#poweful affirmations

[itsjustvane]

Some powerful affirmations

Say these affirmations every day and see what happens.

I deserve much more than I can imagine.

My dreams are coming true.

I love the life I'm creating.

Everything I want wants me more.

I have the power within me to make anything happen.

[lotusmi]

♡ all my void state audios guide! 🎧

✏️read this or I WILL PULL YOUR FEET AT NIGHT 👿

the power is within you, my audios are only tools. 🗣️

📜summary

𝑰 subliminal vs affirmation tape 𝑰𝑰 the guide itself lol

𝑰 subliminal vs affirmation tapes

💬Affirmation tapes are pure affirmations (it is common to be only 1 aff), they are used for saturate your mind and for you conciously repeat the affirmations with the voice in the tape. They help you stick to the new story. They also help you doing 10k challenge (or others) since you can know exactly how many times you affirmed.

♥ I recommend you using them though the day while you do your daily activities.

People are using my tapes before sleep (for entering void) but that's not a thing that I recommend because a loud Alvin 🐿 in your head while you try to relax is so annoying + it can give you headaches. I only recommend using while sleep if you want to saturate your mind (you will propably get a lucid dream about the void that means your subconcious is saturated).

💬Subliminals are audios with affirmations tapes (different affs) super speeded and in low volume with a music layered with it (or raining, fire, asmr sounds). You are not supposed to hear the affirmations on a subliminal. Nowdays people also add frequency, binatural beats and more.

♥ I recommend you to use my subliminals to enter/wake up in the void since they have specific waves for calming your mind and affirmations that implies that you are calm, and at the void.

𝑰𝑰 ♡ I'll now be explaining how I recommend using each audio and why + what is included on them + if u need headphones.

♡ LIFE CHANGER

First all be talking about my first audio which is the LIFE CHANGER. The focus on this audio is to develop faith, and a master manifestor mindset. To manifest instantly, ignore 3d, have an amazing self concept, see yourself as an amazing person, the creator of your reality + ideal life, your desires manifest automatically, your subconcious manifest your deeply desires, you are happy with your life + void affirmations.

It contains: isocronic tones

Headphones not necessary!

YOUTUBE LINK | FULL POST LINK

♡ ULTIMATE VOID SUB

The ULTIMATE void sub, hell yea I love this one. It has 10k of "i am in the void" affs + 3k of I am conciousness + other affs. It's for you to use when YOU ARE ENTERING, or if you want to wake up in void. It contains THETHA waves. Why did i not put delta ones? Because I always sleep with delta one and it can be annoying sleep while u affirming to enter lol. It contains affirmations for relaxing your body and mind, to feel relaxed and calm. And to be/feel/know you are at void.

You put the sub and affirm if you want to conciously enter or you sleep with it and you will wake up in void.

It contains: theta binatural beats

Headphones (both ears) are necessary if you want the relaxing beneficts of the waves. Use without it if you want but know that you are not having the full experience of the sub.

YOUTUBE LINK | FULL POST LINK

♡ "I have mastered the void" TAPE

Simple and pure affirmations for you to repeat and saturate your mind with the new story. It is layered with super speeded up layers of the same affirmation so that you conciously and unconciously be saturated. Heaphones not needed. YOUTUBE LINK |

♡ "I always wake up in the void" TAPE

This one is special because i included the previous tape on it so that it works better. The 'i have mastered..' affs are super speeded and layered in low volume so that only your subconcious hear it. I recommend using this though the day for saturate your mind while you do your daily tasks or do the 10k challenge etc...

It also contains morphic fields so that the affirmations are also converted to energy!!!

Headphones not needed at ALL.

YOUTUBE LINK | FULL POST LINK

♡ SUPERNOVA VOID CONCEPT SUB

This one is now my favorite since it is super poweful! Read the full blog for further information! This guarantees your void self concept to be the better in world and instantly! I recommend using this through the day since the music is not that calm! It contains morphic fields, agesta codes and isochonic tones! + both of my afftapes Headphones not needed at ALL.

YOUTUBE LINK | FULL POST LINK

[bcolfanfic]

hiii you guys want another blue ticket fic blurb here’s brady and his little friend he meets in the brig. heavily inspired by coming out under fire, a guy that interviewed used rebecca as a drag name in his brig <3

“You ever seen the movie Rebecca?” Bec asked suddenly. He was peeling at his bottom lip with one finger, a fleck of skin catching between his nails before he flicked it to the ground. His voice was softer now, light, like he was trying to coax a skittish animal into staying still.

Johnny pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek. It was Mary who’d dragged him along to see it, wasn’t it? She’d made him lie to their mama about where they were going and say they were off to Road to Singapore.

The memory was hazy now.

“Don’t think he wants to talk to you, Bec,” a voice muttered from the cot against the far wall.

Bec waved him off without even looking.

“Ignore him,” he said, a faint grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “One of those crazy sleep-talkers.” He continued, expression expectant.

Right, his question.

An affirmative hum seemed to be enough for Bec, who relaxed slightly, his shoulders easing against the wall.

"You know how they call her that whole long thing? The lovely and ever gracious Rebecca de Winter," He said. "That's what my buddy would call me, the whole thing- never anything less than that mouthful."

“Did-" Johnny started and the word caught in his throat. He swallowed and tried again. “Did your, uh, your buddy,”

“Did he get picked up too?” Bec finished for him. “Sure did. 's why my sorry ass is here."

He'd snitched. Johnny completed in his head, hairs on the back of his neck feeling scratchy. The next thought that proceeded was Benny and he swallowed thick, digging the toe of his boot into the wall.

"It doesn't sit right with me to be angry at him," Bec continued after a minute without prompting, and Johnny figured from the way his voice shook that wasn't completely true. "Y’know? He did what he had to. Wasn't a POW- didn't have the frame of reference to see how this," he gestured toward the walls, "really isn’t so bad, all things considered. Would be a different story if Eisenhower was callin’ up General Homma for pointers,"

Homma. Johnny frowned, the name rolling around in his mind until it landed. Bataan.

Bec didn’t say it, not outright, but with the way his voice had gone rougher on the edges Johnny didn’t need to ask. He let the silence stretch out and Bec broke it first, fingers tugging at his bottom lip again.

“So," He started, tone cautious. "You were over in Europe, huh?

“Yeah,” Johnny mumbled, picking at an already torn cuticle. “Sat the last half of it out in a stalag.”

“Rough spot.” Bec said simply.

Johnny bobbed his head from one side to another, chewing at the inside of his cheek again.

“Not as rough as Bataan,” He said low before he could think better of it, and the corner of Bec's mouth twitched.

“Ain’t a contest, kid,” he said, letting out a dry chuckle. “Least we weren’t marchin’ through snow.”

Johnny looked down again, his jaw tight.

Bec leaned forward, his elbows digging into his knees, his hands dangling loosely between them. “You figure you’d rather be there than here?” he asked, his voice low.

Johnny opened his mouth, then closed it, and Bec leaned back, gaze drifting towards the bars.

“Hell, I’d probably pick a German stalag over this mess too, if I didn’t know better,” Bec said, quieter. “But the thing is, it ain’t just about the place. It’s about who’s got the keys.” He paused, his jaw tightening slightly. “These bastards don’t care about keeping the game going. Just as easy for ’em to smash all the pieces and pretend the board was never there to begin with.”

[aspoonofsugar]

Do you think Adam will come back as a demon, having to redeem himself? It kind of feels like that's where the few hints at smth deeper going on with him are going.

Hi!

I mean, there is this:

As Charlie and Emily sing about amoral angels staying in the sky, the focus is on Adam and he looks very triggered. I also personally hope he comes back because I think his character offers great opportunities to explore others. Like Lucifer, Lute, Sera, Lilith and Charlie herself. That said, I am also okay if he is meant as a one-season villain tbh. In this case, I trust it is because the story has other plot-lines to follow. Also, it would be an hilarious call-back to his line:

A man only lives once, we'll see you in one month Gotta say, I can't wait to Come down and exterminate you

Adam, you're either right in how THE man only lives once, or you are so wrong and Charlie is so right, that you yourself get a second chance :P

That said, I think there is clearly more about Adam, Eve, Lilith and Lucifer's dynamic that needs to be addressed (either through Adam coming back or in other ways):

The series starts with the retelling of the myth of Eden in the form of a fairy tale. Still, it is clear that we are given only partial information.

Lucifer: Well, your first wife didn't seem to hate what I had to offer…or the second! Bowchicka pow pow!

Sera: He was the first human soul in heaven…

It is very unclear what happened with Eve and Adam himself is judged a "virtuous soul", after his human death. Not only that, but he affirms what brought him into Heaven is:

Vaggie: reading list "Act selfless, don't steal, stick it to the man." Are you fucking serious?

Except that Adam never once acts selflessly throughout the whole season. So, I wonder if an eternity spent being spoilt in Heaven made him worse.

In short, the things I am interested in when it comes to Adam are:

If and how Heaven has changed him

His relationship with Lucifer and Lilith (Eden + his pact with Lilith)

Let's now try to analyze Adam, starting with what we have in the series.

ADAM THE ANGEL

Adam: Call me, Dickmaster.

Adam is introduced as a powerful angel and a jerkass mysoginist. Both things are important, as they tie to different conflicts:

Adam is a genocidal maniac, who mistreats everyone. Still, he is considered a virtuous soul and holds some authority in Heaven.

Adam is "the man" and is shown discriminating and dismissive towards women. According to Charlie's recount in Overture, his mysoginy might be at the very root of the conflict behind the forbidden fruit and the birth of Hell.

