#my son can speak to the fish and he gives me fish as a present bc i might need it later

[moeblob]

Impulsively shoving a guy's hand in your mouth after having the thought "oh just like when my little sister used to prick herself on a rose thorn" and then immediately being treated like a pet who ate something they shouldn't have? Wonderful. Thank you, Thane.

(also not pictured is Thane apparently trying to scrape your tongue with his hand BEFORE pouring the holy water down your throat because NO. BAD.)

[thatdeadaquarius]

OKAY BUT I HAVE MORE IDEA FOR BLUNT READER CUZ I LOVE THAT AU SO MUCHANDMDJFKSLDKF

So you know how french people's insult are always outta pocket (from a person who's first language is french I can tell you that no other language compares in insult -apart for African languages)

Like,, some "bad" insult here would be : bitch, fuck off, whore,..

Which we can all agree is boring...

BUT THEN IN FRENCH!!!

We be getting creative with it

Eg.

"mange tes mort" wich translates to "eat your dead (relatives)"

"vas te fair enculer" means "go get yourself pegged in the ass"

(yes, we have a specific word for being fucked in the ass 💀)

AND THOSE WOULD BE THE COMMON ONES AS WELL

English could never compare ✨

BUT ANYWAYS

how would the characters react if reader was from france/ belgium/ canada(or any other french speaking country) and started cursing people out like they eould do in their home countrie !?!?

The eay their face would drop

We would make a couple of people cry

AND GOD(us haha) FORBID A KID OVER-HEAR US AND STARTS REPEATING US

Trying to un-teach them would be hell *cries*

Your thoughts?

Love yaaaa~

ABSOLUTE TOP TIER ORAH MY BELOVED!!

Nobody has any idea how much I HATE ENGLISH both for its rules/pronounciation BS/etc. But also, most importantly, THERES LIKE NO GOOD CUSS WORDS- OR LIKE CUSS PHRASES??

I HAD TO PUT THIS GIF BC THAT WAS LITERALLY ME WHEN I HAD THE REALIZATION TO LOOK UP OTHER LANGUAGE CUSS WORDS AND I WAS JUST BLOWN AWAY BY HOW GOOD THEY WERE- HOW CREATIVE- 😫😭🥲 ENGLISH WHY R U SO SHITY IN EVERY POSSIBLE LANGUAGE SITUATION-

like idk we got "eat shit and die / fuck off / go fuck yourself" ???? Like- thats pathetic 😟.

I love hearing someone just cuss smbody out their native language/non-english, it’s so badass and cool to see

Anyway u already know i love non-native english speakers from the bottom of my heart✨��

GOD I FUCKING LOVE BLUNT LANGUAGE AU ITS LIKE ONE OF TOP FAV AS U CAN PROBABLY GUESS I COULD WRITE A LITERAL FANFIC ENTIRELY OFF THIS SIMPLE PREMISE 💖💓💗💞❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

omg so i HAVE SPECIFICALLY HEARD ABT FRENCH BEING RLLY CREATIVEEE

and i researched french cusswords/phrases,,,

😭 BRO IM CRYING

“bête comme ses pieds!” IM ROLLING ON THE FLOOR-

(trans: you’re as stupid AS YOUR FEEEEEETT)

idk what’s funnier, you translating urself in real time and saying all these phrases to ppl,

OR just scaring the ever-loving shit out of every teyvat citizen within a mile radius bc oh wow- you look pissed, so yeah somebody’s about to lose all their self-esteem for the rest of their life bc ur insults are known to be extra cutting bc ur so blunt-

OH CREATOR ABOVE (…oh creator, present??)- you changed to your holy language FOR THIS???

everybody just giving the npc the most bombastic side-eye for pushing you to do this,

or even just you stubbing ur toe/ate food when it was too hot

or my favorite, getting onto ppl like Wanderer when they do smth silly lmao

STOP I HAD A FOUL THOUGHT OF GETTING ONTO Ei AND WANDERER (like ei for not keeping him/at least giving him to someone else to raise, then all the shit he did as Scaramouche lol)

AND THIS CUSSWORD COMES OUT UNDER UR BREATH OR SMTH- DOES THIS FIT BC THIS KILLS ME:

“Putain de salope…” (whore of whore, I LIED IT MEANS FUCKING BITCH LMAO😭)

JUST GETTING THE MOM AND THE SON IN ONE FULL BREATH CRYINGGGG

STOPPP wanderer using it against other ppl ever since u used it lol

oh no stop dont bring the kids into thisss 😭😭

Klee would deffo be the first one to pick up ur words and use them, omg she just uses them as catchphrases like when throwing her bombs 💀

“Mange tes mort!” JUST WITH A SMILE ON HER FACE AS SHE THROWS HER HUGE SKILL BOMB INTO A FISH POND

Venti would definitely make sure the winds “pass along phrases of the sacred All-God language!”

which just means anyone who UNDERSTANDS YOU JUST GETS GENTLY CREATIVELY CUSSED OUT BY THE WIND IM SOBBINGGG

☆

i hope u guys are having a great summer! its basically too hot to go outside where I am, not unless ur going straight into the water or smth

which hey, ill be doing that this weekend, floating down the river about an hour away from my house with friends! :]

which,,, if anyone sees this, U GOTTA HELP ME THINK OF A 1000 FOLLOWERS MILESTONE THING TO DO IDK WHAT TO DO BUT I WANNA CELEBRATE IT BC I NEVER THOUGHT THATD HAPPEN!! lmk what u think in the comments if u read this!

☆

Safe Travels 0rah,

💀♒

♡the beloveds♡

@karmawonders / @0rah-s / @randomnatics / @glxssynarvi / @nexylaza / @genshin-impacts-me / @wholesomey-artist / @thedevioussmirk / @the-dumber-scaramouche / @chocogi

[shinsorokiri]

The Rockstar and The Farmer

Sam x Reader

Genre: fluff

Word Count: 2.5k

Warnings: language, spoilers for Jodi’s heart event, mutual pining, Sam being chaotically smooth

A/N: Yes I’m aware I said I’d hopefully have part two up by the end of the week, yes I am aware it is like three weeks later, everybody makes mistakes and I make big ones frequently. Part 3 will be out eventually, I promise. That being said, enjoy this very late posting of part 2! :)

part [1] 2 [3?]

“Seb, Abigail, and I are gonna unload our gear, so I’ll see you in like… an hour? Or so?” You nod. “Yeah, see you then,” you say, getting up and off the bus. 

You walk back to your farm, being welcomed by your animals almost immediately. You go check up on them and make sure they’re all happy and okay before going inside your house to grab the fish you put on ice for Jodi. You check the clock and see that it took you a decent amount of time to check your animals and decide to start walking over now. You take your time, taking the scenic route and waving to Leah as you pass by her home. You check your watch, making sure

You knock on the door before letting yourself in. “Jodi?” you call out, and she dashes out from the kitchen. “Ah, I’m so glad you came, (Y/n)! And you brought the fish! Wonderful,” she exclaims, and you hurry over to her, handing her the fish. You begin to take it out of the cooler you brought it in while Jodi turns slightly towards the hallway that leads to her two sons’ rooms. “Sam! Could you come in here and help clean this fish?” You hear a pause before Sam’s voice responds, quieter than usual but loud enough for his mom to hear, though you don’t know if she picks up on the subtle annoyance in his tone. “Yes, ma’am.” You hear footsteps and the familiar creak of his bedroom door opening while you take the fish out of the cooler and hold it in your hands, presenting it to Jodi. “Wow, it looks wonderful… and it smells so fresh!” she takes it out of your hands and into hers before smiling at you, “Thanks so much for doing this, (Y/n).”

“No problem, I can help you with cleaning the fish, too, if you’d like,” you offer, and Sam’s eyes light up. “Yes!”

“No!” Jodi and Sam look at each other, and she sighs. “Sam… (Y/n) is our guest, we can’t make them help clean the food they came here to eat.” Sam frowns, disappointed that he’s going to have to gut and clean this fish with his mom instead of his crush best friend. You feel a tinge of disappointment as well, and before you even process, you’re speaking, you blurt out, “Oh no it’s fine! You were kind enough to invite me tonight so the least I can do is help you prepare the meal! Besides, I’ve gotten pretty good at gutting fish, I bet I could teach Sam here a thing or two.” Sam raises his eyebrow at you, obviously amused. “Who said I need someone to teach me?”

“Me, Sam. I know you, and you always need someone to teach you,” you tease, and he rolls his eyes, but the smile on his face gives him away. Jodi watches, her own smile spreading when she seemingly changes her mind. “Oh, fine. You two clean the fish, and I’ll get some sides and all the other ingredients ready, okay?”

“Okay, Jodi,” you say, as Sam takes this fish from his mom, and you follow him into the kitchen. “I have been gutting fish ever since we moved here, farmer, let me show you a thing or two,” he brags and you giggle, rolling your eyes. “Please, Sam. Show me everything I already know.”

“Hey now, did you know that you can do this?” Sam begins to cut into the fish when the knife slips and falls to the floor. You both jump out of the way, and Sam quickly wraps his arms around you, pulling you back to make sure you’d stay safe. You ignore the fuzzy feeling that spreads through your chest and giggle. “No, Sam, I actually didn’t know I could gut the floor while simultaneously gutting a fish,” you joke, and his face turns bright red. “My hands got all slimy from the fish!”

“Yeah. Mhm, okay,” you laugh, bending over to pick up the knife and walking over to the sink to wash it off. “I’m being serious I am so good at gutting these guys,” he whines as you walk over to him and the fish, drying the knife off. You grin at him. “I believe you, but… maybe I should hold the knife,” you tease, standing in front of the fish and getting ready to cut into it. He sighs. “Fine, but I can still show you my tips and tricks… here,” he says, wrapping his arms around you from the back and holding onto your hand with his. You’re grateful that you’re facing the opposite way from him so he can’t see your dopy grin, but Jodi sees it. You and Sam interacting had always put a smile on her face, but especially now. She was excited to see what might come from all this subtle flirting going on between the two of you. And she’d be lying if she said she didn’t find herself encouraging this subtle flirting. She never thought she’d enjoy watching her son gut a fish this much.

With your help, you and Sam managed to gut the largemouth bass in record time, and Jodi shooed the two of you out of the kitchen so she could cook. “Come on, I have a new song idea and want you to hear it, we should have enough time until the casserole is ready,” Sam says, grabbing your hand and pulling you to his room. You feel your face heat up as Sam’s hand effortlessly intertwines with yours, and smile because you’re about to hear a new Sam original. “Can’t wait to hear Goblin Destroyer perform this one at their next show, you grin, and he chuckles a bit. He let’s go of your hand and scratches his neck. “Well, actually, this is more of a song for me…” he lets you know, quickly turning around and inaudibly mumbling, “and someone else…” You take your seat on his bed, pulling your knees up to your chest and resting your face on your knees. You grin at him as he picks up his guitar and turns to you. He begins to strum his guitar and opens his mouth, getting ready to sing, when suddenly there’s a knock at his door. A tiny little knock. You and Sam glance at each other and he smiles apologetically. “Looks like I’ll have to show you the song after dinner, then,” he places the guitar back on it’s stand and opens the door. “(Y/N)!” Vince yells, running in and hopping up onto Sam’s bed and giving you a hug. You laugh and hug him back. “Hi, Vince!”

Sam stands by his door, leaning against the wall, observing the way you interact with his younger brother. He grins softly. He’d be lying if he said it didn’t warm his heart to know that Vincent loved you almost as much as him. Almost. He realizes that his eyes go from focusing on you and Vince to just you. He’d been trying to make more subtle moves to hint at his interest in you recently, and he’s really hoping that you’ve been picking up on it. But for some reason, it’s getting increasingly harder for him to not just straight up confess to you. In fact, he has a letter telling you to meet him at 8 in front of his house all written up and in his jeans pocket right now. Of course, he’s nervous about how you’ll react, but he really just wants to be able to wrap his arms around you all the time and keep you close to him. He wants to be able to refer to you as his partner with Sam and Abigail and actually mean it. He wants the rest of the people in Pelican Town to know that the farmer who moved here is a part of the community just as much as he is. He just wants you—

“Why are you staring at us like that?” Vince's little voice pulls Sam out of his trance and his eyes widen. “I wasn’t staring.”

“Yes, you were.”

“Was not.”

“Was too.”

“Was no—”

“OKAY! DINNER’S READY EVERYONE!” Jodi yells, cutting the brothers off. You chuckle, watching Vince immediately run out to get food. You look over at Sam, whose face is still red, by the way, and get up off his bed. You walk over to him and tug on the sleeve of his jean jacket. “Come on, rockstar. Let’s go eat.” He grins slightly and follows you out to eh kitchen, sitting next to you. Dinner tastes great, you immediately start asking Jodi a ton of questions about the recipe, which she happily answers and agrees to write it down for you. You already have your mind swimming with ideas to add ingredients that might add more flavor or give the dish a new spin. You almost feel like a part of the family. It ends too soon, though, and before you know it, you’re yawning up a storm. “Oh, (Y/n), you must be tired. You did a lot of running around today,” Jodi mentions, and you wave your hand, shaking your head. “I’m fine, I promise, but it is about time I should head out. I need to go make sure all the animals are all snug and safe,” you say, standing up. “Let me help you clean the table first,” you say, starting to grab your plates. “No, don’t be silly! I can handle that. Sam, why don’t you walk (Y/n) home?” Jodi suggests and Vince jumps up. “Can I go?!”

“No, Vinny, you’re staying here. It’s nearly your bedtime,” Jodi says, and Vince whines. You give him a goodbye hug and make your way to the front door, putting your shoes on. “I’ll see you tomorrow! Thank you so much for the delicious meal!” you yell as you walk out of the house, Sam closing the door behind the two of you. Although it’s summer, it’s a very chilly night. And silly you, you left our jacket at your farm. You shiver slightly, and Sam notices. “Here,” he shrugs his jean jacket off, wrapping it around your shoulders. “Oh, no, Sam I’ll be fine—”

“No, no, no, you’re cold, you’re wearing it,” he insists, and you smile softly to yourself. “Thanks.”

“No problem, (Y/n/n).” The two of you walk past Marnie’s ranch, and you watch as fireflies light up the night. “Today was fun,” you say, and Sam nods. “So fun. Thanks again for coming to my show… and for coming to dinner… and helping me gut that fish and not my foot,” he says, causing you to giggle. “Of course. You know I’ll always be at your gigs. Oh! Speaking of you didn’t play me that song!” you exclaim, halting and turning to him. He lets out a small laugh. “That’s okay. I’ll show you another time. You wake up at like 5 in the morning and it’s almost 10:30. I’d rather get you home and in bed,” he says, grabbing your arm and pulling you to walk again. “Aw, so thoughtful,” you tease, before yawning again. “Mhm, and you said you weren’t tired.”

