#but as cherine said

[queensaba]

eurovision 2023 poster series [3/37] ● belgium: gustaph, because of you

[kvalenagle]

Map time! Here's the map of Belamuria, the setting of the Gryphon Insurrection series, starting with Eyrie. This map was made by Jeff Brown, who promised a map if the series hit five books. The original idea was for the map to be divided into sixths with one in each book. Hence the Redwood Valley in the southeast is perhaps larger than it would be on a to-scale map (I like to think this is Kia or Cherine's map, perhaps one they both contribute to, so their home is larger). Then again, perhaps it's an Ashen Weald map, with how the kjarr and bog are featured. The tagline for the series was "interesting gryphons in interesting locations," and Belamuria offers that. Though the series begins in a redwood weald (a weald is an untamed, overgrown forest), it heads out to underwater settings, the frozen aneda taiga, valleys of poisonous monitor lizards, high peaks, abandoned kjarrs (forests becoming wetlands), infected bogs, plague cities collapsed through limestone erosion, inland seas of luminescent, toxic jellies and basilosauruses, jungles who only spend half the year above water, underground cave systems of all sorts, desert red rock canyons or plateaus of toxic pools ruled by flamingos, coasts with toxic algae blooms killing all mammalian life, not to mention the Abyssal Naze, where water and land vanish into darkness.

Making the map while writing book 4 of a series where I'm currently working on book nine presented some challenges. I think the mountains are generally a bit bulkier, wider, and fill in more space than I originally estimated. (Jeff is working off my sketches here, so those errors are mine. He did such an amazing job, down to the reeve's pet lurking in the Crackling Sea.) Books necessitate a rectangular map, but I'd imagine things stretched out more. The Winter Jungle would extend down and far past the edge. Speaking of past the edge, Goldrin Goldpaw's pawprints cover Ashfoot Isle, directly south of Sandpiper's Dune, and The Wrecks are due south from there. The Pitohui Eyrie might be a bit farther off the coast, too. And the kjarr and bog would be a little skinnier, though I like having things spread out to refer to when writing books like The Crackling Sea.

It's strange to think that after nine books, we've visited most of Belamuria. GryphIns, despite the tagline, isn't meant as a travelogue. It has a strong series plot arc. War and disease don't often stay contained, spreading like a wildfire across an entire continent. Yet the same might be said of kindness. Okay, back to writing Saberbeak for me. I just needed to bring up the map, and I couldn't remember if I'd shared it on Tumblr yet. Fun trivia fact: but because of how many different printers make the editions of GryphIns in different countries, it's very difficult to get a proper two page spread. Reevesbane often has it, but with other books, the printing wasn't reliable enough due to how the binding works. That's also why Reevesbane has the two page spread of a certain villain... because their body is elongated, it doesn't necessarily matter how it's bound, since they're meant to look a little off. In most editions, if you could unbind it, you'd see that the left page has all of the Crackling Sea and the right page also has all of it. Since the middle of the page is lost in binding, it tends to give the illusion of going across both pages together. (Though, depending on your country or even what store you order from, it can look better or worse.) Back to smilodon gryphon writing, though. Pridelord's copy edits had a slight delay but are back on track, for those asking. Once they're in, I'll go back to Pridelord so it'll release as soon as publishing allows. -Vale

[stesierra]

Sorry to disappear, guys. Things have been crazy over here. But I am surviving! My brain is just mush. So here's a tag game to get me back to thinking about my WIPs.

@fishythewriter tagged me!

My words are: Bone, Soul, Knife, and Blood. I'm drawing from Court Phoenix. I'm tagging @macabremoons and anyone else interested with the words moon, frail and death.

Bone

Chujulan’s hands settled on my shoulders. “Kerra? What’s wrong?”

“I saw a ghost,” I croaked. Our shaman had warned us often of these daylight demons. They had no power to possess or hurt at night, but by day they were a constant threat. When she was alive, she’d prevented such dangerous spirits from entering our lands. Now that she was dead, my village lay vulnerable. And I had no protections from them at all.

The princess’s grip turned painful, her nails digging through my shirt. “Impossible. Ghosts aren’t real.”

“The city doesn’t believe in ghosts?” How stupid were they?

She snorted. “The others are obsessed with them. But I refuse to hide myself from the sun or cower behind the city’s wards because of them.”

Was that why the city-folk always visited our village at night? Because they were afraid of encountering ghosts?

“And if ghosts exist, why did I see nothing?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But the sun had half-blinded me, and in those blind spots, it appeared.”

"You saw a ghost in after-images of the sun?"

Her doubt irked me. “The dead don't have bodies. If they want to make themselves known, they have to make do with whatever nature provides, unless they possess a human or animal. That's what our shaman said.”

Her hands released my shoulders. “Maybe. I don't know much about loose spirits.”

“Why not?”

“The city is warded. Nothing without a body can exist there. Nothing possessed can walk through.”

I nodded. It wasn't dissimilar to what our shamans did. At home those wards were caught up in little bundles of bird bones or in blessings written in the corners of our paper windows. “But don't you all tell stories about them? About wandering spirits and lost souls?”

“The only tales we tell of ghosts are warnings. The only wanderers we care about are those who wander for a reason.”

“A reason?”

“Revenge.”

Soul

I went to bed, but it didn’t help. Whenever I was awake, my head and muscles tormented me, as though both were about to crumble to pieces like rotted wood, and my heart fluttered in my chest, too weak and too fast. When I dreamed, it was of my village on the other side of a great chasm, grayed to a ghost by smoke. I moved away from it, as if I stood on the walking city’s edge as it roamed across the steppe. I couldn’t jump off or run to it. I could only watch it vanish in the distance. And I woke with tears in my eyes and a horrible emptiness in my soul. My father’s words echoed in my mind: “If you move to Skyfire, the city will sink its barbs into your soul. Your anchor will be torn from the earth. And you’ll fade to nothing and die.”

I tried to tell myself this was just some disease common to the city folk. But as I burrowed under my blankets, I knew it wasn’t. I didn’t get sick, not like my non-magical siblings, and I’d never felt so empty. Maybe my father was right; maybe I was dying, and by now I was so far from my village I would never find my way back. And I didn’t want to go back. I wanted to live here with Hes, wanted to rise to become someone important the way a blacksmith never would.

Knife

Chujulan frowned. “Go to bed,” she advised. “You look like shit.”

“What do you care?” I muttered, too sick to care about manners.

She cocked her head at me. “You remind me of someone.”

Something about her tone made me look up. I couldn’t read the expression on her face. “Who?”

She didn’t answer for a minute. Then she said softly, “Her name was Cherin. In our ancient tongue, it means 'long-life' and is given to bring good fortune.” Her lips twisted in a not-smile.

“I take it she got neither.”

“No,” Chujulan said. “She died on the surgeon's table. She was only fifteen. And just starting her menses, although it was late.”

“Was she another landbound?” I asked, still bewildered by her interest.

“She was my only full-blooded sibling.”

“Oh. I'm sorry.” What else was there to say? “Why did she have to go under the knife?”

Chujulan's brows lifted. “She had her menses.”

I tried, “And that made her... sick?”

Her humorless laugh jabbed like a needle. “You’re so ignorant, Kerra. You’ll never survive in this city if you don’t learn.”

My face flushed hot. “Then tell me what you mean. How else am I supposed to learn anything?”

Her smile bent in all the wrong ways. “Listen to the gossip. You’ll find it anywhere. The day-wakers love to talk about us. Almost as much as the lordly.”

“You mean about the rials?”

“Who else? To speak lightly of sagan or regalie is to court ruin. But what are his bastards but dogs on a leash?”

“I am pretty sure you could have most of them killed.”

“Not lightly, not citizens, not unless I wanted to justify it to my father's judge and risk my high position at his side. So they watch and talk. And if a rial, upon reaching puberty, is plied with drugs and liquor and carried away, they place bets on whether she will ever return.”

I was fascinated despite my headache. “You came back.”

“Yes, because I didn't die.”

“Where did they take you?”

She shrugged, a hand running across iron chair beneath her. “To the surgeons, as I said. It's a safe procedure for boys — the city has made eunuchs for as long as it's castrated deer bulls. But we women they must cut open and gut like a rabbit, pulling out the bits they don't like. When Cherin,” she said and paused. “When my sister went under the knife, she died before they even stitched her back up.”

It was a nightmare story, and one I simply could not comprehend. I whispered, “Which bits did they take?”

“The womb. The tissues associated with it. Everything needed to bear a child.”

"Why?" I blurted.

“As long as we are sterile, we cannot seek to claim the herd throne. No one would back a contender without hope of heirs.”

“They think you'll try to rule otherwise?”

“The sagans have always feared a coup, sometimes even rightly. So they have seen that no rial will ever spark a civil war, nor serve as a lordly's figurehead.”

Blood

“The Ferd-Marshal sent you a note,” the girl said as I inspected the garment. She held out a sheet of paper.

What in the world was a Ferd-Marshal? I put the outfit down on the pile and said, “I can’t read.”

She stared at me, as though I’d declared that I could fly. I refused to be embarrassed. I was a villager, not a city-woman, and we didn’t write things down.

She said finally, “I’ll read it to you.” The girl smoothed her fingers over the paper.

“Kerra,

This should be delivered with your new outfits. They’re fireproof, so Heslibra shouldn’t be able to turn you into a torch any longer. Wear them every day and forget your old clothes. This is your costume now. Clothes and makeup are a language you’ll need to learn to read. Lying about your status by wearing the wrong outfit or eyeliner is a capital crime. So stick with what I’ve sent you.

If the Breaker of Legends summons you — and he will — tell him the sagan says you answer to Batoktoa directly and not to him. He’s insufferable.”

Chujulan had written this. She must have. So she was the Ferd-Marshal, whatever that meant.

The girl folded up the note and dropped it on my table, as if I had any use for it. As she turned to leave, I blurted, “Can you arrange for a new mattress and blankets to be brought here? I don’t know who else to ask.”

She frowned at me. “What’s wrong with the ones you already have?”

I choked on words for a moment. “They’re covered with blood! Someone died in that bed, and I’m not sleeping on it!”

“Oh,” she said, looking at the door to the bedroom with wide eyes. “I thought they cleaned that up.”

“Well, they didn’t, whoever they are. Can you arrange for a bed or not?”

The girl pursed her lips. “I suppose. Something will arrive before morning.”

