#The Holy power instead of all the other troublesome three

[muffetta-999]

"Even demons love sweets"🍬

OKAY, TODAY POST IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT!! The theme is always Turning, but this time it's a fanart for an AMAZING fan fiction i've been reading recently with exorcist/demon Yuder!! Made by @fandomcrawler

HERE'S THE LINK:

Read and support the author if you like the content!! I SWEAR IT'S BEAUTIFUL 😭❤️ i got super inspired while reading it! And it's SO MUCH FOOD for the ones that are craving more Turning contenti!! ENJOY ✨

[itsbenedict]

Kingdoms and Koopas: Ep. 11

K&K is a Fate Accelerated campaign set in the Mario universe, which I’m running for three players:

Bee @thebeeskneesocks​, playing Kandace Koopa

Jovian @jovian12​, playing Cozmo Naut

Malky @sleepdepravity​, playing Dr. Chevy Chain

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Previously on Kingdoms and Koopas, the crew went and shot a movie with acclaimed actor/writer/director Zip Toad, and were wildly successful! However, they did this while ignoring the fact that there was a war going on between the two magic schools, which means that a war between the two magic schools happened without them.

This time, they deal with the aftermath of that event- and end up breaking someone dangerous out of jail for reasons.

(“Pull the lever, Cozmo!”)

So, fresh off the shoot, Kandace gets a phone call from Kammy Koopa, headmistress of Kammy Koopa’s Academy for Young Witches and Wizards. She’s heard of the party’s success in recovering the Music Key from the Orbital Doom Casa, and so she asks Kandace to hand it over. Kandace agrees to do so, but here is the thing: she’s lying. She is lying a lot and does not intend to give Kammy the last Music Key.

Instead, the party hatches a scheme. They want to make Kammy think they’ve handed over the last Music Key, when instead they’ve kept it for themselves. They also want to find out where she’s keeping the rest of them, and maybe figure out what her nefarious plan is- and who she might be working for.

So they need a fake music key, right? Where are they going to get a fake music key? It’ll need to be... round...

I cannot for the life of me believe that the following was Chevy’s idea that she volunteered for, but... a plan is hatched to disguise Chevy as the last macguffin and hand her over to Kammy. Hm! That’s. Going to be. Easy?

Surely it will be easy to do this, All they need to do is make her translucent and blue and the size of a cantaloupe and have a little music note floating inside her and give off a distinctive magical signature. That’s baby school stuff.

Smallening can be achieved via one of Kandace’s spells- she’s got one for the occasion, but the drawback is that while it decreases size, it conserves mass- so small Chevy is very dense and heavy. Thankfully, Kandace has another spell, one she’s used several times in the past- it’s the spell that makes things lighter but softer/rounder, used to allow Chevy to ride along on her broom. By combining the two, the size issue is solved. They now have an appropriately-sized Chevy.

Magic is also the answer to the problem of the magical signature. Since they’re in contact with the princess of the Magic Kingdom, they’re able to call up Opal and ask if she knows the appropriate spell- and she does. Kandace can now smell the magical signatures of items and swap those smells around. (The Music Key magic-smells like mint-flavored sugarless chewing gum, and Chevy smells like formaldehyde.)

The problem remaining is... making Chevy translucent and blue. Kandace doesn’t have a spell for this, so the party heads into town to find something that might do the trick. Legitimate Merchantson is selling some translucent blue paint which surely works the way they’re hoping it does. Chet Rippo has a magical spell he claims will do the job. But what ends up catching their eye is a badge being sold at a badge shop- the Ice Ice Badge, a cosmetic badge that makes the wearer look like an ice sculpture. They walk up and attempt to exchange currency for goods and services, like a bunch of fool idiots.

The badge shop is manned by what appears to be a cardboard cutout of a glamorous-looking Squeek.

“𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢?”

“We’d like that badge there, please.”

“𝚆𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚂𝙴𝙻𝙻, 𝙱𝚄𝚈, 𝚘𝚛 𝙿𝚄𝚁𝙲𝙷𝙰𝚂𝙴 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚖?”

“What?”

“𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚆𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚖!”

“Um- buy. We want to buy that Ice Ice Badge.”

“𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝙱𝚄𝚈 𝚊𝚗 𝙸𝚌𝚎 𝙸𝚌𝚎 𝙱𝚊𝚍𝚐𝚎? 𝚃𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚖, 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗!”

“Please repeat the- what? Um, we want to buy that Ice Ice Badge?”

“𝚃𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚖, 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗!”

After going on in this manner for an obnoxiously long time (getting into the weeds of the button order system and stupid phone-bot behavior), the party finally manages to purchase the dang thing, which gets them most of the way there. The last element- the music note floating inside- is accomplished by cutting one out of construction paper and having Chevy swallow it. Don’t... don’t ask how that works, digestively speaking.

Point is, they now have their decoy Music Key. Kandace’s shadow, Carbonado, objects to attempting to deceive the headmistress, but Kandace patiently explains that he can’t prove Kammy isn’t being mind-controlled by a space alien, which makes it okay. That’s just logic. That settled, they head to the school to drop off their mole.

On the way to Kammy’s office, the party is accosted by Jr. Troopa, the school valedictorian- who attempts to steal the key for himself. The party opts to deliver a beatdown, but Cozmo gets Worfed and hurts his hand trying to punch through Jr. Troopa’s implausibly sturdy eggshell. It’s up to Kandace and the currently-disguised Chevy to get this joker out of the way- and Kandace has a brainwave.

“Okay, you want it? Catch!”

Kandace throws Chevy at Jr. Troopa, and then mid-throw- after she’s picked up speed- dispels the magic that makes her light enough to carry. Chevy is restored to her full density, rolls an attack, and just absolutely beans the dude with a massive crit that fills up all his Stress boxes immediately. That was... kind of supposed to be a boss fight, holy crap. [pokemon stadium announcer voice] IT’S A ONE-HIT KO!

With the jerk dispatched, the party proceeds to Kammy’s office. Waluigi, looking bitter, shows the party inside.

Inside, the party sees Kamek- the headmaster of the rival school across the street- unconscious and imprisoned in an anti-magic cage. Apparently, while they were shooting a movie, Kammy won the underground school war and took Kamek prisoner. But that’s all perfectly legal and normal- Kammy’s the right hand of the king, she can do what she wants.

The party hands over Kandace, and with the bonuses from their elaborate deception... manage to beat Kammy’s roll to see through their scheme! She’s fooled, and accepts the Chevy-Key. As promised, Kandace is allowed to take three magic items from the Artifact Storage Chamber behind her office. For Cozmo, a combination broom-backpack that functions as a jetpack. For Kandace, a book called Lifehex that lets her nullify her spells’ drawbacks once per session. And for Chevy... well, Chevy can’t talk or indicate what she wants, so Kandace picks out a prize she assumes Chevy would want: a magical pair of stick-on springy boxing glove Arms. With Arms, Chevy can finally do surgery, fulfilling her lifelong dream! Which she couldn’t do before! Is what Kandace assumes.

So Kandace and Cozmo are sent away... and Chevy is carried through a secret door in Kammy’s office, hidden behind a statue. Inside, Kammy and her hench-Waluigi Yzma and Kronk their way down a rollercoaster and into a massive underground chamber, containing a vault labeled “NOT The Actual Artifact Storage Chamber, The One Upstairs Is The Real One.” This vault contains shelves lined with actually powerful magical artifacts- the sort of thing she wouldn’t risk giving out to students as prizes.

Inside is also a table, on which sit three real Music Keys. The pink key from Gourmet Guy, the orange key from Jojora’s temple, and a green key presumably won from Kam Ekademy by Kammy herself. Chevy, ostensibly the fourth key, is placed on the table alongside them.

Kammy then begins a magic ritual with the four keys- but it becomes quickly apparent that Chevy does not hover or glow, like the other Keys do during this ritual. It’s sort of a dead giveaway that she’s a fake.

That said, though, Chevy passes her Careful roll to hold very still and not give away that she is an alive fake, and so she is left on the table as a very angry Kammy Koopa leaves to go discipline a troublesome student of hers.

Chevy is now alone in NOT The Actual Artifact Storage Chamber, The One Upstairs Is The Real One. Unfortunately, her chain was scaled way down so Kammy wouldn’t notice it, and she’s still the size of a cantaloupe, so... she’s sort of stuck. She can’t fly or climb, which means the only way to get up and out is...

oh my god an actual platforming segment in a Mario game, i can’t believe we finally managed it

So Chevy is hopping her way up the spiraling shelves lining the walls of this chamber, knocking dangerous magic artifacts off and onto the floor. She eventually makes it out a hole in the roof of the vault, and begins the arduous climb up the rollercoaster tracks- hanging on by the skin of her teeth. Literally. Or, well, no, not literally; teeth don’t have skin. Whatever. You know what I mean.

Meanwhile, Kandace and Cozmo get a firm knock on the door of Kandace’s dorm room, and wisely opt to flee out the window. They decide to loop around and sneak into Kammy’s office to free Kamek- they use Kandace’s stunt, Cantricked (use her animate broom to distract someone once per session) to send Waluigi (who was guarding the door) on a wild goose chase, while they themselves crash through the window of her office to get in.

So there’s Kamek in a cage. The cage nullifies magic, which is necessary for containing a Magikoopa of Kamek’s abilities. This means Kandace isn’t going to be able to magic up a solution- so it’s up to Cozmo. Kandace orders him to pick the lock.

Cozmo has never picked a lock before and does not know how to do it. He tries anyway, and as you might predict from the fact we recently established about his lockpicking skills, fails.

But all hope is not lost! Kandace has one more ally- her shadow, Carbonado! He hems and haws about the legality of freeing the headmistress’s prisoner- but Kamek is also technically an authority figure in the Kingdom, so he acquiesces and attempts to use his shadowy form to pick the lock from the inside.

Carbonado has never picked a lock before and does not know how to do it. He tries anyway, and as you might predict from the fact we recently established about his lockpicking skills, fails. 

Also he messes up the mechanism so bad that even if they had the key, it wouldn’t work.

Which... is a useful hint, actually. Apparently this lock, though impervious to magic, can still be damaged by mundane means. This is all the encouragement Cozmo needs to start using his head- specifically, his Crystal Skull (Thanks Kandace) aspect, the thing where Kandace transmuted his skull into sapphire as part of a magical experiment. He headbutts the thing so hard it explodes.

They free and revive Kamek, and then... tell him practically everything. Mostly everything. They don’t mention that they still have one Music Key- but they do tell him that they sent Chevy in to scout. And as luck would have it, that’s exactly when Chevy finally makes it up the rollercoaster and knocks on the secret entrance door. They let her out, and she heals up Kamek’s injuries after they return her to normal.

Kamek asks them to help steal the Music Key back from Kammy, which of course they agree to. Kammy’s been acting super shady! And probably mind-controlled! So Chevy leads the party plus Kamek back down the rollercoaster, and into NOT The Actual Artifact Storage Chamber, The One Upstairs Is The Real One.

As soon as they arrive, Kamek begins laughing maniacally. He prepares a big teleport spell, and using it teleports away all of the magical items in the vault including the Music Keys, bwa ha ha! And then he thanks them for their help, because yeah that was pretty much exactly what they said they were going to do, was help rob Kammy. And since they did that exactly as promised, their business is concluded and he teleports away.

So, um. It’s unclear whether it is a good or bad thing that a different arch-Magikoopa assistant to the king is now in control of three out of four Music Keys, but that is now the situation. And at least this one isn’t actively mad at them!

...Unlike the other one, who’s probably going to find out about all this pretty soon and be totally furious at them. Hm. Well.

This seems like an excellent time to go run and hide somewhere, yes? The party heads off to lay low in Duck Hospital, Chevy’s place of work, while they figure out what exactly they’re supposed to do about all this.

Next time: nothing goes horribly wrong at the hospital, probably!

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[lily-blue]

CODE Z3RO | CODE 02

characters: BTS & Red Velvet genre: thriller, futuristic au warning: none summary: The twelve most ambitious and promising university students are welcomed in Choego, the world’s first entirely artificial intelligence-driven city, to compete for five job contracts that could change their life. But what if something goes wrong? What if they get trapped? What if the city suddenly turns against them? Can they find a way out before the countdown reaches zero? words: 4,3K tagged: @philosopher-of-fandoms​

➼ Chapter Index

Bae Joohyun looked in the mirror in the common bathroom with pure desperation in her eyes while she was trying to arrange the messy locks atop her head in a presentable manner in vain.

‘Come on! You can do this…’ she whispered under her nose out of anger when her shaky hands found the edge of the metal sink along with the support that she needed. As her long fingers clenched around the stern material, her knuckles became white from one minute to another and the girl majoring in Psychology failed to calm her ever so jittery heart. Joohyun’s chest was bouncing like crazy which meant no good as her breathing became heavy. And the fact that the first drops of sweat ran down her temple didn’t help either. She was on the verge of throwing up.

As her right shoulder crashed into the cool wall, she closed her eyes counting to three, four and five. It took all her willpower to overcome her past that seemed to haunt her ever since she’d crossed the threshold of their temporary accommodation. Just like her annoying roommates, she was willing to do anything to get one out of the five contracts the company in charge promised them, yet with every passing moment she became less and less confident that she actually had a chance. With that genius brat who had all the background knowledge this place could have ever needed and the one with bunny teeth who had been aware of the hidden cameras before that powerful woman could even mention them…

Joohyun took a breath trembling like those withered leaves that couldn’t resist the will of the storm then slid along the wall with faint sobs as she tried to whisper a little courage into the void. After all, she was a grown-up woman now and nothing like the street trash, her ex classmates had used to call her. Considering all those years when they had bullied her, it wasn’t a surprise that she felt uncomfortable sharing her bedroom with her rivals. What truly amazed her was the fact that she’d almost fallen asleep before that stupid kiddo next room had shut that damn door a bit louder than she’d supposed to.

Speaking of noises, Joohyun lifted her head up as soon as she noticed the slight change in the atmosphere. Something was off outside of the bathroom’s protecting shelter but the unmistaken sound of someone’s firm order was quiet as if it came from under heavy layers of water. She couldn’t really put her finger on the upcoming problem nor the possible solution of it that indeed was quite troublesome. 

Joohyun pinched her arm multiple times so that she could gather enough power to stand up without falling onto her knees. Dizziness still lingered in hear body when she leaned over the sink to wash her face.

The psychology student left the bathroom with fierce eyes following the noises that came from the common area perfectly halfway between the girls’ and the boys’ dorm.

‘What the heck is going on?’ she asked as her feet bumped into the threshold yet no one listened or gave her a detailed explanation of the messy situation. So lack of any better idea, Joohyun chose to head back to her room staying out of Jimin’s way who seemed quite lost with a sleepy Hoseok at his heels. The Sociology student from Seoul National clenched his jaw in fear when the girl accidentally pushed his bag out of his hand.

The Gangnam girl in her room, Sooyoung or whatever she was called, was still asleep when Joohyun’s hand reached the handle absentmindedly playing with the lock before she would have stepped inside. The girl with the cool, American name, the one that didn’t freak her out, sent her a relieved smile then rolled her eyes turning towards the nuisance drooling all over the sheets. Joohyun felt sorry for her but didn’t lift a finger to help her nor the sleepyhead.

‘Wake up! We have to leave,’ Wendy prodded Sooyoung in the ribs chewing her own lips out of frustration. She couldn’t just walk away leaving the girl behind whether or not Seokjin and his sister were right about the simulation that was supposed to start after a hearty breakfast or at least a relaxing nap. This whole situation was so out of the blue just as she expected from a competition. After all, only a handful of them would be able to sign these dream contracts of wealth and acknowledgement. It was only fair to get their chances to prove their worth.

According to Seokjin’s explanation, their first task was simple. They had to get out of the third area of the town or at least the building before the clock would hit three and the electrical grid would be turned off by the scientists watching them from afar. In a real life situation, if they hadn’t gotten out of the dorm or any other building in Choego in time, they would have stuck inside without a functional air exchange system doomed to die in suffocation. They were testing their abilities in emergency. 

‘It’s still dark outside, so please do me a favor and fuck off!’ Sooyoung murmured under her nose before she pushed the redhead further away with one of her hands. Then she turned her back on the chaos and pulled the pillow onto her face as a lame attempt of shutting out all the noises coming from the corridor. She couldn’t care less, seriously, since she was absolutely sure that there was already a contract waiting for her classy signature in the upper drawer of that smarty woman’s desk. ‘I need my beauty sleep because this face looks hella gorgeous for a reason. You should try it too instead of those cheap products you use.’

Joohyun almost burst into giggles at Gangnam girl’s sassy reply while she was packing her stuff paying extra attention to her energy bars and water bottles just in case the simulation turned out to be more tiring than they’d thought. Not to mention that there was always a slight chance of them not being able to come back to the closed area until this whole thing was over. She couldn’t be careless even though she was finally satisfied and full of confidence now that she found someone who wasn’t a real match for her. 

‘Come on! We’re teammates, don’t you remember?’ Wendy tried to reason as she pulled the blanket off of daddy’s princess throwing the soft textile onto the carpet. She put her hands onto her waist, flames dancing in her eyes, then kicked the wooden frame of the bed three times to got Sooyoung’s attention. She was scary in her own, warm-hearted way. ‘I won’t leave you here, so get your shit together and get up before I stop asking you nicely.’

After a few more grumpy moans, Sooyoung finally realized that she had no other choice left but to follow Wendy’s orders and the fact only made her already irritating personality worse as if it was possible. She changed her clothes with utter care regardless of the pressure that her roommates failed to put on her shoulders then made a high ponytail and also applied some dark blue eyeshadow just to get on their nerves. If Wendy hadn’t insisted on cooperation so badly, Joohyun would have left the room by then without regret washing over her. She had to admit, the redhead seemed to be a strong ally against the others. She needed Wendy’s fearless attitude - at least, until she didn’t find someone better.

When Sooyoung finally finished wasting their precious time with unnecessary things like searching for the world’s sweetest perfume in her flower patterned dressing case or putting a bedside lamp on the threshold to hold up the door that had constantly closed itself while she’d tried to take her bags out, she burst out of the room acting as their leader that boiled both of the girls’ blood. While the redhead’s face became a light shade of crimson, Joohyun’s nails dug crescents deep into her palms.

‘How dares she! That little piece of s…,’ she started with clenched teeth, a wide vein pulsing on her neck. She was more than furious but then she noticed a familiar object on Sooyoung’s bedside table and it cut the air out of her lungs. It was the same, neutral bracelet she had on her left wrist, the one that could open most of the doors in their accomodation along with some others outside of the building. It was more than a nice accessory which made it hard to believe that anyone - including daddy’s little princess too - would actually leave something as important as their master key behind. Yet, it was laying on the bedside table therefore Joohyun chose to take advantage of Sooyoung’s dense personality and put the accessory into her pocket with a satisfied smile playing on her lips. For the first time since they crossed the dorm’s threshold, she was happy to be in the same team as the Gangnam girl.

It took the Psychology major a whole minute to catch up with her roommates but eventually, her shoulder crashed into Wendy’s who greeted her with the same smile she had done barely twenty minutes ago. She didn’t care why the other girl was late, the only thing that mattered was Joohyun finding them in the middle of the mess. For the rest of the way, they stuck together as if they were indeed each other’s best chance although a part of Joohyun knew that without Wendy’s maternal instincts, the redhead would have never stayed by their side. As sad as it sounded, they were both useless - while Joohyun couldn’t help her win, Sooyoung was a real pain in the ass.

‘Holy Versace! Where is it? Aish. It’s supposed to be here!’ the Gangnam girl in her perfect leather jacket, ripped jeans and high heels combo cried out, lips trembling in agony. She looked devastated as if she was fighting with tears and for an ephemeral moment Joohyun almost felt sorry for her. ‘I must left it in my room. It has to be there!’ she came to a conclusion as her left fist crashed into her right palm.

