#us taliban talks

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Month - July 2024

🏅- Talk about an Olympic comeback!

1. U.S. proposes ban on airline fees for seating parents next to kids

Parents should't have to pay a fee to sit next to their children when flying, according to the White House, which is moving to ban airlines from charging families extra to be seated together.

Under a rule proposed Thursday by the Department of Transportation, airlines would be required to seat parents and kids 13 and younger together free of charge when adjacent seating is available at booking.

2. A spinal injury killed Adriana Ruano's dream as a gymnast. She just won Guatemala's first Olympic gold medal as a shooter.

Ruano was training for the 2011 world championships in gymnastics, a qualifier for the London Olympics the following year, when she felt pain in her back. An MRI showed the then-16-year-old had six damaged vertebrae — a career-ending injury.

But on Wednesday, she came back as a shooter and won Guatemala's first Olympic gold medal.

3. Woman swept out to sea rescued after surviving 37 hours in 6.5' waves, drifted over 50 miles.

A Chinese woman who was swept out to sea while swimming at a Japanese beach was rescued 37 hours later after drifting in an inflatable swim ring more than 80 kilometers (50 miles) in the Pacific Ocean, officials said Thursday.

4. Afghan Sisters Escape The Taliban To Achieve Olympic Dreams

Sisters Yulduz and Fariba Hashimi are set to become the first female cyclists from Afghanistan to compete in the Olympics. The siblings fled their country after the Taliban seized power in 2021 and cracked down on women's rights, including banning women from participating in sports.

5. Stem cell therapy cures man with type 2 diabetes

A 59-year-old man had been suffering from diabetes for 25 years, needing more and more insulin every day to avoid slipping into a diabetic coma and was at risk of death. But then Chinese researchers cured his disease for the first time in the world. The patient received a cell transplant in 2021 and has not taken any medication since 2022.

6. Seventh person likely 'cured' of HIV, doctors announce

A 60-year-old German man is likely the seventh person to be effectively cured from HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant, doctors announced on Thursday. The man received a bone marrow transplant for his leukaemia in 2015. The procedure, which has a 10 percent risk of death, essentially replaces a person's immune system.

7. Every country has now banned the use of leaded gasoline in cars

Three and a half decades later, in 2021, Algeria became the last country to ban it. Leaded gasoline is now banned from being used in road vehicles in every country. It is a big win for the health of people around the world.

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That's it for this month :)

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[feministfang]

Three brave women beat up a shopkeeper in islamic republic of Pakistan for harassing them and all the Pakistani men are so pissed off that they’re sending death threats to those women for taking action in their own hands instead of tolerating and calling some male authority or police. That piece of shit also filed a case against those women for abusing him and as a citizen of this trash country, i can tell he will win the case.

A 20 years old girl, Sania Zehra, was brutally tortured, raped and murdered by her husband, syed ali raza bukhari, when she was pregnant with her third child. This also happened in Pakistan on 8th of July. Now the same men are silent over this or trying to shove the issue of Palestine on feminist pages posting about Sania’s case because "far worst things are happening in the world". Meanwhile, Pakistani women are busy dick worshipping the victim’s father because "he must be so traumatised after losing his daughter like this. oh poor man!" As if that bitch isn’t at fault for making her daughter marry that old beast when she was probably 16.

Celebrities here are more concerned about men’s deteriorating mental health in this country as these lunatics think catering to men’s feelings will somehow fix them. What else can you expect from them when the entire world outside has progressed, but these dumbfucks are still portraying the same old cringe fairytale stories where a simple beautiful, but unfortunate girl falls in love with some ugly psychotic man and tolerates his abuse because "that’s true love 😍" and in the end, she’s successful in fixing him.

But when we speak a word against the atrocities women face in this country, all these people lose their minds and try to silence us to ensure the image of their fuckin country is not at risk of defamation and the lovely Pakistan can become an example of how peaceful islam is. Pakistani men (and most women here as well) are intolerant when it comes to the vilification of the image of their country and religion. And their asses start burning when they see someone ruining it. They even stoop so low to the level of satanism that they would not hesitate to send death threats to anyone making them look bad globally. A girl i was friends with on FB wished Malala another gunshot on her face by Taliban because of her anti-marriage stance.

This is why i urge y’all to please don’t stay silent on the issues women are facing in Pakistan. I never see global feminist pages talking about female oppression in this garbage country. Some feminists living in west also act like brown men are somehow better than white men and they’re more oppressed than white women because of racism, or that muslim men are better than christian bigots. Stop victimising brown muslim men. Not only are they hideous but also the misogyny the south asian society has shoved in their assholes is extremely disgusting and they keep shitting it on women everywhere they go, including white women.

I wouldn’t expect support from brainless libby feminists as they’re probably busy pulling their pants down on their favourite OF platforms or fighting misandry online, but i would love to see all the radfems speaking up for south asian women. Please make it known globally how the Pakistani islamic community is constantly oppressing women day by day.

Use the examples i stated above. Speak up for Sania Zehra!! Demand justice for her globally, and keep bashing corrupt Pakistani law system. Also, don’t forget to defame their religion. These people are most protective of their culture and religion. I don’t see any hope in this country for women, but there’s a chance they will start taking action and give proper justice to the victims in order to protect their so called dignity.

[reading-writing-revolution]

What The Fuck is Wrong with You?

Elect Biden and shut the fuck up about his age.

Donald J Trump is arguably the most ignorant, disgusting, demented man that anyone in America can name. Why are Democrats, news pundits and internet morons continuing to talk about Biden being old?

Donald Trump tried to overthrow the government of the United States of America and lost over 60 lawsuits to that effect. He incited and supported an insurrection that saw Americans attack the Capitol and try to capture or kill American lawmakers.

Who the fuck cares if Biden is old?

Donald J Trump named three Supreme Court Justices who ended Roe v Wade and have now rendered the Separation of Powers and check and balances in the US Constitution as "null and void."

Biden is just 3 years older than Trump, and who cares?

Donald Trump goes on insane, meandering, half-baked rants at political rallies, slurring his words, unable to complete sentences, losing track of his thoughts, and calling for Americans to be hurt, have their rights taken away and worse. He treats everyone around him, including other Republicans, like trash.

But Biden is old.

Donald Trump pretended that COVID was a hoax, suggested the American people ingest bleach to fight it, and smeared the leading scientists battling COVID, which resulted in about a million deaths in the United States in a year.

But Joe Biden is pretty old.

Donald Trump was accused of rape by over 20 women, found guilty of sexual assault in 2024 and made lurid comments about his own daughter. He also cheated on all three of his wives, including his latest wife while she was pregnant. Then he tried to cover it up by paying hush money to a porn star.

Biden is an old guy.

Donald Trump banned Muslims from America, put thousands of people in cages at the border and tried to get the Ukrainian president to lie about Joe Biden.

But Joe Biden isn't a youngin anymore.

Trump said African nations were "shithole countries" and said white supremacists were "very fine people." Trump said immigrants were taking "Black jobs". He also ignored the hurricane catastrophe in Puerto Rico, which took 3000 lives.

But Biden is old.

Trump's family foundation was found to have ripped off charities, he's banned from doing business in New York, and his daughter and son-in-law received $2 billion from the Saudis at the end of his presidency. He's bankrupted or failed in every business he's ever had, from Trump Steaks to Trump Air to Trump University to all the casinos.

But hey, Biden is old.

Trump did a deal with Afghanistan to let the Taliban out of prison so they could (and did) take over the country. He's sided with Putin against NATO. He said nothing about the Saudis killing a journalist. Donald Trump eased restrictions on loan sharks, exploded the deficit and made friends with North Korea. He told over 3000 lies.

But old Joe is old.

Biden is old.

