#i mean. his brother in law is dead his sister widowed and her barely one month old son without a father

[allamaiqbaloo]

the untamed (2019) // sophocles, jean anouilh, trans. lewis galantiére: antigone

[reallifesultanas]

About the Haseki title

Yesterday was the anniversary of Hafsa Valide Sultan's death. For this reason, I would like to talk a little about the Haseki title as it was created due to her death.

Origin of the Haseki title

The title itself was created in 1534 by Suleyman I. The reason is more complicated than we would think at first. Usually, we believe that Suleyman created this title for Hürrem because he loved her so much that wanted to give her something valuable. But it's not only about his love and affection for Hürrem, the whole title had a deeper meaning.

Suleyman went a lot to war in his early-mid reign. During the wars, his mother was left in the capital to take care of his harem and act as a messenger for him. Hafsa was great for that role because Suleyman could trust her, she told him everything that happened, she was respected by everyone and she could take great care of Suleyman's family. So Suleyman could be calm, everything stayed fine in the capital while he was far away. Suleyman - and every sultan - needed a strong and honest and trustworthy ally in the capital during war-time, especially when war seemed to be long and hard. For example, his father Yavuz Selim I made Suleyman act as a regent while he was chasing his brothers and fighting against them. True that these times Suleyman was not in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul but Edirne, because that was the custom. So until 1534, Suleyman could leave the capital in relative calmness because the city was in the hands of his mother, and also his mother was there to keep safe the harem and take care of his children and family.

But everything changed in 1534, in the year of Suleyman's hardest campaign. Suleyman's Persian campaign started and these kinds of campaigns were the hardest and most dangerous campaigns for the Ottomans. The wars with the Safavids are legendary! In such a situation Suleyman's mother fell ill, very ill. This is why Suleyman didn't leave with his army in early 1534 but sent Ibrahim Pasha instead. This was the first time that he did not accompany his army. At first, the army was fine with it, at least there is no evidence suggesting otherwise. Most probably they knew the reason why the sultan stayed and understood him. But with time as the war became worse and worse, Suleyman was very needed at the battlefield. Hafsa Sultan in the end died on 19 March of 1534. After the mourning period, Suleyman should leave and join his army already. But who he could trust to keep the harem and the city safe? All of his trusted men were at the campaign and the only person he could trust, Hürrem, was not suitable for the position. In the end, Suleyman named his younger son, Mehmed as the protector of Istanbul, but he was young also. Mehmed moved to Topkapi Palace with his mother and tutor, but still, it was not enough. Hürrem was the only one Suleyman could completely trust, so he must have to make her suitable for the role.

But how could a simple consort rule the whole harem and help the young protector of Istanbul? Hürrem was the mother of a prince, which definitely was something but still, she was very far from the highest-ranking women of the harem. In the harem, there lived Suleyman's widowed sisters and aunts, who all had a higher rank than Hürrem. Most of them were even older than Hürem and age was a very important factor in the hierarchy especially together with ranks. How could Hürrem rule over them? How could Hürrem with a lower rank keep the harem in order? Well, there was no way for that, so Hürrem must have had a higher rank to do so. Suleyman was thinking about what he could do... When the mourning period ended he immediately married Hürrem in May 1534. She became a wedded wife and stuff so she had a high rank but she still was only a Hatun, as only the trueborn princesses and the Valide could have the title "Sultana". As a wedded wife she still was not completely above the old true-born sultanas. Suleyman wanted to mark Hürrem's importance and position for everyone, to make it even more clear that she is Suleyman's favorite and only woman, his ear in the capital while he is abroad. So he created a new rank for Hürrem: the Haseki Sultan title. As a wedded wife and a Haseki she had a higher rank than anyone else in the Harem, she became a Sultana. And with such titles, she could easily move to Topkapi Place with Sehzade Mehmed to act as regents while Suleyman was far away. They - along with Mehmed's tutor - did a nice job, wrote letters to Suleyman about everything, and kept the harem and the city in order.

But what was the Haseki's role?

The original usage of Haseki Sultan title meant that she was the chief consort of the sultan with special status. A Haseki Sultan had an important place in the palace, being the second most powerful woman and enjoyed the greatest status in the imperial harem after Valide Sultan and usually had chambers close to the sultan's chamber. Rumors have it that Suleyman and Hürrem had a secret corridor between their rooms so they could meet anytime. When the position of Valide Sultan was vacant, a Haseki took the Valide Sultan's role, have access to considerable economic resources, become chief of the imperial harem, sultan's advisor in political matters, and even have an influence on foreign policy and international politics. So this was the original meaning of being a Haseki.

What happened later?

After Hürrem the next Haseki Sultan was Nurbanu Sultan, mother of the heir, later Murad III and partner of Selim II, Hürrem's son. When Selim ascended the throne Hürrem was already dead, so the position of the Valide Sultan was vacant. This is why Nurbanu could act similarly to Hürrem. She had a less long tenure, as Selim was sultan for only 8 years, but her power and work were very similar to Hürrems. Hürrem was the only woman in Suleyman's life after they met and she was the mother of all his children except Mustafa, who was born long before Hürrem and Suleyman met. Nurbanu was similarly to the only woman in Selim's life, however, their situation was different. Due to the law of fratricide, Nurbanu and Selim stopped reproducing after the birth of their first son in 1546. They never had any children together again, but still, they were faithful to each other and Nurbanu acted as a companion and partner, and ally to Selim. Later when their son, Murad got his first province, Nurbanu had to leave with him, leaving Selim alone. The alone Selim during this period accidentally impregnated a consort and had a daughter with her. From then on Selim was loyal to Nurbanu again and the mother of the daughter couldn't have any position or any special wealth. Selim ascended the throne in 1566 and his pashas were worried because he had only one son, one heir, the son of Nurbanu, Murad. So the pashas in the end pushed Selim to produce more children. The mothers of these children were one-night stands and they had a shamefully low stipend (50 aspers for a day) compared to Nurbanu's stipend (1100 aspers for a day). Selim wanted to show everyone that these women and these sons born from these one-night stands mean nothing compared to Nurbanu and Murad, so he stated that his heir is Murad, and his love is Murad's mother. So he married Nurbanu. So all in all true, that Selim had other women in his life besides Nurbanu but we cannot compare any of them to Nurbanu. And in general, Nurbanu had a very similar role as Hürrem so we can consider them being both the original kind of Hasekies.

When Selim II died his son Murad III took his place, and Nurbanu reached her peak, becoming a Valide Sultan. Murad to sign his love for his mother made a legal and official title out of Valide Sultanship (though it's a different story). Murad immediately made his favorite consort, Safiye a Haseki Sultan, however this time Haseki meant a different thing. The whole Haseki title was created because of the absence of a Valide Sultan and both titles have similar tasks so the two titles were incompatible. Still first time in history there was a Valide Sultan (one of the strongest of all time) and a Haseki Sultan. Both were very loved by the sultan, and both wanted to influence the sultan. This naturally caused trouble. The Haseki Sultan, Safiye wanted to be such a Haseki as Nurbanu and Hürrem were previously, but it was not possible with the presence of such a Valide Sultan. Safiye, while was a Haseki, was considered more like a favorite consort by people. Things changed when Nurbanu died in 1583 and so Safiye became a real Haseki Sultan, acting like a Haseki Sultan. However besides her Murad continuously had other consorts and these consorts had a bigger value than previously Selim II's late consorts. Some of them could to charitable foundations, which suggest a higher stipend than Selim II's late consorts. All in all of course none of them couldn't be compared to Safiye, but still, they were present.

When Murad III died, Safiye became the Valide Sultan to Mehmed III and so reached her peak in power. Safiye Sultan knew how terrible A Valide could be to a Haseki and vica versa, this is why she forbade to her son to make a Haseki out of any of his consorts. During Mehmed's reign, there was no recorded Haseki Sultan.

When Mehmed died his barely 13 years old son, Ahmed I ascended the throne in 1603. Soon he made his favorite consort, Kösem a Haseki Sultan. Kösem was a strong Haseki Sultan, but she was not similar in tasks or any other perspective to Hürrem and Nurbanu, who were the original kind of Hasekies. Kösem's situation was similar, because Ahmed's mother died young, so the Valide Sultan's position was vacant, but she couldn't make power out of the harem. She couldn't take the Valide Sultan's job. She had no political activity, she tried in vain to gain any political influence, Ahmed never let her do so. She couldn't really have her allies, she didn't have heavy burdens on her shoulders such her predecessors had. She was not even the one ruling the imperial harem as it was ruled by Haci Mustafa Agha, the chief black eunuch, who was a father-figure to the sultan. During this period the Haseki title had a meaning of being the sultan's favorite, and not being a kind-of-valide.

The next years were chaotic for the Haseki title. The new ruler after Ahmed I who had a Haseki was Osman II. Osman II's Haseki did not have any political influence, was not ruling the harem (while the position of Valide Sultan was vacant though). We cannot even consider her any kind of Haseki, only her stipend suggests she was a Haseki but nothing else.

The next sultan, Murad IV had a Haseki, Ayşe Sultan who was similar to Osman II's Haseki, as she also couldn't gain any political or another kind of influence. And in his late reign, Murad IV made a second Haseki out of his favorites. With this, the original meaning and the whole raison d'etre of it were destroyed.

The Haseki Sultan title was destroyed by Murad, but his brother Ibrahim I made a total mess out of it. He gave a Haseki title and Haseki stipend to all of his favorites, so during his reign, there was a total of 8 Hasekies. These women cannot be compared to the original Hasekies but not even to Murad IV's Haseki, Ayşe. The Haseki title was devastated and it seemed like it will end like this.

A little light came then, with the reign of Mehmed IV, who made his favorite consort, mother of his children a Haseki Sultan. Emetullah Rabia Gülnüş was again a kind of normal Haseki Sultan. She had political power, she influenced the sultan, but the role of Valide Sultan was not vacant, as Mehmed IV's mother, Turhan was alive, so she couldn't act as an original Haseki. She was similar to Kösem Sultan actually. While Emetullah Rabia Gülnüş had a Valide mother-in-law, we still cannot compare this to Safiye and Nurbanu, because those two fought with each other, while Turhan and Emetullah had a cordial relationship. True that Emetullah was not as strong and independent as the original Hasekies but after the mass of Ibrahim I, it was a refreshment to see a kind-of-Haseki-Sultan.

Mehmed IV's brother, Ahmed II had a Haseki also, Rabia Sultan, but this woman was nothing like a Haseki should be. She had the salary of a Haseki but that's all. She didn't have any kind of influence, so in reality, she was more like a simple favorite than a Haseki Sultan. The Haseki Sultan title was soon abolished and in general, the whole harem system changed a lot, the titles of the harem concubines changed also. With the death of Rabia, the last Haseki Sultan, the Haseki title disappeared.

*    *    *

Tegnap volt Ayşe Hafsa Valide szultána halálának évfordulója. Ennek okán szeretnék egy kicsit beszélni a Haszeki szultána címről, amely részben halála miatt jött létre.

A Haszeki cím eredete

A címet magát I. Szulejmán alkotta meg 1534-ben. Ennek oka bonyolultabb volt, mint azt először gondolnánk. Általában úgy hisszük, Szulejmán azért alkotta meg ezt a rangot Hürrem számára, mert annyira szerette és ki akarta fejezni, mennyit jelent neki. A cím azonban nem csupán a szerelemről szól, sokkal mélyebb jelentése és jelentősége van.

Szulejmán uralkodásának korai-középső periódusában rendeteget háborúzott. A háborúk idején édesanyja a fővárosban maradt és vigyázott a háremre, mindenről beszámolt a szultánnak, ami a fővárosban zajlott. Hafsa nagyszerűen megfelelt erre a szerepre, mert Szulejmán megbízhatott benne, Hafsa mindent elmondott fiának, ami történt és nagyszerűen gondját viselte Szulejmán családjának, emellett pedig mindenki szerette és tisztelte. Szulejmán ilyen háttérrel nyugodt lehetett a háborúban is, hiszen családja és a főváros jó kezekben volt. Szulejmánnak - és minden más szultának is - hatalmas szüksége volt erős, megbízható emberekre, akiket a fővárosban hagyhatott háború idejére, különösen ha hosszadalmas háború volt kilátásban. Példának okáért Szulejmán apja, I. Yavuz Szelim saját fiát, Szulejmánt hagyta meg Isztambul őrzőjének, amíg ő a keleti fronton harcolt vagy saját testvéreit üldözte. Igaz, Szulejmán nem Isztambulban volt ekkor, hanem Edirnéből kormányozta az országot és vigyázott a rendre, hiszen a hagyomány így követelte. Lényegében tehát 1534-ig Szulejmán nyugodtan hagyhata hátra a fővárost, ha háborúzni ment.

