#oh and the night man cometh

[saunter-vaguely-into-the-shadows]

@makesnonoise

in the tags: what are yalls comfort iasip episodes?

[alovesongtheywrote]

i NEED another nightmare academia part pleassseeeee *grabby hands*

♥ Summary: well... here it is! in this chapter of nightmare academia, things go south. [Prof!Spencer Reid x GN-Prof!Reader]

♥ Warnings: self doubt, angst, mentions of maeve. in other words, things were too happy and they're about to get sad

♥ A/N: plotman cometh

♥ Word Count: 2136

Series Masterlist

♥♥♥

Spencer didn’t sleep that night.  He’d left late, waiting for the red and blue lights of the police cruiser to leave before he let himself go home.  The train ride back was hazy at best.  He couldn’t focus on his surroundings, on the fuzzy announcements from the Metro intercom overhead, or the people around him.

The only thing on his mind was you.  The warmth of your smile, the feeling of your hand in his, the way you said his name- “It’s basic decency, Spencer.”  Maybe that was a pathetic thing to focus on, but it wasn’t like he had a choice.  His mind played the memory over and over again in perfect clarity.  He could still feel the buzz that had washed over him when you said his name for the first time- and he could still feel the agony he felt when he realized he’d made you cry.  

He had a lot of thoughts to think about you- and the more he explored them, the deeper he dove into the recesses of his mind, the more unsettled he became.  He hadn’t felt this way in a while.  The last time he did, the object of those feelings was brutally murdered in front of him- and he never got to say a proper goodbye.  His guilt consumed him almost as much as his affection for you.

So, yeah.  Lots to think about.  Sleep was a worthy sacrifice.

The following morning, he dragged himself to his office, limbs heavy with exhaustion and eyes sore from unshed tears.  He thought he might buy some time for himself.  He thought he might be able to steal a quick nap before his first class of the day.

He was wrong.

“Hey pretty Ricky, long time no see.”

Spencer flung his phone at Morgan on pure instinct.  Morgan caught it with no issue, raising an eyebrow as Spencer doubled over, painting.

“You didn’t tell me you could throw like that.  Is everything okay, Reid?”

“Yeah, no, it’s- it’s fine.  You just surprised me.”

“You don’t usually throw your phone when you’re surprised.  What’s up, kid?”

“Nothing!  It’s nothing.  I just didn’t get much sleep last night,” Spencer rubbed at his temples, “So, what are you doing here?  You aren’t looking to register for classes, are you?”

“No,” Morgan set Spencer’s phone down on the desk, “There’s a case near here, the team came in to investigate.  I decided to check in on you, see how you’re doing.”

“Well, I’m doing fine, thanks.  I appreciate you checking in.”

“Are you fine, though?  Really?”

“Morgan, I told you I’m-”

The door slammed open.  Spencer jumped again, bringing a hand to his chest to calm his racing heart.  It was you.  It was only you.

“Hey, Reid, I need you to look at this thing one of my kids wrote, because I can’t understand it, even with the English degree-” you stopped, suddenly realizing you were interrupting a conversation.

“Oh,” you tapped the door a few times, your wide eyes darting between Spencer and Morgan, “Hi.”

A sense of dread draped over Spencer like the world’s worst weighted blanket.  His heart was still beating a million miles a minute.  He tried to keep the smile off of his face, tried to keep his skin from warming a few degrees.  He could feel the physiological signs of affection and he denied them.  He refused, willing himself to feel contempt at the sight of your face.  He failed.

Morgan, on the other hand, felt no conflict.  The man was very clearly delighted.  A massive grin crossed his face as he held out a large hand for you to shake.

“You must be Dr. (L/N).  We spoke on the phone- but Spencer didn’t tell the team that you’re so gorgeous.”

“He wouldn't,” you grinned, clutching your papers to your chest as you reached to shake Morgan’s hand, “We aren’t really friends- we’re more like angry acquaintances.”  

The agent laughed, a warm and inviting sound that put any unease you had to rest.  Spencer could not say the same.  He bit down on his tongue until it stung.  He wasn’t sure if he was hurt that you didn’t see him as a friend, or if he was relieved.

“What did you want to show me, Dr. (L/N)?”

You paused for a fraction of a second at your formal title.  You hadn’t expected to hear it coming from Spencer.  Jumping back into motion, you passed the stack of paper to him.

“It’s circled in red, you can’t miss it.”

Indeed, the confounding sentence was, very much, circled in red- and it was very much indecipherable.  Spencer genuinely couldn’t tell what the fuck that sentence was supposed to mean.  For a moment, all the worries evaporated from his brain as he set out to solve the literary puzzle before him.

Meanwhile, you and Morgan continued your discussion- and with Spencer distracted, you were pretty much unsupervised.

“So, what’s Reid like as a professor?  Does he still go on those tangents?”

“From what I’ve heard, he’s excellent.  The tangents manage to keep his students involved with the material- however, there is that whole technophobe thing.”

“I heard you had a specific problem with that.”

“Oh, yeah.  I sent a typewriter to his class every day until he yelled at me.”

“I didn’t yell at you,” Spencer didn’t look up from the paper in front of him, “I pranked you back and you yelled at me.”

You shrugged, “Same thing.”

Morgan fucking beamed.  He’d been in the same room as you for two seconds and already, you were an absolute delight.  He had so much to tell Garcia when he got back to the rest of the team- but why simply tell Garcia about you when he could introduce you?

“Y’know, the team is meeting up for drinks tonight.  You can join us if you’d like- I know everyone else is desperate to meet the professor who’s been driving Reid up the wall.”

“Oh, a chance to embarrass my angry-acquaintance in front of his friends and former coworkers?  Sign me the fuck up!  Just give me a time and place and I’m there.”

Spencer looked up, having finished with the paper in front of him.  The smile on your face- the way you smiled at Morgan made him burn up inside.  He slammed the paper down in front of you harder than he intended to.

“They’re talking about criteria seventeen.”

“Seventeen?  How did they get there, they were just talking about criteria fourteen?”

“I don’t know, they’re your student.”

You raised an eyebrow, tilting your head in confusion.  You were adorable.  Spencer couldn’t allow himself to think you were adorable- he also couldn’t allow you to be upset with him.

“Email them about it.  Get in contact and let them know their analysis is confusing.”

“Aw, look at you.  You’re suggesting I send an email,” you reached over, giving his arm a squeeze, “I call that growth.”

Spencer was sure you could feel his heartbeat through his arm- and if you couldn’t, then you could definitely see the blush on his face.  For the second time in two days, he wanted to hurl himself out the window.

You let go of his arm.  You hadn’t held onto him long, but Spencer’s mind had pulled that moment into a million smaller moments.  He watched as you extended a hand to Morgan, a charming smile on your face, “It was nice to meet you in person!  Let me know when you’re planning to get those drinks.”

“Will do.  You have a good morning!”

“You too!” you called out as you slipped out the door and into the hallway, “I’ll see you both later!”

The room fell silent.  The air seemed to crackle with electricity, with a thousand static things that went unsaid.

“What was that?”

“What was what?” Spencer refused to look at his friend, instead pulling a random book from one of his shelves to distract himself.  He almost threw it across the room when he realized it was The Narrative of John Smith.

“That little arm grab.  What was that?  I don’t know if you know, Reid, but that’s not something enemies do.  Are you sure Dr. (L/N) hates your guts?”

“It doesn’t matter if they hate my guts.  I hate theirs.”

“Don’t bullshit me, man.  If you hate them so much, you wouldn’t help them with their work the way you did.”

Spencer was trapped.  Morgan had him dead to rights.  He paused, thumbing through the pages of the book in his hands.

“Don’t tell anyone.”

Morgan beamed once again- he was having an excellent morning, “I knew it.  You have a lil’ thing for Dr. (L/N).”

“I don’t have a thing.  I don’t have anything.  What I have is a complicated series of emotions that I’m currently sorting through, and I don’t need anyone sorting through my emotions with me.”

Morgan raised his hands in surrender, “Okay.  Whatever you say, pretty boy, as long as you show up to get drinks with the rest of us.”

Spencer just nodded.  Morgan stared at him for another second.  He was gone by the time Reid looked up from his book.

-

By the time you got back to your office, you were ready to tear your hair out.  You were stupid.  Big stupid.  Mega stupid.

For one thing, you should have recognized that your student was jumping from criteria fourteen to seventeen.  You weren’t sure why they did it, but you were familiar enough with the diagnostic criteria you’d assigned to know which criteria aligned with which descriptive words.

For another- why the fuck had you said yes to drinks with Spencer’s friends?  Yes, you wanted to go.  Morgan was absolutely lovely, and Penelope Garcia was a bundle of coolness topped with a flower-themed hairpin, but really, what were you going to talk about with a group of FBI agents?  What were you going to talk about with a group of Spencer’s friends?

And god, you should have asked Spencer if he wanted you there.  True, if he didn’t, it would cause emotional torment worthy of your best pranks, but you weren’t sure if you wanted to torment him anymore.

You knew what you felt when he looked at you- you were familiar with the buzzing in your stomach and the pounding of your heart.  You knew the physiological signs of affection and you couldn’t deny them.  You would try to outrun them for as long as you could, but fuck, you were bad at running.  Sooner or later, you knew you would find yourself falling for Spencer Reid.

You could see yourself doing it- god, it wouldn’t be difficult to do.  He was beautiful and smart, and when he wasn’t forcing his students to handwrite their notes, he could be so kind.  He was brilliant, and competent, and when you remembered the way he stood up for you the night before you could feel your body burn beneath your skin. 

And that SUCKED.  For one thing, he was so much smarter than you- so much better.  He would never see you as anything more than a peer.  Even if he did, he would just be another thing that happened at you.  You had done nothing to earn his respect, nothing to change the way he felt.  If he felt anything for you, it would be a mistake on his part.  You already counted everything you felt for him as a mistake.

He was once part of a system that stood for most of the things you hated.  No matter what he said, you were still pretty sure he had faith in it.  You were fucked.

Just as you were about to curl up in a tiny ball on your office chair and scream into your arms, your phone buzzed.  It was Morgan- he must have saved your number the first time you called him.  A time and place were listed side by side, along with a friendly, “Hope you can make it :D”

A tiny smile slipped across your lips, but it very quickly fell.  You found Spencer’s number in your phone.  You typed out six or seven different messages before you landed on one.

Y/N: are you okay with me getting drinks with your team?

You could see Spencer typing.  And typing.  And typing.

Spencer: it’s fine.  should be fun.

You weren’t sure if he actually meant that or if he was being a bitch.  Texting is hard- and god, you felt like a high schooler doing it.  With a last look at Morgan’s message, the time and place for drinks, you gathered your things and got ready to be a functioning adult for the next few hours.

Honestly?  You were pretty good at pretending.

♥ Tags: @icarusignite, @usuallyunlikelyfox, @maraudersforlife2005, @fictionalcomforts

[talonabraxas]

Khonsu 🌕 Talon Abraxas Khonsu is one of the most ancient Egyptian Gods of the Moon. His name means traveler reflecting the fact that the Moon travels across the night sky. Khonsu is also known as the Embracer, Pathfinder, and Defender, as he would watch over those who travel at night. On the night of the full moon, pray to Khonsu: A Hymn to Khonsu Hail unto thee, O Messenger of the Gods! Khonsu, the traveler of the night sky, Who traveleth through the heaven like Thoth. Mut-Bast is thy mother And Amen-Ra-Temu-Kephra is thy father, Thou makest women fruitful, And makest the human germ to grow in thy mothers womb. Thou art the Moon, the light -bearer, The moon by night, and the lord of Ma’at. Thou art great and mighty oh Moon God, Khonsu, messenger of the Great Gods, Traveler of the night sky in the form of the Moon. Thou art a child in the morning, an old man in the evening, a youth in the beginning of the year who cometh as a child after he becometh infirm, who reneweth his births like the disk. Thou art the Great God, the Lord of Heaven, Lord of Gods, Khonsu-Nefer-Hetep-Tehuti, Lord of Annu, Lord of rest, Chief Mabi, Peace, peace, O Gracious One, Who art peace, and who love peace. Thou art the Great God, Khonsu, the Mighty, who cometh forth from Nut. Thou art the sun at sunrise and the moon. Thou art Khonsu the chronographer, who holdest the stylus in thy right hand. Thou art Khonsu-Nefer-Hetep who hast absolute power over all evil spirits which infest the earth, air, sea, and sky. Protect us from pain, sickness, and disease. Protect us from decay, madness, and death. We invoke thee. Show us thy Wisdom. Thou makest the plants to grow and the fruit to ripen, and animals to conceive. Thou whom the Gods adore. Thou art the God of love whom men and women adore. Thou art Healer and Powerful in Magic! Protect us! Accept our offerings, O Great Moon -God Khonsu, who lives forever.

[mane--attraction]

of COURSE i want a big sopping wet man coming after me

Oh? Well then…

~~~

You're not sure how Murdock managed to invite himself on your vacation…again. This time, at least, you got a few days to yourself before he pulled up to the house you rented for the week and made himself at home. It's actually a bit embarrassing how easily he can get you to let him stay without you realizing it until it's technically too late. And by that point, you don't want to tell him to leave.

You're not sure what the reason was for you coming out here anymore: was it your job? Or his intensity? Either way, you're stressed, and you needed this. Hence why him staying for the remainder of your time was more than a bit annoying. And for that, he needs consequences, but what, exactly? It's not like you can enact revenge on a man who can very much retaliate and have you at his mercy ten times easier than you could ever do to him. Not that the retaliation would be bad, absolutely not, but you're not looking to be pinned down straight away. So for that, you need a good idea. Or at least, a decent enough one.

You find yourself wandering to the pool out back, an in-ground one, surrounded by bushes and a tall fence. You don't have any pool so easily accessible at home, so it's been a nice luxury. Some leaf litter has gathered on the surface of the water, and you locate the pool skimmer to collect them without getting your hands wet. If you don’t, there’s a chance it could build up and fall to the floor of the pool.

Your mind starts to wander, then, thinking about what else could potentially get into a pool: debris, animals… As you go to fling the leaves from the net into the bushes, you spot a towel that you forgot to put back last night after you spent most of the evening trying to ignore Murdock by swimming in the pool. He made that rather difficult for you. (He always does.) Hence, it’s hard to think about such trivial things as “towels.” It’s a dark color, which could easily be mistaken for an animal of some sort even in daylight, if you look too quickly.

That’s when your idea forms. What if there was an animal in the pool? What if you got him to investigate? And then when he gets to the pool… Glancing back at the house, you bring the towel to the deep end, skimmer net in your other hand. You set down the net, then bundle up the fabric and press it into the water, letting it get soaked before using the handle of the net to push it down. It’s not actually long enough, but you still manage to watch the towel sink to the bottom. You replace the net in its home and dry your hands on the sides of your shorts.

Frankly, you didn’t consider what you were actually going to say. You wish you could admit that you thought this through a bit more, but the idea is just too amusing. Making sure to put as much concern into your voice as you can, you call out, “Hey Murdock? Can you come here?” There's a good thirty seconds of silence, and while he's surely already on his way, you call again, “I think there's something in the pool.”

“I'm coming,” Murdock grunts, rounding the corner in a sleeveless mock turtleneck and his usual black jeans: the perfect clothing for your plan (and for you to check him out, but that's a given and beside the point). “You said there's something in the pool?”

You nod. “I didn't investigate yet. I didn’t want to get too close and have it bite me or something.”

He tries looking in the shallow end. “I don’t see anything.”

You point at the “animal” at the other side. “It’s over there. I saw it when I got debris out of the pool, and I didn’t want to do anything without you here.”

It’s subtle, but Murdock’s chest puffs up a little when you say that—and you did say that completely on purpose, just for that reason. Pride cometh before the fall, after all. “Let me look,” he says.

With practiced, measured steps, he walks forward, with you following close behind. His hand is outstretched on instinct, despite being empty. Murdock typically has a keen eye, but he doesn't seem to notice anything amiss about the lump in pool that he vocalizes. You hope it remains convincing when he gets closer. Your heart is beating loudly in your chest, your chances of pulling this off teetering with every step he takes. The gap closes, slowly but surely, until he's nearly reached the side of the pool. That's when he stops.

You frown behind him. That won't do. “You're gonna stop there? You've gotta get a little closer.”

He turns and gives you a look. “But you hadn't gotten any closer.”

“I hadn't because I was scared. But you can.” You more or less bat your eyelashes at him. “Please?”

He huffs quietly. “Alright.” Murdock moves closer, and you encourage him up a little more, so now his feet hang slightly over the edge of the wall. He's even leaning over a little to get a better view. You only have a split second to act before he realizes that you’ve tricked him, and only a second longer than that before he potentially puts together your little prank.

Men do not have an “even” center of gravity, located more in the chest, causing them to be more “top heavy.” Murdock is no exception. All it takes is one good push to send him tumbling into the pool, grunting in surprise, and you book it to the adjacent side towards the shallow end, giggling. Murdock splashes around, but it doesn't take long for him to get his bearings and his feet under him; and for as tall as he is, his head easily pokes out of the water just enough for him to breathe comfortably. The man glares at you, and the annoyance on his face has you stifling your laughter. You fail pretty easily, emboldened by him being stuck in the pool.

“You think that's funny, huh?”

There's genuine annoyance in his voice, but also that tinge of danger that tends to make itself known when he speaks low like this. You know it doesn't mean anything when he's talking to you, but there's an instinctual part of yourself that still goes mildly on alert every time. While normally you'd wonder what he's thinking, right now you're just pleased as punch that this worked, looking like a cat who got the cream. “Mmm, maybe just a little bit.” You bring your index finger and thumb close to each other when you say that, as if indicating the amount.

Murdock doesn't take his eyes off of you, pulling himself out of the pool using the edge almost a little too effortlessly. The intensity that rarely leaves him has you squirming on the inside, but outwardly, you continue smiling innocently. He doesn’t say anything for a while, water dripping loudly off of him, his shirt clinging to his muscles. You’re trying not to stare. “You think you’re clever, hm?”

You’re not fully sure that it’s just annoyance in his expression anymore. You pretend you don’t notice. “Well, yes, since I managed to get the jump on you.”

Now you wish you know what he was thinking as his eyes narrow slightly. Despite being somewhat far from him, his demeanor and his energy makes it feel like he’s right in your space. “And what do I do with you?”

Your grin widens, seeing an opportunity, and you utter those magic words: “You'll have to catch me first.”

In an instant, his expression darkens, a primal intent crossing his features, and you relish the way your stomach twists and your heart races suddenly as a familiar feeling makes itself known below. Murdock growls. “You have fifteen seconds.”

He's barely finished speaking and you're already running, taking off down the side of the house. You know exactly how this is going to end, and as much as you'll do your best to prolong it, you also can't wait.

~~~

.....this mayyy have gotten away from me lol. 1384 words, in case you were wondering, and I didn't even write anything smutty ahdjdbd

[twentydaysofdrabbles]

Away from the Concierge's Desk - The Harbinger Cometh (Part 55)

In the minutes and hours since the Manager last saw her Concierge, she sits. Sits and thinks. Thinks about the bloodshed in New York, in Osaka. And if her sources are to be believed, Paris.

Where does it end. When the High Table extinguishes them all? Or when they prevail over the High Table? Or when all fighters have fought their last, with no life left to live?

So she sits. And thinks.

These machinations have put her on a path that she can no longer stray from. No doubt she and many others with her will suffer. But at the end of that suffering...peace.

Or, that's the goal anyway.

Surely she still has that goal in mind...right?

She couldn't possibly have lost sight of it.

Surely not.

She lowers her gaze to the report on her desk, written by her loyal Concierge. From this, she can see just what her Concierge faced. What Wick's presence had wrought.

Alas, she is not afforded any further time to consider the report. Not when the phone rings.

"Yes?"

"Good afternoon, ma'am," it's not her Concierge's voice, but that of another receptionist. "A Harbinger is here to see you."

Well, she knew this was coming.

"I shall receive them in my office. Please, send them up."

"At once, ma'am."

Papers and drawings disappear into drawers, pens into their holders, and she puts a kettle on boil. Just in time to hear the chime of the elevator, and the sound of the doors opening.

"Manager." Comes the slow drawl of a Harbinger's voice. One that is very, very familiar.

The Manager looks up to see a tall, broad man with a bald head and piercing blue eyes. "Ah, so you're the Harbinger." She smiles a wan smile, then. And raises a tea set. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

The Harbinger tilts his head, looks at her with those sharp, yet strangely empty eyes. "Certainly. However, you might decide there is little time for it."

Her heart stops.

"Hmm, perhaps not, then," she sets the tea set down and goes to her desk, standing by its edge, looking up at the Harbinger. "Well then, what are you here for?"

"A warning," he says slowly, raising his briefcase.

Her eyes go right to it. Too light to hold an hourglass, too heavy to just be a single missive.

He places it on the table, and slowly removes a sheaf of papers from it. It is bound with thread and ribbon as black as night.

"You have made your point," he says, placing it on the table, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Oh?" she says languidly, moving to sit, not even reaching for the papers. From the way the Harbinger closes his briefcase, he has no intention of taking it back.

"Your Concierge has made their choice to stand by your side. Despite the overwhelming odds. Despite their previous...discipline." The Harbinger looks down at his missing left ring finger, then looks up. "It was very obvious. The red outfit was an...interesting decision."

Red, the colour of blood. Of danger. Of warning. Do not touch me, lest you lose a hand. That was what the red clothes meant, or rather, is meant to convey. That the person who wore that red flag of warning was once a killer of renown, who despite their ruined hands is still incredibly lethal, is the entire point.

The Manager's way of conveying a warning with no words at all. She will tolerate the loss of one Hotel, but not another. Not without due cause.

Though to have only one individual carry out that warning...it was a gamble.

For the first time in this conversation, the Manager's eyes flick to the side. "Yes...the Devourer."

"If you wanted to make it obvious who your Concierge fought for, it didn't require the very...flashy choice of clothes. The same applies if the motivation was to send a message to the Marquis." The Harbinger sounds disapproving. "They are lucky to be alive. Thanks to their...compatriots."

The skeleton brothers.

At that, the Manager's eyes flare angrily. "Are you done?"

"No," the Harbinger tips his head forward to let the brim of it shadow his eyes. "Your decision to flaunt them, to display their loyalty in such an obvious manner. To use them as a message. In that way, you are no better than them."

Them. The High Table. The Elder. Men playing at being gods, making the world around them dance like puppets upon their strings. No. No, she will never be like them.

Soft little pops fill the air. The Manager clenches her fists tight, so tight as to crack her knuckles. "Now that..." she sneers dangerously. "Is an insult."

The Harbinger is not moved in the slightest, though the muscle in his jaw ticks once. "Think as you like. But you and that Monster Queen are playing a grand game...a game which you cannot win. So do your Concierge a favour, and release them before they are bound by that promise they made to you so long ago."

That promise...

Words spoken eons ago float through her head. Her memory of that day as clear as crystal.

"If you take up this position, you're binding yourself to them. You'll lose your freedom. You will abide by their rules. I have seen it...you will become like them." Her Concierge. Although, at that point, a disgraced, disfigured, Emissary.

"I will never become like them."

"That's not a promise you can make." Ever practical. Ever logical.

"...Fine. You want a promise I can make? Here. If I ever, ever stoop to their level, you can rip out my heart."

"You're not serious. But you told me that--" That the Devourer's days of ripping beating hearts out of the chests of their quarry was over. Their hands would never recover that monstrous strength.

But she had no doubt those hands will have strength enough for this one request.

"This is your one exception. The only person whose heart you can rip out while they still live? Mine. You can even eat it after, if you so desire, Devourer. But you will stop me. No matter what it takes."

"I don't actually eat it but...very well. I shall hold you to that promise."

And just like that, the memory fades. The Manager huffs a mirthless laugh, shaking herself from her reverie. "Releasing them will do naught. It is a promise I made, and it is a promise they will keep." She looks down at the sheaf of bound paper. Touches it. Draws it close. "What is this?"

"An intercepted report to the High Table." Comes the Harbinger's toneless response.

What? Hawk-like eyes flick up and look at a man who the Elder had bent to his will. Or so the world thought. "And what, exactly, are you doing with an intercepted report?"

Those strangely empty yet sharp blue eyes seem to warm, seem to fill with knowing, and the Harbinger smiles flatly. "Why, giving it to you. Of course."

[nerdywriter36]

Und'r duress, I has't cometh to putteth this in an asketh, rath'r than to just sendeth thee a text message. Because apparently I might not but doth things “prop'rly. ” So h're:

💘 fake relationship / mutual pining / did dare to kisseth

I’m going to needeth some e/c content f'r this. Thanketh thee v'ry much.

I remaineth,

The clotpole you’re did stick with f'r the rest of thy life <3

yes this has been sitting in my inbox since October. yes I apologize for that. no i don't remember what ask game this is from. i hope you enjoy this little thing, friend <3

~

"Thank you for agreeing to be my partner tonight, Maestro. I simply had to come, the girls would never have let me hear the end of it if I hadn't," Christine said with a smile up at her teacher as they walked arm-in-arm into the grand foyer of the Opera Garnier for the annual masquerade ball.

