MARCH 10TH, 2016

[maskormods]

THE MAJORITY REPORT: MARCH 10TH, 2016

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING
As seen in Washington Beltway newspapers via press release:
The NSA reports a pronounced pattern of imPorts who are disgruntled by President Freemason's patriotic attack on a Soviet ally. There will be a congressional hearing to determine if anything ought to be done in a legislative reaction, or not.

SHE'S BEEN CALLED A SUPERWOMAN
As seen originally on BlueTube, with news media outlets reporting in reference:
Downtown Heropa got quite the scare when an imPort later identified as Maria Posada bodily shielded Manolo Sanchez, a fellow imPort and budding musician, from getting crushed by an oncoming bus. Thanks to her impressive, superhuman strength, the two were unharmed. Although no charges will be filed, the incident still garnered attention after a video captured by an onlooker went viral. Certain fans on Rumblr and other imPort-related forums are charmed by the pair, and hope to see more from them in the future!

CARLMANIA
As seen on BlueTube:
A post made by Carl Grimes (teenage heartthrob, imPort, and USSR survivor) made his second post on Bluetube, thanking American citizens for helping out in the imPort rebellion against the Soviet occupation. He came up with an idea for a bonfire to burn all the Soviet propaganda forced upon imPorts and to the American people. There is some criticism on the youth's harsh language and vulgar gestures.

However, rumors are circulating on Carl Grimes' mysterious wound, even though he barely goes into detail about it.

RUNNING ON EMPTY
As seen reported in international news and major national newspapers:
The Washington Think Tank American Intelligence Counsel held a conference of diplomatic and social scientific experts on imPort behavior. This topic has been rising in popular insider discussion, and imPorts have proven themselves to be an explicably formidable force. As one conference goer, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "The strategic terrain of what to do next is not on any map, but rather the keys lies between that of imPort ears." The three-day conference begins March 10th and concludes March 12th in Washington, D.C.

SOFTBALL WITH CHRIS MATTHEWS
As heard on public radio:
Springtime is breaking pretty in De Chima and Maurtia Falls! With Daylight Savings just around the corner, many residents are thinking about outdoor pastimes. De Chima local Christina Matthews has petitioned the idea of both cities forming their own softball teams -- and imPorts are welcomed! Matthews said that given what both cities have recently been through, she thinks this would be a good bonding exercise for imPorts and locals alike. After all, they have more in common than not, and who doesn't like a little softball? Matthews has since been gauging interest through social media.

SOMEONE CALL MCCARTHY
As seen through BlueTube, local and national news stations, and discussed on Bwitter:
A statement from the imPort Ambassador of Nonah.

Statement as follows:

"I am not too proud to say that I am very pleased and grateful for the action of the brave citizens of Nonah and the other ImPort cities, who have shown that they are made of the Iron Stuff that will pull on the rungs of the Iron Curtain, bringing it down once and for all. In the time where others might have blinked, you brave Americans stared your invaders right in the eye and made them blink. It is an honour to live among your number.

I am grateful too for the brave men and women of the armed forces that helped rout the last of the Reds in our need.

But I am dismayed by one thing. It keeps me from the proper joy that our liberation should bring. Debrecen.

As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of my world, I was asked to make some pretty tough decisions. I will even go so far as to say some of them would damn me to hell. I understand, deeply, what thinking that brought President Freemason to make her decision. I do not believe she took it lightly or out of ignorance. But I cannot ignore the great deal of collateral damage caused by the action. Hungarian children, nor indeed, many of their mothers and fathers, are not responsible for the actions of a misguided few scientists and their Russian masters.

It would no doubt be of grim and little comfort to the survivors of Debrecen, but I offer my condolences for the suffering you've endured in our name."

RUSSIAN IN WITH YOUR OPINION
As seen on the 24-hour national news cycle and in brief on the international news cycle:
"Russia has always had a very strong counterintelligence capability," reports ex-CIA Director Lucas Schwab. "So it is little wonder why President Freemason is rejecting calls for severe economic sanctions and is instead pursuing aggressive, offensive tactics. Remember that the presidential cabinet was infiltrated. Russia knew what we knew, and then misled us. Remember what happened to the imPort cities. You cannot afford to forget -- Russia will not let you."

Stay tuned, citizens.

CODE SWITCH
The Homeland Security Advisory System has moved from COMRADE RED, which is a fake color and will be ceremoniously stricken from the record, to CAPITALISTIC GREEN, because that's how it trickles down.

WANT TO SUBMIT TO THE MAJORITY REPORT?
The Majority Report comes out the 10th and 20th of every month. You may find details and submit here. The cut-off time is 12:01 AM PST on the 9th and the 19th for the corresponding dates.

Comments

[matadorable]

There was a truck blocking my view. I'm still not used to the vehicles everywhere, and I just...[He makes a helpless gesture with his hands.] Look, I will be more careful next time, okay?

[medalsome]

You weren't paying attention. Sounds like you.

