#B Ordinary 14 Monday

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

5th August >> Mass Readings (USA)

Monday, Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time 

or

Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

Monday, Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II))

First Reading Jeremiah 28:1-17 The Lord has not sent you, and you have raised false confidence in this people.

In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, the prophet Hananiah, son of Azzur, from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people: “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will restore to this place all the vessels of the temple of the LORD which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took away from this place to Babylon. And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah, son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’” The prophet Jeremiah answered the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people assembled in the house of the LORD, and said: Amen! thus may the LORD do! May he fulfill the things you have prophesied by bringing the vessels of the house of the LORD and all the exiles back from Babylon to this place! But now, listen to what I am about to state in your hearing and the hearing of all the people. From of old, the prophets who were before you and me prophesied war, woe, and pestilence against many lands and mighty kingdoms. But the prophet who prophesies peace is recognized as truly sent by the LORD only when his prophetic prediction is fulfilled. Thereupon the prophet Hananiah took the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it, and said in the presence of all the people: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Even so, within two years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, from off the neck of all the nations.’” At that, the prophet Jeremiah went away. Some time after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: Go tell Hananiah this: Thus says the LORD: By breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke! For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: A yoke of iron I will place on the necks of all these nations serving Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and they shall serve him; even the beasts of the field I give him. To the prophet Hananiah the prophet Jeremiah said: Hear this, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, and you have raised false confidence in this people. For this, says the LORD, I will dispatch you from the face of the earth; this very year you shall die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD. That same year, in the seventh month, Hananiah the prophet died.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

Remove from me the way of falsehood, and favor me with your law.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

Take not the word of truth from my mouth, for in your ordinances is my hope.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

Let those turn to me who fear you and acknowledge your decrees.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

Let my heart be perfect in your statutes, that I be not put to shame.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

Sinners wait to destroy me, but I pay heed to your decrees.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

From your ordinances I turn not away, for you have instructed me.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 4:4

Alleluia, alleluia. One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over– twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major 

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Monday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Revelation 21:1-5a I saw a new Jerusalem, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.” The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Judith 13:18bcde, 19

R/ You are the highest honor of our race.

Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the LORD God, the creator of heaven and earth.

R/ You are the highest honor of our race.

Your deed of hope will never be forgotten by those who tell of the might of God.

R/ You are the highest honor of our race.

Gospel Acclamation Luke 11:28

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 11:27-28 Blessed is the womb that carried you.

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[paularoseauthor]

November Year B Daily reflection

Are You Hungry for Fame? Monday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time ” Luke 14:12–14″When you host a lunch or a dinner, don’t ask your friends, brothers, sisters, relatives, or rich neighbours, in case they might ask you back and you get paid back. Instead, when you throw a party, ask the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; you’ll be lucky indeed because they can’t pay you…

[ongolecharles]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Mon Sept 23rd, 2024 ... Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B/Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

Reading 1

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Prv 3:27-34

Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim

when it is in your power to do it for him.

Say not to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,

tomorrow I will give,” when you can give at once.

Plot no evil against your neighbor,

against one who lives at peace with you.

Quarrel not with a man without cause,

with one who has done you no harm.

Envy not the lawless man

and choose none of his ways:

To the LORD the perverse one is an abomination,

but with the upright is his friendship.

The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,

but the dwelling of the just he blesses;

When dealing with the arrogant, he is stern,

but to the humble he shows kindness.

Responsorial Psalm

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

Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5

R. (1) The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

He who walks blamelessly and does justice;

who thinks the truth in his heart

and slanders not with his tongue.

R. The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

Who harms not his fellow man,

nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;

By whom the reprobate is despised,

while he honors those who fear the LORD.

R. The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

Who lends not his money at usury

and accepts no bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things

shall never be disturbed.

R. The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

Alleluia

---------

Mt 5:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Let your light shine before others,

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

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Lk 8:16-18

Jesus said to the crowd:

“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel

or sets it under a bed;

rather, he places it on a lampstand

so that those who enter may see the light.

For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,

and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.

Take care, then, how you hear.

To anyone who has, more will be given,

and from the one who has not,

even what he seems to have will be taken away.”

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

1. THE LIGHT OF CHRIST: Everything we have done and all that we do in our lives will be revealed. The wicked mistakenly think that their evil deeds will go unnoticed. Jesus corrects this view: “For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.” If our deeds are good, then we have no reason to fear. In fact, in our deeds and actions, we are called to be a light for the world. We are not the ultimate source of the light, for Jesus is the light that enlightens all men (John 1:9). At the same time when we walk in the light of Christ, we are called to share and communicate this light to others. Jesus also teaches that to those who have, more will be given. And so, when we receive Jesus and the Holy Spirit, when we immerse ourselves in divine wisdom, and when we let the light of Christ shine through us, even more will be given to us. Our knowledge of God will be even more profound; our love for God will be even deeper.

2. TWO WAYS OF LIFE ACCORDING TO PROVERBS: The First Reading is from the Book of Proverbs. The book is like a “treasury of wisdom for successful living, ... [that] aims at the formation of character by imparting values and encouraging virtues” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Proverbs, 14). The beginning and foundation of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. “Since wisdom ultimately comes from God (2:6), one can hardly be called wise who fails to revere the Lord. Everyone is obliged to discern the lessons of life by use of reason and to conform to the order that God's wisdom has built into creation” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Proverbs, 14). Proverbs sees that human beings follow one of two ways: the righteous follow the way of wisdom and life; the senseless follow the way of foolishness and death.

3. THE CALL TO WISDOM: Today’s First Reading (Proverbs 3:27-34) is taken from the first collection of Wisdom Discourses (Proverbs 1:8-9:18). The first chapters of Proverbs invite the reader to not consent to the enticements of sinners and to not walk with them or in their ways. Wisdom calls out in the streets of the city for men and women to listen to her words. If they receive her words, they will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. By heeding wisdom, they will understand righteousness and justice and follow a good path; they will be delivered from the way of evil. The one who listens to wisdom trusts in the Lord with all their heart, honors the Lord with their work, and does not despise the Lord’s discipline. Happy is the man who finds wisdom. Today’s First Reading tells us that the wise man is just: He gives to others their due and does not envy the wicked man who commits injustices. The reading also tells us that the wise man is humble and that they receive favor from God. The wise, the just, and the humble receive blessings from God, while the wicked bring down curses upon themselves.

CONVERSING WITH CHRIST: Lord Jesus, I am your disciple. Teach me to see all things from a divine perspective and to contemplate all things in the light of eternity. Help me to know what is lasting and of true value and to relativize what is passing and temporal.

LIVING THE WORD OF GOD: Am I listening, in my daily work, to the call of wisdom? Do I trust in the Lord with all my heart? Do I honor the Lord with my work? Do I despise the Lord’s discipline and testing? What can I do better?

***

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

(May 25, 1887 – September 23, 1968)

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina’s Story

In one of the largest such ceremonies in history, Pope John Paul II canonized Padre Pio of Pietrelcina on June 16, 2002. It was the 45th canonization ceremony in Pope John Paul’s pontificate. More than 300,000 people braved blistering heat as they filled St. Peter’s Square and nearby streets. They heard the Holy Father praise the new saint for his prayer and charity. “This is the most concrete synthesis of Padre Pio’s teaching,” said the pope. He also stressed Padre Pio’s witness to the power of suffering. If accepted with love, the Holy Father stressed, such suffering can lead to “a privileged path of sanctity.”

Many people have turned to the Italian Capuchin Franciscan to intercede with God on their behalf; among them was the future Pope John Paul II. In 1962, when he was still an archbishop in Poland, he wrote to Padre Pio and asked him to pray for a Polish woman with throat cancer. Within two weeks, she had been cured of her life-threatening disease.

Born Francesco Forgione, Padre Pio grew up in a family of farmers in southern Italy. Twice his father worked in Jamaica, New York, to provide the family income.

At the age of 15, Francesco joined the Capuchins and took the name of Pio. He was ordained in 1910 and was drafted during World War I. After he was discovered to have tuberculosis, he was discharged. In 1917, he was assigned to the friary in San Giovanni Rotondo, 75 miles from the city of Bari on the Adriatic.

On September 20, 1918, as he was making his thanksgiving after Mass, Padre Pio had a vision of Jesus. When the vision ended, he had the stigmata in his hands, feet, and side.

Life became more complicated after that. Medical doctors, Church authorities, and curiosity seekers came to see Padre Pio. In 1924, and again in 1931, the authenticity of the stigmata was questioned; Padre Pio was not permitted to celebrate Mass publicly or to hear confessions. He did not complain of these decisions, which were soon reversed. However, he wrote no letters after 1924. His only other writing, a pamphlet on the agony of Jesus, was done before 1924.

Padre Pio rarely left the friary after he received the stigmata, but busloads of people soon began coming to see him. Each morning after a 5 a.m. Mass in a crowded church, he heard confessions until noon. He took a mid-morning break to bless the sick and all who came to see him. Every afternoon he also heard confessions. In time his confessional ministry would take 10 hours a day; penitents had to take a number so that the situation could be handled. Many of them have said that Padre Pio knew details of their lives that they had never mentioned.

Padre Pio saw Jesus in all the sick and suffering. At his urging, a fine hospital was built on nearby Mount Gargano. The idea arose in 1940; a committee began to collect money. Ground was broken in 1946. Building the hospital was a technical wonder because of the difficulty of getting water there and of hauling up the building supplies. This “House for the Alleviation of Suffering” has 350 beds.

A number of people have reported cures they believe were received through the intercession of Padre Pio. Those who assisted at his Masses came away edified; several curiosity seekers were deeply moved. Like Saint Francis, Padre Pio sometimes had his habit torn or cut by souvenir hunters.

One of Padre Pio’s sufferings was that unscrupulous people several times circulated prophecies that they claimed originated from him. He never made prophecies about world events and never gave an opinion on matters that he felt belonged to Church authorities to decide. He died on September 23, 1968, and was beatified in 1999.

Reflection

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Referring to that day’s Gospel (Matthew 11:25-30) at Padre Pio’s canonization Mass in 2002, Saint John Paul II said: “The Gospel image of ‘yoke’ evokes the many trials that the humble Capuchin of San Giovanni Rotondo endured. Today we contemplate in him how sweet is the ‘yoke’ of Christ and indeed how light the burdens are whenever someone carries these with faithful love. The life and mission of Padre Pio testify that difficulties and sorrows, if accepted with love, transform themselves into a privileged journey of holiness, which opens the person toward a greater good, known only to the Lord.”

***

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[chrancecriber]

Radio NET Bulgaria (December 11, 2022)

