#and just happy to share moments of joy with mutuals who i speak to regularly

[finexbright]

.

[that-sw-writer]

Empress for the Evening III

PART ONE, TWO

MASTERLIST

Note: Long time coming but here it is, I can’t tell if I love it or hate it... But this is the final part.

Summary: A whirlwind cycle passes, and now as the wife of Kylo Ren you have to make your most nerve-wracking gala appearance yet.

You’re a threat to many others who envy your position, and the rumours flying around about your relationship don’t help your stress as you prepare for the gala.

Chaos is bound to ensue.

Word count: 5517

"Please, be seated." You addressed your court as you made your way to your throne at the head of the table.

Your advisors sit as instructed to do so. Only two rotations ago you had been aboard the Finalizer, and the Supreme Leader had offered you his hand in marriage. Until now only you and Kylo knew about the engagement, he had been very considerate of your political situation and insisted that he would not mention anything to the First Order until you had told your own advisors.

Not even your closest confidants knew - and keeping such big news secret from them had been painfully difficult.

"Your Majesty, since your appearance at the gala we've received a number of messages from allied planets."

"I dread to think..." You waved your hand, motioning for them to proceed and inform you about what you were going to assume was nothing short of hate mail.

"I hate to approach the situation again, but some of them have withdrawn their proposals of marriage and suggested new suitors who they believe will be, um- more to your standard." Your chief advisor spoke, and the whole court looked rather nervous. They were used to you harshly shutting down any talks of marriage.

You knew they were simply delivering the messages, and it didn't surprise you that your associates from the gala were now suggesting different suitors - you would have been foolish to think that they would let it go just because you insulted them. Your planet's economy was booming, and the opportunity of a young, unmarried queen was priceless.

"You can decline all proposals." You began, taking a deep breath before finally letting out the secret that had been eating away at you, "I have already accepted one."

Mutters rose up from your court, and you allowed them to make their comments of surprise before raising your hand to silence them. They all rightfully had plenty of questions, so you answered them all before they could ask them.

"At the Gala Supreme Leader Ren asked for my hand in marriage, and I accepted." You tried to ignore the smile that threatened to break out on your face as you recalled the heated moment he had asked you to marry him.

"The Supreme Leader?"  Jafan, the chief advisor, questioned in sheer disbelief.  He was a trustworthy, honest man.  He had spent years serving under your father and he had been nothing but a close ally to you since you had taken the throne.

"Yes.  I know it seems unbelievable, and truly I'm still trying to wrap my own head around it, but I accepted nevertheless - it's what I want."  You wanted to make it abundantly clear that you had chosen this, it wasn't for political gain, that was just an added bonus.

Your entire court seemed content with this response, and they all waited for Jafan to speak again on their behalf.

"Congratulations your Majesty, we can begin preparations for your wedding as soon as you wish."  He smiled at you, and you returned it.

"I'll contact Supreme Leader Ren shortly and we can choose a date."  You confirmed.

From there the meeting largely consisted of minor issues, as they always did.  Morale amongst the workers in the steel factories was higher than ever, and production rates were still soaring - that was something you were determined to not let slip once you became Empress as well as Queen.

When you dismissed everyone after the meeting Jafan rushed after you, "my Queen!"  He called, and you stopped to allow him to catch up to you.

"What can I do for you Jafan?"  You politely asked him as he came to walk by your side.

"About the marriage, your Majesty.  I wanted to extend my personal congratulations again, but I just-"  He cut himself off, clearly unsure of how to word what he wanted to say without coming across as insubordinate.

"You have concerns, I understand."  You softly told him.  It was clearly going to be a big adjustment, and Jafan was simply doing his job by bringing the issues to your attention, you appreciated that.

"A marriage to the Supreme Leader will come hand in hand with plenty of benefits for us, but equally my concern lies with you needing to take on so many new responsibilities if you are to rule the First Order alongside him."  Jafan was right to have these concerns, they were ones that had already crossed your mind.

"I thought about this.  I won't abandon my planet or its people by any means, but I will be spending more time off-world, and in my stead I was going to ask you to chair meetings and be the acting head of state.  I can easily stay in contact with you and I still intend to be here regularly."  You confirmed.  It was something you had given a lot of thought to.  Jafan was someone you trusted, and he had more than proved himself through his years of experience and sound guidance he had offered you in your time as Queen.

"Queen Y/N, you honour me.  Thank you."  He stopped to bow before you, and you nodded in appreciation.

"I know you won't let me down Jafan."  You smiled at him, and at this bid him farewell.  You were itching to tell you handmaidens about the news, they hadn't stopped pestering you about what had happened at the Gala, and they knew you were keeping something from them - now you could finally tell them.

When you entered your chambers the three ladies were all sat on your bed awaiting your arrival, and they burst out into smiles when they saw you, rising to greet you properly.

"How was the meeting your Majesty?"  Flora asked.

"Don't get up ladies, honestly."  You waved your hand in dismissal, and they all sat back down the the bed with you joining them.  "The meeting was eventful.  I actually have something I've been dying to tell you all!"

They all looked at you, curious, but equally excited.  They knew some good news had been coming, and finally you were able to share it.

"Supreme Leader Ren asked for my hand in marriage, and I accepted!"  You excitedly told them all, finally allowing yourself to finally relax revel in the joy of the news rather than worry about the details.

The three women did nothing short of squealing like school-girls, but you were thrilled that they were happy for you.

"You two will be perfect together!"  Kira exclaimed, having allowed the other women to offer their congratulations, they had known how fond you had been of him.

Kira wasn't wrong either, weeks passed and Kylo had made regular visits to your planet.  He was invested in the wedding plans but left a lot of it up you, he had no finesse for organising these sorts of events, and you seemed to be in your element.

