#CoLS Chapter 17 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

jiminjamms · 2 years ago

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sex therapy :: 17. wicked games

chapter tags/warnings: family drama. mentions of masturbation. mentions of sex. infidelity/adultery. nonconsensual acts. manipulative undertones. strong language. classism.

word count: 3.6k

notes: this chapter incorporates the official manga relationships in the zenin household (link that illustrates the family tree). without further ado, i present to you the latest pov added to the fic: toji! likes, comments, and reblogs are deeply appreciated. xoxo

fic masterlist | 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.

Toji Fushiguro could not get his mind off of you.

Was that weird to admit?

When he last saw you two weeks ago in Teyvat’s meeting room, dolled up in that pretty pink dress, he had to wrestle every urge to push you onto his dick. All the times he had to retreat to his room afterward too—all because your one outfit had set off his imagination—forcing Toji to lock and then lean against his door so that he could palm himself through his sweats to dirty thoughts about you.

Gosh, what higher being in the universe allowed you to be such a hot and sexy tease? You sure loved prancing around with basically nothing and stealing looks at his colleagues as though he wouldn’t notice.

At this point, Toji was certain that he wasn’t the only therapist calling dibs on you. That most definitely pissed him off, though, because he explicitly told you that your pussy belonged to him.

Then why hadn’t you made another appointment these past two weeks?

Were you upset, perhaps flushed with utter denial, from the revelation that your husband had been cheating on you? Besides, he recalled how you had reacted so strongly to the information, racing away from the therapists who were just being honest with you.

In hindsight, Toji might have felt a teeny tiny bit bad about crushing your rose-colored glasses without much lead-up, but he was rarely the type to beat around the bush anyway. After all, he was the one to suggest a divorce in your first therapist appointment.

Of all things, echoing laughter was what finally grounded Toji’s wandering mind.

His green eyes fluttered rapidly, realizing that he had been in his office and staring blankly at his desk for... how long has this been? He glanced briefly at his tabletop clock. When he noticed how the time had advanced by thirty minutes, Toji rested his forehead on his left palm. “Damn...”

Given how he had a fully booked schedule today, he could not afford to dawdle in his thoughts. He had not noticed that half an hour had passed so quickly. How was it possible that thinking about one person (you) made him lose all sense of time?

He could do better than this.

‘Maybe you’re the one who needs a therapist,’ Megumi had recently pointed out to him in irony, and boy, do these words from his own eighteen-year-old son sting.

In contrast to himself, though, his co-workers had lately been in higher spirits than usual. That much Toji could ascertain given the hubbub that continued to filter into his suite. He would not have minded the phenomenon much had it not been for this gut feeling, this hunch, that you were the reason behind this change.

At his age, Toji has learned to mind his own business, but he still considered joining his colleagues by the reception desk to investigate. He stopped, however, upon noticing an article at his desk.

Right, this was what had derailed Toji from his work.

‘Look at this, boss,’ Geto had said when he first presented the printed webpage to Toji. ‘No wonder Y/N’s been lonely. Naoya literally took his side bitch to Mexico.’

The accompanying photo may be in low resolution, but Toji recognized the two figures hand-in-hand, stepping into a private jet. Their faces were shielded by baseball caps and face masks, their bodies clad in boring and baggy clothes. Consequently, Toji had to scoff, drumming his fingers along his cheekbone.

Another impeccable snapshot for our collection, huh?

Quite the scandal was brewing in Japan’s high society, not to mention how the illicit relationship involved your husband, and the therapists were merely here for the show. This was what the therapists were trying to advise you about before you promptly shut yourself away from them.

The love affair—especially involving a family as influential as the Zenin’s—should theoretically be all over magazines and newspapers, but any internet search for this image would prove futile. The Zenins were good like that, relying on under-the-table tactics to ensure that this photo would go nowhere.

Only thanks to his colleagues, who had extensive contacts throughout Japan’s many ranks, was Toji able to get his hands on this printed article before the magazine editors had taken them down.

Naoya, that cunning bastard.

If he had been in Cabo prancing around with his paramour, how did he so quickly realize that his images had been circulating among Japanese media? Or, more likely, was it his authoritarian father Naobito who informed his doltish son about the impending rumors?

Either way, Toji could not believe that he was affiliated with both assholes by blood, no less: Naoya, his cousin, and Naobito, his uncle. To think how he was involved again with the relatives who he had sought to avoid, Toji assumed that fate must love toying with him.

Already, growing up in the Zenin family was hell, to put things mildly: how they would obsess over power and prestige as though those two items alone determined one’s value as a human being, how they would scrutinize one’s every action because everything had to conform to their cookie-cutter standards, and then how they would abruptly cast aside those who strayed away from their ideals.

Toji, once an established member of the household, could speak from experience. Thus, blood relation meant nothing if these were the same people who had prayed for his downfall.

He recalled his relatives’ dirty glances when he announced his engagement twenty years ago, then the even nastier looks when he took his first wife’s surname as his own: Fushiguro. ‘She’s a woman too low for our caliber,’ Toji had been told.

He remembered the apathy he later received after his wife’s untimely death, followed by belittlement when he chose to marry again—this time, to a single mother. Perhaps he should have heeded his family’s advice for the last bit, but his decisions seemed right at the moment. During a desperate time, he provided his then-gradeschool son with a much-needed maternal figure as well as a stepsister.

His personal life already made him a deviant among his relatives, so when his family discovered his therapist ventures earlier this year, Toji was not surprised to be severed from the household he once had been considered to lead. Well, Toji was more relieved than bitter, anyway. He could now live life on his terms without worrying about what his father’s uncle’s second cousin twice-removed or some crap like that thought about him and his son.

As he gazed upon the pixelated photo again, he sighed and wondered: was this how low the Zenins have stooped since they had expelled him? A centuries-old bloodline built on relationships with the public and the powerful, now resorting to bribes and threats to sweep scandals under the rug? While watching the Zenin clan burn from afar was entertaining, the situation was also pathetic and sad.

To also think that his moronic cousin Naoya was now not only the household heir but also the current CEO of the family conglomerate. Not to mention that the family’s current patriarch Naobito seemingly turned a blind eye to Naoya’s flings. The older Zenin might have been a brilliant businessman back in the early ‘90s, but his elderly brain had deteriorated too far to see how, at this rate, his son would eventually drive the company and the prideful family to the ground.

Had you realized what you married into?

Probably not, but you didn’t deserve this.

Or, to put things the other way around, the Zenin family didn’t deserve you.

“Yo!”

Toji shot up from his seat just as his door crashed against the wall.

He turned to the sound’s source in surprise. Leaning against the entryway stood a personage with his white lab coat draped over his unsurprisingly shirtless chest. The incomer crossed his thick arms over his half-exposed tattoos, but one such arm frees itself to greet Toji with a mocking wave.

“Sukuna,” the older therapist grumbled, “I’ve told you to knock first.”

“Why?” the pink-haired man challenged, not caring how this must have been the hundredth time he heard the order. For him, this was in one ear and out the other. Rather than mind the complaint, he inspected his newly filed nails. “Worried I would walk into you fingering Mrs. Zenin again?”

“Only because that’ll make you jealous,” Toji retorted with equal spite, to which his colleague chose not to respond anymore.

Besides, as a savvy businessman, Sukuna knew how to pick his battles. He might come off as crude, but only because he understood that, with his financial acumen and incredible connections, he was an indispensable asset.

After some silence, Sukuna’s chest rose and fell with a long sigh. “Well, check your schedule, Fushiguro. You have an appointment coming up now.” Not only was he the most well-organized therapist but also the current receptionist on duty. He then huffed again. “Tsumiki’s mom has been waiting for you. I don’t know how you deal with such an impatient bitch. What the hell am I supposed to do when—"

And a hand shoved his face away before he could finish.

Sukuna, flinching from the unexpected approach, recoiled at a beaming woman that peered in from the door frame. Anyone would immediately notice that the overly excited client was beautiful. The plush of her full lips, the gentle arches to her face, the roundness in her doe-like eyes—her looks were akin to an angel constantly in awe. Most people could hardly believe that, with her youthful looks, she actually had a university-aged daughter (with whom Toji could see a strong resemblance, too).

Meanwhile, her large brown eyes scanned the office—the posters, the couch, the nearby mirror—until her gaze landed on Toji and lit up.

“Honey, I’ve missed you!”

Before someone could stop her, the woman welcomed herself into the premises, her lithe limbs swaying with her graceful figure. She sported a simple navy dress that contrasted with her true self because, as far as Toji knew, this woman was anything but simple.

In fact, as she sashayed into the room uninvited, Toji remembered the paparazzi pictures still sprawled on his desk. He caught Sukuna’s maroon gaze and scowled.

This is why I tell you to knock.

Hurriedly, Toji then pushed the photos under some files just as his client seated herself in the sofa seat closest to him. She then turned to her escort in the hall. “Thank you, Sukuna. You’re such a wonderful man.”

She might be oblivious to Sukuna’s irritation, but Toji did not miss the way his colleague hid a gag and rolled his eyes. “M'kay, whatever,” the pink-haired therapist muttered as he slinked back into the corridor.

Then, when Sukuna shut the door with him, she pressed her rosy lips together. “Aw, Strawberry Boy doesn’t want to join us. Guess he likes to play hard to get.”

“Mari,” Toji started, placing his right ankle over the other knee. He rested his back against his chair and held his hands behind his neck. “I do not think neither Sukuna nor any other therapist here is interested in you. Therefore, if you are seeking a summertime fling, I’d suggest you pursue someone else.”

Shot down, an exasperated Mari tossed her dark locks to one side, a die-hard habit of hers. “Like who?”

Like Naoya.

It was hilarious for Toji to think about how he was entangled with his cousin’s mistress, the very same lover in that paparazzi photo with the young executive. In fact, Toji had this theory that Naoya sent Mari here as a Trojan horse, a seemingly harmless client whose actual intention was to gather intel for the Zenin CEO from afar, a pretty façade to lure others into ruins. He didn’t have much evidence to back up the suspicion (yet), but he knew Naoya for long enough to be familiar with the silly games he’d play. Did Naoya and Mari really think that Toji would be so naïve?

“Well, in Tokyo, there are plenty of ways to meet people your age,” he finally suggested and had to suppress a slight smile before adding, “Unless...you’re into younger guys?”

