#smash into pieces x citizen soldier

[depressedbagpipe]

A Heartrender's Fire: ch. I

Tolya Yul-Bataar x Lantsov!ofc

Words: 3846 Warnings: tolya x tamar x irina being a chaotic trio, also sturmhond being sturmhond. canon-typical violence, mentions of alcohol and drunk people, brief mention of SA at the end A/N: again, idk what this is, but this is helping me get back into writing after so many months, so enjoy!

Series Masterlist Next chapter

I: No shelter but me

Very few times had Irina Lantsov wished she had actually followed her brother’s advice and stayed at the ship. This was one of those.

She ducked before the drunken soldier could slash her neck open, forcefully kicking his legs and making him fall back, accidentally smashing into a table that broke into a thousand wooden pieces, and left the man unmoving on the ground.

Irina grimaced at the sight, but couldn’t dwell on it much before yet another man was hurled at her. She was used to the constant bar-fighting, bottle-smashing, and table-breaking, but it didn’t mean she liked it. Even though she was perfectly capable of standing on her own, the fire in her veins always called to her, begging to be used, and it always took a toll on her when she couldn’t let herself go completely. She was used to it, anyway. And this was just another bar fight. 

The princess caught her twin companions with her eye, both of them on opposite ends of the bar, with fearsome looks on their faces and shining eyes as they too dodged and avoided the weak blows coming their way. The girl didn’t even need her axes; one look and the surrounding men cowered away. The boy was left alone in an instant too, his height too high and imposing that made even the drunkest know they would never be a match for the giant.

Irina expertly punched and smashed her way out of the tavern, avoiding the fallen traders, merchants, and sailors who had, unknowingly, chosen their fates as soon as they decided to launch themselves at the three Grisha.

“Well, that was fun,” grinned Tamar, once they had found refuge at the end of the street.

“So much for not bringing attention,” Tolya breathed out, not in exhaustion but in reprimand.

“For the record, he started it,” Irina defended herself.

Tolya counter-argued. “I don’t think Sturmhond will care about that, Ainthe.”

“Well, Sturmhond’s not here, is he?” Irina had a certain spark in her eyes as she spoke that made Tamar grin.

“And there’s no way he would know. Because we’re not gonna say anything, right, brother?” her gaze was lethal as both girls stared at the giant.

Tolya sighed in defeat, but eventually nodded his head. “Let’s just leave before they arrest us. One less bar we’ll be welcomed at.”

The girls grinned as they walked away in the other direction, leaving behind a mess of First Army officers and confused Zemeni citizens as they tried to explain how the entire tavern had ended up in shambles in a matter of minutes.

Irina took a deep breath as she looked at the street, with all the merchants and traders expertly scamming the many visitors the busy city received every day.

“It still baffles me how you don’t manage to gag every time you breathe here. The docks are nasty,” Tamar commented after eyeing the younger girl.

“It’s the smell of adventure, Tamar. I wouldn’t trade the taste of freedom for anything,” she replied.

“‘Let us appreciate life, for it only graces our fingers before it’s lost forever’,” Tolya recited, looking up at the clouds, a hand over his tender heart.

“Saints, not again,” Tamar groaned as Irina laughed, loving the little interactions she had with the twins.

“Always so delicate, Tamar,” Irina laughed, and even Tolya couldn’t help the smile on his lips.

“As much as I’d love to continue this conversation, we should go back,” Tolya’s statement was met with groans.

Irina complained. “Already?”

Tamar backed her up. “But it hasn’t even been three hours!”

“Sturmhond will kill us if he finds out what we did,” he reminded them.

Irina frowned. “You’re bigger than him.”

Tamar nodded. “You could take him.”

Tolya groaned. “Nobody’s gonna take anybody, alright?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Irina replied.

Tolya rolled his eyes. “The fun is that we all get to live another day, okay?”

Irina grinned, despite the constant bickering. As much as she liked traveling around new places, she ultimately loved the sea. Any excuse to go back to the Volkvolny, she’d take it.

It was only after they arrived at the harbor that they saw the First Army ship, unloading a bunch of boxes that would most likely contain weaponry. It wasn’t unusual for the presence of soldiers around the harbor and nearby taverns, but an entire legion?

The twins continued their bickering about bars and Fjerdans when a conversation between a First Army lieutenant and his soldiers made them stop in their tracks.

“Right, soldiers, listen up. Our fugitives are loose, but I have men blocking the roads, so their only way out is passage here, on a ship, in this harbor. We turn her in, and split the reward. But only if we stop them before they get on a boat. Is that understood?”

The officers yelled a chorus of ‘Yes, sir,’ before they disbanded, with the lieutenant walking back to presumably repeat the same orders to the smaller groups of soldiers perched around the harbor. Their uniforms were neat and put together, and the young faces of the soldiers almost made Irina shiver.

Tamar looked at her friends. “Sounds important… or dangerous. I can never tell the difference.”

She had one of her axes in her hand already, looking at it with care and mischief.

Tolya nodded, ignoring the sarcasm in her sister. “Definitely important. Come on.”

He grabbed his sister and pulled her back, knowing she was already going to pose some opposition.

“But–”

“No.”

Irina chuckled behind them, casting one last look at the army ship, hoping her disguise would be enough, and trailed after the twins.

–·–

Night had finally fallen over Novyi Zem when everybody was back at the Volkvolny. The harbor was empty, per Sturmhond’s request, and it was only a matter of time before a certain magic girl made its willing way up the ramp.

“I sure hope she falls for it,” Irina muttered under her breath. She was perched on the balustrade of the ship, looking at the crew as they loaded some of the boxes they had definitely not stolen from the First Army soldiers. “And how much longer is it gonna take? Weddle isn’t that big.”

“Maybe if you helped you wouldn’t be so bored,” Tolya pointed at her.

“Cute, but the second-in-command doesn’t load weapons; she uses them,” but their conversation was interrupted by Tamar.

“They’re here.”

Irina frowned. “They?”

And right on cue, a young couple appeared out of thin air and ran to their ship. The girl ran a bit forward.

“Hey, stop!” the crew looked at her. “We need a charter out of here immediately.”

Tolya and Tamar stood at the ramp, both receiving the girl and guarding the ship. Irina didn’t move from her place, but was looking down at the newcomers curiously, analyzing their every detail, just as her brother had taught her. The twins shared a look that Irina knew was a satisfactory one but waited for the couple to talk.

“I can pay,” said the girl again, bringing her hand to a small pouch by her hip and pulling out a beautiful hairpiece, one Irina recognized all too well. “It’s gold.”

Tamar took in her hand, feigning dubiousness, even bringing the object to her mouth and biting it to test its falsehood. With a shrug, she gave it to Tolya.

“That’ll do,” she said casually. 

“Come on then, hurry up. I’ll take you to the captain,” he said after inspecting the hairpiece too, with another playful smirk on his lips. 

The couple were quick to stand on the ramp, and Tolya was about to follow when the same lieutenant the trio had seen in the afternoon called after them. 

“You, stop!” he was pointing at the couple.

Irina sat straighter in her place, her eyes dancing between the soldiers, counting in her head how many were pointing their rifles at them. Her hands stood close, ready to summon if she had to, but made no other move. Tamar and Tolya didn’t even budge. She grabbed one of her axes and spun it in her hand, taking dangerous steps towards the officer.

“You want to fight, Ravka? Hey?” her axe stood inches away from the lieutenant’s neck. 

He recoiled and took a step back, fear evident in his eyes, pointing at the man whose hand had protectively grabbed the girl’s arm. Irina noticed that, because of course she did. 

“That man is a deserter of the First Army. He belongs in our custody.”

But Tamar hadn’t come to play. By that point, the entire crew was staring at them, waiting for the next move. “Is that so? All right then.” She turned, looking up at Irina. “Ravka wants a fight!” with her shout, everybody stood, dropping whatever they were doing and getting into position. Irina, regardless, kept being seated down, knowing that Tamar alone could do as much damage as an entire army.

“I don’t want to escalate the fight with Shu Han.”

At this, Tolya grabbed his katana and walked beside his sister. “We’re not with Shu Han. We’re independent.”

“Maybe you save your bullets for the war, old man?” Tamar mocked him. Even though the tension was escalating quickly, everybody knew, they were no match for the crew of the Volkvolny. They had the higher ground. “First Army needs to know its place.”

Everything that happened later was a blur. The soldiers left, with a generous tip on behalf of the ship’s captain, and they were all soon on their merry way. 

Irina and Tolya had taken the couple below deck, with the giant chatting happily about the majestic ship they all stood on and effectively distracting them of the speed the Volkvolny was sailing at away from Novyi Zem, and with Irina still looking at the newcomers with interest.  

Opening the door to Sturmhond’s cabin, Tolya spoke.

“Request for charter, Captain.”

Irina also walked into the room, sharing a knowing look and a nod with her brother, before standing beside him on the other side of his desk, full of maps, papers, and a huge picture of the Darkling and the Sun Summoner, hand in hand, as the most wanted people in Ravka.

The boy walked inside decisively. “Immediate charter.”

The girl trailed after him. “He means we need to leave right now.”

Sturmhond fixed his blue coat, adopting the imposing posture he was known for. And went straight for the kill.

“Let’s be clear about two things. I don’t take orders in my own ship. And we’re already underway,” he pointed to one of the portholes on his right. “I’m glad you’ve joined us. Now, maybe you’d be so kind as to give the room a little light. After all, you are Alina Starkov,” he fixed his eyes on the girl. “A 20-million-kruge Saint.” 

