#but i do remember being an altar server and it being kinda like this

[austin-friars]

One of the handy things that comes with once being an alar server, is getting a vibe of how mass is before it actually starts.

[opaldisaster]

Deity Diaries

11/11/23 8:27 p.m.

It's been maybe a month or two since I made the switch form worshipping Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, and Hermes to just worshipping Aphrodite and I wish I'd written down when that was exactly. I want to keep track of these things more, especially since I have time blindness. (This legit could have happened two weeks ago idk.) But here we are.

So, I reconfigured my altar. Stripped it down, threw out the food offerings, put away the rest, said goodbye to all other deities, gave them the run down of what was happening, reminded myself that this is only temporary. I wrote Athena a heartfelt letter as she was my main deity and really my introduction into the Greek pantheon all the way back in 6th grade World History class. I cried a bit but was really excited to start this new chapter and really focus my practice so I had enough energy for everyone. I just want to be the best worshipper I can, eventually becoming a devotee.

Well, a few weeks later, turns out I still barely have enough energy for one deity. My memory is shit so I have to go back and reread and recheck everything before I do it. All of my sources are online which I didn't think threw before I "quit" social media. Turns out it's hard to cut down on screen time when your screens have all your information on it.

Between my multiple colds and TikTok withdrawals, (world's cringiest and embarrassing phrase) I haven't done much besides assemble 75% of my altar and stare at the other 25% then ignore it. As I'm writing this I'm only just now realizing that I didn't plan ahead very well, kinda setting myself up for failure. If I had laid out everything I needed to do on paper before getting started, I wouldn't feel like such a failure. I wouldn't be floundering so much.

Since I can't afford a ton of books, (and my booklist is all stored in my TikTok favorites, ugh) I have to spend hours hand writing and/or printing the resources out, organize them, and make them cute (Aphrodite worshipper, duh). All before I even make a formal offering. Ugh this is so exhausting. I'm losing touch with the joy and excitement of research and learning and practicing this faith and craft.

In my own defense, I've been stuck in the same loop for months because I keep losing the list of prayers, spells, and hymns I've compiled over the last 3 years. Either from lack of organization, online sources getting deleted, having too many servers, or being slowed down from not being able to find anything quick enough for my ADHD brain.

It's been super discouraging, tbh. I can't even think of a single spell or prayer to say over my coffee in the morning, the same coffee I've drank for 2 years? And all the research I've done on Aphrodite specifically escapes me the moment I stand in front of her altar? That took me weeks to set up because I couldn't remember if there is any specific ritual done before setting up a new altar? Just talking about this makes me wanna take a nap.

I'm not giving up, though, just frustrated. I know there's a lesson in all this, I just have to be willing to learn it. A well-organized grimoire is a must for me, especially since I have decided not to buy books or return to the hellish rabbit hole that is social media. I have to keep reminding myself:

You're not lazy, you're just unprepared.

You're not lazy, you're just unprepared.

You're not lazy, you're just unprepared.

I'm not lazy, I'm just unprepared.

[romanrhodes]

'Father'. Roman thought back to the man in the street and suddenly recognised him from the diner. Not just in the last few months, but suddenly from years ago, before he'd been old enough to train as a chef. He'd been working as a server in the diner, remembering the man and woman and their children. The children were a blur in his memory, but the name of the man came to him. George... Jackson. So that made Andrew... Andrew Jackson.

Brought away from his thoughts by Andrew's voice, he listened while gazing up at the altar. He listened carefully to Andrew talking of loving but not being in love. His mind conjured pictures of these women, and Roman thought back to their time in the diner, flirting, and the lingering looks they'd been giving each other. His brain trying to process all of that, trying to piece together what he could. When Andrew finished, he stayed silent for a few moments, trying to know what to say.

