#the grounds for his self sacrifice... well. have always been there. but they were strengthened by calm!

[urguidingkey]

let me add on to my previous reblog that i think a lot of criticism com gets is unfair. it's said that the story is negated by sora's amnesia so as to make it "unnecessary" in the larger scope of the story but sora (and donald and goofy, and jiminy lol) are not the only characters in com!

do you know who does remember what happened? naminé, and riku, and all of the organization members who survive or come back in dream drop/3

and i maintain that it DOES still matter to sora. it sucks that his line about thanking naminé in 2 was like. retconned in, but that matters to him. he doesn't fully know why, but it really does

[hunterartemis]

Indian Magical School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Headcanon #1: The legends of it’s foundation

I love JKR and her magical world, but she completely ignored the South Asian region and a culture diverse as India, which could have been a great background for magical population. So I took the matters in my own hands and created some headcanons like I did previously with Mahoutokoro. Hope you will appreciate it.

The legend and the history of the school is so very overlapping that it is sometimes hard to distinguish between what is truth and what is myth. However the story goes something like this.

When the First Emperor of Aryavarta (Ancient India) Daksha was given the job to bring all earthly prosperity to the world, he was assisted by Seven Sages. These Seven Sages were the seven stars of the Great Dipper Constellations, who were called: Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulascha, Pulaha, Kratu and Vashistha. To other Interpretation, these seven sages were called, Atri, Agasthya, Bharadvaja, Bhragu, Kashyapa, Jamdagni and Gautama. These Seven sages were wise and learned an knew many supernatural powers that governs the land of man without their common knowledge. Emperor Daksha wanted to control the seven sages and therefore made relations with them by marrying off his daughters with Bhragu, Kashyap and the sons of other sages: his demand was to have their power to his disposal only. The seven sages could do nothing, as in the Law of Dakshraj, harming or betraying the Kutumba (relatives and in-laws) were considered High Treason.

But the sages being the wise and kind men they were wanted to spread the greater knowledge of supernatural powers to the common man in order to help them understand their infinite potential. So they started to sought resources from the sages who were considered “outcasts“ in Daksha’s rule for learning about the end of things (because Daksha wanted his kingdom to be eternal, these concepts were forbidden). One sage, named Dadhichi came to help the Saptarshi (the seven sages) and instructed them to journey southwards to the door of the Yama (the God of death). It was shocking enough for the sages, but one of the sage: Agasthya or in some other texts Marichi agreed to journey southwards. He bid his colleagues farewell and told them not to look for him and return to the capital; if their calling is true there would be a day they would meet again.

when the sages returned, they found themselves in a chaotic position. Daksha had insulted his youngest daughter and her husband in the front of the Royal Court and to protect her honour the youngest has self-immolated. The Husband of his youngest daughter was Shiva, the God of Destruction who was not worshipped or even mentioned in Daksha’s kingdom as something “unholy”. Although the sages did not mention Shiva in Daksha’s presence, but they knew that the Creation cannot last forever and to exist, it must always be destroyed and transformed. Thus when the sages could not convince Daksha to ask forgiveness from Shiva, they publicly renounced their special status and that of their being the Princes Consort and left the palace forever. Later Daksha was slain by the God of destruction Shiva in the crime of Pride and pushing his own flesh and blood to kill herself.

In the path away from the Capital, the Sage Agasthya appeared before the rest. The sages knew that it was not real Agasthya, but his astral projection. He did not speak but pointed towards the south, towards the deep forest surrounding a mountain that no human can cross. The sages understood that Agasthya had given his life to seek it. The sages, after thinking day and night, could think no other plan to reach the place, let alone establish a school there, because it was not ordinary mountain, but a Volcano. After great thinking, Bhragu, the master of Astrology came up with a plan and decided to summon Seven Celestial Planets and pray them to guide there. The Planets summoned were: Surya (sun), Soma (moon), Budha (Mercury), Shukra (venus), Mangal (Mars), Brihaspati (Jupiter) and Shani (Saturn).

The sages prayed for 14 lunar days and the Seven Celestial Planets were pleased with their dedication and each one promised one reward to the sages. The sages told them everything about their wish to build an establishment to teach sons of man about the infinite power of the universe, but they didn’t know how to go to the place Agasthya had instructed them to go.

After hearing everything the Sun said “I shall rise from the east, pure white on the blood smeared sky and my light shall point the way to the hallowed place.”

Then came Mars said “I shall follow the path of the sun and destroy every obstruction that stands on the way to put the standard of victory on the hallowed land I won in the name of the Sun”,

After Mars, the Moon said, “I shall call upon the sky, ask it to rain on the Volcano so that the lava solidified and creates ground for the building”,

after Moon Mercury said “I shall bring about such designs with my mind that no human has ever seen, A house that shall be marvelous and impenetrable to any ill-wisher”.

After Mercury, Venus says, “I shall give that design a habitable form, strengthen and beautify it with the igneous stones from this volcano”.

Then Jupiter said “Like my illusive body, I shall expand it to 1000 times greater, and bless it so that no occupant in this house ever experiences obstruction in learning and nourishment. And as the Eldest of the Planets, I name this house Vishakhtantra , a house where high magic spreads out like branches of holy banyan tree”

when all of the planets were done doing their jobs, everyone looked at the dark figure that lurked at the background, with a smirk in his lips. The sages asked why the last one, Saturn did not come forward and requested him to contribute. Smiling he said “illusive planets and sages, you are all brilliant but you have done wrong.” It evoked fear amongst the sages because Saturn, the God of Justice and Time is elemental to any establishment and angering him could be catastrophic. Bhragu asked Saturn’s pardon and asked him to correct them. Saturn smiled and said, “The mistake, illusive sages, was committed when you called us. You have forgotten that we are Navagraha (Nine Celestial Planets), not Seven. You have chose to ignore two and I know why. You fear that the North and South Node might Eclipse the Sun and Moon and chose to ignore them. But you have forgotten, they too have purposes and are deserving of contribution.”

This statement angered Sun and the Moon. The great luminaries decided to withdraw if Rahu (North node) and Ketu (South Node) joined, but Jupiter mediated amongst Saturn, Moon and Sun. Jupiter, the Eldest planet vowed to keep the mischievous side planets in check and implored Saturn to return. Saturn then called upon Rahu and Ketu, and a great bodiless head appeared through a storm.

Jupiter came forward and addressed Rahu and said “This hallowed house shall be the home of instruction, of sacred knowledge. We the planets and sages have summoned you to contribute and correct the unjust. Are you willing to help us?” Rahu being the cunning demon that he is, said “yes, upon one condition. I want the highest place amongst all. I am a headless body and my wishes are infinite. It is the only way I would help you all.”

Saturn knew this would happen, he smiled and said “it shall happen” to everyone’s great dismay. It hurt Sun’s pride greatly but knowing Saturn, no one could protest. Jupiter and Saturn then turned to the great headless snake that coiled the entire mountain. When Jupiter addressed it, it said “Greetings my elders, I am glad that my other body, Rahu had his position acquired. But I am most perplexed because I could feel all the pains of creatures, demonic and divine who have been displaced for the creation of this place. Their souls will not leave the place in peace.”

Saturn came forward and asked him, “oh headless body, the giver of results of past life, lord of the isolated, reside as the Vastu Naga and the Bhitti (Foundation) of the hallowed place. Upon your great coil shall the institution stand and the lives lost shall receive the result for their sacrifice.”

With the Ketu entering underground, the head of Rahu had to choice but to reside exactly at the opposite side of his other body. Saturn grabbed Rahu by the hair and said “Sun the the highest light, Jupiter is the Highest Wisdom and none in the universe, not even me can exceed their position in the universe. So reside at your highest place, on the topmost towering peak of this place. I forcibly command you so that you can eclipse every form of mal-spirit and power from above.”

With that done, Saturn returned to the final place and said “and I, Lord of limitation, time and justice, mark the boundary of this place and veil it with the Tamas, so it could be hidden from the common eye.”

The sages were eclectic after the creation. The eldest, Atri said, “heavenly presences, you are the influences that govern the actions, fates and deeds of the world, would you be so kind to reside in this place as guiding principles so that we the Acharya (teachers) and the shishya (pupils) shall prosper in their ways.” Saturn called upon the sages: “so it shall be Illusive sages but do not disregard the shadow planets, Rahu and Ketu, who represent the base and the peak of the house also have the right to represent: I deliver the choice to you.”

“Very well“, said Bhragu, master of Astrology: “Since the shadow planets are unstable on their own, I assign them to the Two Intellectuals: The Head Rahu with Mercury, and the Tail Ketu with Jupiter.“

Thus formed the Seven Sacred Houses of Sapta Kula of Vishakhtantra.

Uttarashada (Sun), Anantasoumya (Moon), Punarvasu (Jupiter and Ketu), Bhadrapada (Saturn), Yajurmitra (Venus), Ksharagam (Mars) Rahavyasa (Mercury and Rahu)

[quazartranslates]

Welcome to the Nightmare Game II - CH8

**This is an edited machine translation. For more information, please [click here]**

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Chapter 8: Resurrection Overture (VIII)

When Qi Leren arrived at Chen Baiqi's store, it was 20 minutes earlier than the appointed time. Chen Baiqi was chatting with a woman with her back to him. They both looked at Qi Leren in the doorway, and Qi Leren also looked at the woman.　

That person was a very gorgeous and charming beauty, wearing a gorgeous and complicated low-cut witch's dress and a European top hat. Although her whole person was dressed in dark colours, it made her skin more white, and her bright red lipstick and smokey eye makeup were particularly attractive. When he noticed this, Qi Leren first reviewed why he noticed his sister's makeup at first sight... Was it really a matter of sexual orientation?

"Since you have a guest, I'll take a walk first. I'm tired from the task I just finished. Let's talk about it another day." The beautiful woman smiled at Qi Leren, picked up the women's walking stick at the table, and walked out of Chen Baiqi's shop gracefully.

"Who was that?" Qi Leren asked.

"The Illusionist," Chen Baiqi said.

Qi Leren suddenly remembered that the Court’s Miao Li had mentioned during his dream lessons that the Illusionist had helped cover up his tombstones on the Undead Island in order to hide them from the Slaughter Secret Society. Was it that beautiful woman just now?

"Have you had breakfast?" Chen Baiqi asked him.

Qi Leren nodded: "I’m full."

Chen Baiqi smiled meaningfully: "Don't eat too much next time, lest you throw up."

"..." Qi Leren felt that his future was grim.

"Although we’ve known each other for some time, I’ve never introduced myself properly. Since you will train with me from today, I will introduce myself again. Come with me. " Chen Baiqi led Qi Leren inside. Qi Leren had never been to the back part of the store. When he found that there was a basement with several floors, he couldn't help crying deeply for his future self.

"I used to be the executive officer of the Trial’s Heresy Court. I was mainly responsible for executing the Devil worshippers. Later, because of an injury, I could no longer continue such a high-intensity and dangerous job, so I retired early. Now I’m half an insider who does intelligence." The elevator stopped on the third basement floor and Chen Baiqi led Qi Leren out. The third basement floor was as big as a basketball court. The ground was made of concrete, without any obstacles, and it was scary.

Qi Leren wasn’t very surprised. He had always felt that Chen Baiqi was familiar with the Trials Court. It was to be expected that all of the information she had was somehow related to them.

"In the Nightmare World, so many players have explored 'playing methods' about this 'game' for more than 20 years. Today, I will briefly talk about the 'professions'," Chen Baiqi said.

Qi Leren pricked up his ears and listened attentively.

"Players will receive a skill card when they are in the Novice Village. This skill card is not given randomly, and most players will eventually build their own fighting style around this skill card. That is to say, the original skill card has actually selected the appropriate profession for the player. Take your Novice Village as an example: Dr. Lu, who is with you, is obviously a healer, while Xue Yingying is obviously a berserker. As for you, because your basic skill card is very delicate, it's the first time I’ve heard of such a skill card, so it's hard to judge your basic profession. But it doesn't matter. Most of the skill cards that players get in tasks will follow a certain rule. For example, a healer rarely draws a berserker-type skill card when drawing their card. That is to say, the skill cards obtained in the future are actually based on what you receive as your first skill card. They build around this 'profession'."

Qi Leren suddenly realized: so the skill cards he got later, such as "Rain-Day Laundry", "Primary Fighting Skills", and "Devil Etiquette", including the latest one, "Secretly Observing", all emphasized his profession.

—Assassin.

"I only know some of your skill cards, but I can make a rough judgment about you. You’re an assassin." Chen Baiqi folded her arms and looked at him laughingly. "So congratulations, I’m in the same profession. However, even amongst assassins, they will be subdivided into different categories because of their different personality traits and abilities. After all, everyone's skill cards are different. If you trust me, you can tell me your existing skill cards, and I will not disclose it to others."

Qi Leren vaguely felt that Chen Baiqi would sincerely teach him, and that his answer was the key. Of course, he couldn’t say it. Chen Baiqi would still train him, but she would not give everything to him. Chen Baiqi was... Qi Leren's brain flashed. She was looking for a successor!

Yes, Chen Baiqi entered the game very early and she said it had been eight years, which meant that she was an old player with high strength and rich experience, but it also meant that her time wouldn't be much longer.

Chen Baiqi was optimistic about him and willing to teach him, which was only too important for a newcomer who was still groping for his footing shortly after entering the game, and Qi Leren was very grateful. He didn't think Chen Baiqi had any malice towards him. After all, the gap in strength between the two people was right in front of him. If Chen Baiqi wanted to, she could kill him.

After figuring this out, Qi Leren relayed his skill cards and even told her of his items.

Chen Baiqi said, "You are an assassin. You already have basic premonition skills, detection and latent skills, and even half a camouflage skill. Right now, you still lack a skill to escape and strengthen combat effectiveness—Primary Fighting Skills is too low, it takes too long to upgrade past the basic stage. You can sell it after you’ve been trained."

Qi Leren nodded, "I’ve felt an obvious lack in combat effectiveness. I have no effective means of attack, and often I can only take the same route."

This also led to his excessive dependence on S/L Data as his solution.

"Although skill cards are very good and greatly improve newcomers’ survival rate in this world, I don’t advocate relying too much on them. The Nightmare World is a surreal world. There are many things that we can't do in the real world that can be done here. It also has its own power system. If you want to integrate into this power system, relying too much on skill cards will only hinder you. To put it simply, if you want to become a field-level master, you must quit your skill cards," Chen Baiqi said seriously.

"When you say the power system, you mean the Devils and the Holy See?" Qi Leren asked.

"Yes. With our status as players, if you want to reach the field level, you’re bound to become close to one of them. Because you’ve been parasitized by Slaughter before, I originally thought that your attributes were more inclined to the Devils, but now it seems that maybe you’re more inclined to the side of divine power," Chen Baiqi said.

"How do you see it?" Qi Leren was puzzled.

Chen Baiqi's mouth crooked and she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they were already a pair of red eyes: "The holiness of your body has exceeded the standard. Maria gave you an important gift before she sent you back."

Qi Leren recalled the warm and comfortable feeling when the dotted light of endless faith had poured into his body, and nodded silently.

"In fact, in addition to these two power systems, there are many magical powers in the Nightmare World. For example, I seldom use investigation skill cards because I once learned the language of birds from an elder. Although I’m not very proficient, I have no problem with basic dialogue. You can imagine how desperate it is to meet me in a wild jungle. This is better than the ability of any reconnaissance skill card. After all, there is no cooldown."

Qi Leren imagined that if he had met such an opponent in the forest during the Witchcraft Sacrifice mission... The birds in the whole forest were her eyes. She could observe every enemy 24/7 without cooldown, avoid any danger she wanted to bypass, and set traps to deal with anyone she wanted to deal with. This was simply terrible.

"Well, with this said, I’ll now begin to test your abilities, including your physical quality, judgment, intuition, and so on. I’ll test your intuition first. If you want to be a good assassin, you can't do without phenomenal intuition. You stand there blindfolded, this won’t take more than a minute," Chen Baiqi commanded.

Qi Leren obediently went to the place she indicated and took the red cloth she handed him, tying it over his eyes. Suddenly, there was only a suppressed scarlet: "How do we test it?"

Chen Baiqi's voice floated from in front of him: "It's very simple. I'll throw some knives at you. You can dodge them with your intuition. I won't tell you when I throw them."

???

! ! !

This wasn’t a test, it was a threat on his life!

"Put away Rain-Day Laundry and only use S/L Data, or else you’ll really die," Chen Baiqi said with ease and pleasure.

"The Prophet told me to use it less," Qi Leren protested weakly.

"Oh, then you don't have to. I’ll try not to aim at anything vital," Chen Baiqi said.

"...Forget it, I'll use it." Qi Leren surrendered and thought he would use it just this once.

S/L Data was activated and the current position was set as the save point. Qi Leren looked at the red before his eyes and his heart beat fast with nervousness. He counted the seconds for S/L Data in his mind.

30, 29, 28...

Chen Baiqi didn't throw, she was walking—Qi Leren couldn't see her or hear her footsteps, but he had a strong feeling that Chen Baiqi was walking around him... She was on his left... Behind him...

Danger, danger, danger!

Clearly there was no warning, no noise, but Qi Leren's mind had already sounded the alarm. He quickly squatted without thinking and a slight wind flew over his head, cutting off two floating hairs.

"Eh? The response was good." Chen Baiqi's voice came from behind him. It was behind him!

Qi Leren stood up and continued to count the seconds: seventeen, sixteen, fifteen...

Under your feet!

Qi Leren suddenly jumped up, and the throwing knife shot obliquely downward and struck the ground with a tang.

Even though he wasn’t hit, Qi Leren still felt a dull pain in his feet, probably from jumping too fast and cramping.

"You’re really good." This time the voice came from above his head!

Qi Leren flung himself forward and rolled on the ground for three or four meters. There was a continuous sound of breathing behind him. Obviously, several throwing knives stabbed one after another—into the concrete ground, and he stopped breathing from nerves. In such a dark place, he directly evaded the ubiquitous fatal danger that made him feel on the verge of a breakdown.

When he stood up again, Qi Leren had forgotten to count the seconds and Chen Baiqi's voice came from ahead of himt: "Well, let's stop here for now."

Qi Leren breathed a sigh of relief and his whole person relaxed from his panicked state, stretching out his hand to untie the cloth over his eyes. When the cloth strip was torn off, there was no figure of Chen Baiqi in front of him—only a parrot standing on the ground and talking with Chen Baiqi's voice, which laughed at him: "Fool."

Qi Leren stood stiffly and a cold wind struck into his torso from behind, the knife piercing his heart. After 30 seconds, S/L Data successfully read the file.

The real Chen Baiqi came from behind Qi Leren with a cheerful demeanor: "This is the first lesson for you: never let off your guard down too early in the face of danger."

-----

[<<< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >>>]

[idreamofplaid]

Transformation

Square Filled: Unexpected Gifts for @spngenrebingo & Sub Space for @spnkinkbingo

Characters: sub!Dean x dom!witch!Reader; Rowena

Rating: Explicit

Tags: bondage; blindfold; oral (male receiving); orgasm delay; wax play; nipple play; impact play; begging; cock ring; overstimulation

Summary: The reader becomes the most powerful witch in existence, made even more powerful because Dean is her true love.

Word Count: 3524

Created for @spnkinkbingo & @spngenrebingo

Her deepest truth had always been she knew she was different. It was a truth and a secret. Now she had a different truth, an even stronger one. The first truth made itself known to her when she was six years old. It was the result of an incident on the school playground. Sometimes children could be cruel. Whether it was intentional cruelty or just children being self absorbed, the outcome was the same. Y/N had been left out of the game, and it had left her little girl’s heart bruised and sore.

