#ila world building

[justmaghookit]

Illians have a leg up in interacting with humans as they are a warmblooded mammalian like species.

This is a double edged sword because they are also firmly in the "adorable" category to most human sensibility and being seen as a sentient plush toy isn't always conductive to interspecies politics.

[prettytoxicrevolver]

Summer Vacation | Juraj Slafkovský

wc. 7k

You spend your summer vacation with Juraj

an. This is my submission for @wyattjohnstons summer fic exchange! This is dedicated to the lovely @lam-ila!! My fellow Connecticut resident, I hope you enjoy it!

P.S. there's a lot of Slovak translated horribly from google but most of it is just pet names and one swear word

Your last week of work was utter chaos. 

The Canadiens hadn’t made the playoffs this year, something that had been known for a bit, but everyone was still running around trying to close up shop before the off season started. You were wrapping up all things social media, planning the last few things that need to be posted, filmed, or any photoshoots to keep fans engaged while waiting for the next season. 

“Are you going to the end of the season party?” 

You look over at your coworker, grinning widely at the mention of the end of season party. You had been working for the Canadiens for the past two years and last year's party was the most fun you had all year long. It wasn’t just the party with the entire staff, team, club managers, and so on, but also the annual after party hosted at one of the players houses where only a select few get to go. You were shocked when you were invited, but had so much fun and couldn’t wait for the one this year. 

“Hell yeah. Are you excited for the party at Josh’s after?” your coworker Courtney was your closest friend in Montreal second only to Juraj Slafkovsky. She was invited to last years after party as well and that’s when the two of you bonded. 

“Fuck yes,” she exclaims and you laugh lightly. 

The rest of the work day flows by quickly and you say your goodbyes and see you next season to those not able to attend the party the next day. Just as you’re leaving the building, you hear someone yell out your name across the parking lot. You turn, finding Juraj walking towards you and you can’t help the smile that crawls onto your lips. 

“Need a ride to the party tomorrow?” you ask him when he approaches you and he shakes his head. “Good cause Arber is driving me anyway,” you explain and Juraj laughs. 

“I’m not ready for the season to be over,” Juraj admits as you two slowly walk towards your car. 

“But, you get to spend the entire offseason with me,” you tell him, grinning widely again and bumping your shoulder against him. His strong hockey trained body barely moves at your touch and you’re still shocked every time you realize how incredibly muscular the boy who is a year younger than you is. 

“Very true,” he murmurs and you stop short at your car. 

“See you tomorrow?” 

“Drive safe,” he responds, and you nod before getting in your car and starting it up. Your heart seems to thrum along with your engine and you try to tamp down the smile that hasn’t let up since Juraj called your name. 

You and Juraj met two years ago when he was drafted to the Montreal Canadiens. You were actually one of the first people he met that draft day. You were head of the social media and content department for the team and had spent the day taking pictures and videos, setting up interviews, and capturing the most important moments of the day. 

You were the youngest member of your entire department and always had big shoes to fill. The draft day was one of the biggest days of the year in the hockey world so you were rightfully running around like a mad woman to get everything done. Amongst the chaos, you had managed to step away for a moment and as you walked out of the conference room, you literally ran straight into Juraj. 

You congratulated him on the draft and mentioned that you’d be working together technically for however long he would be on the team. The two of you clicked instantly, your personalities meshing well together and some of your biggest perks about your job became Juraj working there as well now. 

Since day one, you had always carried a small crush on the budding star player of the habs. You loved his drive, how hockey was everything to him and he was always working to do better and connect with his team. He was sweet and kind and hilarious and you had grown fond of your close friendship. However, you valued your job and didn’t want to risk anything so you stayed close friends even though that tiny crush reared its head more often than not. 

The next day, Arber swings by your apartment and drives the two of you over to the end of season party. Every year it was held at the exact same banquet on the water. They rented out the main building for the dinner, left room outside for those who wanted to eat, drink, dance, and enjoy the overall beautiful weather. When you get there, the party is in full swing and you’re swept up into it all. 

Hours pass as you eat dinner, chat politely with coworkers you didn’t know too well, drink several glasses of what you assume is expensive wine and laugh loudly with your friends. Around nine pm, the banquet staff start ushering everyone out so with a quick goodbye, most of us head straight over to Josh’s house for the after party. 

The drive to Andy’s house is 10 minutes but when you and Arber pull up, the house is already booming. You both head inside excitedly and the minute you step through the door, someone is calling your name. 

“(y/n)!!!” you hear just before you’re being lifted off the ground and suddenly carried through the house. 

“Put me down Josh!” you yell, trying to slap his back but a drunk Josh is never quite deterred and when he finally sets you down you realize he has placed you right in front of the beer pong table he set up. 

“Oh come on,” you complain but there’s a hint of a smile in your annoyance. 

“One game, we need to kick Juraj and Kaiden’s asses,” Josh tells you and you roll your eyes but nod in agreement. 

You don’t know how or when it happened, but sometime during college you realized you were weirdly good at beer pong. You didn’t care much for the drink and only played occasionally but when you destroyed quite literally everyone at the game last year at the after party, you became somewhat of a legend. It was no surprise Josh dragged you right on over to the table without a second thought. 

You look across the table to see Kaiden trying to explain the game to Juraj and you smile as his eyes squint, his focus lasered in on the task ahead. Even at a party he could be so serious sometimes and the thought makes your heart flip and your stomach dip in a light laugh, the one that escapes when you love someone so much that it’s ridiculous. 

“Gotta do better than that (y/l/n)!” Kaiden teases when you’ve taken your third shot of the game. 

“Really? Cause two more throws and you’re out of the game,” you call back and Josh nods in agreement. 

Unfortunately, you take two more shots before you finally sweep Juraj and Kaiden. The two end up getting iced as their punishment and you clap with satisfaction when they’re finished. 

“You want another drink?” Juraj asks when he throws out the smirnoff ice bottle and you nod. 

You two head towards the drinks area and you go searching for a seltzer while Juraj hangs back. Once you find the one you want, you turn and offer him one but he shakes his head. Andy was keeping all the drinks outside in coolers so the summer air brushed against your skin in a delightful breeze as you leaned against the porch railing. 

“Excited for your first summer in America?” you ask Juraj. 

Juraj Slafkovský has never had a “proper American summer” experience. 

He never had any reason to really. Growing up in Slovakia and always coming home during the off seasons he had no real reason to stay in the states. Especially with how little he saw his family? He never passed up the chance to go home. 

However, he knew he wanted to be back in Montreal early before training camp started so he could get used to the Canadian customs all over again. He had been living in Montreal for two years now and some things still seemed to manage to throw him off. 

And when you offered up your home in Connecticut as a refuge he couldn’t pass up the offer. He was secretly even hoping that he might finally get the courage to ask you out or make a move. He knew he was somewhat stuck in the friend zone right now and wanted a good opportunity out. 

“We better do all these American customs I don’t know,” he tells you and you grin mischievously. 

“You sure you can keep up?” 

“With you? Easy,” he says, determination in his eyes and the intensity makes your heart swoop. 

By 3 am, you’re wasted and incoherent and Arber takes this as the sign to haul you back to your apartment. You “fight” him the whole way, promising you really weren’t that drunk but it was clear you were and that you had started to overstay your welcome at Andy’s house. 

Arber makes sure you’re safely tucked into bed, phone plugged in on the nightstand, water and aspirin next to it, a trashcan next to your bed just in case, before heading back to his apartment. You’re passed out pretty much the minute your head hits the pillow and fall into a dreamless sleep. 

What you think is the next morning, you wake up to your phone ringing impossibly loud next to your head. With as much grace as someone so incredibly hungover it’s embarrassing can, you shut the ringer off. However, it starts up again and this time you drag the phone close to your face to realize someone is calling you. 

“Hello?” you murmur and flinch at the sound of your own voice. 

“Dobré popoludnie drahá,” Juraj greets and you pull your phone away, squeezing your eyes shut in an attempt to force the ache away from your head. 

“Please stop yelling,” you mumble out and Juraj chuckles happily on the other end, finding some amusement at your hangover. 

“It’s 2 pm. I wanted to know if you’re alive,” he explains. 

“I’m not,” you mutter. 

“Well I’m coming over.” 

Before you can protest, desperately wanting to save yourself from the embarrassment of your crush seeing you like this, he hangs up the phone and you’re left knowing he’ll be at your apartment any minute. 

You must have fallen asleep again, because the next thing you know your door is being slammed shut and you flinch at the noise, knowing that it probably isn’t that bad but your headache was trying to kill you.

“Zlatko?” Juraj’s voice calls. 

You listen as he wanders into your apartment, heading for your bedroom door. He knocks as quietly as he can, the first semi normal sound you can handle and when you groan in response he opens the door. 

“You look like shit,” he tells you honestly, walking in and sitting on your bed. 

“Thank you,” you respond sarcastically. 

“Come on. Let’s go get food.” 

Juraj helps you get up, gives you space to go to the bathroom and change your outfit. He comes in a few minutes later when you’re wrestling with your hair and you sigh, frustrated. 

“Can I?” he asks sweetly and you nod. 

He sweeps your hair to rest behind your shoulders before taking it in his hands and raking it upwards. Your eyes close automatically at the feeling of his hands on you and you stifle a quiet sigh. He pulls the front of your hair back, his fingers like heaven on your scalp before grabbing your scrunchie and tying your hair into a bun. 

“Good?” he asks and his voice snaps you out of it, your eyes opening to see a messy bun and you nod. 

Your eyes connect in the mirror and the moment is so domestic it breaks both of you from it, the nerves getting to you. You both finally head out, deciding to just grab some fast food and you both relax in Juraj’s car, munching away and talking aimlessly about your summer plans. 

After dinner, Juraj walks you back up to your apartment and you lean against the door to face him. 

“See you tomorrow?” you ask and he grins. 

“Bright and early,” he says and you smile back. 

This boy would be the death of you. 

Thankfully, the next morning you wake up on time and head over to Juraj’s apartment. You decided forever ago it would be easier to take your car down to Connecticut. When you pull up to his building at 9 am sharp, the young Slovak is already standing outside, bags packed and ready to be shoved in the trunk of your car. 

You take the first shift of the drive, the whole thing taking about six hours, and for the first one you and Juraj chat away about anything and everything. Three hours in and Juraj takes over the rest of the drive and by the time you finally get to your childhood home, it’s dinner time. You guys grab fast food again, quickly devouring it in your car before finally getting to your house. 

“Mom? Dad?” you yell when you open the door and you hear the familiar bark of your dog and you smile. 

“Princess!” your mom greets, running out from the kitchen to wrap you up in a tight hug. 

You introduce your parents to Juraj and they smile politely before the two of you head upstairs and settle in your separate rooms. The minute you drop your bags down, you’re headed back to the guest room and off to bother Juraj. 

“Okay so,” you say, collapsing onto his bed and he looks over at you with a slight smile. 

“I’m craving ice cream,” you tell him and he smiles widely at you. 

