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untilweyeetagain · 4 years

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SHE-RA WEEK DAY 6 - love/destiny

Pairing: Catra/Adora

Summary: Adora has always dreamed of meeting her soulmate, and she can't help but hope that it's the girl she's been admiring from afar for years. Written for day 6 of she-ra week: love/destiny

Word Count: 1988

Warnings: None

Ever since she was little, Adora had been excited to meet her soulmate. She’d grown up hearing the stories - how humans used to have four legs and four arms before Zeus chopped them in half, leaving them only a small hint on their forearm as to who their other half was.

Humans found their soulmates more often than not, but you would still hear sad stories about people who died without finding their soulmate. Adora knew that she was still young, being in her senior year of high school, but she had always imagined meeting her soulmate when she was young, the perfect story of highschool sweethearts that found each other and then spent their entire lives with each other. The closer she got to the end of the year, the more she began to realize how unlikely this fantasy-ending was, and she became disheartened, beginning to lose hope of finding her soulmate.

She had dated other people, sure, but they had never lasted long - people didn’t often like to commit to long-term relationships with people other than their soulmate, to spare each other the pain in case they found their soulmate while in a relationship. Adora was always envious of those who found their other half though because she wanted that same happiness, the feeling of your soul being complete.

The end of the school year was fast approaching, which meant that Adora was much too busy to contemplate her lack of a soulmate often. She had final exams to prepare for, a prom date and dress to find, as well as the final track and field competition of her high school career. Her days were filled with practice, classes and studying, which meant her schedule was hectic, and the only respite she found was admiring the quarterback of the football team whenever she saw her in the corridor or on her way to track practice.

She had never even spoken to the girl, but she was smitten. She had daydreamed for hours about the girl coming up to her, saying her words: “Hey, Adora. Whatcha doing out here all alone?” Bow and Glimmer often complained about how she would talk about the brunette for hours on end, but Adora couldn’t help it. The girl was the human embodiment of tall, dark and handsome - she drew Adora in like a moth to a flame, and the blonde couldn’t even find it in herself to care.

Adora only knew her name from talk around school whenever the football team won a game that Catra had played spectacularly in. They were in none of the same classes, but they had the same lunch period, so Adora would spend her time staring at the girl from across the lunch hall until Mermista (her only friend who had lunch with her) got sick of it and drew her into a conversation. Despite Mermista’s efforts though, she still found herself getting distracted more often than not daydreaming about the girl she was still too shy to approach.

---

Catra had it bad, she already knew that. She was helpless to stop the way her eyes were drawn to the cute blonde girl she saw in the halls on her way between classes, and she knew it was pathetic that she had yet to muster up the courage to talk to her. Catra knew that she could have pretty much whoever she wanted - she was pretty, smart and popular, and on top of that, she was the star football player. She wasn’t unaware of the whispers that went around about her, nor was she in the dark about the fact that a good proportion of the student body had a crush on her.

She knew all this, and yet this girl was different, somehow. Catra had had more girlfriends and boyfriends than she could count on her hands, and she was smooth and her flirting skills were impeccable, thank you - but she still couldn’t make herself talk to this girl.

Adora - she knew her name only thanks to their mutual friend Entrapta - was, for lack of a better word, adorable. She had her hair up in the same ponytail every day, and she always wore the same tattered red jacket to school. She knew that Adora liked her - the blush that overcame her face and the way she would hastily avert her gaze whenever Catra saw her was a dead giveaway, and Catra thought that nothing could ever be cuter than that.

Catra wished that she had the courage to just go up to her and talk to her, flirt with her, just grab her and kiss her - she didn’t care what it was she would do, she just wished she could do it. But Adora was different. Catra didn’t want to be as naive as to think it, but she hoped, deep down, that that was because she was her soulmate. That Adora would say those words that were etched upon the skin of her forearm: “Um. Hi, hello, hi. Uh, I was, um, running.”

She had thought about the concept a lot, in the few quiet, private moments in which she allowed herself to dream. Perhaps that was why she was so afraid to just go and talk to the girl - the second they said anything to each other, whether they were or weren’t soulmates would be revealed, and Catra didn’t think she could handle it if they weren’t.

---

Panting heavily, Adora finished her final lap of the track and immediately jogged over to the benches, where her towel and water lay ready for her. As much as she liked track practice with the other runners, she found training in solitude to be quite a calming experience - she didn’t have to worry about anyone judging her, she could just focus on the track in front of her and keeping her breathing steady.

The intense summer sun beat down on the blonde as she grabbed her water bottle and poured half the contents over her head and the other half down her throat. She flopped to the ground for a brief few seconds before getting back up and beginning to stretch her legs off, lest she feels the pain tomorrow.

She’s still in a world of her own, mind far away from the present, when someone else makes themself known. Adora jumps when Catra places her hand on her arm, having been very unaware of her surroundings, lost in the peace that running brings her. The brunette clears her throat, and it occurs to Adora, in the back of her mind, that these will be the first words she has ever said to her before.

Unknown to Adora, Catra was feeling the same fear and anticipation, but she pushed through it. “Hey, Adora. Whatcha doing out here all alone?”

The blonde’s breath hitched noticeably, and hope flared through Catra’s veins at the implication that Adora recognised the words.

“Um. Hi, hello, hi. Uh, I was, um, running.” The blonde stuttered, clearly in shock still, but Catra’s heart soared as she heard the words she had known since before she even knew what they meant.

Both girls stood there in silence for a few minutes, processing the information now available to them. Adora’s mind was swirling, thoughts flying everywhere, but the most prominent one was that oh my gosh, Catra is my soulmate... Catra is my soulmate! She was excited, relieved and incredibly nervous all at once - this had been everything she had wanted for years, and the fact that it was the girl who had captured her attention for longer than she would willingly admit made it a thousand times better, but also a thousand times scarier - she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she managed to mess this up.

Before she could get too bogged down in those thoughts, she found herself being pulled into a warm embrace, Catra’s nimble fingers winding their way into her sweaty hair, but the other girl didn’t seem to care about that, nor about the fact that she most definitely smelled of nothing but sweat and dirt. The shorter girl, sighed, leaning into the hug and tucking her head under the brunette’s chin, nuzzling slightly at her neck. How many times had she dreamed of this, of being held close by her soulmate, her Catra?

It seemed that Catra’s thoughts were similar because she soon pulled away - only a short distance, but enough that Adora missed the warmth of Catra’s body - to whisper “I can’t believe that it’s you - I never allowed myself to imagine, but it’s you.” Her voice sounded reverent, and it sent tremors running through Adora’s limbs, warming her in a way nothing else could.

“I… I had always hoped, always dreamed that it’d be you, but this feels… surreal, in a way. Is this real? Are you real?” Adora said, praying to any deity out there that this wasn’t some dream or hallucination, that Catra was here, with her, standing on the edge of the athletics track as a soft summer breeze ran through their hair.

“I’m here, Adora, I assure you this is real. I can prove it to you, if you’d like?” Her voice trailed off towards the end, nerves catching her in a way they never had before. She was normally smooth and suave, making girls and guys alike swoon - she had never felt the need to hesitate with her flirtation, but something about Adora made her want to approach things differently.

Catra was pulled from her thoughts by Adora’s small whisper of “Yes.” She was filled with newfound confidence then, and she dragged Adora impossibly closer as her lips descended upon the soft pair she had only before experienced in her dreams. Adora moaned, quiet and soft, and that small sound was enough for Catra to lose control, the kiss turning from gentle and caring to passionate in an instant as a wave of possessiveness washed over the taller girl.

The pair broke the kiss only when they desperately needed air, but they stayed pressed close, chests heaving as their lungs tried to regain the oxygen they had been denied. The space between them, small though it was, seemed too much and not enough, both girls wanting to resume their frantic kisses but also wanting to talk about this too.

In the end, the second option won, and Adora found herself pulling away further, but still not leaving Catra’s arms. “Why did you come out here? I didn’t think the team had practice today.” The question had been floating around her subconscious, and now that she was slightly more clear-headed, she voiced it.

