#fighting with the gospel over what he's allowed to have

[revenancy]

sending u good vibes & i hope writing is going well!!

( a little impossible fires would be fun to hear about if you're up to it! 👀 )

thank you!!!

writing is... not going very fast rn. combination of life stuff + my keyboard dying + not being able to type at night now bc my backup keyboard is a Loud Mechanical Monstrosity (i love her she's pink). but i'm still thinking abt IF always!!

right now I'm reckoning with Yuki's plot, trying to figure out the tail end: rich poly lawyer boy gets completely disenfranchised and effectively demoted to civilian, and it becomes a question of how does he take this? how does he process it?

he's lived in unimaginable wealth his entire life but throughout the first half of this draft he's come across as (relatively) down-to-earth (in comparison to the other L2 characters). he and Eliza are the only people on L2 who make sense, and even then, Eliza has gilded heels on her shoes + she's flirting with a divorce suit by getting involved with Yuki again.

but you take a man and break him down to his simplest passions and you have Yuki feeding the feral cats on L4, slowly befriending them, sitting on the fire escape outside someone else's (rapidly crowded) apartment (Jaci only has so much space and now there are four people living there and none of them are his girlfriend) with a cigarette in hand watching the simulated dayglow fade

right now I'm trying to figure out exactly how unstable his emotional state is going to be, and how he'd deal with all of this -- being on L4 avoiding the people who are hunting him down, losing his wealth, losing his connection to Eliza, losing everything that in his opinion made him Katsura Yukimori -- and then, while he's no one, finding out his father is dead --

it's gonna be fun!~

[icanbeyuoronewingedangle]

violent by circumstance

i read a thread from twitter about how moxley and orange mirror each other. it wasn't a bad thread but the only things it really said are that both were comedic characters who've been betrayed that have become more violent. it doesn't get at what makes their dynamic so interesting, especially with this current feud.

orange becoming more violent is a reaction to the world around him. orange cassidy, over his time in aew, has become more isolated; he's been targeted, he's been taken advantage of, and he's become worse at hiding his frustration. this is because of the most important change in his character; he's gotten an ego. the orange cassidy that showed up in 2019 let himself get thrown out of a battle royale without fighting. that is not the same person who held the international title for a year, who felt that bag growing heavier every week.

mox has been able to prod that ego, last year by calling the best friends jokes, this year by targeting chuck taylor. chuck, who stood by orange when they were betrayed by trent. the orange cassidy of 2019 wouldn't have had it in him to take on mox alone, or stick his hand in a bucket of broken glass to hurt mox. but he also wouldn't have been important enough to target. mox wants to bring the best version of orange out, the orange cassidy that has proven himself over the past 5 years, and he'll do anything to achieve that.

for moxley, violence is self actualization. it's how he shows who he is, after he wasn't able to show it in wwe. he wanted to spread the gospel of bloodshed with bryan, and when he thought bryan couldn't preach anymore, he took him out. in orange i think he sees himself, someone using humor to hide a killer's instinct. maybe he's right, but we're seeing a common theme in aew, which is that glory isn't as important as your connections.

mjf threw the title aside to embrace adam cole at aew's biggest show ever. hangman's quest for justice and vengeance has left him a shell of his former self. toni was able to dance out of wembley, having lost mariah and her title but gaining the adoration of the crowd that she sought. the power of love saved the elite against the bcc.

orange cassidy has lost all of the best friends by betrayal or murder. his rage caused him to try to paralyze trent. even though he has the conglomeration backing him, he's become emo. it's at the point where he feels like he needs to take on moxley alone because he doesn't want anyone he cares about to get hurt. and his gained ego allows him to think he's capable of doing it alone.

moxley takes no joy in what he's doing, but he's utterly dedicated to carrying on nonetheless. he has allies, but they're not there for him, they're there for the cause. if he doesn't feel like they're doing enough for it, he will cast them aside, as he did bryan. if they think he's faltered, they'll probably kill him too.

orange and mox are both using their abilities to protect their visions for aew. both have become greater by dedicating themselves to violence above the connections they've made. both of them are miserable for it.

[adhdnojutsu]

"Stop making them gay"

The main reason a lot of male characters in Naruto didn't have a chance with each other despite being written like lovebirds, is because Shonen doesn't do "gay". Itachi was canonically more attached to Shisui than to Izumi and Naruto more to Sasuke than to Hinata, but Shonen insists to be traditionally masculine, and traditional masculinity rejects what it assumes of homosexuality minus its allowance for "manly tears" or flamboyant outfits. Instead, it exaggerates male friendships/brotherhood to a point that is far from credible and has to screech "no homo" as a constant disclaimer. The Naruto franchise may have started "low key shipping" SNS as a joke, but it's not a baseless one at all.

ShiIta are so similar to Romeo & Juliet, it's ridiculous. While they weren't from warring clans, they were loyal to warring entities and bound to be pitted against each other in the coup if it had gone down and Shisui been alive. The conflict between the Uchiha clan and Konoha was in the way of them being as close as they wanted to be, with Shisui being tasked to spy on Itachi and Itachi tasked to spy on the clan Shisui was loyal to, so they had to meet secretly. Ultimately, they were both sacrificed for peace and for what was left of their respective allegiances (Sasuke and Konoha).

Naruto stepped in repeatedly when Itachi was beating up Sasuke, but kept pushing Hinata to fight Neji against whom she clearly stood no chance and who was intending to kill her, because he is pathologically ready to disrespect Sasuke's wishes to save him, but projected his own, naive ideals onto Hinata with no regard for her life, just because it made HIM mad to watch. I mean, he was visibly shocked when Hinata confessed to him 16 years into their lives... She was never a priority in his life before The Last, and he probably would have equally lost it if Pain had beaten up Moegi that way, because he was already livid over Jiraiya, Kakashi, the village etc. and wasn't about to stand for one more friend getting killed by this terrorist. Hinata, at that time, meant little more to him than his other classmates, Sasuke did and always has. He literally asked her why she'd risk her life for him because he did not see or feel anything that would make that question redundant. Izumi wasn't mentioned once post-mortem except vaguely, by Obito, while Shisui's influence on Itachi, both ideological and emotional, is canon gospel. It's so great that I can't help but wonder if he used Kotoamatsukami on Itachi before giving him his remaining eye. "Friendship" and "brotherhood" are NOT "emotional co-dependency and self-destructive emulation". Neither is a healthy romantic relationship, but people in fiction more typically go insane over or sacrifice their authentic self for, (lost) romance than (lost) friendship or siblings.

There's also nothing platonic about stalking your "friend" to a point where he feels compelled to kill you while you're screaming that you're gonna break all of his bones if that's what it takes to keep him by your side. Nothing cute or sane either, mind you. Sasuke and Naruto are a lot like Sarah and Setsuna of Angel Sanctuary. Sure, they're meant to be siblings or sibling-like, but DAMN that's not a sibling-appropriate degree of obsession.

Shonen has a tendency to exaggerate the importance of bonds and convictions, but Kishimoto took it to a level that has licensing companies make jokes in the form of couple-coded merch or fan service scenes. Even if he didn't do it on purpose, he clearly did it on such a blatantly obvious level that you get shit like this:

[purple-eyesgreydragon]

"I pleasure in giving my loyal followers a peaceful night's rest. In return, I quench my thirst on the sweet nectar of their dreams, to which they forget." (He sometimes spreads his wings as intimidation.)

I've had the idea for a Cult of the Lamb 2 for awhile.

Cult of the Lamb 2: Missionary Journey

In it the Lamb decides to travel to reaches beyond the Lands of the Old Faith. Finding other gods to face and more followers to recruit. But they cannot do it entirely themselves. As there is still the main part of their cult to run. The Lamb recruits local, fellow bovine followers. Each gifted with a copy given crown, allowing them to wield vessel powers of their own. Their strength only able to grow by their own, and others' growing devotion to the Lamb. Able to call upon the Lamb should they need them. The Lamb's missionaries spread the gospel of the Lamb across the lands beyond. Facing vengeful gods of their own, who will not take the Lamb engrossing on their territory and devotion without a fight.

