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mushroomlupin · 1 year

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Inhale, Exhale

Pairing: anakin skywalker x f!reader

Summary: reader is darth vader's padawan, but anakin skywalker is revealed to her during meditation

Requested: yes or no (please send me requests!)

Warnings: mentions of nudity, choking, oral sex (f receiving), squirting, p in v sex, unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it) just overall smut y'all

Word Count: 2,010

Lord Darth Vader awaited your presence.

Your Master.

The Jedi way had come to you naturally, its secrets whispered in your ears with every breath of wind. It flowed through your body like water, the Force swimming through your veins. No one agreed with Vader’s decision to train you. Hell, he wasn’t even sure why he had saved you. But he didn’t question it. He just knew that you were the singular Jedi he couldn’t kill. Then, you knew him as Anakin Skywalker. But the next time you saw him, he was Lord Darth Vader.

He would summon you. You would come. He would train you. He would excuse you. You would leave.

It was simple and routine, like a daily meal.

It was your very own ritual with Lord Vader.

People would whisper, wondering why you were so special, why you were the saved one. But no one dared to question his decision.

Today was like any other day. You woke up. You meditated. You ate your usual breakfast with a side of herbal tea. You dressed yourself in your tunic and pants. You were summoned through the Force to go see the Lord. You grabbed your saber and followed his orders.

“I hope you have brought your focus today, Y/n,” he announced as you entered the large room.

You bowed down.

“I always bring my focus for you, Master,” you responded.

He walked down the set of stairs, his cape flying in the air behind him.

“Shall we put it to the test?” he pulled his saber out from his side, the red color forming from the handle.

You copied his actions, your own blue saber doing the same.

“We shall, Master.” you agreed.

You trained, dueling with your sabers, red and blue clashing and igniting sparks of purple light throughout the space. He said things like “Use your anger, Padawan,” and “Feel the Force within you. Use it.”

Once the duel was over and his lightsaber was on the floor, you bowed to him. Your chest heaved and sweat droplets ran down your forehead. He used the Force to grab his red saber and put it away. You put yours away as well and got into position for meditation.

You put your legs in Lotus position and closed your eyes.

You were transported into a field filled with aromatic flowers, which wasn’t unusual. You felt a gentle breeze lift your hair from the nape of your neck, which felt nice in comparison to the sweat sticking your hair to your skin previously. You breathed the sweet floral aroma into your nostrils, focusing on your breath as you exhaled and repeated.

“Padawan.”

You looked ahead and, for the first time, your Master himself stood in front of you. Except he didn’t look like Lord Vader.

He looked like Anakin Skywalker.

His name nearly slipped out of your mouth, but you composed yourself and corrected your brain.

“Master?” you questioned.

His smirk was barely noticeable.

“Focus, Y/n.”

You frowned, clearly confused, but obliged. You inhaled, breathing in that scent of the field that you loved so much, before exhaling and repeating.

You closed your eyes, but you could hear his footsteps. You could feel it as he walked closer to you, his presence getting more and more startling. You fought not to open your eyes.

“You’re doing so good,” you could feel his breath fan against your face. “Focus.”

Inhale.

Exhale.

It was getting harder and harder. You hoped he didn’t notice your breaths go uneven.

Of course he noticed.

You felt pressure around your neck.

“Focus,” he warned.

With every cell of restraint within you, you attempted to block him out as you breathed.

Inhale.

Exhale.

But you couldn’t help the sudden pulsing between your legs.

The last thing you heard was a chuckle before you were brought back to the room with Master Vader.

“You may leave,” he excused you.

You bowed down to him once more and left.

* * *

You woke up the next day, trying to ignore the fact that you spent the previous night grinding against your fingers for hours, thinking of Anakin Skywalker and his presence during your meditation. You ate your breakfast and drank your herbal tea, dressed in your tunic and pants, and waited for your Master’s invite.

It took longer than usual.

You were finally summoned through the Force, and you made your way to him with your heart thrumming in your chest.

When you arrived, he was turned around as usual.

“We are going to try something different today,” he announced.

You gulped.

“What did you have in mind, Master?”

He turned around, the light reflecting off of his helmet.

“We are going straight into meditation.”

Your cheeks flushed. You took your seat on the floor, going into position and closing your eyes.

Inhale.

Exhale.

It didn’t take long for you to go to your normal place, opening your eyes at the flower-covered field.

He was there again.

Like Master Vader, he was turned around. He was in his robes and his hair was long, the same way he looked in your last meditation.

He looked exactly like he had the last time you had seen Anakin Skywalker…before he turned into Darth Vader.

“Get your lightsaber ready,” he said, turning around to face you with a smirk plastered against his lips.

To your surprise, your lightsaber was at your hip. You grabbed the handle and turned it on, the blue light pouring out of it. He repeated your action with his own red saber.

You took position, circling around him slowly before attacking. The two of you dueled like normal, except you were aware of his facial expressions and his permanent smirk.

“Focus, Y/n!”

He could tell you were struggling. Of course, he could.

Sweat dripped down your back as you used the Force and fought him. Your sabers clashed together, sparks flying and sizzling onto some of the flowers.

Finally, you managed to get his saber out of his hands.

He nodded approvingly.

“My Padawan has proved herself well.”

You blushed and bowed to him.

“Thank you, Master.”

He walked closer to you, his lips upturned.

“Lord Vader’s one and only Padawan has proven to everyone that she is in fact a gift to the galaxy, much like her Master,” he complimented.

You nodded with a blush.

“Thank you so much, Master.”

He took a few more steps toward you.

“Perhaps it’s time that her Master shows her just how much she’s proven herself…?” he trails off, his hand coming up to meet your throat.

You lift your chin, staring into his eyes as he squeezes gently around your neck. You feel a pulsing in between your legs again, your limbs feeling weak and your mouth suddenly going dry.

Anakin moves your face close to his with his hand around your throat, finally meeting your lips with his own. It’s deep and fiery, filled with a passion that seems long overdue. His tongue slips between your lips and your tongue slides against his own. Your lips move against each other and your hands go to his hair, tangling in his chestnut locks. Suddenly, you feel his knee nudge your legs apart and move to your heat. You gasp at the intrusion and you can’t stop yourself from grinding against his knee.

“Look at my Padawan,” he laughs. “So needy, you’re humping my leg like a bitch in heat.”

You whimper aloud and he chuckles at your patheticness.

He moves his knee away from you and his hand unravels around your throat. He slips his robe off of himself, his tunic following. Your mouth gapes at his toned torso, his chest puffed out and abs flexing underneath the sun.

“Like what you see, Y/n?” His eyes are half-lidded and he looks more seductive than ever.

You nod, words seemingly impossible to produce at the moment.

“I’d like it if I could see my Padawan like this,” he admitted. “Could you do that for me? Can you take off your tunic for your Master?”

It took a moment to process his words, but you eventually nod and lift the fabric over your head and drop it onto the grass beneath you. His smirk gets more upturned as his lips return to your own and he grabs fistfulls of your breasts. Your lips open, your jaw dropping at the unknown feeling. His fingers play and tug at your nipples, his knee returning between your legs.

“Master!” you gasp.

He grins against your lips, using the force to tug your trousers down, the fabric pooling at your ankles. Anakin released himself from your mouth and followed your pants, his knees dropping onto the grass beneath him. He wasted no time in forcing a leg onto his shoulder and burying his face between your thighs. You cried, his tongue lapping up all of your juices.

“Master,” you repeated like a prayer, “Master, Master, Master…”

His tongue swirled around your sensitive bead before suckling it between his lips. You felt a familiar sensation building up within you, like a fire that’s being tended to. This sensation grew more and more as he sped up the pace, obscene noises filling the air between you.

A pressure made its way back to your neck, as though the ghost of his metal hand had been wrapped around your windpipe.

You screamed, thighs trembling around his face as you came onto his mouth. He lapped up all of your juices, groaning into your pussy which prolonged your orgasm.

Once your thighs stopped trembling around his chestnut curls, he stood back up and roughly turned you around. You could hear his pants drop to his ankles and he wasted no time entering you.

Your pussy squelched around him, your cum and your Master’s spit mixture a perfect lubricant for his thick cock. His metal hand replaced the Force, wrapping around your neck as he pounded into you.

“Kriff,” he cursed, skin slapping against skin.

You moaned in response, feeling him thrust deeply inside of you.

“I know you can give me one more,” he brought his other hand around your body, his finger rubbing tight circles against your clit. “I know my Padawan can come for me once more for her Master.”

The pleasure was building, but you just couldn’t get there. You were spent. Your legs were sore, your body was tired, and there were tears that you hadn’t realized were there running down your face.

“I can’t, Master!” you cried.

“You can,” he assured, his voice rough and dry. “Focus, Y/n.”

His hand tightened around your throat, his cool metal fingers pressed against your pulse point. At the same time, his tip brushed against a spot within you that you hadn’t known was there. Fluid gushed out between your thighs as you came, your body spasming against him. He held you tight, fucking you through it before you felt his cock spurt inside of you.

He slid out of you, both your juices combined spilling out and down your legs. He chuckled, wiping some of it with his fingers and popping his digits into his mouth with an, “Mmmm.”

Your jaw fell slightly at the sight, but you were so spent you could barely function. Anakin noticed your legs wobbling and laid his robe out onto the grass for you to lay on. You oblige, your chest heaving and your face flushed with exhaustion.

He used his tunic to carefully wipe you, cleaning your sex as best as he could.

“You did so good, Padawan,” he smiled, brushing stray hair out of your face. “I knew you could do it.”

You blushed.

“Was I good for my Master?”

“Yes,” he nodded. “You were good for your Master.” He ran his fingers through your hair, watching as you closed your eyes. “You may rest now, Padawan.”

And you did.

You inhaled the aroma of sex and the sweet smell of flowers around you.

Inhale.

Exhale.

You felt yourself slip away in your Master’s arms.

#smut #anakin skywalker #anakin skywalker x reader #star wars anakin #anakin x reader #anakin skywalker smut #anakin skywalker imagine #x reader fic #star wars fic #anakin skywalker fic #anakin skywalker x reader fic

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copperbadge · 4 months

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Radio Free Monday

Good morning everyone, and welcome to Radio Free Monday!

Ways to Give:

Grumpywitch is a Black, queer disabled woman whose partner has been unemployed and jobsearching since last August; they have a small handmade jewelry business but don't sell enough to live on, and they're fundraising to cover expenses. You can support the fundraiser here or buy from her shop here.

cztacks has been accepted into the selective and prestigious Clarion West Writer's Workshop, but will need to travel from Australia to attend, and the AUD/USD exchange rate will not be in their favor once they arrive; they are fundraising to be able to cover costs of travel and attendance. You can read more, find giving options, and reblog here, check out their work here, or support the fundraiser here.

Something I thought was cool was that Clarion West also allows donors to buy goods and meals for the students as a group, or donate travel points -- you can check that out here with options ranging from $20-$250.

Anon linked to a fundraiser for pangur-and-grim/Greer, who is facing a $9K veterinarian bill when their cats Pangur and Grim both got pancreatitis after Grim got into kitten food for the new kitten and the resulting problems stressed Pangur out. Greer is bringing back old pin designs on their website; you can read more and reblog here (scroll down, the top part of the post is about the tattoos that inspired the design) or preorder/purchase here (including a tip jar at the shop here.

I recently found out about the Zinn Education Project and their Teach Truth Day of Action, which is coming up on June 8th; it supports teachers who are speaking out about anti-history education bills and history education censorship. You can read more about it here including ways to get involved, support teachers, and sign up to host a table or booth yourself. The page also has a donation link in the upper-right corner if you'd like to support their efforts financially.

Recurring Needs:

loversdoom is a college student from the Philippines, studying away from her family, and her parents are unexpectedly unable to support her education; she is dealing with a number of expenses and is now looking at costly medical procedures as well. You can read more and reblog here or give to the fundraiser here.

onedollopofsourcream is raising funds to help with food, transportation, medication for their family, and other expenses after a string of financial issues; they are also currently dealing with an abusive home situation including food control. You can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

rilee16 is raising funds to get out of an abusive home situation; with irregular work hours and a tax debt due on top of chronic illness issues, they also need funds to repair their phone, which is dying, and cover utility bills. You can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

And this has been Radio Free Monday! Thank you for your time. You can post items for my attention at the Radio Free Monday submissions form. If you're new to fundraising, you may want to check out my guide to fundraising here.

#radio free monday #charity #philanthropy #fannish community

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a-world-of-whimsy-5 · 2 years

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Hi! I was wondering if you could do a request (WHEN YOUR NOT BUSY) about prince nuada where he meets the reader at the station when the fighting is over and she’s like a beast tamer humming lullabies to tooth fairies and other dangerous things like that?? ☺️❤️

Hello! I'm not sure what sort of theme you wanted, so I stuck to a soft/fluff/kind of angsty at the begining enemies to possible lovers theme. I hope you like it.

The beast tamer and the prince

Pairing: Nuada x Fem. Reader (Parts human and elf | Beast tamer)

Word count: 823 words

Themes : Some angst, maybe | Soft | Fluff | Enemies to lovers

Warnings : None

Want to be tagged? Want to know the reader request rules? Read all here

If you like this, please consider giving it a reblog. Thank you!

p.s. the bit with the wife and tea and biscuits was inspired by a scene between Sheldon and Penny, on The Big Bang Theory.

Nuada returns to his palace in an abandoned station after a brutal few weeks, helping Hellboy and the BPRD fight and defeat Nimue, the Blood Queen.

He’s completely exhausted, lost to the world, and not paying any attention to what is happening around him. Due to this, he misses the baby tooth fairies trailing him, looking for their first meal. Only when they take off and come after him does Nuada realize he’s been targeted as prey. He whips out his spear, ready to defend himself. Except that nothing happens, save for someone singing in a language Nuada has not heard in over nine millennia. As this eerie, otherworldly tune floats through the tunnels, Nuada looks around, his ears twitching. The tooth fairies looked dazed, not moving, barely even breathing. It was as if they were hypnotized. When he demanded you show yourself, you do, armed with only a strange flute and your own voice.

He discovers you are half mortal and half elf, a descendant of a long-forgotten line of beast tamers who once worked for King Balor. Nuada is shocked, as everyone thought your clan was wiped out by the great wars of seven thousand BC, when the Golden Army marched against the armies of men. The tattoos on the inside of your right forearm showed otherwise, as only those who have proven their gifts to the clan elders could receive such tattoos.

Despite his reservations, Nuada assists you in capturing the tooth fairies and transporting them to an off-realm reserve where they will not harm anyone. He asks you to live with him as royal etiquette decreed such an invitation, as repayment for saving his life.

The giant troll lives with him, Mr. Wink, takes to you in a heartbeat. Nuada, on the other hand, keeps you at arm's length. He is cold and aloof, as is his personality, and always high prince to everyone else. And he insists on being treated as such.

This infuriates you, and the two of you constantly butt heads and trade insults. Usually, these insults revolve around epithets such as prig from your end, and wasp-tongued-viper from his end. Even after the two of you cooled off with the insults, bickering would follow whenever you were together. Quests to capture another beast or creature on behalf of the BPRD would always end up with the two of you bickering like an old married couple. At least, that's what Abe believes.

"If we were married," Nuada would say, "The wife would bring me tea and biscuits in the evening."

"You hate my tea," you'd retort. "And we have no biscuits."

"My wife would keep them on hand."

"Your wife demands a divorce."

