#sela is perfect.

[stickers-on-a-laptop]

y'know i know i probably do not like. do anything to dissuade against the claim that ryuunosuke shinkenger is a major loser but like. y'know. [major spoilers] and he IS cool for that one.

but yeah no he's like the most loser of all the blues. not the most gay anymore perhaps but still kinda the biggest loser.

[blighted-elf]

Baldur's Gate 3 - Sela 2/?

[yourlittlebunnyy]

a court of shadows and darkness

masterlist - previous chapter

chapter five

summary: Selaene, Rhysand's sister, Azriel's mate runs away after the High Lord of Spring tries to kill her.

warnings: none

enjoy!!!

"Vane, do you realize that you never told me about Thomas?"

"And you realize you never told me about Azriel?"

The two friends laugh, Selaene speaks first, "You start."

Vanessa becomes more serious before beginning the story, "I miss him so much. We had accepted the bond just a few months ago, and one night we thought we would check to see if we could winnow into animal form, and well, that's how it ended. He was-no, he is the best person I know, Elle. If I ever come back, I won't be upset if he continued to live."

"You mean... You mean when you come back, not if. Right?"

Fae cannot see her friend but imagines the sad smile that would show on her face.

"Sure. Now tell me about Azriel."

Selaene chuckles, though a twinge in her chest makes her sad. Nevertheless, she cannot help but smile.

"He is... perfect. I would have accepted the bond that very night, probably. I would have cooked him his favorite food and then we would have gone to his cabin and started a family. I hope with all my heart that he's moved on, because I know him and I know that when he loves ... he loves with everything he's got, and sometimes he risks destroying himself."

Vanessa does not respond, but the darkness they have learned to live with envelops them like a blanket.

"We used to sing together. He is a Shadowsinger, and I simply like to sing, as you already know. That's how we fell in love; the bond snapped after that."

After a moment's pause, the tiger speaks.

"You know, Elle, I have seen you only a few times and briefly, but for me you're the Moon."

Selaene cannot be seen, but she smiles bitterly, "My mate used to tell me that too."

And that is how they end their talk, silence settles over them, and Selaene's eyes close involuntarily.

She is running across a meadow, the light of a summer day now almost at an end illuminating the field in which she prances, she feels the sun kissing her skin, such inviting warmth. Behind her she hears the laughter of a male, no. Her brother's. Rhysand. It is a memory, she realizes, from when she was a child. She was only a decade old at the time.

"Rhysand!"

"What's the matter? Do I have a bug on me?"

Her brother laughs, but when he sees his little sister's tears, he does not hesitate to run to her and ask her if everything is all right.

"Selae...what's going on? Are you hurt?"

When his sister does not answer him, he becomes seriously worried.

"Rhysand... are you," a sob interrupts her, "really you?"

"Selae, but are you okay? Do you want me to call mom?" Concern is evident in his tone.

The sister watches her hands, as if in disbelief at what she sees. "That's not possible..."

"Wait here, I'll go get her."

"No! Please don't go."

This is her chance, she thinks. If his brother knows she is alive, if he has even the slightest chance, he knows he will look everywhere to find her.

"Rhysand, you need to wake up."

"What are you talking about?"

"Rhysand. Please, you're dreaming."

"Did you hit your head?" Selaene denies with a wave of her head, and then begins to feel her body again. She is running out of time.

"Rhysand, you may not understand now, but when you wake up I want you to remember what I'm about to tell you now. I am not dead. I'm stuck in....."

But the fae cannot finish the sentence: he is already gone and the light is replaced by darkness once again.

Selaene wakes up startled and out of breath. She expects to be on a flowery meadow with the sun warming her muscles and her brother beside her, but she has to come to terms with reality. She had never dreamed before. No, it was not a dream.

It was a memory of an unforgettable day for her, she still remembered that late summer afternoon. Her father had finally given in to the child's pleas and taken her to the Velaris River along with her mother and brother, but he had not stayed with them. He had not allowed Rhys's friends to come, however.

But Selaene had been content and had played among the fields and water as never before. It is one of the best memories she has with her brother.

The dream leaves bitterness on her palate, and she has to swallow a knot in her throat before turning to Vanessa, hoping she is still asleep.

The two of them have this silent agreement: if one is awakened by the other crying, or having a nightmare, they are silent and pretend to be asleep, to leave some private space.

But this time Vanessa is awake, and although she cannot see her, she knows that he is staring at her.

"What is it?" The younger fae asks, her voice stymied.

"You haven't... you've never had a nightmare the almost five centuries. Do you want to talk about it?"

All Selaene is able to see is darkness, but nevertheless she still rolls her eyes. She doesn't want to talk about it. Neither of them has ever wanted to. Why now?

"I don't want to talk about it."

"It might help you..." Vanessa's tone is sweet, and it turns her stomach. She doesn't want her sympathy.

"I don't need someone to feel sorry for me."

The tiger snorts, a sound more animal than human, "I didn't say that. But when I have my nightmares, I'd like to have someone to talk to about them."

"What?"

The tension in the air between the two gets so thick it could be cut with scissors. Vanessa thinks hard about what to say before she speaks again, but nothing good comes to her mind.

"Vanessa. I thought we had a silent agreement."