Salvanis is the God of Slumber and ruler of Ogren Canyon. Salvanis has power over sleep and those who seek it's welcoming embrace. His followers revel in the sweet slumbers he bestows onto them. When he is displeased however, he can take away and deprive those who dissatisfy him of sleep. But if one crosses him, he will unleash onto them a frenzy of terrible nightmares. Only once has Salvanis ever condemned a heretic with an eternal slumber of unending nightmares. What Salvanis truly relishes in his duty however, are the dreams of his sleepers. Salvanis feeds on the good dreams of sleepers. He's responsible for the why those who've had dreams forgot them. The happier the dreams, sweeter the taste. Which is why he tries to give his most loyal followers the best dreams they can have. Enjoy them while they can, since they won't be remembering them. Salvanis doesn't just exist in the materiel world however. Half of his being resides in the dream realm. It is there where he finds and feeds on the dreams of those beyond his followers. In Salvanis' gospel it is either have dreams to never remember, or be plagued with nightmares you'll never forget. Truthfully his followers are content with the good sleep he gives, their dreams are of no consequence. He can also puppet his followers in their slumber, turning them into mindless sleepwalkers. As Salvanis is a bat and he governs sleep, he is naturally noctural.

Salvanis is known by many names. the God of Slumber, the Bringer of Nightmares, the Dream Vampire, Depriver of Sleep, Sleepwalker Puppeteer, the Dark Canyon King, and most famously the Dream Reaver.

[gay-dorito-dust]

Adam’s deepest desire was to belong, find his purpose and hope that everything would make sense when he did.

And for every time he thought he found it, he felt as though something wasn’t right, like he just didn’t fit into his place on the puzzle and not before long he was back to being lost amidst the chaos he was ill equipped to adapt in. Not once was he ever allowed to act upon himself, always acting on the behalf of the orders given to him because that’s what he thought the purpose of his existence was, what was expected of him.

However you came along and made him rethink what constitutes a purpose and what it means to belong.

‘To belong is to find people who aren’t going to orders you about, expecting you to complete them with swift discrepancy and to a degree where it’s almost unattainable, only to get punished or threatened when it all goes awry. No. To belong is to find people who who song give fuck if you mess up because you’ll clean the mess together, patch each other up when your injured or even willing enough to take the blame when a prank goes a step too far.’ You laugh softly at that last part as your face softens, reminiscing the good times, tightening your hold on the blanket you had draped over your shoulders.

You looked so beautiful when your mind was adrift the sea of memories, Adam found as hung onto your every word as though it was gospel or more akin to a child listening to a story their parents made up to get them in going to sleep faster; only to end up telling a thousand more stories due to their persistence to know how the story ends.

In this moment Adam looked at you as though you were the most perfect being who could do nothing wrong. Sure he was aware that the probability of obtaining perfection was unobtainable but if there was anyone closest to it, it would have to be you. He felt a pull towards you like no other and he couldn’t help but think that this was the belonging that you were talking about; He didn’t know what else it could be other then some part of him telling him that in finding where he belonged, finding his purpose, he had to remain by your side in doing so. And yet what Adam found even more stranger was the fact he couldn’t find in himself to fight against it because being sat beside you as you both looked up to the stars that warmly welcomed you as they did every night. It felt right. It felt as though he finally found where his missing puzzle piece was meant to slot into.

‘What if I don’t find where it is that I’m meant to belong in time?’ Adam asked.

‘Finding where you belong, where you fit in the narrative? It’s not a race my golden friend.’ You reassured him, shrugging off some of the blanket from your shoulders so you could throw it over his own. Adam’s brows furrowed in confusion as he looked back to you. ‘I’m not cold, therefore you did not need to share your hearing device with me.’

You almost felt like bursting out into laughter at his befuddlement but you managed to hold it in long enough to explain yourself. ‘First off, this ‘heating device’ is called a blanket and secondly i felt greedy in hogging the blanket all to myself and decided to share it with you.’

Adam let’s this sink in and before long he felt back into a comfortable state and looked back up at the stars with a small smile and a understanding look within his eyes that made him look a lot wiser, and all he said was. ‘I think I understand now.’

[bingeate-r]

hiii hope you’re doing great! :) i was wondering if you could write about zayne reacting to the reader listening and singing along to like the weeknd or a song with rather explicit lyrics, like slow down or meddle about from chase atlantic (the song doesn’t matter you can choose whatever!) and reader just sings along really loudly in a car ride, it can be pure fluff or suggestive whatever you like and are comfortable with! gender neutral reader is fine w me but i’d prefer if you used fem (if that’s okay with u ofc)

thank you 💗💗

Hello! I’m doing great, and I hope you are as well!! I have no problem doing a fem reader 🥹

I hope you like what I came up with!!

Zayne

A set of narrow eyes flicker down to the bright phone screen held in his hand, reading the message that had popped up. It was from you, he knew that instantly because his phone was set to ding differently when you texted, ensuring he would never miss an opportunity to talk to you.

‘Waiting outside by your car, be quick! It’s cold 🥶’

A simple message, followed by a picture of you next to the car for proof, as if your every word wasn’t pure gospel to him. The photo was saved in an instant, hands sliding up to lock the phone before returning it to his pocket.

He kept his gaze forward, confident strides leading him down the familiar halls of the hospital. Each step brought him closer to you, his heart racing by the time he reached the exit. When he found his car, his focus shifted down to you, who was dancing happily around his car, phone in your hand as you recorded the moment.

His hesitation allowed him to take the moment in, commiting it to memory. With a curt shake of his head he continued the short journey, stopping in front of the drivers side door. As you spun around, your gaze locked on him, a wide grin rising to take up your features. He found it hard to not beam back, fighting the urge to reach out and pinch your cheeks. Instead he nodded, making a quick move to the opposite side of the car, opening the door for you.

“Get in, you’ll get sick if we don’t warm you up soon.” His voice was smooth and tempered, his hand darting out to cover the edge of the car so you could dip in safely. In the time it took him to close your door, and open his own, you had the aux chord, plugging it into your phone with a sweet smile.

Zayne simply observed, finding no reason to protest. As you lined up the queue, body wiggling in excitement, he leaned over. A large arm wound around you, grasping the seatbelt and pulling to fasten it in the hook. He gave it a gentle tug for good measure, before repeating the actions in his own seat.

“Oh Zayne, this song is sooo good!” You sung out, hands darting to crank the sound up. His eyes flickered seamlessly between you and the road, unable to miss even a moment of your light. He had a long day at the hospital, but just being near you made him feel better- your energy was infectious.

“Is it?” He quipped back, hands steady on the wheel. Your only response was a nod, readying yourself for your favorite verse. Your body swayed side to side, hands flying through the air.

Zayne couldn’t have been more grateful for a red light in his life, now having a chance to fully look at you. You were singing at top volume, the sound of your sweet voice filling the car and consuming his mind. You would be the death of him.

He let out a breath he didn’t even realize he had been holding in, eyes locked on you as you danced about. Every movement was so carefree, and so full of life- it was impossible to not get captivated. Zayne broke one hand free from the wheel, reaching out as you slowed down, now looking at him with a grin. Your hair was a mess around your face, chest heaving slightly as you struggled to catch your breath after putting on a one man show. Slender fingers met your cheek, gently guiding your hair back to clear your view.

“I think I like this song.” He spoke, his usual intense stare nothing but a soft and warm pool of fondness. Zayne was pulled back to reality abruptly, the car stuck behind the two of you honking. He had been so lost in admiring you that he hadn’t even noticed the light turning green.

He cleared his throat, a diffusing cough flying out. You were a giggling mess, returning to your dancing in an instant. His body shifted back forward, focusing on the road, using it as an excuse to regain some composure. He could feel his ears burning, and he was hoping it was dark enough you wouldn’t notice.

Zayne decided in that moment you would be in charge of the aux chord permanently.

