#tobias have mercy on us

[spiderdrink]

I FEEL LIKE A WIFE FINDING OUT THAT HER HUSBAND WILL NEVER RETURN HOME FROM THE WAR AFTER WATCHING THE GHOVIE TEASER

[aposematic-jessica]

it always felt right to me that rachel died in animorphs. that of all the animorphs she was the one who died. not that i wanted her to, i loved her. but because any of the other kids, there would have been a poetic nature to it. jake, the leader, the sacrificial lamb on the altar of wartime—wouldn’t his death have been a kind of mercy. cassie, the bleeding heart, the pacifist with bloody hands—her death a mercy too, a final refusal. marco, the child who would have laughed his way to the grave and who followed his commanders orders to it, too—no more back to the wall, no more dead eyes. aximili, starchild, lost child soldier still fighting his parents’ war—there’s a cruel irony in him dying without ever seeing his kinsmen again. tobias, the inhuman boy, boy with a hawk’s heart—he had no one to go home to, wouldn’t dying have cut his story neatly?

but rachel? rachel, the child soldier who was more at home on the battlefield than she ever was anyone else? rachel, one cousin’s attack dog, one cousin’s murderer? rachel with the filthy, filthy hands that no tears could wash clean? rachel who couldn’t have known what to do with herself after the war was over? there’s no poetry or irony in her dying. it just makes sense. cruel, cold, statistical sense. rachel fought and fought and killed and murdered and did things no child’s psyche could survive but hers, and she died because her violent tastes were useful. and they ended with the logical conclusion! of course rachel died. that’s the thesis of the damn series, isn’t it?

[smfolklore]

Relentless. Part 2.

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Author's Note : I'm back! This is 1.4K Word's and I love it so I hope all of you do too! Let me know what else you would like to see and if you enjoyed this, please. I don't write smut very often so I'm scared LOL .

Synopsis : You taunt Tobias at Placebo. You end up on your knees, with a reminder from your boyfriend. Filthy smut I hope you love it!

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I gasp softly as my mouth slips from his.

His lips are soft and wet. His hand gripping my hair roughly and the other enveloping my ass as a way to keep my body pressed tightly to his.

I whine as I try to bring my lips to his and he holds me back by the firm hold he has on me. His words are rough, and his eyes are dark as he rasps out, “On your knees”.

A shiver travels the expanse of my spine and goosebumps explode across my skin as I mindlessly sink to the floor. 

This is what I wanted. To have him snap. He’s the epitome of a man that possesses self-control, so being capable of forcing him to lose that control is a pastime of mine. I love watching him lose himself in me.

My eyes don’t stray from his own as I begin to palm at him. My fingers tracing the fabric and lingering on the spots that elicit a gasp, exhale, or grunt from him. A smile curves up my mouth as I catch the arousing sound of his stuttered breath.

“Is this what you want?” My tone is playing innocently stupid.

It’s not until I feel his grip tighten and watch the glint of lust in his eyes expand that I decide to pull out his cock. My mouth is practically salivating as I watch him hiss at the sensitivity and I use this moment to gently kiss the tip, my lips puckered against it before softly taking it into my mouth.

I suck softly and listen to the gasp that befalls my ears. He’s so fucking hot when he’s desperate. I feel my cunt clenching at the mere sound of his soft grunts as I slowly take him further in, “Fuck baby, your mouth is incredible”.

I mewl in approval at the compliments slipping past his lips and I use it as encouragement, my lips tightening as I pull back and pop off of him. Before he can say anything, I spit softly onto his cock and use my palm to stroke the lubricant across his entire length. 

His breathing pattern has risen and his eyes are hooded as he watches me stroke his cock. His gaze is penetrating and it’s making my pussy wet beyond what I thought possible. I can see the filth in his eyes and it’s only exciting me for what’s to come.

I suck harshly on the tip of his length as I use my palm to stimulate the rest of his cock and I can’t help the pulsing of my clit as I listen to the sound of his rough grunting.

Tobias’s grip is tight as he enters a phase of frustration and overwhelming desire. I gasp wetly as he roughly entangles his fist within the long strands of my dark hair. With my chin directed up, my eyes snap to his, low and so turned on as I whine out in a petulant tone, “I want to make you come”.

An amused smirk curves up his lips.

My pussy clenches. Fuck he’s so hot.

I pucker my lips and kiss his cock softly before he’s yanking me away from his erection with a correcting tut, “Nuh-uh. I didn’t say I wanted to come yet, did I?”.

I narrow my eyes at him. He’s punishing me for the way that I relentlessly provoked him tonight and I want to internally yell; and then provoke him further. But I know that if I do, I’ll come out losing tonight, so I pout and give him what he’s looking for.

Submission.

I let my body relax into his hold, my chin tilted up so that I’m at his mercy with the steel grip he has on me. I soften my gaze and lightly whisper out, “No. You didn’t”.

He notches an eyebrow and the look on his face solely convey’s amusement and a hint of… satisfaction. His gaze settles on my lips, swollen and flushed, “Open your mouth”, he demand’s sternly.

Instinctively, I listen. My lips parting effortlessly, and my tongue rolling out with relative speed.

I watch the way that he utilizes his own grip to stroke his hard cock, the movement tight as it meets his tip, and loose as he meets the base. My eyes stay connected to the image in front of me and I have to stop myself from whining at the distaste of not being given permission to touch him the way that I so desperately want.

My cunt is so wet, and he can see the arousal in my gaze as he coos mockingly, “Are you wet, baby?”.

I mewl. My eyes are blown out and my agreement is fast as I nod, desperately trying to convey how fucking badly I need him to fuck me and his only response is a mocking, “Of course you are… this slutty little pussy would get wet only from sucking my cock. Wouldn’t it?”

I whimper loudly at his degrading phrase. My clit is pulsing with an incessant desire to come and I keep my gaze on his cock as I let slip a small, “Yes… Can I? Please?”.

His grin is full of satisfaction and it’s oozing from his tone as he lets his length slip into my mouth, and softly touch the back of it. I use all the knowledge that I have come to gather in my time with him and apply it in order to take the entirety of his length. I only know that I have when an unmistakable whimper escapes his slightly parted mouth.

The tip of my nose is pressed softly to the firm muscle of his abdomen as I take his cock all the way into my mouth and I swallow, once, pulling a choked gasp from him. My mind is spacy, and I only think of the man standing before me. His lips, his hands, his cock. He’s built like a wet-dream.

