#valerie rapids

[stormhearty]

Pairings: Azriel x Reader

Word Count: 2.8k

Triggers: pregnancy trope, longing, mention of death, thoughts of suicide, blood, baby’s death, open-ended ending

Summary: Hiraeth definition: “homesickness, longing, nostalgia and a wistful desire for something irretrievably lost.” It had been several years since your passing, one that he cursed the Mother and the Gods for. Now he wanders the world, endless and lost, waiting for the day you would whisper in his ears to come home — home to you.

Note: From this request! Thank you @soulsansang (I cannot tag you for the life of me), for sending this request! I fought every urge to connect this to my Seer!Reader fics. The idea of hiraeth fit perfectly with a mourning Azriel; however, I needed something else. Needed an Azriel who was mourning not because of his actions, but due to unforeseen circumstances that fate seemed to have placed him in. I’m sorry for the “pregnancy trope”, I didn’t think I would be writing this one like this. If you do not like that trope, I completely understand and I respect you not reading this. But I do hope you enjoy, and I hope it fills the angst and sadness that you had requested!

“Azriel~!”

He looked over his shoulder, his name echoing in his ears, as he stepped out of his apartment and into the pouring rain. Dull hazel eyes stared at the gray skies as the rain poured down, relentless and unforgiving.

It had been days since this rain had started, and it seemed as if it would never stop. It was torrent, heavy with the mix of strong that howled through the empty alleyways. Valeris was almost like an abandoned city — its inhabitants were locked indoors due to the storm that shook its walls.

Azriel’s form shuddered, the wetness seeping into his clothes. He barely wore something that would keep him warm in such icy weather — a simple black jacket, a long-sleeved tee hidden underneath, and black jeans. His leather shoes were soaked in the rain as he stepped into another puddle, not caring that the wetness soaked into his feet.

He walked through the deserted city, only a few who braved the torrential storm were running through the streets. Those out looked at the Spymaster with confusion and worry, but none voiced them out loud — he wouldn’t have listened anyway.

He had one destination — and he would make it there — despite the storm.

Stepping across the Sindra River, the cobblestone bridge was overrun by the river below. Waters crashed upon slowly decaying rocks, splashing over the sides and onto the bridge. Traversing it might seem impossible for any normal Fae, but for Azriel, it was easy.

He stepped onto the bridge, not minding how the cold waters of the river splashed onto him. He paused, at the arch of the bridge, leaning over the stoney rail to look at those rapid waters that raced down the riverbend. They crashed and crescented over rocks, splashing against everything and anything that stood in its way — and the downpour only amplified the river’s maelstrom.

Azriel looked into the waters below him, barely making out his reflection in them. He blinked out the water that tricked into his eyes, and when he looked back down into his reflection — instead he found a familiar figure — hair blowing in the raging wind, eyes looking up at him, hand reached out as if to tempt him into those frigid cold waters below him.

It was tempting, to say the least, the call to be submerged into the depths of the river, to feel the icy liquid deep into his skin — and make the river his grave.

He couldn't help it — the image was like a siren with its sailors, tempting them to their end. Leaning across the cobblestone rail, he leaned down — down into the depths of the water. Azriel had every mindset, every want to drown in that very river.

However, he felt his body pause, as if a tiny hand tugged on his shoulder — a child’s laugh echoing in his ears.

His body snapped up, his head whipping over his shoulder, frantically looking around, only to stop. Eyes noticed a fallen blue-violet on the drenched cobblestone. Azriel felt his body go rigid at the flower, remembering what it had meant. He turned around and knelt, shaky hands reaching down to pick up the soaked flower. He felt his eyes prickle with tears as he turned it in his hand, before bringing it up to his lips and pressing a kiss on the petals, standing up and pocketing it.

Dull hues stared at the river below him, noticing his reflection once more — and not the mirage that tempted him to death. A frown tugged on the edge of his blue-tinged lips before making his way across the bridge once more, the call of death barely whispering in his ears.

He turned, his feet bringing him off paved grounds into a mud-soaked one. The mud squished underneath his feet. He weaved through familiar trees, and as he delved further into the forest the canopy above him blocked the gray skies above, the pitter-patter of rain on soil lessening. There, underneath the canopy, Azriel shook his wings out — the rain that had drenched his wings flying off in droplets. He raised a hand, running through soak locks, pushing them back away from his face. He fixed his jacket, dusting off the moisture from its soaked fabric before he continued walking.

Hazel hues saw the familiar clearing, watching as the downpour continued to drench the soil in its never-ending attack. He stood at the edge of the clearing, hues staring up at the sky once more. He silently cursed the Mother and the Gods above for this rain — all he wanted was to see the clear skies for once.

Azriel stepped into the clearing, the rain drenching his clothes once more — not that he minded anyway.

He stepped into the middle of the clearing where a lone headstone stood. A simple one, nothing to extravagant. Azriel felt his heart race in his chest as he got closer to the headstone.

Azriel kneeled in front of the headstone, a tearful gaze as he read the words that were etched onto the stone: Here lies (Y/N), the wonderful wife of Azriel. Mother of their unborn child. May the Mother and Gods bring her safe passage to the Havens.

It had been two years since he had to bury your body, along with your unborn child.

The Mother was cruel to him.

You and Azriel had been married for over three centuries — his life was full of color, full of happiness and full of love. You were everything to Azriel. He would miss you when he went to missions, kiss you silly when he got home from said missions; he would spend lazy time with you, your head on his lap or vice versa — just spending time with each other. And for those three centuries, both of you had tried for a child, but because Fae menstrual cycles were so sporadic, it had been difficult.

But two years ago, your miracle baby happened.

“Azriel!”

Azriel turned around after shutting the door to your apartment, only to catch your body that flung towards his way.

“Hey love,” he greeted you, a chuckle escaping his chest as he wrapped his arms around you, looking down and noticing how your head tucked into his chest. He could feel your excitement vibrate through your body and he couldn't help but wonder what had gotten you so happy.

But at that moment, he just leaned down and pressed a kiss on the crown of your head, watching your head tilt up to look at him, your eyes shining.

“What is it?” he hummed out with a raised brow.

He watched as you bit your lower lip, fighting the smile that tugged at the edge of your lips.

“You know how I have been feeling unwell the past few weeks…” you had started off.

Azriel hummed out, shifting you in his arms so that you were at his side, his arm wrapped around your waist before leading you into the kitchen. He maneuvered you around, grasping your waist and lifting you with ease onto the countertop next to the stove.

“Azriel!!” You shrieked in surprise, your hands grasping his shoulders to stretch yourself.

He smirks up at you, settling himself between your legs, “Now what were you saying, love?”

He watched you huff softly before continuing your story, “Well I went to Madja earlier today and I told her of my symptoms—-”

“Nausea, headaches, bloating…” he listed off.

Azriel knew your symptoms, it had worried him to the max. Both of you didn't know what had happened — he was worried about some sort of poisoning… he thought of the worst-case scenarios. And you had to be the one to calm him down from those spiraling thoughts.

You hummed and nodded your head, “Well… it looks like you didn't have to be so worried about that poisoning scenario, my love…” you whispered as you leaned down to press your forehead against his.

He felt your hands slide down his shoulders, down his arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake.

Azriel always loved how you touched him — there was no hesitancy in the way you held him, touched him — whether it he sexual or intimate. You had always initiated touching him and now, he can't live without your hands or body near his own.

He felt your hands grip his own, sliding then to your lower abdomen, pressing his hands against the soft skin.

“… I’m pregnant, Azzie…”

Your words were a whisper and Azriel felt his eyes widen at the words that had left your lips. He stared up at you and watched as your eyes sparkle light the night sky at your confession.

Hazel hues looked up at you before sliding down your body to where your hand lay over his own. A wide smile tugged on his lips before he slipped his hands away from your own, cupping your cheeks and kissing you.

He poured everything into that kiss — all his love for you and this unborn child.

When his lungs screamed for air, he was content with pressing kisses on your skin while you giggled, feeling your hands run through his hair.

“We’ll be having a child…” he whispered in disbelief.

He heard you let out a hum, feeling your head nod, “Yes we are… after centuries… our beautiful child…”

Every word that you whispered was full of happiness, adoration, and excitement. He knew, from hearing you speak, that you'd be a wonderful mother… one that would dote on that child.

He was elated — after centuries of both of you trying, watching your family build their own little families — Azriel was worried that both of you would never be blessed with a child. Yet now, the Mother seemed to rain her fortune on the both of you.

But deep within him, worry festered like mold, slowly growing. He worried about the complications — he heard about it with Rhysand and Feyre, Nesta and Cassian. And he worried for you — and all he could pray to the Mother that you would be spared from it.

“What color should the baby’s room be?”

Azriel hummed and raised a brow, turning his head to gaze at you. He fought back a smile — he had found you so adorable. You had waddled, your belly large protruding your tiny stature. Your hand tucked in the crook of his elbow protectively.

