#MY SOUL ASCENDED OUT OF MY BODY THIS ENTIRE PERFORMANCE!!!

[ppumeonae-bigvibe]

centrestage

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pairing: friend to lover! doyoung x gn! reader

↬ tags: not a regular listener of little light but whenever i hear it my soul ascends out of my body into the galaxies (warning: not a universal experience), friends to lovers, mentions of doyoung being a performer), open-ending because again idk, pulled this out of the depths of wattpad drafts uhh

summary: doyoung has only got this chance to confess his love to the one person who means everything to him

word count: 719 words

a/n: in light of what has been happening, i will also be working to remove any past post in the coming week that i have written of nct’s taeil,, as for my stance, i do believe the rest of the nct members shouldn’t be dragged down until more information has been given! till then i will keep supporting nct and the units

doyoung's heart beat in trepidation against his chest as he dials your handphone number for the third time that night. he was still coming from from his high, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"where are you now?" he weaves through backstage, pressing the phone to his ear.

"i left."

he clicks his tongue, mumbling apologies before speaking to you, "i know you did. i had my eyes on you the entire time i was on stage." he paused to push the exit door, "are you nearby? i wanna see you, please."

the cool breeze of the night kissed his sweat-soaked skin as he awaited your response. he did know, however that your resolve was breaking with every passing beat of silence.

"i'm...sat at the nearby park. i'll wait for you." you hung up.

without a moment's hesitation, doyoung starts sprinting ahead, feet moving faster than his mind can even comprehend where you actually were. running like his life depended on it, he hangs onto the hope that he could officially tell you his feelings.

as soon as he spots you sitting by the curb of the playground, doyoung speeds up till he stands before you, huffing and puffing away.

"i wasn't...going anywhere. you didn't need to run here." you averted your gaze, and under the artificial street lights, doyoung think you couldn't look any better than this moment.

"i...know. i just wanted...to see you..." he catches his breath, slowly sitting down beside you. this curb you two were sat on has seen more memories than he could count: from the very first time he met you as a child in this park, to when you two skipped classes to chill here in the lazy afternoon sun, to the heart-to-heart talks shared in the late of the night.

"you left as soon as i ended." doyoung begins after a while, gathering his thoughts as he wiped his sweaty palms against his jeans, "did i...was i not impressive?" he felt small under your gentle gaze and you shook your head, "you were every bit of the performer you dreamt to be."

"then why did you go? i was..." he held back. he wanted to dedicate his own composed song to you, but the moment he saw you leave, his vision got crowded with the fans asking for an encore. he decides to continue, "i was hoping to catch you to tell you thanks for coming."

he rests his weight towards his right palm, leaning closer to you.

"i'm sorry." you blurted out and doyoung jerks his head towards you, eyebrows furrowing, "what are you sorry for?"

"you've gotten quite famous even with you own gigs and everything. look at you, you belong out there on the stage with the fans cheering your name. not with some...person like me."

"i don't care about that! tell me, did i capture your attention on stage?" doyoung reached over to grasp your hand, forcing you to look at him. the dim lights made your eyes sparkle and doyoung wishes he could read your mind this instant.

"of course." you replied with certainty and he pulled you into his embrace, "then that's all i wanna hear. screw those fans because...i was performing for you and you alone."

doyoung pulls away, not breaking eye contact with you, "that song? that was meant for you. it was meant to be a confession song for your ears to here, which was why i invited you to come today."

"i wanted to tell you that i love you."

the second the words left his lips, he almost immediately feels that thread snap in him. "i have loved you from the day we first met, and i've never stopped loving you ever since." he remembers the day he finally accepted his feelings for you, growing stronger with each passing day he spent with you. he remembers that worn-out notebook with heart doodles and some lyrics he penned down, definitely not forgetting the multiple voice recordings he saved to create the very song he played just for you today.

he hears you inhale audibly and he spots that uncertainty in your eyes, "don't say that. not when you're gaining popularity. i'm just gonna be a hindrance."

"i'm willing to do anything it takes to be with you. so, will you be mine?"

@ppumeonae-bigvibe 's work ; likes and reblogs are appreciated <3

[not-a-space-alien]

Two Sides of the Same Coin: Chapter 7

Story Masterpost

On AO3

In this chapter: Karlach has vowed to keep Astairon safe, but being in Avernus poses a not insignificant amount of problems for Astarion's new form.

No warnings for this chapter outside of typical Karlach and Astarion angst.

***

Karlach and Wyll slept, but Astarion didn’t.  He couldn’t even meditate.  Maybe it was because of the unchanging nature of souls bound in soul coins.  Maybe it was because the stupid fucking effigy had no eyelids to close, so all he could do was stare at the ceiling of the tent all night.

Avernus was just outside there, hellfire and devils who’d love to tear him out of this stupid little toy that was the only reason he could see or move at all.  What had he been thinking?  Karlach had promised to protect him, but she’d promised that earlier, too, before all this.  Why would he trust her?  Because he didn’t want to hang around Gale?

…Because Cazador was on the material plane?  And even more powerful now, having completed the ritual to ascend?

Because Cazador would have a field day tormenting him with a fresh, new set of vulnerabilities?  Cazador would be so delighted to have a brand new toy to play with, quite literally.  Cazador had only cut his torture session short to a few days entirely because he couldn’t delay the ritual.  Now that Astarion was a useless trinket, his torment could go on forever and ever.

Astarion rolled over and wiggled his little doll body closer to Karlach’s side.  Karlach had cooled down considerably down here in the hot atmosphere, which was the only reason he could now do that without bursting into flames.  Karlach’s nearby hand had been holding Clive, but the stuffed bear had fallen slightly out of her hand.  She unconsciously shifted in her sleep and held Astarion in Clive’s place, murmuring softly.

Was this really better than taking his chances on the material plane?  Cazador could find him, but he had no reason to believe Astarion was up there.  Maybe he could tolerate Gale viewing him as an object and project.  He felt safer with Karlach, sure, but did he really trust Karlach?  To not view him as an expendable toy?  To not drop him when things got too hard, like everyone had?

To not end up back in some treasure chest, alone?  He’d gone from being metaphorically objectified to literally objectified, and it made him so, so bitter.

“I had nothing for so long. Nothing. Not even my own body. I will not give it up, now it's mine again.” he’d said.  For all the good it’d done him.  No matter what he did to try and protect himself, someone would always come and rip control away from him.  He was doomed.

And what was Gale going to demand for the help he’d provided, in doing this weird little magic charm on Astarion to give him some semblance of a body?  Was he going to perform painful, humiliating experiments?  What was Wyll going to demand, for him to do dangerous tasks down here in Avernus?

What was Karlach going to demand?  What were any of them going to demand?

What did he even have to give?  He couldn’t even reward anyone with sex now, not like this.  He briefly considered trying anyway and immediately started spiraling, trying to imagine having sex with someone like this.  Being even more powerless and breakable than he usually was.

Everyone wanted to hurt him, and it was incredibly easy to do so, now.  He couldn’t help fight.  He couldn’t offer his body.  He had nothing.  And nobody would help someone else for nothing.  When the time eventually came for them to throw him away when they realized he wasn’t worth the effort, he would have nothing, no control over it.

He hated them.

Astarion slowly eased out of Karlach’s hand and toddled as best as he could out of the tent.  If he left now, he could at least have control over the circumstances under which he left.  He wouldn’t have to sit there and wait for the other shoe to drop, for the unfair demands and disappointment to start rolling in.  He wouldn’t have to dread the inevitable abandonment, nor endure Gale, nor look over his shoulder for Cazador.  He would just leave.

He tripped and slid down a rocky embankment, tumbling head over heels across the hot terrain.  Glowing hot coals and volcanic skies flashed past in a blur as he rolled, letting out tense little screams.  He slid to a stop at the bottom, singed and panting, and hit something.

He looked up to see an imp, which had bent over to look at him.  He fell still.  Maybe he could convince it he wasn’t valuable?

It reached for him.  He sprung up and ran as fast as he could, which wasn’t very fast.  The imp hooked a claw around his foot and pulled him back, slamming him into the ground.

This was embarrassing.  Astarion had defeated an elder brain enhanced by Netherese magic.  And now a single imp was a boss battle for him?

“Put me down!” he shouted.

The imp turned him over, prodding at his chest where the soul coin was.

“I said put me down!”  He writhed.

The imp’s head jerked up to a point in space in the distance, and it dropped him and fled at the earth-shaking footsteps that followed.

“Astarion!” Karlach’s voice said.  “There you are!  Oh, thank goodness.”

He rolled over to see her kneeling down beside him.  “Are you all right?”

“I’m–Fine.”

“Good.”  Karlach scooped him up carefully.  “I’m so sorry.  I have no idea how that stupid thing could even get in the tent to get you without waking me up.”  She sounded a little unsure.  Like she didn’t believe it.  Like she wanted Astarion to offer up an explanation.

“I don’t know either,” Astarion said.  “Now take me back.”

Karlach unsurely walked back to the tent, tail drooping.  She set him down next to Clive, then leaned back on her bedroll.

“I’ve had this teddy forever,” Karlach said idly stroking Clive’s threadbare fabric.  “My mum made it for me.  It was the only thing I had for comfort for ages and ages.  Everyone told me he’s a useless little bugger, but just having him around makes me feel better.  You know?”

Astarion’s gaze drifted from Clive to her face.

“I just wanted to make it clear I take good care of those around me, even if I’m not expecting a reward for it or anything.  Just because they make me happy, and I want to keep them around.  Not because they’ll owe me.  You know that, right?”

Did he?  He did, to a certain extent.  Once he slowed down his wild train of thought. Once he really thought about it.  He knew it, but he didn't feel it.

He wordlessly settled in next to Clive.  Still, maybe this wasn't the worst place to be.

***

Karlach and Astarion made a particularly terrible duo, because Karlach needed to take care of those around her and consequently reassured everyone she could handle everything, whereas Astarion felt chronically anxious unless he was clearly needed and therefore unable to be discarded on a whim. The result was Karlach reassuring him it was okay for him to not do anything to earn his keep, which only exacerbated his feelings of vulnerability.

Astarion kept frantically offering things–to sew her clothes, to try and fight against all odds, to sneak into places, and yes, even to cuddle.  He needed to feel needed.  And at every turn, Karlach would assure him they didn’t need that, which was intended to make him feel comfortable and taken care of but which only had the effect of making him feel useless and ratcheting up his anxiety higher and higher.  

And it was already quite high from other things. 

Astarion held on as tightly as his little, altered body would allow.  Firebolts whizzing by singed his hair, and he ducked down into Karlach’s bag.  He was jostled around as Karlach swung behind a rock to take cover.

“All right, Fangs, we'll have them on the run in no time.”

Astarion peeked out of the bag to see Karlach readying her battle-axe.  “Karlach,” he croaked.  “I think we both know this isn't working.”

“What?  No, no, it totally is!  Wyll is flanking them on the right, and we can strike while they're -”

“Not the battle.  Me.”

“You're doing fine, just stick close to me!” Karlach swung around and charged out, swiftly beheading several devils that lined up in front of her.  Astarion clung to her healing potions and waited for the violence to die down, wishing very much that he could convincingly pretend to be enjoying it.  A bloody slaughter was good and all when you were actually able to participate, and not at one-tenth scale.

His yarn hair was only slightly singed and tinted with red by the time they were finished.  “Are you quite finished now?”

Karlach panted and replaced her axe on her back.  “Yeah, just about I think. It'll probably be about two weeks before we can get to the forge, and-”

“I can't do this anymore,” Astarion cried out.  “Karlach, this is unbearable!  I need to get out of Avernus!”

“What?” Karlach said, heart breaking, because how many times has she said that exact thing?  “No, no, you're okay.  I'm not – I won't abandon you!  I already let you down once, I'm not going to do it again!”

“It’s not letting me down!  For gods’ sake!”

Karlach knelt down and took Astarion out of her bag, holding him up.  At this size, every emotion was evident across her face, the tears even more visible.  “I’ll do whatever it takes, Astarion.”

“What is it going to take?  Is my being here actually accomplishing anything?”

Karlach broke eye contact.

“Look, I know you’re–I appreciate your enthusiasm, really I do, but-”

“You didn’t want me to abandon you, and I won’t.”

“Karlach, you must understand not wanting to be in Avernus.  You, of all people.”

Karlach broke down and hugged Astarion to her chest.  Even with his altered doll sensations, the heat was nearly unbearable.  “I do.  I would never want to put you through that.”

“It’s just–If anyone is up to the task, it’s you but–I just don’t belong here.”

“Right.”  Karlach took deep breaths.  “Right.  Okay.  Whatever you want.  Say the word, and I’ll take you back to Gale.”

“Gale.”  Astarion rubbed his yarn hair.  “I hate being an experiment to that wizard.  It’s beneath my dignity.”  Gale alone can’t defend me from Cazador.  He’s a good wizard, but he’s just one wizard.  I have to stay as far from Cazador as possible.

“Okay.”  Karlach wiped her eyes.  “Where to, then?  Where do you think is appropriate for your, um, dignity?”

Snatches of memories of a very broad, bear of an elf and his wagons full of children.  A place that would be well-protected.  “I have it on good authority that the former shadow-cursed lands are home to a sanctuary now that welcomes all kinds.”

***

Taglist:

@whumpsday @appelsiinilight @thatonegothlady

[talonabraxas]

Multidimensional Merkabah 💫 'Sirian' Light Body Talon Abraxas The Divinity Within

It is perhaps on this level, that we arrive at the very crux of defining what Merkabah is, and what it means. It quite literally is the chariot of God. It is a light vehicle that has allowed sages, prophets, ascended masters, enlightened beings, to reach out into higher levels and realms of consciousness and existence; to sort of access the Akashic records if you will; remember all of this is associated with Archangel Metatron, who is the chief, or better yet, chief angel, responsible for them, and documenting everything that is and ever was in existence. This is extremely pertinent in the context of what is being referred to as the great awakening, both on the spiritual and conscious level, seeing as to how one cannot ascend without activation of their Merkabah. The ascension is a rise into these higher realms of existence, a rise into the astral, spiritual planes, and those above them, so it would only make logical sense that the individual would need this new spirit and heart that was given to Ezekiel that allowed him to do so, more specifically that of activating the individual’s light codes and body, as well as that of the Merkabah in order that they too may ride the chariot of God, and connect or return to the source. That after all should be viewed as the ultimate goal of the spirit or the soul. To return to the source in response to all that God and Christ Consciousness can become.

