#Membership Vows

[firstumcschenectady]

"If I Fall" based on Isaiah 43:1-7 and Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Lay Leader Karyn McCloskey's sermon:

Friends, all I can say is what a week to end up preaching…

I suspect there are at least one or two here today who climbed into a pulpit on September 16th,2001 and the months following and may remember what this feels like.

I don’t mean the sheer incomprehensibility of the attacks – at least to those of us born and raised in this country – but rather the aftermath.   The hateful response to anyone who looked or sounded “foreign” --especially those with brown skin.   The changes in our own government, the “Patriot Act” and the like.  “See something, say something.”  Distrust your neighbors – especially those with headcoverings and accents.   It still bottoms out my stomach when I think about it.

This week feels the same.  Changes in government, gag orders, stepping out of treaties and away from world citizenship.  And now the ICE raids, families keeping their kids out of school, worried about neighbors turning them in—or at the very least not standing up to power.  

It’s a lot and it’s overwhelming and it has the potential to seem completely hopeless…except that we are called to be people of hope.   In essence for me, that’s what our baptisms recognize – they’re an outward sign of inward grace.  Grace found in all people – regardless of race, religion, creed, time, place, socioeconomic status, or ability. There’s no clearer indication of this than the baptism of the Divine by a human.   And for me, no clearer call on my heart than our baptismal vows.

I chose to use them as our call to worship because I think we need to have them in front of us.  To give us strength when we’re weary.  To pull us back when we’re getting distracted.   To make us angry enough to flip tables that society would like us to quietly sit at.

This isn’t the first time that people of faith—and to be clear I don’t mean just Christians --  have been called to action, called to stand with the vulnerable, called on a massive scale to respond with a very clear “NO”.   Some of you have heard me tell the tale of Denmark in 1943, when after three years of Nazi occupation during which time the entire population, including the royal family, refused to comply with even intolerance, Hitler sent transport ships on the eve of Rosh Hashanah to gather up the Danish Jews.   Word was spread across the countryside and through the cities – and overnight the Danish people hid over 7,000 of their fellow citizens away – in hospital beds, under fake names.  In barns, in basements.  And then shuttled them away in the holds of fishing boats across the waters to neutral Sweden.  The German ships returned empty --- and Denmark holds the distinction of being the only country in occupied Europe where the majority of those sent to the death camps were not Jewish.

A more recent example comes closer to home, when in March of 1965 came first the horror of Bloody Sunday, when 600 African Americans marching from Selma to Montgomery Alabama were beaten, run down, and tear gassed by State troopers and county possemen on the Edmund Pettus Bridge --- followed by two more marches along that same route when thousands of people of all races, many of whom were clergy and other people of faith –  with the third one ending with more than 25,000 assembling to protest at the Alabama State Capital, demanding the removal of obstacles to Black voter registration.  ( On a side note – if you want to be inspired, I highly recommend watching the film “Selma” – that’s how I spent part of last Monday.)

There are others—like the decades of struggle, pain, and hard work that made possible this brand new Book of Discipline I got this week – but you get the point.   At such a time as this, we are called to build the kindom.  

To fall down and get back up.

To pick each other up – or lay down beside each other until we can rise again.

To stand behind, beside or in front of those who are vulnerable.

To use every ounce of whatever privilege we have

to speak out,

to lead out,

to fight our way out of this mess going on around us.

Because that’s how we renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil and unjust powers of this world, and repent of our separation from God and each other.  So that we can accept the freedom and power God gives us    to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves!

And this becomes possible, because we know, to the very core of our beings, that the God of Jacob formed us too and the promise that echoes through the ages remains true:  “I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

Amen.

January 26, 2025

[vifilms]

nsfw themes, eighteen+

gymrat!vi who frequents the gym every day except for sundays. giving into his wishes to be present for their weekly dinner. any other day? she’s getting her pump in. an absolute given in her world. pink-hued strands stick to her scalp as she pushes for a new personal record on the bench, especially when vi’s bulking. whenever she’s training, she’s so zoned in, nothing can distract — well — it used to be nothing. 

gymrat!vi who secretly enjoys nothing more than working out with jayce. accountability between two best friends turns into a friendly competition. nothing at stake except their egos. seeing who can outdo the other set after set. something to keep them both in line, fit, and violet enjoys the hit to jayce’s ego whenever she can push weight heavier than jayce.

gymrat!vi who isn’t oblivious to the attention thrown her way. with the heatwave of summertime, her muscles are on full display, defined biceps, toned thighs, and god her tattoos are basically a honey-trap. she would be a fucking liar if she acted disgusted by it, part of her likes it a little too much. but hey, everyone likes to be appreciated from time to time and vi is no exception. and she never really saw a problem with it until a one night stand who then not not so subtly stalked her every time she was in the gym, learning her schedule until she had no choice but to leave her favorite gym. silently, she made a vow to not fuck with girls she met at the gym. 

….well, until you. 

gymrat!vi who is a known regular. she knows all the girls at the front desk, flirts with many of them, but to her it’s as platonic as chatting up the barista who brews her dose of caffeine in the morning. it’s ingrained into her morning routine, simply just a part of who she is. so, when she sees you at the front desk she nearly has to do a double take. there’s not a hot chance in hell she’s seen you before — vi would have definitely remembered you.

gymrat!vi who becomes shy for the first time in her life, bringing her membership card up to the scanner and offering a small smile but when looks back you seem to take a second look, eyes locked into her powder-blue eyes. even if just for a moment, you’re veering into her thumping soul. vi can’t help but smile. she reminds herself, you’re just another pretty girl. you’re new, probably won’t even last long. yeah, that’s what vi’s going to let herself believe. it’s not like she’s thinking about your gorgeous lips when she bench presses, or thinking about your gorgeous  eyes taking her breath away — or when vi’s powerlifting she’s so not thinking about lifting you on top of her. 

“if you talk to her, she might actually know your name.”

“w-what, i-i’m not, sh—”

jayce raises his eyebrows at vi, shaking his head as his very questionable friend spots her as she moves the weight the fluidity, her movements only struggling to push through when she reaches the final set.

“she’s the gym owner’s daughter, he’s wanting her to take over the reins, old age and all.” jayce responds as violet places the bar on the rack, her set complete until she moves onto the next one. “your little theory of her not being around for long is kinda crushed. unless you want to find another gym….”

“that’s the whole point of me not talking to her, m’not finding a new gym again. that’s a promise. i can control myself.” 

jayce just laughs. fucking laughs.

“what’s so funny, bro?” vi pouts.

“that you genuinely believe you’re gonna be able to stop yourself and that you think you have a type….and she fits the bill.” 

“oh, fuck off.” vi grunts.  

dropping the fifty pound dumbbells by the bench, lifting up her shirt to wipe some of the sweat off her face only to find you on the other side of the gym, staring directly at her abs like her glistening sweaty skin like it’s a golden ticket to heaven.

“well…fuck.” 

gymrat!vi who notices your presence more and more in the coming weeks. this time not just behind the front counter. you’re with the personal trainers, helping new customers fill out paperwork, and this morning you go wherever vi goes, her eyes can’t seem to stop searching for your figure. especially with those tight leggings you always seem to wear, vi couldn’t stop looking at the fat of your ass if her life depended on it. she managed to squeak out more than a hi to you yesterday, but it’s as far as her pleasantries extend.

gymrat!vi who has her headphones placed on her head, her all black workout set; this time something more modest at her disposable. the black and cotton hoodie covers her head, flares of bright pink wisps shadow from the hood but her shorts reach mid thigh, the overworked muscles in her legs flexing as she lifts the weight. jayce isn’t with her today, which means she basically had to physically restrain herself from talking to you today. even if she can see you sneaking glances at her through her workout, eyeing her legs each time she’s on the leg press. greedy, hot, goddess — vi is so fucked. 

when she walked the following day, you said her name, violet. 

you know her name. 

it’s just the database, it’s the only reason. 

pull yourself together, idiot. 

gymrat!viwho is at the end of her workout, taking her final rest before she does her last set, but here you go again, gawking as you pretend to be readjusting the weight on the racks but you finally stop looking at her, trying to put the last weight, the one-hundred pound bell but you just can’t. even then, vi is trying not to smile with how adorable you look as you struggle. 

before making her way over to you, she slides the black pair of headphones on her tattooed neck, popping the hoodie, seeing if anyone else was going to help you — just her luck — there wasn’t a soul in her at midnight besides her….shocker. 

“stupid, piece of shit, would you just—” 

“need some help there, princess?” vi looks over at you from the workout beach she’s perched on, legs spread wide as her jaw juts out, eyes naturally gleaming with curiosity. 

“i should be able to. i can do this, right? yeah? i definitely can do this.” 

but it only sounds as if you’re trying to convince yourself. the weight of responsibility crushing your spirit by a singular dumbbell. you’re huffing and puffing. life and death here, and all because of a stupid, petty, weight. 

vi stands up, her height towering over your hunched finger. “pick it up with your legs. next time, make it’ll easier.” 

violet doesn’t really use her legs though. the beautifully strong woman kneels on the ground with you, her gloved hand picks the weight up with ease and places it back on the rack. 

