#the wine has a heart in it for the human sacrifice thing

[gotta-bail-my-quails]

i gave up on this version so here's my unfinished masquerade ball toland submission like. ten months late

yes i do not know how to draw pants, yes he is wearing his chains from prison around his neck to a ball presumably filled with people who would love to put his ass back in prison. he's funny like that

[peonysgreenhouse]

-`♡´- kisses + the 13 flame-chasers

summary: what it says on the tin!

tags: flame-chasers x gn!reader, griseo's is platonic of course, fluff, lots of kissies.

i. kevin kaslana

kevin’s last try at love had left him unable to touch anything living, his body now colder than ice. he craves the contact he once was able to give and receive freely, but to sacrifice his own body in pursuit of the MOTH’s goals was something he was more than willing to do. but even the icy-hearted first flame chaser has his moments of weakness. in those moments he’ll grab your tie, or the end of your skirt and bring it up to his lips, inhaling the scent he was never close enough to know, and wonder how warm your skin felt underneath.

ii. elysia

elysia adores everything about you, and she wants you to know how much you are loved every moment she is with you. she places kisses to any place she can reach, but more than that she loves watching your reactions. so human, so beautiful. it’s not rare to end up with her rosy gloss all over you.

iii. aponia

aponia likes listening to you breathe. underneath a tree in the tall grass, your head in her lap. it’s one of the few times she feels she can live in the present. the future is the farthest thing from her mind as she leans down and places a kiss to your forehead, telling you to go to sleep. she doesn’t command you to do it so, but with her soft humming, you soon drift off. aponia kisses your eyelids, then, and prays for your dreams to be pleasant.

iv. eden

her lips taste of the finest wine; how could you not get intoxicated after kissing her? the high of eden’s performance doesn’t wear off for hours, and she loves to perch you up on her vanity and kiss you until she’s satisfied… and eden is hard to satiate. out of all the endless riches she has amassed, you are her favorite treasure of all.

v. vill-v

the great magician loves to woo you with her performances. look down into their hat and when you see nothing inside, she’ll tilt your chin up and give you a quick peck.

the expert likes to ramble off her ideas for projects — you’re the only one allowed in their lab. it’s not often they get excited about things, but with you there she finds that old passion for inventing return in spades. when you aren’t looking, she’ll place a lingering kiss to your temple, whispering out her thanks.

vill-v loves you wholly, with every part of themself.

vi. kalpas

you’re one of the few who has gotten to see under kalpas’s mask. his skin is fair, sunken pale eyes tired and angry. it’s the first time he lets you see underneath that you finally get to kiss him. his teeth are bared, and he threatens to kill you for standing so close. but when your lips touch his own, all feigned malice melts away, and he pulls you into him hard.

vii. su

his kisses are featherlight, as soft as a summer breeze. as busy as he is with his work, he will always find pockets of time to spend with you. even if it’s just as small as kissing your cheek before he leaves for work, he will remember your loving eyes, the way the morning light made your skin glow, your small smile… yes, this is one memory that will follow him forevermore.

viii. SAKURA

SAKURA always looks for you after battles. she is covered in bruises and cuts that will leave ugly scars later, but she needs to know you’re okay; that the one person left that she loves is still there. she ushers you someplace quiet and hums, a familiar song that she once sang to RIN and patches you up. you tell her of an old superstition that you once heard, and she takes it to heart. SAKURA doesn’t let you go until she’s placed her lips against every future scar, promising you that next time, she’ll keep you safe.

ix. kosma

try as he might, he will never be able to figure out what you’re thinking. when you reassure him that you like him, he wonders if you mean in a way that he can sit close to you. it’s easier show him what’s on your mind, tilt his chin up and plant a sweet kiss to his lips. kosma will think about your touch for a long time, one hand touching his lips and the other balled into his tunic. he hopes you’ll kiss him again and again.

x. mobius

mobius tastes sickeningly sweet, you sometimes wonder if her lipstick is laced with poison. when mobius kisses you, it is needy, her lips moving hard and fast against your own, pressing you against her lab table. when she pulls back, you’re seeing stars, and she grins at you like a predator. you can’t help but think if this is where you die, it wouldn’t be so bad.

xi. griseo

mama aponia tells griseo that kisses are reserved for people she loves. and so she gives mama aponia a kiss on the cheek before she goes to look for inspiration. today, you are her muse, and you sit for hours as she paints every color that she sees in you; each one unique to you. once you’re done, she tugs your sleeve and tells you to come look. you tell her it’s beautiful, and she kisses you on the cheeks as thanks.

xii. fu hua

hua fights with her fists, and so the bruises left on her knuckles are forever rosy, never allowed to fully heal. when she spars with you, she never goes easy, and you’re face down in the dirt after only one round. she notices the deep purple of fresh bruises on your hands, and places a kiss to each one, praising you for trying so hard.

xiii. pardofelis

pardo loves all things shiny, but she’s found she doesn’t mind being paid in kisses from time to time. she purrs as you take her cheeks into your hands, kissing her all over the face. felis can’t help but laugh at the way it tickles, falling forward into your lap and nuzzling into your neck.

[katerinaaqu]

The Cattle of Helios Hyperion and Skylla: The animalistic cry for survival (An Odyssey Analysis)

So it has been quite some time since the last time I wrote an analysis on the Odyssey and after I saw some posts by @soarinsugar-homerblog I decided it was about time I wrote one more! This time on the last and fateful moment of the lives of the crew; the sacred cattle of Helios.

Buckle up and bear with me the ride will be wild and long!

So what is the thing that truly shows the divinity of the animals? Was it their godly appearance? Was it the invisible to human eye servants that led them to their grazing spot? Or was it maybe their location and the protection of Helios for them? All of the above are right. However what if the reason behind it was even more profound, even more horrifying than what catches the eye? In my opinion THIS is the true reason and that gives off the most brutal scene in that part of the Odyssey, brutal enough for Odysseus to describe it so thoroughly:

The skin slowly crawled upon the spits and both the roasted and the raw meats would bellow loudly as if they were actual voices

(Translation by me)

Honestly only one word can describe it;

Grotesque!

The scene is nothing less but an absolute grotesque image in the eyes of Odysseus where the meat of the animals seems to gain life and his companions roasting and eating them while Odysseus watches in horror. His men are roasting the meat having a small feast. The scene seems to Odysseus even more horrifying by the fact that his men couldn't even offer a proper sacrifice to the gods (water instead of wine, leaves instead of barley etc).

However why is it so difficult to watch? Is it perhaps that the memories of war awaken inside him and he remembers the brutalities he both saw and caused? Possible but if I may, there is one scene that predates this one and is equally brutal as this specific image. Yet another image that Odysseus describes so thoroughly that might have made some stomachs turn at Homer's time; another scene that remained engraved in his mind forever. It is no other that the Skylla scene!

And Skylla from her cave grabbed out of my ship my strongest six men in arms and body strength and both me and my comrades as we looked up, we could see their arms and legs emerging as they waved them frenzily calling my name in screams till the last moment in their grieving heart

(Translation by me)

And do we think this was brutal enough? Then we must think again for next Odysseus gives us the most specific and absolutely horrendous description in regards to Skylla's feast.

