial. There wasn't much left in it. Nearby, a red-shouldered hawk screamed. They looked at each other. The rhythm of the drums quickened. He drank the rest of the vial. The bird flew away and Kevin followed it with his eyes.

Soon after his sight blurred and the mountains, benevolent giants usually still, began to dance. An emotion gripped him. He was crying. He then saw a man from behind, an Indian, playing a drum while looking at the sky. He turned and recognized Joe calling him. He then saw himself on the roof of the blue bus. He no longer recognized his hands. He saw hooves. He was a majestic stag now. Joe had changed into a hawk and was flying above him screaming.

“What the hell are you doing! I've been trying to wake you up for twenty minutes!” John said. “What happened?” “We found you in the woods. There was a hawk near you. We found you thanks to him.”

Kevin saw a woman next to his grandfather

“Who are you?” “Emma. I was lost and your grandfather accompanied me here.”

“Okay, let's get back to the bus. We're going to bring Emma back to where she parked her van. And then we'll take a little pick-me-up. It tires to save people.”

They didn't talk about what happened again. John and Emma seemed to get along very well. So much so that they had decided that Emma would follow them on the adventure. So Emma’s van remained in the rearview mirror of the blue bus. Kevin was a bit out of the way and that suited him. He needed to isolate himself in order to work. He gradually lost all sense of time, sometimes eating alone. John did not fall ill again.

Months passed and Kevin wrote the end of his novel as they passed through Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Kevin felt intense relief. He stayed the course and threw himself headlong into the search for a publisher, posting manuscripts regularly.

Kevin had to wait several more months, but when John stopped the blue bus at Muir Beach Overlook in San Francisco, he had finally found a publishing house.

“This is the perfect place to see the sunset” announced John.

“Come on I'll join you” Emma threw them out the window. She was trying to park her van.

A winding footpath overlooked the ocean. The wind lashed their faces. They stopped at a lookout to admire the view, waiting for him.

“Is it serious with Emma?” Kévin asked

John smiles:

- The word “serious” doesn't mean anything to me anymore. Almost a year ago the doctors told me that I had only a few months to live. In other words you have in front of you a living dead! I told Emma all this. She doesn't care and tells me you have to live from day to day.

Kevin nodded.

- It is better that I leave you both now. You remember that you wanted to see the mountains and the ocean. Well there we are.

- You're right, there we are. You helped me make this trip, you fulfilled your part of the deal. I free you Kévin. The old man hugged his grandson. “Thank you”

“Now I understand what you were saying.” Kévin said.

“About what ?” “Because there is no end ... There always comes the end of a journey, a novel, a season or a year, whatever. Even old Kevin is over! And yet I have never felt so alive, free and close to myself.”

“What are you going to do ?” “I found a publisher. I have an appointment with him in a few days. Then I'll try to find Joe.”

“The young Indian?” “When I took what was left of the vial to the Great Smoky Mountains I saw him in a vision. It may sound crazy, but it is true.”

“Welcome to the madmen then!”

They laughed together. “What are you going to do now?” Kevin continued.

“I'll go back the other way, with Emma.”

He handed her the keys to his blue bus. “Take them, you will need them to return to Joe's reserve” “But… and you?”

“I'm moving in Emma's van, don't worry about me.”

“Thank you, Grandpa. Will we meet on the road?”

“I'm sure son, I'm sure.”

Teri Nour

Note: I had translated my own text entitled "La fin" below in french. I apologize for this appoximative translation.

La fin

– Je dois vous prévenir, dit l’infirmière, votre grand-père est en train de devenir sénile. Il faut être patient avec lui, même s’il vous raconte des choses qui peuvent vous paraître étranges.

– Et pour ses examens ?

– Pendant son coma nous avons découvert un cancer généralisé… Je suis désolé

Elle le conduisit jusqu’à sa chambre et hocha la tête

– Courage

Il regarda l’infirmière s’éloigner et entra. Son grand-père préparait sa valise

– Mais qu’est-ce que tu fais ?

Il soupira

– Tu ne dis plus bonjour ?

– Excuses moi, bonjour… Tu penses vraiment qu’ils te laisseront sortir ?

– Bien entendu, puisque tu vas m’aider.

– Non, non, non n’y penses même pas !

– J’ai fait bien plus qu’y penser Kévin ! D’ailleurs est-ce que tu sais pourquoi tes parents t’ont affublé d’un prénom tout droit sorti d’un sitcom débile ? Tu n’as jamais eu envie de porter plainte contre eux ?

