#my dad’s driving has gotten very erratic in the last few years

[herawell]

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[lassieposting]

Ok...u got my attention...💘 for skuldugery and cassandra

OH BOY I GOT ONE

send me 💘 + A SHIP and i’ll tell you—

where they first met and how

Okay so when they first meet, it's way back before he met Skugwife, when he was on-again-off-again with China and Ghastly and making his way up the ranks in the Sanctuary army.

A dashing young officer with an impressive inheritance and a string of victories under his belt would've been prime 1600s marriage real estate. They meet at some Sanctuary party, dance together a bit, get along very well. Skug was already arrogant and vain, but he was also charming and funny, which was a bonus, and they were social equals - she's from a wealthy, landed family herself. She was interested in him and they were in each other's social circle from around his mid-20s to when he met Wifey and fell disgustingly in love, at which point she conceded defeat and let him go.

It's actually Gordon who brings them back into each other's lives in the 1980s. They've both changed a lot since they last saw one another and she's not really sure what to make of him. He's colder, more serious, and she knows he's lost...pretty much everyone. When she tells him to come by anytime, he's polite but detached and basically says that's not a good idea, so she doesn't expect to see much of him in the future. But he comes back some months later with a difficult case to ask if she's seen anything, and from that point on they work together sporadically, if she has any visions that might be useful to him.

how long their ‘flirting’ phase was before feelings got involved

They rekindle their flirtation after he comes back in Dark Days. He's not okay, not in the slightest, and she can see it. He's faking being okay, but he's overselling it. She knew him through the period where his mother was killed, and he tried to play that off the same way. He ends up driving out to her cottage at some ungodly hour of the early morning because he's falling apart and he doesn't really have anywhere else to go. she takes him in, sits with him until long after the sun comes up and lets him talk it out until he's dozing off where he's sitting.

By the War of the Sanctuaries, they're Together.

who fell for who first ( if applicable )

She was rather taken with him when they first met. She liked to think of herself as the future Mrs Captain Pleasant. He was attracted to her, but also otherwise entangled and considerably less invested.

When they get back together, it's more. Falling in love at the same time.

where their first date was and what it was like

They've spent a lot of time together, usually at her cottage, already. But he gets it into his head he wants to take her on an actual date, and she's a homebody, so he decides to make her dinner. It's kind of a disaster because he hasn't had to cook anything in hundreds of years - he follows a recipe, but he still manages to burn it and get food absolutely everywhere with the electric whisk. He's pretty frustrated and upset that he ruined it, but she finds it hilarious, and they end up cuddling on the couch with takeout and a movie.

who asks who out and how ( with a sign? spelled out on a cake? just a simple ‘will you go out with me’? )

She gives him a key. She prefaces it with a big speech about how it doesn't have to mean anything, he just spends so much time there that he might as well be able to let himself in, and she wants him to have somewhere he really feels safe and comfortable and her place can be that for him if he wants, and -

He kisses her mid-speech, so she never gets to finish it.

who proposes first

He does. She'd never bring up marriage to him, when she knows how his first one ended. She can't be completely sure he's done grieving his first love, and she doesn't want to hurt him, so it's better not to bring it up.

if they keep / kept their relationship secret or let everyone know right away

It's not a secret at all. Valkyrie still goes nearly a decade without noticing.

where the proposal happens and how ( kiss cam at a baseball game? on a hillside surrounded by ducks? at a disney park? )

They're in bed together first thing in the morning. He doesn't remember the last time he was this relaxed and happy. He watches her wake up and she cuddles closer into him with the squinty morning-sun-in-your-face look and he never thought he'd love this much again and it just. Comes out.

who’s more dominant

Neither, really. They're very much a team. She tempers his recklessness, and he gives her a nudge out of her comfort zone. She has the same ability Wifey had, though, to wrangle him without ever letting on that she's doing it.

where their first kiss was and what it was like

He was totally drained after unloading a year's worth of torture on her post-Dark Days, and she was trying to comfort him. It doesn't lead anywhere - she puts him to bed on her couch and stays with him so he feels safe enough to switch off and sleep.

if they have any matching couples stuff ( mugs? sweaters? pillowcases? )

