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adenei · 3 years

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Finding My Way To You - Ch. 11

AO3 || FFN

A/N: In case something looks familiar to you, yes this does include the Day 8 prompt in this chapter with a few slight alterations to fit the rest of the chapter more accurately.

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New Endeavors

Ron woke up the following morning to Hermione’s alarm going off. He reached over to her in an attempt to coerce her into having a longer lie-in, but he pulled back when he heard her squeal.

“No, no, no, no, I’m late! This is not good!” she said frantically. She jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom.

As much as he didn’t want to see her get moving, he could certainly get used to the sight of her walking around in just her knickers and one of his shirts. Ron closed his eyes as he heard the shower turn on and replayed the night before. After they had cleared the air and spent the rest of the afternoon exploring their new relationship, they’d gone to dinner with her parents.

Hermione had suggested she spend the day with them today, and Ron was fine with it. He knew it was important to her to reconnect, and some of that needed to be done with just the three of them. So that’s where Hermione was getting ready to head now. He heard the door open and Hermione came out wrapped only in a towel.

“I forgot to grab clothes,” she said in frustration with herself. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“Not if you keep walking around in just a towel, I won’t be,” Ron said. “Are you sure you can’t come back here for a little bit?” He knew she was referring to her leaving him alone all day, but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try and get a little extra time with her first.

Hermione had gathered her outfit in her arms and turned around to give him a look. “I’d love to, but I’m already late. And we both know if I crawl back in bed, I may not have the resolve to get up again.” She walked back into the bathroom. “What are you going to do all day?”

“I dunno. I’ll think of something. Don’t worry about me. Have fun with your parents.”

Hermione came out of the bathroom again and walked over to the edge of the bed. “I just feel bad.”

Ron sat up and swung his legs over the side to meet her. “Don’t. You need this time with them. That’s why we came. I’ll find something to do, and I’ll see you later tonight. Just...keep me updated, okay?” Slight worry etched across his face. He knew he was on good terms with her parents, but he still worried that she might not return.

She must have noticed his concern because she leaned over and kissed him. “I will. I’ll see you tonight.” Ron nodded as he watched her grab her bag and head out the door. He laid in bed a while longer before finally getting up.

After getting ready for the day and finishing his breakfast, Ron made his way to to look through some of the brochures from the Australian Ministry. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the phone on the wall ring. At first he wasn’t sure what to do. It wasn’t like he answered telephones often. He reminded himself not to shout into the receiver like that awful attempt at calling Harry when he was younger.

He picked up the phone and said, “Hello?”

“Hello, Ron? Is that you? This is Graham. Graham Jacobsen. I showed you to your flat when you first arrived.”

Ron had honestly completely forgotten all about the man. Now that he thought about it, they probably should have updated the Australian Ministry days ago. “Er, yes, hi. Is everything alright?” Ron asked.

“Yes, yes, of course! I’m just checking in to see how your search has been going and if you need any assistance!”

“It’s been great, actually. We’ve managed to locate Hermione’s parents, fairly quickly actually, and she’s been spending the last few days getting reacquainted with them.”

“Excellent, excellent! So the resources the Ministry sent over with the muggle teeth cleaners and addresses of Wilkin’s in the surrounding area were no doubt helpful, then?”

“Er, yeah,” Ron said. He wasn’t about to tell Graham that they’d actually stumbled upon Jean and Hugo by accident.

“Great. So anyways, like I said, I was asked to get an update. Since you’ve located them, we were wondering how much longer you were anticipating to stay.”

“I’m not sure. I can talk to Hermione and see if we can get a clearer answer for you tomorrow or the day after if that’s okay.”

“Yes, sure! No rush. It will just help to have an idea to prepare your portkey trip back. Let’s see, let’s see, oh yes! One more thing. You received a letter here from England through the Portkey Post. Wouldn’t want to make owls travel all this way. If you’re available, you can come pick it up at the Ministry anytime.”

A letter? Is everything alright back home? “Sure, yeah, I can actually be down there in fifteen minutes.”

“Excellent, I’ll meet you in the entrance hall. See you in a jif!” Graham said before hanging up.

Ron hung up the phone and immediately began moving around the apartment to grab his things. He figured he could spend a few hours walking around and seeing what else Melbourne had to offer from the magical side of things. Before he knew it, he was apparating to the spot Graham showed them almost a week ago, and walked the short distance to the Ministry entrance.

He had barely stepped a few paces inside when he saw Graham waving frantically. “Ron! Over here!” They met in the middle as Graham said, “So good to see you again! I hope you’ve been enjoying your stay here so far.”

“Yeah, it’s been great,” Ron agreed.

“Here’s the letter that came for you. If you want to send a response, we send our international post out at 13:00 every day. The drop box is over here.”

Ron followed him over to the box that had a small slot in it. He was curious how this system worked. Whether it was his lack of knowledge about other cultures and customs or not, he always assumed the owls just traveled the distance to their destination. Though, for a continent like Australia that was so far away from other places, he supposed this system made sense. It’d be hard for an owl to travel over an ocean with no resting points.

“Thanks.”

“Absolutely. Well, I must be getting back to my obligations. Like I said, feel free to call if you ever need anything. Just press 9 on your dial pad and it will transfer your call to my office. A little magical touch so you don’t have to memorize a ten digit number. I look forward to hearing from you!”

Graham shook Ron’s hand before walking away. Ron looked at the letter in his hand. He didn’t want to return to the flat just to read it, so he decided to walk around a bit to find a place to sit and read what it said. There was a small park a few blocks away that Ron stumbled upon. He chose one of the vacant benches and sat down. The handwriting looked like Harry’s.

Hey Ron,

I hope you and Hermione are having luck finding her parents. It’s odd here without you two, but I’ve been keeping busy. Listen, I’m not trying to rush the process, but I wanted you to know that I met with Kingsley yesterday, and he said they’re looking for recruits in the Auror program. The other letter that I sent with this is from him. He’s inviting us into the program if we want. I think I’m going to go for it. We have to complete the screening process by the end of the month, so I’m hoping you’ll be back by then to start with me if that’s what you want to do. By the way, are you and Hermione sorted yet? Ginny wants to know. Well, anyways, let me know when you decide.

Harry

Ron reread Harry’s letter a few times before pulling out the second piece of parchment that he now knew to be from Kingsley. Was this actually an invitation to join the Aurors? Would he be able to achieve his dream? Did he still want to pursue that dream? He slowly peeled off the wax seal and unfolded the official Ministry parchment.

Mr. Weasley,

I hope this finds you well and that you are having success on your current mission. I am reaching out to you to personally invite you to join the Aurors. As you know, we are woefully understaffed as a result of the war, and your integral efforts make you a prime candidate for the program. Typically, the training period is an extensive three years, but given your experiences, you will have an opportunity to pass out of the training program after a year, and be promoted to Junior Auror status.

I understand that you are predisposed on a mission, but this offer is time sensitive. The Auror department has agreed to honor this offer for select people, yourself included, but they are requiring all candidates to begin on 3 August. Paperwork and a screening, however, must be completed by 1 July. I have attached the preliminary paperwork for you to set up your appointments with the Ministry, and they will be in touch should you be interested in pursuing this avenue.

