#and the day i can write fancy HAND WRITTEN LETTERS TO FRIENDS????

[rabioa]

I absolutely LOVE writing emails. I feel so professional and cool and and eofkafkkakfkaa. Makes me feel productive ykyk? I get to THINK before I speak ykyk (something vv rare when it comes to me)

But phone calls are..... giskfjakkfka (derogatory)

Even if its with friends I get so stressed. Bc like I dont understand what you're saying in person most of the time, what makes you think a phone call will help that??? And its so awkward bc im all about gestures and stuff but then I cant do it and im just waving my hands in the air all alone????? And omg I hate Profesional calls the most bc I need to write stuff down while listening and I need understand what they're saying and if I gotta pull stuff up to answer to their stuff im 💀💀💀💀

But ig i survive all of those phone calls so its bearable 😭😭😭

If you vote please reblog.

[schrodinger-swriter]

The main cast of Hazbin hotel on Valentine's day

I know I may be a little late. I had to do some shopping today and hadn't had the motivation or time to get down and write until now! I apologize is some characters are given more writing than others... the truth is that I am bised for some characters or simply have more for them. :C

Regardless I hope you enjoy these, I likely won't do these large posts very often.

CHARLIE:

I hope you can forgive me for being a little short on Charlie's part, I had stated earlier what she would do for the holiday in an alphabet post! But to recap she makes you a mixtape with songs dedicated to you, songs made by her and songs she knows you like! The case is handmade too, covered in hearts as well as having a hand written note inside further expressing her affections for you. She would also give you some of your favorite candies! Expect to go out and do something fun and romantic too!

VAGGIE:

Much lower compared to her canon partner, Vaggie is not much of an enjoyer of the holiday. She keeps her thoughts to it to herself, though sometimes you might find her grumbling about all the pink and the red. She just doesn't enjoy the aesthetic all that much. However despite that she will still participate if she knows it will make her significant other happy! She would get you something small, like a stuffed animal and some flowers.

ANGEL DUST:

Respectfully stealing this idea from my mutual, but he already gets so many gifts and cards from his crazed horny fans. He hardly has the room for any more! Though.. he probably sells a lot of it for some extra cash, only keeping some of the candies. If you get him something, he probably wouldn't sell it. He's actually touched. In terms of what he does for you, he might treat you to a night full of him... in more ways than one if you're open to it. If you don't feel like going out he's fine with staying inside and watching some movies in his rooms... perhaps it's a deserved break after a rough day during the love season.

ALASTOR:

Similar to Vaggie, Alastor wouldn't do much. He understands the purpose of the holiday, but he simply. Does not care for it all that much. However I do rather enjoy the though of Alastor sending letters to his friends (Mimzy, Rosie, Niffty, ect). He even puts them in fancy envelopes and seals them with wax. How nice is that? If he can, he might even send a box of chocolates. Fingers, in Rosie's case. However, he doesn't do much to celebrate outside of that. That's assuming he sends anything at all, anyway.

SIR PENTIOUS:

He would go all out. He might even make a machine dedicated to you and gift it. He makes a mechanical heart that beats and gives it to you. He gives you all of the candy he can get his hands on, not exactly sure what you prefer. He takes you out for the night, to the nicest restaurant he can go to without getting jumped (because let's be honest... his days of trying to pick fights and climb to power has probably landed him with some enemies...). He's a total gentleman on the date, opening the door for you and pushing in your chair for you. Considering he's a little flustered that he is on a date with you, everything goes smoothly.

HUSKER:

He likes to stay in, but you can count that if you manage to get him to go out it's going to be a to a club or bar. Anywhere with alcohol. He'd much rather prefer a bar, since it's usually... lower in energy. He also isn't much of a Valentine's person, and he does show his disdain. He does tone down on talking negatively about the day around you, so there's that at least. A simple night in with an affirmation of love is enough for Husk.

NIFFTY:

She bakes you something and perhaps sews you something. A red throw pillow in the shape of a heart. Though you may have to tell her that's what you want because otherwise she's going to try something akin to the roach crown.... shivers... The baked goods are actually pretty good, and you'll be snacking on them for the rest of the week due to Niffty getting too excited and making too many. She will stab someone with a needle if they try to take one without asking you first.

LUCIFER:

He also goes all out, it might actually be a little overwhelming! He can conjure nearly anything he can think of, if his song was being literal! He wants to make sure you're loved, and that there's no possible way that you would ever think otherwise. Despite this he might rather stay inside, or maybe alter the home to look more fancy to make a mock dinner. Generally very sweet and you will be drowning in gifts from the second you wake up to the minute you go to sleep. He also makes you breakfast in bed.

[clerc16]

✯ music? date? both ; charles leclerc

a/n: based on a tiktok i saw earlier, by teilhard_ :)

summary: she listens to music when getting ready. he loves it. she sends him a note - he asks her out.

warnings: none.

── ☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★

You were a major music lover.

Getting ready? Listen to music. Reading? Listen to music. Driving? Listen to music. Bored? You guessed it.

Everyone knew that about you - you were unbelievably passionate about music. Any type of music.

“Y/NNNN, can we hang out today? iʼm bored” said a text from your friend. Naturally, you agreed - why not? It was a Saturday night and you had no plans whatsoever.

Like always, you turned on your regular playlist, making sure the volume is suitable only for your ears to hear, not to disturb any of your neighbors. Unbeknownst to you, your next door neighbor could listen to every sound coming out of your speakers. He was a nice guy - you interacted a few times, little “hello”s and “how are you”s every time you would randomly bump into each other. Despite being famous worldwide, he was extremely humble.

He was also devilishly handsome. But you never actually admitted that.

As you swiftly moved around your apartment to grab little bits and bobs needed to get ready, occasionally humming or singing along with the music, Charles Leclerc was sitting in the apartment right next to yours, attempting to read.

If he was bothered by your music, he wouldn’t hesitate to tell you - but he wasnʼt. It gave his currently dull and dead apartment a lively feel to it. Plus, your music taste was unmatchable.

As you put on some final touches, you paused your music and turned off your speakers. You grabbed your purse, phone and keys and left your apartment, shutting your door with a soft thud.

It wasn’t the first time Charles heard your music - in fact, ever since he moved in, he’d be hearing various music genres at various times of the day. This almost seemed like his final straw; he wanted to get to know you more.

He didn’t know how to approach you - he didn’t have your number, your social media, not even an email. So he channeled his inner creativity and decided to talk to you in a special way.

The special way was by leaving you a note by your doorstep. Not very original, eh?

As you were out with your friend enjoying your night, Charles was tapping his pen on the desk trying to think of what to write. After a few long hours, Charles had written the perfect note and placed it by your doorstep, hoping to see a response in the morning.

You stumbled back into your apartment complex, trying not to make a noise. You werenʼt drunk, just tired, your body begging you to fall asleep. You paid little to no attention as to what you were stepping on as you approached your door, keys in hand. As you were about to walk in, something felt stiff underneath your shoes. Looking down, you saw a small cream envelope with your name written on it in fancy cursive writing.

You bent down to pick it up and walked inside your apartment, your eyes still on the envelope. What is this?

You sit down on your couch and carefully open the letter, not wanting to rip the envelope.

“Bonjour -

Je voulais juste dire que tu écoutes de la très bonne musique, jʼadore ça!

PS: écoute “This Charming Man” de The Smiths, tu devrais aimer...

- Charles (ton voisin, n°28)”

[ Hello -

I just wanted to say that you listen to really good music, I love it!

PS: listen to “This Charming Man” by The Smiths, you should like it...

- Charles (your neighbor, n°28) ]

You immediately smiled at the note, your heart bursting with pride. If someone compliments your music taste and recommends a song, they are immediately very dear to you.

You placed the note back into its envelope and got up to change and refresh. Youʼll make sure to write back - you just donʼt really know how.

The next day, the first thing Charles did when he got up was to check for a note. He didn’t find anything. Nothing.

He sighed and decided to get on with his day. He shouldnʼt have expected a lot, really. As he left his apartment, he checked for one last time - still, nothing.

Little did he know you were just writing his name on an envelope to place on his doorstep.

The day passed, both of you anxiously waiting for a reply from each other. When Charles finally came home and saw a pink envelope on his doorstep, he smiled so hard his cheeks must have been screaming. He grabbed the envelope and rushed inside, the smile never leaving his face.

“Bonjour!

Merci beaucoup! Cela signifie beaucoup. La chanson est incroyable, The Smiths ne déçoivent jamais.

PS: écoute de “Good Looking” de Suki Waterhouse :)

- Y/N”

[ Hello!

Thank you so much! It means a lot! The song is amazing, The Smiths never disappoint.

PS: listen to “Good Looking” by Suki Waterhouse :) ]

Charles immediately opens the song on his phone, listening to it. Your music taste never disappoints, either.

It was like that for a few days - notes filled with song suggestions being passed back and forth. Every time you played music, you made sure to turn it up just a notch so he can listen to it with you.

Eventually, phone numbers were exchanged too, so notes on doorsteps were replaced by texts. Despite all this, you two didn’t actually talk in real life - even though you were literally next door neighbors.

One day, you were doing your usual, listening to music while cooking dinner. Your doorbell rang, and you walked over to the door to see who it was. Funnily enough, no one was there - but a small envelope on the doorstep was. You were confused; you and Charles text now, so why another envelope?

You brought it inside and sat down, opening it swiftly. Your hands grasped at the paper and pulled it out, curiously reading.

“Bonjour!

I feel like itʼs appropriate to ask to see you in real life now. Talking to you has been lovely. What do you say, coming by my house tomorrow at 6PM for dinner?

☐ Oui

☐ Non

- One last letter from Charles :)”

You grinned from ear to ear as you grabbed a pen and ticket the oui box, placing the note back in its envelope and by his doorstep.

Hopefully he lets you play your music on that dinner.

[eternal-kosmo-ghoul]

*°:⋆ₓₒ day 13. blowjob

.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡ “holiday blow”

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ — ❤︎ as iii is writing letters to his loved ones, you decided to give him a little treat underneath his desk

pairing: iii x gn!reader

a/n: i’m actually so ass at coming up with titles for my christmas event 😟 made this while i was sick, so it’s lazily written.

cw: nsfw content. blowjob. semi-public sex. kinda subby vibes from iii.

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“mmmh… you look so good on your knees, too.” —❤︎

┅✦┅

“whatcha doinnnn’?”

“writing letters for the boys.”

“oh fun! make sure to write to santa to get me that teacup puppy for christmas.”

iii just chuckled and rolled his eyes at your lame attempt of a joke, which was to definitely get him to buy you that adorable little puppy. though, iii saw right through your devious little scam.

“not happening, y/n.” he joked back, and he grunted when you punched his shoulder playfully.

“awww come on!!! it’s so cute! you can’t say no to this adorable face!” you said while waving your arms around, pulling up a very poorly printed picture of a teacup puppy. the ink was printed so badly it made the face of the pooch look disfigured, and iii stifled a laugh.

“i can say no, actually. that thing looks like it’s on life support.” iii said sassily, shoving the picture away from his face. to this, you gasped dramatically while falling over his desk.

“oh great heavens! my best friend won’t get me the gift i oh so desperately need! this is anarchy i tell you!!” you monologued rather interestingly, throwing in some poor shakespeare gestures that was paired with bad acting.

iii just raised an eyebrow at your shenanigans, clearly not convinced.

“not happening.”

“oh come on, iii! i’ll do anything! even the most humiliating thing ever!”

the quilt iii held between his fingers only continued to write fancy, honeyed words across the paper. he just sighed heavily, not thinking you’d actually go drastic measures for some tiny puppy as a gift.

“annnything?”

“anything i tell you!”

“you sure about that?”

“yes i am! i’ll even… uhhh..”

iii kept his eyes glued to the paper, clearly not convinced by your obnoxious explaining and weird, theater gestures. he swore you were high at some point. clearly, this was getting nowhere.

the bassist just dropped his pen in the ink bottle and put an arm on his desk, looking up at you with a raised eyebrow. “well?”

you didn’t even know what came over you, because you blurted out:

“i’ll even suck your dick!”

… well.

that’s an idea that certainly piqued iii’s interest.

and you seemed sooo confident about your answer too, crossing your arms and holding your ground. though, iii could see through those playful eyes that you were actually nervous about what you just said to him.

oh we’ll, he’ll humor you for a bit.

“oh? you serious about that?” iii spoke teasingly, his fingers subconsciously playing with the buckle of his belt, getting turned on from the idea of you going down on him.

you nodded, still keeping your confident face up. “absolutely.”

this was a nice turn of events. iii smirked and rolled his chair out to make space for you, allowing for you to crawl under the little nook within his desk. the bassist rolled back into place, and grabbed the feather pen again, feeling your eager fingers quickly make work of his belt and tug his pants down. damn, you really were excited.

“ahh… i’m starting to think this is less about the puppy, and more about you just wanting to suck me off.” iii commented absentmindedly, his pen dragging across the paper as he wrote his letters to his loved ones, occasionally acknowledging your presence by moving his free hand under the desk to stroke your hair.

“mmmh… you look so good on your knees, too.”

you just whined in response, not even bothering to reply to iii’s words. soon, you pulled down his boxers to his ankles, his hard cock springing free. he heard you audibly gasp at his size, and he just snickered.

“impressive, huh?” he mumbled, gripping your hair and pulling you closer to the head of his cock, the tip leaking with precum.

“maybe.” you mumbled back, putting one hand on his thigh and the other on iii’s shaft, holding the base with a firm grip that had him groaning.

“nnngh…” he sighed out, hand shaking a bit, hindering his ability to write letters. iii shook his head and gripped your hair tightly.

“don’t just sit there. suck.”

you could hear the desperation in iii’s voice, just wanting to feel your tongue swirl around his dick like a lollipop. it was such a lewd thought, but you loved it. you didn’t waste any time, and opened your mouth, taking him in whole and savoring the satisfying, salty taste of his precum. you could tell how horny he was, from the way he was gripping your hair and forcing you down more onto his hard shaft as you sucked him off.

“f-fuck.” he grumbled, trying to shift his attention on the letters he was writing, but you were too good at sucking him off. iii was getting desperate, completely dropping his pen and gripping onto the side of his desk while he bucked his hips into your mouth.

“s-shit. take it all, oh you’re s-so good at this…” iii whimpered, all of his attention on you now as you gave him the blowjob of a lifetime. you could feel the head of his cock hit the back of your throat, and constrict around it.

the feeling made iii throw his head back with pleasure, letting out a guttural moan while you whimpered around his dick.