Kévin regarda ses pieds

– Eh bien je parie qu’eux non plus ne savent pas pourquoi ils t’ont affublé de ce prénom ! Ajouta-t-il. Nous sommes différents. Nous n’avons jamais su ce que nous faisions là. Je vois bien comment tu te comportes depuis que tu es tout petit. Nous avons toujours l’air toujours perdu. Nous ne savons pas ce que nous voulons faire parce que la société ne nous propose rien qui nous convienne, j’ai pas raison ? En vérité nous ne sommes pas vraiment des paumés et des ratés, nous ne voyons pas les choses comme les autres, c’est tout. Nous devons donc agir différemment.

Son grand-père avait toujours été quelqu’un d’extravaguant. Ses paroles avait fait mouche mais Kévin avait encore trop de résistances intérieures.

– Mais enfin il n’y a qu’ici qu’on peut te soigner…

– Tu ferais vraiment un mauvais comédien. Tu n’es pas même pas convaincu toi-même par ce que tu dis. Je sais bien que j’ai un cancer. Et que va-t-il se passer ? Je vais te le dire : des traitements qui vont me transformer en légume et au final je finirais en soin palliatifs sous morphine. C’est comme ça que tu vois ma fin toi aussi ?

– Ne dis pas de bêtises !

– Aide-moi à sortir d’ici, je ne veux pas crever là, je veux voir une dernière fois le soleil se coucher derrière les montagnes et sur l’océan. C’est trop demander ? Ce sont mes dernières volontés, je te signerai une décharge s’il le faut !

– Je ne sais pas

– Comment cela tu ne sais pas ? Eh bien il est temps pour toi de savoir. J’ai encore deux ou trois trucs à faire avant la fin. Je te demande pas grand chose au final, juste de m’accompagner. Je me suis renseigné, il manque juste une signature. Tes parents ne veulent pas, il ne sont même pas venus me voir. Tout le monde s’en fout. Tout le monde sauf toi Kévin.

Kévin regarda par la fenêtre et soupira :

– D’accord…

– Tu es un bon garçon

Il avançèrent le long du couloir. Kévin signa la décharge et pris un sac de médicaments et d’anti-douleurs. A l’intérieur il y avait également un prospectus qui indiquait l’emplacement des, hopitaux, services d’urgences, morgues et pompes funèbres du secteur. Son grand-père l’attendait dehors, le regard levé vers le ciel, yeux fermés. Le vent lui caressait le visage. Kévin n’osa pas le déranger et alla chercher la voiture. Il posa le sac à l’arrière et vint à sa hauteur. C’est vrai que son grand-père avait l’air bizarre depuis quelques temps. Peut-être était-ce ainsi lorsque l’on sentait la mort toute proche. Kévin se perdit dans ses pensées et sursauta lorsque son grand-père claqua la portière.

– On y va ?

– Quelle direction ?

– Vers l’ouest évidemment !

– Et où est-ce qu’on dormira?

– En fait, il faut que je te précise mon projet. J’ai acheté un van pour faire le voyage jusqu’à la Californie. Je compte aussi visiter quelques parcs nationaux sur le chemin.

Il pointa du doigt l’horizon :

– Il m’attends un peu plus loin dans un garage. Cela fait longtemps que je me prépare, depuis le décès de ta grand-mère à vrai dire. J’ai aménagé ce van moi-même, petit à petit. Il n’y a à bord que l’essentiel plus quelques souvenirs, des disques et des livres… Et puis il y a eut cet accident de voiture et le coma durant lequel ils ont découvert un cancer. C’est ce qui m’a définitivement décidé à vendre la maison et à me débarrasser du superflu. Ce van m’accompagnera jusqu’au bout désormais.

– Tu veux dire… jusqu’à la...

– Mort. Le mot te fait peur ? Souvent les gens ont peur même du mot, comme s’il portait malheur. C’est étrange tu ne trouves pas ? Pour moi c’est le signe que notre société est malade. En fait c’est la société qui nous rend malade. Mais ne t’inquiètes pas pour moi. Je suis certain maintenant qu’il n’y a pas vraiment de mort, du moins, pas au sens où on l’entend.

– Comment ça ?

– En sortant du coma j’ai eu l’impression de retourner à la vie. Pourtant je vivais aussi pendant mon coma et je continuais malgré tout à exister. La seule chose qui avait disparue pendant mon coma c’était ma conscience en éveil. Mais ma conscience profonde, je ne sais pas comment l’appeler, était toujours là. C’est comme une ampoule que l’on allume ou que l’on éteint. Quelque soit son état l’ampoule est toujours là, immuable, seul le reste est changeant. Voilà ce qui me rend bizarre aux yeux des gens à qui j’essaie d’expliquer ça. Qui a raison ? qui a tort ? Je m’en fiche et je ne cherche à convaincre personne. Je demande juste ma liberté et je ne fais de mal à personne.