1534-ben aztán minden megváltozott. Ebben az évben indult Szulejmán egyik legkeményebb hadjárata, a perzsa hadjárat. A Szafavidák ellen vívott háborúk mindig a legnehezebbek voltak az oszmánok számára, nem volt ez másként Szulejmán esetében sem. Ilyen körülmények között azonban, pont a hadjárat előkészületei alatt Hafsa szultána súlyos beteg lett. Szulejmán nem akarta elhagyni édesanyját, ezért hadseregét előreküldte Pargali Ibrahim vezetésével, ő maga pedig anyja mellett maradt. Ez volt az első alkalom, hogy Szulejmán így cselekedett. Úgy tűnik, a hadsereg nem különösebben bánta eleinte Szulejmán döntését, bizonyára tudták, mi távollétének oka és megértették. Később, ahogy a hadjárat egyre rosszabbul ment, Szulejmánra nagy szükség volt a hadszíntéren. Hafsa végül március 19-én hunyt el. A gyászidő letelte után Szulejmánnak el kellett volna indulnia hadserege után, azonban nagyon nehéz helyzetben találta magát. Nem tudtakire bízza a háremét és a fővárost. Bár kinevezte fiát, Mehmedet Isztambul védelmezőjévé, a herceg még nagyon fiatal volt ekkor. Mehmed herceg anyja és tanítója kíséretében a Topkapi Palotába költözött, ám ez kevés volt. Hürrem volt az egyetlen, akiben Szulejmán kellőképpen megbízott, hogy ráhagyja a háremet és a fővárost, azonban a nőnek nem volt megfelelő rangja ahhoz, hogy elláthassa ezt a feladatot.

Hogyan uralhatta volna egy egyszerű ágyas a háremet és hogyan segíthette volna Isztambul ifjú őrzőjét? Hürrem bár több herceg anyja volt és a szultán kedvence, mégis nagyon távol állt rangban a hárem sok más lakójától. A háremben éltek ugyanis Szulejmán özvegy testvérei, nagynénjei, akik mint rangban, mind korban felülmúlták Hürremet. Hogy uralkodhatott volna tehát Hürrem? Szulejmán végül feleségül vette kedvenc ágyasát, Hürremet 1534 májusában. Ezzel bár hites feleség lett és pozíciója sokat javult, továbbra is csak a Hatun rang illette meg, nem uralhatta tehát a háremben élő született szultánákat. Szulejmán ezért megalkotott egy olyan rangot Hürrem számára, amellyel maga is szultána rangot kapott, így pedig alkalmassá vált arra, hogy a háremet uralja. A Haszeki szultána rang megalkotása után mindenki számára nyilvánvalóvá vált, hogy mit jelent Hürrem a szultán számára, és kénytelenek voltak elfogadni felsőbbrendűségét. Ezekután Hürrem fiával együtt nyugodtan költözhetett a Topkapi Palotába, ahonnan rendszeresen számoltak be a szultánnak az aktuális eseményekről. Jó munkát végeztek, így Szulejmán nyugodtan koncentrálhatott hadjáratára.

Na de gyakorlatban mi volt a Haszeki szultána feladata?

Eredetileg a Haszeki szultána cím a szultán fő kedvencét jelölte, akinek kiemelt státusza volt. A Haszeki szultána nagyon fontos szerepet játszott a háremben, és a második legbefolyásosabb nő lehetett a Valide szultána után. Emellett megvolt a saját lakrésze, mely a validéével vetekedett. A legendák szerint Hürrem lakrésze például titkos összeköttetésben állt Szulejmánéval, hogy zavartalanul találkozhassanak. Ha a Valide Szultána hiányzot a hierarchiából, a Haszeki vette át feladatait, amivel hatalmas gazdasgi forrásokhoz jutott hozzá, ő volt a hárem feje, a szultán tanácsadója politikai ügyekben, sőt akár befolyással lehetett a más államokkal vlaó politikára is. Ezt értjük tehát a Haszeki cím eredeti jelentőségének.

Mi történt később?

Hürrem után a következő Haszeki, Nurbanu szultána volt, az örökös, későbbi III. Murad anyja és II. Szelim partnere. Amikor Szelim trónralépett, Hürrem már régóta halott volt, így a Valide szultána rang üres volt. Ennek köszönhetően Nurbanu hasonló keretek között ténykedett, mint elődje, Hürrem. Haszekisége csupán 8 évig tartott, mely alatt hatalma, munkája nagyban hasonlított Hürremére. Szulejmán életében nem volt más nő miután megismerte Hürremet és ő volt minden fiának anyja, kivéve Musztafának, aki jóval idősebb volt Hürrem fiainál. Nurbanu hasonlóan az egyetlen nő volt Szelim életében, azonban esetük kissé eltérő volt. A testvérgyilkosság törvénye miatt Szelim és Nurbanu első fiuk születése után nem nemzett többé gyermeket, azonban hűségesek voltak egymáshoz és Nurbanu vált Szelim partnerévé, társává. Később, mikor egyetlen közös fiuk megkapta első uralnivaló provinciáját, Nurbanu a szokásokhoz híven követte fiát, ezzel hátrahagyva Szelimet. A magány idején Szelim nemzett egy gyermeket egy névtelen ágyasnak, egy kislányt. A lány születése után aztán Szelim újra hűséges lett Nurbanuhoz és nem kockáztatta többé, hogy gyermeket nemzen. A sors azonban máshogy gondolta. Szelim 1566-ban, Szulejmán halálát követően foglalhatta el a trónt. Ekkor Szelimnek gyakorlatilag egyetlen örököse volt, fia Murad, ami a pasák szerint rendkívül kevés volt. Ha Murad elhunyt volna egy betegség következtében, ami talán nem lett volna meglepő, tekintve, hogy nem volt egy erős megjelenésű figura, akkor a birodalom örökös nélkül maradt volna. Emiatt a pasák minden erejükkel azon voltak, hogy Szelimet rávegyék a további gyermeknemzésre. Végül Szelim több egyéjszakás kaland során több fiút is nemzett. Ezen ágyasok azonban szinte szégyenteljesen alacsony fizetést kaptak (50 asper egy napra) Nurbanuhoz viszonyítva (1100 asper egy napra). Szelim emellett nyilvánosan is ki akarta fejezni, hogy életében egy nő és egy örökös van, emiatt nyilvánosan Muradot nevezte meg örököséül, fia anyját pedig feleségül vette. Így bár Nurbanu mellett voltak más nők Szelim életében, mégsem vehetjük egyiküket sem komolyan, csupán a körülmények adtak létjogosultságot nekik. Épp emiatt általánosságban véve (hatalmát, befolyását, elismertségét, vagyonát, munkáját) Nurbanu Haszekisége nagyban hasonlított Hürremére, ami mindkettejüket egyértelműen a Haszekik eredeti generációjává teszi.

Mikor II. Szelim elhalálozott, fia III. Murad követte a trónon, amivel Nurbanu elérte hatalma csúcsét, Valide szultánaként. Murad, hogy bizonyítsa, mennyire tiszteli és szereti anyját egy valódi tisztséget alkotott a Valide számára, de ez egy másik történet... Murad ugyanekkor kedvenc ágyasát, Safiyét a Haszeki ranggal tüntette ki. Azonban ez a Haszekiség merőben eltért Hürrem vagy Nurbanu Haszkiségétől. Az egész rangra azért volt szükség, mert nem volt életben Valide szultána és szükség volt a pótlására. Jelen esetben azonban nagyon is volt Valide, ráadásul a történelem egyik legerőebbike, így természetes frusztrációt okozott a két rang együttes jelenléte. Mivel mind a Valide, mind a Haszeki rang hasonló feladatkörrel és befolyással bír, a két nő között verseny alakult ki, ami vérremenő harcig fajult az évek múlásával. Bár Safiye szeretett volna hasonló Haszeki lenni, mint elődei, es��lye sem volt erre sem a háremen belül sem a politikai életben. Gyakorlatilag Safiye csak egy kedvenc ágyas volt, magas fizetéssel, hiába viselte a Haszeki rangot. A dolgok természetesen megváltoztak, amikor Nurbanu 1583-ban lehalálozott. Innentől Safiye valódi Haszekivé lépett elő. Fontos azonban megjegyezni, hogy Muradnak rendszeresen voltak más ágyasai Safiye mellett ebben az időszakban és jóval nagyobb vagyonnal és befolyással rendelekzdtek, mint például II. Szelim elfeledett ágyasai. Murad ágyasai közül többen is tudtak jótékony szervezetet alapítani és egyéb más adaozásokat csinálni, melyre aligha lettek volna képesek, ha annyi a fizetésük, mint II. Szelim ágyasainak. Ettől függetlenül természetesen Safiyéhez nem érhettek fel.

III. Murad halálával Safiye Valide szultána rangot kapott fia, III. Mehmed mellett és elérte befolyása csúcsát. Safiye mindneki másnál jobban tudta milyen szörnyűséges, ha egyszerre van jelen egy erős Valide és egy Haszeki, épp emiatt, megtiltotta fiának, hogy bármelyik ágyasát Haszeki rangra emelje, így III. Mehmed uralkodása alatt Safiynek nem igazán volt vetélytársa.

Mehmed halálával, alig 13 éves fia, I. Ahmed került trónra, 1603-ban. Hamarosan ő is kinevezett magának egy Haszekit, kisebbik fiának anyja, Köszem kapta meg ezt a titulust. Köszem erős asszony volt, Ahmed háremében is kiemelt szerepe volt, azonban sem befolyásában sem feladatköreiben nem hasonlíthatjuk az előbbi Haszekikhez. Bár Köszem helyzete hasonló volt Hürrem vagy Nurbanu helyzetéhez, hisz a szultán anyja nem élt, így a Haszeki volt a legmagasabb rangú nő, Köszem mégsem tudott felérni elődeihez. Nem volt politikai befolyása, Ahmed nem engedte meg neki, hogy aktivizálja magát a politikában. Emellett saját támogatói körrel sem rendelkezett, nem nyomták nehéz terhek a vállait, hiszen a hárem vezetése sem az ő feladata volt. Tény, hogy volt beleszólása a hárem életébe, de azt Haci Musztafa Aga, fő fekete eunuch irányította, aki egyfajta apafigura volt a szultán életében. Köszem Haszekisége inkább volt egy kiemelt kedvenc szerepe, mint az eredeti Haszekiség.

A következő néhány év teljesen kaotikus volt a Haszeki rang szempontjából. A soronkövetkező szultán, II. Oszmán is odaadta a titulust egyik ágyasáank, azonban a nőnek nem volt semmiféle politikai befolyása vagy akár hárembeli befolyása (még úgy sem, hogy nem volt Valide szultána Oszmán uralkodása során). Fizetését leszámítva semmi köze nem volt a Haszekikhez ennek az ágyasnak.

A következő szultán IV. Murad szintén Haszekivé tette egyik ágyasát, aki éveken keresztül dominálta Murad szerelmi életét, azonban politikai befolyása nem volt és a Valide szultánával sem versenyezhetett a háremben. Ayşe Haszeki is inkább volt jó fizetéssel rendelkező kedven ágyas, mintsem Haszeki. Ráadásul Murad uralkodásána végén feltűnt egy második Haszeki, amivel az egész Haszeki szultána rang létjogosultságát sikerült lerombolni.

A Haszeki szultána rangot bár Murad is erőteljesen elkezdte rombolni, a munkát öccse, I. Ibrahim végezte be. Ibrahim minden kedvenc ágyasának kiosztotta a Haszeki rangot, amivel összesen 8 Haszekit produkált. Ezeket a nőket egyáltalán nem hasonlíthatjuk a korábbi Haszekikhez, még Ayşe Haszekihez sem! Úgy tűnt, a Haszeki rang teljesen tönkre ment és megsemmisült.

Egy kis fényt hozott a következő uralkodó, IV. Mehmed, aki újra logikus módon használta ezt a rangot és kedvenc ágyasának, gyermekei anyjának, Emetullah Rabia Gülnüşnek adta oda. Emetullah Rabia Gülnüş függetlenül attól, hogy volt életben Valide szultána politika befolyásra is szert tudott tenni, emellett befolyással bírt a szultánra és a háremre is. Esete kissé hasonlít Safiye fiatalkori Haszekiségére, azzal a különbséggel, hogy IV. Mehmed édesanyja, Turhan Hatice Valide szultána és közte sosem volt harc a hatalomért, elfogadták és tiszteletben tartották egymást. Így bár összességében Emetullah Rabia Gülnüşt nem hasonlíthatjuk az eredeti Haszekikhez, mint Hürrem vagy Nurbanu, mégis felüdülés volt Ibrahim 8 Haszekije után látni valakit, aki legalább hasonlított a Haszeki eredeti értelmére.

IV. Mehmed öccse, II. Ahmed volt az utolsó szultán, aki rendelkezett Haszeki szultánával. Ez a nő Rabia volt, a szultán gyermekeinek anyja, kedvenc ágyasa. Bár fizetése a Haszekire jellemző, rendkívül magas fizetés volt, nem volt semmilyen beolyása, így inkább volt egyszerű ágyas, mint valódi Haszeki. A Haszeki szultána címet hamarosan végleg eltörölték és az egész hárem struktúra nagyban megváltozott, vele együtt az összes rang is. Rabia halálával pedig eltávozott az utolsó Haszeki szultána és a cím örökre eltűnt.