In an attempt to inhale more air, I suck harshly as I pull my lips back only to feel the vice-like hold that Tobias has on the nape of my neck. I’m only alarmed for a second before I’m embracing it, inhaling through my nose and fluttering my eyes closed. “Just like that…”.

Time is endless as I kneel in front of him, licking and sucking on his length. Listening to the filthy sound of his grunting, and the consistent wet slide that is the tight grip I have on him as I stroke his cock.

His thighs start to shake and his grip flips from the rough hold on the nape of my neck to a soft palm steering my mouth further down the length of his dick. I gag softly, my throat closing around the head of his cock, and I nod feverently and as best as I can when he gasps out, “Fuck, I’m coming! Oh… god. Such a perfect mouth”.

My clit is pulsing and I whine with my lips still softly sucking the tip of his cock, swallowing the thick pulses of come that he shot into my mouth. My eyes never abandon his as I do so, and I have a hazy grin on my lips as I pull away from him.

His chest is moving rapidly and he’s staring at me with lowered eyes, his face flushed and with a sheen of perspiration. 

A small smile slips onto my face and I can’t help the laugh that escapes me as I look up at him, the stern atmosphere that was there just a moment ago, now broken. “You came so hard”.

He grins tiredly and caresses his palm lightly on my cheek, his thumb coming into soft contact with my lip, “Yeah?”. I hum in response to his question, clenching my thighs together at the sound of his low remark.

His eyes darken within a second as he spots it and I fight to withhold the hitch in my breathing pattern as they meet my own.

I’m so fucked.

He hums, finding my inability to sit still amusing, and he mutters in finality as he softly caresses my lips with his thumb, “You will too, when I decide that you finally can”. My eyes show my alarm and this only encourages him, “You like taunting me? Like making me wait?”.

I swallow and sit still, letting his gaze consume me as I stay looking up at him from my position on my knees. “Have you forgotten who’s the student?”.

[malehypnofantasy]

Muscle Head

"Morning, muscle head,"

"Ugh.....what do you want? I literally pounded your ass to oblivion as if that's my girlfriend's tight sloppy pussy last night, what else now?"

"Can you calm down for me, muscle head?"

"Y---yes, sorry about the outburst. I just didn't think you'll wake up this quick,"

"This is 9 AM, this ain't early, muscle head. I noticed the damp towel so you already worked out. Well, last night was great, but don't you think you need to eat again after that draining workout before going on about your day? My feet can get used to a passionate sucking,"

And just like that, the muscular bodybuilder dropped to the floor and grabbed the nerd's hazel brown feet. The bodybuilder sucked each toes with the utmost care and attention while moaning in delight on how delicious of a treat it is and the nerd just smiled proudly while holding his laughter due to the ticklish sensation of the handsome bodybuilder's tongue and saliva.

The whole feet worship lasted for about 5 minutes before the bodybuilder went on another body parts. He lost himself to his Master's barely hairy pits and thin arms while his Master caressed his hair and whispered sweet nothings to his ear. Eventually, he blew his Master's cock before going on about his day as he got some brand partnership talk with one of his sponsor during lunch before another gym appointment with two clients and his own coach throughout the evening. During the stretch of hours he's outside of the house, he behaved normally as if he didn't just swallow the cum of his nerdy loner of a neighbor earlier today

Around 8 PM, the gym is already quiet as the bodybuilder already asked his coach for a 1-on-1 session in his prep to Mr. Olympia so the gym is closed early. When he's doing his set, someone called his coach, so the coach excused himself to pick it up. It's an unknown number but against his better judgement, he picked up

"Hello dumb tool. You must be in the gym, this is your Master speaking, Tobias. Is Aaron still with you?"

And just like that, the Coach reverted to his tranced and enslaved self as he answered monotonously that Aaron is indeed with him and he's currently working on his muscle and poses for next week's Mr. Olympia

"Well, Aaron's little brain probably forget that he's also my subject even though he's out of the house and I told him to be back home before 8:30. That's not going to happen now since this is 8:10 already so I want you to punish him, dumb tool. This is what you're going to do---"

A couple minutes later, the Coach, Tobias, stared at his disciple.

"Are you done with all the reps?"

"Yes, I'm done. Who called? You spent quite some times," he said while taking out one of his earbuds

"It's none of your business, muscle head," said the Coach smirking while Aaron's pupil went wide as his consciousness started slipping away and his entranced self started to resurface once again. But, he's wearing one of his earbuds still so he resisted and started begging

"Coach, what the fuck? Don't say that word again,"

"What? Muscle head? Why? Aren't you a muscle head? Stop resisting and let that bitch ass power bottom out, Aaron. Our Master already told me to punish you for breaking your curfew,"

"Wait.....our Master?? Oh no...." he said, still fighting even though his Coach bombardment of his trigger word clearly made this a losing battle

"This is 8:25, muscle head. Don't you remember your Master's order? Maybe that's why our Master called you muscle head, because your little brain barely have an original thought of its own. You know what, kneel. Kneel to the floor and start repent, muscle head. Beg for your Master's mercy,"

Aaron didn't want to, but his Coach grabbed him by the shoulder and pushed his form as his trembling knee eventually caved in to the pressure. The coach also grabbed the still plugged earbuds and then smirked as he whispered Aaron's trigger word with his gruff voice. Aaron looked up and eventually realized how glazed his Coach's eyes are, and then he started to be pushed to his own subconsciousness as the other Aaron's fully resurfaced

"Now worship me, muscle head. Master is on his way to pick you up and he ordered me to train you to become the biggest slut in this year Mr. Olympia. So let's take this slow so we can still have something to show to our Master when he eventually comes around,"

[kooldewd123]

so there's a big element of the david trilogy that felt really apparent to me as i was reading it that i haven't seen anyone else discuss before. these books, especially 22, really feel like a critique of censorship in children's media. i mean, it's a common joke how network censors give us stuff like the shadow world in yu-gi-oh, where it's apparently more humane to trap people in a dimension of eternal torment rather than just allowing people to die on a kid's show. animorphs takes that concept and runs with it. david gets sent to the shadow realm instead of being killed, and those two hours of screams are just as much torture for rachel as they are for david. when he eventually comes back, he's begging for death because at least the comfort of an end would be more merciful than a life of constant agony.

