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vro0m · 1 year ago

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vro0m's rewatch - 186/332

2016 Mexican GP

Hello, it's Mexico!

The championship can end here, if Nico wins and Lewis finishes 10th or worse. We all know it didn't happen but well, with the reliability issues Lewis had, it wasn’t impossible. It looks cold. All the drivers are bundled up for the driver parade.

Lewis was ahead all weekend but during the last lap of quali things seemed closer all of a sudden. They emphasise Nico's good lap so much that I thought he was on pole until I saw the grid summary, and he's not. It's Lewis ahead, by 0.254 so not even that close by that year's standards. Then Max, ahead of Daniel, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen ahead of Seb, Valtteri ahead of Massa, and Sainz.

Somehow Nico speaks in Spanish to the crowd. How many languages does he know? It's impressive.

Okay well the build up was very uninteresting. Let's race.

Formation lap.

And they're racing!

Nico gets a better start than Lewis but Lewis gets there eventually and stays ahead. Hulkenberg is alongside Max before the first corner and LEWIS LOCKS UP! He goes wide and cuts the second corner through the grass. Max pushes Nico wide in the meantime. It's messy but Max lets him back ahead. AND THERE'S CONTACT AT THE BACK! It's Ocon and Ericsson. Lewis kept the advantage he got cutting the corner and I'm not sure that's gonna go down well with the stewards, but if there's a safety car anyway they'll bunch back up. Yellow flags. Brundle has the same questions about what he calls "Lewis' little adventure" and thinks it might be sensible to slow down a bit. Someone else cuts a corner. And it's a VSC, so it won't help the gaps. Seb has a puncture, he says. Yeah we can see his front right wobbling? The VSC is for Wehrlein so I guess it wasn't Ericsson and Ocon. The Mercs guys are waiting for a car in the pits? Neither driver comes in. Ricciardo does, they're getting rid of the supersofts, and weirdly Seb stays out. Palmer pits as well but who cares. And Ericsson. And now it's an actual safety car. Nico and Max are under investigation. It seems Nico is only ahead of Max because he went across the grass but well. He was pushed wide by him so? Idk. After a few replays Brundle does point out Max "gave him a shove" and maybe it's not as clear cut as they made it out to be until now. The safety car is coming in. Lewis asks how the vibration is. Bono says they're not "super concerned" with it and it's more about whether he can live with it. Lewis says it's gonna be hard and that there's a 100-degree difference between the two brakes. After the restart, Sainz says his gearbox is failing. Lewis is getting away nicely. The stewards still haven't made a decision about the Nico v. Max incident but it might be made redundant very soon because Max is only 0.7 behind him anyway and might overtake him before they figure it out. 0.4. And it's no further action. Daniel is making his way through the field after his stop.

It's lap 10 out of 71. Lewis, Nico +3.0, Max +1.0, Hulkenberg +1.9, Raikkonen +1.4, Massa +2.4, Seb +0.6, Valtteri +1.7, Perez +0.5, and Sainz +4.6. Now there's two open investigations : one for the start collision between Ericsson, Wehrlein and Gutierrez and one for a different collision between Alonso and Sainz. Verstappen pits. Sainz, Magnussen, Gutierrez follow for the midfield. Seb is battling Massa for P5 desperately. No further action for the lap 1 collision. Seb complains that Massa is ruining his own (Massa's) race by not letting him pass which is a bit insane. There's a train forming behind him but like. It's not his fucking problem you know? Hulkenberg pits, as does Massa which solves Seb's problem I guess. Sainz gets a 5 second time penalty for forcing Alonso off track. Alonso is told to push now and he doesn't like it. "Yes I am pushing. I am pushing from lap one. But we are driving for 15 laps with a car that should not be in the race. So do your job, I’m doing mine." The Merc mechanics are out again and Lewis comes in. Excellent 2.1 stop. Out in 4th on the mediums. Ted says RedBull thinks they have Nico covered with Daniel on P7 having pitted already but Nico is still faster at that point. On the other hand, Max in P8 is faster than Daniel on his tyre so the journalists think they should swap them. Ricciardo is told he needs to overtake the two next cars quickly, "we are fighting each other" the engineer says.

It's lap 20. Nico currently in the lead before his stop, Raikkonen +8.2, Seb +5.1, Lewis +1.7, Perez +8.2, Daniel now in P6 +0.4 so about to be P4 and 23.9 seconds behind Nico, then Max +0.9, Hulkenberg +7.0, Massa +11.1, and Valtteri +1.4. Nico pits! 2.2. Raikkonen in as well. Nico is ahead of the RedBulls, not by much it seems. Max is half a second behind his team-mate. Max is on radio, complaining. He is on fresher tyres. They swap. Nico is told they only did half the flap adjust so he has more front wing than planned. Weird. The Williams also swap, with Valtteri getting ahead. Nico is told Max is pushing hard now. He asks if he's doing it because he's gonna stop again. He's told he's trying to put him under pressure. Lewis says his tyres don't feel that great. Seb finally pits after 29 laps. Oh no he doesn't? He stayed out while they were waiting for him.

And like that it's lap 30. So Seb still in the lead, Lewis +3.7, Nico +4.9, Max +2.5, Ricciardo +2.8, Raikkonen +6.2, Hulkenberg +6.5, Valtteri +10.9, Massa +4.5, and Perez +0.6. They call Seb again and this time he pits. Lewis is back in the lead. Seb out in P6. Max is told to keep it clean behind Nico probably because he needs to make the tyre last. He's about 1.5 away but now Nico is getting some space. Daniel is told to keep up the pace because it's getting cloudy and they don't want the tyre to cool down too much.

Lap 40, Lewis, Nico +4.2, Max +1.2, Daniel +4.7, Raikkonen +5.0, Seb +1.8, Hulkenberg +10.4, Valtteri +12.8, Massa +7.5, and Perez +0.4, still. Lewis is told as well the track temperature is dropping so everyone is being told to bring the pace up. Nico is closing on Lewis now, setting fastest laps. Bono warns Lewis there's 8 traffic cars coming up. Seb is closing on Raikkonen as well and he's evidently on much fresher tyres. Raikkonen is called to box. Now we get to the moment where we figure who's on two stops and who's on one. Seb asks if they're sure the others are trying to go to the end, in particular the RedBulls. He's told Ricciardo is trying to go to the end so he should keep trying. Max is less than a second behind Nico now as they hit traffic as well. Ricciardo says the left rear looks like it's taken a hit.

Lap 50. Nico locks up and Max is attacking. And he overtakes him but brakes too late and goes wide! Brings the gap back to 2 and something seconds. And Ricciardo pits, so he didn't make it to the end after all. Alright so. Lewis, Nico +6.5, Max +2.6, Seb +5.6, Hulkenberg +17.7, and we move to a replay so I don't know the rest. Ricciardo +0.4, Raikkonen +2.8, Valtteri +12.4, Massa +8.9, and Grosjean pits so I don't know who's P10. I wonder if the lead can really stay out for 20 more laps on their current tyres. Seems unlikely in Mexico.

Max has hit some debris with his floor, he says. Daniel overtakes Hulkenberg easily. Perez is still stuck half a second behind Massa btw. It's been like 30 laps. 5 second time penalty to Kvyat for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. He's like P17 so who cares.

And it's lap 60. This is so long. Lewis, Nico +7.4, Max +3.4, Seb +4.5, Daniel +10.4, Hulkenberg +14.3, Raikkonen +0.7, Valtteri +14.7, Massa +10.1, and Perez +1.7. Max is warned Seb is coming for him. The gap is down to 2.6. The gap to Lewis is increasing on the other hand. 1.4 to Max. Ricciardo is told he’ll catch them as well at his current pace. 0.9 to Max. Raikkonen overtakes Hulkenberg for P6 BUT THEY TOUCH AND HULKENBERG SPINS! Right in the middle of the track! Two backmarkers have to swerve to avoid him. He manages to go again. 4 laps to go. Meanwhile Seb is just 0.2 seconds away from Max who locks up! HE GOES WIDE AND STILL REJOINS AHEAD OF SEB that seems illegal. Remember it's for P3 as well. The gap is 0.3 he's still defending. Daniel is right behind them as well! Max is told to give the position to Seb by GP. He's not doing it. Seb is whining. "Hey he has to let me go. He had to let me go." – "Okay copy stay calm," he's told. That's Max, Seb +0.6, and Daniel +1.0 down the straight. 3 laps to go. No words from the stewards still. Arrivabene is losing it on the pit wall, in a very Italian manner. LOTS of hands. Max, Seb +0.6, Daniel +0.5. It could get messy. Seb is very angry. "Move! Move for fuck sake! He's a (censored) that's what he is." 2 laps to go. OH MY GOD WHAT. WHAT. WHAT. The stewards are gonna investigate AFTER THE RACE?! ARE YOU JOKING??????????? ARE YOU? WHAT?! Oh I can't believe this what the absolute fuck. This is so stupid. Seb is attacking now. 0.2, and 0.4 to Ricciardo. Seb is still on radio while the gaps go 0.5 and 0.1. "I mean am I the only one or are you not seeing what I’m seeing? He’s just backing me off into Ricciardo!" Daniel attacks and locks up heavily it's a messy move. Seb stays ahead. Max gets some air in the process, he's 1.6 seconds away now. They touched btw. This is ugly for real. The gaps are 1.8 and 1.4 now. Final lap. Daniel is losing a lot of time with his flat spot now. 2.7 in a few corners' span.

And it's the end of the race!

Lewis wins in a Mercedes 1-2.

To Seb : "Charlie said that… Charlie said…" He interrupts : "Yeah?! You know what? Here's a message to Charlie : FUCK OFF. Honestly FUCK OFF." He's gonna get a penalty himself for that I bet. You can't insult Charlie on air lol. Although I get it truly I do. Oh and they're investigating the Ricciardo - Vettel moment as well. Seb still gives a thumb up to Lewis as he goes past him.

We see a replay of Max celebrating like he's won the race after crossing the line. Bro. You're not keeping that P3, I'm telling you. Although I guess they did look the other way with the Mercs. They're making hand gestures at each other with Seb, who was going "no no" with his finger beside him.

Bop!

And now we hear Max got a 5 second time penalty which means Seb is really P3 and probably Ricciardo P4 and why did they wait just for the end of the race to say it, it's so stupid. Is he really gonna step on the podium after this? It's absurd. Max is in the cool down room. Oh lol. The top three park in one place and all the others are back in the Parc fermé area. So we have a double screen of Max waiting in the cool down room hands on the hips and Seb running around the paddock with his helmet still on to get there.

Max is FURIOUS. He shakes his head. He's asked to leave.

The Merc boys are utterly clueless. They're chatting very nicely with one another btw which is weird in itself. Max grabs his helmet and says a word as he's about to leave and then stops to explain the situation in the face of their confusion.

It's insane. Seb is walking across the track absolutely engulfed in Ferrari personnel and journalists. HE'S UNDER THE PODIUM? Like with the spectators' crowd?! Jesus. The Merc boys are still in the cool down room waiting, still confused.

Seb has made it in the crowd in the meantime he's now running along the stands. Arrivabene and Toto are laughing together. And there you go Seb makes it to the cool down room. Out of breath. Greeted by Nico's smile. He's still outraged as he explains to Nico what happened.

Lewis says like he says everywhere that this is the best crowd. Seb says surely people understand why he got annoyed with the adrenaline pumping as well. He's calm and smiling now, for sure. He says he was very disappointed when he crossed the line and now he's on the podium. Finally Lewis says Nico is doing a good job getting the results he needs to stay ahead in the championship and he's grateful for the team's good job.

But Ricciardo thinks Seb was moving under braking and that's why they had an issue at the end. He also thinks Lewis deserved a penalty for what happened at the start which is not completely wrong but like. Why are you throwing punches at him lol. You weren't gonna win dude. Anyway he says what Seb did was about what Max's has been getting heat for lately so he's just throwing everyone and their mother under the bus it seems.

Apparently Seb also said on radio he was about to hit someone. Which meh. Not a great look tbh. (Checked the radio transcripts : "I mean honestly I think I’m going to hit someone" was the message but then he also said that he thought he had a puncture and you might argue it was about a collision but honestly I don't think it was and I don't think Seb denied it on that podium.)

We're getting replays. The Max thing is pretty clear cut to the point I don't know why they waited to hand him the penalty. I think they just wanted to keep them fighting to the end for show honestly. Basically he went wide after his lockup and instead of using the tarmac to go right and get back on track he decided to go straight across the grass to the next corner and keep his advantage. Easy.

The thing with Daniel is trickier I think because Seb also claimed Max brake tested him. Mmmh I guess I can see Daniel's point. He did move under braking. Di Resta argues Lewis' thing was different to Max's because there was no one side by side with him. (Also there was a safety car shortly after which meant that any advantage he might have gained was nullified anyway.)

In his interview Max argues both Lewis and Nico went off and gained an advantage and nothing happened to them so he thinks it's ridiculous. He's asked whether he was backing Seb up into Daniel like Seb claimed and he says he wasn't, "I was just doing the best I can". When asked about the fact that Nico got no penalty for their contact, he shrugs. If Nico doesn't get a penalty then just don't give himself a penalty. OH MY GOD. OHHHH MY GOD.

Wait I need a second. He's so cocky it's unbelievable, I'm having so much fun.

The journalist says Daniel said Seb moved under braking which Max has been accused of a lot. "I think at least I can do it in a good way," he says. "He doesn't know how to do it. Because it's ridiculous what he did. I mean Daniel is alongside him and he just turned into him they touched, and then he starts shouting on the radio you know I don't know how many times he's using very bad language in general (bro the fact he's saying this now is so funny like he's polite himself please) so I think he has to go back to school or something to get some language."

I am DYING I swear this is hilarious.

So now we're talking about stewards' consistency.

Simon says they thought Seb was avoiding the media pen interviews but actually he went to the normal post race interview then straight to Charlie to apologise. We get a bit of the post race interview in which Seb is asked whether he could clarify what he called Max because it was censored. Seb chuckles and says no he won't answer.

Oh ho. Yeah. Now we hear Seb might be in huge trouble, according to Ted, Jean Todt was watching and he's not happy.

Seb has a cheeky smile in the media pen. He says he had reasons to be angry. He's happy about his race all in all. He's asked if he might get a disrepute charge. He says he went immediately to see him and he doesn't understand why they (the journalists) are making a fuss and asking this question. He says it wasn't the right thing to say for sure, but in his defence, emotions and adrenaline are pumping high (which might explain also why he so wholeheartedly defended Lewis that one time btw) "so I don't understand why you're trying to push me in a corner".

He says again out of respect he went to him, told him what he'd done and that's it. She asks what Charlie told him. "That's none of your business," he says with the same smile.

We move on to Daniel's griefs. Seb says Daniel also told him after the race he moved under braking. He says he wants to look at it again. He says he was fighting very hard. He shrugs a lot, makes faces that say "eh". He says he has to leave him enough room and he thinks he did. He says he knows Daniel in this regard sometimes… Dry chuckle. Is sometimes optimistic going for a gap. He then says Mark instead of Max which is objectively hilarious, saying he brake tested him (I didn't see that happen btw I don't know when he supposedly did that.) He says he was angry about Max not giving the place back etc. He's told Max wasn't told to give the place back, he just got that penalty after the race. He furrows his brows. He says he was told Max was told to give the place back. She says the team suggested it to him but the FIA penalty didn't come until after. He shrugs. "I don't know that, how can I know that? So."

Oh god. Then it's Nico and he's asked a question but he's looking over the journalist's shoulder at a screen we can't see. "Aaahhh how did he get away with that?" he says exaggeratedly. He chuckles. "You're watching the start, you're watching Lewis go off the grass," the journalist says and as she asks if he thinks he should have gotten a penalty he hurriedly says "no no no". "Definitely not," he adds extremely seriously. "Please do not put words into my mouth, that was not– that was not very fair of you." (Wow they're all mad at the journalist that day lol) He says Lewis went into the corner first and out the corner first and that's okay. He calls the race quite eventful, Lewis was quicker so he deserved the win and second place was all he could do. She says he got a little bump from Max. "Little ?" he says again exaggeratedly, "It was a quite big thump and I thought might car would have been falling into bits so I'm quite pleased that my car held on." He says Max locked up and ran him off the road so obviously it was too much but he managed to stay in front. Bla bla the team is great etc. He still takes it one race at a time bla bla bla.

Anyway, back to our subject. Lewis is now second on the list of drivers with most wins in F1. But if Nico wins in Brazil, it's over. Lewis gets there for his interview directly with Simon and Johnny rather than the media pen for some reason. He's again surrounded by a crowd of fans and he seems not to like it too much which is fully understandable given how intrusive they are being.

Simon says he controlled that race from start to finish and Lewis says "from the grass to the finish yeah". They laugh. Simon asks if he's relieved it didn't go to the stewards seeing what happened to Max. He says he didn't even think about it, he was more concerned with his flatspot that was "rattling his brain" for 17 laps. He says he couldn't see the braking zones. The vibration was so hard he worried his suspension might fail.

Johnny says his performances in the last two races especially were great, like he's in a special place. He says it has gone really well and gets a bit of a shy smile.

He wished they all had gone as well as these two. But it's never too late, he says. History has shown it's never too late. He says he'll race with every ounce, every vessel, every bit of energy and heart that he has.

They rewatch his start as he comments it. He says what's great is he didn't even have to push, he was pulling away easily, he had such good pace. Johnny says that's worrying for the others that there's more in the bag. Lewis smiles. He's so soft that day. He says definitely, if he had to push it would have been more and that's a real positive.

Simon says after the US GP Lewis said he was worried the whole time about having another reliability issue. Lewis says it was the same here, everytime he touched a kerb, but more so the engine. He says the straight is so long you spend so long on the gas "you just hope the thing just keeps pulling". The engine was fantastic that weekend, the whole car, the team did an incredible job etc.

Simon says if Nico wins in Brazil it's over for the championship and asks how much it factors in Lewis' game plan, also given that at this point Lewis has never won in Brazil. Simon says he's sure it's a good time to start. "It's a very good time to start," Lewis agrees. He says it's the plan and he's gonna give it everything he's got and as long as he knows he gave it everything he's got when he crosses the line in Abu Dhabi he'll be proud of his performance.

Simon asks if he's aware of what happened between Seb and Max. He says he had some time to look at the screens on track as he went lol. He laughs. "It's kind of unusual but…" So he saw some things going on but he only got glimpses. Johnny says "I think all we can say is go and have a look, it was awesome!" Simon says Seb was "swearing like a dog". Lewis nods in a way that says "really? wow."

As soon as he turns around to leave all the fans gathered around flock to him.

And well we don't hear about it in the broadcast but in the end Seb got a 10 sec time penalty for his move on Daniel and 2 penalty points on his licence, which means that the final race classification went Lewis, Nico, Daniel, Max, Seb, actually.

#f1 #lewis hamilton #vro0m's race reviews #2016 #2016 mexican gp

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darthgloris · 2 years ago

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Volleyball (Berlín x female reader)

Summary: Berlín and Y/N, code name Varsòvia, were childhood friends since high school and finally reunite during the five-month training for the first heist.

Type: fluff

A/N: I wrote the Spanish names because I prefer those to the English ones, no warnings.

Happy reading!

The moment he entered the classroom, my jaw dropped. It shocked me how I recognised him instantly, after twelve years.

“No real names,” his brother reminded me, and I nodded quickly.

I walked up to him and his face lit up as he saw me. I jumped into his arms and he laughed, wrapping his arms around me and spinning me around.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, still laughing out of shock.

“Well, I’m a dirt-poor criminal and 2.4 billion euros didn’t sound so bad, so…” I chuckled. “I could imagine it’s the same for you.”