These two sides of Adam come together in his interactions with Charlie, who is both a demon and a woman.

1- He dismisses Charlie's ideas of redemption in his song Hell is Forever, which is full of Christian references:

'Cause it's cut and dry Fair is fair, an eye for an eye And, when all's said and done (said and done) There's the question of fun And for those of us with divine ordainment Extermination is entertainment! Guitar solo, fuck yeah!

In general, he sees himself as superior to demons because he was judged worthy of Heaven. In his mind, this makes him automatically the "good guy", while people who exhibits virtues like Charlie or Angel are still beneath him, as they are demons. In short, he has a black and white mentality:

'Cause the rules are black and white There's no use in tryin' to fight it

2- He flirts with Charlie and calls her with sexist names:

Adam: I got you again, bitch! *laughs* Fuckin' hilarious!

Not only that, but his overall characterization highligths his sexism to hilarious degrees. Some examples:

His favourite food is ribs because Eve was born from one. So, it is as if he likes "eating women up"

He leads an army of hot and lethal women, who follow his orders in battle (classical male fantasy)

He gives Vaggie the name "Vagina" and calls it "the best thing ever"

So, Adam is a combination between a zealous religious fanatic and the patriarchy. All neatly tied up with jock imagery (his tunic resembles a letterman jacket). As a result, his interactions with Charlie explore two different power dynamics:

Heaven vs Hell or to better say Hell is Forever vs A Happy Day In Hell. Is Hell a place of eternal damnation or is it a chance of redemption?

Man vs Woman - Adam is far more childish and less intelligent than Charlie, but she has to kiss his butt because he is in a role of power. As it often happens in human society.

The question is: "How can such a person be worthy of Heaven?"

SERA THE MOTHER

Sera: I thought, since I'm older It's my load to shoulder

Sera is Adam's authority figure, as she is the only one Adam shows respect for. He asks for her validation and is ashamed after disappointing her. Considering Adam was created by the angels, it is easy to infer Sera is probably the closest thing he has to a mother. This also ties with Sera's overall role in the narrative, where she is framed as a parental figure to Emily and to the other angels and souls:

Not only that, but her parenting style seems rooted in the determination to protect those in her care, no matter what:

Sera: It is my position as the head Seraphim to protect our people at all costs.

Even if she has to lie to them:

I wanted to save you, the anguish it takes to Do what was required

Or if others end up hurt in the process:

Sera: Heaven needs us, Emily. Everyone looks to us… and we can't doubt ourselves or worry about the fates of demons when we have our own souls to protect.

She keeps Emily and the rest of Heaven in a Gilded Cage and chooses to exterminate the Sinners. In a sense, she too sees the world in black and white, just like Adam. Her loved ones. All the others. This attitude is present in her relationship with Adam too, as she enables him. Some examples:

She gives Adam permission to lead the exterminations. Even if Sera thinks killing Sinners is necessary, there is no reason to entrust it to Adam, who has a very obvious grudge against Lucifer.

He lets Adam boss around the exorcists and mistreat them. Like he did with Vaggie. In general, Sera gives him no rules, if not a generic "do not embarass me" one. And even then, Adam faces no consequence after he reveals the secret.

Sera is angry at Adam's cruelty towards Charlie and reproaches him for targeting the Hazbin Hotel. Still, this is all she does. She could have stopped Adam from attacking the hotel. And yet, she only makes a single remark.

In general, Sera gives Adam free reign and even fulfills all his cruellest requests. This is made clear during Charlie and Adam's questioning.

Since the beginning, Charlie is set up to lose and the seating arrangement shows it. Sera and Emily are at the very top, as they are the judges. Below them there is the jury and then there are the two sides. Still, Charlie and Adam are not at the same level. Adam is higher, while Charlie is at the very bottom.

Sera sustains Adam's petty objection:

Adam: Objection, lame and unoriginal. Sera: Sustained. No further dictionary references please.

But she is about to refuse Charlie's request and only agrees to it because of Emily:

Charlie: Angel will make good decisions, come on! We have to keep watching! Please? Sera: sighs Yeah, I don't know. Emily: Yeah, let's give him a chance. Sera: Very well, the court will allow it.

Finally, when Adam reveals Vaggie's secret (which is irrelevant to the matter at hand), Sera allows it to happen:

She is the one projecting Vaggie's angelic shadow on the wall. Once again she enables Adam's cruelty, instead of stopping it.

in short, Adam is a person who ascends to Heaven, but once there he spends millenias without anyone questioning or disagreeing with him. All his self-serving fantasies are fulfilled and he is never punished nor called out. As a result, he clearly becomes complacent and grows worse:

Lucifer: So, this is what you been up to since Eden? Gotta say, you've really let yourself go, buddy.

Lucifer's taunt mostly references Adam's physique. Still, this is metaphorically true for Adam's soul, as well. In the end, Adam regresses in Heaven, instead of evolving. Moreover, he never addresses nor solves the key event, which defined his life.

LUCIFER AND LILITH

Adam: You judging me? You're the most hated being in all of creation!

Adam's sense of self is clearly warped by what(ever) happened in Eden. Specifically, he is hurt that both his relationships with Lilith and Eve ended up badly (apparently). This is why:

He overcompensates by being overly masculine. He insists he is THE MAN and keeps blubbering about his love adventures. And yet, he has still no wife, that we know of.

He projects his own feelings on Lilith and Lucifer, to the point that thousands of years later, he chooses "messing their home", as his hobby. Specifically, he tries to steal Lilith away (through their deal) and to make Lucifer as miserable as possible ( which is why the King of Hell sends Charlie to meet Adam at the very beginning - he doesn't want to deal with the Exorcist).

This behavior is mirrored in how he treats the Princess of Hell too.

On the one hand Adam associates what he considers Charlie's positive traits with Lilith:

Adam: To think someone as worthless as you landed Lilith's little hottie. 'Grats on that I guess.

On the other hand Adam links what he believes to be Charlie's negative traits with Lucifer:

Adam: Risking your immortal life for sinners? That's some crazy shit, even for Lucifer's brat!

So, it is implied he still wants Lilith and despises Lucifer. These emotions are mirrored in his design, specifically his horned mask:

The horns ironically show that Adam was cheated on by (both?) his wife(s)

The horns give him a demonic-like appearance, which may be just another way Adam tries to appear more badass than what he is. All while trying to look more like a demon (Lucifer) to begin with

In other words, Adam is nothing, but a man scorned. Even moreso he is a person, who deep down could never really like himself. Hence why he chooses to wear a mask 24h/24h. Adam wants to be either a Demon or a God, but deep down he is just the Man. Ironically, this is what he could never truly accept about himself.

ADAM- A MAN

In the final fight, Adam is unmasked and we get a glimpse of his real self. What is he like? His design is far more average and human-like than other angels and demons. It is even inspired by his real voice actor, apparently. Why is that so? Because deep down Adam is no-one special. He is just a dude. He is the man. Not even that. He is a man. A person.

Sadly, though, he refuses this truth and tries to be more:

Adam: I started everything on Earth! All of mankind came from these fucking nuts! You all should be worshipping me, you ungrateful, disgusting, fucking losers-

He tries to be God and in this way he becomes worse than a Demon. He dies pathetically, after refusing mercy:

Adam: No… you don't get to end this! I'm fucking Adam! I'm the fucking man, and you're just some fucking clown or something!

He sees Lucifer as his enemy, but the King of Hell barely registers his presence and only considers him in relation to Charlie. His true opponent turns out to be a small woman of low status. And even she barely considers him as someone worthy of her attention.

And yet, Adam is still a man and he shows humanity in death:

Lute: NOOOO! Sir! Sir! Stay with me sir! ADAM!

Lute is his one genuine bond and probably the only person who earnestly makes him happy.

If only he could have pursued his humanity, he might have not turned into a monster. He might have developed a healthier sense of self and could have become happier. Instead, he could never love himself for being just a man and has spent eternity trying to be someone different.

HEAVEN ISN'T MEANT TO SUCK A LOT

Adam embodies the anti-theme.

Charlie thinks that everyone can redeem themselves:

Charlie: If I can show them the dream I've dreamed That any soul can change! Then they will know everyone can be redeemed From the evil to the strange!

Adam thinks nobody truly can:

'Cause Hell is forever Whether you like it or not Had their chance to behave better Now they boil in the pot

Charlie tries to grow into her own person:

Gotta come into my own Gotta come into my throne Gotta take charge and defend my only home

Adam turns himself into an idol:

The golden exorcists bring to mind the golden calf from the Bible.

Charlie thinks happiness and beauty can be found even in Hell:

I can hear all their stories The lost and displaced And I know that they're more of an acquired taste But if I open the door and I give them a place At my Hazbin Hotel It'll be a happy day in Hell!

Adam can't find happiness and beauty in Heaven and his only source of joy is knowing others suffer more than him:

Fuckin' Hell is forever And it's meant to suck a lot!

And yet, Hell might be meant to suck a lot, but Heaven shouldn't:

St. Peter and Emily: 'Cause every single day in Heaven is a happy day Welcome to Heaven

Still, Heaven could not make Adam happy. And if Heaven can't make its own people happy, then what is the point of such a Kingdom?

Sera: It's your position to keep them happy and joyful. Emily: How can I bring joy when I now know we are bringing misery to thousands of innocent people?

Adam is a character that embodies Heaven's problems, not only because he is an evil monster, but even moreso because he is an unhappy and unsatisfied man.

