#oh how lovely to keep finding things like these to both lift my spirits and fill me with rage

[augment-techs]

[norrisainz33]

Champ || MV33

☆ summary: Max is chasing down another wdc while his partner is competing for gold at the olympics

☆ pairing: max verstappen x olympian!reader

☆ fc: ilona maher

☆ warnings: some haters and mildly suggestive but other than that none

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ynuser made a post

liked by maxverstappen1, usarugby, redbullracing, yourbff, and 65,123 others

ynuser: i’m on the road to paris 💙🏅🏉

view all 143 comments

user1: yes y/n/n!!! you are THAT girl

yourbff: THATS MY BEST FRIEND

maxverstappen1: an unstoppable force 💪🏻

verstappencom: try not to say goat challenge failed

user2: y/n master class incoming

yoursibling: beauty, brawn AND brains 😫

user4: every 4 years i get possessed by a bald eagle and find the patriotism i never had. USA USA USA LETS GO Y/N

maxverstappen1 made a post

liked by redbullracing, verstappencom, ynuser, danielricciardo, and 345,123 others

maxverstappen1: the grind never stops! getting in some final reps before y/n heads off to paris 💪🏻🏅

view all 345 comments

redbullracing: good luck at the olympics y/n!

user3: the way she’s lifting more than him,, iconic

user4: i’m foaming at the mouth something about the max gym pics get me

danielricciardo: hot

maxverstappen1: mate don’t talk about my partner like that

danielricciardo: max im talking about you

maxverstappen1: oh 🤭

ynuser: am i interrupting something?

user18: MAXIEL MAXIEL MAXIEL

ynuser: i’m going to miss you

maxverstappen1: bring me back that medal baby

ynuser: on it 💪🏻

redbullracing posted a video

view all comments

user14: max melts every time someone mentions y/n

user5: notice how his face lights up, oh he’s so down bad

user6: MAX IS SO WIFEY MATERIAL

user8: wife? what is he.. a girl?? like ik his gf looks like a man but? this is ridiculous redbullracing

user6: did you see the part where max got offended?? yeah i didn’t either gtfo of here

user9: user8 just because she’s strong doesn’t make her less feminine. good bye loser

user10: a man can be a wife stfu!! also y/n is perfect do not even try me

user12: MAX AND Y/N ARE BOTH GOING TO WIN TODAY I JUST KNOW IT

redbullracing: that’s the spirit! 💪🏻

user14: making one of these for my partner rn

user99: whoever made this - i love you

maxverstappen1 has made a post

liked by ynuser, redbullracing, charlesleclerc, verstappencom, and 674,441 others

maxverstappen1: great job today by the team and everyone back at the factory. huge win on the board to close out the first half of the season (featuring a very important radio conversation). see you all in zandvoort!

view all 894 comments

user24: max emilian the man that you are

charlesleclerc: congrats on p1 and for being the best olympic wife

maxverstappen1: thank you, i take my duties very seriously

user88: CHARLES

user55: lestappen crumbs

redbullracing: congrats on p1 max! that’s our world champion 💪🏻

landonorris: great race mate! we’ll keep up the battle in the second half 😉

maxverstappen1: we’ll see about that

ynuser: max 😭😭 you’re crazy i love you

maxverstappen1: i love you more

ynuser: not possible!

maxverstappen1 has made a post

liked by danielricciardo, charlesleclerc, carmenmundt, ynuser, redbullracing, logansargeant and 879,057 others

maxverstappen1: y/n y/l/n - olympic gold medalist, best player in the world, love of my life and soon to be wife

view all 1,435 comments

user44: WIFE RED ALEET WHAG DID HE HUST SAY

user99: THEY GOT ENGAGED?!?!

user65: Y/NMAX GIRLIES WE RISE

user88: when her teammates pointed him out in the stands and she almost fell to her knees (i’m sleeping in the road tonight)

redbullracing: congratulations on a hard fought win y/n 💙 the red bull fam is so proud

ynuser: my maxie, my world champ and my future husband 🤍

maxverstappen1: i love it when you’re possessive

landonorris: there are kids on this app

danielricciardo: YESSSS Y/N!! that’s our girl!

danielricciardo: p.s you gotta warn a man before you publicly announce things like this

charlesleclerc: no really max when were you going to tell us?

maxverstappen1: if you checked the group chat you would know

landonorris: daniel & charles there’s even photos in the gc 🤦‍♂️

user22: quick leak the photos lando im begging

ynuser made a post

liked by iamrebeccad, maxverstappen1, redbullracing, usarugby, danielricciardo, and 101,432 others

ynuser: i won gold in more ways than one! truly an unforgettable experience - congrats to the team and thank you to everyone who supported us on our journey. it looks like next olympic games i’ll be competing as y/n verstappen 🫶🏻🏅🇺🇸

view all 783 comments

iamrebeccad: making history!! so glad we got to celebrate with you 💙

ynuser: my love , i’m so glad you made it to paris 💙

redbullracing: we’ve got two world champions now 💪🏻

user22: and one of them is not named checo LOL

user53: i know that’s right!

maxverstappen1: incredible team and an incredible effort!

maxverstappen1: you have inspired me in more ways than i can even express, congratulations mrs. verstappen 😍🤍

ynuser: thank you for the endless support mr. verstappen 🥹

ynuser made a post

liked by maxverstappen1, iamrebeccad, carmenmundt, georgerussell63, yourbff, and 87,980 others

ynuser: when he flies out all the girlies to celebrate your success and your engagement 💅🏻🏅

tagged: carmenmundt, iamrebeccad, alexandrasaintmleux, lilymhe, lilyzneimer and maxverstappen1

view all 345 comments

user20: the most iconic girl group im so jealous

user22: i want to be their friend so bad 😭

alexandrasaintmleux: so happy for you mon coeur

iamrebbeccad: there’s no place i’d have rather been

lilymhe: i am your biggest fan

lilyzneimer: i love love and you

carmenmundt: thanks for inviting us maxverstappen1

user99: max flying out all her friends omg

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a/n: another installment of olympic reader. love the olympics, love rugby so had to put them together and i v much feel like max would support tf out of his strong olympic girly.

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© norrisainz33: please do not rewrite, translate, or copy any of my works posted here on to any other platform

[erosmutt]

　★　Haunted　⨟　D. Vader

⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀❝The odor fills my presence, of freshly dug grave and death and night . . . these things are her essence. Nocturnal mistress, spirit lover . . . you are lust incarnate. In the sweat of my bed, the eastern sky hints of dawning. Alone and awake but exhausted I lie . . . oh how I hate the morning.❞

﹙characters﹚︰ Darth Vader

﹙pairing﹚︰ Darth Vader x WIFE!LILITH!Reader

﹙synopsis﹚︰Abstinence had been no issue for Vader, that is until you. Ensnaring his mind was much easier than expected, and so the two of you wed. Now, all he can do is sit idly by and watch as you enchant him. His mind deteriorates day by day, and as many times as he's tried to pull away, you reel him right back in.

﹙content warnings﹚︰blasphemy, use of god, goddess, savior, and priestess, Vader and reader both have a god/goddess kink/complex, period sex + oral, menstrual cycle is referred to as a 'moon time,' Vader is surviving without his suit on, blue eyed Vader my love

﹙word count﹚︰1.5K

﹙notes﹚︰ Happy Birthday to my sweet girl, Aurora. ♱ BUY ME A COFFEE? ♱ This was released early on MY PATREON. If you don't want to wait for releases, consider subscribing! The support encourages me to write more and provide more content for you all! ─⠀⠀WRITTEN BY EROSMUTT 25.05.03

"You look like sin."

Vader stands in the doorway of your shared chambers, watching as you stand on the balcony, looking out at the fiery, suffocating landscape of Mustafar. On the railing beside you is a bowl of red cherries, and when you turn around to face him, the lacy black number hanging off your frame swishing with the movement, he can see the blood red juice staining your lips, fingertips, and running down your inner forearm. "Ah, my love," you lick your lips. "You've returned."

He nods, pulling off his gloves, exposing his cybernetic limbs to your gaze as he makes his way to the bed where he sets down the parts of his armor he's slowly shedding one by one. "Yet again. I take it Piett took good care of you in my absence, yes?" He asks, finally removing his helmet, putting it on the dresser, accidentally knocking over a bottle of your perfume that he quickly stands back up.

When he turns to you look at you, you're staring at him, unblinking. "Come here," he beckons, holding a hand out to you. You make your way over, and his large hands find your hips, pulling you flush against him. "It's been agony without you," you murmur as he leans down, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of your mouth, tasting the lingering essence of cherry. "I can only imagine," he murmurs back.

He can feel that you're in pain through the Force, and the very thought of you experiencing any sort of discomfort eats away at him. "What is troubling you, my love?" He places a hand over your womb. "Your moon time has arrived, hasn't it?" Before you can even respond, he sighs softly, his breath warm against your face, gently ruffling the hair framing your face. "The pain of the cycle is natural, and it shall pass."

You let out a soft moan of discomfort, your hand coming up to gently cup his cheek, your thumb caressing the raised, scarred flesh beneath it. "It shall pass," you repeat, pressing a soft kiss to his chin. "I've told you..." you step back, and he steps forward, "...you can take this away from me..." you take another few steps until you feel the duvet on the bed against the back of your legs. "...don't you want to rid me of this curse?"

A shiver runs down his spine, and he swallows, trying to keep himself in check. "Bringing a child into this world is not very--" he cuts himself off as you lift a finger, signaling for him to be quiet. You sit down on the bed and lay back, propping yourself up on your elbows, and he immediately gets into position on top of you, his enormous form dwarfing you and his weight making the mattress dip much further than it should.

"My goddess," he whispers, voice full of reverence as his deep blue eyes search your face. An amused smile graces your lips as he exhales shakily. You can see the battle going on within his mind. he wants you, and he wants you now. "How pathetic," you chide, pushing him off you and climbing on top of him. You move back and lean down, leaving a trail of kisses down his beautifully scarred, pale skin. Pathetic? How dare you call him - Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith - pathetic.

In a swift motion, he turns the both of you over once more. He stares down at you, his gaze filled with a primal, almost animalistic need. He pins you down to the bed, his body once more covering your own, his strength easily keeping you restrained. He leans down, his breath fanning against your face as he speaks. "You want to be dominant, is that it?" He growls, his grip on your wrists becoming bruising.

You huff out a soft, noiseless laugh. "You worship the ground I walk on," you retort. "And you worship me," he shoots back, his head dipping down to your neck, his lips nipping gently at your skin. He's in a playful mood now, enjoying the banter. "I am your god," he murmurs between soft kisses. His words alone prompt a moan from you, your back arching up off the bed. "Yes,"

Vader smirks against your skin, the sound of your pleasure like a melody to his ears. He moves down to your collarbone, his teeth grazing your flesh, leaving a trail of gentle bites in his wake. "You belong to me," he whispers, hands releasing your wrists to move to your hips. "Say it." "I'm yours," you whisper back. "You're my owner, my savior, my god." His ego swells, satisfaction rushing through him at your words. He moves lower, getting comfortable between your legs. "That's right, and you will wear my marks to prove it."

