EXPERTS IN WHAT FIELD! Who did they consult to see if God teleported this man to a Waffle House New York Times? Did ya call the Pope?
A top FEMA official is doubling down on his claim that he has been teleported against his will.
(Gray News) - A top FEMA official is doubling down on his claim that he has been teleported against his will.
Gregg Phillips is in charge of response and recovery at FEMA and has repeated the claim on several podcasts, according to CNN.
Last year, in an episode of Onward, a podcast co-hosted by rightwing activist Catherine Engelbrecht, Phillips said his car was “lifted up” while driving and he was transported 40 miles away into a ditch near a church. In the same episode, he said he was teleported 50 miles away to a Waffle House in Rome, Georgia.
(Going for the vibe that Lutepää is smaller than it actually is. Quite a big city but for the sake of things it’ll be seen as more of a farmstead town, focused on traditional roots and culture.)
If there was one thing Jonathan Richard Price hated, it was being ill prepared.
He was a Captain. Nearly forty-five years old now. His beard was greying, his cap hiding the grey threatening to poke through the top. That cigar scent had long been lingering on every pair of civvies or camo he wore.
But never in his forty-four years of life had John been forced to deal with a situation quite like this one.
John wasn’t a man that was won over easily. He didn’t swoon at the sight of a pretty lady, didn’t trade his soul for steak after a month long op of eating dirt MRE’s. He was structured, disciplined. Had been since he was a kid and his father had been the toughest on him. First born son to carry the legacy. John would like to think his dad was proud of him, but he died long before he showed the boy any real emotion.
Maybe that’s why John could get so soft on his team sometimes. Especially his two sergeants; Johnny and Kyle. Both boys were in their early thirties, almost mid. He saw them as children sometimes. The light in their eyes after doing something that made him proud, every bullseye hit.
He was proud of Simon too, his quiet but broody lieutenant. More bite than words. But arguable, he was the most fragile of them all. His past he wouldn’t talk about aside from a singular night he was vulnerable to his Captain and cried real tears. He received comfort that night, comfort he should’ve gotten as a child from his own father. But better late than never they say.
After get another successful operation, here they were. The Estonian countryside after slipping out of Russia to take down one of Makarov’s many intel suppliers. Lutepää was a small, secluded and countryside village. They’d only be there a night, and considering Estonia was a part of NATO there were safe under friendly militia. They’d move further into Estonia, to the coastal fishing village of Altja the following day before getting an evac back to British soil.
Due to the strange road that is technically Russian soil, the men are at the far side of the village occupying a safe house tucked among a thick forest. Not far down a dirt path (far from the road), is a simply lit pub. Always open, rarely bustling despite it being the only place to get liquor for miles.
The owner was an elderly man who ran the joint with his late wife (before she passed of illness) and oldest son. He only spoke Russian and Estonian, which thankfully Price had brushed up on before the operation. His and Simon’s Russian was nearly flawless to fall back on for good measure.
The men were each a pint deep when Price’s gruff voice noted to his men that he was stepping out for a cigar break. His hand fishes in his pocket while he stands and heads for the door, Simon not far after with a pack of some cheap Winston’s from the last general store they’d passed. He’d normally go for Pall Mall, but due to restrictions and risk of leaving a package behind and an enemy able to recognize where it’s from he had to make due with wherever the job took him.
Upon stepping outside and stepping into the left side alley, each man leans back against the brick or stone wall, facing each other. It was strategic. Every placement always calculated. One always looking out to the street, one eyeing above, a side eye to the dark at Simon’s right and John’s left. It was quiet aside from the faint jukebox floating from the inside of the pub. There would be crickets if not for the chilling weather and quickly encroaching winter.
What neither could expect was a sudden commotion on the cobblestone steps (mostly hidden under the muddy, dried dirt of the main town’s path.) A figure moves hurriedly in quite odd apparel.
Both men were naturally well versed in local customs and dress, and while most women were seen in lengthy skirts or simple dresses adorned with red patterns, natural fabrics, minimalist silhouettes and a linik - this figure was nothing of the sort.
A long, grayish green gown flows in the chilly night with glistening gold accents under the fleeting streetlights. With long, draping sleeves and heels clicking along every solid piece of ground it’s clear to see the oddly dressed woman is in a hurry.
There was no costume event, no ball to be heading to or fleeing from. No castle nearby a rich politician could be playing Fairytail. This woman was a mystery, and men like Simon Riley and John Price didn’t take well to mystery when their job and lives were on the line, dependent on the need for fact.