Here are my two cents on him :D We'll see if he comes back and manages to get some development!

Thank you for the ask!

[era-the-witchy-birdkid]

DP X DC Prompt/Idea

Long time writer for the DC fandom (mostly Batman specifically Tim Drake joins the batfam early AUs and Titans Tower AU) on Archive, Danny Fenton also known as Astroboy2025, decides three days after his ‘Accident’ to create a Jason wakes up a Halfa in his coffin fic. He only does this to help himself process his emotions after well lets be honest his death and revival. And later once the ghost attacks pick up and he picks up the mantle of a hero as a way to covertly get advice/figure out on how to fight ghosts better by transplanting all his ghosts into Gotham for Fic!Jason to fight.

Danny wasn’t expecting much to come from this, he wasn’t expecting the fic to blow up in popularity for ‘creative storylines’ and ‘unique original villains with a ghostly flare to go against the ghostly Robin now named Phantom’ it was just a vent fic with a bit of wishful thinking on his part with Ghost!Jason and Bruce's relationship being so close (He ends up writing Jason getting hugs and affirmations that Bruce still loves despite all the ghost stuff that happening now whenever his Parents go on a tirade about how all ghosts are evil and need to be ripped apart��molecule by molecule)

He definitely wasn't expecting his fans to find out about the real Phantom and figure out his identity from there. (Blame Penelope Spectra she had a history unlike the others in his rogues gallery with a bloody trail across America of sharply increase Suicide rates in more isolated smaller cites/large towns that was being tracked by Redditers that had hard stopped in Amity park just a few days before he dropped the chapter of Jason facing her himself)

While the Amity Park tourism to see a IRL Hero in action, and the Anti-Ecto acts Riots, as they would later be called, made by DC fans throwing a fit about the threat to the world’s first superhero were the lesser consequence in the grand scheme of things. Finding his fan Discord was a trip and a half especially since Tucker had to hack into it into the first place because his fans we're extremely protective of his secret ID and reinforced the server a crapton to be stronger then most banks.

While Sam was insisting on this being a horrible Idea and he should try to dissuade his thousands of fans from the truth of his Identy. Danny was just chill with it after the brief panic. And the Fan Discord was super helpful for getting Advce with! while the jokes that he was Batman Adoption bait was annoying the group was amazing for ideas on how to train his powers and advice on how to better fight ghosts. the Discord even make a Power list for him so he wouldn’t forget a power because he wasn’t training it. plus the comfort they gave after Circus Gothica was A+ even with the jokes about how the Batfam curse of clown trauma, despite matching the look as a human batman isn’t real so as much as his fans joke about him being the prefect Bat bait that will not happen.

To bad after a particularly nasty ghost hate rant in front of him in ghost form while being shot at by his parents that before the server would spawn 3 chapters of Family fluff in his fic, was whatched angrily by a fan who in a fit of annoyed rage said these words. “I really wish batman WAS real, then maybe you could be safe in your home for once”

unfortunately Desiree was out and about and heard the wish granted she had no idea who Batman was so went to read the DC comics after that. Good news the DC universe is so messed up as is that Desiree decided no twisting was necessary she’d just to bring everything to life. Bad news all the supervillains now exist along side the now existing superheros and Desiree is now Kaiju sized and now way to powerful for Danny to deal with alone... 

At least the now real Batfam are taking their sudden existence well? and are willing to help Danny stop the Mad Genie dispite the risk that they would pop into nonexistence (with the entire city of Gotham and the other cities, villains, and heroes made real by Desiree’s power) if she’s stopped

[cetaitlaverite]

Anything to Anywhere

Masters of the Air - John Egan x OC

masterlist is hereee <3

19. Mourning Doves

“God, I just can’t stop thinking about it,” Stella said to no one in particular. Lying back on her bed, freshly showered and in her pyjamas, her trusty childhood teddy bear right beside her and all the radiators turned up now that winter had officially fallen; she couldn’t have been further away from what Guy, one of the 161 pilots, was likely going through right now. “Camped out with the Resistance in occupied France,” she went on, shaking her head. She shut her eyes as she tried to picture it; the dark, the cold, the fear. It made her stomach turn. “It must be the scariest thing in the world.”

From the bed opposite Stella’s, Houds gave a noncommittal hum, tactfully uttered in time with the rhythmic rise and fall of the balled up pair of socks she was throwing and catching as she, too, lounged back on her bed. “Well, he’s got a better chance of surviving out there than we would. Official RAF documents and an official RAF uniform - if he gives himself up he’ll be a prisoner of war, yes, but the Germans adhere to the Geneva Convention. At least then he’d definitely survive the war, which is more than any of us over here can say. Much more than we’d be able to say if we went down, undeclared lady pilots as we are.”

“I hope he does give himself up,” Donny said. For her part, she was sitting on her bed, beside Houds’, and painting her toenails a bright shade of red. “It’ll be so much worse if he gets caught trying to escape.”

Lucky scoffed from where she was curled up on her side at Stella’s feet. “If the Germans cannot find the squadron he flew for - which they will not, since it is secret - then they will know he has been up to something suspicious. They will not treat him like any other RAF pilot.” She hummed an affirmative, as though agreeing with herself. “He should hide and escape.”

“But downed airmen caught trying to hide or escape get it worse,” Houds reasoned. Her rhythm never faltered, that balled up pair of socks going up and falling down over and over again like a pendulum. “Discovered downed airmen get about as bad treatment as we’d get if we ever went down.”

Donny reached out with the hand which had been holding her foot steady and gave Houds a firm thump for that one. “Don’t say things like that!”

“What?” Houds asked. Her socks had gone flying across the room with the impact of Donny’s whack but she didn’t bother to retrieve them, simply lay there rubbing her arm and pouting. “It’s true! You’ve heard what people have been saying about those dreadful civilian camps. The men here might get away with POW status but we certainly won’t - there’s no formal recognition of any women serving in the British military, much less flying for a secret squadron in the RAF. They’d assume we’re spies.”

All the blood had drained out of Stella’s face. Her body went still as she stared up at the ceiling above her. “What happens to spies?”

“No one knows,” Lucky said. “We only hear rumours.”

“Torture,” Houds elaborated. “And then medical experimentation. That’s what I heard.”

Donny thumped her again. “Would you shut up?!”

“Medical experimentation?” Stella asked. She felt sick. “Are you serious?”

Lucky gave her ankle a pat. “They are only rumours.”

“I wouldn’t put it past the Nazis though,” Stella pointed out. She didn’t feel like lying down any more, her stomach was too unsettled, so she pushed herself upright and pulled her knees into her chest.

Lucky sat up as well, leaning back against Stella’s shins, and shrugged. “Do not go down and we will not find out. Is simple.”

Reluctantly, Stella cracked a tiny smile. “I’ll try my best.”

“It’s not like they let us land anyway,” Houds pointed out. Pushing herself up, she climbed off her bed to retrieve her socks, speaking over her shoulder as she went, “They promised all four of us that we’d eventually fly for 161 and here we all are, stuck with 138.”

“Nothing wrong with 138,” Donny objected.

“That’s not the point,” Houds argued, returning to her bed and lying back down again. She recommenced her throwing and catching. “The point is, they keep promising us more and then taking it away again. Mouse told Bambi when she first got here that they were preparing her for 161 training, and now she’s been here for a month and nothing. Ten ferries flown and nothing!”

“If medical experimentation’s what’s waiting for me on the ground then maybe I don’t want to fly for 161,” Stella cut in. Her stomach was still rolling at the thought. “I’m quite happy dropping my Joes and turning around if it means I get to keep all my vital organs inside my body.”

Houds scoffed. “Oh, Bambi, don’t be a baby.”

Donny laughed. “She can’t help it! She got her name because she’s a baby.”

“I’m almost twenty-three!” Stella insisted. “In two days I’ll be twenty-three, and then I’ll be only three years younger than Lucky.”

“Such a baby!” Donny cooed. “You’re so cute, Babs.”

Stella scowled. “No one has ever described me as cute.”

Donny grinned at her. “I just did.”

“Are you excited for your birthday, Babs?” Lucky asked, turning to look at Stella and opting to lean sideways against her legs instead. “Twenty-three is a good age, I think.”

Stella shrugged and tried to give no other discernible reaction than that. “I don’t like my birthday, so not really.”

Donny gasped. “You don’t like your birthday?!”

“What’s not to like about a birthday?!” Houds demanded.

Stella laughed but the sound was strained and awkward to her own ears. Forced. “I’ve just never liked it.”

“But you get presents,” Donny said, frowning. “And cake. And attention. And people are obligated to be nice to you.”

Again, Stella gave that forced laugh. She couldn’t seem to help it. She didn’t really know what else to do with herself. “My birthdays are different from your birthdays, I suppose.”

Donny shook her head, an uncomprehending smile on her face. “What do you mean?”

“It’s fine, forget I said -”

“You do not get presents?” Lucky cut in. “Or you do not get cake or attention or people being nice?”

Stella sighed, lifting a hand to rub at her eyes. “The last time I got a birthday present I was eighteen,” she explained grudgingly. “I’ve never had a birthday cake.”

“You what?!”

“It’s fine!” Stella insisted. “It’s not a big deal -”

“It is a huge deal!” Donny cut across her.

Houds was nodding along with her, sitting up again now. “It is kind of the biggest deal ever, Bambi,” she agreed.

“Why have you never had a birthday cake?” Lucky wondered curiously.

