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nadziejastar · 4 years

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If you were to put together a deck of KH Tarot cards which characters would be which?

Ooh, this is fun. It’s like the characters in Persona.

Sora - The Fool

“The Wild card is a playing card that can represent any other card, or something that has an unexpected effect on a situation. It is like the number zero… empty, yet holding infinite potential within itself.”

The Fool represents new beginnings and carefree adventure. Though this card could indicate foolishness, it is more optimistic in the sense that it stands for pure actions and being free from the constraints of your present life. More than likely, there are important decisions coming your way. This Arcana is originally the only one that doesn’t have a number, thus it is considered as the Arcana number 0. The Fool Arcana tends to be the “jack of all trades”. Mythological figures of the Fool Arcana are often heroes, fools, or the protagonists of their own mythological stories.

Donald - The Magician

“Attaining one’s dream requires a stern will and unfailing determination.”The Magician is symbolic of action and power in your life. Its positive connotations illustrate someone who is a smooth talker and good at all aspects of communication. This card suggests using your strong will power to move forward and take action. A common trait shared between members of Magician Arcana is their strong vision and aspiration for the future, and fulfilling their inner potential.

Kairi/Naminé/Xion - The Priestess

“The silent voice within one’s heart whispers the most profound wisdom.”The High Priestess is a spiritually intuitive woman full of mystery, wisdom, and understanding. A journey of self-discovery goes hand-in-hand with the presence of this card in your spread. She stands for things yet to be discovered in your life. Individuals associated with the Priestess Arcana are usually quiet, reserved, hardworking and very intelligent. They are often modest and shy.

Aqua - The Empress

“Celebrate life’s grandeur…its brilliance…its magnificence…”

The Empress stands for all things motherly. A nurturing, loving problem solver, she indicates successful business ventures or other positive, productive opportunities to come. She suggests moving forward to fulfill your full potential. The Empress Arcana often belongs to women of authority or wise and motherly figures. Characters under this Arcana may also be cold-hearted in personality, but still present a high degree of care and concern towards others. And like queens, they are also very elegant in character.

Terra - The Emperor

“Only courage in the face of doubt can lead one to the answer…”

The Emperor, as the counterpart to the Empress, stands for all things fatherly. He is structure, order, and authority in your life. While moving forward in your endeavours, this card indicates that assertiveness and rationality will take you a long way. In tarot readings, the Emperor symbolizes the desire to control one’s surroundings, and its appearance could suggest that one is trying too hard to achieve this, possibly causing trouble for others; some elements in life are just not controllable. Characters of the Emperor Arcana are often male leaders or father figures (or both). Often times, the Emperor character is troubled by something very personal and doesn’t know how to deal with it.

Eraqus - The Hierophant

“It is indeed a precious gift to understand the forces that guides oneself…”

The Hierophant is a symbol of education, authority, conservatism, obedience to rules and relationship with the divine. The definition of a “hierophant” is a person who interprets sacred mysteries or esoteric principles, and the term was originally used to name ancient Greek priests who did so. Characters of the Hierophant Arcana are often older than the protagonist, and are typically quite wise and logical. The most common connection between Hierophant characters, however, is their association (and obsession) with the past.

Elrena - The Lovers

“There is both joy and wonder in coming to understand another…”

The Lovers Arcana initially represented two paths life could lead to, and thus a symbol of standing at a crossroad and needing to make a decision. Today, however, it is portrayed more of a symbol of love and romantic relationships, although it can also be a symbol of finding agreement with an ordinary friend or even two conflicting elements within.

Goofy - The Chariot

“One of life’s greatest blessings is the freedom to pursue one’s goals.”The Chariot reveals some sort of journey. With a positive connotation, this journey will most likely be a progression of some sort. It could also be the final success you have been working for. Portrayed as a king leading a chariot made up of two differently colored horses. The Chariot Arcana is a symbol of victory, conquest, self-assertion, self-confidence, control, war and command. Characters who are of the Chariot Arcana are typically very driven individuals, who have a personal goal that they aim to achieve at any cost. Combat-wise, they also tend to focus on physical attacks rather than magic.

Even - Justice

“To find the one true path, one must seek guidance amidst uncertainty…”

The Justice card is all about karma, fairness, and balance in different affairs in your life. It does not suggest an outcome that is either for or against you, but accountability, dignity, and integrity are all liked to its presence. In tarot readings, it means that one will have face a trial of their justice. Commonly, characters of the Justice Arcana are concerned with matters of fairness, and otherwise are very stoic individuals.

Ienzo - The Hermit

“It requires great courage to look at oneself honestly, and forge one’s own path…”

The Hermit is a card symbolic of seeking some sort of spiritual enlightenment. Solitary introspection and contemplation are also associated with the Hermit. Perhaps some soul-searching and reflection are required on your part. Similarly, Hermit Arcana characters share the commonality of placing themselves in situations that hide them from the public eye. Hermit individuals hide away from others or act in more supportive roles rather than putting themselves in the spotlight.

Luxord - Fortune

“Alongside time exists fate, the bearer of cruelty.”The Wheel of Fortune stands for fate, luck, changes, and a new direction in your life. While it also shows ups and downs, the overall feel of the card is a positive one indicating changes for the better and good fortune. Human characters of the Fortune Arcana are usually individuals who attempt to seize their own destiny in spite of fate and are typically involved with making important choices and decisions in response to what life throws at them.

Riku - Strength

“Only with strength can one endure suffering and torment.”

The Strength card shows a presence of self-assurance and confidently facing problems in your life. It suggests a person who enjoys power but has the capacity to exercise great self-control in all matters. Portrayed as a young woman holding up a terrifying beast, the Strength Arcana symbolizes an imagery beyond the Beast and Beauty, and is associated with the morality about the stronger power of self-control, gentleness, courage and virtue over brute force. A commonality between characters of the Strength Arcana is their strength of heart. Strength characters are not upset easily and typically portray the fortitude that the Strength card represents in readings.

Dilan - Lust

“Clearly distinguish between your ego and your intuitive self.”

The Hunger/Lust Arcana is not found in standard tarot decks. The Lust Arcana is the Thoth tarot equivalent of the Strength Arcana, numbered XI. Lust symbolizes the danger of losing control, of being consumed by power. The card also implies strength, but strength which comes through Dominance. It is not true power, but the pure bliss of abusing power.

Ansem - The Hanged Man

“In the face of disaster lies the opportunity for renewal.”The Hanged Man suggests some sort of metamorphosis through breaking patterns, letting go, or going through a period of transition. Although it could indicate having to give something up in order to gain a fresh perspective, it has neither positive or negative connotations. In Tarot readings, this card’s appearance can be seen as an advice to take the time necessary to reflect over one’s upcoming actions. Hanged Man characters are sometimes self-sacrificial, but are more often notable for being caught between two different extremes, parties or stages in life.