– D’accord… Je t’aiderai le temps qu’il faudra

– Merci Kévin, je savais que je pouvais compter sur toi

Ils roulèrent ensuite sur de nombreux kilomètres sans se parler. Le paysage défilait, tout comme les certitudes de Kévin. La journée arrivait à son terme lorsqu’ils arrivèrent au garage. Il y avait un ancien bus scolaire repeint en bleu stationné sur le parking.

– C’est lui, gare toi à côté et attends moi, je vais chercher les clefs.

Il revint accompagné d’un jeune indien.

– Joe cherchait un taxi pour rejoindre une réserve. Comme c’est notre direction je lui ai proposé de le déposer en passant. Si on roule toute la nuit en se relayant on y sera demain matin.

Aux premières lueurs de l’aube le bus stoppa net. Kévin vit son grand-père penché sur le volant.

– Qu’est-ce qui se passe ? Ça ne va pas ?

– C’est juste une crise. Passes moi le sac d’anti-douleurs.

Kévin blémit

– Merde, je l’ai oublié dans la voiture

– Donnes moi du whisky à la place, ça fera l’affaire.

Le jeune indien regardait Kévin vider les placards les uns après les autres tandis que vieil homme était recroquevillé au sol. Il s’approcha de lui et sortit une petite fiole :

– Ce sont des plantes du désert, utiles pour communiquer avec le Grand Esprit mais elles soulagent aussi la douleur.

Kévin revint avec une bouteille ambrée, incrédule.

– Aide moi à le sortir dehors, il faut être à l’air libre. On ne doit pas enfermer les esprits

Dehors il y avait un ensemble de rochers empilés. La lumière, tombant à l’oblique, lui donnait l’apparence d’une créature fantastique. En outre, les rochers disjoints à la base ressemblaient à une porte. Le jeune indien s’immobilisa devant.

– Etrange, vraiment étrange de s’être précisément arrêté ici. C’est un signe

– Pourquoi ?

– C’est un lieu sacré. Cette porte mène à un ancien lac… Comment va ton grand-père ?

– Il est…

Kévin regarda à droite et à gauche mais il n’y avait plus personne. Seules résonnaient les premières notes de The End, des Doors. Le vieil homme s’avançait dans le désert. Kévin cria :

– ça va grand-père ?

This is the end

Beautiful friend

Le jeune indien reprit sa fiole, but une gorgée à sont tour et l’a tendit à Kévin :

– Grand-père John a déjà commencé le voyage

Kévin hésita et but à son tour. Après un moment les formes devinrent instables. Les rochers avaient l’air de mirages, ondulant dans la lumière rouge-orangée. Leurs têtes s’enflammaient. Leurs consciences...

So limitless and free

Lentement, parcouraient le monde, leurs peurs, leurs folies...

In a… desperate land

Marcher, avancer, franchir la porte...

To the lake, the ancient lake

De là haut, la route ressemblait à un serpent...

The snake is long, seven miles

Une voix disait…

Get here, and we’ll do the rest

Tout se mélangeait, le bus bleu semblait flotter…

Driver, where’re you takin’us

Vers un lieu situé aux confins de notre mémoire, pour affronter d’anciens et obscurs désirs et déraciner jusqu’à la moindre racine de l’ego…

kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill,

Et alors...

This is the end

C’est la libération…

The end of nights we tried to die

Des figures géométriques défilèrent devant leurs yeux. C’était comme s’ils étaient aspirés dans un tunnel, croisant de temps à autre un visage familier, un animal. La lumière devint aveuglante. Le soleil était déjà haut lorsqu’ils reprirent leurs esprits. C’était un nouveau jour, un renouveau, une renaissance. Kévin ouvrit les yeux. Il était au sommet du rocher. Il chercha son grand-père des yeux et le vit sur le toit du bus bleu. Le jeune indien était à l’arrière. Il lui fit un signe par la fenêtre. Les hommes se retrouvèrent à l’entrée du bus, silencieux. C’est le jeune indien qui rompit le silence :

– Ma réserve se trouve par là

– Tu l’as vue en vision ?

– Non sur google maps

Ils rirent longtemps, comme pour retarder le moment de se dire au revoir.

– Où allez-vous maintenant ?