and the idea that it's better for our protagonists not to become killers falls apart instantly when you take a step back. just look at how everyone acts throughout this arc. this is rachel at her most violent, jake at his most utilitarian, cassie at her most calculating, and marco at his most paranoid (ax and tobias get off a bit lighter, largely due to not getting their own narration). it's hard to argue that the choice not to kill david makes them look good when the three books preceding the decision have them all at their worst. in fact, it's especially bad seeing it play out through rachel's eyes. the entire book, she's been both raring to kill david while also afraid of being seen as a killer. it's clear that sending david to the shadow realm does not actually resolve this. she's just repressing it, bottling it all up for later so that she can take that pent-up anger at david and direct it at some poor yeerk instead. and let's dive into that for a second...

sure, it's fine to have our characters mow down alien monsters, but a human is where they draw the line, right? because even though the aliens are also portrayed as having their own thoughts and desires, and many of them are just innocent bystanders caught up in all this, they're not people, and so it's fine to kill them, as far as the censors as concerned (to be clear here, i'm not saying animorphs was necessarily censored in particular. i'm saying this as a critique of the censors around children's media as a whole). but then when you look at david's killing spree in comparison, it ends up becoming both a dark reflection of the animorphs and and a weird stand-in for the censors. he'd never kill another human, but he has no qualms about taking out a hawk or a tiger (never mind the fact that they're still human inside). it's all about appearances, not the truth of the matter.

appearances are all that the censors really care about. sure, you can try to discuss serious topics, but it needs to be hidden behind metaphor and euphemism. there's one line in particular that really stood out to me and got me down this whole line of thinking. after david "kills" tobias and nearly kills jake, rachel says this:

I was going to hunt him down and destroy him. No, not destroy. That was a weasel world. Vague, meaningless. I was going to kill him.

i don't know how to read this line other than as a specific callout of every censor that won't let creatives use the word "kill." every '90s superhero cartoon insisted their heroes were going to "destroy" their villains, but rachel animorphs is going to kill david.

[riddles-n-games]

I don't know how my brain hasn't rotted yet but I had another thought on Rohan. Specifically him and Zella. At the end of the Game, when Jameson and his uncle returned from their little heart-to-heart, Rohan and Zella have a little bickering match. The duchess implies that she has been chosen by the Proprietor to run the Game the following year. Now, you can see that Rohan gets somewhat standoffish about that and Zella states that he isn't his boss's only choice. In this scene, I'm immediately taken back to The Inheritance Games when Grayson was butting heads with Avery after he found out she was his grandfather's heiress.

Throughout The Brothers Hawthorne, where Rohan is concerned, it's implied that he's the second in command, the Factotum, the unofficial heir apparent. However, the problem is, like Grayson, he was never actually named heir apparent officially and he was still being tested to prove his worth. Unlike Grayson, he did have competition to assert himself to that position and in fact, who knows if the Proprietor would have picked him as the sole heir anyways? His boss could have easily led him on, much like Tobias did to his own grandson.

Going back to Gray, let's be clear, I honestly don't think any of his brothers expressed a want for the inheritance money; Jameson was only riling him up, Nash said he wasn't after it, and Xander already had his millions worth in crypto. The only real people who would have any use of Gray inheriting would be his mother, mostly so she could rub it in Zara's face. The competition he faced as a child with his brothers were for different reasons and it was intended to make the boys be the best, but that doesn't automatically translate to the heir to the inheritance. It was more who was going to be known as the best Hawthorne which is what made the brothers so competition oriented. And let's be honest, Gray would have been a great leader but I think what Avery ended up doing with the money helped him view things differently.

Now, reverting to Rohan again, he kept acting as if he was in control of every situation (sound like someone we know?) and tried to appear as unaffected as possible. He also challenged when he felt in question of his position, much like Grayson interrogated Avery at every turn until she ultimately gained his respect. But, that's not what Rohan's going through and maybe Gray accepted where he was at and is slowly reconvening to a place where he can be in control of his future now that the original has been torn to shreds, however, the Factotum is still in a place of shifting power. He still holds a position and has the chance to get what he's working towards but still, that might not happen. This is what could be revealed as to how he gets into the Grandest Game.

As much as Rohan can be viewed as a mirror Jameson, he also shares a lot in common with Grayson and as you can see, their stories are very similar. I think that the reason we'll be getting him as a player in TGG is because he either set out to prove himself in a different way to the Proprietor or he set out to do this for himself because he knows his worth and can achieve more by winning this game. Maybe this is his moment to actually detach from the Devil's Mercy because he realized that it was never going to give him more even after all the time he spent there doing all he could to show he deserves the position. And isn't that something we can all relate to? It's scary letting go of what you've known for so long but knowing you've proved yourself even if others can't see that is sometimes enough to move on to something better, something more fulfilling.

[liennka]

Fromage - part II

Hannibal Lecter x Will's daughter/teen patient reader

Summary : When Y/n for once arrives early for her therapy, she ends up in a life-or-death situation... And she has to fight too (s1 e08)

-> Feel free to insert yourself instead :) This is my first story and I am open to any criticism (be nice pls).

I just wanted to say that I am not the owner of this show, but I did make this story, so don't copy it without my knowledge, thank you.

"And where do you think you are going?" he took a couple of steps to her side of the room. 

Hannibal couldn't stop him, feeling dizzy himself. Y/n opened the door, almost out of danger, but he had long legs and great range.

One second he was stretching out his hand, the next she was on the floor. His cord cutting across her cheek and neck. Y/n felt a searing pain, as if ten people slapped her at once, throwing her to the ground.

Tobias swung the wire again, aiming for her head. She dodged at the last second by ducking under the table, her blood stuck to her hair. Her sob was low, but Hannibal heard it. In a matter of heartbeats, he picked up a small sculpture and threw it at him. It hit Tobias's back and he crashed into the wooden door.

Hannibal had time to compose himself as he walked up to him and punched him in the face. Tobias got his jaw dislocated, but he still managed to boot Hannibal, swinging his string once more. It wrapped around Hannibal's hand, making a terrible sound similar to breaking bones.

----☆----☆----☆----

She wiped the blood from her cheek with her sleeve, feeling the deep gash every time she moved her facial muscles. Meanwhile, Tobias threw a tea table at Hannibal, destroying his favourite glass furniture. Enraged, Hannibal threw him over his other table in return. Y/n covered herself with her hands and curled up.

Tobias got hold of Hannibal's decorative knife and tried to stab him. Y/n crawled out the other side, picking up a shard of glass. And as he was about to stab Hannibal, she crept from his side and stabbed him in the shoulder. 