The big day flew by.  The ceremony and following reception had been held planet-side, and you had been sure to keep it a rather quiet affair; despite the whole galaxy probably knowing of your marriage you were still inclined to keep nosy the representatives from other planets away from you.

From there you fell into a routine where you would spend four rotations aboard the Finalizer with your husband and the remaining three back home.  It was a lot to juggle sometimes, but you wouldn't have changed it for the world.

The cycle passed in a flash, and in that time you and Kylo had grown ever closer.  You knew of his past life as Ben Solo, you knew all of his fears and aspirations, and it all just made you love him more.

Meanwhile watching you rule so successfully not only as a Queen, but also as an Empress made Kylo fall for you more than he ever imagined possible.  You had a mutual respect for one another, and you had easily cemented your place in the First Order.

However you seemed to never be far from scrutiny.  For every day stolen away with your husband where he would whisk you off for a night spent away on a different planet, there seemed to be a new rumour circulating about your relationship.

It didn't bother you, you actually never involved yourself in such trivial matters.  But it did unnerve you slightly to think about how many people working alongside you had heard these rumours, and namely how many people actually believed them.

Not only that but you didn't always feel safe around these people, you threatened their pride as Empress.  You didn't doubt that Kylo would fiercely protect you through anything, but all it would take is for him to turn his back at the wrong second.  It seemed to be an irrational fear, but you had turned down everyone in exchange for the most powerful man in the galaxy, and to outsiders it looked like a shady political move when really it was much more simple than that.  Perhaps you were overthinking it, but you didn't trust any of the people you had previously associated yourself with to try something to remove you from the picture.

These thoughts were at the back of your mind as you prepared for the annual First Order Gala.  Your handmaidens aboard the Finalzer could never compare to your closest confidants back on your home planet - they weren't nearly as chatty, but you couldn't deny that they still did an impeccable job of making you look like an Empress.

Your dress this year was one to fit your new title - there was no blending into the crowd anymore. The dress itself was black and strapless, leaving your shoulders bare. It was tailored to your waist and hit the floor, and it was embellished with luxurious stones boasting the smallest hints of red on the bodice and around your chest, the embellishments becoming more sparse further down the garment. However, the clear standout piece of this outfit was the flowing cape attached to the top of the dress just below your shoulders. It flowed to the ground and had a short train - the cape was equally embellished with stones which boasted eye catching red colours when they hit the light.

Your hair was set in loose curls, and styled to be pushed away from your face - it was held back by a lavish crown which was embedded into your hair, it was subtle but effectively asserted your position. The dark colours matched your dress, and your makeup was also darker than you would usually wear. But that was to be expected, you were the Empress of the First Order now, and they had a certain dark aesthetic you had to adopt at these functions.

"Thank you ladies." You stood before the mirror, giving your handmaidens a cordial nod. They muttered their pleasantries before you dismissed them - perhaps you would never have a good relationship with them, they were afraid to speak freely in case they put a foot out of line, a fear your ladies back home were free of.

Now alone in the large quarters you shared with Kylo you smoothed down your skirt and inhaled a deep breath - this cycle you truly had nothing to look forward to. Previously you had been excited at the prospect of seeing the Supreme Leader again, but now you were married to him, you could see him whenever you wanted.

As you thought of your husband, you were led to wonder where he was. Sure you could turn up to your own gala fashionably late, but you were pushing it for time now and you hadn't seen Kylo since your handmaidens had first arrived to begin getting you ready.

He sauntered through the doors right on cue, and you turned to face him with a grin on your face as you took in his appearance.  He was wearing the same tunic he wore every year, and most days you now knew, but tonight is was accessorised by a black cape.  It was not dissimilar to the one you wore, but rather than being covered in lavish stones and crystals his was adorned by a red lining - you looked subtly coordinated.

"You look incredible."  He quietly exhaled as he approached you, his arms wrapping around your waist, "I can't wait to take it off you later."  He then said as a raspy whisper in your ear, causing heat to briefly flood your body at the thought.

"At least I have something to look forward to."  You smirked, pressing a short kiss to his lips.

"Mhm, I agree."  Kylo reluctantly pulled away from you and traded his arms around your waist for linking his arm with yours.

He lead you out of your quarters.  Both of you still hated these events, and now that you were married to the Supreme Leader you didn't have the exhilaration of wondering if Kylo Ren would talk to you, or kiss you - you didn't need a gala for any of that anymore.

Many of the rumours flying around concerned your personal lives, and they were just designed to make you feel uneasy in your position - but it wasn't that easy.  People made many assumptions about your relationship with Kylo, but they didn't know who he really was.  All they saw was his hard exterior and aptitude for violence, not the caring man he was behind closed doors who you had come to love.

When you approached the entrance you had entered the gala from every other year you wished you could have done the same that evening.  It was so much easier to just slip in the back and have nobody notice you, you weren't ready to have all eyes and judgement on you.

"You'll be fine."  Kylo quietly reassured you as you arrived at the blast doors he walked through every year.  He had naturally taken to reading your emotions in situations - he didn't even do it on purpose most of the time.

"The last two cycles I've insulted your guests, this year they're our guests which doesn't bode well for me if I'm rude to them again."  You nervously laughed.  You couldn't stand being belittled by sleazy politicians, which is why you had lashed out so easily at them, but you feared you needed to be on your best behaviour now.

"They're our guests, but you're my Empress.  If anyone disrespects you I could have them killed."  Kylo spoke almost as if he were challenging someone to test his words, and you didn't doubt that he meant what he had said.

"Please all be upstanding for Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, and Empress Y/N Y/L/N."  You heard the voice echo from inside, and just as you inhaled a deep breath the blast doors flew open, applause ringing out through the room.