Donald Trump is easily the worst human being anyone has ever encountered, and all anyone can talk about is how old Biden is. What the fuck is wrong with you?

[afghanbarbie]

The sex-based apartheid against women in Afghanistan cannot be reduced to, "Afghan men saw Afghan women enjoying freedom and got mad, so they established extremist religious governments to stop it." I am really tired of seeing this misconception and oversimplification spread around by leftists, liberals and feminists – it's racist, and simply not fucking true.

The majority of Afghans want a secular government and for the oppression of women to end. The Taliban represent a minority of Afghanistan's people. The deterioration of Afghan society – in particular, women's rights and freedoms – directly results from decades of foreign intervention, imperialism and occupation. Afghans did not destroy Afghanistan, the United States did, and the USSR paved the way for them to do so.

Had Afghanistan never been treated like a pawn in the games played by imperialistic powers, had we not been reduced to resources, strategic importance and a tool for weakening the enemy, extremism would have never come to power.

An overview of Afghanistan's recent history:

The USSR wanted to incorporate Afghanistan into Soviet Central Asia and did so by sabotaging indigenous Afghan communist movements and replacing our leaders with those loyal to the USSR. The United States began funding and training Islamic extremists – the Mujahideen – to fight against the Soviet influence and subsequent invasion, and to help the CIA suppress any indigenous Afghan leftist movements. Those Mujahideen won the war, and then spent the next decade fighting for absolute control over Afghanistan.

During that time period, known as the Afghan Civil War, the Mujahideen became warlords, each enforcing their own laws on the regions they controlled. Kabul was nearly destroyed, and the chaos, destruction and death was largely ignored by the United States despite being the ones who caused and empowered it. This civil war era created the perfect, unstable environment needed to give a fringe but strong group like the Taliban a chance to rise to power. And after two decades of war, a singular entity taking control and bringing 'peace' was enticing to all Afghans, even if their views were objectively more extreme than what we had been enduring up to that point.

When the United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001, they allied with the same warlords that had been destroying our country the decade prior and whom they had rallied against the Soviets – these are the people that made up the Northern Alliance. The 'good guys' that America gave us were rapists, pillagers, and violent extremists, no better than the Taliban. And that's not even mentioning the horrible atrocities and war crimes committed by American forces themselves.

So, no, Afghan men did not collectively wake up one day and decide that women had too much freedom and rush to establish an extremist government overnight. No, this is not to excuse the misogyny of men in our society – the extremists had to already exist for Americans to fund and arm them against the Soviets – but rather to redirect the bulk of this racist blame to the actual culprits. The religious extremism and sex-based apartheid would not be oppressing and murdering us today if they hadn't been funded and supported by the United States of America thirty years ago. And despite all the abuses and restrictions, many Afghan women prefer the Taliban's current government to another American occupation. I felt safer walking in Taliban-controlled Kabul than I did being 'randomly searched' (sexually assaulted) by American military police in my village as a child.

Imperialism is inextricably linked with patriarchal violence and women's oppression. You cannot talk about the deterioration of Afghanistan without talking about the true cause of said decline: The United States of America. Americans of all political views, including leftists and feminists, are guilty of reducing or outright ignoring Western responsibility for female oppression in the Global South, finding it much easier to place all blame on the foreign brown man or our supposedly backwards, savage cultures, when the most responsibility belongs with Western governments and their meddling games that forced the most violent misogynists among us into power.

(Most of this information comes from my own experience living as an Afghan Hazara woman in Afghanistan, but Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords and the Propaganda of Silence covers this in much more detail. If you want more on the Soviet-Afghan war and Afghanistan's socialist history, Revolutionary Afghanistan is an English-language source from a more leftist perspective)

[bravo4iscool]

Levi Baby🖤

The way I adore you for pairing Simon with a Chubby girl. I bring a thot to you if you're interested:

Bodyguard!Simon Ghost Riley x chubby f!reader

- He's newly retired , gets asked for a favor from Price for a friend's kid

- Said kid is a mid 20's thicc woman who is all business since she's a lawyer in Human Rights and involved with the UN.

- He thinks she's going to be a snob based off looks bc girl loves to dress and she does it well, she observes Simon as he is. Brooding, Haunted and Self Assureed with a drizzle of dark humor but loyal.

- They get off on the wrong foot [Simon was being an irrational ass forgetting his manners and respect], reader isn't scared of him and doesn't take lightly to being disrespect3d for no apparent reason.

- They're holed up living together under the radar since the thr3at to reader was pretty big seeing it was world leaders

- They're going to have to learn to live with each other, where Simon barks orders - reader is anamused and calmly condescends. He can't even get annoyed bc she's antisocial and a houseplant but he's trying

- doesn't help that he's so.so attracted to her.

*make this as suggestive as you want (give ghost heart attacks with her choice of home clothes please. We know he's touch straved, emotionally constipated and needed a therap session.

Make her stress him out by confronting all of that in her short fiery demon way please.

I hope your new year is sweet Love💋

oh lord. oH LORD. how can you write this and not think about me fainting😭 THIS IS- URGH- AMAZING AHHHQGACQGQVQZQZAVQ!!!!

i hope i can do this justice😭 normally i try to imitate simon’s accent but bro… i was just too tired to do it now, so i hope you can forgive me for that🥲

KEEP HITING ME WITH STUFF LIKE THIS OH MY GOD😩

not really happy but i tried my best :) also not proof-read!

(masterlist)

REQUESTS/ASKS OPEN!!!

“There’s no but’s!” Simon argues while almost dragging you—his protégée—along the hallway inside the safe house. “You’re in danger and it’s my job to protect you!”

“I’ve been perfectly fine on my own before,” you argue, trying your best to wriggle away from his grip. You hated it when he manhandled like that.

He turns around, his eyes fiercely staring down at you and you feel like they’re piercing through your soul. “Have you ever had the Taliban threaten you, huh? Or fucking ISIS? I don’t think so; so stop whining and follow me!”

You want to argue with him, tell him he’s not allowed to talk to you that way but damn, you knew he was right. Ever since you started working for the UN you’ve been threatened—you were getting used to it—but only by small groups not someone like the Taliban.

“We’re gonna stay here until the threat is eliminated for not serious anymore.” His statement leaves little room to argue but you’re itching to say something anyway. It’s wasn’t your nature to just shut up. You were a lawyer, you were used to arguing.

You grimace as you force yourself to accept your fate. You didn’t want to but in the end you knew Simon was right. So, you follow him, an annoyed look on your face. You hated it when he was right.

“It’s only temporary,” he grumbles as he kicks a door open and pushes you inside. “It’s not like I want it, okay?”

You only roll your eyes, throwing a halfhearted ‘whatever’ at him and inspecting the room he hauled you into. “This is where I’m gonna stay?” you ask him, a slight hint of defeat in your voice.

“Pretty much, yes. I’ll be on the other side of the hallway,” he explains, leaning against the door frame. “In case anything happened, of course,” he immediately adds; just so you don’t get a…wrong picture of this whole thing here.

“We got wifi here?” is you next questions when you turn to look at him, your arms crossed in front of your chest.

“No wifi. No contact to the outer world,” is his answer and you feel your blood start to boil.

“You have to be kidding me! How am I supposed to work then?” You throw your hands in the air, letting out an angry huff. “You can’t just cut me off civilisation!”

He only shrugs. “I can and I will. Work can wait, alright? Your life is more important now.” Again his voice leaves no room to argue but this time you won’t take it. You put your hands on your hips, looking up at him.

“You think that’s how it works? Then, please Lieutenant Riley,” you spit out his rank “fly over to the dozens of war criminals and tell them to stop too! Oh wait-“ you act shocked. “That’s not how it fucking works! You can’t expect me to sit still and look pretty while the world drowns in injustice!”