And just like the fisherman upon the tall rock casts his rod with bait to lure the small fishes with food and throws out in the sea the horn of an ox and then he reels in the flopping fish ashore and when he has them, throws them upon the stone; in such a manner she devoured them at the entrance of her cave making screeching sounds and they were waving their arms towards me, struggling in that deadly battle and that was the most lamentable sight we all saw with our own eyes of all I have suffered upon my sea voyages.

(Translation by me)

So for those who still have the contents of their stomachs intact let me make it even more clear; Odysseus describes a wild scene in which a wild creature, no more than an animal, in a blink of an eye snatched six strong and vigorous men and devoured them at her doors without remorse or compassion, just pure animalistic feeding as his comrades flopped like fish caught by the fisherman on the shore while adrenaline kept them awake till the last moment their heart stopped beating! And Odysseus describes it in such a manner; so clear and savage that arguably tops even the grotesque descriptions he had on events like Polyphemus or the Laestrygonians! The ultimate horror scene

Now you might wonder why I correlate the two? I immediately shall tell you. What does the scene of Skylla have in common with the Cattle of Helios Hyperion? Odysseus witnesses someone devouring a prey that is still "alive" and making sound. It doesn't seem like a random choice that Homer decided to share with us that the pieces of meat were still "alive" in one way and I am not convinced that he added that information solely to show how divine the Cattle were neither to create a horror scene. Neither is a mere coincidence that the scene of Skylla is right before the island of Helios or the fact that Odysseus mentions how his men are still grieving the deaths they experienced lastly. I think is much deeper and much more profound than that. Odysseus is in horror at the scene and he has witnessed quite a few harsh situations in his life but this seem to take the cake when it comes to his comrades and doesn't seem to be the mere idea of a blasphemy either.

Odysseus witnesses his men act like Skylla as they devour the pieces of meat that still moo and make sound just like Skylla devoured their still crying and moving men!!!

At that moment of hunger and desperation his men lost the last bits of their humanity. They no longer felt guilt that something was making sound as if it was still alive as they roasted it and slowly devoured it. Their previous experiences and hunger broke them and made them lose the last bits of humanity they had. Not only they committed hubris by defying a God and eating his Cattle, not only didn't they have proper sacrifices to offer but also they didn't stop when they noticed the Cattle were still "alive" even when roasted and they didn't stop not even when they made sounds as if they are being tormented. They didn't care anymore.

They were reduced to the level of a beast in their desperation.

This was the moment when Odysseus knew they were beyond saving because THAT was their real crime: the descent to the mere survival mode; the very bit that separated humans from beast was gone with them. (And even then Odysseus tried to save them, see my other analysis here )

Because this seems to me the true reason why these two scenes were placed side by side. It seems like a combination between cause and effect and also a result of everything that led to that part (adventures, hunger etc) and I am surprised that we don't see more people talk about it. That was the moment where his men reduced from humanity to savagery because as Eurylochus said; there is nothing worse than dying of hunger. And ironically Odysseus seems to quote on that too as he speaks on the basic need of hunger when he is under disguise in his own palace; somehow seems like this moment rings in his mind forever.

Food for thought (pun intended). Let me know your thoughts to the comments and reblogs below!

[shanellaveh]

so long, fontaine

— wriothesley x reader

You were just a kid when exposed to the duanting reality. Knowing your place. It didn't felt quite right, you were just as bright—just as human as they were. Lesson learned, life was not fair.

As you grew, a facade of happiness bloomed through you, maybe you could've gotten in that med school if money wasn't tight, but it was. A thirst for you to prove something-to love, to be, maybe it was just hopeless dream.

Looking through the stars, your hand has never felt so small. Too high to reach, yet so bright, enough to torture you so fully as you watch friends be the things you have always wanted to be. With you jailed for something you never did, you knew desires can just be gruesome nightmare—a demon telling you what could've been. Another chapter earned, the world isn't fair.

And then you met him, a fair and just man, the duke with a signature smirk. Your life was in shambles, and as his hand reached yours, he became your only hope.

You have finally reached the stars.

Sharing the troubles that loom your head, the tearjerker stories of the past. Everyone knew how much the duke was in love with you, this affection reached through his desire to set you free-in every sense of the word.

And as his reconsiderations for your case be finally put into the courtroom-to your relieve sigh as you have been deemed a free man. He expected for you to finally spend your life with him. To finally love him back, to end his lifetimes worth of yearning.

But life wasn't fair, remember?

You pack the childhood toys and worn down clothes of worth decades full of tales. And there he was, panting and running to stop you to see you- to love you one last time. He didn't ponder at thoughts that you used him.

He just needed you, all of you. The world didn't see your smile worth thousands of sacrifices nor did life hear the yearning of your heart—to deep for anyone to comprehend. You had the duke on his knees, as if you were the archon he prays to. Stay. Stay.

Eyes were pleading, hands clasped together, words slipped as hope lightens his system. It wasn't enough. Although even the hardest rocks can break at this sight, you were already broken, no longer wanted to be fixed by his love.

And as he reached your face, so near yet so far. It was too late, minds have been made. So long to the boy who loves you so.

"Here's a goodbye to the kisses and lies," you pause

So long to the memories that bruised you.

"to the cherries and wine," a smile made.

So long to the good old days.

.... and to you Wriothesley."

@shanieveh's vault mwa

[asprinkleoftism]

Donald Ferguson Headcanons Pt.||

Made another one because why not. Enjoyy

Part | https://www.tumblr.com/asprinkleoftism/774337585629822976/donald-ferguson-headcanons?source=share

CW: Some slight NSFW themes and self harm but nothing graphic.

If wish to skip to any of those, NSFW will be marked with 🔥 and self harm will be marked with ❌️.

When he finds out he isn’t exactly human in the flesh, he would keep it from his significant other until he finds the right time to tell them. 

Coming from the first one, he always calculates the exact right things to say in any given situation which is why he always pauses for a few moments before responding. This mostly is with serious situations and events. 

Definitely prefers a clean house 24/7 if possible, but will not make a fuss about it if it's not. 

Date nights can range from going out to eat to staying home and slow dance to a record playing with the lights on dim. 

Secret talent? Excellent at piano. 

Wants to put up the Christmas tree the second when thanksgiving dinner is over. 

Would take things slow in a relationship only because he doesn’t want to rush anything for the other person or himself but mostly for the other person. 

When things start getting serious, he fully comes out of his shell. 

Gets flustered by intense affection/compliments in the beginning. You are the most handsome man on the planet; Are these hands as gentle as you say they are? Etc. 

🔥Takes physical affection and intimacy to heart and considers it a big part of the relationship. Cuddles, sex, showering together, little couple activities like baking or doing a puzzle together, little pecks of kisses on the cheek at random times, hand holding in private. 

🔥Would be shy during the first time, but afterwards would be natural at it. 

Doesn’t like PDA, prefers for it to stay private. Will accept hand holding in public.

Is secretly a dork despite his profession but it only comes out when he is with the love of his life. If ticklish, will take any opportunity to tickle significant other just to make them giggle and smile, cringey dad jokes, funny voice impressions. 

A cat person but is open to all animals. 

Would be open to kids when he is able to settle down from his job. Would consider adoption upon finding out he isn't fully human. 

