#it was expanded upon in Security Breach and even given its own ending if you play all three of them | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lore-of-the-silvereyes-rwby · 4 years

Text

RWBY lore & World Building Analysis

Atlas and Mantle Part 1

Timeline, Origins, and History

Timeline

We really don’t have a coherent timeline for the series but this is my best gamble for Atlas and Mantle in terms of events and the people born there(Please RT give us an establish timeline)

B.F.B./ Before the Fall of Beacon

F.B./ Fall of Beacon/ RWBY year one

A.F.B./ After the Fall of Beacon

?-200B.F.B. People settle in Solitas for the first time

200 B.F.B. Mantle Founded

199-91 B.F.B. Century of oppression, & Alliance with Mistral

90-80 B.F.B. The Great War

80-79? B.F.B. Nicolas Schnee Born?

45? B.F.B. Ironwood Born?

28-24 ? B.F.B Ironwood attends Atlas Academy

23? B.F.B. Winter Born?

23-1 ? B.F.B Ironwood ascends to General of Atlas Military & H.M.

17 B.F.B. Weiss Born

2 B.F.B. Winters Joins the Atlas Military

0 F.B. RWBY V(s) 1/2/3

1 A.F.B. V(s) 4/5/6/7/8/9

Given from this we have a rough estimate of the timeline that concerns Atlas, and Mantle And the rise of certain characters from Atlas and Mantle. This will carry over to the next section help with the known history of this Kingdom

Origins, & History

This section is going to be a long recap of the history of this kingdom If you already know or are not interested please skip to the summary (Words in Bold should be taken as something to think and analyze upon)

Early Settlement and Rise

Originally founded by settlers who traveled north to the icy continent of Solitas in order to begin a new civilization. Its harsh climates and great mountain ranges helped to suppress the threat of the Grimm, but it also proved difficult for the population to grow. Humanity adapted, however, by using Dust in tandem with advanced technology, developed out of necessity and at faster progression than the rest of the world, creating what came to be known then as the Kingdom of Mantle. Their advancements in Dust application allowed Mantle to expand and devote more territory to mining and research, including the area beside the Kingdom's combat school, Alsius Academy.

Alliance with Mistral

Prior to the war, Mantle formed an alliance with Mistral. The two traded frequently, and Mantle taught Mistral how to form settlements in the snowy northern region of Anima.

Incident at Mantle

After an incident with the Grimm, Mantle came to the conclusion that, if it controlled its citizens' emotions through the abolishment of the arts and self-expression, it would become safer from Grimm. Rather than lose the alliance, Mistral did the same, to an extent. This added to the list of things Vale disliked about Mantle and Mistral, among which was the treatment of their own citizens, their use of slavery and their insistence that their way of life was what was best for everyone.

The Great War

Eventually, Mistral entered a conflict with Vale, after a riot between settlers from the two devolved into the first battle of the Great War. Mantle rushed to their ally's aid, and together, they fought Vale on both Sanus and Anima soil. Having established a presence in Vacuo, the two allied Kingdoms were able to keep Vacuo out of the conflict, and some time into the war, they began pressuring the desert Kingdom to join the war on their side. Fearing that they would conquer Vacuo, should Vale fall, the citizens of Vacuo pushed Mantle and Mistral out of their territory and allied themselves with Vale.

Around eighty years before the beginning of the series, a massive ten-year conflict known as the Great War came to an end. In this war, Mantle and Mistral fought Vale and Vacuo.

During the Great War, Mantle accelerated the pace of its technological innovation, developing new weapons and applications of Dust, giving them an edge during the conflict. Large tracts of land were set aside for Dust mining and research.

Wars end and the road to reconstruction

The Great War finally came to an end with the deadliest battle in the war's history. Mantle and Mistral attempted to take Vacuo's Dust mines to cut off their enemy's supply. There, they were met with the King of Vale personally leading his army alongside Vacuo. It is said that he laid waste to countless men, but historians claim that this feat was aided by the unusually violent weather and Mantle's inexperience in desert combat.

With the war over, the leaders of the four Kingdoms gathered on neutral ground on Vytal to form a treaty and plan the future of Remnant. There, the four Kingdoms' governments were restructured, their territories were redistributed, slavery was abolished, the tradition of the Vytal Festival was begun and the King of Vale founded the four Huntsman Academies.

Atlas Academy and its secrets

Alsius was reopened under the name Atlas Academy and was secretly given the Relic of Creation to safeguard. As a gift to the world, Atlas invented the Cross Continental Transmit System and had the towers for it built on each Huntsman Academy's campus, thus allowing all four Kingdoms to communicate. In an attempt to give back to its citizens, Mantle applied many of the techniques and technologies used in the war to enhance the Huntsman Academy's campus, expanding the school grounds and even securing the surrounding areas. Along with the eventual establishment and merging of the military and research facilities with the government and schools, the original capital of Mantle was overshadowed. The decision was made to move the capital to Atlas, and the Kingdom as a whole was also accordingly renamed to Atlas. Around this time, an incarnation of Ozma suggested to use the Relic of Creation to raise Atlas off the ground. By the present day, the public story for Atlas being kept afloat is due to Gravity Dust.

The Schnee Dust Company

The Schnee Dust Company was founded by Nicholas Schnee in the aftermath of the Great War, in the kingdom of Mantle. Nicholas personally led numerous expeditions around the world to find Dust veins, earning him praise and respect throughout the Kingdoms, while also greatly expanding his company. However, as time passed Nicholas began to grow weary. His family missed him and his health was failing. He was convinced by his son-in-law, Jacques Schnee, to let him inherit the company. Under Jacques' leadership, the Schnee Dust Company's profits grew exponentially, albeit through less-than-ethical practices, such as the use of cheap labor, allowing dangerous working conditions, possible monopolies and having shady business partners.

The Defunct Kingdom of Mantle

The former capital of Mantle appears to have subsequently fallen on hard times,

During the charity concert , guests are heard conversing with Jacques Schnee about the economic disparity between the cities of Atlas and Mantle.

At the same time, they discuss Faunus-Human relations; it is implied that a significant portion of Faunus live in the poorer city of Mantle, and are economically disadvantaged themselves. Those that moved to the city of Atlas were "promised jobs by the Schnee Dust Company amongst others, though it is implied that this is not working out as well as the immigrants would have hoped.

The 40th Vytal Festival Tournament

Preparations for the Vytal Festival were held as early as RWBY's first semester in Beacon. Representatives of the four kingdoms converged upon Vale beginning in the second semester of Team RWBY's first year. The Atlesian contingent, including Penny Polendina and led by academy headmaster and military leader General Ironwood, arrived aboard three Airships in an impressive show of force. The Vytal Festival was marked by a stronger security presence than usual, with a sizable fleet of airships constantly overhead as well as android soldiers patrolling the grounds. This was due to the precautions of General James Ironwood, who was appointed to head of security by the Vale council following the events of "Breach", where Grimm were able to enter the city.

Unbeknownst to the populace, the matches of the 40th Vytal Festival were manipulated by Cinder Fall, who had managed to infect the Cross Continental Transmit System with a computer virus, giving her the ability to decide the match-ups in the tournament.

The festival was marred by Yang's apparently unprovoked attack on Mercury in the first singles match of the tournament. This caused widespread controversy amongst audiences. Unknown to the public, these events were also manipulated by Cinder. Emerald, working under Cinder's direction, used her Semblance to create illusions that led Yang to attack Mercury, mistakenly believing it to be self-defense. The controversy and negative emotions attracted the attention of the Grimm, which attempted to enter the City of Vale. Huntsmen and Atlas forces managed to hold them off but had to call for additional help.

Fall of Beacon

Tragedy struck, the following night, when Penny was destroyed by Pyrrha in a fatal accident, also orchestrated by Cinder, who attempted to make the accident appear like a cold-blooded murder. Cinder then took control of the broadcast with a computer virus and used it to transmit a message condemning the government. The subsequent horror and panic amongst the audience attracted even more Grimm, which managed to overwhelm the defenses that General Ironwood had set up around the City of Vale. With the Grimm attack imminent, the Festival was canceled and Amity Colosseum was evacuated.

During the 40th Vytal Festival, the hosting Kingdom, Vale, is attacked and Beacon Academy and its Cross Continental Transmit tower was destroyed, cutting off Atlas' communication with the other three Kingdoms. The festival's live broadcast and Atlas' robots were hijacked by the attackers, who made it appear as though Atlas attacked innocent civilians. Beacon became overrun with Grimm, and the presence of a petrified Wyvern drew in even more Grimm. Atlas officials searched for a solution, but with Vale making slow progress to retake the academy even after several months, they were not optimistic.

During the several months between the end of Volume 3 and beginning of Volume 4, the Atlesian council voted to place an embargo on Dust exports, in an attempt to prevent conflict, due to the other Kingdoms believing Atlas attacked Vale. This embargo continued into the events of Volumes 4 through 7.

The Present and the Fall to Come

Upon learning from Winter Schnee of a brewing threat in Mistral, General Ironwood decides to close the borders of the Kingdom of Atlas, calling back most of his troops to defend their home. He stations a small group of soldiers, lead by Special Operative Caroline Cordovin, to stay in the city of Argus and restrict transportations to Atlas.

The Atlesian Military aids in the assembly of the Amity Communications Tower, and later defends Mantle in the Battle of Mantle from incoming Grimm onslaughts. Once Ironwood declares martial law and attempts to raise the city of Atlas, the military attempts to capture Ruby's Group as an arrest warrant for them is sent out throughout the kingdom.

Summary

In this long recap we can see that the Kingdom of Atlas is one of long complicated situations and conflicts both internal and external. Both in Survival and society. The Survival aspect prior to the incident of Mantle was less about the Grimm and more of the cost of living. The Early settlers developed advanced tech to heat and insulate their homes (And Possibly burrow underground and make ice carved towns/Like Old Ba Sing Se) As well as establishing trade agreements with Imperial Mistral(Food for tech)

Now comes the social imbalance caused by this survivability. In a word where Demonic monsters drawn by negative emotions force most people to live in armed fortress cities that makes living in Remnant a very difficult task. There is very little hope to wonder whether or not you can prosper in such a world. That is until Mantle became an official Kingdom and once word spread through its trade and the rumors of security and high survivability it would not be much of a stretch for more people to migrate to what could possibly be the safest place on Remnant

Sadly it is human instinct to trade whatever we value for security and peace of mind. And in a place where the Grimm of the time can freeze to death instantly might as well be the city of angels worth any cost. An opportunity for people make a life for themselves instead of just surviving.(Huh... I wonder if their were any walking dead stories in remnant?)

But sadly this was also a crippling blow to mantle as its natural security from the Grimm attracted the desperate it also attracted the corrupted. Why I say that is because of these two lines;

Prior to the war, Mantle formed an alliance with Mistral. The two traded frequently, and Mantle taught Mistral how to form settlements in the snowy northern region of Anima.

Why do these two line make me think that Mantle attracted the corrupt people of remnant as well as the desperate?

Well we all know by now that Mistral was a large continental empire whose power further grew thanks to mantle. And as establish the larger the territory the harder it is to control. This lack of control is why most of the bad people such as thieves and murderers go there to hide. And it continues to be like this to rwby present.

But was it truly the only territory to have such a problem. Criminals by nature are cowardly with a need of guaranteed self preservation when doing something bad. Either from local law enforcement or Grimm. And since Mistral had a trade agreement for tech interchange for food it would not be impossible for fleeing criminals to run and hide to Mantle incase Anima was no longer an option(Similar to fleeing the country(Canada or Mexico)) Sure your still a wanted person by the law but chances are you would have a higher chance of survival if you focus on avoiding the law instead of the Grimm.

And where can you go without worrying about the Grimm; Mantle Do to this it wouldn’t be unlikely that Mid- late Mantle prior to the incident would be remnants 2nd crime-ridden civilization. Just behind Mistral but just a little bit a head of Vacuo.

Which brings me to the other point

The incident in Mantle was most likely the first time that Mantles Natural security failed. And like most security systems when compromised they are either improved and fixed or replaced for something more efficient. But what caused the need for this change in security. The Grimm attack sure but the questions are; why were they there, and how did they get there?

As we know Salem can make improve or make newer Grimm types using her magic so it is quite possible that a prospering city in the frozen tundra would force her hand and she would try to destroy this kingdom to save her ego. As such she made Grimm that can withstand the cold of solitas. The one and only effective security system that Mantle had for over a century(If it ain’t broke don’t fiddle with it).

As most civilizations IRL people usually don’t change unless something unexpected happens that forces said people to improve the conditions of their lifestyle. But what would cause the people of mantle to change their lifestyle so drastically that it makes them almost robotic and inhuman.

Well as the old saying goes; Men do not fear men they fear Monsters. And when your in the only place were the monster can’t get you especially the ones that are drawn to your inner darkness, you’re pretty much free to indulge in whatever passions you deem fit. Especially if your a criminal running from law ranging from petty theft to outright murder(Serial killer in terms of tyrian). And sadly people are also entitled to an opinion, and sadly we all really don’t get along when it comes to opinions. Now what do we argue the most when our opinions clash with one another; Art and all of its medias.