“I’m just used to being tired, comes with the farm.”

“Maybe you should sleep in a little later? Take a nap during the day?”

“Can’t,” you shake your head, “if I’m not caring for the animals, I’m planting crops, and if I’m not planting crops, I’m in the mines, and if I’m not in the mines, I’m fishing, and if I’m not fishing—”

“You’re taking care of the animals… I know. I guess I just worry about you sometimes. You do a lot, you deserve a break,” he shrugs, and you sheepishly grin, looking down at your feet. He’s right, you do overexert yourself. But you have to fix up the Community Center before that idiot Lewis sells it to Joja. You know you have to move quick. “Well once I have the best farm in Pelican Town, I’ll rest,” you say, and Sam rolls his eyes. “(Y/n/n), you already have the best farm in Pelican Town. You’re the farm of Pelican Town,” he says, and you shrug. “Can always be better.”

“I swear one of these days I’m gonna force you to lay down and do nothing all day long. Mark my words.”

“Words marked. I’d like to see you try though,” you say, and he scoffs. “Oh, I won’t just try, I will succeed.” You giggle as you walk onto your land, passing by the little pond by your coop. “Mr. Quackers, if you don’t get inside the coop and stop swimming around so help me Yoba, I will only let you swim in a bucket,” you shout out to your duck, who quacks at you, but seemingly understands the threat. Sam laughs as he waddles into the coop, and you close the door that lets the birds out. None of your babies are getting eaten by anything tonight. Or ever, for that matter. “Mr. Quackers?”

“Yeah. He also responds shockingly well to just Quack. He knows I’m serious when I call him his legal name though,” you grin, and Sam shakes his head. “I can’t believe he actually listened to you.”

“I just have a way with my animals,” you brag, shutting the open barn door after seeing all your animals are safe and sound inside. You glance to where your stable is and see your horse asleep with your dog asleep next to her. “Well, looks like all my animals are accounted for. Thank you for walking me home, Sam,” you grin at him as you get to the front door of your little farmhouse. He grins back. “No problem. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, for sure… oh wait! Your jacket!” you start to shrug it off as he begins walking away. “Nah, it’s fine. I’ll see you tomorrow anyway. ‘Sides, it looks better on you,” he says, turning around and shooting a wink at you. You feel butterflies erupt in your stomach, and heat start spreading through your face all the way up to your ears. “I’ll get it to you tomorrow!”

“Or you can hold onto it for a bit, really, I don’t mind,” he insists, and you shake your head. But there’s no hiding the smile that breaks out across your face. “G’night, farmer!”

“Goodnight, rockstar,” you say, waving at him as he turns and begins walking home. You walk inside your home, your dog rushing past you when he hears the creaking of your door. You grin and lock your door for the night, slipping your shoes off. You’re about to take Sam’s jacket off when you stop. Maybe you’ll wear this to sleep in tonight. Just because you might as well get as much use out of it before returning it to him. Obviously. That’s a good reason to sleep in it. You change into your pajamas, before slipping the jacket back on and getting under your covers. You breathe in Sam’s cologne, noticing it’s more comforting than it usually is right now, and start drifting off. You don’t even hear your mailbox opening or notice your pup staring at the window for a moment before lying his head back down and falling asleep curled next to you. You fall asleep, with only one thought in your head. 

‘See you tomorrow, rockstar.’

[theprayerfulword]

December 06

Romans 8:14 All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

1 John 5:2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands.

Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

May you walk in faithfulness and love, acknowledging God throughout the land, laying aside cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery, and live in the bounds of God's Word that you may bring life and healing to the weary and wounded, strengthening the hands of the righteous and bringing joy to the hearts of the people, lest God withdrawn His hand from the nation and remove His protection from the land, causing even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea to die. Hosea 4

May you receive the knowledge of God so that He will receive your ministry and worship unto Him. Hosea 4

May you honor the law of God by your obedience so that He will honor your children with His blessings. Hosea 4

Though the laborers in the harvest with you are few, may you be dedicated and loyal to the Master of the harvest and the Owner of the field, working diligently through the heat of the day, enduring hunger, thirst, and weariness, for your wages are sure, and you know the welcome and celebration waiting for you at the harvest's end. Hosea 4

May you admit your guilt when the Spirit of God speaks to you, bringing conviction and drawing you to repentance, lest the Lord go back to His place and wait for you to earnestly seek Him in your misery, for what He proclaims is certain. Hosea 5

May the grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, be with you in truth and love. 2 John 1

May you love one another by walking in obedience to His commands. 2 John 1

May you guard against losing what you have worked for, so that you may be rewarded fully, for anyone who wanders away and does not continue in the teaching of Christ has no relationship with God; but whoever continues in His teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1

Minister to Me, My child. Offer the sacrifices of praise and worship. Give the wave offering of your joy and pour out the drink offering of your strength. Make the burnt offering of your will, your understanding, your intentions, your plans, hopes, and dreams as a sweet-smelling savor to Me. Minister first to the Lord your God so that you may be purified and cleansed, equipped for every good work, emptied of yourself so that you may be filled with My glory, which is My truth and My power. Then, and only then, will you be able to serve living water and the bread of life to My people. There are many who “minister” to the people, giving them what is popular and pleasing, but it does not mature or strengthen them; those “ministers” have not come before Me or been sent by Me, for they are serving their own purposes. You must daily present yourself to Me before you can be sent out from Me as a servant in My name to those who will be the heirs of salvation. Learn of Me by walking with Me so you can represent Me in the truth and the power of My love which laid down My life for the sake of others.

May you trust in the Lord, for then you will be like Mount Zion, unshakable and enduring. Psalm 125

May the Lord surround you, as the mountains surround Jerusalem, both now and forevermore. Psalm 125

May you know with assurance that though the scepter of the wicked may be raised for a season over the land allotted to the righteous, it will not remain lest the righteous be led to use their hands to do evil. Psalm 125

May you seek the Lord and petition Him to do good to those who are good, but to banish those who turn to crooked ways with the evildoers. Psalm 125

May you realize that to contend with a person who does not know the fear of God is to waste your time – let God do His work in the heart and bring the person to the time of harvest. Proverbs 29:9

May you understand that by walking in the integrity of the Lord and following the leading of the Spirit of God, you will receive the hate of bloodthirsty men who seek to kill the upright. Proverbs 29:10

May you remember, as you see a fool giving full vent to his anger, that a wise man keeps himself under control. Proverbs 29:11

[adultswim2021]

Check It Out! With Dr. Steve Brule #5: “Food” | May 17, 2010 - 12:30AM | S01E01

Hey, it’s a brand new show! The twisted minds behind Tom Goes to the Mayor and Stephen & Steven bring us Check It Out starring Don Addams and Dinah Christie. The show featured the popular Awesome Show character Steve Brule in his very own news magazine style infotainment show. 

In this one, Brule investigates food in a few different segments. In the first, he goes to an impressive restaurant that serves more than one type of food. Here he becomes intoxicated by the charming Sunshine, a waitress he invites to the studio for a one-on-one interview. Things immediately turn sour when he learns that she’s his cousin, prompting him to tersely utter his eternal refrain: “who cares”. 

The next segment focuses on Brule mistakenly downing a glob of wasabi in front of the “sushi lady” that was brought in to make “sushi sandwiches”. When Brule learns that sushi is primarily fish, he is immediately insulted, because “fish is for cats” (he’d later summarize this segment by calling sushi “cat scraps”; a phrase I’ve probably used one hundred THOUSAND times in reference to sushi). 

The last segment (not counting a brief interlude from the Ch. 5 news anchor Terry Bruge-Hiplo scolding vandals or painting penises where his son can see them) features a tense interview between Brule and a legitimate health expert. Brule winds up with a huge chip on his shoulder while dismissing any and all discussion of health with a defensive “I know”, and “I’m a doctor too”. The episode ends with a security guard coming in to kick out Brule during his direct-to-camera ramp-down; the implication being that this show is being produced without permission.

The show is also seemingly shoddily edited onto a pre-used video tape, as we see glimmers of other programs between sloppy edits. It’s also seemingly shot on consumer-grade VHS. The show was actually filmed using modern cameras and the edited show was converted to VHS in order achieve this effect, which is the best way to do that. I do quibble with the fact that the show is presented in 16:9, which is just plain too weird for me, but I accept it. 

Another feature of the show is the documentary-like nature sorta gives the impression that some people in this may or may not be in on the joke. John C. Reilly has stated on reddit that “the doctor does NOT do pre-interviews. all guest are fresh”. This certainly seems true of the sushi chef and the expert at the end of the show; Sunshine actually feels pretty authentic until the punchline reveals itself at the end of her segment. There’s a reason for that: the show actually does occasionally throw in clearly-scripted guests. The reason for Reilly’s half-truth stems from the fact that he likes to pretend that Steve Brule is a real person, and when he does press for the show he speaks as the producer of the show and not the star. 

Sunshine would later appear in Tim & Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie as one of the “Shrim” gods. She’s listed as Simply SUNSHINE, but she shares a credit with Palmer “I Sit On You” Scott, so it reads “Sunshine and Palmer Scott”, giving some the mistaken impression that they were related. They are not. 

Eagle-eyed viewers will note that I’ve labeled this episode #5 based on how the DVD has the episodes laid out. There’s not much continuity on this show, so it truly doesn’t matter; except for the gag where Brule credits himself with the opening poem. That might’ve been a touch funnier after a few episodes of him reading other people's poems. You know, the famous comedy rule of fives. 

AS FOR WHAT I THINK OF THE SHOW: Yeah, goddamn, this is one of my favorite Adult Swim shows. Not every moment is phenomenal, but the highs are mighty high. I actually remember at the time this was billed as a bit of a one-shot; a mini-series that likely wouldn’t return for a second season. Maybe I misread that. Anyway, this first season felt really special for that reason. I can hardly believe it myself, but I think there is an entire season of this show I weirdly never saw. Hopefully I am not murdered before I get to it for this blog. 

I might agree that the character of Brule should work best in small doses, but I feel like the few Brule-centric sketches we were getting in the last leg of Awesome Show were pretty languid, and this show is markedly better than most of those segments, IN MY OPINION. One criticism that comes off valid to me is that Brule comes off way too, shall we say, retarded in this show. It’s sorta true that the earliest Brule sketches the character comes off like a frazzled dimwit whose maladroit delivery is due to having a bad day or being in a perpetual state of camera-unreadiness. In this show he comes off a little too weird. 

OKAY THAT'S IT

MAIL BAG

It must suck knowing you're not even half way done with Squidbillies.

A little! That show's longevity really does perplex me, but it's sorta growing on me.

Hey, blog's back! I know you aren't watching the [AS] Original anime but as an anime fan, let me tell you this: outside GitS and Space Dandy (which barely count, co-productions) you really aren't missing much. They're all pretty underwhelming at best and downright insulting at worst. FLCL Grunge and the Rick & Morty Anime are horrendous even when you separate them from the source material and look at them as their own thing.

Yeah, the levels at which the animes are "original" productions sorta confounds me. Seems like a good idea to cut them off. The Rick & Morty anime is the most obvious possible exception I'll make, but even then I'm not sure I should.

Other thing: Lucy, The Daughter of the Devil. I know you hate that show because of it's 2000s goth/scene kid energy, but I like it. I don't know if it's cause I'm a zoomer who wasn't around when that stuff was really bad, or if the kinda cringe I'm around is a lot more... ...potent (see: Hazbin Hotel & furries being mainstream), but I was never really bothered by it much, I like it. Fun show, fun characters, fun intros, maybe not 'laugh out loud' funny but it's enjoyable to me.

I get you. There were times watching Lucy where I got caught up in it's energy and thought "hey this isn't so bad". I think a few tweaks might've made it passable for me. It's a specific flavor, and that's a good thing, ultimately. More for you I guess!

I should probably have a better attitude towards that show considering that I compulsively bought the DVD out of an Adult Swim completist's sense of duty and then wound up selling for like 200 bucks or something. For that, I am glad. Good show!

EPHEMERA CORNER

[toubledrouble]

Since you guys seem to like my chem teacher, I might just introduce the other teachers too

CZECH

Strict but also not

Tells us innapropriate jokes

Hangs candy on a tree that's hanging over her fence so kids passing by can take it

Has been present at the centre of Velvet revolution while pregnant. This woman was growing a new human inside of her body and still wanted to be present at the square when Gott and Kryl sang the national anthem

Was interested in a book I brought to class one day so much that she wanted to borrow it

Loves Dead poets society

Literally a manager of an orchestra

Lets us eat during class

Has a resignation letter thing ready at all times in case she just decides to quit, she's prepared for anything

She can be absolutely terrifying but she's also an absolute sweetheart and she teaches so well

When Adam tagged her (as in "tag you're it") she laughed and then ran up to me and tagged me

Disappointed by the lack of knowledge about culture we have

Honestly she's an icon idk what to tell you

Cool teaching methods

Probably will yell at you when you say something stupid but she's actually calm and that yelling somehow works to fix your stupidity? It's magic or something

Told us how many marks we need for her to be able to give us the final mark and let us just chill when we had them, no more tests

She just knows so much stuff

Her son is a doctor, ex army doctor I think? She must have passed the cool smart genes to her kids

Apparently one time I gave her some work of mine to read and then forgot it but she remembers? I'm so afraid what kind of cringe that must have been

Doesn't call me just by my name but by a sort of nickname (literally not even my own mom uses the affectionate version of my name)

Promised to give me a chocolate after partaking in the czech olympics regionals

Literally more proud of me than my family haha

Also teaches German. But speaks even Russian and I think French? And a bit of Latin. And obvi English.

Travelled a lot in her youth, it seems?

Keeps calling herself a grandma xd

Has absolutely stellar hearing and idk how she does that

She's an lgbt ally, yay!