Once he retires, would settle out into the country in a cabin house away from civilization. Likes the peace and quiet. 

Would go out of his comfort zone for his significant other. Doesn’t like heavy metal, but if they did he would listen to it without complaints. Same with horror movies or roller coasters and so on. 

Has his favorite glass to drink his wine and whiskey in. 

❌Would have a hard time coping with the fact that he isn’t fully human and gets paranoid about it. Even after the initial stab in the arm in the bathroom, would have to resist doing more harm to himself because of him not being able to accept who he is. Eventually does accept who he is, which would be when he talks Rick down from jumping, but it is a rough road until then. 

Considers baking and cooking to be very relaxing and easy to dissociate into, in a good way. Same with puzzles and even crocheting. ((Thank you @tatiejosie for this one))

Would be quick to sacrifice himself for his significant other, even if it meant he wouldn't be able to be built back together. 

Would be the one to propose but would be so nervous he wouldn’t be able to get the words out. 

Considers fruit to be his candy. 

Splits the chores with his significant other but always ends up doing more out of habit due to his work. 

Always wins at the rigged carnival games even if he wasn’t trying to win. 

Doesn’t have a hobby, due to his work, but finds one once his significant other comes around. 

6’4 height. 

Would hold the door for the elderly, will grab something from the top of the shelf for someone, etc.

To add onto the baking one, he would take comfort in having to be precise with measurements and likes to bake more than eat it but would be happy to bake for others.

[llondonfog]

I've been obsessively OBSESSIVELY thinking about it all day and I need to say it to you as well, it is so desperate. Meleanor and the Knight of Dawn as soulmates... Not in the sense that there could ever be love between them, but bonded at the soul to inevitably clash and kill one another. Just imagining a world where marks of a soulmate are celebrated as beautiful signs of love, and the death mark is a wretched omen. Both have them covered up from birth, hiding the secret from even their closest loved ones. There are rumors, however, of stolen glimpses. Of a speared dragons wing and a shattered sword...... god, imagine if Lilia has no idea about it, but Meleanor does. He's begging her with everything he has not to sacrifice herself, but she already knows, has already known for so long, since before she can remember, that there was no other way this could end!!

Thinking about Lilia with only one mark, a strange bejeweled crown that perches like an omen over his heart— it's a death mark, there's not a bone in his body that believes otherwise. the crown bears no resemblance to the ornate diadems of the briar valley royalty, and he spares himself one bitter, twisted smile at the foolish whims of a heart that he thought had stopped dreaming a long time ago.

He makes his peace with it, the cold truth a strange comfort in the face of a life marked by hardship and an aching loneliness. To die on the battlefield in the name of his princess and her consort, even if it is at the hands of their enemy, will serve as the culmination of a love that he could not realize— he can't think of more fitting an end for an unwanted and lowly creature such as he.

So when Meleanor dashes all of his morbid plans with a knowing smile that turns his blood to ice floes and fills him with a gut-wrenching despair, when she orders him far away from the battlefield to play nursemaid to an egg that can only hatch by the will of her love, he refuses to even consider the reason why.

The concept of her death is as foreign as the moon tumbling out of the sky, as unlawful to the natural order of things as water to wine. She is a dragon, a Draconia, a great and terrible force of nature unto her own who calls the lightning to heel and the mountains to tremble from her rage and might. Her death, should it ever come, shall creep to her meekly, cowed and apologetic that it might ever think to claim a being as magnificent as her. She cannot do this, for what is the point of Lilia's meager existence if not to serve her even in the act of his death?

(He does not understand, but for this she cannot blame him. Her brave and steadfast General, her most loyal and trusted friend— there was no other way for her story to end, as much as she wishes to reassure him that she will not meet her death whimpering. If she is to die, then it shall be as magnificent a battle as any could have ever imagined. She is a dragon, and she will show those foolish humans just what that means.)

[bloodybigwardrobe]

the how is quiet, a deserted place full of dust and low-burning fires, the cheer of hard-won battle left lingering on the threshold of this ancient place.

in front of a long-cracked stone, caspian falls to his knees before the high king of old. he breathes narnian wine out into the dim light, and stares up into amber-blue eyes that hold every shade of the narnian sky.

freshly calloused hands reach out to hold up his chin, to push back at his hair. the very life of narnia hums where kingly skin meets his, where fingertips brush over bruised jaw and cheek, over cut and bleeding lip. a soft smile with the very world in the corners of a cracking mouth lets the fires around them burn anew.

"you must learn to stand rather than kneel," peter says, amusement a melody that burns caspian's skin. "a king cannot stand on buckling legs at every turn."

"i will learn," caspian whispers, too afraid to break whatever spell has come to rest on them. "i swear."

sword-weary hands tug at his head, then brush down to his shoulders to pull him up. "then you ought to start tonight. the throne does not wait."

peter's voice is gentle, yet feels like teeth atop his ribcage. caspian wishes nothing more than to be pried open by the king-turned-boy and back again. he wants nothing more than for narnia to consume him, heart and all. but he is afraid.

"can't i start with the rising sun?"

peter laughs, turns them ever so slightly, and pushes caspian to sit where the legends saw aslan sacrifice his body to the creeping ice. caspian's body turns tense, awe a potent paralysis, when his tired, wine-drunk eyes watch a myth come true slowly get on his knees before him.

"what are you doing?"

peter's night-and-morning eyes crinkle at their edges. his teeth seem bloodied and sharp. "you must learn to be kneeled to."

caspian wonders if his heart will break through his chest like the fleeing bird it seems to be. "i have been kneeled to my whole youth."

peter shakes his head, reaches out a hand to settle on caspian's shaking knee. "it is not the same."

and caspian knows it can't be, because there is a weight pressing down on his shoulders that he's never felt before. suddenly, it feels as though an enormous beast is bearing down on every inch of him, snapping teeth at his neck and talons digging into his thighs. caspian gasps. in front of him, peter looks on with a smile.

"learn to stand," peter repeats, his voice a blade beneath caspian's chin, "weather the strain." his mouth is stretched wide with teeth that do not belong to the image of a boy, his presence a wall before caspian's trembling body. there is blood where his eyes ought to be. his stare remains unrelenting.

a beast in front, and a beast behind. caspian shakes. "it is too much."

peter laughs, then, still kneeling but looming above like an ancient tree, a cavern stretching far beyond what caspian can see. "stand," he commands again, his voice coming from all around. "stand, caspian, or fall."

there are fangs scraping down caspian's spine, something hard prying its way beneath armour and skin. he takes a breath. something growls.

when he stands, his legs tremble. he doesn't dare to take a step for fear of losing his balance on what suddenly seems like a sword's edge beneath his feet.

but he stands. he doesn't fall.

when peter laughs this time, it is a soft, comforting thing, like the setting sun over the laughing crowds outside. his eyes are once again blue-amber in the firelight, his teeth sharp but human where his lips pull back.

"there you are," he hums, pride and satisfaction louder than the words themselves. caspian laughs full of relief, his eyes wet with unshed tears.

he stands where he was kneeling, and he doesn't fall. he holds out shaking hands and twines them in golden hair. "thank you," he says, even as his shoulders burn under the weight.

peter—the very weave of old narnia, a king of times long past and yet breathing the same air as those that only know him from washed-out carvings and whispered songs—only smiles.