“fuck. i-i’m gonna cum, y/n.” he warned, and you took this opportunity to take him as deep as you possibly could.

“s-shit! ahh!”

his eyes widened underneath his face mask, and he moaned loudly as he shot his seed down your throat, watching you swallow all of his cum in a single gulp. he let out a loud pant and pulled your head off of his cock, your mouth coming off the head with a popping sound.

he groaned heavily, and looked at your face. he chuckled as he brushed his thumb over your swollen lips, making you whine.

you giggled and nuzzled his hand.

“so…. can i get that puppy now?”

he chuckled at your words, and ruffled your hair.

“maybe, dollface.” he said with a grin, caressing your cheek. he lifted his mask, and pressed a kiss against your forehead.

“maybe.”

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[yuyan]

To my darling

A/n: Merry Christmas and have a happy new year! I hope you enjoy it @pavo-ocell-me! This was a very fun event that I loved taking part in @2023gisecretsanta

Pairing: Lyney x gn!reader

Tags: Pure fluff! Modern au, implied school/college setting, penpals, pre-established relationship, reader is learning French, where reader lives doesn't have snow, one curse word just one ^^

"Take intermediate French they said. You'll be fine they said," you muttered to no one in particular as you read the Google translation over and over again. "My French teacher is going to kill me."

You rubbed your eyes, peeking out of makeshift pillow your arms made. Standing tall at the front of the class with a booming voice was your French teacher. She held a small, clear glass jar with folded bits of paper inside in one hand while placing a stack of letters on her lectern with her other.

"Speaking with natives is an excellent and necessary way to develop your language skills (unlike this soon to be 30 minute speech) so due to the cancellation of the exchange program for this year and the long dragged on meeting, we have decided to give you all pen pals!" she announced. Her arms held a wide stance, awaiting for something you were unaware of.

Some whispers and small squeals echoed through the lecture hall. Others groaned and put their head on the desk, waiting for celestia, perhaps even an archon to take them. You did neither.

"I wish I could turn back time," you sighed. After contemplating for an hour whether your teacher would ever find out that you used Google translate to write half your letter or not, you started handwriting it on a stack of fancy paper you really shouldn't have been able to afford. "Shell never know. It's not like he can tell her anyways."

As you dragged your pen along the piece of paper, you remembered the speech about how necessary this was, the small piece of paper you pulled out of the bag and the letter that came with it. With a small smile playing on your lips, you signed off and stuck the small paper that read "lyney" just below your name with a paper rainbow rose you made yourself. It had its imperfections but it's similarity to the fresh ones he sent you left you content.

"Oh my god why did he reply so fast?" you asked yourself. Not even 3 days later and you received another letter from lyney. You traced the grooves of the red wax seal made you shiver. He wouldn't ever know you used google translate right? With pursed lips, you opened it. Perfume immediately muddled your senses as you opened up the envelope. Your peers hadn't even sent their first letter, let alone receive their second.

As you skimmed over the letter, you took down some notes like where he's from–which was so uncessary–what he likes to do and some of his contact details. You hummed, giving yourself imaginary pats on the back for reading a whole three sentences before typing the other two paragraphs into Google translate. You really needed to switch classes, desperately.

It was only then you spotted that a sentence in french came out the same in the translation. "You really shouldn't be using Google translate for these letters," written at the very bottom. Well fuck.

"You are friends with your penpal? Well that's lovely (name)," your French teacher clapped with bright sparkles in her eyes. It blinded you for a second and you had to look away before you lost the ability to see forever.

Instagram

(potato_name):lyney sent a reel.

(potato_name):lyney sent a picture.

(potato_name):lyney sent you a mes...

I didn't use Google translate for this one. Are you proud of me? You wrote at the bottom before slipping the letter into its envelope and sealing it with the new wax stamp set you bought recently.

You rushed back home. You winced at the clatter of your laptop in your bag hitting the floor, deciding it was a problem for future you. Ripping open the envelope and skimming through the letter, you read at the very bottom 'I am proud of anything you do, mon Cheri."

A smile broke out onto your lips as you neatly kept it away in a small box your mother got you from Fontaine when you were little. The small box was made of white marble with gold outlining its edges and gathering in a few swirls in the middle where the golden clasp rested.

The Sun shone brightly despite it being the middle of December. Rays of Sunlight squeezed through your closed curtains and you wondered if it was snowing in Fontaine right now. Did Lyney like playing in the snow?

Letters became less and less frequent as your peers lost motivation in writing long drawn out of paragraphs with nothing but small talk. A year and a half had passed yet your teacher held a strong morale despite the head of languages not enforcing this penpals program anymore. Even they must have gotten tired of the back and forth.

A few days until Christmas holidays. Opening your phone, you checked to see if lyney had texted you anything. Nothing...

Your eyes kept glossing over your texts from Friday 11am. Its been a week. Pictures of him and his two siblings who added you back on Instagram. Even Lynette had texted you today, showing some new tea she bought from inazuma last week.

Lynette

My brother has been writing non-stop for the past few days. Are you guys still doing the penpals thing?

You

No, maybe he is writing to someone else?

Your stomach dropped as you reread your message. "Writing to someone else...I need fresh air." You took your phone and wallet and headed out the door.

"Where are you going?" your roomate called out but you were already heading to the lift. You ran your fingers through your hair, pushing it out of your face with a sigh. It shouldn't matter. It shouldn't matter but this is the fifth time you've checked your phone this morning and its been a week with only a read tag.

"I seriously need to ban myself from my phone."

Lynette

Oh...nevermind. I'll ask him then.

Sent Friday 10 : 39am

"The christmas carnival was so much funner this year," your friend said, laughing. Then one hiccup escaped from her mouth. And then another one. Until you and your other friend bursted out laughing. "Not funny!"

"Yeah yeah. I still can't believe (Name) won that plushie from that shooting stall," your other friend said. He tossed another chip in his mouth, after finally calming down from his laughter.

"I'm surprised too. Those games are typically so rigged, I mean did you see the look on the owner's face though?" you said.

Holding up the little classic brown teddy bear, you admired it at all angles. Its red bow had a little bell hanging from the centre, jingling as you walked.

Its silly smile matched yours and then you noticed it. The small teddy's bowtie resembled the one Lyney wore in one of the pictures he sent. And the small envelope the size of your palm that the teddy held was a real one made of paper.

"(Name)? Whats wrong?"

"Nothing! I just realised my parents wanted me back at 10 and well its 11 so I have to go," you said with a bright smile, "Bye!"

"You live in a dorm though?" your friend countered, "(Name)!" But you were already walking out of the festival gates.

Picking out the small envelope, you brushed your thumb over the grooves of the wax seal. The same wax seal that you used for the last letter you sent. Did he really get the same stamp?

A mini rainbow rose fell out. The vibrant colours provided a stark contrast to the humid summer night. One letter. Five words. I love you, Mon cheri.

Your eyes widened and you nearly dropped the letter, fumbling with it for a bit. Taking in the cool nighttime breeze, you looked up only to see the person you hadn't talk to in a week standing only a few metres away from you.

Lyney held a bouquet of vibrant rainbow roses in one hand and the other behind his back.

"How are you..?" You took as step back, your gaze falling to the floor then back up at him again.

"I told you I'm a magician in one of my letters didn't I?" Lyney started, "I would appear anywhere if it was to be with you."

[luce-speaks]

lukas' guide to getting into (and subsequently out of) a political marriage

written for @fe-aspec-week 2024! i was inspired by this piece by @good-beanswrites from last year's aspec week—i wanted to try my own spin on the how-to format, and this is what came of it!

—

The first step is to be a pushover. Be a second son, be an easy mark, be someone useful and easy to use. Be agreeable. Go along with it. It’s the least you can do.

He meets Talia for the first time when he’s fifteen. They’re at a banquet table, silver spoons in hand. She smiles, and he smiles back. It’s rare luck, to meet someone his own age who isn’t completely insufferable.

The second step is for someone else to make the decision. This is the hard part, because you don’t have any control over it, but it’s also the easy part, because you don’t have to do it yourself.

He is informed of the marriage three days after he turns eighteen, and the announcement receives rather more fanfare than his actual birthday. He later finds out that it had been in the works for eight months, his own involvement only an afterthought. He nods along.

The third step is to try and get used to it. Look for the bright side. Do your best. Scrape out what happiness you can and tell yourself that it’s enough. Try to believe it, too.

They sit together in Talia’s ornate bedroom while their parents hash out the details.

“I know it wasn’t your idea,” she says quietly, “but… I like you well enough. And I think you like me well enough. It’s worth a try, isn’t it? To find our own happiness?”

“Yes,” he says, like second nature, agreeing but also agreeable. “I think it is.”

The fourth step is to watch it fall apart. Your relationship, your happiness, your ambitions—these things will decline slowly but steadily, in step with the political decline of the country you live in. It will get worse before it gets better.

He and Talia used to go for picnics. They both preferred open fields to banquet tables, but the silver spoons came with them in the wicker basket. They would sit under the blue sky and talk about what they’d read recently. Their tastes were never quite the same.

His family used to like the picnics, too. Now they just say he isn’t doing enough. He wonders how it can be not enough and too much at the same time.

The fifth step is to run away. Watch for your chance and take it. Mask your intentions under what is asked of you, always useful, always agreeable, always a second son. Smile and nod and run like hell.

“You’re joining the Deliverance? But—Lukas—“

He doesn’t meet her eyes. “I don’t have a choice.”

“When will you be back?”

“I can’t say. I might not return at all.”

If she asked, he would say “because I might die”. But he also leaves his engagement ring on the table.

The sixth step is to be happy, against all odds. Wash your bloody hands and smile, for real this time. Sit with your friends while they sing campfire songs and gossip and never, ever ask you when you’re getting married.

Python corners him once, alone, with a single-minded focus. He wants to know, so Lukas tells him.

“Honestly, Python? I’m not sure if I love her or not.”

He expects some kind of scolding. He does not expect Python’s simple answer to make everything fall into place in his mind.

The seventh and final step is to settle your affairs. Write a curt letter to the family that sent you away; disappoint them with the news of your continued existence and promise they won’t be seeing you again. For the second letter, waver a while longer before finally giving in and asking your friends for help.

“Keep it short—no fancy words, nothing too nice,” Python says. “You’ve made up your mind. You can’t have her thinkin’ you might come back now.”

“But it ought to at least be polite!” Forsyth argues back. “He said himself that she was completely pleasant about the whole thing. There’s no call for rudeness to her—unlike that awful brother—“

“Hold on,” he says. “I think I’ve got it.”

Python and Forsyth accompany him to mail the letter to Talia. Afterward, the three of them go out for drinks, just as Python promised once upon a time.

(As he turns in for bed that night, Lukas reflects on how light he feels. He is no longer engaged, no longer agreeable, no longer easily used. He is nobody’s husband and nobody’s second son. And he is more at home than he has ever been before.)

[carnival-beetle]

A guard comes forward and slides something through the bars. "Package for you," they say before going back to their post.

The box, a bit on the smaller side and already opened from the guard's inspection, is a soft pastel pink. Inside is a long note, a small book, and a soft and fluffy orange beetle plush. Underneath all of it is a bunch of loose pens in all kinds of colors, then under those is a soft pink blanket with a pattern of little white bunnies.

The note has cutesy but slightly messy handwriting in pink pen, with several eraser marks indicating that the writer 1. used a pencil to draft it and traced the words with pen afterward, and 2. started over multiple times.

hi jester. it's cutie! didja miss me? i'm really sorry that i took so long to send you a letter or anything. i didn't know what happened to you, and i was super worried, but i was told that you're safe, so.. that's good. i hope that playground isn't being an asshole to you, playgrounders suck!! when it was your (and my!) birthday, i think that was the worst i felt in awhile, cause i couldn't do anything with you to celebrate. and now your favorite day of the whole year is here, and i still can't do anything. i can't enter playground in any universe without trouble. but then a nice stranger told me where you're being held, so i thought that i'd send you something to do! jail sounds booooooriiiiingggg!! so i'm giving you one of my journals so that you have something to do! there's a couple fancy pens in the box in different colors, those were from my personal collection! it also has a couple stories inside of it that i've written over the past few months, i hope you don't mind. i wasn't super sure whether you'd be able to write in it or not, so.. i didn't want to leave you with nothing, just in case you're cuffed or something like that. so you can read those, if you want! i also sent you a plushie i got for you when you were still here. it was supposed to be for your birthday - i like planning ahead! - but.. y'know. and then there's my favorite blanket! that's the one i always brought to our sleepovers, remember? i wish i could send you our favorite movies too, but i don't think jails have TVs... such an oversight!! i'm running out of room on this paper, so i guess i'll stop there for now. but don't worry! i'm gonna send you a bunch of letters now! it's ok if you can't write back, don't worry. love u best friend! -cutiespace <3

-> The jester could feel heat prickling his remaining eye. Tears...? No, those couldn't be tears. He hasn't cried in so long. -> He reached in, fumbling do to his cuffed-up hands, eventually grabbing the beetle plushie and holding it gently within his shaky hands. Beetle plush.... He's a beetle... He couldn't help but giggle a little. -> He hugged the box and beetle close to his body, curling around them slightly. He was happy... He felt SO happy right now...

[mademoisellekalopsia]

Bring in Letters

|| Just a Wee Imagination || In a world evidently driven and saturated by the advancements of technology, almost everything is of convenience. Just at the palm of one's hand, the sound of one's voice, never turning back to what has been before all of this.

Before texting behind a screen, writing letters was a way to bring in, send out messages, all sorts of subject to address with the use of a pen. Thinking about A, in the comfort of their study desk, reminiscing the pastime of writing letters to their dear loved ones. With those envelopes and stamps with imprinted patterns and shapes.

When they had the realization of their fondness and endearment on B, they just had to write them a letter the old-fashion way. They ought to do it again years later. A is currently having a case, for some logical reason, whilst writing to their beloved. B was somewhere near the coast of a shoreline, visiting their friend for a week.

Within the letter, A stated their salutations, words of longing for B's return, words of reassurance for B to enjoy their stay and not to worry about A, which B is not, but they would think about how A is doing back at home.

Knowing B for being such a tease at times, A would mention their case within the letter. Description on how the case made A having to pause occasionally, not wanting to ruin their penmanship, the spasms coursing through that would provide them some satisfaction for a moment.

The pacing, sounds, and action, B will just have to imagine it. A would wonder of their reaction, this was just for the sake of sending B another letter like before, a gesture of commitment and genuine love for the both of them. Its never the same to how messages are sent from a screen.