Mari narrowed her eyes but for a millisecond. Had Toji not been at the top of his field, he would not have noticed. Nothing, however, got past him.

“But,” she responded, “I still like you most because you give me your time, Toji.”

Interesting. Because that would mean Naoya had been too busy for his poor sweetheart, hm?

No wonder Mari had been so frustrated. Life must be tough when one was merely the mistress of the Zenin Corporation’s CEO. Not only was Naoya Zenin a mediocre performer in bed, but the homewrecker role also came with no fancy balls, no formal recognition, and—if the affair was well-hidden—not enough public attention either.

Pity.

Toji leaned forward in one fluid motion, resting his elbows on his desk. “Do not misunderstand my intentions, though,” he clarified while lacing his fingers. “I spend time with you because, as your therapist, I am sadly obligated to do so.”

The woman frowned.

“Now, that’s not nice,” she pointed out, allowing her staccato to afflict him with guilt. "That’s not how to talk to your wife, my dear husband.”

And Toji snapped.

“Ex-husband,” he corrected forcefully. His startled client jerked backward in her seat, but that didn’t matter because he had to sternly remind her, “You were the one who filed for divorce, remember?”

Toji liked to think that he was a patient man. Well, he had to be. As he grew up, the pressure that came with the Zenin spotlight taught him to exert self-discipline and emotional regulation, skills that became even more pertinent in his current role.

As a licensed practitioner now, Toji was obligated to treat all clients equally regardless of background. But under no circumstance could he remove all biases when this was the very woman who split up with him, leaving his son Megumi and his stepdaughter Tsumiki under his care. Therefore, she had quite the audacity to keep visiting him at his office and still call him her husband, especially since she was Naoya’s mistress!

How sinister life could be. For years, no one—not even Toji himself—would have seen this coming: how his second wife would leave him, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’ on the divorce papers, only to become his first cousin’s secret girlfriend.

His sudden confrontation, however, must have caught Mari off-guard, for she began twirling at her strands again. “Just because we aren’t married anymore does not mean that I don’t think about you. It’s been so long since we’ve—"

“Three days,” Toji interjected. He had to hold his breath before his annoyance controlled him completely. “The last time you saw me was three days ago. That isn’t much long ago at all.”

The silence that ensued was admittedly awkward until Mari suddenly stood up.

For a moment, Toji had to hide his relief thinking that the appointment would end earlier than anticipated, but he should have known that Mari wouldn’t leave that easily. Instead, she approached him in slow steps, encircling the seated therapist like a vulture.

When she drew near, her hands skimmed up from his brawny arms to his equally well-built shoulder blades, gliding over his lab coat before her warm palms began to knead at his tired muscles.

“I...think about you more than I’d like to admit,” she whispered, an incantation that could set any lustful man’s heart ablaze. Her fingers continued to massage him in slow and circular motions, the gentle pressure over tight knots melting into a calm and comforting rhythm. “I care about you so...don’t be mean to me, alright? The words you sometimes say, they hurt me a lot.”

Her delicate hands crawled up to his chin next, her left thumb tugging at the plush pillow of his lower lip. The most dangerous thing about Mari wasn't how she embodied a young lady’s exuberance with a mature woman’s elegance. Rather, it was her ability to place spells like these. Back when he had less self-respect, Toji might have forgiven her and caved in, her simple but flirtatious touches like trances that could crumble his resolve.

But you still fuck your ex-wife?

Of all moments, your words from weeks ago decided to haunt him now, your revolted expression a clear image in his memory. His heavy-lidded eyes batted quickly as he came to a realization: Why was he doing this?

In the revelation, Toji stopped Mari’s wandering hands from traveling toward his black slacks.

“Mari,” he said very firmly. As he pulled her away from him, his green eyes held her shimmering brown ones. “No.”

“What?” Given the woman’s visible surprise, Toji could also imagine the smoke that fumed from her nose. After all, this was the same man who once would go weak on his knees for her. Mari stepped back, folding her arms defensively. “Why not?”

“You say that my words hurt you, but I would argue that you’ve hurt me far more,” the therapist explained. As he regained composure, he twirled his chair so that he could face his client squarely. “Have you heard? Your own daughter Tsumiki isn’t even returning to Tokyo for her university’s summer break because she is too ashamed to see you.”

“Good!” she shot, surprising the man with her soured temper. “Would not have cared to hear from her either! Tsumiki had always sided with you and your urchin-headed son. But you know what? You’ve changed, Toji. You, and all the other therapists here, too. I don’t know what has been up with you four, but this clinic was far better back when Naoya worked here.”

Toji had a talent for hiding the whirr behind his thoughts, but he could not conceal his surprise this time. Although he wanted to, he never bothered to mention Naoya in his appointments with Mari before. However, it turned out he didn’t have to be the first one to bring up his cousin since Mari did so herself. Had she not reminded him, Toji would’ve forgotten that Naoya was once a sex therapist too, the family pair once working several doors away from each other.

Since the opportunity already presented itself, Toji took the chance to inveigle his ex-wife. He stood up from his office chair and closed the little gap between him and his glaring client.

“Let me tell you something,” Toji started, his voice low but steady. “You genuinely think Naoya is all that great of a person? That man has received countless complaints from his former clients about manipulation and derogatory remarks. He’s disrespectful. He’s deceptive. He's a complete con man. Therefore, I would actually argue that our office is much, much better without that elitist and misogynistic asshole.”

Come on, woman. Take the bait. I’m waiting. Three, two...

“Naoya is not that kind of person,” Mari erupted, likely faster and with more fury than she intended.

Well, that was easy. Toji appeared unruffled from the outside, yet he grinned inwardly.

While he paid no mind to how the woman shook her hands from anger and flung a weak fist into his strong chest, he did—however—find more amusement when she added, “Spreading false rumors about your own relative doesn’t make you the bigger person.”

Unfortunately for her, she tended to act and speak before she thought, not realizing that rushing to Naoya Zenin’s side made her suspicious.

“What? Do my claims about ‘my own relative’ upset you that much?” Toji challenged, quoting her words. He rolled his shoulders back after pushing the woman’s hands from his pectorals. “He’s my baby cousin, so naturally, I have seen his good and bad sides. Just throwing that out there. Unless,” his voice then dropped into a deep bass, “for some reason, you know something I don’t...?”

The inflection in his tone was purposely inquisitive, and he raised an innocent brow with his questions. He could see the emotions that threatened to spill past her walls, from how she furrowed her brows in contemplation to how she pursed her lips in wrath.

But Mari bit her tongue at the very last moment. “No,” she quipped and folded her arms defiantly. “Naoya is not my business.”

Sounded rehearsed, but oh well. The paparazzi photos from their recent Mexico getaway might prove otherwise, though.

“If you say so,” Toji shrugged.

He was satisfied enough with Mari’s reactions to his cousin’s name, and he liked thinking about how two heartless people had found passion in each other. Just as Toji retreated to his seat, a knock rapped at the door and opened to Geto at the entrance.

“Time is up, boss.”

Even as the appointment ended and was followed by other clients that day, Toji’s mind buzzed into the evening.

Call him obsessed, but—for himself, for his son, for his stepdaughter, for his colleagues, and for you—he sought revenge. As Toji mulled over his strategy in his home library that night, he could feel himself about to detonate like a time bomb when the apartment buzzer rang unexpectedly.

“Megumi!” Toji’s low timbers boomed, hoping that his son would hear him from his room upstairs. He chased toward the entryway in hurried steps, calling the teenager’s name again because only the boy’s high school friends would be visiting at this hour. Toji swung the door open. “Megumi! Yuuji and Nobara are downst—”

His words vanished when, in the place of two bubbly teenagers, there stood you.

You raised your gaze from the ground, the overhead lighting leaving a warm glow on your features as you met Toji with reddened and lachrymose eyes.

“Can...we talk?”

last chapter || next chapter

end notes: 1) For me, this was another challenging chapter to write, as I balanced between introducing the many layers behind our main therapist and inundating you—my lovely readers—with too much information without adequate context. 2) Originally, I had named Mari something else. I changed it because her name eventually reminded me of a different anime character and I didn’t want the association. Haha.

taglist: @dissociatingdiva @httpsplanetmarsdotcom @nemoyr @huangfairy @shadowarchon @203steph @agentdedf1sh @cloudybabes @hinativity @lynn-writes-things @illicitwriter @7oji @kikuchimi @piqer @nobody289x @chaoticjojofan @musicisme333 @vvestwoodrose @kumocchin @s-guru @mwahilovemylife @hey-gurls69 @cloudsinthecosmos @moon-mumu-moon @kazscara @obitohno @skilerfrostfairy @funicidals @nico707 @proteovaldez @tsukiyohanayome @marimoares @qirbys @moodpi @tokyometronetwork @downtown-roponggi @the-cosmos-network

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blue-silver-hammer · 10 days ago

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TWP theory

I was going trough my highlights in my ebook copy of CoLS looking for information for another post. I didn’t find it but I came across something that intrigued me.

It’s from Chapter 17: Valediction. Part of the conversation between Jace and Clary.

“Greater Demons don’t die. Not really. Greater Demons inhabit the spaces between worlds, the great Void, the emptiness. What Simon did was shatter her power, send her in shreds back to the nothingness she came from. But she’ll slowly reform there. Be reborn. It would take centuries…”

This is similar to what happened to Belial in TLH and how someone (most likely Sammael) helped raise Lilith in Thule.

I don’t think my theory is very likely but it would be very interesting if to stop greater demons from reforming they have to get rid of the void between the realms. If realms means alternate worlds like Thule and Edom what if the realms have to be combined into one : that instead of there being this multiverse of possibilities there is now only one reality at stake. If their world falls that it- there is no other world where things could be better.

That could explain how Jem and Tessa can have an encounter with Will that’s not a dream. Thule was several years ahead as Livvy was seventeen so it’s possible that some are behind. Maybe the worlds start to bleed into each other which may also explain how Ash and Janus got back from Thule as none of Ash’s powers are related to dimensional travel.