“Would you like to go get ice cream?”

You end up at the local ice cream shop that you swear you frequented practically every night when you were a kid during the summer. 

“What’s cookie monster?” Juraj asks from next to you, squinting up at the handwritten menu. 

You turn to look at him and he looks utterly lost as he stares at the foreign ice cream flavors. In his defense, a lot of small town ice cream places had weird names for flavors so you weren’t shocked by the question. 

“Cookie monster is an animal, no? From Sesame Street?” He continues and when a small laugh escapes your lips he’s smiling like he won the lottery. 

“I’m not sure how to explain it,” you start and Juraj turns to you, waiting for your answer. “It’s basically vanilla ice cream dyed blue with chocolate chip cookies crumbled into it.” 

Juraj nods, turning to look back at the board. You try to focus too, but his nearness distracts you. Your stupid crush on the young Slovak was rearing its ugly head and every time he was near you you had to be extra careful not to stumble over your words like a fool. 

“What do you usually get?” Juraj asks.

“Cotton candy,” you reply, grinning when his face pinches into one of confusion. 

Just as you’re about to elaborate, the two of you are called up next in line. You’re about to order when Juraj starts talking, the young girl taking your order smiling shyly at the taller boy. 

“Two orders of cotton candy,” he says. 

“One in a cone and one in a cup,” you chime in and the girl nods happily before turning away to get your sweet treat. 

“Cone and cup?” Juraj asks. 

As the girl scoops your dessert, you explain to Juraj that when you were younger, you always ordered a vanilla and chocolate twist in a cone. However, one night on the beach, your ice cream melted all in your hands and then you touched your hair, leaving you a sticky and crying mess. Ever since then, you have been ordering your ice cream in a cup. 

The two of you pay before heading outside to the picnic tables placed in front of the shop. You’re about to take a seat at the farthest table when Juraj finally takes a bite of his ice cream and hums in a happy approval. 

“This is good!” he exclaims and you grin. 

“Cheers,” you tell him, bumping your ice cream together and Juraj takes his seat across from you. 

“So this,” he starts and you look at him expectantly. “Is part of an American summer?” 

“The best part, some might argue,” you say, taking a bite of your ice cream and smiling around the sweet contents. 

You continue to chat and eat your ice cream and by the time the two of you are headed home, the place is deserted. Your childhood home reflects the late time, the lights out and your dog snoozing happily in his crate. You and Juraj sneak upstairs but when you get to your bedroom door, you pause and look over at him. 

“Thanks for coming home with me,” you whisper, feeling brave in this darkness. 

Even though Juraj can’t exactly make out your figure, he sees your gentle smile, the way you cross your arms and pop out your hip to stand comfortably. His mind flashes with the thought that he wants to step forward, invade your space, ruin that perfect stance, pull you into his arms, kiss you gently like he always wanted to. 

“Goodnight moja láska,” he murmurs instead and your cheeks flush at his native language rolling off his tongue. 

“Goodnight.” 

--

The first week of summer break is slow and yet busy all at once. You and Juraj end up sleeping in practically every single day, waking up at 11 or later and lounging around the house until one of you gets bored and wants to go do something or until it’s too late and you already need to go back to sleep again. 

However, it’s Friday and your friends have been raving about coming to hangout again after not seeing you since last summer. You decided on a bonfire weeks ago, inviting everyone who you want to see and even some of the Canadiens players since they had time to stop by Connecticut before jetting off to vacation or back home. 

You run around like a mad woman all day long, cleaning up the house, getting the drinks and snacks ready and setting up the backyard. Juraj tries to help as much as possible but it’s hard when you’re a whirlwind who often insists on doing everything yourself. Still, he helps out where he can and you’re grateful when your friends start to show up. 

“(y/n)!!” you hear your childhood best friend's voice roar from behind you and you whip around just as she rams into you in a tight hug. 

“Hi!!” she yells loudly into your ear and you’re grinning so wide it hurts. 

“Hi!! I missed you!!” 

You two break apart and when she looks over your shoulder you turn to see Juraj smiling widely at the two of you. You reach back and grab his hand, pulling him next to you before looking back at your best friend. 

“Juraj, this is Courtney, Courtney this is Juraj.” 

Juraj reaches a hand out, telling her that it’s nice to meet her and Courtney not so subtly gives him a once over, a knowing smile growing on her lips. You excuse the two of you, dragging Courtney around to meet Cole, Nick, and Arber as well before you and Courtney grab some food and finally sit down to catch up. 

“So how long have you had a crush on tall, brunette, and beautiful over there?” she asks bluntly, nodding her head in Juraj’s direction where his head is tipped back in a wonderful beaming smile. 

“2 years?” you tell her, knowing there was no use in hiding the fact that you probably looked at Juraj like he was the sun and you needed him to live. 

“And you still haven’t told him?” she asks and you shake your head. 

The great thing about Courtney? She doesn’t push. She definitely would have more to say about you and Juraj, but she’s an excellent people reader. She knew you and Juraj would be incredibly cute together, knew he probably liked you as much as you liked him, and knew that you both were too nervous to make a move. 

“Hey do me a favor?” Courtney asks and you turn to look at her, breaking out of your trance. “No matter what, keep being friends with him okay? I can tell he’s good for you. He makes you happy.” 

Before you can even process what Courtney said, she stands and makes her way back inside the house. It takes you a moment to break from your thoughts and you do when the habs players come sit around you, talking about the rest of their summer plans and quizzing you and Juraj about what you’re going to do. 

Eventually, the bonfire winds down, only a few people left until it’s just you and Juraj. You sit on one of the loungers, relaxing back on it as the fire slowly dies in front of you due to the wind. 

“Moja láska?” Juraj calls and you look over to him. 

“It’s cold and it’s late. Let’s go to bed.” 

You know the wording is innocent but your heart doesn’t recognize that. You nod, standing and throwing some water on the fading fire before meeting Juraj at the sliding glass door. He lays his hand on the small of your back, leading you upstairs and that familiar spark of nerves flies through you. Just like the night before, you both end up at your doors, Juraj leans against his, his lean and tall body relaxed in the space. 

You want to close the distance, invade his space until he’s towering over you, slip your arms around his neck and pull him close. You find yourself leaning forward, about to take a step when you see Juraj move his hand to the doorknob of his room and you stop. 

“Goodnight,” he murmurs quietly and you smile. 

“Goodnight.”  

--

Ever since the bonfire the summer has moved slowly. Your days continue on, sleeping in, late nights, swimming in your pool, reading, and hanging out with Juraj. It was the most lowkey summer you have had in a while and you’ve loved every second of it. 

“(y/n)!!” your mom yells from downstairs. You get up, reaching the top of the stairs and look down to see her standing there with one hand on the banister. 

“Grab Juraj and come down please?” 

You knock on Juraj’s door and tell him to come downstairs. The two of you meet your parents in the kitchen and you wait expectantly for them to explain why they needed the two of you. 

“So, our vacation to your grandparents house is next week,” your mom reminds you and you nod. 

“Juraj, we would love for you to come with us to the lake house,” she says and Juraj turns to look at you, almost asking if it’s okay for him to come with. 

“You have to come with us,” you tell him and he smiles. 

“I would love to.” 

Every summer you and your family head up to your grandparents house in Ottawa for a week or more to see your extended family. You get to go swimming and boating on the lake, bonfires, ice cream, shopping, everything a perfect summer makes up and you get to see your favorite cousins that you definitely don’t get to see enough. 

“Juraj!! Let’s go!!” you yell obnoxiously up the stairs. It was early in the morning, the drive to Ottawa taking about eight hours and Juraj was taking forever to drag his bags downstairs and make his way out to the car. 

Finally, he makes his way down and the sleep in his eyes is contagious and you find yourself fighting off a yawn. You smile widely at him, leaning down to grab your bags as well and Juraj shakes his head, instantly making his way over to you and pushing your hands away. 

“No let me,” he says and you stand up straight, giving him a playful glare. 

“I can carry my bags,” you tell him and he offers a genuine smile that makes your heart race. 

“I know.” 

He throws a wink in your direction, hoisting all of the bags onto his back/shoulder and heading to the car. Your heart drops and crawls its way back up your body until it rests correctly in your chest. After a moment, you finally are able to move, heading to the car and hopping into the backseat with Juraj joining you a moment later. 

“Scooch,” Juraj tells you and you smile moving over but your bodies crash into each other anyway. You decide to take the leap, leaning into him and resting your head onto his shoulder. 

“Ready?” your dad asks, turning to peek at you and Juraj. 

When he sees the two of you cuddled up together he can’t help but smile, leaving the two young ones in the back to rest and starts the drive with your mom in the passenger seat. It doesn’t take you long, five minutes max, really, for you to fall back asleep. Even with your rapidly beating heart threatening to keep you awake. 

About half way through the drive you’re finally fully awake and truly bored. You look over at Juraj who has his headphones popped in and a movie playing on his phone. You lean over, snatching one of his headphones out of his ear and placing it in yours. Juraj doesn’t even flinch, just grins widely, his heart kicking around violently in his chest when he realizes you’ve moved close to him again. 

“What are you watching?” 

“Scream?” he questions, checking the title of the movie. 

“Ooh I love this movie.” 

You’ve officially relaxed into Juraj, your head back on his shoulder and his headphone in your ear. Juraj takes a chance, wrapping an arm around your waist and letting his fingers relax against your hip. His touch leaves a lick of flame on your body that doesn’t seem to go away until you guys make it to the lake house. It’s late and the rest of your extended family is already asleep so you guys head straight into the house, dropping your bags and falling asleep in your respective rooms. 

“(y/n)!! (y/n), (y/n), (y/n)!!!!” 

Your eyes crack open slowly and you lift a hand to rub the crust away and blink until you can finally see. You look next to your bed, your youngest cousin standing there with the biggest smile on her face you’ve ever seen. 

“Emma!” you cheer, dragging her up onto your bed and hugging her tight against you. 

“(y/n)! I! Can’t! Breathe!” she exclaims dramatically and you let go with a laugh. 

“So,” she says, tilting her head shyly and you stare at her waiting. “Did you bring a boy with you?” 

“And who told you that?” 

“Alex,” she admits guiltily and you grin knowing your teenage cousin's habit of getting into everyone’s business no matter what. 

“His name is Juraj,” you say, pronouncing his name slowly and Emma mouths his name after you say it. 

“He’s cute!” Emma exclaims and you look at her with a tilted head. 

“How did you-” 

“He’s downstairs!!” 

You’re quick to move, scooping Emma up into your arms and rushing out of your bedroom. You jog down to the kitchen and find Juraj sitting there enjoying his breakfast with the rest of your family milling around or eating with him. 

“See,” Emma whispers into your ear and you smile. “He’s cute.” 

You turn to look at Juraj, mouthing a hi to your best friend and he smiles, waving and Emma is quick to tuck her face into your neck and hide from the young hockey player. You can’t help but laugh, prying the young girl from your body and placing her on the ground before going to take your seat next to Juraj. 