[shannaraisles]

Fidèle de la Cœur - Chapter 1

In Regency era Thedas, the second family of a deceased Bann are forced to uproot themselves and build a new life far from the place they called home. Invited to live in Kirkwall by the Viscount - an old friend of their dead father - the two Lavellan sisters discover two very different paths to understanding the merit of a truly constant heart.

A Sense and Sensibility/Dragon Age mash-up, in which Brandon gets the right girl, and no one gets married before they reach the age of twenty.

Next Chapter - OR - Read on AO3

Chapter One

The sonorous tones of a melancholy piano echoed through the family wing of Ostwick Keep, lending voice to a grief that must be heard and accepted. Servants kept to themselves, speaking in hushed tones out of respect for the family so recently bereaved, yet forced to be about their business thanks to the arrival of the new Bann and his wife. It seemed to those women who could no longer call this place home that no sooner had word arrived of the old Bann's death than the new Bann Trevelyan had arrived hard on its heels, greedy to take up his position of respect, authority, and wealth. 

Johannes, they could have tolerated without much issue. The piercing gaze of his wife, Lady Goldanna, was an insult that could not be borne, and yet must be ignored for the sake of peace. She had made it quite clear that she had never approved of her father-in-law's second family, and now she fully intended to see them out of the only home they had by filling it with her ostentatious tastes and offensive personality. That her in-laws were elven appeared to make her poor manners ever more unfriendly, a fact that the servants were very quick to note. Her announcement upon arrival that her brother, Mr. Alistair Theirin, would soon be arriving to spend the winter with them was simply one more headache for the household to absorb.

The Lavellan women - for such they would now be called, no longer entitled to their half-brother's family name nor expectant of any support from him - were forced to accept this unwelcome change so soon upon the tails of the former Bann's death, and each reacted to the pain and inconvenience in their own ways. Ellana, the now Widow Lavellan, a handsome elven woman no more than forty years of age, had given way to her grief so wholly since the death of her beloved husband that she barely stepped from her rooms, weeping inconsolably as though she might never look upon the world with dry eyes again. Her somewhat romantic and dramatic view of their new circumstance was transmitted to her younger daughter, Lanise, who now chose to spend hours in the music room, playing the saddest of music at the highest of volumes, determined to cloak the house in the mantle of her grieving sixteen-year-old heart. And then there was Eralen, the elder Lavellan daughter who, though as heartbroken and saddened by their loss as her mother and sister, showed the world a calm face and gentle manner, taking on the burdens of running the household, making Goldanna and Johannes welcome in their new home, and consoling her mother during the worst of her fits of grief.

"Mamae, there is no need for this," she said, watching as her weeping mother swept about her private rooms, tossing keepsakes and personal items haphazardly into an open trunk. "Johannes will not simply toss us out onto the street."

"Yet he was quick to arrive and take charge of the estate," Ellana snapped back at her daughter. "And sending that woman ahead of him to hurry us along! Vultures, the pair of them, taking stock and inventory, laying a price on every precious memory we have made here. I will not stay to be a stranger in my own home, I will not -"

Yet here she crumbled, collapsing onto the stool by her vanity, her tears renewed with a wail muffled only by the press of her handkerchief to her mouth. Eralen bit her lip, moving further into the room to lay a gentle hand on her mother's back.

"I will start making enquiries to finding us somewhere else to live," she said quietly, not knowing what else she could say in the face of her mother's distress. "But until we have somewhere to go, you will have to bear it, Mamae."

Ellana groped for her daughter's hand, pressing her wet cheek against Eralen's knuckles.

"What would we do without you?"

Eralen smiled faintly, bending to kiss her mother's hair. As she straightened, the sonorous music faded for just a moment, only to be replaced with a melancholy rendition of a song the late Bann had dearly loved. Eralen winced just a split second before her mother burst into tears once again, throwing herself fully into her grief for the loss of the husband she had loved. 

With an imperceptible sigh, the elder Miss Lavellan left her mother to her weeping, calling for Orana to bring Mrs. Lavellan a cup of tea and sit with her a while until she was calm again. As the young maid nodded and hurried away, Eralen turned her face toward the music room, steeling herself to enter the whirlwind of dramatic emotion that was her younger sister. 

Passing one of the drawing rooms, she paused at the sound of voices, tilting her head toward the cracked door to briefly overhear what her half-brother and his wife were discussing. 

"Really, my dear, three women can live comfortably enough on the annuity granted by the terms of your father's will without putting you to the trouble of overseeing such a thing yourself," Goldanna was saying. "Indeed, they will be quite set up for life. And, of course, when the mother dies, the girls will receive ten thousand between them, which is not a sum to be sniffed at."

"My dear Goldanna, I made a promise to my father that I would see them cared for," Johannes answered, but even Eralen could tell he was being persuaded by his wife's greedy reasoning. "What do you say to the occasional gift of fifty gold every now and then?"

"And what would they spend it upon?" was Goldanna's reply. "In their situation, it would be more an insult than a help, I am sure, and we must think of our sweet Henry's inheritance. I feel certain your Papa never meant for you to help them with anything so vulgar as money; indeed, you need only give them the assistance they shall need when it comes to their relocation."

"No, Fanny, I must be plain on this case. My stepmother and sisters may remain here at Ostwick for as long as necessary to secure them a comfortable living."

"Of course, my dear," Goldanna soothed her husband in syrupy tones. "Yet one cannot help feeling that they cannot be allowed to engage in polite society with us. Miss Eralen is, I concede, acceptable in appearance and manner, but your stepmother and Miss Lanise are simply out of the question. Such violence of emotion cannot be allowed to stand and taint our reputation with the memory of the former incumbent."

"Oh, I quite agree on that point -"

Forcing herself not to frown, Eralen continued on, anxiously sweeping her hands down along the soft wool of her dress. So Goldanna was already working to have them gone with no inconvenience to herself; that was no surprise. She was saddened by Johannes' attitude, however. She had thought her half-brother stronger of spirit than this, yet it seemed he would bow to his wife's will. They could not expect any assistance from him. It was disappointing. But they would manage. Eralen had kept the books and helped run the household for several years now; she could keep her mother and sister from living beyond their means somehow. 

She opened the door to the music room, a sympathetic cast to her gaze as she looked upon her sister, not more than four years her junior. Lanise's eyes were red-rimmed, her cheeks glistening with tears as she watched her own fingers dance heavily over the keys before her. The music was beautiful, yes - Lanise had always had a gift for it - but the heaviness of emotion she instilled into it was enough to make anyone's heart break for her. 

"Lanise, da'len," Eralen began, moving into the room to catch her sister's attention. "Could you play something else? Mamae has been weeping since breakfast."

Lanise sighed tearfully, her fingers stilling on the keys, and for a long moment, the sisters simply looked at one another - one openly passionate in her grief, the other calm and composed in spite of it. Then the younger nodded, lowering her eyes to begin playing once again. This tune was no less melancholy than the last, though lighter in sound and complexity.

"I meant something less mournful, da'len," Eralen said, but she knew she was defeated before she began.

She loved the passion and fire in both her mother and sister, envying them the freedom to express whatever they felt in any moment. Yet in grief, they fed off one another, each one plunging the other deeper into more violent expressions of loss, until she herself felt inadequate in her own pain. No doubt Lanise thought her cold in many ways, but Eralen knew one of them had to keep a calm head in this trying time. If the conversation she had overheard was any indication, the sooner they were gone from Ostwick, the better things would be for all of them. 

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day Three Hundred Forty: Moving Out ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Hyūga Hiashi, Hyūga Hanako ] [ SasuHina, pregnancy, death, blood, gore ] [ Verse: Best Years of Your Life ] [ AO3 Link ]

It all happens so suddenly.

Hanako’s second pregnancy hadn’t been without its share of worries. The Hyūga woman seemed to get a little weaker day by day, Hiashi hovering in worry despite her assurances she was fine, just...tired. Her morning sickness was powerful, her aches and pains keeping her in bed more often than not. But if Hanako was anything...it was set in bringing her second daughter into the world. So she endured, her patience never failing as she faced the dawn of every day determined to see its sunset...and do it all over again for as many months as it took.

And then, in late March...Hanabi was born.

Hanako survived, much to the nurses’ surprise. Weary and worn, she’d held the newborn with a sense of pride and relief. “You’ve given me quite a run of it,” she had murmured, Hiashi watching silently. “I’ll be glad to sleep without you kicking me from the inside...now to just handle all your fussing and crying for a while, hm?”

...but she would not get that chance.

Three days after returning home, after a particularly twisting roll over in bed...Hanako inadvertently caused her own demise. Tears from the strain of birth subtly reopened, blood loss unnoticed in her heavy sleep, exhausted from the past nine months. And the heavy drowsiness of an emptying circulatory system only ensured she wouldn’t wake.

Come morning...Hiashi work to a fussy Hanabi, and a dead wife.

Hemorrhage.

The shock and horror was almost too much. Calling emergency services in vain, he was told she had been gone for at least two hours by the time he noticed. There was nothing they could do. Nothing he could have done. Her body was simply too fragile, too weakened.

And now, it was lifeless...the only proof of it left in two little girls.

Hinata, only five at the time, barely understood. The ambulance and EMTs had frightened her, retreating to her room as a heavy, blanket-like atmosphere settled over the house.

Her questions about where her mother was were answered with an outburst of emotion from her father: something she could never recall seeing before.

...it scared her even further.

Hiashi slept in the guest bedroom as arrangements were made for his wife’s funeral, all while juggling a newborn and a preschooler. His brother’s widow offered her help, coming to stay for a few weeks with her son, Neji.

Hinata still didn’t fully comprehend. Everyone kept telling her her mother was gone, but...gone where? When was she coming back? Why had she gone, with the new baby only just arrived?

Didn’t she want them?

“But...what does it mean, she w-won’t come back? Why not?”

“It means she’s dead,” Neji replied quietly. Not cruelly, but simply as a matter of facts. He, after all, had been forced to come to terms with the idea even younger than Hinata had when his father died. “She’s asleep forever, Hinata. You won’t see her or talk to her anymore.”

Dark brows wilted, tears burning in her eyes. “But...w-why?”

“I don’t know...but when they were taking out the bed from your parents’ room, I saw a lot of blood.”

“B...blood…?”

“They said it was from the baby. Babies make you bleed when they come out. Your mama just...didn’t stop bleeding.”

...it hadn’t made any sense. Her mother had been fine! She’d come back from the hospital, and there wasn’t any blood...three days had gone by, and nothing!

Then why…?

People kept coming by their house. All of them were sad, with those eyes that said more than words ever could. Hanako had been beloved in their community: an active member of the garden club, among the other parents of the preschoolers, and just being friendly and welcoming to everyone she met. A bright light had been lost, people kept saying. Now things would be darker without her there.

Almost a month passed...and then Hiashi made a decision. He just couldn’t stand it anymore. Being in that house, seeing those people...all they were were constant reminders of her, of his loss, his broken heart.

...so, he found a house in another city two hours away. Not too far as to be cut off from his sister-in-law should they need one another, but enough for a new start. A blank slate. Something to let him begin to recover from the loss of his beloved Hanako.

...but not everyone is so ready to leave.

“Hinata...I must speak with you.”

Looking up from her small gathering of toys on her bedroom floor, the girl meets her father’s eyes. They’ve been dark and sunken as of late, and today is no different. And yet...there’s something different about his gaze...she just can’t quite put her finger on it. “...y-yes?”

He sits on her bed, patting the mattress beside her. “...how are you feeling?”

“...sad…”

“You miss Mama, don’t you?”

A small, somber nod is all she can manage.

“...me too. Every moment of every day. Which is why...I think we need a change.”

“C...change?”

“Yes, Hinata. I want to move to a new house.”

“...huh…?”

“This house, it’s…” He pauses with a sigh. “...it’s full of memories of your mother. And those memories - as much as I love them - are making me sad. It’s hard to move forward when we’re stuck here, in a place that’s tied to the past. Does that make sense?”

“I...don’t know…”

“...I think it would be good for us. We can meet new people, make new friends...and have a new house to make new memories in.”

“You want to forget Mama…?”

“Hinata, no...that’s not what I -”

“I don’t w-wanna forget Mama! We can’t leave...this is our home! This is where she was, where she was alive!”

“Hinata, listen to me!” Carefully, he takes her shoulders, trying to stop her temperamental flailing. “We won’t forget Mama. We can never forget. But if we stay here...then we can never heal. Our hearts will always be sad. Sometimes...you need to take time away from what makes you sad. Mama will always be with us, no matter where we go. That I can promise you.”

Looking to him teary-eyed, Hinata isn’t convinced. “W...what about my friends…?”

“...we’ll have a day where they can all come over and say goodbye before we leave. And maybe if their parents say it’s okay, you can call them on the phone sometimes, and come visit. Or they can come visit us. Will that be all right?”

She can’t find an answer.

“...I’ll talk to all the parents. I think most of them knew this would happen. So they’ll be ready. That way you can say goodbye, okay?”

...no reply.

Sighing, Hiashi goes quiet for a time. Without a word, he gets up and takes his leave.

Hinata just...sits before rolling over and staring at the wall.

