#i cannot BELIEVE he won secret life ! /j

[cosmiclatte28]

7 Minutes in Heaven (Jaehyun x you) 🔞

Okay this is suggestive and not suitable for under 18 readers, so please continue only if you’re going to bear the consequences. No it’s not super smuty, it’s just not a good thing to copy :) 

Warning : don’t kiss random strangers, don’t drink, don’t smoke, wrap up or you’re skipping a nine month bloody day :”)... Jungwoo is your bestfriend, Shy!Jaehyun and you’re bold enough to try new things...

anyways this has been in my laptop for a while, wanted to post it on Halloween but didn’t finish it back then... soooo embrace yourself for a new journey of how it might be like to play 7 minutes in heaven with Jaehyun 

here goes my (suggestive) fanfic... hope this won’t make you cringe

________________________________________________________________

“So…you're saying the boys think I am a pure innocent girl?” You scoff and laugh upon the remark Jungwoo just said.

“Well they don't believe me when I said you're totally different outside campus.” The man with blue hair bashfully looks around the canteen.

You pick up your fork and continue poking in chicken chunks to your small mouth, “And why are you telling this exactly?”

Jungwoo deadpan looks at you and leans closer, “Why don't you proof them wrong? They've labeled you as the boring mechanical engineering girl!”

He slams the table a bit dramatically, to which you shudder.

“Easy… you'll break the table! Well sorry, but they're not totally wrong. I'm a regular mechanical engineering girl, boring, studying all the time, nerd, and just never coming to parties!” you give him a dry chuckle.

“Look this is not the true you! I've known you since high school! I know how crazy the boys were whenever you pass by! I'll be honest there were like 5 hot guys who had crush on you in high school, just that sorry I told them you're not allowed to date yet.” Jungwoo trails off and feels a bit guilty when he finally spills the beans he has been hiding.

Your eyes fly open and your mouth too, you drop your spoon and grunt, “Say that again… you cock-blocked me?!”

Jungwoo closes his eyes and inhales a deep breath, “I'm saving your future! I just don’t want them to you know use you and throw you away…”

You hit the spoon to the metal tray, and it made a good “BANG"

“Surprise surprise you told me this after like I don’t know five years maybe. You made the men who liked me back away before even trying to reach me out! Jungwoo all my life I thought I was the one with problem?! I thought no one likes nerds like me; when I myself believe I am a fun girl!” your rage bubbles up from within.

You feel like crying, all these times you thought you were imperfect, you were never a crush for men, you've dealt with your insecurities. You overcome dark times when you see your friends walking through the hallway, having the spotlight on them. You thought you can never be that just because you're an A-grade-student. You did have Jungwoo standing by your side through high school, and he's a good friend who you cannot see as a man.

Your friendship with Jungwoo is indeed a beneficial one, since both of you love science and calculations. You have a study friend and voila you both made it to you best engineering school!

Just as you thought campus life will be lit, since you can “reset" your image, be the fun student on weekend, and study well on weekdays.

But no. You’re overworked with the tasks and quizzes, and to ensure your scholarship is still there, you need a minimum of 3.0 in GPA and that means you’re saying goodbye to parties and hello to enough sleep.

You're mad now when you think of it. Jungwoo has been a cock-block since grade 10 and maybe until today when he finally realized what he had done.

You massage your temple and look in disgust at your unfinished food.

You push your chair back and stand up, “I am mad at you. I don't feel like eating. Good bye Jungwoo..”

“WAIT! i'm sorry I know I was a jerk… but please let me fix it… give me a chance..” he begs you

Your mind is set already, and you shake your head, “I can fix it by myself. So long” you wave and quickly run to the bathroom.

There you let out your emotion in one of the locked toilets and you pull yourself back when you figure a way out to proof them wrong.

You're not the typical book-worm boring mechanical student. You’re you and that will blow the house on fire tonight.

You wash your face in the sink and pamper up yourself from the messy state. You're a fan of make up and you've always had natural looks over your pretty face.

Quickly you draw back your mascara and eye liners, one smack of lip gloss and you're smiling all the way to your next class. Writing.

Johnny greets you in front of the lecture class, he tells you about the upcoming party Lucas will hold this Saturday and Johnny suggests you come and see what it feels like to have some relaxation and fun. He knows midterm has just ended and he is sure you don't have lies to excuse yourself from the invitation.

“Great guess I can make it. Need that fun nights you know. Any theme?”

“Oh, it'll be a costume party since it’s Halloween.” Johnny explains.

You smirk already having lots of ideas in your mind. “Okay see you there then!”

“Nice! Dress up nicely, it's a competition!”

You give him two thumbs up.

--

“Sooo what are you going to wear?” Jungwoo finally gets to talk to you after trying so hard to win your forgiveness.

“I am not going as your couple okay.. I’m going simple this time. I don't want to try too hard.” You smile remembering how you're always prepared for costume parties.

“Let me see, I’ve won Bonnie and Clyde costume… last year we showed up as marry Poppins. Now I just want to enjoy the party.” You plop into your bed and stretch. The party is tomorrow night and Jungwoo is staying over tonight because he needs to finish his costume.

“What? Tell me…” he asks while sticking his props to you don't really know what costume is he going with.

“see me tomorrow okay…”

Jungwoo rolls his eyes when he sees what you appear with tomorrow.

“Seriously?! You’re keeping it a secret. Just to come to the party dressed as a Ravenclaw student!”

You turn around to final check your appearance. Well coming as a Ravenclaw is what you want today.

Jungwoo is by your side ready in his F1 racer costume.

Everything as fun and cool you're having a blast when you see Jungwoo's frats brothers. One man caught your attention when he looks so cute in his Slytherin costume. Your eyes dilate when he flashes a smile to another person, but you caught the smile.

“Whew that is hot.” You whisper to yourself and keep your eyes on him. You never hear Jungwoo talking about him, but seeing him seated nicely between Doyoung and Taeyong, you knew he belongs in that frats. Doyoung and Taeyong are the boys from your music class and they're your best friend.

“hey (y/n)!! Come! We’re playing spin the bottle!” Johnny calls you over to join the table full of 23 men and several girls lounging over the empty seat.

You bring yourself to the seat next to Jungwoo and you're face to face with the cute slytherin boy.

You fix your skirt and calmly cross your legs while watching the man's reaction across you. He was caught watching you but when your eyes met, he quickly averts his gaze away and drinks his cup.

The game starts and you're drowned in alcohols. Well when they ask you stupid personal questions, you're shy to answer, you choose to drink.

Jungwoo keeps on telling you to stop, “Hey enough! You downed three shots .. too fast girl.” He holds your hand before you chug another shot.

Johnny sends a smug look, “Hey Jungwoo why don't you be her dark horse? If you think she drank too much, take a double shot.”

Jungwoo is not the best alcohol drinker and he needs to make sure you got home safe, before he can open his mouth a deep voice makes the whole room move their head to face him.

“I'll take her shots.” The Slytherin boy downs two cups like they were nothing and you catch his ears turning red.

“Thank you…” your voice trails off.

“It's Jaehyun,” he winks.

You pop your lips, “Yeah Jae, thanks!”

The room cheers and starts throwing cat calls to the two of you. You remain calm while deep inside your heart you're dying to squeal and bury your face. Jaehyun on the other side is also turning red, but his sweet smile is still there.

The bottle spins again and this time it points to Jaehyun and he chooses dare.

“Okay Okay this is gonna be fun!!” Mark claps his hands after him and Johnny whisper about the plan.

“Jae, you and the person across you go in that closet and do the 7 minutes in heaven thing… or drink” Johnny clicks his tongue. The room cheers and you can see it's you they meant ..

“Across me?” Jaehyun rubs his neck slowly, he somehow feels shy around you.

“Yeah (y/n)!” Doyoung punches his shoulder, “I'm doing it if I were you"

Taeyong claps his hands and pushes Jaehyun to stand up.

“Just do it!” someone else is also pushing you, it was Lucas.

You did not object and just shrug your shoulder.

Without further ado, you and Jaehyun are forced into the small closet.

They close the door and gosh you hear a click.

It’s dark inside, but somehow there’s a good air circulation at least you two won’t die out of breath.

You can’t really see him, but with the small lights penetrating through the space, you swear your heart is beating super fast. He looks ethereal.

“You good? Sorry they did this to you.” Jaehyun starts the conversation.

You let out a small chuckle, “No..it's fine. I'm okay… I’m not claustrophobic nor afraid of the dark.”

He laughs nervously, “Nice, me too.”

“Thanks for taking my shot earlier.” You try to break the thin air.

“No problem,” he fidgets with his fingers.

“So… are you gonna kiss me or we're keeping this safe?” you slap yourself for saying that out loud. Jaehyun swears he thank the darkness that his burning red face is hidden.

He chokes and coughs, you quickly apologize “Sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you. Look, I thought you were the kind of guys who will just be straight forward and keep things casual.”

Jaehyun laughs, his laugh sounds sweet you almost melt.

“And I thought you're a shy quiet innocent girl.” He licks his lips. Well he's fast in reading the atmosphere and he knows if the time is right, he'll get that lips he has been eyeing since you entered the room.

You feel your cheek warming, “Ah.. yeah sorry Maybe you don’t see me interesting. I'm just the boring-"

“no. You're not. Girl you're not what people say.”Jaehyun cuts your sentence.

His hands cup your cheeks, “You're brave and oh I am the shyest boy here and I just like girls like you.” He blurts it out.

You feel your heart clench, really a handsome man like him who can win every girl's heart with one smile and wink… is a shy boy?

“You're telling me... you're a shy boy.. even when you can win the girls with one wink and a smile.”

He blushes, “Well… did I win your heart like that??”

You sigh, “Actually you won my heart with the Slytherin coat and you did toss me a smile. My heart somersault when you took my shots.”

He chuckles, “Can I make a confession?”

You nod, “Sure, what happens here stays here.”

He leans closer and whispers, “I've never kissed a girl before and you too look cute little Ravenclaw.”

Your eyes linger to his plump wet lips, you bite yours. Oh gosh you were also a virgin! You've never kissed anyone, but you're going to break that image, right? Tonight, Is the right time you guess.

“May I?” you ask. Fuck the stereotype girls can also start kisses.

Jaehyun did not reply anything instead he brings his hand to cup your face and with one hand in your chin he leans in to mold his lips into yours.

You feel electricity running in your body and your mind is full of stars. Your stomach is doing things and oh you regret not kissing him sooner. His lips indeed taste good and the way he holds your neck is enough to make you squirm.

You open your mouth and his tongue slips in. You're loud. You swear anyone could hear the two of you making out. But his soft touch and his slow head movement makes you crave more.

He almost pulls back thinking you don't want this, but you're faster. You push yourself to him more and run your fingers to his hair. You play with his hair according to how your body tingles by his kiss.

He pulls back to take a short breathing and you smile when the two of you just lean on the walls and take in as much air as you can. Jaehyun feels like crawling into a hole, he just had an intense first kiss with you, the girl he secretly put interest in for the last six months.

“Was I good?” he glances to you.

You smirk, “If this is what I’ll get every time we kiss, I’m addicted already.”

He scoots closer and in that small room, he manages to pull you up on his lap. You chuckle but follow his game.

“Can I taste that soft cherry again?” he whispers hoarsely, and you shudder. Hey, weren’t you going to show how not innocent you are but why are you so pliant and shy under this Shy Slytherin boy?

You peck his lips, “I'm afraid our seven minutes timer is up.”

He brings his hands to your waist, “No one is opening the door yet for us. Might as well seize the opportunity.”

You chuckle, “Good at bargaining huh?” and you lean in for another hot make out session.

“So… can we two be a thing?” he asks with his wet swollen lips.

You put your hands on his shoulder “I don't know. Can a Ravenclaw date a Slytherin?”

He laughs at your obsession of Harry Potter. “I don’t know. Should we test it?”

You bend your neck and hide it on his neck. Inhaling a quick whiff of his musk cologne.

“Well I don’t see anything wrong in trying..”

“I wish I could see your face now. Because right now.. my face is burning… “

“I can feel your heartbeat Honey,” you giggle as you plant your palm over his fast heartbeat.

“Slow down or you'll get a heart attack.” You rub his shoulder blades

“It's getting hot here or is it just me?” he fans his hand

You knock your hand to the door and yell, “Hey guys it's been more than seven minutes! We need air.”

You hear someone shuffle to the door and unlocks it.

You did not move from his lap, you wait til that person is out and when you hear no one else is in the room, you kick the door opens.

Lights come into your peripherals and you quickly close the big room's door.

Jaehyun tosses you a questioning look

You shrug your shoulder, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest place when one turns on the lights.”

“Such a fanatic here!” he picks you up and pushes you to the wall. You can see his starry eyes now under the lights and oh gosh they were so pretty.

You can see his deep dimple showing whenever he gives you a side smile and your hands find their way to cup his face.

Like casted by the love potion you bend your neck to kiss him. His lips is an addiction and you're blaming the alcohol for whatever happens afterward.

“I guess you're going home alone Woo,” Lucas said when he passed by the locked room and his face turns red upon hearing the sinful noises.

Jungwoo chugs down another drink, “Let her, she's big enough to take care of herself.”

“And why are you not bringing her to parties sooner? I thought she was the regular boring student.” Haechan was jealous of Jaehyun. Hell, he found you super intriguing too.

Jungwoo smirks, “Told you she’s not like the others.”

Lucas pats his shoulder, “And you're not the one getting laid. Be patient okay…”

Jungwoo laughs out loud, “Hell no, we're bestie since long time. I can’t see her as a woman. We’re good. Jae can have her.”

Jaehyun looks hot without his coat and after climbing down the high. The best one you two ever had. You were laying down on the big mattress staring to the ceiling and catching breaths with Jaehyun beside you.

“Do you think Jungwoo will hate me?” Jaehyun picks out a cigarette box he found in the closet earlier.

You shake your head, “He'll be happy I got laid finally.”

Jaehyun huffs a cloud of smoke, you ask him “you think the boys will think of me as less? Like maybe they see me as the same cheap sl-"

Jaehyun presses a finger over your lips “No. They don't and won't. They are not that type of men. They respect women's choices. In contrast, I’m sure if they hear our story, they’ll be jealous.”

A small smile comes to your lips, the naughty side of yours is awake. “Oh yeah? Then try it. Tell them about us and see if they're jealous.”

Jaehyun offers you the stick of cigarette, you're not a new smoker. Actually, you smoke sometimes to relax, you smoke a special herbal one… and this is one of it.

“Whaoh you're not a newbie?” he sounds surprised when you did not cough after taking the first smoke.

“I did sometimes the herbal ones.” You blow a cloud of smoke.

“Funny how we have a lot in common, but we just know one another tonight.”

You smile, “in seven minutes actually.”

He hugs you from the side, “Yeah the best seven minutes in heaven.”

*op hides in the corner* end 

how is it??? aaaa I guess it’s soo bad :”)

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[little-chattes]

Ok so I’ve done a complete re-read through and one thing that kept nagging at me was how little Gideon and Harrow’s relationship makes sense given its quite frankly abusive origins. Harrow spends her whole life making Gideon’s a living hell and Gideon just… forgives her. Total and complete forgiveness for an irredeemable girl.

At first I took the sudden shift in their relationship as lazy writing to rush along the end of the story, but that didn't make any sense either. Muir strikes me as an intensely purposeful writer. Then I remembered that Muir is also an intensely Catholic writer and it hit me. Muir isn’t writing a story about a healthy human relationship, oh no, she’s writing a story about Christ’s relationship with The Church… if Christ was a sword toting butch lesbian and The Church was a sardonic bone witch. Call it tender blasphemy. 

Now Gideon’s role as a Christ figure is fairly easy to parse out given that her dad is… God. But for the sake of self indulgence (I have to put my 15 year long flirtation with Christianity to use somehow) I’m going to go through all the parallels anyway. There are a LOT of them.

Let’s start at the very beginning (a very good place to start).

Miraculous Conception

Luke 1:34-38

34 But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I [e]am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the [f]holy Child will be called the Son of God. 

Gideon is conceived by artificial means when one of God’s own servants (Mercy) delivers a sample of John’s genetic material to Wake, a ‘normal’ human woman who chooses to carry Gideon in her womb. Notably, the sample lives far beyond its point of expected viability, thus making the conception somewhat miraculous (“Only the sample was still active, no idea how considering it was twelve weeks after the fact” HTN 441). 

The Cuckold

Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus the [a]Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been [b]betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to [c]send her away secretly. 

Gideon the First decides not to kill his lover, Wake, and releases her out the airlock (AND HE TOOK PITY ON ME! HE TOOK PITY ON ME! HE SAW ME AND HE TOOK PITY ON ME” from Harrow’s vision of Wake’s note, HTN 124) just as Joseph took pity on Mary, his betrothed, by deciding to divorce her quietly instead of making her infidelity public which would condemn her to death by public stoning (Deuteronomy 22:21). Gideon the First knew that Wake was pregnant and didn’t tell John because he thought the baby was his. Similarly, Joseph goes on to raise Jesus as his own son.

The Birth

Luke 2:7

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [f]manger, because there was no [g]room for them in the inn.

 Neither baby Jesus nor baby Gideon were given a proper cradle, one being laid to rest in a manger where the animals ate and the other stuffed in a transplant bio-container (GTN 23). 

The Dead Children

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

King Herod intends to kill the prophesied King of the Jews and instead of finding the specific baby, he just has a bunch of them slaughtered. However, Jesus escapes the slaughter of the innocents by Herod when his parents secret him away to Egypt.

 When the great aunts gas the nursery and kill the 200, Gideon is meant to die along with them but escapes her fate.

Now this event has a completely different biblical connotation for Harrow. 

Firstly, the murder of the 200 children represents Original Sin. In the bible, Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, and as their descendants, all of humankind is doomed to also bear the weight of that sin from the moment we are born until the day we die. This is a fact that is drilled into Christians as soon as we’re able to understand it, we are born wretched and unworthy sinners, and there’s nothing we can do ourselves to fix that. 

“I have tried to dismantle you, Gideon Nav! The Ninth House poisoned you, we trod you underfoot—I took you to this killing field as my slave—you refuse to die, and you pity me! Strike me down. You’ve won. I’ve lived my whole wretched life at your mercy, yours alone, and God knows I deserve to die at your hand. You are my only friend. I am undone without you.”

Harrow is a multitude, she is 200 children, the entire future of her house. Shes not just one human being,, she’s the whole damn church.

Naz/Nav

he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Although Gideon is not from the Ninth, she is given the Ninth name Nav when she arrives as a baby. Similarly, Jesus is known as Jesus of Nazareth, though that is not where he was born.

The Poor Bondservant

Jesus' role as a servant is emphasized many times in the bible. He was a carpenter's son born in a stable 

Philippians 2:5-8

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

 Gideon is described as being made “a very small bondswoman” (GTN 24)

The Sword

Matthew 10:34

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

The Wretched Sinner

Harrow is wretched, self loathing, and cruel. 

She is in thrall of the enemy of god, a figure who was once gods most favoured warrior, cast into hell.

She is like the depiction of the sinner who loves the devil

It's important to note that Harrow isn’t a single person, she is a multitude, the entire future of her people condensed into one body. 