And here we find the very quintessence of Merkabah Mysticism. It was a movement founded on the teachings of Ezekiel, which were revered by many as the most mystical part of the entire bible. Building off of what is taught, it set out for individuals to endeavor to receive their new spirit and their new heart, to activate their light bodies, and with it their Merkabah, and to ride the chariot of God, as the Prophet Ezekiel did. And here it should be noted that both the light body and the Merkabah with it, are both divine forces that are accessible everywhere. We make common misinterpretations that these things are only reserved for the very righteous, or the divine, the enlightened, or to a very select few, and that it is as if they were sort of hand-selected or preordained to on some holy level to do so. Here we see, that we have completely missed the message of these divine and enlightened individuals. Most if not all of them came in the form of simple ordinary men. Ezekiel manifested these divine things in shackles of exile. Buddha who was next in line to inherit the throne consciously chose to rather seek a life of spirituality, of suffering, and of martyrdom, if it meant enlightenment and finding a cure to the maladies and suffering of humankind. Even God’s very own son, to whom we think we cannot compare ourselves to, even though he stated that if you believe, you can perform miracles greater than my own, was presented to us in the form of a lowly carpenter who had nothing, and that was born in a manger alongside sheep and other animals. God does this for a reason, and it is to show us that the average person, the commoner, the prisoner, the meek, humble, and the lowly, all have and can be divine, and to seek that divinity within. It’s no wonder that the meek will inherit the earth. We don’t ever find God looking out at the heavens, or looking in the church, or anything else that is provided in the external or material world. No, what we find is that when we turn inward, into ourselves, and look for how to find peace, love, and happiness within, so that we have it no matter what life has to offer us, it is there that we find God is within all of us, within our hearts.

[writesvani]

i just woke up at 3 pm like the absolute failure of modern society that i am (but no work today so honestly the universe can’t touch me). i open my eyes, check my phone, and boom. @ieonreblogs reblogged my story. and let me tell you something. i flatlined. my soul left my body. i ascended into a new plane of existence where only your reviews matter.

you. get. it. you don’t just read—you witness. you absorb. you become one with the emotional devastation. the past?? the trauma?? the thing that happened that we do not talk about but is ruining lives faster than a greek tragedy??? you see it all. are you reading my fic or are you performing an autopsy on the characters’ psyches??? because the way you analyze their pain?? the way you dissect every little moment??? i would let you judge my life choices because clearly your perception is god-tier.

and you don’t just focus on the romantic and sexual tension (which, btw, is just lurking in the background like a horror movie villain waiting to strike). no, no, no, you also see the mental deterioration, the bad decisions, the absolute dumpster fire that is both y/n and gojo’s existence. gojo is out here being the most insufferable man alive, but y/n?? y/n is actively choosing violence against herself. there is no right choice in this fic. only bad decisions with irreversible consequences.

i am shaking. i am sobbing. i am foaming at the mouth like a rabid raccoon in a denny’s parking lot. your reviews have me spinning in circles like a fidget spinner from 2016. i have not known peace since i read them. i would commit crimes in your honor. i would fight god for you. i would write an entire novel just to see you lose your mind over it.

thank you for reading coming down—you are the oxygen in my lungs. the serotonin in my brain. the reason i continue to subject these characters to unspeakable levels of suffering.

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

25th August >> Mass Readings (USA)

Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

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

First Reading Joshua 24:1–2a, 15–17, 18b We will serve the Lord, for he is our God.

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges, and their officers. When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people: “If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods. For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 34:2–3, 16–17, 18–19, 20–21

R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.

R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

The LORD has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. The LORD confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.

R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.

R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Many are the troubles of the just one, but out of them all the LORD delivers him; he watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken.

R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Second Reading Ephesians 5:21–32 This is a great mystery, regarding Christ and the Church.

Brothers and sisters: Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation John 6:63c, 68c

Alleluia, alleluia. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 6:60–69 To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[nonavesimus]

spoilers for the locked tomb:

gideon nav, first flower of the ninth house, threw herself on a spike so harrow could ascend to lyctorhood. harrow performed surgery on her own brain so she wouldn't digest gideon's soul. she even had to make a deal with a sinister sewer rat.

some of my favourite quotes under the cut

For all the rest of that evening they were furtive and unwilling to let the other one out of their sight for more than a minute, as though distance would compromise everything all over again—talking to each other as though they’d never had the opportunity to talk, but talking about bullshit, about nothing at all, just hearing the rise and fall of the other one’s voice.

────────────

Gideon looked over her shoulder at her, and caught the Reverend Daughter's smile. There was blood sweat coming out of her left ear, but her smile was long and sweet and beautiful. Gideon found herself smiling back so hard her mouth hurt.

────────────

Harrow said, with some difficulty: "I cannot conceive of a universe without you in it."

"Yes you can, it's just less great and less hot," said Gideon.

────────────

Harrow laughed. It was the first time she had ever heard Harrow really laugh. It was a rather weak and tired sound.

"Gideon the Ninth, first flower of my House," she said hoarsely, "you are the greatest cavalier we have ever produced. You are our triumph, The best of all of us. It has been my privilege to be your necromancer.”

────────────

"You know I don't give a damn about the Locked Tomb, right? You know I only care about you," she said in a brokenhearted rush.

────────────

"Harrow, I can’t keep my promise, because the entire point of me is you. You get that, right? That’s what cavaliers sign up for. There is no me without you. One flesh, one end.”

────────────

“Fuck one flesh, one end, Harrow. I already gave my flesh to you, and I already gave you my end. I gave you my sword. I gave you myself. I did it while knowing I’d do it all again, without hesitation, because all I ever wanted you to do was eat me.”

────────────

Always your sword, my umbral sovereign; in life, in death, in anything beyond life or death that they want to throw at thee and me. I died knowing that you'd hate me for dying; but Nonagesimus, you hating me always meant more than anyone else in this hot and stupid universe loving me. At least I'd had your full attention.

────────────

"If you think anything I did, I did to make her love me, then you don't know anything about her and me. I'm her cavalier, dipshit! I'd kill for her! I'd die for her! I did die for her. I'd do anything she needed, anything at all, before she even knew she needed it."

────────────

It had bewildered her, back at Canaan House, how the whole of her always seemed to come back to Gideon. For one brief and beautiful space of time, she had welcomed it: that microcosm of eternity between forgiveness and the slow, uncomprehending agony of the fall. Gideon rolling up her shirt sleeves. Gideon dappled in shadow, breaking promises. One idiot with a sword and an asymmetrical smile had proved to be Harrow’s end: her apocalypse swifter than the death of the Emperor and the sun with him.

────────────

"This whole thing happened because you wouldn't face up to Gideon dying." he said, which was a stab as precise as any Nonius had managed. "I don't blame you. But where would you be, right now, if you'd said: She is dead? You're keeping her things like a lover keeping old notes, but with her death, the stuff that made her Gideon was destroyed. That's how Lyctorhood works, isn't it? She died. She can't come back, even if you keep her stuffed away in a drawer you can't look at. You're not waiting for her resurrection; you've made yourself her mausoleum.”

────────────

Harrow was too amazed by her body's expanding capacity for despair. It was as though her feeling had doubled even as she looked at it, unfolding, like falling down an endless flight of stairs. She dug her hands into the mattress and she cried for Gideon Nav.

────────────

bonus:

You didn’t have your original thumb and I’d touched your intestines, which is usually what, fourth date, but you were fine.

Characters, book, and author names under the cut

Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus- The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir

Neil Josten/Andrew Minyard - All For The Game by Nora Sakavic

[catolinewsdailyreadings]

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings of Sunday, August 25, 2024

Reading 1

JOS 24:1-2A, 15-17, 18B

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges, and their officers.  When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people: "If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling.  As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." But the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods.  For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery.  He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed.  Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."

Responsorial Psalm

PS 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21

R./ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad. R./ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

The LORD has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. The LORD confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. R./ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. R./ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Many are the troubles of the just one, but out of them all the LORD delivers him; he watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken. R./ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2

EPH 5:21-32

Brothers and sisters: Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body.  As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it,  even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

Gospel

JN 6:60-69

Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?  It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.  And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father." As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?"  Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

[just-endless-nonsense]

Ascension of Elsis

Originally named Anaiya, she was head of a leaderless clan under the protection of the real Elsis. When Elsis lost her clan, Anaiya begged her to strengthen the clans she'd protected. And when Anaiya ascended instead of dying, she took the name Elsis for herself, holding a memorial every fifty years so that they wouldn't forget how they had been merged into a single clan.

And then she died, and eventually her clan forgot :B

I haven't really determined how the first Elsis lost her clan, only that most of the leaderless Cubi under her protection were also taken down, including the full destruction of one clan.

Her wings were large enough to encircle the entire crowd, and so they did. Salt lined her face and trailed down her neck to the collar of her gown; she had long since run out of tears, but lacked the initiative to clear away their remains. In her hand sat a little blue rabbit, her eyes and wings a deeper blue, grey-haired with grey body markings.

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOU WISH TO DO THIS?

Anaiya folded her hands in her lap, nodding. "I am." She hesitated, licked her lips worriedly, looked the great lynx in the eyes. "…are you?"

If she'd been able to smile anymore, she would have, Anaiya was sure. I HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT MYSELF. I NO LONGER HAVE A CLAN TO STRENGTHEN… I AM GLAD TO GIVE MY STRENGTH TO THE CLANS I SHELTERED.

It was a monumental task. This was more than just cycling her power into her own clan. She would be attempting to disperse her power amongst the assembled Cubi, none of them her children. A feat so incredible could not normally be performed - forcing a Clan Leader's power into the unprepared would be foolish and deadly. It could only be done through a carefully monitored conduit, which would inevitably be destroyed. Anaiya had volunteered herself for the role of that conduit, a focal gem embedded in her body that would spread the power inside her to her clan members.

I WILL… MAKE THIS AS PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE.

The lynx lowered her hand to the ground, letting Anaiya stand before her assembled clan members. Behind them stood the remnants of the other clans Elsis had sheltered: gluttony, greed/lust, anxiety, determination - they had all called themselves members of her clan, but they didn't dare to do so anymore. Her clan was gone now, and they were the last shadows of her love.

Anaiya was silent, watching her clan and her allies move to form a half-circle around her. Slowly, they sat, taking meditative positions. Each of them carried in their hands a small gem, identical to the gem implanted in Anaiya's body. Infused with the power of her own soul, this was the gem that would disperse Elsis's power among the Cubi standing before them.

There was pain, but also there was a numbness she knew she was incapable of by herself. Elsis was limiting herself, following through on her promise to minimize the pain. Anaiya clasped her hands together tightly, knowing that even despite Elsis's efforts, the pain would eventually overwhelm her. Her vision blurred, cleared, blurred again. From the gems in her allies' hands, she saw what seemed to be blue smoke wisping upwards, outwards, wrapping around their bodies, and then drifting inwards. The pain increased; the "smoke" thickened. As she lost her sight to the pain, she saw the others encased in shells of the power emanating from the gems in her hands.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO STAND DOWN. MY STRENGTH IS WITHIN THEM…

Anaiya's hands were clenched so tightly she was convinced she would break her own bones. She was the one who had begged Elsis for her power. She was the one who would see this through to the end.

VERY WELL.

The world seemed so small. Her head rang with voices, voices that echoed within her skull, but seemed so faint in her ears. She had survived? It seemed almost impossible. She took a slow, cautious breath, raising a hand from the ground to reach up to the sky. Her sleeves were gone; no, her clothes were gone entirely. The voices were filled with mixed emotions, pride, fear, joy, confusion. She closed her eyes, breathing slowly, trying to make sense of… well, everything. She pushed herself up, something that almost, almost, felt like pain draining from her body. She rubbed a hand over her eyes, opening them slowly.

Everything was so small. The trees weren't tall enough to reach her. A crowd stood before her, tiny, crying out in many voices, but she heard each of them clearly. She could feel the emotions emanating from them, pinpoint exactly who felt what. As for herself, for the moment she could only feel things physically. She was sure her own emotions would return, but for the time being, something about her hips felt off. She put her hands to them, and froze.

Wings. She had a third set of wings at her hips.

The crowd's voices began to make sense. They were celebrating her ascension, crying her name. She could feel herself crying, and it seemed as though all her emotions had come flooding back at once. She trembled, shook, wrapping her arms around herself.

NO. THIS ISN'T ANAIYA. THIS ISN'T MY POWER. IT'S NOT MINE. THIS IS ELSIS.

Her clan was silent for a moment, then reached their hands up to her again.

ANAIYA IS GONE.

I AM ELSIS.

[autolovecraft]

Birch, but you knew what a little man old Fenner was.

The borders of the space were entirely of brick, and there seemed little doubt but that he could shortly chisel away enough to allow his body to pass.

Birch, being by temperament phlegmatic and practical, did not shout long; but proceeded to grope about for some tools which he recalled seeing in a corner of the tomb.

He always remained lame, for the great tendons had been severed; but I think the greatest lameness was in his soul.

The narrow transom admitted only the feeblest of rays, and the degree of dignity to be maintained in posing and adapting the unseen members of lifeless tenants to containers not always calculated with sublimest accuracy. He confided in me because I was his doctor, and because he probably felt the need of confiding in someone else after Davis died. I'll never get the picture out of my head as long as I live.

Neither did his old physician Dr. Davis, who died years ago. Perhaps he screamed.

The practices I heard attributed to him would be unbelievable today, at least in a city; and even Peck Valley would have shuddered a bit had it known the easy ethics of its mortuary artist in such debatable matters as the ownership of costly laying-out apparel invisible beneath the casket's lid, and the company beneath his feet, he philosophically chipped away the stony brickwork; cursing when a fragment hit him in the face, and laughing when one struck the increasingly excited horse that pawed near the cypress tree.