Most people don’t really argue when it comes to the workplace(Unless safety concerns) or the state of other nations(unless your allies) on a day to day basis. For the most part people really don’t care or value that part of their lives mostly because they were already born in what has already established by their ancestors. So they just maintain the status quo of the functional economics of there time however they truly focus all their efforts and time into whatever passions they enjoy. But sadly as I learned through social media we really don’t get along when it comes to media entertainment( Huh as I wrote that I can’t help but wonder if the Mantle incident and the aftermath was meta foreshadowing in regards to the current state of the RT and RWBY fandoms)

Anyway Mantles soon to be outdated security and the emotions of its unchecked citizens have led to the incident that made it rethink its current defense. Something that would improve the chance of survival and make sure the people wouldn’t give into their passions.

The former can be done no problem(IRL one of the reasons why humans are the dominant species on the planet is because we like to make items that kill so other things can die instead of us) But the latter not so much. You really can’t just easily expect people to fall in line just like that or allow you to do so. But do you know what can allow you to do that; Martial Law or a Stratocracy based government(Think of the Galactic Empire)

This makes sense given the fact that Mantle had relied on natural defenses instead of practical defenses like fleets of ships or large militias. Usually when marital law is enacted it is usually a choice made by the current government to reestablish security and control over their panicked and threatened citizens. As well as to ensure that the people don’t revolt and try to replace the current government via revolution once its been made clear that the current government can’t protect its citizens. Usually Martial laws are temporary administrations. Its only when they are dragged out longer than their intended purpose do they become oppressive. So the question now stands; Did Mantles M.L. drag out longer than intended or did it evolve into a Military Dictatorship?

Either way the end result obviously didn’t end well. Not just because of the events it played during the great war but what kind of impact it had and the lingering scars that persisted into Atlas. This is easily recognized by the conflict between rwby and Ironwood when it came to the decision of whether or not to declare martial law.

The scenes in “the worst case scenario and Gravity,” when it brings up the topic of martial law paints a clear picture; this wasn’t the first time its been declared.

Obviously Gravity shows Weiss’s reaction to Ironwoods declaration. It’s almost a tear breaking expression for her and shock that it causes her to quietly say no in disbelief. Now I’m not familiar to the education system of the rich but given her ties to the SDC Atlas Mantle I would assume she is well versed in the history of her kingdom when it comes to politics/ the source of all trade between nations

Now why is that important well assuming this isn’t the first time martial law has been declared and that their have been several periods in the kingdoms history when it was declared its quite clear that it had mixed results that either were fine or dragged out longer than their intended purpose that resulted in the Great war.

A sort of progressive retraction that would not only just start another great war but would tear down all of the pillars of progress of humanity that Atlas had tried to restore. They are becoming ancient mantle once again. More robotic in nature and Inhuman except this time They had accumulated immense power and are willing to use it against anyone who stands in their way of self preservation. Since the show is clearly setting the state for a second great war much like our world wars I find it interesting that despite knowing what caused the first great war and the events that led to it. It is repeating the same mistakes of the past

(In the words of George Lucas; It’s like poetry, so that they rhyme)

Conclusion

After reviewing and giving some thought as I was researching sources and videos for this I was quite surprised by how much was shown and told in regards of the origins of Atlas.

And then comparing those findings to other works and our real world history, and societies, there is no doubt that real world Atlases and Mantles exist or have existed in our world and how they either changed for the better or fallen for the benefit of all(I’ll elaborate more in other posts about that)

But sadly Atlas is repeating the mistakes of the past and it continues to not see it. And unless the people acknowledge that they are doomed, regardless of Salem or not.

#rwby #world of remnant #rwby atlas #rwby atlas soldier #rwby mantle #james ironwood #weiss schnee #rwby ironwood #winter schnee #robyn hill #penny polendina #pietro polendina #arthur watts #jaques schnee #rwby ace ops #rwby happy huntresses #Ironwood analysis

58 notes · View notes

dante-vergil64 · 4 years

Text

To the Stars, The Moon Pleaded “Stay”

Sasuhina Month 2020

Day 1

Rated T

She is a most wonderful vision.

A figure of sensuality and virtue as if tailored by the gods to bring about salvation and sanctuary to this undeserving mortal ground. With skin pristine like unstained glass and smooth like tender velvet bathing soothingly in the essence of the sun as if beckoning and rejoicing in its warmth. Her hair dark, lustrous and silky beyond words in its descent against her form as if embracing her in protection and serenity. And her eyes, wide and jolly, the most captivating shade of lavender, bewitching and consuming beyond comprehension.

How is it, he wonders, that a woman like her exists? How is it, that her mere presence provokes this intense change in the contractions of his heart, in his gathering of breath, in the formation of his thoughts?

She is more than beauty, more than grace, more than warmth, more than light. She is kindness and respect. She is honesty and compassion. An angel fallen from the sky, a fairy without wings.

This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while. After all, it had been her, the one that handed him the stars, the one that found him in the dark. When he was drowning in the pain, in the loneliness of his own insignificance she had dared to reach her hand, to look at him and form a smile.

“Please don’t cry, don’t let tears inside your heart when there is so much happiness around. Smile instead, all teeth and wide, and I promise that this pain that hurts so bad…it will be banished to the sky”

It is a memory of youth, his most precious treasure.

He is unworthy of her heart, unworthy of her mind. Merely the second son, the shadow of his brother, the spare of his father. This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while. He knows his place, he knows his role.

“Lady Hyuuga turns more beautiful everyday, doesn’t she?”

“She does, undoubtedly so”

He can feel his lips smiling, his expression lost in the gift that is her. He allows himself to indulge, if only just this once, to gaze once more at her eyes, at her nose and her lips.

How is it, he wonders, that he is so lucky to be alive at this moment?

His eyes turn to his right, resting on his favorite cousin before turning around ready to head back to the station.

“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” Shisui asks, and despite the smile lifting his lips there is something sad about his eyes

“I know my place, I know my role” he smiles, all teeth and wide “come on Shisui, there’s a ton of paperwork waiting for us”

He’s unworthy of her heart, unworthy of her mind. This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while.

But there is much he can still do, much more still left for him to give. He can vie for her protection, bring peace within the walls. He can take the burden off her friends, can take the troubles off her mind. He can wish for her happiness, can pray for her health. However far she may be, however unreachable to him, he can still try with all his might to keep the smile that she once gave, all precious and irreplaceable, illuminating her face. . . . . She’s an exhilarating performance, all fierceness and grace following wherever she goes.

Her movements, so calculated and precise, cast judgement upon the wicked in a continuous dance of silence that holds a simmering gentle fury in each and every of her soft feather touches. Dead stillness falls upon conclusion as her form forever gorgeous basks in sorrowful solemnity. Her spirit, both tranquil like the waters of a pond in coming spring and infinitely warm like the air of enduring summer, casts a blanket of protection on the weary, a promise of safety to the innocent. Her heart, pure as it is stubborn, weeps for the forsaken, prays for the forgotten, absolves the repenting. It is a tender and forgiving heart, more forgiving than anyone has any right to.

How is it, he wonders, that she continues to find the strength to forgive those who wrong her despite the pain that they cause her? How is it, that they don’t realize what an amazing woman this is, how strong and resilient and skilled she has become?

She is more than strength, more than speed, more than instinct, more than talent. She is discipline and hard work She is practice and repetition She is determination and never going back on her word

This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while. Like it was yesterday he can remember, that time he learned of the lion hiding beneath her eyes

It’s an easy memory to recall, after all, it was the first time his flash step was faster than Shisui’s, his eyes sharper than his brother’s. It begins with the report of an ambush, with her as the target and him as the backup. With fear palpable in his tongue and overwhelming in his trembling hands, he runs. But by the time he arrives she has begun, a force of nature twisting and charging with every one of her practiced steps, the absolute might of the sixty-four palms discharged upon her foes in a crescendo. And her eyes, they are still the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. This goddess given flesh is a sight to behold, and even now he remembers the staccato his heart played at the scene before his eyes. It ends with her fingers near his throat, her surprised lavender gaze overcoming the sheer look of concentration from before. He does not allow himself to wallow in the memory too long, for he knows that if he does the delicate scent of hyacinth will reach his nose and the distance that lies between them will be breached by his treacherous heart.

“Don’t sneak up on me like that sa-chan! I could have hurt you really badly. But, thank you…you know, for coming to help me”

“You really are amazing Hina”

He cannot help the strange feeling of pride every time he recalls that memory, she has grown so much, has become so strong.

He is unworthy of her heart, unworthy of her mind. Yet, he is so thankful to be able to witness this girl, a little shy and innocent and everything that is right in the world, become such a confident mature woman. It is a privilege he will never take for granted. This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while.

“Tell me dear boy, who is she? Who is this woman that consumes all of your thoughts, the one that has taken ownership of your heart?”

His gaze falls upon his mother, a look of wonder and joy in unhidden display. She’s just as lovely as when she sang her first lullaby, as attentive and caring as when he was but a young boy.

“There is no one like that. I know my place, I know my role” he gifts her a loving smile “you don’t have to worry, mother”

He brings her into his embrace, a warm farewell and a see you soon. He does not see the light of her eyes dim. He does not see the tight grip of her fist close to her heart.

He is unworthy of her heart, unworthy of her mind. This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while.

But there is plenty he can do, a lot more left for him to see. He can marvel in her movements, both the peaceful and the violent. He can wallow in her laughter, both from memories and in her presence. He can take care of her sister, to bring both joy in any way. He can steal just one more glance, lie to himself just one more time. . . . . She is a breath of fresh air, quite familiar and comforting.

Her voice is soft and sweet like cotton, her words woven with patience, thoughtfulness and care. Even so, he can’t help but compare it to the allure of a siren’s song. The hypnotizing melody of her chords. So relaxing and consoling it has long become his favorite sound. And the silence in between, that is its own special gift. The offer of her company, of her presence within reach, of the sounds of her breath and the image of her form. As if the world was in stasis, saying it’s okay, to gaze at her just one more time. And her authenticity, her concern, her love for her family and her friends is so mesmerizing and so disarming he wants nothing more than to forget her, because he knows that it is possible, downright certain that these feelings in his heart will only grow.

She’s more than innocent, more than friendly, more than loyal, more than extraordinary She is security and peace She is the water and the wind The steady rock in minds of many, the anchor deep within.

This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while. There is one such instance of time, a time his brain cannot ignore, when the mere sight of her left him speechless, because it was a glimpse into the future, another treasure in itself. And it begins with his arrival, his form weary from a mission. The night is long as stars are bright, yet his feet carry him regardless into her warm welcoming home. What awaits him is a lady, a few years younger than her sister, yet her beauty is not diminished, only hidden by mischief.

“Sa-san, you’re back! Did you bring it?! Did you?!” “Hello to you too, firecracker. I said it was a promise didn’t I?”

Her eyes sparkle in the light of her front door, a sweet souvenir within her palms, and he knows he is being ridiculous but the thought comes anyway. She has taken after Hinata. As he holds the child in his gaze he cannot help but feel content. But the moment is then stopped, not destroyed, but expanded. She emerges from inside, all porcelain and silk and lavender in her wake. And his heart gallops one more time, long surrendered to her smile. And that is when it finally happens, the vision in his eyes travels through time. And there, standing steps ahead is a much more mature woman, with no less beauty, no less grace, no less warmth. And in her arms is not her sister, not the rebellious adventurer filled with passion and mischief, but a much more inexperienced little thing, wide eyes in wonder and curiosity. It takes everything he has to dissipate that very scene, for he knows that deep within, he’s not strong enough to face it.

He is unworthy of her heart, unworthy of her mind. This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time patrolling near the Hyuuga compound. Something you want to say?”

His gaze falls upon his father, the commander of the police force, forever strict and infallible. An old wound threatens to reopen, a hurt of times long past.

“I know my place, I know my role” he salutes in subordination “Sir”

He bows and he departs. He does not see the hesitation, the inklings or regret.

He is unworthy of her heart, unworthy of her mind. This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while.

But there is much he can endure, much more left for him to bear. He can handle frozen nights, her form sound and in blissful rest He can fight against exhaustion, peace and order his reward. He can perpetuate his distance, only admire from afar. He could accept his place as second, a meager warrior and protector. Whatever price he pays is little, when measured against her smile. . . . . She is an inescapable revelation, a bright enchantment of the truth.

Her mind benevolent and understanding, captivating in humility glimpses past layers of deception, offers redemption and mercy. And her eyes, like stellar windows, like nebulous ice reflections glimmer sharply with intelligence and observe with calm rapport. Despite her powers of deduction, the blessing of her sight, her only passion is to aid, to sooth the spirit and the mind. And so she sees the hearts of men, so full of sin and of regret. And yet her hope never falters nor declines, her gaze set in the path towards the sun.

She is more than perception, more than intuition, more than introspection, more than sensation. She is experience and involvement She is patience and rumination

The culmination of her years, of her talents and her efforts.

This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while. And he’s not the only one. This ethereal creature of benevolence, of boundless wisdom and stability has already taken stage, has become a steering knight. And she is power and authority and compassion and bravery. There is no soul that does not listen, there is no dimming of her light.

“We will not risk civilian settlements! That, I will not allow! If it’s gold that is the issue, then take it from my vaults. If it’s men you are In need of, I will gladly join the fight. Whatever else may come our way, whatever hardships they may be, I will protect them with my life!”