“I, uh, I asked your friends where you’d be, and they said you’d most likely be here.” It could’ve been her imagination, but to Adora, Catra sounded almost… sheepish. It was so un-Catra that it almost threw her off, but it didn’t stop her next question.

“You were looking for me? Why?” She could honestly not think of a single reason for the other girl to have been looking for her after school.

“I wanted to…” she trailed off, glancing nervously to the ground before making eye-contact with Adora again. “I wanted to ask you out. On a date. With me. Um, yeah.” To see the usually so confident Catra turned into the nervous, hesitant girl who stood before her was honestly quite endearing.

“Well, Catra, you still can.” Woah, it was like they had done a complete personality swap, Adora thought. She had never been that forward before, always being the blushing girl who shyly waited for others to start anything.

“Adora, my soulmate, my other half, would you go on a date with me and be my girlfriend?” Catra asked.

“I thought you’d never ask,” Adora grinned, leaning into Catra’s space again to capture her lips in another searing kiss, feeling the other girl smiling happily into the kiss as well.

#catradora #SheRaWeek #spop #she-ra #catra #adora #glimmer #bow #mermista #the last three are just mentioned #soulmate au #modern au #highschool au

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rowanstories-blog · 7 years

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Ghost of Bayview

Jessica needed a plan. In exactly four months, three weeks, and two days, she would be attending the most important keystone event of her life so far: senior prom. She already had her attire and makeup options completely planned out and ready to be chosen based on her group's color scheme, thanks to some help from her more preppy friend Natalie. She even had a spreadsheet of every limo service in a ten mile radius, with information on prices, available seats, and customer ratings. As she went through her binder, re-organizing the pages in the bracelet subsection of the accessories tab, her eye glanced at a tab that she knew was woefully incomplete. No amount of personal research and sorting would help her fill it out.

She flipped over to the tab, labeled DATE. A single blank page met her eyes, taunting her.

Everyone else in her group already had boyfriends that they would take to prom. Some of them had been dating for an entire year and would basically die for each other, but most were very promising few-month relationships that were certain they'd make it to prom season. Even Kate, known for never dating a boy for longer than a few weeks, had a guy on the soccer team who already agreed to go with her if she didn't manage to find someone else in time. At Kate's relationship rate, she may have gone through every other boy in the school by prom. The thought made Jessica wince a bit.

"That binder isn't going to help you get a date," Natalie had commented when going over different kinds of nail polish after school. That's where Natalie was wrong.

Jessica grabbed her pen bag, sorted by line width and ink hue, and began making a table. With the help of the junior yearbook, she listed every boy in class, noting who was available and who was taken to the best of her ability. Every so often she'd make a quick call to one of the other girls to confirm or deny a rumor, but otherwise kept her plan to herself. In just a few short hours, almost half the time it took for her to figure out and sort her different dress style options, she had a list of possible guys.

She browsed the list, making additional marks to indicate her probability of getting a yes from them. Some of them would never agree; she wasn't athletic, or goth, or nerdy, so no one from those cliques would want to go with her. She did belong to the eco-volunteers and the brainiac groups, so someone from those areas would probably be much easier to get a yes from. Her friend group also opened a lot of possibilities if they gave her a good word in advance, though that would require letting some of them in on her search, which could backfire if she wasn't careful.

After careful consideration, she had her final list. None of them were particularly attractive or even interesting to her, but that wasn't the point. She didn't need a husband. However, she couldn't just ask a random guy from her list to the prom the day before either; that would look desperate, like she couldn't get a boyfriend at all and would take whoever just to save face. That wouldn't work, not at all. She needed to woo one of these boys so they could spend the four months, three weeks, and two days before prom dating, for all the school to see. Then, when the day came, they would both walk into prom, and everyone would whisper to each other about how good they looked together.

Tomorrow, Jessica planned, she would get more information on the guys in her final list. Hobbies, favorite food, any information that would help her approach them. She needed to woo them perfectly if they were going to be dating up to prom.

She closed her binder, running her fingers on the bedazzled cover. "This binder is so going to get me a date. Suck on that, Natalie."

---

Benjamin likes games. Russo likes EDM. Aden likes robots. Jessica noted each interest she could remember overhearing during her second lap around the cafeteria. Her friends tried to get a look at what she was writing so intensely, but gave up when Jessica threatened to write on their faces instead.

As she prepared for her third lap through the tables, someone caught her eye.

He meandered through the cafeteria, looking at all of the tables. He didn't have a tray, and didn't look to be searching for a seat. He just wandered, moving his gaze around the crowd. For a moment, his eyes met Jessica's. They stayed for a moment, then looked away as he continued walking through the tables.

Jessica's eyes didn't look away. She stared at him, waiting for a name to come to her, but none did. She filtered through the yearbook pictures in her mind, but she still couldn't come up with a match.

"Jess is staring at a boy!"

The exclamation shocked Jessica back to the table, where all of her friends stared at her with wide grins.

"Is that your crush?"

"Are you going to talk to him?"

"Do we need to get him over here?"

Jessica put her hands out. "No, no! I just.. who is he? I don't remember seeing him in the yearbook."

Kate laughed to herself. "Silly, that's.." Her voice trailed off. "Wait, who is that?"

"I think I've seen him in my math class," Natalie said with a lot of hesitation. "But I'm not sure. Could he be a new student?"

"This late in the year?"

"It's possible."

"Well," Kate shrugged, leaning into Jessica. "Guess it's up to Jessy to find out for us!"

"Yeah, go talk to him!"

"Go lay on some moves, girl!"

Jessica didn't try to hide her eye roll. She much preferred to be pushing someone else to chase a guy, not being pushed into chasing herself. Still, she somehow had managed to make it the past three years with only passing comments on her single status. It was only a matter of time before the group found a suitable target to push her towards. "I'll ask his name," she decided, "but that's all." She needed it for her binder, after all.

The girls cheered as Jessica got up, slipping her binder into her bag and out of the group's view. With a deep breath, she started toward where she last saw the boy. As she walked, she made sure to keep her ears open for more information on the others in her list.

She made two full laps around, but she couldn't find the new boy at all. She even took a risk and initiated contact with Aden, asking if he had seen someone of his description pass by. He replied that he hadn't seen someone of that description in the school ever.

Before she could make another lap to search, the school bell rang. Everyone got up at once and began gathering their things from the table for their next class. Jessica cursed in her head, but censored it as she whispered under her breath. She had a lot of information on the other guys, but now she knew there was someone she had absolutely no intel on. She knew that the empty box on her table would bug her immensely, but she would have to wait until after school to do anything about it.

---

Three days went by, and Jessica still had absolutely no information on the new boy, nicknamed by her group as The Cafeteria Ghost, or just Ghost when they texted. After the first day of Jessica not getting any information, the others all started asking around about Ghost. A few people had seen him in the cafeteria that day, and some of the sports players noticed him at recent games. Come claimed they had classes with him, but said he only came to class once in a blue moon, and that his name wasn't on the class roster. Even teachers didn't know who she was trying to describe when she asked about Ghost.

"Maybe he's one of those older people who comes back to high school to get the special diploma," Natalie theorized. "He may just pop in every so often to get work or take a test."

"Maybe he's homeschooled but hates it," Kate thought out loud. "So he sometimes escapes to get a true high school experience, but his crazy parents always find out and trap him again."

None of the theories satisfied Jessica. She wrote them all down in her binder anyway, along with a name, time, and statement from everyone she spoke to, in a new tab labeled GHOST.

"I'll find out who you are," she grumbled as she made a crude drawing of his likeness on the final page of the GHOST section. "And I'll do it fast, because you're using up my valuable prom date hunting time."

---

She didn't have to work fast to find Ghost, because the next day, he came to her.

On her walk home from school, she noticed him in full view, leaning on a fence by the sidewalk. He looked right at her as she approached, playing with a lollipop in his mouth.

"There you are, girl from the cafeteria. Jessica, right?"

She paused. How did he get her name before she could find out his? The idea bugged her.

"I'll take that as a yes," he laughed.

"And you are?"

"James."

"James what?"

"Just James."

She frowned. "You have a last name. Everyone does."

He shrugged. "So you're a student over at Bayview? What year?"

"Yeah, I'm a senior."

"That makes you, what, 16?"

