#verse: the martyr

[shinobinvku]

@woodblxssomcrowned sent: "So...are you going to marry my uncle? I think I would like having you as my aunt." (Smaller!Kana at Chitose)

The Ryuketsu woman can’t help but chuckle at the girl’s question. Rumors of her, Senju Tobirama, and a secret engagement have been circulating through the village, and seem to have reached even the smallest ears. Though none have dared to approach the two about such rumors, fortune favors the bold. Perhaps it’s time she set the record straight. 

“Well, to my knowledge your uncle has yet to propose, but I’m certain he has his reasons. Regardless, of whether we are married or not, it doesn’t diminish the love we have for one another, or you, Sweet Girl. I think I would like to have you as a niece. You are always welcome to call me ‘aunt’.” She replied, a warm smile widening across her painted lips.

[livwritesstuff]

Steve is home one day with his daughters when he realizes that his oldest, Moe, is ten.

Okay, obviously, he knew she was ten. She’s been ten for a while, as her birthday is in July and it’s now December, and the girls are discussing Christmas as they perceive it in their little girl worlds.

It’s really that Steve realizes that Moe is the same age Erica had been when he’d asked her to climb through air ducts and infiltrate a Russian military base.

It’s a realization that has Steve feeling a little nauseous, because Moe is ten and she’s plotting with her little sisters about how they’re going to stay awake on Christmas Eve to catch a glimpse of Santa (their conspiring has Steve worried for his and Ed’s own role in Christmas Eve and the way it hinges on the girls falling asleep as early as fucking possible), and she’d lost another baby tooth this morning and hasn’t stopped talking about what the tooth fairy might leave for her overnight, and she still sneaks into his and Eddie’s room after nightmares looking for snuggles, and she’s afraid of car washes and bugs, and she still wants to be read to before bed every night.

He’d been struck suddenly by how little Moe still is. Maybe he’s only thinking that because she’s his daughter – his first daughter, at that – but he still looks at that kid’s face and sees the newborn baby who’d made him a dad ten years ago.

He can’t imagine looking at her and seeing someone equipped to take on Erica had been asked to do, never mind actually asking her to do it, which is precisely what Steve had done twenty-five years ago.

It eats at him for the rest of the day.

“Just call her, Steve,” Eddie urges him after Steve brings it up for the sixth time that evening, “You clearly need to air this shit out.”

So Steve calls Erica.

Erica is in her mid-thirties now. She’s a kick-ass lawyer at a private firm in Indiana, and she picks up the phone on the second ring.

“This is Erica,” she says.

“Hey, it’s Steve.”

“What’s up,” she replies, still never one for beating around the bush.

“I just – I need to apologize.”

“For what?”

“For Scoops,” Steve says, “For Starcourt.”

Erica is silent for a while.

None of them really talk about any of that stuff anymore. They’d hashed everything out ages ago, until all that was left behind was the understanding that none of them would ever be able to truly move past it, that there would always be guilt and fear and pain they could never shake.

“Okay?” she finally says, question in her tone.

“I just…” Steve hesitates, “Look – I didn’t get it. I didn’t fully get how fucked up it was. I was the grown up in the situation and I should have put a stop to it but I was stupid and reckless, and now that Moe is ten, I can’t stop thinking about how insane it was for us to even consider roping you into that.”

“I agreed to it.”

“You were a kid.”

“You were a kid,” Erica insists.

“Eighteen isn’t a kid anymore.”

“Say that to me again when Moe’s eighteen and maybe I’ll believe you.”

Steve doesn't have anything to say to that, because Erica is probably right (though only time will tell, he supposes). Their phone call ends only a few minutes later with Erica telling him to go easy on himself and Steve saying he’d try before apologizing one more time.

“You gonna take her advice?” Eddie asks after he’s pulled a begrudging Steve into his arms.

“No,” he tells him, curling into his husband’s side and sticking his nose in Eddie’s neck so he doesn’t have to look him in the eye.