“Yes. Yes, it is.” He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. I smiled shyly at him, looking at him through my eyelashes and he pecked my cheek affectionately.

“Everyone please take a seat.”

I sat down at a desk and he sat in front of me, flashing me a smirk before turning around. Just like the old days, I thought to myself, smiling.

“First, I would like to set some ground rules. No personal information, that being names, ages, and no relationships.”

The room groaned, and I chuckled silently. I knew everyone would break that rule anyway.

“On the names, let’s do… cities, we’ll do cities. You?” He pointed at the girl in the front seat.

She paused for a second before replying. “Tokyo.”

Then his brother. “Berlín.” He chose. Fitting perfectly with his personality. I thought for a moment.

“Varsòvia.” I picked.

Berlín turned around with a mischievous smile.

“Don’t you dare make Nazi jokes,” I warned him.

“Twelve years, and you still know exactly what I’m thinking,” he responded.

I laughed lightly, “Never gets old.”

…

Life at the estate in Toledo wasn’t bad at all. We had free time and good meals, and I was reunited with Berlín, at last.

“Who’s up for volleyball?” Nairobi asked.

Berlín and I looked at each other knowingly, smiling softly. I winked at him and he winked back as we silently agreed to play our trick.

“I’m a bit rusty, but why not?” I agreed.

“I’m in,” he said. The others agreed as well.

“All right, everyone, let’s make teams,” I said. I silently counted us. Nine.

“We’re not even-numbered.” I said.

“Profesor! Are you playing?” Tokyo yelled.

“Sure.” He replied.

The teams were me, Berlín, Rio, Denver and Tokyo versus Nairobi, Profesor, Moskù, Oslo and Helsinki. Berlín and I took our places: I went in the center and he was in the front-right corner. Our strategy was to be always near each other so we could work together to score as many points as possible.

“You’re going to regret putting those two in the same team,” Profesor said softly to his team, pointing at us.

“Why’s that?” Nairobi asked.

“You’ll see.”

“We’re two teams of five.” I said. “First team that gets to 15 wins.”

Rio served: the ball flew to the other side without a problem and Nairobi dug.

“Berlìn,” I called his name softly and forearm-passed it to him, who attacked with strength and the ball touched the ground.

“Score,” he said proudly.

We used the same strategy again: Rio served again, this time Helsinki attacked and Denver dug.

“Varsòvia,” Berlín set me the ball and I attacked with as much strength as I could and the ball bounced aggressively on the grass.

“Oh, by the way-” I said out loud while approaching Berlín. “-we’re awesome.” He finished and high-fived me.

“That’s why,” Profesor said to Nairobi.

2-0.

2-1. Moskù scored.

2-2. Nairobi served and Oslo scored.

3-2. Berlín and I scored.

4-2. Berlín served the ball. “Ace,” He chuckled in pride.

5-2. He aced again.

6-2. And again.

6-3. Profesor blocked.

6-4. Helsinki served, Nairobi attacked.

…

“14-14, this is the tie-breaker, people!” Said Denver.

While Tokyo got ready to serve, I looked at Berlín. The twinkle in his eyes made me see he was not going to lose this match. Tokyo served. Profesor dug, Denver forearm-passed. Nairobi set, Moskù attacked. Berlín set me the ball, and I jumped as high as I could, attacking forcefully. The ball fell into the other side.

“Set point!” Berlín laughed and our team cheered and celebrated as he scooped me up in his arms bridal style and spun me around. I yelped in surprise.

“A bit rusty, mis cojones, Varsòvia,” Nairobi laughed. “Good job.”

“Thank you,” I said, out of breath and slightly dizzy from the spinning.

…

That same day we were having dinner and another high school tradition came up: insulting each other without getting offended in the slightest.

We were talking about past relationships and Berlín addressed me. “So, Varsòvia, how has it been for you? You’ve become so beautiful, you must have spent the last twelve years reliving 1999.” He said, a cocky smirk on his face.

I wasn’t even bothered at the compliment as much as the use of the date. The table raised a chorus of “ooh”, “ahh” and wolf whistles.

“1999?” Denver questioned.

“It’s a figure of speech about how sexually promiscuous she was in that year.” Berlín explained and I looked at him, smirking back.

“Do you have a figure of speech for how jealous you were of the boys that came out of her room?” Profesor teased him, earning a louder chorus from the table.

“Well, I happen to have one for how sexually promiscuous you can both go be with yourselves.” I smiled sarcastically at the siblings and the others laughed.

“Touchè, Bambi.” Berlín replied.

…

I sat on a chair in the balcony, enjoying the late summer breeze. A knock on my door startled me.

“Come in.” The door opened and Berlín entered.

“Hey,” He said softly and approached me. He came up behind me and leaned down to rest his arms on my shoulders, his chin on top of my head.

“Hi,” I chuckled back, grabbing one of his hands and interlocking our fingers. “Why so affectionate, Berlín?”

“Why are you questioning it? You know you like it,” he pointed out.

“Yeah, I do.” I smiled at him and got up to give him a proper hug. I nuzzled my nose into his neck and sighed.

“I missed you. A lot more than you think.” I said. I felt his smile on my forehead.

“I missed you, too, sweetheart.” We held each other for a good minute before pulling away. “And I meant what I said before. You do look beautiful.” I blushed.

“Berlín…” I shook my head in denial.

“You do. I mean it. With all my heart.” He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear and rested his hand on my cheek. I placed my hand over his and leaned into his touch.

“If I ask you something, will you promise to be 100% honest with me?” I asked him.

“Of course.”

“Were you really jealous in 1999?” He broke eye contact, drawing in a sharp breath.

“Yes. Yes, I was.” I gazed at him sadly.

“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t stand hearing about every single boy that came in and out of your bedroom while I had a massive crush on you.” He argued.

"You didn't have to, why didn't you just tell me?" I asked.

"And what were the chances of you saying 'yes'? I was a dumb teenager-"

"I was a dumb teenager too, hence why I might have accepted," I said playfully.

Berlín shook his head fondly and kissed me softly without warning. I kissed back immediately, smiling against his lips. When we pulled away I chuckled and blushed, while he brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Te quiero muchísimo, Varsòvia."

"Yo también, Berlín."

#lcdp #lcdp netflix #berlin #berlin x reader

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1plus1kiyoomi · 4 years ago

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Chapter 16: 6PM Walks

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[masterlist] [kia’s slambook]

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“What did you call me a while ago?” Kiyoomi asks Kia, not listening to what you’re saying.

“Kiyoomi, this isn’t our issue right now.”

“No, it is. She has to call me that again.”

“She won’t.”

“She will. She did it a while ago.”

“Kia’s probably playing with you,” you mumble to yourself, but you leave the two of them to continue making breakfast before the whole fiasco. You figure that Sakusa is too excited being called papa that he won’t listen to anything you will say at the moment.

“Kia say it again. What you called me a while ago,” Kiyoomi asks Kia. They are on the couch in the living room, Kia’s eyes stuck on the television screen. She ignores Kiyoomi. He takes the remote and turns the TV off. The little girl looks at him in disapproval. “Say it again and I will turn the TV on.”

“What?” Kia asks, obviously not hearing Kiyoomi’s pleads a while back.

“What did you call me a while ago?” Kiyoomi pushes, his eyes piercing through hers, begging.

“Kyo,” Kia deadpans.

Kiyoomi pouts, turning the TV back on. He leaves Kia on the couch, then goes to you at kitchen. You don’t notice him so he just leans his back on the counter, admiring you from behind. You looked so cute with his shirt and boxers on, the apron you’re wearing is the cherry on top. He’s trying his best not to jump on you especially that Kia is just there.

You, on the other hand, are slicing the apples, Saki in your mind. “That fucking bitch,” you mutter, slicing rougher than needed. “She better not show up here again.”

“Have mercy on the apples,” Kiyoomi chuckles. He wraps his arms around your waist, his chin on top of your head. You continue to slice, Kiyoomi carefully watching your hands. “Where’s the ring I gave you?”

“It’s in my bag. I took it off when we were in Universals since it was slipping off my finger. I was scared I’d lose it,” you reply. His hug feels comforting so you slow down in slicing. “Have you given up on Kia calling you papa?”

“No,” he huffs, his chin now on your shoulder. You giggle at his determination. “You’re probably shocked about what happened.”

“Didn’t know your fuck buddy was psycho,” you respond. He starts leaving small kisses on your exposed neck, so you put the knife down and turn to him. “Kiyoomi, why are you so touchy today?”

“What do you mean? I was also touchy yesterday,” he corrects you. His hands intertwine with yours as he brings it close to his. He gives all your fingers soft kisses, completely calming you down. “You seem so stressed. You should get a massage or something.”

“That sounds nice.” You smile at the thought of simply relaxing. Ever since you had given birth to Kia, time for yourself was impossible.

“Then take a day off from being a mom today,” Kiyoomi mumbles, planting a kiss on your forehead. You look up to him in confusion. “I’ll drop you off at the mall. I actually booked you an appointment at a salon and spa a week ago.” You stare at him in suspicion but he seems solely genuine about wanting you to relax.

“What about Kia?” You ask hesitantly.

“I’ll take good care of her,” he responds. “Get changed. I’ll continue making breakfast.”

After eating breakfast with Kiyoomi and Kia, they send you off to the mall. You are so excited to relax. “Me time” is rare as a mother. You shall cherish it without questions on how and why you got to do it.

As you left the car, Kia and Kiyoomi drive to another street in the city of Osaka. They leave the car, and go to a small cafe that doesn’t have a lot of customers. A woman waves at him and he goes to where she’s seated.

“Kyo who’s that?”

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

You finish your appointments at around 5:30 PM. Kiyoomi really wanted you to relax. He had appointed a full body massage for you, a hair treatment appointment, manicure and pedicure and lunch at a 4-star sushi place; he’s spoiling you.

You see his car at the driveway outside the mall. You enter his car, then you sanitize your hands. Kia is asleep so you keep quiet. You take a look at him and he looks nervous.

“Are you okay?” You ask him and he nods. You eye him warily as he starts driving off without a word. “What did the two of you do today?”

“We went to a cafe, then met up with my nutritionist. Kia is also gave him a checkup. Apparently, Kia is taller than most of her peers. She’s 8 centimeters away from 100cm and she’s only 30 months old...” Kiyoomi states in a stressed manner.

“Are you afraid she’ll get bullied by other kids for her height?” You look at him and he seemed upset about it. “On the brighter side, with her height she can be a volleyball player like you.” You reassure him, he still looks like he’s on the edge.

“It’s the flower field Kia and I went to a while ago. Do you wanna take a walk?” He suddenly suggests, looking out the window of his car. You hum as a yes, then he parks his car somewhere near the flower field.

“Baby...” You coo at Kia, taking her seatbelt off. Her eyes slowly flutter open and she smiles when she sees you. You lift her off her chair then close the car’s door.

You look around, and notice that there aren’t a lot of people. No wonder why Kiyoomi wanted to take a walk. The place is peaceful and breathtaking. Rows of different kinds of flowers, but mostly roses and tulips. You look down to Kia and see that she is staring at the sun setting over the flower field.

You finally sense Kiyoomi beside you, but the energy he’s giving is off. You take a glance at him and he isn’t wearing his mask on. Now your suspicion has risen to the highest level. You want to ask him about it but Kia suddenly wriggles out of your hold. You run after her but stop when you see two familiar boys.

“Mu-chan! Ki-chan!” She squeals in excitement, running towards the said boys. You greet them with a wave as they are standing from a far. You watch Kia run to them before walking towards them too.

“Mama! Turn around!” Kia shouts but you don’t hear properly.

“Turn! Around!” Atsumu shouts this time, signaling you turn with his hand. You raise an eyebrow at them before turning around.

3rd Year, Itachiyama Academy

August 19

“Omi... I suddenly thought of something,” you spoke, watching the sunset. You two were at his backyard, enjoying your first anniversary in the comfort of his home. “How will you propose to me?”

“Are you really thinking about marriage just because we’ve been dating for a year now?” Sakusa squinted his eyes at you. You shrugged, leaning on his shoulder.

“I’m just curious since you hate surprises. You might tell me to get my nails done a week before so it’d look good in pictures,” you joked. He let out a chuckle in agreement.

“I might do that.” He saw the excitement in your eyes. Now, he’s curious about your dream proposal. “How do you want me to propose? Do you want a grand one or a simple one?”

“I want you to propose just like this,” you replied, eyes glued on the setting sun. “You, me, on our anniversary, with the sun setting.”

“Do I have to be on my knee? The ground might be dirty,” he rambled so you pouted.

“How is it a proposal if you don’t go on one bended knee?!”

“Then I’ll do that,” he replied, determined. There was no hesitance in his response so your heart beat faster.

“Really?” You asked, hopeful. You were now looking at him and so was he.

“Yes.”

“Sakusa Kiyoomi, why?!” You exclaim as you cover your face with your hands, tears already falling from your eyes.

The Sakusa Kiyoomi who well known as a germaphobe is on his knee in front you, with a ring in his hand. You check your phone to see the date, just to make sure. August 19. You cry even harder, not able to process what’s happening. Your heart is about to jump out of your chest. How does he remember even that?

“Will you marry me?”

Unable to answer due to too much emotions, you pull him up and kiss him deeply, hooking your arm on his neck, pulling him close to you. He wraps his arms around your waist, lifting you up the ground in excitement. He puts you back on the ground, then gives you another chaste kiss before slipping the ring in your ring finger. He gives it a kiss, before kissing you once more.

“Mama!” You hear Kia run to the two you. Kiyoomi lifts Kia with one arm, his other arm not leaving you. “Look! Kyo proposed to me too!”

“Kyo who’s that?” Kia asked as she and Kiyoomi sat in the same table with a strange woman.

“Is this your daughter?” The woman asked Sakusa. He nodded. Kia was still looking at her weirdly. “Hi, I’m Nako. I’m a jewelry maker. I make necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Do you wanna see?”

“Sorry, I’m late,” a familiar voice spoke, catching Kia’s full atention.

“Mu-chan!” Kia greeted him with a kiss. He sat down beside her, greeting Nako and his teammate with a smile and wave. Nako was Atsumu’s classmate in high school that has become a famous jeweler in Japan.

“Here’s the ring and necklace you have requested to custom made,” Nako told Kiyoomi, handing him two black velvet boxes. “Just as requested, a palladium engagement ring with a 2.4 carat round cut diamond. And in this box we have a 14k white gold ring attached to a 14k white gold chain. I also made sure that this won’t choke your daughter. But to be extra careful, take it off during her sleep or if she’s playing without you or your wife around.”

They finished their transaction and Nako left, leaving the boys with Kia in the cafe. “So we’ll wait for at the flower field near your house and Kia will run to us, then you’ll propose?” Atsumu clarified.

“Yes. That’s right,” Kiyoomi approved. “Please thank Kita-san for me.”

“I will. I will. We’ll meet you there.” Atsumu bid his good byes, leaving the father-daughter duo.

“Papa what’s the rings for?” Kia asked, staring at the shiny jewelry set in front of her.

“Baby, I’ll propose to your mama,” Kiyoomi started to explain. “I’ll give her this ring so we can get married and we’ll be together forever.” He tried to explain in simpler words so the child could understand.

“Why do you want to be with mama forever?” Kia questioned, which made Kiyoomi smile.

“Because I love your mama.”

“How about Kia? Do you love Kia?” Kia tilted her head to the side, her hopeful eyes peering at his. He cupped her cheek, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“So much. I love Kia so much,” he replied. “That’s why I’m giving you this.” Kiyoomi took the necklace out of the box, presenting it to her.

“You’re proposing to Kia?” She asked in an excited manner, her hands clasped together, pressing them close to her chest. “You wanna be together with Kia forever?”

Kia started crying in joy so Kiyoomi picked her up from her chair, giving her a tight hug. Her sobs quiet down so Kiyoomi put the necklace on her. She hugs him again, giving him a lot of kisses.

“I love papa, too.”

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Facts:

The idea and tradition of engagement rings dates back to ancient Egypt. The Egyptians believed circles were symbols of eternity.

The truth is the most popular engagement month in a year is December.

In all, about 70% of brides wear their rings on the fourth finger of their left hand; a tradition that comes from the Roman belief that the vena amoris, or vein of love, was located there.

Wedding rings were traditionally made of gold because it was considered the most pure and valuable metal, and was thought to perfectly symbolize marriage.

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kemetic-dreams · 4 years ago

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Let us be clear from the outset. The messages of Jesus and Paul were fundamentally different. Reconciliation of their messages cannot be done by harmonization. This is a fact we must accept. No one is helped by attempts to lessen the differences by declaring that the gospel is a salvation story for both Jesus and Paul. The differences remain. No benefit comes from theological gibberish that the gospel is the kingdom and the kingdom is the gospel. No light comes from attempts to show that Paul “betrayed” Jesus or “perverted” His message. No value comes from those who maintain Jesus and Paul contradicted or disagreed with one another. Such offerings of strange fire move us further from the text and sound theology. Instead, we must seek a biblical understanding of the Scriptures for reconciliation.

The Messages of Jesus and Paul The below chart identifies the chief differences in the ministries and message of Jesus and Paul. Each will be analyzed. Differences of the Ministries of Jesus and Paul Jesus:Paul: 1. Preached the gospel of the kingdom1. Preached the gospel of the grace of God 2. Defined the “kingdom of heaven” as Israel’s prophetic earthly kingdom2. Defined the “kingdom of heaven” as the heavenly position of the body of Christ 3. Presented Himself as the Messiah and King of the Jews (Israel)3. Presented Jesus as the risen Lord, Head of the Church, the body of Christ 4. Preached repentance, water baptism, keeping the Law, forgiving others, and faith in who He was as necessary for salvation4. Preached faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as necessary for salvation 5. Had Jews as His audience (a couple exceptions)5. Had Gentiles as his primary audience 6. Operated under the Mosaic Law6. Operated under grace 1. Jesus’ Gospel, Paul’s Gospel2

Jesus

John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Twelve preached the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 3.2, 4.17). This gospel was the long-anticipated and prophesied good news that the King of Israel had arrived. He would establish His kingdom on earth and rule the earth according to what Israel’s prophets foretold (Psalm 2.6, 8; Zechariah 14.9; Luke 1.31-33). Its focus was Jewish (Matthew 10.5-6) and Jesus instructed His disciples to pray for it (Matthew 6.10). During this kingdom reign, God would fulfill His covenant promises to Israel and through Israel’s acceptance of their Messiah Gentiles would be blessed. Apart from this kingdom and apart from this plan, God had revealed no provision to bless Gentiles. When God’s established His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12.1-3) He decree all Gentile blessing had to come through Israel.

The prophets had proclaimed this Messianic kingdom in hundreds of passages. Every Jew knew about this kingdom and every God-fearing Jew longed for it. One need only read the passages surrounding the account of Jesus’ birth to recognize this fact. The reader is encouraged to read the accounts surrounding the Magi (Matthew 2.1-12), Zachariah (Luke 1.8-17, 67-79), Mary (Luke 1.26-38, 46-55), Simeon, and Anna (Luke 2.25-38). Their statements provide an excellent summary of Jewish expectations and theology.

The gospel of the kingdom proclaimed by John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Twelve required repentance (Mark 1.15), water baptism (Matthew 3.6; Acts 2.38, 8.34-38, 19.4), keeping of the Mosaic Law, and belief Jesus was the promised Messiah (Matthew 16.13-16; John 11.25-27). Believing in Jesus according to the gospel of the kingdom meant believing Who He was, i.e., believing in His name (cf. John 3.18; Acts 2.21, 38, 3.6, 16, 4.7, 10, 12, 17, 18, 30, 5.28, 40, 41, 8.12, 16, 9.14, 15, 21, 27, 10.43, 48). The gospel of the kingdom focused upon the identity of Christ.