“Would make things a lot easier tho,” he mumbles under his breath while pushing himself off the door frame. “Just…do something that doesn’t require wifi or anything like that, alright?” Before you can even think of an answer he leaves, shutting the door behind him. Why the hell was he treating like some little child?

~

“How old is she?” Simon wants to know as he hands his old Captain the picture of you back. He’s sat on a chair, his legs spread, one arm resting on the back rest.

“Mid 20s,” Price answers, placing his folded hands onto the table. “She needs security and her father’s not really…trusting the usual companies; and since you’re nearly retired I thought you could use the job.” Simon holds Price’s gaze and nods along. “He trusts me, therefore he trusts you. She’s a lawyer, heavily associated and involved with the UN and human rights.”

“What are the details?” Simon slightly tilts his head, curiously raising his eyebrows.”

“24/7 protection. The full package. You’ve done it before,” Price explains and Simon once again nods along. “Before you take the job tho-“ he pauses. “She’s, well… she’s a lawyer Simon. You need to know what you get into.” The Captains gaze hardens, his back straightening. “She won’t like that she’s on protection detail, therefore she’ll be treating you like that.”

Simon only smirks, flipping his well kept coin between his fingers. “There’s nothing I can’t handle John. I’ve met people like that before and I was perfectly fine.”

Now Price was the one smirking while shaking his head. “I know and I don’t question your abilities but she’s a civilian—the one you’re protecting. You can’t handle this the way you’ve handled other subjects before.”

“I know what I’m getting into,” Simon assures in a calm tone definitely not knowing what he was getting himself into.

~

“Fucking hell,” Simon mutters when he first sees you. You’re walking straight to you office—the one he was sitting in—involved in a heated talk with that seemed like your secretary.

He’s able to make out single words but well, his hearing wasn’t the best anymore after nearly 20 years of military service. And now he thinks he probably should’ve stayed in the field.

The way you’re waking and talking and dressing just screams ‘snob’ at him. He slightly lowers his head to gaze at you, once again playing with his coin. Maybe he should’ve declined the offer and taken on the underground wrestling instead. Would’ve been more fun for sure.

As soon as you spot your guest you send your secretary away, bracing yourself for the following conversation. You weren’t a fan of getting security and you definitely weren’t a fan of the fact that it was a friend of your father’s friend and he—apparently—was everything but easy.

“Lieutenant Riley,” you greet him, extending your hand to him. When he stands up to his full height you slightly crane your neck; the professional smile still on your face.

“Ma’am,” he greets in a gruff voice, the skin of his hand raw and calloused as he return the handshake. “Pleased to meet you.” He isn’t. He just wants to leave but he brought this on himself so he needs to finish it now. ‘One year’, he told himself. ‘Then I can quit.’

“I can only return the pleasure,” you smile, clearing your throat. “Would you mind sitting down at my desk?” You ask, pointing towards said desk. “I think it’s easier to discuss business over there.”

Simon agrees, towering over you as he makes his way over to one of the chairs in front of the desk. You take place behind it, carefully straightening your blouse. He needs to warn himself not to stare. Fuck, why were you so pretty? A pretty little snob…

~

“This has to be taken seriously!” Simon raises his voice at you, successfully blocking the door of your office.

“This is nothing I haven’t dealt with before,” you argue with him, crossing your arms in front of your chest. “So please, Simon, let me get out of my office and back to work.”

He huffs, “Not a change. You’ll be staying here until the threat is cleared.” He glances over his shoulder, loving and hating the fact that you had a glass office. “Are these bullet prove?” he asks, looking at you again.

You sigh, “No.”

“We’ll have that changed,” he immediately answers and you start to shake your head.

“We’ll have nothing changed! You weren’t hired to renovate my office!” You walk towards him. “Now, Mr. Riley, please step aside so I can continue working.”

“Not happening.” He straightens up to his full height, expecting you to back off but you do the exact opposite. You swat your finger at him, looking up.

“I don’t care what you think, you will stay here; if you want it or not.” His voice is stern and stoic and you need to do your best to not full on scream at him.

“Don’t you dare talk to me like that,” you hiss, your index finger jabbing his chest. “I can make my own decisions, I’m a responsible adult. So don’t you dare talk down to me that way!”

When Simon doesn’t make a move you let out an angry huff and shake your head. Then you turn away and stalk towards your desk. “Fucking military man,” you curse under your breath, ignoring the way he stared you down.

~

You stare at your open suitcase, debating what to wear. On the one hand, you kinda were on your own, on the other hand, Simon was with you.

You were comfortable in your body—no question—you actually kinda liked the extra cushions but sometimes you felt like Simon was staring at you. Like he wasn’t able to take his eyes off of you and that made you…feel something. Something you were afraid of.

“Ah fuck it,” you say under your breath, fishing out some shorts and a shirt. You could care less about what Simon thinks. You both are only work related. Nothing else.

You tap down the stairs, walking straight into the kitchen. “You want something to eat?” You ask Simon, glancing at him when you hear him enter.

“You willing to make some?” he jokes, expecting you to say ‘no’ but when you say ‘yes’ his eyes widen and he pauses for a second. When you notice it you let out a small chuckle, opening the fridge and multiple cabinets to see what you could make.

“Any friends that’ll miss you?” he asks once you place a plate in front of him, looking up at you with curious eyes.

You shake your head, “Nope. Not really.” You sit down opposite of him, grabbing your fork. “Too busy to have friends.”

He tilts his head, blindly picking up the food either his fork. “No boyfriend?” He knows you don’t have one. You have no dates, no flings, nothing; but he wants to hear it from you. Maybe then his fantasies wouldn’t be so forbidden…

“Please,” you laugh. “We’d be divorced before we even married.” You take a sip of water and look at him. “I don’t have time for relationships and that kind of stuff. I have a target to pursue. Ain’t no time for distraction.”

He only nods in an understanding manner, playing with his beer bottle. “And you?” you ask. “You got someone?”

He shakes his head. “Nah. I’ve got you to deal with. That’s enough.” He smirks when he sees your facial expression, letting out a low chuckle. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for,” he continues joking. “But no. I don’t have anyone. Never really had.”

“Oh…” you say in an almost pitiful tone and he hates it. It not that he couldn’t get someone. He just didn’t want to. That’s a big difference. “Well not really different for me,” you then snort, slightly grimacing. You had this one guy ask you out for prom but that turned out to be a bet rather fast and after than you decided to not to date in school or university anymore.

Yeah sure, you were more chubby than other girls but that doesn’t mean that you’re not lovable, right? By now you were comfortable in your body—you were in your mid 20’s—but sometimes you felt yourself slipping back into the insecure girl you once were. The one who thought that no man would ever lay his eyes on her in a lustful or loving manner.

Simon’s itching to say something; to ask why you don’t have anyone… You’re perfect. You’re nice—even if he hated to admit it. You’re pretty, you’re so fucking soft… Did the men around you not see that?

“Simon?” You wave your hand around in front of his face, chuckling when he slightly flinches, his pupils blow. “Are you alright?” you carefully ask, eying him as if something was wrong.

But he only clears his throat, “Yes. Everything’s fine.” Then he hastily stands up and nods at you. “Thank you for the food.”

You watch after him as he leaves, a frown on your face. Was he really okay or was he just lying to you?

Simon on the other hand was probably turning red as a tomato. How could he allow himself to slip like that? Fuck, he needed to keep himself better under control.

As soon as he reaches his room he shuts the door and leans against it while opening his pants with shaking hands.

He had a—growing—problem and he needed take care of it. Now.

-

Approximately one week into the lockdown Simon finds you in the living room, crouched over a bunch of files and documents.