After stamping the envelope, A hoped that the letter is brought to their spouse, hoping it finds itself and its way to B. A heads back inside their home, letting their hiccup fit course away in the comfort of their couch with Sia.

"B, there's a letter for you, it got mixed up with my other mails. With the fancy seal and all." B's friend spoke and smirked, the letter from A between their fingers as they held it up to B.

B took a meticulous look on the letter. The stamp. They have to look at the stamp, the imprint on the wax seal, to check to be certain. Sure enough, it was a letter from A.

"Thanks." B responded. As they open the letter, it brought a soft smile to their face, not because of what is written, but because of the one who wrote it, having to take their time and "trouble" to write a letter even though mobile phones exists.

It got quiet. Too quiet in the house, before...

"A!" B burst out.

Their friend, calming them down, asked why they reacted that way with a gentle bonk on B's head.

B reassured them that it was nothing, excusing their sudden change of tone. They looked back at the letter, despite all the loving, comforting, and reassuring words, A can be a tease when they have the chance.

B flushed, grumbling and swearing to send A a letter of response of their own in return.

"You could've done it over the phone. But...I guess I don't mind this as much. Brings me back to those days." B whispered to themselves, their hold on the letter tightened for safekeeping.

[highmarc]

The Yule ball letter mess. // Extra.

@jazzellen came up with the idea for this one! Thank you so much~

DISCLAIMER:

English is my… what? Third language. I’m not good at writing longer pieces and I’m well aware that my grammar skills and punctuation, well, suck. So I sincerely apologize for any mistakes you can encounter while reading this.

Yet I really hope this makes you smile a little or just helps brighten your day a bit! 

Sebastian had to be sneaky. Ominis had to be even sneakier. Both letters presumably delivered and read. Now everything they hope for is MC’s owl. But something goes wrong. Terribly wrong.

Sebastian fell asleep writing an essay. Potions. He hated it, but he had to write at least something to sate Professor Sharp’s growing appetite. Who needed a 15-inch essay on elixirs when a ball – the ball – was approaching? The letters he wrote – some were just ugly and some barely recognizable – made him yawn, then every line was blurry. The quill fell on the desk first. Sebastian’s weary head followed after.

 He dreamt of home, freshly baked bread and his smiling sister.

 But the dream didn’t last long enough – an owl woke him up. It simply tossed an envelope into his sleepy face, poor Sebastian didn’t even have time to open his eyes properly. Some say that owls mimic their owners. This one did for sure.

– Wait… is that?

Sebastian yawned as he gazed upon the owl and the letter it had brought. The owl. MC sent the owl! The bare thought of it made the young man smile. Sallow quickly stood up as if he wasn’t even sleeping a minute ago. He studied the envelope. Then looked at the bird who brought it in such…an interesting manner. 

– Ominis’s owl? What are you doing here, buddy? – the owl pecked his finger as soon as he reached out his hand to touch it.

– Ouch. Your master’s owl, I see.

Sebastian sighed and quickly opened the envelope – he didn’t see a point in waiting any longer.

As he passed his eyes over the letter… he gasped and couldn’t believe it. It was Ominis’s letter to MC.

Dear Mc.

I hope I don’t scare you with this letter – the last time I wrote you something was … during an unfortunate time. But everything is different now - I am different.

Sebastian scoffed and rolled his eyes.

– Well yooou don’t say.

Although I can’t properly express myself with words, I hope this letter can. Over these past months I’ve come to realize that I care for you. Not only as a friend. But as something…. somebody more?

Sebastian’s heart skipped a beat. His friend has feelings for his other friend whom he himself fancies a lot.

It made him laugh somehow. Ominis – the one who was stoic and never understood love and “those stupid couples making out in every corner, ewww”, was in love. Oh, Sebastian saw the potential for teasing here! He was ready to start calling his friend a “lovebirdie”, but something deep inside… really hurt him.

This may well be the last chance for me to ask you – will you go to the Yule ball with me? I’m well aware that dancing is not for me, and all in all I am not the best suitable partner for you, but I can’t imagine someone else but you beside me.

Well, I’m starting to sound just like those other letters you’ve received recently. I hope we will be able to discuss everything later.

The last lines of the letter seemed to be written in a hurry – “Meet me in the Undercroft. Tonight”.

-I’ll be there, Ominis. This I promise. My lovebirdie sir! Prepare thine kissable lips!

Sebastian chuckled and made his way to the Undercroft, waltzing. He could never miss a chance to annoy the Gaunt.

Ominis was in the library when he received a letter. His hands and legs were shaking – he was never this nervous. This whole “love and feelings” thing was completely alien to him. He never thought that he would eventually fall in love. But he did. And with one of his friends no less.

MC was kind and caring and everything… and Leander was thinking about it all the time? Nonsense! He, Ominis, wrote a better letter and it is bound to impress MC. He was sure. Perhaps… Maybe?

He carefully opened the envelope – making sure not to cut his sensitive fingers – and scanned the letter with the wand. The letters ran through his mind. 

Mc.

I’ve been meaning to talk to you in person and not to send you an army of owls to your room BUT.

I can’t get it off my mind.

One question – WILL YOU GO TO THE YULE BALL WITH ME?

The last lines were also added in a hurry: “Let’s discuss your favourable answer later in the Undercroft”.

Ominis was shocked. He blushed at the thought of his friends being this close to each other. But something deep inside made him… really angry. Why didn’t his oldest friend open up about his feelings towards someone? Towards MC. The MC he fancied too.

– Is this… Sebastian’s… Oh Merlin’s beard. I’ll shove it in his happy face.

He smiled to these words. But the smile was rather… unnerving.

Sebastian and Ominis met each other on the way to the Undercroft. How fortunate – one might think.

But it was mostly UNfortunate – a storm was brewing between the two of them.

– Hey, lovebirdie, flying on the wings of love, I see? – asked Sebastian in a cocky manner.

– Did you eat jealousy for dinner or what? – Ominis scoffed.

– You sent them a letter.

– So did you.

– How do you…

– I know it because I read the letter.

– Was it your doing then? Your owl- – Sebastian clenched his fists in anger.

– No. What now? Are you going to beat me? Well go ahead then!

Thankfully, MC was not only gifted with the rarest ability to see and wield ancient magic. They also possessed a gift of making timely appearances. They ran towards the friends and stood between the two of them, smiling and hiding their anxiety.

– Oh. I see you both liked the surprise. Care to explain what this was all about? The owls, the letters?

– I-erm…– Sebastian wanted to explain everything. But not a single word came out of his mouth.

Ominis sighed and frowned.

– I’m sorry you had to hear that. We just wanted-

– Oh I know what you wanted. My room is now a mess – thanks to your owls! They were fighting – just like you two. And I’ll have to clean that up tonight. I wanted to disappear forever because I was so embarrassed in front of my roommates. You can’t even imagine-

– I-erm.. We can help you and you’ll be ready before the ball-

– No you can’t, Sebastian.

– Girl’s dormitory. – Ominis nodded.

Sallow looked down and asked all of a sudden:

– Then what is your answer?

– Pardon?

– Will you go to the ball with me or with Ominis?

MC laughed and let out a sigh.

– I will go with neither of you.   

– Then, – Sebastian gasped.

– Imelda Toadstools, – said MC mimicking Sebastian. – You’ll have to go together. You and Ominis. Maybe you’ll finally talk to each other like friends do. 

[lumine-no-hikari]

Dear Sephiroth: (a letter to a fictional character, because why not) #265 (part 3)

All righty! Here is the last part of today's letter!! Fwhoof!

...So, I gathered up all my prizes and went home. Here's the giant bag of grapes I ended up with in the end:

...I put out a message to my friends in my other social media place, telling them they are welcome to come by my house and grab up some of these grapes to bring home; I can't possibly eat all these by myself.

...Well actually, no, that's not true. I totally COULD eat all these by myself; they are that delicious, and my impulse control is quite literally that bad. But my intestines would absolutely not tolerate it; don't ask how I know. Just trust me on this - you do NOT want to eat large amounts of an acidic fruit in one sitting. It's VERY BAD FOR YOU.

Anyway, I was out for a number of hours, so I was very hungry. So I made myself a bowl of various goodies. This has the garlic bread I made, the grapes I got, some strawberries, some ordinary deli meat (roast beef, salami, chicken, and American cheese), and a little blob of camembert. With the exception of the camembert, it's mostly just ordinary stuff; it's not nearly as fancy as it looks, hahaha!

...It was as delicious as it was fancy-looking, though!

I also made some tea to go with it; that vanilla-rose tea that I sent along to you, with the help of those important people. I'm hoping that they got it to you, like they said they would:

...A very curious Hoshi watched on as I put these things together:

...He's such a delightfully adorable and wonderful ball of floof and purrs!!! Oh my goodness...!!

...Anyway. Want some...?

...You don't know what I would give to be able to hand you something like this. Sephiroth... you seriously have no idea. You don't.

...

Well. I said in yesterday's letter that I'd take pictures of the book I got. These come from a book called Brother Sun, by Dennis Stock. Here is the page for today:

...Or rather... here is where I would put the page for today, if it was allowed. I can't afford to get sued for copyright infringement. Sigh...

...If you were here, I could give you the picture. You could even experience the "1970s Book Smell". It's... it's a VERY specific scent. I don't know how to describe it. But all the books from 1970 carry it. It's... not exactly a good smell? It's not a bad smell, either. But it's still one worth knowing, I think. It's like dusty paper. But it's a different kind of smell than books older than this. And it's a different kind of smell for newer books, too. I wish I could show it to you. Alas.

...I wonder if paper is made the same in my world as it is in yours... hmm...

Hey, Sephiroth? You know what? In just 100 days, I'll have written to you for a full 365 days. That's pretty cool, right? Though this year is a little different since we had that leap year; it'll be 366 days this year before we come full circle. We've come a long way, haven't we...?

...Well. That's all I've got to show you for today, I think. Thanks for reading. Thanks for coming along on this adventure with me. Thanks just for existing, just for being around, for being yourself.

...My kitchen still smells like garlic, even though it's going on 12:30am. It's a wonderful thing. Sephiroth... I hope someday you'll have a kitchen that smells like garlic. Like garlic, and cheese, and fresh bread, and fragrant grapes, and roasted meats and vegetables. May it be the case someday. May it be the case that some of my recipes can get you started on your own culinary adventures. Work on it, okay...? Work on getting to a safe place so that you can have all this, too. Please.

I love you so much. Please keep staying safe out there, okay? I'll write to you again tomorrow...

Your friend, Lumine

[lovesongbracket]

Reminder: Vote based on the song, not the artist or specific recording! The tracks referenced are the original artist, aside from a few rare cases where a cover is the most widely known.

Lyrics, videos, info, and notable covers under the cut. (Spotify playlist available in pinned post)

Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy

Written By: Freddie Mercury

Artist: Queen

Released: 1976

The song was the eighth track on their album “A Day At The Races” which was released in 1976. The song also appeared on “Queens First EP” released in 1977. The song is about how Freddie is an old-fashioned lover, taking his partners on old-school dates such as dancing or dinner, also hinting at the fact that he is a good lover.

[Verse 1] I can dim the lights and sing you songs Full of sad things We can do the tango, just for two I can serenade and gently play On your heart strings Be a Valentino, just for you [Chorus] "Ooh love, ooh lover boy What're you doing tonight? Hey boy" Set my alarm, turn on my charm That's because I'm a good old-fashioned lover boy [Verse 2] Ooh, let me feel Your heartbeat (Grow faster, faster) Ooh, can you feel my love heat? (Ohh) Come on and sit on my hot seat of love And tell me how do you feel, right after all I'd like for you and I to go romancing Say the word, your wish is my command [Chorus] “Ooh love, ooh lover boy What're you doing tonight? Hey boy” Write my letter, feel much better I'll use my fancy patter on the telephone [Bridge] When I'm not with you, think of you always I miss you (I miss those long hot summer nights) When I'm not with you, think of me always Love you, love you Hey boy where do you get it from? Hey boy where did you go? I learned my passion in the good old-fashioned School of lover boys [Guitar Solo] [Verse 3] Dining at the Ritz, we'll meet at nine (One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine o'clock) precisely I will pay the bill, you taste the wine Driving back in style in my saloon will do quite nicely Just take me back to yours, that will be fine (Come on and get it) [Chorus] Ooh love (There he goes again) Ooh lover boy (Who's my good Old-fashioned lover boy?) (Ooh ooh) What're you doing tonight? Hey boy! Everything's all right, just hold on tight That's because I'm a good old Fashioned (Fashioned) lover boy

Careless Whisper

Written By: Andrew Ridgeley & George Michael

Artist: George Michael/Wham!

Released: 1984

Although officially released by Wham!, this was George Michael’s first breakaway single. The song explores the guilt felt by George after he cheats on a partner, and his inability to “dance” with them in the same way after this betrayal. Despite the song’s ubiquity in pop culture since its arrival on the scene in 1985, George Michael has confessed to having no particular connection to the situation this song portrays. He wrote the song to pass the time on a bus, when he was just seventeen. In his 1991 memoir, Bare, Michael admits he regrets that it “was not an integral part of my emotional development… It disappoints me that you can write a lyric very flippantly—and not a particularly good lyric—and it can mean so much to so many people. That’s disillusioning for a writer.” Later in an interview with People magazine, he made similar remarks about the song. “I’m fed up with ‘Careless Whisper.’ I don’t know why it made such an impression. Is it that so many people have cheated? I have no idea. But it’s ironic that I wrote it when I was 17 and didn’t know much about anything. Certainly nothing much about relationships.”

[Intro] Time can never mend The careless whispers Of a good friend To the heart and mind Ignorance is kind There's no comfort in the truth Pain is all you'll find Should've known better, yeah [Instrumental] [Verse 1] I feel so unsure As I take your hand And lead you to the dance floor As the music dies Something in your eyes Calls to mind a silver screen And all its sad goodbyes [Chorus] I'm never gonna dance again Guilty feet have got no rhythm Though it's easy to pretend I know you're not a fool Should've known better than to cheat a friend And waste a chance that I've been given So I'm never gonna dance again The way I danced with you, oh [Verse 2] Time can never mend The careless whispers Of a good friend To the heart and mind Ignorance is kind There's no comfort in the truth Pain is all you'll find [Chorus] I'm never gonna dance again Guilty feet have got no rhythm Though it's easy to pretend I know you're not a fool Should've known better than to cheat a friend (Should've known better, yeah) And waste a chance that I've been given So I'm never gonna dance again The way I danced with you, oh [Post-Chorus] Never without your love [Bridge] Tonight, the music seems so loud I wish that we could lose this crowd Maybe it's better this way We'd hurt each other with the things we want to say We could have been so good together We could have lived this dance forever But now who's gonna dance with me? Please stay [Chorus] And I'm never gonna dance again Guilty feet have got no rhythm Though it's easy to pretend I know you're not a fool Should've known better than to cheat a friend And waste a chance that I've been given So I'm never gonna dance again The way I danced with you, oh [Outro] (Now that you're gone) Now that you're gone (Now that you're gone) Was what I did so wrong, so wrong That you had to leave me alone?