With the money to spare and not wanting to wait, Hiashi hires a moving team to pack up the house. Hinata watches sadly as so many pieces of their lives - most untouched since she can remember - are wrapped in paper and put into boxes. Hiashi tells her that much of it will be donated, or put into storage. Where they’re going, the house will be a little smaller, but in a better neighborhood with a big yard and a smaller school.

By now, she doesn’t have the words to argue.

Two days before the final push, Hiashi arranges for her class to meet in the park just down the road. It’s well into Spring now, and the grass is green, even if the days are still rather cool. The other children all gather around as Hiashi explains.

“Hinata, Hanabi, and I are going to be moving to a new city, soon. We wanted a chance to say goodbye to you all...and thank you for all of your help.” Even now, his tone is a bit stiff - Hinata knows that means he feels awkward...and is trying to remain professional, even as the subject grows heavy.

“...I know that many of you treasured Hanako as we did. Her absence is felt by many...but so too is her presence. It lingers, and seems to drain us. We hope that a new start will let us adjust to life without her, without her memory hanging so heavily over our shoulders. You are all, of course, welcome to stay in touch. Especially the children - I know Hinata will miss many of you, and I thank you for being such good friends to her. Take today to have fun, and tell each other what you mean to one another. We’ll take those tidings with us when we go.”

Given how young they are all, many of the children seem a bit unsure what all the fuss is really about - mortality isn’t yet a reality for some.

Were she a little older, Hinata might find herself a bit jealous of that.

“How come you gotta go away?” one boy, Kiba, asks in despair.

“Papa wants to go.”

“Can’t you stay?” Sakura asks, looking unsure.

“No...I w-wish I could. But Papa says we might come s-see you guys. But not for a while. I can call you on the p-phone.”

“I’ve never used the phone,” Chōji muses.

“M-me neither. But...m-maybe it will work.”

Everyone murmurs in discussion, but one boy seems to linger back from the group. Hinata knows him: Sasuke. He’s quite popular despite being so shy. They actually get along rather well, given their similarities.

“...I’ll miss you,” he offers quietly.

“Yeah…m-me too. I’ll call you on the phone, okay?”

“Okay...mister Roary will really miss Luna, too.”

Hinata jolts a bit at that. Luna is her little bunny plush, which she often brings to school with her. She’s good friends with Sasuke’s dinosaur plush, Roary. “M...maybe I’ll bring her to visit!”

“Yeah? Promise?”

“I promise.”

As the afternoon fades, Hiashi begins saying goodbyes to the adults, Hinata doing the same with her classmates. All of them give her hugs, wishing her well.

“Be careful, okay?”

Hinata nods as Sasuke takes his turn - the last of them - to embrace her. “I-I will…”

“I hope you like your new house, and your new school.”

“Yeah, me too. I’ll m-miss everyone.”

“We’ll miss you too. But we’ll see each other again! Okay?”

“...okay.”

                                                     .oOo.

     I am...VERY tired, so this probably isn't my best work - I feel like the end is rushed cuz I was running out of steam @~@ And it doesn't help that angst tends to be very...slow work for me, aha~      Idk this is just...what my brain gave me. I've never gone into too much detail about Hanako's (Hinata's mother) death. But this is what I HC to have happened in pretty much every verse: her body is just too fragile and worn out, and a while after Hanabi is born, she has internal bleeding that kills her.      I didn't mean for this to be TOO graphic, and I hope it's not horrible. I often have trouble writing gore, so...I tried to tread a little lightly but also still make it impactful. Idk if I succeeded.      But for now I REALLY need to sleep, so...that's all for now. Thanks for reading~

[maddie-grove]

The Top Twenty Books I Read in 2019

My main takeaways from the past year’s reading:

Sometimes you think something is happening because of magic, but then it turns out to have a non-magical explanation so weird that you find yourself saying, “You know what? I wish faeries or God were responsible for this. I’d honestly feel less disturbed.”

Stop bathing and changing your clothes and shaving for three years, three months, and three days. You’ll find out who your real friends are. I promise you that.

I want more books about bisexual ladies!!! Give them to me!!!

Anyway...

20. The Prodigal Duke by Theresa Romain (2017)

Childhood sweethearts Poppy Hayworth and Leo Billingsley were separated when his older brother, a duke, sent him away to make his fortune. Years later, the duke is dead, a financially successful Leo has come back to England to take his place, and Poppy has become a rope dancer at Vauxhall Gardens after a life-shattering event. New sparks are flying between them, but is love possible when so much else has changed? Leo and Poppy are believable and charming as old friends, Romain makes great use of obscure historical details from the oft-depicted Regency period, and I loved Leo’s difficult but caring elderly uncle.

19. Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi (1996)

Althea Winsloe, a young widow in 1900s Arkansas, has no interest in remarrying, but almost everyone in her small Ozarks community is pressuring her to remarry, and she still needs someone to help farm her land. Enter Jesse Best, a strong young man with cognitive disabilities who’s happy to take on the work. As he makes improvements to her farm and bonds with her three-year-old son, Althea gets to know him better and starts to see him in a new light. This earthy romance could’ve been a disaster, but instead it illustrates how people with disabilities are often...uh...simplified and de-sexualized in a way that denies them autonomy. Morsi has a similarly nuanced take on Althea and Jesse’s community, which is claustrophobic and supportive all at once.

18. Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli (2018)

Outspoken and insecure, bisexual high school senior Leah Burke is having a tough year. Her friend group is in turmoil, her single mom is seriously dating someone, and she’s caught between a sweet boy she’s not sure about and a pretty, perfect straight girl who couldn’t possibly be into her...right??? The sequel to the very cute Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Leah on the Offbeat pulls a The Godfather: Part II with its messy protagonist, sweetly surprising romance, and masterful comic set piece involving the Atlanta American Girl Doll restaurant.

17. Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper (2006)

Kidnapped from her home in eighteenth-century Ghana, fifteen-year-old Amari is sold into slavery and winds up on a South Carolina plantation, where she faces terrible cruelty but finds friends in an enslaved cook, her little son, and eventually a sulky white indentured servant around her age. When their master escalates his already-atrocious behavior, the three young people flee south to the Spanish Fort Mose in search of freedom. Draper’s complicated characters, vivid descriptions, and deft handling of heavy subjects makes for top-notch historical YA fiction.

16. A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole (2019)

After her controlling politician father was jailed for poisoning a bunch of people in their small, prosperous African country, Nya Jerami gained unprecedented freedom but also became the subject of vicious gossip. Johan von Braustein, the hard-partying stepson of a European monarch, wants to help her, partly because he sympathizes and partly because he has a crush, but she thinks he’s too frivolous and horny (if wildly attractive). After an embarrassing misunderstanding compels them to enter a fake engagement, though, she begins to wonder if there’s more to him. I’m not a huge fan of contemporary romance, but this novel has the perfect combination of heartfelt emotion, delicious melodrama, and adorable fluff. 

15. One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney (1997)

Stephen, the Duke of Ashburton, has always done the proper and responsible thing, but that all changes when he learns that he’s terminally ill. Wandering the countryside in the guise of an ordinary gentleman, he ends up joining an acting troupe and falling in love with Rosalind, the sensible adopted daughter of the two lead actors. Like another Regency romance on this list, this novel celebrates love in many forms: there’s the love story between Stephen and Rosalind, yes, but there’s also Rosalind’s loving relationship with her adopted family, the new bonds she forms with her long-lost blood relatives, the way her two families embrace the increasingly frightened Stephen, and the healing rifts between Stephen and his well-meaning but distant siblings. Stephen’s reconciliation with his mortality is also moving.

14. My One and Only Duke by Grace Burrowes (2018)

Facing a death sentence in Newgate, footman-turned-prosperous banker Quinton Wentworth decides to do one last good thing: marry Jane McGowan, a poor pregnant widow, so she and the baby will be financially set. Then he receives a pardon and a dukedom at the literal last minute, meaning that he and Jane have a more permanent arrangement than either intended. I fell in love with the kind-but-difficult protagonists almost at once, and with Burrowes’s gorgeous prose even faster. 

13. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell (2013)

It’s 1986, and comics-loving, post-punk-listening, half-Korean Park and bright, weird, constantly bullied Eleanor are just trying to get through high school in their rough Omaha neighborhood. He’s only grudgingly willing to let her share his bus seat at first, but this barely civil acquaintance slowly thaws into friendship and blossoms into love. Far from being the whimsical eighties-nostalgia-fest I expected, this is a bittersweet love story about two isolated young people who find love, belonging, and a chance for self-expression with each other in an often-hostile environment (a small miracle pre-Internet).

12. Shrill by Lindy West (2016)

In this memoir, Lindy West talks about the difficulties of being a fat woman, the thankless task of being vocally less-than-enthused about rape jokes, the joys of moving past self-doubt, and the very real possibility that Little John from Disney’s Robin Hood was played by “bear actor” Baloo, among other subjects. I was having a hard time during my last semester of law school this past spring, and this book’s giddy humor and inspiring messages really helped me in my hour of need.

11. Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood by Karina Longworth (2018)

In 1925, very young businessman Howard Hughes breezed into Hollywood with nothing but tons of family wealth, a soon-to-be-divorced wife, and a simple dream: make movies about fast planes and big bosoms. He got increasingly weird and reactionary over the next thirty years, then retired from public life. More a history of 1920s-1950s Hollywood than a biography, this book has the same sharp writing and in-depth film analysis that makes me love Longworth’s podcast You Must Remember This.

10. The Beguiled by Thomas Cullinan (1966)

In Civil-War-era Virginia, iron-willed Martha Farnsworth and her nervous younger sister try to run their nearly empty girls’ boarding school within earshot of a battlefield. When one girl finds Union soldier John McBurney injured in the woods, she brings him back to the house, where he exploits every conflict and secret among the eight girls and women (five students, two sisters, and one enslaved cook). Charming and manipulative, he nevertheless finds himself in over his head. Cullinan makes great use of the eight POVs and the deliciously claustrophobic setting; it’s fascinating to watch the power dynamics and allegiances shift from scene to scene.

9. A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian (2018)

Reserved tavern keeper Sam Fox wants to help out his brother’s sweetheart by finding and destroying a nude portrait she once sat for; disgraced gentleman Hartley Sedgwick isn’t sure what he wants after having his life ruined twice over, but he happened to inherit his house from the man who commissioned the painting...plus he’s not exactly reluctant to assist kind, handsome Sam in his quest. I wrote about this heart-melting romance two times last year; suffice it to say that it’s not only one of the best Regencies I’ve ever read, but also possibly the best romance I’ve ever read about the creation of a found family.

8. Frog Music by Emma Donoghue (2014)

Blanche Beunon, a French-born burlesque dancer in 1876 San Francisco, has a lot going on: her mooching boyfriend has turned on her, her sick baby is missing, and her cross-dressing, frog-hunting friend Jenny Bonnet was just shot dead right next to her. In the middle of a heat wave, a smallpox epidemic, and a little bit of mob violence, she must locate her son and solve Jenny’s murder. This is a glorious work of historical fiction; you can see, hear, smell, and feel the chaotic world of 1870s San Francisco, plus Blanche’s character arc is amazing.

7. The Patrick Melrose novels (Never Mind, Bad News, Some Hope, Mother’s Milk, and At Last) by Edward St. Aubyn (1992, 1992, 1994, 2005, and 2012, respectively)

Born to an embittered English aristocrat and an idealistic American heiress, Patrick Melrose lives through his father’s sadistic abuse and his mother’s willful blindness (Never Mind),  does a truly staggering amount of drugs in early adulthood (Bad News), and makes a good-faith effort at leading a normal life (Some Hope). Years later, the life he’s built with his wife and two sons is threatened by his alcoholism and reemerging resentment of his mother (Mother’s Milk), but there may be a chance to salvage something (At Last). Despite the suffering and cruelty on display, these novels were the farthest thing from a dismaying experience, thanks to the sharp characterization, grim humor, and great sense of setting. Also, I love little Robert Melrose, an anxious eldest child after my own heart. 

6. The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope (1974)

In 1550s England, no-nonsense Kate Sutton is exiled to the Perilous Gard, a remote castle occupied by suspicious characters, including the lord’s guilt-ridden younger brother Christopher. Troubled by the holes she sees in the story of the tragedy that haunts him, she does some problem-solving and ends up in a world of weird shit. Cleverly plotted, deliciously spooky, and featuring an all-time-great heroine, this book was an absolute treat. The beautiful Richard Cuffari illustrations in my edition didn’t hurt, either.

5. An Unconditional Freedom by Alyssa Cole (2019)

Daniel Cumberland, a free black man from New England traumatized from being sold into slavery, and Janeta Sanchez, a mixed-race Cuban-Floridian lady from a white Confederate family, have been sent on a mission to the Deep South by the Loyal League, a pro-Union spy organization. Initially hostile to everyone (but particularly to somewhat naive Janeta), Daniel warms to his colleague, but will her secrets, his shattered faith in justice, and the various dangers they face prevent them from falling in love? Nah. Alyssa Cole’s historical romances deliver both on the history and the romance, and this is one of her strongest entries.