"Haa, keep talking," you say breathlessly, body writhing beneath him. Just his words are getting you off, and it's simultaneously the most pathetic and most arousing thing he's ever witnessed. "My little priestess, so eager," he coos, his fingers digging into the plush flesh of your thighs, pushing them apart and lifting them over his shoulders. "Every inch of you... from your flawless skin, to your quivering body, to your sweet pleas... it all belongs to me."

The metallic smell of blood and the musky scent of your arousal hits him, making him moan and nuzzle his face against the sticky, drying mess decorating your inner thighs. He absolutely adores when you free bleed - you make it so easy for him to worship you.

"Maker, you are vile," you whisper appreciatively, your arm coming to cover your face. He lets out a dry chuckle. "And yet, you are just as filthy." He murmurs before his mouth is on your sex, his tongue desperately working at your entrance. "Ohh-- filthy?" You ask. "Vile," he echoes. "Disgusting, corrupt, pathetic," he reiterates before going back to it, eating you out like a man starved. "I can't stand you," you moan, grinding your hips against his face. He smiles against you, pulling back for just enough air to taunt you. "Yes, you can, you adore me,"

Vader swallows before licking his lips, his eyes half lidded and trained on your glistening cunt. "Say my name," he murmurs, "the one I gave you permission to use." "Anakin," you moan, heels digging into his back. "Your god, my love," he smiles. You cry out, trying to move away from him, but to no avail. He has an iron grip on your thighs, and he presses his face against you further, his tongue delving into your hole, his nose pressed against your puffy clit. "Gods, I'm close,"

He's ruthless, his tongue relentless. He revels in the way you're writhing, and he wants nothing more than to see you come undone at his hand. "Cum for me, for your god," he growls, his voice rough. The effect of his words is almost immediate, and you arch your back up off the bed, hands tangling in the tousled sheets as you come undone, drenching his face in bloody release. He laps up the mess you've made in your pleasure, greedily cleaning you. He moans as he tastes you, savoring your essence. He rises to his knees, hovering over you. "Look at me," he commands.

You turn your head and open your eyes, cheeks flushed, eyes glistening with unshed tears of ecstasy. The lower half of his face is covered in a sticky mix of blood, saliva, and your release, and you can't help but admire the sight. "Look at you, love," he murmurs, "so beautiful, and you taste exquisite." Your cheeks flush a darker pink. "Stop," you whisper, no conviction in your voice. "Why should I? All I want to do is worship you, my goddess," he reaches out, his metallic fingers brushing against your soft skin in a gentle caress of patterns. "You're divine."

"Take me," you whisper, unable to take it anymore. Obliging, he climbs over you, leaning down and capturing your lips with his in a rough, brutal kiss, all tongue and teeth, his body pressing down on you, the entirety of his weight nearly suffocating. While the two of you kiss, your hands rest on his thick biceps while his hands fumble with the waistband of his underwear. His cock, thick and heavy, bounces free, hitting his stomach before settling intimidatingly against your sex.

Vader breaks the kiss, panting heavily as he presses his tip against your slick entrance, spreading precum into the mess. He takes your thighs and guides your legs to wrap around his waist. "Don't tempt me," you whisper, "because I won't let you back out." He can't help but shudder with part fear, part arousal at the threat, knowing that you're serious.

"Your body is a temple," he murmurs as his tip prods your hole, already starting to slip in with ease, "a temple of worship, worship of you," his chest heaves as he pushes himself inside, the squelching sound that accompanies his entrance making the warmth in his lower stomach churn quicker, "my lover, my mistress, my goddess," he sheathes himself inside your warm heat to the hilt, and he lets out a strangled groan, "in which I'll leave a gift, just for you."

♱ @102hannah ⋆ @addictedtohobi ⋆ @brooklynb8by ⋆ @sammonroesangel ⋆ @speaknow-sw ⋆ @judasprieist ⋆ @lacebird ⋆ @schizo-toddhoward ⋆ @necrobitcher

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♱ @cherriies-snake ⋆ @haydenslittlegirl ⋆ @espinathena-17 ⋆ @fallout-girl219 ⋆ @xhunnybeeex ⋆ @radiantvader ⋆ @urmomsgirlfriend1 ⋆ @hayden-christensen-verse ⋆ @dreamygirli3 ⋆ @awhhayden

[crowandmousewritingco]

The Correspondence of the Contagious

Pairing: Oberyn Martell x gn!reader x Ellaria Sand

Words: 1.4 k

Rating: G

Summary: Oberyn is away for a few days and illness comes to Dorne.

Author: Mod Mouse

Notes: This is one of my entries in @burntheedges Roll-A-Trope Challenge! This was so fun to write (and thanks to Mod Crow for the help!) Hopefully I'll have the other fic out next week.

My Dearest Viper, 

I hope the Northern kingdoms aren’t dimming your fiery spirit. I know you were hesitant to adventure so far away from your paramores, but I assure you we aren’t going anywhere. Soon you’ll return to the warm embrace of your land and your lovers. On your return we shall keep you in your room drinking and enjoying the company, filling us with as much pleasure as we could handle. 

Dorne is still quite warm despite the seasons changing. Ellaria and I have been spending our days basking in the sun while we still can. We even made up a nice lunch that we enjoyed under the lemon trees in the grove that you adore so much. Once we were full of delicacies (and a taste of each other) we followed the path through the Water Gardens. We look like pies straight from the oven with the amount of sun on our skins. But it was much needed for the both of us. 

Although something must have kicked up some retched pollen because Ellaria has been stuffed up since then. She insists she is okay (you know how stubborn she gets with this sort of affair), but after some well placed cuddles, she allowed herself some rest. That’s where she is right now. Snuggled up beside me as I write this to you. She’s as beautiful as always with her dark hair spread out like crow feathers on our shared pillows. I wish I could illustrate how beautiful she is. You would delight in the sight of her my dear as I am in this moment of time.

With plenty of rest and your herbal tea mix, she should be right as rain in a day or so. No need to worry your little Prince head about. I can handle our lover’s moods while you handle your duties. We shall see you in a fortnight. I shall pray to the Seven for your safety on your journey. 

Your Dove. 

My Dearest Viper,

I know politics have kept you busy so I hope this letter finds you well. At least in a better condition than our paramore. I fear that whatever illness has graced her body has stayed longer than the foreseen time. Her sniffling has turned into a cold. Poor thing has been coughing bouts that last several minutes. Diluted wine helps in the end but only after acquiring a sore throat. 

That wasn't the only thing she received from this illness. She has acquired a bit of a fever over the last few hours and her energy has lessened. But the Maester believes it’s just the bug that has been spreading throughout the castle. He has given her more herbal remedies and plenty of rest as her medication. 

I will continue to watch her with a careful eye. Once again she is resting beside me. Even in sickness she has my deepest love and adoration. I thank the gods every day that I get to be simply in her presence. 

When she wakes I shall see if she wants to spend some time on our balcony. The Maester said that sunlight would be a nice addition to her healing. Oh and I’ll have those berries brought from the kitchen for her to snack on. She was delighted when we went for our walk. They shall lift her spirit and body. 

I’m afraid my time with you is cut short my dear. Our lover stirs beside us. I will write to you once she finds slumber again. I hope the North is treating you as well as they can. 

Your Dove.

My Dearest Viper 

I pray to the Seven that you receive this letter. I’m afraid the sickness was much worse than anyone could have expected. Her fever is at an ultimate and she hasn’t eaten for a few days. The Maester claims that she will arrive on the other side of this pestilence mountain and I am hopeful too. But it’s hard to have reassurance when your lover shakes like the leaves in the wind. Pelts have been placed on her body but they do nothing to keep her from shivering. She sleeps like a princess with a spell placed on her. I rouse her only to eat and drink. 

I pray your journey will end soon so that your presence can heal her as much as mine. I didn’t want to raise your worry while you were away, but I’m scared. Less severe sickness has taken loved ones, and my soul is in an unrest. I wish for your strength my dear. You have an aptitude for these sorts of situations. 

I wish to keep writing to you, for I feel your presence in these words, but I fear I’ve run out of subjects to discuss. Please return soon my dearest Oberyn. 

Your Dove

What you didn’t tell Oberyn was that you were suffering the same ailments Ellaria was currently experiencing. Your fever was just as high as Ellaria’s and you clung together in sickness, bodies shaking in unison. The need for food seemed like a distant afterthought, and your stomach cramp every time you coughed. 

Ellaria whimpered and your head peaked up. You had tuned your senses to anything she might need during this time even if it meant ignoring your own needs. “My love, let me get you something to drink.” You weakly kissed your head as it took all of your energy to even sit up but you had to do this for her. 

You swung your legs over the sides. The wind felt cold against your bare skin despite the warm summer heat still lingering. Your breath seemed to struggle to enter your lungs, but you pushed yourself up. Ellaria needed you; your body be damned. Carefully your hands braced themselves on the wall. Using the rough texture as your guide, you shuffled your feet in slow deliberate steps. 

But the pestilence in your body had made you weak, for your legs could no longer hold your weight. As you felt yourself pitch forward a strong pair of arms was the only thing stopping you from hitting the ground. The sudden stoppage of momentum threw you off and you couldn’t make heads or tails of what just occurred.

A familiar voice filled the room. “My dove what are you doing out of bed?” You glanced up despite the pounding in your head. Oberyn looked down at your body with worry. Gently he situated you so you were sitting on the edge of the bed. 

“I thought…you’re here,” You said and the weight of the last days finally made themselves known. You teared up and Oberyn guided your weak head to his shoulder, letting your body rest against his chest. 

“I’m here dove,” He soothed your anxieties. Up and down your back his hands soothed your anxieties. He could feel the exhaustion in the way you held your body. You went to speak, but a coughing fit seized you instead. 

“Easy love,” Oberyn soothed, sitting you up slightly, holding your weakened body up. You whimpered as the coughs turned into labored breathing before calming down completely. 

“I-I thought you would never return,” You whispered as tears formed in your tired eyes. 

“My dove. I left the Northern kingdoms as soon as I heard of Ellaria’s ailment,” He reassured you gently brushing your hair from your sweaty forehead. “Those clever ravens still found me. Why didn’t you tell me you were ill too?” 

Tears streamed down your hot cheeks, and with a gentle swipe of his thumb, Oberyn rid of them. “I-I…I was so worried about Ellaria.” 

“Shhh none of that now. I know you were so brave my dearest, but now let me care for my paramores,” Oberyn kissed your forehead before gently laying you back alongside Ellaria. 

Just like you had done for the last several days, you curled up beside her touching your fevered heads together. Oberyn arranged the blankets back into place. He turned around and grabbed the washcloths from the nearby water basin, wringing the excess water. With a gentleness unusual to such a warrior, he placed the cloths, one on Ellaria’s forehead and then one on yours. 

You sighed at the cooling relief of the water, and you felt your eyes drooping the weight of handling this alone dissipating. A gentle hand caressed your cheek. “Rest now my dove. I’m here now,” Oberyn whispered, leaning down to kiss your chapped lips. With your safety net here, you finally let yourself relax as a much needed sleep consumes your consciousness.

All Works Taglist

@for-a-longlongtime @romanarose

Pedro Character Taglist

@littlemisspascal @burntheedges

@carusolikey @thebeldroramscal

@morallyinept @lady-bess

@pedrostories @rivnedell

@pascalsanctuary @readingiskeepingmegoing

Thanks to the lovely @saradika-graphics for the dividers!