Kylo led you down the staircase.  Both of your expressions made you look as though you were above the whole event, and in truth you were - you'd rather have been in bed with your husband.

"Later."  He quietly whispered to you with a smirk, and your cheeks flushed.  You tended to accidentally project your thoughts to him - you had no idea how to stop doing it honestly.

You reached the bottom of the staircase, and didn't know where to begin.  Usually you would have been busy pretending to interested in whatever gossip other guests were indulging in

Following Kylo's lead, you spent a long time going round from group to group to exchange pleasantries with your guests and thank them for their loyalty to the First Order.  You constantly had a polite smile on your face as you gave your thanks for their compliments regarding your appearance and congratulations on your marriage.  All in all things weren't going as badly as you had anticipated.

Eventually you spotted Jafan in the crowd, socialising amongst other representatives.  You were impressed at how natural he looked in his role, but he was so experienced in politics and leadership that you weren't surprised, he had done you proud as acting head of state.

"I'm just going to see Jafan."  You told Kylo who nodded at you and released your arm from his.  He didn't generally show much affection in public, and you couldn't blame him, he had a tough and unbreakable exterior he needed to portray and he didn't want to seem as though you were a weakness to him.

"I'll come and find you."  He replied, and you politely excused yourself from the group you and your husband had been addressing and quickly turned tail to walk towards Jafan.

"Your Majesty!"  He exclaimed, a wide grin on his face as he bowed to you, and you smiled back at him.  Whilst the First Order insisted everybody address you as Empress, your chief advisor was the exception to this rule - he had known you since you were a young Princess.

"It's good to see you Jafan, you look well."  You nodded and he expressed his gratitude for your compliment.

"If I might be so bold I have never seen you look more beautiful, my Queen."  He returned the compliment and you thanked him.

"How are you finding the experience?  You seem to be better at it than I ever was."  You joked, and he responded with a short chuckle.

"It's just good business your Majesty, I could think of many places I would rather be."  He shook his head, and you appreciated that more than he could know.  These events were the highlight of some people's cycles, but they weren't for everyone.

Before you could respond a shadow was cast over you both by the approaching Chancellor of Vardos, whose name you now knew was Darro Bernand - after your previous debacle with him and his entourage you had made a conscious effort to do some research on the man.

"Jafan, how refreshing to see you here!"  Darro exclaimed, eagerly shaking his hand before eventually turning to you, "And Queen Y/N, always a pleasure."

Not only had he addressed you second and made a backhanded comment suggesting that he would rather have seen Jafan representing your planet than its own Queen, but he purposely used your wrong title.  With other people you would have brushed it off as a simple mistake, but not Darro, he was an exceptionally bitter individual.

"That's Empress, Chancellor Bernand."  You put on your cordial smile, speaking in as soft a tone as you could muster, "And on behalf of myself and my husband I'd like to thank you for your attendance and continued loyalty to the First Order."  You went through the motions, you were determined to not allow yourself to become aggressive towards belligerence, you were better than that now.

"My apologies, of course Empress."  He gave a clearly fake smile, "Congratulations on the marriage, you certainly have come a long way."  There was a nasty undertone to his words, and you weren't surprised.

"If you'll excuse me Chancellor."  You nodded, wanting to reunite with Kylo before you kick Darro between the legs.  "I'll see you later Jafan, if you need anything let me know."  You genuinely smiled at him before turning to walk away.

"Actually Empress,"  Darro called, rushing to walk alongside you, "I had actually hoped to apologise to you."

You stopped at this and turned to face him, confusion plastered across your face as you waited for him to speak.

"My behaviour towards you last gala was inappropriate , and I want you to accept my humble apology for being so abrasive."  He seemed strangely genuine, but you didn't believe it for a second.  Nevertheless you responded accordingly.

"I appreciate and accept your apology Chancellor, please enjoy yourself this evening."  You attempted to continue walking away, but he placed his hand on your arm to keep your attention on him.

"Thank you for your forgiveness, I wish you a happy life with Supreme Leader Ren.  I'm sure it hasn't been an easy adjustment for you."  There was a sub-message in those words, and you wanted to ignore it and move on, but you had to know.

"What's that supposed to mean?"  You questioned him.

"I just imagine having to split yourself between your home and this ship isn't where you pictured yourself back when you were a princess.  I suppose you did what was best for your planet's political position, but I hope you didn't compromise on your happiness."

You were seething, and it was taking everything in your power not to have his tongue ripped from his mouth, "Not that it's any of your business but if I was going to marry for political gain I would have chosen a suitor from another planet long ago, I married my husband because he makes me happy and for no other reason."  You had no duty to tell him any of this, but you were fed up of these rumours circulating.

"You don't have to lie Empress, everybody knows that the Supreme Leader is an aggressive man - and with no pregnancy?  We could only assume that you were delaying the inevitable."  His voice was no longer masking the venom behind his words, he was just a spiteful man.

"Speak to me like that again and I'll-"  As you spoke you were raising your hand to strike it across the Chancellor's insufferable face but before you reached it there was a deafening explosion towards the far end of the room, causing you to instinctively stumble back a few steps.

"Y/N!"  You heard a voice calling you in the distance, "Y/N where are you?"  It was Kylo, he was shoving his way through the crowds to find you.

You turned around to get his attention, but stopped in your tracks when you felt the barrel of a blaster being jabbed into your back and the voice of the Chancellor whispering in your ear, "Don't say a word or I'll pull the trigger right now.  We're leaving."  His voice made your skin crawl, but you moved with him since it was that or die on the spot.

Somehow you assumed you were going to die either way, but if you delayed the inevitable you had a better chance of survival, that was at least what you told yourself in that moment when panic was flooding your veins.