"17," she corrected. "Are you a student? No one at Bayview knows you."

"Maybe I go somewhere else."

"Then why were you at Bayview?"

"Well," he said as he pulled out the lollipop and stepped closer to her, "maybe you could find that out over coffee?"

She opened her mouth to tell him off, but stopped. No boy had shown such clear interest in her before. Plus, she could check off the "find out about Ghost" and the "get a prom date" boxes off of her to-do with one event if she did this right. He seemed to be avoiding her questions out of flirtatiousness rather than malice, as a way of keeping her interested in uncovering his mystery. If she was being completely honest with herself, it was working. "Okay," she agreed after a minute's hesitation.

"Great," Ghost, now named James, replied, immediately turning away. "Cafe Nero, 4pm tomorrow. See ya there."

Jessica pulled out her phone, ready to tell her group chat of friends about what she learned about Ghost, but stopped herself. She didn't actually learn anything except his name, and they would latch onto the whole date thing and blow it way out of proportion. Best to wait until after the date and give all the updates at once.

---

Jessica sat down front and center in homeroom exactly two minutes before the start of class bell went off. She liked the routine of being in her spot early enough to organize her desk, but not so early that she felt restless waiting for the day to begin.

She heard a thump in the seat next to her. She looked over to see James Donahue, kicking his feet up on the desk.

"James," she scolded, "how many times do I have to tell you not to do that, especially in the front row!"

"Okay, Mom," James chuckled, moving his feet but still slouching back against his chair. "I guess I have to be on my best behavior before our special date, huh?"

She rolled her eyes with a smile. "Just try not to be too much of a slob."

"I guess I can do that. But if I do make a mess, promise me you won't try to organize the crumbs by size and color."

The teacher walked in, throwing her teaching manual on the front desk with a thud. "Okay, class, take your seats and I'll take attendance. Aaron."

"Here."

The list went on, each name getting a call of 'here' from somewhere behind Jessica. She loved watching the clock tick by as her teacher called out each name, creating a melody that only she could appreciate. The clock ticked to 8:15:43, and she prepared for her part of the tune.

"James."

"Here," James and Jessica said in unison.

The teacher gave a pointed look to Jessica. "Don't jump the gun, sweetie. You're next. Jessica."

"H-here," she stammered. She looked back at the clock, confused. Her name was always called at 8:15:43. Perhaps the teacher was talking a bit slower today? She had counted each exchange for the entire year prior, singing along in her head: Aaron, Beth, Bobby, Cameron, Ethan, Ida, then Jessica. She paused, and reviewed the list in her head. She definitely had it memorized that way, with Jessica after Ida, but where was James? Of course his name came before hers. She re-sang the list in her head, trying to put James in, but it felt unfamiliar, like it didn't belong.

"You okay?" James tapped her shoulder, looking at her with concern.

"Yeah," she lied.

"Try not to get too embarrassed. By the time we're having coffee later, you'll have totally forgotten about this."

The lesson started, and Jessica did her best to not think about the list of names chiming out to the ticking of the clock.

---

Three months went by after Jessica's coffee date with James, and she couldn't be happier. Despite knowing each other for years, she felt like she really only discovered him that day, as they talked for hours in the shop and on the nearby walking path. She didn't tell him about her original scheme to just get a prom date, of course. After the first few weeks, she realized that she did really like him, prom or not. Since that day she hadn't pulled out her binder at all, focusing instead on spending every afternoon in his company.

He was very good at sweeping her off her feet when they were together; he was intelligent, worldly, and quite the romantic. He never made dick or fart jokes like the other boys her age, and knew how to handle his beer at the basement parties. She didn't know a seventeen year old guy could be so mature, and if she did know, she never would have thought he'd show any interest in her. And yet here she was, the girlfriend of the most mature guy in school, experiencing so many firsts with him. He claimed to be a first-timer for many things they did together too, but it felt to good to her for just pure talent. She told him she didn't mind if he had experience before, but he never opened up about that. It bothered her a bit, but she thought it best not to disrupt such a good relationship over one minor thing.

The flyers for prom started appearing in the halls, and Jessica felt the prom fever return to her. She knew she had everything planned perfectly from all those months ago, but now it felt so much more real. James especially helped with that; knowing who she'd be walking through the door with made it all the more exciting.

She wanted to point out the fliers to James and talk to him about his prom desires, but he hadn't been in school for days. He wasn't even answering his phone. After the first day she didn't feel any worry, just a bit annoyed that her boyfriend couldn't be bothered to return a text. After day three, however, she began to actually worry that something may be wrong.

On her walk home from school that day, she kept staring at her text conversation with him, waiting for the 'typing' bubble to pop up and let her know everything was okay.

"Jessica!"

She jolted and turned around, seeing James rushing over to her. He grabbed her and pulled her in for a quick kiss.

"I am so sorry baby, I know you must've been so worried."

"Wh-where have you been?" She wasn't sure whether to be relieved he was okay, or pissed off that he wasn't in a hospital somewhere without cell reception.

"I've been sick."

"So sick you couldn't return a text?"

"That's what I'm so sorry for." He sighed, staring down at the ground. "I had to get rid of my phone. It got.. hacked, or something."

"Hacked?"

"Yeah, like people were monitoring it. It's happened before, remember?"

"That's why you don't have social media, right?"

"Yeah, exactly. Well this time they got my phone, so I had to break it."

Jessica stared at him while he continued to glance around the ground. "Why're these hackers trying to break into your stuff? What could a high school kid have that they want?"

"Well, I'm not sure it's that simple. But it's okay now, the phone thing. I'll make sure they don't try anything again. In the meantime, we'll still see each other in school, when I'm better. Okay baby?" He looked up at her, grinning his small reserved grin.

She couldn't help but smile back. "Okay, thanks for finding me to tell me. Get your rest."

"Thanks," he said with a kiss to her cheek.

As he left, Jessica felt her heart flutter. She didn't like these computer people targeting her boyfriend, but he'd figure it out. He was so good with computers, unlike her. He'd probably hack them right back and make them leave him alone for good.

---

After the sixth day of not seeing James outside of the sidewalk talk, Jessica couldn't keep all of her prom excitement to herself anymore. She called up Natalie, ready to plan her dress and color scheme, with or without James.

"Ugh, there are so many options," Jessica complained on the call. "And there's no way to sort them on this website! How am I supposed to compare?"

"What about the binder?" Natalie asked.

Jessica sat up in attention. Her binder! She hadn't touched it in months, but it had all the information she needed about the big day. After a short search of her room, she had it in her hands, bedazzled cover and all. "You're so right, thanks Nat. I have everything nice and sorted in here!"

The two went through each tab one at a time, starting from the dress and going into makeup, shoes, accessories, and even which limo seemed like the best choice based on their current plans.

"Okay, I think that settles our choice on drink selection for the pre-party," Natalie said with some typing on her end. "What section is next?"

Jessica checked the tabs and laughed. "My date tab, looks like. I don't need this one anymore; James is going with me for sure."

"See, I told you that the binder wouldn't get you a date. What's the one after that?"

Jessica's eyes flicked over to the next tab. She paused.

"Jess?" Natalie asked the silence.

"Sorry, I... I'm not sure..." Jessica stared at the tab. GHOST. She knew she made this tab at some point, but she couldn't recall when. "Do you remember what GHOST means?"

"It sounds kinda familiar, but I don't know. What's in it?"

Jessica flipped open the tab to find dozens of notes: names, time stamps, statements, a drawn map with red circles on some of the rooms. All of the statements stated different claims about someone named Ghost, short for The Cafeteria Ghost. From what she could gather, he was a figure she and her friends saw in the cafeteria that almost no one recognized from the school. She relayed her readings to Natalie as she skimmed the pages.

"I... I feel like I remember that, but it's all so foggy. I remember talking to Bobby about someone like that, but... no, I couldn't have, there was no soccer that day. Did I see him some other time?" Natalie droned off, thinking to herself on the other end of the line.

Jessica kept reading the notes, becoming more and more confused. She remembered asking people about someone, but who was she trying to find information about?

She flipped to the last page, and her heart skipped a beat. She was no artist, but the likeness was clear. She looked down at the page, and the drawing of James stared back at her.

