#as a priest. His relationship to his religion is. /complicated/ and he is in need of help he isn't properly opening himself up to

[bushwskq]

Father Charlie Mayhew x witch!reader

cw: 18+

PART 1

PART 2

AUTHOR'S NOTE: So what should I say? Well this is my first fanfic on Tumblr and English is not my first language. Thanks Google Translate. This one-shot came from a girl in great need of Nicholas Chavez, I kindly ask that you please forgive the mistakes. As soon as I can I will write the second part with more about Father Charlie, this is just the introduction...

I wrote it listening to Tear You Apart and Seven Wonders

Thank you for your attention!

You thought you had everything under control when you moved to this small town. Away from family or acquaintances that you had no desire to see again with a comfortable home decorated in your own special way. You were given the title of exotic by the residents of the place, they didn't seem like they would throw you into the fire like the witches of Salem but you knew that some were afraid of you even if you didn't show magic in public.

Your always black clothes didn't go unnoticed although no one ever said anything directly to you, you wore extravagant necklaces from time to time but what you kept around your neck was often a pentagram and a cross that reflected every movement you made. Walking calmly with a lit cigarette between your fingers, you observed the crowd of people entering the city's main church. You weren't able to determine which audience that place attracted because they ranged from children to old women marked by time.

For a moment you considered going into the crowd, it had been so long since you stepped foot in a Catholic place and memories of your childhood flashed through your mind. You weren't going home anytime soon, there was nothing stopping you from getting in other than your mind. You knew that sermons about sin wouldn't make you change your beliefs, you found help by practicing witchcraft (or what people called the practices you practiced) your relationship with magic was something different from anything you knew and you felt welcomed worshiping their own gods.

You remembered your first mentor, she taught you the basis of everything you know, helping you deal with your complicated feelings during this process. Respect although resentment about the religions that condemned your existence was always present in you. Taking a deep breath while looking around, you crossed the street towards the church without thinking. You stubbed out your cigarette on the sidewalk then took a deep breath until you walked up the stairs.

The church was big, the first thing you thought of was the large tithe they earned on the faithful. You looked for a pew, sitting down at the end then a few minutes later the mass started, it was everything the way you remembered it. Except for one thing.

The priest was too handsome to be a priest, you thought, the man must have been a few years older than you. His hair was perfectly combed back to highlight his chiseled face, his jaw clenched as he waited to speak. You quickly realized that the young women didn't come just because of the Lord's word. The mass continued while the pentagram on your chest weighed as if saying you were in the wrong place, the priest's firm voice walked through the church with its hoarse timbre. You would definitely be lying if you said you weren't attracted to the man.

“What’s his name?” You shyly asked a nun sitting in the front seat. “Fa-father Charlie Mayhew.” The woman responded with a small smile before turning her attention to the lectern. You thanked him politely as you stared at the man, you knew his name now. Father Charlie Mayhew You recited in your mind as the mass continued.

You couldn't take your eyes off that pretty face, in disbelief that someone so young had chosen this vocation. You didn't hear anything until he spoke then it stopped again like a cycle, even with the clothes on you could tell that his body was defined as the outline of his muscles could still be seen. Then he looked at you, you thought about avoiding it but it was too late. Caught like a naughty child doing something he shouldn't, you kept looking until he looked away. You smiled internally.

The hours passed towards the end of the celebration, many people headed towards the exit but not you. Never going with the flow of things you began to explore the church, observing the colorful stained glass windows and the pattern of lit candles. In your peripheral vision you saw Father Charlie talking to a couple, his voice was relaxed although he still maintained his posture.

You stopped at another stained glass window, your eyes attentive to the details. “You’re new here, aren’t you?” Father Charlie asked standing next to you, you could smell him and it almost made you fall over. “The church is not used to a new face.” He said, his clear voice leaving you quiet for a moment before he began “I recently moved to the city, Father. In fact, this is the first church I’ve been to in a long time.” His voice doesn't show shame like other people do when they talk to Charlie.

Sometimes intimidated by the man's posture or beauty.“I'm glad to hear that.” you could see the sincerity in his words although he tried to hide something. “Know that the church is open to welcome you, dear.” Charlie approached, turning his face to him: “God has ways of rescuing his lost children to salvation. No matter what circumstance.”

His gaze dropped to your chest where the pentagram rested somewhat hidden by your clothes. His heavy hand touched the necklace with a little force. “The confessional is open on Wednesdays. If you are interested, I will be waiting for you.” He left without looking back, leaving you uneasy as you watched him.

[r-r-raf]

I love love love your fic

And I think him leaving priesthood is absolutely the best choice decision he could make, I felt an unexpected amount of joy and relief over it. I think Oscar is someone trying very hard to be good, and I think it's clear he's had a positive impact on the community. But there's just. Soooo much There. He has too much on him, to the point where. Him remaining a priest feels like it's unfair to the people who rely on him for his guidance. Which!!! Wonderfully illustrated by his whole deal with Parker <3 that was so fucked up I loved reading it <3

I love the fic so much in general I am spinning it in my brain at all times

I feel you should know that I've been thinking about your depiction of Oscar in To Put the World Between Us a very normal amount and yelling about it to my partner

oh my gosh thank you ahhh

I'm glad you like how I'm handling him here, I was worried about how people would feel about him leaving the priesthood but i thought for the context of this fic it was kinda the only way for him to even approach being happy one day

and thanks for reading, I'm glad you enjoy the parker-oscar dynamic

[drifting-pieces-blog-blog]

Marc Spector: based on a real guy?

I would like to propose Barney "Beryl" Ross (born Dov-Ber Rasofsky) (1909-1967) as a stand-in for possible Marc Spector inspiration or at least a REALLY odd coincidence. The parallels are outstanding.

Born to Eastern European Immigrant parents (From Belarus), he grew up in a tough Chicago neighborhood. 

His father was a Rabbi who looked down on fighting like Boxing and Wrestling. 

When Barney expressed interest and talent in boxing, his father told him to "Let the goyim be the fighters" and that "The trombeniks (yiddish for phony and self aggrandizer), the murderers--We are the scholars." 

Barney studied the Talmud as well and expressed interest in becoming a teacher. 

His father was murdered when someone robbed their family vegetable shop. His mother suffered a mental breakdown and his three younger siblings were sent to an orphanage when Barney was just 14. 

Barney became a thief, a gambler, and worked for Al Capone. He eventually found his money in boxing where it is speculated that Al Copone himself often promoted his shows and bought up the tickets to help him make money. 

He used the money to reunite his family. 

His career took off during the rise of Antisemitism and while Barney rejected his father's teachings and religion, he understood that he was seen as a "scrappy Jew Kid" and he needed to become a representative for his people. 

His walk into the ring song was "My Yiddishe Momma" and he often wore blue and white with the Magen David on his clothes. 

In the ring himself, he became a world champion in three weight divisions. He was never knocked out. 

His last match before he retired he went 15 rounds where he took a severe beating. His couch begged him to call it, but he refused to go down. He was determined to leave the ring on his own feet". He had 72 wins in his career, 22 of which were by K.O. 

When WWII broke out, he joined the Marines. Because of his stardome, they tried to keep him as just a pretty poster face recruit, but he insisted on fighting. 

He was almost court-martialed when his commanding officer called him a Jewish Slur and he punched him out. He was spared because the judge was also jewish. 

Barney was sent to the Pacific Theater and fought at Guadalcanal where he single handedly fought off no less than five armed Japanese soldiers after being shot. He then rescued his fellow soldier by carrying them to safety. He was awarded the Silver Star. 

Despite his complicated relationship with his religion, he was known for bringing his father's religious study books with him to training camp. 

In the war, he made friends with a catholic priest who invited him to Christmas Dinner. Barney could play the pipe organ and he provided music for the soldiers. When asked to play something Jewish, he played "My Yiddishe Momma" that left everyone in tears. 

After his wounds healed, he developed a morphine addiction that he went to rehab for and eventually recovered. He went to schools and campaigned about the dangers of drug abuse. 

He worked hard for the creation of a Jewish State and offered to lead a brigade of Jewish American Veterans. 

The Jewish Community saw him as a hero and with his back story, he fit the bill of superhero status. 

A tragic backstory, rejection of his father's life and teachings, rising up out of the rough streets, becoming a fighter, and eventually a real life war hero and fighter for Jewish Rights. 

(Check out his biography- Barney Ross: The Life of a Jewish Fighter, by Douglas Century and his autobiography No Man Stands Alone.) 

Moench most certainly did not base Marc Spector off of Barney Ross. He didn't set about making the character obviously Jewish at first. It happened naturally for various other reasons. 

But Moench also didn't give Marc his back story. 

That would be Zelenetz. 

Moon Knight Vol 1. Issue #37.  Published 1984

Writer: Alan Zelenetz

Artist: Bo Hampton

Cover Artist: Michael Kaluta 

Now, I've broken this comic down before. HERE. But let's talk about the importance of THIS story. 

You see, after the war, no one wanted to talk about the Holocaust. Most survivors didn't want to talk about what they had been through and most others liked to pretend that nothing happened. 

It wasn't until the 90s that they came up with an actual mandate that it be taught in schools! 

It wasn't until then that it suddenly became apparent that we needed to hear from the survivors and we needed to record the history before the first hand accounts were lost. 

Until this time, the only stories being told were done in comics. 

Early comics used it as a grotesque way to add in horror and action and violence. When the Comic book code of ethics stepped in (big shot guys that put down the law for swears being &#^$% and no sex and violence rating systems), then comic writers found 'creative' ways to use Nazi as the villain and ambiguously talk about their targets without mentioning their actual crimes or the people they targeted. 

THAT would change when Spiegelman's Maus was published in 1980. 

A keen observer will note the date Moon Knight Vol 1 came out. November 1980! 

Now, Marc has fought Neo Nazi before and has even faced antisemitism. He's even gone to Jerusalem. But we have never had Marc connected to the Holocaust or explored his Jewish past before Zelenetz told this story. 

“I grew up on the poor side of Chicago. My father was unconcerned with material things. ‘God loves a poor man.’ He’d say. ‘Poor in goods, rich in spirit.’” 