The Enemy of God

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, nholding in his hand the key to othe bottomless pit1 and a great chain. 2 And he seized pthe dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and qbound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into othe pit, and shut it and rsealed it over him, so that she might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

Before the fall, Satan was described as a “guardian cherub” who resided in the garden with God (Ezekiel 28:14) 

(a funny aside, in the bible the devil is known as the great deceiver but in HTN Muir specifies that Alecto is incapable of lying)

A Life of Abuse 

Isaiah 53:3

"He was despised and rejected by mankind,

    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces

    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem”

They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff" (Luke 4:28–29).

Gideon lives a life of mockery and is abused by Harrow.

An Unlikely Savior

Despite the fact that Gideon does not fit the expected image of a Cavalier, Harrow chooses Gideon to be her sword and protector.

Despite the many openings Gideon has to make Harrow pay for the pain she caused her, she remains loyal to her

Trust

Harrow realizes that she cannot face the lyctor trials without Gideon, and places her trust in her

Christians are told they must place their trust in jesus in order to reach salvation

Purifying Water

Acts 2:38

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Harrow confesses her sins to Gideon and puts herself at her mercy

Gideon forgives Harrow totally and completely, she baptises her

One Flesh

Mark 10:8

and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.

“The imagery and symbolism of marriage is applied to Christ and the body of believers known as the church. The church is comprised of those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and have received eternal life. Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride” (x)

Ephesians 5:25-26

25 gHusbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and hgave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by ithe washing of water jwith the word,

They take the vow of necro and cav, one flesh one end

Gideon’s forgiveness of Harrow is reaffirmed

Harrow risks her life to stay and fight with Gideon, even if it means her death and thus the destruction of her death. Her love for Gideon is now greater than her love for the Body.

The Sacrifice

John 19:34

Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

They will look on the one they have pierced'" (John 19:36–37).

Gideon chooses to die for Harrow, death by piercing

and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In order to complete the lyctor process, Harrow both physically and spiritually consumes Gideon

Because of Gideon’s sacrifice, Harrow attains eternal life at the right hand of god

The Tomb

The Resurrection

1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus

Harrow turns her body into a tomb for Gideon, a tomb fashioned after that on the Ninth

Resurrection on the Third Day

Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:46-47 

“So many months had passed: and yet, at the same time, she had only lost Gideon Nav three days ago. It was the morning of the third day in a universe without her cavalier: it was the morning of the third day—and all the back of her brain could say, in exquisite agonies of amazement, was: She is dead. I will never see her again.” (HTN 374)

Just in case you missed this important piece of information, Muir repeats it three times.

Go, and tell them, then, that he that was dead is alive, and lives for evermore, and has the keys of death and the grave,"

[emachinescat]

New chapter! :)

Title: A Remedy to Cure All Ills, Part Four | Story: The Power of Three | Fandom: Merlin

Summary: While Arthur visits Merlin in the dungeons, Morgana confronts Edwin herself. Merlin is faced with a terrible choice.

Characters: Merlin, Morgana, Arthur, Edwin, Uther

Words: 5,308

TW: None

AO3 Tags: Friendship, Action/Adventure, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Magic Revealed

Full Story can be read here.

Full chapter here or on AO3!

Arthur wasn’t there when Merlin was arrested and brought to his father.  He didn’t want to risk his father getting suspicious and thought it best to make himself scarce.  Instead, he let himself into the dungeons and sequestered himself away on a stool in the corner to wait for Merlin’s arrival.

Nearly an hour later, the door swung open and three figures appeared, the one in the middle being held by the others.  Arthur watched from the shadows as the guards shoved Merlin into the same cell Gwen had been held in.  One followed him in and shackled his wrists to the chains in the floor.  Metal squealed and clanged as they locked him in, and then they retreated up the stairs.  Arthur had no idea if they’d seen him waiting there, nor did he care.  There were more important matters to deal with.

Arthur grabbed a torch from a wall sconce and hurried over to the cell, where Merlin was just picking himself up, more than a little ruffled.  Arthur noticed with fury when he turned around that there was a red handprint standing out starkly on his left cheek.

“Merlin!  Did my father–”

Merlin waved him off, coming as close to the bars as the chains would allow.  “No, one of the guards was a bit too enthusiastic when they were arresting me.  Apparently, I was impertinent.”  He gave Arthur a strained half-smile.

Normally, Arthur would have made a snide comment about how Merlin’s impertinence didn’t surprise him at all and that he wasn’t aware that Merlin could be anything but, but instead he demanded, “Which guard?  Who was it?”

Merlin shrugged, uncomfortable.  “It doesn’t matter.  We have far more important things to worry about.”

Arthur knew he was right and tried to quell the sudden protective energy that had consumed him.  Since when had he cared so much about what happened to Merlin?  The answer was fairly simple and hard to swallow: Almost since Merlin set foot into Camelot.   He drove Arthur mad, never did what he was told, and his very presence was illegal – and yet, absurdly, he had swiftly become an irreplaceable part of Arthur’s life, no matter how many times the prince threatened to replace him.

As quickly as he could, he told Merlin all that had happened – about Edwin blackmailing Gaius and then somehow finding out that he had told him and Morgana, and how the king had believed Edwin over them.  Merlin was fidgeting nervously, the chains clanking, by the time Arthur had finished.  A dark look brewed in his eyes.  Arthur understood it for what it was – Merlin felt betrayed, and rightly so.  Not only had Edwin pretended to be his friend and then turned against him in an instant, but he was also another sorcerer who had come to Camelot for evil instead of good.

“Right,” Arthur transitioned, clapping his hands together once.  “Can you magic yourself out of the chains?”

Merlin looked puzzled.  “I can, but why?”

Arthur regarded him blankly.  “So you can escape.  Or do you fancy being executed at first light?”

Merlin winced.  “If I escape, that will either just prove that,” he lowered his voice to a whisper, “that I do have magic, or your father will think you helped me escape like you did Lancelot, and then you’ll be in trouble.”

“So you’re just going to die for being a sorcerer so that no one will know that you are actually a sorcerer?”

Merlin scoffed.  “Not if I can help it, not anytime soon, anyway.  We have to find a way to prove that Edwin is lying and that he’s plotting to kill the king.”

“I agree,” Arthur said slowly, “and Morgana’s already tailing him, trying to catch him in the act or find some sort of proof that he’s using dark magic.”

Merlin furrowed his brow.  “You said that your father plans to retire Gaius.  Did he say when?”

Arthur thought back.  “Immediately,” he responded apologetically.  “But at least he’s not being implicated by Edwin’s accusations against you – what?”  He broke off at the look on Merlin’s face.

“Why didn’t you mention this before?” Merlin demanded.  “If he’s taking Gaius’s place today, then he’ll set his plan into motion now.  He’s going to kill your father tonight!”

Dread poured over the prince like cold water.  “What – no – you think he’s going to try now, after he’s just been accused?  Even if my father sided with him, that’s too brash–”

“Don’t you see?” Merlin asked desperately.  “He doesn’t care about the little details like that.  If he’s as bitter and vengeful as you say, then he’s going to take the first opportunity he gets to take his revenge.  And anyway, do you really want to risk it?”

Arthur felt a sudden, strange swell of gratitude toward Merlin, paired with something akin to affection.  It was an unusual, almost uncomfortable feeling, but it came with the realization that Merlin had nothing at all to gain from stopping the king’s death.  In fact, he would gain more from letting him die.  But because Uther was Arthur’s father, and because he cared about Arthur, he was doing everything he could to save the life of a man who would see him dead – who had just sentenced him to hang an hour ago!

“What should we do, then?”

Merlin responded with a question.  “Did you say that Morgana was following him?”

“Yes.”  His eyes widened.  “If he’s really as desperate as you believe, and he’s already this close to his goal, then he won’t hesitate to hurt her to get to my father.  If he sees her–”

Merlin’s eyes flashed gold.  Without uttering a single word, he’d cracked the shackles off of his wrists and nearly blew the cell door off its hinges.  Arthur dove to the side just in time to avoid being bludgeoned.

“ Merlin!”

“Oops.”

Arthur had gone from being grateful for the loyalty of his manservant to wanting to strangle him in seconds.  “What happened to breaking out causing us more trouble in the long run?”

“If Edwin is acting tonight, we don’t have time to play it safe,” Merlin answered, rubbing his raw wrists.  “If you and Morgana are going to face Edwin to save your father, you’re going to need someone with magic.  You’re going to need me.”

Arthur scoffed.  “I’ve faced sorcerers in battle before and won, Mer lin.  Just because you’ve been protecting me magically doesn’t mean that I cannot look out for myself.”

“I know,” Merlin said earnestly, “and Morgana is more than capable of standing up for herself, too.  But this is a sorcerer, and neither of you have magic, and we don’t even know just how powerful he is.  It’s better not to take the chance.”

Arthur finally saw to the heart of Merlin’s decision to join them, despite the increased risk to himself if he were to be caught: He was worried about them.  Merlin couldn’t stand the thought of sitting around, waiting, while his friends put themselves in danger.  Arthur didn’t argue with Merlin further after that.  It was exactly what he would have done, too.

Morgana was rather adept at sneaking around the castle.  Having grown up within its walls, she had developed early on an intricate knowledge of the maze of hallways, the many floors and staircases, and array of rooms.  She knew where to avoid and how to get in and out of the kitchen without being seen.  The servants’ passages were a personal favorite of hers, because they allowed her to move about silently and invisibly as the rest of the bustle of the castle passed her by.

Nowadays, she didn’t sneak around as much – Uther had caught her hiding in a secret passage when she was fourteen eavesdropping on a council meeting and had given her a stern but indulgent talking to about how sneaking around like a common thief was not appropriate behavior for the king’s ward.  The king’s reprimand hadn’t been what stopped her secret escapades, but rather the realization as she grew into a woman how much more those in the open hallways respected her.  Crowds would part when they saw her approaching, her heels clicking imperiously on the cold stone floor.  She no longer needed to sneak, because no one questioned her presence in any part of the castle now that she was no longer a troublemaking child.  If only they had realized that she had, in fact, only morphed into a troublemaking adult who was just very adept at hiding said troublemaking.

Even if she no longer routinely employed her knowledge of the ins and outs of the castle, the secret passages and servants’ hallways and hiding places, it didn’t mean that she had lost the mental map she had forged so long ago.  This is how Morgana followed Edwin now, watching him from the shadows, following him from adjacent, hidden passageways.  The conniving physician marched with great confidence, a nauseating sort of prideful strut, and it was apparent that he assumed he had already won.

Arrogance, Morgana reflected testily, is both one of the most obnoxious and useful vices nature imparts on men.   It was because of this arrogance that she was able to follow him so easily.

Morgana had spotted Edwin going into the chambers he was using as his laboratory, where he stayed for quite some time.  She got bored waiting on him to emerge, but she knew that there was no alternate way out of the room, so she just had to wait in the shadows until he finished whatever he was doing.  Finally, when the chill of dusk had settled into the air and on her bare arms, he eased the door open and set out on his way, not even bothering to check if he was being watched.

She trailed him down five corridors, up two flights of steps, and down the dome-ceilinged, guarded hallway that led to Uther’s chambers.  Her heartbeat quickened as she realized that the man was wasting no time in executing his revenge.  The moment he had stolen Gaius’s job as Court Physician, he had put the remainder of his plan in motion.  Morgana hesitated for the briefest of moments before steeling herself, wrenching a sconce from the wall of the servants’ alcove she lurked in, and holding it before her to use as a weapon if it came down to it.  She had no idea where Arthur was – probably trying to free Merlin or at the very least make a plan with him.  Not that it mattered.  She didn’t need him to confront Edwin.  She was perfectly capable of doing so herself.

And so she did.

She stepped out of the shadows, and in the clear, cold voice she had learned as a beautiful woman often approached by undesirable men, said simply, “Edwin.”

Edwin froze, then spun around in one fluid motion.  His eyes changed from cruel to surprised, and then melted into a tense indulgence when he saw who had snuck up on him.  “Lady Morgana,” he exclaimed sweetly, his voice hushed.  Morgana narrowed her eyes, disgusted by how obviously he thought he could manipulate her so easily.  His candied words may have fooled Uther, but they had never worked on her.

“What are you doing here?” she asked in a level tone.  Her heart pounded, and she tried not to think about how a show of bravery would mean ultimately nothing in the face of his magic.  The sconce she held before her was no more a weapon against a sorcerer than a needle against a knight.  Still, she stood firm, back straight, chin held high, eyes cold and haughty.  Morgana was used to fighting until she got what she wanted.  This time was no different.

“I could ask you the same question,” Edwin evaded, taking a step closer to her, arms held out placatingly at his sides.  When she said nothing, merely fixed him with an impatient stare, he yielded.  “Lady Morgana, I am merely bringing the king his medicine.  I am the new Court Physician, after all, and the king is waiting.”

It was Morgana’s turn to move closer to him.  She put every ounce of ferocity into her next words.  “If you get what you want, the only thing the king will be waiting on is his death.”

She watched the short-lived battle flash behind Edwin’s eyes and knew that he was trying to decide whether he should continue playing his part or drop the act.  Finally, he sighed, rolling his eyes to the ceiling in an over-dramatized air of annoyance.  “Okay, fine, you’ve got me,” he said, still in the same good-natured tone as before, but this time, there was a slide edge to his voice.  “I should have known you would have figured me out, my lady.  You are, after all, much more intelligent than the men who rule this stupid kingdom.”

She raised an eyebrow menacingly.  “Flattery is trite, and will get you nowhere, Edwin.  And I believe Gaius discovered your plan before anyone else.”

Edwin shrugged, unimpressed.  “Only because he remembered me from when I was a child.  That’s basically cheating.”

She tilted her head to the side contemplating him.  “You are in an awfully good humor for someone who has just been caught committing treason,” she remarked dryly.

Edwin’s smile took on a strained quality.  “Lady Morgana,” he said, and she curled her lip at the patronizing tone.  “Please try to understand that I am not a bad person.  I’m not evil. ”  Her other eyebrow rose to join the first, but she did not speak, so he continued.  “I am not doing this out of greed, or cruelty.  I only wish to avenge my mother and father.  Surely you can understand that?”

“I understand that you came into my home, used me as a pawn in your revenge and nearly killed me with a terrible illness.  I understand that you forced a kind, competent man and great friend out of the job he has held for decades.  I understand that you accused a close friend of magic, that you got him thrown into the dungeon and slated to be executed.  And I understand that even now, you are marching to deceive and destroy my guardian, the man who took me in after my father died.  These are not the marks of a good person.”

The smile had turned to a sort of grimace now.  “My lady, I only did what I had to do in order to achieve my revenge.  I took no pleasure in making Gaius look like a fool–” a brief pause, “–okay, so I felt a little pleasure in that.  The man sat back and watched my parents – his friends – burn!  But I did take no pleasure in betraying one of my own.”  His eyes glittered.  “Interesting that you are aware of the servant’s secrets and that you not only keep them but refer to him as a close friend.  Perhaps your loyalties are not as easily defined as you would like me to believe.”

The hand of uncertainty clenched around her heart.  Her loyalty to her guardian had come into question in her own mind many times before, especially since she had learned Merlin’s secret.  Certainly, she had never approved of the king’s reckless hatred of magic, his harsh sentencing of any and all who possessed it.  She didn’t know much about the Purge, for Uther had sealed those records up as tightly as his own heart, but what she had heard, in fearful whispers or the dying curses of the accused, sickened her, and she found a growing disgust rising within her when she found herself alone with the king.  She fought against him, rebelled, did anything she could to prove that he had no control over her.  She tried to force him to change, to help him see the truth, and she was tossed aside, like she was nothing.

No, not like she was nothing.  Like she was a girl in a council room full of self-important old men – less than nothing.

She hated it.  Sometimes she hated Uther.  The kindness and indulgence  he had bestowed upon her as a child were few and far between.  Lately, she found herself contemplating what she would do, how she would feel, if a bitter sorcerer succeeded in their plot to kill the king.  Would she mourn?  Or would she breathe a sigh of relief for the oppressed and abused?

A small part of her was tempted, very briefly, to turn and walk away, especially when Edwin wheedled, “I have seen your heart through your actions, my lady.  I have seen how you have embraced those like me, how you have become loyal to a sorcerer.  You have empathy.  You cannot bear to see innocents suffer.  Just think of how many lives you will be saving if you just turn around and pretend you never saw me.”

His words struck her deeply, and she found herself thinking of all the times that Uther had belittled her, executed someone without a trial, hated those with magic indiscriminately.  Edwin was right in that her heart ached for those like Merlin who had lived in terror their entire lives because of something they were born with.  Then she remembered growing up in the castle, the way Uther would ruffle her hair, how he would always take her side over Arthur’s, and the tender way he had kissed her forehead when she had woken from her illness.  As completely as she knew she hated the king of Camelot for the atrocities he had committed, she knew that her guardian truly loved her.

And besides, he was Arthur’s father.  Merlin would be determined, she knew, to save the king even though letting him die would make his life easier.  He would save Uther for Arthur’s sake.  And even though Arthur was obnoxious and thick-headed and proud, he had also grown remarkably since Merlin came into his life.  And she had grown up with him, seen him at his highs and at his lows.  She knew how much it hurt him that he never got to meet his mother.  She could not be responsible for taking his father away, too.

She chose her next words carefully, for she could feel the hurt and the sorrow and the rage bubbling just beneath the surface of the man before her.  In a way, she pitied him, and all that he had lost.  But he had hurt her friends, and she would not allow it to happen again.  Perhaps, if she could just reach him… “Edwin, you of all people should know that revenge is never this simple.  Think of all the people that Uther has killed in his quest for vengeance.  Think of how Gaius and Merlin – Merlin, a sorcerer, like you – have already suffered because of your hatred for the king.  And if you do kill him, that will only continue the cycle.  Don’t you see?  Arthur will seek vengeance for his father’s death, and people will continue to get hurt.”

“The cycle stops with my death,” Edwin said, and he sounded haunted, fragile.  “I have no one left to fight for me.”

Morgana hesitated for a fraction of a second, then vowed, “If you stop this now, I will fight for you.  Arthur and Merlin will fight for you.  You are hurting, I know.  And you have a right to be angry.  But can you not see how different Arthur already is from his father?  He knows about Merlin’s magic, and he supports him.  He hides it from his father.  If you stop the cycle here, then Arthur and Merlin can work to build a better, safer Camelot for magic-users like you.  Change – good change – can only come from time, and patience.”

A tear trickled down his face, nesting in a divot of his scar.  “I watched my parents burn.  I tried to run into the flames to save them.  I don’t have time, or patience.  I want to see him die.”

Morgana took another step forward.  “If I let you walk away, how am I better than Uther?” she asked softly.  “If you kill him, how are you better than Uther?”

Edwin shook his head, something like pity in his eyes.  “Someday, my lady, you will see that your moral high ground means nothing in the face of tragedy.”  He studied her closely, his eyes boring into hers, and she fought the urge to back away or avert her gaze.  If he was trying to intimidate her, it wouldn’t work.  She put all of her frustration, all of her passion, all of herself into her glare, felt the rush of emotions build up behind her eyes as she met his gaze.  Abruptly, Edwin took a step back, as if she had slapped him.

“Perhaps we are more alike than either of us thought,” he said cryptically.

“What are you talking about?” Morgana demanded.  For reasons she could not explain, her heart was thrumming madly, and she felt alive, exhilarated – powerful.