Azriel had ensured you were in good hands during your pregnancy; and that he would always prioritize your health and safety. He would never let you go out without him, either himself or his shadows. He always had a hand on you — whether it be around your waist or, like now, your hand tucked into his elbow.

Your features glowed despite the exhaustion he knew you felt — you had looked so beautiful during your whole pregnancy and Azriel worshiped you like the Goddess you were to him.

He watched as your gaze went up to him, your head tilting slightly at the look he gave you. Azriel shook his head, “You know I'd be biased if you asked me, love…” he answered.

Azriel would choose blue, even if it was a girl or a boy, his siphon colors would be that room’s color.

He watched as you rolled your eyes, and felt your hand pat his forearm, “Why am I not surprised that, out of all the colors, you’d choose your siphon?”

The two of you walked into the paint shop, the doorbell ringing above you. You were greeted by a Fae, one who was shocked and nervous to meet the Spymaster and his wife.

Azriel patted your hand and slipped your hand from his elbow, “Go ahead my loves… I'll be here…” He watched you smile before following the Fae to the color room, and he watched with adoration.

“You can't leave me, (Y/N)…” he sobbed, grasping your flaccid hand in his, pressing a kiss on cold skin.

The room was deathly still, his sobs echoing in the loud shared room.

You had gone into labor hours ago, and that labor… was difficult on your weak body. The babe, as Madja had warned you and Azriel all those months ago, had taken a toll on your body. You had been sick and bedridden for most of the pregnancy — Madja had stressed for you to terminate the pregnancy — it was either you or the baby.

Azriel had fought for you to terminate the pregnancy; begged and cried you to.

He could live without the unborn child but without you?

Never.

He watched you cry, begged him to let you keep the babe — he listened to your bargains, and promises; he listened to you cry in the night whispering to the baby all the while rubbing your stomach.

He watched everything… but he couldn't lose you.

But you had been stubborn, wanting to keep the pregnancy — pushing it to term — despite the consequences of it.

And so when you went into labor, the amount of blood you lost… was too much for Madja to replenish with her powers. The baby that was born was already too blue to try to bring back alive. Azriel was by your side the whole labor, watching you push your body to the brink — all for the child.

He felt your pulse slow underneath his fingertips, his hazel eyes frantically trying to find yours as he watched them roll backwards.

“No…No!” he yelled, dropping your hand onto the mattress and cupping your cheeks, “My love… (Y/N)…” he whispered, leaning in to press his forehead against yours, trying to pull you from the call of death.

Azriel watched you smile up at him, your eyes focusing on him, crescenting as you looked up at him, “…Azzie…” you whispered.

He fought back tears as he nodded his head, “Hey, my love, yes, I’m here… I’m here…”

“I’m sorry…”

It was as if you knew… this would be the outcome of your decision.

“No… Don’t be sorry… Please don’t… Just… Please don’t leave me… You can’t leave me…”

He watched as your eyes roll again and he brought your face closer to his own, watching them focus on him again, “…I don’t want to… But, I’m so tired Az…”

Azriel felt a heart wrenching sob escape his throat. His thumb caressed your pulse point, feeling it slow more. He looked up at his High Lord and the Healer and both of them looked at him with a somber look.

A shake from his High Lord gave his answer.

The tears finally fell, as he looked back at you — and you back up at him. He watched your brows furrow in confusion as you stared at him.

All he did was shake his head, leaning down to press one final kiss on your lips.

“Sleep… My love… if you’re tired. I’ll wait for you to wake up…”

He felt you take one last breath, a smile tugging on your lips as you whispered, “I love you, Az…”

Azriel felt your body go limp in the bed, your head roll back and your pulse stop completely. He watched your eyes dull, that smile still on your features.

His body shook, and tears never ended as he pulled your body into his arms, cradling your head as he let out a cry, pressing his face into the crook of your neck — the final time he’d ever feel you against him.

Azriel never thought heart break would be so painful.

He stared at the tombstone, pulling out of his thoughts and memories to reach down and caress the marble stone.

“… Hi my love…” he greeted you, like usual, “It’s raining again… It seems that Valeris is in a typhoon of rain recently…”

Azriel sat himself down on the muddy ground, not caring if the mud and rain soaked through his clothes again.

He had sat there, talking to you about his day, what had happened recently with the family, what was going on with Valeris and Prythian in general. He talked for hours until he felt his voice go sore and his body shake due to the cold from the rain, but he didn’t leave… not until the skies turned dark.

Azriel laid himself down on the patch of dirt in front of your grave, laying on his back as he stared up at the sky. It seemed the rain ceased and the beautiful starry skies of Valeris peaked through the rain clouds.

He watched the stars twinkle, before a shooting star blazed through the sky before another one — much smaller — followed it.

“…Was that you, (Y/N)?” he whispered, thinking that those two fallen stars were you and the child, reaching out to him from the Havens above.

Azriel had been searching for signs, for the past two years of any sign of you in the Havens. Looking for signs that you were calling for him — looking for him. All he wanted to know was that you were out there.

And that shooting star was it.

He smiled and closed his eyes, “I’m coming back home to you…”

#acotar fanfiction #acotar x reader #a court of thorns and roses #acotar fic #acotar angst #azriel x reader #azriel angst #azriel acotar #( .inbox request : when you call me home ) #( .inbox request )

[orangerosebush]

hi there! I was wondering if I could pick your brain re: accents in the fowlverse because I adore reading your analyses and thoughts so I’m curious to see what you think! Artemis 1 and 2 I’m assuming have a Dublin accent (forgive me Irish fans I’m not familiar with Irish accents!), but what about butler and Juliet for example? And holly and opal and other fairies, while of course they can speak any language they’d like, do you think they adopt an accent that fits their language of choice, or is there a “fairy” accent they have?

Hi there! I have a few thoughts on this, though I will ask that you take them with a grain of salt due to being an American, lol.

The Irishness of the books is a subject on which people have written much more intelligently than I ever could. The first AF book was published in 2001, which I note here due to economic context. The "Celtic Tiger" refers to the rapid economic growth in Ireland from the mid-1990s to the late 2000s.

O’Leary, Eoin. “Reflecting on the ‘Celtic Tiger’: Before, during and After.” Irish Economic and Social History, vol. 38, 2011, pp. 73–88. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24338906. Accessed 2 Aug. 2023.

During this period of economic growth (which one must note was characterized by high technology exports), there was a boom in internationally successful Irish children's and young adult fiction. These books usually harkened back to pre-colonial mythology while incorporating high-tech themes connected to economic optimism for Ireland's future.

The 2011 essay collection edited by Keith O'Sullivan and Valerie Coghlan, Irish Children’s Literature and Culture: New Perspectives on Contemporary Writing, analyzes the historical context behind these trends in youth fiction.

O’Sullivan, Keith, and Valerie Coghlan. Irish Children’s Literature and Culture: New Perspectives on Contemporary Writing. 2011. Routledge.

‌Of the Irish children's fiction and YA published from 1995-2005, Colfer's Artemis Fowl series remains one of the most internationally popular. In looking at these books' success, Patricia Kennon interrogates the particular Irishness of AF in her essay, "Contemplating Otherness Imagining the Future in Speculative Fiction".

O’Sullivan, Keith, and Valerie Coghlan. Irish Children’s Literature and Culture: New Perspectives on Contemporary Writing. 2011. Routledge.

The first book establishes some interesting elements of the Fowls' class. When describing the relationship between the Butlers and the Fowls, we learn, “The first record of this unusual arrangement was when Virgil Butler had been contracted as servant, bodyguard, and cook to Lord Hugo de Folé for one of the first great Norman crusades"; the Fowls and Butlers arrive in Ireland as Anglo-Norman conquerors.

One other note we have about the Butlers and Fowls is that: “The original Fowl castle had been built by Aodhán Fowl in the fifteenth century overlooking low-lying country on all sides.” The fifteenth century saw the reconquest of Ireland under Henry VIII; Ireland was changed from a lordship (where the island was ruled by the King of England and controlled by loyal Anglo-Norman lords between 1171-1542) to a full Kingdom. Furthermore, with this excerpt about Aodhán Fowl, we must note that the Manor was built in Dublin. During the 15th century, Dublin was located in the Pale.

From Wikimedia

The Pale was located around and in Dublin, and it was the base of English rule in Ireland following the reconquest. By the Tudor period, there was intermarriage between the Gaelic Irish aristocracy and the Anglo-Norman lords, and many of the Anglo-Normans had become "Gaelicized"; descendants of the Anglo-Norman colonists were seen as assimilated into Irish culture and increasingly less "English" by the end of the Middle Ages. These descendants were seen as the "Old English" of Ireland, in contrast to the "New English" of Ireland of the Tudor invasion. One should note that in the case of the Pale, it remained subject to the English king during the 15th century when other parts of Ireland were predominantly under the rule of native Irish lords or Anglo-Irish lords (who, in theory, answered to the king). One should also note that the Pale was comprised of Old English merchants who were loyal to England. Thus, there is a specificity to the time in which Aodhán Fowl lived and built the Manor.