Sounds familiar, right? 

 And while Marc is an extreme example, we see the conflict with the Rabbi father and the son who wants to fight. 

In this same issue we see Moon Knight rescue a Rabbi and Torah from a burning synagogue that has a Swastika painted on the door. 

Moon Knight hunts down the Nazi punks and makes them hurt. 

In this issue and the next, we see Marc deal with his conflicted past regarding religion, his Rabbi father, and his choice to fight vs his father’s choice to ‘leave it to god’. 

We also find out in this issue that the reason Marc joined the Marines is because of his father’s rejection. 

"To become Moon Knight--A social conscience and moral force. Just, severe, unknowable." 

I won't replay the comic for you guys, as I've already reviewed it (though I've learned a LOT since then and I'm sure I could bring more things to light at this point... Like the fact that to bring Elias back from the dead they write the Hebrew word Emet 'truth' on his forehead. Marlene erases part of the word, leaving behind Met, which is Hebrew for 'To Die' and this sends him back to his death). 

In the ending issue, and last issue of Moon Knight’s first run, we are left with: 

"I may have misjudged my father's saintliness for cowardice and his genius and moral zeal for fanaticism. [...] And isn't moon knight in his own way a moral zealot fighting perhaps for the very same values Marc Spector once rejected?" 

Back to Alan Zelentez. 

Alan only had Moon Knight for a few issues, but he was the first and as far as my limited research has shown me, the only actually Jewish writer to get to work with Moon Knight (I hope I am pleasantly surprised as I get further into things...but I'm not holding my breath). 

Zelenetz fit a LOT of Jewish lore and fun snippets into this comic that only those that have studied Jewish folklore and the culture would easily pick out. 

He was a Junior High School and High school principal at an Orthodox Jewish school in Brooklyn. 

He worked as an editor, script writer, Judica advisor for film and helped get a few other comics started and established. 

Now, is it likely that a Jewish man in Brooklyn heard about the son of a Rabbi from Eastern Europe in Chicago who turned into an amazing boxer and later a Marine war hero? Only Zelenetz knows for sure. 

[pansygetsshitdone]

You're about to crawl inside my head and witness what happens when my hyper fixations collide. Listening to the new album by Erin LeCount and god does this album BELONG to the Monsters from AFTG! Lemme explain:

Nicky: "I am Digital, I am Divine" I think the song encompasses his desire to have his parents accept him and love him for who he is but it shows the moment of realizing they never will and they will never understand how upset that makes him. The following lyrics remind me of that last dinner together with Nicky realizing they will never recover. "We stand there in the kitchen. We both know that this is it, yeah. The milk pours down the sink and I'm having big feelings. Our love and milk expired. And I'm too tired to fight it"

Andrew: "Marble Arch" This song is perfection. It gives everything about feeling of being damaged and feeling unlovable but the desire to be deserving of love. This one makes me sob! "This body was my own before I met you" feels like a direct stab at Drake. "I am hard to love. Not what you thought. Am I? Am I? Am I? Is there a fault in my core? Did I do something wrong? Did I? Did I? Did I? There is no more love in my bones. This body was my home. This body was my own before I knew you. Now I'm hard to love. Am I cold to touch? Am I? Am I? Am I?"

Aaron: "Sweet Fruit" This song captures all the complicated feelings Aaron felt for his mother and the love he tried desperately to cling from her despite all the abuse. Meanwhile the chorus feels more directed at Katelyn as Aaron is essentially begging for someone to love him in the way he deserves! "I need a priest, a gardener, a doctor, a lover. I need someone (I need someone) To look through and see me, to rip out the weeds. Growing where my heart was."

Kevin: "Godsend" quite possibly my favorite song on the album. This one feels perfect for Kevin and his relationship with Riko and the ravens. They were his religion, he put everything he believed in this team and their abuse. Watching his growth in this series to break free from their ideologies makes me envision him blasting this song. The following verse feels like it could be directed to Jean as Kevin watches him become Riko's new victim and has to wait for Jean to wake up and see through the lies. "Godspeed to the girl after me. She's young and she's sweet, I wanna tell her one thing. "Abandon faith in everything you believe" The song that I sing will fall on deaf ears. Getting under her skin till the day it is clear. And we sing the same song about him."

Neil: "Silver Spoon" and finally we end with this song! At the beginning of the story Neil looks at Kevin and Riko with an envy of all the trauma he endured while they got to bask in the spotlight. A bit of a biased outlook but all the same I think Neil would greatly connect to this song. I mean just look at these lyrics "Cause I've changed my accent. And I gave a false name." And then let's check out the following lyrics that I think can relate to Neil's feelings for Andrew. He wants to ignore them in the beginning because of the damage and fear his mom drilled into him. But I think he makes a huge shift in perception when he realizes the foxes aren't holding anything against him. "I spilt the good wine, I panicked. A disaster, a knee-jerk reaction. Then everyone around us starts laughing. Is that how it's meant to happen? Oh, your mother said I'm always welcome. To visit, to take second helpings. I said, "No, thanks", I'm so full on resentment. That I learned to fend for myself"

So anyway...

[mediocreanomaly]

Amen.

Priest!Wolfwood x Reader (NSFW)

**GN!Reader**

Authors Note: I have an issue. Yes Priest!Wolfwood sparks joy, so please enjoy 4,539 of depravity as my welcome back, small note at the end!

**Content Warning: I grew up religious so I'm using real scripture here, if you're religious or that makes you uncomfy this might be a skip for you, if you're depraved like me read on**

Being raised Catholic was a one-way street to spoonfuls of guilt being shoved down your throat. Most everyone in the church was more or less aware of that fact, whether they acknowledged it or not.

However, there’s a warning they don't bother to put on the good book. A warning about the more...complicated relationship you develop with religion once the guilt that's swelled up in your chest has nowhere else to go.

"Then God said, 'Take your son to the land of Moriah and kill your son there as a sacrifice for me. This must be Isaac, your only son, the one you love. Use him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains there. I will tell you which mountain.” Church sometimes God ask things from us, things that seem...unimaginable, unbearable, but we are not led blindly. No, quite the opposite, God-' " Father Wolfwood emphasizes by pointing to the rafters of the church as if the big man himself was sitting there, watching. "He has a plan, a plan so great and magnificent that we cannot begin to comprehend. With that understanding Abraham takes his son, because he trust, church, he trust God enough to follow-"

The sermon is drowned out. To anyone around you you'd look devout. Pious even with how well you focus on Father Wolfwood, but it's not the bible that makes you show up every Sunday. It's the dark black tousled hair that trails into stubble lining his cheek. It's those big brown eyes wide and confident as he preaches to the congregation. It's those hands, large and calloused, that make you wonder what life he must have lived before this as he moves them around with his speech. It's his skin, perfectly tan and forehead beading with sweat from the insufferable heat of the church, no doubt that cassock isn't helping. It's his voice, deep and raspy with that perfect cadence that makes you wonder what it'd be like if he said your name while bending you over-

"Y/n?" The altar boy who you didn't even realize had come to your pew ask. He's holding out communion in a way that tells you he's been there for a second.

"Oh! Uh-" you reach out for the wine when a hand around your wrist stops you, you blink a few times and look up to see the man you were just ogling at meeting your gaze with dark eyes.

"Why don't you pass that out to the other pews, y/n is joining me for a special communion after church, they had something they wanted to pray on with me" Father Wolfwood says easily.

"I do?" the words fall from your mouth dumbly which causes Wolfwood to raise an eyebrow at you as if you're stupid. You let yourself swallow and bow your head as if scolded, you wonder what part of being a priest blessed him with so much sass.

"ah- right! Yes I had forgotten, thank you Father Wolfwood" you correct. You had not, in fact, discussed anything of the sort with the Father, but there was clearly something you were missing here.

He gives you a curt nod before softening his eyes and turning back to the young boy.

"Go on" he insist. He does, continuing to the next pew with all the confirmation he needed and Wolfwood finally lets go of your wrist. The warmth of his hand that lingers isn't lost on you as you wearily glance up at him.

"Special communion?" You try hoping to gather a bit more information on the situation you'll be faced with after Mass.

"mhmm, God has called me to you. Something weighs on your mind, perhaps a repentance is in order?" his face gives away nothing, although you swear his eyes darken as he watches you with a pleasant smile that stays locked on his face.

Alarm bells ring in your head. Did...did he know? You had done your best to hide your less than innocent gaze as worship. Thinking back on it, perhaps you were less conspicuous about it than you thought, that or God was the worst wingman ever.

"Father Wolfwood I-"

He holds up his hand to pause the word vomit that was about to stutter out and shakes his head.

"Later. Best to confess without prying eyes, no?"

He lets you simmer on that as he makes his way back to the front of the church. When he leads the church in prayer you do take it upon yourself to pray for once. You pray you'll sink into the floor or be struck dead before the end of the sermon.

By the time the church doors are opened and people file out, you're sure your heart will burst anyway. You stay seated in the front pew, not moving an inch because if you stand it'll be to bolt out the door and... well technically nothing was keeping you from it. It's not like the goddamn (sorry God) preacher would shoot you if you attempted to run. He had simply suggested you confess. Easy. He probably hears people's fucked up sexual fantasies all the time sitting in that booth. You knew the sheriff’s wife was sleeping with the banker, and you knew the sheriff was sleeping with the widow down the street, so it's not like the stuff that’s pulled from the great Catholics of No Mans Land weren't anything he hadn't heard before.

That's the thought you try and let comfort you as Father Wolfwood finishes up thanking people for coming to church and shaking hands.

The church doors shut with a thud that makes you jump in your seat; you press your hands together firmly and feel your fingernails dig into the skin there. This was fine.

"You know," Father Wolfwood folds his hands politely behind his back and takes agonizingly slow steps down the aisle, "People with guilty conscience are more likely to be startled by loud noises."

You keep your head bowed slightly in what must look like a mock prayer, but you aren’t praying anymore; you're just doing everything possible to not throw up on the church's nice red carpet, carpet that is interrupted when two black dress shows come into view.

"y/n?"