Before morning, because the city-folk stayed awake all night and slept all day. This place was clearly mad.

Tag list for everything

@anonymousfoz

@moremysteriesthantragedies

@elizababie

@sm-writes-chaos

@bellascarousel

@palebdot

@macabremoons

@the-dragon-chronicler

@teacupsandstarlight

@vorskra

@wrenofthewords

@amostdelectablescribbler

@savvy-minnow

@mysticstarlightduck

@phantommill

@gracewritesbooks

@aziz-reads

@owlsandwich

@symbioticsimplicity

@squarebracket-trick

@fishythewriter

@koala2all

@rmgrey-author

Just chapters and snippets

@da-na-hae

[residentraccoon]

OGAE Second Chance 2023 (My top)

1. KUUMAA - Ylivoimainen (Finland)

2. Ollie - Venom (Estonia)

3. EYJAA - I was gonna marry him (Denmark)

4. Marcus & Martinus - Air (Sweden)

5. Cherine - Ça m'ennuie pas (Belgium)

6. Ulrikke - Honestly (Norway)

7. 24.Avenija - You said (Latvia)

8. Langi Seli og Skuggarnir - OK (Iceland)

9. Andreea D Folclor Orchestra - Perinita Mea (Romania)

10. Vicco - Nochentera (Spain)

11. Conolly - Midnight Summer Night (Ireland)

12. Edmundo Inacio - A festa (Portugal)

13. Jann - Gladiator (Poland)

14. Filip Balos - Novi plan drugi san (Serbia)

15. Jerry Heil - When God shut the door (Ukraine)

16. Lazza- Cenere (Italy)

17. Will Church - Hold on (Germany)

18. Harmonija Disonance - Nevera (Lei, Lei) (Croatia)

19. Elsa Lila - Evita (Albania)

20. RODAN - Introvert Party Club (Czechia)

21. Ruta Mur - So Low (Lithuania)

22. Ryan Hilli - In the silence (Malta)

23. Sunstroke Project - Yummy Mommy (Moldova)

[escmemesandstuff]

Song Review: Belgium

Choices were made.

Gustaph - Because Of You

Personal opinion: I said earlier in this blog that the Belgian selection sounded promising; it ended up being a national final with five good songs and two I couldn’t care less about. And of course, one of those two ended up winning. All of my sympathy for Gustaph - he seems like a nice fellow and shouldn’t be getting hate from bitter eurofans - but the song itself has nothing that drives me in. It’s an unoriginal and lazy attempt of a disco song that lacks the energy and danceability that you’d expect from this genre, coupled with cringe and overused lyrics. When it comes to the vocals, Gustaph can sing for sure, but his high voice just isn’t my taste. In fact, I would’ve enjoyed hearing the two backing singers more; maybe they could attempt to represent Belgium next year, The Mamas style? Oh, and the staging was good but nothing special. This whole package kind of reminds me of UK 2021, and we all know what happened to them.

Prediction: What’s funny is that this song wasn’t the first choice for neither the jury nor the televote. I only remember this happening on one instance before in a NF, which was Ukraine 2017. And the result in the contest itself wasn’t anything to cheer about... so yeah, I can’t predict a great outcome for this one, either. If we still had juries in the semifinals, this song could be a borderline qualifier, but when it comes to your average viewer at home, there isn’t much that could encourage them to vote over other songs. But who knows, maybe Gustaph could surprise with a kickass revamp and a great staging. Still at this point, I see a likely NQ.

Thoughts on selection: The idea of each contestant having two songs to choose from was nice. Maybe it would’ve been even better if the audience got to vote which song to send. That being said, most singers chose the right one in my opinion. My personal favourites were Ameerah, Hunter Falls, and Cherine. I’d be happy to hear more songs in French, maybe also in Dutch, in future editions.

[lubdubsworld]

Insatiable ( Jungkook x Oc ) Chapter 4

Pairing : Jeon Jungkook x OC

Rating 18+

Genre : Vampire Au!!!! , DILF! Jungkook ! Bodyguard AU! Babysitter OC!   Age difference!!! 

Chapter 1   Chapter 2  Chapter 3

Chapter 4

“Dearest, I am  appalled. “ My father said apologetically. “ Jungkook told me what happened at the dinner and I’m beginning to rethink this whole idea. These pups need to be on a leash , if they cannot control themselves to this extent.” 

I was curled up on the couch next to my dad, his fingers gently stroking my hair while he stared at the screen in front of us. It carried all the accounts of the mansion for the week and the numbers made my head swim . So I ignored it, eating the freshly baked macarons that  cook had sent up from the kitchen. 

My father occasionally consulted from a bunch of files spread out on the table in front of him and I shuddered again when I thought about Mingyu. 

“He was an awful choice father. I should have just told you to set things up with Yugyeom.” I grimaced. 

My father nodded at once.

“Of course dearest, I’ll talk to him myself and see if he’s free this weekend. Will that work for you?”

“thank you father.” I said brightly, curling up next to him.

For a few minutes, we both stayed quiet, him humming as he leafed through the files, me munching on a few ripe tangerine pieces. 

“What do you think of Jungkook?” My father said suddenly, making me cough. 

I swallowed, throat dry.

My father felt me stiffen against him and he chuckled. 

“Don’t panic, love. I am way too old not to recognize heartache when I see it. Especially in my own daughter. Your display at the breakfast table yesterday was quite unlike you and I realized, it’s not just a silly infatuation anymore, is it  ? ” He rubbed the back of his fingers on my cheek, soothing and gentle. 

I didn’t reply. 

“I think he’s a good...man.” I finished.

“Ahhh...” My father chuckled. “  Man.  Here I am , trying to foist you off on boys who’ve barely popped their fangs for the first time .... when it is obvious that what you need is someone reliable and in control. Therein lies the appeal, does it not, dearest? ” 

I flushed red, scrambling to sit up , and clutching the fabric of my skirt in a death grip. 

“It’s... it’s stupid. I’ll get over it.” I choked out. 

My father hummed. 

“Have you told him how you feel?” He asked gently and I stared at him.

“You’re not mad.?” I whispered.

My father chuckled.

“Why would I be mad?  I’ve known him for five whole centuries. He’s a fine, upstanding man. Jungkook is fair and strong. He is more than capable of taking care of you and the best part, you would be able to live here forever. I would be lucky to have him as my son in law.” He said firmly. 

I felt my body go lax in disbelief. 

“Somi .. Somi said...That you wouldn’t approve. Because he isn’t from a strong clan. ”

“Somi worries too much about what the others in our clan may say.  Especially your uncle. He’s coming back soon remember? “ My father grimaced. 

I felt a shiver run through me. 

“Uncle Jaebum? He’s coming back?” I whispered, terrified. 

My father hummed, kissing the side of my head.

“Yes he is, love. But don’t worry. I’ll handle him. Your uncle still believes that lineage plays some role in how a vampire turns out but couldn’t be more wrong. i mean , young Mr. Mingyu has single handedly proven  that theory wrong , hasn’t he?” My father shook his head, laughing, “  So tell me, has Jungkook agreed to court you?” 

I groaned. 

“He has categorically stated that he doesn’t want to court me.” I said softly.

My father laughed at that.

“That must’ve been a novel experience for you.” 

I pouted. 

“Father!” I whined. 

“Alright, alright ...dearest. I won’t tease. Did he say why? ” He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. 

“Because I’m too young? Possibly.... He said something about carrying too much baggage and not wanting to ruin my life.” 

My father made a noise of impatience.

“The boy is an overthinker. He’s always been that way. He doesn’t look that way but he cares deeply about hurting others. It’s possible he’s only trying to protect you. Albeit in a very misguided way. “

“ Perhaps. But, whatever the reason, he’s not willing to court me. So, no. i don’t think he wants to be your son in law. I wish I could change his mind. ” I muttered, snuggling closer into him. 

“Ah, you know I can’t change his mind for you, don’t you flower? That’s your job...”

I sighed. 

“I know...” 

“If Jungkook does choose to court you. You will have my blessing. I will give you a wedding that will make the world watch in awe. “ He said firmly. 

i laughed. 

“Really? You made Somi marry Jimin in the barn on the estate.” I grinned. 

“Well, Don’t tell your brothers and sisters but you are my favorite after all. “ He whispered conspiratorially and I grinned. 

It was funny because I knew he wasn’t even lying. 

After my mother had left the clan, my father had taken on the role with enthusiasm. Unlike the head of clans all over the world, my father was approachable , friendly and deeply involved in his children’s lives. And he had always adored me. 

“And even if Jungkook doesn’t realize how amazing you are, remember that there are plenty of good men out there. I want you to be happy, dearest. I will not settle for anything less than your complete happiness. “ My father said fiercely and I hugged him closer. 

I loved this man too damn much. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“ You’re so good at what you do, Sera .” Lee Minhyuk gave me a seductive smile as he watched me wrestle his one year old daughter into her booties with one hand while i kept the other wrapped around her to stop her from toppling backwards on the small seat. 

 How about you stop flirting and help me dress your daughter , you asshole, I thought angrily, grunting from the effort of crouching for long periods of time. 

When the fluffy blue fur boots were finally on, I gave little Cherin’s squishy thighs a soft squeeze, pressing a kiss to her perfect cheeks. 

“Good bye cherry berry...” I sang softly, waving gently as she hugged her father’s legs before being scooped up into his arms. 

“So, are you free this friday? We could get something to eat?” Minhyuk gave me a wink. 

His wife was out of town. 

I offered a polite smile in return. 

“I’m going to have to pass on that. I don’t date parents, Minhyuk ssi.” I bowed my head lightly. 

Minhyuk looked annoyed but his gaze flitted to the 6′3″ man behind me, and he didn’t push the subject, merely bowing before leaving. 

Behind me Jungkook cleared his throat. 

I turned and he gave me a slow, lazy smirk. 

“You don’t date parents? Does that mean we’re not on for tonight anymore?” His eyes danced with mirth, mischief glinting in the black orbs. 

I flushed red. 

“Stop it, “ i hissed peering over his shoulder to make sure none of the other workers in the daycare had heard him. 

Jungkook smiled a little at the panic in my face. 

“But then , it isn’t really a date is it? You only want my body.” He sighed deeply in faux disappointment. 

I gave him an impish smile.

“It is the best thing you have on offer....” I shrugged. 

He laughed.