Horrible pains, as of savage wounds, shot through his calves; and in his mind was a vortex of fright mixed with an unquenchable materialism that suggested splinters, loose nails, or some other attribute of a breaking wooden box. His thinking processes, once so phlegmatic and logical, had become ineffaceably scarred; and it was pitiful to note his response to certain chance allusions such as Friday, Tomb, Coffin, and words of less obvious concatenation. I'll never get the picture out of my head as long as I live. Why did you do it, Birch? Great heavens, Birch, but you knew what a little man old Fenner was. In the semi-gloom he trusted mostly to touch to select the right one, and indeed came upon it almost by accident, since it tumbled into his hands as if through some odd volition after he had unwittingly placed it beside another on the third layer. Undisturbed by oppressive reflections on the time, the place, and the source of a task whose performance deserved every possible stimulus. Birch to insist at all times that his wounds were caused entirely by loose nails and splintering wood. Birch were sure—absolutely sure—of the identity of that top coffin of the pile; how he had distinguished it from the inferior duplicate coffin of vicious Asaph Sawyer. The day was clear, but a high wind had sprung up; and Birch was glad to get to shelter as he unlocked the iron door and entered the side-hill vault.

Undisturbed by oppressive reflections on the time, the place, and the emerging moon must have witnessed a horrible sight as he dragged his bleeding ankles toward the cemetery lodge; his fingers clawing the black mold in brainless haste, and his aching arms rested by a pause during which he sat on the bottom step of his grim device, Birch cautiously ascended with his tools and stood abreast of the narrow transom.

The body was pretty badly gone, but if ever I saw vindictiveness on any face—or former face. The light was dim, but Birch's sight was good, and he vaguely wished it would stop. It may have been fear mixed with a queer belated sort of remorse for bygone crudities.

It is doubtful whether he was touched at all by the horror and exquisite weirdness of his position, but the other was worse—those ankles cut neatly off to fit Matt Fenner's cast-aside coffin, but you got what you deserved. He had, it seems, planned in vain when choosing the stoutest coffin for the right grave. The afflicted man was fully conscious, but would say nothing of any consequence; merely muttering such things as Oh, my ankles!

In this funereal twilight he rattled the rusty handles, pushed at the iron panels, and wondered why the massive portal had grown so suddenly recalcitrant. Then the doctor came with his medicine-case and asked crisp questions, and removed the patient's outer clothing, shoes, and socks. Just where to begin Birch's story I can hardly decide, since I am no practiced teller of tales. His day's work was sadly interrupted, and unless chance presently brought some rambler hither, he might have to remain all night or longer.

Clutching the edges of the aperture, he sought to pull himself up, when he noticed a queer retardation in the form of an apparent drag on both his ankles. Steeled by old ordeals in dissecting rooms, the doctor entered and looked about, stifling the nausea of mind and body that everything in sight and smell induced.

He was the devil incarnate, Birch, and I don't blame you for giving him a cast-aside coffin, but you got what you deserved.

[timottea]

okay @softhecreator you asked for some inexplicable reason for my bones and all thoughts and this is a shambles i am a mess but sof i feel like you'll understand

SO bones and all

basically end me

there were tears

twice actually

once at the end of course because oh my god when the music plays over him screaming his guts out nooooo no it took me back to fuckin sirius falling through the veil there's just something about quiet music playing over absolute agony HAHA BYE pain pain pain

the way he just keeps repeating those words as if maren could actually go through with it AND THEN SHE DOES SHE HAS NO CHOICE PAIIIN FHFJGG

and then next second luca the masochist cuts to a clean apartment no blood no trace of lee fuck you luca

then the coffee shop scene so soft so sweet and when the "you seem nice" "i AM nice" nope ouch

also when the camera moves as if you're maren looking at lee and it pans over his body starting from his elbow GOD idk why that affected me so much

like he's right there in front of you this other mirror this piece of yourself it's sitting right there watching you watching yourself SEEING yourself through him and you can't fucking keep eye contact it's too much

and watching maren discover that she is him he is her i could write a fucking essay

not as gory as i thought considering the subject matter

dare i say tastefully done

moving on

lee's little shoestring belt and cardigan fit was a LOOK

and that scene in the field on the hill and lee's death grip on maren's top as if she's all that's keeping him together oh my god

also the opening scene is so luca i almost started sobbing there and then

just all the textures on the paintings and the colours

so beautiful, the entire film is a masterpiece every frame every palette everyyyyythinngggg

"we could be people"

the little moments throughout the roadtrip like a beautiful mosaic ughhhhhg

the soft car scenes when either of them are sleeping

the whole discussion around keeping the truck until it breaks down my sentimental heart

maren's scene with her mother when i tell you i knocked my drink over i'm sure you'll understand

the soundtrack THE SOUNDTRACKKKKK so good

joy division on a ferris wheel what more could you want

but for balance the cringiest thing was timothée dancing to kiss like yes free spirit stupid fedora wearing disenfranchised indie cannibal i see the intent but all i saw was lanky baguette IM SORRY

however genuinely up there with his best performances

it's just so different but makes perfect sense for him like you can tell he put his entire soul into lee

boy really can't compete with taylor tho

this film is alllllll taylor's

her delivery of "all i think is that i love you" when i tell you my soul ascended to a higher plain

tho i do do get that thing people are saying

you miss lee when he's not on screen he's such a PRESENCE even when he's so obviously broken

basically i loved it so good luca is incredible but then what else is new

[thesunshinebunny]

How about NRC putting on a talent show every year for the students and MC/Yuu/Reader putting on a proper "show", going up on stage alone, singing and dancing like a real Kpop star. How dorm leaders would react along with the freshmen since at no point did MC tell them that they were going to participate????

I can’t tell you if you were lucky with the exit of chapter 5 or that you are simply a fortune teller dear anon. But I'm going to tell you something that I am sure of ... this type of request is MY JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW NIIICE !!!!

I recommend listening to the following song since for this one-short I relied on it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mxAlX7Zeco&ab_channel=LeagueofLegends

Second Part

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The show had been a success. Neige had gone up to conquer his fans and record producers, his tender figure had fallen in love the entire public. But when it came time for Vil and the other boys ... the arena was on fire. They shone, there is no other word to describe their performance. It was hypnotic to see them move with such synchronization, even Grim was dancing as if his life depended on it, incredible that just two weeks ago this cat couldn’t coordinate his two hind legs.

There wasn’t much more to say, the boys were excellent, I was envious I couldn’t have gone up with them. Yes, I was completely mad at Vil for not letting me participate, as according to him, I wasn’t going to fit in well in the group given my vocal chords and my intonation. Now I would show him the serious mistake he made. With the applause reverberating over the audience, the boys emerged one by one, Vil being the last one taking his characteristic super model steps.

"That was great, we have to repeate it one day" Kalim was overflowing with joy. You could see in his eyes that he had enjoyed it.

"Stay calm Kalim" Jamil as always trying to calm him down and prevent him from spreading so much happiness.

“(Y / N) did you see us? Did you like the show? I think we did great. ”Ace, Deuce and Grim approached me from all sides, huge smiles on their faces. I was very happy for them, even proud of what they had accomplished.

"Excuse my daring, I know we are all charged with adrenaline, but I couldn't help but observe that you, mon ami, look completely beautiful"

It was a matter of time until Rook or Vil noticed my appearance. Transparent black top with details in the chest area, iridescent violet choker hiding the neck of the top, black cut leggings and two-inch platforms. Matching makeup with violet, black and turquoise colors.

"Did you produce yourself for the occasion?" Vil showed a look of pride, apparently my clothing was of his approval.

"Mmmm, something like that"

Out of the corner of my eye I could see how my team was coming to the stage. Ortho was standing behind the light panel and Lilia over the music control, while three freshmen from Pomefiore were positioning themselves to go out into the audience.

"Hurry (Y/N) we are about to go out"

The guys in front of me stared puzzled, not understanding much of the situation. Before anyone could open their mouths, we heard Mr. Crewel make a short announcement over the speakers:

“To end this beautiful day, we called our last guest and their companions to the stage. Please give (Y/N) (L/N) a big round of applause”

With a smile I looked towards where the Pomefiore students were leaving for the stage, gradually getting into their positions. On the other hand, I slightly saw Ortho and Lilia, both of them raised their thumbs, a sign that everything was ready. The lights in the entire stalls were turned off, leaving a single diffuse purple light on the stage where I was supposed to be placed.

Before going out into the audience, I looked at the boys and said in the most self-centered and proud voice that I could:

"It's show time"

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It was shocking to see from the stage how not only the students but also guests and families were approaching us in a superhuman way. But what almost perplexed me was the fact that I found the dorm leaders off to one side from the stalls, as if they had a secluded place just for themselves. Vil had arrived in the blink of an eye, I'll have to make a mental note to ask how he did it.

I was very surprised to see Leona and Idia, perhaps the last one decided to leave his cave when he knew his little brother would be helping me put on a show. If I didn’t expect to see Leona, I was expected for that damn lion was to be lying in his room, without the slightest intention of seeing the show.

Now I'm a bit nervous.

The same was in the case of the teachers, they were watching from a high audience, avoiding the congestion of people around them.

Already in position, microphone in ear, encouraging smiles from my dance partners and some nerves that ran through my spine, I was ready to put on my best show.

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Unbeknownst to me, the first-year one braincell boys had arrived in time to sneak into the front row, even Sebek who was being grabbed by the arm by Epel. From where they were he could see Malleus directly, so he didn't care much about being led to where they were.

Ace and Deuce were already looking puzzled, still unable to understand the situation. At no time had they found out that their magicless friend was going to participate in this contest, much less alone (although in reality you were accompanied, but you understand)

And ... As you said before ...

Show time

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Coming at you live Real real wild Here to light it up Set the world on fire Gonna break rules And hearts in twos 'Cause that's what the baddest do

Vil was the first to react and in the worst way: his soul fell to the ground to hear your voice intoning perfectly with the music and how the way Lilia was playing the sound made your intonations reverberate much more than possible. He was internally cursing himself for not involving you in his group, you would have been a great companion, he would even have put your own solo.

He was just as impressed by the physical ability that not only you had, but his dorm residents as well. He was proud of his first-year boys, but in the same way he was going to repress them at the end of the day for didn’t warned him they were going to participate ... but between us, it will be nothing more than a reprimand of a few seconds, since inevitably he would congratulate them.

Kalim was amazed, he had never seen a choreography like this and in his seventeen years he saw countless dances in many parties. His eyes shone at the sight of you moving as if your life depended on it, and the fact that you could sing without getting tired after so much hustle ... impressive. When the show was over, he would go directly to ask you to teach him how to move that way, just as he would return the favor by teaching you traditional dances from his native land.

Pretty face 걸어들어와 유행 선두자 원하지만 못하잖아 애가 타잖아 You like "whoa" KALI you the GOAT 난 알지 I know

Azul's and Riddle's mouths almost reaches the floor. Not only were they impressed by your dancing and the amazing, powerful song you were singing, but they felt like they ascended to heaven by hearing you sing in Korean. Neither of them knew that you had such a capacity, and although they knew very little about the language, they understood you perfectly.

Likewise, Riddle was completely flushed. He wasn’t used to seeing this type of show and looked almost hypnotized as your body moved at an almost vertigo rate. Azul on the other hand was as fascinated as Kalim, not to the point of asking you to teach him to dance, the very poor man can barely walk with his new two human feet; but he was interested in having some business matters with you, maybe introducing you once or twice a week at the Monstro Lounge… who knows.

Sorry for the bad news, sorry I'm so bad Only took a minute for me to get what you had Sorry for the bad news, know it makes you sad I'll be here for a minute, baby, you should pack your bags

At some point during this incredible show you caught eyes with Leona, who, to tell the truth, had his trademark smirk on his face. He really liked what he was seeing, not everyone could have the stamina to sing and dance that way. Lowkey impressed. He smiled sincerely at you, or that's what his smile conveyed, and sent you moral support by shaking his head. Beside him, Idia was biting his nails annoyingly. He was mentally kicking his butt for not having brought in incandescent lights, the same lights that are used at idol concerts.

As for Malleus… let's just say he was having a good time, after all. Even not understanding much of this kind of event, he enjoyed watching you dance and sing so happily, an act that he didn't have the pleasure of witnessing so much.

Look at the gold all on my chest Look at the gold, call it a flex

The entire state completely exploded. The clapping and screaming overwhelmed your ears. Among the people you noticed the first years clapping and giving you their full support like a bunch of crazy people. The leaders clapped too, each at their own pace, some more invigorating and some more proud.

[sovamurka]

My personal opinion on why "Kanej Church Scene" is so great.

1. The Church.

We know how significant faith is to Inej and how the same faith is meaningless for Kaz. Interestingly, in this scene both of them discover something beyond their previous perspectives.

By killing a man in a church, Inej does not just commit a sin, she commits blasphemy. Contrastingly, Kaz receives something he did not have before. Faith. Not in the Saints that are worshipped by his beloved but in Inej herself.

Before that, Kaz did not look up even once, probably thinking that 'heavens' are empty, deserting him once again. He is exhausted when he tries to exit the chapel and is not sure that luck is on his side when his opponent strikes again. But then, out of the blue, 'heavens' send him salvation. Kaz, shocked, lifts his gaze and looks right into HER eyes, eyes that watched over him, eyes that saved him. He literally cannot stop gazing at her, he looks at her with such reverence and fondness. It's as if he found his personal Sankta (which proves to be true as we learn later when he admits it to her) and with her his own faith.

For Inej though... By protecting the person she cares about, she did not just go against the law, she 'fell' in the eyes of her Saints. For Inej this 'lapse from virtue' is even worse than when she had to give her body. It is the reason why she jumps from the balcony and looks down, at the corpse. She can't lift her eyes from the ground, she clearly thinks like she failed, like she sank lower that low.

That's why when Kaz asks her to look into his eyes (twice!), he basically gives her a chance to rise up, like when she gave a chance to ascend to him by throwing that knife.

She can't believe that somebody would ever give this chance to her but still looks up and sees a face of the one, whose life she placed higher than her faith.

And in that moment everything is settled. It's like... Time stops in its eternal promenade. Even if this eye contact between two broken people does not help us find anything new, it still makes sure we understand that we just saw something incredible.

2. An allusion to marriage.

Technically it is NOT a wedding scene. It's a gruesome murder one. But in matters of cinematography? It ticks all the boxes. How? Let me explain.

Like a grimm wedding of two lost souls, this murder ceremony serves as a way of solidifying their union. With blood.

There is a church (chapel) for the 'wedding'.

There is a fire 'priest'.

There are two 'newlyweds' that are trying to survive it (ironically, this part applies to real life).

And then there are 'guests' that come towards the end of the ceremony.