She buys him a hideous Christmas sweater the first year they're officially together, but has yet to successfully bully him into wearing it.

how into pda they are

They're your average couple. If she drops in on him at the Sanctuary, she'll kiss him goodbye. He'll put his arm around her when they're walking, or let her hold his hand. But neither of them is an exhibitionist.

who holds the umbrella when it rains

He does. He could easily just redirect the rain, but she likes nature stuff and that includes getting soaked through on occasion, kissing him in the rain, and splashing through puddles.

where their usual ‘date spot’ is ( if applicable )

Her cottage, more often than not. He'll happily take her out whenever she wants to, but she's a homebody at heart and she's more fond of going for long walks in the countryside near her home or cooking together, watching old movies, that sort of thing.

who’s more protective

Him, by a million miles. She doesn't necessarily like the amount of violence in his life, but to her he's very much the capable soldier who can look after himself. But she is a pacifist and very into the hippie ideology, so especially after the Night of Knives, she relies on him to protect her. He knows damn well that the only reason he didn't lose her the same night Finbar died is because he just happened to be sleeping over and the would-be assassin got more than he bargained for.

how long it is before they sleep together ( can be as in ‘had sex’ or as in ‘shared a bed’ )

Probably circa KOTW? It can't have been Death Bringer, or he'd have asked her to the Requiem Ball.

if they argue about anything

Not often. She's one of the most emotionally healthy people in this series, and she's the closest Skulduggery Pleasant has ever gotten to therapy. She's all about communication and talking it out.

who leaves more marks ( lipstick, hickeys, scratchmarks etc. )

Skug.

who steals whose clothes and how often

She steals his jackets and coats. She'll wear something just a little too light for the weather, so that he'll inevitably offer her his suit jacket. It's an old way of courting that she finds very endearing.

how they cuddle ( spooning? facing each other? )

what their favourite nonsexual activity is

They bring out the Old Person in each other. They like to go for long walks, and picnics, and dancing to old gramophone records. They read books and bicker about how much they did or didn't enjoy them. She likes to garden and paint, and he's not half bad at art either, so they'll paint each other and laugh about it.

how long they stay mad at each other

They don't. They argue very little in the first place, but Cassie is very communicative, so she usually manages to head off any potential arguments before they even start.

what their usual coffee / tea orders are

She has hot chocolate, and he has his black.

if they ever have any children together

No - but if he was ever going to have children with anyone else, it should probably be Cassie. She's sensible, level-headed and emotionally healthy, so he could be the same loving-but-irresponsible dad he was with Skugbab.

if they have any special pet names for each other

She's "Cassie" and he's usually "sweetheart" or "lovey".

what their shared living space is like ( messy? clean? what kind of decor? )

He "moves into"/spends most of his time at her little hippie hobbit hole, so nothing matches, tapestries everywhere, Interesting™ colour schemes, fuckin...crystals and tarot cards and witchy shit everywhere. They both have to make some compromises ("You don't bug me about making the bed and I won't play the banjo in the shower")

what their first christmas / hanukkah / etc as a couple was like

Very inappropriate to talk about at parties.

He's a Christmas grouch, but he did get two days off work, so they basically spent the entire time eating, fucking or fast asleep.

what their names are in each other’s phones

She's just "Cassie" but that makes her one of the few people in his phone not to be "Firstname Lastname". He's "SP".

if they have any ‘couple traditions’ ( buying a new mug for their collection every year? baking every friday evening? )

They can never really make plans for set days or times because of his incredibly erratic work schedule, but they make time every week to just spend time together. Unless the world is ending, which it usually does at least once a year.

who falls asleep first and who wakes up first

She falls asleep first at a sensible hour, and wakes up when he gets in. If she sleeps through him coming home, he'll stay up for an hour or two to work on a case, but if he wakes her, he'll go straight to bed and she'll go back to sleep with him holding her.

