#i ordered a new one it should arrive around may 28th or later | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

robinofinashiro · 3 years

Text

request from anonymous: “hello! May i request for a levi fic where his female s/o sneaks out when he's asleep and sneaks in when he wakes up but he notices it. She seems like she's cheating and he gets hella angsty about it but when he thinks he's gonna catch her, it turns out she was planning an anniversary surprise with the help of their friends and he gets hella soft :> modern au or not depends on you hehe”

pairing: levi ackerman x fem! reader (modern au)

note: omg, i’m a fuckin dumbass and read that as birthday instead of anniversary. i hope it’s okay if that’s what i wrote instead.

request status: CLOSED

it had been going on for a few days now. you would sneak out of bed at random hours of the night, sometimes going to bed extremely late and not return back until almost the crack of dawn.

Levi hated to think and assume things but a gut feeling was starting to form. He tried to suppress it but his mind started racing whenever he would feel you leave the bedroom when you assumed he was asleep and not come back or when you would tell him you were going to hang with Hanji but he saw them not even a few hours later alone.

he confided in Erwin, hoping he would calm down what Levi was thinking but neither him or Hanji would try to deny it. they would just claim he was being a bit paranoid and he should have more faith in his wife.

Levi loved you. more than he ever thought he would love anyone else. you were there for him when his mother passed. when his two closest friends passed. you knew everything about him and you knew he NEVER confided this much of his past on anyone that wasn’t Hanji or Erwin.

you were one of the newest teachers at Scout Academy. you were the newest teacher in what felt like years. you were there to be the trainee’s newest commander and although the position had been vacant for a while now, when you arrived, it was kind of a shock to the entire academy.

you were sweet, soft spoken, and extremely friendly. you weren’t like Hanji who tended to scare people of with their rants about science. you sure weren’t Levi who just scared people in general, and as for Erwin, being that he was at the head of the chain of command, no one really sought out to be his friend.

you tended to make friends with everyone who ranked beneath the three. Moblit and Petra being your closest friends.

the day you unintentionally got close with Levi was one he wasn’t even expecting to happen. you had been dealing with a rowdy group of new trainee’s and weren’t able to calm them down for whatever reason that day. they weren’t just listening to you and every time you tried to reprimand them, they would go back to doing whatever they were doing.

“hey Levi?” you asked, knocking softly on his door. he heard your voice from the opposite side and welcomed you in, “I don’t mean to intrude on your work time but the 108th is acting extremely out of hand right now and won’t listen to what i’m saying. I would get Erwin but I don’t think it’s that bad.”

Levi shoved himself away from his desk and marched to where you were training the kids. upon his arrival, some realized that Levi walked in, however; others didn’t and continued their shenanigans.

Levi walked to the nearest rowdiest kid and flipped him to the ground, shoving his boot to his jacket so he wouldn’t get up.

“all of you going to be here, cleaning, training, and following mine and her orders until dinner starts and after that, you’ll be doing laps around the facility until it’s time head back to your bunkers.”

they were all shaking in fear as Levi screamed at them to get started on doing their training regiment. you stood on the side, instructing them on what they were doing wrong or what they could improve on.

he could see that although you were angry at your students, you couldn’t treat them the way Levi did. you saw the trainee’s almost as your kids and even though they reached your last nerve, you continuously praised them for getting something right.

Levi’s office was right next door to your training facility so he heard your commands now and again and he couldn’t help but wonder how you got to handle your trainee’s to listen to you so well without screaming at them sometimes.

“where did you come from before this?” Levi asked you suddenly. you smiled, taking a sip of your tea, “oh, I worked for the Military Police Brigade for six years prior to this,” he shuttered at your confession, “I worked right under Nile Dok as his second in command until he retired and put Hitch in charge. she changed my position to work in another section and I quit not even a few days after.”

Levi laughed at the disorganization that came from the Military Brigade. he knew that out of everyone, they were seen as the lowest of the three ranks so to hear that you came from the most prestige rank to work with them, he couldn’t help but want to rub salt in the Brigade’s wound.

“right.”

“and I must admit, the Scouts is a lot less than crazier than I thought it would be. everyone who found out of my position change told me that the Scouts wasn’t the job for me because of my prior experience with the military police but if I’m being honest, the Scouts is a lot less judgemental and I must say, less hectic.”

the lunch bell rang indicating that everyone was due on break for an hour. after you dismissed your trainee’s, you looked to Levi.

“would you like to have lunch with me? I brought more than enough from what I made last night!” you asked excitedly. Levi’s mind raced for a moment, “sure.”

he followed you to where your office was placed. it was in the second story office level where Petra’s and Moblit’s offices were. the highest floor was placed for only Erwin, Levi, and Hanji so he hardly made it down to where their assistants worked at.

Levi saw the few plaques that were hanging on your wall. they were all of your accomplishments from when you worked with the brigade. the shiny green unicorn made his scoff until he saw your photo. it was you holding the certificate from when you first got approved to work with the brigade as you dawned the brown jacket with your last name etched on it.

“I made beef stew! I hope you like it. I cooked the meat in a Instapot cooker all day and the meat turned out really soft and moist,” you explained as you poured copious amounts on a disposable bowl, “I was saving some for Moblit and Hanji but since you did help me out, I figured it would be my way of repaying you!”

you put the plate in front of him as the two of you sat on the small wood table. Levi unintentionally moaned making you spit out in laughter. your laugh caught the attention of Hanji and Moblit who were going to have lunch together to discuss a few things in his office.

“hey, Captain Levi is in Vice Captain ( your name )’s office!” Moblit explained as he saw you hyperactively talking to Levi. Hanji immediately turned around, basically rushing to the small window you had that.

they saw Levi’s ghost of a smile on his face as he just nodded to whatever you were talking about. Hanji’s eyes widened, knowing they were not going to be able to keep this to themselves.

Levi felt you get out of bed, getting quickly dressed in outwear before running out of the room and go into your car. he sighed, sitting at the edge of his bed, running his hand through his hair as he slipped on a shirt and grabbed the second set of keys for his car.

he wanted to follow you so he could finally get confirmation on his assumptions. a part of him didn’t want his suspicions to be true but Levi knew that if he didn’t get answers, he would explode on you.

your location on your phone was still on so it didn’t take an idiot to find you but when he finally saw your location, his heart dropped to his stomach. you were at Erwin’s second office across town.

that office was only used for extreme and dire situations. like when the Military Police and the Garrison Regiment had to gather together to handle something together.

were you cheating on him with Erwin? and using his second office as the place to have your escapades?

Levi’s heart felt like it was about to break as he saw Erwin’s car parked in the parking lot. your car was right next to his.

the brutal winter made the wind hit his face and feel like it was about to burn. he hated that you had to do all of this so you could have an affair with his boss, especially because the holiday season was literally about to approach and he had gotten you one of the most perfect gifts.

a promise ring.

Levi entered the building, heading into Erwin’s office to catch a recording of your cheating session so he could have solid proof when he finally confronted you about it.

as he opened his phone, he felt a stray tear roll down his face as he saw the photo of you two as his background. you were giving him an annoyingly happy kiss on the cheek as his face said that he was extremely annoyed at the situation, however; the smile that played said different.

Levi put his ear to the door, expecting some moans and whispers of each others names but what he heard was the complete opposite.

he heard Hanji screaming about something as you tried to quiet her down.

“Hanji, pay attention!” you yelled, “Levi’s birthday is on Christmas and since I don’t really feel like celebrating it on the 25th, I booked his venue for the 28th which is a Saturday night. I want everyone who works with us to attend but since it’s a surprise, Erwin you’re going to have to make sure to keep him occupied.”

Levi’s heart swelled hearing what you were saying. you weren’t cheating, you were planning his fucking birthday!

he kept hearing the plans until he realized that all of you could walk out at any minute and catch him. Levi quickly got into his car, rushing back home as he saw that your location said you were on the move.

Levi felt himself physically sigh in relief that all of his assumptions were wrong. a bit later, he felt the bed slump down as you got into bed and snuggled into his chest. your hands were still cold from the wind but he immediately brought you into his brace, feeling you melt in his arms.

maybe that promise ring had to be changed into something else.

#attack on titan #Attack on Titan Imagine #attack on titan x reader #aot #shingeki no kyojin #shingeki no kyojin imagine #shingeki no kyojin x reader #snk #levi ackerman #levi ackerman imagine #levi ackerman x reader #anime #anime imagines #anime imagine

242 notes · View notes

theotherjourney7 · 4 years

Text

“I was gonna leave The Week In Tory until Friday the 2nd October but at their current rate it'll be very long by then, and I'm worried about you, mate.

It's OK to get drunk on at 5pm on Monday the 28th of September, isn't it? Well, that's my recommendation anyway. Here goes...

1. In June UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said to Black Lives Matter protestors: “I hear you”, and acknowledged the “incontrovertible, undeniable feeling of injustice” that “we simply cannot ignore”

So obviously, 40 Tory MPs refused to take part in unconscious bias training

2. The government shut pubs an hour early, seemingly under the impression coronavirus (an inert, sub-microscopic infectious entity with no brain or nervous system) can tell the time.

The government demanded we all follow the rules

The government exempted House Of Commons bars from the rules

3. Health Minister Helen Whately said “people who get drunk and leave the pub to keep on partying should remember their responsibility for the nation’s health”

Helen Whateley, who is *actually* responsible for the nation’s health, was sober when she said this. Presumably

4. After 6 months of world-leading “throwing apps in the bin but taking the cash anyway”, the government finally proudly released an NHS Testing App

It didn't work with NHS tests

Or on 18% of phones

Or in Scotland or Northern Ireland

And a report said only 10% of the us will use it, cos we don’t trust Dominic Cummings with our data

Nor should we: the Data Commissioner said Cummings' proposed changes to privacy law will see the UK barred from sharing global data, and cost the UK economy "up to £80bn"

5. Meanwhile the promise of 500,000 tests per day won’t be reached because, in news that should shock nobody, the government failed to order enough raw materials

So the government stopped releasing evidence of how many are being tested, cos if you don't look at it, it isn't real

6. The government, which only weeks ago was demanding we go back to work or all get sacked, now demands we all stay at home

7. Them the government said the reason the UK had the worst Covid response AND worst economy in Europe is because we are “freedom-loving”

8. And then government freedom-lovingly banned schools from using any materials that criticised capitalism

Not content with this, they also banned schools discussing “victim narratives”, which is going to make it tough to maintain their national anti-bullying strategy

9. And then a leaked report said the government was planning to freedom-lovingly deploy the military on the streets

10. Meanwhile, the government announced only 24% of businesses have done any preparation for Brexit, and only 30% of cross-channel HGVs have the correct paperwork

11. The government finally admitted what they’d been told repeatedly since 2016, and said Brexit would create 2-day queues of 7000 lorries at Channel ports

7000 lorries (at the average 16.5m each) is 1155km. That’s a queue over 70 miles long. Every day.

To solve this, the government announced a new internal border in Kent, helpfully relocating 70 miles of queues to London, Essex, Surrey and East Sussex instead

A month ago, Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh was demanding we “take back” Calais. Now we’re essentially abandoning Kent.

Because we only had 4 years to plan for this, our lovely new border will start on 1 January and be controlled by software that – and you should probably open a second bottle around now - won’t be ready until at least 4 months later

Oh, and border checks won’t be ready in Northern Ireland either

But we might not have a problem anyway: it was revealed there are just 2000 EU haulage permits for our 40,000 UK hauliers. That’s 5% of what we need, for any Govt Ministers struggling with the maths

12. And we don’t even have enough pallets for the goods we import, cos we currently rely on a supply we share with the EU, and have neither the wood nor the treatment plants, nor the required chemicals to make and treat our own

So now the government has to make a 200m border, a mechanism for policing it, an internal passport system, software, admin, buy 38,000 permits and grow enough trees for 700,000 pallets. In 3 months.

It had 5 months to add up some A-Level results, and that went swimmingly

13. I’m sure supply-and-demand won’t force prices sky high, cos it never does when you have 5% of the food the nation needs and a govt which boasts about breaking the law, but it was also announced tariffs will add £3.1bn to the nation’s food bill in Jan 2021

14. As a mark of confidence, Jim Ratcliffe, Britain’s richest man and a leading Brexiteer, buggered off to Monaco

15. And an unnamed minister was quoted: “We are stuck in a bind. If we try to cancel Brexit we destroy ourselves; if we go ahead with it we destroy the country”

16. The London School of Economics reported the long-term cost of Brexit will be 2-3 times the cost of Covid

So Rishi Sunak cancelled the budget, cos once again, if you don’t look at it, it doesn’t exist

17. JPMorgan shifted £200 billion out of the UK and into Germany calling it “a result of Brexit”.

At least 22% of our entire national economy depends on international banks based in the City of London, so when the largest one fucks off, it's a relaxing development

18. Former Prime Minister Theresa May said the government’s bill to break international law is “reckless” and “risks the integrity of the United Kingdom”

19. The Attorney General, who takes an oath to parliament, the Queen and The Bar to observe the law, said she was “very proud” to be breaking the law

The UK is a signatory and legal guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to the island of Ireland after 3600 violent deaths. The Attorney General, who is sworn to maintain peace, says Brexit will break the GFA, and she is “extremely proud” of that too.

Turns out, the advisory Professor who told her she should go ahead and break the law and endanger peace in Ireland is the partner of Michael Gove’s special advisor. It’s amazing, these coincidences. Almost as if they don’t want to listen to anybody else

20. Speaking of which, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s old friend and unfailingly irrumating backer (google it) Charles Moore, who has spent his life demanding the end of the BBC, and said the BBC causes "human misery worthy of Dickens" (does he mean Mrs Brown's Boys?) is in line to run the BBC

And it was reported ex Daily Mail Editor Paul Dacre, who shouts c*unt so much his meetings are called “the vagina monologues”, and whose paper is banned as a Wiki reference cos it lies so often, is going to be put in charge of Ofcom: ensuring decent and honest broadcasting

Oh yeah, and Boris Johnson tweeted “a free press is vital in holding the government to account”, which is probably why the people holding his govt to account are being replaced with his mates and cheerleaders

21. Tory MP and successful conscience-donor Andrea Jenkins got paid £25k from a thinktank that doesn’t exist

22. And because no list is complete without a disturbing nocturnal visitation from the smirking angel of death, Home Office Secretary Priti Patel was accused of incitement to racial hatred

23. Whilst Patel, Jenkyns and the Attorney General were busy redefining “the party of Law and Order” the rest of the govt took a wild swing at “the party of fiscal responsibility”, when it was revealed the government has wasted £3,895,556,000 since March.

This includes unsafe testing kits; face masks that don’t work; broken tracing systems; useless antibody tests; cancelled ventilator challenge; and inexplicable contracts to sweet manufacturers and dormant companies with no employees, to provide PPE that never arrived!

24. The government, which insisted schools and universities reopened, said it was now vital to lock down students and prevent them from mixing in large groups

And then the government said it was sanctioning class sizes of up to 60 which ... remind me, is that more or fewer than 6?

25. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said “we’re giving up to 11,000 iPads to care homes to enable residents to connect with loved ones”

“Up to” is a bit telling, but even if it’s 11,000, there are 21,700 care homes in the UK. I guess they’ll just have to share. Goodbye forever, nana!

26. And finally, if you feel all alone in despairing at this: you aren’t. Belief in Britain as a “global force for good” has fallen 10% since 2019. I, for one, am shocked to the core....”-Russ

76 notes · View notes

greatworldwar2 · 4 years

Text

• Philippe Pétain

Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Pétain generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain, was a French general officer who attained the position of Marshal of France at the end of World War I, during which he became known as Le Lion de Verdun (The Lion of Verdun). In collaboration with Nazi Germany, he then served as the Chief of State of Vichy France from 1940 to 1944.

Pétain was born in Cauchy-à-la-Tour (in the Pas-de-Calais département in Northern France) in 1856. His great-uncle, a Catholic priest, Father Abbe Lefebvre (1771-1866), had served in Napoleon's Grande Armée and told the young Philippe tales of war and adventure of his campaigns from the peninsulas of Italy to the Alps in Switzerland. Highly impressed by the tales told by his uncle, his destiny was from then on determined by the army. After World War I Pétain married his former girlfriend, Eugénie Hardon (1877–1962), on September 14th, 1920; they remained married until the end of Pétain's life. Pétain joined the French Army in 1876 and attended the St Cyr Military Academy in 1887 and the École Supérieure de Guerre (army war college) in Paris. Between 1878 and 1899, he served in various garrisons with different battalions of the Chasseurs à pied, the elite light infantry of the French Army.

Pétain's career progressed slowly, as he rejected the French Army philosophy of the furious infantry assault, arguing instead that "firepower kills". His views were later proved to be correct during the First World War. He was promoted to captain in 1890 and major in 1900. Unlike many French officers, he served mainly in mainland France, never French Indochina or any of the African colonies, although he participated in the Rif campaign in Morocco. Pétain would never receive the rank of general as by the time of 1914 he was already nearing retirement age. Pétain led his brigade at the Battle of Guise. At the end of August 1914 he was quickly promoted to brigadier-general and given command of the 6th Division in time for the First Battle of the Marne. Pétain commanded the Second Army at the start of the Battle of Verdun in February 1916. During the battle, he was promoted to Commander of Army Group Centre, which contained a total of 52 divisions. Because of his high prestige as a soldier's soldier and success in combat, Pétain served briefly as Army Chief of Staff ,from the end of April 1917. After the war ended Pétain was made Marshal of France on November 21st, 1918.

Pétain ended the war regarded "without a doubt, the most accomplished defensive tactician of any army" and "one of France's greatest military heroes" and was presented with his baton of Marshal of France at a public ceremony at Metz by President Raymond Poincaré in December 1918. He was summoned to be present at the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28th, 1919. His job as Commander-in-Chief came to an end with peace and demobilisation. in January 1920, was appointed Vice-Chairman of the revived Conseil supérieur de la Guerre (Supreme War Council). This was France's highest military position. Shortly after the war, Pétain had placed before the government plans for a large tank and air force but "at the meeting of the Conseil supérieur de la Défense Nationale in March 1920 the Finance Minister, François-Marsal, announced that although Pétain's proposals were excellent they were unaffordable". In 1928 Pétain had supported the creation of an independent air force removed from the control of the army, and on February 9th,1931, following his retirement as Vice-Chairman of the Supreme War Council, he was appointed Inspector-General of Air Defence.

Political unease was sweeping the country, and on February 6th, 1934 the Paris police fired on a group of far-right rioters outside the Chamber of Deputies. Pétain was invited, on February 8th, to join the new French cabinet as Minister of War, which he only reluctantly accepted after many representations. He improved the recruitment programme for specialists, and lengthened the training period by reducing leave entitlements. Some argue that Pétain, as France's most senior soldier after Foch's death, should bear some responsibility for the poor state of French weaponry preparation before World War II. But Pétain was only one of many military and other men on a very large committee responsible for national defence, and interwar governments frequently cut military budgets. Pétain had been made, briefly, Minister of War in 1934. Yet his short period of total responsibility could not reverse 15 years of inactivity and constant cutbacks.