Sooyoung gave her bag to Wendy paying no attention to the number of those bags the girl had already carried then turned her back on them and rushed back to her room regardless of the redhead’s opposition. If one could kill with a single glance, Miss Better Than Everyone Else would have been dead by now.

Wendy’s struggle was obvious, Joohyun could see it in her eyes. She couldn’t decide whether she should have run after her roommate or wait in one place completely clueless therefore she put her weight from one leg to another everytime she made up her mind.

‘Come on! We have to hurry,’ Joohyun cried out wrapping her fingers around the girl’s wrist at the same time as a pastel haired guy grabbed Wendy’s backpack. 

‘Thank God, I’ve found you,’ Namjoon said pulling his dumbfounded girlfriend close to his chest. He was still in his pyjamas as if he had come looking for Wendy as soon as he had gotten out of his bed and a part of Joohyun felt bitter being unable to tear her gaze away from the lovebirds. She was twenty-six, three years older than Wendy, yet she’d never had anyone who would have looked at her the way Namjoon looked at his girl.

Chewing on her lips, Joohyun couldn’t help but to consider herself as the unwanted third wheel in a cheesy relationship therefore she felt truly relieved when Namjoon took two bags out of Wendy’s hands then pulled her towards the exit. Being left behind, the Psychology major’s breathing became heavy that didn’t take her by surprise. Whenever anxiety took control over her body, the symptoms appeared. Yet, as she recognized Seokjin’s calm voice from somewhere behind her back, she had the presence of mind to go after Sooyoung. She had to tell her that she’d found her bracelet. Wendy would have been furious if she had found out that she had taken it on purpose. 

She arrived at their room’s threshold when Gangnam girl threw her blanket onto the ground finding the limited edition lipstick she’d been looking for and the fact only that she had noticed its absence before the bracelet’s pushed Joohyun to her limits. When the corridor seemed completely empty, she closed their room’s door, getting the lamp out of the way. For a few more seconds, she watched Sooyoung who smiled with satisfaction then ran out of the accommodation. 

Jeon Jungkook was one of the last candidates who reached the common area that also meant that he got the ungrateful task to check every single room looking for abandoned fellows. It sucked and was most likely a waste of time but he couldn’t have come up with a proper excuse - as Seulgi did - when Seokjin had asked him to do this little favor for him while he helped the said girl with her belongings. He had to check the girls’ dormitory since the boys’ was already empty. All this trouble for a weak girl and her weak arms.

Fixing both straps of his backpack, Jungkook turned his back on the others with an annoyed face pouting like a child who didn’t get what he wanted. If that idiot roommate of his with his lilac hair and bad attitude hadn’t left his stuff in the way making it impossible for the younger to pack his things, Jungkook would have been the first who made it outside. It was something the engineer would bet his life on unlike on Taehyung’s intentions. That guy was a mystery.

‘You better see that I’m doing this for the team,’ he cursed under his nose reminding himself of all those hidden cameras the company had installed to observe every tiny step they made. He hoped that his cooperative skill was rather an advantage than a negative point written right under his name.

He stood in front of the bathroom’s door knocking on its cool surface when one of the girls ran across the corridor without even noticing his presence. Truth to tell, Jungkook wasn’t any better either since he couldn’t put his finger on the girl’s identity. They were all the same to him with their dark eyes, slim lips and long hairs. They were his rivals, his enemies and those who couldn’t accept the cruel reality were all fools destined to lose. Like Seokjin and his little sister who warned every candidate instead of leaving them behind. If he had been in their shoes, he wouldn’t have bothered with such things.

When he didn’t get any response from the bathroom, Jungkook walked down the corridor kicking an imaginary rock as if he had been on the street near to his family’s home. They lived in the suburbs in a small rooftop house, a flickering lamp pose guiding their way after a rough day at work. Because if there was something Sooyoung was actually right about, it was this place being everything his parents couldn’t afford but Jungkook was ready to change their fate.

As his steps died in front of the double room, the boy found it amusing that its owners had spent a couple of minutes to make the beds arranging the sheets and the blankets that he’d left alone as messy as it’d become while he was sleeping.

‘What a waste of time,’ he said tilting his head to right as he swallowed an inappropriate laughter and let his hand fall back to his side. One room was down and another had left to go.

Scratching his nape out of boredom, it took him six tiny steps and two annoyed sighs to reach the next room on the opposite side of the hallway. Unlike the other, this one wasn’t exactly clean nor empty - creasy sheets on the floor, bedside lamp broken and a girl with her back leaning against the wall - but the fact that Park Sooyoung was the one playing with the handle as if she’d had all the time in the world didn’t get the boy in the mood to play the selfless teammate. He stopped only for a mere minute to check the place behind her figure through the transparent door before he continued his way back to the common area.

Sooyoung didn’t understand what was happening but one thing was for sure, she couldn’t open the damn door without her bracelet. Fucking high-tech security. And that idiot, ugly, little accessory was nowhere to be found.

‘Hello! As you can see, I’m still here! Open the stupid door!’ she screamed into the void addressing her disrespectful words to no one in particular. She was mad at the company, their programme and the simulation that had started way too early for her liking. She prefered long naps and lazy mornings over hectic tasks out of nowhere and also liked her hot americano served with cold milk and sugar before she got out of bed. If only her father hadn’t insisted on putting her onto the list of the candidates! She would have been one of their employees by now.

She snorted when a dark shadow came across her view forcing her gaze to stick on the young boy whom she had called a charity case not so long ago. His features were kind of cute although tiredness dug itself into his appearance not to mention his clothes that were too cheap for Sooyoung’s taste. She hated the idea of begging for a poor guy’s help yet she tugged on the handle with all her might to got Jungkook’s attention. As awful as it sounded, she needed him. Well, his help to get her a girl who could have opened the door to be precise.

‘Hey, you! Help me!’ she screamed over and over again until her throat went dry and the saliva started to taste like iron in her mouth. A part of her - to the Gangnam girl’s honest surprise - was eager to prove her father wrong showing him that she was capable of passing the tests yet it would have been so easy to give up, throwing a tantrum as she always did. Last summer, she’d gotten a new car after she’d cried her eyes out in public. Getting the coolest job on Earth should have been as easy as pie.

When the girl’s hand flinched, Jungkook’s sank into his pockets, his brows knitted to each other with a strange mixture of confusion and annoyance. After all those things the Gangnam girl had said, he would have rather burnt his hands than carrying her designer bags full of unnecessary items like her expensive perfumes and golden accessories. He rolled his eyes then turned his back on the girl, walking back to the common area. By the time his sneakers crossed the dining room, everyone else was outside.

Sooyoung screamed when the boy disappeared and her knees turned into jelly as she fell onto the ground. She was trembling with rage meanwhile her hands slid down the glass leaving some dirty lines behind. She couldn’t believe that no one came back to rescue her when she was everything a guy could look for. She was beautiful and wealthy. Everyone desired a piece of her time. 

‘Screw you! Screw you all!’ she whispered under her nose as the first teardrop fell onto her light blue jeans. Her knuckles became white when she clenched both of her shaking palms. The glass felt cold against her skin although Sooyoung’s forehead was burning as if desperation could have literally set her on fire.

But as it was bound to be, eventually the flames of her rage and sorrow died off followed by a couple of salty tears, tiredness sucking out all of the Gangnam girl’s energy. By the time she quitted playing with the handle, her eyes became heavy walking on the edge of falling asleep. Yet, her entire body twitched when the clock finally hit the next hour and the super modern building ran out of juice. As the silence melted into the darkness, Sooyoung felt nothing but loneliness.

Jungkook on the other hand was surrounded with people as his arm leaned against the door that had shut behind his back. He was panting although he couldn’t have been happier as he wiped the sweat off his forehead, smiling like an idiot. After all, he had done it! Regardless of Seokjin’s tiresome orders, he’d indeed completed the first phase and had gotten out of the dorm within their limited period of time. Thus unlike daddy’s little princess who had made a mockery out of his financial state in front of everyone, Jungkook was still in the game.

‘Hah! Who’s the pitiful now?’ he asked in a voice so faint that his question was barely above a whisper. He didn’t mean to be rude since that kind of behaviour wasn’t exactly his cup of tea but he hated when someone looked down on him simply because he couldn’t afford expensive clothes and fancy dinners and Sooyoung’s failure truly pleased his soul. It felt as if the universe had been in balance once again giving a little piece of bread back to those who worked hard enough to earn its kindness.

He sat down on the stairs far away from the others who were busy to find out what was this situation all about and what could have been the next task on the company’s list. If he had heard correctly, the guy in the fullcap insisted on staying in one place while the young heir of the Park family wanted to keep going. Considering the disfuncional public lighting, he personally was on Jimin’s side although Hoseok was right about the risks of an unknown area. If the scientists were measuring their abilities in emergency, sooner or later they had to make some tough decisions or else they would lose.

‘Is everybody here?’ Seokjin asked after he tousled his sister’s hair, sending her an encouraging smile. He stood up from the base of the nearest lamp pose then looked around in the dark, observing the groups that had been formed during the mess.  Other than Jungkook, Yoongi was the only one who didn’t look for unnecessary company as he was sitting on his own a few metres from the wall. He stared back at the younger with his characteristic, emotionless gaze although when their eyes finally met, he was the one who turned away.

Jungkook snorted before he leaned his head against the concrete facing the bottom of the first floor’s balcony. What could he say, even a blind person could have told that he tried to avoid Seokjin’s question on purpose.

‘Sooyoung’s still missing,’ one of the girls declared out of the blue and to Jungkook’s honest surprise, there was concern in the smooth velvet of her voice as if she had been truly worried about the gossip girl with her unbearable attitude. Putting his weight onto both of his elbows, Jungkook looked at the redhead ever so confused, brows knitted to each other with disbelief. ‘She left something in our room so she ran back and…’ she rambled and her hands were living their own lives as they fidgeted with the hem of her tee.

It didn’t take long, the boy lost his interest in no time even though his gaze stuck on the scene when Seokjin shot a disappointed glance at him. Jungkook gulped when the older managed to decipher the details and caught him red-handed. Both of his ears became tomato red the moment Seokjin’s shoulders tensed up, nails digging into his own flesh.

‘You’re right,’ Jungkook agreed on the fact that Sooyoung had gone back to her room in order to find something really precious although he truly doubted that anything in that damn place could have been more valuable than the contracts they were all fighting for. He rolled his eyes at the thought then stood up and walked towards the biggest group including Wendy and Seokjin. ‘She seemed pretty busy even asking for my help to carry her stuff.’

He stopped right in front of the girl after all it was her whom he was talking to. Then he took a deep breath as if he could have sucked some confidence out of the cool air.

‘And?’ 

‘And as you can see, she ran out of time,’ he replied as he crossed his arms in front of his chest that was bouncing like crazy. He couldn’t let a girl make him unsure of himself, he couldn’t let her put all the blame on him when Sooyoung was the one who had chosen an object over their task. Jungkook lifted his chin up with a loud snort before he continued. ‘I’m not her puppet, it’s not my problem.’

And not my fault either, a tiny voice added whispering in his head.

‘You selfish little…’ Wendy screamed pointing at the boy’s back when he was ready to leave. If Namjoon hadn’t wrapped his arms around her petite figure, she would have surely gone after Jungkook to punch him in the face.

‘He’s right,’ a deep voice said on the boy’s right and Jungkook didn’t really know how to feel about Taehyung’s statement. It was true that he felt grateful for him for taking his side but it didn’t change the fact that something was off with him. A person like the guy with the lilac hair, a person who acted all mysterious meant no good. In Jungkook’s opinion, he could have been more dangerous than the guy with his Computer Science degree and gaze as cold as ice. ‘It’s a competition. We’re better off without her.’

Taehyung’s claim was followed by dead silence. No one could find the right words to say hence no one dared to speak. And it was worse than any lecture Jungkook had ever gotten.

➼  chapter III. 

[makeste]

BnHA Chapter 218: Purse Pilferage and Mouse Murder

Previously on BnHA: Kacchan and Deku sparred in an attempt to draw out Deku’s mysterious new power once again, but to no avail. In a brief flashback, the OFA Scooby Squad (now including Bakugou!) discussed Deku’s recent visions and his multiple quirks. Kacchan pointed out that it was very similar to All for One’s power, which seems to be weighing on Deku’s mind some. That evening at the fanfic dorms, Shouto approached Deku asking if he had been hiding a second quirk. Deku assured him that the new quirk surprised him as much as everyone else, and fibbed that it was probably derived from his original quirk. Meanwhile the U.A. faculty accepted Shinsou into the hero course, and Aizawa acted all weird and cagey about someone from his past named “Shirakumo.” Later, Monoma met with Aizawa, Mirio, Deku, and Eri at the teachers’ dorms and unsuccessfully attempted to copy Eri’s quirk. Eri apologized for being so troublesome, and the others assured her that she wasn’t and Deku told her that even seemingly dangerous quirks can be used for good. It wasn’t lost on him that this applied to his own powers as well, and he resolved to keep working to master OFA.

Today on BnHA: Early one December morn, the kids of 1-A gather in their common room to watch some TV while they wait to hear if Bakugou and Todoroki passed their provisional license retest. The news is reporting on a company called Detnerat which has recently entered the hero equipment business. Their CEO is some Joker-looking dude who’s apparently a big fan of AFO’s old nemesis Destro of Meta Liberation Army fame. Destro’s book has recently been republished and is making the discussion rounds. DetCEO discusses it with his cute lil mouse subordinate Miyashita, but Miyashita isn’t really a fan. This proves unfortunate for Miyashita, as DetCEO is all “that’s too bad, guess I’m just gonna have to snap your neck then.” Like, for real though. Anyway so then DetCEO heads to a secret meeting of like-minded individuals who are apparently Destro’s descendants and are seeking to make his goals a reality. We then segue to a group of purse-snatchers led by someone who I really thought was Shirakumo for a hot minute, ngl. He’s not, though. Anyway so they’re wreaking some havoc and stealing people’s shit -- that is, until two good boys who just earned their provisional licenses after three months of hard work show up to spoil their fun.

(As always, all comments not marked with an ETA are my mostly-unspoiled reactions from my first readthrough of this chapter. I’m caught up with the manga now at chapter 225, so any ETAs will reflect that.)

HOLY SHIT

BABY WE GOT OURSELVES SOME MOTHERFUCKING SNOW IN THE FANFIC DORMS!!!

holy shit. and it’s the weekend! ARE WE GONNA HAVE SOME ANTICSSSS YES PLEASE I REALLY NEED THIS SO BAD RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE NO IDEA

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

KIRISHIMA WHY ARE YOU TAKING YOUR CLOTHES OFF

I hope they get a ton! I WANT SNOWBALL FIGHTS AND SNOW FORTS AND TODOROKI TO LET IT GOOOOOO LET IT GOOOOOOO

ahh but apparently he and Bakugou are away right now

wow they even got that class on Sundays now, huh

also, who did Sero borrow the tankoubon from? because more likely than not it was Bakugou since I can’t even picture Shouto reading manga (unless he borrowed some volumes from Deku, maybe). so that means Bakugou is (a) a big ol’ manga-reading nerd who brought his manga to school with him, and (b) sharing with friends. both of which make me so, so happy

(ETA: Viz translated this as “I want to borrow the next volume of this manga from Todoroki,” but as far as I can tell, in the RAW version he doesn’t specify who he borrowed it from. I think Caleb Cook just doesn’t think Bakugou is capable of sharing. give him some credit, Caleb Cook.)

Deku says they should be back around six, and Iida says it’s apparently the last day of their provisional class!

OHMYGOSH. hold up. so that means that their re-test is in like a week, no? holy shit. oh my god I’m so hypppppped ahhhhhh

SDLFKHASLDFKJLK HOLY SHIT

IT’S TODAY!?!??

YOU CAN DO IT KIDS I BELIEVE IN YOU. YOU GOT THIS

KACCHAN ARE YOU READY TO OFFICIALLY BECOME KACCHAN THE HERO

(ETA: maybe we’ll actually get Kacchan’s hero name before I grow old. maybe.)

SDFKASLDHK AND LOOK AT THIS SETUP!? AHHHHHH PLEASE DON’T CUT AWAY FROM THIS. OH MY GOD

but snow antics though. oh my god I’m so torn lsdkjlk

anyways of fucking course we cut away, and I don’t really mind because I love cozy 1-A snow day dorm antics also. plus everyone is gossiping about Todo and Baku, and Satou is baking a cake like the Princess Peach he is

Kami is playfully lamenting the fact that he’s about to lose the one leg-up he had on those two, and flipping on the news

oh shit are we gonna get some Plot

I guess so. what is this

Detnerat?? is that a portmanteau of something? an acronym? or another Star Wars reference I failed to pick up on??

(ETA: yeah so it’s the word “talented” spelled backwards. except with an r instead of an l.)

so the news is showing some people with mutant quirks, including a four-armed lady, a jello child, and a walrus with a bowler hat

and the narration is talking about how people like this used to be a minority but now “their era arrived”

interesting. I guess there’s pretty much no such thing as “one size fits all” anymore these days huh. so does that mean there’s been a shift back to custom-made tailored items?

this pointy nose guy is extremely theatrical

calm down buddy

so he says his company has come all this way while building products that meet the needs of each of their customers individually

this is cool and all but I’m trying to figure out why this new arc is opening with an infomercial

I’m expecting things all right, but I think it’s a little too early to say if they’ll be great

and now we’re cutting to this guy’s office, where his employee is concluding his presentation. apparently he was showing his boss the finished commercial

and now they’re discussing the thus-far lukewarm reception to their recent announcement

(ETA: holy shit. famous last words. fuckin’ jinxed it Miyashita.)

are you guys... good guys? bad guys? how is this related to the plot?? a new arc all about stock holdings and market shares. Iida did you write this arc

so pointy nose says that they’ve been doing this on a much larger scale for a long time already, so he’s confident they’ll be successful

oh shit

it only just occurred to me that he used the word “superpowers” instead of quirks

AND LOOK AT THIS SHIT

IT’S THAT BOOK. THE ONE THAT WAS PROBABLY WRITTEN BY DESTRO OMG

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

IT WAS DESTRO. CALLED IT WOOP WOOP

Mishiwhatsa says he read the book too but “it’s a load of crap if you ask me”

he says that what the army was doing was nothing but terrorism at the expense of innocent people, and yet Destro “had the gall” to act like he was in the right

hot damn this guy really was Magneto. are we going full-on X-Men in this arc. I want the works. I want fucking sentinels and everything oh god please

oh shit I’m starting to worry about ol’ Mishi here

MIYASHITA, RUN

OH SHIT

IS HE GOING TO SNAP HIS FUCKING NECK!?? HOLY SHIT!??

holy fucking shitballs oh christ

this dude is straight up murdering his best employee, Nezu’s cousin, all because he didn’t agree with his favorite book!?