After the Night of Knives, she gets very anxious and stressed about being alone, especially when she hears the door open. So he'll call and wake her when he's leaving the Sanctuary, so that she knows to expect him home, and he's at the end of the phone any time she wants to get hold of him.

who’s the big spoon / little spoon

He's the big spoon like 70% of the time, but she's not opposed to letting him be the little spoon at all. Even the strongest general sometimes needs a good snuggle.

who hogs the bathroom

Cassie likes to take a book into the bath and spend hours in there. He'll come in and out as he pleases and sometimes do her hair for her or swipe bubbles on her nose.

who kills the spiders / takes them outside

Skug. This is, apparently, one of the greatest benefits to having him around all the time. He's glad she's comfortable enough with him to be honest that she's using him for his spider removal skills.

[teenwolffanclub-me]

Season 1, Episode 2: Second Chance at Fist Line (Part One)

Hey there beautiful reader! If you’re new here, this is a series I’m writing where each chapter is an episode from the first season of Teen Wolf. If you’ve been here before, hey! I missed you! Previous and future chapters are linked at the end of each part if you want to catch up.

Pairing: Stiles x Psychic! Reader (eventually)

P.S. Scott and Stiles fail at whispering and Y/N is too nosy for her own good

                                                     -----------------

I walked into the high school with Allison by my side. The two of us had gotten so much closer over the course of the last two weeks of us being here in Beacon Hills. We had a lot in common, since we both grew up moving almost every year. I was finally starting to feel comfortable. I felt like I had friends again. Things were looking up. 

Since mom was working weird hours, Allison had been letting me ride with her in the mornings. She only lived a few minutes from me, so it wasn’t too much trouble. Her dad was a really nice guy, and I enjoyed our daily chats. We stopped at our lockers before heading to English, and I noticed a change in her almost immediately. 

“What’s wrong?” I got the rest of my books for the day and shut my locker. 

She slowly pulled out a black blazer and we both stared at it in confusion. It was the one she’d worn to Lydia’s party last weekend. The one she left in Derek’s car after he took us home. 

“How...?”

She’d texted me in a frenzy after realizing it was gone. It was her favorite, and she knew she’d never see it again since we didn’t plan on making hanging out with him a habit. But now it was here. In her locker. At school. 

Just then, Scott approached us, looking frazzled. He was staring right at the fabric in her hands. 

“Where’d you get that?” He practically demanded. Allison stiffened under his intense stare. 

“My jacket? It was in my locker. I think Lydia brought it back from the party. She has my combination, so...” She trailed off, clearly not understanding why he was freaking out. I had no idea either. It was just a jacket. 

“Did she say she brought it back? Or did somebody give her the jacket?” His brown eyes were wide with horror as his voice rose. Weird. 

“Like who?” Allison glanced my way and Scott immediately did the same, as if just realizing I was beside her. 

“Like Derek.” I could see the panic rising behind his eyes as he spat the name. 

I stilled. Derek? How did he know he was involved?

“Your friend?” I chimed in, trying to make sense of his odd behavior and calm him down subtly. Derek had said they were friends.

“He’s not my friend.” Scott insisted. “How much did you guys talk to him when he drove you home?”  

Allison took a couple steps back, looking scared. I mean, he was acting a little erratically. He seemed to really dislike this Derek guy, which confirmed my suspicion that they weren’t actually friends. But why lie? And why drive us home? 

“I actually have to get to class...” She muttered before grabbing my hand to drag me down the hallway with her. It wasn’t a very good excuse, since we share the class with him, but I spared her the reminder.

“Still want to go to the game tomorrow?” I asked once we were out of his earshot. 

She just rolled her eyes.

                                                  ———————

I walked through the hospital, holding a box of Chinese food in one hand and a coke in the other. It was just after school and I promised mom I’d bring her dinner. She’d been working since four this morning. The shifts they were giving her were insane, but I guess it’s because she’s new. She has to prove herself before they’ll give her daytime hours. 

I dropped the food off at her station and gave her a quick hug to get her through the next few hours. Being a nurse is brutal. I didn’t know much about my mom’s job, but I knew I could never do it. On my way toward the exit, I noticed Lydia sitting in one of the blue waiting chairs. Standing next to her, looking awkward as hell, was Stiles. 

Yeah, I’d learned that the weird not-word he’d spit out at her party was actually his name. Oops. One of his arms was propped up against the white and navy wall, while the other rested on his hip. He was wearing what I now knew was his signature outfit. A pair of jeans and a graphic t-shirt with a flannel over top. I had to admit it only added to his boyish charm. 