Lauriam - Death

“Free yourself from a past that no longer serves you well and proceed toward the future with all your heart.”The Death card shows some sort of dramatic change in order to have a new beginning. It is often associated with some sort of loss, failure, or destruction. While it is associated with foreboding and doom, the Death Arcana also symbolizes metamorphosis and deep change, regeneration and cycles. In the earliest Tarot decks, it was the only Arcana that didn’t have a name, but the depictions of an ominous skeleton bearing a scythe led people to call it Death.

Demyx - Temperance

“Find balance in your life and approach problems with a calm demeanor.”

The Temperance card suggests divine intervention, optimism, balance, and harmony. The positive overall presence of this card in your spread reveals high levels of self-confidence and control in your endeavors. Characters of the Temperance Arcana are often struggling to find a balance in their lives and in their hobbies.

Braig - The Devil

“Making the wisest of decisions requires one to escape from the desires of temptation.”

The Devil is about all things negative. Anger, violence, temptation, fear, and doubt are just some of the terrors associated with this card. It suggests feeling trapped perhaps in an unhealthy relationship, an addiction, or a lie. Portrayed as a hermaphrodite devil over two naked and chained figures, the negative aspect of the Devil Arcana represents the urge to do selfish, impulsive, violent things, and being a slave to ones’ own impulse and feelings. Human characters associated with the Devil Arcana are often “devilish” individuals; they can be greedy, proud, lustful, or otherwise of poor character. It is not uncommon for this type of character to have somewhat of an antisocial tendency, often not caring much for the needs or well-being of others.

Aeleus - The Tower

“See things as you want them to be in order to make them become that way. Knowing the worst is behind you can give strength.”

The Tower is all about unexpected events and changes coming up in your life. However, the changes are along the lines of something catastrophic, disastrous, and overall negative. The Tower Arcana is commonly associated to overly arrogant, prejudiced and authoritarian organization, which walk to their own ironic demise. Furthermore, it is also more generically used as an omen of doom and disaster. It can be seen as the worst card of the deck, as it rarely has a positive meaning. Human characters of the Tower Arcana can be arrogant, and typically find themselves in bad situations where they themselves have fallen from grace.

Roxas/Ventus - The Star

“The time of your renewal is approaching. You have chosen the right path to restore your mental and physical health. By being brave enough to choose the riskier roads, you will inspire those around you.”

The Star’s presence signifies a period of respite and renewal for you. This renewal may be spiritual, physical, or both. It is a light in the darkness, illuminating your future and your past. The Star is symbolic of hope, renewal, and beauty. It suggests a period of spiritual tranquility, happiness, and positive opportunities. The overall feeling of this card is optimistic and serene. Characters of the Star Arcana embody their arcana’s traits of hopefulness and joy.

Isa - The Moon

“The struggle to reach your potential may bring about many conflicts in your life, but the results will be beautiful.”

The Moon is an illusive and confusing card. It suggests the presence of risks, secrets, and some level of mental confusion. It is associated with creativity, inspiration, dreams, madness, illusions, fear, fantasy, the subconscious and trickery. In tarot readings, it can also represent being attuned subconsciously to the world around, gaining the ability to sense things without being told about them or without anyone else knowing. Characters who are of the Moon Arcana are often similarly psychically-attuned, but a more common trend is their projection of their own fears and faults onto others. They often tend to have trouble accepting themselves for who they are and, because of that fear, try to correspond to an ideal person. And like the Arcana, there is a hidden depth as to why they act in their behaviors.

Lea - The Sun

“Let your light shine. Be confident in the sacred power of your original nature.”

The Sun, being the opposition to the Moon, is a card full of life, joy, and energy. It reveals positive achievements, successful endeavors, and an overall manifestations of good fortune in your life. It symbolizes happiness, joy, energy, optimism, and accomplishment. Occasionally, it is also associated with one’s initial happiness. Persona of the Sun Arcana commonly excel in Light and Fire-based attacks. They are typically mythological figures directly related to the sun, light, or fire. Characters of the Sun Arcana almost always (ironically) find themselves in terrible situations, the situation belying the underlying optimism present in nearly all of them. Also, as the Sun Arcana portrays accomplishment, some of these characters have deep thoughts about the meaning of life and manage to find their answers.

Xehanort - Judgement

“The fruits of your decisions are coming and you will receive that which you deserve. The path at your feet and the direction it is leading you are clear. You will see your ultimate desire through to the end.”

The Judgement card is representative of some sort of change or transformation, likely one that has already occurred. It could mean the presence of a spiritual or professional calling and making decisions that will lead to your success. The Judgement Arcana, in tarot, is associated with realizing one’s calling, gaining a deep understanding of life and a feeling of acceptance and absolution.

In gameplay, the Judgement Arcana is commonly associated with a balance of Light and Darkness. Figures of the Judgement Arcana are usually related to Judgement Day myths or are gods tied directly to the judgement of humankind. Characters of the Judgement Arcana are well-aware, quite intelligent and view the world with infinite possibilities. Most powerful when combining their intuition with their smarts, their thought process is among the most vast and realistic.

Mickey - The World

“You must find your purpose to accomplish it. The same with dreams; you must first be aware of it to make it exist.”

The World card means satisfaction and success at a journey’s end. Fulfillment, rewards, certainty, and positive outcomes are all things directly associated with the presence of this card. It often appears as the final triumph arcana, creating miracles and aiding the protagonists. The World Arcana is a representation of the world’s totality, the symbol of fulfillment, wholeness and harmony. The World Arcana is commonly associated with Social Links, where its power is based upon the protagonist’s bonds with others.

#kh #kingdom hearts #kh meta #persona #tarot

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doomonfilm · 3 years

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Review : The Little Things (2021)

As 2021 settles in and the impact of COVID-19 continues to cast a shadow on the future of how films are released, HBOMax and Warner Brothers Studios are continuing their year-long dual release experiment with the second film to receive such treatment, The Little Things. Wonder Woman 1984 was never going to provide a true picture of how this practice could work, seeing as it had so many intangible factors tied to it, but a more traditional style film with three Academy Award winners in the lead roles is a bit stronger and truer of a litmus test to use.