"And we do. It's just that I've been here almost six fucking centuries. I just wish someone would tell me we're going to get out of this and it's going to be okay, but instead I'm always the one who has to comfort." The words entered from Fae's ears and went straight to her heart, breaking it even more than it already was. She wanted to get angry, to scream at them to get over it, to leave her alone. But somehow those words hurt her more than they should have, hit her right in the center.

She had never realized-she had never thought that her sister, while showing herself strong and hopeful, was suffering as much as she was, for even longer than her. She never said anything comforting to her, nothing sweet, never listened to her vent, or never consoled her. At this point she doesn't know if she can call herself her sister, her friend.

"Vane..." A sob comes out of the depths of her throat, sudden and violent, and tears away the one small healthy part of her, the only unbroken part of her.

"You leave me alone now. I don't want you to comfort me just because I told you to. I would have liked you to do it spontaneously. Sister to sister."

Selaene hesitates to respond, the crying still unabated, and the worst thing-the thing that keeps her from stopping-is that Vanessa does not approach her, does not give her warmth with her fur or try to comfort her. She ignores her. And somehow it is even worse. Somehow, these four and a half centuries she has been locked up in the UnderWorld are all being felt now, creating an excruciating pain in her chest, at the level of her heart. Her friend probably feels the same way, but in contrast to her, she has never had anyone to encourage her.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry Vanessa. I'm so sorry..."

And she would like to say more, she would have liked it so much. She wished she could have told her that if there was anyone in that place who deserved to go back to the top, then it was Vanessa. That she deserved it more than anyone. That if it wasn't for her, she would have gone crazy. That even if Selaene was not, the tiger for her was the best sister she could ever ask for. That if they had found a passage, Selaene would have sent her first, would have given her that opportunity because it was hers to take.

Instead, tearing those words from her throat, for the first time in nearly five hundred years,is a passerby passing so close to the violet-eyed fae that she loses her balance. And so, just as in only a moment she ended up down here, in only a moment she is also back up. Without Vanessa.

Rhysand wakes suddenly, his eyes wide open and out of breath. He does not want to wake Feyre, who lying beside him seems so peaceful now that she has finally managed to sleep a full night without being woken by Nyx.

He sits on the edge of the bed and sighs exhaustedly. With one hand he strokes his face as if to ascertain that he is real, that he is not dreaming.

He thinks back to the dream. Or what he thinks is a dream.

He never dreamed of his sister. He lets out a snort before getting up and heading to his study. When he gets there, he takes care to lock the room before throwing himself down in his chair with a thud, dead weight.

Why after all these years? Why did his mind have to play such tricks on him?

In the dream she ... was a child, but she spoke as if she were alive, not as in the memory of that beautiful afternoon at the river. As if the memory was just a way of communicating, a conduit.

Rhysand tries to calm his breaths. He has come a long way in accepting the death of his loved ones. In forgiving himself for not being there to protect them. His breaths become labored as he feels that wound in his heart slowly reopen as he replays the dream in his head.

It was so strange, so destabilizing. Selaene begged him to wake up, as if she was alive and knew he was dreaming the same thing. For a moment, a thought flashed through his mind, but he did not allow it to stay, or to think about it. Too many years have passed. She cannot be alive. Azriel himself has heard her die.

A soft knock distracts him from his thoughts. With a sigh he rises from his chair, and he does not like the heavy feeling invading his body.

He opens the door and finds himself facing his mate.

"Rhys... is everything all right, honey?"

Rhysand does not answer her, but throws himself into her arms, leaving her a little surprised.

"I miss her so much, Feyre." He finds himself saying through tears, his face buried in her hair.

Feyre does not respond, but stands there with him on the doorframe and supports him, holds him up and offers him a shoulder to cry on.

next chapter

[fcble]

The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

VIOLET: Welcome to the sixteenth episode of “Lightspeed’s Ansible” and the third episode of “On the Same Wavelength,” where I interview your favorite idols. As always, visit officiallightspeed on your favorite social media platform, and leave a comment in the post for this episodes with who you’d like to see next, and any topics you want us to cover. Today’s guest, who you probably already know from the title, is the perfect fit for the new year. His group is synonymous with the Lunar New Year, and although we’re not quite there yet, I’m excited to have the chance to speak with him today. Could you please introduce yourself to our listeners?

ANDREW: Once upon a—[sharp inhale] I don’t like that. Hey everyone, I’m Andrew from Fable. You might know us from “Gaja” or “Home Run” or maybe even “Platonic Love.” It’s more likely you might not know me at all, which is why I’m here. I’ve never done our introduction in English before. It’s weird.

VIOLET: I totally get it. Every time Ash leads us through our greeting, I die a little inside. One Direction never had to do this. Do you go by any nicknames? Or do you prefer Andrew?

ANDREW: Yejun, for important work documents. Andrew is fine.

VIOLET: Andrew it is. Why don’t we get started with why you’re here today?

ANDREW: I’m releasing my first album as a solo artist. My debut EP, 80303, contains five tracks I’ve been working on for some time. I’m thrilled I can finally share it with everyone.

VIOLET: That’s a different approach to album titles from your music with Fable. How did you come up with it?

ANDREW: 80303 is one of the zip codes in Boulder, where I grew up. I picked this one because it also contains 303, which used to be the only Colorado area code.

VIOLET: Not because you lived there?

ANDREW: [laughs] That’ll have to stay a secret.

VIOLET: As an advanced listener, I saw all of your songs feature the band The Year 2000. Can you tell us a little about them and how you came to work with them?