Also wants equal marriage if she can be in a registered partnership (because she doesn't want to get married, she considers it long, boring and unnecessary at her age. And she doesn't need the benefits that marriage has)

Once described types of men using trees... It was a very interesting conversation

Accepted the fact that instead of a summary of one book I wrote about how it represents a metaphor for something because I misunderstood the wording of the assignment. She didn't let it slide with one other guy because he literally wrote the thing that showed up when you searched it up on Google but she let me and my explanation of three different ways the metaphor can work live and honestly I love her for that

Sometimes makes German grammar references in class and makes the russian-taking group confused

Tells us fun facts about the works we talk about in literature

Always says everything how it is

Will call you an idiot (affectionate)

HISTORY

Plays the guitar - both electric and acoustic

Was at a Pink Floyd concert recently

Has a motorcycle

And a cool aviator-like leather jacket (refuses to tell us where he got it, it's top secret)

For some reason is dating our bio teacher and we kind of pity him because at least to us she's mostly a bitch lmao

Tells bad jokes and worse stories (but we love it)

Tells us random innapropriate historical facts (apparently Napoleon didn't last long in bed and idk why he knows that)

Or says something about his past career or family history (randomly drops in how his ancestor had to ski back from Italy after ww1 or something about a client whose family tree he made)

Loves romanticism era literature

Goes fishing

One time he told me I look like I'm going to die (I'm very pale and it was summer)

Used to be my English teacher and it was amazing, we we wrote a postcard from a vacation to our principal and he made a rude comment about him and then quickly told us not to write that

Laughs whenever I have to go to the student council meeting because we both know something about toilets is going to be said

Had me read in the school announcement thing because he remembered that I was in poetry reciting competitions

Also made me start the teacher's day with greeting them as colleagues and then saying "this is prof. *his name* but 20 years younger with a soft, velvety voice"

Actually made me read a second thing there recently because he thinks I have a nice voice

My father figure lmao

We had a totally peaceful discussion about ancient and modern history and which one is better (it's ancient history and I will die on this hill)

Took selfies with us on a trip

Complains about how "see? If they paid attention in their history class, they would see where it was going and this whole thing could be prevented"

When he decided to make me suffer and ask me questions in front of the board (verbal exam) he asked stupidly formulated questions so I gave him just as dumb answers ("and what are these men in the photo doing?" "standing in front of a vagon" *shocked laughter* "I mean, yes, but I meant what are their jobs or... You know" "well you didn't say that" "that's valid")

Makes fun reanactments of situations he's explaining (that could be colonising, class enemies, literally whatever) and it's so fun

But also likes to make me suffer. Literally touched a pen during class? Amazing tell me everything you know about the current situation of native Americans in America (we were talking about the American revolution and this was kind of off topic but I can't really complain because I knew anyways).

Knew I love Joan of Arc, had an assignment about her ready and it was a free topic that he didn't assign to anybody, still decided to make me write my assignment on the structure of society in the middle ages (which you have literally not even one slide of info about because it just isn't that complicated unless you want to go into unnecessary detail which he hates so I was forced into writing a slide about my opinion comparing the society in the middle ages with the current one)

Just enjoys giving me harder assignment with a smirk that makes me want to punch him so bad (still adore him tho)

After I tagged him at lunch (literally ran past him, punched him arm as I was in full speed sprint and yelled "you're it!" in the full dining hall), he called me and my friend (they were filming it) into his office and then turned to one of my friends, tapped her shoulder with one finger and said "you're it." and we honestly lost it

One time accidentally said the Romans had rectangular squares (instead of shields) and I had a fit of laugher and he attempted to send me to the hall to calm down but when I got up to go I literally collapsed on the floor in a stronger fit of laughter and he started laughing at me

Loves to recommend historical movies. Or criticise them, for that matter.

Shittalked one Marie Terezie series with me

Has extremely cool hair

We actually made a meme about him being the hottest teacher and I really hope he has seen it. I might print it and give it to him at the end of the year, who knows

One time during a gingerbread thing I will describe somewhere a bit lower, I needed to make a good symmetrical cross (+) but screwed up so I just turned it into The sword in the stone and joked about giving it to him. Our main teacher actually did give it to him and he thanked me in the hall and I was so confused because I had no idea

One time I accidentally sent him a meme instead of an assignment. A Henry VIII meme. A really bad one.

One time I sent him a meme on purpose, tho. One about Romulus and Remus. He asked me about it and then told me he will be looking forward to receiving more memes in the future

GEO/BIO (aka our main teacher)

Makes tremendous exams even worse by forcing you to recognise pictures of the stuff. Cultural heritage places, trees that look literally the same, freaking moss that you can't tell apart let alone based on a projected photo...

Made us do damn maps of every continent. But at least three for each - river systems, terrain, and then possibly just classic geography. Also made us remember the capitals of every single European state which made me want to stab her because despite being slavic i keep switching some of the balkan countries

Lab work. Just. Lab work is pain.

You know about these weirs streams where it's just someone peeling an egg? Yeah she made us go that during our lab work

Also forced me to go to the bio olympics and j hate her for that because I don't even like biology

Literally makes me and my friend aka the responsible ones do so much stuff that we have basically no free time so she can kiss my ass

I hate her sm

Complains about being overworked, proceeds to dump half her work on teenagers

She sucks most of the time

Only nice to our medic group

Like. She buys us food after competitions

That doesn't change the fact that she's evil and overworks me constantly. One time I screwed my shoulder up after a full day of running around and running errands and carrying stuff and running upstairs with it and-- yeah I was in pain so I don't like her

Actually made us spend part of our Christmas break in the school kitchens baking and decorating gingerbread and doing other arts and crafts for some charity thing. I love charity events but once again I was sick and tired and had no free time

Makes our medic club do a thing where we explain first aid to kids. This includes minimum time to eat, drink, or go to the bathroom. One time I got a fever and still had to stay there. When I finally got home, I passed out haha. Spent the next two weeks in agonising muscle pain with a cold and a fever. Once again I refuse to forgive her for making me stay there.

PHYSICS

Kind of a pedo if I'm being honest

Somehow always manages to mess up whatever he's explaining and teach us wrong information

Tests basically each class

Sometimes can be convinced to play physics themed Kahoot

Old man

Just... So weird and random

Muted the whole class on zoom during quarantine and then complained that noone responded (we were texting in the chat but he ignored that)

So many weird zoom stories

Has that shirt + beige pants fit

Does so much weird stuff that he refuses to explain because "that's between heaven and earth"

Please just elaborate for once

Exams fron things he never even talked about because why not

MATH

Sometimes tells us what nails she is planning to get

Always get the worst bowl/helmet cut and then when it finally grows out a bit she does it again. My heart weeps.

Once made someone cry during geometry??

Threw someone's pen from the window

Threatens to throw more stuff

Honestly so done with us sometimes

Rocks red and black fits most of the time

Wear a light scarf sometimes because it's cold

Keeps saying it's trivial (it either isn't or we're just stupid, jury's still out)

Wears heels all basically all the time

Probably so done with me because I just can't count haha

Loves us but sometimes we piss her off

Sometimes we just have gossip session about our main teacher because she dislikes her as well

Complains about the specific blue chairs we have and use sometimes and she's so real for that

MUSIC

Weird

Somehow made us watch psychological horror movie based on a fairytale (probably of German origin like the most of them) instead of... Idk. Something related to the class.

Going out consists of walking to a nearby pub/restaurant and sitting in the garden area

Or the basketball court thing

Thinks he is a local celebrity (he's not exactly correct)

English

The sweetest

Made us a traditional Ukrainian Christmas dish

Me and my friend made her a list of classic Czech movies we reccomend

Always says "girls, why are you so late?" when you come in not even a minute after the bell rings

Thought I'm from a bilingual family lol

Sometimes we discuss and compare Czech and Ukrainian traditions in English

Confusing pronunciation

One time she said the name Shakespeare in such a funny way but she's sweet so we don't want to tell her

Watched the new Puss in Boots movie with us in class, told us we can bring snacks

ART/P.E.

A lesbian

Has asthma

Loves art and art history

Seriously she's like me from another universe

Plays audiobooks during art class

Grades mostly based of effort

Made big canvas paintings with us and then decorated the school with them and that was something new and revolutionary

She's cool, I like her

Used to be an equestrian, apparently?

Makes art history quizzes on her insta stories

So many boob flower pots and sketches of women... I love it xd

Oh yeah she also does ceramics and makes cups and flower pots and stuff

RUSSIAN

Sweetheart as well

Used to be my English teacher before we switched groups

So done with pur group sometimes

Very excited to teach us the longest or funniest words like достопримечательности

One time she watched Masha and the bear with us during class

And Jen Počkej Zajíci (Ну погоди) even tho it's basically the same in all languages since there's minimum speaking

Also made us recite a poem about lunch during the week and I still remember it after rlike three years and I hate that

[cloudbattrolls]

All Things Grow

Hanabi | Takami Estate | Present Night

Hanabi usually tried to let Jikiro and his social circle sort things out themselves, just as she did with her children fought with one another. It was important for them to learn how to cope with problems, and she had her own life to live, aside from being the Takami line caretaker.

Every once in a while, however, she knew she had to intervene.

Jamie was, at least, outside getting some moonlight. That boy stayed shut up inside far too much, even if his field was technology.

He sat on a chair he had brought himself, one more comfortable than the stone benches surrounding the koi pond, and had his heating pad with him. The cobalt smiled, watching the big fish circle around in the water, his crutches neatly leaned against the nearby bench. 

Hanabi was usually more than content to let the kookaburra raise his son, but she had asked his permission and he had agreed she should be the one to speak to Jamie now.

“Hello, Hanabi.” Said Jamie calmly, and she hadn’t even realized he’d noticed her. Then she smiled, turning from her natural tanuki shape into troll form to come sit near him, careful not to disturb his crutches.

“Hello, Jamie.” She said fondly, but sat in silence with him for a minute or so, watching the fish. Then the bird troll broke it.

“Let me guess: you’re here to talk to me about Viltau. Did Jikiro ask you to come?”

He wasn’t accusatory, at least. That was a good sign. Instead he held a reserved sort of curiosity.

She shook her head. “No. I’m here because I want to be.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“Go on, then.”

“I want to say I’m sorry.”

He blinked, surprised.

“I have thought about what your moirail said. He is right. Sometimes, I assume ill from you too quickly, even when it is not there. I am not the only one; Jikiro has as well. He will also be giving you an apology, and not only because I have spoken to him. He wants to, he knows you deserve better from both of us.”

Jamie blinked rapidly, a hand to his face.

“Well, that’s very…appreciated, thank you.”

He managed, croaking slightly.

Hanabi nodded. 

“I’m here to speak of Viltau as well. But I didn’t come to make you do or say anything you don’t want to do.”

She paused, threading her chubby fingers together.

“I understand if you do not, cannot forgive him for how he has acted. I should have said something. Jikiro should have said something. Still. Even if we had, it would have been pointless, because while we should support you, you must make the first step. You must at least try, not assume there is always mockery and disrespect waiting for you. Otherwise you will become stuck, like a stone in the muck, buried and unable to rise.”

Jamie was silent, his pointy face mostly neutral, the only expression the slight flick of his ears.

Hanabi held the silence, looking up at the moons and stars. She had watched the sky for such a long, long time, witnessing the slow shift of the constellations.

Troll life moved far faster.

“And if I do?” Jamie said softly. “Can I trust him to keep his word, if he promises to stop?”

The tanuki snorted. “You think Jikiro will let him get away with hurting you on purpose? Ha! Never.”

Jamie huffed. “I don’t need Jiji to protect me from everything. But…you’re saying he would take my side if that happened?”

The lusus nodded.

The freckled troll looked thoughtful.

He looked at the fish again, his arms resting on the arms of his chair, thin fingers grasping the wood thoughtfully.

“I don’t want to make him choose between me and Viltau. I know that’s not fair.” He admitted. “But it’s not like Viltau cares about that. I’m sure he assumes Jikiro will take his side, or that he just won’t do anything.”

“You don’t know what’s in his head.” Hanabi scolded lightly. “You haven’t talked to him. You are no mind reader.”

He laughed softly. “No, I’m sure you know what I really am now.”

“I always knew you were psychic! It isn’t so surprising.” She retorted, to which he snorted at.

A soft breeze blew through the night air, ruffling the cobalt’s curls and Hanabi’s gray-streaked bun. He shivered slightly, despite his heating pad, and Hanabi offered one of her magical items: one that warmed an object. He gladly took it and used it on the chair itself as a whole, sighing in relief.

“I gave up my magic for him.” Hanabi murmured. 

Jamie frowned in confusion. “What, Jikiro? Of course you did. You gave it up to save him, almost stupidly selfless of you, but I guess that’s what lusii do for their charges.”

“Yes, but not just him. I gave up everything I had except for my shapeshifting so Viltau wouldn’t have to give so much of his life away.”

Jamie paused. “What are you talking about?” He said, disbelieving yet powerfully intrigued, narrow eyebrows knit together, two-tone blue eyes squinting.

“Viltau tried to trade half his life to the ink demon, to return Jikiro from the terrible place he was taken after he fell into Izanam’s trap. I stopped him. We both made our bargains, and he only gave a quarter of his life instead.”

The kookaburra troll’s jaw dropped.

“You gave up your magic for him? Why?” He said in disbelief.

“I would have done it for you too.”

That stopped the blueblood dead.

Hanabi smiled. 

“Jikiro has already died.” She said softly. “He died, and I could not protect him…nor could I stop his wrigglerhood from being as painful as it was. But I could have done better. I will do better. No matter how old I grow, I find I am still as fallible as any mortal lusus. Unlike them, I must live with my mistakes forever.” 

She stared up at the sky. 

“I want my son to have as happy of a life as he can with the trolls he cares for the most. I want you and Viltau to have long and happy lives as well.”

“You think I’ll live like a highblood should?” Jamie whispered. “The doctors said…I might not…”

He looked away. The surface of the pond rippled as a koi almost surfaced.

Hanabi smiled gently.

“Who knows, Jamie? However long you live, I want you to be surrounded by people who love you.”

The blueblood sniffled, wiping at his eyes.

Hanabi got off her bench and stepped over to him, her arms open.

Jamie pushed himself up, wobbly, and embraced her. 

He sniffled more, and Hanabi gently patted his back, before he let go and she backed off.

“I’ll talk to him.” He said quietly. “I’ll do my best.”

The tanuki nodded, and turned back into her white-furred form, jumping back up on the bench.

They stayed there, troll and lusus, until the sky began to grow lighter, and the pair of them went back inside to sleep.

[tredispade]

Jae-hyo had already given Al his gifts: a small set of hand-sewn dinosaur plush dolls made of high quality felt. For Sephiroth's gift, he waited until their son had drifted off to sleep after a fun reading session hosted by Yoon himself, as the youth enjoyed the various voices that Jae employed to make the narration more exciting and immersive.

There was a thick layer of snow all over the central garden, rime crusted in thin fractals on the surface of the fish pond. Everything was so... different. Peaceful. Not that either of them had the time to relax- Shinra was still on the hunt for their missing 'failure' of a General, not to mention his replacement clone.

Perhaps that's why he'd held off on presenting this relic from his past life to the larger man.

"I'm sorry that I didn't give you earlier, but I didn't want to worry Al," he explains softly, bringing out what appears to be something wrapped in an old blanket.

Pulling back the stained and moth-eaten fabric, a long wooden and lacquer stand is carefully placed on the patio table before Sephiroth.

There's a sword nestled atop two brass findings keeping it held in place, covered by a wooden and brass scabbard enveloped in braids of coiled black silk.