“obviously, i know that.” 

violet hums before she offers a hand, helping you stand tall. “of course you do.” 

the sensation bubbling on her fingertips from touching your skin almost seems downright electric — and now vi feels like running ten miles in the other direction for the sole purpose of settling her heartbeat for just a moment. 

“anyways, yeah, sorry to disturb you.” 

“not a problem, princess. never going to say no to a pretty girl in distress.” 

the smile violet offers is adorable, the one she flashes the girls when she comes in for her late work out, from wherever she comes from. but the way she scratches the nape of her neck? that’s just for you. 

gymrat!vi who can’t stop thinking of you, despite her best efforts. constantly, she wonders if you’re seeing someone, but the way you watch her, vi suspects your single as can be. it isn’t until one friday night, just as she’s trying to leave, one of the front girls, rich and pompous, is trying to coax her into meeting her and some friends at the bar tonight. when she’s about to say no for a finale time, growing more uncomfortable by the second, you’ve come up to where she is and, well fuck, violet’s even more embarrassed that one of your employees is hitting on her right in front of you. 

“c’mon! jayce says you haven’t been out in ages. you deserve it, you’re always working out so much. if anyone deserves a treat, it’s you.” 

cursing out the little shit in her mind, she rolls her eyes, trying to contain herself from having an aneurysm. “little shit, divulging all my secrets.” 

sabrina laughs more than she should, tossing her purple hair over her shoulder. carefully, you hover, absentmindedly scrolling on your phone and violet wonders if you stay there for a reason. 

if she’s the reason you’re eavesdropping. 

“so….is that a yes?” 

violet sighs, she hates this. “maybe another time.” 

gymrat!vi who wonders what you thought of the entire time. quiet as a mouse, you hadn’t said a single word to her since you were there to witness the rejection of her employee they still couldn’t seem to just stop. this is what she wants. silence…..right? it’s what she keeps telling herself but now vi can’t stop trying to catch your attention, just an ounce of it is all she craves. today, you only spared her a glance before you talked to jayce. pathetically, she decides to do something to catch your attention, hip thrusts. 

gymrat!vi who looks up as you watch her pelvis lift the weight placed on her abdomen, pushing sturdy hips through the set as you keep sparing glances gawking at her porcelain skin exposed. she can tell you’re at least trying to pay attention to whatever jayce is saying but you’re interest loses focus when she grunts with one final thrust, the bar rolling away from her legs. 

“did you hear that?” vi rolls her eyes at the sound of his chipper voice. 

“what?” violet slips her headphones off, trying to even her labored breaths. not just jayce, but the both of you stand above vi as she tries to catch her breath. 

“i invited her to our brunch with mel on saturday.” 

“oh, is that this saturday?” 

oh, he really is playing fucking dirty. 

“is there a problem, vi?” 

little chicken shit is grinning, goddamn it. she takes another swing from her water bottle, hoping to god you’ll think it’s too forward, too weird, and you’ll just instantly decline. 

“not a problem.” vi grits her teeth as she speaks, jaw clenching as she knows this is surely to be a hole there will be no digging out from. 

or one she so desperately wants to fill.

rayray rants — UM IDK HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS???? it's kinda different than what i normally post but i might turn it into a little hc series. anyways! hope you like and i have a very special vi post coming soon that i'm really excited about. but yeah! hopefully, i can continue this because vi working out is literally all i can think about. alright, um, see you next time ♡

[welcometoqueer]

Some U.S. election news updates (as of afternoon November 7, 2024):

Many states, including major battleground ones, have started recounting votes on their own despite there still being no national call for a recount. Some of these states recounting or considering recounting as of November 7, 2024 include: Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, Arizona (considering), and Texas (considering).

Most news outlets have been covering state laws regarding recounts and what a recount could mean. Notably, right-wing sources like Fox News have not mentioned the possibility of a recount or the high demand for one (hmmm).

In cities such as Chicago and Philadelphia, people took to the streets in a peaceful protest to demand a recount (wait, you can protest peacefully?? without starting an insurrection?? Crazy).

More information alleging Trump cheating has come forward, although many people are expressing their frustrations over there being little to no coverage of election interference by the mainstream media. Additionally, many Democratic voters are vowing to boycott news sources such as CNN and MSNBC due to their apparent tone-deaf and lackluster response to the allegations.

On Twitter, hashtags such as “Do Not Concede Kamala,” “Recount 2024,” “He/Trump Cheated,” and “Rigged” continue to trend nationally since election night.

Also in the Twitter hellscape, Elon Musk has been removing posts with resources, posts alleging Trump cheated, and posts with information on how to check your ballot and demand a recount. This is awfully suspicious and concerning behavior from someone who has also been accused of bribing voters, which is a federal crime.

Many people are also sharing their grief over the extreme likelihood of programs and services such as Social Security, Medicare, SNAP, the Department of Education, and others being diminished or fully gutted as many Republican lawmakers and Trump have promised to do. Already today (Nov. 7), House Republicans have proposed a bill that would reduce social security payments for U.S.Americans who receive disability benefits or a pension.

There are also concerns over imposed tariffs, the United States losing its NATO membership, and the potential dissolving of the United Nations.

Many MAGA Trump supporters have started to be more emboldened, not just in the Twitter space. Multiple parents have come forward to share that young boys at their children’s schools have also begun repeating the “your body, my choice” mantra, leaving other kids in distress.

Speaking of distress, nationwide, queer and trans people have been largely absent from work and school. Since election night, LGBTQ+ and other helplines have had long waits due to such high demand.

TW: suicide mention, skip the next paragraph

There’s been over 2000+ suicides of just LGBTQ+ individuals since election night and the numbers keep increasing drastically.

End TW

Politically, sitting President Joe Biden addressed the nation today to discuss a “peaceful transfer of power.” He addressed people questioning Donald Trump’s win and the election system saying: “It is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent, and it can be trusted, win or lose."

Needless to say, no one was pleased by his response and are still demanding an investigation or recount.

Other political figures such as Bernie Sanders and the Obamas’ released their own statements regarding the election.

The Obamas’ had a very professional yet disappointed statement.

Bernie Sanders however, took a different approach, sharing the mass sentiment among democratic voters and criticizing the Democratic Party based on their response to the situation. “It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them. While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they’re right.”

[ID:

Multiple videos and images with election news and updates.

The first video, posted to Twitter, is of an Anti-Trump protest in Chicago.

These should be peacefully taking place all over the country. This is what democracy is about, not storming Capitol buildings. Right MAGA? pic.twitter.com/lgzsP41Lze — Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) November 7, 2024.

The video shows people in the streets of Chicago and in front of Trump tower peacefully protesting in demand for a recount and investigation.

Protesters chants include:

“Donald Trump, you will see!”

“Racist, sexist, anti-gay! Donald Trump, go away!”

and “You’re not welcome in this town! Donald Trump, you fascist clown!”

The second video was also posted to Twitter by CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) on November 6, 2024. It’s a video from MSNBC reporting on the strange behavior of Trump leading up to the election where he repeatedly said he didn't need votes. These statements seem to imply that regardless of how people voted, he expected to gain power.

The next image is of the official statement regarding the election results by Barack and Michelle Obama.

The statement reads:

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT AND MRS. OBAMA ON THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 6, 2024

“Over the last few weeks and through Election Day, millions of Americans cast their votes - not just for president, but for leaders at every level. Now the results are in, and we want to congratulate President Trump and Senator Vance on their victory. This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for, given our profound disagreements with the Republican ticket on a whole host of issues. But living in a democracy is about recognizing that our point of view won't always win out, and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power. Michelle and I could not be prouder of Vice President Harris and Governor Walz - two extraordinary public servants who ran a remarkable campaign. And we will always be grateful to the staff and volunteers who poured their heart and soul into electing public servants they truly believed in. As I said on the campaign trail, America has been through a lot over the last few years - from a historic pandemic and price hikes resulting from the pandemic, to rapid change and the feeling a lot of folks have that, no matter how hard they work, treading water is the best they can do. Those conditions have created headwinds for democratic incumbents around the world, and last night showed that America is not immune. The good news is that these problems are solvable - but only if we listen to each other, and only if we abide by the core constitutional principles and democratic norms that made this country great. In a country as big and diverse as ours, we won't always see eye-to-eye on everything. But progress requires us to extend good faith and grace - even to people with whom we deeply disagree. That's how we've come this far, and it's how we'll keep building a country that is more fair and more just, more equal and more free.”

The last two images are Bernie Sanders’ statement on the election results, criticizing the response of the Democratic Party.

