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masterofd1saster · 1 year

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CJ current events 16feb23

Spartan murders

The mass shooter who killed three students and left five others in critical condition at Michigan State University was identified Tuesday as a 43-year-old local man who previously spent time behind bars on gun charges.

Anthony Dwayne McRae was IDed after he was found dead of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound at 11:35 p.m., just over three hours after he first opened fire at the East Lansing campus.

“We have absolutely no idea what the motive was at this point,” MSU Police Interim Deputy Chief Chris Rozman said early Tuesday.

McRae “had no affiliation to the university — he was not a student, faculty or staff, current or previous.”***

McRae was finally tracked down after a local resident called a tip line during the more than three hours he was hunted after shooting up two locations at the school, officials said.***

Records show that McRae was arrested in June 2019 with a suspected loaded firearm in his car. He was convicted and sentenced to up to 18 months, getting released on supervision in May 2021, the Detroit News said.*** https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/13/us/michigan-state-university-shots-fired/index.html

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***He was arrested in 2019 for possessing guns without a concealed carry permit, Michigan Department of Corrections spokesperson Chris Gautz told Bridge Michigan on Tuesday.

Court records show McRae was initially charged with a felony in district court but later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in circuit court. He was put on probation in 2019 and was discharged from it in 2021.

On Jan.7, 2019, a police officer found McRae outside an abandoned building around 1:30 a.m. and stopped him for questioning. McRae acknowledged he had a gun without a concealed carry permit, claiming he brought the weapon with him in “fear for his safety” while out buying cigarettes, Gautz said.

He had four counts of driving while his license was suspended, Gautz said. Court records indicate he had several run-ins with local police for speeding, driving without insurance and other motor vehicle offenses. He pleaded guilty to those charges in Eaton County in 2006 and 2008 and in Ingham County in 2007 and 2008.*** https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/michigan-state-shooter-anthony-mcrae-had-guns-charge-run-ins-police

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Some dummy posted a photo with a caption that

read: "#BREAKING: Michigan State University SHOOTING SUSPECT is 21 year old 'Lynn Dee Walker' according to dispatch audio. He is still on the loose and considered armed and dangerous. #ActiveShooter #MSU #MassShooting #MichiganStateUniversity #BreakingNews."***

Walker, a prolific tweeter who often shares his views on politics, posted several times on social media throughout the night as it became clear he was being publicly accused of an atrocity he did not commit.

He wrote: "I am at my house in western Massachusetts reading with my wife, if you see literally anybody spreading this s***, please get them to delete it. I don't ask for much & I have to be subjected to this sort of s*** on your behalf. Help me out here... If you see people posting me, report it, thanks...

"I dont want to stay up all night exonerating myself. Im just disgusted, viscerally disgusted... It's pretty f***** up that algorithmically this has brought me more followers than the good work that I do. God have mercy on the innocent people who are victims of this murder machine... Im being told CNN ran my face on tv? Someone get a screencap of that if that happened."*** https://www.newsweek.com/michigan-shooter-gunman-lynne-dee-walker-wrong-fake-hoax-1781034

***

Oakland, of course

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Video showing women who appear to be sex workers soliciting right outside a Catholic grade school in East Oakland is raising concerns about human trafficking in the area.

Parents and city officials tell the I-Team young women, some police believe may be trafficked, are walking outside St. Anthony's K-8 grade school off E. 15th Street in Oakland at all hours of the day.

Vargas called the Oakland Police Department as she picked up her daughter from school requesting officers come by to check the area. Just outside her window, a young girl in black stilettos was seen walking across the street from the school.

"My daughter asked if I liked what the girl was wearing," said Vargas. "I told her don't turn around, don't look. It's not OK."

Vargas says the women are scantily dressed or in some cases, even naked.***

We spoke with Father Ghebriel Woldai, the pastor for St. Anthony's parish.

"It's not enough," said Father Ghebriel, referring to the overall police presence. "They promised us they will do more presence here."

Father Ghebriel says St. Anthony's has had several meetings with the Oakland Police Department and city leaders over the years to enhance patrols in the area, but they need more help. He says the ongoing solicitation and trafficking has resulted in more shootings between pimps and gang members - even during the day.

MORE: Oakland dental surgeon arrested for human trafficking, offering to buy children for $30,000

"If there is a violent shooting, sometimes we experience those kinds, it scares me a lot," Father Ghebriel said. "We feel powerless... we just pray."

"But, Father, we know prayer alone, isn't going to solve the problem," Sierra said.

"Yes, I know... we start with prayer, but we have to end with action," Father said.

Action from police?

If you ask the Oakland Police Dept. - a new law is making it harder for them to crack down.

"Their hands are somewhat handcuffed," said Pierre-Antoine.

Previously, loitering with the intent to engage in prostitution was illegal. But SB 357, a bill introduced by State Sen. Scott Wiener repealed that law, in part because he found it to be disproportionately targeting transgender women.*** https://abc7news.com/human-trafficking-prostitution-oakland-catholic-school-st-anthonys/12764548/

***

Carj

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is seeking witnesses and video footage of a pursuit in which a Fountain police officer fell 40 feet off a bridge.

The alleged carjackers in the pursuit drove the wrong way on Interstate 25 at one point and attempted another armed carjacking at a gas station, the sheriff’s office said in a Friday news release detailing the pursuit. Three people were arrested in the pursuit, and the officer, Julian Becerra, is recovering from his injuries.

Fountain police officers and several other agencies were assisting the Department of Correction Parole Unit on Feb. 2 in locating a known carjacking suspect with active felony warrants.

Officers tracked the vehicle from Pueblo to Colorado Springs, and at about 5:30 p.m., officers spotted the vehicle at a store parking lot near North Academy Boulevard and Platte Avenue.

The carjacking suspects were believed to be attempting another carjacking in the store parking lot, but “because of the reckless actions of the suspect driving the vehicle, officers were unable to safely maintain the visual contact” and couldn’t confirm that carjacking, according to the news release.

A little while later at 7:15 p.m., the vehicle was located again on Interstate 25 heading north toward Fountain and tracked to the area of Colorado 85 and Alegre Circle, where officers confirmed the vehicle was occupied by three people.

Officers attempted several tactical vehicle interventions, maneuvers meant to force a fleeing driver to lose control and stop, but were unsuccessful.

The vehicle drove south on U.S. 85 through Fountain then entered Interstate 25 and headed south in the northbound lanes, according to the news release.***

https://www.denverpost.com/2023/02/10/fountain-police-officer-injured-pursuit-carjacking/

***

Californication

It seems that residents of California’s Mendocino County need to be careful to avoid drunk driving—except after being caught cheating on a spouse. The latest lowlight in Golden State legal history may sound like a tale from the Onion or the Babylon Bee. But the Bee covering this story is the one based in Sacramento.

The newspaper’s Daniella Segura reports:

A husband caught cheating on his wife drove drunk legally to escape his angry wife and lover, a California jury found.

The 60-year-old Ukiah man was caught driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.11%, the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office said in a Feb. 4 Facebook post. In California, it is illegal to drive with a BAC higher than 0.08%.

After a four-day trial, a jury found he was “not guilty of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and not guilty of driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol .08 or greater,” the district attorney said.

The Facebook page for Mendocino County District Attorney David Eyster*** https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-two-angry-women-defense-11675981851

***

Nellie has a point

→ Atomwaffen founder arrested for plotting terror attack: The founder of neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen was arrested this week for plotting to attack the power grid outside Baltimore. “This alleged planned attack threatened lives and would have left thousands of Marylanders in the cold and dark,” Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron said in a press release. The group of radicals who sometimes call themselves accelerationists (as in, accelerate the fall of modern society) have long argued that electrical grids are vulnerable, and taking them down is a good way to sow chaos. They’re right on both fronts! Accelerationist groups seem to be behind a growing number of attacks on electric grids around the country.

Listen, America has problems; that’s why we TGIF. But if you really, really hate modern America—like, hate it enough to want to shut down Baltimore’s power in February and most likely cause people to freeze to death—I recommend you simply move to a country that might suit you better. Qatar is right there, happy to have you. Iran is beautiful this time of year. Let’s keep the lights on, though.*** https://www.thefp.com/p/tgif-real-housewives-of-the-sotu

***

“Out on bond” is a sign you must change your evil ways

A Houston high school student who tried hiding from police in a school, causing a lockdown, following a police shooting during an attempted robbery was out of jail on bond at the time.

Mahamoudou Sylla, 19, was out on multiple bonds at the time he was allegedly involved in the shooting near Wisdom High School last week.

"He was out on multiple bonds," Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers Houston told Fox Houston. "The first bond was for evading arrest, the second bond was really serious aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon with three other co-defendants."***

Sylla and two other suspects – John Nsenguwera, 18, and a 17-year-old year teen – were involved in a robbery last week at an apartment complex when one of the suspects allegedly shot at someone. Houston police officers responded and an officer shot Nsenguwera, who allegedly pointed a gun at the cops. He was injured and taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.*** https://www.foxnews.com/us/houston-teen-robbery-shooting-lockdown-high-school-jail-bond

***

W/o 1st Amendment, prayer is a crime

Authorities in the United Kingdom charged a Catholic priest with violating a censorship zone when he silently prayed outside an abortion clinic while holding a sign that said “praying for free speech.”

Father Sean Gough, a pro-life priest stationed in Wolverhampton, England, had also parked his car in the area near the abortion clinic, which is covered by a Public Spaces Protection Order, according to Alliance Defending Freedom International. Authorities also took issue with Gough’s car, which has an “unborn lives matter” bumper sticker on it, ADF said.

*** https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/02/09/priest-punished-for-silently-praying-outside-abortion-clinic-father-sean-gough-adf-international/

***

Wonderful human being

Boston law enforcement announced Monday that an accused fentanyl dealer arrested by federal agents over the weekend is also charged with the broad daylight murder of a 13-year-old boy last month.

Csean Alexander Skerritt, who federal prosecutors say also goes by "Shizz Grimmy" or "Black," was charged through an arrest warrant Monday for the murder of 13-year-old Tyler Lawrence of Norwood.

The teen was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds Jan. 29 at 11:32 a.m. in the area of 119 Babson Street in Mattapan, Massachusetts, where the middle schooler was reportedly staying with his grandparents. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the Boston Police Department said.***

https://www.foxnews.com/us/accused-boston-fentanyl-dealer-charged-monstrous-broad-daylight-murder-13-year-old-boy-evil-intent

***

‘Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. - Orwell, G. (1949). 1984.

Josh Alexander is a 16 y/o student at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Renfrew, Ontario, Canada. There was a classroom discussion of gender. “I said there were only two genders and you were born either a male or a female and that got me into trouble. And then I said that gender doesn’t trump biology.”

St Joe’s told him he could return only if he shut up.

“I walked into one of my classes. I sat down and everyone looked pretty surprised to see me there. Within two minutes the vice-principal was in the classroom asking me to leave,” Josh said.

He left the class and “almost immediately I was met with the police.” Josh was put in the back of a cruiser, driven off property and later released and charged with trespassing. https://nationalpost.com/opinion/catholic-school-has-student-arrested-for-expressing-catholic-beliefs

Hm. I wonder if Jesus ever said

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,*

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free, Luke 4:18.

***

Change anything?

Unsurprisingly, another high-profile crime story can be traced back to someone with a long, violent criminal history who probably should not have been out of jail in the first place.

Kendrid Hamlin, the man who attacked Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) in an elevator in her apartment complex, has a criminal history stretching back to 2015 when he would have been around 18 years old. Hamlin has been convicted of “engaging in a lewd, obscene sexual act,” stealing from a supermarket, entering a woman’s home without permission and stealing her laptop, and biting, spitting on, and kicking police officers.

Hamlin was sentenced to just 35 days in jail after assaulting the officers. His release date was two weeks before he attacked Craig. Hamlin punched Craig in the face and grabbed her near the neck when she refused to let him into her apartment.

The incident was so jarring that Craig and 30 other House Democrats decided to brave the accusations of racism by members of their own party in voting to override the city’s new proposed criminal justice reforms. The D.C. Council was trying to water down sentences for violent criminals even more than the current standards that allowed Hamlin to be out on the streets one month after assaulting police officers.*** https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/another-high-profile-crime-committed-by-a-violent-career-criminal

***

Worth a look

When Nicole Hockley's son was killed during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, she joined parents in calling on lawmakers to strengthen gun laws to prevent other families from experiencing such tragedy.

When passing federal legislation proved difficult in 2013, Hockley turned her focus to a more hands-on method to prevent school shootings : student-oriented gun violence prevention.***

In 2018, Sandy Hook Promise developed an anonymous reporting system that allows students to upload tips, photos, or social media posts if they believe someone is harming themselves or others. The reports go to Sandy Hook Promise’s national crisis center — the first nationally accredited anonymous reporting system in the country.