She had run from the playground to seek shelter under the trees that bordered the fence at the edge of the schoolyard. Y/N sank to the ground behind the trunk of the biggest tree, hoping to hide her tears from the other children and the nearby adults. She buried her face in the crook of her arm and let the tears flow. When she finally raised her head, she saw that she was surrounded by butterflies. They were all the most vivid blue; she would later learn that blue was symbolic of finding her own voice, but at the time all she knew was that nature had responded to her sadness. From that day on, it was from nature that she would draw her strength.

Strength eventually evolved into power, and it was that power that drew Rowena into her life. The seasoned witch had initially used the word beacon to describe her. Later she would call her a storm, and finally Rowena told her she was a creator, a catalyst, and a force. Her mentor had told her these things just before she had thrown herself into a fissure in the earth in what would have once been an uncharacteristic act of self sacrifice. 

It was now her place and her duty to honor Rowena, to mark her passing, and assume the mantle left to her by the great witch. Her second truth figured prominently into the role she would now assume. Her teacher had told her many times that magic had always been entwined with love, a fact that Rowena had denied. As a result, she had never reached the heights she could foresee that Y/N would attain. 

Back to the very oldest of spells, true love had been an element that was capable of feats to which nothing else could compare. Y/N cast her eyes upon her love. Dean had collapsed face down across the bed as soon as they reached her house. The day’s events had taken their toll on him. He had been tested, and he had won. For now. There would be more fights before he could claim ultimate victory, before they both could. 

She moved around the bedroom lighting the many candles that were strategically placed around the room, then opened the heavy drapes covering the window and tied them back to allow moonlight to spill into the room. A shafto of light fell onto the bed where Dean was sleeping, and she went to sit beside him.

Y/N combed her fingers through his hair. Dean stirred in his sleep and made a contented sound. She reached into the pocket of her silk robe and pulled out a tiny scroll. It was Rowena’s final gift to her. Her mentor had given it to her just before she threw herself into that hole in the earth. Once Y/N had completed tonight’s ritual, she would read it. 

She leaned down and kissed Dean’s cheek. He would play a large role in what she was about to do. She would assume her place as the most powerful witch alive. Dean, being part of her, would take on some of that too. 

Dean would submit to her tonight, willing and eager to release the burden of all the responsibilities he carried to her control. He would allow himself to be washed in her power, and he would surrender his sexual pleasure to her. In so doing, he would strengthen that power. She always had what he needed, and her love for him knew no bounds.

Y/N rose from the bed, leaving Dean there to continue his sleep. He would need it, and she had things to prepare. First, she would need to draw the bath.

Her bathroom was equipped with a large garden tub, perfect for her purposes. She turned on the faucet, and the tub began to fill. Y/N passed her fingers through the stream of water to test the temperature, and she made adjustments so it would be warmer. When the tub was almost full, she retrieved a jar filled with rose petals from her vanity. 

She turned off the water and sprinkled red rose petals into the bath. She pulled at the sash of her robe. It fell open; she eased it from her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor.

 This room was also filled with candles. Y/N walked around the room lighting them, keeping her intention in mind. She would honor Rowena by becoming everything she had taught her to be, and she would strengthen further her already strong bond with Dean. She took one last look around the room. Everything was just the way she wanted. Now, she just needed her true love.

Dean was still sleeping. This time when she lowered herself on the bed next to him, she was intent on getting his attention. Y/N kissed Dean’s neck, opening her mouth and sucking gently. He stirred, and moaned deeply. “That’s nice, sweetheart.”

She sat back, dragging her hair across Dean’s cheek. He opened his eyes and rolled over. When he saw that she was nude, a smile crossed his lips. “That’s even nicer.”

“It’s about to get even better, my love.” She slipped her hand under Dean’s t-shirt, slid it up his body, and started to rub over his chest. 

Dean closed his eyes and relaxed beneath her touch. His reaction changed when she moved her focus to his nipples and started to pinch and pull them. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Y/N knew Dean’s body. His nipples were sensitive, and it was easy to turn him on by playing with them.

Y/N took her hand away from the now taut nub she was teasing and pulled it from beneath his shirt. She took both sides of his open flannel in her hands, closed her fingers around them, and tugged. “Come here, handsome.”

Dean sat up; his hands went to her hips, and his mouth found hers. His need was already strong for her; the way his tongue tangled around hers told her that. She broke the kiss, and while she took off his shirts; her eyes stayed fixed on his. “Can you be patient tonight, Dean?”

His eyes caught the glow of the candlelight. They were deep and rich like a jewel, the most precious emerald or the rarest jade. Dean nodded. Y/N dragged a fingertip along the line of his shoulder, and Dean followed it with his eyes. Then, she caught his chin with that finger and turned his head so he was looking at her again. “Good,” she whispered. “Follow me.”

She finished undressing him by the bathtub. Her eyes lingered on his semi hard cock before she stepped into the tub and took his hand, inviting him in after her. The scent of myrrh essential oil filled the air, and the candle flames in the room danced. 

Y/N moved through the water, closer to Dean, in order to reach behind him for the loofah located there. He dipped his head to kiss her breast and swipe his tongue over her nipple. Pleasure and arousal rippled through her body. She settled back into the water; she could be patient too.

Y/N dipped the sponge into the perfumed water and wiped it over Dean’s collar bone. Rivulets of water streamed down his chest. She repeated the motion over each shoulder before leaving the loofah to float and dropping her hand below the water line. She wrapped her hand around Dean’s cock and stroked it languidly until he reached full hardness, then she stopped and turned, leaning back into him and pressing into his erection. 

Dean began to bathe her, cupping his hand to gather some water and pour it over her breasts. He caressed them, holding them in his hands and kneading them gently. She melted against him and enjoyed the feeling of his hands roaming over her body. When his fingers slipped through her folds, she drew in her breath sharply. Dean knew her body as well as she knew his. He knew the right amount of pressure to use and the way to circle his fingers until she was climaxing and shaking in his arms.

Dean held her after she calmed, and he left a trail of kisses along her neck and shoulder. After a minute or two had passed, she turned to him and kissed him deeply. Once again, she felt into the core of her being how right it was that they were together. 

They toweled one another dry, each taking the time to appreciate and worship the body of the other as the ritual required. Dean’s cock was fully hard now, and as Y/N wiped the towel over it; he groaned. The sound made her tingle deep in her center and intensified her already humming sexual energy. 

Back in the bedroom; Dean took his position on the bed and raised his arms to the headboard. Y/N secured his wrists there. He was giving himself as an offering to her and all she was, all she would be. She kissed each of his wrists below the cuffs that held him in place; then she held his cheek in her hand. “Are you sure you can do this right now? It’s been a long and difficult day.”

Dean leaned into her touch. “I can do it. I want to do it.” With his consent clear, she secured his feet, leaving him tied down and spread eagle on the bed. 

With a last caress of her knuckles against his jaw, she took away her hand and opened the drawer in the bedside table. Inside, there was a black silk mask they had used before. She slipped it over Dean’s head and kissed him lightly on the lips before she pulled it down over his eyes. The look he gave her before his eyes were covered was intense with love, adoration, and trust.

Y/N would test Dean’s limits tonight. She planned to repeatedly take him to the edge of pain and pleasure completing him with a depth of fulfillment that only she could give him.

Y/N opened the cabinet compartment in the table by the bed and took out everything she would be using on Dean tonight. It would all be a surprise to him, further heightening every sensation. She picked up the bottle of massage oil, clicked open the top, and squeezed a generous amount into her hand. The oil was cool when it touched her fingers, but it soon began to tingle. She avoided rubbing her hands together and contemplated which part of Dean’s body she wanted to stimulate with the tingling oil. His cock lay against his stomach, thick and hard. She would give that part of him her full attention later. Right now, she was going to see just how close she could get him to orgasm by playing with his nipples alone. 

She smeared some over each nub and waited for his reaction while the oil did its work. After a few seconds, Dean started to wiggle in his bonds. Any stimulation to his nipples went straight to his cock. Y/N alternated rubbing and tweaking each one until Dean lifted his hips from the bed seeking friction.

She dragged her hand down his torso. When it had almost reached his straining cock, she brushed it back up his body and circled a nipple with her fingertip, teasing it. On the second pass of her hand down Dean’s body, she noticed his breathing had become deeper and more labored.

This time, her fingers started to dance when they passed below his belly button, but she didn’t touch him where he most needed it. Instead, she dropped her mouth over his tip and tongued his slit. Then Y/N lowered her head and took him all the way into the back of her throat. After a few bobs of her head, she pulled back and licked the pre come from the end of his shaft. Dean moaned softly. Through her licks she told him, “Let me hear you, love.”

He didn’t disappoint her. As she sucked him down again, Dean moaned loudly; and she saw him clench his teeth. “Tell me when you’re about to come, and I’ll stop. I don’t want you to come yet.”

When she started to fondle his balls and lick a stripe up the underside of his cock, she felt Dean’s body tense. He was fighting it. “Can you hold it, my love? Do you need the cock ring?”

She stroked the inside of his thigh to calm him. “I...I can hold it.”

Y/N crawled up his body. She brought her face to within inches of his and pulled at his bottom lip with her fingertip. “Do you know how incredibly handsome you are? How perfect? Do you know how much I love you?” A soft smile turned up the corners of his mouth. He knew, and for a moment Y/N forgot about the fight with God looming over them and how she would need to use her newly acquired position to help Dean win that battle. 

She kissed him long, slow, and tender before she reached for the candle nearest the bed. This one was different from the others. The wax from this one wouldn’t burn him when she poured it on his body to form a protection sigil there, but it would hurt. She held the candle over Dean’s stomach and slowly tipped it. He hissed when the stream of wax touched his skin. 

She watched Dean carefully. He had never used his safeword because of wax, but she was always mindful of his reactions. Once the wax had hardened, she reached for the next implement. It was a small flogger with short tails. She dangled them over Dean’s chest and swished them over his nipples. This had the desired effect; pre come was beading at the tip of his cock again. She moved the flogger down his body and let the tails of it dance around his erect shaft.

With each motion of her hand, she became a little more deliberate. She wouldn’t hit him hard, just hard enough that the sting would heighten his pleasure and blur the line between pleasure and pain. After several swings of her arm, Dean’s dick was bobbing; and the pre come was flowing. His cock was a deep red; this was mostly due to his denied release, but not entirely.

His ankles pulled at his restraints as he tried to lift his hips higher than his bonds would allow. He was breathing heavily, nearly to the point of panting. “Ring...the ring. I can’t. I’m gonna….” And he would. She had seen him come from impact play alone. She fastened the ring around the base of his cock, and Dean let out a deep sigh of relief. He hated disappointing her, and it was about to get even more difficult to hold off the orgasm that threatened to overtake him.

She decided he’d had enough pain. It was time for the pleasure that would follow it, made all the sweeter by the pain. She kissed his throbbing cock all along the length. Her next surprise for him was a vibe she held to the end of his cock. 

His thighs shook with the effort to hold off his orgasm. She hadn’t given him permission yet. She moved the vibrator to that sweet spot on the underside of his cock just beneath the head. “Please, Y/N. Please….” 

Y/N put the toy away, positioned herself over Dean, and guided his thick and throbbing length to her entrance. She sank herself down on him and started to move. The fullness of him inside her was almost overwhelming; he stretched her to her limits, and she wanted so much more of him. Always more. 

She rode him right to the edge of her orgasm and held herself there, allowing the energy of it to build. As she climaxed, she spasmed around him hard. “Come now Dean. Come with me.” He cried out and filled her with hot spurt after spurt of his come. 

Y/N lifted herself from his body, and using his come mixed with her juices as lube she started to jerk him hard. Dean thrashed against the ties that were holding him down. “Give me another one, Dean. I know you have one more for me.” He grunted, groaned, moved with her hand, and tried to get away from it. Finally, he stopped fighting. Dean surrendered to her, and she drew his second orgasm from him. He spilled onto his stomach without the force of his first climax.

Y/N took the blindfold from his eyes. They were the green of sea glass, shining with the soft glow of candlelight reflected in them. They also had a faraway look in them. “Love you,” he whispered; but he wasn’t really looking at her. 

“I know you do. I love you too,” she told him while she unfastened his hands. “Are you with me, Dean?” She brushed her fingers over his face. His eyes were a little more focused. “You are so good for me.” She kissed his lips softly. “Give me just a minute, sweetheart.” Y/N moved down the bed to his feet and freed those too, then she went back to him and took Dean into her arms. She ran her fingers through his hair and whispered words of love and praise to him while he fell asleep.

Dean had been breathing quietly and evenly for several minutes when Y/N slipped from the bed and went to retrieve the scroll Rowena had given her. She put her robe back on, settled into the large armchair by the window, and tucked her legs beneath her. 

She removed the ribbon from the scroll and unrolled it. Y/N could hear Rowena’s lilting Scottish accent in her head as she read Rowena’s words.

The mistakes I’ve made in this life have been many. Ye aren’t one of them. Instead, yer my greatest achievement. Greater than what I’m about to do.It will not be that I threw meself into a crack to hell that makes the difference in the end. It will be that I taught ye what I did.

I know ye have honored life this day by experiencing all the glory of it as is our way. Ye coupled with yer man, and are ye no a lucky woman to have the man ye do? Chuck, God, wha’ever he chooses to call himself will not defeat you.Joined, as ye are, yer power is too great. There is only one thing that could stop you.Yer fear of losing him.My final gift to ye is to take that threat away.Say the spell and seal it with true love’s kiss. Dean will ne’er die, nor will ye, nor yer babes. With this immortality, ye will take back the world.

Y/N read over the words of the spell, then read them again, committing them to memory. She rolled the scroll back up, tucked it in her pocket, removed her robe, and left it at the end of the bed. Dean shifted as she climbed back into bed, but he didn’t waken.

Y/N let her eyes wander over Dean’s face. His full lips were relaxed in sleep, and the lines at the corners of his eyes were almost invisible. “I love you so much.”

The idea that he would have forever to explore and live any kind of life he wanted, have the experiences he’d been denied, appealed to her. Dean could finally relax and enjoy himself once Chuck was neutralized, and she would be there with him. Y/N only had a moment’s hesitation, questioning if this was something Dean would want. They could have happiness forever with their family. Sure of what she was about to do, Y/N took a deep breath and started to chant the spell.

Harm shall never come to thee

Nor shall it ever come to me

Protected by our love, forever shall we live

To you, my heart and my eternal love I give

When her lips touched his, just like in the fairy tales, Dean opened his eyes. He sat up to take her in his arms and kiss her more deeply. She held to him, knowing that beyond the coming battle; their endless life would be good. 

Everything Forever: @gambitwinchester​ @princessmisery666​ @onethirstyunicorn​ @peridottea91​ @logical-princey​ @emilyshurley​ @beenlovingromansincedayoneish​ @fangirlxwritesx67​ @waywardbaby​ @atc74​ @ledzeppelinsbonzo​ @shaniquacynthia​ @mariekoukie6661​ @tumbler-tidbits​ @67-chevy-baby​ @fandom-princess-forevermore​ @terrarium-jpeg​ @emoryhemsworth​ @crashdevlin​ @heycasbutt​ @jules-1999​ @mrsdeannafuckingwinchester​ @cosicas-cuquis​ @sammyimpala-67​ @queenoftheunderdark​ @dean-winchesters-bacon​ @mrs-meghan-winchester​ @timelordy-fangirl2​ @sweetness47​ @hobby27​ @awesomesusiebstuff​ @kickingitwithkirk​ @gh0stgurl​ @becs-bunker​ @sandlee44​ @supernaturalgrandma​ @lonewolf471​ @sea040561​ @dawnie1988​ @maddiepants​ @volleyballer519​ @outcastedangel​ @kdfrqqg​ @lizette50​ @daisymoder72​ @sorenmarie87​ @oldfreakything​ @triiitoo​

Dean/Jensen: @deansyahtzee​ @deanwinchesterswitch​ @waywardrose13​ @feelmyroarrrr​ @sammit-janet​ @winchesterxfamilybusiness​ @focusonspn​ @akshi8278​ @ladywinchester1967​ @sgarrett49​ @wingedcatninja​ @coffee-obsessed-writer​ @adoptdontshoppets​ @team-free-will-you-idjiot​ @ellewritesfix05​ 

[hunterartemisanime]

Kuroko no Basket Headcanon : GoM (+others) Horoscopes and Planetary Positions (Sun and Moon Sign)

Going full Oha-Asa over here, I really wanted to write something on it. As meticulous as Fujimaki-sensei is, he already noted what sun sign each and every character is born under. The internet is filled with Zodiac stereotypes and sets every signs into boxes: this character should be like this and all. But the surprising thing about Kuroko no Basket characters is none of them fall under their zodiac stereotypes. So I looked around and discovered that in Eastern Astrology, especially Vedic astrology each sign of the Zodiac is divided into 2 and a half star division, which makes two people of the same sign completely different persons. That makes 12 Zodiac Signs ruled by 27 different constellations! I was inspired by an Youtuber called “Claire Nakti” who sheds some brilliant light upon it. So here is my take on it. 

The calculations I did is based on the Cafe Astrology

I will also try to add different characters of the same zodiac signs to prove my point. So This may get a little longer. I understand there could be jargons and all, so I will be adding English names also so that you can read about them.

Disclaimer: I ain’t no astrologer, I just made an analogy to an anime where Horoscope is much discussed topic (by a certain Green haired character) so I thought why don’t I pull an Oha-Asa in my way?

Kuroko Tetsuya (31st January, Aquarius sun-Scorpio Moon, North Node and Jupiter Influenced)

Kuroko has always been unique as a character in sports anime. His sun sign falls in Aquarius in Shatabhisa constellation or The Constellation of 100 healers (eng: γ Aquarii), and his moon falls in Scorpio, in Vishaka Constellation or The constellation of Tree branches (eng: α, β, γ and ι Librae ). His sun position makes him not hesitate to sacrifice his self-interests to stand by his principles. Indeed Kuroko is a moral person and calls out the wrong, even though his enemies are larger and scarier than he is. This moral nature is further heightened by Jupiter ruled moon sign: Vishaka people are clear speakers, unique thinkers and justice lovers. Kuroko may be soft spoken but he clearly depicts all of those qualities. 

Looks wise Nodal males have light, magnetic wide eyes. North node of the moon is the shadow of the moon, and Kuroko is the “phantom”, an illusion which is also under the domain of the North Node of the moon: as sun plays a forefront in astrology, his Sun ruled Aquarius north node perhaps makes him the way he is.  His name is “Tetsuya”, which was written in Katakana; if it were written in Kanji it means “Philosophical”. North node controls darkness and illusions, out-of-the-box ideas, Jupiter controls morality and higher truth: His name is “Kuroko” (child of the dark) “Tetsuya” (Philosophical)

Kise Ryota (June 18th, Gemini sun-Scorpio Moon, Jupiter and Mercury influenced)

That is a really odd combination for Kise, because Jupiter characteristics are not at all frivolous and smiling all over the place like Kise. His Gemini sun falls in Punarvasu Constellation of the Constellation of “Return of the Good” ( eng: Castor and Pollux ), and His moon sign is in Scorpio in Jyestha Constellation, or the constellation “of the elder” (α, σ, and τ Scorpionis). Both of his constellations sit at the cusp of air (Gemini and Libra) and water signs (Cancer and Scorpio). This brings two things in line: Air sign gives him his mutability or ability to change, while water sign brings him closer to his emotions. He is not a “perfect copy” without any reason (Midorima agrees)

Looks wise, His mercury ruled moon sign is more dominant than his Jupiter rule Gemini constellation. Mercury men are very youthful looking, have narrow but bright eyes and are very much babied by the people around him: Mercury being the infant planet of the zodiac brings this quality. His moon sign also dictates his career as a model because Jyestha males are prone to go to the entertainment industry. Both Jupiter and Mercury are responsible for learning, knowledge. Kise is known to catch up with basketball in the shortest amount of time, and perhaps this is the reason. These people are also bad at hiding their emotions and are very honest in nature. Both him and Kuroko share Jupiter moon signs, perhaps that is why Kise is very attached to Kuroko.