[whateverisbeautiful]

♥️ Ranking Richonne

#11: I See Things (S3E12)

Something I appreciate so much is that Richonne's journey is a love story, not a fairytale. Their story feels grown and grounded, healthy, and realistic, while also feeling perfect and aspirational between two flawed people doing their best in a broken world. And through each season of their slow burn, we got to organically watch the many building blocks of what makes their love so genuinely strong and special. So I cherish these early moments that laid Rick and Michonne's foundation, especially here in my favorite scene from the masterpiece OG Richonne ep that is Clear...

Rick, Michonne, and Carl pack up to leave King County after a stellar episode with both Rick and Morgan’s storyline and Carl and Michonne’s storyline. The acting was superb all across the board in this ep. 👏🏽

The three really do look like a family as they pack up and head out. And in their own ways, this scene has Carl and Rick both telling Michonne...

I love that it just took one trip for Carl to be completely warmed up to Michonne. And he admits this in the best possible way to his dad. Because Rick, in such a dad way, asks if everything went okay with her, and again, I always feel like Rick really really wants the answer to be yes because deep down he knows he wants Michonne around.

And to me, it isn’t just Rick asking if everything went okay on their trip but if everything is okay with Michonne as a whole. This episode was about Rick and Carl beginning to truly accept Michonne and learn that not only does she not have a problem, but in fact she is the beautiful solution to so much in their life. 

It’s also just great to watch this scene back knowing Rick is asking Carl about the woman who will become his wife and mother to all three of his children. 🥰

And then I will forever love Carl saying, “I think she might be one of us.” Just the absolute best. 😭 That statement is the gospel truth too. And it’s so meaningful because of how much Michonne will end up being not just a vital member of tf but a true blue member and matriarch of the Grimes family.

Michonne truly belongs in this group and this Grimes family, and I love that intuitive little Carl picked up on that so quickly. That seal of approval from him is huge because it allows Rick to feel like he can slowly but surely stop fighting the clear undeniable connection between himself and Michonne. 

I also absolutely love Rick’s dramatic reaction to Carl saying Michonne is one of them. He can’t hide that this is great news to him, and you know Rick's extra side is so loved by me. 😋

Rick acts taken aback and asks, "What?" and I think part of it is actually being surprised that Carl made such a big statement because he could have just said 'yeah she was cool' but instead Carl lets him know she’s truly meant to be with them. And also part of the reaction is because our man Rick has for sure been catching some sorta feelings, even if just the earliest stages of attraction.

I know Rick's happy to hear his son likes her as much as he deep down wants to like her too. Also I really don't think Rick would be having a low-key tickled reaction like this over just any newcomer getting a good report.

Then Carl is just the cutest when he gives a little laugh and tells Rick "Everything went okay." This is all just so precious, especially after Michonne helped Carl retrieve a photo of his family all while planting the seed of Grimes 2.0 at the very same time.

And think about it - this moment is occurring so freshly after losing his mom. Carl probably hasn’t had many smiling moments since then, so I know it means the world to Rick to see that Carl and Michonne bonded and that she brought some joy back into his son's life. She's the best. 🥰

Then, because our lovely leading man is always expressive when it comes to his kids and Michonne, Rick has the biggest smile hearing this.

And again, we gotta be so for real for a second because this smile from him is not just cuz it in-general worked out with a newcomer. I feel this is specific to Michonne. Because like I said, Rick really wanted Michonne to check out (partly so he could keep checking her out🤭) and so he’s really glad to hear that she more than did.

I love that even this early, Michonne is putting smiles on Rick and Carl’s faces. After everything they’ve been through leading up to this ep, it’s refreshing to see.

So Rick is happy, but then he pauses as tho he’s seeing something - likely Ghost Lori. And my theory has long been that Ghost Lori stayed showing up in moments like these to let Rick know his soulmate had now arrived and he should get with Michonne, just like Lori got with her soulmate while Rick was in a coma.💁🏽‍♀️ 😋

Like I just know in this moment Lori's ghost was looking at Rick like...

It’s interesting how we the audience don’t see what he’s hallucinating like we have in other episodes. I like this choice tho because in just seeing Rick staring off it shows how much Michonne was able to read and understand him.

Like all Rick was doing was standing there, and from the outside looking in, it could easily be missed that he was having another hallucination - but Michonne knew Rick was having a moment of seeing things cuz she gets him. Always has. 😌

So Michonne notices it right away and her look of care and concern is really sweet. Throughout the series, Michonne so often looks at Rick like her heart is tugged by this honorable man in all his humanness.

I also love that she brings it up. She could’ve just noticed him seeing things and not said anything, especially because it’s personal and they're still mostly strangers. But this choice to bring it up immediately established that she and him can talk on a deeper level, even this early in the relationship.

And it shows Rick that he doesn’t have to feel misunderstood or ashamed for these episodes he's been having. Someone else sees it, and not only that - relates to it too.

So she gently asks if he saw something and Rick silently looks surprised that she could tell exactly what was happening.

Michonne says, "I know you see things - people." And then in one of the first examples of Richonne doing their signature thing of leveling with each other through being vulnerable, she tells Rick she used to talk to her dead boyfriend. Saying reassuringly, “It happens.” I repeat, Michonne is the best. 👑

It is lovely to see Michonne open up about this, and I love how innately she knew she could share this with Rick. We saw in a s3 scene by a fire with Michonne and Andrea that Michonne was not the type to fully open up about her past family, and yet here with Rick she's willing to share something personal and offer up this part of herself. It just further suggests that Rick and Michonne have a different and uniquely intrinsic connection. And I repeat - they trusted each other before they knew they trusted each other.

It’s also sweet that Michonne is willing to be vulnerable to help Rick feel less alone. This is such a big reason why their union is so special. With each other, they're never in it alone.

They are cut from the same cloth and understand each other deeply. And despite living in a world that would suggest you should always have your guard up, I love that Michonne and Rick instead allowed themselves to open up to each other, slowly but surely. 🥰

Also, more and more, I realize that the making of Richonne was actually so obvious from season 3 forward, and especially here in Clear.

Like this episode really plants the seed of Rick, Michonne, and Carl becoming a whole family because that family theme runs all throughout.

I mean even just the fact that the episode takes place in Rick and Carl's old hometown, bringing only Michonne on this run where she gets to gain insight into the past of her future husband and son, R&M essentially co-parenting together when Michonne offers to go with Carl to get the crib, and then Carl wanting the family photo and needing Michonne's help to retrieve it, and then Michonne finally opening up a bit about her family.

Richonne was looking like Morgan's apartment in this ep because, honey...

So then Rick is quiet for a sec after Michonne addresses him seeing things and letting him know it happens, and I know deep down he appreciates this moment from her. It's a rare moment of someone looking at him not to lead or provide an answer but simply to know he's not crazy or on his own.

And then Rick definitely gets flirty as he asks her if she wants to drive. (and again, letting Michonne drive is another establishment of trust) Also, I just love that throughout their pre-canon era, Michonne is the one Rick most wanted to be sociable with from team family.

I adore this scene for being the first moment of flirting between them as he asks if she wants to drive and she smiles and says "yeah." Rick then says "good" and takes the scene to new levels of adorable with his playful flirty energy when he adds, “Cuz I see things”  and hands her the keys to his heart and the car. 😊

It’s a nice way for him to admit Michonne was right that he sees things but still keep things light. And it's adorable how quickly Rick would go into flirtation mode with Michonne, even this early on.

(Side note: Y'all sometimes I used to want a body language expert who has never seen TWD to analyze these pre-canon Richonne scenes because I just know they'd confirm that Rick and Michonne's pre-canon moments read as more than platonic. But truly there is no body language expert needed for it to be known that Rick's energy is flirtatious here.)

And same for Michonne's energy afterward because I love how she smiles as she holds the keys and watches him go. #SmittenKitten 😋

They’re both real fond of each other, y’all. Even in season 3. Like this moment lets you know Rick and Michonne really do have “common interests” lol.