23:56 PHILLIP DOC MARTIN - Club Life 23:53 JESSY J - Besame Mucho 23:49 AL DEGREGORIS - Hey You 23:45 MELINA - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 23:41 BENNETT B - Above The Clouds 23:37 JAZZ FUNK SOUL - Life And Times 23:33 JAZZ IN PINK - Joy Joy! 23:28 DANNY LERMAN - No Ordinary Love 23:25 MARION MEADOWS - Jingle Bells 23:21 NEIKA SIMONE - Beautiful Moments 23:17 ED CALLE - Faces in the Clouds 23:13 JIM ADKINS - Wind Dancing 23:10 WILL DONATO - Always You (Feat. Steve Oliver) 23:07 VINCENT INGALA - Sleigh Ride 23:03 NILS - Summer Nights 23:00 OLI SILK - Eva's Song 22:59 LINKIN PARK - New Divide (Lukas Termena Chillout Mix) 22:53 MICHAEL E - That Night Last Summer 22:49 AMYCANBE - Rose Is A Rose 22:43 ASHENI - Only Magic (Chris Wonderful Remix) 22:38 EMMA HEWITT - Foolish Boy (Zetandel Chill Out Mix) 22:35 JAY SEAN - Maybe (The Xtreme Chillout Remix) 22:30 ROGER SHAH, SUNLOUNGER - Trademark White (Omega 3 Bossachill Remix) 22:24 LEMONGRASS - Ocean Kisses (Original Mix) 22:20 SUNLOUNGER - Punta Galera (Chillout Mix) 22:17 TIESTO FEAT. JES - Everything (Acoustic) 22:09 KITARO - A Passage Of Life 22:05 JULIAN VINCENT, SHANNON HURLEY - Lost In Space (Lovers & Poets Remix) 22:02 MISS B.T. - Right Now (Sweet Lovin' Edit) 21:57 SEBA - Painted Sky (Imagine Chill Out Remix) 21:52 JOHN O'CALLAGHAN, LO-FI SUGAR - Never Fade Away 21:48 BELLATRAX FEAT. TINA COUSINS - Can’t Hold Back (Acoustic Mix) 21:45 SYLVERING - Just An Illusion 21:39 SMOOTH DELUXE - Boulevard Rouge 21:35 ABOVE & BEYOND, GARETH EMERY - On A Good Day (Incognet REWORK) 21:32 KOSMOPOLITANS, ATHENA ROUTSI - I Belong To You 21:27 FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE - Seven Devils 21:24 ENIGMA, SARAH BRIGHTMAN - La Mer 21:20 LOUNGE GROOVE AVENUE - Don't Be So Shy 21:14 SIR LOUNGEALOT - Silver Beach (Original Mix) 21:11 JES - Stronger 21:07 CUEBRICK - Safe (C-Systems Alternative Mix) 20:58 VINTAGE, MORELLI - Tree Of Life (Magnetik Remix) 20:53 DEEPER SUBLIME, AVO - Hypnotic 20:48 ANDAIN - You Once Told Me 20:44 ROBERT NICKSON - Russell's Teapot (Original Mix) 20:39 DASH BERLIN - Listen To Your Heart (Acoustic Mix) 20:36 FENNA DAY - Skin & Bone (Original Mix) 20:32 SHARAM, DANIEL BEDINGFIELD - The One (Downtempo Mix) 20:26 MACIEJ LABUDA - Be Free 20:22 DASH BERLIN, EMMA HEWITT - Waiting (Acoustic Version) 20:19 SEPTEMBER - Cry For You (Candlelight Remix) 20:15 FRED HYAS - Meet Dawn (Rework) 20:10 POLISHED CHROME - Secret Of Sound (Album Version) 20:06 SAGI REI - Your Loving Arms 20:00 LIFE AUDIENCE - Vanilla 19:55 BEN GOLD, SENADEE - Today (Chilled Datt Remix) 19:52 CERF, MITISKA & JAREN, RANK 1 - Witness (Acoustic Mix) 19:49 HARDWELL, COLLIN McLOUGHLIN - Call Me A Spaceman (Unplugged Version) 19:44 INDIGO SUN - You Don't Fool Me (Tango Cafe Mix) 19:39 FRIENDLY BREAKS - Jazzy City Walk (Deep Lounge Mix) 19:35 ANDY MOOR, ASHLEY WALLBRIDGE, GABRIELA - World To Turn 19:30 KITARO - Itonami 19:26 CHRIS REECE - Overflow 19:22 ARTENOVUM - When You Fall Asleep (Slow Coach Mix) 19:17 ALEXANDER POPOV - The Last He Said (Original Mix) 19:11 MOUSSA CLARKE, TERRAFUNKA - She Wants Him (Dynamic Illusion Chill Mix) 19:04 TWENTYEIGHT - Monday night 19:01 VITO FOGNINI, CARI - True To Myself (Original Mix) 18:56 SMOOTH DELUXE - Dream Of Insomnia 18:51 MARGA SOL - Prayer For Love (Soul Avenue's Balearic Blues Mix) 18:48 CLAES ROSEN, NATALIE PERIS - Stay (Original Mix) 18:44 DJ CHART, DOBA, PRINCESS LARISSA - Danger Games 18:40 LOUNGE GROOVE AVENUE - Silk And Smooth 18:34 ROAN PORTMAN - In Faith We Trust 18:30 SARAH MENESCAL - Don't Speak 18:25 LEO ROJAS - Friendship 18:22 CNBK - Burning Skies (Acoustic Version) 18:17 SINOPTIK MUSIC - Black Islands 18:12 ANGELO CRESCERI - Harmony 18:07 PETE MURRAY - So Beautiful (Acoustic Version) 18:03 LANA DEL REY - Born To Die 17:58 SUNLONGER, LORILEE - Your Name (Chill Version) 17:55 SIRENS OF LESBOS - I Got New Feelings (Pablo Nouvelle Remix) 17:51 MICHAEL E - People Watching (Rubber Neck Mix) 17:47 AURORA - Where Would You Go When It Starts To Rain (Original Mix) 17:42 KENNY FONTANA - Wonderful Life (Cafe Buddha Del Mar Bar Mix As Made Famous By Hurts) 17:39 JAMES BUTLER - Dinner For Two 17:33 VIV DE LA ROSA - Agua Caliente 17:29 SUNLOUNGER, SEIS CUERDAS - A Balearic Dinner (Chill Mix) 17:25 NOMOSK, ROMAN MESSER, CHRISTINA NOVELLI - Lost Soul (Zetandel Chillout Remix) 17:19 FARUK SABANCI - As Faces Fade (Domenico Cascarino & Luca Lombardi Chill Out Remix) 17:13 RAZ NITZAN, MOYA BRENNAN - Find The Sun (Original Mix) 17:08 PREMASARA COUNCIL - Sensual Ecstasy 17:03 MEHMET CEMAL YESILCAY - You And I 17:00 DIANA KRALL - California Dreamin' 16:56 PAUL MESSINA & MARK R. HARRIS - A Better Day (feat. Ignacio Nunez & Jason Meekins) 16:52 VINCENT INGALA - Not Meant To Be 16:48 RAGAN WHITESIDE - So Glad 16:44 K.VIO, TIM TONIC - Little Snow Flake, Little White Coat 16:39 THE SMOOTH JAZZ ALLEY - New Hope 16:34 JOHN E. LAWRENCE - Cool Jazz 16:30 NATHAN WOODWARD - Hark the Herald Angels Sing 16:26 DIRK K - Daafuunk 16:22 SPONTANEOUS GROOVIN' COMBUSTION - Road to Redemption 16:17 DERRICK HARVIN - From Here 16:14 TONY SAUNDERS - All Alone 16:10 TOM SCOTT - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 16:06 PHIL DENNY - Lifted 16:00 BOB BALDWIN - Get Over It 15:56 QUINTIN GERARD W. - Candlelight Flight with Me 15:52 PHILLIP DOC MARTIN - Hip Today 15:47 NORMAN BROWN - The Feeling I Get 15:44 JEANETTE HARRIS - Away In A Manger 15:40 BRIAN SIMPSON, STEVE OLIVER - The Way Home 15:36 CAROL ALBERT - On My Way 15:27 BRUCE MCKENZIE - Holiday Season 15:24 RANDY SCOTT - Tempo 15:19 DANIEL DOMENGE - Between Your Hands 15:16 WILL DONATO - Jaywalkin' 15:12 CHRIS STANDRING - The Gist of You 15:07 REZA KHAN - December 15:04 J3 - Hela 15:00 MARION MEADOWS - Dream Catcher 14:55 PHIL DENNY - Tough Get Goin' (feat. Ryan Montano) 14:51 LOUIE FITZGERALD - When I Look into Your Eyes 14:47 PETER WHITE - The Juggler 14:44 JONATHAN BUTLER - Joy To The World 14:39 NAJEE - Hurricane 14:34 WARREN HILL - Renewal 14:29 NICK COLIONNE - We Three Kings 14:25 PAUL BROWN - Wine Night 14:21 PAUL HARDCASTLE - Flight of the Phoenix 14:17 BONEY JAMES - Ain't No Sunshine 14:13 VINCENT INGALA - Kimi Trick 14:09 HERB ALPERT - White Christmas 14:04 JS FLOYD - Walk The Dog 14:00 THE SMOOTH JAZZ ALLEY - Subway 13:56 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Emotion 13:51 JOHN E. LAWRENCE - Slow Jam 13:46 BLAIR BRYANT - Chocolate for Breakfast 13:43 SHAKATAK - Jingle Bells 13:38 KIM SCOTT - Seabreeze 13:34 PATRICK YANDALL - Gaviotas 13:30 TONY CRADDOCK JR. - The Christmas Song 13:25 WALTER BEASLEY - Strasbourg 13:21 BRIAN SIMPSON - Rio Sway 13:18 DREW DAVIDSEN - Overdrive 13:13 DAVID PETROSYAN - Everytime You Go 13:09 RONNY SMITH - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 13:04 JEFF KASHIWA - The Name Game 13:00 GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH - Vanishing Summer 12:56 JEANETTE HARRIS - Just Keep Holding On 12:52 NAJEE - Don't Make Me Wait 12:47 GREGG KARUKAS - Floating in Bahia 12:42 BRIAN CULBERTSON - This Christmas 12:38 DARRON COOKIE - Another Day at Work 12:34 CHRIS STANDRING - Living the Poetry 12:30 DAVE KOZ - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (Feat. Michael Lington) 12:26 NORMAN BROWN - The King Is Here 12:22 MARION MEADOWS - Any Time Any Place 12:17 KAYLA WATERS - Zephyr 12:13 NILS - Up and Away 12:09 ANDRE DELANO - Do You Hear What I Hear 12:04 PETER WHITE - Dreamwalk 12:00 OLI SILK - Take Some Time Out 11:57 RON OTIS - Stay in Your Lane 11:53 WARREN HILL - Gimme Some 11:48 GREG MANNING - I Need To Know (Feat. Adam Hawley) 11:44 KEITH MASON - End of Days 11:40 K.VIO, TIM TONIC - The Little Drummer Boy 11:36 VINCENT INGALA - If You Were Here Tonight 11:32 BONEY JAMES - Powerhouse 11:29 ART MORRIS - White Christmas 11:25 THE SMOOTH JAZZ ALLEY - Livin' In NYC 11:22 KEN NAVARRO - That Time Of Evening 11:17 RICHARD ELLIOT - Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler) 11:13 GORDON JAMES - Rainy Afternoon 11:08 MARCUS ANDERSON - Hark The Herald 11:04 JACKIEM JOYNER - Secret Admirer 11:00 J. WHITE - Free 10:56 TONY MOMRELLE - We Can Have It All 10:52 DARREN MOTAMEDY - After the Storm 10:49 DAMIEN ESCOBAR - Night Drive 10:44 OLI SILK - All Roads Lead to Home 10:40 BROOKE ALFORD, MARCUS ANDERSON - The First Noel (In the Sun) 10:34 WAKANA - Hometown 10:30 BEN TANKARD - Still Here 10:26 KNIGHTHAMMER - Christmas, I Love You 10:23 JEANETTE HARRIS - 12 57 (feat. Marcus Anderson) 10:18 FREDDIE FOX - Day Dreamin' 10:14 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Used to Love You 10:11 ALTHEA RENE - Blue Room 10:07 FANTASIA - This Christmas 10:03 TIM BOWMAN - New Day 10:00 BRIAN SIMPSON - Whisper To Me 09:56 DARRON COOKIE - I'm in to You 09:52 NORMAN BROWN - Sunset On Chandler 09:49 PEET PROJECT - ark Corner 09:44 MARION MEADOWS - Dark Beauty 09:41 DAVE KOZ - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (Feat. Jonathan Butler) 09:37 ART RUPRECHT - I Get It 09:33 PHIL DENNY - Give a Little 09:28 PETER WHITE - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 09:24 NAJEE - Day By Day 09:20 PHILLIP DOC MARTIN - American Garden 09:15 ROB SABADO - I Just Wanna Hang Around You 09:11 JOYCE COOLING - After Hours 09:07 JAMES 'PJ' SPRAGGINS - Hark the Herald Angels Sing 09:04 SLIM MAN - 3 AM 09:00 VINCENT INGALA - Lost In You 08:56 RAGAN WHITESIDE - Meu Amigo, Meu Amante 08:50 BRIAN BROMBERG - Mr. Miller 08:46 RHYTHM JETS - Angels We Have Heard on High 08:41 KHARI, CABRAL, JIVA - Show Me The Way 08:37 JEFFERY SMITH - Spring Time 08:33 DR. SAXLOVE - Deck The Halls 08:28 JACKIEM JOYNER - Lil' Man Soul 08:23 MARK ETHEREDGE - For Your Love (Feat. Chuck Loeb) 08:20 PAUL BROWN - Sugar Fish 08:16 BRENDAN ROTHWELL - Keep On Keepin' On 08:10 MARCUS ANDERSON - White Christmas 08:06 GERALD ALBRIGHT - Eddie's Groove 08:00 ROD TATE - Chillin' with Li Li 07:57 THREESTYLE, MAGDALENA CHOVANCOVA, ROBERT FERTL - Better Days 07:51 EUGE GROOVE - Get Em Goin' 07:46 GREGG KARUKAS - Riverside Drive 07:42 OLI SILK - So Many Ways 07:39 DAMIEN ESCOBAR - Silent Night 07:35 BONEY JAMES - Sunset Boulevard 07:31 RICK HABANA - Rum Factory 07:27 YUTAKA - This Christmas 07:23 BRIAN SIMPSON - So Many Ways 07:20 HERB PARTLOW - Another Interlude 07:16 FRANK MCCOMB - Cha Cha 07:12 LAWSON ROLLINS - Momentum 07:08 MARION MEADOWS - Christmas On The Radio 07:04 BEN TANKARD - More Rain 07:00 ART RUPRECHT - A Good Thing 06:56 SHAWN RAIFORD - Good Vibrations 06:51 PETER WHITE - Reason To Live 06:46 JIM ADKINS - A Kiss From You 06:42 PHILLIP DOC MARTIN - LA Nights 06:39 YOLANDA RABUN - The Greatest Gift 06:35 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Day In Day Out 06:31 TIM BOWMAN - Just Another Day 06:27 BRAD ALEXANDER - What Child Is This 06:23 VINCENT INGALA - Sunset On Marco 06:19 MARCIN NOWAKOWSKI - Better Days Ahead feat. Jeff Pescetto 06:15 QUINTIN GERARD W. - Roundtrip LAX - Release. 06:11 JULIAN VAUGHN - Amore 06:08 DOUG CAMERON - Feliz Navidad 06:04 JOYCE COOLING - Don't Mind if I Do 06:00 RICHARD ELLIOT - Coastline 05:56 SAM RUCKER - Overcomer 05:51 JEREMY HECTOR - Ascension 05:46 PAUL TAYLOR - Find a Way 05:41 MEZZOFORTE - Sea Breeze 05:37 SAM LEVINE - I'll Be Home For Christmas 05:33 JACKIEM JOYNER - Let Me Love You 05:29 KOOL&KLEAN - Amazing 05:26 DR. SAXLOVE - Frost The Snowman 05:23 DONN BYNUM - Mercy Mercy Me (feat. Lew Laing Jr.) 05:19 BLAKE AARON - Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing (feat. Kim Scott) 05:14 INCOGNITO - Move It Up 05:10 JAZZ FUNK SOUL - Hustle 05:08 SHIN GIWON CHRISTMAS CAROL COLLECTION - White Christmas 05:04 MARQUEAL JORDAN - I'm Coming Home (feat. Chris Big Dog Davis) 05:00 PEET PROJECT - Tell Me You Want It 04:55 GREGG KARUKAS - Walkin' in Time 04:51 NATE WHITE - All in My Head 04:46 KIM SCOTT - Glorious 04:43 SMOOTH SOUL HOLIDAY - Jolly Old St. Nicholas 04:39 STEVE OLIVER - In the Shade of Cool 04:35 LAWSON ROLLINS - Bossa Nova California 04:31 KEB' MO' - One More Year With You 04:27 DAVID PETROSYAN - Endless Love 04:22 THE SMOOTH JAZZ ALLEY - Been A Long Time Comin' 04:18 NILS - Casablanca 04:14 PETER WHITE - Don't Want To Be A Fool 04:08 BRIAN CULBERTSON - Angels We Have Heard On High 04:04 DEAN JAMES - Brighter Days 04:00 BAKERS DOZEN - Bring It Home 03:55 JONATHAN FRITZEN - Sweet Spot (feat. Paul Brown) 03:50 KIM WATERS - 95 North 03:45 LES SABLER - Esselle's Dance 03:41 HANK BILAL - Hark the Harold Angels Sing (feat. Jonathan Knott) 03:37 BRAD ALEXANDER - A Matter of Time 03:33 JULIAN VAUGHN - Sunday 03:29 PEGGY DUQUESNEL - Light of Christmas 03:24 RICHARD ELLIOT - Like Butter 03:20 CHRISTOPHE GOZE - Lazy Sunday 03:16 MARCUS ANDERSON - Your Touch (Dedicated To Will & Maggie Shares) 03:12 RICK HABANA - I'll Be There (feat. Will Donato) 03:08 HERB ALPERT - Merry Christmas, Darling 03:04 BRIAN SIMPSON - One of a Kind 03:00 PIECES OF A DREAM - It's A Vibe 02:56 JAZZ HOLDOUTS - April and May 02:52 JACKIEM JOYNER - Where's The Love Gone 02:47 NICHOLAS COLE - Just One Night (feat. Steve Cole) 02:43 RONNY SMITH - Groove 106 02:39 GEORGE HOWARD - The First Noel 02:34 SPONTANEOUS GROOVIN' COMBUSTION - Tribeca 02:30 AMANDUS - Quarter to Midnight 02:26 SKINNY HIGHTOWER - Oh Come All Ye Faithful 02:22 PEET PROJECT - Wanna Have a Party 02:18 KENNY PORE - Touching Hearts Today 02:15 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Hookin' Up 02:11 NORMAN BROWN - Brighter My Light Shines 02:08 KEB' MO' - Please Come Home For Christmas 02:03 KIM SCOTT - No Worries (Feat. James K. Lloyd) 02:00 NICK COLIONNE - There It Is 01:56 BAKERS DOZEN - No Doubt 01:53 RON OTIS - Stay in Your Lane 01:49 J.J. SANSAVERINO - The Groove Messengers 01:45 GHOST JAZZ TRIO BAND - Sun Tides 01:41 EVERETT B WALTERS - Mom's Biscuits 01:37 NEAL DAVIS - Golden Bells 01:32 CRAIG SHARMAT - Nite Moves 01:28 KEN POWE - Above The Clouds 01:24 GERRY SMOOTH - I'm Glad You're Here 01:20 THOM ROTELLA - Feelin' It 01:15 LISA ADDEO - Touch Me In The Night 01:07 BRUCE MCKENZIE - Holiday Season 01:03 DEE BROWN - Tie The Knot (feat. Lin Rountree) 00:59 BONA FIDE - Funk Box 00:54 GORDON JAMES - Cafe Soul 00:50 ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD - Morning After 00:47 BIRDS OF A FEATHER - Someday Soon 00:43 ALTHEA RENE - Rock with You 00:40 ARIEL B - Candy Cane Love 00:36 JAZZ IN PINK - Smoother 00:32 KEITH ANDREW - Take It Slow 00:28 DAVE BRADSHAW JR. - Jumpstep 00:24 MAX HIGHSTEIN - Gratitune 00:20 FRANK SUTTON - Its Gonna Be A Lovely Day 00:16 THE TIMELESS QUINTET - Angels We Have Heard On High 00:11 MICHAEL LEMMO - Ready for It 00:08 CAL HARRIS JR. - Endless Summer 00:03 BLUEY - Back Here Again 00:00 REZA KHAN - Waiting for the Sky

[dailybiblelessons]

Monday: Reflection on the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Revised Common Lectionary Proper 9 Roman Catholic Proper 14

Complementary Hebrew Scripture from the Latter Prophets: Ezekiel 2:8-3:11

But you, mortal, hear what I say to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you. I looked, and a hand was stretched out to me, and a written scroll was in it. He spread it before me; it had writing on the front and on the back, and written on it were words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

He said to me, O mortal, eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. He said to me, Mortal, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it. Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey.

He said to me: Mortal, go to the house of Israel and speak my very words to them. For you are not sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel—not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you. But the house of Israel will not listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me; because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. See, I have made your face hard against their faces, and your forehead hard against their foreheads. Like the hardest stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not fear them or be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. He said to me: Mortal, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart and hear with your ears; then go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them. Say to them, “Thus says the Lord GOD”; whether they hear or refuse to hear.

Semi-continuous Hebrew Scripture from the Former Prophets: 2 Samuel 5:1-10

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, even the blind and the lame will turn you back”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, which is now the city of David. David had said on that day, “Whoever would strike down the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, those whom David hates.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward. And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.¹

¹There is a parallel passage at 1 Chronicles 11:1-9.

Complementary Psalm 119:81-88

My soul languishes for your salvation;  I hope in your word. My eyes fail with watching for your promise;  I ask, “When will you comfort me?” For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,  yet I have not forgotten your statutes. How long must your servant endure?  When will you judge those who persecute me? The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me;  they flout your law. All your commandments are enduring;  I am persecuted without cause; help me! They have almost made an end of me on earth;  but I have not forsaken your precepts. In your steadfast love spare my life,  so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.

Semi-continuous Psalm 21

In your strength the king rejoices, O Lord,  and in your help how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart's desire,  and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah For you meet him with rich blessings;  you set a crown of fine gold on his head. He asked you for life; you gave it to him—  length of days forever and ever. His glory is great through your help;  splendor and majesty you bestow on him. You bestow on him blessings forever;  you make him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord,  and through the steadfast love of the Most High  he shall not be moved.

Your hand will find out all your enemies;  your right hand will find out those who hate you. You will make them like a fiery furnace  when you appear. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,  and fire will consume them. You will destroy their offspring from the earth,  and their children from among humankind. If they plan evil against you,  if they devise mischief, they will not succeed. For you will put them to flight;  you will aim at their faces with your bows.

Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!  We will sing and praise your power.

New Testament Epistle Lesson: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

I repeat, let no one think that I am a fool; but if you do, then accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. What I am saying in regard to this boastful confidence, I am saying not with the Lord's authority, but as a fool; since many boast according to human standards, I will also boast. For you gladly put up with fools, being wise yourselves! For you put up with it when someone makes slaves of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or gives you a slap in the face. To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!

But whatever anyone dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I am talking like a madman—I am a better one: with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless floggings, and often near death. Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked. And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant?

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus (blessed be he forever!) knows that I do not lie. In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

Year B Ordinary 14, RCL Proper 9, Catholic Proper 14 Monday

Selections from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 1995 by the Consultation on Common Texts. Unless otherwise indicated, Bible text is from The New Revised Standard Version, (NRSV) copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All right reserved. Image Credit: Paul Being Rescued is public domain image published by the Providence Lithograph Company.

[buggie-hagen]

@comparative, you asked me to do the same questions I asked of you. I have the time. Here you go.

Post in question: https://comparative-irrelevance.tumblr.com/post/698194184490844160/questions-i-think-would-be-fun-to-be-asked 

1. what are 3 things you’d say shaped you into who you are?

a.) my family of origin. the alcoholism mixed with rage in it. the divorce. the large family. my grandmother Olive and how I idealized her to shape my own ideals. b.) My encounter with the Word. The faith I have because of it. the sub contrario, that God's promise to me in Christ is true no matter what I can see with my own eyes and experiences. c.) being gay. not straight. that I don't want to be alone the rest of my life, but want to hold and be held by a man.

3. 3 films you could watch for the rest of your life and not get bored of?

This is hard because I don't really remember all the movies I've seen nor are movies a huge part of my life. a.) The Perks of Being a Wallflower. b.) Love, Simon c.) Ordinary People (1980)

9. tell a story about your childhood

I remember I must have been in late elementary school or in early middle school. My mom, my brother, and I would frequently be charged with the task of picking up the numerous walnuts in the very large yard of my grandma Olive and grandpa Red. One of those times we brought our basset hound Arnold. And a game we would play would be to hide behind one of the huge oak trees to see if Arnold could find where we are with his nose.

13. what are you doing right now?

I'm at the shop that is part bike shop, part coffee shop. Going to get some reading done. Mondays are my day off. I slept most of the day until now. I ordered a flat white. I had to teach the guy with a simple google search what a flat white is. He was out of my normal oat milk, so I got it with coconut milk. I got this drink in honor of a certain someone.

14. what’s something you’ve always wanted to do but maybe been to scared to do?

For some reason, skydiving. I wanted to do it for my golden birthday but ended up not doing that bc of scared.

16. if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I agree with you. I'd get rid of the mental illness. also, my body.

17. name 3 things that make you happy

a. A certain Mexican. b. my friends. c. the sun. d. birds

24. what’s one thing you’re proud of yourself for?

My ordination as a Lutheran pastor. It's the one thing that was very difficult that I was able accomplish in my life. It also gives me a lot of meaning.

26. fave colour and why?

typically blue. especially ocean blue. i attach a lot of good feelings to it. don't know what else to say.

31. are you messy or organised?

I also am a messy person. I wish I wasn't. But it is stressful both to be messy and to be organized, so here I am. my office is quite a bit more organized than my apartment.

33. any hobbies?

Teaching myself the piano in the last half year has been my newest hobby. I'm surprised at the progress I made. I try to walk. I watch a lot of anime. I do a lot of scrolling through social media.

38. fave song at the moment?

Lately, the song I have on repeat is "Dawning of Spring" by Anson Seabra.

[theladyofdeath]

The Ranch {14}

An A Court of Thorns and Roses, Nesta x Cassian, Modern AU, fanfiction.

Collaboration: @snelbz​ x @tacmc​

Summary: Nesta had spent years in Paris, living her dream and drowning in riches as a gourmet chef, capturing the hearts of the city and its people. But, after her father passes away unexpectedly and leaves his cozy, countryside B&B to his oldest daughter, Nesta is moving back home to the tiny town of Velaris, where the ranch, her sisters, and her father’s unfulfilled dream, awaits.

Sidenote: Being posted between two blogs, it is too chaotic to keep up with a tags list, so all chapters will be tagged with “#TheRanchNessian” & “#SharaCollab”.

The Ranch Masterlist

When Cassian woke up the next morning, Nesta was gone. She was probably off doing one of the many things on her ridiculously long list, and it was probably wise that she left before he woke up because he would’ve tried to guilt her into staying again. 

He’d slept well, but the meds had definitely worn off. He popped a pill into his mouth and washed it down with a water bottle before pulling himself out of bed and hauling himself into the bathroom.

He looked in the mirror and groaned. He looked like shit, which wasn’t a surprise cause he felt like shit. He brushed his teeth and washed his face, all one handed, and then came his hair.

After a couple of attempts - way more than he was willing to admit - it was tied at the back of his head, but now came the part he definitely could not do on his own. He tossed a pair of jeans and a t-shirt on the bed, followed by some socks. Getting his sweats off was no problem, but as he tried to step into his jeans, stumbling, he sighed and sat down on the bed.

“Grown ass man and I have to sit down to put my pants on,” he mumbled, doing just that. He went ahead and put the socks on, then stood and glared at the shirt, knowing he wasn’t going to be able to put that one on by himself. He grabbed it, tossing it over his shoulder. He sighed, imagining how hard Nesta was going to laugh when he had to ask her to help him get dressed. At least he’d get to see that look she gets whenever she saw his abs. Cassian whistled, slipping his phone into his pocket and heading into the living room. No sign of Beau.

Stepping into his boots, he muttered, “Damn woman even has my dog wrapped around her finger.”