“Good morning miláčik,” he greets and you smile. 

“Wait,” your cousin Alex pipes up from the other side of the kitchen table. “What did you just call her?” 

“Uhm, I said ‘friend�� in Slovak,” Juraj explains but his face has a bright red tint to his cheeks that you want to question but can’t because Alex is already asking another question. 

“How many languages do you know?” 

Alex and Juraj go back and forth for a bit, Juraj doing his best to answer the questions from your teenage cousin. When you realize you’re not going to get anywhere with the two of them yapping away, you decide to go make breakfast. 

“I thought Alex didn’t like him.” 

You look up from your book to see your cousin Olivia coming to sit down next to you on the private beach in front of your grandparents house. 

“You know Alex,” you tell her, casting your gaze over to the two boys swimming in the lake, splashing each other with water and talking about whatever. 

“So,” Olivia drawls, looking over at you. 

“Yes?” you ask, knowing her tone of voice means more than she’s letting you on. 

“You and Juraj?” 

“We’re not-” 

“No I know,” she amends and you raise an eyebrow at her. “But you obviously like him.” 

“How do you do that?” you ask. Olivia had seen you and Juraj exchange two words and the girl could already tell your feelings for him. 

“He also obviously likes you,” she says like it’s a no brainer and you should have known this already. 

The rest of the week is perfect, spending time with your extended family, enjoying the moments you had with them since it was so limited throughout the year. Juraj gets along with your entire family and the idea makes your heart sing happily every time you think about it. Your grandparents loved him, smiling fondly whenever they saw the two of you interacting and offering knowing looks to your parents. 

The last day has come and gone and it’s far too early in the morning once again for you to be awake. Your cousins had left the day before and now you were saying goodbye to your grandparents. 

Your grandma envelopes you in a hug, pulling back just slightly until her lips are next to your ear. 

“I better be around for the wedding,” she whispers and when you pull all the way back to look at her she grins mischievously. 

“I’ll keep you updated,” you tell her with a wink and she grins. 

--

There was only one week of summer vacation left. 

You can’t help but think that this had gone way too fast and you weren’t ready to go back to Montreal just yet. You were enjoying your little universe with Juraj, away from the chaos of work, the prying eyes of his teammates and your coworkers, and the general fact that this was the most time you had ever really gotten with Juraj. Ever since coming home from Ottawa with the approval of your extended family, you couldn’t help but think about telling Juraj about your feelings practically every single day. However, something always seemed to stop you each time. 

With three days left, you finally devise a plan. Juraj had never really been to an American theme park and you hadn’t been to six flags in months. You loved going to the park at least once every summer when you were a kid. Truthfully you were terrified of roller coasters growing up until your friends dragged you on the most baby coaster possible before working up to the worst coaster. Ever since, you were still nervous about going on coasters but felt better when someone was with you. 

“Juraj!!” you yell loudly, knocking on his door and when he calls out back, you swing open the door. 

“Get dressed in something you’d be comfortable walking in all day and meet me in the car.” 

Without waiting for an answer, you grab your bag and head downstairs to your car. You wait for about five minutes before Juraj hops in your car, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with nikes on as well. 

“Where are we going?” he asks when you put your car in drive.

“It’s a surprise,” you smile mischievously and Juraj just smiles back at you. 

It takes about an hour to get there and when Juraj sees the first roller coaster towering in the air he turns to you in his seat. 

“A theme park?” he asks and you nod excitedly. 

“What ride first?” Juraj asks when you’re through the gates and heading towards the middle of the theme park. 

“Come on,” you say, grabbing his hand in yours and racing off to your favorite ride in the park, pandemonium. 

Thankfully, the wait isn’t too terribly long and a quick 20 minutes later the two of you are next up. You watch as Juraj peers at the ride, a look of confusion when he sees that the seats are two a piece and face inward towards each other, unlike most coasters. 

“Ready?” 

“We’re not going uh backwards correct?” he asks almost nervously and you can’t help but be astonished by seeing Juraj Slafkovský nervous about something like this. 

“It’s tradition!” you tell him excitedly and Juraj sports a look of worry as you take his hand once more and drag him into the seat. 

You two strap yourselves in, holding your arms up for the attendant to check and as you drop them, Juraj catches your hand in his, intertwining your fingers and offering a squeeze that travels lightening up your arm and through your body with a soft tingle. 

“Moja láska?” he asks and you turn to see the worry in his eyes. “Where’s the drop?” 

You turn your head around and see you’re just about to crest the top of the hill but before you can respond, you’re whipped back around by the ride dipping down and heading towards its first drop. 

“Kurva!” Juraj curses loudly as the ride drops and you can’t help the laugh that escapes as his hand tightens around yours as the ride whips around. 

Finally, the ride comes to a stop and with a thump you land flush against the seat. Your smile is wide, your hair whipped around your face and you blow a breath out to move it from your eyes. You look over at Juraj who is absolutely beaming, your heart bursting at the sight. 

“That was fun!” he exclaims and you nod excitedly. 

You two get off the ride, running to the next one until you’ve made your way through about half the coasters in the park. You take a quick break, scarfing down a quick late lunch before you start your walk over to your next coaster. 

“Miláčik?” Juraj asks and you look over at him. “What’s that?” 

He points over to one of the carnival style games and you grin and grab his hand, dragging him towards the water shooting one. 

“Hello young lady! Are you and your man going to play?” the game runner asks. 

You nod and hand him the money needed to play before dragging Juraj down into a seat next to you. 

“Okay, so see the target right there?” you ask, pointing to the red dot in the center. “You take your water gun, and shoot straight at it until your stuffed animal reaches the top.” 

“You’re gonna lose,” he boasts when you sit down next to him and you grin widely, loving whenever Slaf gets into that competitive side of him. 

The game runner yells out a start and the two of you put your game faces on as you aim at the target. Halfway through the race you glance up to see Slaf is beating you handily. The next time you look up, his stuffed animal has hit the top and the lights fire off. 

“Let’s go!!” Slaf yells excitedly. 

“We have a winner!! The young man in the front, what would you like out of these prizes?” The game runner gestures to the row above his head and Juraj looks over to you. 

“What do you want moja láska?” Slaf asks and your heart skips a beat, realizing he wants to give you his prize. 

“Can I have the teddy bear?” you ask, pointing up at the bear with the red bowtie and the game runner hands it to Slaf who holds it out to you with a giant smile on his lips. 

“For you môj drahý.” 

“Thank you,” you say, hugging the bear to your chest and you can’t help the smile that is bursting on your face. Slaf slings an arm around your shoulder, flames igniting throughout you as you continue to walk. 

“Want to head home soon?” you ask and Juraj shakes his head. 

“Can we go on those swings?” he asks, pointing towards the ride rotating in the sky as you walk. 

“Sure.” 

The wait takes forever as always, but it seems a lot quicker when Slaf is around. You two discuss the last two days of your vacation before you have to head back to Montreal and the plan for the drive back. 

You get on the swings when the sun is halfway set and the attendant helps strap the two of you in before checking on others. The ride gets started and as they slowly lift you up, your smile grows when you see how beautiful the park looks beneath you with the sun setting. You turn to look at Slaf and his eyes are already on you, the look so soft and caring you feel it down to your bones. 

His hand slips into yours, intertwining your fingers for the second time that day and you can feel there’s a difference in this one that makes your heart beat rapidly. Your eyes flicker from his eyes to your hands together and back up again to see Juraj gazing between your eyes and your lips. 

The electricity is palpable and you feel yourself leaning in towards him. Your eyes flutter shut in hope and when his lips finally meet yours it feels like fireworks are exploding all around you. You’re lit up from top to bottom and the feeling is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. When you break apart the smile on your face is so big it hurts and you look around to see the sun has officially set and there are literal fireworks exploding in the air towards the other side of the park. 

“Oh my god,” you giggle lightly at the ridiculous magic of it all and lean your head on Slaf’s chest. 

When the ride ends the two of you get off in silence and you find yourself holding his hand, your other coming up to wrap around his bicep. Your whole body leans against him and Slaf can’t help the giant smile on his lips that proves he is the luckiest man in the world. 

“Tired?” he asks when you’re halfway through the park and your steps have slowed significantly. 

“Mhm,” you murmur and Slaf stops the two of you in his tracks. You give him a confused look but he simply steps forward and squats down in front of you, holding his hands behind his back. You climb onto his back and he lifts you up, striding across the park once more and you lean your head against his back. 

He doesn’t set you down until you reach the car and climb in on your side. The drive back to your house is quiet but in a peaceful way. The silence tells you that you’re both finally content in what was happening between the two of you. There didn’t seem to be any tension left, just a giddy air about the two of you. 

You’re dragging your feet up the stairs and when you get to your bedroom, Juraj leans you against the door and kisses you like he can’t get enough. When he lets go he gazes at you with an unreadable look and you smile softly at him. 

“Goodnight.” 

“Goodnight, moja láska,” he murmurs and the Slovak phrase holds a heavy weight to it that it didn’t before, your heart skipping happily over the words. 

You’re half asleep, an unknowing smile still resting on your lips when you hear your bedroom door creak open. You attempt to look through the darkness to see what was going on when you hear Slaf’s voice and his weight on the other side of the bed. 

“You okay?” he whispers in your ear. 

“Perfect.” 

The next morning the bright light from the blinds shines into your room and you blink slowly, letting last nights events crash over you once again. For a minute you still think it’s all a dream but when you turn in bed you feel a weight on your waist that has your heart jumping. 

You turn all the way around, gazing at a dead asleep Juraj next to you. His hair falls in a mess over his forehead and drapes across his eyes. Your eyes trace his features slowly, the curve of his soft lips contrasted by his sharp jawline, his long eyelashes fluttering with every breath he takes. You smile when you realize once again that last night did happen. 

You lean forward pecking his lips and his eyelids flutter before finally opening. Those soft lips stretch into that perfect smile of his and you can’t help but think you’ve won the lottery. Everyone else can go home, give up on soulmates, you found a love that beats all of it. 

“Good morning, my love,” he murmurs against your lips. 

“Good morning.” 

[whumpinthepot]

@whumpmasinjuly 2023

19. List your fave whump blogs

OK, I wrote as many people as I could find and if I missed anyone I’ll add them in as i come across them ^_^

@gritpyre - long time mutual/friend who does amazing amazing artwork. Its so nice seeing her oc’s change and grow over the years. We stan buff ladies <3

@for-the-love-of-angst - Longtime good friend of mine who I love so much. Their writing is so full of flavour I just want to eat it, its so descriptive and the characters feel so raw with emotion.

@whither-wander-whump - Pucks historical whump is so impressive, I don’t know how she does it. The dialogue and everything is on point. I also just love hearing about her day and what she’s been up to because its always something really cool.

@whumpshaped - Excellent writing and concepts, its always so different and just seem to hit right. Especially the gore and how unapologetically brutal it gets! I always have fun reading its work.