Whilst everyone else in the room was still revelling in the shock of the explosion Darro pushed you towards the exit in a hurry.  The explosion hadn't been huge, and it conveniently didn't seemed to have injured anyone - it was clearly a setup, perhaps you had been right to not feel safe around all these people who clearly loathed you.

"Why are you doing this?"  You hissed, "I'm the Empress of the First Order, we'll have you killed for this."

"No, what you are is a just a girl meddling in matters she doesn't understand.  You think we don't see through your naive princess routine?  You married the most dangerous man in the galaxy to prove a point, and to make sure your pathetic little planet stays protected.  Nobody in their right mind would marry a man like Kylo Ren for any other reason."  He spat these words to you in a hushed tone and you were shoved out into the corridor.

To your dismay the Stormtroopers who should have been patrolling the corridors were missing.  "So now what, you kill me?  What good will that do any of you?"  You scoffed, assuming that the Chancellor was not working alone - presumably he had allied himself with his associates from the previous cycle's gala.

"With you gone your planet's economy will be in open season, giving the rest of us a chance to win favour with the First Order for once and we won't have to jump into bed with Kylo Ren to do so."  He snapped, and you were convinced he was ushering you to the hanger to make an escape.  It was clever really, killing you aboard the Finalizer was a surefire way to get caught.

"That's just as well, because you're not really his type."  You scoffed.  If you were going to die then you certainly won't going to give the Chancellor or any of his associates the satisfaction of seeing you crumble - you just had to find a way to escape before he got you to the hanger.

You knew that Kylo would be searching for you, the biggest downfall of this scheme was that they overlooked your relationship with Kylo.  They thought you were pushed into it, that he didn't care for you - their plan relied on the basis that Kylo wouldn't be concerning himself with your disappearance.

As that crossed your mind you remembered that you constantly subconsciously projected your thoughts to your husband, if you could somehow communicate to him that you were on your way to the hanger then he could beat the Chancellor there.

The hanger.  You thought as you imagined it in your mind, painting as real of a picture as you could.  Perhaps this was hopeless but it was the best idea you had.

When you rounded the corner you were met with another blaster being jabbed in your face, and you scowled at the woman holding it - the irony is you didn't even recognise her.  There were people involved in this plot whom you had never interacted with.  You knew becoming Empress would paint a target on your back but this was truly extraordinary.

"Your chariot awaits, Empress."  The woman snidely remarked, before flanking you alongside Darro as you finished the last leg of your journey to the hanger.

"Now as far as anyone will ever know, you unfortunately died in an explosion at the gala - a tragic plot by the Resistance."  The Chancellor let out a cunning laugh in your ear.

"So you used the gala as cover...  This must have taken more planning than I'm worth."  You scoffed.

"Oh you have no idea just how much you're worth dear Empress."  He leaned forward and whispered directly into your ear, making your toes curl.

"You're disgusting."  You spat back at him, but were just met with a harsh jab from the blaster by your spine, causing you to stumble forward a few steps as you entered the hanger.

Please my love, find me.  You willed it a final time, praying to the Maker that Kylo could hear you wherever he was.

The blast doors flew open and you were pushed inside, immediately spotting a ship waiting to depart with two pilots visible through the cockpit viewpoint - you wondered how many people were involved in this scheme.

"So you kill me, claim my planet's economy and win the First Order's favour?  You think it'll be that easy?"  You thought the longer you could keep him talking, the more time you would buy yourself.

"You have no idea how long we have spent planning this.  Nobody will be suspicious of your death, and with no heir?  We will have no trouble-"  Darro's snide words were interrupted by a sight which made your face light up.

"Step away from my wife."  Kylo spoke in a slow growl as he approached from the side entrance to the hanger with a handful of Stormtroopers, facing you and your two would-be-murderers head on.  His face was contoured by rage, and it was a look you recognised well, usually you would watch him slash at walls with his Lightsaber.  But something told you he was about to take his anger out at the people pointing blasters at you, and you weren't complaining.

The only immediate problem was that his Lightsaber was sitting back in your quarters, but he had compromised by swiping a blaster on his way into the room.  Relief was washing over your body despite the fact that you were still in immediate danger, you trusted him unconditionally.

"Stay back!"  Darro exclaimed, suddenly behaving like a trapped animal.  One of his hands wrapped around your neck whilst the other thrust the blaster into your temple.

Kylo took this vicious movement as an opportunity to fire a blaster bolt at the women who had been accompanying you, it struck her shoulder and as she moved to grasp the wound she was tackled to the ground by a Stormtrooper and quickly restrained.

"I won't tell you again."  Kylo warned, taking cautious steps towards you with his blaster raised.  He was struggling to get a good aim as Darrio was using your body to shield his own entirely.

"I'll shoot her, don't think I won't!"  Darro's grip on your neck was tightening, and it was becoming uncomfortable.  It was obvious that he never anticipated this plan to go wrong, and this was one eventually he hadn't prepared for.

Kylo's eyes met your own, "do you trust me?"  He asked, as if ignoring everyone else in the room in that moment.

"Always."  You quietly exhaled, knowing what he was planning on doing.

You took a deep breath and braced yourself for the impact that was to come.  Kylo threw a hand forward and sent a blast through the Force which sent you and Darro flying off your feet.

The impact was largely cushioned by your captor's body, but Kylo's move had successfully released Darro's grip on you and before he could recover you were scrambling to your feet whilst the Stormtroopers rushed over to restrain him and confiscate his weapon.

With wisps of your hair now falling into your face you pulled yourself to your feet and turned to your husband, out of breath from the entire ordeal.  Kylo's eyes met yours and he wasted no time in rushing towards you to pull you into his arms, squeezing your body so tightly he could have crushed you.

"I'm sorry, I should never have left you."  He buried his face in your hair, and your arms snaked under his arms to link behind his back.