[jinxedbychaos]

Echoes of Insanity Ch. 2

Bound by Chaos

No summary as I'm not good with those

Jinx (Powder) x Twin sister

Past-

Playing by the canals of Zaun, I chase after Powder, her laughter coming out as she zigzag around me, trying to stay just out of reach. The clouded water glistens in the dull light, the distant sound of Zaun's factories a familiar sound in our daily lives. Vi sits on a rock nearby, her eyes never leaving us, a small smile on her face as she observes.

vi's in charge while our parents are at work, and even though she tries to put a tough front, she cares about keeping us safe.

Suddenly, Powder darts behind me, determined to catch up to me. I try to run faster, but my foot catches on a rock hidden in the dirt. making me fall to the ground. pain stings through my knees as I land hard, scraping them raw. tears start to fall off my eyes, and I can't help but let out a chocked sob.

Powder gasps, immediately scared that she might have hurt me. "Ash! I-I didn't mean to, I was just tryin to catch you!" She speaks in a shaky, panicked voice.

Vi already besides us "It's okay, Pow. Accidents happen" Vi says, glancing at her, then back at me with a reassuring smile. "besides some scraped knees wont stop Ash, right Ash?"

you sniffle, wiping away the tears and nodding slowly. Vi grabs a piece of tissue out of her pocket an gently starts cleaning the blood off my knees. She leans in blowing some air on the scrapes like our mom does when we get hurt. "See? all better".

Powder shuffles closer, still looking guilty. She reaches for my hand, her lip quivering. "I'm sorry, Asha. I didn't mean to…" Her eyes shiny with unshed tears, and i can see how guilty she feels.

i squeeze her hand, giving her a small, watery smile. "I-it's okay , powder" I mumble, trying to reassure her. feeling a little more steady now that Vi's taken care of me.

Vi stands and offers her hand to us. "come on, why don't we go home. I'll teach you a new game on the way" she says with a smile, her tone light, trying to lift our spirits.

I grab her hand, already feeling the excitement bubbling inside me at the thought of learning something new from Vi, Powder clings to the other hand.

The scrape on my knee long forgotten, as I follow my sisters, even in the bad times, being together makes everything feel just right again. Vi squeezes our hands, pulling us gently along, and I can't help but feel safe and loved, all the pain fading away under the warmth of their presence.

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

Present-

Vi uncovers a large garbage pipe hidden in the ground and quickly scans the area for enforcers.

"Oh, man, not again! I just got this shirt-" Mylo whines, but he's cut off as Vi shoves him into the pipe with a swif kick. Claggor follows, then Powder and me, with Vi coming last.

We slide through the dirty, narrow pipe, letting out startled yelps as we descend. At the end, we tumble into a pile of garbage in an underground disposal area.

"Thought last time was the last time we were gonna do this." Mylo grumbles, pulling a piece of trash out of his hair.

"Well, this time's the last time." Vi replies

"Guys, what was that? What the hell happened back there?" Claggor ask, still looking a bit shaken.

everyone suddenly turn to face powder and me. surprised by the accusation, we both try to defend ourselves.

"We didn't do anything!" Powder blurts out. "We didn't touch anything!" I quickly add.

"you could fill a damn library with all the things you didn't do" Mylo snaps, glaring at us.

Just as I'm about to fire back, Vi cuts in.

"Guys, we just emptied a Piltover penthouse right under the enforcers' noses" She climb out the pile of garbage "so, if you're done beating yourselves up, let's get this home"

We walk thtough the dimly lit disposal area until we find a trapdoor in the ceiling Vi drags some boxes with the help of Claggor an climb up, pushing the door open. she helps Powder and me out first, Then follows.

We step out onto the streets of Zaun, unaware of the two boys following us. As we pass by a boy casually rolling a barrel back and forth with his foot, he smirks. "nice haul?" he asks.

"you could say that" Mylo replies, looking smug.

Vi shoot Mylo a disapproving glare.

"I heard there was some action across the river" the boy continues, flipping a coin between his fingers.

"is that so?" Vi replies, about to move on, but two boys suddenly appear in front of us, blocking the way.

"But now you're, you're tracking this mess of yours through my streets." the boy says

"your streets? what makes you think-" Vi starts to snap, but Claggor quickly interrupts

"listen, we don't want any trouble, okay?" Claggor says, trying to defuse the situation.

One of the boys smirks "hear that, Deckard? They don't want any trouble."

"you know, in my experience trouble finds you" Deckard say, signaling toward Vi. "There's no reason this has to get ugly. How about you share a little taste of your treasure there, and we'll call it even?"

"No, no, no We worked to hard to-" Mylo starts, but Vi cuts him off, placing a hand on his shoulder before stepping forward to face Deckard.

Taking the bag off her shoulder, Vi asks "just a taste?"

"just a taste-" Deckard begins, but before he can finish, Vi swing the bag into his face, knocking him to the ground.

I jump, startled, and I can feel Powder do the same. suddenly, Vi tosses the bag at us, Powder grabbing it.

"huh" Mylo and Claggor grunt in unison, snapping into action and getting ready to fight.

Deckard groans and pushes himself up, his expression turning fierce. one of his friends rushes to Mylo, shoving him to the ground and starts landing punches.

Powder and I watch in shock, taking a few steps back, trying to distance ourselves from the chaos.

Claggor quickly moves in, shoving the boy off Mylo, but on the other side, deckard lunges at Vi, throwing wild punches. She fights back, each hit landing with brutal force.

Powder and I stand frozen, watching in horror as the fight unfolds. I see Powder fall to the ground, sitting back in fear.

Claggor punches one of the man in the face, throwing him back. he crashes to the ground right in front of us, his eyes locking onto ours and then the bag. Panic floods through me, and I grab Powder's arm "Run" I shout. Powders puts the bag around her and we run down an alley, the thug chasing after us.

back in the street, Vi, Claggor and Mylo are still fighting. unaware that we've taken off. Vi manages to knock Deckard to the ground, while Claggor is shoved against a wall. He grabs a handful of dirt and throws it to the face of the thug. The boy stumbles, and Claggor takes the opportunity to bring him down.

Meanwhile, Mylo is struggling beneath another thug, taking punch after punch. Vi rushes to his aid, grabbing a wooden plank and smashing it over the guy's head, knocking him out cold. the three of them stand, bruised but victorious, ready to leave the scene.

As they begin to walk away, Deckard, clutching his side, stumbles to his feet and pulls out a knife. "wait!" he says in pain.

Vi turns around, stepping closer to him. she leans down, staring him dead in the eyes. "wanna se how that ends?" she asks, her voice low and dangerous.

Deckard meets her gaze but says nothing, staggering back as he decides against pushing further.

Vi straightens up and glances around, realizing something "Where's Powder and Ash?" she asks her voice tense.

Meanwhile, Powder and I sprint through the narrow alley, not daring to look back, our breath coming in ragged gasps as we keep running, fear driving us forward.

We threw some crates in the way, desperately trying to slow the boy chasing us. "Oh! You little…" he grunted as he stumbled but kept running.

We darted through the cluttered alley, our breath heavy and frantic. When we reached a dead end blocked by boxes, we quickly hide behind a wall, trying to quiet our panting. Powder clutched the bag tightly, just we it seems like the boy might turn the other way. we accidentally knocked over a wooden plank.

"No, no, no, no!" I whispered, trying to grab the plank before it fell but it hit the ground with a loud bang.

Making the boy tur toward the noise.

Panic flooded me as I searched for any scape. Powder, clutching Mouser, quickly started loading it with nails, her hand shaking. A few nails falling to the ground. "Come on, Mouser, I need you!" she whispered urgently, her voice trembling.

I glance back at her, heart pounding, as she throws Mouser toward the boy's feet. We both held our breath, watching, hopping for a miracle. The parts turning and clicking together… then pink smoke burst out with a small pop.

disbelief crossing our face as the makeshift bomb failed. The boy smirked and started walking toward us, his eyes locked onto the bag.

We back away scared, our backs hitting the railing. In a split second decision, I unclipped the bag from Powder and I throw it into the river, the boy goes to grab it but fails and watches as the bag sinks.

As the boy is distracted, I grab my sister's hand and we bolted, weaving through the alleys, running as fast as we could until we finally reached the meeting spot. Vi, Claggor and Mylo were already waiting for us.

"Powder! Ash!" Vi called out when she saw us, and we ran straight to into her arms, hugging her tightly.

"Where's the bag?" Mylo ask, looking around, concern quickly filling his face as he realized it wasn't with us. Vi glanced at us too, frowning.

Still catching my breath, I stutter "He… he was following us" "He was going to catch us." Powder ads.

"I-i threw it into the river." i say with guilt.

"You did what?!" Mylo yelled, his frustration boiling over.

"we're sorry" Powder and I say in unison, both of us felling the weight of our mistake. Powder looked down, her voice small as she speaks "I tried to stop him with Mouser, but… it didn't work."

"Who saw that coming?" Mylo shots back, putting his arm up.

"doesn't matter. The stuff's gone" Vi interrupted "at least least you two are okay" she said softly, putting a hand on our shoulders.

Vi walks over to the building's door and pushes it open.

"Okay? what about us?" Mylo complained. "I get my face bashed in, and the just get a pass?" He continues as well all stepped inside.

"yup" Vi replies flatly, closing the door behind us.

We crowded into the old elevator. Vi lowered the lever, turning the flickering lights on as we began our descent into the Undercity.

Powder and I leaned against the railing, the weight of guilt heavy on our shoulders. Mylo still fuming.

"Every time" Mylo grumbled, glaring at us "Every time they come, something goes wrong." he pointed at our direction "They just jinx every job"

Powder and I are about to defend ourselves when Vi cuts in.

"Just drop it Mylo" Vi says, starring straight ahead as the elevator slower to a stop. The doors cracked open, and she pulled her hood up, stepping out into the streets of the Undercity.

We follow her, weaving through the crowded streets filled with vendors and people. At one of the stalls, Mylo steals some fruit from a sleeping merchant, stuffing it into his pocket with a smirk.

we continued down the streets until we reached The Last Drop. without a word Vi pushes the door open, and we all slipped inside.

✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪

Ch. 1 - Ch. 3

There should be another chapter by Sunday.

Don't forget to leave likes and to repost

[swiftiethatlovesf1]

A race for love p.29

Hii guyss, I hope you enjoy this part. If you've missed part 28 or the other parts you can find them on my masterlist :)

Formula 1 is all about speed, but in this story, the real race isn't just on the track. Read on to find out who will win the ultimate race for your heart

The months since the F2 gala had passed in a blur, filled with endless coursework, exams, and late nights at the library. You had thrown yourself into your degree, determined to finish strong, but that didn't mean you lost touch with the people who mattered most. Between study sessions, you still made time for chats with your friends and, of course, Franco.

McLaren had been having an incredible season, which meant your dad was in high spirits. Every time you talked to him, he couldn't hide his excitement about the team's progress, and you loved seeing him so happy. The success of the team also meant that the paddock was going to be an even more exhilarating place to return to once the school year was over.

One of the biggest highlights of the past months had been Oliver's opportunity to drive for Ferrari back in March. The moment you found out, you had called him immediately, congratulating him on the incredible achievement. He had sounded both excited and nervous, but you reassured him that he would do great. He had also let you in on another piece of news—he had been talking to a girl for a while now.