In March 1939 Pétain became the French ambassador to Spain. When World War II began in September, Pétain turned down an offer of a position in the French government. However on May 18th, 1940, after Germany invaded France, Pétain joined the new government of Paul Reynaud. Reynaud hoped that the hero of Verdun might instill a renewed spirit of resistance and patriotism in the French Army. On May 26th, the invading Germans pushed back the French Army. General Maxime Weygand expressed his fury at British retreats and the unfulfilled promise of British fighter aircraft. He and Pétain regarded the military situation as hopeless. On June 5th, following the fall of Dunkirk, there was a Cabinet reshuffle, and Prime Minister Reynaud brought the newly promoted Brigadier-General de Gaulle. On June 10th, 1940, the government left Paris for Tours. Weygand, the Commander -in -Chief, now declared that "the fighting had become meaningless". He, Baudouin, and several members of the government were already set on an armistice.

Upon learning of France's surrender, the British prime minister Churchill told the French they should consider "guerrilla warfare". Pétain then replied that it would mean the destruction of the country. On June 12th, after a second session of the conference, the cabinet met and Weygand again called for an armistice. He referred to the danger of military and civil disorder and the possibility of a Communist uprising in Paris. Pétain and Minister of Information Prouvost urged the cabinet to hear Weygand out because "he was the only one really to know what was happening". Pétain strongly supported Weygand’s demand for an armistice and read out a draft proposal to the cabinet where he spoke of "the need to stay in France, to prepare a national revival, and to share the sufferings of our people". The government moved to Bordeaux, where French governments had fled German invasions in 1870 and 1914, on June 14th. Parliament, both senate and chamber, were also at Bordeaux and immersed themselves in the armistice debate. Reynaud declared his resignation as Prime Minister on June 16th, and felt he had little choice but to appoint Pétain in his place.

A new Cabinet with Pétain as head of government was formed. General de Gaulle, no longer in the Cabinet, had arrived in London on the 17th and made a call for resistance from there, on the 18th, with no legal authority whatsoever from his government, a call that was heeded by comparatively few. Cabinet and Parliament still argued between themselves on the question of whether or not to retreat to North Africa. On June 22nd, France signed an armistice at Compiègne with Germany that gave Germany control over the north and west of the country, including Paris and all of the Atlantic coastline, but left the rest, around two-fifths of France's prewar territory, unoccupied. Paris remained the de jure capital. On June 29th, the French Government moved to Clermont-Ferrand. The Chamber of Deputies and Senate, meeting together as a "Congrès", held an emergency meeting on July 10th, to ratify the armistice. The new Vichy government immediately used its new powers to order harsh measures, including the dismissal of republican civil servants, the installation of exceptional jurisdictions, the proclamation of antisemitic laws, and the imprisonment of opponents and foreign refugees. Censorship was imposed, and freedom of expression and thought were effectively abolished with the reinstatement of the crime of "felony of opinion."

Pétain championed a rural, Catholic France that spurned internationalism. As a retired military commander, he ran the country on military lines. He and his government collaborated with Germany in the years after the armistice. Pétain's government was nevertheless internationally recognised, notably by the U.S., at least until the German occupation of the rest of France. Neither Pétain nor his successive deputies, Laval, Pierre-Étienne Flandin, or Admiral François Darlan, gave significant resistance to requests by the Germans to indirectly aid the Axis Powers. However, when Hitler met Pétain at Montoire in October 1940 to discuss the French government's role in the new European Order, the Marshal "listened to Hitler in silence. Not once did he offer a sympathetic word for Germany." French government became increasingly fearful of the British and took the initiative to collaborate with the occupiers. Pétain accepted the government's creation of a collaborationist armed militia (the Milice) under the command of Joseph Darnand, who, along with German forces, led a campaign of repression against the French resistance. Pétain's government acquiesced to the Axis forces demands for large supplies of manufactured goods and foodstuffs, and also ordered French troops in France's colonial empire (in Dakar, Syria, Madagascar, Oran and Morocco) to defend sovereign French territory against any aggressors, Allied or otherwise.

On November 11th, 1942, German forces invaded the unoccupied zone of Southern France in response to the Allies' Operation Torch landings in North Africa. Although the French government nominally remained in existence, civilian administration of almost all France being under it, Pétain became nothing more than a figurehead, as the Germans had negated the pretence of an "independent" government at Vichy. Pétain however remained popular and engaged in a series of visits around France as late as 1944. Following the liberation of France, in September 1944 Pétain and other members of the French cabinet at Vichy were relocated by the Germans to the Sigmaringen enclave in Germany, where they became a government-in-exile until April 1945. Pétain, however, having been forced to leave France, refused to participate in this government. On April 5th, 1945, Pétain wrote a note to Hitler expressing his wish to return to France. No reply ever came. However, on his birthday almost three weeks later, he was taken to the Swiss border. Two days later he crossed the French frontier.

The provisional government, headed by De Gaulle, placed Pétain on trial for treason, which took place from July to August 1945. Dressed in the uniform of a Marshal of France, Pétain remained silent through most of the proceedings. De Gaulle himself later criticised the trial, stating, "Too often, the discussions took on the appearance of a partisan trial, sometimes even a settling of accounts, when the whole affair should have been treated only from the standpoint of national defence and independence." De Gaulle himself later criticised the trial, stating, "Too often, the discussions took on the appearance of a partisan trial, sometimes even a settling of accounts, when the whole affair should have been treated only from the standpoint of national defence and independence." After his conviction, the Court stripped Pétain of all military ranks and honours save for the one distinction of Marshal of France. Over the following years Pétain's lawyers and many foreign governments and dignitaries, including Queen Mary and the Duke of Windsor, appealed to successive French governments for Pétain's release, but given the unstable state of Fourth Republic politics no government was willing to risk unpopularity by releasing him. Although Pétain had still been in good health for his age at the time of his imprisonment, by late 1947 his memory lapses were worsening and he was beginning to suffer from incontinence, sometimes soiling himself in front of visitors and sometimes no longer recognising his wife. By May, Pétain required constant nursing care, and he was often suffering from hallucinations, e.g. that he was commanding armies in battle, or that naked women were dancing around his room. By the end of 1949, Pétain was completely senile.

On June 8th, 1951 President Auriol, informed that Pétain had little longer to live, commuted his sentence to confinement in hospital. Pétain died in a private home in Port-Joinville on the Île d'Yeu on July 23rd, 1951, at the age of 95. His sometime protégé Charles de Gaulle later wrote that Pétain’s life was "successively banal, then glorious, then deplorable, but never mediocre".

#second world war #world war 2 #history #world war ii #french history #long post #political history #military history #vichy france #biography

14 notes · View notes

bechloeislegit · 4 years

Text

25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2019

DAY 9 - ANGEL AT THE AIRPORT

Prompt from FanFiction User RJRMovieFan: Chloe is excited to head home for Christmas but is bummed she won't have her favorite grumpy brunette. While waiting for her flight, she notes that Beca's flight has been canceled. [Full prompt at the end.]

Chloe entered the Beca's room in the Bellas House and smiled when she saw her best friend sitting on the bed with her laptop on her lap. She set her laptop bag on the floor and rushed over to the bed.

"Beca!" Chloe said excitedly. "I'm glad you're home."

"Hey, Beale," Beca said, laughing as Chloe threw herself on the bed next to Beca.

"Have you made your reservations for Christmas yet?" Chloe asked.

"I was just checking flights," Beca said.

Chloe sat up and positioned herself on the bed, so she was sitting next to Beca. She looked at Beca's computer screen.

"You're leaving on the twenty-third?"

"That's the plan," Beca responded.

"Wait," Chloe said, scrambling off the bed. "I'll check flights for me. Maybe we can get flights close together so we can travel to the airport together."

Beca chuckled. "And why do we need to do that?"

Chloe stopped to look at Beca, her eyes blinking as she stared at Beca.

After a moment, Beca started squirming under Chloe's stare. "What?"

"I want to spend as much time as I can with you, Beca," Chloe said as she finally grabbed her laptop and sat back on the bed. "I'm sad that you won't be going home with me."

"I'm coming back, Chlo," Beca said, shaking her head. "And I know you; you'll be texting and calling and probably Skyping me every day. It will be like I was there."

"It's not the same, and you know it," Chloe said. "Now, hush, and let me pull up the travel website."

Beca bit her cheek to keep from laughing at Chloe.

"Okay," Chloe said. "What time are the flights you're looking for?"

"I'm hoping to leave in the early afternoon," Beca said. "Maybe one or two. That way, I can be at my mom's in time for dinner."

"When are you coming back?" Chloe asked.

"I only have a few days off from the station, so I'll be coming back on December 28th."

Chloe typed on her computer and clicked on a few flights. "Oh, I can get a flight out at two on the twenty-third. What about you?"

"Um," Beca said, and she checked her computer. "The closet I can get is one-thirty."

"How about the return flight?" Chloe asked.

"I'd like to spend some time with my mom, so I think I'm going to check flights that get me back to New York around dinner time," Beca said. "Let's see...I can get a flight that arrives at six-fifteen."

Chloe checked return flights from Tampa. "Here's one that arrives at six-thirty! We should book them. That way, we can ride home together too."

"Okay, let's do it," Beca said.

Beca and Chloe both concentrated on their computers as they made their reservations.

"Done," they said in unison.

"I'm going to miss you, Beca," Chloe said.

"Take it easy, Chlo," Beca said. "We don't leave for three weeks. And we already have plans to celebrate with all the Bellas before everyone leaves."

"Oh, right," Chloe said sheepishly. "I almost forgot about everyone else."

Beca looked at Chloe, confusion written all over her face. Chloe Beale was not one to forget about anyone, especially during the holidays.

~ Day 9 of 2019's 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases ~

Three weeks later, Chloe was looking out the window, smiling as she watched the snow falling. She noticed Dr. Mitchell pull up in front of the house and walked over to the stairs.

"Beca, your dad's here," Chloe yelled up the steps.

"Coming," she heard Beca yell back.

Chloe opened the door as Dr. Mitchell reached the porch.

"Hi, Dr. Mitchell," Chloe said. "Beca will be right down. I can't believe it's snowing."

"Hello, Chloe," Dr. Mitchell said. "It's not supposed to amount to much. Although, it was a little slick driving over here."

"Will we be okay driving to the airport?" Chloe asked, looking out at the snow again.

"Oh, yes," Dr. Mitchell said. "The streets are clear for the most part. It's only the smaller side roads that are slick."

"Hey, dad," Beca said, coming down the stairs. "Thanks again for agreeing to drive us to the airport."

"My pleasure," Dr. Mitchell said. "We should probably get going. This snow will be freaking people out, and the airport is sure to be a madhouse."

Dr. Mitchell grabbed the two carryon suitcases, and Beca and Chloe carried their smaller bags. Once everything was loaded, Dr. Mitchell drove off.

It was a relatively quiet ride. Beca and her dad quietly conversing in the front while in the back, Chloe looked out the window watching the snow falling.

It took a little longer than usual, but they made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare. The snow had continued falling faster and heavier the closer they got.

"Are you going to be okay driving back in this?" Beca asked her dad as they retrieved their luggage.

"I'll be fine," Dr. Mitchell said. "Once I get out of Atlanta, it's not snowing as bad."

"Okay," Beca said. "Drive safe and text me when you make it home."

"I will," Dr. Mitchell said. He pulled Beca into a hug. "Have a good Christmas, Beca."

"Thanks, Dad," Beca said. "You, too."

"Chloe, may I give you a Christmas hug as well?" Dr. Mitchell asked.

"Absolutely," Chloe said and hugged the Professor.

"You two should get inside," Dr. Mitchell said.

"Thanks again, Dad," Beca said as she and Chloe made their way into the terminal.

~ Day 9 of 2019's 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases ~

Ninety minutes later, Beca and Chloe finally made it through security and were in line to grab a coffee before they found their gates. Beca's phone pinged, and she checked.

"My dad made it home okay," Beca said.

"That's good," Chloe said. "We should check the monitors to see if there is any information on delays and stuff."

"Good idea," Beca said.

They made it to the front of the coffee line and ordered their drinks. When they were ready, they took them in hand and made their way to check on their flights.

"Looks like we're still on schedule," Beca said, checking the departures board.

"Let's find a place to sit and drink our coffee," Chloe suggested. "We still have time before we need to get to our gates."

After finishing their coffee, Chloe hugged Beca and wished her a Merry Christmas. Beca hugged Chloe back and held on for an extra minute; she wasn't sure why.

The two parted and went to their gates. Chloe was able to find a seat and set her bag down. She pulled out the book she had been reading and settled back to read.

Someone bumped into Chloe's leg, causing her to look up. The seating area was crowded, and people were grumbling. She looked around and saw that the snow was still falling heavily, and everything was covered.

Chloe furrowed her brow and noticed a departure board with flights being canceled. She found Beca's and gasped; Beca's flight was canceled. Just then, her phone rang, and she pulled it out of her pocket.

"Hey, Becs," Chloe said, answering the call.

"My flight has been canceled," Beca said. "And the weather is too bad for my dad to come back to get me."

Chloe chewed her lip and noticed a commotion over at the counter of her gate. "Becs, stay where you are. I'll call you right back."

"Okay," Beca said and ended the call.

Chloe walked over to the counter to see what was happening.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please," the agent said, trying to calm people down. "This is the last flight that will be allowed to take off. It is full, and there are no available seats."

The crowd started yelling and pushing forward. Chloe stood to the side and debated on what to do. She noticed a soldier talking to one of the agents when he slumped his shoulders and ran a hand through his hair. A smile grew on Chloe's face as she walked over to the soldier.

"Excuse me," Chloe said. "Are you on this flight?"

"No," the soldier sighed. "I was hoping to get a seat since it's the last flight out, but I can't. I just wanted to be with my family at Christmas." The soldier was near tears as he added, "I haven't been home in over a year."

"Come with me," Chloe said as she walked toward the counter.

The soldier looked a little uncertain but followed after Chloe and stood slightly behind her as she got an agent's attention.

"Excuse me," Chloe said, waving at one of the agents.

The agent saw her and walked over to Chloe. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but we do not have any seats available on this flight."

"I know," Chloe said and pulled out her ticket. "I want to give up my seat for this soldier."

Tears came to the ticket agent's eyes. "Bless you!"

The soldier was shocked and speechless. Chloe turned to him and said, "Merry Christmas!"

"Thank you," the soldier said. He pulled Chloe into a hug.

"What's your name, soldier," the agent asked. "We're boarding, and I need to get your information into the system."

The soldier started speaking, and Chloe walked away with a big smile on her face. Chloe was going to call Beca but instead decided to walk to her gate and surprise her.

~ Day 9 of 2019's 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases ~

"Canceled flights suck, huh?"

Beca jumped slightly, not expecting anyone to be speaking to her.

"Chloe!" Beca squealed when she saw Chloe sitting next to her. "What are you doing here? Your flight is leaving, like right now."

"Meh," Chloe said, shrugging her shoulders. "I couldn't let my best friend spend the night in the airport alone, could I?"

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," Chloe said. "Besides, I gave up my ticket for a soldier so he could get home for Christmas."

Beca chuckled. "That is such a Chloe thing to do."

"Maybe," Chloe said. "Are you hungry? We haven't eaten since breakfast, so I'm kind of hungry."

"I could eat," Beca said. "I also have to call my mom and tell her my flight's been canceled."

"I have to call my folks, too," Chloe said. "Let's find a place to eat, and then we can call them."

"Lead the way," Beca said as she grabbed her suitcase.

Chloe and Beca started walking when an announcement was made over the intercom.

"Would passenger Chloe Beale please report to Gate 27," the voice said. "Chloe Beale, please report to Gate 27."

"What's that about?" Beca asked.

"I don't know," Chloe said. "But that's the gate I was supposed to leave from."

"Maybe they had a seat open up," Beca said. "And since you gave yours to the soldier, they want to give it to you."

"Let's find out," Chloe said.

The two made their way to Gate 27 and heard someone shout, "There she is. That's her."

Chloe's eyes widened. "Did I do something wrong?" she thought.

Beca and Chloe walked over to the ticket counter. "Hi, I'm Chloe Beale, and I was paged to this gate."

"Thank you for coming back, Ms. Beale," the agent said.

Chloe realized it was the same agent who took care of the soldier when she gave up her seat.

"Is everything okay?" Chloe asked.

"I told my manager what you did for that soldier, and we'd like to offer you a new ticket on the first available flight to Tampa if that's what you want. I've also been authorized to upgrade you to First Class at no charge."

"That's very generous of you," Chloe said.

"Take it, Chlo," Beca whispered. "It's First Class. When will you get the opportunity to fly First Class?"

"What about my friend?" Chloe asked the agent. "Can she get on a plane tomorrow as well? She's going to Portland, Maine."

"Don't worry about me, Chloe," Beca said. "If I can't get on a flight, I'll go to my dad's. If the weather is clear enough for planes to take off, it will be clear enough for him to come and get me."

"Are you sure, Becs?" Chloe asked. "I know your mom was looking forward to seeing you."

"It's fine, Chlo," Beca said. "Take the ticket upgrade and go home to see your family."

Chloe looked at Beca; Beca looked back at Chloe. "Okay," Chloe said. She turned to the ticket agent. "Thank you. I'll take the ticket."

"Great! We'd also like to invite you and your friend to enjoy the ATL Club, our treat," the agent said. "You can get something to eat or have a drink. All on us for the duration of your wait for a flight."

"Wow," Chloe said. "Thank you. We were just talking about finding something to eat."

"Here you go," the agent said, handing Chloe two cards. "Show these to the person at the door; they'll take good care of you. Now, may I have your number so we can text or call you as soon as a flight to Tampa is available? The weather is supposed to let up by morning, and you should get out as soon as tomorrow afternoon. If we call or text you, just come to the counter and show your ID. You'll receive your ticket then."

"Certainly," Chloe said and gave the agent her number. "Can you direct us to the ATL Club?"

"Yes, of course," the agent said. She then proceeded to tell Chloe how to get to the Club.

As they were walking, Beca was shaking her head. "Leave it to you to turn being snowed in at the airport to free meals and drinks, and a First Class ticket home."

"I keep telling you, Beca," Chloe said. "It doesn't hurt to be kind to others."

"You truly are an angel, Chlo," Beca said, causing Chloe to blush. Bea smirked and added, "A Christmas angel."

Chloe rolled her eyes, and Beca laughed.

~ Day 9 of 2019's 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases ~

Beca and Chloe ordered their food and decided to call their mothers while they waited. They both explained about the flight cancellations when their conversations made a sudden turn into territory neither of them wanted to go.