"Ah well, I guess it's not all that important if we never followed up on it, huh?" Natalie laughed to herself.

"I..." Jessica swallowed hard. "I need to call you back." Without waiting for a reply, she hung up the phone and threw it onto the bed.

Her memories fought with each other. She remembered seeing the boy in the cafeteria, having an investigation with her friends about his identity. But now, looking back on it, she knew the Ghost was James, someone she knew for years. But why did no one know about him in some of her memories? She thought back on her times with James. She saw his face in classes, and in crowds, but upon serious thinking, she couldn't remember a single specific event they shared together. She couldn't even remember him asking her out. She remembered the Ghost asking her out, appearing on her walk home and not giving her any information until she agreed to go out for coffee. But why would she have needed to go out for info on someone she had known for years? The more she thought about it, the more her brain pounded with contradictions.

Shaking her head violently, as if shaking her thoughts straight, she stood up from the bed and grabbed the binder. She couldn't figure it out on her own. She only knew one thing for sure: all of her memories otherwise felt fine and orderly, but those with James/Ghost fought each other the more she thought of them. Therefore, she reasoned, the only way to organize them was to see James and show him the binder. She needed to confront him about... well, she wasn't sure exactly what she would confront him about exactly, but she felt the need to do it all the same.

---

Jessica followed the GPS directions down the streets, driving slower than the speed limit. Even if she had more experience as a driver, the stress and confusion she felt tearing her up inside would have affected her driving all the same, she reasoned to herself as cars started lining up behind her. Adding her new driver status into the mix just ensured that she had to drive slow, in order to avoid making any huge mistakes. It also didn't help that she hated driving anyway; there was no way to go back and fix an error like one would on a test or in a binder. No edit, no undo. Real life didn't have those features, though she wished it did. Things would be so much easier that way.

Her GPS told her to stop in front of a house, and she obeyed. The house was three stories high, larger than any other houses in the area. Her one story townhouse would be completely overshadowed by the tower before her. As she unbuckled herself, she found herself glaring at the house. James never told her his family was loaded. In fact, he never told her about his family at all. She only had his address from a package he sent her once; she noticed his name on the return address, and made a note about it for later.

Binder in hand, she took a deep breath in, and rang the doorbell.

An older man, probably in his fifties, answered the door, opening it only a crack. Their eyes met, and, based on their eyes being almost identical, she presumed this man to be James's father.

"Mr. Donahue, I'm here to see James. Is he here?"

She heard a shuffle from beyond the door. "James, who is that there?"

"It's no one!" the old man barked back, then turned to Jessica. "You need to leave, now."

Jessica paused. James didn't tell her that he was a Junior, either. "Please, sir, can you find your son, or tell me where he is? It's urgent."

"I have no son, now leave!" He went to shut the door, but instead it swung open.

James Senior and Jessica both instinctively stepped away from the door, now in the hand of a man dressed in a white suit. Beyond him, Jessica saw more men in suits, all sitting in the visible living room.

The man motioned to James Senior, and he reluctantly stepped further out of the way. "What is your name, sweetie?"

"Jessica," she replied curtly. "I'm looking for James."

The suited man and James Senior exchanged a glance. James Senior winced, sweating visibly. "I presume James is someone your age. A friend?"

"My boyfriend, actually."

The suited man's eyes widened for a moment, but quickly returned to normal as he smiled. "Well, isn't that interesting."

"Look," Jessica snapped at the man, "is James here or not? I need to talk to him."

"Don't worry, he's here." The man looked back at the group. They nodded, and quickly left the room. "He's upstairs, second door on the right." He stepped out of the way, gesturing to the nearby stairway.

Jessica nodded and walked past the suited man, who watched her with a smile, and James Senior, who avoided her gaze and kept fidgeting with his hands, sweating visibly.

She walked up the stairs and down the hall. Opening the second door on the right, she saw only darkness. She stepped inside, hands tapping the walls for a light.

The door shut behind her.

---

Jessica heard the door shut, and swung around just in time to see the light vanish from the room. She reached for the handle, but her hands grabbed at air. She swung around, looking desperately for a source of light, but only saw darkness. She pulled out her phone and turned on its flashlight, but its beam didn't make contact with anything, even the floor.

Suddenly, a light turned on to reveal a single table below it. On the side closest to her was a chair, and on the other was the suited man and James Senior.

"Come, sit," the suited man said.

She didn't move.

"Please, sit. You will end up doing it either way, but I want it to be of your own will."

The words send a chill through her body. Did this man plan to threaten her somehow? She decided sitting would be better than escalating the situation, and did so.

"I just want to ask you some things. Can you tell me your name, and about yourself?"

She hesitated, but remembered the man's previous statement. "I'm Jessica Tolares, a senior at Bayview."

"How old are you, Jessica?"

"17."

"Damn, not even legal!" A voice rang out from the darkness. Jessica jumped up and looked around for a source, but all she could see was in the small circle of light around her. She couldn't even determine a direction; the voice seemed to come from all around her at once.

"Quiet, please!" the suited man called out into the darkness. He motioned for Jessica to sit, and she did. "Why did you come here today, Jessica?"

"My boyfriend lives here. Or I think he does. It was the return address on a package he sent me once."

James Senior started swearing under his breath.

The suited man chuckled at James Senior. "So tell me more about your boyfriend. You said you needed to talk to him, right?"

Jessica thought about her options. She didn't know if she should tell the suited man about her conflicting memory, about Ghost. She still didn't understand what was going on, but it was clear that they were looking for answers, and James Senior really didn't like it. "His name is James. We've been dating three months. I'm here to talk to him about prom."

"What does this dating entail, exactly? Have you been... intimate?"

Jessica looked away, face getting red.

"Oh my God, he's a code-fucker!" a voice in the darkness shouted.

"And with a seventeen year old!" another chimed in.

The darkness buzzed with voices and chatter, all overlapping into an incoherent static. Jessica held her hands up to her ears to try and stop the voices, but they echoed all the same, as though the sound were coming from inside her own head.

"All of you, quiet!" the suited man shouted again. Both he and James Senior were also visibly bothered by the sudden volume. It took longer than the previous time, but the voices died down. "What did James look like, dear?"

She stammered a bit as she regained her thoughts after the static. As she formed words to make her description, she fiddled with the binder in her hands, grounding herself by rubbing the jewels on the cover.

"What is that?" the suited man asked, interrupting her.

She looked down at it. "Just my plans for prom," she lied.

"May we see?"

"Well..."

"Let me correct myself. Please show us. Of your own will, mind."

Her body went cold again. 'Of your own will.' She saw no choice but to hand it over and hope he didn't investigate the tabs too thoroughly.

Her hopes went unanswered. "What is this GHOST section you have here? Doesn't look anything like prom."

She avoided his gaze.

"And this drawing here, this is of the Ghost character that no one recognized? Is it also of your boyfriend?"

Her heart skipped a beat. She looked up at him, starting to shake. "How did you..."

"Do you also have conflicting memories, dear? Like, for instance, remembering never knowing this guy, and then suddenly having known him for years?"

Before Jessica could answer, James Senior stood up with a sudden jolt. "Oh, come on! This is pointless. You're really going to believe that over me?" He gestured to Jessica with his use of 'that,' practically spitting it. "It doesn't actually know things! This could all be a bug, or a plant! I've been working here for eighteen years, and you're going to boot me over a bug?"

The suited man calmly closed the binder. "Jessica, is what I just said earlier true? Is James the Ghost? Are your memories confused about the matter?"

She couldn't speak, not after James Senior's outburst. She nodded.

"My final question, and then we'll be done." He gestured to the side. "Who do you believe this man is, and why?"

She looked over at James Senior, who stared down at her with a face contorted in rage. The sight made her heart stop for a moment. "He must be James's dad. They look a lot alike."

The voiced began shouting again, all variations of "holy shit," "I knew it," and "he really is a code-fucker."

The suited man smiled. "Thank you, Jessica. That will be all."

The light vanished, and the voices went with it. Jessica was left alone in the darkness for several seconds, until she too blacked out.