Lydia pulled a Bluetooth earpiece out of her ear and gestured toward him lazily. “Hold on, gimme a second. I didn’t hear anything you just said. Is it worth repeating?” 

He stared at her for a moment, dumbfounded. He made a strangled noise in the back of his throat before swallowing thickly. “Uh, no. Sorry.” 

She huffed awkwardly as he slid away from her. He pointed at her, then a chair just around the corner. 

“I’m gonna sit—you don’t care.” His eyes flickered to me for a fleeting moment and I could’ve sworn I saw his cheeks turning red. To make matters worse, he picked up an educational brochure about the menstrual cycle before plopping into the chair. 

“Hey Lydia, what are you doing here?” I greeted, pulling her attention to me. 

She smiled kindly, but immediately rolled her eyes. “Didn’t you hear? Jackson has a separated shoulder. Someone—,” She glared in Stiles’ direction. “Took practice too far.” 

Oh yeah, I almost forgot the about the rumor going around that Scott lost it during practice today. Apparently, he’d gotten way too aggressive. Stiles’ head popped out from around the corner. “That actually wasn’t...yeah, okay.” 

He retreated with a simple look from Lydia. Man, do people really find her that intimidating? Maybe it was because I was friends with her now, but she was just a teenager like the rest of us. Snobby and stuck up, sure. But scary? Not really. 

Jackson emerged from the room across the hall and Lydia stood up expectantly. “Did he do it?” 

“He said not to make a habit of it, but one cortisone shot won’t kill me.” He rubbed at his shoulder with a grimace. I felt a little bad for the guy. Lacrosse was everything to him, as sad as that was. 

“You should get one right before the game, too.” He glowered at her and she stomped a heel on the tile. “The pros do it all the time. You wanna be a little high school amateur? Or do you wanna go pro?”

She pulled him in for a kiss and I looked away. I did not need to see that in a public place. Or anywhere for that matter. They walked away without so much as a goodbye and I was about to do the same before I saw Scott walking toward me briskly. 

“Holy God.” Stiles shrieked as Scott ripped the menstrual cycle brochure out of his hands.

“The scent was the same.” He sounded breathless, like he’d run the whole way here. 

I silently slipped into the chair Lydia had just been occupying and pulled out my phone as a cover. 

“Are you sure?” I saw Stiles bolt to his feet in my peripheral. 

“Yes.” Scott huffed, and they stared at each other for a moment, processing this information. Whatever it meant. 

Stiles threw a hand up in exasperation. “So he did bury the other half of the body on his property.” 

My eyes widened in shock and I looked around to see if anyone else had heard that. Luckily, it didn’t seem like it. Why the hell were they talking about this stuff in front of other people? And what scent? What body? What property? 

“Which means we have proof he killed the girl.” 

Wait. Killed? What are they talking about? Who are they talking about? 

“I say we use it.” Stiles started walking away, but Scott grabbed his shoulder. 

“How?” 

“Tell me something first. Are you doing this because you want to stop Derek or because you want to play in the game and he said you couldn’t?”

I choked on my spit at the sound of that name. A hand came up to soothe my throat and I put my phone up to my ear before turning away from the boys quickly. I waited a few seconds before slowly rotating back. They were talking about Derek? They thought he killed someone and buried half of the body on his property? 

Wait...half? Were they talking about that body the hikers found the first week of school? 

“There were bite marks on the leg, Stiles. Bite marks.” Scott was whispering now, seemingly more aware of our surroundings. 

“Okay, then we’re gonna need a shovel.” 

Their voices disappeared. I peered around the corner and saw them practically running out the front doors. My mind was racing with everything I’d just heard. Bite marks...scents...Derek...a killer? He was creepy, sure, but I don’t know if he could kill someone. Although, I only met the guy once. But, why would Scott and Stiles care, anyway? 

I had to get to the bottom of this, and soon. 