"I'm sorry, mom," Beca said into the phone. "We checked the weather reports, and everything north of us is pretty much snowed in. Even if Atlanta opened up, I wouldn't be able to get to you. I'll call dad and have him pick me up when the roads are clear enough to drive on."

"I understand, Beca," Sarah Mitchell said. "Will Chloe be able to get home?"

"Probably," Beca said. "Everything south of us is clear, and no snow expected."

"That's good," Sarah said. "You know, Beca, you should ask Chloe if you can go home with her. If the airline was so accommodating to Chloe, maybe they can find a flight the two of you can take to Tampa. And you could use the time to tell Chloe how you feel."

"Mom!" Beca whisper-yelled. "She's sitting across the table from me, and she's got that supersonic bat-like hearing."

"Tell her," Sarah said. "You'll regret it if you don't."

"I can't tell her," Beca said, giving Chloe a side-glance.

"Why not?"

"Because she's Chloe."

Chloe saw Beca looking at her and heard her name. She furrowed her brow and noticed Beca had turned her back to her as she whispered to her mother on the phone. She tried to hear what she was saying when her mother yelled in her ear.

"Chloe! Are you listening to me?" Charlotte Beale's voice brought Chloe's attention back to her phone.

"What? I'm sorry, mom," Chloe said. "What did you say?"

"I said, you should see if you can get Beca on your flight and bring her home with you," Charlotte said.

"She's going to call her dad and have him pick her up," Chloe said.

"Has she called him yet?"

"No."

"Then ask her if she wants to come here," Charlotte said. "We'd love to have her. And I know you'd love to have her, too."

"Mom, don't start," Chloe said.

"What?" Charlotte asked innocently. "I think since you guys will be spending all that time in the airport, you should tell her how you feel."

"I don't want to scare her off," Chloe whispered, turning her back to Beca.

"I don't think you will," Charlotte said.

"I can't tell her, mom."

"Why not?"

"Because she's Beca."

~ Day 9 of 2019's 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases ~

Beca and Chloe were quiet as they ate dinner.

"Um, my mom said hi," Beca said, breaking the silence.

"That's nice," Chloe said, obviously distracted.

"Are you okay?" Beca asked.

"What? Oh, sorry," Chloe said. "My mom was giving me a hard item about-. Um, giving me a hard time."

"Same with mine," Beca said.

"My mom thinks I should ask you to come to Tampa with me."

"My mom thinks I should go to Tampa with you."

Beca and Chloe spoke over top each other.

"What?" they said simultaneously.

Beca chuckled and held up her hand to stop Chloe from saying anything.

"My mom thinks I should go to Tampa with you," Beca repeated.

"Really?" Chloe asked. "My mom thinks you should come to Tampa with me."

The two girls laughed.

"My mom said they'd love to have you join us for Christmas," Chloe said.

"Are you done eating?" Beca asked, surprising Chloe.

"Um, yeah, I guess," Chloe said.

"Great," Beca said. "Let's go see if I can get on the same plane you're on."

"You really want to go to Tampa with me?"

"Yeah," Beca said.

"Then let's go see if we can get you on a plane to Tampa," Chloe said, standing and holding out her hand to Beca.

Beca smiled as she took Chloe's hand, and they hurried off to the ticket counter.

~ Day 9 of 2019's 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases ~

After some lengthy discussion, the ticket agent was able to get Beca and Chloe on the same flight to Tampa. It was late, and they were both tired. There was no place to go, so the two found a corner and sat down to wait.

Chloe put her head on Beca's shoulder. Beca smiled down at her and leaned her head against Chloe's.

"Thanks for staying behind to be with me," Beca said quietly.

"I couldn't not stay," Chloe said.

"Um, do you think when we get back to Barden, you might want to go out with me?"

Chloe sat up and looked at Beca. "You mean, on a date?"

"Um, yeah?" Beca said her cheeks reddening.

Chloe smiled and threw herself into Beca's arms. "I'd love to."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah!"

Beca pulled Chloe into another hug, holding her tight to her before pulling back. She smiled as she looked into Chloe's eyes, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Chloe's ear.

"Just kiss her already," an older lady said, causing Beca and Chloe to jump apart. "I swear love is wasted on the young."

Beca and Chloe both watched wide-eyed as the older woman walked away, shaking her head. They looked at each other and burst into laughter. They settled down, and Beca looked at Chloe again.

"I was raised to respect my elders," Beca said.

"Oh," Chloe said and then smiled. "Totes. Me, too."

"Well then," Beca said, leaning in as she looked down at Chloe's lips.

Chloe closed the distance and startled Beca when their lips crashed together. Beca put her hand behind Chloe's head and pulled her deeper into the kiss.

"Wow," Beca breathed out.

"Yeah," Chloe said, laughing as she laid her forehead against Beca's.

"This is going to be the best Christmas ever," Beca whispered.

"Yeah," Chloe whispered back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Full prompt from RJRMovieFan: Chloe is excited to head home for Christmas but is bummed she won't have her favorite grumpy brunette. While waiting for her flight, she notes that Beca's flight has been canceled. A weather front is shutting down the airport and Chloe's flight is the last scheduled to leave and is overbooked. She gives up her seat so a young soldier can have it, and goes and finds Beca, who is stuck in the airport. They can't get back to the Bellas house so they spend the night together in the airport.

#bechloe fanfiction #bechloe #beca mitchell #chloe beale

62 notes · View notes

killjoy-loveit · 5 years

Text

A Little Bit Like Clover

Request: Oh yay! May I please request a Rowoon/Seokwoo Barista!AU? One shot or scenario, Romance/Fluff, female reader, any POV where he falls for a a florist who works in a flower shop right across from his coffee shop. I don't really have a specific plot in mind other than that 😅 thank you! 💕

A/N: I would like to clarify that everything written in this story is complete fiction and isn’t to be taken as a true portrayal of reality. To the anon who requested this, I’m so sorry it took me so long :( I hope that the story lives up to your expectations!! Side note: I wrote this in a style similar to that of one I tried previously for another story, I personally like this style a bit so lmk what y’all think of it :)

Also this was proof-read by the absolutely wonderful 💚💚 @uwunnie 💚💚, whom I wish to thank for taking time out of her day to check over it for me!!

Word Count: 3,914

Genre: Fluff, overall v cute imo

May 3rd, 20XX

The nice old man, Mr. Jones, that owned the bookstore across the street decided to sell. He would always come in on Tuesday of every week to buy flowers for his wife’s grave- Tuesday’s had been their date nights he’d confided in you one day. Sometimes Mr. Jones would choose her favorite flowers, other times he’d tell you to make a pretty bouquet. You were sad to see him leave, but you knew it was inevitable. It was difficult for him to run the store on his own, especially with him going on in years. Now you just wondered who would become your new neighbor. Would they be nice? Would they change from a bookstore? The possibilities were numerous.

June 1st, 20XX

After almost a month the bookstore was successfully purchased. Still, you were unsure of who owned the space. You’d yet to see one individual frequenting the establishment, though it would be hard to pick them out anyways. There was always a gaggle of people moving about the old storefront nowadays, pulling out all of the old furniture and books. Clearly it wasn’t going to be a bookstore anymore. That small discovery made you a bit sad. You would miss going over there on your days off and finding new books to delve into.

July 15th, 20XX

Finally you met the new owner of the store across the street. He’d come in right as you were finishing up a bright bouquet that would be one of the samples for a party planner you worked with. You’d glanced up as the bell had rung, the typical customer service smile coming to your face. As he stepped up to the counter, you wiped your hands on the apron tied about your waist.

“Hi, welcome to Oopsy Daisy. How can I help you?” Your voice automatically switching into the chipper, vibrant tone you used to interact with customers. It must’ve shocked him, you thought, as you noticed his eyes widen a tad.

Nevertheless he smiled politely at you and extended his hand. “Hello, I’m Rowoon, I bought the store across the street from you.”

Surprised, you reached out your hand to shake his, mouth parted slightly. “Oh, wow. I was wondering who’d bought it- now I know.” You laughed lightly, then proceeded to introduce yourself.

“Well, I just wanted to come over and introduce myself. I’m not sure if you know, I changed the layout into that of a coffee shop, so if you ever decide to come check it out the first cup of coffee’s on the house!”

“I’ll make sure to stop by soon!”

July 16th, 20XX

You were up earlier than usual as orders had piled up, what with it being the midst of wedding season. Oopsy Daisy wouldn’t open to the general public for a few hours still, which would leave you plenty of time to make decent headway on the orders. But you would make no progress without having a cup of coffee first. And what better time to try out the new coffee place across the street than right now?

Despite the early hour, right about the time typical business people would be floundering for their first cup of coffee, the shop seemed relatively empty. Two or three customers were placed throughout the shop, two at separate tables sipping on their coffee and looking at laptops, the other sitting in a comfortable chair with a book in hand and a coffee set on a table beside them. The store didn’t seem to change too much, despite the switch to becoming a coffee shop. Bookshelves lined the small brick wall that separated the coffee counter from the seating area. Small tables and comfortable chairs were scattered throughout the area, giving it a cozy feel.

Walking up to the counter, you saw Rowoon standing behind it- pretty relaxed, a book in his hand. A mix of to-go cups and porcelain mugs caught your eye as you got closer, each one had the store name and logo printed on. The logo being a heart made of coffee beans around the shop’s name, which is succinctly called ‘Kinda In Love With Brew’. That made you smile.

“Your store’s name is cute.” You said after reaching the counter, pulling his focus away from the book in his hands.

“Oh, hey! I wasn’t sure when I’d see you again.” Rowoon grinned. “And thanks, I came up with it myself.”

“Really? I wouldn’t have guessed that.” Shifting on your feet, you fiddle with the zipper on your bag.

He just laughs, shaking his head. “A lot of people say that. Do I not seem like I could come up with a cute romantic name for my store?”

“No, it just seemed like a mild romantic sort of name and I guess I didn’t see you as that type. Clearly I was wrong and shouldn’t set out to find a job in profiling.” You joke lightly.

Rowoon sets his book down, leaning his forearms against the counter. “Now that we’ve adequately discussed my shop’s name, should we talk about yours? Or save that for another time?”

“Another time perhaps, I’m on a bit of a time crunch.”

With that said, you quickly order a drink of Rowoon’s recommendation. And once the drink is in hand, you make your way back across the street.

October 28th, 20XX

It’s been a couple of months since Rowoon opened ‘Kinda In Love With Brew’, and you’d met on many occasions. It had become a habit to pop across the street for a coffee when you knew you would be slammed with orders. And he’d taken to coming over and chatting whenever business was slow, leaving his store under the watch of one of his employees. Normally people got on your nerves, which is why you ran your store all by your lonesome- not one employee to help you out. But somehow Rowoon didn’t. You weren’t sure if he had some charm to him that made it harder to be annoyed by him, or if your personalities just meshed well together.

Either way it didn’t matter, you were well into becoming friends. Which is why it almost didn’t surprise you when he knocked on the door to your shop well past closing. After letting him in, you’d questioned his arrival.

“Well,” He replied, taking a deep breath. “I saw the light in your store still on and I wondered why you were still working. It’s almost one in the morning.”

Glancing over at the clock on the wall to confirm his words, your jaw dropped slightly. “I didn’t even realize… I just got carried away, I guess.”

Rowoon raised an eyebrow at you. “Carried away or frantically trying to finish an order before the pickup time?”

You smiled sheepishly at him. “Maybe it was more frantic than being carried away.”

“I just don’t understand why you refuse to hire some help around here.” He sighs, looking intently at you. “You’re practically running on fumes at this point. If you keep this up then you’ll have to start turning away customers.”

“I get annoyed by people easily, especially if I have to explain things multiple times. It just wouldn’t work if I tried to hire someone to help me. The cons would outweigh the benefits.” You mutter, picking at your apron awkwardly.

“I don’t think they would if you found the right person.” Rowoon chided. “But right now what you need is sleep. Go home, get a good rest and finish the order later.”

You shook your head quickly. “I can’t. They’re picking up the bouquets at nine and I haven’t even finished half of them yet.”

“Let me help you then.”

At first you’d been hesitant to let him assist in the bouquet making, but he’d actually done a good job. It turns out that he catches on rather quickly, so after observing you make two arrangements he was able to start making them on his own. It was nice having someone next to you, working in harmony, conversation flowing naturally. This wasn’t something you’d experienced before, and you found that you enjoyed it. Not to mention you actually finished a lot faster than you would have on your own. Hours faster. Once all of the arrangements were finished though, before Rowoon could leave, you promised to repay the favor or at the very least treat him to a meal when he was free.

November 14th, 20XX

It was about five o’clock in the evening when Rowoon rushed into your store, completely frazzled and unkempt. Luckily there was no one inside your shop at the moment, though this was because you were technically closed to the public. The asters you were holding falling to the counter in shock. Never had you seen him appear in such a state, he was typically calm albeit a little goofy. Yet here he was, standing before you, out of breath, with panic written all over his features.

“What’s wrong?” You moved out from behind the counter to where he stood at the entrance, hand smoothing down his back in an attempt to calm him down.

Rowoon gulped in a deep breath. “There’s- there’s a lady in the store, and we already called the ambulance, but I don’t know what to do! How am I supposed to help her? I can’t-.”

You cut him off, worry seeping into your veins and activating your brain. “What happened for you to call the ambulance? Was she injured? Did she slip and fall? Is she bleeding?”

At each of your questions after the first he shook his head quickly. “She went into labor!”

Eyes wide, you stared at him, mouth agape. “And you just left her there? What’s wrong with you?” You smacked his shoulder lightly before rushing out of your store to his.

Sure enough, once you got inside you saw an obviously pregnant woman, sitting on a chair breathing heavily. A man was standing beside her, appearing very panicked, holding a phone talking to a person you believed to be an emergency operator. Only a few other people, all coincidentally men, were in the store, but each one of them appeared nervous and anxious on behalf of the lady who had just gone into labor. All of this energy couldn’t be good for her. The lady in question, looked scared, and all of the people around her weren’t calm either- which was helping nothing.

Hearing the door close behind you, you determined that Rowoon had followed you. “Go get wet a cloth with cool water, wring it out and bring it to me.” You stated without looking at him, but he quickly followed your orders and moved past you.

Without hesitation you raised your voice to address the people in the coffee shop. “Everyone who is not with the woman in labor, please leave! I understand that you came here for a coffee fix, but right now might not be the best time.”

As the other customers departed, you were left alone in the store with three other people: Rowoon, the lady in labor, and the guy standing next to her. As you approached, her gaze was flickered between you and the guy next to her.

“Hey,” Voice calm, you pulled a chair up beside her and sat down. “What’s your name?”

“V-Vee.” She hissed out, teeth gritting in pain.

You worked on keeping your voice as calm and soothing as possible as you conversed with her, trying to help ease some of the nerves. Rowoon had appeared with the cloth in the midst of your conversation, which you’d handed to the guy standing next to her, telling him to help keep her cool. Overhearing the emergency operator state that the ambulance was still a little far out, Vee became panicked. She was blubbering about how she didn’t want to have her baby in a coffee shop, she wanted to have it in the hospital after getting an epidural, how she wasn’t ready yet.

“Breathe,” You reminded her, while you tried to come up with some words that might help. “The ambulance is coming, and soon enough you’ll be able to get to the hospital.” You locked eyes with her. “You can do this. Just think, in a matter of hours you’ll be holding your little one. Isn’t that amazing?”

She nodded slowly, muttering under her breath. “I can do this.”

It wasn’t long after this that the ambulance arrived, sweeping her and the man with her away. Which just left you and Rowoon in the store. Of the two, you were clearly the one with the level-head currently, as it appeared that he was mentally checked out at the moment. After guiding him to a seat and getting him a glass of water, you flipped the sign on his door to say ‘closed’. Then you began cleaning up spilled drinks, most likely occurring from witnessing a woman go into labor. Cleaning the spilled drinks didn’t take too long, thus you continue cleaning the rest of the store as you’d seen Rowoon do many a time through the wide windows of his cafe.

Even after you finished cleaning, Rowoon still seemed to be in a state of shock at what had just happened. So, you did the only thing you could think of- you took his store keys from him, shut off all the lights, dragged him outside and locked up.

“Come on,” You murmured, hand wrapped around his wrist. “I’m going to make you a cup of chamomile tea.”

Making your way across the street, you led him into your store, which you locked after entering, and up the stairs in the back to your apartment. Minutes later Rowoon was sitting on your couch, a steaming mug of tea in his hands. You were starting to get a little worried, as he’d yet to say a single word.

Sitting down beside him, you looked at him with concern. “Are you okay?”

He turned to look at you, the glaze that had previously taken over his eyes dissipating. “I think so,” Rowoon breathed out softly, taking a sip of tea. “I wasn’t expecting anything like that to happen in my store.”

Laughing quietly, you patted his arm. “I don’t think most people expect a woman to go into labor in their place of work, unless you’re at a hospital that is.”

Cracking a joke, it seems, was the right move. Rowoon was able to relax a bit more as your conversation went on. Stories were exchanged of the wildest things to happen in your stores, though you were pretty sure he won, what with what happened tonight. He expressed how amazed he was at your ability to keep calm in such a situation, praising how you’d even helped to calm the soon-to-be mother. That night, Rowoon stayed over- the two of you falling asleep on the couch with a worn-out blanket covering your legs, an old rerun playing in the background, his mug of tea sitting empty on the coffee table.

December 22nd, 20XX

Snow gently floated to the ground, setting the perfect atmosphere for the holidays. Normally it didn’t snow in this area until January, so it was exciting to see it appear before the new year. However, the snow did nothing to calm your nerves as you built the courage to go to the holiday party currently taking place in Rowoon’s cafe. Through the window you could see the crowd of people smiling and laughing, even managing to hear snippets of the music playing inside each time a new person went inside.

Wringing your hands, you finally resolved to pull yourself together and walk across the street. It couldn’t be that hard to step into a building you’d been in numerous times before, could it? Rowoon had invited you, said he was looking forward to seeing you there- you couldn’t just not go. With a particularly deep breath as your fuel, you stepped out of your store and quickly crossed the street after checking the road was clear. You hadn’t been in front of the door to the cafe for more than a second before it was opened by Rowoon himself, a bright smile on his face as he pulled you inside.

“I’m so glad you came!” His eyes crinkled at the edges. “Do you want some cider? Or hot chocolate? I also have eggnog, a few different wines and ales, or water, if you prefer.”

“So many options,” At your words, a dusting of color rose to Rowoon’s cheeks. “But I’ll have to go with the first one, cider.”

His hand remained wrapped around your wrist as he led you through the party, weaving around multiple groups of people, smiling and greeting them as he went. Rowoon only letting go of you to pour a cup of warm cider, which he handed to you with a grin. Shortly after, the two of you fell into a comfortable silence, observing the party-goers together. That is until someone came up, pulling Rowoon away for some reason you couldn’t quite catch. Rowoon had seemed reluctant to go, glancing back at you as he was led somewhere else.