---

Jessica awoke on a hard surface in the middle of the darkness. As she pushed herself up from the ground, a single light appeared above her, revealing a table with two seats. Next to it stood a man in a white suit. At first she thought him to be the suited man from before, but he looked much older; his hair was gray instead of black, and his skin sagged from gravity and time.

"Hello again, Jessica," he said, voice so similar to the suited man's, but with a raspier breath. "How long has it been for you?"

She got up, shaking herself off. Her body felt refreshed, as though waking from a nap. "I don't know," she answered honestly.

"I see. Can you sit again?"

She did.

"I am going to do something never before done. I am going to try and explain what happened to you, and let you decide how you feel about it. I also expect you to tell me that, of course."

She didn't reply. She still couldn't make sense of the encounter with the young suited man.

"Do you remember this man?" The old suited man opened a laptop on the table, showing a picture of James Senior.

"That's James Senior, my boyfriend's dad. He was here before."

"Actually," he corrected, "this is James. The one you were dating, I mean. There's no Senior and Junior about it."

She stared at the screen. James Senior's eyes stared back, just like James's would during all their time together. She didn't know how to respond, so she didn't.

"I know this is a shock to you, and you're probably confused as to how you were with a fifty year old who appeared seventeen. He... altered your mind, so to speak. Put in wrong memories, made himself appear different."

"You mean, a drug?" She couldn't think of any other option.

"Sure, a drug." He didn't sound at all convincing, but went with that explanation anyway. "So your memories are all messed up and fighting each other because he messed with them."

No, that didn't make sense. "What about everyone else?"

The old suited man frowned. "He messed with perception and memory to get with you," he repeated, ignoring her question. "And, as you can see, he's clearly not seventeen when truly viewed. He abused the project, and used you for his own perverted pleasures, and-"

"Project?"

The old suited man stopped talking immediately. He took a deep sigh. "I'm going to cut to the chase here. I want to know how you feel about this. About what you think should happen to this man, legally speaking. And about whatever else you're thinking, really. We are building a case against him, and we already have your interview from before, but this will greatly help us out."

She took a long time before answering, forming her words exactly as she meant them. "You're clearly not telling me something. I don't believe he used a drug. He used something else, and I think it's whatever project you're working on."

"Ignore that," the old suited man growled, "and just tell me how you feel about this."

Suddenly, memories of James flooded her mind. Clips of their time together played in her mind without her control, forcing her to watch these situations she lived through again, except this time her loving, cute, mature for his age boyfriend was replaced with an angry old stranger, looking at her with James's eyes. As the thoughts came in, they became more real, as if happening before her eyes. She tried to shut her eyes, to cover her ears, to think of anything else, but nothing worked. Her three months with him turned into three months with the stranger. All of the fun, the dates, the first times, everything became replaced with an old man, grinning at her with a sick look of satisfaction.

She felt herself start crying, and as suddenly as they came, the memories stopped. The lit table returned, and the old suited man looked at her with a fallen face.

"I see," he said. "I'm sorry you had to experience that, but we needed to know how you would react."

"Well how the hell would you react?" she snapped, trying to look strong despite her tears.

The suited old man sat back in the chair, looking away in thought. "The same, I suppose. Well, that's all I needed. You will be returning home very soon, Jessica, don't you worry."

The light shut off, and the chair beneath Jessica went with it. She fell backwards, landing on the ground with a harsh impact. Before she could call out to the darkness, she heard the voices.

"Very interesting, it's all so convincing. I see why he got so wrapped up in all this."

"Shame he had to get so attached to one designed to be so young, though. We could have made real progress. I guess it's good he did this instead of real kids, though."

"Still, we can't let this get out. It'll be labeled as a world for pedophiles, and we'd lose all of our funding."

"I have a plan to deal with him, don't worry."

"And what about the one he messed with?"

"I think it'll be fine to do some edits and re-introduce into the current environment. Easier than revising the time history."

The voices cut out, and Jessica went with them.

---

Finally, the day had come. Senior prom, the keystone day in any teenager's life. Jessica brushed off some of the hairs on her dress as she left her room, greeting all her friends and their significant others.

"Jessy!" Kate yelled, giving her a huge hug. "Aw, I'm sorry you didn't find a date."

"It's okay," she sighed. "The time just flew by. Somehow I managed to make it these past few months without working on it at all."

Natalie walked over and gave her a hug too. "That's okay, we're all each other's dates for tonight."

Jessica's mom came into the room, phone in hand. "Jess, sweetie, didn't you have a list of all the limo services we could call?"

"I don't think so," Jessica said after some thought. "That would have been really good to do, though."

"Okay, I can just look it up online." Her mom turned to leave, but turned back around. "Now girls, before you take your pictures, I want all of you to remember to have an amazing time tonight. You only get one shot at senior prom, no re-dos!"

Jessica laughed to herself. She'd love it if she had an undo or edit button whenever something got messed up. Sadly, she didn't. After all, this was real life.

#horror #short story #writing #sci-fi

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ladystylestores · 4 years

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Voices of Fashion’s Black Creatives on the Work to Be Done – WWD

https://pmcwwd.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/instagram-3.jpg?w=640&h=415&crop=1

D-I-V-E-R-S-I-T-Y.

The industry has been proclaiming its need to be more diverse for at least a decade, and proudly patting itself on the back for the steps it has taken. Companies issue press releases about the efforts they are making internally; they give donations; they buy tables at charity events supporting black causes; they might even sponsor scholarships. Only last year, numerous fashion groups publicized how they had hired chief diversity officers, established internal panels and hired outside experts to help them become more diverse and understand racial differences.

Is that enough?

The protesters who have filled the streets of cities across America, and of many others around the world, over the killing of George Floyd by four Minneapolis police officers, have made it clear the answer is a firm, loudly proclaimed: NO!

All one has to do is to look at our list to see how pitiful the representation of blacks at senior levels in the fashion and retail industries is in the 21st century. How many chief executive officers are there at leading firms? Three — and one of those, Virgil Abloh, founded his own company.

The percentage of black designers in the membership of the Council of Fashion Designers of America? Four percent.

The protests over the Floyd killing have shaken society to the core more than any other in a tragic string of past killings at the hands of police officers, or white citizens. And it isn’t the unfortunate violence that has in some cases accompanied those demonstrations. It is that these marches have caused us to reexamine — or perhaps for the first time, truly examine — whether the steps, beliefs and behaviors we have long thought were absolutely fine are truly enough to make a difference.

Racism — or even unconscious bias — has festered for centuries, and will not be cauterized overnight. What the protesters continue to make clear is that things need to get much better, and much faster, than they have been. There are no easy answers to how, but in the first of two parts, WWD asked black creatives to share their experiences of discrimination, how companies can do better, and more.

Tracy Reese Diane Bondareff/AP/Shutterstock

Tracy Reese

What unique challenges do you feel you have faced due to your race?

That’s such a huge question. Maintaining a strong sense of self-worth when you have been spit on, called the “N” word, stalked by security in stores and other public spaces, denied leases, loans, attention, opportunities and been the only person of color at camp, in classrooms, meetings and boardrooms has been challenging. My parents always made sure I knew my value and I’ve been determined to push through and succeed in spite of these experiences.

What should the fashion industry be doing now to fight racist policies and police brutality?

Our industry must stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, Campaign Zero, the NAACP and other organizations fighting for justice and equality. We can use our sizable voice to collectively lobby for legislation to change how police forces are trained and correct mass incarceration policies.

The fashion industry must also respond by examining its own practices. We are not employing black people in management and executive positions in production, wholesale, retail and media in proportions that reflect the population. Black people have historically been shut out of these opportunities.

Recognize and celebrate the contributions black people have made to fashion and culture

What should brands be doing to enact change from within, promote inclusion in their workforces and in their imagery and products?

Recognize the oppressive consequences of centuries of systemic racism. Institute apprenticeship and fellowship programs that lead to managerial opportunities. Have honest conversations about race and equity with all employees on a regular basis. Ask black employees what support they feel they need to level the playing field and implement action.

What role can the media play?

Media must reflect the world we really live in and keep asking the difficult questions long after the current fury has receded. Black people must be represented as humans who laugh, cry, live, love, nurture, create, rejoice and contribute to the fabric of this society in infinite ways.