Please take the time to think about this, but do not wait too long to reply. The Aurors will be lucky to have someone with your skillset in the department. Best of luck on your continued search. All my best,

Kingsley

Ron’s hands were shaking slightly at the letter. He had a personal invitation from the Minister of Magic to join the Aurors. His finger followed the application that he looked over. It seemed straightforward enough, and the prospect was certainly appealing. He knew deep down that he absolutely wanted to try, but something was preventing him from returning to the Australian Ministry to fill out the paperwork and send it back that same day.

Ron thought it through to make sure he’d have enough time to discuss with Hermione first. He reviewed the application, and it said he could return his paperwork from Australia, and it said that he could request a timeframe for his appointment. That was good. Maybe he could return next week, but his heart wrenched at the thought of having to leave Hermione here. Ron folded the contents of the two letters and tucked them in his jacket pocket for safekeeping.

He looked around the park, thinking about what to do next. It was a beautiful, crisp day, just like every other day had been since they’d arrived, even if it was colder. He smiled, thinking Hermione would be cold, but he was perfectly comfortable. The weather here differed so greatly from the weather in England, and Ron was slightly envious of how nice it seemed to be year round.

He finally decided to walk around. This part of Melbourne wasn’t as familiar to him, but Ron figured he could always apparate back to the flat if need be. A smile spread across his lips as he stood up and began walking back towards the Ministry. He’d gone from not knowing what life had in store for him now that the war was over to having a career prospect. Nothing could break his mood as he looked around at the places to explore.

About an hour later, Ron found himself wandering aimlessly around Melbourne’s streets. He’d gone in several of the shops that interested him along the way, and had just finished up a light meal he’d gotten at a cafe. The food was great, and he wished Hermione had been there to. He told her he was fine with today’s plan, but he still missed her. They’d been spending so much time together that it felt odd to be apart from her, even if it was just for the day. Even when her mum had whisked her away to shop, he still knew exactly when he’d see her next.

As he made his way down another new street, Ron stopped outside the window of a unique looking jewelry shop. He knew it was still early in their relationship, but he walked inside anyways to see what the display cases held. Most everything would probably be out of his price range, but maybe he’d gather an idea or two for Hermione.

“Good afternoon,” a bright and energetic salesperson said to him.

“Hello,” Ron said.

“Is there anything I can help you find today?”

“Oh, er, not really. Just looking,” his ears turned red.

“Not a problem at all! I’ll be around if you need anything,” she smiled and went back to her work.

As he walked around slowly, browsing the selection, he was appreciative that there seemed to be a wide variety of items and price ranges. Ron avoided the section with the rings. It was way too early for that, and he didn’t want to get his hopes up with wishful thinking. So, he found his way over to the earrings, which he was pretty sure she never wore often, though he was certain her ears were pierced, and then the necklaces. He shuddered at the recollection of Lavender giving him that horrifying ‘sweetheart locket’ back in sixth year, and swore to himself that he wouldn’t get anything like that for Hermione.

Once he’d finished circling the perimeter of glass cases, he moved to the center displays, which appeared to be bracelets. There was a small display among them that had a variety of blank bracelets and little pieces scattered all around.

Ron looked around and caught the salesperson’s attention. “Find something I can help you with?”

“Er, yes. What are these?” Ron asked her.

“Oh! Great question. These are charm bracelets! Are you familiar with them?” she asked kindly.

“No, not really,” Ron admitted.

“No matter! You see, you pick out a bracelet first, though I’m sure you would have gathered that, and then you have all of these amazing charms to choose from. We have hundreds of them on this display for you to choose from.”

“So, the charms are like symbols, then?” Ron asked for clarification.

“Precisely! They are becoming increasingly popular.”

Ron nodded as an idea was forming in his mind. He was unable to get anything for Hermione’s last birthday, and Christmas for that matter. Maybe this could be the way to make it up to her. “How much?”

“The bracelets are 50 dollars, and then the charms range anywhere between 15 and 50 depending on what you’re looking for.”

Ron thought about what the salesperson said as he felt the wallet in his pocket. Bill and George had both given him money before he’d left. He was determined not to use it unless he had to, since he felt guilty that he was taking it to begin with. Maybe he’d splurge a bit, and when they got back to England, he’d take up a part-time job at the shop with George in order to pay him back, and then earn a little spending money of his own.

In truth, he was about to use it to pay for their posh dinner the other night, but Hermione had insisted she use her parent’s card. He’d need to make it up to them, too, at some point. Focus, Ron. Okay, I could get her the bracelet, and a few charms. No more than five. He knew if he didn’t set a limit, he’d blow all his money on this one gift.

“Okay, I’d like the silver bracelet, I think. Is there a list of charms, or will I need to look through all these individually?” Not that he minded, since he had nowhere else to be today.

“We have a list right here!” There was a stack of laminated papers that she grabbed one from and handed to him. “When you’ve decided what you’d like, I can take them out for you and we can put them on the bracelet at the register.”

“Great, thanks!” Ron said as he began to work his way through the list.

She wasn’t kidding when she said there were hundreds. They were broken down into categories on the double sided sheet. He knew he definitely wanted to get her the book charm. That was without a doubt. He saw that there was also a heart with roses engraved in it. It looked fancier than the other charms, but he figured he could splurge a bit on it since it held a special meaning for them both.

As his eyes skimmed the list he noticed an assortment of animals. I wonder…, he thought. He saw there was definitely a dog, which he wasn’t surprised by, but he was even more pleased to see that there was an otter charm! “Well, they are quite cute,” he muttered to himself.

Four charms down, one more. He initially looked for an elf, but didn’t have any luck there. He wasn’t surprised, and he worried that even if he saw one, it’d be one of those Christmas looking ones. Giving up on that, Ron ended up finding a seashell charm which instantly brought him back to Shell Cottage. That was no doubt the turning point in their relationship, and it also represented the place where Dobby was buried. It could definitely serve a double meaning, for sure.

He brought the paper up to the counter and told the kind salesperson his choices, watching as she bustled around to collect everything. She rang the items up, and Ron pulled out his wallet to pay for the items. He carefully tucked the receipt away so he could keep track of his purchases.

“Would you like this wrapped up in a gift bag?” she asked him.

“Yes, please,” he said, glad to have her assistance.

He asked if the charms could be arranged the following way on the bracelet: book, otter, terrier, seashell, and heart. It represented the chronological order of the charm’s meanings to their relationship. The salesperson finished wrapping up the bracelet and handed him the gift bag when she was finished. “Thank you so much for your business, and best of luck. I’m sure your special someone is going to love this!”

“Thanks for your help,” Ron said as he exited the shop.

He figured he should probably head back before he spent any more money that day. Ron could watch the telly, and there was enough food for him to make something at the flat. There was an alley nearby that he decided to turn into, so he could apparate back to the flat. Better to be safe than sorry, since he really had no idea where he was. He turned on the spot and appeared at the apparition point nearby. He approached the building, typed in the code and let himself into the foyer.

When he made it up the stairs, he unlocked the door and walked into the main living area, just as a silvery ball floated toward him. At first, his heart constricted and he immediately became on edge. He was even more worried for Hermione’s safety when the ball transformed into Hermione’s otter patronus.

A moment later he could hear Hermione’s nervous voice. “Hi! I hope this works. It’s the first time I’ve tried to send a patronus message. Anyways, I’m having dinner with my parents and will be back after. Most likely between seven and eight. I hope you don’t mind. See you soon.”