“What’s that?” he wants to know, looking over your shoulder.

“Work,” you simply reply, taking notes and pushing the papers around. You were so close, this close to finally finish this case but something was missing and it stressed you out.

He slowly nods, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “And how did you manage to get these files?”

“I’m a lawyer Simon. I have my ways and connections,” is your plain answer and you can basically feel him tensing behind you.

“What if they give away your location,”

“They won’t.”

“How can you be sure?” He tries his best to be calm but god, you were testing his nerves. He gave you strict orders and you were supposed to follow them.

You turn around with an annoyed sigh, looking up at him. “Because my father brought me those. You think he would sell me out to the enemy? I doubt so.”

You raise your eyebrow, waiting for any other complaint by him but be only looks at the files behind you, then at you again. “Maybe check the mission reports of the special forces.” With that he leaves you alone, more than confused.

You know why Simon told you what he told you when you find what you need exactly there. The mission reports were sitting somewhere beneath everything else because you didn’t pay much attention to them; in the end they were the solution.

Now you could finally link the crimes to someone and with that to the government or the military at least.

The next time you see Simon you almost jump into his arms, thanking him over and over again. “Now the case is finally closed,” you tell him with a big grin on your face, completely forgetting that you’re usually not so happy when around him.

Simon just awkwardly pats your back, pushing you off him and ignoring the burning desire deep within him. He knew it was risky to give you a tip but you were struggling and he didn‘t like that. He just hoped that you wouldn’t ask him why he knew that you should look at the mission reports. Once you knew that he was a war criminal this job would be over. And while you certainly were a pain in the ass sometimes he felt a very present attraction towards you.

-

Simon realises he’s a goner when he wakes up one morning and sees you walking around in a shirt. Just a shirt, as far as he can see and it does something to you. His hands are itching to touch you and he finds himself excusing himself more and more to the bathroom.

And you? You started to notice the kind of power you have over him and it makes you boast with pride. You, a chubby little lawyer in your mid 20s, has him, an almost 40 year old retired military Lieutenant, wrapped around your little finger.

After that you decide to play a little game. Wouldn’t hurt, no? Just subtle touches. Brushing his arm when you walk past him, patting his chest when he helps you with something, your legs touching his whenever you sit beside him.

He tries to shrug it off but you can practically feel how worked up he gets and how hard it is for him to keep him shit together; and that fuels you only more. How long would it take for him to break? To crumble beneath your touch, huh? You wanted, no, you needed to find that out.

Simon knows what you were doing. He isn’t stupid but he hates it. How was he so weak that you were able to play with him like that?

After a week, maybe two of you dancing around him he has you caged in against the kitchen counter, towering over you.

“What makes you think you can just play with me like that, huh?” he asks in a low voice, his eyes scanning your face for any reaction. “You think it’s funny? Working me up like that every day?”

You try not to be intimidated—or turned on—by him but god, he’s just- you don’t have any words for it. He’s tall, broad and fucking strong. You once got a look at the muscles under all his clothes and you weren’t the same after that. Nu-uh.

“I thought you like it,” you reply with a cocky grin, trying to overshadow your uncertainty. “Do you want me to stop?” You blink at him, acting all innocent and pure. In the corner of your eye you see his grip on the counter tightening. Oh, you had him where you wanted him.

A ‘bloody hell’ is all you get before his lips crash down onto yours and he heaves you on top of the counter. His hands find their way to your hips, scarred fingers tracing them and squeezing, wanting to pull you even closer.

The moment his lips touch yours you forget everything else. This is want you wanted—needed—for weeks. And lord, that man knew what he was doing.

You weren’t a fan of him dragging and pushing you around but right now? Right now you couldn’t wish for anything else. You bury your hands in the dirty kind strands of hair on the back of his head, gently pulling at them which results in him groaning in your mouth.

“Take me to the bedroom and maybe I’ll stop teasing you,” you breathlessly tell him once he breaks the kiss only to kiss you again immediately making you all hot and tingly.

You can feel him smirk against his lips before they trail down your neck towards your collar bone. “Ain’t gonna take you anywhere love,” he whispers and you’re able to once again feel him smirk against your skin. “Gonna fuck you right here on that kitchen counter. You want that?” he looks up at you through hooded eyes, which makes you swallow.

“Words love, words.” His tone is playful even tho you can see the desperation in the way his hands move all over your body, letting you see stars already.

“Yes…please,” you almost choke out, feeling like everything you want to say is being swallowed my your throat again. You’re unable to talk.

“That’s what I wanted to hear,” Simon teases, straightening up to kiss your lips again, cupping your cheek. “Gonna take good care of you,” he promises. “I’m gonna show you how a real man treats you,” he swears and you can feel a familiar but also unfamiliar heat building in the pit of your stomach.

(i got scared to write the rest👍🏼. i’m sorry, i’m still new to writing smut😭)

[4ft10tvlandfangirl]

Maybe it's because I work in healthcare and I remember vividly during the worst of covid when all medical facilities were under strain, when there were no more beds, no more oxygen & patients were dying while waiting to be seen or admitted that my heart is breaking imagining what its like in the hospitals of Gaza running out of resources.

Add the fact that they are working through constant bombardment and airstrikes, treating horrific amputations and burn injuries with little to no electricity now and no anesthesia. Add the fact that the medics & doctors are seeing their own families brought in terribly injured or dead. They're getting calls while on duty that their families were killed and its suspected they were specifically targeted.

You could tell me the doorway to hell was under these hospitals/schools/mosques/churches/refugee camps and I promise it wouldn't change how I feel about this. Attacking these places filled with innocent civilians is wrong. How can people see the images and footage I'm seeing and say well, if bombing the entire Gaza Strip gets rid of Hamas then the end justifies the means? It can't! The cost of human life is too high! And that's without even accounting for the propaganda and lies in the mix.

Like many above a certain age I watched the events of 9/11 unfold and a lot of us in the global south actually mourned with the American people. And like the American people we too were swayed by the media's lies so we just silently watched the invasion into Iraq and Afghanistan only for the lies to come out years later. 20 years bombing the hell out of those countries and slaughtering the people indiscriminately and it didn't get rid of the Taliban or other terrorist groups. But I bet it helped to radicalise more to their cause.

Israel is using the same playbook and none should be surprised if the result is the same, if any Palestinian children of today become the Hamas of tomorrow after what they've suffered. I don't support Hamas but I can understand why they would continue to exist and why they might get willing support. And even if Hamas is all that the media says they are, it still wouldn't justify the collective punishment being meted out to the Palestinian people. Killing 8 times the amount of people you lost isn't justice!

I genuinely can't understand how so many can't see that. That there are people celebrating this large loss of life.

I do feel some hope that there are so many rallying behind Palestine, that many are trying to learn more and speak out and that in seeking out information about this, many of us have also learned more about other injustices like in DR Congo & Sudan. But I'm also deeply troubled by the lack of empathy I'm seeing and the cruelty being exalted. I'm angry that the so-called leaders of the free world are letting this happen.

I'm gonna keep talking and sharing what I can and I hope those of you who feel similarly do as well. Keep calling for the protection of hospitals as they work to save lives. Keep calling for a ceasefire to stop the bloodshed and so aid may be let in unhindered. Don't stay silent in the face of genocide. Free Palestine 🇵🇸

[hazeltongzhi]

what is your opinion on Iran and the houthis, policy wise? I understand that they're both taking anti us policies right now but they're both sort of awful?

also if you can, where exactly did the Iranian revolution go wrong?