"This belonged to my grandfather. I mentioned him before, that he raised me... Was the closest thing to a real parent I ever had. He held the esteemed position as Commander of the Raid Unit the royal militia, back when Wutai decided to invade our country. He singlehandedly managed to gain the trust and unwavering respect of five hundred soldiers under his care- He always fought alongside his comrades and never left a single man behind. This is a sword that was smithed specifically for him, as a gift once he rose in rank and to symbolize the importance of his service to Haneul."

Jae carefully lifts the protective housing of the weapon into both hands, heavily scarred fingers grasping the ornate hilt of the sword. The folded metal alloy of it's straight blade almost sings as it's removed from the brass and wood fittings, Yoon managing to elegantly turn his wrist in one smooth movement thanks to the melee training the former War Hero mentored him in. Yet another skill set that wrought nothing but death, yet it was entirely necessary in order to safeguard what they cared for most.

The agent knelt before his husband, presenting the sword to him with a serious expression that he normally reserved for 'work' situations only.

"You protect the house now, so it should rightfully be passed on to the member of the family who deserves to wield it most."

[Second Chances verse, of course. Enjoy!]

Sephiroth had sat quietly out in the garden. Watching as the sun set over snowcapped mountains. Hardly more than rays of gold as the bluish black of the night sky crept over. He was wearing his new sweater that was the very color of pine needles. It was soft and warm and possibly his favorite gift. But then, he was relatively easy to please. He loved everything his husband and son gave him.

His husband... and son... Even though Al was really a clone, it was hard to think of him as anything else but his son. Seph never thought he'd live such a domestic life. But he wouldn't give it up for the world. Even if the world seemed determined to take it away from him. He'd fight tooth and nail to keep them all safe.

So when Jae comes out with another gift, Seph is pleasantly baffled. He almost tells Jae that he doesn't have to do anything else for him. But when he recognizes that it's a sword, one of great importance and well taken care of, the words are stuck in his throat. All he can really do is stare in aww at it.

As a swordsman himself, Sephiroth new the importance a blade can hold. It's cultural significance. Plus, after all of his study of Han culture, there was no mistaking what this was and what it meant. and still he couldn't seem to find words to speak. It all gathered in his throat to choke him. Tears burned at the back of his eyes, but he refused to cry.

Carefully he took the sword from Jae's hand. Also noting the pose of subservience. Though never would Sephiroth think of Jae as subservient. This was out of respect and trust. So deeply honored, he held the hilt in one hand and lightly trailed his fingertips over the flat of the blade. Touching it with soul-deep reverence. Then he'd carefully set it back on its stand with trembling hands.

"Jae, I--- I don't know what to say." He'd finally be able to choke out after trying to clear away the lump in his throat. He took hold of Jae's scarred hands, holding them tight as he gently pulled his partner up and into his lap. Then would hold him close, face buried in Jae's shoulder.

"Thank you. Not just for this but... for staying with me. Even when it seemed hard and bleak. I couldn't possibly have done any of this without you." He'd lift his head then to look at Jae with both love and determination in his eyes.

"I will always keep you and Al safe. Our home will always be a safe space for us to live and watch Al grow. I swear it."

[dfroza]

“Imagine there’s a wedding going on. Is that the time to tell the guests to ignore the bridegroom and fast?”

the Bridegroom who was taken away will return for A Spirit-prepared Body & Bride

(at some point)

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 5th chapter of the book of Luke:

Picture these events:

On the banks of Gennesaret Lake, a huge crowd, Jesus in the center of it, presses in to hear His message from God. Off to the side, fishermen are washing their nets, leaving their boats unattended on the shore.

Jesus gets into one of the boats and asks its owner, Simon, to push off and anchor a short distance from the beach. Jesus sits down and teaches the people standing on the beach.

After speaking for a while, Jesus speaks to Simon.

Jesus: Move out into deeper water, and drop your nets to see what you’ll catch.

Simon (perplexed): Master, we’ve been fishing all night, and we haven’t caught even a minnow. But . . . all right, I’ll do it if You say so.

Simon then gets his fellow fishermen to help him let down their nets, and to their surprise, the water is bubbling with thrashing fish—a huge school. The strands of their nets start snapping under the weight of the catch, so the crew shouts to the other boat to come out and give them a hand. They start scooping fish out of the nets and into their boats, and before long, their boats are so full of fish they almost sink!

Simon’s fishing partners, James and John (two of Zebedee’s sons), along with the rest of the fishermen, see this incredible haul of fish. They’re all stunned, especially Simon. He comes close to Jesus and kneels in front of His knees.

Simon: I can’t take this, Lord. I’m a sinful man. You shouldn’t be around the likes of me.

Jesus: Don’t be afraid, Simon. From now on, I’ll ask you to bring Me people instead of fish.

The fishermen haul their fish-heavy boats to land, and they leave everything to follow Jesus.

Another time in a city nearby, a man covered with skin lesions comes along. As soon as he sees Jesus, he prostrates himself.

Leper: Lord, if You wish to, You can heal me of my disease.

Jesus reaches out His hand and touches the man, something no one would normally do for fear of being infected or of becoming ritually unclean.

Jesus: I want to heal you. Be cleansed!

Immediately the man is cured. Jesus tells him firmly not to tell anyone about this.

Jesus: Go, show yourself to the priest, and do what Moses commanded by making an appropriate offering to celebrate your cleansing. This will prove to everyone what has happened.

Even though Jesus said not to talk about what happened, soon every conversation was consumed by these events. The crowds swelled even larger as people went to hear Jesus preach and to be healed of their many afflictions. Jesus repeatedly left the crowds, though, stealing away into the wilderness to pray.

One day Jesus was teaching in a house, and the healing power of the Lord was with Him. Pharisees and religious scholars were sitting and listening, having come from villages all across the regions of Galilee and Judea and from the holy city of Jerusalem.

Some men came to the house, carrying a paralyzed man on his bed pallet. They wanted to bring him in and present him to Jesus, but the house was so packed with people that they couldn’t get in. So they climbed up on the roof and pulled off some roof tiles. Then they lowered the man by ropes so he came to rest right in front of Jesus.

In this way, their faith was visible to Jesus.

Jesus (to the man on the pallet): My friend, all your sins are forgiven.

The Pharisees and religious scholars were offended at this. They turned to one another and asked questions.

Pharisees and Religious Scholars: Who does He think He is? Wasn’t that blasphemous? Who can pronounce that a person’s sins are forgiven? Who but God alone?

Jesus (responding with His own question): Why are your hearts full of questions? Which is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven” or “Get up and walk”? Just so you’ll know that the Son of Man is fully authorized to forgive sins on earth (He turned to the paralyzed fellow lying on the pallet), I say, get up, take your mat, and go home.

Then, right in front of their eyes, the man stood up, picked up his bed, and left to go home—full of praises for God! Everyone was stunned. They couldn’t help but feel awestruck, and they praised God too.

People: We’ve seen extraordinary things today.

Some time later, Jesus walked along the street and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting in his tax office.

Jesus: Follow Me.

And Levi did. He got up from his desk, left everything (just as the fishermen had), and followed Jesus.

Shortly after this, Levi invited his many friends and associates, including many tax collectors, to his home for a large feast in Jesus’ honor. Everyone sat at a table together.

The Pharisees and their associates, the religious scholars, got the attention of some of Jesus’ disciples.

Pharisees (in low voices): What’s wrong with you? Why are you eating and drinking with tax collectors and other immoral people?

Jesus (answering for the disciples): Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I haven’t come for the pure and upstanding; I’ve come to call notorious sinners to rethink their lives and turn to God.

Pharisees: Explain to us why You and Your disciples are so commonly found partying like this, when our disciples—and even the disciples of John—are known for fasting rather than feasting, and for saying prayers rather than drinking wine.

Jesus: Imagine there’s a wedding going on. Is that the time to tell the guests to ignore the bridegroom and fast? Sure, there’s a time for fasting—when the bridegroom has been taken away. Look, nobody tears up a new garment to make a patch for an old garment. If he did, the new patch would shrink and rip the old, and the old garment would be worse off than before. And nobody takes freshly squeezed juice and puts it into old, stiff wineskins. If he did, the fresh wine would make the old skins burst open, and both the wine and the wineskins would be ruined. New demands new—new wine for new wineskins. Anyway, those who’ve never tasted the new wine won’t know what they’re missing; they’ll always say, “The old wine is good enough for me!”

The Book of Luke, Chapter 5 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice translation:

The miracles Jesus performs come in all types: He heals the sick. He frees the oppressed. He shows His power over nature. He will even raise the dead. But as the story in verses 21-26 shows, one of the greatest miracles of all is forgiveness. To have sins forgiven—to start over again, to have God separate believers from their mistakes and moral failures, to lift the weight of shame and guilt—this may well be the weightiest evidence that God’s Son is on the move. The kingdom of God doesn’t throw all guilty people in jail; it doesn’t execute everyone who has made mistakes or tell them they’re just getting what they deserve. Instead, it brings forgiveness, reconciliation, a new start, a second chance. In this way, it mobilizes believers to have a new future.

Certainly Jesus has communicated the message of the Kingdom through words and through signs and wonders. Now Jesus embodies the message in the way He treats people, including outcasts like Levi. As a tax collector, Levi is a Jew who works for the Romans, the oppressors, the enemies. No wonder tax collectors are despised! But how does Jesus treat this compromiser? He doesn’t leave him paralyzed in his compromised position; He invites him—like the paralyzed man—to get up and walk, and to walk in a new direction toward a new King and Kingdom.

Today’s paired reading from the First Testament is the 11th chapter of the book of Zechariah:

Eternal One: Open your gates, O Lebanon;

let the fire in to destroy your cedars!

Wail, O cypress, for the cedars have fallen

and their glory lies smoldering in the dust.

Wail, stately oaks of Bashan,

for your thick forest lies on the ground!

Listen to the shepherds in the land,

wailing for their power and splendor that lies smoldering in the dust!

Listen to the roar of the lions,

the pride of the Jordan that lies smoldering in the dust!

The Eternal my God has this to say:

Eternal One: Take care of the flock headed for slaughter. The people who buy My sheep kill them without repercussion. Their sellers mockingly say, “I’m rich. Praise the Eternal One!” Even their own shepherds have no mercy on them. Because of this I promise that I, the Eternal One, will no longer show pity to the citizens of this land. Instead, I will hand each one over to his neighbor, each one over to his king. Those power mongers will oppress them and abuse the land, and I will do nothing to free the sheep.

And so I became the shepherd of the sheep headed for slaughter because of the poorest sheep. I took two staffs in my hand—one I named Favor of God and the other I named Unity of the People. With those I took care of the sheep. In the span of one month, I expelled three shepherds who cared nothing for the sheep. I had become tired of the way they have cared for my flock, and they have cared nothing for me.

Zechariah (to the sheep): I will watch over you no longer. Those who are meant to die will die. Those who are meant to perish will perish. Whoever is left behind will devour his neighbor!

Then I took my staff named Favor of God, and I snapped it in half, dissolving the covenant I had made with all the people. On that very day when the covenant was broken, the sheep traders watching me knew it was the word of the Eternal One.

Zechariah (to the sheep traders): If you think it is right, give me what I have earned. If you don’t, then keep it for yourselves.

They took 30 pieces of silver, the price set as my wages, the price of a slave.

Eternal One (to Zechariah): Give My deserved portion of your fee to the potter.

And I did as He told me. I took the 30 shekels of silver—the noble price of my valuable service—and gave them to the potter in the Eternal’s temple. Afterward I broke my other staff, Unity of the People, which severed the bond between the people of Judah and Israel.

Eternal One (to Zechariah): Take up once again the tools of a shepherd, this time a foolish shepherd, because I am going to raise up in this land a new breed of shepherd: one who does not care for the perishing, search for the young, heal the injured, or feed the hungry. This new shepherd will feast on the fat from his own flock, tearing their hoofs from their flesh.

Watch out, worthless shepherd who abandons the flock!

You will be made defenseless.

May the sword strike his right arm

and pierce his right eye!

May his arm hang limp at his side so he has no strength,

and may his right eye be forever blinded so he can’t shoot an arrow!

The Book of Zechariah, Chapter 11 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice translation:

One of the most beautiful and pervasive images in prophetic poetry and praise psalms is that of the good shepherd. It’s an appropriate and recognizable image for such a pastoral people. The Eternal One, the psalm says, is the Shepherd (Psalm 23). The Anointed King also comes to shepherd His people. But there are wicked shepherds, too; self-appointed and self-interested, they use and abuse the people.

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Saturday, february 24 of 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New) of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons

The Scriptures teach us that creation is “teleological,” which means that it is “going someplace,” and that there is order and purpose to our existence. Your life is not adrift in a random universe that is destined to ultimately fade away but is grounded in the Divine Mind and Will that personally supervises and pervades all things. A lack of emunah (faith) has been likened to a passenger flying on an airplane who doesn’t believe there is a pilot in the cockpit... Faith in the LORD believes that a single supreme, all-knowing, all-powerful and benevolent spiritual Power directs all things, and that God is the beginning, middle, and end of all conscious meaning, truth, and substance, as it is written: כִּי הַכּל מִיָּדוֹ הַכּל בּוֹ וְהַכּל לוֹ הוּא, “For from him and through him and to him are all things” (Rom. 11:36). A life of faith in the one true God imparts the blessing of shalom (inner peace) and assures the heart that all shall be made well by the love of God. Everything God does is for the very best, and there are no exceptions to this truth (Rom. 8:28).

Our faith that everything God does is for the best is not some rationalization that denies or minimizes the suffering we encounter in life, but is an affirmation that there is an unseen (though knowable) good at work that ultimately will heal us and comfort our shattered hearts... The phrase gam zu l’tovah (גַּם זוּ לְטוֹבָה) is an affirmation that “this too is for good,” and that this “this” includes the various challenges and struggles we face during our days of sojourn here on this earth. Every “down” in life prepares us for an “up,” with the ultimate end being beatitude and everlasting joy. Challenges draw us closer to God, igniting our hearts to cry out for his Presence and blessing. Even death itself is a passageway to eternal life (Psalm 16:10; 49:15; 1 Cor. 15:12-58). בַּעֲצָתְךָ תַנְחֵנִי וְאַחַר כָּבוֹד תִּקָּחֵנִי - “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:24).

By faith “we know that if the ‘tent’ that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1). God is our good Shepherd who leads us along the byways of the desert of this world (Psalm 23:4). In God’s presence is total and absolute joy; at his right hand there are pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11). As it is written in the sacred testimony of the prophets: “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (Isa. 64:4; 1 Cor. 2:9). The LORD “will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4, Isa. 25:8). God carefully foresees your way and prepares a place for you (John 14:1-3); he has ready a precious white stone with your “hidden” name inscribed (Rev. 2:17); the table is being set and your place has been reserved... There is great consolation and unimaginable blessing to come.