He stepped out onto the porch, sun on his bare chest, and made his way up to the main house. He’d go down and get some stuff from his cabin that afternoon, and take the truck to check on the herd, but he’d take it easy. Doctor’s orders.

He climbed the back steps and entered the kitchen. Nesta wasn’t there, which he was half hoping, as he was starving, but he could hear her talking in the living room.

He walked towards the front of the house, saying, “Baby, I need you to gimme a hand.”

He entered the room and found Nesta sitting on the couch, pen and paper in hand. Her back was to him so she was turned around to stare at him, eyes wide in horror. There was a young woman with red hair sitting on the other end, mouth hanging open.

Nesta quickly got to her feet. “Maggie, this is Cassian. Cassian, this is Maggie, she’s here to talk about helping out with the B&B.”

Cassian’s ears burned. “Nice to meet you. Nesta, can we…” He trailed off and pointed to the kitchen.

She said, “Yes, absolutely. Maggie, I’m so sorry, I’ll be right back.”

He headed into the kitchen and she followed him. Cass kept his voice low as he said, “You never told me you had any inquiries, you just posted the ad yesterday.”

“I know, but Maggie called this morning, and was available to talk right away, so I told her to head on over.” Nesta paused and added, “Wait, I texted you all of this.”

Cassian pulled out his phone and looked down at the screen. Indeed, he did have a slew of notifications, with no less than four text messages from Boss. He winced. “My bad, sweetheart.”

Nesta rolled her eyes at his stupid contact name for her and said, “It’s okay.” She raised up on her toes and kissed him. “How’d you sleep?”

“Hard. I don’t remember waking up all night. Hurting this morning though. I took my meds, I wanted to run down and take a look at the herd. And I’m not gonna do anything, so get that look off of your face,” he added, seeing her eyebrows already raising. “I just won’t be able to take it easy until I see with my own two eyes that they're taken care of. But because I’m such a hero and I took a bullet for my best friend, I’m having trouble putting my shirt on. Think I can get some help?”

She let her forehead fall into her hand. “Oh my god, why do I love you?”

He laughed and said, “I love you, too.”

After he sat in one of the chairs, she helped him get the sling off. She awkwardly pulled the shirt on him, one arm at a time and then over his head. “Rhys said he’d come over after lunch to clean that for you,” Nesta said, helping him refasten the sling around his neck and Cass nodded, grateful he had a friend who was not only able to help out but also willing. “Oh, and the new ranch hand is out feeding the horses, if you want to go introduce yourself.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek and started to walk back to the living room.

He was on his feet instantly. “The new- you hired a ranch hand? Without me? Shouldn’t I have been a part of this?”

She looked at him over her shoulder and said “It’s my ranch, and I think you’ll find I made a great decision.” She winked and he heard her talking with Maggie once again.

Cassian was still sitting dumbfounded in the kitchen. He was tempted to yell WHAT THE FUCK but figured Maggie was a nice, young girl who didn’t need to be corrupted with his shocked curses.

“Damn you woman,” he muttered, pulling himself to a standing position and heading out the back door. The meds were finally starting to kick in as he stumbled down the porch steps and into his truck.

After starting the engine, he headed down to the stables. Sure enough, a tall figure dressed in jeans, an old tee shirt, and a backwards ball cap was leaned up against the fence outside of the stables, watching the horses meander about in the pasture.

Cassian threw open the door and got out, slamming it behind him, but the second the man turned around, all weariness and frustration Cassian had from Nesta hiring a ranch hand without him faded away.

He halted, a few feet away from the fence. After blinking a few times, he asked, “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Azriel chuckled and said, “I thought she was kidding when she said she hadn’t told you.”

Cassian was staring at his brother not knowing how to respond to that. “I have no idea what’s going on.”

Az shook his head. “I decided the dealership wasn’t a good fit. I thought I liked the mechanical side of ranching, but I was wrong. Elain was texting with Nesta last night and she mentioned y’all could use a hand around here, so.” He lifted his arms and indicated himself. “Here I am.”

“You’re the new ranch hand,” Cassian said, slowly, as if he still didn’t believe the words.

“Seem to be,” Azriel said.

“Here? At this ranch?”

“Unless I’m at the wrong one,” Azriel said, laughing.

Cassian’s mouth broke into a slow grin. “You know this means that you’re, like, my assistant, right?”

Azriel was shaking his head. “I don’t think so.”

“Fuck yeah,” Cassian grinned. The smile on his face matched the relief he felt inside.

He and Azriel hopped in the truck and went out into the back pasture, making sure nothing looked out of the ordinary.

“So,” Cass began. “Woke up to a visit from the cops yesterday morning.”

Azriel raised his eyebrows. “They came here? They didn’t just call?”

Cassian shook his head. “Nope, damn near gave Nes a heart attack. Asked all the generic questions, tried to make this about one of us instead of about Tamlin being a jealous piece of shit with a grudge.”

“I assume you’ll be testifying, too?” Azriel asked.

He nodded. “Yeah, Monday. Are you?”

“Yeah, since I’m the one who took off after him, they need me to recreate my steps for the jury.” Azriel rolled his eyes. “As if us and everyone at that wedding didn’t hear what he said, as if there’s any defense for him.”

Cassian shrugged, wincing slightly. “If it gets him locked up for longer, I’m on board.”

Az looked at his oldest friend. “How are you?”

“Sore,” Cassian said, and when Azriel snorted, Cassian went on. “Looks worse than it is. Nesta worries too much.”

Azriel blinked. “You got a bullet half an inch from your heart, Cass.”

“That’s what I keep hearing,” he mumbled. “I can’t just sit on my ass all day, though, I’d lose my shit. I’m already losing my shit.” Az just stared at him. “Look, I’m gonna be taking it easy, but I can’t just do nothing. You know how I am. But I’m trying for Nesta and for the baby.”

“God, that’s still…insane.” Azriel took his hat off and ran a hand through it. “You’re gonna be a dad. Good luck.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cassian looked at him from the side.

Azriel raised an eyebrow. “Do you remember what we were like as children?”

Cass looked around them, at the land, the animals, the buildings on the property. “Oh gods, there’s way too many things for them to destroy.”

Azriel laughed. “You’ll be fine, man.” He gently rested his hand on Cassian’s good shoulder. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks.” Cass smiled. “So when the hell are you going to make an honest woman out of Elain? Or, are you gonna knock her up, too?”

Azriel groaned, covering his face. “Nesta’s not even been pregnant a week and Elain is asking when I want to have babies.”

“Elain would be a great mom,” Cassian countered.

“True,” Azriel agreed, “but I'm okay with waiting. For a while. A long time. Years.”

Cassian chuckled. “Years?”

“I haven’t even asked her to marry me yet,” Azriel said, as if that answered everything.

“But you’re going to,” Cassian said, and before Azriel could respond, he went on, “And if you don’t, I’m asking for you, because she’s a peach.”

Azriel gave him a rare, full-fledged grin. “She’s perfect.” 

“So, you’re asking soon, then?” Cassian asked.

Azriel groaned, once more. “Is this what working with you is going to be like? You constantly butting into my personal life?”

Cassian blinked, then slowly looked over at Azriel. “It’s my job to be the center of your personal life.”

“The center?” Azriel asked, brows raised.

“Obviously,” Cassian said. “There’s Elain, and me, and Rhys. We are the center of your world, so I must know what’s going on with the other two involved, obviously.”

“You’re ridiculous,” Azriel said, shaking his head, but he was still smiling, so Cassian figured he was doing his job well.

He glanced at his watch. “Speaking of my pregnant girlfriend, it’s lunchtime, I’m starving and she’s literally a gourmet chef. So let’s go.”

Azriel laughed. “Alright, I’ll drive. You’re not supposed to and you know it.”

Cass didn’t deny it.

When they pulled up in front of the house, Nesta was on the front porch, standing on a ladder and watering a plant hanging from the ceiling. Cassian was instantly out of the cab. “Babe, be careful.”

“I swear to the Cauldron, if you spend the next seven months telling me to be careful, I’m going to lose my shit.”

“And what does that entail?” Cassian asked. “Losing your shit?”

“Kicking you in the ass,” Nesta said, “Obviously.” 

Cassian scoffed. “And you would do that? To someone who's just been shot?”

Nesta rolled her eyes then looked to Azriel. “Can you control him?”

“That’s your job now,” Azriel said.

“Can’t argue with that,” she sighed, climbing down the ladder. “You guys hungry? Lunch is going to be ready soon.”

Cass winked at Az and said, “We could eat. Anything we can work on for you while you’re cooking?”

She turned and looked at him. “Are you trying to trick me into letting you work?”

Cassian raised his good hand in defense. “No, of course not, just offering.”

Nesta rolled her eyes again. “Come on.”

The men followed Nesta in and into the kitchen.

Azriel took a deep breath and groaned. “Smells so good, Nes.”

“Five cheese lasagna, salad and garlic bread.” She said it so matter-of-factly and not like it was a dish that used to be sold at a five-star restaurant.

Azriel whistled. “You made all that for lunch?”

“We eat good around here,” Cassian said, sitting in a chair at the table. 

Nesta chuckled as she pulled the lasagna out of the oven, where it was keeping warm. She continued to take out a few plates and filled them for the three of them.

“No nausea today?” Cassian asked.

Nesta shrugged, cutting up the lasagna. “I was, but then the baby started craving lasagna, so here we are.”

“The baby has good taste,” Azriel muttered.

Cassian was quick to agree.

They sat down and ate. Nesta explained to the guys what she wanted done before the opening and Cass ran through his daily tasks with Az. The three of them knew there would be no issue, but it was good to go ahead and start fresh.

“So later on, when you get to the weird part of your pregnancy,” Azriel began, while Nesta loaded their plates into the dishwasher. “When you have random cravings, are you going to make crazy concoctions or just go straight for the pickles and ice cream?”

She laughed. “I don’t know, but I hope it’s easy. So far, I’ve been craving food from other regions that aren’t so easy to make. I don’t exactly want to have to ask Cassian to make me tarte tatin at three in the morning.”

Cassian was eating his second helping and with his mouth full said, “Me either, cause I have no idea what the hell that is.”

Nesta laughed, looking at him over her shoulder. “How did I end up with you?”

He shrugged, stuffing his mouth full with another bite. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

Nesta just shook her head as she explained, “It’s a pastry.”

Cassian blinked, swallowing his food. “I like pastries. I could learn to make a pastry.”

Nesta closed the dishwasher and leaned back against the counter as she looked at Cassian. “The day I see you working in a kitchen is the day that the world ends.”

“Challenge accepted,” he muttered, mouth full of food, once more.

Azriel blinked, shaking his head as he watched Cassian stuff his face. “You really are a slob.”

“Fuck you,” he said, after a drink of water.

Azriel stood, ruffling his hair, and said, “No, thanks, bud. I’m gonna run into town and go pick up my pressure washer. I’m gonna take care of the stables.”

Nesta turned. “Az, no, you don’t have to do-.”

He stopped by her at the counter. “I do. You two have been through enough. Consider it my hazing so this asshole doesn’t do something worse when he’s back in action.” He hooked a thumb back at Cassian.

“Fuck you,” Cass repeated, though this time he was laughing, as he carried his plate to the sink. “I had something planned too.”

Ignoring him, Nesta said, “Thank you, Az. That means so much.”

She hugged him and he said, “That’s what family does, they help each other out. My brother and sister need me. That’s what I’m here to do.” He stepped back and looked at Cass. “I would hug you, but I genuinely don’t know how to do that without hurting you, so…” He shot him finger guns and then he was out the door.

Cass chuckled, shaking his head. “For someone so smart, he’s such a dumbass.”

Nesta laughed. Azriel was the only one of the three of them that she’d remotely remembered. He was an honors student, like she’d been, and they’d shared classes, but likewise to Nesta, Az kept to himself as well. It wasn’t until a drunken night at Rita’s, when Azriel was telling the story of the one time he’d been caught cheating, and Nesta realized it was her test he’d been cheating off of.

An almost sibling like bond was born between them that night and Nesta was glad she was getting to know him better. It let her know that Elain was in good hands.

“Alright,” Cassian sighed, looking at Nesta. “What can I do?”

“Relax,” Nesta ordered.

“I don’t want to relax,” he shot back. “I want to feel useful. Make me feel useful.”

“Be useful while relaxing,” she said, leaving the kitchen.

He followed close behind. “Babe, I need a job. Okay? Any job will do.”

“You’ve only been resting for a day,” Nesta said, laughing, making her way back out to the front porch.

“My pain meds work great,” he argued. “Let me help. Please.”

“You’re not going to give up, are you?” she asked, looking at her line up of hanging plants.

“No. I’m going to annoy the shit out of you, so you may as well let me help,” he said, staring her down.

She turned to meet his gaze, then rolled her eyes. “Fine. Hand me plants.”

Cassian blinked. “That’s my job? Handing you plants?”

“I’m going up on the ladder and it will help if you hand them to me,” Nesta shot back, arms crossed. “Or, you can go back to relaxing.”

Cassian took a deep breath. “Handing you plants, it is.”

One after one, Cassian picked the plants up and handed them to her, and she packed each into soil.

“So,” he began, doing his best not to stare at her ass. “I know you never thought you’d be in this situation, but are there any names you like?”

“Any names?” she repeated, making sure the plant was perfect before climbing back down the ladder and moving it to the next spot.

Cassian snorted. “For the baby.”

Nesta thought about it for a moment as she climbed up the ladder, once more. “I have a list.”

“A long list?” Cassian asked, handing her another hanging plant pot.

“A decent list,” she said, chuckling, taking the plant from him and hanging it up from the hook. She asked for the watering can.

“What’s your number one name?” he asked. “If it’s a boy.”

“I’ve always loved the name Jameson,” she said, watering the plant and climbing back down.

“Jameson,” Cassian mused. “I like Jameson.”

Nesta wrapped her arms around Cassian’s waist. “What about you? Any family names?”

His eyes dimmed slightly. “I don’t have anyone I would name him after.”

Nesta breathed, “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry, I- shit, I’m sorry.”

He smiled and kissed her. “I promise it’s fine. I actually do have one name I like though.”

“Yeah?” She asked. “What’s that?”

He brushed her hair back and said, “Isaac.” Nesta’s eyes welled up with tears. “Is that okay?”

She nodded, closing her eyes and carefully resting her head on his chest. “Isaac Jameson Nazari.”

Cassian blinked. “You… You want to give him my last name?”

“Of course,” Nesta said, “You’re his father.”

“I just…” Cassian began, but his words fell short. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”

Nesta smiled, her hand resting softly against his cheek as she said, “We’re going to be a family, right?”

“Yes,” Cassian breathed.

“Then this baby, no matter it’s gender, or it’s name, will be a Nazari,” she whispered.

Cassian took a deep breath. “If you make me cry, I won’t feel bad about kicking your ass.”

She laughed and leaned up on her toes and kissed him softly. “I love you, more than I can explain.”

“I love you, too.” Cass wrapped his good arm around her waist and tried to lift her to set her on the porch railing. It was way more convenient to kiss her when her lips were at his level.

“No, no, no.” Nesta pushed against him. “Don’t you dare.”

“It’s fine, you’re light, babe.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I can lift you with one arm or two.”

A car door slammed and Rhys said, “Didn’t the doctor tell you two no exciting activities yet?”

Cassian smirked and said, “Sorry, man, she just can’t keep her hands off of me.”

“Oh, shut up,” she laughed, shoving him lightly and moving the ladder down. This time, she carried the carton of small plants up with her.

Rhys made his way up the steps, still in his scrubs. “Cass, really, dude, what the hell are you doing out of bed?”

He shrugged. “I’m taking it easy.”

“Taking it easy means playing Call of Duty from your bed until I say so.” Rhys was using his doctor voice, which meant he was serious. “Seriously, this is your heart we’re talking about here. You’re lucky to be alive. Do you know how easy it is to tweak something just wrong and pop a stitch, especially this early in the healing process?”

Cassian looked to Nesta for support, but she was positioning the flowers in her pot, ignoring them. He was on his own. “Uh, no?”

Rhys called over his shoulder. “I’m taking him home.”

“Then take him upstairs.” Nesta didn’t look away as she sprinkled potting soil in. “We’ll be staying here for the foreseeable future.”

Rhys and Cass spoke at the same time. “What?”

“I have a lot of work to do for the opening,” Nesta said, simply. “Which means I’ll be here all the time, anyway. The master bedroom isn’t open for guests, so we’re going to stay in there. That way, I’ll be close all day if you need me.”

“I won’t-.” Cassian began, but he was soon cut off.

“That’s a good idea,” Rhysand said, voice firm. “Seriously, Cass, you have to rest-.”

“Okay, okay, alright,” Cassian said, hating every second of this. 

“Shall I carry you upstairs?” Rhysand asked.

Nesta snorted from where she was on the ladder.

“I’ll go lie on the couch,” Cassian muttered, opening the front door and slumping inside.

It was his worst nightmare: staying still for extended periods of time.

“Get a towel,” Rhys called. “This is going to be gross.”

Nesta was shaking her head. “Please don’t get blood on my brand new furniture.”

Rhys was chuckling as he went inside. “That all depends on how much of a baby he’s about to be.”

It turns out, Cassian was the biggest baby of all.

“That fucking burns, don’t touch me with with it.”

Rhys sighed again. “It’s going to burn, its peroxide. See how this is bubbling? I have to clean it.

“No, I can’t see it,” Cassian bit back. “It’s in my chest and I’m laying on the damn couch.”

Rhysand stopped what he was doing to glare at Cassian. “I’m so fucking close to sedating you, Cass. Be still.”

“I don’t wanna be still.”

“You’re acting like a child,” Rhysand muttered, continuing to clean the wound.

“Does that mean I get a sucker when we’re done?” Cassian asked. Rhysand couldn’t help but laugh. “I’d also accept a glass of whiskey. Which I should’ve had before we started this shit.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’ll be sure to put a nipple on it so you can have your bottle before bed.”

Cassian smirked. “The only nipples I want before bed are-.”

Nesta’s feet could be heard on the porch before she rushed in through the front door, heading for the bathroom, hand clamped over her mouth. The door slammed shut and the sound of violent retching filled the living room.

“And that’s what got you in this situation,” Rhys said, indicating the bathroom. “Don’t move, I need to cover this before you sit up.”

Cassian grumbled and Rhys moved to the door, softly knocking. “You okay, Nes?”

He heard sniffling and she said, “I’m fine. Just need a minute.”

“Want a bottled water?” He asked.

There was a short pause. “Please.”

He passed into the kitchen and returned a second later, water bottle in hand. He jiggled the doorknob, but it was locked. When it opened a few seconds later, Nesta’s hand snuck out, took the bottle from him, then the door was closed, once more.

Rhysand returned to Cassian to cover the newly cleaned wound. 

“Is this a daily occurrence?” Rhysand asked, and he knew he was talking about Nesta, not Cassian’s need for whiskey and hatred of peroxide. 

“Yeah, changes by the hour,” Cassian said. “She was feeling great at lunch.”

Rhysand hummed before stepping back. “There. Done. Now, I’m coming back tomorrow at this time, and if you’re not relaxing, I’m going to kick your ass. Got it?”

Cassian rolled his eyes but didn’t protest. Nesta opened the bathroom door, then, her eyes red and misty. Rhysand excused himself to the kitchen to wash his hands.

Nesta groaned, sitting on the edge of the couch next to where Cassian was lying. He rubbed her back, gently. “Feel better?”

“No,” she moaned, lying her head on the arm of the couch. “And I don’t think I’ll be eating lasagna for a while.”

