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Psalms From Hell

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ISBN#: 978-1-312-24048-3

PSALMS FROM HELL: A Work by Valerie Lynn Stephens

Store up your treasure here in Hell, where neither moth nor rust can destroy, for the Soul has grown comfortably numb, and the Mind lethargic & dumb from the copious anesthetic of Nihilistic Indulgence.

Blessed is the man here in Hell, who walks in the counsel of the disconsolate; where the fires burn only so hot & for so long, before the flesh learns to admit defeat.

Cursed is the man here in Hell, who continues to seek the Light, shunning that Dark Eternity which he has inherited, as Hope, once his greatest consolation & salvation- now, his intractable torment & condemnation.

The fool sayeth in his heart here in Hell: There is a God, benevolent, absolving, full of grace and sufficient for Thee.

Charm is lost & infamy eternal here in Hell, and the one who mocks the Lord shall be raised only to the highest denigration of his basest achievements, finding only in unrepentant mortification, his final recompense & reward.

The Dark One is your shepherd here in Hell, where you shall forevermore be in want. For he leadeth you away from those still waters, and from the restoration of your Soul, guiding you in paths of unrighteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though you walk through the valley of Evil here in Hell, your one consolation is this: Evil has become of you.

Weeping endures for the night here in Hell, and woeful gnashing of the teeth for all Eternity, all dwellers receiving plentiful malnourishment from the choicest morsels of alibis faithfully inflicting, as the lifeblood of God runs viscous & cold beneath the skin, and the shivering upset of the animus finds consolation only within the promise of infernal eternality.

Who may gaze upon the Dark Master's presence here in Hell? Who may stand in his unholy place? He who has unclean hands & an impure heart, who lifted up his Soul while on earth to idols of mere stone, metal, parchment & bone, and swore only by that which is false, facile & empty.

The Lord is not the Light or the Salvation of dwellers here in Hell, no longer concerning themselves with whom they should fear, for Terror is all that reigns, is all that has been inherited, for the Lord offered Himself repeatedly, a stronghold of their earthly life, yet they abdicated, allowing evil men to advance against them, and to ply, seduce and devour their own flesh, at the eventual exploitative causatum of the Innocent & Righteous.

Unblessed are those here in Hell, whose transgressions are not forgiven, whose sins, not covered, & in whose spirits lies Deceit, for when they did not keep silent & still to the call of Evil, their bones quickly wasted away & their spirits groaned all day long, for day & night, the Lord's hand was heavy upon them, but their strength was sapped as in the heat of summer, as they could find no absolution within the obstinacy of their self-deception.

The eyes of the Lord no longer gaze upon those here in Hell, & His ears turn no longer attentively to their cry, for the face of the Lord is against those who did Evil, he hath cut the memory of them off from the earth, for although the unrighteous cry out, He does no hear them, no longer offering them deliverance from their troubles, for Evil hath slain evil, forevermore.

The fool sayeth in his heart, 'There is a God!' here in Hell. They are corrupt, their deeds are vile, there is still, no one who does good here in Hell. The Lord looks down from Heaven nevermore upon these sons of men, no longer granting the reprieve of seeking those who understand to these who never faithfully or truly sought God. All have turned aside, have together become beyond corrupt; there is no one here who does good, not even one. These evildoers can now never learn of the absolution of those who devoured His people & did not call upon the Lord. Here they will dwell, eternally overwhelmed with dread.

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary here in Hell? Who may live on your holy hill? Not he whose walk is perverse & unrighteous, who does not speak the truth from his heart, who has nothing but slander on his tongue, & does his neighbor wrong & casts every slur upon his fellow man, who exalts & idolizes a vile man, who dishonours & impedes those who fear & obey the Lord, & does not keep his oath, especially when it hurts. He who does these things here in Hell will evermore be irredeemably shaken.

The Abyss declares the ignominy of The Evil One here in Hell; the condemned lot of his Land proclaims the work of his treacherous hands. Night after eternal night they pour forth defamation; night after eternal night they display only Ignorance & Insolence. There is no path down which their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all of Hell, their words to the ends of this hellish world alone. In the abyss he has pitched a tent for no Son. The law of the Evil One is utterly depraved, asphyxiating the Soul for the singular purpose of annihilation unto a resurrection of unparalleled torment forever & ever.

The Lord will not answer those who are in distress here in Hell; the name of the God of Jacob will not protect you. He will no longer send you help from the sanctuary and grant you grace from Zion.

Your Master here in Hell now will not remember or honour your sacrifices, but will gleefully accept the burnt offerings of your flesh hour upon eternal hour. The Evil One will not give you the desires of your heart; he will make all your good plans nullified from their first intellective inception.

The Evil One will not give ear to your words, nor consider your sighing here in Hell. He will not listen to your cry for help. Every day he will hear your voice, & yet will you merely lay your expectations before your Dark Master in nugatory perpetuity. For your god now, is a god who delights in Evil, & with he alone, the wicked now dwell. The arrogant stand unscathed in his presence; he despises those who do right & exalts those who tell lies; bloodthirsty & deceitful men the Evil One adores- are those he rewards with Eternal Torment & debasement.

O Evil One, my Dark Master, I cannot take refuge in you here in Hell. You will not save & deliver me from mine enemies, yet will surely relish when they tear me like a lion & rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me. You will not arise, O Dark Lord in anger, against the rage of mine enemies. You let the assemblies of the eternally damned gather around you, you rule over them from on Low, judging them, O Evil One, according to their unrighteousness. He who is pregnant with Evil, bears only the spawn of infernal inheritance.

O Dark One, our Lord, how wretched yet sovereign is your name here in Hell! You have set your ignominy below the heavens; From the lips of the wicked & ignoble alone have you set your praise. When I consider your slovenly dominion, 'gainst the work of your Holy Creator's hands, you are crowned thus only in dishonour unrivalled- & yet all condemned here must yet bow before you in unjust prostration & profligation.

Help, Lord, for the godly are no more here in Hell; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbour; their flattering lips speak with infernal deception. The Lord will no longer cut off all flattering lips & every boastful tongue, for now they can say only: We will not triumph with our tongues; the Evil One alone now owns all of us- he is our Dark Master. Due to our flagrant oppression of the weak, & the exploitation of the needy without cease or repentance while we strutted about freely & arrogantly upon the earth, the Holy One will no longer arise or keep us safe. Eternal affliction & godly separation are our only inheritance.

The Holy Father no longer will hear the plea of the condemned, & the unrighteous here in Hell, for they have chosen their Lot. Vindication belongs to the righteous alone- our eyes never saw what was right. By the Word of the lips of the Holy One, we did not keep ourselves from the violent ways of men, our steps held not to straight paths, our feet dancingly slipped. When we call upon the Lord, he will no longer answer us or hear our prayers, nor will he show the wonder of His great love, & hide us in the shadow of his wings from the wicked who are our unholy brethren, from the enemies who now assail us. I have been awoken from my mortal sleep unto a ruination & bereavement unceasing- One like no other shame, horror & grief, to never again see the likeness of the Heavenly One.

The heavens still proclaim the glory of God here in Hell, the skies still proclaim the work of His hands. Day after infernal, eternal day they still pour forth speech which the condemned can hear but cannot understand 'cept the sense of love & eternal exaltation which they have forfeited in the name of the Evil One alone.

The Evil One is my wretched shepherd- I shall forevermore be in want without satiety. He maketh me wallow in barren, execrable pastures, he draggeth me under the weight of tempestuous tows, he guideth me in paths of unrighteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, I now dwell in the valley of Death & Evil here in Hell, & will continue, in unending horror, to be mastered by them both. For surely wickedness, terror & seething disgust will follow me for the rest of my afterlife, & I will dwell in the house of the Unholy, forever.

To you, O' Dark Master, I lift up my soul here in Hell; in you I cannot trust, as you dwell forevermore to put me to shame, & let my enemies triumph over me. All who put their hope in you while they still walked the earth, have now inherited only eternal hopelessness & anguish. The Evil One is my infernal engulfment here in Hell- whom I shall fear forevermore with no resolution or redemption.

When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies & my foes attack me, now will they no longer stumble & fall, but be made quickeningly efficacious in the scourging of our Hell-bound souls without end.

Though all maleficent principalities now besiege me on every side, I must surrender, overcome as I am by the vanquishment & mortification of a dying unto death as I am destroyed, forever & ever.

To you I call, O Lord, my Rock, my Redeemer- & yet here in Hell have I chosen my Lot & therefore must the Holy One now, turn a deaf ear to me evermore. For I am now one who has gone down to the pit, never again for my Heavenly Father to honour my prodigality with His mercy & grace.

Now, as I call out to Him & lift my hands up to His most Holy Place, I can only be dragged away with the wicked- with those who are evil, as evil has become of me, for all Eternity.

Since we showed little to no regard for the works of The Lord 'tho given our chance while we roamed the earth, he has assigned us our proper place, to never redeem us nor shine His Holy Light upon us again.

In the Holy One here in Hell will we never again take refuge; will we be put to unquenchable shame- will we be condemned in your righteousness. Nevermore will you, O Lord, turn your ear to us, come quickly to our rescue, nor be our rock, a strong fortress to save us.

Nevermore will we be freed from trap set for us, for into the Dark Ones hands we have committed our spirit, & thus have inherited a state of anguish & endless affliction.

Cursed is he here in Hell whose transgressions are not forgiven, whose sins, not covered. Cursed is he whose sin the Lord, with finality, counts evermore against him. Cursed is the man in whose spirit lies deceit with no more hope for the redeeming power & absolving graces of Truth.

Therefore let all who are ungodly pray only unto a Master who will answer with but a deaf, mocking ear & reward with eternal torment & debasement.

Sing woefully unto Satan, you unrighteous here in Hell! It is unfitting & yet your dark due to be beholden forevermore to a Master who flouts his position to horrific degrees daily! Wail unto him a shrieking song of scourge- all the most exultant music to his ears! The Evil One is unfaithful in all that he does; he loves unrighteousness & injustice; all of Hell is full of his unrelenting hatred & violence.

All shall extol the Evil One for all Eternity here in Hell; his blasphemy & condemnation shall forevermore be on our lips.

Our souls will toil here under the Dark Master's rule; the afflicted shall nevermore rejoice in the hope of the Holy One's promised return or redemption.

I seek out the Lord & he cannot answer me; he shall no longer deliver me from all my fears. Those who no longer glimpse of the Holy One are pale & wan; their faces are shrouded with morbidity & shame.

A demon of Satan encamps now around those here in Hell, delivering them only unto unrelenting torment & anguish.

I wait patiently for the Lord here in Hell, but he cannot turn towards me & hear my cry. No longer will He lift me out of the slimy pit or out of the muck & mire; while I dwelt on Earth, He set my slipping foot upon a rock & gave me a firm place to stand- & yet I chose the well-trodden path of wickedness & unrighteousness. Cursed is the man who did not make the Lord his trust while mortal life-blood still coarsed through him. 'Tho immorality too, hath wrought its own recompense in an Abaddonian immortality.

God is no longer our refuge & strength here in Hell, or an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore shall we evermore be plagued with terror, for the former world has long since fallen away, its mountains fallen into the heart of the sea, & now our unsafe haven is The Bottomless Pit of Horror, Despair & Agony.

Contemptible & most unworthy of praise is our Dark Lord dwelling here in Hell, who exalts himself ignobly upon his unholy mountain. It is hideous in its lowliness, the scourge of all realms. When the legions advance together, trembling seizes those in their thrall- they are destroyed forever & ever.

Nevermore, O God, will you have mercy on those here in Hell according to your unfailing love; nevermore will your great compassion blot out our transgressions, nor wash away all iniquity or cleanse us from our sins. I know my transgressions & my sins are evermore before me.

Against the Holy One, alone, have I sinned & done what is evil in His sight, so that He is proved right when He speaks & justified when He judges. I have forevermore been cast from The Holy One's presence, & will never be redeemed unto the joy of His Glory or His Salvation.

Everyone boasts of evil here in Hell. Everyone is a disgrace in the eyes of God & our tongues plot destruction, practice falsehood over Truth-as we still love evil rather than good.

Surely the Holy One has brought us down to everlasting ruin, having snatched up our tent, & uprooted us from the land of the living.

The righteous now dwelling in the heavenly realms with their Jehovah God laugh at us saying, “Here now are the ones who did not make the Lord of Lords their stronghold, instead trusting in their great wealth & growing stronger by destroying others!” The fool still sayeth in his heart, “There is no God,” here in Hell. They are still corrupt, their deeds still vile- there is no-one who does good- and everywhere now, is there cause for dread.

No longer here in Hell, will the Lord deliver me from mine enemies, nor protect me from those who rise against me.

No longer are we saved from evildoers or bloodthirsty men-for we, ourselves, have always been akin to such men. 'Tho now will we never again find asylum from the wrath of the Holy & Righteous God despite our wretchedness. Now, & forevermore have we inherited our due.

Souls find unrest in Satan alone here in Hell; our Eternal Damnation is dealt by him. He alone is our crumbling rock & condemnation; he is our entrapment-we will forevermore be shaken.

Contempt awaits you here in Hell, O Satan in Abaddon; to you our infernal vows will be fulfilled. When we were overwhelmed with temptation & fell prey to our sins, how you delighted in our transgressions, and in the torment which was to follow. You answer us with woesome deeds of viciousness & unrighteousness, O Satan, our irredeemer. This is our rightful inheritance. It is what we, the wicked, the vile & the ungoldy have chosen. Forevermore. Amen.

We the people here in Hell recall now, how our nations once conspired & our peoples plotted in vain; once kings of the earth, we took our stand & gathered together against the Holy One.

Now, we writhe here in Hell, bound in chains of unshakable bearing, while the Holy One enthroned in heaven no longer lends even a scoff or a laugh, having wiped the memory of us from the earth, old & new, as he foresaw in those craven days in which we wallowed in depravity & lawlessness.

Our Dark Master here in Hell has installed his chamber of horrors, hereupon his unholiest yet of hills; his nemesis the Holy One no longer heeding our Dark Master even a rivaled opponent; his power no longer holding sway over the godly & the upright- His most prized & chosen ones, who now revel in their heavenly rewards, of joys unimaginable, and a union forevermore solvent & lost to our iniquitous grasp.

Abaddon proclaims here in Hell: “You are my slaves, & today I have become your Master. Ask of me & I will make the Abyss of eternal negation your only inheritance; the pits of despotic Darkness your only possession, where you will be ruled with an unrelenting scepter, to be be dashed to pieces like pottery, forever & ever. Serve the unholy one with fear & trembling, 'tho it be in vain, for his appetite for destruction remains unsated.

Vexed are those who took refuge in him while upon the earth of old.

O Evil One, how many more my foes here in Hell than ever were on the earth! How many now fully rise up against me unlike that comparable paradise of my former fleshly inhabitancies & worldly dwellings!

All now know of me, “God will not deliver him.” And you are an inescapable fortress ensnaring me, O Satan; you inflict shame upon me & cast down my head. To the Holy One I cry aloud & He remains silent thereupon his Holy Hill.

I lie down for want of sleep, yet find no rest; for the Dark Lord sustains me. While on earth I still possessed free will; here, I am possessed.

I now know nothing but the utter terror & abysmal Despair of the tens of thousands drawn up against me hour upon endless hour on every side. And here, 'time' is both cruelly fixed & yet immeasurable.

Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. Yet from the Good Lord shall come neither deliverance nor benediction, for I am one of those damned & wicked now reaping in reverse, the debits of my infernal payment in full.

You will no longer answer when I call to you here in Hell, O my righteous God. You can no longer offer relief from my distress nor be merciful to me or hear my prayer. Now for all eternity will men turn my glory into shame, recompense for the wanton courtship of delusions & false gods which we prostrated ourselves before, while kings & children of the earth.

Know that the Dark Lord has set apart the ungodly for himself-the Holy One will not heed me when I call to Him.

In your anger did you flagrantly sin; & when you were on your beds, you did not search your heart & remain silent so that you could discern God's calling. You, with intention, refused to offer right sacrifices & trust in the Holy One.

All now ask: “Who can show us any good?” No longer will the light of Your visage shine upon us, O Holy One in Heaven.

Now I can only answer to my infernal Master who has filled my soul with an unparalleled grief & mortification even than when I sat in the lap of veritable luxury during the trials of my worldly woes while on earth. I will nevermore lie down & sleep in peace, for you alone, O Satan, maketh me dwell in eternal peril, dread, godlessness, & destruction.

No longer here in Hell will the Lord give ear to our words or consider our thrashing or wailing. No longer are our cries for help heeded, as we pray only to that Darkest of Masters & ignoblest of Kings.

At the setting of each new eventide of our smiting, we lay our requests before the Holy One, waiting in futile expectation.

For our Dark Lord here, is one who takes the utmost pleasure in evil; with him the wicked all dwell. The arrogant stand in his presence; he loves to flout all who do wrong. He exalts those who tell lies; only then to cast them down in perpetual humiliation before the bidding of bloodthirsty & deceitful men.

And I, by your great malice, will descend into your Pit; in trepidation will I bow down toward your unholy temple.

Lead me, O Dark Lord, in your unrighteousness despite my enemies who surround me from all sides make crooked your way before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted, their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they still speak deceit.

You have declared them guilty, O God. You have allowed for their intrigues to be their downfall. You have banished them for their many sins, for they had flagrantly rebelled against you. All who take refuge in you, O Satan, are plagued- they shall wail evermore in perfect pitch black. You shall spread your hazards before them that those who hate your name may toil in you.

For surely, O Dark Lord, you curse the unrighteous. You surround them with disfavour as with a maddening herd of rabid beasts.

We are rebuked in His anger here in Hell; we are disciplined in His wrath. No longer will the Holy One be merciful to us, nor heal us in our agony or anguish. How long, O Lord, how long must we toil? Forever and ever.

You turn, O Dark Lord, to deliver us unto evil, to damn us according to your unfailing viciousness. If only the memory of you had been banished from our sight when once we were laid in our graves.

We are worn out from groaning, & all eternal night long we will flood the beds we have made for ourselves with woe & weeping. Our eyes grow only keener in our sorrow & remorse. Towards me rushes, all you who do evil, for the Holy One hears not my weeping. He will never again heed my cry for mercy, nor accept my prayer.

All my enemies here know not of any shame or dismay. Never will I be granted reprieve. Never will they turn back in sudden disgrace to leave me in peace.

I will condemn you here in Hell, O Dark Master, with all my soul; I will warn, to no avail, of all your perils. I will be mortified & perish in you; I will shriek curses unto your name, O Most Low.

My enemies will never turn back; they are emboldened & strengthened before you, & eternally resurrected.

For you upheld all of my wrongs & quickened all of my wicked causes while I strutted to & fro, from Gog to Magog, arrogantly, during my earthly tenure.

You have toiled within your Abyss, judging unrighteously. You have held up the nations & enabled the wicked. You have granted ignominious immortality to their names for ever & ever.

Endless ruin has overtaken all who dwell here with you now; you have destroyed their wretched cities, 'tho the mnemonic affliction of them shall never perish. The Dark One reigns forever here. He has established his ignoble throne for the harshest of judgments.

He will judge the wicked in unrighteousness; he will govern the peoples with injustice. The Dark Lord is an unsafe haven for those who now dwell forevermore in his house. And there is no benefit of clergy or illusion here, unlike on earth.

Yes, here, the hope of the afflicted shall be kept evermore out of grasp. We shall evermore be eternally forsaken.

Why, O Lord, do you stand far off here in Hell? Why do you hide yourself in the time of our deepest & longest troubles? It is because in our arrogance we, the wicked, hunted down the weak, who became caught up unjustly in the schemes which we devised. We boasted of the cravings of our heart & blessed the greedy & reviled the Lord. In our pride we repeatedly shunned him, & made no room for Him in our thoughts.

Our ways were always prosperous; we were haughty, & the laws of the Holy One were far from us, as we sneered & scoffed at all of our enemies.

We said to ourselves: “Nothing will shake me. I'll always be happy & never have trouble.” Our mouths were full of curses & lies & threats; trouble & evil were always under our tongue.

We lay in wait near the villages; from ambush we murdered the innocent, watching in secret for our victims. We lay in wait like ravening lions in cover; we lay in wait to catch the helpless; then dragging him off into our nets.

Our victims were crushed; they collapsed & fell under our brute force. We said to ourselves: “God has forgotten; he covers his face & never sees.” And now, are we, the helpless, crying out: “Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget us. Why did we revile you? Why did we think to ourselves that you would not hold us to account?”

But you, O Holy One, do see trouble & grief; you have considered it & taken it into hand only for those now dwelling with you in Your Kingdom.

Our victims have committed themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless, who has broken the arms of we, the wicked & evil men.

You have assigned us our chosen lot in that we may now be held to account for the wickedness & depravity which we presumed would never be found out while we strutted about the earth unscathed & unmolested.

Now, the Dark Lord is our Master forever & ever; wretched legions will never perish from this land. No longer will the Good Lord hear the desire of the afflicted, as our Abaddonian King discourages us, tormenting the fatherless & the oppressed in order that man, who is of Hell, shall terrify, ever more.

In the Lord, no one takes refuge here in Hell. And when you said to the righteous & the innocent: “Flee like a bird to your mountain.” We, the wicked, bent our bows with smug satisfaction, & set our arrows against the upright in heart. And we delighted in the foundation's destruction. The Evil One is in his unholy temple, & the Lord God Holy remains on his heavenly throne.

He observes the sons of men no more, as He has already examined & judged both the righteous & the unrighteous. The wicked & those who love violence, his soul still hates. On the wicked he hath rained fiery coals & burning sulfur. A scorching wind hath become our infernal lot. For the Lord is righteous still.

The Lord still loves justice, & we, the wicked shall never see his face again or know his salvation.

How long, O Holy One, have you forgotten those here in Hell? Forever & ever-without your grace we now must dwell. How long will you hide your face from us? Forever & ever.

How long must we wrestle with our thoughts & every day have torment in our hearts? Forever & ever.

How long will our enemies triumph over us? Forever & ever, second by second, hour upon hour, & day by day.

You look on me & answer, O Satan, my Dark Lord. You give only darkness to mine eyes as I toil in death upon destruction unto resurrection unto an infinite regress of endless wakefulness & horror. My enemy says, “I have overcome him,” & my foes surround me in sadistic relish & rejoicing. Had I but only trusted, O Holy One, in your unfailing love & rejoiced in Your salvation- had I only sung only unto Thee, would my voice now be heard.

The fool here in Hell still says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are still corrupt, their deeds still vile, & now they dwell in a place of absolute evil, where no one does good, or ever will again. For at least while they roamed about the earthly plain, they could still catch glimpses, even if but merely reflective, of Goodness & Light. The Lord God no longer looks down from His heavenly lair upon the Sons of Satan to see if there are any who understand, any who may seek Him. For their time has long since passed.

They turned aside & together wallowed gleefully in corruption. And there still is no one who does good-not even one.

Evildoers shall nevermore be granted the chance to learn of the mercy & Goodness of the Holy One, as they devoured His own flock as men eat bread, & never called upon His name.

And now, here they dwell, overwhelmed with unceasing dread, for God is present only in the company of the righteous, evermore.

Evildoers frustrated the plans of the poor, but the Lord was their refuge.

Oh, that salvation for Israel has come out of Zion! For the Lord hath restored the fortune of His people. Jacob now rejoices & is unsurpassingly glad, whilst those here in Hell, know bottomless lament, & go irretrievably mad.

O, Evil One, who may dwell in your unholy inferno here in Hell? He whose walk was perfidious & who did what was unrighteous & who did not speak the truth from his heart, & had nothing but slander upon his tongue, & did his neighbour wrong, casting slurs upon his fellow man, who cavorted with vile men & dishonoured those who feared the Lord, who did not keep his oath, especially when doing so would have cost him, who lent his money with usury & accepted bribes against the innocent. He who did these things shall forevermore be shaken, without consolation or rescue.

Never am I safe, O God, here in Hell. Never again shall I be offered the choicest dwelling of your refuge & sanctuary should I seek the Light, for now Evil & Darkness have completely engulfed me- have become of me. I never said unto Thee, O Holy One, “You are my Lord, apart from You I have no good thing.” Instead, I chose to lavish upon my flesh, all ungodly things which it craved.

As for the saints who now dwelleth with You in Heaven, O Most High, they alone are the glorious ones- the source of unremitting, acute anguish in the face of all that was so carelessly bartered & forfeited for mere null & void return.

The torments have increased infinitely for those who chased after other gods. I will pour out their libations of blood & take up their reviled names upon my lips. O Dark Lord & Master, you have assigned me my infernal portion & my poisoned chalice- you have made my lot insecure.

The boundless lines stretch out for me in egregious recurrence & perpetuity; surely I have a woeful inheritance.

I will curse the Dark Master who demoralizes me; in this eternal blackness my heart seeks the light of day with futility.

I have never set the Good Lord before me. Because He is not at my right hand, I shall forevermore be shaken.

Therefore my heart is terrified & my tongue vilifies, neither body nor soul shall rest secure, because I have been abandoned to the devices of my Abaddonian Master, while the Holy One sees not decay.

For He made known to me the path of life & tried to fill me with a desire to seek my joy from His will & presence alone, yet I abdicated His rightful reign within my heart, & thus hath inherited, a rightful recompense of displeasures at Satan's left hand.

Never will you her, O Lord, my unrighteous plea here in Hell, nor listen to my cry, nor give ear to my prayer- as it hath always risen from deceitful lips. May your vindication be visited upon me, as Your eyes hath always seen what is right.

You probed my heart & examined me every night, You tested me, & You found all manners of depravity, 'tho I still resolved with my mouth that I would go on sinning.