Internally, Stella was cringing. She never should have said anything. “My family didn’t do birthday cakes,” she replied simply, picking at the blanket beneath her. “We didn’t have the money.”

“Ingredients for a cake are not expensive,” Houds pointed out.

Once more, Donny whacked her.

“And what is your favourite flavour of cake?” Lucky wondered next. “If you were going to have a birthday cake, you would have..?”

Stella shrugged. “I tried chocolate cake once and it was nice.”

“Once?” Donny echoed.

Lucky spoke before Houds could. “You know what you would love?”

“What?” Stella asked, humouring her.

“Coffee cake. My favourite cake, too.”

Houds scoffed. “Just because it’s your favourite -”

“Me and Babs have similar taste. She will enjoy coffee cake,” Lucky declared, and that was that. The final word.

Lucky had a way of commanding a room without being at all domineering. It was one of the first things Stella had loved about her, along with how she’d so immediately welcomed Stella without ever being overbearing about it.

Tonight, along with deciding that Stella’s favourite type of cake was coffee cake - even though Stella had never actually tried it - she had decided she was sleeping in Stella’s bed with her. Single bed though it was, when everyone tired of conversation and retired to bed, the two of them got snug beneath the covers and lay side by side in the dark, Ralph the teddy bear between them.

They said nothing and barely moved. After a while of contemplating the darkness above her, Stella closed her eyes.

When Lucky spoke, it was entirely out of nowhere, her voice barely a whisper to make sure she wasn’t overheard by Houds or Donny. “I have never had a best friend before,” she said. Her voice was so casual and yet so confessional all at once, like what she was saying was both a matter of great importance and also something Stella probably knew already.

Softly, with a warmth spreading through her chest, Stella smiled. “Me neither,” she whispered back. Because John would have been the closest thing she’d ever had to a best friend, but he’d had Buck. And then there had been Alice, but the two of them were more friends because they lived and worked together than they were because they adored each other. And Jessop - well, Jessop was Jessop and Stella was sure he hadn’t considered her a best friend either.

But with Lucky it was different. They had clicked so immediately, like something in each of them had chosen each other before they’d even met. Stella had felt almost instantly that she wouldn’t have to try very hard to convince Lucky to like her and she had been right; there was something easy about being with Lucky. There was no having to contort herself into something else to win approval, no having to spend every free moment with her just to ensure they were actually friends. The two of them existing at all was enough for them to be friends. The two of them having almost the exact same sense of humour, the same desire for occasional solitude, the same lack of patience with men was enough for them to be best friends.

“Am I your best friend, Babs?” Lucky asked next. Impossibly, her voice was even quieter now.

Stella swallowed. The sound was loud in the quiet. “Yes,” she confessed. “Am I yours?”

She held her breath while she awaited a reply.

She didn’t have to wait for long. “Yes,” Lucky said.

Stella smiled into the darkness, settling further into her mattress. She wanted so badly to tell John about this. More than that, she wanted John to meet Lucky and see how great she was for himself.

“Good,” was all Stella said in reply to Lucky.

“Good,” Lucky agreed.

Two days later, when the clock struck midnight, marking the start of Stella’s twenty-third birthday, she was in the air. With a spy tucked into the back of her Halifax, her chin buried in John’s jacket to ward off the chill, she hummed softly to herself, oblivious of the time, and smiled as she flew over the White Cliffs of Dover and headed across the Channel.

It never got old.

“Oi,” said the spy out of the darkness behind her, a man who must have been in his thirties. Stella knew nothing about him other than that he had such a kind face it was impossible to imagine he was a spy, which she supposed was exactly why he was one. “Miss Pilot,” he added, poking her shoulder.

“Yes?” she asked.

“One of your buddies on the ground told me it’s your birthday today.”

Stella laughed. “As soon as it strikes midnight it will be.”

“It’s twelve-oh-one,” the spy informed her.

Stella furrowed her eyebrows, lifting her right hand off of the yoke to check the time.

He was right. It was the nineteenth of November. Today, she turned twenty-three.

“Oh,” Stella said, laying her hand back on the yoke and looking over her shoulder at the spy. “You’re right. It’s my birthday.”

The spy was grinning at her. “Happy birthday! How old are ya?”

“Twenty-three today,” Stella said.

The spy’s eyes went wide. “Jesus Christ, lass,” he said. “At twenty-three me mam was still tying me shoelaces.”

Stella laughed, scoffing, and turned back to watch her course. “Well, look at you now.”

The spy was clearly an old hand at all this by now; by the time Stella called out that they were approaching the drop off point he was already sitting by the Joe hole, waiting for her to open the hatch.

“Happy birthday, Miss Pilot!” he called right before he parachuted out. “Make me one promise?”

“What’s that?” Stella called back.

“Do something this year that really fucking scares you,” he said. “It’s the last year of your early twenties, last year you can blame it on being a baby adult. Do something that makes it fucking count.”

Stella laughed but he was being serious.

“Do you promise?”

“Ten seconds to drop,” she shouted above the roar of the wind. “I promise!”

“Happy birthday, lass!” he said. “Make it fucking count!” With that, he parachuted out of the Joe hole, undoubtedly ready to cause absolute chaos in occupied France.

Everyone but Lucky was asleep when Stella got back. She didn’t always wait up for Stella, but she had today because of the occasion.

“Happy birthday!” she cheered, wearing a party hat as she sat on Stella’s bed. She’d placed a party hat on Ralph the teddy bear’s head, too, and had him sitting in her lap.

Stella laughed. “Go to sleep! You’re flying tomorrow!”

“I wanted to be the first to say it!” Lucky objected.

Stella grinned. “You weren’t. Someone told my Joe. He was the first.”

Lucky swore under her breath. “Who told him?”

“No idea. My money would be on Goose.”

Lucky nodded solemnly. “He knows all the Joes.”

“God knows how, since that’s not allowed at all.”

“This is why he still flies for 138,” Lucky said, grinning. “He has a big mouth. If he ever went down, the Nazis would know everything.”

Stella didn’t make it to breakfast the next morning. It was commonplace for those who had been flying the previous night to sleep in until lunch. But when she entered the tiny mess hall at one in the afternoon, still rubbing sleep from her eyes, she was stopped still in her tracks, her heart in her stomach, as an almighty cry of, “Happy birthday!” bombarded her with the force of a boulder rolling down a mountain.

“Fucking hell!” she shouted, horrified.

No one batted an eye.

“Happy birthday, Bambi!” Donny cried, skipping out of the crowd with Lucky and Houds hot on her heels. All of the gathered group were wearing the same type of party hat Lucky had been wearing last night and, on the far wall, they had strung up bunting which declared, “Happy birthday!” in bright colours.

“Twenty-three!” Lucky exclaimed, bounding towards Stella and skidding to a stop before her. “You are so old,” she said, giving her shoulder an affectionate jostle.

Stella scoffed but ducked her head nonetheless so Lucky could put a party hat on for her.

“We have birthday cake for breakfast,” Donny said, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she waited for Lucky to finish and then grabbing Stella’s hand. She led her over to the centre of the mess hall, where one table had been covered with a plastic tablecloth and already had plates laid out in front of all the seats. In the centre of the table were two glass cake stands, each displaying a cake, one of them a dark brown and the other much lighter in colour.

“Lucky made us get coffee cake but I got chocolate as well,” Houds cut in from behind them, explaining the second. “Just in case.”

Stella grinned at her over her shoulder. “Houds,” she said, her voice soft and high-pitched because she was touched. She reached out and gave her arm a squeeze. “Thank you.”

Houds brushed her aside, turning her face away and shrugging. “Chocolate is my favourite, don’t be too touched.”

Stella laughed but couldn’t add anything more because the next thing she knew she was being shoved into one of the seats opposite the centre of the table, and then Donny was shouting above all the chatter that she wanted to be the one to cut and hand out the cake. Stella got the first two slices - one of coffee cake and one of chocolate cake, just in case - and in amongst the chaos of everyone else fighting for a slice of either one, Stella took a moment to stare down at her plate.

Her first birthday cake and she’d been given two, just to make sure she liked at least one of them. There were tears stinging in her eyes, as there seemed to be so often these days. She’d never cried more than she had since coming to Tempsford but she couldn’t find it in her to resent the development; her tears were happy ones far more often than not, and when they were sad they were because of John, a physical expression of all the affection she had stored up for him which she’d never given herself permission to show.

She marvelled at the effort this group of people who had known her for only a month had gone to for her. She had had twenty-two cake-less birthdays and a month after arriving here she had gotten two at once. Not only that, they had decorated for her and made sure to gather and sit with her at lunch.

This was, without a shadow of a doubt, her favourite birthday.

Maybe she wouldn’t have to try very hard to make her twenty-third year count after all, as her Joe last night had bid her. Maybe it would come naturally.

“Dig in, then, birthday girl,” Goose said from across the table, his mouth already full of cake. “You waiting for a personal invitation?”

Stella laughed, the sound wet and weepy, and when she looked up at him she had to swipe a few rogue tears off of her cheeks.

From the seat beside her, Lucky wrapped her arm around Stella’s shoulders and tucked herself into her side. “Happy birthday, Babs. Now eat your coffee cake. Is delicious, I promise.”

Stella rested her head atop her best friend’s as she picked up her fork and dug into the first of her two birthday cakes. Lucky did the same, and she left her head tucked beneath Stella’s as she did. And the two of them sat there like that throughout lunch, plastered together and eating their cake, their heads ducked together like a pair of mourning doves.