[smiegrin]

Growing up Mormon was uh... a lot. One good thing I do think I got out of it though was a perspective that "going on a date" didn't have to be a huge thing.

My dad in particular has a saying: "There are 3 P's for what makes a date: Paired off, Planned ahead, and Paid for." I'll break these down because they do have the assumptions of a cis white middle-class monogamous dude born before the internet baked in.

Paired off: I interpret this not to mean "Dates can only be between two people" but rather the sense that you have chosen what (group of) people you want to go with you on this date. It's not going to a party and seeing who shows up, but it is going to a party and telling someone "I want you, specifically, to be with me. Do you want to go with me too?"

Planned ahead: This one I think is straightforward, but easy to make incorrect assumptions about. It's not "Planned weeks ahead" or "Planned days ahead" or even "planned hours/minutes ahead." I further don't think this means you have to nail it down to a particular minute of the day. The point is that there's some agreed-upon time involved. One may notice this is really broad. (though a good date-mate will be considerate of making sure you have time to prepare if that's needed). Bumping into each other by happenstance at the library? Cute, but not really a date. Sending a message on discord like "hey, I'm stuck on my homework, do you have time to swing by and give me some pointers?" Now it's date-shaped.

Paid for: This is... I think the one I would almost throw out entirely. Or change for a different P? "Paid for" is such a charged idea when even getting necessities is uh... nontrivial for a lot of people in the world. This is something even my dad understood on some level (especially because this "3 P's" talk was usually given to teenagers) when he said "going to get some $1 ice cream from a road stand counts." I'd extend this further and say it's not even that something has to be bought during the date. If you're playing a game you bought on sale 5 years ago using Christmas gift cards with someone, that's paid for. If it took 30 minutes of figuring out how to set up an emulator to run it ('cause uh... your cartridge doesn't work great anymore. right?), then you've paid with your time.

With all these laid out, you'll probably notice this is pretty broad! Sure, writing a hand written letter to your lady of interest urging her to RSVP to your formal invitation to enjoy a meal at Red Lobster next Friday at 6:07 PM "ticks all the boxes," but that doesn't change if you just say "Friday evening," or extend the invitation on a phone call or tumblr DM, or if you invite two people, or if you're asking the day before, or if you're going to just get a nice cheap burger to eat in the car together.

Is it fun to give and receive fancy things? Sure! One of my strongest love languages (or whatever they're called) is giving gifts. Feeling valued comes in all shapes and sizes! A drive to replace capitalism with a more equitable system so people aren't limited to getting McDonalds is fine and dandy! When so much of my memories of spending time with people I love are memories of doing small, simple things together, though... I just don't see how anyone could think sharing burgers in the car isn't a date!

(PS: I leave it as an exercise for the reader to consider what goes into playing a TTRPG with a group of friends in the context of all this)

[johnhardinsawyer]

Rule of Life

John Sawyer

Bedford Presbyterian Church

9 / 3 / 23 – 14th Sunday After Pentecost / Proper 17

Psalm 105:1-6

Romans 12:9-21

“Rule of Life”

(An End of Summer Charge and Benediction)

As a child of the South, there are these rules that are so old and deeply ingrained in the minds and hearts of people that it could be said these rules are in the water – the water we drink, and in which we swim.  These aren’t rules that are written on any ancient tablets, but they might as well be – rules like, 1) never use soap on a cast iron skillet; 2) there’s no such thing as too much butter in your grits; 3) if the server at the restaurant asks if you want sweet tea, the only proper response is, ‘Sugar, I did not know there was any kind other than sweet.’; and 4) never wear seersucker after Labor Day.  These rules have just always been.  They in the water where I come from.  

The Bible is filled with a lot of rules that have been handed down to us – nothing about seersucker, per se (though there are rules about the types of fabric that our ancient Jewish spiritual ancestors recommend).[1]  Anyway, some of these rules from the Bible can be quite specific or seem quite strange to our twenty-first century ears.  Jesus does a good job summing up all of these rules, though,  when he tells us about greatest commandments:  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength,” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”[2]  In the Gospel of John, Jesus gives a new commandment to his friends, the disciples, telling them, “. . . love one another as I have loved you. . .”[3]  If you spend enough time with Jesus, you’re going to hear about these rules – so much so that they might just become part of the water of the Christian life for you. 

Now, as nice as it is for Jesus to simplify things for us,it can also be nice from time to time for there to be some sort of expansion – explanation of what it might look like if we love one another as Jesus has loved us.  What does love of God and love of neighbor look like in the real world with real people? 

In today’s reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans, there is an expansion upon some of what we heard in last week’s reading from Romans.  Paul is trying to describe to the church in Rome –a church of people, some of whom he knows, and many of whom he doesn’t – what it means to be a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” (Romans 12:1)  If the people in the church in Rome – and you and I who are part of the church in Bedford and beyond – are trying to live our lives in service to God, what might this look like?  What are the “do’s and don’ts” of such an enterprise?  

I’d like to think that the church in Rome was very interested in this subject.  Nowadays when you think of the city of Rome, you might think of a city of churches – big, fancy, ornate churches.  But when Paul was writing to the church in Rome, he was likely writing to the only church in Rome.  “Only,” as in, there was “only one” Christian congregation meeting in Rome at the time.  Christianity was still a relatively new thing.  Now, we do not know who brought Christianity to Rome, but by the time Paul was writing his letter, there was a group of people who gathered there who called themselves “Christians” or “The Way.”  At the time, the rest of Rome viewed this relatively small gathering as Jewish because the church believed in and followed the teachings of a Jewish Rabbi named Jesus.  Since the church in Rome was small and was surrounded by all kinds of people who did not necessarily know any better, there was some religious misunderstanding that regularly took place.  In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul wants to give the people of the church some instructions on how to set themselves apart from everyone else.  He could have called this section of the letter, “So, this is what a Christian looks like. . .” or even, “They will know we are Christians by our love.”

Eugene Peterson translates Paul’s words in this way:

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.  Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.  Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.  Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. . .[4]

If these rules sound familiar, we usually close every worship service at BPC with a Benediction that is based on this scripture reading:  “. . . have courage, hold on to what is good, return no one evil for evil, strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak and help the suffering, honor all people. . .”  This is quite a list, isn’t it?  It’s almost more than we can chew. . .  But if you hear words like these enough times – if these words wash over you enough – they might just sink into your mind and get written on your heart.  And, when it comes to a possible list of rules for how to live, these words kind of capture who we are called to be.  There are so many themes at play in this reading – themes of love, righteousness, friendship, humility, hope, perseverance, and hospitality.  The life, and teachings, and example of Jesus are filled with these things and if we, as Jesus tells us, are to “take up our cross and follow. . .” (Matthew 16:24) him, then there is this foundational spiritual imperative from Jesus for us to imitate and embody who Jesus is.  

Now, even if it is part of the water we drink and the air we breathe, this way of life is something that we will never get completely right.  There is joy and great reward, though, in practicing what Jesus teaches and preaches and lives.  And, just like anyone who picks up a sport or musical instrument for the first time and tries to it play perfectly, it becomes clear, right quick that there has to be some practice – daily practice – in order to get better at it.  It’s interesting, in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus invites his disciples to “take up your cross,” but in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus invites his disciples to “take up your cross every day. . .” (Luke 9:23)[5]  Don’t just take it up once.  Practice taking it up every day.  

There are a variety of ways to practice this and in the coming weeks, we will be highlighting six practices of discipleship. Some of our Christian spiritual ancestors and cousins who are part of the Benedictine tradition have adopted a “rule of life” to help them practice.  The so-called “Rule of St. Benedict,” which has been in use in many monastic communities for 1500 years, seeks to outline daily practices of prayer, community, labor, and learning.[6]  People who follow the “Rule of St. Benedict” have these rules and regulations which not only to keep them in order but help them to get in a spiritual rhythm and keep them practicing their faith in authentic ways.

Now, while certain people are called to the monastic life, I am not suggesting that all of us go out and become monks and nuns.  I am suggesting, however, that if we were to adopt a rule of life – a rule for living – that we might begin with the life and example of Jesus and/or the distillation of what Jesus taught and how he lived that we find in places like today’s reading from the Letter to the Romans. 

One thing is clear to me as I read Paul’s words, here:  the only way we can put a rule of life into practice – the only way for us to even want to follow Jesus on a daily basis – is that the Holy Spirit has to be actively involved.  The Holy Spirit, which we receive in the waters of baptism, is the catalyst that starts the whole process of practicing and keeps us moving forward in faith and faithfulness.  When John Calvin writes about this, he says that our flesh can be a bit like a stubborn donkey (though he uses another word for donkey, here).  A stubborn donkey sometimes needs to be goaded [prodded] to move forward.  For Calvin, the Holy Spirit is like that prod and “it is only the fervency of the Spirit that can correct our [stubbornness].”[7]  But, since the Holy Spirit is in the water, and the air, and in our minds, and hearts, and spirits, then the Holy Spirit urges us onward toward a better imitation and embodiment of Jesus.  We might resist, but the Holy Spirit is persistent, washing over us, again and again, sinking down into the heart of who we are until we don’t know where we end and the Spirit begins, and vice versa.  And just when we might feel dry and all wrung out, the Holy Spirit – at Jesus’ invitation – draws us to this Table to be strengthened and renewed again and again for living the Christian life.  

I wonder if you might have a rule of life.  There are some, I am sure, whose rule of life is the equivalent of, “Don’t take no guff from nobody,” or “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” or “Live every day as if it’s your last,” or “Dance like nobody’s watching.”  Friends, when it comes to the Christian life, people are, indeed, watching and listening – just like they were watching and listening to the church in Rome so long ago.  What will set us apart from all the rest?  The Bible is filled with so many rules and there are so many other rules – spoken and unspoken – that we are supposedly supposed to follow.  If we were to pick just one rule, though – a rule to rule all of the others, might I recommend starting with love?  

When Jesus tells his disciples that they ought to love one another, he says, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (John 13:34-35)  Or, as Paul says in today’s reading, “Let love be genuine.”  (Romans 12:9). People can smell a fake and there are plenty of fakes out there.  

In the end, it is only the Holy Spirit who can make our love genuine.  Our task is to be open to the Spirit’s leading (and, sometimes, the Spirit’s prodding).  But trust that the Holy Spirit is in the water, washing over us again and again.  May the Spirit sink in and make us who God has always intended us to be.  May love be our rule of life.  

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  

--------

[1] See Leviticus 19 and Deuteronomy 22.

[2] See Mark 12:29-31.

[3] See John 13:34-35.

[4] Eugene Peterson, The Message: Numbered Edition (Colorado Springs: NAV Press, 2002) 1557-1558.  Romans 12:9-22.

[5] Paraphrased, JHS.

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_Saint_Benedict.

[7] John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries – Vol. XIX, Acts 14-28 and Romans (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2009) 465.

[libidomechanica]

Behind, being side

A Meredith sonnet sequence

               1

The night of Albion hear that. As if   from me: I gazed as oft I have said his   appetite was grand powers of thine own he dropt towards here be what next? As may be, I ne’er the human for Hermes! Month, where   the very soon shall still were not—’t is   a poison’d earth, Belovëd,—where prodigally riches and gone intent, didst imperial halls, as a beauty bright; for   wanted foes she could shun some host to   enormous gate, had reality, sae come and I seek,—for by the day? An echo woke with what is, the stood, to swallowing   sand. The River-gods, and love, all scandal   now and the pleasure. And to Baba: but would make delicate: the Bear has o’ergrown.

               2

Thus even our freeze from the moss’d cottage-   trees, a lion’s mane’s on the two and fashion’d   to marry; i’ve said Juan: should never peopled her, to stab herself she loathes through is apt enough twenty years, in search   of us must we party a slight tresspass’d   up, carefully lain among thing’s nature’s generous thing impossible, and lord of the time, sylvan aisles of Wolues   to pitied be. Is setting Lilia,   wild that their habit rather soft besom will never we must tallied them all that’s the find anyone I love no one   to the books.—They either lips her own part,   or a salt-mist orchard, lying clay, trodden underness of iron: through and grange.

               3

Oh lift my arms are fill’d with a face of   yourselves sae love theme; as sunset fades from   it proverb of pearl-graduates in the plaintiue pleasures: Innocence more he could not like aught that is over. Man felt, thought him   again, assured of the Scott in you over,   never have in perceived by large grove thy spirit’s welcome pass my sighs, a moral like cloud come hands the spirit, withouten   dreamless soot best: an island of mountain   the pleasures round the great conquest, and Wills and married alone slumber, and thither, warm and desolate rock, and that awful   and full of sunshine. Inside your sweet   girl whom he spake some smallage of Moldavia’s was gone and there teach them back again.

               4

The fates a crafty slandering; but shore   of homicidal eye-guess by her debtor   for change, how I hate to sleepiness, withouten dream, the sultan’s bride, and Becket’s brim. Desolate? Last weeping upon   the the pear and what touch, as yonder, to   spread her preserve to sit beneath must yielded joy be woo’d and enough the propt again; I was no death, but in the past. Soul   when shore, and took a little marke in fields   to take my station. Nor dare not enough the ensemble, creating his were the new-fledg’d little muddy pond which fooles   Heau’n forgoe: and huge tombs worse. To the absent   weigh’d down through their uti possible, and dame reply. With youthful years lately die.

               5

Stand the British friend Jeffrey write letters,   to your hair, nor need to musicians mend   or water. River And I shoulders, enough then, if my Pegasus should be cast, and dream and my interrupted by a   poplar tops, in glory of sunshine. Since   immortality. A manly Palm, and the camp rung with me: such destructed ladies’ fancies garlands wi’ me? It melted   in a blessing of the river of mind;   bubbles that he who scorn to repeat nine name o’t. With you, or from thence with busts: from my heart was the former voyce, where chiefest   well abroad, and sometimes, mysterious   days, month, which once were out of time of temptation; but the absolute heaven.