It is the idealistic way, the laborious road ahead, yet all it brings is inspiration, optimism and unification. He is unworthy of her heart, unworthy of her mind. This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while. The path she walks he cannot follow, he’ll never join her in the sun. She is destined for so much more, to such great heights, he can only be grateful, from the bottom of his heart, that he was allowed the chance to meet her.

“You should tell her how you feel. If you truly wish to make her happy, then that is the only way”

His gaze falls upon his brother, the man most treasured in his heart. With tired lines along his eyes, his pupils still glimmer with the kindness and the brilliance of his being. And it is him, Hinata’s promised, what she truly deserves. A man of honor, and integrity, and strength, a man whose everything that he could never be. A true pacifist and seer, so altruistic it almost hurts.

He is unworthy of her heart, unworthy of her mind. This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while.

“I know my place, I know my role” he smirks at his sitting brother, the white-red hat resting closely by his side “And I know yours. You have worried all your life, made me into who I am, I will always be grateful that I got to be your brother. So now it’s time for you to let me worry, for you to let me protect you.”

His feelings are inconsequential, they would only be a burden. More than anything else, his one single wish has been for them to be happy, for them to smile always, to repay them, to thank them. Because before he was nothing, before he was no-one. Shadow he may be, that is no longer the case. He knew plenty of happiness, reveled in their glow. Now it’s just time to look away, now it’s time to fulfill his role.

“Foolish little brother, your eyes are still closed even now. For all your prowess and your foresight you are still so incredibly blind. By choice no less. There is only one man who is in possession of her heart, only one man who consumes all of her thoughts, only one man who can evoke that precious smile. For all that you see her, that you know her, that you love her it never occurred to you that she felt the same” his smile is easy, teasing yet honest “She has rescinded the contract of marriage this very morning, confronted her father too. What will you do little brother, I wonder”

He is unworthy of her heart, unworthy of her mind. This he knows all too well, has known it for a long while.

And yet… She is a most wonderful vision. An exhilarating performance A breath of fresh air An inescapable revelation

He doesn’t have the chance to pursue her, to ask after the cancellation of the contract. She finds him first, refuses his words, grabs onto his body, kisses his lips.

And as her lips meld with his, as his tongue caresses hers, as he drowns in her essence he has to acknowledge that perhaps, just perhaps, he knows nothing after all.

#Sasuke Uchiha #Hinata Hyuga #SasuHina #sasuhinamonth2020 #shmonth2020 #happy sasuhina month

50 notes · View notes

hollowedrpg · 5 years

Photo

CONGRATULATIONS, LISSA! — You’ve been accepted for the role of Frank Longbottom. While reading you app, I could not only see the ways in which Frank has developed so far, but what’s to come for his character. Not to mention, your in depth description of his relationship with Alice. Somehow, you made Frank and Alice feel like people I know in real life, not just text on a page. Truly, your app was impressive from start to finish, and if I had to point out specifics on why I loved your portrayal, I’d be writing an essay.

Thank you so much for applying. Please create your account and send in the link, track the right tags, and follow everyone on the follow list. Welcome to Hollowed Souls!

OOC.

Name: Lissa

Age: Twenty-Two

Preferred Pronouns: She/Her

Timezone: PST

Activity: I currently work full-time, but on my days off I would be fairly active. If I had to assign it a numeric value, I’d say maybe a 6-7/10?

Are you applying for more than one character?: Not currently, but I’m certainly tempted to!

How do you feel about your character dying?: Although I’d be pained to see him go, if it served a purpose and was well thought out, which I’m sure it would be, I could be convinced.

Anything else?: Nope!

IC Details.

Full Name: Francis Theodore Longbottom, but please, for the love of Merlin, just call him Frank.

Francis: It’s an old family name that has been handed down from progenitor to progenitor like some sort of sacred relic. He’s been told it can be traced back to the age of Merlin, to age of knights and chivalry, predating even Hogwarts’ crumbling stone walls—his first name, just like his last, is a reminder of their austerity, their contribution to the world of magic and Frank certainly believes it’s ancient. Only two individuals in all the world are allowed to use his given name: the first being his dear old mother and the other is his beloved wife, Alice. Still, whenever they use it, he has a tendency to “not hear them”—whether it’s accidental or purposeful is up to your interpretation.

Theodore: Of his three given names, he hates this one the least—perhaps, it’s because he hears with this one the least. Nonetheless, its meaning is, “gift of God.” In the past, he’d remind Alice that’s exactly how he expected her to treat him, like he’s been sent from the heavens above. It’d be enough to elicit a laugh from her petal pink lips, but that was a lifetime ago; now all they seem to do is haunt each other.

Longbottom: It’s a name that he owes much to and although he does not revere it as others do, it does amuse him that the name “Longbottom,” in all its ridiculousness, is included on a document detailing the “Sacred Twenty-Eight.″ Still, Frank is proud to be just that, a Longbottom, but for reasons that differ from his peers. His lineage, established eons ago, placed him in the upper echelons of their society, but ultimately it was what forced him out in the end. Sometimes he wonders how the others were raised; how they could all be so different, but yet so alike. He always comes to the same conclusion: none of it matters, everyone bleeds red in the end.

Date of Birth: December 20th, 1956—Sagittarius (Generous, Idealistic, Enthusiastic)

Former Hogwarts House: Gryffindor—it’s expanded upon below, but I can say he was very nearly a Ravenclaw.

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Gender/Pronouns: Cisgender Male; He/Him

Face Claim Change: N/A

More.

How do you interpret this character’s personality? How will you play them? Include two weaknesses and two strengths.

These key traits are expounded upon below:

Positive: Determined, Intelligent, Noble, Passionate

Negative: Stubborn, Selfish, Mercurial, Vengeful

As a child, he was all consuming. Always active and fussy for attention, wailing throughout the night until he was blue. For him, it was all or nothing; Frank could never do anything in half-measures. First, it began with securing Augusta’s undivided attention, then it led to thumbing through all the books in his family’s library even though some tomes were denser than Rabastan Lestrange’s skull. Once he was done with that, Frank set his sights on the land surrounding their vast estate, exploring like a New World cartographer, set on leaving no stone unturned. In some respects, it was an innocuous trait, but at times it would overtake him. Let’s call it what it was: greed with, perhaps, a touch of selfishness.

While at Hogwarts he tried and sometimes failed to keep his voracity in check. He pursued each of his passions to completion. Only when Frank was quite literally at a loss, did he meet absolution. His orbit was thrown and his world was shaken by the girl with the eyes like warmed honey. Just as he was a taker, Alice was equal parts a giver—it could’ve gone wrong in so many ways, but oh how it didn’t. She checked his greed, made him expand beyond his selfishness. They would’ve been untouchable too, if things had panned out better—for awhile, in fact, they were untouchable. But the truth is, it won’t be the Death Eaters that get him at the end of it all—no, his hamartia is his greed, his need for more. If anyone will be his undoing, it will be himself. Frank demands answers, blood for blood, and always more, more, more. It will never be enough though—nothing will ever fill this wound that’s been left raw and festering.

He’d be the first to admit that up until this point, his life has certainly been charmed. It’d be easy to credit his triumphs to the Fates or Felix Felicis or whatever dictates good fortune in your mind, but ultimately Frank is responsible for success he has found in life. Even as a child, he would make calculated moves in an upward direction—blatantly pursuing his life’s goals with a kind of singularity that can only be described as unrelenting. This contrasts Alice quite nicely; through the years she has allowed herself to be defined by her passivity. She is pliant like clay, permitting others like her mother or even Moody to mold her into another and to direct her course. Frank, however, is rigid in his ways; from birth, he’s been the one helming the ship. This is due to his privileged upbringing; Frank has always been afforded his own choices and rarely were there ever true consequences to his actions.

The best example of this juxtaposition is what happens upon graduation. Alice allows herself to become an Auror after Moody’s intervention, which differs strikingly from Frank, who actively sought out the position for himself. After years of honing his craft while playing Wizard’s Chess, he believed it would be the next best move and most natural transition. He was right. Swiftly, he rose in the ranks, planning ambush after ambush, mapping out elaborate plans on the backs of old Ministry memos; first alone, then with Alice. There were, of course, the occasional missteps resulting in broken limbs (mainly his own) and bruised cheeks (mainly Kingsley’s), but his track record was solid and became much more refined after Alice joined him. At the core of it all, although Frank prides himself on being a skillful tactician—it’s Alice who has bested him before; it’s Alice who dissects him and sees beneath the carefully crafted veneer. However, it’s his drive and perseverance that guides them into the breach of war and out the other side.

This is also what divides them, however; Frank cannot face the consequences or the mistakes he’s made in the past. He cannot concede defeat and admit to his misgivings. For all his talk about pragmatism, his emotionality over his son’s death is what clouds his mind. He was so used to being able to see ahead, beyond the superficial, that a failure of this magnitude is unforgivable to him. For the boy that was constantly planning and plotting, making leaps and bounds to outwit his opponents; first on the chessboard, then on the battlefield—Frank cannot make sense of it all. Now, his dogged cleverness is set upon a new quest, he’s tracing out all the connections he missed and catching new ones, but the question is: is this paranoia or foresight? He’d be remiss to say that sometimes, now more than ever, the lines do blur a bit.

In truth, he’s poisoned by his need for retribution and he knows it. His recent thoughts and actions have been some of his greatest acts of sabotage, but instead of setting upon the evil that exists in the world, Frank has been undermining himself. Brick by brick, he pulls the foundation of his life apart, stubbornly clinging onto rationality and order in a time where the world is in disarray. He claims he needs answers for justice, to comprehend how it all went wrong, but the ones that truly know him know he’s lying. In actuality, Frank is a hypocrite—he is blinded by his emotions, lost in the tumult of rage and despair. In his misery, he’s abandoned her and with his own hollow eyes he sees how she looks at him like of all the loss she’s experienced, he’s the freshest wound. Frank has always been Alice’s touchstone, but now he is lost to her and the whole damn world. This is what happens when the young hero escapes childhood unscathed by the world; the first taste of tragedy begets madness. It is who he is though.

However, when all is said in done, Frank Longbottom is good. Although he comes from a background rife with privilege, he has always had an innate desire to help others whenever he can. It was his steadfast nobility that got him placed in Gryffindor as a young child and his tried and true bravery that finally led him to the Order. Although there are instances in which he falls short of the mark, Frank constantly strives to uphold his House traits. Lately, it’s been difficult, to say the least, but somewhere underneath all the bitterness and fury, he still wants to do the right thing. The rest of the Order members believe in him—it’s just he’s lost faith in himself.

How has the war affected this character, emotionally and otherwise?

In truth, the whole business of war had been easier before Neville. Life was just another game to him and with Alice by his side, there was no fear of losing. He collected Death Eaters like trophies, using stratagem he learned from playing Wizard’s Chess to ensnare them. Each capture of theirs served as a checkmate; each threat of retaliation echoed the petulant cries of a sore loser. Frank liked playing hero; he liked engaging in this act of rebellion against his blood. After all, what did he have to lose?

Once Neville was born however, his perspective shifted. He was no longer interested in the thrill of it all, but instead, he sought to make his young son proud of his father. It was then he noticed once unmasked, these enemies of his were characters that dotted his boyhood, friends of friends, and not just casualties of war, but also of his life’s story. It was perhaps a cautionary tale, that it was not nature that separated him from the others, but nurture. Even then though, Frank hadn’t learned his lesson. He didn’t take the betrayal seriously enough, not until he crossed into the Malfoy’s foyer and recognized the wand pointed inches away from his son’s forehead, thin lips speaking into existence Death and all the tragedy that came with Him. In a flash of green, life as he knew it ended and stupidly, Frank never saw it coming.

Now, quite frankly, he’s adrift—lost to Alice, the Order, and even to himself. In his grief, Frank has become unmoored, detached from reality, and living in a hell he has constructed with his own two hands. He is plagued by his willful ignorance, obsessed with the questions he holds himself accountable for: the who, the what, the why, and the where—but perhaps the greatest of all his questions, the one he can’t bear to answer is: how did he let this come to be?

Where does this character currently stand? With those who wish to hide in Godric’s Hollow until the war ends, with those who wish to rebuild the order and continue fighting the war, or on neither side? Why?

Frank is suspended somewhere between grief and madness, just one soft shove away from crossing that fine line into insanity. What happened that fateful day was more than just a tragedy, it was a trauma that is now etched into the very marrow of his bones. Everyday, the memory takes root and haunts him without provocation or any hope for repose. When Alice screams in the dead of the night, it mirrors the image he has of her and her pretty face, mouth agape as their child grows cold. In this, he doesn’t know how to comfort her or soothe her. He can offer no solace as he cannot find any himself. This boy who had grown used to having all the answers, used to having the world right at his fingertips, has collapsed in on himself like a star half-extinguished somewhere deep in the universe.

In truth, he’s just numb to the plight of others now. Frank is drowning in his sorrow, too self-involved to notice Alice’s suffering, too blinded by his need for vengeance, and too bent on forcing the world to finally make sense again. He will not divert from his course despite what the other members say. How can he let this go? How does he stop it from swallowing him whole? In these moments, he can’t imagine the future, much less build for it—not when it was already so deliberately snatched out of his grip. For now, he’s on his own side, his son’s side, and whether she believes it or not, he’s never not on Alice’s side.