“Figures.”

[shinobinvku]

Chitose listens intently while Madara, pleased to have an idea of when quotes will be decided and will make a mental note to relay this information along to her elder brother in their next exchanging of letters. Moving onto the next set of business, Chitose’s amber gaze follows the scroll in Madara’s hand as he explains its contents. The details within the scroll should be the same as the one her elder brother looked over prior to his departure, but just in case, she will look over it a second time. 

“Much obliged,” she murmurs, reaching for the quill in Madara’s hand and dips the nib in ink while glancing over the document. It doesn’t take long. She’s a swift reader with an eidetic memory. The quill glides along the signature line then for extra measure, Chitose retrieves a stamp containing the family’s seal from her pocket. 

“It’s a shame my elder brother couldn’t be here today to sign this himself, however let it be known this imperial seal belongs to him and therefore by signing this document, he too has given his seal of approval.” She dips the stamp into the pot of ink and presses it against the paper. 

As Madara passes over the second document, she glances over it with a nod, then hands it back to him. 

“I see, thank you. Excellent. I’ll certainly converse with Lord Ryuketsu on the matter. If there’s nothing else to discuss, then I shan’t keep you tied up any longer.” 

She rises from her seat, offering the Lord Uchiha a graceful bow. 

“It’s nice to finally place a face to your name, Lord Uchiha. Thank you for granting me an audience with you today and for your patience as I navigate into this new position. You’ve been most...accommodating.” a slight smile tugs at her lips. 

With this bit of business settled, Chitose was free to do as she pleased until the early evening. There was talks of a banquet tonight at Senju Hashirama’s estate. She had been invited as a special guest. Before she makes her way towards the door, she turns to Madara one last time.

“I was invited to supper tonight at the Senju estate. Would you happen to be partaking, or perhaps could you tell me how to get there? I’m still unfamiliar with the route.”

Madara mulled over the document sitting before him. The financial specifics of this agreement were largely assessed and managed by Hikaku, but he does remember signing off on it. It worked in Ryugo-jo's favor, according to his attendant's report, which was decidedly good. Now, it was the unfortunate return of paying back such debts and how this ought to be handled.

Times like these, he laments not having a dedicated bookkeeper. His first attendant, Hikaku, did an excellent job of maintaining the cleanliness and organization of all these important documents, but he was one man, so Madara often gave him some slack. Thankfully, this "one man" did pass along the ledger at which he kept the extensive billing for this cause.

"The quotes have been mocked up within the last fortnight. We are awaiting Konoha approval of how clan entreaties should be handled now that we are moving towards a more democratic system of allegiance," he spoke thinly. Very by the book on the matter, but there was a hint of reluctance behind the tone.

Red-tape politics were the burden of this Clan Leader.

"Given that the conflicts within your home country were handled pre-establishment of Konohagakure, I will move ahead with having you ( or your host ) sign the final joining form that will hereby conlude Ryuketsu's first alliance to be with the Uchiha clan, allowing them umbrella privileges: everything that the Uchiha clan receives will trickle down to the benefit of Ryuketsu. This is includes everything from tax exemptions to priority on rations and permissions on business routes for merchants."

Sliding the first scroll forward, Madara offered her the quill as well as the ink pot, should she want to read over the fine print before signing anything.

The Uchiha Leader then added: "This document is exclusive to Uchiha matters and will not go into affect until the Ryuketsu clan has paid at least 80% of their debt within the next fiscal year."

Sliding another document over, he unraveled it open for Chitose to look over, but kept a hand over the signature line," this one is a pending form. I'll allow you to look over it and take it into consideration for everyone who needs to be aware and involved with the decision making process. Should the Ryuketsu clan agree with all terms and find their part of the deal 'agreeable', then they will need to follow the process of amnesty with Konohagakure itself. Legal law, taxation, percentage cost of merchandising within their trails, et cetera will have to be adhered to."