"Wonderful," Nuada would say without missing a beat. "On the way back from the temple, could you stop by the troll market and pick up some Bethmoran rose biscuits for my afternoon tea?"

Epic huffs and eye-rolls will abound. Hellboy would ask if the two of you needed a room. Nuada would shiver in horror. You'd look at Hellboy like he had grown another head. The two of you would skulk off in different directions.

In time, however, mutual respect blooms between the two of you.

Nuada comes to appreciate your skills, for it means children of the old gods no longer have to be killed unless absolutely necessary. He starts fighting in your corner during BPRD meetings, backing you up against Manning and his orders.

You come to respect Nuada's love for his family and his people, his willingness to go to great lengths to protect them and keep them safe.

The two of you have saved each other's lives more times than either of you can count.

Nuada comes to find your nicknames for mythical creatures all rather amusing.

Tooth fairies you call: Teethcinerators.

And dragons are called: Winged fire breathing danger noodles.

Unicorns, on the other hand, end up being called: Rage ponies, given their violent and unpredictable nature.

These nicknames end up being used by him and many others at the BPRD, much to Manning's eternal frustration.

You teach Nuada how to charm animals just by using his voice. He tries it on Mr. Wink. Mr. Wink ends up in a trance for two days, and you go through every book you have to get him out of it.

Mr. Wink was naturally unhappy about it, and complained about it for weeks.

You realize Nuada has the most beautiful voice you have ever heard, and you come up with every conceivable excuse to get him to sing.

Nuada catches on to your tricks but finds them all rather endearing.

"If you just want to hear me sing, y/n, you need only ask."

You go red in the face and flee his presence.

Nuada decides to talk to his father about you.

King Balor approves, and insists on meeting the person who brought about such positive changes in his son.

#asks #reader request #reader insert #prince nuada #prince nuada x reader #nuada x reader #nuada imagine #hellboy #hellboy imagine #head canon #fanfiction #writeblr #enemies to lovers

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another-lost-mc · 4 months

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gmorning my lovely!!! I recently read your first date fic with Karasu and it has me feeling all warm and fuzzy 🥹💘 I was wondering what the ideal first date would be like for some of your other oc’s! I must admit, I’m most intrigued by the idea of a date with Tenebris, Belial, and Azra hehe 🤭 (but ofc if you wanna gush about any others pls do!!!!!)

First date ideas with the OCs! Love it. This got really long. lol

SFW (with a NSFW-ish part at the end) below:

Azra takes you somewhere for dinner, a middle-ground establishment that's not too ritzy but just enough so that he has an excuse to dress up for you. It'll be formal but not too stuffy, with a warm and almost romantic ambience. He's the kind of demon to play coy and bump his foot or knee (or tail) against you under the table during the meal. (If you seem uncomfortable with it, he'll stop.) He's not going to be put off by excuses about having nothing to wear, either. He offers to set up an appointment at Majolish for you to pick out something (charged to his account, of course).

Zee is finally asking you out after denying for way too long that he was interested in you romantically at all. Chances are he's skipping the typical "date night on the town" and inviting you to his home for dinner, because he doesn't mess around and nothing can say how excited or grateful he is than cooking something for you.

Karasu is a bit more traditional so naturally his first date suggestion is dinner at the most expensive joint in town. You can talk him down easily to something more casual when he realizes that his first impulsive choice might've been overwhelming (he'll wait a few dates and then try suggesting it again).

Tenebris invites you to things that aren't obviously dates but they might as well be: picking up more potion supplies, going to the bookstore to check out the new releases, stopping by one of the cafes near RAD after classes are over. He's hesitant to put a label on your relationship and his feelings for you, but he can't help himself and feels more and more tempted to act on them. What shifts these little outings into dating territory, whether he admits it or not, is that he offers to buy you things. If something catches your eye, it's no trouble at all for him to slip it into his own order and pay for everything together. He offers to get you a drink or a snack, or even a full meal if he thinks you're willing to stay with him that long, and orders himself something even if he's not hungry or thirsty. He's content just to spend time with you and give you little tokens of affection. Err, appreciation, he calls them later when Diavolo asks how things went later. Nothing suspicious at all about that, right?

Belial methodically plans out your first proper date but it's highly dependent on the type of date he thinks you want.

If you're a bit shy, he knows the best undiscovered gems in the Devildom where you can get a fantastic meal without the usual crowds of the city's popular eateries. He's dressed down by his standards so you feel comfortable and less insecure about whatever casual outfit you might be wearing. Chances are he rushed over to pick you up as soon as you texted him you might consider going on a date with him (he took that as a decisive yes). His enthusiasm is contagious and it's kind of flattering too - when was the last time someone was so happy and grateful for your company?

If you don't mind being in the spotlight a bit, your first date happens to coincide with an event at Diavolo's castle. He paid for whatever outfit you picked out to wear at Majolish (and he ordered an outfit for himself to match). He picks you up at the House of Lamentation so he can escort you personally, and his choice of transportation isn't subtle. It'll be one of his many cars that you seemed to like most, or maybe you were enchanted by his stable of dreadsteeds more - he can bring the old chariot out of retirement just for you. There's no mistaking his intentions when he leads you through the castle doors with your arm tucked into his.

Metatron is sort of like Tenebris because he invites you to accompany him to do all sorts of random and inconsequential things, but judging by his constant blush and the shy way he keeps looking at you and biting his lip while his fingers brush your hand but he's too shy to take hold of it...well, you get the idea that maybe this wasn't just a platonic outing after all. The Celestial Realm has so many amazing and beautiful places he wants to show you, and all of his suggestions will be what he thinks you'd enjoy. He might even sneak you away to the Human World to show you the places he likes most there, but try not to let Seraphiel find out. Three's a crowd and all.

Curious about who puts out on the first date?

Azra wants you. He wants you so bad. He's trying to be patient because he thinks that's what he should do. This is one of the rare times he drives himself rather than letting Zee drive for him. He might not want to sleep with you on the first date, but he won't be able to resist a car makeout if your goodnight kiss at the end of the night gets heated. He wants to wait until date #2 before doing more, but he'll make it up to you.

Chances are this has been a long time coming, so Zee definitely has high hopes that you'll be welcoming of his many advances once the dinner he's cooked for you is finished. If all you want is a kiss, that's okay too - it'll be the best kiss you've had in a long while, and he won't complain about a cozy little makeout session on his couch before driving you home. (He's very careful about not cutting your lips or tongue with his fangs.)

Karasu is too shy to kiss you after a first date, or probably the first handful of dates. Let him take his time and get used to handholding and hugging and sitting closer than friends should - his affectionate side will bloom not long after. He'll be very obvious when he's ready to move onto kissing chastely, and then kissing passionately and other things after that.

Tenebris will kiss you if you want him to. He kisses your cheek first and he's just close enough to your mouth that you can tilt your head into it, or you can pull away if you don't want more than that. He doesn't mean to be teasing, but he doesn't want to come on too strongly either. (He probably won't go further than kissing on the first date.)

Belial won't make the first move, but if you've given him any indication that a kiss (or more) would be welcome, he's practically vibrating at the thought of getting to touch you. He gets very affectionate and touchy-feely when he's turned on (you might be surprise how affected he is). He brings the back of your hand to his cheek and rubs against it, or he squeezes your waist lightly when he wraps an arm around you, or he just blatantly stares at your lips if you wet them, or even when you talk. He's tempted. Very tempted. He can't bring himself to ask for a kiss no matter how much he wants one. If you're agreeable to a kiss (or more), let him know without any room for doubt and he'll happily oblige you. (He manages to get you both home before he practically carries you to his bedroom. Barely. The backseat of his car looked awfully tempting.)

Metatron is waiting for the right signs from you that not only do you enjoy his company, but that his romantic advances are welcome. Because the line of friends-to-more than friends gets blurrier over time with him, it's hard to pinpoint when your first date really is. It's probably a scenario where you've gotten used to holding hands or cuddling beside each other, and chances are he'll ask if he can kiss you when he thinks you're ready - or perhaps he's waiting longer than he needs to, in which case, feel free to kiss that sweet angel senseless.

#jes.replies #jes.oc asks #my oc: azra #my oc: zekhan #my oc: tenebris #my oc: belial #my oc: metatron #obey me oc

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zwy01 · 7 months

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Blood Moon AU!! Part 2 - Werewolves

Second part of my second major AU, Blood Moon AU. The nobles and werewolves basically have a race swap in an almost brand new setting.

For more info, check out my first post where I explained the general lore and setting of this AU (highly recommended for a better understanding because characters in this post reference characters in the one linked below here):

I didn’t do every character because there’s a lot of them, so I left out ones that don’t have major roles in the story. If they have a name in canon, then they all exist in this AU, just that I haven’t named/drawn them yet. Maybe in the future if I feel like it. But for now, this is pretty much it.

The characters.

Peach: Current Lord of the Werewolves. Adoptive father of twins Ruth and Rosemary. Peach isn’t his real name. No one knows what his real name is. He never mentions it, and he simply smiles and doesn’t answer when asked. Peach is just the nickname the werewolves came up for him at some point because his face is covered in small fuzzy hairs which gives him the appearance of a fresh peach. And no one can really recall how he became Lord. It just sort of happened. The werewolves all agreed that he’s good for the job, and the throne became his in the blink of an eye. Okay then, sigh, fiiiiine, he’ll do it. The werewolves seem quite happy about it. It’s almost like they all voted on him. And the previous Lord has had enough and decided it was time for him to retire and enjoy the rest of his days with his family, so he was more than enthusiastic to step down and hand things over to Peach. Peach was confused about being put into a leadership role out of the blue, but he adjusted very well and does a good job of caring for his people. Perhaps the werewolves realized that physical strength is not the only attribute of a good leader. Maybe this is what they call change, and that they have evolved from the old ways. Anyways, Peach does qualify for role of Lord since he is decent at fighting and an impressive warrior, but his greatest strengths lie in his communication skills and diplomatic nature when it comes to problem solving and negotiation.

Peach is responsible for communicating with Marcus and his fellow nobles of the secret noble organization regarding transportation and distribution of resources from Lukedonia to werewolf island. Peach is eternally grateful to Marcus and his allies for going as far as to betray their noble Lord and in the process risk their own lives to help the werewolves survive and thrive in these trying times. The werewolves do have their own means of production, but it’s not enough and they need some extra help. And Marcus and his nobles answered. Peach just can’t thank them enough. Peach is also good friends and pen pals with Marcus. They call each other “Peachy” and “Maduke” in their letters.

Peach puts his own needs behind those of his people. When Marcus’ supplies of food, money, and other essential items arrive, Peach always tells his people to pick everything they need and even bring home some extras. He waits for everyone to take their share, then he picks from whatever is left. This often results in him not eating enough, though his weight loss is also partially due to him subconsciously eating less than what he really needs. He does this out of love for his people, and he wants to save every extra bite for someone who might need it… even if there are enough resources to go around a few times thanks to Marcus. Peach just wants everyone to have a good life, and being their leader means putting his people above all else, including himself. The werewolves are aware of their Lord’s tendencies to unintentionally skip meals, and they figured out a way to solve that. They would tell him that they won’t eat unless he does too, and then Peach would eat because he doesn’t want his people to starve themselves. If it works, it works. Peach appreciates his people just as much as they appreciate him. They know it’s no easy job to be Lord, and they’re all there to support him. Peach has their full respect and this unanimous sentiment is more than rock solid. He is their only candidate for Lord and they will never challenge him for as long as he’s willing to sit on the throne. There probably are quite a few werewolf warriors who are stronger than him and could defeat him in a duel, but no one even thinks of challenging him despite the old rules stating how the strongest gets to rule them all. Peach is simply too precious. Quite unusual for a warlike supernatural race, maybe even too peaceful to be true, but it’s real. The werewolves are one big happy pack.

Peach has no biological children, though the number of werewolf women who are eyeing him and more than willing to have his children can probably form a line all the way up to Mother Moon in space. It makes sense, he’s literally the perfect man.

Peach has two adopted daughters, Ruth and Rosemary, whom he found by the werewolves’ equivalent of a dumpster. He felt sorry that their parents didn’t want them, and took them in and raised them as his own.

Ruth: Adopted daughter of Peach, and Rosemary’s twin. Ruth is rather sensitive and has a tendency to make decisions based on feelings and impulse, and needs to learn not to jump to conclusions. She is also prone to overthinking and still doubts Peach’s love for her to this day. Ruth thinks her father only adopted her out of pity and that he is only nice to her because it makes him feel good about himself, which are all false. This puts a strain on their relationship and Peach has a hard time bonding with Ruth, and Rosemary takes up most of the communication between these two. Ruth does genuinely love Peach as her father but she just needs plenty of reassurance. Other than that, she’s a pretty chill person despite being stoic at times. Technically, Ruth has a lot of privileges as the daughter of the Lord, but just like her father, she has an immense love for her people thus never actually uses the perks she’s entitled to. Like Peach, she waits for others to take what they need and scavenges for the leftovers, though Peach always stops her and asks her eat properly because she’s still growing. When Ruth refuses and insists on being like her father, Peach then orders her to eat and she has to listen to him. It’s the only time Peach ever orders Ruth to do anything and it’s a running joke in the family, to the former’s amusement and the latter’s annoyance.

Ruth is also a bit of an odd one out when compared to her fellow werewolves because she somehow finds fighting with a sword to be much more natural and swift as opposed to using her claws like werewolves are supposed to. It just feels way more intuitive, and she knows how to fight in that style. Too bad no one shares this feeling, and to this day Ruth remains the only person who can teach herself. Peach is looking into bringing proficient swordsmen into werewolf island so his daughter can have someone to bond and train with. His success is limited, and Ruth is stuck with self-learning. Maybe another day. People think it’s funny how the Lord’s daughter favors swinging around some sharp stick over Mother Moon’s gift of transformation and hand-to-hand combat. Well, she’s already kind of weird, so. Sticks over fists, y’all.

Ruth has a crush on Kenji.

Rosemary: Adopted daughter of Peach, and Ruth’s twin. While Ruth is skittish and distant, Rosemary is social and upbeat. Rosemary hopes that her sister will eventually see that her assumptions about their father’s feelings for her are only misunderstandings, but for now she’ll keep acting as the bridge between these two because Ruth isn’t exactly enthusiastic about sitting face to face and talking it out with pops Peach just yet. Rosemary just sighs. This is also why Rosemary is closer to their father because she has no problems with expressing herself and the communication between them is much better. Rosemary is the less independent twin and likes to stick around Peach for most of her day because she simply likes being around him, and the latter is quite flattered. She enjoys assisting Peach with his work and she’s one of the most hard-working volunteers who helps to transport and distribute the contents of Marcus’ packages to the citizens of werewolf island.

While Rosemary enjoys hand-to-hand combat, she also likes to study magic and draws magic circles in her free time. Being a werewolf magician is just so cool. Shooting powerful laser beams and setting up movement restriction spells? That’s a YES. Rosemary is a big fan of noble streamer Zivon Tradio, who goes by “GlitterDream KittyPaws” on the internet. Perhaps she can alter and adapt some of his spells for her own use. She also has a bunch of his merch, with a pink nail filer with his face on it as the latest addition to her collection. Peach is aware of Rosemary’s hobby and is supportive of her. It’d be fun if she can learn some tricks and give him a new hairdo in the snap of a finger! So fun.

Rosemary has a crush on Cloudy.