Edwin hesitated for the fraction of a second, then murmured, “Your eyes…”

He trailed off, eyes catching on something over her shoulder.  Approaching from behind, Morgana heard sound of echoing footfalls and knew without having to turn around that the rest of her party had arrived… at exactly the wrong moment.

“Edwin!” Merlin’s voice resounded, pinging off the high walls and domed ceiling.  He didn’t sound like himself – the one name he called radiated power, deeper than his usual tones, serious and cold.  A warning.  Chills arced down Morgana’s spine.

And then, Arthur’s voice, as irritating and dripping with male bravado as ever, followed, and the spell of Merlin’s voice was broken immediately.  “Morgana!  Look out!”

Irritation flared up in her chest, and now she turned to meet her approaching friends with a withering glare.  “What are you doing?” she hissed.  “I’d nearly gotten through to him!”

Arthur and Merlin – whom she was relieved to see looked relatively unhurt, though with a bruise adorning one cheek – skidded to a stop in her ire, eyes wide, slightly out of breath.  Merlin’s eyes widened in alarm.  “Morgana–”

His warning, for that was what it had been, came too late.  Or perhaps Edwin was simply too fast.  One moment, she was reprimanding two of the most powerful men in the kingdom like they were naughty children, and the next, she was airborne, propelled from the ground with an invisible hit that knocked the breath out of her lungs and sent her crashing into Merlin and Arthur.

Well, she would have crashed had it not been for Merlin’s magic.  Instinctively – it had to be instinct, for though his eyes flared gold, no spell passed his lips – he caught her with magic.  The feel of his power being used on her was like nothing she had ever imagined.  She had watched him do magic plenty of times before, in the secret of Gaius’s chambers.  But he had never performed magic on her.

She’d wondered what it might feel like, and suddenly, she knew: Merlin’s magic was just like him, gentle, good-natured, but steadfast and real, like the feel of sun-warmed grass underneath your back on a breeze-kissed summer day.  It was also duplicitous, with another, almost invisible layer resting just beneath the surface.  This part was unyielding, shivering with power, and a little bit terrifying, like the lightning-charged sky in the moments after a great storm.  It made her want to laugh and weep at the same time, to wrap her arms around him and to run as far and fast as she could.  The top layer, she knew – it was Merlin.  But something far more powerful and foreign – not evil, just strange, almost old, somehow – lay beneath.  And yet she knew – this was Merlin, too.

All this ran through her head in a matter of seconds, and then Merlin’s magic had deposited her gently on her feet.  She staggered, pain flaring in her middle back, as the magic left her.  Edwin’s spell had hit her hard.  Merlin reached out and steadied her, and though Morgana did not enjoy being “rescued” by anyone, she had to admit that in this situation his hand wrapped loosely around her upper arm was actually helpful.  She regained her footing moments later, and Merlin, as if realizing he’d been holding a poisonous serpent, sprang back, and his hands disappeared behind his back, almost as if he were a good, obedient servant.

Morgana could tell with one glance at Arthur’s face that he’d watched the whole exchange, but he had no time to contemplate what it meant – nor did Morgana, for that matter.  Edwin had used the distraction to disappear, and Morgana knew that he hadn’t taken the opportunity to simply make his escape.  She’d almost broken through to him, but a bloodlust had still tinted his eyes.

“Are you okay?” Arthur asked in a terse voice.  She nodded, said a quick, “Thanks” to Merlin for keeping her from further injury, and then the three of them rushed to Uther’s chambers, hoping they would be there in time, but all knowing already that they would be too late.

Edwin was gone when they burst into the room.  Merlin swore under his breath, an anger most unlike him sizzling just under his skin.  The rage swelled as his eyes alighted to the open window.  The king’s chambers should have been too high for anyone to escape from without serious injury, but when Merlin leaned out, toes barely brushing the surface of the floor as he tilted forward, peering into the darkness below for any sign of Edwin, the courtyard was empty.  Edwin had escaped.  A heavy weight settled directly onto his heart at this realization – and he came to the sudden, jarring understanding that he was not angry at all.

He felt betrayed, lost, and alone, but the rage had dissipated as quickly as it had come upon him.

He was wrenched from his thoughts, and from the cool night air blowing gently against his face, with a desperate shout from Arthur.  “Merlin!”

Merlin knew at once what was the matter, and what Arthur would want him to do.  A pang of anxiety joined the aching betrayal consuming him, followed quickly by fear, then an intense, deep-seated guilt.  It was one thing for Merlin to stop Edwin before he could work his dark magic on the king.  It was another entirely to play an active role in saving the life of the man who had driven Edwin and so many others into the reapers of death and hatred they had become.

Yes – Arthur was going to ask him to heal the king who had arrested him, thrown him in the dungeon, and sentenced him to a horrific death without a trial.  Worse yet, the man who had killed so many like Merlin, who only used their magic for good, or to get by, or because it was the only thing they knew how to do.  The thought of performing magic on a grief-torn, vengeance-born husk of a man such as this stirred something deeply uncomfortable inside of the warlock, and for an insane, panicked moment, he was half-tempted to follow Edwin out of the window and into the night, away from the dangerous and impossible thing that Arthur was about to request.

And yet, it was because Arthur needed it that Merlin stayed.  It was because it was Arthur’s father who was dying that he gathered the strength to turn away from the fear and self-loathing and nameless voices of the magical dead that screamed traitor! in his mind and agreed to use his magic to save a man who hated it.  Who hated him , and wanted him dead.

Now that he understood Edwin’s magic, it would be relatively simple to heal the king.  He’d just need the box, which the sorcerer had, in his haste to escape, left on the end table beside an unconscious, death-pale Uther.  “I can heal him,” Merlin said, his voice rough and uncertain, and he could tell from the looks on both Arthur’s and Morgana’s faces that they understood his struggle.

Morgana took a step forward, green eyes softening in sympathy.  “Merlin, you don’t have to–”

Merlin shook his head, cutting her off without uttering a word.  When Morgana had spoken, Merlin had looked to Arthur and saw something wonderful and terrible on his face – resignation.  Wonderful, because it meant that he had never intended to force Merlin to use his magic to save the king.  Terrible, because he doubted for a moment that Merlin would refuse to help his closest friend’s dying father.

I’m not doing it for a king, Merlin told himself firmly, I am doing it for a father and his son.  In the back of his mind, he heard those same voices, those of the damned, the oppressed, the executed, the slain, whisper their vile insults and curses.  Traitor! they spat.  Traitor to magic!  Traitor to your kind!

The battle waged fiercely for a few seconds more.  Merlin squared his shoulders, took the box of dark magic from Morgana’s pale, slender fingers, and stopped trying to justify his choice.  He leaned over the magic-hating king who wanted him dead, and used magic to make him whole once more.

As soon as Uther stirred, Arthur grabbed Merlin and shoved him out of the king’s chambers, escorting his servant quickly but silently, through the empty corridors of a sleeping Camelot, and back into the dungeons.  The guards were still sleeping by the door, having been knocked out from behind by a sleeping spell upon Merlin’s jailbreak.  Merlin had assured the prince that these men would remember nothing when they woke up – probably.  Merlin’s astounding confidence aside, Arthur hadn’t felt particularly reassured, but knew he needed to check on his father.

Soon, he knew, the king would learn the true story of Edwin’s betrayal, and Merlin would be released, though Arthur knew an apology from his father was far too much to expect.  Gaius’s position would be restored, and life in Camelot would resume in some facsimile of normal.  Except normal, Arthur knew, didn’t exist anymore.  It couldn’t, not with threats like the griffin and Valiant and Edwin surfacing seemingly every week; a heavy fog of dread and death had descended upon Camelot, and Arthur had thought his servant untouched by that darkness.  Until now.  He knew how hard it must have been for Merlin to willingly use his magic to save a king who wanted him dead because of said magic.  He knew Merlin felt betrayed by Edwin.  Did he now feel betrayed by himself?  The question twirled a sickening dance of uncertainty in Arthur’s mind as he escorted Merlin back into his cell.

Reluctantly, Arthur secured the shackles around his friend’s wrists, as Merlin almost sheepishly magicked the cell door back into place.  The sorcerer smiled reassuringly at Arthur, but the prince was anything but.  He was unsettled by the way Merlin’s smile barely touched his eyes, and Arthur’s skin crawled in unease at the choice he had forced upon his friend as he made his way up the stairs, away from the friend he had just locked in a dark, damp dungeon.  The man who had saved the king, the killer of so many of his kind, with magic.  The King of Camelot was alive, the prince was still a prince and not a king, and Arthur still had a father.

But at what cost to Merlin himself, Arthur feared but did not know.

He went to his father, but his mind stayed on his servant.

#merlin #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #morgana #mergana #the power of three #fanfic #fanfiction #chapter 11 #s1e06 #a remedy to cure all ills #whump #friendship #magic reveal #arthur knows #morgana knows #my golden trio #edwin muirden #uther pendragon #canon divergent au #canon divergence #emcatwrites #ao3

[laceymorganwrites]

Fluff alphabet: Atsumu

A=Affection

Atsumu shows affection in many different ways. He´ll always have an arm around you in public or hold your hand, he´ll tell you he loves you every day and think of you all the time. Honestly he´s so lucky to have you and can barely contain himself.

B=Breath

Everything you do takes his breath away, but mostly when you tell him off. Be straight with him, don´t take his bullshit, don´t let him yell at you. Stand up for yourself and tell him to stop overworking himself. 

Also gets super soft when you comfort him when he´s had a bad day.

C=Cuddle

He´s such a cuddle monster, wants to cuddle all the time! Loves being the little spoon and laying on your chest, loves to feel you in his arms. He can´t fall asleep without cuddling you. Cuddles up to you when you cook or do something else. He´s overall very clingy, he won´t let you get up from the couch sometimes when you have to pee because he wants to keep cuddling you.

D=Dream

The biggest dream he has is to have a house with his S/O and renovate it together. He dreams of having a big family with them.

E=Effort

He´s really bad at relationships, showing his feelings and keeping partners to be honest, so it´s very hard for him. Atsumu will definitely try his best, but sometimes he feels really lost and doesn´t know what to do. He wants to be a good boyfriend for you but he needs your help. Luckily he talks to you about everything and your communication overall is very good.

F=Fear

When his S/O is scared, he´ll freak out too. No matter what it is about. He cannot calm another person down for the life of him. Will most likely call Osamu for help.

G=Gifts

King of gift giving. Always gets take out when he gets home late, gets you your favorite snacks, that thing you mentioned you thought he didn´t remember anymore, something that reminds him of you. Very unique and thoughtful gifts too.

When he receives gifts from you he gets so emotional because he still can´t believe that you truly love him.

H=Hugs

Hugs you all the time, the type to greet you with a hug and not let go. Very tight and comforting hugs. Needs a lot of hugs too.

I=Intimacy

It took him forever to be intimate and open up to you, he always was scared that you´d run away and wouldn´t support him if you knew about his inner struggles. But when you hold and help him instead, he wants to do the same for you.

J=Jealous

He trusts you 100 percent, but he still gets jealous a lot. That´s because of his own insecurities though, he´s scared that you´ll find someone better than him, which in his opinion is everyone. He´s not the type of guy to be angry at you when he´s jealous, he just keeps it to himself.

K=Kiss

Gives the kind of kisses that make you dizzy, very deep and passionate. Slow make outs, Kisses your shoulders and neck a lot too. Will become such a blushing mess when you kiss him, just completely shuts his brain off and he needs a moment every time.

L=Love

He´ll say it as soon as he knows you´re just as serious about this as he is. Will say it every day, show it with gestures. He just needs you to know you´re loved.

M=Marriage

Yes yes yes!! That is his goal with you if you want it too. Atsumu is a hopeless romantic and thinks marriage is the ultimate proof of your love. 

N=Night out

Takes you out to fancy restaurants, sometimes you go stargazing, he likes amusement parks too with you. Always comes up with fun ideas and loves it when you suggest something.

O=Out of the ordinary

Loves to embarrass you in front of your and his friends. And teasing you in general.

P=Playful

Atsumu is very playful and wants to have as much fun with you as possible. Will start tickle fights non stop.

Q=Questions

Since communication is so important in your relationship, he always wants to know your opinion on things. You used to fight a lot in the beginning because he couldn´t control his emotions, but now he just wants to avoid yelling as much as possible. Discussions will be civil and calm and he respects your opinions.

R=Random

Atsumu is very spontaneous when he´s got time for it. Will pull you into random street corners that look really sketchy but then you find that really cool ice cream shop there. Overall loves exploring the city with you.

S=Sleep

Needs to feel you when you sleep, is super sad when he´s on games in a different city or country and can´t sleep well.

T=Trust

Trusts everyone way too easily and gets hurt most of the time. Is actually really surprised when you don´t abuse his trust. Feels so honored when you trust him too, the first time you shared secrets and inner thoughts he started crying because he was getting so emotional and he cried even more when you comforted him. Like, you actually care?? You´re not disgusted?? He´s so happy with you, you make him so happy.

U=Unique

He gives the most silly nicknames ever: fluffly cuddle bug, starshine etc. and gets super cheesy all the time: ´babe, the sun´s jealous of your smile!´, ´I´m sorry I can´t look at you, you´re so beautiful I´ll go blind!´

V=Vulnerable

Takes a lot of time to be completely vulnerable in front of his S/O, but is so glad when he takes that step. It feels so relieving and he knows that they´re always gonna be there for him just as he is for them.

W=Wildcard

Will not shut up about his S/O and it actually gets obnoxious. 

X=X-Ray

Again, he will freak out more than you do. Should you ever get injured he´ll pass out before he can take you to the hospital. Even if it´s just a minor injury, he will lose his shit.

Y=Yuck

Atsumu is too clingy sometimes, always yelled in the beginning of your relationship and embarrasses you all the time.

Z=Zeal

Way too passionate about everything, he´s too much sometimes.

#haikyuu #haikyuu imagine #haikyuu headcanons #haikyuu hcs #haikyuu atsumu #atsumu miya #atsumu x reader #hq #hq imagine #hq headcanons #hq hcs #hq atsumu

[willfulbeautya]

lyanna as the knight of the laughing tree & R+L=J

this is basically a repost of my headcanon originally posted over at @ophidiantes​  ( permalink )  with some addendum.  i tend to deviate from the popular fan theory and show  “plot-twist”  that rhaegar and lyanna were in-love and that she eloped with him,  thus igniting robert’s rebellion.  i also do not subscribe to the show’s BS saying robert’s rebellion was founded on a  “lie”  because robert’s rebellion was founded on many things,  not just lyanna’s disappearance,  but also the murder of rickard and brandon stark  ( and company! )  and the call of aerys for jon arryn to break guest right traditions and bring him robert and eddard’s heads.  these things are not lies and played fundamental roles in fueling the rebellion,  which was initially started by jon arryn rousing the vale into revolt,  and i would go so far as to say that it was only called  “robert’s rebellion”  perhaps after the rebellion itself was already raging in full force or was already won.

anyway,  my headcanon is essentially riding the back of possibly one of the most popular fan theories to grace this fandom,  and as good as canon  ( in my opinion )  at this point:  that lyanna stark was the knight of the laughing tree.  not only did her initial defense of howland reed foreshadow this theory,  it also made the most sense based on what we know of the knight himself.  brandon was too muscular to be the knight,  eddard could not possibly be the knight for the same reason,  and benjen was too young.  the knight could only be a stark,  and could only be lyanna.  there are a lot of other reasons why this headcanon makes the most sense  ( i.e.  it thematically makes for a stronger story ),  but that’s a discussion for another time.

piggybacking off of this,  we also know that the world of ice and fire went more in-depth with the events at harrenhal than the five main books of the series.  in TWOIAF we found out that the knight was hunted down after he disappeared,  and it was rhaegar targaryen who found the knight’s infamous shield and armor hanging from a tree.  we also found out that the mad king took the appearance of the knight as a slight to his rule,  and he was very paranoid and angry,  or as the kids would say these days...   triggered:

King Aerys II was not a man to take any joy in mysteries, however. His Grace became convinced that the tree on the mystery knight’s shield was laughing at him […] he commanded his own knights to defeat the Knight of the Laughing Tree when the jousts resumed the next morning, so that he might be unmasked and his perfidy exposed for all to see. But the mystery knight vanished during the night, never to be seen again. This too the king took ill, certain that someone close to him had given warning to “this traitor who will not show his face.”  ( source: the world of ice and fire )

so!  how does all of this fit into my theory???  for literal years,  people have been out here saying lyanna eloped with a married man  ( lmao ).  that she was not kidnapped and she went willingly  1.)  because she was in-love with rhaegar  ( stop )  and/or  2.)  because she wanted to escape her betrothal to robert baratheon.  and sure,  we can say that she was not kidnapped.  i,  for one,  believe that she went willingly but not for the reasons people think.  the question really is:  what if she did not elope with anybody?  WHAT IF IT WAS A RESCUE?

at the time of the tourney at harrenal  ( 281 ac ),  king aerys was already displaying alarming signs of instability,  so much so that his son staged the very same tourney to gather all the respectable lords from the great houses to convene and talk about a possible coup d’etat.  that didn’t work due to the king’s paranoia,  which only goes to prove how dangerously close to falling off the deep-end he was.  and going by his reaction about the KOTLT,  it’s not far-fetched to assume that he hyper-fixated on the knight even after the tourney was over and considered him her a threat to his reign or an agent of an enemy used to mock his rule.  aerys could have used all his available resources to figure out who the knight was,  including varys’ spies,  though i think what eventually gave it away in the end was the actions of rhaegar himself  ( upon inspection of the events at harrenhal ex-post facto ). 

for reasons unknown at the time,  rhaegar crowned lyanna his queen of love and beauty by the tourney’s end,  offending many great lords and ladies in the process  ( a dumb political move,  considering these were the same lords and ladies he’s persuading to support him overthrow his father ).  what could be the reason behind this???  there are a lot of theories,  including rhaegar professing romantic interest towards lyanna at the cost of elia martell’s honor,  but the only logical explanation would be that rhaegar knew lyanna masqueraded as the knight of the laughing tree.  the blue flowers he laid on her lap were not signs of attraction but perhaps admiration,  and an acknowledgment of some sort,  because her undefeated streak on the joust went unacknowledged by virtue of her disguise.  he could essentially be telling lyanna:   here,  you deserve this victory,  too.  ( and fair enough,  she truly did. )  however,  this very same action,  though noble in its intention,  caused quite a scandal.  it could have very well lead to aerys figuring out that it was lyanna who donned on the shield of the laughing weirwood tree and the mismatched armor  ( courtesy of benjen ).  it’s very much possible that aerys was unwilling to let this imagined slight go unpunished,  and that he could have ordered lyanna stark’s arrest while she was on her way to riverrun to attend cat and brandon’s wedding.  coincidentally,  this would put her in rhaegar’s path,  as we learned from TWOIAF:

With the coming of the new year, the crown prince had taken to the road with half a dozen of his closest friends and confidants, on a journey that would ultimately lead him back to the riverlands, not ten leagues from Harrenhal . . . where Rhaegar would once again come face-to-face with Lyanna Stark of Winterfell, and with her light a fire that would consume his house and kin and all those he loved—and half the realm besides.