[gabebrodudeman]

"we worship God from a place, not for a place" this quote (I heard in a devotional this morning) goes hard because I don't worship God in the hopes I can earn a place in heaven, I worship him because he promised me a seat in heaven.

Romans 3:20 NLT

[20] For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

Romans 3:23-25 NLT

[23] For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. [24] Yet God, in his grace, freely (Isaiah 55:1)makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. [25] For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

Over and over God tells us the same thing:

"do not be afraid," and "have faith."

Too often in this beautiful weird little app I see too many people getting caught up in the wrong and irrelevant details (Luke 10:38-42, Matthew 11:15).

Luke 10:25-37 NLT

[25] One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” [26] Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” [27] The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself(Proverbs 19:8).’” [28] “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” [29] The man wanted to justify his actions (Genesis 4:9), so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” [30] Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. [31] “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. [32] A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. [33] “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. [34] Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. [35] The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ [36] “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. [37] The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

This. This right here is why Jesus hated the Pharisees so much. Because they couldn't understand this, this important but basic commandment. Compassion (Luke 11:46).

Let me put it this way, a person shouldn't be telling you what you should be doing, but instead Jesus should be speaking to you through that person (Matthew 12:33), this is why Proverbs encourages advice and council but in the same breathe God warns you to be careful of who you take that advice from because people are human and only those who have Christ in them are to be trusted.

[zodiactalks]

Zodiac Signs RANKED from Most to Least rebellious

Some people seem to be happy fitting the mold. They hate to complain and prefer to go under the radar, avoiding making a fuss.

And then, there are these types of characters that live to point out injustices and go against standards. Here are the Zodiac Signs ranked from most to least rebellious.

#1. Aquarius

Aquarius comes to this world to break the mold. They go against the establishment, as their creative mind comes to deliver the future.

They take into account social concerns and are in favor of the most vulnerable.

For this reason, they are the first to break the rules and fight against obsolete traditions.

#2. Aries

Aries treasures independence and freedom. They won’t tolerate anyone going against their urges and impulses.

Therefore, they will fight for their rights and go against the rules if required. They are brave and not afraid to stand up to authority.

#3. Gemini

Gemini is a natural communicator. They live to voice injustices and to move around different spaces to point out what privileged parties are taking advantage of. They are not afraid to tell the truth and explain to everyone the importance of fighting against authority.

#4. Sagittarius

Sagittarius is faithful to only one truth: the one that comes through their experiences and gut feeling. They won’t tolerate others imposing their rules, and will be confident in defending their beliefs. Also, their positive mindset encourages their peers to follow their hearts before blindly accepting authority’s will.

#5. Leo

Leo has a very strong personality. They love to stand out and make themselves notice, which is why they won't adapt to blend in and go unnoticed.If they have to break a few rules to make a point, so be it! They will risk whatever it takes to prevent their brightness from fading.

#6. Scorpio

Scorpio is mysterious and cryptic, but that doesn’t mean they will put up with people imposing conditions on them.

They need to have their environment under control, and will not hesitate to use their power for that matter. Although they are patient and may let some things pass, they unleash their rage when they reach their breaking point.

#7. Cancer

Cancer is more of a private person. If people don’t interfere with their personal life, they probably won’t care about following instructions.

But as soon as they have to sacrifice some of their comforts, they will use their hard shell to defend themselves.

#8. Taurus

Taurus is quiet and very much against conflict. They appreciate a peaceful environment and will do their best not to stir up trouble.

The only time you will see them fighting will be if some rule restricts them from their cushy lifestyle.

If someone forbids them to buy any of their fancy wines or imported cigars, they will be first to generate an uproar.

#9. Libra

The thing about Libra is not that they avoid fighting injustices. It’s just that they hate to disagree with others, or make them feel uncomfortable.

For this reason, they often hide their opinions when most people think differently from them. However, if authority comes to treat a friend or partner badly, their righteous spirit will become the greatest advocate ever seen.

#10. Pisces

Pisces live in their own fantasy world. Sometimes they’re not really aware of what’s going on in the human dimension, as they are more in tune with the spiritual realm.

But without them noticing, their art expressions and healing powers often help others to rebel and fight injustices.

#11. Virgo

Virgo loves doing their job right. They are comfortable fitting into the system and knowing their work is helping the world function properly. They are unlikely to rebel as they are not keen to have their routine and schedule ruined because of it.

Maybe if they are faced with a huge injustice, they will ask someone else to take action.

#12. Capricorn

Capricorn is pretty much the authority, so it’s not very keen on going against it. They love tradition and responsibility, especially when it comes to working. They often see rebellious people as lazy individuals who do not want to make an effort to sustain themselves in this world. They will prefer to stay on the safe side rather than risk losing everything for an act of insubordination.

[nottivaghes]

FULL NAME: Cassandra Rosalind Hawthorne SPECIES: Witch AGE: 39 BIRTHDAY: December 12th GENDER & PRONOUNS: Cis-woman she & her FACECLAIM: Janet Montgomery OCCUPATION: Head Librarian at the James Family Library (Coven Elder in training)

CHARACTER INSPIRATION: Morrigan (Dragon Age Origins), Prince Zuko (ATLA) Rosa Diaz (Brooklynn 99), Yennefer of Vengerberg (The Witcher), Tasha Ozera (The Vampire Diaries), Morgana (Merlin), Claudia (Dragon Prince)

Cassandra makes you think of... black lace laid with tiny pearls, lilac & gooseberry perfume lingering in a hallway, biting your tongue so hard it bleeds, elderberry wine, a frosted over window pane, the scent of old parchment and the leafing of pages, the long night of the winter solstice, eyes rolling back in your head, a silver pendant against a racing pulse, hatred sewn in every line of your brow, warm wild berry pie on samhain morning, chant-casting for so long you lose your voice, walking barefoot into a lake at midnight, feeling so hungry you could devour the world whole.

And it's my whole heart weighed and measured inside, and it's an old scar trying to bleach it out.

The old house up on Hawthorne hill has a folklore all its own. The elements-stained stone statues seem to be weeping in the sprawling garden, ravens sit vigil atop the lilting stone walls behind the vast metal gates. A historic house, fallen somewhat into disrepair, perches atop the hill like a gnarled beast daring human teenagers to wander up its winding path to touch the terrifying brass hobgoblin doorknocker, fangs and serpentine tongue included.

A witch lives there, they say, it's a witches house. Wryly to herself Casssandra thinks: The witch's house. The Hawthornes have been in town as long as anyone can remember, including the first rise and fall of Brant Hacke, they have several relics from the war that are in prized cases in dark woods giving the air of a museum, deep in the bowels of the house that eats you up in its labyrinthine corridors.

The matriarch resides in the West Wing, ground floor, as the stairs are a thing long past for her. Dianthe, a guardian, 96 years old and blind... in the scientific sense. Though Cassandra would swear her grandmother were lying The Hawthornes were said to be descended from the Brahan Seer, there sits a hagstone pendant around Cassandra's neck. Dianthe can see people as clear as day, or what she says are their auras, though she goes tight-lipped when Cassandra asks what hers looks like.