– Nous allons passer par les Great Smoky Mountains et puis continuer vers l’ouest jusqu’à la Californie et l’océan

– On se retrouvera peut-être sur la route.

– Peut-être... bon voyage !

– Bon voyage ! Dit à son tour Kévin

Le jeune indien s’éloigna avec son sac à dos. Il pensa au Grand Esprit. S’Il le voulait leurs routes se croiseraient à nouveau.

John et Kévin le regardèrent s’en aller. C’est alors que le vieil homme vit la fiole pas tout à fait vide qui traînait sur le tableau de bord. John la prit et la rangea discrètement dans la boîte à gants. Il dit en démarrant :

– J’espère qu’on le reverra. Je ne sais pas ce qu’il y avait dans sa mixture mais je ne me souviens pas avoir déjà vécu un truc pareil.

– Est-ce que tu as vu la même chose que moi ?

– Avec le tunnel à la fin et tout le reste, ouais. C’était vraiment un truc de dingue.

– Mais comment se fait-il que nous ayons eu une expérience similaire ?

– Je crois qu’on a vécu une transe

– Comment tu peux en être aussi sûr ?

– Quand j’ai appris que j’avais un cancer j’ai fait des recherches et j’ai découvert qu’une étude est en cours pour évaluer les effets thérapeuthiques de la transe. Les neuropsychologues ont révélé qu’une transe est un état particulier du cerveau et qu’il faut passer par différents stades pour y arriver. Ces étapes sont universelles car elles font partie intégrante du système nerveux humain. Seules les significations attribuées à tout ce que nous voyons durant la transe sont conditionnées par notre culture.

– Et dans cette étude ils font prendre des substances aux gens ?

– Pas du tout. Ils utilisent des des boucles sonores basées sur des sons de tambours et de chants psalmodiés. Tout le monde a accès à ces états de conscience modifiés. Cette nuit j’ai vraiment ressenti une puissante connexion avec toi et Joe, avec la nature, le monde.

– Je ne sais pas encore quoi en penser. C’est tellement déroutant.

– C’est normal Kévin. C’est seulement quand j’ai su que j’allais mourir j’ai commencé à voir les choses différemment et que toutes mes certitudes se sont effondrées. J’avais l’impression de me déplacer dans un décor, rien ne semblait réel. Je me suis alors concentré sur la seule chose qui me paraissait fixe alors que tout autour tout n’était qu’impermanence. Toute ma vie j’ai été distrait, attiré par les lumières. J’étais comme un papillon. Maintenant je laisse les choses venir à moi. Ce n’est sans doute que pure folie de croire que quelque chose restera après ma mort, peu importe. Cela me fait du bien.

– Je comprends grand-père.

– Mais parlons un peu de toi. tu as des projets ?

– J'ai commencé à écrire une histoire il y a quelques temps. Elle est sur ma clef usb. J'avais un peu abandonné mais ces jours-ci j'ai eu nouvelles idées.

– Tu peux t’installer là-derrière et écrire pendant le voyage

– Oui mais je n'avais pas prévu de partir comme ça. Je n'ai pas pris mon ordinateur portable en venant te voir. Du coup je n'ai qu’un carnet.

– Je vais arranger ça.

Kévin s’installa et reprit son projet depuis le début. John acheta des batteries de secours, un ordinateur portable, un imprimante, des panneaux solaires supplémentaires… Kévin s’était aménagé un bureau complet et avait déjà bien travaillé lorsque le bus bleu arriva à Gatlinburg et s’engagea sur l’US 441 en direction de Cherokee. John lança sur un air victorieux :

– Voilà, nous sommes sur la Newfound Gap Road Kévin. Lève la tête de ton écran et regardes moi ce paysage ! Kévin était bloqué sur un passage. Il mis une musique de flûte et de tambours indiens, noyant son regard dans le paysage qui s’étendait devant lui à perte de vue.

John se gara à Morton Overlook :

– Prends tes affaires on va se dégourdir les jambes avant que la nuit tombe !

Kévin avait la tête ailleurs et chercha ses papiers. Il ne se rappelait plus où il avait mis son portefeuille. Il chercha partout et ouvrit la boîte à gants. C’est là qu’il vit la fiole. Il l’a prit et referma la boîte. John arriva soudainement et fit sursauter Kévin :

– Qu’est-ce qu’il y a ? Tu en fais une tête ?

– Je ne me sens pas très bien, peut-être à cause des virages

– Monte sur le toit et prends l’air. Je fais un petit tour.

John s’éloigna avec ses bâtons de marche en maugréant sur la santé fragiles des jeunes d’auhourd’hui.