#city of lost souls #the wicked powers #twp theories #clary fairchild #jace herondale #ash morgenstern #Janus #thule!jace #thule #the shadowhuter chronicles

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criolla-star · 10 months ago

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Overwhelmed(part 18 Vinny x Garmadon)

(i suggest you go check out part 1-17 if you haven't already)

(IMPLIED SMUT IF UNCOMFORTABLE DO NOT READ)

Garmadon quietly went after Vinny and followed him to where he went and hanged with Nya. Honestly they got along with Nya the most next would be Lloyd, Zane, Wu, Kai, Col and Jay. They were all really kind the only one that has caused them problems was Misako. "Hey Nya!" Vinny said out happily, "You seem much more tame then before" She replied as she stretched out. "Yep! Got my revenge" Vinny said before sitting down next to her.

"What did you do?" She asked curiously, Vinny obviously explained unaware that Garmadon was watching, "No way, that is genuinely so funny" She laughed out, "But don't you think that's gonna mess with him more" She added, Vinny nodded, "He sorta wants to mess with me for the whole day, buuuuut I'll mess with him more" Vinny replied.

The two began talking till Garmadon came in, "Hey, Garmadon~" Vinny said in a teasing tone, Nya just waved at him. The oni let out a sigh before walking towards Vinny grabbing him and throwing him over his shoulder. "H-Hey! Put me down!" Vinny whined while Nya was laughing, "If you're going to try and tell people I fucked you might as well make that a reality..." Garmdon said out his voice was low and he began walking away with Vinny, Nya was sitting there with a nosebleed giving Vinny a thumbs up. "Have fun you two!" She shouted holding back laughter as Garmadon left.

Vinny covered his face with his hands as the larger took them to their room to well....fuck...... On the way they saw Cole and Kai, The two stared at them surprisingly before laughing they had no idea what was going on between the two. Finally Garmadon opened the door to their room and dropped Vinny on the bed before locking the door. Vinny was really embarrassed, "I-I umm Garm...?" Vinny stuttered out nervously when there was an awkward silence between the two. There was no answer instead Garmadon took off his shirt and went on top of Vinny.

(SEXXXXXUAL SCENE MIGHT GO INTO NEXT CHAPTER)

Vinny was shy he's never had sex before and c'mon if this was going where he thought it was going he was about to get completely fucked by the former oni warlord and practically the son of a god. The larger lifted Vinnys' legs over his shoulder before kissing, not knowing what to do the smaller submitted and he began getting kissed intensely. Vinny let out a small whimper as Garmadon rubbed his knee against the smallers' crotch. The smaller squirmed around a lot.

Garmadon pulled away and let out a sigh, " You okay with this..?" He asked the smaller nervously he didn't want to do this without Vinnys' consent because consent is sexy. "Y-yea.." Vinny stuttered out nervously. The larger took the smallers' jacket and shirt off. Garmadon began trailing kisses across Vinnys' body until he got to his crotch. He then gently zipped down the fly seeing a small bulge through his boxers. The larger smirked and gently kissed it earning a soft moan. To tease the smaller more he began pressing on the bulge. "G-Garm...stop t-that..." Vinny whimpered out submissively. "You're in no place to be telling me what to do~" Garmadon whispered into his ear receiving an embarrassed apology.

"You're so pretty like this~" Garmadon whispered before pulling down his lovers boxers. His semi hard cock sprung out, (I'm regretting writing this) Garmadon let out a seductive chuckle before gently placing a kiss on it, Vinny covered his mouth with his hands, sure the room was sound proof but he just did this as a reaction thing it calmed him down. The larger began gently licking his cock and felt it twitch as it continued to get hard (Really regretting) Vinny moaned and whimpered out as Garmadon took him into his mouth and began sucking him off. The larger hasn't had much sexual action with someone since well Misako and they had Lloyd so he was just improvising.

The larger continued to suck off the smaller, "A-ahh..~! C-Careful..." Vinny whimpered out he was struggling to form full sentences. Garmadon continued to repeat his actions before realising the smaller was close and lifting up, "W-What was that f-for..?" Vinny whined out, "Uh Uh uh~ Not just yet~" Garmadon replied in a low voice before beginning to take off his pants. Vinny squirmed around really nervously he had deprived himself from pleasure for a while and barely did it mainly because he was tired all the time and he was nervous what would happen if Garmadon saw. Vinny was snapped out of his thoughts when he looked at the oni who had stripped the rest of his clothing, Vinnys' face turned way more red and his eyes widened as he saw his lovers' size, "You alright there, you're staring~" Garmadon asked with a smirk on his face before getting back on Vinny. "M-me? Yea I-I'm fine!" Vinny said out shyly before while looking the other way.

The larger smirked, "You can tell me what's wrong~" Garmadon whispered into his ear earning a soft little whimper. The truth is Garmadon had no idea Vinny was a virgin and imagine losing your virginity to an oni warlord and especially that size (10inch btw) Vinny looked stared up at him embarrassingly, "W-well I've never d-done this before at a-all..." The smaller said out quietly, The larger looked a bit surprised hearing that then cupped Vinnys' cheeks, "Don't you worry, I'll take care of you~" The oni said trying to make sure his lover wasn't uncomfortable.

Garmadon thought for a minute before looking at Vinny, "I'm gonna prep you first" he told the smaller receiving a shy nod in agreement, "P-Please be g-gentle..." Vinny said out softly as Garmadon flipped him over causing Vinny to yelp out, "This might hurt..." the larger said, the smaller was about to say something before being cut off by a finger being pushed into him. Vinny hissed in pain causing Garmadon to apologise. The larger began thrusting his finger in and out of the smaller, before pushing in another finger when he thought Vinny could handle it, "A-ah~ C-careful..." Vinny whimpered out as he held onto the bed sheets tightly.

Garmadon began scissoring his finger inside Vinny earning a bit of a louder moan, the smaller was so overwhelmed by this the only thing Garmadon could think about is how overwhelmed he'll be he's actually inside. Adding another finger Vinny started to squirm around, "Stay still it's gonna hurt more like this..." Garmadon said not wanting to hurt the smaller one thing was that the onis' hands were was bigger than Vinnys' and that he had claws which is why he was being really gentle. The smaller hid his face in the bed sheet muffling his moans as Garmadon continued to stretch him out. Garmadon took it a step further by beginning to jerk off Vinny to mess with him more. Vinny was extremely overstimulated and his legs were shaking slightly, but after a while the larger was satisfied with the result and took his fingers out of the smaller there was a muffled whine which made Garmadon chuckle before he put his cock against the smallers' entrance.

Vinny still had his face slammed into the pillow, but it was pretty obvious that he was freaking out. "I'm gonna put it in and give you time to a just" Garmadon said as he grabbed the smallers' hips.

(HAJASHSHSHAHJUWUQSU IMAGINE WAITING TILL NEXT CHAPTER FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THIS, BUT HOLY SHIT THIS IT SO WEIRD WRITING IT DOWN BUUUUUT IT COULD BE WORSE HOPE YOU ENJOY)

#fanfiction #ninjago #vinnyxgarmadon #survivalshipping #garmadon #vinnyofngtvnews #gay #SMUT

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darkpoisonouslove · 6 months ago

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WiP Tag Game

Tagged by @folkloristico. Thanks, I love blabbing about my WiPs!

rules: make a new post with the names of all the files in your wip folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have wips 🩷

Okay, this is going to be long:

Bachelorette Party

CoL Trying to Have One Normal Breakfast Ch 1

Company of Light Outline

Covenshipping Reluctant Alliance with the CoL

DoD Outline

Fallen Love Ch 3 Outline

Fallen Love Chapter 3

Fallen Love Ch 4 Outline

Fallen Love Outtakes

Fashion Designer AU 2.1

Femslash February Day 7 - Haunting (G x M) 🫣

Griffin character study (inadvisable magics)

Griffin seduces Faragonda to her side AU

Griffin x Valtor Time Travel Outline

Griffin x Valtor First Meeting

Griffin x Valtor Post 3x18 canon divergence

Griffin x Valtor Post Omega Enemies to Lovers AU

Griffin x Valtor smut

Griffin x Faragonda Enemies to Lovers AU

KT2022 - event 🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣

Part 17 - Hearts All Over the Place

Promised by the Stars AU

Scream 7

Scream AU

Selfish Love

Silence Is a Comfort We Can Have Again

Smolder verse

Sparks of Life 11.0

Storming Sun Chapter 1

The Truth Can Be a Dare Too

Valtor Wins the War AU

Warmth of Rage, Cold of War Ch 1

Warmth of Rage, Cold of War Ch 2

Warmth of Rage, Cold of War Ch 3

Witch x Witch Hunter AU

World of Winx Season 3

You burned the witches now you're defenseless

Send me asks

Tagging @trashcankitty12 and @writingisartdarling if you want to do it!

#tag game #my wips #about me

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lesmisscraper · 7 months ago

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Brick... with animation!

23. Marius Became a Bonapartist

"I do not wish you to have a bad opinion of me. You see, I am attached to this place. It seems to me that the mass is better from here. Why? I will tell you. It is from this place, that I have watched a poor, brave father come regularly, every two or three months, for the last ten years, since he had no other opportunity and no other way of seeing his child, because he was prevented by family arrangements. He came at the hour when he knew that his son would be brought to mass. The little one never suspected that his father was there. Perhaps he did not even know that he had a father, poor innocent! The father kept behind a pillar, so that he might not be seen. He gazed at his child and he wept. He adored that little fellow, poor man! I could see that. This spot has become sanctified in my sight, and I have contracted a habit of coming hither to listen to the mass. I prefer it to the stall to which I have a right, in my capacity of warden. I knew that unhappy gentleman a little, too. He had a father-in-law, a wealthy aunt, relatives, I don't know exactly what all, who threatened to disinherit the child if he, the father, saw him. He sacrificed himself in order that his son might be rich and happy some day. He was separated from him because of political opinions. Certainly, I approve of political opinions, but there are people who do not know where to stop. Mon Dieu! a man is not a monster because he was at Waterloo; a father is not separated from his child for such a reason as that. He was one of Bonaparte's colonels. He is dead, I believe. He lived at Vernon, where I have a brother who is a cure, and his name was something like Pontmarie or Montpercy. He had a fine sword-cut, on my honor." "Pontmercy," suggested Marius, turning pale. "Precisely, Pontmercy. Did you know him?" "Sir," said Marius, "he was my father." The old warden clasped his hands and exclaimed:-- "Ah! you are the child! Yes, that's true, he must be a man by this time. Well! poor child, you may say that you had a father who loved you dearly!" - Vol 3, book 3, chapter 5

After Marius became a law student and Gillenormand got older, they left Madame's salon on Faubourg Saint-Germain and settle down on Rue des Filles-du-Calvaire.