...

holy shit

fuck. I’m speechless

okay. okay shit. well. uh. Detnerat, huh

you have my attention, plot

hooooooooooly shit

holy shit holy shit holy shit

okay. calm down, self. let’s jot down some thoughts real quick

okay so one, that one shot of that guy with his hand on his hat has a decided Ian McKellen vibe to it. I’m telling you guys. X-Men references all over the damn place in this arc

two, the word “supremacy” was used. meaning this wasn’t just a “quirk rights” group, this was a quirk supremacist group. or is a quirk supremacist group, I should say. these people believe themselves to be the future of humankind. they don’t want liberation, they want control. and assuming we continue to follow the X-Men parallels here, they also believe themselves to be superior to those without superpowers and they’re looking to assert their authority over them

they clearly believe the current laws restricting the usage of quirks are a form of oppression and persecution and are looking to eradicate them

this seems like exactly the type of philosophy the League of Villains would be eager to spread, and I wouldn’t be surprised if another team-up is in the works here

lastly, if these guys are now in the business of making hero equipment, whoever buys from them had better be really careful, as I can easily see some sort of Iron Man 2 plotline going down in which there’s a secret command built into the coding of the new equipment which will sabotage its users once activated. or if you’d rather think of it in Star Wars terms rather than MCU, call it an “order 66” ploy

(ETA: well I partly called this one. still up in the air honestly, who knows.)

also: friendly reminder that Bakugou’s gauntlets were recently destroyed and he’s gonna be needing new ones! (:

so having said all that, let’s see how this pans out!

and right away, the prediction about them teaming up with the League is panning out. waste no time, huh

so Hooknose is telling him to do so at once

oh shit hold up

WELL I SURE GOT THAT BACKWARDS NOW DIDN’T I

lol oh shit. I totally forgot that AFO was the one who bombed the Army’s HQ all those decades and possibly centuries ago. I can’t believe these guys still remember that and know how AFO was connected to boot

also, is there a Rorschach thing going on here? I wonder if it’s a reference to the psychologist or to the comic book character from Watchmen. I’m betting the latter given the way they’re using the inkblots as masks, and also because this is a manga based on superhero comics after all

(ETA: yeah, Rorschach, Joker, and Magneto... drawing on a lot of classic villains and anti-heroes in this arc.)

ah so now we’re getting details on their new bid to enter the hero market

HOLD UP

WHAT THE FUCK THIS GUY LOOKS AWFULLY FUCKING FAMILIAR

IS THIS SHIRAKUMO??? AIZAWA WERE YOU NOT CONTENT WITH THE STRIKING SIMILARITY YOU ALREADY BORE TO KAKASHI? HAD TO GO AND ADD THE OLD FRIEND TURNED EVIL BACKSTORY TOO?? OR WHAT

given that this guy seems to have some sort of cloud-based power (look at what he’s riding! and now the people he just harassed and stole from are describing it as “carbonated water”), and kumo means “cloud”...

(ETA: nope, this is just good ol’ Soda Sam. Carbonation Carl.)

okay and now we’re cutting to a conversation between two as-yet-unknown parties that seem to be witnessing this robbery from a distance, and deciding whether or not to intervene

for a moment I entertained the idea that this might be Kacchan and Shouto with their hot-off-the-presses licenses, possibly talking to All Might? but none of this dialogue seems to have that Kacchan flair, and it also doesn’t make much sense for them to have attended the lesson accompanied by All Might and no one else. Aizawa’s been pretty good about making sure there’s always at least one other fighting pro accompanying them

so now this group of merry bandits is celebrating their new haul

OH SHITTTTTTT

ODDS OF THIS BEING BAKUGOU AND SHOUTO JUST SHOT WAAAAAAAAAY WAY UP OH MY GOD?!

OH MY GOD IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT?!

I SHOULD STOP DOUBTING MYSELF AND HORIKOSHI’S PROPENSITY FOR GIVING ME EXACTLY WHAT I WANT ALL OF THE TIME

motherfucker. you just know Kacchan spent that entire cab ride with his nose pressed to the window trying to sense danger and keeping his fingers crossed something like this would happen

(ETA: him and Shouto both, since the dialogue suggests it was Shouto that spotted it first! so basically one of them stationed at each window with All Might sandwiched in between wondering if he’s even going to survive this trip. the answer is yes, All Might, but not without it becoming Eventful.)

also, 30 minutes or 30 seconds, it hardly matters All Might. you know these two spent the last three months anticipating this moment every single minute of every day. they’re gonna go do reckless hero shit, All Might. THEY’RE JUST GONNA

oh my godddddddd

TodoBaku fighting against Aizawa’s possible friend-turned-villain in the snowwwwww having JUST EARNED THE SHIT OUT OF THEIR NEW LICENSES HELL YEAHHHHHHHHH

and it appears Kacchan does have a gauntlet. goddammit. make that propensity for giving me almost exactly what I want, most of the time

anyways, I don’t really care! life is good. life is fucking amazing, fam

[digimonadventuretimelines]

[07- Meeting the Alternate World’s Chosen Children]

“So you came from another world…?” Takeru asked the wandering trio “But why are you here?”

“Uhh…” Daichi had yet no idea how to answer that question, but tried to not reveal much details “We were travelling through Space-Time network and we ended up here by accident.”

“Hm, he does seem like Motomiya but does not speak like Motomiya” Miyako shrugged.

“At least he helped us to recover that area” Iori mused, “thanks anyway.”

“I’m Daichi. These are Ulforce and Natsu, they’re traveling with me.”

“Nice to meet you, Daichi” Hikari smiled “I’m Hikari, and these are Takeru, Iori and Miyako. We’re part of the Chosen Children group.”

“I noticed it” the boy nodded “Say, why is mr. Motomiya Daisuke against you all? Weren’t he part of the group too?”

“Pff like that birdbrain would’ve been on our side” Miyako snorted and commented with disgust “He’s a bully! That’s it.”

“Um…” Natsu avoided looking at the group “The Daisuke from our world is nice and caring. Not like this world’s Daisuke.”

“... He was like that here too” Hikari said with a sad tone of voice “But everything changed, he says he’s trying to protect us but… He’s hurting the digimon now.”

“May I ask what happened?” Daichi frowned. Something must have changed from his world’s timeline.

“... Three years ago, my brother and our friends had been summoned to save the Digital World from the evil forces, but they had to return and find the eighth Chosen Child. But with them, a strong enemy named Vamdemon came before and took the entire Odaiba as his hostage, with the power of his nightmare army.”

“Hmm, and...?”

“Many children had been taken away from their families, and Daisuke was one of them.”

“We assume he had been convinced to join forces with Ichijouji Ken, the Digimon Kaiser” Takeru added “Because before that, he was willing to help to beat the Kaiser.”

“Makes sense-- Wait you said ‘Ichijouji Ken’ ?!”

“Yes, the prodigy boy” Miyako pouted “He’s pretty but crazy! He acts all as a god-like figure, but he’s a dummy!”

Daichi glanced at Natsu. So, all the kids he had met right now are part of the friend circle of his parents. He would assume things are like that because it’s an alternate world or he could expect to all of them being related to the legend of the Chosen Children.

“... But why did he do that?” Daichi wondered “Why would he join the villain’s side?”

“We don’t know…” Iori shook his head “But that’s unforgivable. We will stop them no matter what happens.”

Hikari silently gasped. Natsu noticed that though, same about Daichi. Ulforce punched the palm of his hand and smirked:

“Oh? Then it’s a deal! We’re going to stop’em!!”

“Hikari…?” Tailmon seemed concerned.

“I’m okay… Don’t worry.”

“... my dad and mrs. Hikari were close to each other as much mrs. Hikari and mr. Takeru” Daichi thought, having a few memories of him witnessing a couple of encounters and parties before, “She must be suffering because of having to fight a friend…”

===========

After returning to the base...

“Motomiya.”

Daisuke looked at Ken, “Huh?”

“Who’s that kid and why does he look like you?”

“And ya think I know!? He was watchin’ the fight and said you were in trouble.”

“Then, why did he try to stop us, you airhead?!”

“Okay, you need to stop callin’ me like that. And second, I have no idea why that kid did that. Maybe he thought I was with the Chosen Children. Like if I would join the side of those losers heh.”

“That kid will be a nuisance if we don’t discover how to handle him and his digimon.”

“... He has a V-mon too… Very powerful. I haven’t seen a digimon catch Fladramon like that before.”

“... I will have to research about that digimon and take precautions against it.”

“I wonder how could he evolve that V-mon with a Dark Tower stopping the rest from evolving.”

“The same process of the Digimental perhaps…?” Ken began his research on the computer “No, it’s impossible… My digivice was supposed to suppress evolution and keep them under my control.”

“Yeah but we have school tomorrow, better we go home--”

“I have no time to think of school when there’s a new meddling kid ruining all of my strategy!”

“Your family don’t know yet and no one else but us and them. If we vanish from out of the blue they will call the police and then all our hard work will be in vain. No one believe those digimon are real, only us and the Chosen Children.”

“Fine, you won. I’m going home, but after school we will continue the research.”

 ============

Daichi felt conflicted: Should he stay and discover what made Daisuke join forces with the Digimon Kaiser? Or should he leave…?

“Daichan, we need to go.”

Natsu would vote for the latter option. She waited for the 02 team walk away to whisper to the boy:

“You cannot mess with this world’s timeline.”

“I… I understand. Then, let’s go home.”

She nodded and got the pendant, but the pinky sand inside had disappeared. That wasn’t a problem in their minds, so when Daichi pointed the digivice to the crystal…

“Huh?”

… Nothing happened. No gate opened. It was like that…

“I guess this means we’re stuck in this world ‘til we discover how to recharge the pendant” Ulforce commented with a shrug.

“Is it what should happen, Natsu?” and the boy found that troublesome, but he had to ask.

“I think so… I didn’t expect to use all power in one row” she muttered “Oh! I think we will have to stay for a while, maybe until it is ready again.”

“And how much time it will take?”

“Um… Maybe days. Or weeks.”

“I hope I can go home in time…” Daichi felt defeated. The imagination of his mother calling officer Ichijouji all again caused him goosebumps “... Or I will be in trouble, again.”

“Hey Daichi, won’t you come?” Miyako had returned and stood in front of them “Hey, what’s the problem?”

“We’re stuck here” Natsu answered “At least for a while.”

“I see… Hey Takeru! Can Daichi, Natsu and Ulforce stay with you tonight?”

“I don’t see why not, but why?”

“They’re stuck in our world. It’s temporary but I don’t think it’s safe to leave them here.”

 ==========

“Say, how’s your world?” Once they arrived at the Takaishi household, Takeru decided to prepare something for themselves to eat “Ah, don’t worry. My mom is coming late today, I will phone her later to tell about you’re staying here today.”

“My world is… pretty much like yours, except you’re friends with mr. Motomiya” Daichi answered “And I may say, with mr. Ichijouji too.”

“... I wish that were like this here too” that sounded a bit sad…? “Daisuke’s not a bad person, at least not how Hikari, Taichi and my brother said. For some reason he hates me because he thinks Hikari and I are a couple” he chuckled “But… I wish we had been friends.”

Daichi looked down, it didn’t seem a nice story. So, according to those people Takeru mentioned, Daisuke isn’t a bad person despite him being in the wrong side in this world.

“Do you… Tried to talk with him before?” and Takeru’s guest spoke “Or ms. Hikari?”

“We tried” he turned the stove off, opened the instant ramen cups and poured hot water inside to prepare them “Daisuke said it was for everyone’s sake, but… We don’t know what Ichijouji had told him. Unlike Miyako and Iori, I think he needs to snap out of it.”

“I see…”

“Why were you space-time traveling, then?”

“... I’m not sure if I can…”

“He’s trying to save an important person” Natsu said with a serious voice “That’s all.”

“And then you ended up in this world instead.”

“Yes, exactly that.”

Daichi carefully looked at the goggles on his neck, under the scarf. Unlike Miyako and Iori outfits, Daichi’s blazer and scarf didn’t vanish once he went to the human world of that alternate timeline. It was strange, but… At least the scarf can hide the goggles.

“It’s done” Takeru smiled and then put the cups on the table with the chopsticks “Sorry I’m not a good cook, so sometimes I rely on instant food.”

“It’s okay” Daichi chuckled “my father has a restaurant so I know a few tricks.”

“Lucky you!” he laughed “My parents are divorced, but they let my brother and I visit each other. Sometimes I go see them, we had recently moved to Odaiba. I think this is a good signal… That maybe mom and dad being at least acquaintances now.”

“I… I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay.”

The silence fell upon them, quite awkwardly. Daichi had so many thoughts and questions but felt it wouldn’t be appropriate for that moment. Not when he was sure it’s hard to deal with divorced parents. Him, a child with no experience on it… Also Takeru’s son in his world does not share this same fate either. Maybe no one Daichi knew has divorced parents.

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

Takeru’s question made Daichi look at him.

“How is my family in your world?”

Daichi couldn’t answer that. Not that he knew, but even if he did he couldn’t answer it properly. Instead…

“Look, things may be hard but I can assure you that it’s the same as here” Natsu said with a serious voice “But you and Yamato are happy at least by seeing each other.”

“I see…”

“I never had seen a digimon like you before,” Patamon was looking at Ulforce, now on a lower form -- Chibimon “I mean… You look like a Plotmon with that Holy Ring on your neck.”

“I feel insulted. How can you NOT know another of my species!?” and he snorted.

“We do. But he’s working with the Kaiser.”

“But why?” Daichi mused “Why would they do the opposite of protecting the digimon?”

“Hmm…” Natsu seemed thoughtful.

“Do you know something?” and he asked her “Anything that could help…?”

“Let’s ask him after school tomorrow” she decided “I’m pretty sure he’s still living on the same place here.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?” Daichi got surprised by that “I… I wasn’t expecting you to say that…!”

“He leaves school in the first instance the class is over, but we don’t know where he goes” Takeru spoke “If you be lucky enough you can try to meet him.”

“Then it’s settled” Natsu replied with a nod “Once the class is over, we will meet Daisuke and ask him directly why he is doing that.”

 =========

In the mysterious palace connecting each world and time, Skuld watched carefully Daichi’s steps, with ClavisAngemon behind her. He couldn’t read her mind, and kept questioning himself what was she thinking. Shouldn’t they intervene and bring Daichi, Ulforce and Natsu back?

“Master Skuld…”

“No, let’s see what he will do. This is his first trial.”

[ephrampettaline]

The Threepenny Prince and the Lord of the Honeywilds spend the night before the coronation together.

@bumblingbrujo, @ephrampettaline

Miguel had been debating with himself for most of the night. Eventually some part of him beat the other in the debate and he decided there was no harm in having a little fun, especially if it got him an often overlooked ally. Lord Pettaline was still a Lord after-all. And if all the noble houses got a vote in matters of the Quiver - then it didn’t matter how much or little land he had. When the moon was lower, with mostly small hours of the morning left, Miguel took to searching for him. It couldn’t be that hard, to find someone so tall and blond in crowd.

Ephram for his part had found it easier than he’d anticipated to keep his rendezvous with Miguel in mind, even through all the hard paces of social greetings, interactions, flattery, and promises that he spent the evening putting himself through. He’d come to the Capital to work, even more than he’d come to witness the coronation and a shift in the governance of the Bluesprings. Honeywild Holding had dwindled down to his own (empty, defunct) House and a grand total of two dozen families; House Pommeroy to the south and House Oliver to the west were both much stronger, populous lands, each with an eye to annexing Honeywild as fully as possible. Ephram wouldn’t call himself an ambitious man, but … well, he wouldn’t call himself a schemer, at least. Not for anything trivial. Maybe he might be a bit of a schemer, but he certainly didn’t mean anybody harm. Not if he could help it, on his mad determined scrabble to the top.

But all of his machinations, such as they were, fell away again just like before when he saw the Threepenny Prince making his way over, looking a little more sweetly flushed and flustered than a few hours ago. Ephram moved to meet him, a slow smile on his lips. “Worked up a thirst?” he asked.

Once Lord Pettaline caught his eye, Miguel set down his empty glass walked toward him. He could feel his heart beat in his throat and he felt like a young man who had yet to drink any wine, though this wasn’t his first tasting. “Of course, dancing and revelry tends to do that.” He smirked, trying to keep a cool head. Though Ephram didn’t seem to mind when he bumbled and flushed. If that’s what excited the Lord of the Honeywilds, Miguel wouldn’t try to hide it. “I’ll admit, I’m still curious about this mead. I think I need to know how it tastes, and I can’t rest easily until I do.”

Ephram nodded while the prince spoke, looking for all the world like he was listening to Miguel inform him of something of dire importance, using one crooked elbow to keep them both walking together instead of standing where they met. They turned a corner into a dimly-lit service corridor, and Ephram wasted no time in wrapping one big hand around the back of Miguel’s neck, his other hand planted against the prince’s shoulder to pin him against the stone wall. “I’ll take care of that for you,” Ephram murmured, and then pressed his open mouth against Miguel’s full lips, licking his way into the shorter man’s mouth with a hum of approval.

Miguel let out a little whimper of surprise. He hadn’t expected that where anyone could see, they were hidden, but not well hidden enough for Miguel’s tastes. Still, he couldn’t help but kiss back, not when Lord Pettaline was so insistent. After a moment of rough kisses Miguel tried to pull back, but the stone wall was in the way. He ducked down instead. “Wait, this mead will be sweeter somewhere… a little more comfortable.” He realized what he said, how he sounded. Like a whiny little prince who needed a bed and something soft. Maybe it was true, but he didn’t want Lord Pettaline to think that. “I still want, your mead,” he tried to explain it without saying it so bluntly. He wanted Ephram, and he wanted it as rough as Ephram had hinted, but in his rooms, not out in the service corridor. “Come on, where are those rooms?”

Ephram stroked his hand down from the nape of Miguel’s neck, dragging his thumb along the dip of the man’s spine through his rich clothes. “It’s all right, honey,” he said, gently amused. “That was only a taste. I wouldn’t have you out here in the palace where anybody could see how much you enjoy it.” This time when they walked, Ephram didn’t bother to pace his long, loping stride, expecting Miguel to keep up with him as they left the castle proper and entered one of what used to be three chapterhouses for palace monks. The holy order was long since ousted, and the houses reconfigured as temporary lodging for visitors to Bluesprings Castle; comfortably-appointed rooms with a certain sameness to them. Ephram led Miguel into his, and shut the door, and locked it.

Miguel leaned into Ephram’s touch, the back of his neck had always been sensitive, and it felt something like fate that that’s where the other man’s hand landed and pressed. Miguel’s face got hot again, as Ephram called him honey. He found his lips tingling, aching for the feeling he had just ducked away from. As Ephram walked with long strides, Miguel had to walk twice as fast to keep up with his short legs - but he did his best. And let out a sigh of relief (and excitement) when he was finally behind a locked door. There was only a moments pause between that and melting against Ephram again. Miguel grabbed his shirt and pulled him down, so he could be reached for kisses. Miguel’s kisses were just a little softer than Ephram’s, more pleading than passionate.

Ephram leaned easily down into the kissing, returning one hand to the back of Miguel’s neck with his thumb tucked behind the princeling’s ear, holding him steady as Ephram pushed more and more heat into the contact of their lips. It was endearing, that calf-like nuzzling and soft kisses, urging Ephram onward but not claiming any aggression for himself. Ephram wondered, vaguely, if that was a result of being a third son – that pleading and pleasing came easiest, rather than taking or deciding. Lifting his other hand, he slid it along Miguel’s jaw and wedged his thumb between their slowly-moving, opened mouths; then, closing his fist in Miguel’s dark, almost violet-sheened hair, tugged the Isles man’s head back. Dragging his wet thumb to the corner of Miguel’s mouth, smearing their mingled spit as it went, letting the digit make a smear of Miguel’s rapidly swelling lips, too. “I’m going to find out,” Ephram announced, his mouth watering, “what sounds that salt-stained voice of yours makes when I’m too deep inside you to even move.”

Miguel’s head went back easily, exposing his throat. Was his pulse visible? His heart was beating so hard, he thought it must be. “I would be happy to moan for you, Lord Pettaline,” Miguel agreed breathlessly. He wanted to be bossed around. He didn’t care whose house was larger or more powerful, he was ready to get on his knees and submit to the Lord of the Honeywilds. He tugged on Ephram’s shirt again, before he started to unbutton it - slowly helping Ephram get undressed. This was the nerve-wracking part. But Miguel’s body was already too hot to turn back - his heart beat had taken over his whole body - everything throbbed and ached.