"You're serious?" you had asked, grinning through the phone. "That's amazing, Ollie! I'm so happy for you."

His tone had been bashful but pleased. "Yeah, it's been going well. I think you'd like her."

Franco, of course, had been over the moon when you told him. "Finally," he had said, his grin smug. "Maybe now he'll actually leave you alone."

Despite Franco's teasing, things had been great between you two. With your busy schedules, you hadn't been able to see each other as much as you wanted, but you made up for it with long calls and messages whenever you had the chance. He had been supportive through your finals, constantly reminding you how proud he was of you.

And now, at last, it was over. School was officially done. The weight of assignments and deadlines was finally lifted from your shoulders, and you could breathe freely again.

Which meant one thing—you were finally going back to the paddock.

The excitement bubbled in your chest as you packed your bags, knowing that soon, you'd be back in the familiar world of racing. You had missed the energy, the thrill of it all. Your return to the paddock was long overdue, and you couldn't wait to see what was waiting for you there.

The familiar hum of the paddock filled the air as you stepped into the McLaren motorhome, a smile tugging at your lips. The energy of Monaco was always electric, but there was something about being back in the heart of the F1 chaos that made you feel truly at home.

Before you could take another step, you heard your name being called. Turning around, you were immediately greeted by Oscar, who pulled you into a quick hug. "Finally! Back where you belong," he teased.

Lando wasn't far behind, grinning as he approached. "She disappears for months and then just waltzes back in like she owns the place."

You rolled your eyes playfully. "Well, someone had to focus on their degree. Not all of us get paid to drive really fast in circles."

Lando feigned offense. "Excuse you, I just won a race."

"I know, I know," you groaned dramatically, placing a hand on your chest. "I'm a terrible friend. But congratulations again, I was screaming at my laptop when you crossed that finish line."

Lando grinned proudly. "You should've been there! I needed someone to keep me humble."

You laughed. "Oh, don't worry, I'll make up for it this weekend. But let's be honest, you should have won ages ago."

Lando put a hand over his heart dramatically. "You wound me. You weren't even there to see it."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I was too busy being a responsible student. But look at me now, back in the madness."

Oscar leaned against the counter, smirking. "And now that school is over, what exactly are your plans for the summer?"

You shrugged, a playful glint in your eyes. "Follow the F1 chaos and the people in it, obviously."

Lando chuckled. "Sounds like a solid plan. Wouldn't want you to miss any more history-making moments."

"I'll do my best," you said, grinning. "Now, where can I get a drink around here? I need to properly settle back into the paddock."

As the conversation continued, you couldn't help but feel a wave of excitement wash over you. The summer was just beginning, and something told you it was going to be one to remember.

Tag list: @hs2016, @a-beaverhausen

Next part

[ruayiri]

Could you do the Sumeru boys hc for when the reader is sick with like the flu (if you don’t wanna do all of them can you do kaveh or alhaitham, maybe do them together?)

Wholesome, cavity inducing, tooth-rotting fluff

Fem reader x sumeru Bois!

Tighnari

Knows before you do. He could practically smell your sore throat during the night while you were fast asleep, cuddled up in his arms. He takes full precautions. Rubs and ointment on your throat and under your nose to prevent any nasal blockage since he knows you hate it when your nosey is clogged. He starts a soothing incense to ensure you get a restful sleep. He burrito wraps you in an extra blanket, all during the night and cuddles you till morning. Grumbling all night long about how he needs to keep a closer eye on you now. But don't worry he loves it. 10/10 would make you feel like you were never sick to begin with.

Cyno

Oblivious fool number 1. Had no idea you were sick until he found you passed out with a high ass fever in the middle of the living room. And then, panic. Panic to the max. He thought you were dying and immediately brings you to the hospital. Despite his intellect, he's very dense sometimes. After the doctor tells him it's a mild flu, he calms, but then he's furious. "You've been sick for days and didn't tell me? When did you start keeping things from me, my love?" Then comes the emotional blackmailing. Of course he spoils you rotten with comfort food, cuddles and terrible jokes that somehow still make you snort even when you're brain isn't really functioning enough to understand them. 6/10 for being a dense fool at first, but he's cute and corny and doesn't let you feel bad about being sick because of his horrible jokes.

Alhaitham

Oblivious fool number 2. He'd noticed you were acting a little unusual, a little more sluggish than normal. But thought nothing of it and dismissed it as you being on your monthly or something. Oh boy was he wrong. It wasnt until he came home one evening, fully expecting his hug and kiss at the door, to find the house hauntingly quiet. He calls out to you once, twice. And when he heard your quiet, meek little greeting he finally understood. Instead of feeling bad about not realising that you were sick, he starts scolding you for not telling him. "Were you expecting the spirit of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata to come and tell me that you were suffering? Honestly, I thought you were smart enough to realise when to take breaks, but no. It appears we need to go over basics, again." He's like a fussy mother hen with a dash of drunken denial. Like he'll give you a scolding of your life time but also kiss your cheeks and hold you in his arms while spoon-feeding you. 6/10, love the princess treatment, but tone down the motherly nagging for the love of God.

Kaveh

Mother hen x10. He knows the moment you let out a sigh deeper than usual. He'll hover over you for a good few hours and just watch you closely for anything to prove his paranoia and when you do, he's fussing. Not the annoying disappointed mother kind of fussing, but the sentimental girlfriend kind of fussing. "Are you warm enough? Your throat hurts? Oh my sweet dear, stay still, I'll be right back with your soup! You don't need to lift a finger, I'll take care of you okay?" His hands are shaking the entire time, and he's dropped more than a few dishes in the process but that's okay. It's the thought that counts. He's trying his best okay? Just lay back and let him smother you in affection and love, only to get sick himself the next day so now both of you are cuddled up together, and sick. Overall 9/10 because he's just so sweet and loving.

[goofyahhcitrus]

I accidentally made a long post, so I shall put it under this cut to keep your FYP or whatever looking demure and cute-core.

This is straight from my heart, by the way. I can't use words very good, and I'm young, so I may not understand everything yet, but I'm trying, y'know?

I like the smell of outside

I love the smell of dirt

of leaves

of flowers, both thriving and dying

of sunshine

of the sea

of animals

even the smell of death is nice in some ways. The way the smells of life and the smell of death swirl and dance in a state of equilibrium is perfect. Exactly as it is supposed to. Both can be overwhelming, but together they make sense.

I love the feeling of outside

I love the feeling of grass on the bottom of my feet and between my toes

of the sun hitting my back, warming my body and spirit

of the fur of an animal, either soft or coarse, smooth or matted

of water rushing past and against me, brushing my legs, surrounding me

of dirt, soft and moist

of the rough bark of a tree older than I

of my aching body after living to the fullest, after using my body for its intended purpose

of the sting from scratches and cuts

of living

I love the sound of outside

I love the sound of the wind rustling the leaves of a tree

of animals chittering and calling and crying

of the waves

even in the quietest places, there is always sound.

I love how nature looks. I love how life is always there, it is always there to comfort you. No matter how hard it is, no matter what malevolent forces surround you, there is always something out there, neither good nor bad, to help. Life can bring you down just as easily that death can lift you up.

I love life, I love everyone and everything that lives, and I wish everyone can love nature how it loves them. Nature isn't against anyone, it's just the way of life. If anyone going through something does happen to see this, I wish you the best, and I am going to tell you to go for a walk. It can be around your neighborhood, in a nature trail, just in some forest, whatever. Don't do it to distract yourself, no no no. I want you to observe. Look, listen, feel, smell, maybe taste (if it's safe). Find something good about life. Find a reason to stay here, find inspiration, find courage, just... don't leave everything behind. No matter how bad it gets, no matter what caused it, don't go. Survival is hard, and you have to persevere. I am not trying to be corny, I am not trying to say something you've probably heard a million times, I am saying that if you can't find a reason to stay where you are now, find a new place to look for good things. Even if you can't physically leave where you are for whatever reason, even then, watch the sky, watch the grass, watch the trees, there's always something.

Oh man I went on a rant. You can reblog if you want, I encourage it. Just listen, one last thing.

...

If you hit rock bottom, there's only way to go (on the Y axis, at least). Even one step up is enough. If the way your path is leading you is bringing you to a worse place, maybe remove the blinders and look around. :]

If you're feeling extra super duper bad, maybe this picture will help

Look at him go! I named him Jeremiah Lovelock Jimbloo McSillyman, but you can give him a different name. :3

[rjthirsty]

Based off the otome game Ikemen Prince, I've created an AU where the princes are (mostly) female, and MC is male. Several character names have been changed to suit their new gender (notes will be provided), and lore has been altered to work with the new setting and my accompanying headcanons. Tags: Angst and Fluff, Violence, Sexual Themes You can find the masterlist for this series here. You can also find the full fanfic on my ao3, along with a full list of tags. The entire fic is roughly 100,000 words through 30 chapters, making it 3.5k words per chapter on average (8-10 pages in a standard novel).

Chapter 14 - Things Left Unsaid (IkePri AU)

Over the next several days, gossip seemed to reach an all time high about Princess Leanne’s peculiar behavior around the palace. She had been discovered in various locations napping with a book in her lap. Each time it came up, the place she was found seemed more ridiculous than the last - the faction’s office, the grand entrance, then the kitchens.

Today, Leanne sat against a wall in the training hall, quietly studying the pages of a book. She looked entirely out of place while the air around her was filled with spirited yelling and the clang of weapons striking from the soldiers that were training hard. She seemed completely unaware of the pointed looks that both Leni and Jean were giving her. Her head occasionally slowly dipping and then jerking back up as a noise would shake her from the sleep that tried to claim her.

“Ugh, that’s enough, already! How am I meant to concentrate, Leanne?!” Yves snatched the book out of Leanne’s hands, and at last she looked up to see Yves leveling a glare at her.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Yves?” Her eyes went from his frown to her book he was holding. “I’m trying to read here. Could you give that back?”

Yves lifted the novel over his head out of Leanne’s reach. “I don’t suppose you noticed we’re in the middle of training?! I don’t care if you want to read, but do it somewhere else!”

“Yeah, but if I read anywhere quiet, I’ll fall asleep, so I don’t have much choice.” Leanne held out her hand in a request for the book to be returned, not making any other move to take it back. “I figured everyone’s so noisy out here that it might just be enough to keep me awake, yeah?”

Yves faltered. He brought the book down from over his head, and for a moment looked like he might return it. “Yeah– no!” Suddenly he clutched the book to his chest, once again out of Leanne’s reach. “Leanne, you’re our leader, and that means you have obligations to fulfill!”

“Now, now, Yves, there’s no need to grump like that.” Jean joined in, setting a hand on Yves’ shoulder. “Hey, Leanne, are you reading that for Emmit?”

“Yeah. I want to learn to like the things he likes.” She said easily and innocently, like it was the most natural desire in the world.

“So that’s how it is,” Jean smiled and rested a hand on her chest, covering her heart. “Ahh, I’m touched. I like a young woman ready to put in the extra effort.”

“Shut up, Jean.” Yves snapped. “Listen, Leanne, are you…” he trailed off, his eyes sliding away from Leanne. “I mean, well… How do I put this?”

Leanne watched as Leni wandered closer to their group. Jean’s smile grew into a grin at Yves struggling to find the words.