@figuwhump - This is just a really fun art blog that popped up in the last month or so, ive been having a lot of fun with the event and seeing what other people create. Its run by two of my fave people as well so thats just a bonus.

@whump-in-the-closet - Troy has a really fun blog and he does a CYOA story that I really enjoy reading a LOT. Very good descriptions that have a lasting effect on me, theres always something noteworthy when ever I read a chapter. Also, we have similar usernames so his blog always stands out to me haha.

@just-horrible-things - long time friend/mutual with amazing writing and characters. Everything I’ve read from him has been engraved into my brain, and stuck there.

@burntcoffeewhump - Amazing artist and friend!! Seriously, go commission him when they’re open again he’s selling them for very affordable prices and they are professional level work. Its just gorgeous they way he paints.

@demondamage - Good friend/mutual who has such amazing talent for art and writing I am always in awe, and love seeing it every time he posts. The lab whump has me swooning. Period.

@whumpsday - Mill is such a nice mutual to have, and a really great member of the community. I think about his characters all the time, and he somehow manages to organize all of his writing which is something I really admire. He wrote whumper to whumpee trope is such a way that it makes you feel BAD for the poor guy…

@i-can-even-burn-salad - Elli is really funny and writes like a BEAST. I don’t know how she does it but I am so envious!! She has some books finished, and available as Ebooks! Go check them out its seriously impressive, and something to look up to.

@sunshiline-writes - We have a lot in common which is like finding a chest during a treasure hunt. Very good characters, poc whump, lady whumper, and writing that I really enjoy a LOT. I really like her characters they vibe perfectly with me.

@verkja - I love Verkja so much, he’s always a pleasure to talk to and a very good friend. He does adventure fantasy -esque writing with a lot of detail to the world the characters are in. He’s talented in so many artistic ways, I love seeing anything he’s working on any given day.

@ilasknives - LAB WHUMP MOOT, Ila does amazing lab whump with a load of psychological torment stuffed into it. As well as a lot of pet whump concepts that are really fun and different. I love hearing about their oc’s, they feel so real to me.

@redd956 - Redd has the biggest galaxy brain when it comes to world building, prompts, and writing. Its so fun to see all of her posts on my dash, I don’t know how she does it but its a TALENT.

@leyswhumpdump - Leys is really good at plot building with a sprinkle of whump twined into it, which makes those scenes all the more exciting. Leys understands writing structure very well and it makes their writing flow verrrryyyyy nicely.

@blackrosesandwhump - Amazing writer, does circus whump which I LOVE and don’t see enough of, as well as a handful of other stories with different tropes! Lovely mutual and very helpful with writing advice which I am so so so thankful for all the time.

@hollowgast1 - Very good moot to have, we trade drabbles to edit often and its really fun. She writes a lot of supervillain, pet, and lab whump its really heavy on the psychological end of it, which I enjoy immensely. Its always a pleasure to read her works!

@distinctlywhumpthing - Excellent writer, with some completed stories. Their writing is often tragic, and really pull the reader in emotionally. Highly recommend reading, they’re some of my favourite works!

@whump-blog - Red is such a sweet friend, and so good with ideas, I always get so excited hearing about them! He has wonderful artwork and its all linked on his page for easy access. Im so intrigued by his writing I can’t wait for more to be posted!

@alittlewhump - Shy is incredibly helpful I can’t express my gratitude enough she’s so amazing at strengthening writing and I would have never posted my works if it wasn’t for her. She knows how to bring a story to life through words which is such a huge talent that so many people strive to have.

[richincolor]

New Releases for the Week of May 22, 2023

We have a nice collection of books to look forward to this week with a few contemporary realistic fiction novels, one fantasy anthology, and a story with a bit of a mystery. 

If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia So Harperteen

Elsie has a crush on Ada, the only person in the world who truly understands her. Unfortunately, they’ve never met in real life and Ada lives an ocean away. But Elsie has decided it’s now or never to tell Ada how she feels. That is, until her long-lost best friend Joan walks back into her life.

In a summer of repairing broken connections and building surprising new ones, Elsie realises that she isn’t nearly as alone as she thought. But now she has a choice to make… — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Magic Has No Borders edited by Sona Charaipotra and Samira Ahmed HarperTeen

A pair of star-crossed lovers search for a way back to one another against all odds…

A girl fights for her life against a malignant, generations-old evil…

A peri seeks to reclaim her lost powers…

A warrior rebels against her foretold destiny…

From chudails and peris to jinn and goddesses, this lush collection of South Asian folklore, legends, and epics reimagines stories of old for a modern audience. This fantasy and science fiction teen anthology edited by Samira Ahmed and Sona Charaipotra contains a wide range of stories from fourteen bestselling, award-winning, and emerging writers from the South Asian diaspora that will surprise, delight, and move you. So read on, for after all, magic has no borders.

With stories by: ▪Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Ember in the Ashes series, and winner of the National Book Award and Printz Award for All My Rage ▪Sayantani DasGupta, New York Times bestselling author of the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series ▪Preeti Chhibber, author of Spider-Man’s Social Dilemma ▪Sona Charaipotra, author of Symptoms of a Heartbreak and How Maya Got Fierce, and coauthor of The Rumor Game and Tiny Pretty Things, now a Netflix original series. ▪Tanaz Bhathena, award-winning author of Hunted by the Sky and Of Light and Shadow ▪Sangu Mandanna, bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and the Celestial Trilogy ▪Olivia Chadha, author of Rise of the Red Hand ▪Nafiza Azad, author of William C. Morris Award nominee, The Candle and the Flame ▪Tracey Baptiste, New York Times bestselling author of The Jumbies series and Minecraft: The Crash ▪Naz Kutub, author of The Loophole ▪Nikita Gill, bestselling author of Wild Embers and Fierce Fairytales ▪Swati Teerdhala, author of the Tiger at Midnight trilogy ▪Shreya Ila Anasuya, New Voices selection ▪Tahir Abrar, New Voices selection — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes Balzer & Bray/Harperteen

Ariana Ruiz wants to be noticed. But as an autistic girl who never talks, she goes largely ignored by her peers, despite her bold fashion choices. So when cute, popular Luis starts to pay attention to her, Ari finally feels seen.

Luis’s attention soon turns to something more, and they have sex at a party—while Ari didn’t say no, she definitely didn’t say yes. Before she has a chance to process what happened and decide if she even has the right to be mad at Luis, the rumor mill begins churning—thanks, she’s sure, to Luis’s ex-girlfriend, Shawni. Boys at school now see Ari as an easy target, someone who won’t say no.

Then Ari finds a mysterious note in her locker that eventually leads her to a group of students determined to expose Luis for the predator he is. To her surprise, she finds genuine friendship among the group, including her growing feelings for the very last girl she expected to fall for. But in order to take Luis down, she’ll have to come to terms with the truth of what he did to her that night—and risk everything to see justice done. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Forever is Now by Mariama J. Lockington Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)

I’m safe here.

That’s how Sadie feels, on a perfect summer day, wrapped in her girlfriend’s arms. School is out, and even though she’s been struggling to manage her chronic anxiety, Sadie is hopeful better times are ahead. Or at least, she thought she was safe. When her girlfriend reveals some unexpected news and the two witness a violent incident of police brutality unfold before them, Sadie’s whole world is upended in an instant.

I’m not safe anywhere.

That’s how Sadie feels every day after–vulnerable, uprooted. She retreats inside as the weeks slip by and relies on her phone to stay connected to the outside world. When Sadie’s therapist gives her a diagnosis for her debilitating panic–agoraphobia–she starts on a path of acceptance and healing. Meanwhile, Sadie’s best friend, Evan, updates her on the protests taking place in their city. Sadie wants to be a part of it, to use her voice and affect change. But how do you show up for your community when you can’t even leave your house?

I can build a safe place inside myself.

That’s what Sadie learns over the course of one life-changing summer, with some help from her family, her best friend, an online platform for activists, and a magnetic crush she develops for the new boy next door. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

[authorisnotdead]

When “engineer” is not just a vocab word

When I was 21 years old, I studied Arabic for a year in college.

The class was taught by a Bosnian woman who introduced herself to us the first day by saying “My name is Ines Ansceric Todd. But you are not here to learn Bosnian, you are here to learn Arabic. So you may call me Dr. Todd.”

Dr. Todd’s method of teaching us Arabic was through affectionate humiliation.

“What?” she would often say, looking around the room, chuckling.

“What is he trying to read? Is he on the right page?” “I can see that Felicia has done the homework.”

We learned very basic phrases that year,

Ones that textbooks love to use that don’t really come up in conversation—

Adhab ila maktaba kul yam. I go to the library every day.

Hunaka sayarat fi-shari. There are cars on the street. Bab al-bait. The door of the house.

Andi kilab. I have two books.

Huya muhandis , or hiya muhandisa

He is an engineer, or she is an engineer.

Family members: baba, ama, akh, ukht—father, mother, brother, sister.

I am 30 now and scrolling through news about a war a world away. I have forgotten all of the Arabic that Dr. Todd instilled in me through fear of teasing.

There is a video of a young girl, she’s maybe 8 or 9 years old.

She’s surrounded by the ruins of her town, in a street that used to be filled with cars, a house with no door.

“What is your dream for the future?” someone asks her.

She replies in Arabic ‘Yam min a yam, yurid muhandisa.” One day, I would like to be an engineer, she tells them. So that I can build a home that the bombs cannot tear down. A home where my family will be safe. I see the words of a poet who I did not know

Whose work I have not read who asks that if he dies he should like to become a kite with a long white tail

So that a child in Gaza may look up to see a kite flying in the sky and they might see an angel of hope.

I am baking Christmas cookies (because Christmas comes even when it feels like it shouldn’t) and the song playing in the background

tells a story of a star in the sky with a tail as big as a kite in a little town of Bethlehem. I do not know the fate of the little girl who wanted to be an engineer when she grew up. I do not know the fate of her family.

Her baba, her ama, her akh, her ukht,

I do not know what became of them.

My niece is now six and last summer we walked on the beach and watched people flying kites,

colorful tails blowing in the wind

I wonder if someday

she might like to be an engineer.

[eponastory]

The latest chapter was shocking.

Was this really planned out, or were you going for shock value? I almost quit reading it.

It's still good but that was crazy.

The answer is... yes. It was planned.

Originally, this was the point where we would finally have a confrontation with Aang. But I changed the outline because it made no sense for Aang to be on Kyoshi.

But, if you were paying attention, I was actually building towards this moment for a while. It seems so sudden because of the way I introduced it. And while I know readers my not like the serious topics I throw in, I do state that I do not shy away from real-world subjects. This also brings me to if the subject is brought up in the source material numerous times, then why do others need to shy away from it.