"Don't do that."  You softly told him, "you have nothing to apologise for, this wasn't your fault."  Your words were slightly muffled by your face being pressed so tightly to his chest.

Eventually he released you and held you at arms length, "I'm never going to let you get hurt again."  He determined, and you knew there was no point in fighting him over it.

"Supreme Leader, what shall we do with them?"  A Stromtrooper asked, having rounded up those who were also aboard the ship which had been destined for your escape.

"Take them all to the bridge, I'll handle them personally."  His voice deepened, darkness having flooded his eyes at the thought of how he would punish those who dared to kill his wife.

Darro in particular had lost all sense of decency and innocence.  As he was dragged away he yelled, "this isn't over!  You think he can protect you forever?  One day he'll grow bored of you and that will be your downfall!"  His digs were contradictory to the evidence he had seen that night.  If his analysis of yours and Kylo's relationship had been correct then no doubt he would have succeeded in kidnapping and subsequently killing you - but you had proven him wrong.

Just by looking at Kylo's face you could tell he was on the verge of killing them all right there and then, so you reached up and gently placed a hand on his face to have him face you again.

"We will have our revenge."  You assured him, "But for now I'd just like my bed."  You admitted, the events of the evening having caught up with you.

"Do you not need the Med Bay?  I could get a medical droid of come to our quarters and food-"  Kylo was gushing, but you placed a finger to his lips.

"Kylo, my love, I'm fine.  I wouldn't be here without you - they underestimated our relationship and if they hadn't perhaps things would not have gone so fortunately.  But you saved me, and now they will suffer the consequences."  You reassured him that you were okay, and he went silent for a moment.

"I love you."  He finally said.  He didn't know what else to say, he was so blown away by how you had handled such a traumatic experience with such grace that somehow he found himself loving you even more - which he hadn't thought would be possible.

"I love you too."  You told him, leaning in to softly kiss his lips for a few moments.  When you pulled away you opened you mouth to speak, but shut it, prompting Kylo to speak instead.

"What?  You were going to say something."  He raised an eyebrow, arms securing themselves around your waist.  At this stage he didn't care who saw the two of you showing such affection in public.

"It's just-"  You tried to think of the polite way to say it, but you soon realised that in some scenarios being direct was the best option, "We're never having one of these fucking galas again."  You concluded, earning a short laugh from your adorning husband.

"You won't hear me complaining."  He mumbled, already capturing your lips in another kiss.

[theloyaltyofthewolves]

changlix

oh man. this is one of those og pairs. like, if you have a soft spot for changlix, you’ve been around this fandom for a very long time.

changbin and yongbok are kind of soulmates. and yeah, okay, all of stray kids are kinda soulmates, but changbin and yongbok are complements in all the romantic kind of ways. the romeo-and-juliet wannabe kind of ways. i’ve always said that yongbok is the stardust kid. made from the universe, born in the milky-way, he carries the galaxy in his heart and on his face. so it makes sense that he’d have this love, too. the storybook love.

it’s just the way they look at each other, you know? when changbin watches yongbok, you can see his heart. right there, on his face. all bare and vulnerable and head-over-heels. yongbok has a special smile that he only uses around changbin, too. it’s just a little different, but it is special. they’re enamored with each other, you’d be blind to miss it. some friendships in skz are formed by mutual respect or trauma or similar personalities, but i swear to god, yongbok and changbin just love each other. like. it’s just love. it’s just honest-to-god love. regardless of whether you ship them together or just see it as platonic: they’re in love. 

at first glance, yongbok’s the happy-go-lucky bundle of light and energy who keeps stray kids aloft in the storm. but no human being is made of one archetype and yongbok isn’t just joy. he’s the team’s sunshine, yes, but he’s also his own little raincloud. i’ve talked about this before in his individual post, but yongbok’s an old soul. for all of his messy, noisy moments on screen, there are just as many soft and somber moments off of it. he’s introspective and quiet, thoughtful and sensitive. yongbok is a worrier. unlike jisung’s frantic anxiety or seungmin’s barbed concern, yongbok is a measured and calm kind of virgo worry. his concerns run deep, the kind of deep that gets him trapped in his own unconscious. i imagine he spends quite a lot of his time staring out the window at the sky, wandering down long and winding rabbit holes of thought and getting lost. our little atlas who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders.

stray kids give yongbok a chance to put that weight down. to set it aside and cast it off. give up his worries for a few hours, embrace the lightness of youth, of living wild and reckless. they remind him to breathe. to take a break. to ease off the melancholy because the world will still be just as broken in three hours, so why doesn’t he tag along to the comic café and have some fun until then?

changbin is different. changbin, despite regularly being portrayed as either the belligerent wolf or the comedic relief, has always been the anchor. he is the strongest out of all of them, our pabbit. not just physically, although there is no doubt that changbin could hold split mountains. there is a resilience to changbin that is uniquely his own. no god could move him nor force of nature shake him. he is stray kids’ rock, their solid core. that’s why they rely on him so much, why they lean on him so heavy. because changbin can take it. every void, every stone, every parasite drinking itself sick on the lifeblood of his teammates, changbin can take it. take it all and keep their heads above water because that is what he does best.

and that’s why he and yongbok are such a good match because the others may tell yongbok to put his boulders down, but changbin’s the only one strong enough to share the weight. whatever you’re carrying, give it to me. i will carry it with you. i will carry it for you. because it’s nice to escape from reality for a while, it’s great. that is how we cope, that is how we live every day. these little brief moments where we can set down our burdens and our baggage and just live in the lightness of being. but what we really want, what we crave, is someone who will not tell us to forget for a while but someone who will shoulder reality with us. and that’s what changbin is. for all of stray kids, but especially for yongbok. someone who will time and time again, offer to help with the weight. to even it out a little. to bear it with him.

yongbok and changbin’s relationship is built on sharing existence together. it always has been, even when yongbok could barely speak korean. you don’t need a shared language to feel each other living. that’s what’s so remarkable about it, because it is so innate within them. like breathing, it exists without them even trying. their relationship isn’t always serious, of course. they spend just as much time throwing all of their fire sign energy at each other. but there are moments of quiet when yongbok fades into the background, grows quiet and downtrodden. and changbin takes yongbok’s hand. an acknowledgement without a demand. a promise without pressure. not come back into the sunlight but i will be with you in your dark.