A gloved hand ran through those long, feathered locks of Madara's mane, pushing all stray pieces out of his face. "We will also need to hold conversation concerning reparations for any injured or KIA soldiers during the incursion within Ryugo-jo. Since this is of lower priority, we can discuss this another time."

[lovechristianity]

On the early morning of Tuesday, March 12, 2024, Fr. Takla the Samuelite, along with Fr. Yostos Abba Markos and Fr. Mina Abba Markos, were martyred after masked terrorists attacked the Monastery of St. Mark the Apostle and St. Samuel the Confessor in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The three blessed fathers were reportedly dragged, viciously slaughtered and stabbed.

All three victims were found with stab wounds while a fourth who survived alleged that he was hit by an iron rod before fleeing and hiding. The murders remain unknown at this stage, as the suspects reportedly left the scene without taking any valuable items.

Information has been revealed.

The Monastery bell was rung between 2:30 am and 3:00 am for prayers. Father Takla was the first to head to the Church he was stabbed in the heart on his path to the Church. Father Mina heard something and ran to see what happened, he was beheaded on his path to see father Takla. Then the murderers went to Father Youstos and beheaded him on his rooms door step.

Fr. Hegumen Takla El-Samuely, Fr. Yostos Ava Markos, Fr. Mina Ava Markos, O holy martyrs, pray for us. May your sacrifice strengthen our faith and our Church.

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you." - John 15:18

[ianthewife]

every time shit really hits the fan i just repeat like a mantra Sister Carpenter had it worse… Harrowhark Nonagesimus had it worse… Sister Carpenter had it worse… Harrowhark Nonagesimus had it worse… Sister Carpenter had it worse… Harrowhark Nonagesimus had it worse…

[cainposts]

The martyr of Solway is so Faulkner

[rabbits-of-negative-euphoria]

anyone else find the lyric

If you let me I will catch fire To let your glory and mercy shine

extremely sobering considering the direction Paramore has gone in?

[awkwardcourage]

∗ 18﹕ sender  comes  to  receiver  after  being  injured . | @hauntsect

"Oh my god, oh my god, Monarch!" Hughie tried not to crumple as Monarch's surprisingly heavy form slumped against him. He pressed a hand to his back to steady him and felt the unmistakeable wet warmth of blood and panic errupted. "Wh-what happened?!"

[britneyshakespeare]

His virtue was the brainstorm of a dreamer!

He died a fool. And may his fall pull down

his friend and all his century! We shall see

how they get on without me. For one evening,

the world belongs to me still. [...]

King Philip II of Spain, Don Carlos by Friedrich Schiller, Act V scene ii. Translation by Robert David MacDonald.

[troutlawyer]

Christians should just stop walking up to random people and trying to evangelize and just die out already because it’s obvious you all only care about bringing in new members because you can’t manage to keep people in your fucking churches LMAO

[shinobinvku]

@annienne sent: ❝ your mind is as deft as your blade, it would seem. ❞ | Tobirama to Chitose

❝Flattery will get you nowhere, Lord Senju, but please don’t stop trying,❞ Chitose quipped, using all her brute force to push Tobirama backward.  Their collided blades slide across one another, the steel so hot that it creates sparks. She takes a few paces back, giving herself a bit of distance from the Senju with her blade in hand, panting, sweat dripping down her jaw.

She hasn’t had a challenging match in quite some time. Not since she was back home in the Land of Rivers. Senju Tobirama’s swordsmanship was perhaps even greater than anyone she’d ever faced, including her master, Suitengu. He moved with such swiftness without the help of his Hiraishin. That would make this an unfair fight for sure.

Chitose lunges toward him with sleek, graceful movements. Their blades clash once more and their eyes meet, his confident gaze ever analytical, searching.

❝You’re holding back tremendously. If anything, you’re giving me quite the workout.❞ She smirks.