Dianthe never has a kind word to say about her granddaughter and orders her around like a servant.

Unbenkownst to those bar the most unfortunate of intruders upon the house Dianthe is quite paranoid and there are magical and non-magical traps all around. The portraits will snitch on you and doors will jam you inside of rooms, plus the literal pitfalls of the areas where the floorboards have rotted away in spots.

There is a large greenhouse vivarium at the very centre of the house where the family keeps poisonous and venomous animals whilst also growing exotic plants for spells.

The vampires have their version of events and the Hawthornes keep theirs. A huge tome, inset with an eye with a trap set to immolate any vampire it sees. She loathes and is drawn to vampires in equal measure, absolutely fascinated by them as she has been conditioned to respond with disgust. Almost the entire family was decimated during the war aside from two survivors, though local legend reports they made an equally devastating blow to the vampire ranks.

Three days ago in the family crypt, Cassandra discovered books of blood magic, hundreds of years old and kept by her family to this day. Every spell requiring a devastating cost on a sole caster... or a proxy. Then it clicked, that's why the family had been suffering so much in recent years, they'd been doing sacrifices to ensure prosperity and Dianthe was too ill to carry it on without involving other coven members. Or Cassandra. Is that what awaited her in a few short months when she became an elder?

To be burdened with such a curse, even by a guardian who had the secrets of the universe and as such, knew better and were always above reproach.

She couldn't... could she?

And it's my whole heart: deemed and delivered a crime. I'm on trial, waiting 'til the beat comes out.

Cassandra was an only child to a mother who left the Cove to teach History at Oxford, causing a bristling scandal amongst the coven ranks and besmirching the Hawthorne name forever. Cassandra is still paying for this of course. Her father was a very minor noble in England who never had a job or an interest in her but a bottomless wallet in exchange.

Cassandra herself taught History at Crestle Cove High for six years. Age 25-31. Known to be stern and sometimes cold, she had a reputation for being extremely fair.

Raised by her slightly unhinged grandmother in the middle of the woods, her grandfather lived until she was fifteen but all he ever did was read the newspaper and mind his own business or give her a slightly linty toffee candy now and then.

A bit of a revolutionary in the coven, caused some problems by having ideas 15 years ago when she was young and naïve about how things should be done and that tradition sometimes had to evolve. Cassandra has nary spoken up once since.

She isn't actively planning a coup but...

In recent months Cassandra has started dreamwalking. She can't control it at all and it feels akin to sleep paralysis yet as tiring as being awake, she feels as though she never sleeps. All she does is very slowly float on random paths around the town with no direction or pattern in the dark, confirmed when she saw a tourist's car had dented a lamppost during the night and it was damaged in the same way when she walked down there that morning. It's probably just vivid deja vu... deja vu that gives her nosebleeds every time she wakes up.

Who's a heretic, child? Can you make it stick, now?

[jdreamer00]

Zhongli Birthday Questionnaire

Ohk, I am new to this and I never post, but I felt compelled to give this a go (please tell me if I did something wrong)

1. What left the deepest impression on you when you first met him? Was it how he looks, talks, or something else?

Okay, basically, everything? The details of his clothes, his voice, and the topics he talked about—it left a lasting impression on me. By the end of the Jade Merchant part in the Archon Quest, I was already smitten.  I remember waiting to meet him in-game actually. I saw someone's screenshot of the character and immediately thought, 'oh, he's going to be my favourite' which was quite an innocent thought at the time because I never anticipated becoming a simp to a fictional character for the first time in my whole life and now it's been five years of that

2. What do you like most about Zhongli as a character?

That's a tough one!! But what I love the most is his core values and ideas; like his fascination with nature and people. Being a bigass dreamer my whole life and pursuing astrophysics irl, I was used to being usually the one to talk weirdly specific about stuff. I see some of the same energy coming from him, but he's much more stable and less anxious than me I love him

3. What is your favorite Zhongli voice line, and why do you like it?

I love his idle osmanthus wine—yes, that very line. Despite it being somewhat annoying in the English version, to me it highlights Zhongli's character trait of frequently citing ancient poems to express the most specific emotions. Initially, I found this mannerism to be strange and overly complex, especially since I had nonexistent knowledge of the Chinese language and culture. But, I’m beginning to understand it much better now.

You can come back to the past, but there's no one there? Ah. I love it. Both existential and melancholic, yet such a delicate and wonderful emotion.

4. Does Zhongli resonate with something in real life for you? Has he managed to influence your life in some way?

Absolutely! As I mentioned, I have a deep romantic fascination with the world and all the little details in between. Now, whenever I learn a new concept in math or visit a museum or gallery to explore a new exhibition, I can't help but imagine how I would explain it to him in my mind. I find myself gushing about how amazing and real human existence is and feel validated and grounded, knowing there's nothing wrong with me. Also, my first love in this lifetime was geology, lol. Meeting Zhongli felt like reigniting a forgotten memory.

5. What part of Zhongli's design do you love the most? Do you have a favorite outfit?

Zhongli looks stunning in everything, period. But I particularly love his hairstyle, although I'm not sure if that counts? Signature of Teyvat chic: long strands of hair paired with a shorter cut. And the colour of his dark hair?  Sigh, I'm in love with this colour.

6. Zhongli has a lot of lore. What’s your favorite story/feat that he's ever done?

I honestly can't decide. There is undoubtedly a lot to him being the oldest character in the game, but most of what we know comes from the Archon War period. While there are plenty of little stories that show his love for humanity, sacrifices, and friendships, I mostly feel disheartened.

So, I'm going to choose something more light-hearted and pure: his obsession with cubes 🟧 I adore how much joy he derives from them; it’s really cute, and I love cubes as well!

7. If you could give Zhongli a birthday present, what would it be?

Wool scarf! Because his birthday falls in the middle of winter, it only feels right to give him with something warm and fluffy. I have a cream tartan scarf in mind.

8. If Zhongli visited you for a day, where would you take him?

This questionnaire is hard, I swear. Just one day? Hmm... I think I would like to climb a mountain and set up camp there to watch the city at night and drink tea while having a conversation.

9. If you could talk to Zhongli, what’s one thing you’d want to ask him?

I wanted to know if he feels happy now. I just want to hear it from him. And I would also like to hear whether he feels lonely?

Ikik, He has always been surrounded by people in his life, but I can't help but wonder how lonely it must be to be the object of respect and admiration for so long

10. Which of Zhongli’s attacks do you like using the most? How do you prefer to use him in a team? What build do you have him on?

Obviously, this is his shield. The strongest in the game, the skill that carried me and many other players through the game, and the one for which I've collected his C6. I have a hybrid build with a Homa. Classy

[orthodoxadventure]

Eucharistic Living: A Life of Gratitude

The Tradition of the Church describes the Eucharist in many ways. It is "the Lord's Supper" (1 Corinthians 11:20). It is "the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9). It is about communion with God, that we may become sons and daughters of God the Father; that in eating bread and drinking wine set apart and consecrated by the Holy Spirit we are participating in the crucified, risen and glorified Body and Blood of Jesus. It is about fulfilling Old Testament sacrifices: as the Paschal lamb was sacrificed, its blood put on the doorways of faithful Jews hoping for the shadow of death to pass over their household as described in the Book of Exodus, so we put the Body and Blood of Christ, our Paschal lamb, on the doorway of our heart. It is about partaking in what St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 115AD) called "the medicine of immortality," which we, who are sick and dying, need for eternal life. It is about receiving a purifying and divine fire, which burns away our sins.