Based on the aforementioned bits of lore and historical context, we have to understand the Fowls as having their wealth and power tied to the class position they enjoyed historically due to being descendants of Anglo-Norman invaders, as well as being "Old English" during the reconquest. The Fowls are undoubtedly Irish -- Colfer positions Artemis and his family as nothing but -- yet they hold the power they do as a result of having at one point been Anglo-Norman (whose descendants "Gaelicized").

As such, IMO the Fowls wouldn't have a location-based accent per se, but rather an education-based accent that is posh, RP-style with a tinge of Dublin. FWIW, some Dublin accents already are received as posh, like the D4 accent. With the Butlers, I think that they'd have a similar accent to the Fowls due to being of a similar class. However, their training would likely lend them the ability to affect an accent that is "local" to wherever they are stationed.

Honestly, I have no idea on accents for the People! I would assume that there is a "Haven" accent, though when it comes to the gift of tongues, I am open to ideas as to how that would affect speech.

Also, I would love to hear any thoughts/additions you may have :)!

#artemis fowl

[argumate]

The Russian MoD has begun to remove commanders from some of the Russian military’s most combat effective units and formations and appears to be accelerating this effort.

The reported dismissal and arrest of commanders leading combat effective units and formations appears to be associated with cases of insubordination. Popov flagrantly attempted to bypass Russian Chief of the General Staff and overall theater commander Army General Valery Gerasimov and directly bring his complaints about the frontline in western Zaporizhia to Russian President Vladimir Putin. A prominent Kremlin-affiliated milblogger claimed that Seliverstov’s dismissal was a result of similar insubordination, and Russian sources claimed that Seliverstov had a reputation for speaking up on behalf of his soldiers. Kornev may have voiced criticism of a host of potential issues on behalf of the 7th VDV Division, including the likely failure to be notified beforehand about the Russian destruction of the Nova Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station (KHPP) on June 6, reported attritional fighting that failed to eliminate a Ukrainian presence near the Antonivsky Bridge, or conditions in western Zaporizhia Oblast similar to those that Popov complained about. Ibatullin’s arrest may be associated with the 90th Tank Division’s resumption of assaults in Luhansk Oblast, where it conducted widespread offensive operations that failed to achieve territorial gains during the Russian 2023 winter offensive campaign. It is unclear why Ibatullin would have been arrested, if, indeed, he was, when the other commanders were reportedly simply removed from their commands.

Insubordination among commanders appears to be spreading to some of their soldiers. Russian milbloggers shared an audio excerpt on July 16 in which the alleged elements of the 7th VDV Division threatened that they would withdraw from their positions in occupied Kherson Oblast if the Russian MoD arrests Teplinsky or threatens his life. The elements of the 7th VDV Division also claimed that they would defend Teplinsky against the Russian MoD and asserted that the high command is targeting Russia’s most combat effective commanders. This audio appeal, if legitimate, is a threat of mass desertion in the face of the enemy on behalf of Teplinsky. Desertion in the face of the enemy is a capital offense in many militaries. The VDV servicemen are blackmailing the Russian MoD to ensure that Teplinsky continues to command troops in Ukraine, despite Teplinsky’s previous affiliation with Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin who had led an armed rebellion on June 24 to overthrow Shoigu and Gerasimov.

The Kremlin’s chronic disregard for the Russian chain of command is likely hindering Shoigu and Gerasimov in their attempts to suppress insubordination and establish full control over the Russian military in Ukraine. Putin consistently bypassed or ignored the established chain of command in hopes of securing rapid successes on the battlefield throughout the war, degrading Shoigu’s and Gerasimov’s authority – especially when military failures on the frontlines also eroded their reputations. Putin had cultivated an environment in which military personnel, officials, and even Russian war correspondents bypassed Shoigu and Gerasimov to present Putin their understandings of the current state of the war and recommendations for what to do. It is unusual but not unique for a commander in chief to solicit views on the war from outside experts. It is more problematic, although still not unique, for a commander in chief to solicit the views of subordinates opposed to senior leadership directly. But allowing a quasi-military commander such as Prigozhin to conduct his own campaign parallel but not subordinate to the one being executed by the formal chain of command is extraordinarily unusual and badly corrosive of the authority of the formal military leadership.

Putin also established the Russian MoD as the scapegoat for all Russian military failures, which saddled Shoigu and Gerasimov with a reputation for incompetence and failure that they are unlikely to repair. ISW previously assessed that Putin regularly grants and withdraws his support for different commanders in hopes generating rapid improvements in Russia’s military fortunes but without always doing so formally. Shoigu and Gerasimov likely expected that Putin would restore their full authority over the Russian military’s decision-making processes given their loyalty to him after Wagner’s armed rebellion on June 24. Putin, however, has clearly not done so.  He has instead followed his normal pattern of seeking to divert backlash away from himself and rotating commanders instead of outright dismissing them. Intensifying insubordination and widespread outrage in response to the ongoing officer purge may force the Kremlin to reconsider its partial backing for Shoigu and Gerasimov in the wake of Wagner’s rebellion.

Russian commanders are likely setting information conditions to prevent the Russian MoD from punishing them for their insubordination by promoting narratives among Russian servicemembers along the front and thereby risking widespread demoralization.

The apparent crisis in the Russian chain of command and the corresponding morale effects it may produce will likely degrade Russian capabilities to conduct tactical offensive operations that are critical to the Russian elastic defense in southern Ukraine.

snippets from recent ISW updates, this isn't even relating to the Ukrainian offensive, it's all Russian-on-Russian violence

[capybaracorn]

GENEVA/NEW YORK/ROME, 19 February 2024 – A steep rise in malnutrition among children and pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Gaza strip poses grave threats to their health, according to a comprehensive new analysis released by the Global Nutrition Cluster.

As the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip enters its 20th week, food and safe water have become incredibly scarce and diseases are rife, compromising women and children’s nutrition and immunity and resulting in a surge of acute malnutrition.

The report – Nutrition Vulnerability and Situation Analysis- Gaza – finds that the situation is particularly extreme in the Northern Gaza Strip, which has been almost completely cut off from aid for weeks. Nutrition screenings conducted at shelters and health centres in the north found that 15.6 per cent - or 1 in 6 children under 2 years of age - are acutely malnourished. Of these, almost 3 per cent suffer from severe wasting, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition, which puts young children at highest risk of medical complications and death unless they receive urgent treatment. As the data were collected in January, the situation is likely to be even graver today.

Similar screenings in the Southern Gaza Strip, in Rafah, where aid has been more available, found 5 per cent of children under 2 years are acutely malnourished. This is clear evidence that access to humanitarian aid is needed and can help prevent the worst outcomes. It also reinforces agencies’ calls to protect Rafah from the threat of intensified military operations.

“The Gaza Strip is poised to witness an explosion in preventable child deaths which would compound the already unbearable level of child deaths in Gaza,” said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations, Ted Chaiban. “We’ve been warning for weeks that the Gaza Strip is on the brink of a nutrition crisis. If the conflict doesn’t end now, children’s nutrition will continue to plummet, leading to preventable deaths or health issues which will affect the children of Gaza for the rest of their lives and have potential intergenerational consequences.”

Before the recent months’ hostilities, wasting in the Gaza Strip was rare with just 0.8 per cent of children under 5 years of age acutely malnourished. The rate of 15.6 percent of wasting among children under 2 in Northern Gaza suggests a serious and rapid decline. Such a decline in a population’s nutritional status in three months is unprecedented globally.

There is a high risk that malnutrition will continue to rise across the Gaza Strip due to the alarming lack of food, water and health and nutrition services:

90 per cent of children under the age of 2 and 95 per cent of pregnant and breastfeeding women face severe food poverty – meaning they have consumed two or less food groups in the previous day - and the food they do have access to is of the lowest nutritional value.

95 per cent of households are limiting meals and portion sizes, with 64 per cent of households eating only one meal a day. 

Over 95 per cent of households said they had restricted the amount of food adults received in order to ensure small children had food to eat.

“The steep rise in malnutrition that we are seeing in Gaza is dangerous and entirely preventable”, said WFP Assistant Executive Director for Programme Operations, Valerie Guarnieri. “Children and women, in particular, need continuous access to healthy foods, clean water and health and nutrition services. For that to happen, we need decisive improvements on security and humanitarian access, and additional entry points for aid to enter Gaza.”

Inadequate safe drinking water, as well as insufficient water for cooking and hygiene purposes, are compounding poor nutrition. On average, households surveyed had access to less than one litre of safe water per person per day. According to humanitarian standards, the minimum amount of safe water needed in an emergency is three litres per person per day, while the overall standard is 15 litres per person, which includes sufficient quantities for drinking, washing and cooking.