And while of course Rick and Michonne are still on their own individual healing journeys atp so they aren't yet aware that they're meant to be, it's still nice that in this scene they at least now know they like each other as people.

I love that Michonne who can read people so well, knew Rick was a good man doing his best in this world as a leader and father, and as she closes the trunk she looks like she knows she might have found her new home with these people, which I love that for her. 🙌🏽

This beautiful scene is just such a great and foundational moment in Rick and Michonne's love story and gives an excellent peek into how their dynamic will be going forward as they evolve into a husband and wife. 👏🏽

And how spoiled are we that Gimple was planting the Richonne seeds back when he was writing for Season 3 (before Richonne's journey had even aired for us to see), and now here we are 11 years later with Scott, Danai, and Andy having created a whole miniseries dedicated to Richonne and constantly confirmed to be an epic love story. 🤩🥳🤗

Like this is me and every Richonners' energy for a reason lol...

I'm forever thankful to Danai, Andy, and Scott for loving Richonne like we do and returning to give Rick and Michonne Grimes closure. And I'm grateful that we stan a married ship that always flourishes within the actual franchise. #WinningSinceTheBeginning 🥰

There's also just something so poetic about the fact that way back during the season 3 Clear days, Scott said Danai was able to pick up on the Richonne trajectory because she was a writer - and now we'll have the privilege to watch a whole TOWL episode written by the illustrious talent Danai, herself, as she gets to help shape the final chapter of Richonne's years-long love story. What. A. Journey. 😭🙌🏽

So as the classic and fitting 'Home' song concludes this phenomenal 3.12 ep and the three drive away, it shows how these three entered that town as strangers and left as a family more than they could ever imagine. They didn't know it entirely yet, but after Clear, Rick, Michonne, and Carl were on pace to become home to each other.

Imo, Richonne was written in the stars from the moment they laid eyes on each other at at that prison fence. But after Clear, it was set in stone, with no going back, that Richonne was bound to happen. They were too perfect together, too much passion and attraction emitting from them in these early stages for it to not eventually blossom into more.

Rick and Michonne were destined to be Mr. and Mrs. Grimes. And heartwarming scenes like this just made that so, well, clear. 😌🤍

[batsplat]

as soon as vale said that his most important rivals were biaggi, lorenzo, and stoner, I thought about your sete posts! it’s so interesting how he keeps downplaying that rivalry, even 20 years later

posted this like. the day before that podcast was released

yeah anon I'm glad I've been able to spread the gospel on this because it's very... going 'valentino is deliberately editing one specific rivalry out of his career in order to get people to forget about it or simply dismiss it entirely' does run the risk of making you sound insane. but now that I have presented my extensive evidence on this subject on a microblogging platform, I can finally FINALLY get the satisfaction of other people going 'hm yeah this is kind of weird'. it is weird!! podium of rivals my ass, valentino's best on-track rivalry is just indisputably with sete. going by quality and quantity of extended on-track duels, the oeuvre he put together with sete isn't even in the same LEAGUE as what he's got going on with casey, jorge, or biaggi. and none of this 'well he always beat sete' business - I saw how close that man was to ending it all after sachsenring 2003. there is not a SINGLE other direct defeat by a rival after which he is so visibly close to walking off the nearest cliff edge. also, at least sete actually managed to win a race-long fight against valentino, which is NOT something that could be said about either biaggi or jorge (casey as ever remains the specialest girl). 2004 is still the closest title fight he won!! the welkom 2004 thing is genuinely infuriating, because it's basically the only duel of that quality or length he ever has with biaggi (phillip island '01 is more of a multi-rider dogfight) and it comes!! at a time!! when sete is his main rival!! sete was already the main rival in 2003!! it is complete dumb luck that biaggi happened to be valentino's opponent in his very first yamaha race, allowing valentino to pull off this sleight of hand where his 2004 season conveniently starts and ends at the very first race. literally says in that bloody podcast that it's not a coincidence his three best races happened fighting his three greatest rivals... well going by everything else in 2003-05, it actually kinda is you fucking dingus. he has five extended duels in 2004 that are all excellent - and four are with sete! off the top of my head, the number of memorable duels he has 2003-05 clocks in at like fourteen with sete (jesus) and 1 (one) with biaggi. and mind you, however fond people are of the welkom race, you just KNOW more folks actually remember that last corner jerez situation than anything specific that happened at welkom. the unbelievable cynicism, the NERVE of presenting this selectively edited version of the switch to yamaha while completely erasing the rival he actually destroyed along the way!! staggering

anyway look I know I'm preaching to the choir here but yeah. I mean I did already say all this in the sete post itself

and ofc by now I've talked in a bunch of places about how valentino is clearly more comfortable with the impersonal nastiness of the biaggi, casey and jorge rivalries than he is with the ultra personal heartache of sete and marc. it really has carried over to how he's discussed these rivalries post-retirement... when it comes to the former category, it's really all quite normal - he's not doing much to reawaken the feud, isn't being particularly provocative, just gives a reasonably straightforward and restrained appraisal of his side of the rivalry on quite an irregular basis. a lot more agreeable than some of said rivals are when talking about him, let's face it. again, he does like his rivalries, he thinks sports SHOULD sometimes have this kinda nasty fun dynamic between two guys who really want to beat each other... but now the on-track competition is done with, it's all good, no reason to hold any grudges. with the latter category - by contrast - it's a tale of extremes. you've got the deflection of most questions related to the marc conflict from around mid-2016 onwards, with the exception of genuine head loss suffered at argentina 2018 or when he is an environment where he can air his grievances a little more extensively on his own terms (like, say, on a podcast) - there's a desire to erase marc from the narrative of his career and a wariness of the drama associated with this rivalry that wars with the urge to discuss it, since it is still a wee bit of an open wound. with sete, his approach is if anything even more radical: utter erasure. from his comments in the route46/93 documentary, it is obvious he has not forgiven sete in the slightest and does still derive some measure of personal satisfaction from how that whole thing went down ("if I had to give sete some advice... it's better if he hadn't done it" unfortunately just indisputably a banger line). discussed this elsewhere, but what's kinda wild about this whole approach is that the sete rivalry is such a triumph for him - not because sete is a weak opponent, but because of like... what an excellent job he did with the whole thing. the dramatic arc of that rivalry and how it coincided with the switch to yamaha, all the elite on-track battles along the way, the way valentino did literally manage to break another rider, it's kinda... I mean, this should all be a bigger element of his legacy than it is. personally in his shoes I'd probably never shut up about it (not least because he put a CURSE on a guy, which I get probably isn't good pr to discuss but y'know). what he's doing here isn't in his own best interest!! valentino you should be using this podcast to introduce the kids to quite honestly THE best and most watchable stretch of your career. valentino the kids haven't watched mugello 2004, valentino don't you think catalunya 2004 gets kinda overlooked, valentino tell the kids to check out assen 2004. valentino you won your first yamaha title at phillip island 2004 with a frenzied last lap battle, isn't that kinda cool and memorable and special. valentino

anyway tbh I think at this point he's not even doing it on purpose anymore. just what happens when you're disciplined enough with a narrative, I suppose, sticking to it even inside your own head - all about those lovely little stories athletes like to tell themselves, isn't it. years worth of editing and minimising and deflecting and erasing and suddenly it's really just three rivalries that stand head and shoulders above the rest - conveniently leaving out the ones that got interpersonally messy. it is a bit of a shame because, again, valentino buddy I hate to break this to you but 2004 is just categorically your most-enjoyable-to-watch title campaign. but clearly, to him, there are things that matter more than actually effectively propagandising his own career. you've gotta respect the grind ig. and maybe it's for the best that some of the details of those years remain confined to a niche audience, eh

[wheelie-sick]

made this post and I kind of want to elaborate on it based on the numerous conversations with the bloc I've had about this recently

for those unfamiliar with the terminology:

the bloc = the group of people in black bloc

black bloc = anonymizing, all black clothing covering every part of your body - usually shortened to just "bloc"

people are afraid of the bloc. this is a good and bad thing. generally the bloc is the group of people taking on risk. they are security, they are escalaters, they are the people committing crimes- both low level and high level. bloc is highly protective, you can slip out and slip back in and be lost in the crowd.

with bloc, part of the goal is to intimidate. fascists are often afraid of us and they should be because we can fight back against them without being caught, without risking legal action taken against us. we have power in bloc. the bloc holds power over counter protesters and hecklers. we have the power to protect- to take on security roles.