ANDREW: Absolutely. They're a bunch of my friends from college. They became The Year 2000 as I know and love them now a few years after I graduated. If Fable didn't work out, I would have loved to be a part of their band. When it came to putting together my solo album, I knew I wanted to work with them. This is the first time I've truly had complete control over an album, so I invited them all to Korea to collaborate.

VIOLET: That sounds like it must have been a lot of fun. What was the biggest difference between working on this album and the music you've written for Fable?

ANDREW: With Fable, there are always these expectations. What we're supposed to sound like, how we're supposed to act, the type of concepts we can do. I know it’s part of being an idol, but sometimes it feels more intense for my group. Having the creative freedom to develop my own separate sound and identity was definitely the biggest difference.

VIOLET: I get that. It’s like once you do something, it’s the only thing everyone expects from you forever, especially as a public figure. 

ANDREW: Exactly.

VIOLET: So if you were part of The Year 2000, what instrument would you play?

ANDREW: I’d want to be the lead singer. Sela is a great singer and I love her, but I moved to be a singer. I can’t give that up.

VIOLET: I actually didn’t expect that. You strike me as more of a multi-instrument type of person. Like if I handed you a mandolin or something right now, you’d be able to play it.

ANDREW: [laughs] I’ve never gotten that before. The only instrument I can play with any degree of confidence is the piano. The Year 2000 doesn’t have a dedicated keyboard player, so if they ever let me into their band, I’d probably be stuck behind a keyboard all the time. 

VIOLET: Speaking of moving, how did you get into kpop?

ANDREW: I was never a fan of any specific groups. The industry was more of another opportunity to have a music career, since things weren’t working out at home. If auditions didn’t pan out, I wanted to attempt a survival show.

VIOLET: Really? Survival shows are intense. I’m still surprised I survived one. No pun intended.

ANDREW: [laughs] It worked out well for you. I don’t have a podcast.

VIOLET: It’s not that different from any other live stream or variety show. Honestly, I would have expected more groups to do it. Every online celebrity has one now.

ANDREW: I doubt anyone wants to listen to my group bicker for an hour straight.

VIOLET: Oh, I’m sure it wouldn’t be that bad. Is everything an argument?

ANDREW: Yes.

VIOLET: [laughs] If you’re a Lightspeed member, cover your ears for the next thirty seconds. I thought we were going to be like that. Considering we were literally competing against each other a few months ago, I never thought everyone would be so friendly.

VIOLET: This is when I’d usually ask a few questions submitted by fans, but since this is a special episode, I don’t have any questions from your fans. I thought we could go through a couple of the topics my group members and I use in our other episodes instead.

ANDREW: You have a lot of suggestions.

VIOLET: I’m sure some of them write down their questions multiple times. [paper rustles] “What was the most surprising thing about moving to Korea?” There’s a note on here in parentheses that says, “Learning the sh—[beep] things my parents did were culturally normal.” I think Constance wrote this. Do you mind if I answer first?

ANDREW: Not at all.

VIOLET: I had a similar experience to Constance, if she was the one who wrote this. When I first moved, I had a hard time adjusting to the social hierarchy. It’s probably stereotypical of me to say this. I was a teenager and I just couldn’t wrap my head around speaking formally to girls a year older than me. I moved companies a lot in the first few years. I was always the new one who had to speak politely because I never stayed anywhere long enough to gain any seniority.

[silence]

ANDREW: I was going to say squat toilets, but now I’m embarrassed.

VIOLET: No, I took it too seriously. I should have also picked something more light-hearted. What was your story?

ANDREW: It’s not much of a story. Jaeseop’s family runs a series of hanok-style guesthouses, and we stayed there for a few days before our debut. We started in the most traditional rooms and then had to move to the modern ones by the end. I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t handle it, which was a relief. My memory is a little fuzzy, but I think we were also supposed to film a variety show at the same time. It didn’t help our image to have us all long for real beds while Kiyoung and I considered running to the nearest subway station whenever we needed more modern plumbing.

VIOLET: [paper rustles] This one’s relevant to both of us. “If you had to have a stage name, what would it be?”

ANDREW: The answer I’d give now and what I chose for my stage name almost ten years are very different. I hope I’m less pretentious than I was back then.

VIOLET: So what’s your new stage name? I’m on the edge of my seat here.

ANDREW: [laughs] To be honest, I didn’t get that far yet. Andrew works fine for now. This is an old story for long-term Fabulists, but I picked Yejun for the Hanja characters because I knew more Mandarin Chinese than Korean when I first came to Korea. It’s so embarrassing to think about it now. At the time, I thought about how parents name their kids for traits they want them to have. In hindsight, it’s not nearly the same thing when you’re twenty-something and naming yourself for your future career. Did you ever have a stage name?

VIOLET: I didn’t pick it myself, but it’s almost as embarrassing. When I first debuted, I went by Bora.

ANDREW: Like Violet.

VIOLET: Yep. I think some executive was super proud of himself for that name. I don’t think that company ever came to terms with me being Vietnamese. If they gave me a Korean name, they could try to pretend I was more like everyone else.

ANDREW: No offense to any of my management, but that’s the exact same reason they gave me. They blamed me for the fact that my parents never gave me a Korean name. I’m pretty sure they don’t have Korean names either.

VIOLET: Same for my parents.

VIOLET: That’s all the time we have for today. Before you go, can you give us any hints for Fable’s upcoming album? I assume you have an upcoming album. When is the Lunar New Year anyway?