The silver otter pranced over to him and moved in a figure eight pattern around his legs before nuzzling him and disappearing into a wisp. Ron couldn’t help but smile with pride. Hermione was okay, and she’d produced her first corporeal patronus complete with a message. He checked his watch as he set the bag down on the table. Only a few hours until he could see her again.

#ROMIONE #ron x hermione #romione fanfiction #hp australia

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coldcocoamilk · 3 years

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Whose Horse Is That? -- the social season AU we all want

‘sup! after surviving The Big Game at my job, around a hundred cases of wings later, I’ve finally recovered enough to write again. thank you everyone for your patience as I’ve been working to get this out of my brain. please enjoy the social season au that was asked for!

this work is also available on Archive of Our Own. please read it wherever you are most comfortable reading! as always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, and thank you so much for taking time out of your day to read my work. ♥

Chapter 1: Arrival

The salty air finally starting to smell a bit fresher. It had been many weeks since Hange last saw dry land, and as she claps her book shut, she takes in the sights from the deck of the ship that had been her temporary home. The Port of London was not exactly attractive, nor did it show off the architecture and class she had been expecting, but still. It was dry land. Finally, it smelled like something more than fish: steam engines, gasoline, and motor oil. It was not exactly ladylike for her, but those smells brought her some joy.

“Hange,” her brother’s voice called out to her. “You shouldn’t stand on the deck while we’re trying to dock. They have a job to do, you know. Your dress might get wet, and it’s cold.”

“But Moblit,” she grinned, “It smells like cars!”

“We have an impression to make,” he reminded her, tugging at her arm gently but firmly. “Besides, I’m serious. We both should get back down.”

She sighed and took the wide-brimmed hat off her head, clutching it to her chest. The air ran through her hair, pulling a few stray clumps out to fly up onto her forehead. “Fine. I just can’t wait to explore.”

The hat came back on, and the two walked back below decks to their quarters. It would only be a half an hour until their shoes stepped back on land, and both were more than excited. Sure, they had a purpose for coming to England: find a lover, secure the family fortune, and have enough children to carry on their legacy. The British social season was the perfect time to do exactly that, and have a little fun while they could.

“What have you been reading lately?” Moblit asked her as they watched the men in charge of docking the boat through the porthole. “I haven’t heard much from you in the past couple days.”

“Oh! It’s a book on human anatomy. There’s a part about a condition called diabetes that is really interesting to me. Apparently, they’ve found out that people with that condition are missing a function of their body. But, we don’t know if we can replace it yet,” Hange explained. “They’re calling it ‘insulin.”

Moblit’s amber eyes flashed. “Do you still want to be a doctor, Miss Hange?”

She felt her cheeks grow warm and chose then to place the book into her suitcase. “It doesn’t matter.”

He sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose and brought his hand up through his hair. “Well, with the way things are looking in the world lately, you could at least be a nurse.”

The sudden stress in her brother’s demeanor wiped the embarrassment from the forefront of her mind. “Listen, if it comes to that, you know I will.”

“We’ll have to go back to America, if we can,” Moblit explained. “But it will be dangerous. I can’t imagine they will be allowing normal sea travel. We might be here longer than we expect.”

“I can learn to love it here,” Hange reasoned.

“You haven’t even seen the city,” Moblit fired back.

With no adequate reply in mind, Hange just sat back down and toyed with the ribbon at the edge of her hat. Of course, her brother would know it is her dream to be a doctor. But women don’t become doctors, she reminded herself. They just become bedside nurses and offer comfort. It seemed like a miserable fate for herself in the medical world. But, if there was a war like they all said there would be, then maybe she could make herself useful. It would be better than nothing, at least.

“I apologize, sister. I shouldn’t talk to you like you’re one of the men.”

“I rather you did, to be quite frank,” She replied. “If we have all this money and power, even if I’m a woman, I should be aware.”

The movement of the boat finally stopped, and a voice from above called out letting them know it was time to deboard. Chatter spread through the boat like wildfire, and soon it was full of the sounds of people grabbing luggage, putting on shoes, and walking towards the exit.

Hange looked at her brother, shrugged, and grabbed the smallest suitcase, knowing it would be a scandal if she grabbed one any bigger. She secured her hat with an extra pin and tucked the stray hairs back under it, smoothed her skirt, and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. Finally, land!

As they walked across the dock out to the street, Moblit grinned, finally feeling some of the excited energy Hange did. “By the way Hange, I just want you to know. I respect you. But let me know if you ever want me to stop treating you like the boys.”

“Absolutely,” she replied.

A man stood in front of a car holding a piece of paper with their names on it, and in a quick few minutes, their possessions were stowed, and they were on their way to the residence that would serve them well for the next half-year.

It was a small residence by their standards, and quite small compared to the others in the area, but it would serve them well, nonetheless. The bricks had been recently cleaned and stood out deep red against the white trimming of the house, and when one looked at the shining windows, they also saw brightly colored flowerboxes underneath them. The top floor seemed to boast a large balcony spanning across the whole front of the house, and the grass was surprisingly green for mid-March.

Arriving at the front of the house, three people stood to meet them, one who was quite familiar to the brother-sister pair.

“Kenny!” Moblit shouted, rushing up to give his friend a hug. “It’s been so long!”

Kenny gave Moblit a small smile, a rarity for the man, and a surprise to Hange. “You two were just children when I last saw you. Now you’re out here looking for love.”

“Hange, you’ve gotten so tall,” he remarked. “And you are as beautiful as always. You two will have a great time here.”

“Thank you for having us, Mr. Ackerman,” Hange replied. “I can only hope I’m as beautiful as your home here.”

This earned her another smile, much to her joy. “This is but a cottage, Hange!”

It had been so long since she had seen Kenny smile. Sure, he made sure to keep in touch with the family through letters and photos, but since his sister Kuchel had died, those smiles had become few and far between. His letters never had the same kind of wry wit to them they had in previous years. Still, she knew he was capable of it. Kenny rarely took up the opportunity to make a good joke, but he could only joke if there were people around.

They chatted for a bit on the front steps there, catching up on life and musing about the weather while the two servants brought their luggage in. Finally, Kenny led them inside to the warmth of the foyer, much to the pair’s relief. The combination of the bitter British cold and them trying to get their land legs back meant that standing and chatting, while fun, was quite the chore.

“Moblit, Hange, please meet my two favorite servants. This is Connie and Sasha. If you have any needs or worries during your stay here, please call upon them. They are kind and capable,” Kenny explained as he led them up the stairs. “Hange, your room will be on the last door to the left down this hall, and Sasha’s quarters are right across from yours. There is a washroom just next door, too. Moblit, yours is the same, but down over here,” he gestured to a hall across the way. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to check up on dinner, so take your time to settle in. It should be on the table at around seven o’clock.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ackerman,” the siblings replied together. Moblit walked Hange to her room with Sasha in tow, and then departed off to his own room.

Turning the knob on the door, Hange was greeted with a surprisingly spacious, but cozy room. Deep green velvet curtains were parted to show the street and balcony outside, their tails just barely brushing the floor. The bed was large and four-poster, with curtains for privacy. Her suitcases stood in one corner next to several large wardrobes, and there was a writing desk, end table, and a couch just large enough for two to sit and have tea. The green felt warm, welcoming, and inviting.

“Miss Zoe, Master Ackerman said your favorite color was green, so you were given this room. If you don’t like it, we can always change it,” Sasha spoke up.