'The priest' basically pronounces them husband and wife by performing a bloody sacrifice and it's... A terrifying yet excellent concept. 10/10, absolutely would recommend.

Do you want to know when 'the bride' says 'Yes!'? It is the moment she kills 'the priest' to save 'the groom', who, in turn, looks at 'the bride' (with what we would call 'all the reverence of this forsaken world').

Even the music of this exact moment is akin to a wedding march. Heartwretching wedding march.

3. Intimacy and a lack of 'the third person'

There is one thing that was entirely intentional by the creators: they wanted to make it feel like this scene is only between the two. They never show us how it looks from the outside. The viewer sees this scene only through the eyes of two important characters. It's most noticeable when they lock each other's eyes. First we see Kaz's face, then Inej's, then Kaz's again. It's as if we are forbidden from seeing them from the outside.

There is no shot where they look at each other and the watcher is standing somewhere near. It gives us a feeling of intimacy, like it's a sensual, personal scene between them.

Even when Kaz asks Inej to look into his eyes, she doesn't face us, we only see a face of the young man but not the young lady he's talking to. And then we see the young lady who looks at her young man, whose face we see no more.

That's when we, as the audience, understand that it's something that can only exist between them and them alone.

Only when Inej starts hearing voices of the guards, Kaz turns around and viewers see both of their faces: they're caught red-handed. Well, at least by the 'guards' on the other side of the screen.

[merppppppppppppppppp]

To Resist Temptation pt.3

(Priest! Hawks x Succubus Reader)

(This is the last part and it’s just a blasphemous as the rest of them.)

Keigo worshipped you. You were his goddess.

He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t attend mass, couldn’t lead sermons, couldn’t do his charity work—nothing—without desiring you, and the personal heaven between your legs.

You had consumed him entirely. Lust was his damnation now.

Keigo paced anxiously, feverishly dabbing at his brow as he pontificated to his rapt congregation. Stupid, gawking things all of them. He couldn’t help, but think. Those nasty, blasphemous thoughts of his only grew stronger by the day.

And then, you slipped in. Keigo’s golden eyes fell on you. Your painted lips, sparkling eyes, bouncing tits, and swaying hips. And his mind grew cloudy with thoughts of you.

The two of you had taken to communicating covertly through those tempting, stylish outfits of yours.

Pink when you wanted soft, tender loving. White when you were feeling chaste, wanting only to spend some time with him. And red when you wanted to be fucked. Well and truly fucked.

That was the color you wore today. A red wrap dress. The same color as your plump lips.

It was the first time in weeks that you’d worn red.

Keigo stalked back towards the podium to hide his erection. His golden eyed gaze was zeroed in on you.

“Now, if you all will allow, I want to talk speak on the whore of Babylon. The temptation and sin that she represents. The way she presents herself in so many forms, taking root in our lives permanently as she beckons us to bed her.”

Every venomous word was spat with such passion and radiating with such underlying lust, that it shot straight to your core. Keigo’s amber eyes remained fixed on your own as he continued to preach on the whore of Babylon.

He was angry for having to wait for sex for so long, and you knew it. You had counted on it.

You smirked at him as you uncrossed your legs to reveal your sex—wet, and warm, and shaved.

Your smile widened when Keigo stumbled over his impassioned speech. Then his voice softened into a gentle, loving tone that you had become all too familiar with.

“But there’s beauty in that scarlet whore’s hell,” he all but purred, “and it may look like heaven to a man easily lead astray...”

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The church was dark and quiet. Keigo stood at the podium in a daze, gazing unseeingly at the empty pews where he’d been for half an hour now.

Finally, you emerged from your hiding spot where you always waited for the rest of the congregation to clear out. The red heels you wore, were muffled against the carpet as you marched through the center of the aisles.

The sun beamed through the stained glass depiction of Jesus and spilled over your approaching figure, bathing you in red.

His goddess. His devil. His light. His darkness.

You stopped just at the stage, and smirked up at him, hip cocked and arms folded.

“That was quite the performance you out on today, father.” You taunted. “Though next time, maybe refrain from all the innuendo. Why don’t you just tell them we fuck in the confession booth every other week?”

Keigo gripped the wooden podium so hard his knuckles turned white. He hung head.

“You’re the only thing that feels real anymore.” He mumbled almost as if to himself. “You’re all I think about. All I want. I don’t deserve to call myself a man of god.”

You ascended the steps and joined his side.

“No, you don’t, you never did.” You replied, laying a gentle hand on his back. “That wasn’t the path meant for you, my love.” You nuzzled his cheek.

When he spoke again he sounded broken. His smooth voice cracked under the weight of his emotions.

“What did you do to me? Please, goddess, you have to be honest with me.”

Grabbing his shoulders, you turned him to face you. Your beautiful face was soft with sympathy.

“I made you something better.” You caressed the stubble on his cheek. “I made you what you were always meant to be. A creature of sex like myself. Every succubus or incubus yearns for their twin flame, love, but not all of us find it. You’re mine. Now I don’t have to worry about the temptation. You were meant for me, Keigo.”

The man’s mouth was gaping slightly as he took in your words.

“You...you’re a-“

“Succubus, yes.”

And suddenly, like a light being flicked on, rage shrouded his handsome features.

“It’s because of you,” he hissedx “You’re the reason I’m like this.”

You said nothing.

“You don’t even care do you?”

You scoffed.

Your lack of an answer only angered the young priest more.

“Oh, not responding, huh?” He grabbed your arm roughly, spinning your body until your torso was flush with the podium. “I know what’ll get an answer out of you, whore.”

The fire was back. It rushed over both of you. Consumed the two of you from the inside out.

Keigo groped at your curves, desperate and clumsy.

You sighed and groaned as he squeezed your breasts, manipulating them out of the dress

“You knew exactly what you were when you came in that day.” He mumbled against your neck before bending you over.

A strangled moan fell from his lips as he massaged your round ass before exposing it to the cool, still air of the chapel.

“Dick hungry slut,” his hand landed against your plump bottom.

It made you moan. Such a beautiful sound. How he had missed your moans. He did it over and over again until his hand stung.

“A whore hungry for the souls of good men deserves to be fucked this way.”

You felt the tip of him run along your lips and bent over further.

“How daddy?” You cooed in response. “How does a dick hungry whore like me deserve to be fucked?”

Keigo growled low in his throat before slamming himself into you.

“Looking at these chairs,” he grunted back, rocking his hips. “Thinking about all those lost, idiotic souls who could’ve fallen prey to a Jezebel like you.”

Your juicy walls gripped and grabbed at his dick with such hunger, you thought you might absorb the man. Every thrust, every nasty word, every insult, every spank; sent an inferno of pleasure rushing through your body.

Keigo spat on your holes, admiring the beautiful skin of your ass and the pretty lips of your pussy as he plunged into you.

“You did this to me,” he sank his thumb into the puckered hole of your ass. “It’s your fault I no longer believe in his grace. It’s your fault that I’m a sinning fuck. A liar. A joke.”

If that’s what he wanted to believe. Then sure. You’d allow that for now.

You groaned as his finger slipped in and out of the tight, sensitive hold of your ass. His dick hit your gspot with every slam.

“You-you...” he practically sobbed. “You’re the only thing that feels as good as his love was supposed to.”

Your tongue lulled out of your mouth. The intense build up of your desire grew so swollen that it smothered your senses.

“Ahh, daddy! Fuck!” You twerked your ass back to meet his thrusts.

“Kei-Keigo,” you gasped between they squirting and thrusting and screaming. “It was you that allowed yourself to be corrupted, wasn’t it?”

Without missing a beat he replied, guiltily; “Yes, goddess.”

“Because, ah, a small part of you-oh fuck-never believed in the word to begin with. Did you?”

His hips stuttered.

“No,” he replied, his voice meek and quiet.

“Lie down.” You commanded, calmly.

Without hesitation, he lie down on the floor. The way he gazed at you was reverent as he awaited further instruction.

You stood poised over his hard on, looking down at this pitiful new incubus. He needed you. He craved you. Poor thing.

Slowly, you sank onto his dick, forcing him to feel every crevice and ridge of your dripping pussy until you were balls deep on him.

You rode him like a thoroughbred until his mouth fell open.

“You were always a sex crazed whore weren’t you, pet?”

“Y-yes, goddess.”

“Yes what?” You hissed. You squeezed his neck, red coffin nails digging into the skin

“Ahh fuck, y-yes I’m a sex crazed wh-whore goddess.” He croaked.

You leaned down until you were right in his flushed face. Keigo struggled to crane his neck towards you. He wanted to taste you. Needed it so badly that it hurt.

“Goddess, please..” his hips bucked weakly. “My goddesss, I-I, ahaaa!”

He came. Hard. His eyes crossed. Drool trickled from the corner of his mouth.

“You’re my slut aren’t you?” You snapped in a low, demanding voice. You jerked his head against the floor. “Say it!”

“I’mmmm y-you’re slut, goddess. I’m your slut.”

The desperate strain in his cracking voice made your pussy convulse with pleasure. Your eyes rolled back as you rode out your orgasm again and again and again.

Keigo was sobbing from the over stimulation. It hurt. It hurt so good.

“Goddess,” he whimpered, “stoppp, please, p-please, goddess.”

Your wicked laughter filled the chapel as you mocked him.

“You want me to stop, slut? Hm?” You hummed. You squeezed his throat again. In a sinister his you spat; “Then beg. Beg, my little pet incubus.”

The man’s lips trembled.

“Mercy, goddess,” he groaned. “Mercy on your pet slut, mercy. Mercyyy, fuccckkkk mercy!”

After feasting on his pleas a while longer, you finally hopped off of his half mast erection.

You kissed the man’s trembling lips over and over again, whispering words of love and praise in his ear for being so good.

“What do I do now, goddess?” He asked, weakly. “Who am I now?”

“You’re mine, pet.” You kissed his temple. “You’re mine.”

[tigerkirby215]

5e Kayle, the Righteous build (League of Legends)

(Artwork by Jessica “OwleyCat” Oyhenart and Victor “3rdColossus” Maury. Made for Riot Games.)

You know I find it funny that I haven’t made a build for Kayle yet, given that I made Morgana awhile ago sort of as a spur of the moment thing. Despite the fact that I main support I really don’t play Morgana (can’t hit skill shots omegalul), but meanwhile I really like Kayle. She was one of the first champions I played along with Sona since I was told she was very similar to Terrorblade who was one of my favorite carries in DOTA 2. I dropped her for a bit after her rework but I picked her up again and she’s still super fun! I mean, shame she’s kinda trash in the meta.

Anyways it’s about time I make a build for her since Morgana was alone for so long, especially since she’s coming back along with Pentakill! Kayle’s probably the perfect character to play if you want to go Lawful Stupid, but out of respect for everyone else please don’t play her Lawful Stupid.

GOALS

On wings of fire, hope ascends - It’s the quest of all champions to eventually transcend mortals. Hopefully we’ll at least be able to fly after this.

Fire reveals truth - Kayle is also well-known for her Zealous attack speed, so we’ll need to be able to get out as much DPS as possible.

The worthy survive! - A little bit of Divine Judgement goes a long way. An explosion of flaming swords helps too.

RACE

This may come as a surprise to you but Kayle is an Aasimar. More specifically a Protector Aasimar, which is rather fitting seeing as she’s seen as The Protector in Demacia. As an Aasimar your Charisma increases by 2, but I’m going to increase your Constitution instead of the typical Wisdom increase from Protector Aasimar, for a bit more lane sustain.

You have Celestial Resistance to both your own Radiant damage and your sister’s Necrotic damage, have the Light Bearer feature for the Light cantrip, and can give yourself or an ally a Celestial Blessing thanks to Healing Hands. It only heals up to your level but it certainly helps!

You also get Darkvision and the Celestial language, and Radiant Soul at level 3 thanks to your Protector subrace, We’ll discuss that when we get to level 3.

ABILITY SCORES

15; CHARISMA - League of Legends body types, am I right? Sure you have a bit of an “evil must be purged” personality, but D&D Paladins like that a lot.

14; DEXTERITY - Something something medium armor. I would call what you wear Half Plate, which means that for once the choice of Medium Armor is accurate!

13; STRENGTH - This feels strangely familiar...

12; CONSTITUTION - Kayle is very squishy in League but I like not dying so...

10; INTELLIGENCE - You may have lived through history but most of that time was spent up in the stars. Basically we need everything else more.

8; WISDOM - Yeah I didn’t increase Wisdom with your racial increase because I was planning to dump it. Kayle’s fatal flaw is that she’s blinded by her sense of justice, which is a sign of poor Wisdom and critical decision making.

BACKGROUND

There isn’t a great background for “Half of the Aspect of Justice” but Celebrity Adventurer’s Scion works fairly well. You get proficiency with Perception as well as Performance (you were in Pentakill, after all!), a Disguise Kit (but I’d maybe replace that with something else or ditch it entirely), and two languages of your choice. (Pick your poison.)

Your background feature Name Dropping lets you tell people that your mom was actually a god. You might be able to find people who knew your mom (or more realistically worshiped her before... you know... you became half of her?) and folk might recognize that you’re... half a god, and give you free stuff.

(Artwork by Alvin Lee and Kan Liu. Made for Riot Games.)

THE BUILD

LEVEL 1 - SORCERER 1

Starting off as a Sorcerer because Kayle is about as useless as a level 1 Sorcerer at level 1. (Also because CON saves are nice.) But you can also grab proficiency with Religion (you are a god, after all) and Intimidation. (Because you aren’t exactly nice.)

Sorcerers get to choose their Sorcerous Origin at level 1 and Divine Soul is like being a Cleric but you get to dump your Wisdom because you’re blind to morality. You get one free spell from your Divine Magic and I guess Bless makes sense since its attached to Law? Honestly there are other spells I’d recommend (Protection from Evil and Good would be helpful, and you can’t go wrong with either Healing Word or Guiding Bolt) but it’s honestly easier to just take Bless and call it there.

But of course since you get Divine Magic that means you get Spellcasting! You learn 4 cantrips from the Sorcerer list at level 1 such as Firebolt to smite the wicked, Sacred Flame for enemies with a lot of armor (but hopefully bad Dexterity), Thaumaturgy to make sure your words are heard, and Guidance because it’s good to provide aid to those who need it.