In 1827, when Marius was 17, his grandfather ordered him to go Vernon, to see his father. But Marius did not have any emotion about father, since Gillenormand 'brainwashed' him.

But since grandfather insisted to do that, he headed to Vernon the next day, but Georges Pontmercy was dead. He really wanted to meet his son, although his body was in bad condition, he woke up from his bed and and fell on the floor.

Everything the colonel left was dead or sold except for one thing: his letter to Marius.

That letter was like this.

For my son.--The Emperor made me a Baron on the battle-field of Waterloo. Since the Restoration disputes my right to this title which I purchased with my blood, my son shall take it and bear it. That he will be worthy of it is a matter of course.

And there was an additional line below.

At that same battle of Waterloo, a sergeant saved my life. The man's name was Thenardier. I think that he has recently been keeping a little inn, in a village in the neighborhood of Paris, at Chelles or Montfermeil. If my son meets him, he will do all the good he can to Thenardier.

Familiar name, huh?

But he did not care about that letter seriously. He went to the mass at Saint-Sulpice church as usual, and he accidentally sat on the churchwarden's seat. Then he heard why that warden wanted to sit on there. The old churchwarden told Marius the poor father's story and Marius got startled. His father always loved him. The bad person was not his father, his grandfather. That churchwarden was Mabeuf, the friend of Col. Pontmercy.

After that mass, he went to a library to search all about Napoleon, and he found his father's names on several pages. He was a great man, not a brigand like his grandfather told about him. Soon, Marius became a Bonapartist. And one night, he even opened the window and exclaimed: "Long live the Emperor!"(What a BOOBY....) He also ordered a hundred of business card written as <Le Baron Marius Pontmercy>.

He also spent several days to find the sergeant who saved his father. And Marius found his inn... without him. His inn was bankrupted at that time, and even Thenardier's creditors could not find him.

Since Marius went out a lot, his grandfather and aunt thought he had a girlfriend(yes, a little bit later, though...), and aunt Gillenormand sent lieutenant Theodule, great-grand-nephew of M. Gillenormand(but I can't find him in this 52-episode cartoon!). At first, he saw Marius buying a flower, and going to a church. Lt. Theodule thought he had a girlfriend, and was going to meet her at a mass. But....

What Theoudule saw was not a girl, but a grave. Marius put the flower on the tombstone, and paid respects. Later, his grandfather spied on Marius' clothes.

#Les miserables #les mis #My Post #Heart of Cosette #Il cuore di Cosette #Marius #Gillenormand #Grandfather and grandson #Col. Pontmercy #Mabeuf #MARIUS THE BOOBY #Mlle. Gillenormand #Theodule #I don't know why but the Tumblr said the original post has been deleted so I had create a new one.#The brick with animation #animation

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br1ghtestlight · 1 year ago

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32 for the WIP game?

my tina parenthood fic..... that was an idea I started (which probably would have been a longer multi-chapter fic) where tina got pregnant in high school from some asshole guy and ended up being a single mom. the fic takes place a few years later when her kid is a toddler and jimmy jr moves back to town after finishing college and they end up kinda co-parenting her daughter together and reconnecting as friends (jimmy jr is aroace and very much not interested in a relationship)

jimmy jr moved away from seymour's bay when he was 17 w/ his brothers when his mom moved to another state so he lost contact with tina. his dad stayed behind and kept jimmy pesto's pizzeria opened so thats why he moved back to seymour's bay to work with his dad but he kinda hates it lol they end up becoming platonic life partners and by the end tina's daughter definitely sees jimmy jr as her dad

i would have loved to write this fic tbh but the problem is that it would take SO LONG to write and finish and i do have other commitments. maybe someday!!!

It was impossible not to recognize those eyes that he'd spent so many years desperately trying not to look into out of fear of the disappointment he would bring.

Their relationship had grown apart over the years even before Jimmy Junior had moved away and they certainly weren't as close as they'd been as children, but he could still remember how hard Tina had sobbed when he broke the news to her that he would be moving away and that they wouldn't be going to school together anymore. He understood how she was feeling because he was equally as heartbroken even when he didn't really have a choice. Jimmy Junior had always assumed that Tina and him would spend the rest of their lives together. They would always know each other and have that childhood proximity.

---

Tina nodded. "I—I mean, I never went to college. I took a few English courses at the community college in Bog Harbour, but when Alice got older it was just too difficult to keep up with schoolwork and take care of her at the same time. I still work at my parents' restaurant, though. They're getting older and they need all the help that they can get."

"Who is Alice?" Jimmy Junior asked Tina with a questioning look. He wasn't sure if Tina had adopted a dog, or if her parents decided to have another child after Jimmy Junior moved away and he'd never heard about it. He thought they were a little too old for that, but he wasn't going to judge them. His parents might have chosen to have another child too if they hadn't gotten divorced.

Tina gestured to the toddler who was standing beside her and carefully studying the assortment of candy and chocolate in the aisle.

"Did your parents have another daughter?"

Tina actually laughed after Jimmy Junior asked this before she explained herself. "Oh my God, no. They're way too old to have another kid. Alice is my daughter! Alice, sweetheart, do you want to say hello to Jimmy Junior?"

Alice looked up at him with an unimpressed expression on her face. "Hi."

Jimmy Junior took a step back in disbelief. He'd never even considered that he and his childhood friends were at the age where it wouldn't be unreasonable to start a family and have children of their own, especially because that was not something he planned for himself. His parents' had been around his age when they first got pregnant with him. When he took a closer look at Alice, he could clearly see the resemblance between her and Tina, although he honestly thought he looked more similar to Louise. She had curly black hair and a nose that looked almost identical to Tina's. It was kind of unnerving.

"Oh," Jimmy Junior finally said after a few seconds of silence. "You have a daughter?"

Tina was clearly confused by how Jimmy Junior was reacting to the concept of her having a child, but he just couldn't wrap his head around the fact that this woman he'd known since they were children themselves had a child of her own. None of his friends from college or anybody that he'd known in Seymour's Bay had children, so Tina was his first experience with this.

"I mean, uh, that's great. I'm happy for you, Tina," Jimmy Junior started awkwardly. "Who's her father? Or, uh, mother… I don't want to assume anything."

"You don't know him," Tina said to Jimmy Junior as they walked to her car together. Jimmy Junior had chosen to walk to Patterson Farms because it was a beautiful summer day outside and he didn't have any other plans, so fortunately he didn't need to worry about unloading anything in his own car. "We started dating in high school after you moved away. His name was Nathan, but he isn't really in my life anymore. He broke up with me after I told him I was pregnant and started avoiding me, so his name isn't even on Alice's birth certificate."

"Crap. I'm really sorry, Tina," Jimmy Junior said apologetically. Tina opened up the trunk of her car—which was actually her family's car that was the same one they'd had since she was a child, he was assuming she borrowed it for this trip—and began loading groceries into it. "I had no idea. He's an asshole for doing that to you."

Tina smiled like she was completely unbothered by the fact that her daughter's father had completely abandoned them and left Tina to raise her by herself as she struggled financially. Jimmy Junior's father was far from a good parent, but he could at least be thankful that he'd never once considered abandoning his children and he even took Jimmy Junior back in after years of separation between them. He was sure he would do the same for Andy and Ollie if they asked. "Don't worry, it's okay. It wasn't all bad, either. I always have my family to help me with anything I need, and Jocelyn and Tammy were actually really cool when I told them I was pregnant. They held a baby shower for me, and Tammy offered to babysit Alice for no charge. I didn't accept her offer, obviously, because she's Tammy… but I could tell she was trying to be helpful and make an effort. They've grown up a lot since we were in middle school."

#yes tina's daughter is named after bob's grandmother alice :)#honestly I would love to just paste everything I've written for the fic here but it would be too long LMAO #u reminded me how much i loved writing this fic..... god if i didnt have other responsibilties and fics to work on #you'd never hear from me again #ask #bob's burgers

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corvidstoneage · 2 months ago

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Pt. 0. Introduction

Shortly after the 2024 USA election results were announced I was contacted by several of my friends in the queer community with requests for advice regarding firearms ownership and concealed carry. Since many queer people seem to be looking for information on how to protect themselves I decided I would compile some documents on the subject so you won’t have to crawl through so much information written by people who hate you.

So why should you pay any attention to what I have to say? I hold several instructor ratings through the National Rifle Association, have carried a gun on my person every day for the last four years, and have taken courses in self defense (armed and unarmed), combative pistol use, trauma first aid, and low light shooting. That being said, I’m not a lawyer and I mostly do this as a hobby. This is all based on my personal experience, if I reference someone else’s experience I’ll do my best to link their work.

This will be a series of short essays with the goal of explaining some of the most common terminology you’ll run into in the firearms space and giving you a basic idea of the mindset, tactics, skill, and gear you need to effectively protect yourself and the people you care about.

Much of what I’ve learned has been from the late James Yeager of Tactical Response and as such a lot of the information here will echo his teachings, especially the focus on mindset over all else.

My own work on this project is licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. Other’s work is attributed and used under US Code Title 17 Chapter 1 Section 107 for nonprofit scholarly use.

“But Corvid,” you say, “I don’t want to wait for you to write a series of essays. I want answers now.” Fine. Let’s talk about safety.

There are either three or four rules for safe gun handling depending on who you ask. Since I’m not operating in my capacity as an NRA instructor there are four.

As written by Jeff Cooper, they are:

1.All guns are always loaded Even if they are not, treat them as if they are.

2.Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. (For those who insist that this particular gun is unloaded, see Rule 1.)

3.Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target. This is the Golden Rule.

4.Identify your target, and what is behind it. Never shoot at anything that you have not positively identified. [1]

Over time these rules have been modified to be safer and more effective but following them as Mr. Cooper wrote them will still prevent unfortunate accidents. Modern versions of the four rules will be discussed later in the essays in the safety section.

“Alright,” you say, “I’m not going to blow my own face off. But what do I buy?”