After a witness IDs a potential killer based on his unique boots, Kern County Deputy Sherriff Joe Deacon (Denzel Washington) is sent to Los Angeles to pick up the boots from their evidence locker due to their connection to another crime. Due to a delay, Deacon is forced to stay longer than anticipated, leading to his involvement with an ongoing crime being worked by LAPD Detective Jimmy Baxter (Rami Malek). Baxter immediately picks up on Deacon’s former colleagues tiptoeing around his past involvement with the LAPD, and even though their initial meeting causes tension, Baxter convinces Deacon to stick around and assist on an investigation centered around a serial killer terrorizing the citizens of Los Angeles.

Finding new ground to explore in the killer thriller realm is tough these days, but luckily for The Little Things, it’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. There are similarities to films like Se7en, specifically in regard to the old cop/new cop dynamic, but it is disingenuous to hold this film up in comparison to standard thrillers. With the acting firepower locked and loaded, director John Lee Hancock opts to use the already present tension that is part in parcel with the genre and ratchets things tighter using the gifts his actors possess. With this is the foundation of the film, it becomes less about solving the case, and more about which character is going to crack first, and it is this aspect of the film that keeps viewers tied to it.

While most films that deal with killers tend to focus on either the killer or the victims and community they target, this film props itself up as a character study centered around those tasked with making those horrific wrongs right again. From the moment that Joe Deacon touches down in the presence of the LAPD, the weight of his past actions steps to the front and center, cast a massive dark cloud over all that we are presented with not directly tied to the investigation. The teacher/student dynamic that should naturally exist in a connection like the one that exist between Deacon and Baxter is turned on its head, especially once all of Deacon’s cards are laid out on the table and Baxter is forced to question his character. Deacon’s arc also presents the possibility of a slow descent into madness, further blurring the lines between what constitutes a cop and what constitutes a criminal.

The Little Things finds an interesting middle ground between the usual depictions of Los Angeles... there is enough of the dark underbelly to fuel the thriller/suspense narrative, with enough sunny free spirited energy present to create a stark juxtaposition. Dark blues, greens and golden tones stand out against the use of deep shadows, and when used in combination with locations that are worn and show their age, a sense of bleakness is immediately indicated. As the film focuses on the investigations more so than sensationalizing the crimes, the pacing is purposefully methodical, but the added benefit is that the methodical nature gives us the feeling of a march towards impending doom. Soundtrack moments are few and far between, but the songs chosen are not only entertaining, but bring nice emotional cues to the table, which are further amplified by the subtle, rhythmic and textured score. True crime is at the height of its popularity these days, which the writer/director John Lee Hancock is obviously aware of, as he treats viewers as if they are informed while leaving out clunky exposition.

Denzel Washington exudes the stress that comes with a troubling past, and the hesitation to put yourself out on a limb around strangers in fear of judgement, or actions clouded by information about you previously received. Remi Malek is wound up so tight that you wonder if he is meant to serve as a secondary antagonist, and the bluntness he brings to the table works beautifully against Washington’s jaded indifference. Michael Hyatt has great chemistry in her scenes with Washington as well, as if the two have a shorthand language or inside joke that fuels their character interaction. Jared Leto’s cat and mouse approach serves as the main push for the narrative mystery, and he is certainly effective in terms of seeding it with clues and uncertainty. The LAPD cast consist of a number of strong actors and actresses that make the most of their limited time, including Natalie Morales, Terry Kinney, Chris Bauer, Joris Jarsky, Jason James Richter, John Harlan Kim and Glenn Morshower. Supporting appearances by Kerry O’Malley, Sofia Vassilieva, Sheila Houlahan, Lee Garlington, Isabel Arraiza, Charlie Saxon, Judith Scott, and more round out the remainder of the cast.

HBO’s The Wire famously said “the job doesn’t make you” in regards to the grueling task of working as a detective, and The Little Things could be used as an example of this adage as well. If you’re looking for a run of the mill “whodunnit” shockfest fueled by serial killer exploitation, I’d skip this one. If you’re looking for tension driven by calculated and measured performances, then this one is for you.

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badcowboy69 · 7 years

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A Driving Plan

Here’s a little story that’s going to open up an entire set of new, exciting possibilities for my courier and his partner. It’s also my coming back into writing once more. It’s been too long and hopefully this sort of absence won’t ever happen again. Please give this a read and don’t worry it’s sfw lol It’s just under the cut due to length. As always this features my courier six, Travis Blackfox and his partner, Riley White who belongs to @zoey-and-dakota Enjoy!

The light from the setting Mojave sun filtered through the drawn tan curtains covering the penthouse windows of the Lucky 38. For some the day was finally coming to an end, but for many others it was only beginning. One of those many was Travis Blackfox, co-ruler of New Vegas. Humming to himself, he poured two glasses of red wine to get this evening started. As he shoved the cork back into the bottle a smile tugged at the corners of his moustache hearing the chuckles coming from the other room. Tonight was one of the little traditions he and his boyfriend, Riley, participated in each week. After dinner was ate and things cleaned up, the couple would take the elevator to the penthouse. There they would have drinks and share the company of Mister House, the mysterious being on a computer screen.

Although for Travis it wasn’t that big of a mystery anymore. After the second battle for Hoover Dam was won by Travis and his allies, House explained to him who he is and his mechanics. At first Travis was baffled as to how a person could not only be alive after two centuries, but continue to function and control things. With House now fully trusting Travis enough, he granted the courier permission to see the special isolation chamber where he “resides” via video imagery. He then continued to explain in further detail his past role in the world as well as future aspirations.

It was then Travis was offered the opportunity to continue living in the Lucky 38 and be co-ruler over New Vegas and its affairs. Travis was taken aback by such a monumental request and gift and was unsure on how to respond. Seeing he shocked the courier into silence, House went on to tell him that no matter what he chooses he’ll be taken care of for the rest of his life regardless. Travis didn’t have to stay chained down living in the casino forever if he didn’t want to. Not really having anywhere else to go or truly call home, Travis agreed. He had everything a person could ever want and then some, but always stayed humble and generous through it all.

As Travis entered the room, he gave a polite nod towards the green screened image of Mister House before handing a glass of wine to Riley. Taking a seat next to his partner, he then raised his glass towards their host. “Here we are in another exciting pre-war discussion! What’s the topic gonna be for tonight?” he asked while taking a small sip of his drink, grimacing from the tart taste.

“We were talking about travel and places visited,” Riley replied as he leaned against the couch, casually crossing his legs. “Robert here was telling me about his camping trips to Zion Canyon. I know you’ve been there a few times. Mind sharing some stories?”

Travis suddenly frowned and began plinking his fingers against his glass for a moment making Riley frown as well. He knew every time Travis did that meant he was anxious about something. Riley hoped he didn’t hit a nerve or put Travis on the spot with his innocent question.

