#feast of Saint Valentine

[mayday396]

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

So everyone, I'm here to tell you about the Origins of Valentine's Day which uhm both Wholesome and Tragic

Okay there this Saint called Valentine, he was known for being the patron saint of Terni, a province in Italy, and Lesbos, an Island in Greece.

He is mostly identified as being affiliated with people with epilepsy and people who are beekeepers. He was martyred and his body buried on the Via Flaminia, a Roman Road and you can find this place at Carsulae, North of San Gemini, a small comune in the Province of Terni.

(He was also the Patron Saint of Mental Illnesses, Affianced couples and Marriages)

The Valentine's Day we all know today is from the Feast of Saint Valentine, the Origin of that is because he was Canonised as a Saint but however he also has another reason why, so the story for that is that he infiltrated a Roman Prison while simultaneously Preaching the Lord to Persecuted Christians and Gentiles while he was causing chaos in the Prison.

Julia, a Blind Daughter of the Jailer of said Prison, was infatuated by Valentine, or well start Admiring him, no one really knows if Julia was Romantically or Platonically attracted to Valentine, around this time he was captured by Roman Guards and brought to Roman Emperor Claudius II in Person.

Claudius being Impressed by the fact that Valentine managed to Infiltrate an entire Roman Complex, then thought he could sway his heart from the Lord to Roman Paganism, but in a Sassy and Chaotic UNO reverse, Valentine instead turned their conversations into about Christianity.Unable to cope with the fact he got verbally Rekt by Valentine, he orders his Execution.

But before his Execution, he bonded with his Jailer, Asterius, this bond turned into a friendship as Asterius asked for his Daughter to be healed by her BLINDNESS, if you didn't get by now the daughter is Julia, and so he performed a miracle on Julia for her eyes to healed and that she could see.

Okay there is an unknown period of time between that point and the time Valentine got Executed, but I'm sure that it was about more ministering while he and Julia bonded together which would Explain why and how all of sudden Asterius, Julia and the Rest of her Family Members in their Household got Baptized and also would explain what he did on the day he was going to be excecuted.

On the evening before Valentine was to be executed, he wrote on a Piece of Paper which was a Letter to Julia, and signed as "Your Valentine" he probably at this point knew of Julia's Admiration or possible Feelings for him but due to fact that he was going to die and was on a Sigma grindset to the Lord, he probably just wanted to tie up any loose Threads, he gave that letter to Asterius to give to his daughter.

Valentine passed away but Julia would always come to his Burial Site to take care of a pink-blossomed almond tree that she planted beside his Grave.

Today the almond tree is a symbol of Abiding Love and Friendship, the Valentine Cards that people write today is Valentine's letter to Julia and the whole love thing is well about Couple that want to be together but know they aren't destined to be with one another.

Now if you excuse me, I'm going to be emotionally devastated for a few days.

[teesmine]

Heart Valentine’s Day Sweatshirt For Men and Women | Teesmine.com

This sweatshirt is Made To Order. We use DTG Technology to print onto Front Heart Valentine’s Day Sweatshirt.

Heart Valentine’s Day Sweatshirt Description:

8.0 oz., 50/50 cotton/polyester Reduced pilling and softer air-jet spun yarn Double-lined with matching drawcord (adult style only) 1×1 athletic rib knit cuffs and waistband with spandex Double-needle stitching throughout size: S, M, L, XL color: black, gray, white

Washing Instructions: – Please turn the sweatshirt inside out and wash it on a COLD cycle. – Do not use bleach or any fabric softener.

SIZE CHART

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY THE SIZE CHARTS BELOW, IT’S REFER TO UNISEX SIZE CHARTS

Available size : S, M, L, XL

UNISEX SIZE CHART: Measurement in inches : S : Width = 20.0″, Length = 25.4″ M : Width = 22.0″ , Length = 26.4″ L : Width = 24.0″ , Length = 27.4″ XL : Width = 26.0″, Length = 28.4″

Note: Width = armpit to armpit

Please feel free to contact me, thank you for visiting!

[butterflies-and-bumble-bees]

[daimonclub]

Saint Valentines Day

Saint Valentine's Day History and quotes Saint Valentines Day. Without Valentine's Day, February would be... well, January. Jim Gaffigan I claim there ain't Another Saint As great as Valentine. Ogden Nash If you are really interested in this topic and you want more quotes you can also download and read this book of Quotes and aphorisms on Love Edited by Carl William Brown

Quotes on love Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine, love, thou art every day my Valentine! Thomas Hood Other men it is said have seen angels, but I have seen thee and thou art enough. George Edward Moore I got a Valentine's Day card from my girl. It said, 'Take my heart! Take my arms! Take my lips!' Which is just like her. Keeping the best part for herself. Robert Orben Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs. William Shakespeare Love is not finding someone to live with; it's finding someone you can't live without. Raphael Montanez Ortiz Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind. William Shakespeare God is a mystery, Faith is a mystery, Love is a mystery, Death is a mystery! Hey, but wait a bit, I have never liked mysteries. Carl William Brown The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved. Victor Hugo Love is the poetry of the senses. Honore de Balzac Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. Aristotle Love is a game that two can play and both win. Eva Gabor When love is not madness, it is not love. Pedro Calderon de la Barca Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love. Albert Einstein

Saint Valentine's Day quotes One word Frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love. Sophocles We loved with a love that was more than love. Edgar Allan Poe Men always want to be a woman's first love - women like to be a man's last romance. Oscar Wilde Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Laozi Come grow old with me. The best is yet to be. William Wordsworth Sympathy constitutes friendship; but in love there is a sort of antipathy, or opposing passion. Each strives to be the other, and both together make up one whole. Samuel Taylor Coleridge If my Valentine you won't be, I'll hang myself on your Christmas tree. Ernest Hemingway If only St. Valentine was around to see his memory celebrated through the mindless marketing of whipping cream and lingerie. Dov Davidoff If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? Dorothy Parker Love cures people - both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it. Karl A. Menninger Today is Valentine's Day - or, as men like to call it, Extortion Day! Jay Leno from your Valentine Saint Valentine (Italian: San Valentino, Latin: Valentinus) known as Saint Valentine of Rome was a widely recognized 3rd-century Roman saint, commemorated in Christianity on February 14. The name "Valentine" derived from valens (worthy, strong, powerful), was popular in Late Antiquity. About eleven other saints having the name Valentine are commemorated in the Roman Catholic Church. From the High Middle Ages his Saints' Day has been associated with a tradition of courtly love. He is also a patron saint of epilepsy, which is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness.