Ephram didn’t mind Miguel taking his time with undressing him; it gave him the opportunity to kiss and nip at Miguel’s chin, down his bared throat, feeling the warm erratic flutter of that speeded-up pulse against Ephram’s lips. “You’ll be happy to do plenty more for me,” he promised Miguel, biting down on the muscle of his shoulder and sucking in a bruise. Then he stepped back, taking over undressing himself and reaching behind him to tug his shirt up over his head and off his arms, watching Miguel with darkened blue eyes as he unfastened his trousers, unhurried but deliberate. “I want you naked before I get my breeches off, boy.”

Miguel wanted to obey. The problem was all the sashes and buttons that adorned his ceremonial garb. Miguel kicked off his boots, untied and dropped his sash - and then started on the obsidian buttons of his shirt. Yes, this was the nervous part, and his fingers fumbled a bit, slowing him down. His thundering heart turned into a headache with only one cure.

And then Ephram was standing close to Miguel, gently but firmly removing the prince’s unworking fingers from his buttons. “Behind your back for now,” he instructed, and then was twisting the dark shining bits of obsidian open, a grace to his long fingers belied by their callouses. Once he had Miguel’s shirt opened, he pushed the finely-woven fabric from the shorter man’s shoulders, down to his crossed wrists, leaving the heavy material hanging there to effectively swaddle Miguel’s hands.

Ephram himself had taken off his trousers, but remained in his close-fitting linen smallclothes – old-fashioned in the way of the East, hanging low on his narrow hips and each leg banded at the thigh, somewhat high up on him due to his long legs – and his arousal was evident in how it thickened the garment. “Are you more accustomed to having a servant dress and undress you, Highness?” he asked, the same dark molasses of amusement lacing his voice from before. “Shh, shhh. It’s all right. I’ll take care of you.” Ephram slid his palm between Miguel’s legs with an assurance that bordered on arrogant.

Miguel swayed a moment before planting his feet more solidly on the ground. He let Ephram do what he wanted, hands behind his back - embraced in the soft makeshift cuffs of his own shirt. “Not particularly.” Miguel chuckled and shook his head. “There’s no such frivolities on the ships. And I’m often on the ships, Ephram,” it was the first time Miguel used the Honeywild Lord’s given name aloud - and it sent a small warm feeling through him. “Just me and my men,” he explained further with a cheeky smile. The incredibly self assured look on his face made Miguel smirk, he was in for a surprise, it would either be amusing or troublesome, but the way Ephram spoke to him, with nothing but honey dipping from his mouth, made Miguel think what lay between his legs wouldn’t be an insurmountable obstacle. After all, he was just as aroused as Ephram, though more subtly, a soft sticky excitement instead of a hard pressing one.

“Oh, just you and your men? You must have some incredibly effective manner of maintaining discipline, after having been under each of them panting for it with your legs sprea–” Ephram’s fingers met with the warm wetness he expected, but not the length or the stiffness. No cock at all, in fact, but still familiar terrain.

And from how his own prick jumped hard enough to push against Miguel’s hip, Ephram’s body needed no time at all to arrive where his mind needed a moment to adjust and catch up.

“Godsblood,” he growled, and the lacing of Miguel’s trousers pulled tight and snapped in his strong grip and eagerness to get the princeling divested of clothes. Wrapping one sinewy arm around Miguel’s naked waist, Ephram hoisted the man bodily against him and walked them to the bed, where he set Miguel on the mattress and then pushed him down flat. The shirt was still tangled with Miguel’s wrists and the weight of his own body pinned them as Ephram sank to his knees and spread Miguel’s legs wide open, a hungry groan escaping him as he pressed his angular face to the inside of one thigh and breathed in deep. “I didn’t think you’d surprise me, Highness. Sure not like this.”

“You’d be surprised how easily my open legs breed devotion.” Not that Miguel slept with all his men… at least not all at once. Though the crew of his personal ships were quite familiar with their admiral - familiar enough that there would be no surprises in unexpected situations. “Discipline is seldom needed. At least for them. On the other hand, I desperately need some.”

As Ephram picked him up, Miguel’s heart bounced around his throat and his legs wrapped around his waist - clinging there where his arms couldn’t. The feeling of being pushed and pulled around was exciting, and he squirmed under Ephram’s weight. He spread his legs for the Honeywild Lord and smiled down at him. “There are still plenty of things up my sleeves, don’t get complacent.”

Ephram huffed, hooking his hands under Miguel’s knees and lifting them onto his wide, freckled shoulders. “If your sleeves hold surprises half as astonishing as your trousers,” he intoned, “then I can’t begin to imagine what you got in store.” The little fillip of princely scolding only served to drive Ephram’s blood hotter; when he’d resolved to gain powerful allies for his holding by whatever means possible, he’d needed to discard anything that might hamper his progress. Pride and shame being chief among them.

So Ephram had developed a taste for everything that came along with the bedroom games of the nobles, and that included their highborn attitudes – bred into them so innately that the imperiousness emerged even when he had them on their backs begging for it. Like Miguel was now.

“I’ll have to see what forms of discipline I can come up with until morning, then,” Ephram said, shooting back a smirking smile of his own before he moved forward, attention consumed with the burgeoning demand of more pressing matters. He did, after all, still intend to hear this pretty princeling’s cries of completion before their night was over.

While Miguel had been able to let go of all of his stress and responsibilities with Ephram on top of him, they were slowly coming back. His worries settled on his shoulders, his stress turned to lead in his blood. Somewhere along the way, his shirt had fallen off his wrists, but there were bruises forming there, as well as his hips and shoulders. He pressed his face against Ephram’s side, content and tired. Though the sex had been good, the snuggling was where Ephram could really make an impression on the little prince.

The press of another person against him made Ephram shift automatically to get them settled and comfortable, and he let one arm snake around Miguel’s shoulders to pull him in. “Miguel,” he rumbled, a faint stirring of concern in his voice, “you’re wound up tight as a spindle! What’s worrying you? The coronation?” Ephram started to dig his thumb in long, deep strokes against the lines of Miguel’s bunched muscles. “I didn’t think you men from the Isles would put such stock into a mainland ruler.”

Miguel leaned into Ephram’s firm touches, a sucker for whatever he was doing with his hands. “I don’t put much stock in a mainland ruler. And I’d much prefer the isles stay separate from the continent. However, I am but the youngest of three - and Iann takes his role as the eldest very seriously.” Miguel paused his explanation to let out a little moan of appreciation, as Ephram hit an especially knotted tender spot. “These tense muscles come with my birthright,” he sighed.

“Does he? I’ve heard that the Driftwood Prince is well deft when it comes to gaming politics, and that he’s a brilliant fleet commander, but I’ve also heard said that he’s not … especially fond of responsibility.” Ephram shrugged a shoulder, changing from the hard press of his thumb into the knotty tissues of Miguel’s body to long, warming strokes with the heel of his hand. “With Forty Isles to rule, doesn’t that mean you get some of them apportioned to your control?” So far, Miguel hadn’t found Ephram’s careful probing as to what power was potentially there for the Lord of the Honeywilds to make use of to be offputting; not wanting that to change, he rolled the young prince onto his stomach and sat up, straddling Miguel’s thicker hips.

This time putting his weight and strength into how he kneaded Miguel’s muscles, Ephram dotted their landscape with soft-mouthed kisses, trailing the point of his nose here and there, occasionally tousling Miguel’s sweat-damp curls. “At least the third son doesn’t have to rush to marry, hmm?”

Miguel chuckled at Ephram’s description of Iann. It was a fair description. But then again Iann didn’t have quite so many masks as his little brother. “All of those rumors have a grain of truth. But there’s a difference between being fond of responsibility and wanting power.” He looked away from Ephram, out toward the windows, he was unable to see the sea from where they were - but he still knew which direction it faced. “I have three ships under my direct command. Technically speaking I could command any of them, if Iann agreed to it first. The islands themselves however,” he paused and a brief smirk flashed across his face. “Their loyalty depends upon the opinion of the people.” Miguel could guess a couple reasons for Ephram’s prodding, but he didn’t mind. There were other resources he had, ones he could play closer to his chest. Allies on the mainland, mystic artifacts, and usually a mix of the two brought together with cunning were enough to get Miguel what he wanted.

After the deed itself, Miguel wanted control back. He was out of the mindset of the easily pushed around baby prince. But Ephram’s hands made a strong argument - and Miguel melted against his touch. “There’s not much point in marriage, since I can’t produce an heir,” he said it softly, plied into a moment of naked honesty by Ephram’s gentleness. After the moment of weakness he cleared his throat and moved his shoulders. “Get off. Let me return the favor.

"It’s not a favour, honey. I wanted to do it.” Still, Ephram climbed off of Miguel’s muscled body, one long leg still peaked over Miguel’s knees as he settled his lanky frame half-sitting up on his hip next to the prince. His hair was straggling free from its customary knot at the back of his head, so Ephram unclubbed the little ribbon of dark blue velvet it was tied with – one of his very very few concessions to vanity, those hair ribbons – and let it tumble haphazardly free, choppily long and almost white-blond at his hairline. It made him look a little younger, a little more naked, and if Ephram had known that he would never have taken his hair down ever.

“And the people are loyal to their brash, charming heir apparent,” he mused, lightly dragging his fingertips along Miguel’s forearm and riffling the soft dark hairs there. “Not hard to understand why. He’s real certain of himself, your brother. But…” Ephram drew his bottom lip in under his teeth for a moment, “…they’ll also be loyal to the prince who knows them. The one who isn’t too occupied with statecraft to really figure out what they want and need.” The stroke of Ephram’s fingertips stuttered to a halt. “If you want power, that’s the way to do it. Work backwards. Assume it, and then convince everybody under you that it was their own desire from the start for you to have power over them.”

Once Ephram was close enough, Miguel ran his fingers along his jaw, rubbing that scratchy texture of his face. “That’s one suggestion…” The islands that were loyal to Miguel were devoted, the islands that were loyal to Iann were just nominally so - at least in Miguel’s mind. It was only a matter of time and numbers. But the health of their father was the clock that they were fighting against. “Thank you for the advice. I appreciate it.” He hands fluttered up from Ephram’s jaw to his hair, Miguel pushed it back out of his face and smiled. “Can I braid it? It’s so long.”

The switch in topic brought Ephram’s careful seeding of the ground to a close, but he found he couldn’t protest too deeply when Miguel’s fingers were in his hair. “An’t had braids since I was a lad,” he chuckled, referring to the way that Eastern boys – most fair-haired, like him – tied their hair into two braids until they were old enough to be allowed the gathered knot. “But for you, Highness, I don’t mind. Do whatever you want.”

[bumblingbrujo]

The Threepenny Prince and the Lord of the Honeywilds spend the night before the coronation together. 

@ephrampettaline

Miguel had been debating with himself for most of the night. Eventually some part of him beat the other in the debate and he decided there was no harm in having a little fun, especially if it got him an often overlooked ally. Lord Pettaline was still a Lord after-all. And if all the noble houses got a vote in matters of the Quiver - then it didn't matter how much or little land he had. When the moon was lower, with mostly small hours of the morning left, Miguel took to searching for him. It couldn't be that hard, to find someone so tall and blond in crowd.

Ephram for his part had found it easier than he'd anticipated to keep his rendezvous with Miguel in mind, even through all the hard paces of social greetings, interactions, flattery, and promises that he spent the evening putting himself through. He'd come to the Capital to work, even more than he'd come to witness the coronation and a shift in the governance of the Bluesprings. Honeywild Holding had dwindled down to his own (empty, defunct) House and a grand total of two dozen families; House Pommeroy to the south and House Oliver to the west were both much stronger, populous lands, each with an eye to annexing Honeywild as fully as possible. Ephram wouldn't call himself an ambitious man, but ... well, he wouldn't call himself a schemer, at least. Not for anything trivial. Maybe he might be a bit of a schemer, but he certainly didn't mean anybody harm. Not if he could help it, on his mad determined scrabble to the top.

But all of his machinations, such as they were, fell away again just like before when he saw the Threepenny Prince making his way over, looking a little more sweetly flushed and flustered than a few hours ago. Ephram moved to meet him, a slow smile on his lips. "Worked up a thirst?" he asked.

Once Lord Pettaline caught his eye, Miguel set down his empty glass walked toward him. He could feel his heart beat in his throat and he felt like a young man who had yet to drink any wine, though this wasn't his first tasting. "Of course, dancing and revelry tends to do that." He smirked, trying to keep a cool head. Though Ephram didn't seem to mind when he bumbled and flushed. If that's what excited the Lord of the Honeywilds, Miguel wouldn't try to hide it. "I'll admit, I'm still curious about this mead. I think I need to know how it tastes, and I can't rest easily until I do."

Ephram nodded while the prince spoke, looking for all the world like he was listening to Miguel inform him of something of dire importance, using one crooked elbow to keep them both walking together instead of standing where they met. They turned a corner into a dimly-lit service corridor, and Ephram wasted no time in wrapping one big hand around the back of Miguel's neck, his other hand planted against the prince's shoulder to pin him against the stone wall. "I'll take care of that for you," Ephram murmured, and then pressed his open mouth against Miguel's full lips, licking his way into the shorter man's mouth with a hum of approval.

Miguel let out a little whimper of surprise. He hadn't expected that where anyone could see, they were hidden, but not well hidden enough for Miguel's tastes. Still, he couldn't help but kiss back, not when Lord Pettaline was so insistent. After a moment of rough kisses Miguel tried to pull back, but the stone wall was in the way. He ducked down instead. "Wait, this mead will be sweeter somewhere... a little more comfortable." He realized what he said, how he sounded. Like a whiny little prince who needed a bed and something soft. Maybe it was true, but he didn't want Lord Pettaline to think that. "I still want, your mead," he tried to explain it without saying it so bluntly. He wanted Ephram, and he wanted it as rough as Ephram had hinted, but in his rooms, not out in the service corridor. "Come on, where are those rooms?"

Ephram stroked his hand down from the nape of Miguel's neck, dragging his thumb along the dip of the man's spine through his rich clothes. "It's all right, honey," he said, gently amused. "That was only a taste. I wouldn't have you out here in the palace where anybody could see how much you enjoy it." This time when they walked, Ephram didn't bother to pace his long, loping stride, expecting Miguel to keep up with him as they left the castle proper and entered one of what used to be three chapterhouses for palace monks. The holy order was long since ousted, and the houses reconfigured as temporary lodging for visitors to Bluesprings Castle; comfortably-appointed rooms with a certain sameness to them. Ephram led Miguel into his, and shut the door, and locked it.

Miguel leaned into Ephram's touch, the back of his neck had always been sensitive, and it felt something like fate that that's where the other man's hand landed and pressed. Miguel's face got hot again, as Ephram called him honey. He found his lips tingling, aching for the feeling he had just ducked away from. As Ephram walked with long strides, Miguel had to walk twice as fast to keep up with his short legs - but he did his best. And let out a sigh of relief (and excitement) when he was finally behind a locked door. There was only a moments pause between that and melting against Ephram again. Miguel grabbed his shirt and pulled him down, so he could be reached for kisses. Miguel's kisses were just a little softer than Ephram's, more pleading than passionate.

Ephram leaned easily down into the kissing, returning one hand to the back of Miguel's neck with his thumb tucked behind the princeling's ear, holding him steady as Ephram pushed more and more heat into the contact of their lips. It was endearing, that calf-like nuzzling and soft kisses, urging Ephram onward but not claiming any aggression for himself. Ephram wondered, vaguely, if that was a result of being a third son -- that pleading and pleasing came easiest, rather than taking or deciding. Lifting his other hand, he slid it along Miguel's jaw and wedged his thumb between their slowly-moving, opened mouths; then, closing his fist in Miguel's dark, almost violet-sheened hair, tugged the Isles man's head back. Dragging his wet thumb to the corner of Miguel's mouth, smearing their mingled spit as it went, letting the digit make a smear of Miguel's rapidly swelling lips, too. "I'm going to find out," Ephram announced, his mouth watering, "what sounds that salt-stained voice of yours makes when I'm too deep inside you to even move."

Miguel's head went back easily, exposing his throat. Was his pulse visible? His heart was beating so hard, he thought it must be. "I would be happy to moan for you, Lord Pettaline," Miguel agreed breathlessly. He wanted to be bossed around. He didn't care whose house was larger or more powerful, he was ready to get on his knees and submit to the Lord of the Honeywilds. He tugged on Ephram's shirt again, before he started to unbutton it - slowly helping Ephram get undressed. This was the nerve-wracking part. But Miguel's body was already too hot to turn back - his heart beat had taken over his whole body - everything throbbed and ached.

Ephram didn't mind Miguel taking his time with undressing him; it gave him the opportunity to kiss and nip at Miguel's chin, down his bared throat, feeling the warm erratic flutter of that speeded-up pulse against Ephram's lips. "You'll be happy to do plenty more for me," he promised Miguel, biting down on the muscle of his shoulder and sucking in a bruise. Then he stepped back, taking over undressing himself and reaching behind him to tug his shirt up over his head and off his arms, watching Miguel with darkened blue eyes as he unfastened his trousers, unhurried but deliberate. "I want you naked before I get my breeches off, boy."

Miguel wanted to obey. The problem was all the sashes and buttons that adorned his ceremonial garb. Miguel kicked off his boots, untied and dropped his sash - and then started on the obsidian buttons of his shirt. Yes, this was the nervous part, and his fingers fumbled a bit, slowing him down. His thundering heart turned into a headache with only one cure.

And then Ephram was standing close to Miguel, gently but firmly removing the prince's unworking fingers from his buttons. "Behind your back for now," he instructed, and then was twisting the dark shining bits of obsidian open, a grace to his long fingers belied by their callouses. Once he had Miguel's shirt opened, he pushed the finely-woven fabric from the shorter man's shoulders, down to his crossed wrists, leaving the heavy material hanging there to effectively swaddle Miguel's hands.

Ephram himself had taken off his trousers, but remained in his close-fitting linen smallclothes -- old-fashioned in the way of the East, hanging low on his narrow hips and each leg banded at the thigh, somewhat high up on him due to his long legs -- and his arousal was evident in how it thickened the garment. "Are you more accustomed to having a servant dress and undress you, Highness?" he asked, the same dark molasses of amusement lacing his voice from before. "Shh, shhh. It's all right. I'll take care of you." Ephram slid his palm between Miguel's legs with an assurance that bordered on arrogant.

Miguel swayed a moment before planting his feet more solidly on the ground. He let Ephram do what he wanted, hands behind his back - embraced in the soft makeshift cuffs of his own shirt. "Not particularly." Miguel chuckled and shook his head. "There's no such frivolities on the ships. And I'm often on the ships, Ephram," it was the first time Miguel used the Honeywild Lord's given name aloud - and it sent a small warm feeling through him. "Just me and my men," he explained further with a cheeky smile. The incredibly self assured look on his face made Miguel smirk, he was in for a surprise, it would either be amusing or troublesome, but the way Ephram spoke to him, with nothing but honey dipping from his mouth, made Miguel think what lay between his legs wouldn't be an insurmountable obstacle. After all, he was just as aroused as Ephram, though more subtly, a soft sticky excitement instead of a hard pressing one.

"Oh, just you and your men? You must have some incredibly effective manner of maintaining discipline, after having been under each of them panting for it with your legs sprea--" Ephram's fingers met with the warm wetness he expected, but not the length or the stiffness. No cock at all, in fact, but still familiar terrain.