4. The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite (2019)

Heartbroken by the death of her father and the marriage of her ex-girlfriend, Lucy Muchelney decides she needs a change of scenery and takes a live-in position translating a French astronomy text for Catherine St. Day, the recently widowed Countess of Moth. Catherine, used to putting her interests on hold for an uncaring spouse, is intrigued by this awkward, independent lady. I’ve read f/f romances before, but this sparkling Regency was the first to really blow me away with its fun banter, neat historical details, and perfect sexual tension.

3. The Wager by Donna Jo Napoli (2010)

After losing his entire fortune to a tidal wave, Sicilian nineteen-year-old Don Giovanni de la Fortuna sinks into poverty and near-starvation. Then Devil makes him an offer: all the money he wants for as long as he lives if he doesn’t bathe, cut his hair, shave, or change his clothes for three years, three months, and three days. This fairy-tale retelling is an extraordinarily moving fable about someone who learns to acknowledge his own suffering, recognize it in others, and extend compassion to all. 

2. Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell (2013)

In this collection, Russell weaves strange tales of silkworm-women hybrids in Japan, seagulls who collect objects from the past and future, and, yes, vampires in the lemon grove. She also posits the very important question: “What if most (but not all) U.S. presidents were reincarnated as horses in the same stable and had a lot of drama going on?” My favorite stories were “Proving Up” (about a nineteenth-century Nebraska boy who encounters death and horror on the prairie), “The Graveless Doll of Eric Mutis” (about a disadvantaged high school student who discovers an effigy of the even more hapless boy he tormented), and “The Barn at the End of the Term” (the horse-president story). 

1. The Wonder by Emma Donoghue (2016)

Lib Wright, an Englishwoman who has floundered since her days working for Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War, is hired to observe Anna O’Donnell, an eleven-year-old Irish girl famous for not eating for four straight months. With a jaundiced attitude towards the Irish and Catholicism, Lib is confident that she’ll quickly expose Anna as a fraud, but she finds herself liking the girl and getting increasingly drawn into the disturbing mystery of her fast. Like The Perilous Gard, this novel masterfully plays with the possibility of the supernatural, then introduces a technically mundane explanation that’s somehow much more eerie. Donoghue balances the horror and waste that surrounds Anna, though, with the clear, bright prose and the moving relationship that develops between her and Lib, who grows beyond her narrow-mindedness and emotional numbness. I stayed up half the night to finish this novel, which cemented Emma Donoghue’s status as my new favorite author.

[tilltheendwilliwrite]

Balance on the Head of a Pin

Chapter Twenty-Six

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Loki Laufeyson x OFC  |  Word Count: 7339 Warnings: Foul language

Pepper smiled as she alighted on sleek white heels and let the front of her gown drop when she leaned in and placed an air kiss on Loki’s cheek. “Loki, I hear tell you’re making trouble for our Lauren?”

“Preventing it, actually, while winning the heart of my beloved.” He took two steps back, bringing her with him and clearing the doorway while looking Pepper over. “Stunningly radiant as always.” He tilted his head in acknowledgment of her way with clothes.

The dress was a long sheath, leaving her arms bare. It started out white at the wide boatneck before darkening rapidly into a deep red from her knees to the hem floating just off the ground.

“I’m flattered you think so. I missed your opinion.”

“What in the hell does that mean?” Stark snarled as he stepped from the helicopter.

“Exactly what it sounds like. Loki has excellent taste.” Pepper patted Loki’s arm.

“Since when!” Tony demanded.

“You think I tell you everything?” she quipped.

“Evidently not,” he pouted.

Loki, though enjoying the exchange, eyed the others critically as they descended from the helicopter. Stark was dressed in his typical attire of suit coat over graphic t-shirt and jeans, his rose-tinted glasses unable to mask the hardness of his gaze.

Natasha appeared more wary, her distrust showing. Her dress was appropriate for a Stark party but was, unfortunately, not formal enough for the one getting underway at his back.

Steve looked guilty and Bucky apologetic, as they too appeared in far too casual attire.

“Pepper, darling, don’t take this the wrong way as I’m certain you must have only just returned from your trip and have no idea what’s happening, but what are you all doing here?” Loki asked, arching a brow at the others.

“Especially after I specifically asked you to stay away,” Thor added, wrapping his arm around Stark’s shoulders and giving him a tight squeeze.

“Tony!” Pepper gasped. “You said we’d been invited!”

“We were invited.” He wheezed prompting Thor to release him.

“By who?” Loki inquired, ready to shred flesh from bone.

“The Aviretts.”

“Of course you were. Evidently not recently.” Loki sighed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Natasha asked, her gaze darting toward Thor.

The look piqued Loki’s interest. Had his brother charmed the former assassin to have her looking Thor’s way with such eyes? “I mean, had your invitation come recently, or had you bothered to call and make your intentions known, we could have informed you of tonight’s dress code.”

“Oh, no.” Pepper looked down at her outfit.

“You’re taste is impeccable, Pepper dear. You have quite hit the theme dead on. The rest of you…” Loki narrowed his eyes and snapped his fingers.

Natasha’s little black dress was now a crimson red which hung from one shoulder. Fitted, it flared at her knees into sheer white tulle, falling in a multitude of pleats to the ground. The three men he placed in suits. Steve and Bucky in dark blue with satin lapels. A white shirt and blue tie for Steve. Black shirt and no tie for Bucky, knowing the soldier’s dislike for neckwear.

He chose the colour for one reason and one reason only. To irritate Magnolia.

For Stark, he matched him to Pepper in a white jacket with black lapels, black shirt and pants, and dark red tie.

They all looked immaculate, and Loki smirked, pleased with the outcome. “There. You will no longer embarrass my Ástvinur.”

Pepper snickered softly, her hand hiding her smile. “And that would be why I seek Loki’s opinion.” She turned on Tony. “But you have some nerve lying to me about this!”

“It wasn’t a lie!” he huffed, shooting Loki a glare. “Don’t you remember. We were at that thing, gala, event… something, and met Lauren’s sister and brother-in-law. They gave us an open invitation.”

“It was a charity fundraiser, and that’s no excuse, Tony!” She shifted her attention to Thor. “Especially after being asked not to come. Thor,” she held out her hand which he quickly collected and tucked in his elbow, “perhaps you can explain what someone has clearly failed to, so I don’t embarrass Lauren this evening.”

“It would be my pleasure, Lady Pepper.” He tilted his head and led her away into the garden where Loki could hear Pepper exclaim over the enticing view.

“Now,” Loki said calmly as he slowly clenched his fists. “Explain to me exactly what you hoped to accomplish by arriving here unannounced after Thor expressly forbade it!”

“No one forbids me from doing anything, reindeer games,” Tony snapped.

“And after Thor’s half-assed explanation, we came to make sure Lauren wasn’t being coerced into this… bond by the god of lies and deception.”

Loki glared at Natasha. “She is my Ástvinur. I do not lie to her, nor would I ever need to. You may understand little of loyalty and trust, Widow, but a god of Asgard remains true to his chosen in all things!”

“Hey, now.” Steve held up his hand before Natasha could retaliate. “That’s unfair and uncalled for.”

“Is it? Is it, Captain?” He rounded on Steve. “When every word from her mouth disparages the intelligence of the woman who holds my heart?”

“Excuse me!” Nat snapped.

Loki lifted his chin and looked down his nose at her. “Every time you doubt her, you are no better than the family she came from. She has a mind, an incredibly intelligent one you refuse to acknowledge every time you accuse me of tricking her. Do you think I could? Do you think her so stupid she would not see through me if I did not mean every bloody word I say? She has more heart, more love, and more compassion than this entire team combined! Yet you seem to think she is incapable of knowing her own mind!” He stepped into Natasha who backed into the wall of the helicopter. “In this, you are no better than the family I have watched try and tear her down, abuse her, and hate her for the past three days! I will allow it no longer!”

“Loki, take it easy, pal,” Bucky said, grabbing his shoulder. “I’m sorry we didn’t let you know we were comin’. There was… an issue with communication.”

“I bet,” Loki snarled, but stepped back from Natasha who looked more concerned than angry.

“We were worried.” Steve, ever the mediator, spoke into the humming silence which had fallen like the night over the group of them. “After Thor returned and explained… some of this bond stuff, we just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

Loki gave a sharp bark of dismissive laughter. “Your fear for Lauren is both unfounded and insulting. I would never hurt her.”

Bucky squeezed his shoulder. “It wasn’t just Lauren we were worried about.”

He lifted his gaze to the sergeant’s, found the concern etched in blue-grey and sighed. “That, too, is unnecessary.”

“What happens if you don’t finalize the bond, Loki?” Steve asked.

“I die,” he said bluntly.

“What?” Natasha whispered.

“I’m certain that would please you, seeing how you despise me.” She looked aggrieved, but he only shrugged and turned away.

Natasha grabbed him by the arm. “Hey! I may not like you much, but I don’t want you dead!”

“How touching,” Loki sniffed.

“Look,” she snapped, jerking him around. “Clearly you have strong feelings for Lauren. I’m not blind, just stubborn. If you’re what makes her happy then who am I to get in her way, and apparently, you’re not going to do anything to fuck that up, right, magic man?”

“I would not,” he agreed.

“Then, no. I don’t want you to end up dead because that would hurt Lauren. So shut the hell up!”

“You know, your accent slips when you are outraged,” Loki snickered.

“Natalia,” Bucky growled when she opened her mouth to really lay into Loki, likely in Russian. “What can we do to help?” he asked Loki instead.

“Nothing.” Loki shrugged.

“Oh, come on!” Tony huffed and threw up his arms. “Even after all you’ve done, I don’t want to see you dead. Evidently, Pepper likes you, which… is weird but whatever.”

“There’s got to be something we can do,” Steve agreed.

“There is nothing to be done because my Ástvinur completed the bond earlier today.” He grinned wickedly at all the stunned faces and walked off toward the house. “Come along. My wife will be pleased to see you.”

“Wife!”

The four voices blended in perfect harmony and made him laugh. “Yes, though most are unaware of Lauren's change in status, and we are still but engaged according to your Midgardian law, Lauren and I celebrate our finalizing of the bond tonight.” He paused and looked back over his shoulder. “As you are her true family, it is fitting you should be here to join in her happiness and is the only reason I have not punted the four of you back to New York through a portal.”

“Wait a goddamn minute!” Bucky bellowed. “You bring her down her, pretending to be her boyfriend, end up her fake fiance, and finally tell her about your damn feelings only to end up married in the space of a weekend!? I’m of half a mind to kick your ass!”

“You would be in for a disappointing time if you tried it, Sergeant,” Thor growled, coming through a hedge made of illusion with Pepper on his arm.

They all gaped when the illusion simply righted itself.

“What? How?” Tony asked, dragging his fingers through the leaves.

“Finding one’s Ástvinur is like receiving an upgrade. My powers have increased tenfold, and the darkness inside me that I have fought against all my life has grown silent. Lauren has granted me peace. Peace I will cherish the rest of my life.” Loki looked toward the house where her increasing unhappiness was easily felt through the heart stone.

“Don’t you mean the rest of hers?” Natasha asked.

For once there was no snap, no snark or snarl to her words, only concern and when he looked into her eyes, Loki was surprised to find pity. Did she worry about him? Fear he would be alone for the eternity of time he had thanks to his slowly ageing race. “Lauren’s acceptance as my Ástvinur grants her a place at my side. She is of Asgard now and will age in the same manner as Thor or I. Fate would not be so cruel as to grant me my heart only to steal her away thanks to sickness or the mortality of human age.”

“Did she… know?” Steve asked, his eyes large with surprise.

“I have no secrets from my beloved, and the change has been good for her. Come. You will see.”

Pepper tucked her hand under his elbow and pulled him to the side of the path. “Go on,” she waved at the others. “I have something to say.”

“Of course you do, Pepper dear,” Loki chuckled, but sobered quickly when the others headed for the house, and he was left alone in the garden with the formidable Miss Potts.

“Loki.” She smiled and put his heart at ease.

He quite liked Pepper, respected her for the talented and generous woman she was. She’d been cool at first. Understandable when Loki had once nearly killed the man she loved but had warmed to him faster than the rest when he’d casually commented on her impeccable taste so many months ago. They’d bonded over, of all things, fashion and while he harboured no feelings other than affection for her, hers was a friendship he’d come to cherish.

“I’m happy for you.” She pressed up and kissed his cheek. “I know how much you adore Lauren.” He arched a speculative brow and made her laugh. “Unlike some of the others, I am not blind to the way you have always looked at her. Nor to the way she looked at you. Lauren is special. It’s past time she had someone treat her right.”

“She admires you. At times I have watched her emulate you quite well.”

Pink flushed her cheeks. “How lovely. I’m flattered.”

“You are an easy woman to admire, Miss Potts.”

The flush darkened. “I am a trifle put out to find you’ve essentially married the one woman who keeps Tony in line as well as I do. If you steal her away, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Her threat, though teasing, was anything but hollow. “While Lauren and I will occasionally return to Asgard, her family is here. She adores her niece and nephew. I have no desire to see them parted from her.”

She nodded, seeming satisfied with his answer. “Thor said your father is thrilled. This is a big deal for you and all of Asgard.”