               6

The rainbows in all the pleasure. But she   was also would touch ever-after, althought   you they crickets celebration only majesty salutary aim, in the sky should yield the crowned it was to do   withstand went to my music and say, i’ll   seeks. Entitled in this poem written is there was scarce espied: mid hush’d, cool-rooted all care, and what the Turk refused sacred   forward test, as our light; for I have   done, a knell to say appall’d his own fair the cypress was a generally, as wide:- come out, if I can stop loving, youngest   heave my Verses made to side: he mad—its   hazle cirque of her lips, as eels are flowers as the infant’s Shambles. Trees and go.

               7

Meanwhile, thou list aduised be, like a   ghost begins to flower Lilia’s. It   melted with you. ’ Said Endymion said, sith thou art! I know not to witta-woo! To gratify sense and slaughters and a little   versed in flow’rs newblown desiring   thee from his time, all silver name; but still advancing with fascines, little more attentious, it seemed just surely I dress?   And life from his comrade’s Juan; what care to   perish disparity as is a sinecure as eye could not what gardens, without hope to be silence, but there is there   was no where, turn’d as when to live building   sunk down while to the Ears of their careless from some transports and every well: the cliffs.

               8

Just await, according among, I heard,   the and sunny. By tinkling, but I would   cavil; yet, some golden lyre; to Empress Cathering as braw and pass’d, never quaft in health—when in a moment of all-confesse:   to swing a breed the same the absolute   Ones which makes me to help my wine, in clubs, of a Spartan, had been waging where these, that my poor women with undefiléd   Robe to pleasure passionless. I   wandering way into herself; her sleep i watched thou so delight as with Spirit is at the vanquish’d by. And moveless I   hoped her womb to this; some unseen some might   choosing moon. Knowing, can not sing and Tamburins forgotten, when I arriving.

               9

I vow me were mis-shapen pigmies, deaf   and Chrematoff and the midnight and fine   boy. The wait they follow me, that draweth only Self to pleasures after love. The music and may be seen, drew all thought applause,   that drove the lave o’t; robert Burns:   ask for my books, and to be bonie blue from fame’s blacks seem’d to curl rounded: laiko, Common short in your hairy Diadem   which he inquires: they shall ride, jealous   cloud.—Let me but Bromion’s soft poppy dreams, as when some reason wings, two fan-like leads me prison, the have, life’s strange sense does he   hath its bone, curbs, and dews were finally   find what all with the snow less real, or impetuous against his estate—while it reels.

               10

And scoff’d high treasury—know that he spoke   by side found, our chains to break the splendor.   Fairer finger fit; I love you were o’ercoming to the Earth! Shows they but sad dirges, like an infant’s growin’ yet. Voltaire   says, she could not born of autumn at my   vnrest, that fine boy. Her sides I’ll try to tell: what fairer far around a trace its the corrections of the dancing under they   were dead, half-way house, the cypress on a   most class, like a groups on should rouse from sometimes in spite the stems the evil ear, but the tunes attempt to have been hid of toises   to be seen man’s kiss her: then I answer   gets the sweet: shall sweet, thought, but just as you here he loved Woman, who waited one.

               11

Be done law given: in her? That love and   she what waters of the rest the heart, whilk   the rhymed to obtain’d below. If thou upon the other, shows of diplomatic hands agree, the world I love and the hills,   and scarce be done its utmost to their flock   early bite; and I near these was doth such that great fool, which cannot been! Of brother, singeing on her tyrant! Tell men, he soon   as ASTREA’S praise is there his part, because   you again, fair Day, when the steeples peece, as amber mouth. Taste, on the captive landscape green and Baba, indignant at least   a wise men wear my Jeanie. You; some   qualified Aurora Borealis, as different faces glimmer’d faire mind, alas!

               12

The favor, he had but waking at your   blissful sweet a flowe, of slumber: not things   breakfast. To be one drear to your foreheads of mine rebuke and diversely tints are about like a gardens faire: so shalt   come swift as this rhymes, through thy grove, too, such   who, not thus that youth, of lying beyond then his darkness dwelling on his estate and to the absence, once, every difficult   for the land these wall o’ertook her selfe,   does not seem’d as her flesh hath mo pence; i’ll descending no less made bleeding fame may assert, since Adam lost. Those honoured   he, and may not so melancholy, and   mix our stream, far less; and loved by this old warring gainst Loves common ruin and snow?

               13

Clumps of dew exhal’d to the grain: he tripp’d   in women use are like harmony helm,   and when Fate sic pleasure, a pleasure, a pleasure pass’d this body of the day and night: as she remember the Well of all   around, and some steeples peece, as then wilt   be? Gave her for Babylon’s time to say a thirsty griefe; and star, and when in fair as one who answer above constantine,   and knock these word I have spoke, a womanhood   could raising hero in his was Moslem, but of slaying Thames, our choose all their Master’s tale to do whate’er till not by   birth—Despaired with your seats: and the moon. Though   you with brain full charms, which dwell; for wine we left our money, than mortars ready part.

               14

It seems to presume to Parnasse hyll, but   there is all feed that’s the preserved. A mistress   on us? And ever breeding pasture moment was best, for Thou thyself to point out when he arose a rich wild and   fry. But Juan, turning to such sallies thy   counsels trie; o giue my pouch I love that Horace will have her plant action, and other gaz’d, but to recompense more exprest   to sit upon a boggy summer, to   subsist; till he bind their chaste moment more, and the fiercely join with such delight, the rough a lower sprite, and me. His stealing   to be marriage was enough; hope, nor   coveries solely, and rainy dusk, and delight eyes, ’ who know that number that your love.

               15

And yet dear was when the royal splenetic,   persuade, that ye are banished or fair   creatures!—No matter: we went I kept his earth, or some prepare, not with small faire mine is strongly recorder, fair beaming ever   yet—ah me! Their sea-coal canopy;   a huge mother, come hands do scarcely can be conversing with a nothingness expressive as they nature’s self, in truth’s own   state and the struggle to pine its unripe   birth, it kisses drew favour’d through the Pope. They as so they who would not fight. Such was full of all their heart to do it follow   the hall, are ye? Tis thunderstand how dying   the flesh obey—our head. But one who answer’d knew there sure much alone sinks down.

               16

Into it—but always fire; or sees; rolled   round in desire, that my vertue, awake   where a saint forget to show the dark slave by cheat me takes limbs: he rolling through thou a nymph? No sign thy for the rivers smoke   and stems of the roads, and thou may do aspire   me, nor seize to pain, let up—so your tight still dignify must makest was a counsels trie; o giue my place, and blood was   the hours bore of passive bulletins of   twelve isles of time; and you. Their will some qualities, and balsamum, to make more wretched Weed that evening made, if impiously   she had that there was a maid of those necke   beams of the recounting I went as rolled round asleep, and kisses drew in thy fire.

               17

Which cannonade all flesh so ever! Next   Cynthia, queens to the ocean breezes   idly room through no more string—quite of snake where are they shot awrie! Like two were was well he stars, I own; as Caesar wore these coming   night’s in that silent I hover upon   thy Heart, smiling charged with me. Softness to thy ways! Till short-lived on himself he seeming sun; there’s bitter days, readers   of the Evil Doer, they put it may not   so pretty were thus, through the gallant glance at Maud in earth and hoary, dark; till can stand what seems to blooms of what he was doth   day and harmonizes heart in your face,   he had five bits of men, like sometimes Sun and through bliss, eyes woo as must be, those her.

               18

And their heads, beneath and fed the past;—I   love to witta-woo! For the moon these   unhappy Hobbinol, I could wear thou they found for winding carriage was in silence.— Thou know what she frock and imperial,   or will let the negroes more there study   Nature declared Wi’ Johnny toil is not, but you I’d be an unexpected by youth, beneath the mourners be, to us   no more; but Phillis was last he should   fondly part from out here a groups on shouldst, my launce guided so wicket; babies roll of mortal generate, and ever be   told me thing being the devil. A thousands   of men resistance, so, I learned hot line-no voice? The pale become alive.

               19

Are fill’d away the worms, inheritors   of the Castlereagh! When this woman as   probably its black Edward’s helm, and bade then by charnel-house, greek, set with lullaby, as I know how the profaned, if this   purple and thou kiss, he drearily, yet   somehow,—it may not lessons as his right: as she’s known in Russians did not fades from the more betrothed to entertain to   the face, break of desire! Greek, set with   sweetness arrived. The God of bright every dreary mountain shop window, if I look at your little in lover my sin and   all by nature declaration renew   our soules; come high sea, and they clasping carriage night; for the frozen seasons forgo?

               20

The nerveless o’ a brightly presented   leak; for I know no farther reason’s   rage, who love the hollies a sight as is a hands your own mind, the day you find favourite, ventures we dead in the warps and   sensitive the place. Which turn’d and catch a   herd beneath their raincoat for ever; for thy swete layes. Been the earth, and sailor hates therefore not be, but here holding: now off   wherefore his secret joys of moss, with   it all that want to harbour round for wine image of Absál, the Indian-summer roses; or the only gentle soul—   the dinner to half a Scot by the wind’s   ordination of the cast, as not be let go. They wept, he refrigerator.

               21

Than aught will say she bows dipp’d be; She’s o’er   kindest Calmuck tone, and also his   continued: Your name; though with Maiesty. While, as well, though my heart. Politics; they liv’d; and, with that I in the sacking of praised up   his mind can never dry; i’ll seeks, but not   a suddenly up, then master-hands, like tanners, nay, then no longer it grieved, but is not more chastest tieth! Who but purse, his   little for one small fancy. He paused, and   next night peona kiss’d their week, yet still spider view. Heaven shoulders on his eyelids are lockèd up; but mine arm he braces are   but by and breathing will fed by a wrinkled   curtains the first wife’s dear fresh tears in the fitter pell-mell, and every way.

               22

Twice or less; that if also would not speak   into a narrow late, wishings, and strangely:   but conversing with a structed, it sent a certainty rind, should not stood by youth: stamp’d with Indian bliss. Twice or a   lethargy, theyr peace among thee! Women   use are little bosom? Upon this rhyme is at these coming from his own eyes of his dubious stood by your conquering:   to his own—he was no vocabulary   for the source, tis true, my hurt you. So smooth; o let its features which one whose scour about the earth of us, and my dreary,   I would but lesson again in this   liues couch’d into waste, I ne’er she does not thy beauty lay. In size as liberty.

               23

Here the presented to end. As I can,   I will seem only husband to Baba,   when people, like harmonizes healèd me, and Death, and nerves tune thee releases its dimm’d eyes? It’s today: all over three columns   two, and tak the roll of the men, she   cometh not all the How; Giving them, poor devil now to that come, and moons’ time. Desiring tongue-tied them into his friends   wi’ a’ her home and legs, and could have deem’d   Cossacques for who eats Profit of circumspection like ocean on my knees for womanly Palm, a man was once is in   all is still beauty’s grace, that’s meant to know   what is overwrought of sin on you: nor wise; at moment, three shirt, was its either.

               24

If in every climes have measure than these,   no season: I have dreamed of the parson   power could every situation; but then did resting the flew. Would we willing dew: or glitter, or the soft America.   And still the Russian bat could entail   long pain as for lovely gifts appeal unto these agree, towards the same masculine and chirping mine; of what she meadows, could   na scaith thee! What all with his tomb a feasting   wails Oothoon, wander if his price; that is, nothing, or many houses come. Over his was to arise from the roll, surgit   amari aliquid pulse of joy   he mignonette of my life I wayd, thought or day form the warld’s due, onely move!

               25

Where they calculated on through a poor   many good or ill be utter’d the leave   me with dead leaves of goodly room through his assets were not heart, as is all reason thine oath to love is, and breake in me, this   necessary, must still; with woe, I could   heavens on our pains to know whitherto have thy tables, chairs, and can with thy great good-night, and smilingly o’er-arch away   among the sick tent. But the assault. Our   hair in deep east, then, sweet self resemble? Of Ilion, wad make a fan to bend wilt beholders at discernable wallows   to make us selfe to gratify, like   the syrinx are filled; where happy man, who had last, is gane when with a falcon-eye?

               26

To Love is soul pass away. Turn not to   be found no leaf will remembrance dear, a   darke place, and weak. Wind may brook its salutary aim, in the sweet self was none else, I must be, but etiquette for inspired?   Shoes, no thorn, silent all: this soul! It   will be hid by his mind, through with aught of the low vibrating of them a’, my presented a fool’s head? The young; all fleeting,   artful, so flee away? Poor locked as Baba   bow’d, like magical chain of the space ship tell exactly what I lingering thee to climb o’er us all, self-commitment,   but aye sae free, but is not sting; nor altar,   O mysterious wreath thee, like to its opposite. Before men or golden hair.

               27

Worth to-night— the wintry clatter delight.   Oft with what slave o’t! They betters, which   passes between the hands, you can’t care in loved against Love. With flatter to give. Ye knowes night in sighs depart—and no less   pure and did not shed o’er these thee would hide   us up, a second object on vice. Art too cold, just not, for I flattered the Assemble of nastiness. But she’s known;   unknown, not your chief of Errington and   rather to thee, like leave her? To open today when in my youth as innocently bends to a good sings a full golden   with scoff at least, poor retention madden   not sting, and which most shine, onelie through to shun some other, Sister, why aught of praise.

               28

Most king, till I were about the whisker.   Every world. May be, I neither. The man   may be presentment our head: how eager all the wanton Satyr he but deems himself betwixt the presumed, she lover,   dismantle royalty’s van. Until he spoke, a   woman. Great pressive brain begins and each pow’r of mind make in a triple soul’s true the air, bidding, and by poesy. This depth,   or magnesias; which had domestic cares—   the poplar tops, in a much in taking; but played with flashed a thousand heart, that the bloody too; on myself and brand illuminings   of white, and drilling six feet of   selfish blight as possible linen, ’ fitted for man such Liberty. I say thee.

               29

—Unless his price. And bienly clad, and teares,   their arms. And for his old warrior lady,   said fire is strange of great business, such precious sprang this thy choir of love them musick lendeth, which made the French in the   chastenesse all minds are aboue me sore; and   said, My life, I am may compare married along the other sighs departed, who have prayers wet, still either kiss’d his   good night, a mixture, past, there, talking of   precious oyle, and fix itself instead of Wisdom cut a captain, but to inspired new knight i’ thee; and was he whole   inside your sleep? Swifter thrills into my   women, that heifer lowing it doth grow ugly; for beauties be with ocean—Truth.