Sandy Hook Promise’s tool kit is responsible for the prevention of 13 credible planned shootings and 93 acts of violence with a firearm as of January 2023, Hockley said.*** https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/sandy-hook-promises-pivot-student-intervention-stops-school-shootings

***

Good review of fentanyl

https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-is-fentanyl-drug-opioid-health-safety-explained-11658341650

***

Faster death of despair

A veterinary tranquilizer that can cause serious wounds for regular users is spreading menace within the illicit drug supply.

Xylazine, authorized only for animals, is one ingredient in an increasingly toxic brew of illicit drugs that killed a record of nearly 107,000 people in the U.S. in 2021. It is typically mixed with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that itself has broadly infiltrated U.S. drug supply, including in supplies of cocaine and methamphetamine. Taken together, the volatile mixing means drug users often don’t know what’s in the substances they take.

Dealers may mix xylazine into fentanyl to save money, federal law-enforcement authorities said. The drug—known as “tranq” among some users—can be purchased at low prices from Chinese suppliers and offset some of the opioid in the mix. Its presence in the drug supply is part of the arms race between criminals seeking to enhance their products and authorities trying to disrupt the market. Public-health authorities are working on ways to monitor the constantly changing drug market.

For users, xylazine can also lengthen a high—with serious risks. The overdose-reversal drug naloxone that can be critical to saving fentanyl users doesn’t work against xylazine. And users can become physically dependent on xylazine in addition to fentanyl, complicating treatment.

Severe wounds are another hallmark. They appear where users inject drugs, and on other parts of their bodies. They start as purple blisters, or white patches of skin encircled by red rings, said Jason Bienert, a wound-care nurse in Elkton, Md. Tissue beneath the lesions can die within hours, Mr. Bienert said. He has had luck treating the wounds the way he would treat a burn victim. *** https://www.wsj.com/articles/tranq-a-veterinary-drug-is-worsening-the-fentanyl-crisis-a27e7065

***

We fund censorship?

The State Dep’t funnels $200k - $300k to Global Disinformation Index, a theoretically non profit org. GDI apparently exists to blacklist and privately censor outlets to the right of Karl Marx.

GDI operates a "dynamic exclusion list" with conservative media outlets. The Washington Examiner confirmed that the outlet is on this list, and GDI has, separately, claimed the 10 "riskiest" news outlets are the American Spectator, Newsmax, the Federalist, the American Conservative, One America News Network, the Blaze, the Daily Wire, RealClearPolitics, Reason, and the New York Post.

However, GDI has ranked the 10 "least risky" as the Wall Street Journal, NPR, ProPublica, the Associated Press, Insider, the New York Times, USA Today, the Washington Post, Buzzfeed News, and HuffPost, according to a 27-page memo.*** https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/equality-not-elitism/disinformation-inc-government-backed-organization-sent-315-000-to-group-blacklisting-conservative-news

***

Mmmm, ok

On Valentine’s Day 2018, a 19-year-old opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, wounding 17 and killing 17 people, including Alaina Petty, the 14-year-old daughter of Ryan Petty.***

Ryan Petty, the father believes cultivating more law-abiding gun owners and changing the law to allow a supermajority on a jury to recommend the death penalty are two areas of unfinished work.

"If you can't get the death penalty for killing 17 in a school, I don't know what you can get the death penalty for," Ryan Petty told the Washington Examiner, referring to a jury's decision in October last year to spare the shooter, Nikolas Cruz, by recommending a life sentence over the death penalty.

The jury voted 11-1 for capital punishment, prompting anguish and sorrow from victims' family members and blunt calls from Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) himself, who said defendants like Cruz "deserve the death penalty."

Now, the Florida legislature is considering a new law with the backing of the governor to permit a presiding judge to override a jury's recommendation of life or allow capital punishment if at least eight jurors agreed, creating the lowest threshold for issuing capital punishment. The bill, known as HB 555, has so far been referred to the Criminal Justice Subcommittee ahead of the start of the legislative session on April 10.*** https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/parkland-father-wants-to-arm-staff-change-death-penalty-rules

***

It’s People v. Dharmesh Patel, not Neha v. Dharmesh

The wife of a doctor who drove his family off a cliff last month in California does not want him prosecuted for the attempted murder of herself and their two young children, according to reports.

Dharmesh Patel, 42, was in court last week and pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder when his defense attorney stated that Neha Patel did not want her husband prosecuted. However, Neha Patel told paramedics at the crash site that “he tried to kill us.”

"She said very simply this was not an accident. We do believe the evidence establishes the necessary intent to kill,” San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told the San Francisco Chronicle.***

The doctor was driving along a narrow oceanside highway near San Francisco when he suddenly took a sharp turn and veered off a cliff. His Tesla landed on a bed of rocks near the surf and had to be rescued by teams that rappelled 250 feet from the road.

Dharmesh Patel and his wife and two children all survived without serious injuries. The family lived in the Los Angeles suburb of Pasadena, where Patel worked as a hospital radiologist.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Sean Gallagher told NBC Bay Area that Dharmesh Patel will be prosecuted regardless of his wife’s wishes.*** https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/wife-doctor-drove-off-california-cliff-doesnt-want-him-prosecuted

***

I know, let’s making pimping legal!!!

A California Republican official bashed a San Francisco lawmaker’s push toward legalizing prostitution and called it a detriment to police who attempt to arrest human traffickers.

San Francisco County Supervisor Hillary Ronen said she supports creating a red light zone to decriminalize sex work and plans to introduce the resolution Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reported. This comes after police closed down an area of the Mission District to traffic to curb extensive prostitution there.

"What sane person would argue that the solution to human trafficking is to make it easier?” said Assemblyman James Gallagher (R).

“We need to identify traffickers, arrest them, and put them behind bars for a long time, but under California law, human trafficking isn’t considered a violent crime, so traffickers are able to benefit from early release programs,” he said.

Last year Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) signed a bill that decriminalized the intent to engage in prostitution. San Francisco residents have since seen a spike in such activity, prompting the street closure.

State Sen. Scott Wiener (D) was one of the bill’s authors.*** https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/gop-lawmakers-seek-to-thwart-san-francisco-push-to-legalize-prostitution

Cui bono? [Cicero used it; not sure who started.] Who profits? Who loses?

***

Good

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, February 13, 2023 Two Amazon Marketplace Sellers and Four Companies Plead Guilty to Price Fixing DVDs and Blu-Ray Discs

Two Amazon marketplace sellers and four of their companies have pleaded guilty to price fixing DVDs and Blu Ray Discs.

On Feb. 10 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Bruce Fish of Hayfield, Minnesota, along with BDF Enterprises, Inc., a corporate entity owned by Fish, admitted to participating in a conspiracy to fix the prices of DVDs and Blu-Ray discs sold on the Amazon marketplace. Victor Btesh of Brooklyn, New York, and three New York corporate entities of which Btesh is the sole or majority owner, pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy on Feb. 9.

According to the plea agreements, Btesh and Fish, along with their four corporate entities, agreed with co-conspirators to raise and maintain the prices of DVDs and Blu-Rays sold in Amazon marketplace storefronts, resulting in those products being sold at collusive and noncompetitive prices. Amazon Marketplace is an e-commerce platform that enables third-party vendors to sell new or used products alongside Amazon’s own offerings. Amazon Marketplace is owned and operated by Amazon.com, Inc. The four corporate entities are the first corporate defendants to plead guilty and the owners are the fifth and sixth individuals in the scheme.*** https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-amazon-marketplace-sellers-and-four-companies-plead-guilty-price-fixing-dvds-and-blu-ray

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Love this

***

What? You liked him?

***

Know your country’s extradition treaties

DENVER — A suspect who was originally set for trial nearly nine years ago in a child sexual assault case in Adams County was recently extradited from Morocco, the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced Monday. Patrick McKenner, 52, had been wanted since he failed to appear for a motions hearing in May 2014. Investigators with the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice eventually located McKenner in Morocco, where he was detained by local authorities. FBI officials traveled to Morocco last week to extradite McKenner, who was turned over to the custody of Adams County Sheriff's Office at Denver International Airport on Saturday.*** https://www.9news.com/article/news/crime/colorado-suspect-2013-child-sex-assault-extradited-morocco/73-eac35a0e-2469-4000-9e9d-f6ada8c612ed

***

Cassandra mentioned this concept

***In the private sector, employee vs. employer bargaining concerns the allocation of profits. A private business facing extortionate union demands can relocate or go out of business. A government can do neither. Collective bargaining presupposes adversarial conflict, but in “negotiations” between government employee unions and government, the unions want government to do what government wants to do: expand, using money from a third party, the citizenry. In 2006, New Jersey’s Democratic governor — management — assured a rally of 10,000 government employees, “We will fight for a fair contract!” Who would fight whom?***

Police unions, too, win contracts with thick layers of protections to shield substandard performers from accountability. Of the approximately 2,600 complaints the Minneapolis Police Department received in the decade before the murder of George Floyd, 12 led to discipline, the most severe being a 40-hour suspension. In 2017, a Post report on 37 large cities’ policing found a dismissal rate of 130 officers a year out of 91,000. Seventy percent of San Antonio officers fired for cause from 2006 to 2017 were rehired after contractually mandatory arbitration.

It is quaint that the 1939 Hatch Act bars “political activity” by federal employees, the unionized 25 percent of whom pay dues that fund unions’ political activities. Public sector unions are, Howard says, “a political force unlike any in American history — amassed and entrenched using state power.” These unions spend $1 billion to $3 billion a year influencing political decisions: “No other interest group, no industry, comes close to mobilizing that amount of political money.”*** https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/02/08/public-unions-harm-schools-police-government/

***Wed

Lying is bad. Lying doesn’t make you a hero, particularly when you take money for it.

Dr. Michael J. Kirk Moore runs the Plastic Surgery Institute of Sandy, Utah. Apparently, if you gave him $50, he would falsely certify that you had rec’d the covid vax. The FBI arrested him, and he has been indicted. https://www.lopmatrix.com/legend-utah-doctor-arrested-for-saving-nearly-2000-people-from-the-covid-shots/

***

Top quality parody

https://babylonbee.com/news/city-legalizes-weed-having-no-adverse-effects-except-making-the-whole-city-smell-like-weed

***

Don’t start any wars for us.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Four Florida Men Arrested in Plot to Kill Haitian President, Grand Jury Returns Indictment Against 11

This morning, U.S. federal law enforcement arrested two U.S. citizens and a legal permanent resident living in South Florida and one U.S. citizen living in Tampa pursuant to criminal complaints on charges relating to their participation in the events leading to the July 7, 2021, assassination of President Jovenel Moïse of Haiti. Following the arrests, a South Florida grand jury returned a third superseding indictment charging these four individuals, along with seven others previously arrested and charged in the United States for their alleged roles in the plot.

The four men arrested in Florida today are: Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, 50, a Colombian national and U.S. permanent resident of Miami; Antonio Intriago 59, a Venezuelan-American of Miami; Walter Veintemilla, 54, of Weston; and Frederick Bergmann, 64, of Tampa.

They made their initial federal court appearances today at 2:00 p.m. in Miami before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis.*** https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/four-florida-men-arrested-plot-kill-haitian-president-grand-jury-returns-indictment-against

*** Thurs

Look at the pics

https://nypost.com/2023/02/15/anthony-tony-mitchell-froze-to-death-in-alabama-jail-freezer-lawsuit/

A first responder’s job is dealing with people at their worst. People who aren’t hostile, abusive, and insane are the exception.

***

The bailiff should fire when ready.

Former MTV star Connor Smith allegedly tried to engage in sex acts with a girl under the age of 15, according to Illinois police.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant for the MTV “Are You The One?” star after he interacted with an undercover officer who was posing as a minor for “several weeks” online.

Smith, 32, sent explicit videos and images of himself before planning a meet-up to engage in sexual acts, police said.

The reality star then drove to meet the minor on Feb. 9 but was apprehended by detectives before fleeing in his vehicle, the press release states.

Smith faces three felonies — traveling to meet a minor, grooming, and disseminating harmful material.

Police said that Smith has yet to surrender as of early Thursday. A judge signed off on a $1 million bond after his arrest.***

In 2021, the troubled reality star was arrested for allegedly raping and assaulting a 16-year-old girl.

The alleged crime began when the teen claimed she provided someone with her address after she saw they were selling a cat via Snapchat, TMZ reported.***

https://pagesix.com/2023/02/16/ex-mtv-star-connor-smith-wanted-for-trying-to-meet-girl-under-15-for-sex/

***

If she just waited, she could have had the tat for free

Jen Shah will be reporting to prison on Friday with some new ink.

The former “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star got two new tattoos just days before she is scheduled to start her six-and-a-half year prison sentence for wire fraud.

Shah, 49, got the word “Keiki” — the Hawaiian term for “baby” or “child” — tattooed across the top of her left forearm.

Similarly, she got the names of her husband, Sharrieff Shah, as well as her two sons, Sharrieff Jr. and Omar, inked on the bottom of her right arm.