Taking a breath, Travis nodded slowly. “A’yup, been there lots of times. It’s beautiful.” He paused and turned his attentions to Mister House. “You’d be pleased to know it’s untouched by radiation. There’s a few mutated critters of course like yao guai and cazadors. Waters are fresh and clean, though. Lots of game to hunt and fish to catch. The Tribals that live there are great.” He then paused for a few moments before lifting his head and holding Riley’s gaze with his. “I’d so love to take you there, but it’s a long ways on my bike and I don’t think you’d be willing to go that kind of distance on it,” he said softly, almost defeated, making Riley understand Travis’ mood change.

“Bike? You’re still tooling around on that thing, Travis?” House chimed in. “After all this time, especially with a partner, I thought you’d have a truck or car running by now for the two of you. With your ingenuity I’m sure you could have salvaged something suitable to traverse the terrain in.”

“Ain’t any vehicles out there good enough for me to do anything with,” Travis grumped, dropping his gaze to the floor and taking a mouthful of wine.

“You mean ain’t any out there you haven’t already blown up,” Riley jested and gave his partner a playful nudge in hopes to make light of the suddenly touchy subject. “You have to admit, you trashed a lot of vehicles that could have had potential.”

“Travis the TNT Terror of the Mojave has destroyed all possible salvageable vehicles? Why am I not surprised,” House said dryly while Travis cleared his throat uncomfortably.

“Ain’t blew up the good ones,” Travis muttered giving House a resentful glare. “Those that got blown up were needin’ to be properly kilt and all.”

Patting Travis on the leg and giving his knee a reassuring squeeze, Riley turned his attentions back to House in hopes to defuse the topic he feared would get heated soon. “There are plenty of vehicles around out there if you can even call them that anymore. Whatever the bombs didn’t destroy the elements finished the job. Hardly any have interiors left to speak of. Those that did aren’t exactly in easy places to get them out let alone work on them. From what I’ve seen, it would take weeks if not months to gather up enough parts from many different cars and areas to rebuild something.”

“A’yup…cars ain’t like the motorcycles which are everywhere and easy to get around. And even though the NCR got their trucks and stuff I’m sure they ain’t willing to hand over parts just so’s I can get a car going.” Travis twitched his moustache in annoyance not liking the direction this conversation suddenly shifted.

However, House didn’t reply and the lack of his typical sarcasm made an uncomfortable silence fill the room. Quirking an eyebrow Travis looked up at the screen where the stoic image of Mister House stared back at him. Travis knew it was only a photograph, but the eyes seemed to be boring into him and it made the courier begin to fidget.

Riley began to pick up on Travis’ unease and he frowned not exactly sure what to say or do. Giving Travis’ knee an affectionate squeeze, he then took the last mouthful of wine and set the glass down on the floor. “So…where did the NCR get their vehicles from?” he began in a feeble attempt to break the silence.

After a few long moments of silence, House’s suave voice finally came through the speakers. “Tell me, Riley…do you still remember how to drive? Or did you even do so back in your days?”

Rubbing the back of his neck before sifting his fingers through his red hair, Riley gave a nod. “Yeah. Yeah I do remember, but I might be a bit rusty at it,” he laughed. “I mean it has been over two hundred years after all. I’m sure driving might have the same concept as riding a bike where once you learn you can always do it…but I don’t think if I were to do it again that I’d have too much to worry about. I mean, there’s no more traffic laws or anything so I’m sure my crappy driving would be overlooked. Hell, it would probably be praised!”

Once again House grew quiet and this time Riley questioned it. “Robert, is everything ok?”

“Travis,” House said after long last, completely ignoring Riley’s question. “Would you be so kind as to go into my old bedroom? I’d like for you to fetch something for me out of the limited edition Nuka Cola protectron. It is still there isn’t it? I know you have a fondness for all things Nuka Cola related and I know of your disdain for those robots as well.”

Glancing at Riley first Travis shrugged and nodded slowly in uncertainty. “Yeah, it’s still in there. Why?”

“If you please, head to the robot and press the center button on its chest. It’ll be the one bearing the logo for Nuka Cola. Bring me what you find inside. That is of course unless you already discovered it with all your poking around.”

“No, I ain’t discovered nothing with my poking around,” Travis grunted as he got to his feet and loped out of the room muttering under his breath. He hastily climbed the stairs and headed towards House’s old bedchambers. The robot in question stood near the doorway as it no doubt did for centuries. However, it now had a Legion centurion helmet on it and was holding a spear thanks to Travis’ redecorating. Pressing his finger against the button that House instructed him to do, Travis half expected the thing to come to life. Instead a small compartment on the robot’s chest opened with a soft pop. Furrowing his brow Travis looked inside to find a small brass key.

Snatching it between his thumb and index finger, Travis looked it over trying to figure out what made it so special. Not seeing any marks or indications as to what it might be for, he turned and made his way back downstairs. As he stepped into the room, Riley turned to look at him, his eyebrows raised curiously as to what it was that Mister House needed Travis to go and fetch.

Travis gave him a crooked grin and shrugged before holding the key up towards the monitor. “Got it!”

“Splendid!” House exclaimed so suddenly that Travis and Riley jumped from being startled. “Now then, I’d like you to take the elevator down to the sub-basement area. That was where you witnessed the upgrades I had given my Securitrons years ago in preparation for the batte. Once there I will give you instructions on what to do next.” With that House’s image instantly vanished from the monitor bathing Travis in its pale green light.

Travis turned to Riley who was already standing and stretching. “I take it we’re off to a new adventure?” he asked, stifling a yawn as Travis stepped towards him.

The courier shrugged and stuffed the key into his pocket. “I have no fucking idea,” he grumbled. “I’m almost scared to find out what this is for. With my luck it’ll be for some creepy ass robot.” “Well, whatever it is we aren’t going to find out about it staying here. Come on, what happened to your sense of adventure? I thought you always liked exploring and discovering new things?” “I do, but when it comes to stuff from House I got every reason to be concerned. He’s the one that hired me years ago to deliver that stupid package that what got me killed. Remember?”

Riley sighed and crossed his arms in front of his chest as he followed Travis up the stairs to the elevator. He could tell his partner was slowly starting to become unreasonable and irritable. However, he knew from experience it was best to ignore him and eventually Travis would get back to normal. Although Riley didn’t know House as long as Travis did, he felt the man wasn’t sending them on some wild, pointless mission. It had to be something really exciting and special for House to suddenly have Travis find some long forgotten key.

Reaching the elevator Travis jammed his finger against the call button with a grunt. “This really better not be something stupid,” he complained while the doors slid open allowing them entrance.