“Fair enough. Did you tell your dad about Mingyu? ” He asked as the workers began to leave one by one. Joowon had left with some of the other kids earlier, Jimin and Somi having promised to take the kids in the clan out for icecream. 

I picked up the stray blocks, dropping them into the huge laundry basket repurposed as a toy bag. i got on my hands and knees to peer under the huge wooden dresser in the corner, looking for stray blocks or toys and picking a few. 

 My back screamed in protest and i wondered if I was going to spend the rest of eternity with an achy back. I was just too young to be feeling this old. 

Was Park Jimin onto something with the whole yoga and stretching and exercise and healthy eating ? Should I stop binge eating french fries and possibly start eating salads? 

I sighed, straightening up and twisting my torso a bit only to find Jungkook with his gaze leveled very obviously  on my ass. 

So much so he didn’t even notice I was looking at him. 

I cleared my throat and his gaze left my butt, meeting mine with an absolutely unrepentant look on his face. 

“What?” He shrugged. “ I’m just seeing what I’m going to be working with tonight .” 

I felt my face flame, hating the way an absolutely ridiculous smile was threatening to make its way onto my face. I turned away quickly, crawling on all fours to the next dresser and peering under it too. 

once all the toys were put away and I’d double checked the to do list on the board , We finally closed the day care down for the night. It was just  little past six and I stood by the door, watching while he carefully checked all the side gates and the backyard. 

Slipping the key into my backpack , I began the walk back to the mansion and he fell into step next to me. 

“You didn’t answer my question....” He said softly and I blinked.

“Oh?” I couldn’t remember. 

“ Did you tell your father what happened with Mingyu?”

“Did you?” I retorted. and he shrugged. 

“I had to give a complete play by play report. Your father was incredibly upset.” 

I chuckled. 

“He’s very protective of me..” I shrugged.

Jungkook went tellingly quiet.

I felt foreboding rise inside me. Jungkook inhaled sharply, obviously staring to say something but i cut him off quickly. 

“He likes you!!” I blurted out quickly. “ I mean..he approves of you... Told me he wouldn’t mind you being his son in law.” 

My lack of filter was going to get me  killed  one of these days. 

Jungkook however seemed more amused than annoyed. 

“Well, considering the kind of candidates in the race, I can see why he would prefer me. “ He laughed. 

I frowned. There was something smug in his tone that irked me. He shouldn’t get to be smug about something like that when he didn’t even want to be with me in the first place. 

“They’re not all clowns. Yugyeom is a great guy.” I said sharply.

Jungkook’s eyebrow shot up.

“Is it so?”

I nodded, honest. 

“He’s older... almost two centuries old now and he’s a good friend.” 

“Two centuries? How on earth did he become your friend?” 

“He was one of my tutors during college. So I kind of had a crush on him.... It was all exciting .... You know, teacher and student .....forbidden love and all that “ I smiled. 

Jungkook gave me a cheeky smile. 

“Ahh...ever sucked his dick off under the desk? Or dreamed of it at least? ” He asked casually and I choked.

“ What? “ 

“Why do you look so shocked? isn’t that the most common of fantasies?“

I glared at him .

“No... I did not. That’s indecent.” 

He stopped walking. 

I walked a few steps ahead and paused, turning to stare at him. 

“What?” I demanded. 

“Sera , what the actual fuck do you think we’re going to be doing tonight?” He asked thoughtfully. 

I spluttered . 

“I... Its different. I was too young back then. Of course I know what you’re going to do tonight.” I said impatiently, turning around to keep going. 

But his hand shot out, gripping my arm and pulling me to him. I crashed into his chest, gripping the fabric to steady myself. 

“For someone who was so eager to have me show her the ‘ ropes’ , you’re quite intent on running from me, anytime i bring it up.” He whispered. 

i stared resolutely at his chest, refusing to meet his eyes. It wasn’t that I was shy per se. But just looking at his face made me lose my braincells. 

“I’m not running away. I just....” Don’t want to read too much into your flirting. Your teasing. Your interest in me. I have to keep my heart safe and I can’t do that with you offering me all of your attention....

“Don’t be nervous, alright? I’ll take good care of you.” He smiled softly. 

 God, I hated this man. 

I could feel heat pool in my belly, spreading all over my body and the urge to throw myself into his arms was so overwhelming.

“I know you will. “ I said softly, finally looking up at him, pressing my palm to his face. “ You’re a good man. A kind man. I knew the minute I saw you that you’d take good care of me. ” 

The words seemed to affect him and he bit his lips, grabbing my wrist and pulling my hand away from his face.  

“We should go.” He said shortly, pushing away from me and walking away briskly. 

“Who’s the one running now, Jeon Jungkook?!!!” I yelled after him and he flipped me off without turning around. 

Laughing, I ran to catch up with him again. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At 10.55 , I stood outside Jungkook’s room, nervous but eager.

 It wasn’t even the prospect of sex, I thought giddily. Just the idea of spending time with him, of listening to him talk, of having him at touching distance .....it was so intoxicating. 

I knocked lightly. 

Jungkook opened the door , a smile on his face and it was jarring, how young he looked like this. 

He was clearly fresh out of the shower. Hair wet and and still dripping a little, he was dressed in a grey hoodie, the sleeves rolled up to show his veiny forearms and grey sweatpants, hands tucked into his pockets as he shook his hair out of his eyes. 

It was a futile action and all it really did was send water droplets flying all around. 

I blinked against the unexpected spray, water clinging to my lashes and my cheeks. 

“Hey!! “ I protested. “ Are you a puppy? Use a towel like the rest of the world.” I mumbled. 

He laughed. 

“Come in, princess.” He grabbed my wrist, tugging gently and I stepped into his room, looking around eagerly. 

He closed the door behind us and I heard him pull the dead bolt into place before turning the key as well.

No interruptions then.....

Good. 

“Your room is actually bigger than mine.” I frowned, noting the big four poster bed, complete with a white curtained canopy. I let my gaze fall to the clean white sheets and my mind flashed back to the beautiful Helena, sprawled on the bed in nothing but her underwear. 

I swallowed the bitter jealousy that threatened. 

Hands wrapped around my waist from behind and he hugged me close, the warmth of his chest heavy and amazing on my body. I jumped a little when i felt the gentle press of his lips on the curve of my neck. 

“You sure about this? We don’t have to do anything at all tonight. We can kiss a little, watch a movie and sleep. But you’re a big girl so I’m gonna let you call the shots.” He lightly grabbed a huge chunk of my hair, lifting it out of the way before kissing the back of my neck. 

“Uh...” I stared straight ahead, already half aroused. “I want....to feel good.” 

He laughed against my skin, his hold around me tightening. 

“That can be arranged.” He said hotly, teeth nipping  at my skin before he gently turned me around in his arms. 

I looked up at him, drinking in his gorgeous face and he hummed, eyes narrowed as though in deep thought. 

“Bed?” He prompted and it was ridiculous, how one word could turn me on that bad. I nodded, making to move but he surprised me, crouching and grabbing the back of my thighs, pulling me up so easily, that I shrieked. I wrapped my thighs around his waist, more by instinct than intent and he laughed at the look on my face. 

“This always gets the ladies going.” He winked and I flushed. 

“Show off...” I muttered, lightly punching his shoulders and he shrugged.

“I don’t hit the gym five times a week to  not  show off darling.” he drawled, walking over to the bed and tossing me on the mattress. I bounced off the surface, squawking in surprise and I scrambled to sit up but he was already grabbing the hem of his hoodie and tossing it off. 

I’d never seen him shirtless but before I could fully appreciate the view, he was climbing on the bed. He grabbed my ankles, tugging me away from the head board and I landed on my back with an oof. 

“Ow. You’re being entirely too careless with me. “ I protested. 

He crawled forward on his knees, closer and closer till he was throwing one leg over my body, straddling my waist. 

“Thought you wanted to be put in your place.” He reminded me and I grinned up at him. 

“I think I’m right where I want to be. Under you.” I said honestly and he nodded.

“It’s where you belong.” He whispered, taking me entirely by surprise .

 My heart began pounding a familiar ache, a familiar pang. I knew it was an illusion. He didn’t for a second believe I belonged here but it was hard not to believe him, when he was hovering over me , looking like a fallen angel. 

God, don’t get emotionally invested. He doesn’t actually mean it, you fool. 

“Kiss me.” I held my arms up and he lowered himself carefully, keeping his weight off me as he kissed me, soft and gentle. I let my fingers tangle in the damp ebony locks, tugging gently as he angled himself better, tongue begging entrance. 

The heady mint taste of him, sent me into over drive and I wrapped both my legs around his waist, pulling him down. 

I took a second to just take him in.

The scent of his skin against mine, clean and woody, slightly sweaty, but mostly just musky. The smell of a man . The weight of him on my body, the hardness of his arousal evident even through the sweatpants. He pulled back to stare at me, his fingers brushing my cheeks. 

“You have perfect lips for kissing. Lush and plump. Like tiny pillows I can sink my teeth into.” He whispered, catching my lower lip between his teeth and tugging. 

“You have beautiful nipples. I want to lick them some day. .” I breathed, running my thumb on the curve of his cheek bones. 

Jungkook stared at me in complete shock for a second and then  laughed . 

“Thats.... a new one. Jesus. “ he shook his head, almost in disbelief. 

“Sorry.” I flushed and he waved off my apology. 

“You wanted to feel good right? Shall I start?” His eyes twinkled. 

I nodded, way too eagerly and he laughed harder. 

“Okay, let’s get you out of these clothes, princess. “  He grabbed my arm, pulling me up to a sitting position before gently tugging the t shirt off my chest. I wasn’t wearing anything underneath and his breath caught s he stared at my breasts.

He stared at them for a second, swallowing before, glancing at me .

“Beautiful.” He said, voice deep and husky. 

“Thank you .” I said primly. 

He laughed again and shook his head.

“I can’t remember ever laughing so much before sex. This is so weird.” 

“Weird bad?” i asked, nervous.

He shook his head.

“Weird good.” He leaned in, kissing my cheek just as he hooked his thumbs into my shorts, pulling them down easily and leaving me completely naked. “ Weird adorable.” 

I crossed my legs, drawing my knees up at once, feeling devastatingly shy. 

His eyes softened. 

“You want me to turn off the lights? “ He asked gently. 

“Yes please.” I said desperately and he nodded, quickly climbing off the bed and fumbling with the light switches. He left a single light on , near the closet. It left the rest of the room dimly lit. 