Jen was arrested in March 2021 for running a nationwide telemarketing scheme which targeted thousands of people, mainly the elderly.*** https://pagesix.com/2023/02/15/jen-shah-gets-two-new-tattoos-before-reporting-to-prison/

***

I get that it was an attempt, but why isn’t he incarcerated at least a little?

A former Cherry Creek High School softball coach has been sentenced to 10 years’ probation after pleading guilty in a child sex crime case.

Paul “Pablo” Severtson was sentenced Monday in Arapahoe County District Court, according to the district attorney’s office.

Severtson was arrested in July as part of a child sex crime investigation connected to a Virginia girl who took her own life.*** https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/former-cherry-creek-hs-softball-coach-sentenced-to-ten-years-probation-for-child-sex-crime/ar-AA17xkym

+++

***In March, local investigators were contacted by the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia about a juvenile girl who died by suicide, the news release said. Through the course of the Virginia investigation, authorities discovered that the girl had been communicating with an individual, identified as Severtson, on social media messaging apps.

Through his social media accounts, Severtson passed himself off as someone in his early 20s who was into fitness,

according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators allege Severston was attempting to persuade the Virginia girl to send him nude images and videos of herself, “which due to her age, would be considered child sexual abuse material.”***https://www.denverpost.com/2022/07/20/paul-pablo-severtson-girls-softball-coach-arrested-suspect-child-sex-crime/

***

Loudon County really wants to hide its shame

The school board in Loudoun County, Virginia, voted on Tuesday night to keep the findings of an independent report on sexual assault private. The report, compiled by the law firm Blankingship and Keith, focused on how the district responded to two sexual assault incidents at Stone Bridge High School in May 2021. The 15-year-old “gender fluid” male student pleaded guilty to counts of rape in “forced sodomy” and “forced fellatio” against a teenage girl at Stone Bridge. The student allegedly sexually assaulted another teenage girl at Broad Run High School while waiting for his first trial.

The school board claimed that it had to keep the repot secret because it would reveal students’ personal data, in violation of the law. John Beatty, a member of the school board, contested this claim, telling The Daily Signal that he made a motion to redact students’ names in releasing the report.

In December, a special grand jury released a separate report on Loudoun County Public Schools’ handling of the 15-year-old “gender fluid” student’s multiple sexual assaults. The grand jury, which Virginia Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares requested in April, consisted of Loudoun County citizens, who heard from over 40 witnesses and perused over 100 pieces of evidence.

The jury’s report states that Loudoun County Public Schools “failed at every juncture….LCPS as an organization tends to avoid managing difficult situations by not addressing them fully.” The grand jury suggested that the report be released to the public so the community might view as much information as possible.***

Mike Smith, an LCPS father, questioned the merit of this decision in a public comment session at Tuesday’s school board meeting. “I understand you want to redact minors’ names, everyone knows that these things [name reduction requirements] happen,” he said. “But what happened outside the event? What happened behind the scenes? What happened behind the scenes is almost scarier than the actual event. It’s just going to perpetuate more.”***

One LCPS mother chided the board for citing attorney-client privilege: “I’m very furious because once again people at this county in this school board are protecting adults….They aren’t protecting children.”

Parents leveled additional sexual assault allegations at LCPS staff. One former LCPS mother, Tumay Harding, accused board members of “hiding behind Title IX” nondiscrimination law and brushing her off after Harding reported a science teacher who allegedly sexually assaulted and harassed her daughter and two of her daughter’s friends.

Harding implored, “I want this teacher to not hurt anybody again.”

She asked the same question thousands of parents around the United States have been asking in the wake of disturbing revelations kept from parents and the public: “As you heard today, two years prior, the same allegations from a girl were hidden from us. What else is being hidden from us?”*** https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/02/15/loudoun-county-school-board-votes-hide-report-male-gender-fluid-student-raping-students-parents/

***

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seekfirst-community · 2 years

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Meditation: Are you quick to judge the faults of others? Jesus' parable teaches us patience lest we judge before the time is right. Jesus also warns that there is an enemy who seeks to destroy the good seed of his word before it can bear fruit. Both good and evil can be sown in our hearts like tiny seeds which germinate, and in due time yield a harvest of good or bad fruit. We must stand guard lest evil take root in our hearts and corrupt us.

Reaping what we sow in this life

Charles Read wrote: "Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny." In the day of judgment each will reap what he or she has sown in this life. Those who sow good will shine in the kingdom of their Father. They will radiate with the beauty, joy, and fullness of God's love. Do you allow the love of Jesus Christ to rule in your heart, thoughts, and actions?

"Lord Jesus, may your all-consuming love rule in my heart and transform my life that I may sow what is good, worthy, and pleasing to you."

hope in god in our culture of death

“Have You cast Judah off completely?” —Jeremiah 14:19

Jeremiah looked at his society and described it as overwhelmed by great destruction (Jer 14:17). He diagnosed it as wounded and incurable (Jer 14:17). Under these circumstances, Jeremiah prayed: “Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest” (Jer 14:17).

Pope St. John Paul II looked at our world and described it as a “culture of death.” Although this is even worse than what Jeremiah described, Pope St. John Paul II assured the victory of a civilization of love and life over our “culture of death.” Pope St. John Paul II was not naive. He realized the “enormous disparity between the powerful resources available to the forces promoting the ‘culture of death’ and the means at the disposal of those working for a ‘culture of life and love’ ” (The Gospel of Life, 100). However, “we have faith in God our Father and Lord, in His goodness and mercy...God is preparing a great springtime for Christianity” (Mission of the Redeemer, Pope St. John Paul II, 86). Moreover, the “new springtime of Christian life...will be revealed...if Christians are docile to the action of the Holy Spirit” (Toward the Third Millennium, Pope St. John Paul II, 18).

“We are more than conquerors because of Him Who has loved us” (Rm 8:37). Thank You, Jesus!

Prayer: Father, I will cross the threshold of hope.

Promise: “Then the saints will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let everyone heed what he hears!” —Mt 13:43

Praise: Sts. Joachim and Anne, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s parents, are grandparents of the Incarnate Word! “Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their parentage” (Prv 17:6).

Reference: (For a related teaching on The Culture of Death, listen to, download or order our CD 73-3 or DVD 73 on our website.)

Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from June 1, 2022 through July 31, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio November 18, 2021"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements

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shelby-love · 2 years

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TOMMY SHELBY | “A Game of Fate” (2/2)

Requested: yes Published: December 30th, 2021 Pairing: Established Tommy Shelby x Reader Prompt(s): none Warning(s): none Word count: 1.5k Author’s note: I am sorry for this late update. I didn't think it has actually been that long since I posted this. I was listening to "Let's Hurt Tonight" by OneRepublic as I was writing this, and perhaps it's why this took such a dark turn (the song itself matches this fic very well). I tried to keep it as "light" as I could, but given how I wrote the first part, such demands were impossible to fulfill. This talks of post-trauma, because there is no way in hell that Reader is okay after what I put her through in the first chapter. The ending is open for interpretation, for trauma doesn't go after two days have passed. I'm really proud of my writing in this one, and I hope you will like it.

☇ my navigation // PT.01 //

Sometimes, fate was so cruel it made one cry. You had, honest to God, never believed in fate until the moment the liberty of a choice was taken away from you. There was darkness around your heart and mind, urging you to believe that maybe, just maybe, this torture was fate deemed your eligible punishment.

Barely any fight left in you to disagree with the universe.

There is suffering in silence. Menace in the waters. Fear in every fiber of your body.

And for what?

Your skin was slick with sweat that had formed over days work. There was little air in the derelict stockroom, only the cold that seeped through whatever cracks had been made over the years of neglect. Rarely did you visit such places, where one didn't have working water.

Your lips turned dry, tongue like sandpaper. Thirst.

You were thirsty.

Yet all it took to send you vomiting was one look at the water. One thought at the liquid.

They hadn't been gone long; you took note. The sun blinked in between clouds as it did when they were there, and so you still saw it through the gap in the wall. It was little after the first few hours of dawn; one might guess if they had the courage.

A hum of a song left your lips, the only sound in the warehouse. It had once been accompanied by the rustling of cloth against the chair or the scraping of a boot against the floor. By the time your wrists began bleeding and your feet froze solid, you had given up entirely. But you had to drone the melody if only to let yourself know you were still alive.

It was fate's game to play now.

And you were no longer a player.

Eyelids became too heavy to hold yet again, the itchiness in your eyes a malice on its own. They began closing at a snail's pace, but you held them in place knowing what kind of irritation the water gathered in the corners of your eyes would give. That dance was so overdone. It was more challenging to dance it the more it happened.

And so, you let them flap shut, your neck a loose rope that could no longer stay upright. Your chin met your chest, and you could hear the shallowness of your breathing accompany the song. The fire turned ember in your lungs but still it hurt to inhale freely more than it hurt to just gather enough air to live.

The waters would be a mercy.

Indeed they would. They would leave no room to fight them, perhaps not in the beginning. But it was a swifter death than the one that was draining you. Slowly, you would close your eyes and fall asleep, and mercy would be as sharp as a knife in ending you in your sleep.

And then just as you were about to succumb to the darkness, fate played wrong.

And Tommy Shelby made the right move.

The game was over.

But you didn't know.

Bella.

Changretta's voice was a force in your mind. The warehouse was once again filled with sound. They were so, so loud.

Bella. Bella. Bella.

Your body began shaking on its own accord, and you pulled at the restrains, fearing what's to come.

Not the water again.

Please not the water.

Your creased riding boots kicked against the ground that you mistook for bottomless water only a second before. But it was solid. The floor was as solid as it could be beneath you.

Grounded. You were on the ground.

But then hands – rough, calloused hands – were grasping your shoulders and you were afraid of being pulled under as you were hours ago. Your face downright denied to look at the shadow casted over your lap even when its hand took your chin in a firm yet gentle grip and pulled your face to its own. The water burned behind your closed eyelids, and you refused to begin the dance despite knowing the relief that awaited once it was done.

Bella.

"Y/N."

Name. Your name.

"Y/N look at me."

You pried your eyes slowly, and then waited for relief to wash over you upon seeing his face. "You're okay," Tommy said to you, his words a declaration. Final.

You gathered your strength and wept.

***

"Here love," it was Polly who gave you the tea. The saucer rattled as your shaky hands grasped it, pulling it to your mantle covered lap. Your eyes took in the crammed living room - one you had known for years – with blank disinterest. You hadn't even casted a glance at the liquid tea, and your food lay cold and forgotten beside you.

Polly scooted closer to you on the chaise. You let her. You let her lean over and kiss your hair, now clean and flowery scented after it took Tommy hours to clean it. No water, you remember screaming at him in the tub. Begging. You remember clawing at his shirt like a relentless animal that had escaped years of imprisonment. He took every blow, every curse with steel in his eyes. There was raging ice in them, wrath that waited to be unleashed. Not upon you. But upon the Italian's that took you from him.

He left just over a quarter-hour ago, taking the anger with him, leaving his warmth with you. "Take care of her," you remember him telling Polly, who still shook in the aftermath of seeing you so…

Tortured.

Polly disappeared to give you space. Space and time to adjust.

Warmth washed over the room from where the lit hearth was placed, the crackling and popping of burning wood a sound that complemented it. You hadn't needed to hum, for there was already music drifting through the house from a radio. The scene was all but serene for yourself.

You touched your neck softly, with just the tips of your fingers, remembering what agony took place inside it. Your wrists, once soft and scarless were now marred with burns from the rope you had pulled on tightly one too many times. The clothes. The clothes you had picked out only a day before were discarded, and you sat dressed in the finest silk pajamas with wide pants and buttoned top. The color of the porcelain teacup, appliquéd with not flowers but circles of all shapes and sizes. It was what you had chosen for yourself, deeming it adorable and comfortable enough to wear as sleepwear. Now you felt bare, despite its cap sleeves and ankle long length.

Like the skin wasn't yours.

All it took to crumble was one look at the tea in hand, one look at the reflection.

You threw the teacup at the wall and screamed.

***

"Is he dead?"

The mattress dipped, a new weight on it. You didn't move, didn't nest into the warmth like you loved to do. Only laid with your hands beneath your cheek, looking out of the ceiling high window where the moonlit sky was embracing the world. You dared not to breathe, dared not to make a sound that would disturb the calm night.

For hours, you had tossed and turned. On and on until you decided sleep was a nothing more than a wistful wish you couldn't have. "Tommy?"

He stayed silent, as if he too knew the delicacy of the night. The sheets rustled but did not pull away from you. You stayed covered, not a speck of your body introduced to the cold.

Then he spoke, "Can I hold you?"

You bit your lip to keep the tears at bay, realizing you had kept him at arm's length since he came for you.

Late. He had been late.

But he still came.

"He-he said," you began slowly, speaking into the night itself, trying to not sound as disconnected as you felt. "He said I deserved to die."

Tommy stilled.

"And he told me to give you a message," you continued. "He said he will take everything from you. Then put a bullet through your head. So I'm asking you Tommy…is he dead?"

A moment of silence, then like death herself whispered, "Yes."