any gold cloaks who could have been scouring the riverlands looking for lyanna stark could have run in on the same group,  and once rhaegar had heard about lyanna’s pending arrest  ( no doubt to face the  “king’s justice”  which to aerys was literally synonymous to being burned alive ),  he could have taken the initiative of spiriting lyanna away from harm and into the relative safety of the red mountains of dorne.  but wait,  you may wonder:  what does rhaeger get from all of this?  why would he rescue lyanna stark if they weren’t  “in-love”?  it’s pretty simple.  he gets the third head of his dragon,  considering that months prior,  his wife almost died birthing his second child,  and was obviously too physically spent for a third.  

remember that rhaegar was obsessed with  the song of ice and fire,  and the appeal of lyanna stark,  who could essentially be ice embodied,  might have been too great a temptation for the prince to resist.  there’s also the possibility that lyanna was a greenseer which i wrote about here,  meaning that she was also aware of the prophecy and went with rhaegar to help him fulfill it.  ( a lot of factors are at play here,  not just lyanna’s ability to have green dreams but her run in with a wildling and her vision involving the ghost of high heart.  it’s also possible that rhaegar brought the ghost with him as he journeyed through the riverlands to convince lyanna to fulfill the prophecy with him ).

in any case,  lyanna did not go with rhaegar because she was  “in-love”  with him. remember that lyanna stark was the same woman who said  “love is sweet,  dearest ned.  but it cannot change a man’s nature.”  first of all,  she disliked the prospect of infidelity and thus would never encourage,  tolerate,  or participate in such an act at the expense of another woman.  second of all,  lyanna cared enough about the stark name to defend a stark bannermen.  not a direct family member,  just a bannerman,  and she was willing to throw down for him.  what makes anyone think she will risk her entire family to run away with a man?  even if he was a targaryen or a prince?  what makes anyone think she would do anything to endanger or dishonor her family in that way?  

severing the engagement with robert would be something that she would want,  there is no denying that  ( not just because she disliked being betrothed to him,  but because she disliked being betrothed at all ).  she could have wanted to run away on her own,  but to run away with a married prince?  i don’t think so.  the main rationale people use to prop up this theory was to paint lyanna as a selfish character.  but...  there was never any indication that lyanna stark was the selfish type,  that she would risk her family’s honor life to get her way,  or that she would do something so blatantly stupid  ( under no disguise! )  and would not be able to foresee the possible ramifications of her actions.  lyanna is reckless,  yes,  but she’s not dumb.  she’s romantic and idealistic,  but she’s also painted to have a strong moral compass to possess some forethought,  things people often overlook or deliberately forget so they could either shit on her character or sail their nasty ships.

following the greenseer theory,  it’s also entirely possible that lyanna had no knowledge of rickard and brandon’s fates until gerold hightower delivered the news when he asked rhaegar to go back to king’s landing,  right after the battle of the bells.  around that time,  lyanna was already pregnant.  she would have wanted to go home after finding out,  but she would have been forbidden to leave.  this was the only time she was openly hostile towards rhaegar,  and he parted with her while she had bitter thoughts of him.

all things considered,  i would like to reiterate that  rhaegar and lyanna were not  “in-love”.  they were not secret lovers who annulled a legitimate marriage to get their way,  the rest of the realm be damned.  lyanna felt extremely guilty that the prophecy required physical infidelity on the part of rhaegar,  but whatever “intimacy” they shared,  they did so out of a sense of duty,  not lust or love.  rhaegar remained very much in-love with elia martell until he left for king’s landing,  never to return to the tower of joy again.  and lyanna remained dedicated to seeing through her part in the prophecy,  which she believed would ultimately result in her own death. 

#( headcanon. — they saw her beauty‚ not the iron underneath ) #i have so many feelings! #i'm sorry #PERSONAL BLOGS DO NOT REBLOG #if you have questions about this let me know!! #( updated: 19/08/19 )

[abitterlifethroughcinema]

The Wrap, Part II: Return of the Curse of the Creature’s Ghost!

Film Reviews from the 51st Annual Sitges Fantasy/Horror Film Festival

by

Lucas A Cavazos

It would be of utmost denial to oneself to not take part in the occasional puff of marijuana and/or odd glass or two of red wine whilst shuffling about Sitges during this type of festival. I tell you, in this gayest of cities (and yes, I mean that in both senses of the word), nothing says loving like soaking up sun and guts while having the right side of your brain open. To quote Henry Miller…”The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.” 

And it is in that vein, I present to you the latest film starring Nicolas Cage, Mandy ###-1/2…Could it be that Nicolas Cage might actually have something interesting to offer now that he’s well past 50 and ready to go beyond simple nut job roles and wannabe-buff, action hits and flops? Last year, this festival premiered the currently in-run and VOD film called Mom and Dad with Selma Blair, and if that was a thing of fun and delight, which is was, this film is much more darkly mirrored and rife with psychedelic imagery, and it must be discussed. To note, it does contain ye olde, ubiquitous screaming-whilst-having-a-psychotic-fit Cage scene, doubt ye not! Set in turn of the decade 80s, Red (Cage) and Mandy (Andrea Riseborough) have removed themselves from the majority of society and live a life of slight isolation, that is until one day, Mandy is abducted by some occult-like sect with grave intentions. Linus Roach (Priest) plays Jeremiah Sands, a man who can call forth demons and demonic creatures, and when psychedelia meets rancour, flames go up and and as they do, someone in them, as well. This is where the film turns into a contemplative narrative tale on revenge and turmoil, highlighted by a tinge of hallucinogens and wasp venom, and I cannot begin to tell you how eerily creepy it is to see Linus Roach after so many years in a role like this that sends chills down your spine in ways that create sheer panic and disgust. Watching Cage take revenge is a joy and wonder, and it should be noted that the film won two of the Sitges 51st Official Selection Awards for Best Director, which went to Panos Cosmatos and Best Actress going to Andrea Riseborough, who also comes up a bit later down below. A piece of rogue psychedelic modern art on celluloid if ever there was one, tinges of Wes Craven, Heavy Metal cartoon imagery and sleep paralysis demons make this Nic Cage vehicle one of the best things he has done in simply years.

Making my way over to The Retiro in the heart of bustling Sitges to screen the noir-like film The Dark ###, I realised that I was late and upon arrival, I was quickly ushered upstairs and had to make do with a single chair propped up next to an upstairs balustrade. The Dark is an eerie piece that preys on the power of the unknown to scare the viewer into wanting to know more about its strange characters…and then the film reveals those secrets in flashback. Despite its title, there is very little in relation to darkness other than the tone of the film and its narrative of teen spirit gone horribly awry. In a former entry, I spoke of how a screened premiere entitled Zoo had encroached upon fresh zombie territory, and until recently as just over a decade ago, zombie cinema was a mostly contained affair, and reserved to a select grouping of films annually. That all changed with the mid-noughties and this latest entry into its subject matter baits us with unexplained tidbits, starting when a one Josef Hofer (Karl Markovics), described as armed and dangerous, makes his way to a rather haunting locale, where death finds him in the form of Mina, perma-resident of this cursed abode in Devil’s Den, a forestal area with a history of hauntings and Mina is that person/monster haunting those very woods. But then she discovers Alex, a blind and also-scarred teen who had been Hofer’s captive, and together the two make off for a disturbing adventure, which borders on heartfelt while also sadistic. If anything, this piece certainly toys with emotions and good cinema ought to do just that.

The Sitges Fantasy/Horror Film Fest is divided into many distinct sections, such as the main Official Selections, Noves Visions,which promotes newer filmmakers and diverse subject matter, Melies Feature and Short Film sections, Asian Focus, Animated Fare, The Orbita promoting mixed big budget and indie fare, Fanastic Discovery Features promoting obscure (and often deeper) cinema, the B and Z-grade fare of the Midnight X-Treme selections, as well as, the Critics Jury Selection. All of that to say that there is nary a specific genre within the fantasy film/horror movie genres that is NOT touched on by this film festival. Winner of the Orbita Award for Best Picture went to the US studio outfit entitled American Animals ###-1/2 and what an astounding effort it provides its audience into a peek at the rather modern mindset of the ageing millennial. Telling a 2004 real-life story by British director Bart Layton, he of the haunting 2012 film The Imposter, this 2018 effort documents how four white youths from good, hardworking families failed to fully realise a masterminded effort to steal one of, if not, the world’s most valuable book. The multi-volume Audubon Society’s Birds of America, not to mention Darwin’s first edition copy of On the Origin of Species were just two of the books to be included in a heist that Transylvania University students Spencer Reinhard and Warren Lipka (played to perfection by Barry Keoghan and Evan Peters) foolishly decided to rob from the special collections library department. To say that the subject matter is mid-level at best might be a tad harsh but only just so; that said, the way Layton maps out the mental state of these middle-to-upper middle class boys should give all of us a hint as to where these boys, and millions like them, are coming from. The plan of a heist is bred with the idea that their spoiled lives have hindered their true creative identities, and so to tell the story, the director secured interviews with the actual perpetrators and spliced that with top grade talent re-enacting the actual events. The film cannot be heralded as a thing of wonder, as it truly details the dumbest snafu of a heist ever on American soil. But what it succeeds in showing is that insecurity, lack of identity, and seeds of doubt are rife amongst today’s young adults, and if we are not fomenting stronger individuals as siblings, educators, parents, et al…we will continue to create these spoiled races of highly non-autonomous individuals. Give them some tough love, for goodness sake. Worthy of a view for any parent or educator.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT…Lars Von Trier, he of the Dogme 95 cinema movement and so many odd, jarring and sometimes good celluloid pieces…see Celebration and this film as examples please…he of the “understanding Hitler, I’m a Nazi” joke he pulled a few years back at Cannes, which then had him banned for half a decade, premiered his latest work last week at Sitges. It a doozy of a film that garnered some decent attention and a European and Spanish distributor, for sure. It’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen Matt Dillon on the big screen, and the brief time with Uma Thurman at the film’s beginning is a dark scene of beauty…and then not. Here’s the thing, as always we are dealing with the tortured mindset of a Scandinavian director who seethes out his demons onto celluloid, but that alone does not make it exceptional art, although I truly believe he thinks it is. In turn, I truly believe that von Trier is quite likely a mitigated sociopath. That said, while there is a bit of reverential awe to his masterful ways of movie manipulation, it is his use of dark comedy that sets this film apart from other recent fare he has brought us. Matt Dillon plays the titular character and while amusing at first, he soon grows languidly repetitive and chauvinistic, and while there are scenes of comedic brilliance, such as an OCD-related clean up job that leads to an incident with a policeman or the bang-down job he does trying to dispose of bodies in a freezer, it is impossible for this student and teacher of history to not associate the fact that we are watching a man, a DANISH man no less (do your research as to why I emphasise that, chirren) play out his darker inner recesses for our viewing interest, but it surely makes me aware that we are also likely dealing with his pathos. That’s what really makes The House That Jack Built ###-1/2 really scary.

Lastly this entry, Nancy ###-1/2 brings up the actress Andrea Riseborough again, and I would like to note that often at awards season and ceremonies, actors get rewarded for an individual work, which often plays testament to all the other work they’ve done in their field that year. As Riseborough won Best Actress at this year’s Sitges Fantasy/Horror Film Fest, I believe this piece was much more deserved than the aforementioned Mandy for that award. I also find it compelling that she as an actress chose to make two, back-to-back films about tortured women with their names as the movie titles. Nancy is a quasi-failed career woman tending to her mum who suffers from some neural disorder and who is unintentionally suffocating her daughter with complaints and stress…but when mum dies suddenly, what is Nancy to do but discover that she was likely abducted years earlier and soon begins to associate herself with a long lost child case never resolved that might fit her theory about herself, however strained it is. What ensues is a emotional tour de force involving the parents of the long missing child, played to award-level precision by J. Cameron Smith as Ellen and Steve Buscemi as her hubby Leo. When Nancy sets up an appointment to meet with them, they take a shining to her at once and while awaiting DNA results, take her in to stay with them, including with her cat to which Leo is allergic. As scenes go by, even though this might be more in order in an indie film fest rather than here at Sitges, you also understand that the fantastical elements lie in the mind of the titular woman, as well as, in director Christina Chloe’s softly brutal touch. A film meant for those who understand healing and suspension of (dis)belief, Nancy gives Andrea Riseborough a chance at becoming a celebrated actress to emulate.

#abitterlifethroughcinema #sitges film festival #mandymovie #TheDarkFilm #americananimals #the house that jack built #NancyFilm #matt dillon #steve buscemi #nicolas cage

[rgedgwe]

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[taejinchronicles]

BV2EP3 | Taejin theory masterpost: U ok Tae?

So it was highly requested by you pretty cupcakes (tks for the asks and messages!!!) the continuation of my Bon Voyage 2 Taejin masterposts with analysis, pix and my two cents on the Taejin cause. Let me tell ya, this will be a huge masterpost, so grab yourself some snacks and lets do this!!!

Even upset, VV looks like the most gorgeous creation in the universe:

If you read my Ep2 masterpost, Taehyung was really annoyed about the Namj*n bromance day and decided to go full possessive mode with Jin. We have been left wondering what would happen since our boy was clearly sad and jealous of Jin’s day with RM and about the exchange of gifs between them. The sculpted turtle that RM gave to Jin was something symbolic to V cause he and Jin went on a beach date by themselves on day 1 and saw the turtle. Perhaps this is why the turtle gift was so upsetting to V, he knew that this moment was stolen from him because to the grand public the turtle thing would automatically become a Namj*n thing. I put myself in VV’s shoes, and knowing his history with being overshadowed by Namj*n I understand why Day 3 was mostly about him sulking, avoiding Jin, sulking, possessive about Jin, sulking, annoyed with Namj*n and so on...

1. Matching red hats + close watch on Namj*n: BTS’s first commitment was the hike to the waterfall. V was wearing a red cap to match the red hat he gave to Jin cause ya know how Taejin has a thing for couple’s outfits right. And also V was legit breathing on Namj*n’s neck during the hike.

2. The Namj*n pas de deux: Poor V was jamming violently to Spine Breaker while being exposed to Namj*n’s happy dorky pas de deux.

3. Namj*n pose & jealous V: Taehyung's torture continues as Jin and RM pose really close and cutely on the waterfall group pic. When the pic is taken the camera focus on V who looks straight at Namj*n with THAT FACE...a picture worths more than a thousand words.

4. ETS and V sulking: BTS decides what to eat and VV is sitting far away. V was tired and distant. And also kinda sad. On some moments it almost felt like he was about to doze off or cry. 

5. Taejin, together but apart: At the van Taejin was sitting next to each other as they often do, but not engaging any physical or verbal contact. As RM continued talking about the Namj*n friendship day, V blocked Jin and everyone else by wearing headphones. Meanwhile Jin was staring pensively at the landscape.

6. RM’s Bon Voyage reaction: it was Joonie’s turn to do the Bon Voyage thing so everyone’s reaction to RM’s cutesy hat flip was enjoyment but V gave that “not so amused” look, esp after Jin’s spontaneous compliment to RM.

7. Taehyung love sick over Jin: I had to gif this cause, come on, that’s just so freaking cute. The way V looks at Jin! His love sick expression, eyes dancing from Jin’s face to his “south area” than up to his face again. Taehyung’s bedroom eyes, sorry but that’s not bromance, that is not complimenting Jin’s looks, that is not even a boy crush. Grab that info, take into consideration.

8. V’s territory: As BTS walked towards their picnic spot, V obviously placed himself between Namj*n (yeah, that is a trend my people) making everything possible with his body movements to make sure there was plenty of space between Jin and RM. 

9. V’s territory part 2: At the picnic table of course V sat in between Jin and RM. With an effective angular body language, V expressed the desire to create a clear barrier separating his territory.

10. Happy meal together: Meal is ready and Eat Jin is celebrated with his expertise on the yummy food. V is happier being closer to Jin and, for the first time on the day, exchanges words with the object of his angst and affection.

11. Taejin’s domestic bliss: At the grocery store RM, Suga, Jimin, V and Jin got their food cash to spend. Soon as they enter Jin goes domestic mode and starts to talk just to Taehyung about the huge american apples. RM and Jimin go their own separate ways leaving Taejin alone.

12. Side by side: it’s no biggie but I find it extremely cute how Taejin always walk side by side or close to each other. When there is no fixed formation predefined by management, you can see that they are naturally drawn to each other like it’s their second nature. The couple matching outfit makes it even cutter!

13. Visual duo doing their visual thing: on that group pic, Jin was holding V’s shoulders so lovingly. And the way their heads lean towards each other, awww so cute how the body speaks. Ahhh, one romantic scenery can mend a jealous heart.

14. Jin is taking care of V: Remember last year on BV1 that iconic moment when V was so moody texting and sulking and Jin was carefully watching him from a distance only to back hug him for centuries? There is this season’s version of it. VV is again sulking, texting and turning his back to Jin, attentive loving gorgeous Jin is watching our angsty boy’s every move, his entire body facing V and even if he is speaking to J-Hope, his eyes don’t leave him. Wasn’t that the perfect moment and scenario for an iconic Taejin back hug?

15. Third wheeling Cupid Jimin: when BTS discuss their goals Jin says he wants to perfect his guitar technique. Our official third wheel angel Jimin said Jin sent him a video of his guitar practice. Although the rest of BTS was totally unaware of the video of Jin’s evolution on guitar, V promptly said (the video or Jin playing guitar) was so cool. Lovely Jinnie was flustered by Vmin’s double love.

16. I give Jinnie my stars: At the observatory V and Jin were together and V showed him the stars and planets. Only to Jin. He was so proud of his astronomy knowledge saying he studied it! My heart was touched by this moment cause we can see how important it is for him to please and surprise Jin, to make Jin proud of him, he was like a kid all excited to tell an adult he learned something at school. And Jin the sweetheart, the true gentleman showing genuine interest and excitement, making V’s planet naming sound as important as Galileu Galilei’s life work. Not to mention that Venus is the planet of LOVE…We see you Taehyung…we see you!

17. Taejin sleeps together funny drama feat. Hobi: at BTS’s lodge, the one filled with lizards, they were playing rock paper scissors (I swear the day BTS don’t play that game, catastrophe will fall upon us) for the beds and bedrooms. Jin was playing opposite J-Hope and won. V was the “MC” of the game and soon as he knew Jin would probably share a bedroom with Hobi or someone who was not him, he grew unease. Smiling but his body language touching the back of his neck, gave away his discomfort about the bedroom situation. When Hobi also wins and Jin celebrates him him, V’s instant reaction is to cover his mouth. In body language that means he cannot speak against awful news and his hands in begging position tries to reach for Jin, meaning he is begging Jin to come back to him. Notice that after Jin’s bedroom is decided the rest of the game with the other members runs smoothly and V doesn’t respond that way to the rest of BTS. The funny thing is that V ended up sleeping with RM! Well better sleep with RM than RM sleeping with Jinnie right Tae?!

That was it! What an episode that was!

V was obviously upset about something. Maybe it was just him being sleepy, tired or moody, but it feels very coincidental that the mood corroborates his behaviour towards Jin on the previous day. As I said on my last masterposts on Jealous V vs Namj*n, I don’t think this is about RM as a treat to his relationship, I don’t think he sees RM as a rival for Jin’s love. It is about his growing desire of Taejin being the stablished Jin love reality. He knows the ARMY ship Namj*n so add it to V’s constant need to express romantic affection for Jin versus Jin’s acceptance of the necessity for fan service ships then we have a recipe to Taehyung’s angst.