Sanders’ statement reads:

NEWS: Sanders Statement on the Results of the 2024 Presidential Election November 6, 2024 BURLINGTON, Vt. - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement in response to the outcome of the 2024 presidential election:

“It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them. First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well. While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they're right. Today, while the very rich are doing phenomenally well, 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and we have more income and wealth inequality than ever before. Unbelievably, real, inflation-accounted-for weekly wages for the average American worker are actually lower now than they were 50 years ago. Today, despite an explosion in technology and worker productivity, many young people will have a worse standard of living than their parents. And many of them worry that Artificial Intelligence and robotics will make a bad situation even worse. Today, despite spending far more per capita than other countries, we remain the only wealthy nation not to guarantee health care to all as a human right and we pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. We, alone among major countries, cannot even guarantee paid family and medical leave. Today, despite strong opposition from a majority of Americans, we continue to spend billions funding the extremist Netanyahu government's all out war against the Palestinian people which has led to the horrific humanitarian disaster of mass malnutrition and the starvation of thousands of children. Will the big money interests and well-paid consultants who control the Democratic Party learn any real lessons from this disastrous campaign? Will they understand the pain and political alienation that tens of millions of Americans are experiencing? Do they have any ideas as to how we can take on the increasingly powerful Oligarchy which has so much economic and political power? Probably not. In the coming weeks and months those of us concerned about grassroots democracy and economic justice need to have some very serious political discussions. Stay tuned.”

/end ID]

[back2bluesidex]

From Within - JJK [Masterpost/Announcement]

Pairing: Widowed!Jungkook X Fem!Reader

Theme: Angst, pining, eventual fluff, eventual smut, arrange marriage au, bffs to strangers to lovers au. Drabble series.

Summary: When you fell in love with Jungkook, you wished for your life to turn out as one of those clichéd fairytales, where two best friends fall for each other and live happily ever after. But were you lucky enough? Probably not because you had to watch the man taking vows, kissing the love of his life and promising forever right before your eyes. Unfortunately enough, now you are having to witness him breaking down bit by bit standing at his wife's funeral.

Warnings: angst, minor character death, pining, angst, unrequited love, eventual smut. NSFW!!

Patreon Membership Exclusive Drabble Series.

A/N: I will be updating once a week. The length of each chapter will be 1k to 1.5K since it's a drabble series.

Chapter Index:-

Part one: First and second heartbreak [Posted]

Part two: The bad news [Posted]

Part three: An unexpected proposal [Posted]

Part four: The dream that you didn't dream [Posted]

Part five: Call me by that name [Posted]

Part six: The Ex returns [Posted]

Part seven: Fried rice and samgyeopsal [Posted]

Part eight: The purple glittery box [Posted]

Part nine: Confrontation and Confession [Posted]

Part ten: Best buddies forever [Posted]

Preview

Dear Jungkook, Honestly, I don’t know what to write or even how to write to you.  I don’t know how I will present this card to you, or how you will even take it. Or what will you think after reading it.  But what I know is that I love you. I have loved you for as long as I can remember. I have loved you everytime you annoyed me, teased me, protected me, held my hands, patted my head, hugged me… I have loved you from the deepest corner of my heart. And I think it’s the right time to let you know this one secret that I hid from you.  Hope you aren’t angry.  But most importantly, I hope you don’t feel pressured to say yes just because I am your bestie. I know you probably don’t feel the same and it’s okay.  But if there is even the tiniest consideration in your heart for me, not as a friend but as a partner, then please come to the park near our elementary school.  I will be waiting for an hour from the time you receive this letter.  – Xoxo Y/N. 

It was graduation day when you decided to deliver the card to your best friend. However, after the ceremony Jungkook basically vanished. 

You looked for him everywhere you could, only to find him in the annex building. 

His face was flushed, as if he was embarrassed. He was looking in every possible direction, as if to avoid the person standing right in front of him. 

Before him stood Jung Mido, a well-known figure in your university since she was the student body president. 

“Mido-ya I- uh I really like you, will you-” he got cut mid-confession as Mido rose on her feet and placed a kiss on his lips. 

Jungkook looked starstruck and so in love.

[y2kas13]

Hiii can i request coach!sevika x beginner reader?? Like in the gym

Spot Me?

၄၃ Coach!Sevika x beginner!reader

၄၃ Summary: You decided to stick true to your New Year's resolution and go to the gym, but you're struck with embarrassment every time you enter, not just because you're a complete novice at exercise but also because a particularly beautiful woman who obviously knows what she's doing is there.

၄၃ CW: suggestive but no actual smut since it wasn't requested, sevika is naturally flirty and casually dominant and that rings true in this, no set body type just that reader hasn't exercised in a while, reader gets out of breath but no descriptions of asthma or anything seriously medically wrong.

၄၃ A/N: OMG GUYS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT ON MY LAST FIC!! I'm so glad you guys actually enjoyed it and yes I will make a part two that is more fleshed out just allow me some time to do so lol. I'm gonna try to get into the swing of writing again as I've wanted to for a while but was unmotivated but since you've expressed your interest I shall do my best lol. As always interaction is appreciated and feel free to request whatever for any character I write for (check my masterlist to see which characters those are as I have updated it and my request rules) ALR ENOUGH YAP ESSSGETIT

၄၃ Word Count: 1.3k

Like almost everyone on the planet on January 1st, I vowed to go to the gym. I've never been too concerned with my figure, I know that my size doesn't determine my worth or beauty but it does hurt my ego that the little 12-year-olds I babysit can carry more bags of groceries into the house than I can.

To prepare I bought a gym membership. I wanted to do pilates but the only classes were for rich stay-at-home moms with disposable incomes which I couldn't afford so I stuck to a cheap little gym membership. For Christmas, many of my friends and family bought me gym equipment and clothing to help jumpstart and keep me encouraged to go, as I don't want to feel as though I've wasted their money.

I procrastinated for a few days going under the guise of wanting to "avoid the rush on newcomers" when in reality I saw a couple of TikToks poking fun at the newcomers that come in January and don't know what they are doing then flake by February and it made me feel bad.

I want this to be serious I need to get stronger and improve physically.

I was on a downward spiral of insecurity about my skill or lack thereof when I saw an ad on Instagram advertising affordable trainers for newbie gym-goers.

Trying to cash in on the rush I see. I decided to click the link and check it out. If it's a scam, I'll just click out anyway.

I was greeted with a nicely arranged and professional-looking website. In the corner, I saw a badge that proudly announces 5 years of business. Must not be a scam after all I thought. I continue to look through the website partly due to boredom but also in part due to curiosity.

I click on a button that says "Personalize your workout and get a coach!" I fill it out completely and honestly because I could get help from someone who knows way more about exercise than I do. I'd rather cough up a few extra dollars every month and reach my goals rather than accidentally injure myself and never go back.

After a few moments of waiting for results it tells me I'm a complete novice, no duh, I thought. I should start with a completely basic workout to get me started but not overdo it. it gives me a couple of options for trainers who specialize in training newbies.

"Ew, they are all creepy-looking old guys." There was a fleck of disappointment in my tone. I kept looking though just to see if there wasn't anyone... geriatric looking. Then I see her.

A beautiful brown-skinned woman, at least 6 feet tall who is absolutely ripped. A calm, yet slightly authoritative look took over her face. After a moment of just staring at her pictures, I read her description.

Hi, I'm Sevika. I’m 37 and have been exercising since I was a teenager so I know a thing or two about properly exercising and targeting the right muscle groups. Message me if you're interested in having me train you. Short and sweet, huh? I thought to myself after reading her quite short bio. I didn't even give it much of a second thought as I clicked her to be my coach and sent a deposit to lock it in. Then, promptly passed out as it was well past 2 am and I still had to work tomorrow.

After leaving work I came home and got ready to go to the gym. I had been briefly texting Sevika to set up meeting times for the weeks to come. To my disappointment, all her messages were short and to the point. we agreed every two days a week to keep it simple enough but to too hardcore to burn myself out, or my wallet.

I checked my new fitness watch to see what time it was and saw that I was cutting it close to when I had to meet her. From her messages, she seems very no-nonsense and wouldn't appreciate it if I was late for our first meeting. Not that I want to waste any time getting to see her.

After a short car ride, I go inside, get my new membership card to sign in, and then walk into the gym part. I look around a little anxious. all these people and these frankly daunting-looking equipment make me second guess myself, everyone looks like they know what they're doing what if they're secretly judging me for being new? Right as I'm gonna say fuck it and take the L of losing out on some money I hear a voice from my right call out my name.

I whip my head around to see who could be calling me I see her in all her glory.

Those pictures did not do her justice.

She's even more breathtaking in person. Before I can go on and keep staring at her she makes her way over to me with a natural swagger in her walk. I can't stop staring at her muscles that poke through her tight gray shirt. As she comes closer someone stops to dap her up. "Big Mama is back huh? haven't seen you in a bit." Big Mama is right. "Took a break to give you losers a chance to catch up to me, obviously it didn't help much." They both have a slight chuckle, Sevika pats them on their back and walks past them with a promise to hit them up later.