That voice. It makes you press your lips in a firm line, scared of what filth might come out of it if you speak. Instead, to show you're listening, you slowly raise your head to meet Wolfwoods eyes, the likes of which seem clouded in some strong emotion. Were priests always this intense? Well, the easy answer was yes, but this was a different type of intensity, not the kind that filled revering words but one that more closely resembled a predator zoning in on its prey.

"Y/n" he says it again, albeit softer this time as if coaxing forward a scared animal. "You have something on your mind, don't you? Something that plagues you?"

You feel your fingers instinctively move to fiddle with the hem of your shirt. If the heat from the church was unbearable before then this is downright swelting.

"Don't you usually do this kind of thing in the booth?" a poor attempt of a smile graces your lips in a desperate attempt to lighten whatever mood was starting to suffocate the air.

"Usually yes. This is a special case I believe though..." he leans down and your heart slams against your chest, his breath fans against your cheek. You can smell lingering cologne and... was that smoke? Surely not, if your local priest smoked it'd be the talk of the town, although now that you think about it those plush lips would look perfect balancing a cigarette between them, and they'd look even better if he used those teeth to-

"I almost forgot! You haven't received communion." He straightens out in an instant and claps his hands together, nearly scaring you out of your skin while your face heats up from pure embarrassment.

You watch as he crosses from the pew to the table behind the pulpit and grabs a small cup of wine and bread. Just as quickly he's back in front of you with the objects. You reach out to accept them when he pulls his hands back.

"ah ah ah, I said this was a special communion didn't I? I'll deliver it unto you, you just sit and do as you're told."

Oh. Yeah, that definitely didn't do anything to you. Nothing like a gruff handsome man in priest wear telling you to obey in the house of God. This was for sure not bubbling up any worrying realizations about yourself. Nope. Not in the slightest.

He steps back putting a little bit of room between the two of you before his eyes flicker from you to the carpet in front of him.

"Kneel."

You go instantly and willingly, a bit too willingly. Your mind flashes with Father Wolfwoods sermons about the disciples who kissed Jesus’ feet. You wonder if this was an elaborate way to get you to read the bible more because you're beginning to understand what was going through their minds now as you sit on your knees in front of the priest.

You aren’t sure if Wolfwood expected you to be so eager. He pauses for a moment before you swear a hint of a smirk plays at his lips. He raises the glass and the bit of bread slightly.

"Listen to me closely, we wouldn't want to spill and stain the carpet now, would we?" he ask.

You shake your head no. He makes a satisfied hum and continues.

"Tilt your head back.”

You do as you're told, tilting your head back until your eye level is forced to be centered on the man in front of you.

"Open your mouth.”

Your mouth begins to salivate despite the fact there’s nothing in it yet. Perhaps it's due to the fact that what he's about to put in it isn't want you’d like to have resting on your tongue.

"Good. Why don't you stick your tongue out a little bit? I don't want you to dribble."

Fuck him. Fuck him so bad. There was no way he didn't know what he was doing but if had any hint about this sadistic game he was playing with you he gave no indication, he remained at stoic as ever as if you weren't having the most unholy thoughts imagined about your fucking priest.

There’s no going back though. You follow his instructions and let your tongue loll out of your mouth. You swear something flickers in his eyes, but it's gone as soon as it arrives.

He raises the glass and bread more as if offering it to God.

"Close your eyes.”

You do. You let the light of stained-glass windows be blotted out by your own blind obedience.

“Corpus Domini Nostri Iesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam....Amen."

You feel him press the small bit of bread onto your tongue, you close and eat. You don't need to be told before you're opening your mouth again.

The wine follows right after, poured into your mouth and you swallow it down focusing on not letting any hit the ground with the speed at which the contents are emptied down your throat.

What realistically could not have been more than a few seconds feels as though it's lasted a lifetime. You take a deep breath once the bitter wine has settled in your stomach and before you can even think about getting up and excusing yourself from the church Wolfwood puts a hand on your shoulder, signaling for you to stay in place.

"Good. Why don't we get that confession out of the way then?"

Right. The reason he had probably pulled you aside for all of this in the first place. Had he seen through you? Seen how hungry your gaze had become? Probably. Looking back on it sitting in the front row was probably not the best idea when the entire reason for your Sunday visits was for potential fantasy fuel. There didn't seem like any reason to lie though, it's not like a priest could tell anyone about these things and outside of church Father Wolfwood was a bit of an anomaly to the town.

He didn't have any friends that you knew of, didn't gossip, or hang out at the bar, the man lived in this church which was making you feel a bit more guilty about your infatuation now that you thought of it but hey, if you weren't guilty about something then were you even a catholic?

"Forgive me Father I have sinned..."

With a grimace, you realize why the damn confession booths were so popular. Admitting this to God or a wooden wall was a little too easy. Admitting this to Wolfwood was like someone slowly peeling off your skin.

"I see, well, tell me child what is your confession?"

a swallow, then a leap.

"I have been...ah having inappropriate thoughts about someone. Someone who I go out of my way to see to add to these...fantasy's I have."

He listens closely and his hand comes up to cup the back of your head.

"I see...lust then?"

You nod in response, and he makes an affirming noise.

"And what do you imagine happening in these...fantasies of yours?"

The silence in the empty church is so loud it's deafening. Your hands scrunch and unscrunch the fabric of your pants.

"I...I imagine him pushing me down against these very pews, Father. That one day as I'm standing up to leave mass, he'll shove me right back down and take me against the wood."

It's said strained but even you must admit maybe there’s something to this confession shit because you feel a bit lighter with it off your shoulders. Father Wolfwood looks less light. In fact, he looks like you've just damned him to hell.

"Is that all?" he asks but it comes out breathier than he means it to.

The tone sends something to your core, oh you see it now. Lamb and shepherd your ass, you were still most certainly the lamb but the Father was no shepherd, he was the Wolf. Maybe God himself had put that divine foreshadowing into his name.

You shift on your knees and press yourself flatter trying to rub your thighs together. Wolfwoods eyes flicker down to the action, then back up to your face. He opens his mouth to say something, but you beat him to it.

"No Father. Sometimes I imagine him taking me on the stand in front of the whole congregation. Still preaching while he finishes in me, holy words even in his most sinful act. But...do you know what I really want Father?"

Wolfwood swallows, his fingers trace along your face, and you fight every instinct to lean into it. He looks like this is paining him, He's all gritted teeth and square shoulders as he speaks.

"What do you want?"

Hook. Line. Sinker.

"I imagine he'd keep me here after church, that he'd have me kneel before him still while wearing his holy clothes, that collar, the rosary...and I wish he'd undo his belt to-"

"Enough."

Your mouth snaps shut, scared you've pushed too far. You can feel heat bloom across your face in embarrassment now that your words are catching up to you, this was meant to be a confession not a shit porno, maybe you DID need God...

"You drive me insane you know that? Every day you come in here- the house of god mind you and stare at me like..." He clicks his tongue and motions to you.

"Well like that."

You aren't sure what to make of his tone, it's scolding and firm but hinges on needy at the end. You're starting to worry you broke the poor man before he makes an irritated noise.

"Fine. You want to repent so bad?" Wolfwoods hands go to his belt and with a soft clink of the metal it comes fastened. Your eyes flicker to look towards the door to make sure that no one was about to walk in on the scene that'd put Judas’ sin to shame when you're snapped out of your thoughts.

"Pay attention sweetheart, you were doing so good before, what happened?" The mask of a holy man cracks and gives way to something cockier, more taunting, more...Wolfwood.

"Unless you need scripture to keep your focus?" he works to undo the button and the zip of his dress pants as he tilts his head.

"Then here's something for you, 'the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom..' "

He frees himself from the confines of his pants. You feel your mouth water and although your knees are starting to hurt from kneeling for so long you have a feeling you're about to get your real communion.

" '...and she opened her mouth, and took.' "

In beat with his preaching you let your mouth fall open. In all honesty, you get it now. You get how appealing that lush fruit must have been to Eve, you get why even after being promised paradise, she gave in to temptation. The weight that settles on your tongue as Wolfwood presses into your mouth makes your eyes roll back, and an involuntary moan escapes your throat. Wolfwoods breath stutters.

"God..." He groans and if your mouth wasn't currently full you might have made a witty comment about using the lords name in vain but a quick hand lacing through your hair from Wolfwood serves well enough to sever whatever thought had flitted through your mind.

You flatten your tongue and take more, allowing as much as you can to the back of your throat but when tears prick your eyes and you gag slightly on the sensation he pulls you off with a wet pop. You whine slightly at loss before Wolfwoods hand grabs your chin while he uses his thumb to wipe up the drool leaking from your lips that you hadn't realized was there.

"Patience, don’t you listen to a word I say up there?” he muses, you sheepishly look up at him through your eyelashes and it’s answer enough. He pulls you back in front of his cock, "Be good then, swallow every drop and I might forgive you"

You don't have much time to argue as his hand guides you back. You're more prepared this time, the way you sit on your knees...you’re a picture perfect saint and who's here to judge you for your sin anyways? Wolfwood? Sounded like a setup to a joke.

"Fuck, yeah baby just like that. So good-" His words break off with a grunt and his hips stutter forward, he pulls your head forward and you reach up to steady yourself with his thighs. He rocks his hips to your mouth as he face fucks you in the middle of the church. When his breathing speeds up and he mutters out a sting of gentle curses you know he’s close. You close your eyes and let him use you as he spills down your throat. You're desperate to show him you can listen, you swallow down as much as you can trying to not let a single drop of cum hit the floor.

When the rough handful of hair is released, you pull back to try and catch your breath, a worthless endeavor it would seem considering you're just as quickly being lifted up by your arm. You feel yourself being tugged up the steps towards the pulpit and make peace with the fact you're officially the worst Catholic ever...well besides the priest who's currently the instigator of this depravity.

"Not done yet sweetheart, the grace of god doesn't come with a blow job surprisingly" Wolfwood huffs amused as he presses down on your shoulder to force you to bend off the wood stand.

"Are you even a priest?" wrong question you guess because Wolfwood makes an irritated noise.

"Aren't you supposed to be repenting?" His hands grope at your thighs, spreading them apart much more slowly than you'd like, as if he's savoring it...reverence, you think.