There is a great deal of consternation in the firearm community about the optimal carry gun, and we will discuss some of that in a later essay. If you are absolutely determined to get a gun right now this second, here’s what you should get:

1. A Glock 19 as it comes from the factory, no fancy doodads and add-on’s.

2. At least two factory Glock magazines, the third party mags break too easily (most handguns will come with two magazines anyway)

3. A solidly built, kydex holster that fully covers the trigger guard (mine is from NSR tactical but there are plenty of reputable manufacturers)

4. A sturdy belt designed to carry a gun. No, your super cool graphic canvas one from Hot Topic won’t work (Galco Gunleather is the industry standard. Just make sure it’s sturdy and specifically designed to carry a gun)

5. Enough quality hollow point ammunition to fill both magazines (9mm 115 gr. JHP. Show the dude at the counter. He knows what it means. We’ll talk about it in a later essay. Speer Gold Dot is the industry standard here)

6. Training from a reputable source (Cousin Billy who was in the army knows just enough to get you hurt, I promise. We’ll talk about training companies in, you guessed it, a later essay)

[1] https://www.gunsite.com/about-lt-col-jeff-cooper/

#firearms #lgbt #gun safety #jeff cooper

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ladyhindsight · 7 months ago

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Of rewritten family relationships, my pure hatred for Alec's storyline, and wandering parabatai runes.

Jace slowly wakes up in the Institute infirmary with Alec and Isabelle by his side. This scene is Clare’s attempt to alleviate responsibility on Jace’s part. This is also a point of realization as to how Clare talks about how Jace and Clary didn’t really have a relationship in this book because Jace was not himself, but Jace hasn’t had a relationship with Alec nor Isabelle since City of Glass. And even then on Alec’s part it was shit.

Not once have Jace and Alec been like this. This could’ve been a point of growing back together after growing apart first if that apart point was ever realized by the narrative.

Jace’s apology comes off as performative and ostensible because 1. What is he even apologizing for 2. Isabelle gives him absolution for all of it anyway 3. He will never be held accountable for any bad decisions that lead to bad shit and circumstances.

Jace shouldn’t apologize for what he was put through, of course. Some responsibility should’ve been recognized far before this, however.

Fuck off. Clare wrote Will and Jem and only then found some sense in Jace and Alec. It is similarly rewriting history as with the whole idea of Jace being gentle with things he loved.

PLACEMENT OF THE PARABATAI RUNES. It is interesting to note that during the introduction to the concept of parabatai it was never told there were runes placed upon the pair. There is barely a mention of them in TMI, and without this one uncertain scene in the epilogue of CoLS, it is never told where Jace has it. (“We never got to finish our conversation, before,” Jace said. “I just wanted to say that you don’t always have to be all right. I asked you to be my parabatai because I needed you, but you’re allowed to need me, too. This”—he indicated his own parabatai rune—) → in CoHF

→ “He raised his sleeve, showing Jocelyn the parabatai rune on his inner forearm.” Alec in City of Fallen Angels, Chapter 6 “No Weapon in This World”

→ “Alec said nothing, but his grip on Jace’s hand tightened. “You don’t need to swear,” he said, and with his free hand touched the parabatai rune near his collarbone. “I know. I can feel it. I don’t feel like I’m missing a part of me anymore.” City of Lost Souls, here in the epilogue

Whose collarbone, though? It’s difficult to infer, because the use of pronouns indicates himself, not Jace. I’ll then go even a step further, because in City of Heavenly Fire Alec’s rune also keeps wandering:

→ “It is good, but what I felt”—Alec put his hand unconsciously over his upper arm, near his parabatai rune—“that isn’t good. Jace isn’t dead,” Chapter 8 “Strength in What Remains”

→ “Alec pushed aside his jacket, shoved down the collar of his shirt, and craned to see the mark on his shoulder. Simon recognized the outlines of the parabatai rune. Alec pressed his fingers to it; they came away smudged with something dark that looked like a smear of ash.” Chapter 8 “Strength in What Remains”

These two parts above are actually like two pages apart and the same scene too….

→ “Alec said, “Isabelle. Come on.” He was holding the shoulder marked by his parabatai rune stiffly.” Chapter 8 “Strength in What Remains”

→ “Alec staggered to his feet, his face dead white except where it was smeared black with soot. He spun, turning his back to Isabelle, shrugging down his gear jacket. “My parabatai rune—can you see it?” Isabelle felt her stomach drop; she thought for a moment she might faint. She grabbed at Alec’s collar, pulled it down, and exhaled a hard breath of relief. “It’s still there.”” Chapter 17 “Burnt Offerings”

How come Alec was able to crane his neck to see the rune before but not in this instance? Shit writing, that’s what.

Anyway, onward we go.

They should’ve actually fought.

Again, fuck off, but also, yay.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN EVEN ALEC??? His brother, bestie, parabatai is lying on the ground seemingly dead and ugh, I guess even Alec made his way theereee

Reminds me of this, but in this case we actually know WHY EVEN ALEC.

Five books and the culmination of character growth is, let’s let Clary do just whatever she wants because she is Clary and everything she does is right. That’s actually more development for Isabelle since she berated Clary for the same thing in City of Glass.

There’s been couple instances where Clary’s character is being praised by others, this just being one of them.

→ Wasn’t City of Glass exactly where Clary’s “personal life” was “considered”?

Sure, but also the literal translation of the name Michael. You know, the Archangel. Also yay, Simon.

→ How do these few moments become minutes, even, when Alec made his way immediately to Magnus

→ I might be tired and not reading this right, but to me this sounds like Alec thinks he deserved to have died (before Magnus) for even a second thinking about what Camille offered. What, dude. No.

Was there some point in the whole of this relationship where Magnus’ behavior somehow promoted intimate trust required to be in a relationship? And now he is somehow surprised that Alec didn’t fully trust or believe him? That Magnus’ secrecy did nothing to show Alec he is necessary and required, not a passing part in Magnus’ life?

→ Yes, do please underline more the fact how young Alec is compared to you. And this makes Magnus look better? This whole book on Alec’s part has been two old-as-fuck adults screwing over a teenager and playing him in their own ways.

→ There must be a way to explain. Well, how about you just say all that? Though Alec not being good with words is consistent with his inner monologue.

And here we have it. How the hell did this relationship have any future? It’s all there, and Magnus is not written taking any responsibility for it (CoHF is the best book out of all six solely for the fact that Alec actually says what needs to be said in it). Alec’s insecurity is of his own to mend and build up, but sheesh.

Apples and oranges, but isn’t it a bit ironic how Alec was the one pressured to come out of closet and tell his family about Magnus only weeks after dating, how the story pretended it was Alec’s choice and not everyone treating him as lesser and talking shit about him for not doing it. Alec is held responsible for this mistake. Where is everyone else’s responsibility for what they did to Alec and how they treated him?

→ But he didn’t try anything? Alec did nothing and took no steps towards that. What he did was meet up with Camille in order to learn things about Magnus Magnus himself was not willing to tell. Camille offered and Alec refused (after even considering it).

→ I find this punishment of thought ridiculous. One can entertain ideas and thoughts and conclude that they could never do this or that. ?? We do this constantly when we ponder ethics or hypothetical situations. Thoughts, feelings, and actions are not the same. Also, why Alec had to think about it? Because the offer was so outrageous he had to take time to realize what the hell? Because he was in with the idea of actually doing it and not thinking about the consequences? Because this type of stuff thrown at his face takes time to chew down? It matters.

→ And why do you think that is? Alec not trusting Magnus while having nothing to trust is somehow all Alec’s fault.

Alec is wrong and does wrong, but this I’m not going to just swallow and take as offered.

But they did talk about how they did like each other?

Isabelle has said it?

Fuck off, Jem. His name is Jace, how many times it needs to be said and by how many people?

→ The Herondales have kept names in the family— what?

→ Clary, Clarissa. Could we hold onto some consistency here?

→ This conversation piece because we needed a TID reference.

You both should be yelled at.

These are some truly profound thoughts.

They aren’t, but I am also so sick of you both being Special, so fuck off.

→ If Alec is half of his soul and Clary is a part of that other half, then how much soul does Jace have for himself? Math question.

→ Great how we’ve somehow arrived to the point where Jace actually seems to care about his family, but also at the same time he is on his own without Clary?

→ He learns quickly.

→ I understand that Jem is obsessed with Tessa and Will’s descendants, but they are their own people whose actions and personality and being has nothing to do with them. Was Jem as obsessed with every Herondale son on the way to Jace?

The book then finally ends with an edgy comeback note from Sebastian. Woowee.

#Clary Fray #Jace Herondale #Alec Lightwood #Magnus Bane #Isabelle Lightwood #Simon Lewis #CoLS Epilogue #City of Lost Souls

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nightsidewrestling · 2 years ago

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D.U.D.E Part 22 - Just One of Dem Days (Set in 2021)

Note: This is set in a universe where Men VS Women / Intergender matches can happen.

Chapter 1: here Chapter 2: here Chapter 3: here Chapter 4: here Chapter 5: here Chapter 6: here Chapter 7: here Chapter 8: here Chapter 9: here Chapter 10: here Chapter 11: here Chapter 12: here Chapter 13: here Chapter 14: here Chapter 15: here Chapter 16: here Chapter 17: here Chapter 18: here Chapter 19: here Chapter 20: here Chapter 21: here

Tags: @piratewithvigor @tantamount-treason @thedollmaker16 @janetreader

Around 2000 Words. 18+ in places (those chapters will be marked as ‘Mature / sexual content’ just to be safe). Please inform me if you wish to be tagged or untagged from posts. If the text is in italics and orange it’s Kirby’s inner monologue. If the text is coloured but not in italics, it’s either dialogue or a P.O.V change (P.O.V changes will be in bold and translated dialogue will appear in square [ ] brackets), Key below. Quick note on Geia’s text colour: Yes I do know that as Greed she should be in yellow but I decided to colour the men’s dialogue yellow so Geia was changed to be pink like the other women in the story outside of the main 8.

The Main 8: Damo - Bio. Vi - Bio. Billie - Bio. Geia - Bio. Kirby - Bio. Honey - Bio. Eli - Bio. Sara - Bio.

Kirby's P.O.V:

Kirby's uncle Bran spends the night sleeping on the couch, waking up at 10 am, on Saturday the 3rd of September, to the smell of Kirby cooking breakfast.

“Good lord kid, ya oul dear taught ya well.” He yawns, scratching his stubble as he gets up, joining Kirby in the kitchen.