Ultimately, the Liturgy summarizes the life we are called to live in communion with God and is, among other things, a school for Christian living. Within the liturgy we come to know God, the world, and ourselves, because the liturgy communicates the meaning and purpose of life and helps us to understand and internalize both the tragedy of the human condition as well as the limitless expanse and potential of the new life in Christ offered freely to everyone. It is only when we recognize the rich network of connections between the Eucharist and our daily life can our lives be truly Eucharistic and lived with a grateful heart. Living in a Eucharistic way has everything to do with seeing life as a gift, a gift for which we are forever grateful. What would it be like to live every moment of our lives as a gift -- even those moments that are difficult and painful? It is in seeing our life as a gift -- "from the Giver of all good things" as we say in the Liturgy -- that we acknowledge the Giver of our life, discover the meaning and purpose of our life and then can live accordingly. There should never be a Liturgy that we attend in which we do not come away with this insight for living. There should never be a time in Liturgy when there is not a movement of our heart: from a hardened heart to a grateful heart, from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh, from a heart often filled with resentment or anger or self-righteousness to a heart filled with gratitude, compassion, faith, hope, and love.

[Source of text: The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom (with Commentary and Notes)]

[readerbookclub]

Hello everyone, I finally have a new book list! So sorry this is so late, I've started uni again this month, and things were a bit hectic. Anyway, this theme has been requested for a while, so I hope you enjoy!

As always, please vote for your favourite book using the link at the end of the post :)

Still Life, by Sarah Winman

Tuscany, 1944: As Allied troops advance and bombs fall around deserted villages, a young English soldier, Ulysses Temper, finds himself in the wine cellar of a deserted villa. There, he has a chance encounter with Evelyn Skinner, a middle-aged art historian who has come to Italy to salvage paintings from the ruins and recall long-forgotten memories of her own youth. In each other, Ulysses and Evelyn find a kindred spirit amongst the rubble of war-torn Italy, and set off on a course of events that will shape Ulysses's life for the next four decades.

As Ulysses returns home to London, reimmersing himself in his crew at The Stoat and Parrot -- a motley mix of pub crawlers and eccentrics -- he carries his time in Italy with him. And when an unexpected inheritance brings him back to where it all began, Ulysses knows better than to tempt fate, and returns to the Tuscan hills.

With beautiful prose, extraordinary tenderness, and bursts of humor and light, Still Life is a sweeping portrait of unforgettable individuals who come together to make a family, and a richly drawn celebration of beauty and love in all its forms.

The Bone Maker, Sarah Beth Durst

Twenty-five years ago, five heroes risked their lives to defeat the bone maker Eklor—a corrupt magician who created an inhuman army using animal bones. But victory came at a tragic price. Only four of the heroes survived. 

Since then, Kreya, the group’s leader, has exiled herself to a remote tower and devoted herself to one purpose: resurrecting her dead husband. But such a task requires both a cache of human bones and a sacrifice—for each day he lives, she will live one less.

She’d rather live one year with her husband than a hundred without him, but using human bones for magic is illegal in Vos. The dead are burned—as are any bone workers who violate the law. Yet Kreya knows where she can find the bones she needs: the battlefield where her husband and countless others lost their lives.

But defying the laws of the land exposes a terrible possibility. Maybe the dead don’t rest in peace after all.  

Five warriors—one broken, one gone soft, one pursuing a simple life, one stuck in the past, and one who should be dead. Their story should have been finished. But evil doesn’t stop just because someone once said, “the end.”

In the Lives of Puppets, by T. J. Klune

In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots--fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They're a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled "HAP," he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio-a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio's former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic's assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

Author TJ Klune invites you deep into the heart of a peculiar forest and on the extraordinary journey of a family assembled from spare parts.

Empress of Forever, by Max Gladstone

A feminist Guardians of the Galaxy—a smart, swashbuckling, wildly imaginative adventure of a rag-tag team of brilliant misfits, dangerous renegades, and enhanced outlaws in a war-torn future.

A wildly successful innovator to rival Steve Jobs or Elon Musk, Vivian Liao is prone to radical thinking, quick decision-making, and reckless action. On the eve of her greatest achievement, she's trying to outrun those who are trying to steal her success.

In the chilly darkness of a Boston server farm, Viv sets her ultimate plan into motion. A terrifying instant later, Vivian Liao is catapulted through space and time to a far future where she confronts a destiny stranger and more deadly than she could ever imagine.

The end of time is ruled by an ancient, powerful Empress who blesses or blasts entire planets with a single thought. Rebellion is literally impossible to consider--until Vivian arrives. Trapped between the Pride, a ravening horde of sentient machines, and a fanatical sect of warrior monks who call themselves the Mirrorfaith, Viv must rally a strange group of allies to confront the Empress and find a way back to the world and life she left behind.

A magnificent work of vivid imagination and universe-spanning action, Empress of Forever is a feminist Guardians of the Galaxy crossed with Star Wars and spiced with the sensibility and spirit of Iain M. Banks and William Gibson.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family--and a new love--changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and...Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for....

Please vote using this link.

[barbieavi]

poppy + domain / hedonism.

hedonism, while typically associated with sex, is the overarching pursuit of self - indulgence and associated with the philosophical idea that pleasure is the highest good and aim of human existence. presiding over hedonism, it is essentially poppy's domain to offer humans their deepest desires from a neutral standpoint.

poppy does not, has not and will not influence people into wanting things. it's not her m.o. what she does do, however, is support and encourage people to confront and pursue these desires. sex, money, power, glory. generally, she will not assist directly with these goals so much as influence those she interacts heavily with to achieve them.* she does not accept blame for any losses or failures they incur in their pursuits - nor does she accept any credit for their successes, though a little gratitude is always nice.

it is not uncommon for her encouragement to go awry, for someone to realize that they need to sacrifice to gain and turn the blame and pain of their losses into her fault. she will accept someone acting out only once - she understands the difficulty and fragility of human emotions. anything past that and the offending party is cut off from her entirely, desire itself taken from their soul, leaving them often listless until she decides ( or remembers ) to give it back.

*which leads me into a related point -

poppy + deals and summoning.

poppy santos is a god you can touch. she exists nearly everywhere. as soon as desire sparks in your heart, a piece of her is there and it now becomes a matter of connecting with her. offerings are a nice, quick, easy way to get her attention and giving one is as simple as setting it on an altar, pouring one out or simply claiming it in her name. doing your research and using something like sigils or symbols related to her.

her preferred offerings include, but are not limited to: wine, vodka, burning candles in her associated colors, jewelry ( particularly gold or pearls ), seashells / sea glass / anything ocean related, dark chocolate, olive oil, make up or perfumes, food, flowers or blood ( especially if it's your own ).

non - material offerings include, but are not limited to: meditation, dancing, reading/writing poetry about her, orgasms, caring for rabbits.

you can cut a deal with her for plenty of things, though she works best for baneful magick, beauty or love magick, fertility magick or money magick. she won't ask for your soul, it's really of no use to her. all she asks is for a little respect and maybe to make a meal of your energy.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Devotional Hours Within the Bible by J.R. Miller

A Multitude Converted (Acts 2:32-47)

Everyone had a theory of the strange things that had happened. Some accepted the events as divine manifestations. Some mocked and ridiculed. Some said the disciples had been drinking wine too freely. Peter spoke to the throng and explained the meaning of the wonderful event. He brushed away the thought that the disciples were drunken, by reminding them of the early hour. He suggested the importance of the matter by saying it was something an old prophet had foretold, and then declared that it was the work of the Messiah.