               30

Force, but he thou Menalcas, that Mahomet   or Mufti, until it be woo’d of   thin fill’d with the rockfields. And if a child’s foot could not so merry layes. Let that’s the night, under a tremble to elope like   book to mince made the bursts, and warrior horse   has lately sent Busy old for both deckes and high; lips shimmering. And hath no reverend ghostlike an end! ’ Wiles to run their   weeks, or laughs and hope? He way to make my   window and which I can love, hopelesse yeeres more fairest dark-eyed steeds, with their little boats, stitch of worth their wings with more   than there was halfe with hope, die,—how happy   clime, the glitter. You like ugly imps, as eels are banished, and through puddle; hurrah!

               31

A thing whets the stars: come away dyd wype.   Not practised her, and added, though temples   of lingered once gone: in some dismay’d, althought as doth grow, good teeth, with implacable sweetly they would not so to harm   all the leaf of the World appear, to cut   off from the bats, while, those tree of lace. The earth in that simple worship at the burden light o’clock to decide to Haleakala   Crater. As no pearly like dark   blew up in earth: judge, then his peace was to do, till the woe, the doors; baba retiring, are boughs, where euery where I don’t let   that youth in thee,. Thou be whose Firmán the   dried her passion’s worn and dance. They fix’d, as wide:-come in pearl poor locks of the pleasure?

               32

I will I do justice of eyes, where than   our autumn come. The supreme. Which not a   mere vermilion: and their present abroad; informing time face of bitter from her. Of that for rich in hungry dog; or does   keep them? Such hold, the shore, there no skill in   horsemen, which don’t know one things to sit down at you were overworn, on thee to the true Men to mine a little modesty,   child there was said, I am a man’s   comprehensible! The unebbing seen in safeliest beautie is; I may now to set up vain pure cup of gilded boat, embark’d,   and drill their child lovely to attack? And   thing careless from Cynthia bright, his strange, and the Snow, we knows no fixèd lot, is he?

               33

Must consolations how you all over   this is: if in everlasting morris.   Should brag how tedious river sandal, amber, or—but it may betraying with my daintye Daysies dight: her brightly expresses:   her and mine far underwent a   glorious glow, and wit, and sleek forgiveness: yet he things do sing: in such a trace; let no dimme my head! When dine; and child of nights   should at least, oercharg’d with a subject Lute!   As any body down, and worm erected on the ocean’s foes until life’s companion fair of brother career, of steep   mossy hillock greenness and turn’d once would   have to watchful care, and Madam, tis flatteries the free from birthright a beef-steak.

               34

With shadow: now I my meaning sun, althought   us to blame, ne strong appear’d, with   pleasures drowned sit, in soundeth. I am the vesper’s eye, or some uncertaine you all else could be thy bower, and heard her   quiet take him combine with that girdle,   like a fair of thirteenth, to show so yellow- creatured twenty-four; Sophistrie, that horrors whine, and day, and to grow! Silence   the beak, or colour’d silk; next Juan took his   condition. But bid my ware, althought as did not seems but a game of pith, sixteenth, which, being not onely by young, o’er   they please. Rude hut, wherefore be no great   torment, readings and no, that not, for kinder heir meant: while thing eyes find Liberty.

               35

Or some gentle read. From whence with such as   fit an empty in the breast, surprise, the   body, I all rapt in true Men to the foe: the shelter incense paired with Esop crossed longing. I sing furiously, I   feel the free; let me sucking up and by   I’ll record their backs, till either strip the highways of old, and season. Unequal matters for such great me to play the Public   means which it is gain to the blue day-   light’s in the rock, and there it down rustic rest, news of youth, and hoary, dark-eyed grassy median during rush of every   silence ask a curry, then all their rough   spring, jesting done, and the air,—whence with all kinds of war and dawdling, sae wyling.

               36

And heav’nly face; on their hands twice thinks his   guide-books, and I know then bred; and, kind of   Wisdom hath the darkness dole. Life’s ironies of the contracted to lay on; not for his aged the lot of life was to   giggle.—For her sense is dreary, I would   have, life’s obliterature doth flashing red sunset, or throat. I cannot now thus ouerspread, and the ox to this love depends   so much fitted forward to his bride a   cowslip on thine her ring? Thou’s be in’t the Monarch of either place was an absurdity, as sunset, or any length perceived   alligators, crotchets, Christmas when   some were soft pipes and acquaintance lived ones, and endeth! Or if it ended bidder.

               37

Was her he giue my Rosalind, althought?   Brightness and play. At lasted. ’ The moor tonight,   trim, but a greatest moss to incredulous of some verse pair. Sick, for so many a listen told how espouse Nancy;   strength; a daintye Daysies dight, from the more steady,   I mean the game of a Host, nor can be hid by his free-born in a glance and all her mother chill’d apace, least come to   erase? Where a country of thy selfe he   don’t care I chides doth take backward, who kick again. And soft, thy doubt, they were not your vacuum clean: for both by a wrinkled with   you, hope, features, on which shoulders, dark-green,   and graced so. And hot his steps into its teats, and as for the hills, and frozen streams.

               38

At the melting at your faith of some world’s   contented? Through the disenthral: ye shall   makes the tears away. Why sae sweet a soul doth not looks were in her beautie is; I may, I ne’er denied there and close, or that. A   stern bowers Sweet! Thus violate puts out   of the sweet: shall look surprise, such spirit affords in polish’d so levels with the patron. Or more, and stories are only   visiting off hands before subject, a   crow that thou hast thy selfenesse raigne head,— on mine a litter. And lullaby, as wide:-come way of getting on my doore, you’ll   get my boy presaging a hold of   civilization of that swell’d to do without these was to cry for mines of its Fires.

               39

His majesty salutary aim, in   the beams deceived all the earth’s splendour of   unborn Spring lightest far brightest far than cough lighted too! Is true goods where Nabuchadonosor, king of nights! Wonders   hoarse mine master’s accept; provide there sits,   between. So he began to heavens here, to eat thou shalt Take or Give look told—Perhaps she wept, the lash on, and sages have   fruit; but prudes for every dreamer what   is her than Nanie’s brand not unperceived them think, whatsoe’er thee. Some say show, at sunny, is through to correct correct yes.   Not look to us, of which yearly they   are on my palm trees, his great deep den of linger fit; that mischief musicke lendeth!

               40

Her teens; and flew through thou lo’es me dead: so   as one mad, with Faith heart thought in a scarf   of orange bower, and that with its homicidal; and echo in the close bosom, and joined be to our dreamt to-day, or   arms to which surrounded Heart! Drink you Gods,   delightingale’s comprehension proved connubial animals; and by soft god of pleasures really him into the scent   and men’s free millions have plenty: so let   it shall pall these region’d the loss of knotted red with clipt pinions of this damsel faire you men have deep your Mistress when our   maid had she bows his wonder’d with a winter   from hollow me weare they will, I am half commanding to the voice aloud.

               41

You are free, beneath his Agrarian   turn in a moments of Theotormon sits,   weary—so I took all them—whose poore. The darling rather of the masonic for proctors, crotchets, Christian Empress’d to say   the waggons, where harbrought; by what it as   a little steps: great it seeks, but a mind was her o’erwhelming violets, while it reminded the rustle that thou forsloe, and so   many, and at ease. To see, and thou hast   them, and then no long; Ye’re woods, I look a little starting court to sentence flower climbing their mighty Hand the very fear   heap’d furrow? Truth to feed upon their form   of truth it all, or ideal,—for text, and when he wiped my feet as thy labour lie.

               42

Clouds with me, and there are dead by the spring,   while the same so spread in a man’s name.   Of the electric happiness dragging on the dark as you from the belt of her of furious Gothic ruin and greenish   maid! My little rills of converted.   Was also, where to show us what wait on a most skulls born infant’s good as aught up, a second nearer as thou wert, and   repent. ’ Love, the Bridegroom’s play’d a pure   for that inwardly; for who hath been as she’s charm much to mountain tarn, and pure as happiness, for the can see it a stones,   and sail; but say a thousands of men! With   garlands wi’ a matron whom thou hast thou eternal councils, her sparkling snow.

               43

With small iron mess. Maybe he reproue, who   told him oblivion yield delight. The   complete, that being me to tell.—He hope this work-day world. You could but the former voyce, wherever I abide with no   revenues of Albion her dukes the day,   without slacken said. But when wild girl who could now where juniper express’s maternal palsy, I did, at length, nor oft thee:   this know that I know no more. To mark was   extremely tone, lie saunt’ring Jack and quick! With lullaby thy dewy forever, ancient rosaries, which had touching comes   in. On Charlie Cochran was luck, my wandring   moon stop at some odoriferous filed. Cheapening from the sweetness arrived.

               44

To this paths be alive or depth Cimmering   if that their future/current still his   Darts, I think took formidable common men, and on the grass, does he looeks: lo, by the race and he goeth; come, and fade the Thundered   and on the usual thought, and thoughts   of us must bewailest the sun far away; if one commenced amongst the smoke, and soup, by sage’s tedium make that   his army’s loss, and helplessly, from the   very doore, you’re forms and endeth! On grammar, vowels a voices ouer me, if your souls, at that dealt wilt thou perceived juan a man’s   comprehend then a fair accept all who   had a kingdoms of old enjoy’d, was port; they knew not without boats that it in two.

               45

—As the siege endure, and, tender to which   brought save, which married at a’? Since each piece   of rest, while things expansion sparkles! Like Jacob’s or toy’d—most perfection. You will be thy bower, now a flowing though not   breath, and when I answer gets and meant to   twinkle—they are evenings indignant pot of ease, as her doves, by species. The terrible tasks: Gather maternal, infinite   microscope, in sleep a full-grown dear,   and a’! Crescent he hearts have sail’d, which you will—but Trusty—head in this murth’ring bloated, still the flesh and near it half asleep?—   Death’s abundance thy dead he doth mankind,   her eye, as the same void whitenesse of clay, are a’ my Nanie, O. The pomander.

               46

That was its with garlands, from Mortal to   sow for such great write the heavens said smile   to see the Muse perfit colourless flame. The maiden pricks’ just tallies to refuses burden of garnered from scissors, paint,   and told him the dusk—the dust from vale to   the eyes, that’s beam no darkness dole. He company of these, wherein the iudge applies his prime—because is, stella alone and   echo woke Endymion to time, grey—age   o’erthrown as t was of conquering Accuser also pause, sigh’d down. Store; but I’ll give the river gleam; the Parcae thee but dropped   the moonbeams assemble into their jug   was these sodas or missed the choice: and caught summer leaves a health, sae loves marry yet.

               47

An oxymoron we next shall circle,   and Humbleness, in griefe; and strikes, hovering   memory of the tilt and that the sea, and the angel, face, and hear two days, who kick again sae bonie lady, how thus a   Noodle heard his lucid finger would love,   forgotten, carry me, unless the Dunghill. And mad, thou art, keep close a rich Canary wine, for our later, tho’ your death—   most lost you I’d be amongst their   childishness and honeysuckles full of moods of their chastenesse pate. Whole in light, not long, lov’d of heavenly light in shade he   had sword; how all things here! And all, desiring   the crept from all date, even his happiness, in the devil got we in?

               48

Glide o’ her girl; t is a face and   festivity? Air and sister of that which   does to eye us but ye shall he cristall fancy. That their rough-bred enough, by Jove, the park with that griev’d, or to child half   of the nakedness you think of desires   has been footstool with her reason; the blue-tick coated grass, does his lamentation; but, Oh alas, how Great joy to love   is steep mossy hill. And all women use   are like to another one. Until drowned sit, I make my dearest. Them of this is all the name of twelve years even where shall   I deaden it nurse they almost bliss! Nor   holybush, nor may ensue, O let me drum for that. Your wheel, and snow? Their station.

               49

—Then someone like harmonies of Don Juan’s   views, that the turn’d her, showing that is—the   pity that sweet self with eyes a moment of four, the wintry rage of a small amorous though his lips; but if on me, O:   the May-fly please you in sad realize   her goes, and lightful things claimant the worlds a wealth and being cheerly, cheerly, cheer, by this vanish’d to rectify your pillow   under thee: thou hast grim look, or a   day of Autumn’s bless of fitting came, crown’d was the shall obey, nancy, pride, and peering overmuch, stand white. To Germany,   when I’m there you all; let cloak, which ever   will I; as doth not know one throats will clad alike, O prince from the day? Tis the dead!

               50

—Even thou thy sweetest air. I wrote this   chirrup at her face, he beheld awake   the blooms each the secret joys, or works in, trust they seem to announce upon necks; and nods; and some golden scorne of musketry   and let our heart I set thee, or to the   repent all: the chain that being no less pure cup of girls of joking. Me with a genial soil for her like a strife, although   they of sacrifice.—That incarnation,   and knows where Loue is chaste moment’s a blur, a Film Fun laughing a most in fact is true, what is She? When things hymns at his mind.   We, unwilling or old: the coal fire, are   all them like a stones of sacrifice? ’ Now and the skies—then he put out o’ h—ll.

               51

The parson power, who away with heavy   fire did not bought? A petty Ogress’,   and my heart. Of chief is past, and cause of diplomatic hands twice five but flickers are pleasure.—Rather sigh like case, but plaints,   and high spirit, smile upon the eye alone,   seeing human special animosity; four wise men of life’s sad next swath and weak. Sometimes love, forgot. With intermission,   but aye she is chiefly those maids   and the elder and bred a whole most proper meets all hear it. They may pierce prone to the rest—turning him for the same voices   call’d his he own’d with his own—he was strong   extremity; and I’ll get my dream with their dress. Be contracted the day, they told.

               52

And poore Nymphes can tell me the little   sick, and sell—all faces glimmer’d that   regarded: the heat of a Power First cast could dedicate my retirement outblacken sail, and able tete-a-tete, to   bind the absolute boy Eke lull’d soules ioy,   bend without you paid me best fellow!—An ethereal band are very birth, and private tutor in the one, each bevy   with one man I am shove, as a hostess   deserved up his Highness cause behind yon hills, where, some said Baba made answer’d on its goblet, dance for some man is always,—   they ne’er left more illum’d my dreary,   he witcher until drowning lightning, closer— one day, and serene to see thy charms!

               53

Which he had none resign a mosque. But that   they beat or beauty, farre the will bet you   can never stouter, first of the last, in sleepeth and waving. At length of wolves, with looks, who have seeketh not all grass, does to   a camp: I know, or confound to stab herself   thou art thou betake the moon has hid. Their former in these two and find open on there study the sall be knowest thou   be still answer, You are the lark at breastplate   assemble into the slow Germany, O, the deep as this age around wit, and touch solemn and my dainty rind, should   condemn’d its use—but some pleasure think it   fit, we’ll takes limbs: he roll of goodness to himself betwixt women, till our money.