ANDREW: January 29. Don’t expect anything on that day. We’re always fashionably late. I can’t share much, but we are working an album. It’s something people would expect from us, and I hope everyone enjoys it.

VIOLET: So no surprises?

ANDREW: No surprises. My being here is the biggest surprise of this year.VIOLET: Thanks so much for that. To all of our listeners, thanks for tuning in. You can find Andrew’s album, 80303, on all streaming services at twelve AM local time on January 7, 2025. As always, I’ll see everyone next week for another episode of “Lightspeed’s Ansible.”

[councilman-horsemeat]

The Greatest Star Trek Characters, Ranked

I was recently reading a few articles ranking the various Star Trek characters and got really infuriated. I started punching my solid wood table until my fists were blooded and filled with splinter. Kirk, Spock, Picard- who gives a shit? There was no flavor, no spice to these lists. After taking a long walk and eating some meal, I decided I oughta make my own. Here it goes; In no particular order, so they're not actually ranked at all.

Sylvia Tilly Star Trek: Discovery is full of people whose lives have sucked, in a way which reflects their outlook on life. Some are hardened, some burdened, some both. Sylvia Tilly offers a delightful contrast to these characters. I’m not through the first season of Discovery yet, but I hope she and Michael Burnham become best friends forever.

Mobar (Fake Tuvok) Part of a criminal group that travels the Delta quadrant scamming various strangers through various schemes. Mobar and his friend Dala ended up acting as Tuvok and Janeway, fooling hapless aliens into joining the “Federation”, which meant little more than handing over their starships or cargo. Mobar ended up getting WAY into character, oftentimes chastising his fellow criminals for not adhering to Starfleet protocols. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to make him not a criminal, and in the end he went down like a chump. RIP to a legend. I don’t think he died but whatever.

Dax (Jadzia, Ezri and Curzon/Odo) Jadzia Dax, our first true look into what trill really are. The fusion of Jadzia and Dax created a woman with wisdom far beyond her years, enough to make her approach life in a very confident, laid-back way. This, along with her highly analytical mind and charm, would have made her a perfect ship’s captain. Gone too soon.

On the other hand, I really liked Ezri Dax too. I’m conflicted, because seeing what it’s like for an unprepared, naive trill to be joined (despite never training to) was really interesting, and I even wish we got more than just the one season with her- but I also wish Jadzia could have been around for the finale.

When they were temporarily joined in a trill ritual, Curzon brought a certain down-in-the-dirt, slob attitude to the usually uptight Odo. I really liked him. He could have been less of a pervert.

Bearded Geordi LaForge Beautiful. Majestic. Just a touch of rogueish charm. Too bad he only had it for two episodes and like some movies or whatever.

Mirror Sarek I understand WHY he has a goatee. They needed to make him visually distinct from normal Sarek and it’s an homage to mirror Spock from way back when. The problem is that the homage only works if you didn’t already think mirror Spock’s goatee is funny as hell. They also call him the prophet for some reason. All in all a weird guy, which means I like him.

Neelix He brought a genuine heart of gold to the crew of the voyager when they needed it the most. A rock, a true friend and a shoulder to lean on. His friendship with Tuvok allowed him to occasionally bring out a different side of the indomitable vulcan. I also liked that his eye color randomly changed with no in-show explanation.

T’pring Spock’s almost-wife T’pring probably has the quickest turnaround from “WTF why is she so needlessly brutal” to “she’s a genius and she’s so logical” of any Star Trek character. She will always have my respect.

Sela It’s just really funny to me that she had all that buildup on top of already being the return of a written-off main character’s actor. And then like, nothing happened.

Kai Winn Opaka There’s something so incredibly about Louise Fletcher’s performance as Kai Winn in the later seasons that I sometimes have a hard time putting into words. She just captures the self-righteous, holier-than-thou, but also absolutely desparate character in such a captivating way- while also maintaining this underlying confidence and power.

“Klingon Chef” Deep Space Nine’s resident Klingon chef/opera singer showed a side of Klingon culture we don’t often see - the civilian side. He truly made the most of his few appearances, and I will always love him for it.

Seven of Nine (Possessed) Maybe it’s because of Seven’s usually stoic, reserved demeanour, but seeing Jeri Ryan take on the exaggerated personalities of a Klingon warrior, a Ferengi DaiMon, and the EMH of the USS Voyager amongst others, was one hell of a lot of fun. Enough fun to end up on this list! Unfortunately, not enough for that Oscar nom. Next time!

Dr. Michael Dingo Dingo’s brief stint as nurse aboard the Enterprise-D established him as little more than a grumpy old man, but he really shone after his promotion to main cast member and CMO of the USS Pioneer. His usual snarky personality being torn down upon meeting his long-believed-to-be-dead wife went down as one of my favorite moments in all of Star Trek. His refusal to poison the crew on behalf of his madly sick captain gave me goosebumps.

Lwaxana Troi She started out as no more than “Deanna Troi’s Annoying Mom” but evolved into so much more across her many appearances. Absolutely wonderfully played by Majel Barrett, the writers explore many facets of sorrow, motherhood, and what it means to grow old. I also believe that she should have ended up with Odo instead of Nerys, but whatev.