[He rubs at his eyes, sighing.]

And of course, you didn't see fit to tell me. I'll probably only ever hear about you being in an accident if you happen to show up in the newspaper obituaries.

[matadorable]

[He winces a bit at that.]

Please don't say that, Joaquin. I just didn't mention it because I didn't want to drag the conversation down. Besides, I wasn't even really hurt, so it didn't seem important...

[Especially when their focus had been on Maria and her dramatic entrance. She stopped a bus, how amazing is that??]

[medalsome]

[More eye rubbing. God, he can't handle this.]

... Fine, sure. It's not important. I shouldn't have said anything.

[matadorable]

That's not what I said.

[medalsome]

I don't really know what you want from me, Manolo, but I'll do and think and say whatever you want.

[matadorable]

And that's not what I want. You are a human being with feelings and opinions that matter just as much as anyone else's. [He sighs, regret in his voice now.] Listen, I'm...sorry. I obviously wasn't thinking straight.

[medalsome]

[Well, that's... unexpected. He's only had very few people tell him his feelings were valid, and even then he didn't think they believed it half of the time. He shifts awkwardly.]

Well... it's your life. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. I'm sorry I got worked up. It's not really any of my business.

[matadorable]

It's because you care. I don't like making you worry, Joaquin, but...I do appreciate that you genuinely want what's best for me. I think...that's one reason I feel safe when we're together.

[medalsome]

That's...

My worrying just inconveniences you. I'll try not to do it so much.

[matadorable]

It's okay. We're still trying to figure things out. And I do try to keep you in mind when I'm making any big decisions, believe it or not. Especially after I messed up so badly before.

[medalsome]

Yeah. [Another sigh.]

Don't worry about me, Manolo. You should just... go have fun with Maria. Buy her a snowcone. I'm sure she'd like that.

[matadorable]

Not if she knows you're holing yourself up in your room.

[medalsome]

Well I'm not! I'm going on a motorcycle ride. Unless she has super speed she's not going to be able to corner me like that again.

[matadorable]

[Oh. Right. Manolo shifts a bit uncomfortably, looking torn for a moment, before saying:]

...Alright. You need some space. I understand that. Please, just...take care of yourself.

[medalsome]

You don't have to worry about me, Manolo. I'm... very used to taking care of myself. [Unlike some people, but he doesn't say that.]

Trust me. I've been doing it for a long time.

[matadorable]

That doesn't mean you should have to shoulder things alone even when it's tough, though, alright?

[medalsome]

Why shouldn't it? I've been doing it for more than ten years now. Why does being here suddenly change things?

[matadorable]

Because you have people who care about you.

[medalsome]

... You cared when we were still back home, too, didn't you?

[That hadn't meant he had people he could fall back on if he found himself in emotional and mental trouble, though maybe if he had not been invincible and got physically injured he could have relied on Posada and the Sanchez family to help him out then, but that hadn't been anything to worry about then. It was a moot point now.]

[matadorable]

Of course I did! [He's almost affronted that Joaquin would need to ask, but if his friend needs that reassurance, he won't deny him. With a quiet voice, he adds:] But...you didn't really seem to make friends with anyone else after Maria went away. It's different here, right? You have other people who care about you, and you care about them. It's not just me anymore, so...

[medalsome]

Yeah, I... I suppose that's true.

[It was different. Everyone in town, and the towns nearby, they all considered him a hero, a scion of a brilliant, invincible legacy. It was hard to get close to people when they expected so much of you. Here, everyone was a hero and while that came with its own issues it meant he didn't have to worry about people constantly looking to him to save them. He didn't have to shoulder the whole burden.

Still...]

I guess I still don't see why you should find yourself worrying about me now. I'm an adult, and I've had to take care of myself a lot longer than you have. In some respects, that hasn't really changed.

[matadorable]

Joaquin...[He rubs his eyes, uncertain if they should be having this conversation right now.] Most people can't say they had a magical item that granted them immortality. Growing up, I just thought you were a lot better at me than everything because you could do the craziest stunts without getting a scratch on you. But...now I understand that you were cheated out of a normal life in other ways, and I know just how fragile that can make a man.

[medalsome]

Hey, I'm not fragile, I'm-! [He scrambles for a word] I'm just special!

[Okay that wasn't the best way to try to change things around, but WOW being called fragile... by Manolo of all people...]

I'm just... going through some stuff I wouldn't have had to deal with back home! We didn't have Soviets or brainwashing or nanites or internets or goodle or anything like that to worry about and now it's here and I have no idea what to do with myself sometimes, but that doesn't mean I'm fragile!

[matadorable]

First of all, you're going through problems that have carried over from home on top of all those things you just mentioned. Second, I didn't call you fragile, I said I know how fragile those things can make a person, and that is why I worry.

[There's a subtle distinction, even if he does privately believe Joaquin has become more fragile since their arrival. But in this case, he's trying to use his own experiences to empathize with Joaquin without directly labeling him one thing or another.]