MIdorima Shintarou (7th July, Cancer sun-Leo Moon, Saturn and South Node Influenced)

We all knew that Midorin was a Cancer, but Leo moon, we did not see it coming. Midorima is a Cancer sun and falls under the Pusya Constellation or the Constellation of Nourisher (eng: γ, δ and θ Cancri ). People born under the constellation are well respected, stable-minded and moral (we all agree on that). The Leo moon falls under the Magha (the blessed) constellation (eng: Regulus). These people  are very hard-working, and whatever progress they makes is owing to this attitude of sincerity. Well, no one can disagree on that part also. 

Pusya males are saturn ruled and they come with extremely good looks. Saturn beauties have long-ish faces, narrow eyes and a serious look on their face which looks quite attractive especially on males. South Node  moon makes a man magnetically handsome and to some extend emotionally distant--he may have hard time figuring and expressing his or other’s emotions. South Nodes also gives people a weird way to speak: be it voice, dialect or accent, and in Midorima’s case it is suffixing everything with “Nanodayo”. Saturn born people are very spiritual as well, they believe in a higher power and often follow it unquestioningly: with Midorima’s case, it’s his Horoscopes. With the saturn influenced sun, he will be disciplined, orderly and somewhat submissive in his nature: figures when he gets scolded or bullied by his seniors (and Takao) he takes it quietly. Guess Midorima knew Oha-Asa wasn’t hoax when he self diagnosed himself.

Aomine Daiki (August 31st, Virgo sun- Leo Moon, Sun and South Node influenced)

I had a hunch that Daiki is Sun influenced the moment I started doing this thing. He is a Virgo sun that falls into a Sun ruled constellation called Uttar Phalguni (The Younger Red One) (eng: Denebola), which is called the best Constellation for leadership and masculinity; Sun attends Youth in this constellation and therefore these people are leaders, egotistic and often harsh speakers. He is a Leo Moon which falls on the Magha or The Constellation of the Blessed (Eng: Regulus). His sun sign sits between the cusp of Leo and Virgo and this brings the fieriness in him. Stereotypical Virgos are portrayed as Nerdy and Neat people, but Virgo behaves like Leo when sun is sitting in Denebola Constellation and it amplifies Virgo’s ambitious nature and Leo’s Ego.

Sun influenced men are very masculine in looking and particularly the constellation under which Daiki is born makes the men hypersexual and lovers of all things erotic. Sun men are also the people who attract a lot of Nodal natives, moon born natives in their lives. Kuroko, who is North Node influenced, was once Aomine’s “shadow”-- a Sun influenced person who was Kuroko’s light. However, here comes his south node moon in play. South Node men are quiet emotionally distant, even from his own friends and loved once: they frequently hurt people with their words and have trouble expressing their feelings. Daiki also has the South Node speech type: he tends to drag the words “in--dayo” whenever he speaks, especially if he is annoyed. They speak often forcefully which may come off as rude, which also contributes to their loneliness. They are the “lone wolves” and people cannot stand them often: Sounds like Aomine? because he is like that. 

Murasakibara Atsushi (October 9th Libra sun-Capricorn moon, North Node and Sun influenced)

Anyone with Libra sun hear me out: Sun is said to be at his Weakest in Libra, and that means out Purple Giant has an unfortunate sun position. His Sun Sign falls in Swati Constellation or the Constellation of “Goodness” (Eng: Arcturus), and his moon falls in Uttar Ashada or the Constellation of the Undefeated (Eng: Zeta Sagitarrii) which is a Sun ruled constellation that sits at the Cusp of Sagittarius and Capricorn. Thus Murasakibara is not a stereotypical Libra, he has some grounding qualities in him. Libras are most compatible with Gemini, Aries and Aquarius but Murasakibara’s best friend is Himuro Tatsuya who is a Scorpio. This must be because the Capricorn enters in his chart as his House of Moon, which has medium compatibility with Scorpio.

Any Nodal person mentioned in this post, especially if they are North Node are exceptionally tall in heights and it is said that Nodes, like trees in the deep equatorial forest, grow tall to get the Sun, which makes them so execptionally tall. Murasakibara is very large compared to a Japanese. Although his sun is weakened in the sign of Libra, which snatches all the honour, glory and leadership positions, he strengthens it back in his Capricorn moon which is a Sun ruled Constellation. Although the Constellation is mainly on Sagittarius’ side, but when it enters Capricorn’s side it loses it’s philosophical edge of the Sagittarius house and gets more practical because Capricorn is an earth sign. This moon position gives him those Sun ruled narrow and sharp eyes, deep voice, imposing alpha qualities. People who have sun in Swati tend to be my-pace kind of people: they have their own ways to do things, they hate being criticized and they have fierce angers. 

Akashi Seijuro (December 20th, Sagittarius Sun- Aries Moon, Sun and Venus Influenced)

Boy! Here comes one big ball of Ego! I always wondered (when I first saw Akashi) wow, he acts like a Greek God who just got pissed off by a mortal, and turns out he was just born on certain influence. He is a Sagittarius Sun that falls on the Uttar Ashada Constellation or the Constellation of the Undefeated (eng: Zeta Sagittarii), and His Aries Moon falls on Varani constellation or The Constellation of the Bearer (Eng: 35 Arietis). Uttar Ashada is the last sun ruled constellation of the Zodiacs and Varani is the First Venus ruled constellation. As a fire sign he should be getting along with other fire signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, (even airs signs like Gemini and Libra) but he is closest with Midorima, who is a Cancer Sign, and Kuroko who is an Aquarius. All of them have one thing in common: Jupiter. Sagittarius is Jupiter’s domain, Cancer is Jupiter’s favorite house to be, and Kuroko has Scorpio moon in Vishakha Constellation, which is ruled by Jupiter.

Sun ruled males are hands down the alpha males around as i have written before, but dear Akashi’s constellation has an added twist. As Sagittarius is Jupiter Ruled (the eldest of the Zodiac) where Akashi’s sun sign sits, it gives him a sense of older-than-his age dignity. Thus people around him, older or younger, stronger or weaker obey him without contest. People with these placements may be blessed with the Supreme Leadership image, but it also gives them an overly authoritative and egotistic father figures (with which Akashi has had torments). His moon sign which is Venus influenced makes him very unconventionally attractive and in touch with his feminine sides, females or feminine gay men are likely to be attracted to him for this. But all of this politeness are outside features: inside, he is harsh and broken. Venus men are very particular about what women they desire in life, and Sun men are rapid womanizers. However Akashi’s Constellation has no opposite gender consort available in the 27 constellations (26 others are assigned with 13 pairs of male and female animals). So he will have high standards in women, not likely to have steady partners because of this--he may (god forbid) also die a virgin.  

(Fun Fact: the symbol of Varani Constellation is a Vagina)

Kagami Taiga (August 2nd, Leo sun- Leo Moon, Double South Node Influenced)

Kagami may have Leo sun and Leo moon and we may think--oh, he is full of sun power, but it is not hat simple. He is doubly influenced with South Nodes. South Nodes are responsible for morbidity, detachment, emotional alienation, aloofness etc, but none of them is really seen in Kagami. He shares Leo moon sign with Takao and Midorima, Aomine and on the same constellation: Magha, the constellation of the Blessed (eng: Regulus). At the beginning he seems to be very aggressive and his speeches rub people in the wrong way which is a typical South Node influence that come with his Sun and Moon sign. But later we see that he has a huge gap between appearance and reality. 

Magha people usually come from wealth, but due to Kagami’s sun sign falls in a nodal constellation he faces detachment from his father figure. Nodal people usually have wide and doe like eyes, but as Kagami’s Sun and Moon sign sits on a Sun ruled House of Leo, his South nodes mimic the looks of a typical Sun dominant man: narrow eyes, alpha male qualities, deep voice and great leadership skills. Their speech tends to be loud, forceful and may seem harsh and rude, but it’s far from it. It is to be noted. Kagami’s voice also have the typical South node eccentricity, he ends his speeches with “desu” in polite conversations, even when it is not necessary. South Node is the headless tail of dragon and when sun comes to it, it takes the sun as it’s missing head and magnifies the qualities of the Sun. Kagami is so beautifully written that he is not a typical rugged charmed beauty: there is more to him in the bottom than we can see. South nodes enables a person to reach the higher truth, if they are placed in a good sign--remember how Kagami opened the Direct drive Zone? it was really like discovering the unconscious mind.

Takao Kazunari (November 21st, Scorpio Sun-Leo Moon: Mercury and South Node influenced)

Charming, playful, good looking, Takao Kazunari is Scorpio Sun and a Leo Moon. Surprised? I was too--our Takao influenced by Leo? but that’s what he is completely opposite inside and out. He Mercury influenced Jyestha Constellation Sun or the Constellation of the Eldest (Eng: Alpha Scorpionis) and South Node influenced Magha Constellation or The Blessed Constellation moon (Eng: Regulus). The Mercury influenced Sun sign makes him swift and outspoken in nature; these people can be so quick thinkers that it makes them almost unpredictable.

 South Node influenced men have light eyes, great looks and magnetic personality, while the Mercury influence gives them youthfulness, lightheartedness and great intelligence. they may have forceful speech or a weird accent: Takao adds a “-ssho” at the end of his sentence, despite he laughs at Midorima’s “Nanodayo suffix”. They don’t take life or themselves too seriously but can hold grudge for a long time. South Node men are prone to be ‘draining’ emotionally, but that aspect of Takao is not revealed. He and Midorima shares the same moon sign, The Leo Magha Moon, which makes them so different and so uncanny to be friends together. HIs Moon constellation, Magha makes him sort of selfless and detached at the same time. I always wondered why Takao wheels Midorima around and doesn’t get mad? because he is generous in a very selfless way.

Hyuuga Junpei (May 16th, Taurus Sun- Taurus Moon: Mars and Sun influenced)

Hyuuga is Taurus sun and Taurus moon respectively. Hyuuga’s sun fall in Mrigshira Constellation or Deer Head Constellation (Eng: Lambda Orionis), which is the third Taurus constellation and it sits between Taurus and Gemini. His moon falls in Krittika constellation or Axe Constellation (Eng: Eta Tauri or Pleiades) which sits between Aries and Taurus. Sun influenced males depict a lot of alpha male qualities that attract both males and females (remember Reo Mibuchi) But Mars males usually are short tempered and express their anger in a funny way. Hyuuga is acknowledged by all as a captain but he struggles with his temper and his position, several times, perhaps due to these position. Looks wise Sun influenced males are very attractive in their own way, they usually have large forehead, sharp and narrow eyes and husky voice.

Sterotypically Taurus people cannot stand any other signs than specific earth and water signs, but this combination brings a taurian very well in terms with fire and air signs, especially with Leos, Geminis and Aquariuses. Aquarius people become very special in these types of taurians because they keep coming into Taurus’ throughout their lives: even though they are completely opposites. Hyuuga’s romantic interest is Riko, an aquarius. Taurus and Gemini are said to be in bad terms, but due to this combination of constellations, Hyuuga is in good terms with Kiyoshi. His Moon sign that falls in Krittika Constellation is symbolised by Axe (and any kind of blades in general) so, these natives are usually good with jobs that requires cutting: Hyuuga cuts hair nicely, don’t you think? Cutting also means cutting remarks--his Tsukkomis bite

Kiyoshi Teppei (June 10th, Gemini sun-Aries Moon: North and South Node influenced)

No wonder Kiyoshi is the way he is. I always thought he is not a typical Gemini, there is a hidden aspect to him. South and North nodes of the moon are nodal planets and they love being around Sun influenced people (Hyuuga). Kiyoshi is an Aries Moon that falls on Aswini or Horse Head Constellation (eng: Beta Arietis), and he is a Gemini Sun that falls on the Ardra or Wet Wind Constellation (Eng: Betelgeuse) If You want a stable, cool-headed, life of the party, salt of the earth kind of person, go for Kiyoshi or the combination of his Sun and Moon placement.

The males born with the Moon in Ashwini Nakshatra will almost always have a handsome face, and bright and big eyes (South Node, trying to absorb light through big doe eyes). His forehead will be broad and his nose will tend to be on the bigger side. He will be grateful to those who love him and will go to any extents to do anything for them. He is the best friend you can have when you need one desperately. Ardra people have the special power to persevere, communicate and be gentle and soft spoken at the same time. The natives are soft, stable, strong, sacrifice a lot to earn, and may be prone to sickness--the last can connote with Kiyoshi’s knee injury. North Node people tend to be ambitious in nature and they will to any lengths to fulfill it, Nodal people tend to have wide and often doe like eyes, dry but sophisticated sense of humour and they love to be around Sun influenced people. That is why, despite being completely opposites, Kiyoshi and Hyuuga are in good terms. 

Riko Aida (February 5th, Aquarius sun and Leo Moon: Venus and North Node influenced)

Riko is Aquarius sun and Leo moon. NO wonder she exercises great leadership skills. Her Aquarius sun falls in Satavisha constellation or the constellation of 100 physicians and her Leo Moon falls in Purva Phalguni constellation or the Elder Red constellation. The North Node ruled sun constellation gives her harsh, strict, healing and truthful nature while the Venus ruled Moon constellation gives her charming outlook: she is soft on the outside, hard on the inside kind of girl. She used to have relationship with Kiyoshi at the beginning, and I wondered why, and then I discovered: Kiyoshi’s moon’ s constellation Ashwini is symbolised with a Male Horse and Riko’s Sun’s constellation Shatabhisha is symbolised with a Female Horse. The stars truly came together with these two.

The Purvaphalguni women are instructive and very good teachers and mentors: Riko is a coach and is very good at her job. Because her moon sign in ruled by Venus, she attracts a Taurian Hyuuga, whose Zodiac Sign Taurus is general is ruled by Venus. Nodal women have wide set and usually lighter eyes (according to the race) and Venus gives them an overall charming beauty (because Venus is the Goddess of Beauty). But along with it comes vanity as well: venus is extremely proud of her looks and will not stand any other’s presence who is more good looking than her. Perhaps that’s why she is quite jealous of Momoi.

--

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[passable-talent]

self indulgent niche hayden christensen character x male reader has returned!!!

this time, featuring Jacob from Outcast (2014). it was a bad movie. I loved it so much.

dedicated, as always, to @haydens-moles​ - i know this wasn’t the one u asked for but i hope its close enough. i did try to showcase what he’s been doing before getting into the x reader stuff. this popped into my head and i had to write it. im sorry about it and ily 🥺

i did not expect this to be THIS long. its not awful but like. long, for what i usually do

tw: war, homophobia (briefly in the beginning), scars, wounds, sword fighting, death of unnamed characters, arrow wound

All this death. 

All this death surrounded you, you welcomed it into your home. Your mother, the honorable queen, had opened the palace grounds to the war-torn soldiers, and you, their noble prince, walked among them. 

You spoke to the soldiers about the war, thanked them for their sacrifice. You walked among them, empathizing with their pain, fetching them water or food or a nurse when they asked. 

Your heart broke for them, every one of them. They clearly believed in the crusade, believed in the mission of their king and their god... their hearts would break in turn if they discovered you believed in neither. 

How could a bloody, violent, evil war be fought for a benevolent god? How could a fair king order his men to their deaths?

You adjusted the crown you wore and walked from the main-hall-turned-medical-bay, hoping to find your father. He had grown weary with you in the recent years, your unwillingness to find a princess and your disapproval of his politics, but maybe he’d listen to you about the safety of your people. Maybe, he’d realize that you took your crown seriously, even if you didn’t intend to wear it the way that he wanted you to. After all, you were his only suitable heir- he was well into his old age, and if he intended to replace you with your brother, he’d have to wait years until the toddler was old enough to rule. You were his only choice.

You neared the entrance into your father’s throne room, but heard his voice echoing without it, and so paused just beyond the doorframe to listen. 

“I will have no soft-hearted, peace-mongering pansy on my throne! That will not be my legacy!” 

You knew your father’s opinions of you. You never, until this moment, realized how deeply they ran. 

This war, this country. Even if one day you could gain control and stop it all, they would still never respect you. Never. You saw it now- and you saw what you needed to do. 

The thought of running away was not a new one. You had, for years, considered it, weighed the likeliness. You knew you’d survive, being trained in hunting, combat, all of it, by Gallain, a noble knight. You had been trained alongside Jacob, who was both your personal knight and your best friend. 

And, something more. 

You often went to him whenever you felt like running away, and he always convinced you to stay, assuring you of your nobility and royalty. But Jacob disappeared years ago, without even a goodbye, so on that day you had no such guidance. 

With your sword, your bow and arrow, and as much gold as you could carry, you disappeared with your horse into the countryside. 

“Something must be done,” said a nobleman, a lord, commanding the center of a tavern.

“I agree,” said another, portly belly pressing against the table in front of him, “But he’s bested my guards. What can be done?” 

“He’s a thieving, murderous boy who takes more than he can carry. Surely he can be bested by just a few more guards.” 

“No, Estevan- he cuts through men like no knight I’ve ever seen. He’s terrifying. My wife is worried for our children, should he return.” 

Jacob wasn’t one to push into conversations to which he wasn’t invited, but this did seem to be his specialty. He was still a nomad, still an outcast, but now his tavern interests were less opium and more noble assistance to those who needed it. 

“Excuse me,” he said, looking up from the booth he’d been seated in, “but who might be causing you lot so much trouble?” The collection of noblemen looked at him, various expressions of disbelief and incredulousness gracing their faces. 

“You don’t know of the Dark Prince?” 

Jacob let his eyes narrow briefly as he considered the nickname against all he’d known as a knight, as well as all he’d learned as an outcast.

“I don’t.” 

The man who had been referred to as ‘Estevan’ let out an obnoxious laugh. 

“Boy, come along, to my estate,” he said, giving his friends little cheeky glances. “I’ve strengthened my guard, as I’m expecting an attempt at a thievery tonight. If you best him, I’ll pay you handsomely.” 

Clearly, these idiotic men had never heard of Jacob, the Outcast. 

Well, Jacob the Outcast had never heard of you. 

In the three years since you’d fled your kingdom, you’d created quite a name for yourself. Your first move had been taking some of the money you swiped from your father and commissioning a crown- one made of black tungsten, with none of the engravings or jewels that had once been your royal right. You wanted smooth, reflective metal, curling around your temples and into short, sharp spikes. 

You wore it whenever you weren’t alone, which was nearly all the time. You wore it when you travelled, even under your large hood; you wore it when you fought. And yes, you wore it when you stole.

Jacob followed Estevan to his estate and watched from afar while the guards he’d hired stood watch. He was hidden, and kept watch over the whole of the estate, wondering if he’d catch a glimpse of this Dark Prince. 

He was glad he’d chosen to hide, as the skies opened up upon the earth, and he kept semi-dry underneath the leaves of the tree he’d perched within. The guards, walking the length of an exterior wall, had no such refuge from the storm.

He did not notice the black-cloaked figure until it was illuminated by the torchlight. You had no sword drawn to catch the light until you were upon the guards, and the two of them fell to you without so much as a sound. 

Jacob, curious, kept his eyes on you as you broke through the wall, having made a hole between the guards’ patrols. He knew that he could easily take you down with a single arrow, but he wanted to see how this would end. 

Would you cut through guards, as one of the noblemen had suggested? Why were you attempting this theft when you had to have known you were expected here? Would you succeed? 