Falow The leader of the Wadi, a gamma quadrant species that value various types of games above all else. He and his entourage visit Deep Space Nine and end up throwing the main cast INTO a highly-advanced video game where they think they’ll actually die, but it’s actually just a game. What I like most is that he truly looks like the Most Advanced Gamer. If I was a highly advanced space-gamer this is what I would want to look like.

Riker Picard’s number one actually features on a lot of these lists. They usually list his loyalty or how cool he is or whatever. I’m mostly interested in his absolutely off-the-charts adventurous spirit. He was the first starfleet officer to serve aboard a klingon ship and was GLAD to eat gagh. When he learned that a trill symbiont needed a new host he practically jumped at the chance, despite the fact that no human had ever hosted a trill symbiont before. And he had absolutely no shame in wearing his slutty outfit in ‘Angel One’. There’s many similarities between Riker and Kirk, but Kirk would never have worn it so proudly.

Horny/drunk-ish Picard Patrick Stewart’s performance as a pseudo-drunk and very horny Jean-Luc Picard in The Naked Now has seared itself into my mind forever. It’s like he’s screaming, but also whispering, and sort of putting on an accent? Deciding just how to portray the usually stoic captain so completely out of his element must have been quite the challenge, and Patrick Stewart ended up making some very inspired choices.

Alyssa Ogawa She may not have done much more than help out in medbay every now and then, but the conversations between her and Crusher were the first to show that the main crew actually DO have friends outside the “inner circle”. Does that truly earn her a spot on a list of the greatest Star Trek characters of all time? Probably not but I don’t really care and neither should you.

Grand Nagus Zek Every time he got more screentime I remembered how much I loved his dumbass voice. His shrill bleating is hilarious, and every time he shows up I can’t wait to find out what his latest scheme is. His behavior towards women is regrettable, but that’s true for a lot of Star Trek men and unlike most of them, Zek actually sort-of changes.

Ishka And who is Zek without Rom and Quark’s moogie Ishka? Despite the usual underestimatable Ferengi personality traits, I genuinely believe Ishka could have one of the highest power levels in all of Star Trek canon. Women not even having the right to wear clothes has been a part of Ferengi culture for centuries and she managed to turn it around COMPLETELY in a handful of years. If she put her mind to it, I genuinely believe she could have brokered peace between the Cardassians and Bajorans, and that’s on the prophets.

Jae Yeah, I got a bit of a crush on this frankly random Enterprise-D crewmember. I think she’s friends with Picard? She sat next to him at a poetry reading once. I’m not sure if she even had any speaking lines.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Here is My Chosen Servant

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth justice unto truth.

4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he has established justice in the earth: and the coastlands shall wait for his law.

5 Thus says God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which comes out of it; he that gives breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk in it:

6 I the LORD have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant to the people, for a light to the Gentiles;

7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

A New Song of Praise

10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the ends of the earth, you that go down to the sea, and all that is in it; the coastlands, and its inhabitants.

11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar does inhabit: let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the coastlands.

13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, shout aloud; he shall prevail against his enemies.

14 I have long time held my peace; I have been still, and restrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills, and dry up all their vegetation; and I will turn the rivers into islands, and I will dry up the pools.

16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, you are our gods.

Israel is Deaf and Blind

18 Hear, you deaf; and look, you blind, that you may see.

19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger whom I sent? who is blind as he who is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?

20 Seeing many things, but you observe not; opening the ears, but he hears not.

21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honorable.

22 But this is a people robbed and plundered; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivers; for a spoil, and none says, Restore.

23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?

24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.

25 Therefore he has poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it has set him on fire all around, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. — Isaiah 42 | King James 2000 Bible (KJB2K) The King James 2000 Bible, copyright © Doctor of Theology Robert A. Couric 2000, 2003. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 49:10; Exodus 3:15; Exodus 15:3; 1 Samuel 6:5; Job 40:11; Psalm 50:21; Psalm 81:13; Psalm 97:7; Psalm 107:33; Psalm 138:2; Isaiah 5:29; Isaiah 12:5; Isaiah 29:18; Isaiah 41:23; Jeremiah 9:12; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 12:19-20; Matthew 13:13; Luke 1:78-79; Luke 2:32; John 9:7; Acts 17:24-25; Romans 2:21; Revelation 5:9

[ambervolakisfan]

i have the biggest crush on sela send help pls she’s so perfect in fucking everything that she’s in ohsgshdhdhergdodidhrgehdgdhsgegdhd

[theclearmindedstudent]

My sweet perfect gf has been

Asleep for almost 7 hours

Miss her !

About to watch twilight

Allegedly !

Hope she doesn’t miss it

(Sela babe wake up)

[glitterandmoondustofficial]

Side To Side

Chapter 250: Well, Shit

Notes:

Characters: Ruby Rating: Teen Warnings: Language Notes: Anyone interested in a short chapter >:3c

Ruby woke up with a pep to her step. She hummed as she lightly walked the room. She was practically gliding on air as she dressed. She was so goddamn happy! She was going to see Law again! They could kiss and hug and leave this island together! She could go home!

She made sure everything about her was done right. She couldn’t be too perfect. If she was too perfect she’d be damn near irresistible to Law and he’d have no choice but to be flustered in front of the Straw Hats, and she liked him too much to embarrass him too much.

She hummed as she ate yogurt and read the newspaper. She blinked at the article. 

Alliance formed.

Doflamingo’s abdication.

Everything seemed to be going the way it should, but something was off. Something didn’t feel too…correct. She had a sinking feeling in her stomach but she hoped it was just the apprehension from seeing Law for the first time in months. 