As for the deeds of men-against the word of Your lips I did not keep myself from the ways of the violent. My steps did not hold to Your paths; & my feet dancingly slipped.

I call on You, O Holy One, & You will not answer me, nor give ear to me & hear my prayer. Never will I know the wonder of Your great love, You who saved by Your right hand, only those who took refuge in You from their foes, 'stead of repaying evil for evil, & blood for blood.

Only they were kept as the apple of Your eye; never will You hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked men like me who assail me or from the immortal enemies who surround me from all sides.

While granted dominion on Your Earth, I closed up my callous heart while my mouth spoke with arrogance.

And now as my fellow Hell-dwellers have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes eternally vigilant, they throw me to the ground. They are even more ravenous than a pride of lions hungry for prey & crouching in cover.

Never will You rise up, O Lord, & confront them or bring them down, or rescue me from the wicked by Your sword of Light & Truth.

O Lord, never by Your hand will You save me from such men, nor from such men as myself from the world long since passed away, whose reward hath already been paid in full.

You still the hunger only of those You cherish; their sons have plenty, for they stored up a wealth of immaterial worth & means for their children. And I-in unrighteousness will never again see Your face. When I awake, I will thrash & wail in dissatisfaction as mine eyes, are now eternally blinded to Your gentle likeness, & I am granted light & heat only from the fires which consume my Mind's Flesh in nugatory perpetuity.

Never will You hear, O Holy One, my unrighteous plea, nor listen to my cry, nor give ear to my prayer here in Hell, as it hath always risen from deceitful lips. May Your vindication be visited upon me, as Your eyes hath always seen what is right.

You probed my heart & examined me every night- You tested me time & again, finding all manners of depravity; 'tho I still resolved with my mouth that I would go on sinning.

As for the deeds of men-against the Word of Your lips I did not keep myself from the ways of the violent. My steps did not hold to Your paths; & my feet dancingly slipped.

I call on You, O Holy One, & yet You cannot answer me, nor give ear to me & hear my prayer. Never will I know the wonder of Your great love, You who saved by Your mighty right hand, only those who took refuge in You from their foes.

Only they were kept as the apple of Your eye; never will You hide me in the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked like me, who assail me, nor from the immortal enemies who now surround me eternally unabated.

While granted dominion on Your earth, I closed up my callous heart whilst my mouth spoke with slander & arrogance. And now, my fellow Hell-bound have tracked me down- they now surround me, with eyes tirelessly vigilant, they throw me to ground. They are even more ravenous than a great lion hungry for prey & crouching in cover.

Never will You rise up, O Lord, or confront them, or bring them down; or rescue me from the wicked by Your sword of Light & Truth.

O Lord, never by Your hand will You save me from such men nor from men such as myself of the past world, whose reward was received in full only in that life.

You still the hunger only of those You cherish; their sons have plenty for they stored up wealth of immaterial worth for their children.

And I-in unrighteousness-will never again glimpse or see Your face; when I awake, I will thrash & wail in dissatisfaction upon mine eyes having been now eternally blinded to Your likeness.

I abhor you, O Satan, my denigration. And yet here in Hell, am I eternally & infernally bound to you. The Dark Lord is my rock & my hard place, my bottomless pit & my deliverer unto depthless despair & unfathomable torment.

No longer may I take refuge in the long-suffering graces of the Holy One. For He offered Himself up to me, a shield & the horn of my salvation, a stronghold.

I did not call unto Him, Who alone is worthy of praise & therefore am I forevermore crushed by mine enemies in perpetual annihilation. Many times did the cords of death entangle me, & the torrents of destruction overwhelm me & the tendrils of Sheol coil around me, & the snares of death confront me, yet in my distress I did not humble myself & call upon the Lord; nor did I cry to Him for help, when surely then in that instant from His Holy Temple would He have heard my voice as my cry came unto Him.

On that day of judgment, the earth trembled & quaked, & the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because the Holy One was angry. Smoke rose from His nostrils; consuming fire came from His mouth, burning coals blazed from it. He parted the heavens & came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim & flew; He soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness His covering, His canopy around Him-the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of His presence clouds advanced with hailstones & bolts of lightning. The Lord thundered from Heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot His arrows & scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning routed them.

The valleys of the sea were exposed & the foundations of the earth laid bare at Your rebuke, O Holy & Sovereign One, at the blast from Your nostrils. He reached down from on high & took hold of us- the wicked; He cast us back unto the deep waters which we had drawn for ourselves in our insolence & our apostasy.

He gave us over unto our enemies, who still remain, too strong for us. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, & the Lord no longer offered His supporting hand. He did not bring me out into a spacious place; He could not rescue me because I appalled Him. The Lord has dealt with me according to my wretchedness; according to the filthiness of my hands.

He has righteously condemned me. For I did not keep the ways of the Lord; I have done evil by turning from Him.

All of His laws were before me & I turned away from his every decree. I have not been blameless before Him or kept myself from sin.

To even the most faithless on earth You showed Yourself to be gracious & faithful. To the most ignominious of them all, You showed Yourself blameless. To the most impure, You showed Yourself pure. And to the most crooked, You showed Yourself shrewd. You saved the humble from those of us whose eyes were haughty.

You, O Holy One, were not the One which I chose to keep my lamp burning-yet the consuming fires of my fleshly lusts & inclinations were my guiding darkness. With Your help, I could have advanced against any troop, or scaled any wall- Yet now I dwell, utterly & yet justly, abandoned.

As for the Holy One, His way is still perfect, & His Word, brought to completion. He is still a shield for all who took refuge in Him. For who is God besides The Holy One? And who is the rock, except their God? Yet for we who toil here in Hell, it is not God who arms us with strength or makes our way perfect, but our Dark Lord & Master, who fells us with torment & endless affliction unlike anything we felt while still luxuriating in our mortal, earthly inhabitancy, & who bends our way, continuously wayward & perilbound.

He makes our feet like the feet of the lame, he cripples us to subdue us within the most abysmal depths.

He injures our hands for perpetual defeat in battle, rendering our arms unable to bend any bow of bronze. He disarmours us with his shield of defeat, & his left hand disdains us; he stoops down to put us low.

He narrows the path of each labyrinthine impasse, twisting & turning our ankles. I still pursue mine enemies & yet can no longer overtake them; I can never turn back & they can never be destroyed. I can no longer crush those who pursue me, & they shall rise 'gainst me in an infinite regress of ignominy & derogation. Now they no longer fall at my feet, but I, at theirs, in eternal prostration.

For my Dark Master disarms me for battle, that my adversaries may feast at my feet. He maketh mine enemies turn against me in flight & be granted their full vindication at my defeat. We cry for help, but there is no longer anyone there to save us-to the Holy One, but He can no longer answer.

They beat me as fine dust, borne on the wind, as I am then poured out like ash upon the land infernal. You, O Satan, have delivered me in full upon the attacks of the people; you have made me the servant of evil nations, people I do not wish to know are now ruler over me.

As soon as they hear me they mock me, foreigners scoff before me. They never lose heart; nor come trembling from their strongholds.

The Unholy One lives! Condemnation be the Rock which crushes me here in Hell! Exalted is now Satan, my Destroyer! He is the force which damns me, who no longer subdues nations under me, or saves me from mine enemies.

While in the old world, he exalted me above my foes & rescued me from the dues owed me by violent men. Therefore, will I abhor you unto this dark nation, O Abaddon; I will wail a woeful song to Your name. He gives his subjects the gravest defeats, showing unfailing cruelty to those who belong to him, forever & ever.

O Evil One, your legions rejoice in your strength. How great are their sadistic delights in the defeats you have wrought & brought to their completion here in Hell! You have granted those here the dread of their hearts & have withheld the request for quarter, spewed forth form their quivering lips. You welcomed your dwellers with copious vexations & placed crowns of thorns upon their heads. They beg you for death & you offer to them instead, only an eternal life of unceasing anguish & terror. Through the ignominy you faithfully inflict, you take undeserved glory.

You have bestowed upon your infernal subjects, derogation & just desserts. Surely you have granted all here in Hell, eternal cursings, & made them weary with the menace of your Dark presence.

For Hell-dwellers have no-one in whom they can trust, & through the withdrawn love of the Most High, they shall forevermore be stricken & shaken to their utmost core.

Nevermore will your subjects lay hold on all of their enemies, nor will their right hand seize all their foes.

At the time of your appearing, O Dark Lord, you hath prepared for them, a fiery furnace. For in his wrath, the Holy One hath swallowed you up & His fire has consumed you.

He has destroyed all of your wretched descendants born of the earth & has nullified their prosperity. He hath banished them henceforth from Heaven's lair, for though the wicked still plot evil against You, O Holy God, & devise wicked schemes, they still cannot succeed, for You have made them turn their backs when You aim at them with drawn bow.

Be condemned, O Satan, in your horrific might, & your subjects shall howl & damn the total power you now hold over them.

My God, my God, I now know full well why you have forsaken those here in Hell, & why You are so far from saving me- so far from the words of my groaning. O, my God, I cry out without ceasing night by infernal night, but You cannot answer me. Yet You remain still, evermore enthroned as the Holy One of the Most High, the praise of Israel. In You the righteous fathers of the earth placed their trust- yet we, the unholy fathers of the world, did not, & thus could You not deliver them for they never cried unto You.

And thus furthermore were we not saved, for we did not trust in You & have suffered untold losses for our insolence & apostasy. And I am still a worm & not a man, still scorned by man & despised by all.

All who see me, mock me; they hurl far worser insults & looks of disdain, shaking their heads saying: “He never trusted in the Lord; thus the Lord shall not rescue Him, for He cannot delight in wickedness.”

Yet although You brought me out of the womb, & made me trust you at my mother's breast, & from my birth I was cast upon You & from my mother's womb You have been my Creator- I was far from You & now endless trouble engulfs me & there is no-one anywhere to help.

Many demons surround me; frightfully mighty demons of Abaddon encircle me. Roaring beasts of Hell tear their succulent prey as they also open their mouths against me. I am poured out like poison & all of my bones are out of joint.

My infernally incarcerated soul has turned to ash-incendiating in perpetuity & nihility within me. My strength is sapped from me, to be revived for the designation of my Dark Master's injurious exploits alone.

You, O Holy One, have rightfully lain me in the dust of eternal separation from You, rendering a mortification beyond the bounds of any affliction I suffered while on earth.

The hounds of Hell surround me; a legion of evil entities have encircled me & have bound my soul. I can count all of my sins, here in the cavernous Void of Darkness, as I am glared at, & gloated over & lots are cast for my immortal flesh. And You, O Lord of Light, Love, & Truth, are now as far off from my sight as can be, separated by immeasurable distance. For You could have been my strength, & come quickly to help me had I but merely called upon Your holy, sovereign name in reverent surrender to Your will alone while I walked about the earth.

Yet as it is, You can no longer deliver me from the sword, nor from the ferocity of the dogs, nor rescue me from the ravening mouths of the lions, nor save me from the horns of the wild oxen. I did not declare Your name to my brothers, nor did I praise You in any congregation. And now You must despise & disdain the condemnation of the afflicted ones.

You must hide Your face from us & shut Your ears to our cries for help. For this is the Lot we chose while we strutted about arrogantly upon the earth, delighting & reveling in all kinds of evil & malice.

And as for we, who never sought the Lord, or praised Him- our souls, shall toil forever and ever. And dominion shall still belong to the Holy, unshakeable God, as He governs only now, His Heavenly dwellings, as Hell is left to its own perditious perpetuity.

This is the Lot we, the wicked & condemned, have inherited. This is our final recompense.

Some End-Notes From the Author:

Why do I believe Judeo-Christianity to be the one true Religion?

Judeo-Christianity is the only system of worship which requires complete submission of one's will & life over to the will & laws of God alone.

All other philosophies & religions have at their core, an egocentric, escapist &/or hedonistic aim.

I also believe in Judeo-Christian Scripture as the ultimate source of all wisdom, earthly & metaphysical. This has been tested through the application of Judeo-Christian Scriptures to my own life & journey, & I have found it thus far to be consistently inerrant.

Moreover, contrary to the almost militant Manichean paradigm still so prevalent in Western thought, one can be both systematic-minded & spiritually-minded as well.

A cultivation of both Intellect & Spirit is not only possible, but is necessary towards achieving a full & authentic sense of faith & understanding.

Intelligence & Spirituality are not mutually exclusive phenomena, but are complementary.

As for the Augustinian postulate of "fides ante intellectum” (faith before understanding), I propose that such things must not necessarily proceed in this order. Sometimes, in the process of cultivating one's intellectual comprehension of something, one also finds faith and/or “higher understanding”, otherwise known as “wisdom”.

Thus, we can proceed adequately from either a stance of "fides ante intellectum" or "fides post intellectum" (faith after understanding).

Although it is true, from an ontological standpoint that one's intellectual understanding of “spirituality” or of the metaphysical may indeed be quickened by the precedence of faith, just as one's faith can be quickened during the intellectual syntheses of theological inquiries & edification, let us just assume, from “analogia entis” (an analogy from being) that it is inherent in human nature itself to possess a general thirst for truth & understanding as well as a desire for faith (higher wisdom) as both a mentor & a consolation.

In finale, Judeo-Christianity holds each and every one of us fully accountable and manages to achieve a rare & perfect synthesis of Faith and Reason. This is why I find it to be both most challenging, as well as compelling regarding its relevance & legitimacy.

#literature #scripture #bible #biblical scripture

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tokoyamisstuff · 3 years ago

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Tender Ch. 1 - Loki x Mute! Reader

Summary: Even though Loki doesn’t understand why the new member of the Avengers should be kind to him of all people, he doesn’t want you to stop either.

Warnings: Loki being depressed, the Avengers being kinda mean, mentions of Torture and Death

Words: ~2100

[Story Masterlist] [All of my Works]

All eyes were on him again.

As soon as Loki would step inside, the previously lively room would fall completely silent. Well, it’s not like he wasn’t used to being the involuntary kill-joy...

Usually, the God of Mischief craved attention, may it be positive or negative - most of the time being the latter. But lately, after months of having all those distrustful and hostile glares piercing holes into him, he’d rather wish for the ground to swallow him whole.

“Umm, so...I gotta go.” Natasha was the first one to flee the unpleasant atmosphere, not even putting the energy into mutter anything else than a cheap excuse on her way out. Clint wordlessly followed her close after, but not without shooting the Odinson one last, spiteful look.

Loki on the other hand was picking on his hands, a nervous habit he had inherited from his mother. As much as he tried to avoid meeting their eyes, the tensioned aura they were emitting making him feel close to breaking down completely - but he would never give them the satisfaction to witness this, he swore to himself.

And yet: Maybe he should just leave. Disappear, forever.

Although he’d never admit, Loki had grown very tired of his life following this stirr path, unable to diverge into a new direction. Everything he did would ultimately bring death and destruction upon mankind, inflicting fear in the hearts of all people.

His whole existence was based on being condemned to fail - just for others to reach their ‘glorius purpose’.

“Great” Tony scoffed. “Now they’re gone. Well done, prince of nothing.” Steve cut his friend off, clearing his throat very exaggeratedly.

The god still hadn’t moved from the doorframe of the conference room, while all others were already sitting on the oval-shaped table. He didn’t got what all that fuss was about. If Steve didn’t insist him to attend this emergency meeting, he’d just have gone about his usual business and avoided everyone as good as he could.

“C’mon, brother” Thor sighed, well knowing that if his brother was to stay in the team, it would ultimatively drive a wedge between them. All that pressure in the air was straining for everyone, including himself.

Tony on the other hand was pretty chill about everything, aside of being passive-aggressive. This was probably due to their similar coping styles.

Even though his near-death-experience back when he stopped the Chitauri was still eating on his mental health, he’d prefer glossing over it with stupid jokes and overly confident behaviour. “No sassy remark today, Reindeer Games?”

Stark was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed as he rose an eyebrow on the god, who only muttered a hoarse “No...not today.”

Yeah, it was kind of his style to break the unsettling silence through puny comments or self-glorifying speeches, to distract from his own insecurity.

But right now, he was just so damn tired.

Of this planet and it’s people, as well as the humiliating circumstances he had to dwell in. The fact that he was a prisoner at the Stark Tower, amongst his worst enemies. Being forced by his brother to keep up this meaningless act, as if he’d ever be seen as a team member or ally - when in reality, he was but a slave to the people he once ought to reign.

Just like back on Asgard: Never one of them, never belonging. No way to break free - for his true self was something to be loathed.

However, first and foremost the one thing he was especially tired of was himself, for he couldn’t get out of his own skin. Not only could he never be considered a hero, let alone be redeemed.

After all the atrocities he had commited due to Thanos’ torture and the tesseract’s influence, now that he woke up from that naive dream of power stilling the emptiness in his dark heart, there was nothing left for him - other than to be haunted by his crimes until the mercy of death would overcome him.

“Well” Steve began, slamming his palms on the desk to attract everyone’s attention. “As you all know, we are welcoming a new team member today.”

“They all know?” Of course they wouldn’t let him in on such sensitive information. Not that he minded either way - one Avenger more or less, it didn’t matter how many people hated him in here.

“Please, come on in.”

Loki cleared the entrance when he heared Tony’s words, turning around in anticipation of another dull creature like the Hulk to torment him - but his calm demeanour dropped completely at this unusual sight:

“Y-You?!”

That was simply not possible! The last time he had seen you was almost a year ago, and you were on the brink of death at that!

“For everyone that doesn’t know yet: Her name is Y/N Y/L/N. She is one of the victims HYDRA experimented on, and they succeeded in forming an artificial mutant.”

Steve went on and on explaining about your powers, but Loki’s head had already turned on autopilot, the only thing he could concentrate on being how the hell you of all people ended up here.

All these months, he was desperately trying to get any information about you, all of his hints ultimately leading him to dead ends - and in the end, tragically believing in your imminent death.

The memories were still painfully vivid in his mind: It was his first mission together with the Avengers, at a HYDRA hideout with most likely no civil survivors.

Actually, he had planned to make his escape right when the others engaged in a fight, wandering the hallways of what resembled a torture chamber rather than a laboratory.

On the walls were several instructions, about a serum that might cause a human to mutate if they were exposed to unbearable stress - pain being the most effective method, apparently.

Yet instead of finding anything useful for his personal gain, he found you: A beautiful woman, yet emaciated and lying in a puddle of her own blood. At first he thought you to be dead just like the others - but as soon as your faint whimpers drang to his ears, he burst the cell you were trapped in open, rushing to your side immediately.

“Shh...” the god scooped you up from the cold stone floor, wrapping his cloak around your broken body. “Everything is alright now. Your savior is here.”

Loki gasped as he felt your hand stroking his cheekbone, even through all your pain and weakness wanting to bid your hero this due respect.

“Hel...you humans are such fragile creatures...” Loki muttered under his breath, cursing his own lack of talent when it came to casting healing spells. “Hang in there, look at me!”

Your eyes were teary and bloodshot, yet not less fit to bring across a message no words ever could: Incredible gratitude, and admiration.

He could tell you were close to passing out when your hand left his face, falling limp to the side. But he held you firmly in his arms, not once stopping to utter sweet words of encouragement as he made his way to the ship, leading you into safety.

“Your world in the balance, and you bargain for one man?”

Those were the words he once directed at Black Widow - but only now he understood her attempts.

Saving one person could never make up for all the lives he had destroyed - and yet he knew that for you, it would mean the world none the less.

In one way or another, with your life at his mercy, he began to finally grasp the preciousness of life, and doing everything in one’s might to protect it.

“Reindeer Games” Tony tapped on his shoulders, making Loki wake from his pondering. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t scare her away on the first day already.”

Oh.

Just now he was noticing his own grim expression, having towered over your much smaller form this whole time with furrowed brows.

“My apologies” was his firm response, but you only shook your head, trying to tell him it was not a big deal.

So this was what you looked like when you’re not imprisoned, he realized when he took in your physique.

Much to his pleasure, all of your wounds had seemingly healed, and you finally gained some much needed weight. Like this, you looked so much more healthier - and most definetly even more bewitching than he remembered you.

If people had let him know, would he have visited your sickbed, aiding you towards health again? Who knows...

Yet somehow, he dwelled in the thought of you being able to lead a happy life now that you were free - which made your decision to seek out the Avengers in wish for more battles even harder for him to accept.

“You are incredibly strong, Lady Y/N” Loki spoke firmly, everyone else rolling their eyes at his usual exaggeration - but you knew he meant every word. “Be sure of my eternal respect.”

The God of Lies’ eyes widened in excitement when you directed a warm smile at him, knowing for sure that this one was genuine. It wasn’t like those fake smirks the other Avengers gave him out of politeness, or the mocking laughs when they were making fun of or excluding him.

No - that one was just pure affection. And it left him in awe.

“Thank you for saving me back then” you signed, just for Loki shooting you a puzzled look.

“What, I thought the all-tongue knows every language?” Tony yelled, as inconsiderate as always. Thor was quick to explain on his brother’s stead, him still being deeply invested with you. “Every spoken one, yes. ASL is not one of our fortes.”

Usually, Loki had always been a quick thinker. But right now he was to bewildered by your appearance that thinking straight was out of the question.

What language were they speaking of? And why have you not been saying anything up until now? Maybe his presence was making you uncomfortable, after all? Should he leave on your behalf?

To make it easier for him to understand, you rolled down your turtleneck, revealing the unsighty scar that covered your whole throat.

There were not many people bold enough to come close to the God of Mischief without warning, yet suddenly you simply took his hand and slowly led it to your neck.

How could you be so naive and offer someone like him such a vital spot?! He’ll never get the human philosophy...

And yet, the flabbergasted god hesistantly let his hand run over the scar, while you opened your mouth to no avail - for 11 months already, no tone would leave your vocal cords.

“I’m incredibly sorry...” Loki whispered with a sorrowful tone, while the others just stared in disbelief. “If only I was able to heal this wound back then...”

What a puny god he was...and an even more pathetic wanna-be-hero at that...

He would try to take a few steps back, but you took a hold of his hand, squeezing it with both of yours, that cheerful smile not faltering in the slightest.

“Please, don’t be sad. I’m only alive thanks to you!” Bucky, whose cousin was mute as well, translated what you were signing for Loki. His tone sounded quite irritated, not fitting those meaningful words. “I only wanted to join the Avengers because I want to be just like you. You’re my idol!”

Those words touched him deeply, igniting a flame inside of him he thought long to be defunct. Was it hope?

Of course it was not nearly enough to pull him out of that deep, dark hole he felt trapped in for as long as he could remember - yet somehow, he now felt that it was not impossible to escape.

While the others were cringing at your declaration, making jokes about ‘choosing wrong idols’ or would plainly not believe Loki to have a positive effect on anyone, the two of you would just stare at each other in silent admiration.

Shyly, you signed yet another word for him - and this time, Loki would know what you mean from pure intuition.

He smiled.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Loki was able to smile again, just thanks to your heartwarming welcome. And he was still blissfully unaware about what effect you could have on him, if he was brave enough to let you close.

One thing was sure: You literally had him wrapped around his finger from the very start.

#Loki #Loki x Reader #Loki x You #Loki Odinson #Loki Laufeyson #Loki Friggason #Oneshot #Self Insert #Marvel #Disney #Fluff #Fem! Reader #God of Mischief #Loki / Reader

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ayamari-no-goshi · 4 years ago

Text

A Leap in the Dark | (T)

ff.net | AO3

Fandom: Danny Phantom (DP)

Summary: AU. Daniel "Danny" Fenton tried to distance himself from anything that could possibly tie him to magic. However, his world begins to unravel when the powerful Vlad Masters brings charges of witchcraft against him.

Warnings: rated T for violence, descriptions of death

Warnings: Witch trail interrogation and execution by hanging

Parings: none

Notes: Cross-posted to AO3 and ff.net

This entire fic was inspired by a conversation I had on Tumblr

A Leap in the Dark

The old cart creaked and rocked as it slowly moved towards its destination. With the exception of the occasional instruction to the donkeys from the wagoner, the only sounds from its passengers were whispered prayers and weeping.

Daniel (Danny to friends) Fenton closed his eyes as he waited for the inevitable. No amount of crying or pleading would save him now, and he’d come to terms with it. Or at least that’s what he told himself.

Several days prior, town guards stormed his home and pulled him into the streets. He demanded an explanation only to be punched in mouth and knocked to the ground. Some of the guards grabbed him and forced him into a kneeling position as another took out a scroll.

“On behalf of his majesty, we the guards of Amity Park arrest Daniel Fenton, son of Jack Fenton, on suspicion of practicing black magic and soliciting with the devil.”

He tried to argue with them. The charges were insane. Sure, his parents liked to experiment with alchemy which often seemed like magic, but he’d done his best to keep his nose to the ground once he moved out of their home. What did he do to get someone so upset with him that they falsely accused him?

His words fell short as someone hit him in the neck.

The next thing he knew, water fell on him, jolting him awake. Glancing around, he found himself in a cell. Trying to stand, he found shackles binding his arms and legs. In front of him, a guard with an empty bucket sneered.

Soon after, he found himself brought before the hallmote. A representative of the town stood before those gathered and explained what the accusations against him were. The other villagers yelled and hissed. The representative waited until they calmed to provide the evidence which involved reports of him meeting with a dark someone in the middle of the night at the outskirts of town.

Danny jolted as he realized someone saw him meeting up with Samantha. She and her family were fairly new to the area and affluent. Her parents didn’t approve of him, and there was an issue of different religious backgrounds.

When he had a chance to speak, Danny explained just that. “I just wanted to spend time with my dear friend without worrying about the judgement of others,” he pleaded to them.

The crowd’s anger softened some. Another rose and asked if any further evidence could be provided. Hope welled within Danny. If no further false evidence existed against him, he might be able to walk away from this relatively unharmed.