He grabbed his pistol and forcefully dropped it on the poster, with the canon staring directly at the young couple, every moment carefully planned out to let his guests know he hadn’t come to play, and that he had the upmost upper hand in the situation.  

“Dead or alive.”

The silence that filled the cabin almost sent a shiver up Irina’s spine. The air was thick with tension, especially coming from Miss Starkov and her friend. 

“No point in denying it, Miss Starkov. You are the Sun Summoner.”

She stood straighter at the mention of her title. “You’re right.”

She was quick to summon light with her hands, creating two smalls of pure sun that she held in her palms. Both Tolya and Irina tried to keep their composure, but they too believed in Saints. And they were standing right in front of one, who was coincidentally threatening Irina’s brother. Luckily for him, his too-clever fox face didn’t show any slight change. He whistled, still sat in his chair, lounging comfortably as if he was simply catching up with some old friends.

“Impressive. And it’s not often I say that.” To the untrained ear, his words would come out as sarcastic, almost venomous. But Irina knew better. 

Alina’s words were quiet but stern. “Let us go. Or you’ll be out 20 million kruge and a ship.”

The captain stood once again, chuckling lightly. “While I’m well aware you could consign us all to the watery deep, you should really consider how far from the docks we are.” He casually poured some kvas into a couple of glasses. “Besides, I’m not handing you over to the Fjerdans,” he took both glasses and handed one over to his sister, who had made herself comfortable at the only empty corner of his desk. 

Irina gladly accepted the glass, downing half of the beverage, still looking at the couple.

Alina frowned. “You’re not?” She even searched Irina’s face, searching for confirmation.

“Saints, no,” he stopped, checking with his guests. “Sorry, is it offensive to say that in the presence of a living Saint?”

Even Tolya shifted his weight at the captain’s words. The boy rolled his eyes, unnerved, and Irina shared a look with Sturmhond, both of them thinking the situation the most fun they’d ever had.

The captain sat back down, which made the boy follow his lead and sit on one of the chairs Sturmhond had on the other side of the desk. Alina stood behind him, only now Irina couldn’t tell who was protecting whom. Tolya kept guard by the door, frustrating Alina’s plan of escaping.

“Okay. What do you want with us then?” the boy tried to bargain.

Sturmhond wasn’t finished.

“With you? Nothing.” He eyed him down. “Honestly, I’m not even sure who you are.” Irina had to stifle the laugh that threatened to escape her lips. “But the Sun Summoner…” he pointed at the girl, looking at her as one would eye their prey. Because to Sturmhond, that’s what she was. “Well, you have to know you’re quite valuable.” 

The boy leaned forward. “You just said you wouldn’t turn her in for a bounty, pirate.”

“Privateer.”

Irina rolled her eyes, being a little too used to listening to that conversation.

“Oh.” The boy humored him.

“And what I said was I wouldn’t hand her into the Fjerdans. I said nothing of the Kerch or Shu.” He loved playing with his food before eating it. “I paid a small fortune to empty the dock and make sure you got on my ship. And, frankly, I think the Fjerdans are severely undervaluing you.”

Alina nodded, with a flash of determination. “You’re right. They are.” She walked closer to the desk and leaned on it, having the upper hand. Or so she thought. “Because you’ll be able to ask the King of Ravka for twice as much.”

Both Irina and Sturmhond froze in place. Their looks weren’t taunting anymore; they were cold and unforgiving. But none of them let it show.

“You know the King?” the captain asked Alina, who fired back.

“I’m the Sun Summoner.”

Tolya was greatly enjoying the conversation at the back of the cabin, analyzing closely Irina’s reactions. She was rather shocked at Alina’s words but liked that someone else was trying to put her brother into place as if he wasn’t already running ten steps ahead of everyone.

“By all accounts, the First Army have now turned their sights on Grisha. Thanks to what you and your conspirator did in the Fold,” he looked down briefly at the paper. 

Sturmhond’s sharp tongue had suddenly become poisonous.

Alina drew back. “The Darkling and I were not partners. You may believe otherwise, but once I tear down the Fold and reunite Ravka, the world will see I am not his ally.” Her voice almost broke. Even Tolya noticed it. And he knew she was telling the truth. “Help us and you’ll be rewarded.”

The Ravkan siblings were staring at her as if she had suddenly grown two heads. The prospect seemed impossible, but then again, a living Saint stood before them. They had seen stranger things.

“To tear down the Fold?” Sturmhond scoffed, but Irina still detected the hope that was now running through his brother’s mind. “And how do you plan on doing that exactly?”

Alina raised her head. “By hunting Morozova’s Sea Whip.”

“Alina.” The boy warned her, but she stopped him with her hand.

Instinctively, both siblings raised their kvas glass and took a long sip, mulling over their words. Sturmhond eyed Irina briefly.

“Well, I suppose if the Stag existed, the Sea Whip and the Firebird might as well,” he thought out loud, his gears turning. His eyes were glimmering. “You couldn’t do it with one amplifier, but two…” 

“Unburdened by General Kirigan, under my own power,” Alina continued, also feeling the hope in the captain’s eyes. He leaned forward on the chair, looking down at his feet, the last traces of his plan finally coming together. “Will you help us or not?”

Sturmhond stood up again, never able to sit still for too long. He looked at his sister, who wore a similar face to him, her consent being the only other thing he needed to embark on the journey of the Sun Summoner.

“There’s adventure, danger, money? Now you’re speaking my language.”

The siblings downed their glasses at the same time on opposite ends of the desk, finalizing the deal with a bright smile.

– · –

“What is the difference between a privateer and a pirate?” Mal, Alina’s friend, whispered to her, but not low enough not to be heard by Irina, who walked behind them.

Sturmhond led the way, stopping occasionally to acknowledge the crew.

“Hey, Ainthe, need a light over here!” Irina quietly made her way to a fellow sailor who couldn’t seem to light the candle, and thankfully for her, her brother called everyone’s attention, which allowed her to blend into the crowd for a second. 

Her fingers danced, and a light flame suddenly lit up the lamp the sailor needed. She retreated with a smile, knowing her brother was about to give a speech.

“All right, listen up, everyone! We have guests! The Sun Summoner and,” he turned to Mal, in the mood to mess with Alina’s grumpy companion. “Uh… You are?”

“Malyen–”

“A guest of the Sun Summoner!” Sturmhond interrupted him, much to Mal’s annoyance. “I expect you’ll treat them with all the respect I’ve come to know from you pack of liars and thieves.” The crew laughed at his words. Irina shook her head. He motioned them forward. “Come along, my darlings, come on, come on. Now, you can have the two in the back, it’s the most private suit we have.”

Sturmhond referred to the two fabrics arranged as hammocks, at the far end of the room and next to the stairs that led to the deck. It wasn’t cozy by any means; the room smelled of sweaty pirates, it was noisy and poorly lit, yet the siblings had grown accustomed to it, even if they slept at a different cabin. There was something about the mess that they could call home. 

Alina eyed him wearily as she walked past him, leaving her things on a nearby table, under Mal’s attentive gaze.

“See you in the morning, Miss Starkov,” Sturmhond said with a leisure bow, quickly leaving them to their fates.

“Sweet dreams,” Irina finally spoke, sending them a smile in a much kinder way than her brother had done, and trailed after him.

– · –

“I hope you know what you’re playing at,” Irina frowned as she looked at her brother.

“You caused a bar fight?” he stormed at her.

“We have the Sun Summoner and now what? The Darkling and the entire First Army will be after us, Nikolai, and we’ll have no way of escaping then,” she crossed her arms.

“An officer could have seen you, Irina! Your face could now be printed in the papers! So much for having a fake identity!” Sturmhond threw his hands in the air as he walked around his cabin.

“The entire country is tracking her. We’re supposed to be under the radar and now you want to shelter the most wanted person in Ravka? And not only that but what will happen when we go back?” she went on.

“You can break as many necks as you want when there’s nobody around who could get you into trouble!

“We are gonna be in so much trouble regardless!”

“Can you both stop having two separate conversations at once, please?” Tamar interrupted.

Both siblings turned to look at her, who wore a bored face. Tolya stood behind her, with a simple grin, enjoying the fight between the princes. The four of them stood at the captain’s cabin, away from prying ears, going over the details of their next steps.

“Tamar, back me up on this,” Irina implored her closest friend.

Tamar sighed. “It is risky, Sturmhond. I stood guard until we left the harbor behind and didn’t see any other ship sailing around, but those two are hiding something.”

“Of course they’d feel weary around us; they’d be stupid not to,” Tolya released a breath.

Irina took in one. “Why does this feel like it’s the beginning of the end?” she asked no one in particular. “And how did you even know about the bar fight?” she asked her brother, but quickly turned to glare at Tolya. “Was it you?”

Tolya raised his arms in surrender. “Not me.”

“You forget I have ears everywhere,” Sturmhond took another sip of his glass, raising his eyebrows in mystery. The two of them had almost finished an entire bottle by that point of the night.

“You saw us didn’t you?” Irina squinted his eyes at him.

Sturmhond scoffed. “No, I didn’t!”

“He’s lying,” Tamar interjected.

“Okay, yeah, I saw you. The bar was just around the corner as I walked back. Which is how I bribed everyone into forgetting you three were ever there,” he confessed. “And again, Ainthe, you can’t start fights with everyone who crosses you!”

“He touched my ass, Sturmhond, you can’t expect me to stand there and do nothing!”

“He what?!” 

Tolya suddenly appeared between them. “Alright, it’s best we stop. We’re all alive and well. And we’ll get to see another day for now, so let us sleep and rest and continue the fight tomorrow, okay?”