....but ordinary people are afraid of us too. when we walk past people panic and rush to their cars. when we show up at protests people worry about escalation. people worry they'll be caught in a violent situation when our presence is often to avoid violence. our presence is protective because people do not want to mess with the bloc and when they do they are met with retaliation.

it is true that when protests escalate it is usually the bloc responsible but most of us are cautious about when and how we escalate. we are not starting riots at a vigil. escalation is supposed to happen in good taste and the majority of us are capable of judging that.

one of the reasons the comrade I was referencing was lighting candles is because people at the vigil were afraid of him. he held an antifa flag, he was bloced up. people did not want to approach him because he was intimidating. the main reason he was lighting candles was to respect the life of Solo Garcia, but the gentleness of the action was in the back of his head. the bloc is not all violence.

[ID: a man in black bloc sitting on the concrete with an antifa flag over his shoulder. he is pulling candles out of a plastic bag and setting them in the center of chalk flowers]

photo courtesy of hoorayjimmy on Instagram

people are hesitant about joining in on protests where the bloc is present. in Albuquerque, the bloc is fairly new. people are not used of seeing a bloc show up to protests and we intimidate them. it takes a lot of time and effort to allow people to adjust to our presence but in the meantime it cuts down our numbers.

we do not want protesters to be scared of us.

and that is why it bothers me that the news only publishes the photos of us facing off with fascists and not the photos of our kindness and gentleness. (but we'd greatly prefer no photos- don't film the bloc) if they are going to film us they should publish both. it is just propaganda to depict us as exclusively violent. violence, when it's necessary, is a part of what we do, yes, but we are multifaceted people.

this is just me spewing my thoughts, don't take this as gospel.

[flameeagleheart75]

So I first listened to Jesus Christ Superstar as part of my ALW listen through a few years ago and enjoyed it fine but over the last little while I've been listening to it religiously (no pun intended) and oh my god I think it's jumped up my list to being one of my favourite musicals ever.

If you're from a Christian background (Roman Catholic for me, hi) then no doubt you can recite the stages of the cross in your sleep but somehow the interpretation of Jesus's final days as a bombastic, heartbreaking and utterly camp musical is the only one that's truly resonated with me.

Here's my ramblings in no particular order.

(I like a lot of the versions so I'll be using whatever GIFs I can find)

Jesus

Give this man a hug, please.

There's often a lot of tie-pulling over whether humanising Jesus is blasphemous or not but that's a theological debate for another time.

On a personal level?

I adore how JCS portrays how fatigued Jesus is. He knows his ultimate fate and that he can't change it but that doesn't mean that every step towards it is agony. You feel his relief when Mary Magdalene encourages him to just relax and just wants him to take care of himself for once; likewise you feel how overwhelmed he is when he's swarmed in the temple by or his frustration at his disciples not being able to grasp the weight of his words. And after he's screamed at Judas to leave him at the Last Supper and is alone at Gethsemane begging God to just tell him why he has to die after all he's already done, you realise that at the end of the day it's just as Judas says "He's a man, he's just a man, like anyone I know."

Mary Magdalene

While the musical goes with the common pop culture depiction of portraying Mary as a sex worker instead of just another one of the apostles, the effect it has is wonderful. Mary's confused about her feelings but regardless, she comforts Jesus and tries to make him feel at ease. While Judas is in knots about whether Jesus associating with a prostitute contradicts his teachings and that expensive ointment is being wasted, all Mary wants is for the person she cares for to get a good night's sleep.

And I see you "I don't know how to love him" reprise.

Mary is a needed parallel to Judas and serves as one of two people who love (romantically or platonically) Jesus as the man he is.

Speaking of whom-

Judas

Oh my dear, dear Iscariot.

Judas's story raises one of JCS's most poignant questions of "If Jesus had to die, then were Judas's actions truly evil or was he just fulfilling a role in the divine plan?"

From the moment "Heaven on their minds" sounds to the Gospel melodies of "Superstar" you are along for the ride. His disillusionment with Jesus comes from a deep love mixed with the fear for both their people and that the 12 chosen are forgetting their original beliefs. Yet, along the way we see him fighting against his role. In 'Damned For All Time/Blood Money', he struggles both physically and mentally with his conscience. During 'The Last Supper', he threatens to just stay and not carry out the betrayal and it's only when Jesus screams at him to leave that he finally goes.

And don't get me started on the arrest in the garden of Gethsemane. Ouch, my heart.

Both of them are ultimately doomed but while Jesus is aware of it and accepts his fate (albeit in a defeated way), Judas only comes to realise his place as a pawn when it comes to the time of his death.

And he is broken. He's disgusted.

What on earth was it all for? Why did God have to choose him of all people?

This is a story of love and grief and the inevitability of life and death but you're along for every step, knowing that you, like the characters are unable to change anything. But regardless, you're invested every step of the way and you hope that maybe things, just once, could be different. But it can't, you know it can't.

Finally the music is absolutely wonderful and I for one would like a return to allowing anachronisms if it's just for fun. (Tim Rice's lyrics, mwah). They can ride on bikes and tanks if they want to.

(Also the 12 getting drunk at the dinner while Judas and Jesus are singing their hearts out at each other makes me laugh.)

Thanks for listening to a bored Bi talk about one of her favourite things. Have a good night.

[otakween]

One Pound Gospel - Volume 1

Yay, new series! (This one was next on MAL after 0 Man). Happy to be reading something by another icon (Rumiko Takahashi). I've never heard anyone talk about this one at all, so I don't know what general opinions are nor do I know anything about the plot. Let's go!

Ch. 1

So we got a boxer in love with a nun...I saw a commenter comparing this premise to Nacho Libre and now I can't unsee it.

(I might need to include a rewatch of that movie, for the meme).

Anyways, our leads are Kosaku and Sister Angela. Kosaku seems like a head empty jock who thinks with his heart and stomach. Sister Angela seems like she can whip him into shape (emotionally lol).

Despite having watched most of Ranma 1/2, I don't think I've ever read a Rumiko Takahashi manga? Craziness! This isn't her first work but it's one of the earlier ones from the 1980s, so I'm expecting some newbie scuff (or maybe she was just a legend from the start?)

Christianity in anime/manga isn't that uncommon, but to have it be one of the main focuses is intriguing. I wonder if we'll find out how Kosaku and Angela came to the religion as Japanese people?

I don't care about boxing at all IRL, but I don't mind reading about it and learning the lingo. Maybe I'll gain an appreciation I didn't have before lol.

Didn't like Kosaku forcing a kiss on Angela (her being a nun makes it extra scuzzy). Oh the 80s...

Ch. 2

See? I'm already learning stuff. Apparently boxers aren't supposed to drink water during a fight (just rinse) and they're not supposed to have sex prior to the fight (I already knew about that one, but this reminded me). That second one's more of a superstition though.

I wasn't sure if Sister Angela wearing her habit all the time was realistic, but I googled it and apparently in some cases that is enforced. Also, I've seen nuns in public wearing habits, so I guess it's legit.

Sister Angela getting plastered was kind of funny but her breaking her wine bottle was a bit extreme. She's kinda unhinged in general, she shows up at Kosaku's match and tells him she'll never forgive him if he loses? (Seems toxic but okay)

The strategies Kosaku's coach has him using to make weight are kinda fucked up (borderline disordered). Starving himself, laxatives and sweating the weight off. I'm sure that happens plenty IRL though. Pretty sad that athletes feel the need to put their bodies through that.

Ch. 3

People in Japan...they can't actually down like 5 bowls of ramen right, that's just an anime thing? I eat one bowl and I need to lie down lol.