Kévin s’installa face aux montagnes, son casque sur les oreilles. Il n’y avait personne à l’horizon. Il ouvrit la fiole. Il ne restait pas grand chose dedans. Un faucon à épaulettes rouges à proximité poussa un cri. Ils se regardèrent. Le rythme des tambours s’accéléra. Il but le restant de la fiole. L’oiseau s’envola et Kévin le suivit des yeux. Peu après, sa vue se brouilla et les montagnes, géants bienveillants et d’ordinaires immobiles, se mirent à danser. Une émotion l’étreignit. Il pleurait. Il vit ensuite un homme de dos, un indien, jouant du tambour en regardant le ciel. Il se tourna et reconnut Joe qui l’appelait. Il se vit alors sur le toit du bus bleu. Il ne reconnaissait plus ses mains. Il voyait des sabots. Il était un cerf majestueux maintenant. Joe s’était changé en faucon et volait au-dessus de lui en criant.

– Bon sang mais qu’est-ce que t’as foutu ! Ça fait vingt minutes que j’essaie de te réveiller !

– Qu’est ce qui s’est passé ?

– On t’a retrouvé dans les bois. Il y avait un faucon près de toi. On t’a retrouvé grâce à lui

Kévin vit une femme aux côté de son grand-père

– Qui êtes-vous ?

– Emma. J’étais perdue et votre grand-père m’a accompagné jusqu’ici

– Bon, retournons au bus. On va ramener Emma là où elle a garé son van. Et après on prendra un petit remontant. Ça fatigue de sauver des gens.

Ils ne reparlèrent pas de ce qui s’était passé. John et Emma semblait très bien s’entendre. A tel point qu’ils avaient décidé qu’Emma les suivraient dans l’aventure. Le van d’Emma restait donc dans le rétroviseur du bus bleu. Kévin était un peu à l’écart et cela lui convenait. Il avait besoin de s’isoler pour travailler. Il perdit peu à peu toute notion de temps, mangeant parfois seul. John ne fit pas d’autre crise.

Les mois passèrent et Kévin écrivit le mot fin à son roman au moment où ils traversaient le Canyonlands National Park, dans l’Utah. Kévin ressentit un soulagement intense. Il resta sur sa lancée et se jeta à corps perdu dans la recherche d’un éditeur, postant des manuscrits régulièrement.

Kévin du attendre encore plusieurs mois mais quand John stoppa le bus bleu à Muir Beach Overlook, à San Francisco, il avait enfin trouvé une maison d’édition.

– C’est l’endroit idéal pour voir le coucher du soleil annonça John

Emma, qui cherchait une place pour son van, leur lança par la fenêtre :

– Avancez je vous rejoints

Un sentier piéton sinueux surplombait l’océan. Le vent leur fouettait le visage. Ils s’arrêtèrent à un belvédère pour admirer la vue, en l’attendant. Kévin demanda :

– C’est sérieux avec Emma ?

John sourit :

– Le mot “sérieux” ne veut plus rien dire pour moi. Il y a presque un an les médecins m’ont annoncé que je n’avais plus que quelques mois à vivre. Autrement dit tu as devant toi un mort vivant ! J’ai dit tout ça à Emma. Elle s’en fiche et me dit qu’il faut vivre au jour le jour.

Kévin hocha la tête.

– Il est préférable que je vous laisse tous les deux maintenant. Tu te souviens ce que m’as dit, que tu voulais voir les montagnes et l’océan. Eh bien nous y sommes.

– Tu as raison, nous y sommes. Tu m’as aidé à faire ce voyage, tu as rempli ta part du contrat. Je te libère Kévin. Tu es libre.

Le vieil homme serra son petit-fils dans ses bras:

– Merci

– Maintenant je comprends ce que tu disais.

– A propos de quoi ?

– Du fait qu’il n’y a pas de fin… Arrive toujours la fin d’un voyage, d’un roman, d’une saison ou d’une année, peu importe. Même l’ancien Kévin c’est terminé ! Et pourtant je ne me suis jamais senti aussi vivant, libre et proche de moi-même.

– Qu’est-ce que tu vas faire ?

– J’ai trouvé un éditeur. J’ai rendez-vous avec lui dans quelques jours. Ensuite j’essaierai de retrouver Joe.

– Le jeune indien ?

– Quand j’ai pris ce qui restait de la fiole aux Great Smoky Mountains je l’ai vu en vision. Cela peut paraître fou mais c’est pourtant vrai.

– Bienvenue chez les fous alors !