And from how his own prick jumped hard enough to push against Miguel's hip, Ephram's body needed no time at all to arrive where his mind needed a moment to adjust and catch up.

"Godsblood," he growled, and the lacing of Miguel's trousers pulled tight and snapped in his strong grip and eagerness to get the princeling divested of clothes. Wrapping one sinewy arm around Miguel's naked waist, Ephram hoisted the man bodily against him and walked them to the bed, where he set Miguel on the mattress and then pushed him down flat. The shirt was still tangled with Miguel's wrists and the weight of his own body pinned them as Ephram sank to his knees and spread Miguel's legs wide open, a hungry groan escaping him as he pressed his angular face to the inside of one thigh and breathed in deep. "I didn't think you'd surprise me, Highness. Sure not like this."

"You'd be surprised how easily my open legs breed devotion." Not that Miguel slept with all his men... at least not all at once. Though the crew of his personal ships were quite familiar with their admiral - familiar enough that there would be no surprises in unexpected situations. "Discipline is seldom needed. At least for them. On the other hand, I desperately need some."

As Ephram picked him up, Miguel's heart bounced around his throat and his legs wrapped around his waist - clinging there where his arms couldn't. The feeling of being pushed and pulled around was exciting, and he squirmed under Ephram's weight. He spread his legs for the Honeywild Lord and smiled down at him. "There are still plenty of things up my sleeves, don't get complacent."

Ephram huffed, hooking his hands under Miguel's knees and lifting them onto his wide, freckled shoulders. "If your sleeves hold surprises half as astonishing as your trousers," he intoned, "then I can't begin to imagine what you got in store." The little fillip of princely scolding only served to drive Ephram's blood hotter; when he'd resolved to gain powerful allies for his holding by whatever means possible, he'd needed to discard anything that might hamper his progress. Pride and shame being chief among them.

So Ephram had developed a taste for everything that came along with the bedroom games of the nobles, and that included their highborn attitudes -- bred into them so innately that the imperiousness emerged even when he had them on their backs begging for it. Like Miguel was now.

"I'll have to see what forms of discipline I can come up with until morning, then," Ephram said, shooting back a smirking smile of his own before he moved forward, attention consumed with the burgeoning demand of more pressing matters. He did, after all, still intend to hear this pretty princeling's cries of completion before their night was over.

While Miguel had been able to let go of all of his stress and responsibilities with Ephram on top of him, they were slowly coming back. His worries settled on his shoulders, his stress turned to lead in his blood. Somewhere along the way, his shirt had fallen off his wrists, but there were bruises forming there, as well as his hips and shoulders. He pressed his face against Ephram's side, content and tired. Though the sex had been good, the snuggling was where Ephram could really make an impression on the little prince.

The press of another person against him made Ephram shift automatically to get them settled and comfortable, and he let one arm snake around Miguel's shoulders to pull him in. "Miguel," he rumbled, a faint stirring of concern in his voice, "you're wound up tight as a spindle! What's worrying you? The coronation?" Ephram started to dig his thumb in long, deep strokes against the lines of Miguel's bunched muscles. "I didn't think you men from the Isles would put such stock into a mainland ruler."

Miguel leaned into Ephram's firm touches, a sucker for whatever he was doing with his hands. "I don't put much stock in a mainland ruler. And I'd much prefer the isles stay separate from the continent. However, I am but the youngest of three - and Iann takes his role as the eldest very seriously." Miguel paused his explanation to let out a little moan of appreciation, as Ephram hit an especially knotted tender spot. "These tense muscles come with my birthright," he sighed.

"Does he? I've heard that the Driftwood Prince is well deft when it comes to gaming politics, and that he's a brilliant fleet commander, but I've also heard said that he's not ... especially fond of responsibility." Ephram shrugged a shoulder, changing from the hard press of his thumb into the knotty tissues of Miguel's body to long, warming strokes with the heel of his hand. "With Forty Isles to rule, doesn't that mean you get some of them apportioned to your control?" So far, Miguel hadn't found Ephram's careful probing as to what power was potentially there for the Lord of the Honeywilds to make use of to be offputting; not wanting that to change, he rolled the young prince onto his stomach and sat up, straddling Miguel's thicker hips.

This time putting his weight and strength into how he kneaded Miguel's muscles, Ephram dotted their landscape with soft-mouthed kisses, trailing the point of his nose here and there, occasionally tousling Miguel's sweat-damp curls. "At least the third son doesn't have to rush to marry, hmm?"

Miguel chuckled at Ephram's description of Iann. It was a fair description. But then again Iann didn't have quite so many masks as his little brother. "All of those rumors have a grain of truth. But there's a difference between being fond of responsibility and wanting power." He looked away from Ephram, out toward the windows, he was unable to see the sea from where they were - but he still knew which direction it faced. "I have three ships under my direct command. Technically speaking I could command any of them, if Iann agreed to it first. The islands themselves however," he paused and a brief smirk flashed across his face. "Their loyalty depends upon the opinion of the people." Miguel could guess a couple reasons for Ephram's prodding, but he didn't mind. There were other resources he had, ones he could play closer to his chest. Allies on the mainland, mystic artifacts, and usually a mix of the two brought together with cunning were enough to get Miguel what he wanted.

After the deed itself, Miguel wanted control back. He was out of the mindset of the easily pushed around baby prince. But Ephram's hands made a strong argument - and Miguel melted against his touch. "There's not much point in marriage, since I can't produce an heir," he said it softly, plied into a moment of naked honesty by Ephram's gentleness. After the moment of weakness he cleared his throat and moved his shoulders. "Get off. Let me return the favor.

"It's not a favour, honey. I wanted to do it." Still, Ephram climbed off of Miguel's muscled body, one long leg still peaked over Miguel's knees as he settled his lanky frame half-sitting up on his hip next to the prince. His hair was straggling free from its customary knot at the back of his head, so Ephram unclubbed the little ribbon of dark blue velvet it was tied with -- one of his very very few concessions to vanity, those hair ribbons -- and let it tumble haphazardly free, choppily long and almost white-blond at his hairline. It made him look a little younger, a little more naked, and if Ephram had known that he would never have taken his hair down ever.

"And the people are loyal to their brash, charming heir apparent," he mused, lightly dragging his fingertips along Miguel's forearm and riffling the soft dark hairs there. "Not hard to understand why. He's real certain of himself, your brother. But..." Ephram drew his bottom lip in under his teeth for a moment, "...they'll also be loyal to the prince who knows them. The one who isn't too occupied with statecraft to really figure out what they want and need." The stroke of Ephram's fingertips stuttered to a halt. "If you want power, that's the way to do it. Work backwards. Assume it, and then convince everybody under you that it was their own desire from the start for you to have power over them."

Once Ephram was close enough, Miguel ran his fingers along his jaw, rubbing that scratchy texture of his face. "That's one suggestion..." The islands that were loyal to Miguel were devoted, the islands that were loyal to Iann were just nominally so - at least in Miguel's mind. It was only a matter of time and numbers. But the health of their father was the clock that they were fighting against. "Thank you for the advice. I appreciate it." He hands fluttered up from Ephram's jaw to his hair, Miguel pushed it back out of his face and smiled. "Can I braid it? It's so long."

The switch in topic brought Ephram's careful seeding of the ground to a close, but he found he couldn't protest too deeply when Miguel's fingers were in his hair. "An't had braids since I was a lad," he chuckled, referring to the way that Eastern boys -- most fair-haired, like him -- tied their hair into two braids until they were old enough to be allowed the gathered knot. "But for you, Highness, I don't mind. Do whatever you want."

[raendown]

@bouncyirwin hahaha look at that time stamp. Better late than never, right?

Pairing: ShikamaruSakura Word count: 1741 Summary: Sakura never truly expected a big romantic production for her first time. Good thing, too, considering who she's dating.

Follow the link or read it under the cut!

Easy Beginnings

Even long before they got together Sakura knew that Shikamaru was a lazy guy who preferred to do things at his own pace if at all. Their friends called him gentlemanly for waiting and taking their relationship at a slow pace but when the two of them were alone she ribbed Shikamaru mercilessly that she knew better. He was no gentleman; he was just too lazy to go fast. 

They had been together for nearly three months before they finally got around to doing anything more intimate that sharing a few languid kisses. Luckily Sakura was the take charge type who had gone in to this relationship expecting exactly what she got, a man who preferred to simply lay back and watch things happen. 

Not to say that he couldn’t be motivated to take action of his own. Sakura very much approved of his contributions to their fumbling explorations and she wasn’t shy about letting him know that. 

Six months after they started dating Sakura pressed her boyfriend down in to the bed, threw her leg across his lap, and told him in no uncertain terms that she was very interested in taking another step forward. As she didn’t happen to be wearing either a shirt or a bra at the time, it was rather obvious what she meant by that. 

“If you feel like you’re ready,” was all he said, eyes already drifting down the curve of her neck to rest somewhere at his own eye level. Sakura grinned down at him and tucked a single finger under his chin to bring his gaze back up to her own.

“Are you?” she asked. 

“Been ready for a while,” he admitted. “I just didn’t mention it. Didn’t want to push you or anything.”

“Okay, remind me to be annoyed with you about that later because right now I have other things on my mind. Important things. Things like this.” Sakura held up a condom, which Shikamaru snatched from her while trying very hard to maintain a lazy expression.

Rather than reply to that he lifted his hips as much as he could with her straddled across his thighs and tried to pull down his trousers without seeming like a teenager fumbling at his first time. Just because this actually was both of their first times didn’t mean he wanted to look so nervous. After wriggling out of his shirt as well he rolled the condom down on to himself, glad that she said nothing about how hard he was already at the mere mention of sex. 

Clad in only a pair of lacy underwear, Sakura offered her boyfriend a slightly shaky smile before leaning down to kiss him, wrapping both arms around his neck. She could feel hands resting lightly on her hips and Shikamaru smiling in to their kiss and just those two things settled a great deal of the butterflies in her stomach. 

The fluttering in her belly started anew for an entirely different reason when she felt Shikamaru begin to stroke up and down the tops of her thighs, slowly working his way inward until his thumbs brushed up against the line of her underwear. He paused for a moment before tracing the line of her opening through the lace, making her groan out loud and kiss him harder. 

“You don’t...really need to prepare me or anything,” she admitted with a slight flush of embarrassment. 

“Won’t it hurt if you’re not...uh...aroused or whatever?”

“It took me fifteen minutes to work up the nerve to come and give you the condom. What do you think was on my mind that whole time? Trust me, I’m plenty aroused right now.” 

Shikamaru chuckled and conceded the point. “Someone’s in a hurry.”

“This someone is impatient and horny so hurry yourself along, Nara, or I’ll go take care of myself!” 

“You really know how to motivate a guy, Haruno.” 

Without further ado he dipped his fingers under the hem of her panties and pulled them aside. It definitely would have been better to take them off altogether but she had neither the confidence to do so beforehand nor the patience to do so now. Actually, she realized as he dipped one finger inside just to be sure she felt wet enough, it was kind of erotic–sort of like they were sneaking in some kind of forbidden act when no one was looking.

Shikamaru’s hands were shaking as they helped guide her to the right spot to sink down on to him and Sakura gripped his shoulders so tightly they almost bruised as she worked him inside herself. Shikamaru waited patiently, holding himself still despite the urge to buck up further in to that tight, wet heat. 

Finally she was fully seated and he watched her shift minutely with a slightly uncertain expression.

“How’s it feel?” he asked, curious and worried and much more nervous than he wanted her to know. Her nose scrunched and he felt his heart clenching inside his chest.

“Very weird,” was all she said. Shikamaru stared for a moment. 

“That’s not very encouraging.”

“It’s a good weird!” Sakura insisted with a slight giggle, head dropping forward to rest on his shoulder. “It’s just new so it’s weird but it definitely feels good too, I promise.”

“Alright. Just let me know when you’re ready to keep going, I guess.” 

Sakura shifted her weight a couple more times before nodding, although he had the impression that she was nodding more to her internal monologue than to him. Probably giving herself as pep talk of some sort. When she very carefully lifted her hips at last and slid back down his length he couldn’t help but groan at the sensation of it. 

As though that one noise had suddenly amped up her confidence, Sakura rolled her hips again in a new way and began to move up and down rapidly, like she couldn’t get enough. Shikamaru had barely enough mental power to let his head fall back against the couch cushions and hang on tight for the ride. His spine arched every time she sank back down to envelope him in that incredible tightness until he began to wonder if he might lose his mind before they were finished. 

When Sakura began to moan and clench, Shikamaru close his eyes and prayed that it meant she was as close as he was. This felt as amazing as he had thought it would and despite his embarrassment over not lasting long, he really couldn’t help it. It was hardly his fault that his girlfriend was so hot. 

“Oh kami Shika,” Sakura breathed, making him shudder. “Touch me. Please touch me. I need to cum right now.”

Unable to answer verbally, Shikamaru grunted and struggled to unclench his fingers from around her hip so that he could reach down between them. Curious, he bypassed where she had pleaded him to touch at first so that he could reach lower, tracing her opening where it stretched around him and feeling himself sliding in and out. Both of them gasped at the sensation of it. 

His curiosity lasted only for a moment before he lifted his thumb to her clit as she had asked him to and began to draw frantic circles around it. From exploring other intimate acts, he knew without looking that it would be swollen and red with arousal. With his eyes closed he could draw up the memory of what it would taste like on his tongue and just thinking about it made him stroke her faster, his other hand encouraging her to increase the pace of her hips as well. He was so close it felt like fire licking underneath his skin.

“Fuck!” Shikamaru came with his teeth clenched, curling in to the woman riding his lap while he tried to keep his thumb moving. 

When Sakura finally fell over the edge as well he gasped anew at the sensation of it. He’d thought she felt tight before but it was nothing to how it felt to be squeezed by her inner walls as they pulsed with an orgasm that had her shaking atop him. 

“Holy chakra,” Sakura murmured. “That was...wow. That was wow. Good words. Very wordy good. Mhm.” 

Shikamaru barely found the energy to huff out a single breath of laughter. 

“Whatever you just said, I agree.” 

The two of them collapsed against the back of the couch, all of Sakura’s weight resting shamelessly on top of her boyfriend. She figured that a big strong shinobi like him could take it easily. Her body rose and fell with his heaving chest as both of them struggled to return their breathing to normal. 

Finally Sakura managed to brace her arms and push her still jittering body up in to a sitting position. She didn’t expect Shikamaru to shudder underneath her and grab at her hips, this time to keep her still. 

“Troublesome woman! Quit moving around like that. Everything’s...sensitive!” 

“Oh sorry,” she laughed. “I should probably get off though, so we can clean up?”

“In a minute.” Without bothering to open his eyes, Shikamaru fumbled around with his hand until he had found one of hers, weaving their fingers together. “Can’t you just give us a minute first?”

“Lazy,” she accused him. He didn’t refute the claim.

She didn’t really mind giving him a minute though. With his head tilted back and his hair in disarray, working its way out of his typical ponytail, there was just something about him that looked so domestic and utterly at peace. She rather enjoyed the image he made right then. 

“I love you, Shika.” The words slipped passed her lips without much thought and she sort of regretted that she ruined the scene before her as Shikamaru cracked one eye open to peer at her softly. 

“I guess I sort of like you too,” he said.

Sakura laughed and shook her head. Then just because he was being difficult instead of mushy she made sure to grind her hips a few times against his protests to make him quiver before lifting herself away to go clean up. 

Their first time hadn’t really been anything like she imagined it would be but Sakura couldn’t bring herself to wish that it had gone any other way. Every moment she shared with Shikamaru was perfect no matter what they were doing and she hoped that would never change. 

She hoped they would never change. 

[paranoid-rhythm]

Interlude Translation: Caster Gilgamesh Part 2

Warning: Spoilers for those who haven’t finished Babylonia and Solomon.

I’m using the female avatar, so for convenience’s sake, I named the MC Gudako.

Seriously, Caster Gilgamesh is adorable lol

Part 1 here

TL under the cut~

???: …tsk

CasGil: After going through the pain of allotting resources to hide your identity, it seems like your battle prowess is failing you.

Did you underestimate me just because I am a Caster? Fool! Even in this form of a Caster, the fact that I am the King of Heroes is unchanged!

Fufu…

Fuhaha…

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

???: Retreat.

CasGil: Hmph! Retreating while I’m laughing, what impudence! A coward who can’t even reveal their identity, nothing but a small fry.

Mashu: Still, they have concealed their identity perfectly. I tried to analyze who they were from here but…

CasGil: I see. Mongrel, within the servants that you have summoned, do you have any idea as to who that may be?

Gudako:

1 It’s Jack-chan!

2 I wonder…

(Same result for both answers)

Da Vinci: Going by the elimination method, Jack the Ripper is the top choice for the servant who can successfully hide their identity while in battle--…

WHAT A DISASTER!!!

CasGil: What happened?!

Da Vinci: Forgive me, but I’ve confirmed that there is indeed a servant reaction missing in Chaldea right now.

Since half of the staff are knocked down, the process of checking the Saint Graph reactions was delayed.

Mashu: When I searched, Jack-san’s Saint Graph reaction disappeared. The Saint Graph pattern is in its agitated state, so it means that we did actually summon her but…

Da Vinci: Right now, I’m picking up on which servants graphs are not responding, so please wait for a while…

Gudako:

1 To think that a servant would betray me

2 ….why do I feel like this is set up too perfectly…?

(Same result for both answers)

Mashu: Senpai, there is a servant reaction nearby. As a precaution, please be alert!

Paracelsus: …I’ve disappeared from Chaldea… and when I came to, I found myself wandering in this city of fire alone…

Oh? The master and King Gilgamesh. What are you doing here?

CasGil: That’s what I want to ask you. Answer me truthfully! If you say any falsehood, I will end your life.

Paracelsus: I wonder if it’s alright to say… that I just wished for everyone’s relaxation.

While everyone do get rest on a shifting system, is it truly called “rest” when it’s an obligatory one?

I was only thinking to help eliminate their grief, for them to be able to fall into unconsciousness and rest without worrying about what happens next!

Mashu: Master… I didn’t want to say this but…

It seems that all of the staff that got knocked down came into contact with Paracelsus-san last night.

Under their pillows is a medicine bag with “Safe! Innovative! Undaunted Hohenheim Seal!” written on it…

Gudako:

1 I guess it’s fine that it’s not “Self-conceit” written there…

2 …It’s the first time that I’ve encountered such a shady servant…

(Same result for both answers)

CasGil: And so… what did you do?

Paracelsus: The staff all looked so tired, so I gave them a special medicine…

Please don’t be worried. The ingredients used aside, it works wonderfully. They would not wake until they have taken enough rest.

…Though, I don’t have any control on how tired they are… For example… if they’re fatigued for three days already, it might be possible that they won’t wake up on the third day…

CasGil: Fool! Of course they’ll die if they continue sleeping for three days without hydration and nourishment!

Paracelsus: Ehh… uh… uhm… T-that’s why that part is dependent on the person’s vitality--…

CasGil: I’ve decided. Before we continue our search, let’s take care of this fool first, mongrel!

Gudako:

1 I think that’s a good idea.

2 Let’s make him reflect on the wrong he’s done!

(Battle with Paracelsus)

CasGil: I think this would do. Have you reflected on your actions, Hohenheim?!

Paracelsus: It… hurts… a lot…

Enough to make me want to drink that medicine as well…

And the precious homunculi that I’ve carefully raised, defeated and thrown away like rocks….

My heart hurts…

CasGil: Hm?

Paracelsus: It was supposed to be a trap. Well, even so, would you still come with me?

Gudako:

1 Wait, Paracelsus!

2 We should stop that troublesome doctor!

(Same result for both answers)

CasGil: Wait, I know how you feel, but first, calm down, mongrel.