"Father-"

He chuckles lowly at that.

"Father" he imitates "you let that name fall from your lips like it doesn't turn you on just to say it"

His fingers ghost over your thighs, then around the area you want him most before sliding up under your shirt to explore flesh. It's so hot in the church, and when you peer out across the wooden pews, you see the stained glass window casting rainbow light that sprawls out across the floor all the way up to your body.

"Focus on me" Wolfwood corrects your wandering mind by nipping along your neck and your body instinctively shudders against him. You press your hips back to feel his growing hardness pressed against your ass. His hands slide your shirt up over your head and he begins to focus on trailing kisses along your back.

"Thank you, Lord," His lips move against your shoulder blade.

"For delivering this sinner unto me, so that I may show them rapture."

His fingers hook along the hem of your pants and tug them down your legs until they rest right at your knees.

"Despite that, I must confess, I have sinned."

His fingers trace along your entrance before slowly sinking in. You groan and press your head to the wood in front of you, fingers scratching against the surface.

"I have lusted for someone of my own congregation. I have imagined them kneeling for me and worst of all I have imagined me taking them, devouring them until there is nothing left to fill them but me"

Another finger lazily joins the first and he begins a slow rhythm of pumping them in and out. You attempt to wiggle your hips back to chase the feeling, but his other hand keeps your waist flush against the stand.

"But I am only a man so with my mortal body I will show them euphoria"

You feel his fingers pull out and whine at the loss only to feel the blunt head of his own cock begin to line up with you.

"Amen"

Wolfwood doesn't give you much more warning before roughly pressing in. You moan as he sets a backbreaking pace, thankful that he at least prepped you before. He's leaned over your body; his hair tickles the back of your neck slightly as he pants in your ear. You imagine your own noises can't be much better as his left hand, the one he's apparently wrapped in a rosary, comes up to catch your chin, two fingers press into your mouth as he supports your head. His other hand stays at your hip, bringing your body back against his with every thrust.

It's so hot in the church, sweat beads along your body and you can feel your hair beginning to stick to your forehead. Your mind feels foggy and you lap absent mindedly at the fingers invading your mouth. Wolfwood groans and pushes you down further against the stand and it'd be uncomfortable if you could focus on anything other than the priest fucking your brains out. He produces an ungodly amount of precum, you can feel it making a mess between your thighs right as drool begins to leak from the corners of your mouth and bead down to the wood below.

Wolfwoods hand shifts from your hip to where a blooming warmth has begun. You nearly cry out with relief babbling nonsense around his fingers, hell maybe even a few prayers. His own mouth is becoming less of that of a reverend and more of that of a ravenous man, mouthing and biting at what he can reach. The fingers press deeper into your mouth, and you feel the smooth beads of the rosary as you toy with them with your tongue. You're close, you tremble beneath Wolfwood and he catches on because both his hands pull away to once again fit along your hips. You nearly sob from the new lack of stimulation as he rocks into you.

"Beg for it," Wolfwood says so firmly you'd have sworn he was once again leading the congregation. Your mind is halfway to mush right now, so it doesn't take much convincing to do what he wants.

"Please please please let me, I’m sorry, I’ll be good, I repent" you babble out hoping you’ve said the magic words.

His hand comes down firmly on your ass as he thrust into you then finally finally reaches to touch between your thighs.

It sends you over the edge instantly, your legs trembling as you whine and moan, Wolfwoods own obscene noises match your own as he finishes inside you, letting you milk him for all he's worth.

The two of you stay like that for a moment, you become aware of the fact your priest is pressed up against your back, trying to catch his breath from fucking the ever loving daylights out of you. You whine slightly and Wolfwood responds by nuzzling his face against your neck.

"Are you okay?"

You do actually laugh at that one, letting your forehead rest against the podium.

"The priest I've been fantasizing about fucking me for a year now just has. This has been the best lay of my life and you want to ask if I'm okay?"

"You're awfully vulgar aren't you?"

You snap your head up to make several points about the irony of the statement but when you turn you see a shit eating grin on his face. You playfully hit his chest and groan.

"You've got to be the worst priest ever"

"Can't say I'd deny that claim" He leans forward and kisses you, you go into it easily but the taste of his lips reminds you of something, when you pull away you raise an eyebrow

"Do you smoke?"

He shrugs and keeps his hands on your waist.

"I prefer to keep certain things in my life separated from the church"

"and me?"

"Consider yourself a special case." He smirks and takes hold of your chin between his fingers "Although I do hope this was enough to keep you coming to my sermons?" he ask

You swallow at the dark look in his eye and place your hands on his chest.

"and miss the holy word? Perish the thought"

He chuckles lowly at that as your hands begin to play with the collar of the cassock he wears.

"Although Father, I fear I may not have properly confessed."

He raises an eyebrow and eyes you "No?"

You shake your head "See I only...repented for two out of three fantasies I had also mentioned being taken against the pews"

Wolfwoods hands tighten around his hips and his smile widens.

"Well...let's fix that, shall we?"

Author's note: ahhhh I'm back! I've been storin this little beauty away for awhile now. This is my welcome back post because I feel like I lost the way I wanted to organize and write for a little while and this was the first piece that got me back in the flow of things. I missed you guys! We're back baby! (I'll add my spacers in later I'm missin the files rn and I don't feel like searching for them)

[skarkkk]

I have so many thoughts about this episode and I can't even put them in order, but anyway.

First,

Can we talk about how significant it is that Madney's relationship is as open and transparent as it is now compared to when they started? The fact that they want to have another child and that they've talked about their feelings, and that they've actually talked about Maddie's postpartum depression, they're an amazing couple, but it's also kind of terrifying. Everything in their romance needed chaos before the calm and a new child comes along, adopted or not? What could that lead to? Nothing permanently bad, since it's the last season, but still. There's a lot of exploration to be had, in terms of his fears and how they both have complicated relationships with siblings and family. Chim having Kevin, Albert (and I like to think, Ravi) and losing one of them, starting out chaotic with Albert and almost losing him. Maddie and her "I've got your back" relationship with Buck, plus those years when she was with Doug and he thought she was dead. Will this affect raising two kids or am I overthinking it?

Second,

The priest and Eddie. I confess that I shipped them for a moment during the juice scene. I found the part where Eddie thought the priest was hitting on him a bit funny, the whole "I'm straight - I'm celibate" thing, first because you're not straight Eddie (I hope), second because it really seemed like he was going to be hit on. I cried, for real, when he was talking to the priest and thinking he shouldn't be forgiven. "And you had parents who loved you?" No. Can we go over how Eddie's parents are overcompensating with Chris trying to keep him for the things they didn't do to Eddie? Like they supposed to be real parents? And how did Eddie seem to not even notice that? At least, in my opinion. The confession scene, him calling Buck his best friend. I wonder if the priest came all Bobby on Eddie. I wonder if he'll show up again and if so, why and for what? Acceptance of sexuality? Reassurance that real religion doesn't condemn homosexuality? Or reassurance that God wanted Eddie to be happy the way he is? Because I hope he ends the series happy, with or without Buddie.

Third,

Tommy being Abby's Tommy. This one is short, but I loved ABC for actually doing this, even though it led to what it did, even though it seemed inevitable what happened to them. Like, he got engaged to Abby, who is Buck's ex, and the relationship that made him a really better person, the relationship that made Tommy feel oppressed and then free. You could basically say that she shaped both of them into who they are so that they could find each other and end up like she ended up with them? Alone, single.

Fourth,

Their breakup. I loved that despite the gender difference, Buck continued to be the same in the sense of rushing things. 6 months and he invited him to move in with him. And everything went downhill from there. And don't get me wrong, I know this could lead to buddie, but can we focus on how this could have been better used? Like Tommy or not, but he was Buck's first guy, first kiss, first date, first crush, first time (?), everything that could have been more presented and shown to the audience. It fits the aesthetic of the show that they ended it that way and that this is technically Buck's most amicable breakup under a good relationship of his (except, probably, Alli or Abby) but still.

Fifth,

The basketball tickets. A small point, probably, but the plan was for them to go together. Think about how Tommy got basketball tickets and the only time Buck really went through with it was because of jealousy, and how he doesn't like it. So they broke up, and who do you think he's going to invite or give the tickets to? Eddie. So it's going to be a date, because I bet Buck is going to think about how if they hadn't broken up he'd be there with Tommy but no, he's there with Eddie and it's going to be like poker night but with something extra, even if it doesn't lead to buddy and more to post-breakup angst.

Sixth,

Appreciation to Josh because he's awesome. Ironic that he gave that advice and was sweet, but it didn't do any good because Tommy seems to be afraid of commitment to Buck or not as passionate about it.

Seventh, Tommy and his relationship with Buck being superficial. I may have misunderstood, because besides English not being my first language there were no subtitles, but it seemed so easy how he let their relationship end because it was moving too fast and because "I'm your first guy, not your last" and how he didn't fight for it? It wasn't an obligation, but shouldn't you at least try to be with the one you like or love? I like Tommy, yes, and I like them together, and how cute they were and it was all healthy and patient and then it wasn't anymore? because Buck rushed and Tommy backed off and "are you breaking up with me? - yeah, I guess I am"

Eighth,

Eddie's happiness. I liked his mustache, but I liked the representation that by getting rid of it he would be able to look at himself in the mirror without looking away because it also means that he is starting to heal from the mistakes he has made. That scene of him dancing was so free, spontaneous and out of character compared to the trauma thing and how closed off he may seem, but no, he is just a single father full of trauma who deserves happiness and is starting to realize that again. I thought it was a great reference to Step Up and that shirt of his reminded me of the outfit he wore to Maddie's wedding. When I saw that scene, I just thought Buck was going to visit him about the breakup and I was right. The point is, I missed Eddie's smile and how he looked really good for the first time in a while. Because season three happened, then season four, and then season five came along and it was trauma after trauma and even with therapy there was something missing that I want to heal. He, with his son, the people he loves, his real family (his overprotective mom and dad from the team, his smart older sister, his sarcastic younger brother because in this scenario there is his best friend who is not a brother, because I see the romantic sense, but if he didn't exist he would be the youngest) and the happiness he deserves.