Ils rirent ensemble et Kévin reprit :

– Et toi qu’est-ce que tu vas faire ?

– Je vais repartir dans l’autre sens, avec Emma.

Il lui tendit les clefs de son bus bleu :

– Prends-les, tu en auras besoin pour retrouner à la réserve de Joe

– Mais… et toi ?

– Je démenage dans le van d’Emma, ne t’en fais pas pour moi

– Merci Grand-père. On se retrouvera sur la route ?

– J’en suis sûr fils, j’en suis sûr

[cha-melodius]

Consider: Illya and Napoleon in an ice hockey AU, where they are bitter rivals who play for rival NHL teams (and national teams) and who also just so happen to be carrying on a secret affair. "It's just hate sex" they tell themselves as they hook up whenever they happen to be in the same area. "I can definitely stop whenever I want," they think in complete earnest, even as they've been doing it for years. And oops, looks like somewhere along the way the hate fucking turned into love.

Firstly, I have to recommend one of my very favorite napollya AUs, Cold Frost and Sunshine by @somedrunkpirate which is in fact a hockey AU! It's rivals to friends to lovers, of course, makes excellent use of things like news stories and sports commentators, and their treatment of what coming out for a pro athlete might be like is one of the best I've read in any fandom, realistic but still hopeful. Go read it if you haven't already!

Ok, but the further details of THIS idea, the secret affair and the hate sex, is definitely not part of that story, and I gotta admit I'm into it. I've never written that type of dynamic before but now I kinda want to. It does fit them so well. And since this is a rather spicy idea, I'm putting the rest of this below a cut. No actual smut or anything nsfw but y'know. We're gonna be talking about sex, lol. Also this got crazy long. Apparently my brain just wants to plot endless AUs instead of actually writing them.

I imagine the first time they hook up, they've just had a typically frought game, because they always end up fighting and drawing matching penalties, and somehow they end up alone together in some locker room or training area or something. The teams would have different designated areas but maybe Illya would be trying to find someone on the other team, and old friend from the KHL, but everyone else has left already. Instead he walks into the locker room and finds Napoleon fresh out of the showers, with nothing but a towel around his waist. Now, this isn't the first time Illya's seen him shirtless: Napoleon is gorgeous and a playboy and so gets a lot of press, he's done risque magazine spreads, which Illya has definitely not gone out of his way to purchase (he wanted to read a different article in the issue, honestly). Illya knows that Napoleon is hot as fuck, which is just another reason he hates him, no one should be that pretty and play hockey.

It is, however, the first time Illya's seen him like this in person, and it's more than a little distressing. Napoleon absolutely catches him staring (we know Illya has a terrible poker face lol) and is a little shit about it, having found a new way to ruffle Illya's feathers, his favorite pastime. This, of course, just makes Illya angry, but as they're snarling at each other Napoleon is getting closer until he's right there, inches away, and Illya snaps. He kisses Napoleon just to shut him up, and Napoleon kisses him back just as fiercely before proceeding to shove him down onto a bench and climb into his lap (may I remind you that Napoleon is wearing only a towel... which Illya promptly tears off of him).

Afterwards, I see Illya as more than a little distressed at what they just did. He hates this guy but they just fucked and Napoleon could out him and ruin his life (though there's something deep inside him that knows that somehow Napoleon wouldn't do something like that). The anxiety over the whole thing just festers until the two teams play each other again and he finally sees Napoleon again. Napoleon acts like nothing happened, though, so Illya thinks he'll just do the same. They are still at each others' throats the whole game, and Illya books it out of there afterward to try to avoid him. But the fates are cruel to poor Illya and they end up at the same bar. After some sniping back and forth, Illya goes to the restroom to get away from him but Napoleon follows him, and you guessed it, they get down and dirty (literally) in a filthy bar restroom with their teammates just outside.

And so it goes. They're always hooking up in back rooms and out of the way places, quick and dirty, until one time one of them (let's say Napoleon) goes back to his hotel room instead (maybe took a hard hit during the game) and Illya tries to tell himself that he doesn't care, it's fine, but ends up seeking him out anyway. Napoleon's surprised by Illya showing up, and Illya almost immediately tries to leave again, but Napoleon pulls him in and they end up having a lot more intimate sex than they usually do, having to slow down and be more gentle because of his injury. They don't talk about it, natch. After that, visiting the hotel rooms becomes a thing, but they NEVER go to whoever's apartment is local. That's not what this is, what they are.