“No, I adore it,” Hange replied, walking over to the bed. She pulled back the curtain and flopped onto the bed, sinking into the cushy goodness that was goose down. “I absolutely adore it,” she breathed.

“Would you like me to unpack your bags, Miss Zoe?” Sasha asked, unsure of what to do with her hands.

Feeling the effects of several weeks on a boat combined with the general exhaustion of travel, Hange simply rolled over onto her stomach. “It’s quite alright, Sasha. And please, just call me Hange. Could you please loosen my stays? I’d like to take a nap.”

“With pleasure, Hange.” Sasha’s fingers were swift and adept at loosening the corset, and in no time, she had Hange tucked into bed. “Should I come to you when dinner is about ready, then?”

“Yeah, that sounds good…” Hange trailed off, already half asleep.

The stillness of the bed and dry land. Finally, maybe she could get some good sleep.

#levihan #levi x hange #levi x hanji #levi ackerman #hange zoe #attack on titan #aot #snk #shingeki no kyojin #aot fanfic #snk fanfic #fanfiction #archive of our own #my writing #writers on tumblr #alternate universe

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danadeservesadrink · 4 years

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Do You Believe in Fate?

Chapters 1 and 2 available on AO3 Do You Believe In Fate (2750 words) by Samwritess

Posting both chapters 1 and 2 together here! Hoping to make this a longer series with tons of fun prompts and cute fluff!

Words: 4k

Rating: T for now

Tagging @today-in-fic

“Dana Scully speaking”

“Hi, um, I think I have your pants”

“Excuse me”

“I’m sorry that came out wrong…”

“Who is this?”

“Um, sorry, this is Fox Mulder, I live in the Guardian apartment complex on Columbia St. I think I keep getting your mail”

“Oh. Are you in apartment 52? I used to live there.”

“Yes. That makes sense, actually, but um I’ve gotten some letters and today I got a package with some pants”

“You opened my mail?”

“I only opened it because I thought the shipping information would have a phone number.”

“I see. You know you probably could have looked me up before you rifled through my Loft purchases”

“Didn’t think of that. Anyway, I have your pants.”

“Thank you for letting me know. Are you planning on returning them or are you also a size 0?”

“No, no right, I’m sorry. Where would you like me to meet you?”

“I’m actually in D.C to pick up some supplies from my office on Tuesday. Would the coffee place on the corner of 11th work?”

“Yea that’s perfect actually. What time?”

“Let’s say noon?”

“Great. I’ll see you then Fox”

“See you then Dana”

He knew it was her before she even walked into the shop. He saw a glimpse of red hair about a block down and got to spend the entire block watching her small figure push through the pedestrians on the sidewalk and he felt like he knew her in seconds. She was wearing probably exactly the same pants he had in the box sitting next to him. Probably ordered them as backups for her backups. Navy goes with everything. She walked with her head down, and even with her small frame she seemed to get people to move out of her way with no effort. Dana Scully was a no fuss, no frills, independent woman. And god damn if that wasn’t his kind of woman.

When he figured out she had lived in his apartment, he knocked on the door next to him to get the inside scoop. The gunmen had lived in the apartment for a few years longer than he had, so maybe they had seen this woman around before. It took three seconds after he mentioned her name for Frohike to start gushing about her. “She’s got these blue eyes that stare right into your soul Mulder, red hair like fire, and God her voice...” he hadn’t shut up about her until Langley interrupted. It seems like Frohike’s adoration was more of the ‘we met in the laundry room once and I think I’m in love with her’ type. And with Frohike, you never really know if the woman will live up to his fantastical expectations. Apparently the last they saw of her was about two months before he moved in she packed up and left in quite the hurry. “God we were disappointed when you moved in after she moved out”. So far she fit the description.

She walked in the shop and before the twinkling of the bells had ceased to announce her presence she had spotted him and begun her march over to his table.

“How did you know it was me?” he smirked as she came to a halt next to his little table in the corner.

“How many other people sit in a coffee shop with a week's worth of letters and a Loft package?”

She takes off her sunglasses and he gets to take in all of her face for the first time and it almost knocks the wind out of him. Those blue eyes looked right through him. He had to tell Frohike he was right later. She wrinkled her brow when he spent too long staring so he started to shove the package in her face before she thought he was too much a creep.

“Can I buy you some coffee?” he tried to stand but it was awkward and he got way too close to her as he clamored his way up. He could smell her perfume and he swore he would never forget it. She stepped back.

“It’s no problem. I should be going anyway.” She started to back away from him and he felt a little piece of him move with her.

“No please I insist” He reached out to her and she backed up again, fumbling with the packages she was now holding. “At least let me help bring the packages to your car”

She huffed and shifted to packages again, clearly fully capable of carrying them back herself.

“Listen, Fox. I’ve got an office to drag back to Annapolis and I really don't need your help. What I do need is to get going” She turned and walked back out of the shop and someone must have slipped something into his coffee that morning because he found himself slipping through the door behind her, abandoning his half finished decaf in the bin on the way out.

Maybe it was because Mulder had never felt as much connection as when she looked at him with those baby blue eyes. He had been with more women than he cared to admit, been in love with a fair few, but Miss Dana Scully with her navy blue Loft pants that she probably owned six pairs of had stolen his heart entirely. He felt this infatuation overtake him and every cell in him was screaming not to let her go. So he followed her out onto the busy street and walked next to her as she practically sprinted through the afternoon foot traffic.

“Why are you following me?” She huffed as she tried picking up the pace, but his long legs easily kept up with her tiny strides.

“Do you believe in fate Dana?” She turned to look at him as if he had grown a second head, and at that moment a passerby jostled her shoulder, causing her to trip forward, losing her balance and crossing her feet over, bumping right into his side. He grabbed her elbow to steady her and for the second time met those ice blue eyes. He thought time stood still. If the hard corner of the cardboard package hadn't been poking him in the ribs it would have been the most romantic moment of his life. Fuck, it was still the most romantic moment of his life, with her breathing heavy and the two of them staring at each other on a crowded sidewalk, pressed together by circumstance and fate.

“Logically I’d have to say no.” She breathed out, but the blush on her cheeks told him he wasn’t the only one who felt this.

It took another shoulder to hers from an old woman with an umbrella and too much perfume to knock her back into herself. She stepped back from him clutching the package into her chest like it was Kevlar.

“I have to go. Please don't follow me again.” He watched as she walked away into the crowd, her red hair enveloped into the mob of civilians like a balloon into the sky. Never to come back.

I’ll see her again, he thought. I have to.

---

“Dana Scully speaking”

“Hi, it's me again.”

“What do you want?”

“You got another package. I didn't open it this time”

“Oh. Thank you.”

“When would you like me to return it? I don’t know if you’ll be in town any time soon…”

“I have a friend’s wedding in a week on Tuesday in Alexandria. I can pick it up then.”

“Ok sure I should be home. What time should I expect you?”

“I’ll probably come earlier in the morning on my way to the ceremony if that's alright”

“Of course.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you then.”

“See you then.”