[starfirewildheart]

Scars and Souvenirs 

Chapter 2

Summary: Sy and his lady both retire from the army but not before tragedy befalls Sy. He slowly tries to adjust to life again on their ranch.

Pairing: Sy / OFC

Word count: 2,324

Rating: NO MINORS, NSFW under cut. Police yourself please, mentions of war, being a POW, death and animal abuse. A little more detail in this one. More abused animals rescued all happy endings I promise.

Sy texted Debbie for the tenth time. His Ma was still talking and didn't look to be slowing down anytime soon and he didn't want her doing all the work herself.

Sy: Sugar, come back to the house. Ma's still ramblin' a mile a minute and showing no signs of slowin' down. Got steaks marinating for dinner. We can put the round bales out tomorrow and I'll help you finish brushin' everyone down then.

Deb: You spend time with your mom. I got dis! I have one more thing to do and then I'm comin' to the house. I haven’t been alone all day anyway. I have a friend.

Sy: oh?

(Not my dog or my pic)

Deb: she said you better have some steak for her too!

"Austin, are you listening to me?" Sara Syverson scolded.

"Sorry," he told her sheepishly. " I'm trying to get Deb to stop for the day. She's been out there for hours."

"Well honey it's hard work taking care of animals, she needs to know that."

Sy's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "What?"

"This animal rescue stuff is all her idea. She's spending your money and using you as a workhorse," she fussed. She loved her son and it broke her heart to see him used like this.

"Wait just a minute here, ma. I don't know what you're going on about but you are very wrong! This ranch was my dream and I asked her to join me.  When we heard about the horses being abused and sold for meat we BOTH wanted to rescue them, not just her." He moved to sit by her on the soda and took her hand. "I don't know why you don't like her or what's going on with you but you're blaming her for things that aren't her fault."

"You are with her 24/7. Is it too much to ask that you spend some time with your momma?" 

Sy cringed, "No of course not. I'm sorry," he hugged her as he tried to blink the tears from his eyes. "I never realized," his breath caught in his throat. "I'll do better, I promise."

The screen door banged open and Aika came bounding in jumping up on Sy sensing his anxiety. Debbie came in a few seconds later. "Wheew it's hot out there." She stopped in her tracks as she picked up on the heaviness in the room. "Is everything ok?" 

"Yea," Sy got up and hugged her. "We've just been catchin' up." She gave him a concerned look but didn't push. "Will you fix your famous potatoes for the grill before you take a shower sugar?"

Deb laughed. "Are you trying to say I smell, Sir?" She teased as she headed to the kitchen squeaking when he playfully smacked her ass.

"Ya reek sugar," he smirked as he got the foil out for her.

She could feel Sara's eyes on her as they moved around the kitchen, perfectly attuned to each other without even having to speak. She scrubbed her hands good then put some butter in a dish to melt in the microwave before moving to the sink to scrub the potatoes. Once that was done she retrieved the melted butter and started tearing off sheets of foil for each one. Brushing the potatoes all over with the butter  she then sprinkled them with sea salt, Italian herbs, garlic and onion powder then wrapped them all up tightly. "You sure that's all you want me to do?"

"Affirmative, get outta here." He smacked her ass again then grabbed her wrist and pulled her flush against him kissing her when she started to walk away. He took advantage of her soft gasp and deepened the kiss exploring her mouth and getting lost in the feeling of her pressed tight against him. They both nearly jumped out of their skin when his mom's voice rang out loudly. Deb hid her flushed face against his neck.

"It's getting late. Shouldn't you be starting dinner?" Sara sighed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'm gonna go clean up," She said, still blushing wildly. She didn't miss the disapproving look Sara shot her as she rushed out of the room.

~~~~~~♡~~~~~~

Sy watched as Deb flopped face first across the bed still fully dressed. He toed off his boots and laid down on his back beside, her resting his hand on her ass. 

" Mmmmm mmmmhm hummm." He laughed, "can't understand you with your face smashed in the mattress sugar." She turned her face toward him. "Your mom hates me"

"No, it's not you sugar, it's me. She's not been the same since I got stateside," he shrugged. "Guess her baby boy is too broken now." If the word 'D'fuq??' had a face Debbie was using it on him now and he couldn’t help the big belly laugh that escaped him.

"Austin Lee Syverson, that woman loves you more than life itself." She got to her hands and knees and straddled him pressing soft kisses on his lips and jaw. "And you, my love, are not broken. You are handsome, loving, passionate, strong, a leader, a hero." She punctuated each word with a kiss or a nip to his neck as she reached under his shirt and lightly ran her nails over his chest and stomach.

"Fuck", Sy moaned as she ground her core against his now hard bulge. "Way too many clothes," he growled before quickly stripping them both. This time he crawled on top of her with a wicked grin. He kissed his way down her body only stopping when he reached her shaved mound. "Mine," his growl was possessive. Since his return he was extremely possessive of her and didn't want anyone else even near her. He wanted the world to know she was his so he had started marking her by sucking or biting places and today it would be here.

He bent her legs and pushed them up to her chest, opening her beautiful flower to him. "So wet for me sugar. Look at you, already clinching, needing my cock."

"Please Sy," She mewled as she bucked up trying for his touch.

He quickly thrust three fingers knuckle deep into her while taking his left hand and exposing her hidden pearl before diving in and licking and sucking it.

"Oh fuck! Sy!" She circled her hips thrusting against his hand and mouth seeking that pleasure starting to build in her belly. The scruff on his face was leaving beard burn but she didn’t care Sy's mouth was a national treasure and the way he used suction and even a light scraping of teeth could make her cum in an instant. "Oh god!" She reached down and pushed his face harder against her throbbing pussy fucking up against his face until she cum with a scream, her body clenching and quivering, her legs shaking. As the throb started to die down she felt Sy's teeth sink in gently against her bare mound marking her causing her to his and yelp.

He licked the mark he'd made to soothe the ache before placing a kiss on the red mark already forming then crawled back up her body. "Mine."

"Only yours, always," She pulled him into a kiss, tasting herself on his tongue.

He kept her legs hitched up by his arms and rubbed his cock over her still sensitive folds before he started pressing inside her. They both moaned at the sensation."So fuckin' tight. Your body is made for me, sugar. Fits like a fuckin glove."

Debbie clinched around him as he filled her almost to full, the final push making her feel like she was going to burst leaving her panting. "So big baby. So full." She was beyond the ability to string words together at this point much less form sentences.

Always the best at what he does, Sy moved slowly at first. Slow, languid thrusts while he circled his hips. After her third orgasm clamped down on him he couldn’t hold back any more and started pounding into her. The sounds of skin slapping against skin, the wet sound of her juices leaking out around him and the cock drunk look of bliss on her face and he felt his balls start to draw up tight and his dick swell even more. "One more sugar. Give me one more. I wanna feel you milking me when I cum!" Reaching between them he started rubbing her clit and soon they were both falling apart crying out each other's names as he collapsed on top of her. He laid there a minuet before slipping out of her and rolling to his side pulling her against him. "I love you."

Deb snuggled to his side and pressed a kiss to his chest. "Love to Sy."

~~~~~~♡~~~~~~

A few days had passed and things were normal on the ranch. Deb had been researching an upcoming auction while Sy was trying to find a home for a mare and her foal that were ready for a family. "The Winston's are going to take them," he smiled happily.

"That’s wonderful. Their little girl will have a ball with the foal."

He walked over to her desk and sat on the edge of it. "Any prospects? "

"A few, sadly. There are a lot of rumors about a stallion that was beaten and abused to the point no one could even approach him then left uncared for. I read that his hooves are so overgrown they are curled around his feet."

"Damn," he shook his head. "I'll have the farrier and the vet on stand-by for Friday morning. Hopefully we can get him calm enough to give him some help right away."

"Sometimes I just really hate people."

He kissed the top of her head and hugged her.  "There are a few good ones out there still."

"So What you're saying is I can't break 'em all and make' em snap like glow sticks or push 'em down the stairs like slinkies?" She asked innocently. 

He flashed his crooked grin. "Just a few of the many reasons I love ya."

"Life will never be boring with me."

"That’s for damn sure," he chuckled. "Do we have everything we need in case this storm front is as bad as they think it's gonna be?" It was that season where bad weather could knock the power for days due to floods, wind and debris and they were calling for a bad one to start late tonight or early in the morning. 

"Animal's food and backup water supply is safely stored and ready. Aika had plenty of food and treatos. I stocked up on food and supplies for us yesterday and incase shit really hits the fan we gave the lovely MRE's hidden in the closet." They both cringed at the thought. "We filled the sandbags and got them ready the day before yesterday and we picked up three gerri cans of fuel for the generators. We are about as set as we are gonna be." She could see the crease between his brows and that he was chewing at his bottom lip which were all warnings of anxiety building in him. She reached over and put her hand on his thigh giving it a gentle squeeze. "You worried sweetheart?"

He took her hand in both of his. She could always tell if even the slightest thing was off with him. She and she alone was the reason that he made it through his POW recovery and the loss of his men. She spent weeks just holding him while he screamed and cried fighting tortures who were no longer there physically but in his mind were electrocuting him, beating him, breaking his bones, stabbing him, burning him, trying to drown him and killing his men and torturing them in front of him because he was an officer and they wanted information. He shook the thoughts from his mind when he felt her hands on his face and saw her standing in front of him. "No, I'm not worried about the storm sugar."

"Then what's going on up here? " She softly tapped his forehead. 

"Ma needs me to come by and put some sand bags by her back door and put the shutters on her windows."