“Have some faith in the man, Travis. I know that placid image on the screen we deal with doesn’t give much away emotion wise, but I picked up a hint of excitement in his voice when you showed him you had the key. I don’t think he’d be excited if this was something stupid.”

Travis waved it off and kept his gaze on the floor as he toed the carpet with his boot. Riley patted him on the shoulder and leaned close to lightly kiss him on the cheek. “Regardless of what this is all about, we’ll find out soon enough.”

Once the elevator got to its destination and the doors slid open, Riley let out a low whistle at the sight in front of him. This was one area of the casino Travis had not shown him and it was truly something to behold. Stepping out of the elevator put them onto a large balcony with a force field wall. It was overlooking what appeared to be a training area of sorts with cement half-walls with targets on them. Various sized ammunition shells were scattered on the floor as was large crumbled chunks of cement. Along the walls were tables with what appeared to be a random assortment of tools, weapons, and more ammo.

“Starting a war?” Riley jested as he adjusted his glasses while turning his attentions to a computer and schematics piled high on the central table of the balcony.

“This was where some of House’s newly upgraded Securitrons showed off their weapons and junk,” Travis said dismissively. “I really hated it when House sent me down here for the first time to watch the trials. I know if it wasn’t for them we probably wouldn’t have won the battle, but they still give me the creeps.”

Riley smirked knowing his partner’s disdain for robots, but he did happen to catch a glimmer of fascination for the place in Travis’ blue eyes regardless. Just then a crackling sound came over a speaker on the wall. “Are you two down here yet?” House asked with slight impatience in his voice.

“A’yup, we’re here. What now?” Travis asked while flicking some empty shotgun shells onto the floor.

“Head to your left and activate the computer on the wall. The password is ‘rosebud’.”

Riley smirked at the possible reference to a pre-war movie, but seeing Travis’ bored expression he knew it went over his head. As he followed Travis to the terminal, he made a mental note to explain it later on back in the Presidential Suite. He would also have to ask House if the movie might be somewhere on holodisc or file for he and Travis to watch one night.

Once at the computer, Travis’ fingers flew quickly over the keys and prompted the machine to life. After a few more clicks a screen appeared asking for the password. Once inputted, Travis hit the enter button and waited. The computer next began to make a soft whirring sound as it processed the information. A beep soon indicated the password was accepted which was followed by a loud and unexpected grinding of gears.

Unsure of what was going on or what to expect, Travis and Riley took a few cautious steps away from the computer. Much to their surprise, the wall in front of them began to slide open revealing a steel door. “Reckon this is where the key comes in,” Travis remarked as he dug in his pocket in search of the key. Finding it he placed it in the hole and looked over his shoulder to Riley. “You ready?” he asked getting a wide-eyed nod in return. Travis turned the key until a satisfying click announced the door was unlocked. Taking a deep breath and holding it, Travis cautiously turned the knob and gave the door a slight push open.

Both men waited as if anticipating a pack of rabid molerats to come pouring out of the room any second, but none came. In fact, nothing happened for that matter. “Well, I guess this is it,” Travis said with a slight bit of unease in his voice.

Riley detected it and clamped his hand on his partner’s shoulder. “Don’t be so nervous. You’ve known House for all these years and from what you’ve told me he’s always been generous towards you. He might have a few rough edges and is snarky, but so is the best of us. I’m sure he means well.” Travis snorted. “Yeah, the man’s all heart. Ah well, reckon we might as well get this over with.” and with that Travis gave the door a hard shove making it bang loudly against the wall. Cautiously reaching inside the dark room, Travis groped around the wall feeling for a light switch. Finding it he flipped it on and waited. Long moments went by until at last the soft buzzing from fluorescent lights could be heard. The bulbs closest to the door blinked and flickered until they came on and the rest followed suit for what appeared to be the length of at least two football fields.

“Holy shit,” was the phrase both men seemed to gasp at exactly the same time. Travis rubbed his eyes as if they were truly playing tricks on him. Riley sort of copied the action by removing his glasses and examining them to make sure they weren’t faulty in some way. Placing them back on he let out a long, low whistle seeing that the scene before him remained the same.

The room was surprisingly huge, way larger than either man might have expected. The floor was made of white marble which shone dully in the fluorescent lights. Various advertisement signs made out of metal hung on the walls along with a few neon ones which worked for the most part. A workshop of sorts was in one corner stocked with a variety of tools,shelves, machinery and parts to who knows what. On the opposite corner from the workshop, was a small bar area that seemed to be fully stocked with various liquors. However, none of decor or set ups were important as the true reasoning behind this room quickly became the focal point.

What was stunning them so much and having them stand with eyes wide and jaws slack was the small collection of pre-war vehicles that were scattered throughout the room. The collection wasn’t huge by eccentric millionaire pre-war standards, but for the current condition of the world, this was a very big deal. The moderate collection consisted of three cars of different styles, one golf cart, and one truck. They were all in perfect condition as best as could be expected for being over two hundred years old and untouched.

Riley was the first to break the shocked silence by taking a few tentative steps forward towards the closest vehicle. It was a small blue golf cart with cracked leather seats which were once white, but now yellowed with age. A pair of fuzzy dice, also yellowed, hung from the mirror and there was a vertical crack down the center of the windshield. “Damn, this really is a treasure trove! Never in my wildest dreams did I think this is what House wanted to share with us. Wouldn’t it be great if this thing still worked? Hell, wouldn’t it be great if all of these still worked?” he asked as he continued looking over the cart, blowing at the dusty dashboard which in turn made him sneeze. However, the question went unheard as his partner had wandered off doing his own thing.

Travis was towards the left gravitating in fascination to a sporty looking red car. He never saw a vehicle quite like this and it made him think of a spaceship. It was a low to the ground single seater car with a glass bubble top. The surface was quite dusty which in turn dulled the paint, but it still looked to be in great shape. Unfortunately all four tires were flat and one of the rims was bent as a result making the car slant at an angle. Travis frowned seeing that and kicked at the tire in disappointment with the toe of his boot. Hearing a low whistle behind him, Travis turned to see Riley sauntering his way with his hands stuffed in his pockets. “Holy shit, a Cherry Bomb!” he exclaimed in amazement while bending to look through its clouded glass.

“Did you ever have one of these?” Travis asked as he wiped away the ancient dust gathered on one of the torpedo shaped headlights.

“No, but saw a few tooling around the neighborhood. Man, these things were fast on the open roads. This…this is amazing. This entire room is simply unbelievable!” He straightened his posture and leaned against the car while continuing to gaze around the room to see what other vehicles were down here. Near where the golf cart sat was a green pickup truck. It was no surprise its tires were flat, but it also had a large oily looking stain under it making Riley frown some. “Looks like that one is out of commission.”