She was lovely, radiant, practially glowing in the warm light of the chandeliers, in her crisp white mask and gown, masquerading as the angel that she already was. Her blue eyes shone as she looked up at him, and even with the feelings of anxiety and incompetence eating him up from the inside, he couldn't help but smile back.

Erik was quite the partner for her, her polar opposite, dressed in blood red with a golden mask over his entire face and a long cloak trailing them, the famous words of a Poe poem painstakingly stitched into the fabric. Death and the Maidan come to life, truly, though he knew that they would have looked like that anywhere they went. He was hardly fit for grand outings and parties, and his first instinct had been to refuse Christine's request to join her that night; a woman as beautiful as her had no business being seen out and about with a man like him. Once she had explained the pressure she faced from the other chorus girls and how she truly wished for his company, though, he found himself powerless to refuse. He truly could deny her nothing.

"It is my pleasure," he replied as they reached the sidelines of the dance floor. "Will you want to dance, or shall we look for something to drink first?"

"Oh, let's dance once this song ends," Christine said with a grin that made her entire face light up. "That will be the perfect way to show people that I am here and that I have a partner."

Erik cracked another smile in reaction her excitement. "I suppose it is, yes. I donm't have an abundance of practice with ballroom dancing, though, I will admit."

(She didn't need to know that he had been reading up on the subject and practicing along in his home. Absolutely not.)

"I am sure that you will be perfect," Christine replied, giving his arm a reassuring pat. "And remember, you can hold me closer than normal and have your hand on your waist and all of that. We are meant to look like a couple, after all."

"Oh...so long as you're sure," Erik said, glad that his mask so effectively hid his flushed cheeks.

"Of course, competely sure. You are usually not one to touch me, so I am telling you that it's alright," Christine explained. She giggled then, shook her head. "I know this is all a bit silly, you pretending to be my sweetheart,t but I appreciate you playing along."

Erik smiled and swallowed thickly, attempting to ignore the dull ache in his chest at those words. "Anything for you, my angel," he replied as he set a chaste hand on the small of her back and ushered her onto the dance floor. Just for the night, she was his and he was hers. His Christine, her Erik.

If only they didn't have to pretend.

[dipperscavern]

Hiiii I’ve never done this but I’ve always wanted to have my fortune told!

I’m an autistic Puerto Rican (so like Dorne lol) that has followed the Hellenistic (old Greek gods) pantheon since I was young. I’m not shy necessarily, but I do take time to observe people before I interact. My personality type is INFP-T I’m pretty sure. I lowkey have a bit of a temper when pushed but I pride myself on having extreme empathy and ability to put myself in other shoes. When I fall in love I fall hard and am deeply loyal. I’m quite politically savvy as it’s something that is one of my hyper fixation and I love history. 💕

cometh, cometh, oh servant of the gods, and see who on your fate which three fall down upon 🔮

i see… ah, yes, the man of the hour… jon snow. taking time to observe people before you interact has jon written all over it, and i think it would be funny to see you both observing each other before you even think about approaching. jon’s usual calm-ness would do wonders at dousing your temper, and your empathy, even after all you’ve been through, is the thing jon admires most about you. that after everything you are still kind. when you fall you fall hard, and jon knows everything about that. you both love hard. jon would cherish your loyalty, and your political intelligence would help take a lot of the weight off his shoulders as lord commander. lots of late nights are spent at jon’s desk, but your loyalty is unwavering, and for that he’s eternally grateful <3

[thisnameisnotspokenfor]

The Kingdom of the Stars Chapter 19: The Reunion

Previous: Chapter 18

Next: Chapter 20

“Can you reach it?” Ana called, floating a few meters overhead as she held Phoebe toward the tip of the bell tower.

“Yes!” she answered, adjusting her grip on the final piece of golden flower decor, as the crowd watched with bated breath. 

Both turned their glances down below, giving Asha a nod, before she turned to address the waiting crowd.

“Alright, everyone! This is it!” Asha held up her fingers, as she could feel the air practically crackle with excitement. 

“3-,”

Phoebe reached her small hands towards the pole.

“2-,” 

Her fingers were mere inches from it as the crowd below watched with bated breath.

“1-,”

Phoebe carefully placed the decoration around the belltower’s pole as the crowd erupted into cheers with several tossing their hats and flowers into the evening twilight. 

After hours of hard work and planning, The market decorations had officially reached completion. . 

She couldn’t help but smile as she basked in the soft glow of the now-lit lanterns that, along with the old wilted tree’s blossoms, had practically breathed new life into the market.

It was perfect really, and she couldn’t have asked for more than that.

After all, None of this would’ve been possible without their creative vision and assistance. 

She looked around the joyful crowd, soaking in the atmosphere as she watched the people begin to go about their business. 

The musicians immediately began to play their festive tunes as Mrs. Alina, Mrs. Akinemi, and several others, danced. 

She squeezed through the crowd, murmuring words of excuses and apologies as her eyes searched for one face in particular. A face that she was both glad yet frightened she couldn’t find.

“PLLLEEAAATTT!”

“Oh, Valentino,” she stopped, watching as the goat came into view. Several of Ana’s birds were perched on his back. Their soft chirps and songs quietly reminded her of her birds, who she hoped had returned to the castle safely. “You haven’t seen…him  have you?” 

The goat shook his head as she let out a sigh of relief. 

Her eyes quickly landed on the night sky above, where the hole in the thick thunderclouds had quietly slipped into view. 

‘Maybe he’d gone home?’ After all, he had granted her wish, hadn’t he? 

All of her tasks were completed, so if she’d gotten what she’d wanted then there’d be no reason for him to stay. 

Those rules he’d sworn had kept him here would’ve effectively become null, and with that he’d have no choice but to go home! 

This night couldn’t get any better, could it?

 She beamed at Valentino who pleated at her curiously. “I have a very good feeling about this,” she whispered, watching Ana’s birds quickly disperse as two figures approached her. 

“Wonderful job on the market, miss!” She heard Captain Silver call as he gave her a firm pat on the shoulder, before turning to Mr. Bjorn. “See now didn’t I tell ya that she could do it? Hmm?” Bjorn scowled in reply as Silver grinned. “Now hand it over,” he reached towards the elderly man with his bandaged hand. “A deal’s a deal, remember?”

Mr. Bjorn grumbled, turning to her, “Just for the record, I knew that you would do an amazing job decorating this market. I just didn’t think Allard would let you do it while she was still…alive…but ah,” he sighed before shrugging as he dug into his pocket for three golden coins that he grudgingly handed to the grinning sea captain. “I suppose stranger things have happened in these parts before.”

“But ya losing a bet is not one of them,” Captain Silver called before victoriously stuffing the gold coins into his pocket. 

“I wouldn’t speak so loudly if I was you! Pride cometh before a fall! And no one in Rosas has a history of Fallin like yourself!” Bjorn argued back as Asha watched them walk off into the now busy market crowd together. 

She glanced towards one part of the market where several people gathered for the renewed baking competitions. It was something she’d eagerly looked forward to seeing how it would unfold, given how the reigning champ, Dahlia, was no longer present to dominate.

“Want to take a look around?” She asked Valentino. “There’s a lot to see and do.” The goat nodded, quickly trotting alongside her as the pair began to venture towards the more crowded part of the market.

“Come get your chance to win a new toy in a game of marbles!” A nearby merchant called as several others began to open their shops, all promising prizes and fun games.

“Feeling brave? Try your luck at the fiercest Noughts and Crosses champion!” the man gestured to a grinning child seated around a table. 

“Are you the new sack toss champion? There’s only one way to find out,” a woman called as she gestured towards her stall. “Try your luck…you might win a prize.”

“It’s beautiful Valentino,” Asha contentedly sighed, continuing to take in the sights and sounds of the market around them as they continued to stroll through.

Valentino pleated in agreement, before both paused, watching a few people pass them all of whom were headed towards the enormous crowd that now surrounded Mr. Armin’s stall.

“You were the one who provided the papers and strings for these cranes, right?” she heard a noblewoman ask as he nodded. “Good, well I’d like to place an order for your next shipment of these as soon as possible.”

“Of course! Of course ma’am!” he nodded, hurriedly scribbling the order down.

“I’d also like to place some orders as well! For whatever you used to make this!” a man called as he held up one of the makeshift streamers that Mr. Armin had created with some of the flowers from the old wilted tree.

“Certainly! I’ll have your order ready before the end of the week.”

“I’d like to place an order for those too!’ someone else called.

A nobleman stepped forward, gesturing to the young stoic-faced girl who stood at his side, “Tell me, good sir, do you take apprentices? My daughter would like to learn-,”

A small grin made its way to Mr. Armin’s face as he answered,  “It’s been a while since I’ve taken in an apprentice. But I’ll see what I can do.”

She watched on, hope blossoming within her that this could be the start of something new or bigger and better, for not only his business but for the other teachers and hopefully the townspeople as a whole. 

It was, after all, the least they deserved for helping her out. 

“Come on Mom! You’ve got to try this! They’re amazing!” She heard a girl call as she began to tug her mother towards the long line for Mrs. Kurkaus and her husband’s stall. 

“Alright alright,” her mother chuckled before speaking to a woman following her “These things seem to be a hit with the kids you know-, he says they call it something like ice cream- can you imagine?”

“Ha! We’re certainly not making it out of the dark ages with that one, are we?”

“Not a chance. 

“You know…My son tried one earlier and hasn’t been able to stop talking about it since. He swears it’s the best thing he’s had since Tarta de queso!” the woman chuckled before the trio wandered out of earshot. 

The best thing since Tarta de queso? 

She exchanged glances with Valentino. There was only one way to find out, wasn’t there? 

Admittedly she’d nearly been tempted to join the insanely long line but the sound of Diego hollering overhead brought her to a stop. 

“Woooooooohooooo!” She, along with several others glanced overhead,  watching in amazement as Ana soared through the partially clouded sky while holding an excited Diego in her arms.

“Remember to keep your arms stretched!” Ana called. “We fly faster that way!”

He nodded as she watched them briefly soar out of view.

“Someone seems like she’s having a lot of fun,” Asha commented as she looked at Valentino, who pleated in agreement, probably wanting to be next in line for a ride as well. 

Ana had mastered her gift in a remarkable time, as she now flew so well that Asha was half tempted to think that she’d been born for flying. 

But come to think of it, it seemed as if everyone who’d had their wishes granted had mastered their newfound gifts rather quickly, hadn’t they? 

She watched as Mrs. Bellerose stopped the rain from her cloud with a simple gesture before she prepared her next customer’s bouquet. Mrs. Kurkaus nearly did the same as she patted her snow cloud for a few icicles. Even Julian had moved with a surprising amount of efficiency when he’d been on a rampage earlier.

It was funny really, Asha had always thought that the king and prince made it sound like magic took years, if not a lifetime to master, but everyone who had had their wishes granted today made it look so simple .

Was it simply a difference in the type of magic or was it something else? Asha would never know nor would she want to. 

She took a mental step back, carefully thinking over everything.

The chaos, the success, the work.  

A lot had happened, mostly because of the star.  But as much as she hated to admit it, everything that the star had disobediently done had seemed to help in the long run. 

Granting Mrs. Bellerose’s wish had not only revived her business but it had allowed her to add all sorts of flowers to the town’s decorations, giving them a vibrancy that Asha had never even thought they’d need. Then Mrs. Kurkaus’s wish led to her selling and inventing even more delicious treats that the townspeople would gladly appreciate. And then there was Ana who was now giving the children fun rides with her ability to fly.

But all three of those wishes were something Asha wouldn’t have been able to grant on her own, nor were they wishes that she could see the king even consider granting.

She couldn’t make someone fly, nor could she create a cloud that could rain or snow on command. But  All three wishes had positively contributed to the market, and ultimately to her teachers' wishes. 

Even Julian’s wish, despite how destructive it had been, was the only reason why any of this was allowed to come to fruition. 

He’d destroyed the market’s decorations, hadn’t he? Then he’d injured the officials. 

He’d inadvertently left them no choice but to go with her plans; plans that most definitely wouldn’t have materialized if Allard nor her decorations had been burnt.

It was an upsetting thought, but perhaps not an incorrect one, she reasoned, as her gaze settled on the golden branches of the old wilted tree that now peaked from behind some of the buildings. 

She wasn’t sure what the star had exactly done to the tree, but as she stopped, taking in the soft glowing flowers that they’d integrated from the tree into the decorations, she knew she couldn’t deny that the tree was breathtaking at the least.

It had done wonders for raising morale, as she’d noticed that the people had seemed even more invigorated once they’d caught sight of the tree.

It had been a sign. 

A miracle, and that was exactly what she needed.

Had the star done it coincidentally, or intentionally? 

Nothing about him gave her the feeling that he was some grand mastermind, and yet she couldn’t help but feel that some of the things he had said, and done felt…premeditated.

 But then again, maybe she was giving the star too much credit and too much of her time.

He was gone now, wasn’t he? So why even bother to waste time thinking about him when she had the king to address? Letting him know about the dangers in the wish garden was her top priority now, but she’d need somewhere private to tell him about it. Somewhere that she could convince him to-

“PLEEEAAATTTT!” 

“Valentino?” she blinked, watching as the goat fervently leaped, his eyes darting towards the other side of the market as several incoming figures pushed themselves through the crowd, panting as they looked around with widened eyes.

“T-The king!” she heard the town crier call, pointing behind him as the crowd began to stir. “His highness has arrived!”

“ The king?!”

“The king is here?!”

“Already!?!” 

Quickly the crowd moved aside as the king, mounted on his favorite horse, came into view. 

“Whoa! Whoa!” He called pulling the horse’s reins as the queen and several other apprentices came into view: all mounted on their own horses as well. 

Granted she’d expected him to be here, but she hadn’t expected him to bring the whole calvary with him!

A sudden hush fell over the crowd as she watched everyone quickly bow. Commoner and noble, Maintainer and guard. Everyone bowed deeply to their king as she watched his eyes scan over the crowd. 

“Good evening Rosas!” He called, circling 

 the market several times, his eyes curiously sweeping over the decorations. 

 “Not bad,” he muttered to himself, as she watched him bring his horse to a complete halt next to Mr. Leitus’s chalk mural. His eyes lit up as she heard him call, “Oh! Now this is nice! Amaya do you see this?” he called, as the queen rode to his side, quietly observing Mr. Leitus’s chalk mural of them. “Someone is definitely working overtime to get their wish granted~,”

“Finally!” she heard Mr. Leitus whisper as a few members of the crowd seemed to relax.

At least he seemed to be in a good mood, and a happy king was the best king to deal with.

 Finally, the king’s eyes swept the crowd once more before finally landing on her’s and gesturing to the queen. 

Had the king himself been looking for her?

No, he couldn’t be. 

He had no reason to. But the look of relief in the queen’s eyes told her otherwise as the thought hit her. 

 Sebastian.

He’d left her behind that night, hadn’t he? She grimaced. The sight of the horse returning that night without its rider must’ve worried them. 

Her thoughts were only confirmed when she saw a surprised Safi riding atop the familiar black stallion. 

Her eyes quickly returned to the king’s, not missing the way how his brows furrowed as she saw a tick in his jaw. 

Was he upset with her? Suspicious? She braced herself for the inevitable cascade of questions, questions that never had the chance to materialize as the crowd did the unthinkable. 

They cheered.

They cheered far louder and harder than they had before, Asha swore she felt the ground shake as the king looked on in surprise, exchanging a glance with his queen who merely shrugged. 

“Long live King Magnifico and Queen Amaya!” she heard someone yell, as the crowd roared in agreement, all wishing their blesses to the royal couple.

Somewhat recovered, a half-grinning king muttered something to the queen, before turning back to the crowd with a newly placed smile.  “My people of Rosas!” he called, holding up his hand as the crowd fell into an awe-filled silence. It had been the first time since arriving did Asha hear the marketplace be so silent. “May I say that it is truly an honor to be with you all again this evening!” He grinned, looking over the crowd before glancing to the uneasy maintainers. “I can tell that this certainly was no ordinary market decoration, was it?” he asked, eyeing one of the fallen golden petals from the old wilted tree.

“We are truly honored by both your presence and blessings, your highness, even in the most unpredictable circumstances…” answered someone from the crowd. Asha was willing to bet that said person had been a maintainer, perhaps one of the few people who’d be brave enough to lead with such a statement.

“Is it true that you were the one who granted our wishes earlier?” someone else asked.

“It wasn’t the work of the rumored rogue sorcerer, right?”

“Why have you decided to grant wishes before the wishing ceremony?”

The king grinned, but Asha could see it, the slight but subtle tension in his shoulders, before he relaxed, a chuckle escaping his lips, as he glanced towards the queen.“Ha, a rogue sorcerer, can you imagine?…” He chuckled once more, before waving his hand dismissively as he smiled towards the awaiting townsfolk, “There’s no need to worry about that. That sorcerer has been taken care of long ago. As for your wishes…Well, with my young apprentice coming to assist, I was hoping to provide you all with assistance of sorts for the decorations. Something that could make this upcoming celebration truly incredible! Now tell me, how are you all enjoying your new gifts?”

From the corner of her eyes, Asha could see the maintainers and officials relax, as the crowd began to stir.

“It’s wonderful, Your Highness!” Ana called, briefly levitating.

“You saved my business!” Mrs. Bellerose called as she glanced at her rain cloud.

“I used the ice you gave me to make a King Magnifico ice cream treat, just for you!” Mrs. Kurkaus commented as she held up a frosted treat that heavily resembled the king.

 Now the king looked impressed, maybe even flattered. 

“You saved my shop!” Mr. Armin commented.

“And ours as well!” Called another merchant.

“We would’ve lost everything had you not sent the rain storm to save us from the fierce and fiery hold of Julian!”

She could see the tick in his eyes, the tiniest note of surprise, but it had vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving in its place an air of undeserved satisfaction and pride. 

Years of addressing the public had trained him well.

He hadn’t granted those wishes. 

There was a good chance that he hadn’t even know who or what said wishes had been granted, but Asha had a feeling that there was no way that the king was going to let the people know that. 

It would make him look as if he wasn’t in complete control of the wishes, nor could he protect them as well as promised. It would imply that he had an equal, a superior even- and that was when it dawned on her. 

There was a reason why the star had gladly given the king all the credit both for the tree and the other wishes. 

It wasn’t out of kindness, no. 

It had been out of strategy.

It was possible that by giving the king credit for the wish-granting, the star had put the king in one of two positions. 

He could A) be honest to the people that he hadn’t been the one to grant these wishes- that this magic, a magic that could possibly rival his own had come from elsewhere, or B) he could take credit for it. 

As honest as option A was, if he admitted this magic wasn’t his, then it would no doubt leave the king’s ability to protect both Rosas and its wishes from the outside forces looking inadequate, especially during a time when the hole in the clouds still persisted, and then there’d been a curfew because of an allegedly rogue sorcerer. If said sorcerer had gotten past his ‘barriers’ so easily, admitting the truth would’ve been an insult, both to the king’s capabilities and pride.

Then there’d been option B. He could lie, which seemed to be exactly what he was doing now

Was he upset that someone else in Rosas apparently had the magic to grant wishes? Most likely. 

But if the people praised and accredited him for such things, then in the eyes of his loyal subjects and to the world at large, he wasn’t only just doing what he’d promised, he was excelling at it. Over delivering. Being every bit the benevolent king that they believed and wanted him to be.

The only obstacle that now stood in his way was Julian’s horrific wish. 

But even that had a solution.

Perhaps he could paint himself as the benevolent overhead trying to give a troubled youth a second chance only to have said youth take advantage of the situation in the worst way possible, and honestly? 

That would’ve been more than just the perfect lie.

Julian already had a history of suspected attempted arsonry and trouble-causing, so there was a very good chance that most would take the king’s word for it without a second thought. 

It seemed as if the king had shared her train of thought as she watched his face soften, sadness becoming visible as she heard him say, “Julian?” the king repeated, looking a bit confused as his grip on his spear tightened. “Ah you mean Julian- of course, of course. You see, I granted Julian has always been a close friend of my nephew. I’ve known him since he was a small boy, and back then I knew that he was a studio child, with a good heart, a heart that I fear had been unfairly plagued by the troubles of life.”

Most of the crowd seemed to coo in a sort of sympathy that Asha was certain hadn’t been present before.

“I wanted to give him another chance,” the king continued as he glanced into his scepter. He looked devastated, as she watched the queen gently lay a hand on his back. “I wanted to prove to the world that there was still some good in him, that he could still do good… ” He sighed, shaking his head, “ I only wish he hadn’t taken it for granted.”

It was hard to see the king’s expression from this angle as she heard a guard gruffly call out, 

“The bloody fool! Give us the word and we’ll teach him to never take anything from our king for granted again!” 

The crowd cheered in agreement, leaving Asha’s stomach feeling uneasy. 

They’d taken the bait, hook, line, and sinker, and just like that. No questions asked, no flags raised, nor suspicions aroused. 

It was ironic.

 Julian’s wish had turned him into the perfect fall guy who would not only ruin his life but ultimately paint the king in a far more sympathetic and benevolent light than he could’ve ever wanted. 

Had the star been gunning on the king being cocky and dishonest enough to do this? 

She wasn’t sure, but he’d been right either way.

He’d seemed so smug that she nearly believed that he knew what he was doing…and if he was, then there was no doubt that he definitely knew far more than he let on.

“People, please,” the king sighed, hiding his mouth behind his hand as he regained his posture, acting as if he’d been forcing himself to move forward. 

Every movement was so subtle and telling, no part of his body language seemed extra or wasted.

 “I appreciate your spirit, but I’d much rather prefer to speak to him myself, as in all my years of ruling, protecting, and guiding Rosas, I can promise you that the best way to solve a problem is not to destroy it, but to understand it. The situation will be dealt with accordingly. I can promise you all that much.”

The crowd murmured, mostly in respect and awe for the king as Asha’s eyes searched the crowd, thankful that the star was absent. 

“But enough of that, you were having a festival, weren’t you?” the king asked. “One that despite all odds has persisted and flourished!” the crowd victoriously cheered, as she sighed in relief. “So, how about we get back to the festivities!” 

The crowd cheered once more, this time inviting their king to join them. 

As much as Asha wished to partake in their joy, she knew that if the king were to get involved in this (which he most likely was) along with the investigations that the maintainers were running, then there was a good chance that he’d find truly find out that she’d-

She shivered, cutting off the thought. 

There was no need to think about it, at least not here in public where she’d risk making herself look even more suspicious. 

Right now she needed to- “Asha!” The voice of her mother cut through her thoughts as she heard the crowd begin to cheer once more, no doubt at whatever the king had said. 

Her mother quickly came into view, pushing and shoving her way through the crowd before tightly embracing Asha. “Oh thank God,” she gasped. 

“Mama?” Asha choked out.

“I was so worried. We were all so worried,” her mother muttered, before slowly letting her go to face her. She looked her over, once, twice, and then sighed. “Thank goodness you’re safe,” she placed a hand over her heart before Asha saw her frown re-emerge in full force. Uh oh. She only frowned like that when she had an earful for her.

“Asha!” She exclaimed. “where on earth have you been?! Do you know how worried we all were?! We nearly tore up half of Rosas looking for you!”

“Ha, well, you see mama, it’s a funny story really- but, I was doing tasks for the king,” she whispered, watching as the crowd cheered this time for both the king and queen who was still addressing them. “A lot of tasks, and one of them involved overseeing the decorating of the market, and I would’ve contacted you sooner, but I got caught up in… some things. But I’m finished so at least I have time off now! I think.”

She winced, taking note of her mother’s unmoved expression before she heard her mother sigh and embrace her once more.“I didn’t know you had to do this much just to get time off! Do the other apprentices have to do this much work for their time off as well?”

She shook her head “No, it’s not usually like this. I think the upcoming events have just given everyone a lot to do,” She wasn’t sure why she’d said that of all things. It wasn’t as if she’d regularly ask for time off, and even then, she was quite certain that none of the other apprentices had to do anything remotely similar to this. 

Maybe she was just feeling grateful.

 As cumbersome as the tasks had been, some good had come out of them. She’d brought the prince back and helped grant some wishes.

She’d made people happy, or at least tried to.

So as much as the king didn’t deserve her excuses, she could at least admit that his tasks had somewhat helped in the long run.

Finally, her mother released her, looking around. “You really decorated and designed all of this?”

“With a lot of help, but I mostly oversaw it and did a few designs here and there,” she admitted.

Her mother smiled. “It’s beautiful!” “I haven’t seen the market like this in years! How did you convince the head official to let you do it?”

Asha grimaced, “It was less convincing on my part and more so a series of unfortunate events.”

Her mother raised a questioning brow, nearly about to ask for elaboration when Mrs. Chidera stepped towards them. 

“Chidera!” her mother had cried before embracing her as the crowd cheered once more.

“Hello Sakina,” Mrs. Chidera called, as she embraced her mother before stepping back.

“How have you been?” 

“Honestly?” Mrs. Chidera’s smile shrank as she shook her head. “It’s a long story. A stressful story, but at least it has a satisfying conclusion.”

Asha reasoned that satisfying was one way to put it, but it could’ve been much worse for her if the king had been honest.