“Are you so focused on Emmit as a friend? Or is it, well, you know…” Yves looked incredibly uncomfortable even attempting to insinuate anything other than friendship between the two of them.

“Do you love him?” Leni asked plainly.

“Do you want to sleep with him?” Jean went straight to the carnal.

“Hey, hey!” Yves yelled, looking shocked the other two could be so blunt. “Leni, that’s too direct! And Jean, you can take a long walk and come back when you’ve cleaned up your mind!”

“I love him. I want to sleep with him.” Leanne answered with a placid expression.

Yves and Leni gave a start, their eyes growing wide and mouths hanging open. Jean’s eyebrows went up and her grin deepened. “Oh?”

Leanne burst into rich laughter. “So that’s how you’d react if I really meant that, huh?”

Beauty’s Time was slowly losing petals as the flower bloomed, counting down the days until a final decision needed to be made. More than half of its petals now sat discarded at the bottom of the display.

Emmit had been busy at work with his task as Belle. Suriyel had arranged for him to spend a day with each member of the royal family, following them through their official duties and activities. Over the last week, he had been busy from sunrise to sunset getting to know the prince and princesses and pouring through study materials when he wasn’t otherwise engaged.

Today, he was in a meeting with Suriyel in her office. She periodically held check-ins with Emmit to be certain he was getting the experiences he needed to uphold his duty as Belle. It was her job, after all, as the King’s Regent, to make sure he was well acquainted with the royal family, and armed with the knowledge he needed to make his choice.

“I see.” Suriyel recounted. “So you have reached out to each individual candidate, and listened to them tell you about their beliefs. Those captious–”

“Those captious siblings can’t have been easy to deal with!” Rina suddenly popped into my line of sight, interrupting Suriyel and looking cross for a moment. Then she beamed at me, bouncing over as she exclaimed, “You’re amazing, Emmit– but then, I always knew that! I’m so proud of you!”

I glanced at Suriyel to see if she was as surprised as I was to see Rina there, Suriyel smiled her usual proper and polite smile that still gave me shivers.

“Ahh, you really knew what you were doing when you chose Emmit to be Belle, Mistress!” Rina turned to look at Suriyel now that she was at my side.

Suriyel regarded our new arrival. “I will accept your praise, Rina. Now, tell me… what exactly are you doing here?”

“Good question! What AM I doing here? I don’t even remember.” Rina shrugged. “It’s like I just unconsciously gravitate to wherever Emmit is. But that’s love for you, I guess.” She took hold of my arm, hugging it and leaning her head against me.

Suriyel let out a noise of discontent. “...Hmph.” I had to try really hard to keep my jaw from dropping, I pressed my lips together as I looked from Suriyel to Rina, amazed that there was a person that could get the better of Suriyel.

Rina glanced up at me, “So, Emmit… have you decided yet who you’re going to pick to be the next on the throne? Am I right in thinking you’re going to pick Princess Leanne?”

“Uh… what makes you think that?” I tried to step away from Rina. She had always been cuddly, but it still felt awkward when she’d continue the contact longer than necessary.

“Well, you’ve spent the most time with her, and you two always seem to have fun when you’re together.”

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at her. “How… often are you… You know what? Nevermind that. Leanne has fun with everyone, she’s just that kind of person. And she has been nice enough to teach me things and help me out and guide me around the palace– but that’s all it is.”

That’s all it is. She has just been supportive.

Rina’s bright blue eyes stared up at me, and suddenly I felt uneasy and guilty like I had just lied to my best friend. It was different lying to myself, I could internalize the guilt and resentment. But I also knew I couldn’t speak the truth here. It wouldn’t be appropriate to explain how much I had enjoyed the time I spent with Leanne. It would look like I was letting my personal feelings sway my decision on who could bring Rhodolite the greatest prosperity and brightest future. And I was certain that wasn’t the case at all.

Leanne was amazing on her own no matter how I felt about her. I had witnessed her turn many situations around into something that brought more joy to the people around her rather than the dismay that could have occurred.

Unlike Chevalier… who killed all those people.

I tried to shake the thought from my head. Chevalier had her reasons and ambitions. Just because we didn’t align didn’t mean she was wrong for the actions she took.

I’m just not sure it’s the right path for Rhodolite right now.

“In other words, you have not yet fully determined who you wish to choose. Is that correct?” Suriyel asked.

“Yes, it is.” I admitted.

I knew that Beauty’s Time wouldn’t bloom forever, and that I needed to make my decision before the final petal fell. I also knew that with everything going on with Obsidian, the sooner I chose the next leader, the better. The longer Rhodolite was without a crowned ruler, the more dangerous it was for the whole kingdom.

But I still hadn’t cemented my choice in the matter. It was a big decision, one that needed to be fully considered to every extent possible. I was ready to dedicate the rest of the time I had here to weighing the possible futures to come. I had all the information I needed, I just needed to give it enough thought that I was sure, beyond a doubt, that my answer would be the best course for Rhodolite’s future. Because I wanted what was best for the country. I wanted this place to continue to be a place I loved.

The day was quickly fading into evening, pinks and orange giving way to purples and blacks as night approached. I began wandering through the gardens earlier in the day before the sun had started to set, but now with night coming soon I made my way back to the palace fearing that if I ended up in the gardens at night I might not find my way in the dark.

Unfortunately, I had been dedicating a lot of my thoughts to the future of Rhodolite, and hadn’t been paying as much attention to which turns I had made through the vast greenery. Peering down the heavily foliaged paths at another junction, I tried to remap my route in my mind, but my eyes caught sight of something peculiar.

Is that…

I took a path that was clearly leading me further into the gardens, the roses growing so thick that the scent was almost dizzying. Among this landscape of flowers and brambles, beauty and thorns, I found Leanne sitting on the ground, leaning against a column with her eyes shut and a book in her lap. She was sleeping peacefully, her expression gentle and relaxed.

I glanced back the way I came, wondering how far the palace was from where we were. I was loath to wake her, but I also wasn’t about to leave her outside all night long. Almost without thinking, I moved closer and knelt down beside her, admiring her delicate features that were made even more soft by the shadows that blanketed her as night rolled in.

Something stirred in my heart, and for a brief moment I entertained the idea that I might be able to see her sleeping face in the early morning light rather than the evening sunset.

Impossible, Emmit. Don’t be silly.

That sweet warmth that had started to grow a second ago was replaced by pain as I crushed the idea, refusing to let myself give into such a far-fetched fantasy. I bit my bottom lip and closed my eyes, willing my heart to harden.

I can’t give this feeling room to grow.

Taking a slow and steady breath, I opened my eyes and found Leanne’s amber gaze aimed at me. With a small start, I jerked backwards at the surprise of her suddenly being awake, nearly falling over. Her rich, hearty laughter filled my ears as she burst into a guffaw at my reaction.

“Leanne!” I shouted, grabbing at my chest with one hand. The fright had sent my heart racing and I didn’t need an additional reason for it to be pounding so painfully. “You startled me!”

“Good morning to you too, Emmit.” Leanne managed to huff between her fading chuckling. “Oh, wait– judging by the colors of the sky, I guess it’s good evening.”

“Were you even asleep?”

“Yeah. But I heard someone approaching and it woke me up.”

You were awake the whole time I was staring at you?!

There was absolutely no way I was schooling my face to keep the horrified embarrassment I was feeling off of it.

Please, let a hole just swallow me up right now.

“Okay, hey, I have some good news for you.” She was grinning amusedly, and while I appreciated the topic change, I wasn’t about to forget this feeling, or how blazingly hot my cheeks were at this moment.

“News for me?” I asked cautiously.

“Yeah. I finally finished reading this.” Leanne tapped the cover of the book in her lap, her smile smug.

Oh my god, you’re so proud and that’s so cute.

“That’s really something, Leanne! So, what did you think?” I dropped down from my knees to sit next to her. 

“The ending really got me. You know the part when he saw his love, and thought she was dead, and drank the poison? Even I couldn’t put it down.” She was animated as she spoke about it, and I felt a warmth growing in my heart. It felt really good to have someone enjoying the same things I did. It felt even better because it was her.

“Yes! That scene is so tragic, but so beautiful, too! And it really wouldn’t have had the same impact if not for his desperate monologue as he lamented about his lost love.”

“Yeah, I liked it, too. Hmm. I just read it, what was it…” Leanne appeared thoughtful for a moment, then the words began to fall from her lips.

“‘Eyes, look your last.’” She set her warm, glimmering eyes on me. “‘Arms, take your last embrace. And lips, o you, the doors of breath’...” Her voice was velvety and sumptuous, and I forgot to breathe as it dipped to a murmur. “‘Seal with a righteous kiss’...”

Her amber-gold gaze held me captive, and I stared into those endless pools. I hadn’t even realized she had leaned in closer, but her breath was pouring over my lips, heating them. Time seemed to stop completely, and all I could think was that I didn’t want this moment to end.

“Hey, Emmit?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you let all the ladies get this close with a few lines from a book?” Her eyes wavered.

“Sorry,” I whispered. “I was just… really impressed by how well you remembered the lines. And you have such a great voice for it, too…”

Suddenly, Leanne drew back, glancing away. I felt like the spell I was under retreated with the distance she put between us. I quietly gasped in a breath and silently sighed while I watched her.

“Hmm. I appreciate the compliments.” When she turned towards me again, she was smirking mischievously. “Still, I hope you don’t space out like that if someone else tries that on you, like Jean. Or Jean. Or Jean…”

“Or maybe even Jean, huh?” I snickered and Leanne nodded in agreement.

“You’ll have to watch out for her.”

“I think I’ve managed well enough so far. Besides, there’s not much longer left on Beauty’s…” My chest constricted at the thought and the words died in my throat. Even Leanne’s usually warm smile had fallen from her face.

We sat in the silence of the night, staring at each other. The solemn stillness dragged on, eating away at the time we had left to spend together. A chill dread began to claw at the back of my mind at the thought that this could be the last time we sat like this.

“Tell me some other books you like.” Leanne’s voice was hoarse, but with her words the sullenness began to recede.

“Okay.” I said, but I couldn’t think of any at the moment. I had so many titles that I held dear, but all of them had vanished from my mind. “Uh, like… what?”

Leanne smiled. “I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking. Do you have anything with a bit more intrigue?”

“Intrigue, huh?” Slowly the names of several books were coming back to me. “What sort of intrigue are you thinking? There are court dramas, and murder mysteries, or we could branch out into romance adventures.”

“Hmm, let’s see.” She grew quiet, eyeing me as I waited for her to narrow down possible recommendations. “What about… a story where two people look exactly the same, and they end up swapping places and one of them becomes the ruler of a whole country?”

I blinked at how specific the request was. “You know, I’ve actually read a book with a story like that in it. Do you want me to find it for you?”

Leanne remained quiet for a second longer than felt natural and then she smiled and shook her head. “Nah, I don’t actually think it’s all that interesting, to be honest.”

I knit my eyebrows together, perplexed at the sudden change of heart. “Okay?”

“Anyway, clearly I don’t know what book to read next, so pick something for me, okay?”

“Okay,” I agreed, but I couldn’t shake the strange feeling the exchange left me with.