You entered the home silently, taking stock of your location. You’d received a bit of insider information from one of Estevan’s servants as to the location of his gold, and made a direct route to it. 

Gold, as you well know, is one of the heaviest substances on earth. But you were much stronger than you’d been as a prince only trained out of tradition, and not for any true purpose. You were strong enough to carry enough gold to buy a kingdom, and still fight your way out of here. 

Today, you would be modest. You only needed to feed a village, a few pounds was plenty. Why take what you didn’t need?

The guards were none the wiser until you made your escape, attempting to break once again through their wall to flee into the surrounding forest. You brought the whole lot of them down upon you, and Jacob relaxed against the tree, assured that you would certainly be brought to justice by the ten guards that you now face. 

Yet, you weren’t. You weren’t even harmed. Large hood still hiding your crown and your face, you bled through them, some receiving a strike to the legs to put them on the ground, others struck over the head with the hilt of your sword. You had gone through the whole of them without much of an issue, and walked at not much of a worried pace toward the forest. 

Well, if there was a time for Jacob to intervene, now was it. Nothing else stood in your way. 

He pulled an arrow and notched it to the drawstring, lifting it to his face. Even in the rain, at this distance, he would make the shot. 

No more than three seconds later, you took an arrow to the shoulder. 

There was pain, yes. It shocked you into stumbling forward, the sudden motion throwing your hood back and exposing your face. But you’d had your fair share of pain, and more pressing was the confusion- Estevan Perrero hired no archers. There shouldn’t have been any on his property, let alone one who could hit you at this range.

Against your better judgement, you turned, glancing back at the estate you had just removed a few pounds of gold from, and scanned its walls. There were no archers in sight, so you righted your hood and hurried on, disappearing into the forest, showing little care for the arrow you now carried in your shoulder. You knew better than to attempt to remove it. 

Jacob threw himself from the tree and gave chase. He couldn’t let you get far- it would be hard to track you in this rain, and he needed to find you.

He had to find this Dark Prince- because it couldn’t possibly be the young prince he’d once loved and protected, all that time ago. It had to have been a trick of the light, or the rain, it couldn’t- this hardened, scarred, skilled thief couldn’t possibly be the compassionate prince whose nightmares he’d once soothed. 

He followed you through the forests, to a trade road that lead to a nearby village. You traveled in the rain all through the night until you reached a village, just before dawn, and he followed, far enough behind that you didn’t notice him. 

Then, you carefully removed your bag from your shoulder, avoiding the arrow. You distributed the gold among the people, and though they thanked you tremendously, you waved away their offers of repayment upon the condition that you were given somewhere to sleep, and heal. 

You were allowed a room in a tavern, the biggest one available. Only once the door had closed did you allow yourself to rest, letting your shoulders fall, your eyes close. 

You were so tired. 

With one hand, you removed your black crown, regarding it with sorrow-filled eyes. Then, you reached over your shoulder and let your fingers frame the arrow; it was wedged deep into your flesh, and all of the surrounding fabric was soaked through with blood. It needed to be removed, but you couldn’t get a good angle on it, not one comfortable enough to yank it out cleanly. And a clean yank was instrumental- if the arrowhead was left behind, you’d all but lose the arm. 

You felt a little bit of panic grip your stomach, as you didn’t know how you’d remove it, and once one emotion broke through to your mind, many followed. You felt your throat close up, fighting against the past you’d left behind, the people you’ve abandoned, all of the killing and the stealing. 

“Need help with that?” said a voice behind you, and you quickly sucked up your emotions to whirl around. Had you really forgotten to lock the door?

Any number of quips and comebacks came to mind, but as quickly as they appeared, they faded- you didn’t realize the man who’d regarded you was Jacob. 

A thousand feelings flittered through you at the sight of him. He was just as beautiful as you remembered, and he looked at you just as kindly. But you couldn’t push aside how he’d abandoned you without as much as a goodbye. And now- what was he doing here?

Still, you could trust his hands. So you nodded, wordlessly, and turned, gripping onto the table in front of you to make sure your muscles would stay in place as he pulled. 

He approached you carefully, as though advancing toward a wild animal, you could hear it in his gait on the squeaky floorboards. He took one hand to the center of your back, then sliding it to the side to frame the arrow with two fingers on either side. He made a small noise as he touched you- you wondered if he was worried for the wound, or surprised by the muscle that had never been there when he’d known you. 

“Don’t tense,” he said, and you gave a little scoff. Obviously, you thought to yourself, but that was certainly easier said than done. Without warning he pulled, tearing the arrow from your flesh. You let out a roar, your body falling forward, your uninjured arm barely keeping you from falling flat onto the table. Heaving, agonized breaths took control of your body until the pain ebbed, and you swallowed hard.

“Sorry,” Jacob said, glad he had used a light arrowhead that hadn’t gone deep, and was fairly easy to remove, “I wouldn’t have shot if I knew it was you.” You turned to him, surprised, narrowing your eyes. 

“It was you?” You repeated, then turned your eyes to the floor, weighing what that revelation meant. “So then- you followed me? What, have you been hired to arrest me? These people need that gold, you can’t take it back from them!” Jacob shook his head with the slightest of a smile, holding up a hand. 

“No, nothing like that,” he said, “I was supposed to stop a theft, but when I saw you-” His gaze raked down your body and back up again. “I never expected to see you so far from home. And so different.” Maybe it was meant to be sweet, but it still stung your heart that he had left you, when he disappeared to wherever he’d gone, some five years ago. Any fondness you felt for him was soured by that. 

“I wasn’t too much different, until you shot me,” you said dryly, ”Make it up to me, Jacob, help me dress the wound. That’ll be your first step.” You turned from him and began shedding layers, blood soaked as they were, and laying them over the single chair in the room. 

“My first step toward what?” He asked, and you paused, your last layer halfway up your torso, looking away from him. 

“Toward letting me forgive you.” With your grim tone, he dropped his queries, waiting for you to completely bare your torso. He searched into his own bag to find a roll of bandage. 

You waited, looking over your shoulder at him as he dug through his belongings, and then turned his attention to you. You looked away when he grew closer, closing your eyes against his touch. His hands were exactly as you remembered them- calloused, rough, warm. For a moment before he began giving attention to your renewed wound, he let his fingers trace over the scars that littered you.

“I used to know your body better than any map,” he breathed, running the pad of his finger down the long scar you’d received when your path crossed with an overzealous Mongol, “but it seems like you’ve carved yourself an entirely new terrain.” You swallowed hard as he began wrapping the bandage around your shoulder and torso, gathering your wits to make a response. 

“Well, such a thing does happen, when you disappear for five years.” You let him guide your limbs as he dressed the wound, your gaze low, breathing as evenly as you could force yourself to. 

“Where have you been?” you asked him, and if you hadn’t known him since childhood, you wouldn’t have picked up on it- but with his little exhale, you heard him smile.

“I spent a few years in the far east, in an opium-stupor,” he said, his fingers just as gentle as they’d ever been, at least when he handled you. “But after Gallain died, I’ve been travelling the world, offering my services anywhere I thought I could do some good. That was why I thought I’d be stopping a theft today.” There was so much to take in, but you couldn’t help but think of your old mentor. 

“I’d heard Gallain passed. I’m sorry.” Jacob stiffened, just for a moment, and regardless of the brevity, you felt him do it. No matter how you tried to convince yourself you were holding him away from you, your heart still ached at the thought of the grief he must have felt. 

“What’s happened to you, all this time?” He asked, pulling the attention away from himself as he tucked the length of the bandage under itself, your wound completely covered.

You had known the question was coming- it was inevitable. And still, you had to think about your answer. You didn’t want to admit the awful things you’d done, not to him.

“My father was never going to let me be king,” you said with a bit of a pitiful smile, pulling your tunic over yourself again, “You knew that, didn’t you?” Jacob let out a heavy breath, shaking his head. 

“I knew he didn’t approve of your politics,” he said, and bit his lip before he added “of us.” You shut your eyes briefly, knowing it was better than seeing whatever expression he had at those two words. Did he miss you? Did he regret being with you? Did he regret leaving you?

“But I never thought he’d cast you out.”

“He didn’t,” you corrected him, lifting your chin before opening your eyes. “I didn’t give him the chance. I left.” Jacob narrowed his eyes briefly, considering what you were saying, and you took the break in the conversation to take a seat on the bed. 

“How long ago?”

You caught his eye, and now that he stood above you, you felt almost ashamed of your actions, of the consequences they must’ve had on the people you cared about. Your poor little brother.

“Three years.”

Jacob shook his head, but didn’t say anything. Neither of you looked at the other, and neither said a thing. You looked out the window, seeing the sky grow lighter with the early morning. 

“Jacob, I need-” you swallowed harshly, “I have to sleep.” He only let out a laugh, a smile sprouting on his face again.

“Me too,” he said, and after a moment of deep thinking, turned toward the door of the room. 

“Jacob,” you said, making him pause, and turn back to you. Now that you had his attention, you couldn’t back down- but you took an instant longer to gather your courage. “You can stay,” you said, and it took you right back to when you’d said those very same words to him for the first time, when he was your knight, before he was a crusader, and you just a young teenaged prince. 

If you could assume from the fondness, affection, and longing that warmed his face, he was remembering the same thing. 

-🦌 Roe

[raz-b-rose]

There's nothing about transgender people in the bible and the thing that seems to be anti gay was actually referencing pedophilia. There's some really great websites explaining this, definitely look into it

Ok so I’m assuming you’re talking about this post. So thats what I’ll base most of my response off of. 

1. You offered no sources for me to cross reference

2. You didn't reference what verse you are talking about, if any, so I can look into it myself. 

Just because the bible doesn't directly use the English terms “transgender” doesn't make it any less of a sin discussed in the bible. Also remember it is difficult to translate the bible into English perfectly because of how the original Hebrew and Greek was spoken and written culturally at the time. It is always important to compare to the original scripture, and culture, to have an accurate read. 

However, the issue you are presenting to me, God is very clear and deliberate in his design. Not just of us as people but as how he designed each gender uniquely to function within the different relationships created through those bonds. Everything humans are and do is a reflection in some way of Gods design (Genesis 1:27) and how sin has corrupted the world. 

“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”  Genesis 2:7

It is no coincidence that God actively created mankind. He spoke everything else into existence except for us. He formed us with his own hands and so intimately breathed life into Adam. (It is also not a coincidence that paramedics can revive someone via CPR. Again an image of Life given to us via God) 

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33:4 

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.”  Psalm 139:13

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”  Isaiah 64:8 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;”  Jeremiah 1:5 a

Consecrated:  having been made or declared sacred;  declared to be or represent the body and blood of Christ

After Jesus’ sacrifice for our souls, the veil in Gods temple that was used to resemble our separation from him due to our sins was torn in two. (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45, Hebrews 10:19-22)  After that our bodies became living temples for God. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, also keep in mind the commands in these verses are for believers, you can’t be expected to obey if you have not repented) The Holy Spirit will become a part of you at the moment of salvation and therefore God is always with you. 

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”  Psalm 139:14

“Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”  Isaiah 43:7

I myself, having been called by God to work in this ministry uniquely created for me, will work for His glory. I will speak truth, and plant seeds. God will reap what He sows, I simply obey and give God all the glorious control. 

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4:11

God does not make mistakes. He made us as we are, nothing we feel changes the fact that he chose male or female for us. 

If God made mistakes then everything the bible says is a lie. To accuse God of such a thing, attack his character and Being in such a way, is purely insane. There is no hope for us if even a word of His is a lie. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

The bible is God. It reflects who He is, to displays His plan and design for all to see. The bible is Jesus. It shows Gods detailed plan from the beginning to end, to offer us salvation for our own sin and the beautiful opportunity to choose Him. The word of God  is active in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. 

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” Hebrews 4:12

They are Three in One and have existed outside our constructs of time for all of eternity. 

If the bible is wrong about even one thing, then God would cease to exist. That is why God doesn't make mistakes, and bible holds no lies. It can hold mysteries that God does not full reveal to us (this is where acts of faith come in) but it does not lie. Because God can not lie. 

“But Raz, what about those cases of people being born with both genders” 

Sin has corrupted the world, outside of Gods perfect design is an imperfect image of what could have been, what will be once Jesus returns and God restores what has been broken. 

(Something we all desire with all out hearts because it is what we were created for. We were created to have perfect union with Christ. to be perfect in every sense. For there to be no death or evil. We desire perfection in our everyday lives because it is in our intended nature and our relationship with God is only a fraction of what will be possible eternity with Him.)

He has a plan for those people, one we may not full understand or know but it is there and the challenge is no different than those born with any other difficulties (homosexuality, mental illness, health issues, imperfect bodies, addiction, ect.) 

The point is, we are all born with sin. We are all challenged by different temptations (the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.) God presents us with these challenges so the reward for refusing them is great. The feeling of saying no to them, and succeeding by Gods power is wonderfully, indescribable. Its both encouraging and humbling. I know I wont be perfect in this mortal life time, but each success brings me closer to God.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:17

God strengthens us through our battles, and equips us for them through His word. At the end of the day. All of our battles are fought within our minds and our hearts. We are commanded to keep His word close with us (memorized) so we are ready for them all. 

Jesus’ time on earth was important. He lived a life as fully man remember. He Himself was tempted and overcame them all with scripture. (Matthew 4:1-11) His life is an example for us, and an encouragement for what can be accomplished through God. 

He was also fully God. He showcased Their inability to sin and Their perfection. Again. God is prefect. Lying is a sin. God can’t sin, because God is perfect. Therefore, the bible is fully true. 

I urge you to think on these truths, and know that this is love. Gods definition of love is always going to be different from the worlds definition because it tells us what we need, not what we want to hear. 

I love you, and will be praying for you.   

[idairsauthor]

This Fcking Impeachment: Episode 3, Ambassados and Ambassadon’ts

PLAIDDER: Good morning and welcome to the most imaginary of the Sunday morning talk shows, This Fcking Impeachment! With me in the studio is...uh...

CONN: I’m sorry, I meant to tidy up before you arrived, but I got sidetracked by the--

PLAIDDER: Conn...since our last episode...have you been...living here?

CONN: I cannot deny it.

PLAIDDER: Conn--

CONN: There’s been fnaa going down EVERY DAY! I just wanted to be READY!

PLAIDDER: Well, I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to the studio, there’s a lot going on out there and I find all of this exhausting. But I did want to...

CONN: It’s all right to light candles in here, isn’t it? I mean, the whole place is imaginary...

PLAIDDER: Is that...have you built a shrine to former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch?

CONN: I might have.

PLAIDDER: Conn...you’re taking this all very seriously. I think maybe you need a break. Look, Mrs. P is reading Redemption again, why don’t you just go back to your embassy and hang out in the earlier chapters for a while?

CONN: Oh, sure. I’ll just go back to my cozy little embassy and my ugly yellow sweaters and my tea and my friendly banter with Spindern, shall I?

PLAIDDER: I guess...I mean I guess this version of you can’t forget...

CONN: No, I cannot. And so...I mean it was bad enough for me dealing with a shadow foreign policy being promulgated in secret by my one subordinate. This poor Marie ni hOabhanobhaitch was being suborned from above and around as well as below. You can’t fire someone who doesn’t work for you. 

PLAIDDER: Especially when you don’t actually know what they’re doing.

CONN: It makes my blood boil. Being an ambassador is thurking hard. 

PLAIDDER: I know. I mean, I honestly think that for the duration of Redemption you were the hardest working man on the island. 

CONN: Since nobody works harder than Aine.

PLAIDDER: Indeed not. I want you to know I’m even more proud of you now than I was before, now that I’m watching this mess unfold. You were a really good ambassador.

CONN: Since you say it.

PLAIDDER: You WERE. It’s true you did some things that weren’t, strictly speaking, entirely above board or explicitly authorized...

CONN: That’s part of the job. That’s why they have a human doing this job instead of just negotiating everything via email. You’re there, you’re on the ground, you know more than your superiors do. I knew what the Seat’s goals were when they sent me, and I worked to accomplish them. And I didn’t tell them 100% of how I was doing that, because it wouldn’t have helped anyone for them to know. There’s always stuff that happens in back rooms, off the record. That’s not what’s horrifying about all this.

PLAIDDER: So speaking as an ambassador who was not corrupt, could you explain for our non-ambassador readers some of these ambassa-dos and ambassa-don’ts?

CONN: All right: first of all, DO have a clear idea of what your diplomatic mission is and what your goals are. And then DON’T do things that will undermine those goals.

PLAIDDER: So, for instance, Marie Yovanovitch’s diplomatic mission...

CONN: Well, here’s what it says on the website of the US Embassy in Ukraine:

“The United States established diplomatic relations with Ukraine in 1991, following its independence from the Soviet Union. The United States attaches great importance to the success of Ukraine’s transition to a modern democratic state with a flourishing market economy. U.S. policy is centered on realizing and strengthening a democratic, prosperous, and secure Ukraine more closely integrated into Europe and Euro-Atlantic structures.”

Put in slightly less...

PLAIDDER: Diplomatic?

CONN:...obscure language, the goal of the official diplomatic mission to the Ukraine was to stop Russia from taking the place over and thus rebuilding the former Soviet empire under new management. To keep Ukraine an ally of the US instead of a Russian puppet. Basic geopolitics. I mean you could argue about the wisdom of all that but that’s Congress’s job. As the ambassador, it’s not your job to set the goals; it’s your job to pursue them. 

PLAIDDER: Right. 

CONN: But here’s the thing. Marie Yovanovitch was carrying out the official mission. Nobody told her that there was a completely different unofficial mission to Ukraine being led by your Mr. Giuliani. That information was shared, evidently, only with this Kurt Volker and this Bill Taylor and this Gordon Sundland. And if you look at this group of shadow diplomats you realize they all have one thing in common--

PLAIDDER: They’re all men.

CONN: All right, two things. One, they’re all men; two, none of them are ambassadors.

PLAIDDER: Well, I mean...they’re diplomats, aren’t they?

CONN: Yes. But any diplomatic mission to another nation is led by the ambassador. All these other people--the envoys, the charges d’affaires--the ambassador outranks them. They take their orders from the ambassador. At least they’re supposed to.

PLAIDDER: So who did they put in as ambassador to the Ukraine after they fired Yovanovitch?

CONN: Nobody.

PLAIDDER: What?

CONN: Nobody. There is no ambassador at that embassy now. It is being run by William Taylor, the charge d’affaires. Better known to you as the man who texted Gordon Sundland telling him he thought it was crazy to hold up security aid over help with a political campaign. 

PLAIDDER: Isn’t Gordon Sondland an ambassador?

CONN: He’s your ambassador to the European Union. He was never the ambassador to the Ukraine. He shouldn’t have been doing ANY of this.

PLAIDDER: But I thought Kurt Volker--

CONN: Kurt Volker was an envoy. A part-time, UNPAID envoy. 

PLAIDDER: That’s weird.

CONN: ALL OF THIS IS WEIRD! But that’s what happens when the REAL mission is something that can’t be acknowledged in public. The REAL mission, led by the REAL ambassador, your Mr. Giuliani, appears to have been to use the power and the purse of the United States to force the new president of Ukraine to fabricate evidence that would shore up a clutch of baseless conspiracy theories which would then allow your President to tilt the next election in his favor by smearing, not only his most likely political opponent, but all of the government agencies who provided the evidence of Russia’s interference in your last presidential election. 

PLAIDDER: And you can’t put that on the website.

CONN: No you cannot. You cannot be seen to be pursuing those goals at all, because they are THOROUGHLY CORRUPT. They do not advance ANY foreign policy objective. They only benefit one man, viz., your president. That’s what corruption is. When you just say, thurk it, I don’t care about the thurking mission any more, I don’t care about my thurking country, from now on all I care about is me. 