“You still take ya coffee with milk and two sugars, Uncail [Uncle]?” She smiles softly at him, looking up from the pan of bacon and eggs.

“Indeed I do, have ya been cryin’ banphrionsa [princess]?”

“Dhúisigh mé ó nightmare, Tá Eddie fós ina chodladh agus ní raibh mé ag iarraidh é a dhúiseacht. Mar sin, tá [I woke up from a nightmare, Eddie is still asleep and I didn't want to wake him. So, yes].” Kirby nods, her uncle pulls her into a gentle hug, stroking her hair.

“Ya Aintín [Aunt] will be here soon, as will ya col ceathracha [cousins]. Ceart go leor [okay]?”

“Aye [yes].” She whispers, leaving her uncle to finish making breakfast, when she gets a text from her cousin Branwen, Bran’s only daughter.

Kirby goes to the front door, seeing the taxi pull up with her Aunt Meinir and her cousins Mostyn, Darach and Branwen stepping out.

“Don’t panic,” Darach jokes, “We haven’t brought the kids to tire out Aintín fathach [Giant aunt].”

Darach, forever the jokester, married to a lovely German lass.

“Nor have we brought the wives, or Branwen’s hubbie.” Mostyn adds.

Mostyn, Moss, the brawn of the trio. His wife’s a beautiful Native Canadian lady.

“I’ll help you wit’ the twins, banphrionsa dragon [dragon princess].” Branwen smiles softly.

Branwen, the brains, now a McCormick, her husband a half-French half-Irish gent with a mean right hook.

“Get yer butts in there before the house gets cold.” Meinir, Bran’s Wife, scolds her three kids, hugging Kirby gently when she enters the house.

If ever a tornado was named something Welsh, it would be named after her. As her name would suggest via its meaning, she’s tall, slender and beautiful, even at 69.

“Before you ask, this place is rented, and the twins are asleep in the nursery, don’t wake my sons nor my husband. Ed’s a grump in the mornings, and I don’t need the New Yorker being a grump, right now.” Kirby explains, leading the tiny percentage of her family to the kitchen first.

She takes over making breakfast from her Uncle Bran, quickly serving the group up a hearty breakfast, bacon, eggs, toast, beans, all the things her and her family are used to. She even remembers how the group takes their coffee and tea. Bran, coffee, two sugars and a dash of milk. Meinir, tea, black as she cannot have milk. Moss, coffee, one sugar, no milk, strong and sweet. Darach, tea, milky and with two sugars. Branwen, water, not a fan of tea or coffee.

“Holy fuck!” Eddie yelps, nearly falling on his ass when he sees Kirby’s cousins.

“Oh, we should have sat down, Moss.” Darach murmurs as he sips his tea.

“Ya think? I know I’m tall, but you two are tall and broad.” Kirby shakes her head, kissing Eddie’s forehead.

Moss, 6’5”, and Darach, 6’3”, look down at the floor in shame. Their 5’4” sister chuckles as she looks at them.

“And these guys are?” Eddie asks, using Kirby as a shield, having not gotten dressed yet and still in just his rosaries, boxers and a tank-top.

“Ooh, Dara, Kirby married a real New Yorker, maybe a Catholic too?” Moss whispers.

“Eddie, you met my Uncle Bran last night, this is his wife, Meinir, and his kids, my cousins, Mostyn, Darach and Branwen. Consider yourself lucky that they didn’t bring their spouses, or kids, this place would be nearly full.”

“How many kids do you have?” Eddie asks them, a look of total confusion on his face.

“Me and Gen have six, our eldest is eighteen, youngest is three.” Mostyn answers first.

Darach follows his lead, “Myself and Gertie have five, our eldest is fifteen, youngest is also three.”

Branwen is the last to answer, “Me and My hubbie, Faron, have four, Taliesin, Samuel, Rainbow and Quintella.”

“Ooh, Moss, has Eadberht said anything about proposing to his girlfriend yet?” Kirby asks.

“Oh no, he hasn’t said anything about proposing to Nerida, I think he’s a bit scared.”

“Aww, I was looking forward to annoying him about that.”

“Don’t worry, Ker, ya still the baby of the family.” Darach chuckles.

Eddie watches, stunned into silence, as Kirby and her cousins talk back and forth in Irish and Welsh, mentioning name after name, the occasional English word being spoken.

“Eddie, you a’ight?” Kirby asks, gently wrapping her arms around his neck.

He wraps his arms around her waist instinctively, “I have no idea, what any of, what you said for the past ten minutes means.”

“Luckily for you, none of it was important. Me and Branwen are gonna feed the twins, okay?”

“A’ight, Ma, I love ya.” Eddie whispers, kissing her gently before letting her go.

From the nursery, Kirby and Branwen can hear Bran, Moss and Dara questioning Eddie.

“So, what are the kids' names?” Moss asks.

“Emir and Ethan.” Eddie answers confidently.

“No, no,” Dara chuckles, “their full names.”

“Oh fuck,” Eddie’s confidence drops, “Emyr Fah-lawn Peri-der Ariel Moore and Ethan Lore-can Gwin Joel Moore.”

“Pretty decent for a non-Irish speaking ‘Irishman’.” Bran announces his approval, making both of Kirby’s male cousins shut up.

“Kirby,” Branwen whispers, “Say their full names, go.”

Kirby chuckles softly, shaking her head before pronouncing her boys names perfectly, “Emyr Faolán Peredur Ariel Moore and Ethan Lorcán Gwin Joel Moore. There, Branwen, ya happy?”

She nods and chuckles softly as she finishes feeding Emyr, handing him to Kirby. Kirby carries both boys into the kitchen with her. Kirby smirks and shakes her head as she watches Eddie wrestle with his belt.

“Babe, help.” Eddie mouths when he sees her.

Kirby hands the twins to their father and fixes his belt buckle, “How the fuck did you bend the metal of this?”

When Eddie doesn’t answer she looks up at his face, his line of sight directly going to her rear.

“Edward.” She grumbles.

Moss and Dara chuckle softly.

“Sorry, Ma, what?” Eddie’s face goes pink from embarrassment.

“How did you bend the metal of the belt buckle?”

“I don’t know, fuckin’ wit’ it too much?” He shrugs.

“‘Fuckin’ wit’ it too much’?” She mockingly asks, teasing her husband.

“Fucked wit’ you too much, got these two as a result.” He teases back, sticking his tongue out at his wife.

Kirby copies his actions, “Doughboy.” she whispers.

“Doll.” Eddie murmurs.

“Wild Card.”

“Punk Rock Princess.”

“Papi.”

“Ma.”

“Bite me.” She smirks.

“Did ya take ya anxiety meds, and ya iron supplements?”

“Yes, as soon as I woke up.”

“You got any more family showin’ up?”

“Ya might wanna pray, ‘cause I don’t know.” Kirby whispers.

“Take one of the Princes then.”

Kirby takes Ethan from his father, letting Eddie use his rosaries to say a small prayer.

“Hey little guy,” Kirby starts baby-talking to her son when he opens his eyes, his blue eyes staring up at her own, “How’s my little dude doing? Huh, baby boy, how is you doing my love?”

“You’re so cute, Ma.” Eddie murmurs, making Kirby blush a bright pink.

“Sorry, I got a bit lost in my thoughts.”

“I wish I got that on video, I would have watched it over and over.”

“He looked at me, you know I gotta talk to him if he looks at me.”

“I know,” Eddie wraps his free arm around her waist, “I love you, Kirby.”

“I love you too, Eddie… my Edward, my King of Diamonds.”

“My Kirby, my Dragon Princess.” He smirks.

“Did you like last night?” She asks softly.

“If Jon and Renee weren’t there, it would have been perfect.”

“It’s the closest thing to actually being in either a nightclub, or strip club with me.”

“I know, it’s also much more private and personal.” He whispers, kissing her jawline and the scar on her cheek.

“What’s gotten you so affectionate this morning?”

“I guess it’s just one of them days.” He winks.

“Did you go through my music?”

“Yep. You left your ‘Moody’ playlist up.”

“Don’t blame that on me, blame it on Spotify.” She murmurs, sipping her can of decaf coffee.

Eddie grabs a can of Red Bull, and they both head to sit on the couch next to each other. Moss turns the tv on, flicking through the channels until he gets to the sport, putting on a game of Rugby, Ulster v Dragons.

“Why don’t you put on some wrestlin’?” Eddie asks.

“Because,” Kirby sips her coffee, “As a family who runs a wrestling promotion, if we want to watch wrestling, we will watch something from our archives.” She explains.

“How far do the archives go back?”

“Oh jeez… Uncail, how far do our archives go back, with the tapes?”

Kirby’s Uncle Bran steps back inside, holding his cigarette outside of the patio doors, “Our taped archives?”

“Yeah, not the written stuff but the filmed stuff.” Kirby nods.

“I would think back to when Naoise started wrestling, so nineteen-sixty, maybe nineteen-fifty-nine? I would have to check. But it’s somewhere around then.”

“Oh wow,” Eddie mumbles, “That’s a lot of footage.”

“Yeah, most of it’s been digitised now too, so we’ll be able to go back, and use the footage to teach generations ahead.” Bran explains before stepping outside to finish his cigarette.

“Hey Da, can I bum a smoke off ya?” Dara asks as he steps outside.

“Take one of ya sister’s.” Bran grumbles.

“Here, and don’t tell my husband, he thinks I’ve switched to the robot.” Branwen chuckles softly.

“Switched to the robot?” Eddie asks Kirby softly.

“Switched to an electronic cigarette or vape. It’s something that my Uncle Rhod came up with.” She murmurs, engrossed in the rugby game.

“Sweetheart.” Eddie puts his hand on her thigh, getting her attention off the tv.

“Yes, Eddie?”

“You gonna explain what’s goin’ on?”

“With what?”

Eddie gestures towards the tv, “I don’t watch this stuff, you know me, Knicks, Yankees, that kinda stuff I watch.”

“Oh,” She smiles softly, leaning back and keeping Ethan close to her chest, “So you have Ulster, northern Irish, and The Dragons, a Welsh team. Currently The Dragons, the team Moss and Dara will want to win, are beating the asses of Ulster. You know how you have leagues and stuff?”

“Yeah, this works the same?”

“Yep. U.R.C, United Rugby Championship, if The Dragons win, they go on to face Edinburgh or The Sharks, depending on who wins that game.”