"Ok." She wasn't sure why he'd be upset by that. "I'll grab my shoes."

"She wants me to come alone."

Ah, there it was. Sy hadn't spent more than 20 minutes without Debbie where she could get to him quickly since he landed in Germany.  She was his anchor. According to the army shrink, just the same way that sounds, smells and other things could trigger PTSD her voice, her scent and her touch helped ground him and pull him back. "I can go and wait in the truck," She offered.

He pressed his forehead against hers. "No. It's just Ma's place right? What could possibly happen to trigger me there? Besides, I've not had a flashback in months. I'll be fine."

He tried to sound convincing but she could tell he felt anything but. Protectiveness told her to demand to go with him but she knew she couldn't. Sy was a grown man making astounding strides in recovery and she had to show him her faith in him. She smiled and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "I'm a text or call away if you need anything." 

He gave her a kiss and a hug before calling for Aika and heading to his moms.

@shellyshellshell

@enchantedbytomandhenry

[norbezjones]

Bez Reviews Independent Books 2: To Wield The Darkest Night

Hey everyone!  I wanna do little reviews/writeups for the independently-published books I find on itch.io, and so, here I am.  I want to review one book every month or two (or quicker, if I’m lucky); it’ll get me reading more, and get authors who often go without feedback some thoughts on their work!  I think it’ll be cool for everyone!

If you want your book reviewed, the only requirement I have is that it’s hosted on itch.io.  Even if itch is just one of many places you can get the book, I want to review books that have a home there at least.  Feel free to get in touch with me with your books—I’m @NorbezJones on Twitter (I refuse to call it X), Bluesky, Pillowfort, Threads, Instagram, and Tumblr; I’m norbez2.0 on Discord.

Looking forward to seeing your books! <3

__________

I’m back, and sooner than expected!  Today I’m reviewing To Wield The Darkest Night by Beau Van Dalen, which is a medieval fantasy book I was looking forward to for quite some time.  It’s about a transmasc apothecary named Sol who is seeing a handsome knight in his dreams—then, the knight (named Yohan) shows up IRL asking for Sol to help cure the king with a potion!  Sol & Yohan set off on this quest, and end up falling in love along the way.

This review contains light spoilers and discusses adult topics!  Minors, stay out!

The story definitely came across to me as a wish fulfillment type of tale.  Yohan is perfect boyfriend to Sol: he’s affirming & accepting of Sol’s transness, advocates for his boyfriend whenever he can, and is a wonderful lover in bed.  It’s not “totally realistic” or whatever, but it doesn’t have to be—when being transmasc is tough (I’m transmasc, if you didn’t know), sometimes you need a babygirl knight in a book to tell you that you deserve to take up space.

That’s especially important for Sol, who is struggling to be out as himself at the start of the book, and also has a lot of trauma thanks to a past mentor.  I related strongly to both of those things, and I thought they were depicted with great care.  Yohan basically demonstrates how one should act towards someone with that baggage.

Existence is a theme woven in throughout the book.  There are multiple times where the line “He [Sol] exists,” is said, usually to emphasize a moment when Sol’s transness is affirmed.  Sol refers to being out & open about his transness as “finally existing”.  And the book ends like this:

“And in the darkness the world has never been this bright—between their sweat-soaked skin, glowing orange under the flicker of candlelight in the room there is warmth, and they exist. “Finally, they exist. “They exist. They exist. They exist.”

To exist as you are as a queer person is a blessing like no other, and it is a blessing Yohan gives Sol.  Through Yohan’s affirmation & love, Sol gains the courage to be who he is, to finally live instead of just survive.

I’ll touch on the sex scenes briefly.  There’s a beautiful arc within the sex scenes as Sol lets Yohan explore more of his body, and the two experiment in bed, all while growing closer to one another.  You can also feel the desire they have for each other oozing off of the words on the page.  Their love is absolutely potent.

If I had any complaints about the book, well, the beginning is a little rocky.  There’s lots of information dumped on the reader in the beginning—quick bursts of info, like pow pow pow!  It can be a bit overwhelming.

I also wish the book dwelled more on the dreams Sol had about Yohan.  I would have like to see what exactly Sol’s visions of the knight were, instead of being told about them in passing.  We are told that the dreams grip Sol’s mind, but are never shown the exact contents.

But those are minor nitpicks about what is otherwise a very beautiful book.  Honestly, the book feels sacred in a way, a beautiful tale of transmasc affirmation and undying love.  I really loved it, and definitely recommend it.

If you want to read To Wield The Darkest Night, you can purchase it here on itch.io, or go here for other ways to buy it.  Go get it!  Please!

Thanks for reading! Please look forward to the next review!

[stawpny]

AUGH

1989 TAYLORS VERSION SOUNDS SO GOOD

SHE DID HARRY SO DIRTY 😭 (I don’t even like harry styles)

Anyways, it’s been a while!

ya ya

—

-NV, CA, NY: insomniacs, gay, and serve 24/7. Nevada forces them to wear dresses, having their own fashion show at 2 in the morning! It’s not like they are going to sleep.

-New York and California definitely go out in the middle of the night to wherever. They could just walk around a scenic area holding hands while telling each other stupid things that happened that day, making the other laugh.

-New York and New Jersey are insufferable on long car rides. They could just talk to each other like no one else is in the car (they wish to unhear these things) or just have a screaming match across the car while Connecticut is in the middle. After they shut up they just shoot angry glares at each other.

-When one of the states are upset, Mass will just yell words of affirmation at them, New York will sit down next to them and just give them little tiny trinkets that he has in his pockets, New Jersey will actually try to talk to you, and Connie would too, but in a more effective way. Nevertheless, they care, but they all have their different ways.

-NY/CA = Black Cat/Golden Retiver (I might’ve said this already, but idk)

-New York will just point to anything and just say, “this is me if you even care” and it’s usually something really stupid. (self insert!! 😭)

-he has big blue/green eyes that stare into your soul. California has light brown eyes which also stare directly into your soul, but less so since York has the “blue eye stare”.

-overprotective Massachusetts>>>>>>

-York was a POW during the revolution, as we all know. I can imagine how distraught NJ, CT, and MA were on his birthday, or just thinking of him in general since they thought for sure that he was dead. (his birthday would technically be when he was like found, but I’m just gonna say July 26th [his statehood day])

-apparently, the Dutch brought cookies, pancakes, waffles, and other foods to the US. I can just imagine York first introducing cookies to the other states.

-called Mass, ‘massa’ when they were younger. Or sometimes just ‘chusettes’. he could never pronounce the whole word.

—

Can you tell I’m running out of ideas???

anyways, I hope you liked this

I will have better ones next time I swear

Ily guys!

[itsjustvane]

Hello guys 🧚🧚‍♂️ a trick to manifest everything you want, is just affirm when you feel it, when your body and soul feel that it is right, do not spend all day searching in your 3D reality, when a negative thought comes to you change it for another positive example: I don't have money/ I always have enough money, and then let it go, because if you spend all day looking for results you only stop your desire.

I love you guys, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

The Monokubs Final Frontier: Part 2.

Alright guys! Spread yourselves apart! Don’t let him take us all out at once!

Got it!

AFFIRMATIVE!

Hah!

...!

*BANG!* *BANG!*

Grr! *SLAM!*

HUAGH!

Hup!

*SHUNK!*

*Heeding Kaede’s words, Monodam and Sora dart left and right, effectively surrounding Monotaro. Sora is the first to lunge at the red bear, taking a swing with her giant metal fist. Monotaro dodges the attack and shoots Sora point blank with a shotgun blast. Sora shakes this blast off, then backhands Monotaro’s Exisal. As she does, Kaede swoops down from above, and attempts to run the Exisal through with her spear. Monotaro dodges however, and Kaede’s weapon lodges into the ground.

Hup! Yugh! Hah!

Heehee!

Rrr! Ha-CHAH!

OOPH!

*Kaede plucks her spear out of the ground, and starts to slash at Monodam once switching it into Kill Mode. When Monotaro dodges the spear’s blade, Kaede swiftly changes her strategy, switching into Bludgeoning Mode, and throwing the spear behind her. She calls it back like a boomerang, and it flies straight into the gut of the Exisal, knocking Monotaro backwards.

I-HAVE-YOU-NOW!

Gaagh!

*CRASH!* *BANG!*

*As the Exisal flies backwards, Monodam grabs it with his own mech, and throws his brother to the other side of the room. Monotaro’s Exisal crumples on the floor.

Good! Keep it up guys!

Pah...Hrrgh...Alright then...

*WHOOSH!* *WHIIRR*!

!!?

Guess I should...take you more seriously.

*The Exisal recovers and spins around at a speed unlike Kaede had seen from any of the others. Monotaro’s masterful control of his mech is made apparent.

Huaaagh!

GRUGH!

*Monotaro rushes with his Exisal’s rocket boosters towards Kaede, who holds up her spear and blocks his incoming attack.

Hruagh! WAH!

*CHUNK!* *BANG!*

UAGH!

HIYAGH!

*CRUNCH!*

UHUGH!

Kaede!

*PTCHOO!*

FORE!

*PING!* *CLUNK!*

WAUGH!

*In a swift motion, Monotaro knocks Kaede off balance with an arm blade, then like before, attempts to blast her point blank with a shotgun blast. Kaede thankfully dodges the attack in time, but she lands in a position where Monotaro can rush forward and smash his Exisal into her. Seeing her ally in trouble, Sora attempts to shoot a grappling hook from her Exisal’s wrist and bind Monotaro. However, Monotaro sees this coming, and swings his Exisal’s arms upwards, knocking the hook into the cieling. With the hook lodged there, Sora trips over when she tries to grab Monotaro.