Episode 1, Part Two    Episode 2, Part Two

[luciferloveschloe]

For the cliche prompts 47+48 😊

47. I’ve been in love with you for years.

48. I called you at 2 a.m. because I need you.

this is part of my 1k celebration!

it’s taking me so long to fill the prompts, i know. i’m sorry. hope you enjoy anyway!

this is an alternative, yet canon-compliant ending to 5x05.

[deckerstar, 1.7k words, light angst, love confessions, emotional hurt/comfort, touch-starved]

the only miracle that mattered

Apparently, you’re the only reason I’m here.

I thought what we had was real.

It’s far from a curse. It’s a gift.

I’m not even a person. I’m a thing.

You’re not the gift, Chloe – that is.

Round and round and round the carousel went, like it did when she’d first seen his face.

She was used to it by now, after Rome, and Eve, and Michael, and every other bit of celestial nonsense she had had to deal with since Lucifer had entered her life. Well, sort of. Finding out you’re a literal miracle, made specifically for the Devil himself, that wasn’t just a normal Tuesday. Not even for Chloe Decker.

Her wineglass sat nearly untouched on her couch table. Booze had never helped, anyway. She fixated it instead of drinking, failing to quiet her thoughts for long seconds. But really, what was she trying to accomplish here?

Running away, pushing him away, overthinking every little thing and wallowing in her own misery… That had also never helped. It had brought them Kinley, actually, and demons running around in LA.

She would not make the same mistake twice.

You’re not the gift, Chloe – that is.

Talking. Talking to him had always helped.

As soon as the thought had formed, an intense wave of longing washed over her. She missed him. She missed his stupid smirk, his solid, warm body against hers, fingers tentatively caressing her back, voice hushed and awed. So very real, and not forever lost to Hell. She missed him. And she really, really needed to talk to him.

She was still good to drive, thanks to the untouched wine, but it was nearly – one in the morning? Already? How? Still, he’d probably still be up. Should she just go over to Lux? Would he–

She very nearly jumped when her phone started vibrating on the table. She turned it over, and it was Lucifer, of course. Speak of the bloody Devil. She couldn’t help her grin when she accepted the call.

“Lucifer!”

“Detective, I– I’m sorry, did I wake you?”

The subtle strain in his voice made her sit up straighter immediately, wiped the smile from her face.

“No, Lucifer, you didn’t actually. I was just going to– Nevermind. Is something wrong?“

“No, well– Yes. Detective, I– I need to talk to you. And I know you have no desire to see me right now, and I understand, I do, and it’s the middle of the night, I know, but I– I just need to.”

His voice broke on his last words, and his obvious despair made her stomach twist. Had she done this?

“Okay, Lucifer, it’s alright. I’m here, I’m listening.”

A shaky breath on the other end of the line, then another.

“Detective, first of all, I’m so sorry for what you have to go through. Because of me, again. That bastard Michael, and now this… I’m sorry, Detective. I wish it weren’t so.”

She wanted to interject something, anything to stop the pain that bled through his voice, but he was talking too fast.

“When I first found out about it, we had just gotten together for the first time. It– It crushed me. And it led me to do things that hurt you very badly, and I’m so sorry for those, too. I hope I’ll have the chance to properly explain, one day.”

He’d found out after– Wait, what things? Vegas? Candy?!

“But, Detective… I know I have no right to complain, and please know I would go back to Hell again in a heartbeat if it meant I was ensuring your safety, but– Chloe. I’ve missed you. So much. Being in Hell felt… different after knowing you. Too lonely.”

She could barely make out those last words, and something in her chest constricted. He’d never sounded so distressed and forlorn before. She was well aware he’d never show that much weakness to anyone else.

Amenadiel was right. She didn’t see her desires reflected in Lucifer, she didn’t see some perfect guy that she was inexplicably compelled to adore, she just saw him. An imperfect, hurting, deeply scarred, unspeakably beautiful soul that had somehow found its mate in hers.

And she wouldn’t, couldn’t hold what his Dad had done against him. After all, Trixie only existed because of God’s intervention. Her daughter lived because she lived. That alone made all the craziness worth it.

That, and that she was stupidly in love with the angel currently on the verge of breaking down on the other end of the line.