Cass sat up. Without his arm in the sling, he definitely felt the pressure in his chest and shoulder, but he could actually do things for himself. He crouched in front of her and took both of her hands in his face. “Can I do anything?”

She shook her head, and her face scrunched up. He could tell she was trying her hardest not to start crying again.

“Why don’t you go lay down for a few minutes, sweetheart?” He asked, brushing her hair behind her ear.

She protested. “I can’t, I have so much to do-.”

“And a thirty minute nap won’t be the make or break on whether or not it all gets done,” Cassian said, wiping away the tear that slipped down her cheek. “You’re just going to burn yourself out and that’s no good for you or the baby.”

She sighed, but nodded. “Just for a little bit.”

He kissed her forehead and stood, helping her to her feet. She headed up the stairs and Cass sat back on the couch.

Rhys came back in the room. “Make sure you wear that sling.”

Cassian chuckled. “No promises, but I’ll try my absolute hardest.” 

Rhysand stared at him for a minute before saying, “Liar.”

Then he was gone, after bringing Cassian his promised glass of whiskey.

He debated on hauling himself up the stairs after Nesta, but he figured that would only earn him a scolding, so he remained where he was, sipping on his glass of whiskey.

Two minutes went by before he was about ready to lose his shit.

He begrudgingly put the sling back on and got up, making a lap or two around the house. He needed something to do, anything, or he was going to do something that would get him trouble. Granted everything got him in trouble these days.

His phone began to buzz in his pocket and he pulled it out, seeing a repeating alarm going off.

Take your meds!

It was punctuated by a kiss emoji and Cassian sighed. That woman was too good to him.

He lumbered down to the house, finding Beau snoozing on the couch. “You seem to be enjoying our time off, huh?” He gave the dog a scratch behind the ears and made his way back to the bedroom.

He retrieved the black duffle he’d stashed under the bed and began stuffing clothes and everything else he’d need up at the main house in it. He popped one of the pills in his mouth, chasing it with a swig from the bottled water on the nightstand and tossed the pills into his bag.

He debated on packing some of Nesta’s things, but knew he’d likely grab the wrong things and decided to let her pack on her own.own.

With the bag slung over his shoulder, Cassian, Beau at his side, trailed back up to the main house.

He wanted to do something special for Nesta. She had to be overly stressed, newly pregnant, opening a B&B, her boyfriend getting shot.

With a sigh, he pulled open the back door of the main house and dropped his bag before pulling out his phone and dialing Azriel’s number.

He answered on the first ring. “Hello?”

“Whatcha doing?” Cassian asked.

Azriel huffed a laugh. “Bored?”

“I need to go into town and was hoping you could drive me,” he said. “Or, I could drive myself-“

“Let me finish shoveling this shit and I’ll be there,” Azriel promised. “If you get behind the wheel Nesta would never forgive me.”

Az hung up and Cassian sighed. “Sick of being treated like a misbehaving teenager.”

Thirty minutes later, Azriel’s truck pulled up behind the house. When he came inside, he found Cassian balancing dishes, condiments, silverware, cups and other things from the kitchen cabinets and drawers in a tower. Cassian glanced up. “Thank the Cauldron, lets go.”

He stood and headed for the door. Azriel hesitated. “Shouldn’t you put all that away?”

He glanced back at his creation and waved it off. “Nah, Nesta’s reaction will be funnier.”

Azriel just shook his head. “You knock her up, get shot, and now you want to give the woman a heart attack?”

“She’ll laugh,” Cassian protested, stepping out of the back door. “Eventually.”

Azriel hesitated for another second before following his friend.

They hauled themselves into the truck and pulled out onto the street, toward town.

“Where am I driving you?” Azriel asked, one arm hanging out the window.

“Flower shop,” Cassian said. “Jewelry shop.”

Azriel looked at him with a lifted brow. 

“For a necklace or something,” Cassian clarified. “Something to wear to the opening celebration.”

“You sure you’re not making an honest woman out of her?” He asked, keeping an eye on the road.

He’d thought about it, but he knew what her answer would be. He also knew that he didn’t want to ask her just because she was having his baby. He loved her. He wanted to marry her. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, but he wanted to make sure she knew he was asking her for the right reason, not the obvious one.

“Not yet.” He could have left it at that, but he knew Az would have continued to ask questions. “You know I like to do things out of order.”

Azriel chuckled and said, “Well, you’re not wrong.”

“Sex, then first date, then knocked her up….but, marriage? That’s a bit down the road,” Cassian said.

Azriel grinned. “Fair enough.”

He pulled up on the curb in the little downtown strip and Cassian got out, heading straight to the florist shop. He picked out a giant bouquet of yellow roses and a vase that Cassian thought was fancy enough before putting it in the truck, and walking across the street, into the jewelry store.

A little old lady stood behind the counter and smiled brightly as Cassian entered. “Well, hello young man, how can I help you?”

“I’m looking for a necklace,” Cassian said, then added, “A nice one.” 

The sweet little old lady chuckled and nodded, slowly walking to the opposite side of the counter she was standing behind. “Well, let’s take a look, then.”

She brought him over to a case that was filled with the most gorgeous necklaces imaginable. There were shining stones of every color glinting in the light, some with long, heavy chains, some that were fitted closer to the neck. 

They were beautiful, yes, but they were so...ostentatious. He laughed at himself for even thinking of the word, knowing he’d picked it up from one of the SAT word search books Nesta had left at his cabin. And these necklaces were exactly that. They were too much.

He spied a price tag that had come out from behind the fabric covered stand it hung on and Cassian used another one of Nesta’s SAT words.

That was an egregious number of zeros.

“I think, uh…” Cassian scratched at the back of his neck and sighed. “Look, ma’am-.”

“My name is Miriam,” she said, interrupting him. “None of that, ma’am business. Makes me feel old.”

He chuckled, but smiled, warmly. “Look, Miss Miriam, I’ll be completely honest with you. I’m wanting to get a present for my girlfriend. It’s been a rough couple weeks and I’d like to cheer her up. But I don’t exactly have a lot of money, I’m a ranch hand and I’m technically out of work, thanks to my injury.”

Her kind eyes were worried as she said, “Oh no, what happened?”

He laughed and said, “To my shoulder or why has it been a rough few weeks?”

“Well, both.” Her answer was blunt, but her tone caught Cass off guard.

Her concern seemed genuine, but he chuckled and said, “It’s a long story.”

“I’ve got time.” She smiled, warmly.

Cassian sighed. “She’s opening up a bed and breakfast she inherited from her father in a few weeks. If that wasn’t stressful enough, I just got shot by her sister’s psychotic ex at her wedding to my best friend and then we found out she’s pregnant when she passed out while I was in surgery. Now, one of my other best friends has had to quit his job to come be the ranch hand on said B&B, where I work, so yes, technically, she is my boss, to run the ranch in my place. All the while, she’s having the worst morning sickness and we were told she would never conceive, so we’re a little overwhelmed by all of this.”

Miriam blinked, speechless. “Oh, my… That was quite a long story.”

Cassian sucked on his teeth and rocked back on his heels. “Yep.”

Miriam asked, “What’s her name?”

“Nesta.” He even loves the way her name sounded from his own mouth.

She turned and was heading back behind the counter she’d first been behind when he arrived. “And your Nesta, is she more of a sweet, kind spirit or a firey lady in charge?”

He followed, and thought on the question, deciding to answer honestly. “She’s both.”

She lifted a small, locked case onto the glass top. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

She unlocked the box and opened the top.

A simple, elegant strand of pearls sat inside the velvet lining, and a lone pear-shaped diamond hung from the center. It was the single most beautiful piece of jewelry he’d ever seen.

He said, “Miriam, it’s beautiful, but I can’t afford-.”

“You’ll take it, and you won’t pay me a dime. It’s my gift to you, to give to her.”

Cassian forgot how to speak.

He forgot what the English language was.

He was actually in a coma from the gunshot and was having some sort of fever dream.

Those were the only reasons he could think of that a complete stranger would have just said that to him.

“I- Excuse me?”

She gently closed the lid and locked it again, placing the key on top and slid it across to him. “Before you try to tell me no, I need to tell you something.” She pauses and Cassian said nothing, giving her the chance. She smiled softly. “This jewelry store is all that I have left. My husband died just a few years ago. Our friends have all passed and it’s just me now. My husband and I never had the opportunity to have children, so our legacy will not live on. And I have no one to pass the things I love down to.”

Cassian could see her eyes getting misty, but he wouldn’t dare interrupt her.

“This necklace was a gift from Drakon when he returned from the war. I’ve held onto it for years, even as I’ve begun to give things away to strangers and to the missions. But I could never bring myself to sell my necklace. What price could I put on something that meant so much to me? So I want you to take this. Not only as a gift to Nesta, but as a gift to me. Pass this on to your baby, please.”

Cassian cleared his throat as his vision blurred. “I, uh, thank you.” A small laugh bubbled out of his mouth. “Truly. Thank you. I wish there was a word greater than thank you, but that’s all I can think of.”

Miriam laughed, quietly, and reached across the counter to pat his hand. “You’re so very welcome. Now, take that home to your girlfriend and have a damn happy life.”

Cassian grinned as he nodded, slowly. “Yes, ma’am.” 

After telling her thank you, once more, and saying goodbye at least a dozen times, Cassian took the necklace back across the street and into the truck, where Azriel was waiting, sipping on lemonade.

He looked over at Cassian and blinked. “Are you crying?”

“No,” Cassian said, although he was pretty sure he was.

“Lair,” Azriel said. “You gonna let me see what you picked.”

Cassian looked down at the box, then unlocked it, and opened it up. 

Azriel blinked, eyes going wide in surprise. “Holy shit.”

“Yeah,” Cassian said, slowly. 

Azriel opened his mouth, then shut it, then said, again, “Holy shit.”

“She just gave it to me,” Cassian said.

Azriel looked up at him as if he had lost his mind. 

“I’m serious,” Cassian said, laughing quietly. “I still can’t believe it. It’s a long story.”

“Well,” Azriel said, starting up the truck. “You’re going to make us all look bad, Rhys and I.”

“That’s the plan,” Cassian grinned, then looked back down at the necklace with a soft smile, reeling in how lucky and blessed he was.

But then he got a text. What the fuck have you done in my kitchen and where the hell are you?

He cleared his throat. “Okay, time to get home, Nesta didn’t think my kitchen installation was funny.”

Azriel started laughing and said, “Oh, no, I’m gonna take the back roads.”

Cassian looked over at his friend. “Uh, no, you’re gonna haul ass home.”

“Uh, no, I’m going to slowly drive you home, then go home to Elain,” Azriel said, grinning uncontrollably.

“I hate you,” Cassian said, quietly.

Azriel shrugged. “I suggested you take it all down before we left.” 

“I still think it’s pretty funny,” Cassian said, trying to keep his voice light.