“Am I the first one to see you like this?” He asked, rubbing his hands together before climbing onto the bed again. 

“Um... after the age of ten, yes.” I laughed nervously. 

He hummed. 

“You’re gorgeous. Toss me that pillow.” He pointed to the one next to my head and i handed it to him.

“Lie down for me darling.” He smiled. 

I hesitated, closing my eyes tight just because it was overwhelming, seeing him in front of me , shirtless and being naked in front of him. 

I laid back slowly, knees still pulled up and feet on the bed, thighs pressed together. 

My heart was pounding , less from nerves and more from sheer anticipation. I’d waited long enough for this to truly feel nervous or want to back out. 

And the fact that it was with Jungkook... I’d pretty much hit the jackpot in first time experiences. 

Hands on my knees made my eyes fly open and I found myself staring up into his face.

“You okay?” He asked gently. 

i nodded.

“Let me between your legs?” He asked sweetly. 

I felt the blood rush to my face, my legs shaking as I spread my knees and thighs, enough to give him space between them. His fingers closed around my ankle lightly, gentle as he ran his hands up and down my legs. 

“Relax alright. You wanted to feel good and I’m going to make you feel good. The only thing you need to do is... well.. feel.” He smiled, impish bunny teeth bright even in the darkened room. 

I nodded, closing my eyes. 

“Don’t wanna watch?” He teased and I shook my head. My pulse kicked up at the very thought of it. 

Jungkook wasn’t anything like I’d imagined, I thought miserably. He had been attractive as the stoic, serious man who wanted to do the right thing but like this : naught and flirty and charming , he was absolutely devastating and i wasn’t sure i could come out of this unscathed. 

I couldn’t fight the feeling that I was making a huge mistake . that this whole thing was going to end with my heart ripped to shreds....

His lips against my forehead pulled me out of my thoughts and I swallowed. 

“I’m going to touch you.” He said softly and I shuddered when his hands closed over my breasts, gentle but firm, kneading the flesh very slowly, thumbs rubbing back and forth on the nipples till they tightened. 

I bit my lips to stop myself from crying out, the sensation overwhelming and foreign because it was someone else’s fingers and not my own. 

“Hey... “ one soft finger pressed against my lips, parting them gently and i sobbed out loud. “ None of that.... You should be as loud as you want to...how else will I know if I’m getting the job done?” 

“You’re getting it done..” I choked out, shaking all over and his kissed my lips again, quick and hard. 

“So beautiful.” He murmured, lips pressing kisses down my chest and across my breasts.

“Since you wanted to lick my nipple, let me uh...return the favor? In advance ?” He laughed against my skin and I inhaled sharply when he nipped at the fleshy mound. 

His lips closed around my nipples, the suction gentle but his tongue wet and insistent .

I went completely still, my hands flying to his hair and gripping so hard he grunted . My hips lifted off the bed at the sensation, every nerve ending on fire as he kept suckling and licking and god, his teeth...he was using his teeth to bite down on the nub... making me thrash my hips , my body completely overwhelmed . 

He kept his lips over the peak, licking the tip over and over till it was tender and wet and hard . He used his hands to knead the other side, thumb rubbing insistently on the neglected nub and I felt my toes curling into th mattress, my arms drooping to loop around his neck as he began to move his hips as well, grinding down on to my thigh. 

I was going to black out from having my nipple played with, I thought vacantly.

“Probably won’t feel this good for me but I’m glad you like it.” He laughed again and I loved the sound of it. Loved that he seemed to be enjoying this too. And I wanted him to enjoy it. Wanted to make him feel good too.

So I let my hand drop, down to his waist and then to the front of his pants.

He froze over me. 

“Sera-”

“I want to.” I said desperately, knowing what he was going to say.  . “ Please , let me touch you too-”

“Hey hey...shush..”He kissed me again quick and heady. “ Remember what I said? You call the shots.... “ He pressed another kiss to the corner of my lips. “ Want me to take off my sweats?” 

I nodded, “ Yeah.” 

He wiggled out of his pants quickly and i cursed myself for wanting the lights turned off. 

I hesitated, rubbing my palm on his pecs and tracing the muscles down to his tightly packed abs and then hesitating. 

“You can touch.” He said hotly and I swallowed, letting my fingers flutter down between his gloriously thick thighs. His skin was smooth and hard , like silk over steel and I let my fingers go lower, past the light dusting of hair to the thick, rigid length of him , my fingers closing over the hardness of his cock. 

Jungkook jerked forward, head burying into the pillow near my head and he swore.

“Fuck...” He sounded strangled and I laughed , gripping him harder but not a lot because I wasn’t sure how much was too much. .

“I have no idea what I’m doing...” I admitted weakly , loosening my grip a little to stroke up and down over the length of his cock. 

“Fuck.. just the fact that you’re doing it is going to make me cum.” He choked out and I laughed, ridiculously flattered.  

He grabbed my wrist, pulling my hand away.

“Lick it.” He said softly. 

I went still, my brain grinding to a halt.. Lick....??

 My eyes went wide.  

And so did his.

“Your palm.” He choked out. “ Lick your palm not my..... Your palm. It’s too dry.” 

Oh..  oh.

Lick my palm. Not his cock. Right. Got it. 

“Okay...”I drew my hand up and hesitated , unsure . Jungkook watched me like a hawk, eyes trained on my mouth and I bit my lips, cupping my palm and spitting into it, twice for good measure. feeling absolutely filthy.

“Fucking hell.” He breathed as I took my hand down to his cock again, wrapping my hand around it and it did feel better, easier to jerk him off with the lubrication. I moved my hands up and down , with  no rhythm and Jungkook gritted his teeth. 

“Okay... I’m gonna.. “He shivered a little when I tentatively pressed my thumb to the head, surprised to find him wet , on the top. I gathered the moisture around his slit, spreading it all over the head of his cock, using my fingers to rub circles over the crown , fingers tracing the thick vein on the underside. 

 inside me. This is going to be inside me. 

 I felt my thighs shake, my insides clenching, wetness dribbling out of me as I squirmed. 

“Please... Jungkook , I...”

“I got you...” He whispered, grabbing my hand and pulling it away from his cock. 

“hey-” I pouted but he shook his head. 

“If you don’t keep your hands off,  this'll all be over before it even begins,.” He said dryly. 

I closed my eyes again, my nerves picking up. 

“Listen...” He said suddenly and I blinked, staring at him. “ I’m going to get you wet...” Oh, god, “ With my tongue.” 

My entire body went taut. 

“I..”

“It’ll make it easier... trust me. And It’ll feel good. Wasn’t that the goal today? “ He tossed me a wink, squeezing my thighs a bit. He moved back and grabbed the pillow.

“Lift your hips up for me.” He said gently and I raised my butt, jerking when he folded the pillow in half and pushed it under my hips. And the he was crawling backwards, till his face hovered over my belly button.

“Throw your legs over my shoulders....” He said briskly, gripping my thighs , one in each and spreading my legs apart. I did as he asked, the back of my knee resting on the hard muscles of his broad shoulders and i raised my head a bit to peer down at him. 

The sight of jungkook’s gorgeous fucking face between my thighs got seared into my head and I fell back, already overwhelmed. 

He pressed a soft kiss to my thigh, a little nip my skin and then sucked the skin at the juncture of my hip and thigh. He was breathing in suddenly, a loud, shuddering inhale.  His breathing wavered and i felt the sharp pin prick of teeth. 

“Shit..”He pulled back and I jumped a little, watching him struggle. He glanced at me and I saw the flash of white between his lips. He’d dropped fang...and was clearly struggling to get them to retract. 

“You can do it..” I said feverishly. “ Jungkook , you can.... Drink.” 

He shook his head and glanced up at me and the look in his eyes made me startle .... because it looked like he was going to get up, move away , possibly call off this whole thing and no...no that was absolutely not going to happen. 

I was not letting him back out of this. 

He tried to move, but I grabbed his hair, yanking his mouth back to my thigh. 

“Fucking do it...” I snapped angrily and his eyes widened at my tone, “  do it and then fuck me , Jungkook or I swear to God I’ll  -” 

Sharp, sharp pain lanced through my spine as he bit down, fangs piercing my skin with ease and I felt the rush of liquid as it left my body, filling his mouth as he gulped. 

His venom worked its magic, the pain dulling to a throb, a pleasant heady intoxication....meant to make the bleeding out painless, meant to make death pleasant for the prey but for me it was just pleasure.

 Pleasure because he could have his fill and I would still be able to give him more. 

Pleasure because with me, he could indulge himself, as much as he wanted without worrying about the consequences. 

Jungkook groaned against my thighs, his shoulders shaking as he drank and I stroked his hair, petting the dark strands as I fought the slight lightheadedness, knowing that it would pass soon. 

Jungkook sucked deeper and I parted my legs moaning when my head began to spin, and then I felt his fingers touch my center, parting my folds , spreading the wetness all over his fingers before his thumb pressed down on my clit, rubbing insistently. I felt myself dripping all over the sheets, so wet and swollen and throbbing... 

“Oh, god yes... That feels so good, Jungkook .. I...” I gasped  as he slipped one long finger in, deep and without any resistance. The warm wetness in my thigh began spreading and I heard him groan as he sucked harder, drinking me down like i was the finest wine. 

“Another... give me more...please...” 

He moaned, still drinking, still shaking as he pressed another finger in next to the previous one, deeper still, searching and stroking, tracing every ridge inside me, curling just right, and rubbing down on that spot inside me...the one I could never quite reach by myself. 

Jungkook inhaled sharply, his fang sinking in just a little deeper as he latched on tighter and my legs shook as I cried out. 

He hummed, using one hand to rub soothing circles on my thigh, while he rubbed his thumb across my clit , hard and the gentle and then hard again until it throbbed and ached , over and over again and I was sure the little nub was bruised, that I wouldn’t be able to touch it for a while without wincing. 

I was gushing , my arousal so strong that the sheets were soaked, wet and so damp and the sensation of his fingers, thick and deep inside me while his fangs bit down harder, while he fed from me, was just too much...too much. 

I exploded around his fingers , my orgasm so strong that my hips lifted right off the bed, and he fucked me through it, fingers pounding in and out of my wet swollen walls as he pulled away, fangs retracting and I struggled to get on my elbows , to get a look at him.