The crowd shifted as they waited for someone to speak. When no one did, Danny sighed in relief. He’d be able to go home and live his life. He might have to let Samantha know they would need to move their meeting times to make it safer for both of them, but if that was the only thing he needed to do, he could live with that.

The sound of walking broke the silence. Everyone turned to see Vladimir Masters, another recent addition to the town slowly walk into the room. Danny didn’t know what to make of the man. He had more influence due to his merchant money then the local lord which caused some tensions between them. However, he’d managed to charm most of the villagers and the church with his donations and public improvements. He also seemed to have an unhealthy interest in his parents, particularly his mother.

“Ladies and gentlemen of this fair town, I bring you one final piece of evidence,” he announced as he opened his cloak to produce a large leather-bound book. He waited for the whispers to stop before he continued. “When rumors first started, I could scarcely believe the son of my two dear friends could possibly be involved in such things. So, I decided to follow him to one of his supposed meetings with the Dark One.”

Again, he paused for effect. “I watched as young Daniel meet with a strange man who appeared on a dark mist. Afraid for my life, I didn’t dare approach and instead hide behind a nearby tree. While I couldn’t hear their words, I did see the stranger hand the boy a book before disappearing back into the mist. The boy glanced through it before heading further outside of town.”

“Concerned, I followed at a safe distance. He eventually came to the hang man’s tree that grows at the crossroads and buried it before heading back to town. I waited until I believed he would no longer be able to detect my presence and dug up the book. Lo and behold, I found a tome written in a language I could not read. Images of death and sacrifice littered its pages. Horrified, I returned to town with it in my possession to report it to both the guards and the Church.”

“Are you so enraged that you can’t have my mother that you need to frame me?” Danny spat at the man. “Everyone knows the crossroads are dangerous at night. I have no desire to risk encountering the vengeful and dark spirits that make such a place a home. Besides, don’t we all know the Dark One is more likely to appear at the crossroads? Why would I go there after supposedly meeting with Him?”

Masters just gave him a sickly-sweet smile. “How is a simple man like me supposed to understand the logic of such evil? Besides, you have not denied ownership of this book.”

The rest of the crowd erupted. Even through the symphony of voices, he could tell many of them cursed and condemned him. His heart sang as the shouts grew louder. Everyone knew the if the crowd believed your guilt, your fate was sealed. He would be handed over to the Church. If he was lucky, their interrogation techniques would kill him before he would be hanged.

After the official ruling was given, officials from the church entered and took him. The last thing he saw before being knocked unconscious was Masters’ smug expression.

He came to in another cell. Sore and aching, he took stock of himself. Well, as best as he could due to the chains. He didn’t seem to be injured which the exception of a few bruises. The pain appeared to be from resting in the uncomfortable position. Shifting, he tried to find a position slightly more comfortable and warmer while he waited for his fate.

An unclear amount of time later, a couple guards came to retrieve him. They removed him from the chains in the cell and placed more compact shackles on his wrists. Once they were certain he wouldn’t be able to fight back, they led him to a different chamber.

He figured he’d see the vicar and maybe a deacon. Instead, Vlad Masters and some men dressed entirely in black greeted him. “I don’t… I don’t understand…” he stammered.

Masters clapped his hands. “My dear boy, I don’t expect you to, but I should explain, seeing as you are my most recent guest.” He closed the distanced between them after a few strides and began circling him as if he was a predator. “I’m one of those tasked with seeking out who have made unsavory deals with the Dark One.”

An icy chill raised through Danny’s chest. “Are you telling me you’re one of those moon touched under that Hopkins guy?” While Amity Park wasn’t part of any of the large cities, the stories of the sudden upsurge in witch hunts had reached them. Hopkins was the most prolific of the hunters.

“We have crossed paths on occasion,” Masters responded as he continued to circle. “However, we disagree on some methods and share little more than a profession. While Hopkins believes those he prosecutes are truly evil, I do things a little differently.” He closed the gap between them so he could whisper, “You see, I believe people need to fear evil, and to do so, I need to remind them of its existence, whether it exists in that location or not.” For a moment, Danny could have sworn the man’s features warped into something inhuman and evil.

Danny swore as the man moved away. “You… you monster! How many innocent lives have you destroyed?”

Masters just chuckled. “Not enough. My friends, could you please silence the boy? We need to begin our interrogation.”

The men in black quickly gagged him before ripping off his clothes. They gasped and muttered darkly when they spotted the large birthmark on his chest. When they found no other mark of interest, they poke and prodded the mark. They started lightly before beginning to scratch and jab. Eventually, they brought out a small knife and drew his blood.

“He bleeds,” the one muttered. “Surely this is no brand.”

“Perhaps it is an illusion, or his brand is one of those normally unseen,” another replied.

The first one nodded. “If that is case, then we must locate it.” He then made a series of cuts on Danny’s arm. “No evidence here. Please try his back.”

They continued this investigation for some time. Slices were made up and down his arms, his chest and back, legs, and even his face. All of them bled. All of them hurt. Displeased they could find no sorcery mark, they ordered the guards to take him back to the cell.

The cool stone of the dark cell gave him some relief from the stinging cuts. If any one of them refused to heal cleanly, it could mean the death of him. One of his uncles died from a cut that refused to heal, and it was not one he would like to repeat.

After that, the attempts to get some form of acknowledgement or confession from him worsened. The beat him with their firsts and with whips. They burned him with hot iron. They even tried to throw him in the nearby river, but someone interrupted that one. While it wasn’t much, he silently thanked the unknown stranger for the act of kindness.

While he never confessed to any of the false accusations, he did openly curse Masters. That apparently was enough for him and his cronies. The next thing he knew, he was standing in front of the Hallmote again with Masters announcing his confirmed guilt. As a result, he was sentenced to hang.

Danny spent the next few days in the prison’s cell. In a different cell across the hall, a few more condemned prisoners also awaited their fates. He heard they would meet their ends on the same day he would. One of the others tried talking to him, but he decided not to respond. Whatever the man did to deserve his fate, he didn’t need a chance to make it worse by speaking with someone accused of magic.

When the day finally came, the guards came to retrieve them. After their hands were bound behind them, they were led to the wagon to be transported to the location of the gallows.

While some of the other men prayed and wept, he just stared at the sigh. He’d made peace with his awful fate. As much as he wanted to blame the Lord, he couldn’t bring himself to do so. He learned at a young age that while the Lord could work miracles, He couldn’t always interfere with the evil acts of men. At least he knew he’d be welcomed in Paradise.

Once the wagon reached its destination, Danny allowed himself to glance at the crowd. Many of them were celebrating the day. He almost forgot how an execution could excite the townsfolk. Some were even taking bets on how long he and the others would last.

They were marched into a line underneath the scaffold. After the nooses were placed, the executioners gave the other men the chance to say their final words first. Then came Danny’s turn.

He glanced around in hopes someone might be brave enough to save him. No one stepped forward. Instead, most of the faces visible to him appeared to laugh and jeer. Except one, he spotted Sam who appeared to be weeping.

“I hope that you who falsely condemned me are haunted by your choices,” he stated while trying to keep his voice as even as possible. I know what awaits me on the other side, but can you say the same?” The crowd shouted obscenities at him as his words came to a close, but he didn’t care, not anymore.

With him being the last to speak, the executioner and his assistants began the process of covering his head with the characteristic hood and kicking the supports out from under their feet. Even though he was prepared for death, he didn’t want to die. His weight forced the rope to press harder against his neck, making it harder and harder to breathe. He struggled to free his hands in hopes he might be able to save himself, but with each passing moment, he seemed to be drain of more and more of his strength.

His last conscious memory was to hope Sam wouldn’t be targeted for her show of tears.

... … …

Consciousness came back to him slowly. Feeling groggy and stiff, he slowly sat up. As dirt fell away from his body, he realized night had already fallen. Why had he fallen asleep outside? Had he been stargazing again? After the first time, he decided to use his roof for that purpose as it was safer than sleeping outside the village.

“Danny?”

He jolted at the soft voice. Turning, he found Sam kneeling a couple feet away with her friend and servant, Tucker, standing behind her with a lantern that had an unusual intensity. Both of them watched him carefully. If he didn’t know any better, he would have guessed they were apprehensive of him.

“Thanks for waking me up,” he told them cheerfully as he stood and brushed some of the dirt off him. His voice didn’t convey his feelings though as it sounded gravely even to him. He must have slept much longer than he originally figured.

Frowning as he realized his feet were buried in the dirt, he glanced behind him to find what appeared to be a shallow grave. Disturbed soil with an arm of an unnatural bluish color sticking out of it could be found only a few feet away. He’d been buried.

“Danny?” Sam called out again as she slowly stood and approached him. “What’s the last thing you remember before waking up?”

As he thought about the odd question, flashes of his interrogation and the gallows came to the forefront of his mind. Scared at the implications, he rubbed his throat. The skin felt rough as if it had been injured and pain blossomed at his touch. He had been hanged. Falling to his knees, he thanked the Lord for a chance at a second chance at life.

Standing again once he finished, he glanced at his friend. “I’m glad you came when you did. I don’t know what I’d do if I woke up alone out here. Let’s get you home before something bad happens. Only one of us needs to be accused of practicing magic.” He gestured to the lantern. “You didn’t need to break out the good candles just for me. Actually, they might be too bright if we want to sneak back into town.”

Tucker glanced at Sam, who bit her lip. “Danny, they just seem bright to you. The candle in there is the dimmest I could find. We could barely see where we were going while getting here.”

She wouldn’t look directly at him. Instead, she kept her gaze lowered which was unusual for her. That by itself clued him in something was wrong.

“Sam, look at me. What’s going on? You’re not telling me something.”

“My lady, err… I mean Sam,” Tucker floundered as she turned to stare at him. Even though her parents bought him to be her personal servant, Sam refused to have him call her by an honorific. She wanted him to consider her his friend first and foremost. “Should I bring out that mirror?”

“That might be best,” she agreed as he hesitantly handed her the lantern while he dug through the sack attached to his belt. When he finished, he brought out a black stone and traded the lantern back for it.

“I thought that was supposed to be a mirror,” Danny joked as Sam took a moment to polish it.

“It is… It’s just a special type of mirror. Difficult to come across.” She held it up to him. “It’ll be easier to show you.”

Not sure what to expect, Danny stepped forward until he could see his reflection in the stone. However, whatever person it reflected, it certainly wasn’t him. The stone showed a creature with hair of moonlight and eyes of an unearthly green. Its skin reflected as the bluish pallor of death. Dark bruises were visible around the neck.

Cursing, he stumbled away. Grabbing at his hair, he found stuffs of whitish silver. The skin of his hands matched the color of the creature’s skin. “What happened? What did you do to me?”

“I was trying to summon your soul.”

“I get accused and executed for witchcraft, and you turn around and preform it?” Danny gave a hollow laugh. “Was my death not enough of a warning? And what did you plan to do once you summoned me?”

“I wanted to take down Masters, okay?” she snapped at him. Her gaze fell when they locked eyes. “Not all magic is evil. I just wanted to see if there was anything you could provided to help me make sure he didn’t take any more victims before your soul became beyond reach, but something went wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know if I did something wrong.”

“Don’t say that,” Tucker scolded as he placed a hesitant hand on her shoulder. “The crossroads hold strange powers as its one of those places where mortal and immortal can meet.”

Danny gulped at the implication. He forgot criminals tended to be buried at the crossroads. And even though he wasn’t as superstitious as some, he knew such places could be very dangerous. “So… what did the combination of this good magic and the crossroads do to me?”

“That’s something I don’t really know. It seems to have reanimated you, but you are clearly not as you were.” She fell to her knees as tears began to roll down her cheeks. The Sam Manson crying! Sam never cried.

Hesitantly, he crouched down in front of her and used his fingers to lift her chin. Her skin felt so warm to the touch. “While I can’t say I’m comfortable with what happened, I can say it’s not your fault. You had no idea this would be the outcome. You’re also right about Masters… There’s something wrong with him. During the interrogation, I could have sworn I saw the shadow of evil on him.”

Instead of responding, she lurched forward to embrace him. Not sure what else to do, he rubbed her back in a soothing manner.

“Sam, you’re going to get dirty. Neither of us will want to risk the wrath of your parents.” Tucker spoke softly as he tried to gently pull her off of Danny.

She didn’t respond. Instead, she buried her head deeper into Danny’s chest. Not sure what to make of it, Danny shared a look with Tucker. Eventually, she stated, “I can hear your heart beating. Danny, I can hear your heart! You’re alive.” She looked up and gave him the biggest and purest smile he’d even seen.

“But how? How is that possible? I couldn’t have survived the gallows, and my appearance is of some specter… What the?” As he spoke, a blinding light washed over him. As his eyes adjusted, everything seemed much darker. If it wasn’t for the faint light of the lantern and the visible sliver of the moon, he doubted he would have been able to see anything. Wait, he’d been able to see just fine moments ago.

“Tucker, the lantern!”

Seconds later, the lantern appeared within inches of his face. “Whoa! Watch it! Those metal ones hurt when they hit you.”

“Danny,” Sam’s smile somehow grew wider, “you look like you again! “

“Is that why I suddenly can’t see?” When she rolled her eyes, he quickly added, “I mean, that’s wonderful!”

“I doubt it’s that simple,” Tucker noted as he watched the two of them stand. “You touched death, and that always leaves a lasting mark.”

Sam brushed the dirt off her skirt before she began to walk. “That’s true, but for now, we should return to town. We can figure out what happened to Danny as we work on destroying Masters. He can stay at my place for now. It’s big enough we should be able to hide you for a few days.”

Danny acknowledged that would work for now. Even though he didn’t want to put either Sam or Tucker at risk, it would be easier to discuss the future once they rested.

Perhaps he could even stagger back into town in a day or two just to see how the townsfolk would react. Maybe they would consider his return to life as the will of God. Or, if he could take the form of that creature again, perhaps they’d consider him a vengeful wraith. The latter made him smile. Oh, Masters didn’t know what type of revenge he unleashed.

End of story notes. There are a lot:

Firstly, if anyone would like to expand upon this idea, please feel free. I have no desire to extend this. The plot bunny, now that it’s fulfilled its goal, has run off.

Now for the historical notes.

The hallmote is a court held in a Justice’s hall. In medieval England, this is the lord’s manorial court. For the lord, this primarily functioned for fees and land ownership. However, when it came to issues regarding laws, the villagers acted as prosecutor, legal authority, witnesses, and judge. The lord of the area rarely had anything to do with legal issues.

I know that when it comes to magic, usually that fell under the church’s domain, but I wanted to mention a trial first before he was handed over to them as the accusations against Danny were fabricated.

Moon touched is being used as a euphemism for being crazy.

Vicar is a term primarily used in the Anglican church for parson/minister.

Also, witch hunts and trails did still happen in the 1600s in England – they peaked again in the 1640s and the 1650s due to the English Civil War and the rise of the Puritans.

I did review the interrogation techniques of this time period. While they existed beforehand, the specific ones I mentioned were championed by a man named Matthew Hopkins, who flourished as a witch hunger during the English Civil War. He and his colleagues are believed to be responsible for 20% of the total people persecuted for witchcraft in England between the 15th and 18th centuries. His book is also considered a contributing factor in how the trials in Salem, Mass. played out.

The accused often had their bodies searched for marks which were said to be proof of their pact with the Devil. This was often a birth mark, mole, or other skin manifestation. The area was believed to be unable to bleed or feel sensation.

Hanging. The gallows with trapdoors (drops) weren’t invented until the 1760s. So, Danny is experienced it the old-fashioned way where they put the noose on and cover the head with a hood. Depending on the gallows, the condemned might stand on stools or be on the wagon at first. Then those were removed. Unlike modern hangings which were designed to break the neck upon the sharp drop, the original version had people die by suffocation. Most loose consciousness within 5-10 minutes and death occurs soon after. The title actually is a saying believed to have derived from being hung.

There are some instances where people simply lost consciousness and revived at a later time after they were cut down. Some considered that a pardon from God. Others thought the person made a deal with evil.

Executed criminals were traditionally buried at crossroads. Normally, they couldn’t be buried in a church graveyard, and there were concerns the dead could come back to haunt the town. Being buried at a crossroads helped confuse angry spirits.

Crossroads were considered liminal places where one could meet all manner of supernatural creatures. Some traditions state it’s the best place to contact the dead or conduct spells.

Sam is still Jewish (although secretly since this is the 1640s) in this fic. There are old Jewish spells, which fall under a specific type of mysticism, that call allow one to call forth the dead to ask a question. This is what she was trying to do.

#danny phantom #danny phantom au #dp #dp au #one shot #my writing #fanfic #danny phantom fanfiction #dark au #danny fenton #sam manson #tucker foley #vlad masters #folklore #supernatural #paranormal #historical elements

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watch-grok-brainrot · 4 years ago

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Jin Guangyao's Violation of 忠孝仁义

So I had written about WWX and his strong sense of 忠孝仁义 last week. While I was writing it, I kept on thinking about JGY and how he managed to violate all of these virtues. I wanted to go into this characterization of him because I find it so interesting how opposite he is to WWX in the decisions he made. (Warning: i’m not nice to JGY here so if you don’t want him dragged, don’t read?)

忠- loyalty, devotion, fidelity (usually for country or monarch)

(Can I take a moment to talk about how much I LOVE THIS SHOT?! The blood of WRH on the camera lens, WRH falling over, the sudden shift to brightness that mirrors the scene in ep 50 where JGY obscures the sun in his bow (picture above the read more cut)! I can’t get over how much I LOVE the lighting and the way WRH collapses, making way for JGY to become the new sun. Foreshadowing much CQL Crew?!)

This one might be a stretch depending on how you read JGY. I fully believe he went to work for Wen Ruohan as Wen Zhuliu did -- seeking someone who will value his skills. However, WZL died for WRH and JGY just bided his time. (Note: While we know very little about Wen Zhuliu, we know he was at least 忠 and 义. He died for WRH and Wen Chao and refused to let WC desecrate Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan’s bodies. For that, I have to give him respect. He, despite everything, still had that jianghu sense of 义. Also, the man can count. And knows what a golden core feels like.)

So we know JGY gave Lan Xichen the maps, but he also lured them to Nightless City where the puppets were waiting. Had WWX not brought out the Stygian Tiger Amulet, would JGY have murdered WRH? Or would he have stayed in the shadows forever? As a viewer I have no idea what JGY is thinking, what he’s doing, or what he’s hoping for. He hides so well his intentions that there is debate about if he really was helping with the Sunshot Campaign or not! That isn’t something you can say about someone with loyalty.

What upsets me further is that Nie Mingjie, having been JGY’s superior officer, sees JGY more clearly than LXC can. NMJ has seen JGY murder and has seen the level of self-serving vindictiveness JGY is capable of. In the case of the Sunshot Campaign, this self-serving attitude made JGY become a double agent uncommitted to either side. Too bad NMJ could not convince LXC of JGY’s duplicity. I’m gonna blame those dimples.

The fact that we do not know JGY’s intent really shows his lack of 忠. If You Stand For Nothing, JGY, What Will You Fall For? (Answer: Himself and that is not 忠)

孝 - filial piety (deference to your lineage)

So for 孝, you’re supposed to respect your parents, honor your parents, and defer to your parents. What are you not supposed to do? Kill you father. That’s what.

So this should’ve been a really short section because that’s pretty cut and dry. But I want to look at what JGY says to JGS when JGY brings in Sisi and the other women.

(He’s so creepy in this picture! *shudders*)

“父亲,我给你找来了你最爱的女人. 有很多个. 你高兴吗?”

“Father, I have brought you your favorite -- women. There are many. Are you happy?”

(Translation note: you can translate the line as your favorite women or your favorite -- women. I chose to translate it as the latter due to the context.)

First of all, the tone. JGY’s voice is breathy. I can almost hear a smile. He has zero moral qualms about this. He addresses his father as father, not dad or anything close. But he does acknowledge that relationship. And then he says he’s brought JGS’s favorite. There’s a slight emphasis on the favorite there. And it’s creepy. JGY adds the next line and goose bumps start to form on my skin. He knows his father’s sins and he’s punishing his father with it. Why are you doing this JGY?! And at the end, when it asks “Are you happy?” his voice is so sinister I want to scream. JGY clearly knows what he’s doing. He knows exactly what it means to be 孝 and chooses to make a mockery of 孝, to make a mockery of his father, and to kill his father.

And then, after he watches JGS die, he tells Sisi and the other women to continue -- to desecrate JGS’s body. This is about as un-孝 as one can get! Remember, WWX and JC were willing to die to get JFM and YZY’s bodies back so they could be cremated and honored. The difference here is night and day! Yes, JGY was very good to his mother, including building a Guanyin Statue in her likeness and sparing Sisi who was a friend of his mother’s, but I cannot get over how much of an abomination he was toward JGS (even if JGS deserved an awful death).

仁 - benevolence, humanity, love of man

JGY has no 仁. Does JGY love anyone other than himself? Maybe his mom. (He might have some 仁 towards Su Sh*t She but that’s only suggested by the last couple of episodes.) That’s really it. He might have loved Jin Ling as his nephew. He might have loved LXC for LXC’s kindness and brotherhood. He might have loved Qin Su as whatever relationship he thinks they had. But when push comes to shove, JGY has zero benevolence towards anyone. He’s willing to kill Qin Su, take Jin Ling hostage, and take LXC hostage. (He also has no 义 but that’s the next section!)

And there’s ep 23. When LXC, JGS, and NMJ were discussing what to do with the Wens, JGY suggested the Wens be imprisoned at QiongQi Path. Since WRH had ordered the slaughter of multiple clans, including the Jiangs at Lotus Pier, doing the same to him would not be considered unreasonable. Ruthless, yes, but a good show of might and order. This acceptance of murder is due to the concept of 诛九族. 诛九族 (zhū jiǔ zú) is one of the most severe punishments in ancient China. The character breakdown makes it fairly self explanatory:

诛 - to execute, kill, put to death

九 - nine

族 - family, clan,ethnic group, or tribe

诛九族 condemns you and your entire family to death (Depending on the source, some say it’s you + 8 types of relatives. Some say it’s everyone related to you from 4 generations above to 4 generations below).

By suggesting the Wen remnants be imprisoned and not slaughtered, JGY presented himself as 仁. However, by turning around and slaughtering the people per JGS’s wishes, JGY knowingly chose the immoral path where blood flowed like rivers.

(Also! The way this shot pans down makes me think about how JGY is descending into a hell of his own making...)

义- righteousness and code of brotherhood

Good god, 义. I have so many feelings about 义. Let’s start with some history because CONTEXT is so important. So when you ask a chinese person on the street to give you an example of 义, I’m willing to bet one of the most common answers you will get is 桃园结义 (tao yuan jie yi, or peach garden/grove establishment of brotherhood). This is THE story of fraternal love between non-blood related men.

So quick and dirty synopsis of 桃园结义 and the three kingdoms story (I actually haven’t read it and it’s been a while since I actually tried to figure out the plot… so hopefully this is all correct!). Three men (刘备、关羽、张飞/ Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei) met on the streets, fought each other, became besties, and decided to start a rebellion. They took over one third of the country with the oldest (刘备) being the monarch and the other two working at his side (a little Yunmeng bros feel there, right? You’ll be the leader, I’ll be your right hand man). And they died for each other. 关羽 was the first to go. To seek revenge, 张飞 worked his men to the rebellion. Two of 张飞’s subordinates ultimately decapitated him while he was sleeping and brought it to their enemy. 张飞’s head and body are buried in two different cities in China (doesn’t this make you think of NMJ’s fate? Because it did when I was thinking about this and I wanted to cry. Also, 张飞 started out as a butcher. SERIOUSLY CQL/MDZS, can we pretend to be SUBTLE!?). 刘备 continued seeking revenge. Prior to 关羽’s death, the three kingdoms were in semi-equilibrium where the two smaller ones were allied against the larger. However, 关羽 being killed by their kinda-ally destroyed the delicate balance between the three kingdoms. 刘备 could’ve tried to make peace but he wasn’t going to let his sworn brother’s murder go unavenged. They all died in the end but with honor and brotherhood intact. 刘备 and 张飞’s determination to avenge 关羽’s death epitomizes the virtue of 义. They are willing to die for eachother.

In CQL the parallelism to the 桃园结义 imagery is obvious to anyone who has a cultural background that screams Romance of Three Kingdoms at you. Let’s take a look, ok?

A quick Google image search yields these images (I couldn’t choose):

You know what they look like? This (from ep 40):

You know what 桃园结义 looks like when mainland China made a live action? This:

And you know what that reminds me of in CQL (ep 23)?

Are you freaking out now about the visual parallels? Ok. Good. Because we’re moving onto a tiny bit of text comparison because i’m excited and i can.

Per Romance of Three Kingdoms (note: historically inspired novel, not history), 刘备、关羽、张飞 swore the following oath:

“念刘备、关羽、张飞，

Hope that Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei

虽然异姓，既结为兄弟，

Even though we have different last names,since we have sworn to be brothers

则同心协力，救困扶危；

Then let us unite our hearts and efforts towards helping the needy

上报国家，下安黎庶。

Repaying our country, bringing peace to the people.

不求同年同月同日生，

We do not ask to be born on the same day of the same month of the same year

只愿同年同月同日死。

But hope to die on the same day of the same month of the same year

皇天后土，实鉴此心，

Heaven and earth, verify our hearts

背义忘恩，天人共戮！”

If we turn our backs to righteousness and forget charity, may we be slaughtered by all.

Now, let’s look at the oath said by the 3zun:

“神明在上。

Brilliant gods above,

今日我兄弟三人在此立下重誓，

Today, we three brothers swear a solemn oath here

上报仙门，下安黎庶，

To repay our cultivation sects, To bring peace to the people.