Paul

Paul preached the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20.24; 1 Corinthians 15.1-4) and placed little emphasis on repentance or baptism in his evangelistic ministry. He only mentioned repentance in reference to unbelievers once in his letters (Romans 2.4) and with regard to water baptism, he declared, “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1.14-17). Later, he wrote there was only one baptism (Ephesians 4.5). This one baptism that Paul declared was the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12.13). Thus, we must conclude water baptism ceased during Paul’s ministry and has no Scriptural support as a Christian practice today.

The focus of belief in the ministry of John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Twelve was that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Son of God (Matthew 16.13-16; John 11.25-27). Paul preached the gospel of the kingdom immediately following his conversion (Acts 9.19-22). However, shortly afterwards, the ascended, glorified, heavenly (as opposed to earthly His earthly ministry) Lord gave Paul a new gospel (Galatians 1.11-12). Paul’s gospel (Romans 2.16, 16.25), was different from the gospel of Jesus and the Twelve. Its focus was not upon the identity of Christ but upon the work of Christ. Paul’s gospel was that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15.1-4). This gospel was not preached during Jesus’ earthly ministry or by the Twelve.

Paul referred to the gospel of the grace of God as “my gospel” (Romans 2.16, 16.25; 2 Timothy 2.8; Galatians 2.2). This designation indicated it was different from the gospel Jesus or the Twelve preached. Luke’s account of the Council of Jerusalem made it clear that the apostles did not agree with or understand Paul’s gospel (Acts 15) and Paul revealed his gospel was a “secret” (μυστήριον, cf. Romans 16.25; Ephesians 6.19). The Twelve had no understanding Jesus would die and rise from the dead (Luke 18.31-34; John 20.3-10). For them, Christ’s death was not good news. Even after Jesus’ resurrection, Christ’s death was not proclaimed as good news. The biblical record is that Peter proclaimed Christ’s death as bad news. Peter’s sermons show he regarded the death of Christ as a message of condemnation to Jews–a heinous act that demanded their repentance (Acts 2.22-42, 3.12-26). Peter proclaimed the fact of Jesus’ resurrection as good news but its significance was that Jesus was alive and could still bring about His kingdom on earth if the Jewish nation repented. What he did not preach was the death and resurrection of Christ for personal salvation.

For Paul, the preaching of the cross was salvation (1 Corinthians 1.18, 23, 15.1-4) and this was a glorious message (1 Timothy 1.11). But Paul’s gospel created so much consternation that the apostles in Jerusalem called a special council around 51 A.D. to consider it. The reader should understand Paul was probably saved around 34-37 A.D. So a range of time of 14-17 years had passed before the Council at Jerusalem met. That was a long time. At the Council, after considerable argument, Peter made an astonishing (from a Jewish perspective) statement. Prior to Peter’s statement, the message of the Twelve was that Gentiles could be saved only the way Jews were saved. But after great argument, Peter, under the power of the Holy Spirit, officially recognized (in light of Paul’s revelations and ministry) Jews now had to be saved as Gentiles (Acts 15.6-11). This was a watershed moment. After Peter made this declaration, Paul wrote the Galatians that anyone who proclaimed a gospel different from his was accursed (Galatians 1.8-9). Paul could not have written this prior to the Council of Jerusalem. Prior to Peter’s statement, the Twelve legitimately preached the gospel Christ had revealed to them in His earthly ministry. During this same period, Paul preached the gospel the heavenly Christ had revealed to him. Both were valid gospel messages. Both had been commanded by the Lord. However, after the Council of Jerusalem, only Paul’s gospel of grace was valid. The gospel of the kingdom preached by the Twelve was formally supplanted by Paul’s gospel. Paul’s gospel of grace focused upon the work of Christ, rather than upon the identity of Christ, which was the focus of the gospel of the kingdom.

2. The Kingdom for Jesus and Paul

Jesus

The message John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Twelve preached was that the King of Israel had arrived and that the kingdom of heaven was near (Matthew 3.1-2, 4.12-17, 9.35; Luke 3.2-17, 4.16-19). This kingdom was an earthly, political kingdom in which the Messiah would reign as King (Matthew 6.10; Zechariah 14.9). It was the kingdom proclaimed by the prophets in which Israel would be preeminent among the nations of the earth (Deuteronomy 28.1, 13) and for which the Magi (Matthew 2.1-12), Zacharias (Luke 1.8-17, 67-79), Mary (Luke 1.26-38, 46-55), Simeon and Anna (Luke 2.25-38) longed. In this kingdom, Israel would become a nation of priests as God had revealed to Moses (Exodus 19.6) which Peter wrote about to Jewish believers (1 Peter 2.9). To enjoy this kingdom required the Jewish nation to repent and accept Jesus as their King and Messiah. Once the nation repented, God would fulfill the promises He had made in His covenants to Israel. The primary beneficiaries of the “kingdom of heaven” were Jews, not Gentiles, since God’s covenant promises focused upon Jews (Ephesians 2.11-12).3 Ever since God had called Abraham, He had dealt exclusively with the nation of Israel. He had no direct dealings with Gentiles as He had before Abraham.

Beginning with Abraham, God created a new program in dealing with the human race. This explains why Jesus commanded His disciples not to go to Gentiles (Matthew 10.5-6) and why He had personal contact with only two Gentiles (one by proxy) during His three-year ministry.4 The Old Testament prophesies had revealed Gentiles would be blessed through Israel (Isaiah 42.1-4, 49.5-6, 60.1-3; Zechariah 8.20-23). During the Messianic kingdom, Israel will become preeminent among the nations of the world with the Lord Himself reigning as David’s greater Son from Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 28.1-14; Luke 1.32; cf. Zechariah 14.9). Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) revealed what life would be like in this kingdom program. The Sermon on the Mount has nothing to do with the Church, the body of Christ. It has everything to do with Israel’s earthly kingdom. The Sermon on the Mount is the charter of Christ’s earthly kingdom and reveals what life will be like when Jesus reigns on earth as King (Zechariah 14.9).

Paul

Paul mentioned “kingdom” 14 times in his epistles. To a discerning reader, it is clear Paul meant something different than Jesus in His references to the kingdom. When Paul used the term, he meant God’s overall realm of rule (Romans 14.17; 1 Corinthians 4.20, 6.9-10; 15.24, 50; Galatians 5.21; Ephesians 5.5; Colossians 1.13, 4.11; 1 Thessalonians 2.12; 2 Thessalonians 1.5; 2 Timothy 4.1, 18). Thus, for Paul, the kingdom included both Israel’s earthly kingdom as well as the Church, the body of Christ’s reign as a heavenly people. Paul, as the apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11.13), wrote to the body of Christ. His letters have nothing to say about the kingdom in respect to Israel’s covenants, Old Testament prophecy, or Jesus reigning as David’s Son.

Paul emphasized the Church, the body of Christ. This terminology was entirely absent from the teaching of Jesus and the Twelve for it was unknown until the ascended Lord revealed it to Paul. In other words, it was new. Peter, James, John, Jude, etc., did not teach it and knew nothing of it until they learned about it from Paul. Paul alone revealed and taught that the citizenship and position of believers in the body of Christ was heavenly (Ephesians 1.3, 2.6; Philippians 3.20; Colossians 1.5), not earthly. Paul’s last written words were, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4.18). For Paul, God’s kingdom as related to the body of Christ was heavenly and wholly different from the earthly kingdom proclaimed by John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Twelve.

3. Presentation of Jesus as King and Head

Jesus

The gospels present Jesus as King of the Jews (Matthew 2.2, 27.11, 29, 37; John 18.39, 19.14; Luke 1.31-33, 67-73) and as Messiah or Christ (Matthew 1.1, 16, 18, 16.16, 20, 26.63, 27.17, 22; Mark 15.32; Luke 2.11, 26, 4.41, 23.2, 35; John 1.41, 4.25-26; 11.27, 17.3, 20.31). Jesus came to minister to Israel and fulfill the Old Testament promises (Romans 15.8).

Paul

For Paul, the Lord Jesus Christ was the ascended Lord, not the earthly Messiah. Paul wrote “though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more” (2 Corinthians 5.16). What Paul meant by “Christ after the flesh” was His earthly ministry to Israel. Those who are members of the Church, the body of Christ, know Jesus in His heavenly glory, not in His earthly humiliation. Paul did not call Jesus the King of the Church as He is presented in the Gospels. To Israel, Jesus is the King of Israel, the King of the Jews. He is not the King of the Church for the Church is His body, the body of Christ, not a kingdom. A king has subjects. Members of the Church, the body of Christ are heirs of God and joint-heirs of Christ (Romans 8.17), not subjects. As such, the proper title of Christ for Christians is Head (Ephesians 1.22-23, 4.15, 5.23; Colossians 1.18) and Lord (Romans 1.4, 7, 5.11, 21, 14.9; Ephesians 1.17; Philippians 2.11, 3.8; 1 Thessalonians 3.11).

4. Repentance, Baptism, and Faith

Jesus

We have touched on these already. Jesus proclaimed repentance, baptism, and belief. These three were bound together in Jesus’ kingdom gospel. Repentance was the first step of kingdom salvation (Matthew 3.2, 4.17; Mark 1.4, 15, 6.12; Luke 3.3, 5.32, 13.3, 5, 24.47). Peter continued this message after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. He demanded all Jews repent, be baptized, and believe that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 2.38, 3.19). Water baptism was required for salvation according to the kingdom gospel (Mark 1.4, 16.16; Acts 2.38, 8.34-38, 22.16). Saving faith was belief Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Son of God (Matthew 16.15-16; John 11.26-27; Acts 8.36-37), not that He died for our sins and rose from the dead. Another way of stating this is that the message of salvation of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the message of the Twelve was based upon the identity of Christ. This was in contrast to Paul’s gospel of grace which focused upon the work of Christ–that He died for our sins and arose from the dead.

Notice also the content of what most know as the Lord’s Prayer regarding the Lord’s words about forgiveness of sins. In the gospels of Luke and Matthew, we have a record of this prayer. Luke recorded:

1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3 ‘Give us each day our daily bread. 4 ‘And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation’” (Luke 11.1-4).

Matthew recorded:

7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’] 14 For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions (Matthew 6.7-15).

In both accounts, Jesus taught God’s forgiveness depended upon one forgiving others. Paul’s teaching was entirely different.

Paul

Paul’s gospel is a gospel of faith alone: faith + 0. It is sola fide. Paul’s gospel is a grace gospel, not a kingdom gospel. Paul’s gospel of salvation is Christ died for our sins and rose again (1 Corinthians 15.1-4). Jesus’ gospel and the gospel of the Twelve was Jesus was the promised Messiah. No one today preaches one is saved by believing Jesus was the promised Messiah. Why not? Because the gospel of the kingdom is not the gospel of the grace of God. Our gospel is Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. That is what we must believe for salvation.

Contrast what the Lord taught in the Lord’s Prayer with what Paul taught regarding forgiveness. Paul wrote the Ephesians:

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (Ephesians 4.32).

A similar passage is Colossians 3.12-13 where Paul wrote:

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

These passages are vastly different from what the Lord taught the Twelve in His prayer. Paul exhorted believers to forgive one another–not as a condition for divine forgiveness–but as a result of divine forgiveness (Ephesians 1.7; Colossians 1.14). This is grace not Law (Romans 6.14) and is wholly different from what Jesus taught the Jews in His earthly ministry.

5. Audiences of Jesus and Paul

Jesus

Jesus came as Israel’s Messiah (Romans 15.8). His ministry was to Jews exclusively (Matthew 10.5-6). As noted above, He made two exceptions: the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15.21-28) and the Roman centurion (Matthew 8.1-13 cf. Luke 7.1-10). Because of the great faith of these individuals Jesus relented His Jew only policy to grant their requests.

Following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension Peter and the Twelve addressed the nation of Israel. Most people think the disciples ministered to Gentiles as well as Jews in light of the so-called “Great Commission” of Matthew 28.16-20. But the biblical record states otherwise. The Twelve continued to address Jews only. They recognized the Jewish priority of God’s kingdom program proclaimed by the prophets. They understood Gentiles were to be blessed through Israel. They knew their Bibles. Because of this, they could not go to Gentiles until the Jewish nation repented and believed Jesus was the promised Messiah. To have done so would have been to disobey God. Thus, even in the face of severe persecution, the Twelve, the leaders, refused to leave Jerusalem and go into Gentile territory (Acts 8.1). Even as late as Acts 11.19 (probably about 38 A.D.) the gospel preached from the Jerusalem believers was to Jews alone.

Paul

God saved Paul and commissioned him as “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 11.13). As we have seen, Jesus ministered exclusively to Jews and the Twelve were apostles to Israel, not to Gentiles. Jesus had promised them rulership over Israel, not over Gentiles (Matthew 19.28). The Old Testament kingdom program was in place during Jesus’ earthly ministry and would have been fulfilled had the nation repented. Paul explained this truth in his excursus on Israel in Romans 9-11. Paul wrote Israel will repent and God will fulfill His covenant promises to the nation (Romans 11.25-27). The next event on the prophetic timeline as revealed in the Old Testament was the Day of the Lord–a time of divine wrath. Peter expected it to occur soon and quoted Joel on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2.14-21). But God in His mercy interrupted the kingdom program to bless Gentiles in spite of Israel’s disobedience. In His matchless grace God delayed His wrath. He saved Paul to minister to Gentiles and began a whole new program with Paul as its head. Thus, Paul, a Jew, became the “Jewish agent” or “proxy” to bless Gentiles. He typified a reborn Israel. This was why he referred to himself as one “untimely born” (1 Corinthians 15.8). God revealed to Paul the Church, the body of Christ, and other secrets He had kept hidden from the prophets and the Twelve.5

6. Jesus Ministered Under Law, Paul Ministered Under Grace

Jesus

Jesus ministered under the Law of Moses throughout his earthly ministry (Matthew 5.17-18). He constantly referred to the Mosaic Law as the foundation of His ministry (Matthew 7.12, 8.4, 12.5, 12, 23.1-3; Mark 1.44; 10.3-4; Luke 10.25-29). Gentiles had nothing to do with the Mosaic Law. God gave it to the Jews, not Gentiles (Ephesians 2.11-13), and not to the Church, the body of Christ.

Paul

Paul was born under the Mosaic Law. He was a Pharisee who knew and rigorously enforced the Law (Philippians 3.5-6). But after his conversion, Paul taught that those who believed his gospel were not under the Law of Moses. He taught believers of his gospel were under the administration of grace rather than under the administration of the Mosaic Law (Romans 6.14-15; Galatians 5.1). He taught the believer of his gospel was free from the Law of Moses and that Law had no claim upon him due to the believer’s identification with Christ in his crucifixion and resurrection (Romans 7.1-12, 8.2, 10.4). Paul taught that only by becoming dead to the Law can one live the Christian life (Galatians 2.19, 4.21, 5.1, 18).6

Conclusion To reconcile Jesus and Paul we must be faithful to the text and recognize major differences exist between their ministries. The Scriptures do not contradict one another for God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14.33). We simply need to recognize that God had a program for Israel which He revealed to and through the prophets and that He revealed a new program to Paul for the Church, the body of Christ. Jesus and the Twelve ministered to Jews under the Mosaic Law and preached the gospel of the kingdom to fulfill the Old Testament prophesies of Israel’s earthly kingdom with the Messiah as King (Romans 15.8). Paul ministered to Gentiles (Romans 11.13) under grace, apart from the Law, and disclosed secrets the ascended and glorified Lord had revealed to him. Paul taught believers of his gospel, the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20.24; 1 Corinthians 15.1-4; Romans 2.16, 16.25), were members of the body of Christ with Christ as its Head, not its King. Finally, in addition to the differences noted above, were other “secrets” the risen Lord revealed unto Paul alone. These are the subject of the article Paul’s “Mystery.” What can we conclude with regard to reconciling Jesus and Paul? Saul of Tarsus did not become Paul the Apostle by human efforts (Romans 1.1-6; Galatians 1.1, 15-24). He became the apostle of the grace of God by the sovereign will of the glorified Christ. Just as God established His plan with Israel beginning with Abraham, He began a new plan with Paul. God laid the groundwork for His plan for Israel beginning with Abraham. God created the Church, the body of Christ, beginning with Paul. The risen Lord revealed His plan through Paul just as He revealed His plan through Abraham (the Abrahamic Covenant) and later, Moses (the Mosaic Covenant). These two programs are different but complementary. They are not contradictory for God cannot contradict God. The Lord Jesus Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, Israel and Church. God is sovereign over both His earthly people, Israel, and over His heavenly people, the Church, the body of Christ. We both have one Master. Each has its own glory and purpose before God. The glory of God is in heterogeneity and in homogeneity. Both Israel and the Church are citizens of the kingdom of God as Paul expressed it–the rule of God over all creation. We share different blessings and serve under different contexts but have the same Lord. Paul taught this reality in his great example of the olive tree7 in Romans 11. Summing up his revelation, he concluded by exclaiming: 33 O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord or who became his counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen (Romans 11.33-36). 1 The title, “Jesus vs. Paul” is not to be taken in a challenging sense as if Paul can compare with Jesus. No one would be more embarrassed by this title than Paul himself. The title was selected because this is the way the controversy about their teachings has been framed at the present time. Thus, “Jesus” serves as a vehicle to represent the Old Testament program God initiated with Abraham and the Abrahamic Covenant. When Jesus arrived on the scene, God’s kingdom program to Israel revived under the calling and ministry of John the Baptist. Israel had an opportunity to have its long-promised kingdom on earth if it repented (Matthew 6.10). The King was present. This program was entirely different from the program of the Church, body of Christ, which Paul received from the ascended, heavenly Lord. 2 Some bristle at the idea there has been more than one gospel. We have one gospel today: 1 Corinthians 15.1-4, the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20.24). However, the Scriptures clearly reveal that for a period of time two gospels were in effect: from Paul’s return from Arabia after his salvation until Acts 15.11. During this period, the Twelve proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom and Paul proclaimed the gospel of the grace of God. According to Acts 15.1, 5 and many other passages, the gospel of the kingdom required works for salvation. Paul’s gospel, the gospel of the grace of God, was sola fide, faith alone. The gospel of the kingdom focused upon Christ’s identity, who He was, the Messiah, the Son of God. Paul’s gospel focused upon Christ’s work: He died for our sins and rose again. After Acts 15.11, only one gospel remained, Paul’s gospel. This explains Paul’s words of Galatians 1.6-9. 3 The phrase “kingdom of heaven” is unique to Matthew. The phrase is a genitive of source and means the source of this kingdom is from heaven. It is not a genitive of location meaning it is located in heaven. The kingdom of heaven is future and will be located on earth. Jesus told His disciples to pray for its establishment on the earth (Matthew 6.10). The chief beneficiaries will be Jews (Deuteronomy 28.1, 13) for God will fulfill His covenantal promises to them. Gentiles will be blessed in this kingdom through Israel (Isaiah 42.6, 49.6, 60.3; Zechariah 8.20-23) and Israel will be the premier nation among the nations (Deuteronomy 28.1, 13), a nation of priests (Exodus 19.5-6). The Church, the body of Christ, will be joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8.16-17). God has not revealed what this entails or what our role will be during His Millennial reign except that we will rule angels (1 Corinthians 6.3).

#kemetic dreams #jesus #saul #paul #mosiac law #bible #torah #talmud #paul vs jesus #jesus vs paul #church #church of god #israel #deuteronomy #matthew #son of god #jews

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dcomicsficrecs · 5 years ago

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Do you have any fics with Jason just being a Bro™️? Or any with him rejoining the family after UTRH?