Nine, Mostly it's just a reminder of how Eddie was smiling, in his underwear and a dress shirt, dancing (and looking really hot Ryan) and then Buck shows up looking devastated and he just accepts the beer and leaves them to sit in silence on the couch and then the end. They are, before possible lovers, best friends, soulmates. Because the first person Buck goes to is him (and Maddie, obviously, we never forget her) and when Eddie doesn't know what to do he goes to Buck and how they both can't lie to each other. And how they trust each other and what greater example of a slow burn do we have than that (Destiel walked so Buddie could run)? That Eddie trusts his soul and life (Chris) with Buck more than anyone else and Buck knows it? You may not ship it, but you can't deny that they are soulmates.

Tenth,

The guy sneezed and his guts came out? Holy shit. The woman just had the guy's mother's ashes in her hands. I love It.

Eleventh,

We start with a recreation of the well scene where everything ended well (and I need to look for fanfics later with a scenario where Eddie has a flashback) and without any more trauma for the firefighters because we know those kids are going to need at least some therapy. So the preview for the next episode being a firefighter stuck on a ladder the same way Buck was? Is that a sign? Reliving the protagonists' traumas for some reason and getting over it. Either it's character development in some way I can't quite place or forcing them to acknowledge the times they almost lost each other, but then we need a lot more episodes with the times those idiot kids almost died. But seriously, that has to mean something, right?

Twelfth,

When and how will Chris return? And where are Ravi and May?

ABC, love you

[nalyra-dreaming]

Heyyy

What are your thoughts on religious symbolism or just religion in general in the story? Cos I started reading the books and was really surprised by how much the characters GET INTO IT lmao it’s really present in the story in a way the show mostly shied away from after the first episode I think, other than a couple exceptions it was mostly not explicit except a few references to hell.

Sooo I’m pretty hyped seeing some crucifixion imagery in season 2, I suppose I makes sense that Louis would be having a religious reckoning after losing lestat, and Armand is a character really defined by his faith so it will be interesting to see how deep they go with it. What are you hoping to see?

Hey!

Yes, there is a LOT of religious symbolism in the books (Anne struggled all her life with it, and that is threaded through). Lestat (and others) has a rather complicated relationship to the divine. In Memnoch he literally encounters God, and drinks his blood. Lestat is often likened to Christ in the books, something the show has obviously picked up on. After his ordeal with Memnoch he is bound and raving mad before he quiets into a coma, in a chapel.

(Young Lestat wants to become a monk/priest, prays to be released from his abusive family, shivers at the vicious futility at the Witches' Place.)

We have other characters who come from a vastly different backgrounds, too, like Marius in pre-Christian Roman Empire, or in the extreme (in a way) Akasha and Enkil in ancient Egypt, building themselves up to (Blood) Gods. For example.

The show has given Armand a muslim background, Daniel might have yet another one, maybe jewish.

I do not actually think they're shying away from all that - but they are giving themselves time to reach the important points here... and, of course, season 1 being told by Louis, put the focus somewhere else, because Louis actually did not wish to think about all that too deeply. Or, better, address it.

Now Louis obviously believed ... enough. Enough to feel deeply and utterly tortured about it all. I think that is true for book and show, and the show has taken the book comment and made it literal:

"What would Christ need have done to make me follow Him like Matthew or Peter? Dress well, to begin with. And have a luxurious head of pampered yellow hair."

Louis goes and runs to church when all else fails, in desperation. He kills the priest there, in the book.

Louis... will lose his faith in god, or, maybe better, switch it over to Lestat as his god, book canonically. (And he struggles with this, for a long time):

"He leaned close to me, and he put his hand on my arm. “ ‘Wither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people’; and because I have no other god and never will, you shall be my god."

Armand has also spoken of "I serve a god", which might be a callback to the events surrounding Memnoch. And, as you say, he is deeply defined by his faith. It will be truly interesting to see where they go for it in the show - how they go for it.

Of course the image of Lestat as if on a cross is imbued with meaning.

Louis himself later mediates on the fact that he "hated Lestat for the wrong reasons", and that the feelings that Lestat arouse in him did not have "hatred among them".

Lestat has been murdered, for sins he did not commit(*).

(*)Of course there is plenty to say about that - and Lestat himself never blamed Claudia! - but that which they (ultimately, simplified) hated him for... was not his fault, not really. Vampirism never freed any of them, it simply could not, and Claudia didn't have a choice in any case... and eternity is a long time to build up emotions. Or hate. (Or forgiveness.)

And so Lestat as Christ on a cross... calls back to that, in Louis' imagination.

So what I hope to see... hmm.

I don't think they'll put Memnoch into the show. I think if anything then Memnoch or a Memnoch-like event has already happened.

I hope... that we will get to see the characters struggling with their faith - or lack of it. I hope that we will get to see Lestat destroy the Parisian coven and the satanic cult there. I hope that we will see Armand struggling to find something to hold onto (and find it!). I want Louis to free himself from the shackles of catholic guilt, whether they go book canon or not. I want Lestat to make his peace with the Witches' Place and the futility of it all, the "dark" moment. I hope that we will see characters reflect and mirror the perceived truths of faith - and destroy the preconceptions.

I want all that.

I hope for all that :)

We'll see if they dare, but... I'm carefully hopeful^^.

Oh yes, and at the end... I want them to find their peace in their own religion, as in the books... their "Blood Communion".

[checkoutmybookshelf]

Apparently Oleander Burns on the Way Down...

So, funny story about judging books by their covers: This stunner of a cover crossed my social media feed about six months before the book came out, and I thought, "That is beautiful, I have to read it." Then I did the bare minimum amount of Googling and realized that this was book two, and I had to read The Jasmine Throne first. So I did. And then I almost died because I had to wait months to find out what happened next in Priya and Malini's story. I finally did, so let's talk The Oleander Sword.

Hey, hi, hello. This is you SPOILER WARNING. There will be just the SPOILERIST OF SPOILERS below. You have been warned.

One of the most interesting things about Priya and Malini's relationship is that it has always been equal in precisely one aspect: They're down so bad for each other that nothing--including a civil war of succession and the return of the yaksa--can actually change that guut-deep, practically instinctive love. However, at no other point have they had equality anywhere else. In the last book, there were class and culture divides. In this book...well, it's really damn complicated for two world leaders to be in love. Particularly when one of those countries brutally invaded and colonized the other and we're in the middle of a low-key rebellion on top of the succession war.

Another really interesting aspect of Priya and Malini's relationship that is really highlighted and strained in this book is the fact that Malini's first act as Empress was burning a temple full of priests, and Priya is Elder Priya of Ahiranya, and Mani Ara's personal high priestess. Malini's relationship to religion is...objectively fraught. She blames it for a LOT of what has gone wrong in her and her brothers' lives, and she doesn't put stock in it. So naturally, she falls for a hella devout priestess.

Priya is soft-hearted and objectively bad at politics, so she naturally falls for Malini--a political prodigy who is very willing to use and discard people when they're not useful to her anymore. Priya spent the whole first book and most of this book saving people from the rot. This whole relationship is full of tension and contradictions and diametrically opposed goals and needs, and it's just FASCINATING to watch Priya and Malini negotiate things on a moment-by-moment basis.

And when Priya chooses her people and her family because they have no one but her to protect them and Malini has an entire goddamn army...it makes sense. It's heartbreaking and brutal and you wish it didn't have to go down that way, but it makes perfect sense that Priya would stab Malini in the chest. I really wanted to reach into the book and fix this for them.

I also want to just shout out Malini's relationships with her brothers, Aditya and Chandra. Malini and Chandra's relationship is...oh my god SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO toxic. They hate each other. They've been trying to kill each other since they were both adults. Chandra got damn close to killing Malini twice that we know of, and the implication is that he's been abusive since she was a child. So when Malini actually manages to double-cross Chandra, take the throne, and then trick/force his ass into ingesting aconite and oleander...it was kind of amazing. Like I was 100% here for her victory there. This relationship is brutal but it's not that complicated.

Aditya and Malini's relationship is COMPLICATED. As a new empress just barely clinging to her throne, it is objectively bad to have an alive, popular, and male older brother running around. He's right there. In a patriarchal society, he SHOULD have the throne. He SHOULD be emperor, and only the strength of Aditya's refusal keeps Malini from having to kill him.

Making all of that worse, Aditya and Malini don't see each other clearly and they don't understand each other. They love each other, but that lack of understanding just strains everything. So when Aditya burns for the mothers instead of Malini to secure Malini's hold on the throne...Malini can't even begin to process it. She can go through the motions, play the role of grieving empress, but she hasn't even begun to deal with this.

In Ahiranya, things are getting BAD. The Yaksa are returning.

The Jasmine Throne and Oleander Sword do something really, really interesting with the Yaksa and historical narrative. It's made really clear early on to the reader that Parijatdvipa is a colonial power that defeated the Yaksa at the end of the Age of Flowers and conquered Ahiranya. Therefore, we're not really meant to take them at their word when they frame the Yaksa as basically the fucking worst and something that was so evil that five women willingly burned to death to take them out.

To further complicate the mythology of the yaksa, we have the Ahirani reverence for the yaksa, the structure of the religion with the Hirana and the temple elders and children guiding the worship of the yaksa. Now, we know that the Hirana can be cruel, and even in Ahiranya, there is a sense that the yaksa are...hard gods. But there is also this sense of love running underneath it throughout Jasmine Throne.

That breaks PRETTY FUCKING FAST when the yaksa show up wearing dead people's faces, threaten to murder children, give the highborn the rot to force veneration, and literally hollow people out to make space for the yaksa inside them. And as a reader, the whole time you're going, "but it can't be this bad, can it? This isn't really happening, is it?? OH FUCK THIS IS HAPPENING, RUN!!!" But by the time Bhumika and co. and the reader really, truly realize and internalize that yeah, no, the yaksa actually have no love for the people that worship them and are fine with wiping humanity off the face of the world to usher in a second Age of Flowers, it's way too late. Bhumika gets a last, desperate chance from the yaksa who has...weirdly melded with Ashok in a way that is tenuous and clearly not correct even for a yaksa, but it costs her herself. Again, I wanted to reach into the book and try to fix it so Bhumika could stay herself. I liked her self, and I liked what she and Jeevan could have had. And oh my god, Jeevan. Talk about a dedicated as all hell man. Jeevan is a hero, and he and Bhumika BETTER find their way back together and back to Padma.