Nikolai and Irina shared a glance, a silent agreement both of them were too accustomed to. A silent way of communicating both of them had perfected over the years, which promised that they wouldn’t bring it back tomorrow. They knew they were too stubborn to allow the other to win, which would cause yet another endless source of bickering.

“Better be back on deck, then. We might need some fire,” Irina commented, taking one last sip of her kvas. “See you all in the morning.”

“Remember, just a spark, Fireball, not a whole bonfire,” Sturmhond called after her.

“Can’t make any promises!” Irina laughed one last time, before closing the door behind her, leaving an equally smiling Nikolai Lantsov on the other side.

Next chapter

[sojourner-between-worlds]

I finally did it. I finally organized my 5Ds playlist. If you saw the original post eons ago, some songs have been abandoned for this one, but, uh, I also added, like, 30 more. So. There's that.

Full track list, all 109 119(currently) organized (roughly) by character under the cut. The first song of each section is linked for (slightly) easier navigation.

General - The Greatest Show - The Greatest Showman (Riding Duels) - Whatever It Takes - Imagine Dragons - Catalyst - Linkin Park (Satellite) - NEW Nerves - Icon for Hire (Satellite) - Land of Broken Dreams - Jonathan Young, feat Caleb Hyles (Satellite) - NEW Round and Round - 3 Doors Down (City and Satellite) - Hero - Skillet - Lost and Found - Zack Hemsey (First two arcs in particular) - Witching Hour, feat. Brooke Griffith - Tommee Profitt (Dark Signers Arc) - This is War - Thirty Seconds to Mars - Here We Stand, feat. SVRCINA - Hidden Citizens - Ready Aim Fire - Imagine Dragons (Pre-WRGP-Ark Cradle arc) - Finish Line - Skillet (Specifically always makes me think of Jack pushing his runner during the WRGP, but... lol) - See You Again, feat. Charlie Puth - Wiz Khalifa (The final few episodes, as everyone is parting ways)

. . .

All Six Signers - Young - Hollywood Undead - Renegades - ONE OK ROCK - Relate - for King & Country - We Are - ONE OK ROCK - Hey Brother - Avicii - Meet Me on the Battlefield - SVRCINA - Fight the Night - ONE OK ROCK - Answer the Call, feat. Claire Guerreso - Hidden Citizens - Saviors of the World - Skillet - Time To Go To War - Manafest x UNSECRET - Not Gonna Die (+Intro) - Skillet - We Won't Give Up - The Afters (I specifically associate this with the WRGP but) - NO-LIMIT - Fairy Tail OP25, English cover by AmaLee - Caught In the Fire, feat. Sam Tinnesz - Tommee Profitt - Strike Back - Fairy Tail OP16, English cover by NateWantsToBattle - Unleash the Power, feat. Sam Tinnesz and Rayelle - Tommee Profitt - Born For This - The Score - NEW Lead the Way - Nathan Wagner

. . .

Yusei - Child of the Stars - Fish in a Bird Cage - Speechless - Aladdin, cover by Caleb Hyles (Specifically early FC arc) - Soldier, feat. Fluerie - Tommee Profitt - NEW Fine - Mike Shinoda (DS arc) - Darkness Before the Dawn - Caleb Hyles, feat. Lacey Sturm (DS arc) - Believe in Myself - Fairy Tail OP21, English cover by NateWantsToBattle - Rise - Ashes Remain - Not Alone - Linkin Park (Arc Cradle) - If I Die Young - The Band Perry, cover by Sam Tsui - Where the Skies End - Starset - Can You See Me? - Krista Siegfrids (Second verse doesn't totally work but eh.) - The World You Want - Switchfoot - NEW Shining A Light Over You - Gentle Sparrow (Post-series)

. . .

Jack - Kings - Tribe Society - Leave It All Behind - Cult to Follow (Pre-series-DS) - Vagabond, feat. FJORA - Tommee Proffit (Pre-series-DS) - Lost Souls - Nathan Wagner (Pre-series-DS) - From Now On - The Greatest Showman (Post Fortune Cup) - When I Was King - ONE OK ROCK (Post Fortune Cup) - Run Run Rebel - Hidden Citizens (Burning Soul arc)

. . .

Aki - Brick by Boring Brick - Paramore (Pre-series-DS) - Innocence - Nathan Wagner (Pre-series through mid-way Dark Signers) - Paper Crown - Alec Benjamin (Pre-series. Arguably ship-y but only if you watch the video, lol) - NEW I Didn't Ask For This - Beth J Crowley (Pre-series through-DS) - Monster - Beth Crowley (Pre-series through Fortune Cup) - NEW Demons - Icon for Hire - I Want To Live - Skillet - Masayume Chasing - Fairy Tail OP15, English cover by AmaLee - Surviving the Game - Skillet - Unbreakable - Fireflight

. . .

Rua/Leo - Pretender - AJR - Battle Symphony - Linkin Park - The Chosen One - Smash Into Pieces - Something Big - Shawn Mendes - Prove - ONE OK ROCK - Children of the Sky - Imagine Dragons (Kinda all of them but heavy focus on Rua/Leo)

. . .

Other Assorted Characters - Fight Song - Rachel Platten (Ruka/Luna) - Counting Stars - OneRepublic (Crow) - A Shot in the Dark - Smash into Pieces (Crow) - Far From Home, feat. Sam Tinnesz - Tommee Profitt (Crow, Dark Signers arc) - Higher - The Score (Crow) - Memories - Maroon 5 (Bruno, or rather the others about him)

. . .

Kiryu/Kalin - Watching As I Fall - Mike Shinoda (Pre-series) - Monster - Fight the Fade (End of Team Satisfaction) - Hell's Comin' With Me - Poor Mans Poison - All Eyes on You - Smash Into Pieces (Crashtown arc) - Face to Face - Citizen Soldier (Crashtown arc)

. . .

Villains - World So Cold - 12 Stones - Monster Made of Memories - Citizen Soldier (Dark Signers) - Feed the Machine - Poor Mans Poison (Rex Godwin) - How Villains Are Made - Madalen Duke (Pretty much all of them, but specifically Godwin and Z-ONE) - With You Til the End, feat. Sam Tinnesz - Tommee Profitt (Z-ONE et al) - Last Survivor, feat. Nilka - Unsecret (Z-ONE) - The Sound of Silence - Disturbed (Z-ONE) - Cold World - RED (Z-ONE) - SCAVA - Hollywood Undead (Z-ONE et al)

. . .

Combinations - Mad World - Tears for Fears, cover by Smash into Pieces (An odd combo: Pre-series Kiryu/Kalin and Aki) - Ready As I'll Ever Be - Tangled: the Series (Signers vs Dark Signers. I feel like this one needs a breakdown but only upon request, lol.) - Hold On For Your Life, feat. Sam Tinnesz - Tommee Profitt (Yusei vs Kiryu/Kalin; Jack vs Carly) - NEW It Had To Be You (Dark Version) - Tommee Profitt x Tiffany Ashton (Jack vs Carly and Yusei vs Kiryu/Kalin) - Battle Scars - Paradise Fears (Team 5Ds and Team Taiyo) - Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush, metal cover by Jonathan Young and Caleb Hyles (Aporia and Team Ragnarok) -The Antihero vs The Hero - Nathan Wagner (Z-ONE et al and Yusei)

- Where We Rise - Neoni (Jack and Yusei) - No Limits - Zayde Wolf (Yusei and Jack) - Who I Am - Citizen Soldier (Yusei and Aki) - This Is Me - The Greatest Showman (Fortune Cup Yusei and Aki. I wish I could use the movie version solely for what’s going on in the background at one point but the only video has ridiculously quiet audio...) - Collide - Skillet (Yusei and Aki, FC-DS arcs) - Wake Up - Smash into Pieces (Jack and Aki, pre-series) - Running Away from Home - Smash Into Pieces (Jack and Aki) - Already Over - Mike Shinoda (Jack and Aki) - Alive - Daughtry (Yusei, Jack, Crow, Aki) - The Musician - 14th Melody (D.Gray-man OP), English cover by AmaLee and Andy Stein (Yusei, Jack, Crow, Aki) - Brother - Kodaline (Yusei, Jack, Crow) - Save You, feat. Redlight King - Manafest (Yusei, Jack, and Crow) - Hall of Fame - The Script (Jack, Crow, Rua/Leo; post-series) - NEW Cool Kids - Echosmith (Rua and Ruka/Leo and Luna)

. . .

Ships - Still Worth Fighting For - My Darkest Days (JackxCarly) - Angel With a Shotgun - The Cab (JackxCarly) - Stolas Sings (Owl in a Cage) - Helluva Boss [Sam Haft], cover by Caleb Hyles (One-sided JackxCarly) - Bleeding Out - Imagine Dragons (JackxCarly, specifically Carly as a DS and their duel) - Slip Away - Ruelle (JackxCarly, specifically their duel in the DS arc) - Counting On Me (Acoustic Version) - Smash into Pieces (JackxCarly, DS arc) - NEW If You Fall - UNDREAM & Brad Arthur (YuseixAki) - Better Than One - The Score (In my head, YuseixAki, but any really) - Monsters - Katie Sky (YuseixAki. Could absolutely be interpreted platonically too imo.) - I Found the Answer in You - Loving Caliber (YuseixAki)

[starlessskies94]

Consequence (Joel Miller x OC)

Summary: What if Joel survived his injuries from the Abby and Fireflies attack but ends up with really bad amnesia. He can’t remember his wife, Ellie, or the Outbreak; only before. How will his family bring back the man they once knew?

Pairing: JoelMiller x OC

Note: Sorry it's been a while since my last chapter but I'm back now and I know this is a short chapter but it's to help us get the next one which will be longer I promise!