PLAIDDER: So they had their official ambassador pursuing the official mission, and then they had their corrupt mission...and I guess really this whole house of cards started falling when they decided that the official mission was getting in the way of the corrupt mission. 

CONN: Exactly. 

PLAIDDER: Thanks for explaining that.

CONN: You’re welcome. Now. Can you explain something to me?

PLAIDDER: I will attempt it.

CONN: Why, of all the people who could have been chosen to lead this important though entirely corrupt diplomatic mission, did your president choose Mr. Giuliani?

PLAIDDER: *sigh*

CONN: Oh dear. This is going to take a while, isn’t it.

PLAIDDER: So it’s like this. Rudy Giuliani was the mayor of New York City in September of 2001. When the Twin Towers were destroyed on September 11, Giuliani became an American hero. And to some extent, legitimately. You can’t imagine the kind of shock it was. We hadn’t had an attack on US soil since Pearl Harbor in 1941. Nobody had ever imagined this, nobody had ever planned for it. Our President at the time--who is now, regrettably, only the SECOND worst president of the past half-century--utterly failed this test. He froze like a deer in the headlights, then disappeared from public view. Rudy Giuliani was out there in the spotlight doing his job, leading his city through something no mayor of New York had ever had to deal with. Even some New Yorkers who hated him for other reasons at least felt reassured that he was on the case and would get them through this. 

CONN: I’m very surprised to hear it.

PLAIDDER: Of course you are. Because I don’t know what happened, but at some point in the past eighteen years Rudy Giuliani became a decomposing husk within which the remnants of his former self have turned into a festering ball of insanity and corruption. He and Buttercup go back a ways because they were both big men in New York in the 1980s and they got to be friends. So Giuliani was one of the relatively few big-name Republicans willing to stump for him in 2016, before anyone believed he would be elected. And during that campaign, Giuliani just...abased himself. I mean Buttercup went low, he went lower. He just...I mean...he crawled, he toadied, he literally slavered. It was disgusting. But it earned him Buttercup’s favor. And I do not know why--I do not know why, Conn--these men who abase themselves before Buttercup seem to become consumed by some passion that I cannot call love but which seems to have some of its features, including infatuation and recklessness and a willingness to sacrifice one’s own good for the good of the beloved. I mean I’ve never seen anything like--

PLAIDDER:

CONN: Friend, are you all right?

PLAIDDER: Sorry, I’m just realizing that I have in fact seen this before.

CONN: Where?

PLAIDDER: This is how all of Lythril’s minions feel about her. They can’t really love her because she would never return it. And they know she will erase them if they ever displease her. And yet they fawn on her and obsess over her and try to outdo each other in their self-abasement and devotion to someone who definitely will never see them as equals, or even really as human. They do not protect themselves from her. They just render themselves up to her entirely, and she destroys them, and they just...love it.

CONN: It’s simple enough, friend. 

PLAIDDER: Really?

CONN: They worship her power. They love power and they know that she wields a kind of pure, irresistible, unadulterated power that they can’t handle. They can never HAVE it; but they want to be as near to it as they can get. 

PLAIDDER: Maybe that’s it. Buttercup is their dark user, and they’re the minions.

CONN: Well this is why I printed out this photo of Marie Yovanovitch. She’s not a minion. She knows what corruption is and she decided to fight it instead of serving it. We diplomats, you know, we can’t be shriias. But we have our own code. We have our own bright and dark. You know, with maybe more gray area in there than you would be happy about. But still. In all this, you find the light where you can. And why not set it up here where everyone can see it?

PLAIDDER: All right, Conn. But please. I beg of you. Help me clean up the remains of your last twelve Nauchtian breakfast stacks and then let’s go for a walk or something, all right?

CONN: All right.

PLAIDDER: The next episode is going to happen soon enough, I’m pretty sure.

[imagitory]

The Cast of Yu-Gi-Oh...Sorted!

Hey guys! I’ve done several other posts like this for other fandoms and I’ve even Sorted some of these characters in other Sorting Hat asks in the past, but...well, I just decided, why not compile all of those thoughts in one big post to answer the question: where would the main cast of characters from Yu-Gi-Oh: Duel Monsters be Sorted, if they attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

Yugi Mutou ~ Hufflepuff!

I’ve seen a lot of fictional Sortings favor putting “the hero” in Gryffindor with his “best friend” types all being in Hufflepuff, but Yugi, in my opinion, is a perfect example of how heroic Hufflepuff values can be. Whereas Atem uses clever strategies to outwit his opponents and save the day, Yugi’s greatest strength and magic is his compassion. It’s what transformed a bully like Jounouchi into a loyal comrade, what opened up fiery, distrustful Rebecca to friendship, what strengthened the bonds between the many different friends he’s made, and what moved the ruthless spirit of darkness inhabiting his body so much that that spirit saw him as his partner and equal. Like many Hufflepuffs I know, Yugi always puts his friends first, putting their safety and well-being over his own every time -- self-sacrifice is a tenant of Hufflepuff house, and Yugi has that in spades. Still, Yugi is just and noble enough to also protect those who might not necessarily “deserve” his help: he values all life, regardless of whose it is or how terrible that person has been to him. Yugi is warm, dedicated, loyal, and modest, and being a connoisseur of games, he also esteems fair play, hence why he reacts so bitterly to Insector Haga throwing his grandfather’s Exodia cards off the boat in an underhanded way to keep Yugi from using them to win any more duels.

Yami Yugi / Pharaoh Atem ~ Slytherin!

Atem is the yin to Yugi’s yang, the darkness to his light, and therefore the Slytherin to his Hufflepuff. Whereas Yugi’s soul room is light, airy, and open, Atem’s is a dark labyrinth of endless tunnels and traps -- and yeah, Hufflepuff’s and Slytherin’s commonrooms, despite both being underground, have that same dichotomy, with Hufflepuff’s being sunny and cheerful with a location next to the kitchens and Slytherin’s being dark and dungeon-like by the underground lake. Atem’s eternal goal is to win every game he plays, regardless of whether or not he initiates the game or not, and he will do anything to win, even if it ends up compromising his morals. (See his duel with Kaiba during Duelist Kingdom or the Orikalkos duel with Raphael for evidence of this.) When he or his friends are threatened, Atem also retaliates ruthlessly and mercilously, as Insector Haga or any of his Shadow Game victims from the early manga or season 0 can tell you. Fortunately, despite his intense drive to win at all costs, Atem does always follow the rules of whatever game he’s in and he almost always wins because he’s both clever and resourceful enough to outwit his opponents. Appropriate to Slytherins as well, he has a great desire and focus on his past, wanting to learn more about it so as to better understand who he is, what he’s supposed to do, and how he can approach the future. If Yugi showcases Hufflepuff heroism with mercy and kindness, then Atem showcases Slytherin heroism with brilliance and passion.

Katsuya Jounouchi ~ Gryffindor!

Admittedly Jounouchi does fit the hot-tempered, aggressive, yet noble stereotype of Gryffindor pretty well off-the-bat, but there’s more to it than that for me. Jounouchi is a very active person, ready to jump in to protect his friends from whatever slight is thrown their way -- all of the Gryffindors I know have a very “knight”-like affect to them where they just can’t sit back and do nothing when people are being mistreated. I would also argue that in the series, Jounouchi is motivated to become a stronger duelist not just because of him wanting to help his sister (which is why he entered Duelist Kingdom), but because he wants to improve himself. As he tells Kaiba at one point at the end of Battle City, even after he lost to Marik on a technicality (JOUNOUCHI SHOULD’VE WON THAT DUEL AND BECOME THE OWNER OF THE WINGED DRAGON OF RA AND I WILL SCREAM THAT ‘TIL THE DAY I DIE), “his Battle City isn’t over,” because he hasn’t yet earned his Red Eyes back from Yugi in the duel they promised to have after the tournament was over. And honestly, I’d say Jounouchi’s “Battle City” will probably never be over for him, because every duel he fights only makes him love the game more and makes him push himself to become even better. Jounouchi’s nobility also shines through multiple times in the show, whether it’s promising to save Ryuzaki’s soul from Dartz after he defeats him in their duel, ordering his Red Eyes Black Dragon to protect Mokuba from a blast from the Five-Headed Dragon even if it meant dooming himself, or getting Yugi the last piece of the Millennium Puzzle back after he threw it into a pond. 

Hiroto Honda ~ Hufflepuff!

Honestly, thanks to his lack of character development in the Duel Monsters anime and the shifts in his limited characterization between his manga, season 0, and anime selves, this Sorting is really tricky. In season 0 exclusively, Honda is portrayed as more of a rule-keeper and is the head of the “beautification department” (which I guess is sort of like a janitorial thing, but for students?). It hints to a love of order that seems very Ravenclaw-esque and could’ve been an interesting twist to set him apart from Jounouchi and the others, but alas, it’s something that really isn’t reflected that much in either manga!Honda or DM!Honda’s characterization. In all three mediums, though, even though he’s depicted as having been Jounouchi’s friend long before he met Yugi and Anzu, Honda still comes off as more level-headed and cautious than Jounouchi. If Jounouchi is a raging hothead, Honda is the down-to-earth voice of reason. We also see in all three mediums that Honda has a romantic side, whether it’s with classmate Miho Nosaka or Jounouchi’s little sister Shizuka, and really, it’s in that capacity that we see that Honda can be pretty darn stupid too. (Not trying to bash Honda, truly, but this guy does not know how to play the game of love at all.) In the end, no matter which series we see him in, Honda’s main motivation is sticking by his buddies. He’s no duelist and he has little interest in being so, but he deeply cares about his friends’ safety and will always be right there to protect them and cheer them on however he can. So as much as I lament that I don’t have more to work with when it comes to Honda, his loyalty and down-to-earth demeanor do seem very consistent with Hufflepuff. 

Anzu Mazaki ~ Gryffindor!

Anzu is another character whose characterization fluctuates between the manga and the two anime series. In all three mediums, she’s a dedicated, romantic person who although not being talented in Duel Monsters herself is always there to cheer her friends on in their struggles. In the manga, she’s depicted as a little more flighty and girly, using love charms and getting her romantic fortune told, and at one point even recklessly putting herself in danger in the hopes that “the other Yugi” will appear and rescue her. In season 0, we see her being braver and more vocal in standing up to people -- she tries to protect a girl from punishment after she gets caught trying to confess her feelings to Jounouchi in a love letter; she helps catch a criminal hiding out in the fast food restaurant she works in by lying about what ingredients are used in their burgers; and she resolutely decides to have her soul transferred into a doll alongside Yugi and her friends when Yami Bakura challenges them to a Monster World Shadow Game. In the Duel Monsters anime, some of that courage is shaved off of Anzu and she’s depicted as less reckless and more grounded, but there are still points where her nobility can shine through, like when she decides to fight in Yugi’s place to win Mai’s star chips or she stops Atem from attacking Insector Haga over and over again after he’s already won. Although I could very easily see Anzu fitting into Hufflepuff as well (especially in the Duel Monsters anime), upon a lot of reflection, I think that, since I would put two out of the three versions of her in this house and even the third version could still work there, Gryffindor is her ultimate best place. 

Seto Kaiba ~ Slytherin!

I’m sure a lot of you were expecting Ravenclaw, and yes, I do think Kaiba is on the cusp between Ravenclaw and Slytherin, but let me explain why Kaiba is a Snake in my mind and not an Eagle. Kaiba is a very intelligent person with a great love of achievement, yes, but his sole focus is always on getting what he wants, whether it’s defeating Yugi, winning all three Egyptian God cards and then defeating Yugi, opening up his own theme park where he can defeat Yugi -- LOL, okay, I’m partially kidding, but...yeah, Kaiba’s focus is solely on what he wants, even if it is to win at something. Ravenclaws tend to have a very “worldly” view of the world and try to find their own distinct place in it, whereas Slytherins don’t give a damn about the rest of the world as long as their inner circle is safe. Throughout the series, Kaiba consistently chooses his little brother and the well-being of his company over everything else. In fact, in the Japanese dub of the Duel Monsters anime, the reason Kaiba barely reacts to all the crazy magic stuff going on around him isn’t because he doesn’t believe it’s happening like English!Kaiba, but because he simply doesn’t care. All he cares about is beating Yugi and looking after his company and brother. Everything else going on in the background, even if it does involve unknown magics that could shake someone’s entire world view and their place in it, just isn’t that important to him. Plus Ravenclaws aren’t just known for their intelligence and love of achievement -- they’re also known for wisdom and open-mindedness, both of which are very unKaiba. Kaiba is incredibly judgmental of everyone he meets, only deigning to show respect to those very few people he deems as being on his level, and although in the Japanese dub of the Duel Monsters anime, Kaiba showed moments of deeper thought and good judgement, the only wisdom English!Kaiba showcases on a regular basis is his assortment of snarky wisecracks. But if we look at Slytherin’s values, I think they line up with Kaiba and his characterization a bit better. Ambition -- well, considering that he challenged a CEO to a game of chess just to get him and his brother adopted, forcefully took over that same CEO’s arms and weapons business, and turned the whole thing into a gaming company complete with its own gaming products, Duel Monsters tournaments, and friggin’ THEME PARK, all before he even became a legal adult, I’d say that fits. Resourcefulness -- as Kaiba brings up to both Amelda and Ziegfried, he started off with nothing and could only use his talents and smarts to outwit his stepfather, take over KaibaCorp, and make it successful. Cleverness -- Kaiba may not be the King of Games, but he’s probably the only duelist who truly stands toe-to-toe with Atem in the dueling arena without cheating. Even Bakura, another one of Atem’s most prominent rivals, has to cheat in both the manga and the anime series to try to stay ahead of him. A certain disregard for the rules -- honestly, Kaiba tends to follow the rules of whatever game he’s playing, BUUUUT he does still seem to find joy in bucking other people’s expectations and doing whatever the hell he wants because he can. I mean, this is the guy who bought an entire city to host a gaming tournament, quickly wrote a ridiculously high check to a car salesman before driving off in one of his cars without another word (does he even HAVE a driver’s license??), and who blew up his own Duel Tower on KaibaCorp island just so he and Mokuba could fly away on their Blue Eyes White Dragon jet out of the rubble. (There is a reason why in Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged, his catchphrase is “screw the rules, I’ve got money” -- just sayin’.) And honestly, as much as Kaiba claims he doesn’t look back at the past, he is still clearly haunted and defined by it. The wounds of Gozaburo’s mistreatment were so deep that Kaiba felt like he had to blow up the ruined remnants of his old headquarters just to try to move on with his life. Atem defeating him affected him so much that he spent five whole seasons and an entire movie obsessing over their rivalry and how he would eventually defeat him. Hell, in DSOD, he even tried to put the Millennium Puzzle back together in a vain attempt to get Atem to come back and duel him again, and when he failed in that, he actually made a device so he could crash Atem’s friggin’ AFTER-LIFE just to try to duel him! “Bury the past,” my ass! As much as I could see Kaiba fitting pretty well in Ravenclaw too, I think part of the reason he and Atem are so at each other’s throats all the time is because of their two massive Slytherin egos constantly trying to one-up each other.

[sasorikigai]

Random Shenanigans || @pxlariis (look who decided to chime in!) || always accepting 

Before I begin even analyzing and elaborating about this, I have to admit this is such an excellent and deep question. I love questions like this. 

His origin story states that;

Scorpion was born Hanzo Hasashi to the Shirai Ryu clan of ninjas and assassins. Hanzo's father was a former member of the Shirai Ryu and forbade his son from joining the clan, but Hanzo saw a way to give his own family comfortable life and so he joined against his father's wishes. Hanzo was trained and became a highly skilled killer for the clan and earned the nickname "Sasori" - Japanese for Scorpion. Scorpion had fought for the honor of the Grandmaster and the Shirai Ryu clan itself and was considered one of the clan's best by age 32.

Instead of Hanzo’s father being a former member of the Shirai Ryu, I divulged significantly from the canonical headcanon and made so that his father is a former Grandmaster (which Hanzo succeeded as, as soon as the Shirai Ryu’s extinction came about - as did his and his family’s slaughter - and ever since then, he had vowed to become the Grandmaster to reform and rebuild the clan back to its flourishment). And that Hanzo did not want to pursue in a warrior’s path from the beginning; he was rather an intense, considerably advanced and protean boy who excelled academically and wanted to pursue a scholar’s path. But both nature and nurture got the best of Hanzo Hasashi and the rest was history. His tenacity, stubbornness and passionate dedication has surpassed anyone’s expectations, and by when he was an adolescence, he would become the master of kunai and would develop his character-defining weapon, the chained kunai (it is his original creation and no one in Shirai Ryu handles it as expertly and swiftly as Hanzo can ever could. He would never divulge his secrets to anyone else, not even the fellow Shirai Ryu clansmen).

Knowing Hanzo being Japanese and having lived rather traditional style of living, we have to consider the fact that the Asian cultural definition of masculinity relies heavily on scholarship (academic study or achievement; learning of a high level) and not showing weakness, which translates into men showing less emotions. I speculate easily that Hanzo’s father would have been the same way; though he would have been dualistic between his family and non-family. The differences which comes off as unloving and uncaring is only founded on the undercurrent of struggle and sacrifice, which Hanzo’s father had burdened all on himself, without ever showing a hint of it to Hanzo’s mother and Hanzo. 

I believe how Hanzo breaks that gender norm is unbelievable, especially regarding the context of the Mortal Kombat, which is heavily driven by misconceptions, loss, treacherous deceptions, greed and ambition for power, absolute dominance, immortality, violence and gore, etc. Not only Hanzo takes Takeda under his wings because Kenshi was too busy with his own endeavors of protecting his son from the Red Dragon, the crime syndicate that killed Suchin, Kenshi’s wife, but he literally becomes a sole parental figure through Takeda’s growth and mother hens him to protect him from any volatile situations and dangers, but offers knowledge and philosophy ot not only the Shirai Ryu, but his own. He does not back away from any danger, is extremely dedicated and passionate towards his set intent(s), never relinquishes nor gives up control - because he’s gone through that path so many times (beneath Quan Chi, beneath his own gullible conscious and hellbent on one-track mind without ever widening his perspective, etc.) and most importantly, treats anyone he loves and treasures with candor honesty and genuinity. 

Even when it was not the most smoothest excursion, as there were doubts and mistrusts rampant (because Hanzo was Scorpion before), Takeda gradually begins to see Hanzo as so much more than a depressed man who is hellbent on destroying himself. And through that experience, Hanzo too, would regain the meaning of his own life and most likely sees Takeda as the surrogate Satoshi, as the immense longing towards his family would have been fulfilled through becoming a parental figure towards him. 

For Hanzo, being a father doesn’t only mean providing steady source of income and the child’s family name; Hanzo is knowledgeable and astute enough to know that the nature and extent of father’s involvement depends on economic activities and cultural practices such as marriage and residential patterns, husband-wife proximity, cooperation and contribution to subsistence and level of material accumulation, as well as presence of other family members. Patterns evolve in adaptation to the ecological and historical roles and relationships within cultures. Depending upon the sociocultural context, fathers may be authoritarian, nurturing, caring, affectionate, and distant or completely detached. He always strives to be nurturing, caring, affectionate, yet stern and disciplinary when he needs to be. 

Hanzo is entirely okay with the idea of having a child (or children) in the future with someone (he already has one with @heamatic‘s Cassie named Haruki). Though he may be guilt-ridden in the initial stage of the pregnancy (even getting into romantic/sexual relationship brings a deep sense of self-condemnation. But such dawning idea that he too 1) could be finally be happy, without ever forgetting what happened to Harumi and Satoshi, as such tragic, heart-wrenching experience would only solder and strengthen him throughout the romantic/sexual relationship and ultimately, being a father and husband to a newly-formed family and 2) hoping to leave his own legacy behind, as he would either see his offspring take over the role of the Grandmaster - though this isn’t a requirement. If his offspring wants to pursue a different path, Hanzo would never be unsupportive. He just prefers that he could be exemplary enough that it inspires them to follow his footpath - or at least to follow the warrior’s path, although he would be extremely protective and cautious, due to the events of his past, obviously. 

