#verse!king breaker

[dcdreamblog]

The question about Sir Justin reminded me that I heard about another modern hero serving in King Arthur's court.

Jason Blood is the name he goes by in this century, I think.

Can you tell us more about him?

Sure but this story is not nearly as honorable a one as Sir Justin's, and there's a reason Sir Justin and he have a famously adversarial relationship.

(A screen grab of Blood on Dr. Terrance Thirteen's famous (or infamous) television show Ghost Breaker. You can see the reaction on Blood's face in response to Thirteen's...famous eccentricity)

Jason Blood was born in what is now Norwich in England, sometime in the 6th century AD around the height of the Kingdom of Camelot. He was in service to the wizard Merlin during that time in some capacity, either as a guard or a scribe. He describes Merlin as a fairly cantankerous boss who would often heap work upon his young assistant thus creating rebellious sentiment in him.

This rebellious sentiment was capitalized upon by sorceress Morgan Le Fey who connected with the young man and infatuated him. They carried on an affair for several years, with Blood passing information from Merlin's laboratory to Morgan either on purpose or on accident. Depends on whose version you believe. Blood insists that the information was what we in the modern day would call "pillow talk", whereas, for instance, Sir Justin believes that the information was knowingly offered to Camelot's enemies in order to do the kingdom harm.

During the Strife of Camlann, the battle that would result in the fall of Camelot after King Arthur had been mortally wounded on the field of battle the defenders of the city were pushed back inside its walls. Preparing for a long siege where they might be able to hold the city itself if not the surrounding kingdom the gates were opened in the middle of the night by Blood. Again reasons differed. Sir Justin believes it was a preplanned betrayal by Blood at Morgan's behest. Blood claims it was a spur of the moment action meant to spare the city a prolonged siege via misplaced trust in Morgan's intentions.

Whatever the case may be, Blood opened the city gates and Morgan's soldiers streamed through the breach. Putting the city to the torch and slaughtering its defenders. Betrayed by Morgan in that moment and mortally wounded himself a spiteful Merlin thought a dishonorable death too merciful for his wayward student and so bound Blood to a demon from the pit, Etrigan (those more versed in demonology than me just gasped)

Ever since then, Blood has been bound to that Demon. Wandering the earth in the following 15 centuries trying to hold back its demonic impulses. These days he works as an occultist and demonologist in Gotham City (because where the hell else would someone do that professionally). Sometimes he is able to command the Demon toward good ends, in assistance to heroes of the magical sort. Often times he is just another one its victims along for the ride.

[koscheys-skull]

About This Blog: Functionality, this is a side blog. My main blog may be found on my main page. I follow from croziers-compass which is an Age of Sail, Terror, and Polar Exploration blog. I also have a writing blog which you may also find on my main page.

This is an 18+ Blog. Minors, I am terribly sorry. But I shan't be responsible for you. You are responsible for yourself. I will block if I notice Minors following me.

This is an LGBTQIA+ Friendly Blog.

Terfs get cursed.

About The Necromancer:

I am an active occult practitioner that specialises in Necromancy, Demonolatry with a focus on Death Demonic, Alchemy, Wortcunning, and Folk Magic. Casually I will tell people I'm a Folk Practitioner as that is the Axis Mundi of my practise. My Necromancy is Folk. My Demonolatry is Folk Demonolatry. My Alchemy is Folk Alchemy.

I work with the dead and spirits of the dead alongside the Death Demonic. I also am a curse breaker from time to time as the need arises.

My Patron is Lucifer.

The Demons I work with the Most: Murmur Bune Bifrons Eurynomos King Paimon Belial Mephisto Verrine I also work with the Baphomet, Several Saints including Saint Cyprian, the Patron Saint of Necromancers.

I am a Diviner and Craftsman. My medium is Osteomancy (Bone Reading) and Cartomancy. My main decks are Ophidia Rosa, Marigold by Amrit Brar, and Flux Arcana by the amazing Micah Ulrich who also has a shop! I offer readings from time to time. But it never hurts to drop an Ask in my Ask Box if you're looking for one.

If you got a reading from me and you'd like to Tip Me, I have a Ko-Fi. I come from what some communities call "FamTrad" (Family Tradition). All aspects of my work have origins in Family Traditions passed down to me from my grandmother and other kin. I have been an active practitioner since I could hold candles for ceremonies (about 6 years old).

I am Romany, multilingual, and lived most of my life in Belarus. I am well versed in Slavic Occultism and Paganism as well as a broad array of other traditions.

I am friendly and warm of an individual! Do not let all these words worry you! I enjoy life and I am generally very pleasant and I am very approachable! Don't let the themes make you shy! Come hither and you shall not worry for a thing!

Themes You May See On This Blog (This is your CW / TW List that may be worth being mindful of): Death Blood Bones Body Horror Graphic Themes Occult Religion / Religious Themes Catholicism Christianity Demons Demonolatry

Things I will discuss and post about on this Blog:

Death Work and Necromancy Demonolatry Folk Magic Divination Blood Magic Occultism Alchemy Magical History and Theory Deity Work

Profile Picture by the lovely and wonderful neanmoins-que.

Banner Picture done by the incredibly talented Kelly Roman of whom also has a website and a shop!

[horizoncountdown]

Character Dossier: Aloy (Countdown ‘verse)

Aloy

Culture:

Nora (raised)

Mixed (adopted)

Birth:

April 4th, 3021 (age c. 19)

ELEUTHIA-9, All-Mother Mountain, The Sacred Lands

Gender:

Female

Eye Colour:

Green

Hair Colour:

Red

Affiliation(s):

Talanah Khane Padish

Carja Hunter’s Lodge

Avad

Carja Royal family

Vanguard

Petra Forgewoman

Vanasha

Uthid

Sylens

Aratak

Aratak’s Werak

CYAN

GAIA

GAIA Gang

Beta

Hekarro

Tenakth Marshals

Jurassic Pack (Blue, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Lil’ Beta and Vicki)

Solarflare

Tidebreaker

Seyka

Gerrit

Seyka’s family

Khita

Khita’s family

Profession:

Huntress

Machine Hunter

Position:

Outcast (formerly)

Brave (before appointed Seeker)

Seeker

Anointed of All-Mother

Thrush of Sunhawk Talanah Khane Padish (shared with Milu)

Banuk Werak Chieftain (temporarily)

Alpha Prime of Project Zero Dawn (joint)

Leader of the GAIA Gang

Hekarro’s Champion

Family:

Elisabet Sobeck (genetic blueprint)

Rost (Guardian/father)

Beta (Genetic twin)

Seyka (Partner)

Kina (adopted sister)

Khita (adopted aunt)

Aliases:

#LK1A1-4510

Aloy of the Nora

Aloy, Despite the Nora (Nickname for herself and used by Talanah)

Aloy Machinehunter (Nickname for herself with Petra)

Flame-Hair (Nickname by Petra)

Little Spark (by Gera)

Little Huntress (by Vanasha)

Anointed of the Nora (by the Nora)

The Saviour of Meridian (by the Carja)

Red (Nickname by Salma and Delah & Boomer)

Troublesome Redundant Copy (by Gerard)

Commander (by Kotallo)

Hekarro’s Champion (by the Tenakth)

Blood Hair (by the Tenakth)

Desert Flame (by Drakka)

Wall-Breaker (by the Sky Clan)

Living Ancestor (by the Quen)

She Who Flies on the Wings of the Ten (by the Tenakth)

Ginger Avenger (by Walter Londra)

Sunwing (Petname by Seyka)

Darling (Petname by Seyka)

Aloy, Daughter of Rost (Quen familial name)

Sis (by Beta)

Arms and Armour:

Armour/Outfits:

Main;

Nora Thunder Warrior - Main battle armour. Made by Aloy.