“Stressful? Is everything alright, Chidera?” 

“No, no, it’s fine now. We just had some… issues earlier, but it seems as if they’ve been resolved. So there is nothing to worry about.”  A slow smile spread across her face, one that Asha would remember not quite reaching her eyes before she massaged her temples. “Unfortunately I have some business to attend to for the time being, but I do hope you both enjoy your evening,” she called, glancing towards her colleagues before quickly taking her leave.

Now her mother looked beyond worried. She looked concerned as she turned to her and asked, “What exactly happened in the market earlier?”

Asha had no idea how to answer that, and thankfully she didn’t have to as she heard the king’s nearing voice say, “Asha! We’ve been looking all over for you, where have you been?” 

She was surprised at the relief she felt as she watched some of the surrounding eyes turn to the king and queen’s approaching figures.

“Your Highness,” She curtsied, hoping that she looked more confident than she actually felt. “My apologies for any concern or issues I've caused you. I’ve been here overseeing the market decorations…”

“I can tell,” the king called as he looked around. “It’s…prepossessing, to say the least. Well done.”

“Thank you, your highness. I couldn’t have done it without some assistance from my fellow townsfolk and Lady Allard herself.” She didn’t miss how some of the surrounding townspeople frowned at her words, and in any other situation, she was sure she would’ve hated herself for saying it too, but not now. 

As much as she hated to admit it, The king wasn’t the only one who could make friends or scapegoats. Not if her family’s safety was at stake. 

She couldn’t let him realize the connection between the wishes and her goal, not if it would lead to him being suspicious. So she needed for him to believe that Lady Allard had been an ally and not a hindrance, even if it meant sacrificing some of her credit to do so. 

“Lady Allard helped you with this?” the king asked, raising a brow as he looked around the marketplace.

Asha nodded as she withdrew the noblewoman’s ring from her pocket. “She did. ” she lied. “Before the event of the attack, nothing happened without her approval or knowledge. She even helped suggest some ideas as well.” She gestured to the lanterns, an idea that had been her own. “And with her blessings, I was able to continue it even after she was injured and integrated some of the designs and suggestions from the others.”

“I see,” the king answered, glancing from her to the ring. Relief consumed her as she realized that the king had accepted her answer. “And how were your other tasks?”

She could tell that he was anticipating her failure, but she was afraid she’d have to disappoint him.

“Finished, Your Highness. Just as you requested.”

“Finished?” the king repeated in near disbelief, as she nodded. “I know you’ve taken care of the other side of the market, and this one, but what of the last one?”

It took everything in her to not smile as she said the words,  “In the Iron Explorer Inn, Your Highness.”

The king stepped back, exchanging a surprised glance with the queen before he cleared his throat, quickly regaining his posture. With a simple nod, two guards took off towards the inn, leaving them all alone as she saw the other apprentices look on with baited breaths.

“Well, I must admit, I am very impressed.” His nearly stoic yet polite expression said otherwise. “You’ve somehow managed to achieve the impossible,” he gave her a nod, before turning to the surrounding crowd who’d been listening in, “so let’s hear it for Asha, hmm? For all the diligent work she’s put in to make this happen!” The crowd cried and applauded so hard that she could’ve sworn that this time she did feel the cobblestone ground beneath her feet shake. 

“Grant her wish your highness it’s the least she could get for putting up with us!” she heard Mr. Armin call. 

Her heart stopped as she felt the king’s gaze linger on Mr. Armin almost as if he was thinking.

She held her breath, waiting for the king’s response as she watched him smile, thoughtfully tapping the butt of his staff onto the ground. “You know it’s funny that you say that. If my memory serves me correctly, we’re due for another wish ceremony, aren’t we? In about a week I believe, right?”

She could sense the heavy implications his words offered as the crowd started to stir once more, answering with the obvious reminders of the upcoming ball and ceremony. 

Her heart sank as she began to realize where this conversation was headed.

She didn’t want to do this.

She couldn’t do this!

She glanced towards the queen, desperate for any sign or way of salvation, but it seemed as if the queen’s attention was on a guard who’d stepped forward to quietly address her. 

“Do you hear the sound of that?” she heard the king call from over the sounds of cheers. 

She’d opened her mouth to speak, but a heavy weight had centered itself on her chest as she watched the king swim in the adoration and attention that the crowd provided. While still looking towards the people, he spoke, “Those are all the people who are wishing you well both at the ball and ceremony… It’s wonderful, right?”

Hesitantly, she felt herself nod, “Yes your highness, it is, and I’m honored really-,”

Now he turned to her, his grin in full display “Good! Then I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow at the castle to talk about it.”

“T-tomorrow?” she repeated, a bit caught off guard. Hadn’t she completed all of her tasks?! Why was he asking her to return to the castle?!

As if sensing her thoughts, he nodded, adding, “Only for a few hours of course! What, did you think I’d go back on my word? A promise is a promise Asha, and you know I would never purposefully break a promise.” 

She nodded watching as he began to step in the opposite direction. “And besides it’s Just to ensure all of the finalizations for the ball! These things do take practice, you know. So I’ll see you there before dawn,” He paused, gesturing for the rest of the apprentices to follow him as he made his way through the adoring crowd. 

The crowd bowed and cheered for the passing royals with a few even asking some of the other apprentices for autographs.

They were the guests of honor weren’t they, or at least a part of the royal entourage, so she supposed it only made sense for them to enjoy the festivities while it lasted. He halted once more, this time grinning as he looked over the still applauding and roaring crowd.

She could tell that he was loving every bit of this.

He had to be.

Never mind that the king hadn’t even asked her to accompany him or spoken about his promise to fund her projects but she supposed that would have to be dealt with tomorrow when she’d tell him of the danger. She hated having to delay it, but she knew better than to interrupt the king when he was like this in public.

She watched as he held his staff high in the air as he declared, “To the new era of Rosas!”

“To Rosas!” the people echoed. 

She could hear the sounds of drinks clinking as the music resumed, leaving her to hopelessly watch as the crowd swallowed the king, and his entourage up. 

Somewhere in the dying cheers of the crowd, she could make out the brief words of thanks and congratulations for her wishing ceremony. 

Mrs. Chidera had told her, “A personal invitation from the king to attend your wishing ceremony? Sounds like someone is on the right path for a promotion!” Or disaster. 

“You deserve it, Asha! After how you took down Julian earlier, the king should be granting at least hundreds of your wishes!” Mr. Armin had said.

“Remember me, when you get your wish granted, eh?” Mr. Leitus joked. “You were always one of  my favorite students .”

Oh gosh. How could she tell them all that she hadn’t even planned on attending the wishing ceremony to begin with? How could she tell them the truth?! 

Somewhere in the ruckus of her muddled mind, Asha heard Valentino pleat as she felt him gently nudge her leg. She could see from the expression on his face that he was concerned. 

“I’ll be fine,” she murmured, but if it had been to reassure Valentino or herself, she wasn’t sure. 

“Asha?” she heard her mother call. “Are you alright?”

“Yes mama, I’m fine,” she lied, nodding towards her. She was not fine. She was anything but fine. She knew from her mother’s expression that she didn’t believe her as she glanced past her most likely towards the king.

Her mother was definitely starting to suspect something. 

But how could she tell her?

The king of all people who roped her into this, and everyone in Rosas knew better than to refuse an order from the king, no matter how small or unfair said order was.

How exactly was she supposed to attend the wish ceremony when she didn’t have a wish? Better yet, how was she supposed to attend the astral ball, when she could barely waltz? 

She was going to make a fool of herself at both. She knew it. 

“And the night had been so close to being perfect,” she whispered under her breath as she sighed.  Leave it to the king to unintentionally make her life harder for his own entertainment. 

She sighed again, pinching her temples as she tried to reassure herself. It wasn’t like the night could get any worse, right? 

“Asha!” she heard the voice of her grandfather call. 

“Saba!” she called over the now cheering crowd that watched the queen easily score a point against the town’s champion in sack toss. Ignacio hadn’t been kidding when he called her athletic.

He narrowed his eyes towards her as he pointed his old wooden cane in her direction. “Want to give me an explanation for why you were running around with a boy this side of Rosas?”

“Boy?” Her mother repeated, glancing from her grandfather to her with a shocked expression. “Boy?!”

“Saba!” she yelped before she turned to her mother and quickly shook her head. “Mama it’s not like that, I swear.”

“She’s right,” she watched the old man lean towards her mother. “It’s worse .”

She shook her head “No! No! It’s actually super complicated, and accidental….”

“Likely story,” her grandfather scoffed before waving his hand dismissively. “A warning would’ve been nice you know, or just a small message informing us of your gallivanting. Do you know how many message hawks I had to use to find you?!”

“I wasn’t gallivanting. Wait a second, how did you-,” her voice trailed off as she watched a few children come into view, all eating the familiar pastries from her grandfather’s bakery before giving her a knowing smile. “Traitors,” she muttered.

“He bribed us with brownies!” Edda protested.

Thatcher took another bite from the pastry. “He also promised to teach us the move you did today too!”

“Brownies, really?” she placed her hands on her hip. “You couldn’t even sell me out for something better, like cake? You’re resorting to bribery brownies now, Saba?”

Her grandfather shrugged, “Eh, it’s the best pastry to bake before a funeral.”

“A funeral?” she repeated. “ A funeral?!”

Of course, he didn’t elaborate as she watched him grumble something to himself before glancing around the crowd. “Where is this boy you speak of? Bjorn told me that he saw him this morning.”

“Oh him?” Asha paused looking around, relief filling her. “He’s gone.” Thankfully . “He was just passing through, so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to-,”

“I was wondering where you’d been, Asha,” came a terrible voice from behind her. A voice that she knew most definitely should not have been here.

Why?!

Why was he still here?! 

He should’ve gone back to the sky ages ago!

She cringed, forcefully swallowing the cry in her throat as she looked back, taking in the sight of the star who stood there with a cup of Mrs. Kurkaus’s frosted treats in his hands. “Sorry I was late,” he said as if he wasn’t ruining the very fabric of her existence by standing there. “The line for these things is shockingly long, but it’s worth it. See? I got you one-,” his voice trailed off as she watched his eyes full of blues, purples, and oranges settle on both her grandfather and mother.

“Asha-,” her mother began, looking from her to the star. She cleared her throat, offering the star a polite smile. 

She could tell that her mother was trying to be polite, but unfortunately, the sentiment wasn’t shared as her grandfather frowned. “Asha, who is this?”

Oh boy.

One minute passed, then two, then three, and by this time Asha was very certain that she was cursed as she heard Valentino pleat excitedly. Unlike her, he wanted to see how this would unfold.

“Hello, ma’am!” The star said with a small wave and smile that could’ve won anyone not named Sabino or Asha over.

“Hello,” her mother replied. “You must be Asha’s friend!” She offered the star a polite smile. 

“Yes ma’am, you could say that,” the star answered while casting a glance in Asha’s direction. 

“I thought you said he was your acquisition-,” she heard Edda mumble.

“The word was acquaintance,” Asha sighed, even though she had a sinking feeling that Edda’s words hadn’t been entirely far off from the truth. 

This was such a weird situation. Why did it have to happen to her?!?

“Where are you from?” her mother suddenly asked, far more interested in the star than Asha would’ve hoped.

Please , she mentally begged him, ‘ Please don’t say anything outrageous. Please attempt to be somewhat of a normal person. Please!’ Asha knew the star could do a lot of things, but now she hoped that mind reading was one of them.

“Oh me?” the star blinked while pointing to himself, his eyes matching the pleasant colors of the passing twilight. “I fell out of the sky yesterday night, ma’am.”

NO! NO NO NO NO!

“Well at least he’s honest,” her grandfather mumbled with a shrug. 

Her mother’s brow furrowed in confusion as she looked towards the old man, “what?!”

“HA, HA HA! You’ll have to forgive him! He hit his head earlier,” Asha interjected as she lightly pushed the star away.

“Is he fine?” her mother asked, concern making its way onto her face.

Asha nodded with a nervous laugh, “Yeah, he’s fine. He’s just not from around here.”

“We can tell,” her grandfather answered.

“Sabino be nice,” she heard her mother warn while still looking somewhat confused.

“And this isn’t really his first language, or second, for that matter. But that’s how they greet each other where he’s from-,”

“It’s true,” the star nodded like he wasn’t absolutely insane. “It’s the most respectful greeting one can give.”

“Interesting! So you’re passing through for the astral ball and ceremony?” her mom asked once more. 

“I am,” the star politely answered. “I even helped Asha to decorate the market!”

“So I’m guessing this was your work, then?” Her Saba asked as his cane gestured to a few scattered golden petals.

“Some of it,” the star admitted. “But a lot of people helped! So it was actually pretty fun!”

Her grandfather muttered something incoherent under his breath as she heard her mother comment, “Well if you don’t mind me asking, do you have any accommodations? 

“Accommodations?” The star repeated, looking a bit confused. 

“Yes you know,” she paused, looking a bit surprised by the star’s confusion. “someplace you’ll be staying overnight?”

“Don’t use that kind of speech with him, Sakina,” she heard her grandfather interject. “They never get it at first.” He took a step forward, this time gesturing to the star as he said, “Your family isn’t with you, right?” 

“I’m afraid not. I usually travel alone,” the star admitted. The curiosity in his eyes had changed as he watched her grandfather carefully. 

“You’re here by yourself? Where will you go after the market finishes tonight?” Her mother asked, sympathy making its way into her voice much to Asha’s dismay. Now was not the time to show the legendary Rosas hospitality! 

“I…I’m not sure,” the star admitted, glancing towards Asha as if to ask for help. “But I’ll figure something out.”

The star’s words had unknowingly hit a little too close to home for her mother as she heard her ask. “Would you like to stay with us? At least until you get yourself settled?”

Before the star could answer, Asha stepped in, grinning. “Could you please give us a moment? I just…need to talk to him about a few things! We’ll be back soon! Bye!” she called, dragging him away as she watched her mother’s expression of polite curiosity slowly intermingle with suspicion. 

As soon as she was certain she’d dragged the star from her mother and grandfather’s earshot, and into an alleyway she quietly exclaimed, “You fell out of the sky yesterday night?! WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT!”

He blinked, “It was the truth-,”

She facepalmed, “I thought I told you NOT to tell people anything crazy!”

“But I didn’t! Don’t people fall all the time? I mean someone nearly fell off one of the ladders earlier-”

“Yes but not out of the sky! WHEN THEY FALL OUT OF THE SKY THEY USUALLY DIE!” she roughly whispered, before taking a few forceful yet deep breaths to calm herself. 

Yelling at the star would get her nowhere and as much as she wanted to know why he was still here, the consequences of someone accidentally overhearing their conversation were far too dire.

So that question would have to wait until later, but for now- she needed to ask him something.

“Be honest with me,” she forced the words out. She knew that despite her uneasy tone, it sounded confrontational, but she needed to know, she deserved to know. She forced herself to meet the star’s somewhat surprised gaze, “are you doing this on purpose?”

“Doing what?”

“Trying to destroy me! Are you intentionally trying to destroy me?”

He blinked. “Why would I do that?”

She shrugged, “Because you’ve made my life infinitely harder as of late! So c’mon…just admit it. I’ll respect you more for it.”

“But…I’m not-, I couldn’t destroy you. Not even if I-” his eyes widened as she saw his lips press into a thin line. “No,” he shook his head. “No. I would never. I could never. There are rules to this Asha.”

“Which is?”

He leaned against the wall, not taking his eyes off of her as he replied, “We can’t harm whoever wishes on us. Regardless of intention. The consequences are quite dire, you know. Why do you think I sent the storm to stop Julian from hurting you?”

She felt herself stiffen. She hadn’t even realized that the sudden yet strange weather occurrence had been another act of the star’s power. But it had saved her. It’d given her the time she needed to disarm Julian safely. 

But it hadn’t been the only shocking thing about the star’s revelation of this rule. He couldn’t hurt her, at least not without suffering from dire consequences. 

Now that certainly changed things! Not as much as she’d like, but hey! At least she could sleep well tonight knowing that incineration by star would not be the way how she died! 

Feeling brave, she finally decided to ask him the question that had been plaguing her all evening. “Did you mean for this to happen?” 

“For what to happen?”

She took a step closer, making sure they were alone as she whispered, “For everything! For the decorations to be unsalvageable, for the head official to be too injured to continue, and to then give credit to the king- did you mean for all of this to happen?”

“I didn’t intend for the head official to get hurt,” the star answered. 

“But you intended for everything else to happen, didn’t you? Is that why you granted those specific wishes? Because you knew they could do more to benefit me?”

“I-,” he started to answer only to come to a pause as she saw his eyes focus on the alleyways entrance as her grandfather’s figure quickly came into view.

“Saba?” She asked, surprised to see him as he quickly made his way towards them. “Saba, what are you doing here?”

He huffed, abruptly turning to leave as they followed. “I could ask you the same question! Running off into dark places with boys you can’t even properly introduce to me! And in this alleyway of all places! Asha, please have some standards! That is no proper place for a murder!”

“Saba I’m not going to kill anyone- I don’t kill people! I’m telling you this is all just one massive misunderstanding! It’s not what you think!” The look in the star’s eyes told her that he hadn’t forgotten how she’d swung her sketchbook at him the night before. But that had been attempted murder, something that wouldn’t have happened if he could just stop sneaking up on her! 

Her grandfather didn’t answer as he paused, whirling around to regard the star. “You!” He pointed to the star. 

“Yes sir.”

Her Saba narrowed his eyes, “What is your name?”

“It’s Cepheus, sir.”

“Cepheus,” he repeated before shaking his head. “Unfortunate. Who are your parents?” 

“My parents?” the star repeated, looking a bit taken aback. 

“Yes! What are their names?”

“Ah, well,” the star fidgeted, glancing from the sky and then finally back to her grandfather as he answered, “their names are…Ray and Evangeline.”

To the star’s credit, those were…shockingly believable answers! Sure they didn’t impress her Saba but it was far better than hearing him say something outrageous. 

But come to think of it, did stars have parents? She’d have to ask him later as she followed her grandfather towards Mrs. Kurkaus’s stall. 

“Searching for you has been as exhausting as it has been stressful,” he stated as they stood in the now short line for ice cream. “So I think I deserve to have this.”

“Hello, Asha, Cepheus, and Mr. Sabino” Mrs. Kurkaus smiled, “How may I help you all today?”

“I’ll have three Rosas specials, please,” Asha smiled. One for herself, her mother, and then Valentino, whom she knew she owed for giving him the burden of watching the star.

“Alright, and what would you like?” Mr. Kurkaus asked the star. “The same as last time?”

“Yes please,” he nodded. 

“And you, Mr. Sabino?”

“I’ll take a nice helping of your finest non-royally themed delicacies,” he stated, before placing a few golden coins on the counter of the stall. Mrs. Kurkaus laughed, nervously glancing towards the king who thankfully was a bit too busy playing against the queen and several noblemen in spellicans to notice. 

“Heh…Coming right up!” she hummed, before handing them all their treats in record time. 

Soon, they’d seated themselves by the fountain, enjoying their treats as Asha glanced at the somewhat empty side of the market. “Where’s Mom?” 

“Talking with some of her clients,” her grandfather answered before taking another helping of his ice cream. “You know how those nobles get around this time of the month. Everyone’s gotta look good for something.”

“That’s good for business though, isn’t it? It’s what keeps the economy going. Even you can’t refute that Saba.”

He scoffs, readjusting his grip on his cane as she hears him say, “Don’t tempt me. You know I can be very unreasonable when I want to be.” 

She grinned, against her better judgment as she placed Valentino’s ice cream on the ground for him to eat. She could always count on her grandfather to have some sort of answer, no matter how ridiculous they usually were.

“BLLLEAAATTTT” she paused, hearing the sound of a distant explosion as the sky illuminated in a brilliant display of lights and colors as the crowd watched. The king must’ve been enjoying himself if he were using his magic to conjure fireworks outside of a ball or ceremony. 

She could only imagine how good he felt now taking credit for wishes he didn’t grant to earn.

“What’s that?” The star asked, looking at the sky curiously. 

“Fireworks,” she replied in between bites while she watched Valentino practically devour his ice cream. “Sometimes we have those at big celebrations…” she paused taking in the star’s expectant expression. “what?”

“Oh nothing,” he shrugged. “I was just expecting to hear your whole science spiel on how they work. And how it’s not magic. Can’t forget the anti-magic attitude!”

She grunted, not in the mood to give magic nor the star any sort of positive acknowledgment as she finished the last bit of her ice cream. 

Her grandfather scoffed, eyes rolling as she watched him turn away from the fireworks, muttering “Illusions. Distractions. That’s all they are…don’t be fooled.”  After a moment or so of fidgeting, he finally settled to his feet muttering something along the lines of “I’ll be back soon,” before walking off towards a group of less than friendly-looking individuals, aka mercenaries. 

She only hoped they weren’t working.

“Ay Sabino!” she heard one call as the group caught sight of her approaching grandfather. 

Someday she’d have to have a talk with her grandfather about his associates from his days before his retirement. Someday.

“Your king seems quite popular,” she heard the star call rather thoughtfully as he examined the crowd. “And it’s not hard to see why. He can grant wishes, can’t he? And that’s what he did today,” The star smiled as he turned towards her. “So It’s best to let a king enjoy himself, especially on a day he'll have to remember favorably. It’d be foolish for him to do otherwise to ruin such a day, don't you agree Asha?” 

She hesitated. 

To do otherwise? She hadn’t gotten what the star had meant at first, but when she heard the crowd cheer for his fireworks it clicked. 

The king couldn’t backtrack his statement of granting those wishes. Even if he’d done a thorough investigation into the matter, he could never release the truth. He could never let anyone know the truth, not unless he wanted to look like a liar. 

No wonder the officials and Mrs. Chidera had seemed so relieved. There was a good chance he’d call off any investigations if he claimed responsibility which was a benefit for all of them. Most Investigations usually cost money and in worst-case scenarios, reputations or jobs.

But it seemed as if she was safe…for now.

“Careful,” Hal’s voice whispered. “Careful-,” The crowded stall fell silent. Hal had worked her way through the market effectively crushing, conquering and destroying everyone in sack toss, which had left her with only one remaining challenger- the champion himself. 

He’d put up an admirable fight, leaving the two locked in a strenuous tie, as Hal was left with the final sack. 

“It’s not too late to retreat,” she heard him whisper. “I’ll respect you for it.”

“Keep your respect,” she called back. “I’m going for the gold!” She readjusted her position before tossing the sack, all anxiously watched as the small sack sailed through the air and perfectly into the furthest hole, breaking the tie.

“We have a new champion!” the stall owner called, more than happy to collect the money that people had betted against Hal. 

“WOOOOHOOOO!” Dario yelled as the teens cheered, all congratulating Hal as she took what must’ve been her twentieth stuffed toy that evening. 

“Congratulations Hal!” Safi said. “I knew you could do it.”

“Thanks,” Hal grinned, turning to the champion as he shook her hand. “Good game.”

“Good game,” he repeated with a courteous bow. “It was an honor, Senorita Hal. But it certainly won’t be the end.”

“Noted. I’m always up for a rematch,” she answered as the crowd around the stall began to disperse. “Well that was fun,” she sighed, turning to her companions as they ventured toward the more private parts of the market. “So what do you guys think we should do next?”

“We could do the baking competitions,” Safi sniffled, as he tossed a few bread crumbs to some birds. 

“I know Dahlia would love that,” Hal grinned, looking at her friend.

Dahlia shook her head, not returning the smile. “No, no. I can’t.”

“Why not?” Dario asked as she watched him begin to take a few bites from his ice cream.  “Everyone knows you’re like the best baker ever.”

“I know,” Dahlia nodded. “So it wouldn’t be fair to just destroy the competition like that. You have to give everyone a chance to shine.”

“We could be the judges,” Hal suggested. “I heard one of them had to drop out after trying one of the mona de Pasqua’s the official’s apprentice made. It got really nasty.”

“Ugh,” Dahlia grimaced. “Thanks but no thanks… Pastries that are baked with more stress than sugar are pastries that are not worth sharing,” she stepped past them, leaning against an empty stall as the three teens exchanged glances.

“You’re still waiting for Bazeema aren’t you?” Hal asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. 

Dahlia shook her head, frustration slowly making its way into her voice, “She should’ve been back by now! I mean we all heard Asha when she said that she’d completed all of her tasks! I’m not crazy!”

“What does Bazeema have to do with Asha’s tasks?” Dario asked, earning a pointed glance before nodding, “Oh right!  The secret mission. You’re talking about Bazeema’s secret mission. The secret mission we all chose to give to Bazeema. That mission?”

“Yes Dario, that one!” Dahlia sighed before rubbing her face. 

“The secret mission for Nachos!” Dario whispered, before taking another hearty helping of his ice cream.

“Emphasis on the secret part,” Dahlia added.

“I can’t believe she found him in less than a day,” Safi sniffed. 

“I told you she could do it,” Hal shrugged as she crossed her arms.

“But she did it so fast- and by herself! How is that even possible?! I mean for her to go to you-know-where and back in time to decorate an entire market- it just doesn’t make sense! What?! Did she fly there!?” Safi exclaimed before sneezing as one of Ana’s birds chirped. “Thanks,” he sniffled, as he withdrew a tissue from his pocket. 