Dead. He was dead.

Gone.

You had failed to realize you were crying until your muted cries turned into sobs. Sneaking along your body, shaking you until a body wrapped itself against you. A calm force to keep you grounded.

Tommy kissed the back of your head, "Forgive me. Please."

He took your hand from beneath your head in his own, pressing it against your chest. Just between your breasts, a place where your frantic heart beat the hardest. You covered your joint hands with your other one, sealing them together. Sealing him to you.

"I'm sorry."

You grinded your teeth to keep the tears at bay. Tommy kissed your shoulder, your neck. Silent, butterfly light kisses that kept you together.

"Okay," you croaked, barely audible. Pulling his hand to your mouth, you kissed his callousness with tear-soaked mouth and placed it back against your chest. "Okay."

Legs tangled, you molded yourself to his body as if he were the only thing standing between you and the demons that loomed over your back.

That night, you dreamt of soundless water. Of floating against it and being pulled under. Of being helpless underneath the surface.

You awoke each time, and Tommy lulled you to sleep with kisses and whispers of reassurance. It was a dance newly started, but you weren't alone to dance it.

Note: If you enjoyed reading this fic do check out my other work by clicking on one of my masterlist links. If it’s not a bother leave a like, comment and/or reblog. It gives me motivation and lets me know that you liked what I wrote. <3

If you would perhaps want to read some of my work earlier, you can check out my AO3 profile, I’ll always make sure to tell you guys when a fic is posted on there in advance!

Lastly, if you wish to be tagged under any of my future fics go to my tag list ! I no longer take requests through ask, dm, comments anymore. Once on my tag list post you’ll find a link to a Google Form that you have to fill out in order for your request to be valid! x

✭ PEAKY BLINDERS:

@lovemissyhoneybee @thanossexual @marvel-ousnesss @sextvpes @heartbreak-of-a-marauder @killerstvles @navs-bhat @kpoptrash2000 @softieekayy

✭ TOMMY SHELBY:

@captivatedbycillianmurphy @remusflirts @peakyxtommy @sarcasm-n-insomnia

#tommy shelby #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby x you #tommy shelby x y/n #tommy shelby fic #tommy shelby fanfic #tommy shelby fanfiction #tommy shelby imagine #one shot #tommy shelby one shot #peaky blinders #peaky blinders x reader #peaky blinders x you #peaky blinders x y/n #peaky blinders fic #peaky blinders fanfic #peaky blinders fanfiction #peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinders one shot

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simplyclockwork · 2 years

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SIMPLYCLOCKWORK'S 2021 YEAR IN FIC

I'm a bit behind on this (whoops), but here are some of the fics I wrote in 2021 (listed by which fic proved to be the most popular for each month I posted a new work).

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January:

A Pleasant Surprise

Sherlock's first birthday after his return from the grave.

WC: 3645

Kudos: 349

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February

The Cherry on Top

John's never shown any interest in his Alpha flatmate, despite Sherlock's pining. When a case requires a different approach than usual, Sherlock finds himself struggling to keep his feelings to himself.

WC: 7875

Kudos: 883

(This is currently my most popular work. Thanks, Omegaverse!)

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March

Waiting (For the Rising Sun)

No one has looked at you like that in a long time. Possibly not ever. But he looks at you, he lays your life out before you, and he doesn’t stop there.

WC: 2648

Kudos: 240

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May

Hired Gun

After faking his suicide in response to allegations of fraud, two years into dismantling Moriarty's network finds Sherlock Holmes in Morocco. Nearing the end of his mission, he is apprehended by a man with the mercy of a doctor, the control of a soldier, and the brutality of a mercenary.

Through capture, betrayal, and unexpected danger, both Sherlock and John Watson, gun-for-hire, will have to learn who can really be trusted.

WC: 232,524

Kudos: 642

(Now, technically, I started this fic in 2020. But I finished it in 2021, so I'm claiming it for last year).

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June

The Mystery of the Red Pants

A few spectacular laundry mishaps lead to revelations between Sherlock and John - and maybe a bit more.

WC: 3203

Kudos: 274

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July

Kindred Spirits

A struggling Sherlock Holmes is forced into rehab by his older brother after Serbia. Doyle House, a recovery facility for celebrities, ex-military, and government agents, is the last place Sherlock wants to be. Angry and at odds with the world, he meets John Watson, a doctor on staff. As Sherlock navigates his recovery, he and John discover something growing between them.

Will an unexpected situation at Doyle House finally push them past the point of no return?

WC: 46,310

Kudos: 317

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August

Under His Skin

While shaving the face of a partially incapacitated Sherlock, John discovers something new about his flatmate - and himself.

WC: 3016

Kudos: 323

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October

On the Edge (Part 1 of the 221B Kinktober Fic Series)

Day 1: Rimming

WC: 221

Kudos: 105

(Doing Kinktober entirely in 221B ficlets, with one ficlet posted per day, was a fun little challenge).

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November

Like You Belong Here

In the aftermath of a firefight that killed half his squadron in Afghanistan, John Watson is back in London on forced leave. But with his parents long dead and his sister lost to the bottle, he finds himself alone. Unable to ask for the comfort he craves, John turns to the promise of a pleasure establishment. As luck would have it, there he meets a sharp-eyed man who seems to know what John needs better than he ever could.

WC: 11,289

Kudos: 206

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December

Sunspots

After Sherlock's overdose on the plane, John finally finds the courage to confess his deepest secret.

WC: 4021

Kudos: 173

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WIPs of Note:

Noise Complaint

One loud upstairs neighbour and three days of non-stop party music lead Sherlock to an unexpected meeting.

Current WC: 56,497

Current Kudos: 322

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I didn't write as much this year as previous years (Pandemic life really sucked all my energy away and I went back to work, so writing time has really changed for me). However, I did finish my longest work to date (Hired Gun) and completed two more works for Fandom Trumps Hate.

Looking forward to what 2022 brings! I promise I have lots of new stories, prompt fills and WIPs planned for this year. Stay tuned!

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Tagging some folks who might want to do this as well, but absolutely no pressure. Please feel free to do one even if you're not tagged and want to participate. Otherwise, a friendly reblog will never go unappreciated! 😘

@annecumberbatch @heyblinken @discordantwords @jbaillier @helloliriels @calaisreno @therealsaintscully @keirgreeneyes @vulpesmellifera @arwamachine @totallysilvergirl @shelleysprometheus @kettykika78 @7-percent @slow-burn-sally

#sherlock #johnlock #fan fic #fic #fanfic #simplyclockwork #2021 #2021 fic year in review

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the9645archives · 2 years

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“My JSE Artist Of 2021”

(Along with a Conversation About Creating in the JSE Community)

First and Foremost, happy new year!!!

I just wanted to reflect on some things Sean touched on in his most recent video, specifically the part where he talked about not feeling “good enough” to post more “thematic based” videos.

His entire tangent really really REALLY resonated with me, to the point where I’ve literally said those EXACT same things in my own life.

It’s very hard to create and even harder to get it out there for people to react to and criticize.

Obviously, the difference between him and the average person is that if he posts something out of his normal content, he’s at the mercy of thousands of people either gassing up the content so much that it’s the best thing since sliced bread or completely shitting on him without any regard that he’s an actual human being…while I just have you lovely folks on tumblr. Even still, it’s fucking TERRIFYING to put art out there!

So, even though Sean isn’t on tumblr anymore, I wanted to direct this more at myself and any of you who are thinking about posting art on tumblr ( ESPECIALLY fanfiction). TRUST YOURSELF!

Trust that your idea is bomb and that your story is needed. Believe that there will never be anyone who writes like you, and that comparing yourself to others is useless, cause you AREN’T them! Your stories matter, your voice MATTERS!

I know that the lack of reblogs and comments can be a downer, trust me those things are so helpful and there’s no shame in feeling discouraged by the lack of numbers and interaction. But, please believe me when I tell you that, without your writing, someone could be missing out on a cool take on the egos or feel elated that someone had that idea and wrote it! Just keep at it, my love! And for any readers out there, your voice is just as important as the writers. Your love for our work and you visibly showing it through comments and reblogs with comments in the tags, does SO much more then you think.

I wanted to end this by tagging my “My JSE Artist(s) of 2021” and I’d LOVE for you guys to participate! tag the person and gush over a piece of writing, art, an edit, etc they created that was a standout for the year! (should this be a yearly thing?)

@jaeyleo is My JSE Artist of 2021! [For their INCREDIBLE Puppet Pink AU!!!]

#jacksepticeye #non fanfic reblog #writersofjack #jacksepticeyefanfiction #JSE Artist of 2021 #update: you all are so amazing and it’s so heartwarming to see the sweetest messages to eachother :33 #also I wanted to add that this ISNT a tag chain #meaning that you don’t have to be tagged in order to contribute! If you stumble upon this post and have someone FEEL FREE TO ADD #TAG THEM AND WRITE YOUR HEART OUT ABOUT WHAT THEIR WORK MEANS TO YOU!#you all are so lovely and I can wait to go through myself and discover new blogs with amazing work! hears to 2022!

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riffheartsgraziella · 2 years

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Riff x Graziella HC - Praying

A/N: This HC was inspired by this line from the WSS (2021) screenplay: “Graziella sits at a table, head in hands, sobbing, a rosary wrapped tight around her right hand.”

After Riff’s death, Graziella prayed for him every day.

She would be the first one to admit that she and Riff had never been what anybody would call churchgoing people. They’d both been born into Catholic families, and Graziella had vague memories of going to Mass when she was a little girl, but her mother had stopped going after her father left them, so she had stopped, too. Riff had always told her that his mother had said bedtime prayers with him, but that he’d never tried to pray again after she died. Still, he always wore the Miraculous Medal that his mother had gotten for him when he was a baby.

The night that Riff died, when Ice and Diesel came to tell her, her first reaction had been to hit them and scream at them. But her next instinct had been to fall to her knees, begging the God she hadn’t talked to in years to make it not be true. Some impulse she hadn’t understood then had compelled her to grab the Rosary beads she had been given as a little girl, the Rosary beads that still sat on her dresser, before leaving to meet up with the rest of the Jets at Doc’s.

In the days and weeks that followed that awful night, Graziella drew strength and comfort from Riff’s Miraculous Medal, which now hung firmly around her neck as it had once hung around his. She didn’t remember all the right words to say as she prayed, but every night before bed, she would beg God to have mercy on Riff. She knew Riff had been no angel. In so many ways, he had been so full of anger and hate. But she also knew that he had been capable of so much love, and so she prayed hard every day that God would see that and that He would have mercy on Riff for all his shortcomings.

A few months after the rumble, with Riff’s child growing in her belly, Graziella started slipping into the Church of the Blessed Sacrament so that she could light candles for Riff. She always ignored the sideways glances she often received, focused solely on praying for the soul of the boy she would love until her last breath.

When Riff, Jr. was old enough, Graziella started teaching him how to say his bedtime prayers, just as Riff’s mother had done for him. “God, please watch over Daddy and keep him safe until we can see him again,” was how they would always end their prayers.

Riff hadn’t been perfect. Graziella knew that better than anyone. But she had also loved him better than anyone, and she would never let him be forgotten. As the years passed, she grew in confidence that God would forgive Riff and that she would see him again one day. That belief, in addition to the joy her son brought her, was what got her through the days.

A/N: If you have any interest in reading about how Graziella came into possession of Riff’s medal and bracelet, I wrote about it in my fic, To My Last Dying Day.

Tag List: @lost-in-fiction-like-ur-mom @darklingswhore @leviecharmed86 @whisperofsong @loverisi @bernardolovesanita

#riff x graziella #riff x graziella hc #west side story #west side story 2021 #west side story hc #wss headcanons #riff west side story #graziella west side story #mike faist #paloma garcia-lee

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tanzaniiite · 3 years

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BREAK UP BLUES • PRETTY SETTER SQUAD

requests: OPEN

warnings: break ups

a/n: i ‘ve had one break up in my whole 18 years of living, therefore i’m an expert 😋

please reblog and reply, engagement is both fun & important ✨

wanna be apart of my general taglist? fill out the form here!

alt. title: how the p.s.s. reacts when you break up with them

he would be so… lost

suga seems like the type of person that when he loves, he loves hard

so when you come out of the blue (seemingly) talking about breaking up, he will literally be at a lost for words

genuinely won’t understand and will try to hear you out but the drumming in his ears is way too loud for him to hear anything your saying

“..but yeah, i’m not ready for a relationship and i just need to work on myself right now”

“yeah yeah of course, i.. uh, hope you find yourself”

ngl this man is bitter abt the break up, you claim you need to work on yourself which is fine but why would you put yourself in a relationship if you weren’t technically ready?

kōshi is heartbroken for the most part, and would like to still be friends with you after his wounds heal

but that idea is immediately thrown out the window when he sees you in a relationship only after six months of y’all breaking up

i thought you had to work on yourself?

most likely caught on to the fact you wanted to break up long before it happens

he’s observant and he loves you, of course he’ll notice

thinks it’s because he doesn’t spend much time with you or because he isn’t huge on pda

starts to change himself to fit what he thinks you want, gets to the point where he’s not even himself

kenma just loves you so much and although he’ll never vocalize it; he doesn’t want to lose you

so if he had to become a different person for you to stay, then he will

unfortunately this just makes things worse

“kozume, we should break up. these past few months have been weird and it’s like i don’t even know who you are”

he can’t even respond. can’t tell if he’s more distraught over you breaking up with him or from you calling him by his last name

you’ve never done that, even when the two of you were just friends

doesn’t fight you on your decision, he’s tired

once the whole ordeal is said and done, he calls kuroo

being his best friend, kuroo has seen kenma sad before but…

this was the first time he’s ever heard kenma cry so openly

i have never wrote for this man, pls have mercy

anyways he personally reminds me of myself

meaning he has that, “i’ll hurt you before you hurt me” mentality (aka. self sabotaging)

is it healthy? absolutely not but he can’t help it

if he feels you becoming distant or seemingly pulling away from him little by little, he will become extremely paranoid

now semi doesn’t seem like the type to beg anyone to stay with him because that’s just not his style

but he’ll definitely fight until he can’t no more

the nail in the coffin was when he saw your stuff disappear from your shared apartment little by little

obviously confronts you about it and swears his heart stopped when you say you’re moving back in with your parents for a bit

eita knew what that meant, he wasn’t stupid

so before you can utter another word, he blurts out:

“we should break up.”