There’s no need for us to easily accept his invitation.

The enemy this time is a Caster, completely different from that Assassin from earlier.

We can easily track him.

Besides, you should try to read his intentions closely.

Gudako:

1 ...He wants to separate me from you?

2 …He doesn’t want to get scolded by you?

1st Option

CasGil: Indeed. See? You could do it if you tried. His retreat too suspicious, he’s obviously planning something.

2nd Option

CasGil: ….Seriously, this woman… Is this the limit of this generation’s understanding?

Think carefully. Try to follow his line of thinking, is what I’m saying. Try to think about why he would do such a thing.

CasGil: Besides, mongrel, isn’t there some other place that you would like to check?

Gudako: The Greater Grail!

CasGil: Indeed. There’s nothing else worthwhile in this place than that.

Mashu: Maybe we can find the answer to Jack-san and Paracelsus-san’s suspicious activities there…

CasGil: ………………….

Angra: What, you’re here already? Does that mean that those two failed?

Well, I think it was a wrong move to make that low energy oniisan the decoy?

Anyway, since it’s come to this, hello there!

Master and King-sama-chan!* Good work coming all the way here!

(*YES, he used two honorifics smh)

Da Vinci: That is… the servant we saw from the Greater Grail during the Zero incident?

His Saint Graph is not recorded in Chaldea, so why is he here? Are you the one who kidnapped Doctor Roman?

Angra: Doctor, huh. I don’t know any doctors or scholars…

Well, who’s that again?

Doctor Ronpa, was it?

Anyway, yeah I did it!

I vaguely remember accepting that kinda job!

And so, do you wanna fight it out?!

But please, be careful!

‘Cos I’m reaaally weak!

I’ll die from one punch, so there’s no complaints there, right?!

Also, if I die, the doctor’s whereabouts would forever be lost, so be careful about that, okay?!

CasGil: What?! If we carelessly end up killing you, we won’t get any information?!

What’s with this clichéd hostage situation?!

A servant using his own life as a bargaining chip?!

Gudako:

1 Then let’s gently… no, in full force!!!

2 If it’s the doctor, I’m sure Mashu can find him!

(Same result for both answers)

Mashu: Yes! Leave the exploration of the surrounding areas to me!

So please, King Gilgamesh, please defeat the enemy servant!

CasGil: Oh? And so that’s how it is, even I was surprised by this turn of events. I wonder how the next part would play out?

Angra: Hmm… absolutely not caring about my life huh, I really like that! That’s not bad!

Ah well, it’s not like I’m not used to being treated that way?

My life and death are often overlooked since the beginning anyway?

If only you rode in on my cajolery, wouldn’t that be the better outcome?

Mashu: Master!

Gudako: King Gilgamesh, behind you!

Gilgamesh: Why did you warn me too late?! That was a close one! If it hadn’t it been me, that would’ve resulted into a fatal injury!

Oh well, I’ll forgive you for barely warning me.

Show yourself, third servant!

Amakusa: I missed a great opportunity there… if only I was a bit faster, I could’ve ambushed you better.

Or was it both our fault?

Was our cooperation not good enough?

Mashu: No way… even Amakusa-san…

Please tell me, what have you done to the Doctor? Why did you do such a thing?

Amakusa: Well about that…

…Avenger, what was it again?

Avenger: You’re just gonna pass the ball to me like that, huh.

Ah, oh right! We were gonna eradicate Chaldea, was it?

Amakusa: That’s kind of clichéd, but oh well.

Alright. It’s just as he says.

The time is ripe for action, if I dare say? I guess it’s fine to say that.

CasGil: As usual, you’re a cunning man. This is the second time we’ve met, hm?

Though I have not met you directly in this form yet, the fact that my previous form met you is engraved in my Saint Graph.

I have reviewed what was recorded in my Saint Graph, and saw what you did for Uruk, holy man.

But staging a rebellion such as this, what, have you grown tired of the ways of these people of the modern era?

Amakusa: Hahaha! Though that is indeed, something I would do, I shall leave it to your imagination instead.

But let me just say one thing, no matter where or when we meet, I am me.

Angra: Hey! If your supposed surprise attack failed, why not end it quickly? Now’s not the time to chat around!

That king over there and the master too, they’ve grown tired of your talk.

Besides, the enemy is a just a Caster.

Rather than talk it out, wouldn’t it be better to beat them to a pulp with physical strength?

CasGil: Very well. I shall respond to your challenge, Avenger.

These magic wands are all part of my prided treasures!

Know their full power directly!!!

(Battle with Amakusa and Angra)

[scriptpolitics]

(1) I’m not quite sure how long this gets but I’m trying to make it short: in my fictional world there are four countries. All are supposed to be monarchies. The first is absolute with an emperor/empress ruling, supported by his/her vassals as advisers. /This may sound dull, but it is actually really fleshed out as it is where my MC comes from. The second one is a nomad country: families send people to councils who send people to tribes who send people to the Racha (king) so everyone will be

(2) less) satisfied. The other two… well I ran out of ideas. I would like one country more religion centred and be based off Celtics – but I don’t know anything about their politics. And another one focused on economy. But how do I do this? Any help? If you’ve got any other suggestions how to build an interesting monarchy (constitutional/absolute) I’ll be glad to hear about them. 

To begin with, there are six Celtic nations: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man. One is an independent nation, one is part of France, and the other four are part of the UK -that means they have quite a variation in their political systems.

However, allow me to take a few liberties with this. When you say ‘religion-centred and based off the Celts’, I’m going to assume that you mean something based off the popular cultural idea of Druids (though do come back and correct me if I’m wrong). If I combine this with the fact that you want all of your countries to be monarchies, I’m going to suggest a theocracy.

A theocracy is a nation where all authority is divined from God or another religious figure, and are often ruled by a sole monarch-style figure. This can be seen in Iran, which is technically a theocratic republic, but is headed by the Ayatollah, a scholar of Islamic law who had wide-ranging powers across the state and is more powerful than Iran’s elected President. Simplifying and modifying this concept, you could have a nation wherein all power is divined from a god/dess figure or perhaps nature itself, with courts that run along laws/holy rules that have been ‘handed down’ by the divine figure. Your monarch figure could come in the form of a supreme religious ruler, who makes all the important decisions as an absolute monarch would and is both backed up by and chosen by the priesthood of the dominant religion.

Since all your countries are monarchies, I’m going to take another liberty is assuming we’re in the usual pseudo-Middle Ages fantasy time period here. As such, for you economy-based system, I’m going to suggest a Merchant Council. In a country where commerce and wealth are venerated, the wealthiest men and women (landowners, owners of big businesses, merchants etc.) could be the ones directly in charge of the country. Strict ledgers are kept on everyone’s wealth, and, say, the wealthiest three hundred people get to take seats in the House/Parliament, with the richest twelve or so forming the Merchant Council (the executive, or supreme ruling body). The Merchant Council could rule absolutely and merely consult with the larger body, or laws could be created by the larger body and passed/modified by the Merchant Council: really, it’s all up to you! If you need a monarch-style figure you could have the Merchant Council elect a supreme leader among themselves, or elect a Speaker of sorts to negotiate/deal with the other nations on their behalf. (Hint: as an economics student as well as a politics student, I really really love the idea of Merchant Councils and the like).

With regards to constitutional/absolute monarchies, this post may help. But on how to make an interesting monarchy? Here are some tips:

Think logically: how did this system arise? The US has a strong system of checks and balances because they wanted to prevent the autocratic rule found in Europe at the time. Likewise, a nation full of atheists isn’t going to want to live in a theocracy: it would take a religious populace or a hell of a lot of oppression for that to fly.

Think out of the box: I think you’ve largely got this covered with your four different systems, but they are all inherently still monarchies. So differentiate! Instead of four monarchs, you’ve got a more generic absolute Emperor/Empress system, a Racha perhaps beholden to the views of their people via the tribal election system, a religious figurehead and the Speaker of a Merchant Council. On this point I think you’re doing pretty dang well so far, but it’s always something to consider!

Think rivals: does the Emperor have a backstabbing, power-snatching little sibling? Is their another religious faction inside the theocracy that disagree with or hate the current ruler? A young upstart making their millions and trying to worm their way into the longstanding Merchant Council membership? There is always dissent within a state, and not everyone will agree with the system. And even when they do agree with the system, they might want to snatch power for themselves

Think people: finally, it’s often the people that make the system shine. A charismatic, popular leader can get a lot more done than someone widely loathed and/or with the personality of a damp dishrag. Maybe your Empress has a particularly clever adviser whose intellect sparkles like a rare jewel, or your Racha has a troublesome faction that they spend half their time trying to control. Whatever your political system, it really it the people in it that will bring it alive.

Hope that answers your questions! If you need any more help, feel free to come back for more!

[cedarrrun]

Need a break from Coronavirus coverage? Read about some of the female mystics and saints spreading love across the planet at this moment, even if their souls have passed on.

Picture a guru. Does a stereotypical image of an older Indian man in robes or a loincloth with a long beard come to mind?

Let’s balance the scales.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we want to shine a spotlight on the powerful female gurus who have influenced spiritual life in India and beyond. These women have inspired tens of thousands of people on their spiritual journeys. Some of these teachers are considered saints who uplift and heal others through the Hindu concept of darshan. Derived from the Sanskrit word darsana, meaning “sight,” darshan is the blessing you receive from merely gazing at a saint. A viewer can receive this blessing by looking at a picture, meditating on the saint in their mind’s eye, or by physically meeting the saint in person.

See also How to Channel Durga During Challenging Times

Amma, The Hugging Saint (1953 - )

As a sensitive child growing up in India, Mata Amritanandamayi, affectionately known as Amma, was troubled by the immense poverty surrounding her. Hinduism taught that people suffered due to karma from a past life, but Amma asked herself the question, “If it is one man’s karma to suffer, isn’t it our dharma (path) to help ease his suffering and pain?”

Unlike many other gurus, Amma is completely self-made—she was never initiated by another guru or spiritual teacher. Perhaps, that’s why her darshan is so unique: hugging. Amma began her mission to “spread selfless love and compassion to every being” as a young woman in her late twenties, by hugging men, women, children, and even society’s most forsaken, such as prisoners and lepers. She embraces her devotees for a full 8 to 10 seconds and will even provide a personal mantra if requested.

To this date, she’s hugged over 37 million people worldwide, and her non-profit organization, Embracing the World, raises about 20 million a year. In fact, it was the biggest donor to the 2004 tsunami that decimated Southern India, and she donated $1 million to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Her organization has supported charities in over 40 countries worldwide.

"Always remember that when dusk arrives, it already has dawn in its womb." —Amma

Sri Daya Mata (1914 – 2010)

Born Rachel Terry Wright in Salt Lake City in 1914, Sri Daya Mata was a member of one of the city’s most prominent Mormon families. Her grandfather was even an architect of the Mormon Tabernacle. After reading the Bhagavad Gita at 15, she attended a lecture by the influential Indian guru Parahamahansa Yogananda, also the author of the international bestseller Autobiography of a Yogi. Shortly thereafter, Sri Daya Mata took her vows as a nun of the Self-Realization Order founded by Yogananda in Los Angeles and served as his secretary until his death in 1955. After Yogananda’s successor Rajarsi Janakanada died three years later, Sri Daya Mata became president and ran the organization until the end of her life, in 2010. She was one of the first women to lead a worldwide religious organization. Today, the Self-Realization Fellowship operates almost 600 temples and meditation centers in more than 60 countries across the globe.

“Adversity comes not to destroy or punish us, but to help to rouse the invincibility within our souls….The painful ordeals we go through are but the shadow of God’s hand, outstretched in blessing. The Lord is very anxious to get us out of this maya [illusion], this troublesome world of duality. Whatever difficulties He permits us to pass through are necessary to hasten our return to Him.” —Sri Daya Mata

See also You’ve Heard of Kirtan, but Have you Heard of Bhajan?

Sri Sarada Devi (1853 – 1920)

Known as “Holy Mother,” Sri Sarada Devi was the wife of mystic Ramakrishna, one of the most influential gurus of the nineteenth century. Betrothed at just five years old to a man 18 years her senior, Sri Sarada Devi came to live with Ramakrishna in her late teens, despite the fact that he had already adopted the celibate life of a monk, according to lore. Sri Sarada Devi became his first disciple, and later, a leader in her own right. Over their fourteen-year partnership, Ramakrishna taught her the sacred mantras and how to initiate people and guide them in their spiritual practice, including meditation.

After Ramakrishna died, she became the “mother” of his disciples. Ramakrishna had asked that his followers make no distinction between him and his wife. Devotees included famed guru and father of Vedanta, Swami Vivekananda, who sought out Sri Sarada Devi’s permission to attend the World Congress of Religions in Chicago in 1893—essentially resulting in the West’s introduction to Hinduism, yoga, and meditation.

Although she allegedly remained a virgin and never had children, Sri Sarada Devi considered herself to be a mother to all, “I’m the mother of the wicked, and I am the mother of the virtuous. Never fear. Whenever you are in distress, just say to yourself, ‘I have a mother.’”

Today, Sri Sarada Devi is one of the most recognized saints in modern India, widely featured in a variety of prayers and mantras.

“Certainly you will have doubts. There will be questioning and faith will return again. That is how faith is established.” —Sri Sarada Devi

Shri Mataji Devi (1923 – 2011)

Shri Mataji Devi, born in central India to a Hindu father and a Christian mother, came to her spiritual path later in life, at age 47. After experiencing a kundalini rising, which she later described as “self-realization,” Shri Mataji Devi was inspired to share this transformative experience with others. She founded a practice called Sahaja Yoga to teach people to feel “spontaneous union with oneself.” Sahaja Yoga doesn’t feature postures, kriyas, chanting, or breathwork, instead Shri Maji Devi described it as subtle awareness of prana in the body. Her devotees believed that her darshan alone could awaken self-realization. She never charged for the training saying that “one cannot pay for the experience of divine love.” Today, Sahaja Yoga is still taught free-of-charge in more than 95 countries.

“You cannot know the meaning of your life until you are connected to the power that created you.” —Shri Mataji Devi 

Mother Meera (1960 - )

Mother Meera, born Kamala Reddy in Telengana, India, had her first spiritual experience at six years old. Her uncle, convinced that she was an “avatar,” or the embodiment of the divine mother, brought her to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and she began giving darshan at age 14. Her darshan—done in total silence—consists of touching a person’s head and then gazing into their eyes, so that she can “untie knots” and other obstacles in their lives. Considered to be a saint by her devotees, Mother Meera isn’t affiliated with any religion or specific spiritual practice, instead she describes the purpose of her work as “the calling down of the Supreme Light (Paramatman Light) and helping people.

“Whatever doubts come, however frightening they are, know they are the creation of your mind. Only the light is real.” —Mother Meera

[sammy24682468]

Little  times of trouble  - Anger  lesson  10

"Memory Text: “ ‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26)

"Even the best of homes will face times of struggle, times of con-flict. It’s just one of the facts of life in a fallen world. Simple things, such as whose turn it is to take out the trash, whether your teenage daughter finished her homework, whether your son has done his chores, are bothersome but relatively minor issues that can, generally, be resolved with minimal disruption. But other issues can threaten to disrupt family life. The mother-in-law whose abuse and manipulation threatens to destroy a woman’s marriage and her health; the father with mental illness who abuses his children; the son who abandons all his religious upbringing to give himself to a promiscuous lifestyle; or the daughter who becomes a substance abuser."

"Repeatedly in the New Testament we are told to love one another (John 13:34, Rom. 12:10), to live in peace and harmony with one another (Rom. 15:5, Heb. 12:14), to be patient, kind, and tenderhearted toward one another (1 Cor. 13:4), to consider others before ourselves (Phil. 2:3), and to bear one another’s burdens (Eph. 4:2). Of course, all this is easier said than done, even with our own family members. In this lesson, we will look at some ways to help mollify little times of trouble, especially in the family."

"Read Matthew 7:5 and Proverbs 19:11. What two important prin-ciples can help us avoid conflict with others?"

"The writer of Proverbs makes a very astute observation: “The start of an argument is like a water leak—so stop it before real trouble breaks out” (Prov. 17:14, CEV). Once begun, a conflict can become incredibly hard to shut down. According to Romans 14:19, we can prevent conflict by following after two things: that which makes for peace and that with which one may edify another. How much more so are these principles crucial to harmony in the family?"

"Sometimes when you admit your responsibility in a conflict, it may cause the other party to soften. Take a step back and consider if it’s even a worthy battle. Proverbs states, “Those with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offense” (Prov. 19:11, NRSV). At the same time, consider what difference this is going to make in your life in three days. Better yet, what impact will it have in 5 or 10 years? How many marriages, for instance, have had difficult times over issues that today seem so trivial?"

"Instead of letting conflict drag on for a long time, as you speak with the other person, a spouse, a child, a friend, a coworker, you may want to clearly define the problem or issue under discussion and stay on the immediate topic. Conflict often deteriorates when the issue that started the conflict gets lost in angry words; meanwhile, past issues or past hurts are tossed into the mix (this can be deadly, especially to a marriage). One way to have a better and softer start to the discussion is to affirm your relationship. Let the other person know that you care deeply about them and about your relationship. Once you have stated your positive feelings, you can move to the issue at hand; however, be careful not to use the word but. Stating a positive thought and then saying “but” negates what you just stated. Once you share your feelings, listen to the other person’s perspective, reflect on what he or she has said, and only then propose a solution that keeps everyone’s best interests in mind (Phil. 2:4, 5)."

"Marriage, like the Sabbath, is a gift of God to humanity that goes back to Eden. And, as Seventh-day Adventists, we know what the enemy of souls has done, and is still doing, to both the Sabbath and to marriage. Even the best of marriages are, at times, going to suffer from conflict."

"Read Ephesians 1:7. What crucial principle is found here that must be part of any marriage?"

"You must learn to forgive, especially when your spouse doesn’t deserve it. Anyone can forgive the deserving: in fact, that’s hardly forgiveness. True forgiveness is forgiving those who don’t warrant it, the way the Lord forgives us through Christ. We must do likewise. Otherwise, our marriage, if it survives (which isn’t likely), will seem like purgatory."

"Read Romans 3:23. What crucial principle is found here, as well?"

"You must accept that you’re married to a sinner, to a being who has been damaged to some degree emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Get used to it. Accept your spouse’s faults. Pray your way through them. You might have to live with those faults, but you don’t have to obsess over them. If you do, they will eat you alive. A holy and perfect God, through Christ, accepts us as we are: you, who are hardly holy and perfect, must do the same with your spouse."

"Read Philippians 2:4-8. What important principle here, as well, can we use that can help us, not just in marriage but in all potentially troublesome relationships?"

"Who hasn’t experienced anger at one point or another? What makes it harder is when that anger is directed at a family member. Along with refusing to forgive, anger can turn into a poison that will wreak great pain and suffering on the home and family and relationships in general."

"Read Ephesians 4:26, 27 and Ecclesiastes 7:9. How can we balance our understanding of anger as an emotion and anger as a sin? What is the difference?"

"What does James say in James 1:19, 20 that we should apply at all times that we can—but especially when dealing with family members whose actions and attitudes and words make us angry?"

"If you’re angry about something, instead of letting it hover like a dark cloud over your life, turn it into something positive. Pray for those who hurt and abuse you, forgive them and become a blessing to them. It probably won’t be easy at first, but when you make the decision and stick with it, God will take care of the rest."

"Sometimes the root of anger stems from the homes we grew up in. Angry people often come from angry families because they learn from their role models and carry on the same behavior in their own lives, eventually passing it on to their children. At times anger may be the result of unmet needs or due to jealousy, as was Cain’s case, which led to the murder of his brother."