[idleorbitals]

OF ep 2 watch through ...part 2

(part 1)

sand he was inviting both of you *so* explicitly what is your move here. sand will complain repeatedly about this into the next scene but no one asked him to cancel his date. baby is in denial

side note ray enjoying begging sand so much?? side note also this is how we find out ray blacked out and sand left him their last night together? ouch

ohhhkay the extensive flirting in the car. "one night stand boy, huh?" sand patently enjoying himself /so/ much but whining the whole way. they are both in trouble and neither of them know it yet but sand is going to find out really soon and ray is not going to find out until they both are in much more trouble

top has trauma-induced insomnia and he's serious enough about it to make this face. I'm still proud of mew for checking if he was trying to pull one on him and then being kind about it when it seemed like he wasn't

alright tho didn't we just establish that your much comfier bed is right over there? mew no one did this to you but yourself

I like these mockumentary cutscenes more than I thought I would. mew silently smirking as he checks off boxes is doing heavy narrative lifting and I'm into it

the foreboding music the lighting the lingering on the photo of ray and mew boston what are you planning?? is he about to become a real antagonist? can't decide how I feel about this

ray is sort of into sand insulting him? is this because he doesn't have the power to hurt him yet or masochistic kink

...ray baby no. you're gonna be Learning

sand brings up the /who are you, my dad?/ except this time it's /who am I, your dad?/ convo again and ray makes this face:

alright

alright

oh here we. fokking go

sand going "what am I supposed to be, your hooker" and ray saying "sure" and sand doing soft surprised pikachu for like ten seconds. ray doubling down and sand telling him to save it. instead of saying "I don't sleep with people for money" he says "I sleep with people I like for free" and we send silent thanks to screenwriters who understand the sex industry and have the cultural vocabulary to write compelling nuanced and still quippy conversations about sex. not to be heterophobic but queer people make better tv

anyway sandray are both playing a game and they both keep getting surprised to be one-upped. this is a very enjoyable dynamic to watch and they seem to be enjoying it too

...for now

at minute 8:30 sand's last vocal sound leaves his mouth. for thirty full seconds ray smokes and asks him leading flirty questions including "am I interesting enough for you?" and "are you open to someone like me?" and for thirty full seconds sand looks from rays right eye to his left eye and back again and lowers and raises his jaw infinitesimally and just generally:

this boy is done for and I can't even be mean about it I'm right there with him

anyway at shortly after minute 9 they break the tension and kiss each other. they kiss each other! ray is the one leaning around from his cigarette to do khaotung's little smoke plume of high art but sand is very much matching him in coming in for this kiss. I love this framing so much. firstkhao have the absolutely ideal dynamic to pull this off*

*if anyone saw that one person copy pasting SANDRAYYYY SWITCHHH into the live comment box the entire end credits that wasn't me but I was there with them in spirit

they break away and sand says if they go further they won't just be friends and ray says some kinds of friendship start from sex you watched the same thing I watched I don't need to describe it but here I am. do you remember though that this was the look ray was giving sand while he said that because ho boy

sand pronouncing that ray is going to keep wanting him but they're going to stay just friends right after he says we won't be just friends after this...what level to tackle this on. narratively this definitely feels like foreshadowing and I think he's right on the money on the first bit. but we know that sand is not going to get out of this remotely unscathed whether or not it could possibly be argued that he hasn't already lost that battle. sand showing his hand by contradicting himself out loud as well as internally?

they stub out their cigarettes Significantly and start making out again. can't coherently screencap this scene. it's so excellently done. top notch dynamic again. firstkhao are getting better at this with every go.

ok I do have one minor gripe

for some reason in the middle of sand pushing ray back onto the couch they have inserted a shot of ray on top of sand. it is from the beat that comes after the last little mockumentary cutscene—it's not a double, it's the exact same shot, just colored differently. screenshots below from 10:11 and 11:02

editing mistake? intentional insert to lengthen the scene? I like this shot too but it breaks up the flow of the scene oddly and I want it gone from the first part

mockumentary cutscene: even harder to focus on when I know what's coming back on screen right after but worth mention. obviously sand is reflecting on some past mistakes here. he knows he's playing with fire and he's denying it vocally and also not changing his behavior. self-awareness level relatable honestly. do we think he fell in love with someone he didn't want to? or fell in love freely and then got screwed over? why is he mr. one night stand boy

also don't know whether to credit ray or khaotung for this longest gayest look ever at his own pants. sublime

okay back to the couch for our not-quite-ten-second final indulgence. ray's on top this time. I don't even like sex scenes that much I know what I am saying

I see, like sand's, my words are not matching my actions. and yet

*trembling* sandray.... switch....

all ofts watch throughs

[gyokujyn]

playlist title: no grave can hold my body down

bet.

I got this prompt and then immediately got pneumonia, so I haven't been conscious enough to actually write out a post well, but I have been working on this slowly. I made a hard rule of no Hozier for this one, but then I couldn't decide if I wanted to do a themed list or one of those playlists where the titles spell out the phrase. So... I did both.

Oh, I'm'a write it out for ya is the playlist that spells out the phrase, "no grave can hold my body down" but to make it a little more challenging, every song here is a(n obsessive) love song. I feel like this one is actually pretty straightforward, so I'm not going into detail here about the choices.

no grave can hold my body down is an anthology, of sorts, a playlist of ballads and bops about many different people and creatures who could not be held by their graves. More details about each of the tracks are under the cut.

Track 1 - Ain't No Grave by Johnny Cash

a man vows he will be called from his grave to the final battle between Heaven and Hell, having been made an angel

Well, meet me, Jesus, meet me Meet me in the middle of the air And if these wings don't fail me I will meet you anywhere Ain't no grave can hold my body down

Track 2 - The Curse by Josh Ritter

the love story between a woman and the deathless creature which subsists on her love for him

She asked, "Are you cursed?" He says, "I think that I'm cured" Then he kissed her and hoped That she'd forget that question

Track 3 - The Woods by San Fermin

a boy is lured into the woods where his body is buried, but he doesn't stay there

The nights are lovely, dark, and deep But I'll appear when you're asleep You'll wake up with a sudden hurt With mouth and nose all full of dirt We went, the two of us into The woods behind the little school Yeah, I'm still buried in the mud Skin and bones, and brains and blood

Track 4 - My Body is a Cage by Peter Gabriel

perhaps more figurative than the previous tracks, this song talks about being trapped in a body and culminates in the release of both the spirit and the body

My body is a cage That keeps me from dancing with the one I love [...] My body is a cage We take what we're given Just because you've forgotten Doesn't mean you're forgiven [...] I realize I'm dancing with the one I love [...] Set my spirit free Set my body free

Track 5 - Dead Man's Hand by Lord Huron

the narrator buries a dead man who begs not to be laid down in a grave

"I know how to live, I don't know how to die, And there ain't no thrills in the afterlife So lift me up out of here, my friend, And I'll wander the night 'til the ages end." Lit by the moon, he walked through the sand, And he waved "goodbye" with his dead man's hand.

Track 6 - From the Ashes by ILLENIUM, Skylar Grey

pulling from the legend of the Phoenix, the narrator doesn't fear death because they will rise from the ashes

I would rather die Than for things to stay this way [...] You wanna burn down everything in sight I'm not afraid of a little fire So light your matches And I will rise from the ashes

Track 7 - A Woman Scorned by Jordan Reyne

a woman scorns her husband, once lost at sea, for returning to her a dead man

"Don't weep for me love" says your ruin faced form like I'd pine for a man who has failed me. Still I find myself wound in your seafarers clothes, and breathing the scent of your whiskey. So give me your hand, as the sea gives you breath, and you rise back up out of the salty. oh you stink like the dead, but it's what we both are and the least you can do is come with me.

Track 8 - Dance in the Graveyards by Delta Rae

why lie in your grave when you can dance in the graveyard?

When I die, I don't wanna rest in peace I wanna dance in joy I wanna dance in the graveyards

Track 9 - Love Don't Die by The Fray

a vow is made that regardless of what is done to their body, the singer will never leave their love's side

A thousand years go by But love don't die If I know one thing, that's true It's that I'm never leaving you [...] You can break it up (up) You can burn it down (down) You can box it in (in) Bury it in the ground You can close it off (off) You can turn it away (away) Try to keep it down (down) Six feet in the ground But love don't die

Track 10 - embodi3d by Montaigne

you cannot kill me in a way that matters

I'll make you a slave (slave, slave), or a zombie Come on be my grave (grave, grave, grave) like a phoenix, I'll- Rise (I wanna rise) I wanna find a body I, I wanna be embodi3d

[zacksfairest]

Vys 📙 , Caed 🍐 , Saya 💤 ; Vaela, Lehala, and Ayala all, this is very very important, 🌸

Ask me about my OCs

OH LIZ I LOVE YOU

Vys'kydir - 📙

📙 What kind of subjects (of conversation, of discussion, in school or whatever) does your OC find interesting or engaging or that they can talk for hours about? What kind of stuff do they just find fun?

Vys is definitely the most reserved out of my little Mando group. He likes to talk about the usual Mando things: weaponry, armor, tactics, etc. He is simple to that effect.

He likes cartography, too. Maps and the like. He and Caed usually work together for any recon that needs to be done for this reason. He has an innate sense of direction, too. Even if he didn't have access to a map in his HUD, he can almost always tell North from South from East from West. It's also why Vys is usually set up as a lookout. He has the area memorized, any escape routes, potential sniper nests their enemies might take up, the best places an ambush might lie in wait—he's got it all covered.

He also likes to read. Being a lookout can get boring sometimes. You gotta have something to keep you awake when things get quiet. He usually turns to reading if he has someone else with him to help with the lookout duty. If not, he blasts music in his helmet.

Caedyc -🍐

🍐 What is your OC’s mentality? Are they overall positive? Negative? A bit of both? Describe their thought patterns and reasoning behind their choice making!

GOD YOU PICKED THE PERFECT CHARACTER FOR THIS, BETH'IKA.

Caed is an OVERWHELMINGLY positive person. He is constantly the one trying to lighten the mood when things get tense, brushing off serious situations with a joke, teasing his squadmates purely to be a pest and get a rise out of them.

He is fucking insufferable, but this makes him a key member of Ayala's squad. She can always rely on him to keep morale up when things go sideways. And he's always there to make her laugh and get her to crack a smile when the pressure starts to mount. Caed is absolutely invaluable to Ayala for this very reason, even when she wants to throttle him because he won't shut the fuck up.

Caed knows this is his niche in the squad, and he is completely fine with that. He's always been the Clan Clown, you could say. And he likes knowing that when things get hard, and boy can they get hard, that his fellow mando'ade can turn to him to get their spirits lifted. Or at least distract them with the desire to strangle him. Anything that helps.

I love Caed a lot.

Saya - 💤

💤 What was your OC like as a baby, a child and as a teen? (if your OC is a teen or a child, what will they be like as an adult?). How have they changed since then? What lessons have they learned and what things about their youth do they miss the most? Do they have any general regrets?

Saya lost her mother very young. Like, baby young. Young enough that she has no memory of her birth mother. Not entirely uncommon amongst Mandalorians, mind you. And this was not a loss she felt too keenly. Raising a child is pretty much a community effort for Mando clans even under normal circumstances, but when your clan head loses his wife? You best believe everyone steps in to ensure the child doesn't feel that loss, and to take the onus off the grieving widower.