Ronan: Younger brother of Larke. A haughty and prideful werewolf with a certain hatred for nobles. Ronan insists that he despises all of them even though many of the foods he eats and the things he uses were generous gifts to them from Marcus, who is… a noble. His argument is that the noble Lord is incredibly selfish and malicious for monopolizing almost all the available resources in the world for Lukedonia and that Marcus is just doing what he’s supposed to do, to redistribute some of that back to the inhabitants of the world, which includes his pack. It does make some sense, but Ronan completely ignores the huge risks Marcus has taken by going against his Lord and he is somewhat ungrateful. His older brother Larke tries to correct him, to no avail.

Ronan is known for his speed, though Larke is even faster than him. He takes great pride in his brother’s achievements as well as his own. Ronan tries hard to impress Larke and loves him very much, though he doesn’t tell him that his deepest fear is that Larke will abandon him one day; a fear that will never come true but haunts him nonetheless.

Ronan also has a dislike for humans but he secretly loves spicy ramyeon and chocolate coated cookie sticks. It’s almost like a guilty pleasure to him, and he’d get all embarrassed when someone points out his double standards. Marcus occasionally sends human treats to werewolf island as well, and you can bet Ronan’s always rushing to check what’s new. He’s too prideful to admit it. Sigh.

Ronan has a crush on Sapphire and is borderline obsessed with her. He used to invade her personal space all the time but over time he has learned to not be an ass. He genuinely cares about her, and wants to win her heart one day. He’d gladly be Remi’s stepfather if both mother and son let him, but Remi doesn’t really like him. Rip. He tries to get Remi to like him, though.

Larke: Older brother of Ronan. Larke is famous for being the fastest of the werewolves. He and his brother Ronan’s late father was also known for his speed. Larke was able to push his own limits and at some point surpassed their father, which is a huge achievement. Larke might not talk much, but he cares a lot for his loved ones. Their father died when Ronan was a toddler and Larke raised him in his father’s stead. Ronan means everything to Larke and the latter would sacrifice anything for his younger brother. Larke is also completely dedicated to werewolf island and he believes that one day the most fulfilling way to die is to give up his life defending his home. For this reason, Larke trains day and night to become even stronger and always strives to overcome his limits. Larke is also wary of the nobles and more or less anticipates a surprise attack from Lukedonia given the nature of their Lord, though he doesn’t say it out loud like Ronan does. His gut feeling tells him that his father’s death had something to do with the nobles despite the lack of evidence.

Larke has a crush on Kameron.

Kenji: No one knows what his origins are. Kenji is one of the werewolves not native to werewolf island. Instead, he came from the outside and joined the clan here to escape his former clan. The clan he was born into was too aggressive and always at internal conflict, and that is not the lifestyle he wants. They were too bloodthirsty and merciless, and it wasn’t uncommon to wake up to a couple of dead bodies lying around soaked in fresh pools of blood. Those bodies would then be kicked around and ultimately dragged away and tossed into the ocean before the stench hit. The werewolves there treated this as normal occurrence. Just another day, no big deal. It’s too much for someone like Kenji. Kenji just wants peace and quiet, which is exactly what Peach’s clan can offer to him. He had heard rumors about Peach’s clan and ultimately left his old clan in search of a new home despite there being richer material resources in his homeland. It’s just not worth it to stay. And he is right. Peach’s clan is more much peaceful and conflicts only go as far as harmless personal drama. Peach listened to Kenji’s story and welcomed him to join their family, and Kenji’s been doing very well ever since. Sometimes Kenji accidentally hurts members of his new clan out of reflex simply because he had to stay on guard to defend himself at all times in his old clan, and that has taken a toll on his mind. His new family is very understanding of him, and tells him it’s okay, they’ll help him together. Kenji tears up every time they’re nice to him. Aww, he’s just a big ol’ teddy bear despite his scary appearance.

Long ago, in his homeland, Kenji had two daughters and a son but they all died from being caught up in the warriors’ internal conflict. Even his partner fell victim to one of the fights there, and Kenji wasn’t able to save them in time. To this day he refuses to get attached to anyone because he doesn’t want to experience loss anymore.

Linden: Son of an unnamed human father and werewolf mother. Linden is quite an oddity among his kind for being half-human. He’s definitely not the only one, but there’s not many of them. Growing up wasn’t easy because his heritage means that his body is a bit different from everyone else’s, and that his parents couldn’t fully grasp how to best raise their son because he is neither werewolf nor human, instead something in between. Linden’s father was one of the very few humans to reside in werewolf island as a permanent “member” of the pack. His parents had a happy, fulfilling life together and his father eventually died of old age and now it’s just Linden and his mother. Linden tries his hardest to adapt to a werewolf lifestyle but he doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of them. He looks like a pureblooded werewolf and acts and thinks like one, but the human blood in his veins would render him unable to keep up with the rest of his peers. His friends are extra careful with him because they’re afraid he might just fall apart if he accidentally trips himself or something. It’s okay, Linden’s tougher than he looks. He insists that they include him on their activities. He’s a bit slow and less strong, but he’ll catch up in a minute. Linden is a joy to be around so everyone likes him, even if he’s not quite at their level.

Linden has a special thing for tea. He likes to forage for leaves and puts them in boiling water to see how they taste. It’s so much fun! He’d take the leaves and dry them, age them, mix them with other ingredients etc. to create a variety of tastes. Though he has to be careful because some things that pureblooded werewolves have natural full immunity to are still dangerous to him. Once he almost went to the other side from drinking something he crafted without checking the contents carefully and his friends were barely able to pull him back from having one foot in the grave. Well, he had no one to check with, he thought he had full immunity just like everyone else! Now he knows. In the present day, the entire werewolf community is watching out for him. Oh my, thank you!

Linden has a crush on Ronan, and Rosemary, and Ruth, and many others. He ends up liking anyone who is nice to him.

Cloudy: Daughter of unnamed werewolves. She got her name from being born on a cloudy day. Cloudy is rather shy, and the only person whom she’s totally comfortable being around is her elderly father. He had Cloudy quite late, so he put all of his attention into her and she grew up rather sheltered. He did most of the talking for her, almost acting as her spokesperson. Cloudy would clutch onto her father’s robes and hide behind him when others approached and only grew out of it in adulthood. Sometimes, out of reflex, she still reaches her hand out expecting to grab onto a piece of cloth for comfort. Oops. She’s doing a great job though. Cloudy has her own group of good friends and they’re very caring with her. Rosemary, Kameron, and Linden are part of this group. Sapphire too if she decides to tag along. They like going to the beaches together and they’d sit on the sand and stargaze while listening to the waves and the gulls. Sometimes they’d also bury Linden until only his head is above the sand. And they’d all laugh together. Cloudy’s father was worried about her and what will happen after he dies because she’s so attached to him, but seeing his girl with her awesome friends has reassured him that she will be just fine after his soul returns to Mother Moon’s embrace.

Cloudy is one of the few if not only werewolf to not eat any meat. Like just no meat at all. This is a very strange thing for a werewolf to do, as the werewolves’ diet had been pretty much meat-only since the beginning of time, only to have evolved into more mixed one as of recently. Still, they’re mostly carnivores. Cloudy’s love of animals is very strong so she doesn’t eat any, as she can’t see them as food no matter how hard she tries. She’s fine with milk and eggs and such, just nothing harvested from an animal’s body. This diet would cause her to not be able to fully channel the strengths of a werewolf, but that’s fine to her since she was never really a fighter on the inside to begin with. Plus, she can just chill with Linden in the back. She can show him her colorful crystal collection and they’ll excitedly chat about where to find more.

Cloudy has a crush on Ruth.

Kameron: Son of unnamed werewolves. Kameron was the product of a short fling between his parents. His mother was a wandering traveler who stumbled upon werewolf island and that’s how she met his father. She left werewolf island and said her permanent goodbyes to her partner and then-toddler son to continue on with her travels, leaving her partner to raise Kameron on his own. Kameron and his father have a great relationship despite their differences in personality. Like his mother, Kameron is easygoing and cheerful. He has a talent for putting up smiles on people’s faces by being funny or making a fool of himself, or both. He always jokes about how Ruth and Rosemary are his long-lost sisters even though that’s clearly not the case. Peach thinks it’s hilarious.

Kameron has a fascination with noble culture. Sure, Lukedonia’s not the greatest place and its inhabitants are a mixed bag, but it’s still so interesting. He wants to know everything about them. What they do for fun, what their jobs are like, how the weather is over there, do they get to control their own weather, how does it feel to read minds, how does it feel to get your minds read, do you even have eating utensils and beds if you don’t need food or sleep, do you pee and poo, why is everyone’s eyes red, blah blah blah… the questions are endless and he is overflowing with excitement and curiosity. Kameron daydreams about picking up a random noble from the streets and just interviewing them all day long, asking questions to his satisfaction. It’s just so cool to be a noble. Kameron likes being a werewolf, of course, he’s just drawn by the unknown. Perhaps he’ll even marry a noble one day, haha. Just kidding, that’s impossible. It’s better to stay at home, he thinks. No way that’s happening.

Kameron has a crush on Larke, though the two of them don’t know that the feeling mutual. Kameron likes to tease Larke and Larke pretends to hate it even though he likes it and wants Kameron to talk to him more. There’s quite some unresolved tension between them and who knows where it’ll go.

Gregory: Father of Sapphire, and grandfather of Remi. Gregory was Peach’s father figure during the latter’s youth. He still is, and Peach relies on him for advice. Gregory is one of the few people whom Peach can truly relax around because he knows that he’ll be treated as a normal werewolf and not Lord of the werewolves, which is what everyone sees him as. Gregory knows that Peach gets tired from being put on a pedestal all the time, and as much as Peach enjoys being in a leadership position, too much is too much. When these two are alone, Peach would jokingly complain to Gregory about how sitting on the cold, hard throne all day just hurts his buttcheeks and even his superior werewolf healing can’t save him. They’d have a laugh about it and talk about family drama and stuff. Though not related by blood, these two are very much family by bond. Gregory’s nickname for blonde werewolf is Peachfuzz. In return, he gets called Grandpa Grumpy. Aww.

At some point the nickname Grandpa Grumpy spread across werewolf island and now most of the pack calls him that instead of his actual name, as an affectionate way of addressing him. He’s fine with it. They all love and respect him for his wisdom, and for that he is grateful.

Gregory does have a real family. He has a daughter named Sapphire who looks just like him. As a father, Gregory feels troubled because Sapphire is too polite and formal with him. He wishes that she can be more casual around him. While Gregory is aware that being reserved is part of Sapphire’s personality, he can’t help but wonder if she will ever let him into her life, even just a bit. What she’s doing, how she’s feeling, what she ate for lunch, what she wants for dinner, did she make new friends… she doesn’t seem to share much. He knows it is possible that she just doesn’t want him to worry, but she’s still his kid and he’s supposed to worry about her. Gregory always lets her know that he is there for her. In a way, Sapphire reminds him of his late partner, who was also distant and private. Other than that, Gregory and Sapphire are a loving family and they have their moments here and there.

Sapphire: Daughter of Gregory, and mother of Remi. Sapphire is quiet and mysterious. While she doesn’t reject being in a social setting, she prefers to sit on the sidelines and doesn’t initiate any sort of interaction unless she’s being interacted with. Rosemary, a good friend of hers, makes sure she’s included in activities. Sapphire would just blush and follow her friend group around. They know she’s not cold, she’s just a little quieter and that’s fine. Everything is normal and time passes by peacefully until one day, Sapphire’s belly starts to grow and she could no longer hide the baby she’s carrying. Gregory and all her friends are shocked. They thought they had her trust, but she never told anyone. They’re surprised because they’ve never seen Sapphire with another werewolf, and that she’s going to be a mother at such a young age. By human standards, she’d be a teen mom. Gregory tries to be gentle and very carefully asks his daughter who the father is, if she doesn’t mind sharing. Sapphire just closes her eyes and silently shakes her head, refusing to answer. It’s alright then, if she doesn’t want to say anything. They’ll help her the best they can.

Everything continues smoothly and the due date neared. This is when tragedy happens. For the first time ever, Sapphire is crying. There had been evidence of an abduction and several werewolves had disappeared. Sapphire’s partner was one of them. Traces pointed to Lukedonia, hinting that this was the deed of nobles, but there was nothing solid enough for them to hold against the nobles. In the end, they couldn’t save him. Or any of them. Sapphire was grief-stricken and refused to eat, almost killing herself and her unborn baby, until Gregory begged and begged for her to please take care of herself and that he cannot lose her. Unwilling to sadden her father, she starts to eat again and her body returns to normal.

Soon, Sapphire gives birth to a son and she names him Remi. Remi will never have a father, but she will try her best to raise him. Sapphire doesn’t really have any hobbies that stand out because she spends most of her time on Remi so she never really gets the chance to explore with her life.

Sapphire is too busy to like anyone. She does have a lot of admirers, many of whom are more than willing to take care of her and Remi as her partner and Remi’s stepfather. Ronan is one of them. Sapphire rejects all of them, but they just keep coming back. Remi shoos them away for her. Maybe one day Sapphire will find love again, but right now she is still mourning her partner who is currently permanently missing with no news of his fate whatsoever.

(Eventually she does find love and has her happily ever after. In the far future she has another child aka Remi’s half-sibling with a nice werewolf guy, when Remi is an adult)

Remi: Son of Sapphire, and grandson of Gregory. Remi is stubborn and tends to react emotionally to things. He thinks this is his fault and blames himself for being temperamental, but in reality he’s just his father’s son. Other than his looks, he doesn’t resemble his mother much. Remi is in a bit of a special situation. Sapphire is his mother, but they’re more like siblings. This is partially due to Sapphire having him at a young age, but mostly due to his grandfather Gregory suggesting that he grows up as his mother’s brother instead of her son. This is to take some stress off Sapphire’s shoulders so she won’t need to be anxious all the time. Originally, Sapphire could’ve raised Remi together with her partner, but that became impossible due to the abduction incident. Raising Remi alone is too much for a young Sapphire, so Gregory stepped up. He doesn’t mind raising his grandson as his son, and tells Sapphire that she can choose to go on and enjoy life as she wishes and leave Remi to him. Whatever she decides, he will be supportive. Sapphire is grateful for her father’s offer, but ultimately decides to be a very involved sister-ish mother in Remi’s life. And that’s that. Their family is a bit special with unconventional dynamics, but still loving nonetheless. Remi calls his mother by her name and his grandfather “Father”. Neither of them minds and they’re quite content with it. Sapphire’s friends also treat Remi as one of them and often ask her if her “brother” wants to tag along for hunting or fishing or something.

Remi’s primary goal in life is to gain power. He wants to grow up to become a strong and wise warrior like his grandfather, and he’s a bit impatient with it, despite being so young and still having lots of time in front of him. Gregory tells him not to worry. Other than that, Remi is rather dense and doesn’t know how to have fun. His friends have to drag him outside or else he’s just training all day.

Remi doesn’t like Ronan and finds him to be creepy. Remi once slapped Ronan across the face when the latter called him “my son”. He knows Ronan has a huge crush on his sister-mom but that’s just going too far. Just… ew. No thanks, bye bye. And stay away from her because she’s not interested!