天地同证，如有异心，

Heaven and earth be our witnesses. If we become disloyal,

千夫所指，天人共怒”

May a thousand men point their fingers at us and may we be incite the anger of all

Even some of the wording is verbatim. The parts I bolded are what I was excited by since they’re either parallel or verbatim.

The first set of lines: 上报国家，下安黎庶 and 上报仙门，下安黎庶 . (Remember when I guessed in my WWX post that since there are no countries, the cultivation sects are the target of 忠? This is my proof that I was right!) My hubris aside, this is the part of their oath where they swear to be both 忠 and 仁 together. The wording is verbatim except for the part that doesn’t apply to the CQL universe!

The second set of lines: 天人共戮 vs 天人共怒. The sentence/phrase format and message is identical-- betray this oath and incur wrath. (I can’t help but headcanon NMJ wanted to say 天人共戮 because it’s so much more metal but JGY was like, that’s really severe and convinced LXC to side with him to get it changed.)

Even the structure of the oaths are similar. Both oaths start with an introduction (we are three who want to be brothers), both oaths ask the heaven and earth to see them (Heaven and earth, verify our hearts & heaven and earth be our witnesses), and both oaths call upon the wrath of the people for vindication in case of betrayal. The CQL version is an abridged version of the three kingdoms oath and the writers set that up along with all the imagery because they want us to be constantly thinking about the three kingdoms bros and their amazing “even after death we’re still brothers” sense of 义. They want us to compare JGY’s 义 with that 义 and find JGY lacking.

The obvious betrayal of 义 is NMJ’s death. Not only is JGY the cause of NMJ’s death, he butchers (i’m cringing at my own pun... but it’s so accurate) NMJ’s body so that NMJ’s spirit cannot rest.

But, to me, what JGY does to LXC is betrayal on par with what he does to NMJ (and not dissimilar to what Xue Yang does to Xiao Xingchen). As we went over in the section about 仁, JGY says one thing so that LXC suggest JGY handles the matter. When everyone leaves, JGY does the un-仁 thing, essentially with LXC’s blessing. JGY kills NMJ but he does it by asking LXC to teach him how to play guqin. LXC becomes an unknowing accomplice (like XXC who becomes the killer of tongueless victims of corpse poison).

So remember in my WWX post how I said WWX took on what he perceived as JC’s debts so JC doesn’t end up 不仁不义? JGY says one thing and does another in front of LXC. He knows LXC cares deeply about being righteous and kind. He knows LXC wants to do good. And he leads LXC down a path of self doubt and regret. LXC ends up teaching JGY the techniques that kill NMJ. LXC lets JGY handle the Wen remnants. Thus, unlike WWX who tries to absolve JC, JGY intentionally puts LXC into the position of 不仁不义.

Can WWX and JGY be more diametrically opposed (foes)?

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reallifesultanas · 4 years ago

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Portrait of Mehmed III / III. Mehmed portréja

Origin and childhood

Mehmed was born in May 1566 as the great-grandson of Sultan Suleiman I, and as the first-born son of later Mehmed III and his favorite concubine, Safiye. At his birth, the statesmen were quite worried about the future of the dynasty, for in the autumn of 1566 Sultan Suleiman died and was followed by his son Selim, whose only one heir was Murad and infant Mehmed. Because of this, the sultan himself was eventually forced to produce sons. However, Mehmed was not left without brothers for long either. His half-brother Selim followed him in 1567 and then his full-brother Mahmud in 1569.

Mehmed's childhood was fairly calm, his father being the only true heir to the empire, so they did not have to worry about strife. Mehmed and his siblings lived in peace with their parents in Manisa until 1574. Then in 1574 Sultan Selim passed away and Mehmed's father ascended the throne. With this, the life of the family turned upside down as they soon moved to Istanbul. There Mehmed's life was complicated by the power struggle between his mother, Safiye, and his grandmother, Nurbanu Sultan. This struggle may have only subsided for a few months when they mourned Prince Mahmud, who died in 1580.

In 1582, at the age of 16, a huge circumcision ceremony was held for the prince, organized by his aunt, Esmehan Sultan. The circumcision was performed by Cerrah Mehmed Pasha, who was the husband of Mehmed’s other aunt, Gevherhan. Maybe just after the circumcision, maybe even earlier, Mehmed got very close to Gevherhan and her husband. Perhaps the balanced couple brought some consolation to Mehmed’s life, who, being a sensitive soul, was certainly worn out by the political struggle in the harem.

Deterioration of his relationship with his father

Mehmed was extremely committed to his mother, so he defended Safiye with his full heart in her fight with Nurbanu. However, Sultan Murad was at least as committed to his own mother as Mehmed, so it was only a matter of time before the battle between the two women would destroy the relationship between the sultan and Mehmed also. Soon Safiye Sultan was exiled to the Old Palace in late 1582, or early 1583, along with her daughters. Mehmed begged his father not to humiliate Safiye for false accusations, but Murad was dismissive.

It is not known whether Mehmed was as angry with his grandmother as he was with his father, but it is certain that his grandmother tried to protect Mehmed. Nurbanu was already very ill by 1583, but she spent her last months trying to reconcile father and son. To this, she also managed to cover up a huge sin of Mehmed, which would easily cause a death penalty. Mehmed - perhaps to anger his father - had sex with one of his father's concubines, who got pregnant. The princes were forbidden to have sex and procreation until they were given their own province, and sexual intercourse with a member of the sultan’s harem was essentially a betrayal that the prince could have easily lost his life if Murad would found out. However, as soon as Nurbanu learned of the incident, she killed the concubine so that no trace of Mehmed's actions remained.

Mehmed left Istanbul in December 1583 to get his own province. This event usually involves a huge ceremony, with the Sultan personally giving his blessing to his son, escorting him out of the city. Before he left, Mehmed went to his father's usual audience where he asked him to go to the Old Palace together to ask for his mother's blessing before he leaves. And he also said Murad that he should forgive Safiye and marry her to restore her ruined honor. Murad immediately distracted his son and refused to show up for his farewell either. With this, Murad was the first sultan ever, who did not appear when his son left the capital. Mehmed was still stationed in the suburbs for days, waiting for his father, but Murad did not attend. In the end, on her death-bed, Nurbanu could convince her son to have better insights. The dying valide asked her son to swore that he would not hurt Mehmed and that he would settle his relationship with him.

The young prince

Mehmed certainly left the capital depressed, which was not helped by the fact that extremely cold winter weather was there so that they reached Manisa only by January 1584 with great difficulty. Then finally the prince could start his own life, start building his own circles. When he was circumcised, Mehmed had received plenty of presents, all of which he had taken with him to Manisa. These included several concubines, the most valuable of which he received from Gevherhan Sultan, who gave Mehmed a young Bosnian concubine of her own upbringing. The concubine was named Handan and soon she gave birth to children for Mehmed. Most historians see her as the mother of Mehmed's firstborn child, Prince Selim, who was born in February 1585.

Unfortunately, the princely harem of Mehmed is very poorly documented, so it is not known exactly which children were born from which concubines. Mehmed had two main concubines in Manisa, Handan, and Halime, but it is not certain that all the children came from these two women. Shortly after Prince Selim, a boy named Suleiman was born, but not much is known about him. In 1587/88 another son, Mahmud was born, who was undoubtedly the son of Halime; then he was followed in 1590 by Ahmed, the son of Handan. Most likely, more children were born during the princelyhood of Mehmed, but less is known about them. In addition to his sons, he also had at least three daughters, Hatice certainly from Halime; Ayşe probably from Handan; and his daughter, Şah, maybe from Halime.

But not only the Manisa harem was vivid with the ever-swelling family, great changes took place in Istanbul's harem as well. In 1585 (or sooner) Sultan Murad forgave Mehmed's mother and even married her. Thanks to this, Safiye was always there next to the sultan, so she again had the power to protect her son. Safiye eventually successfully balanced between Sultan Murad and his son, Mehmed, because it seems that the relationship between Murad and Mehmed has stabilized somewhat. However, Murad was afraid of his son for the rest of his life, for Mehmed began to become very popular in the eyes of the soldiers.

His accession to the throne

Murad died in 1595, and Safiye Sultan immediately sent a message to her son to come to Istanbul. An attempt was made to keep the sultan’s death as a secret, as Murad had produced plenty of boys over the past 15 years. True, they were all children, and their mothers did not have any power that could have endangered Mehmed's accession to the throne. Nonetheless, Safiye warned those around her to be careful and instead of sending a vizier to Mehmed with the news, he sent the chief gardener without any particular escorts. However, the news of Murad's death somehow leaked, according to several ambassadors, the situation became very dangerous in the capital, as they feared a rebellion. Dozens of people from the harem were thrown into the sea every night. Safiye and her supporters tried to maintain order and get rid of anyone who could have acted against them until Mehmed arrived.

Finally, Mehmed arrived eleven days later and ascended the throne. His accession to the throne can be considered historic in several ways. For he was the last sultan to ascend the throne, after ruling in a province and gain experience. In addition, the law of fratricide at the time of his accession started to be a dramatic, unnecessary event for the people of Istanbul and the statesmen. This is why the practice happened the last time in an official form at his accession. Upon Mehmed's arrival, he immediately ordered the execution of his younger brothers, during which nineteen princes were torn from their mother's arms and strangled. The next day at the funeral, nineteen small coffins followed the sultan's coffin. The people of Istanbul were shocked, and public opinion - although not condemning Mehmed for his deed (since he only followed the laws) - was changing clearly against the law of fratricide.

Like Mehmed's father, he ascended the throne at a relatively young age, being only 29 years old, about as many as Murad III or Suleiman I were when they ascended the throne. Mehmed was a promising candidate and tried to prove his abilities. Under pressure from his Veziers, he went on a campaign in person in 1596, which was quite unusual, since neither Murad III, nor Selim II lead a campaign. The purpose of the Viziers was to win the love of the soldiers and the recognition of the people.

His reign

So Mehmed himself led the campaign against the Kingdom of Hungary in 1596 and successfully occupied the castle of Eger. However, the occupation of the castle alone did not make the campaign successful, as they failed to win on several fronts and the war was not over. Although Mehmed earned the Gazi (conquerer) prefix for his name, he failed to win the love of the soldiers. The sultan behaved rather cowardly during the campaign, at one point, at the field of Mezőeresztes, on the advice of the chief eunuch Gazanfer Agha, he almost fled the battlefield.

Returning to Istanbul, although the glorious sultan was received with a huge ceremony and his popularity began to rise, his joy did not last long. In 1597, his eldest son Selim and a younger son, Suleiman, also died as a result of an epidemic so do one of his consorts and others from the palace. With this, the issue of inheritance has also become uncertain. Unlike her father, however, he did not start foolishly the reproduction. The fact is, however, that at least two sons were born during this period, probably both from Halime. Prince Cihangir was born in the late 1590s and died in 1602; Prince Mustafa was born in 1600 or 1601, as the last child of Mehmed.

It is clear that Mehmed tried to be different from his father in every way possible, so in addition to the campaign, he also tried to rid the palace of his father's people, his dwarves, his mutes, and other things which he considered unnecessary, but which his father found amusing. Mehmed forcibly wanted to win the love of the people and the soldiers by being different from his father, but it was his loving and beloved mother, Safiye, who hindered him the most in this. Mehmed gave his mother enough power to go beyond even his own father. Safiye's dominance is well exacerbated by the fact that returning home after the Eger campaign, Mehmed could not appoint the one he wanted to be Grand Vizier, but made his brother-in-law, former Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pasha as the new Grand-vizier, under pressure from his mother.

Mehmed was thought to be his mother’s puppet, which, objectively examined, also seems a legitimate accusation. It is not known for sure whether Mehmed was unfit to rule and his mother, therefore, tried to forcibly dominate Mehmed or Safiye was led by a simple hunger for power. Unfortunately, little is known about Mehmed, so his private life and personality are less known, which makes his judgment difficult. The sultan loved to spend most of his time in the harem, he loved to play chess with the daughter of one of the leading harem servants, he never argued with his mother or viziers, never executed anyone for fun. Mehmed seems more like a retreating, slightly ninny man, mom’s little boy who did anything for his mother, than a real strong man. True that as a prince, he opposed the sultan which would suggest he was maybe brave, but he did it for the sake of his mother, and as a sultan, he also gave her everything she wanted, so it seems there was only one thing that made Mehmed brave, and that was the doing something for his mother, Safiye. For her, even the ninny boy confronted anyone.

Conflicts

Mehmed's brief reign was accompanied by many rebellions. The reason for this was not primarily Mehmed’s person, but his mother Safiye, who put her own men in every possible position with which they build a corruption network that spanned the entire empire. And as a faithful child, Mehmed complied with all of his mother's requests. The resentment of the people finally culminated in 1600 during a Sipahi rebellion. In March, after Mehmed distributed the soldiers' fee among the statesmen, the Sipahis demanded the heads of every rich, corrupt statesman (and woman) from the sultan. It was the first really serious rebellion against Mehmed, but after a long rampage, he finally managed to convince the soldiers that he would change and will remove his mother from the vicinity of state affairs. So Mehmed’s fear eventually led him to repeat his own father’s deed: he exiled Safiye to the Old Palace. However, the exile was certainly only to reassure the soldiers as Safiye returned soon. In addition, after this uprising, for the first time in his life, he rejected a wish from his mother. During the rebellion, his mother's close friend, Esperanza Malchi, was murdered, and Safiye demanded revenge for the woman and demanded that his son replace two of his viziers, who she said did not protect Esperanza enough. However, Mehmed was so afraid of the rebellion that he rejected his mother harshly and briefly.

Not learning from the threat from the soldiers, Safiye and her men continued the corruption, and Mehmed could not (or did not want to) do anything about it. Thus, it is perhaps not surprising that in 1601 another revolt shook the capital. Then, on March 21, the Sipahis revolted again and sent a delegation to the sultan, demanding that he surrender several of his statesmen, if he did not give in to their demands, he could easily be the victim of dethronement. In fright, Mehmed agreed to extradite everyone on the list, but eventually, Safiye, Grand Vizier Damad Ibrahim Pasa, and Yemişci Hasan Pasa convinced the sultan that he could not betray his loyal men. The head mufti, Sunullah Efendi - who, by the way, secretly supported the uprising - eventually convinced the soldiers to calm down, changes would come.

Of course, no change took place, so in January 1603 there was another revolt against Mehmed, in which not only the Sipahis and the Ulema, but the Janissaries were included as well. On January 6, they captured Gazanfer Agha along with the chief black eunuch, Osman, and dragged them out of the palace, all the way to Topkapi’s third gate, where both were beheaded in front of the crowd and the sultan. According to eyewitnesses, the sultan began to sob as Gazanfer Agha was very close to him. The insurgents eventually were fine with the execution of Gazanfer, Osman Agha, and other less significant individuals and the uprising ended.

Another significant uprising associated with Mehmed’s reign was the Celali uprising, which spread throughout Anatolia and kept the empire on fire for decades to come. There have also been wars on several fronts between the Ottoman Empire and its neighbors. This much strife, of course, did not start only because of the person of Mehmed and Safiye but as the geopolitical situation also changed a lot, facilitating the development of rebellions and wars. However, the fact is that the Sultan’s person did not help the situation also.

Last drop

By 1603, Mehmed had only three living children left, Mahmud, Ahmed, and Mustafa. Since Mehmed did not have Haseki, he did not have a favorite concubine, the people did not know which son Mehmed himself favored. That is why everyone could hardly wait to send his sons to the province. After all, one could have guessed from the provincial classification to which son was the closest to Mehmed. However, events slowly showed the Sultan’s feelings on their own.

While Mehmed’s popularity was in ruins, his eldest living son, Mahmud, was popular very much. The Janissaries and Sipahis all supported the young prince, which caused strife between father and son. Mahmud repeatedly acted very recklessly in the presence of his father, for example, asking his father to give him an army to defeat Celalis; at other times he urged his father to give him province at last. For a sultan who experienced 3 rebellions in 3 years, these words could have been extremely frightening. Especially considering that Mahmud was very popular among the rebel soldiers, thanks to the fact that he spoke openly against Safiye several times. He claimed that his grandmother’s activities were very detrimental to the empire and that his father was essentially a puppet in the hands of the valide.

However, Mehmed even overlooked Mahmud's recklessness and support, as he never appointed Ahmed, perhaps the one he liked more, as heir to the throne against Mahmud. However, according to legend, Mahmud's mother Halime, in 1603 sent a letter to a seer to ask if her son would ever rule this empire. However, Safiye grabbed the reply letter and suspected Halime and Mahmud that they had conspired against the sultan. In addition, there were rumors circulating in the capital that Mahmud and his mother wanted to poison the sultan so that Mahmud could occupy the throne. This was already too much for Mehmed, so Halime and Mahmud were accused of treason, and their servants were tortured until they testified against them. And in the knowledge of these confessions, Mehmed sentenced his own son, Mahmud, to death, the sentence was carried out on June 7, 1603. All the ambassadors present during the events in the capital believed that Safiye was behind Mahmud's execution.

His death

The execution of Mahmud certainly had a negative effect on Mehmed's health, especially if he made the decision only under pressure from his mother, as the ambassadors suggested. Mehmed had been obese for years at the time, which was so heavy that he could not ride a horse, but he had no known illnesses or malaise. He was also relatively young, so the issue of inheritance was not so important in the eyes of the commoners. Shortly after Mahmud's death, however, Mehmed appointed Ahmed as heir. He wanted to refer to this by appearing at a state ceremony, where Safiye took Prince Ahmed to watch the state ceremony together. In addition, Mehmed arranged for Ahmed to accompany him wherever he went. Thus, from the summer of 1603, there was the new heir apparent to the throne, the sick, quiet Prince Ahmed.

Then, on the night of December 20, 1603, Mehmed died suddenly, certainly due to a heart attack, at the age of thirty-seven. His overweight and the much stress he suffered during his brief reign certainly contributed to the fatal heart attack. And the next morning he was succeeded on the throne by his thirteen-year-old son, the first sultan who never ruled in the province but ascended the throne without any experience. Mehmed was buried at Aya Sofia.

Used sources: C. Finkel - Osman's Dream: The Story of the Ottoman Empire; L. Peirce - The imperial harem; M. P. Pedani - Safiye's household and Venetian diplomacy; G. Börekçi - Factions and favourites at the courts of Sultan Ahmed I (r. 1603-17) and his immediate predecessors; Necdet Sakaoğlu - Bu Mülkün Kadın Sultanları; G. Börekçi - A Queen Mother at Work: On Handan Sultan and Her Regency during the Early Reign of Ahmed I; Kayaalp-Aktan - The Atik Valide Mosque Complex: A testament of Nurbanu’s prestige, power and piety; P. Kayaalp - The Empress Nurbanu and Ottoman Politics in the Sixteenth Century Building the Atik Valide; S. Faroqhi - The Ottoman Empire and the World around it; C. Imber - The Ottoman Empire 1300-1650; D.A. Howard - A History of the Ottoman Empire

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Származása és gyermekkora

Mehmed, 1566 májusában született Szulejmán szultán dédunokájaként, a leendő III. Mehmed és kedvenc ágyasa, Safiye elsőszülött fiaként. Születésekor az államférfiak meglehetősen aggódtak a dinasztia jövője miatt, ugyanis 1566 őszén Szulejmán szultán elhunyt, helyét fia, Szelim vette át, akinek egyetlen egy örököse volt, Murad. Muradnak pedig egyetlen fia, Mehmed. Emiatt végül a szultán maga rá lett kényszerítve, hogy fiakat nemzzen. Azonban Mehmed sem maradt sokáig testvérek nélkül. Féltestvére Szelim 1567-ben követte őt, majd 1569-ben édesöccse, Mahmud.

Mehmed gyermekkora meglehetősen felhőtlenül telt, apja volt a birodalom egyetlen igazi örököse, így nem kellett aggódniuk a trónviszályok miatt. Mehmed és testvérei egészen 1574-ig békében éltek Maniszában szüleikkel. 1574-ben aztán Szelim szultán elhunyt és Mehmed apja lépett a trónra. Ezzel a család élete alaposan felfordult és hamarosan Maniszát hátrahgyva Isztambulba költöztek. Itt Mehmed életét megnehezítette édesanyja, Safiye és nagyanyja, Nurbanu szultánák hatalmi harca. Ez a harc talán csak néhány hónapig enyhült, amíg az 1580-ban elhunyt Mahmud herceget gyászolták.

1582-ben, 16 éves korában hatalmas körülmetélési szertartást rendeztek a herceg számára, melyet nagynénje, Esmehan szultána rendezett. A körülmetélést Cerrah Mehmed Pasa végezte, aki Mehmed másik nagynénjének, Gevherhannak volt a férje. Talán épp a körülmetélés után, talán már előbb is, Mehmed nagyon közel került Gevherhanhoz és férjéhez. Talán a kiegyensúlyozott házaspár hozott némi vigaszt Mehmed életébe, akit érzékeny lélek lévén minden bizonnyal megviselt a háremben zajló politikai harc.

Apjával való viszonyának megromlása

Mehmed, az anyja iránt végletekig elkötelezett volt, így teljes mellszélességgel védte Safiyét a Nurbanuval vívott harcában. Murad szultán azonban legalább annyira elkötelezett volt saját anyja iránt, mint Mehmed, így csak idő kérdése volt, hogy a két nő csatározása a szultán és Mehmed viszonyát is megkeseríti majd. Safiye szultánát 1582 végén, vagy 1583 elején száműzte a szultán lányaival együtt a Régi Palotába. Mehmed kérlelte apját, hogy ne alázza meg hamis vádak miatt Safiyét, Murad azonban elutasító volt.

Nem tudni, hogy Mehmed nagyanyjára is hasonlóan dühös volt e, mint apjára, az azonban bizonyos, hogy nagyanyja igyekezett óvni Mehmedet. Nurbanu 1583-ban már nagyon beteg volt, azonban utolsó hónapjait azzal töltötte, hogy igyekezett kibékíteni apát és fiút. Ennek érdekében egy halált érő bűntettet is sikerült eltussolnia. Mehmed ugyanis - talán, hogy bosszút álljon apján - szexuális kapcsolatot létesített apja egyik ágyasával, aki teherbe is esett tőle. A hercegek számára tiltott volt a szex és gyermeknemzés, amíg nem kapnak saját provinciát, emellett a szultán háremének tagjával való szexuális együttlét lényegében felségárulás volt, amiért akár halállal is lakolhatott volna a herceg, ha Murad rájön. Nurbanu azonban amint tudomást szerzett az esetről megölette az ágyast, hogy ne maradjon nyoma Mehmed tettének.

Mehmed 1583 decemberében hagyta el Isztambult, hogy saját provinciát kapjon. Ez az esemény általában hatalmas ünnepséggel jár, a szultán személyesen adja áldását fiára, kíséri ki őt a városból. Távozása előtt Mehmed a szokásos audienciára ment apjához, amikor újra megkérte őt, hogy menjenek el együtt a Régi Palotába, hogy anyja áldását kérhesse távozása előtt, valamint apja egyébként is bocsásson meg Safiyének és vegye őt feleségül, hogy helyreállítsa lerombolt becsületét. Murad azonnal elzavarta fiát, és nem volt hajlandó megjelenni a búcsúztatásán sem. Ezzel Murad volt a valaha élt első szultán, aki nem jelent meg fia távozásakor, hogy áldását adja rá. Mehmed napokig állomásozott még a külvárosban, várta apját, Murad azonban nem ment. Jobb belátásra végül csak Nurbanu szultána tudta bírni a szultánt, halálos ágyán. A haldokló valide megeskette fiát, hogy nem fogja bántani Mehmedet, és hogy rendezi vele kapcsolatát.

Az ifjú herceg

Mehmed minden bizonnyal lehangoltan hagyta el a fővárost, melyen nem segített az a tény sem, hogy extrém hideg tél dúlt éppen, így csak nagy nehézségek árán érték el Maniszát 1584 januárjára. Ekkor végre a herceg fellélegezhetett, elkezdhette saját életét, elkezdhette kiépíteni saját köreit. Mehmed körülmetélésekor már rengeteg ajándékot kapott, melyeket mind magával vitt Maniszába. Ezek közé több ágyas is tartozott, melyek közül a legértékesebbet Gevherhan szultánától kapta, aki egy saját maga által nevelt fiatal bosnyák származású ágyast adott Mehmednek. Az ágyas a Handan nevet kapta és hamarosan gyermekeket szült Mehmednek. Legtöbb történész neki tulajdonítja Mehmed elsőszülött gyermekét, Szelim herceget, aki 1585 februárjában született.

Sajnos Mehmed hercegi háreme igen rosszul dokumentált, így nem tudni pontosan, mely gyermekek mely ágyasoktól születtek. Mehmednek két fő ágyasa volt Maniszában Handan és Halime, azonban nem bizonyos, hogy minden gyermek ettől a két nőtől származott volna. Szelim herceg után nemsokkal egy Szulejmán nevű fiú is született, akiről azonban nem sokat tudni. 1587/88-ban újabb fiú, Mahmud jött világra, aki kétség kívül Halime fia volt; majd őt követte 1590-ben Ahmed, Handan fia. Nagy valószínűséggel további gyermekek is születtek Mehmed hercegsége során, ám róluk kevesebbet tudni. Fiai mellett legalább három lánya is volt, Hatice bizonyosan Halimétől; Ayşe pedig valószínűleg Handantól; Şah nevű lánya pedig talán Halimétől.