As you didn’t really know any of the people at this party, you kept your place beside the refreshment table. Time passed by rather slowly as you watched everyone socialize, Rowoon having disappeared somewhere among them. Despite his tall stature you couldn’t manage to pick him out in the crowd. Heaving a sigh, you continued to sip at your drink, wondering how long you should stay. With the amount of people in the cafe, if no one stayed around to help Rowoon clean up, he’d probably be here hours afterward. Since he’d helped you on multiple occasions before, the desire was there to help him in return.

Although maybe it wasn’t just that you wanted to help him. Rather, maybe you just wanted to be alone with him. Your mind flitted back to the week prior, when Rowoon had invited you to the party.

He’d walked into your store, head bent slightly, teeth denting his lower lip, and almost walked right into a display of primrose and snowdrops. If you hadn’t moved fast enough he would have bulldozed right into that display, one that had taken you a bit of time to get just right. You had run right over to him, grabbing his wrist and jerking him away at the last second. Rowoon had looked up then, shocked as he stumbled and had to keep himself from toppling over.

“I’m sorry,” You’d apologized breathlessly. “I just spent so long on that display and you were about to walk right into it.”

Rowoon glanced back at where he’d just been, eyes widening a fraction. “No, I’m sorry I should’ve been paying attention. I was too lost in my thoughts.” He offered a sheepish smile.

Eyebrows raised, you cocked your head to the side. “What were you thinking about so deeply you forgot to pay attention to your surroundings?”

“Oh, I was thinking…” He paused for a minute, eyes flickering to the ceiling. “Of the holiday party I’m having next week. Would you be able to come?”

At first you’d been a bit hesitant, mainly because you were aware there’d most likely be a lot of people you didn’t know at the party. But Rowoon had managed to convince you to come. Besides, it was much too difficult to say no when he looked at you with hopeful eyes.

Hours passed by- hours you didn’t note because at one point you’d left the safety of the refreshment table to find Rowoon. Instead of finding him, though, you’d managed to find an old book of poetry half-hidden on a bookshelf. This book had kept you entranced as the party continued and as it eventually wound down.

“Enjoying yourself?”

You glanced up from the book to see Rowoon standing next to you, and the rest of the cafe empty. “Is the party over?”

He nodded, a tired smile overtaking his face as he sat next to you. “Yeah. Sorry I left you alone the whole time you were here. I kept trying to come and find you, but I kept getting pulled about by other people. Being a party host is exhausting.” Rowoon finished with a sigh, elbows coming up to rest on the table as he set his head in his hands.

“It’s fine,” You murmured, setting the book down on the table. “I managed to keep myself occupied.” Silence permeated the air between you for a minute before you stood up. “Do you need help cleaning up?”

“What? Oh no, you don’t need to help clean up.”

“But nobody else stayed behind to help. You shouldn’t have to clean this all by yourself, look at the mess!” You gestured at his cafe, which had empty paper cups and plates strewn about and streamers hanging loosely on the walls.

He stood up, taking in the state of his cafe, lips pursed. “You’re right, it will be hard to clean on my own.”

You waggled your eyebrows at him. “Of course I’m right! Now come on, let’s get to cleaning.”

Before you could walk away to find a dustpan and broom Rowoon’s hand grasped your wrist, stopping you in your tracks. “Wait, I… I need to tell you something first.”

Turning back to face him, head tilted, eyes focused on him. “What is it?”

He blinked rapidly, mouth opening and closing a few times before he blurted out a sentence so jumbled you couldn’t properly understand him. You had to ask him to repeat himself, which he did, but he was so quiet you couldn’t hear him.

Finally, after you couldn’t take the anxiousness anymore, you propped your hand on your hip. “Rowoon, please, will you just say whatever it is? It can’t be that difficult to say.”

“I’m so happy that I bought this place, and that I was able to meet you because of it. I don’t want to ruin our friendship if you don’t feel the same way as I do, but I need to tell you that I don’t want to be friends with you- I want to be more than that.”

You watched as he bit his lip, his eyes flitted nervously around the room as he awaited your response. “You want to be more than friends?” He nodded swiftly. “Are you saying you have feelings for me?” He nodded once more. A smile broke out onto your face, one that he hadn’t caught yet because he was avoiding looking at you. “Hmm, well, I guess we can’t be friends anymore.”

Rowoon’s eyes jerked to you, going wide, mouth parted slightly. “Huh?”

You stared at him innocently. “Does this automatically mean we’re a couple, or do we need to go on a date first?”

He sighed, relieved. “You really drew that out.”

Most people tended to grate your nerves. Most people made you want to whack your head against a door repeatedly. Most people were capable of making you wish for a solitary life. Most people felt like weeds, popping up at the most inconvenient of times. However, Rowoon wasn’t like most people. If he were compared to a weed, he wouldn’t be the kind that covers any and everything like Kudzu, rather he’d be the kind that helps a garden thrive, like Clover. In this way, it’s safe to say that he grew on you unexpectedly.

#sf9 #rowoon #sf9 scenarios #sf9 fanfic #sf9 rowoon #sf9 seokwoo #sf9 rowoon scenarios #sf9 seokwoo scenarios #sf9 rowoon fanfic #sf9 seokwoo fanfic

33 notes · View notes

chanoyu-to-wa · 4 years

Text

Nampō Roku, Book 5 (35): the Display of a Meibutsu Temmoku. (However, Displaying the Yakushi-dō [藥師堂]¹ in this Way has been Suppressed).

35) Meibutsu temmoku kazari nari・Yakushi-dō kaku no gotoki kaburi-kazari nari [名物天目飾也・藥師堂如此被飾也]².

[The writing reads: meibutsu temmoku (名物天目); natsume (ナツメ); jo-jō (如常)³.]

The kaki-ire [書入]⁴:

〇 Because this is a meibutsu temmoku, it should be very carefully displayed on its kane⁵. Nevertheless, even though the tea container is a natsume, because the guests are coming this day to drink the tea [that it contains], in order to show appreciation for the tea, [the natsume] should overlap the center by one-third⁶.

The temmoku should adhere closely to its kane⁷.

[Everything should be done] as is shown, with [exceptional care taken] to each detail when arranging the things [on the ten-ita]⁸.

_________________________

¹The Yakushi-dō temmoku [藥師堂天目] was a Japanese-made white glazed temmoku-chawan, created for Jōō by one of the potters working at the Seto kilns. This was one of several such bowls that were all produced at the same time*.

After Jōō’s death, the chawan subsequently known as the Yakushi-dō temmoku came into the possession of the Yaku-in Zensō [施藥院全宗; 1525 ~ 1599]†, originally a monk from Ei-san [叡山] (now known as Hiei-san [比叡山], one of the peaks in the mountain range east of the city between Kyōto and Ōtsu). Apparently on account of his skill in healing, he returned to society (at least to a certain extent -- though he did not forsake his tonsure), and eventually rose to become one of Hideyoshi’s personal attendants. From him this chawan was passed on to Hideyoshi‡.

This temmoku-chawan appears on two occasions in the kaiki that constitutes Book Two of the Nampō Roku**, resting on the Hotta-dai [堀田臺] (which apparently was one of the black lacquered Chinese temmoku-dai known collectively as the kazu-no-dai [數の臺]):

- on the occasion of the first snowfall of the season, when Rikyū served tea to Hideyoshi, Shōrei oshō, Hosokawa Yūsai, and Nambō Sōkei, at dawn (12th day of the Eleventh Month of Tenshō 14 -- December 22, 1586); and,

- on the first day of the First Month of Tenshō 15 (when Rikyū made tea by himself to celebrate the arrival of the New Year, without any guests being present).

This temmoku-chawan is also mentioned several times in other kaiki from the period.

As for why this usage was suppressed, Tanaka Senshō states (I will summarize his words, since his argument is too long and involved to quote in full here): because the Yakushi-dō temmoku was such a peerless bowl†† (the Yamanoue Sōji Ki [山上宗二記] lists it among the three best temmoku‡‡, in its inventory of the famous meibutsu of the second half of the sixteenth century), it would be disrespectful to display it anywhere else but on the central kane. Thus, this arrangement should not be used***.

Be that as it may, the title of this entry shows that the titles -- and probably most of the other things that are written on the sketches -- were added (or at least modified) after Rikyū's death (since his review of this collection of drawings should be dated to 1573 -- the occasion of the first contact between Nambō Sōkei and Rikyū). ___________ *Some sources claim that the bowl shown in the photo is the Yakushi-dō temmoku, while others state that it is one of the other white temmoku that were produced at the same time (while the Yakushi-dō was subsequently lost). The Rikyū Daijiten [利休大事典] quotes the name for the bowl in the photo as Yaku-in [藥院], based on the text of one of Rikyū’s letters (though in his kaiki, Rikyū clearly uses the name Yakushi-dō, suggesting that they may have been different chawan). The several bowls are said to have been virtually identical.

†Yakushi-dō [藥師堂] means a prayer hall (or private oratory) in which an image of the “Buddha of Healing,” Yakushi nyorai [藥師如來] (Bhaiṣajyaguru, भैषज्यगुरु) was enshrined. As Yaku-in Zensō was a monk-physician (indeed, he rose to the post of Hideyoshi’s personal physician), it is likely that this epithet can be associated with him -- since it is probable that he had such a shrine erected within his residence.

Zensō probably used this chawan when offering tea to the image of Yakushi nyorai.

‡Perhaps around the middle of the 1580s. Rikyū first mentions the use of this temmoku (when serving tea to Hideyoshi’s guests), in his own kaiki, in 1586.

On the other hand, other accounts state that this bowl passed from Jōō to Hideyoshi (which is unlikely, since Jōō died in 1555, at which time Hideyoshi was a relatively obscure follower of Nobunaga), and then from Hideyoshi to Hidetsugu, and finally to Yakuin Zensō. This denrai [傳來] would not be able to account for the origin of the name Yakushi-dō, however, since the name was being used at least as early as 1586.

It is also possible that Zensō presented this bowl to Hideyoshi, who then returned it to Zensō a decade later (perhaps because the memory of its association with Hidetsugu was offensive to Hideyoshi).

**In the kaiki that was published as Book Six of the Rikyū Chanoyu Sho [利休茶湯書] (1680 -- it was the publication of this collection that sent Tachibana Jitsuzan to the Nanshū-ji, with his request to inspect the documents preserved in the Shū-un-an for himself) -- which covers the period from the autumn of Tenshō 18 (1590) until his death on the 28th day of the Second Month (technically the third month of that year, since Tenshō 19 had two First Months), Rikyū records that he used the Yakushi-dō temmoku during 14 gatherings -- including when he entertained Hideyoshi. This would suggest that this temmoku was closely associated with Rikyū by his contemporaries (at least during this period).

††Tanaka uses the term kakure-naki no meibutsu [隠れなきの名物], which means a meibutsu that is recognized (hence “not hidden,” which is literally what kakure-naki [隠れなき] means) by everyone.

As for what happened to this chawan after Rikyu’s seppuku, the surviving records are unclear. It would probably have been returned to Hideyoshi's collection, of course, but there is no mention of it thereafter. Perhaps it was destroyed during the conflict between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa families at the beginning of the Edo period -- or, perhaps, Hideyoshi returned it to Yaku-in Zensō.

‡‡According to Sōji, “with respect to the temmoku, the temmoku owned by Jōō is one, and the white temmoku is one; among the best three [temmoku] in the world, the Lord Kanpaku [Hideyoshi] has two of them, while the Insetsu no temmoku is owned by the Abura-ya [family] of Sakai” (temmoku no koto Jōō-shoji no temmoku no hito[tsu], haku-temmoku hito[tsu], ten-ka mi[tsu no] uchi futa[tsu] Kanpaku-sama [ni] ari , Insetsu [no] temmoku Sakai Aburaya [ni] ari [天目之事　紹鷗所持之一、白天目一、天下三内二關白樣在、引拙天目堺油屋あり]).

The “Jōō-shoji no temmoku” mentioned by Sōji is identified with the white temmoku shown in the photo by the Tokugawa Bijutsu-kan [徳川美術館] (which, in turn, suggests that both of the bowls owned by Hideyoshi that are mentioned by Sōji were white temmoku). The Tokugawa Bijutsu-kan, in Nagoya, preserves the Tokugawa shōgunate’s collection.

***It is even possible that this sentence was added to the title during the early Edo period, after this chawan came into the possession of the Tokugawa family (assuming that the bowl that is owned by them can be identified with the Yakushi-dō temmoku) -- in order to protect one of their great treasures from the “mundane” usage that this entry prescribes for “ordinary” meibutsu temmoku.

²Meibutsu temmoku kazari nari・Yakushi-dō kaku no gotoki kaburi-kazari nari [名物天目飾也・藥師堂如此被飾也].

“The display of a meibutsu-temmoku. This arrangement has been suppressed for the Yakushi-dō [temmoku].”

³Jo-jō [如常].

“As usual.”

Referring to the utensils arranged on the ji-ita of the daisu.

⁴The Japanese text of the kaki-ire reads:

〇 Meibutsu temmoku yue, kane yoku kazaru to ie-do mo, cha ha iremono-koso natsume nare-do mo, cha ha kyō kyaku-kuru no shōgan nare yue, chū-ō no san-bun kakari, temmoku ha suri-gane nari, kaku no gotoki komayaka-naru mori-tsuke nari

[名物天目ユヘ、カネヨクカサルトイヘトモ、茶ハ入物コソナツメナレトモ、茶ハ今日客來ノ賞玩ナレユヘ、中央の三步カヽリ、天目ハスリカネナリ、如此コマヤカナルモリツケ也].

⁵Meibutsu temmoku yue, kane yoku kazaru to ie-do mo [名物天目ユヘ、カネヨクカサルトイヘトモ].

“Because this is a meibutsu-temmoku, even though we may say that it should be carefully displayed on its kane....”

The expression to ie-do mo [と言えども] means “be that as it may,” or “having said that.” It is intended to introduce an element of doubt (because the temmoku is not displayed on the central kane -- which might strike the reader as difficult to understand).

⁶Cha ha iremono-koso natsume nare-do mo, cha ha kyō kyaku-kuru no shōgan nare yue, chū-ō no san-bun kakari [茶ハ入物コソナツメナレトモ、茶ハ今日客來ノ賞玩ナレユヘ、中央の三步カヽリ].

“Because it is the container for the tea, even if it is a natsume, and because it is the tea that today’s guests are coming to appreciate, [the natsume] should overlap the center by one-third.”

Cha ha iremono-koso [茶は入物こそ] means “because it is the container for the tea....”

Natsume nare-do mo [ナツメ成れども] means “even though it is a natsume.” In other words, even though the tea container is only a natsume....

Cha ha kyō kyaku-kuru no shōgan nare yue [茶は今日客来るの賞玩なれゆえ] means “because the tea is the thing that today’s guests have come to appreciate....”

⁷Temmoku ha suri-gane nari [天目ハスリカネナリ].

“The temmoku should press tightly against its kane.”

Suri-gane [ 摺り矩; 摺り曲尺] is equivalent to the expression mine-suri [峰摺り] that is used more commonly, in instances such as this, in the Nampō Roku.

As has been mentioned before, this is one of a group of machi-shū arrangements that appear to have been added to the collection in the early Edo period, and so the usages conform with the conventions prevalent at that point in history.

⁸Kaku no gotoki komayaka-naru mori-tsuke nari [如此コマヤカナルモリツケ也].

“Just like this, [paying] close attention to the details, [the utensils] should be arranged on [the ten-ita].”

Komayaka-naru [細かなる] means to become small, fine, detailed. In other words, to attend to the details (of the way the things are arranged) carefully.

Mori-tsuke [盛付け] means the way things are arranged -- though it is more commonly used to refer to the way food is arranged on a serving dish, than to utensils on the daisu. (Though this is consistent with Edo period linguistic conventions.)

——————————————–———-—————————————————

◎ Analysis of the Arrangement.

This is the arrangement, as depicted in the sketch that accompanies this entry. It is unclear -- assuming that the objects arranged on the ji-ita are truly “as usual” (meaning the ordinary nanatsu-kazari [七ツ飾] that is shown above) why the habōki should be placed on its kane, since this gives a count of 3 for the ji-ita and 3 for the ten-ita, totaling 6 for the daisu, which is chō [調]. The only thing that can be said is that this is a machi-shū derived temae, which may suggest a certain degree of uncertainty regarding the concept of kane-wari.

Shibayama Fugen’s teihon [底本], however, shows the habōki disassociated from the kane (below), which would result in the preferred count of han [半] for the daisu, which is appropriate for the beginning of the goza during the daytime.

In general, the editor of Shibayama Fugen’s source seems to have made an effort to correct mistakes that crept into Tachibana Jitsuzan’s material (many of which seem to have been due to his attempting to copy things as quickly as possible, with errors sometimes amplified when he interpreted his original, rough sketches, as he was preparing the manuscript that he was planning to present to the Enkaku-ji). We must, of course, remember that this later version was made after intensive discussions had clarified points that Jitsuzan may not have been aware of earlier.

As for the matter of this arrangement being suppressed when a temmoku of the highest rank is being used, at least part of the confusion seems to be based on interpreting things through the modern orientation (which, of course, was the usual way the room was arranged since the beginning of the Edo period), where the guests are seated on the host’s right. We must always keep in mind that in Jōō’s day (and, of course, before), the orientation of the room used for chanoyu mirrored the way that the daisu is arranged before the altar of a Buddhist temple: the daisu was set up in front of the statue of Yakushi nyorai (since the medicine tea, and so chanoyu, are under his protection), who is traditionally located on the Buddha’s left. Thus, the guests (like the image of the Buddha in the temple) were originally supposed to be on the host’s left side.

In the previous entry, a meibutsu chawan (the Shukō-chawan [珠光茶碗]) was oriented on the central kane, while the chaire was placed on the first kane to its right. Here, the natsume is placed on the central kane, while the meibutsu temmoku is arranged as a mine-suri on the first kane to its right. The central kane is, of course, a respected position. But the kane to its right is, in a sense, an even more respected position -- because the object displayed in association with that kane is even farther removed from the part of the room where the guests are seated (in the original orientation), and so even more protected (at the very least, from the dust which the guests may inadvertently stir up as they move around). It is only when the orientation was reversed, at the insistence of Hideyoshi, that now the meibutsu temmoku appears to be closer to the guests when displayed on that kane.

Earlier in Book Five, an ordinary dai-temmoku was displayed on the first kane to the left of the central one, at least when tea would be served to a member of the host’s house, and then the nagabon was moved toward the right, so that the ordinary temmoku was now on the central kane when tea would be served to a guest from a different house. Here, a meibutsu temmoku is moved one kane farther toward the right -- which, in light of the previous arrangements, should be considered the more respected position. And as for the natsume, here the host is charged with balancing the inferiority of the tea container with the importance of the tea it contains (since there is no chanoyu without the tea!).

As has been said before, most of the difficulties regarding the interpretation of the Nampō Roku occur when we try to impose modern conventions on these arrangements from the distant past.