"...Sometimes it seems better to burn bridges than to repair them. It makes it easier for us... to not go back, and to keep people away." Roman thought of his father, and his brother. "If someone hates me, and only shows me anger and... maybe disgust... then I feel justified in avoiding them, in walking away. Right?" Roman questioned, looking at Andrew. He glanced down at Andrew's hands. The tightness in his chest had spread to his throat.

"...I know how that feels. Kinda. I don't... I mean, it's not exactly the same, but I know what avoiding my dad looks like. I haven't spoken to him in... over five years. Even now, after he's given me everything. I spent years begging for that diner, ever since I was a kid. He told me no. Even after I became... one of the best chefs in New York. I literally got awards to prove it. And then... we had a huge fight. I was so sick of... begging for him to approve of me. I said some shit that... I shouldn't have. Really hurtful. He did too. And we haven't said a word to each other since. Even after he gave me everything I wanted, out of the blue, out of nowhere. All the legal stuff got sent through a lawyer. And now there's like this... huge canyon between us, right? Full of... all the shit we said and... all the stuff we haven't that... we should've." Roman swallowed the lump in his throat, taking a shaky breath.

"...I'm sorry about what happened with your wife, and your dad. It's hard, trying to do the right thing, when we know what we have to do... is gonna cause a lot of pain." Roman glanced at Andrew's face. Had anything that he had just said made sense? It was strange... by Andrew opening up his wounds, Roman felt like he had to open his, to show Andrew he had them too.

"Hey..." Roman said softly, stepping slowly towards the other man. He could tell Andrew was upset... He hadn't known him very long, only a few months, but he'd seen his body language as he'd stalked away from that couple. He recognised the couple... they came into the diner. Their names escaped it at the moment, but he didn't care. His focus was on the other man in the chapel.

"...I saw you in the street. Having that conversation. You looked like you were pissed." Roman admitted. He came around the pews and took a seat beside Andrew. The wood creaked underneath his weight as he settled in, placing his hands between his thighs, fingers laced together. "...I know it's not my business but... You can talk to me about it if you want to." He said evenly. He glanced at Andrew, then turned his attention up to the altar. He felt his chest tighten at the uncomfortable situation, but the chapel... It had a gently calming effect on him.

[mrskodzuken]

Surprise!

pairing: Kozume Kenma x f!reader

genre: fluffity fluffity fluff with crack bits

wc: 1.2k

cw: all characters are aged 18+/post-timeskip, Kenma and reader are newlyweds, pregnancy ig?, anxiety bits, chat being nosy (lol), also some Log Horizon reference (and Legend of Zelda mentioned)

a/n: for @ushisrever's "Baby, Baby" and @zuzu-fr x @katsukichu's "Domestic Bliss" collabs--i had a jolly good time in writing this for the past two days! Also to my beta readers @atsuminthe @ara-mitsue @mitsuyaya @betheydocrimewrites + to Writer-Bot at the Hanaya Server DC /gen Thank you <3 *headpats y'all*; this is a companion fic (and kinda sequel) to "Proposal". @anime-central @hanayanetwork

My Masterlist | General Taglist Form

“Say… do you love kids?”

“Do you want to start having a family of your own? ...with me?”

“I can’t imagine a bright and beautiful future without you, Y/N…”

“Marry me…”

“...I love you!”

A year of being close friends, five months of being in a wonderful and loving relationship, and almost two months into the newly wedded stage. For pro-gamer, stockholder, and Bouncing Ball Corp. CEO Kozume Kenma, those precious times being spent with you feels like eternity.

To be honest, he’s still getting used to everything related to marriage, being a doting husband to you and all. The phrases, ‘Chat, say hi to my wife Y/N!’, and, ‘Mr. and Mrs. Kozume Kenma,’ were a bit foreign to him, yet a warm and fuzzy newfound feeling of happiness gradually occupied his heart; the same goes for you.