Through the first part of the story, the audience as well as the characters, are introduced to a bloodbender. The only things they know about this bloodbender is his names and the stories they hear about him from other characters. Zuko and Katara know only what Azula and Ila told them. Nothing more. So, because of this threat, Zuko thinks it's best to help Katara understand her bloodbending abilities better. Because in his mind, if Tulok can take Azula's bending away, he's a serious threat. The clues are all there.

So when we get to said event where they group sees exactly what Tulok can do, but he is long gone, they are just as shocked as you are. Especially Suki and Sokka. Zuko doesn't react the same way because he has delayed reactions. He's overstimmulated emotionally to where he feels numb and has to worry about everything external. So you are feeling exactly what they are feeling. Which is what I intended.

Trust me, I don't like writing this stuff as much as it looks like I do, because it gets me emotional, too. I use that to my advantage.

And for those wondering about the subject... it's in the realm of genocide and mass murder.

I did put a warning about it. So it was not totally out of the blue.

[dark-twist-fairytales]

"You know, you could just allow the thought of the Music Dragons and Damen meeting be- ya know, just that? A thought?"

No, no I couldn't :3 Here's 3.7k words of it!

The Music Dragons belong to @bluetorchsky

Damen Michaels belongs to me

A little note!: Accordion and Violin ARE NOT part of the Music Dragons in this story. I've set Damen's age to be about a year younger than them for a reason.

Tw: Threat (violent but not a death threat). Swearing.

~~

Giving a sigh to himself, Damen stepped away from his workshop to check the outside world. Dark, he had been working all day, again, to try and meet demands of a new client he had. Very blunt and demanding at it. He could only shake his head, moving his greasy, smoke-ridden hair into a bun. Now, Damen didn't look as he currently did, much younger with dark brown hair, the orange being hinted at his roots and with the shining light, it only made it seem a bit reddish. His headband wasn't his headband, it being a blue bandana with designs on it, which was enough to cover his roots and hide his natural color. He wasn't much older than 20 in his outlooks, barely out of high school and living on his own. He wouldn't answer to how the property is his, but it was, legal documents and all.

He did take a moment outside, however, allowing his lungs to catch a breath of fresh air around him rather than the smoke of wood. A ventelator may be a good investment...

His thoughts got interrupted with the sound of wheels on the road, his expression souring as he hoped it wasn't police driving out near his property. They've harassed him enough for today, and it was getting little ridiculous how much they were actually harassing him. He stepped towards the edge of the buildings, glancing around to see a... What the..? He waved his hand to try and signal he was there, effectively getting the car to slow down and stop in front of him. It was a carvan, a large one at that, but it looked older than the two people in the drivers and passengers seat. He walked towards it, glancing towards the back as his eyes stayed squinted to adjust to the dark.

"Hey, you folks lost? It's awful late to be driving on these smaller roads." Damen spoke, standing a bit away from the passenger door just so he could see inside of it. He tilted his head a bit to the side, getting a better look at the driver in the process. Seemingly male presenting, taller than the person in the passenger seat.

"Oh, uhm.." The heavy sigh that came from the person in the passenger was clear, glancing out of the rolled down window. "Yeah, we are lost, tired, and just trying to find a place to settle down for the night." The Italian accent broke through, leaning out the window and towards Damen. "Listen, if you could point us in the direction of civilization, we'd greatly appreciate it." He spoke, waiting for Damen's response and direction.

"Listen, fellas, that won't be necessary. I have plenty of space on my land for you guys. It's too dangerous out at night, critters jumping in the road and what not." Damen then turned to look at his shop, and the space between be buildings. "Come on and park. It'll be alright." He said, motioning and going towards the direction of his spot. He knew they were following with the van, since he headlights start illuminating his path. He rounded the corner, wide enough for the carvan to fit as well, before stopping short of the woods to move his dirt bike out of the way. It was his only form of transportation as the moment, but it worked.

He heard the carvans tire stop rolling on the dirt, moving towards his shop and opening the door to allow more light to flood the outside, and reveal a grown deer standing in the doorway. Damen could only look down, moving his hand to pet the top of her head. "Hi there, Ila. Isn't Buck waiting for you at home?" He questioned, getting a response that could only be described as deer nonsense. Well, to the others. He chuckled at it and patted her neck. "Yeah, I know. I'll be safe, don't get Buck to bust down the back door. Again. For the third time in a row." He said, getting a huff as the doe quickly ran into the woods.

"Whoa..!!" Damen jumped at the exclamation, turning around to see at least seven guys outside of the carvan. And more getting out. It looked like a whole family getting out of a clown car, but he wasn't going to let that thought out. The guy who exclaimed it out stepped forward, his right arm being made of a crystal-like thing that Damen hadn't ever seen before. His eyes were glowing with his set up, even though it was.. Uh, very put together and barely complete. "Manuel! Come look at this!"

Another guy, who just popped out of the carvan itself, came over to the member in the door. Manuel's eyes also widened at the sight. "You're a blacksmith as well?" Manuel asked, with the member beside him practically bouncing in his spot with excitement. Damen glanced to the two, before he gave a short nod. "Yeah, I am. Specialty in weapons." He said, with the currently unnamed male giving a cheer at that.

"Shane! Calm down a bit. Let's rest for tonight, you can geek out about smithing tomorrow." The German voice broke through, causing the excited blacksmith to visible deflate at his words. "I need to shut it down in here, if you wanna come check it out. It isn't.. The best, I'd say." Damen spoke, which regain the fire in Shane's attitude. He bounded inside, grabbing Manuel and dragging the male quickly along to look at everything.

Damen shook his head softly, glancing back towards the two leaders. "If you go over to the apartment building, I'll meet you guys there. The house light is a motion sensor." He spoke, before heading inside with the two blacksmiths.

The shorter male gave a small, unsure hum as the sight of the three inside, glancing towards the varies members to see them stretching out their cramped limbs, all in various states of sleepiness and desperate need of rest from the road. He looked up towards the driver, giving another hum, this time of question. "Are you sure we can trust him, Gherry?" The Italian spoke, gaining the attention of a few of the other members, including Gherry.

The taller male gave an assuring hum, smiling softly. "We're the Music Dragons, Frankie, this is just one guy.. We'll be safe, okay?" He said, moving his hand down to drag his nails lightly across his shoulder, pulling him just that bit closer in a small side-hug. "Now, let's get insi-"

"BUCK- YOU CANNOT EAT THE METAL!" There's a phrase you don't hear everyday. Gherry and Frankie watched as a large buck with even large antlers ran out of the shop, giving random deer noises at the door, turning around and stomping his hooves on the ground. Damen walked to the doors, Manuel and Shane following close behind him and heading towards the other Music Dragons. "I said no, Buck. You CANNOT eat metal. You're a deer. God, for some big ass antlers, you don't have a lot between them." He flicked off the shop light and flicked on a light switch in his hand. More deer noises caused Damen to point the light at the large buck. "End. Of. Discussion. You are a deer. Deer do NOT eat metal." With a huff from the buck, he walked away in a pout, which didn't waver Damen's face in the slightest as he shut the large doors to the shop.

He then pointed the light towards the carvan, giving a motion to follow him with the said light. "C'mon." He began walking towards the front of the house, which flicked the light on, and as they got to the apartment. He had to practically fall into it to get it to open, but found it successful as he flicked the light on. "Alright-" He flicked the flashlight off, allowing the members to flood in, before motioning to the stairs. "The rooms start upstairs. You're free to anything; community washroom and showers are the doors after the stairs, to the right."

"We really appreciate this.." Gherry started, trialing off as he held his hand out towards Damen in a proper-meet fashion. His hand was met with Damen's, cringing just slightly at how calloused his hand felt comparative to his.

"Damen Michaels. My place is free to you guys anytime." Damen spoke, giving a small nod towards the group, particularly to Frankie as he let go of Gherry's hand to meet Frankie's.

"Gherry, and my husband Frankie. We're The Music Dragons." Gherry spoke, setting his hand on Frankie's shoulders, with Frankie placing himself against Gherry's side after him and Damen dropped hands.

"Wonderful. I would show you guys to your rooms, but I.. Don't trust myself on stairs right now. If you need anything, I'll be in the house we passed. And, I mean anything, doesn't matter the time of night or day." Damen said, giving his nod towards them again, before he walked towards the door, to be met with Ila the doe, holding a key ring in her mouth.

"Ah, perfect, Ila. Thank you." Damen said, turning around and using the doorframe for support, before handing the keys over to Gherry and Frankie. "Use however many rooms you need. The conditions of some rooms are.. Better than others, just a warning. Only the sink and toilet water works in the rooms. Lock your doors at night, or you'll wake up to a deer in your room. Don't mind if there's deer in the hallway, Ila and Buck's family likes to make sure guests are safe."

This information was.. The weirdest bit of information Gherry had heard, nodding softly at each part of it before looking to the key in his hand. "This works for all the doors..?" Upon getting a nod and brief explanation (knobs being changed for easier usage), he gave his thanks towards Damen, pretty much saying that if they needed anything, they'd come towards his house.

Gherry then turned to the group and motioned them upstairs to get them rested. It took a bit of opening doors and making sure everyone was settled, before Gherry and Frankie took to a room together. They had to get out of the increasingly uncomfortable daytime clothing, but soon laid down on the surprisingly clean mattress and sheets. With Frankie closer to the wall, he had his arms open for Gherry to lay down. No, the height difference didn't matter to them, as Gherry moved over to lay down and snuggle into Frankie's chest. "See? Nothing to worry about.. Other than odd acting deer."

Frankie gave a chuckle at that, moving his hand up to pet Gherry's hair. "Yeah, okay, maybe you're right.. He is pretty helpful.."

"GODDAMN, DYLAN, STOP EATING THE FUCKING DOOR!"

Although it was muffled, the loud cackling of their own, Yvonne, followed after the loud exclamation of.. Honestly, the two couldn't decide what they wanted it to be, but Gherry could only chuckle and look up to Frankie. "Ever yelled at a deer before?"

"Shut up and go to sleep."

~~

Morning came around, with Damen already up and getting himself ready for the day. He knew not much was going to happen, given that his knee was NOT happy with him, causing his limp to be more noticable and steps being taken as lightly as possible. He left out of his room, hearing the gentle knock on his door. Soft, rhythmic, and just enough to get his attention. He went over to the door, opening it up and glancing towards who was there.

"Hi, I'm Sherr. I'm with The Music Dragons. Uhm.. I was wondering if I was able to use some of your groceries to make food for our group? It's alright if the answer is no, I'm just-" They got cut short by Damen's chuckle and wave of his hand, as if to stop them from talking for a moment.

"Of course it's okay. Civiliation isn't for another hour or so, that's IF the cops don't harass you. Swear, they don't have anything better to do with their time." Damen said, moving out of the way for Sherr to come inside. The kitchen was in view of the door, the house being.. Oddly small, even for one person to be living in it. They moved towards the kitchen, checking in the fridge for what Damen had available. "If you need, I have a big pot in one of the lower cabinets. I can make a fire, make some soup, cook up some meat in here."