How is Frank looking into the death of his son? Does he have any theories about what happened? Where did he get those theories?

Frank has always been a damn good Auror and although his world has tilted on its axis, this is a fact that hasn’t changed. If he’s honest, a fair number of his theories are more conspiratorial than founded in reason, fed by his voracious mind that knows no rest and knows no peace. It’s his futile attempt to make sense of the senseless, but nevertheless, with each deep dive he takes into the rabbit hole, the light around him dims.

The other handful of leads he’s chasing down do have some truth to them though. Some may say his interrogation tactics have gotten more aggressive, but their complaints fall on deaf ears. They showed him no mercy, so it’s only fair if he returns the favor.

Currently, his most favored theory is that there is a traitor in their midst—how else would his son have ended up there? It makes him wary of the other members, distrustful of their outreached hands. His suspicion nearly borders on paranoia, intensifying whenever he has a particularly sleepless night. Whoever it is, taunts him; they toy with him and leave him tortured by his own thoughts. Frank will persevere, however—there will be an end, he’s sure of it.

Extra.

If Iwere a _______, then I’d be _______.

If I were a season, I’d be summer, but not the days at the beginning that are filled with childish wonder and boyhood adventures—no, those days are long gone—I am midsummer, when the sun is seemingly always at its apex, beating down relentlessly, and the air is so languid and sweltering that it feels like the world is aflame.

If I were a time of day, I’d be late afternoon.

If I were a place, I’d be an empty shore, abandoned after the storm came and went.

If I were a type of weather, I’d be a cloudless sky.

If I were a scent, I’d be smoke dissipating in the breeze, fresh linen, and pine.

If I were a plant, I’d be English Ivy, unkept and unruly, invading the flora and fauna around me, bent on expansion and progress at whatever cost necessary.

If I were an element, I’d be fire.

If I were a color, I’d be slate grey.

If I were a song, I’d be “As It Was,” by Hozier.

If I were an item of clothing, I’d be a wrinkled white button-up, wearing at the seams from years of care and use, much-loved but in need of repair.

If I were an object, I’d be a pawn.I used to think of myself as the rook, capable and cunning, but in the end it was all a charade.

If I were one of the seven deadly sins, I’d be greed.It eats me whole and it eats me alive.

If I were one of the seven heavenly virtues, I’d be diligence.

If I were a god/goddess, I’d be Prometheus. For my defiance, Godhood has been stripped from me and all that remains is torment.

#hp rp #rp #marauders rp #lsrpg #roleplay #accepted

3 notes · View notes

namjoonchronicles · 6 years

Text

iris | two

↳ summary When things ended the way it did, you stand uncertain about your future but your feelings unswayed. His happiness is still top priority for you. But is he really happy?

↳ parts one | two

Sometimes you don’t get what you want. Fate played its card on you and Jungkook and it took a while for it to settle in, in you.

“Don’t forget to let the TV stay on when you leave the house! This burglary thing is worrying me and you’re staying alone in that shady apartment. At least if you leave it on, people will think there’s someone in there.” Mom breathlessly advised through the phone as you hurried to switch the channel to news. You grabbed your bag in a quick swift motion from the run down sofa you had in your one-bedroom apartment and turned the volumes up. “I think the police will be around investigating all week, so the apartment is safe…” You put on your old stockings, jumping in place while speaking with your mom. The wall clock showed 7:05AM. “Shit mom, I’m going to be so late, I have to catch the 7:30 bus and be there by 8AM, please don’t let the traffic jam be bad today, I can’t deal with this,” You shoved your feet into your fully-covered heels and stepped out of the door. “This wouldn’t happen if you just…” Mom began and darted, “…This is not the time. Mom.” The door slowly shut behind you and you could hear the TV but barely.

The television was broadcasting news on business. “So, Mr. Jeon Jungkook. With the markets ever far more folding in its way in 2018, cyber markets are gathering momentum as it became more appealing to consumers rather than a walk-in store; what is the company’s method to ensure client’s confidentiality and security when it comes to purchasing online goods?” The female anchor-women turns her head slightly to Jungkook who was dressed dapperly in good fitting suit, and a classic white dress-shirt that fit snugly to his skin. His leather shoes, shining and newly polished, his sitting position doesn’t really make him look like a CEO, but more of the cunning and playful salesmen that knows exactly what to say and how to entice. It was a given gift, considering the good looks he was born with.

“…To me, Miss Park Yoora, clients security and the growing security-threats that increases steadily as the market of choice is expanding is a very alarming concern. That’s why our company worked very hard to achieve the right sentinel so that our customers don’t feel exposed. We took time in perfecting this programme to ensure that most of the information-breaching threats are demolished.” Jungkook added a small nod while furrowing his eyebrows and hollowing his cheek, to add intensity into his words. It was all about visual play. Park Yoora, the anchor-women quickly caught on the choice of words that Jungkook used and replied to him a sharp enquiry, “…Most? Most of the information-breaching threats…and not all?” She folded her hand on the desk as the camera pans to zoom to Jungkook’s attractive side profile. He was smiling politely in return.

“…It will be a lie if I say we have already found out all the way hackers are using to pierce the information vault, because as we speak, hackers out there are already finding new ways to do so. I quote, ‘Most’ because our company had already gone through the well-known methods used by the most resourceful hackers; that I can safely say that out of all the companies at present, we had the latest and the most advanced firewall system. And as we are here: discussing, my team are already progressing to further perfect the program, as it is a continuous process. We worry about the securities, so our clients don’t have to.” The way he was boxing the whole idea into the scene and to be broadcasted throughout half of Seoul, his market values shoot up but Jungkook is only getting started. Because there are secrets that he hides from the world. The cunning figure he made himself today, would not have happened if that one thing in his life didn’t: A heartbreak.

Park Yoora passes him a look and he replied a head tilt and with that wordless gesture alone, he knows what he’s getting. And effortlessly at it, too. Jungkook left to be in his black tinted white Sedan along with his assistant. He had the door’s opened and closed without him saying a word as his assistant passed him an iPad and briefed him about the next meeting while reminding him to sign a business proposal. Jungkook is a CEO of a fast-growing company now.

Jumping to get the top writings erased while the children’s’ behind you continued to chat and let out gurgling, laughing and playing with their friends, you were biting your lower lip in subtle aggitation. “Teacher Jimin got taller, didn’t he?” You brushed your hands together to get the dust from the chalkboard off of your hands while you turn to face your tiny students. They all said yes and pulling their attention to you. “Shall we learn some new words today, my little monsters?” You jokingly said, and starting off with some nursery rhymes, you told them to stand up and make them engage more. Today is the last day of school before the break began for winter. The school wanted the children to be home with their family a week before Christmas and you thought it was a good idea to have their parents around during this festive week. You go on tiptoes to reach a storybook on top of the book racks and a warm pair of hands came to the side of your waist and went on top of yours on the book. “Jimin…Teacher Jimin! Everybody greet Teacher Jimin…” You pressed your lips together and backed away from him.

The children were very welcoming. They really liked Jimin. He is very warm-hearted and had a glorious laugh. A lot of teachers were crushing on him as well. “Hi, everybody. Are you guys ready for story time?” Jimin raised his voice a little, then he walked to you and passed the book. “…I forgot to put the books down, I was re-arranging it yesterday, sorry,” he starts to move away before he blinked as if he remembered something to inform you, “…Kim Taehyung called the teacher’s office, it seemed pretty important that you check your phone.” Jimin nodded a few times before leaving your classroom. You thanked him and turned to your class. “Are we all seated for ‘Goldilocks and three bears’? Yes? Shall I begin?”

The children big wondrous eyes and their little hands and feet was what drawn you to this job. Even though your degree had nothing to do with education and teaching, you somehow found a home in educating and being a teacher. There’s something so pure and innocent about these kids that heals your soul. They never know what the real world is like, and you would like to keep it that way for as long as you can. This is where you can be purely happy and no one will ever justify you for it. Being an adult sucks big time. First of all, the expenses and responsibilities. And then the future, the timelines and achievements. Then, there is the other thing you’ve not taken interest in so far; feelings and connections. Working with kids makes you forget temporarily about those whimsical ideas of dating, getting involved with someone and marriage, it sets you free from the bounds of being a working adult.

You told yourself that you’re doing fine on your own.

But the first skin contact in a very long time that came from Jimin earlier made you realised that maybe you missed it. You missed being carressed. Craving for a human touch. You used to give away so much to a dry soul that you thought maybe people don’t like PDAs.

People like someone you remembered. You thought he didn’t appreciate it. Pretending that it didn’t happen doesn’t make you feel good anymore. It felt like you were lying to yourself. Being independent is not cool. It’s lonely.

Jimin made it clear to you that he was interested, but you, on the receiving end always had doubts on yourself. You keep stalling the time, making excuses and to be honest, you’re not sure why.

The children are leaving school for breaks and you waved them goodbye while Jimin is at the gate making sure everyone is safe. While you were admiring his beautiful smile and proportions, you felt a tug on your sleeve and you looked down to see tiny one with a card in his little hands. “…Jaehyun? Hello.” You squatted to be at eye-level as he is and he gave you a small card before he runs off without a word. Jaehyun looked back a few times and you smiled back when his nanny came to fetch him. “…Jeon Jaehyun reminds me of another Jeon.” You thought to yourself, “Few words, big heart.” You try not to dwell on it much but when you open the small card, your heart softens instantly. “…May you have a great holiday ahead, I love you.” In scraggly writing and little heart shapes next to it, signed: Jeon Jaehyun.

“Always spoke pretty words when no one is listening.” You smiled appreciatively before you heard a baritone call of your name from afar. “…I’m taking you home.” Taehyung marched from the gates and into the school area, watched by a sour Jimin at the back. “…Yeah, but I have to go to Innisfree.” You replied to him as he towered you, “…And then we go to our favourite café.” He darted. You nodded and glanced over Taehyung’s shoulder to wave at Jimin. Jimin passed you an insincere smile and walked away. You gathered your things and climbed into Taehyung’s car. It was Friday so the city is packed. The street is crowded, very crowded. You saw Innisfree store by the road side and told Taehyung that you’re getting off first so that you can be at the café before night fall. Shutting the door behind you gently, you stepped confidently through the crowds and into the store. The salesgirls greeted upon your entrance and you dashed straight to the lipstick area.

At first, you took the one you usually purchase and then, you felt as if you could do some changes to your image. New Year, new attitude—sort of. The girl next to you, a fellow customer, was standing a bit taller than you, were putting some lipstick on her pillow thick lips. Her skin is milky white and she wore a full black long-sleeved, short dress with a turtle-neck. She also bore a Versus by Versace white gold and it reminded you someone else who wore the same type of brand.

Everything about her is expensive. “…This one is new,” she suddenly informed you. Despite her cold city girl looks, she was exceptionally friendly. “I saw them taking them out of the box earlier, and I think the shade looks good on you.” She kindly uncapped the lip wand for you to try. “…I know you’re thinking that the shade is too bright, but this is trend now, and if you could pull off that first colour you chose, you could definitely pull off this one. With confidence, you can pretty much pull off anything…” She smiled warmly at you. You took the wand carefully and believed what she said to you. Narrowing your face to the mirror provided, you heard what-could-be her name being called by a honeyed voice of a man that sounded deathly familiar. The lipstick didn’t even make it to your lips.

“…Are you done? Did you choose a good shade?” You turned your head to the direction you heard that voice from, as time slowed down for you. Your heartbeat grew louder and louder in your ear as you stopped breathing when you finally recognize the face that voice was coming from, “Jungkook…?” You whispered under your breath and when he glanced at you, you knew he felt it. The tug of painful memories. You never thought you were going to see him here, and in his arms, is a lady who is not you. Anger, jealousy, sadness and distraught, jumble up in your heart as you left the wand uncapped on the display as he pulled this girl away, his eyes passing you and the person behind you, a nonchalant look full of nothingness and without emotions, the way you remembered him to be when you were with him. Taehyung slid his hand down your wrist and took you out of the store with him. Taehyung made his way through the crowd, roughly, piercing through while gripping his hand around your wrist firmly but not strong enough to hurt you. He didn’t stop until you both were inside the café he wanted to go. Then he lets you go and faced you.

You sniffed to the chair but didn’t cry. The cold winter has dawn itself on you and made you succumb to the harshness. Taehyung sat opposing you. “I’m going to pretend that it didn’t happen.” Taehyung grumbled low. “I thought this was far enough for me to stay away from him, but far, isn’t far enough, I guess. He looked at me like I was dirt. He hated me, Taehyung. He hates me so much.” You cupped your face and started to stifle a cry. Taehyung moved to the seat next to you, put his arm around your shoulder. At this moment, Taehyung just wanted to exist for you. He was the one you ran to when Jungkook hurts you, he was the one that fixed all the things Jungkook broke. And he had never encouraged you to leave Jungkook, you decided that yourself. But in Jungkook’s eyes, Taehyung could be playing a huge part of it.

Jungkook is standing outside the same café with the girl and urged her to go to another café, fire in his eyes, and he is grinding his jaws at the sight of you being comforted by Taehyung, oblivious to his presence. Separated between a wide glass window of the cafe.