“And Detective, I– I know this is not what you want, and I shouldn’t say it, and not on the phone like this, and I’m– I’m screwing this up again, but I– Chloe. I love you. I’ve been in love with you for years. Thousands of years, if you count Hell. I love you, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving you. And you’ll never have to see me again if that’s what you want, but I just needed to say it. Even if I already blew my chance. I love you, Chloe.”

He was silent after that, and her heart just about stopped.

Lucifer loved her.

He loved her, and she loved him. Nothing else in this literally god-forsaken world mattered, and she had to tell him immediately.

“Lucifer?”

“Yes, Detective?”

“Would you mind coming over or–“

WHOOSH

Ah yes, wings. She’d really have to get used to angelic modes of transportation. She could just make out his silhouette behind her front door, and felt a pang when he didn’t enter unprompted. She pushed the feeling down and crossed over to let him in, and there he was.

He looked at lot like he’d sounded, hair dishevelled, suit jacket and vest gone, chest heaving, wings a glowing, shivering mass behind him. She blinked, and they were gone.

“Detective?”

“Lucifer. Don’t you want to barge in like you own the place?”

He frowned in the way she found terribly endearing, but made no move to come in.

“Oh for… Come in, please. Do you want some wine?”

Finally, he strode past her, stopping in the open space between her kitchen and her couch, as rigid and tense as she’d ever seen him. He turned to stare at her, raking his shaking hands through his hair, and suddenly she was reminded of a meeting in an interrogation room several celestial disasters ago.

“No, Detective, I don’t want wine. I– Forgive me. What are we doing here?”

He was terrified of what she’d do, what she’d say. Terrified she’d send him away for good. She shouldn’t have that power over him, over the Devil. Nobody should have that power over anyone, but it seemed like they were long past that.

Oh, Lucifer.

She quickly erased the distance between them and clasped his hands in hers, heart aching at the way he looked at her. Like his life depended on the words she’d say next. Maybe it did.

“Lucifer. Amenadiel came up with some interesting theories during our case.”

A snort.

“Did he, now?”

“Lucifer… You saw how that nun fawned over him. They were all like that. Just how regular people fawn over you.”

“So… Nuns have the hots for my brother? Good for him, I guess, but I don’t see what that has to do with u– With me.“

Another frown.

“Amenadiel thinks they saw their love for God in him, reflected back at them. And he thinks that… When everyone else looks at you and fawns over you, you reflect their desires back at them.”

“That’s… Where are you going with this, Detective?”

He loves you, and you love him. Courage, Decker.

“I don’t see that. I don’t see my desires reflected back at me when I look at you, Lucifer. I just see you. So, I– I don’t think that explains everything, and I can’t promise I won’t freak out again, but I– I trust that what I feel is real again. Lucifer, I love you, and I’m tired of things getting between us, tired of missing chances. We might never know what all this actually means, but… I don’t want anything to come between us, ever again. From now on, whatever it is, I want to face it with you. Together.”

The most radiant of smiles transformed his features, and she leaned in quickly to taste his happiness and kiss it off his lips. For a second, he remained stiff and shell-shocked, but then he opened up to her kiss, wrapping his arms around her tightly. The smallest sigh escaped him, and she rose on her tiptoes to get closer to him, resting her hands at the nape of his neck.

When she felt like it was possible to stop kissing him, she rested his forehead against his, eyes still closed, mouth stretched wide in an effervescent grin.

“You know, I never wanted Amenadiel to be right quite so badly, Detective.”

She opened her eyes in time with him, and he hid not one thing in the warm, dark brown of his eyes.

“Well, he was right before, wasn’t he?”

He huffed, then sobered a little, and pulled her even closer to him.

“Detective, I… I thought I’d lost you.”

Her heart beat erratically, and she needed to reassure herself as much as she needed to reassure him. Because they had lost each other one too many times before, had come close to missing another chance, yet again. But not this time.

“Never again, Lucifer. I meant it.”

She cradled his face in her hand, and he leaned into her touch, closing his eyes immediately. Instead of replying, he just exhaled tremulously, and Chloe brought her other hand up to touch his face as well.

“Chloe, will you just hold me for a little while?”

His voice was brittle and cracking, and her heart constricted once more. How many years did he have to survive without a single kind touch?