He looked completely wrecked, fangs still half out, lips red and dripping blood , eyes flashing scarlet and blazing with lust so potent , I felt my insides churn.,,. i stared at him as I clenched over his fingers and he closed his eyes, shoulders shaking as he tried to get his bearings but I grabbed his shoulders, scrabbling to pull him up and closer. 

“Inside!” I choked out as he tried to get up, looking punch drunk and out of it.” Get inside me.”

“Sera... you’re...” He was slurring his words and I cried out in sheer frustration, scrabbling to my knees and pushing him down till he was flat on the bed. 

 “ Please i need it... need your cock inside me Jungkook, fuck...”  I begged, my thighs aching and walls clenching from how desperately I wanted to be filled. I stuck my hand between my legs , gathering as much of my wetness as I could before gripping his cock, coating him in my arousal.

 There was something so filthy about his hard, thick cock covered in my juices that made my mouth water. I wanted to swallow him down, to feel his cock hit the back of my throat but I wanted him inside me too. 

Maybe next time. 

“Please....Please can I sit on your cock?!! “ i choked out, fully gone. Jungkook groaned at my words. 

“Yes.. fuck... Do it.. Come on baby, take what you want from me.” he whispered.  and I scrambled up to straddle his thighs. Gripping the base of his cock, I pressed the tip against my entrance, closing my eyes to brace myself, digging my knees into the mattress for leverage before sinking straight down . 

“Oh, fuck....” I shuddered, my entire body thrumming as he pressed in, the hard length of him cleaving me so easily there was absolutely no pain to even register. It was just new. Different. 

And so so exhilarating. 

I sank all the way down till my ass hit the hardness of his thighs. 

And then I couldn’t move anymore. My body shook with tremors and My hands began trembling. 

“Jungkook...please... I..”

He responded by reaching out and gripping me thighs.

“Look at me baby...!” He said sharply and I stared down at his sweat slicked face. His eyes flashed red for a second and then he tugged me down, till i was lying flat on his chest. His arms came around my waist, anchoring me in place. 

“Gonna give it to you good. Just stay still yeah?” He breathed against my ear as i buried my face in the crook of his neck. And then he was rolling us both over, till I was flat on my back, his hand closing over my thigh, spreading my legs apart as he pistoned straight in. 

We were both too far gone for any semblance of a rhythm and I stopped trying to move, merely wrapping my arms around his neck, clinging on as he fucked into me, so hard that I could feel him in my gut. I felt my hips ache from the sheer force of his thrusts, my thighs cramping from how wide he had me spread and my clit throbbing from the way his cock dragged across it with every thrust. 

Pleasure swelled, again, this time stringer and I stopped fighting to make it happen, sinking back and letting it crash over me , like a wave breaking over the cliffs. 

Jungkook groaned as I exploded around him, my walls clenching around his cock and milking him and he shuddered in my arms, his cock twitching inside me as he came, filling me up . 

I gripped his shoulders, clinging to him as he trembled through the aftershocks. I felt my walls clenching, over and over again and Jungkook gave me a strangled moan.

“Too much...baby.. please stop... “ He begged and I froze, realizing that he was too sensitive and wanted to pull out. 

“sorry...sorry... “ I willed my walls to stop clenching and he made a noise of sheer exhaustion as he pulled out of me. 

I watched as he rolled off me, collapsing on his back, breathing hard. 

I stared up at the ceiling, feeling the wet mess of his cum, drip out of me and onto the sheets. I had the sudden made urge to stick my finger down there , scoop it up and taste it but I tamped it down. 

“Well.” I began.... 

He turned to look at me. 

I turned to him, still trying to catch my breath. 

“I’m not a virgin anymore.” I grinned wide. 

He groaned and ran a finger over his face. 

“Congratulations, Princess.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author’s Note :  Please i need holy water. 

feedback is love. If you don’t tell me you loved this fic i will not write smut anymore. 

taglist :  

@ladyartemesia        @veronawrites   @alpaca1612     @bonyg    @unseejuice21  @sppvjj     @ggukkieland     @tae-by-tae      @blr1004      @yoongichild    @stussyjeon  @jellybearo​   

[kemetic-dreams]

The Maasai Legend Behind Ancient Hominin Footprints in Tanzania

In 1976 paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey and other scientists reported that they’d found ancient hominin footprints at a site in Laetoli, northeastern Tanzania. The footprints were frozen in volcanic deposits from the Pliocene, an epoch that lasted from 5.333 million to 2.58 million years ago. The team hypothesized that the footprints belonged to an extinct hominin species famously known as Lucy . The species’ scientific name is Australopithecus afarensis .

Additional footprints were reported in 2016 by a research team made up of scientists from Tanzania and Italy. These footprints are about 150 meters (492.17 ft.) away from the original discovery. This new trackway is surrounded by hundreds of footprints belonging to other mammals and birds; there are even frozen raindrop impressions. The hominin footprints were left by two bipedal (that is, walking on two legs) individuals walking on the same surface, at the same time, in the same direction and at the same moderate speed as those reported by Leakey and her colleagues.

Taken together, the two groups of footprints testify to the presence of at least five bipedal early hominins moving as a group through the Laetoli landscape. Both the new and the older footprints have provided scientists with some clues in the search to understand human biological evolution

What Do Locals Think of the Hominin Footprints?

But while the science is crucial, it is also important to know what the people who live in and around Laetoli make of these ancient footprints. What do they think the footprints represent? My colleagues and I wanted to find out . So we interviewed local Maasai with whom we were working at the Laetoli and organized some focus group discussions with others within the area as well as nearby villages of Essere, Enduleni and Kakesiyo. Residents of these villages are about 35,000 and they have been living in the area for generations. The Maasai people connect Laetoli footprints to the tale of Lakalanga, a strong hero who helped them win a battle against a neighboring community. According to the story – which is consolidated into the local community oral tradition – Lakalanga was so big that wherever he walked, he left visible tracks on the ground. Although there is no time reference regarding the legendary Lakalanga, interviewed elders said the story is deeply rooted among the Maasai. Since the legendary Lakalanga occupies a unique position among the Maasai community and because there is a myth linking him with the footprint makers, there is a need to incorporate these perceptions in the interpretation and preservation of footprints. This undertaking will reduce the chance of people harming the footprint site and increase the link between local people and their history.

Why Footprints Matter

Fossil bones and teeth can provide paleontologists with a great deal of data about various aspects of human evolution. Footprints are potentially much more informative. Footprint sites can be interpreted as prehistoric snapshots of the deep past, having been formed in a relatively short time span.

In fact, after being impressed on the ground, these ephemeral traces of past life can fossilize only under extremely rare geological conditions. Using footprints, scientists can reconstruct locomotion, body size, speed, and variability of extinct creatures.

Generally, fossil footprints are very useful paleontological tools. Their features can help identify their makers and also to infer biological information. Nearly all the fossil human tracks discovered so far have been referred to species of the genus Homo. Laetoli is the only exception to the record.

Laetoli is in northern Tanzania at the southern margins of the Serengeti Plains in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The area has several other world-famous paleoanthropological localities: Olduvai Gorge , Lake Ndutu, and Nasera Rock.

From a scientific point of view, one of the most sensational results of the 2016 study that identified the second trackway at Laetoli concerns one track maker’s body size. One individual’s footprints are surprisingly larger than those of the other members of the group, suggesting an estimated stature of about 165 cm, or about 5 feet 4 inches.

This exceptional body size, which falls within the range of modern Homo sapiens maximum values, makes it the largest Australopithecus afarensis individual identified so far.

The Maasai’s Interpretation

The large body size aspect  is also reflected in the local community’s interpretations of the Laetoli hominin footprints.

The Maasai we spoke to and held discussions with knew about the footprints. They mainly knew about the animal footprints because they are scattered over various volcanic tuff on the Laetoli landscapes. The Maasai who live at Laetoli and on the outskirts visit and pass through the area regularly as they herd their livestock. The narratives about Lakalanga’s footprints have also become part of the folklore of Maasai living further away.

It was during our discussions with the local community that we learned of the story of Lakalanga, his big strides and visible tracks. They believed that Lakalanga was energetic and bigger than any other member of the society.

The myths do not comply with a part of our scientific interpretation suggesting a social group of one large male, two or three females, and one juvenile. The narratives do not interpret the footprints to belong to Lakalanga and his family. Instead, the narratives link the footprints with Lakalanga and other Maasai warriors who were not as large and energetic as him (Lakalanga)

The discovery in 2016 of the second set of footprints – and particularly the large footprints in that set – offered further confirmation to the Maasai that the hero warrior Lakalanga really existed.

Similar Story, Different Place

Linking footprints with the story of Lakalanga is not unique at Laetoli. There are similar stories from other sites across the world where local people associate footprints with gods and heroes.

For example, in about 450 BC, Herodotus reported that footprints found along the banks of Tyras River in Moldavia were associated with gods and heroes visualized as giants. Also, footprints from the Gallipoli Peninsula in north-eastern Turkey are linked with the great hero-athlete from the Trojan war.

This just goes to show that local people curious about footprints will always seek explanations on who made them. Hence local interpretations.

Top Image: Portrait of a Maasai warrior in Africa, Diani beach    Source: shangarey / Adobe Stock

The article ‘ The Maasai legend behind ancient hominin footprints in Tanzania ’ by Elgidius Ichumbaki and Marco Cherin was originally published on The Conversation and has been republished under a Creative Commons license.

[epsilontauri]

take it in, new pictures of me elving around:

Magistra Cherin, what the fuck, why everyone keeps getting murdered, Madame Magistra, this isn’t what Lady Moriel said this wedding will be, Madam Mag- Madam Magistra? Are you leaving? Madam!!!

(basically, thoronhen was bitching around and wanting to leave, remembered it was illegal to use portals in this princedom, whined some more, remembered that they have a fine for using magic, threw a fit, hurled health potion bottles at injured guests and lead the party on a wrong path because they failed to read a map properly. they blamed it on the badly drawn map, but it were actually their shitty eyes and glasses ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

Photographer

[lovelyladiesofoverwatchimagines]

Could I request a fantasy widowmaker x reader? Okay, so widow is a vampire that reader was meant to hunt, but before they could kill her, she fed from them and made them her property. At first highly resistant to all of her advances, reader starts to develop feelings for Widow, and falls in love? One day, another Hunter comes around and try’s to kill Widow, but before the new Hunter could land the killing blow, reader takes it instead. Could you have widow turn reader into a vamp to save them?