But Saya was your typical Mando child. Relatively adventurous and plenty brave, constantly seeking whatever trouble she could get into with the other kids. Things changed a bit once Ayala came into the picture. I'd say that Ayala might have been? 5? Ish? When Aran adopted her and brought her and Eliava back home with him, putting Saya at 4, though pretty close to 5 herself.

Once Ayala was in the picture, Saya was enamored. She had a big sister now! Just like so many of her friends! I'd say that, even though there are definitely other alien races amongst Clan Ger'Mana, Ayala and her mother are the only Twi'leks, so Saya was entranced. She would tug at Ayala's and Eliava's lekku a lot, which hurts like a bitch because it's not like tugging on hair. She would get gently scolded a lot for that, but it's a habit that's continued into her adulthood when she decides she wants to be a brat to her big sister—or perhaps when Ayala needs to be humbled a bit. It happens.

Saya definitely went through a bit of a bratty phase as a teenager, especially once it became clear that Ayala was the one being praised for her prowess in all things Mandalorian. Like, Saya was by no means forgotten or Not Good Enough, but it was always clear that Ayala was just Better.

There was a lot of feelings of inadequacy there for while, and sometimes Saya would take that frustration out on Ayala when sparring and such. They do eventually work this out, but it remains a quiet rivalry between the two of them until they are on the cusp of their 20's I'd say. Saya came to see that, though Ayala received a lot of praise and accolades for her skills and training and leadership, it came with a lot of pressure and expectations. Ayala took it all in stride, but Saya could see the way it weighed her sister down, and decided to, instead of adding to that weight, support her. If her sister was going to be their leader one day, the least she could do was help her bear the burden.

Ayala also saw how unfair it was that she, who had been brought into the clan, was overshadowing her younger sister, and so basically became Saya's number one fan and training partner. She sparred with her, took her on patrols, and trained her. It's part of why Saya is a part of her squad. What better way for Saya to learn than by example?

And Saya is a truly stellar Mandalorian, truly. Ayala makes sure she knows this. And Saya comes to accept it as truth as well, especially once their squad starts going out into the galaxy and starting all sorts of trouble.

Vaela, Lehala, and Ayala -🌸

🌸 What does your OC’s voice sound like? Their laugh? Are they good at singing? Do they have an accent?

Genuinely shocked you did not ask this of Vys. But that can be a question for another day.

Vaela:

We all know what Vaela sounds like. I have no shame when I say that she sounds exactly as she does in the campaign. She has a heavy city-going accent, and I'd say her vocal timbre is pretty middle of the road for a woman. Not super deep, but not the high pitched cutesy bullshit out of an anime.

Vaela personally hates her laugh. She thinks it's loud and obnoxious, but her friends and family alike have said it's infectious and an absolute joy to hear.

And yes, she can sing. There. I said it. Maybe Zaresh made her sing sometimes for him. Shut up.

Lehala:

Lehala's voice is powerful. Not that she is loud, but her voice has an air of authority and surety to it. Her voice is also on the deeper side and has a slight accent. It's a weird one; you can hear bits of a typical tiefling accent in there, or at least the kind of accent you'd expect a tiefling to have, but it's not quite right.

A fact! This is because, as the Namda are not a mono-racial species, they all live and exist among many accents and ways of speaking. So their accent can be a weird amalgamation of their species' accent combined with others.

Lehala's laugh is usually a bit reserved. More of a low chuckle. Sometimes she can be made to really bark out a loud laugh, but that's kind of rare.

Alas, Lehala cannot sing. A pity. Imagine how nights around the camp would be if we had that. Traditional Namda ballads every night.

Ayala:

My darlingest girl! Ayala has a similar air of authority to her voice that Lehala does, but her voice is of a bit of a higher pitch. I'd say maybe ever so slightly higher than Vaela's.

Ayala has an absolutely delightful laugh. It is almost musical. You could almost call it girlish, if I had to sum it up in a word. One of those damned Disney Princess-esque laughs.

I am giving the ability to sing to Ayala, if only because she WILL sing in mando'a around Thrawn, goddamnit.

She doesn't have much of an accent, though. If Mandalorians had an accent, I'd give her that, but we are going to go with the same explanation I gave to Lehala. Mandalorians are not a monolith, there are so many different species that make up the people, so their accent is not really able to be placed.

[via-l0ve]

🕯️ #11 with andrew’s peter !!

side eye. (TASM! Peter Parker x reader)

a/n: i love this. enjoy ml!!!

“waiting in line at the grocery check-out, rolling their eyes at each other because the person at the front is starting drama.”

all you wanted to do was get pretzels. it was the ONE thing you came to the grocery store for and it was supposed to be a quick trip. grab the pretzels, maybe a drink, and go!

but, of course, the universe said you were wrong.

you looked around to find two lines open. one had at least seven people in line, the other, two.

so, you sat in the shorter grocery line. two people ahead of you and, as you got in, two people came behind of you. Still, you tried to keep spirits high. it shouldn’t have taken too long!

You lifted your head up from looking at those very tempting chocolate bars when you heard some loud voices.

“i just don’t understand how these pecans can be $1.90!!! and i think you have very poor service! only two registers open…”

you looked ahead, unamused, as an old woman started arguing with the young, teenage cashier. you watched, head tilted in slight annoyance. of course there had to be a fight in your line.

the old woman wouldn’t let the price of those stupid pecans go. she kept telling the cashier off, as if they could help it.

you shook your head, looking anywhere but her. your eyes met with a boy who was two people behind you. he was only holding one thing, apple juice. he tilted his head towards the old woman and rolled his eyes. a small smile formed on your lips as you did the same.

after what felt like three hours, the old woman gave up and paid for her pecans and left. you were finally up. you could pay for your stupid pretzels and go.

“that’ll be $17.99” the tired teenager mumbles.

damn. the old woman was, unfortunately, right. that was pricy for your bin of pretzels. and you only brought $10.

“oh, um..” you sighed, digging in your wallet.

“it’s okay. i don’t have enough.” you said, defeated.

you handed the pretzels back and started to walk off. so much for your simple and quick grocery trip for your desired pretzels.

“um, i’ll pay for those.”

you turn around and see the cute boy from earlier. he slid ahead of the man in front of him and set his juice down.

“how much was it?” he asks you with a smile.

you froze momentarily. not only was he cute, but he was seriously going to pay for your pretzels.

“oh! they’re um… $18.” you said, handing the pretzels to him.

he smiles, paying for both his apple juice and your bucket of pretzels.

“here.” he smiles at you, handing you your food.

“thank you.” you smile big.

he walks out with you, smiling and talking about the older woman earlier.

“so, i hope you enjoy those.” he smiles again.

“i will definitely be enjoying them.” you grin.

“how can i repay you? i don’t have much money on me right now.” you smile.

“ummmm..” he thought for a moment.

“how about i give you my number and we can share those pretzels?” he asks with a slight chuckle. you go red in the face and grin again.

“i’d love that.” you say softly, handing him your phone.

he smiled, taking your phone and putting his number in. he handed it back to you, accidentally touching your fingers.

“see you soon.” he said, cracking open his apple juice and walking back to his car.

you open your phone and see his contact.

“Peter💕 (pretzel guy!)”

[yhwhrulz]

Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening" Devotional: October 5th

Morning

“If any man open the door, I will come in to him.”

Matthew 26:1-5 , Matthew 26:14-16

Matthew 26:3 , Matthew 26:4

“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed.” Oh, that the friends of Jesus were half as earnest to concert measures for glorifying him, as these men were when they resolved upon his death.

Matthew 26:5

The enemies of Christ’s cause have never ceased to oppose him by meanness and treachery; the truth fears not the day, but evil is underhanded and works by secret plots. Still do the opponents of the gospel conspire to take Jesus by subtlety. Let us, like our Lord, oppose to their cunning nothing but holy courage and truthful simplicity.

Matthew 26:14 , Matthew 26:15

The price of a slave. This showed the contempt of the rulers for Jesus and the avarice of Judas, which permitted him to sell his Master for so small a sum. How strikingly does all this correspond with the voice of prophecy in Zech. xi. “So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver; a goodly price that I was prised at of them.” It is to be feared that thousands are selling Jesus for a less price than Judas received. A smile from the world has been a bribe sufficient to seduce many.

Mark 14:12-16

Mark 14:12

They knew that their Lord observed all the commands of the law, but as he had no house of his own, and it was usual for the inhabitants of Jerusalem to lend their rooms to strangers, they wished for his orders as to where he would keep the feast.

Mark 14:15

Among his friends he had a secret foe, but in the city of his foes he had also a secret friend: the time was come for both to be discovered, for the death of Jesus is that by which the thoughts of many hearts are revealed. The directions given to Peter and John, whom he sent, must have established in them the full conviction that he knew all things, and this would deepen their belief that his prophecy of his death would be fulfilled: thus they would be led to see how voluntarily he submitted himself to the death which awaited him.

Mark 14:16

The room in which Jesus was entertained is the emblem of a heart into which the Lord comes to sup; such a heart is enlarged by grace with love and joy and gratitude; it is an upper room lifted up from the world and sin, it is prepared and furnished by the Holy Spirit, and is freely opened to the great Master, who comes to feast with his beloved. Lord make our hearts such a room and we will receive both thee and thy disciples into our truest love.

If still thou dost with sinners eat,

Let my poor heart thy chamber be,

With gladness such a guest I’ll greet,

And keep the paschal feast with thee.

If thou wilt come to me below,

My heart shall purge out sinful leaven

And every day more meet I’ll grow

To keep the paschal feast in heaven.

Evening

“He loved them unto the end.”

Luke 22:14-18 , Luke 22:24-30

Luke 22:14

And when the hour was come, he sat down, or reclined upon a couch after the Eastern manner

Luke 22:15

Strong was his longing to commune with his beloved ones, as also to finish his great work, and to become the lamb of God’s passover.

Luke 22:16

The passover was now to cease. Our Lord observed the outward sign one night before the proper time, because it was to be fulfilled on the morrow. This change was a sign that it had waxed old, and was ready to vanish away.

Luke 22:17 , Luke 22:18

While the thoughts of the Master were thus taken up with his sufferings, it is painful to find that the apostles were disputing about pre-eminence. Alas, poor human nature!

John 13:1-19

How sweetly did he end their envious disputing by his words, but he went further and dealt it a final death blow by the condescending acts recorded in John 13:1-19.

John 13:1-19

No comment is needed, and we have given none. Let us practise what is here so clearly taught.

Copyright Statement This resource was produced before 1923 and therefore is considered in the "Public Domain".

[mysteriousxgirls]

Harmony listened intently to Cassian’s words, his voice steady and calm amidst the chaos swirling around her. The tension in her body slowly began to ease as his words sank in, grounding her, helping her breathe again. His gaze locked with hers, and for a brief moment, she let herself focus on him—his presence, his understanding. It was comforting, knowing that, despite everything, he was here for her. She let out a soft breath, feeling the storm inside her begin to calm, the storm of confusion, frustration, and guilt that had been brewing for what felt like days. "I’m not cursed, huh?" she repeated with a faint smile, feeling the tension begin to melt away at his playful comment. She smiled at his attempt to cheer her up, her lips curving into the first smile she’d had since things had gone downhill. A soft laugh escaped her lips, the sound almost foreign to her after the heaviness of the evening. It was a small thing, but it was enough. Cassian always had this effect on her, a way of making her feel lighter, like she could breathe again even in the middle of the mess.

