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ntriani · 7 months

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OQM Playlist: Life during quarantine #20

With a new Life during quarantine playlist, Nick Triani focuses on football post-lockdown and the fortunes of his beloved Tottenham Hotspur

Very Spursy The day after Bayern Munich put Barcelona to the sword and ended the era of the superhero footballer, it feels like a great time to reflect not only on football in these Covid-19 times, but more specifically my own team Tottenham Hotspur. Anyone who knows me understands my obsession with football and Spurs. My partner commented recently that I was much nicer at home during lockdown without football and that once the Premier League resumed in July, my mood occasionally erred toward the darker, edgier side of things. It’s true, the fortunes of my chosen team has a profound effect on me and the never ending 2019/20 season has been especially tumultuous for Spurs supporters in general. Yesterday, Amazon released the full trailer for All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur, a forthcoming warts and all behind the scenes TV series that looks at the football club over the last 12 months. And what a period that has been in the club’s history. Merely 12 months ago Spurs played in their first Champions League final, a pinnacle for the club on the world stage and for me as a lifelong supporter. Of course, in typical fashion, despite the heroics to reach the final, Spurs were very tepid in a drab match and lost to a great (but not great on the night ) Liverpoolteam.

Everything is broken In his five and a half years at the club former coach Mauricio Pochettino had transformed Tottenham from an occasionally sparkling team to a contender that played a modern version of the football association with a youthful and skillful squad. Our biggest rivals ARSEnal football club were looking jaded after years of domination over us. Plus Poch, as he became affectionately known by the fans, as well as being a prime team motivator, was a little sexy and showed real emotionwhich endeared him to us even more.

At the beginning of the 2019/20 season, after years of overachieving results with relatively small means, the results went North and our best coach of the modern era went North too. Enter stage left one of the most divisive football coaches of the modern era (and also one of the most successful in football history); José Mourinho. The former special one (nowadays dubbed the toxic one and much despised by the football community at large), initially brought pragmatic football followed by injury hit football and then, once football returned, a mostly successful counter attacking football which gives some hope for next season (only four weeks away people.)

I don’t mind José. Yes, he most certainly is a wind-up merchant, and if a pundit calls him a proven winner again, I swear I’ll…But he’s also an appalling human being masquerading as a slice of post-modern entertainment (which makes him fascinating in a way). The football he coaches can certainly be depressing and negative (shit on a stick), but that overused description of Mourinho being a star, works. He is rarely dull in conversation and doesn’t play the good guy. He’s the anti-Jürgen Klopp, the Dark Prince of football who lacks scruples and even some kind of heart (but still has lots of heart). Compared to the wet soggy abandoned dishcloth of Barcelona coach Quique Setién, Mourinho is electric. I’ll take him whilst he lasts.

Help me if you can But here is the rub: despite the precautions taken with a deadly pandemic involved and my own personal selfish joy at watching 22 grown men kicking a ball around an empty stadium, football’s restart post-lockdown does smack of the general contentious greed that afflicts society right now. The human race has gradually come round to thinking we can live with the pandemic and fuck the consequences. Capitalism is winning the safety argument and I wonder what world we’re leaving behind for my young children. Environmental concerns seem to be eternally on the backburner whilst we work out a way to abide by the virus and just live. Football, in its acquiescence to supply ‘entertainment’ to pander to nostalgic pangs of normality, doesn’t need to worry about losing its soul (that was lost decades ago). The rest of us who follow our multi-million teams are the ones I’m worried about. At what time do I start to feel disgusted by all this?

#OQM #life during quarantine #playlist #football #spurs #nick triani #tottenham hotspur

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stevecarell600 · 2 years

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Drone Package Delivery Market Share, Size USD 31,188.7 Million Exhibiting at 53.94% and Report Forecast by 2028

The global drone package delivery market size is projected to reach USD 7,388.2 million by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 41.8% during the forecast period. Widespread deployment of drones to deliver medical and food supplies amid the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to aid the market make substantial gains, observes Fortune Business Insights™ in its report, titled “Drone Package Delivery Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing), By Package Size (Less Than 2 Kg, 2-5 Kg, and above 5 Kg), By End Use The sudden rise in CAGR is attributable to this market’s demand and growth, returning to pre-pandemic levels once the pandemic is over.

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The report states that the market value stood at USD 642.4 million in 2019 and shares the following information:

Comprehensive depiction of the industry outlook and trends;

Detailed insights into the upcoming opportunities in the market;

Tangible analysis of the market drivers, restrains, and all possible segments; and

In-depth assessment of the regional and competitive dynamics impacting the market.

List of Key Companies Profiled in the Drone Package Delivery Market Report:

DroneScan (South Africa)

Cheetah Logistics Technology (US)

Flytrex (Israel)

Flirtey (US)

Matternet, Inc. (US)

Boeing (US)

Amazon Inc. (US)

Wing Aviation LLC (US)

Workhorse Group Inc. (US)

Drone Delivery Canada Corp. (Canada)

Zipline (US)

DHL International GmbH (Germany)

United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (US)

FedEx (US)

Driving Factor

Emergence of Drone Startups in Logistics to Augment Market Potential

The growing demand for enhancing the efficiency of logistics operations has triggered a sudden emergence of startups specializing in drone technologies to cater to these needs. For example, DroneScan, a South Africa-based startup, designs drones that transmits live data of scanned items in warehouses, making inventory management more efficient and upping the productivity quotient of workers. An Italy-based startup, Archon, provides autonomous robotic drone services to facilitate supervised as well as unsupervised inspection of warehousing and logistics operations. The drone startup culture is gathering momentum in developing countries as well. For example, in India, several startups have spawned in the past few years that are providing next-gen drone services. Aarav Unmanned Systems, for instance, was started in 2013 and is India’s first drone company to develop drone solutions for commercial applications in the public and private sectors. These developments are expected to power the drone package delivery market growth in the forthcoming years.

Regional Insights

North America to Top Other Regions Backed by Rising Preference for Drone Deliveries by Shoppers

North America is set to dominate the drone package delivery market share during the forecast period owing to the increasing inclination of online shoppers towards delivery of goods through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). With a market size of USD 237.7 million in 2019, the region is likely to retain its leading position, which will be supported by the strong financial support to drone startups in the US and Canada.

In Europe, the market is anticipated to be driven by the growing presence of tech companies that are expanding their operations in the region through collaborations and partnerships. Asia Pacific is expected to create exciting opportunities for market players on account of the emerging trend of online purchasing of groceries in the large cities of India, China, and Indonesia.

Competitive Landscape

Supportive Regulations to Novel Ideas to Feed Competitive Ardor of Key Players

With the scope for innovation widening, key players in the market drone package deliveries are engaged in coming up with novel drone solutions, especially during the current coronavirus crisis. Supporting their efforts are regulatory bodies that are easing flying norms and rules to ensure timely delivery of essential supplies to people.

Industry Developments:

August 2020: Amazon secured clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to deploy its Prime Air delivery drone fleet to efficiently and securely deliver packages to customers. Amazon is now the third company to receive FAA approval to operate drones on a commercial scale after UPS and the Alphabet-owned company, Wing.

May 2020: Wing, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet, announced that it has made thousands of drone deliveries in Australia during the pandemic. Launched in Canberra in 2019, the demand for Wing’s services rose by 500% between February and April 2020.

#Drone Package Delivery Market

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blueweave8 · 2 years

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Europe Smart Room Heater Market Trends, Insight, Report 2023-2029

BlueWeave Consulting, a leading strategic consulting and market research firm, in its recent study, expects Europe smart room heater market size to grow at an impressive CAGR of 16.3% during the forecast period between 2023 and 2029. Europe smart room heater market's expansion is attributed to the growing launches of many smart room heater brands and products and technological advancements in the products. The manufacturers of smart room heaters are progressive including technology, such as IoT sensors, Wi-Fi, 4G/5G connection, as well as smartphone remote control. It is also expected that growing awareness of the detrimental impact traditional room heating techniques have on human health and the environment would aid in the expansion of the smart room heater market in Europe during the period in analysis.

Europe Smart Room Heater Market – Overview

As a fan in warm weather and a heater in colder months, a smart room heater is a gadget for all seasons. These heaters are instilled with attractive smart features such as smartphone control, smart scheduling, and worldwide remote access to warm up a cold room at their discretion, bringing in the highest return on investment to the consumers. Smart room heaters are gaining huge popularity in the European market because of their advantages such as they are environmentally friendly, saving money and time, and automatically adjusting the temperature according to room temperature.

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Europe Smart Room Heater Market – By Distribution Channel

Based on distribution channels, Europe Smart Room Heater market is segmented into online and offline channels. The online segment accounts for a higher market share. The deepening penetration and increasing popularity of e–commerce platforms, such as Amazon and eBay, among European consumers. The e–commerce site allows customers access to a wide range of products of different brands and compares their prices and specifications as well as compares them with each other. The deepening penetration of China-based e-commerce Alibaba in the European market owing to the increasing popularity of Chinese smart room heaters is also propelling the growth of the online distribution channel.

Impact of Russia War in Ukraine on Europe Smart Room Heater Market

Russia’s war in Ukraine has significantly impacted energy and food markets in Europe. There has been a steep rise in energy prices in Europe and across the globe since July 2021. And the invasion of Russia of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 further aggravated the challenging situation in the region’s energy and food supply. Consequently, in March 2022, 27 member states of the European Union (EU) reached an agreement to reduce their reliance on Russian oil and gas. Towards the end of May 2022, the European Council imposed a ban on about 90% of all Russian oil imports (with a temporary exception for crude oil delivered by pipeline) by the end of 2022. Further in December 2022, the European Council set an oil price cap for Russian oil at USD 60 per barrel to limit price surges driven by extraordinary market conditions.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Europe Smart Room Heater Market

The unprecedented COVID–19 negatively impacted the growth of the Europe smart room heater market. The supply chain and sales of smart room heaters plummeted during the lockdown period. The manufacturing of smart room heaters was also halted in Europe and globally owing to a huge shortage of IC chips and other essential components, which hindered the market growth. The purchasing power of consumers in the region was also directly impacted, which also affected the market demand for smart room heaters in Europe. However, the market is forecast to regain its growth during the post-pandemic period.

Competitive Landscape

Major players operating in Europe Smart Room Heater market include De'Longhi, Honeywell International, Jarden Consumer Solutions, Lasko Products, Dyson, Bromic Group Pty Ltd., and KING ELECTRICAL MFG. Co., Dr. Infrared Heater, and Sunheat International. To further enhance their market share, these companies employ various strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, license agreements, and new product launches.