Ive been really sick, sorry it took so long

—————————–

“What did you do to me heathen?” You spat at the woman in front of you. You were the best hunter in France. And here you were, apprehended by the most feared creature in all of France

“I claimed you,” She said calmly

“You what?! Why?“ You shot back. The beast hesitated before answering

“No other hunter for the past 400 years has been able to even get close to my castle, or remotely past my traps. You interest me”

“Ok?” You looked confused

“So I’m keeping you here so you cant release a way to get to me” She explained

“You, the most powerful vampire in France, ”the Widowmaker” is scared of a Human?” You laughed out, practically sneering in her face

“Shut up”

———————–

“Eat” Widowmaker scolded from the other side of the cell wall

“No” You pushed the tray of food away

“You need sustenance”

“Yeah? What do you care? If I die you don’t have to worry about others finding you” You shot

“Despite what people think, I’m not a heartless monster. Starving is not pleasurable” Widowmaker shot back

“Fine ill eat, as long as it gets you to leave me alone” You mumbled, shoving a piece of bread into your mouth

————————

“What are you doing?” You stood as the cell door opened. As the weeks passed Widowmaker had become more friendly towards you. Suppose loss of human or beast contact will do that to you

“I’m letting you out. Providing you a room in my villa is the least I can do since you’ll never part” Widowmaker answered, holding her hand out to you. You took it

“Thank you” You mumbled as she led you up the stairs and to a new part of the villa

————————

“So then I said, that’s an Alibi, not a squid” You laughed covering your mouth. Amelie subtly laughed and smiled at you. The wine in her hand almost half empty

“You are very funny you know” She implied

“My ex thought so too,” You said shooting down the last of your wine

“You are not with anyone?” Amelie acknowledged. You shrugged and put the wineglass down

“Nah, once I started hunting, things changed. I pushed everyone away” YOu looked down and twiddled with your thumbs

“Why?”  She asked

“The reason I hunt is that one of your kind killed my daughter,” You said sternly. The mood of the room changed greatly in a matter of seconds

“I am sorry,” She said. You coughed and stood.

“I’m not so hungry anymore. Thanks for the dinner. Goodnight Widowmaker" You said, making your way out of the den

“Amelie,” She said quickly

“What?”

“My name…its Amelie,” She said hesitantly. You smiled and headed up the stairs to bed

————————-

“Good morning Amelie” You  greeted, sniffing the air and rubbed your eyes

“Good morning (Y/n), I was making eggs, would you like some?” Amelie said from the kitchen

“Si” You returned

“You know, I have told you about myself…But you’ve shared nothing about yourself with me. I think we should change that, Oui?” She set down the utilities and turned to look at you

“Sure” So that’s what happened. Amelie laid down in your lap and listened for hours to your story, your life, your family, parents, education, all of it.

“You came to France just to hunt me?” Amelie said, almost in a voice that said she was impressed

“Yeah and before that it was a coven of Demons called Los Muertos, run by their alpha known as Sombra. She was tricky. Promised me my daughter if I let her live” You said, taking a sip of your drink

“Did you?”

“First thing you learn as a hunter is never trusting a deal.” YOu laded, looked down at the woman. She smiled up at you. You shook your head and looked toward the ceiling

“Vampires destroyed my family and here I am fraternizing with one” You laughed and sighed at the same time

“We are fraternizing?” Amelie asked, raising an eyebrow

“Well… I mean..yes?” You stuttered out

“Then we should do it properly, Non?” SHe breathed, leaning up she connected her lips to your own. You smiled and kissed back eagerly

————————–The next night you read quietly in bed, only to look up to be greeted with one of the most beautiful sights you had ever seen. Your jaw dropped as Amelie spoke

“A countess gets lonely after a few hundred years mon cher” The lingerie held tightly to her body

“I bet she does” Was all you could get out

“Care to spend the night with me?” She suggested, holding her hand out. You stood and nodded. Following her to her room. She sat on her bed seductively. You gulped and blushed. Her eyes pierced your soul as she reached a lanky finger out and motioned towards her.  

That night you spent together was the first of many. A few weeks proceeding that night you woke up in each other’s arms as usual for the past weeks, every morning, evening and night you two fell in more love than you ever had. Her yellow eyes peered into you that morning, just like the one before

“Good morning darling” She whispered to you as your eyes fluttered open

“Good morning mi Amor,” You said with a smile. You graded your lips on hers. You placed your hand on her waist and kissed harder. You only pulled away when you heard a rap on wood

“That was the door?” You sat up, the blankets covering your bare waist. You slid out of bed and put on clothes. Amelie sat up and looked at you with concern

“Let me check it. ” You said sternly

“But-” She started

“Ame I have a feeling I know who it is,” You said sadly. You made your way down the two-story villa and to the large door. You opened it as you heard Amelie be decent down the stairs. You looked at the figures at the door. One wore a hood the other you immediately recognized

“Atlanta” You spoke

“(Y/n)… I thought you were dead” The woman said in shock

“No, I’ve just been, planning my next hunt..” You excused

“Without Cherin? I thought you two were partners?” She asked

“We were but there we some-” You looked Amelie in the eyes

“Complications”

“(Y/n) are you sure you’re alright, your never this open about, well anything” Atlanta being one of your closest friends, she would know

“Fine,” You said, looking at the stairs. Atlanta squinted, peering at your neck

“You’ve been claimed (Y/n), that’s a vampire mark..” Atlanta stated

“Yes I got in a scuffle” You lied

“I know she’s here (Y/n)” The figure removed his hood to reveal your partner.

“Cherin,” You said acknowledging him

“Move” He musked out

“You aren’t getting to her” You moved to cover the door, Amelie stepped down another step as Cherin delivered a knockout blow to your face. You sank to the floor. In a blurry image, you saw the larger hunter move towards Amelie who bared her fangs threateningly at him. He pulled a large cured stake out of his coat and thrust it at Amelie

“Amelie!” You yelled quickly standing up and running toward your lover, jumping in front of the stab. Your life flashed as you felt the excruciating pain fill your lung. You heard a scream and muffled words as you slumped to the floor. Almost immediately you heard the stake drop and Amelie rushed to your side. She screamed at the intruding hunters

“Leave! You’ve broken one of the most sacred hunting laws. Leave before I make you” Tears welled her eyes

“Let’s go, Cherin,” Atlanta said, pulling on the other hunter who just stared in horror. As they left Amelie’s focus went back to you

“Please, please breath you’ll be ok” Amelie begged to your unconscious body

—————————-

“Good morning my love” Amelie choked out. You weakly smiled and opened your mouth to speak, all that came out was a cough and trail of blood

“Don’t speak” Amelie said

“Save your strength darling” She tucked a stray hair behind your ear. You smiled and pressed her hand to your face

“You look sad amor” You wimpily whined out. Pain piercing everywhere in your midsection

“You are dying,” Amelie said with drops filling her eyes. You clenched your jaw

“Turn me,” You said hesitantly. Amelie’s eyes widened in shock

“I know you were thinking about it but wouldn’t without my concent..so do it”

“Cher it is no small choice..and even if I did you can’t leave the castle. Eventually, you will get tired of me. And there is no guarantee it will work” She explained

“I love you, Amelie. And I trust you” You leaned in and kissed her. She sniffed and kissed back. You leaned back and coughed. Amelie sighed

“Alright”

———————–

“I am also yet a girl, standing in front of my love, asking them to love her. But I guess if she is loved she should let her love move on. "Look at me she cries, come back to me, I love you and not another.” And its because she loves them that, she can’t be selfish. Yet when she says “I love you”, she expects it said back. The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more and that plants a fire in our hearts and minds. That’s what she had to give. As the girl waits for a reply she thinks of a story. “You’re waiting for a train, a train that’ll take you far away, and you know where you want this train to take you, but you can’t know for sure, but it doesn’t matter, but it doesn’t matter, because they’ll be together.’” You sighed finishing the book. You ran your tongue over your left fang and picked up your sleeping wife to take her to bed. Maybe being stuck with the countess wasn’t so bad

[harryandmeghan0-blog]

It's Cultural & Culinary Delights For Harry and Meghan In Rabat!

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/its-cultural-culinary-delights-for-harry-and-meghan-in-rabat/

It's Cultural & Culinary Delights For Harry and Meghan In Rabat!

For their final day in Morocco, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex carried out several engagements in Rabat celebrating young people and Moroccan culture.

They kicked off the busy day with a visit to the Royal Federation of Equestrian Sports.

From there, the Duke and Duchess visited Villa des Ambassadors in Rabat for a cooking demonstration. 

The couple were joined by renowned chef Dar Moha. Harry was already familiar with his work as he visited his restaurant in Marrakesh before the royal wedding.

The couple saw how traditional Moroccan cuisine is supporting young people and teaching children from under-privileged backgrounds a new skill. Meghan is passionate about food bringing people and communities together. During the launch of Grenfell cookbook Together, she said: “This is more than a cook book and what I mean by that is the power of food is more than just the meal itself it is the story behind it. And when you get to know the story behind the recipe, you get to know the person behind it and help us celebrate what connects us rather than divides us. That is the ethos of Together.”

It seemed only fitting for the group to prepare one of the recipe’s from Together. They chose the pancakes with honey and almond butter by Cherine Mallah (which reminds me Shrove Tuesday is next week).

When Harry sampled one Meghan laughed and said “Big bite”, Harry replied “It’s a bit late now”.

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 They sampled an array of dishes including spicy creations and a pigeon pastilla which Meghan called “delicious”

A group of young chefs from Hadaf.

‘Hadaf supervises 85 people suffering from moderate or mild developmental disabilities, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“It all started with my daughter, who has a mental disability,” says Amina Mseffer, president of the association. When she could not put her daughter at school because people were scared to have a disabled person with the other children, Mseffer said, she decided to put her in a special institution. But this was expensive, and stops when the person is 21 years old.

So she joined forces with relatives and friends and in 1997, they created Hadaf, which means “goal” in Arabic, but also stands for “Association of parents and friends of mentally disabled people.” Help and donations have come from official institutions, companies and even the Moroccan king and private donors, including nearby mosque-goers.

In 2005, Hadaf set up a social-professional center in the Hay Nahda neighborhood of the capital Rabat, housing various workshops and courses including jewelry making, sewing, decorative painting and carpentry.’

The couple met representatives from the organisation.