Hungry, thirsty and weak, more Gazans are falling sick. The report finds at least 90 per cent of children under 5 are affected by one or more infectious disease. Seventy per cent had diarrhoea in the past two weeks, a 23-fold increase compared with the 2022 baseline. 

“Hunger and disease are a deadly combination,” said Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme. ”Hungry, weakened and deeply traumatised children are more likely to get sick, and children who are sick, especially with diarrhea, cannot absorb nutrients well. It’s dangerous, and tragic, and happening before our eyes.”

Without more humanitarian assistance, the nutritional situation is likely to continue to deteriorate rapidly and at scale across the Gaza Strip. With the majority of health, water and sanitation services severely degraded, it is essential that those that remain functional are protected and reinforced to stem the spread of diseases and stop malnutrition from worsening.

UNICEF, WFP and WHO call for safe, unimpeded and sustained access to urgently deliver multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance throughout the Gaza Strip. This includes nutritious foods, nutrition supplies and essential services for malnourished and at-risk children and women to safely access health and nutrition care and treatment services, particularly infants and young children under 5. Hospitals and health workers must be protected from attack so they can safely provide critical treatment and care. An immediate humanitarian ceasefire continues to provide the best chance to save lives and end suffering.

###

Note to the editor:

Due to security and access challenges throughout the Gaza Strip, it is nearly impossible to collect anthropometric data to measure rates of acute malnutrition. Collection of anthropometric data (MUAC) was only possible in two areas (North Gaza and Rafah) among children under 2 years of age. The report therefore used an innovative method of analysis to support this data and determine that acute malnutrition is rising throughout the Gaza Strip. This method analysed data on the drivers of malnutrition – lack of food, rates of disease, lack of access to clean water and lack of available health services – which was collected through telephone and SMS questionnaires. From analysing the key causes, we can conclude that acute malnutrition is rising throughout Gaza at speed.

#free palestine #palestine #save palestine #free gaza #gaza #save gaza #world news #current events #war on gaza #gaza strip #gaza genocide #gazaunderattack #palestine genocide #stop the genocide #genocide #palestinian genocide #humanitarian crisis #humanitarian aid #human rights #malnutrition #childrens rights #unicef #medical

[her-devils-advocate]

Trust in us.

♥. Genre: hurt and comfort, fluff

♥. pairings: Nate Sewell / Female Detective (Named)

♥. content warnings: None

♥. notes: Since my detective goes by a nickname, as does Nate, I had the idea to write a fic where they both call each other by their full name in the heat of a moment. So here's a small retelling of the small spat from book 3 with them.

♥. Ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47248021

♥. Word count: 1044

"Nate, behind you!" Val's panicked voice sharply cuts through the pained grunts falling around them as Unit Bravo swiftly disposes of their attackers. Fresh muddy holes now litter the no longer idyllic setting, while the once verdant grass is sprinkled with blood, both human and vampiric. 

Spinning around to come face to face with the rapidly approaching trapper, weapon in hand, Nate deftly dodges their advances. The trapper stumbles onto their knees but before they can steady themselves, Nate grabs ahold of their arm, twisting it behind their back and forcing them further to the ground. With a heavy thump, the small forest clearing falls silent, broken only by the gentle click of Mason's lighter.

Nate sighs heavily, running his hands through his pulled back hair, looking less neat than he would prefer, trying to let go of the oppressive panic that had gripped him and loosen its hold on his emotions. Just as he thought the suffocating emotions had died down, he hears the detective approach, hears her rapid heartbeat. Her heart beating fast for all the wrong reasons, especially while around him.

Stumbling over the roots as she limps her way closer towards him, Nate swings around to face the much shorter woman. The action causes him to tower over her as she looks up to meet him, but not before glancing all over to check for injuries. Her relieved smile falters as she sees the irritation painting his expression, her sharp eyebrows raising in a silent question.

"I thought I told you to hide and to stay hidden?" His words cut through the calm summer air like ice, lodging themselves inside her heart and causing her to freeze with a slowly building anxiety.

“And I thought I told you that I couldn’t do that? That I wouldn’t let you all continue to fight for me, to fight my battles, without letting me help in any way. I didn’t even fight much or get in the way, yet I still helped you. I don’t see what the problem is.” She throws her arms up to gesture around at the handful of injured trappers being rounded up by the rest of Unit Bravo, flinching slightly at the sharp pain that shoots throughout her torso from the action. A flinch that did not escape his sharp vision, nor the rest of the teams’ as she tries to ignore the curious looks being thrown their way.

Nate simply stares at her for a moment, not wanting to lose his composure or have the “not-an-argument-yet” discussion grow into their first, especially not with Felix nearby.

“But you still managed to get injured,” he frowns down at the purple bruises marring the porcelain skin peaking past the collar of her dark green shirt. “The four of us can handle a few trappers. What if it was more than a few bruises? What if something had happened?”

Taking a few steps back to gather her racing thoughts, she idly fidgets with the long, black braid draped over her shoulder. Her eyebrows draw together in worry as she quickly spins on the spot as her eyes begin to water. She takes a few deep breaths to quell the fear of losing him that had begun to slowly rise, left over fears from the less than stellar childhood she had been pushed through.

Before she could turn back to fully face him once more, she freezes on the spot as he lets out a sigh, one much sharper than he intended. 

"Valerie..."

"...Yes Nathaniel?"

For a brief moment, a chill passes through the clearing. An uneasy atmosphere growing around the team as Val and Nate stare at one another in disbelief. Neither of them willing to back down first.

Adam shoots Felix and Mason a sharp glare, silencing any comments that the duo had ready to release as he shakes his head, concern quickly flickering within Adam's eyes as he moves further away from them to silently watch his friends from afar. The other two reluctantly joining him, deciding that it was better to not get involved. Or in Mason’s case, not willing to get involved.

Forcing his hands deep into his pockets, he holds back the urge to gather her within his arms and hold her close, as if the discussion never took place. The only thing stopping him from doing so was the knowledge that now was not the time nor place. Gentle brown eyes meet her frightened green ones as he hunches his shoulders slightly. Guilt tearing at his heart now that the panic ebbs away.

"You could have gotten seriously injured, Val. I...I'm not sure what I would do if you had done."

"Nate...I'm sorry but I couldn't just sit and hide while you got hurt, especially not because of me. I might not be anything special, like you four are, but do you think I could bear to stand by and watch you get hurt either? I know that you are trying to protect me and I appreciate that so much…But you need to let me work with you, as a team. You need to trust that I can do this, that I can be a part of your world."

“Val…You are special, to me and to the team. That’s just one of the many parts of the reason behind why I can’t lose you. Just the thought of that sears my heart into two.” He slowly steps towards her, one hand stroking her cheek while the other tucks a stray hair behind her ear. “I do trust you, wholeheartedly, but I don’t trust my world and that's what scares me the most.” “Then trust us, me and you…and them,” she nods her head towards the three agents doing their worst to act as if they aren’t eavesdropping on every single word. “Trust that we will all protect each other in this world and that I will hide when I know I'm out of my depth, not before.”

A deep chuckle chases away her lingering unease and worry as he leans down to press a kiss upon her forehead. “Alright, I can do that. I will always worry about you and your wellbeing, but I will trust in us.”

#♥. writing #♥. Valerie #twc #the wayhaven chronicles #nate sewell #detective x nate #female detective x nate

[alcalavicci]

Dean impressions from Dancing on the Edge:

When Russ met Dean on the set of The Boy with Green Hair, Dean was a high-energy kid who hated attention and was learning how to play the drums

Dean asked Russ if he could bring Wallace Berman and his wife to a party he was having. Thinking he meant the comedian Alice Berman, Russ said yes but was shocked by this weird mute guy who didn't say a word at his party.

One time, Russ was hanging out with four other former child actors (Dean, Billy Gray, Bobby Driscoll and Robert Blake). Talking about that day years later, Blake said they were a bunch of drowning puppies going down the rapids while hanging onto a lifeboat together. Says a lot, doesn't it?

Russ described Dean as intelligent, intuitive and practical- Jack Hirschman said as much too. Both said that Dean would help other people out as well. It's interesting that Russ says Dean was dedicated to his career and never dropped out unlike Russ, but that's not how Dean saw his career during this time, according to interviews. I think Russ was more significantly dropped out than Dean, however.

The Last Movie: Russ and Dean, along with Billy Gray, got to see Machu Picchu on their days off, but poor Billy got lost and missed the last scenes to be filmed.

Dean invited Russ to be in Another Day at the Races (which was apparently a spoof of the Marx Brothers classic A Day at the Races), but the title was changed to Win, Place or Steal. Apparently the movie was already kind of darkly lit in the original print too and got bad reviews at the time.

Jack, Russ and Dean all liked puns - that came from Wallace.

Russ' second wife, Elizabeth, had major problems with drinking and he eventually left her because she refused to get help for her problem. Dean was incredibly supportive to Russ during this time. Elizabeth ended up drinking herself to death five years after they got divorced. Must've been so heartbreaking to Russ to see Dean struggling like Elizabeth did near the end of his life.