Remi is too dense to like anyone. (For now)

Zen: Son of unnamed werewolves. Zen is respectful and composed, which are traits that become even more obvious when compared to his best friend Ulrich. Zen is an independent thinker. While he does appreciate Lord Peach and noble Marcus’ efforts to keep the werewolves afloat with extra resources, he believes that the werewolves should gradually wean themselves off the nobles’ help and become truly self-sufficient. It’s not beneficial to rely on outside help and who knows if one day the nobles will come and ask for the werewolves to return the favor since they’ve been “indebted” to them for so long. Zen doesn’t like the idea of his pack having something that can potentially be used against them. In reality, Marcus and his organization would never do such a thing, as they really are altruistic with their good deeds. Still, Zen has a hard time trusting them and he can’t bring himself to let his guard down. Zen has told Peach about his concerns, and the latter has reassured him that his worries will never come to be. Zen thinks otherwise. Peach appreciates Zen’s efforts to watch out for him and their big family, and jokes that he should take a “chill pill”. Zen is not amused.

In his free time, Zen just hangs out with Ulrich. He’s down to do whatever Ulrich is up for. He’s even willing to leave werewolf island and follow his best friend to the ends of the earth if that’s what he wants. That’s how much Ulrich means to him. Sometimes, Zen has dreams where he and Ulrich are in another strange universe where they are not werewolves; instead they are a supernatural race and the dream ends with both of them getting executed by a mysterious winged being. Maybe he’s just too tired, that’s why he’s making up all this crazy shit. But it’s too realistic to be a simple illusion. This gives Zen the chills.

When Ulrich is busy, Zen makes art with chains. He links them one by one. Your average werewolf would find that to be rather boring. Zen thinks it’s therapeutic.

Zen doesn’t have a crush on anyone, though he has a platonic love for Ulrich.

Ulrich: Son of an unnamed half-werewolf mother and werewolf father. Ulrich is mostly pretty tame though he can get fairly angry and jealous when he is upset, where he then tends to lash out at things and people nearby. Probably not the best judgement, because being three-quarters werewolf means that he’s weaker than most of whom he provokes and often ends up getting his regretful ass beaten. Probably deserved it. They didn’t start it, he did, so it’s always his fault. Ulrich would then sulk in the corner with a bloody nose and some bruises and complain to Zen about how the latter is late at comforting him. Zen would just sigh, shake his head, and come over and crouch down with Ulrich and tell him “better not do it next time” as he pats him on the shoulder. Ulrich never listens and he’s definitely doing it again. His one braincell simply never learns. And this cycle continues in an almost comedic manner. Zen is more than capable of defeating Ulrich in a spar at any given moment, but he lets his best friend boss him around without any objections. Ulrich doesn’t even know Zen is just super chill and nice. There’s not another soul in this world who will tolerate his less than favorable attitude and temper without some form of retaliation.

Ulrich is also a bit of a hypocrite. He can hang out others all he wants, but he gets upset when he sees Zen with someone else. He can have many friends, but Zen can only be his friend. His jealousy would cause him to lash out at his best friend at times, but he isn’t actually angry at him. Ulrich just never learned how to properly and calmly express his feelings. Fortunately, Zen accepts all of Ulrich’s flaws and they’re still best friends.

Ulrich has a weird hobby of pulling out his own fangs and fashioning them into necklaces and bracelets. It’s pretty hip, and hey it looks nice. Besides, he’s mostly a werewolf so they’ll grow back in. Ulrich makes Zen wear one of his “diy” necklaces and gets upset when the latter takes it off, so now he has to keep it on the whole time. Zen wouldn’t be surprised is Ulrich is making some pocket money with his unusual jewelry.

Ulrich doesn’t realize, but he too feels platonic love for his best friend. He probably can’t live without Zen.

Thank you for reading and stay tuned for future posts!

#noblesse #manhwa #myart #fanart #kori’s blood moon au #previous lord #erga kenesis di raskreia #rozaria elenor #kei ru #rael kertia #razark kertia #ludis mergas #claudia tradio #gejutel k. landegre #seira j. loyard #regis k. landegre #karias blerster #urokai agvain #zarga siriana

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ggebba · 2 months

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I’m not the anon who originally asked in your latest post,however it’d be amazing if you did more content similar to the ask about Russian culture, specifically the dating and social normalities. I loved your advice! I’m going to spend my summer in St. Petersburgo next year with a sports program I applied to and I found your advice to be extremely helpful! It seems as though Russia has such distinct social aspects that if you are unaware can possibly give others a bad impression of you and it actually reminds me of the way things are in my culture 😁

Once again, a very interesting question. I have thought it over and decided that it is possible to highlight some "wishes" for foreigners coming to Russia. Russia is not such a harsh country that there is something very different from good manners in any other country, but there are certain "unspoken rules" and recommendations.

1. The most important and amusing item on this list is "don't smile for no reason". Russians "give" smiles to their friends and family members. Therefore, you should not accidentally smile at strangers when you are in public transportation or shopping. Russians have a saying, "smiling for no reason is a sign of stupidity." Just like we have no such thing as “small talk”. For a Russian person, it is not considered polite, rather you are invading personal space or taking up time. Be polite, but do not violate the personal boundaries of strangers.

(This is no time to smile 😁)

2. Russians themselves do not mind saying a few unflattering words about our country and the authorities in it. But this does not mean that such a thing will be forgiven to anyone else but the locals themselves.

In general, the topic of politics is very complicated and it is better not to bring it up.

3. In Russia, you should always carry an identity document. As a foreigner, you must carry a passport with a valid visa.

Random checks by the police are not uncommon, especially in Moscow. If you do not have your identification document with you when you are stopped by the police, you are in serious trouble.

4. In Russian apartments and houses it is customary to take off your shoes at the threshold and change into slippers or simply walk around in socks. In any case, do not walk inside the house in shoes.

5. This is closer to the advice. Do not buy food at train stations or nearby stalls. Because you do not know what you will get in the next station stall with pirozhki: whether the food of the gods for ridiculous money, or a severe test for the entire digestive system. Experienced travelers advise not to take risks and buy food only in chain establishments/cafes/restaurants.

6. Do not shake hands with gloves on unless you want to offend the person you are greeting. It is considered extremely impolite to leave your gloves on when greeting someone with a handshake. Also, never shake hands over the threshold, as Russians see this as bad luck.

7. You should never make jokes about mom (your own/other people's) in any context. It is considered highly offensive.

8. Do not go to a guest's house empty-handed. If you are invited to someone's home for dinner or a visit, it is considered very rude to show up empty-handed. Bring a small gift-a bottle of wine, flowers, a dessert, or a small toy for the children. Russians pride themselves on preparing exquisite meals for their guests, and showing up without a small token of appreciation is a sign that you don't care.

9. Flowers are given in odd numbers. Never give a dozen roses, for example. Even numbers are for funerals.

10. In cultural places (museums, exhibitions, galleries, theaters, etc.) try to choose more strict clothes. You simply may not be allowed into the museum if you are dressed too revealingly.

11. Do not disrespect the church/religion. Russia has a law protecting the feelings of believers. Religion is taken seriously here. Any religion.

12. In Russia, medicine is free (ambulance, doctor's appointments, etc.). But often, if you have a minor illness, such as flu, you can simply go to a pharmacy and ask for flu medicine. Many of our medicines are sold without a prescription.

When you walk around Russia, people may seem unfriendly to you. They tend to walk without a smile and look straight ahead, but if you get to know Russians, they are the friendliest and most hospitable people you will ever meet 😁 trust me)

Please, try to learn basic words in Russian "thank you", "please", hello, bye, etc. If you ask for something, always add the word "please". Without it, the sentence becomes orderly and people may not like it very much. Politeness is the key to everything! 🥰

And don't be afraid to ask passers-by for help. In big cities, a lot of people know English. If anything, they'll explain everything to you with gestures, and sometimes even walk you to your destination. In 2018, during the World Cup, I myself often helped foreigners with advice. With some of them I went as far as Luzhniki Stadium. We had fun chatting with guys from Germany. It was a fun time.

I hope I have answered your question 😊

Good luck with your studies and I hope you enjoy Russia in general and St. Petersburg in particular!

#ask me anything

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phr3ia · 2 months

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I Got Isekai'd Into A World Where I'm Just The Side Character (Wuthering Waves x Fem!Reader) [Chapter 4 : The General]

Jiyan rode his horse through the gates of Jinzhou, the city walls looming over him like giants. The place was buzzing with life, and the smell of food drifting through the streets made his stomach grumble. He knew he should head straight to meet Rover, but the tantalizing aromas of the dishes were just too good to resist.

"Just a quick bite." he muttered to himself, heading straight for Panhua's Restaurant. His stomach was calling, and he wasn't going to ignore it.

He made his way to the restaurant. It was a place he knew well. The food there was enough to fill one's belly and even their soul.

He stepped inside, greeted by the familiar scent of cooking oil and spices. A woman looked up from her work, a smile lighting her face. "General Jiyan, welcome back. It's been a while."

"Panhua... it has been too long. I am sorry I didn't come by sooner. I hope you are well? How are things here?" He asked as he took a seat at a table near the window. The sun was beginning to dip lower, casting a warm glow over everything. He watched people walking by, enjoying the peace of the moment. He ordered a dish, relishing the anticipation of a good meal.

"Things are going well for us. We're blessed. Even with the chaos around us, we still manage to bring joy to our customers. And thank you for asking. My family and I are doing well. Your men often come to visit, and they speak highly of you. Ah, here's your order." She placed a steaming dish in front of him, and Jiyan waited until she left to take his first bite.

He savored the flavors, finding comfort in the familiar taste. It felt like home. He ate slowly, taking his time to enjoy the meal. He glanced outside, watching people enjoy their evening. It was a sight he wished everyone could experience.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

You just chilled in the inn all day, doing absolutely nothing. You didn't want to bother Rover, knowing he needed some rest.

You stared outside the window, wondering how people even managed without their phones and computers. You knew about the Pangu Terminal, but that was it. "Seriously, what do people even do for fun around here? There are no malls, arcade or anything." you sighed, shaking your head.

You were lost in thought, but then your stomach growled, reminding you that you hadn't eaten anything since breakfast.

"Wait a minute... Rover gave me some money yesterday, didn't he? He said I can spend it however I wanted....Man, that guy is so thoughtful." you mumbled to yourself, a smile spreading across your face.

You quickly changed on the clothes Yangyang had given you and headed out to grab something to eat.

You went to the restaurant where Rover, you and the others ate last night, you gaze scanning the room. It was full of customers, but you immediately sighed in relief when you spotted an empty seat, although your hopes were short-lived as you saw a man seated across from it. You approached him, your confidence making it clear you weren't afraid to ask for permission. "Excuse me, sir. Mind if I sit here?"

The man, glanced up from his meal, a hint of curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Not at all. Please do."

You settled into a seat, placing your blazer beside you. You started talking to yourself, "Finally, I can have a break. I've been running errands all day and I'm so exhausted. If only Jinzhou had some sort of public transportation. It would save me a lot of trouble."

Jiyan chuckled softly, drawing your attention. "Sorry, I couldn't help but hear what you were saying."

"Oh, Uhm..." you slightly feel embarrassed. "I guess being alone makes me forget that I'm not the only one here."

"Oh, great. Now he's going to think I'm completely nuts." you thought to yourself, cringing internally.

"No worries, I don't judge. I'm glad someone is honest these days." Jiyan took another bite, a hint of a smile lingering on his lips.

You picked up the menu, flipping through the pages with confusion written all over your face. "Umm... I have no idea what to order."

"Um, excuse me. I'm kind of new here, so could you recommend something from this menu?" you asked, extending the menu towards the man in front of you.

Jiyan chuckled "No problem. The stir-fried beef with vegetables and rice is there best seller. The beef slices are tender, and the vegetables add a nice crunch to each bite."

"Stir-fried beef, got it." You ordered the dish, relieved you wouldn't have to struggle with it. "Thank you, by the way. You're really helping me adjust to this place." You sipped your water, feeling more relaxed.

Jiyan's brows furrowed, giving you a curious look. "So, you're not from around here?"

You hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to tell him the truth. "Well, no. I'm from a far away place. I just arrived in this city recently." You hoped explaining it briefly would satisfy his curiosity.

"Ah, I see. Where exactly is this 'far away place' of yours? And what brought you here?" Jiyan asked, genuinely interested.

You swallowed, deciding to keep the details of your Isekai situation to yourself. "It's a long story. Let's just say that I got here in a very unexpected way." you responded, hoping he'd understand.

"Ah, I see. Well, Jinzhou might seem a bit different compared to your hometown, but it's a place worth getting used to." Jiyan smiled, watching as you waited for your food.

"Whew, good thing he didn't pressed it any further." you thought, letting out a silent sigh of relief as you glanced at him.

You looked at the man's face, studying him for a moment before speaking. "My apologies, I don't believe we've been properly introduced. May I know your name?" you asked, extending your hand to shake.

"My name is Jiyan." he replied, offering a small smile as he accepted your handshake. He too, had no intention of disclosing his true identity, preferring to keep his personal life separate from his duties.

"Nice to meet you, Jiyan! I'm Y/N." you said with a beaming smile.

"Here's your order!" the waitress exclaimed.

Your eyes widened as the dish was set in front of you, the steam rising from the plate further enticing your senses. "Oh, wow, this looks amazing!" you gasped in fascination, your mouth watering at the sight.

Jiyan couldn't help but smile, watching as you eagerly picked up your spoon and fork.

You immediately dug in, taking a generous bite. "Mmm, this is heaven in my mouth," you praised between chews.

Jiyan laughed lightly, amused by your enthusiasm. "I'm glad you like it. It's my favorite dish."

"Good taste in food usually means a person has a good taste in many other areas of life as well." You stated casually, smiling at him.

Jiyan returned the smile. Your straightforwardness was somehow refreshing to the General. "Well, I'm glad I passed your judgment on that front." He continued eating, enjoying the company and the delicious meal.

Jiyan finished his food with satisfaction, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Y/N. Enjoy the rest of your stay in Jinzhou and, hopefully, we'll cross paths again." Jiyan offered his hand for another shake.

You nodded in agreement, feeling grateful for the brief encounter "Likewise, Jiyan. Thank you for your help. Enjoy the rest of your evening." you said, shaking his hand firmly.

With that, Jiyan bid his farewell, leaving the restaurant to meet with Rover. You, on the other hand, returned to the inn, thinking about him. Not in a romantic way, but in a sense that he made you feel totally comfortable, like he was born to be a protector or something. It was weird, but you kinda liked it.

Little did you know, that the man you shared a meal with was an important part of keeping Jinzhou safe from harm.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

End of Chapter 4 🥀...

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

#wuthering waves #wuwa #wuwa jiyan #wuwa fanfic #wuwa romance #wuwa smut #fanfiction #wuwa x reader #wuwa x you #wuwa calcharo #wuwa rover

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stevetonyweekly · 1 year

Text

SteveTony Weekly - August 27th

Hey all! I’m feeling under the weather this week so even though you’re owed a long list this week--it’s not. I’m sorry. I’ll do better soon.

~*~

Memory Lane by itsallAvengers

Suddenly, he's soaking - someone just threw a fucking water bomb or something, and it's not a big deal, it shouldn't be a big deal-

But for some reason, it is.

Toasted Buns by copperbadge, scifigrl47

After seeing Tony naked and tanned -- all over -- in a decontamination shower, Steve realizes he may be in trouble. Tony, meanwhile, is definitely in trouble over those tabloid pictures of him sunbathing nude. The solution is clearly a tropical island getaway.

Tenth Time Lucky by itsallAvengers

Steve just wants to propose to Tony.