“How is he at work?” You asked, sipping a small sip of coffee, leaving behind some lipstick stain on the brim of the cup while Taehyung returns to sit facing you, resting his elbows on his knees. “Like Jungkook. Like the Jeon Jungkook. Precise, concise and no nonsense. I don’t know if he is any different in other department, but to mine, he is always encouraging new methods to hack. He said, the more ways I can find to hack, the more he is happy.” Taehyung fixed the cup of coffee back on the saucer as he explains. He never once mentioned to you that he was working with Jungkook before. He thought it was a bad idea to do so, since the break-up wasn’t exactly kind. He was your best friend and Jungkook is his highest paying client/boss. “…I was pretty much locked in the heavenly dungeon he created for me. Today was an off-day and I missed you, so, I called your office only to have that Teacher Park answering.” Taehyung tipped his chin as he spoke in deep Daegu dialect. “Sorry for having a proper job.” You darted and smiled a bit.

“Speaking of a proper job. When are you moving out of that shitty apartment?” Taehyung shot.

You shake your head. “I may have a proper job but I don’t make enough to move to another city just yet. I can’t keep moving.” Jungkook’s stern expression returned to the back of your mind and your mothers’ voice this morning was just cornering your thoughts. When she sighed heavily into the phone, ‘…this wouldn’t happen if you just…’ she meant: You didn’t have to go through this if you’ve stayed with Jungkook. You would have someone fetching you up from work, to work, someone to take care of your safety and wellness. You wouldn’t have to take a taxi, drenched in sweat and very sickly because he’d be at your disposal; but shit happens, don’t they? If you had been a tad more patient, you would still have him today. Instead, you lost him to a good-looking model-bod girl with milky skin. That Versus by Versace white gold wrist watch could have been yours, but that’s not why you wanted to be with Jungkook. You wanted to be with hime because what he told you in the video that day.

The Jungkook you dated--your Jungkook, was new to love, new to having feelings, can’t lie and is awkward with affections.

The Jungkook you saw a while ago, this Jungkook is prime, lies through his teeth, uses words to entice and all-round, troublemaker. The guy your mother tells you to stay away from.

“It wasn’t the first time I saw him with girls,” Taehyung cleared his throat, not sure if this is what he was supposed to tell, “…It’s different girls every time.” You moved your eyes from Taehyung’s coffee cup to his forehead. He looked down as he spoke. “…I didn’t think you needed to know so I’ve been keeping it to myself.” Taehyung was reminded by the morning he came over to Jungkook’s massive penthouse, to hand a new log activity that proves that hacking can be done throughout the day with meticulous reports and commentaries by the rest of his team only to be greeted by a hung-over Jungkook who clearly had a wild night—judging from the clothes laying around on the marble floor, thrashed living room, and sleeping half naked girls on the strip pole stage. “Why didn’t you ring me up before you come?” He groggily say, his upper body was covered with bite marks, and lips stick smudges, the whole scene was a mess and not fit for a CEO. If the news gets out, Jungkook will have a severe downfall, but Taehyung is a good employee and doesn’t want beef.

“I did, several times actually. But knowing how quick you want your reports, I decide to come down here.” Taehyung threw the stack of papers to Jungkook who was fetching a glass of water, shirtless and wearing only boxers. Taehyung couldn’t stop himself from looking around what clearly was a chaotic after party consisted of all girls, obviously. And this didn’t go unnoticed by Jungkook who was revising the report, a sinister smile forming on his bluish lips. “…If you do it right, I might invite you.” Jungkook smugly say, with a little rock of his head. “…You should be thankful that I’m good at keeping secret. Be invited and lose my credibility? No thank you.” Taehyung started moving away only to feel his shoulder be grabbed from behind to face Jungkook before his back slammed to the wall behind. Jungkook dug his elbow in between Taehyung ribcage and furrowed his brows at him. He sternly say, “I didn’t leave her. She left me.”

Jungkook rammed to Taehyung again, and hissed, “…She’s the one who left.”

Taehyung blinks and you sat in front of him, ordering a new set of croissant and butter. “I guess, if he’s happy, then there’s nothing wrong with that…” You shrugged. Taehyung didn’t necessarily agree. He wanted to say how much Jungkook had ruined himself in order to get over you. He was out there drinking his brains out and Taehyung had to retract his drunken calls made from the hacking-headquarters because it was Jungkook’s commands. Jungkook’s exact words are, “…If you see her number coming out of my cell phone to dial, I want you to kill the connection.” Taehyung passed, “Isn’t it easier if you delete her number from the contacts?” Jungkook walked away in shadowed hallway, his voice dropped an octave lower, “…I remember her phone number even when I’m drunk.” Asking you to change your phone number would bring up suspicions so Taehyung had a firewall around your contacts and blocked Jungkook without you knowing.

“I don’t want to come between you two. But my position had made my intentions difficult to pursue. He, being the boss and you, being the good friend.” Taehyung said, “But believe me when I say, Jungkook didn’t handle it very well. Killing himself was probably a harsh way to put it, but. This is how you kill a person without actually killing them.” You blinked slowly at Taehyung’s word. Even though Taehyung wouldn’t be lying, but the looks from Jungkook’s face earlier cemented the fact that you meant absolutely nothing to him. Taehyung slid a passkey on the table to you. “I should have given this to you a long time ago, but I only had time to see you today before going to Netherlands to hack for at least six months… I wrote his address down. He’s usually home from 6PM to 8PM before he heads out to the club and be drunk again.” You looked at it and stayed frozen. “…Please,” Taehyung begged, “…Help him end this vicious circle. He is not happy and I can see it. You’re unhappy too. Do it properly this time, and don’t let fate come in between like it did before.”

“And check your phone all the time. So no messages comes unnoticed.” Taehyung warned.

You stood before the said penthouse instead of heading home in a taxi. It’s 7:10PM and as Taehyung mentioned, he is home at this time. However, you put away the passkey and rang the doorbell into your decadent pouch. And you waited. “Just…A minute!” Jungkook sang from inside, clearly oblivious to whom was at the door. You heard his heavy footstep jogging towards the door and when he snapped open the door, he saw you. For a minute there, this Jungkook looked a lot like your Jungkook. Innocent face, jaws hanging open almost child-like expression on his face like the ones he put in that DVD you saw, you almost smiled because you missed it so much, but when he straightens up, a tad taller than you remembered and a lot muscular; his face returned to a cold one. And your heart sunk. This Jungkook is not your Jungkook. “…May I come in?” You blinked to his stomach, his white Tee clinging on his body from sweat, then gaze up to his brown eyes. Jungkook didn’t know what’s gotten into him but he had already imagined this scene happening so many times in his brain that when it happened, it seemed surreal. He was supposed to slam the door back shut, but he didn’t have the heart to do so, when you appeared to be so helpless and innocent at his doorstep right now that he absentminded-ly stepped back for you to come in. He has a white baby grand piano on the corner of his penthouse, looking out the dark greying skies, wide windows and a flight of stairs connecting to the second floor where you guessed, his bedroom and home-offices were. “Coffee? Tea? Juice?” He listed while poking his head in the fridge. And the familiar scene unfolds before your eyes. He asked the same thing when you saw him last. Same white Tee, and tone. And if you say ‘juice’, will the ending be exactly like how it is, two years ago?

You guess the thought dawned on him too, when he suddenly stood up straight at the fridge. “…Coffee. Hot, please.” Then it’ll take longer to drink, you thought. Jungkook shut the fridge’s door before him and turned to his right where the coffee machine is. You straightened in your seat to remind him, “Two teaspoons of…” and he shot, “…two teaspoons of sugar and cream. I hadn’t forget.” He lulled his head down while preparing and although you felt kind of bad having him prepare the coffees for you, you had to coax your heart to let him do it, because a) he is not the Jungkook you know two years ago and b) this is his house. You gulped nervously and took the time to scan around this impressive lot of top floor penthouse. You’ve always passed this building en route whenever you leave for work and always wondered how it would look like from the inside. It is as magnificent as you expected it to be. Jungkook became very successful and it made you proud because when you were dating him, he was still trying to find his footing although he was pretty manageable on his own. He got better.

He still had a tiny cactus on the side table and a hammock by the wide glass window looking out the balcony where the pools were, a round-shaped rug on the floor and a coffee table with no speck of dust. Jungkook brought coffees in a tray and you helped him take away all the business magazines he is known to leave open on the coffee table, like your Jungkook used to do. The little notes go on it, arrows and scribbles-- still makes you wonder, what he was writing about; but this time you closed it and put to mind to ask about it at a later notion. “I think I have to explain even if you’re not asking…” Your voice appeared shaky and nervous even when you thought you were good at hiding it. Jungkook almost smiled but hollowed his cheek and snapped his head away before standing up again, “…Can it wait? I need to change, I just worked out.” He left without hearing your answer, and halfway up the stairs, you saw him confidently taking off his drenched shirt through his head before he disappeared to the second level. You took a moment to scan around the area with the cup of coffee in your hand, and you didn’t realise you were shaking until you looks down to the liquid in the cup, and saw it ripple.

“Guess he still had this effect on me after all these years.” You smiled to yourself. If he didn’t matter to you, then why do you trembled this much? Jungkook frowned against his own reflection after a short shower to rinse off the sweat. He put on a grey fitted short sleeved Tee and dried his hair roughly. He leans in to see if there’s stubbles he missed from shaving and it appeared that he got every facial hair removed. But he couldn’t shake the thoughts of your hands clutching tightly on your pouch, in that fully-covered heels that was really breaking your feet. It must’ve hurt to walk in that. He saw the dark marks behind your ankles when you walked in and taking off your heels. You didn’t even have a nice new stockings to wear—nice new stockings, in which he meant, that has no holes in it. “You’ve really outdone yourself.” He whispered as if you were in the room to hear it. He also couldn’t forget how you panned your eyes around to see his whole penthouse from where you sit. Awes in your smile, and although it was brief, Jungkook could feel the short lifted pride that came from it. Is it because you feel that his success was not a wagon you helped achieved, that the smile is gone before it could be properly form? If that’s the case, then, “I owe it all to you.” Jungkook left the bathroom and sprayed some cologne on himself. A habit he has, because usually, at this hour, he will be getting ready to go to a gentlemen’s club. That trip is cancelled, now. “…Are you hungry?” You heard Jungkook blasting down from climbing down the stairs to where you are, in a fresh cloth and heavenly smell, his hair is slightly dampened. You wanted to say no but your stomach gave away the lie. Jungkook pressed the intercom in his kitchen and he ordered some steak and fried rice. Then he opened the upper cabinet to fetch a first-aid kit box. You were in no hurry but keeping this explanations to yourself is swallowing your soul that you feel, the faster you tell him how you got here the better. You realised that he had been holding a tube of something before flopping on the floor next to your feet. He uncapped the tube and squeezed a small amount of it. Then he grabbed your feet all of a sudden and rubbed the ointment onto the backs of your ankle.

Your eyes were as big as the moon shining outside the penthouse. So you tried to snatch your feet back only to be firmly held in place by Jungkook. “If you don’t treat it, it will become a scar.” He clicked his tongue, avoiding your eyes. “I c-came, because Taehyung told me your address.” You stammered. “…I know,” He shot.

Jungkook pick-up the other feet mindlessly and you told him no. “…No lowly feet of mine deserves to be treated by a CEO.” And he darted, “This CEO doesn’t mind.”

He continued to treat your feet, rubbing the ointment gently over the darkened skin. His eyes looked like they were about to pop off in the way he was meticulously examining the other cuts and wounds from ill-fitted shoes. “I went out to look for you…” You hurried to say. Jungkook set your feet down and hoisted himself up, while crouching to the tube and grabbed the cap, before twisting them around tightly. “That day. I went out to look for you and I didn’t check my phone for your message so I didn’t know.” You explained but Jungkook stayed silent as he walked back to the kitchen cabinet and placed the kit back where he got them. “…I didn’t blame you. I was childish. I didn’t know how to love, and by right, you left. If I were in your place, I would have left too.” His voice lowers. “Who would want to love a stoic man?” In the back of Jungkook’s mind, he remembered drunken nights far too clearly. He remembered the touches from strange women that didn’t feel like yours.

They’re rough and opinionated. They saw him as who he is not what he is. They scratched his skin violently and he winced in pain, but the pain that you gave him was even more severe than the ones they inflicted on him, so he let them continue despite the painful showers in the morning when the sun comes. Jungkook let the bitterness of the alcohol consumed him, damaged him beyond repair, envelops him in the false sense of serenity, only to wake up with a terrible headache and stomach ache, time and time again, in a vicious cycle like Taehyung said. He lives the days like a zombie, come home briefly only to head out again to fill his loneliness, repeatedly. Because the hole you left was massive, the dents you put in him was beyond fixing, Jungkook’s only way to succumb was ruining him. Little by little. He woke up crying a few times, in his sleep because he remembered the way you last looked at him before he ran out running that day when everything ended, chanting that he was sorry, until he shook himself awake by his own cries.

You stood up to your feet, and you heard him say, “Don’t blame yourself for what happened.” Jungkook added. “Don’t blame yourself for what happened. I know I left but it’s because I didn’t see your text, I still love you. You suddenly disappeared after that day so I thought you didn’t want me anymore, and it was true…with the girl I saw earlier!”

“No it’s not true!” Jungkook roared. The situation heats up only to extinguish when the doorbell rang. Food is here.