Between Dennis, Dean and Russ, Russ could be trusted to come back with a full order of cocaine because he was allergic to it. So Dennis would ask him to pick up cocaine for him.

Russ says Dean was dating this woman in summer 1980. Interesting, Dean must've been just friends with Joy until the year or so before they got married. But this woman, Valerie Valente, is important because she invited Dean and Russ to her friend Bonnie's show, and Russ ended up married to Bonnie.

Russ does mention Dean meeting Joy and falling in love fast but I get the impression Russ didn't know about them keeping in touch for a few years. Russ said he needed to move out fast so Joy could move in after they got engaged (? my impression). I wonder if there was any overlap between Valerie and Joy...

Dean was the one who recommended Russ to the producers for his Quantum Leap episode- he didn't even have to audition!

The Wallace stories in this are also amazing so I'd definitely recommend reading this book for them as well.

#Russ Tamblyn #Dancing on the Edge #dean stockwell

[laufire]

hi. it's me. 🦋

tumblr is not yet advanced enough to send asks from sideblogs so hit me with "the wings behind the stage" i'm not sure if i'm familiar with that one.

that's my "as (if in name only) a catholic, I will write about angels at least once" wip lol.

I had this idea of an angel that becomes obsessed with a theatre production, the play they intend to interpret, the ~aging hollywood diva leading it in a last attempt to hold onto her acting career. I want to lean into the eldrich horror of it all, with this unearthly powerful being playing with these people's lives not even out of malice but just... the way we humans herd animals, really. that's where my head was at then xD

other than the angel (Ariel) and the diva (Valeria, goes by Valerie for work), the only other characters that I have established so far are Valeria's stranged husband, her teenager daughter, and a young actress that Valeria takes under her wing (....... no pun intented). it's not a priority right now (out of my short/hopefully-novelette-length ideas, both underground elysium and a child's covenant come first), but when the mood strikes, I'll be excited to write it.

I posted an excerpt in my writeblr a while ago, and I thought I'd bring it in here ^-^

It was the creature who moved Valeria’s extended palms to the wounded face of her kneeling husband. It pressed a thumb on the half-formed bruise of his jaw, ripping a pained wince through his stubbornly clenched teeth.

Burrowed deep inside the confines of her own flesh, Valeria witnessed how each wound slowly matured under the touch of the wrinkled hands that no longer obeyed her, the bruise changing colour and healing at an impossibly rapid pace.

With a pang of muted horror she felt her own lips move; shaped by a hallowed voice, her mouth spoke in a willfully forgotten mother tongue filled of glacial contempt.

“You are insignificant,” Valeria understood, against all odds. “Do you not see the vast gulf between your limited self, and the extraordinary creature who married you? Can’t you see each and every way in which she surpasses you? No,” it added, “you can. You see it. It makes you aware of just how small you truly are. That knowledge has infected you, and all you want is to make her suffer for it. Make her as sick as you are. Make her pay.”

Each word plucked from deep inside her throat was pronounced with growing rage. Valeria could feel the ground shake through the bare soles of her feet. The angel had finished healing her stranged husband, and now it loomed over his awed form with a deceptively calm exterior that did not match the tumult within.

“We won’t let you do that to us,” they proclamed, with the force of divine revelation.

ask me about my wips!

#replies #ty! #talking to the void #my thoughts #original works #original writing #my original writing #my wips #writing woes

[trickarrows-bishop]

Loui, I've gone mad....

you know how I have a talent for making terrible people worse?

:D

I had an idea for a beautiful au that makes demon baby somehow more tragic!

:D

-side note I have just spent an hour deep diving into Christian Demonology......so know that I'm definitely getting religious advertisements because of this. The things we do for art-

So here goes!

You know how people have pointed out the minor plot whole of Lily's family producing 'Six generations' of Halo-Barers, despite the whole 'nun-no-sexytimes' thing? And that Lilith does NOT get an alternative option? I fixed both of those, by adding terrible people!

General notes:

The beings from the other realm classified as Major archdemons ie Reya and Adrial, and Lessor archdemons.

The Lessor Archdemons have the following characteristics.

Generally embody one of the 'deadly sins'

Maintain strict morality defined by and loyalty to those they perceive as above them.

Single minded obsessive drive, usually directed towards a goal by a Major Archdemon.

Limited unique abilities.

Rapid healing

Ok on to the au!

Mary and Shannon are training when baby-nun Lily is brought to the convent. Mary at first is just, 'oh God this kid came pre-installed with nepotism', but over time she's realizes that oh no this kid legit cannot comprehend life and existence out of this #onepurpose she has been given.

That and she's a little suspicious about the whole pipeline automatically just knows this kid is the next barer, even before she arrives. So her and Shannon start digging.

At first they just uncover basic information about Lily's family, like a list of the Halo-Barers, along side the dossier created by the Mother Superion of the time.

Alecto - unique ability was control of fire. Noted to spend more time 'accompanying the towns men's than is strictly appropriate.

Amy - unique ability was the ability to summon an astral bird she could use as her eyes and ears. Noted to swipe small easily missed objects while on mission, to be hoarded in the room behind her walls.

Miriam - unique ability to influence via a whisper, allowing her to discreetly empty a room. Rarely seemed to actually kill the wraiths, content to remove and vanish them, relied on her sisters for the bulk of fighting.

Grimora - unique ability to create an illusion of herself to distract enemies. This ability drained her and caused her to need to eat nearly three times that of her sisters.

Ivy - unique ability to see the immediate future, allowing her to know what possible attacks would come before they are made. Her file has a note that her Mother Superion worried that she deliberately chose painful bloody actions, seemingly loving the fight.

Valerie - unique ability is to read surface level thoughts of those she meets. Sister Valerie was a noted climber, frequently switching convents until she died in battle while defending a small town just outside of Rome.

While these were interesting, they didn't really say much about the family itself, although Shannon did learn that apparently there was a hidden room behind the wall of the Halo-Barers bedroom.

But Mary and Shannon saw an opportunity to investigate further during a trip to Lilith's home where her family invited them to have dinner as a gift from the family of the next barer.

The two sneak off and everyone just kind of assumes they are getting some.....alone time, so no one follows.

Eventually they end up in the family wine cellar, or specifically a small office just off of it, hidden behind some casks.

There they find a book detailing the legacy of the Villaumbrosia Family. It was discovered several centuries ago that on the rare occasion, a Lessor Archdemon will appear in our realm, thought to be the result of large concentrations of wraiths and other demons forming the being as an infant.

The Villaumbrosia family discovered a ritual that could lock away many of the overt characteristics of the demons, leaving a 'human' that is easily directed and controlled, whose abilities would awaken upon contact with artifacts from the other realm.

The church then had the idea of using these occasions to their benefit. Because why waist a human life to be sacrificed as a Halo-Barer when instead they could utilize this demonic thing?

So the Villaumbrosia's would adopt and raise these infants to only obey the church, providing a convenient pawn of absolute loyalty. Each one would be given a name in reference to their demonic heritage, as to remind those around them that they were not human and deserved no consideration Individually.

Unfortunately the halo had a luring effect on them, pulling out the obsessions and 'sins' by mere proximity.

So Shannon and Mary were able to piece together the pieces of information they had gotten. Little Lily was the latest in this chain.

After Shannon died, Mary completes the little analysis as a gift to Lilith, a way to expose the family and end the cycle.

Awakened via Halo:

Alecto - Lust

Amy - Greed

Miriam (Merihem) - Sloth

Grimora (Gemory) - Gluttony

Ivy (Vine) - Wrath

Valerie (Valac) - Envy

Awakened via travel to the other realm:

Lilith - Pride, unique ability to manifest wings. This ability was corrupted by the fusion of the tarask, turning what would have been dark feathery wings into what they are today. The Tarask also altered the healing capabilities to produce divinium and scales, as well as granting her their teleportation abilities.

Reya rejects these beings as she feels they are another example of a bastardization of her realm. A stolen child turned weapon. She seeks to destroy them, sending her tarask followers to attack. This is why there has not been a sighting of one for so long before the series.

Lilith's fusion with the Tarask has afforded her some immunity to this, as she is an altogether different creature.

Do you see my vision!?!?!?!?

ngl this was a lot of information for someone who woke up and went back to sleep what has felt like fifteen times bUT AYOOOOOOOOOO I SEE THE VISION

[crystalelemental]

Sync Pair Retrospective - New Years 2023

Last year, the New Years alts were leaked somehow, and I was personally really excited by the decisions made. It feels like New Years always lands on at least one really good inclusion. That year, it was two. But, now that it's been a year, how are they doing overall?

New Years Lisia Lisia is a candidate for the most unfortunate character in this game. Her base form sucks so badly that she's the only pair who is made weaker by the presence of zone. Her New Years alt aimed to fix this, making her an excellent damage dealer for Fairy type, and a rare physical one to boot! Giga Impact Fairy Shift is the Hyper Beam equivalent, and those are always in style. So great, she's gonna be amazing, right?