Then we have Rao. Rao is just a problem child because he spends this book caught between other people's expectations and can't meet ANY of them. He's too soft-hearted for Malini. He's too rooted in politics for Aditya. He's too Parijatdvipan for Priya (but not for Sima, which is interesting), and he's too pulled between all these different expectations to feel fulfilled in himself. And the only person other than the reader who seems to give a damn about this than the reader is Lata, Malini's sage. Lata sees Rao, but Lata doesn't have the time and space to really do much for him in this book. It'll be interesting to see how that develops, and how Rao develops.

Overall, this was an incredible read. The slow-burn of the horror of the yaksa, the grind and spectacle of war, and the subtle but deeply nuanced and complex relationships between characters were delightful, always interesting, and something I could just get absolutely enveloped in. The characters are awesome, the worldbuilding is incredible, and the handling of colonialism, religion, and rebellion are A+. I cannot recommend Tasha Suri's books enough.

[fantastic-mr-corvid]

♥️,🥩, and 🍓 From Yunessa!

aww thank you! for this ask game, last one under the read more bc it got longg

❤️ (heart) - Who is the most important person to your character? To what lengths would they go to protect this person?

To Conficcare, Rametta is by far the most important person to him, which is why her rejection of him & his attempts to keep her safe from their mother cuts him so deeply. What lengths? well for as much as its known that he would pick Muro over Tesoro in a heartbeat, he would betray all of them for Rametta.

🥩 (steak) - Does your oc have any coping mechanisms? Healthy or unhealthy?

Celias smoking comes to mind, she used it to calm herself, fit in/seem cool, but mainly to decease her appetite and lessen the hunger pains when there wasn't enough food [which was most of the time] Hes been trying to kick the habit for years with little long term success, but no matter how many gross images of the consequences Conficcare shoves in his face he always ends up rolling up a cig when things get stressful or he needs to think. [I mean, he knows hes gonna die young, its inevitable, why worry about cancer and fucking up your body when your not gonna be around in time for it?]

🍓 (strawberry) - Does your oc believe in anything? Are they superstitious? Religious? Atheistic? Has anything in their past made them this way?

Muro & Cecio [& Tesoro & Conficcare & Rametta] all have a complicated relationship with religion. Raised Roman Catholic [with some influence from Eastern Orthodoxy from the large amount of Ukrainian immigrants in their community] Much of their community was centered around worship, which meant that being rejected due to their trans and queerness was devastating when it happened.

Notably, Paula refused to go to church after she was deemed to be going against the will of god by accepting that Cecio was a trans boy and raising him as such- though given she opposed the priest by punching him in the face it wasn't like she was exactly welcome anymore. Celia also got much side eye when he started presenting fully as Muro.

Despite that [and the homophobia of Tesoros father & Conficcares mother that they justified through scripture and worrying for their childs souls] they all maintain quite a strong level of faith, keeping god in their own way. Muro notably often keeps his mothers rosary around his right wrist, hidden under the cuff of his jacket, Tesoro still goes to church and prays for forgiveness often, Conficcare goes occasionally, while Rametta used to go before she had an annoying atheist phase, but after her brothers death refuses to feel uncomfortable as herself in a house of god [She loves the 'god made us trans for the same reason he gave us wheat instead of bread and grapes instead of wine, so we could partake in the act of creation' [paraphrased] idea, and as she sees the world and many religious leaders become more accepting of trans & queer people she wishes so much that the rest of her family were there to see it]

I need to do more research into Catholicism bc while i was undeniably raised culturally christian i had very little interaction with protestant practice let alone catholic, but they are all very steeped in catholic practices and habits, while they question and disagree with spesific teachings- mainly around queerness- they are very much religious and it is important to them.

[thewritersplace]

WTW Planet Prompts | Jupiter | Religion

•The Road To Eternity Is Paved With Blood

Rose and Judas come from a very Catholic family, and as such even if their relationship with the religion fluctuated over the years, the religion was still a large and integral part of their lives. Rose's marriage to a man who had a complicated history with religion did not necessarily go over well with her family, but they came to accept him eventually. Vlad, a man who had been raised as Eastern Orthodox but converted temporarily to Catholicism at some point in his adult life, was no stranger to the controversy his background caused, and understood why her family felt the way they did. Unlike his wife, he did not judge or criticize them for their initial lack of acceptance, and tried to persuade Rose to let the matter lie, but she was anything if not stubborn.

After Rose and Judas became vampires, they dealt with their religion differently. Rose still considered herself a Catholic, but only in terms of the faith. The institution now firmly disgusted her, and she happily mocked those who were staunch supporters of it. Judas, meanwhile, became a priest, as he found the study of theology interesting, and found amusement in the irony of being the very creature that his religion so staunchly hated and opposed.

Vlad, for his part, is mostly amused by the entire thing, and delights in watching the two have endless debates on the morality, theology, and irony of being vampires who participate in a religion that is against their entire existence.

•The Wrath Of The Vampire Queen

The conflict between the Ottoman Empire and Wallachia was just as much about religion as it was about conquest. Both Vlad and his wife, Senka, — who were both of the Christian faith — did not want the Turks to take full control of their land, and subsequently force their religion on the people of Wallachia. Moreover, if Wallachia and the surrounding regions were conquered, then the Turks would reach Hungary, which was a much larger Christian region. By reaching Hungary, there would be a very real threat of a full invasion of Europe, and that unnerved not only the Pope, but all the other rulers as well. Thus, it was up to Senka and Vlad to keep the Ottomans out of their region, and prevent them from advancing further into Europe. Ironically, on a personal level, the two of them could've cared less about what religion their enemies were. Of course, they would never admit such a thing out loud, for if they did, it would certainly bring about some kind of unrest, and that was the last thing their region — and people — needed.

•For The Love Of A Goddess

In a world where all deities from all religions exist both on the mortal plane and on the immortal plane, there is a very real feeling of being a part of, and in the presence of, something much bigger than oneself. For Megara and Zarina, two normal, mortal girls, this is doubly true, as they are both dating goddesses who are literally leagues above them. Coming from different faiths in their own right, these girls have to contend with the reality of being involved with not just their partners, but also other deities, and navigate the messiness that is a carefully crafted — not to mention fairly fragile — pluralistic coexistence among said deities.

•The Other Side Of Paradise

As creations of God, and the first of all women, Lilith and Eve are part of the stories that make up mankind's first belief system, which later becomes mankind's first religion. Lilith's story, however, is not as widely known as Eve's, and where it is known it is often twisted into something almost unrecognizable. Eve's story is known far and wide, but there is often very little room for understanding. When it comes to the two together, they are thought of as rivals or perhaps sisters, but never as lovers. The very religion that they inadvertently helped in creating is the one that seeks to restrict and confine them, and prevent their true stories from being told.

[eddiediazswife]

Oh for fucks sake. I saw the posts about the priest a few minutes after I sent you the ask about what was happening. And god do I have some thoughts.

Do I think the whole eddiexpreist thing is more of wild spec than anything?yes I do. But did I also think that of all the bt spec going around pre s7??I did. So now I'm dreading s8.

It's like you said if they wanted eddie to get with just anyone then they could've done the whole eddie and tommy thingy but even then I believe it would have been more of a kiss him and tommy's gone situation compared to the clusterfuxk that it is now with him staying till the end of s7. And with eddie especially I feel like once he knows something he'll probably realize everything that's connected to it as well. So if he's realizing he's queer it is gonna take him to buck. Unlike buck who goes oh so that's what I didn't know and not look any deeper. Maybe that's just me but yeah.

And also I really would like atleast one queer realization arc that doesn't revolve around getting with just anyone. Mainly because I'm such a demi eddie diaz truther. And as much as i want the demi rep because can you imagine seeing such a demi coded characyer for years on your screen and then its actually canonized, i dont trust tim or anyone else on the top for this show one bit. Especially after tim said that he doesn't plan out the season and writes as he goes. They will do the most for the drama and I don't trust them not to drag out buddie just to keep it going or something. .

Now eddie dealing with his complicated relationship with religion?that I can do.

I think I'll most probably keep up with the show through tumblr because like i said i dont trust them. I dont have any expectation. I have zero expectation for them to do anything actually good but that's also because I'm a pessimist at heart who's been burned too much.

(Sorry for the long ask. I didn't realize I had written so much)

Honestly feels like that’s how I’ve felt for the last few seasons Buck will cheat with Lucy? No way wousl never happen (it did), Buck gets with Taylor after what she did to Bobby? No way (that did too), Buck will kiss Tommy one of the original racist/misogynistic members of the 118? No way will Tim go there (he did again), Tim will find a way to bring Shannon back from the dead? Absolutely not this isn’t general hospital! (He so did it) so I have no faith that Tim won’t go there with Eddie and the priest but I will despise it more than all the other story lines that I have hated.

I agree with you that when Eddie has his realisation it will lead him straight to Buck because I think it will be Buck that encourages him to look at that side of himself. I think Tommy is just a plot point and Buck is going to learn some big lessons there which will help Eddie and being them even closer together.

I think Eddie absolutely needs to del with his religious trauma as part of his character growth but not by banging a priest.

I’m the same right now I’ll keep up with stuff here before I commit to watching because no way am I interested in season 7 again.

P.s, don’t worry about the long ask lol I really don’t mind people venting here

[aquadestinyswriting]

🐉🍇💛 for the ask game :D

Hi, thank you very much for the asks. The ask game can be found here. Popping this lot under a cut to save everyone's' dashes. Answering these questions for Selene, because the answers are going to be pretty fun to write.

🐉 How religious is your OC? Do they pray to any god(s) or do they not believe in that kind of stuff? What is their view of religion in general? Where do they believe people go when they die? If your OC is not religious why not and what do they believe in otherwise?