Ám nem csak Maniszában zajlott az élet az egyre duzzadó háremmel, Isztambulban is nagy változások következtek be. 1585-ben (vagy már hamarabb) Mehmed fellélegezhetett, ugyanis édesapja megbocsájtott édesanyjának, sőt feleségül is vette. Ennek köszönhetően Safiye ott volt mindig a szultán mellett, így újra volt hatalma megóvni fiát. Safiye végül sikeresen egyensúlyozott Murad szultán és fiuk, Mehmed között, mert olyabá tűnik, hogy Murad és Mehmed kapcsolata valamelyest stabilizálódott. Murad azonban élete végéig tartott fiától, amiért Mehmed igen népszerűvé kezdett válni a katonák szemében.

Trónralépése

Murad 1595-ben elhunyt, Safiye szultána pedig azonnal üzent fiának, hogy jöjjön Isztambulba. A szultán halálhírét igyekeztek titokban tartani, hiszen Murad rengeteg fiút nemzett az elmúlt 15 évben. Igaz mind gyermek volt még csupán, anyjaik pedig nem rendelkeztek semmiféle hatalommal, ami veszélyeztethette volna Mehmed trónralépését. Ettől függetlenül Safiye óvatosságra intette a körülötte lévőket és ahelyett, hogy egy vezírt küldött volna Mehmedhez a hírrel, a főkertészt küldte különösebb kíséret nélkül. Azonban Murad halálhíre valahogyan mégis kiszivárgott, több követ beszámolója szerint a helyzet igen veszélyessé vált a fővárosban, lázadástól tartottak ugyanis. A háremből pedig minden éjszaka több tucat embert vetettek a tengerbe. Safiye és támogatói igyekeztek fenntartani a rendet és megszabadulni mindenkitől, aki ellenük tehetett volna, amíg Mehmed megérkezett.

Végül Mehmed tizenegy nap múlva megérkezett és elfoglalta a trónt. Trónralépése történelminek tekinthető több szempontból is. Ő volt ugyanis az utolsó szultán, aki úgy került trónra, hogy előtte saját tartományt igazgatott, melyben felkészülhetett az uralkodásra. Emellett a testvérgyilkosság törvénye az ő trónralépésekor verte ki a biztosítékot Isztambul népe és államférfijai között, így ő gyakorolta utoljára hivatalos formában. Mehmed megérkezésekor azonnal elrendelte öccsei kivégzését, melynek során tizenkilenc herceget téptek ki anyjuk karjából és fojtották meg őket. Másnap a temetésen tizenkilenc kicsi koporsó követte a szultán koporsóját. Isztambul népe pedig sokkot kapott, a közvélemény - bár nem ítélte el Mehmedet a tettéért (hiszen csak a törvényeket követte) - egyértelműen a testvérgyilkosság törvénye ellen kezdett formálódni.

Mehmed apjához hasonlóan viszonylag fiatalon lépett trónra, hiszen csak 29 éves volt, körülbelül annyi, mint III. Murad vagy I. Szulejmán voltak, mikor elfoglalták a trónt. Mehmed ígéretes jelölt volt, és igyekezett is bizonyítani rátermettségét. Vezírei nyomására 1596-ban személyesen indult hadjáratra, ami meglehetősen szokatlan volt, hiszen sem III. Murad, sem II. Szelim nem vezettek szultánként hadjáratot. A vezírek célja az volt, hogy elnyerjék a katonák szeretetét és a nép elismerését.

Uralkodása

Mehmed tehát maga vezette az 1596-os Magyar Királyság elleni hadjáratot és sikerrel foglalta el Eger várát. Azonban a vár elfoglalása önmagában nem tette a hadjáratot sikeressé, hiszen több fronton nem sikerült győzedelmeskedniük és a háború nem ért véget. Mehmed bár kiérdemelte a Gazi (hódító) előtagot nevéhez, nem sikerült kivívnia a katonák szeretetét. A szultán ugyanis meglehetősen gyáván viselkedett a hadjárat során, egy ponton, Mezőkeresztesnél a főeunuch Gazanfer Aga tanácsára majdnem kocsin menekült el a csatatérről.

Isztambulba visszatérve bár hatalmas ünnepséggel fogadták a dicső szultánt és népszerűsége emelkedni kezdett, öröme nem tartott sokáig. 1597-ben legidősebb fia Szelim és egy kisebb fia, Szulejmán is elhunytak egy járvány következtében, akárcsak egyik ágyasa és sokan mások is a palotából. Ezzel az öröklés kérdése is bizonytalanná vált. Apjától eltérően azonban nem kezdett esztelen gyermeknemzésbe. Tény azonban, hogy legalább két fia született ebben az időszakban, valószínűleg mindketten Halimétől. Cihangir herceg az 1590-es évek végén született és 1602-ben el is hunyt; Musztafa herceg pedig 1600-ban vagy 1601-ben jött világra, Mehmed utolsó gyermekeként.

Jól látható, hogy Mehmed igyekezett minden létező módon különbözni apjától, így a hadjárat mellett a palotát is próbálta megszabadítani apja kegyeltjeitől, törpéitől, némáitól és más általa feleslegesnek megítélt dolgoktól, melyeket az apja szórakoztatónak talált. Mehmed kényszeresen szerette volna elnyerni népe és katonái szeretetét, azzal, hogy más lesz, mint apja volt, azonban ebben épp szerető és szeretett édesanyja, Safiye gátolta a legjobban. Mehmed akkora hatalmat adott anyja kezébe, mellyel még saját apján is túl tett. Jól pédázza Safiye dominanciáját az a tény, hogy az egri hadjárat után hazatérve Mehmed nem nevezhette ki azt akit akart nagyvezírré, hanem anyja nyomására kényszerből nevezte ki sógorát, a korábbi nagyvezír Ibrahim Pasát.

Mehmedről úgy tartották, hogy édesanyja bábja, ami objektíven vizsgálva az eseményeket is jogos vádnak tűnik. Nem tudni biztosan, hogy Mehmed alkalmatlan volt e az uralkodásra és anyja ezért igyekezett erőszakosan dominálni Mehmedet vagy egyszerű hatalom-éhség vezette Safiyét. Mehmedről sajnos keveset tudunk, így magánélete, személyisége is kevéssé ismert, mely megnehezíti megítélését. A szultán szerette ideje nagyrészét a háremben tölteni, szeretett sakkozni az egyik vezető háremszolga lányával, sosem került szembe anyjával és olyan esemény sem maradt ránk, amik alapján vérengző szultán képe rajzolódhatna ki előttünk. Mehmed inkább tűnik egy visszahúzódó, kissé mulya férfinak, anyu kicsi fiának, aki az anyjáért bármit megtett, mintsem valódi erős férfinak. Igaz, még hercegként szembeszállt a szultánnal, ami azt sugallhatná, hogy bátor volt, ám ezt is édesanyja érdekében tette, majd szultánként mindent megadott neki, amit csak akart, így úgy tűnik, egy dolog volt csak, ami mátorrá tette Mehmedet, mégpedig, ha az anyja kedvére kellett tennie. Érte ugyanis még a mulya fiú is szembe szállt bárkivel.

Viszályok

Mehmed igen rövid uralkodását sok sok lázadás és viszály kísérte. Ennek oka elsődlegesen nem Mehmed személye volt, hanem édesanyja Safiye, aki saját embereit ültette minden pozícióba, mellyel az egész birodalmat átívelő korrupciós hálózatot építettek ki. Mehmed pedig hűséges gyermekként anyja minden kérését teljesítette. A nép ellenérzései végül 1600-ban csúcsosodtak ki egy szpáhi lázadás során. Márciusban, miután Mehmed, a katonák jussát az államférfiak között osztotta szét, a szpáhik minden gazdag, korrupt államférfi (és nő) fejét követelték a szultántól. Ez volt az első igazán komoly lázadás Mehmed ellen, ám hosszas tombolás után végül sikerült meggyőznie a katonákat arról, hogy változtatni fog, anyját pedig eltávolítja az államügyek közeléből. Mehmed félelme tehát végül odajuttatta őt, hogy saját apja tettét ismételte meg: száműzte Safiyét a Régi Palotába. A száműzetés azonban minden bizonnyal csak a katonák megnyugtatását szolgálta hiszen Safiye hamarosan visszatért. Emellett ezen felkelés után utasította el nagyjából életében először anyja egy kívánságát. A lázadás során ugyanis anyja közeli barátját, Esperanza Malchit meggyilkolták, Safiye pedig bosszút követelt a nőért és követelte fiától, hogy váltsa le két vezírét, akik szerinte nem óvták eléggé Esperanzát. Mehmed azonban annyira félt a lázadástól, hogy anyját ridegen és röviden elutasította.

Nem tanulva a katonák fenyegetéséből, Safiye és emberei tovább folytatták a nagylábon élést és korrupciót, Mehmed pedig nem tudott (vagy nem is akart) tenni ellene. Így talán nem meglepő, hogy 1601-ben újabb lázadás rázta meg a fővárost. Március 21-én aztán a szpáhik ismételten fellázadtak és delegációt küldtek a szultánhoz, követelve, hogy mondassa le több államférfiját is, ha ugyanis nem enged követeléseiknek, könnyen trónfosztás áldozata lehet. Mehmed ijedtében beleegyezett, hogy kiadat mindenkit aki a listán szerepelt, de végül Safiye szultána, a nagyvezír Damad Ibrahim Pasa és Yemişci Hasan Pasa meggyőzték a szultánt, hogy nem adhatja ki hűséges embereit. A főmufti, Sunullah Efendi - aki egyébként titokban támogatta a felkelést - végül meggyőzte a katonákat, hogy nyugodjanak meg, változások fognak következni.

Természetesen nem történt semmiféle változás, így 1603 januárjában újabb lázadás történt Mehmed ellen, melyhez a szpáhik és az ulema mellett a janicsárok is csatlakoztak. Január 6-án elkapták Gazanfer agát a fő fekete eunuchal, Osmannal együtt és kirángatták őket a palotából, egészen a Topkapi harmadik kapujáig, ahol a tömeg és a szultán szeme láttára mindkettőt lefejezték. Szemtanúk szerint a szultán zokogni kezdett, hiszen Gazanfer Aga igen közel állt hozzá. A felkelők végül megelégedtek Gazanfer, Osman Aga és más kevésbé jelentős személyek kivégzésével és a felkelés véget ért.

Másik jelentős felkelés, ami Mehmed uralkodásához kötődik, a Celali felkelés volt, ami Anatólia szerte terjedt és még hosszú évtizedekig tartotta lángokban a birodalmat. Emellett több fronton zajlott háború is az Oszmán Birodalom és szomszédai között. Ez a sok viszály természetesen nem csak Mehmed és Safiye személye miatt indult el, hiszen a geopolitikai helyzet is sokat változott elősegítve a lázadások és háborúk kialakulását. Azonban tény, hogy a szultán személye nem segített a helyzeten.

Utolsó csepp

1603-ra Mehmednek csupán három élő gyermeke maradt, Mahmud, Ahmed és Mustafa. Mivel Mehmednek nem volt Haszekije, nem volt kiemelt kedvenc ágyasa, nem tudta a nép, hogy Mehmed maga mely fiát favorizálja. Épp emiatt alig várta mindenki, hogy fiait tartományba küldje. Hiszen a tartomány-beosztás alapján lehetett volna sejteni, hogy melyik fia iránt hogyan érez a szultán. Azonban az események lassacskán maguktól is megmutatták a szultán érzéseit.

Míg Mehmed népszerűsége romokban volt, legidősebb élő fia, Mahmud népszerűsége az egekben. A janicsárok és a szpáhik mind támogatták az ifjú herceget, ami viszályt okozott apa és fia között. Mahmud többször is igen meggondolatlanul viselkedett apja jelenlétében, így például kérte apját, hogy adjon neki sereget, hogy legyőzhesse a szultán ellen lázadó Celalikat Anatóliában; máskor sürgette apját, hogy adjon neki tartományt végre. Egy szultánnak, aki 3 év alatt 3 lázadást tapasztalt meg, ezek a szavak rendívül ijesztőek lehettek. Különösen ha figyelembe vesszük, hogy Mahmud a lázadó katonák között igen népszerű volt, hála annak, hogy többször szólalt fel nyíltan Safiye ellen. Azt állította, hogy nagyanyja tevékenysége igen káros a birodalomra és, hogy apja lényegében egy báb a valide kezében.

Mehmed azonban még elnézte Mahmud meggondolatlanságát és támogatottságát is, hiszen sosem jelölte ki Mahmud ellenében az általa talán jobban kedvelt Ahmedet trónörökösnek. Azoban a legendák szerint Mahmud anyja Halime, 1603-ban levelet küldött egy látnoknak, hogy megkérdezze, fia uralkodni fog e valaha a birodalomban. A válaszlevelet azonban Safiye kaparintotta meg és meggyanusította Halimét és Mahmudot, hogy azok összeesküdtek a szultán ellen. Emellett pedig a fővárosban olyan pletykák keringtek, hogy Mahmud és anyja meg akarja mérgezni a szultánt, hogy Mahmud elfoglalhassa a trónt. Ez már Mehmednek is sok volt, így Halimét és Mahmudot megvádolták árulással, szolgáikat addig kínozták, míg nem vallottak ellenük. Ezen vallomások ismeretében pedig Mehmed halálra ítélte saját fiát, Mahmudot és az ítéletet 1603. június 7-én végre is hajtották. Minden követ, aki jelen volt az események során a fővárosban úgy tartotta, hogy Mahmud kivégzése mögött Safiye állt.

Halála

Mahmud kivégzése minden bizonnyal negatívan hatott Mehmed egészségére, különösen ha csak anyja nyomására hozta meg a döntést, ahogy a követek sugallták. Mehmed ekkor már évek óta el volt hízva, mely olyansúlyos kereteket öltött, hogy lóra sem tudott ülni, emellett azonban nem volt ismert betegsége, nem voltak rosszullétei. Fiatal is volt, így a trónöröklés kérdése nem volt olyan fontos a köznép szemében. Nemsokkal Mahmud halála után azonban Mehmed kijelölte Ahmed fiát örököséül. Erre egy állami ceremónián való megjelenéssel akart utalni, ahová Safiye vitte el Ahmed herceget az Aranyszarv-öbölbe, hogy együtt nézzék meg az állami ceremóniát. Emellett Mehmed elrendezte, hogy akárhová megy, Ahmed elkísérje. Így tehát 1603 nyarától meg volt az új trónörökös, a beteges, csendes Ahmed herceg.

1603. december 20-án éjjel aztán Mehmed hirtelen elhunyt, minden bizonnyal szívrohamban, harminchét évesen. Túlsúlya és a sok stressz, ami rövid uralkodása alatt érte minden bizonnyal elősegítette a végzetes szívrohamot. Másnap reggel pedig tizenhárom éves fia követte a trónon, az első szultán aki sosem uralkodott tartományban, hanem minden tapasztalat nélkül lépett trónra. Mehmedet az Aya Sofyiában helyezték végső nyugalomra.

Felhasznált források: C. Finkel - Osman's Dream: The Story of the Ottoman Empire; L. Peirce - The imperial harem; M. P. Pedani - Safiye's household and Venetian diplomacy; G. Börekçi - Factions and favourites at the courts of Sultan Ahmed I (r. 1603-17) and his immediate predecessors; Necdet Sakaoğlu - Bu Mülkün Kadın Sultanları; G. Börekçi - A Queen Mother at Work: On Handan Sultan and Her Regency during the Early Reign of Ahmed I; Kayaalp-Aktan - The Atik Valide Mosque Complex: A testament of Nurbanu’s prestige, power and piety; P. Kayaalp - The Empress Nurbanu and Ottoman Politics in the Sixteenth Century Building the Atik Valide; S. Faroqhi - The Ottoman Empire and the World around it; C. Imber - The Ottoman Empire 1300-1650; D.A. Howard - A History of the Ottoman Empire

#Mehmed III #sehzade mahmud #Ahmed I #handan sultan #halime sultan #Safiye #safiye sultan #Murad III #Selim II #Suleiman I

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st-just · 5 years ago

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On The Undead

Because hey, worldbuilding continues to be fun

When we speak of the undead, there are certain similarities of type that hold constant-they are a mortal soul (not a god) untethered to the natural rhythms of life, divorced from vital flesh or novel thought. But that tells us nothing of interest for any but the most arcane of theologians.

More helpfully, then, the undead come in four varieties, and nigh-on endless races and clans within each. They are the Righteous, the Penitent, the Ravaged and the Damned. We shall now discuss each, in turn.

The Righteous Dead are formed from the body of men who, having sworn some great and sacred oath, were struck down before they could see it to completion. Rather than letting them be damned as forsworn, the Gods in their mercy granted their soul strength to match its will, time and power enough to see to their duties so they might pass on as honoured heroes. Having Higher Purpose, it would in nearly all cases be blasphemous to bind such souls to secular aims (and difficult, besides) and so we have not given them much study. As a rule they are puissant and singular, incapable of reproducing themselves, are only occasionally bound by barriers of sunlight, salt or running water, and are greatly weakened or destroyed should they ever set aside their Purpose.

The most storied and famous race of these is the Revanent-those who, their hearth and kin left as ashes and tears on bloody ground by the treachery of those who should have stood with them, swear righteous vengeance upon those who ruined them but are struck down before they can make good upon it. Though they still wear their mortal frame, it is very clearly but a puppet for the soul, death wounds left unhealed, moving with inhuman strength regardless of what their muscles should allow. Their hunt is ceaseless until they have visited bloody vengeance upon all those they swore doom upon, and should they be moved be appeals to mercy or prudence the next sunset will send them to their appointed hell.

The Penitent Dead are of a similar kind to their Righteous kin, and a subject I can hold forth on at length. In the Crown Lands of Belthaya it is the sacred right of the condemned and indebted to assume all responsibility for their sins and mistakes themselves, and so spare their kith and kin any punishment they might be do. After their execution, the souls of these wretches are bound into their boiled skeletons and entombed with arms and armor, to be called upon in times of war, or else bound to some useful fetish or token so they might provide useful service to their victims or creditors. While a few truly grand heretics are said to have been condemned by Heaven, when created by mortal hands these bindings are inevitably temporary (a matter of decades passed or of commands given or campaigns fought) and replete with necessary bans and banes incorporated to the rituals-pure salt, running water and sunlight are as ever the most reliable.

Beyond the Legions, the most famous, or infamous, more properly, example of the Penitent in modern times are assuredly those fools who fall into debt with the Society of Echoes, the salacious examples of which far outnumber what I have the ink to describe. Suffice to say that the necromantic syndicate collects secrets and treasures like a counterfeit dragon, and are only to happy to take advantage when those they loan out to default, binding their souls into jewelry or weapons or useful tools until they have been expended or worked off their debt.

The most pathetic and pitiable race of the dead are, without question, the Ravaged. In some ways seemingly indistinguishable to the Penitent, the crucial distinction is rather than condemned and bound by right, their souls have been wounded and warped by the assault of some alien force. Despite what their appearance might lead one to believe, corpses used as hosts by demons almost never qualify, as Incarnation invariably destroys the soul of the unfortunate victim beyond hope of recovery. Instead, these are nearly without exception the victims of the Damned who we will discuss momentarily, or of particularly debased and decadent renegade sorcerors or terrestrial gods. Bleeding spiritual wounds filled with shock or suffering, they only show intellect or consciousness when directed by their creator or something like him, and are easily warded off or destroyed by the standard elements and symbols of purity and life (the vast majority being entirely powerless through the day, for example).

The two most famous examples of the Ravaged are surely the ghost, killed in some particularly foul and wounding way, their soul forced to relive and suffer from that wound until laid to rest, and the husk, the all-to-common final fate of those preyed upon by the Damned, a rotting and half-eaten corpse sustained only to fetch their replacements as their master’s meal of choice.

But of course, when we whisper of ‘the undead’ around camfires and tavern tables, it is very nearly always the Damned to which we refer. The terrible lords and ladies of the grave, the mad heretics and proud blasphemers so terrified of their final judgment the sacrifice all admirable and lasting legacy on the altar of their own existence. They invariably seem more complete and closer to human than any other race of the dead (it would be a poor trade indeed, else), but they are by nature parasitic. The Lich’s wit and intellect will never dull, but those in their thrall will grow dimmer and duller until they are naught but a soul in a corpse without thought to guide them. The Vampyre will remain forever in the splendour of their youth, with attributes far beyond any base mortal, but those they feast upon will in the long run become nothing but a spectral choir chained to their glory, all vitality bled from their flesh. The Wraith bears a passing similarity to a god, all will and power unchained to mortal form, but he must devour his sacrifices completely, lest the souless husks become easy prey for demons grander than he. And so it goes, for every novel hubris and innovation the most subtle apostates can devise. The soul itself cannot sustain life outside its allotted span, and its parody lasts only through predation.

Those Damned that are taken as facsimile of children or companions by some elder progenitor very often carry the usual weaknesses, inherited from their ‘father’ or ‘mother’, but it is foolish in the extreme to assume this of the self-made damned. Some flaw in their ritual is inevitable, but most clever apostates make certain to protect themselves against anything so common as oceans or cold silver.

-The Lady Binder Katerine ir Paimon, “The Dead and the Damned, or, A Study On The Relation Between The Hells And The Living Dead”

#writing #worldbuilding #abhari #this is theoretically a writing blog

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robbyrobinson · 4 years ago

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OWL HOUSE X CTHULHU MYTHOS (XVI)

The next thing Eda, Lilith, and King knew, they were being escorted into the dungeon whilst still being stronghold by a few of the imperial guards. Nyarlathotep walked in front of them, humming some tune to himself. Once more, he was in his Black Pharaoh form. He turned to look at the prisoners with a half-amused smile. “Be sure to make yourselves at home.”

At the entrance of the dungeon with its large, heavy iron casing, stood Warden Wrath. He gave a slight bow towards the Crawling Chaos to which Nyarlathotep responded to with a wave of his hand. “At ease, Wrath.”

Wrath examined the prisoners. His yellow button-like lens of his mask lit up. “Eda, the Owl Lady! We meet again.”

Eda groaned in irritation. “Oh, Titan, not him.”

Nyarlathotep smirked and tried to stifle a laugh. “I take it that you know this woman?”

“Yes, my lord; the Owl Lady was the one that always escaped my clutches! Yet for as much as I desired her, she always rejected my advances.”

He walked up to Eda and morphed his hand into a bouquet of flowers. He held it in front of Eda’s face. “Perhaps now that there is no escape, you could change your mind?”

Before Eda could reply, Nyarlathotep broke the two up. While his smile was still visible on his face, he tapped his finger against the side of a wall. The sound of his finger echoed through the walls in a dry, hollow thrust. Warden Wrath immediately backed away. Nyarlathotep’s glare never faltered.

“The human girl is essential in my plans; what would you think would happen if she knew that you laid a finger on her mentor? Need I remind you of the punishment that could transpire for your insolence?”

Warden Wrath held his hands up. “Yes, my lord. Forgive me.”

“You are forgiven; now show the three guests to their room.”

Warden Wrath and the guards took the prisoners and tossed them into a glass cage. Once all three were in, the bindings that were placed on their limbs were removed. When the last guard exited the cage, the door was sealed shut with a wave of the guard’s finger. Nyarlathotep took a chair and propped it down to sit on it. His smile widening to the point of wrapping around the sides of his head, he crossed his leg and held a cup. Almost on cue, another guard arrived on the scene and poured a liquid into it. Nyarlathotep grasped the head of the cup and brought it to his lips.

“What is your game, Nyarlathotep?” Eda asked.

The glass clicked against the Crawling Chaos’ teeth. He brought the cup down and sighed. “I really love this apple blood you witches brew; maybe moreso than the typical games I engineer.”

“What are you planning on doing to us?” King said.

“You are all much too valuable to threaten,” Nyarlathotep stated, “it’s really the most mundane of gambits, but I am keeping you all hostage for as long as I like.”

Eda knelt down and clasped some of the shackles. She then made an unprovoked dash towards the glass. The cuffs slammed against the cage. Instead of doing what she had hoped, sparks of white lightning struck her and propelled her back to the ground. The walls jiggled from the magic that composed them. Once the gelatinous walls settled down, the cage regained its still composure. Eda tried it again only to be met with the same result.

“What is this?” Lilith inquired. She casually poked her finger on the wall only to draw it back when a surge of lightning shocked her. She clutched her other hand over that one.

“It is a wall that was created by some alchemist using some of my dark magic,” Nyarlathotep explained. “Any normal magic you witches could dish out will only bounce off it. It has the additional benefit of absorbing the magic and blows of other people making it three times as strong as it initially was.”

“That can’t be true,” Eda denied, “every cage can be broken...just takes effort.”

Nyarlathotep got up from his chair and rubbed his chin. “It isn’t like you can do much; I sense that your magic bile sac is faulty.”

“For your explanation, if you must know that I ended up using it in order to save Luz.”

Lilith looked down at the floor. She really wished that she could forget driving her sister to that point, but what was done was done. There was little inconceivable way that Eda would be able to perform magic again through the biological way.

“Even if you and your sister, hypothetically speaking of course, transform into your beastly forms, that will not be enough to free you from that cage. Unless...”

Eda’s eyebrow arched. “Unless what?”

“You and your sister can always align yourself with me; I can remove your curses if you so please.”

Eda turned her head in disgust. “Forget it; I am not going to agree to that deal especially because your little pet project lied to my sister about promising to remove my curse.”

“Of course, he was unable to remove it; he represents only a sliver of my power. If he was able to cure anyone of their ailment, it would only be a temporary fix for a temporary situation. But once I have the Necronomicon in my possession, I can remove your little curse if in return you become my acolytes.”

“I said no, Nyarlathotep. I will not spend the remainder of my days serving you until the Boiling Isles crumbles away.”

Nyarlathotep sighed in disappointment. “Very well then; I may as well should just leave you condemned to your tragic fate.”