Tobias screamed, letting go of Hannibal and grabbing the back of her head, slamming her into a wooden cabinet.  Her vision went black and she passed out. Tobias stomped on her, but was stabbed by a pencil.

Focusing on Hannibal again, they made their way back to the ladder.

"You two are really annoying. When I kill you, I may use her guts, she seems to be a tough one," he grinned. 

Hannibal saw red, such rudeness was too much. He let Tobias punch him through the ladder and grabbed his arm, breaking it. Tobias could only scream and wave a knife, but a clean blow to the neck sent him to the ground. Hannibal pulled out a handkerchief so as not to leave any prints on the stag statue and proceeded to beat the shit out of him. 

----☆----☆----☆----

Y/n regained her consciousness as she felt Hannibal's hand cupping her face. 

"You were so reckless Mažasis, but you saved my life," He gently stroked her hair.

"You killed him," she breathed out in relief, "was that mercy?"

“Tobias?”

“Franklin.” 

“And what if it was not?” Hannibal cocked his head, clearly testing her.

----☆----☆----☆----

"If he was killed simply for living, may his death be kinder than man," she whispered, glancing to where his body was lying lazily. 

As she slowly pulled herself together, Hannibal called the FBI. 

"They're going to ask questions."

"So we answer them, from the bottom of our hearts," Y/n knew what he meant, she would have to lie. 

"Is my dad gone? "Y/n remembered what Tobias had said.

"I suppose so, but I hope not."

She began to cry, not caring that her blood mixed with her tears and made her face look like a painting of a wild berry cake. Hannibal's warm embrace lulled her to sleep, and when she awoke, her father was standing over her. Hannibal was patched up, only his bloody face remained. 

"We were worried you were dead," Hannibal said lovingly to Will, still holding her in his arms.

"Dad!" was the first word of Y/n.

Will took her from Hannibal and kissed her bruised forehead.

“If I had got here sooner I would have killed him myself, I am glad you are all right, though you are still injured. I am so sorry Y/n/n," Will whispered, his brows furrowed with worry. 

"She saved me, you have a fierce child, Will. I admire her, although she shouldn't have been here in the first place," Hannibal smiled, then raised his eyebrow.

“Yeah, that was mainly my fault, I couldn't take her here today,” Will scratched his neck, obviously feeling guilty.

----☆----☆----☆----

After that, Jack had interrogated both of them, but for the most part she had not even had to lie as she had been face first into the ground. Her face was bandaged, the blood was washed off and ice was put on her forehead.

Y/n made a mental note to never come early to her sessions again, and to always carry a knife.

[traumacatholic]

Im on the verge of suicide and I suspect my two sisters are as well. While I don't think I will ever do it, because I'm religious, idk about them. And even if I won't do it, to live in such a torment ad the one I'm experiencing is unbearable and unimaginable. Logically I believe in the power of prayers, but on a personal level I find it unlikely anything will ever help me. But I'm still asking for prayers in the intention of us three staying alive no matter what.

I'm really sorry to hear that you and your sisters are struggling with suicidal thoughts. I don't know where you live, but please know that there will be crisis and non-crisis resources that you can access for support and pass on resources to your sisters (as well as to use for yourself). Suicide hotlines are just one form of accessing support. You can absolutely reach out to your local doctor, or see what other support services are in place. Sometimes you can access therapy groups which can often have shorter waiting list times and can often be offered for free or low cost. There are also a range of apps that are free or low cost that offer a range of coping mechanisms. I would recommend just putting in 'mental health' or 'suicide support' into your app store because sometimes it will also recommend apps that are ran by local resources to you.

As for prayers, something that you can try and do is use these prayers. You can say them when you get up in the morning, before you go to bed, or whenever you feel like anxiety/pain/etc is building up. You can pick up praying one of them a day, or whenever you're able, or using more than one. Whatever you feel is most beneficial to you (and also most achievable). I'm giving you a range of prayers under a readmore, just because some of them vary in length and you might find a certain length of prayer works best for you.

Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner

----

Good Saint Dymphna, great wonder-worker in every affliction of mind and body, I humbly implore your powerful intercession with Jesus through Mary, the Health of the Sick, in my present need. (Mention it.) Saint Dymphna, martyr of purity, patroness of those who suffer with nervous and mental afflictions, beloved child of Jesus and Mary, pray to Them for me and obtain my request.

(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be.)

Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us.

----

Glorious Archangel Saint Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace.

You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels.

Because you are the medicine of God, I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favor

(mention your request here)

and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

St. Raphael, of the glorious seven who stand before the throne of Him who lives and reigns, Angel of health, the Lord has filled your hand with balm from heaven to soothe or cure our pains. Heal or cure the victim of disease and guide our steps when doubtful of our ways.

Amen.

---

O my beloved Queen, my hope, O Mother of God, protector of orphans and protector of those who are hurt, the savior of those who perish and the consolation of all those who are in distress, thou seest my misery, thou seest my sorrow and my loneliness. Help me—I am powerless; give me strength. Thou knowest what I suffer, thou knowest my grief: Lend me thy hand, for who else can be my hope but thee, my protector and my intercessor before God? I have sinned before thee and before all people. Be my Mother, my consoler, my helper. Protect me and save me, chase grief away from me, chase my lowness of heart and my despondency. Help me, O Mother of my God!

----

Thee alone I follow, Lord Jesus, Who heals my wounds. For what shall separate me from the love of God, which is in Thee? Shall tribulation, or distress, or famine? I am held fast as though by nails, and fettered by the bonds of charity. Remove from me, O Lord Jesus, with Thy potent sword, the corruption of my sins. Secure me in the bonds of Thy love; cut away what is corrupt in me. Come quickly and make an end of my many, my hidden and secret afflictions. Open the wound lest the evil humor spread. With Thy new washing, cleanse in me all that is stained. Hear me, you earthly men, who in your sins bring forth drunken thoughts: I have found a Physician. He dwells in Heaven and distributes His healing on earth. He alone can heal my pains Who Himself has none. He alone Who knows what is hidden can take away the grief of my heart, the fear of my soul: Jesus Christ. Christ is grace! Christ is life! Christ is Resurrection! Amen.

[starzzyeyed]

Spencer/hotchreid and 32 :)

-love from dear little rattie xxxxxx

I know you chose the angstiest prompt you could see, so here, have some angst! <3

32 - Hugging a pillow because you wish it were someone else.

Small tw for mentions of episode-related non consensual drug use.