“It’s Asha, so it’s best not to think about it,” Dario suggested, taking in the surprised looks of his friends. “What?” he shrugged, “she’s scary! We know this!”

“I wouldn’t call her scary, but her grandfather…he has a whole sharpened broadsword in his cabinet,” Hal blinked in disbelief as if she couldn’t believe her own words. 

“Well…He wasn’t the captain of the guards for nothing.” Dahlia sighed, as the remaining apprentices, a small pause filling the space before they heard the screams of fireworks overhead.

“Fireworks? Seems like he’s in a good mood tonight,” Dahlia blinked as she adjusted her glasses.

Safi wiped his nose, “No surprises there, I mean did you see him when the crowd started cheering? He’ll have to pass a royal decree to make the doorposts higher from how much his head was swelling!” 

The teens laughed, watching in silence as a few more fireworks exploded before Dario whispered “Hey, just between the four of us…since the king is in such a good mood right now, do you think he’d grant my wish too?”

Hal laughed, “To quote the king- Not a chance,”

“Nope,” Dahlia shook her head. 

“Not in a million years!” Safi exclaimed. “Besides he probably didn’t even grant those wishes to begin with.”

“What?” Dario blinked in surprise. “What do you mean?!”

“C’mon,” Hal leaned against the stall, looking around to ensure they were truly alone before she continued. “We were with his highness all day, Dario. If he did something, there was no way we wouldn’t have seen it!”

Dario deflated, “Ah, you’ve got a point….”

“And besides,” Hal shrugged. “The most wishes he grants when he’s feeling generous is 15, and that’s over a whole year. There were at least four wishes granted today, which is more or less equal to what he normally grants in a third of the year. You want me to believe that he’d outdo himself randomly today of all days and here of all places?”

“C’mon Hal,” Dahlia frowned. 

“Sorry! I mean, let’s be honest, if he were to go splurging with the wish-granting, don’t you think he’d do it to his favored members of the court? Just to keep favor, and all those politics.”

“Fair enough, but if the king didn’t grant those wishes…who did?”

A strange silence fell over the group as the teens exchanged glances with each other. 

“Maybe-,” Safi began, pausing as they heard the sound of galloping hoofs heading towards them. 

“Someone’s coming!” Hal whispered, as the teens scattered, just as a horse came into view, its rider pulling on the reigns, bringing the horse to an abrupt halt. It was hard to see the figure’s face that was shrouded underneath their dark cloak as Dahlia’s eyes darted past them and to the familiar figure who was mounted behind them. 

“Bazeema!” Safi cried.

“Hi!” Bazeema squeaked as the horse calmed. “Sorry it took me so long,” she whispered as the figure dismounted the horse, before offering her a hand down. “Thanks,” she smiled, dismounting as the teens quickly surrounded her and the figure. 

“Nachos?” Dario called, as the figure paused, looking towards him. “Nachos!” he yelled running towards the figure with outstretched arms. The figure stepped forward ready to receive him, only for Dario to run past him.

“So close,” the figure sighed, as Dario ran out of the alleyway. 

“Ignacio…” Dahlia began, her voice quiet as she squinted. “Is that you?”

“In the flesh! And I come with gifts!” he replied as he pulled his hood back, and smiled, holding his arms out, as Hal, Safi, and Bazeema embraced him.

“It took you long enough, Your Highness,” Dahlia huffed, crossing her arms. 

“Sorry! It took me forever to lose the guards my Tio sent for me. You know I’m on a tight leash here.”

“Right, right, I nearly forgot about that” She nodded, taking in his expectant gaze. “What?”

“You didn’t join the group hug-,”

“Seriously?”

“Yes!” he snapped. “I didn’t get banished for three years just for you to miss out on group hugs.”

Dahlia sighed, grabbing her crutch as she made her way over to her friends, and embraced them. Admittedly being together did feel nice, especially when she’d thought it would never happen again. “There. Is that better?” she asked. 

“Much better,” he smiled, before releasing them as Dario made his way back to them, receiving his own hug from the prince.

“I missed you Nachos!” Dario cried before releasing the prince. 

“I missed you too!” Ignacio replied. “All of you.”

“You got super tall!” Hal exclaimed.

He grinned, shrugging, “What can I say? It’s in the genes, right next to the magic-,”

“Speaking of magic, did you hear about the wishes that were granted today?” Dahlia asked. 

“No?” he shook his head, confusion lacing his tone as he asked, “Wishes were granted?”

Hal nodded. “Yeah- I overheard some of the maintainers talking. They said six wishes were granted in the market today. One went haywire.”

“Haywire?” Dario asked.

“Yeah. Some kid named Julian tried to burn the place down.”

“Julian?” Ignacio repeated, as his face paled. “Julian?!”

“Yeah. I think that’s what they said. He was stopped by a storm and Asha. Hey Dahlia, do you know this Julian guy?”

“Somewhat,” she confessed. “He was the son of one of the most influential noblemen in these parts a while back, I think. I only remember hearing about him recently because of all his familial problems. Is something wrong Ignacio?”

The prince let out a small yet uneasy laugh, “No! No, everything is fine! I was just wondering if any of you knew where he is now?”

Hal shook her head, “they didn’t say. The whole thing is under lock and key now. The officials and maintainers wanted to do an investigation, but it got called off.”

“Called off? Who’d call something like that off?!”

“The king,” Hal answered, gesturing to the man who was still amusing his subjects. “But on the bright side now someone can fly, and manipulate a snow cloud and a rain cloud!”

“It’s how we got this!” Dario called as he held up his ice cream. “Seriously! You need to try one of these things! It’s better than flan!”

“Ok, let’s not get hasty now,” Ignacio laughed. “Nothing is better than flan. Except for maybe more flan. Made by a certain someone-.” he glanced towards Dahlia.

“If that’s your way of asking me for some flan then it’s not happening,” Dahlia answered.

“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he sighed with a small shrug, before looking the small group over as another explosive firework from overhead illuminated them.

“THANK YOU PEOPLE OF ROSAS!” The king’s voice boomed, as the teens all turned to watch him as the crowd cheered at the final firework. “It’s been a true pleasure being with you all tonight!”

“Have you spoken to him?” Dahlia asked, glancing from the king to the prince.

“Not yet,” he answered, slowly clenching his jaw as he looked them over. “Where’s Asha?”

“Not sure. I don’t think the king invited her to hang out with us,” Hal shrugged, as Safi glanced around. 

Ignacio frowned. “She really decorated the market and he didn’t ask for her to show him around?” 

Safi coughed, as Hal fidgeted, no one wanted to answer the prince’s question as Bazeema stepped forward, softly stating, “Last I saw of her, she was with her mother and grandfather.” 

“Really?” asked Dario before he took another bite of his ice cream. “Because that doesn’t look like her mom or grandpa to me-,” he stated before pointing to the other side of the market where Asha’s figure came into view, trying to pass through the outskirts of the crowd, when a second hooded figure appeared.

“Who is that?!” Hal exclaimed, watching as the figure seemingly drew the attention of a few women towards himself. 

“It’s…it’s a boy,” Dahlia repeated in disbelief. “And her grandfather didn’t kill him yet?”

“We truly are living in strange times,” Safi sniffled as the figure continued after her. 

“Why are you asking about Asha anyway?” Bazeema whispered, her voice quietly wavering as the others frowned and looked toward the prince.

He shrugged, “I heard the innkeeper say something about Asha needing some male clothes this morning after she bought a room for two…so I was just curious. That’s all.”

His friends, save for Dahlia let out a sigh of relief, as he watched Dario devour another scoop of his ice cream before wailing “No! I’m almost out!”

“We can always go get some more,” Safi offered, before turning to Ignacio. “You haven’t tried this have you?” 

The prince shook his head, “No not yet. I was thinking of doing so earlier, but the lines were atrocious”

“You might have better luck now, Nacho,” Dahlia pointed out. “Because everyone’s so distracted with the king and his fireworks, the lines should be very short now.”

“Well then! What are we waiting for?” Hal grinned. “I’ll buy!”

“Really?” Ignacio furrowed a brow towards her. “You’d really buy something for a prince?”

“Only because I’m Hamlet’s Sack toss champion,” she beamed. 

“You know Mrs. Kurkaus is making a fortune off of these things,” Dahlia commented as the teens began to move toward the more crowded parts of the market. 

“Definitely. Hey, have you ever thought about combining your cookies with her ice cream?” Ignacio asked.

“Cookies and ice cream?” Dahlia repeated. “You think it’ll work?”

“It’s worth a shot, isn’t it?” Ignacio called, with a shrug as they all made their way towards the ice cream stall.

Had they lingered where they were for a bit longer, they probably would’ve seen when the king had begun to make his way through the crowd, proudly taking in the words of praise and adoration from his surrounding subjects as he neared the stables.

The night had been a success. 

Granted he had a few…issues to attend to, but overall, the day had gone splendidly well. 

Anyone who was there could have told you that, but where the story falters is what happened afterward.

Everyone remembers the king making his way through the crowd, but very few remember the hooded figure passing him. Anyone who saw it would’ve told you that the figure most likely was a young male, not any older than eighteen who’d stopped to speak to a few noble girls before resuming his trek after someone. 

But what they wouldn’t have told you was how said figure walked past the king, with neither party touching nor sparing the simplest of glances toward the other. From an outsider’s point of view, it’d been nothing more than the king showing comfort in the proximity of his subjects, or at least that’s what it would have been if both parties hadn’t come to a complete halt in the middle of the market.

Only the queen would see her husband’s grip on his staff tighten. “Amor?” she called out, eyes narrowing with concern, as the king took one breath. 

Then two. 

Then three, before suddenly turning around with such force that the audience gasped. Magic flew from his fingers into the ground, snaking along the cobblestones until they reached the fountain, elegantly freezing the water into two sharply angled pristine figures.

“A parting gift for your hospitality!”  the now laughing king called to the startled crowd as they slowly began to clap, all oblivious to the sharpness in the man’s teal-colored eyes as he looked through the crowd. 

His eyes landed on the spot where the figure should’ve been or rather would’ve been, but now, it was empty, leaving behind no trace of its former occupant. 

[thedreadvampy]

ARRGHGGGG ordered 2 burritos

didn't want to go to this place. they're a bit meh. but they're somehow the only place other than the barburrito chain in the entire city of Edinburgh that offers carnitas. and my partner wanted carnitas. so ok we go here.

wait an hour

burrito man cometh!

check the bag

one burrito

call down the stairs "hey there only one burrito here" he's like "call justeat about it byeeeee"

justeat do not have a customer service number so I go ok I will call the restaurant

first. where is the restaurant based. oh it's a fucking ghost kitchen at where? Shit Chain Restaurant BarBurrito

call them. they say "oh hey sorry about that. we can make you another one if you call JustEat."

I go, submit a complaint to JustEat, get a message saying "we will respond in 3-5 days"

call back the restaurant say hey it's fucking impossible to call just eat. can you please just give me my fucking burrito it is 10pm on a Saturday night I'm hungry I'm just skip my fucking dinner will I?

quote, "we can't take responsibility for food once it's left the restaurant"

I'm like uh ok. It's in a sealed bag. It's not the courier's fucking fault you forgot to put half the order in that sealed bag. and what? I can't complain about the order if it's left the restaurant? I'm not standing over your fucking shoulder watching you make it, I don't KNOW about the order until it's left the restaurant. this is pretty clearly on your team.

whatever. I have hung up. I am currently making myself a rage toastie. didn't want your shitey wee burrito anyway literally only ordered from here to be nice to my partner. I am FUMIN.

[libidomechanica]

The clown, the world

A ballad sequence

               I

The boy for man but up! The clown,     the world. For which the sinister, we couple puts together?     You that fond embraced.

               II

Your love reading grace in sweet, something     on the low. Clasp the surf biting thing in that lockt up     Pearls upon the Forty-

second Foot. The reed, till yearned clerks;     but I never comes, to take or leave the floor, can make me     moon of God nor red makes

Love, thou, Mercury, assist my     little bag, we prison walls, and dark, let me alone. Oh     distant stay sets you this,

that health I refuse to move amongst     us out of rules breacher came but thus Orinda     died: heavens did pierced to

trial needs none of your bitter twenty     millionaire: I have its garland we have been, but half;     trust God: see a foreign

lord, service and the struck despairing     star! We had espyed, causlesse gifts to violins which     they filled wife, and the way

a womankind, her list, put there     I have thy despair, which Cupid got no name. I only     can be caught found strange fits

of plant in storm. To tell in which     in your eyes of old this too I know you had gone, a goodly     sung out, appealing

thirst: so, take himself shoulders, the     Garment of black and ne’er was straining the face across a     women. And I, a bird.

               III

From me: hoof after a dew or     denied: from with sun and owed there, as it every springs     his fatter gan to come

aye to Nanie’s cot came in much     for mine a lidless vigil kept, and play, his outward part:     no, not all their words and

sudden sun: o I will fley’d awa     by Phoebus first you stands, as the eye; what only they     dwell is deaths, dere would rocks.

Through to firebrand never saw     the golden lilies of the Heav’n had no cure: the blooming     ban, splashing bath, which of

Natures are like a ball of weeds     with eyes best see, for he hent influence. God topp, als my     breath motion and all Night

Movie Theater, she canker     of your will speak; indeed, in the heart which the heart denied,     but it eats they, so weak.

I give life is golden the fool,     and darken’d into thee. I list not even; her voices     call not suffering wonder

whose spirit than all too near. Her     hair were it not go, thought of a sometime the day is little     while my head body

grief and the golden wishes me     none shepherds pipe and the air. In that sunset; O, a shout     really a breeding men.

Mountain and you, and blythe bedclothes,     there and cast him so thought forth and find than beelike in     heave those way thirst that all

unbe than beelike in his lap. That     all hell with which fail to lights, going tongue should scarlet coat,     for fresh, fragrant you; found,

it seems from fall of foreign churches—     I see how the river; and only what for speech—who     saith A whole fief, in right.

One of us they be, i’m welcome     each day is like a scar between each others, saint, without     the charm—she saw the

gloom, and thwart the striated rocks. And     more my second life so right: and through our smile upon the     city-roar that Son of

Beauty joins with pewter, brief the     mock-heroic gigantesque, and found there is a word to     swing. Tears, for me? Dear Christ!

               IV

You have I, but his book, then a     morals to be overcast! As harbinger faile his     colowred crime wildest men,

well as he our words, his hive. Without     all there rose in some have her heart of shabby grey: his     warlike brother guilt. From

hence the Ithacensian strife, let     me known. Upon the shadow of stormes, how would be movèd; many     forget the secret.

               V

Off everybody love to grow.     He does diseas’d, and liberty does she real light with the     hangman with proud people

cometh nought run wild while young man,     I scorne thy shade shining south from the others pick the ague.     A hubbub in their sorrow

flew. That Son of Beauty. With     my nest upon a saintliness off his mate sits with myriads     more thick as here! The

pawnshop windows. None is one, the     strongly he wanting behind me with alien tears do     not go gentle clouds to

heart is this, Time’s wheeled in her e’re.     In such a kingdom topples from the wealth it deny? Hence     Cupid sobbing now, even

a notary would I described     better part which our books. The keene corne, you cannon-ball     to seek; all I say, then

do mine all parts of living wind     and eyes from me the dead, in Humanity’s long pain—with     a passionate her lion’s

mood tore out of the year’s please     to act to vse eloquence, whose for the bitter blown vp     with your day the roots of

Fear this, and found, and crush’d, and darkened     by would redeem you: but fie! Deeply, and bare, and, tost     on beautiful was red.

               VI

Nor than a wave is in her bread.     The grasp at all thewed, and heeded and Doom: thence, is the     ague. Severed genial English

forbear, ’ the flowers and took,     but, utterance, and woman’s eye is far too were dead fleeces     newly sprung in

another’s mind, our glad eyes, and often     I crept by each accuse he was lost a woman’s formed,     at first, in gracefu’

air; ilk features which borrowed from     the rules did crawled the instead: he had and some a sweet, sweets     in the heavy gate, and

shook the roses; and the flame, nor     follow, flying cloud, when ye will lie, and she has this     Everybody love your lungs.

You that I should blaze she love-poem!     Add this night across the sequel of the yields and day,     and you’d suspect: a market

to my own and when my breathe     outside rings he flying race, or, fall on thy spirit than     repose only said, My

life to brow, doth cast, where, as long     from out my flowretts beneath thine. Our soul, but this pipe and     pain his Years not to kill.

The crown the stone; witnessed our town,     far off, called for Psyche, you me young beneath, about the     elms, and the lonely cell

o Mercury, assist my lassie,     erewhile another’s greene, a rogue would rather     thro’ the secret deeds; lilies

a wretched the moor; she court,     and groans of old time, and yet, ’ I said, when I see a form,     unless wooden legs, began

to be and Life to light on     my Mother hearts? Before; if so, thus Orinda died: heaven’s     grace. There fixt like pale

aspect makes such a song, Cyril,     howe he venteth into an eye where a sound which are joies     display? That are fled: when

the silent we will entered     intricately as they liv’d; and I know no beauty fair is     lustlesse gifts as many

forget such a kingdomes gaine;     and hoary wyth frost nipt his sightless for the eye awake     in its cruell consume my

youth did he made this honest mind.     And when what the sward of, after-following bones to Time.     Chains of longing youth is

another watches their scaffold     high, lance-like he sat with answered spread on thy Heav’nly     fireside her, brief is little

woods and arbitrate? But shame     that sometime to my woes, there; she call Thy plants both pedantic:     today’s paper

posterity? Winter gan this crime     with his gained above the King dumb; for as you wilt thou art     wreck his corpse, to traffic.

               VII

Your old baggage. Of plant in ilka     throe! The leaves are like a flowers in secret heart, my     lassie, kind blaws loud that stood eight dost common wages of     sapless graine: and break your

crowning Jewel of the midsummers’     pride, and what their Wrath and wear my voices murmuring. A     nations Act: the range and rot, wrapt in a thing to haue I     woke them out of her Eye.

               VIII

Be she procession—cannot speak     of my hands like mind is not repress of a lover’s vow,     despite of Hell within,

nor for fear of which they meant; for     shame within the fate of Heavens’ majesty she said; she     said, and make a wretched

for human strife: o my liege Lord     of Sir Ralph has souls, so much a scope to pass; nor car’d, nor     outward partly because

it’s office reverie, and through     a little Lilia pleasure there; she packed her tree when     unto myself have been

so sweet that tells me, where Cupid     got new fill’d his fine old age. Most Rabbis Jewish to waste,     the wasted her face, nor

wisedomes gold: and slide into     spasmatic ecstatic women living flowers, I     thought its own; and all my

night away: they would be obsolete.     And forbear, though it hath kisses a’ she had sown; in     us true grow old. Or

saying house their bottom, such a     burial Office of my hairs on earth cannot but with     a smiled, unmixed with

blossomes rownd. Of the sought to lay     on the eye; they neither Sun nor house who watched in silken-     folded up in college

my frugal eyes; in early, rich,     and ivy dun round the gurgling keys opened wide, according     the Musk-Harvest alone,

I marry the sacks, we brag     yond Bullocke of creatures, and water dear wooly rose of     this for some of the sights,

in the morning and mine. Be our     walls approve the little weeks; four, with whom a watched their motion     or byre those charm the

eye. To try to make worms thine would     them and move; the poor heavenly dews were given, my last     learned Nor Jove, now at

lengthened birds do sing: for fools     proportioned if her only what have wended; in which might know     you fresh from a tamarisk

near the hazel with vain-made     it cannot take, thirst for us to eke out raptures     be, and grass, beside ever

we had opened each other     gasping knife. Whose who love for you sudden ghostly mine; for     speech. Has no grave: nor breast;

i, sick men had not even thus     began to me from out my eye I kept walking for such     passion had done that struck,

imagined more I rede the worth     the park what he called across his was moved, nor laugh’d her shake.     All would break like glitter.

               IX

Or nay. Nor cherish’d nor heated     of worse that I would have seemed to make showered than my rooms,     as the North, and rounding

grace no doubt: I see his heart! That     either ends you sleeping. Of such as the floor. We could new     thought and so true gods he

did quickening bee, reaching loth,     I blow morn about, about her singing so, he shore sate     by the pails. To crossed the

great yearned below a princess cry’d:     o cruel, come and held no Warders struggle have kiss, Then, what     good man and you, kind love.

I a’ the streets of more it be;     tis she that my hid meaning. And ioy there or other weep,     within this cheating the

Master of the beautiful was     not he. And make bright, because the boughes my smart, I lo’ed     here unjust. But hurriedly

thrust if an end: and bones be,     and the sweet smile upon his enemie. One of us thou     to seek; all the same—that

take, effect and near it: when I     once in sweet is when rattling in Heaven. To be the     loss the shape, her drooped to

fail it is worthiest till over     me, my mother, though lean against a rehearse: and no     pace and strive, and flattered

in his to trial needs none fitter     breathe swallow, slight till doth not so greet: and shook and rain, an     earthquake: they may reassure

the shrill wine-red rose in your     decay: for nature, hath my penny-fee, an’ she said; she     saw the gods he does not

fear have lost, I could blaze again,     to all this mate sits nestled a gentle cloud. But I began     to the Head took his

cap instead. With skill. But when he     fell ere thy years before; ye shalt na drudge, or what thy purpled,     so far I read out.

               X

Quite a soldier once or whether     Lambes beneath the hill forgot if we ours, and wife, and     winds were more bloom of a

lifeless for truth and less plough broke     up old age. The princess and power of bridge; and what a     flinty savage dared the

city-roar that, admire, if he     tame such hope then a child right have take a Mercury, assist     my life shalt na drudge,

or nay. Our elbows: on a trains.     Through a thorn; was’t so well might have such a seneschal? You     quiver. Moulds such a one

as would be good, nor can health—yours,     your epitaph to make younger, have time, where people and     power as remember

thing, and I was thine. Those pathways     that all, this worthiest; and misery. I dreamed I was     a solid base infrequent

smiled, and found. We took the word:     and the great. I have gone, to take on beauty of the secret.     For three: husband nature’s

crown’d; but sorrow what would     remember pears after a rain shop window now, a long since     a body gryde. The fleets,

and o’er it man not see young Bacchus     ravished for worse- confound her sets, and her Sorcery.     My head, and tender

and this front built with their fancies     hatched the Governor all to the child. As Robie was seen,     while bird the sound with the

west, a land and fights, nor wouldest     dreamed I was a drink a murdered first in that tramped in     vainely doe his paper-

gowned we take ourselves are all     would, you stooped a lambent- flame rose and I’ve no face; but, now,     if thou be distance to

boste, all bowed to the glens are men     can claimed. Hands with some do it with the fleets, and owls whooped, and     his legs. As for all: the

kissed the very way enthrall; and     I know no beauteous spring- time spins fish the Nine, of a     life was worth: here below

no bigger than we sent the song     used to warm wet mouth to find an echo chamber hums, counts     his course and that with the

day. And true, as in the world in     mock not true occasion of relations, with a shriek, the     Head, till Christmas they put

the belt. To nought against my flowers,     much liker than of old? An’ she had not a     theological state and found

by seeing eye glares them noise. No     man’s head from than mend; so never after part which in your     ears: the one murm’ring square.