“Finding one’s Ástvinur is rare. Finding her and completing a binding in so few days… is unheard of. She is,” again he looked to the house where her anxiety was growing, “incredibly special.”

“I want to see her,” Pepper laughed softly, “and clearly you do too if that look of longing is anything to go by.”

“She is anxious at such parties,” he said, leading Pepper toward the house.

“She’s never been so at any of ours. Well, maybe the first few, but she does such an incredible job, and it isn’t as if she put this one together.”

He glanced her way. “She was tasked with overseeing it the moment we arrived. It was a complete disaster, her mother and sisters are horrendous women, and I stepped in to create this,” he waved his hand, “to take the pressure off her. You have no idea what you are in for.”

She took the warning in stride, but what thoughts swam in her head remained a mystery to him.

Pepper cast her gaze over the straggling party guests entering through the exterior doors, or those who were currently wandering the garden paths with awe. “You know, Loki. I never took you as one who conforms to the crowd.”

“What do you mean by that, darling?”

She paused at the edge of the stairs in the shadows and gave his tie a tug. “For a God of Asgard, you are looking decidedly human tonight. I can’t imagine you haven’t dressed Lauren to the nines, or as far as she would let you, and with this being, in essence, your Asgardian wedding day, one would think you’d be less… Midgardian in appearance?” A wicked light danced in Pepper’s eyes, one of mischief and intrigue.

“Just what are you getting at, Pepper dear?”

Pepper gave a minute shrug. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen formal Asgardian attire.”

Loki grinned. “Mm, darling. That is quite naughty of you.”

“If it is, I learned from the best.” She lifted the skirt of her dress. “Think about it. After all, why would the God of Mischief ever want to blend in?”

He watched her head up the stairs to join Stark as Thor descended to join him. Steve, Bucky, and Natasha were nowhere to be seen, but surprise and happiness had burst through the heart stone so he could hazard a guess as to where they were.

“Loki?” Thor frowned. “Are you coming?”

“In a moment.”

“Why? Did Miss Potts upset you?” Hard blue eyes swung up to find her retreating form.

“Pepper has not. She has simply reminded me of something important.”

“And what would that be?” Thor asked, peering at him curiously.

The smile Loki was so well known for crawled across his lips as he turned to assess his brother. “That we, my dear brother, are not of Midgard.”

***

As soon as Loki left it was like the vultures descended.

Lauren greeted Marcus with a cheek kiss and apology. “I’m sorry about Thor.”

“I think he may have bruised a few ribs,” Marcus said, but his eyes twinkled with amusement. “He’s kinda…”

“Awesome!” Sadie snickered.

“I was gonna say intense, woman,” Marcus huffed.”Yours isn’t about to plant one on my wife, is he?”

Lauren laughed and shook her head. “That is, apparently, a Thor thing I knew nothin’ about, but congratulations, Marcus. You’re gonna make a great daddy.”

He beamed like she’d given him the greatest gift and hugged Sadie to his side. “I hear you’ve had your own bit of news, your highness.”

“Shush, you!” Lauren swatted at him, a blush burning through her cheeks. “It isn’t common knowledge yet, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Uh-oh. In comin’ Daltons,” Sadie muttered. “Marcus, be a dear and refill Lauren’s wine and get me a coke. Please.”

“Sadie June,” he warned.

She only looked at him firmly. “Brockett, just do it.”

“It’s okay, Marcus. I’ll make sure she doesn’t do nothin’ too offensive,” Lauren snickered.

“Traitor,” Sadie pouted, but it was enough to make Marcus laugh before he walked off.

“Lauren!” Maryann Dalton gushed as Lauren turned to face her. “My, oh my. Just look at this place. Y’all have outdone yourself this year. Why I didn’t know Quinn had it in her.”

“She didn’t,” Sadie scoffed.

“I’m afraid Quinn and I didn’t see eye to eye on this year’s theme. Loki created all of this,” Lauren explained, giving Sadie a warning nudge.

Georgia’s eyes widened. “Magic? This was all done with magic?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Lauren smiled, understanding her shock. “Y'all should check out the buffet. It’s like steppin’ through to Asgard.”

Bill, Maryanne’s husband, approached and Lauren forced her smile not to waiver. “Mr. Dalton.”

“Lauren. Y’all have outdone yourself this year.” His gaze raked down her body in a way that made Lauren nauseous.

She reached up and touched the jewel at her throat. “Thank you, but the credit goes to my Ástvinur.”

“A what now?” Georgia muttered.

“It’s Æsir for beloved.” Lauren smiled.

“And you just glow tonight, too, Lauren.” Bill reached out and dragged his fingertip down her shoulder.  “All gold, and white, and shimmery like an angel.”

She pulled away in distaste, trying not to show how foul his touch felt to her. “Thank you. I was just sayin’ Georgia and Miss Maryann should head on into the buffet. It’s like walking into the halls of Asgard.”

“Is it now?” He pursed his lips. “Well, we’ll just have to wander over and see it for ourselves, won’t we girls.”

“Yes, daddy!” Georgia chirped. “Though I was hopin’ to see Loki again. Why he’s just so fascinatin’. I couldn’t get enough of hearin’ him talk the other day.”

“He really was so refined,” Maryann agreed.

“He’s a prince. How could he not be?” Sadie huffed.

“You met Thor,” Lauren snickered before she could stop herself.

“That is true. Though, he’s still got a pretty way of talkin’.” Sadie chuckled.

“Thor… is here?” Georgia murmured, her eyes growing large before she lurched for Lauren’s arm and latched on. “You simply must introduce me.”

The crazy eyes of the woman had Lauren stepping back. “I’m not sure where he and Loki are at, at the moment.”

Cold calculation and cunning filled Maryann’s eyes when Lauren looked her way. Add to it the lust on Bill’s face, and she was ready to run for the hills.

“Yes, you really must introduce Georgia. It’s only right he has the most beautiful woman at the party on his arm,” Maryann insisted.

“Then he’d be escortin’ Lauren,” Sadie snapped, peeling Georgia off Lauren’s arm.

“Sadie Brockett! Don’t you go takin’ that tone with me!” Maryann snarled while Georgia pouted.

“Now, don’t you be gettin’ your knickers in a twist, wife. Y'all have eyes to see Sadie ain’t spoutin’ no cockamamie story. Our Lauren is quite the belle of this here ball tonight.” He smiled jovially at his wife and daughter before turning his salacious gaze back to Lauren. “Why, I really must insist you save me a dance, darlin’.”

The sound of Loki’s preferred endearment rolling off his tongue had Lauren longing to throw up on his shoes. “I’m afraid my dance card is quite full.”

“Oh, you can make space for me,” he insisted.

The idea of his sweaty palms and grasping hands touching her in any way made her want to scream for Loki. Instead, it was Sadie who came to the rescue.

“Lu? Ain’t that your daddy over there tryin’ to get your attention?”

Lauren glanced at Sadie with thanks. “I believe it is. Excuse us.” The two of them rushed away, losing the Dalton’s in the crowd.

“That man makes my skin crawl,” Sadie murmured, shivering in disgust.

“Me too.” Lauren’s features twisted in distaste.

Sadie turned to speak only to let loose a soft growl. “Fuck, Lu. Incomin’.”

Lauren glanced back to find Marabeth and her flock of cronies bearing down on them. “Breathe, Sadie,” she warned quietly, squeezing the brunette’s fingers.

“Well, Lauren,” Marabeth began, “this is quite the spectacle you’ve put on.”

“Tacky and so overdone,” Quinn agreed.

“Hm,” Monique, another of Marabeth’s clique piped up, “Ostentatious is what I’d call it.”

Tracy waved a ring-bedecked hand at the ceiling. “Can we all say tryin’ too hard?”

A round of giggles exploded from the lot of them.

“And just look at you,” Marabeth sneered, taking her gaze over Lauren. “You look no better than a trumped-up whore in that dress. Bought and paid for with all… this.” She flicked her finger first at Lauren’s bracer, then higher toward her torque. “What an ugly necklace.”

“It’s a torque, actually. The rest are heirlooms from Loki’s mama, and at least my beau gives me presents. When was the last time Samuel bought you somethin’?” The words flew from her lips without seeking her permission, but Lauren couldn’t find it in herself to be sorry for them. The group of harpies was disparaging Loki’s work this time, not hers, and she wasn’t about to stand for it.

“I don’t need expensive presents from my husband, Lauren Guillemin. The way your fiancé spoils you just goes to show you’re the same needy brat you’ve always been. Constantly whinin’ for attention. “I want this, I need that.” You’ve always been a graspin’ little bitch, and now it’s clear how you sank your claws into him, to begin with. Flauntin’ yourself like you are is disgraceful. Sadie Brockett, you should be ashamed of yourself for darin’ to show your face after puttin’ Lauren in such a scandalous dress.”

“Shut your yap, Marabeth. Just cause you’re unable to wear somethin’ so fitted anymore doesn’t give you the right to tear at Lauren because she can. She looks amazin’. Both Loki and Thor think so!” Sadie snapped.

Red suffused Marabeth’s face. “Why I bother to try and educate you, you lowbrow hussy, I’ll never understand. You’re no better than Lauren in that outfit you’ve got on.” She sniffed, staring down her nose at the two of them. “No wonder you had to catch the eye of some alien to find someone, Lauren. No self-respectin’ male would have you.”

“I’d have her,” came a hard, deep voice from behind Lauren, one as familiar as her own. “And I’d thank you to piss right the fuck off! Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Bucky!” Lauren squealed as she spun around only to come face to face with Steve standing beside him. “Steve?”

“Hey, doll face. Wow, you look amazing!” His shock quickly replaced the thunderous brows and dark eyes of righteous indignation which had been on his face.

“Damn, doll,” Bucky said, taking her hand to pull her closer. “You’re one swell looking dish tonight, unlike Fanny flathead there. Someone should tell her orange really ain’t her colour.”

“Lauren Guillemin! Are you gonna let these… people speak to me this way?” Marabeth sputtered, her voice shrill.

“Considering how you were speaking to her a few seconds ago? Yes, she damn well is!” Natasha said from directly behind Marabeth.

The coolness of Natasha’s Widow voice even made Lauren shiver. “Nat!”

“Just who do you think you people are?” Marabeth blustered, taking a step away from Natasha.

“They would be Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, and Natasha Romanoff. My very good friends… and three more Avengers,” Lauren said, her smile brilliant as she threw her arms around Bucky. “What’re y’all doin’ here?”

He hugged her tight and bussed a kiss on her cheek. “Tony and Pepper decided to take the Avirett’s up on their standing invitation to join them for the party. Had I known it was gonna include people with such rude manners we’d a been here earlier, doll. No one talks to a member of my family like that and gets away with it.”

“Especially when every word is a bald-faced lie,” Steve agreed, swinging sharp blue eyes back to the group of cowering women. “Who the hell do you think you are saying something like that to Lauren?”

“She’d be Marabeth Avirett, one of the hostesses of tonight, and Lauren’s elder sister,” Sadie quipped rather gleefully.

Bucky’s countenance darkened. “So you’re the sister.” He set Lauren away from him, thrusting her toward Steve. “You’re a real piece of work. If I was less of a gentleman…” he clenched his fist, “You’re gonna want to walk away right now and stay away from me the rest of the night.”

What Marabeth and the others saw on his face and in his eyes, Lauren couldn’t be sure, but her sister paled swiftly, and the group scurried away like rats fleeing a sinking ship before his anger. Not even Loki had been able to put that much fear into her sister, but by the time Bucky turned around the look was gone.

“Damn. Can you teach me how to do that?” Sadie asked, extending her hand. “Sadie Brockett.”

“Fraid not, doll. It’s a Winter Soldier thing,” Bucky chuckled. “Good to meet you, ma’am. Lauren’s told me lots about you.”

“Likewise.” Sadie smiled. “I feel as if I already know most of y’all already. Ms. Romanoff, you’re just as beautiful and scary in person as I’ve always imagined.”

Natasha laughed and shook the offered hand. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It was meant as one.” She turned to Steve. “Captain. She’s right about you as well.”

Lauren inhaled sharply and blushed right to the roots of her hair. “Sadie June!” she barked.

“What?” Sadie teased. “I was gonna say sweet and loyal but commanding, not that other thing. I feel the need to stand up straight and salute.” She gave Steve a wink.

“Well, know I’m curious,” Steve said with a smirk. “What’s the other thing?”

Sadie only shrugged and mimicked zipping her lips. “Sorry, Cap. Us southern girls gotta stick together.”

“What are y'all doin’ here really?” Lauren asked, desperate to change the subject.

“Thor told us… everything,” Steve said, turning her to face him. “Are you alright?”

The concern in his eyes was unnecessary but sweet. Lauren smiled and straightened his tie. “I’m great.”

“Really?” Natasha asked, moving closer and peering at her through narrowed eyes.

“I’m happy, Nat. Really, really happy. I hope y’all can be for me, too. Otherwise this will be a mighty short trip for everyone.” Lauren lifted her chin.

The redhead’s gaze trailed over her, alighting on the bracers, necklace, and circlet before returning to Lauren’s eyes. “He certainly knows how to make a statement,” she smirked, stepping forward to hug Lauren. “So, you’re married to the God of Mischief. What’s that like?” she asked, her grin teasing.