For the sake of this post not being too long, I am going to rec only one fic or series from an author, but all of these authors are great writers so I recommend checking their other works as well. Hope you will enjoy this fics as much as I do!

1. Jason and Damian being bros

1.1 Bet on it by Lysical

Even Damian could admit that his older siblings occasionally had their uses. __

"I need your assistance," Damian said, voice low and tense.

"No," Jason replied, and hung up.

Short but adorable story of Jason helping out Damian to hide something from their father, just like big brothers out to do.

1.2 Cracked Foundation by Cdelphiki

The last thing Damian expected to happen when he ran away from home was to spend a day crammed into a small space with Jason Todd. His father's second son was a black sheep. An outcast. An angry, insanity driven criminal who enjoyed screwing with the batfamily in every way he could. At least, that's what Damian thought. Maybe he was wrong about Todd.

Perfect hurt/comfort with a lot of family feels and Damian and Jason bodning. Bonus points: Jason actually apologizing for shooting him; exploration of Bruce’s relationships with them both too.

1.3 Good Grief by lysiabeth

“I know who you are, you know. I got my degree at GCU.” The girl says, eyes boring into Jason’s chest as if the red bat were still plastered on it, and Jason’s back stiffens.

“Right.” Jason’s teeth click together as he closes his mouth. He’s eighteen-hundred miles out from Gotham, and of all the Goddamn vet centres he could have broken into it’s probably the only one around that knows anything about his city.

WIP with 8K words so far but worth early reading and bookmarking/subscribing. Case fic, plus Damian and Jason bonding as siblings through Talia? Leviathan also plays a part in this story? Hell yeah.

1.4 Jason and the Three Terrors by Cdelphiki

One moment, Jason was peacefully sleeping, perfectly content with his life with the League of Assassins. Okay, so maybe not content content, but he wasn't unhappy, either. Then Talia woke him up at 2 am, threw three children at him, and told him to get them to America and far away from Ra's al Ghul.

What the fuck.

The last thing he wanted was to see Bruce. But with three brats relying on him and no Talia, there weren't many options for sanctuary. He just didn't expect the kids to grow on him so much in two short weeks.

A superb AU where Jason helps Damian escape League of the Assassin (against his wishes and with two unwanted additions to boot, which is half the pleausure). They aren’t brothers, stictly speaking, at the start of the fic, but become them as the story progresses.

It’s a WIP but it has 50K already and it will be so much more. I am excited with every update and I’m sure you’re gonna be, too.

2. Jason being a brother to Cassandra

2.1 Nests and Cages series by LanternWisp, Lysical starting with Needles or Pins

Jason Todd's journey back to the Batfamily. Takes place in the Frankenstein's monster of a canon I've stitched together. Each plot is rather self-contained, but the fics do flow into one another

Jay and Cass are bio siblings, and Jason’s slow return to the fold. I love this series, and I think it’s one of the greatest take on Lady Shiva being Jason’s mother too.

2.2 Didymous by Hinn_Raven

Didymous: adjective: growing in pairs or twins.

Cassandra and Jason are born twins, raised by their father to be killers. Two heads are better than one.

It’s a great AU with Jay and Cass being biological siblings.

2.3 the patron saint of the lost causes series by evanescent

Pre-Flashpoint AU based on canon what-if Lady Shiva was not only Cassandra's biological mother, but Jason's, too. Mostly focuses on Cass and Jason's relationship, and how that fact changes the dynamics in Batfamily.

It is also a great series with Cass and Jay being biological siblings and I recommend reading every fic of this series.

2.4 Rebirth by Ionaperidot

"The boy is clearly ill, and while she’s almost certain that he is, impossibly, Jason Todd, almost is not good enough. She can’t drop heartbreak on her beloved’s doorstep, and she can’t run the necessary tests when Damian is vulnerable to her father’s wrath. There’s no way around it. He’ll have to come home with her."

Unexpectedly in charge of a second son, Talia struggles to raise her children without unwanted attention from the Demon's Head.

An AU where Talia is the one who unites Cass and Jason. It also contains Damian, and he’s a little brother to them both.

3. Jason and Duke being bros

3.1 Bats are Dorks by Reah22

Duke hadn’t meant to literally trip and fall on to Jason. He really hadn’t. For the record, he blamed Steph. It was probably one of her old pranks that she forgot to take down. That, or she deliberately left it up for someone to trip over in the dark.

Just Duke and Jason, hanging out. Super nice.

3.2 oh, where do i begin? by LazuliQuetzal

“No, no, nothing’s wrong,” Jason says. “We’re a-okay. Just peachy. Good times.”

“Oh,” Duke says, lamely, working himself out of crisis mode. There’s an awkward silence for a moment before he speaks up again. “Why did you call?”

“Right, right," Jason mumbles, which seemed a little out of character to Duke. His sort-of wayward brother was generally intimidating, even when he wasn't trying to be. "Uh, Dick said that you had a guinea pig when you were younger. How do you take care of a guinea pig?” _____

AKA, not-exactly accidental guinea pig acquisition

Absolutely adorable short story about Jason going to his little brother for advice.

3.3 rockstar au series by addiebey starting with disconnect:

jason and duke bond. dick just doesn't get it, but what's new?

Another great no-capes AU. Only two fics from the series, both under 1k, are focused on Duke and Jason, but they are so great. The whole series is, actually, though it’s not finished. I am just grateful even this much exists, but I am definitely bookmarking and subscribing it in case there will be more. Please give this series the attention and praise it deserves.

There are, alas, not many Duke and Jason-centered fics. Though there is another one I wanted to recommend, about Jason training Duke, but I can’t find it for some reason. It was short and funny, and if anyone recognizes this description, I would be glad if you told me.

4. Jason and Dick being bros

4.1 i was naive and hopeful and lost by heroics (figure8)

Clark and Bruce take in a troubled teen.

The The Fosters AU no one asked for.

It’s a part of the series which is one of the best no-capes AU I’ve read, if not the best, and it’s a great family-focused fic with a good parent Bruce. The road for Jason to become Dick’s and the rest of the kids’ brother is slow but greatly written.

4.2 To Reconcile by CasualDanger

“Babs slapped me at your funeral.” Jason goes to laugh, but it’s just a cough and his mouth barely even twitches up. “She hated me in that moment. I mean, really, really hated me, like I did Talia after I found out Damian had died. And I wondered,” his voice cracks, eyes glassy now, “did you hate anyone when I was gone? Because I was gone?”

Short and emotional fic where Dick and Jason open up to each other during pressing circumstances.

4.3 Five Times Dick Grayson Read about Jason Todd in the Newspaper by Engineerd

If Dick hadn’t been special ordering the Gotham City Gazette, he wouldn’t have found out for - well. Years, at this rate.

Short and very full of emotion story. I love the exploration of Dick’s almost unchanging attitude toward Jason - well, unchanging right before the last time he would read about him (or almost the last time). They’re not really close here, and won’t grow closer, but sometimes siblinghood is like that.

4.4 The View From Jade by lowflyingfruit

Being transported to the past is not the sort of thing one normally expects. But this having happened, and with no easy way back, Jason's determined to make the most of it. Though the Bat still stalks Gotham's streets, the city's crime is run by the mobs instead of the rogues. There's no Joker yet.

There's no Robin.

Maybe there shouldn't be.

Time Travel Jason&Dick focused AU! One of the best time travel fics where they actually change stuff even if it doesn’t transit to their universe - for exception of their more strong brotherly relationships.

5. Jason and Stephanie being bros

5.1 this time, the loser wins by parkerstorms

They were two sides of the same coin. They understood each other. It was nice. It was a downright relief. She’d never had a big brother before.

There’s not a lot of Jason and Steph being bros stories I have not mentioned before, but this one is one of them, and a great one too.

6. Jason and Tim being bros

6.1 Bonding Habits of Robins by GoAwayOlivia

Giving each other shit is how the bat brothers show they care. Jason and Tim do it particularly well.

It’s a funny and nice fic with exactly what’s said in the summary.

There’s a lot of fics with Jason and Tim being bros but my memorie went blank when I tried to recall. Which is not a statement about their relationships or quality of fics that depict them, it’s just sometimes my memory doesn’t work properly. This is the case with the Jason and Steph, too. As soon as I remember or discover new fics about their relationships, I am going to update this post or maybe create a new one just for the three of them. We’ll see!

7. Batfam Jason-featured sibling relationships

7.1 If the Sky Comes Falling Down (For You) by lurkinglurkerwholurks

or, 5 times Jason Todd saved his siblings... and one time they saved him.

It was only by luck that Jason was still there when the bodies came crashing down the street. Bad luck, he would argue. He could hear them long before he could see them, their bodies preceded by the thunderous pounding of boots of asphalt and shouted curses. Three or four figures flashed by his little alleyway, a tight mob followed by a lone, slender figure in a streaming cape.

Summary speaks for itself. It’s a gradual description of Jason slowly coming back to the family after UtRH and starting feeling like their brother.

7.2 this is a long drive (for three robins who don't agree on much) by drakefeathers

(Bad Robins road trip AU!) Steph’s trip home to Gotham takes a huge detour thanks to Jason and Damian’s conflicts with airport security. She’s stuck driving the two brothers cross-country to reach Tim’s wedding in time.

Damian, Jason & Steph bonding road trip AU that warms your heart. Seriously, if you like any of these characters, you read this.

7.3 on a thin chain of moments and something like faith series by irnan

Jason really oughta know better than to talk to Bats.

Jason bonding with both Steph and Cass! Love it. It’s fluff and angst, which is hard to pull off together, but it works here. It also, in places, incredibly funny. I love re-reading it from time to time.

7.4 Tremor by LueurdeLaube

Nobody can tell Jason Todd that joking about his own death is not a valid coping mechanism.

Not about Jason being a bro per se but about Batfam and Jason so I hope it counts!

7.5. the lost sidekick society by redtruthed

The batkids make a group chat.

Chaos ensues.

One of the best groupchat AU for Batfam.

#Jason Todd #Damian Wayne #Cassandra Cain #Duke Thomas #Dick Grayson #Stephanie Brown #Tim Drake #Family #Siblings #Gen Fic #Batfam

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extraordinarilyextreme · 5 years ago

Text

finally watched Guardian (2018) and i need to talk

Warning: contains MASSIVE SPOILERS, probably too much music/song analysis, my poor translations from Chinese to English, and some references to the original novel (disclaimer: my novel-reading was mostly jumping around because i have a problem where I’m not fluent enough to read the original Chinese novel and I don’t usually like English translations)

1. the freakin opening theme: We Won’t Be Falling by Chen Xueran... (also I see you Tina Guo on the cello thank you queen)

the amount of chills i get every time an episode starts,,, fantastic! marvelous! the lyrics are very VERY apt to the story of Guardian, esp this drama adaptation

(“We are the one/We will be holding on/For the promise we held for life/For the people we love are leaving” ... “And the story will keep on going”)

1.1. the promise? may i direct you to novel chapter 75?

Shen Wei: “Sometimes I think if one day you can remember everything, then I will be able to say to you: look, I did it, I did all that I had promised you; not one bit did I miss, not one word did I go back on.”

they promise to keep the peace, to protect both Haixing and Dixing; and in the show, it’s a promise they keep with their lives

2. Zhu Yilong plays THREE characters and is able to differentiate them perfectly with particular microexpressions

-Ye Zun (literally, “Respect the Night”; “Lord/Master of the Night” would be a better title) sets off my fight-or-flight instincts even though i think his name tries a little too hard to be edgy; the way he sneers, the smiles that don’t reach his eyes, also that infamous tongue flick when Zhao Yunlan sees through the act... i think it’s both great and sad that Yunlan could differentiate the twins because, why, Shen Wei would never be so openly flirtatious (and wear a deep-cut shirt like that lol)... the delivery of “Xiao Yunlan” disturbed me so much—wonderful, stellar acting

-Black Cloaked Envoy: does his best to bend the rules where he can for the Dixingren because he’s just so fundamentally GOOD; he’s empathetic despite how stern and strict he seems to be, and how much he claims to enforce the clearly-cut laws... he’s an absolute babie ten thousand years ago (Yunlan, doesn’t it hurt your conscience to flirt with such a babie?)

-Shen Wei: in the novel, his name (both surname and first name) are given to him by Kun Lun’s incarnations—there’s a lot of power in naming something, in naming someone; he’s good-natured and gentle, always polite... he pushes up the glasses [that he doesn’t need] a lot, perhaps because he’s used to pushing up his mask as the Envoy

2.1. i find it very striking that Shen Wei dies without his glasses; he doesn’t die as the Envoy, he doesn’t die as the Professor; he dies as a person, as the person who loves Yunlan the most and has loved Yunlan for ten thousand years

2.2. the other notable moments we see Shen Wei without his glasses are where he apologizes to Yunlan [and Yunlan apologizes at the same time because they’re pining idiots] for not noticing the camera in his office, where he sets aside all his pride as Envoy and Professor and kneels in the rain for the man he loves (lwj kneeling after visiting the Burial Mounds, yea?), and of course after he slices up an orange [cuz food = love] only to find Yunlan asleep and drapes his jacket over the silly silly man... anyway, Yunlan is indeed the only person Shen Wei is comfortable enough to reveal everything to, all defenses and masks (literal and figurative) lowered

2.3. that last instance (ep 26) is when Shen Wei pulls out his necklace and reminisces as he gazes fondly at Yunlan; the song that plays during this is 《乱心曲》or “Chaotic Heart Song”... may I direct you to novel chapter 65 where Yunlan finds all the paintings and pictures his Xiao Wei has kept from the centuries?

“邓林之阴初见昆仑君，惊鸿一瞥，乱我心曲。” which translates to “In the shade of the woods I first saw Kunlun-jun; a glimpse of his grace wrought chaos in my heart’s song”

2.4. but also let’s not forget the [in]famous cut wrist scene of ep 23, where our dear Shen Wei, without glasses, as a person who loves Yunlan—not the aloof Envoy or the well-spoken Professor—is reduced to two words: “Worth it.” Yunlan is worth everything to him; this goes without question, without a second thought. Kun Lun (Yunlan) told him not to regret whatever decisions he’ll make, and Ye Zun scolds and laughs at his brother for giving up his life for a human/Haixingren, but of course Shen Wei doesn’t regret dying to protect Yunlan, dying to protect Haixing. (also, peep the behind-the-scenes where Shen Wei grabs Yunlan’s hand for a moment as he blocks the attack from Ye Zun)

2.5. on this same train of thought, Da Qing brings up a line from ten thousand years ago where Shen Wei claimed he would never kill unless it was for the world... and, well, he kills for Yunlan doesn’t he?

3. Bai Yu plays our charismatic Chief Zhao Yunlan/Kun Lun and hoo boy does he do an excellent job; the found family vibes of the SIU are spectacular and the way he flirts with tries to recruit Professor Shen is endearing and touching

3.1. there’s another piece from the OST called 《一点真心》, translated to “A Little Sincerity” though I would use “A Bit of a Sincere Heart” because it too references the novel

Kun Lun’s confession to Xiao Wei: “我富有天下名山大川，想起来也没什么稀奇的，不过就是一堆烂石头野河水，浑身上下，大概也就只有这几分真心能上秤卖上两斤，你要？拿去。” [I’m rich with famed mountains and endless rivers under heaven, but none of it feels rare when I think about it. It’s all just a pile of broken stones and uncultivated streams. From head to toe, there is probably only this bit of my sincere heart that is worth anything weighed on a scale. You want it? Take it.]

Zhao Yunlan’s confession to Shen Wei: “我别的东西也有，只是你可能大多都看不上，只有这一点真心……你要是不接着，那就算了吧。” [I have other things, only you probably would not think much of them. There’s only this bit of my sincere heart... If you don’t want to catch it, then forget it.)

And Shen Wei’s reply to Yunlan’s confession is of course “我接住了。” [I’ve caught it.]

3.2. the novel is a happy ending because Xiao Guo’s important role actually plays a part (i literally don’t understand why the show couldn’t do that after they built up so many expectations about his good character/merit/inability to be corrupted but ANYWAY)... Shen Wei, Xiao Wei, the little Ghost King has a soul and wow isn’t that just beautiful after everything he did to become worthy/deserving of Kun Lun’s attention and love

4. the Zhang Ruonnan and Wang Yike (death-touch Dixingren) case in ep 3 is an obvious parallel to the “brotherly” relationship of WeiLan... Shen Wei’s line of “Many tragedies were destined from the start” references the show of course but also the paradoxical precognition that marks the drama version of WeiLan; in both of their “first meetings”, one of them was always already in love with the other—Yunlan, as Kun Lun, knew he would have to return to his own time at some point and thus doom this impressionable young Envoy to ten thousand years of waiting and Shen Wei (honestly in a Code Geass Lelouch kinda style) knew he would have to die to defeat his brother

4.1. the importance of “touch” in this case alludes to novel WeiLan, where of course Shen Wei watched over all of Kun Lun’s incarnations but wasn’t allowed to get close to him because hungry ghosts would inevitably devour the essence of the people around them; similarly Yike was terrified of touching Ruonnan all this time... but Ruonnan accepted her (just like how novel Kun Lun lets this intriguing little Ghost King trail after him)

4.2. speaking of Shen Wei’s grand plans and the idea of “knowing”, Yunlan reminds him that “You are not a weapon/blade, you are a person.” and wow once again, only Yunlan can pull the humanity from Shen Wei, who has carefully crafted his disguise and personality to fit what people expect of the Envoy and the Professor... but alas, Shen Wei fulfills his promise by in fact making himself a weapon; he poisons himself to become a bomb that will take down his brother

4.3. as many qualms and complaints as I have with Chinese censorship, much in the case of WangXian, i think i prefer the drama version of WeiLan to the novel version; the plot of the Guardian novel is a lot better in my opinion (with references to mythology and legends, as opposed to, what, aliens?? mutants from X-Men? quirks in My Hero Academia??) and yea the relationship of Kun Lun with Xiao Wei is built up a lot better and makes more sense than the time-travel of Yunlan masquerading as Kun Lun with Shen Wei... but there’s an unadulterated, unconditional kind of love that runs through the drama, whereas the novel had some darker (though probably more realistic) vibes of near-possessiveness and ulterior motives... Kun Lun/Yunlan in the novel can be, well, cruel, which is not necessarily out of character; it’s just seems a little wrong to me that you could threaten your partner in a relationship (if you keep things from me again, i really will turn against you + had i known xyz would happen, i really should have killed you)... plus i’m always a sucker for love without an “i love you”, a love that’s conveyed entirely through actions and gazes

5. Yunlan asks Zhou Weiwei (the mirror case) where her jacket was bought because he “wants to get one for [his] girlfriend” and lo and behold, what similarly-styled and colored coat does our Shen Wei show up in a few episodes later? (also the fact that Shen Wei dies wearing this jade-ish-blue-ish coat)

6. boyfriend jacket during the Moutain-River Awl case... boyfriend jacket!!!! Shen Wei claims he doesn’t need it and well he still wears it anyway because Yunlan’s love is unstoppable

6.1. the way Shen Wei grabs Yunlan’s elbow before running down the hill

6.2. Shen Wei being so freaking fine-tuned to Yunlan’s discomfort/pain as always that he drinks wine for him (and passes out immediately—heroics/bde of yllz! wwx and the alcohol tolerance of our dear lwj)

6.2.1. when Minister Gao brings up Yunlan’s dad and the Chief’s hands tighten... and of course nothing can go by Shen Wei, so he changes the topic of the conversation; also the way he leans forward as if to shield Yunlan

6.2.2. Yunlan is similarly Aware of his boyfriend’s boundaries; cue him politely excusing themselves from the dinner with Vice-Minister Guo when Shen Wei (of all people!) fumbles with his chopsticks

6.2.3. Yunlan also blocks Shen Wei from Minister Gao’s sight (subconsciously?) after that wedding showdown... even though he’s unhappy that Shen Wei has kept the identity of the Envoy from him, he trusts the other man enough to recognize there must be a reason; thus he doesn’t want other people to pry into the possibility that Shen Wei is a Dixingren

6.3. also, also that Shen Wei lets Yunlan have his way and use him as a pillow in the car once again (he also adjusts the actual pillow beneath Yunlan’s head to make it more comfortable)

6.3.1 the other Shen-Wei-is-Yunlan’s-pillow scene is when the professor picks up the poor hurting Chief off the road and in the taxi ride home... apparently this was an improvised scene from Bai Yu who just wanted to mess with Long-ge and our great Zhu Yilong just stayed in character and ran with it

6.3.2. the other notable improvised scene is the cute “Black Cloaked gege~ please be careful~ there’s someone is waiting for you at home~” [sorry that i don’t remember the exact line] but once again our great leading actors just stay perfectly in character

6.4. after Shen Wei wakes up from a night of being drunk (lol) Yunlan has left a note for him “I’ve gone back first, stay in touch. -Zhao” and what’s that on the corner of the note? why it’s a winky face

7. when Yunlan grabs the fake Zhang Danni’s wrist to confirm his suspicions, Shen Wei narrows his eyes... (lol is our Black Cloaked gege jealous)

8. when Yunlan claims he can swallow the painkillers dry, Shen Wei clenches his jaw in his anger at this idiot of a man for not taking better care of himself... you’ll find that a lot of Shen Wei’s anger is directed toward his husband being a self-sacrificial fool

8.1. after Yunlan uses the Hallows again and his nose begins to bleed, Zhu Yilong in all his acting glory has Shen Wei furious to the point that his lips tremble (cue Shen Wei angrily shoving a handkerchief into his husband’s face) [i really want to know if they ever broke character during this scene due to their proximity lol]

8.1.1. Shen Wei all but invades Yunlan’s personal space (he really does stand there between Yunlan’s legs guys) and he’s so careful even though he’s angry as he tries to stop the nosebleed; he’s aware the force might tip Yunlan backwards, so he immediately rests his hands on Yunlan’s thighs/knees to steady him

9. Yunlan has claimed that he doesn’t do things for the sake of gaining anything in return and yet every time he’s wanted things from dear Shen Wei... “take off your mask and smile for me”, “join the SID”... the sexual tension is Unreal during these scenes lol, you can see Shen Wei swallow visibly in anticipation + babie Shen Wei of ten thousand years prior all but chokes on his words when he promises to do ANYTHING Kun Lun wants him to do (honey where is your mind GOING???)