Saint Valentine's Day story and legends Valentine’s Day occurs every February 14. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the history of Valentine’s Day, from the ancient Roman ritual of Lupercalia that welcomed spring to the card-giving customs of Victorian England. The history of Valentine’s Day, and the story of its patron saint, is therefore shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Saint Valentine was a clergyman, either a priest or a bishop, in the Roman Empire who ministered to persecuted Christians. He was martyred and his body buried at a Christian cemetery on the Via Flaminia close to the Ponte Milvio to the north of Rome, on February 14, which has been observed as the Feast of Saint Valentine (Saint Valentine's Day) since 496 AD. Relics of him were kept in the Church and Catacombs of San Valentino in Rome, which "remained an important pilgrim site throughout the Middle Ages until the relics of St. Valentine were transferred to the church of Santa Prassede during the pontificate of Nicholas IV". His skull, crowned with flowers, is exhibited in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome; other relics of him were taken to Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland, where they remain; this house of worship continues to be a popular place of pilgrimage, especially on Saint Valentine's Day, for those seeking love. The Catholic Encyclopedia and other hagiographical sources speak of three Saints Valentine that appear in connection with February 14. One was a Roman priest, another the bishop of Interamna (modern Terni, Italy) both buried along the Via Flaminia outside Rome, at different distances from the city. The third was said to be a saint who suffered on the same day with a number of companions in the Roman province of Africa, of whom nothing else is known. Saint Valentine is commemorated in the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Churches on February 14. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, he is recognized on July 6; in addition, the Eastern Orthodox Church observes the feast of Hieromartyr Valentine, Bishop of Interamna, on July 30. In 1969, the Roman Catholic Church removed his name from the General Roman Calendar, but continues to recognize him as a saint, listing him as such in the February 14 entry in the Roman Martyrology, and authorizing liturgical veneration of him on February 14 in any place where that day is not devoted to some other obligatory celebration, in accordance with the rule that on such a day the Mass may be that of any saint listed in the Martyrology for that day. The inconsistency in the identification of the saint is replicated in the various vitae that are ascribed to him. A common hagiography describes Saint Valentine as a priest of Rome or as the former Bishop of Terni, an important town of Umbria, in central Italy. While under house arrest of Judge Asterius, and discussing his faith with him, Valentinus (the Latin version of his name) was discussing the validity of Jesus. The judge put Valentinus to the test and brought to him the judge's adopted blind daughter. If Valentinus succeeded in restoring the girl's sight, Asterius would do whatever he asked.

Saint Valentines Day Valentinus, praying to God, laid his hands on her eyes and the child's vision was restored. Immediately humbled, the judge asked Valentinus what he should do. Valentinus replied that all of the idols around the judge's house should be broken, and that the judge should fast for three days and then undergo the Christian sacrament of baptism. The judge obeyed and, as a result of his fasting and prayer, freed all the Christian inmates under his authority. The judge, his family, and his forty-four member household of adult family members and servants were baptized. Valentinus was later arrested again for continuing to evangelize and was sent to the prefect of Rome, to the emperor Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II) himself. Claudius took a liking to him until Valentinus tried to convince Claudius to embrace Christianity, whereupon Claudius refused and condemned Valentinus to death, commanding that Valentinus either renounce his faith or he would be beaten with clubs and beheaded. Valentinus refused and Claudius' command was executed outside the Flaminian Gate February 14, 269. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. An embellishment to this account states that before his execution, Saint Valentine wrote a note to Asterius's daughter signed "from your Valentine", which is said to have "inspired today's romantic missives", an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and, most importantly, romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France. While some believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial, which probably occurred around A.D. 270, others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at a sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification. They would then strip the goat’s hide into strips, dip them into the sacrificial blood and take to the streets, gently slapping both women and crop fields with the goat hide. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed the touch of the hides because it was believed to make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city’s bachelors would each choose a name and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity but was outlawed, as it was deemed “un-Christian”, at the end of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day. It was not until much later, however, that the day became definitively associated with love. During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance.

Saint Valentines Celebrations The English poet Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to record St. Valentine’s Day as a day of romantic celebration in his 1375 poem “Parliament of Foules,” writing, ““For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day / Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.” Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine’s didn’t begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.) Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois. Cupid is often portrayed on Valentine’s Day cards as a naked cherub launching arrows of love at unsuspecting lovers. But the Roman God Cupid has his roots in Greek mythology as the Greek god of love, Eros. Accounts of his birth vary; some say he is the son of Nyx and Erebus; others, of Aphrodite and Ares; still others suggest he is the son of Iris and Zephyrus or even Aphrodite and Zeus (who would have been both his father and grandfather). According to the Greek Archaic poets, Eros was a handsome immortal played with the emotions of Gods and men, using golden arrows to incite love and leaden ones to sow aversion. It wasn’t until the Hellenistic period that he began to be portrayed as the mischievous, chubby child he’d become on Valentine’s Day cards. In addition to the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia. In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the 17th century. By the middle of the 18th, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes, and by 1900 printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine’s Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America. Howland, known as the “Mother of the Valentine,” made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as “scrap.” Today, according to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year (more cards are sent at Christmas). Women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.

Saint Valentine wishes cards The 25th of January is the most romantic day of the year in Wales. As a matter of fact on this day, St. Dwynwen is celebrated. She is the Welsh patron saint of lovers. Dydd Santes Dwynwen is the Welsh equivalent of St. Valentine's day. She was a fourth-century princess, who was unlucky in love. She became a nun and prayed for others to have better luck. You can also read the posts about: 100 Great quotes on Love Great quotes on Love Best quotes on Love Quotes on Love Aphorisms on Love Great proverbs on love Find out what Shakespeare thought on love reading our Dictionary of Shakespeare quotes But if you are really interested in this topic and you want more quotes you can also download and read this book of Quotes and aphorisms on Love Edited by Carl William Brown Read the full article

[buggybambi]

Imagine you and Spencer not knowing how to celebrate your first Valentine's together! He just shows up with roses like "I think this is what I'm supposed to do??"

oh my gosh yes!! hope this is good my love ʚɞ - wc: 357 | nav post - request guidelines

The knock on your front door was unexpected, to say the least.

You'd been getting ready for work that morning, preparing yourself for the FBI office to been decorated with the same string of hearts hanging from pillar to pillar, Penelope spoiling everyone with flowers and wearing her favorite heart patterned dress, forcing you to wear the silly heart headband she adored seeing you in. It was tradition, after all.

But, this year was different. This year, you and Spencer Reid were an official couple. That meant something, apparently, and Valentine's Day was apparently supposed to be different for couples. Which is probably why Spencer was now at your door with roses. Lots of roses.

"Hi." You greet hesitantely after opening the door to say hi to him, when he pulled the roses out from behind his back. "Hi. I texted Garcia since she's the one who told me about couples and Valentine's Day which didn't even start as a celebration of love- actually it started as a celebration of the Feast of Saint Valentine which fell on February 14 after the pope declared it so.." He stops himself. ".. I got you these." He holds the flowers out.

You give a small smile, taking them. "Thank you, Spence, they're.. they're gorgeous." You grab a vase and quickly fill it to water, setting the roses in them and placing it on your dining room table as you grab your bag and a box. "I got you a gift, too. They're not flowers but, I thought of you."