"You may have a good reason to be angry, but don’t use it as an excuse to stay that way. Don’t deny it or try to justify it. Instead, ask God to help you deal with it in a positive way. The apostle Paul gives us good advice: “Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good” (Rom. 12:21, CEV)."

"We all have things that anger us, even to the point of pain. And, in some cases, we probably are justified in that anger. The question is, How can we, through the power of God, not let that anger make us, and others around us, miserable?"

"Sometimes unresolved conflict and anger may develop into a very negative, destructive dynamic, even an abusive relationship. Abuse can take a number of forms—physical, verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual, et cetera. But any form of abuse is contrary to the central principle of God’s kingdom—unselfish love."

"What crucial teachings about relationships are found in 1 John 4:7, 8 and Colossians 3:19?"

"“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them” (Col. 3:19, NIV). The word harsh in the original Greek language refers to one’s being angry or bitter toward the partner, causing continued pain, intense hostility, and expressions of hatred toward the other. Paul is very clear that a spouse is not to be hostile or violent. Emotional, sexual, and physical abuse is not acceptable behavior for a Christian husband or partner. Instead, what is acceptable is to love your spouse. Paul also makes it clear that love is patient and kind and that love does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, does not keep record of wrongs, does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. None of the attributes of love even remotely condones or accepts abuse in any way, shape, or form."

"A healthy relationship is one in which both partners feel protected and safe, in which anger is managed in a healthy way, and in which serving one another is the norm. Often victims of abuse feel guilty, as if they were responsible for provoking their abuser or that perhaps they somehow deserve the abuse they receive. Abusers can be quite controlling and often skillful at making their victims feel responsible. The truth is that no one deserves to be abused by another, and abusers are responsible for their own choices and actions. The good news is that the Bible offers comfort, not guilt, for the victims of abuse. In some situations, in which the problem gets unmanageable, people should not be afraid to seek outside help."

"“Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about” (Matt. 7:12, CEV). Think about all the ways in your own experience, within the family and without, in which you need to apply this principle, and, on the lines below, write down just what those times might be and determine, by faith, how you can do just that."

"The writer of Hebrews counseled, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14, NKJV). Even when we take all the steps necessary, some people who have hurt us will still not listen and change. Perhaps some may offer an apology, but others will not. Either way, it is to our benefit, especially when it is a family member, that we take the journey of forgiveness talked about earlier."

"In fact, forgiveness is an essential part of conflict resolution, especially in the family. When a person sins against us, God’s enemy loves to place a wall between us and that person, a roadblock that prevents us from loving that person as Christ loved us. Forgiveness is a choice that we make to get around that roadblock."

"“We are not forgiven because we forgive, but as we forgive. The ground of all forgiveness is found in the unmerited love of God, but by our attitude toward others we show whether we have made that love our own. Wherefore Christ says, ‘With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.’ Matt. 7:2.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 251."

"At the same time, when we are the ones at fault, we need to try to restore the broken relationship with another person, which may involve going to the other person and telling him or her that you regret what you’ve done and asking for their forgiveness. That’s what Jesus said: “So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God” (Matt. 5:23, 24, CEV). It is nice when someone who has hurt us apologizes and asks for forgiveness. Likewise, it is nice when we give others the same type of care."

"“Too often the parents are not united in their family government. The father, who is with his children but little, and is ignorant of their peculiarities of disposition and temperament, is harsh and severe."

"He does not control his temper, but corrects in passion. The child knows this, and instead of being subdued, the punishment fills him with anger."

"The mother allows misdemeanors to pass at one time for which she will severely punish at another. The children never know just what to expect, and are tempted to see how far they can transgress with impunity. Thus are sown seeds of evil that spring up and bear fruit.”—Ellen G. White, The Adventist Home, pp. 314, 315."

"“Home is to be the center of the purest and most elevated affection. Peace, harmony, affection, and happiness should be perseveringly cherished every day, until these precious things abide in the hearts of those who compose the family. The plant of love must be carefully nourished, else it will die. Every good principle must be cherished if we would have it thrive in the soul. That which Satan plants in the heart—envy, jealousy, evil surmising, evil speaking, impatience, prejudice, selfishness, covetousness, and vanity—must be uprooted. If these evil things are allowed to remain in the soul, they will bear fruit by which many shall be defiled. Oh, how many cultivate the poisonous plants that kill out the precious fruits of love and defile the soul!”—Pages 195, 196."

"•  Read the following quote from a book about marriage. “ ‘For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin’ (Heb. 4:15). Just as Christ put Himself in our situation, to best relate to us, we should do the same with our marriage partner. Try to view any given situation or crisis not just from your own perspective but from your spouse’s. See how he or she views the situation, how it has an impact on him or her, and why he or she would feel about it the way he or she does. This principle can go a long way in alleviating tough situations.”—Clifford Goldstein, The Mules That Angels Ride (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald®Publishing Association, 2005), p. 25. In what ways can we apply this principle to all areas of potential conflict with others?"

[fateother]

#05: Poison Heart Part 5

Saber followed her Master’s orders. There was something unsettling about the old woman, but Saber concluded that, after all, they were participants of a war. Such things could matter less at times like those. Saber was a woman in her twenties dressed in what one would describe as male 17th century fashion, and wielded a lance at her hip. This wasn’t so strange, seeing as her True Name was Julie d’Aubigny, also known as Mademoiselle de Maupin or La Maupin. During her life, she had grown bored. Bored of many things. Bored of being a mistress, bored of society, bored of… well, the list goes on. One thing she never got bored of though was fencing. Saber knew that it was the reason she had been summoned as a Saber, although why she had become a Heroic Spirit to begin with was beyond her understanding. Her Master, though, speculated that it was due to her rebellious streak: she had not only run away from being her father’s boss’ mistress to eventually end up an opera singer, but also duelled noblemen left and right. One time, she had kissed another woman, and fought off three men defending the lady’s honor by herself. Eventually, though, Saber had hung up her sword and ended her singing career to enter a convent, where she spent the rest of her years. Due to her peak being in her twenties, that was what Saber had been summoned as. Like the seven Masters, the seven Servants, too, had their reasons for participating in the Holy Grail War. A Heroic Spirit without a wish is rarely summoned as a Servant, and then only under certain circumstances. Saber’s wish was simple – she wanted to live a life without boredom, where she got to be more free, more accepted to be herself. That being said, though, she was half afraid to grow bored of that as well, but speculated that the Holy Grail would have the power to make sure she wouldn’t. Hours before Charlie Fairsworth and Helenah Kendall’s meeting, Saber was on her Master’s orders investigating an area where her Master had found traces of magical energy. According to Saber’s Master, it was likely that an inexperienced or novice magus had performed a magic ritual in the area. It was a chilly early morning, the sun not having risen yet. The indistrual district was empty, and Saber made her way towards the abandoned factory building her Master had pointed out as the area with traces of magecraft. Saber stopped in front of the locked gates of the fence surrounding the building. Something was off. ”Hm? Did you perhaps sense something as well, my Dulcinea?” Lancer appeared behind her with those words. Lancer’s Master and Saber’s Master were allies, which made the Servants forced to work together as well. Normally, Saber would think it a good idea, however, this particular Lancer was… well, Saber speculated that he would have made a good Berserker if not for his, well, frail old body. Saber answered without looking at him. ”As I have told you multiple times, Lancer, I am not your Dulcinea.” ”Oh, this is a horror! How terrible! A spell has been put on you, twisting the words coming out of your mouth! Or perhaps it is my mind that has been cursed? It must have been that evil wizard from last night! No doubt about it! Have no fear, my dear Dulcinea, for I-” ”Be quiet, would you? You’re too loud, and you talk too much. Not to mention, if you keep shouting like that-” A dagger struck the ground between the two Servants. ”-you’ll expose our position.” Lancer took a step back. ”Well! I shall leave you to your mission, then! For I believe in you, my dear Dulcinea! Do not worry, however, for I shall be nearby, ready to aid you and defend your honor when needed! That being said, I-” ”Just leave.” Lancer faded away into spirit form, but Saber could sense him nearby. She stood quiet for a moment making sure his presence moved further away from the immediate area, before she knelt down to look at the dagger. She didn’t touch it, of course – that would have been a bad idea. ”A warning, huh.” Saber stood up and looked at the abandoned factory building. The dagger had come from there. ”Assassin, perhaps? In that case…” Fighting an Assassin-class Servant could go either way -  if they struck from the shadows or concealed themselves, it could be troublesome. Some Assassins were competent in close combat, while it was the weakness of others. On the other end, the Saber class was considered the strongest class, but the fact that it was limited to the close quarters of swordsmanship was a drawback. Saber pulled out a small pebble from her pocket. It was a rune meant to dispel magic barriers and hidden contraptions. She had been given several by her Master. Saber took aim and threw it at the fence, which immediately lit up in sparks for three seconds. The sound of several objects made of metal or something the like hitting the ground echoed from somewhere nearby. So Saber’s hunch was right – the gate was a trap, and whoever tried to open it would most likely have been attacked with hidden daggers or knives. Saber entered the grounds, repeating the process with the large door to the factory’s warehouse. As she entered the dark building, The door slammed shut behind her. She carefully hid another rune in her hand, and readied her rapier with the other. Silence. ”Assassin, I presume?” No answer. Saber stood there quiet for a whole minute, before shouting again. ”Show yourself.” This time, she got an answer. It was weak and soft, and came from further into the warehouse. ”H-help…” Saber squinted. There, somewhere on the floor in the darkness, was a humanoid shape. The light of the slowly rising sun sipped through a hole in the roof, making the shape clearer. It was a teenage girl, seemingly roughed up. She had several cuts and bruises over her body, and she sat on the floor looking helplessly at Saber. ”P-please…” Saber didn’t answer. Instead, she threw the rune she had hidden in her free hand at the girl. She shrieked, and immediately disappeared into the shadows as the rune exploded into small sparks. ”Attacking innocent bystanders, are you?” The girl’s voice came from… well, everywhere. It echoed throughout the building, to be exact. ”The rune was designed to dispel magic. Even if you had stayed on the floor, it wouldn’t have harmed you. But, since you’re a Servant, you can’t afford to take that kind of risk.” ”So it was a ruse, then?” Saber sensed something from behind. The girls hands appeared in her vision, and in a split second Saber did not only realize the girl had appeared behind her, but also managed to make a jump to escape. She turned back, but saw nothing. ”Oh… I see. Not a lot of people can sense me. Oh, well. I was never one to hide in the shadows. I was always more of a hiding in plain sight kind of girl.” Saber sighed. ”So you are Assassin, after all.” ”And you must be Saber. Though I guess both our classes are blantantly obvious.” With that, three daggers shot out from the darkness to Saber’s left. She avoided two by swiftly stepping backwards, and the third by deflecting it with her rapier. Once again, Assassin’s hands reached out from the shadows, this time almost brushing Saber’s left hand. Saber’s thoughts flowed rapidly through her head as she avoided dagger after dagger, touch after touch. Why was she so bent on touching her? If assuming the daggers were were primary weapon, what good would touching her opponent do? She didn’t look strong enough to hold down her enemy and stab them, and that wasn’t usually an Assassin’s style. By that logic, there would have to be another reason as to why touch was important. Seeing as it was an unusual way of attacking, there would have to be something unique to the individual Assassin herself. Saber stood still and breathed heavily. ”I have you figured out.” ”Hmm? Well then, please explain.” Saber sighed. ”It’s your Noble Phantasm – the embodiment of the ultimate mysteries of a hero that symbolizes one's existence through historical facts and anecdotes.” Assassin chuckled. ”Well, that was certainly an explanation. But yes, you’re right –” Saber felt something grace her cheek, and spun around too late. Assassin had touched her cheek. ”Now, since you’re about to die, I’ll tell you.” Pain jolted through Saber’s body, and she fell to one knee. ”Visha Kanya. That is the name of my Noble Phantasm. It turns my entire body into a deadly poisonous weapon.” ”Poison…” ”Yes. And now, you are going to die within 10 minutes, 15 max. Sad, isn’t it?” ”Kh…!” At that moment, something burst through the wall. ” El Ingenioso Hidalgo de la Mancha!” The wall, along with almost the entire roof, blew away. Saber struggled to keep on the ground, and was almost hit by flying debris. As the dust settled, Lancer stood where the wall had been. Something was off with him, however. Well, at least more than usual. He stood there, almost as if in a trance, and stared at the speechless Assassin with wide, crazed eyes. ”Though ye flourish more arms than the giant Briareus, ye have to reckon with me.” Assassin seemed to snap out of it, because she said: ”Huh? Me?” Lancer plunged towards Assassin with his lance. ”Lancer, wait!” Saber called out to him, but to no avail. There was no need for Saber to be alarmed, though – Assassin didn’t have time nor room to touch Lancer as she barely avoided the lance head. She did, however, manage to grace him with a dagger. ”Hehehe… what are you, Berserker or something? Doesn’t matter though – my hands aren’t the only thing that are poisonous.” Lancer stood quiet, and Saber couldn’t help but to agree – Lancer almost seemed like an all-out Berserker. Was this part of his Noble Phantasm? She recalled hearing him shout the words ’’El Ingenioso Hidalgo de la Mancha. ”Feeling the poison coursing through your veins, right?” Then, Lancer glanced at Assassin, and plunged forward again. ”Fly not, coward and vile being, for a single knight attacks you!” ”Wh-” Once again, Assassin barely avoided the strike, and landed on a pile of debris. ”How… how are you not affected by my poison?!? Even a Berserker would… argh!” Saber asked herself the same thing, but then it hit her. Don Quijote – the man who fought against windmills, refusing to listen to any reasoning that the windmills were nothing but giants. That was Lancer’s True Name and real identity – or at least the man the story was based on. If that story, that event itself was Lancer’s Noble Phantasm, then it was no wonder he kept seeing Assassin as something else, and no wonder the poison didn’t affect him. His Noble Phantasm bended the rules, making him immune to any kind of reason close to a high-level Mad Enchantment of some Berserkers, but also immune to effects of any kind – within normal reasoning, a person would die from Assassin’s poison. On that effect, Lancer’s Noble Phantasm negated that normal reasoning, and thus negated the poison. Then, Saber realized something else. She slowly stood up, and Assassin looked at her in shock. ”Wh… what the?!? How can you stand?!?” ”Looks like… this guy’s Noble Phantasm affects not only himself, but things around him.” ”Kh!” Assassin avoided another blow from Lancer, and landed on another pile of debris. She looked at Lancer and Saber. ”This isn’t over.” With that, she disappeared into the shadows, and Saber lost trace of her spirit form. Lancer took a few steps forward, before collapsing onto the ground.

[totalsur26466fbcx-blog]

Total Surrender

Because we happen to face a New Year, we wonder what is in store for us. Is that this is going to be a great year, or a troublesome one? Am I headline ahead with the potential in my existence, or fall away? Is it is going to be similar to a year ago and the year before?

I believe that it is a pivotal year for Ignite Christian Church, along with each of you personally. I used to be recently criticised by way of a visitor for preaching excessively on righteousness, but I make no apology for this. I'm not here to use games or tickle ears, I'm here to encourage but additionally to challenge you. My vision simpler for you isn't to percieve you cruise through life and merely exist, rather it would be to talk to you thrive in their particular lives of God and also to inspire you and your loved ones in 2018 to get everything God has destined you to be.

I have sought the Lord posing for a piano key verse for in 2012, and I feel He has given us

Matthew 5:16 (ESV Strong's)

At the same time, let your light shine before others, so which these may see your good works and give glory to your current Father who is in heaven.

In 2018, Ignite Church is the light on a hill, so we are to shine boldly and brightly in this dark world. Another verse our leadership have received many times is this design…

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV Strong's)

"Remember not the former things, nor take into cosideration the things of old.

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you don't perceive it?

I are going to make a way in the woods and rivers within the desert.

So it's time to stop thinking back, however good, however tough, and start looking ahead to precisely what the Lord has destined for our benefit!

Just as we face this New Year, what can be a help Ignite and also in us by ourselves?

GETTING INTIMATE WITH GOD

One of our greatest needs as people at large is usually to are aware that we're loved. Each one of us here must feel certain, deep down in our hearts, that someone loves us, cares on our behalf, and has our happiness at heart.

The need to be loved is at the centre of most human relationships. Men and women getting married, having families, having affairs, giving presents at Christmas, mentioning children, playing sport, joining clubs, joining Church, signing up to RSVP… all of us have want to be loved using some way. Any of course your us need to find out that somebody loves us.

That is how God designed us. He wants us to be aware that He loves each and every one most of us generated a passionate intensity too deep for words.

Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV Strong's)

The Lord your God is within your midst, a mighty one which will save; he will rejoice over you on gladness; he'll quiet you by his love; he'll exult over you with loud singing.

God created mortals with fellowship take into account-first with Himself and then with others. But we cannot fully love one another until we now have ourselves experienced the true love of God. We experience His love when we willingly surrender to His call it really does not have to be our Saviour, Lord, and Friend.

2018 is what happen in in order to get intimate with God. It's the year to totally surrender to Him!

ARE YOU AS SPIRITUALLY DEAF?

The fact is, many people cannot hear God with any measure of accuracy or confidence. A lot of Christians say, "God told me this or that," but how may they know? Fairly often Christians preface what is definitely their opinion with the term, "God told me…" as they be aware that we are capable of having no come again whether or not this were true. That's hardly God, that's often manipulation!

Of anyone else who say, "God told me to let you know this" during the last year, barely some would genuinely be God. Many good people tell me that they are never sure in case the Lord is chatting with them, if at all.

So this season, how can you foster an attitude and a life-style that allows the Lord to speak to you intimately as He promised He will? Must you may be a crazy nutcase to listen to God, and it is the one other alternative because spiritually deaf for being post?

After all not! Hearing God ought to be a natural part of each Christian's relationship using the Lord. You shouldn't be weird or excessive strange to have to hear God, and my experience is that many of the odd individuals are not likely hearing God clearly anyway.

But neither do you have to be spiritually hard of hearing. Religious people in church, even around the time of Jesus' day, never had an incredible track record of listening to God, that why Jesus quoted Isaiah in saying,

Matthew 13:14-15 (ESV Strong's)

Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that claims: "‘"You'll indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but rarely perceive." To get this people's heart has grown dull, and having their ears they'll barely hear, and their eyes they've closed, lest they should see having their eyes and hear with their ears and understand having their heart and switch, and I might heal them.'

Now, I want to provide you with one word that can transform your year. One word that may open your eyes to what God wants you to check out, one word that may open your spiritual ears to listen to Him. One word that, if you actually embraced it and utilized it, it usually takes the life span that you simply live right now and morph it straight into the life you've desire, the powerful, Spirit filled life your Father has destined you to stay at…

THE WORD IS SURRENDER

Charles Stanley writes, "Our intimacy with God determines the impact of our lives."

Surrender is defined as, "To yield to the facility, control or possession of another." (Miriam Webster's Dictionary)

Romans 12:1 (ESV Strong's)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, via the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a job sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

The Greek word for present is paristemi which suggests to yield or surrender.

When I think of surrender, I always think of soldiers having their hands above their heads, yielding to the ability of their total conquerors. Now, each time a soldier surrenders there may be much fear. They have been fighting contrary to the enemy, killing and destroying, subsequently to yield or surrender means they place their heart into their enemy's control, with zero guarantees of survival or humane treatment. They take a chance, and their heart hangs within the balance.

Though not so when we surrender to Christ. We yield to Christ with the knowledge that He won't ever leave nor forsake us.

Psalms 9:10 (ESV Strong's)

And people who understand your name put their trust in you, quicker for you, O Lord, haven't forsaken those that seek you.