9.1. Bai Yu does have a bruise on his knee after the scene where Yunlan asks Shen Wei for something... dunno if it’s the actor’s bruise or the character’s bruise, but if it’s the character’s bruise—how did he get it? what exactly did WeiLan do that evening lol

9.2. also peep the fact that Yunlan almost always has a lollipop in his mouth when talking to Shen Wei... oral fixation much? (also the whole sequence where he tries to explain how to eat a lollipop to babie Shen Wei, wow the amount of homoerotic tension)

9.3. babie Shen Wei’s ears and cheeks are SO RED when Yunlan snatches the mask off his face

10. Yunlan’s hairstyle changes after Shen Wei joins the SIU (joins his family), much like how a bride would change her hairstyle after marriage in China ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (random note but CQL WangXian does this too when lwj puts his hair down/styled over the front of his shoulders when wwx wakes up 16 years later)

11. the first time we see Shen Wei spit up blood, there’s an echo of “Xiao Wei” faintly and Shen Wei mutters to himself “Xiao Lan” before looking up and saying louder “Zhao Yunlan” (nicknames/pet names/names only your family or lover can call you... this trope is good)

11.1. i also think a lot about how in the novel Kun Lun muses before he dies that it’s a shame he won’t see this Little Beauty [Xiao Wei] grow up to be a Great Beauty

12. Shen Wei’s funny little eyebrow raise when Yunlan accidentally reveals he broke into the professor’s apartment once ( “riiiiiiiiight i definitely believe you”)

12.1. though the ep 23 scene is angsty, the fact Yunlan says “It’s the middle of the night, were you hungry?” seems to imply their relationship is a lot closer than just neighbors... they’re probably used to sharing an apartment/room at this point :)

13. when Yunlan is hurt, Zhu Hong looks to him but he only has eyes for Shen Wei

13.1. after Yunlan is blinded, Zhu Hong is the one cradling him but he calls for Shen Wei first and reaches for his hand; Shen Wei of course responds immediately “it’s me”

13.1.1. both times after Yunlan gets his eyesight back, the first thing he sees is the person who loves him the most

14. Shen Wei warms up the congee in the morning with his magic after he watches over Yunlan when his stomach pain acts up (domestic use of magic? yes please)

15. the bomb defusing scene in the hospital (video game -> reality case) really is framed like a wedding proposal... also the way that Shen Wei smirks lol he’s so proud of his husband

16. after his Envoy identity is revealed, Shen Wei all but abuses his Black Cloaked Envoy voice to stop his stupid husband from doing stupid things that will hurt himself and every time Yunlan is properly sh00k by it

16.1. we really go from Chief Zhao remarking in the Mountain-River Awl case that he’s used to ordering people around, not receiving orders to married bickering with Shen Wei to then agreeing to everything Shen Wei tells him to do

17. the fact that “Shen Wei, ah, Shen Wei... You are such a good person, how could I bear to let you go?” is an actual line from the censored DRAMA astounds me, nevermind that Shen Wei just made breakfast for his man and Yunlan is basically pouting up at him from the bed

17.1. the way Yunlan’s dad warns him to stay away from Shen Wei and Yunlan responds with something like “he’s sincerely good to me, I want to be with him”... “be with him”???? [inhales deeply] yea this is definitely a “brotherly relationship”

18. Yunlan’s “WOW” after the Envoy kills the monsters in the cave of the Mountain-River Awl case is hilarious and i dont understand how such a noise is physically possible,,, it sounds like a growl?????

18.1. Zhu Yilong was asked to mimic it during an interview (which he did not do and only half-heartedly gave a “wow”) and then Bai Yu did it again

19. also i inevitably got attached to the side ship of Lao Chu and Xiao Guo... they have so much skinship for a censored “brotherly relationship” lmao

the amount of face-touching and hand-holding that they do is unreal... they’re more canon than WeiLan in the drama adaptation methinks

20. 《时间飞行》or “Flying Across Time” sounds like Yunlan’s reply to Shen Wei’s《只是太在意》or “Just Cared Too Much”

20.1. the lyrics of both these songs really cements this idea that both of WeiLan believe the other to be too good... Kun Lun was a god in the novel, and Xiao Wei was just a soulless little Ghost King... and then we have the incorrigible Chief Zhao pining after the beautiful and kind Professor Shen... i just have a lot of feelings about them becoming better people for each other, that their love really does make each other stronger

21. my favorite two pieces from the OST are Shen Wei’s theme (arranged by Kun Luo) and Kun Lun’s theme (arranged by Chen Xueran)

head’s up: it’s been like four years since i last even glanced at music theory so a lot of this might just make no sense to an actual professional

-Shen Wei: written in 4/4 time, Ab Major, melody is primarily carried by piano + strings; the piano almost sticks exclusively to triplets whereas the strings are in steady whole, quarter, and eighth notes—which creates in interesting impressionistic effect, kind of like hazy smoke or the ripples across the surface of a lake; every single measure uses decrescendo, so the first triplet is always the loudest and the three that follow get progressively softer (mimicking an echo)... the piece ends on the seventh note of the scale, which is usually a pretty awkward place to end and yet it doesn’t feel wrong it all; the piece uses a ritardando in the last three measures, and we simply drift off with that last G... i think it’s a beautifully written piece that perfectly portrays such a complex character as Shen Wei, someone who loved with everything he had, and was just so overwhelmingly good... and then he simply disappears as if the dream has ended. it makes me think of how he guarded over Kun Lun/Zhao Yunlan for thousands of years in the novel, never ever ever daring to meet him... and yet the other man always felt like he was waiting for someone

-Kun Lun: written in 3/4 time, a minor, there’s no real complex shift in the melody although there’s brief modulation into E major (dominant/fifth note); it’s a fairly somber piece, especially when the strings join in... it’s a steady waltz, and it finishes with the scale (second to last major is g, last major is a), like a circle coming back around [like their love story perhaps?]... there’s a finality to it, a completeness, a wholeness, which makes sense in the drama-verse because the moment Yunlan takes up the name of Kun Lun is when his love story with Shen Wei all fits together. the piece feels a little lonely in its minor key and all, a little sad, indeed as if you were standing at the top of a mountain surrounded by clouds and mist... the constant meter also reminds me of like the steady drip of water, the perpetual and inevitable passage of the days and time

-i don’t really understand how because the keys of the two pieces don’t fit together easily, but somehow it doesn’t feel wrong to play the pieces back to back; the melodies of both seem to call upon each other despite the differences in key and time signature, so it actually feels right. a circle without a beginning or an ending, wouldn’t you want your love to be so infinite?

-when yunlan finds shen wei in their bubble outside of time, when shen wei is about to leave him, shen wei is wearing the outfit of their first meeting. and the lyrics go “Across time, I am in the same place”... surely, they will find each other again.

#guardian #cdrama ramblings #zhenhun #镇魂 guardian

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theluckyyyoneee · 5 years ago

Text

Unforeseen Forecast

A bet that Sehun thought would be too easy to win turned out to be harder than he thought...

High School AU (Playboy Oh Sehun)

Pairing: Sehun x Reader

Genre: Angst/Fluff (pure angst this time around)

Word Count: 2.4+k

not my gif^

From that unexpected and unwelcome visit from your father, your feelings of revenge only intensified, pushing you back into the right mindset that you had somehow let Sehun push you out of with his perfect smile and practiced gaze of warmth.

Willing yourself to somehow forget about the slightest ounce of guilt you had begun to feel from playing the same game he was playing with you, you managed to hide your distaste from him, replacing them just in time with innocent smiles and allowed him to give you kisses and embrace you-which might have fooled you before, but thanks to your newfound resolve, you knew better than to fall back into that trap.

You agreed to go anywhere he wanted and cuddled close to him wherever you went-when appropriate-studying his expressions and body language with a close eye and smirked inwardly to find him become uncharacteristically shy. Eyes squeezing shut with a seemingly genuine smile gracing his lips, his body would mold into yours, his arms cinching tight around your form.

It seemed to be going well, and now that there was only about two weeks left or so before the three months were up, you could only imagine how uneasy he was feeling, often catching him gazing off into the distance, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth with that infamous furrow between his brows.

However... there were things you couldn’t help but worry about.

Sehun was an even better actor than you were.

You obviously weren’t the first girl he had managed to trick with his faultless expression and the sweet nothings he had perfected over the years of deceiving and repetition.

So even if there was a possibility that you had somehow moved him, swayed him, got him to fall for you along the way... there was really no way for you to know for sure.

You couldn’t just ask him, “Hey, I know this is only apart of the bet, but when you inevitably say those three words, will their meaning hold any real value to them?”

He had to act like he was in love with you anyway, and it drove you crazy not knowing if it was all just a horrible act... or would you really hurt him in the end?

You couldn’t help but think about the many nights out on the cliff on the hood of his car, tangled in each other’s embrace as the two of you discussed the trauma you two encountered during your childhood and finding comfort in one another.

He had seemed so sincere...

Then it brought you right back to where you started. He played with countless girl’s emotions, rendering them to tears and humiliation... so shouldn’t he experience the same fate?

Or should you stop while you were ahead and face the fact that you had to go to therapy for subjecting someone through this for what your father did years ago?

Groaning, you let your head flop into the palms of your hands, a migraine no doubt starting to form the more you got lost in your thoughts.

Ugh, maybe you should just stop this whole thing.

The sound of your phone vibrating against your counter had you lifting your head and you reached for the rectangular device with unsteady hands.

From: Sehun Want to come over? I have something to tell you

Your heart was trying to jump out of your chest as you read and reread the last six words of his text, countless scenarios playing out in your head as you tried to decipher what it could be that he had to tell you.

... Would he confess that it’s been a bet all along?

Or would he confess to you something different entirely?

Typing then deleting, the same tedious action, you finally sent a reply before heading to the bathroom, your stomach in knots at the thought of how tonight was going to end.

From: You Yeah, how about seven?? I have something to tell you too just send me the address and I’ll meet you there

“Why are we at your house?” You quizzically uttered as Sehun ushered you into his pitch black house that seemed more fitting to be a mansion rather than a home.

He offered a weak and nervous laugh in return, reaching around to scratch at the hairs at the back of his neck-his tell that you always found him doing when he was anxious. “I wanted us to be somewhere where we could talk in private, with no one spying in on our conversation.”

“What do you mean?” You slowly got out, his words not sitting right in the pit of your stomach as your corneas stung as he suddenly and silently flipped the switch to the light, and all you could see was white before the surroundings became clear to you. “Wow.”

You completely forgot about the tenseness that seemed to have made a permanent home in your joints as you ogled at the glamorous dining and living room that graced your eyes.

Sehun’s house looked like it belonged in a magazine for fancy living, the leather couches, gigantic television, spotless glass tables and china displayed perfectly in a huge cabinet that tied the whole ambiance together... though, you noted with some sadness that although it looked lovely, it was like this was a model home.

It looked like no one lived here.

Envisioning your much less glamorous living and dining room, you didn’t have the latest and nicest appliances... but it felt like a home. You could tell from the numerous frames that contained pictures of you, your brother, your mother, and just about every other relatives in the family. As you wandered farther, the sorrow further implanted itself in your chest as you saw not one picture of Sehun or of his father, or anyone.

“Yeah, everyone has the same reaction whenever they see my house for the first time,” Sehun’s tight piped from behind you and you jumped as you somehow forgot his presence, him offering a tight lipped smile as he slowly led you to the couch that you were admittedly a bit afraid to sit in. “I’m sorry, you can look around more later if you want, I just... I have something to tell you and I have to tell you now because what I’m about to tell you... is important to me.”

You were sure he could very well hear the violent thump thump thumping of your heart, as you two sat facing each other, the air heavy with anticipation and tension.

He was going to tell you about the bet.

He was going to confess...

... and you’d forgive him.

If he confessed, it had to mean that he at least felt guilty, right? That would prove to you that he wasn’t as selfish and uncaring as you made him out to be, right?

That you could overlook his past, and yours, and learn to overcome your fears of love and commitment... with him.

“I love you.”

Those three words rendered you motionless, as if you had just turned to stone, unblinking and your breath caught in your throat as you stared at him, his own seemingly worried eyes staring right back at you, flitting over every inch of your face, trying to decipher anything that would give away what you were currently feeling.

At first, your heart just about burst with joy.

He loved you, he told you himself!

You two could make it work, everything would be alright...

Then, came the recollection of certain words that had been said when they thought you weren’t listening.

“She looks like a loner who hasn’t had the attention of a male in a long time.”

“We’ll give you three months to have her say, ‘I love you’, and we’ll give you whatever you want.”

“Fine, but I don’t think I’ll need all three months. I bet I can get her to say it in one.”

So in the end, it was all about the bet for him.

Trying your best to not let your expression falter in front of him, trying your best to not let the damn tears fall and not to show how your heart was breaking, you snatched your hand from his and jumped up from the couch like something had bitten you.

Sehun’s hand lay motionless on the seat of the cushion, flinching at your sudden movement away from him, his expression turning into one of puzzlement as you muttered, “I can’t do this anymore.”

Mouth fluttering open and shut, he mumbled with a thick voice, “What?” You had his full attention, his entire form crestfallen as you forced yourself to repeat yourself, this time a bit more clearly. “Why?”

That one word broke your heart and you wanted to take your words back and take him into your arms, knowing his feelings were fake and he was only acting to win that stupid bet, but... you wanted to take him in your arms all the same, ready to torture yourself for his sake.

But it was killing you and you really couldn’t do it anymore.

How dumb of you... for thinking you could ever change his heart.

And shame on you... for knowing what a self-centered, egoistic person he was and falling for him anyway.

As much as you wanted to believe him and his words, you knew better, though it was a bit too late. He slowly stood up as well, movement slow and heavy as if you would run away if he moved too quick, his eyes trained on your face. “I’ve never felt this way for anyway, I’m serious. I really... love you, Y/N.”

Love?

You wanted to laugh in his face.

Did he expect you to say it back?

And once you did?

He’d wipe that pitiful look right off his face and snicker with that evil smirk he pulled off so well.

Then he’d tell you what you already knew... but you’d beat him to the punch.

“I know about the bet.” You admitted softly, silencing his trembling lips and froze him where he stood, his face began to turn desperate as he shook shake his head back and forth, brows furrowing as he refused to take his eyes off you for even a second. You smiled softly at him as you whispered, nodding in encouragement, “So you can stop pretending now.”

Heavy breaths leaving his lips, he attempted to say something, but only could continuously shake his head, as if not believing any of this was happening right now. His eyes still had yet to leave your face, and you swore you could see tears in his eyes, the usual liveliness and sparkle in his eyes long gone and replaced with an emptiness.

He must be so upset you rid him of his gloating opportunity, his big chance to tell you that all this was a sick joke.

“How?” He uttered that single syllable with such brokenness your own brows furrowed at how devastated he sounded.

“I’ve known all along. I overheard you, Baekhyun and Jongdae talking about me in the classroom that day. That I’d be a really fun bet.” You kept strict hold of your expression, glaring at him as he sputtered in front of you, taking a step back as he stumbled one towards you, shame splayed on his face at your withdraw from his advances.

“I’m so sorry, Y/N, I’m so sorry, I...” he croaked, covering his face with his hands as he tried to gain control of his erratic breathing. Your carefully managed stoic expression began to crumble as you watched him break in front of you.

This is what you wanted. You wanted him to feel the same as all the other girls before you felt, you wanted revenge; not only for you, but for them as well.

But the pain in your chest reminded you that hate was not all that was felt from you to this beautiful but blemished, damaged man.

“What are you sorry for?” You questioned with faux casualness. His head shot up from his hands, and your heart constricted with the visual of the tears drying on his cheeks. “I got what I wanted. You crying over me the way all those girls cried over you. Really, I should be thanking you for granting me my wish.”

You were taking it too far, bile wanting to rise up your throat the moment the false words left your mouth, your body wanting to curl up into itself the moment you heard a sob leave him, the moment you saw him crumble to his knees as he looked up at you in apparent agony.

“You were just pretending this whole time?” He downright pleaded with you with his dejected gaze, urging you to admit that you were really lying.

“Just like you were,” you retorted with a hard expression, crossing your arms over your chest as you gazed at him with an unwavering stare.

Sounds of protest left him as he shook his head, his expression turning frantic as well as his tone. “No! No, I... A-At first, yeah okay, I was pretending, but...” he trailed off, licking his lips as he helplessly shuffled closer to you, grabbing hold of your hand before you could pull away. “the more I got to know you... your beautiful smile and your kind soul, Y/N, I fell for you so fast.”

Not letting yourself fall back into his trap, you shook yourself out of his tight hold. “Yeah, right. Just admit it, I was just another bet to you.”

“I swear you weren’t!” He sobbed, head bent so all you could see was his lean frame tremble with his cries, and you stopped yourself just in time to keep from running a comforting hand through his hair-something you knew always calmed him down. “I don’t even care about the bet anymore, I swear. I love you Y/N, I really do.”