Nora Tracker - Main hunting attire/flying attire. Made by Aloy.

Nora Huntress - Main casual outfit. Mede by Teb.

Other;

Tenakth Tactician and the First face-paint (Hekarro’s colours) - Gift from Hekkaro for stopping Regalla

Utaru Protector (Early Autumn) - When in Utaru territory

Carja Blazon (Blood Dusk) - Gift from Talanah. When in the Sundom

Nora Anointed – For official business with the eastern tribes.

Has but doesn’t wear much;

Oseram Artificer – From Salvage Contracts

Weapon(s):

Death-Seeker’s Shadow - Won from the Arena

Iriv’s Downfall - Won from the Arena

Carja’s Bane - Won for winning the Gauntlet races

Legacy’s Reach - A gift of thanks from Legacy’s Landfall.

Brawlbreaker - Made by Petra on commission.

The Tie That Binds - Traded for from Fleet’s End.

Champion’s Spear - Token of Gratitude from Sun-King Avad

Specter Gauntlet - Retrieved from Zeth, and upgraded after killing Pirik

[d-buggers-org]

mORE HOLLOW TOME + lore drop?

In this verse, kizu takes the place of hornet. the text in the dooble is copy pasted dialogue from hornet.

also lol i remembered the crystals in crystal peak have lasers in it. so i changed zettos arm to a blue crystal and thats how he uses his breaker beam.

alpha i think might take the place of the hollow knight, being possessed by moth radiance kajet.

flamey takes the place of the hive knight boss and the snail shaman, shes the one who teaches softdi how to use spells.

Zetto takes place as a mixture of the crystal guardian boss, tiso and maybbeeeee quarrel. softdi sees him a number of times after beating him in crystal peak on her journey. ultimately ending in the colosseum of fools.

nylocke is a nail master, not specifically any of the three brothers in hollow knight but yeah he teaches sofdti the nail arts. after learning the nail arts from him, you'll see him in the colosseum of fools along with zetto.

Zetto and Nylocke are both individual final bosses of the trials and in god home, you would fight both of them as a tag team. lowkey implying zetto is also a nail master. (its also funny cause they are both beetles in this au)

Webmaster is the pale king, kindar the white lady. The remaining netkings are the dreamers. Execk is herrah, bitts is lurian and rubi is monomon.

thats all i got for hollow tome lore for now, let me know if you have suggestions or ideas. i really wanna expand this au.

[s-o-a-p-ing]

JEREMIAH S.O.A.P. ~ CHAPTER 28

Thursday, 6/27/24

SCRIPTURE:

“This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.' ... "Only listen to this message I am speaking in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people." ~ Jeremiah 28:2,7

OBSERVATION:

For some reason, I couldn't separate these two verses... 

Verse 2: Back to the yoke again from yesterday... 

He has "...broken the yoke of the king of Babylon" -

- the enemy's yoke...

- self-inflicted yoke...

...not an "easy" yoke or light burden like Jesus offers...

...Jesus... the breaker of the enemy's yoke...

Verse 7: He speaks to be heard - to be known - and obeyed...

...not just to and by me...

...but to and by all people...

...including me...

APPLICATION:

Live released - unyoked to my sin...

Listen to His message (verse 7)

PRAYER:

Burden lifting Father God - forgive my not always listening, even when I hear You speaking to me or in the lives of those around me. Thank You for Jesus's yoke replacing the one of my own making... In His Name, and for Your glory and honor...

As always, yours always, in all ways - through Him...

𝖌

<((><

[lichtleads]

DOSSIER MASTERPOST

Name Wolfram Ulric Hennershitz AGE 550 DATE OF BIRTH july 13th, 1484 GENDER & PRONOUNS he/him ORIENTATION feral bisexual SPECIES human and alchemist NATIONALITY: German / Japanese Jpn va. Ken Narita Eng va. David Kaye

Once a King's Knight sworn to protect the ancient Kingdom of Stolez, a rival of Atlas, a reluctant friend of Qistina, loyal to himself. Wolfram is currently wandering the earth under the guise of King Mutigsten's most holy Knight. A skilled swordsman and alchemist, Wolfram is a frightening opponent and ally. A rule-keeper. A spirit-breaker.

Traits.

HEIGHT 6'2 HAIR raven blue, tucked back in a modern-world style. EYES deep and dark, focused SCARS many a scar has now healed over time. TATTOOS tattoos on his palms.

misc.

Wolfram carries a dry sense of humor and rarely laughs as he was taught to carry himself seriously.

a quick learner. brilliant. a real golden boy. Is difficult to speak to, as he is always focusing on his alchemy and training.

Works in mans' world as a detective. He often goes rogue and won't hold back against villainy. he will kill in the name of justice if he must

A true Knight at heart, Wolfram is quite chivalrous but holds onto some old patriarchal ideals. He's doing his best to learn the culture of the modern world.

dresses in dark, comfortable clothes and suits. Feels more at home in armor

must keep a weapon on him at all times. Prefers the sword and shield, but is proficient in the dagger and most other weapons.

He too is a reincarnation of a god. The god of love and death [Emet]

EARLY HISTORY.

Born an only child to a German man and a Japanese woman, Wolfram was raised in the rural countryside of Stolez up until the great plague took his parents. He survived on his own for three years until a Knight, Dietrich, under the King Mutigsten, granted his entry into the castle's villages to began his training as a Squire from the age of 9. He trained side-by-side with Atlas even when he was christened as a Knight and made his oaths at the foot of the King.

Wolfram's 'purpose' in Knighthood was to destroy Atlas' human soul so that Poros could return and be under the control of King Mutigsten ( just as the cult of Khrosteia planned to do with Qistina ). It's about the same in any other verse. Keeping the soul of Poros in check, which would work if not for the fact that Razmir also shares a soul with Atlas. As Wolfram is in love with Atlas, when he learns of this plan he promptly rebels, preferring to keep his loyalties to his friends. He showed great promise, and would have been made the King's leading Knight if not for Atlas.

Reincarnation.

Aside from alchemy and swordplay, Wolfram was blessed with the soul of Emet, the god of All-consuming Love. He has the capacity for great and intense love.

He loves humans to the depths of his soul, and even with the wicked and villainous he will consume that soul so that it may feel love before returning to the EinSof.

Emet was the eons-long lover of both Khrosteia and Poros, so he naturally has a connection to both Atlas and Qistina, though he is not understanding of his feelings when first meeting,

still a human at his core, unable to speak to Emet as Qistina can to Khrosteia.