“Apparently you’re the only one,” Azriel said, but he was still grinning.

~~~~~

On my way home. Don’t ruin my masterpiece.

Nesta read the text with a scowl.

A second one came in. I’m with Az. Don’t worry.

It didn’t ease her anxiety. She once again stared at the “masterpiece” he left in the kitchen.

She was in love with an overgrown child.

With no hesitation, she began unstacking her dishes, spices, and other kitchen utensils. She was bumping the silverware drawer closed with a hip when Cassian’s boots began thumping up the front steps. She leaned against the island and waited for him to make his appearance.

When he did, carrying the biggest bouquet of yellow roses she’d ever seen, she melted. “What did you- Where did- Cassian…”

He set the vase on the counter, the heavy thus indicating it was as heavy as it seemed. “I wanted to do something to make you smile.”

And he’d succeeded, the grin on her face bright enough to blind him. Though the smile faltered when she saw the velvety box still in his hand. 

“And…” he continued, holding out the box.

Nesta just stared at it. “Cass..”

“Just take it,” he said, eyes bright.

“It’s too much,” she whispered.

Cassian chuckled. “You haven’t even opened it yet.”

She knew his budget, knew what he typically spent on things, and anything that came in a large, beautiful velvet box had to be highly out of his price range.

“Please,” he asked, when she had yet to take it.

Her fingers closed around the box and when she tried to open it, she found that it wouldn’t budge. “This better not be an elaborate plan to make me feel weak so I’ll ask you to do things for me.”

Cassian began to laugh and he took the box from her setting it down on the counter. He wrapped his good arm around her waist and pulled her against him, softly kissing her. “No, but that does sound like something I’d do.”

He pressed another kiss to her forehead and fished a small silver key from his pocket.

Nesta’s eyes widened as she saw that whatever was inside needed to be locked up and she decided then and there that whatever was in the box was extravagantly too much.

He unlocked the box and lifted the lid.

Nesta gasped, her body going still as she eyed the elaborate pearl necklace.

“Cassian,” she breathed, at least she thought she did, if words hadn’t completely escaped her.

“Do you like it?” He asked.

If he wasn’t injured she would slap him. Yes, she loved it, but it was way too much.

Way too much.

“I love it, Cass, but-.”

“No,” he interrupted. “Don’t protest. It’s taken care of. It’s done, and you’re keeping it.”

She opened her mouth to do just that, but he said, “I’ll explain later, I promise. It’s a gift, Nes, for you, for our daughter one day, or for our son to give to his wife. That was the condition given to me, and I intend to uphold it, but that can only happen if you agree to take it.” He kissed her again and breathed, “Please.”

She wasn’t sure if it was the hormones or the beauty of the situation, maybe it was a little bit of both, but she started to sob. Cassian tensed, surely thinking he had done something wrong, but it was quite the opposite. She had fully intended to yell at him for making such a mess in her kitchen, but instead, he had shown up with the most beautiful gift she had ever gotten. 

“Thank you,” she managed to get out.

Cassian laughed, breathlessly, as he took Nesta into his arms, his good arm wrapping around her shoulder. “I assume these are happy tears, then?  Because if not, I feel like a real jackass.”

She nodded, unable to speak as she cried into his chest.

He tipped her chin up so he could look into her eyes. “I was hoping your nap helped, but now that you’re crying, I’m not so sure.”

She sniffled, taking a second to compose herself. “No, it helped. I needed it. I’m just… overwhelmed. Cass, this is amazing. I love you so much.”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

She looked up into his eyes, completely amazed by the complex man before her. She would never understand him, the same man that built a tower out of utensils in her kitchen while also being the same man that brought her flowers and the most beautiful necklace she had ever seen.

He was incredible.

Indescribable.

All consuming.

And she was so madly, completely in love with him.

Cassian Nazari.

Her child’s father.

Her one true love.

She prayed, hoped, begged that there would never be a day of her life that went by that didn’t have him in it. 

[moonysbitofmagic]

Headcanon: the Ilvermorny schooling system

Alrighty, so we all know how the Hogwarts school system was based off the general UK school system. For example, OWLS are taken in fifth year, which is typically the age when British students take their GCSEs. (correct me if I’m wrong, I’m American) NEWTS are typically taken in seventh year, which is also the age when British students usually take their A-levels. 

So I thought I’d write about how I think Ilvermorny’s system would look like! 

I. ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY STAGE

In the US and Canada, high school/secondary education typically begins when students are 14-15 years old. Assuming that students will go to Ilvermorny when they are 11 years old, this would mean that high school would begin in their 4th year. 

Thus, the making for two stages: elementary and secondary.

Ilvermorny students are in the elementary stage from their first year until their third. They take all required classes in this stage. Think of it like middle school! Students are simply learning about magic and preparing for the secondary stage. 

The secondary stage begins in fourth year and lasts until students graduate - so basically like high school! In fourth year, students must take all required classes but narrow down their classes in fifth year once they have decided on possible career options and taken their OWLs. OWLs and NEWTs are taken in this stage (but more on tests in the third section). In their fourth year, students are made an appointment with their head of house, much like at Hogwarts, to discuss possible career choices and class options. In sixth year, students are once again discuss career choices with their head of house as a check-in. If the student’s options and interests have changed, then the head of house will help to accommodate and help with that.

II. CLASSES & CURRICULUM

All non-English speaking students take an English class as part of their core curriculum. 

Elementary stage: all students must take the basic, required classes. In second year, students choose 2 electives. They are taught at the same time each day and because of this, are rotated every Tuesday through Friday. Mondays are the no-elective days and is instead a “study hall”. So for example: a student will take elective A on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and elective B on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Required classes are: potions, charms, transfigurations, defense against the dark arts, creature care, astronomy, herbology, and magical history.

Electives include: no-maj studies, divination, magical government, flight class, and choir.

Secondary stage: In fourth year, students continue to take their required classes. Following their OWLs in fourth year though, students in fifth year and onwards will take the classes that they got OWLs in - much like at Hogwarts - and begin to prepare for their NEWTS. However, if a student is still interested in a class that they did not get an OWL in, they can take it as an elective: which will be an easier, not-NEWT level version of it. They will be able to drop out of their elective classes if they do not enjoy it. 

Electives include: arithmancy, study of ancient runes, no-maj studies, divination, magical government, choir, instrumental ensemble (basically a mashup of band and orchestra). Also includes non-NEWT level classes.

III. THE TESTS

IMP (aka the “identification of magical preparation”):

This test is taken at the end of third year, which is also the end of the elementary stage. This test is given in every subject, much like OWLs and NEWTs, and is simply to see how much the student has learned and how much they’re prepared for the secondary stage. IMPs will help the student decide which classes to take in the secondary stage. If a student does not do well in one subject’s IMP, they must either get tutoring in the subject or take a remedial-type class. This test does not matter and is only taken to see student’s knowledge - it is not used to determined anything else. 

When meeting with their head of house, the IMPs will help the student decide on career options. A good result in one class’s IMP might be a good sign towards a certain career and a bad result will be the opposite, etc. 

Elective classes do not offer the IMP. 

OWL (aka the “ordinary wizarding level”):

This test is taken at the end of fourth year. Like at Hogwarts, OWLs will determine which classes students can take their NEWTs in. 

If a student does not get an OWL in a subject that they wanted but would like to continue to get a NEWT in said subject, they must take a remedial class in place of an elective or have extracurricular tutoring. Both of these options must be taken alongside the NEWT-level class.

NEWT (aka the “nastily exhaustive wizarding test”):

Students will take this test at the end of their seventh year. This test will determine which careers are open to them. 

Let me know if there’s anything I should add!

[downwiththeficness]

A Need So Great-Chapter 6

Summary: Eva Moore is assigned to work the last year of her contract with the DEA in Colombia. She just wants to get to the end of her tenure, but she keeps getting drawn further into a string of murders in the city. It isn’t long before she’s forced to face the ghosts of her past.

Word Count: ~2,900

Warnings: None

A/N: For the purposes of this story, Carrillo isn’t married--or, if you like, divorced. A/B/O dynamics are prevalent, and they come with their own warning. The overall rating for this story is Explicit, although not every chapter will contain adult themes.

Taglist: @dirtynerdy98 @1zashreena1 @heresathreebee @deliciouslyclassytrash

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8.5, 9, 10, 10.5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

True to his word, Carrillo had called her the next day, asked how she was doing.  Eva was barely coherent, but she’d told him that she was okay and he’d let her get back to sleep.  To her surprise, he’d called again on Sunday evening, asking if she felt better and if she had eaten.  She had, but only a little.

Why don’t you take a hot bath, he’d prompted gently. You’ll feel better.

She did. And, she had felt better.  By Monday morning, she was able to pull herself out of bed and head into the office.  Although still sleepy, she felt more rested than she had in possibly years.  Thinking back, Eva could not remember the last time a nesting period had been so fulfilling, or helpful.  Though she was on the upswing, Eva had left the pillows and blankets in place. She could snuggle in them a little longer that night, before the need left her completely.

As her desk, she gathered a new stack of files, flipping through the one on top. It was the death of the informant she’d taken a look at. Eva paused, wondering if she should even read the file. She decided it would look worse if she didn’t. With a sigh, she began reading the first page. And then, the next page. And then she was moving back and forth between reports.

There was a page missing. She thumbed through it, looking to see if it had been collated incorrectly.  It hadn’t. Javier had told her about a tattoo on the victim—it wasn’t included on the pages in front of her. Humming, she stood and went to the records room to see if it had slipped out in transit. It was there that Steve found her.

“Good, you’re here.”

Eva lifted her brows in question, refiling the folder in her hand.

“Javier asked me to find you and send you to help him at the church.”

She laughed, “I’m not religious.”

He put his hands on his hips, “Good, you’ll be objective.”

“Objective about what?”

“The case,” he answered, “Now, come on.  I’ll take you there.”

Before she could argue, he was guiding her out of the building to the parking lot and they were on their way. It took until she was walking up the steps for her to pause and actually think about what she was doing.

“I can’t,” she nearly yelled, both hands coming up in front of her.

Steve rolled his eyes, “You can, let’s go. Javi’s waiting.”

“No,” Eva countered, lowering her voice, “I can’t do field work. I’m not allowed.”

He sucked a breath through his teeth in frustration, “You’re not.  You’re going to mass. Now, in.”

Dragging her feet, Eva followed him in, folding her hands in front of her. It was a really nice church. Lots of stained glass, lots of wood. A confessional off to one side. Big cross with a Jesus on it. She walked up the aisle for what would be the second time in her life. Eva felt out of place the first time, too.

God, she’d been fourteen and so stupid, so trusting of her parents and of—of Joshua. He was smart and handsome and a fucking doctor. So stupid. So trusting. Eva could still remember that she was excited to be a wife, that she had thanked God for making happen so fast for her. She’d prayed that she would be a good partner for him, that she would learn fast. Eva had stopped believing in God the day after she got married.

Javi was standing with a priest at the back—or was it the front—of the church. They were talking animatedly, smiles all around. Eva followed Steve, waiting to be introduced.

“Eva, this is Father Martin.”

She gave a little half wave, “Hello.”

“He’s got a youth baseball league running this summer, they just got new uniforms.”

“That’s great,” she said, wondering where this was going.

“They even bought all the players new cleats.  Isn’t that great?”

His expression told her that what he was saying was meaningful, and Eva was a little embarrassed that it took her a few moments to catch on. She cleared her throat and smiled congenially at the group.

“Um, could I use your restroom?”

Father Martin gestured to a hall tucked behind the confessional, “Yes, of course.”

Eva thanked him and tried not to walk too fast. She located the bathroom pretty quickly and ran the faucet while she peeked further down the hall.  Couple of rooms, nothing out of the ordinary.  Still, she could get a little lost. Turning off the faucet, she slipped out of the bathroom and made her way to the first room—broom closet.  Crossing the hall, she opened the next door.  This was where they taught whatever the Catholic equivalent was of Sunday School.

Eva had grown up like any other good Louisiana girl, a Southern Baptist. Where they gathered, there was food and Southern judgment. Her marriage had broken her of most of the things she’d once believed, but it hadn’t broken her of the good memories she had.  

Reverently, she traced one of the little desks, smiling at the hand made art on the walls, little names scrawled in shaky writing.  At the front was a chalk board, a bible verse carefully written in one corner, a psalm. Eva leaned on the desk and stared at it a moment, thinking that she probably could have done with a little more memorization at vacation Bible school.

Next to the chalkboard, Eva noticed that the wall was cracked.  Odd. The rest of the church was in immaculate condition.  Rising, she went over and touched the cracked, gasping when it cracked more. Spinning around, she looked towards the door, as if God would stroll in and strike her down for damaging His house.

Using both hands, she tried to set it straight, which only made things worse.  It cracked all the way up to nearly the ceiling.  With a deep sigh, she looked at it, using a nail to scratch along the edge. It lifted away easily, and she discovered the it was...on a hinge.

“What the fu—hell. Hell? Is hell better?”

Knowing she was already in it, Eva opened the makeshift door and found the back of the confessional.  Brows together, she leaned in. It looked pretty normal, not that she’d ever been inside one. Well, there was a first time for everything. Primly, she turned and sat on the cushion, wiggling a bit. It wiggled with her.

Standing, Eva reached beneath the seat and lifted it.  She smiled, set the cushion down and closed the door. Quickly, she scuttled out into the hall and back into the sanctuary.

The boys were still talking with the priest, thought Steve was taking the occasional photo. She gave Javier a wink, thanked the priest for the use of his facilities, and headed back outside.  Javier followed her.

“What’d you find?”

“You know, I’m not supposed to be doing this. I’m supposed to be at a desk.”

“I know-”

“Then, you also know that by asking me to crime scenes you are risking my freedom.”

He looked at her for a bit, chewing on his lip, “Listen, you’re good at this. I know that, and you’re only here to visit a potential church, recommended by me.”

“You can’t just make up stories to suit your needs.”

“Why not?” he shot back, “DEA does it all the time.”

Eva looked away, “I can’t go back to prison, Javi.”

He took her by the shoulders, “You won’t. Steve and me, we’ll make sure of it.”

She nodded, crossing her arms.

“Now, what’d you find?”

“The church,” she answered, “Is hiding drugs under the seat of the confessional, probably in other places, too.”

He snapped his tongue over the back of his teeth, “You saw it.”

“I saw it.”

Dropping his hands, Javier pursed his lips, “I’m gonna call Carrillo. You sit tight out here in case it gets ugly.”

Eva shrugged, “You get the bad guys, I’m gonna go get a popscicle.”

And that’s what she did. Eva crossed the street to a tiny one stop shop and bought a cherry popscicle.  Then, she found a bench where she had a good view of the front of the church and sat. As she pulled the paper apart, a couple Jeeps drove up to the church stairs and about ten or so policemen hauled ass inside, each of them wearing kevlar. Javier must have had them on stand by.  Clearly, he thought he was working off good information. Perhaps, he’d snagged a nun as informant.

Separating the two pieces, Eva took the top off one and held it in her mouth, letting the sugary syrup melt over her tongue. She hadn’t had one of these in a long time, couldn’t remember the last one. Carefully, she tipped it over, slurping up one side.

Even from across the street, she could hear raised voices. They’d told the priest what she’d found, no doubt.

Eva sat there watching the police bring out load after load of cocaine, an astonishing amount, really. When she’d finished the popscicle, she got up and threw the wrapper and wooden sticks in the trash. On her way back, she saw Carrillo crossing the street towards her. Like his men, he was also kitted up. Eva was surprised that they’d found a bulletproof vest that could fit his broad shoulders. In any case, it was good look for him.

She sat, leaving enough room for him, a wordless invitation that he took.

“Having fun storming the castle?”

He huffed a short laugh, “I don’t know that ‘fun’ is how I would describe it.”

Eva hummed, knowing what he meant, then, “Guess its better than sitting at a desk.”

“On that, we agree. Javi tells me that you were the one who found the drugs.”

She shrugged, “Stumbled upon them, really.”

Carrillo looked at her, sidelong, “You have good eyes for this. I should put you on my payroll.”

Pleased by the complement, she allowed herself to feel a little bit of pride despite the fact that she really had simply stumbled upon the drugs.

Leaning back, Eva let her voice come out in a slow drawl, “I don’t know that you want to do that.”

He assessed her expression, asking, “Why?”

“Because,” she explained, matter of fact, “I don’t kiss the men who sign my paychecks.”

One side of his mouth lifted, a kind of playful light in his eyes, “I can get someone else to sign the paycheck.”

Feeling a blush rise to her cheeks, Eva looked away, saw that the priest was being cuffed in the doorway.

“What will happen to him?”

Carrillo’s face hardened a bit, “We’ll book him and he will make bail.  He’ll be back before Sunday services.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Is that how it worked in this country? She supposed that was how it worked everywhere—plenty of Josh’s boys got off without charges, plenty made bail, plenty went right back to what they were doing.

“What a load of bullshit.”

Carrillo laughed outright, “That is how it is.”

She opened her mouth and closed it, looking at her hands.

He lifted one hand and tapped the outside of her thigh once, “Inside thought?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Tell me—is it insulting?” He looked intrigued.

She shook her head, “More sad, I think.”

“Tell me.”

Sighing deeply, she simply said, “I was just thinking that whoever leaked the information to Javier is going to be crucified.  I was also thinking that saying this out loud would be in poor taste.”

Carrillo made a sound of agreement, and then there was a few minutes where they both watched the priest being walked from the church to one of the Jeeps.

“How are you feeling?”

Eva was a little startled by the question, but she recovered quickly, “I’m better. Thank you for your help last week. It...made a difference.”

He acknowledged her thanks with a bob if his head, “You are welcome, and I am glad. When was the last time you nested?”

Her shock must have shown on her face because he went on, “When we met, the first thing I noticed was that you looked like you needed to take some time to nest.”

“The first thing?” Her? Sarcastic? No...

He gave a little shrug, abashed, “Okay, the second thing.”

God, but she wanted to needle him just a little bit, to volley back the unbalanced feeling he so often stirred in her. It took half a second to agree with herself that she should—just a little.

Eva turned, resting her elbow on the back of the bench and laying her head on her hand, “What was the first?”

She could tell he was regretting saying it, but Eva was curious, and she had a hard time not being curious about things. She did, however, keep the satisfied look off her face when his cheeks tinged with pink.

“Tell me,” she urged, echoing his tone from not a few minutes before.

Carrillo’s shoulders pulled down and she got the feeling that he was trying to make himself less threatening, an unconscious movement that told her he’d always been a little too large among his peers. She could see in that small movement that he’d learned early on that he was intimidating.  She could also see that he probably knew when to use that to his advantage and when to pull back.

“You know the answer to that question, Eva,” he said eventually.

She held up a finger, “I might know.”

After a deep inhale followed by a controlled exhale, he said, “I cannot believe I am saying this...Your scent. You know that it was your scent. I couldn’t fucking breathe in that conference room. I thought my blood was going to boil in my veins.”

The words tumbled out quickly, but his tone was so reticent that there were little unusual pauses in his sentences. He definitely did not want to be saying it, but he clearly couldn’t help it, and it looked like that frustrated him. Eva bit her lip, touched by how ridiculously honest he was being with her at that moment. She should reward him for that honesty.

“Do you want to know a secret?”

He looked at her and nodded sharply, just once.