BlueWeave Research Blog

Phone No: +1 866 658 6826

Email: [email protected]

#Europe Smart Room Heater Market

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banightdyn · 2 years

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Ignite Amazonian Sunrise Drops Review – Beneficial Aspects Online

Ignite, commonly known as Ignite Amazonian Sunrise Drops, is usually a fat burner available as any kind of highly-concentrated liquid. Often the drops have most certainly been popular using the web during the last quarter or so. Purchases now have increased, and even many include supposedly made use of Ignite to get rid of tremendous extra pounds using a short time. Each discontinue regarding Ignite includes a combined 100 % natural ingredients to increase energy, hasten up the results of foods, boost energy levels, and present some other added advantages. The producer about Ignite centered typically the system apart natural ingredients from Amazon rainforest. Indians for the Amazon ostensibly utilise related elements to sleep in nutritious, thin out, and additionally healthy whether or not concerning multi-day hunts. Right now, you can utilize those same recipe to misplace serious bodyweight. As being Ignite drops program formulator Dr. Michael Frazier pointed out, many certified finished 900 different chemical a combination in addition to dosage amounts to get the most effective life-changing solution to drop some weight nowadays. While using formal Ignite web site combined with testimonials web based, you'll be able to relinquish perhaps up to 1lb of fat per day when using the drops. Simply 10 drops relating to Ignite every day, in that case shed weight. Your properly elementary plus all-natural plant-based formulation says it will promote weight management from stimulating your entire calorie burning, increasing metabolic processes, as well as boosting your electrical power. You can easily need Ignite naturally, setting 10 drops (just one extensive dropper) as part of your chin and then let the liquid soak up under your current tongue (sublingually) in advance of ingesting the application. The neighborhood beneath the your current lips is designed for imbibition, sign in forums emit any Ignite formulation to the whole body rather more fast than normal. Additionally, many incorporate Ignite having a shake, water, coffee, or other meal as well as beverage. Even though our body soaks up this substances any other way, one could even so experience significant foodstuff issues but yet is recommended to rouse and therefore enjoy 10 drops concerning Ignite each morning ahead of when breakfast every underneath the mouth to get optimal returns. Utilizing Ignite, both women and men spanning various ages is able to suffer a loss of vital fat in the short period. Then again, the particular blueprint is exclusively publicised towards most people over age 35 who're encountering weight-loss. To comprehend more info on Ignite Amazonian Sunrise Drops reviews, you can this blog. And yet as a result of spectacular healthcare information and therefore systematic literature the fact that sports activities Ignite drops BAM15 stored fat dissolving hormone triggering, to assist concluding that may, “BAM15 is seen to burn away a inward and the majority centered facets of body fat adventures in the male body 366% quicker and others comfortably as well as meal plan and / or physical activity on earth.” Ignite is designed to specific a specific hormone systems labeled as BAM15. BAM15 is without question specially connected with fat burning. In reality, BAM15 will probably be the cause you’re can not shed unwanted weight over age 35. As you become mature, your actual BAM15 hormone manufacture transforms. With regards to the supplier of Ignite, ones own not accepting BAM15 formation will certainly make this extremely hard to lose fat no matter if exercising and dieting.

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brianwilly · 3 years

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So. Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons #1. The book is basically so beautiful that it will hurt your mind, which is to be expected, and I'm actually little torn about it in the sense that the sheer undeniable quality on display in this book, and how close this book gets to an utter ideal depiction of the DC Amazons and associated mythology, makes me that much more nitpicky and resistant to the periodic parts of the telling that I'm not quite 100% sold on. It's that old conundrum. The more you love a thing, the more you wanna take it apart. Uh. Maybe. Just me, then?

This story can, will, and should completely redefine the Wonder Woman mythos for years to come...and, as a fan, that frightens me as much as it excites. I want this to be doing exactly what it's doing because I can see what it's doing, but I'm also wary of some things that I see it doing.

This is a story built on rage and sadness and trainloads of strong emotional baggage. The first issue is painted at every turn with emotions so raw they tear at the pages themselves. And so the gods and the Amazons themselves depicted in the story are raw. Sharp. Grim. Implacable. Furious. And they deserve it, and are a perfect response to the sort of world that made them necessary.

I'll cut to the chase and just say that I hope that this book doesn't neglect the part of the DC Universe's Amazons that are about love and compassion and reform as well. I recently talked about how much I appreciated that the DC Amazons always seemed to be intended as an subversion of old messy stereotypes of man-hating feminists. I really hope this aspect of them -- this deliberate send-up to the idea that women who don't want to be literally violated by men must also want to do violence to men in return -- does not get neglected by this series and that these Amazons forge a path towards something new and meaningful as they seemed to have been created to do, instead of just repeating the violence of the past. That's what Wonder Woman is about, after all.

And I think that there may in fact be signs that this might indeed be where the story is heading. Again, I hope that I'm reading these signs right, and also fear that I'm not. I actually ended up liking the more down-to-Earth parts of the book about Hippolyta's origins a bit more than the larger-than-life dioramas of the goddesses' plans in motion. This part felt like a true origin story of a meaningfully powerful character, who will truly shape the course of the Amazons. And I love this Hippolyta -- the quintessential Wonder-Mom -- and am desperate to know exactly how she'll do that.

On a more mythological note with more mythological nitpicks (and these are truly nitpicks, but I'd be remiss not to address them), this issue basically divides the Olympian gods' opinions on women based on their gender; all the goddesses are sympathetic to the plights of women, bar none, and all the male gods to a tee couldn't care less. This had always been a bit of a questionable way to depict the Greek gods, even in Perez's day...a vastly binary and oversimplified rendition of the roles and narratives in a mythology where none of the gods are simply one good thing or one bad thing, where Ares actually punished rapists and Apollo freed slaves while Hera and Athena victim-blamed.

I know, I know; this is a retelling, a reinterpretion, not a 1:1 reiteration of a mythos that already had no real canon anyway, and the whole point of Wonder Woman's mythology since 1942 is that the stories we know are wrong while these are how how they really happened...in these cases. Believe me, I'm not pressed about a Wonder Woman book choosing to interpret gods in different ways. But the thing is that with mythology, the closer that you try to hew to the spirit of the ancient gods and stories -- and this Historia definitely does hew very, very, very closely in a lot of great ways -- the more noticeable your deviations become. It may work for this telling, it may be this way for incredibly valid narrative reasons, but at the end of the day you run the danger of missing as many points about these gods as you'd caught, fucking up as many elements as you'd gotten right, picking and choosing at the mythos as you did. It's that other old conundrum...if your retelling of the myths was bananas right from the outset, well, who cares how off-base it gets? See: Thor, Loki, Marvel. But the more marks you actually hit, the weirder your misses become.

In any case, this is a genre-defining book for all the right reasons and I cannot wait another second before issue two (Spring 2022? Spring 2022?? We'll all be dead by then!) which means every little thing about issue one will probably bug me forever!

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xebecatt2002 · 3 years

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"Gabrielle, Tell him. Do the Bard thing" Chariots of War

From the very first episode Gabrielle is introduced as a storyteller and straight away it is hard not to be impressed with the level of authenticity the writers give to Gabrielle’s skills as a Bard. Many of these stories she tells are based on fragments of authentic myths.

'Chariots of War', the second episode of the series, opens on Gabrielle telling Xena a story as they make their way to the bar in a village tavern. Though we only catch the ending of her story, there is still interesting details to unpick.

G: “And so, Zeus, in his appreciation, turned the two lovers into oak trees. And then do you know what happened?”

X: “Somebody built a boat out of them?”

G: “No-- their branches intertwined, and they spent the rest of their days in each other’s embrace.”

There are a lot of stories in Greek myth involving 'metamorphoses', the Greek word for ‘transformations’, with both gods and mortals turning into other things like plants or animals. The only story that comes close to the one Gabrielle tells is the story of Baucis and Philemon.

The complete version of the myth is only found in the work ‘Metamorphoses'. It is a collection of myths woven together into a narrative through their common theme of transformation. It was written by the Roman poet Ovid who lived between 43 BC and 17 AD, a period of Roman history which saw the end of the Roman Republic and the reign of the first Emperor, Augustus.

The gods Zeus and Hermes (known here in their Roman forms, Jupiter and Mercury) disguise themselves as mortals and travel across Greece. When they seek hospitality from the mortals they encounter, they find themselves turned away from every household until the come upon the simple home of Philemon and Baucis.

‘Looking for shelter and rest, they called at a thousand

homesteads;

a thousand doors were bolted against them. One

house, however,

did make them welcome, a humble abode with a roof

of straw

and marsh reed, one that new its duty to the gods and men.

Here good Philemon an Baucis had happily passed

their youth

and here they had reached old age, enduring their

poverty lightly

by owning it freely and being content with the little

they had.’

Ovid, Metamorphoses, 8.628-635

Here the couple greet the strangers and offer up what little they have, providing them with the best of the meagre food and wine unknowing their true divine identities. Ovid goes in to quite a bit of detail describing the hospitality the couple offer especially the dishes that make up their feast during. While they entertain their guests the cups magically refill with wine.

‘Meanwhile, whenever the mixing-bowl got empty,

it seemed

To refill of its own accord, with the wine welling up by

itself.

Stunned and scared by this wonder, Philemon,

trembling, and Baucis

lifted their upturn hands to heaven and fervently

prayed

For forgiveness after serving so poorly prepared a repast.’

Ovid, Metamorphoses, 8.679-682

Fearing they have offended their divine guest they seek to appease them by sacrificing their only goose. This leads to a comical scene with the elderly couple chasing the goose and failing to catch it. It appears to run towards to gods for safety which seems to work as the gods command them to spare the bird as they are grateful for what they have already provided.

They then proclaim that the couple will be spared from the punishment they will inflict of their impious neighbours who refused to honour the Greek custom of hospitality known as xenia (ξενία), a word derived from the Greek word for stranger xenos(ξένος). Sometimes referred to as 'ritualized friendship' the custom was based on generosity, courtesy and gift-giving that strengthen ties between people. In earlier times when it was thought that the gods walked among mortals it was even more important to respect these customs to avoid incurring the wrath of a visiting god. It would became seen as a moral obligation for both Guest and Host to show respect to each other.

Returning to Ovid's story, the couple leave their home with the gods and head to the safety mountains. There they witness the flood the gods send down to wipe out their impious neighbours. Nothing is spared except the couple’s home which undergoes its own transformation as it becomes a temple to the gods.

The gods offer to grant the couple anything they desire as reward. After deliberating with each other Philemon and Baucis ask to be guardians of the new temple and also, that when the time comes for them to die, that they die together so they don’t have to suffer the loss of their partner. After many years happy years together they are transformed into Trees. Philemon an Oak and Baucis a linden.

"We

ask

to be priests and to guard your temple; and since we

have passed our years

together in peace, let the same hour carry us off, so I

need not

look on my dear wife’s grave, nor she have to bury my

body."

Their wish was granted; as long as life was allowed

them, they served

as the temple’s guardians. When time had taken its

final toll,

and while they were casually standing in front of the

steps of the building,

telling the sanctuary’s history, both Philemon and

Baucis

witnessed their partner sprouting leaves on their worn

old limbs

As the tops of the trees spread over their lip sand concealed

them forever.

Still to this day the peasants of Phrygia point to the oak

and the linden nearby which once where the forms of

Philemon and Baucis.’ Ovid, Metamorphoses, 8.712-720

The devotion the couple have for each other is really endearing. You can really see why this story would appeal to a young Gabrielle who left her home and arranged marriage to find the true place she feels she belongs.