1 note · View note

mahoushi-cos · 3 years

Text

February—May`14

During these months; I work on the several wig commissions and some of my own cosplays.

February

10th—　I continued styling the Kazemaru wig.

The deadline was April (I believe), so I was making good time on it! I wanted the client to have ample time to procure a replacement if he was unhappy with the wig I provided him.

13th—　For Valentines Day, I cosplayed England to make some themed 'post cards' with puns on them for my ask blog, since that was quite popular at the time. They are quite cringe-inducing and crude so I'm not going to share any of them here now, but here's one of the unedited selfies I took for that:

I also posted this picture to my Instagram:

16th—　I was heading towards the finish line with the Kazemaru wig commission, I haven't shared a reference of this character yet, but I was beginning to really focus on the shape of the wig so here it is:

Earlier in the month (the top of this blog entry), I had swept that big section in the front that obscures one of his eyes and secured it in place in the wig cap. 　On this day, I began by focusing on the left side of his fringe and styling that. I separated it into layers and trimmed the bottom layer.

I back-brushed the upper layer slightly to give it some volume, and encouraged it to be swept back and tucked underneath the bottom layer.

I then started cleaning up the other side of the wig, I cut the length of the section hanging down. I do return to clean up the ends and the wig in general later on, but this is all I do during this styling session.

20th—　I bought these shoes to modify for Cardverse England cosplay.

March

10th—　Further progress on Kazemaru. I think I may be finished now actually?

23rd—　I realise the photo of me wearing my newly acquired lace shirt doesn't show it too well since it was underneath a waistcoat, here's a clearer look at it.

Although I believe I bought it to use for Cardverse England, I did also use it for 2P fem Russia.

26th—　I bought a Prussian replica uniform my friend was selling and it arrived on this day.

And things I ordered to make a custom collar for Cardverse England arrived too.

28th—　I tried on the Prussia uniform with the wig.

April

3rd—　I did some blogging for my England ask blog, and took some selfies to use as a new blog icon.

I also started designing the custom collar I was making for Cardverse England.

19th—　I began working on another Elsa wig commission, this time it’s the version she switches to while singing "Let it Go"

May

9th—　I finished the second Elsa wig I was working on. I tried to be careful about making sure the wig net was concealed on the hairline since it wasn't a lace front.

The back area still hadn’t completely dried off/solidified so I used hair slides to hold some of the 'wings' in position.

11th—　I believe I wanted to branch out from cosplaying Hetalia since it was all I ever really do. I was pretty skint around this time so instead of buying a plain t-shirt, I pulled out some white t-shirts I already owned and was deciding whether I should wear my UK flag one or Game of Thrones one for a casual Kise (Kuroko's Basketball) cosplay, I believe the design is official from the manga or something, honestly I'm not sure.

12th—　I did a costest ♥

17th—　I received a commission to style a Rin append (Vocaloid) wig in time for MCM, the wig arrived and I had begun styling it.

21st—　I think the client wanted to see what the Elsa wig looks like while being worn.

22nd—　More progress to the Rin wig commission.

The day after this is the start of London MCM in May 2014, which will be in a separate post! I apologise for how long this blog entry is, I didn't want to spam each update individually.

24th—　My friend gave me this really nice under-bust corset to give me more of an hourglass figure for my fem Russia cosplay ♥

#魔法士cosBLOG #魔法士cosOLD #魔法士cos2014 #魔法士cos4others #魔法士cosヘタリア #魔法士cosヘタengland #魔法士cosOC #魔法士cosにょ2Prussia #魔法士cosヘタpreußen #魔法士cosクロコのbasket #魔法士cos黄瀬

0 notes

minimin1993 · 4 years

Text

S/M 3 & B/L 3

Warning: Language. Violence.

Ding.Ding.Ding.Ding

MinniePrincess

CHRISSSS OPPAAAA!!!!!

ITS SEBASTIAN BIRTHDAY TOMORROWW!!!

I NEED TO GO TO THE MARKET NOWWW!!!! CHRISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!

ChrisOppa ^-^

Princess stop with the CAPS jeezzz

I know I am getting reast right now

No need to blow my phone up at 5:30 am

MinniePrincess

SORRYYYYY XD

I am just excited!!

Pishh you always get up at 5:30 anyways for your workout

PSYCHOO!!

ChrisOppa ^-^

Says the one that never sleeps :P

Come on lets go before he wakes up

Min walks out of her hotel room to see Chris coming out of his making her run over to him to give him a huge hug.

“Come on, let's go.” Chris said holding out his elbow for her to latch onto with a smile on her face as they walk over to the elevator to the parking structure.

After they came back to Min hotel room with the supplies, she started to settle in the kitchen to cook the food and get everything prepared with Chris helping her.

“Princess you are something else, our trainer are going to kill us.” Chris said chopping the vegetables for the salad

“What? I want to start his birthday with a bang, plus they can come beat my ass, you only have a birthday once a year and I intend to fatten him up a bit. And hopefully by tonight we can find him a girl for birthday sex.” Min said with a huge smile on her face making Chris laugh at how blunt she is.

“Birthday sex? Really?”

“Don’t tell me for your passing birthday you didn’t have birthday sex.” Min said looking at Chris with a knowing look making him chuckle while shaking his head.

“Fine. You got me there. Says the princess who never had birthday sex.”

“HEYY! Its a lifestyle okay. I have always been busy around my birthday performing or always on tour. Never had the time to sleep let alone have birthday sex.” Min said pouting stirring the pot.

In the end Min made a variety of food: crepes, avocado toast with eggs, and a green smoothie for breakfast. For lunch/Dinner she made Pastrami and Potato hash with fried eggs, Carbonara, and a freshly tossed salad. Once they both finished setting the table they went over to Sebastian room and knocked on the door.

“Happy 28th Birthday Sebastian!” Min and Chris said as he opens his hotel door while Min launches herself onto his arms for a huge hug

“Thanks guys.” Sebastian said hugging Min back before giving Chris a hug.

“Come on we made you breakfast Min said pulling Sebastian over to her hotel room.

“Dam guys you didn’t have to.” Sebastian said looking at the table with food.

“Naw bro it's nothing. However you know our princess here, she may have made lunch/dinner as well.” Chris said.

After they finish having breakfast, Min jumped up from her seat and ran to her room surprising the boys until she comes back with a small gift bag in her hand.

“Happy Birthday Sebastian.” Min said with a proud smile on her face.

“Princess you didn’t have to.” Sebastian said opening the gift bag. “Yeahh you really didn’t have too.” He said pulling out a Movado watch box.

“Open it.” Min said excitedly as Chris looks at her surprised as well.

“Damm Princess.” He said looking at the 2010 Steel Movado Master Chronograph.

“I didn’t know what would be good so I asked them and they said this one is one of the popular ones this year and I notice you don’t wear watches much so I hope this would be a nice start. Every guy should have a nice watch.” Min explain as she takes the watch out and puts it on his wrist. “Yayy I sized it correctly.”

“Princess I know this is expensive. You didn’t have too.” Sebastian said staring at the watch with disbelieve.

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t have many people to spoil and you and Chris are one of the lucky few.” Min said as Sebastian pulls her into a hug.

“Thank you princess. I really love it.”

“No worry Sebastian, I am just glad you like it.”

It’s been 2 years since Dr. Erskine passing and Steve Rogers have become ‘Captain America’ and been traveling around to sell bails bond. Agent Gray has been tasked with guarding Rogers and being his manager for his tours. Within the 2 years, the pair has become close like brother and sister.

“You know Linda when I signed up for the Army I never see myself dressing up in tights dancing.” Steve said unpacking his suitcase since they just arrived to Italy.

“You and me both. Come on get dressed, you punch Hitler in an hour.” Linda said face planting the bed.

After the show flopped and Rogers stormed off stage leaving Linda confused until she found him changed and sitting under the tent drawing in his journal.

“Don’t do that to me Rogers, you gave me a heart attack!” Linda said storming up to him

“I’m sorry Linda, I just wanted to be alone for a while.” Steve said still shading not looking at her.

“Okay then Peggy, he wants to be alone.” Linda said making him turn around seeing Peggy next to him.

“ Hello, Steve.”

“ Hi.” Steve said.

“ Hi.” Peggy answer making Linda roll her eyes playfully standing to the side leaving them alone for a bit until she sees Steve and Peggy running and follows them.

“ Colonel Phillips.” Steve said as he approaches him.

“ Well, if it isn’t the Star-Spangled Man With A Plan and Agent Gray. And what is your plan today?” Colonel Phillips said.

“ I need the casualty list from Azzano.” Steve asked.

“ You don’t get to give me orders, son.”

“ I just need one name. Sergeant James Barnes from the hundred and seventh.”

“ You and I are gonna have a conversation later that you won’t enjoy.” Colonel said pointing to Peggy.

“ Please tell me if he’s alive, sir. B-A-R…”

“ I can spell. I have signed more of these condolence letters today than I would care to count. But the name does sound familiar. I’m sorry.” Colonel said as Steve face darkens a little.

“ What about the others? Are you planning a rescue mission?” Steve said looking over at the map.

“ Yeah! It’s called winning the war.” Colonel said standing up.

“ But if you know where they are, why not at least…?”

“ They’re thirty miles behind the lines. Through the most heavily fortified territory in Europe. We’d lose more men than we’d save. But I don’t expect you to understand that, because you’re a chorus girl.” Colonel said and Linda was about to give him an earful but Steve holds her arm back.

“I think I understand just fine.” Steve said.

“ Well then understand it somewhere else. If I read the posters correctly, you got some place to be in thirty minutes.” He said walking away as Linda steps closer to the map to study it.

“ Yes, sir. I do.” Steve said before walking back to his tent and starts packing.

“What do you plan to do? Walk to Austria?” Peggy said as Linda and her enters.

“ If that’s what it takes.”

“You heard the Colonel, your friend is most likely dead.” Peggy said.

“ You don’t know that.”

“ Even so, he’s devising a strategy. If he detects…”

“ By the time he’s done that, it could be too late!” Steve said as he walks out to the Jeep and tosses his stuff in the back. “You told me you thought I was meant for more than this. Did you mean that?”

“ Every word.” Peggy said.

“ Then you gotta let me go.” Steve said stepping into the jeep.

“ We can do more than that.” Peggy said stepping next to him as Linda gave him her famous smirk.

As they stepped into the plane Howard Starks stops Linda.

“Linda I made you a new suit.” Stark said with a smug look on his face handing her the case.

“Uh huh? Is this your way of wanting to see me change on the plane? Linda said still taking the case.

“Linda you’re not coming with me.” Steve said coming up behind her.

“Oh you bet I am.” Linda said opening the case as her eyes grew wide seeing a skin tight suit smiling.

“I can’t ask you to risk yourself like this.”

“Oh buddy trust me, she is capable of handling herself trust me.” Howard said patting Steve shoulder before heading to the cockpit settling down for the flight as Linda sends him a thankful smile.

“Yeah don’t worry about her Steve. She’s tougher than she looks.” Peggy said sitting down in her seat buckling in for takeoff.

After Linda changes into her suit and settles in, Howard took off.

“ The HYDRA camp is in Krausberg, tucked between these two mountain ranges. It’s a factory of some kind.” Peggy said explaining to Steve and Linda where its located as they buckle in their parachutes.

“ We should be able to drop you right on the doorstep.” Howard said from the front.

“ Just get us as close as you can. You know, you two are gonna be in a lot of trouble at the lab.” Steve said pointing to Howard and Peggy.

“ And you two won’t?” Peggy said.

“ Where I’m goin’, if anybody yells at me I can just shoot ‘em.” Steve said as Linda scoffs at him “Boys” Linda muttered under her breath making Steve smirk.

“ They will undoubtedly shoot back.” Peggy answered at Steve remark.

“ Well, let’s hope it’s good for somethin’.”Steve said tapping his shield.

“ Agent Carter, if we’re not in too much of a hurry I thought we could stop off in Lucerne for a late night fondue.” Howard said making Linda giggle.

“Oh I see how it goes Stark, I disappear for a little bit and now I am replace.” Linda said back.

“Oh honey, no one can replace you Agent Gray” Howard said back as she can practically see the smirk in his voice.

“Sure, I will keep that in mind next time you blow yourself up.” Linda fired back.

“ Stark is the best civilian pilot I’ve ever seen. He’s mad enough to brave this airspace, we’re lucky to have him.” Peggy said.

“ So are you two…? Do you…? Fondue?” Steve asks pointing to Peggy and Howard making Linda laugh while Peggy gets awkward on how the conversation is going.

“ This is your transponder. Activate it when you’re ready and the signal will lead us straight to you.” Peggy said giving Steve the transponder changing the subject.

“ Are you sure this thing works?” Steve said to Howard tucking it into his suit.

“ It’s been tested more than you, pal.” Howard answers back as their plane is being attacked. Steve goes towards the opened door of the plane to jump.

“ Get back here! We’re taking you all the way in.” Peggy said standing next to him.

“ As soon as we’re free, you turn this thing around and get the hell outta here!” Steve said ignoring Peggy

“ You can’t give me orders!”

“The hell I can’t! I’m a Captain!” Steve said looking at her before jumping out of the plane as Linda steps up to the door.

“Don’t worry Peggy, I will make sure your lover boy comes back for… fondue” Linda said with a wink.

“Stay safe both of you” Peggy said as Linda gave her a small salute before jumping out of the plane following Steve.

They land and dislocated from the parachute Linda and Steve heads toward the direction of the base.

“Linda are you sure about this?” Steve asked.

“Steve don’t worry about me, trust me I can take care of myself.” Linda said running ahead of him to scout. “This way Steve.” She leads him right to the entrance before she turns back seeing lights comes from behind them. After all the trucks past she books into the last one with Steve following behind her.

“Fellas” Steve said before Linda bolts over and pushes them right in the face, knocking both the Hydras out before tossing them out the car shocking Steve.

“Dang, I am stiff… that was great warm up. Remind me to workout more when we get back.” Linda said dusting suit off before looking up at Steve “What?”

“How did you?” Steve said pointing to the back then back at her. “Secret. Now shut up before we get caught.” Linda said as she feels the truck back up.

When the truck stops Steve pulls her behind him and shields them in time before the back panel of the truck gets lifted up revealing a Hydra member looking confused before Steve knocks him out. They both jumps out and starts to run toward the base. Once they reach the door Steve knocks waiting for the Hydra agent to opens it before Steve pelts him with the door knocking him out. They both starts to run around looking for the prisoners before Linda stops at a table with weapons that glows before snagging one and putting it into her utility belt. They wonder down the long corridor before they both found the place where the War prisoners were being kept.

“Take out that one, I will go for the one in the right” Steve said as both bolt over and knocks out the Hydra agents taking their keys

“ Who are you supposed to be?” Gabe Jones ask watching what was happening above him.

“ I’m… Captain America.”

“ I beg your pardon?” James Falsworth said with a confused look on his face as Steves and Linda both head down to the door and starts to open the cells.

“ What, are we taking everybody?” Dum Dum Dugan said.

“ Is there anybody else? I’m looking for a Sergeant James Barnes.” Steve said looking around for his best friend as they walked toward the exit.

“ There’s an isolation ward in the factory, but no one’s ever come back from it.”

“ All right. The tree line is northwest, 80 yards past the gate. Get out fast and give ‘em hell. I’ll meet you guys in the clearing with anybody else I find.” Steve said about to run away.

“Wait! You know what you’re doin’?” Gabe join asked.

“ Yeah. I’ve knocked out Adolf Hitler over two hundred times.” Steve said running down the hall.

“Ignore what he just said. Even though I did see him do it” Linda said appearing out of nowhere shocking the guys before shooting them a wink and runs after Steves.

They were both running around the base knocking out Hydra after Hydra before the alarms rings

“They must have activated the self destruct, we don’t have much time. This way.” Linda said leading him to the isolation ward before they see Dr. Zola staring at them before running away from them, they both follow before Linda stops at the door hearing something.

“Steve, come here” Linda said running over to the man strapped on the table.

“ Sergeant. 32557…” Bucky said disoriented looks over at Steve when he approaches.

“ Is that…” Bucky said.

“It’s me. It’s Steve.”

“ Steve?”

“ Come on Steve we don’t have much time left” Linda said helping Steves pulls Bucky off the chair.

“ Steve.” Bucky said looking at Steve shockingly.

“ I thought you were dead.”

“ I thought you were smaller”

“ Come on.” Steve said looking over at the map in hanging on the wall before holding Bucky's up and helps him out.

“ What happened to you?” Bucky asked still shocked.

“ I joined the Army.”

“ Did it hurt?” Bucky said as he can walk a little now but still stumbling a bit as Linda trails behind him to make sure he doesn’t fall.

“A little.” Steve said as Linda giggles remembering the day of the procedure as Bucky turns back to look at her with a confused look.

“ Is it permanent?”

“ So far.” Steve said scouting around.

“I am Agent Gray but call my Linda by the way since you keep looking back at me. You must be James, I have heard so much about you. How are you feeling at the moment?” Linda said catching up to him.

“Call me Bucky, I feel better now. Have we meet before.” He said as they run down the stairs before the base slowly starts to blow up.

"Nope I would have remembered a handsome face like yours."

“ Captain America! How exciting! I’m a great fan of your films. So Dr. Erskine managed it after all. Not exactly an improvement, but still impressive.” Schmidt said walking over meeting Steve halfway on the catwalk before Steve punches him in the face.

“ You’ve got no idea” Steve said.

“ Haven’t I?” Schmidt said throwing a punch back at Steve but he blocks it with his Shield before Steve can pull out his gun Schmidt throws another punch knocking Steve down as Linda pulls out her knife and tosses toward Schmidt slicing his face barely dodging it in time.

Dr. Zola took this as the opportunity to click the button that disconnects the catwalk separating them.

“No matter what lies Erskine told you, you see I was his greatest success!” Schmidt said. removing his face revealing his Red Skull.

“ You don’t have one of those, do you?” Bucky ask disgustingly.

“No he doesn’t.” Linda answered for Steve.

“ You are deluded, Captain. You pretend to be a simple soldier, but in reality you are just afraid to admit that we have left humanity behind. Unlike you, I embrace it proudly. Without fear! And you Linda Gray, you disappoint me so much. A girl with powers as great as yours runs away and hides. You think I don’t know about you?”

“Then how come you’re running?” Steve said watching Schmidt and Zola steps into the elevator.

“We will meet again Linda Gray” Schmidt said with a smirk before the door closes.

“Come on, let’s go up.” Linda said after finding a thin gantry with an escape door.

“Let’s go. One at a time. Linda you go first.” Steve said as Linda practically sprints over it like she weighs nothing surprising the 2 behind her.

“Bucky your turn.” Steve said helping him over as Bucky slowly walks over more stuff beneath him explodes shaking the gantry. Bucky barely makes it over before it collapses and Linda grabs his arm just in time to pull him over the ledge. Linda and Bucky looks over at Steve with sadness in their eyes.