Chapter Twenty

The days were starting to blur into one another; to the point, it was hard to tell how long they’d been on the road. They’d stopped occasionally to refuel or scout the area for supplies. When the weather had gotten too much, they’d been forced to stop and sleep in the truck until it passed to clear skies again. They’d fought off groups of infected they’d run into; most being stragglers left behind as it seemed the infected were migrating to warmer climates now they were well into Spring. Ellie recalled the frozen clickers they’d seen just outside of Jackson through the winter months. It’d been strange seeing them like that. Though it’d had been satisfying to smash the fuckers to pieces. 

They’d passed the state border days ago now. And even after Tommy and Ada had exhausted every trace they could find; it seemed there were no more signs of Joel. There was no way to know if he’d even made it to Colorado in one piece. It hadn’t taken long before they’d driven towards the remains of a rundown abandoned quarantine zone. The gates were rushed and blown apart; the unmistakable signs of yet another uprising of the citizens taking a stand against Fedra's rule. 

As they drove through what was left of the gates, everyone was on edge just waiting to be ambushed. It reminded Ada and Ellie of the QZ back in Pittsburgh. The same words for rebellion and hate were painted across the walls along with strung-up soldiers left to rot in the warming morning sun. Old checkpoints were left empty and looted. The military buildings were ransacked; windows smashed; bodies littered the floor. Bloodstains marked the sidewalks. It seemed to be the same story with every quarantine zones they passed now. They wondered if Boston had suffered the same fate. It had undoubtedly been heading that way when they’d left all those years ago. 

Tommy revved the truck as they came towards the main road that gave way to an underground tunnel. But the vehicle sputtered and grumbled unhealthily as the engine cut out; the radiator smoking. Cursing under his breath, he and Ada got out to check the damage. Ellie and Dina sat quietly in the backseat, both sharing an exasperated look when noticed they the two adults seemingly arguing yet again over what to do next. 

“Well? What’s the problem?” Dina asked as Ellie followed her lead out of the trunk to join the other two. Tommy slammed the hood shut; that same frown clinging to his brow sending a dark shadow across his features. 

“Radiators busted.” He grunted in annoyance. “We’re lucky this thing got us as far as it did.” 

“I take it, it’s not fixable then?” Ellie asked cautiously lest she risks starting another argument. “No. And even if we could, we don’t have the tools to do that sort of job out here.” Her mom replied. Tommy made his way around the back of the truck, taking out his pack and throwing the girls theirs. “Grab your stuff ladies.” He announced to the group. “Looks like we’re walking.” 

It was quiet. Too quiet. They moved cautiously towards the tunnel, the inside filled with rubble and decades-old debris. They fitted through the creaks towards the other side but only just. Ellie and Dina went first being the smaller ones of the group. Knees and palms were scrapped in the process but they managed to with little effort to get to to her side. Ellie checking the coast was clear before helping Dina back up to her feet. 

“We’re clear, you guys come through.” She said to the older pair on the other side. Ada moved to crouch towards the gap when they heard an ear-piercing screech echo through the silence. Followed by more screams and grunts from the infected. They appeared as if from nowhere, a large group charging towards Ada and Tommy from the ruins of old derelict buildings that were left to rot on the outside of the QZ walls. 

Tommy wasted no time in aiming his gun and taking the first shot, it hit its target. A runner square in the head before he moved the barrel to take out another runner. Ada was quick to follow suit but as the noise grew so did the horde's size. 

“MOM! TOMMY! GET THROUGH HERE NOW!!!” Ellie yelled, the panic evident in her voice. 

“THERE’S NO TIME!” Tommy yelled back. “JUST GO! WE’LL FIND ANOTHER WAY IN AND WE’LL FIND YOU!” Her mother added in a rush of breath as she reloaded her gun. 

Ellie didn't like that one bit but they had no time to argue, Dina was pulling her away saying something…words of comfort? Angry yelling? She was too scared to process it. She’d already lost Joel, she couldn’t lose her mom and Tommy as well. “Ellie we have to go!” Dina screamed, pulling hard on her wrist. She turned to look at her girlfriend, the panic in her eyes matching her own. She took one last glance toward her mother and Tommy fighting off the infected and swore this would not be the last time she saw them. 

And with that, she took off with Dina’s hand in hers. 

[skenekidz]

Where did u find majority of ur music you listen to? Like did ppl recommend some, did u find most by just listening to new music that might’ve been recommended by the songs you listen to, or maybe like someone you admire listens to it and u did the same or..?

Uhhh I mean it's sort of a mix. Friends introduced me to some, but growing up I read AP magazine monthly and checked out the artists they recommended in that. Then I'd listen to suggested artists on those videos on youtube. And I also found a lot of new bands I liked from concerts (fell in love with Set It Off after seeing them live wayyy back when they toured with WATIC, for example).

Nowadays I find a lot of new music just through the youtube suggestions on songs I like as well as through video games, which is how I discovered bands like Smash Into Pieces, Citizen Soldier, Bohnes, X-Ray Dog, Unlikely Candidates, Weathers, Des Rocs, badflower, etc.

[peach-arcade]

when you get this you have to put 5 songs you actually listen to, publish, then, tag 10 people

Throws my playlist on shuffle.

Smash Into Pieces - “All Eyes On You” [This is the song I use as Syntax’s theme. Also r e a l l y makes me wanna write fight scenes... FISTICUFFS,--]

Cour, PACANI, Veronica Bravo - “Cool For The Summer” (Nightcore) [This was actually one of the proposed themes for Peach Arcade, but I decided against.]

Jagwar Twin - “Happy Face” (Nightcore) [I honestly just play this at work sometimes because MAN what a mood.]

The Weeknd - Blinding Lights (Nightcore) [This is the theme song for my ship ‘Blinding Vests’ (Rex Dangervest x Celexa Dust) over on not-so-childsplay. The song plays at least once every hour at my work, too.]

Maggie Lindemann, Siiickbrain - “break me!” (Nightcore) [Honestly not sure why this is in my likes aside from the fact it gives me combat vibes. Let’s GOOOOOOOOOOOOO-]

Honorable mentions: Change Your Mind (Steven Universe), megalovania but it’s in swing rhythm, mad at Disney (Salem Ilese), Easy’s Never Been This Hard (Citizen Soldier), and “Emeralds” (AdamzoneTopMarks).

[carewyncromwell]

“I am the one voice in the cold wind that whispers, And if you listen, you'll hear me call across the sky... As long as I still can reach out and touch you, Then I will never die.”

~“Remember,” by Josh Groban

x~x~x~x

By the early 1940′s, the Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald had paralyzed all of Europe in terror. While the Muggles fought their own second world war, Grindelwald used the chaos in the Muggle world as a perfect excuse to attack anyone of non-magical blood with no possibility of repercussions. He’d amassed hundreds of thousands of followers across Europe of varying degrees, whether active blood purists, political figures who stupidly thought to use him to achieve their own personal ambitions, or just people too cowardly to stand against him. It had gotten to the point that even the British Ministry of Magic couldn’t look the other way, even if Grindelwald had yet to permeate their shores -- and so, quietly, they set about sending aid to those countries opposing Grindelwald, with help from intelligence provided by individual agents. One of those such agents ended up being the vampire who the occupants of Hogsmeade village and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry called Bat Varney.

Bat Varney -- or as he was known when he was human, Robert Harker -- was unusual among his kind. Unlike most vampires who tend to stay away from humans and live in vampire colonies, Bat resided in the attic over the Honeydukes sweet shop and, in the evenings, was frequently seen walking the streets of Hogsmeade village, providing services to those witches and wizards requiring information on anything from dragon breeding to Quidditch strategy.

From the moment he first caught wind of Grindelwald’s rise, Bat took an immediate interest, not just because he himself was a Muggle-born, but because he feared for the safety of those humans he’d grown attached to in the last forty years -- the Honeydukes clan; Ann Smith @danceworshipper​; the Selwyn-Ellison family, Adelia, Teddy, Violet, and Bertie @that-ravenpuff-witch​; Hogwarts’s current Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Danny Gibson @catohphm​, and his wife Victoria @hphm-brooke​; and Hogwarts’s previous Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and Bat’s closest companion, Atticus Grimsley @cursebreakerfarrier​. Although the vampire knew full well his life-span would more than exceed theirs, just as it had those of his wife Loretta, daughter Irene, and ex-best-friend Cecelia, Bat was determined not to let anything prevent his found family from living the full and happy lives they deserved...and so he offered all of his encyclopedic knowledge, cobbled together over the last hundred and sixty years, to help the British Ministry and other European Ministries tackle Grindelwald. But soon enough, the cat came out of the bag, and Grindelwald learned the identity of the British agent who had been so instrumental in the growing movement against him. When he did, the Dark wizard decided to take decisive action.

In December 1941, Grindelwald came ashore to the United Kingdom for the first time in forty years, and when he did, his first stop was the wizarding village of Hogsmeade. Never in the wizarding village’s history had it ever been attacked, and yet thanks to Grindelwald, it was in flames. Christmas garlands were set ablaze, windows had been smashed, and people fled screaming -- the overcast sky was soon darkened further with smoke and ash, effectively blocking out the sun. This is the only reason why Bat Varney was able to leave the safety of Honeydukes’s attic to confront Grindelwald himself. After instructing the Honeydukes family to head straight to Hogwarts for their safety, the once-veteran attacked the notorious Dark wizard with nothing but a knife and his own fangs and fists. He couldn’t use magic anymore, but there was no way in Hell Bat was going to sit back and do nothing, particularly when he was much more able to shake off a mortal injury than the average person.