So be encouraged, friend. You do not need to struggle alone – bitter and afraid that you might be swallowed up in your infirmities... God knows the groan of your struggle and invites you to find solace and strength in Him. "It is enough to open your heart the smallest amount - even the width of a pin - to repent, so that you feel a stab within your heart, like a piercing sting in living tissue, not like a needle thrust into dead flesh" (Menachem Mendel of Kotzk). Bittachon (בִּטָּחוֹן) is a Hebrew word that means trust in God... Those who have bittachon do not worry about the future because their faith fully permeates their heart and mind, enabling them to surrender their cares and burdens to the Lord.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Psalm 23:4 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm23-4-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm23-4-lesson.pdf

2.23.24 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel365:

Rabbi Kook elaborated, stating that loving every Jew is a commandment from the Torah:

לֹא־תִקֹּם וְלֹא־תִטֹּר אֶת־בְּנֵי עַמֶּךָ וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ אֲנִי יְהֹוָה׃

lo ti-KOM v’-lo ti-TOR et b’-NAY a-ME-kha v’-a-hav-TA l’-ray-a-KHA ka-MO-kha a-NEE a-do-NAI

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am Hashem.

Leviticus 19:18

This kind of love, therefore, is not baseless. True baseless love is shown when you’re wronged by someone, you have every right to retaliate or ignore them, but instead, you choose to treat them with kindness and support them in their time of need. That is the essence of baseless love.

The path to rebuilding and unity is forged through unconditional love and forgiveness. In a world that often feels divided, the ancient wisdom found in the book of Amos offers a timeless lesson on unity, justice, and the power of brotherhood.

A few biblical thoughts about race:

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

February 24, 2024

The Alabaster Box

“And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.” (Mark 14:3)

This unusual incident is reported also by Matthew and John, who says the woman was Mary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus and Martha. John says that she also “anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment” (John 12:3).

This is a remarkable story of devotion, and, as Jesus prophesied, “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her” (Matthew 26:13). At present-day prices, the lovely container and its aromatic contents would be worth at least several hundred dollars. Yet, Mary gladly broke her alabaster box (so it could never be used again) and poured its costly perfume over her Lord, from His head to His feet, thus anointing His whole body. Then, as the ointment ran down to His feet, she wiped them clean with her long hair.

The disciples were shocked at this seeming waste, but “Jesus said, Let her alone....She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying” (Mark 14:6, 8). Little did they know (still less did Mary know!) that in just one week His battered body would be laid in a grave, anointed with myrrh instead of spikenard, and wrapped in burial linens instead of Mary’s hair. But Jesus knew, and Mary had “done what she could” to show the reality of her love for her Lord. It had cost her dearly—not only in material possessions but also in sacrifice of all pride and self-esteem, and the Lord was honored. “She hath wrought a good work upon me,” He said (Matthew 26:10), and that’s what counts. HMM

[princeofgod-2021]

LIGHT OF LIFE 388

John 1:4

UNDERSTANDING PROPHETIC MANDATES 22: Contents Of Prophecy 2

Amo 3:7 CERTAINLY, THE ALMIGHTY LORD DOESN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS HE FIRST REVEALS HIS SECRET TO HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS. GW

There is a strange rule with Human minds: when they don’t want to embrace something - especially where it obstructs their preferred idiosyncrasies - they make serious efforts to confirm its authenticity, and then, its viability.

They would hope that it can’t be presented conceivably.

1Co 1:22=23 JEWS WANT MIRACLES FOR PROOF, AND GREEKS LOOK FOR WISDOM. As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, A MESSAGE THAT IS OFFENSIVE TO THE JEWS AND NONSENSE TO THE GENTILES; GNB

All these responses to the message are plainly just to look for reasons to condemn the “Oracle”.

Joh 8:12-13 Then Jesus said, “I am light to the world and those who embrace me will experience life-giving light, and they will never walk in darkness.” The Pharisees were IMMEDIATELY OFFENDED and said, “YOU’RE JUST BOASTING ABOUT YOURSELF! SINCE WE ONLY HAVE YOUR WORD ON THIS, IT MAKES YOUR TESTIMONY INVALID!” TPT

This is what makes Ministry really cumbersome.

The moment you are deliberate about upholding the Truth to the core and passionately defending it, you get many who hypocritically call you names and deride the authenticity of your words, yet with no sound element to uphold their claims.

They were pointing out a “yardstick” for confirming Prophetic fulfillment: Self-Advertising.

Joh 5:31-33 IF I GAVE WITNESS ABOUT MYSELF, MY WITNESS WOULD NOT BE TRUE. There is another who gives witness about me and I am certain that the witness he gives about me is true. YOU SENT TO JOHN AND HE GAVE TRUE WITNESS. BBE

What Jesus was saying is that if a man prophesies, speaking great things about himself, such prophecy can be questionable, except someone else [sincerely] confirms his message.

But when Jesus later said, in Jn 8:12, that He is Light of The World, it was simply unavoidable because the intrinsic contents of Gospel and prophecy centers on Him.

There is no side-tracking that truth.

Joh 8:14 Jesus answered, “EVEN IF I TESTIFY ABOUT MYSELF, MY TESTIMONY IS TRUE, BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE I CAME FROM AND WHERE I AM GOING. But you people do not know where I came from or where I am going. NET

If you want to follow Prophetic guidelines and prosper, you must learn to access the contents relating to Jesus and everything He stands for.

Whatever you receive is founded in Jesus and all He means to the world, no matter the details of the Prophecy you are [told] to follow.

Joh 6:53-55 Jesus answered: I TELL YOU FOR CERTAIN THAT YOU WON'T LIVE UNLESS YOU EAT THE FLESH AND DRINK THE BLOOD OF THE SON OF MAN. But IF YOU DO EAT my flesh and drink my blood, you will have eternal life, and I will raise you to life on the last day. MY FLESH IS THE TRUE FOOD, AND MY BLOOD IS THE TRUE DRINK. CEV

Here, our Lord Jesus had recently fed them all with bread and fish to overfill, yet, the core message He wanted them to get from the experience is all about we all, being found in Him.

Joh 6:56 HE WHO IS EATING MY FLESH, AND IS DRINKING MY BLOOD, remains in Me, and I in him. LSV

Jesus wanted men to acknowledge the difference between [satisfying] natural food and Divine food. He wanted them to know the Value of the Divine life and what to really pursue in Life.

Joh 6:58 I AM NOT LIKE THE BREAD THAT YOUR ANCESTORS ATE. THEY ATE THAT BREAD, BUT THEY STILL DIED. I am the bread that came down from heaven. WHOEVER EATS THIS BREAD WILL LIVE FOREVER." ERV

So, we see God and Son making the same comparison over contents.

Do you remember what God said about this?

Jer 23:28 THE PROPHET WHO HAS HAD A DREAM SHOULD SAY IT IS ONLY A DREAM, but the prophet who has heard my message should proclaim that message faithfully. WHAT GOOD IS STRAW COMPARED WITH WHEAT? GNB

There’s a problem here really: as soon as Men confirm that a man is a Prophet, they tends to embrace every single thing he says, whether sound or otherwise.

God rather points out that a Prophet can both produce healthy and unhealthy CONTENTS. We should always carefully verify.

Even so, God projects the confirmation and Authenticity of Contents by its POTENCY.

Jer 23:29 My message is like a fire that purges dross! It is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces! I, the LORD, so affirm it! NET

If you had Malaria but took fake drugs, what happens?

You get worse and may end up dead, right?

But if you took authentic drugs, you feel well before 20 mins. Artesunate does that for me always.

However, there are problems with proving Authenticity by Potency but we have to leave that till next lesson.

May God preserve our lives by the Potency of His Word, IN JESUS NAME.

Join us on Monday, to peruse this insightful and enlightening Sub-Subtopic further.

Keep Shinning!

Brother Prince

Friday, August 04, 2023

08055125517; 08023904307

[yellowaugustnights]

2 ep Nong Last

This is only the second episode, and the series is moving like a freight train at full speed, without stopping. Frankly speaking, I didn't have the strength to take a breath and collect my thoughts. There are a lot of thoughts again, and I can't sort everything out. I watch the entourage, the dialogues, the micro-expressions of the face, and, oh my god, I catch a universal buzz from this series.

I like the balance of power in the episodes: a bit of comedy, a bit of drama. Everything is balanced and measured. We cried a little, and then wiped our snot and went to laugh. I like it, I hope this balance will remain. The way the series started amused me so much. Mork remains himself, but at the same time annoys everyone in his path. With childlike spontaneity, he announces to Ramon that he dressed simply, as she said, said that he cooks at drunken parties, compared Day to an abandoned puppy, made Night disgusting coffee because he is not his servant, but Day's caretaker.

In the opening scene, everything is done in muted gray tones, showing a lot of sharp corners and rectangular shapes. We are shown a large aquarium in which Day lives alone most of the time, and this aquarium with muddy water (gray color) represents at first glance sterility (long corridors), but is filled with danger (sharp corners). I also drew attention to the joint photo of the brothers, warming my heart, and the words about the father of the family. It often happens that these words are just a statement of fact that does not affect the plot in any way, but in this case it seems that there will be a big story behind it. Perhaps the father brought Day into the sport, was his role model, and after he was gone in their life, it had a big impact on Day and the mother threw all her strength to ensure that the younger son did not feel the pain of separation, while Night was older, and, therefore, by according to her estimates, he would be able to cope with this on my own, alone, which, of course, is not always true (okay, time for fucked-up theories).

A wonderful scene in which Mork examines Day's room, trying to create a more accurate characterization of him. A room is almost always a reflection of our souls, and it will tell us even more about us than we do. It is especially well shown that this happens when Day is asleep and cannot somehow interfere with his observation by distracting or rearranging things. Day lives in a dirty, untidy aquarium (chaos is everywhere, clothes are scattered, packages of clean water that have not yet been pulled out of polyethylene), in the dark, but surrounded by his sunny past (many things significant to Day are next to the yellow wall). Mork is told that his task is to take care of Day and ensure his safety, and he does this with great diligence, cleaning his room (aquarium) from what can cause Day's injury, giving him in the future the main tool for dealing with sharp corners - slippers (a patch on the fish in the place where it should be be a pinky? Are you serious? oh fuck), who are the personification of Day himself - a goldfish with a short memory, but, unlike her, everything is fine with his memory and it hurts him from the memories of a cloudless past. By the way, after Mork cleaned up Day's room, brownish colors began to prevail more in the frame (the color of the sandy bottom), and even when gray was present, brown dominated him, eclipsing this color.

Try to get Day out of the room, they say to Mork and he decides to accept this challenge, under any pretexts pulling khun Nu first from his small aquarium (his room) to a larger aquarium (kitchen). Mork earns his salary very well and even does more than what he was told (no one initially talked about walking a goldfish).

He will be softer with me, says Mork Porjai with such a self-confident face that I just sat and nodded like a dummy, smiling. By the way, Mork's stupid courtship reminded me so much of Puen. In fact, I caught the most terrible PuenTalay's vibes in this episode that I had to stop many times to catch my breath. The Queen Vice Versa will spread her charming vibes in every series, believe me.

Well, Day will really become softer by the end of the episode, but for now he just closes the door under Mork's nose, and this scene is just a crown.

I also can't help but mention a couple of funny things related to the Mork, such as breaking flowers in a pot and quickly covering up tracks, throwing spit and cigarette butts from the balcony and of course demonstrating beautiful body parts. The angles here are, of course, magnificent. I've already told, but can Jimmy not lose weight and stay in this shape? He looks really great.

Also Aon. This guy is definitely my favorite. We don't know his background and what a difficult path he went through, accepting his blindness, but now this guy is an absolute chill guru who enjoys his life to the fullest. Girl, whoever it is, you should run with this wonderful guy! I can imagine how happy he will be for Day later when he and Mork go to Songkhla. I told you everything needs time, he'll tell him, and damn it, he'll be right. I like their cute dynamic with Day. And in general, Kun and Sea are similar, aren't they? Both have absolutely charming smiles.

Returning to the topic of Day's seclusion: none of his relatives bothered to hide the sharp corners of the house somehow. You can remove such furniture away, replace it with furniture with rounded corners or cover the corners with a paralon. But the whole house is absolutely not ready for a blind person to live in it, even though a year has passed. No one except Mork thought that even ordinary slippers could make Day's life easier, and after all, he has known him for literally three days. I don't think the technical mindset plays any role here. My boy earns his money well. But at the same time, the family took care to put the breaking dishes on the upper shelves so that Day would not accidentally get hurt, but in his case, this is another reason for Day to feel invisible, because without his knowledge, the shelves were rearranged, and he was not informed, since "I invisible."

Mork already feels responsible for Day. He tries to make it better and more comfortable to the best of his abilities and abilities. He couldn't help his sister when she needed it so much, but now he doesn't want to fuck up and have all the efforts go to the ass. The moment with their hands, the way he felt despair in Day's words and this prompted him to think that he could do something bad to himself, and that he was obliged to prevent it - wow, I just held my breath at that moment, afraid to even squeak. The guilt over his sister's death is much stronger and clearer than he is trying to show in reality. He says it's her fault, while in his eyes there is pain from his own helplessness and the fact that he missed everything. Day wouldn't have been able to blame him for his fear if he had known why Mork had burst in on him at that moment.

Everyone tells Mork that he doesn't understand, and damn it, he's the one who really made an effort to somehow get closer to understanding what Day is feeling right now. Hardly anyone else has done this for Day. My boy Mork, he's so incredible. And, damn it, I'm not going to say here that he earns his money well (I've always said it as a joke, if anything). You are unlikely to do this even for a lot of money. To get into the soul of a guy, trying to understand what he feels, how he feels in the dark among sharp corners, with what trepidation he treats a small fish (this is a gift from Night, God, I love these brothers so much, even if they are still fucked up in their relationship, I will protect you guys) - he did this is because he wanted to, not because "this is an easy job for which money is paid." No one will blindfold in a public place where every dog knows you, because you go there every day, unless you are really curious and want to know about the feelings of another person. The strongest interest has already been from the second episode (he still did not overtake Puen), and then, apparently, these two will catch a real gay panic. The tension in the fitting room is already felt during these three seconds of the promo, what will happen next, uh?

And of course, this:

I can talk for a long time about parallels, about the Little Prince, but it will be so long that I will most likely go crazy before I finish. I also missed a lot of things, for example, Day's panic attack, but only because I no longer know how to denounce my words so that it was at least a little structured, because I had a lot of emotions when I watched it. But, my God, all the work is done with such love, so meticulously, that I admire the whole crew. But also, fuck, why isn't anyone watching this? What's the use of trends if there are no episode views on YouTube? I want to take everyone by the scruff of the neck and put them in front of the TV until they realize that this is a real movie. Why does Nong Last have as many views as a passing series that no one expected? Oh, it's terrible, do people really have no taste or just no one wants to turn on their brains a little to think? In any case, I hope for word of mouth, because such series appear once a year at best and it's just blasphemous to miss it.