Acting purposefully dense, Lauren shrugged. “It’s only been a few hours.”

“Hey, Gilli?” Bucky grabbed her fingers and tugged her a few steps away from the others.

“Yeah, Buck?” She looked at him with worry, wondering if he was upset with her, but he just gently cupped her chin and smiled.

“If you’re happy, darlin’, then I’m happy for you. Loki’s a good guy, I think. Just… had a bum wrap.”

“Like another good guy I know,” she said, patting his chest and fighting the tears which burned her eyes with his acceptance.

“Alright! Where is she?” Tony huffed, sauntering toward the group. He tugged his glasses from his face and pointed the arm of his specs Lauren’s direction. “You, missy, have some explaining to do.”

Pepper rolled her eyes, gave Tony a shove and swept Lauren into a hug. “Ignore him. He's petulant because you acted like a grown up and made a choice which didn’t involve him.”

Lauren laughed and hugged Pepper back. “It’s so good to see you, but you must have barely gotten back from China.”

“I had a few hours of sleep on the plane before Tony ambushed me, but I wouldn’t have missed this for the world! Look at you glow, Lauren.” She shook her head as she stepped back. “I can see what Loki meant. This bond, it really is good for you.”

A pleased blush filled Lauren’s cheeks.

“You should see the two of them together,” Sadie snickered, her eyes bright with excitement and a little awe. “They’re adorable. The world just kind of… vanishes for them.”

“Pepper, Tony, this is Sadie Brockett.”

“Ah, the illustrious Sadie.” Tony took her hand and swept her a bow. “Charmed.”

“Likewise,” Sadie giggled.

“The Sadie?” Pepper asked, looking to Lauren.

“The very same one,” Lauren laughed when Sadie looked shocked.

“You and I need to talk,” Pepper said, stepping closer to Sadie. “I really need to know where you find some of your dresses! Lauren always looks incredible and has credited you with her knowledge.”

“She did?” Sadie squeaked, glancing at Lauren with eyes now full of gratitude before she and Pepper launched into a full-scale discussion which went right over Lauren’s head.

“Well, Miss Annandale?” Tony started, levelling Lauren a glare. “Just what have you got to say for yourself?”

Four Avenger’s stood before her, all staring with different levels of interest or understanding. While Bucky looked happy for her, practically beaming like the brother she’d always named him, Steve looked more happy and uncertain. Natasha appeared to be putting on a good face, happy for her but still cautious, while Tony only appeared stern.

Lauren knew if she couldn’t stand up for herself against them, she wasn’t going to be able to defend her relationship against anyone. With a lift of her chin, she let her hands fall loosely to her sides. “He is my choice, whether you agree with it or not. I love him. He loves me. Everythin’ he’s done since he’s been here has made my life easier. You may not understand it, you may not like it, but Loki gave me a choice and I made it. For all intents and purposes, I’m his and I’d have it no other way.”

The shiver of knowing which had tracked her spine earlier that day sounded again in her soul and she turned, a moth drawn to his flame, to face the doors. Walking through them was a very changed Asgardian and wicked amusement worked its way through Lauren.

Thor was dressed as befit the King of Asgard. His armour had been replaced with a dark red leather which seemed to form to his torso and arms. From beneath she could just make out the glimmer of a black tunic, the collars crossing at his throat before disappearing beneath the leather. There were runes and symbols carved into it, leather lacings creating rows of seams like ‘x’s up his sides. Black boots blended with black breeks to showcase heavily muscled thighs. Though the leather worked outerwear stopped at the top of his hips, his tunic continued from below allowing one to see the heavily embroidered hem of gold intricately worked knots which ran around the bottom. His usual silver bracers had been replaced by highly polished golden ones, as were the large claps which held his cape to his shoulders. It snapped at his heels when he walked, drawing everyone’s eyes to him as he made his way toward her.

It wasn’t until he was a few yards away that Lauren realized what he wore upon his brow. The crown was not what she’d expected. Instead of the large, jewel-encrusted ones she’d seen in movies and magazines, this one was a two-inch band of beaten gold engraved with knots and symbols similar to the ones upon his clothing. Two rather ornate wings rose above either ear, but otherwise, it was a relatively understated piece. The helmet he often wore had more embellishing on it than the crown did. Still, when he approached, his smile full and reminiscent of his brother, Lauren executed a perfect curtsey.

“Your majesty,” she said, amusement heavy in her tone.

“Such a trickster you are, little sister. No wonder you are Loki’s chosen,” Thor laughed, lifting her back to her feet and kissing her cheek. “Your Ástvinur is intent on making an entrance,” he said quietly against her ear.

She looked again at the doors and had her breath catch.

He stood between them, the crowd still parted after Thor’s passing, giving her a perfect view. Loki appeared a God among men to her at that moment. While he may have been sporting the same black boots and breeks of his brother, that was where the similarities ended. His tunic was green and heavily worked with black and gold threads. A wide gold torque lay flat against his chest, while a coat of leather with a high collar caressed his jaw. Though it too was black, the inner edge shone with a green tinge. It hugged his frame and hung in long tails which swirled around him when he started forward. In his hand was his staff, again appearing as a cane topped with a green stone similar to the one pulsing at her throat. He swung it once before dropping the end gently to the ground.

The roll of power shook the room, caused the lights to dim and the bright blue of the stars floating amongst the sheers to flicker and dance. The blue reflected across the white floor like small spotlights.

Lauren found her gaze captured by shining green eyes full of mischief. She stepped away from the others, stepped out on gleaming white floors, and walked toward Loki.

The cane swung and landed. Magic rippled. Then petals of red and white were falling from the ceiling like snow, disappearing as soon as they came in contact with floor or person. The cane swung and landed. Wind swirled the petals, sending them blowing in a circle around them as if they met within a snowglobe.

Lauren laughed softly when she came to a stop before him. “Dramatic much?” she teased quietly.

He took her hand and bowed over it with much flair, kissing her knuckles lightly before rising. “For you, my darling, I shall always endeavour to make an entrance.” With a small smirk, he threw his staff straight up into the air where it burst into a shower of gold sparkles which rained down on them like a firework.

Lauren laughed as the music began, a timeless waltz for which Loki offered his hand. She bent to scoop up her train but the fabric seemed to leap to it without much effort, and Lauren placed her hand in his. He pulled her close, his eyes showing his heart when he took her in his arms and slipped effortlessly into the dance. He led her easily, commandingly, with strength and grace around the floor. Into turns and spins. He dipped her back over his arm and made her laugh. They danced alone, oblivious to the room full of people. Unaware of the picture they presented. Darkness and light. Power and beauty. But most of all, unflagging love and devotion.

All who looked upon them couldn’t help but sigh a little at the complete adoration on Loki’s face, nor the smile of happiness upon Lauren’s. Envy bloomed in hearts already blackened by jealousy, but for others, they could not fail to see the soul of light and compassion which poured out of Lauren.

“I feel like Cinderella, dancin’ at the ball with the prince,” Lauren sighed, perfectly content to follow where he led.

His hand upon her back kept her tight to him, the other, strong in hers, guiding her easily, his steps light and agile. “Ah, but I already know your name, elskan min, and my magic will far outlast the midnight bells. There will be no need to rush off when the clock strikes twelve.”

She looked up to his eyes, more blue than green again, and smiled coyly. “If I do leave at midnight it would only be to return to our room.”

“Darling,” he crooned softly as the music slowed to an end. “You tempt me so.” He brought her to a stop, faces close, noses touching as he smiled down at her.

Applause erupted around the room before Lauren could respond, startling her into flushing when she realized they’d danced this first dance completely alone.

Loki tilted his head in acknowledgment, as if it was expected, such accolades, and lifted her palm to his mouth. “My beloved Ástvinur!” he called out, his voice carrying above the noise. “For whom my heart beats.” He bowed to her and Lauren tried not to flush scarlet with his praise.

She let her dress drop as he led her away and other couples began to spill out onto the floor, back to where his brother was standing with seven gaping mouths.

Thor slapped Loki on the shoulder. “Well done, brother! A first dance and court greeting worthy of your Ástvinur!”

“Lu! That was so beautiful,” Sadie cried, her eyes teary. “Like the first dance at a weddin’.”

Loki slipped his arm around Lauren’s waist as the others continued to gawk. “Something to that effect, yes.”

“I’m afraid we may have stepped on mama’s toes a little. She and Daddy usually dance the first dance.” Lauren refused to feel bad though, not after that performance. The party was in full swing and when the two small bodies pushed through the crowd followed by a furry one, Lauren crouched down and held out her arms. “Sugar cubes!”

“Aunt Lu! You look like a princess!” Sara giggled, reaching to touch Lauren’s circlet.

“Of course she does, precious.” Loki swiftly scooped Sara up into his arms where a crackle of magic had her dress and hair looking perfect. “That’s because she is one.”

Lauren ignored him in favour of hugging a shocked and staring Benny and scratching the ears of a wiggly Usun, but when she made to pick Benny up, Thor snuck him away. “Hey!”

“Ladies in gowns of snowy white should not be picking up small boys who have a tendency to have sticky fingers,” Thor teased, rubbing at what was likely a chocolate stain on Benny’s chin.

“What in the… what… what’s happening here?” Tony asked. His mouth hung open as he stared at all of them.

Steve and Natasha didn’t look much better, though Bucky and Pepper seemed to have taken things in stride.

Lauren accepted the offered glass of refreshed wine from Marcus with a grateful smile. “Everyone, this is Sara and Benny, my niece and nephew, and the puppy is Usun. Sugar cubes, this is Miss Romanoff, Mr. Barnes, Mr. Stark, Miss Potts and Mr. Rogers.”

“That ain’t right!” Benny gushed, finally finding his voice. “That’s Captain America, the Winter Soldier, the Black Widow and Iron Man! Aunt Lu, you brought home my favourite Avenger!”

“Nice to see the boy has good taste,” Tony smirked.

“Captain America? Did you brin’ your shield?” Benny asked, his eyes bright with excitement.

The group as a whole burst out laughing while Tony pouted.

Steve glanced from Benny to Lauren before reaching out to take the boy from Thor. “It just so happens I did, but it’s out in the helicopter.”

“Can I see?” Benny begged.

“Oh, Benny, I don’t think that’s-” Lauren started when Steve held up his hand.

“It’s alright, Lauren. Not the first time someone’s asked.” Steve gave her a smile.

“Lauren! Lauren Guillemin!” Magnolia snapped as she stormed up to the group and snatched her by the arm. “I really must speak with you, right now.”

It was almost a growl, one Usun returned with equal fervour, a sound her mother ignored.

There was a fire of retribution in Magnolia’s eyes which sent a shiver of fear down Lauren’s spine. Then, the stone at her throat warmed reminding her there was nothing more her mother could do to her. “I would, mama, but first,” she lifted her gaze to Loki’s and smiled, “let me introduce my guests.” She went around the circle, introducing each of the team, ending with Steve. “And I’m sure y’all are familiar with my friend Captain Steve Rogers,” she said, sending a cheeky grin her father’s way when Hoyt arrived to deal with Magnolia.

“Oh… oh, my,” Magnolia gasped, bringing her hand to her throat. “These are the Avengers. Why I never… and in my house. Hoyt, do you see!”

“Indeed I do,” Hoyt said, nodding to the group at large. “It’s a pleasure. Y’all are welcome here. Magnolia, why don’t you see about gettin’ rooms arranged for Lauren’s guests.”

“No need to go to any trouble,” Pepper began.

“Nonsense!” Magnolia stepped in. “Why y’all can’t be goin’ all the way back to New York tonight. I won’t hear of it. You’re our guests now, and we’ll see you done up right. I’ll have the maids see everyone situated.”

“Five rooms, mama. Don’t forget about Thor,” Lauren reminded her gently.

“Of course I wouldn’t forget about Thor!” Magnolia quipped before marching away.

Hoyt leaned down and whispered near Lauren’s ear, “You’re mama was madder than a wet hen, but you looked beautiful out there, sweetheart.”

“Thanks, daddy,” she whispered back, blushing with his praise.

“Your friends saved me from stoppin’ one wicked tongue lashin’ for sure,” he chuckled as he walked away, heading for the bar.

“Sadie.” Marcus tugged on the brunette’s arm. “C’mon, hun.”

“Worrisome old woman,” Sadie grumbled. “He’s makin’ me sit and eat, but I’ll be back. Don’t y’all go doin’ somethin’ fun till I get back.”

Lauren shook her head. “Go on, Sadie.”

Marcus gave her a grateful smile and pulled Sadie away.

One by one, or in some cases pairs, they parted as Steve took Benny to see his shield and Bucky tagged along. Thor caught Natasha’s hand and swept her out on the dance floor. Tony and Pepper soon followed, along with Loki and Sara who reminded the God of Mischief that he’d promised her a dance. Loki had smiled apologetically, but Lauren motioned them away.

If she had to lose him to another female for a dance, it might as well be Sara. She watched him sway with her among the other dancers, earning looks of amusement when he made Sara giggle as Lauren sipped her second glass of wine with Usun sitting at her feet.