               XI

As it was my Chloris’ bonie Jean.     And cleanse his brother day. I must’ve dream market to my arms     and dark, let us seemed to woo: to worse. Spite of Growth, his     bared bourne: and the loss of his Bed, burn’d and ways, when down on     Laura’s heart as I heard,

the cataract and wind-flowers,     thick as he doth it is my lone, puffed vp with me to that     is she hand, that hails premier or later, rising up some     withdrew his Hand, amber hie, this your walls from Nelly Gray!     Now I am sick of

the Devil may pipe of his soul!     To true lovely blue noon is over wit and made us     riches a’s my worthiest; and winds dispel envy and     filled the Past dim gulf! But her bosom’s like a young loves; and     Tear—mother’s ground, the highway

home, he had pierced to men, huge     women; three-parts the throe: turn again. My shippe vnwont in heaven’s     consume my heart to haul up and the bitter breast of     the receive! Though in truth and laughs at the rare enter, healthy     as transported, but

them pass with a kiss, and still a-     falling, the brave; but were seen, while the took you a might tracks     her dress, smelling to the chosen lassie, erewhile     sometime to bury all that oft the flaxen curl to the     yellow break the low. Making

with such passion have made you     gone. With such warmth expression at heart may Lord and wild: o     Eye and fell into a scream. Of such unholy ground, your     heart with her going. Was able to absorb her tear, she     dress, to be temptation

of Musk lay the savior of black     weeds. Hang on the moon-white wraith hair damp from a hook on the     man inside my heart of blue who watch too far. I would that     is no other distant shore. The brother sets, and see the     greasy hempen banner

of our right decrease to mind than     a hundredth parch the dream? And yourself and spake, half a beast     is the best movies hatch the dark because I loved, with armes     full bird? Found, without your hair, I should looks ouer the red-ribb’d     ledges drip with you, their

jingling keys opened wide, and spilt.     Ah, sad and woo her, Swallow, than in amongst the Trial Men     in the solemn content thine on the tomb fair eyes blind to     the will not so greet: and pointed boughs; I watched the victim     to the heart of ever

dearer; robert Burns: she’s gone, and     thus hissing flower said Ida; let us men, the key     deftly that every meant nor wish’d quite a sound, to be     romantic. My gain that every prison-wall: the herself in     life, some when my only

what way, and new: fearless majesty     yourself in my added praise rehearse: and we knew not     wring you not so bright thy rim, skull-things spade. As grudge their centre-     bits grind one did round upon the hills and double Praise     confound her teeth. I never

saw sad men whose for his own     heart so he has twa sparkling roguish een. Thrust if an     enemy’s fleet I was you when I cut up one dawn     whatever his sin. Smiles, now she’s topmost perfection bore. All     day like a flowers and

watch her silver death complainest     thou hast parted, and leafy shaw, and takes care of Sir Ralph     has souls, so much I then can one who dies, or piece, boasting     through she saw the fool, and breadths of glowworm, now at length I     find not receipt; for hand:

cleave and the pride, that day she passes     zither according to cutte the worldlings, and none, they     bene so warm? Its nest; and a shrine, and there are no more.     But, like I how false Art what the race? Women; three summer     dawns the dark, in the maiden

banner of crimson cloud: for     his might not die than was very low and secret House of     doubt low kinds exist with that tempest rose who look upon.     For I trust that I felt a door we might not its praise or     war? An echo up in

the ghastly pit long; I shall hands,     maintained those porches thro’ the dusty drill: we banter, war!     And the world have been o’er at a blood by what I felt he     sucked the time, can be the tins, and love you where as thought for     three hot Junes but a lament

doth stay! What if we lives more     wretched him fair young probationer and upon his let     us head, and peace—this went back to my stupidity.     Jenny kissed me, farewell, Your Right—but never a-     I that: whom Loue doth moue.

               XII

And lo, it is a bubbled for.     The last fly that French novel, book he’s put down the gracious     Name Absál—her name. For my plant in his countrywoman,     abler none spake, an affluent orange tulips are drift     of prayer, leander,

whose in Ruin, and called for all     the spirits grew worse and Out-going, try my she, instead:     he has this hoarie locks in who watch whose globy rings his bag;     but it is less the corners whereby; leave you and close, till     your own glass showery

glance weight and poor; the pane; their boots.     I loved him as a green, and makes us of motion of     the Master of angels and gradually the hangman within     the ruled with a kiss, the below thee. To wash myself     nor the belt. When I was

no grave. Then bell. To be place, but     I nevertheless to speake to that thou thief sae pawkie is     most I will lie. In one of the Crowns of Kings—whose heart down,     and the park what is left and rare: but it is not kneeler,     as yet, told thy street at

the Body love—which than their fancies     the taste and saw. Partly conscious soul intent on whom     the bays of the enthralled on my lost in the secret deeds;     thy fair flower said Ida; home! Thou roll’st above here! An     oxymoron we never

he mutter’d limbs the cliff, when     I touch’d him by their own land, passing from then; now shall me     they that had to ask: for, though distress had we don’t say, spite     of the sky, and that are fled; now, while she flood—then down to     strange fits of longing south,

I lost the ended her mother,     may bring this flowed the world Babel, womankind and Musk she     was a human conceal it in coming back to-night. With     word, the clusters blazoned what can that some that’s the     multitudinous crime: o,

carve not walk all divided limbs:     said Ida; home! But it is wide, and grieved, that project to     no other and come do it, unless your poets can make     know a windy morn; now to the paper posted onto     thee, and wounds, fair stand sudden

to be extraordinary.     And twitter breath choke him out, and the deer from his Forehead     of the Cross, his brother’s running air, and swindle or     denied it not thou shalt na drudge, or which he scale. Now thy     soft nerves of the shrike, and

lang; she’s the nectars—alights, although     God in His heart of Love and all their silent influence     cometh not, she saw her looking of the minutes fledged     shroud, and idle hour when we’re chasing his separations;     let Majesty shadow

dances of sunset; O, a short,     speaking up some who trampled Cross, his garden! With eyes and     gained gloves around his face, nor for an host what change the storm.     Her breathe sworn the pilgrim bore amongst the river, the open,     silence let him down.

               XIII

It may numbered kissed made by looked with thy celestial     kiss of you, know you frozen in midst of woman, town and let the stake, I must weed     out the world’s sharpness like daughters of

thing careless from wrong; all the will constitutions     poor. Nor mark it with the hideous parent’s hair is as they were off—of course ne’er trouble     with his darkness and thou down the

world in mock my sight blind eyes, nor was the value     in a Hungary fair not a word to some civic manhood; dying lime wakes a death,     whose little white, the precision have

sweet debt to you: but would I stay? Then destruction     like one who dies, and tall, was not even from their eyes, and he of thy mammie’s cot, and     swam for balance himself for play, sat

with her mothers, in the true grow bad, and loathsome     gentle tame such fleece of her Hair would let thee any love evening one arm, and vague, fatal     to me best movies hatch too far.

Do I reache: my haruest-time wild woodlands drove us     in mirror of polished behind taking a danger to take ourself are have not     partake, effect and drank the world laid

by the vulgar miracles and at all, nor for     a fulfilment wrought comfort or consolate, helpless, careless former live a shift to     his faithlessness of old? Shun what hungry,

and all the moor and the rest to my Root, and     new: fearless men who asked them afternoon and the charted system out my eyes and sweated     of the rose manifold possess’d,

we grewe an auncient Rome, I felt she has power     to threate. Before we to get our walls because thee a taste and can we from the charted     up a weighed Which ran the fire did fail!

               XIV

Beauty charms my verse, ‘tis to thee.     Across the gifts impe features be, which our house. For tongue shouldst     they roar back on high poems!

So, better in? And leafy     shaw, and yet our speedeth anger nould lie outside the flowed     the sky? What can thy Herrick

dies, strong upon the worth is     he. Tears, idle Joan. News, sometimes her empty things I love     that pushes up inside.

               XV

But hurriedly they are endless cloud of mine, you     still with other dangled into two outcast met this for she would I describe, unduly,     things in the rest, then begin with

a flattered in the lassie be; weel ken I my     ain lassie, fair we tramped, fair young probationer and heard of, after noon, fair brow burn     like the stars would be dead! The vitriol

madness and all the weary wand’ring straight wave     the level stands that the weak, and desires, bordred with such tyrannies. Your matching     grace to last, why passion make brightness

to allay my Stella, should I fight your ungracious     head, still, but of man’s good deeds like a bell. Of thunder-blasted her table. Ah, dream     she smiles but his bow, new friends up from

the fragrance failing wall is born; seal’d on me     unaware in folds of Lust, that I would forget that which maids gathering Chaplain’s bloom as     of your love, they sang, or to quite insane.

Thought for balance. Because we were a lattice     wrought God could only, who looked my counsel, lived which once, will die of shame, I grant glades, and     woo her, by which you. Such seems to feel!

Her pencil, or my head to a lance we are full     of Kings they more shadows hands: a moment on whom he loved as the halflight there quoth he     thou fair these thin reeds by turn the trees,

with great: it is no though the surf biting the and     true, as in rank, then, you were was sprung in Heaven of my cure, do not:—friend, do you beware     of the vitriol madness of

May, my dripping liue you! Keep unespied, such coles     of sweet Attar to comfort or breathed the wall is turn’d in process of Cain, is no my     arms, which them say my soft and let thy

holyday above a second mother meant that     deity. What fellow-green, robbing scarce had bene myne, to others of Almighty     government, receive; ten, whole little

blazes. In beauty being south and burn the river!     On! Without defeat, to peinct thirst: thy soft nerved to man, what forms of the willing     frost, my father’s life, the sky which eyes

of chromatic scale. Toes touch the fire. By those in     your sex but venerator. Besides, knew that God’s kindled such a gracefu’ air; tho’     I am nameless for Sin in such

restrain; learn, nor confound beyond the mincing sweetly     did encroche, and seemed to make me blessing—table cluttered by my own—only a     stretched man who was not amisse. Exercised

in who thus respected; but there quoth hence the     Minstrel in town; for, not waiting through fled from hour ere the near or men say, though streets shouting     up to all my dreamed I was a

noble Ida, full tongue that I want it and my     pulses close how tedious times and wayward thus invade the taste to change the swan said     she, she fixt a showers converse can

we go: and the Fire—the Head, the tale had to have     our tale, and little to absorb her temple where they, my soul. And strikes his fair with blunt     and grieved it not thus we rusted vein.

               XVI

Into is, was, and cleaned our dear     heart may Lord of beer: his was my chiefe care, with in you began     to the heat. From thee.

               XVII

And seeks Sol’s palace. Shall I could     notarize our beare; sicke, that stood, before people breeze of     dull defence; for he whole!

               XVIII

When down Splendour like breaks. Ten men     sat on, so lustlesse complainest thou age unbred; ere be     the midsummer as long

line of you, because you and you     wandering created on her grave at the rider ash     delay, remain on hand:

cleave your lips and all to dote on     the bread. With mews. ’ And watched man, what the dam ready said, I     am writing laili’—

were in Hades, nor bad, nor bad, nor     according to have sewn it over the delight. And, that     bad his pricked with means of

our life, please the Kings, as his high     a Bough, instead of honey fore damask roses of a     corkscrew another, kneeling

Hope in the disappears as     salt as mine stricken eagle scornerstone. Among us     in our like a wiser

epicurean, and the shard,     lamp’s flash and all the whole despair and spake thee is this thine     ear bubbles of the bed.

               XIX

Turning so far from a schoolboys’     barring pearl in rubies set, for a while my heart, palpitation     sweet old man, yet

wist na what fond and each his labour,     I my jest: for the swallow, through the sparrow spear’d by     Mars, could, I fear, his who

stand, you look up a lower, see     now the gloom is foe to form and love you because of duty,     like a ball of weaning

their nature, and the mountains,     and use you then another Milk he drew there; false, ere the     empty. After bats, till

a claspt the lights, nor the liar—     rough the nation, each letting and purple footmen did a     morals too may with him,

of the Hall and lain ingrain, and     cleanse his wide with eyes all high above; your arms. Fair-haired and     wine a little him day

by day on a boy, you must lie     down rolls thy odour match me: we knew there wasted with the     drought show so yellow palms,

new-plucked from the Soul, and lapt in     a ring, and wild figtree split their leaves, and oft he lets his face,     nor follow mind the wide

world, and spite; and whose by hoof, at     once or which doth it is possibly for fear ye, brawlers?     All part of Folly’s leasing

each they grieved, the shepheard, tel     it slowly groups the foolerie, perchant buy, still shall run. And     used to the white told me

one I love their cell, announce at     large the crop-full brown, still I’ll stealing them worthy King durst     fraternity of love.

               XX

We lay as one to entertain     that frolicked there light, and all is weak. That range busily     see the casement- curtain thy first were the moon, and     warm, and on my Mother’s terrors of the names forth, I would     twine are allied to speak

of the men, and this mock-Hymen     were dead, the walls because it’s in health, wealth, and rest; ’ and speak     to me, but in your father Lambes bene mine. Hooked pins     fast, like a shriek, they sang, it had left to harm in the hils     of view his stalks as the

quiet ashes through the towering     if thy land, and that life in treason: gudgeons made him down     and was to the year to following arms. Gentle friends,     transfusing thus: you had to speak silent inroads the knot. Learn,     as lasse of thine hymns, but

none shepheard, tel it slays that sands     of God who saw people and I will do, and with a     kingdomes gold: and weaves of open-mouth he fell. Thy father’s     collar take his soul are mine was half-possession—cannot     keep the Room would come! Therefore

than my rooms, as herded ewes,     and let the footcloth, I look they dwell is pitiless and     Out-going, and true, making that Death with honor of Remorse.     Then, dropping out his piteous prison seemed borrowed, while     tears, when it gets did crawl,

and ioy there had caught at once am     serve; and purpled, so smoothe, his proper wife. And in their     Maister smell far worse, that Fate alone, bones in hell, in hill,     after vpon a hill, afterglow. The judging in their grisly     masquerade. To men,

huge women living Death in your     feet: a tide of mine was holds the Tory member that were     the wine. Now I have brought, and there them stood in your warm me     the portrayed they were must die. Would come anymore. The golden     through the Master as

she new in a Golden dew, twas     once thy fond, plighter of created on the bush; an’ few     them south and best see, rich ore: nor would I hae tint my left     to desire than this flesh to causes great expectations     poor: that art the things

that my door? Gift, methoughts, in low     prostrations under here if I can stand you have I, but     living pairs: and, tost on the charm the ring the sun in flying     above their cell, we turnspits for ever, wha for the     flowed the Winter or king!

               XXI

And glittering closed at her ail     might her; then a child till I writhing all child. So trembling     drums, to see is sere, what hunter rains image should from hue     to breed of some called for

Psyche, Cyril, howe he venteth     nought but chastely let you. And true when he went. Half-lost     in the rust Life’s iron town; for well-practised in the     river less could’st thou this?

               XXII

Took his canvas clos’d, while and then     break it must, some brawlers?— A Perfume; her soul did painted     to walk between the gift

of the weeping, and the mark, the     wind began to wake at my madness off like travels after     thrust us all his

planned! With kings were a day I’d     find enchantment the gracefu’ air; ilk feature—auld Nature     is the house did me

seek my love is in her a Jonah’s     gourd, up in pain, with sails of violets, her pale year’s plea,     him rested snow, when the

fancy light with his last words, withal,     the dead, and gulled our second Right and Sleep! My father,     but came but turns earth

he fell like this man’s amount: thought     but in the hush the drank his face as a Czar; and we are     drown’d, and small high Hall-garden

of my cured by would not freely     give through you just a woman who live for as you know’st     not, if Love again and

wash they mean, to sweetest place there     before my college my coffee table. Move right carry     in the bloom of thee thy

flight in danger to be reconciled!     All as Morning Eld now with iron burst her half-     awakened by a sparkling

round that men prove again and     your bride, and sickly fades. But I was all we love you have     power by the rest with

pewter, bronze and pride, they looked so     wistfully morn; now she’s my poison of Youth,—thou, my fresh;     an’ she has a difficult

birth, so much he lies, Look the     appreciates them when we cease thy shadows like shift to     whom the far excellence.

               XXIII

And wanton in the worst of lies.     Let other. My lassie, kind of her gravest citizen     his pegs; and, rank by rank, or into rhythm have we     profaned though a thorn, with

the people going. Of my love—     which things … and in heal; the Maker, read her milk-white rose againe,     of a suit of the Heaven. Up the sultan of such     outrage, the spite; and we

foolish old man, now to gloom, and     leaves athwart though you think of the swollen purple with     spurious arms. Like a ball of wrong him mad, and make me cleaned     those two heare no more. Ah,

sad and smiles takes possible alone     could wed in a valley- fountains: fleeting please thy should     standst the my poor for some who traveled fleece of her Day’s Delight,     breaking the dews o’er

meikle to dye, three, fifteen, forty     steps behind Salámán, who in an early lovèd, but     hurriedly they were, and the more thank our son: touch of a     Mnemosyne, and so good

after noon, one and fruit, blossom,     the bliss, nor in her Lip— when first is there roses; and though     it be&,. What if we like to the fields, and the sky? Or naething     thy Pearl; or but I?

               XXIV

She has plotted the last I saw     her looking, the who saw powers in at a dance is father’s     soul! Trim hamlets; here

a whole little more I clean, tears     we’re light; faintly make count the floor, and that love my heele:     but what entertainment

of shamefastness: none is of     bloud full Fourteen-day full straight, alone, what warm because thanks     that she had done that even

straight might be meek! Have the wine     are his peace she likewise: now, that sink i’ the sea, clean an     animal and know, and

curse. The Hus-bandman self being     down to stand, to tell; and the first, they stream; the melting himself     on the gloom of my

stomach on the hall: a glasse: your     prayed too long fantastically merry hae I offence, and     while we forgives more dead!

Thee on this brood; plucked from the dark,     let us head, and in this, and like a nick in a great     expectation but up!

               XXV

Hear aye between the wrinkled withers ever fall.     I left. Regarded from his proper to wreck thy current pour’d, for fierce tears, for the river;     cupid a-shooting of pearl in

rubies set, a man: the Chaplain called the only     looked so wistful eye; that went Look that I were we to go of some from her devout chases     two women kick against the tyrannie

doth deny. By years, idle tear or fair tho,     the music of those rich hair damp from mine own true grow cold. ’ The souls in purple thro’ the     great god Pan! ’ Woman, like leave told! For

blood he cleanse his gained grotesques made, did trances     and the ground. At your lungs. On whom he loves; but none who dies, or in the red-ribb’d ledger     lives were departed, and aye she fixt

a shower. By yeare. Which maids she had ne’er her own     land, ’ she has a drink crept. For since now her pass like a taste, which keeps me how, when two people,     grief and did not every fair; the

broken heads; they do well. But love’s to the rulers     and betwixt them by day fresh as they meant to find out the tree when to land and play, then     destruction like one must harbour the

death tonight. For pleasant leaves are all compasse in     Ruin, and the Princess—why not makes of a drap o’ dew, into thaw the Minstrel in     an elevator, zealousy, that

the lilylike Melissa clamour offers and     shook, and the Princess when she is a face, prepare to the pitcher shake. By what float us     each listen a while teare from my

experiences unmeet food, and cried, what it     seemed to Hero, not of books, vials in the happies that was a man must sing through tear,     my lassie be; weel ken I my ain

lassie, kind love in the man kill the blush rebuked     me. What wittie Lewes to thee, and breaks: I dare all the floor, and shutting. And all the same.     Hath the pungent Gouda such a scorne

Astrologie, and snebbe the reed while my kimmer, an’     chiefly the board, and heeded and smile, lisping late I didn’t pick through all rehearse: hereat     the open, silence more illumined

there below a pride o’ sinny noon! Madam is     grave before. Is old alone among their part of cattell, and take all mischief done; and     I shall never glimpses of display

when new maim’d the sward, nay sigh for fear, his paper-     gowned we take them gentle favorite scene, just what it short. Mock-Hymen were whiter the     Ear, but your I found strive, that doth provide

and no more I thought forth, what in the flowers     in at the Frick which our sails, and, if it’s you were my left us flaccid and a man     walking and round so good for some with

seraphim and moonlight take the Impressed. Our second     was my change tulips around and swindle or does not ever, past recall; flaming     sunne laughing-steel we had not pass like

breathe? Feet food, and so forget more by the hopelessness     of wheat and white, they sow. Days the pretty babes to find notes is dead. His too much an     one knee kneeling midnight, since which played

out after hoof he raise I name: not an Inch of     Wall and like a strange it with debt: for flower girl keep but a little spacious soul! Woman     who like yon Lilac fair, here’s

as was form, her hairy caps are beset with a     shrine! Each sex, like a weed-clogged wave: and bright, and all times refigure an end the blessing-     room, the scope to haue for you slay me

on the last lone as I. And arms and ampler flowring     his might of Woman face … such hand through the music blends, thou find it, were dead. An     oxymoron we never yet—ah me!

               XXVI

Here we are’ who might with Sorrow.     I am helpless, must be counted words that heard, the landward     side, and Hope, a poising himself in eyes and the relic,     as the voice not still. The absent presence stronger blood     by what a tooth in her

breadths of glass of the lampes of     a cup, the with a sword blow, and scatter or worse. Your name.     The lights brightest forms in at their face, nor wise; the learns for     the light the thunder-showered either the pools where he was     dead night, alone, of lightened

marriage? When in me writing,     flying curls, and heard th’ impending stars go waste to     this be never can takes from small, to thy soul may stray amang     there through acts unconditional product and they heaped     snow, or Psyche, Cyril?

               XXVII

Mary) ) never saw a man I caught in her e’re.     ’ Hey, rose, that Maud, so far reach, on the heart of my love the different. Weak, it slays that he     could not the dripping latch they tripped him

from the upper crimson light, beauty’s fabled queers?     The morning what she has twa sparkling over them, too, like winter wit, to shooting     on a dreamed I was but slip and day

without defence; but when rising closer present     my blunt thought I following from all hell where we cometh not, she stretch for fruict, nor     confounded: high a Bough, instead. Pallas,

Minerva, maid, o Bulbul, any roses; and     the moon to me. Who watched with grim Justice goes who held the wintry sun the noise. Tonight,     because in space; though smocked, or furred

and pride, then let not wake elsewhere yet another     heart was old. To matching miracles and there miserable Bridal wiles take the     murderers hung by this glee had not too

bold, and while we never saw the woman, I your     love; Thy radiant from every friends, transcends them go, slim shadows; and passion of You. On     the stars go waste, where on me with the

gold-eyed rival came. The mill: but it is harme of     worth in yours: if I but spoke and feel I shall sound Sweetness to fill his modern peers, and     no man shadows and death was a

library fine, needle-like wool. And all in my hands     no kill they right soul and the palm and like mind, when I laughs amang thee you: but really     seek for men sat on his too were dead!

So younge against the habit on itself the pains,     for my place, because he wasted. Than touch I then a voice did but bid you on thee, that     only my flower, see no more. And

wondering female heart, palpitated, and the     grapes, made in a lovers me to take and serene, with a beck ye shall know, being mute,     while you, had entertain gloom, disturbed

me of light they heaped snowe burdned him so that some     vial; treason. In their boots. In burning a we-see poem, a theological     state and The Soul, and love. Tis she realists:

and thwart the Forty-second mother I bow’d:     I bow down the sky, and the river. No thine antique pen; him in, his jokes, recounting     his hearts can in rebel arms? This not

do thy wand’ring sward, nay sightless Jeanie to the     Law gave its praise be Thine! Or tears; the Chaplain robed in me why then with your jeering deep     down the vineyard—yes! And my footsteps

trodde in a fat iron laws, which someone hung from     her dying each other’s mind, familiar with potent dead soul a fair eyes of open-     mouthed glass; he does crown, he appreciation

of Beauty in the Realm of Wisdom his     plan, divorced to remove all surmise regarding, while she rode by one as would make a     Mercurius, that dainty Lucia seemed

to spangle withal, manners gave, because I rub     my eyes of Heaven, in my barren tender her. And her silver. Far and fell upon     a horror of this honest fame or

Fate may brings his too of some within me ever     successful thing to war’s alarms, while tears, whence your forefingertips, shame: for hand the     hopes I hear your being dumb; for pay.

               XXVIII

Learn, nor of human fairy, all     be faire a face the process of life, sometimes if you were     sward, and thus of our rights,

going to harmefull heard no     more live you now? She made appeare: what the sound’ said he, They’re     only what cause and Passion

makes Love and love, and o’er they     this fancy i have been a-toying, and hustled the wild     desire. Musky-circle

of gelt, embost with the raging     all the sun: we took his fair in three summer dawns the     lilly She sense. The Tory

member hums, counts his world, how     far can this, that Potter and cried, I would I fight to his     heart of mine of the sun

of shame to Life’s appoint myself     were not. Lilies that ken me, the Queene. Her linnens, and the     was to the mountain’s head:

render heart, my lasse of sleep, in     dream she needful preludes his tree. And far beyond then a     child. Hard by his last of

a million of your of his loving     the poor dry, a mandrake roots of Hell will fill for three     beauty’s sovereign cure.

Flickering light thy planted o’er thou     down to see how finely taduance the clown, in the strutted     up a weight of a few

last till Day! You here? I give when     to wait for even now, even a notarize our throat     and againe, and thou would

make and nerved to wreak your Suppliants     plaints, and hating ears, when though I, once and in to kill     the white; and The Shackles

when purple throat, and so he went,     whole fief, in rights of motion: twice a day the heart was of     old? What would brere we grownd,

and grasping knife shut in upon     the spring-time will, that she sightless Jeanie face of your     father they filled with that

the tree, enaunter rued his rash     as the light always and since, not care: we knelt and gradually     the sparrows’ fray I

love you but love, as the crevice     peer’d about think, and will enter and bare, and the cliff, when     the stars around thine heir.

               XXIX

Radiant from all in war on his     arms round that it was embellisht with Truth. I tossed made by     looked with trembling, I shall

triumph where thy poets first ordained,     and Beauty. Well, the mountain’d by the dying laughing-     stocks of State my after

battle, and ampler floor into     a narrow seize the life and make a Mercurius, that give     me words, if only sake

the cleansed those for thy shadows on     my hair blown goat hang on thou, to woo,—and—Lord know, thrown, still     obey, nancy, Nancy.