He opens the lid, laughing, holding up a heart tie first then the book: "The History of Valentine's Day."

He smiles, pressing his lips against yours for a quick yet still sweet kiss. "Happy first Valentine's Day." He whispers against your lips. You grin. "Happy first Valentine's Day to you, Spence. You did good." You say softly back, as he laughs again.

He takes your hand in his, waiting for you to close and lock your front door, before he walks with you to the car. "Garcia's really gonna love the tie." He says, making you giggle (which makes him smile).

˙ ✩°˖🌸 ⋆｡˚꩜

thank you for reading! please feel free to engage with this post by reblogging, commenting or sliding into my inbox to leave feedback! i appreciate all of you! shine on, shine on!

- mae:)

[tinydefector]

Swerve: traditionally, humans gift chocolates and stuffed animals, as a display of hunting prowess and ability to provide, on the fourteenth of February. This is because a deity named saint valentine is said to bless conjux pairs on this day.

-bumpinSUV

Traditions

Swerve x Human reader

Word count; 1k

Warnings: none

Heeeyyyyy Bumpin got some food for you~. Enjoy some clueless and hopeless romantic Swerve becuase I said so.

_______

Swerve stared down at the clunky plastic earth animals and chocolates clutched in his servos, completely befuddled. It had sounded like such a good plan when he came across it! But now, facing his human, uncertainty crept in. He offered an awkward chuckle. "Uh, happy February fourteenth! I know on Earth it's tradition for you guys to, uh, exchange dead animal carcasses and sweets as a romantic gesture. Something about showing you can provide, I think?" 

Rubbing the back of his neck, Swerve hoped he hadn't misunderstood. Or offended them! Primus, why was organic culture so weird? "So, uh, I thought maybe you'd like these gifts. Even though mice probably aren't a big hunting prize for humans." He cringed internally. At how embarrassed he was. "S-so, what do you think? Did I get the tradition right? Or should I just forget the whole—"

They give Swerve a slight look as they cut him off. "Swerve, why would you need to hunt?, plus it's July if my callander is right " They ask while looking at the stuff Swerve had set up, it looked as if he was trying to organise a date for them, it was a rather cute little set up more so than past people they had ever dated before, Their words fall silent as they take in the scene. 

Wincing internally, Swerve fidgeted under their searching gaze. Frag, this was even worse than he'd feared. "Well, ya know, I did some reading that Earth Valentines is about showing you can provide for a mate. And I know I ain't got much to offer organics, but I wanted to try!" He held out the gifts in his massive metal hands, practically trembling. 

"I know it ain't exactly a feast or nothin'. But I saw these toys and thought, maybe they'd pass for some small game? And the chocolate's real! Well, not made of real chocolate, more like synthechoc. But it's what I could get you!" 

Slumping with a sigh, Swerve knew he must look utterly foolish. But they deserved his honesty. "Look, I just wanna show ya I care, okay? Even if I'm lousy at Earth courting."

"My courting..." they go quiet for a moment before starting to giggle which turns into laughter. "Swerve Honey, Valentine's day, is in February. It's a day to spend with loved ones and enjoy each other's company, sometimes trade gifts to special people, which most are fake flowers and sweets" they continue to giggle softly. "What did you think was handsome?" They ask with a smile.

"O-oh." Swerve felt his plating heat as their laughter sank in, truly mortified. He should've just stuck to energon pouring and storytelling, left the Earth traditions well alone! "I, uh, may have misunderstood some cultural exchange files," he admitted bashfully. "Thought it was about proving yourself as a good provider! You know, strong and capable." 

He scuffed his pede sheepishly. "Maybe shoulda just asked you straight out, huh? Instead of all this." Swerve gestured ruefully at the mess of toys and candy. They smile and grab his servos. 

A warm glow flooded his Spark at their smile, though. Maybe he hadn't fragged it up totally. "So, uh, does that mean...you'd still consider spending time with me? We could watch a flick, share some high grade—" He cycled a vent, fans whirring. "I just wanna make you happy, anyhow I can. Without any mouse-hunting required."

They laugh lightly as they move towards him. "Swerve, please it's OK, calm down" they call out while waiting for him to sit down so they can at least touch his faceplate. "Yes you probably should have come to me to ask about it, but now I'm more interested in who told you about Valentine's day." they hum while pressing a kiss to his nasal ridge. 

Swerve's vents stuttered as their lips brushed his plating in a gentle kiss. "W-well, you know how it is - a mech hears stuff in the bar sometimes," he replied shyly, fans whirring as they caressed his face. "I think maybe Rung was telling Rodimus about Earth traditions, and overheard Whirl say something about hunting prowess being important for it." 

He groaned, covering his optics. "Frag, I should've known better than to trust second-hand cultural osmosis from that glitchheads, i justed wanted to do something special for you." Lowering his hand, Swerve gazed down at them hopefully. "Sorry about the mess, forgive my clumsy courting attempt? There's still a whole stash of synthechoc with your designation on it." 

He's still sheepish as they laugh at him, their hand trying to keep it in and not embarrass Swerve more. " Maybe you could, um, give me some proper pointers? About Earth holidays and such? I'd really like to get it right next time." They give him another soft kiss which he melts into.

 "Think we might have to talk about human holidays, and Swerve I don't expect you to have to follow human stuff. You know that right?" They ask softly tracing his face.

Swerve leaned happily into their gentle touch, systems buzzing with joy. "I know, I know. Don't gotta do human things if they don't make sense," he conceded affectionately. 

"It's just..." He vented softly, captured by their smile. "I wanna understand where you come from, y'know? Be able to celebrate the special days that are important to you. Share in your culture."

His fans hitched as their fingers traced the seams of his faceplates. How did they always make him feel so calm yet alive all at once? "So maybe lessons would help this fool bot out, huh?" Swerve ventured shyly. He nuzzled into their hand with a lovesick sigh. "I just want to be able to spend time with you doin things that are important, that's really all I want, sweetspark. To be wherever you are."

 "Alright, how about we set up your hab and watch some vids.?" They inquire with a sly smile on their face.

Swerve perked up, any trace of embarrassment melting away in his eagerness. His engine gave a happy rev, hope blooming in his spark. Clapping his servos together, he bounced on his pedes like an excited sparkling. "Oh frag yes, I'll fire up the holoprojector right away!" 

In an instant he had them swept into his arms, cradling them gently against his chassis as he strode off toward his berth. The gifts were forgotten in his joyful haste. "You're gon' teach me everything, sweetspark! Holidays, customs, what all those weird organic dishes are!" He nuzzled their cheek fondly as he walked.

________

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[spacespheal]

Inktober day 23: Silver // Sant Jordi

Sant Jordi (Saint George) is the patron saint of Catalunya (and like half of Europe). His feast day falls on the 23rd of April and it's one of the most important festivities in Catalunya.