He can tell when another human is in love, but it's more difficult to tell with non-human souls.

he is polyamorous and sex-positive

POWER

His prowess is deeply affected by phosphorus and the manipulation of the soul. Wolfram has the ability to consume and completely destroy the soul, making his use ideal as a Knight of the King. To destroy the souls of the wicked and lead them unto salvation. Wolfram will only do so when ordered, at least, he did. He values loyalty but is not entirely loyal to King Mutigsten - he is only loyal to Atlas and Qistina, two alchemists he is connected with from the middle ages.

He works together with them to help gradually remove the soul of Razmir from Atlas, who is slowly being consumed by it.

He can destroy anything. Erase it completely down to the molecule.

― The words inscribed around his array directly from the sefirot / not the symbols themselves

Ahavah – "Love" of God and Divine in all things(Response of Divine giving) Yirah – "Fear" of God Emet – "Truth" Shechinah - "Divine Presence"

symbols.

sulfur - a fire element that represents both the human spirit and the Holy Spirit. Also known as the brimstone symbol, it is flammable and refers to the superego of the psyche, which reflects one's inner conscience. mars - the patron of warriors sun - represents the masculine principle,  phosphorus - captures the light

[notenoughmuses]

Two new verses for Viserys and some talk with Mari. @westerosiqueens

Lord of Dragonstone

Viserys and Daenerys make their way to Westeros and ask Cersei to have Lord and Ladyship if Dragonstone. They rule as Lord and Lady.

Valaryia reborn

Viserys and Daenerya with the help of their army, Drogon, Viserion, Rhaegal and Rhaellion take West and Central Essos and part of eaat-centrsl towards Qarth and Slavers/Dragons Bay as theirs, making their Kingdom in a similar vain of Westeros while still respecting Essosi and the Free Cities culture (to an extent aka slavers are banned) they let the Free Cities stay as they are, the Magisters all answer to the Empire if need but they do what they do (think King of Westeros and the Great Houses and then the Great Houses with the Vassels) They lived in all of the Free Cities for 14 years they aren't going to just topple the Cities that housed them and kept them safe (plus trying to unite and make the Free Cities....not free...good luck) Braavos is the one that may escape the Empire because the Iron Bank deals with Westeros.

Viserys and Daenerys rule together as:

Emperor Viserys "The Golden" Targaryen of the Valaryian Empire, first of his name. Emperor of the Valaryian freehold, Central and Western Essos, the Dothraki Sea, Dragons Bay, Ghiscar, Lhazar and the Red Waste. Protector of the realm and the Free Cities. The conqueror, King of Yunkai, Breaker of shackles.

and Empress Daenerys Stormborn Targaryen, "the Unburnt", of the Valaryian Empire, first of her name. Emperess of the Valaryian freehold, Central and Western Essos, the Dothraki Sea, Dragons Bay, Ghiscar, Lhazar and the Red Waste. Protectors of the realm and the Free Cities. The Breaker of shackles, Khalessi of the Great Grass Sea, Queen of Mereen, Mother of dragons.

[lucifermorningstaropenforasks]

🎩🍎 WELCOME TO LUCIFER'S CORNER OF HELL 🍎🎩

"Greetings, my little sinners! Lucifer Morningstar is here to entertain!"

🦆 ABOUT THE KING 🦆 • Lucifer Morningstar, ruler of Hell, apple enthusiast, and rubber duckie collector • admin is Avanna (Vanna VV, and Van-Van if we're close)(they/them, any pronouns except it/its)(so she/her and He/him are allowed) • Asexual and panromantic admin • No neopronouns, please! I personally don't use them but if you do that is so cool!!

🎭 ROLEPLAY SPECS 🎭 • Aiming for canon-accurate portrayal with a dash of chaos • Well-versed in Hazbin Hotel lore and shenanigans • Open to all ships - let's see where the infernal winds take us! (low-key love Adamsapple rn_ • Flirting and romance? Yes! Explicit content? No, thank you! If you wanna at least be tasteful.

⚠️ HELLISH WARNINGS ⚠️ • SPOILERS for Hazbin Hotel Season One lurk here • Expect mature themes, dark humor, and devilish mischief • Language might make a demon blush (but probably not)

🚫 STAY OUT, YOU... 🚫 • Bigots, harassers, and general party poopers • Explicit content peddlers • Law-breakers (ironic, I know) • Spam demons and self-promo imps

✅ COME ON IN, YOU... ✅ • Ask-senders and RP starter enthusiasts • Theorists and headcanon crafters • Artists (keep it tasteful, darlings) • Hazbin Hotel chatterboxes

🎪 RULES OF THE GAME 🎪

IC or OOC? Label it, sweethearts

Please No god-playing in my domain

Respect the boundaries or face the consequences

Keep it fun, keep it wild!

🍿 SEND YOUR ASKS TO THE POPCORN MAN 🍿 Anon is ON - feel free to be mysterious!

Remember, every deal with the devil comes with a twist. Are you ready to dance with the King of Hell?

🦆 Quack quack, sinners! 🦆

(stuff from me will be in Purple and Lucifer will be in black/white whatever it pops up as)

[sunday-arch]

a11sunday … a one piece multimuse roleplay blog as narrated and interpreted by chai, and operating as sporadic activity and mutuals only. rules + roster found under the cut. memes. open starters.

an exploration in … found family, second chances and forgiveness, survivor's guilt, rescue from loneliness and an unloved existence, liberation from the burden of guilt, oppression, and the things that shackle us, and a captain and crew's unconditional love.

affiliations … weatherw1tch , danversiism , buraiikan / ryusokcn / shipwrght , lovehungered , foremyth , pareidolah , voidcenturyseashanties.

now watching … egghead island arc.

rules + general information.

no explicit sexual material, infidelity threads, or holiday-centric threads will be written here.

suggestive content will ultimately fade to black.

force shipping ≠ asking if i ship our muses / wanting to discuss the potential for a ship. feel free to be forthright with your intentions since i generally prefer to have some discussion and chemistry testing before jumping into romantic shipping. as for all other types of dynamics, i'm always down and encourage it!

trigger warnings will be tagged " trigger // ". please tag your usfw, jumpscares, and any media or material involving infidelity.

plots preferred , but will use memes as ice breakers and will continue them whenever possible. i try to send memes to new mutuals to get interactions going, but please don't feel pressured to respond right away.

i get duplicate anxiety from time to time, and while that doesn't mean that i won't interact with duplicates at all, that means i might limit how many of the same muse i follow that are duplicates of someone i write. it's no remark on you or your muse, it's for my own comfort.