“ Gotta be a rope or something!” Bucky said.

“ Just go! Get out of here!”

“ No! Not without you!” Bucky and Linda both screamed in unison

“Hell” Steve said bending back the bar in his way and backs up before running full speed and jumps over chasm Bucky and Linda catch his arm and pulled him up

“Holy shit!!” Bucky said in disbelief.

“Trust me there more where that comes from.” Linda said sending him a wink before walking over to the exit leaving a stunned Bucky who is looking her up and down in her skin tight suit

“That’s Linda for you, be careful of her. She’s not a dame you want to mess with” Steve said following behind her.

#bucky x reader #james buchanan barnes #sebastian stan #sebastian x reader #winter solider x you #winter soldier #originl character #captain america #original character #steve rogers #the first avenger #marvel #chris evans

0 notes

historybehindassassinscreed · 7 years

Photo

In Game:

At some point during his life, William joined the Christian monastic-military order known as the Knights Templar. Despite the Order's public service of protecting pilgrims on the road to the Holy Land, William became involved in the Grand Master Robert de Sablé's plot to usurp control of the Holy Land from both the warring Christians and Saracens. To this end, William became involved in Robert's plan to obtain the Apple of Eden, hidden in Solomon’s Temple.

In the aftermath of the fall of Acre, William was appointed as the city's regent by King Richard the Lionheart. Though this was ostensibly a show of trust by Richard, the Assassin Rafiq Jabal deduced that it was, in fact, a way to keep William a hostage to deter any act of rebellion by his son Conrad. Since Conrad vied for the kingship of Jerusalem against Guy of Lusignan, a vassal of Richard, Richard bore much enmity for him.

His membership in Robert's scheme became known to the Assassins of Masyaf—sworn enemies of the Knights Templar—and so he was chosen to be eliminated. On the orders of Al Mualim, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad arrived in Acre to begin his investigation into William's life, and he soon discovered that William was withholding food and money from the citizens. Alongside this, the Assassin learned of the ever-growing divide between Richard I and his regent.

After gathering enough intel, Altaïr made his way to the front of the King's citadel, where he witnessed Richard and William's argument over the Saracen executions. During this conversation, William complained that the King had judged him too quickly and that he did not trust him enough. Outraged, King Richard responded that he had left William as Acre's regent, an honor which should not have been underestimated. With this, William railed that the king had missed his point entirely, but Richard abruptly ended their quarrel, finding it a waste of time in the face of a war.

Angered by the shame of being publicly reprimanded, William returned to the citadel, where he took his temper out on his men as usual. In a corner of the keep, William began to berate his soldiers, accusing them all of dereliction of duties, and intending to motivate them towards greater discipline and diligence. He ordered that from that day forth, their training would double in intensity, even at the cost of rest and nourishment. To enforce his point, he brought forth two men who had been neglectful of their duties while on patrol, then had their throats slit to serve as an example to the rest.

Altaïr, who had followed William into the fortress, silently and skillfully eliminated the archers around the fortifications' perimeter. When William concluded his latest lecture, his forces left, and he began to look through his papers. It was during this time that Altaïr leapt down and assassinated William with his Hidden Blade.

Altaïr remarked that he knew William plotted to murder King Richard to give the city to his son Conrad—a claim that William denied. Much to the Assassin's shock, William countered that he felt Acre neither belonged to Richard nor his son, but rather to its people. He asserted that he had only been upholding order, and that he had not been stealing resources from the citizens, but was simply stockpiling them to be distributed efficiently in times of hardship. Even so, Altaïr insisted that William's deeds were anything but cruel, to which William used his dying words to accuse his killer of condemning cities to adversity rather than saving them. Before Altaïr could argue any further, William died and the Assassin made his escape from the fortress.

In Real Life:

William of Montferrat in the game was based off of the real-life Conrad of Montferrat, particularly his death.

Conrad was the second son of Marquis William V of Montferrat, "the Elder", and his wife Judith of Babenberg. He was a first cousin of Frederick Barbarossa, Holy Roman Emperor, as well as Louis VII of France and Leopold V of Austria.

Conrad was born in Montferrat, which is now a region of Piedmont, in northwest Italy. The exact place and year are unknown. He is first mentioned in a charter in 1160, when serving at the court of his maternal uncle, Conrad, Bishop of Passau, later Archbishop of Salzburg. (He may have been named after him, or after his mother's half-brother, Conrad III of Germany).

After a brief time in Constantinople, Conrad left, intending to join his father who held the castle of St Elias. He arrived first off Acre, which had recently fallen to Saladin, and so sailed north to Tyre, where he found the remnants of the Crusader army. After his victory at the Battle of Hattin over the army of Jerusalem, Saladin was on the march north, and had already captured Acre, Sidon, and Beirut. Raymond III of Tripoli and his stepsons, Reginald of Sidon and several other leading nobles who had escaped the battle had fled to Tyre, but most were anxious to return to their own territories to defend them. Raymond of Tripoli was in failing health, and died soon after he went home.

Conrad allegedly threw Saladin's banners into the ditch and made the Tyrians swear total loyalty to him. His rise to power seems to have been less dramatic in reality. Reginald went to refortify his own castle of Belfort on the Litani River. With the support of the established Italian merchant communities in the city, Conrad re-organized the defense of Tyre, setting up a commune, similar to those he had so often fought against in Italy.

(Image source)

When Saladin's army arrived they found the city well-defended and defiant. As the chronicler, Ibn al-Athir wrote of the man the Arabs came to respect and fear as al-Markis: "He was a devil incarnate in his ability to govern and defend a town, and a man of extraordinary courage". Tyre successfully withstood the siege, and desiring more profitable conquest, Saladin's army moved on south to Caesarea, Arsuf, and Jaffa. Meanwhile, Conrad sent Joscius, Archbishop of Tyre, to the West in a black-sailed ship, bearing appeals for aid. Arabic writers claimed that he also carried propaganda pictures to use in his preaching, including one of the horses of Saladin's army stabled (and urinating) in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and another of a Saracen slapping Christ's face.

In November 1187, Saladin returned for the second siege of Tyre. Conrad was still in command of the city, which was now heavily fortified and filled with Christian refugees from across the north of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. This time Saladin opted for a combined ground and naval assault, setting up a blockade of the harbor.

Saladin presented Conrad's aged father, William V of Montferrat, who had been captured at Hattin, before the walls of the city. He offered to release William and bestow great gifts upon Conrad if he surrendered Tyre. The old man told his son to stand firm, even when the Egyptians threatened to kill him. Conrad declared that William had lived a long life already, and aimed at him with a crossbow himself. Saladin allegedly said, "This man is an unbeliever and very cruel". But he had succeeded in calling Saladin's bluff: the old Marquis William was released, unharmed, at Tortosa in 1188, and returned to his son.

In summer of that same year, Saladin released King Guy, the husband of Queen Sibylla, from captivity. A year later, in 1189, Guy, accompanied by his brother Geoffrey, appeared at Tyre and demanded that Conrad hand over the keys to the city to him. Conrad refused this demand and declared that Guy had forfeited his rights to be king of Jerusalem at the Battle of Hattin. He said that he was holding the city until the arrival of the kings from Europe. Conrad would not allow Guy and Sibylla to enter the city, but did allow them to camp outside Tyre's walls with their retainers.

In summer 1190, Conrad traveled north to Antioch to lead another young kinsman, Frederick of Swabia, safely back to Acre with the remnants of his cousin Frederick Barbarossa's imperial army. King Richard the Lionheart bore much enmity for him.

(Image source)

In July 1191 Conrad's kinsman, King Philip, decided to return to France, but before he left he turned over half the treasure plundered from Acre to Conrad, along with all his prominent Muslim hostages. King Richard asked Conrad to hand over the hostages, but Conrad refused as long as he could. After he finally relented (since Richard was now leader of the Crusade), Richard had all the hostages killed (later called the Massacre at Ayyadieh). Conrad did not join Richard on his campaign to the south, preferring to remain with his wife Isabella in Tyre — believing his life to be in danger. It was probably around this time that Conrad's father died.

In April 1192, the kingship was put to the vote. To Richard's consternation, the barons of the Kingdom of Jerusalem unanimously elected Conrad as King. Richard sold Guy the lordship of Cyprus (where he continued to use a king's title) to compensate him and deter him from returning to Poitou, where his family had long had a reputation for rebelliousness. Richard's nephew Henry II of Champagne brought the news of the election result to Tyre on 24 April, then returned to Acre.

But Conrad was never crowned. Around late morning or noon on April 28th, Isabella, who was pregnant, was late in returning from the hammam to dine with him, so he went to eat at the house of his kinsman and friend, Philip, Bishop of Beauvais. The bishop had already eaten, so Conrad returned home. On his way, he was attacked by two Hashshashin, who stabbed him at least twice in the side and back. His guards killed one of his attackers and captured the other. It is not certain how long Conrad survived. Some sources claimed he died at the scene of the attack, or in a nearby church, within a very short time. Richard's chroniclers claimed that he was taken home, received the last rites, and urged Isabella to give the city over only to Richard or his representative: this death-bed scene is open to doubt. He was buried in Tyre, in the Church of the Hospitallers.

The surviving Hashashin claimed, under torture, that King Richard was the one that ordered Conrad’s death before dying himself, though this is impossible to prove. A less likely suspect was Humphrey IV of Toron, Isabella's first husband. Saladin's involvement has also been alleged, but as Conrad was in the middle of negotiations with him, but this also seems unlikely as Saladin himself apparently had no love for the Hashshashin, as he had laid seige against one of their fortresses (Masyaf) and the Hashashin had threatened him.

The timing of the murder, and its consequences — the pregnant Isabella was married off to Henry of Champagne only seven days later, much to the disgust of Muslim commentators — suggest that the chief motive may be sought in Frankish politics.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_of_Montferrat

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=14752077

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Conrad-of-Montferrat

#that haircut though #:(#Assassin's Creed #AC 1 #People

9 notes · View notes

hillariekoenig15 · 7 years

Text

Golden Week

Man, has this past month flown by! I left off last with the weekend before the Shingen-ko Parade.

So, on April 12th every year, Yamanashi celebrates the death of their great warlord, Takeda Shingen. There were many festival activities and parades leading up to this day. Every year, thanks to Roberta and Takao, an FET or two have a spot to be a samurai in the parade honoring Takeda. This is a great opportunity as many people from all over Japan enter their names to be a samurai and only a total of 24 can participate.

So Roberta and Takao picked us up and took us to the gym where we were to get dressed and start the parade. The Parade committee had hired staff to assist in putting on the samurai costumes. As I watched them put on the gear for others I soon realized this was going to be a tight fit. Lol The strap dug into my neck and there was a lot of pressure on my hips but there was nothing I could do about it now. The costume was on and was staying on until this shindig was over! Lol

So then we were called to take pictures and to get on our horses. It took about 2 ½ hours to finally get to the destination; which was a park by the post office. Kazumi and Ken surprised me and assisted in taking candid pictures for us as we didn’t have our phones. We barely had time for lunch before it was time to get back on the horses.

It took another 2 ½ hours to get back all the while on a horse. We were finally able to take off the samurai gear. I was so sore between my legs, my hips, and my neck where the strap dug into it and then to top it off I managed to get sunburnt. Lol Overall, I very much enjoyed this experience. Although, the bike ride home was extremely painful. Lol

That Friday, April 14th, the three of us decided to head to The Vault (our favorite bar) after our BOE meeting to meet up with our good friend, Giseli, and celebrate her birthday that was earlier in the week.

On Saturday, April 15th, we headed to Takeda Shingen Shrine as I realized on Wednesday that I had not been there yet and it’s right here in Kofu! So we started there and then made our way back to the station. We had dinner and then decided to head back home.

On Sunday, April 16th, it was Easter Sunday. Since Japan doesn’t celebrate that, Madi had heard of a battle reenactment in Fuefuki so we all decided to attend that together. It was a beeaauuttiffulll day! 80 degrees! I got burnt…. which was expected. Lol

While watching the battle it was a little hard to follow as we can’t speak Japanese but we got the point. Lol

On Saturday, April 22nd, Takao had invited all three of us to his high school’s 100th anniversary reunion. It was a really nice event. Your typical Japanese gathering; cheers, toasts, eat, prizes, go home. Lol I’m very happy that Takao and Roberta invited us. It was funny during dinner, Takao got questioned 2x for being Japanese or not simply because he was at a table full of Americans. Lol Crazy.

Then after dinner we decided to all go to Ashley’s and keep the party going because it was only 7pm and we had gotten all dressed up. So while Madi got ready to bike down to Ashley’s, Ashley and I went to BIG to buy some drinks and snacks. We ran into Tatsuzawa. It was funny. He totally was judging our basket of junk food and alcohol. Lol

Then we just sat around and talked until Madi and I decided we should probably go home and get some rest before our big day of hiking in the morning.

On Sunday, April 23rd, Madi and I woke up and were at Natsuko’s by 8:45am. Then we went to Panorama Dai which is near Shoji Lake near Mt. Fuji. The hike was nice but difficult. Still worth the hike up. I got some pretty serious blisters on my ankles :( It literally was a straight up incline for about an hour. We were excited when we finally reached the top. The view at the top was incredible. I would make that trip over and over again. It was cool. It was pretty cloudy but Fuji finally peaked out for a little while.

We got back down by 1pm. Then we went to an onsen. Always an interesting experience. The worse part is the initial undressing; getting naked. Once we were in the spa/hot springs it wasn’t so bad and was actually quite relaxing. I’d say we were all ready for a nap afterwards.

On Friday, April 28th, we were finally on our way to Guam to start our vacation! We arrived in Guam at 1:30am. We then found our shuttle to ACE to receive our rental car. First time driving in 9 months! It was exciting. :) Then we made it to our Airbnb and fell asleep.

We woke up around 9-9:30am. We pretty much just did primping stuff and shopping all day. Lol We first went to the shopping mall near our Airbnb. I bought new shoes! Then we had Applebee’s. <3 Then we went to get pedicures at Luxury nails. They were so nice there. And the owner, Eliza, was so helpful. She suggested to us a place where we can get our hair cut. Then we went the Harley Davidson store for Madi and the Hard Rock Cafe for myself. Then we went to K-Mart, where we did a little clothes shopping and grocery shopping. It was definitely overwhelming as I wanted to buy so much. Lol

Then we went home and got ready to go out. We decided to go to “Drop” which was a GREAT decision. We met this guy named Jason who ended up literally making our vacation 10x better!

On Saturday, April 29th, we headed to the beach! Madi was smart to not let us stay out too long, because even the short amount of time we were out in the heat I managed to work up quite a burn on my legs. :/ It was very painful. It’s sad that I love the sun so much but the sun does not love me. Lol Jason had informed us of a Burlesque show at Drop so after the beach we relaxed and got ready to head back out. We got to Drop and found seats to watch the show. After her first number she all of a sudden just left. I thought it might be a wardrobe malfunction. Oh well, we met some pretty interesting people regardless of the show! I got a lap dance from this guy whose friends were teasing him to continue the show without her. It was hilarious. We decided to just go home. We later found out that she went on with the show.

The next morning, Jason invited us to brunch with him and his friends Anthony. Afterwards Jason had to leave but Anthony had offered to take us to “Turtle’s Cove”. It was cool! We jumped off the “Turtle’s nose” which probably wasn’t all that high but still was pretty exhilarating. The rocks were so sharp! We had cuts everywhere. After much struggle of getting over two huge boulders, we finally made it to the top and I just wanted to be down so I just jumped. I was shaking so bad from the adrenaline rush.. Lol

We decided that was good enough so we went back to the car where we ran into this family that is from around Guam and invited us for a picnic. It was nice. We eventually decided to leave though.

We ended our night at Jimmy Dee’s watching the gorgeous sunset.

On Monday, May 1st, we decided to get our hair cut!

Afterwards we had planned on going jet skiing but since our hair stylists did such great jobs on our hair we didn’t want to ruin it so we decided to just tour southern Guam instead! We went to Latte of Freedom, a war historical site, a bell, Talafofo Falls and a cave. It was really cool. Once we got to the cave I was very disappointed as it was just a hole in the ground. Good thing history nerd, Madi, actually read the sign because we then learned that a Japanese man had deserted the WWII War and lived in this cave for 28 years because he didn’t know that the war had ended….Now that was worth it.

Then we headed back to the Airbnb to get ready to go to Jason’s LGBTQ+ Mixer. It was actually pretty fun. We met some pretty cool people!

Afterwards, we headed to a magic show that Jason invited us to. We got in for free! He is seriously the coolest guy! The show was cool. My favorite act was with the acrobats.

On Tuesday, May 2nd, we got up and headed to ABC where one of Jason’s cousins worked and we got a 30% discount. Seriously! Love. Jason.

So we went parasailing, banana boating, and jet skiing. So cool. Parasailing was probably my favorite. We also went kayaking and just enjoyed the water.

Then we left and got ready to go see Two Lovers Point @ sunset. It was really pretty. A little cloudy but still nice.

Then we went to Jimmy Dee’s because it was still pretty early and just had a couple drinks and enjoyed the beach.

On Wednesday, May 3rd, we woke up and got ready to head to Marbo Cave with Jason. I didn’t feel like wearing my swimsuit so we didn’t get in the water but the cave was still pretty cool.

Then we walked a little farther to go to this opening. It was so pretty. Could see the water all the way to the horizon. It was amazing and so calming.

So, every Wednesday there is a Chamorro village in Hagatna that sells souvenirs and local food. We also just so happened to come during the right year and week. The Micronesian Island Culture Fair was going on where all the island come together to showcase part of their culture. It was really neat. We ate a little and then watched a tribal dance.

Thursday, May 4th, was our last day in Guam. :( We didn't want to leave.

We woke up early and got ready to hike Mt. Lam Lam. It was so cool. I’m glad we didn’t miss doing this. It only took us 30 minutes to get to the top. It was so beautiful at the top. Every Easter the locals carry a cross up this Mt. and plant it in the ground once at the top. It’s in memory of the original Islanders. It was a beautiful site.

We then climbed back down. We ordered Dominos pizza. Then headed back to our Airbnb.

We then went to Uncle Pete’s for just a quick swim. It was nice to just relax. Although my shoulders had gotten burnt from the hike so I was in a little pain. Lol #whatsnew #sunburnislife

Then we got dressed and decided to watch the sun set at the Beach Bar. It was a perfect way to end our night and our time in Guam. Jason joined us as well. We ate, had some drinks, talked, and watched the sun set. It was so nice. I didn’t want to leave but we needed to pack and get ready for our early morning.

We got up at 4am to get ready to return the car and head to the airport. Thank goodness we were ahead of schedule because the lines for check-in were terrible! We left at 7:30am and landed at 9:30am It didn’t take us too long to go through immigration or customs. We took our time at lunch and afterwards were able to start heading for the Airbnb.We got there and the directions weren’t that good and the elevator was freaking broken… 6 Floors. It was awful. Whatever, at least the location was perfect.