For Sant Jordi, people buy and give to loved ones books but most importantly, roses (it's the closest equivalent of Valentines in Catalunya). This tradition relates to the myth of Sant Jordi i el drac (Saint George and the dragon).

The story goes that the town of Montblanc (Concà de Barberà) was terrorized by a ferocious dragon who demanded a sacrifice everyday to appease his hunger. The sacrifice was decided through a lottery and one day the chosen person was the king's daughter.

The king opposed to this, but his daughter ignored her father's pleas as she thought it would be unfair of her to save herself thanks to her lineage. Thus the maiden exited the town and went to her death.

When she reached where the dragon resided, a knight on a white horse stepped in front of her and asked to go back while he dealt with the beast.

While the maiden was fleeing, the dragon emerged from his cave and started fighting the knight. After a brief, but intense fight, the knight was able to stab his spear in the dragon's heart killing him instantly.

From the dragon's blood grew a rose bush with red blood roses blooming on it. The knight picked one and gave it to the maiden and introduced himself, Jordi.

The two went back to Montblanc where they were recived by the joyous townspeople and an even more exalted king, relieved at seeing his daughter save and sound. He asked Sant Jordi to marry her, but he refused and dissapeared just as quickly as he had appeared.

[xxxedtxxx]

Alastor: Happy Saint Valentine's Charlie my dear! Care to join me in Cannibal Town for the Feast of Hearts?

Charlie:Uh...no thanks! Actually, Vaggie wanted to make me breakfast by herself. But Angel just sent me a video of her fighting a kitchen fire while trying to make medically accurate heart pancakes.

Alastor (looking at the video over Charlie's shoulders): At least now you know how well she can start and put out a fire.

Charlie (fighting back tears): I just love her so fucking much

[izicodes]

My 2023 Projects

Wednesday 3rd January 2024

I thought it would be cool to share some of the projects I made last year that I liked and enjoyed working on! Most of them were small projects, some were projects I built straight after I learnt a new concept and a few are discontinued (I won't finish them anytime soon)!

I really hope, which I know I will because it's natural for me at this point, to make lots of more cool projects! This year, I want to make more with other people! Coding alone is cool and all but with other people I get more inspired!

Lastly = always remember to build projects that you're interested in. Projects you will have fun working on for a while. Every single one of these projects I've made, I was interested in somehow. And I had fun!!

Anyhoo, check out the projects below~! 🙋🏾‍♀️😊🖤

TumblrTextTint

Basically a formatter for Tumblr posts by adding custom colours to your text! Even learnt how to make FireFox extensions so I could add it as an extension to my browser - link 1, link 2

Web Odyssey

I looked at old Windows GUI on Pinterest one day and decided to recreate the GUI with HTML, CSS and JavaScript! - link 1, link 2

Cat Fact Generator

For one of the projects I did for the #3Days1Project challenge, I created a cute cat generator. Learnt how to work with APIs and a CSS library (Pattern.css) - link 1, link 2

Studyblr Valentines Gift 2023

It was valentine season in the Studyblr community and I participated! I made a poem webpage for a studyblr who was learning Russian! (I don't know anything in Russian but for a couple of weeks I learnt some of the poems!) - link 1, link 2

Saint Jerome Tribute Page

I made a page for my favourite patron saint, Saint Jerome, for his feast day (Sept 30)! I haven't had time to complete it fully and there's no live page for it but I did make posts about it! - link 1

Trigun Quote Generator

Just finished the Trigun anime series at the time so I decided to make a project for it for the #3Days1Project challenge! The anime is so good, it is my 2nd favourite (JOJO comes 1st place) - link 1, link 2

Froggie To-Do

Just came from learning the absolute BASICS of React.js, so I wanted to test my skills so far so I made this project! Shared it on my blog and some people started using it for studying (which made me so happy!) and it became a mini open-source project because random people started adding mini features to the app! Very special project for me! - link 1, link 2, link 3

[portraitsofsaints]

Saint Valentine

Died: 269

Feast day: February 14

Patronage: love, youth, happy marriagesSaint Valentine of Rome was a bishop and martyr of the early church. Not much is known about him, except that his relics were found in the catacombs and an ancient church was dedicated to him. Tradition has it that Valentine cured the blind daughter of a Roman judge who along with his household, was later baptized. St. Valentine married couples, going against the edict of Cladius II. It was said that on the day of his execution, he gave a note to his jailer’s daughter that he cured, that was signed “your Valentine”. He’s pictured with birds because birds start pairing in February around his feast day.  

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase here: (website)

[violets-and-books]

Grishaverse Holiday Headcanons

I've had a lot of thoughts about how holidays would translate into the Grishaverse and my wonderful friend @jesperfaheys-defenseattorney has convinced me to make a Tumblr post about it so. Here I am

Christmas - Sankta Clauda

This is one of the few holidays that is celebrated worldwide with very few changes across countries

Sankta Clauda is the Grishaverse version of Santa Claus

It takes place in mid-winter and is a one day celebration

Sankta Clauda is all about giving the gifts of the Saints, so people give presents to their loved ones

There's a feast of dried fruit from Autumn and bread

People get drunk a lot, especially in Kerch

Usually, there are plays or concerts depicting the story of Sankta Clauda or other feel-good stories

Kerch has pantomimes and other comedy plays - they have a more relaxed approach to Sankta Clauda

Some smaller villages in Ravka, the Wandering Isles and Novyi Zem have talent shows for Sankta Clauda - people giving the gift of music to their whole community

Halloween - De Dag van Sankta Dood

De Dag van Sankta Dood is a three-day celebration to celebrate "the death of the Saints"

It takes place from the 30th of October - the 1st of November

Each country has a varying level of piety about it, as each country has a different view of death

Kerch takes a very lenient approach with it. Day one is a day to spend time with family and remember those you've lost. Day two is a day to party and get absolutely sloshed. Day three is recovering from day two and trying to be slightly more pious about it. That's the day to remember the Saints (or Ghezen, depending on your religion)

Sankta Dood parties are common in Kerch but also all over the world. People dress up as Saints and have feasts and dances. There are lanterns and, more often than not, masks and very good booze (usually cider or wine)

Novyi Zem, on the other hand, takes a very demure approach to it. Most of the time is spent in worship or with the family. White is commonly worn, as it's a colour associated with mourning and remembrance. More often than not, day 2 and 3 of Sankta Dood are for remembering family members who have passed on, and honouring their memory

Sankta Dood is more often than not an excuse to spend time with those you love, watch scary films and eat good food

The traditional food for Sankta Dood is Appels van het Dood, which are a type of toffee apple

The Days of Harvest

Most common in Novyi Zem and Ravka, countries that rely heavily on farming

It takes place during the last week of September and came out of the tradition of schools being nearly empty during that time, as so many kids were out helping their parents in the field

It's a time to spend outside, under the stars. People stay up all night, star-gazing and telling stories around campfires

Traditionally, people eat a lot of dried food. Preserved fish, smoked meats, that sort of thing. It's to symbolise the beginning of rationing food at the start of the winter