If only he didn't keep getting fucking interrupted-

I Am One With What I Am by Kiyaar

After the mess in Washington, Steve and Tony try to carve out a little life for themselves, a place to heal, out of the spotlight.

If only the original Tony’s shadow wasn't permanently between them.

Throw a Little Hot Rod Red in There by FestiveFerret, SirSapling

Tony Stark was pretty sure that the absolute worst time to get asked out by an incredibly talented, good-looking artist, who likes to paint - and defend - Iron Man, is when he's dying of palladium poisoning.

Vice Versa by AvocadoLove

During an alien invasion, Tony is transported to an alternate universe where Steve is Iron Man and he is Captain America.

Also, Captain Stark and CEO Steve Rogers are together on the sly. Awkward.

I Wanted It To Be You by complicationstoo

After Civil War, Tony and Steve are both a bit of a mess. Guilt and loneliness threaten to break them both, but each find comfort in the emails of strangers they meet online. Tony writes to Sal, and Steve writes to Thomas, and neither of them have a clue who's actually on the other side.

Antoshka by LokasennaHiddleston

Tony does not know what to make of the Winter Soldier's story. For Steve's sake, he's trying to help. For Steve's sake, he's trying to find Bucky Barnes and bring him back. But when an Avengers raid on a Hydra base leads to an unexpected discovery, Tony will find that Bucky Barnes may just be more than just his lover's best friend.

Mental note: Scrap all footage of him hitting on Natasha. That's just awkward.

Through A Lens by itsallAvengers

"Okay- so this is the first option- I've got to go to this huge family meal in a few weeks, and so I'm looking for a shirt that just screams 'I am the family disappointment', you know? Does the bright pink work, do you think?"

Steve shrugged. "Uhh, well, I'd say pink probably would? It's hard to say, I mean, I'm colour-blind, maybe you need Natasha's input. Hell, Clint's always good with 'family disappointment' fashion, shall I grab him-"

"Wait," Tony cut him off, face completely blank and shirt half way off his body. "You're... you're fucking with me, right?"

"Huh? I mean, Clint's family is fucked up on a normal day, so it's not really-"

"No, not that, the other thing. The colour-blind thing," Tony said, stepping out of the changing room with his shirt still hanging around his neck in order to grab Steve's arms. "Please, please God tell me that I haven't spent the last two years of my life assuming you could see colour. Please."

If you like Piña Coladas... by itsallAvengers

After being essentially blackmailed onto a first-class cruise by Bucky under the guise of 'taking a vacation' and 'getting some well-earned rest' or whatever stupid bullshit it was that his dumb best friend told him, Steve Rogers ends up alone, on a boat heading to the Caribbean. He gets on expecting to hate it.

He does.

There is one good thing about the trip, though.

patchwork people by itsallAvengers

It was a pretty well-known fact that Tony Stark had control issues.

It was far less well-known why, though.

Our rain-washed histories (don't need to be told) by sirona

Dumped by SHIELD into the real world of the 21st Century, Steve must learn how to live a normal life again, and rediscover the things that make it worth embracing.

Science and Progress (do not speak as loud as my heart) by sirona

Steve's body is not the only thing affected by the Super Soldier Serum.

I wanna hold your hand by sirona

No one understands what it's like growing up rich and yet more alone than anyone should be able to stand - except for people who grew up just like you, that is. In which Tony Stark goes to Oxford University and meets people and makes enemies and makes friends and changes people's minds and falls in love - amongst other tales of mishap and adventure.

you can call me babe for the weekend by complicationstoo

Tony left his small town for Los Angeles after high school, leaving behind everything to pursue his dream. Ten years later, he comes back for the first time and finds that some things are impossible to let go of.

Brave New World by valdomarx for enkiduu

Captain Hydra, the Avengers' long-time foe, and Iron Man, the mysterious masked Avenger, find themselves transported to a strange alien planet. The place is beautiful, but it's also apparently sentient and has taken a perverse interest in them.

Steve agrees to a truce with Iron Man for now, at least until he finds his time to strike.

That is, if the trees don't get them first.

Good For You by youcancallmearrow

Steve doesn't understand why Tony dates people who treat him poorly. Tony doesn't understand why Steve cares.

The rest is bad choices, good choices, rehab, milkshakes, paintball, YouTube videos, couples therapy and learning to put the past in the past.

Or: How Tony finds his happy ending.

but come ye back by Red (S_Hylor)

When the night is cold and the sky is open, Tony goes to talk to the past Sheriff of Timely.

your ivy grows by complicationstoo

Tony has been trapped in an arranged marriage for years, isolated and withering under Ty's heavy hand. Until one night at a bar in Brooklyn changes everything.

It Had To Be You (Wonderful You) by tinystark616

During a party in Avengers Tower, Steve confesses to Tony that he's never slept with anyone.

#stevetony #stony #stony fic recs #stevetony weekly #steve rogers #tony stark #iron man #captain america #stevetony fic #stony fic #fic rec

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blizzardfluffykpop · 2 years

Text

Ride With U

Summary: “I'm good, I'm down for you, You wanna ride with me?” It doesn’t matter the transportation, as long as it’s Hyungwon driving, you know you’re in for the time of your life.

Oneshot

Fluff, Strangers to Lovers au, Motorcyclist au

[TW: Mentions a past motorcycle accident (does not involve major characters)]

Word Count: 6,732

Hyungwon X Reader

[Long A/n: They do fall in love kind of fast- but hear me out- it’s motorcycle rider Hyungwon-. Anyways some things/terms to know before diving in. Firstly, I don’t know how long Hyungwon drove a motorcycle, this is just speculation. Secondly, a Swap Meet is an area where people sell tools/car parts/collectibles and sometimes there will be vendors that sell jewelry or fashion. Lastly, a Chassis is the underneath of a car. If anything else needs explanations/pictures- feel free to send me an ask! 🥰Also credits to @jinkoh for helping inspire this long-winded fic- and helping pick the title! 🥺💖💖]

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When you first saw Hyungwon, he was getting off his motorcycle, and you couldn’t help but stare at him. And then, when he took his helmet off and shook out his hair, you nearly fell out of the chair you were sitting in. Your friends turned and looked out the window to see what captured your attention. And they let out a collective “Ooh~” The four of you watched as he walked into the restaurant. All three of them started hyping you up. The one goes, “Come on, what’s the worst he could say?” Your other friend chimes in, “No. And that’s it! So why don’t you ask him?” And you whined and put your face behind your hands, “But he’s so handsome. And! He drives a motorcycle. He’s totally going to reject me.” Your friend beside you rubbed your shoulder and comfortingly said, “It’s okay. Who would want to reject a pretty thing like you~” You laughed and shook your head before they continued, “Come on, you haven’t been on a date in months!” You sigh, “I know,” The three of them nodded like you were going to say something exciting, “But I’m nervous!” They all groaned, “Come on!” And your friend to the left says, “After he orders, why don’t you go over there?” You nod. And look over at him and watch as he sips his coke and reads the menu.

When the waiter comes over, he tells him his order and hands him his menu. And your friends all give you encouraging words, and you whisper to them before you get up. “No guarantees that I’ll be able to ask him!” They laughed, “We’re just happy we convinced you to try!” You roll your eyes, trying to calm your nerves, and ask him, “Hey, is this seat taken?” He shakes his head ‘no’ with a small smile. And you sit across from him and ask, “Is that your motorcycle out there?” As if you hadn’t seen him get off of it. He nods, “Yeah. I’m planning on getting rid of it this month.” You hold back your surprise as you ask, “Why?” He gives you a small smile, “I want to try something safer.”

You nod, “That’s reasonable.” You see a light smirk playing on his lips before he asks, “Would you like to ride with me a few times before I do?” Your eyes light up in excitement as you shake your head, 'yes,' and he goes, “Great, then it’s a date.” You blush. Realizing this went way better than you had planned. You watch as the waiter brings out your dinner. And you tell him, “Um, my food just arrived. But uh, I’m (Y/n).” And he grins, “I’m Hyungwon.”

You exchange socials, and he asks, “After I finish my meal, would you like to go for a ride?” You nod eagerly, and he grins, “Cool. Maybe we can pick up ice cream on the way?” You grin, “I’d love that!” You stand up, and you both smile at each other before you head back to your table.

Your friends immediately ask how it went brimming with excitement. And you tell them in detail with a dreamy sigh as you fill up on your food. The three of them cheer and make a toast to you, and you laugh as you enjoy your meal together. You look over to his table to find him looking back at you. You shyly wave, and he waves back with a smile before you both continue eating.

He comes over once he finishes his food and pays for his meal. Your friends anticipate meeting the guy taking you out on an ice cream date. “Hey, are you ready to go?” You nod, having already paid for your meal. He introduces himself to your friends as you take one last sip of your drink. And your friend to your left goes, “Be careful. They're the only (Y/n) we got, okay?” He grins, “Of course.” You pull your coat on and bid your friends goodbye, and Hyungwon does too. You make your way over to his bike, and he opens the side compartment and hands you a helmet. He fastens his own on, and you get yours on and struggle to click it together, not used to the helmet. And he smiles before moving your hands away and snapping the fasteners together.

You blush, and he tells you to lean with him when he turns, or it could be dangerous. And you nod as he continues, “You don’t have to hold me if you don’t wish. You can hold on to the seat behind you, so you’re just as stable.” And you nod. Already making up the decision that you were going to hold onto him. He gets on first and watches you get on behind him. You nervously wrap your arms around him, and he places his hand on yours, and you give him a thumbs up. You feel him laugh as his hand leaves yours, and you link your hands together as he starts the motorcycle and backs up a bit before looking out onto the street. He revs the engine once, sending shivers down your spine. And you realize you’re doing this with a man you met no less than an hour ago. You hold on to him tighter as he pulls out of the parallel spot and onto the road.

It feels freeing as he speeds down the street, and you can’t help but loosen your grip up some as you get more comfortable with his driving. When he gestures that he’s going to make a left, you lean with him, and two turns later, he’s at the ice cream place. He backs into a spot, turns the ignition off, and waits for you to clamber off it. Your legs feel like jelly as you stand on solid ground, and while you can’t see his grin, you can hear his muffled laugh. He swings his leg over, takes his helmet off, and says, “You get used to it after a while of riding.” You nod, and he smiles, “What flavor do you like?” You smile as you tell him your favorite flavor and how you like your toppings. And he tells you what his favorites are as you both walk to the back of the line.

When you get to the counter, he orders for you both. And you thank him softly, and before you can pull out your card, he’s already inserted his and paid for both. You gasp, and he smirks, “Can’t let my date pay.” You shake your head as you head over to the line of paid ice cream orders waiting to pick their frozen treats up. When you guys receive yours, you find a bench near his bike.

Sitting across from each other again, you say, “Well, this feels familiar.” He nods. And you don’t talk much as you eat your ice cream and when you finish. He asks, “Was that your first time?” You nod, “I always dreamed of riding on one.” He smiles, “I always did too.” You ask, “What made you get into it?” He smiles and thinks back. After a moment, he says, “I remember looking at magazines and seeing how cool it was to ride one. And when I turned eighteen, I finally went after the dream.” You go, “So you’ve been riding since then?” He nods, “On and off for about ten years. It would have been eleven next year.”

You ask another question, “I understand that you’re giving it up, but why, after nearly eleven years, are you giving it up for safety?” He looks down at the table, and you can tell it’s not easy for him to say. But he does anyway, “A friend of mine got severely injured from a bike accident, and he was my riding buddy. It's uh... It would be weird without him riding alongside me.” You tell him how you understand, and he nods, “Maybe, someday, when he’s healed and ready to ride again, I would. Or maybe something else will inspire me to ride again. But for now, I'll enjoy my last month with it and part ways.”

You smile, “You never have to ride again if you don’t wish to. That must have been scary to hear your friend got badly injured in a bike accident.” He nods, “It was, he’s recovering now, thankfully, but it made me realize how much risk I was taking every time I rode. Yeah, I had close encounters before this. Where someone wasn’t paying attention or losing control of my bike and getting minor injuries, but that was in the early days. I expected that stuff then, but he has as much experience as I do. And it made me realize that no matter how skilled you think you are, you can get horribly injured.” You nod, reach over and take his hand in yours, “You’re doing what’s best for you for the time being. And that's what matters the most. Thank you for telling me.” He smiles and squeezes your hand, “I’d like to think so. Thank you for listening.”

He asks if you’d ever pick it up given the opportunity, “I think being a passenger is more fun. Not as much worry to get us there but still all the excitement of riding a motorcycle.” He laughs, “I get that.” You continue asking each other questions, getting to know each other more until the day grows dark and paints the sky with millions of stars. You only realized the change in scenery when you heard the light above you flicker on. And you both look up towards it and see it all, “Wow, it got fairly late.” You whisper to him, and he smiles, “It’s hard to notice anything else when you’re sitting across from me.” You blush, shake your head, and tell him, “I could say the same about you. Your eyes contain the stars. There's no reason to look up when you’re right here.” You see his ears turn red, and you can’t help but smile. He asks, “Would you like to go for a night ride?” You nod, filled with excitement all over again. He pulls you up from your seat, and you both throw out your trash and head over to his motorcycle.

Before you put on your helmets, he tells you he’s taking the highway. And then, after that, to a hillside to see the night sky without any light pollution. You gasp, and he grins, “I thought you'd like to see the real deal.” You eagerly nod. This time successfully putting your helmet on, he gets on with ease after clicking his helmet into place. You wrap your arms around him, and he turns the engine over. After it roars to life, he pulls out of the empty parking lot, and with it all clear, he pulls out and heads to the highway.

If it felt freeing before, it was nothing compared to now as he goes from 35 to 70 mph. You can’t help the little “Woohoo!” you let out as he speeds off. With ease, he merges onto the highway. And even with the chill of the night air and the early spring weather, you can’t help but feel warm. Maybe it was because it was your first time on a motorcycle. But you had a funny feeling it was the guy operating the bike that sent millions of butterflies throughout your stomach.

He passes three exits before finally getting off the highway. When he reaches the top, it’s a red light. He turns his head back towards you and flips his visor up, “How was that?” You flip yours up and grin, “It was electric!” He laughs, and so do you, “I’m glad you’re enjoying it!” And with that, you put your visors down as the light turns green, you both lean right and head to see the night sky in its full glory. It’s not long before he reaches the hillside. He parks it in the lot below. You both get off the bike, and he opens the other compartment and pulls out a blanket. You walk up the hill together, he sets the blanket down, and you both take off your helmets again. And place them on top of the blanket before sitting next to each other.

You smile, “I never thought it’d feel like that.” He looks over at you and asks, “Yeah?” You nod, turning to look at him, “It’s like you’re one with the world but also completely free from it.” He smiles, “Yeah, it’s comforting.” You both look out towards the sky and fall into a comfortable silence. Watching the stars twinkle and dance around the sky as the moon shines brightly above the two of you. While you felt nice before, this felt heavenly. Not only were you with someone you found attractive, but you were also experiencing something completely new. And you couldn't help but feel excited about what this month would bring for you and your life.

He breaks the silence first and goes, “This is my favorite place to go when I’m out for a night ride.” You nod, “It’s beautiful out here.” You two continue staring off in silence, taking in the atmosphere. When your tiredness catches up to you, you yawn. And he asks, “Are you ready to go home?” And you want to say ‘no’ because you want this date to last forever. But you tiredly nod a ‘yes,’ and he smiles, “It’s okay. There’s always next time.” You smile at him and tell him your address. He nods and helps you stand, “I’ll take you the quiet way home.” You agree and end up yawning again, and he chuckles at that. And you smile over at him, take your helmet and help him fold the blanket back up.