She embraced him as tight as she could, pressed a kiss onto his neck just to feel him shiver, and stroked his hair and his cheek, over his back and down his arms, and again, until he all but melted under her caress.

“Forever, Lucifer.”

He pulled back to search her eyes with his, opening and closing his mouth, seemingly unable to find any words. After a few seconds, he gave up, simply cradling her face in both his hands with the lightest of touches, smiling beatifically at her.

“Chloe.”

They’d found each other. He was here to stay, and she’d pour all her love into him, and try and make him forget there ever was a time he was lonely. They’d take on whatever may come, together. That was the only miracle that mattered.

[xtramilerjourney]

To everything, a season...

In 2012, I bought my dream car. The 350z Nissan Fairlady. Before this, I was really contented with public transport and relied on the erratic Bas Mini Wilayah and Intrakota buses. If those failed, I would hail a taxi. You have to understand, I never desired a driving license and delayed this decision till much later. My parents would encourage me to drive but I would give excuses and put it off time and time again. Public transport was my way of passing out tracks and meeting strangers. I would get into a taxi and spend the next 20 to 30 minutes to get to know the driver and we would talk about everything under the sun. The highlight of my conversation would always be drawn back to what I believed and I would share my faith freely. Friends who would be generous with their time and provide me transport too. I was blessed! I remember hearing an announcement in church one day that our teens ministry were needing help with transporting teens to church. That was when I finally decided to sit for my “L” license. It was 2007 and I was 29 years old! I must admit, I failed twice on my road test. I wasn’t a bad driver but I refused to bribe the officer when taking my test. The night before, I spoke to the uncle in charge and he casually said that everything had been “settled”. That was when I realise that he had already arranged the bribe for the JPJ officer for me to pass. We fought over the phone and I told him that I refused to bribe. I believe that driving a car is a big responsibility and I had to be evaluated based on my ability to drive and not have that decision to be influenced by anything else. The uncle said I would surely fail and sure enough, before I could leave the centre for my road test, the officer picked on a minor error I had made and failed me. My second attempt was with the same officer and he failed me yet again. I stood my ground to not bribe, prayed and sat for the test again for a third time! Thankfully God had given me a new officer to test me and I passed . PTL! My dad loaned me his Iswara Aeroback and I was able to provide transport for our teens in church. You will be amazing what a 30 minute journey with a teen can do. I found a new ministry and spoke into their life as often as I could. That was also how I got myself involved in teens ministry for that season. ( I think God had set me up for this!) In 2012, I decided it was time to own my own car. My initial choice was a Myvi that would cost around RM50K. You see, I had just done XtramileDay a year back and having understood how much impact one can make in community, I had this mindset that every cent earned would be put to good use and given to community development. Being frugal was the way to go. I had just started work too after coming back from Singapore and was reluctant to buy a more expensive car though I could afford it. That season, our faith as a church was stretched to believe for our own building. Instead of keeping to the RM50K budget for the car, I saw how God gave me faith for something greater. From RM50K, it went to RM60K, then RM80K and by the end of 9 months, I had changed my budget to RM100K. In that span of time, I had seen and tested over 50 cars. You name it... Myvi, Altis, Almera, City, Vios, Triton and Hilux. I tested them all but nothing seemed to appeal to me. I still remember when my budget reached RM90K I was considering a 4X4. Eventually, it became clear that the reason I wanted a truck was so no one would bully me! HAHA... I would never be tailgated again because I would be driving a big ass truck and strike terror on the road! When I approach cars from the back, they would have to give way! Interesting enough, I never bought one because I knew my motive was wrong. I came to a place where I was convinced that maybe God just wanted to stretch my faith to believe for more and the car was just a way to teach me to dream bigger. Frustrated that I hadn’t found my car, I took a break for a month to clear my mind. One day for no apparent reason, I looked at mudah.my’s second hand cars section. And my eyes were opened! With RM100K, I could own a BMW, Mercedes... or some pretty exotic car! OMGGG!!! This began a new season for search 2nd hand cars. I had a ball going to dealerships and testing some pretty nifty cars and that was when I chanced upon a Mazda RX8 and the Nissan 350z. But, I could not wrap my head around buying a sports cars actually. Had I gone mad? What would my pastors and friends say. My parents are not gonna be happy! What am I trying to tell the world? Wahhh... Flashy flashy eh? So selfish! 