We then took a nap and then got ready for Ashley to arrive. We went to TGI Friday’s and then went to Junk Cafe! I love this bar. We played darts, Madi got sleepy so she left, Ashley and I had a blast though! We made friends, and broke out the Karaoke machine, and ended up staying until almost 2:30am I think. They invited us to a party later this month and I’m so excited to go!

I got to meet Kazumi’s newest grand baby, Ryo!

Akiho and her friend visited me at Minami! I got to see Akiho twice in one week! So happy. :)

On Saturday, May 13th, I had Ayaka over! I introduced her to Kraft Mac N Cheese and then we had hamburgers, fruit, and veggies. As American a meal as I can make in the land of seafood! Lol We then just talked, listened to music, and played card games! It was a lot of fun!

On Sunday, May 14th, we all went out for Mother’s Day.

On Tuesday, May 16th, I got the pleasure to hang out with Ayaka again and got to meet a new friend, Sota! We went to dinner, which was nice. Sota is very funny. After dinner we went back to my place for card games. It was fun. I hope to be able to hang out with them again!

So, now that you are all caught up enjoy reading some of my stories from school! And, let the countdown begin! I only have 71 days until I am on a plane home! But, in the meantime, I still have weekends packed full of fun and quite the crew of visitors coming to visit!

Stories:

-In Japanese class we always learn a lot. One thing in particular that stuck out to me recently was when we learned “I’m Hungry” and in Japanese it's “Onaka ga suita.” And our teacher then explains that it literally means “My situation is hungry.” We all found that to be quite hilarious!

-I got invited to help judge which students get to go to America in August for both my schools. I attended Nansei’s so far. It was interesting. I’m so thrilled with the boy that is going and there were two girls we had to choose from and it was very difficult but I think the decision we all decided on was best. I’m excited to see what candidates we have for Minami!

School Stories:

-So the new school year has started and I got to meet my 1st graders (7th grade). I like teaching at this stage because they are more willing to act and be silly. For example, for 10 minutes we just sat in class and practiced “th” sounds. (It’s very difficult for them to make this sound when saying words like “Thank you” “This” “That” etc.)

-Also, my with my 1st graders, we learn greetings such as after being asked “How are you?” you reply with “I’m okay.” “I’m fine.” “I’m so-so” etc. Well they found the gesture that goes with “I’m so-so” hilarious and wouldn’t stop saying it to each other. Lol They things they find funny is interesting. Lol

-Back at Minami, in my last class I was talking to my new teacher, Inagaki Sensei about Madi and I and as a result she kept accidentally calling me Madi in class. Lol Also, something had dropped from off the wall and it was pretty high up but since I am so tall all I had to do was get on my tiptoes to put it back and once I did that the whole class applauded me..Lol I get so much praise here for just being me. I’m going to go back to America and just be some plain jane no one notices. LOL

-In my 2nd grade class one of my students asked for my phone number and I didn’t think it to be such a big deal so I just gave my real one. All the kids then freaked out and frantically started writing it down. That’s when I started to second guess my response and that maybe I should’ve given a fake number… Oh well, the damage is already done. I also doubt that they will actually do anything with it since I hardly know enough Japanese to converse over the phone so they would need to speak in English. It might actually be a good learning experience for them if they do! Lol

-Well my classes went well. I had my 1st graders again and we continued to work on numbers. As I was having them repeat #s after me I had said, “zero” and one of the students yells out in confusion, “Zebra?!” We all got a good laugh out of that one. I find English to be a difficult language sometimes.

#shingenparade goldenweek guam jason mothersday bars schoolstories

1 note · View note

nuttyasacucumber-blog · 7 years

Text

Taking Control of My Mental Health (in progress)

I'm leaving my current psychiatrist. I have written this post three times. Each time, my situation mutates and worsens before I have finished writing, and I leave the partially written posts in the digital scrap pile that is my Google Keep. Let me now present to you my fractured tale of woe, in the hope that I am about to walk away from this nightmare.

ACT ONE: (written in January, 2017) In which I begin to review the state of my relationship with my psychiatrist. I want to take ownership of my mental health. I want to be proactive and informed. I don't honestly think I ever have been. This is partially because I ask too few questions, and partially because I don't fight for answers. I have come to realize that I am a person that needs well organized labels and boxes, at least in regards to myself. I don't want to hear that I'm "on the bipolar spectrum." I want you to tell me that I'm bipolar. Let me feel like I have control by giving me the means to explain who I am, or at least with what I struggle. My psychiatrist is in her eighties. That's an educated guess based on about eight years of context clues. She is the last of a dying breed of doctors that both prescribes medication and offers therapy. I see her every other Friday. She is now semi-retired but continues to see many of her old patients. She is very old school. She has a fax machine, and that's about as high tech as she gets. She hand-writes prescriptions (even for controlled substances), which simply isn't done according to the pharmacists with whom I regularly dance. I am no longer particularly confident in her advice. My doctor has always had an odd way of dancing around diagnosis. Is it out of fashion to assign labels to mood disorders? Does she want to spare me the stigma of being labeled "bipolar." I honestly don't know. When she first started prescribing mood stabilizer for me, she told me that I was on the bipolar spectrum. She explained that "the people who we think of as having bipolar disorder are WAY over here on the spectrum. You're more over here" (at the other end of the invisible arch she pantomimed). Months later, while discussing the break-neck speed at which my brain sometimes works, she told me "that's common in bipolar people! Your brain just moves faster than people can understand sometimes." That was the first time I had been referred to as bipolar. Previously, I was merely suffering from similar symptoms. Similarly, she began prescribing me Adderall for the anxiety I experience when I'm overwhelmed. She explained that Adderall is often prescribed for people with treatment resistant anxiety. Months (years?) later, she casually referred to me as having ADD. How can I begin to take control of my own mental health when I don't truly know the state of it?

ACT TWO: (written in July, 2017) In which I experience the most intense mental health roller coaster of my life, and throughout which I am told that I just need to sit under my S.A.D. lamp more. In the past week, my concerns have grown exponentially more pressing. Yes, I had already begun to doubt her. Yes, I worried that her information was outdated. Yes, I should have gotten a second opinion when these doubts began, and yes, I am embarrassed that I've neglected this for as long as I have. Having said that... I haven't felt "right" since last year. There is no brief version is this story: I was depressed in January. My psychiatrist upped my Wellbutrin before leaving town for several weeks. I began to have what I tought were migraine level stress headaches. They worsened throughout February, and I began to miss work. My physical therapist tried chiropractics, message therapy, and electric stimulation. An urgent care doctor gave me a shot of pain killer, which have me a few days reprieve. I tried everything. When my psychiatrist returned from her trip, she asked if I had had any side effects. I told her about the headaches, and she said I should return to the lower dose immediately. When it was out of my system, we would try something new. I crashed. I didn't just return to the level of depression I felt before. I went so much deeper and darker than that. I was filled with so much anger and confusion that I became delusional. I lashed out at a friend, and it has permanently damaged or . I also continued to have the headaches as the drug was leaving, so you know, best of birth worlds! In April, when I was experiencing the worst depression, anxiety, paranoia, and pure grief that I have ever experienced, she prescribed... I honestly don't remember anymore. There have been so many. Paxil? Zoloft? I began to have sudden high blood pressure, dizziness, and pressure in my head and face. Driving home one night, I thought I was going to die on the highway. In May, I was prescribed Effexor. My first morning on Effexor, I felt like all of the skin on my body was on fire. I called my psychiatrist because I was considering going to the emergency room. She said she believed it was because I took it on an empty stomach. Several hours later she called back and left me a voicemail saying that she was mistaken. It seems she had prescribed Effexor once in the past, and I had had a similar reaction of the time. She also slid an, "I don't think you should try to get pregnant right now. Do not try to get pregnant" into the voicemail without context. She then prescribed me Remeron. My depression and anxiety began to level out somewhat, but I stopped feeling other emotions as well. I watched both Moana and Wonder Woman (which I'm good are both amazing), and I felt nothing. After the previous four months of emotional torture, however, this was a sacrifice I was willing to make. I also began to stutter. On several occasions, every syllable in an entire sentences would come out in the wrong order. My psychiatrist said that this was not a common side effect of the drug, and I shouldn't worry about it. It was most likely a result of anxiety. I began to slowly gain weight, where previously I had successfully been losing it. I never stopped having the depression and anxiety. I stopped feeling crushed under the weight of it, but I never returned to feeling functional and normal. Because of this, she doubled the Remeron in June. I began to gain weight more rapidly. I gained 15 pounds in about 6 weeks. On Thursday, I believed I was having a heart attack. I felt pressure rush to my face and head. My temples felt as though they were pushing the ear pieces of my glasses off. I became light-headed, and my hands and feet became tingly. I drove home terrified.

On Friday I told my doctor about the weight gain and the "heart attack" episode. She instructed me to decrease the Remeron to the original dosage to aid with the weight, and to buy a blood pressure machine in response to the episode. (I abruptly stopped writing at this point, but I saw her again less than a week later, and continued) My psychiatrist has just informed me that she is leaving on vacation. I won't see her again for five weeks. Because she is leaving and doesn't "want to take any chances," she has decided to take me off the Remeron. She also decide to up my mood-stabilizer (Trileptol) "just to be safe," after having decreased it last week. I also asked her to consider lowering my Seroquel (the anti-anxiety drug that I take for nightmares) since I had been put on it "temporarily" over a year ago. She very quickly flipped through her notes (all hand written on torn out sheets from legal pads) and decided to increase my dosage instead. My concern isn't simply that she disregarded my desire to lower a medication that I was only supposed to take for a brief period of time. I'm more concerned that she no longer fully understands the contents of her notes. Just last week, she referenced her notes and asked me about a migraine I had had the previous week. She was insistent that this took place; it was clearly stated in her notes. I hadn't had a migraine; I had told her about taking care of my friend who had been having one. She keeps the record of my prescriptions in a separate notepad. I asked her if I could have a copy of it. She asked why. I told her that I simply hadn't been keeping track. I just wanted to know for my own records. She told me that her notes wouldn't make any sense to me. She recorded new prescriptions, increases, and decreases with the corresponding dates, but her notes didn't contain any of her reasoning behind those decisions (I knew that already: separate notebooks), nor did they contain any instances where I stopped a medication altogether. "Anyway, it would simply take too long to copy them. We're talking about two years worth of notes here!" (This statement especially bothered me, because I've been seeing her for 8 years.) To the best of My recollection, my medication has been changed at least 14 times in the last 6 months.

ACT THREE: (Present day) In which the situation becomes dire. Every month, my psychiatrist handwrites me a prescription for Adderall, which helps with my concentration and nightmares, but is largely intended to assist with my anxiety. Because it is a controlled substance, I have to hand-deliver a new prescription to the pharmacy each time. No refills. My last appointment with my psychiatrist was July 28, and I was scheduled to run out of Adderall on August 8th (while she's was on vacation). My psychiatrist decided to solve this problem by writing me a prescription on July 28th that was dated August 8th. Our next appointment was scheduled for September 1st. When August 8th arrived, the pharmacist informed me that she could not fill the prescription because my psychiatrist did not have a license for controlled substances. "What does that mean?" I honestly didn't know what to say. "It looks like her license expired on July 30th," she told me. "Ok... What do I do about my prescription?" "You just need to call your doctor." She was out of town and not checking messages. I called the phone number of a colleague that she had left on her outgoing voicemail. When I explain the situation he replied, "Yes, no one told her she needed to renew it." I was flabbergasted. Clearly this was something that both he and she already knew about. He told me that he would speak to my Psychiatrist, and that she would be giving me a call herself. Several hours later, she called me and explain to me at length what had taken place without giving me the opportunity to ask many questions: "The state of Illinois is broke. They have no money. Usually, they send letters to doctors informing them that they need to renew their licenses. This year they decided to save money by doing it online instead. I saw the email and assumed it was spam. I only found out what had happened about a week before I left on this trip. There are hundreds of doctors all over the state that don't have licenses right now because the state never told us. They were too cheap to send the letter this year." When I was silent, she asked how I was doing, how I was feeling, how I was sleeping. I was both at work and furious. I told her I wasn't sleeping particularly well, but I had to get off the phone. She told me I should call my internist and ask her to write the prescription instead. I kept imagining that phone call, "Hello! This is Bird. My psychiatrist lost her license. Can you hook me up with some Aderall?" I eventually made that call and tried to explain to the receptionist what had taken place. I didn't hear back from my doctor. I haven't pushed the issue because I've decided I want a second opinion about my medication in general. I have thought a lot about the situation. I am quite often empathetic to a fault. I have forgiven my psychiatrist for so many things because of her age and our history. This, however, was unacceptable. I started thinking about those dates. She had learned about this lapse a week before leaving on vacation, just days after writing that prescription. Why hadn't she called me? Why would she leave on vacation one week later without informing her patients that they were carrying around unfillable prescriptions?

When September first arrived, I had mentally prepared myself to confront her about the situation. I was also going to demand my records. That morning, however, she cancelled our appointment. At 11:07am, she left an almost 2 minute long message saying that she wasn't "doing so well," and that she couldn't get ahold of me because she only had one phone number for me. "I don't have your work number... Only this number... Please, call me." She was speaking extremely slowly, like she wasn't quite awake. At 11:09am, she called again. The voice mail was just a sigh followed by a hang up. At 11:11am, she called again. This time she left a 30-second voicemail that contained essentially the same information as the first. She explained that she was sick, and that she had been trying to get ahold of me but only had one phone number. "I don't seem to have your work number..." She had called three times in four minutes, and she was concerned because she couldn't get through to me. This was the middle of the workday mind you. At 1:00pm, when normally I would leave for her office, I heard these messages and return the call. The phone rang probably 10 times before I hung up. I never heard back from her. That was a week ago today. EPILOGUE I don't intend to call her again. I returned her call. The ball is in her court. I have an appointment with a new psychiatrist in five days. I'm hoping he can retrieve my records. Honestly, I'm just hoping to feel more in control.

#mental illness #mental health #medication #medicine #doctors #psychiatry #psychiartist #depession #anxitey #bipolor #second opinion

0 notes

timclymer · 5 years

Text

The Secret Heart Attack of Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1953

Picture the following scene. The Prime Minister has suffered a massive heart attack. A handful of people know this. The Prime Minister may well have to resign if news breaks out, both as leader of the country and his party and a General Election will then have to be called. What will you do? This is the very decision that has to be answered in 1953 by the Prime Minister’s closest confidants.

There is little forewarning. On 23 June 1953 a Downing Street dinner is held for the Italian Prime Minister, Alcide de Gaspieri and Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. The evening begins well with Churchill delivering yet another witty speech joking about the Roman conquest of Britain. Later it starts to taper off as he rapidly deteriorates in health. Barely able to move he holds the hand of his close friend, Jane Clark and whispers ‘I want the hand of a friend. They put too much on me, Foreign Affairs… ‘ and then his voice trails off.

No respite occurs. Those who hope it is just a small attack like the one he suffered in Southern France in 1949 are disappointed. Churchill’s condition is so bad that at one point the aptly named neurologist, Sir Russell Brain doubts whether his patient will live another year.

It later transpires he has suffered a massive heart attack and yet incredibly he struggles on. The next day he even manages to conduct a Cabinet meeting. Some cabinet colleagues note he looks rather pale and white but the only sign something is amiss happens when he requests that ‘Harold, you might draw down the blind a little, will you?’.

The pain that Churchill endures with the loss of function in his left arm, leg and the left side of his face is intolerable. Eventually he capitulates and with reluctance decides to retire to his home at Chartwell for recuperation on Thursday morning. He leaves at noon from No.10 for Chartwell. He is in full glaring view of the public and media and yet somehow manages to walk unaided into his car and escape detection. By the time he arrives at Chartwell he needs full assistance to leave the car.

His problems continue to mount over the next few days. He is well aware that if the media get hold of this story they will have a field day. He can also see how his political rivals circle round him like vultures by a carcass. If he wants to stay as Prime Minister then he absolutely has to somehow recover his health.

The first matter of the media is tackled on Thursday 25th June when the three leading press barons of the day, Lord Beaverbrook, Camrose and Bracken are invited to Chartwell to discuss the Prime Minister’s health. Extraordinarily given the scoop that is at their hands they collectively decide to muzzle their own papers in order to protect the Prime Minister. They also encourage others to do likewise by arguing that the Parliamentary summer recess will allow Winston sufficient time to recuperate.

More difficult negotiations take place on Friday. Winston meets his key adversaries, Lord Salisbury and Butler on Friday at Chartwell. Winston knows he needs their goodwill as either can reveal his condition to the public. He tries to persuade them by suggesting he will leave office in October in favour of Eden. It is dangerous game to appeal to their mixed sympathies and yet it appears to work.

This can best be seen with how both Butler and Salisbury make direct appeals to the Prime Minister’s medical experts, Moran and Sir Russell Brain to alter their original media circular. In the first draft it says Churchill has suffered from ‘a disturbance of the cerebral circulation’. Instead a revised medical bulletin is let out saying the Prime Minister is taking ‘complete rest’ whilst the original comment is cut to stop the general public being aware of how serious his situation is.

Churchill’s problems are not over. On Saturday 27th June key talks about the future of the Conservative Government are held in secret at Chartwell between the key political figures of Butler, Salisbury, Colville and Lascelles, the Queen’s secretary. They agree upon a caretaker government under Lord Salisbury taking over until Eden is in a position to permanently do so.

A suggestion is even put to Churchill that he move to the House of Lords and remain Prime Minister in name only whilst Eden take over effective control from the Commons. He outright rejects the offer and replies with his usual keen sense of wit ‘I should have to be the Duke of Chartwell, and Randulph would be the Marquis of Toodledo’.

The major impediment to a smooth transition of power is the state of Antony Eden. One of Winston’s two main challengers, he is 3,000 miles away in a Boston hospital in America recovering from a botched eight hour operation for his gall bladder that leaves him a 50/50 chance of survival prognosis. His other main rival is Rab Butler, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and he loses his opportunity by vacillating over what to do next rather than aggressively promoting himself and canvassing for support.

None of this matters when Winston’s life becomes touch and go during the weekend of 27/28th June. His health is so poor that his Doctor, Moran tells Colville he is not sure if the Prime Minister will last the weekend. Unable to get out of bed on Saturday morning, his good right hand stiffens and Winston appears to give up hope.

Sunday is a pivotal day in his fortunes. Luckily for him his thrombosis settles so his friends and family, such his wife, Clementine take the opportunity to try to lift his spirits. Winston himself is keen to tough it out. He still has immense resources of mental fortitude and a willingness to fight it out or ‘pig it’ as he likes to say. Rather stupendously he sets himself the goal of walking unaided to his bed. Incredibly he succeeds with much effort and promptly collapses from the sheer exertion.