---

He was sweating. This isn’t even a date and he was practically sweating through his shirt at the idea of Dana Scully showing up at his apartment door. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind and he’d seen her for maybe 20 minutes tops. He had come home that day and pounded a beer like his life depended on it. The gunmen called his apartment not long after to check on him because apparently Frohike thought “he might have suffered a stroke when he saw her”. He walked into their apartment and was handed a glass of whiskey and an invitation to spill it all about the girl he was now undoubtedly infatuated with. Maybe it was love or maybe just obsession but he was stuck with the image of only her in his head. And she was going to be at his door any minute forcing him to have to look into those beautiful eyes and not have an absolute breakdown.

He was busy deciding between continuing to stare at the clock waiting for her arrival and calling her again when the wrap of knuckles on his door sounded through the apartment. He sprinted to the door, took a second to compose himself and opened it to greet his fate.

“Wow”

She was in a little navy dress that hugged her hips and cut deep down her chest, revealing freckled collarbones to match freckled knees. Was it bad that those knees almost brought him to his? Of course Miss Dana Scully didn't wear little black dresses. She had a little navy dress that matched all of her navy pants and was just as sexy and somehow even more alluring. His eyes followed her freckles from her clavicle to her shoulder and up her neck like connect-the-dots and yet again he looked into the eyes of an angle, noting how the deep blue of her dress made them look even more piercing. She broke his gaze to stare down at herself with an embarrassed blush and smooth the front of her dress.

“Come in. Please.” He stepped aside and her strappy heels clicked into his apartment. He fought every brain cell telling him to drink in her figure from behind. He was a selfish bastard but later tonight he’ll remember her walking through his door in that little navy dress and dream that it was just for him, not for some high-school friend’s wedding 20 minutes away in Alexandria.

“So…” She took a careful look at the room and he suddenly remembered she used to live here. She touched the counter top like she was familiar with the dust that had settled there. Something in her eyes looked almost sad, like she was reconnecting with an old friend. “I like what you've done with the place.”

“Thanks. It’s a great apartment. I was lucky to get it.” She grimaced and it dawned on him why he happened to be so lucky, her having moved out halfway through her lease with the landlord practically begging him to pick it up. He shoved his hands in his pockets like maybe that would stop him from saying something stupid. She hummed and looked up at him expectantly.

“Oh right. Package.” He almost forgot why she was actually in his apartment.

He heard her chuckle as he walked into the kitchen to grab the box from behind the counter. It was significantly heavier than the last time. If it was clothes it was some diamond studded platform boots by the weight of it. He found her staring at the fish when he returned.

“This is heavy. You want my help with taking it down to your car?” He couldn’t help himself.

“Actually, under normal circumstances I would say I can handle it, but these heels aren’t exactly made for transporting boxes of baby food.” She laughed again and he tried to hide his shocked expression.

“Baby food?” She recognized his confused gaze and explained.

“It’s for my sister. She likes to order her baby food in bulk because apparently they don’t sell it in non-organic grocery stores. She must have used my account by accident and they sent it here.”

He really was a lucky son of a bitch.

He gestured towards the door and she walked first, him following her with the package in his arms. They boarded the elevator together and it was just goddamn unfair how those heels made her the perfect height so that if he glanced over he could see straight down that little navy dress of hers. Unfair.

She clicked her way off the elevator and dutifully he followed her to the parking deck. She popped her trunk open and he plopped the case of organic baby food in.

“Well, I think I finally changed all my accounts to my new address, so hopefully this problem gets solved” She must have seen his face fall because she blushed again. “Thank you for all your help Fox.”

“Mulder. I even made my parents call me Mulder. Hated my first name. Hope that's not too strange” He doesn’t know why he was telling her, if she was going to exit his life after today. Maybe the dress had truth-inducing powers.

“Mulder.” She tasted his name like a cherry on top of a sunday, the way that would leave a red stain on her lips like the lipstick she had on now. The way that dress was cut made him think that she was the kind of girl that could secretly tie a cherry stem into a knot with her tongue. “It’s certainly not weird. Being a doctor I get called Scully most hours of the day.”

Dr. Dana Scully . It fit her perfectly.

“Well Dr. Scully, Dr. Mulder is always ready to be your personal mailman.” Her eyebrow quirked up, obviously impressed with the title.

“M.D?” she questioned like a judge running a trial.

“PhD in Psychology. Oxford University.” He stood up a little taller. She smirked.

“Impressive. Although I would be careful calling yourself a doctor unless you can complete a surgery with a Myers-Brigs test” Her eyes lit up when she challenged him. He was more than willing to submit to her.

“Nah I’ll leave the surgeries to your…” He grabbed her wrist and her eyes widened, “capable hands”. If pedestrians were not there to bump them together, he figured fate wouldn’t mind if he gave it a helping hand. The energy between them was palpable.

Psychology may not complete surgeries, but it did give him the ability to peg Dr. Dana Scully down to a tee. If he had to guess, she went to undergrad somewhere close to home, but went far away for medical school, probably the best school she could get into. She gets the buttoned up look and her quick pace from a military background, probably her father. A gold cross like the moon in a sky of stars on her chest said she was religious, likely from childhood. But that low-cut dress and strappy heels made him think there were many many layers under the stiff exterior.

“Where did you go to school?” he released her hand and tried to inhale without giving away the fact that he’d barely taken a breath while she was in his grip.

“University of Maryland for my bachelors, then Stanford for medical school. Impressed?”

She licked her lips and he wanted to peel back every layer of her, including that tantalizing dress of hers.

“Very.”

“Well Dr. Mulder, I need to head to the ceremony.” It was goodbye again and he hated every second of it. Now or never.

“Listen, Dr. Scully . If you're ever in D.C again, you should give me a call. I would really like to take you to dinner some time.”

He wanted to bottle the grin she shot back at him. The color of her blush should be sold on every makeup counter because it was the perfect shade. Everything about her made him fall harder and faster.

“I just might take you up on that. It’s been a while since I’ve gone to some of the good restaurants around here.”

“I’ll take you to your favorite” He’d take her to a dumpster behind a pizzeria if that's what she wanted. Just to get to see her again.

Her phone rang and she answered, a voice through the phone likely asking her where she was, as she responded with “I’m just leaving, I’ll be there in 20.” She sighed and hung up, then looked back up at him again with a small smile.

“Enjoy your wedding.”

“I will. Goodbye Mulder.”

“Bye Scully.”

He walked on air back to his apartment.

#the x files #The X Files Fanfic #txf fanfic #txf #Dana Scully #Fox Mulder #msr #msr fanfic #msr au #sam writes

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lockdownuk · 4 years

Text

Lockdown Diary Part 2

A personal account during the lockdown in the UK due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

23/03/2020 8:30pm Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister, gives a live address to the nation to, effectively, put the country on lockdown to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus strain, Covid-19.

Many of us have been self-isolating for days but this latest development within the UK in reaction to the pandemic feels very serious and very scary. I decided to keep a simple diary and where better but online.

Day 31: I went to Tesco’s at Hampton at @8pm. It was weird. But I made it less weird by buying (amongst all the legit stuff I needed and some stuff for Karen’s mum) more booze. I have, atm about 30 assorted cans and 60 assorted bottles. I’m gonna stop buying booze now until I’m down to the last dozen. I don’t want owt to happen and I leave many behind!

Day 32: More than a calender month! I was rung up by a recruitment agent today about a contract with DHL as a remote support engineer to their aviation section. €400 a day! I’ve applied. Few beers tonight, watching a new Netflix release (Extraction) and catching up with Fog, Ham, Andy and Rog later at 10:30pm - yikes, might be pissed.