2 doors?.. Have I suddenly decided to be a playboy? Come on Alex, a sports car does not exactly fit the profile of a good christian boy. Oh, I struggled internally at the beginning because I had only seen a car as a mode of transport from point A to B and never thought of anything else. With a sports car, my appreciation for performance and aesthetics changed. I was looking at cars that were fast, way way faster than my 1988 Iswara! That was also my first introduction to Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift and the world of sports cars. (Incidentally, the bad guy in that movie drives a 350z with a Veilside kit and does a whole lot of drifting!) That car literally caught my attention and I was gonna test one out soon! I decided to share with my parents and my leader about my intention to get a 2 seater, 3.5 liter, iconic japanese sports car. You can imagine how they responded - not very impressed, I must say. Everyone I knew were against me getting the car. Some were really subtle in their approach and reminded me to make sure my tithes were in order before considering the purchase. My church leader told me not to be selfish, to think about starting a family and buy a safe saloon car. “So even after speaking to your parents, you are not changing your mind? “Since you don’t want to listen to me and my advice, even though I am your leader, I have decided to end our discipleship.” “We can be friends and you can still get advice from me but I will no longer be your leader.” Honestly, I was crushed. It was a very difficult time for me, to lose a leader over a car. I had to stand firm on my conviction and go against my parents advice because I knew God had done something in me through the 9 months of searching for a car. It wasn’t just a car I was choosing to buy, but it signified a season in my life where faith was at work and it was being tested. There was such a deep conviction about the car that I was ready to make a stand and disappoint those close to me. For me, the 9 months of working through a “material” choice became a spiritual journey and a mindset shift. --- I am blessed to own a 2004 Nissan Fairlady for the past 5 years. I bought over the car from a friend who had maintained the car well. It had Brembo brakes and adjustable TEIN suspensions for better handling. He had just gotten married and his wife was expecting. I kinda hinted that his car would be better off with me since he was going to be a family man soon! Sure enough, two months later we were working out the loan and sorting out the name transfer! The car was bought for RM100K. When I first got this car, I told God to keep me single for the next 3 years so I could drive around Malaysia and enjoy the drive. That proved to be a selfish request because three weeks later I was in a relationship! Haha. This season, I am able to go on road trips alone. If you have followed me on Facebook/Instagram last week, you would have seen my journey across Malaysia. The drive took over 60 hours and some 2900km without as much as a glitch. He protected me and kept me alert during those long 10 hour drives through some of the windiest and darkest roads. The car held so well in the toughtest terrain and even when I pushed it harder, it kept on going. This car, like it’s owner has done many extra miles. I have visited schools, gone on many road trips and it has not been spared from repairs and a few minor accidents. I have not missed my tithes or my car repayment since I first got the car. What I am amazed is time and time again how God has allowed me to enjoy this car. He delights seeing us find pleasure in what we love and He is a giver of good gifts. It is in these long journeys that I am alone worshiping, talking to him, listening and taking corners at high speed that I feel pleasure, His pleasure. I come alive when I overtake or when I cruise leisurely and enjoy the beauty of my surroundings. I realise earlier on when I bought the car that there was a direct relation of the horse power and my effort as a runner. Driving a sports car, like running a tuned body is mechanical and automated yet when you push it to its limits and you can feel the raw power from the source. Everything works together in harmony and there is such awe at the power that is released. Only a sports car would do... He knew that I would find joy in going long distances, accelerating at will and appreciate the performance of a well maintained engine. Can you imagine me driving that RM50K Myvi that first started my desire for a car? There has been many lessons I have learnt since owning this car but one particular lesson remains a constant reminder - the journey of stewardship. Philippians 4:12 says “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” We can ask freely for what we desire and He is able to bless us! When our hearts are right, our request draws us close to him, unlocks the resources of Heaven and He receives all the glory. To every thing there is a season and am grateful for this journey thus far. “Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. ” ~ 1 Peter 1:18-21 MSG