Eva moved a little closer and pitched her voice low, “I knew what you smelled like a month before we were introduced. I even saw you first, like a few weeks before. It was the only way I got through that meeting with any dignity.”

There. She’d given him a fair trade. Eva did not need to add that she’d masturbated to that scent over and over for the month prior (and since). She didn’t think she would ever really have the courage to tell him that much. Just the thought made heat rise in her chest and cheeks.

He shifted to face her, “How?”

She tilted her head to the side in a low arc, “You would come in to talk with one of the agents, we’d just miss each other and I could scent you a few times.”

His eyes narrowed and she could see the wheels turning in his head, “You said you saw me.”

“Yes, I did. Not for long, and from across the room.  But, I knew.”

Strong fingers brushed down the forearm holding her head aloft, “How did you stand it? After—I think I lasted less than twenty four hours before I was coming up with ways to see you again.”

Eva smiled, “I was just happy that I could feel that intensely. I think I wanted to savor it.”

He cocked his head to the side, eyes running over her face and downwards, catching on the way her skirt had hitched up a bit, “You never…”

She shook her head, “Josh was a beta. After we got married, I was on a tight leash. And after, there wasn’t much opportunity.”

There went that jagged fury that billowed through his scent when she mentioned her marriage. She made a mental note to steer away from the subject, if she could. His mouth opened and closed, and her mouth widened in a smile.

“You just had an inside thought.”

He laughed, “I did.”

“Well, out with it.”

Carrillo, still smiling, said, “I think I’ve revealed enough for one day.”

Eva looked down, “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

He touched underneath her chin, “Don’t apologize for wanting to know my thoughts, hmm? I want to know yours constantly.”

“I pretty much say whatever I’m thinking, Big Guy.”

His name sounded from across the street and he straightened, listening.

“I need to go,” he said after a moment. “We’ll talk later.”

Eva watched him go, a warm feeling coming over her.  She liked him a little too much, she knew that. She also knew that she was going to do absolutely nothing about it.  

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

19th August >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Monday, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time 

or

Saint John Eudes, Priest.

Monday, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II))

First Reading Ezekiel 24:15-24 The Lord will profane his sanctuary.

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, I am about to deprive you suddenly of the delight of your eyes. But you are not to lament, not to weep, not to let your tears run down. Groan in silence, do not go into mourning for the dead, knot your turban round your head, put your sandals on your feet, do not cover your beard, do not eat common bread.’ I told this to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening, and the next morning I did as I had been ordered. The people then said to me, ‘Are you not going to explain what meaning these actions have for us?’ I replied, ‘The word of the Lord has been addressed to me as follows, “Say to the House of Israel: The Lord says this. I am about to profane my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes, the passion of your souls. Those of your sons and daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword. And you are to do as I have done; you must not cover your beards or eat common bread; you must keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you must not lament or weep. You shall waste away owing to your sins and groan among yourselves. Ezekiel is to be a sign for you. You are to do just as he has done. And when this happens, you will learn that I am the Lord.”’

Responsorial Psalm Deuteronomy 32:18-21

R/ You forget the God who fathered you.

You forget the Rock who begot you, unmindful now of the God who fathered you. The Lord has seen this, and in his anger cast off his sons and his daughters.

R/ You forget the God who fathered you.

‘I shall hide my face from them,’ he says ‘and see what becomes of them. For they are a deceitful brood, children with no loyalty in them.

R/ You forget the God who fathered you.

‘They have roused me to jealousy with what is no god, they have angered me with their beings of nothing; I, then, will rouse them to jealousy with what is no people, I will anger them with an empty-headed nation.’

R/ You forget the God who fathered you.

Gospel Acclamation Psalm 118:34

Alleluia, alleluia! Train me, Lord, to observe your law, to keep it with my heart. Alleluia!

Or: Matthew 5:3

Alleluia, alleluia! How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 19:16-22 If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own

There was a man who came to Jesus and asked, ‘Master, what good deed must I do to possess eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one alone who is good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said, ‘Which?’ ‘These:’ Jesus replied ‘You must not kill. You must not commit adultery. You must not bring false witness. Honour your father and mother, and: you must love your neighbour as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these. What more do I need to do?’ Jesus said, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But when the young man heard these words he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saint John Eudes, Priest 

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Monday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Ephesians 3:14-19 May Christ live in your hearts through faith.

I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural, takes its name: Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 130(131)

R/ Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

O Lord, my heart is not proud nor haughty my eyes. I have not gone after things too great nor marvels beyond me.

R/ Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

Truly I have set my soul in silence and peace. A weaned child on its mother’s breast, even so is my soul.

R/ Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

O Israel, hope in the Lord both now and forever.

R/ Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 11:25

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 11:25-30 You have hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to little children.

Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[drmedicsgamesurgery]

Danganronpa Togami Volume 3 Part 14 (Summary) (Finale)

Finally finished! What an incredible journey. Stay til the end for my analysis!

Thanks to @enoshima-pyon @shockersalvage​​ @jinjojess​​ @hopeymchope​​ @ blackflirtlarping

Coda - Byakuya-sama is God

Monday.

Byakuya Togami is walking towards Hope Peak’s Academy.

There are other Super High School Level students who are walking around him. They are also on their way to school. Such a scene seems to say that talent itself does not have any privilege, which makes Byakuya happy. Their so-called talent is just a ticket, used to catch the train to victory. If they have no ticket, then they take a car. With no car, they can walk with their own feet. In order to make your life head towards victory, as what analyzing the data determines, it depends on personal effort. That’s what Byakuya believes.

There was an unspeakable voice behind him.

That is the voice of the Junko Enoshima, and she is from the 78th class of Hope’s Peak Academy just like Byakuya.

"Hello, Byakuya! You have such a pained look so early this morning! You are a hero! Can’t you be a little more heroic again? Hahaha!"

"Don't you know how to say a hello that sounds more suitable for the morning? I have a headache."

To be precise, a headache had started since he returned to Japan and continued to this day. For Togami who claimed to be "Super High School Level Perfection", health management mistakes should not exist.

"The voice of Junko is full of charm from morning to night! Anyways, I have a problem!"

"What is the problem?"

"Your life. Haven’t you been arrested or tried?"

"Oh, I am the one who saved the world."

That weekend, a young man, Orvin Elevator, triggered the "World Domination Proclamation" to make the world head towards destruction. The long-standing resentment and the naive desire to conquer the world drove him to carry out the incident.

Orvin Elevator pretending to be Byakuya Togami, using the power of being leader of the World Health Organization's Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Unit, spread seeds of chaos including the "Despair Novel" all around the world. However, he found the wrong opponent...at least Togami thought so from the bottom of his heart. Togami, who happened to be in the Czech Republic, experienced a series of extraordinary adventures, unveiled the truth of the "Despair Novel" and arrested Orvin Elevator, proving his innocence. In this way, he became the hero to save the world, but for Togami himself, this was just a slightly busy weekend.

The world is not over.

Conquering the world had not been successful.

Same as before.

"Speaking of which, saving the world is great!!" Enoshima put her face together. "To tell the truth, I really looked down on you before!"

"It’s very annoying to hear you say that so clearly."

"Although I didn't leave Japan, I was still also a partner who saved the world with you! Yeah, the smart and cute Junko earns another gold medal, all while working hard towards the next magazine! Gah, but there’s still no time to eat that popular pocky!!!” A noise came from the rear. Looking back, Sonia Nevermind was sitting on a golden cow cart that looked stupid. A boy with a hat and a fierce look was sweating and pulling the cart forward.

"Listen to me! I saved the king of the world! And the people of this world's heads were lifted higher than before and they all bowed and bowed and bowed!!!...Ah,aren’t they our juniors? Good Morning!"

Sonia poked her head out of the swaying cart.

"Hey, idiot princess, it’s so early you’ll wake the dead. Besides, and this is no boast by any means, it was just me who saved the world. You were just next to me."

"Togami, are you alone this morning?"

"I have always been a person to go to school alone."

"Yes, it looks like you have no friends at school."

"It’s very annoying to hear you say that so clearly."

"Hey, hey, hey - too heavy..." The boy who pulled the cow cart was about to get dizzy. "Ah, you, you misunderstood! I don't mean that Miss Sonia is too heavy. And, I don't want to use the face to feel the weight of Miss Sonia. Honest!"

"So Togami, I wish you a good day."

Sonia ignored the boy and waved her hand. The cow cart drove forward.Togami and Enoshima, who was still there, carried an unspeakable mood as they walked along the road leading to  Hope’s Peak Academy.

"This result...the world is still not over," after a while, Enoshima whispered. "I actually have some expectations."

"Is it true that you believe in eschatology?"

"That's not it. I think if the world really ends, I want to see what it is. Don’t you have such a desire?"

"No." He replied without hesitation. "A person who wants to see the end of the world just proves that person is dissatisfied with reality, just like the one who created the 'World Domination Proclamation"

"I forgot pretty much everything. What happened to the culprit of the incident?"

"I have forgotten the details...I only heard that he went mad in prison. He has been chanting some inexplicable words. Presumably, he is very difficult to appear in court for trial."

"What a boring end! Now I’m in despair!!"

On the other hand, Enoshima stretched out and suddenly found Ikusaba in front of them, "Oh, it’s my sister, alright Togami, see you at the classroom--" she says and ran off towards Ikusaba. Although the sisters did not look like each other, they looked very good together and they walked away.

Togami walked into the school. There were many students in the corridor. In the eyes of Togami, they are all dull in appearance without exception. Peaceful life, boring days, ordinary campus life. This boring scenery Togami is satisfied with. In this world of mediocrity and temptation, he is able to act quickly and he is satisfied.

He found a girl standing opposite the corridor waiting to be there. The girl wearing a Gothic Lolita style costume was his classmate Celes...or to be accurate, it was Celestia Ludenberg.

"Good morning, Togami. Your walking posture is as proud as usual."

"I don't want to be picky about my walking posture," Togami felt that there were a lot of people who greeted him today. "What about Yamada?"

"I am not always with Yamada-kun. Not to mention, I checked my account and my reward was received."

"Oh, a Togami never lies."

"This way I am one step closer to my dreams."

"Don't mention any dreams. The people I met this weekend liked to talk about their dreams. I have had enough of that topic."

"Then I’ll change the subject and give you a piece of advice before entering the classroom."

"Advice?"

"The classmates in our class plan to hold a surprise party to celebrate you, Togami. The moment when you enter the classroom, you will be greeted with a lot of confetti, a lot of paper guns and a thank you on the blackboard. Togami-kun'."

"...A rare surprise. Why should you tell me specifically?"

"Was that an accident? I thought you didn’t like any surprises.”

"The activities planned by the fools are also the obligations of those who are in high positions."

"It's really sympathetic. Say Togami, have you heard that rumor?"

The tone of Celes changed.

"Rumor? What's the matter? Explain."

"Thanks to you, world peace has been restored...but the gunpowder-like 'Parade' is still going on, and it is hard to say whether there will be another incident similar to this in the future, so the school has strengthened its guards in order shield itself against despair.Togami, you should have heard the rumors of the 'Hope’s Peak Academy Shelter Project'?"

“'The Hope’s Peak Academy Shelter Project'?”

"In order to protect the students they’ll turn the campus into a fortress. That is the rumor."

"This joke is not very clever, and the idea is too outdated."

That was his feeling from the bottom of his heart. The countermeasures made in the movies filmed during the Cold War would be better than this.

"In my opinion, this is not a joke. I don't care if the world is ruined, but if the world is over, things will be troubled because my dreams have not yet been realized."

"Oh, don't worry about that, as long as I am there, the world will not end."

"Ha ha."

"What's so funny?"

"No, just thinking of something funny..." Celes pressed her head. "As long as I try to think about what happened in the Czech Republic, I get a migraine. It must be because the time spent with Yamada was too long. In order to vent some pressure, I’ll have to scold him."

Having finished all that she wanted to say Celes left. As he walked up the stairs, Togami intended to think about the "Hope’s Peak Academy Shelter Project" that he just heard about, but his thoughts were a mess. His own thinking became dull, which gave Togami a sense of unease. He, finally, went to the classroom.

Then he discovered Toko Fukawa.

With a gloomy expression on her face, Fukawa walked forward and complained: "Why, why do people want to move things?" Looking at it, she held a cardboard box in her hands.

"Fukawa, what is in the box?"

"B-B-B-B!!!!!"

"No strange noises, I am asking you what is in the box."

"B-B-B-Byakuya this is...a cat’s body!!"

"Sickening."

"I picked it up by the river!"

"Is it a gadget intended to surprise me?"

"You! How do you know!?"

"Don't think there is any concealment in front of Togami."

Togami replied before the cardboard box fell from the hand of Fukawa. She lowered her head in frustration. The gloomy expression was deteriorating further. The long braids hung down on the floor of the corridor, and her whole body revealed intense sadness.

"It's finished ————.......I proposed this 'Big Battle Plan To Hold A Surprise Party In Order To Grasp The Heart Of Byakuya-sama'. I couldn’t stop myself from leaking it, and I don’t even know why I leaked it. It is completely over. What----"

"I have heard about it already."

"My veins are not enough. I really want to cut my hands..."

"Oh, don't worry, Fukawa, there will be a surprise party."

"What?"

"It is also my duty to make fools happy."

"Hey."

"Are you really going to it with that kind of reaction? ."

"Oh, hehehehehehehehehehehe, Byakuya-sama You are too gentle, really, really!! I can’t bear it!, The mouth of my uterus has opened ————...!"

Fukawa's eyes turned into heart-shapes. With a smile on her face, she tried to pick up the box, but suddenly she screamed and held her wrist.

"Are you hurt?"

"Yes...my wrist is sprained. It seemed  to have been hurt in the Czech Republic. D-Definitely from the guy behind it...hey, why did this happen to me?"

"Regardless, you have completed your mission. Although you may not remember it."

"Is that right?"

"You have contributed to my work."

"You are too polite. Even if you didn't have me, you solved this incident perfectly."

"That is, of course, correct. Having said that, I was only able to solve the ‘World Domination Proclamation’ because this task happened to me at the right time. If the position or situation at that time was different, the protagonist would not have been me. The act of saving the world was just good opportunity

"You have saved the world, yet you’re so modest! How great!--...!"

"Don't come near me."

"I will follow you forever!"

"Don't drool."

"As long as the body fluid is of Byakuya-sama, I can drink it!"

"Don't say such a terrible thing. Will you try even now to make a move on me with your hand sprained?"

"Yeah, ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah?!"

"How old are you? So noisy. What happened this time?"

"This, this gentle composition of Byakuya-sama is going on 100% ! Am...am I dreaming?" Fukawa pulled her face to its limit. "Still, it's looking as if the world might be facing rapid destruction by almost next week's time. What do you think??"

"If it really becomes like that, it will be your turn to protect the world. You will prove it to me that the word 'hope' in you is not for show."

"I can't do that kind of thing...all I can do is be beside Byakuya-sama, everywhere, just like the air."

"Which air will you express yourself as?"

"I will become a vacuum! Become nothing!"

"Hey, listen, Fukawa. In quantum mechanics, a vacuum is not equal to nothingness."

"What are you talking about?"

"A vacuum will rise and fall, and the matter will continue to appear and disappear."

"I’m just a liberal arts student...I can't imagine it."

"I would like to make an analogy, for example, say your close friend is dead."

"Byakuya-sama, don't die!!"

"I said that it’s an analogy. Also, my relationship with you is not at all intimate." Togami said immediately. "You imagine that after the friend died, you walked into his room. This room is also a vacuum. There is only a table and a notebook used by this friend in the room. Of course, the friend is not in this room, but is that really the case? At the same time, you can feel the presence of the friend strongly even in this void.There is no complete nothingness in this world. It must be somewhere. Local observations, influences and impacts. Do you understand?"

"I don't have friends..."

"There is so much to say to you. Go into the classroom."

Togami bent down and tried to move the cardboard box out. Something fell out of the chest pocket of his jacket.

It was a pen.

Perhaps it was because of the impact when it fell, the blue ink came out from the edge of the pen cover and flowed like a girl's tears. Togami watched the ink spread across the hallway, and a gentle feeling appeared in his brain, like a gentle touch by angel's feathers. It was just a matter of a short moment, and the memory of Togami soon returned.

But that was it. Just like waking up from a long dream, just like watching a long story, soon there was nothing left.

The End

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

Works Referenced:

“To entertain the reader, I have written interesting and informative nonsense. That said, some readers may fancy themselves intellectuals for thinking "interesting and informative? that means pointless!"...while feeling in their heart of hearts "it was interesting and informative". While I may have written this book pointlessly, nevertheless what I am telling you is the truth. I have lured in readers with amusing themes, deliberately cut down any challenging passages, and arranged everything in superficial sentences, all of this was intentional to further the aim of "standing up to reality". I will not let that be written off as "pointless". To any readers who engrave that idea into their heart and want to learn more, there is nowhere to turn but the original texts these pages allude to works in and out (Inner and Apocrypha) of the Buddhist canon, so by all means read them.” -Jien, Jottings of a Fool (Gukanshō) [Authors Liberal Translation] [1]

Inner:

Kazutaka Kodaka, Rui Komatsuzaki, “Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc”, Spike, 2010

Same Author, “Danganronpa/Zero”, Volume 1 and 2, Seikaisha FICTIONS, 2011

Same Author, “Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair” Spike Chunsoft, 2012

Same Author, “Ultra Despair Girls Danganronpa Another Episode” Spike Chunsoft 2014

Apocrypha:

Seiji Kishi, “Danganronpa: The Animation” Supervised by Kazutaka Kodaka, Lerche, 2013

Takekuni Kitayama, “Danganronpa Kirigiri”, Volume 1-3 (of 7) Seikaisha FICTIONS, 2013-2020

“Danganronpa THE STAGE ~Kibō no Gakuen to Zetsubō no Kōkōsei” Supervised by Kazutaka Kodaka, CORNFLAKES, 2014

“Super Danganronpa 2: Sayonara Zetsubō Gakuen THE STAGE” Supervised by Kazutaka Kodaka, CORNFLAKES, 2015

“Danganronpa THE STAGE 2016 ~Kibō no Gakuen to Zetsubō no Kōkōsei” Supervised by Kazutaka Kodaka, CORNFLAKES, 2016

Other:

Daniel Alarcón, “At Night We Walk in Circles” Translated by Fuji Hikaru, 2016

Project Itoh, “Genocidal Organ”, Hayakawa SF Series J-Collection, 2007

Same Author, “Harmony”, Hayakawa SF Series J-Collection, 2008

Same Author, “Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots”, Kadokawa Shoten, 2008

Imaeda Yoshiro, “Japanese Buddhism seen from Bhutan Buddhism”, NHK books, 2005

Imagawa Yasuhiro, “Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still”, Bandai Visual and others, 1992-1998

Meron Uminekozawa, “『World’s End X Book End』A Story About Books, Forever (Collection)” Kadokawa Bunko, 2015

Kazuo Umezu, “My Name is Shingo”, Shogakukan, 1983 to 1986

Kenzaburo Oe, “Death Of A Political Youth”, Shinchosha, 1962

Same Author, “The Silent Cry”,1988, Kodansha Literature Library, 1988

Masachi Osawa, “Origin of Sociality”, Book, Kodansha, 2013~

Same Author, “Quantum Social Philosophy: Cats Say Revolution Saves the Past”, Kodansha, 2010

Eiji Otsuka, “Tsuguhiko Kadokawa and The Age Of Media Mixing”, https://sai-zen-sen.jp/editors/blog/works/kadokawatsuguhiko/?page=3, Frontline, Kadokawa, 2014~

Atsushi Onami, “Illustrated Hand Weapons”, Shinkigensha, 2006

Shinobu Orikuchi, “The Book of the Dead”, Whistle Collection, Iwanami Bunko, 2010

Chohei Kambayashi, “Enemy Pirates * Pirate Edition”, Hayakawa Bunko, 1983