He’s taken to the East Georgia Regional Medical Center.

He knows, logically, that he couldn’t not be really; not after what he’s been through.

But that doesn’t stop him from feeling overwhelmed and anxious at the mere thought of the tests that will have to be run, the doctors and nurses who will be prodding him with hands and questions, the narcotics that will show up in his urine test that he will no doubt have to provide on arrival.

The positive result shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone; he’s sure the team have seen the track marks on his arms by now. Not to mention the fact that he knows a good portion of the time he was high was live streamed to them.

Getting to the hospital and being triaged seems to pass in a blur, and Spencer half wonders if he’s still high, if the effects of the drugs haven’t worn off as quickly as they had done after the previous doses that Tobias gave him. Even so, he’s managing fairly well right up until the moment the nurse comes in to kick Hotch and JJ out.

“He needs rest, and we’ll need to fit a catheter, which as I’m sure you can imagine is a private procedure,” the nurse tells Hotch, not fazed at all by the way he’s glaring at her, arms folded across his chest.

Her tone of voice clearly indicates that she’s used to friends and family digging their heels in and refusing to leave, and while Spencer is sure for most people, the thought of having their boss witness the procedure of getting fitted with a catheter is the stuff of nightmares, right now the opposite seems infinitely worse.

“No, no it’s- it’s okay, Hotch can stay,” he stammers, but as soon as the nurse directs her gaze towards him he knows speaking was pointless. She’s not going to let anyone in the room who isn’t a medical professional, no matter what he or Hotch do or say.

“This is ridiculous. He should be allowed to request that someone stays with him during the procedure if that’s what he wants. Do you have any idea what he’s just been through?” Hotch is saying, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Spencer’s already resigned himself to the fate of having to endure this process alone.

“I’m sorry, sir, but it’s protocol. I’ll have to ask you to step outside now,” the nurse says, extending an arm to guide Hotch out of the room, away from the place he’s needed most of all, and Spencer can’t bear to watch.

He knows he should feel as though the worst is behind him, and it is, really, but the fact that he’s now going to have to face the next few moments entirely alone apart from the doctor and nurse performing the procedure feels too much to cope with.

The only thing that has kept him going the last few days, while he was held at the mercy of Hankel’s multiple personalities, was the thought of his mom, his team and Hotch.

The feeling of Hotch’s hands on his as he’d helped him stand from the side of Tobias’s body, the feeling of Hotch’s arms wrapped tightly around his body when he’d practically flung himself into the older man’s grasp… he wants nothing more than to feel those arms around him again right now.

But instead, Hotch has been banished to the waiting room, and Spencer’s left with nothing but the doctor and nurse. They’re nice enough, and they take their time explaining what’s going to happen to him, which he appreciates, but they’re still strangers and the only person he wants right now is Hotch.

Despite all the explanations, the feeling of unfamiliar hands touching him after being at the hands of Hankel, especially when they’re touching places where even he doesn’t touch himself often has panic rising in his chest, and in a desperate attempt not to give into the anxiety, Spencer grabs hold of one of the pillows from under his head, clutching it against his chest.

“We’re nearly done, Dr. Reid. Just keep taking deep breaths,” the nurse says kindly, and although Spencer’s grateful that they’re being so kind, all he can focus on is the pressure of the pillow against his chest. If he closes his eyes tightly enough he can almost imagine it’s Hotch’s body; that same strong body that had held him so tightly in the graveyard, the arms that had encircled his back and held him close. It’s not as good as the real thing, no where near in fact, but it works, and by the time the doctor has finished, Spencer no longer feels on the verge of a panic attack. He’s not sure he’s ever been more grateful to see Hotch’s face in the doorway when he’s allowed back into the room, though.

[shouldaspunastory]

for @dadrunkwriting and @seigephoenix

Tobias Mercar x Emmrich Volkarin (SFW, Established relationship, CW: discussions of death), 452 words

______________________

"You know I never really thought about it before," Tobias says softly with a small smile, staring out over the courtyard of the Lighthouse as a gentle breeze rustles through the trees, shaking loose a few more red and orange leaves from a nearby tree.

"What's that, Little Bird," Emmrich asks curiously as he sidles up beside them on the balcony, carefully balancing two cups of tea for them, and handing the elf thiers.

"How it's all about death. Autumn, the fall... All these leaves changing color, we're admiring their death," Tobias muses, turning sideways to meet Emmrich's eyes as the necromancer watches them closely. "Once upon a time I would have thought that was morbid," the elf chuckles softly.

"And now," Emmrich asks.

"Well... now," Tobias hesitates a moment, looking down out on the courtyard, not so much uncertain as considering how best to say what it is they hope to express. "I think about the new seeds they're going to keep warm through the winter, new shoots in spring, the shade we'll have from the new leaves come summer, how beautiful all the trees will be again next fall. Everything changes. Nothing lasts. Not forever. But maybe things are more beautiful, more precious, because they don't," the elf assesses, smiling softy, carefully setting the cup aside to take Emmrich's ringed hand in his, smoothing his thumb over the back of it trailing along his warm skin and the small golden chain.

"I don't know what will happen tomorrow," Tobias continues softly, lifting his eyes once more to meet Emmrich's. "But that doesn't scare me anymore. Not like it used to," the elf smiles fondly, lacing their fingers and offering Emmrich's a gentle squeeze. "Whatever happens, there is no God, no force- in this world, or any other, that can stop me from fighting my way back to you," Tobias promises. "And if either of us falls- it won't be the end, just the next stage. And we will find each other again there too."

Emmrich smiles softly, gently reaching over to cup Tobias's cheek, drawing him into a slow and tender kiss, huffing a soft, breathless laugh when they break apart. "Maker have mercy on whoever doesn't lay our bones to rest beside each other, because I surely won't," he laughs, shaking his head as he stares into the beautiful blue-green eyes he's come to love so dearly. "I will haunt them without end until it is made right."

"I love you," Tobias laughs softly, nuzzling their nose against his, relishing the now familiar tickle of his mustache as they hold him close.

"And I, you, my dear," Emmrich smiles, kissing him once more. "More than you can possibly know."

[maimoncat]

some concept art for Sariel and Remiel, as arch- and fallen angels.