I think Taehyung wants to be as public as possible about Jin cause it is in his nature to be truthful, I don’t think he can perpetuate secrets. He’s not reckless and understands he’s an idol who cannot open up about everything, but there is this real sweet boy inside the idol facade that just desires to be proudly recognised by everyone he loves. His loyal friendship with Jimin, his admiration for RM and Suga and Hobi, his big brother protectiveness towards Kookie, his respect for his family, V wants all his emotional allegiances to be out there, so of course he wants his relationship with Jin to be seen and accepted. It’s still that same 4 years ago shy Taehyung who looked at Jin as he could not believe his luck to be living with the most handsome man he has ever seen. The same boy that everybody noticed from day one he had a crush on Jin. The same boy that has been crawling to Jin’s bed for years. The difference is that now he’s got hit by the intensity of conquered affection, he has won a place in Jin’s heart so it is upsetting for V to be contradictory to his heart just cause they are in public. I can imagine the frustration. It explains the mood changes, the introspection, the jealousy and possessiveness, his need to please Jin and praise/defend him to earn his love and respect and the passive aggressiveness when he feels that Jin denies him or promo another ship loudly in front of the cameras.

Because that adoration is so intense and he is so young, I think when it comes to Jin he even forgets BTS is their job and he’s got to separate what’s performance from what’s real. Someone as gentle and emotional as V is, really wants to wear his heart on the sleeve, he wants PDA, he needs to touch, hold, hug and confess to the four corners of the world that Jin makes him happy. So when he sees Jin being affectionate to RM, someone who is legit shipped with Jin by the fandom “stealing” his official role as Jin’s (visual BTS pair?, lover?, boyfriend?, partner?, platonic sleep together for years buddy? true ship?) number one interest, he snaps and shuts Jin out. It’s the same possessive-jealous pattern we saw on ISAC because of KenJin, Jin running around after V like a lost puppy while he ignored Jin like some sort of punishment. And we can notice that behaviour pattern only happens with Jin, he is not possessive with the other boys not even with his bestie Jimin.

Jin on the other hand loves to socialise with all the members (not only RM but also Kookie on this episode) and even talk to total strangers. He is comfortable in being social and he is aware of their roles as entertainers and how to separate business from personal life. Although he is not impulsive and explicit about it, he cares about V’s feelings more than anything even if that means the need to keep a safe distance to protect what they have. I feel like Jin tries constantly to shelter him, to create a safe haven when the innocent beautiful and delicate true Taehyung can be free and happy, even if the price is to have Taejin as a ship ignored by the fandom. It’s in Jin’s nature to protect and love all his boys but with V it’s like he is always walking on thin glass. There is deep affection but also Jin’s necessity for secrecy, not cause he is ashamed of V but cause he is protective of what they have.

Because the nature of their relationship in my perspective romantic, Jin doesn’t know how to behave in front of the cameras with him. Jin refrains himself to be engulfed by affection like on that iconic stage kiss or like when he shares too much information (we shower together, we sleep together and so on) so he prefers not to focus on V while on camera. Both Jin and V can’t quite behave bro-like around each other actually. Since the start there has always been awkwardness and tension between Taejin, it used to be polar opposites they were superglued platonic flirting or just pretending they didn’t exist. Although now things have changed and we don’t see that unrequited love tension anymore, I think both Jin and V go back to that pattern when things go a bit sour. They oscillate between “you are all I see" to "you don’t even exist" all the time, there is no in between “bro-like” Taejin. For a ship that legit doesn’t have promo at all (for instance there is never vlives with just Taejin like there is with jinmin, sope or jinkook) Taejin is the one pairing that despite of the lack of fan service push, do behave like two people who know each other intimately and really spend a lot of time together (notice that semi off-camera like on BV2 with their beach date, matching hats shopping, V picking Jin the shirts he wanted him to wear and off-camera like on their fancafe talks, secret dates, singing the same love songs of each other’s spotify playlists, sleeping together, matching outfits, walking around holding each other’s arms when they think nobody is watching, answering the same things about what they plan for their future...they act like well...like partners).

Jin being the business driven man he is, understands the responsibilities of being and entertainer, he gives his body and soul to BTS, he is professional about it and knows he is protecting V and the boys by keeping their thing (and all the boys personal relationships) private. With V’s emotional nature, RM’s introspection, Suga’s dedication to his craft, Jimin’s loyal heart and Jungkook’s innocence, Jin and J-Hope are the ones who really are conscious about the importance of protect their privacy, Jin being the entertainer one and J-Hope the practical one. This is why of all the members of BTS Jin is the one who really engages dynamic relationships with all the other boys constantly, regardless of the predefined ships and subunits management and the fandom has specified. He doesn’t exclude anybody and in a sense he is the heart of BTS, the loving glue that keeps them strong.

This is a study and analysis, I dunno the boys so situations can have a complete different meaning since no one knows what’s going on on their private lives. This is why rather focus on behaviour and body language, cause that is an unconscious way to express the truth and one’s emotions. So it doesn’t really matter the nature of Jin and V's intimate emotional bond, we can see that Jin doesn’t need his personal relationships to be publicly accepted therefore understands the need for privacy while Taehyung is keen to make his affection known therefore he is often jealous of sharing Jin with others either by insecurity or by fear of non-acceptance. This is a pattern that has been going on for quite sometime and I’m afraid it’s the pattern we will keep seeing in the near future. 

Oh boy that was one huge masterpost! This episode was a full angsty trip on jealousy, understanding the dynamics and differences between Jin and V and the dynamics between ships. Regarding the ships, I still have not done the masterposts on some subjects I often got messages about like comparing Taejin to Vmin or Namjin and Jinkook (send me msgs of what ship you want me talk about first) or the rest of BV2 (gonna do those...weekly I hope!!!), tks for the patience dear readers. You can also read the first episodes analysis here:

BV2EP1 | OH TAEJIN LOVE VOYAGE, OOPS, I MEAN BON VOYAGE 2 EP.1

BV2EP2 | TAE VS. NAMJ*N STRIKES AGAIN

Lots of love.

#taejin theory masterpost #taejin chronicles #jealous v #tae vs namjin #taejin #The Taejin masterposts are back! #tks for all of your aks #Taejin Bon Voyage 2

[expatimes]

Michelle Obama calls Trump ‘racist’: US election news

Michelle Obama on Tuesday released a scathing video, in which she condemned Trump as a “racist”.

Donald Trump spends his first full day in the White House on Tuesday since leaving the hospital where he was being treated for coronavirus.

Joe Biden campaigns in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Two new polls show Biden widening his lead nationally.

Early voting begins in Indiana and Ohio.

Pandemic survivors have slammed Trump’s suggestion that the coronavirus is nothing to fear, with 28 days until the election on November 3.

Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the United States elections. This is William Roberts and Joseph Stepansky.

Tuesday, October 6:

18:00 ET – Facebook bans all QAnon accounts from its platforms

Facebook said it will ban groups that openly support QAnon, the baseless conspiracy theory that paints President Donald Trump as a secret warrior against a supposed child-trafficking ring run by celebrities and “deep state” government officials.

The social media giant said Tuesday that it will remove Facebook pages, groups and Instagram accounts for “representing QAnon” — even if they don’t promote violence, The Associated Press reported.

The QAnon phenomenon has sprawled across a patchwork of Facebook groups, Twitter accounts and YouTube videos in recent years. QAnon has been linked to real-world violence such as criminal reports of kidnapping and dangerous claims that the coronavirus is a hoax.

17:45 ET – Trump tweets polls in Pennsylvania showing Biden lead are ‘fake’

How does Biden lead in Pennsylvania Polls when he is against Fracking (JOBS!), 2nd Amendment and Religion? Fake Polls. I will win Pennsylvania!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020

An average of polls in Pennsylvania in last month show Biden with a 6.5 percentage-point lead over Trump, according to RealClearPolitics.com. Trump won Pennsylvania in 2016 by a narrow 0.62 percentage-point margin.

17:00 ET – St. Louis couple indicted for waving guns at protesters

A grand jury on Tuesday indicted the St. Louis couple who displayed guns while hundreds of racial injustice protesters marched on their private street.

Al Watkins, an attorney for the couple, confirmed to The Associated Press the indictments against Mark, 63, and his wife, Patricia McCloskey, 61.

The McCloskeys, who are both attorneys, have become folk heroes among some conservatives, and were featured at the Republican National Convention.

They argue that they were exercising their Second Amendment right to bear arms, and were protected by Missouri’s castle doctrine law that allows the use of deadly force against intruders.

Patricia McCloskey and her husband Mark McCloskey have been indicted for brandishing guns at protesters [Reuters]

16:55 ET – Biden warns of ‘something darker’, ‘more dangerous’ happening than ‘just our broken politics’

In a fiery speech from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Biden warned of “something bigger going on in this nation than just our broken politics. Something darker. Something more dangerous.”

The speech, which derided “division” and again cast the election as a battle for the country’s “soul”, referenced the president’s response to ongoing racial justice protests across the country. It comes days after the first presidential debate, when Trump demurred when asked to condemn far right and white supremacist groups.

“I’m not talking about ordinary differences of opinion,” Biden said. “No, I’m talking about something different, something deeper.”

“[It’s] true many Americans seek not to overcome our divisions, but to deepen them,” he said.

“We cannot and will not allow extremists and white supremacists to overturn the America of Lincoln, of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass,” he said.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at Gettysburg National Military Park [Andrew Harnik/The Associated Press]

16:45 ET – Pelosi slams Trump for ending stimulus talks

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi slammed Donald Trump and the “complete disarray” of the White House on Tuesday after Trump halted coronavirus stimulus talks, saying the president was “putting himself first” at the country’s expense.

“Today, once again, President Trump showed his true colors: putting himself first at the expense of the country, with the full complicity of the GOP Members of Congress,” the House speaker said after Trump postponed negotiations on a new plan until after the November 3 presidential election.

“Clearly, the White House is in complete disarray,” she said, adding that Trump was rejecting Federal Reserve warnings that too little support would result in a weak recovery with unnecessary hardship for millions of American households and businesses.

Trump called off coronavirus relief talks on Tuesday [Mark Lennihan/The Associated Press]

16:30 ET – Biden again tests negative for coronavirus

Biden has again tested negative for the coronavirus, according to his campaign.

Biden has been tested regularly since Trump announced he had tested positive. The two candidates shared a stage, but remained distanced, during the first presidential debate last Tuesday.

16:15 ET – FDA safety guidelines likely push COVID-19 vaccine authorisation past election

The US Food and Drug Administration told coronavirus vaccine developers on Tuesday it wants at least two months of safety data from half of their trial volunteers in order to authorise emergency use, a requirement that would likely push any US vaccine availability past the November 3 presidential election.

The FDA released the guidance laying out more stringent recommendations for drugmakers hoping to apply for an emergency use authorisation (EUA) for their experimental vaccines.

The New York Times reported on Monday that the guidelines had been blocked by the White House. However, the FDA released a document containing a summary of advice it had given to vaccine makers suggesting the additional safety measure earlier on Tuesday. It later released the new guidance.

The White House could still force authorisation of a vaccine without that additional safety data. However, doing so would put it in open disagreement with the FDA and its career scientists, and add to the perception that politics was playing a role in pushing out a vaccine.

16:00 ET – Biden expands lead in Michigan: Poll

Biden has expanded his lead over Trump in battleground Michigan and the two candidates are tied in North Carolina, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday.

Biden had 51 percent support from likely voters, compared to Biden’s 43 percent in Michigan. Both candidates had 47 percent support in North Carolina.

15:30 ET – Pence, Harris at odds over debate plexiglass: Report

Vice President Pence is requesting that no plexiglass dividers be placed on his side of the stage at Wednesday night’s vice-presidential debate, the Washington Post has reported.

The announcement from the vice president comes after the Commission on Presidential Debates said that dividers had been agreed to as a safety measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The commission and the Biden campaign both told the newspaper they understood that the Pence team was in agreement with the notion of plexiglass barriers. But Pence’s team said they did not believe the plexiglass was medically necessary given other precautions in place at the event.

“If she wants it, she’s more than welcome to surround herself with plexiglass if that makes her feel more comfortable,” Short said. “It’s not needed.”

Mike Pence and Kamala Harris reportedly disagree on debate coronavirus precautions[Reuters]

15:00 ET – Trump calls off coronavirus relief talks with Democrats

Trump has called off negotiations with Democratic lawmakers on coronavirus relief legislation until after the election, even as cases of the virus are on the rise across much of the country before flu season.

“I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business,” Trump wrote on Twitter a day after emerging from a hospital stay for COVID-19 treatment.

Read more here.

…request, and looking to the future of our Country. I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business. I have asked…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020

14:30 ET – Michelle Obama calls Trump ‘racist’ in scalding video

Former First Lady Michelle Obama has called Trump a “racist” president whose strategy of fearmongering, division and promoting ugly conspiracy theories could “destroy” America if he is re-elected.

Obama made the statements, who most direct attack yet on the president, in a 24-minute video offering closing arguments for Biden four weeks before November 3.

Obama described Trump and his Republican allies as unfairly “stoking fears” about African Americans, saying the president is “morally wrong” for taking actions that intimidate voters and for “lying” about how minorities will ruin US suburbs, she said.

“What the president is doing is once again patently false, it’s morally wrong, and yes, it is racist,” said the 56-year-old wife of Barack Obama, the nation’s first black president.

Obama said that, as black woman, having “done everything in my power to live a life of dignity and service and honesty, the knowledge that any of my fellow Americans is more afraid of me than the chaos that we are living through right now, well that hurts,” she said. “It is a heaviness that sits on our hearts.”

Please RETWEET the *heck* out of this stunning "closing argument" by Michelle Obama. https://t.co/vtexiiX7UL

— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) October 6, 2020

14:00 ET – Biden previews Gettysburg speech

Biden has previewed a speech he is set to give in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, saying it will be about “the soul of America and racial equality and what significant trouble we’re in right now”.

“I’m making a speech that I’ve worked and worked and worked on about how the soul of America and racial equality and what significant trouble we’re in right now,” Biden told reporters.

“Some people may think it’s a little dramatic, but I think it’s appropriate. We have to unite this nation and I’ve decided to do it from Gettysburg. I’ve worked on this speech very, very, very hard. You’ll see it and know it. I mean every word of it,” he said.

13:30 ET – US military chiefs self-quarantine after coronavirus hits Coast Guard

The top US military leaders are self-quarantining after the Coast Guard’s Number 2 tested positive for the coronavirus, Pentagon officials said on Tuesday.

The Coast Guard disclosed earlier on Tuesday that Admiral Charles Ray, the vice commandant of the Coast Guard, had tested positive on Monday for the virus. Ray had attended a meeting last week with service chiefs, including Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“Out of an abundance of caution, all potential close contacts from these meetings are self-quarantining and have been tested this morning,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

“No Pentagon contacts have exhibited symptoms and we have no additional positive tests to report at this time.”

US military bosses are quartanting after vice commandant of the Coast Guard tested positive for coronavirus [Charles Dharapak]

13:15 ET – Twitter raises red flag over Trump flu tweet

Twitter Inc has responded by putting a warning label on the tweet by Trump comparing the coronavirus to the flu.

Twitter said the post included potentially misleading information.

Earlier in the day, Facebook Inc removed a similar post by Trump, according to CNN.

The tweet came hours after Trump was discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, as the president has sought to down play the risk of the virus.

13:00 ET -Trump doing “extremely well,” no COVID-19 symptoms: White House physician says

Trump is doing “extremely well” and reporting no symptoms of COVID-19, a day after returning to the White House after being hospitalized with the highly contagious disease, his doctor said in a statement on Tuesday.

Sean Conley, a Navy commander, said a team of physicians met with the president on Tuesday morning.

“He had a restful first night at home, and today he reports no symptoms. Vital signs and physical exam remain stable, with an ambulatory oxygen saturation level of 95-97 percent,” he said in a statement released by the White House. “Overall he continues to do extremely well.”

Dr Sean Conley, physician to President Donald Trump, has said the president is reporting no symptoms of COVID-19 [File: Jacquelyn Martin/The Associated Press]

12:45 ET – Florida governor extends voter registration after site crash

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis extended the state’s voter registration deadline Tuesday after unexpected and unexplained heavy traffic crashed the state’s online system and potentially prevented thousands of enrolling to cast ballots in next month’s presidential election.

DeSantis will extend the deadline that expired Monday until 7 PM ET Tuesday.

Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee, who oversees the voting system, said in a statement Tuesday that the state “will work with our state and federal law-enforcement partners to ensure this was not a deliberate act against the voting process”.

12:30 ET – US Postal Service warns ruling could undermine mail before election

The US Postal Service asked a federal judge to clarify a ruling on election mail, warning the decision could hinder the agency’s ability to make prompt mail deliveries before the presidential election.

Four US judges have issued preliminary injunctions barring the Postal Service from making service reductions ahead of the November presidential election.

The Postal Service asked Judge Emmet Sullivan to clarify his September 27 ruling warning it “would undermine the Postal Service’s ability to timely deliver the mail before the upcoming election”.

12:00 ET – White House officials block strict FDA vaccine guidelines: Report

White House officials are blocking strict new federal guidelines for the emergency release of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the New York Times.

The officials are objecting ot provision in guidelines that all-but assure that no vaccine would authorised before the election on November 3, people familiar with the approval process told the Newspaper.

Trump has repeatedly accused “deep state” actors in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of trying to slow the approval of a vaccine until after the election. He has repeatedly said, despite the most ambitious estimates from experts, that a vaccine could be ready by the election, prompting fears the administration would try to force through a vaccine before it has met safety standards.

The FDA is seeking other ways to make sure vaccines meet the guidelines, according the newspaper, including sharing the guidelines with an outside advisory committee of experts that is supposed to meet publicly before any vaccine is authorised.

Trump has said a coronavirus vaccine could be available by November 3, despite experts saying that is an unrealistic timeline [AFP]

11:30 ET – White House says will take more precautions to protect staff around Trump

The White House will take more precautions to protect staff around President Donald Trump following his positive test for COVID-19 last week, White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah told Fox News.

“We always take precautions at events we host, and I certainly think in light of the President’s positive test and the First Lady, we’re going to take even more for the time being to protect essential staff around him,” Farah said.

Asked by reporters if Trump would speak on Tuesday, Farah said they would hear from him in some form, though she declined to answer when asked if he planned a televised address.

10:45 ET – President Trump says he is ‘looking forward’ to the debate

While continuing treatment for coronavirus on his first full day back at the White House, US President Donald Trump said in a tweet that he was feeling great, and looking forward to the next presidential debate scheduled for October 15.

His opponent Joe Biden has said he would attend the debate if medical experts said it was safe.

It is unclear exactly when and where the president contracted the virus and how long he might remain contagious.

  I am looking forward to the debate on the evening of Thursday, October 15th in Miami. It will be great!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020

10:00 ET – Biden makes ad push into rural Ohio as early voting begins

Democrat Joe Biden is expanding his ad buys into every corner of Ohio as early voting begins Tuesday, signalling his campaign’s growing hopes that a state Trump won easily four years ago may be within his grasp.

The new spots will air on radio in rural, traditionally Republican areas of the state, the campaign told The Associated Press, as well as on TV in Dayton.

Toni Webb, Biden’s Ohio state director, said the presidential candidate will use the ads to speak “directly with hardworking families across the Buckeye State about his positive vision for unifying the country” – including his plans to “strengthen healthcare, build our economy back better, and deliver for working families”.