You both walk down, and he puts the blanket away. He sees you struggle with your tired movements to fasten your helmet. He smiles, “Let me help you again.” You nod, and he snaps it together, “You know, you’re making me pretty tired with all your yawning. Good thing I'm used to staying up late.” You chuckle as he mounts the bike, and you follow shortly. He turns the engine over as you wrap your arms around his torso. You bury your head further into his leather jacket, growing tired but still following him in his turns. He takes all the backroads. So you’re not disturbed by a loud semi-truck passing you as you rest against him.

He gets there faster than you imagined he would, and he parks in front of your residence. You still feel slightly tired as you unwind your arms around him and slowly get up. Your legs feel like jelly, but it’s more tolerable as you get off this time. He pulls off his helmet as you do. As you go to hand it back, he shakes his head, “No, you keep it.” You gawk at him, and he grins, “You’re the only person I plan on riding with for the rest of the month.” You smile and look down at the pavement before back towards him, “Thank you.” He shrugs, “It’s my pleasure.” He smiles and asks, “Can I walk you to your door?” And you nod, “Sure.”

He brushes your hair behind your ear before placing the gentlest of kisses on your lips. And you barely kiss back before he parts, “Let’s have a longer one next time.” He parts from you and waves goodbye, and you watch him walk away. And the jelly feeling returns all over again, and you shakily open your door, close it, and slide down it. You just experienced the man of your dreams driving you around on a motorcycle, and he kissed you too? You felt like you were evaporating. There was no way this wasn’t a dream. You pinch yourself, “Oh, it was real.”

------

After that night, he'd pick you up every other night for a date. And you couldn’t help but feel excited every time you met up with him. As the end of the month approached, you realized you were right. It wasn't because he was driving a motorcycle. But it was because of him and how he was funny, kind, a little reserved, and handsome from the inside out. You couldn’t wait to see him every day, especially on the weekends when you both could go for further out drives and watch the sunset together. It felt like a high school romance, where you were both so enamored by the other that you couldn’t get enough. Sure, you had partners before him that lit up your world. But nothing could compare to the rush of butterflies you got every time you saw him.

It was no longer a matter of feeling free on a motorcycle, it was a perk, but it didn’t mean anything if it wasn’t with Hyungwon. “You know, it doesn’t feel as lonely anymore.” He whispers to you the night before he trades his motorcycle for a car. “What do you mean?” He smiles, “You make me feel content and safe.” He pauses, “When my buddy could no longer ride. It was like I lost a part of me that made me feel safe riding. But riding with you holding me. It feels like nothing could ever bring me harm.” You look down at your intertwined hands and squeeze your hands together. “I don’t think I could ever ride a motorcycle without you. You make the experience worth having. Without you, it’d just be a bike. It wouldn't hold meaning to me. Whatever you wish to drive, I wish to be along for the ride.” He brings your intertwined hands up and kisses the top of your hand. “I’m glad I have you. I know it’s only been a month since we started dating. But I hope we can last a long time together.” You smile, “Me too.”

------

The first time he picked you up in a car, it felt a little foreign to you both. You laughed as you got in and said, “I guess I don’t need a helmet to see you anymore.” He laughed. And you both grew used to it as the day went on. “I miss being able to hold you while we went somewhere.” He nods, “I miss the feeling too.” And you reach over, and you hold his hand in yours, “But now, we can hold hands and talk.” You laugh. He agrees, “Yeah, that’s a plus.” And just as you thought, as long as it was with Hyungwon, it was an enjoyable ride. And even better cause, now you could exchange kisses at red lights if you wish.

------

That was almost a year ago, and now you were lying in bed beside Hyungwon. You both had settled more into casual less adventurous dates as you guys got more comfortable with one another. As you scroll on your phone, watching silly videos, he asks, “Babe, would you like to go to this car show with me?” You look over at him after thinking about it for a moment. “What kind?” He tells you about this indoor car show with two levels, an assortment of food to choose from, and the small swap meet in the back. You agree getting to walk around with your boyfriend while looking at pretty colored cars sounded like fun. He somehow made everything enjoyable, even if it was something you hadn't tried.

------

That Saturday, you both got up early with the promise of more sleep that afternoon. And head out and stop to buy some coffee and doughnuts before continuing onto the car show. By the time you get to where the entrance toll is, you’ve both finished your doughnuts. When the parking attendant arrives and opens up the entrance, you pay the parking fee, and Hyungwon gets you guys the closest parking space imaginable to the doors.

You finish your coffees as you walk next to each other to the front doors and throw out the cups and trash from the car into the trash can. You pull up your tickets and wait for them to let you in. While there, you both talk about how you want to go about it. The place looked grander than you thought. The ceilings had to be at least sixty feet up, and everywhere you looked, there were cars to look at already. But the entrance was straight ahead, and you say, “Why don’t we tackle the lower level first? Isn’t it supposed to be smaller?” He nods, “Yeah, let’s do that. Then, we’ll go from that end to the entrance?” You agree, “Sounds good.” And when the line starts moving, you both present your tickets, and the person scans them and stamps your hands.

You both walk past the entrance and take in the fact that’s even bigger after the main entrance. “Holy shit.” You whisper, and he laughs. To not lose you in the growing crowd, he takes your hand in his and interlocks them to keep you beside him. You smile, squeeze your fingers in his, and walk down to the lower level. Where music from the 70s plays in the background as you reach the bottom of the escalator. You take into the room it’s tiny compared to upstairs. And only two other people are down here. As you look at each car, you spot a light green 70’ dodge charger with a black stripe running down the side of it. You tell him that this one’s your favorite so far. And he smiles, “Go stand in front of it!” And you grin, and he takes a photo of you standing in front of your favorite car.

You guys take a few more photos of the cars you like before riding the escalator back up and notice that it’s starting to fill with more people than before. You lock your arm in his as you head right and see the humongous monster trucks lining the sides. You see you're allowed to sit in the rims of the large tires, and you drag Hyungwon to take turns taking photos inside the wheel. And a few in front of huge trucks, as well, “That makes me feel small.” He says, and you grin, “Yeah, it’s huge!” He snickers, and you roll your eyes at him. It makes him laugh even harder. “I’m dating the most mature man on the market. Yeah, that’s for sure.” He smirks and tickles your sides for a second, causing you to finally join him in laughter.

You both move onto the rat rod section and admire them for how wicked and rusty they look. “Oh, look at how weirdly cute that green mouse is!” He smiles, “They call ‘em Rat Fink.” You get a picture next to the cutout. And you take a photo of him in front of it as well.

You finish the first four rows of cars before you make it to the front of the car show again. And your stomach growls. He smirks, “Hungry?” You roll your eyes, “Of course I am.” He laughs, and that's when his stomach growls and it's your turn to laugh at him, “Who’s hungry now!” He smiles, “Us!” You both walk to the front of the section and head to the mildly packed food court. And order a pizza slice each and two large pops. You both find a clean table, sit on the opposite side of each other and devour your food.

When you finish your food, you go, “This is nice.” He nods, “I think so too.” You dump your paper plates and napkins and take your unfinished pops along. “What’s your favorite part so far?” You ask, and he says, “I have two so far. The rat rods were really cool to me. And then getting to spend it all with you. What about you?” You tell him, “I like the cars on the lower level. They were more elegant. It might have been the clean look of the room that made me think that, though.” He nods, and you have him look towards you, “But, the best part is spending it with you.” Which makes him blush, and you guys lock hands again and head off to the fifth row.

------

You make it to the swap meet part, and you find some fuzzy dice for three bucks and purchase them, and he finds a hot wheels car that matches his car and buys it. You guys wander through it, not looking for any parts or anything, just seeing if something would catch your eye. You don’t end up finding anything else but are still happy with the purchases you made. You put the dice in your coat pocket, and Hyungwon does the same with his hot wheels car. And you make your way through the middle of the car show, where the lights are brighter than before, showing off all the ones that belong to clubs. Like the mustang club, which has a few convertibles that you’d both love to drive someday and you take photos of them all.

You move on to the corvette club’s section. And it looks like a fenced-in neighborhood. You tell him, “It looks like the cars are rival neighboring houses, unlike the ford club, whose cars looked like they were best buds.” He agrees and points to the cherry apple red one, “Now that one, that’s my favorite.” You gesture for him to stand in front of it. And you take a photo of him with it, and he comes back, “I’d rather see you in front of it.” You shake your head at him before standing in front of it and giving him a little pose before you move on to the next section and throw out your empty cups.

You both continue like that until you reach the motorcycle section, and you see how his eyes light up as he takes in each bike. And instead of taking photos, you video him enjoying himself as he hops from one to one in excitement until he grabs your hand and drags you over to one that looks very familiar. And he goes, “I had a feeling I’d see it again.” And you continue filming him but take photos during it this time.

The current owner comes over, and you turn off your camera, and Hyungwon starts talking about how he used to own it. You grin to yourself as you watch him happily chat about his bike. You don’t pay any attention to what they’re saying as you reminisce on your memories of the cycle. Until you hear Hyungwon go, “If it wasn’t for this bike, I don’t know if I would have met the love of my life.” He gestures towards you, and you wave, and the owner waves back. You blush and you can’t help but feel the same about Hyungwon. But some things are destiny, and this was one of them. You could have met him now when he was just a regular motorist. But getting to be a part of his motorcycle life was something you wouldn’t trade for the world, even if it was short-lived. That first month of going on countless dates and riding around on his motorcycle is what formed your bond. You would have thought you’d grow tired of hanging with the same person nearly every day. But each day with him was an adventure, and you fell more and more each day for him. And you both made the most of that month. You're still falling for him even though supposedly the honeymoon stage of dating is over, and the bike that started it all belongs to someone else.

You smile as you think about how thankful you are for that bike and the man it helped you meet. That's when the owner asks, “Would you like to get on it for old times' sake?” Hyungwon gasps, “You would let me?” They nod, “Of course, I can even take photos of you two if you’d like!” Hyungwon looks at you with a huge grin, and you nod. He gets on first and poses a few times before gesturing for you to join him. You do, and like its muscle memory, you wrap your arms around him and rest your head against his back before lifting your head to take photos with your head on his shoulder. It was wild to feel all over again. Sure, you gave him enough back hugs to fill that craving of holding him like that, but getting to embrace him on his old bike all over again? Hundreds of feelings rush through you. And they’re all joyous, nostalgic, and filled with love. You were so content, and when you had to get off, you almost didn't want to, but you did.

When you both hopped off, “Something was missing.” He whispers, and you whisper back, “Our helmets.” And he grins, “Yeah.” He finishes his conversation and thanks them for taking photos of you two.

You walk through the dirt bike section side by side and ask him, “Do you remember our first date?” He grins, “Of course I do. How could I forget it? The most beautiful person I had ever seen came up to me asking about my motorcycle. And then I got to take them out for ice cream.” You blush, “I got to ride a motorcycle for the first time and go out on a date with you. And unbelievably, when I got home, the man of my dreams kissed me.” He blushes this time and pulls you into him to hug. “You know, I meant what I said. You’re the love of my life, even though we haven’t been together long.” You murmur to him, “You’re the love of my life too. I’m so thankful I got over my nerves that night.” He grins, “I’m glad I rode it that night.” You nod, “Me too.”

You finish looking at the bikes and walk through the custom builds with their crazy electric colors and murals painted all over them. And gasp at the art of each one, and take pictures of each, some with Hyungwon in them and some of the cars themselves. He did the same thing with you, and you both walked over to the DJ bus, where they were putting out the tunes that were playing above. You both stand by the speakers. He twirls you around, and you follow his lead for a few moments before spinning him around too.

You guys laugh as you walk away from the speaker and over to the lifts. Each has a car on top and one underneath it. Two of the four posts are black, and another is red. And one is a different type altogether. It’s blue and yellow and holds the car in place in the middle. Unlike the other three, it's holding the car up by two posts. “That one doesn’t look as safe as the other two.” You whisper, and he shakes his head, “Yeah, I don’t want to walk under it. Like the other three seem fine, but that one,…” You shiver, “If it's not properly secure and we walk under it... We’re crushed, gone, poof.” He gulps, and you both walk around it before walking underneath the red one and looking up at the chassis. While you know the people showing these were selling them, you both didn’t care. While you thought they were neat, there was no practical use for either of you. Considering if you needed to work on the car, you would jack it up and work on the ground together. You head over to the table when the two are distracted by customers. You both reach in and get a lollipop from the candy bowl. “Worth it!” You both cheer after you walk away.

You suck on your lollipops as you come up on the small foreign cars. And you look at them and cheer, “You’re twice the height of this car!” The sleek Ferrari Dino 206 in front of you sits on a rotating stage, and Hyungwon laughs, “I think I’m twice as tall as the majority of the show cars” You shrug, “Yeah, I know, but this one is the most obvious!” Even with it on a stage, he still towered over it. You two do your best to take photos in front of it until a lady comes up to you and asks if you want a picture in front of her car.

And you both eagerly nod, and she grins. She gestures for you both to stand together. And she captures a few with the side of the car and one with the front end. And one when the back was facing both of yours. “Here you go!” You tell her, “You have a lovely car!” And she smiles, “Thanks, it was a gift from my girlfriend! She’s around here somewhere with her light green 70’ charger!” You grin, “Oh gosh, is it the one on the lower level?” She thinks before nodding, “Yeah! That’s where she said it was!” “I took pictures with it, but we didn’t see her.” She nods, “Ah, you two must have gotten here early. Well, then, I’ll let you two be off! I’m going to visit her! Thank you for reminding me where she parked!” You bid her farewell, finish up your suckers, throw them away, and head to the last part of the left side.

You start at the end where the old vans are. “No way! A 23-window Volkswagen bus?!” You gasp, and he tilts his head, “What’s so impressive?” You smile, “These are incredibly rare! I don’t remember why. But it’s super neat that someone has it restored!” And you take photos of the inside and out and continue throughout the section seeing versions of the Mystery Machine and other old-school vans. You head over to the old restored farm trucks that look like they just came off the lot. They look majestic, and you start reaching the end as you notice the kids racing cars on a track.

You both stand and watch them race around the track and decide to root for opposing teams. Your team wins the first round. And you both stand there watching until Hyungwon’s team wins. When his team wins he cheers and places his hand on the small of your back and leads you to the last of this section.

The last three are three mismatched cars. They don’t seem to fit in with one another, but they look like they belong together. You take a moment to read the sign and find out the pearlescent pink 56’ Cadillac is the father’s, and the mother’s is the silvery blue 65’ Thunderbird. And lastly, the sleek black Mustang from 1990 is the son’s car. You grin, “Oh, how cute! It’s a mismatched family!” And he smiles, “It is!” You both take photos of the car family.

Before making your way out of the last section, he goes, “Ready to see them roar their engines?” You nod, already hearing some of the loud revvings from the left. You smirk, “My dad would call this section the ‘show offs’” He laughs and says, “My mom would too!” You keep close together as you walk in, and luckily, the ventilation in the building is good, and you couldn’t smell too much smoke. You watch as some use their hydraulics to lift off the ground. And others show off how loud and fast their engines are. You keep going through and notice mostly V8 engines revving before making it over to the foreign-made cars. And see that they house V12s, “I thought those were legends.” Hyungwon whispers to you. And you can’t help but gasp as you look at the engines and see how huge they are, “You’d think that makes them slower due to the size, but the horsepower...” He gapes at them, “Must be insane to be behind the wheel.”