“Yeah, well...” you trailed off nonchalantly, each fiber of your being wanting to destroy itself, you knew you weren’t going to be able to hold it together much longer, you had to end this. “I don’t love you, since this was all a joke and all.”

He continued to shake his head, his hiccups and sobs mixing together and you let a tear drop before you shakily wiped it away quickly before he could see. “Looks like you didn’t win the bet after all, what a shame. I’ll let myself out, leave you to... sort yourself out.”

Keeping your cries to yourself as best you could, you opened the door which seemed a ton heavier than it did when you first arrived, you turned back to see him in the same position, his cries having quieted down a little as you uttered something true, “If you really do love me, you’d leave me alone.”

guys i think i went too far and now im depressed. gonna have to write something rlly light and fluffy to get rid of this mood :’( lmk down in the comments what u thought and if u wanna be tagged for the last part, also if u want an angsty ending or fluffy ending? debating on which ending to choose... thank u to all who are still reading this series i love yall!

#exo #exo au #exo angst #exo bias #exo drabble #exo edit #exo fic #exo fanfiction #exo fluff #exo imagine #exo reactions #exo scenarios #exo sehun #exo oh sehun #oh sehun #sehun #sehun scenario #sehun series #kpop scenarios

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chuffyfan87 · 5 years ago

Text

An Offer I Can't Refuse. Part 1a (NSFW)

Cowritten with @fairheads. Set during Series 5. What started as a joke takes a serious turn...

-x-

“Can’t stop thinking about that little boy though...”

“Yeah, what you parents go through hey?”

“Ah, you’ll find out one day...”

“Oh no I won’t!”

“Oh yes you will...”

“Oh no I won’t...”

“Making me an offer I can’t refuse!?”

-x-

It had been a silly offhand joke but for some reason it had stuck in her head ever since, even three weeks later.

Tonight was a rare night to herself. Her mum had offered to have Peter for the night so Duffy had decided to see if Charlie fancied a couple of drinks and a catch up down the pub. A rare treat for both of them these days, what with Duffy busy attempting to balance single motherhood with her responsibilities as Sister and Charlie always engaged in one fight or another with the suits upstairs.

Charlie was excited to spend some long overdue time with his best friend and arrived earlier than her. He pulled up a bar stool and ordered a pint, chatting to the bar man.

Duffy eventually arrived about half an hour later, looking a little flustered. Deep down she knew that Charlie wouldn't really care but it had been such a long time since she'd been out on a night out that she'd wanted to make an effort.

“Hey Duffy,” Charlie greeted her, pulling up another bar stool. He noticed that she seemed flushed and a little stressed out, but decided not to mention it.

"Is that mine?" She asked, indicating the wine on the bar.

“Of course,” Charlie smiled.

She picked it up and took a large gulp. "Ah!"

“How are things?” He asked tentatively.

"Fine." She replied dismissively.

“That good hey?” He could see right through her and she knew it.

Duffy rolled her eyes. "I'm just tired that's all." She shrugged, taking another sip of her drink as she sat down.

“You parents have a tough time with sleep hey!?” Charlie replied sympathetically.

"Especially when he doesn't seem to understand that night time equals sleep time."

Charlie grimaced, he couldn’t imagine having such interrupted sleep. “How is Peter?”

Duffy's face lit up. "He's great! He's really got a handle on crawling now. I don't think it'll be long before he's walking. Loves his food too."

Charlie smiled, he loved how animated Duffy became when talking about her son. “That’s great, is he talking much?” Charlie was oblivious to childhood milestones.

"He babbles a bit. I keep trying to get him to say mama but he's not quite there yet."

“That’s great! I’ll have to come and see if I can get him to say Charlie first..!” He laughed.

"You would too!" She giggled, nudging his arm.

“I so would!” He laughed again, she knew him well.

The conversation and drinks flowed easily until Duffy broached a topic that put Charlie ill at ease.

"So what happened with that pretty blonde you were seeing?" Duffy asked.

Charlie swallowed hard, he didn’t really want to go into it with Duffy but he knew that she probably wouldn’t let it go. “She called things off...” Charlie took another gulp of his beer.

"But you're such a great bloke, what was her problem?" By this point Duffy was getting a little tipsy.

“I ask myself that constantly... Every time I think I might have found someone, it just doesn’t work out.” Charlie looked down.

She squeezed his shoulder. "It will one day. Trust me, you'll look back years from now surrounded by the perfect wife and a bunch of lovely kids and wonder what you were worried about."

He smiled at her gratefully. “I’m not so sure all of that is going to happen for me Duffy. You know the wife and 2.4 children thing...” Charlie didn’t believe her at all.

"But you'd like it to?"

“Of course, there must be nothing better than having a little one of your own?”

"Despite the circumstances that led to me having him and the nights when he's such hard work he's hands down the best thing that's ever happened to me." Duffy grinned broadly.

“I can tell, you look so happy when you talk about him.” Charlie poked her affectionately. “I’m pleased for you Duffy.”

"I honestly do believe you'll be a dad one day."

“Oh really? Are you making me another offer?” He laughed dismissively.

"Would you take me up on it if I did?" She giggled.

“Hell yeah!” He laughed, still not really quite believing what she was asking.

"You're really that desperate to get your leg over?" She continued to giggle.

Charlie laughed back. “Not desperate, but you’re pretty hot, how could I resist!?”

"Thanks, I think..!" She giggled.

“Take it as a compliment,” He touched her arm, the beer clearly having a big effect.

"You understand I'm so not looking for a relationship right now though?"

“I know and us, well, that would be a bad idea right?”

"Totally bad idea!" She laughed.

“Another drink?” He pointed to her empty glass.

"You buying?" She smirked.

“Sure, another white wine?”

"I'm not gunna turn down a free drink!" She giggled.

“Well it’s my pleasure, always good to catch up with you Duffy.”

"Its nice to spend time outside of work talking to someone who doesn't just babble..." She giggled.

“Would you have any more children?” He pondered aloud.

"I don't want Peter to be an only child..." Duffy mused.

“Are you seeing anyone at the moment for there to be potential for that?”

Duffy snorted derisively. "Babies tend to put men off."

“You’ll meet someone Duffy and they’ll love you so much, it won’t matter at all.”

"Since when did you become the optimist out of the two of us?!"

Charlie laughed, “I know... Must be the beer!?”

"It'll be interesting to see if you still think this is a good idea when you're sober."

“What idea? What have I signed up to?”

"Me helping you become a dad."

Charlie looked taken aback. “Is that what we agreed?” He laughed nervously.

"You suddenly getting stage fright Fairhead?" She teased gently.

“Oh no, I just didn’t realise you were actually being serious!?”

"You'd be a great dad and I hate the idea of you missing out on that coz you can't get your act together when it comes to relationships."

“Wow you’re actually serious!? That must be strong wine Duffy!”

She snorted loudly.

“You’d really have a baby with me? How would that work?” Charlie asked.

"Well I don't know about you but I don't have the money lying around for a private clinic..." She shrugged.

“Okay, well me neither...”

"So that leaves the old fashioned way..." She giggled.

“Us having sex?” He asked in disbelief, it was secretly something he’d always fancied having a go at.

"Well yes..!" She giggled.

“Oh... Er... Okay, I mean... That sounds good? I mean...” Charlie stumbled over his words.

"Your enthusiasm is doing wonders for my ego!" She giggled, slurring her words slightly.

“Oh no, I think quite the opposite. I should just be quiet...” Charlie was also feeling quite tipsy and his words were not coming out right at all.

"Huh? You mean you do want to sleep with me?" She asked a little louder than she intended.

Charlie went bright red and didn’t reply.

Duffy broke into awkward giggles as she realised that half the people in the bar had turned around to stare at them.

Charlie could feel everyone’s eyes on him, so he just sank the rest of his pint.

Duffy necked her remaining wine and lent towards him. "Maybe we should take this elsewhere..?"

“I think that might be best,” Charlie replied and followed her out of the pub.

"Um... Mum's at mine with Peter..." She started hesitantly.

Charlie raised his eyebrows. “Did you want to come to mine then?”

"Yeh, sure."

Charlie spotted a cab waiting outside the pub, and motioned for Duffy to get in with him.

She slid across the seat and clipped her belt.

Inside the cab, Charlie told the driver his address and looked over at Duffy.

She smiled at him, not really sure what to say.

Charlie wasn’t really sure where the evening was going. As the taxi pulled up outside his house, he turned to Duffy. “Are you sure you want to come in? I mean, we can just have coffee?”

"We'd need to go inside to have coffee..." She giggled.

“You know what I mean,” Charlie laughed.

"Yes. So are you going to invite me in?"

Charlie was surprised by her confidence. “Sure, would you like to come in?”

"If you'd like me to." She smiled, giving him a wide eyed look.

Charlie nodded, taking his keys out from this pocket. He hadn’t anticipated anyone coming back with him and was mentally going through the state of his flat... Had he washed up? Were there dirty clothes all over the floor? His heart was racing.

"Not a big talker are you?" Duffy giggled.

“Can you just wait there for a moment?” He left Duffy at the door and ran around trying to quickly tidy his flat.

Duffy stood awkwardly at the door, her eyebrow raised. "I have been in your flat before Charlie!" She called after him.

“Not when it’s this messy you haven’t!” He shouted, throwing his laundry into a basket!

"Are you usually this house proud when you bring someone home from the pub?"

“Nope, just with you!” He yelled from the kitchen.

"Can I come in yet? It's fucking freezing out here!"

Charlie appeared, “Sorry. Welcome to my humble abode...” He laughed and welcomed her in.

"How kind!" She giggled, bobbing a curtsey, wobbling slightly.

“Coffee? Or wine?” He asked her as she settled herself on his sofa.

"Anymore wine and I'll end up totally squiffy..."

“Coffee then?” Charlie asked. “Or shall I just come and sit down?”

"Depends... What's your usual seduction technique?" She smirked.

“I’m not sure I have one, probably why it never ends well!” He laughed and went to sit down next to her.

"And he's me thinking you're quite the ladies man..!"

Charlie smirked, “I dont know what you’ve heard but it’s all wrong!”

"I am disappointed!" She pouted.

“Depends what you’ve heard I guess...” He winked.

"That you know what you're doing in the bedroom department." She smirked.

“I like to think I’m not bad... Very subjective though don’t you think?”

"I'll let you know in the morning!"

“Oh yeah.!?” Charlie laughed.

#chuffy #charlie and duffy #charlie fairhead #lisa duffin

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brajeshupadhyay · 5 years ago

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Thousands of us have picked up a surprise savings habit in lockdown, a Money Mail survey reveals today. The coronavirus crisis has inflicted job losses and pay cuts – and still threatens to kill off many struggling businesses. But despite the doom and gloom, many Mail readers have found they are saving hundreds of pounds thanks to lockdown, and becoming more financially secure as a result. Spending cuts: Despite the doom and gloom, many readers have found themselves saving hundreds of pounds thanks to lockdown and becoming more financially secure as a result Large expenses such as holidays, commuting costs and entertainment have vanished following unprecedented social-distancing restrictions – giving households the chance to set aside money during an economically uncertain time. Exclusive research for Money Mail by Consumer Intelligence today suggests 16 per cent of people now feel financially better off. Almost half are spending less since social-distancing restrictions were introduced, with 38 per cent saving more. Nearly four in five families say they have more money to spend since lockdown, with a quarter having between £200 and £500 more in disposable income each month. The findings come as figures from the Bank of England yesterday showed the nation saved £16.2 billion in April. In the six months to February households saved an average of £5 billion every month. What is more, households cleared an astonishing £5 billion of credit-card debt, which was more than double the previous record of £2.4 billion paid off in March. In a standard month the nation would usually clear £300 million of credit-card debt. Becky O’Connor, personal finance specialist at insurer Royal London, says: ‘A financial divide has opened up during lockdown. ‘While some are really struggling on reduced incomes, there’s another group whose experience has been almost the exact opposite. ‘If you are in a position to do so, there might never be a better time to ‘build back better’ and save.’ Here, Money Mail meets some of the nation’s new ‘accidental savers’. At last, I’ve managed to build a little nest egg By HENRY DEEDES All my life I’ve been a spender rather than a saver. Whatever I’ve earned during my career, my bank account has always puffed and wheezed its way through to pay day. I’ve tried to be sensible. I’ve opened saving accounts, dabbled in Isas. I even bought Premium Bonds once. Much good it’s done me. You see, any disposable cash I’ve ever had has this annoying habit of winking at me through the computer glass, urging me to go out and enjoy it. Terrible, I know, but there’s something innately therapeutic about rewarding yourself after a busy week with a little something. A case of wine, something new to hang in the flat. Perhaps another ill-advised addition to the summer wardrobe from a tempting online emporium. Invariably, no sooner have I clicked the purchase button and the boiler will suddenly crank to halt and there’ll be nothing in the cookie jar to pay for a repair. I never learn. Lockdown has changed all that. Like a lot of people, I imagine, being trapped inside an apartment for the best part of three months has brought about a vast reduction in expenses. No need now for expensive Travelcards, pricey gym memberships or all those overpriced cups of coffee every day. And that’s before you’ve taken into account what I used to spend going out to see friends. Remember socialising? Drinks rounds, restaurant bills. I dread to think how much I used to splurge on late-night Uber journeys during normal times. But it was a lot. And so with all these weighty charges lifted from my balance sheet, I’ve started to experience a novelty. When I check my balance at the end of the month, there’s now actually something left in the kitty. In the past I’d have been tempted to do something extravagant. ‘Why not?’ would have been my attitude. But in these times of enforced isolation, that thinking has been replaced with what’s the point? Instead, I’ve been putting it in an online investment Isa with savings app Moneybox. I pay a set amount in each month, as well as any additional funds I might have left over. It also has a nifty feature which rounds up all my debit card transactions to the nearest pound and automatically squirrels away the extra cash. H ow satisfying it has been, how oddly empowering. Each time I check to see how my savings are accruing I now get that same whoosh of excitement I used to get when an Amazon parcel would plonk through my letterbox. It would be nice to think that when this is all over, when the High Street tills begin to ring again and when the beer pumps start flowing, I will be able to maintain this spirit of restraint. If nothing else, this pandemic has taught us how quickly life can go south. In bleak times it pays to be prudent. Doubtless this is the last thing Chancellor Rishi Sunak wants to hear. As we re-emerge from lockdown, he needs as many idiots like me as possible flashing their plastic around with reckless abandon to get our ravaged economy moving. But if this crisis does make some a little more financially responsible, surely that’s no bad thing in the long term. I have cleared my credit card Olivia McCulla, who works in PR, has saved by moving back in with her parents By moving back in with her parents, Olivia McCulla, who works in PR, has saved enough to pay off her £1,000 credit card debt. She still pays £775 a month in rent for her flat in North-West London but gets £100 back that would usually go on bills because she isn’t there. Her £120-a-month travel costs and £150-a-week work lunch habit have also disappeared while she works from her parents’ home near Leeds. She has also saved thousands after the two hen-dos and four weddings she was supposed to attend this summer were postponed. However, she now has eight weddings in the diary next year to budget for. Olivia, 29, who wants to buy a property in the next few years, has opened a new savings account. She says: ‘It feels more important than ever to have a rainy-day fund with things being so uncertain. ‘In London I was paying £9.50 for a gin and tonic and through the nose for a very small flat I dread going back to. ‘Lockdown has made me question if I even want to buy in London.’ Before the coronavirus crisis, Olivia was saving about £100 a month. Her father Bernard, 65, and his wife Susan, 66, have seen their household costs rise slightly since their daughter moved home but are also saving money each month. They previously spent £100 eating out each week, so their bank balance is boosted by £400 a month. And instead of paying a tradesman £2,000 to replace his patio with a flower garden, Bernard did it himself and slashed the cost in half. Before social-distancing regulations were relaxed, Bernard was also saving £180 a month on his golf and walking-football memberships. He says: ‘We are very fortunate. Lockdown has made me think we should live more for today and enjoy our pensions more.’ I feel guilty I’m better off Quids in: Ashleigh Meale is saving between £500 and £700 a month Ashleigh Meale says her ‘stripped-back life’ means she is now saving between £500 and £700 a month. This is despite her grocery bill doubling to £400 a month and signing up to a TV and film- streaming service costing £60 a year. Before lockdown, the 27-year-old recruitment consultant, who is currently working from home, was putting away between £250 and £500 but would spend hundreds of pounds a month socialising with friends at expensive bars and restaurants. Now, she and her boyfriend Rob, 38, cook their meals from scratch at home. Ashleigh, who lives in Sheffield, is also saving £70 a month by working from home and not having to pay to commute by bus. She has also been unable to spend money on holidays since the Government warned against non-essential travel. Ashleigh admits that, while she is not a natural saver, she has now realised how much she spends unnecessarily and hopes to remain mindful about what expenses she reintroduces when restrictions are finally lifted. She says: ‘Feeling better off financially during this time is a strange position to be in and it does make me feel guilty when so many people are struggling. But it has given me time to re-evaluate things, and I have no intention of blowing what I’ve saved. ‘I don’t need to be out all the time spending money on eating out and drinks when I could be just as happy with a barbecue in someone’s garden. What I have missed the most is my friends — not the expensive socialising.’ Pay cut but £400-a-month saving Sally Walsh is saving an extra £400 a month on top of £200 she was already setting aside in a help-to-buy Isa Sally Walsh was worried when she was told she would have to take a 10 per cent pay cut in March. But despite the shock announcement, the 24-year-old engineer has found her finances have improved during lockdown. She is now saving an extra £400 a month on top of £200 she was already setting aside in a help-to-buy Isa. Since working from home, Sally has saved around £200 a month by not having to commute to central London, and a further £200 by not eating or drinking out after work. The only bill to go up is her food cost now she cooks almost every meal at home. Sally, who has lived with her parents in Bromley, South-East London since graduating, is determined to continue saving even after lockdown lifts. She says: ‘My goal is to move out as soon as possible. I feel like I am closer to it now. ‘I don’t have to spend so much on going out. I hope I will soon be able to have people over and cook for them.’ Childcare cut by thousands Claire Jarrett and her partner Jon Howell are saving £50 a day in train fares alone Claire Jarrett and her partner Jon Howell have saved enough since lockdown to pay for renovations on their home. The couple need to fix the roof on their house in West Malling, Kent, and want to make the garden more child-friendly for their one-year-old daughter, Eleanor, to play. Claire, 31, had only been back at work for two days after returning from maternity leave before staff were told they had to work from home. With Jon, also 31, working from home too, they are saving £50 a day in train fares alone by not having to commute to the insurance firm where they both work in Bromley, South-East London. They are also saving around £5 a day on lunches at work, £80 a month on petrol and £200 a month by not eating out. But their biggest saving has been on childcare. It usually costs £800 a month to send Eleanor to nursery — but the couple have not had to pay since March. It has helped the couple to replenish their savings after Claire’s maternity leave and move their renovation plans a bit further forward. However Claire says their financial gain is likely to be short-lived. She says: ‘Lockdown has made us realise we do not need to go out as much but lots of the costs will be re-introduced when life goes back to normal, unfortunately.’ Not relying on investments Retired Gerry Short is making savings by not playing golf, employing a cleaner or taking weekend theatre trips Retired Gerry Short has seen such a drop in his spending that he has decided to stop withdrawing income from his investments for the next couple of years. Gerry, 61, a former college principal, has two pensions that pay £20,000 a year. He gets a further £16,000 a year from investments. After the pandemic hit the stock market, his investments plummeted. While they have recovered slightly, he wants to give them time to recover. His reduced outgoings mean he can do this as he is making savings on weekend theatre trips which can cost up to £100 a time. He was refunded £60 of his golf-club membership. He also stopped spending £20 on drinks three or four times a week after games. The father-of-one, who lives in Leicestershire, also no longer employs a cleaner, which cost £100 a month. He says: ‘I was aware I was spending a lot as a distraction after my wife died and knew it couldn’t continue. Lockdown has given me time to plan further in the future.’ Windfall from lost holiday Dannielle Phillips has had to put expensive holiday plans on halt Dannielle Phillips, 32, spends most of her spare cash on trips away. But since lockdown kicked in, expensive holiday plans have ground to a halt. She has already got an £870 refund for a trip to Mexico that was supposed to take place in April. And she has received a £500 voucher she can use to re-book her holiday to Portugal in June for next year. Dannielle, a senior marketing consultant, had always put £250 a month into Premium Bonds, but has since increased this to £750 a month. Since lockdown began, she has saved around £2,500 in total, which she says would have been impossible for her before. She has always checked her banking apps frequently, but is definitely more aware of incoming and outgoing transactions now. Dannielle, who lives in Croydon, South London, says she also feels very lucky it worked out like this because she had originally handed in her notice in February and was planning to leave after finishing a project six weeks later. But the new job she had been offered fell through so her company agreed to rehire her. Dannielle says: ‘I am looking forward to lockdown ending but also dreading it because I will need to rebalance old habits. ‘I’m going to try to budget more at the weekends because I want to keep saving to buy a house. ‘Building up my savings has become more important to me because the future feels so uncertain.’ [email protected] Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence. The post UK’s accidental savers: Poll shows many are better off in lockdown appeared first on Sansaar Times.

http://sansaartimes.blogspot.com/2020/06/uks-accidental-savers-poll-shows-many.html

#SEO #Local SEO training #daily news paper #daily news india #daily news newspaper #technology news a

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moneyhack-blog1 · 5 years ago

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5 Simple Strategies for How to Save Money This Year

Cash doesn't come simple, and sadly, neither does getting it. Regardless of whether it's a past-due bill or a heap of understudy credit obligation, the vast majority of us need to fight with monetary issues every day

What's more, our reserve funds rates are looking entirely terrible. Toward the finish of a year ago, the individual investment funds rate in America dropped to simply 2.4 percent, its most minimal level in over 10 years. With financial issues like compensation stagnation and an unstable securities exchange, individuals may be less disposed to spare, however sparing is as yet significant.