Uhugh...Tch...!

HIYAAAGH!

*POW!* *BAAANG!*

!!??

*Kaede quickly recovers, despite Monotaro’s heavy attack, and throws her spear directly at him. However, with the shotgun in his arm, Monotaro blasts the air in front of him and knocks the spear out of the sky, milliseconds before it can hit him.

HAAH!

...!

*CHUNK!*

HMPH!

*TOOOH!*

!!? HUAAGH!

*THUD!*

AAGH!

*When Monodam tries to attack, he protrudes an arm blade and runs in for a stab. Before he can, Monotaro grabs his arm, and then narrowly dodges as Monodam fires the blade from his wrist. Monotaro counterattacks by yanking Monodam forward, and punching his Exisal in the cockpit.

*SHWEENG!* Hah!

UGH!

*WHOOSH!*

...MISSED-ME!

Heh...Maybe...But what did I hit instead?

!!?

*As Monodam dodges a set of gigantic shurikens that Monotaro throws at him, he immediately turns around after hearing this chilling line.

Guh! There we go-

*SHUNK!* *SHUNK!* *SHUNK!*

GAAAGGH!

NO!

SORA!

*The shurikens that Monodam avoids instead fly behind him, and all three land perfectly in Sora’s Exisal.

WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING!? HIIIYAAAGH!!

AAAAAAAH!

*CRASH!*

*Monodam isn’t given a second to breath, as Monotaro grabs his Exisal and throws him upwards towards the generator, sending him crashing into it!

Hey! Be careful! If this battery or me gets destroyed, we’re screwed!

*SHUNK!*

GAGH!

*Yamato yelps in fright, as another huge shuriken suddenly flies towards him, piercing through the area just underneath him.

Thanks for telling me that, doc! Now I know-BAGH!

HRUAGH!

*Monotaro can’t finish his sentence before Kaede suddenly flies towards him, ramming him with her spear and smashing him into the wall.

Doesn’t matter! You aren’t getting anywhere near him!

HuuhCHAGH!

GRRGH!

*WHOOSH!* *CATCH!*

*Monotaro flings Kaede off of him, and she recalls her spear as she skids along the ground backwards.

Hmph! We’ll see about that!

*Brum...!* *WHIIIIIRRRR!*

Oh boy...A little help!?

Ugh...! I got it!

*CLUNK!*

*Monotaro’s wrist protrudes a set of spinning razor blades, which he tries to bring down on Kaede. Before he can, Sora rushes over and grabs his arm. Kaede then takes the end of her spear, and lodges it into the razor blade, disabling them.

Drgh...RAAWR!

*PTCHOO! PTCHOO! PTCHOO!*

!!!?

HAH!

*SHUNK! SHUNK! SHUNK!*

*Monotaro puts some distance between him and his opponents, then leans down and fires large crossbow bolts from the back of his mech. Before Kaede can be pierced, Monodam jumps in the way and shields her, sending both of them sliding back.

Ugh...Quit saving me! I told you to stop doing that!

WE-WILL-KEEP-HIM-DISTRACTED. POWER-UP-A-BULLET.

Ok...Be careful.

KABUYA-SAMA! ARE-YOU-COMBAT-READY?

Well, I definitely don’t want to be hit by any more Shurikens!

*Monodam and Sora rush in and grab Monotaro, wrestling with him and forcing him to the ground.

Kaede, do it! Blast him!

Wh-What if I hit one of you!?

DO-NOT-WORRY! JUST-FIRE!

Grrgh! Huh...Hahaha!

Wh-What are you laughing about?

It’s not you...she should be worried about...!

Huh!?

KABUYA-SAMA! HIS-WRIST!

!!??

*Monodam and Sora do not react in time, as Monotaro throws a shuriken towards Kaede with his free wrist, just as she fires.

WAH!

...Huh?

*CHUNK!* *PING!* *POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!*

Oh crap, Oh CRAP, OH CRAP, OH CRAP, OH-!

*BTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM!!*

...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

YAMATOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

!!!!???

*Monotaro’s expert throw causes Kaede to miss...and not only that, but her blast goes upwards, and hits Yamato and the reactor dead on...! Monotaro also throws the distracted Monodam and Sora off of him.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Well, how about that!? YOU did my job FOR ME!

No no no no noooo...!

*Kaede helplessly falls to her knees and drops her weapon, hope quickly draining from her body.

You bastard...I’m gonna turn you from red and white to BLACK AND BLUE!

Oh? Gonna kill me like you did your little computer friend? Sorry, I don’t feel like...

*BEEP!* *BEEP!*

Hm?

*A strange noise suddenly sparks from the monitors above the group. All of them look up for a second, and suddenly, one of the lower monitors sparks up.

GAGH! Hah...hah..NOT TODAY DEATH! Yamato Kisaragi beat you once before, and he can DO IT AGAAAAAAIINNN!!

KISARAGI!

Oh thank GOD you’re alive!

Phew! That was like a nightmare!

Yeah, I’m good! And we’re still going strong! But uh...maybe don’t do that again?

I definitely won’t if I can help it!

GRRRR! Trashy little...! Why won’t you all JUST DIE!?

*CHUNK!* *FWOOOOOOMM!*

‘Cause I’m stronger than even someone like you...!

*WHOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *FLUNK!*

Ah-!?

*As Monotaro powers up a flamethrower, Kaede lobs her spear towards him and maneuvers it in the air to fan the flames back as it gets closer. The spear then lodges into the flamethrower and destroys it.

Yeah...!

*SLAM!*

UGH!

*After her panic subsides, Sora closes the hood of the Exisal, then rushes back towards Monotaro, immediately smashing him in the face with a heavy metal fist.

You may be strong, and surprisingly strategic, but you haven’t had a real fight in over a decade!

*SMASH!* *BANG!* *WALLOP!* *BASH!*

We’ve had them...EVERY! FUCKING! HOOOUUUR!

GRRGH!

Hey, Greenie! Catch!

*Sora grabs Monotaro’s Exisal, and tosses him towards Monodams, who rushes towards him with an arm blade protruded. Monotaro unsheathes some shurikens from his wrist, and clashes blades with his robotic brother.

I...am the Monokubs leader...! You should be doing what I SAY!

...NOT-ANYMORE...BROTHER...

*KER-CHUNK!* *POW!*

*Monodam gets a good hit in, sending Monotaro toppling backwards.

This is it! KAEDE! SCRAP HIM!

GOT IT! HAAAAAGH!

Hrgh...Hehehe...Time for Plan M...

PLAN-M?

HOOOOYAAAAGGGH!

*BZZZTT* *FZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTT!*

Huh!? What the-!?

*Against all expectations, Monotaro suddenly turns around, and aims with what looks to be an electricity cannon at the central reactor! The reactor starts to glow an unnatural blue, then the room illuminates with electrical sparks!

What the-! Woah WOAH WOAH!

AAAH!

*CHONK!*

!!!!??

*PTCHOO!* *CLUNK!*

*Kaede and Monodam suddenly both go hurtling towards the reactor, and slam into it; Kaede’s spear being pinned to the wall and trapping her hand in it. Sora starts to slide towards it too, but thinks quickly, and grapples herself to the wall. However, her Exisal hatch becomes unlodged and is torn off the main body, flying towards the reactor. The hatch sticks to the reactor, and Kaede narrowly dodges it before her face becomes flattened against it. Monotaro cackles, his Exisal being rooted to the ground with a set of grappling hooks.

Wh-What’s going on!?

THE-REACTOR! MONOTARO-POWERED-UP-THE-ELECTRIC-CURRENT-AND-CREATED-A-MASSIVE-ELECTROMAGNET!

That weapon of yours is controlled through EM waves made by that glove, right? Then all I need is a bigger magnet! Alright...THIS is where you DIE!

*SLICE!*

!!!??

*Monotaro throws a carefully aimed shuriken, taking advantage of the increased pull of the magnet, and carves off Monodam’s Exisal hatch. He then throws another star straight at the bear.

...NOOOOOO!!

*PUNT!*

!!!???

*SHUNNNNKKK!*

...!

!!!???

!!!???

*To everyone’s horror, Kaede uses her limited movement, to rush over, and boot Monodam’s mech out of the way of the star...but in turn, she puts herself in the perfect position, and Monotaro’s star pierces her straight through the shoulder...!

Ah...*COUGH!*...*SPLUTTER!*

*Kaede starts to cough up a ton of blood, and her body goes limp.

KAAAAAAAAAAEEDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Dammit...I won’t miss this time!

...!

...!

*As Monotaro readies another shuriken, Monodam and Sora suddenly simultaneously see an opening. Before either makes a move, they look towards each other.

...!

...!

*Ferociously, they both nod, and then...

*SHONK!*

HUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!!

*CRRAAAAASSSHHH!!*

BUHHUUHHAAGGH!??

*Sora suddenly retracts her grapple, and lets herself fly towards the reactor magnet! The momentum and angle is perfect, and she flies and crashes straight into Monotaro! He becomes unlodged from the ground, and his Exisal also flies towards the magnet. But the impact of two Exisal’s crashing into the reactor at once badly damages it, and the electromagnetic pull dissipates after a few seconds, as it powers down!

Uhugh...

*Kaede collapses onto the floor, unmoving.

Kaede! 

...YOU...

Grgh...Huh?