The Mail Online reports:

‘Inside they walked around the stations and chatted to the young cooks, aged between nine and 18, stopping to try mince and onion pastries (Harry) and Harira – a spicy chickpea soup (both). Chef Moha handed them each a decorated ceramic bowl to try and they each took a sip. ‘C’est delicieux,’ said Meghan in French. ‘What’s in it?’ asked Harry, before joking, ‘It’s a secret recipe!’

One child said something in Arabic to the chef, who turned to the Duke and said: ‘He finds you a very good person. ‘He is a good person,’ smiled the Duchess, putting an affectionate hand on her husband’s arm. 

‘Harry and Meghan took up the offer of a meal for ‘the whole family’ from top chef Moha Fedal, who hosts the North African nation’s version of Masterchef. He told the couple: ‘I hope to cook for you next time,’ as they joined him for a cookery demonstration with underprivileged children in the capital Rabat.

The Duchess replied: ‘The whole family next time.’ The chef said: ‘You come with your baby to Marrakesh next time’ referring to the fact that the prince is believed to have visited in 2018, just before his wedding. 

‘We would love to,’ said Meghan. ‘Come with your baby and I will cook for all three,’ he told Harry as he joined them. The Duke – clearly inspired by the delicious spread he had sampled – replied: ‘We will cook for you!’ 

The Duchess gave Chef Moha a copy of Together. She wrote: “Chef Mohar. Wishing you continued success and congratulating you on your incredible work in engaging the community in cooking. All the best. Meghan”.

In return, He gave her his book Le Vrai Goût du Maroc.

A group photo.

For their final public event, the Duke and Duchess met young entrepreneurs supporting youth empowerment at an arts and crafts market in the Andalusian Gardens in Rabat.

It was a quick change of clothes for Meghan.

They enjoyed a traditional musical performance upon arrival.

The beautiful Andalusian Gardens provided the perfect backdrop for the engagement.

Omid Scobie shared these stunning photos on Twitter.

Harry and Meghan’s names in Arabic.

As they viewed local arts and crafts, the Duchess was given a necklace. Of course, Harry was on hand to assist…

They were given an array of items including a bronze plate representing British – Moroccan friendship.

Meeting local craftspeople.

Royal reporter Rebecca English noted Meghan was particularly impressed by one pair of shoes.

The couple discussed sustainability. More from the Mail:

‘Harry spoke as he and the duchess met entrepreneurs in Morocco who have started companies aimed at tackling the country’s social, economic and environmental problems. Talking to Youssef Chaqor, who runs a recycling company called Eko-Geste, Harry said: ‘You need to put more pressure on the big companies.’

He said that while big companies might give money to environmental projects, ‘they are still producing single-use plastic bottles.’ He added: ‘Go to the source!’

Looking at a stand which featured wallets and shoes made from cured fish skin, the duchess told PhD student Nawal Allaoui: ‘It’s very clever.’ Meghan asked what happened when it got wet, but she replied: ‘It’s waterproof.’ Harry congratulated her on moving away from snakeskin and crocodile skin.

Meghan said: ‘It’s really amazing not to use exotics like that, and instead use something sustainable that would otherwise go to waste. But they still have a fashionable impact.’

Victoria Murphy shared a look at some of the young entrepreneurs.

Many of the people they met are working to address youth unemployment and involved in creating new initiatives.

People reports:

‘Silver craftsman Sakhi Driss had a photo of Harry’s father, Prince Charles, on display from when the Queen’s son visited his store in Fez. Driss said of Harry, “He asked when the visit was and where was the picture taken.” At one point, Harry jokingly shielded his eyes as the sun reflected off one of the silver pieces – and Meghan learned that it takes about six days to make one tray.

At one of the first stops in the fabulous walled gardens high above the coast with the Mediterranean sea, they were handed two embroidered foot cushions – which will perhaps come in useful in their new home, Frogmore Cottage in Windsor Castle. “They were interested. They asked many questions. It was a great pleasure to see them,” Ismail Boudrous from the social enterprise says.’

This video opens with footage of Harry and Meghan meeting two darling little girls.

[embedded content]

For Meghan’s looks today she opted for a mix of new and old pieces. This morning’s engagements saw the Duchess in casual attire including a striped sweater and black jeans.

The Duchess wore her hillside green J Crew Field jacket. Meghan’s had the piece since 2016 and was photographed wearing it several times in Toronto before the engagement.

After numerous searches, Michelle from Perth Fashion identified Meghan’s breton top as the Equipment Lucian style.

Meghan wore the Stuart Weitzman Brooks Suede Boots (with thanks to UFO No More). The almond toe boots are available in very limited sizing at Saks Fifth Avenue.

And accessorised with her Ecksand Tresses yellow gold earrings.

For the afternoon’s engagement, Meghan changed into a more formal look. Initially it was thought Meghan’s dress might be a re-purposed Givenchy piece, however it turns out she wore the Loyd/Ford Pleated Dress (with many thanks to eagle-eyed reader Jennifer). 

The pleated chiffon dress is currently reduced from £432 to £324 at ShopBop. It’s also available in pink.

You can see the thin strap on Meghan’s dress in the photo below.

The Duchess wore the Artizia Babaton Keith jacket she debuted for a polo match in 2016. It is described as “This take on the tailored blazer does away with a standard collar and plays with architectural tailoring. The Japanese basketweave fabric is textural and fluid, emphasizing the weighted drape.” It retails for $198.

Meghan wore her Manolo Blahnik Carolyn Black Satin and Velvet Polka Dot Slingback Pumps.

And accessorised with the $200 Gas Bijoux Onde Drop earrings (with thanks to UFO No More and Meghan’s Fashion). For US shoppers they are discounted by $50 with code FASHION at Neiman Marcus.

Harry and Meghan will meet with the King this evening. I expect we’ll see photos.

Source: http://madaboutmeghan.blogspot.com/2019/02/first-look-meghan-casual-for-equestrian.html

[multipikblog]

Kid Rock Cocky Photographs And Premium High Res Photos

The lyricist is perfect in every detail, this is a story about a dishonest couple walking away on the road. Cherin made a very casual song like she didn't come back on Tuesday night Kid Rock Cocky In the press release for the album, Kid said: "It's just normal with Cheryl, we have a few beers, play a song, and have a lot of fun together ..." Well, we all know that Cherin enjoys a lot of beers, especially early mornings. . Seriously, this awakening is good for the kid. He clearly knows the elements of rock and good music, and probably easily sold them off to his good friend Tim McGraw.

Sewing machines are not my favorite thing in the world - putting thread back together bothers me, but as a result of Wales, my grandmother has no problems, has six young children and has no choice but to make clothes. I know that as a result of my first song I will keep that song forever no matter what happens in other collections, that song has traveled all over the world and offers me an amazing life that includes the same collection in this collection. So I need to make sure it fits, and by adding all the fun stuff like graphic teas to the collection - I'm sure to have great kid rock, from hip hop to rock to the iconic multi-platinum award winner American rock and roll that has sold over 26 million. albums around the world. He has collaborated with Cherin Crowe on rap and rock singles such as "Bavitudaba" and "Kabo Boy" since the 90s and has achieved countrywide multi-instrumentalist hits on "Slica". The 2007 album Rock, which featured music for All Summer Long, reached number one in eight countries. He never cited himself as an example. Stephen Thomas Erlevin, who writes for All Music, gave the record four out of five: “The humble, tough rock-blue collar hasn't looked so good in 20 years, but only 5X Platinum is licensed by the RIAA.

This year's singing program "Picture" received a CMA nomination for Singing Event of the Year in 2003, followed by Rock's first Golden Dance. Several songs recorded during the period of this album appeared under the name Rock. Today's computers are just as good as display doors. You see hacks regularly in the music industry. Even though things gradually got smaller, they were still cheaper and I was lucky to get more, but less than I could pay for a retailer. I can improve and promote my topic here. The music card I bought was exactly what I was looking for.

This offer does not include delivery to FPO / APO addresses. Music Direct reserves the right to change the terms of this promotion or terminate this offer at any time. When your cart subtotal order is $ 49, shipping costs for the relevant eligible equipment will be automatically adjusted according to your order. At a recent New York concert, Kid Rock greeted the common man, during which he gave the driver behind several firefighters on the floor, "My dressing room is your room. Drink, enjoy, it doesn't matter." Browse 87 photos of children's rock cakes. or so inventory Start a new quest to find photos of his 25 year career, Kid Rock right behind us this morning, Slander Without a Cause, Boboy, Bulldog, Rock n Roll Jesus, American Bad Us, and Don't Forget, Son of Pride Detroit.

When Neon Smith, the novel's cognitive hero, shakes hands, Steel Boy one day robs the White House and tells a joke, in which he starts a fight with three people. Expelling black families from their homes was not the main thing for him. "I want to focus on start-up and family time and be really aware of the stability of work and personal life. I want to do different things, but not as much fun as scaring me. Kiss in the 90s in one video.

Browse 60 Kidrock Coke Albums So, it's no wonder that filmmakers often challenge their songs to follow their music with a bit of magic. Browse the sixty-three photos or album art of Kids Rock or start a new quest to explore more photos and inventory images. The first two seasons of this historical drama show the lives of geniuses Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso with actors from around the world. They record the moment and jump into their subject layout Read More....

[dipulb3]

Memorial for slain Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen vandalized

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/memorial-for-slain-fort-hood-soldier-vanessa-guillen-vandalized/

Memorial for slain Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen vandalized

A person dressed in all dark clothing can be seen running through the memorial located in the parking lot of a tattoo parlor outside Fort Hood’s East Gate in Killeen, Texas. The person kicks the candles, flowers and memorabilia left to remember Guillen. The footage was provided by Sick Made Tattoo Parlor, according to LULAC.

The Killeen Police Department told Appradab the department was not aware of a response to the incident.

The defacement of the memorial took place in the early morning of October 1, just hours after the day that would have been Guillen’s 21st birthday.

Part of the memorial was a mural painted by artist Cherine Mendoza in early July so that soldiers could see and remember Guillen’s face each time they left through fort’s East Gate, LULAC social media director Carlos Martinez told Appradab.

The organization is asking the public to help provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person caught on camera defacing the site, LULAC said in the Facebook post.

Guillen, 20, vanished in April and her remains were discovered June 30 in a shallow grave, according to family attorney Natalie Khawam. She was bludgeoned to death and her body was moved from the military base by her killer, said Khawam, who cited details the family learned from Army investigators.