Selene's relationship with religion is... complicated. Titan is a world in which the Gods factually exist, though they haven't walked the material plane in millennia. While Selene will absolutely acknowledge the gods and will give them a degree of reverence, she is not exactly the worshipping type. The thing is, Sel has seen the Good that can come from the worship of the gods, and she's also seen the despicably Evil acts that are also done in (at least some of) Their names.

As far as her view on religion in general, I'd say Selene's opinion is mostly neutral, though she does have a better relationship with Galana than any of the others. This is mostly down to pure exposure, her partner is the High Priest of Galana, and she's seen what the servants of the Lady of the Garden are capable of. There is another god that she does have a bit more of a fractious relationship with. The Giver of Quests, Patron of Adventurers, the rumoured Son of Lady Luck Herself-otherwise known as Greg- is the only god that has made his presence truly felt in Selene's life. Initially through Alexis' discovery and worship of him, and then more directly when He was the one that came to meet her in the Waiting Room. Selene was never sure which, if any, afterlife awaited her following her permanent departure from Titan; following her 'discussion' with Greg, she now knows exactly where she's going. She isn't entirely happy about that, but since she doesn't actively worship anyone else, she's going to spend her afterlife chilling on Greg's beach.

🍇 Does your OC have any bad habits? Does your OC have any addictions like smoking or drinking? How did they fall into these habits and why? 

Oh boy. Where do I even start with this one? While Selene doesn't smoke or do drugs, she is a functional alcoholic by the time the story of The Wizard's Tale starts. This one she fell into just to cope with the PTSD she ended up with throughout her adventuring career and has been made worse by the stress of her current job (even if she were perfectly mentally healthy, I'm sure Schreiber would have driven her to the bottle all by himself). In this case, Selene is more of a binge drinker, than one who needs to drink every day, but it's still an addiction that influences her decisions.

Selene also has the terrible habit of forgetting to eat. It's not uncommon for her to only have one meal a day, and sometimes she'll go without for a whole day or two. This is a problem Selene has kind of always struggled with (AuDHD hyperfocus is a hell of a thing, as is stress), but her time spent adventuring really kicked this one into overdrive because, at one point, meals were few and far between for Reasons. Given the amount of energy it takes to cast spells, the fact that this is even a bad habit of hers is quite impressive, and probably explains why she's basically a stick until after her retirement from the position of Grand Magus.

The last bad habit I'm going to mention is Selene's inability to stick to a decent sleep schedule. Again, something she's struggled with all her life, made a billion times worse thanks to the stress of her responsibilities and her time spent adventuring. Again, given the amount of magic Selene just casually tosses around every day, it's a wonder the woman is even still alive. Nearly every caster, regardless of where they get their power from, needs a full eight hours of rest in order to regain their full casting ability, just because of how much energy casting spells takes. Selene somehow manages to keep casting despite getting an average of about 5 or 6 hours' rest per night (and not in any consistent manner). This particular bad habit is one that continues even after her retirement, but is at least mitigated by the fact that Selene's schedule allows for much more rest in general throughout the day.

💛 What is your personal opinion of this OC? Do you love them or are they your trash child? Are they your baby?

Selene will forever and always be my babygirl. She is the very first roleplay character I ever got to play and she's just lived in my head rent-free ever since. She's changed a bit since that time, but I like to think that the development was for the better for us both. I love her so much, and I really hope that others do too now that I've started sharing her with the world.

[donnerpartyofone]

It has been a little more than a year since I started going to St. Mary Star of the Sea. Since I moved it hasn't been as easy to roll out of bed, get something to chew on there, and start my day, and the ladies are a little mad at me. I know it's just how they show their concern, but I'm tempted to explain that demanding my attention is a great way to make sure you don't get it! I find attention-seeking extremely unattractive and I have complicated feelings about my own exhibitionism vs. my constant need for solitude. This topic has been a central part of many relationships; insofar as a lot of human interactions are driven by the subconscious urge to play out the individual's unresolved psychodramas, people who crave validation love to start shit with me because they sense that it's not easy to get my approval. Over the course of years of friendship or even just one night at a party, I seem to become symbolic of their problems with rejection and they'll try to bait me into reenacting their personal narrative with them--and it kinda works because I will instinctively slam the door on anyone who acts entitled to my attention, or who enjoys testing my loyalty. But uuuhhh that's kind of a different story, I go to the church for reasons that are private and hard to explain and I just cannot take it personally if I seem to disappoint anyone.

On Tuesday the brilliant monsignor I'm obsessed with spoke about scandal and hypocrisy, and I thought he kind of soft-pedaled it (he usually doesn't) but it's probably still good for people to be reminded of church failings by their priest instead of their perceived enemies. He said everyone needs reconciliation including the clergy: "My priest is the Virgin Mary, that's where I go." I really liked that, I had never heard it before; Mary the priest. I like the hint of gender confusion ("priestess" would be an intense word to hear in a church I guess) and the reminder that she is an authority and not just a nurturing repository for complaints. It got me thinking about the coronation, Mary as the Queen of Heaven. What does it mean to be the Queen of Heaven? Isn't everything both perfect and eternal in Heaven? In that kind of stasis there would be no need for authority, everything would be sort of a foregone conclusion. It's strange to think of being an administrator in Heaven, to have to litigate things that go on there. But a Queen isn't always an active ruler, a Queen is maybe more often a figurehead, a sort of living template, an example.

Today the brilliant priest I'm obsessed with spoke about how you neglect your own potential when you model your whole persona on the expectations of your demographic. He talked about the role he is expected to fulfill during Black History Month as one of two Black priests in the whole diocese, and the experience of growing up with certain protocols of what Blackness is within his community, indicating that while that all is a part of him, it sort of distracts from his individuality and all the other things that he is--and then he turned this around on the pews full of old white Italian- and Irish Americans. His point was that everyone is susceptible to performing a certain fixed identity informed by their statistical profile, and that this can radically limit your potential and your understanding of yourself as a person. He then extended this to God: "God is not that guy with the big beard who always looks like he smells something bad." He said God is both a man and a woman, and also more than that. He isn't really a "He", we only personify "Him" as an unavoidable convenience so we can talk about Him.

That priest always has very cosmic, borderline psychedelic things to say that are very exciting to me, and both he and the monsignor regularly challenge their majority old, white parishioners to check their prejudices and not let their sense of religion become this dead, rote thing that they never examine. Setting aside my very esoteric reasons for being there, it's helpful to me to know that there are more provocative things going on in some churches than what I would expect if I never visited one.

I always try to listen for at least one part of the readings that I find piquant, and today it was Jeremiah 17:9:

"More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it?"

In 17:10 God answers that, of course, only He can understand it, but I find it more powerful to leave this as a question.

[nirikeehan]

NIRI you know I'm about to ask about "church" !!!!!

Thank you, Rowan, I am SO glad you asked.

Ask me questions here!

Okay. So. One of the things my absolutely unhinged brain glommed onto when listening to Twice Bitten was Metrion's relationship to the Barovian religion; he finds immense comfort and resolve in the teachings of the Morninglord and the kindly priest who runs St. Andral's church in Vallaki, Father Lucian. I love me some complicated and nuanced portrayals of faith, okay.

Contrast this with Thalia, who I played through Inquisition with as someone having a lot of religious trauma from her family and time in the Circle. I have joked that I played her as "a Catholic schoolgirl two days out from graduation," something I have no experience with at all. (Ha, ha.)

Smash these two characters and their respective religious views together, and we've got this scene.

This is leading up to a scene that can happen in Curse of Strahd "canon," if we can call the module that. (Certain conditions need to be met in order to trigger it, something that did happen in Twice Bitten.) It's known in the module as "The Feast of Saint Andral," and in Twice Bitten it was one of the most iconic turns of events, imo. So I'm more or less taking what Metrion did in his canon and adding Thalia (and later, her own retinue, who she previously got separated from).

And I'm sure nothing bad whatsoever is going to happen to anyone involved.

After a few blocks of traversing alleys, Metrion cuts abruptly back onto the main road. He strides with purpose toward a large stone building, sitting adjacent to a graveyard. At the entry gate, Thalia pauses, a familiar unease falling over her. “Where are we?”  Metrion slows, glancing over his shoulder at her. He shrugs.  “A church.”  Dread forms a pit in her stomach. She grips the gate handle, staring up at the belfry.  “Where I come from, we called them Chantries.” Her voice sounds ghostly, even to her own ears. “Are you sure it’s safe?”

She remembers the church in Barovia village, with its claw marks on the door, the benches inside broken and strewn, the mad priest Donavich telling them to seek the Kolyanovich siblings elsewhere, the screaming under the floorboards. And before that — all the times she stood in the Chantry, reciting the Chant of Light with her fellow Circle mages when she wished to be elsewhere. Studying the doctrine that told her that her proper place was a prison. Trying to point out the discrepancies to the Ostwick Chantry Mother in her religion class, as if that would make a difference. It’s just semantics, girl, she’d said. Don’t worry your head about it.  Metrion turns to face her. Mist swirls at their feet in the gathering dusk. She can feel the scrutiny from his golden eyes. His mouth works, and she expects an acerbic quip, but maybe the way she clutches the gate has tipped him off. “Yeah,” he says softly, with surprising tenderness. “I know the priest, all right? Father Lucian. He, uh, says this place is hallowed ground. So no creepy crawly undead can get inside.” Thalia frowns. “I’ve never heard of Chantries being protected from things like that.”  “What are you, a theologian?” Metrion retorts. “Listen. He’s a good sort, this one. He might let us sleep in the pews or something. No matter what, that’s still a roof over our heads, right?”  Thalia stares at him. “Your plan is to beg the Father to let us sleep in the Chantry? Like street urchins?”  Metrion bristles. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize Your Highness required luxury accommodations. Shall I go seeking to the local lord for rooms? Oh, wait, he’s a fucking vampire who wants to kill us all.”  “I’m not a— that’s not what I meant,” Thalia stammers, taken aback by his vitriol. She wants to tell him only a monarch would be addressed as Your Highness, but she doesn’t think that will aid the situation. She hasn’t yet found an opportunity to tell him about the Inquisition and her place in it. She recalls the posh accent he affected upon first meeting her. He must be used to rubbing elbows with the elite, but as a performer who would suffer condescension if he revealed too much about a humble birth. Telling him of her own position of privilege might not endear her to him any, either.  She nods stiffly. “Forgive me. Your idea is a solid one. Let’s go see what this Father Lucian has to say.”