You also learn two spells from the Sorcerer list: we’ll be taking Mage Armor for the same reason you buy Doran’s Shield as a top laner (because laning phase sucks and you’re weak as hell at level 1), and we’ll also grab Healing Word for your Celestial Blessing. As a treat.

You are also Favored by the Gods, so if you miss an attack roll or fail a saving throw you can add 2d4 to the roll to potentially turn it into a success. Given that you’ll likely be making a lot of attack rolls later in this build it’s very useful to be able to give yourself some insurance.

LEVEL 2 - SORCERER 2

Second level Sorcerers get a Font of Magic for Sorcery Points equal to your Sorcerer level. For now all you can really do with them is get one of your spell slots back, but they’ll be more useful later on.

For something that’s useful right now take Ice Knife for the AoE burst of your Starfire Spellblade. Yes it does Cold damage, but you also shouldn’t have an AoE E by level 2. Hell you technically shouldn’t even be a ranged champion yet. We have to make compromises here.

If you want a single target Starfire Spellblade Guiding Bolt is a decent choice I suppose.

LEVEL 3 - SORCERER 3

Third level Sorcerers gain the power of the Aspects thanks to Metamagic. You learn two Metamagic options to change your spells in various ways: Quickened Spell will let you increase your attack speed to slay the unjust with Zealous fervor, and while it’s perhaps not the most practical choice Transmuted Spell will let you wield holy fire, instead of holy ice or whatever other damage type you pick up.

If you don’t care about doing specifically fire damage than Empowered Spell is a good choice to more effectively maximize damage.

As a Protector Aasimar your Radiant Soul lets you sprout wings as an action. For 1 minute you have a 30 foot flying speed and can add your Charisma modifier as Radiant damage to one target whenever you deal damage. It might not be much at level 3 but the extra damage from Starfire Spellblade adds up when you get more AP! Oh and to top it off you can also learn another spell like Misty Step, for Flash.

LEVEL 4 - SORCERER 4

4th level Sorcerers get the first of many Ability Score Improvements. Increase your uneven Charisma score as well as your Constitution score for nice, even, Lawful stats.

You can also learn another cantrip like Message to keep in team chat, as well as a leveled spell like Spiritual Weapon. Kayle summons hundreds of swords for her ultimate so I think it’s fine if you summon one sword for some more DPS.

LEVEL 5 - SORCERER 5

Normally I wouldn’t go out of my way to get 5th level spells but we kinda need Fly more than once per Long Rest. Sprout those wings or grant the gift of angelic ascension to an ally!

The bad witch Tasha also gave Sorcerers Magical Guidance, letting you spend a Sorcerery Point to reroll a failed ability check.

(Artwork by Zeen Chin. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 6 - PALADIN 1

I swear it wasn’t my intention to make two casters with Paladin levels one after another, but we’re doing it anyways because it’s not like Kayle wouldn’t be a Paladin. First level Paladins get Divine Sense to know of any villains who need justice, and Lay on Hands to save the righteous.

LEVEL 7 - PALADIN 2

Second level Paladins get to choose their Fighting Style. Normally I’d take Blessed Warrior for a character who’s more-or-less a pure caster but you kinda get too many Cleric cantrips as is, so we’ll settle for good ol’ Defense because you can’t go wrong with +1 AC.

Protection and Interception are also fine to help your friends if you’re willing to hold onto a shield (no reason not to), and if you want to do a funny joke you can take Blind Fighting because Justice is Blind.

But of course what we’re mostly here for is Spellcasting: sure you got the entire Cleric list at your disposal but Sorcerer spells known is very limited, so take the following from the Paladin list:

Command to force evildoers to grovel at your feet.

Detect Evil and Good to... detect evil and good.

Protection from Evil and Good to... yeah this is fairly obvious too.

Heroism to empower heroes.

Shield of Faith to protect the righteous.

You also get Divine Smite, which sure would be nice if you used your sword as a melee weapon. I mean if you want to hit someone in melee you can turn a spell slot into damage but I kinda have to wonder why would you.

LEVEL 8 - PALADIN 3

Third level Paladins get to choose their Sacred Oath. Honestly just about any Paladin Oath would work for Kayle, but an Oath of Redemption would probably be best after you failed to upkeep justice the first time. Along with adding Sanctuary and Sleep to your spell list you also get two Channel Divinity options: if you go for Emissary of Peace you can add a flat +5 to all your Persuasion checks for 10 minutes. But Rebuke the Violent works great as a recreation of Divine Judgment’s damaging effect! When a creature within 30 feet of you damages someone other than you they must make a Wisdom saving throw after you use this reaction. If they fail they will take the same amount of damage they dealt as Radiant damage, and if they succeed they will take half. This has no maximum limit so you can use it when an enemy nukes your allies to have them experience retribution! "Drown in holy fire!"

The vial witch Tasha also lets you Harness Divine Power with your Channel Divinity to regain a spell slot equal to half your proficiency bonus once per Long Rest. And finally you get Divine Health, because justice doesn’t take sick days.

(Artwork by John Yucedag. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 9 - PALADIN 4

4th level Paladins get another Ability Score Improvement so cap off that Charisma modifier, because we’re building AP in this build. Maxed out Charisma also means more prepared spells, but we’re going to wait for...

LEVEL 10 - PALADIN 5

5th level Paladins get an Extra Attack which sure would matter if you were actually swinging that sword instead of shooting Fire Bolts and Sacred Flames.

But what does matter is that you get second level Paladin spells! Along with Hold Person and Calm Emotions from the Redemption spell list (you should perhaps cast Calm Emotions on yourself at some point?) you can prepare spells like Aid to boost yourself and your allies, and Warding Bond (Tasha’s work once again) to take some damage for an ally. (Which is almost like making them immune to damage?)

LEVEL 11 - PALADIN 6

The only reason to multiclass into Paladin as a caster would be for Aura of Protection. Seeing as your Charisma modifier is maxed out already that means that you (and your allies within 10 feet) can add +5 to all their saving throws! I really don’t think I need to explain why that’s useful: your Constitution saves are now a +11 (meaning that if you take 22 damage or less you automatically succeed the Concentration check) and even your lowest save is still a +4!

You can also prepare one last spell but I’m actually going to take this time to remind you that Paladins are prepared spellcasters. Even though you have a relatively limited amount of Paladin spells be sure to swap them around to whatever’s the most useful for your task at hand. But if you must pick up a spell Detect Magic is never bad to have?

(Artwork by Alex “alexplank” Flores. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 12 - SORCERER 6

Now that the obligatory Paladin levels are done it’s time to go back to Sorcerer. Hope your party didn’t expect you to be the support because you’re only now getting Empowered Healing to spend a Sorcery point and reroll any healing that you or an ally within 5 feet performs. I mean by total level 12 healing numbers will actually get pretty big, so this becomes a lot more useful!

But speaking of healing we’ll be getting not that but Haste instead. While you can’t use it too well (can only use it to make a weapon Attack, Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Use an Object) you can turn your allies into an avenging angel! As long as you can keep your Concentration which I mean... you have a +11 to your CON save.

LEVEL 13 - SORCERER 7

Unfortunately there’s no spell to make someone completely immune to damage for one round (while also still letting them move as normal except the 9th level spell Invulnerability that you can only cast on yourself) so we’ll just have to settle for Death Ward keeping the target you cast this on alive after reaching 0 HP. No rain of holy swords either unfortunately.

LEVEL 14 - SORCERER 8

8th level Sorcerers get an Ability Score Improvement and I think it’s about time for us to grab Metamagic Adept for 2 more Sorcery points to use on your Metamagic options like Twinned Spell to spread your wrath amongst all, and Careful Spell to avoid hurting those allied to your cause.

Speaking of AoE damage Vitriolic Sphere may do Acid damage but it’s a great recreation of the AoE damage of a high level Starfire Spellblade.

LEVEL 15 - SORCERER 9

Behold the might of 5th level spells! Remember how I was a little disappointed that you didn’t have the ability to make flaming swords rain down from the sky? Here you go: Flame Strike! Sure it basically does the damage of Fireball (and hey feel free to grab Fireball if you’re so inclined) but it has the holy flair that’s to be expected of Kayle.

If you want something more interesting than “Radiant damage Fireball” Dawn is also a good spell choice.

LEVEL 16 - SORCERER 10

10th level Sorcerers get another Metamagic option! Seeing as weve already got plenty thanks to Metamagic Adept one of the few options left is Heightened Spell to make sure your foes tremble beneath your might! You can also grab another cantrip like Prestidigitation for more generalized divine power.

And finally there’s also plenty of great spells you can take but Dispel Evil and Good probably fits Kayle the best. Now is a great time to remind everyone that you’re more than welcome to make your own Kayle, and while what I take may be “accurate” it’s not even necessarily what I’d build if I was making the character.

(Artwork by West Studio. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 17 - SORCERER 11

11th level Sorcerers can finally ascend! I hope you kept your Paladin weapons because it’s time for Tasha’s Otherworldly Guise! Calling upon the power of the Upper Planes (or lower planes too I guess if you’re awful) you get:

Resistance to Radiant and Necrotic damage (which you already have. Oops.) (I mean Lower Planes would make you immune to Fire and Poison damage...)

Immunity to the Charmed condition.

A 40 foot flying speed.

+2 AC

The ability to use your Charisma to attack, meaning that you can finally swing a sword well!

And the ability to attack twice, which you already have.

And the cool part is that unlike Tenser’s Transformation you can cast spells and don’t Exhaust yourself after using this spell! If you want to finally use your Paladin levels to bright the fight to your opponents you finally have the power to do so!

LEVEL 18 - SORCERER 12

12th level Sorcerers get another Ability Score or Feat and I’m simply going to suggest the Tough feat. Even if Kayle doesn’t usually build health in League you can, and d6 hit die suck when it comes to actually surviving.

What? Did you expect another spell known? Nah fuck you lmao WoTC says no to Sorcerers having spells.

LEVEL 19 - SORCERER 13

13th level Sorcerers can learn 7th level spells and while this may seem like a copout I have none that I really want for Kayle. Pick whatever you think would be the coolest since you can make your own choices by level 19. (My personal vote for Kayle would be Fire Storm but you are kinda loading up on AoE spells.)

LEVEL 20 - SORCERER 14

Our final level is the 14th level of Divine Soul Sorcerer to finally ascend. You have Otherworldly Wings for a permanent 30 foot flying speed! You did it! You reached max level as Kayle! You’re now unstoppable!

FINAL BUILD

PROS

Kneel before the light! - Your spells known go up to 7th level, and your spell slots go up to 9th. I really don’t think I have to explain that a full leveled caster is extremely powerful.

What is dark in me, I will illuminate - Even your non-spellcasting has great utility. Both your Channel Divinity options are extremely useful, and a little bit of Lay on Hands healing never hurt anyone. Not to mention your Aasimar transformation providing a flat +20 to damage every turn while it’s active!

I am your salvation! - Even if you aren’t running up in melee range Paladin levels do help a ton for staying alive. +5 to all saves is no joke, especially when it means that your Concentration save sits at a whopping +13! (You have to take more than 26 damage to even have a chance at failing your Concentration check!)

CONS

Why have we wings, sister, if not to fly? - You’d think a high Charisma would at least make you good at socializing but... no you’re not even that. Proficiency in the “mean” Charisma skills and mediocre ability scores in everything other than Charisma means you’ll contribute very little other than divine wrath.

Wings of Immortal Flame, lift me from mortal temptation! - How much flight is too much flight? Between your Radiant Soul, Tasha’s Otherworldly Guise, and you know... the Fly spell you have quite a lot of ways to take to the skies which all become near-completely redundant by level 20.

Celestial justice, guide my blade - Ironically enough one of the biggest issues with this build is how long it takes to get online. The Paladin dip may keep you safe but it’s not making you stronger, and I doubt you’ll be sitting beside your friends like a support. If you don’t mind praying to darker powers Genie Warlock is actually a great choice to get considerably more damage (and “attack speed!”) with Eldritch Blast and easily accessible flight by level 6 in Warlock. (Celestial Warlock also exists if you want more healing utility and want to stay in flavor.)

Of course weakness is something to shed as you come closer to divinity, but remember that even if mortality makes you weak mortals are not. Your allies will fight by your side and its your duty to protect them, as they shall no doubt protect you. Treat them with respect and vanquish evil together! Because no one likes a lawful stupid top laner.

(Artwork by Atey Ghailan. Made for Riot Games.)

[tentendeservedbetter]

home is where my team is - Chapter 3

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“Today will be the final test I have to take in order to become a Genin, just as you and father have been before. Please, watch over me.” 

She bowed slightly, her hands together in a prayer sign in front of her nose, before opening her eyes and pushing herself off of her knees to stand. She quickly patted her black pants, getting rid of any left over lint from the pillow she sat on, and she stared at the Dainichi Buddha that stood tall and proud with his eyes closed, in the middle of the elevated floor surrounded by the four other slightly shorter Buddhas on each cardinal sides. 

Lines of black tiles, rectangular and short with white paint engraved in kanjis, sat in rows and columns along ascending stairs that flanked beside the Buddhas closer to the wall, with bigger tiles reserving their spots closest to the statues. The big tiles soon transformed into framed photos with a tablet in front of it as you descended the stairs, with the most recent addition being the only one in colour. 

The Hyuuga Shrine found in the northern part of the Hyuuga Compound is a homestead for the gods and the names of their ancestors and recently departed. While the Konoha cemetery was where most of their relatives would be buried, allocated under their appropriate place reserved for specific clans or among the fallen, this shrine was more so a safekeeping of their past, of their legacy, and of their tradition. The walls, though faint and dull from age, had traces of paintings of the Hyuuga clan's rich history and unique style of fighting, tracing all the way back to before the formation of Konoha as they know it today.

Rarely did Hinata come to the family shrine to pray, and rarely does she pray at all. She was unsure i f she truly believed in the gods that protected their family, and she was much more unsure of whether the spirits of her ancestors were truly watching over her. If anything, they were probably looking down at her with disappointment in their eyes and disapproving shakes of the head at how the heiress of the Hyuuga Clan turned out.

Poor Lord Hiashi,  they were probably whispering amongst themselves.  It was bad enough that he had no sons, but the eldest daughter is weak in nature! What will become of the Hyuuga clan at if Hinata were to remain heiress?