I look forward to seeing the food in the adaptations of the manga. Particularly in the live action.

The crucifix falling over when Angela prays for Kosaku was a funny gag.

At this point in the story the focus is definitely more on Kosaku's boxing career than on romance. I wonder if it will kind of go back and forth between the two or if the romance will always just be on the sidelines?

Ch. 4

I can't tell if Kosaku has a food addiction or if they're literally starving him. They never show him eating healthy/low calorie food that's approved by his coach so it kind of feels like he's just not allowed to eat at all. Anyone would obsessively seek out food if that's the case! He did mention "diet" earlier, so I'll hope it's not...

If I was let loose in Tokyo I'd struggle with food temptation too lol. So much street food... (Wait, is this set in Tokyo?)

Ch. 5

Kosaku stumbles into a win after throwing up in the ring again. Apparently you're allowed to win by yeeting your opponent outside the ring? Seems wrong, but what do I know

All this starvation-binge stuff is making me a little nauseous. There's gotta be a better way!

Ch. 6

You know how straight dudes in the 1980s dressed in a way that seems gay-coded by today's standards? That's kinda what Kosaku's giving. He's really cute. (Not much of a personality tho)

Takahashi sure likes her repetitive gags doesn't she? A lot of "comedy" anime do this and it's frankly kind of frustrating. I'm not gonna laugh when you do the same joke for the millionth time...

They seriously just should have put him in a heavier weight class sooner, but it feels like I'm missing something here. Why does it matter which weight class you're in and why are some more sought after than others? -shrug-

I also don't get the "4 rounds" vs. "6 rounds" thing. Is it like baseball vs. softball or something? At least Sister Angela is just as clueless as me!

Ch. 7

Okay so apparently you pick your weight class based on your bone structure, I get it I don't really get it

Ch. 8

Okay, I immediately hate Onimaru for begging his pregnant wife to have a son and not a daughter 😒 I hope Kosaku kicks his ass

It almost seems like a conflict of interest to have your friend do your confession, no?

This series is reminding me of Spy x Family. Like you know how in that show Yor's plotline is mostly sidelined compared to Loid's? That's kinda how the Kosaku/Angela balance feels here.

Ch. 9

I really don't know anything about boxing, so I don't know what makes a good or bad fight, but this one seemed really pathetic lol. I'm glad at least Onimaru wasn't a sore loser, he probably needed to be humbled anyways.

The manga seems to be implying that Kosaku is fat which...huh? He doesn't look fat at all? Sure, he eats like a fat person but...I think 1980s "fat" meant something different lol.

IDK why Angela is so set on Kosaku being in the lower weight class. I guess it's good to be disciplined, so she sees that as the morally right thing to do?

So so far this seems like a very low stakes manga. It's leaning more towards the sports genre than the romcom, which isn't really what I expected. Well, after 0-Man I could definitely use an easy-breezy read like this. Onto the next volume!

[sailtomarina]

Hate you

“That is not what Professor Vector meant, and you know it!” Hermione snarled, slamming her hands down on top of the desk so hard their ink bottles threatened to fall off.

It was with quick reflexes that Malfoy snatched them away from the edge and slid them back to safety. For what had to be the millionth time that term, Hermione hated herself for appreciating anything about the blonde git.

Why, oh, why, did he have to be her partner in Advanced Arithmancy?

She cursed her duties as Head Girl and the rest of their classmates for leaving the seat next to Malfoy open when she came waltzing into the room late. She had no choice but to sit next to him on that first day.

She couldn’t just say no when Professor Vector announced their seat mates would be their partners for the rest of the school term. Hermione had an example to set. She not only had to put forward the first foot towards inter-house unity, she also knew how important it was to show others that forgiveness was a living, breathing thing. 

She couldn’t just preach the gospel of healing post-war; she had to live it.

So, she accepted the assignment without complaint.

She’d nodded at the announcement as if it was only natural that she partner with the boy who’d bullied her since childhood, who’d taught her all about blood purity, who’d let murderers into their school, who’d seen her scream and bleed, and who had now returned along with scant few others to re-do their final year.

She hated him. She also pitied him. More importantly, she hated him.

Today, he’d had the nerve to try and correct her part of their current project.

He took a deep breath before replying. “You can’t just assume that Scranton’s Formula applies in this instance. There are additional variable to consider—”

“I am not assuming!” she protested. “Scranton fits too perfectly to not be correct and whatever ‘other variables’ might exist don’t matter when the answer is obvious.”

She knew she was right. She couldn’t not be right, particularly with Malfoy thinking otherwise.

“Does that mean you’re already aware of Livingston’s Theorem?”

Hermione sputtered at the term, “Of course I’m aware of it! Livingston is not applicable here, or anywhere, really—”

“Why not?” Malfoy sat down and she absolutely hated that he did. It was like he expected their argument to take a long time.

“Livingston was a quack! Anyone who takes Divination into account like he does obviously knows nothing worth my time.” She refused to sit. She was right and there was nothing else to discuss.

“You are aware Arithmancy and Divination are related fields, right?” he pressed.

“They were such that Arithmancy evolved to include actual facts and data, rendering Divination completely useless.” She’d concede at least that much.

The few students still remaining behind in the classroom looked warily over at them almost like they were worried the two would break into a fight. Hermione wanted to roll her eyes at their unnecessary concern. 

“Why don’t we both submit our findings and we’ll allow Vector to decide who’s correct?” Malfoy suggested.

“Professor Vector.”

He looked amused at her correction, and it was that smug twitch of his lips that sent Hermione over the edge.

“God, I hate you,” she muttered.

All traces of a smile faded from his face, replaced with a grimace that vanished nearly as quickly as it had appeared. Hermione had the distinct feeling she was looking at a mask that only pretended to be Draco Malfoy.

“You’re welcome to write whatever you want, Granger. I’ll still include my own research and we can make it clear that our opinions and findings differ. Professor Vector should appreciate the additional viewpoints even if I’m wrong,” he said stiffly.

Before Hermione could respond, he gathered his belongings and walked away.

Hermione didn’t think she owed him an apology for snapping at him as she had, but she did feel a little hollow at the way he’d just taken it. Their arguments always seemed to end that way—she’d inevitably get so wound up that she’d say something cutting, something true, and he’d just…accept.

She wanted to feel satisfaction at turning the tables on the git, but instead all she felt was a lingering sense of incompleteness. Did she want to keep punishing him? Did she resent his presence at Hogwarts? Did she regret testifying for him?

No. Her answer to all three was ‘no’.

So then why did she keep acting the way she did towards him?

“I hate him,” she repeated quietly.

As she walked towards the doorway, she paused by the bookshelf lining the wall. In a moss green cover, title glinting silver, was Walter Livingston’s Reinterpretations on Arithmancy. She stared at it, chewing her lip, mind rapidly rehashing the details of her research.

She sighed and slid the book into her bag.

WC 821

Twitter prompt from DramionePrompts

Cross posted on Tumblr and AO3

I've missed writing Dramione shorts! I've been so wrapped up in larger projects with the fests I've signed up on, that I've neglected keeping up with the snippets I like. This one doesn't have much romance, but there is a hint of something...more...if you squint hard enough :P maybe acceptance? maybe someday friendship?