As fate would have it, retired Auror Teddy Ellison had been in Hogsmeade that day himself doing Christmas shopping, and he helped rescue and protect the residents of Hogsmeade from their flaming town as best he could. Meanwhile, at Hogwarts, professors Danny Gibson, Adelia Selwyn-Ellison, and Albus Dumbledore were among the first to hear of the trouble in Hogsmeade. Although Dumbledore looked unusually pale and terrified, the witch and the two wizards all quickly raced to the village as fast as they could.

When the Transfiguration, Potions, and Defense Against the Dark Arts professors arrived, however, they found the town largely burned to ash and Grindelwald gone. In the center of the cobblestone street was Teddy Ellison, shaking from head to toe as he struggled to disperse the crowd of townspeople who had gathered in a huddled mass in the center of the street. Adelia and Danny immediately rushed over to Teddy, demanding to know where Grindelwald was, where Bat was -- and Teddy’s eyes flooded with tears as he recounted what had happened.

Grindelwald had only attacked Hogsmeade, it seemed, to go after Bat. When the vampire had shown his face, Grindelwald had immediately set about attacking him -- blasting him off his feet, slamming him into the ground, crushing him with pieces of buildings, and beating him within an inch of his life. He even used the Cruciatus and Killing Curses, all the while proclaiming to the surrounding citizens of Hogsmeade that this is the proper justice for someone who places the safety of Muggles and their brood over pure wizarding blood. And yet despite all this, Bat couldn’t die and, more importantly, he wouldn’t stand down. His eyes consumed with red, Bat fought back, even managing to injure Grindelwald multiple times by punching him in the face, stabbing him in the leg with a knife, and taking a bite out of his shoulder with his own fangs. At last Grindelwald had only one option left to him to try to destroy Bat -- he Transfigured part of a lamp post into a quasi-stake and hurtled it straight into the vampire’s chest. The force of the metal puncturing his heart threw Bat completely off his feet and into the ground, making him choke as blood stained the front of his chest.

Racing forward to try to help Bat, Teddy shot a wide array of Stunning spells and Blasting Curses at Grindelwald, but the Dark wizard soon overpowered him and quelled the middle-aged man with a white-hot, blazing Cruciatus Curse. Teddy had only escaped because Bat -- still staked through the heart -- ran up behind Grindelwald and slashed at the Dark wizard’s wand hand with his knife. With a bellow of pain, Grindelwald dropped his wand; Bat tried to overpower him by putting him in a headlock, but he was too encumbered by the stake in his chest and his weakened state due to blood loss and the vampiric blood lust that accompanied it. With a rage unseen by man, Grindelwald somehow was powerful enough to call his wand back to his hand and, in an instant, he’d blasted the vampire off of him. As Grindelwald bore down on Bat, his eyes blazed with hatred.

“You are a troublesome leech, Bartholomew Varney,” he said in a soft, dangerous whisper. “Now it ends.”

Despite the pain in his internal organs, the weakness of his limbs, and the throbbing of his head, Bat nonetheless was somehow able to pull himself up onto his knees, his lips curled up in a smirk as his sclera-less scarlet eyes bore into Grindelwald’s face.

“I don’t fear death, Grindelwald,” he rasped, and there was no question that he meant it. “I am not the sort of fool, as you are, who’d chase after the Deathly Hallows.”

This final taunt, peppered by the knowledge that Bat had sussed out the secret he’d fought hard to keep under wraps and may have exposed it to others, was the last straw for Grindelwald. Within three seconds, he’d used a violent, flaring violet curse to rip off Bat Varney’s head.

The death of Hogsmeade’s well-regarded vampire scholar devastated both the village’s residents and the neighboring school’s faculty and students. The loss of his surrogate uncle, coupled with the opening of the Chamber of Secrets that same year, prompted Danny Gibson to retire from teaching all together. The Selwyn-Ellisons were also heartbroken at the loss of their “Uncle Bat” -- their Christmas that year was the gloomiest it had ever been, for none of them had the heart to celebrate Bat’s favorite holiday without him. Worst of all, though, was Atticus Grimsley. The retired professor had come to grips with the fact that he would die first, as Bat had...but with the opposite having come true instead, Atticus was beside himself with grief at the loss of the man who’d been the closest friend he’d ever had -- the person who’d made him feel happier, more loved, and less alone than he’d ever been in his life.

It was this despair in response to a tragedy so close to home that finally pushed Albus Dumbledore over the edge and forced him to finally accept what a threat Grindelwald really was to the Wizarding World. Within days of Bat’s death, Dumbledore started his own moves to fight back against his old flame, and within four years, the Transfiguration professor had defeated Grindelwald in combat and taken the Elder Wand for himself.

Within a year of Bat’s death, the Honeydukes family, with some financial help from Bat’s many friends, mounted a gold plaque on the bricks just in front of their shop window that read --

In memory of Robert Harker, otherwise known as Bartholomew “Bat” Varney:

A Vampire with the mind of a teacher, the soul of a soldier, and a heart braver than most men.

b. 1 July 1761 / d. 13 December 1941

In 1946, after Grindelwald’s fall, a statue of Bat Varney was also placed on the inside of the archway into Hogsmeade village. Although it was placed in the shadows and so very often could be overlooked by passerby, it kept a diligent watch on everyone who entered the little village like a silent guardian for many years to come.

[atinyrabbit]

love/hate songs

Since 8tracks is messed up and playmoss is gonna disappear and Spotify doesn't have many songs, I’m posting some of my playlists here. This is a list of songs about love/hate relationships for pairings. Enemies to lovers, tsundere personalities, hero/villain couplings, opposites attract, loving someone you know you shouldn't. This list is several years old so the songs are older and kinda ‘scene.’

Major trigger warnings for the lyrics of these songs. Some songs have violent lyrics. This playlist romanticizes conflict.

Song list under read more:

Love to Hate You - Erasure Nicotine - Panic! at the Disco Don't Let It Go To Your Head - Fefe Dobson Your Love Will Kill Me - Daniel Lavoie Bruises and Bitemarks (Remix) - Good With Grenades October & April - The Rasmus feat. Anette Olzon Violator - Son of Rust Sick Amore - El Creepo Disgusting - Ke$ha Dangerous - Depeche Mode Oleander - Mother Mother Fear & Delight - The Correspondents Love is a Suicide - Natalia Kills Sex as a Weapon - Pat Benatar I'd Love To Kill You - Katie Melua Before I Ever Met You - Banks Rent - Pet Shop Boys Helpless When She Smiles - Backstreet Boys Holy - Zolita Strangelove - Depeche Mode I Won't Say (I'm In Love) - Susan Egan Can't Feel My Face - The Weeknd Only You - Ellie Goulding Devil Devil - Milck Livin' In A World Without You - The Rasmus  