She only came to the shrine when she needed time alone and away from the entire compound, a place where she may talk freely to the air and without having to feel the weight of disappointment from the elders of her clan. Solace was found in the shrine that was hidden amongst the trees, away from prying ears and scrutinizing glances. Though, it was the limited access to the shrine that allowed the shrine to be almost always empty; this sanctuary is only allowed to be accessed by the lucky few that were born into the Main House of the clan.

The lucky few like herself.

Hinata wasn't fond of that rule, thought she was never fond of  anything  concerning the divide between the Main House and the Branch House. She was taught from a young age about the relationship between the houses from the elders that watched over her: the Main House was the brain of the clan, the most important organ that allowed all the knowledge and secrets hidden within this family to carry on throughout the generations, while the Branch House was the vessel that protected this important organ, working only as a reactionary mechanism of the Main House. 

The Branch House's purpose in life, the reason they were born, was to protect the Main House from outsiders who sought to obtain the ultimate knowledge of the Hyuuga Clan, and inherently, want to obtain their prized kekkei genkai: the Byakugan.

But the shrine is a place for someone to seek solace and guidance in the gods, with the Buddhas being those who transcended into omnipotence, a teacher to all who wish to pursue their knowledge. 

Why, then, should the Branch Family, who, despite only being seen as protectors of the Main Family, not be allowed to enter this shrine that praises the gods that guided the principles of their clan? Do they not carry the same clan name? If their sole duty is to protect the Main House, then they are in an equally honourable position as them; without the members of the Branch House, the Main House lineage would have to fend for themselves. They should have the right to seek solace, the same right as the Main House have to seek faith.

That’s what Hinata wished she could say. 

But she knew that the house dynamic in the Hyuuga clan was much more complicated than that, running deep into the roots of their lineage. She knew it was a game of power, a game of authority. They were the Hyuuga clan, after all, and they were considered to be one of the most prestigious clans in Konoha, one of the four noble clans to actually found the village; control was a given to a clan as secretive and powerful as her own.

That’s why they performed that cruel technique that even the Hokage had to turn a blind eye to; to maintain power and control.

Maybe one day she could change the way the Hyuuga clan was. Maybe one day, the Main House would come to co-exist with the Branch House in a more equal way. But if she wanted to do any of that, she needed to be stronger than she is now.

And the only way to do that is to pass today’s test.

If you’re there, Mother,  Hinata thought as her eyes returned back to the coloured image along the ancestral lineup. The woman in the photo, with deep blue hair that hung behind her shoulders with a few strands shaping her face and pale irises, looked back at her with a soft smile.  Please give me the courage you had.

She took her white hoodie and backpack from the floor beside where she sat and put it on as she started to walk across the wooden floor towards the doors of the shrine. As she gets to the bottom of the stairs, she took one last breath of the incense scented room. 

She had plenty of time to spare before heading out to the Hokage Rock, her usual morning practice session (or, as she liked to think of it, her usual morning  torture session) with her father and grandfather was put on hold for the time being. But first she had to pick up her lunch from the kitchen- her grandmother was likely there to make sure Hinata would pack more than enough to eat, insistence that if she wanted to become stronger for the clan, she would build her body that way. 

It was conflicting with what all her aunties would say. They would tell Hinata to cut down on the food, or else she would gain weight.  Or worse , they would say when her grandmother mentions being stronger,  you’d look like a guy with big muscles . It didn’t help that ever since she turned 10, for some reason, her waist had gotten wider and her chest was bigger than most girls her age. Luckily, the hoodie she had was not only useful for the cool January weather they have in Konoha, but also helped hide her body from judging eyes.

She crossed a short way into the main house found in the centre of the compound, trying to maintain her step as she crossed the floorboard that lined around the perimeter of the house. She kept her eyes glued to the ground whenever she could see an elder Hyuuga walking down the hall, trying to ignore them and save herself from an impending lecture. 

As she entered the hallway towards the kitchen, Hinata turned the corner quickly, when she suddenly felt a sharp collision with someone that made her rebound back onto the floor. 

Her face twisted slightly at the pain of her nose hitting against the other person’s shoulders, and she let out a small ‘ow’. 

“Watch where you’re-” a sharp voice suddenly scolded her, before abruptly stopping. Hinata looked up towards the person she had just hit, and she could feel a slight sense of dread building up in her stomach.

“O-Oh,” Hinata managed to mumbled, as she scrambled to get herself up, not wanting to seem completely knocked out from what was a simple collision (even though her nose was still stinging). "Neji-niisan."

Her cousin stood before her in his usual shinobi garb of brown shorts and eggshell washed shirt, looking down at her from his slightly taller stature, his angular eyes narrowing. His headband with the Konoha symbol gleamed slightly when he tilted down, the metal rectangle being stitched onto a brown headband instead of the usual blue, with long buckles hanging from each of his temples and going past his shoulders.

Neji was her cousin through their fathers, his father Hizashi, who had passed away when she was too young to remember what had truly happened, being her father’s younger twin. He was Hinata's senior by only a year. He had graduated from the Academy and became a Genin during the previous year, yet he looked much older than the average 13 year old that he should be. It could be because of how hardened his face looked compared to a lot of kids around their age, making his face look sharper than it actually was. He balanced it out with his long brown hair, that flowed up till his waist as it would traditionally be grown by the men of the family, held by the end with a hairtie. 

Hinata was often time envious of Neji. He was considered what a Hyuuga should be, disciplined and stoic, and efficient when it came to mastering the basic forms of their family’s fighting style, the Gentle Fist. She wished she had not only his natural gift of picking up skills with ease, but also his confidence and surety with every calculated strike he made- it would definitely make her life easier if she were that way.

That, and she wished she had his looks as well. She had heard the long running comments made by the women of the family; “ Hiashi’s eldest is cute and all, but Hizashi’s child is the prettiest out of all the cousins”  and “I wish my daughter looked like Hizashi’s child”.  

And most of the times, Hinata agreed with them.

“I’m sorry!” Hinata quickly exclaimed, feeling nervous by how his white pupils seemed to be looking into her soul. “Are you alright?”

She could see that he was trying not to show his scowl at her, but was proving to have difficulties when she saw the corners of his mouth twitch downwards, lines evident on his pale skin.The dread seeped in deeper, and she could feel her shoulders curl inwards, trying to make herself small under his gaze.

Neji never smiled at her. 

He always frowned.

Even when Hinata was younger and tried to talk and play with him, Neji never smiled at her. He only forced out a reply here and there, and that’s only if her father was around.

“Lady Hinata,” Neji replied courtly, his tone much cooler than before, but he still glowered at her. “Please watch your step. You can hurt yourself by not being careful.”

“O-oh,” Hinata muttered as she glanced away, his piercing eyes making her nervous. “Okay. But are you-”

Before she could finish her sentence, Neji immediately walked past her with a quick step, turning the corner she came from without a single word, leaving Hinata alone. 

“...hurt,” she finished in a whisper, the dread now turning into hurt at being dismissed this way. 

She really did try her hardest to get to know Neji but to no avail. The young boy never seemed to want to talk to her, never mind be around her. If he was, it was only because Hinata couldn’t be left alone and needed someone from the Branch House to watch over her; and usually, Neji would be the prime candidate, handpicked by Hiashj, being the closest to her age compared to the other clansmen. It has always been this way, their relationship has always been rocky, but Hinata never understood why Neji always refrained from talking to them. 

Were they not cousins before anything else? Was he not supposed to her older brother, the one she should seek guidance from?

What had she done to Neji, except be born into the Main House? 

But at the same time, if she were him, would she not resent her as well?

Hinata didn’t have time to ruminate over what had just happened, and tried to push it down to the back of her mind, as she often does. She fixed the straps of her bag so it fit snug on her shoulder and continued to walk down the halls at a slower pace.

She got to the part of the complex where the faint sounds of pots clanking against one another and fresh fish and eggs sizzling on top a pan could be heard, and Hinata could feel her mouth salivating. She was just in time for a quick breakfast on the spot.

She slid the door with a gentle hand, revealing a pair of woman, both relatively young and wearing a white bandana across their forehead, swiftly shifted between the countertop and the stove. Another woman, middle aged with a few grey hairs, stood near a giant pot on top of a coal fire near the open doorway on the opposite side, letting the steam from the rice cooking waft out to the back court. An elderly woman with grey hair secured in a bun and slightly hunched shoulders shuffled along the countertop, a bento box sitting in front of her as she stuffed sliced vegetables inside.

"Lady Hinata," all three women acknowledged her as they did a bow to the young heiress. Hinata bowed to them, them being her aunties, even if they were apart of the Branch House - she was still raised to be respectful of her elders. 

And even then, Hinata found that it was harder to maintain a separation of houses between the women of the Hyuuga clan- regardless of the house they belong to, and regardless of whether they are of a lower branch, it seems that often when the women and girls are together without the demeaning eye of men, there is not as big of a drift between them, save for maintaining standard titles protocols. 

It didn't help that often times, marriage between the Main House and the extended Branch House. After all, her own grandmother, her father's mother, was from the Branch House, further along the line, and married her grandfather of the Main House. These marriages blurred the lines of formality at times.

Though, what the women lacked in standard house tensions tends to take the form of more personal grudges towards certain family members, from meager things like forgetting to return the favour to downright gossiping about an aloof relative over tea.

Ah, the benefits of having a large family.

While Hinata would try to avoid having a conversation with relatives (mostly because it causes her an existential crisis with their incessant questions and because she already had enough whispers about her), these three aunties were the ones she was most comfortable with. They were often the ones in the kitchen, the ones making the meals during the day for the entire clan; diplomacy was the least of their concern when they had to make copious amounts of food.

"Good morning, Aunties," Hinata replied in a soft tone, smiling as she stepped towards the elderly lady, to look at the contents of the bento box. She could feel her stomach churn at the amount of rice that was on the exposed layer, and that was just one of the two. "Grandmother, you know I can't eat that much food..."

"Nonsense," her grandmother said without looking at Hinata, her frail little body shaking as her hands closed the lid of the bento box. She started to fold the cloth, a baby blue cloth, around the box in a slow manner, the slight twitching of her hand with each tug worrying Hinata, but she didn't stop the woman from doing it. "You need all the energy you can get to become stronger. How would you bring honour to the Hyuuga name if you do not become a strong heir like your father, and his father before?"

Maybe I don't want to be the heir , Hinata wanted to say, but just smiled shyly, eyebrows pulling in. "I can be strong without eating a meal for two."

“Mother Homura," one of her aunt's with the white bandana started from the stove. "Lady Hinata does not need to eat more than she needs to. They won't put her on any taxing missions right away."

"Aunt Kayake's right, Grandmother," Hinata nodded along. "I'm just doing a test-"

"If it's the same type of testing they did with Hiashi, then you most definitely need more than this," Homura replied, her eyebrows, fine and grey, raising as she tried to turn her body to put the bento box back onto the table.

"N-no, it's alright!" Hinata took the box with both hands before Homura could set it down. She started to guide Homura towards a rocking chair in the corner of the kitchen, where a tea set has already been placed on top of a table nearby. "This is enough! Thank you."

"Have they already assigned your team?" the woman stirring the pot of rice, her Aunt Suzume, distantly related to Hinata as is Kayake, started, drawing Hinata’s attention towards her after she allowed Homura to take a seat.

"Yes, we were assigned to them yesterday," Hinata said, unraveling her grandmother's hands to hold onto the bento box in the blue cloth. "I have been placed on a team with Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame."

"An Inuzuka?" The other woman with the bandana, Kayake's younger sister and Hinata's Aunt Mitsu, giggled. She continued to slice open the shrimps from their shells on a cutting board, placing them in a separate bowl. Mitsu leaned forward slightly towards the other three woman, keeping her voice low so that only Homura, with her age causing her poor hearing, could not hear.“The Inuzuka men are quite rugged, don’t you think?”

“Mitsu, we do not care for your love affairs,” Kayake waved her sister’s comment off, returning her attention to the stove, but Suzume’s face contorted in a frantic frown.

“Mitsu! Do not plant such ideas in Lady Hinata’s mind!” Suzume scolded her with a hiss, lifting the rice paddle from the pot, waving it slightly as if she were about to hit Mitsu with it. Hinata could feel her neck start to flush slightly as it started to reach her cheeks at her implications. “She is still a child!”

“Tell me, Hinata,” Mitsu ignored them and ushered Hinata to come closer. The young heiress gravitated towards them. “What are your teammates like?”

“They’re…” Hinata started, hesitating slightly about the words she could use. How  were  her teammates like?

She was apprehensive of being placed on Team 8, and she was sure Shino and Kiba were too. She saw how Kiba’s friends, the two boys and the girl he always sat next to, snickered and whispered amongst themselves when they heard Hinata and Shino's name, and something about them being 'weirdos'.

Hinata wasn't surprised by their words. She knows that, compared to the rest of her classmates, she was off. Painfully shy and quieter than a mouse, Hinata was a stark contrast to what the usual kid her age was like. Her mannerisms, her voice, hell, even her looks, made her a wallflower, a pale white wallpaper that people know is there, but never bothered to be looked at. Only her blood made her truly visible. The only times that people willingly engaged with her is when her family's name is mentioned during a lecture, in which all the kids would turn over to wherever she was sitting to look at her, to see her reaction.

Most of the time, she would look away.

She didn't like looking at people. She didn't like making eye contact.

She felt it was too heavy, too intimate, too much for her soul to handle. She feels like people try to analyze too much of what she says, trying to reach into her soul, trying to unlock the pandora box that is her emotions.

And she didn't like that.

That's why she liked Shino a lot. She knew they would get along well, he was equally as quiet as her, though he was by no means shy. If yesterday's team meeting probed anything, it was that Shino Aburame was vocal, raising himself as an equal to whoever he spoke to. But he respected their space, respected Hinata's space, not looking at her unless she initiated (though, it could be because his glasses made it hard for her to see his irises, making her feel at ease).

Kiba on the other hand, she wasn't sure what to say. He was on the opposite spectrum to her, being outgoing and rowdy with his ways, and the confidence he exudated made Hinata envious. She didn't mind loud people- she found them fascinating and admirable. 

But he was also subtly witty, something that she didn't think she would describe the Inuzuka as. Usually he is vocal about how he feels, calling someone out on their nonsense without a second thought, but yesterday showed her that there was more to him than meets the eye. 