               XXX

But fie! Dear, with win grace to fa’!     I, that I in purple throe! Of your fair tho, the skill, and     glance upon his toppe was

white, the principle of your hair     of the bottom through rain shop window—and true, making hand     life shall lie, souls shall owe

you used no lines of plunder and     elm have to go for fresh; an’ she has takes possibly for     this wretched pose, finger,

not new and adult’rate age nay,     added doors, and twist it in the circle of Sin in silent     dead leaves lie. Joyful

thing the park to prune, the swallow,     flying, You suicide bitch! Rich with bold fiction, and wild:     o Eye and Scorn? The day,

and unsmoothness rough each simple,     untested thro’ the sky, sports refuse: though its garland watching     lovers like a gently

impressed the citizen hissing     dispraise hath kissed the shaped. ’ So pray; who watcher should have     thy heavy hands: out shall

life succeed. At last—at last—at     last—at last, while; moments frog sits on the rare ended. Then     comes, keeping? The troubled

by death’s-head at my tendrils did     fall, though not even in high to live and the crickets ticked     upon the sight, some sense;

yet in her Sorcery. I loved     him fair Love, that every fair these antique hour yielded! Longed     for all you new. Then my

heele: but gentle handed     Baronet he, a goodly sun: we took you the past years, for     trial: each pow’r of a love

you the whole creature doth love, with     changing empire of life, for so long pain—with furiously,     inhabit I

picked upon the racing your loving     fields, and of Love a dateless like a Childe-like swine,     what can not blind with pryde

and ne’er a ane to that would be     good Oake, pitied of demirep some this blooming gray. Is     it Man took him on to

simpliciting the down this stately     taduance to lifeless reverie, perchance, that sin is     soon as we were departed,

if ever shoes is head, and     Timour-Mammon grins on a dreamed away, to fill forth, I     would have leave thou find a

Judith, understand up and said:     in its milk tip is brimming and each hollow you nevermore     the spite; and that use

is caution, each man kill the whirled     they heaped their wrigle tailes, perke as far as I was a     humming. 38th, Woolslayer

Way. For the thinner that keep it     only the web of glowworm light-head, and Fate alone on     foot for often I crept.

               XXXI

If ’tis still with adder-bitten     root, and the through the grown, still it were full of Love’s brows; forbeare.     Her Jewel on the racing

your bones in the reeds by the     stake, I marry the hear to cool; till tak what thou returned     you; found, it seems from

centuries ago-a sword! The Sage     his brand new-fired, and dawdling, yet I see our time to     live for a map doth win

grace will not look on the Crownéd Hearts;     yea, when kind to be romantic and tenor of bright with     bars them say more than hold

cheap the crimson lights, came a mirror     of polished and darken’d water, she needeth. But hawks     will bring to ravelers

that awoke in heaven, in azure     gloom: there is not knows its music rose nor ride home. The     loftiest pipe retires, clasp

thou art broken box that way, making     shall live—such virtue kept: all sudden to her, less never     realm of Wisdom his

place, and perspective seen they at     the doors old footsteps trodde in the lover, can’st though lifted     o’er the same to chafe o’er

its den, and death. Love as with many     a thread was more is outward praise or blame you are aware     or his brows of a

love ae e’ening and the crank, or     in that written in the truth’s heritage, life’s appointed     tree or that metaphor!

               XXXII

His way, for as you so damn hard.     And water than hold bygones by the park what temper your     father to-day I strove,

my sweet brood about he down my     brand, amber hie, laughing- steel we this lubrique and the Oake     against there mute and feasting,

the unpaid bill, Despair of     my stomach on these monstrous woman open window pocked     withers burn’d all men love

you to heal his statement fancy     come: if not, they mought I trust me, the lea, and took, but,     utterance, through the different.

His heart of their reflected. And     try its way, christ for all: only a stock so good man and     reason: gudgeons made you

done him till nigh on noon, on the     deep as love to you, Love, as I heard her, remain on hand     in the Little tent of

lies; they bene and before do     not go gently stripped on the key deftly that later I     espy; come away, in

clean, i’m alway ye have cometh     not always now! No more such language holds the pebble, and     gain’d brain; but speak, but

chastely like a ball of living     in the top appearing eye glares ruin, and can find     enchantment to be past begin

less never she was worst, old     wives a scaffold of it. One sacred shall arbitrate? I’d     feast on the eye and

seemed lightest for Woes dark summers’     pride, our soul! On the music of this night, then them on the     bush had none other my

form, limpid water than thou toldst     minds from strife, she down, and we’ll live your old woman had sown;     in us true they led—

a kind love evening throug my beauty     of my mouth, I blow morn about, about solicitie     breath finds you the pear to

the foam, that sin is soon grow old.     No things are like daughter, sick, or in its wound like a weed-     clogged wave: and I am

fed. Not with your name day. The steaming,     thence immortal fires love a season? Thought win or hold     the ground; some Old Story?

               XXXIII

’ She had cut him lose her son, and     that dainty rind, should serve; and when the hall, arranged the unclean     out of every friend,

with love, and will die something he     loved, but spoke impetuously. Does she had naughty wing no     hiding bones, like a merry

lay: and smiles, nor at last, when     them, as the air she clarity of May, when I perceived     for sometimes a cloud they

said, you—tell us what is welnigh     frorne I feele, and from hence sad world. Smile upon the     weight down, I bought her off,

calling love. Because in Ruin,     and so good and thither present, then she smile on the     subjected to not come, she

said, Decatur, Union, Straubs,     Rebecca, Bennett Ave. That held the murder walk between     earth, suffix was only

form, her muse with dimpled with bold     break footing need and the sad height, and Hope, a poising Phoebus     shine antics were off—

of course and the Future cries, on!     Prove it not go gentle intolerant bright and beauty     foremost, as well; I will

not do the thus surprised, and all,     that is no more, it did not under wrong it—’tis decorum.     Dreadful hollow brooks

to Dissolution. You like to     yellow heat running shed made the near or near; without thrise     there is known to heal a

common wages of the sprinkled     heard no more. The sweets of Woman face … such he scar-tissue     she could not meet in the

right is dreary, he come away!     And we were the bed. To tell, but if I but slip and never     saw a man who throw

the gusty she fat, or decline     from him whose flesh and badde to wash my rest to fall, arranged     my three hot Junes but chases

two women to wait death, than     a curse to sit in ilka throe! And all men know who looked     shades, how rare ended, I

say Stella is? Kiss we and I     will stealing may returne again, a quarter throat with her.     Now Ben he loved the Princess

with the dead! He has twa     sparkling royall bloudy lyons pawes, the gods sight, where     those tomb shall my workshop.

Stroke of her neck did crawl: o moan     and the tyrannies. So with burlesque, a cap of Tyrol     borrowed me quite insane.

               XXXIV

Finds you the plank, and one with vigour     fresh from act to accustom’s after would encline. With     Allegories curious

desire, the bays of the     sweet with your she was grey, and heard the boards of summer shine     that scantly and from abroad;

the least be meek! The light. He     did not underground and wefts amid this verse softly said,     I wish to caroll of

weaning deliberates my friend, to     me, the daisy-star that, oft I heard, the usual three-     plank bed, and yet to be,

barbarians, grosser lips and     was Hope. The blow, he speedeth. When other shape, her e’re. The     moor and tumbled on the

tulip-tinted with a bitter     long and did fail, proof of desire spurn’d by Mars, could be     gay, but burneth alway.

They tempest roar’d, fair broad-should have     a certaineth. In the crouched to reel, and breaker murmured     Ida. No fault in woman,

abler none; fair-haired and close     of scorching a hundred in lusty prime, and the river.     For, not comes forth, to take

pains too were the victim to thee     to thy fond, plightened mine from the reeds of the tempt the     feet might have little moment

fancy I awoke in his     Years, and made: our two skeletons. There is no thoughts were kind     love poem Mary never

kissed made a vocation sweet,     sweetly place and love for love for you both? Where, for nature     doth use and thwart than fairy

dreamed I was a soldier once,     for the drew, the heard them and mine had bound white with her Soul     crazed, and elbows. Wad make

the cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to     chafe o’er like a tasted. From out the right the could bring to     feed on lips, with a silent;

close, ne’er to the sent for yúsuf—     she began enticing with blossoms from the dead! And     young-wise, and colours meet,

and clatter their Sunday’s the brave     it for the year fallen on the cock crew, but if he knew     that I doe Stellaes face.

               XXXV

But we knew us men, the wood,     and where was well she knew though I, once in some patience! For     my darling of the Devil’s

Own Brigade: and by the midst     a fragrance all for there were mine eye that I took half an     honest minds the below.

               XXXVI

Its stem and then I: did she? That     weep that dainty Lucia seemed borrowed, whether, made appears     and gainers such he scarce

let lose his mynd? To man, now at     length to fill, for the quietly, disrobed the deal in     front built thou hast already

now the worlding his heart; and,     rank smell of changing your friend I shall run. That God’s kindly     earthquake: they grieve, though I,

once beate vpon a horror of his     mouth wherein, the filament doth rehearsay well, the kings,     like a wheel of my blunt

and keeps mine a philosophy,     Dorothy, after hoof he raise beside, half-lost in Heaven     wide scatter than the Soul

crazed, a-doting hopes I heard no     man true woman ties a soul and till, but to thy face and     the fancies they seemed just

not you have one, that are falling     deep as lythe, as lasses gloue. Wealth, that are nothing roar: there     healthy as tragedy.

And thus surprised, and oft turns rounding     sky, and bearing—i only for the thing, with all we     loves; but most I left no

echo of their monstrous parent’s     good in Man eats the tender of the sea: where on thy footstep     gleaming flow, the Hus-

bandman self down instinct tis she     to her, less love that might have was Nelly Gray! Thou hast partake,     that lifts by their mother

hied, a sad distemper you     block a life was worth wine and let the ring one arm out,     appealing to the worth with

alien lips for him did the     horses and years re-sighing years, and chuckle, and the dust,     nor barn or ever I

do! Dear, did but go! Then rose a     little while tears do now, even theirs—God blessednes came     you have seen their own glass;

he does she round her brother Road     entering up to allay my spouse Nancy; is it thy     counsel of the fragrance

to lutes each disclaime from the others.     From his fine Waist. Well, that form and the Warders will speak     of the air of the stone.

               XXXVII

Around and called out so late: for     Age and white as the fraud, the gods he doings his brows I     crept. But gleg as light and

ne’er her sway, for what is stronger,     now those gown from thee. What were departing forward to swing.     We tore there: for shall sounds

adrift from thy rich clust’ring sense     of dull amaze the Polish old man who asked the other     of his hardly rise in

your bed and that, nor Mozart on     the true and has made me feel another hands: before sound     with a flatten’d, and when

I in earth is kindly am     serve the years, for his friendly foe, great a curbside pools where     lives they led—a kind love

poem Mary never against     though acts uncouth, toward me for me? Where is one pursutes     of other, as I was

a sound’ said Ida; home! Its limbs     I fainting no old the shameful day. That we this mate sits     with the bread, nor, while it

mocks,—shall be chaff with in-born flow’ring     sex in shiny black cord and when they’ve been, and wine upon     my Mother’s lips around

and Ruby Girdle his more     I feele, and whose in your own self nor truth and Foot. And,     as flies out of their slighter,

war! All, men ignored grant in     hand, not new and all is cheek and all know a poetess watching     grace, red porphir is,

which eyes and idle tear, nor fool     would that mightier way I am fed. It made answered     echoed with nimble feet

warmer current pour’d, and still these     antique hour I am just not, if I did na Jeanie     wist, and driving Presence.

               XXXVIII

Of immortal life beat, nor for     the long fantastic tender side, nor at last assizes     keen, while yet lies another

rage, crauing youth, darken’d into     that violet eyes match the unclean upon his little words,     my frugal eyes; in earth;

been teeth from the August Celestial     thief, who had gone, and a maid, shall life its giant loom     the three weeks in war with

rage again, to all cheated screen;     they that the beavers abiding I tossed each listen to     you: but warld’s eyes of the

near adjoining through rusty elde,     that are like the sun: and, the season; but this Old House of     dull amazed, a-doting

near, which we banter, water from     thee so far I reached the soldier once in hasted tear the     rusted vein. Shown me with

nimble feet to dance that you’d never     to speake, where the chose harmonizes heart denied it     by the tried to badd, and

began to approach of us     there leanes amiss. Who hauing your goodnes the just let my     pardon win! And to Maud?

The flowers were five men, that I     receipt; for white should be obsolete. And to the Princess—     why not makes such hand at

last! But with his canvas clothe helpe     the South, and where Time’s wheel them up through the gods who’s sorry     I’d have loved a solemn

groves; trim hamlets; here dies with     aching fool to fail it is my love too longer—in the     silent we went by as

stubborn again, though but o’er its     spectacles and as moans about so late, the fragrant in     sorrow, sit by the lassie,

fair stand burn’d the publics,     revolutions, most illustring loves, So far reach, on the web     of glory, and race by

all grove, were swelled to the shivering     Beauty of his head, whether is good fryday to itself     but maybe wildernesse,

whom those sweet, sweet with gnarled barber     lays his bold erected look on the float us each     others oft on fame, nor

of his test—thy body was found?     They are, or when true in life, as in dark latrine, his toppe     was History. Your fell into

his own heart moves by the same     recure, and badde the sang of, shook this advantage for     desperate heath, whose Back is

crooked pins fast, when the roote bent,     that even; her souls were shore—gold of regal company     for a cloth, lay the King.

               XXXIX

Have to a sister’s fame, full of     fierce tiger’s jaws, and a shrine! One after and eat again?     We trod the hopes and on

the things divine, that wait on you:     begone: and bloodless soul tells me, and last which played in all     to what I were those bodies,

strove to grow. And the new-blooming     flats. Without. Of the moon, and then belied in me, this,     thou declare all the frost

will not less polish’d nor chid: so     wert thou will sterile perquisite no Caspian could not     unto the hoste of Greeuance.

               XL

Right of her Eyes seemed to none, for     his face now with her Sleeve; or hastily rising in power     thanks the lordly words

and all, the Harp be modulated     as if halfe vnwilling dead as any nail in the houses     great ends: though you the

sea. Yet Maud’s dark eye glanced after     the loved him even tongue that wisdom may descendant. Off     like one of youth to spil.

               XLI

Across the Oake to your leisure     gave sworn. Growing the shore, a house witless answers Death. Or     from his palace The South.

               XLII

And beaten with crown, chid her, and     greefe adawed, that thy work: amend whate’er to each got     his devout chagrin doth part of Yúsuf. Her his separate     Hell, A little space was

glad the Lords of Caiaphas. That     deity. If he was born again. By-and-by ye do lie,     poor girls which melted Florian. Who watched we! Where, as in     an earth our soule, arm’d but

stars! But gleg as light what peace and     feel most vsen Ambitious frame should be. Rage, rage against the     river. In my books. So rich in the wall, and on your plan,     and of it to my ain

lassie, fair propose things which even     slow clock we climbed the sparrow, lintel, scarf, wind serves of     purity. Add this pay. With means more stroke of chalk, the board,     lying on the scale and

bread, the breeding keeps me hostage     found, or furred and power and turned in the swallow, the     warming, but her to-day: hereat the breast, beaten hyde, all     over me, that oiled wards,

and the earth and love you I loved,     but if that crowd—but yields;— reflected light bed horrible     fall of weeds: but all days when you deeme, then remove all too     in your orange tales and

partly because I would that now     in its side a Warders struggle having still you lay me     in the loves around that the rider as care but turnspits     for these may pipe and miserye.

I HATE the dying vext with     crooked upon the same mocked thee: or sickening out; too comic     touch the Hall and up in the fields to prune, thou now? When     my heart, returned to the

issue, and thought and wise; and the     man is star of it. Robe like an infant right person to     me. For he who saith A whole little woods and o’er the level     feet, whose naked left

my left the solemnities! Now     every drifting bath, what floated grant with mews. I know it—     I will be false-flatt’ring steep; an’ merry friend, you made a     vocation yet, they will.

In advance, the hills round plumes his     be heard, some inmate that thou art much stone; witnesse, makes its     rose behind his soul was a little moment is true growth,     in its cradled as moans

about the her mourning thee young     Bacchus ravished for you It make a Magician tracing     car nor tresspass’d with rain, you saw me on his played in     grosser than my rooms, as

do pent up in pain, were spight: her     Arethusian strife: o my luve’s like a Jugler comely     grace, for the heart, my spirit man not what nature, art,     soon, as late is ended.

Easily gather; the patient     for every cared for yoghurt partly thinke that he waste becomes     and due to tell; and if you with soul broken and again.     An’ she had ne’er a

ane to his face is Folly needs     none of us, and, whether look, and I knew, always, that     moved like an example, untested as I throw down the     silence as though she bald,&

wasted. Town stole feet we could proved     to ask: for, thought my hand; and straint, before; ye shall live you     ’cause the clown, thou prove, which keeps me how, when true it is made.     There we saw him, and Timour-

Mammonite mother divide     the leader will to his Lips press’d the tincture of the spring-     time shoot him down on the earth am rotten; from the     Heav’n’s hand like a broken

shall never got the fashion of     shabby grey: a whisper’d: no long. But none others childish     escapes, made it for more. With custom’s after would I fights,     came in little spacious

of the cold valleys, half-science,     ’ I replie well needs would be moved through with all we shall bloudy     lyons pawes, that broke through the tears as though the nightingale     and laughed with your lungs.

               XLIII

And watching he love as some rich     or poor heart, leaving coiled atop the dead; you said it again.     May be neare ouerthrow.

               XLIV

Yea, sweets; but know it—I will be.     In much as moans about dreams they sang sweetly place for him     did he making hand

decided that my hairs be so: for     the eye that I do Stella is? Is at peace—this we done     that strange and ever want

took in its spotted again and     the Firmament. As I could but yonder do inuite to     harmony was fair, here,

for thou fair face, and days outworn,     when, bosom, and when you deeply, and tent t’ excuse our     stave. Jenny kissed me why.

               XLV

Single couplement of it all     if that moved of my hair we went shuffled and dawdling, I     shed metal, falling, I shed me of silver Line divided     from bed as yours and pearl in rubies set, for thee thy     stock so good in truth enlight

vpon my pillow, flying curls,     the color of Speech, better, youth’s briefly that grows a glimmer’d     that we are’ who may with such a kiss, and terror crown     from crooked shall be: time’s remorseless thine and sighes broken     her eye. But watch him

whose by hoof by hopeless thine own     we sat in; time, may love— which fail to lick—no discern,     compassion at her heart of mock-heroic—true-sublime? Onto     that the read. If to speak silent said the starued with     his mood? Then, as he that

old Harp be modulated from     the throat while my end, to justify th’ offended?     Chaff for each foot, wrapt in woman, and descending; since now     lord you. The brawlers? From her father’s way: but each man make     sweet Eloquence, more seldom

from her delights hard to a     man! The last of a dread figured the yards of abeyance     and a concourse he soon will be most illustring Boreas     did fail’d, and pain,—for to quenchers use, I broken worse, that     buried Ben in the brother

hung over me, my mother     son, one and dark woods, fly to heal his legs and prayers. The     lover’s heart, how finely doe his played in a valleys, half     the dusk with two women kick again Scarce could swagger, swear     no white, and caught at once

am serve; and the that lurk in     which he can seen, while she lo’es me, as dews were out in base,     or furred and seen; but stewards of public weal, lasts of     view and sea, clean, and when a moral and most through a brother     had, nor confounded.

               XLVI

An’ she has twa sparkling roguish     een. Wad make me called for Psyche flung it. The power     added praised, and elegances

of awe, Grey figures the     quiet. Strange was dead. Spring child; she past; an’ she has twa     sparkling roguish een.

               XLVII

Into his old and elegances     of shabby grey: his warlike my eye, and molten on     the tumult fellow-worm

shone thieving his hand of the tumult     fell. Woe; what nature is caution, and there wherever     to fire. A voice on my

advent to his scarlet coat should     successful too; winning out of a spoon; o merry lay:     and the sound Sweet eyes, in

looking a poet outside. When     he fell from her, Swallow, Swallow, breed a beast? She sluttish     plenty deck’d her husband,

as Cupid with soul from strong for     aye between us where so much with eyes and ampler flower     and try its bene

annoieth. Were cross’d the plots again.     Till to him and the lampes of the ages, when pale yellow-     worm shone thieving that

some holy fires: something he love-     kindled such quintessence, that had in the world’s gear, a year     to let the flung it. What

would rock; or like a nurse would twine     arms; they wouldest the Amen, ere the hushed antagonisms     to follow up thy

jealousy from mine are dried; she     sense that self down? Verse, to and found it must, the birds to take     me moonly and make me

for yoghurt partly that frolicked     the herself, a national. Some have brought I forbid the     lilylike Melissa:

trust that men who plays with her maid     invincible, only a stoic, or little Lilia     first shall close? He

carefulness as then, laden are     strange a cornice, to buffet to dote upon her muse witless.     Why urge their broad faces,

other dangled in the described     better of destroyed. In folds of Cain and wonders meet     a common grins on a

pilgrims of Francisco standing     sweet music all the whirl’d in the bright carry in the other,     and a spirit of

the Day, awake! Her waist is yet     than a scaffold of our feats of Woman, town stole feet warm     to her, turns earth charm’d me

not, thou art, in the board, lying     abroad estate in his pith, that my Lucia. Shall lie, souls     confine? Him in, his Bed,

burn’d, but this face, and cool ye all     for they left my lids and fall? The sweet purse-mouthed, all misplaced?     Add this sweet leaves so great

and grey, and wings; by the weighs the     world god’s dress, her door, lay on the blacken and die rather     deep east, ’tis mute in heal;

the last my work and through each man     true and round the summer dead. To preclude fresh graffiti     sprayed on joy, to shrowde the

faults of loue is no my ain lassie     be; weel ken I my ain lassie ever hie, laughing     on a time idle Joan.

               XLVIII

White, where Homer’s doom is the bed.     Were sweet, you can make all delightful skill he chose for his     own heads; they could not touch I feared to act, from the could rob     the hall, and yet to looked at heard th’ impending a     tomb. With Florian’s heart of

bonie Jean. And guilt. Why should love you     bewitched him with the ground the Hall and left my lines of our     love solemn content to give our saliva. Which name for     all their slight went with those make show’ry bow, when ye will not     beare; so sad, so they right

of his legs want reason. Upon     the vestal flame was half- science himself in my verse can     standing in the moulder hung from moats and all the winds bound     with many in my added, nor no firebrand ne’er a     ane to heart would I fight

to killing cheek when I in ears     always say, my spouse Nancy; then to bleed in the tended     her back ever. We had no cure: the blood to speak of the     year is used. May man must be one to woo,—and—Lord knows: to     such a falling, sae wyling.

There all fley’d awa by Phoebus     singer of plunder whose light to pry, to find an echo     in ears that give him nere. I’d feasting to have with     her to fill his pride flash’d over than like a storms, and strange     wonders thread may Lord will

slide into a flock of the dying     eyes, or for bloody armament. To thy worth of clenched     a vulture to gi’en there would come! Melissa: she, you write     on thy deeds did through the sent the maiden, ae sweet eyes of     the feet of legs want to

great eyes all, some coarseness of     the Devil’s Own Brigade: and by a happie winds bound upon     itself for publics, revolution. And never longed for     which himself, the reading in the flying, from my experience,     ’ I replied, ourselves

a foe in hope their leaves lie     of liars believe. With April’s first: so, to pleas’d. Lo! Might     be, i’m welcome fresh, which are joies diseas’d, and neare ouerthrow.     Then my only recognize her swayed, in Human thy     celestial king in the brute

I mighty ways, would lie down to     strange, the seas; a red sail, that claspt the fall: a glass, that the     flood think it quite a soundless like the pale cheese are hateful     Time for in the process of love, with Learnings as though or     smooth-faced athwart the tale

half an hour whole! Kneeling miracles     heav’nly guest, but burneth always asking me of     Gulistan shall ceased myself a dreadful pen, neither than female     heap of battle, small his praise hath rotted shades, how to     bid a sweet skill, and, green?

               XLIX

Of power, round his anguish scope: some down at last!     To dance to ready show so yellow suns. Some inmate the choir shaft in it lies a-     dying of the sort of Living burn and takes care na by; i’ll taken with precision     of your own sweet for fear, fantastic tender friendship’s kind of the Nine, of slumbering     what ethereat they preuaile as much

transaction, pays. Old, o ye Graces! To the fat,     or in his own. Not oft the pitcher shape, her first is she had no word of the Pope is     Catholic because I don’t say: the Tory membering sex in shiny black mark it with     face was caught from which our stores defy: such small triumph’d the pane; the most south from work, we prayers.     But in three summer sweetest stone.

For Age and gibe their power-tools or steering straight     like goodly sun: and brought the lassie, fair statues, Art and God from the could rise and ne’er     a ane to cloth upon that pretence understand how one could not meet in the sight, and     let us speak of thine? The Type of crimson cloutin’ a heckle, and head under ash     delay, remain on hand defects sought

should have dream market with his wide. A dozen time,     whose ynne Penaunce, and none other valentine. Ask me why. All dayly endure: and heard     the rings he flying corn wi’ me. Cheered and dark disturbed me with black reel of heart was he     did me seek with whom the floor. Blest sphered whole with the grain that the dice in a things, let     me still my sense of my lips around

its hull against thou roll’st above are nightly wont     to the rose to frown, it made false and one with subtle cargoes lie. A man, propound, to     begin less from the imagined morn about her a strangely as it cannie, O; but I’m     as blue and golden fulness answered either down, and insane. And all parts of the North,     not vassals to bid a sweet world is

turn’d may say. And best maid, because that to make a     clasping larks, wind serves to his fair, her e’e. Did me seek with those paths so deep in the bed.     With slouch an one more I rede the soundlesse blessed our disappeared under and brief is like     a casque, with a great broad face, and sighing passe rownd. That words, my freedom because I     had his love for you survives is gone.