Hate Love - Adelitas Way Suddenly - Peter Heppner Sick and Twisted Affair - My Darkest Days Radioactive Mirrors - Amazinglyjon Dangerous - Cascada Violence (Club Mix) - Grimes & i_o This Is Love - Air Traffic Controller Make Hate To Me - Citizen Soldier Gently Break It - Beck Pete Portrait of a Female - Cruel Youth This Could Be Love - Alkaline Trio Lie, Lie, Lie - Myra You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi I Only Wanna Be With You - Volbeat Maybe You're Not the Worst Thing Ever - Cast of Galavant I've Got You Under My Skin - Seether Human - Oh Land Le Bien Qui Fait Mal - Mozart, L'Opera Rock Can't Help Falling In Love [Light x Dark Remix] - feat. Brooke Tommee Profitt Fell For You - Green Day Stupid Grin - Dragonette Broken - Lauren Hoffman Take Me to Church - Hozier Super Psycho Love - Simon Curtis Whip - Mr.Kitty   Get You Off - Fefe Dobson Crazy Girl - Ke$ha Vice - POP ETC Cannibal - Silversun Pickups Rest in Peace - Original Cast of Buffy The Vampire Slayer Hem of Your Garment - Cake Tear You Apart - She Wants Revenge Truth Or Dare - Marianas Trench We Sink - CHVRCHES Gingerbread Man - Melanie Martinez You Stupid Girl - Framing Hanley   Die For You - Red F*cking Boyfriend - The Bird & The Bee Mean - Nicole Dollanganger Must Be Crazy for Me - Melissa Etheridge That Girl - Alexz Johnson FMLYHM - Seether Bad Romance - Halestorm Aquarius - Within Temptation Flirt (With Me) - Zeromancer I'm With Stupid - Pet Shop Boys Stop This Song (Love Sick Melody) - Paramore Trying Not To Love You - Nickelback Kill for You - Zolita A Love Like War - All Time Low You Need Me - SWANS Hatef--k - The Bravery Bottled Affection - Cold War Kids True Love - ThouShaltNot Terrible Thing - Ag I Can't Decide - Scissor Sisters Exit Wounds - The Romanovs Gun - Chvrches Every Breath You Take - Chase Holfelder Whole Lotta Love - Smash Mouth Bloodsport - Sneaker Pimps XXX - Imran-C Bitter Rivals - Sleigh Bells Destruction Of Us - Mr.Kitty Teeth - 5 Seconds of Summer Love Me Dead - Ludo Paralyzed - The Used River - Bishop Briggs Neon - VERSA Sucker For Pain - Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa & Imagine Dragons I'm Your Villain - Franz Ferdinand Beautiful Monster - Ne-Yo I Own You - Birgit Let Me Be Your Armor - ASSEMBLAGE 23 Perfect Enemy - t.A.T.u. Straight for the Knife - Sia One More Night - Maroon 5 I Hate You (Don't Leave Me) - Ke$ha The Moth - Aimee Mann Mad Love - The Veronicas Toxic (Acoustic Britney Spears Cover) - Johnny Goth Bad Intentions - Digital Daggers Shut Up - Nick Lachey Soldier - Bitter Ruin First Bad Habit - Vanessa Hudgens In The Darkness - Dead By Sunrise Tearin' Up My Heart - *NSYNC You'll Be Back - Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton & Jonathan Groff Crazy In A Good Way - VERIDIA Combat Baby - Metric In Bluebeard's Castle - Unwoman When Doves Cry - Prince State of Seduction - Digital Daggers Whataya Want From Me - Adam Lambert Broken Inside - Broken Iris Murder (feat. Minx, Chilled) - Boyinaband Why Do You Love Me - Charlotte Lawrence Follow You Home - Nickelback Love To See You Cry - Enrique Iglesias Impressed - Natalie Imbruglia Die For You - Megan McCauley Your Kind (Speak to Me) - Danger Radio Tyrant - The Bravery Violent Games - Polica Toxicated Love - NEO Nemeses (feat. John Roderick) - Jonathan Coulton Miserable - Lit Running From My Shadow - The Velvet Teaparty Barricade - Stars Trouble (Stripped) - Halsey Brutal Hearts - Bedouin Soundclash Desire - Meg Myers Sticks And Stones - The Pierces Just the Girl - The Click Five Himerus and Eros - The Spill Canvas Blood - In This Moment I'm Insane - Myah Marie Fiction (Dreams In Digital) - Orgy Whore - In This Moment Monster - Ryan Adames Foundations - Kate Nash Only When I Lose Myself - Depeche Mode Hatchet - Archive The Beginning of the Twist - The Futureheads Change - Deftones Trust Me - Marc Senter Love Me Hate Kiss Me Kill Me (Scndl Remix) - Fukkk Offf Big Bad Handsome Man - Imelda May The Mighty Fall - Fall Out Boy My Obsession - Cinema Bizarre Stitches - Orgy Miss Kiss Kiss Bang - Alex Swings Oscar Sings! Sweet Dreams - Beyonce Fuel To The Fire - The Maine Closer (Nine Inch Nails Cover) - Niki Barr Band Clueless - Orla Gartland Devil Woman - Cliff Richard Hatefuck - Motionless In White I Love You But I Don’t Like You - Molly Moore Overpower Thee - AUF dER MAUR Get Down On Your Knees And Tell Me You Love Me - All Time Low Post Blue - Placebo Genghis Khan - Miike Snow Poison - Alice Cooper I Know I'm A Wolf - Young Heretics Little Toy Gun - honeyhoney I Miss the Misery - Halestorm Dirty Sticky Floors (radio mix) - Dave Gahan Clarity - Zedd I Get A Kick Out Of You - Frank Sinatra I Hate Myself for Loving You - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Die for You - Otherwise Labyrinth - Oomph! Black Black Heart - David Usher I Want to Destroy Something Beautiful - Josh Woodward I'm a Priest - Daniel Lavoie You Need Me - SWANS Afraid of the Dark - Phildel Virus - Ryan Adames I Wanna Be Your Dog (remix) - Emilie Simon Hello Goodbye - The Beatles Sarcasm (Album Version) - Get Scared Use Me - Hinder Poison & Wine - The Civil Wars Pretty When You Cry - VAST Tainted Love - Soft Cell Scream - Avenged Sevenfold Think About It - Danger Radio Gallery Piece - Of Montreal Bang Bang Bang Bang - Sohodolls Little Girls - Say Anything I Hate Everything About You - Three Days Grace Love Runs Out - OneRepublic Disarm - Smashing Pumpkins Hit Me Like a Man - The Pretty Reckless Bang Bang (feat. Adam Levine) - K'naan Hurts So Good - John Mellencamp Addicted - Kelly Clarkson Whiplash - FEMM Paralyzer - Finger Eleven Crime - Temposhark Misery Loves Company - Emilie Autumn It Was Good for You Too - Marian Call Price Of Company - The White Tie Affair Burn! - Kobra And The Lotus I Love My Lawyer - Ofelia K I Want Blood - empires (I Always Kill) The Things I Love (ft. The Real Tuesday Weld) - Claudia Brucken Misery (Cutmore Radio) - Maroon 5 Fire and Ice - Pat Benatar I Lust You - Neon Neon Pistol Whipped - Marilyn Manson Bitches Brew - Crosses A Formidable Marinade - Mikelangelo And The Black Sea Gentlemen Control - Puddle of Mudd Scary Love - Skye Sweetnam Loveyouhateyou - Sad Robot Untangle Me - Snow Ghosts A Little Taste - Skyler Stonestreet E.V.O.L - Marina and the Diamonds   (You're the) Devil in Disguise - Elvis Presley Shut Up & Kiss - Me Orianthi Cool for Chaos - Nostalghia Oyeme - Enrique Iglesias I Hate You - Sick Puppies GirlShapedLoveDrug - Gomez You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk - Pet Shop Boys Need You Like A Drug - Zeromancer Werewolf - Cat Power Bathwater - No Doubt Bad Dog - Neon Hitch Guns And Horses - Ellie Goulding Rev 22-20 - Puscifer Won't You Please Be Nice - Nellie McKay The Perfect Drug - Nine Inch Nails Until The Day I Die - Story of the Year Womanizer - Britney Spears Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations I Think I Love You David Cassidy Stalkers - Mindless Self Indulgence   Kill Me Every Time - Blue Stahli Preface - FKA twigs Every You Every Me - Placebo Want - Disturbed Spit It Out - IAMX Destroy Me - Mr Kitty My Sweet Prince - Placebo Psycho - Imelda May Monster - Meg Myers Figured You Out - Nickelback Suffocated Love - Tricky Satisfy Me One More Time - Frank Sinatra This Love - Maroon 5 Miss Jackson (feat. Lolo) - Panic! At The Disco Fire and Ice - Pat Benatar Every Other Time Lyte - Funky Ones How Do You Love Someone - Ashley Tisdale Poison - Gin Wigmore Bitter and Sick - One Two The Outsider - Marina & the Diamonds True Love (feat Lily Rose Cooper) - Pink Bad Boy - Cascada Irresistible - Temposhark Painkiller - The Queenstons Born to Die / Russian Roulette - Amazinglyjon Like Sugar - Matchbox Twenty Mad About You - Hooverphonic Stupify - Disturbed Problems - Mother Mother What Is Love - Haddaway Animal - The Cab Marionette - Antonia I Hate You But I Love You - Russian Red Carve A Name - Mother Mother Criminal - Britney Spears Danger - Hilary Duff Fell in Love w/an Android - Simon Curtis Demon Lover - Róisín Murphy Always - Saliva Too Close - Alex Clare Little of Your Time - Maroon 5 Sex and Violence - Scissor Sisters Electric Storm - Delta Goodrem Black widow - Susanne Sundfør Dangerous Kind - Rasmus You've Really Got a Hold on Me - The Miracles Over and Over - Three Days Grace Devour - Marilyn Manson Nature of Inviting - IAMX The Odd Couple - Weezer Hurt Me Harder - Zolita Terrible Love - The National Mad Love - Jojo Boomerang - Reliant K Bad News - Sleeper Agent I Was An Island (EP Version) - Allison Weiss Rock Bottom - Hailee Steinfeld You’re the One That I Want - Lo Fang Poison - Rita Ora Kill For You - Skylar Grey ft Eminem Wouldn't Be Love - Ritual Hate Me - Nico Collins Irresistible - Fall Out Boy I Love You... I'll Kill You - Enigma

[damianwayneasksandrp]

𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝟑 - 𝟓 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐎𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄

Child Damian:

Skillet - Back From The Dead

Smash Into Pieces - All Eyes On You

Citizen Soldier - Hallelujah (I'm Not Dead)

Jake Daniels - The Show

Citizen Soldier - If These Scars Could Speak

_____________________________________________________________

Adult Damian:

Otherwise - Soldiers

Three Days Grace Just Like You

All Good Things - Born Ready

X Ambassadors - Renegades

Skillet - Feel Invincible

_____________________________________________________________

Kiah (I want to make him a muse but this blog gets so little interaction that I wouldn't know if ya'll would be okay with it, so for now, unless someone specifically asks for this gremlin, this is the only way he'll appear; Adult Damian's boyfriend)

LEDGER - Not Dead Yet

Clean Bandit - Rockabye

TheFatRat & RIELL - Hiding In The Blue

Celtic Woman - The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun

FAUN - Federkleid

Tagged by @an-oc-to-rp-with

Tagging (If you want to, ofc): @rosetheravaged, @vigilant-shadow, @thekillingjokeofgotham and whoever else wants to!

//PS, if you are curious about any of the songs, feel free to ask, either me or the characters themselves if you just want to make sure!

[silknspidey]

2025 | Ray Palmer

Imagine storyline: you're a metahuman in 2025, Savage is destroying Central City. The legends have come to save the city but you're the only one left. When all hope is lost, you're saved by Ray Palmer, somebody you used to love.

Pairing: Ray Palmer x reader

Fandom: dctv Legends of Tomorrow

AN: story created by tinkertaydust (me) on wattpad, found on my LoT community. Requests are open y’all!

The city was falling, the fires burning high and bright in the late afternoon. Y/N falls against the rubble that lines the streets of Central City. She can't make out where she stands in her beloved city because everything is destroyed. Bodies are lying in the streets, trapped under cars and fallen buildings. Tears blur her vision, her breathing heavy with each step she takes towards what used to be C.C Jitters, the sign smashed against the hard pavement. Y/N doesn't bother checking the bodies that lie at her feet, she knows they are gone.