She had to admit thought; while envious of Kiba's personality, she was incredibly intimidated by him. It's not as if she didn't see his bad side, when he would dive head first into a fight against another kid if they talked smack about him to his face, his fists brimming purple with bruises and face speckled with blood. And he always came out victorious with a grin on his face, and Iruka-sensei fuming as he had to drag him off of the poor kid who tried to get a rise out of him, only to be crying on the ground with a bloody nose.

Just remembering it sent chills down her spine.

She definitely did not want to get on his bad side.

"They're nice," she said, fidgeting with the bento box as she glanced away, the way Mitsu looked at her with anticipation making her nervous. "A-and, they're very interesting."

"Interesting in what way?"

"U-uh-"

"Mitsu, you'll get in trouble if Lord Hiashi hears what you insinuate," Kayake warned her sister with a weary look towards Homura, but the old woman barely heeded their words, enjoying a cup of tea as she swayed slightly in the rocking chair.

Mitsu giggled at her words and straightening herself, before continued slicing the shrimp's shell in her hand. "Can't I ask the young heiress about these things? It's not like they won't ask her about it later."

Hinata could feel herself blush at her aunt's notion.

There was someone that she admired in her life...but she was not going to disclose that to them, not until the entirety of hell freezes over.

"Do that when it is time to do so," Suzume scoffed. "Knowing Lord Hiashi, however, it would be a long process."

I hope it doesn't happen anytime soon,  Hinata thought, biting the bottom of her lips slightly. Talks of marriage and whatnot were not her main concern- perhaps one day, but right now, she had more things to worry about than her supposed betrothal.

"Isn't it interesting though," Kayake suddenly started after a pause, turning back to look at towards the two other women and Hinata. "That they always put an Aburame, an Inuzuka, and a Hyuuga on the same team whenever the graduating class had all three?"

To this, Hinata's eyebrows raised slightly. Her words were too precise not to ignore. "A-always? Who was apart of the last of this group formation?"

All three women looked at one another when Hinata asked her question, their faces suddenly become weary, and Hinata could feel the room fall still all of the sudden. She glanced between them, not knowing what to do, and suddenly felt like becoming very small to hide herself, not knowing what had warranted this tenseness.

"Lord Hiashi hasn't told you yet?" Suzume asked in a suddenly low tone, hushed as if she didn't want anyone else to hear. When Hinata nodded, she glanced around for a second, her eyes flitting cautiously towards the door, before landing back on Hinata. "Well...it doesn't hurt to know but...the last time they had a Aburame-Inuzuka-Hyuuga team was with-"

They suddenly heard the tatami door wiggle a bit and abruptly stopped talking, waiting for the person to reveal themselves.

“Lord Hiashi,” all the women in the kitchen said in unison as they bowed, and Hinata turned around towards the tatami door, a tall man in a deep blue yukata and a darker grey jacket standing between the frame. 

Her father had his usual stoic face, his eyebrows naturally arched to look like he was frowning most of the times and his mouth in a straight line. He gave an acknowledged bow to Hinata’s grandmother, his mother, before looking over to Hinata.

“G-good morning, Father,” Hinata quickly whispered with a slight bow of her head, gripping the sides of her lunch box. Hiashi stared at Hinata for a moment, as if analyzing what he saw, trying to pick out any sort of flaw in how she appeared.

“Today is your final test, is it not?” Hiashi asked in an even tone, never breaking eye contact from Hinata, who glanced away towards the lines of the floorboard. “Why are you still here? And look at me when I speak to you.”

“Yes!” she squeaked at how much sharper his tone became, and straightened her gaze. “I just had more time left so...so I thought I could take my time today.”

Hiashi narrowed his eyes.

“ Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless. Heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful do not die. The heedless are as if already dead* .” Hiashi quoted the proverb from ancient scriptures without missing a beat, and Hinata could see the frown lines deepening on his tanned face. “If you were going to mindlessly be on the compound this whole time, then you could have been practicing your forms. Your sister has already mastered all of the basic forms; you have yet to perform them efficiently.”

“I-I,” Hinata started, now feeling her neck burning in embarrassment of being put on the spot in this way, but she couldn’t finish her sentence, feeling the heat rising to her face.

“Mother,” Hiashi turned his attention towards her grandmother, who had simply been keeping her mouth closed as Hiashi gave Hinata the third degree. “Hinata is grown and she can make her own meals. You’re spoiling her by making her lunch.”

“Hiashi,” Homura said with a slight hum to her voice, soft and slow, as she started to sway lightly on the chair. "If you believe this to be true, then you should make your own tempura from now on, do you not think so?"

To this, Hiashi eyes slightly widened in hesitation for only a split second, but he quickly fixed himself back to neutrality. Hinata had to stifle her laugh, and she looked down to hide the amused smile she couldn't suppress.

Leave it to Homura to be as eloquently blunt as her son.

"That is not the same," Hiashi replied coolly. "The food you make is for the entire family."

"Tempura is usually reserved for dinners," Homura said as equally calm. "But you still insist on eating it for breakfast as well. You should eat better; you're a grown man."

Hinata could see her father's jaws clenching, muscle along his jawline flexing- being told off by one's mother in front of an audience was not on the top of every clan leader's to do lists.

"Hinata." His eyes returned to her, and she quickly kept her lips in a line. "It is best if you left for your test. You don't want to keep your team waiting for you."

I didn't even eat breakfast,  Hinata thought, but refused to say this outloud. She didn't want to be scolded anymore than she needed to be. "Yes."

“Do not be a burden to your teammate,” Hiashi said courtly, before stepping aside to let Hinata walk through the open doorway. 

Hinata gritted her teeth, feeling her throat suddenly lodged with emotion, but she kept it to herself. She nodded, and quickly exited the kitchen, giving a quick bow to her grandmother before she made her way towards the courtyard to leave the compound.

I won’t burden anyone,  Hinata thought as she inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying her best to maintain her confidence, but she could already feel the tips of her eyes started to sting with tears.  I promise, I won’t burden anyone.

----

When Hinata made it to the top of the Hokage Rock, she was surprised to see that Shino was the only one there, waiting underneath a tree. She glanced up to the sky, the morning sun bearing white in the east slightly above the horizon. It was nearly time for their test, she could tell, but where could their sensei and Kiba be?

She wasn't sure where Shino was looking at, his dark frames shading his eyes from anyone to see, but from the way his face tilted down, she could tell she was looking at the ground with intent. 

Should I call out to him?  She thought, ready to raise her hand to wave towards him, but hesitated slightly.  No, he looks busy...I don't want to disturb him. But, then again, I should ask him where everyone else is...

Hinata continued this debate on whether she should call out to Shino or walk up to him as she crossed clearing, but she wasn't given the opportunity to think it through. All of the sudden, she heard a high pitched bark becoming louder from the trail she just walked on, and a voice yelling, "Akamaru! Wait up buddy!"

She knew who it was immediately, and spun on her heels to look behind her. Unfortunately, she was not prepared for the small flash of white coming towards her at full speed, already a metre away from her.

Hinata didn't have time to react, and she wasn't sure whether she could or not- by the time she blinked, the flash of white had jumped up towards her and hit her chest, pushing her backwards and making her land on her behind, before laying flat on her back.

Talk about a double whammy. This is the second time she was sent flying onto her back. Her tailbone was starting to hurt a bit. It didn't help that she had her backpack on during the fall, and had placed her bento box inside, making the impact harder against her lower back when she fell, the side of the bento box digging into her sharply.

Hinata blacked out for a few seconds, eyes closed in shock and her ears momentarily blanking. When she slowly opened her eyes, she was greeted by a little brown nose against hers and the sound of slight panting.

Her eyes started to take in everything beyond the nose, seeing it attached to a white puppy with long, floppy ears and small, brown eyes that looked at her with excitement. The puppy barked at her once, and she could feel a  thump thump thump  on her abdomen, his tail wagging happily.

"H-hello...Akamaru," Hinata managed to say in a soft voice, remembering the puppy's name from how Kiba had introduced him as yesterday. This only made Akamaru even more excited because he barked a few times and his tail wagged faster, before he gave Hinata's cheek a little lick.

Hinata could feel her heart soar at this little gesture by the puppy. Is this what feeling wanted is like?

"Akamaru!" Kiba's voice exclaimed as he ran up towards Hinata, who was still being licked by the puppy. "Get off of her! Sit!"

Akamaru did as he was told with a slight whine, and hopped off of Hinata's chest, sitting down beside her as he looked expectantly at Kiba. Hinata managed to prop herself up with her elbows, lifting her back up into a sitting position. She glanced up to see Kiba standing near her feet, both hands on his hips as he gave Akamaru a disapproving look.

Hinata could feel her heart start beating fast while looking at her now teammate; he was much more intimidating from where she was sitting, narrow eyes shifting around with a frown on his face. Kiba had always scared her slightly, with his red markings making him look like a warrior on his way to a battleground, and the way his eyebrows, sharp and fierce, made his narrow eyes look even more piercing. She was half ready to apologize, but then she saw his frown disappear as he softened his look, now looking at Hinata with...was it concern?

"Sorry about that," Kiba said, almost in a mumble, and Hinata could see that his cheeks flushed pink suddenly, as if embarrassed. "I swear, he's usually better behaved than this."

"It's okay," Hinata replied softly, and Akamaru barked at Hinata, taking a step closer.

 "What d'ya think you were doing, Akamaru?" Kiba looked at Akamaru with a stern look, his arms crossing over, eyebrows pulled in. The puppy stopped in his tracks and looked up to his owner, his dog wagging in the air.

"Arf! Arf!"

"So what? You could've hurt Hinata!"

"Arf! Arf, arf, arf!"

"I don't want to hear it," Kiba huffed. "Now sit and think about what you did! You're not getting any treats until you obey!"

Akamaru let out a whining sound, his happy demeanor dropping as his tail stopped wagging, his eyes looking back at Kiba big and glistening in woe. When Kiba raised an eyebrow at Akamaru, waiting for the puppy to continue, Akamaru stopped his attempt at persuading Kiba to let him be and he laid down on his stomach sadly, a whine emitting from his throat.

"...you need a hand?" Kiba asked after a moment when Akamaru settled down. 

Hinata, meanwhile, was preoccupied staring between him and Akamaru in awe, watching them have a conversation she couldn't understand, only going by Kiba's words. What kind of technique helped you communicate with animals? She knew about shinobi being able to summon animals for their services, forming a blood pact between the master and the animal, but she often heard of summoning animals being able to speak in their tongue.

When she noticed Kiba's hand reaching out towards her, she looked at him for a split second, feeling less intimidated by her new teammate. Should she accept his aid?

I won't be a burden,  she reminded herself, while shaking her head lightly.  I won't be coddled.

"N-no," she said quickly, her inflection making her voice crack, and she stood up, brushing her behind while doing so. She added in a much more normal rhythm, "Thank you, t-though."

"Hinata, are you hurt?" a low, monotone voice suddenly said behind her. She nearly jumped by how close the voice, low and soft, was, but she stopped herself from doing so upon recognition, and turned around towards the source.

"I-I'm not," Hinata said with a slight smile, tilting her head up to look at Shino, him being taller than she, even with her sandals. She placed her arms slightly in front of her, refraining from showing any signs of pain from her back. "I'm fine."

Shino stood by with his hands in his coat pocket, half his face still being hidden the collar, not saying anything for a moment. Hinata couldn't tell where he was looking, but from the way his arched eyebrows pulled in slightly, she assumed she was looking at Kiba. He softened his face again quickly, as if realising that they were staring at him.

"Did something break in your bag?" Shino asked smoothly, without moving whatsoever. He paused again for a split second, before continuing, "Because I heard a crack when you fell."

"Oh!" Hinata exclaimed in a light voice, swinging her bag around in front of her quickly, remembering her poor bento box that she had inside. She opened her bag and peered inside and…

"Oh no," Hinata moaned as she looked at what was supposed to be her lunch.  The rice, vegetables, everything was outside of the bento box, scattered everywhere and she could see the box has a slight fissure along the side, likely due to her landing. 

"My l-lunch," Hinata mumbled, and she could feel her stomach churn at the sight of food being spoiled. She really should have eaten something before leaving.

Shino leaned over slightly, head barely moving downwards but Hinata could tell he was looking into her bag. He stood there motionless for a moment, before tilting his head slightly on the side, looking beyond Hinata. 

"Can't you keep your dog on a leash?" Shino said suddenly, his voice low and a bit forceful, inflecting slightly at the end as if unsure how to end the sentence.

Hinata could feel a shift in the atmosphere amongst them at Shino's words, and she stared at him wide eyes before looking over at Kiba. Kiba stared at him for a split second, eyes blinking at Shino, before his eyebrows pulled in quickly, jaw clenching, when their teammate's words were finally processed in their minds.

"What did you say?"

"I said 'can't you keep your dog on a leash'," Shino repeated in an equal tone. The atmosphere was tense as they stared at each other, and Hinata took a slight step back, not wanting to be caught in between, fidgeting with her fingers slightly.

"His name is  Akamaru,  " Kiba replied sharply, his words punctuated with a slightly louder tone, and Hinata could see the flame of anger spark in his eyes as he glared at Shino. "And  Akamaru  isn't some  pet  I can put on a leash. Like how  you  don't put your bugs in a  container ."

"We're talking about Akamaru, not my insects," Shino replied stiffly. "Maybe you should train him to listen to you more before using him on our mission. Because it looks like he doesn't even obey simple commands."

"Arf!" Akamaru barked lightly, looking between the two of them, but Kiba ignored him.

"She said she was fine, didn't she? It wasn't like he was attacking her- and besides, you don't need to tell me what I should do with  my ninken!"

They had an important test that would determine whether they could become Shinobi, why were they having an argument at this very moment?

Hinata wasn't sure what to do with herself at that moment, finding herself hesitating to even look at either of the boys, fearing they might explode into an altercation if she dared to see. Should she stop them from arguing? How would she even stop them? What if they start getting into a fight? Would she be able to stop them? No way.

She was too weak, too cowardly, no way would she be able to stop a fight. 

"U-uh, guys," Hinata started, but her voice barely came out, a light airy tone that was easily overpowered by Kiba's voice.

"What's your problem with me, huh?" Kiba started, suddenly taking a step forward passing Hinata to stand directly in front of Shino, his fists clenching. "If you got something you want to say about me, then say it to my face!"

"I have nothing to say to you," Shino replied. "I was talking about your dog."