Some ramblings on their lore I could gather under the cut:

Das Konzept von den Sieben Erzengeln ist schon wirklich faszinierend. Sie werden zuerst im Buch Tobit indirekt erwähnt und gehen wahrscheinlich auf den mazdeistischen Amschaspand oder Amescha Spenta zurück. Die eigentliche Identität dieser Engel variiert allerdings. Michael, Gabriel und Raphael gehören stets zur Gruppe, oft ist entweder Uriel oder Azrael der Vierte, aber die letzten drei ändern sich ständige. Die älteste Quelle, die uns über ihre Namen verblieben ist, ist das erste Henochbuch, wo wir aber wieder etwas seltsames bemerken. Zwei der Erzengel, die im 20. Kapitel Henochs auftauchen, werden auch zu den gefallenen Engel gezählt. Sariel soll also sowohl der Erzengel sein, der die Seelen der Sünder aufsieht, als auch der Wächterengel, der den Menschen die geheimnisse des Mondes und seine Phasen beibrachte. Die Idee, dass solch ein wichtiger und Gott nahe stehender Engel vom Himmel falle, ist dramatisch und mitreißend, weshalb auch Sammael/Luzifer oft den Erzengeln zugeschrieben wird. Der eigentliche Grund, weshalb dieser Engel anscheinend zwei verschiedene Rollen spielt, ist wahrscheinlich, dass sowohl der Name Sarakiel, "Gott ist mein Herrscher", und Sahariel, "Gott ist mein Mond", mit Sariel abgekürzt wurden, und in manchen Texten diese zwei Figuren verschmolzen.

Der andere Erzengel der im Ersten Henochbuch auch als gefallener Engel auftretet. Auch hier handelt es sich um ähnliche Abkürzungen für verschiedenen Namen. Hier heißt der Erzengel Jerahmeel, was "Gott sei gnädig!" Bedeutet und oft als Remiel abgekürzt wird. Er steht in apokryphen Schriften, wie dem Vierten Buch Esra, den Seelen der Heiligen und Seeligen vor und wird dort auch Hieremihel genannt. Der Hüter der Seelen des Himmels hat auch die Aufgabe, Träume, Hoffnungen und Gotteserscheinungen auszusenden. Andererseits ist Ramiel, "Gott hat gedonnert", zusammen mit Sariel und Semjaza, einer der 20 Fürsten der Wächter Engel.

The concept of the Seven Archangels is pretty fascinating. They are first mentioned in the Book of Tobit and are probably derived from the seven Amesha Spenta from Mazdeism. However, their specific names vary. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are always part of the group, the fourth one is usually either Uriel or Asriel, but the last three are always different. The oldest source that tells us their identities is the first Book of Enoch, but even here we find an anomaly. Two of the seven archangels, that are mentioned in chapter 20, are also counted among the fallen angels. So Sariel is both the archangel that presides over the souls of the sinners, and the Watcher that taught humanity the mysteries of the Moon and its phases. The idea that such an important angel, who was so close to God could fall is very engaging, which is why Samael/Lucifer is also often added to the archangels. The actual reason, why this angel seems to have multiple roles, is probably that both the names Saraqael, "God is my ruler", and Sahariel, "God is my Moon", were abbreviated as Sariel.

The other archangel that also appears in the First Book of Enoch as one of the fallen. Just as with Sariel, this is due to similar abbreviations for different angels'names. Here the archangel is actually called Jeremiel, which means "God have mercy!" And can be shortened to Remiel. In apocryphal scriptures, like IV Ezra, he oversees the souls of good people and can also bare the name Ieremihel. This guardian of Heaven is also the one to send out hopes, dreams and visions of the divine. ramiel on the other hand, "God has thundered", is among the leaders of The Watchers, like Sariel or Samyaza.

Il concetto dei Sette Arcangeli è davvero affascinante. Vengono accennati per la prima volta nel Libro di Tobia e probabilmente sono derivati dai sette Ameša Spenta del Mazdeismo. Però la loro identità non è consistente. Michele, Gabriele e Raffaele appartengono sempre alla banda,  o Uriele o Izrail hanno il quarto posto, ma gli ultimi tre sono quasi sempre diversi. La fonte più antica che ci dà sette nomi è il Primo Libro di Enoch, ma anche qui abbiamo delle stranezze. Due dei sette arcangeli citati nel ventesimo capitolo vengono anche contati tra gli angeli caduti. Quindi Sariele è sia l'arcangelo che presiede sulle anime dei peccatori, sia il Vigilante che insegnò agli umani i misteri della luna e le sue fasi. L'idea che un angelo così importante e così vicino a Dio possa cadere è sconcertante e accattivante, infatti anche Sammaele/Lucifero spesso viene chiamato un arcangelo. In realtà, la ragione per cui questo angelo sembra svolgere due ruoli del tutto diversi è probabilmente che sie il nome Sarachiele, "Dio è il mio signore", e Sahariele, "Dio è la mia Luna", sono stati accorciati a Sariele.

L'altro arcangelo che nel I Libro di Enoch appare anche tra gli angeli caduti. Anche in questo caso si tratta di abbreviazioni simili per angeli diversi. Qui l'arcangelo si chiamerebbe Ierameel, spesso abbreviato a Remiele, ovvero "Dio abbia pietà!", ed è lo spirito preposto alle anime dei santi e beati. In libri apocrifi, come il IV Libro di Esdra, l'arcangelo Ieremiele, anche Remihel o Ieracmeel, appare come guardiano del Paradiso, oppure come angelo addetto alle visioni divine, ai sogni e alle speranze. Ramiele, invece, "Tuono di Dio", è, insieme a Sariele e Semiaza, tra i capi dei Vigilanti nel Libro di Enoch.

[dam-peace]

How would the ROs and Platonists react to the MC taking a bullet for them and dying?

Vice Virtue

Nicholas/Nicolette

Blames themselves and has a complete mental breakdown. Resulting in Nicholas/Nicolette having to take a mandatory leave of absence.

Tobias/Tahlia

Quick to anger, they think the detective was a fool and shows little to no remorse for their death. But, behind closed doors, the guilt eats away at them.

Elias/Elize

They remain the same outwardly, but they do stay by the detective's dead, lifeless body like the Grim reaper until they're taken to the morgue. Then, attends their funeral and visits them regularly at the cemetery. But, after the detective's death Elias/Elia doesn't engage in full s*xual intercourse with others as much as they used to.

Kacey

Cries hysterically, almost making themselves ill. Kacey has a complete mental breakdown down, trying to cling themselves to the detective's lifeless body. Resulting in them having to take a leave of absence from work.

Lars

Outwardly annoyed, Frustrated inside, yet somehow both empty and relieved.