“i know you think that you’re on your own. but just know that i’m here, and i’ll lead you home if you let me.” - streetlamp manifesto

[goodnightsms7]

Top #50 Good Night Messages, Wishes, Quotes for Friends (Best Friends)

Friendship is necessary for a quality life. It is a beautiful relation. Friendship is a relation of mutual trust, understanding, and caring. Friends are a wonderful blessing and the greatest gift to our lives. We all need friends. We cannot expect our lives without friends. They are the family we choose for ourselves. Friends are the people who understand and care for each other, stay forever beyond words, distance and time. They make you laugh louder and smile even a little brighter. They are the only people worthy to be in your life, and help you through the hard times and laugh with you after the hard time pass. Sending them messages makes them remind of you. It creates a natural bond with them. It keeps you in touch with your friends even when you cannot be with them. It makes them feel even more special. We have brought the cute collection of Good night friends messages to wish goodnight to your lovely best friends. The list has some sweet messages to send to your loved and dearest friends to make them realise they are special.

Good Night Messages Collection:➥ Good night messages for girlfriend ➥ Good night love SMS  -sexy romantic SMS ➥ Good Night Messages For Mother ➥ Good Night Messages For *Aunt & Uncle* - Wishes, Quotes VISIT MORE ❤ ➥ Good Night Messages For Sweet Husband: Quotes & Wishes ➥ 50+ *Good Night Message* - Wishes And Quotes ➥ Sexy Good Night Messages For Her: Quotes For Her ➥ #50 Sweet Good Night Messages For Wife: Romantic Night Quotes For Wife

Here wishing a sweet Good night msg to the dearest person of my life. I feel so much blessed always to have u by my side. I thank God for this. I look forward to our amazing future together and forever. Good night my friend.

A friend is someone who believes in u when you don’t believe yourself. Good night, dear friend!

As I look at many stars in the sky, I always reminded of all those reasons I consider you my best friend! Here’s a sweet good night message to my friend.

Being your frnd is one of the wonderful feeling of my life. You are always there in my thoughts. Wishing you a great night. Sleep tight.

I have a heart and that is true. But now it has gone from me to you. So care for it just like I do, because I have no heart and you have two. Good night friend and sweet dreams.good night sms for best friend

Close ur eyes, Concentrate your mind & Pray to God about the things That u want most. GOD must fulfill your prayer… Have a nice sleep…

Love Status: VISIT MORE ❤ Love Attitude Status For Girl & Boy Love Shayari Best Whatsapp Status

Hug ur teddy bear and think happy thoughts. Good night.

Dreams visit us when we are asleep… But God is truly wise…He wakes up every day nd gives us chance to make our dreams come true.

Now it’s time to go to sleep Urs eyes are weak n mouth cannot speak Hope this nite will be nice and sweet.

U r my special someone, someone that I can’t live without. Through the distance, I want you to hear me as I shout. Good night and swt dreams.

God’s guidance is like a small lamp in a dark forest which doesn’t show everything at once, but gives enough light for next step to be safe. Gud night friends.

Nite is not only for sleep, It’s to Forget today’s Sorrow, To dream today’s Joy & to receive Tomorrow’s Happenings. “Happy End of the day” GOOD NIGHT.

As you fall asleep, I want u to remember what a gud person you are. Remember that I admire you and care for u. Goodnight.

Good Morning Messages Collection: VISIT MORE ❤ ➥ * 70+ Good Morning Love Messages For Wife*: Morning Wishes And Quotes For Wife ➥ Sexy *Good Morning Messages* For Girlfriend ➥ Good Morning Messages For Friends

Dear special frnd, you are one of those people who make my life better just by being in it. Good night!

Time comes and goes as it pleases, but for you and me, it brings us closer. Goodnight my frnd.

Funny Good Night Messages for Friends: Friendship is nothing without craziness and madness. These are the beautiful memories worth shared for. Whenever you crack something funny to your friends, you make them laugh. Friendship is getting silly over things and much more. Friendship and madness go hand in hand. Life becomes much easy when you get friends who are always there to stand with you in every circumstance. We should not make our friends sad because of anything. Smile and make them smile too. We should not do anything wrong to them. We should always try to make them laugh even harder. In night, everyone got exhaust and tired because of daily work and stress. By sending these good night messages in English to a friend can make his mood fresh and happy. We are presenting a collection of messages to send night msgs to friends. These are good night SMS for friends in English as night is the right time to wish your loved ones with sweet dreams and a great tomorrow. Make it a daily habit to send good night wishes to everyone. Here is a list showing good night messages for your best friends which you can send to your amazing friends. These good night wishes for a best friend and gn msgs will make him feel that he is not forgotten even at the end of the day.

VISIT MORE ❤ ➽  Girlfriend Propose, Impress Collection: ➥ Rohit Sharma accountant blogger ➥ Girlfriend Impress - Love Images Wallpaper ➥ #50 *Girlfriend Propose Messages* Heart Touching

Now is the time to send good night text to a friend. Time to sleep, take rest, switch off the light, lock your eyes. Sweet dreams and good night.

A bed for u to sleep, Angles from heaven singing lullabies for u, May u sleep peacefully and carefree. Good night all friends.