“h-huh?”

can tell he caught you off guard and despite being upset, he can’t help but feel a little proud

he got to hurt you, before you hurt him

…but then why was he hurting so much?

it’s mutal… or so you thought

akaashi would be shocked when you bring up the idea of breaking up

but because he’s in tune with his emotions, he wouldn’t show it

instead he’ll pretend he was thinking abt the same thing, when he definitely was not

“i think we should break up, keiji. i’m just not feeling this relationship anymore, sorry”

“no need to apologize, i was just thinking the same thing”

on the inside he would be so confused

where did he go wrong? was it something he did? was he so boring that you got bored of the relationship?

all these questions with no answers

he strikes me as the type to throw himself into his work on a regular basis but this increased tenfold once you break up with him

it’s to the point where he neglects himself and bokuto has to come over or this man will starve

doesn’t cry abt it, obviously he’s sad but he just doesn’t have it in him to cry

crying won’t fix anything, so why bother?

you announcing that you want to break up throws him for a loop

he genuinely didn’t see anything wrong with your relationship so he’s hella confused

“you.. want to break up?”

“yeah, i just think we should move on and see other people”

“why? i don’t want to see other people, i want you”

this poor man

of course he respects your decision, no matter how much he hates it

and i feel like he wouldn’t register the fact the two of you broke up until he vocalizes it

“what happened between you and y/n?”

“oh. we broke up”

“…we broke up”

that’s when it hits him the hardest

doesn’t seem like the type to cry about it but he has shed a few tears

kageyama will just throw himself into his volleyball career and swear off dating for a while

he doesn’t want to put himself out there just to get his heart broken again

this man has been through break ups before so this isn’t his first rodeo

but honestly wasn’t expecting it, he thought y’all were good

clearly not

“—i’m sorry, i wish you nothing but the best though”

he tuned out the minute he heard break up and didn’t tune back in until that last bit

and unlike semi, oikawa does strike me as the type to beg you to stay

“you really wanna give this up?”

“come on cutie, we can work this out!”

“why are you giving up on us?”

“y/n… please.”

it’s extremely painful for both you and him (more so him, of course)

i hope you aren’t too close with his friends bc they will avoid you, especially iwaizumi

it’s nothing personal but they knew tooru first and they don’t want to “betray” him

oikawa will cry about the whole thing but only by himself

to the public, he’s perfectly fine.

“better off without you” he says

it’s not like the love of his life broke his heart, why wouldn’t he be fine?

150 notes · View notes

carissimipaixao · 3 years

Note

Hi! I just found your blog and your work is just *chefs kiss* Is it ok if I can request a fic for Goemon with the prompt: “Please just look at me – really look at me." Thank you ❤️❤️❤️

─ FRAILTY

published on: august 19, 2021 requested by: anon pairing: ishikawa goemon xiii & reader prompt: “please, just look at me ━ really look at me.” word count: 5k+ warning: asphyxiation, near-death experience, ptsd. note: i wrote a sequel for this fic!

It was a stormy night that she would not forget.

The trees surrounding the estate shook violently under the aggressive nature of the wind, and the rain hit heavily against the windows. The thunder was loud and nearly deafening when the lightning hit too close for comfort. As if it was not enough, the power had died mere minutes after the sunset, and the backup generators were not powerful ━ as they should have been ━ to lighten up the entire house. A few lights on the hall had turned on, as well as a few outdoor lights, but it was still too dark. Dark enough for ghosts and unwanted visitors to creep inside.

[Name] had warned her guards to remain vigilant, feeling uneasy, and tightened up the security. Under their vigilance, she would remain in her office, reading a few reports about missing or destroyed cargo and resources, whilst planning newer investments. In truth, her family had been in the Underworld for over a century. It was not one of the oldest families, but their reputation was nothing to joke about. Although her family mostly focused on the shipment of resources, ammunition and others to various corners of the planet, their ruthless and violent nature was perhaps their most infamous trait.

After all, nobody who dared to mock or taint the family name lived long enough to tell the tale.

The office is dark, covered in shadows, with the exception of one candle on top of the desk. Knowing how weak and downgraded the generators are, her guards and security cameras are better off with the lights on, while she could simply enjoy the simplicity of a candlelight illuminating her desk and papers, providing her with a sense of nostalgia as she remembered the nights she spent with her grandmother, one of the former leaders of the family business.

Besides, she thinks to herself, it’s not as if I’m completely defenseless.

Glancing up, she looks at the figure that sits quietly in the corner of the room. He sits against the wall ━ next to the window and perpendicular to the door. Although the candlelight isn’t strong enough to see him completely, the white kimono somehow allows him to stand out in the office. It was a sight that she welcomed; ironically, it made her think of a guardian angel, watching over her and protecting her. However, he isn’t merciful or gentle. Perhaps, Angel of Death would be a better fitting name.

His eyes appear to be closed, as if he is resting, but [Name] knows that was not the case. After all, she had seen many times that his apparent “rest” was, indeed, not true. He was focusing on his surroundings, on all of his senses. That was how he had prevented many incidents, as well as ensuring his own safety.

That was why she had hired him. He is fascinating ━ and an excellent bodyguard.

[Name] sighs, leaning back on the chair as she tilts her head back to look at the ceiling, fingers drumming mindlessly against the wooden desk. As peaceful as everything seems to be, as peaceful as she wishes things would truly be ━ it is difficult to ignore the uneasiness, the dread feeling that has begun to creep up. A coldness goes down her spine as she continues to listen to the distant thunder. Her eyes close for a moment, taking a deep breath, trying to collect her thoughts.

She slowly stands up, her gaze falling upon the bodyguard as he remains perfectly still. She grabs the blazer that rests on the shoulders of the leather chair and puts it on her shoulders. The woman walks around the desk and, as her heels click against the floor, as she approaches the man, his eyes snap open to stare at her.

Black.

Somehow, even though the world around her is coated in darkness, his is━

Shut it.

‘Ishikawa,’ she calls. Without waiting for a response (what could he possibly have said?), she turns to the door on her left, leaving the office. The sound of her heels echo through the empty hallway, covered in that chilled darkness, and there is a soft click behind her before she feels a presence behind her. The bodyguard isn’t a man of many words, and he emits no sound as he walks. The way he stays close to her reminds her an awful lot of a shadow ━ and that is exactly what he aims to be. Her shadow.

Anything or anyone that comes too close gets devoured by it.

Sometimes, she can’t help but feel empowered by his strength and nearly inhuman abilities. He had been serving her for nearly eight months, and he had done enough to prove that his infamous reputation was not far from the truth. In the beginning, admittedly, she had tested him and studied how he gracefully moved across a battlefield, his white kimono standing out in the middle of a river of blood and death. But, his strength earned him her respect and, perhaps, he was undyingly in her favor ━ which some of her own men envied.

(While the young woman respected and admired him, she often found herself wondering if a man like him had the same colors as many snakes that had once been part of her mercenaries. Would he slice her head off with no hint of remorse or hesitation, if paid a better price?

The thought of it always made a shiver go down her spine.)

When they reach the end of the hallway, turning to walk down the extensive stairway which leads to the ground floor, a shout rings through the air. [Name]’s body stiffens sharply and the samurai moves from behind her, stepping around her with a fierce glare on his face. Although one of his hands rests inside the kimono, his left hand is positioned in a nearly threatening manner on his beloved sword.

The woman straightens her back and narrows her eyes. ‘Probably someone who got lost on their way,’ she scoffs, even though her hand had begun to reach for her pistol.

At this time? The voice seems to repeat what they said, and she recognizes the voice as one of her men. He was ordering someone to back up or else.

In this weather? A beat of silence, and she hears more of her men yelling at whoever stood in the front yard.

‘Ishikawa,’ she starts━

The ground shakes, the glass of the double doors of the entrance shattering, and she flies with a strangled gasp. Her back hits the curve of the stairs, causing her to hiss in pain. In a flash, her bodyguard is by her side, helping her stand up.

He spares a glance out the windows, narrowing his eyes at the harsh headlights of cars as they pull up. ‘We need to go.’ She nods, groaning as her ears rang from the explosion, but cuts to the left, entering the kitchen. The Japanese man remains close to her ━ more so than before ━ and his eyes glow darkly as he observes their surroundings with practiced calmness and weariness. The maids had all but scrambled out of the kitchen, but their arms now carried heavy machinery, swearing to protect the estate and their master at any cost.

[Name] pulls out her own pistol, clicking the safety off, and she puts her hand over her ear. ‘What’s going on?’ She demanded.

‘An ambush, Madam,’ a husky voice responded. ‘They want your head. But, we are preparing an escape vehicle for you.’

‘An escape vehicle,’ she repeats, her lip curling into a snarl. Her blood boils. ‘Why should I abandon my estate? That’s admitting defeat.’

Another voice comes through the earpiece. ‘Sadly, Madam—hijo de puta—I don’t think you have much choice. It’s either that or your death.’ His words leave little space for argument. ‘They’ve come prepared, clearly. And, we can’t let them win.’

The Boss listens closely to the rain of bullets that is now raging outside. The screams, the yells. It is no different from the many scenarios that have happened before. She turns to look at Goemon, who meets her eyes evenly. He doesn’t tell her anything, but that’s because it was never his place to tell her what to do. He is the pawn, and she decides his move.

It is during these times that she remembers one lesson by the previous leader. ‘Everything is a chess game. And failure is unacceptable. Every piece on your side is your pawn, meant to be used and die for you. Step over them, wear them out in your favor, as long as it ensures your victory.’ Father had never been too kind.

[Name] looks away and grits her teeth, as she finally comes to a decision. ‘Bury them here.’

‘Roger.’

‘Sí, señora.’

The Empress turns to her bodyguard, preparing to give him his order.

—only for the ground to shake, for glass to shatter, for walls to break.

Goemon instantly holds onto her, keeping her from falling, and, as the dust clears, she can now see a hole in the middle of the kitchen wall. Someone is desperately trying to get to her. They want to lure her out, and it is definitely a trap.

But, her anger spoke louder.

‘Let’s kill those sons of bitches,’ she says. And, as the first man dares to step forward, a sword slices through the air. The stranger falls, choking on his own blood, and his hand had reached for his chest which is now cut open. Goemon shelters his sword with experienced grace, his eyes as raging as the storm that roars outside.

The hole in the wall allows for the wind and the rain to come through, and she shivers as the breeze touches her skin. Yet, she straightens her back. The family pride and honor is at risk and, unlike other bodyguards she had hired in the past, Goemon understands. Maybe, that is why she gravitates more and more towards him; despite being in different positions, despite being in completely distant hierarchies when it came to power and reputation, it is honor that connected them.

That is why he doesn’t stop her, as she steps out of the building.

Stand as such, she recalls her father’s harsh words. Eye everything and everyone as such. Anything that isn’t our blood is scum and should be treated as such. Make them fear you, make them know you are a force not to be reckoned with.

Those words — back then — didn’t make much sense. She was but a child, she didn’t understand the true nature of the world as she did now. She didn’t understand how twisted and dangerous it was to be part of an infamous family. She never did, until the envious came for her, when she was only ten.

Perhaps too often, she faintly feels the rough texture of rope around her neck, dragging her across an empty hall made of cement.

A man barely rounds the corner before she shoots a bullet right through his eye. The result is immediate, and she doesn’t spare him a second glance as she steps over the body. The backyard is practically empty, considering the enemy has decided to be bold enough to attack directly from the front. Someone certainly holds a grudge, don’t they? [Name] thinks to herself as she walks down the stairs. The ground is made out of cobblestone, giving the estate a much more antique look. Yet, it would be such a waste for her to ruin her heels, trying to outrun her attackers on that floor.