That didn't sound like a bad idea.. Sherr nodded at that, grabbing out some vegetables that were in there, before setting them on the counter. "If you don't mind.. Could you possibly cook the meat after the fire is made? I'm guessing what's in there is deer.." They said, with Damen nodding.

"Of course I can. Have you had deer meat before?" He asked, earning a 'no' from the Music Dragon. "It has a natural kick to it, tender. Think of a pot roast texture." He pulled out the meat and started on the hearing up the stove to cook it, while Sherr started on peeling the potatoes and carrots, tossing them into the pot.

It only took about twenty minutes for the meat to cook, around sixty minutes total to get enough meat cooked, and while Sherr finished with the vegetables, he went outside to started on building the fire. Sherr watched him go outside, giving a chuckle to themselves and filling part of the pot with broth, along with some seasonings and spices.

"And we have fire!" This got Sherr to chuckle, glancing out of the window to see the fire constructed, with Damen beside it with his arms in the air in achievement. A bit of swearing happened as Damen stood, seemingly of pain to Sherr's understanding, before he came back inside and reached into a cabinet, pulling out two things: A large, wooden spoon, and a metal cage-like contraption to fit the pot above the fire. He looked over to Sherr, smiling. "Let's get it on the fire, yeah? He said, with Sherr giggling a bit and attempting to lift the pot. Yeah, attempting. It was much heavier than they expected, huffing in defeat.

"Can you..?" Damne's chuckle assured them, as he gave the cooking instruments over to Sherr, before lifting the pot up from the counter, walking it outside. Sherr was right behind him, shutting the door and setting the cage down over the fire, unsure if they did it right, but trusting Damen as he settled the pot in its cage, moving it enough to be over the fire to cook, before standing up and grabbing some logs before beside the house. They were cut in half, able to settle on the ground smoothly, as makeshift seats. There was enough for all the Music Dragons to sit, two on each of them.. But not enough for Damen to sit. Sherr had checked the calculations.

"You are joining us for breakfast, right?" This stunned Damen, glancing to Sherr to see if their question was serious or joking. They were serious. "It would be a bit rude to not invite the host to join our meal, especially one he helped make."

"I.. Wasn't planning on it.. You guys are a group, I'd rather not be intrusi- EEP!" His exclamation came from Sherr grabbing his arm and pulling him down to the ground beside him.

"Oh, hush it. There's enough for all of us, including you." Sherr said, and making it very clear they weren't taking 'no' for an answer. Damen could only chuckle, shifting himself around to get more comfortable on the ground, swearing at how bent his knee was from the topple. Once he got it more straightened out, he rested his weight on Sherr' log.

Slowly but surely, the Music Dragons came out of the apartment, either dressed for the day, or freshly washed in pajamas. To each their own, Damen wasn't one to judge. As more and more came out, a few deer came out as well. Mainly doe, but a buck or two was mixed in. Ila, the deer practically attached to him, and Buck, her himbo of a deer husband, were sitting on either side of him. Buck had himself a bit away as to avoid hitting anyone with his antlers, while Ila laid behind Damen, pressed against his back.

"You've got some strange animals, fella." A male, who announced himself as Zane, spoke as he looked to the doe between him and Yvonne. Yvonne was willingly petting the doe, their eyes wide with how soft ans gentle she was.

Damen cocked an eyebrow at Zane's statement, glancing towards the male with a confused gaze. "I don't know what you mean. They're just normal deer." He spoke, which gained Frankie's attention, turning towards Damen. "Deer act like this, around you, all the time?" The host nodded at that statement, lightly petting Ila's head. "Yeah, all the time. Deer just act like this."

A glance between Frankie and Gherry, the two locking eyes and whistling notes towards each other. Damen couldn't understand it, assuming it was a different language they communicated by. He shook his head, ignoring it as he leaned forward to grab a bowl, tapping the side with the ladle, which got almost all of the deer to start moving to retreat back to the forest. All except if Ila, who stayed behind Damen.

"You gotta go too, Ila. It's getting too bright for your eyes." Damen said, earning a huff and a reluctantly moving doe to go from behind him. She went over to Buck, nudging his horns with her head, before the two ran off towards the forest to find a place to rest after a night of worrying over the safety of guests.

After that, the Music Dragons, and Damen, began to eat at the soup that was made. Multiple compliments went towards Sherr's cooking, and how the fire made a difference in taste. Damen scooted himself backwards a bit, eating at his own soup while listening to the chatting of the group. He didn't join in, mainly because he didn't have much to contribute to the conversation. Well, that was until he heard the small 'woop' of a police siren. He gave a groan, setting his bowl down on the ground and standing up, before heading over to the officer.

"Well, Mr. Michaels. What do we have here?" The officer said, trying his damnedest to seem like he was busting criminals. Damen stood in front of the door, slamming it shut when the officer tried to get out. "Someone who's on my property and STILL harassing me after- What? Four years? Give. It. Up. And leave me the fuck alone."

"No can do, Mr. Michaels, I think that-" Damen wasn't listening to it, grabbing the officer by his collar and pulling him halfway out of his vehicle window, getting right in his face. "No, no, no, YOU listen to me: The next one of you motherfuckers that comes up here to harass me OR my guest, no matter the fucking record they have, I'm driving a knife through their fucking kneecaps and breaking them in. Do I make myself clear?"

"L-Loud and clear, Mr. Michaels!" The officer stammered, being shoved back into his care with a distant 'good', before frantically driving off, panicking to get his thoughts together.

Damen had to take a deep breath in, shaking his head as he let it out again. He made his way back to the group, sitting down to where his, now cold, bowl of soup was. He ignored the confused and shocked looks, waving his hand dismissively, as he didn't want to explain it then and there. His energy was already running low, and he'd only been awake three hours at this point.

"If you don't mind, Damen, us lingering around for another hour or so? I'm just wanting to make sure with you beforehand." Gherry spoke, breaking the silence that had filled the air. Damen gave a nod at that. "Yeah, you guys are free to stay as long as you need." He spoke, standing up and gathering the empty bowls, along with the empty pot, to clean it up. Or, he was going to, if Zane didn't come up beforehand and grab the pot and bowls from Damen's hand with an assuring hum.

This greatly confused Damen, being so used to having to do everything for himself. He grabbed the cage, glancing to see the Music Dragons putting the logs back in their spots, Zane being in the kitchen cleaning the dirty dishes, and he just stood for a moment, stunned by the helpfulness as he looked to the ash of the burnt wood. He tried to stammer up anything, a noise, a phrase..Nothing left his vocal cords, confusion written all over his face.. The only thing that pulled him out was Gherry patting between his shoulders. He looked over, being met with a smile. "Don't work yourself too much. Our group thanks you for your kindness."

Damen watched them retreat back towards the apartment, various humming and vocalizing being voiced, as they went to retrieve their things and make the rooms back up. He looked to the cage in his hand, trying his best not to tear up as that whole scene replayed in his head. It failed, to say the least, a sniffle leaving him as he frantically used his sleeve to wipe the tears and shut himself before anyone heard.

He moved towards his own house, still on the verge of tearing up, and set the cage back in its place. He looked up, to see Zane finishing the last bowl, setting it on the dish rack and flicking his hands of water. He used a nearby rag to wipe them dry, turning around to Damen and giving a wave. Humming was leaving him, almost calming Damen of his nerves, as he signed a short 'thank you', before leaving out of the house to gather his own things.

The Music Dragons hit the road about two hours later, and as Damen watched them, he hoped to himself that this encounter wasn't the only one they would have..

[jimothystu]

Thanks @donttelltheelff and @frostysfrenzy for the tags!! 🫶

Last song you listened to: Redneck Rockstar by Royale Lynn

Last movie you watched: Uhhh. I cannot remember actually. I really don’t watch movies often. Possibly a documentary for class?

Currently watching: Rewatching Star Trek Voyager and When Calls the Heart for the billionth time, and watching Sens and Habs hockey!!

Other things you’ve watched this year: Star Trek Strange New Worlds, Star Trek Lower Decks, Star Trek TOS, Bridgerton, Heartstopper, Toronto Blue Jays games, the Barbie movie, lots of YouTube (specifically Smosh), Shrek, Very Potter Musical lol

Currently reading: Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

Currently listening to: At this very moment, my dog snoring lmao. In general, sapphic music (Muna, Hayley Kiyoko, Xana, etc.), 5 Seconds of Summer, and pop country.

Currently working on: Too many things. A couple novels I want to finish writing/editing, building my house in Minecraft lmao, so many hockey rpfs, random crafts and art projects, and make it through the holidays without having a menty b

Current obsession: The usual hockey players and ships lol

Tagging @make-me-imagine @lifeofpriya @introvertedperson16 @lam-ila @peachesandghosts @lavendergiroux @katetheworm and @may-the-puck-be-with-you

[justmaghookit]

The Chieftain of a marshland village poses with their prized hunting companion, a mature female Reed Striker.

female Reed Striker’s are captured after their first molt from nymph to imago and kept as hunting companions for the first few years of their lives before being released into the wild to join the breeding population, males are rarely kept as their smaller size and decorative third set of wings make them poor hunters, though some rich eccentrics may keep aviaries full of fancifully colored males.

Female Reed Striker’s have a natural life expectancy* of between 4-8 years

Male Reed Striker’s have a natural life expectancy of between 6 months to 2 years

Kept males have been know to occasionally make it to 4 years of age, the oldest kept female on record was said to be a startling 13 years of age who had grown so large she was rumored to have devoured a joey who had broken into her aviary on a dare

*the life expectancy of an imago, depending on food sources they have been reported to live in their nymph stage anywhere between 3 months to 7 years

[ivyprism]

Revamping Some Deities and a New One (Info Dump)

Trigger Warnings: Mentions of Death.

Long!

Iyla - The Goddess of Life

Personality: A lighthearted, joyous force of nature. She is both fearless and irresponsible. She has a great set of skills that she uses quite often. She is very fond of gardening and is very good at it. She enjoys all animals and takes great care in her work. She is not hesitant to express herself, and she is very close to her twin sister, Pele. She makes every effort to safeguard and care for the people, places, and creatures in her care, despite her limited abilities. She is wary of violence, but don't confuse this with apathy; she will murder if necessary.

Appearance: Iyla appears to be a young woman with long white hair and green eyes. She appears to be 5'3". She has a slightly chubby figure. She is a half-goat monster and her goat monster form has a pale coat with powerful green eyes.

Link: https://picrew.me/image_maker/167775

Pele - The Goddess of Death

Personality: Pele is a patient and severe woman, much more so than her twin sister. She is reserved and intensely focused. She is continuously concerned about Iyla and wishes to assist her whenever possible. She takes great care in her work and is frequently a very unbiased judge when it comes to souls and punishment. She is frequently the less appreciated of the two, often feared despite her kindness. She has the ability to adjust her behavior in response to each individual soul, and she frequently overworks herself. She has a fondness for sewing and knitting.