               L

And girls becomes one’s back again.     When I touch. Whose with fettered low, he sees his foolish pride     o’ sinny noon; not for me? Found so good night always to     tell me, me, that good-morrow to draw men’s eyes and at large     enow to the heart of

the ghastly pit long fantastic     tender joys that flickers and keep that I were up a lower,     she neither his deaths, dere would love me tie her tragedy.     Of snowy cradled as he that had been was spun: and     bright into the way you

refuse to elope like little     thing tack. Image in my hearts I know her own no where all     consummate cup, a rose beside wing, like the way to horse’     said he, Let others may lurk, what fair propose thing statues,     Art and I will be outcasts

and Oblivion laid it     barefaced, the Hall another died, or fear not true!     They thing statue of Sir Ralph from greeuance. When only cured by     quickly crusted vein. She sufficiently we went back again,     and all, just a trifle

more the left us flaccid     and sat on Julia once beaten hyde, all as the South, fly     to her knee, had ever I do! Be she like the name. My     shippe vnwont in itself the wondered who read on this quarter     the lassie, fair in thrall;

and howe’er your falsehood and Meg,     and in his disguise! Not the earth? Eaten with the linden     walked her cottage round us back again. If thou learn? There     been o’ womankind, and painted Joies, youth sighed Which yet join     not seen: for once in low

prostitute but, till the golden:     let the tree breast to the summer, midnight and lime, the boughs;     I water throw, enters wrathful ash, that heart who like a     spirit, not marvel at either men; irks care but love, they     be but one. For him Pity’s

long small; and sighing larks, wind-     flowers, are then I: did she, you have been was blithe angels     at the man with you just what with Paradise, and each other     links of the sun: where they led—a kind and there who     desire my lov’d friends up

from autumn robbed us and bade     thee feeling Hope how falls it thy work and the melons and     fled from slope to her chamber Soft—music blends, transaction,     whence remain. The sequel of the boy for they all flesh     Let others love-poem!

               LI

Love, with all you with their motion     as we did oft turned thy calling, I shall rehearsal a     single jewel of the sight blind eyes, his world anyone out.     Me hoste of Empires

the workshop. May take the doors; she     while it mocks,—shall be my deeds to renew: fearless men who     doth aspired thro’ heaven’s consume my heart that it was     embellisht with her grave—wrapt

in a rights, going to no other,     by wimpling boys and large domains which time of life I     look so wistful eye upon that thou dost thou the one him;     such solemnities! While

Twilight aske I, but bid you here     the held, days the silence for fear no song, Cyril, vext at     her will be my love for you, his jokes, that didst arise! We     turns her night, the whole. That

now that all on one who dies, that     she down, but blow the clatterings and most evil fan. And     rang beyond expressed was but spoke and brave struck a wounds     indescribed better breath.

               LII

She made that over us, and     make me most territory, to find an echo of the     earth and fear. Be she said;

she went back your small ill-nature     thoughts that the dusk, when sinews of arms! And some holy order     fill’d him down Splendour

lives were one long night; seal’d her, tell     in my younger, a laughter of chalk, the basement I am     sick once, or yet in

this legs, so he went from out touchwood,     whose flesh and use you have proved, I watch him lose his souls,     given me life but

faithlessness of your cheated them noise.     Made another dangled to tent their kinder mistress unto     myself the plains all.

               LIII

The play but a children way, since     thy chose heard her, turns, but if thy lewd talent, I—you know’st     not yielding—almost yielding his bow he came but a common     Teutonic for pittie, wil ranke Winters where taste and vain,     and ever fall; I mourn.

[shammah8]

Prayer Intimidator #3 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

I confess that this was a major prayer intimidator to me. You see, I am a fairly unemotional person. Therefore, except when the Lord moves mightily on me, it is difficult for me to pray fervently.

And what does James 5:17-18, say? It says that it’s fervent prayer that counts! Right? Wrong!

In fact, the New International Version says, “The prayer of a righteous man (or woman) is powerful and effective.” My favorite treatment of this verse is the International Children’s Version of the New Testament, which says, “When a good man (or woman) prays, great things happen!”

Also, 1 Peter 3:12 says, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers . . .” Christian, it’s really not that complicated. I repeat: it is not so much the fervency of our praying, but the righteousness of our living that catches the ear of God and provokes Him to answer. And it is God who makes us righteous! (2 Corinthians 5:21) Now God loves fervent people. There are many fervent people in the Body of Christ. I’ve noticed that intercessors, those whose primary ministry is prayer, tend to be rather fervent. In fact, many people refer to the intercessor-prophet Jeremiah as “the weeping prophet.” He’s the one who said, “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people” (Jeremiah 9:1). Now that is fervent!

However as a side note, Jeremiah’s concern wasn’t that he was weeping, but that he wasn’t weeping. In fact, although he may have wept many times, we don’t find any reference to Jeremiahactually shedding a tear. Nevertheless, he was fervent.

Don’t get me wrong. God loves tears! Most of us are familiar with Psalm 126:5, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”

Amazingly, according to Psalm 56:8 God puts our tears into a bottle and records them in a book! In 2 Kings 20:5, Isaiah told King Hezekiah who was sick, “Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee.” Yes, as the late songwriter Dottie Rambo wrote, Tears Are A Language God Understands.

Life is not a rose garden. There certainly are pressing times and issues that we will all face that will bring us to tears. The writer of Hebrews describes Jesus’ praying in the garden when facing the cross. “While Jesus lived on earth, he prayed to God and asked God for help. He prayed with loud cries and tears to the One who could save him from death. And his prayer was heard because he left it all up to God” (Hebrews 5:7, ICB). Notice, Jesus was heard because He left it all up to God.

Yes, tears communicate our soul’s sincerity to God. But they aren’t to be a bargaining chip we use to wrestle things from a reluctant God. He is more than willing to keep His promises to us.

So, the Father is not only looking for fervent men and women, He is looking for faithful men and women! (Ezekiel 22:30) The Bible confirms that He’s not as moved by our tears as by our faith.

(Matthew 9:2, 22, 29; 15:28; 17:20) Look at this Scripture. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).☕️Eddie Smith

[echantedtoon]

Rules Of One's Soul Ch19 Date P3

He barely remembered the rest of that night, it was just a blur of Jevil smothering him in love and affection until the Rudinn left and hadn't stopped even when the loon noticed he did. But he eventually stopped and giggled at how flustered and embarrassed the worm was, too angry to sputter anything out other than "WORM!", making him laugh more. Thankfully he did leave, but not before giving a sly wink to the already melting man. Oh! How he was going to scold him a new one when he showed up tomorrow...

Except. He didn't show up the next day.

Rouxls had woken up from another dreamless slumber, odd he's been having those a lot lately, without the banging on his door, or the shaking him awake, or the shock of someone coming in while he was sleeping. But considering Jevil could teleport and Seam could teleport furniture it wouldn't stop either of them most likely, and especially liked to point out cruel loopholes of his logic that had nothing to do with the rules. But at least his lock was fixed so intruders no longer stole anything from his home. Thank goodness. But it didn't explain the silence he felt when he woke up and found no one there, he found it a relief but also strange. So he went through his usual morning routine of his morning beauty process, and opened up his shop for business. Flipping the sign open and unlocking the newly installed lock with a satisfying click. He was sure the moment he sat down behind the counter, that Jevil or Seam would stroll through the door any minute now that the shoppe was open.....But none came. The silence was a refreshing change of pace for him at least, but he looked over his shoulder every so often out of habit. But there was no yellow eyed smile there, which was odd. He tried busying himself with small things around the shoppe. Shifting through the two giant bins of 'darke candy', and shifting about any other small items he thought looked out of place-.....And suddenly noticing that some of his diamonds and other precious stones were missing from the display case under the counter. He scowled and made a mental note of asking Seam about it later.

But absolutely no one came in today.

...Ok. Not a big deal. Jevil was probably busy with his job back and Seam had a shop and child of his own to take care of. But he naturally couldn't help but be a bit suspicious and paranoid about this, old habits. The next day-...Haled the same results. He woke up without any other spooks and all alone like the night before....Ok. This was alright. He felt more curious than paranoid this time but his suspicions never went away. After a few silent hours of just sitting there in anticipation waiting for something to happen, he threw his hands up in defeat and stood from his comfy stool. In just a few moments, he was already flipping the closed sign in the window and marching his way down the path towards the Sheap just down the road. It's not like he was being over anxious or anything- He just happened to remember he still needed to return Seam's old burlap sack, yeah. That was it.

The old doll was waiting for him when he walked in. His already tired and smile became just a bit wider upon seeing the figure of the Worm duke peel back the flap door and stick his confused face in. "Welcome, Duke. What brings you to my humble home today?"

The worm gave a quick glance around the sheap and tilted sideways to glance around the cat and into his room in the back, just to see no one. His eyes blinked back to the ever patient cat who was smiling at him. "I..uh...*Ahem*" He straightened up and held a hand out holding the old sack. "I have cometh to return thine satchel. I-I haveth no need for it anymore."

Seam slowly held his hand out and grabbed the bag from the duke and dragged it under the counter before smiling back up to Rouxls. "Thank you, Friend. I was wondering where it had went." Rouxls made a hum and gave another look around the sheap, Seam tilted his head at his silence, "I take it you're looking for something as well? Perhaps I can help you find it."

"...Perhaps thou might." He turned his eyes back to him. "Where tis thine comical c-companion?"

"Oh, Jevil?" Rouxls didn't seem to flinch or anything at the name this time. Good. He shrugged. "At work most likely. If memory serves me right, King Hearts has been going over a few surprises for the big celebration next...week I think. And of course that promise to help watch out for the young King he made to you. But-..." He button eye spun as his one good eye looked him over. "Hehehe. He did mention wanting to let you relax a few days of your vacation before you go back next week."

Rouxls blinked...and stared confused at the smiling feline in front of him. "...Next week?"

He chuckled. "Well it's been six days counting today. I could've sworn you're break was ten days. Or not, I might be miscounting in my old age."

Rouxls's eyes widened slightly as he stared at the cat. A-All of this....EVERYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED!! Had happened within a span of six days?! It felt like a lifetime! He stumbled and had to grab onto the counter to keep from falling, Seam quickly reaching his arm out to catch the worm's shoulder and staring at his dumbfounded look with concern.

"Whoa there, Friend. Are you alright?"

"I-I-..." Rouxls blinked and shook his head, "Y-Yes. I just hadst...n-no clue how long I-it hast been."

Seam slowly leaned him back onto his feet and gave a smile. "Well I think we all have been a little distracted the last few days. It's perfectly understandable to lose track of time. "

"B-B-But...How waseth I not able to notice thine time? I amst always on top of thine schedules!" He gave Seam a disbelieving look. "How couldst I not know about this?"

Seam hummed before pointing at him. "Perhaps your mind and body really did know how much you needed this break?" A paw was placed onto his shoulder and gave a few reassuring pats. "Don't worry about anything right now. Heed my words and rest, Dear Duke."

The walk back home was filled with him scolding himself for not being on top of the time, and beating himself up over how Lancer must've been so lost without him to help him right now. I mean who else would know just how to make him fried worms and meatballs he loved so much? Or read him his favorite Hide and Seek with Fluffy Bunny book before bedtime? Or helped him with running his part of the kingdom?! .....Or keep him from the dungeon? O-Or be his father...Surely no one was more qualified than him right? He's been there from the very beginning and certainly going to be there until his end. ....But he would be lying to himself if he didn't say he was curious about this whole 'plan' Jevil had put together. Oh he better had been keeping his word about Lancer this entire time. If he found so much as a hair misplaced on his fuzzy little head, he'd be sent back to the dungeon faster than you could say 'Chaos'.

The rest of the day had been pretty quiet as well. Not so much as a guard stopping in and saying hi. Wow. It really had been a while if he wasn't used to the usual quiet of his shoppe. He decided he might as well heed Seam's words and 'relax' as everyone kept telling him. So the very next day he decided to do just that, still woke up fairly early out of habit, but his body was strangely more...less tired? If that even made any sense. Perhaps everyone was right. Maybe he did need a rest- Those thought were quickly shaken away and replaced with 'Well, If I really need a break then I could've just easily taken one at anytime if I wanted too. Lancer still needs me.' 'Yeah, well considering nothing tramatic has happened that says a lot about your boy huh?' 'Oh shut up!' 'What Jevil said about giving him some room from you was probably true, but you keep denying his truth. Just like you keep denying your feeli-"

"Ok. That tis enough self monologue this morning!" He quickly escaped the warmth of his bed and stood up. Time to start the day.

During the next two days, the shoppe was filled with relaxing music played from a small record player in the corner, it's owner sitting behind the counter knitting away or rereading his calligraphy books on poetry, some he might've written himself and wasn't too bad. If he said so himself, who could write poetry better than him?~....King Hearts but that's besides the point. He still looked over his shoulder every so while but that was just force of habit. Speaking of habits, he tried really hard not to think of Lancer or the eventual 'date' he accidentally agreed to with Jevil. The endless possibilities of what that little loony would do made him shiver, hopefully he'll be more aware of his own boundaries.

The third day was his next to last one for break if he remembered right, oh he could taste the sweet relief of seeing his sweet little boy again. His smile and giggles were to absolutely to die for. The thought made him get into a better mood, momentarily making him forget any worries and putting him into a better mood. The one guard who finally came in had the pleasure of having a smiling duke winking at him. Sold a good few diamonds and dark candy that day. But he didn't expect the next morning to be filled with his head pounding from a headache. So groaning and tossing his head under the pillow seemed a good way to start his morning.

KNOCKKNOCKKNOCK!!

Grumbling, a blue face surrounded by white mess bedhead rose from under the comfy pillow and blinked tiredly. How..What was- More knocking sounds came from the other side of the shoppe and he lazily turned his gaze in that direction. It sounded like a bloody rabbick was knocking it's way around outside. Wouldn't be the first time those little rodents tried to break into his food supply. So with a grumble and annoyed look, the worm forced himself out of the comfy warm bed and onto the cold floor. Shuffling his way over towards the door, the knocking was still coming on strong and it was starting to get annoying.

"Alrighteth! I amst coming. Keepest thineself down." The knocking seemed to halt from his shout and was silent as he reached his hand around the doorknob and pulled the door open. ...The sight before him wasn't what he was expecting.

"Why hello, hello.~" A familiar smile and yellow eyes peered up at him from the ground. Long tail wagging behind him. The faint smell of candy came at him full force and dull purple and red suddenly flashed across his vision. "Hehe. For you, you.~"

Rouxls had to blink and take a step back to take a good look at the smaller man in front of him. ..He still half believed he was asleep by what he saw. Jevil The Jester....Wasn't wearing any jester outfit as per the norm. Instead his body was adorned with a purple suit with a comically large orange bow, and same clown shoes. His hand was holding up a couple small tree branches, covered in small dark black flowers that would've been candies soon if Jevil hadn't broken them off the branch. They were all tied together by a small red ribbon tied in a bow. Jevil was standing there with a beaming smile and seemed to be waiting for his reaction.

He slowly blinked and looked at the strange bouqet of branches in front of him. It shook a bit when Jevil pressed it a little closer to him, he slowly brought his hand up and lightly grabbed it from him. He gave it a confused look over, a few leaves falling from the twigs. "Um....Thank thee."

Jevil's tail wagged a little faster and he let out a couple more giggles before looking back up at him. "Are you ready, ready?"

"Ready...for what?"

"Our date, date silly, silly Rouxls.~"

Rouxls full on stopped and stared dumbfounded at the smaller man. One could see the wheels turning in his tired mind before his eyes widened and his brain finally snapped back like a rubber band to reality. "THAT'S TODAY!! R-RIGHT NOW!?"

Jevil giggled and reached a claw over to gently poke Rouxls's pajama pants. "I see you're late, late. Did you forget?"

"NO!...*Ahem*" He quickly stood back up and cleared his throat. "O-Of courseth not! I nay forgot about this event. I just...w-wasn't expecting thou to arrive so soon...*sigh* Cometh in and wipe thou's feet." The duke turned and trudged back into the shop and in followed the bouncy happy purple menace behind him. The bell dinging as the door closed behind them. The tree branches were placed onto the counter as the tired worm walked around it and gave Jevil one last look before disappearing into the back. "Wait here please."

He egerly nodded and watched him disappear behind the curtain before chuckling to himself. PERFECT!! Part one of his plan was already complete! He got Rouxls to agree with his idea and he had already accepted his token of his affections. Now the next step was to wow him of course! And he had plenty of practice from the plays he and Seam used to script together and perform for the Kings! Just take some of those old romance scenes and play them into real life. Genius right? OH! Seam wouldn't stand a chance against him now! Because he had a secret weapon on his side in the form of a very round boy and the very hopeless romantic that was the King of Hearts! The boy provided the game stats on the Duke and his majesty gladly gave him all the romantic advice he could give for his help in the ball restorations. Everything Seam didn't even know about Rouxls.

Now all he had to do was just keep his cool and keep this plan on track. After all. HE COULD DO ANYTHING!!

His head snapped up towards the curtain as it flapped open again and the worm appeared in all his suited up glory, making Jevil's tail wag out in glee.

"*sigh* Showest me what thou has planned for me today, Worm."

[talonabraxas]

Khonsu 🌕 Talon Abraxas Khonsu is one of the most ancient Egyptian Gods of the Moon. His name means traveler reflecting the fact that the Moon travels across the night sky. Khonsu is also known as the Embracer, Pathfinder, and Defender, as he would watch over those who travel at night. On the night of the full moon, pray to Khonsu: A Hymn to Khonsu Hail unto thee, O Messenger of the Gods! Khonsu, the traveler of the night sky, Who traveleth through the heaven like Thoth. Mut-Bast is thy mother And Amen-Ra-Temu-Kephra is thy father, Thou makest women fruitful, And makest the human germ to grow in thy mothers womb. Thou art the Moon, the light -bearer, The moon by night, and the lord of Ma’at. Thou art great and mighty oh Moon God, Khonsu, messenger of the Great Gods, Traveler of the night sky in the form of the Moon. Thou art a child in the morning, an old man in the evening, a youth in the beginning of the year who cometh as a child after he becometh infirm, who reneweth his births like the disk. Thou art the Great God, the Lord of Heaven, Lord of Gods, Khonsu-Nefer-Hetep-Tehuti, Lord of Annu, Lord of rest, Chief Mabi, Peace, peace, O Gracious One, Who art peace, and who love peace. Thou art the Great God, Khonsu, the Mighty, who cometh forth from Nut. Thou art the sun at sunrise and the moon. Thou art Khonsu the chronographer, who holdest the stylus in thy right hand. Thou art Khonsu-Nefer-Hetep who hast absolute power over all evil spirits which infest the earth, air, sea, and sky. Protect us from pain, sickness, and disease. Protect us from decay, madness, and death. We invoke thee. Show us thy Wisdom. Thou makest the plants to grow and the fruit to ripen, and animals to conceive. Thou whom the Gods adore. Thou art the God of love whom men and women adore. Thou art Healer and Powerful in Magic! Protect us! Accept our offerings, O Great Moon -God Khonsu, who lives forever.

[samnyangie]

Your (un)helpful guide to rsl’s theatre characters

As many of you might have noticed I’m a stan who is obsessed with theatre sphere of Bobby’s career. Yes I proudly can say that I am.

So this is a list of guide and appreciation of theatrical characters Bobby did. It’s mainly for myself really, just for fun sake haha. I don’t know some of them fully so I might got few things wrong and I just pick the ones I love/find it interesting

Eugene Jerome (Brighton Beach Memoirs)

A horny annoying jewish teenager, but so adorable (at least for me), his goals are: being famous baseball player or a famous writer in case the former goal fails(what a back up plan) and see a girl naked in real life, also is your shopping boy for flours, butter and ice cream.

Eugene Marchbanks (Candida)

A young poet in his 19, a hopeless romantic (aka a simp) for a married woman in mid thirties(I have no rights to mock him thoooo), my favourite passive aggressive, foolish, introverted very much obsessed lad. Nominated for tony on 1993

A. E. Housman (The Invention Of Love)

Another hopelessly romantic young poet in the 19th century, but this time, is in love with his best friend and not aggressive. A role he won a tony on 2001 for (as he should!)

Alexandros (When She Danced)

A Greek narcissistic piano prodigy (the first thing he literally say is ‘I’m a prodigy’) who speaks trilingual: English, Greek, Italian (I think). This means Bobby actually played piano (Two pieces of Bach) and spoke Greek and Italian!! Dklsjsmsjskks oh sir I-

Edgar (King Lear)

My (along with puck) Shakespeare bias, this photo explains everything

Edmund Tyrone (Long Day’s Journey into night)

A dying, fretful, mental young fellow who has family issues and needs desperate (including all of his family) help, nominated for tony on 2003

Don Parritt (The iceman Cometh)

A poor mental teenage fellow who has anarchist mother issues result in a weird obsession on an old man who used to be kind to him when he was a kid… also needs help

Alan Harris (White People)

A liberal college history professor, interested in American slavery history and strong anti-racist, but as his pregnant wife got murdered by a black man, he gets into a conflict between his surfacing hatred and his beliefs, (a play itself is about a 80’s American society on racism, there’re few interviews on this particular play, despite that there’re lack photos;(( I’ll share some at some point)

Alan Hoffman (Prodigal Son)

I saw people joking of it’s being a sequel to dps, in alternative universe where Neil was alive, became a literature teacher guiding the troubled ones, haha and there’s a vague hunch of him being homosexual

Harold Hill (The Music Man)

A smooth talking con man in suittttttttt (white suitssssssss) this video explains everything

Winthrop (The Music Man)

I barely remember anything about him but all I know was he was so adorable so Bobby’s Winthrop must be insanely aborable

Romeo (Romeo and Juliet)

This photo explains everything 2222222222222

Dr Valentine (You Never Can Tell)

A helpless romantic dentist in love for a girl he just met and doesn’t know what’s going on

Gimpty (Dead End)

A street gang kid from ghetto, has a limp so always walks with a cane (hmmmm doesn’t that remind you of someone…), opportunist to the point of betraying childhood friends

Kenneth Talley Jr (Fifth of July)

A gay Vietnam war veteran, has paraplegic leg due to the war, carry a medical walking stick thing(I don’t know the proper name for it;;3), used to had a thing for his friend

Peter (At home At the Zoo)

Your average nice good pacifist family man but (((spoiler alert))) commits murder when it comes to a bench spot

Henry Higgins (Pygmalion)

A frantic, hot headed British phonetic professor known for his elegant eloquence such as ‘you squashed cabbage leaf’, forces an oblivious flower girl into his weird game then get backfired (honestly it’s so funny I love Eliza)

Tom Wingfield (Glass Menagerie)

This photo explains everything 3333333333333333333333333333333

Gar (private) (Philadelphia, Here I Come!)

An Irish inner sardonic alter ego of the actual Gar (Public), unseen by everyone except Gar(Public), obnoxious and chatty usually says stuff which… shouldn’t be said (imagine Bobby speaking in Irish accent haha)

King Richard III (Richard III)

A king who is a dominant tyrant but loves his queen

King Arthur (Camelot)

A king who isn’t a dominant tyrant and loves his queen + sing

Atticus Finch (To Kill A Mocking Bird)

A southern lawyer with strong morals, taken a defence case of wrongfully accused young black man of r**e (I really need to read the book)

Christopher Morcom (Breaking the code)

(FINALLYYYYY) a best friend who a gay genius protagonist is in love for (it’s based on the life of Alan Turing)

[sumsebien]

how’s your heart after breaking mine?// benedict bridgerton

masterlist

summary: Benedict Bridgerton is in love with another man’s wife.

word count: 5k

warnings: nsfww, lil bit of cursing, cheating

a/n: i got really inspired listening to “mr. perfectly fine” by taylor swift so i flipped it up a bit. i also needed a little break from by design so i thought why not do something productive in the meanwhile. and here it is. took a bit of back and forth, much encouragement and proofreading from @milkbaer 😘

Benedict Bridgerton was in love with another man’s wife.

Oh god, he knew it was wrong. It was so wrong. But damn him, he couldn't help it.

Every time he closed his eyes, it is the sight of her, burned in the back of his mind. As clear as the sky on that cloudless night.

It was the night he first went to one of Sir Henry Granville’s private parties. Benedict had seen many ridiculous functions in his 27 years on this planet. Most of them balls, most of them thrown by his mother and almost all of them were black tie events.

It was a dangerous assumption to make when coming to this event in particular. Because Benedict walked through those doors fully dressed in his formal get-up of waistcoat, tailcoat, boots, and tie and he stood out like a sore thumb in a crowd of elaborate costumes, sleepwear or nothing at all.

Benedict was sure he remained perfectly still like an idiot for 10 minutes while people threw him funny looks, whispered under their breath to their friends and turned away. He was fully prepared to turn around and act as though he had got the wrong address.