You gulp, “A V8 engine can get away with you if you press the gas wrong. I couldn’t imagine how fast this thing could...” You start reading about the Ferrari from the board, and it says that in 8.2 seconds, it could get up to 124 mph, and you gasp. You both exchange a look at each other, and he goes, “Holy fuck.” And that’s when the owner turns the car over, and you hear its roar. And it sends shivers up your spines, and Hyungwon whispers, “Yeah, that’s power.” The owner smiles, “It’s a fast one, but don’t get them wrong, I usually use it for grocery shopping with the kiddos! They do very well. You just got to know how to control it!” That eases both of your stomachs, and you thank them for the information, and they tell you it’s no problem. After killing the ignition, they go back to sitting beside it.

You guys finish up this last section and head out into the hall. Hyungwon tells you, “I have to say the motorcycles and this section are certainly two of my favorites.” You nod, “I agree, but I still like the basement the most. It looks so clean!” He nods, “That was nice too!” You kiss his cheek, “I’m glad I got to enjoy this with you.” He nods, “Yeah, we learned a bit, and we also went down memory lane.” You smile, “Yeah, maybe one year we can have a car or motorcycle here. Together.” He smiles and kisses your forehead, “I’d love to do that with you.”

You look at the food section, and he asks, “Want anything before we leave?” You shrug and shake your head, “Not really, you?” He shakes his head, “Me neither.” You both make your way back out the entrance. Once inside his car, he says, “I’ve wanted to do this since we saw my old bike.” Before pulling you in for a kiss, you can’t help but smile as you kiss him back. When you pull away, “You could have kissed me in there.” He shrugs, “I like sharing these moments with only you. Everyone knows we’re together, but only you and I get to know what it’s like.” You’re both red as he finishes up his sentence, and you pull him in for another kiss.

When you pull away you reach into your pocket and pull out the fuzzy dice. You put it over the visor and you both giggle. “It’s cute” he says, and he reaches into his pocket and hands you the hot wheels car. “I wanted you to have it so whenever I’m away, you’ll always have my car.” You thank him, and you both giggle at the other realizing you both had bought each other something. “I thought you were buying the dice for your car.” You shake your head, “I have that little tree air freshener. I thought you were buying the hot wheels car for yourself.” You both shake your heads at each other. He kisses you one last time before he pulls out of the parking lot and makes his way out, you hold his hand over the shifter. “I can’t believe it’s only been about a year since we’ve been together.” He agrees and brings your hand to his lips, “I know it’s hard to make promises to an ever-changing world, but I hope one thing remains consistent. Me and you, for a very long time.” You smile, bring his hand to your lips and kiss it before whispering, “For a very long time.”

You guys go to a restaurant seeing it’s late enough for an early dinner. And you walk in, noticing the date on the calendar, and ask him, “What’s today?” He looks over at you and shrugs before looking at the calendar too. You watch as it dawns on him with a smile on your face, “How did we forget?” You shrug, “Either way. We spent today together. That’s what anniversaries are for.” He smiles, “Yeah. Do you want to get ice cream after this?” You grin, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

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theprayerfulword · 10 days

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September 17

Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

1 Corinthians 9:25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

May you ever exalt the Lord and praise His Name for, in perfect faithfulness, He has done marvelous things planned long ago, since He has torn down the strongholds of the enemy and is a refuge for the poor and the needy in distress, a shelter from the storm of the ruthless and a shade from the heat of their anger. Isaiah 25

May you trust in Him for He will save you; may you rejoice and be glad in His salvation for He has forever swallowed up and destroyed the shroud of death that enfolds all peoples and the sheet of the grave that covers all nations, wiping away the tears from all faces and removing the disgrace of His people from all the earth, just as the Lord has spoken it. Isaiah 25

May you trust in the Lord forever for the Lord is the Rock eternal Who keeps you in perfect peace when your mind is steadfast because you trust in Him, but humbles those who dwell on high, causing them to be trampled by the feet of the oppressed and the footsteps of the poor. Isaiah 26

May you walk in the way of the Lord, for the path of the righteous is leveled by the Upright One Who makes the way smooth. Isaiah 26

May you wait for Him, allowing His name and renown to become the desire of your heart, and causing your soul to yearn for Him in the night and your spirit to long for Him in the morning, for you know that when His judgments come on the earth the people of the world learn righteousness. Isaiah 26

May you honor the name of the Lord your God alone, even though other lords besides Him have ruled over you in the past, for He has established peace for you and all that you have accomplished He has done for you. Isaiah 26

May you enter your room and shut the doors behind you, hiding yourself for a little while until His wrath has passed by, for see, the Lord is coming out of His dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. Isaiah 26

My child, study to discern My Body on earth, even as you study to draw near to Me. There is no quicker or more effective method to learn of Me than through your spiritual family, My Body. As in all of life, the lessons learned and the truths gained are not all happy, but they are all useful. As you bring them to Me, you will be led by My Spirit into the understanding and wisdom that will bind you closer to Me, both in your heart, and through your brothers and sisters. Herein is the true test of your love for Me, that you lay down your life in service to Me as I abide in others. Can you provide a meal for Me when I am in the guise of someone who is sick? Can you serve as a house-cleaner for Me when I am in the form of a widow that needs help? Can you provide transport for Me to get groceries and medicine when I look like someone who cannot repay you or return the favor? Can you give of your time to visit and encourage Me in the hospital or in jail, sharing the sorrow, the pain, the concern that these situations contain, repeating My promises back to Me to comfort and soothe the heart that I abide in? As you show honor to My weaker vessels, My Father will show honor to you. As you lend to the poor, you will receive manifold from heaven. As you strengthen the weak, your victories will multiply. As you defend the helpless, the hosts of heaven will be your defense. Learn to see with your heart, My caring one, for then you will see with My eyes rather than your own. Learn to hear with your spirit, My dear one, for then your ears will not betray you. Not all members of your heavenly family, My Body, are equal in the sight of the world, My astonished one, but each one is cherished, loved, and valued as much by Me as you are. Recognize the depth of My passion toward and for both the parts of My Body that I place in the view of the public for expression and testimony, as well as the hidden ones that I shelter from the disdain of those who do not know Me. Give them each the gift of fellowship, acknowledging My Spirit abiding in them and My gifts ministering through them. Understand that I am the One who has placed them where they are for My purpose and glory, and each shall be seated at My banquet table in places of honor. Draw near to Me, My love, as you draw near to those who love Me.

May you hear the song of joy that the Lord sings over you, a song about a fruitful vineyard that the Lord cares for and watches over, continually watering, guarding by day and night that no harm may come to it, punishing with His great and powerful sword the serpent and the fox, burning the briers and thorns that would encroach, that you will take root, bud and blossom, and fill all the world with the fruit that honors Him and draws those whom He seeks. Isaiah 27

May you receive the Lord as a source of strength to turn back the battle at the gate and a spirit of justice when you sit in judgment, for the Lord Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for you as you walk in obedience to His guidance. Isaiah 28

May you grasp the vanity of seeking justification from transgression by check-listing your adherence to traditions, customs, or statutes, for it is not “what” you do, but “why” you do it, and when faith in the love of God, which was so fully demonstrated through Christ's willingness to suffer shame, pain, and crucifixion for your sins, is your reason for obedience, then the curse of sin is lifted from you and life is given, even as the Father gave it to the Son. Galatians 3

May you discern the truth that the law, and its promises which were given to every person, was not intended to provide a path to justification, but to convince each one in their heart of the impossibility of pleasing God in their own strength and thus show the need for a redemptive Savior, to Whom the promises of the gospel are made first, Who then opened the way, through faith, for our adoption and engrafting so each may receive the blessings of the covenant made to Abraham and to his Seed. Galatians 3

May you call to the Lord from the ends of the earth, as your heart grows faint, for the Lord will hear your cry and lead you to the Rock that is high, a strong tower, a refuge from the foe. Psalm 61

May you long to dwell in His tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of His wings, for He has heard your vows and given you the heritage of those who fear His name. Psalm 61

May you always be zealous for the fear of the Lord and let not your heart envy sinners, for then is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:17-18

#daily #blessings #prayers #scripture

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angel-eyes05 · 2 years

Text

i remember his hands - preview

PAIRING: kang the conqueror x fem!reader

SUMMARY: after a scientific experiment goes horribly wrong, you've been transported to the quantum realm and have been stuck there for the past decade. with no company, aside from janet van dyne, your life changes forever when a mysterious man in a golden ship crash lands next to your settlement. startled with his initial presence, you two have a rocky start. but as time goes on, you two find each other slowly drawn to one another. you have secrets though, and he has a past he refuses to bring up. can you two make it through navigating an unknown world together, discovering any ulterior motives, and stand the test of time in a place where time has no meaning at all?

INFO: slow romantic burn, pretty fast sexual burn, kinda enemies to lovers????, takes place during that little flashback janet has during quantumania, idk how accurate this is gonna be to canon stuff cause i get very confused about the quantum realm lol, reader is in mid to late 20s while kang is in his “early 30s” (ik he like technically doesn't age or whatever idk the lore but i just made it accurate to jonathan majors age and wanted to give an accurate age range/gap/count), y/k is very fleshed out like i give her everything lol

WARNING: implied su!c!dal thoughts

CHAPTER WORD COUNT: 570

NOTES: hi there!!!! did i make an account just so i could post this? yes, yes i did, and what about it. I was looking for quantumania!kang fics and turns out, theres like 3-4!! so i was like, hey why not. please don't judge my writing cause this is the first fic i’ve written…like ever lol. also, please suspend your disbelief for this, like don’t question why they have working appliances or whatever or that i made up names for the monsters or something, cause 1) idk how to explain that stuff and 2) that's not the main focus sooooo yeah. but, nonetheless, i hope you guys enjoy, if anyone even reads this at all even though this is mainly for my sake lol.

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It’s been ten years. Ten years since it all went wrong and you landed in this wretched place. Ten years since you’ve had a decent meal and been able to sleep soundly without having to worry about the creatures of the quantum realm getting you in the night. It got slightly better around seven years ago when you found Janet Van Dyne, someone who had experience in navigating this strange world. About 30 years of experience in fact. The thought of you being down here for that long made you nauseous.

Every day was the same. Wake up, check the settlement perimeter, help Janet with breakfast, hunt surrounding mites, occasionally go into town to trade for parts, eat dinner, then go to bed. Thank god Janet was there or else you might’ve gone insane by now. All this repetition was not your style at all.

You missed life up above. You missed going out with your friends. You missed running into people at the grocery store you haven’t seen since elementary school. You missed your yearly trip to New York during Christmas and seeing everything so festive. It sounds pretentious but it was the truth.

But what you missed most of all was San Francisco. It sounds stupid but you loved it there more than anything. You loved how the flowers would bloom during the springtime. You missed feeling the wind through your hair, as aggressive as it would be at times. You missed going to the beaches. Being in the cool water, feeling the sand in between your fingers and toes, being kissed by the sun. God, you missed the sun. Everything was so dark down here. So…hopeless. Thank god Janet was there or you might’ve…

There wasn’t any point in thinking like that anymore. You had accepted life the way it was. It wasn’t like you had a solid plan for making it back home anyways. As much as you did miss it, it wasn’t like the power of hope, love, and friendship would make a quantum tunnel appear out of thin air. Even if you could find someone selling the necessary pieces to power the tunnel, they would probably be listing it at way too high of a price for you to apprehend it. So for now, and probably for the rest of your life (however long of that left you had, time was strange down here), all the good you can do is try to protect yourself, keep Janet company, and stare at the stars, or whatever you wanted to call them.

That's exactly what you decided to do before heading off to bed. After checking the surroundings of the settlement for mites, you sat next to the closest thing you could call a creek and just stared up at the engulfing darkness. The tranquility this activity brought you allowed you to sleep soundlessly, without an unknown creature coming out of the shadows to attack you. While staring up at the twinkling lights, you see one of them in the distance that appears to be moving closer to you. As it gets closer, you can make it out as a circular, golden ship. It crash lands about 300 feet away, causing the earth around you to shake. Curiosity takes over you as you decide to start heading over to the crash sight, unaware about how much the repetition of your life you always complained about was about to dissolve.

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NEXT PART

A/N: hiiiiii, so that was the quick little preview, i hope you liked it. i’m gonna be honest im very nervous about posting this lol 😭. but i hope you enjoyed it. chapter 1 should come out shortly after i post this so i hope you’ll stick around for the rest of the series!!!

#i remember his hands #kang the conqueror #kang x reader #kang the conqueror x reader #marvel mcu #mcu fanfiction #fanfiction #fanfic #mcu phase 5 #quantumania #ant man #fem!reader

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isolaradiale · 1 year

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INTRODUCING... A BRAND NEW BRANCH!

Today is day 6 of our Fifth Anniversary Celebration!

For today's surprise, we're unveiling a brand new branch location courtesy of Mod Mimosa!

The Land of Burnt Umber

Southwest of the Mistwood lies a deep orange-colored canyon that holds a barren sandy path to walk through, measuring fifteen meters wide and three miles deep. The haunting calls of vultures circling above waiting for the next unfortunate organism that is like to become their next meal is a common sound. Along the walls are a scarce few wooden bridges and ladders, followed by holes dug into the rock that a brave few humans have decided to make into their homes. They stare quietly from just beyond their doorsteps at the new visitors who pass their humble abodes as they venture further down the road.

At last, the canyon's mouth opens up and the light of the sun begins to shine down upon you and you are met with the sight of a vast desert as far as the eye can see. Though sand is plentiful, as it goes with the arid environment, it often gives way to scattered patches of the bedrock hidden beneath along with a unique variety of trees, animals, and rocks that make for an interesting sight.

LORE

First discovered by a people who dared to venture beyond the Mistwoods and into the unknown, what was once a vast grassland filled with rivers and trees soon became barren when its inhabitants decided to bleed the land of its materials instead of only taking what they needed. And though the first people who ventured to this land have since moved on, some of their descendants decided to atone for the sins of their forefathers by rooting their lives here in punishment. Luckily, they've managed to make do with what little they can and have adapted fairly well to the desert environment, with some of them even preferring it. They dress themselves in simple, beige-colored tunics, shorts or pants, and brown sandals in an effort to help keep them cool from the unforgiving heat. Contact is hardly made beyond the forest and into the city, but they're slowly acclimating to the times and beginning to open trade ever so slowly. Though initially apprehensive of city folk, it doesn't take much for them to open up their homes and even their culture to those willing to be respectful of them, and thus is their vast desert slowly beginning to change…

TRANSPORTATION

Though its people largely travel by foot, in recent years, they've taken to taming the few wild horse-like creatures that roam the sands. With shimmering dusty brown coats, hollowed black eyes, and long manes that seem to be made of the sands themselves, the natives refer to them as Jewels of the Desert. The best way to bring one under your command is a small offering of green desert carrots, which can be harvested along the canyon path if one looks closely enough at the ground to make out the fronds to be pulled. Amongst the dunes, there is one other large creature that has made its home in these desolate lands, large shaggy brown boars that move in packs of five or more. They're docile herbivores that are generally amicable to those who approach them, but if they sense any ill-will they're likely to send you flying with either a knockback or a giant snort. It's possible to ride them bareback, perhaps even more comfortably, but for your own safety, it's recommended that you purchase a saddle from one of the traveling caravans that roam the desert. That, or perhaps you'd like to try your luck with the few caravans that roam around the desert peddling their wares and stopping for rest only when needed. They'll put you on one of their boars or into their merry band if you're willing to pay a fee. Most are meager desert travelers of their own, often in search of items that could turn a profit or outsiders to cut a deal with.