“Okay, and who are the Sharks?”

“They’re a South African team.”

“And why don’t you guys support Ulster?”

“Divorce him.” Moss grumbles.

“He’s askin’ why we don’t support Ulster, Moss, nothin’ more.”

“We don’t support ‘em, ‘cause they fuck the British willingly.” Mostyn scoffs

“Jesus, Moss. Right, long story short, we don’t support Ulster ‘cause they’re northern Irish, our ancestry comes from the republic.”

“Oh…” The weight of Moss’ statement dawns on Eddie, “So if I were to support Ulster, your family would hate me?”

“Don’t even mention them by name.” She whispers.

Eddie nods, putting a finger to his lips, indicating that he’ll stay silent. Instead Eddie focuses on Emyr, both him and Kirby watching as his son, Emyr, yawns and opens his eyes. Green eyes meeting green eyes. Son staring up at his father, reaching for his face, or rather the blur that takes up most of Emyr’s vision. Eddie in his ‘I hope you suffer’ tank top and a pair of jeans, timbs on but unlaced, rosaries hidden between his white and black tank-tops. Emyr in a small ‘kiss me I’m Irish’ onesie, a gift from his maternal grandmother, Kirby’s Mam, Oda.

“I hope one day, you’ll grow up to find a woman, or hell, a man, who is as amazing as ya mother, Emyr.” Kingston whispers, kissing his eldest son on the head.

“Kingy, that has gotta be one of the sweetest things you’ve ever said.” Kirby whispers, receiving a gentle kiss on her cheek scar.

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thetuesdaytapes · 2 years ago

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THE TUESDAY TAPES MARTEDÌ 17 GENNAIO 2023 ►► MONTHLY MIXTAPE 1) THE BEATLES > Polythene Pam 2) DON MURO > Want You to Know 3) HUDSON MOHAWKE > Dance Forever 4) FILIPPO TRECCA > Col fiato in gola 5) TEN FÉ > Twist Your Arm (Roman Flügel mix) 6) SLAM vs. U.N.K.L.E. > Narco Tourists (SSR69 edit) 7) JON GIBSON > Song II 8) SLUTA LETA > Whispers Special (intro) 9) MADLIB > Raw Introduction to Afreaka 10) CHUCK ARMSTRONG > Sweet Foxy Lady 11) BRIAN ENO > No One Receiving 12) MINORU FUSHIMI > In Praise of Mithocondria 13) NONA HENDRYX > Scream (Michael the Lion edit) 14) THE KILLS > No Wow (Chicken Lips dub) 15) HEADMAN feat. STEPHEN DEWAELE > Roh 16) BANDULU > Chapter 6 Ascolta su MIXCLOUD Ascolta su SPREAKER Guarda su YOUTUBE

#Mixtape #balearic #cosmic disco #80s music #new wave #post punk #electro #alternative music

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dfroza · 13 days ago

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A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures

for the 24th of december 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New Covenant) of the Bible

[The Book of Acts, Chapter 4 • The Book of 1st Kings, Chapter 6]

along with Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms with Proverbs 24 and Psalm 24 coinciding with the day of the month, accompanied by Psalm 4 for the 4th day of Astronomical Winter, and Psalm 59 for day 359 of the year (with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 3rd revolution this year)

A post by John Parsons:

“You and I have need of the strongest spell that can be found to wake us from the evil enchantment of worldliness.” -- C.S. Lewis

Regarding the portentous verse, “And the earth was without form and void (תהוּ וָבהוּ), and darkness was upon the surface of the deep” (Gen. 1:2), the midrash comments: “Darkness – these are the Greeks who darkened the eyes of the Jewish nation with their evil decrees.” The utter darkness of Hellenistic thought came disguised as an angel of light, as “enlightened” thinking, but whenever such humanism usurps the authority of divine revelation, the result is exile and darkness. Indeed, the very worst kind of exile is to be unaware that you are in exile, to be so blinded that you do not see that you do not see... As Yeshua said, “If the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matt. 6:23); and "be careful lest the light in you be darkness" (Luke 11:35). In the end, the world and its blind lusts will pass away, for it is "tohu" (תּהוּ) - confusion and unreality - but whoever does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-17).

The realm of this “fallen world” -- understood in terms of the “fellowship” (κοινωνία) of darkness -- is something from which we are delivered and of which we are no longer to be enslaved. As it is written, "God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" (Col. 1:13). Likewise Yeshua said, “If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own” (John 15:19). In other words, we are “in” but not “of” this world (John 17:15), and though we physically coexist with others in this time-space, we are no longer citizens of this fallen world and its underlying value system. We are not to love this world, nor the things this world values, since doing so embraces a philosophy of life that is at war with the Father and contrary to the truth of eternity (1 John 2:16; James 4:4). The fallen world values “the flesh” and the “desire of the eyes” that is patterned according to the “arrogance of life.” In other words, it is a “beauty pageant” that esteems others based on their accidental qualities instead of their inner and essential qualities. In this connection, let me quote from Henri Nouwen regarding slavery to the world and its perverse value system:

At issue here is the question: "To whom do I belong? God or to the world?"... As long as I keep running about asking: "Do you love me? Do you really love me?" I give all power to the voices of the world and put myself in bondage because the world is filled with "ifs." The world says: "Yes, I love you if you are good-looking, intelligent, and wealthy. I love you if you have a good education, a good job, and good connections. I love you if you produce much, sell much, and buy much." There are endless "ifs" hidden in the world's love. These "ifs" enslave me, since it is impossible to respond adequately to all of them. The world's love is and always will be conditional. As long as I keep looking for my true self in the world of conditional love, I will remain "hooked" to the world - trying, failing, and trying again. It is a world that fosters addictions because what it offers cannot satisfy the deepest craving of my heart.” (Nouwen: Return of The Prodigal Son; p42-43)

“Love not the world, neither the things of this world” (1 John 2:15). We see then the connection between worldliness and idolatry, since idolatry essentially involves trying to find your identity, your worth, your satisfaction, and your ultimate fulfillment in the realm of the transitory and the finite rather than in God.... We are (rightly) warned against the vices of “worldliness” and are admonished to abstain from popular culture and its spurious values, but note well that worldliness extends well beyond all this, since it concerns understanding the identity and nature of the person as a whole. The fruit of worldliness is the result of being rooted in this world rather than in God’s kingdom. The various desires of the human heart - even the desire for “normal things” like personal happiness in this world - may be regarded as entirely “worldly” if they are devoid of submission to God and His rule....

A principle of spiritual life is that the "inner is not the outer," and vice-versa. People are easily deceived by mere appearances, yet the eye of faith must be trained to look beyond surface phenomena to discern the underlying Reality that upholds the world. This is perhaps most evident in the case of the cross of Yeshua, which the carnal eye regards as a matter of shame and defeat, but the eye of faith regards as the very wisdom, power, and love of Almighty God Himself... Of Yeshua it is said, "he [Messiah] grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him."

Those who rely on mere appearances will invariably find themselves confounded. The LORD therefore commissioned the prophet: "Go, and say to this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive'" (Isa. 6:9). Where it is written, "God gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own devices" (Psalm 81:12; Rom. 1:24); and "they went backward and not forward" (Jer. 7:24), we learn there is no place of "neutrality" or studied indifference toward God... We are either going forward with Him or going backward; we are either drawing near or pulling our hearts away (Rev. 3:16).

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Hosea 2:20 Hebrew audio:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/hosea2-20-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/hosea2-20-lesson.pdf

12.22.24 • Facebook

from Israel365

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

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utterlyinevitable · 23 days ago

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↪ series masterlist

31. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice

Pairing: Colin Bridgerton x Penelope Featherington Format: textfic Chapter Rating: T+

Summary: he's baaaaaack

23rd June 13:45

Hey

You free for a chat

Can’t sorry I’m at work

Right yeah ok

What’s going on, Col

16:18

I don’t think this is for me

???

This job

Colin, you’re so good a this

I’m struggling for work, Pen

You have before and things turned around.

There’s only so much mindless click bait I can handle. And if people only come to my page for shirtless pics am I any better than a cheap onlyfans model or a stripper?

Exotic dancing is hard work

Be serious please

I thought you were writing pieces to beef that up? Things you wanted to write?

Yeah on my personals. I can’t really do that on ads and sponsorships, it’s not on brand

So don’t take the contracts that mean you can’t do what you like. It’s not like you need the money.

Right

That’s not what I meant. Just that you have the trust and your family to fall back on. You can figure things out.

I’m nearing 30, Pen. I need a purpose. I should have my life figured out by now

You have time. No one’s putting an age on success but you.

And my family

They love you

They don’t respect me

They support and love you and don’t understand your wanderlust.

17:32

Have you let anyone else read your works

Eloise. She told me it was boring fodder.

You know she wouldn’t tell you if she liked it. Have you let Violet?

She’d tell me she loved it no matter what.

Franny is probably your most least judgmental sibling. Send her some of your articles see what she says.

18:18

I’m coming home. It’ll be for a while.

"What’s with the face?" Sophie questions, watching Penelope's lips pinch together as she flips her phone facedown on the table with an air of resignation.

"What face?"

"Like you’ve just had gone off milk in your tea. What’s happened?"

She sighs; it's heavy and uncertain and all she can do when her mind is muddled with what ifs. "It’s Colin."

Sophie, ever the patron saint of patience, waits for more.

"He’s coming home for a while," Penelope says, thumbs fiddling with the paper napkin under her utensils. This was supposed to be girls night, no woes or Bridgerton-adjacent drama allowed.

Sophie waits for more not seeing the problem Penelope is clearly attempting to present.

She doesn’t elaborate.

"Surely that’s a good thing?" Sophie's blonde brows pinch together. "You get to spend more time together. Be an actual couple for once."

"We’re not-"

"You are. Whether you want to believe it or not." Penelope hasn't looked up from the table since she checked her phone. It's a very stark contrast to how she used to be - smiley and giggly and just light - every time she received a message from him. Penelope's in denial and it is so detrimental to everything she's built. It's clear as day to anyone that's gotten a glimpse of Colin and Pen together that they love one another. If only Penelope would let her guard down...

"He calls you home!" Sophie practically shouts, hands out stretched towards her friend. "Every time he’s in the country it’s to see you."

"His family is a lot," Penelope mumbles.

"If it was too much he wouldn’t come back as often and you know it. Friends don’t act like you do."