Jesus had been crucified and had risen, and “he has poured forth this, which you see and hear.” Jesus told His disciples it was better that He should go away, for if He did not go away, the Comforter would not come; but if He departed He would send Him unto them. It seemed strange to the disciples that anything could be better to them than the staying with them of their Master. But now, when the promise had been fulfilled, they began to understand it.

If Jesus had stayed on the earth with His disciples, not going to His cross, there would have been no atonement, no Lamb of God bearing the sin of the world. There would have been no resurrection with its glorious victory over the last enemy. There would have been no intercessor in heaven pleading for struggling souls in this world and offering evermore the blood of His own sacrifice for sin. There would have been no Holy Spirit coming to stay with believers and to live in the heart of every Christian. Pentecost made it plain, that it was indeed better that Jesus should go away.

In the plainest, clearest way, Peter declared the full, glorious meaning of the events of the past seven weeks connected with Jesus Christ. “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God has made him both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified.” The Jews had killed their Messiah! This would seem to be the defeating of God’s purpose of redemption. Yet that was not the end. Though the Son of God was dead, God’s plan of love for the world could not fail. Jesus was raised up and exalted to be Lord and Christ. The Jewish people had missed their chance, had lost their Messiah but Jesus was still the Messiah for all the world. God’s purpose was not allowed to fail. The blood shed upon the cross by the rejecters of Christ, became the very blood of eternal redemption. The love of God is greater than human sin.

Peter’s words went to the hearts of the men to whom he was speaking. The Holy Spirit gave divine power to the words. “When they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts!” It was as if their hearts had been pierced with sharp iron. Their souls were filled with remorse. They saw now what they had done. God had sent His Son to be their Messiah, and although they had been looking and praying for the Messiah yet they had killed Him! No wonder they felt the power of remorse. Jesus comes to each one of us now personally, as He came to the Jews. If we reject Him as our personal Savior we crucify Him afresh. What have we been doing with Jesus since we first heard His Name? People sometimes say they are not great sinners; they have done nothing very bad. They forget that the greatest of all sins is unbelief, and the rejection of Jesus Christ as Redeemer and Lord.

The people asked in their great distress, “What shall we do?” They saw their sin and cried out to know what they must do to be saved. Could they undo the terrible crime they had committed in crucifying their Messiah? They were in sore perplexity, and they did just what they ought to have done they asked Christ’s apostles to tell them what they should do. If we have been rejecting Christ, we should ask the same question. We cannot change our past; we cannot undo our rejection.

A soldier lay dying in a hospital. A chaplain was passing through the ward, and seeing the dying man, knelt beside him and asked him, “Can I do anything for you?” The soldier opened his eyes and looked up with despair in his face, and cried, “Oh, sir, can you u ndo?” They followed a sad confession of a wasted life. The young man had not only ruined his own life but had also been a tempter to many others. “Oh. Sir, can you un do these things for me?” he cried again. No! there is no possible undoing. What is done cannot be undone. But although the past be wasted, the future remains. God is ever giving us another opportunity to be saved. We shall see in Peter’s answer, what we must do.

Peter put his answer in a few plain, clear words, “Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus.” There was still a way of salvation, though they had so dealt with their Messiah. Repentance was the first step. What is repentance? It is more than dropping a few tears over a wrong life. The wrong must be given up, turned away from, forsaken forever. There must be a change of mind, and that change of mind must show itself in the conduct.

A little way outside of Dayton, a young man met an old gentleman one day and asked him, “How far is it to Dayton?” “Twenty-five thousand miles,” was the answer, “if you keep on as you are going now. But it is a quarter of a mile if you turn square about.” If an impenitent sinner, facing away from God, asks how far it is to heaven, the answer is “Millions and millions of miles, if you go on this way; just two steps if you turn right about.” We never can be saved if we keep our sins. We must repent. Baptism implied that the penitents had received Jesus Christ as their Savior and accepted Him as their Lord. If we would be saved we must do the same give up our sins and receive Christ.

The penitents were baptized unto the remission of their sins. It is sin that is the trouble. Our sins have destroyed us. But there is one way of being saved from our sins. It is through Jesus Christ. Remission is more than mere forgiveness. It means sending away, dismissing forever. This tells in a word what God does when we come to Christ. Merely to remit the penalty would be a poor blessing. In our heart the old sin still would live, with all its old power. The only way really to be freed from our sins is to have the sins themselves cleansed out of our life.

God’s forgiveness is complete; He remembers our sins against us no more, forever. Then He sends His Spirit to live in us. He breaks sin’s power and gives us a new master. Christ says, “Take my yoke upon you.” The final result is the lifting of the life up to glory. One summer day the sun found some foul, stagnant water lying in a gutter. It lifted it up and the winds bore it on their wings through the air, and on a mountain top, far off, it settled down again upon the earth, no more foul and stagnant but cleansed and pure now, white, spotless snow, as radiant as an angel’s garment. So Christ takes souls stained and defiled by sin, lifts them out of the foul corruption of earth, and brings them at last to the mountains of glory, whiter than snow.

Peter assured the penitent people before him, that they need not despair. There was hope for them. “To you is the promise, and to your children,” he told them. Although the Jewish people had crucified Christ, the offer of salvation was still made to them. Even hands, which had been stained with blood of the Messiah, were washed white in the very blood, which they themselves had shed!

The gospel was not for the Jews only but for all the world; it was for “all that are afar off.” The circle widens out, as when a stone is dropped in the center of a lake and little waves roll in circles wider and wider, until they splash on all the shores, even out on the farthest bays and creeks. The promise was given first to the company that stood there and heard Peter, and then it reached out until it came to those who were afar off the farthest off in space, living at the ends of the earth; the farthest off in time, down to the end of the world; the farthest off in character, the worst and the guiltiest.

Those early followers of Christ “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching.” Continuance and steadfastness are essential. It is not enough to begin a Christian life; one persevere unto the end, through all discouragement, through all temptation, through all trial, faithful unto death. These first believers kept themselves in the school of Christ, coming continually to the meetings to receive instruction from the apostles.

The Christian life must always be a growing life. There must be growth in knowledge. Young Christians will never grow, however if they feed only upon trashy novels and newspapers. They must get the apostles’ teaching, God’s good bread for souls. They kept themselves also in the fellowship of the apostles. We would say they attached themselves to the Church and made Christian people their friends. They went regularly to the communion breaking of bread. There were faithful in attending the meetings for prayer. Thus they took up the new life with great earnestness and faithfulness.