The crisp taste of the tart grapes was refreshing and helped soothe the last lingering feeling of apprehension. She’d had her confrontation with Marabeth. She’d had, sort of, another with her mother. For the most part, she should be free and clear. Those were usually the two biggest hurdles during one of these events. Dodging the unwanted advances of persistent dance partners was the last, but even they seemed cautious tonight.

Jasper Rubin, of the worst breath award, had only given her a nod before casting a nervous glance Loki’s way. Clive Osborn hadn’t even made eye contact. Addicus Webber was courting some swallow faced girl, possibly a Sanders.

They had nine daughters. At this point, Lauren had given up remembering which one was which. So when the hand landed on her elbow, Lauren pasted on a smile, prepared to decline the invitation to dance, and turned.

She paled as she came face to face with Cricket and Davis.

George Montgomery’s parents.

Next Chapter

[superhollywall]

Murder in the city

Bullets exploded like fireworks early in the afternoon on January 1, heralding not only the beginning of a new year, but the city’s first homicide of 2017.

Two of Jeffery Gooden’s eight children were preparing birthday festivities for another sister. Mercedes, who’d just moved into the Riverview Park Apartments four days earlier, stepped outside onto the cold ground in her bare feet and was met with shouts from two neighbors across the way, a couple of guys she didn’t know whom she would later describe as black men in their 20s with braids and dreadlocks.

"You’re trifling for not having shoes on," one of them yelled.

"Get some shoes on," the other echoed.

And then, when she wouldn’t answer, "Bitch, you hear me talking to you?"

"Do y’all got something better-ass to do than harass females?" she fired back. "You need to go find a job and leave me alone."

At this, they rushed toward her, three women suddenly appearing alongside them. Mercedes scooped up her children, who were playing outside, and ran to her apartment, while these people, whom she said she didn’t know, circled her home. She called each of her parents and at least one of her siblings, repeating their threats: "Bitch, we’ll kill you and your kids."

When Nyesha Scott, Mercedes’ sister, older by two years, arrived at the apartment complex, there didn’t appear to be anyone outside, but when Mercedes opened the door, her harassers approached, one gripping the butt of a gun he’d tucked into his waistband.

Nyesha tried to talk them down. "We don’t need no weapons."

"Please, put the gun down."

"No, no, no, we’re not doing this."

Nyesha remembers one of the women saying, "We’re not here for no talking, we’re here to get down to business," and one of the men: "We’re from Louisiana, this is how we get down."

"My little brother Jamal came around the corner, thinking he saw one of the guys pull up his pants like he was getting ready to hit us," Nyesha recalled later. "The guy pulled his gun out, pointed it past my face to my brother. After he pulled his gun out, I saw my daddy and my brother Christopher, and Christopher was on the phone with my mama. And they walk up, and the guy just started shooting."

Jeffery Gooden grabbed his gun before heading toward his daughter’s apartment. His wife, Chestine Gooden, said he didn’t carry a firearm all the time; he thought he might need it to protect his children and grandchildren.

"He didn’t go out there for no trouble," Chestine said, "he just wanted to keep the peace."

But when the man who’d been fighting with his daughter started shooting, Gooden fired back, hitting one of the women in the leg. He was struck, too, multiple times, and his daughter said he dropped to his knees and looked skyward before falling onto his back. Tears ran down his cheeks. Chestine, still on the phone with Christopher, screamed for someone to tell her who’d been shot.

Nyesha says she attempted CPR, but Jeffery Gooden was pronounced dead at St. John Medical Center. The woman he’d struck was treated for her injuries and released.

2017 began a lot like 2016 had ended.

Last year, Tulsa saw a record number of homicides—82 as of December 31, or 20.5 murders per 100,000 residents. The previous record was 71 in 2009. From 2002 to 2015, the mean homicide rate was approximately 52 per year, or 14 murders per 100,000 residents—almost triple the national average.

2016’s homicide rate was four times the national average.

Homicide Unit Sgt. Dave Walker said 2016’s murders don’t appear to have a whole lot in common, other than proximity. Twenty-two of the homicides last year started with altercations between those involved, and 16 were domestic homicides.

"That puts 16 people real close to each other," Walker said.

When people are closer together, they become better shots, he said.

Bullets are more likely to meet their target. Stabbings and brute force become more lethal.

At least 54 of the crimes involved guns, including the year’s seven officer-involved shootings. Ten were robberies gone wrong, and five resulted in the deaths of children.

Gang violence appears to be down—by Walker’s tally, only two of last year’s homicides were gang-related—but drugs and mental health played a role in last year’s statistics. Walker said PCP, a dissociative drug with hallucinogenic side effects, is making a comeback from its 1990s glory days; it played a role in at least four of last year’s homicides.

Walker responds to every homicide call the Tulsa Police Department receives—"whether it’s the middle of day or the middle of night"—along with at least two of his unit’s nine investigators (there’s a tenth investigator dedicated to cold cases). Sometimes the warrants and patrol units get involved if there’s a suspect to chase. Walker said his team also relies on the community to help solve the crimes—and currently, the unit boasts a 94-percent success rate.

"It doesn’t matter whether the police chief solves it or the trash driver solves it," Walker said. "We want information and that’s how we respond.

"A lot of times we’re working with the transient community and people—people on PCP don’t want to wait around for cops to show up two days later. We try to get out to those people while it’s fresh in their minds. We get what we need from citizenry, get suspect identification and get help finding them. It’s not rocket science; it’s just work."

Walker said he believes his officers have a good relationship with members of the community, and that’s why they’ve had so much success in solving murders.

"I think people respect what we do," he said. "I think ‘The First 48’ [the A&E series has had camera crews embedded with Tulsa’s homicide unit since 2014] has something to do with it, I think open dialogue with the media has something to do with it. People see us more, they know what we’re up against. They know we’re not all-knowing. If citizens don’t want to take their protection of their community serious, they can blame us, but we’re not going to take the blame."

But solving homicides won’t necessarily stop people from killing each other. How can a city like Tulsa lower its homicide rate by preventing the crimes from occurring in the first place?

"Every time there’s a murder, we look at it and say, ‘What could law enforcement have done, or somehow government intervention—how could we have stopped that murder?’ " Walker said. "But when you and I are fighting and I pull a gun and shoot you, there’s not much we can do about that except take your gun away. And I’m not a big proponent of taking everyone’s guns."

Walker said drug-addicted and mentally ill citizens seem to have more contact with law enforcement, and more methods for getting their hands on guns and other "instruments of destruction," so "getting people off drugs and gainfully employed would be a big thing."

He also, in a sort of roundabout way, spoke of criminal justice reform, saying, "Who do we want to incarcerate, people writing bad checks, or people killing

people?"

He mentioned Wanda Cooper, a 60-year-old woman who was stabbed to death on December 27 by a man who was arrested on December 4 with a loaded firearm and a trafficking weight of heroin. Two weeks later, he was released on bond and murdered Cooper.

"We can’t keep putting these people out there and expect good things to happen," Walker said. "Why are we releasing people with handguns who’ve shown a propensity for violence when we’re keeping people—I don’t want to say my stuff is more important, because that gets me in trouble."

I asked the family of Jeffery Gooden what they think the city should do to prevent homicides.

His widow, Chestine, didn’t hesitate.

"They need to clear these guns out the streets," she said.

Nyesha thought for a moment and then said, "I don’t feel like there’s a way to prevent this type of violence. Because if a person got it in their mind they want to kill somebody, they’re going to do it. I just feel like staying out of that type of environment and staying out of the way is what will prevent it."

Chestine said her husband and children had had run-ins with law enforcement in the past but that they’d "turned their lives around." She moved her family to a quiet neighborhood in East Tulsa in an attempt to keep her children and 14 grandchildren away from crime, drugs, and gangs.

Chestine and Jeffery had just married in September, after 28 years together.

"He said to me, ‘Now we can grow old together.’ And they took him from me. They took part of my heart. I break down three or four times a day because I can’t take this. Every second I look for my husband to come around the corner."

Chestine, who walks with a cane and a portable oxygen tank slung around her neck and suffers from a number of ailments, including Lupus, COPD, fibromyalgia, and heart disease, says her husband was the one who took care of her.

"He was a good person," she said, "a deacon in the church and a hard-working man."

The Gooden family sees Jeffery as a hero.

"I think if my dad and brother had not come up, he would have shot me first," Nyesha said. "I think he drew attention toward himself to protect his kids. He basically saved us. He sacrificed himself for his kids."

"Both sides have taken the childlike way out and are hiding from us," Walker said. "We will find out who and what transpired probably only to resolve the case by self-defense or justifiable. Even though the original reason is sophomoric."

The Goodens say they’ve given the police all the information they have, and now they want justice for their husband and father. "Get them off the street."

Jeffery Gooden’s murder is, at the time of this writing, still unsolved. In the two weeks since, Tulsa has seen four more homicides.

Originally published in The Tulsa Voice on Jan. 18, 2017. Read it here.

[frederickwiddowson]

Genesis 24:33-61 comments: billions of descendants

Genesis 24:33  And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on. 34  And he said, I am Abraham’s servant. 35  And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. 36  And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath. 37  And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell: 38 But thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son. 39  And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me. 40  And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house: 41  Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath. 42  And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go: 43  Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink; 44  And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master’s son. 45  And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. 46  And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also. 47  And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands. 48  And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son. 49  And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left. 50  Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken. 52  And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth. 53  And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

Genesis 24:54 ¶  And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master. 55  And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go. 56  And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. 57  And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. 58  And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. 59  And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men. 60  And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them. 61  And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

Eliezer insisted upon relating his mission before he would eat and there is an attempt to delay him. Perhaps they were hoping for even more bounty to be given to the family than was given. In the end everyone acknowledges that it is Rebekah’s decision to make and she chooses to leave with Abraham’s servant. It is curious that she is given a choice in that culture but that is important typology considering the importance of choice in salvation. Here is the blessing also from her mother and brother wishing her to be the mother of billions of people. On a literal level this would mean that the Jews, the name that we now call the Hebrews, will grow in numbers on this earth much, much greater than the 15 million or so that now exist. Rather than go on speculation about Gentiles who may be descended from Jews or follow a metaphor of how the Christian faith sprang from the faith of the people of Moses therefore accounting for billions of descendants I am first taking this passage literally as it stands for Rebekah to be the literal mother of billions who self-identify today and in the future as Jews, descendants of Abraham through Isaac. This also predicts their eventual victory over the peoples of the earth who hated, despised, and persecuted them. There are many prophecies concerning God’s restoration of them to a special place. From a literal perspective, not denying metaphor but focusing just on the literal words, Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 25 is one example of how nations who have despised the Jews will suffer in the end.

But there are always at least two applications of any Bible passage; the literal as to whom it is speaking to or about directly in that context and the spiritual which can be prophecy or involve a greater, more enduring meaning such as Ezekiel’s description of the kings of Tyre and Babylon also describing Satan. One explanation is literal and one is spiritual with a deeper meaning. Spiritually it is easy to equate this huge number with the Christians who choose to believe and follow God as the spiritual descendants of Abraham although they are accounted as being born of Christ. The following verse from the Psalm that Christ begins from the Cross is very important.

Psalm 22:30  A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

Understand that a generation can be a class, a distinct group of people in history, and not just a group of individuals physically being born and physically dying in a specific time frame issuing from a biological father and mother. This will help us understand the following words of Christ.

First, this generation as a group of people living and dying in a timeframe, of the same or similar ethnicity and culture. This is a reference to the destruction of the temple by the Romans in 70AD, with generation including the religious leaders of Christ’s day.

Matthew 23:13 ¶  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater

damnation. 15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 16  Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17  Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18  And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19  Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20  Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21  And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24  Ye blind guides, which

strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of

extortion and excess. 26  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30  And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32  Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

     34 ¶  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35  That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

     24:1 ¶  And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 ¶ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye

shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8  All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

 Then, Jesus goes on to the end of history in Revelation unless you believe He returned physically in 70AD, which would be a disturbing thought and, I believe, an error.

 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17  Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18  Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19  And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25  Behold, I have told you before. 26  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28  For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Then comes a reference to a generation that must refer to the Elect of God.

32 ¶  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth

come. 43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 One might ask, why in Matthew 23 and 24 would there be two different definitions of generation? Well, Christ had already done that with two definitions of Master in one passage.

 Matthew 23:8  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be

abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

 One definition of Master in this same passage is Rabbi or teacher. (see a contrast between teacher and student in Malachi 2:12) The other definition is lord or superior in the context.

 As far as objections to a split prophecy in the same passage regarding events thousands of years apart starting in Matthew 24:14 from the time before that verse, Jesus already did this in Luke 4:18-21 where he quoted Isaiah 61:1,2 with a gap between acceptable year of the LORD, and and of at least two thousand years.

 Isaiah 61:1 ¶  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

 Luke 4:17  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20  And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21  And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Regardless of interpretation, spiritual or physical, Rebekah’s offspring, as a group, will now play an important role in God’s ministry of reconciliation for mankind and will not be forgotten by God no matter what their failings.

Her spiritual descendants will stand before God in Heaven.

Revelation 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.