[revenancy]

working on impossible fires and yuki/eliza are the emotional opposite of marley/nile like

yuki and eliza are the kind of exes who tried to stay friends but figured out it wasn't going to work

eliza moved on two years ago; yuki's still stuck thinking of a future where it could have worked

yuki's not lying to himself he just likes thinking of their little work excursions as date-like in nature

eliza is totally chill but whenever yuki's around her you can cut the tension with a knife. he's in a constant "should i -- i shouldn't" push and pull against himself to start a fight with her husband. it would be great tabloid material. get the press off his back for a week or two at least

eliza is also the only main character who's allowed to carry a gun so she can and will solve every problem in front of her. every problem (she says while making direct eye contact with yuki)

and then

marley and nile are strangers with a common past neither of them really want to talk about

also nile is literally using radio transmission to manipulate her emotions but we can talk about that some other day

no we can't he's using radio transmission to manipulate her emotions and her perception of him

marley is aware of this but she thinks she's smarter than people who fall for that (she's not)

she's also fully aware that he's devoted to the gospel above all

there's no "i can fix him" involved she just hooks up with the hot manipulative cultist because why wouldn't she?

she's already called him out on his game once, surely he wouldn't keep at it

nile in the meantime is over here violating every gospel tenet on physical touch and skin contact and he's loving it (until dovey finds out what he's doing)

[purple-eyesgreydragon]

"Haro was weak! A true god would fight for their mantle, not give it up. All I needed to do to earn my crown and godhood from those Bishops, was to hunt. Every. Last. Lamb. In the world." - Brakkoro. (With his Mace.)

I've had the idea for a Cult of the Lamb 2 for awhile.

Cult of the Lamb 2: Missionary Journey

In it the Lamb decides to travel to reaches beyond the Lands of the Old Faith. Finding other gods to face and more followers to recruit. But they cannot do it entirely themselves. As there is still the main part of their cult to run. The Lamb recruits local, fellow bovine followers. Each gifted with a copy given crown, allowing them to wield vessel powers of their own. Their strength only able to grow by their own, and others' growing devotion to the Lamb. Able to call upon the Lamb should they need them. The Lamb's missionaries spread the gospel of the Lamb across the lands beyond. Facing vengeful gods of their own, who will not take the Lamb engrossing on their territory and devotion without a fight.

Brakkoro is the new God of the Hunt and ruler of the Frigridge Mountains. At first he was a mortal, barbarian, hunter, yeti of the frosty mountains. In his young life he hunted only what was needed for his family and tribe. But, over time the thrill of the hunt began to excite and enthrall Brakkoro. From hunting for food to hunting for sport. Brakkoro trained tirelessly so he could hunt and take down the mightiest of foes. Only now wanting to face the strong worthy hunts. After a series of slaying the fiercest creatures of the mountains. Brakkoro set his sights on the mightest monster of the tallest mountain, the dreaded ice dragon. While his family discouraged him, fearing his safety, and the tribe called him crazy. He would not be deterred. Wielding nothing but his mighty mace, Brakkoro climbed to confront the beast. The battle was brutal, bloody, and bone chilling. Brakkoro in the end triumphed, but not with losing an eye. Having returned to his tribe with the dragon's head, he had proven them all wrong. Surely if the strongest monster of their harsh land fell to him, there were none such creatures he couldn't track down and slay. Years later having heard word of Haro, the God of the Hunt having step down to the Bishops of the Old Faith, Brakkoro was outraged. To think he once respected the feeble deity. Believing himself the best, Brakkoro set off for the Lands of the Old Faith to face the Bishops. Arriving to their realms he began a bloody massacre upon their cultists and especially monsters. He demanded an audience or he would never stop hunting them. Seeing how swift the hunter's wrath was, the Bishops granted him the audience he desired. Demanding the reason for his unprovoked attack on their cults. Brakkoro demanded godhood, and become the new god of the hunt. At first they would not humor this foolish prideful mortal. But then having stated his unrivaled strength and hunting abilities, the Bishops offered a pact. Fearing the prophecy which foretold The One Who Waits' release. The Bishops were purging their lands of any lamb that could fulfill it. But there were surely lambs in the lands beyond to worry about. So they tasked Brakkoro with traveling across the world, to hunt down and kill every last lamb he could find. Only then would they give him the power he desired. So Brakkoro set out to purge the lamb race. He traveled high and low, east and west, day and night, slaying every last one of them. Feasting on their meat, and sending their wool to his tribe. After years of hunting, no one heard a single word of any other lamb that was not in the Lands of the Old Faith. Which the Bishops had recently captured the last, and would do away with eventually. Having returned successful, the Bishops had made for Brakkoro his own crown. Proclaiming him the new god of the hunt, successor to Haro. With their deal having been met, the Bishops told Brakkoro to leave their lands and never returned. Seeing has he got what he wanted and claimed impressive trophies from their realms, he returned to his home.

Now as the newly crowned god, his tribe and the rest of the mountains inhabitance revered him. Brakkoro's new power swelled with their devotion. His new cult and followers would now hunt for him and bring him offerings. Should the hunted offering please him, he will bless the meat with life giving nourishment. The meat would strengthen their bones, hone their senses, and even increase their life expectancies. Brakkoro also would bring warmth to the frigid homes of the mountains, to those who's hunted offerings pleased him. He can be a tough judge though, quantity or quality are required for him. Brakkoro would only take small offerings like hares or squirrels from children. Any follower who'd bring such feeble trophies he'd only deprive them of warmth and nourishment. The best of his hunters were the yaks, Brakkoro expected only the best from them. Word did reach him of the Bishops fall, and a surviving lamb become god. But he cared not now. Brakkoro had done his part still in their deal, and if they failed to kill a single lamb when he slew countless others, then they were weak. Brakkoro does wonder however would the lamb seek revenge, if they knew?

Brakkoro is known by many names. The God of the Hunt, Dragon Slayer, the Bloodlust Barbarian, the Lamb Slayer, the Hunter King, Yeti Monster, and Successor of Haro (His least favorite).

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

21st May >> Fr. Martin's Reflections / Homilies on Today's Mass Readings (Inc. Mark 9:30-37) for Tuesday, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time: ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me’.

Tuesday, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Except USA) Mark 9:30-37 Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.

Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, ‘The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him. They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’ He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’

Gospel (USA) Mark 9:30-37 The Son of Man is to be handed over. Whoever wishes to be first, shall be last of all.

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. For they had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Reflections (6)

(i) Tuesday, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s first reading, James declares that conflict between people first starts with self-serving desires and ambitions in the human heart. ‘You have an ambition that you cannot satisfy, so you fight to get your way’. The truth of what James says is played out in our gospel reading. The disciples of Jesus are at odds with one another, arguing among themselves, because of the self-serving desires and ambitions in their heart. They all want to be considered the greatest. A little later in Mark’s gospel, James and John will ask for the best seats in Jesus’ kingdom, one at his right and the other at his left, which creates more conflict among the twelve. We may have known similar situations in our own experience, where people’s self-serving ambition leads to conflict and rows. The response of James and John to this all too human phenomenon is very similar. James says, ‘Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up’. Rather, than lifting ourselves up at other people’s expense, we give in to God, as James says. We allow God to have first place in our lives, rather than our own self-serving ambitions, allowing God to life us up. Jesus says that those who want to be first must make themselves last of all and servant of all, including being the servant of those considered at the time the least important and influential members of society, such as children. Allowing God to have first place in our lives is, for Jesus, allowing others to have first place in our lives, especially the most vulnerable. Both James and Jesus show us the kind of ambition that our faith encourages us to cultivate.

And/Or

(ii) Tuesday, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospels Jesus very often identifies with those who had little or no social status at that time. In this morning’s gospel reading he identifies himself with a child. In the culture of that time, children had no social standing, no power or influence. They were valued for who they could become rather than for who they were. They were considered among the least. Yet, Jesus says to his disciples, ‘whoever welcomes one of these children in my name, welcomes me’. He was trying to teach his disciples a lesson. They just had an argument as to which of them was the greatest, who among them was the most important as the world assesses importance. In identifying himself with a child, Jesus was declaring that social standing, importance, status, was not a value for him and was not one of the values of the kingdom of God that Jesus came to proclaim. What is of value in God’s kingdom is becoming servant of all, including servant of those whom the world does not consider of any standing or status, such as children. Like the disciples we can easily buy into a set of values that are not those of the kingdom of God. It is only by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and becoming more attentive to his word that we allow his values to shape how we think and speak and act.