He remembered vividly all the moments that happened on your simple yet very beautiful and intimate wedding day. How both your families were very emotional before the ceremony started. How nervous Kenma was at the altar, with both Kuro and Shoyo taking turns in calming him, and giving him a few pats on the shoulder and back. How the moment you walked down the aisle, everything went into slow motion; with Kageyama’s older sister’s hair styling and Lev’s sister Alisa’s eye for picking the perfect wedding dress, you looked so adorable, hair cascading in soft curly waves framing your cute face, in your simple yet lacy white number and silvery-white low heels. How you managed to quickly stand up after you tripped over the aisle carpet, grinning, as if nothing happened. How he really wanted for the wedding service to be done so that he could be alone with you. How happy and lovesick the both of you were while saying your vows and ‘I dos’...

His eyes looked at a photo frame perched on a cabinet in front of his workspace, a picture of you and Kenma in your wedding garb, having the time of your lives dancing the night away at the reception party after the wedding. Such a wonderful time…

The alarm on his phone went off, signaling him to start his stream in a few minutes. And as always, like a ritual before every stream, Kenma’s golden orbs fell onto the smooth gold band sitting on his left ring finger… and he smiled, gently rubbing it with his thumb, thinking of you. He then typed in a few words and hit Enter before looking at the camera, adjusting his gaming headphones.

[Stream has started.]

Kenma smiled sheepishly and waved at the camera. “Hi, chat! Kodzuken here. Are you all excited for tonight’s stream?” He chuckled as he read some of the comments on the chat. “Yes, I am, too. And yes, thank you, chat, as always, for congratulating me and my lovely wife, Y/N…” His cheeks were dusted with red as the words ‘my lovely wife’ rolled off from his lips, still making his heart flutter just like the first time.

The gamer continued talking with the chat, hovering over comments with his mouse; clicking and keyboard-tapping sounds were heard on the mic. “...anyways, I’m gonna start playing that new expansion pack from the Elder Tale update. Some of you guys suggested I try playing it on stream, so here we go... “ Another tap on the keyboard. “Logging in with my username and stuff and—”

Kodzuken ur phone’s ringing

We can hear it lololololol

PICK IT UP PICK IT UP

Maybe it’s wifey calling? xDDDDD

Kenma glanced at the chat and then at his phone sitting near where his microphone was situated, the mic picking up its Legend of Zelda ringtone. His hands stopped typing as soon as he saw both your face and his contact name for you showing on his phone screen, his eyebrows knitted in confusion. Why would you call him on the phone when you could just knock on the door? Did you go outside to run some errands? Kenma knew he left you in your bedroom folding clean clothes. He sighed, a slight grin showing in his lips, and picked the phone up.

KODZUKEN SMILED!!!!!!!!!!! I REPEAT KODZUKEN SMILED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer it, don’t mind us

I knew it it’s Mrs. Kodzuken <3

“Okay, fine. Just one sec, I gotta answer this very important call from my wife,” he told the chat, eyes rolling jokingly at them, sliding his headphones off his head and hanging them around his neck. He pressed the answer button before pressing it to his ear.

“Hi, handsome~” Your sweet airy voice made his heart flutter and brought a smile to his lips.

“Hey, beautiful~ you do know I’m streaming right now, right? And why call me via phone when you can just come in here and see me in person?” Kenma pouted a bit, which the nosy people on the chat quickly caught on. He shrugged it off and muttered, sighing, “Now, you’re making me miss you, Y/N…”

He heard you giggling on the other line. “I am, too! I miss you more, really! And I’m sorry, my dear hubby. I forgot all about it… please accept my apology, kitten...”

He smiled again, this time a bit wider, his fingers lightly scratching through his bicolored half-bunned hair. His heart buzzed louder and he could clearly hear it.

“C-can you say it again?”

“‘...please accept my apology, kitten?’” you repeated the words.

“No, not that one. Before that, when… when you told me you’ve forgotten about my scheduled stream for today?” he asked softly, excitement and contentment now written all over his face, the chat spamming cute messages on his stream completely forgotten.

“I want to hear you say it again, Y/N. Please?”