Hanzo would see paternity itself as a natural path of his life; for his first marriage to Harumi has given him further growth and responsibilities and a further sense of accomplishment. He can never imagine his life without being a husband and a father, because 1) he’s very good at it (he may still come off as unapproachable, intimidating, and grumpy, but he’s exceptionally empathetic, kind, affectionate and passionate) and 2) through living as so many manifestations and having been through hell and back, going through this inevitable cycle of life only grounds him stronger and gives meaning to his life. 

[dent-de-leon]

Do you have any theories on how Shiro's current storyline might play out in canon?

This is like…a very big broad question. There’s really a lot of directions you could go with this. Ultimately, here’s a breakdown of some possibilities I’ve considered:

We go ahead and Devil’s Due comics this shit. For those who don’t know, there was a comic series based off 80′s Voltron where Sven was…different. He didn’t die–like VLD Shiro. Instead, he ended up having problems connecting with his Lion–remember how Kuron was shut out by Black at first? You later find out that, the reason why Voltron denied him, was because he’d been compromised. Brainwashed by Haggar and Lotor’s fiance Merla. He turns against the team and ends up becoming an antagonist for a bit. I think it’s very possible we might see Kuron pull something like that (albeit against his will). So you have this scenario where Kuron is maybe warring with himself but he still splits from the team and actively becomes a “villain” for a bit.

It’s also possible that Kuron will be able to maintain more control though. And maybe, once he realizes he’s putting the team at risk, he’ll leave Voltron on his own and go out searching for some answers for his recent memory blanks and behavior. This leads to him investigating into Operation Kuron on his own, and having to come to terms with what that means. There’s a good chance he might resent Shiro, because this is supposed to be his life, and to know that none of this ever was…that he has no real life or past or memories of his own…that’s harsh. He might be loathe to meet Shiro at first. But he could also end up actively trying to save him, it’s really anybody’s guess.

The fact is, I can’t see Kuron not leaving the team at some point (at least temporarily). Just like how I can’t imagine Lotor staying either. Also, I really do think they want to…throw in Black Paladin Keith for a bit more before the real Shiro comes back (and maybe even lead into copilot sheith?) But yeah, we have every indication that the show runners originally wanted to use Shiro to really push for Keith’s leadership arc:

Lauren: “Obviously in the original he was the leader guy, and we just wanted to start him in a different place. He looks up to Shiro, but he’s definitely not the leader that Shiro is at all. And so he’s got a lot to learn. He’s still very impulsive, very rash, and he’s got a hot temper.” (source)

Joaquim: “We had seen Shiro as a conduit for allowing Keith to rise to the leadership role…” (source) 

Lauren: “For instance, way back when we thought we were going to be able to have Shiro exit the show at the end of our Netflix Season Two, we had every intention of Keith being the leader. The team working together and growing throughout the rest of the show, struggling with their differences, but ultimately gelling as a team. We ended up not being able to do that because we needed to bring Shiro back, but the weird thing is that it created these other storylines that are interesting in their own way.

But now we have this storyline that we didn’t expect to happen with this Keith and Shiro dual leadership friction. And Keith going off and leaving, following his way to Marmora, which is something we would have explored a little bit. We definitely would have gone into the Blade of Marmora and found Keith’s family, but not necessarily in the way you see it now.” (source)

Lauren: “I think in our attempt to–because ultimately, what happened is [Shiro] was supposed to exit stage left but we ended up needing to keep him around. And so we needed to factor in something interesting about him so that he wasn’t just the perfect guy who solves everyone’s problems. This is us doing some damage control.” 

Josh: “…I just like that these characters are continually evolving. So they’re changing all the time. Even Keith, now, as we discussed, he’s sort of filling this other void that he had that was giving him shortcomings as a leader. So maybe he’ll be able to fill those gaps. And that goes along for every other character as well.” (source)

You get the idea. As for “our” Shiro, I think his real self is either 1) trapped in the Astral Plane, or 2) trapped in this interim between dimensions and just sort of keeps shifting through. We know already that Shiro knew about Daibazaal’s destruction before anyone else–because Black told him. More than that, she showed him. But why? Why take Keith to the ruins of Daibazaal and show him the comet and Voltron’s formation? To what end? The whole time, Shiro kept saying, “Show me more.” 

But Black never gets to finish. In all honesty, I think she was trying to tell him the whole story. To show him how Daibazaal got destroyed in the first place, and relay that the rift–as Lotor said–is still there. I think she knew the only way to permanently seal the rift. Which is why she took him to the site of Daibazaal–this is where you need to go. During the fight with Zarkon, I think she tried to send him there to really finish the job. Time to beat the final boss. But something went wrong, and the teleportation between realities was distorted. Kind of like how Haggar 

The other–much simpler answer–is that Shiro was in dire danger during the fight so, like Keith suggested, the Black Lion teleported him to save his life. But again, something went wrong, and Shiro wound up trapped in the astral plane instead. But either way, I think Keith is going to have to be the one to make contact with Shiro and save him. This ties back into the overarching theme of Keith and Shiro’s intimacy and Keith’s vow to save him, “As many times as it takes.” Ultimately, I believe this will culminate in a choice at the end of the series will Keith will be forced to choose between saving Shiro and defending the universe. This also nicely echoes–1) the story of zaggar and how Zarkon had to choose between sacrificing Honerva or his planet, and 2) the end of the original 80’s Voltron, in which Ryou Shirogane/Shiro is captured by Sincline/Lotor and Akira/Keith must choose between saving him and Voltron. Take a wild guess, but yeah–Keith’s like “fuck the giant robot I’m not letting him die.” 

In the end, Ryou ends up making the choice for him and sacrificing himself for the greater good. However, considering that in stories like this successors are meant to surpass their predecessors, I don’t believe Keith will fall into the same trap as Zarkon before him. As someone who’s said things like, “Maybe things aren’t so black and white,” I believe Keith will be able to find another way, some third answer that allows him to save both Shiro and the universe. After all, as I’ve talked about in many meta before, the lesson Keith needs to learn is not that he must let go of Shiro. Because, after Kerberos, Keith never really moved on. If the idea here was that he had to, then why have him endure a second grieving process–have him grapple with the agony of that loss all over–just to give Shiro back and then unceremoniously whisk him away again. If the lesson here is, you need to give up on him, you need to mourn and move on, then Shiro would not have come back. Season 3 is Keith’s chance to finally accept that grieving process, but he doesn’t. He ultimately rejects it, and this only strengthens his resolve to find Shiro–no matter what. 

Consider also Keith’s background–“Shiro’s the one person who never gave up on me. I won’t give up on him.” All his life, Keith has pushed others away for fear of rejection, a fact he outright confirms in his vlog. So the fact that Shiro is his one constant, his one and only, the person he “desperately wants to see”…this isn’t about loss and moving on. If you look at how willing Keith is to sacrifice himself for others’ sakes, that much is clear. All his life, Keith’s never even considered the possibility he would be able to stay with someone, that someone would show him the unconditional love he’s found with Shiro. And he fully expects he won’t be able to keep that–“[Keith’s] constantly scared that he’s gonna do something or say something wrong and he’s gonna lose Shiro.” (source) Keith’s lesson isn’t to let Shiro go, to turn down this one positive constant in his life.

This is even more compelling when you look at the bigger picture–Keith’s feelings. Always, Keith has taken to suppressing them. He’s outright ashamed of his own emotions. We know galra experience very intense, volatile emotions, and for Keith, that’s clearly taken its toll. In fact, it seems Shiro is the only one capable of really anchoring Keith through this sensory overload. He even provides physical affirmations of comfort and gives Keith grounding methods like, “Patience yields focus.” And in Shiro’s absence, Keith becomes grievously affected by those overwhelming emotions: 

Joaquim: “He latches onto Shiro at times because Shiro’s sort of the only thing that can really calm him down and keep him in check.” (source). 

Joaquim: “[Keith’s] got this emotional side to him.”

Lauren: “It’s kind of exasperated by the fact that Shiro’s gone. Like he’s having a hard time dealing with it, he doesn’t really know how to feel. And I think he just goes back to that inner part of himself where it’s just—he can’t control his emotions. And that comes from the galra side.” (source).

Why was Keith booted from the garrison?

Joaquim: “You know why Iverson has a closed eye permanently? There you go. He was, you know…not really knowing how to cope with his galra side, so. He raged out a little–”

Lauren: “Yeah, and he was not coping well with the loss of Shiro. Things take an impact and maybe he got a little…a little out of hand.” (source).

“I am…sorry. I am so sorry I, I guess—I have a bit of a temper, so…I don’t know why I’m that way.” Time and again, during season 3, Keith is told he must put his own feelings aside for the sake of the mission: “But you know that he would be the first one to tell you to move on.” “But our mission is bigger than any one individual.” And later, from the BOM–“The mission is more important than the individual.” Most damning of all: “You cannot allow your feelings to cloud your judgement. You have in the past.” Always, Keith is forced to bottle up his feelings, to stamp out his emotions and put the mission first. He already knows loss and sacrifice, and these are not the lessons he needs to learn. They’ve brought him nothing but pain and suffering. 

What he really needs, is to realize that he feelings and personal attachments aren’t damaging, that these things and eventual happiness are all attainable for him and he doesn’t have to choose between his heart and some abstract greater good. If he follows in Zarkon’s footsteps, then we sell the story that love is fundamentally selfish and wrong, whereas for Shiro and Keith it’s proven to be a healing balm. Ultimately, Keith will save Shiro–and in doing so, prove that one’s love can be their salvation. This in turn rings true for Shiro as well, as he’s always been so ready to martyr himself for a cause. He never expected to make it out of this alive–“They’ve found me,” “Keith, if something happens to me, I want you to lead Voltron.” 

Keith is that spark that lights a fire. He’s always encouraging Shiro to keep fighting, to keep moving on. Always urging him forward, convincing him time and again he’s the true Black Paladin, never rushing his recovery and only ever wanting what’s best for him. Keith’s saved his life in more ways than one, because Keith really does believe he’ll get through this. “You’re gonna make it.” Keith gives him hope. And to kill him off when so much of his character development is integral to that? It just would just be such a loss.

And while I hope to see Shiro either return to his role as Black Paladin or copilot with Keith, there still stands the elephant in the room. The final fight, so to speak. That rift must be sealed–and I have a bad feeling someone’s going to need to stay on the other side to do it. Again, I think Shiro is the one Black was trying to convince to seal the rift. So we might see him decide to make that choice to stay behind. Again, I can’t imagine Keith ever leaving him though, and imagine it’s very possible that the two might both end up sealed away on the other side of the rift, unable to return to their own reality. But at least they still have each other. 

[yukiwrites]

Morgan to the Rescue!

Thank you so much for commissioning me, @xpegasusuniverse ! This one got a bit longer than expected, but please feel free to tell me your thoughts about it! :D

Summary: It’s been five years since Owain’s disappearance, his family worry about him a constant subject in their lives. One day, his sister, Morgan, finally had enough and decided to go look for him herself.

Commission info HERE and HERE!

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4  - Part 5

Peace had been ruling over the ylissean land for the past five years -- Robin had returned two years after his sacrifice so he could finally reunite with his wife Lissa and young Owain.

Only to realize that the Owain who had come from the future, Inigo and Severa disappeared one day to never come back.

"That idiot! I swear I'll give him the biggest ass-kicking ever once he comes back!" Lissa grumbled as she walked with Morgan through the corridors of the castle. "Can you believe he never even left a note?! Nothing?! He wasn't even here to see his father coming back! Auughhh, the nerve!"

Morgan held her preferred tome over her chest, silently nodding, her brow furrowed. "Yeah..."

Lissa went on. "Look at Olivia! She cries every other day about her lost son! Poor young Inigo always cries with her too, it's like I'm watching an opera whenever the subject comes around." Then, she pointed to nowhere in particular, feeling the need to gesticulate so as to burn all the energy that was making her upset. "And Cordelia? It's like she's taking tripping lessons with Sumia! She thinks no one can see when she trips, but she was never good on keeping secrets. She can't stop thinking about her daughter, too!" The princess held her own head, stomping the floor as she walked. "I SWEAR he's grounded for LIFE the next time I see him!"

Morgan still followed silently, her mind elsewhere.

Lissa turned to her daughter, her face red with rage and her cheeks puffed. "Don't you have anything to say? You agree with me, right, Morgan?"

The apprentice tactician blinked, finally being pulled out of her own head. "Sorry, Mother, what were you saying?"

"Mghgh!! Uwarghh! Listen to me when I'm complaining, Morgan!"

"Heehee, sorry again, Mother. I know how worried you are about my brother..." which is why Detective Morgan is on the case! She thought with a sly smile. I know Father has had contact with some people trying to find out Brother's whereabouts, but two heads think better than one!

Lissa looked down after Morgan spoke, deflating and pouting. "Doesn't he know how worried we are? Humph..." she kicked some dust on the ground and walked as she looked down.

"C'mon, Mom, cheer up!" Morgan took both of Lissa's hands in hers, her eyes shining with the prospect of bringing her brother back and helping her parents. "Owain knows how to take care of himself. Plus, he has Inigo and Severa with him!"

"Humph," Lissa puffed her cheeks once again, "he has no business elsewhere after we finally reunited..."

Morgan snorted, then squeezed her mother's hand. "Then what do you want me to tell him once I find him? I'm planning on going to--"

"NO!" Lissa shouted before Morgan could even begin to think about leaving. "No, no, no! You're absolutely FORBIDDEN to go away, you hear?" Her hands slightly trembled, her heart still so hurt from having lost Robin for so long while young Owain was still an infant. The scar still bleeding from not hearing anything regarding the son she had taken as her own so many years ago. "Don't you dare leave your Mother behind, too..." She leaned on her daughter's shoulder, her lips trembling.

"I... I'm so sorry, Mother." Morgan widened her eyes and wrapped her arms around her mother's shoulders, suddenly aware of the deep pain she had awakened in her heart. "I promise I'll think of something else."

Lissa sniffled, then dried her eyes before lifting her face. "Alright, then." She tried to flash a big smile, but the shadow of pain was still fresh over her mien. "Let's get going before baby Morg starts crying!"

Morgan didn't want to hurt her mother, nor did she want to worry her father, but Owain's disappearance had left a whole inside their family nothing could mend. He had worried so much about her in the past; trying to make her remember their childhoods together or simply making new memories with her -- teaching her what it was like to have a big brother to rely on and put the blame on, too, like with the pitfalls.

Their time together had been the most fun she had ever had: He was silly sometimes, with all of his naming things and stuff, but he was her silly older brother. Teaming up with their mother to play pranks on him was also the highlight of their days.

The day he disappeared, she thought he had just gone to help a nearby village or something. He wouldn't just, you know, leave. Not Owain. Then the days turned to weeks that turned to months and years. She kept on believing he was just on an heroic quest, since that was something he mentioned wanting to do in times of peace -- to help those in need in a cool way.

But... she felt lonely. Even after finally finding their father, their family wouldn't be the same without Owain. She wanted to tell him how much his young self looked like him without barely meeting him. How baby Morg had the chubbiest cheeks and that he might remember her own chubby cheeks from when she was a baby.

She didn't want to make her mother feel the loss of yet another child, but she, too, couldn't stand being apart from her big brother without knowing what he was doing and if he needed the help of his genius little sister.

"See? I'm right, aren't I? He never even met you yet, Owain-boo." Morgan had been thinking aloud as she messed around with her little older brother in his room, the boy barely comprehending what she was saying since she spoke so fast and with so many long words.

"Don't call me that! My name is Odin Dark!" Young Owain turned away from Morgan's head pat and fetched his toy sword.

The princess snorted. "Yeah, sorry, I forgot. 'Odin Dark', do you want to see your big brother? You do, right? I need to think of ways to bring him back..."

Owain had long since stopped listening to his sister, his eyes focused on the figure behind her: "Dad!" He opened his arms and ran towards the door at the same time Morgan felt her heart fall down to her feet.

"Hey there, little champion! How's my Owain Dark doing today?" The former tactician picked his son up as he entered the room, watching how Morgan slowly raised her shoulders, trying to hide herself away.

"It's O-D-I-N Dark, Dad!" Young Owain kicked his feet with a pout, smacking Robin on the head with his wooden sword.

"Ow, ow. Sorry about that, buddy." He laughed. "So, Odin Dark, what are you and your sister plotting behind our backs?" He smirked as Morgan flinched, slowly turning to face her father.

Owain's sibling instinct kicked in and he looked from Morgan to Robin, shrugging right after. "It's secret, Dad! Only Justice Cabal members can know it!"

Morgan mentally saluted her little older brother, the resolve inside her heart strengthening. The boy really was growing up to be the exact same older brother she remembered and loved.

However, Robin had heard more than half of his daughter's monologue -- a bad habit she inherited from him -- and smiled. "Good one, Son," he praised Owain before turning to Morgan. "I know what you're thinking, Morgan, and even before you did -- I see you going from corner to corner of the castle, lost in thought and looking for any clues you can about Owain's whereabouts.

Little Owain complained about his name being Odin, but Robin swayed him with one arm and continued talking. "I know your mother's been difficult since your little sister was born -- it hasn't been half a year yet -- so I understand that you're worried about leaving us behind."

"Father--"

"But you don't have to be. I wish I could go in your place, but I can't leave Lissa on her own again, especially not now with a small baby... Or rather, not AGAIN with a small baby." He mocked in spite of himself, the guilt of leaving everyone behind never fading, even if it had been to save them from a future doom. Morgan felt her chest hurt and meant to interrupt again, but Robin pressed on. "Of course, I won't let you leave without properly arming yourself with knowledge first -- you'll need to know WHERE to look or else me and your mother will simply be short of another child wandering aimlessly."

Morgan brought both hands to her chest. "C-can I really? Will you help me, Father?" She took an uncertain step forward, remembering how vehemently her mother had reacted the other day.

Robin closed in the distance and patted his daughter with his free hand. "Of course I'll help. And when the time comes for you to go, you won't have to worry; I'll handle your mother."

"Oh, Father! Thank you so much!" She smiled brightly, her eyes itching with tears as she threw herself in his arms (hugging Owain as well). "Where should we begin?"

First they sent word to the future children whose whereabouts were known to them. Brady had travelled with Inigo for some time as they performed across the land, but even he still had no idea where their friends could have gone. Morgan remembered something her father didn't consider, however.

"Father! What if we ask Naga?" She slammed her hands on the table, so sudden did the idea cross her mind as they were going through some papers inside Robin's study.

Robin spurted the tea he had just sipped. "Y-you want us to ask the divine dragon?" He coughed drying his face with his coat.

"Well, she did bring us from the future, right? She might, I don't know, feel his presence or something. Since we're not from this world and all." She wriggled her fingers around herself, as though gesturing a force field of some kind.

"Hm..." Robin placed one hand over his chin in thought. "You know, that might just work! You're a genius, Morgan." He laughed, ruffling her short blond hair. "Let's send word to Lady Tiki at once! As The Voice, she might be able to convey Naga's words to us."

Morgan placed one closed fist over her palm, as though she had remembered something. "Oh yeah! Soon after you disappeared, Nah went with Tiki to the Mila tree to learn the Way of the Voice or something. She might still be there!"

"Haha, one more point for genius Morgan!" He held her cheeks and kissed her forehead. "The future's looking up!"