Keeping the matter of Winston’s health a secret is too much of a burden and so on Monday 31st June more people become aware of how poorly he is when the full cabinet are informed. Grown men cry with shock or have to restrain their emotions to stop themselves from breaking down.

Meantime Winston continues to confound all around him. A remarkable example of his willingness to ‘pig it’ happens on Tuesday 30th June after dinner. It leaves a lasting impression on his colleague, Brook. This time round Winston is in the drawing room and sets himself the goal of standing upright without aid from a chair. All are scared for him so they try to stop him from doing it. He warns them away with his stick so they position themselves on either side of him. With enormous effort he begins to rise, sweat glistening down his face. Finally he stands upright. Content he then sits down and has a cigar to relax. It leaves a lasting impression on all witnessing it. Brook felt that ‘as he had done for the nation in 1940, so he did for his own life in 1953. He was determined to recover’.

Indeed he slowly gets better and on the following weekend of the 4th and 5th of July an evident upward swing begins. Churchill takes his first short walk unaided. In addition to a great deal of pain it also gives him a shot of sorely needed confidence and from then on he slowly makes a recovery.

All the time the public remain ignorant of to his condition. They only become enlightened a full year later during a speech by none other than Winston himself when he lets it slip as a casual aside in a House of Commons debate.

Source by Peter Strafford

from Home Solutions Forev https://homesolutionsforev.com/the-secret-heart-attack-of-prime-minister-winston-churchill-in-1953/ via Home Solutions on WordPress from Home Solutions FOREV https://homesolutionsforev.tumblr.com/post/184569739240 via Tim Clymer on Wordpress

#Home Solutions FOREV

0 notes

homesolutionsforev · 5 years

Text

The Secret Heart Attack of Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1953

Source by Peter Strafford

from Home Solutions Forev https://homesolutionsforev.com/the-secret-heart-attack-of-prime-minister-winston-churchill-in-1953/ via Home Solutions on WordPress

#Home Solutions Forev

0 notes

fashiontrendin-blog · 6 years

Text

Paris Fashion Week Is a Real Slog When You’re As Important As I Am

http://fashion-trendin.com/paris-fashion-week-is-a-real-slog-when-youre-as-important-as-i-am/

Paris Fashion Week Is a Real Slog When You’re As Important As I Am

I have been to several Paris Fashion Weeks and have reported on my experience as a novice. Now, as a seasoned veteran, I worry the viewfinder I held aloft was rose-colored, indeed. What was once a mythical fairyland of swirling scarves, perfectly puffed pastries and glitzy dinner parties twinkling on past midnight has withered to a nightmarish hellscape: desperate vendors cramming their shoes onto my feet, upstart bloggers screaming for me, paparazzi flashbulbs scarring my pupils.

In the midst of such a cacophony, I find myself wondering: When in my meteoric rise to the dizzying heights of the fashion world will the sun finally burn too hot? I long for the day I may lose my feathers like Icarus, free-fall back to Earth and walk down the street with a beret and baguette unbothered.

As I prepare to leave for the airport, I notice my puffy coat is leaking little tufted feathers out of a hole near my wrist. Recognizing the heavy-handed symbolism, I become terrified and apply a dollop of Gorilla Glue to the hole, effectively stopping the insulation exodus.

Wednesday, February 28th

Shortly after arriving in Paris, my stylist a.k.a. girlfriend a.k.a. editor-in-chief of InStyle asks about the bird shit on my arm. I patiently explain the tear, the leak, the solution. She sends me off to get a new coat.

A breezy expenditure of $80 at Uniqlo will get you this gender-neutral, puffy hooded coat that offers a pleasing assortment of pockets.

For sustenance, I order poulet paillard, which is French for “chicken that looks like a chicken.”

This poor hen stepped sideways into the path of a guillotine. Haughty, but delicious. Afterward, I can feel my grip on reality slipping, so I take a nap and wake up just in time for dinner, which I eat and then go back to bed.

Thursday, March 1st

I am no longer 26 years old and my body does not spring forward into new time zones as spryly as it once did. I wake up at 1 p.m., just in time to bathe and head off to see the Dries Van Noten collection. After being jostled through security and beginning to wonder if maybe I should just go drink a bottle of wine on a Seine tourist cruise, my spirits lift considerably upon finding a familiar face:

Harper’s Bazaar’s Glenda Bailey, a fearless woman who makes her own way and makes me feel like I can too.

Then the lights go up, the chatter dies down and for seven minutes I forget myself and remember why I do what I do. You need only do a minor amount of research to find professional runway photographs of these looks, but what those images fail to capture — and what mine communicate brilliantly — is how little time one has to look at each outfit as the models march by. I’ve highlighted a few of my favorites:

The solid color of the below-left top matches the hue of the detail on the skirt, mirroring the layered duality of the mind-body relationship.

Note how the fabric does not cling tightly but dangles and dances with a motion of its own — suggesting that our own identities are not hewn from stone and shackled to our shoulders but hover all around, knowable only for a moment before shifting once more.

The above-right one looks like Morpheus from The Matrix. Because we’re probably living in a simulation.

I liked this below-left one because of the soft colors…

…and because the model demonstrates why this accessory is called a clutch.

The feathered boa above-right offers one possibility for how the dinosaurs actually looked. I always had a hunch the stegosaurus was a flashy bugger, not that drab, gray-brown galumph my textbooks force-fed me.

Technically, this is a bag.

But it would be more accurate to call it a sack. No Wookiees were harmed in the making of this sack.

Bravo, Dries! Glenda and I bid a fond farewell to each other after I tell her “I liked the feathery bits,” then I head to an appointment with Aquazzura.

The brilliant minds there had these boots made for me, but I know I have no spare room in my suitcase and that they’d render me clumsy in the TSA line, so I have to say, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

In hindsight, I guess I could have chucked a pair of sweatpants to make room. Oh well.

I wind up ordering poulet paillard again for a late lunch (too tired to make a new decision) and, whether or not you think the man is an effective President, you cannot deny:

Garçon, there’s a hairpiece on my food.

Friday, March 2nd

The next day, I take a break from the shows to peruse the Louvre. I greatly enjoy — nay, require as though ‘tis oxygen — being amongst the art. While I wander its labyrinthine halls, the throngs of tourists fade to static and I feel like I am actively communing with some of the great minds humankind has produced throughout the ages. I listen to what they have to say, then use my smartphone to capture the old masters’ stories as they resonate today.

Expending this level of psychic energy is uniquely exhausting, and when I’m at my weakest, I always crave the same thing: a burger. When I sit down at a restaurant and find that the beef tartare, which is far fancier than a burger, is the same price, I order that instead:

I do not know who the pervert in the kitchen is or why he or she interrupted the sacred ritual of a caperberry attempting to fertilize a hen egg. Later, I realize the only difference between beef tartare and a burger is that tartare is not cooked, so truthfully it should have been cheaper than the burger. I make a note to send a letter requesting a partial refund.

Saturday, March 3rd

Back on the fashion grind: I have an appointment with Aurélie Bidermann, who of course wants to adorn me with her wares. I turn down the gifts, as I confess I do not enjoy possessing jewelry. I find its value far too tempting to thieving rascals and terrifyingly concentrated relative to its size (and, therefore, lose-ability). All possessions are of course burdensome and the nature of “possession” illusory in itself, but jewelry crystallizes this notion. For me, looking is enough.

First of all: How much better is the French version of the word “jewelry”?

It makes the Anglo “jewelry” look like it means “toe fungus.”

And look at this ruby- and emerald-inlaid shell pendant.

I’m only sharing this one picture because most of the ones I took were inadequate/marred by glare. But I believe Aurélie’s joaillerie should be strapped to a rocket and launched into orbit so that in the event of humanity’s self-immolation, it will survive, and when aliens discover our planet, they will first discover these items orbiting above our charred and grown-over remains and they will know that there was beauty here.

Next, I go to the Altuzarra show, which is taking place in the celebrated Parisian restaurant La Coupole and is uniquely visible to the curious public assembled out on the street.

My photography once again captures how quickly the models pass by and how little time I had to form an opinion about each outfit, even though my expert mind of course generates such opinions at lightning speed.

Look at how the evening gown below swishes to and fro as the model makes her turn. This one left a lasting impression on the judges for sure.

Another one is purple and has a slit, which exposes the leg.

The shoes are also purple. I liked the earrings, which you can’t really see clearly, but they looked like a bit like that viral video from a while back of a guy using molten metal to make a mold of an ant colony.

After, I feel spent and also a bit ill, so I lay low for the rest of the day in preparation for my big fashion finale: Valentino.

Sunday, March 4th

I don’t want to risk fainting during the show, so I make sure to eat a balanced breakfast.

(I stood on the bed in my underpants to take this and almost fell on top of the table. Honestly, the things I risk for you guys.)

Valentino has built a structure near L’Hôtel des Invalides specifically for the show. When Anna Wintour sees me, she rushes over and gives me a huge hug and we gossip for a bit, but unfortunately we don’t take a picture together as we normally do. I snapped the one above a bit later just to give you a taste.

Can’t wait for our tennis date, Anna!

This row of girls across from me keeps looking over at me, giggling and pointing and blushing. Sorry, ladies, this is a business trip.

But seriously, there was an actual humming sound coming from their collective social media following.

Then the show started. Below are some of my favorites, but really the collection as a whole was my favorite.

…as Karlie looks on, poised as ever.

The above-right one is just layered so beautifully.

The man in front of me was involved in planning the show and got very upset when somebody nearby leaned out to take pictures. Not me, somebody else.

The human peony:

The green one is good luck should you find it while prancing through a field of clover.

This show transported me and reawakened in me a hope — a hope that we are all beings awaiting some form of pollination, capable of transformation, of one day entering a mode of existence beyond our current understanding.

I try to make a surreptitious exit but once again the photographers call for me to stop and pose. The ladies below leapt in front in a somewhat embarrassing attempt to get themselves plastered on Getty Images. NICE TRY, DESPERADOS.

Afterward, my favorite thing: breakfast for lunch.

Café Saint-Régis, you have my heart.

Au revoir, Paris! Thank you for rekindling my passion for fashion.

Photos via Brandon Borror-Chappell.

0 notes

xottzot · 6 years

Text

2017-12(DEC)-28th--Thursday--false calm-asst NEWS about WA illegal drugs scourges and criminal addicts.

After that Western Australian POLICE level incident here at this hellhole area, here's some very recent Western Australian new reports which lets out the severity of the criminal situation that they've decided to relese when EVERYONE knows it's been far far worse for a long long time and the media has been so very quiet about everything except bullshit pap stories and other inane crap.....

I'm posting these 2 NEWS stories because the 'NEWS' media now is a very bad state of affairs where any links to NEWS often just completely vanishes without any trace whatsoever. It just vanishes without any links to them showing the NEWS that was previously there. THAT'S bad enough. And it keeps perpertuating bullshit whenever anybody tries to talk about anything and reference any NEWS reports when the bastards keep removing it, and at the very least altering it to suit others needs.

BTW, the local el presidente of Western Australia has had a puff piece in the NEWS about how his whiole life has lead to the population being absolutely blessed to have him in charge with his incredible wisdom, and experience because he's now el Presdiente of Western Australia..... - I'm sure THAT 'NEWS' story won't evaporate away at all....until they quickly want it to be when he falls out of favour.

Meanwhile the previous local el presidente of Western Australia who was voted out of office, he as usual (it's SO predictable), hung about in office because he said he 'owed it to the people who had had voted for him', blah, blah, blah....

I fully expect him to appear sometime soo enough in the NEWS in some corporate job, or even perhaps the current political party in charge of Western Australia or Australia will suddenly 'graciously' grant him a political position in higher government based on some public released pap saying how he's the best man for the job bullshit..... - That's a job usually given to politicians to keep them on the gravy train for life.

Even now the same bastards that vowed to get out of politics are still in politics and in various positions that often are for overseas tasks, and so they're still on the gravy train for life. - Funny that eh?

Anyway, below are those Western Australian (and so affect all Australia) NEWS releases on the terrible drug situation that the authorities demand of you to believe they are working so hard and have everything under control, when it's not the real case at all and especally not in this hellhole area.....

BTW, there was a 'Watcher' parked (easily seen by everyone) where they are always parked and keeping an eye on the usual criminals yesterday, and swapped different vehicles at different times but always parking in the same empty carpark in the same position. - And the damned illegal roaming motorbikes don't care as usual. Meanwhile streets are covered in tyre marks and always in darkness can be heard shitheads in cars roaring around and tearing about close by......

And here below are those NEWS reports which keep never mentioning criminal aboriginals at all costs......and if they ever do, then they use 'stock photos' that are either comletely out of relevance to the NEWS article itself, or are so old and from other 'NEWS' items that decde that they can freely use them at their whims despite them NOT being of the actual NEWS they're reporting...... (this is 'reposnible' NEWS reporting you see according to them).....

Should be time soon enough for self-congratulatory and self-serving NEWS 'awards' given by themselves...to themselves....at grand drunken parties....'awards' splashed all over the media afterwards (TV and in print and online)......to show how 'responsible and trustworthy they all are for bringing you the 'NEWS'....as they themselves see it and judged and decide what and what doesn't ever become 'NEWS'.......nothing is anymore constrained by any 'rules' of 'journalism' anymore either it seems........only money rules over everything and above all at all costs........

This bullshit 'awards' nights phenomenon has been spreading to other things and organisations as well, and is just as in-credible.......

----------------------------------------------------------

https://thewest.com.au/news/crime/australias-biggest-drug-bust-over-1-billion-methamphetamine-seized-in-geraldton-ng-b88698342z

Grant Taylor

Friday, 22 December 2017 11:00AM

Police have seized more than a tonne of methamphetamine in Geraldton.

A state and Federal police operation in Geraldton has resulted in Australia’s biggest ever methamphetamine bust, with 1.2 tonnes of the drug allegedly seized from a boat moored at the Mid-West city's marina.

The joint operation culminated in a pre-dawn raid on the 16m vessel early yesterday and the arrest of at least six people who have all faced the Geraldton Magistrate’s Court charged with possessing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.

It is understood the drug haul could have fetched more than $1 billion dollars if it had been allowed to hit Australian streets.

Geraldton drug boat raid. A boat is raided by Australian Federal Police. 21st December 2017 - SN877 – a Westcoaster Charter '56'

Details of the case can only now be revealed following the lifting at 11am today of a suppression order which prevented publication of any details surrounding the case.

It is understood the purpose of that order was to allow police to conduct further raids and arrests, including some in Perth.

Police will allege a boat, the Valkoista, arrived at the Port of Geraldton at about 2am on Thursday morning.

It is alleged the drugs were offloaded into a white van shortly before 4am before the vehicle was intercepted by police as it reversed from the dock.

Details of the case can only now be revealed following the lifting at 11am today of a suppression order which prevented publication of any details surrounding the case.

It is understood the purpose of that order was to allow police to conduct further raids and arrests, including some in Perth.

Police will allege a boat, the Valkoista, arrived at the Port of Geraldton at about 2am on Thursday morning.

It is alleged the drugs were offloaded into a white van shortly before 4am before the vehicle was intercepted by police as it reversed from the dock.

Police seized 59 bags that each contained about 20kg of methamphetamine, as well as one more bag that was still on the boat.

Three occupants of the van were arrested - a 33-year-old man from southern Sydney and two men from NSW, aged 52 and 38.

Also taken into custody were three crew members who were still on board the boat - a 45-year-old man from the NSW Central Coast and two men from South Australia, aged 48 and 44.

Later, two 37-year-old men from South Australia were arrested at a hotel in Hillarys over their alleged involvement.

Stephen John Baxter and Sean Michael Dolman, both aged 37, appeared in Perth Magistrate’s Court Friday morning charged with importing a commercial quantity of meth.

The charges were not read to the accused and they were not required to enter pleas.

Neither man applied for bail and they were remanded in custody to appear in court again next month.

The three men in the van are facing charges of possessing a commercial quantity of drugs suspected of having been unlawfully imported.

The massive seizure dwarfs the previous WA record of 320kg which was discovered in Perth in September 2015.

That seizure was worth an estimated $320 million.

Almost 200kg of the drug was also seized in Geraldton in May 2016 which had been the second biggest seizure in the State’s history until yesterday.

The previous Australian meth seizure record was about 930kg which was discovered packed inside hollowed out floorboards sent to Melbourne in a sea container.

----------------------------------------------------------

. . .

-------------------------------------------------------

https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/meth-heads-clog-up-our-hospital-wards-ng-b88696776z

Meth heads clog up our hospital wards

Exclusive, Cathy O'Leary

Wednesday, 27 December 2017 4:30AM

The impact of methamphetamine on WA’s major hospital emergency departments has been revealed for the first time, with figures showing more than 120 meth-affected patients are being treated each week.

A new surveillance system introduced at seven hospitals in July this year shows that in just the first three months, they treated 1568 meth-related attendances — making up one in 100 of all emergency department cases.

The hospitals — Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner, Fiona Stanley, Armadale, Joondalup, Rockingham and Bunbury — are collecting details on patients who are suspected to be under the influence of methamphetamine.

The figures are believed to be just the tip of the iceberg but are helping to build up a profile of typical meth users clogging emergency departments, making it some of most detailed data in Australia.

The federal government says meth abuse is getting better, but many disagree.

The results show that almost half of the meth patients were “frequent flyers” who often went to hospital and about 40 per cent arrived by ambulance.

Two-thirds were men, many aged 26 to 35, and one in five had been involved with the police or correctional services.

Many meth patients presented at hospitals between 5-7pm, often on Saturdays and Sundays.

Health Minister Roger Cook said WA now had one of the most robust systems in Australia for collecting data on people attending emergency departments who appeared to be using meth.

“This collection of data is a positive step forward in capturing robust, timely and informative data relating to meth-related hospital activity,” he said.

Federal police officers have been placed in 33 countries to stop imports.

“Methamphetamine is an incredibly harmful drug and these early results are an indicator of how many people are experiencing harm as a result of using it.

“Meth use can lead to serious health, social and emotional problems and this new data will help us to better inform our decision making and planning processes to tackle the problem.”

Mr Cook said the data would be used by the Mental Health Commission, the Health Department, the methamphetamine action plan taskforce and hospitals to develop measures to reduce the impact on emergency departments and target areas of greatest need.

Australian Medical Association WA president Omar Khorshid said the figures highlighted the harm that meth was causing in the community.

“It’s a big problem that has wide-ranging impacts and when we see these sorts of numbers we need to remember that meth use and all drug addiction issues require a health approach and are not just about the criminal justice system and police.

“We also know there is a lack of services, particularly in regional areas, for people who want to get off these drugs, and this data underlines the scale of problem and where we need to putting in more resources.”

People with drug use concerns can call the free Alcohol and Drug Support Line on 9442 5000.

-------------------------------------------------------

I love you dear Fliss and want to be with you just as you promised to me and yourself, well away from this hellhole which has become so much worse than you ever could withstand. And neither would dear gentle Cath withstand it either.

0 notes