Valentine's Day - De Dag van Sankta Valentin/Maradi

This is celebrated practically worldwide, like Sankta Clauda

The main change is which Saint the day is named after. Sankta Valentin is common in Kerch, Ravka and the Wandering Isles. Sankta Maradi is more common in Shu Han, Novyi Zem and Fjerda, although crossovers between the two can occur

Sankta Valentin/Maradi celebrate all different types of love, not just romantic

The traditions differ but there's always some form of gift giving to loved ones. In Novyi Zem, necklaces called Maradi Beads are made and given as declarations of love. Different traditional foods are given in the Wandering Isles and Fjerda. In Kerch, people usually exchange detailed letters. In Shu Han, people usually exchange bracelets made out of beaded ribbon or string. In Ravka, people give each other favours like handkerchiefs or short, sweet messages

The actual day of it varies, but it often takes place at the end of February

Handel

A very Kerch-centric holiday

Takes place over April, the most fortuitous time to trade in Kerch

People get four weeks off from school to "go into business" and "learn the ways of Ghezen"

In modern times, it's an excuse to chill for a month and have fun with friends

People usually attend ceremonies to worship Ghezen but it's not enforced. Mostly, on the very religious families or merchers with reputations to uphold go

[butterflies-and-bumble-bees]

{source:catholicallyear}

[saltminerising]

Halos and angel imagery: angels exist as a concept in multiple religions (not specifically Christianity, they also exist in Judaism and the Muslim faith), but the pop culture depiction of them largely stems from Christian artwork. However that pop culture depiction is widespread, watered down, and used in so many different cultures and manners to the point where it would feel ridiculous to insinuate that all depictions of angels (even in fantasy works) are endorsements of one religion. The halos on flight rising are depictions of the elemental deities power, and only one of them resembles a stereotypical halo of light. I consider them distant enough from real world religion to be okay on site

A cross: literally cannot be divorced from Christianity. THE Christianity symbol. When used in pop culture it's to evoke Christianity and its central religious figure. also, mouse mod didn't say the button maker couldn't make a cross button, just that it opened them up to having to consider other religions and beliefs and it might put the maker in hot water. Staff hasn't made religious stuff and will not stop you from making graphics for players to use. It's just skins and accents that become official site items (and as such endorsed by staff)

Valentine's Day: watered down and commercialized, but still has its distant roots in Christianity (though the association with love is added on folklore and isn't part of the feast day of the saint). The event has none of the religious aspects of the holiday. I don't believe it's even referred to as a Valentine's day event, just the "love is in the air" event. I'm more sympathetic to people who feel uncomfortable with this, but I also feel like it's not inappropriate to have on site. I am biased though because I think the items are cute and I like Susie.

King Chess Piece: LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL you gotta be fucking with me on this one

❄️

[gear-project]

2024 Guilty Gear Calendar

[JANUARY] Jan 1st: Anji Mito (New Year’s Day) Jan 16th: Happy Chaos/ Tyr (National Nothing Day/Appreciate a Dragon Day) Jan 28th: Zato=ONE/Eddie (Daisy Day) This Month’s Jellyfish Pirate: Janis, the Cat and Mascot of the Jellyfish! [FEBRUARY] Feb 8th: Jam Kuradoberi (Bubble Bath Day) Feb 9th: Chipp Zanuff/ Mizuha (Static Electricity Day) Feb 14th: Valentine (Saint Valentine’s Day) This Month’s Jellyfish Pirates: Febby who does the Laundry, Accounting, and Book-keeping! Also Leap the Administrative Director and Cook! [MARCH] Mar 5th: Baiken (Multiple Personalities Day) Mar 14th: Bedman (World Sleep Day) Mar 18th: Nagoriyuki (National Supreme Sacrifice Day) Mar 28th: Raven (Something on a Stick Day) Mar 31st: (World Backup Day) This Month’s Jellyfish Pirate: March, head of Communications (despite the fact she doesn’t talk much). [APRIL] Apr 7th: Robo-Ky (National Robotics Week) Apr 20th: Millia Rage (Easter) This Month’s Jellyfish Pirate: April, Helms-woman and ace pilot of the Airship! [MAY] May 5th: May (The day Johnny found her) May 9th: Testament (Lost Sock Memorial Day) May 11th: Alternate Timeline Day (Twilight Zone Day) May 12th: Fanny (International Nurses’ Day) May 14th: Sol Badguy (Guilty Gear Foundation Day) May 31st: Sin Kiske (International “No Tobacco” Day) This Month’s Jellyfish Pirate: May, the Powerful Princess and 2nd in Command of the Jellyfish! [JUNE] Jun 3rd: Ramlethal Valentine (Repeat Day Repeat Day) Jun 8th: Ariels/Chronus (‘Big Brother’ is Watching Day) Jun 15th: Zappa (Power of a Smile Day) This Month’s Jellyfish Pirate: June, the Desk Manager and Aristocrat of the Jellyfish! [JULY] Jul 1st: Leo Whitefang (Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day) Jul 26th: ALL OR NOTHING! Day Jul 28th: System Administrator Appreciation Day This Month’s Jellyfish Pirate: July, sword expert and combat professional! [AUGUST] Aug 3rd: Izuna (National Watermelon Day) Aug 14th: Daisuke Ishiwatari/Chimaki (Summer Romance Day) Aug 21st: Dr. Faust (National Senior Citizen’s Day) This Month’s Jellyfish Pirate: Augus, strong melee and grappling expert extraordinaire! [SEPTEMBER] Sep 2nd: Justice (National Blueberry Popsicle Day) Sep 8th: Answer (International Literacy Day/Bury the Hatchet Day) Sep 9th: Kliff Undersn (Chrysanthemum Day) Sep 12th: National Video Games Day Sep 25th: Toshimichi Mori (BlazBlue Creator Day) This Month’s Jellyfish Pirate: Sephy, the Ship’s Kind Doctor! [OCTOBER] Oct 9th: Goldlewis Dickinson (International Beer and Pizza Day) Oct 16th: Leopaldon/Gig/Judgment (National Boss Day) Oct 18th: Potemkin (Health and Sports Day) Oct 24th: Johnny/Venom (National Billiards Day) Oct 25th: National Comic Book Day Oct 26th: Bridget (Coming Home Day) Oct 31st: Slayer (Halloween) This Month’s Jellyfish Pirates: Octy, Crow’s Nest Navigator specialist! And of course don’t forget about Johnny, the Captain! [NOVEMBER] Nov 6th: Giovanna (National Redhead Day/National Nachos Day) Nov 9th: CHAOS NEVER DIES! Day Nov 10th: Asuka R. Kreutz (Forget-Me-Not Day) Nov 11th: Dr. Paradigm (National Education Day) Nov 20th: Ky Kiske (Feast of Christ the King Day/Absurdity Day) Nov 25th: I-No (Elimination of Violence against Women Day) This Month’s Jellyfish Pirate: Novel, the Ship’s Engineer and Weapons designer! [DECEMBER] Dec 5th: Kum Haehyun (Prohibition Repeal Day) Dec 13th: Jack-O'Valentine/Aria Hale (National Cocoa Day) Dec 17th: A.B.A. (Paracelsus’ Birthday) Dec 25th: Axl Low/Dizzy/Elphelt Valentine (Christmas Day) This Month’s Jellyfish Pirate: Dizzy, the Ship’s Administrative Coordinator (on indefinite leave). PLEASE NOTE: –As always NEW Characters may be announced as the Year goes on, Dates may be altered/adjusted as information is revealed! –Characters that have no Birthdays may get one, and Characters with Birthdays may have theirs corrected as needed! –Other Holidays are just personal fun/preference/Optional! –Also Note that this List may not go in to effect until after it is posted! Meaning some holidays will go in to 2025!