So, she carefully takes off her heels, calm as she possibly could, closing her eyes to the sound of another falling enemy. Her shadow could never disappoint her. The Empress frowns at the rough sensation beneath her lycra-covered feet, but she shrugs. Instead, her focus is on the many black vehicles that are neatly parked beside each other. A man stands next to one of them, a rifle in his hands, as he eyes his surroundings.

In a flash, his eyes fall upon her and he straightens his back. ‘Madam,’ he begins, ‘Let’s go.’ He doesn’t rush her, and she realizes he’s just as confident as she is — nobody can get to her. They’re too busy fighting off her men. She nods and quickens her pace ever so slightly.

Goemon suddenly rounds her.

Heat explodes around her.

She barely catches the sound of a strangled scream, as the vehicles burst into flames. Goemon moves his right arm abruptly, bringing it down with a fierce harshness. That is when she notices a fragment from the destruction — now, cut in half — had been flying in their direction. Both halves remain on fire, and she narrows her eyes at the brightness of the flames.

‘Are you alright?’ Goemon turns to look over his shoulder, his voice as passive as always. He sheltered his sword, his hand resting on the handle. [Name] pretends not to notice how the light from the fire contorns his figure, how the raindrops run down the side of his face. She pretends not to notice him for who he is, because—

That’s pathetic.

‘Yeah,’ she says. ‘Thanks.’ He only nods.

It’s as if he couldn’t possibly get any more fascinating than that.

The eye contact doesn’t last very long; thunder roars once again in the background, and the loud noise helps to bring her back to reality, back from whatever scenario her brain was slowly constructing. She reaches for her earpiece, tapping it lightly. ‘They’ve destroyed the vehicles.’

‘It’s like they know our every move,’ scoffed someone.

A light bulb goes off. ‘How many vehicles do they have in the front?’

‘Madam—’

‘Just answer my question.’

The man pauses. It takes a couple of seconds before she gets her answer. ‘Five.’

[Name] nods, checks her weapon mindlessly, and smiles — a cold edge to it. ‘Draw back,’ her words get Goemon’s attention, and she briefly catches the sight of his eyebrows frowning in confusion and perhaps displeasure. ‘I want you to draw back, get them away from those vehicles. Even if that means jeopardizing the estate. We will destroy all but one vehicle, for my escape.’

‘Understood,’ and the earpiece goes quiet once again.

‘Is that really wise?’ Goemon suddenly asks. ‘Escaping?’

The Empress scoffs, shaking her head. ‘Perhaps not. I don’t like the idea of being known as a coward. But, I don’t have much choice. I either escape with my life — barely, that is — or this entire family is in grave danger.’ She looks at Goemon for a moment, before turning her back to him as she walks away. ‘If something were to happen to me, all of this would be forgotten. Our name, cursed and mocked. Or, worse, it’d be in the hands of an outsider or someone who’s not worthy of this.’

‘Like who?’ The samurai asks.

‘You’re awfully talkative today,’ she muses. Silence falls upon them, and she takes a deep breath. She tries to ignore how the cobblestone slightly bites her feet, and she grits her teeth when she feels them ache under the roughness and edges of the floor. ‘Someone whose greed and arrogance blinded them enough for my father — him, of all people — to consider them unworthy and unstable for being the heir of the family name. Not to mention how much they lacked the proper skills that are necessary when it comes to running this business.’

‘Under my protection,’ he begins, ‘nothing will happen to you.’ Those words — that promise — makes her stop. [Name] gulps, clenching her fists, but slowly turns to look over her shoulder. His gaze is narrowed, determined, and something in those eyes causes a shiver to go down her spine. Angel of Death indeed. ‘I wouldn’t—I won’t allow any harm to fall upon you.’

A question burns on the tip of her tongue, urging and begging to be let out. And, she allows it. ‘And, what if you can’t?’

Goemon stiffens, his frown deepening. ‘Are you doubting my abilities? Despite the time I’ve been serving you?’

She nearly flinches at the hurt and angered tone, but keeps her posture; after all, that was what she had been taught to do. Keep your chin held up high, a phantom voice whispers. ‘No, never,’ and she internally curses herself for the genuine answer, for how her words come out in a soft whisper.

Her bodyguard’s facial expression eases a little bit.

[Name] continues. ‘You’ve proven yourself, time and time again.’ Her eyelids lower ever so slightly, her gaze growing distant. ‘But, we all know there will be a day where you can’t.’ Perhaps, never in her life, did she hear the rain hit the ground as loudly as this moment. The shouts appear muffled, and so do the gunshots and the fighting. Instead, it was if her words were echoing, ringing in her ears.

Goemon’s hand tightens around his sword.

That little reaction — despite the nearly passive expression on his face — brings a sad smile to her face. A mutual agreement, and [Name] resumes walking towards the front of the building.

Nothing else needs to be said.

‘We’re bringing them around the left side,’ a femme voice speaks through her earpiece. ‘The front yard should be free of enemies, Madam.’

‘Good job,’ she congratulates them. She takes safety off her weapon as she slowly approaches the wall of the estate. Peeking around the corner, her eyes fall upon the targets — five vehicles, the cause of her distress. ‘Now, make sure you survive this. Or else.’

Without waiting for a reply, she rips off her earpiece and crashes it under the sole of her foot.

Two armored men stand next to the vehicles, extremely vigilant as they glance from side to side, weapons ready to shoot down any possible threat. [Name] narrows her eyes. They really got the best weaponry just for this, she thinks. The Empress doesn’t even want to think of the number of casualties there would be, from her side alone.

A quick glance at Goemon, and he nods.

He takes off running towards the men, who are quick to notice him and yell, raising their weapons and shooting. The samurai grunts and jumps into the air — and how he does it, [Name] cannot even fathom to imagine — as he unsheathes his weapon. From the corner of the estate, she watches as the bullets seem to be deflected and cut into pieces. It is during that moment that her heart beats, for a moment, just a little faster, her eyes wide in amazement.

You can’t be part of this world, those words ring in the back of her mind. It is from a memory, the faint flavor of expensive French wine on her tongue. How do you even— heck, how is it even possible?

She doesn’t remember his answer, but the single curve of his lip resonates from her memory.

The guards seem to be just as amazed — shocked, really — and stare with widened eyes as Goemon lands in front of them, his wrist moving in quick, circular movements. In a flash, one line appears on each man’s chest, turning red as the blood begins to drip from the wound. They fall to the ground, just as four vehicles are cut in half. One man attempts to reach for Goemon, his mouth filled with blood and eyes wide in hatred, but he falls limp before his fingertips can even touch the edge of his kimono.

[Name] straightens her back and backs away from the wall. Goemon starts to rise to his feet, sheltering his sword, and, after seemingly taking a deep breath, he turns to look over his shoulder.

Bang!

Before she can process the singular, loud noise. Another follows. Her eyes follow — stunned and afflicted — as Goemon’s figure begins to descend, hitting the ground. [Name] gasped, mouth going agape, but, perhaps, the sight has caused her rational mind to shut down, because she finds herself running across the yard, aiming to reach Goemon’s side.

But, something collides into her.

She grunts as she hits the ground, just as hands wrap tightly around her wrists. Someone is pressing her body down, pinning her to the ground with their weight. [Name] grits her teeth, opening her eyes to see the foe who has apparently a death wish. ‘You,’ she draws out.

‘Hello, darling,’ the man grins too widely for her taste. ‘Didn’t think you’d see me, did you?’ He quickly swaps the positions of his hands — only one hand holds hers in place, the other moved to caress the side of her jaw. ‘I bet you didn’t.’

[Name] throws her head to the side, ripping her jaw from his hold. At the same time, she glares at the sight of her weapon which is now too far out of reach. She turns her head to stare evenly at the man. ‘Fuck you, Nathan.’

‘Nathan? To think you used to call me Nate before,’ he mockingly pouts.

Suddenly, there is pressure on her throat. [Name] tries to free her hands, she struggles against him, but she can’t do anything. His facial expression is dreadfully neutral, as if he isn’t trying to asphyxiate her. ‘You know, all of this would’ve been easier if you had just listened to me. Your father — may he rest in peace — was a good man,’ he draws out. Her blood boils, and she can’t hate this man more than she already does. ‘But… you?’ His grin is back. ‘You are pathetic.’

Her vision slowly begins to waver, and he brings his other hand to her neck — which, although allows her hands to move and try to pull on the grasps around her throat, is still useless. He simply leans out of reach, never uttering a groan or hiss as her nails begin to roughly scratch and dig into his skin. Nathan’s weight is too much for her to even push him off her, somehow.

Everything is hopeless.

A groan sounds behind her, ‘M-Madam…!’

Nathan spares a glance away from her face, pursing his lips. ‘Aw, would you look at that? The little samurai trying to crawl towards his master.’ He chuckles. ‘I can’t believe I’m seeing Ishikawa Goemon in this miserable state. For someone who is so untouchable, this surely is utterly ridiculous.’ He glances back at [Name], whose face is slowly changing color. ‘But, I guess it is to be expected when you work for this worm.’

‘I mean,’ he continues, ‘perhaps, age was already taking a huge toll on your father, for him to choose you as the heiress. We all know women are not meant to rule this kind of business. You are too weak, too sentimental.’ His eyes fall on Goemon, who grunts once again, his eyes struggling to remain open as the blood continues to drip out. Any longer, and he would certainly die from blood loss, not to mention the critical bullet wound near his heart. ‘Just as your Grandmother was,’ he scoffs and turns his head to spit on the ground. ‘And, I must admit… as much as I absolutely despise your guts, with you on the “throne” of this ridiculous family, I can easily chop your head off. One less piece in my way.’

The pressure on her neck abruptly increases, and [Name] barely hears the gasp that escapes from her own mouth.

Instead, her skin crawls and her throat aches—

The rope around her neck tightens, and [Name] chokes, her tiny hands trying to grasp at it, trying to rip it off. But, she is only a child. She has no strength. Her ears catch the sound of laughter — laughter upon her misery. Her father’s words from mere weeks ago echo in the back of her brain. But, she refuses to listen to them. Not right now. She doesn’t need his venomous, hurtful words when her life may as well be on the line. She opens her mouth, attempts to take in a deep breath, but no air comes through.

‘What a pretty little thing,’ someone cooes. She suddenly flinches at the sensation of wetness on her face. They had spit on her.

‘To think I’ve put up with you, with this bullshit for years,’ Nathan raises his voice, ‘only for that stupid old man to give up the throne for his whore of a daughter.’ He leans forward, glaring into her widened eyes. ‘He may not see through you, but I can.’

‘Madam!’ Goemon calls.

‘All it takes,’ a hand caresses her cheek, before dragging down to her collarbone. ‘is for me to pull on this just a little more and your life is gone in a snap.’ They pull slightly on the rope, and [Name] chokes, coughing violently. ‘Your life is mine, now. The moment my men brought you to me, dear child, was the moment you lost your right to live.’

The edges of her vision are darkening, and she can barely focus on the heated gaze of Nathan. As her arms begin to fall to her sides, the man smirks, leaning forward to watch the slow movement of her eyelids as they lower. ‘That’s it,’ he says. ‘Sleep. Forever.’ And, she feels the heaviness upon her body lessen.

Her name is screamed through someone’s lips, and somehow, the sound of her name—

‘I got you,’ an elderly woman wraps her arms around the small child, who shivers and cries. ‘Grandma’s got you,’ she repeats, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. ‘Oh, my sweet, little [Name].’

The Empress’ eyes widen, reality no longer mixed with delusion.

Her knee lunges upwards in a snap, and the man above her grunts, his hands around her windpipe loosen. [Name] takes that opportunity with deadly ambition; she digs her fingers onto his eyes, causing the man to scream as he puts his hand over his face, and she pushes him off her, her eyes narrowed onto a single object on the cobblestone floor.

Nathan attempts to open his eyes, his face turned into a snarl.

But, his face morphs into one of shock and pain. He coughs, blood painting the white floor. [Name] gasps, one hand around her reddened neck, but she slowly stands up, gracefully as it is expected from the Empress. Her hand tightens around Zantetsuken, and in a swift movement, she pulls it out of the man’s chest.

‘This throne is mine,’ she says. ‘You don’t deserve it.’ She leans forward, smiling coldly at the glare on his face. ‘Rot in hell, Nathan.’

‘You…,’ he begins, but stops to cough, his hands moving to cover the wound on his chest. But, it is useless. He falls to the side, grunting. He struggles to keep his eyes open. ‘You... bitch,’ he coughs and grits his teeth, which are covered in the harsh redness of his blood. Nathan goes to take a deep breath, before the sound sharply stops.

[Name] doesn’t waste another second, doesn’t let herself enjoy the way his face drops and relaxes, how his last breath came out as a strangled gasp. She turns abruptly, rushes to Goemon’s side and kneels beside his form. Her knees hit the ground with such harshness that she wouldn’t be surprised if she were to find bruises on them. ‘Ishikawa,’ she calls, although she can’t utter that name with the same authority as before.