She finally walks up to me and gives me a quick look up and down and smirks slightly. “So you're the newbie I'll be training for the next couple of weeks huh?” I give a flushed smile and nod a tad too fast, “Yup, that's me, I'm excited to get back into the gym!” She gives me a bigger smirk at this. “I'm excited to have you here.” she leaves a lingering look at my lips that quickly goes down to my hips and back up to my eyes. She leads me towards the middle of the gym.

We discussed my reasons for exercising, and she mapped out a plan of action for my exercises. She also promised to send me a meal plan to follow to further my exercise journey.

“Alright let's start with some basic arm exercises since you're focused on strength in your upper body.” She led me to a bench and instructed me to bend over it with one arm supporting and one arm lifting the dumbbell.

As I moved she watched softly correcting my form but her hands lingered perhaps just a bit to long. I kept up doing several different low-impact strength training all of which Sevika kept a close eye and even closer hand on me to correct my form. 

As time seemingly stretched on for ages, I finally completed my exercise routine for the day. As I gulped down my water rather quickly, her voice broke me from my exhausted daze.

“Well, judging by your dehydration and sweat on your brow, you definitely got in a good workout.” Her chuckle at the end of her statement brought over a rush of embarrassment, and I quickly tried to wipe any sweat off myself and calm down my rapid breath. So much for not trying to embarrass myself in front of her.

“Oh my god, I must look insane right now, just give me a moment to compose myself!” I say hurriedly trying to fix my hair and save face in front of her. She reaches out and grabs my hand, “No need to be embarrassed I think you look real good all sweaty in front of me.” Her grip on my arm and her words makes me look up at her and see the sultry look in her eyes. 

“How about I take you into the locker room and help you… freshen up.”

[rabbits-of-negative-euphoria]

I'm supposed to take membership vows at my parents' church soon but I'm having a really really really hard time with their hands-off policy on politics

in part because I don't understand what that means, because the elders do talk about politics in the pulpit (because you have to during times of political turmoil), but when they do, they're so vague, as if both sides of the aisle are equally valid for Christians. my parents know the pastor personally and assure me that's not what he believes, but I shouldn't have to know the pastor personally in order to parse out what he says in the pulpit.

they say, "We will address, for example, abortion where it comes up in the Text, but we won't tell you to vote for Trump or vote for Kamala." but will you advise us who not to vote for, between two choices?

it just sounds like they're saying "We refuse to disciple people in this extremely prominent spiritual area, because separation of church and state or something." And even that feels uncharitable, but I firmly believe I have lost so many childhood church friends to leaders' reticence to honestly disciple people in the synthesis of Christianity and politics. and by "lost," I don't mean, "We disagreed on tariffs and now we don't talk." I mean they've cut their breasts off and sterilized themselves.

this isn't the Clinton administration anymore. when people talk about "politics" they're not talking about the tax code. they're talking about theology. abortion, gender ideology, critical race theory, sexuality, Marxism, the very concept of what makes a nation. these are theological issues which are pertinent to an individual's spiritual health and Christian walk.

anyways. please pray for me, that God would give me peace and clarity about the right next step. I feel it would be dishonorable/unwise to join without at least discussing this with an elder.

[mariacallous]

Donald Trump’s impending return to the White House has raised expectations of a fresh push for peace in 2025, with the US leader committed to seeking some kind of deal to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While the exact nature of Trump’s peace plan is still unknown, it is expected to involve significant Ukrainian territorial concessions.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s negotiating position is already coming into focus. While Ukrainian officials continue to rule out officially ceding land to Moscow, there appears to be growing recognition in Kyiv that the complete liberation of the country is no longer militarily feasible. Instead, Ukraine has begun indicating a readiness to temporarily compromise on territorial issues, while at the same time underlining the critical importance of security guarantees.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his first meeting with Trump since the US presidential election to emphasize the need for credible security commitments in any negotiated settlement. During a three-way chat together with French President Emmanuel Macron in December 2024, the Ukrainian leader reportedly stressed to Trump that a ceasefire alone “would not be enough” to end the war with Russia.

Zelenskyy and other senior Ukrainian officials have reiterated this position on multiple occasions in recent weeks, expressing their readiness to seek a diplomatic solution while insisting that it must be accompanied by credible long-term security guarantees that will prevent any repeat of the present Russian invasion. In essence, Ukraine’s position can be summed up as “no peace without security.”

It is not yet clear what kind of security guarantees Ukraine can realistically expect to receive. Ukrainian officials continue to push for NATO membership, which is seen in Kyiv as being by far the most credible deterrent against future Russian aggression. However, leading NATO members including the US and Germany remain reluctant to extend an invitation to Ukraine amid concerns over the possibility of a direct clash between the alliance and Russia.

Bilateral security pacts could potentially serve as a solution to this impasse, but any agreements would need to include firm commitments to defend Ukraine against a renewed Russian invasion. Zelenskyy stated in early 2025 that security guarantees of this kind would only be effective if provided by the US. As yet, there is no indication that the United States or other key allies are prepared to undertake such a major step.

Preliminary discussions are also believed to be underway exploring the possible deployment of a multi-national peacekeeping force to monitor a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, with a number of European nations potentially providing troops. This approach could temporarily reduce the likelihood of a return to full-scale hostilities, but skeptics argue that such a force would be challenging to maintain and would not serve as a long-term solution to the Russian threat.

In the absence of a plausible peacekeeping operation, some have suggested that Ukraine’s Western partners could ensure a viable peace by vowing to dramatically increase military support and provide the country with sufficient arms to deter Moscow. However, given the regular delays and consistent shortfalls in the delivery of Western military aid during the current war, this option would be unlikely to satisfy Kyiv or convince the Kremlin to abandon its plans for the complete conquest of Ukraine.

With all sides now increasingly acknowledging the necessity of territorial concessions, solving the long-term security conundrum looks set to be the main obstacle to ending the largest European war since World War II. Indeed, unless Ukraine’s security concerns can be satisfactorily addressed, there is unlikely to be any peace agreement at all.

Ukrainians are acutely aware that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains fully committed to his ultimate goal of ending Ukrainian independence and erasing Ukrainian national identity entirely. Putin’s insistence on a neutral and disarmed Ukraine is seen in Kyiv as a clear indication that he has no interest in a viable peace agreement and intends to renew his invasion as soon as he has had an opportunity to rearm.

They also understand that any ceasefire without credible security guarantees would leave their country in a militarily, economically, and geopolitically unsustainable position. In such circumstances, Ukraine would be unable to attract the international investment needed to rebuild the country, while the millions of Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion in 2022 would be unlikely to return. A weakened, demoralized, depopulated, and internationally isolated Ukraine would be in no shape to resist a fresh Russian onslaught.

Unless Ukraine is offered long-term security commitments, many Ukrainians may reluctantly conclude that it would make more sense to continue the fight now rather than accept terms that would amount to a national death sentence. If their Western partners respond by reducing military support, Ukraine’s prospects would be extremely dim. This would be equally dangerous for Europe, which would be confronted by the prospect of a collapsing Ukraine and a resurgent Russia.

All this can be avoided if Western leaders provide Ukraine with watertight security guarantees capable of deterring Putin and preventing further Russian aggression. However, that will require the kind of bold leadership and political courage that have been in strikingly short supply in Western capitals since the onset of Russia’s invasion almost three years ago.

[rotworld]

One of my favourite pieces from this year was The Vow(also really enjoyed Cold-Blooded, Perfect Fit, Dinner and a Show, and Long Goodbye)! Did you want to share any more world building that didn't make it into the story? You mentioned there was a lot that didn't fit and I love the world building that you do.

the vow had an absurd amount of worldbuilding for such a short one shot because it was a setting i built before last month (just for fun/myself, not for a project i intended to post). believe it or not, this is a modern setting. house mandragora is a small part of a much bigger organization in the midst of a schism. warnings abound, these are the bad guys. contains child abuse, criminal exploitation, implied kidnapping and some extra weird implications of necrophilia.

->belvedere point is a big city with a big corruption and organized crime problem where everyone, but especially the wealthy elite, covertly wage war against one another for power and control. despite all the chaos and backstabbing, some semblance of equilibrium exists. those who’ve played the game long enough understand that a precarious balance is being purposefully maintained by some unseen hand. 

->by day, they're known as the lockwood yacht club. they meet several times a month to mingle and network, seemingly unconcerned with squabbling over territory like most of the city’s old money. by night, they’re known by another name: the ferrymen. operating in secrecy, they believe they are honor-bound and obligated to guide belvedere point and shape its future, and will destroy anything standing in their way. their preferred methods are subtle but they aren’t above bolder demonstrations of force when the situation calls for it.

->the lyc’s history can be traced to the founding of belvedere point itself. membership is only rarely conferred upon newcomers and is mostly hereditary, passed down through the founding families, though not every child is destined for such greatness. those who never learn the proper viciousness and secrecy will be culled. while marginally more stable than some of its competitors in belvedere point, the lyc is no stranger to internal disputes. centuries of infighting and power struggles have fractured the organization into three main factions: house conium, house mandragora, and house aconitum. each has their own unique hierarchies and responsibilities to the lyc, and each exists in a tense and complex truce with the others.