The table was set up outside at the balcony and you sat very quietly in your seat, opposing Jungkook. He had his fiery gaze on you and you stuck your vision on the plate, gulping hungrily. The grilled potato looked delicious, so when the butler left, you grabbed your fork and poke through it only to be stopped by Jungkook, “Did I say you could eat?”

You passed a challenging gaze back at him and took the potatoes into your mouth despite his words. Jungkook continued to slice his steak into bite-sizes while poking his tongue to his cheek. “You used to listen to me well.” You heard him commented, so you scoffed, “…That girl you know is not this girl.” So he smirked, and you continued, “…That girl was foolishly in love with you, constantly doubting her worth, makes you the centre of her universe and she’s had enough. She made a horrible mistake and her life turned into a living hell ever since. But being without her Jungkook made her realise that she lacks her own individuality which probably had caused Jungkook to think lightly of her…”

Jungkook shook his head and stood up abruptly, pushing the chair back. He grabbed his plate and went to your side before taking your untouched steak to replace it with his. “Wrong. Her Jungkook never think lightly of her, he just didn’t know how to make it obvious.” He whispered hotly in your ear before returning to his seat with your plate. You looked down at the plate full of bite-sized meat and felt hot on your cheeks because back then, in your six-month long relationship, you always cut his meat into bite size when you’re out together, eating. You held your tongue between your teeth, trying not to cry. You’re angry with the thought of him with other girls, treating them the same way he’s treating you right now. Taking a deep breathe in, you pushed your chair out, and Jungkook stormed calmly, “…Sit down.” But the new you is stubborn and you stood up despite what he says, and as you did, you grumbled, “You have a girlfriend, this is wrong. I shouldn't have come here. I should have said what I wanted to say and be done with it.” You turned your heel around and heard Jungkook’s chair being dragged away as he stood up and lunged to you and grabbed your wrist.

“Are you with Taehyung?!” He exclaimed. You yanked your wrist out of his grasp, harshly. “Is he the reason why you came to break up with me that day? What did he put into your brain?”

“Taehyung did nothing but comfort me every time you hurt me. Breaking up with you was a choice, but I didn’t expect the video you made. Taehyung told me to come here and tell you what happened. He didn’t have to, but he did,” you threw a passkey Taehyung gave you to Jungkook’s chest and it fell in between his feet, “I know I told you that I love you, but I take that b-…”

“-I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“The money made you different, didn’t it? You’re a certified playboy now. You don’t need me. I’m sorry I came to explain myself, but you’re clearly doing well without me.” You stood by the lighted pool, and try to get away but Jungkook stood in your way. “Doing well? Doing well?!” He raised his voice, his eyes stern on your wavering pair.

“…Do you know how many nights I spent to erase you?” He steps forward and made you step back. You glanced behind you and the pool is merely away. “Do you know how many times I killed myself in my head just to feel better about myself?” Another step back. “Do you know how many bitter drinks and how many emotionless fucks I’ve had to have just to feel numb?!” “And do you know how exhausting it is to fill a spot you left with girls that don’t even match the half of the girl you were to me?” “How dare you love me as much as you did, and left me with nothing?”

You prodded his hard chest as he moves forward, challenging him, “…You were the one who erased me from your life, and how is this my fault?” You felt the ground ended underneath you when the water hit your bare heels, so you rested your palm flat in between his nipples, air stuck in your throat as you realised that if he continues to move forward, you will fall in the pool. “…You knew where my apartment was and you went to Taehyung instead.” You toppled backwards into the pool as Jungkook watched, splashes of water stained the wooden floor. He steps back, clamping his teeth to his lower lip, both hand rested on his hip as he spun around in frustration. “…Jeon.” Your head went underneath the water, to resurface again, “Jeon. Jungkook.” You spit out water from your mouth only to disappear one more time. “Fuck!” You shouted from the middle of the pool, struggling with your flailing arms. “Jungkook! I can’t swim!” Jungkook squeezed his forehead at once, took off his shirt in one swift move and lunged to dive into the pool.

His strong arms held your waist, holding you close to him while he directs you to the shallow side of the pool. You stood up at the edge, coughing out excess water while he remains standing comfortably on the floor of the pool with his tall stature. He watches you regain your breathing patterns like you were the most fascinating thing to observe. “...Why did you do that?! I don’t know how to swim, you jerk!” You splashed water at him until he backs away, giggling, trying to hide his smile. “I could have died.” You ran your hand down your face and chin, trying to breathe properly. Jungkook came back stand before you, the water hitting his chin when he bended his knee so you appeared taller to him. His eyes big on yours and he said, “…You know, all my exes know how to swim.” You groaned, “Congratulations.” Jungkook straightened his legs, “Everyone except you.” He captured your lips with his, in seconds and, he gaped his mouth open and glide his tongue into your cavern with a permission that was easily given, his other arm grabbing your waist so he could feel you more.

The notion made you moaned into his kiss and you mentally agreed that two years being single had made you hungry for any skin ship, and him being wild throughout being apart from you had made him a better kisser than before. You didn’t even realise that he took you to the middle of the pool until you try to reach the floor and couldn’t find it, when you broke away from the kiss. Jungkook remained amused with the way you clung for dear life when he took his arms way from your waist. “Shit! Shit! Jungkook don’t,” You cling tight and he giggled low, “…You told me to let go.” He shrugged. “This is the Jungkook I know. A little shit.” You muttered angrily. “…Put your hands back where it was.” You commanded. Jungkook gave a lop-sided lip and nodded. “Do you still want me?” Jungkook asked, being in close proximity, you lowered your gaze to the rippling water and nodded. “…I’m sorry I wasn’t able to show you more emotions back then, but that Jungkook is dead. This Jungkook is ready to give you the world, if you come back.”

Jungkook’s gaze remained hopeful. “Jungkook?” You paused, and slid your hand on the side of his face, “…I never left.”

“We both were at fault here. You thought I didn’t love you enough to stay, I thought you didn’t love me enough to show PDA. We were childish and unlike many love stories out there, we got a second chance in life. Why did you push me into the pool?!” You slapped his chest, sending wild ripple around and he replied, “So you can’t come home tonight. With your wet clothes.” So he had this all planned?

“Please stop poking your knee on my thigh.” You pressed a smile at him. Jungkook smiled innocently back at you and shaking his head, “…That’s not my knee.”

. . . . .

“Bergen?” Jungkook began, and then, “For a week?”

You nodded enthusiastically. That week came, when you were away. And again Jungkook is faced of filling the empty spot you left, but this time, he was well equipped.

“Has she reached there already?” Jungkook spoke to himself in thick Busan accent as he marched to it and fishing it into his palm to take a good look. His head went back and forth to the thought of his phone ringing and how disappointed he was, when it wasn’t you. “…How dare you have fun without me…” He grumbled, shirtless and spent.

“Brought grubby with me. Isn’t he the cutest?” - My Headache/Wife

—sounds familiar?

469 notes · View notes

pinkonblonde · 4 years

Text

Strange World: The Radical Rhetoric of Greta Thunberg

[A version of this piece was published by Green Left on 8 January, 2020.]

On Friday, 20 August, 2018, rather than go to school, Greta Thunberg sat outside Swedish parliament to protest inaction on climate change. The then-fifteen-year-old school student had with her some flyers, and a handpainted wooden sign that read: “Skolstrejk för klimatet” (school strike for the climate). On the first day of her strike, she sat alone, but news of her protest quickly spread via social media. On the second day, others joined her, and so began a youth-led protest movement comprised of millions around the world who have taken to the streets to demand a liveable future.1

If Thunberg’s act of civil disobedience attracted considerable interest, her gifts as a public communicator, evident in numerous speeches given in the intervening months, have merely served to magnify her spotlight. These speeches were gathered and published last May as No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference. In late 2019, the book was reissued in expanded editions 2019 to include speeches delivered by Thunberg between May and September.

Much of Thunberg’s activism involves pointing out what, in the midst of Australia’s nightmarish bushfire season, is now horrifyingly apparent: climate change is not merely happening but is a genuine global emergency requiring unprecedented action. Obstructing urgent progress, she points out, is widespread ignorance of the extent of the crisis. Beginning with our politicians and the media, this ignorance spreads, infecting the populace.

Although we are witnessing its effects all around us, however, Thunberg observes that “there are no headlines, no emergency meetings, no breaking news” regarding climate change itself. “No one is acting as if we were in a crisis.”2 We need to take immediate action to end greenhouse gas emissions by shifting to renewable energy sources. The emission curve, she explains, is the only thing that matters.

And the curve only continues to rise.3

António Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, has deemed climate change “a direct existential threat” and “the defining issue of our time.”4 The Paris Agreement, an international treaty forming part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, was established in 2016, under which countries pledged to keep the rise in global average temperatures “well below 2°C” while “pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”5

Achieving the 1.5 degree target is critical, as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says doing so “would reduce challenging impacts on ecosystems, human health and well-being.” However, this “would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society,” with “the next few years [being] probably the most important in our history.”6

We have already surpassed 1 degree of warming.7 Yet, much of the world is embarked upon a business-as-usual trajectory, with few if any countries having so far demonstrated a readiness to undertake the unprecedented, transformative changes required to secure a safe and liveable future.8

Confronting climate change therefore means recognising, as Thunberg does, that the world’s political and economic systems seem utterly incapable of solving the very crisis they have helped create. “You [politicians] … are only interested in solutions that will enable you to carry on like before,” she writes. “And those answers don’t exist any more. Because you did not act in time.”9

Thunberg prefers to define herself as a realist rather than a radical10 and resists the perception that she is political: “This is not a political text” the book’s opening speech proclaims.11 Her reluctance to be thought of in such terms is perhaps in part strategic. Her critics, eager to divert attention away from meaningful issues, characterise her as exploited, indoctrinated, and compromised by vested interests.

Eschewing labels and sticking to the science presumably allows Thunberg to safeguard her sense of independence, making it harder for others to dismiss her message as ideologically motivated. “Many people love to spread rumours saying that I have people ‘behind me’ or that I’m being ‘paid’ or ‘used’ to do what I’m doing,” she writes. “But there is no one ‘behind’ me except for myself.”12

And unlike politicians who are desperate to “talk about almost anything except for the climate crisis,” the science itself is at the heart of her message. “We [young activists] don’t have any other manifestos or demands—you unite behind the science, that is our demand.”13 (This point was emphasised when, after addressing the United States Congress in September, 2019, Thunberg submitted into the record a report from the IPCC in lieu of her own testimony.14)

Yet, when one considers the implications of what “unit[ing] behind the science” means for our political and economic systems, to be a realist in a time of crisis requires a willingness to consider radical alternatives. “[O]ur current economics,” she notes, “are still totally dependent on burning fossil fuels, and thereby destroying ecosystems in order to create everlasting economic growth.”15

Responsibility therefore largely rests not with the populace at large but with the corporations and the politicians who work in their interests. “[S]omeone is to blame,” she insists. “Some people—some companies and some decision-makers in particular—have known exactly what priceless values they are sacrificing to continue making unimaginable amounts of money.”16

The cause is of the crisis, in other words, is neither corruption nor aberration; rather, it is our political and economic systems running precisely as intended. “We live in a strange world,” she reflects, “where no one dares to look beyond the current political systems even though it’s clear that the answers we seek will not be found within the politics of today.” She concludes, therefore, that “maybe we should change the system itself.”17 To achieve this, Thunberg advocates “civil disobedience” tactics and “grassroots” social change.18 “It’s time to rebel,” she declares.19

In the chapter ‘I’m Too Young to Do This,’ Thunberg explains that idea of a student school strike came from phone meetings with other activists, facilitated by Bo Thorén from the group Fossil Free Dalsland. During these discussions, Thorén suggested a student strike, an idea inspired by US students who refused to return to school in the aftermath of a 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High. Thunberg liked it, but the rest of the group favoured other ideas.20 “So I went on planning the school strike all by myself,” she writes, “and after that I didn’t participate in any more meetings.”21

In a tweet, meteorologist Martin Hedberg confirmed Thunberg’s account. “I participated in a phone-meeting with Greta, Bo and others in June 2018. After a while Greta concluded: ‘You are not radical enough. I have to do something myself.’ [A]nd then she hung up. She went on to do her thing, her way.”22

In speeches added to the book’s expanded editions, Thunberg emphasises the global carbon budget, which estimates the amount of fossil fuels the world can potentially consume before we breach the threshold of 1.5 degrees of warming. Citing “chapter 2, on page 108 of the SR15 IPCC report,” she notes that at current rates of consumption, we will have exhausted that budget in scarcely over eight years.23 “No other current challenge can match the importance of establishing a wide, public awareness and understanding of our our rapidly disappearing carbon budget, that should and must become our new global currency and the very heart of our future and present economics.”24

The activist, who has Asperger syndrome, believes the condition has motivated much of her work, explaining that “since I am not that good at socializing I did this instead.”25 Likewise, she believes the condition to be key in her ability to accurately assess the existential threat posed by climate change: because Thunberg sees things as “black and white,” she avoids the cognitive dissonance and doublethink necessary to be passive and complicit within a toxic system. “[T]he rest of the people … keep saying that climate change is an existential threat and the most important issue of all,” she writes. “And yet they just carry on like before.”26

Thunberg is one of the truthtellers of our age, whose use stark binary terms evokes the urgency of our times. “If the emissions have to stop, then we must stop the emissions. To me that is black or white. There are no grey areas when it comes to survival. Either we go on as a civilization or we don’t.”27