And/Or

(iii) Tuesday, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

In Mark’s gospel the disciples seem to be often ‘off message’ as we say today. They don’t seem to quite grasp the fundamental message of Jesus; their concerns are often a long way from his concerns; their priorities are often in conflict with his. We would be slow to judge those first disciples of Jesus because we can all go ‘off message’ in the same way from time to time. In this morning’s gospel Jesus announces to his disciples that the day is drawing near when he will be delivered into the hands of men and put to death; he will become one of the least. In response, the disciples immediately begin to argue among themselves as to which of them is the greatest. It is hard to imagine a more incongruous response to what Jesus has just said to them. Their concern about which of them is the greatest, as to who stands where in the pecking order, is a very human preoccupation. However, it is certainly not the preoccupation of Jesus. To convey his preoccupation, Jesus takes a little child, a symbol of the least in that culture, someone without status, position or influence, and he identifies himself fully with the child. Anyone who welcomes one such child welcomes me, he says. Jesus was great in God’s eyes, yet on the cross he was the least of the least. The message of Jesus is that true greatness, greatness in God’s eyes, tends to be at odds with what the world considers greatness.  

And/Or

(iv) Tuesday, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Very often in Mark’s gospel we find Jesus and his disciples at cross purposes. A good example of that is to be found in this morning’s gospel reading. Jesus had been telling his disciples that he would soon end up among the least; he would be delivered into the hands of others and put to death. Immediately afterwards the disciples argue as to which of them was the greatest. While they were looking for status and honour, Jesus looked to do the will of God, even though that would mean a lack of all status and honour, the most dishonourable death the ancient world could devise. We could easily be very critical of the disciples, but we would have to say, ‘there but for the grace of God go all of us’. There will always be some tension between the mindset of Jesus and our mindset. We are all prone to taking on those values in the culture that are not in harmony with the values of the gospel. As Jesus sat down and called the twelve to him to correct their mindset, so we all need to be called by the Lord to have our own mindset, our own values, purified and reformed so that we carry within ourselves what Paul calls the mind of Christ. Lent begins tomorrow. We could see Lent as a time during which we strive to put on the mind of Christ more fully. 

And/Or

(v) Tuesday, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

In this morning’s gospel reading we find a competitive spirit among the disciples. They argue over which of them is the greatest. They were thinking of greatness as the world at the time considered greatness – prestige, honour, position, power, influence. Jesus, however, gives them a teaching on what is considered ‘greatness’ in the kingdom of God. There, greatness consists in service, even when that means becoming the last of all. It consists of service above all to the weakest and most vulnerable members of society, such as children. That is why Jesus placed a child among the disciples and defined service in terms of welcoming children, those without status or influence, declaring that in welcoming children they were welcoming him. We are all prone to the temptation that afflicted the disciples, the temptation to measure greatness as the world, the culture, measures it. We can judge our own worth in the light of the values the culture promotes. This morning’s gospel reminds us to keep judging our worth against the values of the kingdom as embodied in the teaching and life of the person of Jesus.   

And/Or

(vi) Tuesday, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Parents bring their children to the church for baptism; some years later they bring them to the church for First Communion and a few years later again they bring them to the church for their Confirmation. In all of these sacraments we are welcoming these children into the church, receiving them into the family of believers. That work of welcoming children is of tremendous significance, as is clear from this morning’s gospel reading. There Jesus identifies himself very closely with children. He goes so far as to say, ‘anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me’. Jesus is declaring that in and through our children we encounter Jesus and his Father. Elsewhere Jesus identifies himself with the most vulnerable - the sick, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the stranger, the imprisoned. Children, by definition, are among the most vulnerable. They are dependant on others for life in all its dimensions. The gospel reading suggests that ministry to children and to young people, whatever form it takes, is a sacred ministry; it is indeed holy ground.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

[scribeforchrist-blog]

Prevailing Through My Trials

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

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+ Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

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VERSE OF THE DAY

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+ Acts 5:42:” And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.“

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** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

I AM PUSHING THROUGH WITH JESUS

I AM CONTENT

I AM VICTORIOUS

I AM SUCCESSFUL

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THOUGHTS:

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    We must understand the enemy will do everything he can to stop us from teaching the gospel and sharing our testimonies, but we must keep pushing forward. A lot of times, we allow him to stop us when the littlest things thing happen. We are ready to stop turning the other way, but we must be like the apostles in this story. They didn’t let jail, fussing, or anything stop them from doing what Jesus commanded.

What is Jesus commanding you to do? What is he asking you to do? Is it starting a church, speaking more, writing a book, or starting your own business? Whatever it is, we can't allow the things the enemy wants to throw at us to take us from the plans of Jesus for our lives.

Verse 39: But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

   People don’t understand this, but the man speaking in this story knew that if something is from God, no man can stop it or block it. It says it in the word spoken over Peter's life by Jesus himself: “Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it

  Noting will prevail against Peter; this is for us too : anything that tries to come against us, and we are walking in the light of God and in his will. The world can try to stop us , but they won't be able to because when we are children of the king, he won't allow anything to harm us that he doesn’t will it.

   Another good example is Elijah. Elijah had 300 prophets of Baal against him, and they all were doing the same thing, trying to get set fire to the bulls meat that was on the wood ; the prophets of Baal were so focused on their god to do this and they couldn’t Elijah started to make fun of them he said maybe your god is a sleep and Elijah waited and nothing occurred.

“ 1 King 18:27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, relieving himself, or on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”

    When he stepped up, he prayed to God confidently. See, we must be confident in our God. We must have faith that when we pray when we ask, he will come through; sometimes, we don’t get what we ask for or need because we doubt him, but Elijah knew God would come through; this is how confident he was in God.

  Verse 33-35, and he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench with water.”

    He made sure it was done four times. He knew God was going to come through, and that’s why the apostles had confidence that Jesus would help them and that Jesus was right there through it all. They also knew that they would be joyful even if Jesus didn’t show up to help them because their suffering was done in his honor.

  1 Peter 4:13 Instead, be happy—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

    Our suffering is done in his honor, and the confidence we have for him and the faith we have in him sometimes won’t develop right then, and there are things some of us must go through to develop this, but whatever we go through, know that God has us in his arms and that whatever battle we are in, he's going to be there through it all!  We might not feel it , we might not even see it but sometimes some roads are not there we must just believe and walk in it.

  James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

  The Bible tells us to count it all joy when we are in trials. Some of us get so upset, and we think God hates us, but what God is trying to do is develop a character in us to show how to stand for him through anything; this world will test us, but God will never do that this world we make sure we fail every time, but God will set us up to succeed every day, but we must stick to the plan and have faith through anything that nothing I mean nothing can take what he’s given away , unless he wills it , we must stand strong through our journey.

   ***Today, the Holy Spirit wants us to know that no matter what happens, stand on the word and don’t allow trouble or anything to stop us from doing what we are called to do; God has called us to spread the good news, and as long as we are walking in God and not against him then we will prevail, sometimes the plans we make don’t go through because we are too anxious so we move without him and when we move with him, we will always be successful at anything. Because we are children of God, we will succeed!

  The Bible tells us Paul went through so much, but he learned to be content regardless of circumstances and not allow what happened to steal his joy or stop him from doing anything , and we must do the same thing , God has spoken to us to do something , and whatever that something is God will give us the ability to have victory in it because we are his children; when we apply faith and walk in his will, and we know what we are doing is IN HIS WILL, WE WILL OVERCOME ANYTHING THAT COMES OUR WAY AND NOTHING WILL STOP US. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

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PRAYER

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Heavenly Father, thank you so much for everything; lord, we ask you today to be with us and help us be content in anything we face. Lord, we ask you to show us your will in our lives. We want to please you with everything. Sometimes, lord, life gets so hard, and we ask you to direct and stay with us; please don’t give up on us. Lord, continue to give us peace in you and through you. Lord, help us to let go of our comforts and hold on to your peace; lord, we ask you right now to remove anything or anyone that could come in between your plans for our life; in Jesus' Name, Amen

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REFERENCES

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 + 2 Corinthians 12:10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

+ Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

+ Romans 5:3-4 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

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FURTHER READINGS

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 Proverbs 2

2 Thessalonians 2

Hosea 4

Revelation 12

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