"Oh, Cass," she whispered, her heart swelling with gratitude for his support. She looked into his eyes, the warmth in his expression reminding her that she wasn’t truly alone in all of this. "Promise me you’ll visit me every year for my birthday? I want you to make me a cake one day." Her voice was soft, but sincere, filled with a need for reassurance. She smiled tenderly, placing a hand on his cheek—a gesture of thanks, of appreciation for everything he had done for her, both now and in the pods. "I don’t blame Ella," she continued, her voice taking on a more thoughtful tone. "I’m not angry anymore. I think I understand where she’s coming from." She paused, her eyes drifting toward Nate, who was still by the bar. "Cass—I think I need to talk to Nate. I need to clear the air with him before this gets worse." She looked back at Cassian, her gaze soft, but resolute. She kissed his cheek lightly, the gesture full of tenderness, a simple but meaningful reminder of how much she cared for him. "I love you. Thank you for always being there for me, here, in the pods and hopefully in the future too" she whispered, before turning to make her way toward Nate, a mixture of nervousness and determination swirling in her chest. "Babe? can we talk?" she asked carefully as she approached him.

Selene stepped towards Cassian, her heart lighter now that she had seen Harmony finding some peace in his presence. She couldn’t help but smile as she approached him, wrapping her arms around his neck in a warm embrace. "I think we did a good job today," she said softly, her voice full of admiration. "I saw you cheering her up. You’re amazing, you know that?" Her eyes softened as she gazed at him, genuinely proud of the way he had been there for Harmony. Cassian’s ability to lift people’s spirits, especially in such a chaotic environment, never ceased to amaze her. He had a way of showing up when people needed him most, and it was a gift. Her lips curled into a smile, her arms tightening slightly around his neck as she pulled him closer. "You’re really something else, Cassian and I keep falling for you harder and harder each day."

Ella, after a few moments of reflection and support from the other girls, felt the weight on her chest begin to lift. Her mind had slowed, and though the emotions still churned within her, they weren’t as overwhelming as before. As she sat there with the other women, trying to gather her thoughts, she heard Rhett’s voice. She looked up at him, her gaze softening, and nodded quietly. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but she knew they needed to talk. Slowly, she stood up, walking away from the group with him, her heart thumping nervously. "I—I'm sorry I reacted like that," she said quietly, her voice shaky but sincere. The words were difficult, but she knew they had to be said. She didn’t want to let her emotions dictate everything, and it wasn’t fair to Rhett to keep harboring that frustration. "I just—didn’t expect all of this. I don’t know how to handle it." She sighed, her voice quieter now, as they moved away from the others, hoping for a moment of clarity.

"Hey, look at me," Cassian said gently, his gaze steady as it met hers. "It’s okay. None of this is easy—we all know that. Sometimes, making the right choice takes time. Even then, you might go back and forth, questioning it over and over. But in the end, we’re here for a reason, aren’t we? We chose our partners, one way or another. And maybe that choice is messy, maybe it’s complicated, but it’s still ours." When she spoke about her birthdays, the weight of it sat heavy between them. It wasn’t just another bad night—it was a pattern, a history laced with hurt. No one could truly understand what today meant to her, not the way she did. And yet, he could see it in her eyes, feel it in the way she carried herself. "You’re not cursed, Harmony. It’s just bad timing," he murmured. "This night was always going to unravel, whether it was your birthday, the day after, or Christmas morning. There’s too much emotion in the air, too much fear of the unknown. We’ve never seen our partners with old connections before, never had to stand face to face with our connections before. It was bound to spark something." He sighed, shaking his head. "And I know that doesn’t erase what this day means to you, but you’ve got so many birthdays ahead of you. And now that I do know? You better believe I’m making it my mission to give you the best damn birthday every single year." A teasing smirk tugged at his lips. "Where’s the birthday cake, huh? Producers, I demand answers." There were no perfect words to fix this, no grand speech that could take away the ache. But if nothing else, he wanted her to know she wasn’t alone in it. Not now. Not ever. "I’ve got you, Harmony," he said, voice low but certain. "And yeah, I think by now we all know what’s going on—thanks to Ella’s loud mouth." A small chuckle escaped him before his expression softened again. "But whatever happens next, make sure it’s your choice. Not theirs. Not Rhett’s. Not Nate’s. Yours. Because it’s a hell of a lot easier to let someone down now than to do it at the altar."

Rhett listened in silence, absorbing every word Selene said. She wasn’t just right—she was painfully right, and he hated how much he knew it deep down. “You’re right. I do need to sort this out once and for all” he nodded. This night had rattled him in a way he hadn’t expected. He had never stood face-to-face with Harmony before, never seen this version of Ella. The whole thing had knocked the wind out of him. But maybe it was better that it happened now rather than weeks down the line. A breath of laughter escaped him, shaking his head. “You really don’t hold back, do you?” he teased, nudging her arm playfully. “Kicking a man while he’s down—brutal.” But there was no real bite to his words, just a quiet appreciation. Somewhere along the way, this woman in front of him had become his anchor. He wasn’t sure how or when it happened, but Selene had become his person in all of this. Not in a romantic way—they both knew that had never been in the cards—but in a way that mattered just as much. If this whole chaotic experience had given him nothing but her friendship, maybe that was enough. Maybe that was more than enough. “Thank you, Selene,” he murmured, his smile softer now, more sincere. “I really mean it.” He pulled her into a quick hug, grounding himself for just a second before pulling away. “I need some air,” he added with a light chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. “This whole night is giving me a headache.”

With that, he stepped away from Selene, slipping into the shadows for a moment of quiet. As he settled into a seat away from the noise, his fingers dug into his pocket, pulling out the note. His eyes traced the handwriting, a smile tugging at his lips despite himself. The words pulled him back—back to the pods, back to that strange, intoxicating connection with Harmony. What if? The question whispered through his mind, uninvited. What if he had chosen differently? What if tonight had played out another way? But Selene was right. Ella deserved a fair shot. And if he was really going to move forward, then he had to choose to do so. With a deep breath, he walked over to the fire pit, staring down at the note for a long moment before tossing it into the flames. The paper curled, blackened, and disappeared. By the time he turned back toward the group, his decision had been made. His feet carried him toward where Ella sat with the other women, their voices dipping as they noticed his presence. His heart thumped hard against his ribs, but he kept his voice steady as he met her eyes. “Is it okay if we talk?”

[thegreygale]

AU Concept Ghostbusters 2016 adopt a ghost:

Working title: Get Ghost

Concept: The Ghostbusters get called out to the Mercado Hotel, which after the portal opened has become a hotbed for paranormal activity, to the point where they are leaning into it a little and allowing paranormal investigators to come in and investigate, for a big enough wad of cash. Despite being used to the activity for the most part recently a new occurrence has been reported, the appearance of a mysterious figure dressed in white alongside the strange sounds of weeping on the top floor. The Ghostbusters arrive at the top floor and find a little girl in a white dress huddled, crying in a corner of one of the rooms. Erin attempts to comfort her, assuming that she is scared of the ghost only for her hand to pass through and realizing that this child is in fact the ghost. While the other Ghostbusters are debating on how to handle this, because of course this isn’t the first time they’ve come across a ghost who looked seemingly innocent and harmless only to be attacked Holzmann starts asking the little girl a series of (slightly psychotic) questions and eventually decides to attach one of her new invitations, the proton whip(name not codified only temporary) to the child like a child harness and sets off back to the firehouse without the other Ghostbusters where she learns that this child is in fact a very powerful spirit(and informs the other ghostbusters of this through a text (which is mostly emojis). However when the other Ghostbusters arrive expecting to have to try and contain what they understand to be a threat they find Jillian explaining a very complicated, and potentially dangerous, device to the child. Upon asking what the hell is going on Holzmann simply says, “Oh hey guys, I assume you’ve already met my daughter Ginette, Ginette say hi.” The other Ghostbusters stare in shock as the child waves at them before the two return to the device.(This interaction gives very strong Spencer with the ostrich vibes)

(In other words this is the Holzmann adopts a ghost for science AU)

Relationships:

👏HOLTZMANN👏IS👏HER👏MOM👏. Unlike my other AU where Egon, Ray, and Winston all share the parental role in this one Ginette only sees one of the Ghostbusters as her parent. Jillian encourages Ginette’s newfound love of science and goes out of her way to teach her everything she knows (including some of her slight disdain for lab safety much to the other Ghostbusters’ concern). She also encourages Ginette’s innate love of chaos(this version of Ginette is a bit more of a chaos gremlin than in the previous version). Ginette wants to be just like her mother and tends to emulate her behaviors (again much to the other Ghostbusters’ concern). Holtzmann created a device to keep Ginette’s ectosignature stable enough for her to appear human, this is worn as a cuff bracelet on her wrist.

The other Ghostbusters take a little while to get comfortable with Ginette but Erin and Abby are the first ones to really form a bond with her. They both become her,slightly overprotective (for completely valid reasons), aunts. The best way to describe her relationship with them is the “What have you got there?” “A knife!” “NO!” Vine. Since her mom encourages Ginette to use pretty dangerous tools an procedures with little to no lab safety Erin and Abby often have to go in and stop her from doing very dangerous things with the Ghostbusting equipment (usually by lifting her by the armpits and running out of the lab yelling at Holzmann for leaving her child unsupervised.) They also separately teach her different fields of education, mostly different fields of science and math in a less destructive environment (needless to say Ginette barely listens unless there is some kind of chaos or danger involved, as such she loves asking questions that she knows they don’t agree on and watching them fight)

Meanwhile Patty is the one who Ginette goes to to learn about the history of the city. Sometimes Patty gets a little concerned when “the ghost child” as she calls her asks REALLY SPECIFIC questions about the city’s infrastructure in certain areas but ultimately brushes it off (she ends up being thrilled when she finds a scrapbook that Ginette made with the specific information that she asked her for entitled “Cool places to see when I grow up” this did however also raise the question as to whether or not Ginette could actually age and who would tell her if she couldn’t. Ginette thinks that Patty’s stories about the city’s history are really interesting and fun so she tends to essentially grill her as much as possible.

Ginette doesn’t like Kevin, don’t get her wrong he’s really nice but he doesn’t really seem to understand that she’s a kid. She also does however consider him a statistical anomaly because of just how dumb he is (she also doesn’t understand what it is about him that makes Auntie Erin act so weird with him and believes that this phenomenon needs to be studied more thoroughly (even though Auntie Abby says no). Ginette actually tends to answer the phone for Kevin instead while he works more on transporting the equipment(this is framed as a promotion instead of an attempt to say that a literal child can do a better job of being their receptionist (though she does get a little too slap happy with the firehouse’s alarm button on the desk).

Characters (between ghostbusting):

Holzmann spends most of her time experimenting and making new tech for the other Ghostbusters and herself, often with Ginette’s help in some form. She also had a YouTube channel where she posted videos about her experiments but it was taken down because she kept encouraging bad lab safety (also some of her experiments exploded and now she’s on a LOT of watchlists)

Erin and Abby have a YouTube channel called “Ghost Girls” on which they answer questions about their paranormal research and how it pertains to science (also occasionally telling people’s stories about their own experiences with ghosts to help them feel heard.)

Patty runs ghost tours throughout the city, including a Ghostbusters exclusive tour where she travels to places that they have been since becoming ghostbusters(this one is often sold out).