* as noted in some of my ocs’ lore / blurbs, i’ve written them with connections to canon characters. so, i will be referencing them as people they know in interactions unless you write said characters themselves. if you write any of these characters themselves and you are uncomfortable with pre establishing connections, then we can plot around it / discuss it further. i’ll approach you about it before i write anything that would assume they know one another.

roster. --- click on link attached to muse name to find any canon divergences, information on interpretation, and / or various verses.

canons ;

makino, pub owner in windmill village.

monkey d. luffy, captain of the strawhat pirates, the future pirate king.

nico robin, archaeologist and crew member of the strawhat pirates, “demon child of ohara”.

perona, crewmember of the thriller bark pirates, “the ghost princess”.

portgas d. ace, former captain of the spade pirates, second commander of whitebeard pirates, “fire fist ace”.

red leg zeff, head chef of baratie, former captain of cook pirates.

sanji, cook and crewmember of the strawhat pirates, “black leg sanji”.

silvers rayleigh, former first mate of the roger pirates, "the dark king".

tony-tony chopper, doctor and crewmember of the strawhat pirates.

usopp, sharpshooter / sniper and crewmember of the strawhat pirates, “god usopp”.

viola, princess of dressrosa, formerly of the donquixote family.

ocs ;

clover d. iselda, naval captain under the command of monkey d. garp. / faceclaim : may calamawy ( live action ).

kazumi haru, samurai in the land of wano, ally of the returned akazaya nine. / faceclaim : suguru geto (jjk).

nina liu, operates in the criminal underworld, creating clothing, armor and weaponry infused with sea stone and haki, “the tigress”. / faceclaim : fan bing bing ( live action ).

otorobashi akai, captain of the crimson dragon pirates, “the bloodletter”.

quetzal d. luna, third princess of the sky system, helio, "the sky warrior princess". / faceclaim : taylor russell ( live action ).

zephyr, operative in the revolutionary army, older brother of nami. / faceclaim : aleksander (veil manga). ( REQUEST MUSE ).

zhi hua, cook, secondary weapons expert, and first mate of the crimson dragon pirates, “the mad queen”. / faceclaim : faye wong ( live action ).

testing muses ; ( available upon request )

monkey d. garp.

[hellostarrynightblr]

highlights of June-December

Favourite movies: The Farmer's Daughter (1947), Oppenheimer (2023), The Bourne trilogy (2002-2007), Gojira -1.0 (2023).

Decent movies I liked / appreciated but not loved: Highlander (1986), From the Terrace (1960), Mary Poppins (1964), Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023), If I Were King (1938), The Equalizer 3 (2023), No Way Out (1950), Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993).

wtf movie/ending: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) just because they ended it like an episode of a TV show rather than a part one of a movie. I knew it was part one and even I was sitting at the cinema confused once the credits rolled. Also, in the best way, They Won't Believe Me (1947). I was not expecting the film to end like that at all. AT ALL. Also, Caught (1949) has the most unsatisfying tonal shift in the end I probably have ever see. Up until that last few minutes, it was solid, dark, edgy even. Just the way I like my noirs to be. And then the resolution and it is just…. huh?

Best scenes: the Spider Men chase scene in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023); Alfred leaving Mary for good in From the Terrace (1960); the finale in They Won't Believe Me (1947); father's final walk to work in Mary Poppins (1964); the bomb / 'You will remember this day' in Oppenheimer (2023); saying goodbye to the 'daughter' in Gojira -1.0 (2023); the garage confrontation in Caught (1949).

Favourite genres: action, adventure, drama.

Favourite directors: Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer, 2023); Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, 2023); Robert Stevenson (Mary Poppins, 1964); Paul Greengrass (The Bourne trilogy, 2002-2007); Joseph L. Mankiewicz (No Way Out, 1950); Takashi Yamazaki (Gojira -1.0, 2023); Mel Brooks (Robin Hood: Men in Tights, 1993); Sidney Lanfield (The Hound of the Baskervilles, 1939).

Favourite actors: Robert Cummings (The Lost Moment, 1947), Susan Hayward (The Lost Moment, 1947 and They Won't Believe Me, 1947); Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward (From the Terrace, 1960); Ethel Barrymore, Loretta Young, Joseph Cotten (The Farmer's Daughter, 1947); Robert Young (They Won't Believe Me, 1947); Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell (Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, 2023); Matt Damon (The Bourne trilogy, 2002-2007); Ronald Colman (If I Were King, 1938); Denzel Washington (The Equalizer 3, 2023); Sidney Poitier, Linda Darnell, Richard Widmark (No Way Out, 1950); Cary Elwes (Robin Hood: Men in Tights, 1993); Bob Hope (The Ghost Breakers, 1940); James Mason, Barbara Bel Geddes, Robert Ryan (Caught, 1949); Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe (Gojira -1.0, 2023); Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer, 2023); Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns (Mary Poppins, 1964). (Dick Van Dyke is an international treasure, I absolutely love this sweet, sweet man!)

Least favourite performances: anyone in Angels Over Broadway (1940) is pretty forgettable, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in particular. I did not like Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986), so it might be affecting my perception of Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger's performances as I know both of them are more than capable performers. George Sanders is pretty bland in The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (1945). Vincent Cassel is bizzare in La belle et la bête (2014).

The most wasted cast: I don't think there is any particular cast that was wasted this time around. I didn't enjoy Angels Over Broadway (1940), so might be this one.

The best wasted premise: The Lost Moment (1947). It's not a bad film, but way too rushed. Had they taken more time, I think the film would have been much, much better.

Best premise: Highlander (1986); No Way Out (1950); Gojira -1.0 (2023).

Favourite cast: Oppenheimer (2023), hands down. Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Scott Grimes, Jason Clarke, James D'Arcy, Kenneth Branagh, Tim DeKay, David Krumholtz, Florence Pugh, Matt Damon, Dane DeHaan, Josh Peck, Rami Malek, Casey Affleck, Gary Oldman. At one point I just started listing every actor I know who's popped up in this, it got crazy.

Favourite on-screen duos: Robert Cummings + Susan Hayward (The Lost Moment, 1947); Paul Newman + Joanne Woodward, Paul Newman + Ina Balin (From the Terrace, 1960); Loretta Young,+ Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymore with literally anyone (The Farmer's Daughter, 1947); Julie Andrews + Dick Van Dyke (Mary Poppins, 1964); Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell (Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, 2023); anyone in Oppenheimer (2023); James Mason, Barbara Bel Geddes (Caught, 1949); Bob Hope + Paulette Goddard (The Ghost Breakers, 1940).

Favourite on-screen relationships: my favourite is easily Larry Quinada and Leonora Eames from Caught (1949), but I have a few others. Alfred Eaton + Mary St. John (in a very toxic, unhealthy way) and Alfred Eaton + Natalie Benzinger (From the Terrace, 1960); Katrin Holstrom + Glenn Morley (The Farmer's Daughter, 1947); Bourne + Marie (The Bourne Identity, 2002 + The Bourne Ultimatum, 2004); Koichi Shikishima + Noriko Oishi (Gojira -1.0, 2023).

Favourite characters: Alfred Eaton, Mary St. John (From the Terrace, 1960); Mrs. Morley, Katrin Holstrom, Glenn Morley (The Farmer's Daughter, 1947); Jason Bourne (The Bourne trilogy, 2002-2007); Larry Ballentine (They Won't Believe Me, 1947); Mary Poppins, Bert (Mary Poppins, 1964); Ethan Hunt, Grace (Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, 2023); J. Robert Oppenheimer, Lewis Strauss (Oppenheimer, 2023); Jason Bourne (The Bourne trilogy, 2002-2007); François Villon (If I Were King, 1938); Robert McCall (The Equalizer 3, 2023); Edie Johnson, Dr. Dan Wharton, Dr. Luther Brooks (No Way Out, 1950); Koichi Shikishima, Noriko Oishi (Gojira -1.0, 2023), Robin Hood (Robin Hood: Men in Tights, 1993); Larry Quinada, Leonora Eames, Smith Ohlrig (Caught, 1949).