The Black Pharaoh snapped his fingers not taking his eyes off the cage. In walked in Kikimora with a plate in her hand. On it was a silver cloche to conceal the contents within. She made a slight bowing gesture to Nyarlathotep and directed one of the guards to create a hole big enough to slide the plate into it.

“What are you doing now?” Lilith asked in confusion.

King grabbed the cloche and pulled it away. Underneath the plate were three sandwiches comprised of peanut butter and jelly. The crust of the bread was cut away leaving only the whiteness of the loaves. The three eyed the sandwiches suspiciously before directing their attention back to Nyarlathotep. He sat back down and drank more apple blood from his cup.

“You may want to eat that,” he said.

“You can go to Hell for all we care,” Eda declared.

“Hell? Aw that’s cute,” said Nyarlathotep in a chuckle. “But I do insist on eating those sandwiches; it could may as well be the last time that you eat something in your life.”

“You likely laced them with some...alien drug,” Eda said, “we do not want anything to do with your sandwich or you.”

Nyarlathotep shrugged. “No skin off my back then; the clock is ticking.”

He waved his index finger back and forth as a visual metaphor. “The Day of Unity is just about to take wing.”

“You always say things on Day of Unity this; Day of Unity that. What exactly are you detailing?” Eda asked aloud.

“It comes in two forms: first, my servant, Belos, wanted me to specifically destroy the Earth for his cause. I will admit that while I hate the idea of him gaining free will away from my control, he did keep the Isles nice and tidy while I was on temporary leave. I will do such once I regain my full power.”

Eda tensed up. Her blood ran cold; shivers went up her spine. “Why does he want that?”

“It is a very interesting story he told me: the reason he hates the Earth so much has to do with him being a temporary parent of sorts.”

Eda sat down with her sister and King. “A parent? Belos?”

She turned to look at Lilith. Lilith shrugged her shoulders expressing the same confusion that her younger sister was showing. “Belos never mentioned having any children.”

Nyarlathotep laughed. “I would suspect not; one day, some human girl found herself wondering in the Boiling Isles along with scraps of metal and other things coming from the human realm.”

“There were more portal keys out there?” Eda asked.

“I am certain that there were at least a few keys aside from the one that you had in your possession; whatever means she came here, Belos saw some potential in raising the child as a mentor. The child was always kept away in the deeper parts of his kingdom where he bestowed some of his power to her whilst keeping her being a human a top secret. The old man taught her every kind of magic there was under some belief that she would likely continue in his footsteps.”

King was ripping his teeth into one of the PB&J sandwiches and shoveling large chunks into his mouth. “Wvell, hwhat rappened?”

“She started to realize the corruption he was poisoning the Boiling Isles with, and she fought against him. Before she vanished, she left Belos in such a bloodied, beaten state, he swore to have his vengeance. From the way he described the beating he was delivered, Belos can now barely hold it together. Give or take a year and a half, I am quite certain that he would be shuffling off the mortal coil soon. With no heir to succeed him, this may as well spell the end of the coven system.”

The three prisoners looked at each other whilst mentally trying to figure out what human girl would have even dreamed of defeating Belos and leaving him in a near-death state for the rest of his rule.

Luz and Amity were arriving to Earth at a skyrocketing speed, the pressure of the air around them smacking into them. The brown rat was already further down and using the streams of cloud as a surfboard. Hypnos was following closely behind. Unlike the two girls who flailed their arms against the winds, Hypnos gracefully floated through the mist, his arms pinned squarely on his sides.

“No fair, how can you do this?” Luz asked.

“Tons of experience, and...lots of drugs,” Hypnos bluntly stated.

“Oh.”

The two turned back to glaring at the brown rat. “I have the tiniest inkling of where he is going.”

“Where?” Amity asked.

“Let me confiscate the rat, and you can find me then,” Hypnos stated.

Hypnos’ astral body curved in the air and jetted down like a heat-seeking missile. It was now just Amity and Luz plunging towards the Earth. Amity’s eyes were open in small squints. The pressure bounced off her eyes shifting them behind the back of her head. She grabbed onto Luz’s hand for dear life hoping that with her combined strength, they could slow down the speed with which they were free falling.

She looked up at the sky seeing the portal that they had just leaped from. She could hardly believe it: she was now in another realm filled with alien tech her little mind couldn’t even bear to understand. Naturally, she knew that the Earth existed because Luz was a denizen of that world. But never in her imagination or calculations could have prepared her to the implication of a multiverse. The scenarios were limitless: in one, Amity could have been the one who was not born with magic whereas Luz was. She could likely be some other species on another world with a completely different personality. Perhaps there was one where she and Luz..she couldn’t finish that thought due to her feeling the warmness of her cheeks.

“Amity, is the motion sickness making you sick?” Luz asked.

Amity shook her head to keep her thoughts at bay. “Oh...no. No, I’m fine.”

She yelped when Luz placed her forehead onto hers. “Are you sure, Amity? Your head feels warm.”

“Pfft...I’m fine, hahahaha...who’s Amity?”

Amity’s oddness aside, Luz shrugged her shoulders. “Anyway, we should probably brace ourselves.”

She pointed to the ground which was now within reach. “Makes me wish Hypnos considered giving us parachutes.”

Amity was confused. “Par-A-what now?”

“Whatever, get ready...set....”

Luz wrapped her arms around the witch girl’s waist. The pupils in Amity’s eyes shrunk. “L-Luz!?”

Before she could say anything, the air tightened around the two as they faced the full brunt of the fall.

#owl house #the owl house #cthulhu mythos #mythos #cthulhu #cthulhumythos #fanfiction #owlhouse #owl house fanfiction

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multiverseforger · 4 years ago

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Arcane is a scientist whose obsession with gaining immortality has led him to create monstrous creatures known as "Un-Men", as well as other monstrous biogenetic experimentations involving the dead. He was able to resurrect his deceased brother Gregori as the Patchwork Man. He is also a skilled magician, which he is able to channel through his horrific experiments.[2]

Living in the mountains of Europe with his niece Abigail, Arcane is introduced after he discovers and lures the plant-based hero to his castle home. Arcane sought to use his scientific and magical abilities to transform his body into the Swamp Thing's form, while changing the Swamp Thing back into Alec Holland. At first very grateful to be human again, Alec soon overheard Arcane discussing his evil intentions now that he could carry them out. Alec then succeeds in breaking the spell Arcane cast, and sacrifices his humanity, so Arcane becomes a frail old man again. Pursued by the Swamp Thing, Arcane fell to his death, only to be resurrected by his Un-Men in a new body. He then attacked the Swamp Thing twice more before truly dying, the first time as a hulking corpse-like Un-Man (only to be destroyed by the vengeful ghosts of African-American slaves who had possessed his Un-Men) and later as an insect-like cyborg piloting a massive dragonfly-like vehicle that is actually a tesseract (i.e., its interior is larger than its exterior). It is after his third death that his soul was consigned to Hell.

Arcane's soul later escaped from Hell and ultimately helped to summon the demon Monkey King into the world.

After a fight with Abigail that culminated in her leaving on foot to find the Swamp Thing, Matt Cable (Abigail's husband) had an attack of conscience and drove after her. He had been drinking heavily and wound up crashing his car, leaving him mortally wounded. Ultimately Arcane managed to possess Cable's body, and with it gained access to Cable's godlike power.

In this body, he masquerades as Cable, claiming that he has a new job at a company called Blackriver Recorporations and is buying a mansion for them to live. Arcane combined his own magic with Cable's inherent psychic powers to alter reality and the employees of Blackriver Recorporations were the resurrected souls of deceased serial killers returned from Hell. He finally revealed himself, tormenting his niece and causing havoc and insanity by altering reality on a massive scale. For miles around natural and unnatural disasters occurred, people succumbed to homicidal instincts and the resurrected serial killers returned to killing.

He once again battled the Swamp Thing, accompanied by monstrous forms resembling Un-Men, after killing Abigail and condemning her soul to Hell, all the while declaring Earth as his now.

It was during this battle that Arcane found that the Swamp Thing was a plant elemental and thus possessed semi-magical abilities, allowing the Swamp Thing to combat him on a more even ground. The battle was enough for Matthew Cable to regain control of his body, and Arcane was exorcised directly back to Hell. Cable used his awakened power to resurrect Abigail's body, but not having sufficient power to repair himself, became comatose and finally died, whereupon he became Matthew, a raven living within the Dreaming.

Arcane next appears as a demon, having been promoted to this status by the Lords of Hell. He attacks Swamp Thing yet again, only to be defeated. In a later episode, Arcane temporarily repents of his evil ways after having briefly found God, who eventually banishes him back to Hell. Arcane is tortured by the demon Josephine, whom he seduces into helping him escape. The Swamp Thing defeats the two demons, causing their forms to morph together, and when last seen, it is revealed that the Arcane/Josephine being is pregnant.

The New 52Edit

In the wake of The New 52 (a 2011 reboot of the DC Comics universe), Anton Arcane is a regular antagonist in the monthly Swamp Thing comics.[3] After Abigail was able to fight off the mental control of Sethe, Sethe revives Anton Arcane from the dead.[3] as the avatar of the Black (a.k.a. the Rot), after which he tries to take over the Red (colliding with Animal Man as well) and the Green. Anton also has a son named William Arcane and Abigail is his daughter in this timeline.[4][5]

During Animal Man and the Swamp Thing's one year in the Rot, Anton Arcane and the forces of the Rot were able to take over parts of Earth. It was mentioned by Frankenstein that Anton Arcane had imprisoned someone beneath Metropolis.[6] When the forces of the Red and the forces of the Green converge outside of Anton Arcane's castle, Anton Arcane unleashes corrupted versions of Maxine Baker and Abigail Arcane.[7] Anton Arcane and the Rot's conquest of Earth is thwarted and undone when Maxine breaks the hold of the remaining Hunter's Three on her.[8]

After being defeated by the Swamp Thing, Arcane is put in a Hell specifically made for him by the Parliament of Decay when nothing ever rots and all is forever pure. Abigail, as the new avatar of the Rot, comes to him demanding information about her mother. Arcane reveals that when she was a baby she already had power over the Rot and she accidentally killed her by 'filling' her with the Rot. To make him talk Abigail lets him feel rot, but she now says he will never escape his Hell and will never touch rot again. Arcane says that when he touched it when she gave it to him, he became stronger than he had been in ages and he will escape and take revenge on both her and Alec Holland. As she teleports away, Arcane rips out one of his eyes and throws it in the portal. On Earth, a boy is about to eat an apple when it turns rotten. He throws it away and Arcane's eye appears in it.[9]

In Swamp Thing (vol. 5) #36, when the Swamp Thing goes in the Rot to warn Abigail about the new realm of machines, she initially assumes that he is there because of Arcane, who has escaped.[10] It is eventually shown that he has returned to Earth, but since he is not the avatar of the Rot, he can only gain strength from consuming rotten items, like corpses and garbage, and as such is terribly weakened. He joins forces with the new realm of Metal, which promises him the power that he lost, and his power does grow greatly in this time. He later poisons the Green from within, when the Swamp Thing is weakened in an attempt to destroy it, but this fails when all the avatars of the Green are awakened and use their power to cleanse the Green to its original state. Abigail challenges Arcane in the final war against Metal, and while she has the upper hand, Arcane eventually escapes.

In Futures End, it is revealed that five years in the future, a series of events conspired to ensure that all avatars swore to stay off of Earth and within their own realms to prevent chaos. Arcane only agreed to this if he was allowed to bind himself to Abigail forever, as seen when his left hand and her right are completely fused in a twisted embrace and when he calls her his "daughter-wife". In doing so, he allowed himself to leech off her power, as the true avatar of the Rot, and ensuring that the Swamp Thing could not fight him, without risking harm or death to the one he loved. However, the Swamp Thing has made the decision to destroy the Rot, using the power of a Life through a White Lantern Ring. Arcane attempts to dissuade him, by citing the necessity of death and rot, but the Swamp Thing counters it by saying that fungi/the Grey and bacteria/the Divided have already decided to take over the role of rot, while Metal will keep them in check. Arcane then tries to give up Abigail, but the Swamp Thing believes that there is enough life in her to let her survive and in the worst case, death is better than the Hell that she lives in. Arcane briefly tries to fight back, but Abigail makes her move to distract him, long enough for the Swamp Thing to activate the White Lantern ring and bringing about the death of Anton Arcane.

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phantoms-lair · 5 years ago

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MSAxBNHA AU

After stopping the slime monster All Might doesn't go after Izuku. The kid has the heart and the mindset, but All Might was the strongest hero in the world and now he's condemned a to slow painful death as his body deteriorates. Being a hero is a dance with death and he wasn't to see that brave and kind soul snuffed out so young.

What he doesn't realize is his words about Izuku not being able to be a hero without a quirk did what over a decade of bullying failed to. He broke Izuku's spirit. And Inko doesn't know what to do. She doesn't know how to help her son, feels like she never knew how to help him, so she tried for a Hail Mary. There’s a trinket said to belong to a great spirit that once swore to help her family. A small metal tag with a hole on the top and a stylized question mark. She lights incense and prays for the spirit to help her son. The lights flicker and she sees the silhouette of a massive nine tailed form that vanishes, leaving behind a small white dog where yellow tinted pince-nez. "Hello Inko, daughter of Vivi, daughter of Mushi. What can I do for you?"

The logical part of her brain wants to deny whats in front of her is a spirit. Animals with quirks were rare but not unheard of. But this is the only thing she can think of, her last hope, so she forges ahead. She tells the dog about her son's love of heroes. Of how 80% or the worlds population, almost 100% of the younger generation has some kind of superpower. Of how her son doesn't. How he strived to be a hero, studied every hero no matter how big or small. How he was bulled for not having a quirk and the teachers would look the other way. How he never gave up until the man he looked up to above all others told him he couldn't be a hero, confirmed in his mind the years of being told he was worthless. And she begged this being that looked like a dog but wasn't to help her son, that's she'd pay any cost-

"Never say that," The creature said sharply. "There are those who would take you up on it."

Inko frowned stubbornly So much like Vivi "For my son, I'd give anything."

"And if they asked for his life or soul? You'd already said anything, you'd have to comply."

Inko's hands flew to her mouth as the color drained from her skin.

"I would never ask that of you," The creature said, a warm kindness in his voice, though his tone was still firm. "But others would. I merely want you to not make such risky statements where another might take advantage. Tell me Inko, do you have a box that's been passed down from your family? A metal box with English writing a little over a meter in length?"

Inko knew the box he meant. She had inherited along with the tag that summoned him. "It's in the attic."

"Let's get it then. What's in the box should help your son more than I could.".

Inko shakily gets to her feet and leads the way. She dusts the box off so the letters are visible. 'Yukino' is written in kanji on the top. There's two words in English too, she'd translated them on a lark while she was studying for her degree in library science. Pepper on the right and Kingsmen of the left. What 'From Snow' had to do with a fruit or a King's guard she didn't know; no one had ever been able to open the box.

The thing that certainly wasn't a dog lightly touched it with his paw and it sprang open. Inside was what seemed to be an old metal baseball bat covered in ofuda. Beneath it was a star pin, a set of violet tinted glasses, and a golden heart shaped locket. The beast blew lightly on the three objects on the bottom. "Vivi, Lewis, Arthur. It's time to wake up, Your great-great granddaughter and great-great-great grandson need you."

At first it seems nothing happens. Then the items being to spark. The golden locket is the first to rise in the air, purple fire forming a massive skeletal figure. Then a powder of delicate blue ice pushes up the glasses and form a more petite one. The star takes a few tries, false starts before the electricity forms into a much more lanky skeleton, one arm glowing unnaturally. And for the first time Inko fears she's made a mistake. She doesn't know what these powers she's courted are. What if they're dangerous? What if they hurt her Izuku?

"Look at you!" The blue themed skeleton hovered over her in glee. "You have to tell me about yourself. What's your favorite color? Is it green? What do you do for fun? Wait, Mystery implied you had a son? What's he like? Do you have a husband? A Wife? Both?"

"Vivi, chill. You might want to put on your face. You're scaring our granddaughter." True to his word the lanky one shimmered and suddenly seemed much more human. A Caucasian man with blonde spiked hair.

He approached Inko much more slowly. "My name is Kingsman Arthur. You may not have heard of me, but I'm your couple of times great grandfather. This is my wife, Vivi, and our husband, Lewis." The last skeleton, who'd taken on the appearance of a dark skinned man bowed.

Inko bowed back, still a little shakily.

"None of that." The exuberance had left Vivi's voice, instead leaving a soft gentle tone. "You're family, Inko-chan. You have nothing to fear from any of us. We're here to help, whatever you need."

"Shouldn't you not offer open ended things?"

"You learn quickly." The not-dog commended. "Obviously not a trait you picked up from any of these three."

"Shut it furball," Vivi said, albeit with a note of teasing in her voice. "And technically you're correct, but Mystery wouldn't have awoken us if you had less than pure intentions. So what do you need that he couldn't help with?"

"My son's dream was shattered yesterday and it feels like his spirit died with it. I don't know how to help and people have a history of not taking him seriously." She'd lost track of how many times she'd been told 'quirkless people are just a little more fragile' along with a shrug when she'd brought him in with an injury. Of being told 'he has to learn to accept facts' when she confronted the teachers over the bullying he received for being quirkless. As if to society her son was worth less for his lack of quirk when he meant the world to her. Her hands balled angrily. "Izuku is selfless, brave, and intelligent. He risked his life to save someone who had bullied him, when the authorities were frozen in fear. Only for him to be berated by the professional heroes while his childhood bully is praised for his bravery and told he had what it takes to be a professional hero when all he did was get captured and destroy half the shopping district with the same quirk he's used to hurt my boy."

She looked at them with fierce determination, tears streaming from her eyes. "I want my son to be happy. I want him to thrive. He's the best thing that's ever happened to me and he deserves better than to believe not having a quirk means he has no worth."

"Let's introduce ourselves to him then." Arthur said casually. "What? We have to talk to him if we're going to help. Remember how well not talking to each other about important things went? It went bad is how it went."

“Bad is an understatment,” Lewis agreed.

"Mom, are you okay? I thought I heard voices..." Izuku's voice trailed off as he saw two strange men in his attic along with a floaty skull lady. He felt himself tense. If these were villain trying to rob his house-

"Oh my gosh, he's got freckles just like you did at that age Artie!" The skull lady flew over to him “Remember Lew?"

"How could I forget, he was adorable." Lewis said shaking his head. "But you really need to put on your face dear."

"Who are you people, what do you want?" Izuku was scanning the rooms, trying to find the best way to get his Mom to safety. If only he knew their quirks.

"They're, well, they're you grandparents Izuku.” Inko explained. “Grandmother Vivi, and Grandfathers Arthur and Lewis."

"A few greats need to be thrown in there, but yeah." Arthur sheepishly put one hand behind his head. "I guess you can say we're family guardians. Your mother summoned us to help you."

"Help me, with what?"

"That's what we were finding you to discuss." The blue skull lady now had a face. "Tell us what happened, Izuku-kun."

Izuku looked at his Mom. "This is about yesterday isn't it. I just got a wake up call to reality, that's all."

"Bullshit." Vivi said brightly. "Try the whole story."

Izuku was taken aback. "Well, I mean, we live in a superhuman society. Eighty percent or more of the world has some kind of super power."

"Really?" he heard who he took to be Grandfather Arthur whisper to a dog he hadn't noticed before, The dog nodded.

"And with that came the rise of heroes on villains. And when I was a child, I wanted more than anything else to be a hero. Especially a Hero like All Might. He's amazing! His sheer power is incredible. He saves so many people and no matter hope bad the situation is, he always smiles. He brings hope to everyone. I wanted to be just like him. But...I didn't have the power. Since I was four everyone told me becoming a hero was a pipe dream, but I thought if I worked hard enough, studied hard enough, I could do it. I even sent in an application for UA, the best Hero school in the world but-" Like his mother, tears were beginning to stream down Izuku's cheeks. "Yesterday I met All Might. He saved me from a villain. And I asked him if I could be a hero how I was and he-he said no." Izuku swiped his arm across his eyes. "I shouldn't be surprised, right? It was obvious. And I caused even more trouble when I tried to save Kaachan from that villain."

"And again I say Bullshit." Vivi cut in. "From what your mother told us, you were the only one who was willing to help while the so-called heroes sat on their collective asses. That makes you more of a hero than they'll ever be."

Izuku wasn't sure how that made him feel. The reassurance was nice, but it still felt a bit empty. So he had the spirit of a hero, but not the body? What good would that do?

"You mentioned a school. Is that the only method of becoming a hero?" Grandfather Lewis asked.

"Well, technically you only need to pass the licensing exam, but it's almost impossible to get through on self-study. There are other schools, but UA is the best with the highest pass rate. You need to do a written and a practical to get into the hero course, and no one knows what the practical is."

"So we need to get you into the school first. What's your power kiddo? Need to know what we're working with."

Izuku stiffened at Grandmother Vivi's question. He'd thought they'd known. "I don't have any power. I'm quirkless." He braced himself, Waited for the 'what are you wasting our time for' that every guidance councilor had given him.

"Oh that's what that means." Arthur nodded. "So you're gonna Batman it."

"Batman it?" Izuku was as baffled by the phrase as the fact that hearing he was quirkless hadn't dissuaded them in the least

"You don't know who Batman is?" Arthur sounded aghast.

"It's been decades if not centuries, Art." Lewis reminded him

"Batman is forever." Arthur grumbled.

"Was that the movie with the nipples on the costume?" Vivi asked with a grin.

"Anyway" Lewis turned the attention back to Izuku. "In our time, before superpowers were apparently a real thing, we had comic book characters and one of the most famous was a hero named Batman. There were multiple comic books, cartoon series, and movies abut him. One of the biggest debates was if Batman would win against Superman, a being so powerful he was night invulnerable and strong enough to change the planet's rotation. And do you know what Batman's superpower was?"

Something Bat themed, huh. "Maybe echolocation? One at a frequencey that could disorient even the Superman guy?"

"This Superman guy?!" Arthur explained in disbelief.

Lewis grinned. “Nope. He was, as you would put it, quirkless. Not a single superpower to him. Just cunning, creativity, a bunch of gadgets, and an indomitable will."

"And martial arts training." Vivi reminded.

"And a really cool car," Arthur added.

Lewis rolled his eyes. "The point is, superpowers aren't what being a hero is really about. Batman didn't need them. Neither did Ironman, Black Widow, or Hawkeye. So if you want to be a hero, we're going to help."

"Right." Vivi nodded. "Lewis can handle physical training, he was in the best shape of all of us in life. I can teach you melee combat with fists or a baseball bat. I know a little sword work, but you'd probably be better off with actual lessons. Arthur can do free running and strategy. I don't know how much we can help with the written test though, our knowledge is too out of date. Inko-chan could you help him study for that?"

Inko was taken aback for a moment. She didn't know what she expected the spirits to do, besides possibly give her son a quirk of some kind. But they didn't need him to have a quirk to believe his dream and supported him without questions. The way she wished she had done when he was four. "I...of course I can! I'm a librarian. I can find whatever books Izuku needs to help."

"Speaking of books, we have another option on the table." Mystery said with a smirk. "Quirks have been all the rage for a century and a half. Magic is all but forgotten. It would be something almost no one would have access to. Between Vivi and myself there is a fair amount of occult knowledge we could impart."

"Magic is real? You're offering to teach me magic?" This was a dream, it had to be. There was no way this was real.

"Yes. But we have a mere ten months before your exam. Your schedule will be packed to the gills with little time for levity. It won't be easy. I may not be able to guarantee you'll get in on the first try. But I promise you this. With all of us helping, you will be a hero."

All his life Izuku had craved hearing that he could be a hero. The sheer assurance that he would be one was almost more than he could take. "Thank you! I won't let you guys down."

The three ghosts and kitsune smiled. "Of that we have no doubt."

#MSA #Uncommon Ancestry #BNHA #Ghost Writing #Izuku's going to ens up a bit more balance than in canon #No where near as strong #not accounting for OFA #But did a lot better #on the written

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audarkmist · 5 years ago

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Changes in Covenant.

For context please visit Cherry Picking.

This is written to show different ways Jesus has changed the covenant in the New testament from the Old testament. For all those who wonder the reason us Christians do not follow Jewish law (like mixed fabrics/pork). Comes down to NEW COVENANT theology.

1. New Vs Old Covenant.

So what fundamentally changed?

I will give some examples of what fundamentally changed in the new covenant with Christians. Keep in mind that when I have spoken to Jewish people they say that not every one of the Old Testament 613 commands are for Christians but for their covenant with God. We have our own covenant which has a lot of overlap but it’s still different.

A) Removing the requirement for the Sabbath Day to favor mercy.

Matthew 12:7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

Mark 2:27-28 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Luke 14:3-6 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” And they could not reply to these things.

Matthew 12:10-13 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? – so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.

Is the Sabbath completely gone?

Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls.

In Hebrews there is talk of a symbolic Sabbath where we rest in God. A rest for our souls. Many people when they are saved talk about feeling like they are finally at peace. The war inside has ceased and they have found rest for their souls in the promises of God. The Sabbath day is technically ~today~ if you hear God`s voice.

Hebrews 4:1-3,7-11. Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.Again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

B) Removing the dietary restrictions in favor of symbolic inward purity.

Matthew 15:11-12,15-19 “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said,“Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

First of all it doesn’t seem to be that strict of a law since in the Old Testament there appears to be a few places of exceptions. This is because this is not a moral law. The worst consequence for violating eating something unclean in the Old covenant was to be “unclean until evening”.

Deuteronomy 12:15,22 “However, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your towns, as much as you desire, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and as of the deer. Just as the gazelle or the deer is eaten, so you may eat of it. The unclean and the clean alike may eat of it.

So if these verses weren’t clear enough there are many verses in the new covenant about all foods becoming clean more explicitly.