He groans, and her eyes fly to the two bullet wounds on him — one just under the crook of his knee and another in the middle of his back, just inches away from where his heart would have been. She frowns, looking down at his face as it twitches and contorns in pain. Her heart throbs at the sight.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck fuck fuck—

None of it was meant to happen.

It was never meant for her to fall for her bodyguard.

Love is a dangerous — poisonous, destructive, caging — game, and she knows, if her father was alive, he would be the most disappointed in her. Despite the way she has portrayed herself in front of others, despite the cold persona she has built from years of power and hardships, she has fallen in love. The empire her family had built, for generations, is in danger. And now, with its empress being consumed by puny concepts such as love, it is definitely in high risk of being torn apart and burnt to the ground.

But, emotions and love ━ it’s what makes us human, a part of her has tried to argue.

Yet, her father’s voice has always been louder. ‘Emotions bring power and glory to its knees. Emotions destroy what truly matters. Don’t be fooled by them. Be stronger. Don’t be consumed by your heart, and rule with your head held high.’

Holding the Japanese man close to her, she gulped, ignoring the odd sensation that was building up in her eyes. She had not cried in a long time, not since she was a little girl, oblivious to the wicked ways of the world. [Name]’s thumbs gently caressed his face, brushing off the pecks of dust that had clung to his skin. ‘Goemon,’ she called, feigning naiveté to her voice as it cracked and struggled to remain firm and strong.

‘You’re a leader, first and foremost,’ Father scowleded. ‘So, act like one!’

‘Please, just look at me,’ she commands — and pleads. ‘Really look at me.’

His eyelashes flutter before his eyes open.

Black.

His breath comes out in sharp, short exhales. He tries to meet her eyes evenly. ‘Poison,’ he says after a pause. ‘They… poisoned—’

That explains why Nathan didn’t bother to… ‘Save your breath,’ [Name] carefully put her arm beneath the crook of his arm. ‘We’ll get you someone to look after these wounds, don’t worry.’ The woman attempts to lift him up, waiting for him to gain his footing.

‘That man—’

‘He’s gone now,’ she interrupts him, her face growing colder. ‘Should’ve killed him long enough.’

[Name] guides him towards the vehicle and she uses her spare hand to open the backdoor. Goemon attempts to sit down without assistance, and each groan or grunt earns a grimace from her. The samurai leans back against the cushion with gritted teeth and frowned eyebrows. [Name] grabs the bloodied sword from the ground, putting it beside him.

As she does, the samurai raises his head to look at her. She freezes as she watches his eyes wander across her face, especially her eyes. His widen for a moment, and there is a question in them. Sooner or later, the vein would fall and he would see everything she had been trying to hide for so long. How come that two poisoned bullets could have easily unravelled her inner turmoil?

‘Let’s go,’ she forces a smile and closes the door before he can say anything else.

As she rounds the car and takes the wheel, driving away from the madness that continues in her estate, words from the past and the present mix in her brain. Warnings and taunts alike. A tender grin that once brightened her grandmother’s face flashes from the depth of her mind, and the cold words of her father spill upon that image.

She feels a heated gaze burning into the back of her skull, and she grits the wheel tighter within her hands.

We are snakes, not lovers.

#goemon ishikawa x reader #ishikawa goemon x reader #ishikawa goemon xiii x reader #goemon ishikawa xiii x reader #lupin the third #lupin the 3rd #lupin iii #fanfic #fanfiction #reader #reader-insert #x reader

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doreamu-san · 3 years

Text

An analysis of SolKy

Hello! Thank you so much for clicking on this. A while ago, I was asked to do an essay explaining why people ship SolKy other than the whole rivals/opposites attract reason, and I got a lot of feedback stating it was useful for newcomers to the ship! As a result I’ve decided to post this on tumblr, but just on the ship’s tag as to not bother uninterested people.

A couple of disclaimers before I begin. This is firstly just my own opinion, so whilst it makes sense for me, other shippers may disagree with my points. I’m also not claiming they are canon because they are not. But I do hope it’ll give some insight into why some people like me enjoy them together.

Even once you’ve read this essay, you can still dislike SolKy. This isn’t an essay stating you have to ship them.

This will be extremely long as I basically cover every single interaction they’ve ever had with each other since I know some people sort of gloss over their dialogue, so grab yourself a drink, get comfy, and I hope you enjoy reading!

(Last edited: 09/05/2021. This will be updated again when Strive releases!)

How this all began

If we’re starting right at the beginning, it’s common knowledge that Ky and Sol weren’t exactly on great terms and often clashed most of the time due to their conflicting beliefs. Ky saw the world in terms of black and white, and had very strict rules on what constituted as right and wrong. Sol seemed to think differently and went against that, which was a stark contrast compared to the other Order members at the time.

Considering that they were in fact, in the middle of a war, you would think that generally people would be willing to put their differences aside and work together.

But Sol wasn’t like everyone else, going off and doing his own thing instead of actually listening to orders, so it’s understandable why Ky found him rather irritating.

However, Ky did grow curious of Sol. Obviously curiosity does not equate to love, but it is the basis of Ky wanting to become more friendly with and know more about Sol. There seemed to be something that Sol knew but Ky didn’t, but how was that possible..? As a result, despite how infuriating he could be, Ky sought to seek out the truth and so fought him for answers.

In regards to why exactly they fight (aside from the fact that this is a fighting game), Ishiwatari wrote something called ‘Hostility is Akin to Love’ right above a picture of them fighting:

Hostility is akin to love Thinking of your opponent’s actions to fight, Reading your opponent’s inner thoughts to fight, Planning attacks that will hit your opponent to fight, And then transmitting your thoughts with those attacks, The more you think of your own advantage, at the same time you think of your opponent, In the instant you mix with your opponent, a passionate feeling arises, and blood boils, Reality is hurt, and you wound your opponent, Hostility is akin to love. — Guilty Gear Isuka Mook

It states how fighting someone can be close to feelings of love because you have to think about what your opponent is doing, as well as how you’re going to respond to your opponent. Overtime, you start to memorise how your opponent thinks, and as a result you’ll know them on a deeper level.

So considering the above, this explains how even though they weren’t on friendly terms, they still formed a bond with one another.

Now we’ve established how exactly their relationship started, and why Ky was curious about Sol in the first place, let’s look at things from Sol’s perspective.

Sol’s attitude towards Ky

We know that Sol was also pretty annoyed by Ky, which was totally justifiable given the extreme way in which Ky thought the world worked. But Sol didn’t exactly dislike Ky.

In order to provide some evidence that Sol cares about Ky, let’s cover that infamous scene everyone likes to reference which shows Sol crying over Ky’s dead body:

Sol: "I came to pick you up." Ky: "Always coming late... you never could fix that..." Sol: "You..." Ky: "As to be expected... until the very end... I could never beat you..." Sol: "Don't say anything!" Ky: "I have... a request..." Sol: "I said shut up!" Ky: "After Commander Kliff... carry on... the Holy Order..." Sol: "Stop it... that's your job!" Ky: "Please... promise me..." Sol: "Dammit..." Ky: "If it's you... you can do..." Sol: "Hey.... what's wrong. Hey! KYYYYYY!" — Guilty Gear XX Drama CD Side Red, Battle of Rome — Deathmatch

A lot of people bring this quote up when discussing SolKy and yes, it does show Sol cares about Ky considering how Sol never really cares about anyone in general, but the fact that Ky’s death managed to make him emotional shows what an impact Ky had on him. There are however more quotes that show Sol’s feelings.

There’s this scene in the GG Xtra manga, Ky and Sol get attacked by a mountain-sized gear. In order to save them, Sol rips off his limiter and Dragon Installs. This scene is very poignant when you take into consideration what Sol said in After Story A:

Sol: "Back during the Crusades, before we met... Kliff told me this rumour about a prodigy swordsman." Sol: "If you couldn't guess, that was you. I didn't give a shit at the time..." Sol: "But then I saw you on the battlefield." Sol: "I saw someone out there who surpassed all of my expectations. Or perhaps I should say 'something.'" Sol: "No openings, no wasted movements, no carelessness, no hesitation, no embarrassment, not even any honor. No chivalry or mercy. A being unaffected by emotion." Sol: "You were a killing machine. Taking down gears with brutal efficiency." Ky: "...That was a long time ago." Sol: "I'm not done talking. I've seen the face of the 'serious' Ky." Sol: "Then one day, you challenged me." Sol: "You wanna know what I thought right then?" Ky: "..." Sol: "I was afraid. Hell, I was scared shitless." Sol: "'He figured out that I'm a Gear, and he's come to kill me.' That's what I thought." — Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR-, After Story A

Sol admits that he knows just how scary Ky can be. Since Ky was extremely against Gears, if Ky found out that Sol was a Gear, then Ky would have most likely attempted to kill him. But Sol knew this and was willing to die for Ky’s sake, and transformed anyway:

Ky: "Sol..." Ky: (Really... that's really..) Ky: (That's really you!?) Ky: "SOL!" Sol: "Shut it..." Sol: "I didn't do it..." Sol: "To help you out—...." — Guilty Gear Xtra, Chapter 5: Unspeakable Thoughts

Going off on a bit of a tangent from Sol’s feelings, but I just want to point out Ky’s state of mind at this point. Ky in this time period was still very anti-Gear, as it was only through this moment and his encounters with Solaria and Dizzy later that made him change his way of thinking. It took a long time for Ky to accept Gears, and he still had the remains of that mindset in him when he had Sin, as he refused to make eye contact with him because Ky was ashamed of having a Gear child. So the fact that Ky knew Sol was a Gear, believed all Gears were evil, but still decided to accept Sol into his life and wanted to support him regardless of that, is interesting.

Back to Sol, another small quote that manages to show Sol’s feelings towards Ky is this:

Sol: (Maybe I'll finish them off while I'm at it...) Sol: (But that would mean breaking my promise to Ky...) — Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R, Sol Badguy Path 2

Now, Sol doesn’t care about 99% of what other people do as long as they don’t get in his way. The fact that he intends to keep his promise with Ky suggests that he holds Ky in somewhat ‘high’ regards compared to others.

There’s also this quote that shows Sol is thinking about Ky in Overture:

The frustrations of the man wielding a giant sword were piling day by day, and a familiar face appeared in his head. What’s he up to right now? “Hmph, whatever…” With a feeling of self-contempt, Sol Badguy shook his head. What am I getting sentimental for? — Guilty Gear 2: Overture, #0 “Noise”

And when Sol encounters Raven later on after seeing Ky incapacitated, Raven points out how he can tell Sol is upset, meaning Sol’s not really doing a good job of pretending he’s still indifferent to Ky.

Raven: "You're as ruthless as ever, huh, monster?" Sol: "Look who's talking." Raven: "Can you not put down your sword and talk? I understand you're upset with Ky Kiske defeated." Sol: "I'll ask your corpse for answers." — Guilty Gear 2: Overture, #5 "Gaze of the Chronicle"

Sol’s thoughts about Ky become even clearer during his confrontation with Sin when he’s under the influence of Valentine, where Sol defends Ky’s actions and tries to make Sin understand Ky is not 100% at fault:

Sin: "Can you see it? Can you feel it? This is my real power. This is my mother's strength." Sol: "But it's light. It must be from your father." Sin: "Shut up! Don't ever mention him!" Sin: "He abandoned my mother and me using justice as an excuse!" Sin: "Who cares about the King!? Who cares about the people!? That man, and that Kingdom, not one of them can protect a damn thing!" Sol: "I don't give a damn about your family." Sol: "But you know what, Ky may be a stubborn idiot, but at least he's true to his beliefs." Sol: "A punk like you is still alive thanks to his justice." — Guilty Gear 2: Overture, #15 "Roaring Compass"

Okay, that’s the pre-Xrd era for Sol done, now to focus on Ky’s pre-Xrd’s emotions.

Ky’s attitude towards Sol

We’ve established earlier that Ky was annoyed by Sol and disliked him in the Crusades. However, afterwards it seems as if Ky saw himself as friends with Sol:

Ofc1: "All of them seem to have been destroyed by... fire?" Ofc2: "Yeah... why could that be?" Ky: "........" Ky: "Change our course!" Ky: "Head towards the Eastern United States!" Ofc1: "May I ask why, Chief Ky?" Ky: "To meet an old friend." — Guilty Gear Xtra, Chapter 4: Former Friends

We know that Ky outwardly expressed his first signs of liking Sol when Sol stole the Fuuenken and Ky chased after him, only for Sol to win in their duel, and Ky says this:

Ky: "Promise me one thing..." Sol: "..What?" Ky: "We'll meet again." Sol: "Hmph... Well, if fate brings us together..." Ky: "..That's fine." — Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R, Sol Badguy Path 1

It’s pretty interesting that Ky wanted to see Sol again despite how Sol never used to listen to his orders, and how Sol never even tried to act like what the Order expected their men to act like (chivalrous, putting the people first, etc). It at least shows us that Ky saw possibly the potential of becoming friends with Sol. And Sol didn’t even say straight up ‘no’ or ‘in your dreams’ or whatever Badguy-esque notion he usually would’ve done, so we can assume he doesn’t mind seeing Ky again either.