Moon is happy and Sun is upset, do you know why? I tell you, it is because the sun is missing you, and the moon is going to be with u in the night. Good night sweet friend.

If time does not wait for u, don’t worry. Just remove the battery from the clock and enjoy life. Good night my sweet friend.

A day is going to end again. It is nice to have a frnd like U making my everyday seems so great. Good Nite.good night quotes for friends

One two three. Set free from worry. See moonlight n the galaxy. Have dreams very lovely. Good night my sweet frnd.

Sun wouldn’t be red, Sea wouldn’t be blue. I wouldn’t be happy. Without disturbing you! Gud night to all my friends.

God luvs u. You can fall asleep knowing that peace and truth is in your heart. Good Nite.

The Most Sweetest Relation in World Is pillow. Bcoz when u r tired u relax On It. When u r sad u drop tears on it. When u r angry u punch it. And, when u r happy u Hug it. Now that Pillow is waiting 4 u so go to Bed. Good Nite friends.

I love to watch cartoons and that’s why you are my best friend. ;p Good Night cartoon.

VISIT MORE ❤ Good Night Images Collection: ➥ Good Night Images - Night HD Wallpaper ➥ Good Night Images For Girlfriend ➥ Good Night Images Whatsapp & Facebook

At this moment, 3.7 Millions are sleeping, 2.3 Millions are falling in Love, 4.1 Million are eating & Only my cute frnd in the whole world is reading my SMS.

MOON has come to colour your dreams, STARS to make them musical and My SMS to give you warm and peaceful sleep..!! Sleep well and good night.

I promise to be the warrior who fights all your nightmares and the messenger who brings all your sweet dreams.

Music is love, love is music, music is life, and I love my life. Thank you and have a good night.

VISIT MORE ❤ New Year Messages: ➥ Happy New Year Wishes 2019: Best New Year Messages ➥ Love Relation

Daylight has ended, the moon is awake. God’s blessings to u, for goodness sake! Gud nite my frnds.

So, these were some good night SMS in English for best friends which you can send to your lovely friends to keep your friendship growing happily. Such good night SMS for a best friend will truly strengthen your existing friendship to heights.

Good Night Wishes for Friends: By sending good night greetings, you show a kind of affection and love towards that person. One can maintain a healthy friendship by regularly sending good night text messages to your dear and closed ones. Here, we are listing sweet, good night message for a friend. You can send these messages to make yourself remember to them.

Stars light stars bright, you are the only star I see tonight, I wish I might be there guarding your dreams tonight.

Let me wish my good frnd, gud nite sleep and beautiful dreams as the night calls me to sleep. Gud night my lovely frnd.

When I say good night to special frnds like u, it is an one wish which means Good Nite, Swt Drms, I Miss You and See You Soon.

“Being ur frnd is my gift, Missing you is my bad luck, Disturbing you with SMS is my way of thinking you, But keeping our frndship is my aim. Gud nite.

I may lose something today I may get anything else tomorrow. But, I can never lose and ever get one thing and thats ‘YOU’ So, be my friend forever! Good Night. good night friend

Ur dream determines Ur goals, Ur goals map out Ur actions, Ur actions create results, And the results bring u success.! Good Nite my Frnd.

VISIT MORE ❤ I Love You Messages Collection:   ➥ I Love You Messages For Queen Wife: Love Wife Messages ➥ I Love You Messages For Dad: Love Quotes & Wishes For Father ➥ I Love You Messages For Son: Wishes & Quotes ➥ I Love You (U) Messages For Mother: Cute Love Messages For Mom ➥ I Love U Messages For Girlfriend

If you have had a bad day today, I hope that this nite signifies the end of all your troubles and the beginning to a wonderful day tomorrow. Good night.

Boyfriends and girlfriends will cum and go, but r friendship will forever glow. Good night.

Night is Silent, Night is Beautiful, Night is Calm, Night is Quiet. But Night is not complete Without Wishing my frnd Good night. Sweet dreams!

I was looking out the windows.Thinking about the person I care most & Guess who came into my mind – U. So, just want to wish u gud nite.

Good Night Quotes for Friends: These are simple but good night best friends quotes to send to your dear friends. Pick any of these and make their night sweet.

Never lose hope. You never know what tomorrow will bring. Gud nite.

Wishing Gud night is not a formality. It’s the art of Saying that I remember you in “My last minute of the Day ”.Gud Night.

You can’t change everything in one night, but one night can change everything.

Gud friends don’t necessarily make life perfect, but they sure make all the imperfection easier.

End the day with beautiful thoughts, then u will wake up with the most wonderful smile. Good night.good night messages for friends

I want to come early because I can spend time with my frnds my buddies without any, so good nite my dear frnds.

Night is to see the drms and day is to make them true. So it is gud to sleep now and see the drms. Gud night, sweet dreams!

Gud frnds don’t necessarily make lyf perfect, but they sure make all the imperfection easier to tolerate. Gud nite.

Hope, luv and faith – these are the three treasures that I want you to carry as you journey into a sweet sleep. Good night.

This is the end of the day, but soon there will be a new day. Keep your spirits up becoz there are always gud chances. Good nite.

VISIT MORE ❤ Diwali Messages: ➥ Happy Diwali Wishes For Girlfriend - Diwali Wishes For Sexy Girlfriend ➥ 50+ *Diwali Wishes 2018* - Diwali Messages ➥ Happy Diwali Images | Diwali Greetings Images

So, we have presented the best collection of good night my friend quotes to make your friends happier and the bond stronger. You can use these night messages to send your friends and even loved ones to wish them a beautiful and relaxing night.

[drlindamilesblogs-blog]

Igniting Your Inner Light: A Lesson in Joy

Igniting Your Inner Light: A Lesson in Joy

®    Do you tend to feel overwhelmed by all of the negativity you feel “bombarded” by on a daily basis, from your everyday transactions to the evening news?