Favourite quote: Let no one laugh at our absurd design, but pray to God that he forgives us all. (If I Were King, 1938). I also love this exchange in From the Terrace: Mary St. John: You've touched me deeply. Alfred Eaton: But not in the right places.

Favourite fact discovered in 2023: James Mason asked to play the good guy in Caught (1949) because he wanted a break from playing bad buys in British films. Gojira -1.0 (2023) was made on a 15-million-dollar budget. Effective filmmaking if I ever saw one. Oppenheimer (2023), a 3-hour biopic, made around a billion dollars at the box office.

The most overrated film: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). It was fine, the animation is great, but there are a few too many stupid and slow moments. Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986) is terrible. No Way Out (1987) is okay, but I prefer the original anyway. Almost everything Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) is good except for the actual plot.

The most disappointing film: I didn't hold out much hope for any of these, so I wasn't disappointed.

The biggest surprise: Gojira -1.0 (2023).

Best cinematography: Hoyte Van Hoytema (Oppenheimer, 2023). Also, J. Peverell Marley (The Hound if the Baskervilles, 1939).

Best set design: Oppenheimer (2023). Also. I loved La belle et la bête (2014).

Best costume design: Pierre-Yves Gayraud La belle et la bête (2014).

Best music: I don't remember any. My guess is Oppenheimer (2023), but I can't remember any music from it either.

Best production choice: casting Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins, 1964); black-and-white sections (Oppenheimer, 2023), focusing on the human drama and survivor's guilt (Gojira -1.0, 2023)

Worst production choice: (randomly) killing Ilsa (Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, 2023).

Film of the month(s): Oppenheimer (2023), Gojira -1.0 (2023).

[historia-vitae-magistras]

Do you have any thoughts on the Nordic Family? I saw in a Headcanon post you mentioned Denmark & Sweden smashing beer glass over each others heads. So I wanted to know your thought on the other guys. Do Denmark, Norway, & Sweden view each other as brothers? What about Iceland? Is he Norway’s young brother/quasi-son? I’d love to know!

Okay so... Disclaimer, as with the Atlantic Archipelago/UK+Ireland, I am pushing as far back as my knowledge goes and extrapolating and then roughly holding what was true when they were quite young forward into modernity. I am fairly well versed in the 8th-11th century but after that things get rather fuzzy. That said, a-viking we go.

I do think they view themselves as having kinship ties but less blood and biological and more a complex network of swearing fealty, political alliances and a very deep sense of comradery at various points in history. In medieval Scandinavia, bands of young men would reeve and raid to make their living before settling down and to go to war, a leader had go convince multiple of those war bands to follow him. The so called oath rings are usually much older but the Eddas and Sagas and other Scandinavian literature have a lot of oath swearing and hierarchy. Scandinavians also practiced fosterage, where boys were raised together to create bonds between families.

So all that said, my answer is sort of. Brother is the word they will use in peacetime but less as a familial term and more to mean the opposite of oath breaker.

Iceland I do consider Norway's son. The Icelanders were mostly of Norwegian origin and were fleeing from Harald Finehair, a shitty Norwegian King ans Norway later more or less conquered Iceland. The ties are complicated and strong.

[butchjesus]

oc verses / story tags (a-z) + characters:

dreamland: truffle, puffball, sandman, b.g., marina, ash, myke

gummysugar: puck, blinkie, xavier, faust, pru

eyeverse (eyetooth + eye for an eye): matteo, tiernan, clem, vio, goshawk, vulture, starling

freefallverse (bedevil + citadel + devotional): eli, keth, ben, father binaventure, pastor dana, bishop piardi | pandora, valoel, hunt | the demon princes, the archangels

fortunaverse (vocation + fnrf + angelpeak park): glasses, ocelot, cignetti, judge, buchanan, ronin, gil, dr. keys, the core team

the grey circle: prince sebastian, sir konstantine, gren, bain, ilean, cainiph, imogen, queen vera, king cyrus, wren jester, the knights of mirideth

subordinate dating sim: count masters, kevin, lady rivet, mortimer, eros, clara, reaper, pork rind, skullcrusher, fracture, hero, blur

sunset column: breaker, r60, lupe, riser, beau, dandelion, bloodhound, wyatt, win

toyhouse corners: postman basil, sir alfred, hannah, mac, blade, foster, leo bear, leslie mouse, tabasco, lemondrop

if you're looking for a specific charracter's tag, search their name :)

[johnhardinsawyer]

Hope is Worth the Risk

John Sawyer

Bedford Presbyterian Church

12 / 22 / 24 – Fourth Sunday in Advent

Luke 1:46-55

Matthew 1:18-25[1]

“Hope is Worth the Risk”

(Words for the Beginning – Week 4)

Years ago, a teenage girl got pregnant, in the usual way that people do.  She was still in high school, and was not married, and was not going to get married anytime soon.  So, she got sent away – the way that girls in those days, in similar situations, often were sent away.  And while she was away, she had the baby – a baby girl – and she gave the baby up for adoption.  Then she came home, graduated from high school, and went off to college.

Years passed.  The young woman did get married to a nice young man she met in college.  One of the reasons she fell in love with him was that when she told him, honestly, about the baby she had given up for adoption – a story that would have been a deal-breaker for lesser men – the young man told her that he loved her, no matter what.

More years passed.  And the opportunity arose for the woman to meet the daughter she had given up for adoption.  It was something that made both the woman and the daughter nervous.  Meetings like these are often fraught with emotion.  How would things be?  Would they get along?  Would there be regret or blame?  Would it all be okay?  

The woman and the daughter met face-to-face, and spent some time together, one-on-one, and things seemed to go well.  Then, it was time for the woman’s husband to meet the daughter that was not his own, biological child.  And when he saw her, he gave her a hug, and said he loved her – just like he loved her momma – no matter what.  In that moment they became a new and different kind of family.  And all was right with the world.[2]

At the beginning of today’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew, all is not right in Joseph’s world.  The young woman that he is supposed to marry is found to be, as the Bible says, “with child.”  And Mary, the young pregnant mother-to-be, has not gotten pregnant in the usual way that people do.  Instead, there is something different going on.

Now, we’ll get to this “something different” in just a moment.  But first, I want to remind us of the story we studied a few weeks ago – the story of Ruth and Naomi, and how Ruth, a foreign woman from Moab, becomes part of the genealogy of Jesus.  In the first verses of the Gospel of Matthew – right before today’s reading – we find this genealogy, listing fourteen generations between Abraham and David (including Ruth – David’s great-grandmother), and then fourteen generations between David and a man named “Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.” (Matthew 1:16)  We should note that, throughout this long family tree, there are a lot of names listed:  “Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel, the father of. . .” (1:12-13) well, you get the idea.  We should also note that this very clearly traced bloodline from Abraham to Jesus, over twenty-eight generations, is traced through men.  Yes, there are some women listed, here – like Ruth and Rahab (a prostitute who helped the Israelites conquer the City of Jericho),[3] and “the wife of Uriah,” also known as Bathsheba, who, willingly or not willingly, cheated on her husband with King Solomon.[4]  

I want to make sure that we list these women because God loves them and blesses them, and they are proof (along with some of the men listed here) that God can and will use any and all of us to bring about God’s holy purpose.  