Penelope is silent.

"Do you want to be more?" Sophie is leaning across the table, voice a low and caring whisper. "Officially."

"It’s complicated."

"It’s not. That boy is in the palm of your hand. All you need to do is tell him what you want."

The icy look Penelope shoots her stills Sophie in her seat. "When are you going to reach out to Benedict? Put that man out of his misery."

Sophie rolls her eyes at the apparent deflection. It’s not the same and they both know it.

"Babes…"

"It’s better like this."

"In that case," Sophie sits back, reaches for her wine glass. "We best prepare your heart for what’s to come."

27th July 16:05

📍Colin shared his live location

He bounds up the steps light-footed and carefree, his bags hanging off his shoulder weightless with every metre climbed. He sees through the banister barrier on the landing, warm white light shining through her open door. Colin moves quicker, he can feel peace crawling through himself with evert stride. And like a sinner heading towards the light of salvation, at the top of the landing, he sees her in the doorway.

"Honey, I'm home!" he calls, feels the grand smile settle into his features.

"Hey, soldier."

She reaches out to grab the duffle in his hand with nary another word.

His next words come out soft and like a sigh of relief; "I've missed you."

Her sweet little simper sends fireworks through Colin's chest. Pen steps back before he could lean down to steal a kiss. There's time for that later, when he's not standing in her corridor and smelling of six hours of travel.

He shuts the door behind him, goes to drop his bags and close the insurmountable distance between them but she's gone. Padding down the hallway with his duffle still in hand. Colin has no choice but to follow.

"I've set up the spare room," she says, dropping his duffle at the foot of the single bed. "Thinking that we'd like our own space if you'll be here a while."

There's a subtext there Colin's not fond of, can't work out but surely does not like. A small surge of panic shoot through him.

"Yeah, yeah sure. Good thinking, Pen."

"It's a small flat," she says.

Colin nods, not sure what's happening - what's happened in the last few weeks he's been gone? There's tension wafting that hasn't reared it's head since they first reconnected over two years ago. He thought... Well it doesn't matter what he bloody well thought.

"I'm gonna grab a shower," he says, pointing over his shoulder in the direction of the bathroom behind him.

"Okay." She shuffles passed him, letting him grab whatever he needs. "Pasta alright for dinner?"

He shoots her a smirk.

"Right, forgot who I was asking," she giggles. It's light and familiar, and just enough it dissipate most of his reservations.

When he's finished he finds Pen in the kitchen, still dressed in her navy blue day dress, chopping an onion. He pads over and snakes his arms around to pull her into a long-overdue hug.

"Colin!" she chides, gently placing the knife onto the chopping board between.

He tugs her closer, her back flush to his chest, and folds himself over to nuzzle the top of her head. "I missed you."

"So you've said." Penelope pats his forearm three times.

He pouts and reluctantly lets go.

"Yea, yeah I've missed you too." She rolls her eyes, steps away from him. "Now put yourself to good use."

His brow raises disastrously.

"And finish the veg!"

Colin chortles and steps into her place. Out the corner of his eye he watches Penelope flit about the shoebox kitchen, boiling the kettle and setting pans on the hob.

"How've you been?"

"Yeah, good." Still not looking his way. "Busy."

"Tell me more," he says faux seductively.

"Works been great, I really enjoy it. My colleagues and I go out at least once a week. Which has been so good mentally, you know. Otherwise I'd be a lonely couch potato. Pip's wedding is next week, so been dodging my mother as best I can for as long as possible."

"When are you heading down?"

"Next Sunday." She says. "It's in Hampstead if you want to visit your mother..."

Colin's brows pull together, and something akin to hope blooms in his chest. "Won't your mother lose her head if she sees me?"

"No, I meant..." oh. "If you want to visit your family while I'm out for the week I wouldn't mind."

Oh.

"Don't trust me home alone?" he tries to play the hurt from misinterpretation off. "I'm a big boy, you know." His words land more sarcastically and not as playful as he hoped they would.

"Fine. Do what you want."

It's another blunder. Colin's been mucking everything up since he got here, and he doesn't even know why.

"I'll think about it," he says. "I'm not ready to deal with all the questions just yet."

She nodded along, not really committing or taking stock in what he's saying.

"Actually, I could really use the downtime to write."

"I think that's a fantastic idea." He watches a small smile grace her lips, as she stirs the sauce. "And just know I will be very, very envious of you."

Colin can't help but smile back. "I still want a play-by-play of everything that goes down."

She rolls her eyes and leaves him to set the table.

After dinner they curled up on the couch and began watching New Girl in succession once more, munching on the biscuits and sweets Colin picked up from his last destination.

Halfway through the second episode he received an email from a client he really couldn't ignore. Pops his laptop on his lap and tries to be present whilst also wrapping up loose ends.

"I'm gonna head to bed," she says as the credits roll.

He's hunched over, fingers tapping as fast as possible. "It's almost done, sorry."

Penelope briefly pats his shoulder as she rounds the sofa. "You finish, it's fine."

He hears her shuffling behind him, hears her rustling to place snacks back in cupboards, hears the tink of the mugs hitting the sink basin. Then, he hears her bedroom door close behind her and Colin knows something has irrevocably changed between them. And he needs to do whatever it takes to get them back on track.

#polin

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tallmantall · 3 months ago

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James Donaldson on Mental Health - Suicide is Preventable. Anyone can Make a Difference! September is National Suicide Prevention Month

By Justine Cowan Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, Md – September is National Suicide Prevention Month to raise awareness and increase knowledge about a problem that has sadly affected too many people across the country. In observance of National Suicide Prevention Month, Walter Reed will host a “Heart of Hope and Resource Fair” on Sept. 9 and 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days in the America lobby (Bldg. 19, first floor). Also, there will be the following staff/provider suicide prevention training offered at Walter Reed: • SafeTALK Workshop, a half-day training focusing on the four basic steps in suicide alertness skills to create a life-saving connection, will be held on Sept. 4 and 25 in Bldg. 85T, second floor, room C209.• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), a two-day training offering participants information to identify people at risk of suicide and tips to intervene to help them stay safe, will be held on Sept.17-18 and Nov. 12-13 in Bldg. 85T, second floor, room C209. • Additional staff suicide prevention training (hosted by Columbia University) will be held on Sept. 24 (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) in the Memorial Auditorium. #James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com Link for 40 Habits Signupbit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth If you'd like to follow and receive my daily blog in to your inbox, just click on it with Follow It. Here's the link https://follow.it/james-donaldson-s-standing-above-the-crowd-s-blog-a-view-from-above-on-things-that-make-the-world-go-round?action=followPub Suicide is a leading cause of death and affects people of all ages, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s a major public health concern that not only claims the life of the victim, but can also have long-term repercussions on family, friends and communities. Walter Reed’s Directorate of Behavioral Health and Department of Pastoral Care offer services to assist people with challenges. The Directorate of Behavioral Health includes psychiatry, psychology and social work. Regarding the holistic benefits of behavioral health care provided at Walter Reed, Army Col. (Dr.) Aniceto Navarro, who heads the directorate. “There are Behavioral Health providers in different clinics now, embedded there, working hand-in-hand with medical and surgical staff to help address the patients with challenges of new diagnoses,” he explained. The Department of Pastoral Care, a robust team of military chaplains, enlisted religious program specialists and contracted religious professionals from various faiths, provides care spiritual care and support to patients, staff, service members, and their families at Walter Reed, with the goal of developing and strengthening personal and spiritual resiliency for facing life’s many challenges. In addition to religious services and pastoral care, Pastoral Care provides a number of “life- skills” trainings and workshops, including suicide awareness and prevention education. Through the Navy’s Chaplains Religious Enrichment Development Operation (CREDO), chaplains and religious program specialists receive training to facilitate suicide prevention and intervention workshops known as SafeTALK and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), designed to enable participants better recognize and help those who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide. U.S. Navy Chaplain (Lt.) Luis Martinez, DPC’s division officer, explained that SafeTALK is a half-day interactive training that focuses on “suicide alertness” and teaches participants how to better identify persons at risk and connect them to other resources for intervention, while ASIST is an intensive two-day training program that teaches participants how to do suicide interventions for those at risk. Both SafeTALK and ASIST teach practical skills based on evidence-based research. For instance, if you notice a person’s behaviors are different from that person’s normal behaviors (e.g., withdrawn, change in attitude, giving away possessions, etc.), the person may be consciously or unconsciously inviting you to ask them if they are considering suicide. Will you care enough to ask, “Are you thinking of suicide/killing yourself?” “Believe it or not, it seems that the hardest thing for someone to do is to ask that very important question in an explicitly direct way,” said U.S. Navy Chaplain (Capt.) Chris Hester, chief of Pastoral Care. “Most people actually avoid asking about suicide directly, which may mean that they really do not want to know the answer. Asking the question directly in a nonjudgemental manner gives the person at risk permission to discuss this sensitive subject and also means that you are willing to listen.” SafeTALK and ASIST teach participants effective ways for asking the question of suicide directly and also how to do so tactfully so that it does not seem abrupt. Hester and Martinez noted that everyone experiences times of trouble and significant loss, so anyone can be at risk for suicide. It is important to remain on suicide alert for all persons, regardless of rank or pay grade, they added.Hester also mentioned the importance of “spiritual readiness” or “spiritual fitness” for the military, noting that there is significant data and evidence-based research indicating that religion and spirituality can have positive impact on both mental and physical health, including reducing suicide within the ranks. Fellows in the Social Work Fellowship Program are responsible for arranging to have staff training conducted by Columbia University at Walter Reed. The Columbia Suicide Severity Risk Scale (CSSRS) is a widely used tool for assessing suicide risk.In addition, the sociology and psychiatry fellows plan the annual labyrinth suicide awareness walk at Walter Reed. The walk encourages participants to reflect while walking the labyrinth in the America Bldg.’s courtyard, picking up a rock, writing a message or the name of a suicide victim on the rock, and putting it down as a way of symbolically releasing the grief and inspiring hope. For more information about Pastoral Care at Walter Reed, call 301-295-1510. For information about Behavioral Health, call the Adult Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic at 301-295-0500, or the Child & Adolescent Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic at 301-295-0576. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS IN CRISIS: Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. The Lifeline provides free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. Call 911 in life-threatening situations. Read the full article

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