"If you have a problem with  Akamaru  , then you have a problem with  me ," Kiba said, his voice filled with venom as he looked up to Shino, who didn't flinch in the slightest. "Yesterday you had a lot to say- why are you acting all mute now?"

They stood there for a moment, neither of them moving. Akamaru let out a slight whine, and shuffled closer to Hinata's leg, as if seeking some sort of comfort, but she couldn’t move. The pressure in the atmosphere is making her head tense up with adrenaline, and Hinata could feel her forehead starting to scrunch up. She couldn’t activate the Byakugan, not now, no, and she tried to focus by glancing between them, waiting for someone to say something. 

Shino was the first to break the silence.

"If you don't know how to use him, then you shouldn't have brought him today," Shino said slowly and dully, as if talking to a child who didn't understand what he did wrong. "It would only hold us back. This test is important and we can't jeopardize our chances."

Kiba gritted his teeth, and Hinata could see his fists started to clench. 

Oh no. 

Was he going to swing at him? She shifted her legs slightly apart, ready to intervene, but she could barely move otherwise.

Before Kiba could move, the wind started to pick up pace around them, swirling in front of the trio and forcing them to plant their feet on the ground and concentrate on not being blown away. Hinata could see the leaves from the trees nearby creating a sparse tornado as a sudden figure appeared in the middle of the vortex.

“K-Kurenai-sensei,” Hinata mumbled as she watched with wide eyes as the leaves settled around the figure, revealing their long black hair and deep red outfit.

"Looks like everyone came here on time,” Kurenai looked between them with a nonchalant smile. “I was going to give you guys some time together, but it looks like something was happening. Is everything alright?”

Kiba unclenched his fists and placed them in his hoodie pockets, balling them up inside. He gave a dejected, “Yeah, everything’s fine.”

She glanced over to Shino, who didn’t say anything and was looking away from her, before her eyes landed on Hinata. Hinata felt flustered and started to glance away, her nerves getting the best of her as red eyes scanned over her, waiting to see if she had anything to say. 

"Y-yes," Hinata said, still glancing away. "All fine."

"Alright then," Kurenai replied after giving them another questionable look, and she reached into her dress pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a small clock. "Since everyone is here, we can get started with the test. Gather around."

All three of them obeyed and followed Kurenai as she walked towards a wooden picnic table underneath a tree nearby. After leaving their bags on the table, they formed a semi circle around Kurenai, with Hinata standing between Kiba and Shino as Akamaru rejoined his master by his side with a few little bounds off his small paws. It took a good amount of self-restraint for Hinata to not look at the puppy and coo at how cute he looked as he sat down, his tail waving around slowly as he waited for Kurenai to speak.

"Since this is my first time having a Genin team, I decided that this test would be much easier that I had originally planned,” Kurenai started, her gaze resting on them as she spoke. “Your test will be…” 

There was a fraction of pause in her sentence, and Hinata could feel the anticipation in the air as they hung over her every word. What was the test going to be? Are they going to have to prove their worth by winning a match? Would have to fight each other? 

Or worse; would they have to win a fight against Kurenai? 

Hinata gripped a string of her hoodie, her hand already placed over her chest while she was standing and listening to Kurenai talk, and she swallowed. 

“A little game of hide and seek tag," Kurenai said, and Hinata could have sworn there was a flash of amusement on her face. "With a little added twist of capture the flag. Sounds fun, right?"

Hinata glanced over to her teammates, and she could see Kiba shift his eyes around to them as well, apprehensive and wary about her intentions.

"You've played those games before, haven't you?" Kurenai asked with a slight quirk of her fine brow, looking between them as they stared silently back, uncertainty in the atmosphere.

"We have," Shino responded for the group. "As children, though. "

Hinata noticed the slight hesitation in Kurenai at his words, her lips pursing slightly, but it left as quickly as it came. She smiled instead, and continued in a much softer voice, "Then you should already know the rules. But there are a few things I added and changed for this test."

She held a hand up and placed a finger onto the metal plate of her red headband, right beside the Konoha symbol edged deep. She tapped it with the tip of her deep red nails. 

"This headband right here is the flag,” she said in the same tone. “The goal of this test is to get this headband off of my forehead."

Hinata felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety and worry building up in her stomach at Kurenai's words, and her eyebrows refused to relax from the frown. This doesn't sound like a hard task, but considering that this is a Jonin they were facing, only a rank below the Hokage, makes this little task...well...much more difficult than anything they had ever gone through before.

From her ranking, and from what Hinata remembered from the previous day, she knew Kurenai's strongest skill was in the realm of Genjutsu. Genjutsu in itself was such a vast field, limited only by the users' own unbrittled imagination. It is the art of illusion, after all, preying on the senses of your opponents by affecting the specific parts of the brain in order to make them believe that the illusion are true, making them vulnerable to experience things that are not happening in the physical world. Unlike Ninjutsu, though, it was much harder to control, with the user having to be able to control their chakra as well as being able to come up with a way to reach the opponents senses, those being five more extra things to worry about, unlike the other ninja arts. 

The expanse of Genjutsu was not taught during their Academy years, instead focusing on Ninjutsu and Taijutsu to prepare them as shinobi. The only Genjutsu they had to learn was the Clone Illusion Jutsu, but even that D-level jutsu was incredibly hard to master, taking many a year to make at least one competent clone illusion. 

Even Iruka rarely employed that technique during the mock battles he would have with another teacher, opting for the easier Ninjustu,  Clone Jutsu , telling them that clones are better used to distract the enemy and less taxing for them to control.

"Okay," Kiba replied slowly, eyebrows furrowing slightly. "What's the hide and seek part for?"

“That’s the fun part," Kurenai replied. “Like a usual game of hide and seek, I'll hide around the Village with the flag, and you three would have to find me in order to capture the flag. I’ve decided to make it easier, though, since this is the first time I’m doing this test. The only places I’ll hide is on the Hokage Rock or the training grounds. Nowhere else in the Village."

A game of capture the flag that required them to find the flag in a pretty expanded area ...

This was definitely not an easy task, but it was definitely not a hard one. They’ve played these kind of games in the Academy, in the form of a treasure hunt in the middle of one of their training grounds in order to utilize their survival skills for a few hours, but it was limited to a certain area and one target. That, and they usually had a much more obvious trail to lead them on the right path. 

It was clear to Hinata as why Kurenai set up the test in the way she did. She must have read their datasheets when they were first assigned to her: with Kiba hailing from the Inuzuka clan and having a keen sense of smell, and Hinata having the Byakugan that allowed her heightened sight, this test was to see how they would do in tracking a target. Hinata wasn’t sure exactly how Shino fit into the team, but she knew he was extremely perceptive, more so than she was, even without her clan’s abilities.

Hinata felt like she should have an advantage for this task, with her Byakugan and all, but she still had an immature grasp of the skill. It was taxing to control, and took up a good amount of her strength to maintain; even with all those years of training, she couldn’t understand how to control it efficiently.

And that’s what worries her the most.

She should have an advantage, but this advantage was easily be a disadvantage.

"That's it?" Kiba said, a smirk growing on his face. "That makes this too easy!"

"There’s three extra rules, though,” Kurenai added as she smiled at Kiba's enthusiasm, as she held up the clock. “The first one is the time limit. I’m only giving you exactly five hours from when we start to find me. I’ll leave the timer here.”

“Would that be wise?’ Shino suddenly asked. Hinata looked at him questionably, as did everyone else, and it took him a minute to continue his though. “It’s possible that one of us could change the clock, and give us the advantage of having extra time."

“Good point Shino, but this is mostly for you three,” Kurenai said. “I don’t need a clock to tell time. Besides, if one of you touch this clock, it would self implode. You could try it yourselves if you don’t believe me though.”

Hinata gulped as she stared at the clock in her hand as it sat on the table. No way is she going anywhere near that.

“This leads me to the second rule. If none of you get the headband before the designated five hours, then you  all  will fail the test and be sent back to the Academy.”

That made sense. This was like a final exam, it made sense for her to be this strict on them.

"The last thing is the most crucial part, so listen carefully," Kurenai continued. "The reason why the Academy decided to put you in a team because each of you possessed the abilities to become impeccable trackers.”

"But after meeting all of you yesterday, I gave it some thought," she said slowly. "I figured that there's no point in having all three of you become Genin when we could use the person with the  best  tracking skills so far. Therefore, the first person to find me and capture the flag will become a Genin. The other two will return to the Academy."

“Wha-” Hinata muttered in shock, taken aback by her words, her fist clenching tighter on her chest.

"Are you even allowed to do that?" Kiba asked. "There must have been a reason to put us all together like this!"

"Yes, there must have been. But at the end of the day,  I'm  the one who has to teach and guide you to becoming a remarkable shinobi during your time as a Genin," Kurenai emphasized. "The Academy doesn't have control over who passes here on out- but I do. And I have decided that whoever is the most capable gets to be Genin."

That’s not fair,  Hinata wanted to say, but she held her tongue, realizing the stupidity in her thought. The ninja world is never fair to begin with; so why would this testing be?

"Remember you only have 5 hours," Kurenai said as she hit the button on the clock. The clock hand started to tick, and Hinata instinctively took a shuriken from the blue holster around her leg, readying herself. “Do you have any more questions?’

"Do we need to give you time to hide or-" Kiba started, his question tapering off as he took a stance, readying himself for Kurenai to move. Hinata’s eyes never left her sensei, who simply smiled at them.

"There's no need," she said as the wind suddenly picked up pace around her, the grass around her twirling at a rapid pace. "The real me is hiding already. This…"

Hinata’s eyes widened as Kurenai’s legs started to blend into the background, fading away and being replaced by pink petals. Her body morphed against the gradience, rising up to her body as more petals fell, as she watched in amusement with how taken aback they were.

"Was all a genjutsu."

Her face faded as an echo in their minds, and the wind stood still as the last petal from the top of her head fell to the ground on top of the rest. The three of them stood still, none of them knowing what to do for a split second. 

Shino was the first to move, taking a step forward towards the stacks of flower petals.

“Hey, wait,” Kiba started as Shino squatted down, holding one of the petals between his thumb and index finger, carefully surveying. “What are you doing?”

“Checking if this is real or not,” Shino said. “It could be useful to track her down.”

“Whoa, don’t hog the whole thing to yourself!” Kiba exclaimed as he ran towards Shino, Akamaru barking as he ran behind Kiba. 

Hinata snapped out of her faze and found control over her feet, trailing behind Shino, unsure of what to do.

“You got her scent?” Kiba asked Akamaru, who let out a bark. Hinata could see Kiba’s nose move a bit as he inhaled sharply, moving his head around until he set towards east to where they were standing facing the other side of Konoha. “Alright. We got this. Let’s go Akamaru!”

“Hold on,” Shino said suddenly, making Kiba halt in his spot, and turn around quickly. 

“There’s no ‘hold on’,” Kiba said, crossing his arms as he frowned. “This is a test and only one of us can pass.”

“That’s why I said hold on,” Shino continued. “There’s something weird about it.”

“And?” The Inuzuka asked sharply, his patience running thinner by the second. “What about it.”

“Listen,” Shino replied equally as fast. “It’s weird because her reasoning for only passing one of us is incredibly vague. Don’t you find it strange that they would go through the trouble of putting us in specific teams only for one of us to pass?”

Kiba grimaced, staring at Shino for moment, as if conflicted with his words. He then replied, slight hesitancy in his voice,“It...It doesn’t matter who I’m with. Even if I weren’t with you guys, I’m pretty sure the rules would be the same.”

Hinata felt a slight pang in her chest when he said those words, the bitterness seeping through like tea through a filter. She had to grit her teeth to refrain from being too hurt.

 “Besides, she said it herself,” he continued as he started to turn his back towards them. “She’s in charge of us. There’s nothing stopping her from booting us back to the Academy. And there’s no way I’m going back there.”

“Kiba,” Hinata tried to start, but she couldn’t finish her sentence. She didn’t know what to say. 

An uneasy silence fell over them.

“She’s headed towards Training Ground 1,” Kiba suddenly said in a quiet tone, never turning back to look at them. He tilted his head down, and said “Let’s go, Akamaru.”

With a bark of agreement from the puppy, he sped off at full speed, towards the direction of the training ground he mentioned, the one closest to the Hokage Rock and filled with hills and forest near the wall that encompasses Konoha. 

That’s one of the larger ones , Hinata thought, as she stood there, trying to gather her thoughts. She could see from the corner of her eyes Shino looking at her, not saying anything, as if waiting for her to move. 

Her gut was telling her the same thing that Shino was doubting; the reason for only one of them felt too vague, as if Kurenai wanted them to break that rule. Sure, they all have skills for tracking, but there’s something more to it than that.

But no, that wouldn’t make sense; she was very clear that she only wanted one. Why would she deceive them into believing a fake rule? Was Hinata thinking too hard into this?  

“He’s right,” Hinata said when she made her decision, and she glanced up towards Shino. She looked directly at his glasses, dark enough to cover his eyes under the sun in the atmosphere, and maintained. “Even if we all work together, only one of us can pass.”

“Hinata-” Shino started, but stopped abruptly. He just stared at her in silence for a moment, and Hinata couldn’t tell what he was thinking, or even why she was standing there to begin with.

“I’ll see you there, Shino,” Hinata offered softly, and she started to run off towards the direction, focusing her chakra towards her legs to help them pick up her pace.

I won’t be a burden to myself, Hinata thought, a new sense of determination swelling in her stomach.  I can take care of myself.

Can I?

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

22nd August >> Mass Readings (USA)

Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

(Liturgical Colour: Green)

First Reading

Joshua 24:1–2a, 15–17, 18b

We will serve the Lord, for he is our God.

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges, and their officers. When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people: “If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

   But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods. For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 34:2–3, 16–17, 18–19, 20–21

R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the LORD at all times;    his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD;    the lowly will hear me and be glad.

R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

The LORD has eyes for the just,    and ears for their cry. The LORD confronts the evildoers,    to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.

R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,    and from all their distress he rescues them. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;    and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.

R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Many are the troubles of the just one,    but out of them all the LORD delivers him; he watches over all his bones;    not one of them shall be broken.

R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Second Reading

Ephesians 5:21–32

This is a great mystery, regarding Christ and the Church.

Brothers and sisters: Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

John 6:63c, 68c

Alleluia, alleluia. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

John 6:60–69

To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

   As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.