Here's something we don't really get to talk about and that is the fact that if the west (imperialism, specifically) can't get who they want in power, they'd rather have someone who is incredibly right wing anyway. Although I cannot claim to be an expert on the Iranian revolution, I know that there were indeed left-wing organizations and groups who were vying for power and the united states would rather have the ayatollah in power than the communists. In Afghanistan, where there was an active socialist government championing women's rights, land reform, and etc., the united states would rather have the taliban in power even if their form of Islam is dangerously right wing. In Lebanon and Yemen, where the united states and its allies failed to install regimes favorable to their interests, they would rather there be a government which, although going against their interests, would also not be a communist/left-wing government, that being, Hezbollah and Ansar Allah.

Like the russian federation, the actions these groups take to counter imperialist aggression in their respective regions should be supported, especially in the case of Hazbollah and Ansar Allah, since they are actively trying to stop the settling and genocide of Palestine. Ultimately, It is up to the people of these respective countries to enact the change for a better government. Unfortunately, this simply is not possible with the united states and its western allies breathing down the backs of every country across the world because as soon as instability is made, the imperialists swoop in with material support for their genocidal fascist. Thus, the state of the primary contradiction haunting the planet: imperialism.

[intersectionalpraxis]

I know many of you have probably seen this photo of Afghan women in the 1970s wearing mini skirts in public. It's important to note that the government has not always oppressed women like they have especially in the past few decades.

If you don't know how the Taliban rose to power and how US imperialism and militaries played a huge role in suppressing resistance groups (not all of whom were repressive-based), and were responsible for directly funding the oppressive sections in Afghanistan during the later end of the 20th century, please look into it (I provided 2 sources below for context, albeit not extensive). This is just grazing the surface. Because it continues to get worse, and we need to keep talking about what is happening. We must keep showing our solidarity for young girls and women in Afghanistan.

Here is a video of Afghan women both abroad and in their country singing to protest the new heinous and dehumanizing laws less than a week ago -please keep talking about this.

[etherealbuns]

Funniest quotes from last night's US presidential debate (That won't be funny if Trump wins) also not exact quotes:

- "I got involved with the Taliban. I got involved, they get involved with the wrong people. I talked to Abdul. He is the head of the Taliban, he is still the head of the Taliban. I told him "Abdul, you can't do that" and sent him a picture of his house and he said "why did you send this" and I said "you'll figure it out later" and-"

- Trump: "Putin would be sitting. Putin would be sitting in Moscow.. Putin would be sitting. Nobody thinks about the nuclear weapons, they have nuclear weapons, the nuclear weapons. She is the worst vice president ever"

- "I made 24 countries pay up, the head of NATO, he said he never seen it before, I made 24 countries pay up and it never happened before"

- "I don't care what she is, whatever she wants to be is okay with me" (on being questioned about his statements regarding Kamala's race)

- "They come up with things,,,, like she just said"

- "There is no state where it is legal to execute a baby after birth." -one of the moderators

- "I told my people, the top people, they're very good people, I have a lot of good people,,, just let me explain,,, do I save it or do I let it rot I did a good thing"

- "So you still don't have a plan"

"I have a concept of a plan"

I didn't quote anything Kamala said here because I only wrote down the wildest quotes. Everything she said was so well-done compared to what we've had the last decade or so. But as usual, you're gonna find a clown in a circus.

[pankataratos]

hi! i never talk about this. trump's withdrawal from afghanistan was both actively calculated to make the oncoming president look worse and to kill people i physically knew. please do not permit this

update: the taliban are people who have banned women from learning how to read or speak in public. kabul looked like THIS in the 80s

did the us sabotage it because we hated socialism? we at least had something to do with it, yeah. please don't let that make you believe that 2020 trump was altruistic

[rotzaprachim]

I say this as someone who obviously opposes the Vietnam war, the war in Afghanistan, and the current war in I/p, but I think a lot of Americans including one I was just talking to haven’t got a lot of comprehension that it sure took the uS a lot longer than five months for public opinion to shift strongly away from supporting any of the above, but furthermore - we dont fucking KNOW what the us gov or us public would do or support if they had a hostage crisis with hundreds of us civilians being held by the viet cong or taliban or Sinaloa cartel for months on end, with significant evidence of that group committing sexual assault, within kilometers of where Americans lived. This is not an equivalent thing thing that has ever happened to the us and for the sake of world peace we can be glad it never has, but it’s truly beyond our comprehension what the US (or uk or Canada and such) might do

[phantomram-b00]

Why is Harry Potter trending (or was)? Can it not? Like deadass I’m being fr can it plz not. Especially that J.K Rowling is a massive TERF, a raging antisemite, and disgustingly try to deny that trans people were not affected by the Holocaust (which she was ratio’d by George Takei).

“Proof?”

Way ahead of you: (Tw: transphobia, racism, antisemitism, holocaust, Harry Potter)

Oh and don’t get me started how Hogwart Legacy, you know that game that was sworn Jk Rowling wasn’t apart of (yeah sure-) is blood libel story. Not to mention that trans people have told you not to especially since there is a canonical transgender character named Sirona. (People said Sirona is a Celtic goddess for healing. but- come on. You can’t bullshit out of this one. There are OTHER NAMES TO NAME A TRANSGENDER CHARACTER— it make those joke with how Jk Rowling naming not far off. Because it like naming a nonbinary character “NoGendora” or smth (before you say, I’m nonbinary myself—) so idc if it already have a meaning, it still is tone deaf to name a transgender women Sirona).

“But but- you can separate the art from the artist?”

Yes. You can separate art from the artist. HOWEVER before you celebrate thinking you had a gotcha moment. You can only separate if the art itself isn’t problematic or is bigotry itself. Harry Potter is as mention in the links. Not to mention, Harry Potter himself become a cop despite the cop in that world didn’t do jack shit. And don’t get me started on how they handle the whole elf slavery. Also there is heavy fatphobia in this story, proof, look at how they would talk about Harry’s abusive aunt and uncle from his mother’s side. Don’t get me started how she would describe Rita Skeeter. There even a black character who’s last names is Shacklebolt— do I need to say more (if I’m missing any other examples please tell me)

Not to mention she benefits off of it and uses her money to donate to transphobia and just don’t give a flying fuck if she offend people (which seem to usually be the case for trans/homophobia but moving on). like, this is who you wanna support? You still want to read this wizard book when there are other that don’t have transphobia, racist, antisemitic, or any problematic rhetoric and are objectively better than Harry Potter? Really? You wanna die on this hill?

Look. I used to like Harry Potter. but that was before I knew what a dirtbag of a fucking human she is (I didn’t really have social media at the time), and I cringe as I wish I learn sooner that she was a deplorable person who hates trans people like myself (nonbinary respectfully). But, I can happily say Fuck Harry Potter that series can burn in a trash for all I care and I hope the hbo series flops on its ass. And also fuck Jk Rowling, she can fuck off for all I care. That being said, If you support Harry Potter/Jk Rowling, unfollow me. Block me. Because I do not support Harry Potter/Jk Rowling. Because Trans rights/Gender Equality, Human rights are infinitely more important than a basic ass wizard book/movie with a even basic ass magic system when there are objectively better wizard/magic books that are respectful.

Anyway, that being said, Trans and basic human rights matter 🩵🩷🤍🩷🩵 🤭

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[adhdnojutsu]

Uchihas are Jew-coded

Preface: I'm Jewish. As with all marginalized minorities, outsiders are welcome to listen, ask questions etc. but not talk over or goysplain us. This applies especially to challenging our indigeneity. Which is not in "Gobacktoeurope"...

Obito

I first started headcanoning this after seeing Obito's Kamui dimension. His panic room looks a lot like the Holocaust memorial in Berlin.

He also said this to Rin:

Talmud (Sanhedrin 37a): “Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world.'

Tikkun Olam: if I ruled the world...