What makes you feel hopeful at this moment?

The fact that we are even having these conversations.

André Leon Talley Stephane Feugere/WWD

André Leon Talley

What unique challenges do you feel you have faced due to your race?

The biggest challenge is to get up everyday and to go forward and to fight the battle.…As a black man, I could have been in a situation like George Floyd — put in handcuffs and thrown to the ground. A black man must think about racism every single day.

What should the fashion industry be doing now to fight racist policies and police brutality?

Have more awareness and discussions. People need to listen — not just have summits and things. It’s not just about having a town hall. It’s got to be something for the industry to practice where people are included — not just the big brands but the unsung hero designer as well, and not only black designers, but brown designers and Asian designers. It’s got to focus on the humanity of the fashion world, not just the megawatt brands, each individual.

What should brands be doing to enact change from within, promote inclusion in their workforces and in their imagery and products?

The brands first of all should be more aware and conscious of the times we live in, which are difficult because of the pandemic and the whole thing about social justice and equality for black people. Brands need to focus on inclusivity and diversity of black people in ways that they have not done before. Gucci has done it brilliantly. Gucci had a luncheon last year with 300 of the most influential African Americans in the industry. They have an advisory committee for diversity. People have got to be included more. It’s not just a selfish thing any more. Fashion turned in on itself and became this very narcissistic endeavor, with brands outdoing brands and shows outdoing shows.

Instagram posts from Diandra Forrest, Kerby Jean-Raymond and Nikki Ogunnaike.

What role can the media play?

Each individual has to find a way in this pandemic to be more resourceful and to create something that is exciting. When Essence wanted to photograph Naomi Campbell for their 50th anniversary cover, she photographed herself on her cell phone. That sent a very strong message. The industry has to come up with ways to be resourceful. They have to think about what this virus of racism and the virus of COVID-19 means for the future. They have to reach out to future generations. This whole Zoom effect is phenomenal. You can teach 130 students from 130 countries on Zoom, which means you can have webinars, too. You can use social media to make change. Change comes in very different ways. The powerful have got to listen to the powerless.

What makes you feel hopeful at this moment?

What makes me hopeful is a sense of who I am and that there can be progress. People have to come together — individuals within the fashion world and outside the fashion world — to continue to work, to struggle and you don’t give up. You don’t give up the dream. The dream has not been achieved. Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated April 12, 1968 and here we are on June 4, 2020 having to memorialize a man whose life was stamped out of him…and it was photographed in real time.

Brett Johnson Courtesy

Brett Johnson

What should the fashion industry be doing now to fight racist policies and police brutality?

I believe there’s a plethora of initiatives the fashion industry can implement.

First, the treatment of people of color in their stores. From first-hand experience you get one of two reactions, either being followed or completely ignored. I should be treated the same as the clients that are not people of color.

Second, the inclusion of people of color in fashion shows and events. Diversity in casting, your front row and guests, open your doors to fashion students of color.

Third, I think that one of the most powerful images that I saw was both in NY and Flint, Mich., when the police chiefs took a knee and hugged to express unity between them and the people.

Major fashion houses can express this by collaborations with designers of color. Implementing apprenticeships with people of color because I’m a firm believer in a “hands on approach”.

Fourth, I think fashion schools should also follow Aurora James’ recommendation and require a minimum of 15 people of their student body to be students of color.

Lastly, major fashion brands need to be conscious of products they design and be more culturally sensitive to people of color’s past history — including appropriation of black culture and black iconography.

What should brands be doing to enact change from within, promote inclusion in their workforces and in their imagery and products?

I unequivocally believe that the aforementioned 15 percent rule be applied to executive boards, staff and management. Presently two-thirds of my executive team are women of color. I also think women in general are undervalued and their voices need to be represented in all three phases.

What role can the media play?

I believe this truly circles back around to major fashion houses being more inclusive. When more people of color are included then this creates opportunities to put themselves around media and in the position to create relationships they will need farther down the road. Providing a platform that they would otherwise not have access to.

The media could do a much better job of covering designers of color who have no attachments to global celebrities.

What makes you feel hopeful at this moment?

Receiving uplifting messages from our global retailers and their willingness to continue to support a luxury designer of color even through an international pandemic.

Dapper Dan Courtesy

Dapper Dan, fashion innovator

What unique challenges do you feel you have faced due to your race?

There are two. One is renting commercial and/or residential spaces to use for my business. The other is being able to buy luxury brands wholesale.

What should the fashion industry be doing now to fight racist policies and police brutality?

They should sponsor a legal team and cover all costs for the legal team to represent those who are affected by racist policies and police brutality.

Instagram posts from Iman, Telfar Clemens, and Jason Rembert.

What should brands be doing to enact change from within, promote inclusion in their workforces and in their imagery and products?

I feel that Gucci’s Changemakers plan is the right direction to go in. We need more of this.

What role can the media play?

The media should implore that all the other luxury brands follow Gucci’s lead.

What makes you feel hopeful at this moment?

I grew up in a very different time in America. So, to now see so many white people supporting protests of issues that have been affecting black people, it gives me hope for America. It wasn’t like this at all when I was growing up.

Frederick Anderson Courtesy

Frederick Anderson

What unique challenges do you feel you have faced due to your race?

I so believe there is still a bias in specifically the American fashion industry toward understanding that black “luxury” designers can and do sell to women of all races and colors. I’ve heard for years this theory that white luxury clients would not buy off of black models. Keeping the black models relegated to one in a show. “Now,” well, thank God that has been proven wrong. Showing a broader view of the American woman.

Now the next barrier is to show that black American designers can sell “luxury,” not just athleticwear and urban-inspired fashion. I think this comes from the assumption that all black people grew up in the ghetto.

It’s strange as I thought the point of progress is so we can view people by their own accomplishments and not by a stereotype…the stereotype still exists.

Black designers, as designers from all other races, design from their personal history and experiences and not every black person is from an impoverished past or divided family and yes some even had very successful and educated mothers and fathers.

What should the fashion industry be doing now to fight racist policies and police brutality?

Raise up black designer role models. Create a conversation about understanding how the racist idea that black people are lesser in one way ends up in the police devaluing the life of a black person by having the same racist assumption.

There is a connection!

What should brands be doing to enact change from within, promote inclusion in their workforces and in their imagery and products?

Self-evaluate and see how you are part of the problem or the solution. False support when it’s trendy will not help. It’s actively working to change our own minds first and then those of the people we employ and influence.

What role can the media play?

Tell the truth. Never stop.

What makes you feel hopeful at this moment?

The racial mix in the crowds in every march I have seen. I am proud of the new generation. They already have made a change in attitudes by showing it’s not enough to feel sad. It affects everyone in one way or another.

Change hurts. It’s not an easy process nor is it pretty to watch. Maybe it’s a lesson we can learn in this time of COVID-19 when we actually have time to watch and absorb this moment.

I’m changed forever.

Nasrin Jean-Baptiste Courtesy

Nasrin Jean-Baptiste, Petit Kouraj

What are the unique challenges you feel have faced in fashion due to being black?

I think one of the more insidious challenges facing black people and POC-owned fashion business is not only are women undervalued within the industry but as a woman of color, we are all too frequently placed in a position of invisibility and inequality. With this imposed separateness, the responsibility has unfairly fallen on us to resist the societal messaging and conditioning we experience daily. This teaches us that our contribution and mere existence is somehow inferior. We are burdened with the call to displace that thinking and find within us the strength to operate from a place of complete abundance and worthiness. This is a daily practice for black people in general, we do it during our morning coffee before we check our to-do lists or open our laptops. It has become so normalized that we often forget that we are carrying this burden until we are reminded in subtle and not-so-subtle ways how we are perceived, upon which we repeat this inner work.

What should the fashion industry be doing now to fight racist policies and police brutality?

First and foremost, the fashion industry has a responsibility to actively participate in the fight against injustice, whether the industry likes it or not. People of color, specifically, black people have had a long history of radically impacting our fashion industry without recognition and participation is just one way the industry can preserve and acknowledge our contribution.