[ilalos]

Worth it (Anthony Bridgerton x reader) Part 1/2

Summary: You’re Simon’s cousin and you are ready for your first social season, excited for the courting and dancing. Your plans are shattered when you find yourself in an arranged marriage to none other than Lord Anthony Bridgerton, the one man who avoided love like it was the plague.

Warnings: Mentions of pregnancy, arranged marriage, tiny bit of angst, Anthony is an idiot, if you think of anything else please let me know.

Word count: 2.5k

It was the second season the duke and duchess had the pleasure of enjoying together in their London home. The duke’s household had been rejoicing in the arrival of baby A for a year now and the family was also preparing themselves for the birth of their second child. One might think that they would rather spend these blissful moments away from the chaos that the social season brought, and one might be right.

Simon and Daphne had opted to miss this social season in view of the fact that Daphne would be heavily pregnant when the summer started and would be at risk of having the baby in London instead of the comfort of her home. They chose instead to visit the Bridgerton home before the season started so Daphne could be with her family for a couple weeks with no added stress.

But their plans changed when Simon’s aunt, seeing that they were going to London, decided to ship you, her daughter, with them so you could be part of the social season and hopefully find yourself a husband. The couple had agreed to take you to London and also to chaperone you throughout the social season.

You were a good, polite, and well-prepared lady; your mother had sent you to the finest finishing school in the country to make sure you were molded into the perfect bride. Despite the extensive preparations your mother had subjugated you to, there was one thing they couldn’t take away from you and that was the desire to marry for love. Everyone told you that what mattered was how well you could marry, that you’d eventually grow to tolerate your husband and that your children would give you more than enough joy; but that just didn’t seem enough for you. It didn’t matter how you felt about a loveless marriage though, your mother had been clear when she told you that you had this one season to find a husband and if you didn’t she’d choose for you whomever she seemed fit.

On the day of your arrival you learned she didn’t intend to give you even one season and, with no previous notice to you or him, you were introduced to Anthony Bridgerton as his bride.

Violet Bridgerton had grown tired of her son’s refusal to marry and after pressing him about the matter he admitted he was looking for a wife this season; she didn’t trust him to choose well and when Daphne wrote to her mother about you, she decided it was the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. And so, with your mother’s blessing, Lord Bridgerton was given your hand in marriage.

“I beg your pardon?” Anthony was shocked, to say the least.

“You heard me, son, this is Lady (y/l/n) and she is to be your bride”

You couldn’t think, move or do anything but stand there staring at the man you were supposed to marry. Your mouth opened and closed like a fish and Daphne had to guide you to take a seat because she feared you might faint. Anthony then excused himself and fled to his study with Simon hot on his heels.

“I’m deeply sorry for throwing this at you with no warning, your mother warned that if you were told before you got here you might have refused to come at all” Violet apologized taking a seat in front of you and taking one of your hands between hers.

“Anthony is a wonderful man and I’m certain you will learn to like him, maybe even love him” continued Daphne.

Meanwhile, in Anthony’s office, a similar conversation was being held.

“What excuse do you have now to reject her?” Asked Simon

“I don’t know her, that’s enough to not want this marriage”

“You said you didn’t wish to love the person you had to marry, so I don’t see the big deal in not knowing her” Simon served himself and Anthony a drink as he spoke.

“Even with that being true, I also said she had to be smart and at least interesting to talk to” he took a small sip of his drink “and also that it wouldn’t hurt if she happened to be beautiful”

“And isn’t she?” Simon raised a brow behind his cup before continuing “She is incredibly smart, kind and she also attended the best finishing school available in the London area, which means she is as proper as a lady can be”

“Well yes, but-”

“Your only problem with her is that your mother forced her upon you”

“My only problem is that I saw in her face she had no idea she was betrothed to me, it is not fair for her to be forced to a short and loveless marriage like ours will be” Anthony finished his drink and slammed the cup on his desk, he knew there was no way out of this.

“She, as any lady in the country, knows that her duty is to marry well” Simon placed his cup softly besides Anthony’s “You’re the most desirable bachelor this season, there’s no better man for her if we look at status, money, and age”

Anthony limited himself to roll his eyes and remained silent, he knew Simon was right but it still stung that because of him you were now forced to be married to a man you didn’t love.

“Well, she’ll be a young widow so she’ll eventually have a chance at finding love”

A knock on the door interrupted Simon’s answer and he was thankful because he was quite frankly tired of Anthony’s certainty that he would die young, he understood that Edmund’s death had been hard for him but it was still tiresome to hear him speak like that constantly.

“Yes?” Called Anthony from his desk, prompting Gregory to enter.

“Mother requests both your presences in the dining hall for supper, now”

The rest of the day was uneventful, Anthony refused to speak to you and you were too shocked to utter a single word to anyone. After supper you excused yourself and went to bed early, when you had laid down Daphne entered your room and gave you a letter from your mother before saying good night and wishing you sweet dreams. You sat up and decided to read the letter before bed, maybe it would bring you some comfort.

“My dearest daughter,

If you’ve received this letter it means that you know about your engagement to lord Bridgerton, we couldn’t find a way to tell you because we feared you might refuse to travel to London if you knew. I hope you understand that all I’m trying to do is securing your future, the viscount is a kind man and you’ll be safe with him. I sincerely wish for you to be happy by his side, and maybe even learn to love him.

I know your father is looking down at you proudly and I’m certain he’ll bless your union with happiness, you were his sunshine and he’ll always take care of you no matter where he is, as will I.

Love,

Your mother who loves you”

You couldn’t help but feel angry at your mother for lying to you like that as if you were a child with no control over your own emotions. It would’ve been nice to know about your fate before you got here, it would have saved you from daydreaming about balls and love matches that you now knew were never going to be possible. Still, you were grateful that they had chosen Anthony, they might as well had promised you to an ugly old man. So you fell asleep that night disappointed on the false expectations you were allowed to have, but grateful for having secured the best bachelor in the season without even trying; it might not have been a love match but at least it was a good one.

-this time jump is brought to you by Roma, my golden retriever-

“If we are to be married no matter what, shouldn’t you spare me the pain of courting her?” Anthony was straightening his tie as he spoke to his mother.

“Courting, in this case, isn’t meant to convince her to marry you, it’s so society can see your intentions are respectable” she took over his hands and settled the bow tie once and for all “this ball is the perfect opportunity for everyone to see you both as a couple”

“And you act as if you weren’t already attending for Eloise” Benedict entered the room also dressed for the ball.

“Chaperoning, not dancing” clarified Anthony.

“It’s only one dance, my lord, it will be over before we know it” you had entered the room without anyone noticing and Anthony was a little taken back by your beauty, but recovered quickly enough.

“The dance might be, but the ball will be unending” with that he left the room to go and rush Eloise, they were going to be late.

You frowned a little looking at his retreating form, he hadn’t said anything about the way you looked, not one single compliment for his future wife. Benedict must have noticed your disappointment because he swiftly stepped in to make you feel better.

“You look positively stunning (y/n)” he kissed your hand with a small wink “My brother sure is a lucky man”

“That he is” called Daphne from the door “Here you go darling” he placed a tiara on your head, “I told you it would look wonderful with your dress, now let’s go” she patted your back softly “Simon’s waiting for us in the carriage”

“We’ll see you at the ball, my dear” called Violet seeing her daughter to the door.

The ball was beautiful and you felt overwhelmed by the number of people in the room. Simon and Daphne guided you through the room and you felt everyone’s stares on you, you hadn’t presented before the queen because you were already in courtship with Lord Bridgerton so everyone was seeing you for the very first time.

Daphne had begun to feel tired and Simon had left to fetch her some lemonade while she found somewhere to sit down for a while, leaving you unchaperoned and praying no one would approach you while they were gone.

“Excuse me, miss?” So much for prayers.

“Yes?” Yo faked a smile as best as you could looking at the old man in front of you.

“I see you have so much space in your dancing card, perhaps I could book myself the next dance?” Your card was in fact empty because your darling fiancé had yet to appear.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible Mr. Wyatt, since she’s dancing with me,” said Anthony who had gotten to you just in time.

“Perhaps the next one, then?” Persisted Mr. Wyatt.

“That would be my dance” this time it was Benedict who saved you “Would you look at that? Her card is full, maybe you could try on the next ball” You hadn’t even noticed them scribbling all the Bridgerton’s names on your dancing card until it was full, but it now was and you were thankful for it.

“Thank you so much, I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had had to dance with that man” you thanked Benedict.

“What are brothers for if not to protect future sisters-in-law from dancing with horrid men?” He joked back, making you giggle.

“Well then, let’s have our dance and get this over with” Anthony broke you from your fit of giggles.

“Remember you two, you have to look madly in love” at his brother's comment Anthony only managed to huff some curse words under his breath, dragging you to the dance floor by the wrist.

Once on the dance floor, you both got in position, and when the waltz started you began gliding through the dance floor gracefully.

“For someone who says he doesn’t like balls, you are an exceptional dancer,” you said in a playful tone.

“Mother made us take classes when we were little, any respectable man should be a decent dancer”

“They paid off, it’s a pleasure dancing with you” he didn’t respond to anything so you continued “Are there other talents you are hiding from me, Lord Bridgerton?”

“Not that I’m aware off, miss (y/l/n)” his answer was short and it was clear he didn’t care for conversation.

It had been like this since the two of you had been introduced, any attempt you made to get to know him better was quickly shut down by him. It was as if he wanted to remain a stranger to you, but you were to be married and you at least wanted to know a little about him besides his name and his clear lack of humor.

When the dance ended you left the dance floor and met with Colin by the beverages table.

“Why so sad, love?” The pet name caught you off guard but you assumed it had something to do with the alcohol you could smell on his breath.

“It’s nothing, Colin” you attempted to smile as you served yourself a small glass of lemonade “Have you seen my cousin?” You asked before he continued asking questions.

“He is by those tables with Daphne, a ball is no place for a pregnant lady” Colin pointed to the other corner of the room.

You thanked him and walked to where he had pointed, you were ready to leave, and also what Colin said was true, being in this ball was very stressful for Daphne so the earlier you left the better. Soon you spotted your cousin, his wife, and, to your horror, Anthony.

“Cousin! What are you doing here? I thought you’d be dancing with Benedict” said Simon.

“I was thirsty so I went to get some lemonade, here” you handed a glass to Daphne “I brought you some”

“How nice of you, thank you” she took a small sip “shouldn’t you be having fun? It’s your first ball dear”

“I think I’m quite tired already” you turned to look at Simon “Perhaps we could leave, cousin?”

“If you wish” he looked you up and down, making sure you were alright “Why don’t you and Anthony promenade around the room while I send for the carriage? Just to end the night right, at least in the eyes of the people”

You simply nodded and watched the way Anthony rolled his eyes as he offered you his arm. His plain rejection of you always hurt you, you knew he didn’t love you but never did you expect him to despise you. You walked by his side with a soft smile planted on your face but on the inside, you were hurting because with each day you saw your future clearer, and what the future held for you was being married to a man who could not stand you and would never love you. But then he lead you to your carriage and kissed your cheek when you were out of everyone's view, maybe he didn't find you so bad after all.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Hi! I hope you enjoyed reading this, if you like it let me know i love the feedback. I’m kind of in love with Anthony atm so that’s why this is the second story I’ve written of him. Thanks for reading! :)

[tastesoftamriel]

Hello, Talviel! What are funeral traditions of various races? More precisely, what food traditions do families in mourning have? (for example, where i live, people give little bags with sweets to everyone, strangers and relatives, and have a big feast of food with no eggs or dairy on the day of funeral, and then 40th day and one year, and i was wondering what would different tamrielic traditions be)

Funerary food isn't something I've put huge amounts of thought into, as thankfully I haven't attended many funerals. However, I did a bit of digging and asking around, and managed to put together a list for you.

Altmer

The High Elves, right to the grave, find the need to be grandiose, yet dignified. Funeral wakes are an important social gathering, and no expenses are spared by family or friends when it comes to feasting. Everything from roast duck pancakes to almond-stuffed heron breast and vegetable tartines are on offer (as well as a lot of wine), and the more extravagant the feast, the more loved an Altmer was.

Argonians

Funerals are taken very seriously in Argonian customs, and it is traditional, especially for prominent community members, for members of a tribe to band together and make a large, fermented fruit and honey cake that symbolises the life of an individual. The cake is shared amongst funeral guests, but a large chunk is also left as an offering by the grave stake.

Bosmer

The Bosmer tend to save their precious rotmeth for special occasions, funerals included. A special dish of ground bone meal, minced meat, butter, and marrow is commonly eaten at the wake, and washed down with rotmeth as it's quite a dry dish. And no, I'm not going to be elaborating on eating the dead.

Bretons

Casserole dishes are the most common sight at funerals in High Rock, because they're easy to make and feed plenty of people. Macaroni bakes with chicken, tuna, spinach, or cheese are the most common, as well as dishes like fish pie, meatloaf, and scalloped potatoes. It's all hearty, homey food that will temporarily help you forget your sorrows.

Dunmer

House Dunmer funerary practices have thus far been closed to me as an outlander, so I can only speak of one Ashlander funeral I attended. Traditionally, baked ash yams are offered to the dead by each funeral guest, which are then mashed together with a paste of comberry, saltrice, canis root, and gold kanet. The mashed yam is served hot with a rich bone broth, and is eaten together in silence.

Imperials

The Cyrodiilic tradition for those who worship the Nine is generally a full spread of food with as many comforting small dishes as possible. Usually, friends and family will bring a dish each, leading to proper feasts if the deceased was popular. While there is no specific taboo on what foods can or cannot be eaten, strong flavours are uncommon and sometimes even frowned upon. Things you can expect to find are slaughterfish cakes, dill salad, grilled haloumi, and eggplant bake.

Khajiit

Moon sugar sweetens an otherwise painful affair when death is concerned in Elsweyr, and flavours are used to convey the unique characteristics of every Khajiit's life. Normally, a dish for every emotion is served: steamed bittergourd to represent bitterness, chilis to represent passion, and sour to represent surprise. Moon sugar, used ritually, reflects the Sands Behind the Stars. Loved ones carefully curate a flavour map of every life, making sure that their memory lingers on in every bite of moon sugar ever after.

Nords

In Skyrim, everyone wants to go to Sovngarde one day. When someone dies, we customarily eat what myths tell us of the food in Sovngarde (which I've seen with my own eyes and can personally attest to). Barrels of ale and mead are there to drown your sorrow, and there is an abundance of roasted meats, bread, entire cheese wheels, desserts, and much more. Different Holds also have different traditions; for example, Haafingar funerals always feature cinnamon donuts.