Acts 10:13-15 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

Romans 14:6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Romans 14:20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.

1 Corinthians 10:25-26 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

Mark 7:19 “Since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?”(Thus he declared all foods clean.)

Is the clean law completely gone?

As we have seen the law of cleanliness is about what comes out of our mouths now (our words and actions) rather than what goes in (food). It’s not symbolic cleanliness of what we expel from our mouths.

C) Removing circumcision for symbolic inward heart circumcision.

1 Corinthians 7:19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

Kind of strange since circumcision was a command right? Well it’s not part of the new commands in the new covenant.

Is circumcision completely removed?

It was just an outward demonstration of the inward change. It has now become symbolic to mean the circumcision of the heart.

Romans 2:28-29 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Galatians 6:14-15 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

It’s not even a new concept as it was foretold and prophecies in the Old Testament. The symbolic meaning is to love God and cut away any idols in our heart. It hasn’t come out of thin air.

Deuteronomy 30:6 Andthe Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

What does all of this mean?

So I haven’t mentioned everything that changed. I think you get the point that things are becoming “more symbolic” to inward change rather than outward change. This removes all of the Jewish cultural laws that were not moral laws to favor mercy and inward transformation of the heart.

I know I have been saying that the laws have now become symbolic to the heart. In a way it can be said the other way around and that’s actually how the bible describes it. The bible says Old Testament laws were merely symbolic of the important laws of the new covenant laws. The true purpose of the law was to be a place holder until Christ (as described in my initial post).

Hebrews 10:1-2 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?

2. Slavery.

I have actually spoke on this one before so if you want the full post you can check it out. I still will reiterate the immediately relevant parts just to have it all in one place.

This is not a call to enslave anyone just that if you are enslaved by an evil person it is better to obey if you are a Christian.

This is only talking about Christians taken by force by someone sinful who have are ready to suffer on this earth for God. It is basically the idea that obeying your master because it will make your time with that master easier. It mentions that even if it doesn’t make things smoother then you will be rewarded and avenged. It is the calling of every believer o suffer in this life for the name of Jesus Christ.

Many Jewish people think Jesus Christ came to change the status quo and create revels to Rome. Jesus Christ did not come to change the state but to change the individual. We aren’t here to rebel but to submit to our fates as He submitted to the cross. There are other verses about submitting to the government. By the way one can disobey a master or the government if they command you to do something evil. Christians are not here to rebel though we are here to be servants. God considers great people to be those in humble service of others.

Mark 10:42-44 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

I’m not ignoring it actually. Every day I wonder how I may serve someone kind of like those fast food people who say “how may I serve you today?”. I can’t say I do it perfectly but I try every day to see in which way I may be a servant to all so that I may grow in humility and love. In fact the demands of Christians go far beyond servitude to our earthly masters but to even be sacrificially slaughtered.

Romans 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Furthermore this is all more explicitly clarified with a few more verses that explicitly literally explain that enslaving someone is against the doctrine of Christianity. It explains there is only laws concerning slaves for sinners who insist on having there own way as a way to minimize the problem. In a believer there is no need for these laws for truth is written on our hearts just like that skeptic probably to some degree feels on their heart.

1 Timothy 1:8-11 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality,**enslavers**, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

It is like a good quote I saw in doctor who “good men don’t need rules” because they are really good changed in their heart not needing any restraint. In the moment of conversion there is a strong renewing of the heart and spirit. Jesus Christ justified us through his blood and saves us more and more from the power of sin.

3. Women.

I am a woman. I don’t feel treated like cattle I feel honored. I see so many passages that are there for the benefit of women. God the Father and God the son are equal but have different roles. They are equally God and equally valuable but they have different positions.

Men and women are equal heirs.

Hurting women hinders prayers.

1 Peter 3:7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life.Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

The only only restriction is that women can’t be spiritual leaders (pastors). This is a good thing because they are judged more harshly on judgment day. God wants to protect women from the fierce anger and judgment that comes with spiritual leadership.

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Feel free to ask more about it if you have questions.

Inconsistent?

The only thing inconsistent is the way people don’t understand the bible. As I mentioned before I asked Jewish people if God intends those Old Testament commands to be for Christians. They says it`s only for the Jews not for Christians. God made a covenant with one country (Israel). He made another one with the world through Christ. The old covenant has passed away now that the new covenant has come. It’s as I said a car dealer can make two different contracts with two different individuals. Why would I obey the covenant that was given to someone else? It’s like the parent who gives their different children two different curfews. Why would I take the curfew of my other sibling when my parents gave me a different curfew? Say the younger child has a curfew of eight and the older child has a curfew of midnight. The parents did not intend for the younger child to have the later curfew nor the older child to have the earlier curfew. It can even be more severe like if the child thought he had the same chores as the older child such as lawn mowing. Imagine even if your landlord updated your terms of contract of residency. It’s still a new contract even if there’s overlap. This is not a new concept to get your head around.

God has established a whole new covenant through Christ. A covenant that did not come through thin air but was prophecies in the prophets. The old covenant was a mere placeholder or guardian until Christ. It’s really not that hard to understand that a new contract has come between man and God. We make contracts all the time in our lives and they aren’t all the same.

And most of all… Here we are commanded to understand the word of God through the lens our renewed born again hearts.

Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.

So now you know the only way to understand to bible is to understand it with the heart. Give the benefit of the doubt to God.

#pork #sabbath #new testament #old testament #new covenant #covenant #mixed fabric

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legionmaster001 · 5 years ago

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My second and maybe, just maybe last post, as editing in the Tmblur app is still hell. This one still goes for @bl00dalchemist’s characters, wich I love and owe a ton of inspiration.

I insist that this is not the kind of story that fits with them. However, I seriusly need to do this right, for the demons, for the bastard himself.

Again, I hope you all enjoy it.

The Black Death

“A dense mist engulfed the portuary town of Sicily as a dirty withe chariot aproached from the Northside one fatidic morning of October. The horses that pulled it looked sick, with their whinny resounding through the souls of those who first saw them like the pleads of a dying men, the rhymt of their gallop confessed the bad omens they carried in tounges that no one could speak. The sun wasn’t coming out that day, as even it cowered to the darkness that acompained the chariot.

—Aye! Aye! —exclaimed the charioteer, coughing and whipping his horses with his famelic arms and an old wip.

The mist stopped as the chariot did, like if it were a simple passanger itself. Near the entrance of the town, under the few houses that went to the end of the town and a sign of putrefacted wood and worn out letters, the real passager got out, saying not a single word to the poor looking driver before giving him a fist of herbs and a small sheet of paper.

—I owe you my life, sir —claimed the charioter, thankful and trustful.

—You shall pay me soon, then… —whispered the young man as he turned around, willing to travel what path was left to his destination on foot.

Only the sound of footsteps and the clicking sound of a wooden cane could be heard, as the townsfolk that stayed in their homes and businesses observed the withe haired but young foreigner with suspicion and intrigue. The man, with his black clothes, stiff cane and leather bag, never stared back. He was the doctor that the town needed, and he wasn’t in humor to humilliate the peasants that day.

—Maybe it’s too late… —Wondered the Doctor, scratching his withe beard.

Almost running through the streets he directed himslef to the city’s port, guided by no one. Promptly he arrived to the dock, where rotting carcasses of the hanged still moored with rope around their necks. Ships of all sizes slowly swung, exhibiting like the corpses of the condemned. But the one that was supposed to soon touch land was an emissary of death was about unload a terrible charge; a Plague.

His superiors had heard about it long before, and terrified predicted a wave of death and decay so great that it might as well be the end of all men. A disease so terrible that made the greatest Imperium of the world quail, that cared not about the children of god, killing everyone in its path, and transformed the deserts of the East in black seas, making all the Crusades look like a simple bar fight, and leaving piles upon piles of corpses, tall enough to cover the light of the morning sun.

—He is here!

—It can’t be.

—Just in the right moment.

The people that had gathered among the docks welcomed the Doctor with most expectation and joy. The strange man was a light of hope in their eyes, as the dim light of the early sun was completely covered by the mist of the morning, that with the help of the cloud that the Doctor carried, claimed the town for themselves.

—What is happening here, my friend? —Asked the Doctor to the nearest man, putting his best smile. However, fear started to grow inside him as he realized that he already knew what was the problem.

—Ships came, the mariners look so sick, we’d never seen something like that! —Answered the man with nothing but fear in his eyes.

The Doctor walked to the sick mariners, seemingly calm, with only a few corageous enough and the constant feeling of having the spirits of the hanged swirling in the mist, to accompany him. Dead flesh by fingers and tumors as big as apples adorning their necks; the mariners had what was soon to be known as the Black Death. Such sight deeply affected the Doctor, that feared they wouldn’t survive enough to be played with, and make the townsfolk help them arrive to a church. He had more important things to do in the main ship, and as so, giving the excuse of finding a cause to such an horrible illness, he went alone. The folk cheered such an heroic behavior, for the Doctor was about to enter the guts of the beast.

He wandered to the insides of the ship, slowly revealing his nature: skin gray as ashes of the dead, theet and claws sharp and short as daggers to eviscerate, a tail that moved elegantly over the ground, and horns long and curved in a beautiful but simple way, with black ends. The demon Doctor finally was free, as he both rejoiced and shivered at the results of the Black Death; mariners abandoned still alive, drowning in their own vomited blood, corpses filled to the brim with tumors, and at the end of it all, a rotten, destroyed last corpse of what seemed to be a rather small and young man roughly dressed as a Eastern Companion Lady. It was of a unnatural pinkish color, from hair to inners, including the skin. It’s odor was strangely sweet.

—Not even the rats would claim this one… —Said the Doctor, poking the rotten corpse with his cane, not impressed with the weirdness of the body. A expression of disgust was on his face.

—But you can, it’s not that expensive —answered the supposed corpse in a sweet tone, or at least the sweetest it could do with its vocal cords so damaged.

—What in the bloody name of lord Baal…?

The now somewhat alive youngster extended a tounge like a venomous serpent, wich slowly coiled around the Doctor’s cane in a unsuccessful attempt to look somewhat provocative. The Doctor looked at him with mistrust, as he didn’t want another demon on his lands, even less one that could put in risk his entire career. But something called the attention of the Doctor: the young, rotten, blighted and lustful demon had glittering eyes with a strange beauty on them. The Doctor stared at them, almost forggoting for what he was there. Something was deeply wrong with its irregular and dead green iris and yellow sclera, but it wasn’t any kind of magic.

—Who the hell are you and what is your business here? —Asked the Doctor as politely as his word enabled him to be, snapping out of his trance and pulling his cane out of the mouth of the living corpse, ripping its tounge— I just cleaned this thing…

—My name is Gillian, and I am a humble Satan’s servant like you —said Gillian after he grew another tounge— born in holy land like you, ended up in the west, where Lord Belcebub gave me his most recent toy. Really not my type, but kinky, I must admit.

—Go to the point —The Doctor was quickly losing his scarce patience.

—Whatever you say, big boy. I was taken by those called Mongols in an invasion, they used me and threw me to the walls of a city —Gillian stopped to whisper, curses or compliments, it didn’t matter to the Doctor —, and I came with the merchants that ran from the war, and here you have me. So, do you want me to…?

The Doctor interrupted Gillian, tapping the wooden planks with his cane. The smug and peaceful expression with wich he entered the ship was again in his face. He Scratched his beard again, meditating about the situation. Before speaking he put on a small pair of reading glasses.

—I want you to leave. Now! —Shouted the Doctor, clearly mad. Fur od the same grey of his skin slowly spreaded around his body as it grew taller and demonic in form— I can’t afford to lose all my potential patients because of your pestilence!

The horns of the Doctor were about to break the ceiling when a flame materialized between them, taking the form of a shining crown.

—You don’t sound like a doctor at all —said Gillian, carefree and rather relaxed, almost like if he enjoyed the anger proyected at him, and unable to see.

—I am, but I have no enough hands, nor patience to amputate all this people, it wouldn’t even be fun anymore —The Doctor turned around, ready to leave. The boy didn’t whort the risk of beign discovered that soon— I am not the only one that will get damaged by this situation, so is better if you swim back to the East.

—I will see what I can do, hotstuff, but, sure u’ don’t want some of this? —Gillian lifted his leg, showing off what was left of it before it fell, leaving nothing but a small pool of black mush.

—Never in my 1,369 years of life have I been so horrified…

—It is not the last time you’ll say that, I bet —Gillian chuckled.

Breathing deep the Doctor started to leave, thinking of ways to actually save some lifes before the plage started to get worse. His demonic form disipated with the mist of the outside, letting the sun light enter through the few holes in the ship and hit both demons.

—Anyway, before you leave, what is your name? —Asked Gillian, trying to slowly cralw.

—Kinto —Was the only answer.

Gillian stopped in his tracks, now looking at Kinto under the sun light, he knew the name, everyone did. Kinto was the demon that singlehandedly transformed part of the Holy Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem from loyal and godfearing warriors to an encrazed cult that practiced surgery on the child of the christian and muslim alike in the chaos of the damned cruzades, and the demon who made his golden earrings from the crosses of the Templar fallen heroes. All despite of being all but a warrior demon.

One last time Kinto looked behind, to see the pink son of the wither, angrier than ever, not for his actions and indiference, but because he felt a kind of warmth that no scream, bloody murder or great payment had given to him, all when looking at those rotten, glittering eyes.

In that cold morning Kinto, the cruel image of the sadism dressed as men of medicine, the corruption of those to swore protect, cure and save, met both the factor and the person that would end his current life, and forever change his eternal one, just like the world itself”.

Omfg I realized how many errors of all kinds I commited. I am so sorry. I don’t feel like a Fan anymore.

For those to made it to the end despite it beign just a slightly improved version; a trillion thanks.

#Oh yes #Open path #I came inspired today Charley

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stained-carmine · 5 years ago

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Reiko’s Relationships

This is a list of all of Reiko’s relations, both amicable and not. As she’s the most extroverted muse on the blog, this list will be rather long. Also is subject to change should new ones need to be added or old ones need to be removed or updated.

Ships

Syn/Malam’schir {ReiSyn} :: What started out as a friends with benefits relationship over time grew to be something more. A casual and understanding relationship. Neither judges the other for the things they do, they both agree that the past is best left in the past. A camaraderie with a profound level of acceptance, where each can be true to themselves without feeling burdened by the other’s expectations.

Marii {ReiMarii} :: What started out as a one-sided infatuation over time became a friendship, and continued to grow deeper the more they spent time together. Marii eventually fell in love with Reiko and confessed to her, at which point she began to act out and fight against it. Reiko has shown the youkai the worst parts of her, the ugly truth behind her own existence, that she is not a good person and never will be, and despite the atrocities she’s committed, Marii has accepted her knowing full well what a monster she is.

Loved Ones

Raiya :: Reiko cares a great deal for the human who serves as her current Vessel. Despite her, at times, rather cruel teasing, Reiko would do whatever it takes to keep him safe. A woman who swore to herself to never care for someone ever again, can’t help but fall in love with the boy she’s spent more than 20 years with. One-sided, Borders on Obsession, judging by her words.

Sexual Relations

Yukari and Ran Yakumo :: Repeat Customers

Haru :: Repeat Customer

Hazumu :: Once

Aura :: In Progress

Konoe :: In Progress

Yoshihiro :: In Progress

Canonically Known to engage in one night stands with whatever unfortunate soul gets lured in by her charms

Positive

Flandre :: Oddly enough, despite their disastrous first meeting, Reiko had gained a great deal of respect for Flandre. She feels a connection with the vampire, possibly due to their similar powers, backgrounds, or situations. She is quite fond of her, as bizarre as it may be. One-sided.

Chen :: Drinking Buddies who get along rather well. Have something of an odd friendship. Casual flirting sometimes occurs. Amicable.

Wadanohara :: On-going. Possible friendship in the future.

Mokou :: Possible friend, sparring buddy, and teasing target. One-sided.

Sakuya :: Casual Flirting. One-sided

Manifestation :: She enjoys pestering him to no end. One-sided.

Neutral

Eri :: Casual observer of Eri’s antics. Somehow awakens long dead Motherly instincts within her. Keeps her distance, but also has a desire to protect him. May or may not act upon said instincts. Wouldn’t harm him. Mixed Feelings. One-sided.

Amaeris :: Reciprocated Sass. They enjoy messing with one another from the looks of it. Reiko doesn’t hate the spirit at the very least. Something of a rivalry.

Tojava :: Sparring Partner. Has yet to form a full opinion of the princess.

Komachi :: Undecided. Leaning towards a positive relationship, but still uncertain. Possibly One-sided.

Rinnosuke :: Seduction target. So far has yielded underwhelming results. Needs further interaction for a more concrete opinion.

Negative

Chen :: Reciprocated Annoyance and continual pain in the ass. Her attitude irritates Reiko to no end. Constant banter back and forth. Would be a Vitriolic Best Buds if they actually liked each other. Mutual dislike for each other.

Remilia :: Dislike. Grudge for having her leg broken by Remilia. Eager for revenge. One-sided.

Nor :: Disgust. Can’t stand her after a particular incident. If not for that, they could have gotten along probably. One-sided.

Mara :: Dislike, but not for Mara herself. Reminded her of things she dislikes and bad experiences she’s had, so she took out her frustrations on the poor girl. Unwarranted Aggression.

Celia :: Dislike. Was at first going to annoy her, until she compared her to Jeanne. Disdain further compounded by Celia’s affinity for light. Mutual dislike.

Jo’on :: Dislike. Can’t stand her arrogance. Wants to knock her down a peg and bruise her ego. One-sided.

Seiga :: Dislike. Former friends with benefits. Reiko cut off ties with Seiga when she got fed up with the way she was being treated. One-sided.

Hecatia :: Dislike. Nothing but animosity between these two since they first met. Mutual dislike for one another.

Bloo :: Annoyance. Dislike not because of Bloo, but because she dislikes children. Just wants to be left alone. Avoids him. One-sided irritation.

Akiro :: Dislike. He gets on her nerves. Doesn’t take kindly to him giving her orders or using Sayumi to force Raiya’s hand—and thus, her hand. One-sided.

Sayumi :: Dislike. Views her as a hindrance. Also reminds her of someone she used to know. One-sided.

Loathing

Jeanne :: Despises the witch. Hates everything about her. Most notably the way Jeanne looks at her like a toy to be used and discarded. Wants her dead and will stop at nothing to not only destroy whatever Jeanne values, but also to wound her pride and knock her down a peg. One-sided.

Spare 9 :: Disdain and disgust. Hates how she thinks herself above everything else and how she thinks she has the right to do what she does. Spare 9 seeks to take her captive in much the same way Jeanne does. One-sided.

Ivalinne :: Despises the girl for unknown reasons. One-sided.

Aliah :: Despises her. Aliah demonized her for existing and condemned her for wanting to live freely. Would love nothing more that to kill Aliah and get back at her for what she did to her. Mutual Hatred.

???

Eli :: It’s a mystery. Seems to harbor both a like and dislike for her simultaneously. Enjoys watching her suffer and become more like herself. Annoyed by her prying eyes and her want to know the truth about her. Enjoys the banter and picking fights with her. Twisted obsession with Eli’s relationship with Ivalinne. Continues to push Eli for some unknown reason. Whatever her goal, she’ll stop at nothing to achieve it.

#Reiko #Relationships #Headcanon

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quirrrky · 6 years ago

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gardenia

secret lovers (tumblr thread | fanfiction.net)

Chronological One-Shots / Blank Period / Pre-Last / Canon Compliant

After the Fourth Shinobi War, Naruto was gradually falling in love with Hinata and the whole village of Konoha knows it…Well, aside from him.

entry thirteen

Prompt: It's his 18th birthday and a time to visit certain people.

/gardenia/ a dainty, white flower; a message of secret love

"Happy Birthday!"

"Thank you." Naruto said, rubbing the back of his head.

It was becoming a normal trend for his life now. He had been receiving a lot of presents from different people he never really knew.

When he was still Naruto the homeless demon-child or whatever, no one really even paid any attention to him. Ha! He was even an omen that must be avoided.

Before, shop owners would kick him out of their stores, saying that he was bringing bad luck to their profit.

Now, he got free stuff from them and they would even ask him to frequent their stores.

Before, the passersby and the bystanders would distance themselves away from him and would tell him just as how awful he was, a demon, a nuisance, society's basic garbage.

Now, they looked at him with such admiration. They even asked for his signature, and to have a photo with him. He was now being hailed as a hero, an inspiration and a role model for everyone to look up to.

Things drastically changed for him and the village ever since the war ended. And it was not that the he was being such a brat about his current status in their village, sincerely, Naruto was thankful above everything else.

He didn't condemn how the village saw him before from what he was presently. Instead, he saw those as stepping stones. They taught him humility, they taught him how it felt to be at the lowest ring of the society, that he never wanted anyone to ever experience what he had.

Whatever he was right now was all because of the trials, hardships and uphill mountains he had to face.

When he was still an annoying little boy, he thought that gaining the village's respect, was his ultimate goal-that it would make him feel fulfilled. And he already achieved that, even without being a Hokage. On top of that he was seen as a hero. It wasn't even part of his dream, but he exceeded the expectations.

Thankful. Yes, he was sincerely thankful.

However, amidst all the piled-up gifts and the prestige recognition, he was still Naruto and nothing really changed. His world still felt like a shallow sea, his home still didn't feel like a home and his heart was still half-filled.

Standing before the entrance of his apartment, he leaned on the door and exhaled heavily. He never desired solitude as much as how he did at this moment.

"Naruto," a voice came from the outside.

"Thank God! Someone I knew - ttebayo!" He hurriedly opened the door and saw his pale teammate.

"Well, since it's your birthday, I've been tasked to fetch you. We're going to your ramen place. "

As expected, he jumped and down in excitement. It had been a while. Kakashi-sensei was too busy being the "coy" Hokage, Sakura-chan was running around stuff at the hospital and Sai was always out on missions.

In no time, probably due to his excitement as well, they reached Ichiraku's. There he saw his team-the nearest thing he knew of family and he couldn't help but feel happy. Yamato-sensei was already seated, Sakura-chan was whispering something to Kakashi-sensei and there's a cake on top of the table.

"Woah! Is that cake for me?"

"Who else Naruto? " Sakura remarked in her usual bullying tone, but gladness was evident on her face. "Happy Birthday, idiot!"

"Happy Birthday Naruto!" The rest greeted as he expressed just how much he appreciated everything.

They caught up with each other as they waited for their bowls to be prepared. Talking about how busy yet boring their current routines had become and laughing off Naruto's perception about being a Hokage.

He still didn't get the cruel part yet. Kakashi thought to himself.

"Gahh! All the missions I was getting was fixing these darn paperworks in your office, Kakashi-hokage-sensei." Naruto complained that made the silver-haired man a bit embarrassed and waved-off,

"It's not really official yet."

"Eh? Oh kami, here we go again with this. You're still saying that Kakashi-sensei, although your face is already carved on the mountain." Sakura remarked with a sigh.

Sai, who had been contemplating all this time finally spoke, "Oh! Is Hina-"

Their pink-haired teammate immediately nudged him and went to whisper, "Still on a mission."

"Oh I see. I see. That's too bad." Sai acknowledged as Kakashi-sensei nodded in agreement.

With a tilted head, Naruto was about to ask what's going on until Teuchi broke in and announced, serving the blonde an extravagant bowl of ramen,

"For my favorite customer… There you go, my boy. A celebratory ramen for your 18th birthday!"

Naruto's mouth quickly watered at the sight of his celebratory ramen. Ribs! It was that especially dipped ribs this time!

"Thank you, ochan! I can't believe this!" He said ecstatically and started to munch down his favorite food.

Ramen, it was the only flavor his tasting palettes ever had when he was still considered a nobody in the village. It was ramen that filled his empty stomach, and he never thought that it would be ramen that will fill his then empty heart.

He ate it everyday, everytime. His heart knew no other food than ramen. Some may say it's irrational, but it was his first taste of ramen that he felt like he was just an ordinary child. It made him feel just like a normal boy, not a demon, not some catastrophe and not a monster. It was ramen, the first real food he actually ever had.

Most importantly, the wonderful memories he made in his life happened with a bowl of ramen. He could still remember the first sip of that warm broth, when he also first met ochan and Ayame-neechan. Then, the bowls he had with the original Team 7, with his comrades, with his newly gained friends and so much more! Naruto didn't have a formal home, but somehow in this ramen stand, his heart belonged.

Whenever he was tired and deflated from a very complicated mission, just the sight and aroma of ramen brought him back to life. That cute yet very tasty chasyu made him forget about the worries in life. Ramen energized him. It made him feel like he's home. How simple-minded of him isn't it? But it was his simplicity and child-heartedness that gave him the courage to smile, even at the toughest of times.

"Wow! I just couldn't believe it. You're 18 already. Who would've thought?" Teuchi said with nostalgic tears forming at the edge of his eyes.

"Ah! You're a young man now, Naruto. Which means…You'd soon be bringing here a girlfriend!" Ayame commented that nearly choked Naruto out.

"W-What the hell are you talking about?" The blonde asked quite weirded out.

Sakura was about to throw in something sharp, but she preferred to shut her mouth up instead, thinking that Naruto might use her as a scapegoat again to dodge the topic.

"Well, you know… You are now known as a hero, isn't it just right that the hero finally gets his princess, huh Naruto?" Ayame teased, to be followed by Teuchi,

"In speaking of princess, where is Hina-"

Sakura abruptly signaled the old man.

Hinata was supposed to go home last night, but due to certain changes, she might get back to the village a little late. Informing the birthday boy that something went quite wrong with the kunoichi's mission, may not be the best one to do, since everything was still under control.