[dailycaligura]

Dailycaligura, I'm asking you this here instead of your main but which holiday do you think Caligura likes the most?

Ah damn, that’s pretty awkward ahah. Yeah I’m sometimes whining on main that I’m bored and asking for asks, well now that blog also will see it, why not. Btw let’s make that blog not just daily one, but like just a Caligura shrine, so you more than welcome to just ask me questions and read the best, not cringe or edgy, very canonical, etc etc, headcanons, which is mine ((((:

Ok sorry, but you got the point. Now to the question, I never actually thought of it! It’s pretty interesting topic, so I want it kind of to discuss. Cutting the post because there will be a lot of rambling yeah lol.

First of all, obvious thing but still needs to be mentioned, he’s a mafiosi and there’s a looot, if not everything, is tied to his connections with people, how they see him, what they think about him, his reputation in different layers of that hierarchy overall. So all these holidays he usually spends with company’s of other fat dudes in expensive suits, well and their wives and kids sometimes, need to make a certain impression on them too, duh. That way he’s not really have that much of a thoughts about the holiday itself, it’s just a day off where he can drink and eat for free, when events hosted by others of course, and be charismatic bastard and talk, talk and talk. The real holiday is when he finally coming home and being left alone lol!

Now let’s start with the most common one - religious holidays, like Christmas or Easter, whatever in F&H world they would be called like. That pretty much connects with his relationships with religion itself, I have a loot of headcanons about that, but in short it’s just really complicated. He don’t like the idea of living by some ancient rules, following strict discipline, being all that devoted without right to just reaching personal goals and all that shit, but ironically with religion and church he haves the best of memories. Usually with the priests actually, they know how to listen and that’s what he’s needs the most, but church and mafia is in business so boo hoo, all his secrets getting sold and now he have another shit ton of guys to torture and kill, and some poor bastard who he thought can became he’s friend finally. Ok whatever, he having just really mixed feelings about all of this, maybe drinking a little too much on these, to skip that all faster or try not to remember something’s.

The next one is New Year which is I don’t really know what is sort of holidays? Well, it’ll be just in its own section then. As much as I know in religious county’s it’s not that much of a deal than Christmas, but since all that holidays just fucking office party’s of mafia it’s pretty much just summary of year thing. He never felt anything about New Years, really, but older he gets, more melancholic that night gets. So I think he tends to celebrate it on his own in his later years, he’s a big shot in The Family already, skipping that one a year event is not that much of a problem for his reputation, I think. He’d just sit on the kitchen with some good champagne, with playing radio or tv on the background, and drinking it thoughtfully, also sighing a lot. Years went by and he’s not getting younger, what a sad thing to understand isn’t it?

If I started with sole holiday then let’s continue on that - his birthday. Pretty obviously he don’t like it, just like New Year’s more and more with each year passing by. He don’t want to remember how old he is, and that’s pretty personal holiday, and he don’t have a single living soul he saw as his loved or at least close ones, which is also pretty annoying reminder lol. There some people who knows when the date is, of course, even gifting him something, but just to buy his loyalty, and these guys is a newbies that don’t know yet that it only annoys him, and also the fuck worthy can you gift to someone who owns a shit ton of anything? So yeah, not celebrating, don’t like it, just maybe some another reason to drink more than usual.

Next - all that national holidays, I’m ashamed but I’m not really good at Italian culture, like at all actually, my passion is UK I’m sorry haha. But a read now about some and ok it just international, religious and important historical dates, but that also carnival thing and Halloween, so let’s think to these and alike. Those that being mentioned is about costumes and I think he’d like that one! If it’s not obvious already, I’m seeing him a fashion catastrophe, he loves it, making his own style and even doing makeup and painting nails himself, because if you wanna make it the best make it by yourself. Maybe he’d even waste some time for designing some clothes, not sewing himself of course, but going with it in the atelier and paying shit ton of money haha, good for him. Anyways yeah, I think he’d love to put on some expensive clothes of his own idea and whit his own style and showing it to the public. Pretty sure he’d do it only when he already establishes in The Family because let’s be real, some already weird in attitude dude with a fucking makeup and eccentric clothes wouldn’t make a best of the impression on a serious dirty business guys, fucking old mans mostly, so yeaaah, he needed to wait some time to show off all his artistic power lol.

Well, not sure if that that’s much of a holiday, but that’s pretty important to the mafia ya know - funerals. That’s actually another chance for him to show off his fashion style because it’s a big deal and at the same time it’s nothing, important fucker is already laying in the coffin, waiting to be put 6 ft down and became one with the ashes he came from, but still his power and connections is floating, intangibly, somewhere in the air, above and in the heads of all who attending. What a place of controversies huh? So of course he couldn’t not to make a deal of all of that, and also he needs to be in black because traditions, but his style is white! And by that change he speechlessly showing what he’s thinking of the dead one - if that someone who he didn’t like he’d come in usual white, if that some who he was loyal to he’d be, like needed, in black, but if that some ironic situation where he killed or somehow was connected to the death of the man of the day than he’d also come in black, but expressly theatrically. But he’s actually would be theatrical in all the cases, just not in the clothes matter, but in the attitude, he don’t give a shit about the fucker that passed away, so all his words would be also expressively sad, tragic even, that’s why he’s never giving speeches on funerals lolol. But in the case of being invited to the funeral of those who he killed in any way theatrical shit getting only worse. Those who know what is what would see that as pointlessly eccentric performance, those who don’t, usually family and close friends of the dead one, would see that as a cruel mockery, anyways Caligura is happy with that. All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players after all, and these hypocritical events is the best scenes with the best audience to perform. Well if summary that all then he’s like these events as much as hates, he need to say what he’s not actually thinks for too long, that’s annoying.

And continue with mafia important holidays - weddings. All I can think for that one is opening scene from the Godfather so oh yeah, Caligura likes that one. It’s full of fun things with a good chances to make some good acquaintances. And I’m gonna shamelessly dump another headcanon that is kind of tided to the theme. He’s usually playing the cool uncle role for other mafiosi’s kids, which is a good way to have more power on their parents and overall it’s just a good contribution for the future. But he’d never admit, even to himself, that he’s actually genuinely love that role, that fake feeling of a family, being liked by someone, being seen as someone who little one can always come for help, and the kids pays him back with usually thinking of him as the best of uncles. Sometimes even preferring to tell some personal problems to him than to parents, because he have much more chances to do something about it and to make some poor family of kid that wasn’t the nicest to the mafioso kid a funny, fucking, life. And also he’s goos with weapons and cooking, so he can both teach things to boys and girls. That way weddings becoming even personal, like he’s the dad of bride or groom haha. Sad and happy holiday at the same time, but mostly second one. I mean he have all the chances to be the one who’s gonna skin alive the partner if he or she commit some wrongdoing’s, so what’s there be sad about, really.

Hmm, what else, idk honestly, and I’m sleepy already so let’s call it a day. Maybe there worth mentioning some little things like others birthdays or whatever, but in these cases he thinks literally nothing because whatever, just drink there, talk some shit for the best, and go home or back to work, nothing interesting. In conclusion I can say that I thinks he’d like the most all these costume holidays and weddings, funerals on third place(or second because costume party’s and weddings both on first? Idk man), it’s annoying but funny sometimes haha. Thanks for the question it was interesting to think it out!! Byee, and I’m going to sleep now, on the 7 am, welp.

[soup-for-ghosts]

Roland Glenbrook and/or Temenos Mistral for the character ask meme?

I’ll do both!

for roland:

How I feel about this character

he’s one of the first characters I immediately latched onto when I played tristrat. the game’s start is a little rough in my experience as I find it a tad boring (after chapter 4 it picks up plenty though), but since his appearance in chapter 1, I knew I would like roland. he starts out very carefree and he jokes a lot in his first appearance, which initially caught my attention, and then his development throughout the game is just excellent. he’s a well-written, incredibly nuanced character, and I like those.

All the people I ship romantically with this character

none, I give him the honorable title of “aroace”

My non-romantic OTP for this character

serenoa is the obvious answer here, but I’m also gonna say that him and frederica’s friendship is so fun to me. morality was my first route and their friendship and dynamic after you know what makes me think a lot…

My unpopular opinion about this character

I don’t think I really have any? again, I can’t always tell if an opinion of mine would be considered unpopular, and the tristrat fandom is pretty small anyways, so I haven’t a clue

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon.

I haven’t played every route yet so no comment on this yet!

for temenos:

How I feel about this character

he’s genuinely one of my favorite characters of all time. I chose him when I was giving the ot2 demo a spin (I had played some of the ot1 demo but nothing more for the entire series) due to his story being described as a murder mystery (I consider myself THE ace attorney guy of my friend group sooo /j) and also my general enjoyment of playing healers tbh. I was IMMEDIATELY fascinated with his character, I mean… I’m an atheist myself and I have a… complicated relationship with religion sometimes, so it was pretty easy for me to latch onto the witty priest who’s first introduction is getting bullied by children for forgetting the lines of the scripture and then minutes later proceeds to say something that might be considered heresy. as his story went on I also found him uncomfortably relatable! so that’s fun pff- but all around, he’s a very good character, I like him a lot if you couldn’t tell pf

All the people I ship romantically with this character

take a guess, I don’t need to write another essay about why I like the dynamic of the devout knight and the doubting cleric /j

those simplistic descriptions aren’t doing them justice really, their individual characters are MUCH more complicated than that, but again, I don’t need to type another essay about that pff

My non-romantic OTP for this character

take another guess, I’m a sucker for the surprisingly talented detective duo that is a trained assassin and thief and a cleric

My unpopular opinion about this character

again, don’t really know, sorry

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon.

I have SEVERAL notes on the parts of his story that I have gripes with, most if not all being in the latter half (including crackridge actually, but that’s more about me wishing reiza actually got to be a character)… but that’s probably too long a talking point to put all here, and it’s more about his supporting cast than about him, his writing was excellent