Appearance: Pele appears to be a very young woman with long white hair and green eyes. She is identical to her twin sister. She appears to be 5'5". She has a slightly petite figure. She is a half-goat monster and her goat monster form has a pale coat with powerful green eyes.

Link: https://picrew.me/image_maker/167775

Ila - The Goddess of Souls

Personality: She is the ideal focal point for her sister. She is kind, but firm and direct. She is a wonderful and honest young lady. She is highly careful and diligent in her work as the one who manufactures or reforms souls. She works hard with what she has and sometimes gets too caught up in her work. She often has Pele return the pieces of her damaged creations because she relies on Iyla to build the vessels for her inventions. She is a really lovely and creative person who tries to be kind and helpful everywhere she can. She does her best to take care of what she can.

Appearance: Ila appears to be a very young woman with long white hair and green eyes. She is identical to her older sisters. She appears to be 5'3". She has a slightly chubby figure. She is a half-goat monster and her goat monster form has a pale coat with powerful green eyes.

Link: https://picrew.me/image_maker/167775

Isaac - The God of the Forge

Personality: He is a stern and rigorous individual who is not afraid to strike out and deal with those who interfere with his work. He is an angry and ferocious man who will warn anyone who bothers him while he is working. He is Iyla and Pele's older brother, but his story is not commonly known. He is easily irritated and does not take crap from anyone. He does not tolerate rudeness and feels that respect must be earned. He respects the executioners and crafts their weapons. He is a workaholic who is completely devoted to his profession; he rarely leaves his workspace.

Appearance: Isaac appears to be a young man with black hair and green eyes. He appears to be 6'3". He has an agile, muscular figure. He is a half-goat monster and his goat monster form has a pale coat with powerful green eyes.

Link: https://picrew.me/image_maker/54346

Faye - Goddess of Mercy

Personality: Faye is a very gentle and kind person who gives her all in everything. She adores her mother and greatly respects her. She has an deep love for the creatures of the world and often watches her aunt at work. She is a sweet and soft-hearted girl who tries her best to stand out and gain the respect she wants. Her magic is a bit unstable as she can't control them all that well yet, but she's working o it and trains often. She is a very serious pacifist who believes mercy is always an option. She, unfortunately, is not good at time management so her work is often out of whack. She loves knitting and sewing, like her mom.

Appearance: She is a half-elemental fire monster. She looks similar to Fuku Fire as she is 15 years old but her flames are red. She has green eyes from the looks of it. In human form, she has green eyes and red hair. She also is 5'2". She also has freckles.

Link: https://picrew.me/image_maker/54346

Bourne - God of the Ocean

Personality: He is a lighthearted and gentle god, yet he is also extremely unpredictable. To those who have wronged him, he can be nasty and spiteful. He is a highly powerful god who does not take kindly to being seriously mistreated. He doesn't intentionally injure anyone unless they harm his extremely valuable loved ones, and he avoids conflict wherever possible. He is extremely protective of the softer gods. He is a devoted friend and partner who cannot bear the notion of betraying them. He is a joyous, bright, and upbeat man who thrives on adrenaline. He also, for some reason, always seems to take off his shirts, especially near water.

Appearance: He is a sea monster. He has sharp teeth and appears to be a sort of sea serpent. His anthropomorphic form is similar to Viper's but he prefers his human form. He's 6'7" in human form. He has very built-in muscle. He has purple eyes. He wears an eyepatch.

Link: https://picrew.me/image_maker/54346

-------

@underfell-crystal @und3rwat3r-a5tr0naut @kioko-noodles / @kiokodoodles @miscneilleaneous @hearty-dose-of-ranch @caycanteven

[liptonrm]

All right. Time for WoT episode four.

In a lot of ways this is the episode when the show really starts making changes from the book. The changes in earlier episodes were mostly in support of the story or the price of adaptation to another medium. But this is the episode where they take a hard exit from the WoT book highway.

Love that for us.

I also really appreciate how R2J2 uses the cold opens in a similar way to how RJ used the book introductions (especially the later books). Where the book intros primarily worked to expand RJ's world, R2J2 uses the cold opens to draw in narrative and character depth by showing POVs that bring context into the wider story. Both ways really demonstrate how the micro (one person) influences and impacts the macro (the story/society).

Motherfucking Logain. They do such a great job with him. In just this one scene we get a more complete understanding of him than we do in all 14 books.

And what a way to show us saidin's corruption. We've been introduced to saidar and have started to understand how that works. Now we're starting to see what the corruption has wrought.

The closed caption says that the voice in Logain's head is named "Elusha." Who is she? Is she a former life? Is she someone else from Logain's life? I am intrigued.

Yeah, okay, sorry Rand but I'm Team Logain now.

My queen, Nynaeve al'Meara, out there staring down a whole camp of Aes Sedai.

Not Egwene wearing a rainbow-colored shawl. I'm sure that's just a Tuatha'an thing and doesn't foreshadow anything at all.

You know, Mat and Rand really are having the worst time of it.

And so begins Perrin's War with the Axe.

Mat's okay, just your normal mount of radiation poisoning from the cursed city. It's all cool.

I'm having such Moiraine and Lan feelings. Your losses are my losses and mine are yours. That line is more powerful than some wedding vows I've heard.

Ila talking about her daughter and the way the way it reflects what Rand will see about the beginning of the Aiel. And also how it builds on the ideas of rebirth introduced in the pilot. This show really knows what it's doing.

The poor Grinwells.

I really appreciate how they're taking the chance to give the Red and Green Ajahs a clearer introduction then the one that hates men and the one that loves men. Really shows that the show isn't here to replicate some of RJ's reductive takes on gender dynamics.

Lan is the only person that Nynaeve can relax her guard with. She doesn't have to present strength or invulnerability to him. He already knows that she's strong, she has nothing to prove.

Nynaeve the raging sun.

[vsnotresponding]

⛪

thanks for the ask! i'll answer for both UP and púlsar

⛪ - Are there religions? If so, how do they affect the culture?

in púlsar there is technically a religion. khithi (natives of Ila) had two gods: Ila (earth, language, blood, breathing in, food, what is said and shown) and Zaeaf (the sea, thought, blood, breathing out and drinking water, what is felt and what is hidden). because it was so long ago it's thought that they worshiped Ila because she kept Zaeaf at bay making the island livable.

with the arrival of the énna at the island (and the start of the persecution of creators) the religion slowly died and now it's said the gods are dead. religion indirectly affects the culture right now, because even if the gods are not worshiped anymore like they once were, their essence lingers on the island, and the sickness she suffers is tied in some way to them too.

most of the population doesn't care much for what it once was, but khithi still believe that once you die and are burried you are returned to Ila and to the island. it's a solace for the ones you leave behind that you are somehow still here.

for the same reason dying by drowning or chocking means you won't be reunited with Ila, creators specially believe this.

the way it affects culture the most, though, is with creations. Ila is believed to have given creators the ability to make creations to purify the earth and water. once the énna arrived, they copied what creations did in imitations. they light streets and buildings with imitations, cook with the heat they make, fuel machines and such with their energy, etc.

as for UP: they worship the old god of time and death, called Sorrow. all tombstones are engraved with "May Sorrow be with" and a variation of either their pronouns, "our father/mother/sibling...". Priest and priestesses get "May [pronouns] be reunited with Sorrow"

Sorrow is who gives priests and priestesses the ability to "see" into the future, so destiny is greatly valued. death is not seen as something scary or bad. it's just something that happens.

also because the world is in such chaos because of the lost souls, the church is what has taken the roll of government (mostly organizing an army to fight the monsters). it's not very cohesive though, they mostly do what's been prophesied.

[islamicloveduas]

Surah Taha Benefits Marriage

We are wishing peace and blessings to all our readers. Surah Taha, the 20th chapter of the Holy Quran, holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims due to its profound spiritual and emotional significance. With 135 verses, it primarily recounts the story of Prophet Musa (Moses) and his journey of faith and perseverance. Surah Taha benefits marriage as a source of divine guidance and offers numerous benefits for marital relationships.

By exploring its spiritual, emotional, and practical impacts, we can see how Surah Taha can enhance and fortify a marriage.

Building Faith and Trust

Reading Surah Taha together helps couples strengthen their spiritual bond. The story of Prophet Musa’s trials and his unwavering faith in Allah is a powerful example for couples. When spouses recite and reflect on this Surah together, they grow closer to each other and Allah. This shared spiritual practice reinforces the foundation of their marriage.

Prophet Musa’s story also teaches patience and trust. Despite facing many challenges, he always trusted in Allah’s plan. Couples can learn from this by developing patience and a deep trust in Allah, even during difficult times. This spiritual resilience helps them face marital challenges calmly and with assurance, knowing they are guided by a higher power.

Blessings and Protection

Regular recitation of Surah Taha is believed to bring Allah’s mercy and blessings. Couples who consistently recite this Surah together can attract divine protection and grace, shielding their marriage from negativity and outside pressures. The extent of these blessings depends on the individuals’ faith and sincerity.

The concept of spiritual shielding in Islam can be seen as a metaphor. Reciting Surah Taha provides a sense of security and peace, which helps maintain a harmonious and peaceful marital environment, contributing to overall marital stability.

Specific Ayat from Surah Taha

How to Recite Surah Taha Ayat 131–132 for Marriage

For those seeking specific benefits from Surah Taha for marriage, the following verses can be particularly powerful:

“Wala Tamu Duna Ainika Ila Ma Mat tana Bihi Az waa Ja Minhum, Zahraataal Hayatud Duniyaa Li Naftina hum Fihi Wa Rizqu Rabbika Khairun Wa Abkaa.”

Translation:

“And do not turn your eyes toward that by which we have given enjoyment to some of them, testing them thereby. The provision of your Lord is better and more lasting.”

Explanation:

Allah is testing us. Imagine you’re playing a game. Sometimes you get points, and sometimes you don’t. Allah is giving some people things like fancy houses and cars, kind of like points in the game. But these things are just a test. Will we be happy for them and use these things to help others, or will we get grumpy because we don’t have them?

This world is temporary. Think of a birthday balloon. It’s colourful and fun for a while, but then it pops and goes away. This world is like that balloon. The nice things we see here might not last.

The real treasures come from Allah. The best things in life are friendship, kindness, and learning new things. These things are like presents that never go away. They make us happy now, and they help us get to a better place after this life.

So, don’t be jealous! If someone gets a cool toy in the game, that’s okay. The real prize is being a good person and having things from Allah that last forever.

How to Recite Surah Taha Ayat 131–132 for Marriage

After the Isha prayer, recite Ayat 131–132.

Begin with Durood Shareef, reciting it 41 times.

Chant the specific Ayat from Surah Taha: “Wala Tamu Duna Ainika Ila Ma Mat tana Bihi Az waa Ja Minhum, Zahraataal Hayatud Duniyaa Li Naftina hum Fihi Wa Rizqu Rabbika Khairun Wa Abkaa.”

Conclude with Durood Shareef, reciting it 41 times again.