Well she should be, but no Zone support. Wally wasn't a good match. That's fine, we'll wait for the next. Oh, SS Hau has it, but is entirely specially inclined? Well okay, eventually they'll...oh, we're getting a third already, and SS Mina is also specially inclined? Well hey, that's fine, field effects are old hat anyway, now we're all about rebuffs which...also went to a specially focused support. At least eggmon Sylveon is there?

Lisia cannot catch a break. Every other Fairy type around her has received buff after buff after buff, and Lisia has stagnated completely in time. Her situation is downright depressing. To make her life worse, her designation as one of the only Physical Fairy type options was severely challenged by the inclusion of an F2P pair, BP Valerie, who can actually sync nuke comparably while on-type. So unlike, say, Raihan, who has merit due to Steel-weak Glacia, Lisia is not in a comparable boat.

Lisia's life sucks. She's maintaining as a good overall pair because high BP moves like this will literally always be in style. But it's hard to consider her exceptional, so much as flatly alright. At the very least, few pairs are as difficult to work with, given the unreasonable amount of Fairy support that all skewed special. I hate it.

New Years Dawn Dawn, on the other hand, is hilarious. Initially, everyone dunked on her because the kit seemed bad, but then we got to learn about what Extra Special Ghost Damage does, and that tune changed quick. Dawn has good damage potential, and a stellar sync, backed by some nice tanking potential. Evade tanking is risky, but her rapid debuffing of Atk and ability to hit other stats is divine. Her doubling of stat boosts is an ongoing blessing, as supports with a +4/+2 focus like Penny actually work for her, and Spectrier's TM becomes wildly powerful.

Dawn's trouble is that, despite her abilities, she remains heavily reliant on support. She can't get away with cheaper options, she needs heavy support. Her debuffs are also random, which limits her overall effectiveness with others despite how useful many of her traits are. Evade tanking is inconsistent, as is her MPR on trainer move, and her confuse status.

It's weird, because I do really like this pair, but I honestly never use her. I feel like something just always holds her back. I could not tell you what. Maybe it's a gauge thing? Maybe I just need to use her offensively more often. Whatever the case, Dawn's kit has merit that I just don't see a ton of use for.

Final Thoughts Like many New Years pairs, I think Lisia and Dawn are middling. They're not strictly bad, in the same way that NY Lance still has really good Flying damage if supported, or NY Sabrina can still Endure tank. But New Years never really excels, and that trend seems to be continuing. Oh well. At least the alts look good.

#sync pair retrospective #new years dawn #new years lisia

[beardedmrbean]

Russia’s hypersonic missiles have taken a dual hit this week from Patriots fired by Ukraine and “patriots” arrested at home.

Once touted as unstoppable, the program now faces growing domestic fallout from treason charges against three scientists who worked on the technology, just as Kyiv claims its U.S.-supplied air defense systems have been able to shoot many of the missiles down.

The Kremlin said Wednesday that the scientists face “very serious accusations” after a rare public outcry over a wartime crackdown that has fueled a growing sense of unease across Russian society.

In an open letter published Monday criticizing the arrests, colleagues of the three academics in hypersonic technology warned that Russia’s research on the subject faces “impending collapse.” 

The three scientists — Anatoly Maslov, Alexander Shiplyuk and Valery Zvegintsev — were employees of the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk. They were all detained on suspicion of high treason over the past year, according to the letter published on the institute’s website. 

The letter professes the men’s innocence and praises their academic achievements, adding that all three chose to stay in Russia over highly paid and prestigious work abroad. 

“We know each of them as a patriot and a decent person who is not capable of doing what the investigating authorities suspect them of,” it said. 

It’s rare and risky in modern Russia to speak out in defense of people charged with treason, especially after a bill was adopted last month increasing the maximum sentence for the crime to life in jail. 

The Russian state media agency Tass reported on the arrests of Maslov and Shiplyuk last summer, and Zvegintsev earlier this week. It said Zvegintsev was detained about three weeks ago, and is under house arrest. NBC News could not verify these details. 

Shiplyuk was in charge of the laboratory of hypersonic technologies at the institute, which has “unique hypersonic aerodynamic installations designed to study the fundamental and applied problems of hypersonic flight,” according to his bio on the website. Maslov is a renowned expert in the field of aerogasdynamics, it said. 

The institute released an open letter in support of Maslov after his arrest last June for what it said was “high treason,” saying that his colleagues were “shocked” by his detention. It was also fundraising on behalf of the families of Maslov and Shiplyuk to cover their legal expenses. 

Tass reported earlier this week that the materials in Maslov’s case are classified and have been handed over to a judge in a St. Petersburg court. The agency said Maslov’s case was investigated by the FSB, Russia’s secret service. 

While the details of their cases have not been made public, the open letter by their colleagues said the three men could have been arrested for simply doing their jobs, including making presentations at global conferences and taking part in international scientific projects. Their work was also repeatedly checked by the institute’s expert commission to ensure it doesn’t contain “restricted information,” the letter said.

“In this situation, we are not only afraid for the fate of our colleagues. We just do not understand how to continue to do our job,” it added, raising concerns about “a rapid decline in the level of research” if employees are too afraid to do their work. 

Such cases are dissuading young Russian scientists from staying in the field, the letter said, and could bring Russian science to a brink it last faced after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which  saw a massive brain drain from the country. “Domestic science may not endure the second such blow,” the letter added. 

The letter also mentioned the controversial case of another Russian scientist, Dmitry Kolker, who was arrested last year on suspicion of treason despite suffering from an advanced form of cancer. He was flown to Moscow for detention and died several days later. 

The Kremlin said it was aware of the letter in defense of the academics, but spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was a matter for Russian special services, the state media agency Ria reported. “This is a very serious accusation,” he said, according to the agency.

But the scientists are not the only patriots seemingly bedeviling the Kremlin.

The letter comes as a wave of the hypersonic missiles — which Russian President Vladimir Putin once  boasted were all but unstoppable — were seemingly shot down by Ukraine this week. 

Kyiv claimed Tuesday that it had shot down six Russian Kinzhal missiles in a single night, a statement disputed by Moscow.

The air-launched ballistic missiles were considered next-generation technology by Russia and were praised by Puitn in a highly publicized speech in early 2018, where he said that they are “invulnerable” to existing missile and air defense systems, which “simply cannot catch up with them.”

The apparent vulnerability of these missiles “is likely a surprise and an embarrassment for Russia,” the British Defense Ministry said in its daily dispatch Wednesday. 

The Russian Defense Ministry said one of its Kinzhal missiles had “struck and completely destroyed” a U.S.-built Patriot surface-to-air missile defense system in Kyiv on Tuesday, citing what it called “reliable data.” But two U.S. officials confirmed that the Patriot battery had incurred some damage but was still operational. 

#nunyas news

[emotionally-devastating-scout]

Nice, so charizard is your favorite Pokémon? Mine is sylveon. It's super cute. I even have a Sylveon Vmax rapid strike with Valerie. Eevees are so cute. I have a Sylveon named Angel. Which begs the question: What nickname do you give your charizard?

Yo very nice eevees are great I got a jolteon his names sped and my charizaed is called fire flash

#scouts devestation #team fortress #team fortress 2 #team fortress two #tf2

[argumate]

Ukrainian Commander in Chief General Valery Zaluzhnyi recently articulated the main factors that have brought positional war to the conflict and made mechanized maneuver difficult or impossible. The recent Russian offensive operations around Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast, among others, have shown that the Russians are suffering equally from these problems. Zaluzhnyi’s assessment tracks with what many other observers of the war have also seen. The most salient of these factors include:

The pervasiveness of reconnaissance drones makes large-scale surprise impossible, and the effective creation by both sides of reconnaissance-strike complexes that merge reconnaissance and strike drones with artillery and other long-range systems makes visible concentrations of vehicles prohibitively dangerous;

Russian electronic warfare, particularly jamming of GPS signals and drone communications, on an unprecedented scale severely hinders Ukraine’s ability to make full use of Western-provided precision munitions that rely on GPS and undermines the effectiveness of Ukraine’s own drone systems;

Russian defensive works prepared over the course of many months and supported by extremely deep and dense minefields preclude rapid mechanized maneuver;

Limited Ukrainian air defenses and Ukraine’s lack of a modern air force allows Russian manned aircraft to operate in close support of front line units and to target Ukrainian tactical reserves and logistics nodes;

Limited Ukrainian long-range strike capabilities preclude the effective operational-level interdiction necessary to isolate the battlefield from Russian operational and strategic reserves; and

Inadequate numbers of tanks and armored vehicles, coupled with uncertainty about the future availability of replacements, require Ukraine to husband its mechanized forces rather than accepting the losses inherent in concentrated assaults in the current state of the battlefield.

[ukrainenews]

Daily Wrap Up October 13-16, 2022

(Sorry for no updates, I had family visiting.)