Orcs

Nobody puts the fun in funeral like the Orcs, which can sometimes be shocking to outsiders. Feasts are standard in clan strongholds, but feature a staple number of dishes. Fried polenta with glacier tomatoes, spit-roasted mammoth, game stew, cheese pasties, and all the bread you can eat are usually present, as well as any dishes favoured by the deceased. I once heard of a chieftain's son who loved taffy treats so much that he had an entire hill of them in the centre of the courtyard for his funeral.

Redguards

Funerals are a sombre affair for the Redguards, so food is not of huge importance. Usually, small snacks and canapés will be on offer, as well as wine and cold water. Like the Imperials, the normally flavourful local tastes are toned down out of respect for the dead. Mint yoghurt with pulled lamb on flatbread, falafel, and baked eggplant are some of the things you can expect.

[highdramas]

forever is the sweetest con | b.b.

𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝'𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 | 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

pairing: bucky barnes x reader

warnings: language and tfatws spoilers? not really but just in case

word count: 2167

summary: bucky makes a friend in his neighbor and her cat.

note: hiiiii so happy that so many people enjoyed the world's a little blurry! i am going to be writing multiple one shots, all connecting and showing little snapshots from the life of bucky and the reader <3 you don't have to read them in order, but reading all of them will help you better understand the relationship!

enjoy! <3

“stupid fucking thing.”

the swearing followed by incoherent irritable grumbling is like a dog whistle to bucky barnes. he’s standing outside of his apartment, lingering in the hallway, waiting to see if the person will speak again. to the surprise of no one, bucky hasn’t put much effort into getting to know his neighbors. he gives curt nods as he passes them in the hallway, tries his best to muster a smile when he gets caught at the mailbox beside someone else. he thinks that it looks more like a grimace than anything, but still-- it’s something.

“son of a bitch.”

the voice is feminine, and it is angry. he’s trying to discern if there is any immediate distress, and if there is-- maybe he can help. he’s pulled from his thoughts quickly as a door swings open and a large box is thrown out onto the doorstep. “fucking hell.”

the door doesn’t close. it stays open, still swinging, as if recoiling from the force in which it was tossed open. bucky could very easily continue on his way to his apartment, put away the few groceries he had purchased-- mostly pasta and cereal-- and spend his evening how he spends most evenings. fighting off sleep, because he knows what comes the moment consciousness fades and the darkness swallows him whole.

but he doesn’t.

instead, he dashes to his door and places the bag at the entryway, turning back on his heel. he fiddles with his gloves as he grows closer and closer to the door. and then, he sees you.

bucky can’t see much-- the door is only cracked. but what he can see almost makes him laugh. you’re huddled over what he assumes is a cat tower. well, a sorry excuse for a cat tower, really-- it’s half put together with miscellaneous pieces strewn all around you. you seem to be studying the instruction manual, flipping through it before you eventually toss it to the side. “kitty, i don’t know about all of this,” he hears you say.

again, there are multiple options here in terms of what bucky can do. he can leave now, pretend he never saw anything. he can check on you, and then… and then what? he doesn’t know.

he knocks.

bucky takes a step back as you scramble to your feet, pushing your hair back. you open the door and up at the stranger. “hi.” the word is short, and he can tell that you are not in a good mood. “if you’re going to bitch me out about the noise, i’m sorry. i bought a new cat tower for my cat, and it’s a bitch to put together. and i hate building anything, so i’m basically useless.” you suck in a breath and muster a smile. “so, like i said. sorry. i’ll be a better neighbor tomorrow.”

you go to close the door, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing when he blurts-- “wait-- no.” he shakes his head, clears his throat. “no, i wasn’t gonna bitch you out. i was--”

what was he going to say? what was he going to do?

“i was going to say i could help. if you want.” he clears his throat and rubs at his chin with a gloved hand. “i’m alright at putting furniture together.”

you linger in the doorway and look at him. though there are countless people who look at him every day, oftentimes, bucky doesn’t feel like he’s being recognized. sometimes he wonders if he is secretly invisible, drifting through this too-long life as a ghost. but the look you give him is piercing, and the smile that follows makes his heart stop in his chest.

“i’m not gonna turn down someone building this god forsaken thing for me,” you open the door wider. “come on in.”

--

bucky finishes his handiwork on the cat tower within thirty minutes, but something about you draws him in, and now it has been an hour and a half and he has not tired of your company.

you are very charming. that is the first thing that bucky notices about you. and it’s not just your personality, either. everything in your apartment seems to drip in you. there is no wall that is bare, there are different colored lights twinkling around each window, plants galore. it makes him almost feel embarrassed about the state of his own home. if you can even call it that.

it’s not a home. it’s a place where he fights off his demons and drinks cheap beer and pretends that he is okay, pretends that he is not alone, pretends that he doesn’t need sam or his therapist or anyone else in order to figure out how to live in the present.

but yours. yours is a home.

there’s a pang of jealousy, nestled deep in his heart. he doesn’t care if the thought is unreachable for someone like him, someone who has done the sort of things that he has done-- he wants it.

the thought will never reach the light of day, of course. no, it will stay buried in his belly, churning with the guilt and the anguish and the loneliness, too.

“you good over there?”

“huh?”

bucky looks up to see that you’re looking at him. your head is tilted and your mouth slightly agape, and the look… he can’t quite place it. it’s more confusion and less concern, and in a weird way, he likes that. “yeah. i’m fine.”

he’s confused by the way that the corner of your mouth turns up. “you’re a good liar,” is all that you quip before you push up off the ground, dusting off your leggings. “do you like pizza? i’m starving, and i would cook us something, but i don’t want to subject you to that. my mom says the only thing i should ever make is cereal, and even that’s pushing it. says i use too much milk.”

bucky laughs.

and it shocks him. it takes no thought at all to laugh at your words, your charm, the way that you carry yourself with such easy self deprecating humor. you make him laugh.

you, on the other hand, don’t think anything of it. you raise your eyebrows at him. “well? it’s pizza or we’re eating two big bowls of honey nut cheerios.”

“pizza is good.”

you bite down on your lip and you nod, fishing your phone from your back pocket. “great.”

bucky studies you as you order the food.

he’s learning that there are many things that he envies you for.

every muscle in your body is loose and relaxed. you don’t walk, you seem to float-- drifting in and out of rooms, brushing past him, as if you’re made up of nothing but air and stardust. you joke with the employee on the other line and then you hang up and look back to him. “i said we’d go and pick it up. it’s my favorite place, just down the street.”

“yeah, that sounds nice.”

bucky follows your lead. he’d never taken off his jacket, or his gloves, but you hadn’t made a comment about them. you scramble into clothing suitable for a new york winter and then grin at him, face slightly obscured by the massive scarf. “ready?”

he nods, and then you set out. you’re quiet for a few moments, before you say, “you’re bucky, right?”

there’s a silence that settles between you, as if some jig is now up. you glance over at him. “that’s not a bad thing,” you say softly. “or an insult.”

“yeah, i know.” his elbow knocks against yours lightly. “but, yeah. i am.”

you nod and offer your own name in return, and that is that. you don’t allude to anything else that you might or might not about him, his past, or the fact that he was used as a hydra weapon for a majority of his life, now thrust into a brand new century. no, all you do is say, “bucky’s a nice name.”

“thanks, doll.”

the pet name rolls off of his tongue so easily, like breathing. he stops for a moment, leaning into the urge to be embarrassed, but you don’t let him. “no one’s ever called me that before,” you say, brushing against his arm. “i like it.”

“it’s what all the guys used to call their girls.” he stops. “not that, you know--”

“yeah, i know,” you laugh. “i know what you meant.” you glance up at him again. “like i said, i like it.”

bucky swallows his nervousness and instead comes reassurance at your words. “i can keep callin’ you doll, if you really like it that much.”

playfulness. ease. comfort. things he has not felt in so long-- yori has tried to pull them out of him when it comes to women, but it has always felt forced, too fast, not right. this feels right.

“you make it sound like it’s such a chore!” you gape at him, but your voice is not malicious in the slightest. you are holding james buchanan barnes in the palm of your hand and you do not even know it.

“it’s not a chore,” bucky reassures. “trust me.”

“whatever you say,” you point to a small hole in the wall shop. “this is it.”

bucky holds the door open for you and you smile and wink as a thank you and god it sends his mind spinning, intoxicated by even the look that you give him. your name is performed like a symphony by every employee in the shop-- they all grin and wave, some make small talk. they eye bucky who stands a step behind you. but you turn and you place a hand on his forearm and even through all of the layers he swears that your touch burns. “this is my neighbor--” you look to him.

bucky clears his throats and he musters a smile, somewhere between his normal grimace and the smile that only seems to form in your presence. “james.”

they greet bucky with kindness and send the both of you on your way with the large pizza and a free liter of diet coke. “her favorite,” the owner says pointedly, winking to you. “we’re always trying to tell her to stop. maybe you can get her to knock the habit.”

“i don’t think anyone can get me to stop drinking diet coke,” you joke, looking at bucky with a level of fondness. “but he can certainly try.”

“i’ll give it a valiant effort,” bucky says and he tips his head to everyone before he opens the door for you once more. he holds the pizza and you hold the soda, tucked beneath your arm, and you make the trek back to your apartment in comforting quiet.

bucky learns that you don’t have a dining room table. you call it a waste of space, so you two sit in front of your coffee table on floor pillows, eating off mismatched plates and drinking the diet coke out of mugs from the thrift store you frequent.

the night is growing quieter, and you think that both you and bucky sense that it is coming to an end. you think you might be a bit addicted to being around him. he reminds you of the smell after it rains and black coffee, of laughter under neon lights and gentleness.

bucky is beginning to gather his things to leave when a meow turns both of your heads. your eyes light up. “hi baby,” you coo and the cat goes right to you and you scoop her up in your arms, presenting her to bucky. “this is katherine. or kitty, as i call her. she’s normally pretty scared of people.”

bucky hesitates, looking between you and the cat. finally, his hand reaches out and scratches kitty beneath the chin. she purrs almost instantly, nuzzling her face into his hand. you watch, somewhere in between shocked and amazed, as bucky interacts with her. “no, i swear, she hates people.” you pause. “wanna hold her?”

“oh, i don’t know…”

you raise your eyebrows and then he looks back at the cat, who gives a yap. it seems to say: please? he huffs and it fades into a smile and he holds his arms out. you set kitty into them and watch as she curls into him, rubbing the top of her head against his chin.

a girlish laugh bubbles from the deep pit of you belly and you clasp your hands together in front of you, watching with hearts in your eyes. the corner of his mouth turns up as he continues to pet the cat.

“bucky,” you say, putting a hand on your hip. “i hate to inform you, she’s never gonna let you go now.”

bucky looks up at you through his lashes. you, with your easy and calm demeanor, your loud laugh and your inability to build even the simplest of furniture.

“i think i’m okay with that.”

[riddlecrux]

What is past is present: Azriel and Elain, Helion and Lady of Autumn Court

This post is going to be a long one. I will be talking about parallels between Helion - Lady of Autumn Court - Beron and Azriel - Elain - Lucien situation. How their relationships mirror each other, how the blood duel mentioned in ACOSF and ACOWAR will come to an end, but also how the first triangle was used as a plot device in ACOWAR. I believe it is not a coincidence that SJM decided to put these scenes and histories in the same book with such a short span of time passing between things happening on the pages of their story. I would like to say that this post is a pro Elriel meta, so if they are not your cup of tea please scroll past this. Many thanks to Gardening Tools, especially @silverlinedeyes !

We are going to start with the Lady of Autumn Court and the scene at the High Lord’s council. She is there with her husband, Beron and as the conversation surrounding Hybern increases in intensity, we are presented with a bit of background information about the Lady.

Lady of the Autumn Court had 2 sisters that died during Hybern's soldiers' attack. We got to see another family of three sisters, two of them dying for their sister. What's even more important is a mention of Hybern's war camps and how it's very unlikely for anyone to survive their time there.

Here Beron taunts Kallias by telling his mate that Hybern and his people probably torture and abuse women before killing them. (Please be sure to remember that because we're going to go back to this notion later in this post.)

Another big insight about Lady's life and this particular accident comes from no one else but Helion.

Few things that are very important to mention: - she had already given birth to a few of her children - Hybern directly attacked the estate they were in - her sisters let her run away because they loved her - she tried to fight and stay with them till they convinced her to run - the beasts sent by Hybern tailed her and finally cornered her in a trap

What Feyre says in this particular scene - about Helion knowing too many details holds great importance for the further quotes. We also get to know that, in fact, it was Helion who rescued the Lady - not only saved but found her. The setup, the build-up and the fact that it wasn't her "husband" that came for her are the main things I wish to bring attention to, as we are going to analyze different scenes from the same book with this knowledge.

He could have ended it differently, yet he didn't. Why? The question seems to be imprinted in Feyre's mind as she tries to connect the dots and points she was given, just like us readers. I do believe that what we are being presented with is the notion of the mating bond. Helion's rage at Lady's attack projects typical mate behavior - such as unnecessary violence against the ones who dared to hurt their mate. It also goes with the information of him finding her - how was that possible? Her husband wasn't there, it was Helion who essentially knew that something was wrong. How? Well, by applying the mating bond in this picture we can easily deduct few things: Helion probably felt her distraught through the bond, was able to locate her and save her.

Another insight given by Helion is about Lady's relationship with Beron. Not only it gives us information about her young age (cue to Rhysand's mother and how her young age was also brought up as something very disturbing and not in favour of some mating bonds), but also we get to know that her marriage was arranged. Just like the reader, Feyre is left with these very personal insights and detailed descriptions - so she presses Helion more, to speak, to see if her suspicions are correct.

Another person jumps into the conversation and it is Mor who hands the information of a possible romance between Lady and Helion. We learn that both of them met at an equinox ball before she was proposed with an arranged marriage with Beron. Feyre's curiosity is evident in the way she perks up at Mor's words. Helion on the other hand counter-attacks and provides us with the political background of the story. The Lady was basically left without a choice when it came to her love life.

Helion saved Beron's wife during the war. And Beron didn't know and still doesn't have an idea that it was Helion who saved the Lady.

Feyre tries to fish for more information - and Helion seems to be very reluctant to answer her question about his relationship with the Lady. It makes us think that, in fact, their relationship was somehow forbidden, being kept in secret. Moreover, what's even more interesting is the fact that we suddenly have a shift of focus on another person - Azriel. We are deliberately made aware of the fact that Azriel is listening to this important conversation.

We are starting to see Helion becoming slightly less humorous - Feyre can spot the difference between his usual self and the way he delivers his question. It suggests that the relationship and potential mating bond is a very touchy subject for him.

Their forbidden relationship went on for decades. They were secret lovers till Beron found about them. We see that contrast between the Lady with Helion - all brightness and smiles, Lady with Beron - withdrawn, timid, scared.