[seedofjoseph]

a garden locked up is my sister, my bride

Fandom: Far Cry 5

Relationship(s): Polyseed feat. F!Deputy

Rating: M (mature)

Words: 3700

Warning(s): displays of non-platonic affection between non-blood relatives; polyamory; traditional gender roles; more corn than a field; more crack than a backroad

Author's Note: The following fanfic is loosely tied to both canon and my own headcanon in the form of an E-rated one (link). And it has even looser ties to Valentine's Day.

Eden's Gate does not recognize any saints save for every Project member who ever took a bullet for the Father. There are as many martyrs as there are guns in Hope County, and some of them might've even been Valentines.

On the last day of summer and what could've easily been the first day of the Collapse, the Seeds reunited on their Ranch in Holland Valley for a feast. They were to eat, drink and enjoy life in the name of their dead Family members. And to celebrate the newest addition: you.

"I see yooou, girls," John threatened you with a sweet song, but not as sweet as the chocolate hearts you and Faith smuggled from his stockpile. "Don't be greedy," he followed your bare footfalls out of the kitchen, and your giggles all the up the stairs. "You're supposed to share."

"We are," you laughed, leading Faith into the master bedroom. "One box for the both of us," you came around the king-sized bed and cut the rug on your way onto the balcony.

"Oh, no," Faith feigned concern at being cornered. She even shielded herself behind you, sneaking a peak at John over your shoulder.

"Oh, yes."

He cracked up, catching his breath. However, he wasn't in a hurry to put his hands on either of you, choosing to extend his arms on either side of your only exit and entrance.

"Nowhere left to run," he leaned on his right foot. "Nowhere left to hide." Then, on his left.

"Brother," she spoke up when you couldn't stop snickering for long enough to do so yourself. "This isn't my fault," her hands slid along your arms and clasped the heart-shaped chocolate box you wore like armor over your chest. "She made me do it."

"What?" You turned, your cheek brushing up against her batting eyelashes. "I thought we had a Thelma and Louise thing going on," your indignation was audible and only drowned out by her sweet snickering. "Help me out here, Faith."

"I'll help you," his words were velvet wrapping around the two of you while both of his hands reached out. "I'll help you both. All you have to do is atone for your sin through an exercise in virtue," his tongue was dipped in honey while he put one foot in front of the other. "Charity."

"He wants it," she whispered into your ear, winding you up along with your arms. As she moved them like a marionette's, you saw them both before you, outstretched. "Let him have it, sister." And, as she pressed her chest against your back, her hands pulled at your own and the heart-shaped chocolate box opened before him. "You want a taste?"

"Want a taste?"

John was only another slow and sure step away from snatching the entire thing, but he stopped and stuttered when all three of you opened yourself to him. "What?" He narrowed his eyes and bunched up his brows. "What are you two playing at?"

"Charity," Faith blew air like a summer breeze behind your ear.

"Charity."

He didn't bite, but he did try for a taste test. With his eyebrows now raised and his eyes digging into the box, John placed his palms atop yours.

"Let him have it," she extracted her hands from underneath his and surrendered yours for direct skin-to-skin contact.

As soon as she slithered her way down your spine and over your sides, he bound your wrists in a brisk move that had the heart-shaped box falling between your fingers and shattering in chocolates all across the balcony. Her esape plan has been a success, leaving you trapped.

"Judas," you called after your partner-in-crime who was crawling away from the chaos she'd created.

"Look at what you did," John joined both of your wrists into a single grip of his. "Look at what you made me do," he lifted your arms above your head and spun you around, slamming your back against his chest as he pulled you into a crushing caress. "Now nobody gets to have a taste."

"John," you screeched, more thrilled than tortured by his manhandling. "John, stop," your voice shifted to a higher pitch, the shrill sound of it a stranger to your own ears. "I almost stepped on one," you balanced yourself on your bare feet while being dragged across the sun-kissed balcony.

What felt right at home was the hot and heavy breath at the back of your head. "I said I would help you, didn't I?" And the sensation of his strained arm muscles maneuvering your body back into the bedroom. "All that processed sugar is bad for you," he squeezed the side of your thigh he tightened his arms around, crumpling the crispt white skirt of your new Sunday dress he had scavenged Holland Valley for.

"Let her go," you heard Faith before you saw her. She stood taller than both of you, up on the bed, but chose to come down from there by landing and latching onto John's back.

"Fuck," he screamed, swiveling and stumbling with you handing off of his arms and her hanging off of his shoulders. "Fuck," he fell to his side, cushioning the both of you as your bound bodies bounced atop the mattress.

"Let us go," she threatened, untangling his now limp limbs from around your torso before binding him with his back against the sheets and his wrists in each of her small hands. "Or else."

"Fuck," John heaved, his chest moving up and down, lifting and lowering her as she straddled it. Still, while he strained to breathe with her sitting atop of him, he didn't even bother to wrestle his hands out of hers from where they wound up: over his head. "You know I can't do that, Faith."

From where you lay across the mattress, stretched out on your side next to him, you saw a man more than content to have been captured by a couple of women. Though he did make a show out of the sweet struggle of being suffocated by the strands of the perfumed hair draped over his face.

"Then we can't let you go," you laughed, looking at your sister-in-suffering who had joined forces with you once more when she dipped her head next to yours.

"Girls," he exhaled, not even bothering to move his mouth when you stole the last of his air from his lungs with a short and sweet peck. "You're going to be the death of me," he inhaled, the Bliss clinging to Faith's hair tickling his nose.

A fourth voice raised above your girlish giggling and his heavy breathing. "Ladies," it boomed and bounced off the bedroom walls. "This asshole bothering you?" It brought your attention to the door that none of you had bothered to close.

"Brother," your sister freed your other brother, flying off of him and over to Jacob Seed. "You made it," she smashed against his side.

"'Course I made it," he smiled, none of the hard lines you saw illuminated in the moonlight all those nights ago showing themselves in the afternoon sun. "It's Valentine's Day," he stroked her hair, his large, calloused hand sliding smoothly against the crown of her head. "C'mere, angel," he beckoned you. "Jonny can't hurt you while I'm around."