®    Is it difficult to remember what is going well in your life and focus on gratitude?

®    Do you struggle to find joy amidst the suffering you feel within or around you?

 THE POWER OF JOY

Penguin Random House summarizes The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World in two sentences that imply the power of the thousands of sentences secreted within those pages: “Nobel Peace Prize Laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have survived more than fifty years of exile and the soul-crushing violence of oppression. Despite their hardships—or, as they would say, because of them—they are two of the most joyful people on the planet.” The stories that emerged through their mutual journey—a quest, so to speak, to exude joy in the face of life’s inevitable trials and suffering—reveal how it is indeed possible to live a life “brimming with joy” despite the scariest impediments ranging from fear and anger to grief and death.

One of the stories within the book refers to Desmond Tutu’s adventures in South Africa, where he ministered to families damaged by apartheid. He deliberately chose to convey gratitude and lead by example as a role model that “lived in the light”, knowing that he would not be able to inspire the people around him to be joyful if he himself could not authentically and freely rejoice in living. Desmond Tutu was born during apartheidin South Africa in 1931, and encountered fierce prejudice; even as a child, however, he resolved to make the best of the situation, later sharing in an Academy of Achievement interview: “We knew, yes, we were deprived. It wasn’t the same thing for white kids, but it was as full a life as you could make it. I mean, we made toys for ourselves with wires, making cars, and you really were exploding with joy!”

As a teenager, Tutu contracted tuberculosis; barely surviving, he later attended—and excelled—in a grossly underfunded and segregated school. Accepted to medical school but unable to afford it, he instead accepted a scholarship to study education. He eventually quit as a teacher, refusing to further participate in an educational system “explicitly designed to promote inequality.” Immersing himself in theology, he emerged as one of the most prominent voices in the anti-apartheid movement; it is said that apartheid’s end was in no small part due to his brave advocacy. Celebrated as a human rights and world peace activist, one of Desmond Tutu’s most inspiring teachings is his own unshakeable optimism and his continuous cultivation of gratitude and joy during even the darkest days.

 “Despite all of the ghastliness in the world, human beings are made for goodness. The ones that are held in high regard are not militarily powerful, nor even economically prosperous. They have a commitment to try and make the world a better place.” –Desmond Tutu

 NOW

“NOW” is the place where love lives. By concentrating on the now—in the present moment—you make the conscious decision to focus all of your resources on positive emotions of joy, appreciation, and healing. Bill Moyers interviewed world-renown professor of mythology Joseph Campbell on national public television, asking him to summarize core wisdom and lessons from world mythology. Professor Campbell answered that “the purpose of life is to find joy amidst suffering”…

³  Notice.Self-discovery begins by noticing the harmful or toxic emotions and reactions that tend toentangle us in a web of pain and suffering.

³  Opportunities.Once we determine our situation, we can make a conscious choice to express joy despite the suffering, transcending pain and fear by rousing our innate personal power. Desmund Tutu has often said that it was his inner joy that enabled him to inspire others; he could not lead them and make them see him without first igniting his own inner light. When we lead by example, we give other people the opportunity to do the same.

³  Within.Joy is a continuous activity, a work in progress. It is, above all, an “inside job”. Go “within” regularly to practice equanimity, gratitude, and joy. Remember that happiness does not lead to gratitude; it is gratitude that leads to happiness.

 “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.” –Joseph Addison

 THE PATH TO MINDFULNESS

My daughter-in-law Jenny shares with me daily stories of finding joy amidst suffering; she works as a nurse among terminal cancer patients. During the time of her pregnancy, she remembers walking along the corridor and hearing a familiar, melodious voice calling her name. It was an elderly woman shuffling down the hall behind her, one of her many patients who was suffering from terminal cancer. The old woman told Jenny that she had missed her because she had been bedridden for a few days. “I did not have a chance to check on you and your pregnancy… so glad to see you… so glad to see you are doing well,” she said as she beamed at Jenny. Even in her personal ordeal of illness, this woman with terminal cancer chose to focus on the blessings of her connection with Jenny and the miracle of pregnancy.

This sort of perspective is exactly what Desmund Tutu accomplished during and beyond apartheid. Practicing mindfulness and choosing gratitude come with the realization that joy does not imply never-ending happiness or optimal circumstances. Joy, in fact, is more of an action than it is a state of being: it refers to the ability to rejoice. Joy is the capability to transcend suffering and retain a state of inner light that extends outward to illuminate others as well.

 “Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.

 PRACTICE

Nobel Prize winner and neuroscientist Eric Kandel explains that the ability to rejoice is not something that we are either born with or lack; it is something that can and should be cultivated constantly. We can train our brains to resist harmful “gut reactions” and instead strengthen our ability to focus on positive aspects and feelings that serve us and those around us. Desmond Tutu is like so many other inspirational world leaders who emerged from their personal hells and pulled themselves together in hard times, then and therefore managing to pull together the people around them and rejoicing in a sense of community and purpose.  

Whenever you feel overwhelmed by negative emotions or experiences, practice a specific mindfulness technique that enables you to visualize positivity and will help bring calmness and healing into the room. Imagine inhaling all of the suffering and toxicity around you and then breathing out sparks of goodness and healing—for yourself and for others. You are recycling the bad and exuding the good, filtering emotions just as the leaves of trees filter air.

Do this alone or as you sit with others who are suffering. This mindfulness technique will foster the cultivation of inner peace andwill ground you in the moment by making you pay attention to the present, purposefully and without judgment. This practice will help you stay calm and centered so that you can be comforted and be a comfort,enabling you to bring light to the lives of others as well.

 “I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.” –Groucho Marx