->house conium is considered the “main house,” formerly the main body of the lyc before its splintering. it’s the largest faction and the only one that interacts with the general public, its membership boasting some of belvedere point’s most influential entrepreneurs, politicians and socialites. house conium’s governing body, the committee, holds some sway over the other houses but not as much as it would like.

->house mandragora consists of the lyc’s most crucial assets: its necromancers. each one is born through a ritual of science and sorcery known as the “alraune protocol.” this process requires the combination of reproductive material from a living participant and a dead one, through insemination or other means. a creature born on the boundary between life and death will exist between the two and can confer this gift to others. the alraune protocol has a high rate of failure and often produces nothing at all, so every necromancer successfully created is considered extremely precious. necromancers are often targeted by those who discover the true nature of the lyc, so they're carefully guarded and encouraged to remain out of the public eye.

-house mandragora is governed by its eldest member, orcus, who is rumored to be one of the organization’s first necromancers. its day to day operations include esoteric research, maintaining the lyc’s poison gardens, and tending to revenants. the house is still recovering from a cataclysm that nearly wiped them out. 

->house aconitum consists entirely of revenants, elite assassins who serve as the lyc’s enforcers. revenants are obtained as children from throughout belvedere point and begin combat training as early as possible. as apprentices, they live extremely restricted lives within the confines of their training grounds and dormitories, and are conditioned to have absolute loyalty to their superiors, to the ferrymen, and most importantly to the necromancers of house mandragora. transformation into a revenant is a highly anticipated event, granting them inhuman strength, speed and resilience. to discourage reckless behavior, apprentices are taught that a first death that comes too early or easily is shameful. despite this, a prevalent belief remains among revenants that to sacrifice themselves for their necromancer is the highest honor and many hope to die this way. 

-house aconitum is governed by the highest-ranking revenants, those who serve the current leader of house mandragora. their primary function is to carry out the will of the main house and eliminate its enemies, select and train revenant candidates, and protect the members of house mandragora.

bonus fun facts:

-necromancers look like regular humans but give off an eerie feeling that makes most people uncomfortable around them (it has the opposite effect on revenants).

-revenants get etiquette training so they can blend in at fancy social events. merrill and gideon are both extremely talented ballroom dancers.

-allegedly, each necromancer has a distinct “flavor” influenced by which poisons they consume most often. it’s scandalous to discuss this openly but it’s a frequent topic of gossip in house aconitum’s dormitories. 

-it was the necromancers who initiated the schism that led to the formation of the houses. they believe that the incidents which reduced their numbers may have been orchestrated by the main house as “punishment” for their rebellion, a claim that the ferrymen vehemently deny.

[moonfairywritings]

@/welovemonstergirls asked: Can I see hcs for Whitney, Candice, Hilda, Sabrina, Elesa and Skyla with an adopted child that was previously abused? The child is quiet, shy and fearful and is prone to crying and nightmares.

Franchise: Pokémon

Genre: General headcanons; angst; hurt to comfort; familial

Trigger warnings: PTSD mention

A/n: Ah, my first angsty ask. Poor little thing, I'll make sure these girls take good care of them, don't you worry!

❀ Sabrina

Sabrina hasn't been around kids since she herself was one; the only time she interacts with them is if a gym challenger just happens to be a kid. So to say that she's inexperienced with children is an understatement. But she's a kind woman with a big heart, and has absolutely zero tolerance for child abuse (well, game Sabrina anyways). Seeing the awful state that the child was in, she took them under her wing immediately and vowed to give them a second chance at living a happy life.

Despite her cold and aloof exterior, Sabrina is actually pretty laid back and chill. She won't be particularly strict or overprotective, but she won't just throw the child to the wolves either. As soon as the adjustment period is over, she'd gift them an Eevee and task them with evolving it into an Espeon, though that's not to say she'd be disappointed if it accidentally evolves into an Umbreon or Sylveon, she'd just be proud to see her child's growth as a trainer and person. Having a partner Pokémon that's a psychic type would not only serve as a protector, but if the child has a panic attack, the Pokémon's psychic abilities could help calm them down.

Speaking of which, panic attacks and nightmares become a non issue. With Sabrina and her Pokémon's psychic abilities, the child could be hypnotized into falling peacefully asleep or winding down from a PTSD episode. She'd be careful not to overuse them, as she knows that she can't always be there to help the child, so she would research and teach them some healthy coping mechanisms which range from the more normal tricks like taking 10 deep breaths or squeezing a stress ball, to more outlandish things like biting into a lemon. Not particularly elegant, but if it works, it works.

Sabrina would love doing activities with the child. Once she reached adulthood, she realized just how much she genuinely enjoys spending time with other people, and her favorite person to be with, of course, would be her own child. She'd like to read to them before bed, do puzzles with them, bake with them, or just sit together while they each did their own thing.

There's a chance that being around Sabrina and her Pokémon constantly would lead to the child developing their own psychic powers. In that case, Sabrina would be an excellent teacher. Whether it be teaching them to have a better grip on their telekinesis, clearer telepathic communication skills, or making sense of their visions, Sabrina would be there to guide them every step of the way.

*•.¸❀

❀ Whitney

Whitney is... Well, a bit of a mess. I can see her being a great babysitter or older sister figure, but being a child's primary caregiver? Let's just say not a lot of "parenting" will be happening. Whitney is spontaneous and energetic, and that's reflected in the way she takes care of her child. She takes the child with her everywhere, and I mean everywhere. To the gym, the baseball field, the mall, the beach, to run errands, to hang out with friends. Whitney loves them to the moon and back, but she'd end up treating them more like an accessory than a human at times.

Whitney would make absolute certain that the child will always look and feel their very best. Lots of cute clothes and accessories, the best skin and hair care products on the market, and a lifetime membership to whatever the Pokémon equivalent of the YMCA is. Of course, all of those burnt calories are nullified by the amount of sweets Whitney shoves down their throat. She likes to spoil and be spoiled. What can she say?

Whitney is prone to crying and, well, tantrums. She's a very emotional person in general, so if the child is upset and crying, she ends up crying too. Whitney tries to keep herself together for their sake, she really does, but seeing her little angel break down tears her heart to pieces. She'll panic, which sometimes makes things worse, but she'll do absolutely whatever she physically can to calm them (both) down and make them happy again. In the end, Whitney figures out a routine and is able to calm them down quicker whilst also keeping her cool. Maybe she's not so bad at this whole parent thing after all.

Very protective of them. They're her little baby, why wouldn't she be? If Whitney spots anyone being mean to her kid, cute little immature Whitney vanishes and she goes full mama bear. And if God forbid a person or Pokémon tries to physically threaten them? They get a taste of Miltank's most powerful Rollout. She can come across at times like a helicopter parent. It's not that she doesn't trust the child, it's that she's genuinely interested in their life and wants to be able to connect with them. Friends, hobbies, likes and dislikes, she wants to know it all. Helps with picking out birthday gifts, too!

*•.¸❀

❀ Candice

10/10 soccer mom. Probably the most experienced (and most normal) caregiver on this list, though Skyla would be a close second. Anyway, Candice takes her role as a parent very seriously. She'd buy several books on parenting and even take a few parenting classes. She wants her child to have the best life they possibly can.

Candice wants her child to live and grow from their experiences. She's not the type to throw them out of the nest and leave them to their own devices, of course, but she'd try to teach them independence to the best of her abilities. This is a little easier said than done at the start considering the child's background, but Candice is willing to put in the work to help them thrive.

Snow hikes, ice skating, sledding, Candice would make sure that the child stays active and healthy. She'd make sure they were the only ones around if the child was too anxious to be around other people. Afterwards, she'd treat them to a nice big mug of hot cocoa.

I can see her homeschooling the child for the first year or two after the adoption, to help them adjust before throwing them into another unfamiliar situation. You'd think that she'd be running short on time thanks to her juggling her job as a gym leader, her social life, hobbies and now a child, but somehow she manages. Candice is pretty intelligent, so educating the child wouldn't be too big of a challenge. Additionally, she'd enroll them in any extracurricular activity they show interest in so they'd get some social interaction, though she'd try to find groups that were a bit on the smaller side at first to avoid them becoming stressed out.

Walkie-talkies would be kept on Candice's and the child's nightstands in case they're woken up from nightmares or have an anxiety attack and need comfort. Candice can wake up in an instant, so it's no bother to her. She'll stay up as long as they need, talking to them, listening to them ramble, or telling them stories. She wants them to know that they can rely on her, and that she'd never find them annoying or a burden.

*•.¸❀

❀ Elesa

Elesa has virtually zero experience with children, but not because she dislikes them. She likes kids, thinks they're fun. I picture her as somewhat of a vodka aunt. Always showering her child with gifts and trying to prioritize being cool and fun so they don't find her annoying.