[willowswriting]

for @dcynnight continued from here

Josephine didn't think that Teddy was clueless at all. In fact she was aware that he was quite intelligent. She never went into something without first having done her research, she was a professional after all. However he was really the only chance that she had at receiving any type of insider information. She was fully aware that they were feeding her bullshit... that was usually always the first step when the person that she sat down with knew the line of work that she was in. "Are the two of you close?" she questioned, steering it away from a business intensive conversation into one a little more casual, hoping to maybe lower his guard just a smidge.

[shinobinvku]

Curiosity had gotten the better of her. The thought entered her mind so quickly, that without hesitation, the question spilled from her painted lips. Truthfully, it was harmless on her part. Chitose expected her dear friend to laugh in amusement at the notion, or even wave it off dismissively, but what she did not anticipate was the peculiar way Izuna looked at her, as though she struck a chord.

Her hands cease their toiling with flower petals in her lap. He agrees they would make a handsome match, spoken with such sincerity in his voice that it leaves her speechless. It was astonishing how she had never considered this before, and yet it made perfect sense.

❝ Izuna, ❞ Chitose murmurs. She shifts in her seat to face him directly. The pile of flower petals spilling from her lap onto the ground at her feet.

Before she could say anything else, the Uchiha princeling has turned from her, redirecting the subject back to his elder brother. Her gaze rests in her lap for a moment, a slight smile tugging at her lips.

❝ Perhaps. Lord Uchiha would be a promising match, I’m sure. Though, I’m often told friendship can make the heart grow fonder, no? ❞ She inches slowly towards his side of the bench and gently places a hand upon Izuna’s.

❝ Am I wrong to suspect that you feel a certain way about me? Have I been so blind? ❞ She asks, searching his obsidian gaze.

Izuna laughed at her remark. It was true, he spoke fondly of his brother out of his own bias, but that was his love for him. Was it so wrong to want your elder ( whom has taken the most care of you ) to be happily married and flourishing in all prospects of life?

"Trust me, my dear, you misjudge your worth out of your own insecurities," he insisted," yet, you might be right. I could be misjudged about my own brother. He has an elusive nature to him as he ages."

At least, the option was there for her to take it. If not, he couldn't say that he didn't make his attempts, unprompted.

The princeling turned to offer another, less worthy, prospect, but felt his throat tighten in surprise. "—— my lady."

A hand touched his lips with a heavy deep breath, realigning himself to the task. "We-" He fought with himself on whether to pursue honesty. A prolonged thought with too many things to consider, yet what felt like little time to vet through them in this sacred, candid moment.

"We would be a very handsome couple," he wanted to avoid the airs of a braggart. Truthfully, they could work, he was in all the right authorities and positions to give her the world, if she wanted, but he's forgone his own wants and needs that the reality of him now a leader with time and space, and not a soldier who only had the availability of war and peace-keeping, hit him square in the chest with unprecedented anxiety.

"Though... surely, my brother would be a more promising offer than myself." His skin pricked down his forearms. Too many new things to think about now.

[neptuniadoesstuff]

Art request:

More Martyr-

You want Matyr here is Martyr! (But in a dress bcs his son may have forced him to do so as a sick joke)

Also sorry for my EXTREAMLY HORRIBLE HANDWRITING SKILLS! (I seriously can't write words correctly so here's a translation to my very rushed handwriting:

"Why do I have to wear this son?" - A very embarrassed Marty.

Deff not smtn u expected but then again I'm not really much in the mind space to make high effort stuff atm so just take this for the road. (Bcs Skool is kinda busy this week & also I spent all 9f my motivation on a frikin dragon with LONG AHH LEGS)

[myremnantarmy]

Stephen, filled with grace and power,

was working great wonders and signs among the people.

[symphoniecalando]

They aren't your family, anymore. They left you after you abandoned them, disowned you as you left them. They aren't your brothers anymore.

I have another family.