"Don't let Joseph hear you call it that," you hear John comment cooly from the emptied bed while you bounced to his brother's other side, warming up to his body heat.

He snorted, swinging his arm over your shoulder. "Let's wish each other Happy Holiday within earshot. Just to be safe."

"Where is Father?"

"He's wishing everyone else a Happy Holiday," Jacob looked down at Faith, rubbing calming circles into her sad, slumped shoulders. "He was closing in on the church in Fall's End the last time I radioed him."

"I thought we'd all be there for the potluck," you looked over the chocolate hearts melting out in the sun. "Is that still happening?"

"Everyone's coming over here for dinner," Jacob followed your line of sight all the way to the balcony. "Is that what you were fighting them over, Johnny? Candy?"

"I was teaching them about charity," the youngest brother defended himself, dry and parched for attention. "That candy was supposed to be passed around at the table, not hoarded."

"He thinks I'm hoardin' you," the oldest brother whispered, winding each of his arms around your middle and whisking you both off of your feet. "Here's your charity case," he huffed, hurrying towards the bed where John still lay.

All three of you landed in a heap of laughter, latching onto the fourth with greedy, grubby hands and starved smirking mouths. Now it was you and Faith on either side of John, leaving Jacob alone and above the scene, on his hunches, hollering.

"How's that for a treat, Johnny?"

"Damn it," he answered from under the adoration he was being showered with. "God damn it," he tossed his head back when your lips slipped into his collar where it was getting hot and stuffy.

"That sweet, huh?" Jacob moved off of the mattress and made a short trip to the scene of the crime to recover the surviving chocolates.

"More like blasphemous," John's chest shook under your mouth as he chuckled. "Sinful." And he licked the corner of his mouth where Faith had kissed him. "Deadly," he smirked at the sound of her squeak. He had snatched her up by the nape of her neck. Then, he tenderly tongued at the corner of her mouth, tasting the seam of it.

"Aww," she provoked him, pressing her forehead against his. "We've been too hard on you."

"Hard?" He slid his hand down your spine, slipping it under the skirt and slapping your uncovered cheek so hard your thigh trembled where you had thrown it over his obvious bulge. "I haven't been hard enough on you."

"Thought today was supposed to be about tender loving care," Jacob joined you on the bed, hicking his knee up at the foot of it. "And treats," he plucked a heart from the similarly shaped box. "Johnny, think fast," he tossed it towards him.

To everyone's surprise, including his own, John caught the treat between his teeth. In response, Jacob barked out a laugh, Faith pulled away far enough to bring her palms together and clap, and you slacked your jaw.

"Atta boy!"

"Father be praised!"

John, with his mouth full, couldn't respond. At least, not verbally. As if to cover up the crevice that was your open mouth, he gave you half of his heart to bite.

Jacob plucked another one and popped it into his own mouth. "There's that charity you were teaching 'em about," he chewed.

"It's a virtue," John licked his lips and laid down, high on the sweetness he'd been served.

You went as far as to demonstrate the lesson, by cupping Faith's cheek and carefully passing half of the chocolate chunk to her.

"Good," the older brother gave his approval, approaching the both of you with another heart to share. And it was Faith's turn to tear into it and feed you half. "Good girl," he groaned when you glazed his chocolate-covered fingers while wrapping your lips around them. "Shit," he choked out as you sucked him in.

"That sweet, huh?" The younger brother teased.

"Loving care and sweet treats," he cleared his voice, closing the now empty box with his saliva-slick fingers. "And gifts," he tossed it towards the entrance where a rucksack rested. "Fetch."

You and Faith stared at each other for no longer than a second before sprinting toward the bag of goodies. While you shoved the door hard enough for the wind to shut it, she snatched a strap and pulled it across the floor and to the foot of the bed. And under both brothers' eyes.

"Don't tell me you went shopping."

"No," he shook his head as if turning over the idea inside his skull. "Did you?"

"I did," John draped one arm over his shoulder and dropped one atop your white sleeve. "A new dress for our new sister."

"Fancy," Jacob murmured, watching you kiss his brother's knuckles in gratitude. "Musta been expensive."

"Not more expensive than Faith's," John looked over at her, and she swung her arms in the air, her new loose sleeves fluttering like wings..

"I went huntin'," Jacob said suddently, startling you.

Locking eyes with Faith again, you slowly sunk your hand into the rucksack while she silently unzipped it.

"And pickin' flowers," Jacob leaned down, taking the lead and taking out the two newspaper-wrapped boxes.

"What? What kind of flowers growing up there anyway?" John snorted while the two of you tore into the gifts. "Did you chop down a three for each?" John inquired further, now faced with two wooden boxes, blessed with the blood-red paint of Eden Gate's Cross.

"Will you wait for 'em to open the damn things or are you just gon' guess my ear off?" He raised his voice and his posture, tensing up. "A'ight," he clutched his knees, digging his jagged nail into his warn-out jeans. "Ladies?"

Silently, the two of you made a truce to break the tension, lifting up the lids at the same time. Gasping, you gathered your gifts which consisted of a rabbit foot silver pendant and the wildflowers laid to rest in raisin at the bottom of the box.

"Went huntin' on the last full moon, when this jackrabbit jumped out," he rubbed his palms against his pants as if to dry them further. "They're supposed to be lucky charms, though those feet didn't take 'im to no pot of gold," he toyed with the foot hanging from his neck, slumping over and steading his forearms on his thighs. "Made 'em myself. And the boxes. Painted 'em. Poured the raisin."

John joined him, crossing his arms atop his thighs. "You have an artist's eye," he joined their foreheads and Jacob's frown was smothered between their skins. "Runs in the family."

"He does," Faith showed off her flowers to you. "He made us still life paintings."

You traced them through the transparent surface. "They're beautiful."

"And poisonous," she added, now adorning the taxidermied charm around her neck. "It's bittersweet nightshade."

"Poetry runs in our blood," John smiled and Jacob joined him in the end. "Beautiful and deadly."

"They are." He reached down for the both of you, and you each rested your cheek in one of his cupped hands. "Like a couple of little ladies I know."

"Thank you," Faith fluttered her lashes and kissed his thumb while it traced her sweet smile.

And you took your time nuzzling into the warm nook that was the palm of his hand.

"Do you hear that?" John perked up, peering over Jacob's bowed head and out towards the balcony.

"Cavalry's here."

Faith was fast to react, running across the floor and reclining over the railing. "He's here," she jumped on her bare feet, joining in the outdoor choir. "The Father's here," she waved down at them, then waved over to you.

The Father was preoccupied with the praise of every other sibling downstairs to spot either one of you up on the second floor. It was Jacob's whistling that diverted the direction of his eyes from the driveway and focused his split attention on a singular point. And it felt like you were in the crosshairs of a firearm instead of a heated gaze.