To expand on that last part, Elesa is rich, that goes without saying. She could afford practically anything the kid wanted. They want these specific snacks from Johto? Elesa will buy them a month's supply. They're too anxious to play outside with the other kids? Elesa hired the best architects in the region to build them an indoor jungle gym. Not to mention that she made sure to hire a great therapist to help the child through their trauma.

Unfortunately due to both of Elesa's jobs being extremely demanding and time consuming, she's rarely ever home. She hates this knowing how upset the child gets when she's not around. To at least attempt to remedy this, once she's on break she will immediately start a video call with them to check in. She would also make sure they were surrounded with stuff to keep them busy, whether it be toys, games, books, movies or Pokémon to keep them company.

Elesa doesn't mind being woken up in the middle of the night from nightmares, as she's used to functioning on little sleep anyway. She'll invite them into her bed with her and lay their head on her chest, ask them to tell her about their nightmare as she gently runs her fingers through their hair to calm them down. Being a model is a stressful job, with having to deal with everyone's expectations of her to be perfect, so she understands stress and anxiety. If the child is too nervous to sleep alone, Elesa will wrap them in the softest blanket she has and let them cling to her arm for the rest of the night.

Elesa is very gentle and patient with them, especially at first, but she isn't going to let the child continue to live in fear for the rest of their life. She won't push them beyond their limits, but in the rare moments when she has some time to spare, she'll take them out on walks or to visit the amusement park. The world is so beautiful and has so much to offer, and she wants her child to be able to experience all of the wonder and good the world has to offer. Like previously mentioned, Elesa hired a therapist for them, and is also willing to do everything she can to help them heal.

*•.¸❀

❀ Skyla

Second best parent on the list. Incredibly bright and optimistic, Skyla can rather effortlessly turn anyone's negative mood into a positive one. Though the child's case is a little more than a "bad mood," Skyla is patient enough to take any issue that arises head on and with the utmost care. She's always liked kids, always treated them with kindness and respect, never talking down to them or belittling them because of their age. Children are humans too, just because they're young and still learning does not mean that they are stupid or that their feelings don't matter, Skyla believes this wholeheartedly.

The child is on a set schedule that prioritizes both health and fun. Early mornings with breakfasts that contain lots of fruit, then afterwards a morning ride in Skyla's airplane. Most of their time during the day is spent either outside or in the gym. Fresh air is good for the mind and body, and so is being around Pokémon! That's what Skyla thinks at least. Of course, if it all gets too overwhelming, Skyla will take the child to the gym's break room for a little recuperation. In the evening, the child is free to do whatever they please - within reason, of course. Skyla always makes sure to be nearby in case she's needed, but learning some independence early on never hurts.

Skyla spends a lot of time with her friends. She's a social butterfly, and maintaining her friendships is very important to her. She wants the child to have that kind of experience as well, so she'd encourage them to join clubs or attend camps. Sometimes, she'd bring them along on shopping dates with Elesa and Caitlin, who were both completely on board with taking the child to as many clothing stores as possible to play dress up. Not only does the child have a caring mother, but two aunts who love to spoil them.

Also gets the child in therapy immediately. Skyla's smart, but she's no professional when it comes to children's mental health, and she knows this. She wants her baby to be healthy and happy, after all. Whenever they have a panic attack, Skyla makes sure to remain as calm as possible, and carefully walk them through it. Do they need water? Do they need to go somewhere quieter? Do they want a hug? No matter how they respond, Skyla stays gentle with them. It's not their fault that they feel this way, or that the adults around them failed them. Skyla's heart aches for the poor thing, and she'll do whatever she can to help them recover from their trauma.

*•.¸❀

❀ Hilda

I wouldn't exactly call Hilda "motherly," but I'd say that "sisterly" would be an apt description. She's... well, a bit of a meathead. Her fiery personality can leave people a little winded after meeting her, especially if they aren't as passionate about battling as she is. Despite how seemingly one track minded she is, I firmly believe that she would take on the role of a caretaker instantly if a child needed her help. She'd just be a little clumsy at first, but thankfully, she has friends like Hilbert, N (who would also be a bit clueless, but would try his best to help), Bianca and Cheren, ESPECIALLY Cheren.

As soon as they were old enough, Hilda would take them to Professor Juniper (or Bianca) to receive their partner Pokémon. As I said, Hilda is very passionate about battling, and would want to share her interests with the child. Even if they're not particularly interested in it, a Pokémon would still be able to protect them if the need arises.

Every weekend, Hilda would take them out to get Casteliacones. I mean, who doesn't like ice cream? It would be a good way to bond, while also gently reintroducing them to public spaces. If they were too shy and nervous to order themselves, Hilda would have no issue ordering for them. She hoped that her confidence would one day rub off on them, but until then, she didn't mind if they hid behind her. She promised to protect them no matter what, and she never goes back on her word.

I'm not gonna lie, I don't think Hilda would even notice the nightmares at first. Girl sleeps like a ROCK. She would one morning notice how groggy and sickly the child looked and would ask what was wrong. When they tell her that they had a nightmare and weren't able to wake her up, she'd feel terrible. After that, she'd ask every night if they wanted one of her Pokémon to snuggle with. Emboar was big, but very warm, Ursaring was also huge, but its fur was soft and you could also count on it to keep you safe, and Musharna would be able to keep the nightmares at bay.

Hilda wouldn't know how to respond to the anxiety attacks at first. Her knee-jerk reaction would be to hug them, but was later told by Cheren that that could make it worse by making them feel suffocated. Instead, she opted for sitting down next to them, letting them cry it out, and quietly telling them that everything was going to be okay, that she would always stay by their side. It's one of those rare moments where Hilda is softer and quieter. She loves this kid so much, and all she wants is to help them feel better. Normally she would rush into things without a second thought, but this isn't the sort of thing you can speedrun, and she knows that. This time, she'll be patient.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Dean Obeidallah at The Dean's Report:

Donald Trump’s idea of being patriotic is not about supporting the United States. It’s about supporting those who help him. That’s why Trump has long praised and defended the Jan 6 terrorists who were helping him attempt to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election. Now Trump is taking this support to a new level by welcoming to his exclusive country club in New Jersey an awards show called the “J6 Awards Gala” created to honor those who attacked the Capitol—including those who brutally beat police officers. This is akin to Osama Bin Laden holding an awards event four years after 9/11 to honor those who waged that terrorist attack. And it’s just as vile and anti-American.

The website for this Sept. 5 event--organized by the Stand in the Gap Foundation--boasts that Trump has been invited to speak—although reports are he’s not expected to attend. But the event website notes other visible Trump allies will be speaking including Rudy Guiliani and former advisor Peter Navarro—who was released in July from prison after serving three months for refusing to comply with the House Jan 6 committee’s investigation. It's no surprise that this event is being held at one of Trump’s marquee properties given his track record. The GOP’s 2024 presidential nominee has hailed the attackers as  “patriots” and vowed to pardon those convicted of crimes— including those “who assaulted officers.” And last year—to little media attention--he spoke at a fundraiser at this very Trump golf course in support of the Jan 6 insurrectionists. Trump has even  kicked off campaign rallies with an announcer asking the crowd to “please rise for the horribly and unfairly treated January 6 hostages” followed by a recording of the national anthem performed by people incarcerated in connection with the attack. Indeed, it’s these Jan 6 prisoners who sang that song--which Trump lent his voice to--who will be honored at the upcoming event at Trump’s golf course.

[...] In addition, the organizer of this J6 awards ceremony is Sarah McAbee, the wife of Ronald Colton McAbee, a former sheriff’s deputy who was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for assaulting police officers on Jan. 6. As DOJ detailed, McAbee despicably held down another police officer who had been “knocked to the ground, kicked, and stripped of his baton by other rioters” enabling the crowd to viciously beat him. As a result, “the officer sustained physical injuries, including a head laceration, concussion, elbow injury, bruising, and bodily abrasions.” These are just some of the Jan 6 attackers expected to be honored at Trump National Golf Club  in New Jersey. Interestingly, the country club’s website explains that for large events like weddings or galas, organizers need to contact the club management to utilize a “membership sponsored program.”  Did Trump sponsor this event? Did he waive this requirement? It’s unclear but one thing is certain: Trump has not denounced the event, called for it be canceled or demanded his photo be removed for the website promoting the “J6 Awards Gala.” At this point, even if Trump were pressured and ultimately denounced the J6 awards gala, it would ring hollow given his record of praising and defending the attackers.  These are Trump’s people and Jan 6 was his attack. As the House Jan 6 committee’s final report summed up well, “the central cause of January 6th was one man, former President Donald Trump, whom many others followed,” adding, “None of the events of January 6th would have happened without him.”  

At the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, NJ, Donald Trump is set to welcome the domestic terrorist-honoring J6 Awards Gala on September 5th.

Trump himself is invited to speak but currently isn’t confirmed; however, Peter Navarro, Bo Loudon, Colby Covington, and Rudy Giuliani are just a few of the confirmed speakers.

[tomorrowusa]

Sweden officially joined NATO on Thursday. It had been neutral since 1814.