But here is the thing that I’ve sometimes wondered. . .  During the season of Advent and at Christmas, we will often read that Joseph is “. . . of the house and family of David.” (Luke 2:4)  In today’s reading, an angel identifies Joseph as, “Joseph, son of David.” (Matthew 1:20)  The Bible makes a big deal about this – how the Messiah is part of this great and stored family.  The lineage is clear.  Except, according to these stories, Joseph is not the biological father of Jesus.  God is.  So, is Jesus actually part of the house and family of David, or am I missing something?  

There are at least two things going on in today’s story.  First, there is this situation of the mysterious and Holy birth of a child and second, there is this situation of the whole family tree of Jesus.  

Now, I can’t fully explain the birth of Jesus in terms of the movement of the Holy Spirit and human biology.  There are those who have tried and will try, but at the end of the day, it is a Holy mystery – part of the story of Jesus.  And, to have faith in God in the first place is to open ourselves to the beautiful possibility of mysteries that cannot be explained.  In this mystery God, somehow, circumvents the traditional family structure and declares that, as New Testament scholar, Warren Carter, writes, “membership in Jesus’ new community is not constituted by descent through the father’s biological or ethnic line.  Jesus is descendant of Abraham and David not by physical descent but by God’s action.”[5]  This is the mysteriously Holy action of God – claiming the freedom to claim all people as part of Christ’s new family, not just those who are part of the traditional family.  

This mysterious and Holy action of God claims us, too, you know.  This is good news.    

In terms of Jesus’ family tree, how Jesus becomes part of the house and family of David, when he is not related by blood, there is a somewhat practical explanation, here.  In today’s story, there is a whole lot of mystery in terms of what God is doing and then there is what Joseph is told to do and – just as importantly – chooses to do.  In today’s story, Joseph is told to name the baby.  “. . . And you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins,” (1:21) the angel says.  This official naming was a responsibility usually reserved for the male father-figure in the family.  And, as Carter writes:  “In naming the baby, Joseph, son of David, will acknowledge paternity and make Jesus ‘Son of David’ [too].”[6]  Joseph, who is clearly not this baby’s daddy, chooses to claim the child as his own, and gives him a proper name, and welcomes him into the family.  

So, in today’s story, we clearly have God’s activity in the lives of human beings – and the life of the whole world – and we also clearly have human activity, lived in response to God’s activity.

In Joseph, we see someone who is not unlike someone we know, perhaps.  He wants to do the right thing, but in this case, the “right” thing – or the “righteous” thing, as the Biblical text tells us – would hurt the life and future prospects of Mary.  In those days, when someone was engaged to be married, they weren’t called someone’s fiancée.  Instead, they were called “husband” and “wife” – even before they were actually married or lived together.  If there was some kind of impropriety during the engagement (or later, the marriage), then one person in the couple – usually, the man – would request a divorce.  It is clear that Joseph is wrestling with this – maybe even lying in bed, awake, thinking about what to do.  But when he finally falls asleep, he receives a clear message, telling him several key things:  do not be afraid to do what God asks, because there is something Holy at work.  And God is with us.  

Do not be afraid.  God is at work.  God is with us.

This is a message that is repeated throughout the stories of the birth of Jesus.  We hear this message in both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.  We hear echoes of it in the voice of the prophet Isaiah, whom the angel quotes in today’s story: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.” (1:23)[7]  

There is good news of great joy, here.  You see, with this child, this ‘with-us’ child, God is saying, “I love you, no matter what.”  And somehow, this message sinks in with Joseph.  It makes a mark on his heart and soul.  And so, he takes a risk – a great risk.  And so Joseph says to Mary, and Mary’s child, “I love you, no matter what.”  

It is a risky thing to love another person – to plant your flag in the ground, to take a stand, and say, “I love you, no matter what,” and then to live in such a way that you prove your declaration to be true.  There are those who will take this risk, though – for a spouse, for a friend, for a child, even for a stranger.  “I love you, no matter what, because you are here – and I am here – and I can offer you whatever I have, in love.”

This is the love that we find Mary singing about in today’s first reading from Luke – the love of God that lifts up the lowly, and shows mercy, and is strong when we are weak; the love that scatters the proud and brings down the powerful; the love that fills the hungry with good things and humbles the rich; the love that keeps its promises, forever.  All of this is, in part, the love we see at work in Jesus Christ – the love we see and know in the One who made the risky choice to love us, no matter what.  And yet, this love was worth the risk. 

How do we choose to respond to such a risky love?  Is there something Holy at work at the heart of who we are, giving birth to a new and different way of life, giving birth to a Holy “Yes” in response to a call to serve, giving birth to a faith and hope and love that endure throughout all of life’s obstacles – despite all that the world can throw at us?  

Do not be afraid.  God is at work.  God is with us.

“I love you, no matter what,” God tells us.  May the One whose mysterious, and Holy, and loving choice is seen and known in the One who loves us and is with us no matter what, give birth to a deep and abiding faith, hope, and love in us. . . and in all the world.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  

-----------

[1] Scripture readings and sermon title, suggested by A Sanctified Art, LLC.  

[2] A true story, told with permission – JHS, in memory of JC, a sweet and kind man.

[3] See Joshua 2.

[4] See 2 Samuel 11.

[5] Warren Carter, Matthew and the Margins: A Sociopolitical and Religious Reading (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2000) 67.

[6] Warren Carter, 69.

[7] See also Isaiah 7:14.

[imaginarianisms]