Day 33: Typing this on day 34. Dossed around during the day, few beers and another video call with fog, Ham and Rig plus I invited John Monk along. He was his usual self and signed off from the call with a moonie! Later on I had the pleasure of Scottish Louise video calling me! She was pissed, in her shed drinking den at her home with some neighbour called Ronnie and her daughter Ellie. She was her usual outrageous self who imaprted such gems as “Tim, you look old” and “Roger on coke is the only time I’ve taken it up the arse”. Nice.

Day 34: Today I skyped Laurie and ‘met’ Matthew and Nicholas for the first time. It was bloody fantatsic. Janine was there as well.I cannot believe it takes lockdown (plus an idea to get Laurie to add me to his regular Monday skype chat with Dad) that managed to get us doing something that should have happened years ago! It was so great to talk to them all face-to-face. Janine hasn’t changed a bit, Matthew is very quiet with Nicholas being the more gregorious twin. And Laurie is still Laurie. I’m reminded of how much I sort of miss him! It was all so comfortable. I loved it! Tomorrow is Dad’s 85th hence the 3-way chat idea. I hope it comes off!

Day 35: So dad and Laurie and I skyped. It was OK but my video feed was very dark, (still dunno why) and Lauire’s kept freezing. I dropped out so as to leave them to it, my thinking being the extra person takes up bandwidth, with the promise I’d call dad later. Before I could, Rita called me and suggested Dad and I skype, which we did. So, all in all, a good day of comms! And Dad seems his happy usual self - 85 years old! Amazing.

Day 36: I am really struggling to motivate myself this week. Today, I’ve done fuck all of note. That is all.

Day 37: A similar day to yesterday. All I have really managed to do is lay down audio from Pink Floyd (Absolutely Curtains) to a video I shot of a cow on yesterday’s walk. I am having a downer of a week without any good reason why, ld aside. I have worn my new walking boots today (’cos my old ones are leaking, I found out yesterday) and they fucking hurt, despite having tried to wear them in for months, albeit pathetically. Also, a few days ago (Friday 24th April), I got notification from HM Revenue & Customs that I’m getting tax rebate (from 2018-19) of £392. Yay!

Day 38: I received notification today that I’ve got a speeding ticket…last Thursday back from Tesco’s - 87mph somewhere between the A1 and Elton. I am hoping it’s a fixed penalty. I dunno whether it is yet, I just have to send the form off confirming it’s my car and I was driving. I spoke with Lynda from Woodfords asking her to ask for a rent reduction before I sign for another year. Plus, I let her know that I will be Howard and Sue’s eyes as the look at rental properties in Oundle - I do hope they return although it would be a shame for them that their plans have been scuppered (she’s lost her job in Oz due to Covid-19)

Day 39: Today I started another piece of exercise - up and down the stairs 26 times. Not sure why 26 - it was some thing online to do with the London Marathon, I think. It fucking killed. I used 13 clothes pegs for a counting system. I asked Karen to pick up some stuff when she was shopping (burgers, radishes) - Dan dropped them off, He was with Shaggy (driving his van) and going to see Jonah. That pisses me off - they should be social distancing, ffs.

Discoevered, today, that Cornershop, post-Brinful are fucking excellent. listening to the album ‘England is a Garden’ as I type.

Day 40: That 26 times up and down the stairs is fucking hard. I did videos about it today. My legs are aching like fuck right now.

Day 41: Just done Young Sam’s (Sam Clews) quiz. 3rd week running and it’s now become a habit and something I look forward to. Out of all the internet driven socialising I’m undertaking in ld, this is the weirdest - I feel totally detatched from all others taking part but, now, would feel pissed off if I didn’t or couldn’t join in. I got 47/70 this week. My best score and only about 8 off the winning score - most others aren’t doing it on their own!

Today’s walk was a cloudy one - I captured some fine, dramatic pics of the clouds. I am getting into this photography lark, albeit very amateurish. But, when I post any pics online (mostly FB), they seem to be widely appreciated, which is nice.

Day 42: Applied for a remote service delivery job with a firm called TTEC. £60k. Finished watching The Outsider. The creepiest TV show I have seen in years. Really great use of background music.

Day 43: Finished Mindhunter S2 last night. It’s so good but I cannot quite put my finger on why. Today has been a nothing day apart from day 2 of me not typing the letter ‘e’ in any post or comments on FB for a week. It’s hard.

Day 44: Watch Anna last night. A Luc Besson film that starts a kick-ass suprermodel. It’s right down my street. Today I have been lazy af. I need to pick up my online learning again…tomorrow, maybe! I watched Andy Murray Resurfacing. A documentary on Amazon. Fantastic. What a top man he is. Completely human and completely inhuman!

Day 45: Much talk in the news of possible lockdown relaxation. I am off the opinion we should stay the course until we are completely assured of beathing this thing i.e. a working, widely available vaccine. Dad and I Skyped - he is doing well, as usual. So is Rita. They both seem very happy in lockdown! Today has been a glorious day, weather wise. I had my walkk at 10ish this morming and it was very warm. Hottest day of the year so far I reckon.

Day 46: Bank holiday Friday (75th anniversary of VE day). Nice walk. Chat with Karen letting her know about being caught speeding just in case I am banned and need some out of town shopping. Watched second episode of DEVS by Alex Garland. It’s good and intriguing. Now, @7pm, gonna eat and hit the beers and smokes.

Day 47: Typing this at 15:45 on day 48. I had lots of beers and a good old chat with Rog…

Day 48: Today’s daily press conference was eagerly anticipated today with rumours of a relaxation in lockdown. It seems it was a fuss about nothing with no clear instructions - I didn’t watch it but, skimming the BBC news site, I shan’t be doing anything different over the next few weeks, not that I would anyway - furlough and self isolation are the order of the day and I won’t change that until I am sure it’s safe. Meanwhile people, including Danny flaunt the rules, it’s been pointed out to me plus I know he spends time with Jonah and Marc. It really fucks me off. So, the actions of the few mean I will lock myself down for as long, if not longer, as it takes. Attended Sam Clews quiz again. It passes the time. Also, I had half a scotch bonnet chilli with tea tonight (roasted veg, cous cous and sausages). Ridiculously hot!

Day 49: Received the speaker I ordered a few days ago (from eBay). It’s an AudioPro Addon T10. I got it for a very reasonable price from a German shop. As a result, the power lead isn;t three pin and that has seriously fucked me right off!

Meanwhile, I did my 26 stair climb before my daily walk today. It was easier than usual (surprise surprise) and I did 7km - but that was tough! ‘Cos I am on (yet another) free trial of Amazon Prime, I am ramping up watching stuff available. Last night I watched Booksmart - really nice little film with a great soundtrack. I am listening to Dan the Automater as I type. Today I watched half (3 eps) of The Night Manager and the film ‘The Founder’. The former is a superb series, the latter an OK film about Ray Kroc - the supposed founder of McDonald’s. Except he wasn’t; he was the wrong side of ambitious and a cunt.

Day 50: Stripped the 2 pin cable from the speaker I received yesterday and wired up a 3 pin plug and it worked. Win. And it sounds great. Win-win. Went to go shopping in Hampton but the car wouldn’t start. Loss. But it was the battery so I managed to borrow Karen’s jump starter which worked. Win.