I clenched my teeth. “If you were her lover, why didn’t you stop it?” The wrong thing to say. Utterly wrong, by the dark fury that rippled across Helion’s face. “Beron is a High Lord, and she is his wife, mother of his brood. She chose to stay. Chose. And with the protocols and rules, Lady, you will find that most situations like the one you were in do not end well for those who interfere.”

Helion reacts with anger at Feyre's inquiry about his lack of participation in the case of the Lady's wellbeing. "Dark fury rippling across Helion's face" is also an interesting word choice. Again we are reminded that their romance was meant to end that way due to the notions of choice and politics.

“Beron never called you out for it?” “To publicly do so would be to admit that his possession made a fool of him. So we continue our little dance, these centuries later.” I somehow doubted that beneath that roguish charm and irreverence, Helion felt it was a dance at all.

Helion reminds us about politics that bind different Courts - in this case, we can easily see that the matter of choice in this example ends with Lady choosing duty over love. It also supplies us with an idea that if Helion would have wanted to fight for Lady he would need to participate in a blood duel. Yet, the Lady chose Beron - we don't know why Helion probably was left alone with the same question. However, by analyzing this situation I believe that Lady knew about the possibility of a blood duel happening she didn't want her potential mate to be hurt. So, in the end, she opted for a life in a loveless marriage with Beron. Furthermore, we have Rhysand and Feyre coming to the conclusion that Lucien is Helion's son - and he is the fruit of the loving relationship between Helion and the Lady.

What does this mean, though? Nothing—ultimately nothing. Other than the fact that Lucien might be Helion’s sole heir. And that … it changed nothing in this war. Especially not with Lucien on the continent, hunting that enchanted queen. A bird of flame … and a lord of fire. I wondered if they’d found each other yet.

The usage of the word "this war" is not a coincidence, as well as Rhysand's poor prediction of the future. Because as we know, right now - it changes a lot. Elain being his mate bounds him to the Night Court, so losing that relationship puts the Court at risk. Especially now, when Lucien doesn't know that Helion is his father. Another very important addition is the part about Lucien and Vassa. Feyre has prophetic tendencies and her thoughts about both Vassa and Lucien always focus on their... relationship. Not to mention that it was brought up after that whole conversation with Helion. With all these things above, I would like to move on to Elriel parallels. Starting with the Cauldron kidnapping Elain. Please bear in mind that this scene happens after the meeting with Helion, after learning about the story of Lady's and Helion's romance.

But Azriel asked softly, “What about Elain?”

The one who noticed that Elain was absent was Azriel, we can speculate whatever it was his intuition, his shadows, or perhaps some kind of feeling that made him aware of her absence. Yet, it's not a coincidence that another male character, the one who doesn't have an official mate is the only one who either felt/realized that she was taken. That's the first parallel I would love to bring to your attention - Helion was the one who found and rescued the Lady. Now, the situation is almost identical - Hybern attacks via Cauldron takes Elain to the war camps.

And what Hybern would do to Elain, might already be doing— From the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, “I’m getting her back.” Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azriel’s hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, “Then you will die.” Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, “I’m getting her back.”

Azriel reacts with rage, a silent debate raging within him. He is battling something deep inside him, which is obstructed from the reader's point of view. I wonder why? He is the one who swears to find her and rescue her. Also, worth mentioning how Feyre seems to realize the graveness of the situation - as if she can remember the conversation she had with Helion about what happened with sisters of the Lady of Autumn Court. War camps. Nobody would walk away from them alive.

We looked to Rhys, to Cassian and Nesta, to Mor—right as she appeared, breathless, between the tent flaps. Her eyes went to me, then the shadowsinger, and flared with shock and fear—

In this scene we also have Mor. Mor was present during Helion's conversation and gave input about their love and forbidden relationship. Mor that possess the power of Truth. Is it possible that Mor knew about the mating bond between Helion and the Lady? Is it possible that Mor knows about the truth of the mating bond between Lucien and Elain? Does Mor know about the potential mating bond between Azriel and Elain? There are so many questions and we don't get an answer. Mor keeps secrets, which is understandable yet it provides a whole new aspect of Mor being the one who realizes what's happening. (Not to mention that Mor is always present when Elain is with Lucien, assessing them.)

Screaming. A shadow gripped my shoulder, reminding me not to run. Ianthe would not run—would not show alarm. My mouth went dry as that scream sounded again. I couldn’t bear it—to let it go on, to see what was being done— Azriel’s shadow-hand grasped my own, tugging me closer. His rage rippled off his invisible form.

It is Azriel who reacts once again with - rage. At the thought of Elain being tortured, abused, or being killed. Feyre can't stomach the idea of what is happening to her sister in this war camp.

I could feel Jurian’s smile against my ear. “She’s in his tent. Chained with steel and a little spell from his favorite book.” Shit. Shit. Perhaps I should have gotten Helion, who could break almost any—

The mention of Helion is such a beautiful parallel. We, as readers, are amidst a rescue mission. A situation that was very similarly described few chapters before, a situation in which it was Helion in Azriel's shoes. In the past it was - Helion and Lady, here in the "future" we have - Azriel and Elain. The same circumstances - Hybern attack/Hybern powers, three sisters, and the only one is targeted, a savior that isn't husband/mate finding and rescuing the girl.

Azriel gently removed the gag from her mouth. “Are you hurt?” She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. “You came for me.” The shadowsinger only inclined his head.

I could write a whole meta about this quote because it's ridden with such enormous parallels and foreshadowing. Let's start with the simplest one, which is the word "devour". It has very strong connections to physicality, it basically means that Elain greedily took him in, he was her focal point at that moment. Also, the following addition of her not quite believing that, in fact, it is Azriel who arrived before her - she hadn't expected him to rescue her and you may be wondering why? It all beautifully goes with the idea of two mates/true mates theories - what is making me say this with so much certainty? Well, first of all, ACOWAR is full of descriptions of how a healthy mating bond works, for example, Feysand one. It's a bridge connecting two souls through which our emotions, thoughts can be perceived for the other person.

Find me, find me, find me, I tried shouting down that bond. But my mate’s wry voice didn’t answer. There was only the roaring void.

This happens at the begging of ACOWAR when Feyre tries to communicate with Rhysand through their mating bond. I find it very interesting that throughout the whole book the trope of "finding your true love, significant other" is very persistent. This brings me back to the theory that both Azriel and Helion heard their mates' cries of help and that's how they were able to rescue them and find them. In addition to that Elain's "you came for me" is striking so many questions. What does she mean? Why is she so docile and peaceful? As if she somehow had an idea that someone will come for her - did she perhaps inwardly call through the mating bond? This, again, brings us to another parallel - Beron doesn't know that it was Helion who rescued the Lady. Lucien doesn't know that it was Azriel who saved Elain - which, we really don't know if he even felt/knew that something has happened.

The hounds closed in, two breaking away—to cut to the side. To herd us. For that was a cliff at the other edge of the camp. A cliff with a very, very long drop, and unforgiving river below.

I'm bringing this up because the setting is oddly familiar with the run of Lady of Autumn's one. The isolated place, a trap etc.

Azriel’s roar echoed off the rocks as the hound slammed into him, dragging those shredding talons down his spine, his wings— The girl screamed, but Elain moved. As Azriel battled to keep them airborne, keep his grip on them, my sister sent a fierce kick into the beast’s face. Its eye. Another. Another. It bellowed, and Elain slammed her bare, muddy foot into its face again. The blow struck home. With a yelp of pain, it released its claws—and plunged into the ravine.

Parallel on parallel. We have Hybern's beasts, we have a similar setting again and fight. What is different, however, is that in Helion's case it was solely him that destroyed beasts while rescuing the Lady. Here, however, it is Elain that fights against beasts - she who had never trained, she who is a gardener is fighting against evil. She is kicking as the beasts hurt Azriel. She took the initiative and killed the beast at that moment when they previously hurt Azriel. Also, the most beautiful comparison in my opinion is the fact that after Elain knocks the beast it falls down the ravine, dying. It is somehow very symbolic that Elain kills the beast that falls into the ravine, whereas Lady of Autumn is stuck in the ravine as beasts approach her and it is the moment when Helion saves her.

The gray light of morning had broken over the world, mist clinging to our ankles as we headed into that camp, Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest. He dripped blood behind him the entire time—a trickle compared to the torrent that should be leaking out.

After that intense battle, they arrive in the safety, but Azriel still holds on Elain even if he himself is bleeding all over the place.

Rhys lunged for Azriel, taking Elain from him and gently setting my sister down. Azriel rasped, swaying on his feet, “We need Helion to get these chains off her.” Yet Elain didn’t seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger’s cheek.

Another mention of Helion in that very parallel setting. He was very present during the rescue mission, which is a neat way of showering the audience with foreshadowing. If I wanted to indulge even more in the symbolism of this scene, I would point out that the chains on Elain are very symbolic as well. They could either mean the restrain of her powers, but also the chains of the "lack of freedom", "lack of choice". Being freed by both Azriel and Helion is something that I believe is very important to remember while waiting for the next book. Because even if Elain is a mirror to Lady - Elain will change the course of her story. Elain is going to choose love over duty, she will choose Azriel - which ends with them discovering that, in fact, the bond was there from the beginning. Helion getting rid of those chains is also a metaphor for what is to come. He will break Lady's chains by fighting with Beron during the blood duel. In this timeline, Azriel and Elain are symbolism of healthy love, mating bond, freedom of choice. Lucien doesn't mirror Beron, because he himself doesn't want to be with Elain since both of them don't feel comfortable with each other, they are making each other miserable. Not to mention the fact that their mating bond is... very weak and through the ACOWAR and ACOSF we see that it is different from the true mating bonds that are present in the universe. Azriel-Elain-Lucien triangle will break the past wheel of unhappiness and forced love, changing it by their own rules of free choice. As for Helion-Lady-Beron love story, if I may be so bold, the blood duel is going to happen and Beron will die - freeing Lady and Helion from him and politics that kept them away. If you are still not sure if these two situations are foreshadowing I would love to put this quote as the ending of this very long meta.

Azriel shrugged. “We—Rhys, Cass, and I—will occasionally remind each other that what we think to be our greatest weakness can sometimes be our biggest strength. And that the most unlikely person can alter the course of history.”

And as you can guess, that very unlikely person who altered the course of history in ACOWAR was Elain when she killed King of Hybern.

[modx-reborn]

A Sight to remember

A little something for tiding things over till I’m done with my other fics.

This one’s a little more solo with another person present, but here’s to it still holding up okay.

SMUT UNDERCUT! MINORS DNI!

Wilburs visit to his fathers was planned, a quick visit to keep him happy and away from what he was planning out in the off area of Las Nevadas, only finding out that you were there as well shifted his plans just a plain family dinner to something more self-serving, all he had to do was get you alone for a moment.

In the dark it is easy to forget that there were others in the house, others that might walk in, and see just what was happening in the shadows, people that would rather not see what was about to unfold. The others being Wilbur’s father, Philza in particular the one who had kept you from him and driven him to act out the moment the lights dimmed and you were away from everyone else.

Long pale fingers spread wide across your skin, holding you so gently despite what was planned by the man that loomed over you, eyes tracing across every plain and curve thinking and planning to himself just what he would do with you, after all, you had been kept from him for the entire day. Locked away and kept from him by shooing hands that told Wilbur to leave you be, that he could see you later.

Since he had managed to catch a glimpse of you earlier before his father had ushered you off, all he could think about was how you’d look under him, how you would feel in his hands, how fantastic it would be with you once again. Only now that he had you, his brain was working a mile a minute to figure out where to start.

Does he use his mouth? Press endless kisses to your skin and tease this out and edge the idea of getting caught? Or does he rush it now, getting all he can in these moments and whisk you away from this place, giving Philza a thin excuse for why you had disappeared and for why he had to leave as well?

No matter what he doses he would need to act fast, not only was there the overhanging threat of being caught but more importantly, the press of his cock against the zipper of his pants was becoming too distracting to keeping ignoring. One of his hands still pressed to you, as the other worked his pants down enough to relieve the pressure but not yet pulling himself free of his breifs, keeping you pinned to the kitchen bench so he could lean over you.

His free hand is shaky when he reaches down his fingers barely brushing against himself when he finally starts to speak out loud the words that had begun to brew in his mind, lips moving faster than the hand still teasing against himself, this whole scene something more for Wilbur then you and that was clear with how all he has done is tease your skin with his lips and keeping you pressed to the benchtop beneath you.

“Fucking kept you from me all day, told me to leave you be. Had you locked away and all alone, can’t have that…”

Another fleeting brush of his lips against you, never really committing to the act of kissing you when he was still so lost in his own world, his own fingers now fully pulling himself free of his breifs to wrap a hand around his cock, using his pre-cum to slightly slick his hand as he begins pumping away.

“Been too long… Fuck, so good to be close to you again. Feel so good against my lips, bet you would feel even better insi-”

His voice faltering as he picks up the pace, the hand that had been pressed to your skin moving, seeking out to trace your shape as if you were going to disappear at any moment, lingering against your cheeks and sliding down before stopping just short of your centre. The feeling of Wilbur’s hot breath against you is all you have as he works himself to completion, lips moving as he mutters something that you can’t catch, knees banging against the counter as he cums.

White staining his hands, just as the lights of the kitchen flicker on, ever thankful for how he has hunched over and the long coat he had favoured to hide his still hard dick from the sight of his father, face flushed twice over with shame and exertion when he whips it around to look his father in the eye.

One hand still pressed to you, keeping you pinned to the bentching as the stained one works quickly to tuck himself away and wipe away the evidence of what he had done. Mouth opening and closing under the scrutiny of his father, barely able to start a sentence before being cut off by Philza.

“Really mate? I told you to leave it alone, and you go and do this?”

“Phil… I. It’s not-”

“Stop. I don’t want o-or need to know, just no.”

Two steps are all it takes for Philza to cross the kitchen and pull the fish from the bench, no longer cold or likely edible after how longer his son had had it out while he… Entertained himself.

“Honestly I should have known better… But mate, you really need to sort your shit out. Just go do something else, I’m gonna give this to techno’s dogs or something, or well I will after I wash it. Again.”

Sidestepping the lanky form of his son still slightly hunched over by his kitchen bench, Philza is quick to run the fish he had planned to use for the dinner with Wilbur under some water, hoping beyond hope that nothing more had touched the meat. The last thing he needed was to feed something like that to his friend’s animals, or well for him to even be touching.

There was a speedy noise of shoes clunking against the floor and the door slamming shut, lord, knows when Wilbur will be back or even if the two of them would be able to sit and have dinner that night without the lingering idea of what had happened in the kitchen not moments earlier.

“Really should have known better than salmon for dinner with Wil…”