Perform this process regularly until you achieve the desired results. If needed, consult an Islamic scholar for further guidance.

Stronger connection with God for couples:

Reading Surah Taha together can bring couples closer to God and each other. It’s like a reminder that you’re both on the same team, following God’s guidance.

The story of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) shows how he always trusted God, even when things were tough. By learning from him, couples can be more patient and trusting with each other, even during rough times in their marriage.

Feeling blessed and protected:

Reading this Surah is believed to bring Allah’s (God’s) blessings and mercy to your marriage. It’s like a shield protecting you from negativity and outside troubles.

Of course, how much this helps depends on how much you believe and are sincere when you read it. But it can give you a sense of peace and security in your relationship.

Conclusion

Surah Taha benefits marriage are very helpful for marriage in many ways. It helps spiritually, emotionally, and practically. If couples read and follow its teachings daily, they can have a happier, stronger, and more blessed marriage.

The wisdom in Surah Taha gives hope and strength, guiding couples to a successful and happy marriage. By having faith, being patient, and staying committed to each other, couples can handle the challenges of married life. They can find inspiration and guidance from the lessons in Surah Taha. It’s important to practice these teachings with true faith and an open heart.

For more information then stay updated with — islamicloveduas.com

[bsocialconsultant]

Top Executive Coach in India at Leadership Academy — ILA

The Role of Executive Coaching

Executive coaching at ILA is designed to transform leaders, equipping them with the skills needed to navigate complex business environments. The focus is on personal growth, strategic thinking, and effective decision-making, which are crucial for leaders in today’s dynamic world.

Why Choose ILA?

Experienced Coaches: ILA boasts a team of highly experienced coaches who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise. These coaches have a deep understanding of leadership challenges and tailor their approach to meet the specific needs of each individual.

Comprehensive Programs: Leadership Academy offers a range of programs that cover various aspects of leadership development. From enhancing emotional intelligence to mastering strategic communication, ILA’s courses are designed to build a well-rounded leader.

Customized Learning Experience: Understanding that every leader’s journey is unique, ILA provides personalized coaching sessions. This approach ensures that participants can focus on areas that require the most attention, leading to more effective outcomes.

Impact on Leaders

Leaders who undergo training at ILA often report significant improvements in their professional lives. They gain confidence, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose. The skills acquired through ILA’s programs enable them to lead their teams more effectively, fostering a positive organizational culture.

Testimonials

Many successful leaders have attributed their growth to the coaching received at ILA. These testimonials highlight the transformative impact of ILA’s programs, which have empowered them to overcome challenges and achieve their career goals.

Conclusion

ILA continues to set the standard for Executive Coach in India. Its commitment to excellence and innovation in leadership development makes it the top choice for aspiring leaders. Whether you are a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, ILA offers the tools and guidance necessary to excel in your leadership journey.

For those looking to advance their careers and make a meaningful impact, the Indian Leadership Academy provides the ideal platform. Join ILA and take the first step towards becoming a top executive leader in India.

[teaching-arabic-language]

MASTER THE BASICS OF ARABIC GRAMMAR

Are you ready to dive into the fascinating world of Arabic grammar? Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refresh your knowledge, mastering the basics of Arabic grammar is a crucial step towards fluency. In this article, we’ll break down the essential components of Arabic grammar in a way that’s easy to understand and apply.

Introduction

Arabic grammar may seem daunting at first, but with a structured approach, you can master it step by step. Think of it like building a house; you start with a strong foundation and gradually add more layers. Let’s start laying those bricks!

The Arabic Alphabet

The foundation of Arabic grammar is the Arabic alphabet. Arabic is written from right to left and consists of 28 letters. Each letter has four forms: isolated, initial, medial, and final. Getting familiar with these letters and their forms is your first step.

Arabic Pronouns

Pronouns in Arabic are used to indicate the subject or object in a sentence. They vary based on gender, number (singular, dual, and plural), and formality. Here are the basic personal pronouns:

أنا (ana) – I

أنتَ (anta) – You (male)

أنتِ (anti) – You (female)

هو (huwa) – He

هي (hiya) – She

Nouns and Gender

Arabic nouns are classified by gender: masculine or feminine. Generally, nouns ending in “ة” (taa marbuta) are feminine. Understanding the gender of nouns is crucial because it affects other parts of speech like adjectives and verbs.

Definite and Indefinite Nouns

Nouns in Arabic can be definite or indefinite. The definite article “ال” (al-) is added to the beginning of a noun to make it definite. For example:

كتاب (kitab) – a book (indefinite)

الكتاب (al-kitab) – the book (definite)

Arabic Verbs and Conjugation

Arabic verbs are based on a root system, typically consisting of three consonants. Verbs are conjugated to reflect the subject, tense, and mood. For example, the verb “كتب” (kataba) means “to write”:

أنا أكتب (ana aktubu) – I write

هو كتب (huwa kataba) – He wrote

Sentence Structure

Arabic sentence structure can be divided into nominal and verbal sentences.

Nominal sentences start with a noun or pronoun and are typically used for statements.

Example: الكتاب جديد (al-kitab jadid) – The book is new.

Verbal sentences start with a verb and are used to describe actions.

Example: كتب الولد رسالة (kataba al-walad risala) – The boy wrote a letter.

Adjectives and Agreement

Adjectives in Arabic must agree with the nouns they describe in gender, number, and case. For example, a feminine noun requires a feminine adjective:

سيارة جديدة (sayyara jadida) – a new car (feminine)

كتاب جديد (kitab jadid) – a new book (masculine)

Prepositions

Prepositions are used to indicate relationships between words in a sentence. Common prepositions include:

في (fi) – in

على (ala) – on

إلى (ila) – to

من (min) – from

Numbers and Counting

Arabic numbers follow a unique system. Numbers 1-10 have distinct forms, while numbers 11 and beyond follow a specific pattern. It’s essential to practice both cardinal and ordinal numbers for proficiency.

Common Grammatical Challenges

Learners often face challenges such as understanding dual forms, mastering verb conjugations, and distinguishing between similar-sounding letters. Regular practice and exposure to native Arabic can help overcome these hurdles.

Tips for Practicing Arabic Grammar

Consistency is Key: Practice regularly to reinforce new concepts.

Use Multimedia Resources: Leverage books, apps, and online courses.

Language Exchange: Engage with native speakers through language exchange programs.

Immerse Yourself: Watch Arabic movies, listen to Arabic music, and try to read Arabic texts.

Conclusion

Mastering the basics of Arabic grammar is an achievable goal with the right approach and resources. By understanding the fundamental structures and practicing regularly, you’ll build a solid foundation for further language acquisition.

FAQs

How long does it take to master basic Arabic grammar?

The time it takes varies depending on your learning pace and dedication. With consistent practice, you can grasp the basics in a few months.

Is Arabic grammar harder than other languages?Arabic grammar has its unique challenges, but with structured learning and practice, it can be as manageable as learning any other language.

What are the best resources for learning Arabic grammar?Books, online courses, language learning apps, and language exchange programs are excellent resources. Choose what fits your learning style best.

Can I learn Arabic grammar without a teacher?Yes, self-study is possible with the right resources. However, a teacher can provide valuable feedback and guidance.

5. How important is it to learn the Arabic script for grammar?Learning the script is crucial as it allows you to read, write, and understand the grammar rules more effectively.

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Meet Mahmoud Reda, a seasoned Arabic language tutor with a wealth of experience spanning over a decade. Specializing in teaching Arabic and Quran to non-native speakers, Mahmoud has earned a reputation for his exceptional expertise and dedication to his students' success.

Mahmoud's educational journey led him to graduate from the renowned "Arabic Language" College at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Holding the esteemed title of Hafiz and possessing Igaza, Mahmoud's qualifications underscore his deep understanding and mastery of the Arabic language.

Born and raised in Egypt, Mahmoud's cultural background infuses his teaching approach with authenticity and passion. His lifelong love for Arabic makes him a natural educator, effortlessly connecting with learners from diverse backgrounds.

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[worldfusepodcast]

World Fuse Teaser -- transcript

Listen here: [link] [The podcast's intro plays -- it is a simple but slightly foreboding sounding melody]

[A CRT television switches on. A commercial starts playing. The audio sounds tinny and the speaker sounds chipper.]

TV: Welcome, welcome, one and all, to our humble little city! You've made the right decision, coming here. Ochens is a great holiday destination, and you’ll soon see why! We have a great many places to visit, and the locals are friendly and helpful as well!

[A door opens, and footsteps sound out.]

AARUSH: (sounding like he just woke up) Ugh... Shit. Did I leave the TV on last night?

[A phone rings. Aarush picks up by the third ring.]

QUINN: (teasingly exasperated) Finally Aarush! I was starting to think you weren't going to take my call!

AARUSH: Ah... Detective. Just so you know, I'm off duty right now.

QUINN: (chuckles) Sorry, I know you wake up late. But this is important. Moreso for you than for me.

AARUSH: Alright, Let's hear it, then.

QUINN: I've found a lead into what you asked me to investigate. You know. Cases of odd disappearances in apartment blocks. I’ve got a list of them, but I have my own thoughts on it...

AARUSH: Right.

QUINN: Have you got a pen and paper?

AARUSH: Hold on. Let me just . . . Alright.

QUINN: Central Street, Toby’s Trinkets. It’s like a little shop off the side of the road, you can’t miss it.

AARUSH: (writing a note) . . . got it. Anything else?

QUINN: I’ll text you a list of questions later.

AARUSH: (soft laughter) Yes, yes. I hear you, Quinn. I’ll check it out for you.

QUINN: Oh! And remember to bring an umbrella. It looks like rain.

TV: It does look a little like rain, but don’t fret! There are still things to do even if the rain comes down! For example, visiting the museum! Or perhaps...  (it fades out)

AARUSH: What the f-- How are you doing that?? Seriously, that time you were nearly in sync with the television!

QUINN: I watch a lot of it. Not much to do when you haven’t got cases, and I can only read the same books so many times...

AARUSH: (disbelieving) What, you watch weather channels too?

QUINN: (sarcastically) I find meteorological events thrilling. 

[Aarush and Quinn chuckle good-naturedly.]

AARUSH: Alright, I really do have to go now. I'll talk to you later.

QUINN: Ciao.

[The call ends, and the television fades back into focus.]

TV: It is of course truly a wonder to behold at night. And more importantly: A special brand of magic exists here.

Thrumming through the streets, curling around the buildings and present in every drop of water, every blade of grass. The city breathes magic.

It’s almost as though the city is a living thing, and you are simply a visitor, walking into the exposed organs of this towering superstructure.

(echoing slightly) Ochens welcomes you. 

[The TV clicks off and the podcast outro music plays]

Credits

World Fuse was created and written by Lupin.

Audio editing and Album art by Ila Alexei.

Featuring Neutron as Aarush Varma, Ila Alexei as Quinn Argus, and Alexander Wolfe as additional voices.

Thank you for listening... Ochens will see you soon.