It is also an interesting choice of story to share with Xena, someone she’s just met who is aloof and independent. She’s eager to befriend the warrior but is finding her emotionally distant. This emotional distance is reflected in the physical distance between them. In these early episodes they have clearly defined personal spaces, such as sperate bedrolls, and they spend a lot of time apart as Gabrielle is left behind in a 'safe' location. You could read into this that just as Xena tries to keep distance between her and Gabrielle physically to protect her, she is trying to keep her emotionally distant for safety reasons as well. In some ways Gabrielle may understand this which is why she choses to tell this particular story to Xena. The old couple might seem weak and vulnerable but they are given strength by the devotion and support they have for each other. Gabrielle is trying to show her new friend that caring isn't a weakness but a source of strength by using this story as an example.

X: “What’s the point?”

G: “Come on, Xena. I believe everyone will find their tree in the forest someday-- even you.”

X: “I find the strongest trees in the forest stand alone.”

G: “You don’t have to be strong all the time, Xena; sometimes it’s good for the soul to be soft.”

This moment beautifully foreshadows the relationship that grows between Xena and Gabrielle throughout the series as both become entwined emotionally, spiritually and physically in a multiple of ways. There are moments that the imagery of the myth is invoked in such a way that Xena and Gabrielle symbolically become the lovers. Intentional or not by the writers it is a fantastic coincidence.

One episode that subtly does this is ‘The Abyss’ during one of its poignant cave scenes. After an encounter with cannibals Xena and an injured Gabrielle become tapped in a cave that is rapidly flooding. As Xena tries to get them out, Gabrielle tells Xena her final wish, that she wants to be buried with Xena.

X [Whispers]: "Gabrielle-- Gabrielle-- here-- here. The time's

come. We're getting you out of here, all right?"

G: "Oh."

X: "All right."

G: "Xena, I have a-- a last wish."

X: "I don't want to hear of it."

G: "No-- I'm serious. You don't want to know?"

X: "What is it, then?"

G: "I don't-- want to be buried-- with the Amazons."

X: "All right. Well, in fifty years, when the time comes."

G: "Xena-- I wanna lie with you-- with your family? In

Amphipolis."

X: "What about your family?"

G: "I love them-- but I'm a part of you. I want it to be like

that forever. I love you."

It is the climax of a series of intimate moments that are grounded in their love and devotion to each other. Gabrielle’s words cement their soulmate relationship. They are meant to be, and will be, together forever like the lovers of her story.

The context of this moment adds another layer to this allusion. As Gabrielle is affirming to Xena that she is a part of her, the warrior princess is preparing to save her injured partner by tying her to herself using vines. This nicely invokes images of Gabrielle’s story of the two lovers who becoming trees and entwining together. Also it connects with Ovid's tale of Philemon and Baucis as like the mythic couple, Xena cannot bear to witness the death of her partner. As Philemon and Baucis were spared that fate by being transformed into trees, Xena is using a plant to physically entwine her and Gabrielle to save her from death.

This climb up the ravine walls to escape the rising water could be reminiscent of Philemon's and Baucis' arduous climb up the mountain to escape the flood or just another coincidence. What perhaps isn't is that it is love and devotion that binds each couple together for eternity. Just like the lovers in the story Gabrielle tells in season one, and the myth it is based upon, Xena and Gabrielle will be together for eternity in each other's embrace.

Throughout the series there are a number of different ways Xena and Gabrielle become entwined together. As the emotional distance between them shrinks, the physical space seen in earlier episodes disappears and they begin to embrace each other. Not only is there a myriad of touches and hugs to connect them but while sitting, walking and even fighting they become inseparable.

They become so close that they pick up traits from each other and almost merge into one. This is such a vast topic to discuss it really needs its own post to explore in detail but the importance for this discussion is the idea that they merge into one entity. The idea that they become one is the connection with the myths and invokes the imagery of metamorphosis.

This metamorphosis becomes literal later in the series. In season 5’s ‘Succession’ during Ares’ contest to determine a worthy successor to Xena as his Chosen, he places Gabrielle and Xena into the same body. At dawn they discover that Gabrielle metamorphoses in to Xena and dusk, Xena into Gabrielle. This nicely alludes to Gabrielle’s story as they transform, much like the couple becoming entwine trees, two individuals become one entwined in each others bodies.

This physical metamorphoses happens in the series when it has become fully established that these two are soulmates, destined to be together for eternity. They are truly devoted to each other that they cannot be separated, just as the lovers cannot bear to be parted from each other even when they are transformed into trees.

As Gabrielle predicted at the end of her story, they both found their tree in the forest in each other.

Sources

Ovid, Metamorphoses

Whoosh.org, Episode Transcripts

Screen captures by myself

Thanks to Simjay on the Discord Xena group for the Gifs!

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earthly--truth · 3 years

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What I believe in

These are my beliefs as someone who aligns with democratic socialism and progressivism. Feel free to critique it, challenge it, even just a few sections, whatever, but this is what I believe will make the world a better place, because people (and animals) deserve to live the best possible lives they can live with the only chance at life they got. This is going to be super general and long, and not get into nearly everything, but I hope it sheds a positive light on leftism.

Strong unions so that workers (the majority of people in society) have the ability have better footing to negotiate better wages, work hours, vacation days, benefits, etc. I also believe that in instances where it’s pragmatically viable that there should be a push for more worker co-op’s, in which every employee has a stake in the company they work at, and the ability to give their input (all companies should strive for more democracy). Both of these contribute to healthier, happier, and, and better payed people.

Raising the minimum wage in the U.S to $15 an hour. The current wage of $7.25 is way too low. It’s just not a livable wage. There’s a reason why McDonald’s and Walmart are called corporate welfare queens, and it’s because they’re employees require welfare to survive, despite being the biggest corporations on the planet with multi-billionaire CEO’s. The richest in society should also pay more in taxes.

Stop investing so much in the American military, cut it by a third if you can. (Firstly this frees up a lot of money for other things) Get the military out of the middle east, and create other more peaceful avenues to ensure it doesn’t crumble like every single time the military pulls out and doesn’t try to actually fix the mess they created. The people in the middle east deserve to be able to rebuild and they’ll need help to do that (just not the type of help where america installs their own leaders).

Healthcare should be universal, paid for by taxes. Every developed nation is capable of doing it. Many developing countries are doing it. Americans pay more in taxes for healthcare than so many other countries, yet a trip to the hospital still can put you in debt for the rest of your life. That is inhumane, and people shouldn’t have to choose between crippling debt and their health.

There’s also an argument to be made for free/way cheaper university, since countries like Canada or America force people to get a degree if they want to live a decent life, yet in order to do that you have to pay $15,000 a year for university. A system like that either forces people to skip out on uni, or again go into major debt. If Europe can figure it out, I think the U.S and Canada can figure it out too.

Black Lives Matter. To be more specific, I want police/criminal justice/prison reform. I want police de-militarized and to stop acting so abusive towards to civilians and real justice for the police that do, I want an end on the war on drugs (this helps drug addicts get help and delivers a blow to gangs and the cartel). I want an end to mass incarceration and laws that make it easier to throw people in jail for years for basically nothing. I want an end to for profit prisons. I want an end to the policy of retribution rather than rehabilitation for inmates (countries who rehabilitate are way more successful at non-returning inmates). I want an end to treating prisoners like slaves so corporations can get cheap labour. I also want the government to actually start caring about the poorest communities, many of which are predominantly black and latino (in cities anyways). (Also the indigenous in Canada). Better infrastructure, better public works programs. These all contribute to the proliferation of these communities and helps lessen the potential for criminality by making their lives better.

The dismantling of gender norms and roles, and de-stigmatization of LGBTQ+ people. I want people to be whoever they want to be. For far too long we have expected men and women to act a certain way. Women have come a long way, but there are still remnants of the old way of looking at things. We still have a lot of social stigma about how women should look, and that they are not worth even paying attention to if they aren’t conventionally attractive. We still have social stigma about sexuality and sex work. We hyper sexualize women in the media, yet shame women as sluts if they have a lot of sex. We shame women who choose abortion as murderers, yet don’t offer any support for the mother once the child has arrived. On top of that, the positions of power are still predominantly very old men. I also believe in helping men. Men are lonelier, men are increasingly staying sexless (not by choice), men are getting more suicidal. I want to address this two ways. One, by tackling toxic masculinity (not masculinity itself, just the bad parts). TM is telling men to man up and not to cry, TM is telling men not to act feminine or gay. TM is telling men to bottle up their emotions and resolve their problems through violence. The second way to address this is through my beliefs about workers. Men are the most suicidal in countries where there is a heavy work culture, like Japan and South Korea. Where they can’t have lives, and live to make money for the company they work at. That isn’t good.

When it comes to LGBTQ+ people, we need more positive representation in the media. We need people to see gay, trans, and non-binary people as normal people. When it comes to trans people specifically, we need to end the constant wars against them. Whether you’re talking about bathrooms, or sports, or children/teens receiving trans affirming healthcare. Let trans people be the gender that they say there are in the places they want to be, and allow them to receive the healthcare they need which is just the overwhelming medical consensus. This, combined with more supportive parents. all goes a long way to reducing the suicide rate amonst trans people.

The proliferation of the developing world. I want developing countries to be more autonomous, and to stop being under the boot of western corporations. I want an end to sweatshop labour or borderline sweatshop labour. I want the west to stop treating these actual people like their robots for pennies to produce our ungodly amounts of junk, and to actually pay these people decent wages. I want the world bank to stop giving money in an exploitative way to poor nations so that they cave to western business interests. These are people, human beings, and they deserve to develop and live good lives just like us. I also want them to fight for democracy in their countries.

Environmentalism. To go off the last section, 100 Corporations are contributing 71% of greenhouse gases. That needs to change. Corporations are participating ungodly amounts of devastations to eco-systems and the atmosphere. Ecosystems destroyed, and the exacerbation of the climate crises. I want a green and blue earth, and that can start by a) changing to green energy as much as humanly possible; solar, wind, and even nuclear (and whatever we come up with in the future) are far better than the fossil fuels we use now, which we’ll run out of anyways. And second we need to hold corporations accountable for destroying the planet. If we don’t do this, we risk the climate crises getting really bad. Oceans rising which will flood coastlines, creating millions of refugees, more periods of extreme dry (no water/bush fires) and extreme cold (look at what happened to texas). Something needs to be done about it.

Finally, veganism, for many reasons. One, the switch to veganism will be a big contributor to saving the planet. Whether you’re talking about the devastation we do to places like the Amazon Rain forest and other ecosystems to clear the way for animal farming, or whether you’re talking about reducing emissions. Most emissions and waste from agriculture are from the production phase of animal farming. So much food, water, and energy is wasted by giving it to billions of animals that we purposefully breed into existence, then slaughter, rinse and repeat, every single year, when we could just grow food and give water to people and skip out the middle man (think about how many people are hungry and without water in the world).

Philosophically, it is also wrong to kill a living creature that desires to live, that is able to connect with other living things and it surrounding, to form bonds. A cow, pig, chicken, lamb, sheep, are no different than a dog, cat, or rabbit, and they should not be killed, exploited, and tortured (confinement, abusive conditions in industrial farms) for pleasure. I know it’s pleasure for most people, because vegans are living proof that you can live happy and healthy lives without animal products. Vegans are statistically healthier than non-vegans, and we can get all the nutrients we need, even on an inexpensive diet. There are exceptions of course. A very small portion of people literally cannot eat plants and can only eat meat, and the developing world doesn’t have the same access to vegan products as the developed world does. Those people are valid, but many many people can make the switch and they should, especially in the developed world

All I see from this is making the world better. Hopefully you can too.