Jews have a collective imperative of Tikkun Olam, aka fixing the world. Obito's and Madara's drive to do so means little on the face since many anime villains have this goal, but given the previous things mentioned, this looks like part of a pattern. Itachi and Sasuke, too, wanted to shoulder the weight of the world to make it a better place. Even if it meant the whole world hating you - like the whole world has hated and still hates Jews.

Let's delve deeper into that hatred, shall we? The anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that we secretly run the world is directly tied to our imperative to fix it. You can't fix anything without power and influence. In fact, the whole notion of Tikkun Olam being our job, may strike Gentiles as conceited and inspire hatred. Obito and Madara needed to "run the world" in order to "fix it" and were happy to accept that this meant being hated.

This "Jews control the world" conspiracy theory connects seamlessly to Konoha's suspicion of the clan conspiring to take over and using the Sharingan, a trait unique to the Uchiha, to control tailed beasts in order to execute such a take-over. Kotoamatsukami is the ultimate parallel to Jews secretly controlling the media, and with them, public opinion (but not in our favour?).

Just like the Sharingan, Jews have, or are accused of having, singular qualities that facilitate our rise to power. This is because Judaism is a closed (ethno)religion and opting in (converting), having interfaith families etc. is discouraged. In some ultra-Orthodox communities, this is taken quite far... Let's just say that Uchiha wives, too, take their husband's last name, but Mikoto Uchiha looks like Sasuke looks like Izuna... go figure. Of course, in the case of Jews, this quality is not so much a gate-kept genetic trait, as a gravitation towards intellectual and influential professions passed down through generations. This is a direct result of anti-Semitic policy though: often being excluded from handicraft etc, Jews shifted the focus to administrative, financial and legal sectors. Jews are also traditionally studious, so our apparent domination of the Noble Prize is a result of this.

But no matter the cause of our success in certain areas, it would obviously have Gentiles eyeing us with suspicion. Why is a single ethnoreligious minority so prominently represented in positions of influence and acclaim? What might we be plotting? Why shouldn't we be plotting, since we ARE - allegedly - conniving, manipulative and greedy? Better get rid of us. Remember: Nazis hated Jews and were scared of arts and literature. Being Jewish and being an intellectual are, if you ask anti-Semites, shortcuts to power. You know who else hates books and Jews? Every single terrorist organization, be it Taliban, Hamas, ISIS,... Anti-intellectuals are often anti-Semites. Education is power. Jews love education. Terrorist regimes hate smart subjects. Ignorance is cheaper than bullets, after all.

Ghetto Uprising/Beware the Beginnings

The clan suspected the compound was just the beginning. Although the discrimination the Uchiha actually suffered - a compound, which all the other clans got, too, and surveillance - was not comparable to the Warsaw Ghetto or any other real world segregation, Fugaku and other clan members expected it to take a turn for the worse if ignored. And in order to prevent another Holocaust, you must recognize and fight the beginnings.

These beginnings are upon us once more. Anti-Semitism has been skyrocketing, and blaming Israel, a single, far-away country, is dishonest, considering:

Palestinians have massacred Jews decades before there even was a state of Israel; what Nakba was their excuse in 1922? What Nakba was there in Iran?

Jews are entitled to Israeli citizenship, all moving expenses paid, so why do many live in Diaspora? Could it be that they do not wish to be involved with the state of Israel? So why take it out on them, unless one already hated Jews?

The most recent rise in anti-Semitism didn't follow Israel's bombardment of Gaza, but the DAY of Hamas' mass rapes, mutilations, torture, and murder of 1000+ Jews on October 7. People who don't usually praise children, including those of "colonizers", getting slaughtered and mutilated, suddenly praised exactly that. These people have always been anti-Semitic and found an excuse to be loud about it by weaponizing Palestinian suffering, which they only care about because Jews are the culprit. Proof: Houthis are starving Muslim children in Yemen, China oppresses Uyghur Muslims, Assad gassed Muslims, America bombed Muslims for 20 years, but - crickets. Think about it.

Likewise, the Narutoverse counterpart of the Nazis or Hamas, Tobirama and his acolytes, have found many a lazy excuse, most notably the Kyuubi attack. They suspected an Uchiha, and little did they know they were right, except, just like Netanyahu and the people under his command, a single deranged Obito did not represent a critical mass of Uchihas. And yet, the clan, just as world Jewry, faced collective punishment. The Narutoverse Nazis were frothing at the mouth for an excuse for decades, and notable Uchiha individuals kept delivering, not least because their own incompetence, just like Netanyahu's, allowed things to get that far to begin with.

Isobu

Doesn't Isobu look a lot like shellfish? And isn't he why Rin killed herself? Rin was Obito's everything and she died because of this monster. Not that it was Isobu's fault, but still. Jews aren't allowed to eat shellfish. Obito has every reason to hate shellfish for the mere memory that stuff evokes. I know it's a bit of a reach, but again, patterns.

Dress Codes

For a proud, prominent clan with a bit of a superiority complex for their gate-kept characteristics, the Uchiha sure dress very modestly, the women even more so. In fact, they might just be the least flashy of all Konoha communities. The muted colours and baggy cuts scream "modesty". If you've ever wandered an Orthodox Jewish neighbourhood, you'll see the women tend to wear long, plain skirts, long, tight sleeves, ultra-conservative shoes, and plain, long or covered hair.

Mikoto fits right in, but so do other Uchiha women. Izumi is a bit "daring" with her sleeveless look, but her overall style still fits. Nobody in that clan seems to have much vanity, while the general population of Konoha and the Narutoverse at large, is a lot more individualistic.

"This guy just slaughtered the whole police force, let's throw a kunai at him and see what happens" bless her little heart

Flag Infestation

Uchihas have no chill when it comes to plastering their logo everywhere in their compound. They were driven out of the general public and are doubling down on pride as a result. Same applies to Jews in the safety of our indigenous homeland (the Jewish Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem predates Islam, born in modern Saudi Arabia, by many centuries, so don't Gobacktoeurope me).

Oh, and a Nazi found an excuse to ghetto them up, assigned some of them authority to keep their own in check (Sonderkommando/"Konoha" military police), then got rid of them all and managed to sell it as a necessary evil.

[jpmarvel90]

Coming Home - Part 2

Masterlist Scarlett Masterlist

Part 1

Relationship: Scarlett x ex Reader

Summary: Part two to Coming home

Word Count: 3414

Scarlett’s POV:

A month after we received news about Y/n, a funeral was held for her. I buried an empty coffin in the military graveyard and heard people talk about her heroic actions which ultimately led to her death. Her body wasn’t found. When they returned to a few days later they just found a pool of dried blood. It was believed that the Taliban had taken her body. As no ransom or demands had come through, the Military had declared her as killed in action.

The months following were difficult. I returned to work, but it felt like I was just working through the motions. It was like I had lost ever desire to live my life to the fullest. Y/n was always on my mind, and I was constantly reminded that I lost her long before she died and that I had no one to blame but myself.

We had recently started filming Age of Ultron and we had new cast members and I found it so hard to build any relationship with them. I was isolating myself and I didn’t need anyone. After a long day of filming, I was in my trailer, looking at photos of Y/n and I from when we were growing up. A knock at my door pulled me out of my thoughts and I shuffled towards the door to find Lizzie Olsen stood smiling at me.

Her smile suddenly drops as she looks at me. “Oh God, Scarlett, are you crying? Is everything ok?” She asked concerned. I hadn’t even realised that tears had been falling. I was so used to that feeling now. I quickly wiped them away and assured her that I was ok. “Look Scarlett, I know that we’re not exactly close, but I’m here if you ever need to talk. I know that you’ve gone through a loss, and I want to be there to help you.” She said with such warmth.