Spent £107. Loss. But just under £40 was booze plus £10 for two big pizzas, two sides (dirty fries) and some dips. Win. Didn’t do any online learning - seriously fucking letting myself down. Loss.

Did my usual walking and 26 stair climb. The latter is hard but defo getting easier. Win. Day 51: Sam’s 51st birthday on day 51 - coincidence! Today I received my face mask from Lou - House of Stewart tartan. I’m pleased with it and that I have got a mask now. I managed to get up at a reasonable hour, just left 09:00, and revisit my web design course. Module 1, lesson 5 and I am fucking stuck. Trying to code an online CV with a side nav bar and I cannot get it to fucking work. Grrrrrr. Later, i got into a FB dispute (easily distracted due to the above) with someone over his statement of fact (Tim Martin’s treatment of Whetherspoons’ employees) when he doesn’t know it’s fact. It probably is, but that is not the fucking point. I wish I could leave these sort of spats alone. I am drinking, at 20:45, peppermint tea as I type. Jeez, what’s happened to me?

Day 52: Well, last night took a swift chnage. Rog message me and, to cut a long story short, I hit the beers, also called Foggy later, got trashed. I got up today at gone 1pm. Sam posted on fb that Paul had forgort her birthday yesterday. Oh dear! The 26 stair climb and walking each day is noticeable for how knackered my legs feel all the time, I noticed today!

Day 53: My birthday! Nice comments and banter of FB. Rachael brought round a bottle of whisky; gobsmacked. Karen popped round some beers and sausage rolls. Sam sent a card, as did dad with a £50 cheque. Dan’s ordering me a pizza later.

Chuffed! Day 54: I went to bed late after a lot of beers, huge pizza and chips, a few smokes and a long call with WWJ and video chats with Fog then Rog. Got up around 1pm and dossed with my usual exercises and I made fish pie with a scotch bonnet. Day 55: Late one last night but up early today (11ish). Really fretting about hospital tomorrow. Nervous anyway but the safety aspect, in terms of Covid-19, isn’t helping.

Day 56: Hospital appointment was just for an eye scan so the consultant can review it. I was very surprised to see how few people were wearing face masks! I did two lots of washing today. (After the hospital) I went to Morrsions, Asda (queue too long though), B&M (queue too long though) then Tesco’s. All to buy a baseball cap ‘cos I’m fucked if I’m going to wet my hair each time I go out and want it to look presentable! In Morrsions (no mens’ clothing apart from underwear!) I stocked up of 10 cans of sugarfree apple Caraboa….I was only thinking of this drink just the other day. Yesterday I finished The Night Manager on Amazon. I liked it a lot but, also, expected much, much more from it consdiering the hype. Hugh Laurie has come a long way from comedy sketches with Stephen Fry!

Day 57:Received an email from Sueanne yesterday asking ( as designated spokesperson for everyone) how I am. The most interestring piece of news in a rather uninformative email was that the US has started to open resorts!

Day 58: I am writing this on Day 59. I started a two walk a day regime. The first walk I do is shorter, around 4km. my aim is to be ready for 1,000,000 steps Diabetic UK challenge (throughout July, August and September). I need to do just under 11,000 steps a day. The relaxation in ld rules makes this achievable. On that score, I am allowed to visit a friend’s house, as long as it’s just the two of us, outside, 2m apart. I went round Karen’s last night. I was desperate to have a Happy Hour (I allow myself a midweek beer - today (well, yesterday) is/was Wednesday!) of sorts with another human (rather than a video chat). I was there for about 2 hours, very enjoyable, and then came home. Then I had usual roasted veg with rice and sausages but I couldn’t eat it. I used half a scotch bonnet rather than the usual birdeye chillis. It was too hot, had to sling it! Had a few more beers and, hence, neglected my diary duties!

Day 59: It’s 01:20am. I don’t know why I am still awake and up, but I am. But, also, I am now going to bed. Nothing else to report, really.

Day 60: Half way through 12 weeks furlough. I was discussing this with Dad and Rita earlier - I am expecting that, at the end of 12 weeks, I’ll be laid off. I hope I’m wrong but I reckon it’s well on the cards. Off to have a beer round Karen’s in a sec which will be pleasant. Just a hour or so. It’s fucking windy today so I shall wrap up!

#diary #Tumblr diary #lockdown #COVID19 #lockdownuk

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chiefnooniensingh · 4 years

Text

I Won’t Hesitate (For You) Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Come Back (I still need you)

In this chapter: In the past, Michael and Alex, scarred both physically and mentally, part ways. In the present day, Kyle Vale's trustworthiness is called into question. Some new information about Michael comes to light, once again shaking up Alex' theories. Meanwhile, time is running out on solving this murder.

A/n: As always, a special thanks to Aileen (@acomebackstory), Callie (@callieramics), @hm-arn, @royalshadowhunter, @ladymajavader and May (@merlinss) over on Tumblr for their continued support and cheerleading. I don't know if I would've finished it without you guys!

Last week's chapter title hasn't been guessed yet! I have to admit, it might be because it's a niche song? I have no idea about it's popularity, the only reason I know it is because we sing it in my Rock Choir. So it's still open, be my guest and keep guessing!

Can anyone guess this week's?

also on: ao3

other chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

February, 1925

Alex stood at the regional airport, the most basic of his belongings in a duffel at his feet, looking miserably at the small plane that would fly him to Albuquerque, where another plane would take him across the country.

Today was the start of basic training, and Alex was absolutely miserable.

He hadn’t even said goodbye to Michael.

Since the…incident, they’d barely seen each other. Alex’s father had put him on house arrest and Michael had been in hospital for a while. When he came back to school – the only place they could still safely see each other – his hand was in a thick bandage and he told Alex in clipped tones that it would probably never heal properly. Alex had barely been able to look at him and also noticed that Michael was avoiding him.

Alex never blamed Michael for that. No, that was Jesse Manes’ fault.

Jesse Manes, the man who called himself his father, who threatened Michael’s life. After Michael had left that night, Jesse Manes had sat Alex down and instead of beating him, had done something far worse.

“If you value that boy’s life at all, you will do as I say from here on out. The army is recruiting a new wave of soldiers. You turn 17 soon. You’ll start your training in February.” Alex had tried to protest, but Jesse Manes went on, “You will go into the army, Alex. They will beat this disgusting perversity of yours out of you. If you don’t go, or if you have the nerve to desert, a very nasty accident might happen to rash, hot-headed Michael Guerin.”

Alex’s heart still ran cold at the memory, and he shut his eyes against the pain. He knew he had no choice, knew his father had finally found the one thing that would keep Alex in line. Threatening Michael was so much more effective than the threat of personal physical harm.

So Alex was here, five feet away from his father at all times, watching as Master Sergeant Jesse Manes conversed with the officer that was going to take him away from his home, his life, his Michael.

And Michael would never know why. Alex could still see the hurt and anger in Michael’s eyes when Alex told him he was leaving the next day. He hadn’t been able to tell Michael why, and it had sparked a fight between them unlike any Alex had ever had. Michael had stormed off, and Alex had left.

Maybe it was better like this, Alex tried to convince himself. Michael would be better off hating him. It would hurt less.

“Alex!” Master Sergeant Manes called authoritatively, and like an obedient dog, Alex came. “This is private Jackson. He’ll escort you to basic training.” Alex nodded to the young man, who seemed fairly nervous in the presence of the Master Sergeant. “Now,” Manes continued, “I expect you to uphold the valour and honour this society has begun to expect from the Manes family. Your brothers are war heroes. Try to live up to them. Then maybe, finally, I can be proud of you.”