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joachimnapoleon · 3 years

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I'm reading a preview of Charles-Eloi Vial's "Histoire des Cent-Jours" on Amazon, in which the author mentions that when Napoleon was on Elba, he reconciled with Murat. Do you know anything about this matter?

The subject of the reconciliation between Napoleon and Murat is one of those things about which I still have as many questions as answers.

Correspondence between the two during Napoleon’s exile on Elba is borderline nonexistent; I haven’t come across any letters from Murat to Napoleon from this time, so unless there’s something locked away in the private Archives Murat in the French National Archives, it probably no longer exists.

But, there was certainly some correspondence between them. There’s really no way to know how much, but Napoleon’s Correspondance Générale contains letters to Murat during the Elban exile and also references to other letters between them made by Napoleon to Bertrand. I was surprised to learn recently--thanks to @josefavomjaaga for sending it to me from her volume of the Correspondance--that Napoleon actually wrote to both Murat and Caroline shortly after his arrival on Elba. Both letters are dated 11 May 1814; Napoleon informs both of them of his having just arrived on Elba. He tells them both of Pauline’s impending arrival and asks for Caroline to send him news through someone she trusts.

Pauline arrives on Elba, and then leaves for Naples almost immediately after; I don’t think she’s on Elba for more than a couple days before she departs for Naples. She remains in Naples for months before her return to Elba, and it’s generally believed that she served as the go-between to effect the “reconciliation” between Murat and Napoleon. It’s assumed she was sending letters back and forth between the two. How many letters? What were the contents? There’s really no way to know. Napoleon references one specific letter from Murat, in September 1814, while writing to Bertrand on 9 September:

I have received a very tender letter from the king of Naples; he claims to have written to me several times but I doubt it, it seems that the affairs of France and Italy set his head straight and make him affectionate.

There’s nothing else until the eve of Napoleon’s departure from Elba. He fires off two letters to Murat on 17 February 1815 to let him know he’s sending him a man by the name of Colonna “in order to communicate to you some important and urgent matters,” no doubt about Napoleon’s upcoming return to France. Colonna, he tells Murat, “is authorized to sign every convention Your Majesty may desire with regards to our affairs…. Your Majesty must in particular trust in everything he tells you about my attachment and the high consideration with which I remain.” The second letter from the same day thanks Murat “for what you have done for the countess Walewska,” reiterates that Colonna is coming and “will tell you some big and important things. I’m counting on you and most importantly on utmost speed. Time is pressing. My love to the queen and to your children.” An undated, ciphered letter from Portoferraio, believed to be written between 22-26 February, tells Murat that he’s just waiting for favorable conditions to make his escape: “The winds have been increasing for the last three days and have forced the English warship to move somewhat away from our shores. But it can return any moment and my brick is not capable of competing with it. If I had one of your vessels, I would leave in broad daylight and I would sink anything that stood in my way.” Murat actually does end up sending a vessel, but by the time it gets to Elba, Napoleon has already left.

So, there probably was more correspondence between them, either written or verbal--but there’s just no record of it.

It’s important to point out that Murat’s “allies” (particularly the British) were looking for any excuse they could find during this period to justify turning on and dethroning him. Proof of a correspondence with Napoleon would’ve given them all the ammunition they needed. This is where it gets interesting. Napoleon will claim later on Saint Helena that the allies “doctored” Murat’s papers (to prove there was a correspondence between the two during the Elban exile). And there is an interesting excerpt from the memoirs of Dedem, who claims that the Congress of Vienna received, via the French Bourbons, copies of letters between Murat and Napoleon, left by a careless person close to Murat. I’m assuming that this individual (whom Dedem leaves unnamed save his first initial) is M. de Baudus, former tutor of the Murat children, sent by Napoleon to Toulon as an intermediary after Murat’s defeat at Tolentino; Baudus was to inform Murat that Napoleon would not receive him in Paris, that he was to stay put for the time being under a sort of house arrest while events played themselves out (Napoleon was on the way to Waterloo), and that Napoleon blamed Murat for having “ruined” France in 1814 and having “compromised her and ruined himself” in 1815. Anyway, here is the excerpt from Dedem:

The Tuileries cabinet had sent copies of his correspondence with Napoleon, and it was on these certified copies that Joachim was tried and condemned. Well, thanks to the thoughtlessness of the Count de B… who forgot (in following the King to Ghent) all his correspondence in an armoire at the chateau, we now know that all these letters had been truncated. Napoleon found the originals with the minutes of the copies drawn up in a way which served to lose Joachim; all the copies were in the hand of M. de B… attached by pins to the letters of the King of Naples.

Dedem includes the following footnote at the end of this paragraph:

It is from a man very worthy of trust, whom Napoleon had recalled to him in his cabinet during the Hundred Days and who neither loved nor complained of Joachim, that I have these details. He assured me that he had seen and re-read the letters several times.

So the Bourbons either found enough damning correspondence between Murat and Napoleon--or altered it enough to make it look damning--and sent it on to the Congress of Vienna so they could justify removing Murat from his throne once and for all.

Now, as to the matter of how sincere the “reconciliation” between Murat and Napoleon was… that’s another story. Louise Murat’s take is that the reconciliation was more sincere on her father’s part than on Napoleon’s:

So it was not long before the reconciliation took place and, if we can affirm that, for his part, it was as complete as possible, I do not know if… we will be able to affirm likewise that all traces of the past were also erased from the Emperor’s mind.

This subject bears some remarking on the relationship between the two men in general. There was a lot of bad blood between them by the time of Napoleon’s first exile, going back years before Murat’s treaty with Austria in 1814. Murat had felt ill-used and mistreated by Napoleon since at least 1809, things had gotten downright ugly between them in 1811, and in the aftermath of the 1812 campaign Murat was increasingly resentful of Napoleon’s treatment of him. Napoleon, for his part, had been incapable of trusting Murat since being informed, in 1809, of a scheme between Fouché and Talleyrand to have Murat succeed him in the event that Napoleon died without a legitimate male heir; much of his conduct towards Murat from that time forward comes across as deliberately spiteful and intentionally humiliating. Murat was vain and proud and it took him a long time to get over these kinds of slights and embarrassments. But, he was also capable of forgiving people he believed had wronged him--for example, Murat had restored Lavauguyon to his service years later after having suspected him of having an affair with Caroline in 1811. And I personally believe he retained a certain amount of affection for Napoleon even in spite of their nearly constant quarrels, and kept hoping to find some way to regain Napoleon’s affections, which he felt he had lost without ever quite understanding why; he concludes a letter to Napoleon in 1810 with “Love me as in Poland, as in Prussia, and I will love life again.” He didn’t enter into his decision to leave Napoleon in 1814 easily, and from everything I’ve seen it seems to have been extremely agonizing for him, and the news that the Allies had driven Napoleon from his throne and into exile in 1814 devastated both Murat and Caroline.

All of that being said, there was still some amount of self-interest in Murat’s attempting to aid Napoleon in 1815, and also in his striking out against the Austrians shortly after Napoleon reached France. Caroline believed that Napoleon would eventually drive them from the throne of Naples if he managed to keep his own, and Murat himself very likely saw the reason in this, and hoped he might safeguard himself by claiming all of Italy.

For Napoleon’s part, I tend to think Louise Murat was probably right; I think he saw Murat, being the only member of his family still on a throne, as a useful tool for his own eventual restoration. There’s a footnote in Bertrand’s Saint Helena cahiers basically saying that Napoleon never gave any indication of having genuinely forgiven Murat for 1814, and I personally think that’s probably the case. In mid-April of 1815--not even a week after sending Murat a letter from Paris, assuring Murat “You can count on my attachment,” Napoleon sends a note to his Minister of Foreign Affairs ordering a report on Murat’s conduct in 1814. My guess is, if Napoleon had triumphed at Waterloo and secured his throne, Murat still would’ve found himself in a world of hurt eventually. Murat seems to have anticipated this himself; in June 1815--actually the day after Waterloo, about which he was still oblivious--he is writing once more to Napoleon--the last letter he will ever write him--basically offering himself up on a silver platter:

I have nothing more to ask of Your Majesty, he can pronounce my fate unsparingly; your wishes, whatever they may be, will be carried out. Glad to be lost for you, no complaints will be heard from my mouth, but you can dispense with sending me in the future what they want to call consolations by people named as my friends; may your ministers make positively known to me the place of my exile; I will go there without a murmur.

#Joachim Murat #Napoleon #Napoleon Bonaparte #Caroline Murat #Caroline Bonaparte #Pauline Bonaparte #Louise Murat #1814 #1815 #asks

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toothpastecanyon · 3 years

Text

We Creatures, Chapter 1

When Alcor felt Mizar calling to him, he came to help. Perhaps, this one time, he should have stayed asleep.

See most updated version on Archive of Our Own.

______________________________________________________________

Sometimes Alcor the Dreambender was a terrible name, a name spoken by doomsday cults, by grieving widows, by pale newscasters over aerial shots of burning rubble. Sometimes Alcor the Dreambender was a soft name, whispered by children who’d found an unlikely friend.

And sometimes, it was neither. Sometimes Alcor the Dreambender came out of a bad period, and into a quiet period. He didn’t feel like himself, but he’d gotten bored of the violence, bored of the blood, bored of the world, and for a few centuries he’d just… let it be. He’d sit in the fields of his Mindscape, close his eyes, and rest.

When he felt like this, only a very special call could wake him from his slumber.

Alcor…

A wing twitched.

Alcor…

A brow furrowed.

Help me.

An eye opened.

That felt like Mizar.

______________________________________________________________

The smell hit him first. It was rank, wet, and pungent like he was standing knee deep in a sewer - and looking around, it seemed very much like he was. Dirty concrete and trash-filled water was all he could see in either direction, and the ceiling was so low his hat was phasing through it. Alcor wrinkled his nose at the mixture swilling around his leggings; he considered just leaving now, returning back to his comfy rest, but-

“You came.”

A voice. Her voice. He turned, and saw her standing beside a rough circle scratched into the curving walls. Her face looked strange to him for a second, but… wow. She looked a lot like Mabel.

“I didn’t know if you would,” she continued, and her voice sounded like Mabel too, didn’t it? “These haven’t worked in over a hundred years.”

Alcor didn’t know what to say. Maybe he’d forgotten - it was a long time since he’d last spoken. Mizar didn’t wait for a reply.

“Listen: you have to help me. There’s these - these elves, they think I killed one of their own.” Her fists balled. “I didn’t do anything, but they’re hunting me. You can’t let them get to me.”

Alcor blinked slowly. Help. He… he could help. He reached out a hand - and frowned when Mizar recoiled.

“No, no teleports! They’ll, they’ll track the signal, don’t touch me. Just help me lose them, okay?”

There was something missing, here. Something he needed. Almost on cue, Mizar started fishing something out of her sweater.

“Hold on, hold on… here it is!” She opened her hand, revealing a tiny crystal twinkling on her palm. “One pristine elder dewdrop. Closest thing to a soul I could give you - just this much could turn New York into the Amazon.” A grin. “So, we doing this?”