I smiled and moved to the side so she could join me. I spent the evening telling her all about Y/n and how I had left her like I did and then seeing her again before she died. It felt really good to talk through everything. I hadn’t realised that it had all been bottled up and talking about it had actually helped. Lizzie was really understanding and caring. She sat and let me bore her with photos and stories of Y/n. I actually felt bad for not making more of an effort when she first joined.

Over the next few weeks, I found myself healing gradually as I learnt to talk through my feelings. I still felt this unbearable pain, but I was able to carry on with my life. Lizzie had become a really close friend and I was extremely grateful for all her support. If she hadn’t come to my door that night, I know I would have fallen even further into my depression.

Since the funeral, I had avoided going back to New York as much as I could. But I knew I should go back and see both my parent’s as well as Y/n’s. Lizzie had decided to come with me for support. But I had to make the trip to Y/n’s parents on my own. I was stood on their doorstep and was hesitant to knock. I eventually found the courage to do so and was greeted by Henry.

He looked older and tired. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to lose a daughter. When he saw me, he smiled and pulled me into a big hug. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.” I said ashamed. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters. Please come in.” He said, guiding me into the living room. I greeted Mary and we spent some time catching up over a cup of coffee.

“I’m glad you came. We actually have something to give you.” Henry explained as he got up and left the room. I looked at Mary with a confused look. Once Henry rejoined us, he sat in front of me. “After the funeral, we were given Y/n’s belongings by the Army. At first, we weren’t able to bring ourselves to go through it. The pain was too much. But we finally had the courage to do so this weekend and within the belongings was this. We were going to send it on to you, but I’m glad you’re here to we can give it to you in person.” He explained as he passed me an envelope.

It was addressed to me. I ran my fingers over the familiar handwriting writing on the front. Tears prickling in my eyes. “She was due to send it the day she was killed.” He explained and I nodded as the tears dropped onto my lap. I placed it into my bag, wanting to read it when I got home.

I spent a bit more time with the Y/l/ns and made the short journey back to my house. I was greeted by Lizzie who was cooking dinner. “Oh, you’re back. How did it go?” She asked. I showed her the unopened letter. “This was in her belongings. She was going to send it the day she died.” I said, trying to stifle a cry. Lizzie pulled me into a hug and rubbed her hand up and down my back. “I’ll give you some space.” She said, returning to the kitchen.

I made my way into my bedroom and pulled the blanket up over me as I just stared at the letter. I had no idea what would be in here. What if it was her telling me to stop writing to her or saying that she didn’t want me in her life. The few letters she had sent to me whilst she was away, were very short. I had the fight in my head over whether to open it or not, but eventually decided I had to read it for my own closure. My hands were shaking as I opened the envelope and pulled out the letter.

My dear Scarlett,

I have re-written this letter so many times. I’ve never been very good at putting my feelings out there. But I feel compelled to do so. So, this is me trying to share the thoughts in my head. When I first started to receive your letters, I’ll admit that I didn’t read them at first. I felt like there was nothing you could say that I would want to hear. But over time, you were starting to take up more and more of my thoughts.

When I finally started to read them, I felt my heart break all over again. It reminded me of the woman I had fallen in love with as a teenager. The kind hearted and caring person I thought I would spend the rest of my life with. I relieved the pain of slowly losing you when you moved to LA. That’s why I didn’t respond for a while and the letters you did get were lacking.

I found that I started to look forward to your letters. Hearing you talking about our memories and the reasons that we fell in love, reminded me of the happy times and I was finally starting to feel the pain be replaced with the love I had once felt for you. And let’s be honest. I don’t think I ever stopped loving you. I just buried it deep down to protect myself.

With each letter I believe more and more that you do still love and care for me and that you truthfully want to give this another try. When I come home, I think we need to talk properly. Because if there is any chance that I can get back the relationship we once had, before it all went to shit, I want to grab it with both hands and never let go.

So, if you’ll have me, I want us to try again. I want to get to know you again and go on dates and feel the effect of falling in love with you all over again. Because the feelings of love that I have for you are like a drug and I can’t live without it.

I love you Scarlett. Always have, always will.

Yours always,

Y/n

As I read the letter, I couldn’t help the cries that left my mouth. It was pure agony to see her feelings written in front of me. She wanted to try again, she still loved me. But life cruelly took away the opportunity for us to be reunited to start again. It was like reliving her death all over again and I couldn’t stand the pain. I felt a pair of arms around me as Lizzie held me and quietly hushed me, rocking me gently.

When I finally started to calm down, I handed her the letter and watched as her own eyes filled with tears as she read Y/n’s admission. “Scar, I can’t imagine how you must be feeling. I know that right now nothing probably will make you feel better. But you have spent the last few months believe that she had died angry and hurt with you. Instead, she died loving you, knowing that you loved her. Please try and take some solace in that.” She spoke so softly but she was right.

I can live my life knowing that I had her. She was mine and I was hers, even if we didn’t get the chance to reunite in person. We both knew our feelings and that’s what mattered. Lizzie just held me that evening whilst I would go through my phases of crying and re-reading the letter.

We stayed in New York for a few more days and I spent more time with Y/n’s parents which was nice. I felt close to her. I was currently packing up ready for our flight back to LA this evening. My phone had been ringing but I had ignored it as I wanted to focus on getting everything ready to leave. I didn’t want any distractions right now. Just as I had closed up my bag and was carrying down the stairs, there was loud banging on the front door.

Lizzie came out of the living room to see what the noise was. I quickly went to the door and opened it to see my mom stood there out of breath. “Don’t you answer you damn phone now?” She asked frustrated. “I was packing, what’s wrong?” I asked confused. “I can’t believe I’m actually saying this. But they found Y/n. Alive.” I was frozen to the spot at her words. My mom just stood there staring at me. She’s alive!

Lizzie’s hand on my shoulder pulled me from my trance. “How? Is she ok?!” I asked frantically, needing to know more. “They found her when they attacked an enemy compound. They had found her injured and taken her hostage. She’s in pretty bad shape but she’s back here in the US. She’s in a hospital in Georgia.” She explained and I could feel my mind racing at a hundred miles an hour.

“Maybe we should change our flights to Georgia.” Lizzie said with a smile. I nodded and was quickly on my phone with my manager to arrange flights. We managed to get on a flight 3 hours later and the whole journey from New York my mind wouldn’t stop. I didn’t know what was waiting for us when we got there. Y/n’s parents were already in Georgia and had text me with the hospital and room number.

I was glad to have Lizzie with me again. I don’t think I could have done this on my own. This must be pretty weird for her, rushing across the country to the side of a woman she’s never met. When we finally arrived at the hospital, I found myself frozen in the car we had hired. “I don’t think I can go in.” I whispered. Lizzie leant over and took my hand in hers. “But Y/n is in there. Don’t you want to see her?” She asked confused.

I did more than anything want to see her but I was terrified. “What if she’s so badly hurt that she’s going to die again. I can’t lose her again.” I said, starting to cry. God I was sick of crying! Lizzie hugged me and let me calm down. “The woman that you love is in that hospital. The woman you thought was dead. You’ve been given a second chance to at least see her. Don’t miss out on this opportunity or you’re going to regret it more than leaving her 6 years ago.” Lizzie spoke wisely and I nodded in agreement.

I grabbed a hold of Lizzie’s hand as we made our way through the hospital. We eventually made it to the ward Y/n was on and we were stood outside of her hospital room. I turned to Lizzie and smiled, taking a deep breath before opening the door.

I couldn’t believe the sight that greeted me. Y/n was awake in bed, with her parents either side. I was completely speechless. Y/n turned to look at me with the biggest smile on her face and it made my heart soar. He eyes flicked down to my hand which was holding Lizzie’s and he face instantly dropped and she turned to look back to her mom. I quickly dropped Lizzie’s hand and tentatively made my way towards her bed.