full name :  daenerys i targaryen. other names :   dany, my lady, little princess, dan ares, wife, moon of my life, sweet queen, good lady, great lady, sweet lady, my shining queen, gentle queen, fair queen, great queen, gracious queen, just queen, bright heart, bright light, little silverhair queen, my radiance, my delight, my light of love, my love, my sweet song of joy, her grace, your grace, your worship, your high-and-mightiness, your radiance, your magnificence, stormborn, daenerys stormborn, daenerys stormborn of the house targaryen the first of her name, daenerys targaryen the first of her name, queen of the andals and the rhoynar and the first men, queen of meereen, queen of westeros, queen of the nine daughters, queen of the bay of dragons, empress of all valyria, princess of dragonstone, princess of summerhall, the dragon's daughter, dragonmother, khaleesi, khaleesi of the great grass sea, khaleesi of the dothraki, mhysa, the breaker of shackles, the unburnt, the breaker of chains, the mother of dragons, the mother of monsters, the bride of dragons, the bride of fire, the daughter of death, the slayer of lies, child of three, little girl, arrogant child, soft mewling fool, the beggar queen, treacherous sow, westerosi pig, cow, little whore, ignorant whore of a westerner, horselord's whore, whore, little whore, westerosi whore, the whore of westeros, bitch of a queen, oathbreaker, monster, the mad king's daughter, sunset savage, savage, bright shining child queen, the targaryen girl, the young queen shining from afar, mother, tato, aelalla, maela, qathei, our beloved queen, young girl, little queen, child queen, sweet young girl, little dragon queen, sweet child queen, the targaryen princess, the targaryen queen, the true targaryen, our hope, our rightful queen, the queen of the rabbits, the younger more beautiful queen, the daughter of dragons, the silver lady, the silver queen, the dragon queen, the queen across the waters, the queen across the sea, the queen in the east, the queen beyond the bones, the lady regent of the seven kingdoms, the queen of the sunset kingdoms, the queen of the seven kingdoms, lord of the seven kingdoms, protector of the seven kingdoms, protector of the realm, slayer of masters, the liberator, the unifier, aegon the conqueror with teats, rhaenyra come again, she-dragon, the fairest of them all, the fairest woman in the world, the most beautiful woman in the world, the last dragon, the amethyst empress returned, the world's deliverer, the prince that was promised, the princess that was promised, azor ahai, azor ahai returned, azor ahai reborn, the great stallion, the fiery stallion, the stallion who mounts the world, the unifier of the great grass sea, zhavorsa kazga, khal vezhven, sorceress, the black dragon, the dragon, the winged victory, daenerys the dragonbinder, daenerys the dreamer, daenerys the conqueror, the great khaleesi, the great khal, the obsidian empress. age : 16-17 (a game of thrones), 18-19 (a clash of kings), 20-21 (a storm of swords), 22-23 (a feast for crows-a dance with dragons-the winds of winter), 24 (a dream of spring). species : human; seeress & dragonrider (main); human; draconic alterhuman (modern). gender : femme leaning futch presenting cis woman. sexuality : ambiamorous demibiromantic bisexual.

origin : dragonstone, the crownlands, westeros. (main; verse varies); america (modern; verse varies). current location : dragonstone. (main; verse varies); americas (modern; verse varies). nationality : westerosi; essosi (main; canon); american (modern). ethnicity : the blood of old valyria (house targaryen, house velaryon, possibly house celtigar & house rogare), with first men (house blackwood & house massey), rhoynar (house martell & house dayne), andal (house arryn) & summer islander (house velaryon) ancestry (main); multiracial; white, indigenous, black, latina, & desi. spoken languages : high valyrian, dothraki, ghiscari & the common westerosi tongue. (main; canon); english, spanish, italian, latin, asl & basl. (modern). family : aerys ii targaryen (father-uncle), rhaella targaryen (mother-aunt), rhaegar targaryen (older brother), viserys iii targaryen (older brother), rhaego (son; khal drogo), drogon, rhaegal & viserion (her children, her dragons) the silver (her mare), barristan selmy (grandfather figure), shaera velaryon (maternal figure; @velcryons). partner(s) : khal drogo (first husband; deceased), hizdahr zo loraq (second husband; executed on charges of treason), daario naharis (paramour), currently single.

occupation : queen. (main; canon). student, activist, influencer & socialite as she technically doesn't have to work as a wealthy woman but does so anyway. (modern). religion :  syncretic view of the gods of old valyria, the dothraki horse god the great stallion, & the faith of the seven & later mother rhoyne, r'hllor & the old gods; omnist. height :   5'2". body type :  slender, hourglass, fairly well toned; short. disabilities & neurodivergencies : autistic, C-PTSD & hypersexuality due to trauma. hair : silver-gold (natural); was bald for a time after khal drogo's funeral pyre, her hair became short & recently grew long with intricate braids interweaved with silver bells. eyes :   bright eyes; amethyst eyes. tattoos : obtains traditional henna tattoos on her hands. piercings :  n/a (main; canon); beaded & a dragon in hoop earrings style (modern). scars : her hands are calloused due to being the wife of a warlord, has faded stretch marks across her belly from her pregnancy carrying rhaego, on her inner thighs & hands while riding drogon before she gets the proper saddle & reins. (main; canon).

educational background : little growing up, mostly streetsmarts for a very long time as she grew up on the streets of the free cities in exile with her brother viserys then later becomes self taught in a khaleesi then a queen's education & eventually becomes knowledgeable in magic & valyrian sorcery, particularly glass candles via marwyn the mage of the citadel. (main; canon); college. (modern). social media : n/a (canon); most general social media (modern). smoking :   n/a. drinking :   social. drugs :   cannabis to induce trance & divination by the dosh khaleen at vaes dothrak; has taken the shade of the evening while visiting the house of the undying in qarth.  athletics : a wonderful dancer, quick runner & rider of horses & dragons. hobbies :   singing, dancing, flirting, music, poetry, writing, literature, reading children's stories & songs from westeros about tall & handsome heroes, languages, history, archery, gardening, sunbathing, bathing in scalding hot baths, equestrianism, riding, hawking, sailing, swimming, sweet things, dragonlore & sorcery. favorite drink :   mare's milk, peach juice, milk & honey. favorite food :   sausages, cheese, grapes & peaches. favorite music :   classical (canon); indie, folk, pop, classical, rock (modern). clothing style :   classical gowns of the age, wears mostly gowns of silks, satins, velvets, myrish lace, furs whenever necessary and jewels, does wear dothraki wardrobe with a painted vest & riding leathers while barefoot & her hair oiled, with silk or horsehair pants, woven grass sandals, a medallion belt and a hrakkar cloak that was gifted to her by khal drogo, has a qartheen gown which leaves one breast bare & several ghiscari tokars, was gifted a lacquered dragon mask from the asshai'i shadowbinder quaithe upon her visit there that she occasionally uses in warfare for intimidation and to protect her face, and according to rumor to prevent others from falling in love with her, upon returning to westeros, she begins to wear more westerosi & valyrian cultural clothing while wearing one sun painted on each of her cheeks representing her desire for justice and vengeance for elia martell and her two children rhaenys and aegon targaryen and as homage to the princess nymeria of the rhoynar who led her people to a new home, gemstones reflecting both her valyrian and non-valyrian heritages that're connected to the silver bells in her intricately braided hair as per dothraki custom, one for each of her victories in her conquests of western essos and now westeros; while she does show homage to her non-valyrian heritage by wearing an overcoat with the sigils of house velaryon, house massey, house arryn, house martell, house dayne and house blackwood, she mostly begins wearing her black valyrian steel armor created from the forges of qohor during her conquest of essos and dresses of the black & red of house targaryen. (main; canon); casual/business casual, coquette, goth, hyperfeminine, academia & preppy (modern).

Tagged by: stole it from ourselves& !! Tagging: anyone who breathes !

[eurovision-del]

We’re starting to get into the thick of national final season now, with seven different national finals happening this weekend, so it’s time for me to pick up the pace with these rankings! Next up I’m looking at the songs from Supernova:

Ecto – Outsider

B/H – Amsterdam

Funkinbiz – Na Chystu Vodu

Dons – Hollow

Edvards Strazdiņš – Rock n’ Roll Supernova

Vēstulēs – Kur?