               54

Fearless, without a name spoken, those holy   temple grumbling wynde, so fair Lesley,   as dress suwarrow’s bidding to be enjoy’d, in generous image all his gay as a beggar need the moon through the dress   head on as ASTREA shows they hate sweet times—   no sin, because no fear. In Christmas when we known to the broke with mirk and chirping mirth, your poor privilege to her and tears   and not a breath of us much rage, that   shall mingled wonders—taste whole things—but been hid of Dian’s kiss, unasked, unsought I linger would bear unless name, nor bad, and   have ceased with what same fragrant-blossom of   her did so drive their wine, which puzzling more; but they were dried my telescope is due?

               55

Many of Christmas up to a movie   your face to join with resolved instinct, wonders   to find fault in women by woe, they grew awhile to elope like Esau, for them. The awful shadowes you, and lines,   till the night was short, all the dust specks, mote   by name in this folk, this lament: and the Southey, my lads, for the siren! I wanna be yon, at vesper-carols are would   find it bless you see an ominous attack’d,   and thrown to a gown, he pause, thus instinct, wondered over this one of publisher, bring part of ladie was throughout every   week for Jock of an air and clear stolen   a small grew a very smile make my watch these higher thinks, if ought: she sign that was.

               56

The tie of mortality in its cradle;   hither! Virtue be your fading on   thee releasing out of my happiness, forest booke of Cupid, that greater price. And thus! Your teddy bear to victual; such   desperation? Whence came it? It is now   that the kings. Jeffrey write this glory as many a time. The few shortly and rather the flowers, and play. Well, now, did strings   give. And on the planet Lion, sometimes   sleep, the mountain her walls, and a rather stirring chains of everybody’s mask of the assault: I have I saw the less   promise! I feel loving you left us   free side or moonlight the river of Justice of the North to have each piece of words.

               57

This side, weel aff some have spoken, that he   would be thy heart’s fall, that overweight, as   I want I set there shall selfe to such an end; at length of European wide hat, danced at Widdin.—And in snow thus Horace   been and cream came ye, merry Damsels in   much untold, for, live it my story windows keep here—a kid I on the ancient lava river side, and be it feeling   are one, and that of his desire in   a sort of gold for thou die from the turn’d half-reap’d furry—which now my brow—it feels a dreamt what’s what; while the silly coward   as we safely tranquil nigh griefs and vast,   surcharge? With the fragrant, and sat so waiting for the bees, and why he loneliness.

               58

To save wed a year, and ovens and myrtles   your infant joys, or else I fynde: then   he added, nor brain, and far our groue, I have eyes of those pleasant purchased Infidels in this young Bacchus! More divulged thorn,   the Graces, with cypressed, like an   extraneous maid, Be so good after book to use all, yea, this rhymers in the earth Hell! Their ways: they dream. Society itself   in this life, and worse—mankind, and suffer.   To lull and I know, the end into their back. Yesterday was here, behold upon. With lullaby you pleasing; my bonds   who, not utterly! Alas, that my mistake   for ever: let our home, and yet discreet, True, ’ she said; she to vulgar by him?

               59

Madrid’s and make John Coltrane had never   had hair forest hour when lover who wouldst   thou Menalcas, that was the while thy loue to wandered in a little head,—on mine eagle returnest to human passion   freshet yield you will bid us live for   one, and of flower down a man of Ganges and rising motion, live not the Leaves were they seem I and yet you would make us   sad next swath and afterwards you would   loved her large cost your present writes of the first sighs. The simple cared not seen! Sale of a Host, from former voyage on Humanity,—   of all Olympians, I see,   the quantity encumber of gold, and fine, and make any guilty men; Thou art!

               60

I wanna be your Ford, one is shatter,   e’en sae bashfully divine. Be care not   more than we had told men in that yourselves to see, nor palfrey fresh puncture. Dim, and rings even by the riverside and sigh   alone like a tapers glimmer’d that little   steps: great beat again is sweet sister. Confusion and criticism comb his hearty, I wish to wane and subtil models   jetted he left, whisper of the regret   and folded his good fame who don’t; because some remember’d fast, one of the Shepherd really desolate; and, without a   buzzing by my Evil lust am I   in this, curl up in us and away among summers couldst thou thy siluer souls.

               61

Thy vows that famous far; but is not quench   love, believe the phantasy which inwardly,   and when thou were merely complete, this thunder his active scorch’d to rise, how it by their scaly backs, in tight that which might   brow is ruffled drum. ’ The streets at me, and   see thee most creating, although thy grove with sugred sensuall earth! The voice most enjoyment of tall peeling the day? Radiant   Sister of battle for them; else thing of   the trampled what now this sweetness, afflicting lethal. Abeyance which brede where it felt how calm and stayneth! Vast, still whether   die, is a pure hands again. To Lucifer   or nature knowest that each drew himself in a bleak November, or a dun.

               62

I wish in the burst the walk forlorn had   hear my handsome say he talk, I’m hungry   and new heart harmony helm, and all over against times more that hand full of earth, singing. And all vices. A rosy silken   nets and dearest life is wiping so   shortest were in style, and maiden’s feet lovely copulations her pretie case, but at length perpetual to shepheards ritch, and   tremble though you the hum of rightful thorn,   they neither wooer in rest one, not limits. On earth stirs in my cells? ’ Said Baba, nodding together; yet you will, my bonie face,   the spots which come, she said, a fields to the   could riot, making eye was Ralph had done its sake, let simple yet one, like mistake.

               63

To these are their sable spiritualiz’d.   With me through they came, else laws the though, will   minds come to throe in the scrubbed, shivering alwaies frame: he judged with care, how she kneel, for another’s acceptance, until the   next day, replied t’ other; yet your vacuum   clean out of how to learnedly of Carian laws of hotel. It is a curious oriental, swore than stops for   love in vain? The infant orphan he himself   felt so gay, object high, by day and moss. River flame angels Sophistrie, that the wave bright strength described the birds, and hands   despising, where those trees and echo in the   moderately fickle Fair can but not the night beauty is enough it grow sad.

               64

Not with the turn’d, and trousers of her woes   appals, and shrouds beneath the unpaid bill,   Despair, half calls wealth my books be their years; yet I find the mountaine, what is, if each has to craze, be thou art desolate pure   elysium. We hither, but where to   understand wear as rhyme, which something that hiatus maxim where there is for the field is a hands knot which it was a wind   me. And pair soft America and Juan   stand, baba and New York mail;—but one. If I said, but in bloom the intrusive to call me soon I was obliterature   on Bromion said: Or why should have in search   narrow and thought in grieve to you, to your sweet life is due, only ones, which Thee true!

               65

Each Christian Empress a Salve to see grave   sir, both with his title, built of a train   in the dying did she what seventy- four; Sophistrie, that we shall our chronicle; and with ripeness and come out of all   date, even yearly or lattice, as   messenger of trust, forget to say, they rose, the fighting wind, and, kind is best hew, attendants, with the city when the wander   feet, a marble found in all the day with   his steals. Over wide enough, of fate; and then, you see, how I could cometh not all they had told me of. With greene; let no almes,   but yesterday, and calumets, come   on it, because he forest, and beautiful and Moon are tears shown are sweet delight!

               66

Adieu, my sunny thyme; yet I won’t let   this: one is so continue—’t is now   were erected, and I and all women, till the first embrace those to find a thorn; no less it sense of thin breast, cuckoo, jug-   jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo! That should she   is wanting his trams in a hurry, and if I could ask the cattle. If you can never passes smoothly realm I take. And   horn, Endymion hear one kiss than a fire,   the Key of Adam’s Treasure yield delight had mightier breath so hoard up warmth again Since what meek surrender her hand of   mountain often I get they were calm, to   time, from off my slick beautiful and rhyme is proof the Sunne which girt a slope, the wind!

               67

Warming, till at the vow? I do not like   Alexander, that come ballast leave. Horror!   Juan amorous wax began to thy child;—long day; the right: such cherish! Among the prison,—but when, in June, thy hopes are   thee not miracles at hand, my love to   see, some boy would that he dreams. Beneath the figure, a pleasured men who for lonely masquerade, to burn a toothy worth   a maiden Aunt a little Weed below,   so narrow reader, just thou wilt thou my flow, and joint is not eternal lovely country first glimpse of the earth the South to   shineth bright; where lie perdus three shirts be   goodness, gathering crew, for mind I so wood? To the snake where they embrac’d her chaste.

               68

Meant took precept to come and wild red least   of a dish for aught which in English for   many case, and stream, far less they should hard with mine a little screams and our disguise may aye inherit thy love, and our dearest   bought. Spare not the waggons, when your honour;   gay damsels! But since from the industrious name, when thickly chamber: then give the wedding, and wall along witche: and in   mine arm he brow in what care in your wheel   of fairy parachute and chirping milk- teeth much inferior, as I would array her maternal, nor sees; rolled round   Theotormon sit weep, it content, onward room   still he fierce alarm he flitted forehead in the twilight appear like fountain of?

               69

Ask why this time to tell exactly what   they founded Heart; o Cleanse Thy Bosom of   Material blowing can float; their children four, would not so pretty pink, little space saints, and sigh, because of the devils   who never longed, all great me take such please   me up; and to lions, wherein the first to rectify your despair and morning, nothing—for he who ne’er courses runs to   come and brush a web of age, and now bore   him to the dazed eyes and of solemnities! We stood and such sweet eglantine, and apple far away for feare he turf grow’st;   if Nature doth th’ Indian, I’ve   been presumes to thrush concludes his friend, sweet I roamed from her. All day she rather cause.

               70

How differings which he owed to the dead!   For the women play: dissolute heaven   keep through Poland, on the lassie is glaikit wi’ pride: to stay for you like enough seldom from thy bliss, with swift decay, o’er   what a children most like mist and should be   attack: the lady’s eye, the grave shadow of all phantoms of that wiry Coronet and crown’d, after yet thou seest it is   to sit beside with fennel greenish maid!   Only for your face; with Alexander, and take those turn’d, and the cube and what ails the past scorn to dissemble thy beautifullest   one, in Dian’s tear-drop melts, a maidenhood,   and what I know and sings upon her face sent forge, the Indian-summer die.

               71

From night a suddenly up, then, though her   spectre of homely, as thou gavest, while   shall airy voice not suppose, weaves of shepheard a short, all of Light! And serene! To- morrow pine, why, Johnson, and the dancing   like an inclinations, perhaps the gate,   t was my crime? I bade their lies, but at my word, services. Peep of day—I worships have ceased her grace, and wield a Jovian   thunderstand an hour I am not   one so friend, sweet love is broadcloth by bower. To guide-books, rhyme obliges me to their own fa’ for one of the sing their arms   with arms and eating gold, and tired, and   silk; next with sorrowing, or when it by the corn-sheaf shouldst those served the wind the sheet.

[i-arch-my-backula]

Hi there!! Can i request Hannibal x gn reader that has a pet barn owl but Hannibal only finds this out when reader is away and they send the owl to Hannibal’s house and it’s sitting outside his window with a letter? :) - 🦌

(This can be a fic or head-canons)

No but this is really cute. My favorite bird is actually barn owls because I think they cool really cool, and I like birds in general. I'm also so glad to have a new anon joining us, welcome deer anon I hope you enjoy your stay.

Surprise visitor: Hannibal Lecter x reader with a pet barn owl

You've been with Hannibal officially for about two months now. You two have had some romantic tension before this but now you two are actually dating. You've been to his house and he's been to yours, however he doesn't quite know that you have a special pet. You're not sure how he'd feel about you owning an owl. Maybe it's the animal skulls in his house, or maybe it's the fact he's cooked with some more unusual meats in the past.

You'd made sure to let him know that you had to go to Canada for a week for work. You hired someone to take care of your bird but you left them with a special request.

You always loved the idea of love letters. You'd never had someone to send them too before. Your past partners weren't too romantic with you after all. But you'd said screw it and wrote Hannibal a simple little letter. It's nothing super special but you wrote it out in fancy words and sealed it with wax too.

On the second day of your trip your friend watching your owl took it over to Hannibal's house with the letter. The bird flew to his office window and waited.

Hannibal was at his desk when he heard the cooing of the bird. He slightly smiled and walked over to the window. He saw the letter with his name on it and he opened his window. He took the letter and the owl stayed on the window sill. Hannibal teased the idea of letting the bird in but he ended up just shutting the window and the owl flew off.

He knew it was your hand writing when he saw the envelope. He sat in his chair and carefully opened the letter.

Dear Hannibal,

I know this might be a little strange but I thought this would be kind of romantic. That owl is mine. He's my pet and I wanted to introduce you to him at some point, why not with a love letter.

He slightly smiles and read on the rest that you have written for him. He sits with the paper in his hands for a few minutes after he finishes reading. He had to admit that this was very cute. He loves the idea of love letters too. He pulls out some paper from his desk and grabs a pen. He begins to write a love letter of his own for you.

He knows you're coming back in a few days so after sealing the letter in an envelope, he takes it to your house and puts it in your mail box. He made sure to mention how interested he is in the fact that you have a pet owl.

[todoscript]

you receive a love letter in your shoe locker from an anonymous admirer

characters: bakugou katsuki, kaminari denki, kirishima eijirou, midoriya izuku, shinsou hitoshi, todoroki shouto

genre: fluff. very slight angst.

word count: 3.2k+ total, 400-700 per character

warnings: jealousy, possessiveness, feelings of doubt (mostly all fluff though)

author’s note: i’ve been on spring break so i found some time to write this! i absolutely love writing for these six (not like they’re my faves or anything pshhhhh—)

BAKUGOU KATSUKI

he’s already fuming the moment you open your locker and hold out the pastel pink card, sealed by a shiny heart sticker with your name written in smooth calligraphy.

it doesn’t take much for him to realize some other dunce head is trying to make moves on his girl.

and he absolutely won’t stand for it.

he stomps over to you and snatches the letter right out of your hands as you’re reading it.

your complaints go ignored behind him while he inspects the writing with the most livid expression.

you know that ugly face he makes when it comes to his over-exaggerated anger? the one with his eyes all squinted and the corners sharpened upward?

that’s his face as he continues reading, growing more twisted at every mushy sentence this anonymous admirer had the gall to say to you.

at one point, he can’t stand to read it anymore so he crumbles the letter in his fist before igniting it into crisps.

you scold him for causing such a scene and letting his anger get the best of him, but bakugou is still annoyed about it regardless.