For a moment, Alcor just stared at her. He stared at her brown eyes, at her long flowing hair, at her bright sweater and skirt. He stared at the freckles on her cheeks, and the jangly bracelets on her arms. He stared at her hand, outstretched to take his, and reached out-

“Hey, we agreed, no touchy.” She stepped back. “Deal?”

Alcor parted his lips.

“D̳̭̹̺̲̠̪̼́e̡̯̮͝a̹̥̜̘ͅl, M̰͝i̞̝z͕̙̞͙a͖̥̮̖̗̯͈͝͡r̜̰̗̹ͅ.”

The sound echoed down the tunnels, and Mizar wrinkled her nose.

“Real master of subtlety, aren’t you. Well, a deal’s a deal, soooo…” she turned, and tossed the dewdrop over her shoulder. “follow me, big guy.”

And off she waded, wet trash piling over her white socks. Alcor didn’t quite float behind her as much as he was behind her; he willed himself to always stand a few feet behind her as she moved forwards, and the edge of his shoes clipped through the concrete as the tunnel took a turn.

After a little while, Mizar glanced back in amusement. “I take back what I say about you being loud,” she said. “I keep having to check you’re still there. That’s a neat trick.”

Alcor stared at the shine in her eyes, at the little snort she gave.

“Not a talker, are you?” She turned back, and stepped over a large mound of filthy tissues. “Eh, that’s okay with me, I don’t need you for talking.”

Talking… Alcor remembered talking. He remembered sitting with his Mizar for hours, talking about emotions, about favourite shows, about grief, about dinner. He frowned at the back of her head.

“Mizar?”

“Oh, great. Shouldn’t have said nothing - what?”

“What’s…” He paused, and thought. “Why… Do you like…?”

Mizar waited for him to finish, but when nothing came out, she chuckled. “Jeez, you okay, man? You sound like me when I wake up.”

“Wake up…” He nodded. “Wake up. I wake up.”

“Wish I could offer you a coffee.” She chuckled. “Anway-”

“This is-” Alcor frowned. “We’re… running from elves?” He rubbed his head. “I don’t remember them doing this to humans… hunting humans. Why are they-”

Mizar stopped. “Hold that thought,” she said, and pressed an ear to the concrete. “You hear that?”

He listened, and he could hear everything. The trickle of water, the hum of a nearby powerline… the flap of a butterfly’s wing on the other side of the planet.

“Yeah…” Mizar said, nodding. “That’s the sound of you not talking. I like it.”

Alcor watched as she straightened.

“Not trying to be rude, man. But elves can hear you from the surface, so shut up and keep up.”

______________________________________________________________

It was a couple hours of slow, silent, walking, and Alcor was starting to remember why he’d left this human world. The drudgery, the boredom, the sheer human waste he was literally trudging through… what did he like about helping people, again? And where were they going?

He’d tried to ask, but the most he’d gotten out of her was a “Zip it.” By the way she was navigating the tunnels, though, they were definitely going somewhere; his omniscience wasn’t cooperating on where, so he resigned himself to finding out when they got there.

He even closed his eyes a little, letting the tether between their souls take him along for the ride. He thought of the soft grass in his Mindscape, and prayed that he could return to it soon.

Soon…

“Wake up.”

Her voice. Alcor opened his eyes, and saw her climbing out of a culvert. She offered a hand - and then quickly retracted it.

“Come on, this, this way.”

Alcor climbed out, and found himself standing at the beginning of a little moonlit creek. From the sounds of it there was a highway not far away, but Mizar was stumbling into the forest.

“Hey,” Alcor frowned. “Uh, shouldn’t we be going away from the forest? The elves-”

“Shut up!” Mizar snapped. “Shut up, will you!”

Her hands were shaking, he noticed. He watched her clasp them together, like she was restraining herself.

“Sorry, just…” she started, and then sighed. “You’re… a lot right now, I need to - I… Just trust me, okay?”

Alcor cocked his head. “Are you okay?”

“Just trust me,” she muttered, hobbling past trees. “Just trust me…”

Frowning, he did follow her. They seemed to be walking some sort of overgrown trail; ferns had definitely broken it up, but he could see the way it still cut through the trees. It wasn’t long until they came upon a small shack in the woods; this too looked abandoned, but by the way Mizar started forwards, it was where they’d been headed.

“Mizar-”

“Wait! Wait there. Wait there.” Mizar was biting her knuckle. “Wait there, please. Trust me.”

His frown deepened. Something was definitely off about this… but he was letting her go, wasn’t he? He heard the door slam, and stood there a little awkwardly. There was an old firepit in front of the cabin, and two mossy logs opposite each other. They were probably benches, but they were damp and slippery… no one had been here in a long time. He looked up at the black sheets covering the cabin’s broken windows.

Not to camp, anyway.

There was a noise as the door creaked open. Mizar strolled out, hands in her pockets.

“Alright,” she said. “Sorry about that. Anyway, we better keep going.”

“What was in there?”

“Hmm?” Mizar smiled wider. “Oh, just an old shed. Had to get some supplies.” A pause. “You can take a look if you really want to, but there’s nothing in there.”

Alcor hesitated, and then took a couple steps towards the shack. He noticed the smell as he got closer - sewage - and the wards. They were uncomfortably strong, and kept him from looking in until he opened the door, and saw…

...Not much at all. There was an old table and a bed, but the only truly unusual thing was the two piles of magi-orbs sitting in the corner. There was a small pile of working ones, but the other, larger stack was all defunct; their screen had cracked or gone foggy, and they were covered in grime.

“Find any bodies?”

Alcor glanced over at Mizar, who was waving at him from the trees. He made a face, and then closed the door and floated back over to her.

“Glad you got that out of your system. Now come on.”

“What were all those magi-orbs for?”

“It’s a side business, I fix ‘em.”

“In an abandoned shack in the woods?”

“I like the solitude.” Mizar bared a smile at him. “Speaking of solitude-”

He reached out and grabbed her arm. He felt her stiffen, and then relax… and nothing more than that.

“Do you mind?”

Alcor was frowning as he took his hand away. “You’re… strange. You’re hiding something.”

“If you say so.”

“I know why the elves are chasing you.” He felt the dewdrop in his pocket. “Your end of the deal… you stole that from them, didn’t you?”

Mizar shrugged.

“Why would you do that? How did you do that?” He rubbed his head. “You… I wasn’t thinking about it earlier, but you’re just a human, how on Earth did you-”

“Shh.”

“No, don’t shush me this time, I-”

“Shut up.”

Mizar had gone very still, and that was when Alcor noticed the forest had gone absolutely silent. There wasn’t a cricket to be heard; in its place was something ancient, something angry, something… watching him. He locked eyes with Mizar, and her subtle nod said everything.

They were here.

Alcor didn’t see a knife coming until it opened his throat. He whirled around, and a shadowy figure was there - no, gone, and vines were erupting around his feet. It was strange magic, harder to break, and he gave a roar before incinerating it with a blast of blue fire.

Now he looked for elves, and he could see four souls shining bright as day as they were pinning Mizar down. He launched himself at one and tore its throat out, relished in the gargled cry it made. Oh, this he missed. It was- ack!

Magic… magic that hurt. He fixed his eyes on the elf that had come from, and-

A blade erupted out of its belly. Alcor could see its aura flash with surprise, and as it fell he saw another elf standing behind it. Mizar was standing beside it, smiling.

“Good, you got it. Excellent.” She spoke in perfect elvish, and hefted one of their blades. “You’re bleeding. Stand still, let me…”

And she lopped its head clean off. Its body hung there for a second, then dropped to the ground, spurting and convulsing. Mizar stared down at the body with an unreadable expression.

“Mizar?”

Almost unconsciously, she traced her finger across the bloodied blade, brought it close to her lips. Alcor made a tentative step forwards.

“Mizar?”

“Huh?” Mizar looked up, and saw him. “Oh… some fight, huh?” She tossed the blade away. “Saw what you did to that guy - glad you’re on my side!”

“Yeah…” Alcor traced his eye across the battlefield. He’d downed one elf, there were the two he saw Mizar take out… and there was the fourth one, lying some ways away, still breathing. He could see a deep, sucking chest wound, like a bear had slashed him down the middle, and next to him was a strange shattered visor.

All of the elves had been wearing those - it struck him how strangely… artificial they were, compared to their enchanted bark armour and bone-carved swords. He made to pick one up, but-

“Hey, no time to admire your work, we gotta move!” Mizar glanced over at him. “Oof, is that one still alive? Poor guy.”

Alcor looked at her, then back down at the elf. It… he looked young for an elf, and scared. He was staring up at Alcor with wide eyes, shaking his head, trying to speak through the blood pooling in his lungs…

Alcor closed his eyes. He snapped his fingers once, and when he opened them, the soul had left. It was just a body, now.

Just another petty mortal he’d killed, but it wasn’t quite as fun anymore. The pit in his stomach - was this his conscience coming back? It had been a while, for sure.

There was a hand on his shoulder, and he saw Mizar standing there with him. When he met her eyes, she gave a little smile, and motioned him to follow.

She stepped over his body and continued forwards. After a moment, Dipper stepped around, and followed.

#transcendence au #alcor the dreambender #magic lore #elves #worldbuilding #toothwrites

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bigskydreaming · 4 years

Note

So, how far do you think Jasons booktastes goes? Is he like a hard-core classic fan or does it variate between his moods?

Absolutely the latter, IMO. I know there’s a tendency to lean hard into the idea that Jason’s just all about the classics, but I think overall we have a rather finite and white European and American skewed 'definition’ of what constitutes a classic in the first place, and you know me and my classist rantings.....unless you don’t but whatever, now you do, I’m personally leery of over-emphasizing Jason’s sophisticated reading palette or whatever as like, some kind of pushback against his otherwise lower-class origin because I don’t think its necessary. I mean who knows if that’s how its intended in any given specific situation, but I definitely feel like there’s a general undercurrent of that threaded through a lot of Jason’s depictions overall that I’m like ‘no thanks’ to.

I think Jason’s all over the place as a reader. His only defining characteristic as a reader IMO is that he’s a voracious one, and he reads anything and everything he can get his hands on, and finds something appealing and in new and different ways in every genre. I think as his skills develop as Robin and a detective, he hungrily reads mystery novels to see how quickly he can figure out who did it. I think he reads true crime to try and solve it ahead of the book’s conclusions the same way we’ve seen Dick solve cases watching America’s Most Wanted.

I think before traveling was an option for Jason, living with Bruce, he enjoyed travel guides/pieces and nonfiction, to get a sense of places far away from Gotham. I think once he was living with Bruce and encountering colleagues of his dad’s who were literally from other planets and had advanced technology and magic, he had a growing personal collection of fantasy and sci-fi books just so when he did get a chance to join Bruce when he was around other heroes he could be like “okay I read in this one book where they did this spell are there any real spells like that huh huh?” or “so in this one series they had a spaceship that could do this do you know of any spaceships that are like that like could that be real?” I think he loves mythology because a) he’s gay duh and b) Diana is an actual Amazon, like why wouldn’t you love mythology when you could fact-check Edith Hamilton against an actual Amazon it just makes sense.