There are many ways the fashion industry can get involved and information on this has never been so readily available. Supporting organizations that have long been doing the groundwork in their local and greater communities is a great place to start, donate to these causes. Make your support visible so we can all be encouraged and educated on these platforms is also vital.

What should brands be doing to enact change from within, promote inclusion in their workforces and in their imagery and products?

I think brands need to think holistically, this moment requires us all to practice extreme humility and unashamedly ask ourselves the difficult and painful questions. We must objectively examine our personal basis, work culture, and practices within the business we are creating and make sure we are making ourselves accountable for the issues facing the world. When this work is done, inclusion within the workforce and boardrooms comes naturally. This is not a time for silence or passive alliance. I want to see larger brands support small POC-owned businesses, by investing in our brands on your social media, on your e-commerce web sites, and on the retail floors.

Instagram posts from Imaan Hammam and Alton Mason.

What role can the media play?

The media can help to amplify the voices, stories and businesses of POC. We need balanced and factual reporting. The media can and should help by contextualizing what is happening in America as not just a black issue but as a human issue. We are in the midst of social change and this is a perfect time to examine America’s dark history and how human behavior individually and collectively is impacting us all now.

What makes you feel hopeful at this moment?

Though we are all experiencing a very conflicting and emotional time, I am overwhelmed with the hope that a shift in our collective consciousness is taking place. To see people coming together on a national level in various forms of protest, to listen, to engage and to see the call to response globally is extremely motivating.

Any additional thoughts?

I started my bag line as a daily reminder to find the courage to create the life and world of my dreams. It is my hope that in this moment, we are all encouraged to find within us a little courage daily to create the sustained change needed for a better way of living.

Tia Adeola Courtesy

Tia Adeola

What unique challenges do you feel you have faced due to your race?

I think the fact that I’m not just black, but also a woman means that I have to be extra polite and sometimes even hold back on how I truly feel or on things I want to say so I’m not labeled as “the angry black woman.” From the second I walk into a room everyone is judging me or jumping to negative assumptions based on how I look and I have to be conscious of my every move.

What should the fashion industry be doing now to fight racist policies and police brutality?

I think the fashion industry should be restructuring their teams and putting more black people in positions of real power, donating to fundraisers and using their vast platforms on social media to support Black Lives Matter. And by this, I don’t mean only supporting the movement after they’ve felt the pressure due to their silence, but in an ongoing and meaningful way where they contribute to changing a system they’re culpable in.

Instagram posts from Corianna + Brianna Dotson and Duckie Thot.

What should brands be doing to enact change from within, promote inclusion in their workforces and in their imagery and products?

I think one of the most important things would be to start hiring more black people and when I say this, I don’t mean hiring people to work in the storefront or in the stock room. I mean hiring black people on an executive level. Let us be decision-makers, once this is enforced, everything else will fall into place as far as imagery goes.

What role can the media play?

Just like the policemen have their walkie-talkies and radio systems to communicate, social media is what we as a community are using to find people who are being abducted at protests, share organizations that are accepting donations for the black community, and educate people who don’t fully grasp the magnitude or complexities of what’s going on.

What makes you feel hopeful at this moment?

A black man was shot in Brooklyn just yesterday, another in Louisville the day before, I’m sure there are several more because these stories aren’t being reported. I don’t feel hopeful.

Larissa Muehleder Courtesy

Larissa Muehleder, Muehleder

What unique challenges do you feel you have faced due to your race?

It’s uncomfortable to discuss this because I’m very grateful for all that I did have growing up, but when you start to meet really successful people you realize how much you lacked and the reason for your struggles. White people don’t realize the magnitude of assistance they have by simply inheriting financial literacy and resources. It would have been helpful to have had parents or relatives who knew about business and raising capital so you can minimize your mistakes and increase your chances of success but most minority-owned businesses, like my own, are bootstrapped when the reality is a lot of companies raise money before they go into business. Having someone else invest in me didn’t even occur to me when I started Muehleder and managing our finances was a journey on its own. That’s why my best advice to black business owners is to seek out mentorship and organizations like FITDE for guidance, create a business plan, and never stop reviewing it. Work smarter, not harder.

What should the fashion industry be doing now to fight racist policies and police brutality?

I think at the basic level, making sure that the conversations keep going is key. Unlike the news outlets, the fashion industry does not have to be censored. They can push bold agendas through imagery that keep the conversation going and create the narrative you want to be seen. For example, [President] Trump referred to black protesters as “thugs.” How can we change that narrative and show the police as the real thugs? It’s not an easy topic, but if you really want a change you have to do what isn’t easy or comfortable.

In addition, not only hiring black creators but making sure their voices and opinions are heard and that they are comfortable enough to even share them. When you ask yourself, have I created a space where people feel equal? What is your answer? If you are not sure then you know you have more work to do.

What should brands be doing to enact change from within, promote inclusion in their workforces and in their imagery and products?

Change from within starts at the top. The right leadership means everything and it’s not just what you have to say, but the actions you continue to implement long after the riots and the noise subsides. Meaning, don’t post about it, be about it, and open the platform to different races for fresh “woke” ideas with a purpose to flow.

What role can the media play?

I find that too often the media doesn’t appear to be genuine. They are all simply posting the same viral video. They need to be more creative by diving deep into the different layers of an issue in order to have a unique voice. In return, they will not only get their audience to pay attention but inspire their audience to take action.

What makes you feel hopeful at this moment?

I’m hopeful because I myself have become more aware than I have ever been in my life. I’ve been doing nothing but research these past eight days and following all the progressive people and organizations that I feel are on top of issues I care about. My friends and I are all sharing resources and this has sparked a conversation within our group and with white people on Instagram who I don’t even know. People who were unaware are now aware and want to know how they can help. It is amazing to see everyone around the world join in our fight because racism is a global issue. We may be divided amongst some groups but the united front has never been stronger. White people are listening and trying their best to understand and that is the start, continuing the conversation is the journey ahead, and voting is our greatest weapon. We are about to vote like our lives depend on it, because for once, everyone can see that lives do depend on it.

Theresa Ebagua Courtesy

Theresa Ebagua, Chelsea Paris

What are the unique challenges you feel have faced in fashion due to being black?

Finding and maintaining space in any industry can be challenging. While there is more diversity within the fashion industry today, there are times when I feel limitations on my creative expression. The fear is always appearing “too black.” Is that print too much? Is this collection too bold? With each launch, I feel more grounded in my identity as an African designer and I find moments to celebrate that heritage.

What should the fashion industry be doing now to fight racist policies and police brutality?

Every action counts, from informative posts to conscious designs. I would embolden all of us in the fashion industry to use our collective voice, influence and creativity to challenge racist policies and maintain awareness of incidents of police brutality.

What should brands be doing to enact change from within, promote inclusion in their workforces and in their imagery and products?

As a brand, awareness is imperative. We have to acknowledge that we are in a constant battle against systemic racism. Afterwards, we can engage in inclusive reform within our respective teams and collections.

Instagram posts from Elaine Welteroth, Hannah Bronfman, and Campbell Addy.

What role can the media play?

The media is responsible for keeping the public informed and should focus on a holistic and accurate portrayal of current events. An increase in positive representation of black faces is needed. While there have been improvements, the media still falls short of uplifting the black community.

What makes you feel hopeful at this moment?

Witnessing the mobilization of younger generations, seeing their passion and strength as they fight for justice and equality makes me expectant for the future.

Any additional thoughts?

There are no right words to describe what is happening. We are experiencing waves of irreconcilable emotions: outrage, exhaustion, pain, fear. This is a time to lean on one another; together, we can and we must end racial injustice.

Fe Noel Courtesy

Fe Noel

What unique challenges do you feel you have faced due to your race?

I’d say being constantly pigeon holed. We are a proud black brand; however, being constantly grouped does not highlight our core individual strengths and focus. I’d love to be on an equal playing field with other brands of the same caliber and focus on the craft, fashion and brand messaging.

What should the fashion industry be doing now to fight racist policies and police brutality?

I’ve always believed fashion is reflective of the current state of our economy. It is political. I’d like to see the industry get innovative and create a new platform that educates and speaks on acceptable policies in a way that resonates.