“Yeah…” he began ruefully while heading towards a sleek black four-door sedan. “All these cars…ain’t never seen them in this fine of shape. Not even the ones I saw in those isolated spots out in the Mojave. Seen plenty in storage in garages and stuff, but they were ransacked. These all have possibilities, but I don’t know much about them…well…other than they blow up real good.”

Riley snorted and joined his man at the black car. “Well, promise me you won’t blow these up.”

Travis turned to him grinning broadly. “Aw hell, you take away all the fun.” Wrapping his arms around Travis’ waist, Riley brushed his lips lightly over his cheek before resting his chin on his shoulder. “You have the entire Mojave to blow up. I’m sure you can find it in your heart to spare these vehicles.”

Humming in mock thought Travis shrugged and leaned back against him. “Well…I reckon I can make an exception this time,” he laughed.

“Hello? Are you boys there yet?” House’s voice suddenly echoed through the room.

Looking around trying to figure out where the voice came from, Riley was first in spotting a small intercom near one of the work benches. Tapping Travis on the shoulder he pointed it out. Arching an eyebrow, Travis loped towards the intercom and pressed the call button. “A’yup, we’re here,” he drawled. “Dang this is off the fucking charts, House. I had no clue about any of this. Surprised you ain’t mentioned it before!”

“Of course I didn’t, you ninny!” House snapped. “You always carried on and on about those damn motorcycles of yours. Once the battle was over and we started planning on getting New Vegas and the surrounding areas back in shape I completely forgot all about this room. It’s funny how after all these years a random conversation sparked it.”

“Well, it’s certainly impressive,” Travis admitted as he watched Riley drifting over to a long, pale blue car that was lifted up on four sturdy jacks. “What is it you’d like us to do with this newly gained knowledge?”

“Fix them!” House barked. “Do I even have to suggest that? Ever since I met you all you did was talk about travel and that only increased when you started to reinvent the motorcycles scattered around the Mojave. When that dolt NCR sniper finally left, your talks stopped for the longest time and I never knew how to bring them up. I am not one for coddling, you know this. I knew you’d figure things out on your own eventually. You have a passion, Travis. You are a bright lad and you’ve come so very far. I suppose once again through your passion I’d like to see mine brought back to life. I don’t know what sort of condition of the vehicles are in, but hopefully you’ll find at least one or two that you can get running again. Regardless of being well protected these past two centuries, I’m sure they still suffer from neglect. This could be a great project the both of you can share in.” Travis was stunned beyond words and stood staring at the intercom with his mouth slightly agape. All the years he’s known Mister House, he never really knew the man to be anything other than sarcastic. He always seemed to manage to make Travis feel like a dumb hick more often than not. That alone made Travis not want to spend much time discussing things other than business. He jumped feeling Riley’s hand on his shoulder, bringing him out of his thoughts. “Are you kidding me? It’s perfect! I mean…umm…how do we even get a car out of here? Fixing one ain’t gonna serve any purpose if we can only drive around down here.”

House let out a long and exasperated sigh. “Did you even stop to think how the cars got down here in the first place? I sometimes wonder if that bullet took away more than your memories, courier. Go down to the far end of the room and you’ll see another computer monitor on the wall. It has the same setup like the one you used to get in here. Behind the wall will be a mile long tunnel leading up to a sealed entrance that is similar to one you see in Vaults. Use the key I gave you on the control panel and it’ll open to the outskirts of New Vegas. I don’t know what the situation is for the entrance on the other side, however. It could be covered with debris and if that’s the case I’ll send some Securitrons over to clear it out. Maybe you should take one with you anyway in case the door opens to something unpleasant. For all I know a pack of deathclaws made their nest in the area.”

Travis heard Riley groan at the very notion there might be deathclaws around and it made him chuckle. “Yeah, good point.” He paused for a minute, his finger hovering over the intercom button. Taking a deep breath he pressed the button and said, “This is mighty generous of you, House. I mean, this was obviously something you’ve been wanting to share with me for a while. I’ve been a right idjet and I can’t thank you enough for this unexpected surprise.”

“It’s not your fault,” House replied, his voice sincere instead of the dry sarcasm that Travis was generally so used to. “We are both a little to blame in that matter. Plus I know you had your mind wrapped around Benny, the Platinum Chip, the battle…and afterwards there was simply so much to take care of. Don’t worry about any of that. What’s done is done and it’s all water under the bridge so to speak. You have done so much for me and all of New Vegas, I can’t thank you enough. Consider this a very well deserved added bonus you should have got a long time ago.”

A long bit of silence then followed which caught Riley’s attention. He watched Travis carefully chewing on his lower lip, his mind no doubt zooming a million miles an hour trying to find the right words. He knew Travis had an uneasy sort of relationship with House and was no doubt confused by the obvious attempt to start anew on a more positive note. Dropping his arm over Travis’ shoulders, Riley gave him a squeeze and answered instead. “You certainly are giving back some nostalgia to me in doing this, Robert. We both thank you.” “You are most certainly welcome. Hopefully something down there will be salvageable. Anyway, it’s late. I best bid you two goodnight for now. I will look forward to hearing about any updates and progress.”

“Goodnight,” both men replied almost in unison making Travis smirk as he clicked off the intercom.

“Well…reckon we got a whole lot of work ahead of us now, huh?” Travis asked while stifling a yawn.

Riley put his hands in his pockets and made his way back towards the pale blue car he was looking over earlier. He bent to look under the car then began feeling the tires. “Out of all of them this one might have the strongest possibility of being resurrected. There’s nothing indicating leaks that I can see. Being up on heavy jacks might have very well saved the tires, especially the rims.”

“Chryslus Corvega,” Travis read off the nameplate located on the car’s grill.

“This is the kind of car I used to have. I really hope we can get it to operate.” “Do you know how to fix one?” Travis asked while opening the driver door and taking a seat. Running his hands over the cream colored steering wheel he looked over the buttons and levers on the control panel wondering what they all could be for. Other than the radio everything else was foreign to him.

Opening up the passenger door and sliding in next to his partner, Riley felt a faint smile dance on his lips in excitement. It’s been ages since he’s sat in a proper vehicle. “Not hardly, but I’m sure with your ingenuity and all the books around here there’ll be something somewhere that can assist us further,” Riley chimed while opening up the glove compartment in search of a possible owner’s manual. “I’m afraid the best I can offer is light maintenance and of course the skills on driving it.”