Trump carried Ohio over Democrat Hillary Clinton by a comfortable eight percentage points in 2016. He now finds himself locked in a competitive battle for the Midwestern battleground and its 18 electoral votes, with polls showing the candidates tied with 97 percent of voters saying their minds were made up.

The Biden campaign is expanding ad buys into Ohio [Screengrab/Joe Biden Campaign]

09:30 ET – Trump tweets US is ‘learning to live’ with coronavirus

Defying critics, Trump has tweeted that US citizens are learning to live with COVID-19, a day after he returned to the White House for further intensive treatment after being hospitalised with the coronavirus.

Trump, who returned late on Monday after nearly four days at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington, was due to receive a fifth transfusion of the antiviral drug remdesivir while being treated with the steroid dexamethasone, normally used only in the most severe cases.

Trump has repeatedly played down the disease, which has killed more than one million people worldwide. The US has the world’s highest death toll from the pandemic, with more than 209,000 fatalities. Trump has also not addressed the fact that his access to healthcare and leading therapeutics is far more privileged than that of most citizens.

“Many people every year, sometimes over 100,000, and despite the Vaccine, die from the Flu. Are we going to close down our Country? No, we have learned to live with it, just like we are learning to live with Covid, in most populations far less lethal!!!” Trump tweeted on Tuesday.

Flu season is coming up! Many people every year, sometimes over 100,000, and despite the Vaccine, die from the Flu. Are we going to close down our Country? No, we have learned to live with it, just like we are learning to live with Covid, in most populations far less lethal!!!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020

09:00 ET – Two polls in two days show Biden increasing national lead

Two polls in two days show Biden increasing his national lead over Trump.

A nationwide CNN poll conducted by SSRS has Biden leading by 16 points nationally over Trump, garnering 57 percent support from likely voters, compared with Trump’s 41 percent support.

Meanwhile, an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll has Biden up 14 points nationally. Both polls were conducted after the debate last week but before Trump was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Polling averages also show Biden ahead of Trump in six battleground states: Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Arizona. In Pennslyvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, Biden leads by more than five points, according to RealClearPolitics.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden, right, speak with invited guests aboard an Amtrak train on a tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania [Andrew Harnik/The Associated Press]

_______________________________________________________________

Read all the updates from Monday, (October 5) here.

#world Read full article: https://expatimes.com/?p=11485&feed_id=8855

[ljones41]

"LOST" RETROSPECT: (3.13) "The Man From Tallahassee"

"LOST" RETROSPECT: (3.13) "THE MAN FROM TALLAHASSEE" Aside from one episode, I have no real love for the first half "LOST" Season Three. Along with the second half of Season Two and the first half of Season Six, it is one of my least favorite periods during the series' six-year run. However . . . I did say "first half". Season Three began to redeem itself with the airing of the John Locke-centric episode called (3.13) "The Man From Tallahassee".

The episode picked up immediately where the previous one, (3.12) "Par Avion" left off. Oceanic 815 survivors John Locke, Kate Austen and Sayid Jarrah had decided to leave the survivors' camp to find the Others' main camp and rescue their fellow castaway, Dr. Jack Shephard. The trio eventually found Jack at the Others' camp at the end of "Par Avion'and were astounded to discover him playing a friendly game of touch football with his captors. While Locke and Sayid remained in a state of shock, Kate went into warrior mode and decided to shoot as many Others as possible in an attempt to free Jack. Due to the "brainwashing room" that she and James "Sawyer" Ford had discovered during their escape from the Others in (3.07) "Not in Portland", Kate believed that Jack had been brainwashed. Both Locke and Sayid managed to stop Kate before she could commence upon her bloody rescue plan. Locke advised that they wait until dark to rescue Jack. While Kate and Sayid attempted to rescue Jack, Locke decided to embark upon his own agenda regarding the Others' submarine he had learned about from Other Mikhail Bakunin in (3.11) "Enter 77". Since this episode is Locke-centric, the flashbacks featured turning points in Locke's relationships with girlfriend Helen Norwood and his con artist father, Anthony Cooper. The flashbacks revealed how Locke tried to put his obsession over his father behind him and focus upon solidifying his relationship with Helen. But his goals failed when a young (Patrick J. Adams of "SUITS") named Peter Talbot sought Locke's help in breaking up his mother's upcoming wedding to Cooper. However, Locke's re-entry into his father's life resulted in tragedy for young Peter and himself. "The Man From Tallahassee" not only marked the beginning of better writing for Season Three, I believe it proved to be one of the season's best episodes. Screenwriters Drew Goddard and Jeff Pinkner did an excellent job of utilizing a certain aspect of John Locke's personality that drove forward the narratives for both the island's present story line and Locke's back story. Audiences have seen how Locke's obsession with Anthony Cooper in episodes like (1.19) "Deux Ex Machina", (2.03) "Orientation" and (2.17) "Lockdown" led to a good deal of misery in his life, previous to the Oceanic 815 crash. Ever since the plane crash, Locke had directed this obsessive trait toward the island and its "secrets". His obsession reached a higher level in "The Man From Tallahassee". The past John Locke finally seemed intent upon staying out of his father's life. But one visit from Cooper's future son-in-law left Locke determined to re-enter Cooper's life and save Peter's mother from falling into the con man's clutches. Locke's obsession with the island and his discovery of the Others' submarine in "Enter 77" led him to abandon the plan to rescue Jack and change his agenda. His actions not only led to a cat-and-mouse game with the Others' leader, Ben Linus, but also soured his relationship with Jack and Sayid even further. This episode not only continued the series' exploration of Locke's obsessive nature, but also a trait of his that I have always found disturbing - namely his penchant for enforcing his will upon others. Audiences have seen this trait in past episodes such as (1.13) "Hearts and Minds" and (2.16) "The Whole Truth". When I first saw "The Man From Tallahassee", I wondered why Locke had bothered to destroy the Others' submarine with the C-4 explosives he had pinched from Mikhail. The episode never fully explained Locke's actions in so many words. But I eventually began to suspect that Locke did not want anyone leaving the island - whether that person be an Oceanic 815 survivor or a member of the Others. Again, this is merely speculation on my part. However, a part of me also suspect that Locke believes the island is the best solution for everyone's troubles. After all, it had healed his legs and led him to a renewed interest in life after so many failures. But the thing is . . . Locke's faith in the island was based upon what it did to his legs. He never really had an idea what the island was about, why the Others were determined to protect it from outsiders or whether it was the right solution for every soul that inhabited it. Locke's destruction of the Others' submarine ruined Jack Shephard's chances of leaving the island. Some time between(2.09) "Stranger in a Strange Land" and this episode, Jack made a deal with Ben Linus to leave the island on the subm. Would Ben have kept his deal and allow Jack to leave? Many fans would say "no". Personally, I have no idea. Benjamin Linus could be a controlling liar in order to serve his goals. Yet . . . he kept his promise to Oceanic 815 survivor Michael Dawson and allowed the latter and son Walt Lloyd to leave the island in the Season Two finale, (2.24) "Live Together, Die Alone - Part II". So . . . who knows? The submarine's destruction achieved something else. I suspect that Locke's action led Ben and the island's resident immortal, Richard Alpert, to introduce the castaway to the island's latest newcomer, Anthony Cooper. When I first saw this episode, I had assumed that Cooper was simply a tool Ben was using to push Locke's emotional buttons. Now, I know better. Cooper's presence was basically a test for Ben and Richard to see whether Locke was worthy of becoming an Other. Speaking of Anthony Cooper, "The Man From Tallahassee" also revealed how Locke ended in a wheelchair before his fateful flight aboard Oceanic 815. I have to be honest. I never saw it coming when I first saw this episode. For two seasons, viewers like myself wondered how John Locke became physically handicapped. Although I had had been aware of Cooper since "Deux Ex Machine", I never thought he would end up being responsible for Locke ending up in a wheelchair. During my first viewing of this episode, I had practically gasped aloud when I saw the con artist shove his son out of that window.

The operation to rescue Jack not only ended in failure - at least from Kate and Sayid's point-of-views - but also sidetracked the latter's character. Sayid really had nothing to do in this episode but suffer as a prisoner of the Others. On the other hand, this episode also featured Jack and Kate's reunion after the latter's escape from Hydra Island with Sawyer in (3.06) "I Do" and "Not in Portland". And man . . . did it turn out to be memorable. Many fans of "LOST" have never viewed the Jack/Kate relationship as particularly sexy or passionate. Although I had originally shared their feelings, I also believed that Jack and Kate's relationship was more than simply about sex and passion. However . . . sex and passion certainly had a strong impact upon their reunion in "The Man From Tallahassee". And the ironic thing is that the meeting of lips or the exchange of bodily fluids were not involved. . . . only heated words and hand play. The "Man From Tallahassee" featured some very fine acting from the cast. Only two cast members did not benefit from this episode. As I had earlier pointed out, Naveen Andrews, who portrayed Sayid Jarrah, spent most of the episode either looking shocked, annoyed and frustrated. Elizabeth Mitchell's Dr. Juliet Burke did very little in this episode, as well. The episode featured a sly performance from M.C. Gainey as Others member Tom Friendly. It also featured an earnest performance from guest star Patrick J. Adams. Kevin Tighe continued his excellent portrayal of Locke's treacherous father, Anthony Cooper. And Michael Emerson was also excellent as the Others' leader, Ben Linus. Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly knocked it out of the ballpark, while portraying the passionate regard both Jack Shephard and Kate Austen held for each other. But this episode belonged to Terry O'Quinn, who gave a brilliant performance as the always complex John Locke. O'Quinn took Locke's characterization all over the place - from emotionally needy to ruthlessly determined - and still managed to keep his performance in control. It is not surprising that O'Quinn won his Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode. Ironically, I have never considered "The Man From Tallahassee" as one of my top ten favorite "LOST" episodes. Locke's tale in this episode has always struck me as slightly depressing. But I cannot help but regard it as one of the best episodes from Season Three . . . and one of the best that the series had to offer.

#lost #lost tv #3x13 the man from tallahassee #john locke #Terry O'Quinn #Ben Linus #michael emerson #jack shephard #matthew fox #kate austen #Evangeline Lilly #patrick j. adams #M.C. Gainey #Naveen Andrews #elizabeth mitchell #kevin tighe #nestor carbonell

[riikkamhaynes-blog]

Reading wrap up (Feb, 2019)

I was kinda in a reading slump this month, but it wasn’t too bad. I finished 13 books this month. 

#01 Anatomy of spirit by Caroline Myss

Anatomy of the Spirit is the boldest presentation to date of energy medicine by one of its premier practitioners, internationally acclaimed medical intuitive Caroline Myss, one of the "hottest new voices in the alternative health/spirituality scene" (Publishers Weekly). Based on fifteen years of research into energy medicine, Dr. Myss's work shows how every illness corresponds to a pattern of emotional and psychological stresses, beliefs, and attitudes that have influenced corresponding areas of the human body.

I ended up giving it a two-star rating. It just wasn’t for me. 

#02 You by Caroline Kepness

When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.

I was pleasantly surprised by the book. I thought the writing style would be unpleasant to read, but in the end, I ended up liking it. It does baffle me that some people see this as a romance story, whereas it’s actually a horror. The book was not amazing by any means. I am not planning on continuing the series. I would recommend this as an after-reading-slump-read since the writing was smooth and the story structure was fluid. 3/5

#03 Reindeer moon by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

A fictional account of the life of a Siberian tribe 20,000 years ago, from the author of "Harmless People" and "Warrior Herdsmen". It is both the story of a daily struggle for survival against starvation, cold and violence and an evocation of spiritual journeys and primitive magic. ~Goodreads

I found the Finnish version of this book while digging through my grandmother's stuff. The premise was unlike anything I had ever seen. I have for some time been curious about prehistoric life. 

The book's depiction of life after death left me feeling hopeful. The story has two timelines, one of the main character growing up and one of her as a spirit. I would recommend this for anyone who loves animals and is interested in prehistory.

#04 Chant and be happy by Swami A. C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada

I haven’t the slightest clue why I decided to read this. The book is about the “Hare Krishna” mantra. I am not much of a believer, and the book ended up being a big meh for me. I would recommend it if you are interested in Buddism. 2/5

#05 Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan

There's no ancient evil to defeat or orphan destined for greatness, just unlikely heroes and classic adventure. Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, are two enterprising rogues who end up running for their lives when they're framed for the murder of the king. Trapped in a conspiracy that goes beyond the overthrow of a tiny kingdom, their only hope is unravelling an ancient mystery before it's too late.

It ended up reading a bit too much as a young adult. I think I would have prefered the story more if it was written as an adult novel. The reading experience was weird. I constantly felt like there was just something off with the story. After finishing it, I realised what it was. This book is what shonen anime would be like in a novel format. It was especially apparent in the way the scenes switched and moved on during the third acts. 

I don’t know how to explain it. I feel like everyone who has watched Naruto would know what I’m talking about. 

The story structure and plot twists weren’t the most surprising, but I didn’t really mind. It was an incredibly easy read. I will continue the series even though technically speaking I think it’s trash. 3/5

#06 The unwanted: A novel by Christiaan Barnard

I don’t really know what to say about the book. It was quite average. The characters were forgettable and the plot wasn’t anything special. I am glad I read it, but it wasn’t anything special. I would recommend it for someone looking to learn about racism in 20th century America. 3/5

#07 War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges toward the enemy, witnessing the horror of the battles in France. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey's courage touches the soldiers around him and he is able to find warmth and hope. But his heart aches for Albert, the farmer's son he left behind. Will he ever see his true master again?

This book was a childhood favourite of mine, and I read it to see if it would hold up. I still enjoyed it, but it was apparent that it was meant for a younger audience. It took me roughly two hours to finish it. I would recommend it as an easy middle grade read. 4/5

#08 Before they are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

How do you defend a city surrounded by enemies and riddled with traitors, when your allies can by no means be trusted, and your predecessor vanished without a trace? It’s enough to make a torturer want to run – if he could even walk without a stick – and Inquisitor Glokta needs to find answers before the Gurkish army comes knocking at the gates.

Northmen have spilled over the border of Angland and are spreading fire and death across the frozen country. Crown Prince Ladisla is poised to drive them back and win undying glory. There is only one problem: he commands the worst-armed, worst-trained, worst-led army in the world.

And Bayaz, the First of the Magi, is leading a party of bold adventurers on a mission through the ruins of the past. The most hated woman in the South, most feared man in the North and most selfish boy in the Union make a strange alliance, if only they didn't hate each other so much, potentially deadly ones.

Ancient secrets will be uncovered. Bloody battles will be won and lost. Bitter enemies will be forgiven – but not before they are hanged.

I was quite afraid to reread it since second books in trilogies tend to feel like filler. I was pleasantly surprised. I ended up liking the second book more than the first one. The characters, the dialogue, the writing, I adore everything about Joe Abercrombie’s books. I said I was going to do a review about the trilogy in my previous wrap up. I don’t know if I’ll actually do it since I still can’t really say for sure why I love this trilogy this much. 

I would recommend the First Law trilogy for anyone who feels like GRRMs SOIAF is too big of a commitment and want to read something similar and easier. 5/5

#09 Stones to Abbigale by Onision the onion boi

I posted my Goodreads review of this book. Check it out. 1/5, would recommend for laughs.

#10 Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

The conclusion to the 'First Law' trilogy is here. Battles will be fought, kings will be made, love will be won and lost and cities will be destroyed. Magic is going to be unleashed, heroes will fall and the First Law will be broken once again. The end may be coming.

I loved it with all my heart. I did go into a small reading slump while reading it since it was so long. 5/5

#11 No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

Portraying himself as a failure, the protagonist of Osamu Dazai's No Longer Human narrates a seemingly normal life even while he feels himself incapable of understanding human beings. Oba Yozo's attempts to reconcile himself to the world around him begin in early childhood, continue through high school, where he becomes a "clown" to mask his alienation, and eventually lead to a failed suicide attempt as an adult. Without sentimentality, he records the casual cruelties of life and its fleeting moments of human connection and tenderness.

Semi-autobiographical, No Longer Human is the final completed work of one of Japan's most important writers, Osamu Dazai (1909-1948). The novel has come to "echo the sentiments of youth" (Hiroshi Ando, The Mainichi Daily News) from post-war Japan to the postmodern society of technology. Still one of the ten bestselling books in Japan, No Longer Human is a powerful exploration of an individual's alienation from society.

I don’t want to say too much about this book since it is basically a fictitious autobiography of the author. The book left me feeling blue. I didn’t rate it because of the autobiographical nature of the book. 

#12 Room by Emma Donoghue

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the world.

It's where he was born. It's where he and his Ma eat and sleep and play and learn. There are endless wonders that let loose Jack's imagination--the snake under Bed that he constructs out of eggshells, the imaginary world projected through the TV, the cosiness of Wardrobe below Ma's clothes, where she tucks him in safely at night in case Old Nick comes.

The room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it's the prison where she has been held since she was nineteen--for seven years. Through her fierce love for her son, she has created a life for him in that eleven-by-eleven-foot space. But Jack's curiosity is building alongside her own desperation--and she knows that Room cannot contain either much longer.

Told in the poignant and funny voice of Jack, Room is a story of unconquerable love in harrowing circumstances, and of the diamond-hard bond between a mother and her child. It is a shocking, exhilarating, and riveting novel--but always deeply human and always moving.

Although the story is quite dark, the fact that it was written from a child's point of view made it strangely uplifting. The first half of the book was slow, but I think it’s worth struggling through it. 4/5

#13 Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer by Stephen G. Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth

Drawn from more than 150 hours of exclusive tape-recorded interviews with Bundy, this collection provides shocking insights into the killer's 11th-hour confessions before his death in a Florida electric chair. A unique, horrifying self-portrait of one of the most savage sex killers in history.

A definite must-read for anyone interested in serial killers and true crime. 5/5

#tcc family #tcc blog #tcc love #tc community #tcc #true crime #true crime community #review #reviews #book review #long reads #reader #beta reader #readerblr #reading #books #bookworm #Book Recommendations #bookblr #booklover #books and libraries #book #read it #writers on tumblr #writing #writer #writers #My writing #new writeblr #writer asks

[movietvtechgeeks]

Latest story from https://movietvtechgeeks.com/la-la-land-stranger-things-atlanta-sweep-2017-pga-awards/

'La La Land,' 'Stranger Things' and 'Atlanta' sweep 2017 PGA Awards

“La La Land” is easily sweeping up all the awards this year, but Netflix’s “Stranger Things” jumped in on the action along with “Atlanta” for the 28th annual Producers Guild Awards (PGA).

The musical comedy-drama went up against “Arrival,” “Deadpool,” “Fences,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” “Hell or High Water,” “Hidden Figures,”  “Lion,” “Manchester by the Sea,” and “Moonlight,” but was able to come out the winner which was presented by Dustin Hoffman.

The guild recognized the candy-colored musical with its Darryl F. Zanuck Award for theatrical motion picture production Saturday, a prize that often precedes the best picture Academy Award. (Last year was an exception, when “The Big Short” won the guild award, while “Spotlight” got the Oscar.) The nominees for the guild’s top film prize echo Oscars’ best picture nominees this year, with the exception of “Deadpool,” which made the cut with producers but not the film academy.