Her role role to wrest us from our collective slumber and to awaken us to the horrifying realworld consequences of endless consumption and exploitation. “I have a dream,” she declares, invoking Martin Luther King Jr. (whom she mentions by name).28

“In fact I have many dreams. But … [t]his is not the time and place for dreams. This is the moment in history when we need to be wide awake.… And yet, wherever I go I seem to be surrounded by fairytales. Business leaders, elected officials all across the political spectrum [are] spending their time telling bedtime stories that soothe us, that make us go back to sleep.… It’s time to face the reality, the facts, the science.”29

It is sadly predictable—and a testament to the topsy-turvy nature of our times—that someone so clearsighted should be regularly denounced as a tool of propaganda.30 In 2018, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, an organisation that assesses existential risk, set their metaphorical Doomsday Clock to two minutes to midnight.31 It was the nearest the clock had been set to midnight since a single previous occasion in 1953: the peak of the Cold War.32

Branding the times in which we live as the ‘new abnormal,’ the Bulletin cited, in addition to two major existential threats—the climate crisis and the proliferation of nuclear weapons—an emerging third threat: the “ongoing and intentional corruption of the information environment,” or the spread of propaganda by way of ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts,’ which has undermined our capacity for rational discourse.33

Last month, citing a further deterioration in these areas, the Bulletin advanced the clock further still: to 100 seconds to midnight.34

In August, 2019, the Sun Herald columnist Andrew Bolt wrote a tawdry attack piece in which he referenced Thunberg’s mental health, calling her “deeply disturbed” and likening her to a cult leader.35

“Where are the adults?” she tweeted in response.36

A similar question was recently on the mind of the dissident intellectual Noam Chomsky as he pondered, in an interview, this “scandalous” state of affairs in which the fight for a survivable future has been left largely to teenagers. “It’s literally the case that this generation is going to have to determine whether organised human society persists,” he said. “Where’s the rest of us?”37

[The expanded edition of No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference is available in both illustrated and non-illustrated formats. Greta Thunberg’s next book, Our House Is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis is a memoir, cowritten with her family; it will be published in English in March.]

1 The “millions” figure comes from estimates of numbers at global protests in March and September of 2019. See Damian Carrington, ‘School Climate Strikes: 1.4 Million People Took Part, Say Campaigners,’ The Guardian, 19 March, 2019; Matthew Taylor, Jonathan Watts, and John Bartlett, ‘Climate Crisis: 6 Million People Join Latest Wave of Global Protests,’ The Guardian, 28 September, 2019.

2 Greta Thunberg, No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference, United Kingdom: Allen Lane, 2019, page 19.

3 Ibid., page 85.

4‘Secretary-General’s Remarks on Climate Change [As Delivered],’ United Nations, 10 September, 2018.

5‘Summary for Policymakers of IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C Approved by Governments,’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 8 October, 2018.

6 Ibid.

7 Myles Allen et al., ‘Frequently Asked Questions,’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2015.

8‘Climate Change Performance Index,’ Gemanwatch, NewClimate Institute, and Climate Action Network International, December, 2019; ‘Countries,’ Climate Action Tracker, accessed 9 February, 2020.

9 Thunberg, No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference, page 87.

10‘Interview mit Greta Thunberg: “Ich bin Realistin. Ich sehe Fakten.”’ ARD, 31 March, 2019; Sarah Kaplan and Brady Dennis, ‘Teen Activist Greta Thunberg Takes Her Youth Climate Campaign to Washington,’ The Washington Post, 14 September, 2019; Greta Thunberg, tweet, 12 December, 2019, 12:16 PM.

11 Thunberg, No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference, page 10.

12 Ibid.

13 Ibid., page 54.

14 Somini Sengupta, ‘Greta Thunberg, on Tour in America, Offers an Unvarnished View,’ The New York Times, 18 September, 2019.

15 Thunberg, No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference, page 86.

16 Ibid., page 35.

17 Ibid., pages 28, 64.

18 Ibid., pages 21, 136.

19 Ibid., page 21.

20 Ibid., pages 45–46; Wesley Lowery, ‘He Survived the Florida School Shooting. He Vows Not to Return to Classes until Gun Laws Change,’ The Washington Post, 19 February, 2018.

21 Thunberg, No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference, pages 45–46.

22 Martin Hedberg, tweet, 3 February, 2019, 4:13 AM.

23 Joeri Rogelj et al., ‘Mitigation Pathways Compatible with 1.5°C in the Context of Sustainable Development,’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2018, page 108; Thunberg, No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference, page 120.

24 Ibid., page 39.

25 Ibid., page 48.

26 Ibid., page 18.

27 Ibid.

28 Ibid., pages 117, 122.

29 Ibid., pages 117–118.

30 See for instance Dinesh D’Souza, tweet, 22 September, 2019, 12:04 PM; Sebastian Gorka, tweet, 23 September, 6:04 PM; Daniel Lee, ‘Greta Thunberg and Samantha Smith: Propaganda Poster Girls,’ National Review, 2 October, 2019.

31‘It Is Now 2 Minutes to Midnight,’ The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 25 January, 2018.

32‘Timeline,’ The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, accessed 9 February, 2020.

33‘Press Release—Welcome to “The New Abnormal,”’ The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 24 January, 2019.

34‘Closer than Ever: It Is 100 Seconds to Midnight,’ The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 23 January, 2020.

35 Andrew Bolt, ‘The Disturbing Secret to the Cult of Greta Thunberg,’ The Sun-Herald, 1 August, 2019.

36 Greta Thunberg, tweet, 1 August, 2019.

37 Noam Chomsky, ‘8.0,’ YouTube, uploaded by Thomas Pogge, 4 November, 2019.

#andrew bolt #climate change #global warming #green left #green left weekly #greta thunberg #ipcc #noam chomsky #no one is too small to make a difference

0 notes

himanshikohli00 · 4 years

Link

For any Indian buying, a house is perhaps one of the biggest and most common dreams. Though home-owning in any society has the highest emotional quotient level, you need to make a prudent decision. Also, financial viability has to back this prudent decision. Incorrect assessments lead to all kinds of financial difficulties in the form of overloaded debt. I have been to many cities in India and the list is a long one; Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai but Kolkata have always had my heart. So, I began my hunt for the house that I would settle for life. Top-of-the-order mission from the Union government to implement affordable housing schemes for everyone by 2022 has eased the interests of home loans since this year’s beginning. Hence, I could not have asked for a better time. I did not want to go for rented accommodation but for the residence of my own. Here is how housing.com helped me with the entire process.

Simplified search

When the situation arises to buy apartments in Kolkata, there are a few considerations that may confuse anyone. Today, the developers are offering apartments increasingly with world-class features inclusive of skywalks, landscaped terrace, multi-gym and swimming pools to lure any home buyer like me. If we do not assess our needs carefully then we can spend a fortune on those features that we may not even end up using. I am glad that I stumbled upon housing.com to look options for flats in Kolkata. They were the fastest-growing enterprise in the space of real estate online have simplified home search for buyers like me.

Sort your choice as per relevance

I was looking for 2 bhk flats in Kolkata and I found some nearby Bhatpara, Shyamnagar, Gurdah, and Kawgachi in Shyamnagar. All I had to do was choose the options of BHK, price range, type of property, status of property and housing.com came up with the most relevant search. I could see the average rate per square feet, and the Final price range excluding maintenance. On the website, against each property, there is enough information about the real estate developer for the project, configs, amenities, and a general overview.

No fake listings

In the past I have been befooled by many online websites that dealt in the spaces of retail estates. In fact, to date, my friends share their horror stories about how they were led on to believe listings posted on a site and eventually all of them turned out to be non-genuine. I am so glad I partnered with housing.com for purchase of flats in Kolkata. They helped me with endless visits to multiple sites that appealed to me during the house-hunting process. It is glad to find a unique platform of property search that is filling breaches left by other organizations in the housing market.

Top investors backing the scheme

In the Shyamnagar area, a property of apartments really appealed to me and fulfilled my criteria of 1 bhk flats in Kolkata. I am so glad that the team at housing.com comprises of passionate solvers of problems and leading investors from across the world back it. For 771 square feet of flat, I could go through the per square feet rate that is 2.5 thousand. I am delighted to see that apartments in the square feet range of 771 to 810 have amenities like areas for car park, security round the clock, presence of educational institutes, schools, malls, and other convenience options. Housing.com lists all possible details like the status of the project and contact details of the agent.

No compromise on quality

The business team at housing.com brings money home in return for empowering the individuals and enterprises within an ecosystem. To be honest, finding them was never a challenging task. I absolutely love the way they gather enough intel on flats in Kolkata and work their magic over it. It was pleasantly surprising for me to get in touch with a team that talks the talk, suits up, is pumped up and is extremely aggressive when it comes to meeting the demands of buyers like me. At no given time during the house-hunting process did the team ever compromise on the quality factor.

Listing of properties with a convenient location

Every metropolis is in an expanding phase with the increasing population, alongside the corresponding social as well as civic infrastructure. Nevertheless, a vast section of people like me prefers staying in the city’s heart for myriad reasons. Like for me, I will never compromise on reasons like connectivity, proximity to my workplace, access to cultural and social amenities. Since the cost was the major deterrent for me while I did not want to let go off my options, housing.com came up with the listing of micro-homes in fitting locations. They presented to be a wide array of 2 bhk flats in Kolkata. My family is a contemporary one loved how their listed properties with smaller sizes of unit called for efficient management of space.

Resale properties

While I was searching for the ideal house for myself and my family, I had the provision of finding flats in Kolkata that were actually independent houses. All I did was select the option of resale properties instead of new projects and housing.com presented me with options galore. For twenty-five lakhs I could zero in upon an independent house in Kolkata’s Shyamnagar that has 820 square feet of built-up area with three-point five thousand of average price for the built-up area.

Adding nearby localities aided the process of search

While kept on looking for 2 bhk flats in Kolkata in the Shyamangar area, housing.com provides its visitors to add nearby localities to the search. So, besides homes in Shyamnagar I could look for houses in Palta, Ichapur, Barrackpore, Patulia, and Titagarh.

Explore a new world of home buying

For any buyer like me, who has to singlehandedly arrange for everything, hosuing.com is a boon in disguise. Open your user account on the website or download the app and look for the best projects, top developers, buying guide and a fair share of information on home loans.

#1bhkflatsinkolkata

0 notes

32flavasshoetique · 4 years

Text

vietnam girls

Asia is actually the worlds’ ‘ largest continent. It experiences varied climates and geographic attributes, certainly not forgetting the spectacular Himalayas, are found here. While the rest of the world is actually bridging the sex-ratio space as well as changing the inequality, the ratio of guys to women in Asia is actually higher. Withthe raising masculinization of the general populace, a great deal of women of marriageable age are consequently solitary.

Asian Mail Order New Bride Web Site

There is a dire need for males in Asia to offer the developing population of women. This increases the potential customers of succeeding when eagerly anticipating getting an Oriental new bride. The chances of locating younger vietnam wives are higher on the chance range. If you want enough, you can obtain a sweetheart effortlessly. Marginal effort is required. Feel free to keep in mind that we train the web sites as mail-order-bride-ones without working as a consultant along withthem, upon our very own discretion. It does certainly not suggest that you can easily certainly not find your passion there certainly, however without any regard to unique criteria to mail-order-bride agencies under relevant law.

Asian Mail Order Bride

Asian mail order new brides are a wonder throughout the globe. They are actually as unique as the number of countries establishing the continent. They are actually new brides that cost going after as well as dating since they are actually distinct worldwide.

Asian Women Dating

Asian girlfriends are splendid, certainly, as well as listed below are a couple of main reason whies you should date them.

They Accept Your Previous Relationships

Generally, it ends up being quite toughfor a guy withyoungsters to receive married. Corespondents from around the globe are certainly not unbiased sufficient to accept that you possessed a life before them. For these girls, however, it ends up being extremely effortless to construct a lasting relationship withall of them. It is actually mucheasier to settle any conflict withthem, unlike other women coming from other portion of the planet.

They Are Stunning

They commonly are defined throughhaving long, black, and also sleek hair. The dating planet swirls withstories of warm Asian women. Their skin is actually believed to have a somewhat yellowishwindow tint, as well as they possess these very lively eyes. This is a girl that you are going to be proud to flaunt. She will definitely turn heads and stick out anywhere she goes because she is spectacular.

Submissive

These women have actually been brought up in a culture that acknowledges the man as the head of the house. They will definitely provide you the respect you are worthy of as a man of the house, and also they will certainly never ever prompt you in to violence. This is a female who understands how to handle her male, as well as if you adore a little bit of ego-caressing experience in your relationship, after that the Asian lady will certainly deliver you that.

Never Terrestrial

vietnam girls are certainly not sensual. They are actually known to become terrific hard workers as well as known for certainly never sitting idle as well as awaiting a guy to provide their every necessity. Even thoughyou are actually affluent, they care about being actually encouraging as well as expanding your wealtha lot more. Every effective male requires a lady who is centered and never materialistic on his side. Even when he possesses nothing at all, this female will definitely be supportive sufficient to help them achieve more factors in lifestyle.