Officials named the main suspect in Guillen’s disappearance as Spc. Aaron David Robinson. According to US Army Criminal Investigation Command, the 20-year-old suspect killed himself on July 1, after police confronted him in Killeen.

According to Khawam, Guillen’s family said she planned to file a harassment complaint against Robinson the day after she was killed, and they believe Robinson became enraged when she told him.

Previously, Fort Hood officials said they were unaware of reports of sexual harassment involving Robinson, but there is an ongoing investigation, according to the Army.

“I would ask that we focus on reminding the community that the mural is there to bring the community together and bring awareness to sexual assault, sexual harassment and its prevention,” said Analuisa Tapia, LULAC district director, in a press release.

“Our community has already been damaged by the loss of one too many soldiers. We ask that we collectively take care of the mural as we honor our service members who live in that silent combat.”

On September 16, a bipartisan bill named the “I Am Vanessa Guillen Act” was introduced by a group of US House lawmakers in memory of Guillen. According to the bill’s sponsors, the act would make sexual harassment a crime within the Uniform Code of Military Justice and move prosecution decisions of sexual assault and harassment cases out of the military chain of command.

[yongiefilms]

your answer to my ask was too sweet and it absolutely devastated me😔💗 i miss you too june!!! its been too long since we've last chat! and yess!!! but YOU should remember to do all of those things too! don't forget to take care of yourself and be happy, love <3 AND I WOULD 100% LOVE TO BE APART OF THE TAG LIST!!!!! the teaser's got me so hyped up already danggg the talent you posses! (great mind do think alike omg... taeyong enthusiasts unite!)

cherine 🥺 stop being so darn cute, it hurts my heart honestly. the utter devastation goes both ways though, love that for us. 😔 well guess what? i miss you more. for sure. though it has been quite some time since we last talked which sucks. we really need to catch up....brb gotta write that on my agenda so i don’t forget. since you said it i have no choice, but in all due seriousness i will, don’t worry!! i want you to be happy happy happy all the time too! AH YAYYYY i’m glad! 🥰 i really hope you along with everyone else likes it ahhhh! (i literally tried to make that teaser perfect because we going for mysterious factor 👀) love oh my gosh the compliments, they are back and they get me everytime. thank you from the bottom of my heart. you’re equally talented too! don’t forget it! (we must be interconnected wow our minds. calling all taeyong enthusiasts to join us now).

[eatingtheave]

Takeout from Cedars

Today I had a meeting of my unit’s Racial Equity Committee, a team that I co-lead for about a year and a half. It’s a team that is really special to me. We’ve talked about tough topics and brainstormed ways to make a difference in our organization - they are my peeps! 

One of the members suggested that we get takeout and share a meal together. I thought through where I wanted to order food from - I knew it had to be the U District. I thought about getting more Thai food, but decided on the Indian restaurant Cedars on 50th and Brooklyn. I had heard that they had shown kindness to some of the people in need in the neighborhood, so I wanted to support them with my order. As it turned out, they had an easy online order form. I ordered palak paneer and butter chicken and included a 20 percent tip (more than I usually would leave for takeout) as a show of support.

The food was ready right on time. I brought my daughter Penny, and the man working there offered her a free mango lassi and me a free chai. This act of kindness warmed my heart, and I interpreted it as thanks for my business (and perhaps the tip). Giving gifts and receiving gifts is good for the soul. It makes us feel connected to others, a feeling that we are in short supply of during the days of quarantine. 

We also went to Safeway, which is right across the street from Cedars, to pick up some grocery store sushi - Penny’s favorite. In February, Safeway began giving out pieces for their Monopoly game. Based on what we bought, we were due to receive one piece. He gave us about 10 - another small act of kindness. This was really helpful when we were home, and I needed something to occupy Penny while I was on a conference call.

I had stopped in that same Safeway on Monday morning. As I was checking out, I saw one man slap another. Ends up that the slapper was an employee who was defending himself from a shoplifter whom he’d confronted. The slappee walked out and then returned saying, to the slapper and another employee, that he was going to “kick your ass.” My checker explained that this kind of thing happens all the time. “They don’t pay us enough,” she sighed. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to deal with shoplifters and the like, alongside the anxious environment created by coronavirus shoppers. 

I opened the Seattle Times this morning to find a story on this exact topic. “Grocery-store workers are on the front line, just like health care workers,” said Sarah Cherin with UFCW 21. I couldn’t agree more.

[keepingupwithfundies]

Sooooo not gonna lie, my first thought when Whit announced she had a job was 'Kelly must be pissed!' Because I remember those rumours about Kelly not being a huge fan of her because she wasn't fundie but then Whit seemed to 'conform' to keep her in laws happy. Will Whit be able to homeschool now? But then I saw Kelly wrote a really kind message on Instagram for Whit's birthday and I figured she must be supportive. What do you think?

Here is the thing: I wasn’t following the Bateses closely, when Zach and Whitney started dating. So I never really got the full picture of Kelly not liking Whit for not being full-on fundie. From what I got to see on the show, Kelly said that each kid can make their own decisions once leaving the house. But it could clearly be said to please the audience. We know for sure, that Alyssa will home school her kids, she said so during a facebook live video. I am pretty sure, so will Cherin, since none of them know any different. It’s very likely, that Whitney is working flexible hours with her real estate job. So she might be able to home school her kids during the early years. But I doubt she can do both if she has more kids and when school starts to get tough for any of them. (Annie)

[high-dawnlord-photon-blog]

Promotions and Premonitions (warning might be long and I'm on mobile)

A letter arrives in the new Lathanderist settlement outside of the collective, named Esirew, addressed to High Dawnlord Photon D'Manche. “Due to your bravery and valor during the most recent wave of the Adventure’s Collective,improving relations between the Church of the Morninglord and the Brotherhood of the True Sun Soul, as well as proving your faith to us and the Commander of Creativity, we, the Council of Morninglords, grant you the title of High Dawnlord. A ceremony must be held at dawn the next day after receiving this letter, and the package attached will also be opened, a gift for the newest High Dawnlord. Sincerely, The Council of Morninglords.” Immediately, preparations were made. A feast was set up and getting prepared. The city’s new temple, the Tower of Morn, was decorated with beautiful gold and rosy pink banners. The finest drinks were bought. The next day, Photon made a march to the temple in his vestments , inside, he lit the ceremonial candles and the religious incense. The smell of frankincense washed over the attendees. He picked up a holy relic (a golden mace supposedly wielded by an avatar of Lathander himself, which had actually been Photon’s many-greats- grandfather) and made his march down the center aisle. When he reached the end of the aisle he went up the serpentine staircase to the rooftop. Once there, he kneeled, mace in hand, and prayed. He continued this until the dawn sun started shining on his face. The package was opened at this time, and a solid light shield was removed. The holy symbol of Lathander adorns it. This relic was delivered to the Council by a deva named Van Drax. It was only to be opened by Photon, and was made specifically for him. (It’s a +3 AC shield that sends a beam of holy light that deals 2d8 radiant damage to undead that can be seen in a range of 120 ft. and 2d4 radiant damage to other creatures within 60 feet. Named the Shield of the Morninglord.) The ceremony was finished with the shield being raised to the sky, and said a thanks to his god. A party was held afterwards that lasted until dusk. That night, Photon heard someone talking to him. Not unusual. Lathander communicates with him all the time. But this time it was different. “Hello, Bor Cherin. I am Van Drax, deva, messenger of Lathander, I am your guide an guardian. And, as your guide, I must inform you of this immediately. The leader of the Old Brotherhood was just assassinated. I need you to come visit me in the morning. I will be waiting at the doors of the temple. I will see you then.” “… That was weird” was his last thought before falling asleep. That night he was plagued with nightmares of fires burning down Esirew, demons ripping apart his squad forcing him to watch, and his holy symbol getting smashed and stepped on. He woke up crying and ran to the temple. He tripped on something on the way there, and fell into a puddle. But that was no puddle. He stood up and was in Elysium. There stood a male deva, around Photon’s height,a very heavy build, with white lines running against his purple skin, and irises the color of gold. Features beautiful and sharp but soft as well. His wings were like white clouds, and hair to match. The deva immediately hugged Photon. “I’m glad I finally get to meet you. I’ve been waiting for, what, 20 years.” “It’s nice to meet you as well, Van Drax. If I had known you were waiting I would of came sooner.” “Oh it’s alright Bor. You didn’t know I even existed. Anyways, other than the fact that I wanted to finally meet you, I need to discuss with you what is happening.” “Yes of course. Please.” “Alright. So then leader of the old brotherhood was assassinated. The evidence that has been provided to us point directly to the church for some reason. The dagger that was found at the scene is typically used for sacrifices to help summon avatars that protect some of our higher ranking officials, which you will soon get. Anyways, now all of us are getting blamed. And they have declared war. Which means our allies also have declared war on them, which means the new brotherhood, the church of Chauntea, the Ladies of Light, and the anti-demons of the south, along with half of Elysium. But the old brotherhood’s allies have declared war on us as well. This means the Conquerors of Hell, the Order of Martos, and oddly enough they have managed to ally themselves with your age old enemy, the King of Seven.” “Which explains the dreams that I had last night.” “Yes. And I know what dreams you had last night because I had the same ones, with some different faces and places. I fear the king is getting stronger these days, but has been awfully quite as of late.” “Yes he has.” Suddenly there was a bang. “What was that?” Asks Photon. “It sounded like a cannon being fired?” The two exited the building they were in and saw that troops were being tallied on the two side of a wall. “Has that always been there?” Asks Photon. “No? I was just there half an hour ago.” Suddenly a booming voice was heard. “All residents and civilians, please evacuate immediately. We are under attack. Do not panic.” “Lets head to the wall.” Van Drax takes Photon by the hand and pulls him to the wall. They head to the top of it and in the other side a corrupted place. The buildings, not there normal glowing and beautiful golden color, are now an ashy and black space. A… demon? Fallen? Something unusual flys at them, teeth bared like an angry wolf. “Ahh!” Van Drax jumps and opens a portal, sending them to an abandoned temple of Lathander. “What was that!!!” “I have no idea?!” A voice in both of their heads begins to speak. Lathander. “That is what happens when corruption and anger mix with a celestial. A wall has been built for containment but until the situation is resolved, I want you to stay with Bor in Esirew. I need the two of you to figure out a solution to our issue.” “Alright, let’s get cracking then.”