“Lots of potentials and possibilities with this thing,” Travis said, leaning back against the seat while moving his hands over the wheel and making humming sounds like he’s heard the trucks of the NCR make.

Riley chuckled at Travis’ antics then scowled seeing the manual was not in the compartment. “If we can get this thing running…” Riley began, but drifted off not daring to get his or Travis’ hopes up too high.

“When we can get this thing running the trip down the Long 15 to the big waters won’t be just a dream of mine anymore. I mean, ain’t nothing stopping me anyways, but I don’t want to go alone and you ain’t too keen taking that long of a trip on the back of my bike.”

Going quiet for a moment Travis mulled over the possibilities in his mind before continuing. “Four doors…lots of room inside,” Travis encouraged while fingering the keys that still dangled from the steering column. “Plenty of room for supplies. Lots of room for our tent. Hell…back seat’s so big we could just sleep on it instead….fuck on the back seat for all that matters. So much dang room…we can even take Rex with us.”

“Travis, we can take whatever you like with us.” Riley began to bite at his thumbnail for a moment before taking a deep breath and clamping his hand on Travis’ thigh. “Let’s do this! Let’s clean up this place and get started on getting this thing running again. It’ll be a bit awkward for me to remember how to drive one of these, I mean, it’s been centuries,” he chuckled and smiled more seeing the excitement shining in Travis’ crystal blue eyes. “Just don’t be angry if I hit something.”

“Riles, what the hell are you gonna hit in the desert? A fucking cactus?

“Hey, that fucking cactus can do serious damage I’m sure! Then it’s settled. Let’s get a good night’s sleep and we can start on this project after lunch tomorrow. Sound like a plan?”

“It’s perfect!” Travis exclaimed excitedly while getting out of the car. Taking a long, slow gaze around the room at his newly acquired treasure, he nodded proudly and put his hands on his hips. “A’yup, this is gonna be great! Mornin’ ain’t gonna come soon enough!”

To be continued….

#travis blackfox #riley #writings

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bountyofbeads · 4 years

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Israel’s Netanyahu Indicted on Charges of Fraud, Bribery and Breach of Trust https://nyti.ms/2OE9i4i

It's interesting that Trump's best buddy is facing the same charges he has faced or is facing. Fraud in regards to the Trump Foundation and Trump University; bribery, obstructing justice and abuse of power in impeachment inquiry. JUST SAYIN🤔

Israel’s Netanyahu Indicted on Charges of Fraud, Bribery and Breach of Trust

The first prosecution of a sitting Israeli premier deepens the political paralysis in a country that has had two inconclusive elections this year, and may be headed to a third vote.

By David M. Halbfinger | Published Nov. 21, 2019 Updated 2:42 p.m. ET | New York Times | Posted Nov. 21, 2019 |

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted Thursday on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in a set of long-running corruption cases, throwing his political future into doubt and heightening the uncertainty and chaos surrounding Israel’s fitful, yearlong struggle to choose its next leader.

Mr. Netanyahu, 70, who in July became the longest-serving prime minister in Israel’s history, now also has the distinction of being the first to be indicted while in office.

The cases against Mr. Netanyahu involve allegations of giving or offering lucrative official favors to several media tycoons in exchange for favorable news coverage or gifts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The indictment threatened to open a dangerous new challenge to Israel’s democracy, as the nation’s top prosecutor and its premier accused each another of subverting the rule of law.

“The public interest requires that we live in a country where no one is above the law,” Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said in a televised evening news conference.

In a defiant speech an hour later, Mr. Netanyahu insisted that the case against him was built on lies and political animus. He declared that it was the police and prosecutors who should be called to account, urging Israel’s citizens to “investigate the investigators.”

By turns fiery and maudlin, he told Israelis that they were “witnessing an attempted coup.”

“I will not allow lies to prevail,” he vowed. “I will continue to lead this country.”

Mr. Netanyahu is not legally required to step down. But with Israel’s political system already in uncharted territory, having failed to settle upon a new prime minister despite two elections and three attempts at forming a government since April, the criminal case against him could make it far more difficult for him to retain power.

After his chief rival, Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White party, failed to form a government by the Wednesday deadline, that task shifted to Parliament. If no lawmaker is successful in assembling a 61-seat majority over the next three weeks, a third round of elections will be called.

While Mr. Netanyahu has maintained strong support from his political base so far, polls have shown that a formal indictment would change many minds, including among many right-wing voters.

“We’ve seen consistently that a big majority of the public, about two-thirds, do not think a prime minister can serve and at the same time try to clear his name in court,” said Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute. In an October survey by the institute, nearly half of right-wing voters concurred.

There were already signs of unrest in Mr. Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party, as a popular younger lawmaker, Gideon Saar, called Thursday for a primary contest for prime minister, and said he would be a contender.

Even if Mr. Netanyahu fends off intraparty challengers, and assembles a viable coalition in Parliament, Mr. Plesner said that the Israeli president, Reuven Rivlin, might balk at assigning him the task of forming a government while he awaits trial.

In addition, critics are expected to petition the Supreme Court to rule that Mr. Netanyahu must step down.

Existing law requires an ordinary government minister to resign when under indictment but whether that law applies to a prime minister has not been tested. There are also legal questions about whether the president may allow an indicted lawmaker to form a government.

The decision by Mr. Mandelblit to prosecute the prime minister capped a drawn-out process that has loomed over Israel politics for two years, weakening Mr. Netanyahu politically and emboldening the center-left.

Mr. Netanyahu has fomented right-wing anger at Israel’s judiciary and law-enforcement community for months, accusing them of trying to bring him down.

Alluding to that, Mr. Mandelblit warned against “violent and belligerent discourse against law enforcement officials,” which he called “playing with fire.”

“Law enforcement is not a choice,” he added. “This is not a matter of left or right. This is not a matter of politics.”

Mr. Netanyahu asked for the public’s sympathy, saying “my blood has been spilled,” along with that of his wife and son, in unfair attacks in the Israeli news media.

The corruption cases helped fuel the rise of the Blue and White party, led by Mr. Gantz, whose animating idea was that the allegations disqualified Mr. Netanyahu from continuing to serve.

Mr. Gantz issued a one-sentence statement late Thursday: “This is a very sad day for the state of Israel.”

The No. 2 official in Blue and White, Yair Lapid, was more pointed: “If he still cares about the country he should do one more thing for it,” he said of Mr. Netanyahu. “Resign.”

The cases have also slowly emboldened rivals within Likud.

Mr. Saar said that “it will not be reasonable” to expect that Mr. Netanyahu could succeed in a third election, after having twice failed to form a government and now with the additional baggage of criminal charges.