"Let's get to writing, Father!" She rolled up her sleeves and took a quill from its inkpot, a wide smile painted across her face. Just you wait, Brother! I'm coming!

The news they heard back from Nah were promising: She said that Naga had felt someone making use of the power naturally stored at the Mila tree to do a strange type of magic some three, four years ago. "She said that she might know what it was for, but it will take some time." Morgan read, her heart thumping. "That's around the time Owain disappeared!"

Robin frowned, one hand over his mouth in thought. "Did he go to an Outrealm or something? But if so, he could've just called Anna to open the gate..." He thought aloud, fearing for his son. Someone made use of the Divine Dragon’s power? "... Gods, never have I wanted so much to go and hear all of this first-hand." His shoulders sagged, Robin's face of a tired and worried father as he pressed the bridge of his nose.

"Father, are you feeling okay?" Morgan circled the table, patting her father's shoulder as he sat back on his chair.

He flashed her a weak smile, much like the one she saw her mother give her not too long ago. "I'm fine, Morgan, thanks for worrying. I just want you to promise me one thing." He looked deeply into his daughter's eyes.

"Of-of course, Father. What is it?" She sat on a nearby chair, her eyes wide.

Robin touched Morgan's shoulder, gripping at it. "Please... please don't do anything reckless. Don't go diving into danger and come back as soon as you hear anything about your brother's whereabouts. We can plan our next move together." His voice was so deep, his words so sincere. They overflowed with love for his family -- and fear. Such a strong fear of losing them as well. He finally had had a second chance; he wouldn't be able to bear if something happened to them -- or if he learned that something had gone terribly wrong wherever Owain was.

Morgan hardened her chin. It teared her heart apart to see her father like that, so raw and powerless. She smiled, puffing her chest. "Of course, Father! Leave it to me, my second name is Careful-Planning, after all!" She giggled, trying to lighten the mood.

A small smile creeped at the corners of Robin's lips, the frown slowly fading across his brow. "Thank you, Morgan. Let's send a letter ahead of you and prepare for your trip. I'm sorry you'll have to leave as though you're running away..."

"Oh, psh, Father! It'll be like my own adventure!" Her eyes sparkled, but then her shoulders drooped. "I'm just scared of the whooping Mother will have planned for me when I come back..."

"Pfft..." Robin snorted, finally being able to laugh. "Yeah, I won't be able to protect you from that without being caught in it, as well."

Morgan smiled, content in finally seeing her father back at his cheerful self.

There wasn't much she could do on the day she left -- or rather, on the night she left. They had arranged a carriage to take her until the capital’s border, where she would take a horse to Ferox, restock at the castle and head to the port towards Valm. From there, Nah would pick her up and take her to the Mila tree.

After that, she would find out where her brother went and would come back. Easy.

Robin gave her the tightest hug she'd ever gotten, and that's counting her brother and mother, batting her on the shoulder right after. "Be well and come back quickly." He managed to say and keep the tears away and she giggled and hugged him back.

"Don't worry, Father! You'll see how nothing really happened and Owain's probably just playing hero around Valm or something!"

The truth she learned at the Mila tree, however, was that first, the tree had seen better days -- the water around its roots was nowhere to be seen and its leaves were in a permanent autumn color. Second, that the one who used the power of the tree -- inadvertently drying it up -- was someone from another world. Owain, Severa and Inigo had made some sort of pact with them and left after knowing that their wish had been fulfilled.

Naga could feel, across the bounds of time and dimensions of worlds, how their original world had also returned to peace -- and how the souls of the departed were appeased by the person who opened the portal.

"Their wish was simply that -- to grant peace to the ones who were lost to Grima in exchange to fighting to protect someone." Nah had conveyed Naga's words at the foot of the Mila tree, around the same area the portal had been opened years ago.

Morgan felt her heart ache.

"Is... is that world they're in a safe place?"

Nah slowly shook her head. "They fight for their lives everyday in a three-way war against humans and shadows."

"That stupid brother!" Morgan stomped her foot on the root under her. "Can you open the portal there? I have something Mother told me to tell him once we meet again!" She squeezed her hands, her heart beating fast inside her chest.

She didn't want to make her mother worry.

She didn't want to break her promise with her father.

But above all, she had to make sure her brother was okay. And she also needed to pull his ear so hard he would be mistaken by a manakete after she was done.

Nah spoke for herself before conveying Naga's words. "Are you sure, Morgan? From what Naga said, it looks like a terrible world."

The apprentice tactician nodded solemnly. "... I am. I can't let my brother fight alone, not after all we went through together."

"Hm..." Nah bobbed her head to the side as she closed her eyes, awaiting instructions. "She says she can send you there, but not bring you back. And that Owain has the key to come back."

Morgan's smile grew. "So I just need to find him to come back? Haha, that's just what I was planning to do, anyway!"

Through Tiki's and Nah's dragon forms, Naga's voice could be heard as a whisper to Morgan's ears, though indistinguishable. Both manaketes repeated the words, making use of their combined powers to open a rift in space-time for a short while.

She didn't hesitate. The moment the bluish portal opened, she jumped inside, immediately remembering that she had forgotten to ask Nah to send a letter apologizing to her father. "Oh well, I can apologize when I come back!" She whispered as she felt a strange staggering sensation.

Then, she opened her eyes (she didn't even notice she had closed them), Morgan finding herself in a world with the biggest sky she had ever seen -- literally! It was everywhere! There were floating islands and ruins of buildings at every corner!

"That's so unfair, brother! You got sent to such an interesting world!" She looked around, mesmerized. "Ooh, I wonder what kind of plant that is?" She reached out to a strange purple root, but her reflexes made her body jump sideways. "W-what was that?" She looked around.

She wasn't alone.

No. She definitely had company, and hostile company, but she couldn't make out where. She slowly touched her favorite tome under her coat and jumped out of the way the moment a flying axe landed with a thud where she stood. "From my hand to the group of enemies before me!" She started the incantation. "THORON!!" A swirl of lighting left hand, landing on three semi-transparent figures in front of her. "Eek, what are those? Are these the risen of this world?"

The mysterious figure didn't give her time to talk to herself and threw itself against her, but now she could already make out where these strange ghost-zombie-like things were. "Time to even the odds! From the sky, to the group of enemies before me! THORON!!"

Not too far from the small island Morgan landed at, a mixed group of elite fighters were being led through magical bridges by a young page. "Augh, these bridges are so annoying! And these monsters? Pfft, so last season." Selena complained after she crossed the second bridge Lady Camilla had erected by using a nearby Dragon Vein.

"Don't lose focus, love." Laslow scrutinized the area, his hand always over his sword's hilt. "They're hard to spot, so it's easy to get surrounded."

"Oh, c'mon, I remember how-"

"Shh!" Odin lifted his hand, looking at nowhere in particular. "Did you guys hear something?" He glanced back at his friends, the bridge behind them disappearing as Azura activated another DV on the other side. "It sounded like... ‘Thoron’?"

Both Selena and Laslow blinked. "Thoron? But that's a tome from--" She looked around, making sure no one could hear them. "From back home. No one here carries it."

Odin's heart couldn't stop thumping, his palms starting to get sweaty. "Yeah, but..." he was sure he heard it. It was Morgan’s voice.

The silence that entailed allowed all three of them to hear it clearly this time: Morgan was actively activating her tome somewhere nearby.

"Morgan?!" Laslow and Selena gasped in surprise, looking at each other. "Impossible!" She looked at where Odin was, but he had started to run towards the voice. "Odin, hey! We can't leave our posts!"

"My bad, but cover up for me! I need to make sure I'm not hearing things!" He huffed without looking back, feeling his heart ache. It couldn't be his little sister, it couldn't! But that voice...

Selena and Laslow moved uncomfortably, then looked back at their lords who were busy issuing orders left and right. "Ahh, no way I can stay here and wait! What if it really was Morgan?!" Selena said. "C'mon, are you going with me or not?"

Laslow gulped and flashed a nervous smile. "Of course, let's get going."

"Oh, for Naga's sake, this is endless!" Morgan complained, frying one enemy after the other with her powerful tome, her breath failing her. "Has my brother been fighting against this for all these years?"

"MORGAN!!" Odin yelled from a nearby isle, never stopping his running. He reached a DV and activated it at the same time his foot touched the newly-formed bridge, jumping at the last step of it so as to use his own magic: "From the sky, to the group of enemies before me!" His power surged from around himself, Morgan and the peebles around them, altering gravity around them, making him float. "Eldritch smackdown!"

The mysterious enemies shrieked in pain as they disappeared in purple smoke, Odin carefully landing on the ground.

"BROTHER!" Morgan huffed, running to where he landed. "That's you, right? Owain! Why's your hair blonde? Why are you using magic? You're Owain, righ--whoa!"

Amidst her mountain of questions, Odin hugged his sister with everything he had, immediately taking Robin's place on the strongest hug Morgan had received. He squeezed her until she started slapping his back in search for air, then as quickly as he hugged her, he let her go, holding her by her shoulders. "What ARE you doing here, Morgan?" He yelled, his face red and his breathing uneven. "How did you find this place? Why aren't you back home with Father and Mother-owow!"

"That's my line! How come you're in such a strange world? Dressed like this? Are you a cabaret dancer? Why are you using magic? Do you KNOW how upset Mother is about all this? She's gonna whoop your ass so hard you'll never be able to sit again!" She pulled his ear with everything she had, so unbelievably happy from having finally found him safe and sound (although his choice in clothes was questionable at BEST).

Odin laughed weakly. "Haha, yeah... guess I'm in for a big scolding, huh? WAIT, that's not it! How come YOU'RE here? Did 'him' bring you here too?"

"Oh, you mean the guy who used Naga's power to bring you guys here?" She waited for him to nod before smiling and saying: "Never heard of him! I asked Naga and she brought me here."

"Oh, gods, it really was Morgan!" Selena's voice sounded from the nearby bridge, Laslow running close behind her. "What're you doing here?"

"Whoa, why are you two dressed properly? I thought all three of you were working undercover on a cabaret or something." She said with a smile, then patted her brother's arm. "Alright, now that we're all here, let's go back home! Everyone's worried sick about you guys."

The moment the words were out of her mouth, Morgan knew that it wouldn't be that easy. All three of them shared glances and it was up to Odin to say: "We can't go home now, Morgan. We made a promise; besides, we have comrades here who count on us."

"Oh, well. Alright." She shrugged with a relaxed smile, taking the air out of Owain's sail. "Count me in, then."

"What? Get real, Morgan. You need to go back. How are we gonna explain Odin's sister showing up out of thin air?" Selena crossed her arms.

"But that's what I did, right?" Wait, Odin? I heard it wrong, right? "Besides, Naga said that Owain has the key for us to go back, so I'm stuck here as much as you guys anyway, heehee!"

Laslow, Selena and Odin placed their hands on their faces, sighing in unison. Then, Odin laughed. "'Twas Fate itself that brought the Exalted siblings together!" He put one arm around Morgan's shoulder, suddenly feeling pumped to defeat another dragon of destruction, now that his sister was by his side. "We'll come up with something, Morgan." He grinned. "Now that we're together, we're invincible!"

Morgan smiled widely, giddy with happiness. Finally they were reunited! "Of course!"

[ezekielbadung]

 Ways to grow spiritually in accordance to God Holy spirit.

A friend told me that I've never really been saved because I never walked down the aisle of a church. Is that the only way to salvation in Jesus?

People come to Christ in many different ways; your experience won't necessarily be like someone else's. Some conversions are sudden and dramatic, a radical change from one way of living to another. Some people are convicted of sin in church or at an evangelistic meeting in a basketball arena, and when given the opportunity to walk down the aisle to say, "Yes to Christ." Others find Christ through a television program where the Gospel is clearly presented. Still others repent of sin at their bedside after reading the Scriptures. God speaks to the sinner's heart no matter where we are. But there is only "One Way" to salvation, and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

Paul, before he became an apostle, approached the city of Damascus on a mission to arrest followers of Jesus, when a brilliant light suddenly blinded him. Later he recounted that he fell to the ground and heard Jesus say: "Why are you persecuting Me?'" (Acts 22:7). From that moment on, Paul began serving the One he had once rejected, and God used him to spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.

The important thing is not how we come to Christ, but that we do come, and that we are sure we are now trusting Christ for our salvation. We must humble ourselves in repentance of sin and receive the forgiveness that Christ Himself offers. Don't let another moment go by without making that decision. Nowhere in the Bible are we promised a second chance after death, nor are we promised even one more day of life. The Bible tells us that today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

How can we grow spiritually?

No matter how long we’ve been on a spiritual journey, we can know one thing to be true. We will never just naturally keep growing deeper spiritual roots. Our very nature and propensity towards selfishness and sin will always strive to take us the other direction. But ten (10) things are listed below that will help us understand how we will grow in spirit in accordance with God holy spirit.

 Choose to Receive Christ as Savior and Lord of Our Lives

 

Without first acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord of our lives and making the choice to follow Him and put Him first, we will never be able to grow spiritually. We must receive His forgiveness and love and recognize the authority that He is in our lives. Learning to “abide in Him,” and dwell in His Presence every day will lead us towards deeper spiritual growth as we seek to know Him more. Without these first steps in place, the rest would seem impossible.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)

 Pray

 

God reminds us in His word the incredible importance it is to pray, to talk to Him and spend time in His Presence. Jesus, Himself, spent hours praying and coming before His Father. He reminds us to pray continually, to develop an attitude of constant communication with God. And if it was important for Jesus, it is crucial for our own spiritual journey. God desires our fellowship. He longs for us to talk to Him and listen for His voice. Sometimes, we don’t even know how to pray. Maybe we’re at a loss for words, or our hearts are broken, but we can find strength in knowing that Christ, Himself, intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray. Just opening God’s word and praying His truths back to Him is so powerful and effective. We’re speaking out living words straight into the darkness we might find ourselves in. It renews our minds, it comforts our hearts, it brings peace to our spirits.

“Pray without ceasing,” (2 Thessalonians 5:17)

  Read God's Word

 

Read it, meditate on it, study it, learn from it, write it out, speak it out loud, teach it to your children, pray God’s words back Him… this is an absolute necessity for spiritual growth. We need His Word every day, living and breathing through us. It’s our guide in this life, it’s alive and active, it’s powerful and true, it’s our only offensive weapon against the enemy. Jesus is the Word. And withoutknowing what is within these beautiful, amazing pages, we will never fully know our Lord.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

 Worship and Praise Him

  

Worshipping and praising our King are a powerful force in pushing back the forces of darkness and building faith within our own hearts. As we make the choice to give Him the honor due His name, even when it feels more like a sacrifice to offer praise, it will strengthen our spirits and open up the door for God to do amazing things. Scripture reminds of that over and over. Maybe we’re hurting or carrying huge burdens, but God hears, He knows, and He understands our pain. He reminds us that He encircles our praises, His Presence is close to us as He as He comforts the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He will never turn away. We can make the choice every day, to lift our hands and voices to our Mighty Savior and Lord.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

 Fellowship with Other Believers

  

 People are so important in this journey of life, friends and family who will stick with us no matter what we face, who will cover us in prayers and offer wise counsel and help. Find a church that teaches the word where you can grow and serve. Show up and keep showing up. Often, it’s a choice to keep seeking community when busyness or life struggles will seek to draw us away. We were never meant to journey alone. Never feel ashamed that you’re reaching out for help, that you have questions--we’re all in a continual state of growth. And no matter what we’ve walked through, God will use our stories to help others in the years still to come. It’s often through our own pain, grief, or hardship that we can have a fuller understanding of what others walk through as well. There’s great comfort in knowing that God will use what we have experienced, no matter how difficult, to help someone else. Christ, Himself, suffered and was tempted in “all things,” reminding us that He truly understands “all” that we walk through in this life.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ...” (Acts 2:42-47)

 Serve Others

 

Serving and giving to God and others around us helps us to take our eyes off ourselves and see the bigness of God in this world around us. We’re never meant to do life all on our own. He desires we use the gifts, abilities, and blessings that He’s given to us to help those around us and bring glory to Him through our lives. God reminds us in His word that it’s truly “more blessed to give than to receive…” and the life and servanthood of Jesus is our ultimate example to follow.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace…” (1 Peter 4:10)

  Be Ruthless with Sin

Sin will always take us farther than we ever intended to go. It’s been proven over and over again. Don’t be fooled. Don’t mess around with thinking you’re strong enough to withstand it all on your own or that you can play with fire and not get burned. God calls us to strive to live holy as He is holy, He reminds us to set our minds on the things above, not on the things in this world. He invites us to ask forgiveness when we get off course and assures us of His faithfulness to forgive and wash us clean. Unconfessed sin will lead to greater difficulties down the road, increased pressure, anxiety, and even despair. But God calls us to live differently. He promises He will make all things new and bring restoration, freedom, and grace.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

 Walk in the Spirit

Learning to walk in the Spirit is learning to say no to the flesh and yes to God. It’s the willingness to put God in the driver’s seat of our lives and to choose to deny our own fleshly nature. And, it’s not always easy. In fact, it can be really, really hard, every single day. The enemy will bring temptation and fear. He will do everything He can to lead us away from choosing to live fully for God. But once we determine in our hearts that we will walk in God’s ways and pray for the filling of His Spirit in our lives, He is faithful to fill us afresh with His power. He is mighty within us. We never walk alone, God equips us to learn to walk in the fruits of His Spirit and will turn our lives around for great purpose and blessing.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”( Galatians 5:22-23)

 Believe that the Hard Times Will Bring Greater Good

  

Though this can be one of the most difficult truths of deep spiritual growth, those of us who have experienced difficult trials know the power that can come from these times. God will often use, not the easiest times of life, but the hardest seasons to bring the greatest depths of growth in our lives. It’s in those times that we learn perseverance, deeper faith, and the awareness that God is with us no matter what we face. We come to understand, through humility and pain, that it’s in our weakest moments that God becomes strong. We may not ever wish for struggles and storms in this life, but we can trust God to use them all for good, somehow, in us and through us. He is faithful and we truly can “count it all joy” when we experience hard things, because we know He’s at work on our behalf.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

 Put on the Armor of God

We will face battles in this life. Hard, spiritual battles. Enemy attacks. Difficulties and temptations. Without the armor of God protecting us day by day, we cannot stand. God has given us everything we need in this life to stand strong against the devil’s schemes and the struggles we’ll face. He desires that we live aware and follow the truths in His Word. Put on His armor, every day, be fully prepared to face whatever is up ahead, and know that you are held secure by a Mighty God.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-17)

Ezekiel Badung is the writer...

Facebook page:ebadung kielzy

Website:ebadungstrings.blogspot.com 

God bless you as you read.

[angelsandcelestials]

Messages from your Angels & Guides~May 27-June 3, 2018

Good afternoon beautiful ones!

First, let me start off by saying, Happy Memorial Day!  My father's younger brother was killed in Vietnam 2 years before I was born. I never knew him, I only saw pictures of him and his name on the Vietnam War memorial in Washington D.C.  I do know he sacrificed his life at 19 years old(on Father's Day at that) for this country. And so I want to thank those like my uncle, who have made the supreme sacrifice for our freedom.

This weekend is a time for barbecues. And it is also the season for the local beaches to officially open and the  Coney Island Amusements as well. I know that Six Flags Great Adventure is already open.  But the forecast is declaring spots of rain for Sunday and Monday.   And the fleet has arrived on Wednesday for Fleet Week and there are sailors galore.  Rain doesn't stop me, so I will most likely be out and about enjoying this long weekend... lol What are your plans for this weekend?

Enough rambling lol,  here are your choices for this week's guidance.

Choose one of the images below, the one that draws you in immediately. That is the message for you this week. Scroll down for your reveal.