FLORA

Though its days of being a lush, vast grassland have long since come to an end, more than a few choice plants have persevered and become staples in both diet and general everyday items. You'll not find too many large patches of greenery but you'll find dried underbrush, tumbleweeds, cacti, and other small flowers. Due to the incredibly humid climate, it's hard for much to exist for very long as even common vegetation has a short expiration date than it would elsewhere. The most prized ( and delicious ) plant of all is something known as a cactus pear that blooms bright red. Though prickly, when one peels back the skin and takes a bite it may either be incredibly sweet or just as sour. Locals love it for that very surprising factor.

FAUNA

Coyotes, sand cats, fennec foxes, tortoises, meerkats, and lizards of varying sizes can be spied throughout the vast expanse, whether it be idling under the sparse amounts of shade or burrowed underneath the ground to keep cool, they've all decidedly made an ideal home here. Though do be careful where you step as you never know when the sand will give way and whatever animal will be hiding underneath. They're all likely to run or hobble away in fright more likely than not, save for the coyotes who can be pretty territorial if you seem determined enough to bother them.

PLACES OF INTEREST

DRAPING QUARTERS

Homes built into the very cliffs of the canyon one must pass through in order to get to the desert itself. Haphazard wooden bridges and rope ladders line the walls as means of moving from place to place. Not for the faint of heart, but gives its residents a decent viewpoint and the chance to take the measure of anyone who happens to be passing by. They don't often speak with passersby and are more likely to stay in the shadows of their doorways than offer any kind word or help, though if you become a regular visitor some of them will venture from their homes to pay you a greeting. Their knowledge of the desert is vast and they are able to offer helpful tips for survival if asked. And though food may be scarce, they're often very happy to trade items with people from the city or forest.

BONES OF THE FORGOTTEN

A little ways from the canyon sits the bones of an incredibly large long-necked creature, half-buried under the sands and destined to become entirely consumed as time goes on. Its bones are stark white and smooth to the touch, indicative of a long time spent being sanded over by the natural elements. There is a belief perpetuated by the locals that this very creature broke bread with their ancestors and its death signified the end of a forlorn beginning: that of the steady disappearance of their once vibrant homeland. Standing in the center of its ribcage is said to be where locals come to offer prayer and small offerings in the hope of receiving good fortune as they believe that though it has long since passed, its love for this once green land remains evermore. Children often speak of a strange voice speaking to them, telling them of times long past.

THE LAST REPOSE

Further still a few miles away, surrounded by nothing but barren bedrock, lies an oasis that the locals say one can only find when they find themselves in desperate thirst with no other options left to them. Lying untouched by the desolate sands, the green grass that once grew makes its home around the waters of a small oasis pond that stretches half a mile wide and two meters deep. Tall grass springs high to offer a meager sense of privacy to those who stumble into this little patch of paradise. Various desert flowers can also be found in full bloom. The waters, clear as crystal, serve to hydrate any who drinks of its bounty and to the chosen few who dare whisper a silent wish, it offers a glimpse of the familiar scenery of your homeland whether it be the sky, a place, or a person. Though you'll find when trying to bottle the water, it simply dries up completely.

MIRAGE KEEP

Rumors have long circulated that on the night of a full moon, a castle springs forth from beneath the earth deep in the desert for exploration. Some brave few that sought to verify the claims often never came back and are thought to have been swallowed by the desert in search of whatever they were looking for. If you, a brave traveler, seek answers to the tales as well then you'll find the Mirage Keep, a large castle half-made of clay bricks and the sand itself that sunk beneath the sands centuries ago. Inside you'll find everything largely sanded down by time. The furniture and ornaments largely withered away over time, each room is vast and some are filled with sand sculptures shaped like people, and at its very pinnacle after climbing several flights of stairs, you find a single golden chalice with the words inscribed "MAY SHE RISE AGAIN" but who exactly is the 'she' the words speak of? No one can say, but perhaps a sand sculpture brave enough to speak may tell you.

RUBY'S CENTER

Beyond the hills of silver, you'll find a small desert town filled with the relatives of those who migrated further inland from the Draping Quarters. Here, you'll find everything you need to prepare yourself for even longer travel in the desert, all made to order. Whether it be clothing, backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, or general food items as well you'll definitely find it here along with a good conversation! Because of traveling caravans often stopping by, coupled with the folk from Spirale who have slowly begun exploring the desert, the people are friendly and willing to make conversation. Various merchants line the streets, musicians play music on bone instruments, and a large freshwater well sits in the center of the town. They live in white stone houses and dress similarly to their canyon counterparts. What most travelers find most interesting though is a specific merchant settled in a quiet corner of town whose stall deals in selling small keepsakes and trinkets from other worlds. An older woman runs the stall and she's very keen on haggling a deal with you if you happen to find something familiar to you or a loved one.

HILLS OF SILVER

A series of large sand dunes that one must walk across to traverse deeper parts of the desert. They range from as low as twenty feet to as high as forty. Though it's very possible (and usually ideal) to walk above and over the dunes in a straight shot to the small town deemed Ruby's Center that lies beyond them, there are a few small entrances scattered throughout the dunes that lead to what many consider to be a completely different place, foreign to that of the desert. Either way, whether you go above or underneath, small quicksand pools await you up top and are likely to cause unfortunate accidents if you happen to step into one…

FOREGONE CAVES ( UNDERGROUND CAVE SYSTEM )

You've either gotten here by taking the lower path beneath the sand dunes or you've fallen due to being sucked down by the quicksand pools. The locals refer to it as the forbidden land, but some revere it as the promised land as well. While neither can rightly say which is true, one thing is for certain… any local who has been brought here has returned a changed person. Grass grows on the walls, flowers bloom along the ground, and the small bones of fossilized animals from centuries past greet you as you walk along these forgotten underground paths. Small white orbs slowly float to and fro, as if guiding you deeper in, and when touched begin to flicker and the sound of soft laughter can be heard. They whisper of a time more beautiful, of one when the first people who came here loved and lived in harmony of the land.

LAKE OF THE REMEMBERED

After many twists and turns through the cave system, you see a faint glow. When you step into the wide open grassy cavern, there at its center shines the soft glow of a green bioluminescent tree, whose roots have seeped deep into the water and serve as one of the only light sources to the large freshwater lake beneath it. It sits atop a small, green island that keeps it only barely raised above water and also gives one or two people a place to sit comfortably at its base. The small white orbs from earlier originate from its branches and can be found in abundance floating across the lake and underneath its surface. Locals believe that this is where they will go when they die, but no one is entirely sure.

#modnote

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lumine-no-hikari · 9 months

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Dear Sephiroth: (a letter to a fictional character, because why not) #24

You know what? I found today a lovely picture of you smiling. Check it out:

Some person named rikuka_tw on Twitter made it. I think they did it by substituting someone's in-game model for yours. This naturally means that it's just an imitation of what a genuine smile might look like on your face. But you know what? I'll take it. It's cute. I hope you know that you're cute. I hope you know that anyone can think you're cute.

…Sigh. Truth be told, I am trying to remain chipper and hopeful, but I'm really very tired. There is some delightful person in my world whom I am very much worried about, but I don't think there's anything I can say or do to help. Realistically, this person is trapped in a very untenable situation in a world where if you fall behind, you end up stranded and unable to move or do anything to recover without serious intervention. I can try to tell this person to remain hopeful and I can try to tell them that their existence has meaning and value, and I can try to tell them that they are worth my time and effort. But I can't zoop to where this person is and bring them hydration and a nutritious meal. And even if I could, the reality of the situation is that this person probably would not accept such things. The system in which most of my world lives provides little to no support for people who are struggling. It is why this person has fallen through the cracks and is now in this untenable situation in the first place.

Short of directly providing this person with a safe living space and a means of transportation (which is not within my power to do by myself), the cause of this pain cannot be addressed. It is difficult to remain alive in a place where there are arbitrary barriers put between people and the things that they need in order to live. It is difficult to remain alive in a place where people believe that one is only deserving of life and love if they fulfill certain conditions first, as though existing is something that has to be earned, and that whether or not one has "earned" it must be constantly tested. It is difficult to remain alive in a world that shuns abuse survivors, or anybody who does not fit the bill of what is considered "normal". Unfortunately, in my world, the definition of "normal" is so narrow that hardly anybody can fit into it.

What's more, everyone has different ideas of what a person has to "do" in order to "deserve" to live. The result is a world full of people who reject both themselves and everyone else around them. So then, everyone runs around trying to "prove" to themselves and to everyone else that they deserve to live and to be loved by the people in their general vicinity and the world at large. They bend themselves into pretzels, amputating bits of their true nature, or else trying to add to themselves traits that don't belong to them in order to "fit in". People end up pretending to be someone they're not all the time, and this feels like a huge sacrifice, because it is.

And so some of them, when they see others not making the same sacrifices, and displaying traits that they've been taught are unforgivable, they end up feeling sad, resentful, and like it's not fair that the other person is free in ways that they won't let themselves be - "I would be punished by the people I love for freely engaging in this side of me that I suppressed; why do they get to do it without punishment? This cannot stand, and therefore I will punish them or call others to punish them." Or something to that effect.

We see stuff like this all the time - straight men who love to bake and sew, but know that they'd get made fun of for this, so they suppress this side of themselves and make fun of others for doing the same. Straight women who don't like to apply makeup or style their hair, but know that they'll get made fun of for it if they don't, so they do it even when they don't want to, and make fun of others who don't. At higher levels of power… sometimes we have gay people pretending to be straight to the point that they pass legislation to suppress all other gay people.

I've oversimplified a lot of things - otherwise I'd have to write a book. It's a huge and complicated problem with more moving parts than I know how to keep track of because I'm really not all that smart. All the same, the result of all this is the scapegoating of entire groups of people, with each group of people scapegoating a different group of people, such that every single human is scapegoated by someone somewhere - no matter who you are, SOMEONE is going to be angry that you even exist at all, and wish that they could do something to end you, if not actually take steps towards ending you.

The result of that is a vicious cycle of cynicism and pain that is almost impossible to break free from without help. The result of this vicious cycle is also that very few people here are willing to either give or receive help in any way, shape, or form, for a variety of reasons, most of them stemming from the fact that most of us have been burned so many times by so many different people that trusting anyone is difficult, if not outright impossible.

The result of all these things is that the person I met is trapped in a situation that hardly anyone around them wants to help them escape. They are a formerly abused human and impoverished; people look upon them as though they are worthless or beyond help, so nobody bothers trying, and it doesn't help at all that it seems that the people around this person are also just barely scraping by. Meanwhile, I am on the opposite side of the planet, in an entirely different hemisphere, so my ability to help is also very limited, despite the fact that I very much want to. All I can do is offer a kind word, try to find resources where this person lives that might help, and try to reassure them that they are worth their own effort.

Unfortunately, part of the equation is that the person in question does not believe that I am capable of accurately determining for myself what is and is not worth my time. This person believes that they are not worth my time, and that their assessment and my assessment should be the same. As a result, I've been stonewalled. It is frustrating when people try to decide for me what is and is not worth my time. But I don't know how to counter this without violating their free will. So I sit and wait, not really knowing what to do. Still, I spin my wheels, trying to think of something that won't somehow make the situation worse.

Incidentally, did you know that Australia has a hotline in the case that some Australian is having a crisis and you are worried for them? And did you know that you cannot try to help your Australian friend by making use of this hotline if you're not an Australian citizen? How utterly arbitrary and lame is that?

Also… there's no amount of "if you fail to drink water, fail to feed yourself, and fail to sleep, you will have chemical roadblocks to feeling well and you won't have the strength to brainstorm solutions or manage your emotions" that I can say to a person if they think that a "strong person" should be able to function normally while in a deprived state. And what's more, even though these basic steps are INTEGRAL for the management of the conditions that arise from abuse (everything else follows from making sure your brain has the physical resources it needs, otherwise everything else is insurmountable), to have someone suggest to you that you should eat, sleep, and drink water while your life is falling apart around you probably seems insulting, despite the fact that everything starts from that foundation.

…And I only know because I went through that when I was recovering: "What, drink a glass of water, eat a sandwich, and take a nappy-time like a goddamn toddler and that will magically solve all my fucking problems?? Yeah right, asshole. This is the REAL WORLD; get a fucking grip; I need to maintain my tolerance for functioning on minimal resources so that I'm not caught off guard when the shit inevitably hits the fan!"

…Or so I thought. What I didn't realize at the time was that, indeed, it absolutely will not solve all my problems. However, it WILL give my body the resources it needs to help me to understand that my problems aren't impossible to work through, especially if I ask for help, and to give me the endurance and emotional control I need to keep asking for help from different people no matter how many times I'm ignored or I hear the word "no". Incidentally, it also took me forever and a day to finally learn that asking for help is a thing that's allowed, instead of just being a thing that makes people angry enough to hurt me, or lets people get leverage over me so that they can screw me over later.

It's a mess. I see the subtle and not-so-subtle wreckage of everything around me, and it's terrifying. I see all of the people persisting despite the horrors, and it's beautiful. I see the suffering around me, and I am filled with despair. I see all the people around me trying to help anyway, and I'm filled with hope. No matter which direction I'm pulled in, I'm overcome with how heavy it all is almost all the time, and the heaviness of the absolute nothing (counterintuitive, I know; nothingness is not supposed to weigh anything, but here we are…) that I can do about it is overhelming, because I am just one small voice (and at that, a voice that most people like to dismiss or mock) in a world full of 8 billion people who are all struggling, in their own way, to survive. I am painfully aware that we will not see a world that is peaceful until everyone, all at once, begins to genuinely believe that every life is priceless, without question, condition, or hesitation.

The fact of the matter is that I am tired and I want to go "home". But then I see the picture of you smiling. You carry so much more than I can even begin to imagine on your shoulders, and yet in this image, you are still smiling. From there, it's a little easier for me to remember that I've not yet met all of the people who will be made to smile or laugh, just because I exist in my various silly, clumsy, derpy, and occasionally helpful ways. It's a little easier for me to remember that I have not yet met all of the starfish that I can throw back into the sea; if I fail to try, there is no guarantee that someone else who comes along will.

I don't have power like yours. But I gotta believe that what little I can do is enough, right? And maybe by the end of it, I'll have a bunch of nifty stories to tell to everyone when I finally do return to a place that feels like home.

In case you didn't know, it's beautiful when you smile. I hope that you will work towards a future that will contain many reasons for you to smile and laugh with love and joy for all of the things that live and breathe and all of the weird and unexpected surprises that can happen in this little universe that we call home - our kaleidoscopic little bubble of something that exists in stark defiance of all the nothing that surrounds us. I'll try to keep smiling, too. And I'll ask for help when the corners of my lips feel a little too heavy to do so, if you'll promise me to do the same.

Please stay safe out there. Work hard, but not so hard that you break. Rest. Tend your needs properly. Remember you are loved and cherished and necessary. Make good, kind, and loving choices in light of that knowledge, even if you know that it might not work out. Be your favorite and most gentle self.

I'll write again tomorrow.

Your friend, Lumine

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