Oh, there's so much opportunity for great tropes here. Illya being stupidly jealous when Napoleon is photographed out with someone else (who was just a friend, because Napoleon is too hung up on Illya). Them worrying about each others' injuries when they really shouldn't be. Illya's past rearing its ugly head and Napoleon unexpectedly defending him. As you say, both of them insisting "this doesn't mean anything" even as it starts to mean more and more. Maybe somewhere in the middle here there's an Olympics and for the first time they're in the same place for weeks at a time, and this is when things start to really shift. They see each other every night. They actually spend time together not just having sex or playing hockey. Napoleon secretly takes Illya on what can only be called a date. Illya enjoys it (which causes no shortage of panic).

There'd need to be an angst-filled catalyst for things to change. Maybe the paparazzi catch them together somewhere, and there's nothing really damning about the photos, it's more just unexpected that they appear to be hanging out together, but Illya flips out and tries to end things. (Side note: I think I see this AU as having Napoleon established as being openly bisexual, perhaps the first to be out in the league. However, even after the photos no one thinks to speculate about the two of them being romantically involved because it's just absurd. Everyone knows they hate each other.) We have some Sad Boys and a return to snarling at each other on the ice. I might go so far as to keep them in this angsty mess (sorry) until there's another major catalyst: a trade (such a classic pro sports AU plot point lmao).

Illya gets traded to Napoleon's team, and they have to work together now. Waverly sits them down and tells them to work out their shit or else. They manage something like a truce... not returning to sleeping together, but just being around each other. They grow closer, as friends. Illya, now with a team who's PR has dealt with an openly queer player, considers for the first time coming out (related to above I see Illya's fear about being outed as a major strain on their "relationship," such as it is, but when he does decide to come out he's not coming out for Napoleon, but for himself). Eventually Napoleon starts slyly "courting" him, doing small romantic things for him and taking him on dates, and Illya doesn't even realize what's going on at first until suddenly he does. They finally, finally admit what they are to each other, and there is much rejoicing.

God, this thing would be 100k if I wrote it, lmao. Unlikely at this point, but who knows. Thanks so much for the ask, anon! You can see I definitely had fun with it!

[versadies]

I really like your headcanon about childe can you do part 2 state of grace where the reader tell him that she have the same tattoo

state of love (hc scenario)

penpal: im glad u like it sm! i hope you like this as much as the prev one <3

prompt: cancer the crab, flower-injury soulmate au

pairing/s: childe x healer!reader (gender's not mentioned in both fics)

sypnosis: after finding out that the 11th harbinger is your destined lover, you decided to tell him the truth. (check out part one!)

includes: fluff/no-angst, overthinking, bad writing ig,

you felt conflicted ever since you concluded that childe is your soulmate.

of course, there were some doubts in your head that childe isn't your soulmate, but there were too many moments that made you no longer think they're all but coincidences.

what made you hesitate in telling him is how he will feel about it.

sure, the harbinger did express his thoughts on meeting his soulmate in a positive manner, but a part of you would think otherwise.

sigh, how complicated.

but what happens after this? will the tsaritsa look down at your relationship with childe from now on? what if you get fired from the only thing that made your life insufferable because you could be a distraction to one of the most powerful harbingers in the nation?

it was all too risky, but you knew childe deserves to know.

after many considerations, you decided to tell childe the next time he visits your clinic.

days had passed and the harbinger still hasn't visited.

usually, childe would visit at least every 2 days either for treatment or because he wanted to (despise having a tight schedule). so why hasn't he visited? shouldn't he be injured from sparring or was he that busy?

i'm sure he'll visit soon, you thought to yourself, letting out a disappointed sigh when you notice that it's time to close the infirmary.

when weeks had already passed, that's when you grew concerned and irritated.

you often find yourself glancing back at the clock nearby, checking the doorway, and sometimes not even noticing the irritated look scaramouche and other harbingers give whenever you kept sighing while treating their wounds.

you just wanted to get this over with and tell him.

if childe was actually somewhere else than snezhnaya, why wouldn't he tell you? surely he would make time to go here to tell you if he were in such a hurry, right?

is this a sign from celestia that you shouldn't tell him?

by the time lunch break rolls in, you immediately head outside from your infirmary and head towards where you think childe is, ignoring the confused stares the fatui subordinates gave when they see you storming around the hallways with a tired and angry look on your face, not used to seeing the calm-collected doctor of the eleven lords looking like they're looking to kill someone.

as soon as you stand in front of the door of childe's office, you took a deep breath, cooling your anger off before knocking on the door.

no response.

you furrowed your eyebrows, your hand hovers over the doorknob in hesitation. could childe be there–

"doctor y/n?" you immediately backed away from the door when you heard la signora's voice, eyes widening in surprise when you saw the 8th harbinger not too far away from where you're standing.