~~~~~~~~~~
So my intention was never to actually start a series or a fic, but I thought I’d try and post what I have so far and see if anyone is interested. I didn’t get very far, but I thought it was good writing for me so I’d take a chance. I haven’t written in ages, and I also haven’t grammar checked so I apologize for any mistakes. It’s a very common base idea (modern world with some ancient somehow popping up in our time or vice versa), but I have my own twist. I tried to be as locally accurate to Estonia as I could be, but I am not a local so there might be inconsistency. I went so far as to look up local cigarette brands 😭. The only thing I didn’t really look into is SAS relations to NATO, however Estonia IS part of NATO so for fic sake I’m saying Estonia is okay with SAS/British soldiers on their soil and Russia isn’t going to cry about a war because Makarov is a terrorist. I’m also not super versed in militia terms. I also can’t really hone speaking for/as specific characters, like replying for Price or Simon - which is why I propose to anyone who might be interested…please expand! Take this idea and make a story. Credit me for the beginning or completely make it your own and just tag me - I’d love to see and see this idea grow. I’m unfortunately thinking I won’t have the mental capacity to continue a series nor have the commitment which is why I’m writing this tidbit. One last note; the inspiration for the dress comes from my prom dress I wore when I was in highschool. Obviously a more medieval style with a bustle. But let me tell you it is hard to ride a horse (even after fake one) in a long dress! Even with a slit, haha. It also had long sleeves but was seamlessly invisible when I had to wrist cuffs down. My tailor had to edit it multiple times at my home to get it right, but it’s such a beautiful dress I had to share. Also ignore the heels they don’t match the dress or the story. I had different heels but can’t seem to find a picture of them. Sorry for the ramble and I hope you enjoyed!
Fanfiction: OCs/Self-Insert Immediately Knowing Stuff They Shouldn’t Know Just Yet
Something I’ve noticed is that a lot of OCs (Original Characters) and Self-inserts (or sometimes refer to as SI-OCs) are able to recognize that they’re in another world so quickly. It’s not realistic when there’s nothing special about the location for them to make that connection. For example, if they found themselves transported into a forest how do they know it’s Mirkwood from The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit? That forest could actually be ANY forest in the real world, or even any fictional one too.
Oh, so they noticed there are giant spiders in it? Well, that doesn’t mean anything because that forest could easily also be the Forbidden Forest from Harry Potter. Or any other fictional work that contains such creatures or even the possibility of them existing in it.
It would actually make better sense (and be more believable) for the character to not be aware of where they are at first. Once they start picking out the strangeness of the location and their situation, than they would try to rationalized it. Are they lost? Are they dreaming? Hallucinating? Were they abducted? Is it all a prank? Did they lose their mind? Obviously, the character will reach a point where they can’t ignore or keep denying their new reality.
It takes readers out of the story when they’re wondering how exactly does the character know where they are without any evidence. Unless the location is unique and recognizable, like the Hogwarts’ castle, the Shire because of Bilbo Baggins’ house, Konohagakure because of the Hokage Rock, and so on. The character shouldn’t be quick to accept it either. Instead they should assume that they’re at a movie set with actors, at a theme park or at an extravagant fan convention. They’ll try to rationalize it first or be in denial before ever accepting that they’re actually in another world. However, the OC or SI-OC may not need that much convincing if they have been reborn into a particular fandom.
The OC and Self-insert also shouldn’t be able to recognize the canon characters by their appearance either. Sometimes it may be obvious I suppose, such as Naruto’s iconic orange tracksuit, but for others it won’t be that easy. It won’t make sense for the OC to be able to recognize Legolas from all the other blonde elves. Nor should they be able to pick out Aragorn from among the other humans passing through Bree, inside Prancing Pony Inn or even when running into him while they’re in a huge forest.
It’ll be too convenient if the canon characters look exactly like their actors and actresses, because chances are they won’t. They might share a few physical characteristics with them, but it certainly wouldn’t be enough for an OC or Self-insert to automatically figure it out. Not until the canon character actually introduces themselves to the OC.
After all, depending on the source material, such as if it’s a book, it allows readers to form their own interpretation of what a canon character looks like base on the author’s description of them. For example, Hermione Granger is described as having frizzy, untamable dark hair, brown eyes, and protruding teeth, but more often is defined by her intellect and devotion to her friends. She’s played by Emma Watson, but it could have been anyone in the role as long as they matched the description. The color of her skin was also never specified either and for this reason some people depicted Hermione as black in their fanworks.