One of Putin's pretexts for his illegal invasion of Ukraine was to prevent NATO expansion. What the invasion really did was to cause NATO to become reinvigorated and expanded.

With Finland and Sweden joining NATO, the land border between Russia and NATO has doubled in length. And the Baltic is now a Sea of NATO with Russia holding only a couple of relatively short strips of coastline near Kaliningrad and Saint Petersburg. This represents a spectacular strategic failure for Putin.

Sweden on Thursday formally joined NATO as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality as concerns about Russian aggression in Europe have spiked following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Secretary of State Antony Blinken presided at a ceremony in which Sweden's "instrument of accession" to the alliance was officially deposited at the State Department. "This is a historic moment for Sweden. It's historic for alliance. It's history for the transatlantic relationship," Blinken said. "Our NATO alliance is now stronger, larger than it's ever been." Kristersson wrote in a social media post that "we are therefore a safer country." Later Thursday. Kristersson will visit the White House and then be a guest of honor at President Joe Biden's State of the Union address to Congress.

Ukraine will eventually join NATO but it probably won't happen while active hostilities continue. Expect to hear Sweden mentioned at the State of the Union address.

Biden, in his speech to Congress, is expected to cite Sweden's accession to NATO as evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin's intent to divide and weaken the alliance has failed as a direct result of the Ukraine invasion. And, the Democratic president is expected to use Sweden's decision to join to step up calls for reluctant Republicans to approved stalled military assistance to Ukraine as the war enters its third year. Biden and his NATO counterparts have vowed that Ukraine will join one day, too.

Russian imperialism of the past 300 years has caused its neighbors to seek more protection against it. Few people in Eastern Europe have fond memories of being Russian or Soviet colonies. With Putin acting like a хуйло for the past 20 years, the only safe option is NATO membership.

[imabeautifulbutterfly]

The Gym Membership - Part 50 (Crosshair)

Summary: Wrecker asks Crosshair some hard questions

A/N: Hello Lovelies,

I hope everyone had an awesome week, and are enjoying their weekend.

Love oo

Warnings: Grief, cheating, mentions of liquor, guilt. I think that's it, if I miss any warnings, please let me know.

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There have been many moments in Crosshair’s life where he could predict exactly what someone would do or say; and even in this instant he fully expected some form of judgement from Wrecker, some rebuke or rebuttal that would’ve told him Wrecker couldn’t be on board with how he lived his life. His fists clenched as he waited for Wrecker to tell him to leave, that how he treated his marriage vows was beyond reprehensible. 

However, Wrecker simply nodded, reached out his hand and gently patted Crosshair’s arm.

“Cross, you were unfaithful. There’s not much that can be denied about that, however that doesn’t make you a bad person. Yes, you had affairs, however you didn’t do it because you were malicious. You were in pain, grieving, dealing with the fact you lost someone incredibly important to you, and didn’t know how to deal with it. So maybe in your own way you were trying to find a way to deal with the trauma, the pain, the unbearable grief. All it does is make you human.” Wrecker squeezed his arm, reassuring him as best he could he was right there for him and wouldn’t be going anywhere. “And the biggest thing you have to do now, is forgive yourself. Allow yourself to grieve, not just for the loss of Avery, but for the guilt you feel, and then eventually learn to move on.” Wrecker took in a deep breath as he looked at Cross, “Not sure if it helps or maybe you need to hear it, but I forgive you, and I have a feeling Avery would’ve too. ”

“I don’t deserve forgiveness,” Crosshair muttered, fighting tears. 

“Why don’t you think you deserve forgiveness?”

“Because I betrayed the one person I loved more than anything. The one person who trusted me without question. Avery …” Cross took in a deep breath as he leaned against the chair, “she gave me her heart, her trust, her love and … and I couldn’t … when she needed me most … I couldn’t …” he pinched his eyes fighting tears.

“Cross …” Wrecker let out a sigh, “Cross, look at me.” 

Crosshair focused on his brother once again, his eyes red with unshed tears, “Let me ask you this, since Avery passed away, when was the last time you slept with someone?”

A wall of silence filled between them once again as Crosshair stopped to think about it, and no matter how hard he tried to wrack his brain he couldn’t remember anyone, in fact the last time he could think of being with someone, was … “The day before she died.”

“Doesn’t that show your actions had more to do with you dealing with your emotions and the overwhelming feelings you were going through, rather than being a bad person? Granted it may not have been the most healthy way of dealing with it, but it was your way.”

“So you’re saying I shouldn’t feel guilty?” Crosshair grunted, feeling annoyed.

“I’m not saying you should or you shouldn’t. How you feel is how you feel. So if you feel guilty, maybe that’s your conscience forcing you to face the reality of your actions, now that the more pressing trauma has passed. And if that’s the case, you’ll have to make your peace with what you did. Whether that has to do with you making an effort to stay faithful to your next partner from now on, or not ending up in a long-term relationship ever again, or … well however you want to deal with it. That guilt you feel is simply reminding you, you’re alive, and you’ve found a way to deal with your grief.”

“What if I feel guilty not just because of what I did, but also because my eyes keep focusing on someone I shouldn’t?”

“I take it you mean Layla?”

Crosshair didn’t answer. How could he, when guilt was still at the forefront of his mind, how could he admit he was attracted to his wife’s sister.

Wrecker ran his hand against his scar, contemplating the difficulty Crosshair found himself in, “So you like your wife’s sister.” There was no point beating around the bush on something everyone could see. Again Cross refused to say anything, instead focusing all his attention on his beer bottle. “Well I get why you don’t want to talk about it. I mean it’s not exactly the easiest conversation to have; did Avery ever talk about Layla?”

Cross took a swig of his beer before answering, “She did.” He let out a huff, “She even said I would love her, and made me promise I’d take care of Layla, if anything happened to her.”

Wrecker chewed on the inside of his cheek as he slowly nodded, “ Well you are taking care of her, aren’t you?”

“I don’t think that’s the point, Wreck.”

“Okay. Okay. Well, do you compare them?”

“Of course not”

“Okay, so let me ask, are you trying to use Layla as a substitute?”

“What! No! She’s nothing like Avery. In fact, I honestly don’t see the resemblance between the two.”

“Yet, you feel guilty”

“Can you blame me! She asked me to look after her, not to date the woman.”

Wrecker took in a deep breath, “Crosshair, you’re a widower, you’re allowed to date. No matter who you decide to date, whether it’s Layla or someone else, we’re not going to judge you. None of us are. Let’s also not forget you guys have never really been in-laws. More like strangers who argued about a person you mutually loved.”

Cross rubbed his face, “It still feels wrong to be attracted to her.”

“Do you like her because she’s Layla or simply because she’s attractive?”

“Meaning?”

“Are you just looking to satisfy a physical need?”

“Of course not, I would never do that to her”

Wrecker felt an odd sense of relief, not that he didn’t trust his brother, but rather he was more concerned that his grief was doing more thinking than his actual brain.

“You know, just because you have feelings for her, doesn’t mean you need to jump right into a relationship. Take your time in getting to know each other. In fact, first find out if she’s interested, and even if she isn’t, try to get to know her out of respect for Avery.”

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@justanothersadperson93

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 @lady-ren​

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@darkangel4121​ 

@discofern​ 

@kavecika​ 

@monako-jinn-stories​ 

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​ @carodealmeida​ 

@ciramaris

​ @sprout-fics​ 

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@clonethirstingisreal

@crosshair-is-the-superior-clone

@totallyunidentified

@griffedeloup

@leotawrites

@helenaslost

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@dragonrider9905reads

[back2bluesidex]

A Dream That You Didn't Dream - JJK

Pairing: Widowed!Jungkook X Fem!Reader

An excerpt from Patreon Membership Exclusive Drabble Series From Within.

Theme: Angst, pining, arranged marriage, best friends to strangers to lovers au, chaebol au.

Series Summary: When you fell in love with Jungkook, you wished for your life to turn out as one of those clichéd fairytales, where two best friends fall for each other and live happily ever after. But were you lucky enough? Probably not because you had to watch the man taking vows, kissing the love of his life and promising forever right before your eyes. Unfortunately enough, now you are having to witness him breaking down bit by bit standing at his wife's funeral.

Chapter Summery: Getting married to Jungkook was your widest dream but replacing his dead wife wasn't.

Warnings: angst, minor character death, pining, angst, unrequited love.

Series Masterlist

Dream. 

A factor that sometimes comes true and most of the time doesn't. 

But there are other times when dreams come true in the most distorted ways. 

Like yours. 

You had this dream of wearing an immaculate white gown, doing your hair with pearls in your bun, and walking down the aisle with your father as Jungkook regards you with his big doe eyes and his beautiful smile.

The dream broke when Jungkook proposed to Mido and you never once dared to dream that dream ever again.

Today, your dream is taking the shape of reality right in front of your eyes.

You are wearing a beautiful mermaid cut white gown with pearls in your bun and within a few more minutes you are going to walk down the aisle with your father.  

Jungkook will be waiting for you at the pavilion. 