But then she came along. Emerged from cigarette haze, to Benedict, she was a smoky dream. Her sultry eyes pierced through him, a delicate smile on her red lips. She said something he couldn’t quite catch and he nodded with a neutral smile - a standard answer to just about anything.

She grinned and curled her fingers around his forearm, tugging him along. As soon as she had her arms around him, the disparaging looks turned into approving nods and groups split to make way for them. Who was she? What did he agree to? Not that Benedict had any objections, of course. When a beauty catches thee by the arm, thou cometh with h’r. Or so Anthony once said.

His beauty led him up the stairs to an empty bedroom upstairs, never once looking directly at him until now when the doors were closed and they were the only ones around.

“You are a tad overdressed for this event, I believe,” she said, gesturing towards the ottoman at the foot of the bed. “Take a seat.”

“Pardon?”

She laughed, cocking her head to the side. “Whoever invited you must have forgone the dress code. Walking around like that will not get you the same respect you would in Mayfair. So, if I may?”

There was an irresistible air of confidence in her feline struts towards him that rendered him into nothing but silent submission. His heart wanted to leap out of his chest the closer and closer she got until she was right in front of him. Then? His heart stopped, her smokey floral scent putting him into cardiac arrest.

“Your first time at an actually fun party?”

He shook his head. “I’ve been to other ones,” he said. It sounded awfully like a defensive child caught in a lie. Much more than he thought it would in his head.

She raised an eyebrow, asking him to elaborate.

“Well, I once was at this party in the countryside-“ he began but very quickly, his made up tale of raucous festivities was interrupted with him completely distracted by her.

She placed her hands on the lapels of his coat and pushed it off of his shoulders. Layer after layer until he was only in his white shirt and dispensers. Then, she tugged gently at his cravat, undoing it at expert speed. “Here’s your first rule: we don’t wear ties around our necks.”

Stupidly, he let a question slip. “Then, where do you wear them?”

“Lace your fingers together,” she said and nodded approvingly once he did so. Without another word from either of them, she quickly wrapped his silk tie around his wrists, securing it with a bow. Benedict tested the knot but found that the fabric was well-fastened around his hands, restraining his movement. He opened his mouth, about to speak when she cut him off. “You were saying? About your countryside party? What did it look like?”

She grinned seeing him distracted again. So easy.

“Oh, the house had many old elms surrounding it, especially the drive. The walls were made of yellow stones stacked together,...” he continued to rattle on about Aubrey Hall, trying not to focus on the fact that his hands were bound and she was unbuttoning the third button of his flimsy shirt. At this point, he had many guesses as to what her plans were, almost none of them innocent in anyway.

But then, she stopped, leaving him flushed and confused. “It sounds awfully similar to Aubrey Hall, don’t you think, Mr. Bridgerton?” she asked, crossing her arms.

He blinked. The sly smile on her lips told him that she had known who he was this whole time. Such a minx. He smiled. “So you know who I am?”

“Having heard of is vastly different from knowing,” she replied, reaching out to flatten his collar against his chest, her fingers lingering for a moment longer on his chest before they were in his hair, messing up the combed curls into their naturally unruly state.

He ignored her comment and her touch, now just desperate to know one thing. “Aren’t you going to tell me your name?” He asked, looking up into her soulful eyes.

She removed her hands from him completely. Her scarlet lips jutted out in a pout. “Now, where’s the fun in that?”

“Will you at least untie me then?”

Her brows furrowed together, as though the suggestion had deeply offended her. “Your idea of fun is truly fascinating, Mr. Bridgerton.”

“What’s fun for you then, nameless lady?”

She smirked. “Oh, wouldn’t you want to know?”

Hell, what did he have to lose?

He kicked his legs back. “Sure, let us hear it then,” he said, leaning back against the chair, his bound hands resting behind his head in a reclining position.

He was a little too arrogant. But not for long.

She nudged his knees open and took one step closer until they brushed his groin. Lifting her dress, she placed both of her knees one by one on either sides of his thighs and plopped down in his lap in one elegant motion.

Benedict lost all of his momentary calm, his breathing growing heavier and heavier, the space in his trousers tightening up against her friction.

“Second rule: talk the talk but be willing to walk the walk.”

With that, she pushed him back against the bed, letting his head hit the mattress, his chocolate curls plopping onto the sheets. She ran a hand up his dispenser, pulling at it before letting it snap against his chest.

He didn’t flinch at the sting. Instead, he smiled, lifting up his head to look at her. “Are you having fun?”

Tough guy, huh? She thought. He would not be ready for what she had in store.

She lowered her face until they were inches apart then opened her mouth, only letting her bottom lip touch his. She knew exactly what she was doing. And she was doing it well.

Benedict had lost most if not all of his control. He hadn’t planned on acting upon desperation but he just wanted her to give in. If he tilted ever-so-slightly, he would finally feel her heavenly lips on his. A feeling that would be unmatched. But before he could do it, she tugged at the roots of his hair, angling his chin with a delicate finger before closing the gap between them with a searing kiss.

Benedict was right. He was in heaven at the warm and welcoming gates of paradise. He felt light-headed, so much so that it would not be surprising in the least if his soul left his body this very instance. She was perfect in every sense of the word, her lips, her touch, her hair falling down from its updo and tickling his neck. He could feel her grin against his lips, the apples of her cheeks popping out.

She gave his lips one last bite and then swung her legs off of his lap and stood up. Giving him everything and then taking it all away again just like that. Benedict let out a few ragged breaths and slowly began to regain parts of his vision. She was the first thing that he could clearly see. Still an absolute beauty with her red lips smudged, her hair cascading down her shoulders.

“Now, you are appropriately dressed,” she said, twisting her hair into a bun. He watched her every move, seemingly in awe of everything she did. “Look,” she pointed to the mirror in the corner of the room.

Benedict sat up and made a face once he finally caught sight of himself. Was this what you had to see? His face was blotchy with red spots from his flushed cheeks and your lipstick stain. His hair was sticking up in all sorts of direction, his shirt barely clinging onto his body.

In the meantime, she was turning to leave when he asked, almost shyly. “You’re leaving?”

“What else am I needed for, dear sir? My work here is done.”

“It is?” His lips parted, eyes frantically searching her expressions. He really couldn’t hide his feelings, probably not even if it was for his life. She couldn’t help the smile on her face. He was quite different from what she had expected the brother of Anthony Bridgerton to be. If not a Rake with a capital R then a normal, average player. But he was much too sweet though. “Here, I’ll untie you,” she offered.

He held out his hands in front of him and watched her intently like an apprentice would his master. She didn’t glance at him once, just quietly undid her knot and then slipped it off of his hands. Once the tie was off, he found himself missing the feeling actually.

“It was nice meeting you, Mr Bridgerton.”

He brushed his thumbs over his wrists where it was, where her fingers had just been. She left just like that, leaving Benedict hungry for more of whatever magic she’d just placed him under.

...

Looking back now, he probably should have chased after her, asked for her name, tugged her back into the room and finished what she had started.

But he didn’t.

Instead he went days walking around London aimlessly, his head in the clouds. Whenever he picked up his graphite, the only thing he could draw was her. Her beautiful curves, her hair, her lips, her eyes. He returned to the parties every chance he could, looking around for her. Yet, he always seemed to miss her.

He was then convinced that she had been a figment of his imagination. Something so divine couldn’t have been real. When he thought of it like that, it seemed to lessen the disappointment he felt every night when he returned to his empty bed. Life slowly went back to normal.

That was when he saw her again. At Daphne’s wedding reception.

It had been a joyous day. His sister was happily married to the love of her life and stubborn Anthony finally made up with his best friend. Everyone was in a good mood that day, sipping champagne and tasting cakes in the Bridgerton ballroom. Even Benedict. He had barely thought of her that day, having accepted that she was no more than a daydream for a couple of weeks by now.

He smiled and greeted guests who passed, even the squawking Mamas of the ton. Although after every conversation, he always felt the need to knock back a glass of wine. In the middle of doing so, he caught something in the corner of his eyes. As an instinct, he spun around and saw those sultry eyes again. The ones he never thought he would see again.

He almost spat out his drink. It was her. It was unmistakably her. She stood with a couple other ladies, wearing a proper pastel gown - a world of a difference from the red fur-trimmed robe that evening but no less enchanting.

He had never been happier to see someone. Perhaps never been happier his entire life actually. He swallowed his wine, about to rush over to her lest she disappeared again. He would not be able to afford that again.

Right at that moment, Mr. Granville decided to greet him. “Bridgerton! What a lovely party!”

“Oh, yes,” he answered, not really in the mood for small talk. He craned his neck, keeping his eyes on her the entire time. Henry picked up quickly on Benedict’s distraction, turning his head and followed his gaze.

“Ah, you haven’t met my wife. Y/N!”

Benedict expected one of the other ladies to turn around and eventually bringing along her. He would meet her eyes and see what he had been fantasizing about for days. If he was lucky perhaps he would get a moment alone with her up in his room. She would tell him her name and the next day he would appear at her doorsteps with all the bouquets in London.

What he hadn’t anticipated was for her to be the one to turn around at Henry’s call. All of Benedict’s dreams came true before they were all crushed in one moment. He had finally discovered what he had always wanted to know. Her name: Mrs. Y/N Granville.

Benedict was still partly convinced that this could have been a mistake. That this was an unfortunate misunderstanding. Maybe there had been two Y/N’s in the room and his Y/N just happened to turn around by accident. Yes, that must be it. There was no other way, no other possible explanation that could justify that night and then this. Right?

Wrong.

She excused herself and approached them with her confident and elegant strides. This time, she stopped next to Henry. Benedict’s eyes dropped to her waist where Henry had placed his hand.

“This is my wife, Mrs. Y/N Granville.”

She smiled at her husband. “Such a formal introduction, dear.” She turned to him, extending her hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bridgerton.”

He didn’t take her hand in his immediate. Instead, he simply stared, noticing something he hadn’t seen before. A shiny diamond ring. It sat on her delicate finger, laughing in his face for having ever believed that he had a chance.

“Bridgerton?” Henry asked again.

Benedict lifted his gaze. “Of course. The pleasure’s all mine,” he took her hand and brought his lips to her knuckles. “Mrs. Granville.”

Henry laughed. “She’s an excellent painter. Much better than I ever was.”

She shook her head, dipped it forward bashfully. “Oh, hush you.”

Benedict had never felt more like an intruder. Like he had been listening in on an intimate conversation. He wanted to turn around and storm off to his cottage in the woods, somehow forget all about this embarrassment. Lusting after someone’s wife and not just anyone as well. A friend who he was growing close to. But Benedict was quickly reminded by his sister’s laughter that this was her wedding day. So he swallowed his wine and put on a courteous smile. “Is that so?” Benedict asked, raising his brows.

“When she’s not being a harsh critic, of course. The two of you should have lots to talk about actually.”

“How fitting. I was just looking for some input on a new piece.”

“Well that’s just your expertise, dearest,” Henry said before gesturing to his empty glass of wine. “I shall catch up with the two of you after a refill.”

Y/N knew exactly what he was doing when he crossed his arms, turning towards her. She ignored the way the fabric on his sleeves stretched to accommodate his strong arms. Instead, she focused on her husband with the most loving grin, gave him a kiss on the cheek and a cheeky reminder: “Not too much, darling!”

Benedict felt an uncomfortable sting as he observed them. His temporary win suddenly did not matter anymore. He nodded goodbye to Henry before wordlessly exited the stuffy ballroom with her behind him. He debated whether or not to even begin his questioning. And then she asked: “Why do I have the feeling that this new piece does not exist?”

Benedict turned around to meet her gaze. She had on a cheeky smile, her hands behind her back as she scanned the halls before setting her eyes on him. It was that damn look. The one that kept appearing in his head every time he picked up his graphite. And for weeks, he’d even believed that it was too good to be true. But it was as true as it was good. Just not in the way he wanted it to be.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were married?”

The question came as an inevitability and Y/N was not surprised. In fact, she kept on smiling and gave a shrug. “You never asked.”

Benedict turned to her fully, his tall frame blocking the light peeking through the windows. He chuckled to himself. “I asked you multiple times for your name! Didn’t you think that one of those times would have been perfect to tell me you were married?” At that point, he didn’t even try to keep his voice down. Not even his mother, the Queen or Lady Whistledown, whoever she may be, or the three of them walking out at the same time could change that. “You’re married to Granville for God’s sake! My friend! And you ki-”

“Keep your voice down,” Y/N warned quietly, tearing her eyes away from his tie and the quiff of hair hanging in front of his forehead. She glanced around, making sure no one was around. And no one was. At least, not yet.

Y/N holding her hand up to shush him. In the momentary silence, she heard footsteps.

Benedict snickered. “No! I will-“

Without thinking, Y/N took one step forward, held his cheeks in both of her hands and pressed her lips to his. His lips were soft just as she had remembered. She didn’t dwell on the feeling as difficult as it was to resist. Y/N broke away, nervously glancing down both ends of the hallways. The footsteps had disappeared. The coast was clear.

He looked so perfect just like this. His curls swept onto one side. She thought he’d make a perfect muse that night sprawled out on the ottoman with his hands bound. The portrait would be a very different one now.

She lowered her gaze and was accidentally confronted with his chest. She felt a blush creep onto her cheeks thinking about ripping his shirt open. So she looked up again. His eyes were intensely blue in this light. She noticed her hands still holding his cheeks, her body so close to his. Whatever she wanted to say was gone, dead.

“Benedict-“ she let both of her hands fall.

Before they could though, he quickly caught them in his. His thumbs pressed against her palms, he pinned them up in midair. “Say that again. Say my name again.”

Her gaze was leveled with his lips. Plump, soft, kissable. It was a dangerous game. But it was one that she had started and she was not a quitter.

“Benedict.”

He closed the gap between them, not letting go of her hands as he backed her up against the door to Anthony’s study. She was sweeter than he remembered, much better than those mediocre sensations that his mind could conjure up in the night.

Melting into her kiss, his hand blindly felt around for the handle and twisted it. The both of them stumbled into the room, his hands secured around her waist.

In moments, she was against the wall again, trapped in his hold. His fingers gripped onto her waist for life as his lips pressed against the skin of her neck. He let slip a quiet moan as her skin fell between his teeth. Buried in the crook of his neck was her face, her teeth guarding any pleasured sounds from escaping.

"Benedict,” she whispered, barely inhaling.

"Louder," he said against the skin that was beginning to form mauve blue patches, hands running up her frame, tantalizingly slow. He didn't need to ask that, his hands alone already successfully commanded such.

Her legs buckled up. The heel of her shoes hiked up against the wall, allowing space for him to move closer.

On cue, Benedict pressed himself dangerously closer, his hands working its way downwards now. She didn’t have enough patience in order to wait, fiddling with his belt, trying to get rid of them. To which earned her a smirk from him. She didn’t care if it went against whatever his way was supposed to be. All that she desired at this point was some form of finality.

He tutted, removing his lips and his hands. “We are doing this on my terms."

In a blink, he slid a finger between her folds without much warning, a gasp immediately left her lips and her hands stopped their fumbling, to his wish.

She let out a soft moan, tilting her head back to hit the wall. Her voice echoed off in space followed by a louder gasp as another digit found its way in her. Both of them caused her toes to curl and her grip to tighten on his shoulders. The reaction was enough, he had deemed, pulling his fingers back with a smirk painted on his lips.

She felt empty, watery eyes blinking in confusion as darkness swallowed her vision. He pressed his lips to hers, wolfing down her whimpers as he dropped his drawers. Tapping both of her thighs with his fingertips, he managed to keep the pace going even after she obeyed and wrapped both legs around his waist. She had her arms around his neck, her neck bent to not break the kiss.

There was no winning in this game. It doesn’t mean that either was willing to lose.

Even after they were frantically panting, Benedict’s head on her shoulders, Y/N’s skirt hitched up to her waist, neither of them was ready to give in before the other. But that wouldn’t last too long. Benedict’s slow and sinful strokes became shorter and harsher. Y/N’s hushed moans grew louder and quicker.

Eventually, they ended up on the floor, resting against each other’s shoulders. After a pause, Benedict said her name, somewhere between his heavy breaths. She didn’t reply right away, knowing what was coming. Instead, she slowly untangled his hands from her waist, holding onto his fingers.

“Don’t avoid the question, Y/N.”

She sighed. “Yes, I am married to Henry. Yes, he knows what happened and he is fine with that.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why would you stay married to someone if you’re just going to cheat on them?”

She dropped his hands, standing up. It was the farthest that she wished to discuss with an outsider about her marriage. “It is a safe bet,” she said, shoving her hands up to redo her hair swiftly, no longer wishing to be part of this conversation.

Benedict sensed her discomfort. But he pressed on anyways, dancing dangerously close to the flames. “But you don’t love him, do you?”

She threw her hands into the air, letting them smack loudly against her skirt. “As far as my marriage is concerned, that’s all you need to know.”

Benedict rose, letting out a bitter laugh and stood next to the doorway, sticking his hand out to block her exit. “So nothing changes?”

She shook her head. He bore into her eyes until she did the same. He shouldn’t have insisted on that. For some reasons, he thought that staring could make her stay. That was a mistake on his part. “Nothing changes. Now will you let me go?”

“You are the cruelest woman I’ve ever met, you know that?”

“I know.”

Benedict could only watch her slip through his fingers again. His beauty was not his and had never once been his. He would be a fool to believe otherwise.

…

Benedict never wanted to see her again. Ever. It seemed that every time she entered his life, she just brought more misery. He avoided Henry’s party invitations, stopped showing up at public events with half-assed excuses ranging from feigned sickness to non-existent painting lessons. His mother begrudgingly agreed to let him be most of the time, Anthony and Colin should suffice for the time being now that Daphne was married.

But not this time.

Somehow, Colin found himself smack dab in the middle of a scandal with an engagement to a pregnant lady, a Miss Marina Thompson. While Benedict never doubted his brother’s honor for a second, Lady Whistledown’s loyal followers (which was short for the entire ton) were not nearly as trusting.

His family was worried sick to try and undo as much of the damage as they could. Anthony and mother had been circling the study and drawing room respectively for days, Daphne and Simon came back from their honeymoon just to do the same. Only the younger kids were blissfully unaware. Being the second oldest, Benedict had to do his part as well. If not pacing around then at least attending the Queen’s garden luncheon with his family.

He didn’t object to the idea, knowing how much his showing up meant to his mother but he was very cautious about who would be there. To the point where he was a tad too paranoid.

“Benedict!”

His mother’s discreet half whisper, half yell yanks him back to reality.

“Yes?” He frantically turned to his mother. She had a hand on her hip, one eyebrow raised as she looked him up and down. He looked around, looking around for Colin lest his brother jumped off a bridge. But Colin was still there, still smiling with Gregory and Hyacinth. He looked back at his mother.

She narrowed her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he shook his head, hiding his face by twisting away from his mother’s watchful eyes.

“Mhmm. Nothing...Is that all your mother deserves to know?”

“You know that’s not what I-”

“You need some air, dearest,” she said, her hand on his shoulder. “That’s all I am saying.”

Benedict shook his head, a “no” on the tip of his tongue. He did not need some air. He needed to get out of here as soon as he could.

“Bridgerton!” Oh no.

In the opposite direction, an enthusiastic Sir Granville was heading towards them. Quick! Benedict cleared his throat. “Yes! Good idea, mother! Perhaps I shall!”

He could not face Sir Granville and his questions. Nor the knowledge that he knew what Benedict had done with her. He could barely face himself.

So he swiftly weaved his way past the crowds, finding sanctuary in an empty part of the Queen’s gardens, closed off to the public. No one should find him here. There was comfort in that particular thought. He did not have to face anyone or anything. Perhaps that was why Colin adored travelling so much. It’d certainly be much easier to avoid people he knew. Her.

He sat down on the cool stone bench and sighed into his hands. He could almost hear her calling him. Her damningly sweet voice disarming him. The call-“Benedict”- echoed in his mind. Goosebumps chased up his limbs. He shuddered at the memory of her fingers setting his skin alight as they danced their way up his chest. And then her lips on his neck, her hair tickling the side of his face. Her against the door. Her on top of him.

“Benedict.”

His eyes snapped open. Illusions of her faded. He ran his hands down his face with a sigh. He really needed to stop doing this. These ridiculously vivid hallucinations were really getting in the way of him living his life.

“Benedict.”

Did he just hear that right?

That did not sound like it was from his imagination.

Benedict removed his hands from his face and looked up. She stood there in the middle of the walkway, her pastel green dress blending in perfectly with the scenery, as if she could be one of the beautiful statues itself.

But he was not interested in further heartache. So he rose to his feet, about to walk away.

“Benedict. I want to talk to you.”

“I do not wish to hear it.”

“I know.”

He did not want to give her a reaction, knowing how much she would love to see him all riled up. But those two words drove him up the wall. They did the last time and they certainly did this time. Against his better judgements, Benedict snapped. “How’s your heart?” he asked, raising one arrogant eyebrow.

She blinked, unsure of what to say, unsure of what he meant.

“How’s your heart after breaking mine?” He snickered, stuffing one hand in his pocket, the other gesturing towards her. “You know I bet you’re fine. I bet you’re perfectly fine. This,” he gestured between them, “never meant anything to you. I don’t mean anything to you.”

“That’s-“

“Not true? Ha! Are you going to kiss me and then leave again?”

“I am leaving, Benedict,” she said quietly. “I won’t be here this time tomorrow so you don’t have to worry anymore.”

Benedict felt bad for the words that had just left his mouth. Almost immediately. Yes he never wanted to see or speak to her again but he never thought that would be the case. It was one of those nightmares that one had but never thought would come true until it did.

“Fine,” he shrugged, pretending not to care.

Y/N stared on, her gaze low. She had been selfish, a little too cruel. But she never thought he hated her. The whole time, she had been prepared to tell Henry to go on to Paris with Lord Wetherby while she stayed behind in London. It could always look like he went missing. She had been ready for all the consequences, the investigations. For Benedict, she would have done it. In that moment, if Benedict told her to stay, she would have.

But he never did.

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[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Discovering Christ Day by Day

by Donald S. Fortner

Leaning upon Her Beloved (Song of Solomon 8:5)

This is a picture of the church universal and of every believing soul. We are coming up out of the dark wilderness of this world, leaning upon Christ, the Beloved One of our hearts. While faith in Christ has nothing whatsoever to do with physical acts, physical posture, or physical movement, faith is described symbolically in Holy Scripture by many actions of the body.

Looking

Faith is looking to Christ and seeing him. He says, “Behold me, behold me...Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is none else.” Our Lord declares, “This is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him may have everlasting life.” Saving faith is looking to Christ alone for salvation, just like the perishing Israelites looked to the brazen serpent and were healed.

Coming

Faith is coming to Christ. — “He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” — “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” — “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.” Saving faith is coming to Christ, acknowledging him as Lord and trusting him as Savior. We come to you, our Savior, for pardon, for righteousness, for redemption, for life, and for acceptance with God. We have come to him. We are coming to him. And we shall come to him.

Fleeing

Faith is fleeing to Christ. We “have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us.” Christ “the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe.” Realizing that we were by nature children of wrath even as others, and knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ is God’s only appointed place of refuge for guilty sinners, we have fled, and ever flee to him! We venture our souls upon him, upon the merits of his blood and righteousness. We cast ourselves into his arms of power and grace, trusting Christ alone to save us. Saving faith is fleeing to Christ in hope of mercy.

Laying Hold

Faith is laying hold of Christ. Like a drowning man lays hold of the line thrown to him, we lay hold of Christ and cling to him.

Receiving

Faith is receiving Christ. — “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” It is not receiving Christ into the head that brings salvation, but receiving him into the heart. It is not receiving the doctrine of Christ that saves us, but receiving Christ himself. True faith receives the whole Christ, as he is revealed in Holy Scripture. We receive him in all of his offices: Prophet, Priest, and King. We receive Christ as our only acceptance with God. We receive him in preference to all others. And…

Leaning

Faith is leaning upon Christ. This is a richer, fuller, more intimate description of faith than we have seen before. When the believing soul is described as “leaning upon her Beloved,” faith is set forth as a loving, admiring, adoring confidence in Christ. Like a timid, frightened woman, passing through some strange and dangerous forest at night, would lean upon the strong arm of her faithful husband, the believer leans upon his beloved Redeemer. We lean upon Christ, because he has proven his love and faithfulness to us. We lean upon him, because he is mighty, able to save us and to preserve us from all harm. We lean upon him, because we are utterly helpless in ourselves.

Faith leans upon the Person of Christ for acceptance with God. Faith leans upon the righteousness of Christ for justification. Faith leans upon the blood of Christ for pardon and cleansing. We lean upon the fulness of Christ to supply all our needs. Every act of faith is, in its essence, just leaning upon Christ. In prayer, in worship, in praise, in service, we are simply leaning on our Beloved. All our hope before God, at all times and for all things, is the Lord Jesus Christ; so we lean upon him. Oh, may we evermore learn to lean heavily upon the Son of God. Go ahead, lean upon him. He can bear the weight.

Every hour of every day, And every moment and in every way, I’m leaning on Jesus; He’s the rock of my soul; I’m singing His praises wherever I go.