Your heart was racing so fast, it competed with the rabbit's foot pendant you wrapped around your wrist. And it stopped altogether when the sun highlighted the slight curve in the corner of his mouth. If it weren't for your sister squeezing your hand, you might've melted down to your feet like the chocolates still scattered on the balcony.

"Joseph," Jacob exclaimed. "See you downstairs," he enunciated.

Joseph Seed answered with a big wave and a small smirk.

"C'mere, Johnny," you caught the oldest brother's words as they slipped through the cracked open bathroom door. "You chocolate all over your mouth."

"Damn it, Jake," the sound of the youngest brother sighing had you and Faith smiling silently at each other. "I'm not a fucking child."

"Oh, shit," you heard her swear for the first time, right before she grabbed a toothbrush - John's toothbrush - from the sink and furiously cleaned her chocolate-stained front teeth. "Make it fast," she passed it to you along with the paste. "Father's probably done wishing Happy Holiday by now."

"Gimmie a second," you sighed, still shaking from the earlier sighting. "Just need a second," you tremble as you thread your fingers through your hair.

"Here," she smoothed her fingers against your scalp and behind your ears. "He loves this fragrance," she stroked the spot with the scent she chemically engineered herself and had bottled especially for you in a glass vial. "He won't even notice the nervous sweat."

"Shut up," you lean back against her, laughing.

"I like it," she stared you down, over your shoulder, meeting your eyes in the mirror. "You smell like you did back when you lept off of Joseph's Word," she nuzzled the strip of skin she rubbed the Bliss-based spray into. "You were so scared," her lips latched onto your earlobe. "But it was worth it, wasn't it?" She whispered over the wet flesh and you whimpered. "Now you're one with the Father."

You remember it like a dream or a nightmare. Sister Faith had you take a leap of faith like every other Devoted, but it wasn't enough to keep on the Path. In the end, it wasn't Brother Jacob who brought you to your knees. It was Brother John who filled you with fear, soaked you in your own sweat, and make you bow before the Father.

Now, with a trembling on your lips and a thrill up your spine, you toss your head back, resting it on her shoulder, and taste sweet trepidation behind her tongue and sucked in a minty tongue.

"Your second's up," she pulled away, pulling a pained sound out of you.

"One more," you spun around, snatching her up and sitting her atop the sink.

"You're bad," she giggled while you gathered up the white lace into her lap and shoved your satin skirt-covered thighs in the sweet, slick space between hers. "Such a bad influence," she puffed, pushing her pelvis forward.

"Shut up and kiss me," you spoke into her gaping mouth, grinding down on he groin.

Your tongues had only just passed each other when reality came rapping at the bathroom door.

"Ladies," Jacob sounded faint like he'd been the one stealing breaths away. "Joseph's downstairs."

"In a minute," your sister spoke for the both of you, sliding off of the sink and smoothing down her dress skirt. In a minute, she combed through your mushed hair and cooled down your boiling blood. "Take the leap," she laced her fingers with yours and took the lead. "It'll be worth it."

John escorted you, holding the bedroom door open. "Take a good long look, Jake. That's the last we'll see of them."

"Just turn your head around, jackass," Jacob followed in your footsteps.

"You know what I mean," you heard John closing in on you and the first flight of stairs. "Daddy's home."

"Startin' to think it's you who needs to learn how to share," he lowered the volume of his voice the further down you went. "Bet that bed back there could fit five."

Faith feigned ignorance, swinging the bound arms between the two of you as she skipped her way to the sofa where Joseph Seed sat with a guitar in his lap.

"Father!" She bounced onto the bear rug and you followed, feeling the fur tickle your toes. "Look!" Turning towards you, she unfurled your fingers and thought you how to twirl.

And you mirrored her, moving counterclockwise, and pausing with your hands on each side of your skirt. "Mine has pockets, too," you slipped them inside.

"Brother John got them for us!"

Looking over her shoulder, she smiled at him and he hesitated at first, but eventually smiled back.

Like you, John picked up on the guitar pick pausing, and the strumming stopping. The Father was about to speak.

"Beautiful," his sky-blue eyes lit up behind the sun of his glasses like he already knew where to look for the 'deadly' that 'beautiful' was paired up with. Lifting the guitar off of his lap, he sat each of you on either side of him. And so, he hoisted your leg up on his thigh, while you folded the other under you and cozied up into the cushions.

"John always had an eye for the finer things in life," his voice was warm and his breath was hot as he spoke against the slope of your neck like he already picked up on the perfume.

"Runs in the family," John's smile was sincere as he came to sit at your side.

"You'd have to be blind not to know a pretty little thing when you see one," Jacob took you by your hand and showed off the silver pendant nestled in the palm of it. "Killed this one for 'em. And for good luck."

"Is that blood on your hands? Joseph focused on his thumb, the sweet stain still clinging to it.

"Chocolate," he chuckled after taste-testing it. "We shared a box full of 'em."

John smothered a laugh between your shoulder blades and Faith hid her face under Father's chin.

"I see," the Father unfurrowed his brow, relaxing his rigid muscles underneath your tentative touch. "I do hope you saved room for dessert."

"Doncha mean dinner, Joseph?"

"I mean cupcakes," his smirk returned, a hand running through your hair, tucking it behind your ear while he took another whiff.

"Oh," Faith brightened up, bouncing on his knee. "You've been baking again?"

"No," he pecked her pouting lips. "We'll be baking. All of us. As a family."

"A'ight," Jacob's joints popped as he plopped himself next to Faith. "Long as the baby doesn't go anywhere near a stove."

"The baby?" You were confused, but only until John cleared the fog you found yourself in.

"There he goes again. Jake, I'm your kid brother, not an actual kid."

"You are the man of the house," Joseph said solemnly, with only a sprinkle of sarcasm. "Thank you for hosting us this holiday, John."

"Happy Holiday," you wished him, just as you and Jacob had agreed.

"Happy Holiday, my child," he murmured into your mouth, gifting you your first kiss on the last day of summer.

And, if God is good, it would be the first day of the Collapse.

[oysters-aint-for-me]

february is such a strange month in the US, holiday-wise.

we got:

Groundhog Day, when the whole country waits to see if a large rodent has a shadow, and the result predicts the weather for the next 6 weeks;

Superbowl Sunday, when the whole country cares deeply about overly produced corporate advertisements periodically interrupted by a game involving very large men passing around an improbably shaped "ball";

Valentine's Day, an appropriated pagan fertility festival turned feast day for a Catholic saint turned Hallmark Pride Month;

President's Day, when the banks and post offices and other necessities are closed because two US presidents--one who owned slaves and one who signed a proclamation to make slavery illegal, btw--happened to both be born in February a hundred years apart;

and finally,

Leap Day, a purely utilitarian day that exists because our made-up concept of a "year" with numbered "months" and "days" kept not quite aligning with whatever the solar year was doing and we couldn't figure out a better method at the time than just throwing in an extra day and today we know it doesn't really need to be like this but now we're dug in and we'll never change