Same Author, “Kototsubo”, Chuko Bunko, 2000

Same Author, “Ima shūgōteki muishiki o”, Hayakawa Bunko, 2012

Alfonso Cuarón, “Gravity”, Heyday Films, 2013

Natsuhiko Kyogoku, “The Summer of the Ubume”, Kodansha Novels, 1994

Yosuke Kurode, “Magical Girl Pretty Sammy”, Fujimi Fantasia Bunko, 1995

Milan Kundera, “The Art Of The Novel”, Translated by Yoshinari Nishinaga, Iwanami Bunko, 2016

Hideo Kojima, “Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain”, Kojima Productions, 2015

Yuya Sato, “Flicker Style - Kagami Family Saga 1”, Kodansha Novels, 2001

Same Author, “Specific Gravity of the Soul Coated with Enamel - Kagami Family Saga 2”, Kodansha Novels, 2001

Same Author, “Sunken Piano - Kagami Family Saga 3”, Kodansha Novels, 2002

Same Author, “Kagami Sisters in the Flying Classroom - Kagami Family Saga 4”, Kodansha Novels, 2005

Same Author, “Cream Sodium Cyanide - Kagami Family Saga 5”, Kodansha Novels, 2009

Tha Blue Herb, “Stilling, Still Dreaming”, Real Life Recordings, 2002

S-nery, “School Girls Don’t Wake From Dreams”, BMG Victor, 1996

Sayawaka, “The Age Of Us And Idols”, Seikaisha Shinso, 2015

William Shakespeare, “Richard III”, Translated by Tsuneari Fukuda, Shincho Bunko, 1974

Jien, “Jottings of a Fool (Gukanshō)”, Japanese Classical Literature 86, Proofread by Masao Okami and Toshihide Akamatsu, Iwanami Bunko, 1967

Same Author, “Jottings of a Fool (Gukanshō) Modern Language Translation”, Kazuo Osumi, Kodansha Academic Library, 2012

Harald Stümpke, “The Snouters: Form and Life of the Rhinogrades”, Translated by Toshitaka Hidaka and Setsuko Haneda, Heibonsha, 1999

Cordwainer Smith “Norstrilia - Instrumentality of Mankind Series”, Translated by Hisashi Asakura, Hayakawa Bunko, 1987

Munehaya Taga “Jien - People Series”, Japanese Historical Society, Yoshikawa Kōbunkan, 1959

Ivan Turgenev “Ahibiki” Collection, Translated by Futabatei Shimei, Iwanami Library, 1955

Paul Tibbit, “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water”, Paramount Animation, 2015

Yoshiyuki Tomino, “Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation | 1-3”, Sunrise, 2005-2006

Same Author, “Gundam Reconguista in G”, Sunrise, 2014

Tori Miki, “Pasiphae’s Banquet”, Chikuma Shubansha, 2006

Nakano Minoru, “Revolution”, (Modern Political Science Series 4), Takashi Inoguchi, University of Tokyo Press,1989

Norihito Nakayashiki, “Amanojaku”, Kakikūkyaku Theater Company, 2015

Same Author, “Ripe Richard III - Female Shakespeare 007”, Kakikūkyaku Theater Company, 2015

Osamu Hashimoto, “In Search of Lost Modernity 1- Birth of a Word Matching Body”, Asahi Shimbun Publications, 2010

DJ Hazu feat. Ill-Bosstino, “Nora Inu”, Victor Entertainment, 2002

Laurent Binet, “HHhH”, Translated By Kei Takahashi, Tokyo Sogensha, 2013

Toru Fukasawa, “Truth and Lies of Gukanshō - Beyond Self-referencing Historical Narratives”, Shinwasha, 2006

Seth Fried, “The Great Frustration”, Translated by Fuji Hikaru, Shicho Crest Books, 2014

Ulrich Beck, “World at Risk”, Translated by Shimamura Kenichi, Chikuma Library, 2010

Eric Hoffer, “The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements”, Translated by Masaaki Takane, Books Kinokuniya, 1969

Same Author, “The Temper of Our Time”, Translated by Kojin Karatani, Shobunsha, 1972

Munesuke Mita, “Jiga no kigen: Ai to egoizumu no dōbutsu shakaigaku”, Iwanami Modern Library, 2008

Yutaka Maya, “Winged Darkness: The Last Case of Mercator Ayu”, Kodansha Novels, 1993

Same Author, “Summer and Winter Sonata”, Kodansha Novels, 1993

Saiichi Maruya, “Yokoshigure”, Kodansha Literature Library, 1989

Mix JUICE, “The IJIN-DEN Genius Law”, Lantis, 2003

Yumeno Kyūsaku, “Dogura Magra”, Kadokawa Bunko, 1976

Same Author, “Bizarre Song - Yumeno Hisaku Complete Works 7”, San-ichi Publishing, 1970

Jonathan Littell, “The Kindly Ones”, Multiple Translation Credits, Shueisha, 2011

Aruco Czech, “How To Walk The Earth 15”, Edited by Diamond Big, 2011

“No. 56 in Fantasy Literature - Kudan” Atelier OCTA, 1999

“Basic Knowledge of Guns - From Gun Viewing to History, Construction and Ballistic Science”, Translated by Hiroaki Kobayashi, Gakken Publishing, 2008

“For Japanese - Japanese Literature Complete Works 30”, Edited by Natsuki Ikezawa, Kawade Shobo Shinsa, 2016

Translation notes:

[1]Jien, Jottings of a Fool (Gukanshō), is a historical and literary work about the history of Japan. Seven volumes in length, it was composed by Buddhist priest Jien of the Tendai sect c. 1220. The author uses this quote to compare Danganronpa to buddhism which is quite funny but only if you understand the context.

Translators Afterward and Analysis:

Heyo, SeriousSeiko of Dr Medic’s Game Surgery here! Thanks so much for reading this terrible translation summary I made with some editing help by other people! Hopeful DRT2 and 3 will get proper full translations someday, as I know for certain I don't do it justice. The intricate way it's written and wordplay is just completely lost in english unfortunately. In the end i think Danganronpa Togami is my favourite spinoff for sure. The way it starts off with just a tonne of weird crap that gets pretty much completely explained in a believable way (unlike Killer Killer, which adds a tonne of weird crap and doesn't explain anything at all.), it is just satisfying to me. Anything weird can just be talked up to misinterpreted perception. That also includes the Moleman portions as we know suzuhiko would go as far to trick anyone with false thoughts and monologues too. Octopus helmets? Unreality. Melting disguise suits? Unreality. So from now on is mere speculation on my part but if you wanna hear my thoughts and theories, here you go.

First off: Who are the Ketouins, Hasegawa Research Institute, and many other of the new characters seemingly introduced really. As you might have guessed, they are part of the K2K systems Unreality, but what does that mean really? To put it simply, the K2K system has been fed the Kagami Family Saga novels and is creating a spinoff story based on that. I actually own all of the novels too so here is some information my smooth brain can gleam from short summaries and such. 

Yep, so basically these 5 + 1 books are somewhat “Meta Prequels” to Danganronpa Togami (all mentioned in the credits, except for “Nine Stories” which is a short story collection). If you are familiar with Jorge Joestar, it's similar to how it's connected to the Japan Detectives Club, and Maijoverse as Meta Prequels. Funnily enough JDC gets mentioned in the first book, alongside some other Maijoverse books/characters too. I guess Yuya Sato is a fan of Otaro Maijo.

Back to the topic on hand, what is a big theme in the above books? Well in this collection of murder mysterious, there is a mysterious talent/ability some people posses which are known as Kudan Abilities. The Hasegawa Research Institute has been trying to make Artificial Kudans, and has developed special Cattle Killers, such as Taeko, in order to be able to fight against Kudans. 

Basically, I believe there is no such thing as a Kudan in Danganronpa, and it is just leftover Unreality juice from Borges. In this case it probably is just referring to Shinobu's extraordinary ability to predict things. I would go ahead and say if the Ultimate Analyst was brought up in the book, she would almost definitely have been called a Kudan by Borges too, at least that's what I think. After all, the Ultimate Despair (or Despair high School as Borges was mistakenly identifying them as) only needs one of those in their possession to work for them, they don't need the good guys to have one too. Here is Naomi, Sana and Taeko BTW.

Now as we have an idea of who Taeko and her group really were, and who the Kagami’s really were, how about the Ketouins? Well I have an interesting theory. First of here is an image of Hiroyuki and Yuika. I believe that Hiroyuki and Yuika are Kazuya and Shinobu. The real ones who “died”. Just so much lines up if this was the case. Why they were in Prague, how they are treated, why they were so unceremoniously killed off, and literally everything Hiroyuki said about himself, and why Blue Ink would “know” him. Now obviously we now know that the flashback in Volume 2 was a bunch of fabricated memories meant for Blue Ink and Orvin, so we don’t really know what happened in it. Byakuya said in his FTEs that officially the togami family was killed, but they were merely just banished. Everything would just line up nicely. Obviously that is just speculation but it makes sense.

So, who then, is the anonymous man known as Orvin Elevator. That one is pretty simple, it is likely he is the researcher who went mad when K, (Likely Milan Kundera, if you hadn't guessed by this point), was helping out with the Bible Plan at Hope's Peak. As for Satomi Aoba, you know she survives anyway in the end anyway, I would have liked a how, but it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. 

And just to get meta, surprisingly this went uncredited, so it might just be a massive coincidence, but there is a book by Vladmir Nabokov called “Despair (novel)”, and is about a man who meets his doppleganger while travelling in Prague.

Now let's talk about Reality. What can we take away from DRT as definitely real. Well unfortunately the only thing we know for certain without any meddling by K2K is the third coda, after “Journey Under The Midnight Sun” ended. So here is the situation, I am fairly certain everything up until that point is “Byakuya's Journey In Prague But Brought To You By Michael Bay aka K2K System Ver2.3 Special Blu-ray Edition”. Meaning basically, not even the moleman chapters can be counted, as it's merely a literary reconstruction of events. 

As we are told, Molemans own soliloquies aren’t even safe due to the fact the “reader” needs to also be tricked alongside everyone else in order to advance the story to get to his target, by any means necessary. Which would be incredibly meta, if not for the fact that it is most likely actually a literal “fake book” in itself, written by K2K. (Oh yeah, TVTropes, that interlude in book 1 was also K2K, so can you please remove that derogatory statement about Sato flaunting his ego or whatever, maybe do some of your own research next time before flinging slander around.)

So really, the only thing we can really definitively put on a wiki under true events is what happens we are told in the third coda. Everything else is likely fabricated, or malformed in some way, some more so than others, but there is no way for us to know, as is the way it is with Pure Literature. Only the author knows the true meaning of a text within that genre, if it really does have any meaning.

All the best to the spirit of the original.

If there really is such a thing.

Translation dedicated to the unnamed, one-eyed Cinderella, who lost everything and received only a fate worse than death itself.

https://drmedicsgamesurgery.tumblr.com/GameSurgeryDRTranslations

[ongolecharles]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Mon Sept 02nd, 2024 ... Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Reading 1

---------

1 COR 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters,

proclaiming the mystery of God,

I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you

except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,

and my message and my proclamation

were not with persuasive words of wisdom,

but with a demonstration of spirit and power,

so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom

but on the power of God.

Responsorial Psalm

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

PS 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102 

R. (97) Lord, I love your commands.

How I love your law, O LORD!

It is my meditation all the day.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

Your command has made me wiser than my enemies,

 for it is ever with me.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

I have more understanding than all my teachers

when your decrees are my meditation.

R.  Lord, I love your commands.

I have more discernment than the elders,

because I observe your precepts.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

From every evil way I withhold my feet,

that I may keep your words.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

From your ordinances I turn not away,

for you have instructed me.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

Alleluia

---------

LK 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;

he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

---------

LK 4:16-30

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,

and went according to his custom

into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll,

he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,

and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.

He said to them,

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

And all spoke highly of him

and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?”

He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,

‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place

the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”

And he said,

“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Indeed, I tell you,

there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah

when the sky was closed for three and a half years

and a severe famine spread over the entire land.

It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,

but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.

Again, there were many lepers in Israel

during the time of Elisha the prophet;

yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

When the people in the synagogue heard this,

they were all filled with fury.

They rose up, drove him out of the town,

and led him to the brow of the hill

on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.

But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

When my daughter was very young a nighttime ritual included the reading of a book of bible stories for children. One of our favorites was the story of Naaman the Syrian. (In our liturgy the full story of Naaman is in the morning readings, 2 Kings 5:9-14) It helps us to understand more fully today’s Gospel, so I will summarize it here. Naaman is not an Israelite but a foreigner, a Syrian. He is a wealthy, powerful man, not given to nonsense. You can picture him in all his regalia, pulling up to the door of the prophet Elisha, reining in his horses, his chariot stopping in a great cloud of dust. Already he has humbled himself to go to this foreign prophet’s simple abode, seeking a cure for the leprosy that disfigures and threatens his power, his very survival. Elisha seemingly insults him by not appearing in person to lay hands on him, cure him. Instead, he sends a messenger to tell him to do something totally ridiculous. Unimaginable. Beneath him. "Go and wash seven times in the Jordan and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean” are the instructions from the messenger.

Fuming, Naaman mutters that his native rivers are just as good as the Israelite river Jordan. I'm out of here .  But hear this! His servants come and reason with him that since the prophet could have told him something extraordinary and Naaman would have followed those instructions but instead the prophet told him something simple, he should do it. The servants were correct. Words from the humble are wise. So Naaman plunges seven times in the Jordan and his flesh is clean - he can now safely be welcomed into his community and exercise what we hope is a humbled power.

The Gospel takes us a step further in trust and faith. While Naaman rested his faith on the humble servants and the messenger of the prophet, Jesus tells us through the writings of Paul our faith may rest on the power of God. He recalls for us the healings that God worked through the faith of foreigners although there were many in Israel in need of healing. The drama in  this Gospel has Jesus reading from the Torah in front of the usual crowd in the synagogue on the sabbath. He reads from Isaiah the famous passage of healings, healings by the Messiah and not a prophet. He claims the scripture passage is fulfilled this day in the hearing of those assembled, and returns to his seat. Again, fury! The congregation rises up and drives Jesus out of town to a high precipice where they intend to push him to his death for what they thought was blasphemy, claiming to be the Son of God. Jesus slips away. His time had not yet come.

The lessons I drew from the readings and Gospel called me to hear advice from the humble, but also to listen always for that quiet whispering voice of God giving me what I might mistake for ridiculous guidance (washing in the Jordan?) but to discern God’s wisdom and caring for me in unsuspected ways. I don’t mean hearing voices, just being attentive to the Spirit whose word is peace. To embrace humility and place my faith and trust in God alone.To bring the healing of peace and comfort to those I meet every day. To offer each person I meet a gift of joy or consolation, to ask their name and use it.

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SAINT OF THE DAY

Blessed John Francis Burte and Companions

(d. September 2, 1792 and January 21, 1794)

Blessed John Francis Burté’s and Companions’ Stories

These priests were victims of the French Revolution. Though their martyrdom spans a period of several years, they stand together in the Church’s memory because they all gave their lives for the same principle. In 1791, the Civil Constitution of the Clergy required all priests to take an oath which amounted to a denial of the faith. Each of these men refused and was executed.

John Francis Burté became a Franciscan at 16 and after ordination taught theology to the young friars. Later he was guardian of the large Conventual friary in Paris until he was arrested and held in the convent of the Carmelites.

Appolinaris of Posat was born in 1739 in Switzerland. He joined the Capuchins and acquired a reputation as an excellent preacher, confessor, and instructor of clerics. Preparing for his assignment to the East as a missionary, he was in Paris studying Oriental languages when the French Revolution began. Refusing the oath, he was swiftly arrested and detained in the Carmelite convent.

Severin Girault, a member of the Third Order Regular, was a chaplain for a group of sisters in Paris. Imprisoned with the others, he was the first to die in the slaughter at the convent.

These three plus 182 others—including several bishops and many religious and diocesan priests—were massacred at the Carmelite house in Paris on September 2, 1792. They were beatified in 1926.

Born in 1737, John Baptist Triquerie became a Conventual Franciscan. He was the chaplain and confessor of Poor Clare monasteries in three cities before he was arrested for refusing to take the oath. He and 13 diocesan priests were martyred in Laval on January 21, 1794. He was beatified in 1955.

Reflection

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“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” was the motto of the French Revolution. If individuals have “inalienable rights,” as the Declaration of Independence states, these must come not from the agreement of society—which can be very fragile—but directly from God. Do we believe that? Do we act on it?

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Radio NET Bulgaria (November 29, 2022)

23:56 MARCIN NOWAKOWSKI - Better Days Ahead feat. Jeff Pescetto 23:53 EUGE GROOVE - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight 23:50 BEN TANKARD - Christmas Love 23:44 DEE LUCAS - The Grady Curve 23:39 CHRIS GODBER - Soul Searchin 23:35 DARRYL WILLIAMS - Don't Ask My Neighbors (feat. Ashling Cole & Greg Manning) 23:30 ISAAC BYRD JR. - Rebirth 23:26 TERENCE YOUNG - Without You 23:22 VALENTINO MALTOS - The Christmas Song 23:18 BROOKE ALFORD - On the Move 23:14 JUSTIN KLUNK - Thunder 23:08 OLI SILK - Just an Allusion 23:03 KIM SCOTT - No Worries (Feat. James K. Lloyd) 23:00 PETER WHITE - How Deep Is Your Love 22:57 KENNY FONTANA - Wonderful Life (Cafe Buddha Del Mar Bar Mix As Made Famous By Hurts) 22:52 LO TIDE - Quietly Here (Original Mix) 22:49 TINA COUSINS - Wonderful Life (Ballad Version) 22:44 LAUGE, BABA GNOHM, SARAH LYNN - My Innocence (Original Mix) 22:40 ANDY MOOR, ASHLEY WALLBRIDGE, GABRIELA - World To Turn (Original Mix) 22:37 DJ PAULBASS, DJ GORODNEV & P.KOLVINKOVSKY - Call Me (Lounge Mix) 22:32 351 LAKE SHORE DRIVE - Rising Stars 22:30 CNBK - Burning Skies (Acoustic Version) 22:26 SUPERTANGOX - Last Tango In Paris 22:21 MICHAEL E - Close To You 22:16 FOR FOUND FUTURE - Time Is Moving (Chillout Lounge Mix) 22:12 EVANESCENCE - My Immortal (Acoustic Version) 22:08 ATB & TILSEN - Faith (Original Mix) 22:03 CECILE BREDIE - Dreamland 22:01 INNA - Hot (Chill Out Remix) 21:57 KRONO, CIMO FRANKEL - Sweet Goodbye 21:52 BISSEN, THE CROSSOVER - Washout (Piano Mix) 21:48 JES - In Ohm (Lime Chill Remix) 21:43 YULIET TOPAZ - Frozen 21:39 PIANOCHOCOLATE - Les Souvenirs (Original Mix) 21:34 FUNKAGENDA - Breakwater (Violet Oversoul Mix) 21:29 TIGERFOREST - Take Me Home (Lemongrass Blue Ocean Remix) 21:24 MARGA SOL - Prayer For Love (Soul Avenue's Balearic Blues Mix) 21:19 FAR EAST MOVEMENT - Like a G6 (DJ Dan Karim Relax Mix) 21:13 DEEPER SUBLIME, AVO - Hypnotic 21:10 DJ SALAMANDRA - I Want It All (DJ Alatiz Remix) 21:05 A.R.D.I, CYNTHIA HALL - Sunflowers (R.I.B Chill Out Remix) 21:01 BLANK & JONES, RACHEL LLOYD - Under The Stars (Stardelay Mix) 20:56 DUB MARS - Slow Witted 20:52 ROBERT NICKSON - Russell's Teapot (Original Mix) 20:49 JOEL HIRSCH, ROXANNE EMERY - Neon Dreams (Cinematic Version) 20:44 EMMA HEWITT - Foolish Boy (Zetandel Chill Out Mix) 20:40 ALEXANDER POPOV - The Last He Said (Original Mix) 20:34 SHERRIE LEA - No Ordinary Love (Arnold T Chill Mix) 20:30 MASHTI, JEAN VON BADEN - Waiting 20:25 DIDDY, KEYSHIA COLE, B-STAR - Last Night (Slow Version) 20:18 AMBITUS - Answers 20:11 LA NUIT DEL MAR - Everybody (Luxury Lounge Cafe Mix) 20:07 SILENCE OF SEPTEMBER - Sleep Of Reason 20:01 SOARSWEEP - Losing Rays (Original Mix) 19:56 METAHARMONIKS - Confession 19:51 ADELE - Lovesong 19:45 DINKA - Hotel Summerville (Original Mix) 19:41 FARUK SABANCI, JOSIE - Wake Up (Zetandel Chill Out Mix) 19:36 CJ RCM - Humans Of Space (Original Mix) 19:32 CHAMBRE 7 - Rising To The Top (Original Mix) 19:29 KENNY G, LOUIS ARMSTRONG - What A Wonderful World 19:25 ANURAG NANDVANSHI - Soul Of India (Chill Out) 19:22 VITO FOGNINI, CARI - True To Myself (Original Mix) 19:19 CLAES ROSEN, NATALIE PERIS - Stay (Original Mix) 19:13 ASHENI - Only Magic (Chris Wonderful Remix) 19:07 ARROJAS - Textpectations 19:03 DUTCHICAN SOUL, CHAD TRENT - Deny (D-Reflection Ft. Saxy MR. S Lounge Remix) 19:00 HARDWELL, COLLIN McLOUGHLIN - Call Me A Spaceman (Unplugged Version) 18:55 GLOBAL TRAFFIC, CQ PLAM - World Hold On (Acoustic Cover) 18:51 MICHAEL ANGELO, MELISSA LORETTA - Hearts Unspoken (Christopher Breeze Chillout Mix) 18:46 BETSIE LARKIN, BOBINA - You Belong To Me (Sunset Version) 18:40 AQUASCAPE - Sunrise 18:36 ABOVE & BEYOND, GARETH EMERY - On A Good Day (Incognet REWORK) 18:32 HEADSTRONG, SHELLEY HARLAND - Here In The Dark 18:25 TWENTYEIGHT - Monday Night 18:20 SUNLOUNGER, ZARA TAYLOR - Lost (Chill Version) 18:15 SMOOTH DELUXE - Wonderful Micronesia 18:10 SOLARIC INC - Children (Chill Mix) 18:08 EMMA HEWITT - Miss You Paradise (Strings & Acoustic Version) 18:04 DASH BERLIN, EMMA HEWITT - Waiting (Acoustic Version) 18:00 NOMOSK, ROMAN MESSER, CHRISTINA NOVELLI - Lost Soul (Zetandel Chillout Remix) 17:56 JES - Imagination (Richard Robson Remix) 17:51 SUNLOUNGER, ZARA TAYLOR - Try To Be Love (Chill Out Mix) 17:47 SOLID SESSIONS - Janeiro (Chiller Twist Blue Line Remix) 17:43 UNCLUBBED, JUSTINE SUISSA - Missing 17:39 ARTENOVUM - When You Fall Asleep (Slow Coach Mix) 17:35 NAOKI KENJI - Maripri 17:30 ROGER SHAH, SUNLOUNGER - Trademark White (Omega 3 Bossachill Remix) 17:25 FRAINBREEZE, NATUNE, ANGEL FALLS - Signs Of Time (Original Mix) 17:21 HIATUS & SHURA - Fortune's Fool 17:16 KITARO - Itonami 17:12 G-SPLIFF - Won't Part 17:09 FENNA DAY - Skin & Bone (Original Mix) 17:05 PETE MURRAY - So Beautiful (Acoustic Version) 17:00 ANA CRIADO - Can't Hold Back The Rain (Dark Matters Original) 16:56 WAYMAN TISDALE - Comin' Home 16:51 SEAN U - Nightfall 16:47 DAVE KOZ - Last Christmas 16:42 BLAIR BRYANT - Catamaran 16:37 WAYMAN TISDALE - Shape of Your Heart (feat. Jeff Lorber) 16:34 ROBERT HARRIS - Making Road to Las Cruces 16:30 PAUL TUVMAN - And I Love Her 16:26 GREGG KARUKAS - Love Is In Your Own Backyard 16:22 DARYL STUERMER - The Little Drummer Boy 16:17 PAUL HARDCASTLE - Flight of the Phoenix 16:14 PAUL BROWN - The One You Lean On 16:09 BRIAN CULBERTSON - City Lights 16:05 KOOL&KLEAN - Amazing 16:00 EUGE GROOVE - Summer Stroll 15:55 496 WEST - Maputo 15:50 GREGG KARUKAS - Summerhouse 15:46 ALVIN GARETT - My Gift To You 15:42 NICHOLAS COLE - Just One Night (feat. Steve Cole) 15:38 VINCENT INGALA - Lost In You 15:33 BOBBY LYLE - Living In The Flow 15:28 NAJEE - Bella Vista 15:24 JEFF KASHIWA - Voices 15:21 KEB' MO' - Please Come Home For Christmas 15:17 WILL SUMNER - Where We Go 15:13 PEET PROJECT - Veggie Love 15:09 MARCIA MIGET - Over the Rainbow 15:04 BE'NE MUSIC - Gold Finger 15:00 DOCTOR X - Train to Granada 14:56 LIN ROUNTREE - Koolin 14:52 FREDDIE FOX - Thank You 14:49 DAMIEN ESCOBAR - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 14:44 PETER WHITE - Our Dance 14:40 PAUL TAYLOR - Goodnight 14:34 DARREN MOTAMEDY - Caught Up In The Rapture Of Love 14:30 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA - Liquorice Pizza 14:26 PATRICK YANDALL - Chasing the Light 14:22 KIM WATERS - I Love New York at Christmas 14:18 CHRIS GODBER - Dreamin' 14:13 DAVE KOZ - Still Got It 14:09 KEITH MASON - Ah Hallelujah 14:04 BOB BALDWIN - Morning 14:00 CAL HARRIS JR. - Timeline 13:56 CHRIS GODBER - Can't Help Believin 13:53 WALTER BEASLEY - Be Thankful 13:47 GREGG KARUKAS - Silent Promise 13:44 SHAKATAK - Christmas With You 13:40 SHAWN RAIFORD - In the Moment 13:35 WARREN HILL - Mojo 13:31 KIM SCOTT - Treetops 13:27 JEREMY HECTOR - Flow 13:23 BRANDON WILLIS - Seduction 13:19 RONNY SMITH - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 13:15 PAOLO RUSTICHELLI - My Geisha 13:11 FUNKTASTIC PLAYERS - You Make Me 13:07 NILS - We Got Love 13:04 SLOW - You Move Me 13:00 VINCENT INGALA - Love On Hold 12:55 NAJEE - Center of the Heart 12:52 PETER WHITE - How Deep Is Your Love 12:47 LISA MCCLOWRY - Brand New Hallelujah 12:44 JEFF KASHIWA - Every Now and Then 12:39 DAN SIEGEL - Treasure Hunt 12:34 CHRISTOPHE GOZE - We'll Meet Again (2022 Version) 12:30 NICHOLAS COLE - Please Don't Say No (feat. Tim Bowman) 12:26 JAZZ FUNK SOUL - Speed Of Light 12:22 TONY CRADDOCK JR. - Deck The Halls 12:18 THREESTYLE - Vision (feat. Magdalena Chovancova & Robert Fertl) 12:14 CHILLAXING JAZZ KOLLEKTION - Wherever I Go 12:10 TERENCE YOUNG - Take You Out 12:05 PETER WHITE - Are You Mine 12:00 DARREN RAHN - Give 'n' Take 11:57 GARY PALMER - To the Top 11:53 MICHAEL ROSS - We Slept in the Rain 11:49 PATRICK YANDALL - Laws of Groovity 11:46 PEGGY DUQUESNEL - Silent Night 11:41 KIM WATERS - Let's Do This 11:38 CHRIS GODBER - Without You 11:34 DAVE KOZ - Summertime in NYC 11:30 DEAN JAMES - Can You Feel It 11:26 NORMAN BROWN - Late Night Drive 11:21 OLIVIA BOX - Jingle Bells (Jazz Version) 11:17 GORDON JAMES - Empress Rule 11:13 KEN NAVARRO - You Are Everything 11:08 DOMINIC CAMARDELLA - 4ever More 11:04 NILS, STEVE COLE - California 11:00 VINCENT IOIA - First Time (feat. Ricky Peterson & Gerey Johnson) 10:56 MARK JAIMES - Hear At Last 10:52 ROB TARDIK - Let's Get Together 10:48 DAVE BRADSHAW JR. - West Coast Jammin' 10:45 BEN TANKARD - Minstrel's Christmas Song 10:40 UNDER THE LAKE - Can't Believe It's True 10:36 GREGG KARUKAS - Passion Dance 10:33 NILS - Outta Sight 10:29 SHAWN RAIFORD - It Feels so Nice 10:26 RONNY SMITH - Ticket to Miami 10:21 DR. SAXLOVE - Let It Snow 10:17 NAJEE - Better 10:13 JEFF LORBER FUSION - Day One 10:08 RICHARD ELLIOT - Golden Triangle 10:04 JIM ADKINS - Take Me There 10:00 PEET PROJECT - Anything for You 09:57 PAUL BROWN - Las Vegas 09:54 ERIC DARIUS - Heaven Sent 09:50 LARRY CARLTON, PAUL BROWN - Say What's On Your Mind 09:46 DANIEL D. - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 09:42 JOHN E. LAWRENCE - Wake up the Groove 09:38 DARRIUS JAMAR - My Everything 09:34 EVERETTE HARP - Old School 09:29 GINO ROSARIA - Island Life 09:27 PETER WHITE - My Girl Madge 09:23 BRIAN CULBERTSON - Deck The Halls 09:18 DARREN MOTAMEDY - So Sweet 09:14 PATRICK YANDALL - Your Satisfaction 09:09 BLAKE AARON - Riviera Nights 09:05 KIM WATERS - Hidden Treasure 09:00 JOE SAMPLE - Greener Grass 08:57 DAVE KOZ - I'm Waiting For You 08:51 EUGE GROOVE - From The Top 08:47 JODY MAYFIELD - Christmas Time is here 08:43 ROBERT HARRIS - New Day 08:37 CHRIS GODBER - Sax Therapy 08:34 JAMHUNTERS - Eurabian Fantasy 08:29 TIM BOWMAN - Tan Hermosa (So Beautiful) 08:26 HIROSHIMA - Groove Latino 08:22 AARON BING - Silver Bells 08:18 CAROL ALBERT - Sometime 08:12 JAZZ FUNK SOUL - Timmendorfer By The Sea 08:08 WILL SUMNER - Pier Groove 08:03 LISA ADDEO - Little Black Dress 08:00 ROB TARDIK - Smile 07:57 MARCUS ANDERSON - Paisley Red 07:52 KEITH MASON - Joyful Noise 07:48 RONNY SMITH - When It Snows Outside 07:44 DANNY LERMAN - Amadeus' Kiss 07:40 PAOLO RUSTICHELLI - Vagabond 07:36 JACKIEM JOYNER - Generation Next 07:32 BRETTINA - Bop Baiye 07:27 JIM ADKINS - The Secret Place 07:23 K.VIO, TIM TONIC - The Little Drummer Boy 07:19 PHILLIP DOC MARTIN - Groove Step 07:15 BOB COATE - Super Smooth 07:10 MEZZOFORTE - Hard Wired 07:05 SEAN U - Nightfall 07:00 BONEY JAMES - Washington Bridge 06:57 VINCENT IOIA - Caribbean Nights 06:52 PETER WHITE - Happy Christmas,O Holy Night 06:47 PHIL DENNY - Tough Get Goin' (feat. Ryan Montano) 06:43 FUNKTASTIC PLAYERS - Second Date 06:38 GERRY SMOOTH - Let's Dance 06:33 BLAKE AARON - Sunday Strut (feat. Najee) 06:30 VANN BURCHFIELD - Lay Back (Vocals) 06:25 KIM WATERS - My Gift to You 06:21 AL DEGREGORIS - Odyssey 06:16 GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH - Show Me Another Way 06:12 EUGE GROOVE - Truly Emotional 06:05 KIRK WHALUM - Afterthought 06:00 ROBERT HARRIS - Midnight Rendezvous Live 05:56 BRAD ALEXANDER - Morning Serenade 05:52 PAUL BROWN - Bridges Of Paris 05:49 CHRISTMAS CAROLS - Oh Tannenbaum 05:44 DAVE BRADSHAW JR. - Moon And Stars 05:40 JACKIEM JOYNER - Unforgiven 05:35 NORMAN BROWN - Don't Make Me Wait 05:31 ANDRE CAVOR - Without a Doubt 05:27 WARREN HILL - Fallen 05:23 DR. SAXLOVE - Winter Wonderland 05:18 JOY RIDE - Joy Ride 05:14 CHRISTOPHE GOZE - Visual Love 05:09 BLAIR BRYANT - EmberGlow 05:05 MARION MEADOWS - Blue Cactus 05:00 CHRISTIAN DE MESONES, DEBORA GALAN - Sweetnight 04:58 DREW DAVIDSEN - God Rest Ye 04:53 NICHOLAS COLE - Yokohama 04:49 PAUL TAYLOR - Friday 04:46 SEAN U - Key West 04:39 EUGE GROOVE - Rain Down On Me 04:34 3RD FORCE - Out Of The Storm 04:30 NICK DUKAS - This Is Christmas 04:26 STEVE OLIVER - Oh Yeah 04:15 Radio NET - Music & More 04:13 PETER WHITE - Smooth Sailing 04:08 JOYCE COOLING - The Wizard 04:04 BOB COATE - Super Smooth 04:00 CAROL ALBERT - Sapporo Dream 03:56 RICHARD ELLIOT - Snapshot 03:52 SHIN GIWON CHRISTMAS CAROL COLLECTION - Feliz Navidad 03:46 PAUL HARDCASTLE - Soaring like an eagle Sax Remix 03:41 PAUL BROWN - Las Vegas 03:36 NILS - Hey Ya 03:32 PHILLIP DOC MARTIN - Always There 03:28 JACKIEM JOYNER - Generation Next 03:24 MAYSA - Joy To The World 03:19 MARCOS ARIEL - Green Eyes 03:14 UNDER THE LAKE - George is His Name 03:09 DEMETRIUS NABORS - Overjoyed (feat. Doobie Powell) 03:05 ANDY SNITZER - On and On 03:00 INCOGNITO - Selfishly 02:56 DREW DAVIDSEN - Don't Delay 02:52 GREGG KARUKAS - Soul Kisses 02:47 DANIEL D. - Let It Snow 02:44 NEIKA SIMONE - Beautiful Moments 02:39 KIM SCOTT - Poolside 02:34 STEVE OLIVER - Desert Traveler 02:29 DANCING FANTASY - Take Five 02:25 DAVID BENOIT - The Bones 02:20 ANDREAS ALEMAN - Celebrate the Season 02:17 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - It Makes Me Want You 02:13 MARION MEADOWS - Magic Men 02:08 QUINTIN GERARD W. - Candlelight Flight with Me 02:02 MEZZOFORTE - Sea Breeze 01:59 SKINNY HIGHTOWER - Force 01:55 KIM WATERS - Walking On Air 01:52 VINCENT INGALA - If You Were Here Tonight 01:48 DARYL STUERMER - The Little Drummer Boy 01:43 NILS - Pacific Coast Highway 01:38 BOBBY LYLE - Spirit Song 01:33 KIRK FISCHER - Kiss on My List 01:29 RAGAN WHITESIDE - How Do You Know (vocal) 01:24 NOTEWORTHY BAND - Surf to Smooth 01:20 RONNY SMITH - The Holidays Are Here 01:16 JEFF KASHIWA - Thanks To You 01:12 GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH - Vanishing Summer 01:08 GORDON JAMES - Rainy Afternoon 01:04 ROB TARDIK - Perserverance (feat. Roberto Vally) 01:00 ELAN TROTMAN - Tatianna Nale (feat. Julian Vaughn) 00:56 AL DEGREGORIS - No Holding Back (Feat. Nils) 00:52 BEN TANKARD - More Rain 00:48 DAVID GARFIELD - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 00:43 DOMINIC CAMARDELLA - Headwinds 00:39 HIROSHIMA - Always Tomorrow 00:35 EDGARDO CINTRON - Nice Little Bar 00:32 PETER HEROLD - Still the One 00:27 INCOGNITO - Move It Up 00:22 MICHAEL LINGTON - Mary Did You Know 00:17 JEFFERY SMITH - Shake It Up 00:13 WILL DONATO - Universal Groove 00:09 ZACH BRIDGES - Yonder 00:04 GREGG KARUKAS - Green Hills 00:00 RICHARD ELLIOT - Right On Time

[somecunttookmyurl]

The skincare post, or “I’m 29 and 18 year olds keep flirting with me because they think I’m 20″

DISCLAIMER: I am not a dermatologist. This is not a recommendation for specific products so much as an explanation of the routine I use. My skin is... well it’s normal. Not oily, not dry (not after I got into a routine and it balanced itself out, anyway). I don’t have acne, or dermatitis. My skin isn’t even sensitive. People with particular skin needs should use products suited to them.

The other reason this isn’t a product recommendation is that, for the most part, I just get whatever is on sale whenever something is coming to an end. Since I don’t have any particular skin conditions to cater for, it doesn’t really matter what particular stuff I buy. But I do get most of my stuff from maskhouse.co.uk who almost perpetually run offers and have a good loyalty point system. I’ve never paid full price for anything. Ever.

It’s long. The children are eternally disappointed when they ask me how this works and actually find out. Also: stay hydrated and go the fuck to sleep. Seriously.

PART 1(a): The morning

Step 1: Cleansing. Use a gentle foam cleanser (or even just plain water!) to wake up and refresh your skin. Pat (for the love of god do not rub) your face dry with a clean towel. Pictured: Hyggee Care Cleansing Foam, RRP £24.

Step 2: Toner. Toning sets your face up to properly absorb the rest of your skincare routine, and different toners can provide additional benefits. I have The World’s Largest Pores on my nose so I have an astringent toner aimed at minimising them. Gently wipe over face and neck never forget your neck with a cotton ball or pad. Leave to air dry. Brush your teeth or make the bed or something in the meantime. Pictured: SecretKey Black Out Pore Clean Toner RRP £16

Step 3: Essence. Essence is a very lightweight moisturiser designed to be used over your whole face. This light hydrating layer is designed to prime your skin for the more intense hydration, and you can buy them catered to all manner of skin types. Pat gently into the skin of your face and neck. You’re probably noticing a pattern here. Pat, never rub, and be as gentle as you can through the whole routine. Leave to absorb whilst doing some other part of your normal morning routine. Pictured: SecretKey Starting Treatment Essence RRP £35 Step 4 (a+b): Serums and eye cream. Serums are thicker hydrating layers that target specific problems and areas and are only applied where they are needed. As mentioned, I have Crater Pore Syndrome so my serum is meant for that. If you have red skin on your cheeks, you might use one for that. At the same time, apply an eye cream. The skin around the eyes is particularly delicate and needs extra care. Again, leave to absorb fully. Pictured: Its Skin Power 10 Effector Serum (PO) RRP £12 / SecretKey Snail Repairing Eye Cream RRP £30 Step 5: A light all-over moisturiser. Finish off the hydration with a lighweight all-over cream applied to the face and neck. Pictured: Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser RRP £4.29

Step 6: Refreshing under-eye roll. Especially useful for those of us with perpetual tired eyes. A cooling under-eye roll on with refresh and rejuvinate the under-eye area. Like wearing a cucumber mask for half an hour, except instant. Pictured: Polaar Icymagic Instant Eye Contour Multi Energiser RRP £24

Step 7: SPF. I don’t care if it’s deepest darkest December. UVA and UVB rays cause damage to the skin even when the sun is at its weakest. If you’re going to be leaving the house, apply a high SPF cream at least 15 minutes before leaving. Suncreams specifically designed for the face are more lightweight. Pictured: Berrisom Essence Sun SPF 50+ RRP £14

Part 1(b): The morning (alt.) or: GOOD GOD I LOVE SHEET MASKS

On alternate days (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) I replace the entirety of steps 3, 4, and 5 with a sheet mask whilst I go about my business. Sheet masks are soaked in essence and are left on for 15-20 minutes whilst your skin absorbs it all. After removal, pat in the remaining essence (and dig out what was left in the package for your hands)

I get all of mine from MaskHouse.co.uk who frequently run kickass mask sales. I use 4 a week, in total, so I have a stash of like... 80 various masks under my bath right now.

Pictured: Berrisom Water Bomb Jelly Mask RRP £2.25 / Holika Holika Juicy Mask Sheet RRP £2 / Holika Holika Pure Essence Mask Sheet RRP £1.50

Part 2: The Evening

Step 1: Oil cleanser. Washing your face with oil might sound dumb as heck, but like clings to like and oil-based cleansing is an excellent way to remove makeup and daily greasemonkey buildup. Massage 1-2 pumps gently into the skin and rinse off. Pictured: SecretKey Lemon Sparkling Cleansing Oil RRP £24 Step 2: Foam cleanser. Remove additional debris and fully cleanse the face with a gentle foam cleanser. There’s no reason to use a different one to the morning I just got this one free and my Hyggee is running low. Pictured: G9Skin Milk In White Foam RRP £3.99

Step 3: Exfoliating. A gentle chemical exfoliator can be used every day to renew the skin. Gently wipe over face and neck with a cotton ball or pad in place of toner. Pictured: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution RRP £6.75

Step 4 & 5 (a+b): Essence, serum, and eye cream. As with the morning, apply essence to face and neck, and once absorbed proceed with seums and eye cream.

Step 6: Night cream. Heavier than the moisturiser applied in the morning, designed to absorb overnight. Pictured: Berrisom The Prestige Balancing Cream RRP £55

Step 7: Sleeping Pack. Even more intense than the night cream. Sleeping packs are mightily thick solutions that are almost mask-like, to keep your face fully hydrated overnight. Pictured: Missha Nearskin Egg White Pack RRP £11.99

Step 8: Balancing gel. This is the only time I’m going to make a specific product recommendation, if only because I know of nothing else like it. This balancing gel product forms a barrier over your skin, effectively “locking in” all the moisture you’ve already provided and allowing for better absorption. To apply, squeeze on to fingertips, press fingertips together, and press on to skin. Rubbing this product at all will not work. Especially recommended for winter, or dry climates. Pictured: Pyunkang Yul Balancing Gel RRP £27

Part 3: The full facial (Sundays)

Every Sunday I throw the normal morning routine out the window and perform a full thorough facial. This takes a long-ass time, but most of it is sitting around waiting so it’s a good excuse to lounge around watching cartoons in your PJs. If you have a problem with sebaceous filaments (that’s the shit on your nose that looks for all the world like blackheads but actually isn’t) this is good for reducing that. Also: do not do this for the first time right before a major event. Trust me on this one.

I forgot to include it in the picture, but cleanse before starting.

Step 1: Exfoliating Peel. A stronger chemical exfoliator than the one used daily. Always do a patch test when using a new product like this. Apply as directed and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing off and patting face dry. Pictured: The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution RRP £6.25 Step 2: Clay mask. After your skin has been peeeeeeeeeeeeeeled, it’s fully primed for a clay mask to bring out all the impurities in your skin. You know how I said “don’t do this right before a major event?” yeah. You’re probably going to have pimples tomorrow if this is your first time. Better out than in, eh? Apply an even layer to face and neck, avoiding the eye area, and leave for 15-20 mins. Rinse thoroughly and pat face dry. Pictured: Sun Privé Sun + Shine Skin Pink Clay Mask RRP £24.99

Step 3: Pore strip. With your pores thoroughly exfoliated and deep-cleaned, this is the best time to do a nose pore strip to remove blackheads. Pictured: Holika Holika Pig Nose Clear Blackhead 3-step Kit RRP £3.50

Step 4 (a+b): Sheet mask + hydrogel eye patch. Sheet masks you know about, but hydrogel eye patches are specifically shaped and designed to be applied to the under-eye area and provide some deep moisture to your delicate skin. Apply eye patches, and pop the sheet mask on top. Pictured: Petitfee Gold & Snail Hydrogel Eye Patch RRP £10.78 / Missha Pure Source Cell Sheet Mask RRP £1.50

[anastpaul]

One Minute Reflection – 5 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 14:12–14 – Monday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary Time, Year B and the Memorial of All Jesuit Saints and Blesseds

“invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind…..You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”…Luke 14:13-14b

REFLECTION – “This means choosing gratuitousness rather than self-seeking and calculating to obtain a reward, seeking interest and trying to increase your wealth. Indeed, the poor, the simple, those who ‘don’t count’, can never reciprocate an invitation to a meal.   In this way Jesus shows His preference for the poor and the excluded, who are the privileged in the Kingdom of God and He launches the fundamental message of the Gospel which is to serve others out of love for God.

Today, Jesus gives voice to those who are voiceless and to each one of us, He addresses an urgent appeal, to open our hearts and to make our own, the sufferings and anxieties of the poor, the hungry, the marginalised, the refugees, those who are defeated by life, those who are rejected by society and by the arrogance of the strong.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 28 August 2016

“He himself had wanted to be born in poverty, to welcome the poor into His company, to serve the poor and put Himself in the place of the poor, to the point of saying that the good and evil we do to the poor, will be held by Him to have been done to His own divine person (Mt 25:40).   What more tender love could He have shown the poor!   And what sort of love could we be showing Him, I ask you, if we don’t love what He loved?   So much so, that loving the poor, is to love Him as He would wish and imitating Him, is to serve Him rightly and honour Him as we ought…”…St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) – Extract from a report concerning the state of the work, 11/07/1657

PRAYER – Lord God, teach us humility, to give and not to count ever the cost to ourselves, to take the lowest part and the back seat – teach us Lord, to strive and not to seek for glory, save for that of Your Kingdom.   Let us see Your Face, His Face, He our Teacher, our Saviour in the face of all those in most need.   May all those great Jesuit Saints standing before that Face, pray for us!   We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who we beg, have mercy on us all, who seek rewards for our own sakes, amen.

(via One Minute Reflection – 5 November - Today's Gospel: Luke 14:12–14 - "Invite the poor...")

[seekfirst-community]

"I DESIRE MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE."

"As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.”

"And he got up and followed him.

"While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.

"The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

"Jesus heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”" (Matthew 9: 9 - 13).

Wednesday 21st September 2022 of 25th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Matthew the Apostle. Jew. Evangelist. Author of the Gospel according to St Matthew. Died a martyr.

A man named Matthew was called by Jesus to follow Him. The man left everything: job, money, house and property and friends and followed the stranger named Jesus. Matthew was not a saint when Jesus called him. But Jesus did not come to call saints. Paul describes his calling thus:

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 1: 12 - 14).

Matthew could have written the above words.

Jesus delights in sinners because sinners give Him the opportunity to show off His mercy. Why did Jesus institute the Most Holy Eucharist? Jesus delights in mercy. Why did our Lord and Redeemer Institute the Sacrament of Reconciliation? To embrace sinners in His merciful love. Why did Jesus institute the

Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion, the Divine Mercy Devotion? Jesus delights in mercy. Mercy may well be the last covenant with mankind.

Matthew accepted the call with generosity and then lived in a manner worthy of the call he received. He used his old skill as a tax recorder to pen the Gospel that bears his name.

The call of Matthew is a story of mercy. The unfathomable mercy of God. “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

(Matthew 9: 12 - 13).

Have you received any mercies from Jesus lately? Do you know the ABC of Mercy?

+ A. Ask for mercy.

+ B. Be merciful.

+ C. Completely trust Jesus for mercy.

"Make it your first care to find the kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:33). The kingdom of God is present in all its fullness, though in a hidden manner, in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. He who seeks out My Eucharistic presence is seeking the kingdom of God. He who approaches Me in the Sacrament of My love will find the kingdom and therein all that he desires according to My Spirit. Come first to Me in the Sacrament of My love. Let this become the supernatural instinct of your soul: always to come to Me, always to seek My Eucharistic Face." (IN SINU JESU, Monday, August 25, 2008).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com