"uhm, greetings m-my lady." you said, forming a salute pose to your superior with a nervous look on your face. "i apologize if i was blocking your wa–"

"you must be looking for tartaglia, correct?" her sharp voice cuts you off, causing the words to die in your throat out of fear.

she lets out an amused laugh, crossing her arms with a sly smirk. "who knew you're actually interested in that foolish man. consider me surprised." she comments, watching as you look down at the ground in embarrassment.

before you could say anything, la signora immediately speaks up again.

"he's in morepesok with his family." you look at the woman in surprise. did you hear that right? is la signora actually helping you?

la signora rolled her eyes at your disbelief reaction. "i'm only helping you because of my colleagues bothering me with how our personal healer kept on being distracted by something. should you do that again, i won't hesitate to report to her majesty– not to mention the stunt you tried to pull before i came here." she said coldly.

ah, there's the la signora you know.

you smile lightly at the woman. "i apologize for that. you have my thanks, my lady."

"there's nothing to thank me for. now get out of my sight."

thanks to the lovely help from one of your patients, you immediately head to childe's hometown as soon as your infirmary is done for the day.

it wasn't a difficult task to get there given that the fatui had provided you your own horse should one of the harbingers require immediate treatment but couldn't go to the palace, which you're immediately grateful for since you honestly don't know what to do if you don't have a transportation to get there.

by the time you arrived to the village, you started to grow nervous.

you then face-palmed mentally when you realized you don't know childe's address. great, how could you tell which house is the harbinger's residence?

you look around the houses nervously, now unsure what to do. you'd rather talk to dottore instead of talking to each person who resides their homes around here.

as you roam around the cold streets, you ignored the stares you received from the villagers passing by. you just wanted to tell childe, is that too much to ask?

"i'll just change my clothes and i'll help you guys out with dinner."

your eyes widens when you heard the familiar voice of the man you've been looking for, looking around the area frantically and try to spot a person with ginger hair.

the moment you turn around, your eyes immediately landed on childe, who was staring at you in shocked. "...y/n?!" he comments.

finally.

without another thought, you immediately made your horse run towards childe's direction, your heart beating fast as you come closer and closer to the man, who was still frozen in shock.

the moment you made your horse stop, you hop down and ran towards to the harbinger. "...y/n, what are you doing here? did something bad happened back in the palace?" he asks, his eyebrows now furrowed.

"no, no. nothing bad happened, my lord." you said reassuringly, looking away from his gaze with a hesitated look on your face. "i just visit here to get this out from my chest."

childe stayed silent, urging you to continue.

here goes nothing i suppose, you thought to yourself, taking a deep breath before looking back at the man.

"...i'm your soulmate." you confessed, watching his eyes widening.

before he could say anything you immediately interrupted him. "i don't uhm... i don't mind if you don't want to be with your soulmate. i know the tsaritsa might not approve of this and how it might affect your work so i'm willing to–"

"wait, what are you talking about?"

you stopped talking, looking at childe in confusion as well. "...i'm saying that you can reject me for the sake of your duty as a harbinger–?"

he suddenly lets out a laugh, his shocked expression slowly fading away. "y/n who even told you about this? there's no rule about not being with their soulmate." he asks.

you felt your cheeks warm in embarrassment. "w-wait so.. we won't get in trouble?"

"no!" he replied, laughing more from your question. "if anything, i'm sure no one would care! besides, you being my soulmate? it's definitely a dream come true."

"...why did you believe me so willingly? don't you want proof?" you ask, furrowing your eyebrows as you watch the harbinger laughing his ass off in disbelief. was he not taking this seriously?

"why would you lie? you wouldn't do something like this out of fun if you ask me." he said with an amused smile. he wasn't exactly wrong.

childe then grasps one of your hands. "i'm quite flattered that you went all this way from the palace just to tell me this. did you miss me that much?" he teased.

"..." you stayed silent, looking away from your soulmate with a hesitated look on your face.

"hey," he spoke softly, making you look back at him. "you may be scared of what happens after this but i can reassure you; nothing bad will happen to the both of us."

you frowned. you would've been calm from those words alone, yet a part of you is still worried of the future that you and childe will experience.

but then again, as long as childe is willing to be by your side through it all, then you're willing to take a leap and see how this goes.

"... i trust you." you said, sighing in defeat as childe smiles in victory.

"i promise, we'll be alright." he said with a determined look.

"now come on, i want to introduce you to my family. you'll definitely love them!"