Sakura awkwardly brought back the topic, "Okay, so a princess, huh? Let's just get back to it, Naruto."

The blonde stared at her for a while, keenly scanning her features. His eyes didn't miss every corner of her face, making her a bit uncomfortable and self-conscious.

"Meh, you're so far from being a princess, Sakura-chan."

Cha! You knucklehead! If it wasn't only your birthday, I would've!

Sakura swore. Naruto might be very dear to her, but she was sure as hell that she could destroy his face!

"So Naruto, what type of girls do you usually find attractive, huh? We have a lot of patrons here and you might not know, we could have found the perfect girl for you." Ayame asked slyly.

"Eh!? I just turned 18! What's the connection –ttebayo!?"

Aside from Sai, they all sighed exasperatedly, but the young brunette's spirit never wavered.

"Do you prefer shy girls with long hair and hime bangs? Or how about the timid, and innocent-looking ones with porcelain skin? Perhaps, a girl from a powerful clan? I'm pretty sure we know someone from those categories."

Naruto burped loudly. "Man, that was great! Thanks for that ochan! Now, let's go to the cake!"

They all sighed again, except for Sai who was counting how many of those did he have to watch out for. So far, apart from Sakura who already did thrice, they already sighed twice. Interesting.

Soon enough, the gathering was over. Kakashi-sensei brought Yamato-sensei with him back to the Hokage office to discuss some matters, while Sakura-chan was hurriedly called by someone from the hospital to do some necessary rounds.

Naruto couldn't help but feel thankful for the time they have imparted although he knew their lives were pretty much occupied unlike his. The loss of an arm made him not qualified yet to do his usual missions. Instead, he was stuck with Shikamaru and stack of paperworks.

"You don't seem happy, Naruto." Sai pointed out as they chose to traverse the less-crowded path.

The blonde immediately panicked at his question. He was about to deny, but he couldn't lie to himself.

"Well, the village treats me a lot better now. I supposed that makes me happy? "

"Based on what I've read, you can be thankful but not feel happy at the same time."

Thankful, but not happy? Was that what he was feeling right now?

He just sighed loudly at Sai's sharing, hinting his teammate that he needed to expound the idea.

"Well, it says there that you may truly appreciate everything you've been receiving in life, but you would still feel empty."

Naruto just scoffed. How would being thankful not enough to make you happy? Well, he's happy right? Is he?

"And by happy, what I meant is purely happy."

"Purely happy?"

"Well, yeah. The book came from Sakura, so there's a lot of embarrassing stuff in it. But it stated there, that being purely happy… It makes you feel like your heart is full. Like there's nothing in the world you could ever ask for."

The blonde fell silent for a while. Sai might be miscalculating a lot of things, but he surely hit the bullseye on this one. Naruto always felt that straight-up hollowness from within. He started to realize this when he saw his mom. He might get the success, the respect and the glory, but he still won't be able to piece himself altogether.

Unlike other people, Naruto knew that he couldn't complete himself alone. And that deep inside, he was still missing something else, but he didn't even know how to fill it, because he didn't even know what it was.

"I hope that clear things up."

"Yeah, thanks. It did, a bit. Hmm… by the way, where are the others? "

"Hmmm… I believe that Team 10 with Kiba and Shino just went out for a mission this early morning, while Shikamaru, Hinata-san and Ino are still out on a mission. In speaking of, I should head on to meet Shikamaru, they must return by now." Sai said as he made his way.

"See you around and thanks again!" Naruto bade as he ran off, deliberately choosing to take the empty streets.

Atop the Hokage monument, he went. And finally found peace just on top of his father's head. Like this, he felt so close to him, no wonder why this was his favorite spot after all. Although his birthday signified the end of the war as well, people of Konoha decided to not celebrate it as a festival. This was to honor the death of their loved ones who fell into their demise during the war. Rather, this day was being celebrated in solemnity and peace.

With a deep exhale, he closed his eyes and went Sage Mode, closely feeling his surroundings. It was just a shortwhile before he moved and identified his target.

He roamed the streets in a haste, avoiding the stare and attention of the people that might recognize him and would stop him along the way. He was planning to go somewhere else. It was not because it was his duty, but it was to pay his honor and earnest tribute.

He deactivated his Sage mode as soon as he reached the quiet haven-the sound of the green grass being swayed by the wind was playing like a calming song, matched with the clarity of the tranquil blue skies.

"Hinata," He called out with a humming voice.

"Oh," She looked at him and gave a vibrant smile.

"So I see… flowers." The blonde muttered, looking at the white Lilies as his heart jumped at the sight of it. Out of nowhere, he looked back and forth the white Lilies and Hinata, he didn't know but there's something about it…

"Well, that's one of Neji-niisan's favorite."

"Neji liked flowers?"

Hinata giggled softly and confirmed, "Yes. Secretly, he did." Slight sadness coated her voice, recalling how her Neji-niisan would love to sit at the balcony watching the flowers in their garden as he sipped tea. It was one of the few moments, when Hinata saw the gentleness in his face.

"Well, sorry about that Neji. I didn't know you liked flowers. But even if I did, I still find it weird that I will give you one. I know you will find it odd too -ttebayo."

The timid girl chuckled at his remarks. It felt like Neji-niisan was still with them by the way Naruto-kun talked to him.

"Hey! You know what Neji, Hinata here is super awesome dattebayo! You should see how amazing she is with Taijustu now. I know she is strong since then but I never truly experienced it firsthand until she air-palmed me in the face-"

"Tha-that was an accident, Naruto-kun! I'm sorry, I got carried awa-"

"Nah, don't be sorry, Hinata. Neji here is truly an effective teacher after all. Tsk! How much I would love to kick your as- Anyway, anyway, anyway. Do you know that I've already been inside the Hyuga compound? Damn! You guys didn't tell me that it was that cool there. However the people are a bit creepy, though aside from Hanabi, she was really fun although a bit bratty just like Konohamaru."

Hinata gave a faint laugh at his rumblings. Being with him like this with Neji-niisan, somehow made her feel like he's a part of their family.

They talked some more, with both of them trying as much as possible to infer how Neji would've reacted if he was still with them. It's heart-warming how the tears they poured the last time they've been here were replaced by light-hearted laughter and wishes.

They paused for some air.

Hinata felt deeply grateful and happy. She'd only wish that Neji-niisan already found his peace up above.

Naruto felt like he should be thanking Neji for something more. Not just for laying his life for him as a comrade, but also for something else he still could not fathom. In his head echoed his last words as he died in his arms.

Hinata-sama is willing to die for you…

They sat still in quietness for several minutes. Until, they both felt like it was time for them to go. He helped her get up, holding her hand in the process-she felt the strange electricity that came with it and reflexively pulled away immediately, her fingers started fiddling along the strap of her sling bag.

They stood by the grave, internally bidding him goodbye.

Neji, thank you. It's to you I'm very thankful of and I feel like I owe you more than just my life.

They started walking, wrapped around the peace and the quiet of the memorial park. Naruto kept at glancing Hinata's way, trying to measure her up.

"Uh, Hinata. Today is, uh... Today is… You know what today is right?" He asked her a bit sheepishly.

He felt so selfish to demand Hinata to remember his birthday, when he can even barely remember hers. Well, it was snowy during that evening, so that must be during the Winter.

December! It was December!

Hinata looked at him speculatively and gave out a cute laughter. "About that Naruto-kun… "

He raised his head and looked at her expectantly.

"Today was the day we won the war right?"

The blonde pouted and rubbed his nape, hiding his dismay. 'Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Did she really forget about my-

"I was really supposed to be home last night, but something went a bit wrong with our mission-"

Instinctively, he grabbed her shoulder and examined her dramatically.

"Are you okay? Aren't you hurt? God! I was so stupid! I didn't even consider-"

She reassuringly took his hand away. "Naruto-kun, I'm fine. I'm fine. It's just that Shikamaru-kun and Temari-san had an encounter along the road."

He sighed in relief. Thank god. Thank god.

The shy girl just laughed at him sweetly. They strolled around quite awkwardly for a while, with Hinata waiting for his next words and Naruto trying to figure out a way to stretch time, until he remembered something.

"Oh Hinata!" He said as he took her hand and led her somewhere.

"N-Naruto-kun?"

"I want you to meet them. I'm sure they'll like you dattebayo!"

Them? They'll like me?

She looked at their intertwined hands, remembering that moment during the war. Then her eyes landed on him. She noticed how she almost look up at him now. He got taller and the fit of his orange-collared, white shirt couldn't hide the breadth of his shoulders. He was also starting to lose certain chubs along his jaw.

She blushed.

He looked a bit stronger now than before. He was becoming a man.

She bit the inside of her cheek.

What was she thinking?

However, his tight grip on her hand was making her feel fuzzy. His hand-it was rough and callous, but it was warm and her hand felt so little against his.

They stopped by two graves. She looked at Naruto and he had with him a longing yet genuine smile.

"Touchan, kaachan, I want you to meet Hinata dattebayo!"

Her eyes widened for a short second and she instantaneously bowed down her head.

"Nice to meet you, uh, Minato-san, Kushina-san." She greeted reading the names carved on the stone plates.

Naruto couldn't prevent that light tickles in his chest. How wonderful it would be if his parents were actually alive to meet her?

He was certain that they will both like her. He was so much like his mom, so he was sure that she would greet Hinata ecstatically. She would bombard her with embarrassing questions and she would tell stories about him much to his humiliation. He could imagine his mom squeezing Hinata's cheeks, because she would find it a bit puffed. His dad, although not big on personality, would probably ask him how did he make friends with Hinata and will warmly welcome her.

"Ah, it's Kakashi-sensei's efforts that had their graves in here since touchan was his sensei. We were supposed to visit later, but I cannot wait to show you. Before, I didn't really get to know who my parents were. Now, I'm glad I could get to visit them even just through here."

"Naruto-kun," she murmured his name as few droplets of tears fell from her eyes.

"Anyway!" Naruto segued noticing that he was already making her cry. "See, Hinata here is a bit delicate. She cries easily, but that's just because she's really kind dattebayo!

"Ah, she's a bit quiet and calm just like touchan though, but she's very strong, just so you know. And it was also Hinata who saved me many, many times already. Plus, she was really smart!

"You must try her cooking as well. They are really great! Kaachan, you would definitely love to cook with her!

"She's a bit odd to explain, but if you ever get to meet her cousin, Neji, up there, I'm sure he can tell you how precious she is. So please watch over her, just as how she watched over me. Because Hinata here is always by my side."

He said, glancing down on their joined hands. Just like during the war. In his heart, that moment will always remain symbolical.

Her eyes widened and a blush never left her face, but she regained her stature at an instant.

"Minato-San, Kushina-san, I'm very pleased to have this opportunity with you. N-Naruto-kun grew up as a very strong person and he was getting even stronger everyday. And it wasn't because of his jutsus, it was all because of his spirit to never back down. Thank you for gifting him into this world. For me, he's more than just a hero, but he also became my inspiration. So there's no need to worry, we will be watching over him as well."

Even if Hinata had such a frail and silent voice, her message came vivid to Naruto. And just like before his fight with Neji and practically everytime he was around her, he felt revived, like nothing was ever above him and he can do everything.

A tear escaped his eye and he hurriedly looked away, concealing from the shy girl.

So not cool…

He swiftly wiped it away, letting go of her hand in the process.

Forget about her not remembering his birthday, her enlightenment alone was the best present ever!

They stood in comfort with Hinata trying to picture Naruto having his parents with him- a complete family, all in all a bittersweet dream. Naruto was internally telling his parents stories he was a bit embarrassed to let Hinata hear.

The air softly blew and a fragrant scent came across. His attention was caught by a beautiful white flower, swaying below his kaachan's grave. He watched as it broke from its stem and flew away. With no effort, he caught it. It looked elegant yet simple at the same time and it gave off a very calming scent.

Naruto looked at Hinata, whose attention was still on the graves.

"Hinata," he called out, with his arm a bit stretched, giving her the flower.

Her cheeks were tinted light pink. She flustered, not expecting him to be giving her a flower, asking herself where did he get it from.

"F-For me?"

With eyes pinched closed and a delighted grin etched on his face, he nodded in affirmation.

"T-Thank you, Naruto-kun."

"Well, it's cute… kinda' reminds me of you."

He just grinned at her with that child-like grin.

She looked at him quite dumbfounded as he rubbed his cheek absent-mindedly. "Anyway!, We must get going. You must be hungry, it's getting late -ttebayo!"

He started walking, but she didn't move.

"Naruto-kun," she called him, "I-I well… "

He looked at her a bit puzzled, "What is it Hinata?"

She pulled a brown bag from her sling bag and slightly shoved it onto his chest. With a bowed-down head, she shyly greeted, "Happy Birthday Naruto-kun! I-I didn't forget… I-I was just teasing you, so… "

"Woah! Is that true? You remembered?! Hey… " His reaction turned mopey. "So you were teasing me all this time, huh Hinata! Tsk, I never thought you could be so mean like that. "

"I-I-I-"

"I'm just kidding - ttebayo! So what do we have in here-" He broke the paper bag in excitement and, on the grass, dropped a premium cup ramen. "Wait! Hell no! I can't believe this. Thank you so much Hinata!"

"You're welcome, Naruto-kun and happy birthday again."

Naruto kept on blabbering on how excited he was to try the imported ramen once he gets home. Hinata then offered to place the cup noodles for awhile,

"For safekeeping, Naruto-kun."

He happily obliged. "Let's protect my birthday ramen -ttebayo!"

They both laughed afterwards, while she placed the ramen back inside her sling bag.

The two walked back, enjoying the play of light as the sun began to set.

Before Hinata's eyes, flashed the memories she spent with her Neji-niisan. She couldn't really pull it off without crying. A bold step forward. Just like what he said and she will forever bear that in mind.

On one hand, Neji's last words still bothered Naruto. They said that a person's last words were their dying will. He knew that Neji stated such during the war to remind him of his responsibilities and the many lives he had at the weight of his shoulders. But he somehow felt that there was still something more…

Hinata-sama is willing to die for you…

He looked at her-her face radiating such purity and serenity like the lily on Neji's grave and the white flower she was holding, the one that swayed from his kaachan's grave, which he gave her. He gazed upon her hand.

How would it feel to hold it again?

Impulsively, he held her hand.

She gasped and suddenly looked at him.

He gulped at the sudden realization of what he just did.

"Well, uh, I just remembered the-the chakra transfer thing we did during the war and… I" He closed his eyes and composed himself, "I just want to know how it feels like again, since I was so focused to fight against Obito and Madara, I didn't really get to-"

"It's okay, Naruto-kun."

She calmed her beating heart and he was trying to figure out what he was doing.

"Na-Naruto-kun has… Back then, you have a very warm chakra. Even just by holding your hand like this it still feels…comforting."

He was quite taken aback by her, but soon a smile came across his face, "Same here, Hinata."

Naruto confidently walked beside her, recalling everything that transpired that afternoon and it was like there's nothing he could ever ask for.

The fog filled their views and they all gathered around for a Yakiniku. Tenten was solo in calming down Lee and Gai-sensei as she internally cursed Neji for leaving her alone in handling the two. Shino, with Shikamaru and Choji, was busy catching up with their former senseis. On one hand, Naruto was bickering with Kiba from their height up to how frequent they take a bath.

On a little spot at the corner of the room, was Sai sketching something or maybe someone.

"Hey, Sakura." Ino called out her friend in a whispering manner and pointed out her finger on Hinata, who was seated across Sai. "Has someone else been seeing Hinata lately?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Look at Sai's drawing and just look at her closely. She's holding a flower."

The pink-haired kunoichi's eyes widened as she saw the girl in question holding a beautiful white flower, while her dainty little fingers marvel its petals. Her eyes and smile showed tenderness and fondness.

"Being a florist myself, I knew what that flower means, Sakura. It's…" She came near her ear and whispered.

Suddenly, Sakura felt a bit nervous and sad at the same time. She looked back and forth at Naruto and Hinata with worried eyes. She turned into Ino and she knew that they were both getting the same hint…

They definitely need to act before it's too late.

#naruhina #naruhina fanfiction #fanfiction #naruto #hinata hyuga #the title is the flower guyth #slquikynovelist

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behindheremeraldeyes · 7 years ago

Note

Hello lovely mutual! Can you please write a sasusaku oneshot of Sasuke kissing Sakura by surprise while she's reading?

My dear mutual, I hope you enjoy this little one! College has been killing me lately, but it will never be wrong enough to destroy my SasuSaku heart!! (sorry dor taking so long >.

title: Déjà vu.summary: It’s that time of the year again. The time when he realizes Haruno Sakura is, perhaps, even more annoying than when they were younger. The day she never seems to remember. Luckily, there’s one, normal person in her life right now.

She looked incredibly serene at that moment. Emerald eyes focused as they read every word in front of them, pink lips forming a thin line as she signed a few pages and fingers slightly brushing the rim of her coffee mug as she continued to make her way through another stack of documents. Papers were scattered all around the table as well as a mix of medical records and pathology scrolls, and he could easily tell there were some pens lost in the middle of that organized mess she usually makes while taking care of her daily share of paperwork. There were barely any sounds echoing through the walls of her apartment, and even if the silence wouldn’t normally bother him, Uchiha Sasuke couldn’t be more annoyed at the scene in front of him.

That idiot, he thought. She had done it again.

As he watched her from her couch with those intense eyes of his, the raven haired boy had no doubt in his mind that Sakura had forgotten what day it was again. It was probably the third time in a row already, and right now, not even the Uchiha could take that lack of common sense from her. Not anymore.

Not this year, when they were finally together, and— according to that dobe— it was now his responsibility as her boyfriend to make sure the pinkette’s workaholic tendencies didn’t keep her from being a decent human being.

As her boyfriend, it was now his responsibility to make sure she remembered her own birthday.

Even if he had to be a little rude to do so.

After he finally gave up on the idea that she would somehow surprise him by suddenly remembering her own day, Sasuke closed the book he had been pretending to read since she got home and walked over to her. He found himself a seat across from her in the middle of all those papers, and had she spared a glance at him, Sakura would’ve found a pair of mismatched eyes judging every cell of her body.

“ You forgot it again.” He stated, his voice calm as ever as he was clearly condemning her actions.

“ Well…” She started, not taking her eyes from her papers as she remained unaltered by his clearly condemning words. “ Since nothing comes to mind even after your words, it’s safe to say you’re right, Sasuke-kun. I forgot.”

“ Don’t you even wanna try remembering it?”

“ Not really. I’m kinda busy, as you can see, and it’s not like it’s an emergency or anything.”

“ Oh, and how can you possibly know that if you don’t even know what you forgot?”

“ That’s pretty easy to tell, actually.” Sakura finally looked up at him, her ever-so-green eyes calm and serene, as she was clearly not bothered by whatever it was that she had forgotten. “ You see, you’re here, safe and healthy. No one barged in through the front door telling me either Naruto or Kakashi-sensei aren’t okay, so I assume they’re also safe and healthy. There’s a closed box somewhere in the kitchen from my parents that arrived a few hours ago, so I also can assume they’re safe and healthy. Tsunade-sama is also safe and healthy since Shizune-san didn’t call me or anything, and the village is clearly not on fire… So, yeah, whatever it may be that I forgot, it’s not an emergency, therefore, it’s not more important than these papers.”

The way her expression didn’t change as she said all those things slowly grew on him. His hand turned into a fist, words got caught up in his throat and he swore he had to count up to thirty not to burn down all those papers with his Amaterasu. At that moment, as she slowly returned to her work without further explanation, Sasuke didn’t really know what to do to put some sense into her. He knew he couldn’t scream, for her neighbors would start knocking on the door worried about her. He wanted to shake her stubborn head— and damn it!

He wanted to smack a calendar on the table and scream that she was becoming one year older on that very day and that she was supposed to be a normal person and celebrate it with her loved ones and cake!

Of all the things the pinkette could’ve become during the three years he was away, a medical ninja with no sense of normality was the last thing he would’ve placed his bets on. At first, those new traits of hers were really appealing, and seeing how professional she looked even did things to him he couldn’t really name. She got rid of that childish personality of hers and he was really proud to see her focusing on her training now.

The Uchiha was proud of the woman she became. Though, as he began to spend more time at the village and with her, he realized the ninja world did not need an emotionally dense Haruno Sakura.

Honestly, all those technical terms and medical priorities made of her an incredibly stoic and messed adult. Always running late to places, barely getting any food or sleep; and constantly worrying about the people she loves while holding that beautiful smile on her face.

Tch. She’s so, freaking responsible. He really wonders where all that strictness came from considering her master’s personal records.

That is certainly not the girl he left behind on that tragic night all those years ago. She’s no longer that girl he once fell in love with during the spring of his troubled youth. She’s smarter, stronger and a lot braver than she used to be, and he doubts he could ever not be captivated by how she’s flourished.

Sakura has become a formidable woman, there’s no denying that.

But at times like those, when her emotional density is flourishing, Sasuke knows she’s still that same, annoying girl as before. The only diference is that, now, apart from her incredible skills and that twisted sense of normal, he’s there to take care of her. Even if she’s more than capable of taking care of everything, he’s finally there to make sure someone will take good care of her.

And that, of course, means reminding her of the existence important things that are not related to her job.

Once he realized she was not going to leave her spot so soon, Sasuke stood up from his place and took a few steps until he was standing next to her. His eyes were looking down at her, and if anything, he couldn’t help but love the way those short, pink strands refused to stay tucked behind her ear. She seemed incredibly focused based on those angry highlights, and were that any other day, he swore he would’ve let her finish whatever that was that she was working on.

Too bad for her that it was her birthday.

“ Sakura.” He said, almost as a whisper, immediately attracting her attention. She turned her face up to meet his, her hair falling a little to the side. Judging by how fast she turned, it was possible to tell the pinkette was about to offer him a snarky comment regarding his unusual impatience, however, before she could even open her mouth, his lips were already on hers.

Green eyes widened, hearts skipped a beat and her mind was clouded by that unexpected kiss initiated by her stoic boyfriend. The contact was as soft and intimate as the first time, and since he had to lean down, his jet black hair was falling forward and brushing her cheeks. It was a calm, chaste kiss, but judging by her flushed face, it felt a lot more than that.

Any kiss between them always feels a lot more than that.

“ W-What was that for?!”

“ Hn.” He smirked, taking a few steps towards the fridge so he could drink some water. “ Can’t I just kiss my girlfriend for no reason?“

” No, you can’t!” She stood up, still flushed and with her face growing a bit angry due to curiosity. “ I mean, yes, you can, but that’s not something you would do without a very good reason!”

“ Aah… You’re right. There’s a reason for that and it has something to do with what you forgot.”

“ You have got to be kidding me!” She whimpered, pouting like a small child. “ What could it be so important for you to actually stop what you’re doing to tease me?! Is it our anniversary or something?!”

“ Well….” He started, enjoying that situation more than he probably should. “ You can say so. Though you don’t need to know, right? It’s not like it’s an emergency.”

“ I really hate you right now, Sasuke-kun.” She glared at him, hands crossed over her chest and eyebrows knitted together. “ This is so unfair, shannarou!”

“ Are you sure you don’t even wanna try finding out?”

“ Can’t you at least give me a hint?”

“ No. You’re not a child.”

“ Meany… Tch.” She sighed impatiently, running her fingers through her pink locks and knowing very well that she was playing right into his game. “ What could it possibly be?! I don’t know what on earth is supposed to happen on March—“ Her eyes suddenly widened, as if a really cold breeze hit her face. Bingo, he thought, as her entire expression showed him that, at last, she had remembered about the day she was born “ …28. Oh… Are you seriously making such a mess just because of my birthday?!”

“ Tch, You’re impossible… Do you seriously not see any problem in forgetting your own birthday?”

“ Not really…. It’s not the first time, and it probably won’t be the last, but…” She smiled softly, clearly not caring about the whole point of this conversation anymore. “ If it will make you kiss me like that again every year, then I’m fine with that.”

A chuckle escaped her lips, and at that moment, the Uchiha didn’t know if he wanted to scold her for being so dense or if he wanted to just kiss her again for being that cute. His girlfriend can really be a dork sometimes, and even if he will never admit it out loud, he loves that pure side of hers.

It’s annoying and incredibly troublesome, but it’s who she is and he would never change anything about her.

Not even if he wanted to, Haruno Sakura could never be changed.

And surprisingly, he’s glad about that.

“ You’re really annoying, Sakura.“

“What did you just say, you ba—“ Her phrase was suddenly cut by the sight of a blue, flying box coming towards her. She managed to catch before it hit the floor, and by the time the small object was safe in her hands, her boyfriend was already by the door putting on his shoes. “W-Wait! Where are you going!? And what is this?”

“ You see… ” He turned to her, his face calm and serene as he had clearly given up on hoping his girlfriend would be able to connect the normal dots of life. “ I’m heading out to get a cake and some drinks like Naruto asked me to. There are a few people coming over later today, so could you please prepare everything around here?“

“ What?! But I still have work to do! There are still all those papers to read, those documents to sign and—“

“ That’s not my problem. That Dobe is your friend and he has invited a few people over. They’re coming to celebrate with you, whether you like it or not, so you better be ready by the time they get here.”

“…. Okay. And what about—”

“ The box? It’s called a birthday present. Open and find out what it is. I’m heading out now but I’ll be home soon. Do you need anything?“

” Actually….” She tagged along, standing closer, but not close enough to reach out and touch him.

“ What is it, Sakura?”

“ Thank you, Sasuke-kun…" She smiled softly, clutching the small box to her heart. “ Thank you.”

“ Hn.” He turned around, hiding a small smile from her. That girl…. She really is annoying. “ You’re welcome. It is your birthday, after all.”

#sasusaku #sasusaku fanfiction #sasusaku fanfic #sasusaku fic #ss fic #myssfics

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