Vandal Savage was still somewhere within the city limits, he would be grinning at his success. He had taken down the city quickly. The chaos had began when the city's loved hero was dead. Savage had killed The Flash, taking the only hope the city had left and crushing it. The citizen had panicked as Savage's army ascended, killing everyone in sight.

It had happened too quickly, not even Y/N could stop that battle.

Blood trickled down her arm, wet and hot. There was a sharp pain in her chest that roared to life every time she took a breath. She could only guess it was at least three broken rips. Her head was light, causing her movements to slow. But that pain kept her moving, kept her rage alive within in.

Vandal Savage would die, even if it was that very last thing she did. Had had taken everything from her; her city, her friends and her hope. She heard the gun shots ring out through the dead streets, soldiers ending another life. She gritted her teeth together and kept moving.

"Hey you!" A voice startled her, kicking in her adrenaline. She swung her head around, ready to see a soldier with a gun pointed in her direction. She felt her power spark to life within her, her fingertips heating with energy. She had been a metahuman for years, learning to control her power and to harness it like a weapon. Her ability of super strength was one she was thankful for, something that actually came in handy. But when her eyes spotted the man standing in front of her wasn't a solider.

She eyed the man, wondering how he wasn't dead. A woman came up behind him, her blonde hair slicked back off her pretty face. "Are you okay?" The women asked, slowly stepping forward through the broken concrete and glass.

"How are you alive?" Y/N shouted out. "Savage killed everyone. I've been wandering the streets for hours and I haven't seen anybody who isn't dead."

"Savage has already started his attack," The man shook his head, "We are too late. The city is gone."

Y/N eyed the new people. They weren't hurt, blood didn't paint their skin. Their clothing wasn't ripped or covered in ash and soot. "Who are you?" She asked.

The woman who wore all white inched forward, her hands outstretched. Y/N stumbled backwards, away from her. Every bone in her body was screaming out in pain, her head growing lighter by the second. She kept her eyes open though, blinking away the drowsiness.

"We came to help," The woman spoke slowly. "Savage needs to be stopped and we are here to do just that."

Y/N nodded, blood dripping onto the grey rubble next to her. Her arm was covered with a deep gash, it hadn't stopped bleeding in hours. "Savage is a dead man, I'll kill him myself if I need to."

The blonde woman smiled as the other man stepped around her, holding out his hand. "You'll have to get in line."

The woman gave him a quick look, watching as Y/N swayed on her feet. "Rip, she's hurt badly. We need to get her to the Waverider before she bleeds out."

Y/N was already shaking her head. She needed to find Savage now and end his pathetic life before he destroyed another city. "I need to kept moving---" Her voice dropped off as her eyes landed on a new face in the grey light. A face that had plagued her memory for years.

"Ray?" Y/N asked aloud, her vision growing darker. She felt her body slip backwards, drowsiness finally taken hold of her weak body. She felt hands around her waist, holding her upright. Her head lolled backwards, pressed against somebody's hard chest.

The last thing she saw was Ray Palmer, the love of her life.

***

Y/N woke up in a strange place, the cot she was laying on was hard, a blanket thrown over her legs. She stirred slowly, her eyes adjusting to the harsh light that hung above her. She heard the steady beeping of a monitor beside her, seeing a blood bag hanging above her head. Her mouth was dry and her legs stiff. With all her strength she ripped off the blanket and shifted to the edge of the cot, glancing around her. Everything was strange and futuristic around her, like she'd woken up in a different time. Fear struck her chest and she was moving, jumping down from the cot. She looked down, finding the needle stuck into her arm. Her teeth bit down on her bottom lip as her fingers yanked at the dip in her arm.

"Y/N, what are you doing?" Ray was standing in the doorway, his hair messy like he'd just rolled out of bed. She couldn't believe her eyes, he was actually real. He came forward quickly, pulling away her hand and holding her still.

"Ray, I thought you were dead--" She whispered. Years ago there had been an explosion at his labs, everyone had assumed he had died in the accident. Herself included. She had packed up her belongings and fled the city, knowing she couldn't live in the same city as he had died in.

Ray's warm hands cupped her face, his eyes watching her face. "I know, I'm sorry Y/N. I should have come back but--"

"But what?" Y/N demanded. "I loved you. Even when I hated you. I thought you felt the same, but you just died and now...well, that was just a lie."

Ray sighed, dropping his hand from her face. "I couldn't come back because I was recruited."

"What do you mean, recruited? By who?"

"Look around, Y/N. This isn't Central City, we're not even in 2025 anymore. I was recruited by a man called Rip Hunter, he's a time master and is vowed to stop Vandal Savage. As a team we travel through time, stopping any attempt Vandal has to destroy the world. We're going to kill him."

Y/N stared up at Ray for a long moment, gathering her head around the idea of time travelling. While she was standing in the infirmary, her mind kept seeing her city burning. "I want him dead, Ray."

"I know," Ray nodded. "That's why you're here. We couldn't just leave you back in 2025, not with your ability and that desire to end his life. Rip agreed to letting you stay and join the team."

She titled her head upwards at him, he was at least a head taller than herself. "The team?"

Ray shrugged. "They aren't so bad."

Y/N sat back down on the cot, her feet dangling off the edge. The idea of this sounded crazy but it wasn't the strangest situation she'd been in over the last few years. Her eyes darted back to the man she had vowed to love forever, Ray Palmer. They had met years ago at one of Oliver Queen's parties. She couldn't take her eye off him the whole night, even with his corny jokes. He wasn't usually her type, she hated a pretty boy but Ray was different. He was smart, thoughtful and wanted nothing more than to hear her every word. They had been dating when he had supposedly died, her heart breaking into a million pieces.

Now, her heart was slowly being put back together. She had every right to be angry with him but she couldn't help but smile up at him. "This is crazy, you know?" She said to him.

Ray nodded, sitting down beside her. "I know it is." He took her hand slowly. "I never stopped loving you, you know that."

Y/N nodded. "I know,"

The moment was quiet, the hum of the ship soothing the silence. Y/N watched the man next to her, seeing the ways his lips turned upwards into that smile she loved. Without thinking her hand stroked his cheek, bringing his face closer to her own. She pressed her lips to his, soft and slowly. She hadn't kissed him in years but that fluttering in her stomach hadn't went away. Ray's hand curled around her waist, bringing her closer as she opened her mouth, letting the kiss deepen.

Y/N pulled away slowly, her hand resting on his chest. "Let's save the world, Ray Palmer."

[newsnigeria]

Check out New Post published on Ọmọ Oòduà

New Post has been published on http://ooduarere.com/news-from-nigeria/world-news/syria-proxy-war/

Proxy WAR, Syria: Explaining Russia’s Position on Idlib

by Ollie Richardson Ooduarre via The Saker Blog

Over the past five years my work in the information space has been consciously aimed at explaining why the Russian military does and doesn’t do certain things, whether it be in relation to Ukraine, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Venezuela, etc, and why demanding that Putin bombs everything in sight is exactly what the CIA wants so-called “pro-Russians” to say. Yet I haven’t exhausted (maybe I never will exhaust it?) this topic because it is so vast and, ultimately, complex. And it is because of this seemingly insurmountable complexity that questions like “Why doesn’t Russia liberate all of Ukraine”, “Why doesn’t Russia save Donetsk and Lugansk in the same way it saved Crimea?”, “Why doesn’t Russia boot America out of Syria?”, etc are asked on social media.

But one statement that I haven’t really addressed (until now) is “Why doesn’t Russia liberate all of Idlib in one fell swoop?”. Many “geniuses” like to say that Putin is in bed with the “Ottoman butcher” Erdogan and has thus “betrayed Syria”, similar to how shaking hands with Netanyahu means that Putin is a Zionist and has “betrayed Syria”, or even that a visit of the Saudi King to Moscow means that Putin has the blood of Yemen on his hands.

So, those “pro-Russian” readers who fear that they may be one step ahead of the Kremlin and can see an iceberg on the horizon needn’t worry – another Putin-esque zugswang is in progress!

When Russia sent its aviation to Hmeymim airbase in Syria in 2015 the primary mission was simple: remove Turkey – the main belligerent – from the game. Ankara benefited from ISIS’ theft of Syrian oil and controlled many jihadist groups on the ground (Ahrar al-Sham being the main one). Then in November 2015 the CIA (via the PM at the time Ahmet Davutoğlu) decided to float a test balloon and see how Russia would react to a carefully designed scenario. A Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian Su-24. It didn’t matter if the Turkish jet was in Syrian airspace or not, as Moscow knew exactly what had happened, and all the other players knew that Moscow knew. The actual murder of one of the ejecting Russian pilots was carried out by a proxy (a Grey Wolf), and not by a Turkish soldier. But in any case, this test miserably failed, because Russia did not react in a way that would contravene international law (the immediate response happened hours after the shootdown – Russian “advisors” and Syrian troops went to Latakia with MLRS and wiped out the “terrorists who were responsible”, who just happened to be Turkmen). Since military operations generally take place within the framework of economic conflicts (securing assets), the manner in which Russia responded to Turkey in the format état-à-état was the equivalent of what the lunatic Zhirinovsky suggested to do, just without the war crimes.

The sanctions on Turkey (aimed at the CIA-Gulen bloc in reality) negated what Ankara was gaining from stealing Syrian oil, and so the Syrian theater became a zero-sum game for Erdogan. In May 2016 Davutoğlu was removed from the picture. Erdogan was forced to take part in the Astana Agreement and start the process of throwing his proxies in Syria under the bus (or onto green buses!) within the framework of what was given the reputation-saving name of “de-escalation zones”.