Shuri

Heartbroken, completely distraut, tries to bury herself into her work and fails.

Mason

Heartbroken, yet still seeks out those who were close to the Detective. In order to comfort them despite his own breaking heart.

Dennis

Completely distraught and sickened by Lars' lack of empathy, which results in an argument.

Tori

Both stricken with guilt, yet sickenly relieved.

Rebecca

She didn't know the Detective that well, but she's still sad about their death and tries to comfort Tori.

Alpha, Beta, Omega

One

Buries themselves into their work, becoming even more closed off and that much more of an overbearing perfectionist.

Zero

They do their due diligence in comforting the others, but inside, nothing really changes. They've always felt empty inside, and the MC's death doesn't break them, not when they're already broken.

Viper

Becomes more cold and distant, preferring solo missions rather than working as a team. Yet, remains with the team to protect them, becoming even more watchful of their movements and those around them.

Wolfe

Angry, becoming snappy with both his teammates and mentors. Showing no mercy to anyone who gets on his bad side and becomes much more protective of his mentors and everyone on his team.

Hex

Completely distraught and overwhelmed by guilt, resulting in her having to be pulled from missions due to her mental health.

Ghost

Outwardly nothing changes, but the quiet that he once found solace in is now filled with thoughts of the MC.

Maria

Stress bakes, cooks, cleans, cries herself to sleep and becomes overprotective of the rest of the team.

Winston

Comforts his wife and the rest of the team as best he can, ignoring his own feelings. Winston buries himself in work, becoming even more overprotective of both his wife and the team.

Amelia

Stricken with silent grief that she refuses to show. Outwardly nothing changes, but she becomes harder on the team and other staff members in reference to the S.P.U as a result of the MC's death.

[townsenddecades]

1313 – Day 2

TOWNSEND FARM

Once more, there is a sudden chill in the air that hinders the Townsends’ farming. They still find plenty to occupy them, not least due to Benjamin’s efforts of learning to read and write. It is slow going – he finds it hard to make sense of the fact that the tiny characters form words he knows – but he does his best, and whatever he knows, he imparts to his brothers. They don’t have much to do, anyway, and he still hopes that this skill will aid them in their future, should they have opportunity to do something other than farming.

Malika keeps them company most of the time. She has Benjamin give her some lessons as well, but most of the time, she is just quietly doing her sewing or knitting, caring for the twins or doing work around the house. It is still strange to her, having several siblings around. Back in their own cottage, there had only been herself and her parents for the longest time, and then, after several miscarriages her mother had suffered, her baby brother Abraham. But she enjoys it.

CRAWLEY HOUSEHOLD

Over the years of her marriage, Anna has become good friends with her husband’s sister. Caroline can be a little imperious – quite like her mother, in fact – but for the most part, she is softer than Mary, and far more amiable.

Except when she is losing at chess. Which is exactly what she is doing right now.

“When have you gotten so good at this game?”, she huffs.

“Over many matches lost to your brother”, Anna jokes, and takes another of Caroline’s pieces off the board. “Blame him.”

“Oh, I do, believe me. I shall tell him exactly what I think when he comes home.”

“Pray, don’t be too hard on him. I may still have need of him later on.”

“If you say so. Whatever for, I couldn’t say. George doesn’t seem much use to anyone these days”, Caroline grumbles, probably mostly because George isn’t home much these days. He has followed his father into studies of the law and is often on business with him.

Anna decides to change the subject. “How are you getting on with your paramour?” She has been courted by a merchant’s son by the name of Tobias Sterling lately. To be precise, Tobias has merely been adopted by a merchant – a child of the widow Sterling Sr. he had married – but as he is likely to inherit his adopted father’s business, Mary and Matthew still consider him a suitable match for their daughter.

“Well, I think. Although I’d be happier if Mother didn’t keep reminding me that I might have become a sister to the Earl. As if it’s my fault that his brother has a wandering eye.”

“You know how ambitious your mother is. I’m sure once you’re married, she will adjust.”

“If you think that, you don’t know my mother. Well, the small mercy is that she won’t hound me about children too much, I hope. Not while you and my dear brother are so avid to provide them.” She looks meaningfully at Anna’s stomach. She is pregnant once more. Fertility, at least, is something she hasn’t struggled with.

All that is lacking is for one of her children to be a boy. As happy as the Crawleys have been about Annette’s birth, they still lack an heir to carry on the family name. It is only your third child, she tries to console herself. Watcher willing, there will be many more.

After her chess match is over, Anna steals herself into her bedroom, where her little darling is still in her crib. Looking at her baby girl still makes her happier than anything else in the world, and she thanks and prays to The Watcher every day for her continued good health. She had been so afraid that Annette would suffer the same fate as Matilda, but her little one grows every day, hale and healthy.

She can only pray that her third child will be strong as well.

WATCHER’S NEWS:

Finally, after years of marriage, Lady Elinor Pelham has given birth to her and her husband’s first child - Richard, the heir the family has been craving for so long. There has been much rejoicing in the Baron’s household as a result.

Prev: 1313, Day 1 <--> Next: 1313, Day 3

WATCHER’S COMMENTARY:

Am I enjoying dressing Anna up a bit too much for the fact that her family isn’t even gentry? Maybe. But I can’t help myself, she’s such a pretty sim. And it would make sense for Mary to want her family to be well-dressed. Disclaimer at this point: I know there were several new sumptuary laws put in place in England later in this century, but I’m not going to reflect those. 1) Because my cc is limited enough as it is and 2) this challenge is historically inauthentic anyway, I'd rather have fun with it than agonize over every detail.

[felixwriting]

OC in 15 or Fewer Tag

Tagged by @jezifster and I am...doing both Tobias and Sirena because they are a unit ok lmao. Did 8 for Tobias because he's not very chatty and 12 for Sirena because I'm lazy lol

TW: incest, cannibalism, murder

Tobias

"LET MY SISTER GO!"

2. "We have to do what he says, Rena. We don't have a choice. And even if we did, even if you were free to choose if that man lived or died and you still chose to kill him, I would still love you. Okay? I would still love you."

3. "I made a secret pocket in my boot. In case they search my actual pockets."

4. "I don't really want to go back. Even when we're free."

5. "If we don't get out of here, shower and change our clothes, I will lose my mind."

6. "I wonder sometimes, now that we're gone…do you think they miss us at all? Do you think they even noticed?"