A pregnant pause. “My dear husband… I love you.”

The former Nekoma setter’s cheeks dusted with red at your loving words, his heart now aching in elation. He suddenly wished for the stream to end so he could rush back to your bedroom and be with you.

“I love you, too, my dear wife.”

Awwwwww look at his face!!!

Blushy blushy~

Oh to be the receiver of Y/N’s love and affection…

Kenma glanced at the chat again, suddenly remembering he was streaming, his cheeks more flushed than ever, and cleared his throat. These guys, seriously…

“Kenma!” You called him suddenly interrupting his thoughts, your voice sounded somewhat anxious.

“Hm? What’s wrong? You want to say something?”

He heard you inhale deeply before letting it out slowly on the other line and clear your throat. “Kenma,” you called him again. “I have something to tell you…”

“What is it? Did you do something that I should know? ...Y/N?” Kenma unconsciously chewed on his lower lip. Thump, thump, thump… Anxiety started to creep inside him, making him over think a lot of unnecessary things. Making him a bit worried. He was still deep in his thoughts when he heard you saying:

“...you’re gonna be a dad soon, Kenma! Surprise! I’m pregnant!”

“Huh?”

“I said, I’m pregnant, Kenma~ Player Number Three’s on the way!” you confirmed to him in a sing-song voice.

Player Number Three… oh. Tears began trickling down his cheeks, an invisible weight brought his hand holding his phone down to his lap. He smiled for the nth time again.

Oh shit Kodzuken’s crying… and smiling?

WAIT WHAT HAPPENED??????

…

Somebody call in 119. I think Kodzuken fainted on the stream O.O

Likes are okay, reblogs are better, reposts and plagiarism stuff are frowned upon 🥰 | ALL WORKS BY MADKITTYBLOSSOM © 2021

[spaceforjace]

A Short Moment of Falling in Love with Strangers

:

I have always loved connecting to different people that’s my main objective when I’m on the internet and Discord is the perfect site I found that helped me communicate to strangers with different stories to tell. 

I have been using Discord for two years now and I’ve met a lot of people more than I can count my cousin’s eyebrow hair.

I did asked if she ever once idolized or somehow related to Jeffree Star.

LOL..... I just can imagine smokes coming out of her ears if she ever reads this.

A year into the pandemic I pushed myself more and more meeting new people. I mean what else is there to do where everything seems to revolve around online? Right?

One night where the clouds suddenly felt heavy and cried though only a light amount of precipitation poured, its enough to make the air blow chill, I felt like I was in a movie and I really am feeling myself while listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album called “Sour” (the best debut album among all I’ve heard so far) 

I was hanging out on Discord Servers, hopping to different voice channels and hoping to meet someone new or I already knew and chat for a bit.

Then someone joined the voice call (VC)…

We chatted for a bit mostly about how life is going on and how we hate this pandemic but the most exciting part is when they sing out of their own choice or If I can convince them. I kinda have an ear for someone who can actually sing.

I just know it... 

I’ve always loved hearing strangers sing. It’s a plus if they really have good vocals. What makes it special in my part is that I get to gush over them without being awkward and revealing myself.

Just imagine someone serenading you and it’s for free. “MEET ME AT THE ALTAR!”

Ahhhhhhhhh! Lord save me!

These absurd thoughts kept lingering for a week. The power of just one song in one night can do to me is absolutely insane.

But it’s not like I haven’t felt all these before. As I told earlier I have been using Discord for two years. It’s not like I haven’t encounter one on other servers such as Singing Underground, The JAM, Daddy and etc.

I still remember those times I fell in love with a stranger even it was a short moment. Well it became normal and every now and then it is part of my everyday routine. It’s not so bad isn’t it? My objective is met and I get serenades as a bonus. 

It’s 9:44 pm right now and who knows whose voice will I hear and fall in love with later, tomorrow and the future.

Then the last song in Sour playing in the background ended.