What should brands be doing to enact change from within, promote inclusion in their workforces and in their imagery and products?

I think brands should reassess their core values and approach inclusion with a new lens. Rethink your hiring strategies, charitable efforts and marketing. Making these additional changes will create immediate impact.

What makes you feel hopeful at this moment?

One thing about me is that I remain optimistic at all times and I remind myself that change is constant. I am even more hopeful now with this massive wake up call.

Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter

What unique challenges do you feel you have faced due to your race?

Unfortunately there are many challenges I have faced from a young age. From age 15/16, when I began to shop by myself, up until maybe 10 to 15 years ago, I was followed when I shopped in stores. Always. To this day, I have a very hard time catching a cab in NYC. I always use Uber. Now, those don’t have a bearing on me being an entrepreneur but they are part of the “extra” with which I walk through life as a black woman. While I feel very blessed to have had my success recognized despite the color of my skin and despite the fact that I am a woman, part of that success is because my numbers were so strong and early on my first investor was an incredibly successful innovator in marketing and advertising and he was a person with whom people would not say “no” to a meeting. This combination ensured I was able to get in the room at a time when that was not an easy thing for an African American-founded beauty brand who had the African American consumer as its focus.

What should brands be doing to enact change from within, promote inclusion in their workforces and in their imagery and products?

If your brand is made for and caters to only one race, that is fine. Be that and do that. The problem comes when you say that you are for all but your marketing across all channels does not reflect that and even worse, your marketing welcomes black women but only a certain shade of black girl or maybe she is an ambiguous black girl. And the worst case scenario is featuring a model with a deeper skin tone but not actually having a shade for her in the line or having it but 90 percent of your retail partners don’t carry it. You have to be honest, authentic and transparent. It is too easy for one to be called out if you are not.

What makes you feel hopeful at this moment?

I am hopeful that there is now conversation back and forth. We are speaking to each other and making ourselves vulnerable and asking how to help. That is not an easy thing to do and it is happening. Only good can come from meaningful conversation.

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NRA -> Gun Banners Unmasked: The Vengeful Face of the Anti-gun Agenda Emerges Once Again

Wayne Lapierre NRA at HoaxAndChange.com

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Donald Trump NRA @ Hoax and Change

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

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In the aftermath of tragedy, when emotions are running high, some people reveal perhaps more than they intend about themselves and their true intentions. Gun control advocates are feeling especially emboldened in the wake of the terrible murders in Las Vegas, and their predilections and prejudices are again on full display. To no great surprise, they are openly speaking of repealing the Second Amendment, retroactively turning gun owners into criminals, and confiscating firearms en masse. And while their publicly-expressed furor will eventually subside when reason again dominates the national discussion of gun policy, it’s important to keep in mind that what they say now is what they really want. It’s not “reasonable regulation.” It’s give up your gun or the government takes it and you go to jail. It’s always that, in the end.

New York Times commentator Bret Stephens led the way with his call to “repeal the Second Amendment.”Dismissing the fundamental right to keep and bear arms as a “fetish,” Stephens cites a litany of tired and debunked “science” and rhetoric that may do much to ingratiate himself to his new readers at the Times but does absolutely nothing to advance the debate on controlling violent crime.

He then asks, without apparent irony, why liberals nevertheless continue to lose the gun control debate. On this point, at least, Stephens is largely correct (if completely un-self-aware): Because gun control advocates don’t know what they’re talking about and because their proffered “common sense” solutions won’t make any appreciable difference.

Stephens, therefore, advocates for America to “fundamentally and permanently” change a “legal regime that most of the developed world considers nuts” by getting rid of the Second Amendment altogether. James Madison himself, Stephens insists, would look at modern America and say, “Take the guns – or at least the presumptive right to them – away.”

What happens to the 400 million or so firearms already in private hands? How does society actually benefit from his plan? Stephens doesn’t say. He apparently just trusts that things would eventually work themselves out if the government had carte blanche over yet another aspect of Americans’ lives.

Paul Waldman also wrote a piece for The Week with an even blunter prescription: “Ban guns.” Waldman at least acknowledges some of the practical problems inherent in his proposal. Yet he still muses that “it’s worthwhile to step back from the concrete debates we’re having, as important as those are, and spend a moment contemplating what kind of society we’d prefer if there were no practical impediments to radical change.”

Echoing Stephens, Waldman calls Americans’ dedication to their Second Amendment rights “absurd fetishism.” He insists, however, that “I get it.” But it’s not enough, he says, to justify “[o]ver 30,000 Americans dead every year, and tens of thousands more maimed and paralyzed.”

Self-defense would be less of an issue in his proposed Utopia, Waldman argues, because assailants “probably” wouldn’t have a gun, either. “[P]robably.” And besides, he writes, it’s a “ludicrous argument” that “even if you took away everyone’s guns, people would still have evil in their hearts, and if they really wanted to kill they’d find a way.”

We can only assume that Mr. Waldman doesn’t have much experience with the criminal element. Or much familiarity with history. Or even an awareness of the sorts of mass-casualty crimes committed in the relatively gun-free countries he obviously so admires.

Speaking of fetishes, no week’s worth of gun-prohibition rhetoric would be complete without gushing references to Australia, something of a Western democracy that actually managed to take a large number of guns away from peaceable individuals who already legally had them. Well, sort of, anyway.

And who better for this job than Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior adviser to Barack Obama, who along with his protégé and frenemy Hillary Clinton is America’s foremost proponent of importing Australia’s gun confiscation scheme to American shores?

Writing (appropriately) for the website Crooked.com, Pfeiffer laments that he and his fellow radical Democrats are “now in the midst of another gun debate that we will almost certainly lose.” He blames this on Democrats accepting what he calls an interpretation of the Second Amendment that was “reversed-engineered to pander to fantasies.” He then basically argues that just because the U.S. Supreme Court has authoritatively construed the Second Amendment to protect an individual right, Democrats don’t have to accept that as true.

Pfeiffer insists the “Democratic gun control strategy fails because it is defined by this poverty of ambition … .”

He then lists his own policy prescriptions, which are nothing if not ambitious, although not particularly original. These include national registration; “[t]racking and limiting purchases of ammunition;” mandatory “smart-gun” technology; and, of course, an Australian style “national gun buyback program.”

As savvy gun owners know, what happened in Australia was not a “buyback.” Gun owners didn’t return guns to the shops where they bought them. Rather, the government retroactively banned firearms that most people had acquired lawfully and in good faith. It then sternly threatened to imprison anyone who didn’t surrender their gun to the authorities for whatever compensation was offered, assuming the individual even survived the government’s attempt to seize the gun by force.

Many Australians buckled to the threat, and the government confiscated many hundreds of thousands of guns. But many didn’t. In the unlikely event that a the government of the United States somehow amassed the same proportion of its citizens’ firearms, hundreds of millions would still be left in private hands, but with a disproportionate share hoarded by criminals who need firearms for their livelihood.

Ironically, even as he and like-minded gun prohibitionists call for confiscation of America’s guns, Pfeiffer remains incredulous that “the NRA is still producing” what he calls “agitprop aimed at convincing gun owners that liberal Democrats and radical leftists are going to come after their guns.”

How dare we state the obvious: Your guns are not safe, as long as people like Stephens, Waldman, and Pfeiffer continue to have a role in national debate and in politics.

Which is to say, they’ll never be safe. Pfeiffer essentially admits this and counsels his fellow radical Democrats to stop trying to “fake moderation” and win over gun voters with “insincere pandering on the gun issue.”

It would be nice to think that with a pro-gun president and pro-gun majorities in Congress, statehouses, and governor’s mansions across the country, the battle to secure the Second Amendment is won. But as long as decent, law-abiding gun owners are blamed for the acts of deranged murderers, the battle can never end.

We don’t have to guess what people who press for gun control really want. People like Stephens, Waldman, and Pfeiffer are telling us themselves.

For us to think otherwise is to sow the seeds of our own undoing.

NRA -> Gun Banners Unmasked: The Vengeful Face of the Anti-gun Agenda Emerges Once Again NRA -> Gun Banners Unmasked: The Vengeful Face of the Anti-gun Agenda Emerges Once Again FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017…

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