She finished her yogurt and threw it in the trash. She slipped on a pair of heels and started to gather her belongings to meet Law at the meeting spot.

There was a knock on the door. 

Her brows twitched and furrowed. Who would be bothering her now? Everyone she knew was either still asleep or already at their jobs. She approached the door. Her body shook with anxiety, her brain sending signals to her to not open the door, to run away. She swallowed, cursing her anxiety and opened the door.

Her eyes widened and a cold sweat rolled down her face. Her body shook and she let out a breath that was close to what could have been her stifling down a cry for help.

Doflamingo stood outside her apartment door, grinning at her. No wonder her brain told her to leave. 

“Sela D. Ruby, I believe-”

She closed the door on Doflamingo casually. There was a moment of silence before her door burst into pieces. Ruby ran to the window and jumped out of it, not caring about the shattered glass. She landed on the ground and ran down the street, ignoring the screams and shouts and shocked gasps, instead focusing on the amused laughter that followed her. She felt his strings pass through her body and she quickly turned a corner...only to fall flat on her face. The bastard tripped her with haki coated string. 

“A logia! Now it makes sense why Law would have you as a spy.” Ruby glared up at the obnoxiously tall man. “I’ve let you live on this island for a month now-” Ruby swallowed –she’s been here for almost two, so she managed to get by on her own long enough. “But now it’s good to see that Law is on his way, too.” Ruby’s glare hardened and she stood up, brushing off her clothes. “Tell me, what’s Law’s plan?” Ruby didn’t answer. “If you tell me, I might just let both of you live.”

“Bullshit,” she snapped. “Law told me what happened; I’m no idiot. However, if you think I’ll believe you’ll let either of us live, you certainly are.” 

He snickered. “You’re unbelievably incomprehensible.” He talked down to her. “I still saved the Heart Seat for him! You wouldn’t even have to leave him and could be part of his army.” What a universe that would be. “We could always use a powerful logia on board.” Patronizing ass. 

Ruby lifted her middle finger up and stuck her tongue out. “I’d rather die than call you my captain, Doflamingo.” She reacted immediately, turning her arm into wood and covering it in armament haki . His strings hit her arm, sending sparks flying.

“You’re fast.” 

“I am Law’s spy; he wouldn’t just send me to look pretty,” she pushed away his strings before throwing her Sceana Duille at him. A small cut appeared on his cheek and he looked mildly annoyed. She ran off and he followed after her, manic laughter filling the alley. There was no way she could meet Law and the Straw Hat’s at the meeting point now. She could only buy him time and pray that he could get to her before…

Before Doflamingo killed her.

[vanilachocolate]

Masak daging daun kemangi walau daun kemanginya kok ngga berasaaa... ngga berasa wangi, ngga berasa ada rasanya. Maybe kurang banyak, atau cara masaknya yg salah

Yang ngematengin mas. Padahal baru pulang kerja. Biar yakin betul dagingnya matang. Walau yaa daging slice cepat matang, tapi biar yakin aja hehehe.

Ngga gagal walau ga perfect. Dan semakin mantap rasanya keluar pas sebelum makan dikasih perasan jeruk limo. Lebih mantap dibanding sebelum dikasih jeruk. Literally, good food sih. Yeheey.

Teros kentjan ke bec. Random pingin nonton dan pergi pas kelar makan. Aku ga akan ke bec klo g sama mas. Mengingat sela parkirannya sangat sempit :( terus musholanya tadi sepi ya allaaah. Manusia sulit khusyu' ini semakin was-was. Hayook gimana coba. Sholat kan harusnya menghilangkan waswas ckckck.

Dahlah, kentjan doloooe ~~

[w1ng3dw01f]

so, like, these two films:

Are pretty solid films and I don’t think they get appreciated enough.

Unstoppable, starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson is essentially about a rogue speeding train that has to be taken care of before it derails in a populated area. Set in the modern era.

The Finest Hours, starring Chris Pine and Casey Affleck, is mostly about the rescue operation of the surviving crew of a T-2 Tanker that split in half at sea in a storm.

I love both of them. I think they’re great.

No, I am not just saying that because Chris Pine is in them, even though he’s a pretty good actor in both. He just happens to be the glue that is tying these two movies to this post.

Now, are they perfect movies? No, but they introduce and handle high stakes fairly well and the scripts are pretty good. Also, who doesn’t love a good-bad movie, or a feel-good rescue/disaster movie?

I have rewatched Unstoppable about three times and Finest Hours about five. I will probably watch them again sometime in the future.

(To me, they are almost on the same lovability as The Day After Tomorrow with Dennis Quad, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sela Ward, and Emmy Rossum, about a man traveling to save his son in a sudden new ice age, but that movie can be talked about in an entirely different post).

These movies just have a special place in my heart and they will never leave. In fact, they take up a corner of my brain rent free. I’m keeping them there.

[star-trek-pop-quiz]

Star Trek POP-QUIZ #17

( 03 / 02 / 2024 )

Question 1. Which actor from TOS appears in My Little Pony? a. Leonard Nimoy b. William Shatner c. John de Lancie d. Majel Barrett

Bonus Question: Who do they play?

Question 2. TRUE OR FALSE The Doctor from Voyager settles on the name "Joe".