Under the cut:

The number of Russian troops who will be in Belarus as part of the deployment of the "joint group of troops" will be up to 9,000.

At least 11 people were killed and 15 more wounded at a Russian military training ground on Saturday when two attackers opened fire on a group of volunteers who wished to fight in Ukraine, RIA news agency said.

Very fierce battles are taking place around the eastern Donetsk region, and the Ukrainian military is holding its position there, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address Saturday.

US President Joe Biden has approved an additional $725 million in security aid for Ukraine, according to a statement from the State Department.

Germany provided Ukraine with 16 Biber tank bridge-builders, according to federal government data. In addition, Germany supplied Ukraine with 10 pontoon bridge machines. Last week, Ukraine also received 16 Zuzanna self-propelled artillery systems. The firing range of 155-mm artillery guns reaches 41 km.

“The number of Russian troops who will be in Belarus as part of the deployment of the "joint group of troops" will be up to 9,000.

As European Truth reports, Valery Revenko, Assistant Minister of Defense of Belarus for International Military Cooperation, said this on his Twitter page.

"The first military echelons with Russian servicemen, who are part of the SUG ( joint grouping of forces ), have begun to arrive in Belarus. The move will last several days. The total number will be slightly less than 9 thousand people. More information will be provided at a briefing for military attachés," he writes. he.  

It will be recalled that on October 10, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said that he and the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin , agreed to deploy a joint regional grouping of troops. According to him, Belarus decided to do this because of the need to strengthen its security "due to a rapid change in the situation".

Lukashenko also announced the imminent arrival of the Russian military in the country . "Do not count on a large number of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. But it will not be one thousand people," the Belarusian dictator clarified.

The day before, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus had already announced the arrival of the first echelons of Russian military personnel to the country.

Read about what the appearance of the Russian military means in Belarus and the likelihood of a new offensive from its territory in the article Lukashenko is preparing for an attack: what threats is the Belarusian dictator capable of implementing.”-via Euro Integration (Ukrainian language source)

~

“At least 11 people were killed and 15 more wounded at a Russian military training ground on Saturday when two attackers opened fire on a group of volunteers who wished to fight in Ukraine, RIA news agency said.

The deadly incident is just the latest in a series of high-profile setbacks for Moscow's forces since the Feb. 24 invasion.

RIA, citing the defence ministry, said the two assailants had been shot dead after the attack in the southwestern Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine.

"During a firearms training session with individuals who voluntarily expressed a desire to participate in the special military operation (against Ukraine), the terrorists opened fire with small arms on the personnel of the unit," RIA cited a defence ministry statement as saying.

"As a result of the shooting, 11 people were fatally wounded. Another 15 people with wounds of varying severity were taken to a medical facility," it said.

Oleksiy Arestovych, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said in a YouTube interview that the attackers were from the Central Asian nation of Tajikistan and had opened fire on the others after an argument over religion.

Tajikistan is a predominantly Muslim nation, while around half of Russians follow various branches of the Christian church. The Russian defence ministry said the attackers were from a nation that belonged to the Commonwealth of Independent States, which groups nine ex-Soviet republics, including Tajikistan.

Reuters was not immediately able to confirm the comments by Arestovych, a prominent commentator on the war who appears in the media on an almost daily basis.

RIA did not say where the attack took place. The independent Russian news website Sota Vision said it had happened in the small town of Soloti, close to the Ukrainian border and about 105 km (65 miles) south east of Belgorod.

Authorities in Belgorod itself have repeatedly accused Ukraine of attacking targets in the city, including power lines and fuel and ammunition stores.

Ukraine has not claimed responsibility.”-via Reuters

~

“Very fierce battles are taking place around the eastern Donetsk region, and the Ukrainian military is holding its position there, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address Saturday.

“Active operations continue in various areas of the front. A very difficult situation persists in Donetsk region and Luhansk,” Zelensky said, referring to another eastern region that has been occupied by Russian troops for months. “The most difficult is the Bakhmut direction, as in the previous days. We hold our positions.”

Bakhmut is located in the northern portion of Donetsk region.

Work still to do on recaptured land: Zelensky also gave an update on the efforts to reconnect services to regions of Ukraine recently liberated from Russian forces.

He said homes in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Izium, which was under Russian occupation for six months before being liberated in September, are having their supply of natural gas restored.

“The first 500 families of the city already have gas in their homes again,” he said. “Just yesterday, more than 3,000 houses in the Izium, Kupiansk, Chuhuiv and Kharkiv districts of Kharkiv region were connected to the gas supply. Work is ongoing in other directions as well.””-via CNN

~

“US President Joe Biden has approved an additional $725 million in security aid for Ukraine, according to a statement from the State Department.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Biden on Twitter Saturday morning.

“Sincerely grateful to POTUS, the people from United States for providing another $725 million security aid package. We will receive, in particular, much-needed rounds for HIMARS and artillery,” the message reads. “A wonderful gift for Ukraine’s Defenders’ Day! The Russian aggressor will be defeated, Ukraine will be free!”

The Biden administration authorized the additional presidential drawdown — a form of military spending that allows for speedy approval — for Ukraine Friday.

The $725 million package includes ammunition for HIMARS, HARMs (air-to-surface missiles), anti-tank weapons, Humvees, 155mm artillery rounds, small arms and small arms ammunition, precision-guided artillery rounds and medical supplies.”-via CNN

~

“Germany provided Ukraine with 16 Biber tank bridge-builders, according to federal government data.

In addition, Germany supplied Ukraine with 10 pontoon bridge machines.

Last week, Ukraine also received 16 Zuzanna self-propelled artillery systems. The firing range of 155-mm artillery guns reaches 41 km.

In September, Germany handed Ukraine six Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, bringing their total number to 30.

The Armed Forces received 59,000 shells for the Gepard Armed Forces, five 227-mm M270 MARS multiple rocket launcher systems. In addition, 12 155-mm PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers and 10,500 shells for them were transferred to Kyiv in the summer.

The Armed Forces also received three thousand Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank missile systems, almost 15 thousand anti-tank mines, 54 M113 infantry fighting vehicles and 3.2 thousand portable anti-aircraft missile systems.

Currently, Germany's military aid to Ukraine is estimated at $1.5 billion.”-via Interfax (Ukrainian language source)

~

“A missile from Ukraine hit an oil depot in the Russian region of Belgorod Saturday afternoon, causing a fire at the facility, according to a local official.

“I am at the scene. The Ministry of Emergency Situations is already fighting the fire. There is no threat of the fire spreading,” Vyacheslav Gladkov, Belgorod’s governor, said in a statement on Telegram.

Belgorod is near the border with Ukraine’s Kharkiv.

Emergency services said one of 10 tanks at the depot was damaged due to the shelling, according to Russian state media.

Last week the Russian secret service said Ukrainian forces have significantly increased shelling of Russian territory in the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions since the beginning of October.”-via CNN

#Daily Update #Ukraine #Russia #War in Ukraine #Belarus #donetsk #US #Germany #Belgorod

[ssj2hindudude]

can u do some headcanons where Brynne is the driver and the other Potaotes (specifically Aru and Rudy) wanted to stop by a restaurant.. only for Brynne to shut it down by criticizing the restauarant. Please have 1 restraunt for a Potato. And include the 2nd Gen if you wish.

Brynne: Ok, dinner's on me this time. Where do you guys wanna eat?

Aru: MCDONALDS MCDONALDS MC-

Brynne: I AM NOT SETTING FOOT OR PULLING UP TO THAT CHEAP CORPORATE TRASH

Rudy: Why even go out? We can just head back to my place and my chefs will-

Brynne: Rudy, last time your chefs cooked, it was nothing but raw eggs, mice, and something that looked like the soy people from Adventure Time. Normally I wouldn't have minded, but they don't know s*** about seasoning!

Mini: Ok, we could go to an indie organic restaurant in the area.

Everyone (except Rudy): NO

Brynne: Any place that would charge that much for a goddamn sludge made of roots and berries should be close down. No, we're not going near that.

Aiden: Alright Brynne, look, there's a Little Caesars right over-

Brynne: Ammamma, if I wanted cardboard with cheese on it, I'd eat the school lunches.

Hira: Ok, how about that Red Lobster's?

Brynne: Babe, as much as I love taking you to fancy places, they should at least store more food when they say "endless shrimp" and not get pissed at me when they run out!

Aru: Ok, Brynne, we give up. Where do you want to eat?

Brynne: ...wanna head back to my restaurant? I know the owner XD

*Everyone groans*

Priya: Seriously? We eat there like every day, how is that remotely a treat?

Mini: Priya, what are you doing here?!? You're supposed to be looking after-

Priya: We are.

Suru: Hi Mami, hi Papa!

Abha: See? I told you they wouldn't detect us!

Rudy: Ok, great, we have three more shots!

Ghata: Four.

Hira: Ok kids, we're gonna try the rapid-fire approach on Brynne masi. Where do you wanna go?