There are at least three reasons God seeks our surrender:

1. GOD DESIRES OUR FELLOWSHIP

God loves us and desires our fellowship and worship. If we hold something back from God, when we refuse to grasp to Him by surrendering our lives to Him, we are unable to know Him completely or fully experience His love.

James 4:7-8 (ESV Strong's)

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he'll draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Once we surrender to Him, once we yield our lives to Him, we're asked each one of Him. Once we decide to move close to the Lord, once we start to seek Him with the heart, He moves in close proximity to us.

2. GOD DESIRES OUR SERVICE

God wants our service for Him to be effective and fruitful.

The better we all know and love Jesus, the more practical our service will be, and the greater amount of He turns into our ministry. The closer we draw to God, the more impact our lives will have. The better energetically we nurture our relationship when using the Lord, the more the great mark we will leave behind.

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV Strong's)

Whatever you do, work heartily, when it comes to Lord and never for man, that a little distance from Lord you'll take advantage of the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Surrendering to God means more practical service, and this effect is what What i m saying is by surrendering to God grows your ministry.

3. GOD DESIRES TO BLESS US

God waits for the liberty to bless us.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (ESV Strong's)

For I have knowledge of the plans I actually have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. You then will call upon me and are available and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all of your heart.

Note verse 13, seeking God with all your heart. This is surrendering to Him.

God is omnipotent, He's all powerful and might do anything, but He won't violate His own principles. He draws us to Himself so we are able to experience His love and forgiveness. He asks for our willing surrender in order that He may give us one of the best blessings He has got to offer.

We are sometimes like a toddler watching TV. Their parent comes and needs to bring them to be able to the zoo, however they resist since they're content just watching TV, ignorant of the wonderful experience awaiting them!

DON'T JOIN THE RESISTANCE

It is in your interests to submit to God today at the start of in 2012! However i resist, don't we? What is the reason that we wish to join the resistance instead of surrendering to a peron whose expressed desire will be to bless us not to harm us?

In all the blessings God has clearly take into consideration for us, why does anyone resist surrendering to God?

1. PRIDE

Pride is the key reason most people resist surrender.

I recall Kira learning to tie her shoelaces, saying, "I complete it mine self" and forcing us all late!

People think they know better than God and they can handle their lives better than He can, in order that they keep Him at a distance. Which is ironic, offered the mess most of our lives finally end up in, isn't it?

Proverbs 18:12 (ESV Strong's)

Before destruction a person's heart is haughty (prideful), but humility happens before honor.

God wants us to put our trust in him.

We insult God when we trust directly to resources, or the rest, to provide us through our problems. When we surrender our lives to God, we become his own chosen ones. He promises to listen to us when we call over to him.

2. FEAR

Others do not surrender as they fear what God does (or possibly not do) for them. They say that if they give God control, He'll make them do precisely what will make them most miserable.

Many apparently can trust God to give them heaven, but cannot trust Him enough to give them heaven the world over in a lifetime of fulfilment and joy.

Fear no matter what the Lord is a good thing. Fear of the long run is not. Can your trust in God exceed your fear money for hard times?

Proverbs 29:25 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of person lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

We regularly treat God as a man, thinking He is over to punish us, or can make us suffer, or usually make us do things we hate just to show us who's boss. God is just not like that, so stop tarring Him with the same brush as you may possibly a frontrunner, pastor or politician.

John 14:27 (ESV Strong's)

Peace I leave together with you; my peace I share with you. Less in the country gives do I offer to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

3. UNBELIEF

Still others refuse to submit to Christ as they believe Satan's lie, which tells them that God is judgmental and can punish them for their mistakes.

Jesus says this about Satan…

John 8:44 (ESV Strong's)

He has been a murderer right from the start, and it does not stand in the truth, since there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks from his own character, for he's a liar and the daddy of lies.

Don't let your pride, fear or unbelief stop you from fully surrendering besides the Lord

IT'S TIME TO SURRENDER

God always has our greatest in mind. He will refuse us no good thing once we gladly submit to His will. He tells us, "‘I know the plans that I actually have quicker for you,' declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to offer an additional plus a hope"' (Jeremiah 29:11).

Romans 8:31-32 (ESV Strong's)

If God is for those, who will be against us? He who didn't spare his own Son but gave him up for those all, how will he not also with him graciously give to us things?

After we fully surrender to Him, He will withhold no good thing. After all, we will still face trials of many kinds, but He'll graciously help us triumph over them, and use the trials to build character and wisdom into our lives.

It is not a bad idea to to surrender to God, because once we do, we grow close to Him-which is His highest priority on our behalf-therefore we begin to have an impact on this world.

And right now, at the start no matter the New Year which happens to be the best time to fully {https://ignitechurch.org.au/total-surrender/ to Him and permit Him to fulfil our destiny!

I must do this every day. I constantly have to completely surrender my existence to Christ. In my existence I even have trusted a surprisingly large number of things, from my own talents and abilities to my profession to financial advisors.

When I fully surrender to Christ, when I fully trust Him for our provision, my future, my reputation and my blessings, that at this moment He can work in my behalf. Whatever I must face, if I can face them Jesus, I am going to content!

IT'S TIME TO REALIGN

Could this be the cry of a persons heart? Do you wish to understand the Savior and reside in the fullness of His blessing each day? You can. David wrote,

Psalms 34:10 (ESV Strong's)

Children lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Young lions try their best, but they can also be young, strong and headstrong. This season, are you presently resolved to more than needed, try harder, do your best frequently, or are you ready to surrender and provides it all to Jesus?

When you boarded go away to Sydney from your local airport, and the pilot was just 1 degree as well as the east off, you'd land 17 km up to sea! A particularly good way the pilot can cause that enable you to arrive at your destination would be to constantly realign the direction whatever the plane.

At the start of this season, we need realignment. We constantly need realignment. We must be totally surrendering daily to God, and we can start out right now.

In case you have drifted in the devotion to the Savior a year ago and feel as even when you are grow more distant every day in the relationship with Him, then pray that He will draw you near once more. He knows your weaknesses, if you will tell Him that you really want Him to overcome your life, He will come to you within the mighty way and bring hope and light to your circumstances, it doesn t matter how dark and hopeless it may feel…

Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV Strong's)

"Seek the Lord despite the fact that may be seen; call upon him while one is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him profits the Lord, he can have compassion on him, and then to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

IT'S TIME TO TAKE ACTION

Charles Blondin, the nice French tightrope Walker, became famous in 1860 for walking across 1 / 4 belonging to mile of tightrope stretched 160 feet above Niagara Falls. He performed the feat repeatedly in a variety of death defying ways, including on stilts, on any bicycle and blindfolded. He even carried a little stove and eggs across, and stopped halfway to use an omelet!

Then he took a wheelbarrow along the falls, and asked the huge crowd in the event that they believed he could carry a man in the wheelbarrow across Niagara Falls. They enthusiastically replied, "Yes, you're the greatest tightrope walker in the world."

"Ok!" He replied, "Who wants to get into the wheelbarrow?"

James 2:17-18 (ESV Strong's)

So also faith in isolation, whether or not this does not need works, is dead. But someone will say, "You've faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

You've heard me demand total surrender this morning, and you can sit and applaud my fully committed heart. However today, I'm asking you to get involved in the wheelbarrow, I'm asking you to respond by not only listening, not only agreeing, not just thinking or resolving, but by stepping out and doing…

William Booth said, "The greatness of a person's power which is the simple way of measuring his surrender."

How great do you wish to be on this coming year? How surrendered are you prepared it certainly doesn't need to be?

[apostolicchurchessanantonio-blog]

The Pentecostals - A Religion of Fools and Holy Rollers Or a Renaissance of Faith?

Amy is cheerful, loaded with chuckling and cherish, and constantly prepared to handle troublesome dialogs on religion, society, governmental issues, writing or whatever the point might be. She peruses broadly, remains educated, and appreciates scholarly repartee. She likewise tunes in with comprehension and talks warmly as opposed to contends religious thoughts and rule that may vary from others. Amy is from Virginia, the home of Thomas Jefferson, who supported reason as the way to truth. How at that point can Amy take after a Pentecostal priest and church in Natchitoches, Louisiana? I went to discover.

Initial a little history. Many houses of worship today, both Protestant and Catholic, have an appealling Apostolic Churches San Antonio TX arm, a section that has faith in a more definite type of love instead of the customary services with which numerous Christians are well-known.

These magnetic people can be seen yelling, applauding, influencing, and talking so anyone might hear, in ways that would be regarded unrefined or rude in different circles, however to them are the methods for feeling their confidence and drenching in the delight of it. These are individuals who consider their confidence important and demonstrate their bliss transparently. In reality they aren't hesitant to "make an euphoric clamor." They talk about supernatural occurrences, both physical and otherworldly, of mending, of hearing and seeing dreams and of the capacity to truly cure the body of its ills. Some contend that these charismatics are as well "additional Biblical" in that they go past the words to the individual gathering and articulation of the Holy Spirit. Others consider them to be an invigorating power in encouraging a profound Renaissance. In any case, whatever they will be, they are developing and having any kind of effect in their different assemblages.

The Pentecostals are the "first" or "great" charismatics in conviction and conduct; and their chronicled advancement could be seen as the establishment for the practices in the standard gatherings. As indicated by most experts the "traditional Pentecostalism" began in the mid twentieth century. The development underlined the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. The proof of this absolution was the talking about tongues demonstrating that otherworldly blessings had been gotten. This conviction, and practice, caused the expulsion of the Pentecostals from standard holy places. They subsequently established their own particular temples which ended up plainly known as the Pentecostal Holiness Church, the Assemblies of God, the United Pentecostal Church, the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel and the Church of God in Christ. Popular individuals like Aimee Semple McPherson and Sarah Palin have been a piece of this religious gathering.

As indicated by Reverend Whitehead of Natchitoches' Fountain of Life Church, the Pentecostal development of the mid twentieth century was a recharging of what had been recorded in the Book of Acts and what had been early Christian conviction and conduct. Talking in tongues as observer to the mixture of the Holy Spirit was a piece of the love reaction over the era of Christian practice and basically turned out to be especially articulated, and recorded, in the mid 1900's. Pentecostals have confidence in supplication, fasting and restraint, however not at all like some standard gatherings don't set aside an exceptional time, for example, Lent for these practices. They underline humility of dress and conduct so ladies don't wear pants as men don't wear dresses, as per Reverend Whitehead. Nobody, be that as it may, needs to take pledges of neediness and offer everything to the congregation. Pentecostals trust that individuals ought to succeed, be responsible in every way, and carry on with the life of the gospel. They additionally have faith in absolution by full inundation, which resembles a demise and consequently speaking to the resurrection of the Spirit.

Reverend Whitehead and I examined the present debates about religion and governmental issues. He revealed to me that he urges his congregation individuals to vote however doesn't disclose to them how to vote. In spite of the fact that he doesn't locate a Biblical rebuke against ministers running for political office, he trusts that it is exceptionally troublesome for an evangelist to be a government official due to the obligations and duties that are special to each. He sees the service as a calling instead of a calling yet watches that it is essential to know and comprehend the Bible well Reverend Whitehead is expressive and peruses generally, contrary to a few generalizations about Pentecostal priests and their run. He has had three years of Bible School instruction in Texas however discussed his proceeding to learn through life encounters and being a minister 40 years.

The Pentecostals are Christ-focused, trust in perusing the Bible and as indicated by Reverend Whitehead his most imperative message would be: "Jesus is God, and you are not spared by simply being true, despite the fact that that is the pervasive faith on the planet. It is critical to challenge on the premise of sacred texts and perceive that earnestness is not the strategy for salvation."

So this is the whole of the Pentecostals: a style of love that some may see as various yet cognizant and predictable in its introduction and conviction and deserving of thought and regard. The style of love may appear to be sensational and diverse to a few, however venture inside a Catholic church in the event that you've been raised Mormon, and you'll see that unique. A ton relies on the way of life and set of convictions we accompany when we take a gander at another person's religion. A few people who originate from religions that influence others to trust they are fools will be fools themselves for not taking into consideration singular contrasts and not understanding that these individuals might be true, keen and savvy individuals. Like Amy - and her priest.

[flooringsingaporeprices-blog]

Laminate flooring singapore review

Overlay Flooring has revealed the most imperative change to the deck business in the latest 25 years and continues taking off colossal upgrades and improvements over is hard Flooring singapore price surface accomplices.

In Europe they have been benefitting as much as possible from its components and points of interest for a drawn-out period of time yet not as make progress surface as we most likely am mindful today. Adorning spread was genuinely the causes and the begin of what now is known as overlay ground surface. The enhancing spread was comprehensively used as a piece of kitchen edges and furniture. As the development progressed in the edge overlay industry it clearly got the chance to be unmistakably obvious that with the unending number of elaborate formats that could be made, could in like manner be made and used on the floor.

Cover ground surface was imagined. There have been various particular troubles the first was by what method may you take a fundamental edge overlay and make a ground surface thing, the deck thing will take essentially more misuse by being walked around and a wear layer was made.

There has really been no stopping the particular wave of changes and musings that took after. Driven essentially by the European countries overlay flooring expanded more bit of the pie an apparently unending measure of time, no market experienced such speedy improvement as North America. Enormous advancing endeavors drove by such brands as Pergo who are as of now synonymous with overlay flooring familiar cover flooring with the American Public in the mid 1990s.

The certified history of overlay ground surface is short in North America, in light of the way that Pergo had achieved family affirmation with the new deck things Laminate flooring in North America was for the most part suggested as "Pergo" floors again the synonymous status and the 'holy goblet' of all brands.

In 2000 make progress surface was a glue thing; even so the bit of the general business inside the deck business in North America continued creating at a twofold digit pace. A weighty part of substitute US routine floor covering producers of cover and vinyl added overlay deck to their course of action of things.

By then so was considered the private name overlay. Overlay ground surface was definitely not hard to private check you simply changed the insert or the packaging and after that that made another brand or line of deck. This was especially useful for the hardwood and cover maker's to get enthusiastic about this new thing. The Laminate flooring singapore customary creators of cover and hardwood have tremendous movement frameworks and with their own specific checked line of ground surface could put a colossal number of new deck appears in a matter of months and new brands started appearing everywhere. This continued driving the improvement in the USA.

As standard US creators of cover and vinyl presented themselves as overlay ground surface producers, advanced the things, set overlay flooring exhibits and drove bargains.

Course of occasions in the US Market The accompanying periods of advancement were comparably snappy and I will isolate them successively:

2000 was particularly unbearable for the Carpet Manufactures in Dalton, Georgia they were completely bushwhacked by the powerful advancing of cover deck against their cover and that is the place the overlay took a vast segment of their bit of the pie from touting the Laminate Flooring thing as hypo allergenic and showing close ups of cover parasites and bugs did nothing to help the nearby cover creators.

All hard surface ground surface associations benefitted. It was a stimulating year for cover flooring representatives, even with terrible foundation showings and glue together ground surface.

2001 Every year that went before 2000 included new, stimulating and creative changes to the cover flooring market. The primary change really started in 2001 glue free cover. This was at first gave metal fastens on the back and in the midst of arrangements acquaintances as you endeavored with gather it you for all intents and purposes required a sledge pound, it was more troublesome than the glue together procedure. Not especially common but instead the thought was made all we required was the framework and course of action.

2002 A year later the development of glue less overlay flooring arrived, introductions of glue less covers began again changing the floor covering industry. Unilin Industries of Belgium brought Quick-Step into the US grandstand. Lively Step utilizes the authorized Uniclic joint structure. A couple of various creators bought licenses to use the Uniclic joint advancement in this way perceiving Uniclic as the business standard for Glue-less development.

Still 95% of the USA market was using glue together overlay, it took yet more mighty publicizing and this time generally drove by the home concentrations with names like 'Basic Lock', 'Energetic Lock', 'Convenient Lock', et cetera, to drive the customer towards the astoundingly agreeable D.I.Y. stick less overlay flooring ranges.

It was expected in 2002 that buy 2004 100% of the cover flooring industry will be glue less.

2003 This again ended up being a dynamic year inside the cover flooring industry, offers of the thing per square foot continued climbing, yet asserts concerning licenses over the locking structure and who made and who could use it surfaced and would continue for quite a while. Close to the cases the development now content with the glue less free present and now a particularly D.I.Y. agreeable thing revolved around making the thing to be as sensible as hardwood as could sensibly be normal.

2004 This saw some incredible changes in the way of the overlay thing itself. The standard glue free overlay flooring thing was 7" wide by 54" long and it had a light "ticking" affect, the sheets ran together with glue less free darting system. Generally most of the things were imports and prevalently from Europe.

Towards the complete of 2004 overlay flooring plants (however not totally fused and little interestingly with the European accomplices) started appearing over the USA. The greater US creators of carpets place assets into overlay flooring workplaces anyway they were not totally planned (we can examine the noteworthiness of vertical blend later). Regardless, this exhibited the US retailer and distributer that the thing was here to and the time had come to start backing a steed.

This incited to greater progression from abroad, the first was a wood grain surface - the cover itself had heavier wood surface anyway it was unpredictable and not exceptionally sensible in reality an unpretentious refresh, at first all creators endeavored to pitch this change for $0.20SF to scattering yet the fact of the matter was their was no maker cost augmentation to convey this surface - it was just an other weight plate.

2005 The cases over the locking system continued, by chance the locking structure claim is not about the basic edge long joint of the overlay flooring, every one of the cases focus on the end locking joint.

The interest to make a right wood reproduce of hardwood ground surface continued and this incited to an advancement called 'Enroll and Emboss' or 'Decorated and Registered'. The likelihood of this was for the case of the oak for example to be magnificently indented into the wood board, so the grain of the Oak or Cherry was commonsense to the touch.

Each one of the creators soon sought after this advancement, it required a reasonably fundamental process, make the correct paper (elaborate subject illustration) and after that have a press plate and the complete of the amassing method to match that paper complex design and after that you have the grain beautified.

Legitimate disputes over who devised that development all took after.

2006 The season of stamping, wholesalers with 'claim check' endeavored to position themselves as creators - one of the best being a vinyl maker endeavored to position themselves as market pioneers. Acquisitions moreover took after, Mohawk Industries obtained Unilin 'Quick Step' in 2006. This in like manner transformed into the season of the home concentration business, where having your stamped thing in one of the three essential US home concentrations was a complete goal.

One of the genuine cover makers and wholesalers with there modern office in Dalton grabbed the business with Home Depot. Pergo was all around arranged with a vinyl maker you had private denoted their cover line into Lowes Home Improvement Stores. Being a vinyl maker and not a cover producer make an imperative issue and a fundamental inadequacy as Lowes Home Improvement moved their getting course of action to "simply" buy plant organize.

An essential Swiss get-together and creator of make progress surface similarly with the world's greatest mechanical office in Heiligengrabe, Germany had been prudently manufacturing a plant in Barnwell, SC and at the fortunate time could supplant the vinyl maker as supplier to Lowes Home Improvement.

2007 This really watched the honest to goodness issue on the locking structure end as two legal systems created, one under Valinge Innovation and Uniclic Licensees each with around 100 accessories paying eminences of for the most part $0.04SF to $0.07SF. Licensees were surrendered wherever all through the world and this drove way to the re-improvement of Chinese overlay flooring.

In the mid 1990 China was one of the fastest creating overlay flooring markets on the planet and most by far of this was given by transportation in holder from Europe, there were gigantic vendors in China 100 compartments a month in size - or 2,400 beds a month. It didn't take long for Chinese imagination to copy the method and buy 2001, China had countless plants (with tremendous Government apportionments), some of this thing returned as imports into the USA, yet the legitimate issues with locking structures and potential stops of stock, quit it l