At once love awoke in their hearts for fellow Christians. Some of these were poor, and those who were rich shared their plenty with them. “They sold their possessions … and parted them to all, according as any man had need.” That is, they were large-hearted and generous. They gave to Christ not only themselves but all that they had. They understood that the strong must help the weak, that the rich must help the poor. They lived together as one family. Whatever there was exceptional about the condition of things in the early Church, the principle is always the same. Those who have blessings, must share them with those who lack. Those who are strong, must help those who are weak. Those who have abundance, must share their plenty with those who are in want.

The result of such beautiful Christian living was that they greatly increased. “The Lord added to them day by day.” This is the way a church should grow. The Lord added those who were added; only the Lord can truly add souls to His Church. Men’s converts do not amount to anything, if that is all they are. There is no use in our urging people to join the Church, until they are first joined to Christ and have been renewed by His grace. We might as well tie green branches to a bare pole, and think we have a living tree. It is interesting, also, to notice that the Lord added “day by day.” Converts were not made merely at communion seasons or at revival times; day by day men came to Christ and took His as their Master. In every true, living church there should be continuous revival.

[tex-treasure-chamber]

Musings On Writing Alexander Anderson x Santana Sangreal: Symbolism & Imagery Regarding Eye Colour

Symbols and Imagrey Santana Uses Regarding Anderson's Eyes

Uncharted/Wild Rainforest/Jungle: it's the first thing Santana thinks of when she sees them, given she was born in the heart of Mexico and grew up surrounded by thick, untamed rainforests. Green is the colour of the home she once had, that she can no longer return to outside her memories.

She grew up forbidden from playing in them, knowing they were dangerous, but venturing in them anyway just to feel the rush of the wind between the trees speaking in ancient tongues she only half-understood.

He IS dangerous; vivid and brilliant and mysterious to her, definitely forbidden- but ultimately dangerous. Of course she wants to rush headlong into him, to learn his language. To see if she can understand him. To disappear in him and never re-emerge.

His eyes are always guarded by his glasses, his stoicism, his stubborn determination to be unknowable, unreachable. He keeps his thoughts so hidden she could spend hours carefully treading, searching, navigating the underbrush of his mind. Every conversation with him is an exploration. Every glimpse a thrilling view into the unknown and discoverable.

Jade: given it's considered a precious stone to the cultures surrounding pre-colonial Mexico.

It was only reserved for carving the visage of the gods and for royalty (and even the royalty were limited on when it was appropriate to wear it) and thus jade is something she grew up adoring in her tiny village, seeing only glimpses of it when visiting bigger cities and the temples there.

Alexander's eyes, jade green, remind her of the very thing she was always denied when she was still human- a sense of power, a sense of rarity. Of value. Village girls like her only ever had one purpose and she reviled it in her youth. Rebelled against it. Hid from it. No amount of offered jade could make her change her mind, settle down, be chained to someone forever.

But when Anderson looks at her, truly looks at her, she feels it- feels that sense of wonder and power, of humility and excitement that jade always demanded from her and her people. They're eyes to sacrifice herself for. Eyes to worship.

Garden of Eden: Lastly, I'm fond of Santana thinking of Anderson's eyes as glimpses into the Garden of Eden- paradise on earth, a place of promise, of potential, of leisure, of holy splendour.

Nature untouched; Anderson's love for her is a form of Eden, where nothing else matters when they're together. Pure. Unblemished.

His eyes are a place to get away from the world even as they are both stuck in it. Through him and his love for her she believes that salvation is achievable even to a damned creature like her. If God will not forgive her for what she is, then at least Alexander does and that is all she could ever hope for, pray for.

Symbols and Imagrey Anderson Uses Regarding Santana's Eyes

Eucharist wine: Holy wine to drink to absolve you of your sins, a stand-in symbol for the Blood of Christ freely spilled because of His love. Sacred, forgiving. Free to drink, but difficult to swallow if you struggle with your sins, if you struggle with your self worth.

For a man as self-loathing, as self-critical as Anderson, Santana's eyes are a reminder that he is not above love's reach- that he is worthy of love.

It is difficult for him to look her in the eyes and see that truth; but it's there all the same, waiting. Her wine coloured eyes intoxicate him just enough for him to let go of his depressing, negative self-image and believe that he is more than just a holy solider, more than just a weapon, more than just a servant.

He is a man. Just a man. And he is loved. So very loved.

Roses: His favourite flower, always has been since he was a wee lad.

Such elegant, alluring, coy things, with their soft petals, their heady aroma, their vicious prickle vines ready to slice you if you mishandle them. So very Santana.

It doesn't help that Santana has a rose on her crucifix. Doesn't help that she often smells of roses. Doesn't help that her eyes are so very dark red, her lips as soft as two petals. She is every soft, fragrant rose he has ever longed to pluck, to press to his nose, to hide away from the world and admire.

Rubies: it is written, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." (Proverbs 31:10)

It is also written, "She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her." (Proverbs 3:15) the second verse is referring to Wisdom personified as a woman, and that is Santana. These two verses often surface when he looks into Santana's eyes- like two rubies, dark and rich and radiant in the sun. She is a virtuous creature, as virtuous as a vampire can be and he's constantly thrown by her choice to stay moral, to curb her appetite.

Alexander knows she's ancient; not by the way she so easily steps into the sun or the power she demonstrates but the grace she carries in her heart, her ability to forgive and exercise mercy, her wisdom in knowing when something is truly worth fighting for.

The Fruit of The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil: Catholicism (and other Western Christian denominations) has long since used the apple as the stand-in symbol for this forbidden fruit. Alexander Anderson knows that the real fruit has never truly been identified, but he's sure it is the same hue as Santana's eyes. Her eyes were what drew him in initially- such a dark red, almost easy to mistake for brown.... almost. His first glimpse at the forbidden fruit was getting close enough to notice.

Alexander had only ever been told his life- from his youth in a Scottish orphanage to his position as head slayer for Iscariot, he's only ever been told what to do, where to go, what to say, how to fight, and when to shut up.

From the moment Alexander met Santana and they exchanged heated philosophical debates during battle, he knew she would be trouble for him. She asked questions he had never been asked. Demanded answers he had never thought of before. She was a threat to the stability of everything he had ever known.

Yet he sought her out relentlessly, drawn in by her emotional strength, her physical strength, her wit, her resilience, her unspoken testimony of everything she tried to tell him, everything he deliberately ignored to remain in his blissful, willful ignorance.

Slowly, however, he noticed himself catching himself in thinking in ways that aligned with her own. He began to wonder about himself, about the nature of vampires, the nature of humanity, the nature of God---

----for what God would truly allow vampires and the like to exist, if they posed such danger to humanity? What God would do that with a smile? If there are vampires like Santana who willfully abstain from hurting humans as much as possible, is that not a reflection of agency, the divine right to choose, the very thing that God sent Christ to defend?----

Before he knew it, he had taken his first bite, swallowed, and craved more.

When he realised he felt attracted to her, he knew he could never return to Iscariot. By the time he realised he was in love with her, he knew he no longer wanted to. Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, yes, but it was largely in part because the Garden had grown too small, too confining--- the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil had opened their eyes. Had made them too aware of their own potential to stay.

Santana is his forbidden fruit- his path out to forge his own future, one with her by his side, to create their own special Eden together.