There are a lot of techniques, methodologies, and general guidelines to assist you with arriving at your cash objectives. All things considered, the entirety of the choices may be overpowering — maybe you don't have the foggiest idea where to begin. Try not to stress, we have you secured. The following are five of the least difficult however best procedures for how to set aside cash, as indicated by the specialists.

1. Track your spending

First of all. On the off chance that you need to set aside more cash and spend less of it, you need to know where that cash is going in any case. Web based planning apparatuses like Mint, You Need a Budget, or Personal Capital make it simple to follow your spending.

"Having that sort of visual preview of where you stand monetarily can fill in as a ground-breaking in-the-minute gut check when asking yourself inquiries like, 'Would i be able to manage the cost of it?' or 'Is this buy going to carry me closer to or push me further from my objectives?'" says individual money master Stefanie O'Connell.

At the point when you see every one of your buys in one spot, it's a lot simpler to assess where you stand monetarily. You can likewise observe precisely how your past choices have carried you to where you are today, O'Connell includes. For instance, you most likely have an inclination you eat out something over the top, however when you see exactly the amount you're going through on eateries consistently, that number can be a persuading eye-opener. "We can likewise utilize it as a measure going ahead," O'Connell says, "to keep tabs on our development as we start actualizing great money related propensities, such as expanding reserve funds and settling obligation."

2. Pay off obligation with the snowball technique

On the off chance that you will probably at last escape obligation this year, you're as of now in good shape — when you take care of your obligation, you free up your cash for money related objectives. There are two essential methodologies for kicking obligation: take care of your most noteworthy loan fee obligations first, or pay off your littler adjusts first. While the previous bodes well numerically, study after investigation shows that organizing your littlest adjusts, otherwise called the "snowball technique," is the best.

The snowball strategy was advanced by budgetary master Dave Ramsey. Rundown your obligations as indicated by balance, at that point handle the littlest parity first while you make least installments on every single other obligation. When your littlest parity obligation is paid off, utilize the cash you were throwing at that obligation to take care of the following littlest obligation, while making least installments on the others, etc, etc until you at long last arrive at obligation opportunity. The thought is, the point at which you've taken care of an obligation, you feel roused and ground-breaking, which gives you the energy to continue onward. Furthermore, as per the information, similar to this examination distributed in the Journal of Consumer Research, it works. Individuals are bound to stay with their obligation result objectives when utilizing the snowball strategy.

There's a proviso, however. One scientist said that the strategy works best "to the degree that a shopper's obligation accounts have comparative financing costs." Let's say one of your obligations has a somewhat higher parity than another, yet a greatly higher loan fee. All things considered, it bodes well to concentrate on the higher-loan fee obligation. Be intelligent about how you approach your obligation, yet recall: Personal money is mental, and snappy monetary successes can be an integral asset.

3. Pay yourself first

"PYF. Pay yourself first," proposes Samuel Rad, a guaranteed budgetary organizer and teacher at UCLA. "This is the possibility of continually removing a piece of your check and setting it aside before you burn through cash on different things." It's a simple to execute, on the grounds that you can robotize it. Set up a repetitive exchange from your checking to your investment account each payday. Regardless of whether it's simply $20 a check, odds are, you won't miss that cash however you will be charmingly astonished at your reserve funds after some time. "The PYF technique likewise guarantees that you don't wind up with 'more month left toward the finish of the cash,'" Rad says.

We've all been there: You get paid, go eat sushi, purchase that new top you need, and go out to see the films, just to acknowledge you probably won't have the option to take care of your vehicle protection tab this month. At the point when you pay yourself first, you don't have this issue. Most bill suppliers have programmed charge pay, and you can regularly assign a day every month you need that bill paid. Your vehicle protection bill is as of now paid, so your optional assets are constrained. As a rule, the thought is to ensure your spending needs are dealt with before you get an opportunity to spend that cash on less significant stuff (no offense to sushi).

4. Focus on a 10 percent reserve funds rate

In case you don't know the amount you ought to be sparing each month, focus on the 10 percent dependable guideline. "On the off chance that you normally spare 10 percent of your pay, regardless of the amount you procure, you will consistently have the certainty of realizing you are living inside your methods," recommends Carla Dearing, CEO of Sum180, a monetary health administration.

It's a ballpark number, so don't feel terrible in the event that you don't exactly meet that objective. Simply focus on 10 percent. What's more, in the event that you find that you need to spare much more, you can generally change this rate later. As Dearing calls attention to, it's ideal to consolidate this standard with the Pay Yourself First strategy. "In the event that this appears to be excessively troublesome, set up programmed bank moves for the start of consistently. By doing this, cash you have reserved to spare is moved from your checking to your bank account before you get an opportunity to spend it on something different," she says. "Consider sparing 10 percent as the manner in which you enable yourself to make progressing interests in your money related wellbeing, after quite a long time after year."

5. Attempt a no-go through month

Cash difficulties are fun since they transform great monetary propensities into a game. "Kick off your reserve funds battle with a no-go through month," recommends Dearing. "It's basic: Commit to a 30-day time of spending ONLY on necessities. Walk or bicycle to wherever as opposed to driving, take lunch to work each day, grasp free stimulation alternatives, such as investigating nearby stops." And in the event that you trip up, don't get disheartened. The objective is zero, however the general thought is to just go through less and spare some additional money.

The activity can likewise assist you with reconsidering a significant number of your costs and conceivably spend all the more carefully later on. "Not exclusively will you set aside a ton of cash during this one-month time span, you may end up reexamining old ways of managing money through and through and choosing you favor your very own inventive, minimal effort choices," Dearing says. "This activity can have a major effect in your own monetary record." Visit here if you are looking for more information.

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nasa · 7 years ago

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10 Things: Journey to the Center of Mars

May the fifth be with you because history is about to be made: As early as May 5, 2018, we’re set to launch Mars InSight, the very first mission to study the deep interior of Mars. We’ve been roaming the surface of Mars for a while now, but when InSight lands on Nov. 26, 2018, we’re going in for a deeper look. Below, 10 things to know as we head to the heart of Mars.

Coverage of prelaunch and launch activities begins Thursday, May 3, on NASA Television and our homepage.

1. What’s in a name?

"Insight" is to see the inner nature of something, and the InSight lander—a.k.a. Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport—will do just that. InSight will take the "vital signs" of Mars: its pulse (seismology), temperature (heat flow) and reflexes (radio science). It will be the first thorough check-up since the planet formed 4.5 billion years ago.

2. Marsquakes.

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You read that right: earthquakes, except on Mars. Scientists have seen a lot of evidence suggesting Mars has quakes, and InSight will try to detect marsquakes for the first time. By studying how seismic waves pass through the different layers of the planet (the crust, mantle and core), scientists can deduce the depths of these layers and what they're made of. In this way, seismology is like taking an X-ray of the interior of Mars.

Want to know more? Check out this one-minute video.

3. More than Mars.

InSight is a Mars mission, but it’s also so much more than that. By studying the deep interior of Mars, we hope to learn how other rocky planets form. Earth and Mars were molded from the same primordial stuff more than 4.5 billion years ago, but then became quite different. Why didn’t they share the same fate? When it comes to rocky planets, we’ve only studied one in great detail: Earth. By comparing Earth's interior to that of Mars, InSight's team hopes to better understand our solar system. What they learn might even aid the search for Earth-like planets outside our solar system, narrowing down which ones might be able to support life.

4. Robot testing.

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InSight looks a bit like an oversized crane game: When it lands on Mars this November, its robotic arm will be used to grasp and move objects on another planet for the first time. And like any crane game, practice makes it easier to capture the prize.

Want to see what a Mars robot test lab is like? Take a 360 tour.

5. The gang’s all here.

InSight will be traveling with a number of instruments, from cameras and antennas to the heat flow probe. Get up close and personal with each one in our instrument profiles.

6. Trifecta.

InSight has three major parts that make up the spacecraft: Cruise Stage; Entry, Descent, and Landing System; and the Lander. Find out what each one does here.

7. Solar wings.

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Mars has weak sunlight because of its long distance from the Sun and a dusty, thin atmosphere. So InSight’s fan-like solar panels were specially designed to power InSight in this environment for at least one Martian year, or two Earth years.

8. Clues in the crust.

Our scientists have found evidence that Mars’ crust is not as dense as previously thought, a clue that could help researchers better understand the Red Planet’s interior structure and evolution. “The crust is the end-result of everything that happened during a planet’s history, so a lower density could have important implications about Mars’ formation and evolution,” said Sander Goossens of our Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

9. Passengers.

InSight won’t be flying solo—it will have two microchips on board inscribed with more than 2.4 million names submitted by the public. "It's a fun way for the public to feel personally invested in the mission," said Bruce Banerdt of our Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the mission's principal investigator. "We're happy to have them along for the ride."

10. Tiny CubeSats, huge firsts.

The rocket that will loft InSight beyond Earth will also launch a separate NASA technology experiment: two mini-spacecraft called Mars Cube One, or MarCO. These suitcase-sized CubeSats will fly on their own path to Mars behindInSight. Their goal is to test new miniaturized deep space communication equipment and, if the MarCOs make it to Mars, may relay back InSight data as it enters the Martian atmosphere and lands. This will be a first test of miniaturized CubeSat technology at another planet, which researchers hope can offer new capabilities to future missions.

Check out the full version of ‘Solar System: 10 Thing to Know This Week’ HERE.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.

#NASA #space #InSight #lander #mars #spacecraft #Red Planet #interior #core #rocky planet #planet #Solar System #science #CubeSat #MarCO #Marsquakes #launch #May5 #CincoDeMayo

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bountyofbeads · 6 years ago

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Treasury Department designates China a ‘currency manipulator,’ a major escalation of the trade war

https://wapo.st/2yCQlaj

Treasury Department designates China a ‘currency manipulator,’ a major escalation of the trade war

By David J. Lynch, Gerry Shih, Jeff Stein and Damian Paletta | Published August 05 at 7:56 PM ET | Washington Post | Posted August 5, 2019 |

The United States and China traded blows in an unrestrained economic conflict Monday that sent stock markets plunging and threatened to inflict significant damage on a weakening global economy.

Late in the day, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin formally labeled China a “currency manipulator,” a largely symbolic slap at Beijing that is likely to deepen the growing animosity between the two trading partners.

The move, which President Trump had promised to take on his first day in office, only requires Treasury to initiate consultations with China. Beijing has long denied U.S. accusations that it keeps its currency undervalued to make its products more competitive on world markets.

Treasury’s announcement shortly before 6 pm capped an unnerving 24 hours that began with China allowing its tightly controlled currency to slide to an 11-year low against the dollar and continued through a near-1,000 point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

“This is a big policy mistake. We get recession because of policy mistakes like this,” said Allen Sinai, chief economist and strategist at Decision Economics. “China did not actively drive its currency down. It was a market-driven move. Secretary Mnuchin’s comments are totally political.”

On Wall Street, the Dow fell more than 767 points or nearly 3 percent , and Treasury yields plunged to their lowest mark in almost three years as investors anticipated trouble ahead.

The financial meltdown followed China’s decision to answer Trump’s latest tariffs by allowing its currency to fall past a key benchmark of 7 yuan-per-dollar level for the first time since 2008.

The central bank, the People’s Bank of China, downplayed the significance of the milestone but linked the drop to the dispute with Washington.

In Washington, the president accused the Chinese government of “currency manipulation” and said incorrectly that the yuan was near a “historic low.”

The currency move came after Trump announced new tariffs Thursday on an additional $300 billion in Chinese goods,

The latest maneuvers in Washington and Beijing underscored the stunning deterioration in relations since Trump said this spring that the two sides were on the verge of an “epic” trade deal.

“This puts us into a new phase and it’s not a good phase,” said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist for Bannockburn Global Forex. “It’s hard to see how there won’t be a lot of collateral damage.”

Trump’s push to label China a manipulator has been thwarted in the past by Mnuchin and former aides such as Gary Cohn, while being supported by Peter Navarro, a White House trade advisor.

Now, Trump thinks continuing to punish China will spur them to negotiate. But some aides fear his hardline stance will backfire, said one senior advisor who requested anonymity to discuss confidential discussions.

Aides have brought Trump charts to convince him that the currency charge is untrue, but the president remains firm in his beliefs, the official said.

“It’s a good step and long overdue, because China has been guilty of massive currency manipulation for 20 years, and they certainly deserve to be called out,” said Robert Scott, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think-tank.

China did routinely intervene in currency markets for about a decade until roughly 2013, but in recent years has not done so, several economists said. Its once sizeable global trade surplus is roughly one-tenth its 2007 size.

“It’s not accurate to call China a currency manipulator because market forces are driving their currency down. They are not intervening to push it down,” said David Dollar, a former Treasury Department official now at the Brookings Institution.

The administration’s plans were not clear, though some analysts suggested the president could use the designation to justify additional tariffs on Chinese goods. Mnuchin also plans to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund “to eliminate the unfair competitive advantage created by China’s latest actions,” Treasury said in a statement.

But the U.S. is unlikely to get much support. Just last month, the fund found in its latest annual assessment that China’s financial position “was broadly in line with the level consistent with medium-term fundamentals and desirable policies.”

A weaker Chinese currency will make products from the United States more expensive while making made-in-China merchandise more attractive. That will offset some of the effects of Trump’s planned 10 percent tariff, which is scheduled to go into force September 1.

The currency shift also will effectively counter the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cut by leading to tighter financial conditions in the United States, said Robin Brooks, chief economist of the Institute of International Finance.

For corporate executives, the latest developments in the U.S.-China dispute only make the global picture more unclear. The president’s tariffs on products from China and several other countries have made it difficult to predict future prices for key industrial components and ensure access to individual markets, said David Loevinger, managing director of Los Angeles-based TCW Group.

“The big risk is it adds another element of uncertainty into the global economy,” said Loevinger, a former Treasury Department official. “Right now, when business thinks about making a big investment, they look around the world and see uncertainty everywhere.”

Consumers watching the stock market sink will likely respond by cutting discretionary spending, removing another key prop from the slowing economy. “Consumption is in many ways the bedrock of our economy,” said Brooks.

Dollar,who was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing from 2009 to 2013, said: “This is clearly bad for the U.S. economy . . . You’re throwing a lot of sand in the wheels of commerce. You’d expect things to slow down globally and it’ll certainly be felt by Americans.”

Unlike some currencies whose values are freely dictated by supply and demand, China’s central bank sets a daily target price around which the renminbi, also known as the yuan, can fluctuate. The bank steps in when the price strays too far. For a decade, it has not allowed the renminbi to fall past 7 to the dollar, which financial markets consider a psychologically important threshold.

China’s central bank blamed “unilateralism, trade protectionism and tariff expectations imposed on China” for the change in exchange rate.

China’s central bank said it was confident it could keep the currency at a “reasonable and balanced level.”

Trump has long complained that the renminbi is too weak and the dollar too strong. He has lobbied the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates to help U.S. exporters and boost the U.S. stock market.

Setser said the president has limited tools to bring about a lasting dollar decline. But even an unsuccessful currency market intervention could rattle the global economy.

“It would signal that the U.S. is not willing to be a global locomotive in a world that still needs a global locomotive,” he said. “The risk is the world economy would end up with no locomotive.

China, for its part, has argued that it has kept its currency at a reasonably high level to assuage U.S. concerns. It also fears that a tumbling currency could spark panic about its slowing economy and trigger an outflow of capital.

Beijing is expected to try to prevent an unrestrained plunge by the yuan, fearing it would encourage Chinese citizens to take their wealth out of the country, economists said.

Currency markets this year have broad dollar strength. The greenback, reflecting the U.S. economy’s relative strength and nine Fed interest rate increases, has risen against the euro, the British pound and other major currencies .

The yuan has actually held up better against the surging dollar. Its year-to-date decline against the dollar of 2.4 percent is much less than the currencies of two U.S. allies, the Taiwan dollar at 3.4 percent and the South Korean won at 8.6 percent.

“The Chinese have been resisting the pressure,” said Chandler. “Trump’s tweets last week and his insistence on talking the dollar down made them just give up. They surrendered to market forces.”

Trump’s latest tariff escalation, which the president announced Thursday on Twitter, sparked a rush of Chinese state media commentary suggesting that the Chinese government was caught flat-footed. State media lashed out at the United States on Sunday, accusing it of negotiating in bad faith and suggesting that Beijing may hold out from negotiating further with the Trump administration.

Beijing appeared to mount other forms of retaliation on Monday. The government has asked state-owned firms to stop their U.S. agricultural purchases, according to a Bloomberg report Monday that was widely cited by Chinese media. The crop purchases, which would benefit states that comprise Trump’s political base, were to be a sign of Chinese goodwill as trade talks progressed.

Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau, called the Chinese move “a body blow to thousands of farmers and ranchers who are already struggling to get by.”

Agricultural exports to China fell $1.3 billion during the first half of the year, he said, adding that the organization fears it will lose access to a market that was worth almost $20 billion to farmers in 2017.

“It isn’t clear right now that either side has a plan for de-escalation,” said Setser. “What makes this different is how quickly both sides are ratcheting up the threats.”