Question 3. What is the average temperature on Vulcan? a. 43.3 C to 51.6 C ( 110 F to 125 F ) b. 20.6 C to 37.9 C ( 69 F to 100 F ) c. 50 C to 65.5 C ( 122 F to 150 F ) d. 37.6 C to 54 C ( 100 F to 129 F )

Bonus Question: In the peak of summer, what is the usual hottest temperature?

Question 4. What is the name of Tasha Yar's half-romulan daughter? a. Shinzon b. Dhiov c. Sela d. Cretak

Question 5. Fill-in Question! Which two main characters' names mean "Star"?

Score: __/ 5 + 3 bonus ( Answers under cut )

Question 1. b. William Shatner

+ Grand Pear in "The Perfect Pear".

Question 2. False. In the finale of Voyager, he states his final name as Joe after his wife's grandfather, however that timeline is no longer canon.

Question 3. a. 43.3 C to 51.6 C ( 110 F to 125 F )

+ 65.5 C ( 150 F )

Question 4. c. Sela

Question 5. Hoshi Sato from Enterprise and Nyota Uhura from TOS.

[caelidesuper]

cont from x @tohowm

"A date." Sela confirmed, already lifting a hand to trace their own lips. They mapped the feeling of the kiss, committing the sensation to their limitless memory, so that when alone Sela could replay it, fixating on it in a way they couldnt in front of others.

Taylor gave them so many gifts.

"Would you oversee my undressing?" They were torn between wanting to stay as they were, wrapped in the creation of their love, and a worry of ruining the hard work. While angels were beings of grace, and Sela was usually no exception, being around Taylor had them feeling as weak-kneed as a newly birthed foal. "To insure I do no harm." Sela clarified, a bit delayed.

Mention of the church lit up the archangels face, both excitement and relief making up their smile. It was a special place, not seen by anyone other than Sela and the local wildlife for nearly 200 years- not even Bara had been invited.

Broken and worn down as it was, the space held both beauty and peace for Sela, and they had big plans for it, in the future. Taylor was different, though, safe to share those hidden gems with and his praise of it was proof that Sela had chosen well. He was perfect, and they were in love.

"I would see what you made, happily." Sela curiosity was boundless, when it came to the things Taylor created. A bit shyly, they added "One day, if you are willing, we could go back there. Together."

[kikiofthevast]

Can you write something about Selas being oblivious to the fact that Sunny is a dragon