I think he’s got shelves full of old-school dimestore pulp fiction novels, the long-running series kinds, because he doesn’t think cheap equals bad and also they’re just fun. And also also, he loves the serialized nature of a lot of works because one of the biggest evidences of stability in his young life, before ADITF, like, one of the things that finally got him thinking like wow this is like how I live now huh, was the realization that when before, the unpredictable nature of his life meant he kinda just had to read things in one go and not count on ever being able to follow up on them, like......when living with Bruce, he suddenly just realized one day that like, all those series that have so many more books in them than I could ever read in one go, the kind of things you’re meant to RETURN to, to follow along over periods of months and years.....I can do that now, here.

And even after his return as the Red Hood, once he slowly started settling into his new life and put his focus not just towards reacting to his trauma but trying to build beyond that again and have actual hobbies, interests, etc.....one of the biggest evidences to him that he could do that, be more than JUST the Red Hood, was literally no different from when he first had that epiphany living with Bruce. When he looked into all those series that he perhaps never got to finish, or that were still ongoing when he was killed, and found an unexpected continuity in the reminder and awareness that they were still out there, waiting for him to finish them, that they were still being published, available for him to catch up......that his life had ended, but then he came back so maybe it was more just interrupted. That so many things are different now from how they were before, but some things are still the same, that he’s so different now but in some ways he IS still the same.

Like yeah, sure, I do think he’s got plenty of Jane Austen on his shelves, but he’s also got Octavia Butler and Ursula K. LeGuin and Mary Shelley not once but twice....nah let’s go wild and make it five times....cuz I think he’s got very specific SYSTEMS for how his books are arranged, one of those particular things that arose from the awareness that he actually COULD be particular about his books, that it was entirely up to him......and once he found out that Frankenstein’s Monster existed he was like okay but is the book based on that or was that based on the book, did art imitate life or did life imitate art I HAVE TO KNOW IF IT GOES IN FICTION OR NON-FICTION! And so Alfred and Bruce and Dick and Barbara all had the same idea of like, why not both, both is good, and gave him an extra copy and so he ended up with like five copies of Frankenstein.

Also, literally every time he ends up with a case or aware of a case where vampires or werewolves or aliens or gods are involved, you can find a whole new section of fiction and nonfiction on the related subject in his room, and he’s scribbled all throughout the margins like LOL WELL THIS ISNT RIGHT and NOPE GOT THIS WRONG and IF THIS AUTHOR WAS ALIVE TODAY I WOULD TELL THEM RIGHT TO THEIR STUPID FACE ABOUT HOW NOT ACCURATE THEIR SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR DEALING WITH VAMPIRES ARE LIKE THATS THE LAST TIME I BRING GARLIC TO A VAMPIRE FIGHT AND THINK IM DOING ANYTHING BUT SMELLING LIKE A TASTY PASTA FLAVORED TREAT, LIKE THANKS FOR NOTHING YOU ABSOLUTE HACK.

(Also I think Jason thinks Poe’s a pretentious boor, mostly because I find it funny to script scenes in my head where Jason just goes OFF about various authors and his Opinions on them, but he still likes his stuff for the mood and is like DONT @ ME, IM COMPLICATED, but this is entirely because of an old personal headcanon of mine where like, the frequent references to the gothic nature of Gotham tied to Jason’s very Gothammite nature resulted in my brain doing a What If where Jason either post-Robin-where-he-didn’t-die or even post-Red Hood picks a raven themed ensemble and calls himself something like Nevermore, and is like, Caw Caw, Im Gotham, Bitch).

In summation, I think Jason is eclectic as hell, and like, if its a book, and he’s got the time, he’s gotta read it because duh, that’s just the law of the jungle, he’s like lololol what there’s a book and I’m just what, just not going to read it? That’s what you think? LMAO that makes no sense you sound so dumb right now.

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robertreich · 4 years

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When Bosses Shared the Profits

After the bruising crises we’re now going through, it would be wonderful if we could somehow emerge a fairer nation. One possibility is to revive an old idea: sharing the profits.

The original idea for businesses to share profits with workers emerged from the tumultuous period when America shifted from farm to factory. In December 1916, the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a report on profit-sharing, suggesting it as a way to reduce the “frequent and often violent disputes” between employers and workers, thereby “fostering the development of a larger spirit of harmony and cooperation, and resulting, incidentally, in greater efficiency and larger gains.”

That same year, Sears, Roebuck and Co., one of America’s largest corporations, with 30,000 to 40,000 employees, announced a major experiment in profit-sharing. The company would contribute 5 percent of net earnings, without deduction of dividends to shareholders, into a profit-sharing fund. (Eventually the company earmarked 10 percent of pretax earnings for the plan.) Employees who wished to participate would contribute 5 percent of their salaries. All would be invested in shares of Sears stock. The plan’s purpose, according to The New York Times, was to “to engender loyalty and harmony between employer and employee.” In reviewing its first three years, The Times noted that 92 percent of Sears’s employees had joined up and that “the participating employee not only found an ever-increasing sum of money to his credit, but eventually discovered he was a shareholder in the corporation, with a steadily growing amount of stock to his name.”

Sears’s plan was admirably egalitarian. Distributions of shares were based on years of service, not rank, and the longest-serving workers received nearly $3 for every dollar they contributed. By the 1950s, Sears workers owned a quarter of the company. By 1968, the typical Sears salesman could retire with a nest egg worth well over $1 million in today’s dollars. Other companies that joined the profit-sharing movement included Procter & Gamble, Pillsbury, Kodak, S.C. Johnson, Hallmark Cards and U.S. Steel — some because it seemed morally right, others because it seemed a means to higher productivity.

Profit-sharing did give workers an incentive to be more productive. It also reduced the need for layoffs during recessions, because payroll costs dropped as profits did. But it subjected workers to the risk that when profits were down, their paychecks would shrink. And if a company went bankrupt, they’d lose all their investments in it. (Sears phased out its profit-sharing plan in the 1970s and filed for bankruptcy protection in 2018.) The best profit-sharing plans came in the form of cash bonuses that employees could invest however they wished, on top of predictable base wages.

Profit-sharing fit perfectly with the evolution of the American corporation. By the 1950s, most employees of large companies had spent their entire working lives with the company. Companies and their employees were rooted in the same communities. C.E.O.s typically worked their way up, and once at the top rarely earned more than 20 times the average wage of their employees (now they’re often paid more than 300 times more). Over a third of private-sector workers were unionized. In 1958 the United Auto Workers demanded that the nation’s automakers share their profits with their workers.

Some remnants of profit-sharing remain today. Both Steelcase Inc., an office-furniture maker in Grand Rapids, Mich., and the Lincoln Electric Company, a Cleveland-based manufacturer of welding equipment, tie major portions of annual wages to profits. Publix Super Markets, which operates in the Southeast, and W.L. Gore, the maker of Gore-Tex, are owned by employee stock ownership plans. America still harbors small worker cooperatives owned and operated by their employees, such as the Cheese Board Collective in my hometown Berkeley, Calif.

But since the 1980s, profit-sharing has almost disappeared from large corporations. That’s largely because of a change in the American corporation that began with a wave of hostile takeovers and corporate restructurings in the 1980s. Raiders like Carl Icahn, Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken targeted companies they thought could deliver higher returns if their costs were cut. Since payrolls were the highest cost, raiders set about firing workers, cutting pay, automating as many jobs as possible, fighting unions, moving jobs to states with lower labor costs and outsourcing jobs abroad. To prevent being taken over, C.E.O.s began doing the same.

This marked the end of most profit-sharing with workers. Paradoxically, it was the beginning of profit-sharing with top executives and “talent.” Big Wall Street banks, hedge funds and private-equity funds began doling out bonuses, stock and stock options to lure and keep the people they wanted. They were soon followed by high-tech companies, movie studios and start-ups of all kinds.

Even before tens of millions of Americans lost their jobs and incomes in the current pandemic, the pay of the typical worker had barely risen since the mid-1970s, adjusted for inflation. Meanwhile, ever-greater wealth continues to concentrate at the very top.

Since 2000, the portion of total national income going to American workers has dropped farther than in other rich nations. A steadily larger portion has gone into corporate profits, which have been reflected in higher share prices. But a buoyant stock market doesn’t help most Americans. The richest 1 percent now own half the value of all shares of stock; the richest 10 percent, 92 percent.

Those higher share prices have come out of the pockets of workers. Daniel Greenwald at M.I.T.’s Sloan School of Management, Martin Lettau at the University of California’s Haas School of Business and Sydney Ludvigson at N.Y.U. found that from 1952 to 1988, economic growth accounted for all the rise in stock values, but from 1989 to 2017, growth accounted for just 24 percent. Most came from “reallocated rents to shareholders and away from labor compensation” — that is, from workers.

Jeff Bezos, who now owns 11.1 percent of Amazon’s shares of stock, is worth $165 billion overall. Other top Amazon executives hold hundreds of millions of dollars of Amazon shares. But most of Amazon’s employees, including warehouse workers, don’t share in the same bounty.

If Amazon’s 840,000 employees owned the same proportion of their employer’s stock as Sears workers did in the 1950s — a quarter of the company — each would now own shares worth an average of about $386,904.

There are many ways to encourage profit-sharing. During this pandemic, for example, Congress should prohibit the Treasury or the Federal Reserve from bailing out any corporation that doesn’t share its profits with its employees.

It’s impossible to predict what kind of America will emerge from the crises we’re now experiencing, but the four-decade trend toward higher profits and lower wages is unsustainable, economically and politically. Sharing the profits with all workers is a logical and necessary first step to making capitalism work for the many, not the few.

#corporate social responsibility #corporate power #Corporate Profits #american workers

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steves-on-a-plane · 4 years

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Pieces Of My Heart

Words: 3038 Square Filled for @buckybarnesbingo : K3, “It’s Not Your Fault” Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader Rating: General Request: “Hello :) I'd like to request a bucky imagine if that's okay. Maybe something like the love story in the Greatest Showman Zendaya and zac Efron? Where it's difficult for them to get together but Buck fights for your love and in the end you end up together? :)” - @tieddown-withbattleshipchains Summary: Bucky goes away on a mission that’s supposed to last a month. After two weeks Reader gets a call from Steve that things aren’t exactly going according to plan...

“It seems like you’re going away forever.” You sighed, twirling a lock of Bucky’s shoulder length hair around your finger.

“You say that every time I leave.” He laughs, his lips inches away from yours.

“Well, I mean it every time you leave.” You pouted.

“It’s only a month, [Y/N]. I know that seems like a long time,” He apologized. “but I’ll have regularly scheduled check ins and you can call the compound at any time. The team will know how to reach me in case of an emergency. Now can I have my goodbye kiss?”

“If I don’t give it, will you have to stay until I do?” You asked, pulling your lips back a few centimeters.

“If I don’t get it, I’ll have to leave for my mission anyway, but I’ll be doing it without your sweet kisses and your blessing. Which would be bad luck.” He frowned.

“Fine.” You finally brought your lips to touch his.

“There, was that so hard?” Bucky asked once he could finally tear himself away from you. “I’ll miss you the entire time. I promise.”

“I’d rather you promise you’ll come back in one piece.” You told him.

“Can’t. I’m already missing parts.” He held up his vibranium arm. “And every time I leave there’s at least a piece of me still here with you, but I’ll be back in as many pieces as possible. I better go before Rogers & Wilson leave without me.”