But the guild’s celebration at the Beverly Hilton Hotel of the year’s outstanding film and television productions had a decidedly political tone, as President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and visitors from several Muslim countries triggered protests in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Seattle and other cities.

“Our America is big, it is free, and it is open to dreamers of all races, all countries, all religions,” singer John Legend said as he introduced “La La Land” at Saturday’s untelevised ceremony. “Our vision of America is directly antithetical to that of President Trump. I want to specifically, tonight, reject his vision and affirm America has to be better than that.”

Ezra Edelman, producer and director of “O.J.: Made in America,” which claimed the guild’s documentary prize, echoed Legend’s sentiments.

“Please keep telling stories that are about our humanity,” he said.

Other winners Saturday included “Zootopia” for animated feature, “Atlanta” for episodic television comedy and “Stranger Things” for episodic TV drama.

Presenters included Justin Timberlake, Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, Nicole Kidman, Jeff Bridges, Kerry Washington, Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese. Veteran producers James L. Brooks, Tom Rothman and Irwin Winkler received special awards.

Dustin Hoffman presented the night’s top prize. As producer Marc Platt accepted for “La La Land,” he said, “The power of cinema cannot be denied and has no borders … We must believe love can change our lives, much as it can change the world.”

Full List of 2017 Producers Guild Awards Winners:

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: • La La Land (WINNER) Producers: Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, Marc Platt • Arrival Producers: Dan Levine, Shawn Levy, Aaron Ryder, David Linde • Deadpool Producers: Simon Kinberg, Ryan Reynolds, Lauren Shuler Donner • Fences Producers: Scott Rudin, Denzel Washington, Todd Black • Hacksaw Ridge Producers: Bill Mechanic, David Permut • Hell or High Water Producers: Carla Hacken, Julie Yorn • Hidden Figures Producers: Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin & Jenno Topping, Pharrell Williams, Theodore Melfi • Lion Producers: Emile Sherman & Iain Canning, Angie Fielder • Manchester By the Sea Producers: Matt Damon, Kimberly Steward, Chris Moore, Lauren Beck, Kevin Walsh • Moonlight Producers: Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner & Jeremy Kleiner

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures: • Zootopia (WINNER) Producer: Clark Spencer • Finding Dory Producer: Lindsey Collins • Kubo and the Two Strings Producers: Arianne Sutner, Travis Knight • Moana Producer: Osnat Shurer • The Secret Life of Pets Producers: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures: • O.J.: Made in America (WINNER) Producers: Ezra Edelman, Caroline Waterlow • Dancer Producer: Gabrielle Tana • The Eagle Huntress Producers: Stacey Reiss, Otto Bell • Life, Animated Producers: Julie Goldman, Roger Ross Williams • Tower Producers: Keith Maitland, Susan Thomson, Megan Gilbride

The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: • The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (Season 1) (WINNER) Producers: Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, D.V. DeVincentis, Anthony Hemingway, Alexis Martin Woodall, John Travolta, Chip Vucelich • Black Mirror (Season 3) Producers: Annabel Jones, Charlie Brooker • The Night Manager (Season 1) Producers: Simon Cornwell, Stephen Garrett, Stephen Cornwell, Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston, Susanne Bier, David Farr, John le Carré, William D. Johnson, Alexei Boltho, Rob Bullock • The Night Of Producers: Steven Zaillian, Richard Price, Jane Tranter, Garrett Basch, Scott Ferguson • Sherlock: The Abominable Bride Producers: Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat, Sue Vertue, Beryl Vertue

The Award for Outstanding Sports Program: • VICE World of Sports (Season 1) (WINNER — TIE)  • Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (Season 22) (WINNER — TIE) • E:60 (2016) • The Fight Game with Jim Lampley: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali • Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Los Angeles Rams (Season 11)

The Award for Outstanding Digital Series: • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (Season 7, Season 8) (WINNER) • 30 for 30 Shorts (Season 5) • Epic Rap Battles of History (Season 5) • Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: ACADEMY (Season 1) • National Endowment for the Arts: United States of Arts

The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: • Stranger Things (Season 1) (WINNER) Producers: Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Iain Paterson • Better Call Saul (Season 2) Producers: Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Melissa Bernstein, Mark Johnson, Thomas Schnauz, Gennifer Hutchison, Nina Jack, Robin Sweet, Diane Mercer, Bob Odenkirk • Game of Thrones (Season 6) Producers: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Bernadette Caulfield, Frank Doelger, Carolyn Strauss, Bryan Cogman, Lisa McAtackney, Chris Newman, Greg Spence • House of Cards (Season 4) Producers: Beau Willimon, Dana Brunetti, Michael Dobbs, Josh Donen, David Fincher, Eric Roth, Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, John Mankiewicz, Robert Zotnowski, Jay Carson, Frank Pugliese, Boris Malden, Hameed Shaukat • Westworld (Season 1) Producers: J.J. Abrams, Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy, Bryan Burk, Athena Wickham, Kathy Lingg, Richard J. Lewis, Roberto Patino, Katherine Lingenfelter, Cherylanne Martin

The Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: • Atlanta (Season 1) (WINNER) Producers: Donald Glover, Dianne McGunigle, Paul Simms, Hiro Murai, Alex Orr • black-ish (Season 2) Producers: Kenya Barris, Jonathan Groff, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, E. Brian Dobbins, Vijal Patel, Gail Lerner, Corey Nickerson, Courtney Lilly, Lindsey Shockley, Peter Saji, Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry, Hale Rothstein, Michael Petok, Yvette Lee Bowser • Modern Family (Season 7) Producers: Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd, Paul Corrigan, Abraham Higginbotham, Elaine Ko, Jeff Morton, Jeffrey Richman, Brad Walsh, Danny Zuker, Vali Chandrasekaran, Andy Gordon, Vanessa McCarthy, Jon Pollack, Chuck Tatham, Chris Smirnoff, Sally Young • Silicon Valley (Season 3) Producers: Mike Judge, Alec Berg, Jim Kleverweis, Clay Tarver, Dan O’Keefe, Michael Rotenberg, Tom Lassally, John Levenstein, Ron Weiner, Carrie Kemper, Adam Countee • Veep (Season 5) Producers: David Mandel, Frank Rich, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lew Morton, Morgan Sackett, Sean Gray, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, Jim Margolis, Georgia Pritchett, Will Smith, Chris Addison, Rachel Axler, David Hyman, Erik Kenward, Billy Kimball, Steve Koren

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television: • Making a Murderer (Season 1) (WINNER) Producers: Laura Ricciardi, Moira Demos • 30 for 30 (Season 7) Producers: Connor Schell, John Dahl, Libby Geist, Bill Simmons, Erin Leyden, Gentry Kirby, Andrew Billman, Marquis Daisy, Deirdre Fenton • 60 Minutes (Season 48, Season 49) Producers: Jeff Fager • Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown (Season 5-8) Producers: Anthony Bourdain, Christopher Collins, Lydia Tenaglia, Sandra Zweig • Hamilton’s America Producers: Alex Horwitz, Nicole Pusateri, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jeffrey Seller, Dave Sirulnick, Jon Kamen, Justin Wilkes

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Competition Television: • The Voice (Season 9-11) (WINNER) Producers: Audrey Morrissey, Jay Bienstock, Mark Burnett, John de Mol, Chad Hines, Lee Metzger, Kyra Thompson, Mike Yurchuk, Amanda Zucker, Carson Daly • The Amazing Race (Season 27, Season 28) Producers: Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman, Elise Doganieri, Mark Vertullo • American Ninja Warrior (Season 7, Season 8) Producers: Arthur Smith, Kent Weed, Anthony Storm, Brian Richardson, Kristen Stabile, David Markus, J.D. Pruess, D. Max Poris, Zayna Abi-Hashim, Royce Toni, John, Gunn, Matt Silverberg, Briana Vowels, Mason Funk, Jonathan Provost • Lip Sync Battle (Season 1, Season 2) Producers: Casey Patterson, Jay Peterson, John Krasinski, Stephen Merchant, Leah Gonzalez, Genna Gintzig, LL Cool J • Top Chef (Season 13) Producers: Daniel Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Doneen Arquines, Tom Colicchio, Casey Kriley, Padma Lakshmi, Tara Siener, Erica Ross, Patrick Schmedeman, Wade Sheeler, Ellie Carbajal

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Season 3) (WINNER) Producers: Tim Carvell, John Oliver, Liz Stanton • Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (Season 1) Producers: Samantha Bee, Jo Miller, Jason Jones, Tony Hernandez, Miles Kahn, Pat King, Alison Camillo, Kristen Everman • The Late Late Show with James Corden (Season 2) Producers: Ben Winston, Rob Crabbe, Mike Gibbons, Amy Ozols, Sheila Rogers, Michael Kaplan, Jeff Kopp, James Longman, Josie Cliff, James Corden • Real Time with Bill Maher (Season 14) Producers: Bill Maher, Scott Carter, Sheila Griffiths, Marc Gurvitz, Billy Martin, Dean E. Johnsen, Chris Kelly, Matt Wood • Saturday Night Live (Season 42) Producers: Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Erik Kenward, Lindsay Shookus, Erin Doyle, Ken Aymong

The Award for Outstanding Children’s Program: • Sesame Street (Season 46) (WINNER) • Girl Meets World (Season 2, Season 3) • Octonauts (Season 4) • School of Rock (Season 1) • SpongeBob SquarePants (Season 9)

Movie TV Tech Geeks News

#Featured #La La Land #Moonlight #Producers Guild Awards #Stranger Things

[rjdavies]

James Matthew Byers, the Darque Bard, On Writing

As  an author, I am curious about everything in this world. I read Stephen King’s “On Writing” book and thought it was phenomenal. I love hearing how people view the world and perspectives because it is the cheapest way to travel by seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.

I recently read “BEOWULF: The Midgard Epic” it is a 5-star review: http://rjdavies.tumblr.com/post/175990907116/book-review-beowulf-the-midgard-epic-by-james

This evening, I have a special guest, an interview with James Matthew Byers, the Darque Bard, “On Writing”

R. J. Davies (RJD): Thank you for joining me, James, where do you get your ideas from? Characters? Plots?

James Matthew Byers (JMB): My ideas are either original concepts, or existing folklore and myths. Sometimes I combine both. The characters are created similarly to how I do rhyming tales. Some original dashed with folk heroes. As for plots, I just go for it, or follow the myth formula.

RJD: Yes you do have a very unique style. We discussed this earlier this month, A Unique and Talented Outtake on an Old Tale with James Matthew Byers. Which, brings me to my next question.  What is your writing process? Schedule? Non-schedule? What is a typical writing session like for you?

JMB: When the Muse says write, I write. (we both laugh) Schedule? No. Non-schedule? I write poetry so often it’s like breathing. A typical writing session, I sit and write until the basin is dry.

RJD: Very poetic. Does writing energize or exhaust you?

JMB: Both, but it’s more of an addiction.

RJD: What is your writing Kryptonite?

JMB: Rhyme tales.

RJD: What period of your life do you find you write about most? (The child, teenager, young adult?)

JMB: I’m Peter Pan, dear. I’ll never grow up.  (we both laugh)

RJD: Great answer! In your opinion, what are the common traps for aspiring writers?

JMB: I feel people must develop their own unique voice. Don’t be anyone but you.

RJD: Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

JMB: Don’t be vain, but success to me is 25% talent and 75% confidence.

RJD: What kind of research do you do?

JMB: I read. Lots and lots of myths, folklore, novels, poetry …

RJD: What is the most difficult thing about writing about the opposite sex?

JMB: I believe in strong female driven characters. My only concern is that I highlight all of the power a woman possesses.

RJD: I think you craft them well. What advice do you have for writers?

JMB: Write. Read. Write some more. Step back. Listen to music. Edit. Read. Write again.

RJD: Sound advice. Have you ever been a mentor? Would you ever consider being a mentor?

JMB: Yes. I’m here to help everyone I can.

RJD: Thank you so much for joining us tonight.

JMB: Thank you for having me.

RJD: If you haven’t read it, stop what you are doing go get your copy of  “BEOWULF: The Midgard Epic” and then come back here. It’s worth the read!

Synopsis

Called from across the ocean, BEOWULF responds to KING HROTHGAR’s plea. Bringing a small band of warriors, he arrives in Daneland under Hrothgar’s instruction. There the mighty fighter learns of the terror GRENDEL, a heinous monster, inflicts night after night on the king’s people. Murders by the dozen craft panic and fear into the citizens of Daneland. Seemingly unstoppable, Grendel devours flesh and bone as he sees fit. Weaponry cannot penetrate the creature’s hide, but Beowulf does not need sword or shield to accomplish his duty. Choosing to lay all weaponry aside, the warrior prepares for battle. Feigning sleep, he waits, until the beast arrives. The two battle. Conquering the creature’s horror, the mighty one surpasses Hrothgar’s expectations. Ripping Grendel’s arm from its socket, the beast flees into the night howling. Beowulf and all of Daneland celebrate in HEROT, Hrothgar’s monstrous mead hall construction. Its creation lured the now defeated monster from the depths of the unknown. Victory, short lived, ends in yet more tragedy. Grendel’s MOTHER appears, unleashing the full fury of a woman scorned. Dismembering and beheading Hrothgar’s closest friend nearly brings Hrothgar’s ruin. However, as with Grendel, Beowulf answers the call to battle. Diving beneath murky waters, slaying serpents and sea beasts, he makes his way to the lair of the demon. Grendel’s mother awaits, prepared for the mighty warrior. Her venomous touch brings some difficulty in the undertaking, but as with Grendel, Beowulf prevails. Using a magical sword from the days of the giants, he courts her doom. Severing her head, the Geat fighter brings peace to Hrothgar, Herot, and the lands beyond. Spanning fifty years, peace ensues. Once a thief steals a cup from a sleeping DRAGON’s hoard, this alters the state of retirement Beowulf enjoyed. Silent no longer, the giant wyrm rises from its pile of hidden treasure unleashing fiery death upon the great hero’s countryside. Many lose their lives, but their cries do not fall on deaf ears. WIGLAF, a young pupil of the now aged warrior, aids him in what will become Beowulf’s final conflict. Many thanes flee during the altercation, for the dragon’s bite means sudden death. However, Wiglaf stands by until the bitter end. Beowulf triumphs over the old wyrm, but in the process is bitten by its venomous fangs. The ancient legend of a man passes into twilight as Wiglaf chastises his comrades for their cowardice. Beowulf lives on in song and story for generations to come.

Author

James Matthew Byers resides in Wellington, Alabama with his wife, kids, a dog named after an elf, and two tortoises. He was published in the 2006 edition of “Something Else,”  Jacksonville State University’s poetry book. He received both his Bachelor’s his Master’s degrees from the same university. His epic poem, “Beowulf: The Midgard Epic,” was released December of 2016 by indie press Stitched Smile Publications. He also has a short story, “The Secrets that We Keep,” featured in their release, Unleashed: Monsters Vs. Zombies, which came out in January, 2017. James has recently won three Prose Challenges at www.theprose.com in the months of November and December. His poems, “More Gravy,”  "The Raven Redux,“ and “Nativity Nuance” all took first place. His poem, “The Dinner Fly,” will be published in “Weirdbook Magazine” issue 35 in May, 2017. He has a story poem titled “Killer Jelly Beans from Outer Space” in Collected Easter Horror Shorts.    

Social Media for James Matthew Byers

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/MattByers40 Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Mattbyers40/ Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/JamesMatthewByers Wordpress: http://jamesmatthewbyers.wordpress.com Prose: https://theprose.com/JamesMByers

if you enjoyed this please check out my last “On Writing” Interview with S. A.Gibson author of “Asante’s Gullah Journey” or “Pratima’s Engines: A Short Story” and “Pratima's Engines: A Short Story”. As well as, a list of these interviews on my Inspiration page.

I highly recommend Byers Epic Tale!

R. J. Davies

A Riveting Jacked-In Dreamy Mind-Bender

#James Matthew Byers #James Matthew Byers Author #Poetry #R. J. Davies #Rhonda Joan Davies #R. J. Davies Author #Rhonda Davies #Science Fiction #Fantasy #Rhyming Iambic tetrameter #ISIRTG #On Writing Interview #Five Star Book Review #5 Star Book Review #book review #get to know the author #get to know the blogger #BEOWULF: The Midgard Epic #James Matthew Byers the Darque Bard

[italicwatches]

[Legacy content] My Hero Academia - Episode 08

You know, I’m not so much mad that there was no sandwich bread in the house this morning. I’m mad that the mini donuts I had to get at the gas station instead for breakfast were so fucking shitty. …Anyways, it’s My Hero Academia, episode 08! Here we GO!

-We see, that scene we’ve seen so many times before. That time in the forest, between Katsuki and Izuku…And then…The Detroit SMASH, the one where Izuku tanked his opponent’s attack, to throw his teammate an opportunity to claim the victory. And Katsuki seeing, up close, what Izuku’s power, what taking that fire, did to his body. And then, seeing those eyes…That damned determination in the face of everything…

-As Izuku’s body shuts down…Katsuki’s brain basically cracks like a fuckin’ egg.

-Opening!

-And the hero team is declared victorious…As Izuku passes out, and Ochaco is fighting to keep lunch inside of her. (Also to Tenya’s credit, he breaks character immediately to help her out. You’re a good man, Tenya.) And everyone in the monitoring room is just staring, really seeing what this kind of thing means. The kind of stakes of even something like this…Izuku has to be carried out of there by robots. While Katsuki…Katsuki is really not taking things well. But it turns out I gave him far, far too much credit.

-See, I thought he was freaking out at the extent of Izuku’s injuries. I thought he was seeing the kind of injury that came out of his effort to be the big scary bully, and had his eyes opened to how he can’t fuck around like that anymore. A crisis of conscience as his heart grew three sizes that day. Hahaha nooooooo. This fucko just is freaking out because little Deku won through his head. And then as he’s in total freakout mode…That’s when All Might tries to calm him down, telling him to come back and see the results. Whether you win or lose, seeing what you can do to improve is an important part of life.

-Episode 08! Bakugo’s Start Line.

-And it’s in the monitoring room…Where All Might declares Tenya the MVP of the match! Who can tell him why he made this decision, hmm?

-It’s…Skimpy-outfit-girl, who figures it out. Tenya adjusted his plans actively and on the fly based on the actual goal he was given(that is, “protect the bomb”), doing his best to achieve his actual goal. He also took into context his opponents’ abilities, doing his best within time and circumstances to tilt the playing field in his favor by removing the miscellaneous debris that Ochaco could have used with her powers.

-Contrast Katsuki, who actively pursued Izuku over a personal grudge, using unwise and massively destructive techniques for the context…And then Izuku, while he did better, still ended up having to use an incredibly rash and unwise plan that left him completely out of commission. And then Ochaco let her guard down in the thick of things, and also made use of strategies that, quite frankly, only worked because it was an exercise. Her wild strategy to get to the bomb only worked because her goal was only to touch the bomb. Had she needed to, say, solve a puzzle to defuse it, she’d have been screwed.

-Tenya’s only mistake, in sharp contrast, was playing within the context of the training exercise’s fiction, as opposed to operating around the strictest, most game-like interpretation of the rules. …God DAMN, she caught everything. Meet Yaoyorozu Momo, one of four students who got in on recommendations alone…

-And now it’s time for the next groups to go at it! Keep in mind the specifics from this first exercise, whether you are in the field or monitoring from here. And so it’s Team B up on the hero side, and Team I on the villain side…Team I, which includes…

-Ah.