Of COURSE I can Journey thank you for asking!!!!

~~~~~~

To be fair to him, which Samantha often isn’t, Selas doesn’t exactly look at anyone in the Bottle too closely.

Sunny does look remarkably like any old LARPer from beyond the walls and before the days safehouses like this were even necessary, to anyone glancing at them.

The only reason Sunny’s even wearing a headband, though, is because Samantha recommended it.

Dragons are rare enough, but a solitary one in human form? Some hunters would consider that a perfect target.

But in the safehouse, Sunny doesn’t actually wear the headband.

And therein lies Samantha’s utter bafflement.

Because Selas never says anything. Not even when Samantha lines his wine glass with dragonfire poison.

(Just the rim, and not the wine itself. Ey’re not an animal.)

Selas has never once called attention to Sunny’s odd, shimmering freckles or their horns or their obvious wings and tail or even their glowing white eyes with black slits that watch everything.

It’s so obvious.

But it’s like Selas is willfully ignorant!

He even commented to Samantha that Sunny was one of the “few good humans left in the world” and ey’d nearly smashed eir glass on the spot in rage and confusion.

She’s come to the conclusion that there’s something wrong with her boss.

Maybe a good stab will fix it.

[reisimscorner]

After finishing the daily chores at the farm, Annora and Gregory headed out as well, although their destination was only the house next door where the Weaver family lived. Sela happened to be in the garden; and noticing the Hawthrone siblings arrival she immediately rushed to greet them, inviting them inside for a tea. Well, it was only Annora who followed Sela inside, Gregory went to look for Bernard because he wanted to learn more about blacksmithing from him. Annora couldn’t help but roll her eyes in a rather spectacular way – not that Gregory noticed. His mind was already on swords and shields and ingots.

Entering the Weaver's home, they've sat down at the dining table after Sela put some water on to heat for the tea. Without any more delay they started catching up on the events that happened recently in the village. They’ve joked around and made fun of people which made even boring or normal stories hilarious.

As there were no more gossips to discuss, the previously lighthearted atmosphere quickly became serious. Annora noticed how hurt Sela was feeling, even though she gave her best not to show it – even a blind person would have grasped the situation by now, but not Gregory. Of course not Gregory. He just wasn't interested at all in women or relationships. Only if we were talking about relationships with weapons.

“Sela, don’t beat yourself up too much because of my stupid brother. It’s not your fault he is narrow of mind and sight.” Annora tried to comfort her best friend who had a serious crush on her brother ever since they were children. But it didn’t matter how much she tried to get his attention, she’s just failed every single time.

“I know, but sometimes I cannot help but think that I’m not charming enough for his taste. He just never looks at me any other way than as a childhood friend or as the daughter of his teacher,” she shrugged her shoulders disheartened.

It was hard seeing Sela this way.

In the past, even Annora dropped some hints during her conversations with Gregory about Sela’s feelings or tried to figure out his romantic interests but to no avail. At this point she even doubted Gregory would comprehend the situation if Sela stood before him and confessed her feelings straight away. It was such a hopeless situation.

She was about to say something when suddenly Sela’s expression brightened, grabbing her hand excitedly.

“I know!” She exclaimed, leaving Annora totally dumbfounded. This behavior was not surprising at all. Sela tended to change her emotions as quickly as storms came – one moment she was totally heartbroken, in the next, life was already perfect and rainbows were everywhere. In any case, Annora was happy to see her friend returning to her usual self. Although, she somehow felt uneasy.

“What now?”

“All I need to do is to make him see me as a woman,” she stated proudly.

“Well, yeah. But sis, don’t know you that Greg would notice you sooner if you were like a pretty sword or something? Otherwise, it is an impossible challenge.” Annora didn’t want to disappoint her friend, but she also didn’t want to lie to her. She literary saw zero chance for this plan to succeed, even without knowing the exact details.

“No-no, I’m sure this plan will work. But I will need your help as well, Annora.”

She just sighed softly. When Sela put her mind into something, there was no stopping. Stubborn, that she was.

“Sure, I can help you, but please, spare me the sight of whatever you are planning. I do not want to see him kissing or whatever.” Annora even imitated her disgust which made Sela giggle. She knew she could count on her best friend, always. Even if she disagreed with her.

“Don’t fret, I only want you to help me create an opportunity, I will do the seducing. So, you remember that party we are planning to sneak in to, right?” Annora nodded. “How about you ask him to accompany us? You can come up with whatever lie you like; you can even say that you’ve heard from my father that there’s a rare mineral there or something like that. I’m sure he won’t need much convincing at that point,” Sela smiled knowingly.

“Rest assure, my dear friend. I know exactly what to do.”

“You’re the best, Annie, thank you.”

“Oh, I know that.”

The girls hugged each other as to seal their new shenanigan while the room was filled with the sounds of their excited and somehow ominous chuckles.

Meanwhile Bernard and Gregory talked about blacksmithing.

As Gregory fiddled with some materials at home alone, he found out that something was amiss with his technique and thanks to that, the end product didn't become sturdy. He also had some other questions to which he had to get answers immediately.

Thankfully Bernard was patiently explaining everything to him, but to correct his technique, he had to see what Gregory was doing exactly during the process.

So they've moved into the workshop, and Gregory had to create just a simple iron ingot. As Gregory started working hard on his task, Bernard kept a close eye on his technique and posture. It didn't take much time for him to find the error, and he corrected it immediately. After he was satisfied with Gregory's process, he gave him a few more task for practice.

"At the end of the day, I will come back to check the end products," Bernard said and with that, he left Gregory to his work.

Beginning // Previous // Next

[thedeamriders]

What Are the Key Highlights of a Tawang Bike Tour?

A bike tour to Tawang, nestled in the majestic mountains of Arunachal Pradesh, is more than just a journey; it’s an adventure filled with breathtaking views, cultural richness, and thrilling roads. Known for its pristine beauty and serene monasteries, Tawang offers a unique blend of adventure and tranquility that attracts bikers from across the globe. If you’re planning a Tawang bike tour, here are the key highlights that make it an unforgettable experience.

1. Sela Pass – A Gateway to Paradise

The ride through Sela Pass, located at an altitude of 13,700 feet, is a defining moment of the Tawang bike tour. This high-altitude mountain pass, often blanketed in snow, offers stunning views of the surrounding peaks and the shimmering Sela Lake. Riding through its winding roads is both a thrilling and scenic experience, making it a highlight of the journey.

2. Tawang Monastery – A Spiritual Retreat

Tawang is home to the largest monastery in India, the Tawang Monastery. This 400-year-old monastery is a spiritual and cultural hub, offering a serene escape from the challenges of the road. Surrounded by snow-clad mountains, the monastery exudes a sense of peace that is truly refreshing after a day of biking.

3. Bum La Pass – A Ride to the Indo-China Border

Bum La Pass, situated at 15,200 feet, is another key highlight of the Tawang bike tour. The ride to this pass is a thrilling adventure, with rugged terrain and stunning landscapes. The pass is steeped in historical significance and offers a unique chance to witness the Indo-China border. Special permits are required to visit Bum La Pass, adding to its exclusivity.

4. Madhuri Lake – Nature’s Masterpiece

Also known as Sangestar Tso, Madhuri Lake is a hidden gem located near Tawang. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and featuring tree trunks submerged in its pristine waters, the lake offers a tranquil and picturesque setting. It’s a perfect spot for bikers to take a break, soak in the beauty, and capture some stunning photographs.

5. Thrilling Routes and Breathtaking Scenery

Every mile of the Tawang bike tour is a visual treat. From lush green valleys to snow-covered landscapes, the ever-changing scenery keeps the journey exciting. The roads, though challenging, are a paradise for adventure enthusiasts who thrive on sharp bends, steep climbs, and off-road stretches.

6. Warm Hospitality and Local Culture

The warmth and hospitality of the locals in Tawang add a personal touch to your journey. Interacting with the Monpa tribe and savoring local delicacies like Thukpa and Momos enriches the cultural experience of the tour.

Conclusion

A Tawang bike tour is a perfect blend of adventure, spirituality, and natural beauty. From the thrill of riding through high-altitude passes to the serenity of monasteries and lakes, every moment on this journey is worth cherishing. Whether you’re an experienced rider or a beginner seeking an extraordinary adventure, Tawang promises an unforgettable experience.

Gear up, hit the road, and let Tawang weave its magic around you!