“Would that really be so bad?” You asked as he picked up his bag.

“I’ll see you in four weeks, [Y/N]. I love you.” He called over his shoulder.

“I love you too!” You shouted back before he opened up the front door and left for his mission.

You settled into your “Bucky is on a mission” routine after that. There was always an adjustment period whenever he left. You had to get used to eating alone, watching TV alone; it was a lot of doing things alone. A week into the mission you got the usual check in call from Tony. He said the mission was proceeding as planned, and someone should be in touch in a few days.

Another week passed and you picked up a new hobby to occupy your time. You’d seen a lot of internet tutorials that made it seem super easy to create things with resin and some silicone molds. You ordered a bunch of supplies from Amazon and before you knew it, you had a stack of coasters that looked like geode slices. You’d been successfully distracted and didn’t notice that you hadn’t receive a check in call that week. When you did notice, you thought maybe they just had nothing new to report. Often times with the team, no news was good news.

Time moved on to the next week. You decided to re-read your favorite book series as another way to pass the time. Things were slowing down at work just when you really needed your mind occupied. Bucky had been gone for twenty days. You’d been keeping track on a calendar in the kitchen. That night, you were fighting to stay awake long enough to finish your current chapter, when your cellphone rang. It was the compound. You answered on the second ring with a yawn.

“[Y/N]? It’s Steve. Are you at home?” He asked.

“Oh, Steve, are you guys back already?” You questioned. “Bucky said you’d be gone for a month at least. Everything go according to plan?”

“Not exactly.” Steve confessed. “I’d like to talk about it with you in person. I’ll be at your place in five.” He explained before ended the call.

That sure as hell woke you up. You got out of bed and dressed yourself. If Steve would have had good new to share, he would have told you on the phone. Something was very, very wrong. Steve must have been on his way to your apartment when he called because he arrived almost exactly five minutes later.

“Where is he, Steve?” You demanded opening the front door.

“Physically, he’s fine [Y/N].” Steve assured as he stepped inside your apartment.

“Where is he?” You repeated.

“Ah,” Steve rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. “That’s classified.” He answered shortly. “What I can tell you,” He rushed to add. “Is that like I said, he is physically fine.”

“Yes, I heard you the first time. Why do you keep specifying physically?” Your voice was angrier than you expected it to be. The words carried a bit of bite you didn’t usually harbor.

“Because that’s all we’ve been able to confirm ourselves.” You watched Steve deflate in front of you as he sank into one of your kitchen chairs. “Technically speaking, Bucky is considered M.I.A.”

“M.I…You mean missing in action? As in for real missing?” Steve hesitated before nodding solemnly. “Please, tell me how you managed to lose my fiancé.”

“It’s not that simple, [Y/N] and you know that. This was a highly classified mission.” Steve insisted. “What I can tell you is he’s not himself right now. He’s gone full Winter Soldier again. Sam and I had to fall back, we can’t risk him coming in contact with anyone he’ll recognize at the moment. Sam is keeping tabs on him from a distance for now until we can get someone in undercover.”

“Why is Sam there? He’s your best friend, how could you leave him?” You asked.

“I’m going back as soon as I can, [Y/N]. It’s too big a job for Sam to do on his own and we never completed our original mission. But I came back for you.” He explained. “I have to make sure you’re safe, I know it’s what he’d want.”

“You shouldn’t have wasted time. I’m fine here. Whoever you’re worried about isn’t coming all the way to Brooklyn.” You assured him. “You should go back, help him.”

“I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I am helping him right now, just by being here.” Steve said. “It’s not Hydra I’m worried about hurting you, [Y/N]. It’s him.”

“Buck?” You laughed sarcastically. “C’mon Rogers.” But you knew the truth that hung in the air unspoken between the two of you. While the real Bucky Barnes would never allow any harm to come to you, if the Winter Soldier had been activated again, there was no knowing what he was capable of.

“If they’ve been able to find out about your very public courtship, they may believe that killing you could stop Bucky from ever coming back to us. Let me take you somewhere safe.” He asked.

“Where? The compound that has almost as many internal threats as it does external?” You questioned. “Or some type of a safe house somewhere with you who couldn’t protect him from himself in the first place?”

“I can only think of one place safe enough.” He told you. “I’ll help you pack.”

Two years. That’s how long you had been hiding. Sure, Steve had made arrangements for you to be kept in the most secure and luxurious hiding place imaginable, but it hadn’t made you feel better. You never worried for yourself. You only ever worried about Bucky. No one could tell you exactly what had happened to him or where he was. Your every question was met with the same response. “Classified.”

You faced the windows of your guest room, studying the view from the palace. The country of Wakanda reminded you of a planet you might find in a Star Wars film. The architecture in the city below was a strange mix of modern technology with ancient structures. Towers and spires seemed to jut from locations at random. Juxtaposed behind everything else was a backdrop of lush jungles and sturdy mountain tops.

There was a knock on the door. You sighed and looked away from the lively landscape. You hardly left your room since coming to stay in the Wakanda. You didn’t want to be a bother to your incredibly generous hosts. Generally, only the staff came by either to clean or bring you food. On occasion Shuri or even the King of Wakanda himself would drop by, usually to provide a status report if he had one. You opened the door to see T’Challa smiling on the other side.

“Good morning [Y/N]!” He greeted you cheerily.

“Good morning, Your Highness.” You greeted him and invited him in. “You seem to be in a good mood today.”

“[Y/N], I am in a great mood.” He confirmed. “I have just spoken with Captain Rogers.”

“There’s good new then?” You wondered.

“I’m sorry I cannot provide more information at this time,” He explained. “But I am expecting another phone call this afternoon. With any luck, we may finally know the whereabouts of Sargent Barnes. I know you are anxious to be reunited with him and return home.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve seemed ungrateful at all during my stay.” You apologized immediately.

“Please, do not worry. You were taken from your home to a foreign country and separated from your friends and people you love most. You have been rightfully concerned about Sergeant Barnes as well. I am happy that we were able to provide you with security and shelter during this time. Should our services be needed again, the gates of Wakanda will always be open to you.” T’Challa assured you. “Please enjoy the rest of your morning. I will return this afternoon when I have more information.”

That afternoon, you decided to go for a walk. Both to give the cleaning staff room to do their job and to work through your muddled feelings. You thought of what T’Challa had said that morning. It had felt like so long, your stay in Wakanda. You wondered if it could be possible, were you finally at the end of the winding and twisting road? Would you finally see Bucky again? You’d just been about to head back to your room when you heard the exclamations of the princess.

“[Y/N]! [Y/N]!” You heard Shuri excitedly shouting for you. She bounded towards you, full of more energy than usual. “I have just heard the most wonderful news!” She said with a beaming smile.

“Are you going to share it with me?” You asked.

“Of course! But you must promise to act excited when my brother tells you himself.” She told you.

“Shuri, you didn’t happen to spy on T’Challa’s call with Steve, did you?” You narrowed your eyes at her suspiciously.

“It is not spying if he leaves the door to his office open, is it?” She questioned.

“I suppose not.” You laughed. “Okay, what’s the news?”

“They have found him!” She announced, squeezing your arm.

“I suppose it is true what they say. Good news travels fast.” You heard the King’s voice from behind you. You turned to face him. “Sergeant Barnes has been found and extracted. He will be here with within the hour.”

“I can’t believe it.” You said with tears brimming in your eyes. “Will I be allowed to see him?”

“Of course.” T’Challa nodded. “I will gladly notify you once they’ve arrived.”

Your palms were sweaty. You brushed them against the sides of your skirt nervously. Your heart was pounding and you felt like you were struggling to breath in the muggy Wakandan air. You lived anxiously for the past two years and didn’t understand how you could possibly be feeling even more nervous as you waited for the quinjet to land.

“Everything is going to be fine, [Y/N].” T’Challa whispered in assurance as the ramp of the jet opened. Your breath seemed to catch in your throat as James Buchan Barnes stumble down the ramp, flanked by Sam & Steve. He was leaning on Sam partially for support, but his face lit up when he laid eyes on you.

“I promised I’d be back in as many pieces as possible!” He shouted to you with a smile on his face.

“Go get him.” Shuri elbowed you encouragingly. You could only shake your head slightly in response. There was the man you loved. The man you’d worried about, pained over. He was only a hundred feet from you, and suddenly it didn’t feel right. There was a burn in your chest, an ache. As if by saying hello you were actually saying good-bye. Tears traced your face as the three men continued to move closer.

“I have to go.” You told T’Challa and Shuri. You turned on your heels and ran back towards the castle. Once inside you continued running. When you couldn’t run anymore you moved as fast as your legs would carry you. You tore into your room and began shoving your things into your suitcase. There was a knock at the door. You ignored it.

“[Y/N]? It’s Sam. Can I come in?” He called through the door. “I’m alone.”

“I’m a little occupied Wilson!” You shouted back to him, getting your other suitcase out of the wardrobe.

“I’m coming in.” Sam announced before pushing the door open. “What’s going on?”

“Isn’t it obvious, I’m packing.” You huffed. “There’s no need for me to stay in Wakanda so…”

“I meant why did you run.” Sam sighed.

“I don’t…I don’t know.” You confessed. “I saw him and I just…panicked.” You threw the handful of clothes you hold at the bed. “Sam the past two years, I wanted nothing more than for Bucky to be back. But I saw him stumbling out of the quinjet and I don’t think I can do it. I can’t be the person who helps put him back together. I’m not strong enough to do it again.”

“You don’t have to.” You and Sam both looked up at the door where Bucky was standing, slightly hunched. He had deep bags under his eyes and he looked like he hadn’t slept the whole two years. Steve and T’Challa were standing in the hall behind him.

“Buck, why don’t we…” Steve reached forward and tried to gasps Bucky’s shoulder, but his best friend shook him off.

“I love you.” Bucky said very seriously. His eyes locked onto yours and he stumbled a little closer. Sam took a half step protectively closer to you, but you didn’t think anyone else noticed. “I am so sorry that I it took so long to get back to you. Two months apart from you would have been hard, but two years…You lost two years of your life because of me. I know that I cannot apologize enough…”

“Bucky you don’t have to apologize.” You interrupted him. “I don’t know all the details, and I don’t need to, you’re not responsible for what you do as the Winter Soldier. You don’t owe me any explanation or apology.”

“I’m giving one just the same.” He insisted. “I can’t imagine how hard this has been for you and I don’t know how I’m going to begin making it up to you, but I swear I will. I have to. You’re the reason that I’m me again.”

“But I don’t want that responsibility anymore, Buck.” You sighed. You voice trembled and everyone in the room could tell you were hold back a fresh wave of tears.

“It’s okay.” He told you, stepping closer. “It’s my turn to take responsibility. Do you know how I got back? How I broke through the mind control? I fought for you. I imagined how you must have felt, what you must have been thinking when you heard I’d disappeared. I know how much you feared getting that type of call from Steve or someone else. I knew I had to get back to you, so that you knew I was okay. I knew that if I didn’t, you’d never recover from that type of loss. Not because you’re not strong, you’re tough as nails, Doll. But I know you loved me. Even if that’s in the past tense now. I just wanted you to know that I’m alive and I’m okay. That’s all I wanted to say.”