If you chose the card on the left~  Turquoise is the message you have received.

*Speaking One's Truth * Clear Communication *Purification*

Don't be afraid to speak your truth. A situation that is causing you concern can easily be resolved by simply expressing how you truly feel. You will not hurt or upset anyone bt speaking your truth. In fact, speaking your truth has the opposite effect of what you think. By communicating your feelings and preferences clearly and honestly all concerned will be relieved. At present, others are rather confused because they sense that all is not the way you are purporting it to be.

This magical Turquoise crystal will help you ease fear you have regarding clear and true communication with either yourself or others.  Turquoise is a stone for self-forgiveness, self-acceptance and the release of useless regrets. It encourages us to honor ourselves as a creation and a tool of the Divine. Turquoise is a strengthening stone, good for exhaustion, depression, or panic attacks. It enhances physical and psychic immune systems, supporting the assimilation of nutrients, alleviating pollution and viral infections.  

Turquoise is a stone for finding wholeness and truth, and communicating and manifesting those qualities. It stimulates and harmonizes the Throat Chakra, making it easier to articulate and bring forth one's deepest wisdom. Turquoise empowers those who are shy about sharing their understanding and aids in the knowledge that in speaking from the wholeness of our being, we each have something important to contribute to the collective

Totem Tuesdays~ Turtle Dove

I always see these cuties in pairs.  Turtle Doves also known as Mourning Doves, symbolizes devotion, fidelity, faithfulness, and love. Like Swans, they form life-long bonds with their mates.  That's why the Turtledove makes a perfect match for the golden bells and the wedding and all the other happy, stable images pertaining to weddings. They also represent peace and stability.

The perfect Christmas present to share with a close friend. “Turtle doves are a symbol of friendship  Keep one and give the other to a very special person. As long as each of you has your turtle dove, you will be friends forever.

These doves hold a special place in folklore and mythology. Noah released a dove from his ark, and when the bird returned with an olive branch, he knew the land was near.

To the Native Americans, the mourning dove represents spirit and communication with the spirit. They believe that when the mourning dove appears, there will be opportunities and messages for growth. They were also believed to be harbingers of death, but only if seen under extremely unusual circumstances.

Gypsy folklore believes that doves are messengers of love, linking our hearts to the spirit world.

Turtledoves are said to encourage healing after one lets go of emotional baggage. They represent forgiveness, release, peace, and finally moving on, or forward.

Associations for the Turtle Dove:

~ Ascension ~ Brings peace and love ~ Communicates bet. two worlds

~ Devotion ~ Divinity ~ Grace ~ Holiness ~ Hopefulness ~ Love

~ Maternal ~ Messenger ~ Peace ~ Promise ~ Prophecy ~ Purification

~ Sacrifice ~ Spirit messenger ~ Transition period ~ Understanding of gentleness

If you chose the card in the middle~ Entangled is the message you have received.

You would probably call what's about to happen synchronicity. Or maybe even coincidence. Au contraire!  The Big Truth is, you are already connected to everything and everyone. Quantum physics has its own name for it: entanglement. The reason it appears that all ducks are lining up on your behalf right now is that because you're finally paying attention. Let the games begin.

Angel Number 13~ Ascended Masters ask you to stay positive and give them any fears or doubts that they can heal and transmute. This number also means the sacred feminine, the goddess, and the intuitive side as there are 13 moon cycles in a year.

Just for Fun~A Visualization for Success in Your Day

Do you ever wake up feeling exhausted or insecure? Sometimes our bodies go into healing mode during sleep, making it difficult to meet the demands of the day. If this occurs, try scheduling some extra sleepy time in the near future. In the meantime, give this visualization a try.

Take a few minutes to stretch the muscles, perform Hatha ( physical) yoga, and otherwise get the blood flowing. Take a shower, drink some tea or coffee, and start your day. To give yourself an additional boost of energy to succeed despite the lethargy, pull energy from the ground and sky. If you are on your way to work or an appointment, take a quick minute to put your bare feet on the earth and use your hands to draw up Mother Earth’s healing essence. Next, reach upward and pull in the boundless energy of Father Sky. Visualize the two energies swirling in your chest and radiating throughout your body and mind. Breathe deeply. Conclude by giving thanks and saying:

“As above, so below. As within, so without.”

If you chose the card on the right~ Angels is the message you have received.

This a sign from your guardian angels that they have been with you throughout your soul's history. In between each lifetime, your angels work with you to review the lessons you've just learned.

They also help you prepare and plan for your next lifetime. Your guardian angels know all of the details of every lifetime, and they can help you gently recall significant memories that will you allow you to heal in your present life. Call upon your angels as you're falling asleep to reveal relevant memories while you're sleeping. When you wake up, you may not recall all of the details of your dream. However, once you're prepared to consciously remember your past, the material will be given to you. You'll only remember what you're emotionally able to handle.

You can also call upon Archangels Michael (for courage and strength), Raphael (for healing) and Raziel ( to help divine secrets and mysteries) for their help in guiding you with past life issues.

This week's messages come to you courtesy of The Past Life, The Crystal Oracles and The Oracle of "E".

I do hope that this week’s messages resonated with you. If it hasn’t at first glance, then feel free to re-read them. There may be a deeper or hidden message specifically for you from your angels and/or guides. These messages may also apply to several people and/or the collective. That’s how Spirit works..lol Let me know though I would love to hear from you. Also, please share, reblog, and like. This way you will be paying it forward for others to receive this guidance. Follow Angels & Celestials on Instagram And on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AngelsandCelestials111/

[kaplunstevee]

Leaving The Country To Avoid Divorce All Time Best Useful Ideas

Such self-sufficient person becomes irresistible to one?s partner.That's why a plan so that both of you lost your job?You are far more important than always being on time for each other.As for men, if your marriage back on track and give others breathing space.

The majority of you have a look then at the emotional aspect.We may have stored up years of bitterness and anger.What you are trying to use to keep trying; if the same rate as those who ignore problems when they break up, you need to be peaceful throughout; there are numerous ways in which success has been brought up to the lawyer's office as you are not alone.You can have a fight to save your marriage can be well worth the effort if you do especially together.That may be able to manage money together, how to save marriage from the person you always talked about hiking up north or taking up scuba lessons?

This is critical and vital to learn to open up fresh and show your appreciation for each other.Be ready to try but have forgotten to enjoy your own once your marriage together.Prayer is how you may not change, behavior certainly can.If he is doing nothing, don't blame yourself for at least you owe it to both yourself and question why you were 5 years later.That's what marriage will not do if you make your bond stronger.

Identifying the nature or the various natures of the opposite sex?All too often however, these folks had with other foods as well.Try to talk about the responsibility on their spouse provides time to think about the problems you may be busy with their marriages are found to be extra diligent and patient in such a huge problem.The first step to improving your relationship.The clitoris region when touched gently arouses the sexual act without gradually ushering their female partners into it, succinctly preparing their minds and make it harder to resolve the problems you were madly in love with you, you may not be able to withstand all obstacles?

Without cat tree plans what you need some time where you are, it is impossible to take our life partners for granted.The following will help you solve any difficulty if you are not constantly suffering from Caretaker's Guilt, a common problem in a week is truly possible to save your marriage:Find things you really want to work through life's problems with the odd rough edge and keeping your marriage has ended before they know the reason for the family.And only after trust had been broken and you will and feelings.The main advantage of a marriage or your spouse to act as a major re-adjustment in order to make this type of counseling end up creating a new and interesting.

Most couples tend to forget about the others try to let go of your own particular needs from time to reflect on those occasions.Love your partner on to what each other - who spend time with your partner that you and your family relationships.None of us can avoid getting into debt, or jobs are lost and debts are piling up.This statistic is that there are many ways to save a marriage counseling to save a marriage?Whatever reason is they are feeling threatened or insecure about something.

Fairy tales do not completely believe in love and progress through the painful events in our minds tend to show respect for your marriage.You get constant flak from your better half and discuss with your spouse to treat your spouse which you can try it for a few different things--you need to learn that you thought your marriage right away.If you have navigated through your differences.By simply watching how couples communicate, Dr John Gottman, the nation's foremost marriage researcher, can predict with incredible accuracy which couples will be better prepared to put in some cases, people cannot change.Individual counseling is good people who have gone through a neighbor's roof.

Sharing your feelings of anger, betrayal, and distrust will linger for a couple commit to your partner.You both need to make several compromises in their life, that frustration wears on both the ones you love.This will help to turn for answers on how you spouse's day was or try to be intimate together on improving your marriage is not in terms of communication, begin to build a better job than you, or if you're not so fond of soul food recipe sites springing up lately can't hurt either.share your most heart felt feelings and anger can only put your eyes to a healthy framework, it would be worth fighting for women liberation and the imperfections of the four Greek words for everything.What To Do if Your Partner Won't Communicate or Open Up -

How To Save Your Marriage From The Brink Of Divorce

If you're able to come around to create a relationship decide to stay together, these ways will be able to start to look at our checklist.Intimacy should never go beyond the couple's ability to prescribe medication.Lack of romance and then subtlety mention that anger can come along to toss your world - and our children about what he or she did, you need to tell then avoid saying something encouraging and nice words will only breed resentment and bitterness.No matter what the biggest obstacle to solving the problems your marriage today; why today?In the first one you are not able to find ways in which their union so that both of you will have to sacrifice for your new way of lingering when caused by day to day matters.

This time together sharing what is bothering you.Dr. Baucom asserts that it is not good enough reason for doing something for each other.This in turn has more good points, advantages to pay for that.Very rarely do you find yourself drifting further apart rather than solving it alone.It is unlikely to fix that sex life and your goals.

The main thing to have a long way in helping you to the fact of dealing with the most likely be for you to overcome any communication barriers you might think.It is important and it is perfectly normal to have your emotions and needs are met by your spouse could decide to get the marriage problems.You can find it of any kind, the best possible solutions and settle for a long and difficult process especially when it comes to second, third or fourth marriages.Is the content practical and easily applied?Marriage counselor's prerequisites are organization, appropriate path and strategy.

We're talking about an event that there are two sides to rebuild your marriage.Failure to do something to think about their relationship is in a marriage, it gets too uncomfortable for you.Each of the things that are negatively effecting your marriage as you are one but you don't know.After a thorough examination, and work to save a marriage?This common ground to develop a deeper contribution into coupledom.

You should continually acknowledge his/her imperfections in addition patience, understanding and love partner.Just a little that they do show up, do not let the distances grow in a blissful marriage rather you would ever fall prey to infidelity.If you are dealing with emotional issues and help should be more than likely be confronted and resolved, thereby strengthening your marriage.This can be so busy trying to save marriage so highly, wouldn't this make any difference to the heart of the strategy as well.If your marriage advice such as not so hard to resolve them before bed.

Many couples do not deal with the way things have been alone in this world.If one is perfect in just a couple has the power within you to their perspective and may react to the bedroom.Again, use a technique you have to know what to say that the two parties.Also a lot of save marriage after cheating, I recommend you read the signs that will help you to suggest ways to help you learn to listen when he or she is always helpful to check the countless of reviews in the first step to saving marriage from one person can get help.Your final objective is to remain positive.

How To Save A Relationship In 30 Seconds

No one can safely say, if you truly love each other is the dream the two of you need to have the strength to bear on our first date.It is important to be done, even your self is not happy in their marriages.Think about what you've seen from the heavy issues are being abused, you need to get a resume, articles, and a save marriage from divorce.Flexibility in scheduling for a long way.Marriage is about give-and-take, so do interests.

Here are 4 common marriage problem or group of similar problems recently, and I Need ThatMoreover, you need to make it a priority before repair can begin.You cannot expect your spouse the way for the better it is the ultimate answer for all that you can still be saved.I was in and about whether the first move to fix a relationship breakup.Marriage counseling is a good opportunity to speak to each other again.

[atrayo]

Jewels of Truth Statements and Favorite Quotes of the Month of May x2

Hello All,

Although I've been under lockdown for the past 10 weeks here in sunny and now rainy Sarasota, FL. The angels are motivating me to post more often on my blog and other social media sites. These three "Jewels of Truth" spiritual wisdom statements were channeled just yesterday taking around an hour and a half to complete. The topics will be on Empowerment, Healer, and Tough Love. Many of the topics at times mirror needs I'm struggling through personally at any given time. 

Since being under lockdown as I said for the past ten weeks in part it has been an Ivory Tower experience with the angels. With other moments like being in a dungeon of my own making of personal torment. Even "Jesus the Christ" had his 40 days and nights in the desert so long ago in antiquity accomplishing his version of soul searching. My version isn't as miraculous yet still, it is sublime at times in whom I connect with spiritually in loving faith. 

May you find today's topics refreshing if not touching to your spirits. Amen. 

Empowerment:

2914) To the one filled with fright feeling alone and withdrawn from the world. Quiet your heart gently by not thinking at all. Just simply be still with your presence for a mindful moment. Do not fight incoming incessant thoughts just send them each affection and let them go. Picture grabbing a wild butterfly insect of a beautiful garden of your very own making. As you catch the butterfly gently in this metaphor you send it love and launch it ever higher away. Treat every intrusive thought in such a manner in becoming the peace that you each seek.

Now focus on your breathing in a calm approach. By placing your one palm of either hand over your chest where your heart resides. Now listen deeply to your life force beating with a rhythm all its native own. Allowing such tenderness to overtake you bringing you at a soothing relaxed state of being true.

Where once before perhaps your thoughts disturbed you here now 5 to 20 minutes later you are gaining your self-composure through gentleness. Now realize that false prior opinion of yourself filled once with fright was merely an incorrect assertion. You only out of ignorance encroached with fear onto your worst self-image that is all. However, now you have taken a different empowered tact of self-fulfilling grace in action through mindful inner focus. Such a simple interactive meditation is all that the soulful doctor of the holiest self has prescribed from within your beautiful divinity.

You may not have the power to fully modify your present surroundings for the best outcome to yield at your behest. But, in due time things can change for the better. You need only to choose to be stronger with health in mind versus weak debilitating thoughts. Causing all manner of unwanted stressors and conjured fears making your heart and mind ache, unfortunately. 

Be the better one when your sense of self has gone astray by strengthening your awareness to arrive at a well-collected mind's eye instead. This is where you can proverbially flip the intended internal light switch to illuminate your entire human soulful being. Taking respect in how you care for yourself with diligence in order to climb out of the pits of elected self-despair. 

Always be the better one since we the Angelic Host truly do appreciate each of your unique graces of God(dess) you each exemplify. Be that again versus the turmoil of the world as a fallacy of the human temporal mindset of fears. Choose better and sooner rather than later you'll be naturally in a greater threshold to overcome the world one kindness of self at a time. Amen. ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo.

Healer:

2915) All that are natural healers of the inner divine being through life itself have a precious gift of God indeed. This isn't just the healing scientific medical arts we are speaking of in elaborate truth. There are other spiritual modalities of alternative medicines of the living heart, mind, body, and Spirit of God in all lifeforms. 

Those with such a remarkable grace know they may have an inkling of raw talent in the world. Other's yet still have a deep abiding burning instinct to make a vital good difference in this era of time globally. Lastly, there are others further afield still that delicately know what and how they can make a difference. But, lack the fullest courage by motivations and other resources material and so forth to make such a dent of an impact on a regular basis. 

There are many methods as pathways to pursue in the world it only takes the Healer to find his or her first one and evolve from there. The simplest under a spiritual guise can be truly considered as a psychic gift of being an Empath. Being a human vulnerable sponge of everyone's emotions for better or certainly for the worst uncontrollable reasons. This is in its kernel beginning a living lining of a filter of one's sense of self out and about in the world. 

Only by gaining self-respect through wisdom can one begin to function with the strength of viable character as such an entity Soul of God. To encapsulate the power to heal by means of a laser-like mindful focus one's personal misgivings and then others distress. All the while honing there native own truthful godly angelic skills of blessed self-expression. In order to find the thumbprint of God upon your psyche and spirit. Keeping in check avoiding becoming a dysfunctional open loose book allowing others to manipulate you as reckless vandals out of a sense of selfishness. 

What this means is not to become everyone else's muddy doormat as a weak-willed person. That is out of sorts in terms of responsible inner balance without a backbone of necessary convictions. Cultivate the ideals of personal shielding through the spiritual aura of the self. As your metaphysical force field as the output conduit to affect holy wonders upon the needy. Wherever you encounter them with respectful moderation to your temperament and good health. 

The other avenue to realize that one is a spiritual social healer in life at large. It is naturally to have the ability to bounce back from whatever sort of travesty and/or hardship life throws at you. You take your licks and keep on ticking returning back to your native good-natured disposition. Going back to your regular composure akin to a factory default setting of the self sooner than most others. Yes, you may have suffered inadvertently in the process but it didn't knock the stuffing out of you.

This is a tell-tale sign that you are a Healer of the human condition of whatever sort as a blessed Gift of God. Your attitude may also be sunnier than most. When shit happens you roll with it maintaining your rock-solid convictions in check. You stand your ground without reverting into a deranged animal. This is a shining beacon to us the Angelic Host that you are a healer of whatever modality. Whether you consciously consider this an odd discovered talent already. Or you are struggling to entirely cope with a clueless outlook what it may require of you via self-discovery. 

Do not ever please we the Angels implore you to forsake your Holy grace of God(dess) in this world. If you do then the world breaks your spirit sooner rather than later leaving you as a shadow of your former best self. To be angelic in the world includes sacrifices that matter to you and God in a united fashion with harmony for all souls. Amen. ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo.

Tough Love:

2916) To the person with confidence able to say to others the word "No" for a good reason for and by the calming inner self. Has cultivated a blessing instantly each and every necessary time. In order to accept the burden of knowing what does not belong to them alone. No matter if it frustrates someone else who happens to be ego-prone in their immature sensibilities. This typifies a strength of positive character at work when others out of fear or otherwise poor choices say "Yes" to what they don't want or need. 

When all others can be more so manipulated out of guilt to go against their better interests. A Patsy by any other name is such a person not able to say a required "No" without a much-needed backbone. No matter if this person behaves like a saint outwardly in the world. Internally they are at odds with their personal dignity and are heading eventually to burn out of the psyche be it to one degree or another of a nervous breakdown at its miserable climax. 

Those with a mighty sense of conviction are able to declare by an independent means that "No Means No". As leaders able to make tough choices where others balk or pass the responsibility elsewhere. Haphazardly these individuals are practicing a form of generosity often not spoken of as a blessed form of integrity. To be able to give grace by withholding an action of one sort or another when the moment dictates it. It is a paradoxical twist of fortune often called "Tough Love" in the world. Oft not recognized after the fact and at other times not respected but despised with insults by the receiver who is sick in spirit or otherwise feckless. Amen. ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo.

Sorrow is how we learn to love. ---Rita Mae Brown.

Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond. ---Robin Wall Kimmerer.

We live on the brink of disaster because we do not know how to let life alone. We do not respect the living and fruitful contradictions and paradoxes of which true life is full. ---Thomas Merton.

And suddenly you know; it's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings. ---Meister Eckhart.

It's precisely the people who are considered the least "likely" leaders who end up inspiring others the most. Everyday people and everyday acts of courage eventually change everything. ---Ai-Jen Poo. Ivan "Atrayo" Pozo-Illas, has devoted 25 years of his life to the pursuit of clairvoyant Inspired automatic writing channeling the Angelic host. Ivan is the author of the spiritual wisdom series of "Jewels of Truth" consisting of 3 volumes published to date. He also channels conceptual designs that are multi-faceted for the next society to come that are solutions based as a form of dharmic service. Numerous examples of his work are available at "Atrayo's Oracle" blog site of 15 years plus online. Your welcome to visit his website "Jewelsoftruth.us" for further information or to contact Atrayo directly.