But he probably won’t look at you, won’t smile at you. Because this is not the marriage of your dreams. You two are being forced towards each other, which you hate but Jungkook hates even more. 

After that day, he didn’t contact you. Neither did you take the initiative to talk things through. Because no matter what you say both of you know you will have to agree to your parents’ terms. 

And now you are even scared to stand in front of him, ready to replace Mido.

Jungkook hates you already, doesn’t he? 

The ceremony is nothing like Jungkook and Mido’s marriage. That was closed off, protected from the media and this one is grandiose, just the opposite. As you walk down the aisle with a practiced fake smile, all you notice are the camera lenses of reporters and invitees you don’t even know. 

Jungkook is standing with his eyes projected towards the ground, he looks up when the music slows down a bit.

His eyes lock into yours. 

Your heart starts beating at an erratic pace. 

He looks devastatingly handsome. 

The suit hugs his perfect body, hair neatly swept off of his face, shiny chelsea boots with his silver hoops glinting under the bright light of the wedding hall. 

You stand before him, breathe stuck in your throat. 

You try to avoid his intimidating stare but fail to do so. 

One by one you take the vows. And one by one several fears fill your heart - mind. 

“I do.” you say as you wait for the man to say the same. 

He hesitates for a while but finally utters, “I do.” 

When the priest asks him to kiss you. 

He takes your hands on his, pulls you a little close. The smell of his cologne fills your nostrils and then he leans down to reach your lips. 

Will he really kiss you? 

The question fills your mind. 

And he doesn’t. He doesn’t kiss you, not even a peck.

He places his pursed lips flatly on yours as if those are made of metal and can’t move any further. 

But you don’t blame him. 

Not when you chose to lead a life with this man who can hardly ever be yours.

[littlefeather-wolf]

The family is the foundation of the Blackfoot-speaking people’s social organization. The term for “wife” is extended to all of her sisters and “husband” applies to all of his brothers. Grandparents (and often all elders) are called naas. These terms imply responsibilities in the ways people act toward one another. A man was compelled to care for his wife’s sisters and their families if those husbands died. Polygynous arrangements became more common in the late 1800s as disease and warfare claimed more and more males.

Camps were generally composed of people who were related through marriage, although people were also free to move from camp to camp, depending upon interpersonal relationships. Decisions within a camp were made by consensus. Leaders were recognized for their sound judgement, skill at bringing about a consensus, generosity, war record, and general ability. Leadership often shifted according to the situation; a war leader may not have been the leader of a buffalo hunt.

These camps – or clans as Niitsitapi call them – had preferred camping places throughout the year. Clans, in turn, have been grouped these clans into three Blackfoot-speaking nations: Siksika (meaning Blackfoot) along the eastern edge of the territory; Kainai (meaning Many Leaders) who lived in the centre; and Piikani (meaning Scabby Robes) who lived along the foothills. The creation of the United States-Canada boundary split the Piikani into the Ammskaapipiikani in Montana and the Apatohsipiikani in southern Alberta.

Niisitapi have responsibilities to their relatives. Allegiance and support is given to one’s family and clan. Through inter-marriage these responsibilities extended to other clans within the nation (e.g. Kainai) and then between nations (e.g. Kainai and Siksika). There was never a formal Blackfoot Confederacy.

Niitsitapi males often belong to organizations composed of other males of a similar age. Membership in these “age-grade” or “all comrades” societies begins when a boy is about seven or eight years old. Every four years the entire membership becomes members of the next older society. Gifts are given to those members of the older society who transfer the rights of membership to the newcomers. It is necessary to have a female partner in the more senior societies, as it is the women who care for the holy items associated with the society. Members in the adult societies, which is drawn from all clans in the nation, consider themselves to be brothers. This results in another set of kinship relationships. These societies are also sacred and their ceremonies reinforce Niitsitapi relationships with their world.

Niitsitapi women also had a society, the Motokis, whose membership extends throughout the nation. No men belong to this society.

While Niitsitapi were respected as fierce warriors, they also made peace with their neighbours. The concept of innaihtsookakihtsimaan imples a sacred sanction of peaceful relationships. Treaties were solidified by smoking a pipe, prayer, and calling upon Ihtsitpaitapiyopa to witness the vow of peace.

[rabbits-of-negative-euphoria]

Thank y'all so much for your prayers re: last week's church crisis.

It's been a frustrating week, but I finally confided with my mom about my concerns, we talked for about an hour altogether, and I instantly felt the weight lift from my shoulders.

While I'm still unsure about speaking to the elders, it suddenly seems quite obvious to me that I should delay taking the membership vows, and spend this coming quarter alternating between my parents' church and the more local PCA church to see which is a better fit.

[mariacallous]

With Donald Trump set to return to the White House in the coming weeks, speculation is mounting that Ukraine and Russia may soon begin serious peace negotiations. However, there is very little sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to abandon his goal of subjugating Ukraine. Instead, the peace formula currently being promoted by Kremlin officials would be more likely to pave the way for the next stage in Putin’s campaign to erase Ukrainian independence entirely.

Ever since the abortive peace talks of spring 2022 during the initial phase of the full-scale invasion, Russia has insisted that any peace deal must include territorial concessions from Kyiv along with Ukrainian neutrality and the country’s comprehensive demilitarization. Putin himself spelled out Russia’s territorial expectations in June 2024, demanding that Kyiv cede four partially occupied Ukrainian provinces, none of which are fully under Russian control. This would mean handing over large amounts of unoccupied Ukrainian territory including the city of Zaporizhzhia with a population of around three quarters of a million people.

On numerous other occasions, Putin and his Kremlin colleagues have reaffirmed their conditions. These include Ukraine officially giving up its pursuit of NATO membership and agreeing not to enter into any military alliances with Western powers. Kyiv is also expected to accept extensive limitations on the size of its armed forces and on the kinds of weapons systems it is allowed to possess.

These proposals are not a recipe for a sustainable settlement. On the contrary, Putin’s peace plan is in fact a call for Kyiv’s complete capitulation. Moscow’s demands are deliberately designed to leave Ukraine internationally isolated and unable to defend itself. If these terms are imposed on the Ukrainian authorities, there can be little doubt that Putin would use any subsequent pause in hostilities to rearm before renewing the war in the coming years.

Russia’s true intentions can be seen in its insistence that Ukraine abandon efforts to join NATO and accept permanent geopolitical neutrality. Moscow claims this is essential in order to safeguard Russian national security, but Putin’s own actions suggest otherwise.

When neighboring Finland announced plans to join NATO in 2022, Putin made no effort to block the process and announced that Russia had “no problems” with Finnish accession. He then went even further, withdrawing most Russian troops from the border with Finland. Clearly, Putin does not view NATO as a security threat to Russia itself. Instead, he sees the alliance as a potential obstacle to his own expansionist ambitions in Ukraine.

Russian demands for a neutral and demilitarized Ukraine should be equally unacceptable in Kyiv and among Ukraine’s Western partners. Agreeing to the Kremlin’s conditions would mean leaving millions of Ukrainians at Putin’s mercy, while also emboldening Moscow and inviting more Russian aggression. From Chechnya and Georgia to Crimea and Syria, there is ample evidence from the past two decades that each successive failure to hold Russia accountable only encourages fresh escalations.

The West’s misguided efforts to appease Putin have already led to the largest and bloodiest European war since World War II. Any further attempts at appeasement will have similarly disastrous consequences for the future stability and security of Europe. Indeed, senior European officials are now warning that a military confrontation with Moscow is becoming more likely, with German spy chief Bruno Kahl recently predicting that Russia may seek to test NATO before the end of the current decade.

While Russia is pushing for a disarmed and neutral Ukraine, Ukrainian officials are preparing for possible peace talks by prioritizing the need for credible security guarantees. In recent months, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signaled the country’s readiness to temporarily compromise on territorial integrity in order to move forward toward a viable peace. At the same time, officials in Kyiv have underlined that there is no room for any similar compromises on the issue of security guarantees.

Ukraine’s objective remains NATO membership, which is seen in Kyiv as the only credible long-term guarantee of the country’s security and sovereignty. However, key members of the alliance including the United States and Germany remain deeply reluctant to embrace Ukraine’s NATO aspirations.

With their country’s pathway to NATO accession likely to be extremely politically challenging, Ukrainian officials are also exploring the possibility of bilateral security guarantees. In a recent interview with US podcaster Lex Fridman, Zelenskyy said security guarantees for Kyiv to end Russia’s war would only be effective if the United States provides them. He was also scathing of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which saw Ukraine surrender the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the US, and the UK that ultimately proved worthless.

Given the diametrically opposed positions of Russia and Ukraine on the issue of NATO membership, it seems certain that security guarantees will be the most problematic point during any forthcoming negotiations to end the war. Can Western leaders come up with a credible security formula that will safeguard Ukrainian statehood and deter further Russian aggression? Unless they do so, Ukraine’s prospects will be grim and the rest of Europe will face years of costly confrontation with a resurgent Russia.