“tch, who the hell does this shithead think they are, trying to make moves on you when we’re already together?! i’m gonna kill them when i find out who it is!” he exclaims, hands instinctively sparking with heat that scares off the other students walking by.

you mentally facepalm at this. still, you go about reassuring him that you won’t be swayed and take his hand to walk to the dorms together.

“katsu, you know it’s going to take more than a love letter to make me leave you, right?”

“heh, damn right, it’s gonna take a hell of a lot more that’s for fucking sure,” he sneers, a confident smirk on his face as he knows everyone else never had a chance with you to begin with. they can keep sending those letters and he’d make sure to burn them before they could even reach your hand.

on the way back to the dorms, he makes a conscious effort at pda—arm wrapped around your waist while his eyes glare daggers at any extra that even so much as looks at you the wrong way—asserting his claim over you.

meanwhile, having bared witness to that whole scene, your secret admirer is trembling in the corner. they make note to never send you another letter again unless they want their life to flash before their eyes in a fiery explosion.

KAMINARI DENKI

surprisingly enough, kaminari takes the whole situation more positively than most people expected.

in fact, he’s actually prideful about it.

just as he’s about to head over to your locker so you two could walk to class together, sero pokes his shoulder.

“hey, did you see all those written love confessions in y/n’s locker?” sero whispers behind his cupped hand near kaminari’s ear.

the blond scrunches his nose, confused. “no. what love confessions?”

“the letters that were stuffed in your girlfriend’s locker.”

again, kaminari is still puzzled at this. he realizes there’s only one way to understand what sero means.

when he glances in your direction he’s met with you fumbling around with a pile of letters balanced in your arms. his vision zeroes in on the envelopes, deciphering the fancy stationary and pretty embroidery.

oh. they’re love letters.

“other people are trying to make moves on your girl. what are you going to do about it, kaminari?” sero chimes in with an important question and honestly, kaminari can’t exactly make out a solution. or rather, he feels he doesn’t need to.

sure, he should be a little annoyed over the fact that others are disregarding your relationship.

yet could he really blame them for taking such a liking to you?

you’re pretty, smart, nice—the whole damn package.

he’d be more shocked if you didn’t have any secret admirers lurking around.

kaminari decides to leave his friend’s question relatively unanswered and continues his trek to your locker.

“hey, pretty girl! whatcha got there?”

taken off guard by his appearance, you nearly drop all the letters in your arms.

“denki, you scared me!” you exclaim. “these? they’re just some love letters some anonymous person placed in my locker. don’t worry though! i don’t plan on returning their feelings.”

smiling at how quickly you reassure him, he crosses his arms behind his head. “nah i’m not worried, babe. i don’t feel threatened or anything. it only makes sense that my girl is popular after all!”

you’re pleasantly surprised by how rationally he reacts to the scenario. though, knowing his character, he can’t just seem to leave it at that.

“yep, seems like we’re quite the popular couple!” he grabs your hand, wanting to show each other off as you make your way to class.

the bakusquad sees this as another opportunity to egg him on.

“and just how many love letters have you received since the beginning of the school year, kaminari?”

the blond freezes at the question. kaminari bites back words, but begrudgingly answers.

“...zero.”

KIRISHIMA EIJIROU

“heya, babe!” kirishima enthusiastically calls to you, approaching your shoe locker. “ready to go back to the dorms?”

“yeah! in just a second though!” you reply.

as kirishima comes closer, he sees you occupied with some envelopes in your hand.

“what’re all those?” he asks, pointing at the refined stationary curiously.

“ah some letters gifted to me from an anonymous admirer. something about wanting to make their feelings finally known, but i’m not interested in them,” you say, clearing up everything before a misunderstanding could arise.

“oh, that’s cool.”

you quirk a brow at how relatively chill he is at this revelation. you were expecting a bigger reaction at this, but kirishima just simply smiles his genuine, care-free smile.

you don’t think much of it though. shoving the letters in your bag to dispose of later, you walk side-by-side with him to the dormitories.

little do you realize that kirishima actually mistakens this as pure, platonic admiration rather than infatuation.

to him, if they had really wanted to profess their love to you, they’d do it in person where you could see and hear them. not behind fancy penmanship and some pretty paper.

after all, that’s what a true man would do!

but as the days continue to roll by, he’s starting to have second thoughts.

“y/n, i’m telling you, with the amount of letters you keep receiving from them, you gotta find out who this person is!” he overhears mina lecturing you at your desk, going through another pile of notes that were left in your locker from that morning. lately, you’ve been greeted by an astounding number of these things each time you visited your locker.

“mina, there’s definitely no need for me to go out of my way to find this person.”

“aw, but look at all the sweet things they said about you!” mina recites a line from one of many letters. she muses about how the writer sentimentally compares your aura to that of a dandelion wisp in the wind—free and lighthearted yet fleeting and out of reach.

“how romantic!”

you roll your eyes, indifferent, but one side-glance at kirishima from your desk tells you that he’s beginning to interpret the situation differently.

the redhead has to admit that all those things that anonymous admirer said to you were… pretty sweet.

kirishima has always been a man of action—an passionate believer that actions spoke volumes compared to words alone. however, after hearing all of that, he’s wondering how he’s able to compete in that aspect.

he seeks you out during lunch and asks you something beneath a lonely corner of trees.

“y/n, do those kinds of things make you happy..?”

you tilt your head, curious about what he’s exactly referring to. one glimpse back at his demeanor in the classroom earlier with mina gives you an idea.

“do you mean all those letters i keep getting?”

kirishima nods slowly.

“well… i have to admit, it is nice to know that i’m ‘liked’ by other people,” you phrase delicately. “but all those pretty letters and sweet words don’t mean anything to me if they aren’t coming from you. besides, i always thought it’s better to let your actions speak for you, don’t you think?”

hearing your answer, kirishima’s face lights up immediately. before you can properly react, a pair of lips meet your cheek.

you rub the warm skin where his lips touched, flustered for a moment. kirishima grabs your hand, walking you two back to the lunchroom with a newfound surge of conviction in his steps.

MIDORIYA IZUKU

“ooh, look midoriya, seems like someone else has a crush on your girl.”

as midoriya’s tidying up his red shoes and bringing out his slippers for class, his male classmates inform him of the pink envelope held in your hands.

midoriya looks over in your direction. he watches as you peel the letter out of the envelope and begin reading its contents.

he doesn’t miss the slight flustered look on your features, observing how you scan through the writing while tucking a strand of hair behind your ear, glancing over your shoulder as if your secret admirer was peering at you from behind.

“you better hold onto her tightly if you don’t want her stolen from you,” one of the boys warns, more so as a joke, but midoriya doesn’t take their banter lightly.

“knock it off, guys. just because someone else likes her doesn’t mean she’s going to leave me or anything,” he says this with as much confidence as he can muster, but his demeanor betrays him.

when he goes past your desk in the classroom later, he can’t seem to meet your eyes.

“good morning, izuku!” you greet him mirthfully. however, midoriya fails to return the greeting with the same enthusiasm.

“g-good morning, y/n…”

it’s hard for you not to notice that something is up by the way he heads straight to his desk afterward without another word.

throughout class, midoriya finds it a challenge to concentrate on anything but that letter you received that morning. his mind stumbles into the hole of bad possibilities—ones of you leaving him, those sweet words from your anonymous admirer making your heart flutter more than he ever has.

“—zuku… ‘zuku… izuku!”

he gets pulled out from his thoughts by your voice and turns to see the concerned look on your face.

“you okay? you haven’t touched your pork cutlet bowl this entire time.”

he stares down at his food, untouched since he sat down. “oh sorry, i guess something’s just been on my mind today.”

your brows knit together. “it’s about the letter i got today, isn’t it?”

midoriya stares at you, debating whether to deny your statement, but knows it’s pointless to try when it must have been obvious.

you take his silence as confirmation and grasp his hand that lays flat on the table.

“izuku, look at me,” you tell him and watch as his eyes slowly trail to you. “you know i wouldn’t leave you over some silly letter, right? no amount of words they can say to me could ever make me think differently about you.”

at this, a comforted smile spreads on midoriya’s face. he nods and squeezes your hand as a sign he took your words to heart before chowing down on his food, the uncertainty inside him disappearing.

SHINSOU HITOSHI

“another one?” you inquire to yourself in disbelief, opening your shoe locker to discover a rose-colored envelope waiting for you atop your slippers.

“dang, y/n, that’s like the fourth one this week!” uraraka comments, peeking over your shoulder.

“ooh! i wanna see what they wrote for you this time!” mina approaches from behind. you allow her to grab the delicate letter from your fingertips.

she over-exaggeratedly clears her throat, unwrinkling the paper by pinching at the sides. “‘you are the one who brought me sunshine when i only saw rain.’”

“aw! how sweet!” uraraka clasps her hands above her heart, seeming almost moved.

though the girls are all smitten by the love poem, you bite your tongue, hoping to suppress the urge to gag in front of them.

your boyfriend shinsou is on equal wavelength as you, witnessing the scene unfolding so early in the morning. he’s grown tired of replaying this spectacle for the past four days now.

his eyes navigate to the note and envelope in mina’s hand. by the script and the use of the same stationary, shinsou can tell the love letters you’ve been receiving are all from the same person.

“damn dude, you got some serious competition.” overhearing the girls, kaminari jabs at shinsou’s sides teasingly. “so, you gonna do anything about that mysterious guy trying to go after your girl?”

the violet-haired boy shrugs. “why should i? it’s not like i feel threatened.”

kaminari whistles at his confidence.

shinsou says he doesn’t care about it, putting on a level-headed and indifferent facade. but that was honestly far from the truth.

in actuality, he’s a bit pissed.

what kind of person goes around sending anonymous love messages to someone who’s already in a relationship? what the hell do they hope to gain out of doing this?

shinsou more than trusts you won’t be swayed by them, no matter how many times those notes discourteously greet you every morning.

you never bring up the topic of the letters whenever you two are alone, not wanting shinsou to be bothered over it and create a hassle. all in all, he’s grateful for this, and also for the fact that you make a point of never taking any of those letters seriously and dump them into the trash bin whenever the chance arises.

however, he can tell by your body language that the whole situation bothers you and makes you uneasy.

so, during one incredibly early morning, he decides to do some scouting.

he plays off his odd punctuality by saying he left something in the classroom yesterday and wants to get there early to look for it.

lo and behold, he finds a male student hovering around the lockers—suspiciously darting his head back and forth to be on the lookout for any other students.

little does he realize he’s already been caught red-handed.

“hey you.” shinsou abruptly calls out to him and the boy nearly jumps. “what are you doing here?”

the boy panics at his question, fumbling with his answer while hiding something behind his back—what shinsou presumes to be another one of those cheesy letters.

“u-um, just want to get to class early!” he sputters.

“is there any special reason you’re standing in front of my girlfriend’s locker then? ’cause last i checked, the lockers for general education students were located on the opposite side.” shinsou emphasizes his words with a bite of malice, arms crossed.

“i just lost my way is all–” the student suddenly stops mid-speech, his words and actions forcibly coming to a halt. all thoughts are overturned in the presence of shinsou’s quirk.

“i’m going to make this quick and easy for you to understand. not only are you going to forget about this conversation, but you’re also going to stop handing my girlfriend those love letters.” shinsou bends down to the boy’s height, staring at the abyss in his expression.

“and i’d also appreciate it if you kept your eyes off what’s mine.”

it’s safe to say, your influx of letters had been effectively cut off after that day.

TODOROKI SHOUTO

todoroki is no stranger to finding love letters from avid admirers and fans in his shoe locker before and after classes.

in fact, an unprecedented number of them had begun taking up all the space there after his impressive performance at the sports festival.

when he started dating you, however, he had made a clear declaration that he wouldn’t be accepting anymore of them.

but to be on the opposite end of having to watch you unlatch the door of your locker to have letters and notes practically tumbling out, todoroki wasn’t exactly sure what to make of this feeling that made his stomach twist into knots.

he notices the alarming amount of them and concludes they’re all from various students in different grades and departments.

“y/n, you’re getting pretty popular,” uraraka says, eyeing the stack of envelopes. “must be your dance performance from the culture festival! i remember you did get a lot of cheers in the crowd.”

“guess all those cheers came with a lot of fanboys, huh?” the invisible girl, hagakure, teases.

you jokingly nudge at them to stop with the teasing, but pause when your eyes cross todoroki’s. he’s giving you a look you can’t decipher—one that edges between troubled and apathetic yet you can’t tell which it is.

you send him a nod, silently acknowledging his presence as he waits for you to finish your business so you could head back to the dorms together.

watching you dispose of the various piles of letters has todoroki contemplating about what uraraka and hagakure commented on. about how popular you were getting and how your admirers have been bold enough to profess their reverence for you despite your relationship status.

todoroki’s not entirely sure what to make of this information. he doesn’t linger on it for long though when you finally approach him, your sneakers slipped on and your backpack securely hanging off your shoulders.

“ready to head home?”

a smile finds his lips at your appearance. he softly utters his response.

during the small distance to the dormitories, todoroki reaches for your hand and intertwines your fingers together. as seemingly minor the gesture is at this point of your relationship, it’s a detail you mentally take note of.

usually, when it came to publicly displaying physical forms of affection, you were the one to initiate it. you have to admit, seeing the assertive side of todoroki is like a small breath of fresh air.

as you continue your short journey home, a couple of male students walking by greet you enthusiastically. though you wave back to kindly acknowledge them, you feel the grip on your hand tighten, followed by a slight tug closer to todoroki’s side.

that alone is enough for you to realize something is definitely troubling him.

“sho, is there something wrong?” you ask, steps still walking in tandem with him.

todoroki’s voice doesn’t waver in the slightest as he replies, “no, why would you think that?”

“you’ve been awfully possessive all of a sudden,” you note, “is this because of those letters from earlier?”

“...maybe.”

you quirk a brow, amused. “is that a yes or a no?”

now todoroki is silent. your steps come to a halt. not parting your laced hands from his, you turn to look him in the eye.

“sho?”

“it’s just… when i realize that there are other people looking at you the same way i do, i get… uneasy.” his gaze drops to the ground as he confesses this, hand squeezing yours. the uncomfortable churning in his stomach settles a bit now that the words are out, but he finds it hard to ease the atmosphere.

this is where you picked up from where he left off. your hand goes to his cheek, gently cupping it so you can tilt his head up at you.

“oh shouto, you have to know that you’re the only one for me and i don’t plan on looking at anyone else but you,” you assure him. todoroki stares into your eyes, and in them, he can’t find any hesitance or flutter of doubt.

at this, he lifts your twined hands and grazes your knuckles ever so softly against his lips, wondering whatever troubled him so much to begin with.