This was Moscow’s way of countering the game orchestrated by John Kerry, where a pocket in Eastern Syria would magically open (ISIS would go on an offensive) at a time when al-Nusra was on the ropes in Western Syria. This tactic hoped to tire out the Syrian Army and Russian “advisors” and maximise their casualties. Whilst never admitted in public by Moscow (naturally), “de-escalation zones” actually meant “we will liberate Aleppo and thus recapture all of the ‘useful’ (where most people live, in the West) part of Syria, after which the pace of the theater will have been slowed down enough to start work on eliminating the other players”.

After Aleppo was liberated (the Turkish-controlled groups magically withdrew), Russia continued, via the “de-escalation zones”, to whittle down the large list of terrorist groups into two categories: terrorists no longer supported by Turkey (loyal to al-Nusra leader Jolani) and tame terrorists still supported by Turkey. The former category would be shipped to Idlib via green buses, and the latter category would be used to keep the trecherous Kurds and the CIA-Mossad “Rojava” plan at bay.

In parallel to this, the Astana group managed to smash the Gulf bloc into fragments, liquidating their pet terrorist proxies in Syria and forcing them one by one to normalise relations with Assad, since the dollar is becoming a suitcase without a handle.

The question of the S-400 is more complex and isn’t just about defending Turkish skies. It symbolises more a commitment to play by the rules of the newly emerging world order (based on self-defence and international law) and to no longer indulge in the casino known as “Responsibility to Protect” (or in simpler terms – multipolarity vs unipolarity). Similarly, Turkish Stream is another example of Moscow thrusting a lance through the rotting corpse of NATO. In general, Turkey is geographically positioned almost in the center of the battle of superpowers. For Ankara, bearing in mind that the US tried to stage a coup there in 2016 and had a hand in the assasination of Andrey Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, it is more profitable to look East than it is to look West, and this was why Turkey wasn’t in a hurry to join the EU, since it saw the geopolitical storm brewing on the horizon and wasn’t prepared to kiss the ass of the IMF anymore.

So, returning back to the Syrian timeline, whilst al-Nusra was being herded into Idlib, and since Trump cut aid to US-backed terrorists, Turkey was able to monopolise the “Free Syrian Army” aesthetics (abandoned by the US) and occupy areas of Northern Syria whilst making it look like they are “Syrian rebels” and not Turkish proxies, all for the purpose of preventing the Kurds from travelling any more Westward than they already have. And here is where the array of interests becomes interesting:

Russia and Iran have basic diplomatic relations with the YPG/SDF (they are Syrian citizens after all) and want them to abandon the US/Tel Aviv/Riyadh;

The Syrian State wants the YPG/SDF to return to the bosom of the state and hand over the territories they occupy back to the Syrian Army;

Turkey wants the YPG/SDF removed from the picture/disbanded entirely, but has developed ties with Russia and Iran;

The YPG/SDF will not negotiate with Turkey unless it can hide behind America’s skirt;

Formally, Syria views Turkey as an aggressor, although behind the curtain Damascus has a pragmatic consensus with Moscow, which gave Turkey the green light to enter Syria in order to quell Rojava, and which is trying to stabilise the region and include all regional players in the Eurasian bloc;

Yes, it’s complicated. But here is a simple fact that helps the layperson to understand the situation: America has nuclear weapons. This is why Russia cannot stop the US from occupying Northeast Syria (which was plan B, plan A being a replica of Gaddafi’s removal, which failed after Russia cemented the Minsk Agreements in Ukraine). It can squash its proxies that are West of the Euphrates, yes, but it cannot touch US (non-proxy) assets, in the same way that Washington cannot touch Russian (non-proxy) assets. Or rather – they can directly touch each other’s assets, but any “victory” will be completely pyrrhic. From Russia’s perspective, the aim is to make friends with everyone, since the fewer enemies one has, the better.

While the core of the Turkish proxies is busy caging in (so-called “outposts”) al-Nusra militants in Idlib governorate, repelling the Kurds, and occasionally killing US soldiers, a kind of negotiation game between Turkey and Russia is ongoing:

Turkey needs a terroristified Idlib as leverage against all players but is happy to hand the governorate over to Assad piece by piece in exchange for pieces of the S-400/Turk Stream/general Eurasian bloc project;

Russia occasionally bombs Idlib in order to exercise its superior leverage over Turkey (the media presents this as “there were talks, but Russia continues to bomb Idlib”), the interim “ceasefire deals” are simply checkpoints in these grand negotiations;

Turkey turns a blind eye to al-Nusra’s oil operations (which feed their occupation of the governorate);

As an act of “hybrid war”, Russia and friends assist in the process of assassinating the commanders of al-Nusra in Idlib, since the less leverage Turkey has, the quicker the Idlib circus can end;

The West broadcasts propaganda about hospitals being bombed simply to cover up the fact that they have been arming and funding Al Qaeda for decades.

The “x-factor” in this conundrum is Trump’s “pull-out”. If US troops pull out of Northeast Syria completely, it would be in Russia’s interests if Turkey filled the void and proverbially herded the Kurds back towards Assad. For America, the sooner this war ends the quicker US troops can return home, but Trump won’t exit without getting something in return. However, there is a big problem – Zionism. Tel Aviv tries to keep America in Syria. Netanyahu didn’t spend all that time begging Uncle Sam to invade Iraq just for him to leave when the going got tough. Moreover, Iraq is already falling into the hands of Iran, and sooner or later the S-400 will be sat in Mesopotamia. Not to mention the fact that Russia is entrenching itself in Lebanon. Did I mention that Trump’s (purposeful?) decisions (and failed “deals of the century”) are strengthening the Palestinian resistance (example)? So what in all honesty does Israel hope to do?

Well, since everything that happened in the Middle East since 2001 (and arguably even earlier) is mainly in Israel’s interests, especially the Syrian war, it’s not a surprise that 8 years of full-scale local proxy warfare has reduced to… Israel taking aerial pot shots at a limited slice of Syrian territory. I have already explained why Russia doesn’t react to these airstrikes in the way that social media guerrillas would like, and all that has happened since is Netanyahu’s election victory. I would only add that bombing Syria became even riskier for Tel Aviv, since the SAA air defence units gain more experience with each new raid. Moscow managed to make a nice gesture to Israel, recovering from Syria the remains of an Israeli soldier missing since the 1982 war in Lebanon, but it wasn’t done for the purpose of stopping the airstrikes. It was simply a typical Russian diplomatic move based on the concept of “violence doesn’t beget violence”. Deflecting Israel’s airstrikes is the job of the Syrian air defences. The Israeli media presents this as “Russia has friendly relations with Israel and knows that Jerusalem considers Iran its leading existential threat, so does not block Israeli strikes at Iranian targets and those of its proxies, but on one condition: Stay out of Russia’s way and give ample warning so there won’t be a repeat of incidents like the one in which Syria shot down a Russian spy plane, possibly because of confusing signals by Israel”. However, in reality Russia wants Syria to become an independent adult, capable of defending itself without requiring Russia’s help, and it is only in this way that Syria will be able to successfully integrate itself into the Eurasian bloc. Of course, logically speaking, if Israel just left Syria alone and minded its own business, then Iranian forces wouldn’t even be in Syria. But I think that most know by now that Israel wanted (and maybe still wants) to carve Syria into 3 pieces along sectarian lines.

Another layer of the Israel problem is the fact that America is standing behind it (and thus the diplomatic support of many banana republics) and an illegal nuclear program, so it’s leverage when compared to Syria’s is superior, hence why the airstrikes happen in the first place. The incident with the downing of the Russian surveillance plane didn’t really change much, because Moscow knows that apartheid Israel is the main troublemaker in the Middle East (and even more so in Ukraine – those who truly understand Ukrainian history will understand why I say this), and the Syrian war coming to an end (whilst strengthening Israel’s neighbours in parallel) is in itself a blow to Tel Aviv.

What is very common to see now is countries seemingly sat on two chairs – the West and Eurasia. For example: Serbia, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia show signs of looking both West and East. What is going on in reality is many tugs of war between superpowers, and the stronger Russia’s military and China’s economy become, the more it tips the scales in their favour, and the more “multipolar” the world becomes. It’s not that the US’ influence in a “converted” country disappears (the creation of NGOs is not illegal, and liberalism as an ideology cannot be physically destroyed), but more that the influence becomes less as the country adjusts to the new global economic reality. Although if Trump is indeed playing 4D chess with the “deep state” and is deliberately de-globalising the planet, then this shrinking of influence may be more fluid and less volatile than it seems.

In summary: Turkey – the driving force behind the Anglo-Israeli proxies in Syria – was forced to abandon its plans in Syria after NATO’s Su-24 shootdown gambit failed; Ankara and Moscow now mutually exchange a piece of Idlib for a piece of S-400; the Syrian war is now at the “exit negotiations” stage, but Israel doesn’t want to be left alone with a stronger Syrian Army, Hezbollah, and Palestinian resistance at its border; Russia isn’t in a hurry to liberate Idlib, since an alternative plan is to let the jihadists kill each other like spiders in a jar, thus the lives of SAA soldiers are not put in danger unnecessarily.

PS I am well aware that Turkey creates local councils, military adminstrations, and civilian infrastructure in North Syria, and I am not an advocate of such behavior but I don’t pretend to be more qualified than the Kremlin when it comes to solving such problems. I doubt that the Kurds would have behaved any different had they succeeded to create “rojava” in the summer of 2016. As for America, just look at what it has done to Raqqa and Mosul. Out of these options, I would prefer a temporary Turkish occupation, knowing that in the near future the situation would improve.