Joshua Dawsey, Taylor Telford and Heather Long contributed reporting

#u.s. news #politics #donald trump #trump administration #politics and government #president donald trump #white house #us: news #republican politics #international news #world news #Treasury Department #china #china news #financial news #trump trade war

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lunacalf · 7 years ago

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Rooftop | j.jk

pairing: Fem!Reader x Jeon Jungkook type: a bit of angst, fluff, typical romance w.c. : 2.4 k

The icy chill of the weather was somehow bearable, the agonizing cold of winter was close to an end as spring was fast approaching with its bright, blooming colors. Currently preoccupied with the amount of books on your side, you claimed to have a busy day ahead of studying before the day of finals would come.

The library gives no empty seats as a lot of students have been occupying the stalls since the early morning, leaving little to no breaks for breakfast nor lunch. And though that it was unhealthy, you can’t seem to bother your stomach growling as of the moment as you kept on memorizing unfamiliar words that might appear on your exam next week.

It was eerily quiet through the day, as you got to force yourself to leave the vicinity during the dusk. You aren’t keen on bringing the heavy, hard-bounded textbooks of yours as you detoured upstairs towards the row of lockers on the fourth floor. Breathing out a heavy sigh, you let go of the books within your clutch and onto the tiled floor before unlocking your compartment.

You expected to find your locker to have a large portion of space underneath, but you were surprised to discover a yellow note, folded in secrecy of its contents. Your hand itched to unfold it, but due to your tired expression, you only kept it within the pocket of your bag and proceeded with dumping the books inside before going back home.

It wasn’t until the morning when you remembered the little yellow note that’s still tucked in your bag, after slumping onto your bed last night you forgot to unveil it. And you only got to remember it when you stood in front of your locker in the morning, having to unfold the letter first all of the sudden and leaving your locker still locked.

‘Meet me on the rooftop of the main building at 9pm tomorrow. ‘

“Hell no,” you uttered right away, flipping the paper back and forth as you noticed that there is no other indication of the person’s identity. The thought of getting brutally murdered before you take your finals already left you shuddering in fear. This is what serial killers would say, you further claim internally as you kept it crumpled in your jean’s pocket, remembering to trash it out later.

You hurriedly took out the books you need in the first period, clutched within your grasp as you went to the lecture hall before the bell would ring before you arrive. In the midst of preparing yourself this morning, you never seemed to notice the lingering doe eyes on your retreating figure.

Through the mere hours of only burying yourself in your notebooks and a trusty pen on your hand, your mind however is still boggled at the crumpled paper that you can’t throw away. What if he’s a secret admirer who just wanted to ask you out in a cliché way?

What if it’s Jeon Jungkook?

Your eyes widened at your sudden thought, nearly bulging out of its sockets as the pen clanked against your table. The crimson blush perceptible from anyone’s view in the room, and you hope that they can’t also hear your heart thudding against your chest at the mere thought of a person.

Jungkook’s strikingly popular within the campus, albeit being famous he was somehow called the ‘wallflower’ with his kindness and bright yet shy personality, in contrast to his built stature. To your own astonishment, you wondered as to why he hasn’t found himself a person to be with in this shitty hell of a school. He can date anyone with a snap of his fingers as a lot of people fawn over him throughout the years . . . including you.

Your head’s awfully stuck at the scenarios running, being a hopeless romantic gave you no favor to feel like a normal person for once without all the complications like the butterflies on stomach whenever his presence’s near you. But today’s an exception when you have nothing but only scientific formulas running in your brain, and you never bothered to sneak a peek of him at his locker earlier.

You knew that you’ll be staying up until the night again in the school’s wide library and review room, but somehow you planned to leave early to check up on the rooftop tonight. Just to kill your curiosity, also reminding yourself to equip some kind of weapon on your way up tonight.

Dear god, I hope it’s really him.

The same statement continues to echo inaudibly on your way to the 5th floor of the main building, luckily finding yourself some kind of metal rod to beat the shit out of someone if it turns out to be a serial killer and not Jungkook.

On your other hand, you gripped your phone tight and close to the swipe to call 119 in case if you can’t defend yourself on your own. It was already dark outside, less cold than the other day as you pay no mind to some flickering fluorescent beyond the hallway. You don’t want to die of a heart attack because of some ghost that’s rumored to roam this building.

Arriving at the last step towards the doorway to the rooftop, you found the door ajar and welcoming the moonlight inside. Cautiously looking behind only to find no suspicious figure, you proceeded further towards the entrance to the rooftop. You pulled the door as quietly as possible, allotting enough space to sneak your body out.

From afar, you can already see two silhouette on the bench provided by the school. Unfortunately, no lights were installed as you can’t barely identify them due to the minimal luminescence of the moon. However, as you look up, the dark sky was filled with rather twinkling stars and minimal clouds floating past with the wind.

“This view’s really beautiful.” A dulcet tone reverberated in the silence, averting your gaze from the starry night.

“It is,” an all-too-familiar voice replied to the other person, letting out an inaudible gasp as your mouth hang ajar like the door.

The person’s identity was Jeon Jungkook.

Is this some kind of a joke?

Disbelief was written all over your face, momentarily forgetting the beautiful scene as you hurriedly push the door open. Thankfully, you left the rod back inside so as not to cause any more noise as you pulled your phone out from your pocket again to lead yourself down with the flashlight.

“I must be going,” Yeona pushed herself up from the bench, “I was just curious as to why you went up here. The view here’s breathtaking.”

Jungkook only hummed in reply to his friend, masking the nervousness etched on his face as he only waved her goodbye. A familiar face somehow eased him from what’s about to happen, he only hoped that you didn’t think of him as a serial killer and probably ditch the demand of the note he slipped a day ago into your locker.

Unbeknownst to you and to the other people who fawns over him, he’s been harboring romantic feelings for you and only him and his hyungs know about it. Over the weekend when he hung out in Yoongi’s apartment, due to incessant drinking of alcohol he accidentally spewed out a confession about liking a girl.

Not long and the rest of the boys gathered around their dongsaeng, somehow Hoseok and Jimin were nearly tearing up at Jungkook finding an interest at last. He didn’t know whether to feel glad or not about admitting his feelings to them as they become chatty about how to impress you (and ask you out on a date).

“Aren’t girls impressed by bouquets of flowers?” Jimin pondered, “Why don’t you just walk up to her in the morning with— does anyone know what’s her favorite flower?”

Taehyung piped in, “Why not treat her out to a museum date, who knows she might have a keen eye for artworks.”

“No, I am not granting your ideal date for yourself hyung.” Jungkook retorted, nearly pouting either from the effects of the alcohol in his system or about how to impress you. He hadn’t experienced an actual date before, like the last time he went out with a girl was back in his senior year in high school during their prom. . . and that’s only it.

“You don’t want enough attention from anyone— why not invite her on the rooftop of the main building in the campus and ask her out there instead?” Yoongi suggested, which made some of the boys snickered.

“But I would still garner a crowd if I ask her to meet me on the rooftop hyung.” Jungkook whined further.

His hyung only sighed, “Idiot, I mean leave a note in her locker saying that.”

“Ohhh.”

And now that he’s up on the rooftop, waiting for you to make your presence known in the silent night. He has been there an hour ago, wanting to build up the words to avoid stammering when he confronts you soon.

But it has been 30 minutes past the time he etched on the note and the night feels so much darker than before in front of his eyes. The longer he waits, the more lackluster his eyes were compared to the night full of bright stars.

Jungkook was grateful for Yoongi’s suggestion, but when the clock struck 10 on his phone

He stopped waiting.

The next school morning, you jumped up from the sudden clash of the locker near yours. Your eyes averting from the stuff you needed for the first lecture period and landed on the tensed back of Jungkook in front of his compartment.

And you wondered what angered him so much in the morning, perhaps he missed his cup of coffee today?

Shit. You should stop thinking of him now that he’s got someone.

As much as you wanted to approach him, an invisible force was stopping you and made you recall of what you should do about your lingering feelings for him. You should get over him, your subconscious nagged at this moment. Sighing in defeat, you keep on doing your own business.

The loud chatter has amplified at his sudden outburst, your ears hearing almost every words they say and yet you haven’t noticed the approaching footsteps behind you.

“Hey,” Multiple gasp chorused in the now silenced hall. Your whole body freezing up at his voice, goosebumps running all over your skin at the moment and somehow, somehow you think that he might be talking to someone next to you. But even the person beside you were wide-eyed at the figure behind you. “Will you look at me, please?”

You only stuttered in response, “M-Me?” you whipped around to see Jeon Jungkook near you, not even beyond feet but inches near your face. His doe eyes staring at yours captivates you so much; capturing the sunlight and exposing the warm, golden irises that only made your mouth slightly ajar. They’re so pretty.

“Yeah, Y/N.” He breathed out, hiding his sweaty palms within the pockets of his jacket. “Can we talk somewhere private?”

“Right now?” Jungkook nodded further, feeling uncomfortable at the stares of other people who seemed to gather around the two of you.

Your eyes were stuck on staring the tiles as you follow him out of the crowd, and them making enough space for both of you as you trailed along on where he’ll take you. And somehow, you found yourself retracing the same path you took towards the rooftop last night. Taking up the last step, you looked up to see him holding it open for you uttering a small thanks under your breath, you noticed him occupying the same seat on the bench.

The sky no longer showed the stars, but rather it was filled with blues and light clouds as the morning breeze welcome you coldly. So much for forgetting to bring your jacket from your locker.

You quietly sat as far as the bench could ever let you, the distance’s an arm away as you meekly stare at him.

“I found this near the door yesterday.” He started pulling the same crumpled note that was supposedly in the jacket you wore last night. “If you were here last night, then why didn’t you at least approached me?”

You admitted, “I never thought it was you who wrote the note— and you seemed to have a company last night and thought that you accidentally put it on my locker instead of hers.”

“It wasn’t an accident, I really wanted to see you that time,” he confessed, “And she’s just a friend, I swear.”

His statement made you feel at ease for some unknown reason. “Why would you want to see me at that time?”

“Is it bad that I want to ask you out without people crowding on us?”

Your breath hitched all the sudden, he never knew how such words could have a great effect to you as your stomach and your heart started to show the symptoms of being

In love.

The word was foreign in your lips, and to thought that he was just a crush you could forget in the next few months.

“You like me?” you could only utter, not tearing your eyes away at his as he slid closer to you. He reached for your clammy hands, encasing it with his own as his thumb caress your forehand.

“I do,” he chuckled awkwardly, “But do you feel the same?”

“Have been for months.” Granted, you never expect that this kind of scenario would happen ever in your life, and now you’re quite clueless as to what will happen next after he takes you out on a date.

The word made you feel giddy inside, breaking out a smile out-of-the-blue as he, too reciprocated the happiness radiating off from both of you.

“Hand me some tissues and the 10,000 won we bet on last weekend.” Hoseok dramatically cried at Jungkook all growing up in front of their eyes as the boys sneaked up to see both of you already eating each other’s faces. Not wanting to disrupt your session, they kept on exchanging bills from their pocket and at the same time blocking the sight of the other students who wanted to see what’s happening.

i might be slow in writing other requests so to those who sent out requests, please hold on for awhile bc I gotta fix the laptop i’m using before the school starts in aug. anywHO Thank you for reading up til here! I apologize for some minor mistakes.

Ask me anything, or any feedbacks in any of the works i’ve posted before.

#bts #bangtan #bangtan boys #bts fic #bts scenario #bts imagines #bts fluff #bts angst #bangtan fic #bangtan scenarios #bts scenarios #bangtan fluff #bangtan angst #jungkook #jeon jungkook #jeon jeongguk #jungkook scenarios #jungkook fluff #jungkook angst

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lightsandlostbells · 7 years ago

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Skam France 2.4 reaction

Double episode this week! Here is the French take on Ouija, psychics, and potatoes.

Clip 1 - Romain

This is an episode where I’m definitely missing a lot of Norwegian/French context so if I’m missing something, please feel free to elaborate or correct me.

So on the one hand I enjoy the cabin episode, it’s a lot of fun, and it’s great to get a break from the main drama and just see the girls interacting and having fun together. But is it really necessary for a remake? From my non-Norwegian perspective, I thought the cabin episode/Easter special was a spooky mystery as a nod to Norway’s tradition of reading/watching crime stories around Easter, as well as structuring an episode with our main characters when they would have been off school. It seems like it was very culturally relevant to airing at that time, in that place? Of course non-Norwegian viewers also enjoy the cabin episode even without the context, but we were not the target audience for the show.

I mean, there’s not a lot in the cabin episode that’s vital to the main storyline of the season or that can’t be transported to other clips. Really only the potato conversation between Noora and Vilde seems like something that needs to stick. Everything else - Noora getting texts from William, Vilde talking and speculating about William, Eva talking about Jonas still being into her, talk of Isak’s sexuality - has already been covered or could easily be condensed or added to another scene. Like they could have fit this into Saturday clip where the girls are sleeping over at someone’s house and end up using a Ouija board, if they wanted to include that, and a Sunday clip where they’re hanging out and Manon and Daphne talk about potatoes.

IDK, I’m not saying this is bad - again I enjoy the concept of the episode - and I know the episodes have to be like <20 minutes so it might be easier to make a cabin episode than to cram the relevant parts into the rest of episode 5.

Anyway, at least this is scenic and the girls are cute. Hat game exceptionally strong.

Lol, I have no problem with bringing Kasper (Romain) into the show but if they hook up him and Alex, I’ll be kinda bummed. Of course bi girls can be with boys, but I’ve not liked how they’ve ignored her bisexuality at times when it would be relevant to the story. Plus we already have multiple on-screen het relationships and hookups and no f/f ones through any of the Skam remakes other than Alex’s one line about Clara; if they have a female character who’s into girls, I want them to finally deliver on that, you know?

At least they found a guy to play Romain who looks like he could be a spirit. I buy it.

Clip 2 - Everyone is tired of hearing about Charles

Alex giving us the guitar playing that we lacked last episode! ❤️ I love her big sparkly sweater.

Uh, that’s a straight-up Michael Myers mask. Alex, why does your grandmother have that?

Alex being 200% done with talk of Charles … relatable.

Imane and the girls teasing Daphne about hooking up with Romain was a good bit.

“We can’t talk about feminism without talking about men’s role in it” - Mmmm … I disagree … but that’s just my opinion lmao.

Oh Daphne,making it awkward between her and Imane when their dynamic was so cute just now.

Poor Alex, going from excited to exasperated in an instant when Daphne immediately decides she can use the Ouija board to ask about Charles. She thought she would be free for five minutes...

I love that she made the board herself though!

Lol, you can’t tell me that all of the other girls wouldn’t immediately get up with Imane and go to bed as well to avoid more Charles discussion.

Clip 3 - Ouija

This is a fun scene but kinda random. For instance, Alex had flirted with Lucas before but I’m not sure why it would be on her mind now… in the other scene Vilde and Eva led up to it by asking about guys, so Chris did the same. … and kinda not sure why she doesn’t think he could be gay considering she (unlike Chris) knows about the porn on his phone. Hoping she still has a chance, I guess? (Or well, I guess her thing about it being nonsense could be her thinking he must be bi rather than gay since he’s with Sarah, but that’s not really implied.)

But I do like Manon asking about Romain and Daphne, that whole bit of teasing is fun (and you could interpret it as her wanting Daphne to move on. Though who doesn’t at this point, really.)

Emma feels less put out about the Yann situation in general than Eva was even though less time has passed between the Emma/Yann breakup. I’m not sure what to think of that. I mean, good for her, I guess?

I do really like the staging/setup of this scene, with the girls sitting around the table with the lights. That set a spooky spiritual atmosphere.

Clip 4 - Breakfast

God DAMN I would be so sick of hearing about Charles by this point. I feel Emma’s intense boredom.

I love Daphne’s fantasy about Charles coming to her in a dream like he’s in a ‘90s music video, though.

It’s pretty interesting to see how little changes in terms of what the director chooses to show can have an effect on the messages we register from a TV show. One thing Skam France needs to improve is being very, very hyper aware of those little things.

For instance, in the original we get a shot of Vilde’s sparse plate and we get a shot of Noora noticing how little Vilde is eating. Without spelling it out for us (such as Noora saying, “Vilde, there’s not much on your plate, why don’t you take some more food?”) we can connect the dots as to why Noora offers her the bun. That’s just basic cinematic language, we almost take it for granted. Here we don’t see Daphne’s plate or how much is on it, we don’t see Manon looking at Daphne’s plate with any kind of concerned expression. So when she offers Daphne the bread, there’s no clear connection within this scene for us to think Manon is worried about Daphne not eating. And because of that, when Daphne goes off on her gluten allergy, it comes across less as an excuse for her not eating, and could be just her rambling and making huge leaps much like she is about Charles, whereas with Vilde we can definitely pick it out as her trying to deflect questions about her not eating.

Clip 5 - Potatoes

The taxidermied animals are a nice touch for a spooky cabin, I must say.

I love that Alex decided Daphne will be the one to attack Romain, Alex will hide behind her, and Emma will hide behind Alex. Solid plan.

The potato scene is one where I don’t know how I would feel about it if I had not seen the original version.

The way it was acted and paced was not nearly as effective, in my opinion. What I adore about that scene is that how subtly the situation is handled. Noora doesn’t confront Vilde directly about her eating disorder; does it in a gentle way, one that will get through to Vilde (I love that the mention of antioxidants helping fight cancer is OK, but antioxidants helping against old skin is what really gets Vilde’s attention, and was a smart move on Noora’s part). Part of it is the pacing. I know we sometimes knock Noora’s slow delivery, but in this scene the unhurried pace absolutely works. Because Noora’s words are so slowly and calmly delivered, you can see them getting through to Vilde. You can see her turning over all these details about nutrition. All of the pauses between dialogue contain the information sinking into Vilde’s mind. And the pacing also emphasizes the extreme vulnerability of this conversation, how very careful Noora’s approach is, how Vilde maybe (possibly) (probably) realizes what’s going on and isn’t arguing or putting up resistance like she did when Noora was more direct about it at the end of S1, how despite Noora doing most of the talking, this still feels like a conversation between them.

This version of the scene … it’s not bad and I can imagine it working, but it’s so hurriedly paced that it feels like Manon is talking at Daphne, it’s not a two-way conversation, and I don’t feel that what Manon’s saying is getting through to Daphne at the same level.

That Romain reveal, though? Excellent.

Clip 6 - “Romain” revealed

The girls are very cute huddled together and I’m liking their dialogue. It does feel more rushed though, like it’s very enjoyable but they’re flying through it just because it was in the original. Like the line about “my hijab will protect us” is very random when Imane doesn’t tie in the hijab to her psychic powers during her explanation.

Alex and Imane hugging and kissing after the reveal! ❤️

Lol they cut out Emma talking about how some of the Ouija must have been real because of Yann having feelings for her, and the irony of her saying that when Manon is getting a text from Charles about Yann hooking up with someone else. They’re downplaying that arc a lot, tbh.

I see Manon’s little smile at that text. Whatever I feel about Charles, that’s a smooth as hell text.

General Comments:

Aside from my nitpicks and wondering if this episode is at all necessary in the French version, I did have a lot of fun with this episode. The girl squad dynamic continues to be a strength of Skam France, and there was lots of cute banter and friendship. Alex in particular got many moments to shine.

As much as I love lesbian Daphne, if they’re not going that route, I would kinda be down for her hooking up with Romain in the finale, in place of Alex. You know. As a fun fling. Get her mind off Charles. Alex can find a nice girl to smooch.

Here are some English-language articles about Norwegian Easter traditions, especially the crime stories, that gave me some context on the original episode.

http://relocation.no/expat-communities/expat-resource-articles/easter-in-norway/

https://www.thelocal.no/20180329/bloody-easter-the-origins-of-norwegian-holiday-crime-fiction

https://www.visitnorway.com/media/news-from-norway/norways-mysterious-easter-tradition/

If you got this far, thank you for reading!

#skamfr reactions

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