Suru: Chuck E Cheese!

Brynne: Dave and Buster's lame, dirty, old boring grandpa? Next!

Priya: Panda Express?

Brynne: Oh yeah, "authentic Chinese cuisine." Next!

Abha: Applebee's?

Brynne: Half the time I don't even know what they're trying to do! Next!

Ghata: Uhhh... *fidgets nervously*

Hira: Brynne!

Brynne: Oh, sorry baby! Where do you want to go? We'll go wherever you want!

Ghata: Maharaja?

Brynne: Really? You don't wanna go to MY restaurant but you'll get Indian food from-

*Hira elbows Brynne*

Brynne: Good choice sweetheart.

Valerie: Ugh, you fools couldn't have picked Cheesecake Factory?

Brynne: WTF? What's Kara's demon summon doing here?

Valerie: My mother insisted I spend more time with my *ahem* family. Sydney printed out some coupon books and mother asked me to bring her back something. But with the choice in restaurants, I'd rather get thrown out.

Priya: Permission to throw her out the car?

Mini: Priya!

Brynne: Granted

Hira: Brynne!

Aru: YOU CAN THROW ME OUT THE CAR AS LONG AS I CAN ACTUALLY GET SOME DINNER TONIGHT

[fereldanwench]

Name Meaning Game

I was tagged by @bnbc & @miss--river--Thank you, bbs! 💙

RULES: Search and post the meaning of your OCs’ names (if you made their name up or they go by a nickname, post an explanation of how it came to you)! Bonus if you can find something for their last name too.

→ Valerie Irene Powell

Valerie The name Valerie is primarily a female name of French origin that means Strength. [x] Irene The name Irene is primarily a female name of Greek origin that means Peace. [x] Powell The name Powell is primarily a male name of Welsh origin that means Son Of Howell/Hywell. [x]

For some deeper history and etymology of her last name:

The surname Powell was first found in Breconshire (Welsh: Sir Frycheiniog), a traditional county in southern Wales, which takes its name from the Welsh kingdom of Brycheiniog (5th-10th centuries), where the name "are descended from Philip ap Howell, whose pedigree is traced to Edwin ap Grono, Lord of Tegaingl, founder of the XIII noble tribe of North Wales and Powys." However other records claim the name came from the Welsh King Hywel Dda"the Good" ap Cadell (c.880- c.950), son of Cadell ap Rhodri, in turn a son of Rhodri the Great.

The Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. [x]

And as for how I chose her name:

"Valerie" is obviously the name given to female V in the game, but I wavered for about a month before I decided to accept it as her name, too. I think it's a really pretty name and I like it a lot, but that was actually a part of the conundrum: I had named my New Vegas Courier "Valerie" as well, and I wasn't sure I wanted to have two OCs with the same first name. Courier!Valerie wasn't as fleshed out as V!Valerie and I wasn't as attached to her, so I decided to change my Courier's name to Natalie and stuck with Valerie for V.

Plus, I do really like having my OC referred to by their first name in a game (like if you choose "Sara" or "Scott" in Mass Effect Andromeda) so I think having that reference, even if it was just a fleeting comment at Clouds, did sway me a lot in deciding to keep it for her.

"Irene" was kind of chosen at random--I just liked the flow of "Valerie Irene"--But it's going to be a family name, probably from her mom's side. I'm still working out some family tree and heritage details so more info is pending there. But! It also makes her initials VIP, which I thought was cute and funny, and I'm gonna attribute it to a little dad joke on her father's part.

And for "Powell," I yoinked it from Iain Glen's character in the 2001 Tomb Raider movie, Manfred Powell. Initially, I went with it because I thought it sounded a little prestigious, I guess, and fitting for a corpo character. But it's also a fairly common surname in the US, and as I developed her background more, I realized wanted her father's side of the family to come from an average Western-European-descended American lineage, so it worked on that front, too.

I never really gave much thought to the actual meanings of the names, but I do feel like "strength" and "peace" are very fitting for her. 💙

Tagging @zyana-wyvern, @starsandskies, @roofgeese, @commander-krios, @black-rose4, and @gloryride (if you wanna, of course)!

#oc: valerie v powell #oc snippets #tumblr: dash games

[asjjohnson]

Phantom Remnants: Battle

One of the towers needed repair. Lightning had struck it the night before, and now it was sparking and flickering on and off.

As soon as they'd gotten word of it, her dad had rerouted the path of the shield to bypass that particular tower.

However, the tower still needed to be repaired as quickly as possible. The energy field had to stretch twice as far in that section now, creating a weak link. And the tower was now outside of the shield.

Valerie was currently flying back and forth near it, watching for Phantom and making sure the team of vulnerable electricians were protected.

...While also occasionally checking her watch and mentally urging them to hurry it up.

The longer they took to fix it, the more anxious she became.

And for good reason. Just after she turned and started flying back the opposite direction, the heat of a passing ecto-beam brushed her side and rocked her sideways. The beam continued on ahead to hit the top of the malfunctioning tower, exploding the three energy-reflectors and flinging two electricians into the air.

She swooped down to catch the two workers, dropping them off on the ground before circling back up to face Phantom.

From the edge of her vision, she could see the electricians running through the shield with their hands high in the air.

"I see you have a little tower problem," Phantom stated with his usual grin.

"No thanks to you," she spat back. She fired her trusty ecto-grenade launcher, and dodged as Phantom returned fire.

Phantom formed a duplicate, who shot an ecto-beam.

As she swerved away, she saw a bright green light from the corner of her eye.

With a jolt of alarm, she realized she was moving into the path of the other one's attack.

She kicked off from her board last-second to somersault over the beam. Her grenade launcher wasn't so lucky, the edge of the beam knocking it from her hand mid-flip and leaving a sting in her fingers.

She summoned up her shoulder-mounted missile-launchers. Mini-missiles streamed through the air as she completed her flip and called her board back to her. She stopped firing as she touched down, landing with her knees bent and one hand touching the board. Then she took stock of the current situation.

Phantom had backed off, his duplicate gone. But now he surged forward, slashing at her with four ecto-whips streaming from the fingers of his right hand, as she resumed firing her mini-missiles.

She jerked her board to the side to avoid the fall of the energy whips. Phantom waved his hand for another pass.

She and Phantom flitted around each other. She tried to keep her shoulder-mounts aimed in his general direction as she dodged, and he knocked missiles away with a small rectangular shield at his left hand. He was too focused on manipulating his whips to block all of the missiles, which would be to her advantage.

She pulled out an ecto-pistol to add something more precise to her shower of missiles.

Phantom dissipated his whips and shield, switching to a volley of partially-charged ecto-blasts for both offense and defense. Plus an occasional fully powered beam.

As their attacks collided, small explosions filled the air between them like a series of fireworks. She'd need to make sure the explosions didn't get too thick, or she would be shooting blind.

Valerie pulled out a second ecto-pistol to help combat the rapid-fire ecto-blasts, although it meant having a harder time keeping her balance. But then she realized a lot of Phantom's shots were going wide and didn't need much work to avoid.

That didn't mean she wouldn't attack him with all she had.

He was managing to intercept her accurate shots, but ignored a lot of the glancing blows. And he seemed all over the place with his offensive shots, apparently too overwhelmed by her missiles to take the time to aim, instead shooting out ecto-beams randomly. He was off his game today.

Rivlets of glowing ectoplasm stained his suit, physical proof he was wearing down.

She smirked. If she kept pushing, she might be able to end him today.

A faint beeping registered through the noise of the explosions.

Her watch.

She flipped her left ecto-gun into its holster and answered the call, continuing fire with her right arm. "What?" she snapped out, pulling the watch up to her ear. "I'm a little busy."

"Valerie!" her dad's voice said worriedly. "Phantom's bombardment is weakening the shield, you need to—!"

"What?!" Valerie shouted in surprise.

She switched off her missiles.

Around her, through the fading smoke, she could only see the ruins outside of Amity Park. Phantom must have gotten her turned around so that she was directly in front of the weak spot in the shield. He had been taking shots at the shield without her even noticing!

Phantom reacted to her shock by giving her a large, squinty-eyed grin. And shooting one last, huge, two-handed ecto-beam right at her. She swerved away just in time—and allowed him to make a direct hit at the shield.

Phantom dived through the momentary hole in the energy field before it closed.

---

This is part three of a little series. To see all the parts, look here: Phantom Remnants

#danny phantom #valerie gray #dan phantom #dark danny #action scene #the ultimate enemy #asj post #asj writing #phantom remnants fic #idea of the ghost shield being segmented. #In TUE Dan's wail made all the towers explode but he was going for the most dramatic powerful entrance. #and this would be before he's learned the ghostly wail. So not as much reason to show off. #...ghosts probably can't effect the shield that way. #it was probably only possible in TUE because sound waves aren't ectoplasmic in nature and can therefore go through the shield. #But well maybe it takes a lot of electricity to keep the shield stable and he's forcing it to use power it doesn't have? I don't know.