-An invisible girl.

-Who cannot make her clothes invisible.

-Well then.

-And it’s up! Bat-guy Shoji Mezo, with his arm wing things, starts by gathering extra data…And pins them both on the fourth floor. So his comrade, an ice man, steps up and starts to just freeze the building out…Where he’s able to lock down both villains, then just walk on in! It’s a bit of an overkill technique…But it also works. Especially because he undoes it as fast as it happened, melting all the ice and turning the place into a sauna. He’s Todoroki Shoto, one of the other four to get in on recommendation.

-So that was one quick match, as it’s soon review time…And Katsuki is losing his cool bit by bit.

-Then it’s the third match, where we see some of the odd tricks of Team J’s duo…When our bird man and frog girl of Team H go right in…And otherwise, it’s general quick flashes of power. These range from some of the classics like super strength or electricity, to odd things like a girl who can plug into the surface of the building and pull sounds…

-And when it’s all done, the tests are done, with only Izuku injured out of the lot. Which All Might is quite happy about, as now he has to go check up on the student and pass the results on to him. He shall see you all soon, children! And then he’s off in a flash…Already trying to figure out how he can help Katsuki from going over the edge…

-And then he’s got to race into the staff elevator, where he locks himself in just in time for his powers to fail. Fuuuuck…

-Commercial break!

-And we’re back! Recovery Girl is tearing into No Might for how this kid has been in here like three times in the first week…His body literally cannot take her healing powers this much. She had to just rapidly get him through the worst of it, and now he has to heal the rest by staying here overnight on an IV. Also, she knows the nature of One For All, as well as No Might and Izuku’s secrets. And thinks they’re both being utterly ridiculous. Because where she stands, of course, she doesn’t do the whole “acting like a symbol” thing. She tries to fix problems. That’s what she’s done ever since she was a plucky young thing back in the day. And if you’re going to be a symbol…You got to know what it means to guide this kid, to make him grow into someone great…Because in the way he’s going, he’s going to be a mess of scar tissue and pain meds before he’s old enough to drink.

-And eventually, Izuku comes to…And realizes it’s well in the evening by this point, as Recovery Girl decides he’s well enough to at least get home. Go home, rest in your own bed, and be back here first thing in the morning, young man.

-So Izuku heads back to the classroom to get his things, already expecting a talking-to from any number of teachers…But instead he finds like half the class has been there waiting for him, and they think he did awesome! You’re fuckin’ cool as hell, man! We get names, but I’m not keeping most of them in my head. I’m not not.

-And then Ochaco gets back and she sees the poor injured Izuku and you poor thing! But there’s only one thing that Izuku wants to know. Where’s Katsuki? He…Just went home a few minutes ago, as soon as he heard they were letting you out…

-So Izuku bolts, catching up to Katsuki out in front of the main campus…And Izuku…Reveals the nature of his Quirk. It was given to him by someone else. A hero saw what he did that day, with the slime thing that nearly killed them both…And chose Izuku to inherit power. He spent the entire last school year training his ass off just to be able to handle it…And he still barely can even survive using it. Everything that happened to day, was because he didn’t want to rely on that power he got from someone else, this power that tore his arm apart…

-But Katsuki doesn’t believe a word. He thinks Izuku is just fucking with him, that he’s been messing with him…And all Katsuki can think, is his fury. His rage, at having gone from the big fish in a small pond, to being in the fucking ocean, where the whales swim in the deep…And with tears in his eyes, with his rage turned inward more than anything else, Katsuki swears he’ll rise to the top again. He’ll be number one when they leave. He’ll, fucking, beat, you!

-And that’s when All Might finds the two of them. And he takes up Katsuki, and reminds him of something. To be proud of yourself, is a fine thing. But you must not let it blind you, or let it cause you pain when you are still young and inexpe—

-Katsuki demands he let the fuck go, now. Because he’s not interested in a lecture. He’s going to be somebody. He’s going to push himself, he’s going to be stronger than even YOU, and he doesn’t need your damn lectures to make that happen! All Might, too shocked to properly respond, can only let the kid go…

-As everyone’s watching…And Ochaco is continuing to get fired up about fated battles between men. She really does wanna just see Izuku get all sweaty and shirtless, doesn’t she.

-Credits!

-Aftercredits! A few days later, they’d all find out, just how terrifying and cunning villains can be…As in a bar, back in the Now, a few villains are talking about the fact that All Might’s in town, now a teacher at UA…

…Fuckin’ hell, Katsuki. You’re a real piece of work, you know that? Anyways, we’ll see how his ego keeps getting him in trouble next time, in episode NINE of My Hero Academia! Wait for it!

#where I watch #recap #anime #my hero academia #boku no hero academia

[kansascityhappenings]

O.J. Simpson released from prison

LAS VEGAS — Officials at a remote Nevada prison where O.J. Simpson was set free early Sunday after nine years for armed robbery arranged the former football and Hollywood star’s dead-of-night departure to avoid public scrutiny.

It worked. Simpson signed release paperwork just before midnight and disappeared into the darkness minutes into the first day he was eligible for release. Through efforts by prison officials to keep the time and place secret, there were no journalists outside the prison gates to capture the moment.

Though publicity-prone in the past, Simpson was neither heard from nor seen publicly as the day wore on — apparently taking the advice of people in his inner circle that he avoid the spotlight.

Simpson was released at 12:08 a.m. PDT from Lovelock Correctional Center in northern Nevada, state prisons spokeswoman Brooke Keast told The Associated Press. She said she didn’t know the name of the driver who met him and took him to an undisclosed location.

Keast recorded and released a brief video on social media in which Simpson is told to “come on out” and he responds “OK” after walking through an open door and toward a parking lot bordered by desert scrub brush.

“I don’t have any information on where he’s going,” said Keast, who also took photographs showing Simpson — in blue jeans, denim jacket, eyeglasses, ball cap and white sneakers — signing documents about 10 minutes before midnight. He left the prison with four or five boxes of possessions in the car, she said.

Tom Scotto, a Simpson friend who lives in Naples, Florida, said by text message an hour after the release that he was with Simpson. But Scotto did not answer texts asking where they were going or whether members of Simpson’s family were with them.

Along with Simpson’s sister and oldest daughter, Scotto had attended the July parole hearing at the same prison where Simpson went after his conviction for a botched 2007 heist at a Las Vegas hotel room — prison time he avoided after his 1995 acquittal in the killings of his ex-wife and her friend.

The 70-year-old Simpson said at the hearing that he wanted to move back to Florida, where he lived previously. That return did not appear imminent.

Florida’s Corrections Department “has not received any transfer paperwork from Nevada” about Simpson that would be required for him to live in the state and be monitored there, spokeswoman Ashley Cook said Sunday.

Though Florida’s attorney general has urged corrections officials to object to Simpson’s return, the department previously has said it would be required to accept a transfer if it met certain criteria.

“We understand we may have to take him, if he was a model prisoner. And two of his children live here, so that’s his hook for coming to Florida,” state Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “If we have to accept him, I certainly want conditions placed on him.”

Simpson’s attorney, Malcolm LaVergne, and state Parole and Probation Capt. Shawn Arruti, who has been handling Simpson’s case, did not respond Sunday to messages seeking comment about Simpson’s whereabouts.

LaVergne said recently that Simpson looked forward to reuniting with his family, eating a steak and seafood and returning to Florida. Simpson also planned to get an iPhone and get reacquainted with technology in its infancy when he was sent to prison in 2008, his attorney said.

Both LaVergne and Scotto said in recent interviews with the AP that they thought Simpson should stay out of public view and focus on family and friends.

Keast said the overnight release from the prison about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Reno, Nevada, was conducted to avoid media attention. No media were near the front gate at the time when Simpson’s car left the prison by a back road and entered nearby Interstate 80, she said.

“We needed to do this to ensure public safety and to avoid any possible incident,” Keast said.

She acknowledged Nevada prison officials misled the media with word about the timing and location of Simpson’s release. They had advised it would be no earlier than Monday and possibly in Las Vegas, a 450-mile (720-kilometer) drive south of the community of Lovelock.

Simpson faces restrictions during five years of parole supervision, which could be reduced for good behavior. He cannot use illegal drugs and can drink alcohol only if the amount he drinks is below Nevada’s blood-alcohol limit for driving. He also is prohibited from associating with felons or anyone who Nevada officials prohibit him contacting. And he must tell the state where he’ll be living and when he changes his residence. The conditions still apply if Simpson ends up out of state.

Simpson lost his home near Miami to foreclosure in 2012. But two of his children, Justin and Sydney, also live in Florida.

It’s all a new chapter for the one-time pop culture phenomenon whose fame was once again on display when the major TV networks carried his parole hearing live.

He told officials that leading a group of five men into the hotel room confrontation was an error in judgment he would not repeat.

Simpson told the parole board that he led a “conflict-free life,” an assertion that angered many who believe he got away with killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles in 1994. He was acquitted the following year in what was dubbed the “trial of the century.”

In a statement released through a family spokesman, Goldman’s parents said they respected the Nevada Parole Board’s decision to release Simpson, but that it was “still difficult for us knowing he will be a free man again.”

Fred and Kim Goldman said they will continue to pursue payment of a $33.5 million judgment awarded in 1997 after Simpson was found civilly liable for the deaths. They also said they’ll keep advocating for domestic violence awareness, victim advocacy and judicial reform.

Simpson is still obligated to pay the judgment, which now amounts to about $65 million, according to David Cook, a Goldman family lawyer.

Simpson was once an electrifying running back dubbed “Juice” who won the Heisman Trophy as the nation’s best college football player for the University of Southern California in 1968 and became one of the NFL’s all-time greats with the Buffalo Bills.

Handsome and charming, he also provided commentary on “Monday Night Football,” became the face of Hertz rental-car commercials and built a movie career with roles in the “Naked Gun” comedies and other films.

Simpson fell from grace when he was arrested in the slayings, after a famous “slow-speed” Ford Bronco chase on California freeways. His subsequent trial became a live-TV sensation that fascinated viewers with testimony about a bloody glove that didn’t fit and unleashed furious debate over race, police and celebrity justice.

A jury swiftly acquitted him. But two years later, Simpson was found liable in civil court for the killings.

On Sept. 16, 2007, he led five men he barely knew into a cramped room at the Palace Station casino in Las Vegas in an effort to retrieve items that Simpson insisted were stolen after his acquittal in the 1994 slayings.

Two of the men with Simpson in Las Vegas carried handguns, although Simpson still insists he never knew anyone was armed. He says he only wanted to retrieve personal items, mementoes and family photos from two sports memorabilia dealers.

His conviction in October 2008 in Las Vegas came 13 years to the day after his acquittal in October 1995 in Los Angeles. His lawyers called his stiff 9-to-33-year sentence for armed robbery, kidnapping and other charges unfair. Many other people characterized it as payback for his acquittal in the Los Angeles murder case.

If the nation’s Simpson obsession waned for a while, it resurged last year with the Emmy-winning FX miniseries “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” and the Oscar-winning documentary “O.J.: Made in America.”

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports http://fox4kc.com/2017/10/01/o-j-simpson-released-from-prison/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2017/10/01/o-j-simpson-released-from-prison/

[firstumcschenectady]

“Who Do We Feed First?” based on Acts 2:42-47 and Mark 7:24-30

There are times when I find it invigorating to engage in a robust debate. One of the joys of my childhood was being able to score points in verbal battles with my brother, and if I don't pay attention, I can still engage in conversation as a competitive sport.

On the basis of enjoying the capacity to play and sometimes WIN, if the opportunity presented itself, I would choose not to debate Jesus. He doesn't lose much. The gospels consistently describe him winning, scoring match points before his opponents have even started to play.

Today's gospel is one of the exceptions. I cannot yet say it definitively, but I believe the only people who ever score points on Jesus in competitive debate are women. Consequently, very few who beat Jesus are women. This is one of the stories where the woman is said to have won. Jesus himself declares that she has bested him, and gives her a prize for having done so.

Even so, this is one of the most uncomfortable stories in the gospels. Jesus is … well... um... super mean to this woman. He calls her and her people dogs! That is, he disparages their very humanity, and says that it is of less value than the humanity of his people.

I could tell you that the Jesus seminar doesn't think this story actually happened. Luckily that's true, but unfortunately it still requires us to consider why the early Christian community included it. We could tell ourselves that Jesus expressed explicit prejudice simply to show us that it was bad, but that doesn't truly fit the story. The story says he healed the woman's child because she beat him in oral combat, NOT because he realized her people were of equal value.

So, how do we deal with this horribly insulting, even racist, Jesus? We still have a few options left to us. The story does say that Jesus left Galilee to be in the land of the Gentiles and entered a house in secret. It would be reasonable to conclude that he was getting away for a bit of a reprieve, perhaps because he was tired and needed to catch his breath. Tired, burned out people often don't operate as their best selves. And being accosted in this home where he was trying to hide and regain his energy might have brought out the worst in him. I don't think this entirely explains the story, but I do point it out anyway for two reasons: 1. Because when we're tired we really do make mistakes and I urge you to get rest as an act of faithfulness to God's call on your life to be your best self and 2. Because when we're tired we really do make mistakes and some gentleness with ourselves is called for when those mistakes happen. Human beings in human bodies can't push on indefinitely through exhaustion.

Another pieces of the puzzle comes from a scholar who doesn't think it makes a lot of sense for the early Christian church to have remembered such a hostile response from Jesus UNLESS it reflects a larger reality. Gerd Theissen looked for a socio-economic explanation and discovered, “Upper Galilee exported produce through the coastal cities. The cities, in turn, depended on these regions for food. In periods of crisis or food shortage, the populace of the hinterlands may have resented producing goods for wealthy cities.”1 This idea continues, “Those who produced the food, Jewish peasant farmers, see their work consumed by others.”2 In this case, ethnic and religious differences are compounded by economic inequalities. Jesus might simply be suggesting that his people have a right to eat the food they produce.

It stands in interesting contrast to the food sharing on Acts 2, doesn't it? Jesus talking about the inappropriateness of sharing the food with the dogs contrasts with the people sharing all things in common, breaking bread together, and eating with glad and generous hearts?

Or does it?

This beautiful passage of the joy and communal support in the early church does not extend to ALL people. It extends WITHIN the community, not beyond it. I'm not saying that's wrong, I'm just saying that it is limited. Supporting the community of faith is not the same thing as supporting all of God's people. Supporting the community of faith, with firm boundaries around who that means, can actually look a lot like Jesus's response to the Syrophoenician woman in this story! Jesus, too, was advocating keeping resources within the family of faith.

The first summer I was on staff at Sky Lake the summer curriculum included Romans 12, which we tended to read from “The Message.” which I adored. I quoted it once in a secular setting and one of my high school friends asked if I was intentionally excluding her. It said:

9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

11-13 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Until she questioned me I hadn't heard “help needy CHRISTIANS” at all, but once she pointed it out, I squirmed a little bit every time I read it. I wondered if I was allowed to change it so that the command said, “Help needy people” and wondered why it wasn't written that way to begin with.

I think that human nature includes a tendency toward thinking in terms of groups, and defining “us” that excludes “them.” It happens too commonly not to be part of our nature, and I suspect that it happens for decent evolutionary reasons! In order to thrive, humans need each other, but we're finite in time and space. So we can't bond with everyone! I'm thinking our species developed this way: Close bonds form the basis of units, and units expand until they maximize the relationship with resources in an area, and then other groups are established further away, right? Then, because resources on earth aren't allocated with equal distribution, there are still some things that each group ends up competing with other groups. That would have helped establish the boundaries between the groups!

So, it isn't bad, and it is likely part of our nature, but it isn't the end goal either! The Syrophoenician woman reminds us of this. She was, in multiple ways, an outsider to the groups Jesus belonged to, and yet she came to him with a need. Her needed extended past her group identity!

The Syrophoenician woman is presented as the paradigm of committed parent! She crosses boundaries, takes insults, and argues with all her power in order to gain the care her child needs. She shouldn't have entered that house by laws of both communities. Her community would have preferred if she had refrained from “bowing down” at the feet of a Jewish teacher. She let him call her, her family, and her community DOGS and responded within his metaphor. She found a way to respond, without accepting his premise, without dismissing his premise, and while staying ON POINT. She kept asking for what her daughter needed, and requested that even if Jesus didn't see her as a fellow human being, he could still extend his power to help her!!!

And Jesus complements her! Going back to the idea that the city of Tyre was part of a problem within an economic system that was extracting wealth from the Galilean farmers – it is as if she points out that the Galilean farmers DO deserve to eat, but that Tyre is hungry too. She doesn't argue his premise, but she reminds him that hunger is universal.

While on our honeymoon, Kevin and I took some tours of the Tenement Museum in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It became clear quickly that many immigrant families survived ONLY because of the support of community – in that case communities based on their countries of origin. This is one of the ways that groups defining clear boundaries can be good – it lead to life not death. But then again, I'm sure it left some people unable to access any help.

In the days of overcrowding on the Lower East Side, the barriers that divided people were real. Resources were limited. In the days of food shortages in Galilee and Tyre, the barriers that divided people were real. Resources were limited. In the eras of needing access to limited water for our ancient ancestors, the barriers that divided people were real. Resources were limited.

There are good reasons to establish groups and boundaries. Those reasons apply today, and we see this sort of thinking ALL OVER the place today. However, in some ways, reality has changed! Technology has made it possible to grow enough food for everyone to be fed – well. At the moment we have enough clean water for all to drink (if we don't waste it). It may always have been true that if groups worked together there would have been enough, I don't know, but today it is FOR SURE. The world has produced enough for everyone.

And yet, maybe more than ever, people are trying to draw firm lines between those who get access to resources and those who don't, those we are worthy, and those who aren't, those who should become more wealthy and those who should become more impoverished, those who get to access health care and those who don't, … and so on.

I'm told one of my predecessors in this pulpit, J. Edward Carothers, talked about the purpose of church being “to establish and maintain connections of mutual support in an ever widening circle of concern.” I think that's the essence of the meaning of the kindom, the primary teaching of Jesus. As it has been described to me, the kindom is the Reign of God that will occur when EVERYONE treats EVERYONE else as kin. That is, everyone is IN the group and there is only one group and we are all working together for each other's good. That's how (at their best) kin treat each other, and that's an expression of the desire of God for the world.

So, who do we feed first? The children? The dogs? The Christians? The Jews?

Our church? Our city? Our country? Our race? Our class? Our political allies?

Or perhaps, whoever is most hungry?

Because if we all work together, there is enough for everyone! And once we remember that, we can distribute based on needs rather than fears. Holy God, may that day come SOON. Amen

1  R. Alan Culpepper, “Luke” in Leadner Keck, ed. , The New Interpreter's Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press: 1995) 610.

2  Culpepper, 610

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Rev. Sara E. Baron

First United Methodist Church of Schenectady

603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305

Pronouns: she/her/hers

http://fumcschenectady.org/

https://www.facebook.com/FUMCSchenectady

May 7, 2017

#Thinking Church #Progressive Chrisitianity #Subversive Women of the Bible #Ever Widening Circles of Concern #J Edward Carothers #FUMC Schenectady #UMC #Schenectady #Rev Sara E Baron #Syrophoneian Woman #Beyond Tribes #Kindom #Who is Most Hungry?