“Y-You’re alive.” I breathed out, tears falling whilst I had a huge smile on my face. Y/n just nodded. Her expression felt cold, she couldn’t even hold eye contact with me. “I think I’ll go and grab some drinks. Can I get you any Mr and Mrs Y/l/n?” Lizzie asked, breaking the awkward silence. “You know what, I think we’ll come with you Lizzie.” Mary responded. “Do you want anything sweetheart?” She asked Y/n who just shook her head. Mary placed a kiss on her forehead, and it was soon just the two of us.

I reached out and took her hand in mine and placed a kiss on it. “I can’t believe you’re here. This last 6 months has been horrible without you. Losing you was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through.” I said but she didn’t respond. “Can you say something?” I almost pleaded. She cleared her throat, and I could tell she was trying to not cry. “She’s very pretty. I’m happy for you.” She forced out. “Do you mean Lizzie?” I asked confused. “Ah so that’s her name.” She replied. “Scar and Lizzie, has a nice ring to it.” She muttered.

It then hit me. “Wait, no we’re not together. She’s just my friend, she’s been supporting me through all of this. You’re the only person I want to be with.” I rushed out, not wanting her to think we were together any longer than she already had. “Really?” She asked and her voice broke as she said it. I stood up and leaned over cupping her bruised face in my hands. “I am so madly in love with you. I couldn’t even think of anyone else the same way. The moment I found out you were dead, a part of me died too. When I read your letter last week, my heart ached knowing that we had missed our chance to be together again. But now you’re here in front of me.” I cried and she placed her hands over my own.

“I never stopped loving you Y/n. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, showing how much I love and adore you. I will do anything for you. I’ll even follow you around the world whilst you’re in the Army. I just want to be with you.” I spoke honestly and Y/n let out a chuckle through a sob. “God, I love you too. You are the reason I’m still alive. I knew I had to fight to stay alive so I could see you again. To hold you to kiss you.” At those words, I quickly crashed my lips into hers.

The kiss was passionate and full of every feeling I wanted to convey to her. As I pulled away, her eyes were still shut, and she whispered. “Wow.” I chuckled and rested my forehead against her. “I’m never leaving you again. I will follow you where you are.” I promised and she smiled. “Well, you won’t have to follow me far.” She said and I looked at her confused. “What do you mean?” I asked. “I’m being medically discharged from the army. My leg is busted, and I had to have a kidney removed. I’ll make a full recovery, but not one to be medically fit for the army.” She clarified. I could tell there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.

She had managed to achieve so much in her career and from speaking with her parents she loved her job. There was a selfish part of me that was happy she would be safe. But I hated the thought that she was losing something she loved. “I’m so sorry Y/n. But I’ll still be by your side. Wherever you are.” I placed another soft kiss on her lips and took the seat next to her. “I just don’t know what I’ll do next.” She said and I just smiled that she was thinking about that whilst still in a hospital bed. “Come to LA with me?” I said as more of a question, but I meant it. Her head snapped to look at me. “What?” She asked.

“Come with me. We’re near the end of filming, you can come and live with me, and I can help you with your recovery. But most importantly we can be together, and you’ll have time to work out what you want to do next.” I explained, sure of what I wanted. “To be clear, are you asking me to move in with you?” She said with a smile, and I nodded enthusiastically. “I told you. I’m not letting you go again.” She smirked and replied. “Then yes, I would love to move in with you.” She said and I squealed at her response.

I jumped up and locked our lips once again. I would never get tired of that feeling. She moved over in the bed and tapped next to her to indicate for me to join her. I carefully sat on the bed and held her close to me. We started into each other’s eyes as I rubbed my thumb along her cheek. We gave each other kisses every now and then as we just enjoyed being in each other’s company again. I could believe she was alive and with me again.

“So, you guys have made up then.” I turned around and saw Lizzie and Y/n’s parents stood on the doorway, all with smiles on their faces. “She’s giving me a second chance.” I replied, turning back to Y/n and giving her a peck on her lips. I adjusted so I was still laid with her but able to see the others. “Hi, I’m Lizzie by the way.” She introduced herself to Y/n who held out her hand to shake. “Hi. Y/n. Thank you for look after Scar.” Y/n responded, and Lizzie blushed a little. “She’s my best friend, I’d do anything for her. This feels really weird. I feel like I know you even though I’ve never met you. I’ve heard so many stories.” Lizzie shared and Y/n laughed. “Oh God. That’s not good.” And we all laughed

That evening was amazing, we all just chatted, and I got to lie in Y/n’s arms again. I was home and I couldn’t be happier. I spent the weekend in Georgia, before heading back to LA to prepare for Y/n’s arrival. Lizzie had offered to move in temporarily to help with Y/n and the two of them quickly became great friends.

Once I had finished filming, we spent time traveling whilst I had no commitments until the reshoots and press tour. We got to know each other again and I loved the woman Y/n had become more than I ever had. Even though she still didn’t know what she wanted to do, it didn’t matter right now as we were together and that was all that matter. I had my girl back.

[sonicjustbecause]

Relatable or not relatable?

Some (many) months ago, somebody complained that Japanese characters shouldn't be necessarily relatable and even talked about Sonic getting retatable as a bad thing. And that's a weird statement to me. The first character i found relatable was a japanese character. I was 12 at that time.

As a child I watched lots of cartoons. Western (such as Disney, Hanna&Barbera... even cartoons from the '30s that were still around, and most were in their original language, English) and Japanese. Italy has a long tradition with the Japanese cartoons, it goes as back as the 60's. And they were translated directly from the Japanese language.

Western characters, overall were all somewhat perfect. Not Mary Sues but almost. The good boys were all nice, smiling, outgoing, humble and talented. The bad guys were all clumsy, sadistic, psychopath, uncivilized.

I think the character I could related most were the smurf. There were grey areas there, because the smurfs, though overall all kind hearted, didn't always act wisely and used to mess up, even badly. And the evil Gargamel and Azrael saved and took care of a wild cat.

Now, at 12 I found a character I could relate with. And she was a Japanese character:

She loved cats, she was likeable (uh, maybe as annoying as prime Sonic, and probably for this I love them both) and she failed at school. well, not all things were like me, I mean, at school for some reason I was some times just slightly less than the top student, and other times I failed bad. My strong point was science. Also she had the worst boyfriend she could ever had, a punchbag with a lame personality. But a character should not be identical to you to be relatable.

In general, most Japanese character are relatable, they're flawed. Few might be too perfect or too over the top (Goku for example became more and more dumb. In Super he was flanderized to be suddenly turned later in a straight up antihero, but between the end of the first serie/early Dragon Ball Z his IQ started to suffer in favour of his ever growing muscles mass)

About Sonic, I've found X Sonic very relatable. In Sonic X he is very elusive and way less friendly than in other series, yet he was interesting to follow, not too perfect with his bad social skills, his crippling fear of water, yet always cheerful (Some of his behaviours didn't make sense here and there though, but I don't talk about them there, is not important for the topic).

Some claim autistic people in particular love Sonic. I don't think Sonic is especially loved by autistic people. The myth is born under unfortunate circumstance. A certain Chris Chan, who was a massive Sonic fan and who happened to be autistic. Though is not his fault that the fandom has a bad name, there are some Sonic fans that tainted the Sonic fandom reputation by their own taliban-like behaviour. This is the reason I noticed people fear to talk with any Sonic fan, as this comment on DA shows (VEI-6-Vesuvius is me)

The comment is not rude in any way, yet it was needed to point out 'I respect your opinion' and I perceived as this person was intimidated by me being a Sonic fan.

Is not a nice feeling seeing decent people afraid of you because of the bad Sonic fans.