Avéi – Mine

Katrīna Gupalo – The Cat’s Song

Papīra Lidmašīnas – Mind Breaker

Jar of Kings – Wildfire

Patrīcija Spale – Heaven’s Raining Down on Me

Sasha Sil – Love is a Language

Alekss Silvers – For the Show

Agnese Rakovska – AI

Saint Levića – Tick Tock

This one took a while to rank just because there were a couple of songs that I couldn’t work out how I felt about them. Mind Breaker sits right on the line between being annoyingly fun and just annoying, and I still don’t know what I make of The Cat’s Song – I like several aspects of it, but I’m a little put off by the sickly sweet nature of the verses, and I’m not convinced about how it all comes together – I also can’t work out how seriously it’s trying to take itself, or how I should approach it. In the end I put it right in the centre of my ranking and called it a day.

There are three songs here that I really like, and honestly nothing between them – I could probably have put them in any order. Outsider gets me hyped with its almost industrial electronic sound. I worry it will struggle live, especially with the whispered vocals at the start, but I love the overall vibe of the song. It took me a second to connect B/H with Bad Habits from a few years back, but I knew I recognised the singer of Amsterdam from the first listen. I really like this one too, it’s much more easy-going than their previous entry, but still very enjoyable, with its upbeat take on their style of blues rock. Finally, I also love Na Chystu Vodu with its distinct beat and chill, indie rock sound.  

All three went straight only my playlist, and I will be overjoyed if any of them do pull off a surprise victory. However, I think Hollow is probably Latvia’s safest bet for Eurovision. It’s a solid song and I think with a good performance it could be something special. However, no matter what they end up choosing, I do think that once again, Latvia have delivered a decent selection – the quality is rarely consistent but there’s always plenty of interesting stuff on offer.

[ancestorsofjudah]

2 Kings 10: 25-31. "Golden Calves."

Golden Calves have a Value in Gemtria of 1265, יבוה‎‎ , yevba, "Eve's god" the male serpentine penis. Jehu threw down the adult male gods, the Ba'als, and killed their families and followers, but he did not curb his own very human tendency to worship youth. Male youth especially. Youth must not be worshipped, it must be enslaved, forced to absolve itself of all delusions about its experience, competence, idealism, apparently endless strength, energy and vigor. These things must be forced to trade place with a rapidly developing intellect, like two trains going in opposite directions.

Jay, as we know let a military chariot boy hop on and then together, they killed the bad guys and restored order, but this one thing he did wrong and that could have set the stage for future Ba'als. Fortunately that did not happen during his lifetime. Which brings us as to why not: he did as the Lord commanded and performed a burnt offering.

Burnt offerings are sacrifices made of people, things, ideas, and places that lead to ritual impurity, aka bad habits. Burnt offerings apply especially to things that we think are making us happy, even just a little happy, but encroach on our healthy sources of happiness. One might even acknowledge something is not quite right in life and decide it is not worth the trouble to figure out why.

This and the former scenario require the sacrifice of the god that is causing the curse to interfere with our ability to be ritually pure- routinely happy without regret.

Substance, alcohol, or sex abuse are examples. They become signs or poor judgement when the circumstances create more unhappiness than the environment will allow. Party politics and religious beliefs which seem always and forever are like addictions, they are not here to stay if they do not perform in the interests of all of the people all of the time.

When these things hover over us and dictate unhealthy responses to us, they are called "gods of the high places" Ba'als, and they have to be brought down. Golden calves are what they sound like- spoiled brats. Rule breakers, not givers, takers, thieves, whoremongers and heartbreakers.

They look like gold that cannot be minted into money or spent or turned into an attractive ornament. When you show up with a little man boy whore or two on your arm everyone knows what's going on and so do you. That has no future, it's just gross, cut it out:

25 As soon as Jehu had finished making the burnt offering, he ordered the guards and officers: “Go in and kill them; let no one escape.” So they cut them down with the sword. The guards and officers threw the bodies out and then entered the inner shrine of the temple of Baal. 

26 They brought the sacred stone out of the temple of Baal and burned it. 

27 They demolished the sacred stone of Baal and tore down the temple of Baal, and people have used it for a latrine to this day.

28 So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. 

29 However, he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.

30 The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” 

31 Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.

The Sacred Stone that is removed from the temple and burnt and pissed on is the Tombstone. It is youth, it is immaturity. Everyone who is wise will do this, piss on someone who is younger.

The verses say Jehu could not bring himself to stop grasping at his youth, at Nebat, keeping his eyes peeled, but he otherwise did a good job and got Israel past the Fourth Generation, a culture free of violence. The idolatry piece was just not his forte. He treated himself and buf like one, a common but not necessarily harmless mistake.

The Values in Gematria for the above verses, which show a common seven stage process are:

v. 25: The Inner Shrine is the Holiest of Holies. The Kabbalah and the Upanishads both identify one place as the location for the Holiest of Holies, right under the navel just above the Hallelujah. Who masters the Hallelujah Chorus masters himself and who masters himself can master the world.

the Value in Gematria is 9430, טדגאֶפֶס, tadgafes, "when the love in the gathering fails or disappears..."

v. 26-28: the Value in Gematria is 8452, חדה‎ב‎, shineen, sharp:

"The forms ישן (ysn), שנן (snn), and שנה (snh) are closely related, and their meanings also appear to be in each other's close vicinity. Then there is the verb שנא (sane'), which looks identical to a noun derived from the verb ישן (yashen).

At the heart of all these words sits the creation of distance between elements, often preceded by a breaking apart, and followed by a removal or storage. The latter usage is demonstrated in Leviticus 26:10, where our root ישן (yashen) is used three times:

 "You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new."

v. 29: Jehu did evil in Bethel and Dan, the temple and the government; he showed favoritism to punks. The Value in Gematria is 10045, י‎ אֶפֶסדה, "I lost."

God, who can be a stuffed shirt at times cannot compete with a golden boy. It is a sign of maturity not to fall prey to what is new and cool at the expense of what is seasoned vs. what is just seasonal, as dumb as that sounds it is so true.

v. 30: the Value in Gematria is 11641, יאודא‎‎ ‎"I will admit." The Hebrew word for admit is hodah, which means "To blend together in love and rejoice."

The verb חדה (hada I) is said to mean to sharpen. It's used only twice in the Bible, both times in Proverbs 27:17: "Let iron sharpen iron, and let a man sharpen the countenance of his friend".

Obviously, a verb that means to sharpen can be easily tied to iron (that's normal), but to stick the same to a man's face is rather curious. It's just as lopsided to figure that the man's face will be gladdened (as is normal), while the iron will somehow be gladdened also (which is curious).

Still, it's also quite absurd to reckon that iron is sharpened by iron. Iron, if it gets sharpened, is sharpened on a stone, not on more iron. In fact, when a sharp iron object meets another one, both objects will get blunted.

And when they meet a jolly tingle erupts, quite like the joy that arises in two friends meeting. Ergo: this verb should probably be translated with to gladden or rejoice."

v. 31: the Value in Gematria is 11353, יא‎ג‎הג‎, yag, form yaga hayya, "to grasp properly the purposes of community."

Communities, especially those fostered from the top and within the government stress a blend of friendly relationships across all the spectra and dimensions. One can't walk across the room towards a pair of shorts and ignore everyone else. Favoritism kills the mood in politics, religion, family life, the work place, and in one's marriage if it's not shown exclusively towards one's beloved, even at the expense of one's God. Then and only then is this apparent idolatry allowed.

This is the Golden Rule, the opposite of the Golden Calf.