Then they don’t speak to each other properly for 5 years until the tournament that Testament holds, though they have probably ran into each other a few times within those years.

A common misconception people have is that during those 5 years, Ky was obsessed with Sol and would constantly try to find him. Obviously, this is not true. Ky was busy with IPF stuff and Sol was hunting Gears down.

However, it’s not as if Ky completely forgot about Sol — he was just probably at the back of his mind, and Ky does admit that he has been chasing after Sol the most more than anyone else:

Ky: (Waiting outside for me when I left the ship... burning red flames. Soon, they seem to take the shape of a man... and he appears before me. Yes... it's him. The one I've been after the most... it's him.) — Guilty Gear X Drama CD, Vol. 1: Track Seven — Crater

There’s also these two other quotes:

Ky: (Sol...) Ky: (Why are you so stubborn about doing things alone?) — Guilty Gear Xtra, Chapter 5: Unspeakable Thoughts

You can interpret this in two ways: either Ky wants to help Sol out and/or he’s curious as to why Sol always does stuff alone.

And then there’s this:

Ky: "Maintaining peace, law, and order. That is my duty." Sol: "Whatever..." Ky: "You and I, we are cut from the same cloth." Ky: "How long are you going to keep that facade?" Sol: "..." Ky: "Answer me Sol!" — Guilty Gear Judgment, Sol and Ky Ending

Being ‘cut from the same cloth’ is quite a strong statement. The phrase means that Ky thought he and Sol were similar somehow, and that he shared something with Sol. Regardless, the ‘how long are you going to keep that facade’ at least shows that Ky knows Sol is intentionally acting distant/rough/etc. and that its not actually who he is.

Jumping to pre-Overture, just before Ky gives Sin to Sol, Ky is in a really depressive state due to all of the stress he’s been going through. This leads Dizzy to contact Sol. The fact that Sol is called means that Dizzy knows that Sol is possibly the only person who can help Ky at that point, which puts some emphasis on just how much Sol means to Ky or at least affects him.

Before I move onto Xrd, there’s this part where Ky gives his son to Sol. This proves he trusts Sol so much considering he was asking him to take care of Sin for a long period of time.

Ky: “Sol....I want to request something...” Sol: “...hnn?” Ky: “My son....Sin..can you take care of him for a while?” Sol: “...what did you say?” Ky: “I know it’s unreasonable but...I still want to ask...” — GG2: Overture Story, Sol's Story

The Xrd era (because it is so long, it needs its own section)

The Xrd era is extremely interesting to me, because Sol and Ky have some more in-depth conversations, and boy, do they have a lot of conversations.

Focusing on Sol first, theres a scene in REV where Sol asks Ky why he isn’t interested in his past:

Sol: "Why don't you ask me already?" Ky: "Ask you what?" Sol: "About my past." Ky: "I can ask you?" Sol: "I guarantee, it won't be interesting." Sol: "Every other word that came out of your mouth was 'Duel me,' or 'I challenge you!' You were so eager to fight and..." Ky: "........" — Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR-, Story Mode: Chapter 03, Sense A

Given that Ky was constantly pestering Sol about his background in the past, it makes sense why Sol is suddenly a bit confused about Ky’s sudden change in behaviour. But it also shows that Sol wants Ky to know about his past. After ~170+ years of being alive, Sol wants to finally open up to someone again, and he specifically chose Ky for this. It shows in the very least Sol trusts Ky and knows him well enough to decide to let him know about who he used to be.

And then Ky says this, which is basically him just showing Sol how much he cares and understands him:

Ky: "Sol. Of course I have an interest in your past." Ky: "But wanting to understand someone and trying to understand everything is completely different." Ky: "Right now, Sol Badguy's future matters much more to me, than Frederick's past." — Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR-, Story Mode: Chapter 03, Sense A

There’s also this scene in SIGN:

Ky: "I don't know your history." Ky: "I don't know if you had friends once, or if you fell in love, or why you burn with such hatred for That Man and the Gears..." Ky: "I don't even know your real name." Sol: "..." Ky: "But I do know a great deal about a man named Sol Badguy." Ky: "Blinded by vengeance, he lost sight of himself, and now he runs from the truth that frightens him." Sol: "...Say that again." Ky: "Tomorrow always comes, Sol." Sol: "..!" Ky: "If tomorrow promises to be cold and dark, I cannot stand idly by... even if I know my efforts will come to nothing." Sol: "... The self-righteous apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Ky: "I don't expect the world to change tomorrow, but I do hope that, today, perhaps my words will reach you." Ky: "Sol..." Ky: "I'll be waiting for you. We'll all be waiting for you. Sin, Dizzy..." Ky: "Once all this is over... come home." — Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, Story Mode: Chapter 04, Kaleidoscope B

Three things to take away from this:

Ky admits that he doesn’t know anything about Sol’s background, but that he knows a lot about the current Sol, and then goes on to explain how Sol acts. Which to expand on, means that although Ky used to care about Sol’s past, he doesn’t really mind about it anymore because Sol’s past won’t really change much who Sol is to Ky now. Also, the part where Ky explains how Sol was ‘blinded by vengeance,’etc. shows that Ky knows Sol’s current personality well enough in order to be able to distinguish his behaviours. Which is interesting because nobody has been around Sol long enough to be able to know him really well unlike Ky (Aria and Asuka count too, but they were around Sol when he was Frederick, and Sol seems pretty adamant on the idea that he’s a separate person from Frederick.)

‘Come home’ is pretty significant, as it implies that it’s almost like Ky is saying home is with Sin, Dizzy and the Valentines, and so when Sol is done getting revenge on That Man, instead of letting Sol just wander off alone, Ky wants Sol to be a family with them.

The fact that says Ky says ‘I’ll be waiting for you’ separate from ‘we’ll all be waiting for you’ implies that either Ky’s want to wait for Sol is somehow different from everyone else’s or it’s just for the sake of being dramatic. I interpreted this in both ways, as it seems like Ky knows that Sol treats him differently compared to others. So in a sense, by Ky emphasising that he’ll be waiting for Sol, it might make Sol more likely to ‘come home’.

There’s also a scene that shows Ky knows Sol’s personality well:

Ky: "When I look at you, Sol, I see a man who is afraid." Sol: "... What?" Ky: "It became clear when I watched you caring for Sin." Ky: "You work very hard to keep everyone at arm's length." Sol: "..." Sol: "I got Gear blood in my veins, and it ain't friendly. It's always there in the back of my head, whispering that I oughta just destroy all of this." Sol: "The only way I'm gonna get some closure is tracking down That Man and beating some answers out of him." Sol: "And if he doesn't have 'em..." Sol: "Then maybe there really isn't a good way to live." Ky: "That's why you close your heart off." — Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, Story Mode: Chapter 08, Hope A

There’s also this:

Ky: "Not all people have the strength to stand on their own." Sol: "..." Ky: "If only life were simple, and the right path was laid out before each of us..." Ky: "But even then some would leave it, and some would struggle with walking it. Such is human nature..." Ky: "The truth is that no path will ever be 'right' for all people. Each of us must find the one we are meant to walk--and sometimes that is where none exists." Ky: "That is what I learned from you." — Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, Story Mode: Chapter 08, Hope A

This just shows that Ky actually learnt something from Sol. Which I think is important because Ky is someone who always used to be very strict to his ideals. The fact that he learnt something from Sol that had an impact on his mindset means that Sol actually managed to have a great impact on Ky.

There’s this scene where Sol finds out that Aria isn’t dead when he confronts That Man, and he has somewhat of a mini mental breakdown. So Ky excuses them from the room, and goes outside to talk with Sol:

Ky: "Sol. The grudge you hold is certainly not something that can be taken lightly. And, whatever answer you think you've found, I doubt any of us will be able to stop you from seeing it through..." Ky: "But we have very little time left. Right now, we need the Gear Maker's help." Ky: "So, I'm begging you... Just for now. Why don't you stay outside with me." — Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR-, Story Mode: Chapter 06, Cause A

The last line that Ky says is interesting because it’s obvious that he’s just trying to calm Sol down, and Ky thinks that if he stays with Sol outside for a bit, he’ll be able to help him calm down. Furthermore, Ky thought it was more necessary to pause everything and help Sol out rather than keep listening to the plans of what their next course of action would be.

Ky does have the habit of comforting Sol. One of the more significant moments is whenever Sol refers to himself as a monster:

Ky: "Yes, he took away some of what makes you human, but that doesn't mean he altered your mind or your soul." Sol: "So what?" Ky: "I want to believe that you'll fight for the people of this world." Sol: "Are we seriously having this conversation?" Sol: "Look, kid. I'm a monster. I'm here to do two things: Destroy That Man, and kill all the other Gears." — Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, Story Mode: Chapter 04, Kaleidoscope B

To expand a little on Sol’s mindset, it’s common knowledge that Gears were generally in the past regarded as akin to monsters. Now we don’t have any solid proof Sol is referring to himself as a monster because he’s a Gear, or because he feels guilt about the whole Gear Project, etc. But we do know it’s something he’s affected by given that he constantly refers to himself as one.

So the fact that Ky constantly reassures him that he’s not one, and that Ky didn’t treat him differently after finding out he was a Gear, must be comforting to know.

Then at the end of REV, there’s the scene where Daryl is about to shoot Sol, because he (quite rightly) doesn’t trust the fate of the world to be left to Sol. And so, the kids get beamed up, but Ky asks to be left behind:

Ky: "But, if you plan on targeting Sol, then you must leave me behind, as well." Daryl: "What!?" Zappa:"60 seconds until impact..!" Sol: "What the hell are you doing?! Stay with Sin!" Ky: "I am well aware that this is a one in a million chance..." Ky: "But, if I survive at the expense of my dear friend, then there is little reason left for my ruling this world as king." — Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR-, Story Mode: Final Chapter, Fireworks

This was a really odd moment because Ky’s life was never in danger at that moment. If he had been sent on board Daryl’s ship as originally planned, he would have been safe. But Ky intentionally chose to risk his life, and its kind of startling because Ky has always put his people above everything. There were times when he put the people above his own family, like when he kept his family a secret instead of coming out with the truth about them in order to remain as King to protect his people.

So Ky suddenly going ‘I would rather die with Sol than take care of my people’ is really extreme. Also Ky was willing to leave his family behind, which is even more extreme. So this just really proves how highly Ky regards Sol considering how he would rather die with him than live without him.

Some concluding notes

I think Sol and Ky’s personalities do work really well. Perhaps not in the Crusade era, but if we take a look at the Xrd era, they have shown to get along and have deep conversations with one another that they both enjoy. They know each other extremely well; they know how to support one another when life gets a bit too much and they’re also capable of telling one another when the other is wrong.

Sol teaches Ky that life isn’t as simple as it seems, and that (figuratively speaking) he shouldn’t stick exactly to the textbook. He’s able to see under that perfect image Ky puts up about him being able to cope with everything, acting as a source of stability when you consider how Sol has been the only person who’s been around Ky since the very beginning.

Throughout all of Ky’s life, he’s been under so much pressure. From being Commander in the Crusades, to becoming the Head of the International Police Force, to becoming King. In every situation, people are constantly relying on him, and his environment is changing rapidly. But despite everything, Sol has always remained the same. He looks the same, acts the same, etc. Ky can rely on Sol and trust Sol. He’s like a source of stability for Ky in those hectic times.

And Ky provides something similar to Sol too, given how often he ran into Sol time and time again. When you’ve been alive for so long, it’d feel reassuring in the very least to see a familiar face. And Sol does seem to get less annoyed each time they meet each other again, considering like how in Overture he voluntarily went to go see Ky after seeing himself on a wanted poster.

Ky also gives Sol the chance to open up to people again and form connections with them, something that Sol has been reluctant to do. Sol needs someone to care about him, and Ky proves that by constantly reassuring him and never giving up on trying to help Sol, even though he kept getting pushed away.

They may not be canon but I really do love how they work together. Yes it’s true some people may like them because they are ‘rivals’and seeing rivals get together and bicker is great, but actually I think when people focus more on how much they support and rely on each other, as well as the fact that they do get along, them being in a relationship is more convincing.

Whilst this essay focused on their canon interactions, there’s plenty of other great material out there. For instance, the Guilty Gear 4KomaKINGS manga provides plenty of great SolKy interactions (like the time Ky wanted to have a friendship diary with Sol, only to get rejected and start crying about it. Of course, take these interactions with a pinch of skepticism considering the frivolity of the source material.)

And that, was my very long SolKy essay. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading! Though you may not have agreed with everything I have said, you still continued reading, and I am grateful for that. Thank you for showing such enthusiasm and loving this franchise.

#solky

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