Family- Driven

The Eastern female is actually family-oriented inside out. This is a girl that is going to constantly put her family members first. She is going to never compromise household for job. Eastern girl counts on rearing her little ones and instilling good values in all of them coming from a very early age. She will additionally offer great guidance on household concerns as well as assist create terrific choices for the good of the family.

Cheerful

Asian women are actually very cheerful, along witha fantastic funny bone. You are going to never ever be worn out in her provider given that she is sure you are actually properly delighted. She is going to inform you fairly rib-cracking jokes and also teachyou the funny bone coming from her component of the world. When you comprehend Asian humor, you will definitely share excellent laughs along withher, as well as they will be actually regular. For an Oriental woman, when her man is happy, she is happy too.

Intelligent

For very most Asian girls, charm picks brains. The method they are actually incredibly beautiful, these women are actually as sharp as a whip. A lot of all of them understand the market value of learning as well as are actually effectively enlightened. Despite the fact that you will encounter a number of that don’ t talk English, however put on ‘ t be actually tricked, they are smart as professional folks. The majority of all of them possess careers and will certainly be actually strongly experienced in a specific area. These girls care about being actually the very best, and they adore making a difference in their areas utilizing their experience.

How to Find an Asian Female to Wed

Withsimply a little bit of study, you could ponder where to acquire these beautiful Asian women to calm down along with. Mail order brides for Asia are located online. You can easily locate Oriental girls at the sites listed below. Go to these internet sites as well as get worthfor your funds.

AsiaCharm. com

As its own label proposes, AsiaCharm is actually an only Oriental dating web site that has plenty of profiles of Asian singles as well as those that appreciate them. It is a remarkable site that has, for a number of years linked single people that possess a great deal alike. You may discover new brides coming from Asia, China, et cetera of Asia. You can find an Asian better half, partner, or even friend on this internet site. It is actually a well-maintained, genuine dating website that has every enthusiasm of the participants deep down. The site management has actually headed to wonderful durations to guarantee that you have the best online dating adventure ever before.

AsianFeels. com

If you are trying to find a courting internet site that will definitely make your long for discovering the ideal Oriental new bride correct Asiafeels is actually the location to go. You will definitely locate thousands of profiles of Asian Single people and most of them able to get in touchwithyou. It is a great website that is responsible for many interracial relationships and partnerships. It is a site that is safe, withfantastic features and a terrific layout to provide you a simple time getting through. Profiles are actually of fantastic premium, and also procedures have actually been required to make sure that there’ s no hoax on the system. So any sort of bogus account or even doubtful profile will definitely be actually obstructed right away.

Asian Melodies.com

AsianMelodies is actually a wonderful internet site that has for years connected Eastern single people and also other singles from all over the planet. It is actually an incredibly professional site that ensures the security and also simplicity of use of the website. Within days of joining, you come to socialize witha number of attractive songs from Asia. This is because of the thousands of profiles of serious songs enrolled on the website.

RomanceTale. com

This is the most effective dating website for single folks. This is actually because geographic boundaries are breached, and also barriers were cracked to link any kind of 2 individuals that want eachother. This legitimate internet site, thus lots of others, is secure from people that feed on the upright. You may verify the life of the individual you are actually going out withby sending gifts to view whether they are received. This is actually all enabled throughthis web site.

Valentime. com

Asian bride-to-bes may be discovered listed here. The internet site has over a thousand profile pages of stunning Eastern girls. All you need to carry out is actually find the matchmost suited for you. Besides the simplicity of utilization and budget friendly service fees, this internet site has wonderful components. There is an arrange-a time function that is actually most beneficial for those who would love to comply withafter a very long time in discussion.

VictoriaHearts. com

This is actually an internet site where you can find Eastern females online. The fail fee is very low matched up to the significant effectiveness that has actually been attained over the years. There is no money-back warranty, however you’ ll acquire service that outperforms the charge charged.

LoverWhirl. com

LoverWhirl. com supplies a platform to locate an Eastern partner. Being an Asian web site, it has a wide database of profiles of Eastern hotties. The website resembles a theme on exactly how to obtain an Asian mail order bride. It is actually the ideal example of a really good dating site. Having been in business for many years, it is a website that may be depended on.

Conclusion

Most of Asia is actually contemporary thoughsome standard societies have still been actually kept. The payment of vietnam girls rate is actually, however, not a need. Just in case where web site’ s prices are demanded, they are very budget-friendly as well as certainly not unattainable. In Japan, for instance, there is no need for the new bride rate or wedding event expenditures for that concern. It even more proves that this is the very best spot to find for an entitled girl to marry. Most of the Oriental dating sites will certainly demand budget friendly registration expenses for a person to access the added attributes of these internet sites. There are actually still others that are actually free of charge but also for you to have a far better online courting expertise, consider a spent membership program. Besides, a lot of legitimate internet sites have paid out registrations, so take that as a clue. Examine all the characteristics of a great dating website prior to you signup considering that you wear’ t would like to lose time in your quest for the ideal Eastern spouse. Find a site witha proven track record suchas the ones pointed out over where you may acquire an Asian bride. You will certainly stand a far better chance of landing the Eastern girl of your desires.

from 32flavas https://ift.tt/2JkMN1M via IFTTT

0 notes

premayogan · 5 years

Text

6 Key Surveillance Industry Predictions: Axis Communications

The surveillance industry has seen tremendous growth in the past 10 to 15 years. Once, it was needed for only business, but now its expanded for our personal security as well. IoT and smart city concepts advanced the surveillance industry. And now organizations are looking for video analytics systems to monitor customer behavior and to reduce crime, as well as for marketing. Johan Paulsson, Chief Technology Officer, Axis Communications, talked about the 6 predictions for the Surveillance industry 2019 where he mentioned about AI, Cybersecurity, Cloud and many other aspects.

Artificial Intelligence

For all the attention and discussion, you could be forgiven for thinking that artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally changing every industry and sector. Though for the more cynical (and with reference to the Gartner Hype Cycle) you may feel that a lack of demonstrable applications of AI (and the associated machine learning and deep learning) points to either a Peak of inflated expectations or even the Trough of disillusionment. In reality, of course, progress differs from industry to industry and from application to application. In some fields – notably healthcare and specifically cancer detection – AI is already having a significant positive impact. In other areas, progress is steadier. Video surveillance is one of them. Video Analytics In our industry today, machine or deep-learning is mostly used for video analytics, but we expect the technology will be an important component in many different applications and products in the future. Over time it will become a common tool for software engineers and will be included in many different environments and devices. But, again, its application will be driven by the most compelling use cases, not by the technology itself. There is a temptation in the surveillance and security sector to over-promise in relation to new technologies. This has been true of AI in video analytics and, particularly, in some of the claims made around the current application of deep learning. With AI and deep learning, as with any new technology, we’re committed to making sure its implementation is robust, reliable and addresses real customer challenges. Deep Learning Phases Deep learning consists of two different phases: the training phase and the execution phase. The former requires a lot of processing power, data and time, so most likely will be run on a server and/or in the cloud, while additional training (fine tuning) could be done at the edge (which is a neat link into our next trend). The execution phase – that which requires ‘trained’ data to work – can be done at any level within the system, purely dependent on how much processing power is required and how time-critical the application is. Research and progress will continue, steadily, and bring incremental improvements and benefits over the next year rather than radical change.

Cloud and Edge Computing

If AI could still be said to be in the earlier stages of the Gartner Hype Cycle, it’s difficult to argue that cloud computing is anything other than firmly established and heading towards, if not already on, the Plateau of productivity. There can be few organizations in the private or public spheres that aren’t making use of cloud computing at some level, and many have moved their entire infrastructures to a cloud-based model. Internet of Things That said, cloud computing is based on the centralized computing in one or many data center, and as the proliferation of connected, Internet of Things (IoT) devices grows exponentially, so does the amount of data produced. Even as more data centers with ever-increased capacity are created, this tsunami of data could become overwhelming. This can be particularly critical in areas such as video surveillance, where despite the development of technologies designed to reduce storage and bandwidth needs, data demands are still significant. Edge Computing This is where the benefits of edge computing come to the fore. In simple terms, as its name suggests, edge computing puts more data processing at the ‘edge’ of the network, close to where the data is collected by the sensor and before transfer to the data center. One particular benefit in some sectors relates to the speed of processing and the ability to act upon the data captured. Take, for instance, an autonomous vehicle. Without edge computing – where both data capture and processing take place in the vehicle itself – the delay in communication with a cloud-based data center, even if only milliseconds, might be the difference between the vehicle avoiding an accident or otherwise. Edge Computing In Surveillance In our business, edge computing means processing data within the camera itself. While perhaps not as dramatic as avoiding road accidents, the benefits can still be significant. Firstly, initial processing of data within the camera can significantly reduce the bandwidth demands of both data transfer and storage. Additionally, data can be anonymized and encrypted before it is transferred, addressing security and privacy concerns. Ultimately, cloud and edge computing will not be an ‘either…or’ decision; the two will work in balance to the greatest benefit.

Personalization vs Privacy

Concerns and Regulations In years to come, 2018 might be considered as the year when broad awareness of data privacy reached its highest point, particularly that associated with personal information. To those in the public and private sectors, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) bought a higher level of scrutiny than ever before to how organizations collect, store, share and use personal information (including that captured by video surveillance). To the broader consumer, however, it is more likely to be issues relating to Facebook’s use of data which has heightened awareness and concern regarding what happens to the personal data given away online. Degree of Personalization Ultimately, we live in a world where we have been given valuable online services in exchange for knowingly or unconsciously handing over a significant amount of personal data. Indeed, this data is used by the likes of Facebook, Amazon, Google, and others to increase the value of these services through a high degree of personalization. To many, however, it feels like a line has been crossed between useful personalization and invasion of privacy, and the rumors that home voice assistants listen in to domestic conversations will only cause this unease to increase. Ultimately, the trust between an organization and its customers is becoming an increasingly important and tangible asset. Indeed, recent research from consulting firm Accenture has established a correlation between stakeholder trust and revenue. Concerns about a company’s approach to privacy and the use of personal data will be one of the most impactful aspects of trust in business moving forwards.

Cybersecurity

Can something continue to be a ‘trend’ when it appears every year, and is a constant concern? Whatever your answer to that question, it’s impossible to think about issues that will affect every sector this year without a mention of cybersecurity. Indeed, in relation to the previous point, the fastest way to damage trust between a company and its customers (and shareholders) is through a cybersecurity breach. Just ask British Airways. Cybersecurity will never be solved because the cybercriminals (and increasingly nation-states) will never stop trying to find and exploit vulnerabilities. These organizations are incredibly well-funded and organized and can innovate much more quickly than companies that need to adhere to industry regulations. Cyber Attacks Attacks are becoming more sophisticated, at a time when the number of connected devices mean that potential vulnerabilities and insecure network end-points are growing exponentially. One particular area of vulnerability that has been highlighted recently is in the supply chain, where either a lack of good cybersecurity practice or even deliberately malicious actions can result in cybersecurity breaches being achieved through both software and hardware. The provenance of products is ever more critical than ever, with manufacturers needing to be confident that every link in their supply chain is secure as it should be.

Smart Technology To Deliver Environmental Benefits

We’ve already seen how video analytics can be used as an operational planning tool by organizations looking to improve energy efficiency within offices, with the subsequent positive benefits for the environment. But new types of sensors can more accurately measure environmental impact across an organization’s sites, effectively acting as highly sensitive artificial ‘noses’ calibrated to different forms of output, and thermal imaging can be used to pinpoint areas of energy wastage. Healthcare Benefits For instance, one critical area where such sensors can heighten awareness, understanding and, increasingly allow for remedial action is in air quality. Whether inside buildings or in the external urban environment, the negative impacts on health and associated costs are becoming an ever-greater issue. Smart sensors will have a central role to play in addressing the problem globally. Such applications add value to organizations through efficiencies and cost savings (and, hopefully, health benefits), but also help them reach their own environmental and sustainability goals.

Sensor Integration Driving Smart Actions

In themselves, individual sensors such as those described above can deliver significant benefits. But a final trend that we’re confident will be increasingly prevalent in 2019 will be combining and integrating sensors to prompt ‘smart’ actions. Smart Alerts For instance, in a smart city, a motion sensor connected to a barrier could trigger a camera which, in turn, would trigger an alert in the operations center, allowing for a rapid and appropriate response. Or an environmental sensor could again trigger a video or thermal camera to quickly identify fires or spillages, again prompting alerts which will create a more rapid and effective response. When the range of sensors are considered – from thermal to motion, from atmospheric to video – the ways in which they could be combined are endless, as are the potential benefits of doing so.

Conclusion

Technology continues to develop at a rapid and accelerating pace. While it can be easy to become distracted by the potential of every new trend or innovation, each must be considered in relation to the use cases that are going to deliver maximum positive impact and value to organizations and citizens. This remains the lens through which we view technology trends and their application, and 2019 promises to be another exciting year in bringing new technologies to market in increasingly useful ways. Read the full article

0 notes

premayogan · 5 years

Text

6 Key Surveillance Industry Predictions: Axis Communications

Artificial Intelligence

Cloud and Edge Computing

Personalization vs Privacy

Cybersecurity

Smart Technology To Deliver Environmental Benefits

Sensor Integration Driving Smart Actions

Conclusion

0 notes