“We need to set a Likud leadership primary,” he said at a Jerusalem Post conference on Thursday. “I’ll be able to form a government and I think I will be able to unify the nation.”

Mr. Netanyahu, for his part, has focused enormous energy on persuading his supporters that the sprawling investigations were trumped-up and motivated by partisan bias, and on seeking to gain immunity from prosecution as long as he remains in office.

For months as the investigations dragged on, Mr. Netanyahu complained that the Israeli left, the news media and law enforcement agencies were conspiring to oust him by legal means because they could not defeat him at the ballot box.

In striking parallels to President Trump’s characterizations of the investigations against him, Mr. Netanyahu has called the investigation a “witch hunt,” and his allies have called it the product of a “deep state” conspiracy against Mr. Netanyahu — though Mr. Netanyahu himself appointed many of the key law-enforcement officials investigating him. Indeed, Mr. Mandelblit was once Mr. Netanyahu’s cabinet secretary, perhaps his closest adviser in the government.

The prime minister also seemed to work feverishly to use the legislative and political processes to aid his defense. Last December, he called a snap election for April, calculating that he might win a strong re-election mandate if the ballots were cast before Mr. Mandelblit announced whether he planned to seek an indictment.

Then, having scheduled the vote, he argued that Mr. Mandelblit ought to delay announcing his decision until after it, to avoid unfairly influencing the outcome.

Neither gambit worked: Mr. Mandelblit announced his intention to seek bribery and other charges 40 days before the April 9 vote.

After the April election ended inconclusively, Mr. Netanyahu’s allies pushed a bill in Parliament to give all members, including Mr. Netanyahu, immunity from prosecution. It was abandoned when critics, including members of his party, called the idea authoritarian and antidemocratic.

He also reportedly discussed seeking legislation to give Parliament the power to override a potentially unfavorable ruling by the Israeli Supreme Court, if a law granting Mr. Netanyahu immunity were challenged.

Again and again, Mr. Netanyahu sought to portray himself as a victim, in part as a way to keep his conservative political base united behind him. He petitioned unsuccessfully to bar evidence in the corruption cases from being published before the do-over election on Sept. 17. Failing that, he called damaging reports about that evidence a “terror attack against democracy.”

Finally, Mr. Netanyahu extracted repeated promises from members of Likud and of its allied right-wing and religious parties to stick by him and insist on entering a new government only if he remained prime minister.

It was vital to Mr. Netanyahu to stay on as prime minister, rather than agree to share power with Mr. Gantz taking the top job first, because if he held any post lower than prime minister, he would have to resign immediately if indicted.

Current Israeli law allows a prime minister to remain in office until a final court verdict, after appeals have been exhausted — a process that could take years.

That solidarity posed an insurmountable obstacle for Mr. Gantz and Blue and White, which finished narrowly ahead of Likud in the September ballot, but far short of a majority. On Wednesday, Mr. Gantz acknowledged that he had been unable to form a governing coalition.

The three cases against Mr. Netanyahu all involve trading official favors.

In the most serious, in which he was charged with accepting bribes, fraud and breach of trust, Mr. Netanyahu was accused of providing regulatory benefits worth hundreds of millions of dollars as a bribe to the parent company of Walla, a leading Israeli news website, for favorable coverage of the prime minister and his family, and rough treatment of his adversaries.

Bribery is considered the gravest corruption charge in Israel.

In the two other cases, Mr. Netanyahu was charged with fraud and breach of trust.

In one, Mr. Mandelblit said the Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, an expatriate Israeli, along with the Australian billionaire James Packer, had sent hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts to the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem, including what he called a “veritable supply chain” of cigars and Champagne.

In return, Mr. Mandelblit said, Mr. Netanyahu in return had taken actions benefiting Mr. Milchan on a visa application, a tax exemption and a business merger.

In the other, Mr. Netanyahu was accused of discussing, though not consummating, another trade for favorable coverage. Prosecutors said that in calls with the publisher of Yediot Ahronot, one of Israel’s biggest newspapers, Mr. Netanyahu offered to press a competing newspaper, Israel Hayom, to curtail its free circulation, which was undercutting Yediot financially.

Israel Hayom is owned by Sheldon Adelson, the American billionaire casino owner who is a longtime supporter of Mr. Netanyahu’s.

Mr. Netanyahu’s lawyers sought to avert indictment at a four-day hearing in October. But Mr. Mandelblit said they had succeeded only in modifying the allegations against the prime minister, not refuting them.

Several other people were indicted in connection with the cases against Mr. Netanyahu, including the Yediot Ahronot publisher, Arnon Mozes, and Shaul Elovitch, the controlling shareholder of Bezeq, the parent company of Walla News.

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biofunmy · 4 years

Text

Israel’s Netanyahu Indicted on Charges of Fraud, Bribery and Breach of Trust

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted Thursday on bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges in a set of long-running corruption cases, immediately throwing his political future into doubt and heightening the uncertainty and chaos surrounding Israel’s fitful, yearlong struggle to choose its next leader.

Mr. Netanyahu, 70, who in July became the longest-serving prime minister in Israel’s history, now also has the distinction of being the first to be indicted while in office.

“The public interest requires that we live in a country where no one is above the law,” Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said in a televised evening news conference.

Mr. Netanyahu, who has rejected the charges as false and politically motivated, is not legally required to step down.

But with Israel’s political system already in uncharted territory, having failed to settle upon a new prime minister despite two elections and three attempts at forming a government since April, the criminal case against him could make it far more difficult for him to retain power.

After his chief rival, Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White party, said Wednesday that he was unable to form a government, that task shifted to Parliament. If no lawmaker is successful in assembling a 61-seat majority over the next three weeks, a third round of elections will be called.

While Mr. Netanyahu has maintained strong support from his political base so far, polls have shown that a formal indictment would change many minds, including among many right-wing voters.

In addition, critics are expected to petition the Supreme Court to rule that Mr. Netanyahu must step down.

It also sets up a potential confrontation between Mr. Netanyahu’s allies on the right, should they stick by him, and Israel’s judiciary and law-enforcement community, which he has long accused of trying to bring him down.

Alluding to that, Mr. Mandelblit warned against “violent and belligerent discourse against law enforcement officials,” which he called “playing with fire.”

“Law enforcement is not a choice,” he added. “This is not a matter of left or right. This is not a matter of politics.”

The corruption cases helped fuel the rise of the Blue and White party, led by Mr. Gantz, whose animating idea was that the allegations disqualified Mr. Netanyahu from continuing to serve.

Mr. Gantz issued a one-sentence statement late Thursday: “This is a very sad day for the State of Israel.”