“I-I…You were able to break free of the mind control because of your love for me?” You repeated, trying to make sure you heard him right.

“Well, when you say it like that you make it sound so easy.” He shrugged. “Believe me it wasn’t.”

“Why don’t we give you guys some space.” Steve suggested awkwardly.

“No, it’s okay, I’m going.” Bucky said. “But I want you to have this.” He reached into his pockets and pulled out a small wooden box with hand carved Wakandan symbols on it. “I had some help from the King.” He confessed, looking briefly over his shoulder at T’Challa. It was originally going to have a question accompanying it, but that doesn’t seem appropriate now.” Bucky passed the small box over to you. “Either way, I want you to have it.”

“[Y/N], will you consider staying with us one more night? Shuri will be most disappointed if she doesn’t get to give you a proper goodbye and she’s already returned to her work for the afternoon.” T’Challa explained. “The rest if you are welcome to stay as well. There is plenty of room for everyone.”

“One more night.” You agreed. “It’s the least I can do after everything you’ve done for me.” T’Challa nodded. He, Sam, Steve and Bucky all began filing out of your room. You looked down at the ornate box in your hand.

“Buck?” You called after him. He hung back while the others continued on. “Two years ago, I would have said yes to this in a heartbeat.” You indicated the box, guessing there was most likely and engagement ring inside.

“And now?” He asked quietly.

“How can we be sure this won’t happen again, that you won’t disappear again?” You questioned.

“Are you kiddin’ me? You won’t be able to get rid of me if you tell me that’s what you want.” He smirked. “I’ll get a civilian job. We can move somewhere totally off the grid if you want.”

“I want you to be able to have your own life.” You told him.

“I had my own life for seventy years.” He said. “It only took me two to realize the one part of it that matter was you. I said when I left that I was leaving a piece of me with you, I took a lot more of you with me than I thought.”

#Bucky Barnes #James Buchanan Barnes #Bucky Barnes Reader Insert #Bucky Barnes x Reader #Bucky Barnes Fan Fiction #Bucky Barnes x Fan Fic #Bucky Barnes FF

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openheartfanfics · 4 years

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Love Triangle: Bryce x F!MC x Ethan

Back To You - @fantasyoverreality98 MC and Bryce reunite after a brief period apart.

Be Happy... - @jerzwriter 🎭 Just weeks after returning from Miami, Ethan secretly watches as Bryce fills the role he so eagerly desires for himself. Feat. Bryce x F!MC, Ethan x F!MC

Cardiac Arrest - @lahelable MC has returned to Edenbrook after visiting Miami with Ethan Ramsey. One-sided Ethan

Dr. D’Ora - @utterlyinevitable Becca spots Ethan with a new lady friend. This takes place in OHSY about a month after Ethan returns from the Amazon.

Ending Scene - @michaelrharrison Rewrite of the first diamond scene with Ethan from Book 2. One-sided Ethan.

Exile - @justanotherrookie What if Denise ended up with Bryce instead?

Faithfully - @browneyedmissy

When she is given the choice of what she wanted, MC comes to a realization.

Falling - @fantasyoverreality98

Ethan reflects on his past relationship with MC and tries to come to terms with her new relationship with Bryce.

Happily Never After - @checkurwindow

Sometimes falling in love with your best friend doesn't in a happily ever after.

Feat. Bryce x MC x Ethan

I Don’t - @whenyourheartskipsabeat

At the very last moment, MC has a revelation.

I Object - @thanialis

Everyone is excited about the couple sharing a life together except one doctor who will have to come to terms that he missed his chance… or did he?

In An Instant - @fantasyoverreality98

MC recounts the way she felt after the Mrs. Martinez trial, and all the changes that came with it.

Insecurity and riddles - @lapisreviewsstuff 🎭

Ethan shattered her heart. Bryce was there to pick up the pieces, so she’s marrying him. Told from MC, Ethan and Bryce POVs

Feat. Bryce x MC x Ethan

Jealousy - @lightofcordonia

Lately Bryce has been more flirty towards Genevieve. Let’s just say that Ethan wasn’t too happy about it.

Light smut

Let Me Love You - @ernestlysinclaire

Based on 1.11. Bryce and MC begin to fall for each other, but things get complicated when Bryce overhears her speaking to Dr. Ramsey.

Liars - @ernestlysinclaire

Ethan calls MC into his office after noticing some conduct between her and Bryce.

Lie to Me - @lahelalove

Bryce Lahela thought he knew pain, but nothing could compare to the feeling of wanting someone… only to find out they wanted someone else instead.

Love Is A Smoking Gun - @foggyladyking 🎭

Ethan didn’t think it was serious until Bryce showed off an engagement ring and admits his plans. With only his friends interest in mind he confronts Zelda about her possible mistake.

Feat. Bryce x F!MC x One-Sided Ethan

Love Me - @drethanramslay 📚

[mini: completed] What if Leah didn’t want to wait for Ethan to return her feelings? What if she moved on with Bryce? Would it be the end of the road for them or do they still have a shot at an happy ending?

Part 1: Hard for me

Part 2: Cry for me

Part 3: Stay for me

Maybe - @perriewinklenerdie 🛸 Harper and Ethan have a son. The only thing is, there’s more to the story, and Claire just stumbled upon the truth. Feat. Bryce x Harper x Ethan x MC

Maybe One Day - @lahelalove Bryce has never been one to drink, but after seeing how often MC and Ethan have been together recently… let’s just say he plans to get wasted.

Memories - @krsnlove Bryce shows up at MC’s door in the middle of the night.

Miami - @lady-calypso 🎭 Athena Robins meant soley for Bryce and no romancing of Ethan. I managed to make it through Miami in canon without kissing him, but that’s only because I’m trying to get no romance points. This is MY canon take on Miami with Athena. Feat. Bryce x F!MC x Ethan

New Year’s Resolution - @omgjasminesimone Bryce shares a secret at midnight but Ethan might get in the way.

Not A Choice - @utterlyinevitable Bryce finally asks Becca what happened between her and Ramsey. Set somewhere in Book 2. Feat. Bryce x F!MC x Ethan

Now and Forever - @kelseaaa Bryce helps MC before her big day.

Perfectly Imperfect - @cryomyst 📚 [extended: wip] Ethan x F!MC x Bryce

An AU story in which my MC had enough of Ethan when he kept antagonizing Bloom, breaks up with Ethan and gets together with Bryce. The story starts off as we come to the end of Bryce's residency, my MC comes to realize just how flawed of a human being she is (unlike Pixelberry's perfect depiction), and she makes a decision.

Pharmaceutical Wars - @annekebbphotography 📚 [extended: wip] Bryce and Casey are on and off again. He wants more and she wants more with Ethan, but Ethan doesn’t want more with her. Casey’s new intern captivates Bryce.

Feat. Bryce x F!MC x Ethan

Chapter 1

RunAway - @utterlyinevitable Becca left Bryce’s place before he woke up and overhears something she certainly shouldn’t have heard between Naveen and Ethan. Follows ‘Not A Choice’.

Shades of Regret - @genevievemd 🎭 She tried to move on, but with her last hours alive slowing ticking away, the only person she wants is the man that broke her heart. (Bk 2, Ch 11 au - Ethan didn’t kiss Gen after the softball game and she’s starting to date Bryce)

Feat. Bryce x F!MC x Ethan

Something’s Missing - @jamesashtonisbae MC goes to Evelyn’s art exhibit with Bryce instead of Ethan.

That Messy Vegas Threesome - @utterlyinevitable ♥🍘 Later on the balcony after Jackie’s asleep on the couch, Dr. Love Lao finds herself in another sort of threesome with Bryce and Ethan.

Torn - @lady-calypso 🎭 This takes place after Chapters 10 and 11 of Book 2. Feat. Bryce x F!MC x Ethan

When You're Ready - @eleanorbloom 📚 [extended: complete] When Ethan leaves for the Amazon, Eleanor decides to move on and starts a relationship with Bryce, who knows she's still in love with the attending. Will Bryce win her heart in the end?

#open heart #open heart fanfic #open heart fanfiction #choices open heart #open heart fanfics #ethan ramsey #ethan x mc #ethan ramsey x mc #bryce lahela #bryce x mc #bryce lahela x mc

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elliepassmore · 3 years

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The Man in the High Castle review

3/5 stars Recommended for people who like: speculative fiction, history, WWII, what-if scenarios, philosophy I saw perhaps one episode of Man in the High Castle when it came out on Amazon and then sort of forgot about it until I saw a friend's copy of this book a few months ago. The concept is certainly interesting and I thought it could prove interesting to see what someone thought would happen in an alternate timeline where the Allies lost the war. Unfortunately, PKD never really delivers on the premise and at the end the book sort of just feels like a soggy mess. For one, PKD tries to say a lot and actually ends up saying very little. Even a day later I am still struggling to determine what, exactly, I was supposed to take away from this book. Is it just a fun speculative fiction exercise? An allegory for how, regardless of the track of history we would still, by and large, be in the same place? One about the increasing internationality of American consumerism and production and a drive toward returning toward Americana industry and consumption? Something else entirely? It's hard to say for certain. On top of this, there was an element of mysticism and magical realism that never really panned out. I Ching and the oracle seemed, at first, like just another part of this world, but then toward the end PKD flips the script and makes it seem as if the oracle is real. Additionally, there's that weird scene with Mr. Tagomi that seemed like it should have fit in well with some of the other mystical stuff that happens, but is never truly connected on the pages. There also seems to be some mixed signals regarding the Japanese and the Nazis. For one, I don't really think a Tojo-era Japanese takeover of the Pacific US and a Nazi-era German takeover of the East Coast would really result in the kind of society PKD set up. For one, I think PKD played down the violence and horror that would've occurred under both groups and, frankly, the Japanese government and police are made out to almost be saints compared to the actual reality of what happened in places where Japanese forces took over during WWII. Also, does he really expect us to believe that Japan just let Germany take most of S. America? What is believable, though, is the very casual way in which the characters in the story brush off slavery, genocide, and gas chambers. The way other groups are talked about in the book was also disconcerting. At first it created a believable difference between different characters of different backgrounds, but the more the book went on, the more it seemed that characters began to all bleed their beliefs together into something that, overall, championed white maleness. Tagomi might be the exception to this, but the other narrators are white and seem to let things run together in their minds in regards to other groups. Also, the way PKD writes about women and Juliana was ick. Not to mention, the weird choppy sentences that PKD used to depict the speech and thoughts of Japanese and Americans-under-Japanese-control. Like, I get that things changed, but 1) the linguistic differences wouldn't be that large in such a short period of time, and 2) was there really not any other way of showing Japanese linguistic influences on English? Like, none at all? An additional issue I had with the book was that some of the narrators weren't really distinguished from one another properly (i.e., Childan and Frink). Juliana's narrative style was obvious, largely because she was in a completely different location and doing a different plot from everyone else. Mr. Tagomi was also pretty distinct as well. However, there were several times when I confused Childan and Frink despite them also having their own plots. Overall, the book has an interesting concept that was just never delivered upon. There were narrative and worldbuilding issues, and PKD seemed to just have a lot of thoughts and not a lot of space to explain them.

#book #books #book review #the man in the high castle #philip k dick #speculative fiction #historical fiction #sci fi

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