7. "Sirena De Ville, love of my life, my very heart, the one with whom I will die, my blood and soul, more important to me than the very air we breathe and more vital than the Void in which we live, you have to sleep."

8. "You're trying to kill my wife and I. I think I'm entitled to be a little bit pissed."

Sirena

"I'll bite your fucking fingers off if you try it!"

2. "I'm going to eat this whole block of cheese, okay? Suck my dick."

3. "I didn't think it would be so easy. It shouldn't be that easy to kill someone."

4. "Relax, will you? We're armed, you've seen me fight, nothin' is going to go wrong. And, if it does, I'll just fuck someone up. So you can chill out for a minute. I'll keep you safe."

5. "Yeah, but no one knows who we were. All they see is some pirates. Which maybe should also be unwelcome. Possibly we're just really bad at knowing when people don't want us around."

6. "That's not an excuse, I should've been better. I'll- I'll try to be better if something happens again. I won't let-"

7. "Because…fuck, I don't know. I don't like killing people who aren't fighting back. Feels wrong. Don't fucking tell anyone about this. Now give me your arm, I'm going to have to cut it."

8. "I've always wanted to get married in the middle of some nonsense."

9. "I'm going to rip out your throat and eat you alive. Literally."

10. "I'm giving you a chance because I'm feeling a little playful, a little merciful, I think you don't deserve that mercy but whatever. I don't control where my whims take me."

11. "I figured that would sound better than just saying my moral code is just what feels correct in the moment."

12. "Alright. Something weird is going on here, and I don't feel like leaving it alone."

Tagging @koganelovesmcclain and leaving an open tag for whoever wants to do this ^.^

[techniche]

"80 to 90% of the population can be hypnotized to varying degrees. At least 5% (16.6M) of the US population is extraordinarily hypnotizable, so easily hypnotizable that they are in a constant state of exaggerated suggestibility, even when awake and going about their normal daily routine. They are at the total mercy of all forms of influences and can easily be persuaded to do things and afterward have no idea why they did them"

- Dr Tobias H. Brocher

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

5th June >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Saint Boniface, Bishop, Martyr 

on

Monday, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time.

Monday, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Red: A(1))

(Readings for the feria (Monday))

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Monday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Tobit 1:3,2:1-8 Tobit defies the law by burying the dead.

I, Tobit, have walked in paths of truth and in good works all the days of my life. I have given much in alms to my brothers and fellow countrymen, exiled like me to Nineveh in the country of Assyria. In the reign of Esarhaddon I returned home, and my wife Anna was restored to me with my son Tobias. At our feast of Pentecost (the feast of Weeks) there was a good dinner. I took my place for the meal; the table was brought to me and various dishes were brought. Then I said to my son Tobias, ‘Go, my child, and seek out some poor, loyal-hearted man among our brothers exiled in Nineveh, and bring him to share my meal. I will wait until you come back, my child.’ So Tobias went out to look for some poor man among our brothers, but he came back again and said, ‘Father!’ I answered, ‘What is it, my child?’ He went on, ‘Father, one of our nation has just been murdered; he has been strangled and then thrown down in the market place; he is there still.’ I sprang up at once, left my meal untouched, took the man from the market place and laid him in one of my rooms, waiting until sunset to bury him. I came in again and washed myself and ate my bread in sorrow, remembering the words of the prophet Amos concerning Bethel:

Your feasts will be turned to mourning, and all your songs to lamentation.

And I wept. When the sun was down, I went and dug a grave and buried him. My neighbours laughed and said, ‘See! He is not afraid any more.’ (You must remember that a price had been set on my head earlier for this very thing.) ‘The time before this he had to flee, yet here he is, beginning to bury the dead again.’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 111(112):1-2,3b-6

R/ Happy the man who fears the Lord. or R/ Alleluia!

Happy the man who fears the Lord, who takes delight in all his commands. His sons will be powerful on earth; the children of the upright are blessed.

R/ Happy the man who fears the Lord. or R/ Alleluia!

Riches and wealth are in his house; his justice stands firm for ever. He is a light in the darkness for the upright: he is generous, merciful and just.

R/ Happy the man who fears the Lord. or R/ Alleluia!

The good man takes pity and lends, he conducts his affairs with honour. The just man will never waver: he will be remembered for ever.

R/ Happy the man who fears the Lord. or R/ Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation cf. Colossians 3:16a,17

Alleluia, alleluia! Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you; through him give thanks to God the Father. Alleluia!

Or: cf. Revelation 1:5

Alleluia, alleluia! You, O Christ, are the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead; you have loved us and have washed away our sins with your blood. Alleluia!

Gospel Mark 12:1-12 They seized the beloved son, killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.

Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes and the elders in parables: ‘A man planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug out a trough for the winepress and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce from the vineyard. But they seized the man, thrashed him and sent him away empty-handed. Next he sent another servant to them; him they beat about the head and treated shamefully. And he sent another and him they killed; then a number of others, and they thrashed some and killed the rest. He had still someone left: his beloved son. He sent him to them last of all. “They will respect my son” he said. But those tenants said to each other, “This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” So they seized him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and make an end of the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this text of scripture:

It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone. This was the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful to see?

And they would have liked to arrest him, because they realised that the parable was aimed at them, but they were afraid of the crowds. So they left him alone and went away.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saint Boniface, Bishop, Martyr 

(Liturgical Colour: Red: A(1))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Monday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Acts of the Apostles 26:19-23 I have stood firm to this day, testifying to great and small alike.

Paul said: ‘King Agrippa, I could not disobey the heavenly vision. On the contrary I started preaching, first to the people of Damascus, then to those of Jerusalem and all the countryside of Judaea, and also to the pagans, urging them to repent and turn to God, proving their change of heart by their deeds. This was why the Jews laid hands on me in the Temple and tried to do away with me. But I was blessed with God’s help, and so I have stood firm to this day, testifying to great and small alike, saying nothing more than what the prophets and Moses himself said would happen: that the Christ was to suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he was to proclaim that light now shone for our people and for the pagans too.’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 116(117):1-2

R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. or R/ Alleluia!

O praise the Lord, all you nations, acclaim him all you peoples!

R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. or R/ Alleluia!

Strong is his love for us; he is faithful for ever.

R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. or R/ Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation John 10:14

Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd, says the Lord, I know my own sheep and my own know me. Alleluia!

Gospel John 10:11-16 The good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.

Jesus said:

‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep.

‘I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock, and one shepherd.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.