*The powerful impact into the magnet leaves both Monokid’s and Monotaro’s Exisals completely destroyed. With the magnet down, and his brother crawling on the floor, Monodam menacingly approaches him.

GGRRR!

*PUNK!* *WHAM!*

DUGH!

*Monotaro tries to throw a ninja star at Monodam, but it is deflected by his Exisal’s arm. Monodam pounds Monotaro, then grabs his brother with the Exisal’s big metallic hand.

...

No...w-wait...mono..dam...i...i can’t...breathe...!

*With an unfeeling and enraged look in his eyes, Monodam grabs his brother tightly, and begins to squeeze.

please...m-monodam...don’t...do this...We’re family...we...said...we’d be..together...till...the end...!

THIS...IS...THE-END...

hrrrrghh...GGRRRRUUUAAAGGHH!!

*POP!* *BCCHOOO!*

!!!??

...

*His unfeeling and somewhat malicious face retaining throughout the entire process...Monodam squeezes Monotaro so tightly...that he pops...!

//Monotaro...has died...//

[nikshahxai]

Mastering an Internal Locus of Control: A Guide to Personal Empowerment

In a world full of uncertainties, grasping the concept of locus of control can significantly enhance personal growth and empowerment. The difference between an internal and external locus of control is vital in how we view our ability to influence the events in our lives. This article delves into the advantages of fostering an internal locus of control and offers strategies to help you achieve it.

Understanding Locus of Control

Locus of control refers to how much individuals believe they can influence the outcomes in their lives. Those with an internal locus of control feel that their actions, choices, and efforts directly affect their success or failure. In contrast, individuals with an external locus of control attribute their outcomes to external factors like luck or fate.

Advantages of an Internal Locus of Control

Greater Resilience: People with an internal locus of control tend to recover more quickly from setbacks. They view challenges as opportunities for learning and development rather than insurmountable barriers.

Boosted Motivation: When you believe you can influence your life, your motivation increases. An internal locus of control encourages a proactive attitude, driving you to set and pursue goals persistently.

Better Decision-Making: Those who feel in control are more likely to make informed and deliberate choices. They assess risks and benefits based on their abilities rather than external conditions.

Higher Life Satisfaction: An internal locus of control correlates with greater happiness and life satisfaction. When you believe you can shape your own future, you’re more inclined to seek out rewarding experiences.

Strategies for Developing an Internal Locus of Control

1. Self-Reflection

Dedicate time to reflect on your beliefs about control. Journaling can help you identify thought patterns. Consider questions like:

In which areas of my life do I feel I have control?

Where do I often blame external factors for outcomes?

How can I adjust my perspective to take more ownership?

2. Set Achievable Goals

Break larger objectives into smaller, manageable tasks. Accomplishing these smaller goals reinforces your belief in your ability to effect change. Celebrate even minor achievements to build your confidence.

3. Practice Problem-Solving

When confronted with challenges, focus on what you can do to influence the situation. Analyze the problem, brainstorm possible solutions, and take action. This proactive approach strengthens your sense of control.

4. Seek Feedback and Learn

Request feedback from trusted friends, mentors, or colleagues. Constructive criticism can provide valuable insights into your strengths and areas for growth. Embrace a growth mindset and view feedback as an opportunity for development.

5. Cultivate a Positive Mindset

Challenge negative thoughts that promote an external locus of control. Replace statements like "I can’t control this" with "I can take steps to improve the situation." Use affirmations and positive visualization to reinforce a proactive mindset.

6. Surround Yourself with Supportive People

The company you keep can influence your beliefs and attitudes. Spend time with individuals who promote personal responsibility and growth. Engage in discussions that foster empowerment and inspire action.

7. Embrace Responsibility

Take ownership of your actions and their outcomes. Recognizing that your choices shape your reality enhances your sense of agency. Even in difficult situations, focus on what you can control and how you can respond effectively.

Conclusion

Mastering an internal locus of control is a path to personal empowerment. By shifting your mindset and implementing strategies that promote self-efficacy, you can enhance your resilience, motivation, and overall life satisfaction. Remember, while you may not control every circumstance, you do have the power to influence your responses and shape your future. Embrace this power and witness the transformation in your life.

[rgnhbgfvdc-blog]

#transgender #affirmations #loveislove #reality

im so thankful bambi is waking up and former self dying , becoming a massive tited whore is such goal today! https://chaturbate.com/p/bambilovets1/?tab=bio

FOLLOW MY JOURNEY !

[p5ravin]

Analyst Charts Ethereum’s Resilience Amidst Market Swings: What’s Next for ETH?

In the midst of recent market volatility, Ethereum (ETH) has displayed remarkable resilience, affirming its status as a cornerstone of the cryptocurrency landscape. Despite fluctuations affecting the broader market, Ethereum has managed to navigate the turbulence, offering investors a stable anchor amidst uncertain times. Analysts are now examining Ethereum's trajectory and predicting what lies ahead for the leading blockchain platform.

While the cryptocurrency market has experienced notable swings, Ethereum has shown considerable strength, maintaining its position as the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. This resilience is attributed to several factors intrinsic to Ethereum's ecosystem, reinforcing its appeal to investors and developers alike.

A primary driver of Ethereum's resilience is its role as the foundation of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Ethereum's robust blockchain infrastructure hosts a diverse array of DeFi protocols, enabling users to engage in various financial activities such as lending, borrowing, and decentralized trading. Additionally, Ethereum's support for NFTs has fueled the growth of a vibrant digital collectibles market, underscoring its versatility and utility.

Moreover, Ethereum's ongoing network upgrades, particularly the transition to Ethereum 2.0, have bolstered investor confidence. This ambitious upgrade aims to address scalability issues by transitioning from a proof-of-work (PoW) to a more energy-efficient proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. Anticipation surrounding Ethereum 2.0 has contributed to Ethereum's resilience, with investors optimistic about the platform's ability to scale and accommodate growing demand.

Analysts foresee several bullish catalysts that could propel Ethereum's growth in the near and long term. One such catalyst is the expanding adoption of Ethereum-based applications and services, driven by the proliferation of DeFi platforms, NFT marketplaces, and blockchain gaming ecosystems. As Ethereum solidifies its position as the leading platform for decentralized applications (dApps), demand for ETH is expected to rise, potentially driving price appreciation.

Additionally, Ethereum's attractiveness as a hedge against inflation and store of value has garnered institutional interest. Institutional investors and asset managers are increasingly allocating funds to Ethereum as part of their investment strategies, recognizing its potential as a resilient asset class amidst economic uncertainty. This institutional adoption could further fuel demand for ETH and contribute to its upward trajectory.

However, analysts caution that Ethereum's resilience is not impervious to external factors, including regulatory developments and market sentiment. Heightened regulatory scrutiny or negative market sentiment could pose challenges for Ethereum in the future. Therefore, investors should remain vigilant and monitor developments closely to navigate potential risks effectively.

In conclusion, Ethereum's resilience amidst market swings underscores its resilience and importance within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. With a robust infrastructure, ongoing network upgrades, and expanding adoption, Ethereum is well-positioned for continued growth and innovation. While challenges may arise, Ethereum's fundamentals remain strong, paving the way for a promising future as a leading blockchain platform.

[a-captions-blog]

[Image descriptions:

A series of green squares with mostly white text. The title square says, ‘The Dehumanization of our Men: From Palestine to the US: Why the focus on “women and children” harms Black and Brown communities.’ The title square shows a Brown man with a bloodied shirt who is holding a child just off camera. Each square has a watermark that says ‘The People’s Psychology’ in the lower right corner. The text reads:

In times of uprising and popular resistance movements, those in pow often clamp down and carry out collective punishment.

We see this happening in Palestine rigl now, in both Gaza and the West Bank Palestinians are being murdered and imprisoned en masse.

The media and the international community focuses reporting and outcry on the number of women and children that are harmed in times of repression and genocide.

We rightfully should be enraged and devastated when women and children are slaughtered. But what about our men?

The exclusion of Palestinian men (and Black and Brown men in general) in the global commentary is rooted in the inherent ideas that their lives are not as valuable, that they are "criminals/ terrorists", and that they are somehow deserving of their deaths and harm, where women and children are not.

This is active dehumanization of our men - the entire population is treated as subhuman and guilty.

What message does it send to our men when they are actively erased?

What message does it send to our young boys, the children we grieve today who would become the men erased in several years had they survived?

What does it do to the collective conscience when, by exclusion, we affirm that our men are not equally worthy of life?

It is our responsibility to hold space for our men. It is our responsibility to mourn them, to highlight their names and stories, to not inadvertently lessen them to nameless individuals deserving of their deaths.

The media and international community is actively achieving its agenda when our men are villainized and erased. They are effectively perpetuating the narrative of Black and Brown men as security threats and criminals. By us only focusing on women and children, we are helping them to carry out that agenda.

There is a fear instilled in our communities, by those in power, that if we honor and grieve our men, we are uplifting "terrorists" and by association open ourselves up to surveillance and backlash.

This is a weapon used by the State, and we must collectively resist these threats and repression.

Do our men not deserve to be mourned? Are their lives not divine? OP plain text: In times like these, Black and Brown men are dehumanized and erased. We focus on talking about the women and children of Palestine, but what about the men? Are they not worthy? Are their lives not divine? Are they not deserving of mourning? (x)

\End descriptions]

In times like these, Black and Brown men are dehumanized and erased. We focus on talking about the women and children of Palestine, but what about the men? Are they not worthy? Are their lives not divine? Are they not deserving of mourning? (x)