Alex hated the way his heart jumped, hated that after all this time, making his father proud still held appeal. Alex hated everything about the man. But he was still his father. “I’ll try,” Alex said shortly. He took up his duffel and nodded to his father. “Bye, dad.”

His father gave no reply but watched Alex board the plane and the plane start to take off. “You did well,” Master Sergeant Manes said coldly. From behind a crate, Michael Guerin appeared, watching the plane take off with red-rimmed eyes. He didn’t comment, so the Master Sergeant continued. “This is what’s best for him, Michael. You pushing him away only made it easier for him to go after his destiny. It was the smart decision.”

Michael snorted, flexing his healed, but permanently disfigured fingers in anger. “It wasn’t my decision. You said you’d do to Alex what you did to me. I couldn’t let that happen. At least now he’s safely away from you.” Michael spat on the floor in front of Jesse Manes’ feet and turned on his heel, leaving the man behind.

On the plane, Alex was oblivious to this exchange. He and Jackson were laughing together, bonding over their mutual dislike of the Master Sergeant. “Hey, did you see the news?” Private Jackson held up the newspaper, and Alex took it. The paper was a local Roswell paper, the headline was in aggressive bold letters, shouting: Sheriff Jim Valenti found dead at Santa Fe, New Mexico home. Police suspect suicide.

“Jesus,” Alex murmured, scanning the rest of the article. Apparently, the unsolved case of Rosa Ortecho had always haunted him, even after moving to another town and trying to start over. The pressure and the guilt seemed to have finally gotten the better of him.

Rosa Ortecho’s murderer was still wreaking havoc, even five years after the murder.

Jim Valenti (41) leaves behind a wife, who will take over his position as sheriff in the interim, and their fifteen-year-old son, Kyle. The family was not available for comment.

Present day, 22nd of October, 1935

“Son of a bitch,” Alex cursed, taking off towards the corridor, barely avoiding a full-on collision with a wide-eyed Max Evans as he made his way quickly towards the voice of miss Otto. Kyle Vale – no, Valenti, son of disgraced Sheriff Valenti, who killed himself because he couldn’t solve Rosa Ortecho’s case – was standing over her, inspecting the wound and looking up startled at Alex’s less than subtle entry. “You!” Alex said, his heart beating fast. “You’re Kyle Valenti, aren’t you? You’ve been lying about your identity all this time, haven’t you?”

Kyle’s eyes widened almost comically, basically giving himself away before he could ever defend himself. “Alex, you don’t understand…”

“No, I think I understand perfectly,” Alex said, controlling his voice with difficulty. “Your father was on Rosa Ortecho’s case. He couldn’t solve it and killed himself over it. This was cold-blooded revenge.”

Several gasps sounded behind him. Alex turned and realised he hadn’t exactly been quiet. Every passenger was standing at the door, staring at the two men staring each other down, with miss Beth sitting in between them, looking shocked. Not very professional, Alex. “Kyle Valenti?” he heard someone whisper incredulously.

“Alex, I didn’t – ” But Kyle could only bluster, his face red, as good as a confession.

“You knew the open window would speed up the temperature changes in a dead body. You purposefully pretended not to know that! You murdered him and opened the window and then lied to my face about everything!”

“No, I – ”

“It’s true, Alex, he didn’t!” Maria said loudly, pushing forward and shrugging off her mother’s hand. “I’m sorry, Alex, I lied to you. I was with Kyle the entire night. After our game of cards that night before, Kyle invited me back to his cabin for a nightcap, so that my mother could get some rest, and we just…kept talking. I promise, Alex. Kyle had nothing to do with this.”

Alex turned towards Kyle, who shrugged with a half-smile. But Alex was done. This entire case had fucked him over multiple times, nearly cost him his life and also cost him a second chance with the love of his life. He wasn’t going to bend so easily. “Then why was your identification altered? Kyle Vale?”

Kyle’s smile vanished immediately and opened his mouth to reply. He closed it again after a few seconds. “Yeah,” said Alex, scoffing, “that’s what I thought. Michael!” Michael stepped forward, his eyes barely meeting Alex’s. “Please take Mr Valenti’s keys from him and lock him in his cabin. I want him locked up until the matter is resolved,” Alex said, throwing a hard look at Kyle as he did, who had the decency to look ashamed as he handed over his keys.

Alex turned around, but not before he saw the look Kyle was shooting Maria, who was looking wide-eyed at the scene before her. “Alex, you can’t – ” Maria said desperately, grasping Michael by the arm to stop him. “Michael, don’t let him do this!”

“Miss DeLuca, while I appreciate your input, this is the first solid lead this case has had so far. Unless you can provide me with a better one, I have no other choice than to detain Mr Valenti for the time being. If he didn’t do this, we’ll know soon enough. If he did, do you really want a murderer in your midst for even a second longer?”

To that, Maria had no retort, and Michael escorted Kyle to his cabin. A dreadful, pressing silence filled the train. Even the noise of the engine seemed to bend to its presence. Alex immediately knew that the equilibrium had shifted; before, everybody could still believe the other innocent. Now they had a target. Someone they liked, someone they trusted.

Alex knew how they felt.

And yet.

It didn’t feel right.

Kyle was his best suspect, and yet only a fraction of the evidence pointed his way. It was more than to other people, to be sure. But still, Alex mused, it wasn’t his most solid case by far. He knew the courts would probably not even touch this case on this little evidence.

Sighing, Alex left Miss Otto’s cabin, with Beth still looking stunned, behind and went back to the dining carriage. He pushed open the door thoughtlessly, and found it was not empty.

“Michael, please, just a few more – ”

“ – no, Max, I can’t do this anymore! I can’t lie to – Alex!”

Michael and Max Evans were standing very close together, both with red faces and looking as though Alex just caught them having a very heated argument. “Is everything okay?” Alex said, suspiciously, closing the door behind him. “What can’t you lie about, Michael?”

“It was nothing – ” Max began, but Michael cut him off.

“Max, for once in your life, shut the fuck up.”

Both Max and Alex looked at him in surprise. Alex knew Michael had a foul mouth, but he was polite when he needed to be, when his job required him to be. He would never talk to guests this way… “What’s going on, Michael?”

Michael ran his hands through his curls, trying to make up his mind. “Damn it. Alright." He sighed. "I've been sick of secrets for a long time now. It's time." Alex frowned, his heart picking up its pace as Michael straightened up and looked him square in the eyes. Was Michael going to confess...? "You remember I told you my siblings found me?” Alex nodded, a realisation dawning on him. “Max is my brother. Isobel is my sister. I’m sorry,” Michael said to Max as the latter began to protest, and then again to Alex, who stared, open-mouthed, at the two, “I just can’t lie anymore. Not to you.”

“Michael, I – ” Alex looked from Michael to Max and back. The two couldn’t be more different. Where Max and Isobel shared the same bone structure, the same facial features, even the same shape of their mouths, Michael didn’t look anything like his siblings. He was soft where they were hard, wild where they were reserved. But now that he was looking closer, he could see it in the colour of Michael’s eyes and the set of his shoulders. “How?” he managed to choke out. “How are they both here? Why? Precisely on your train?”

Michael shook his head miserably, but Max stepped in. “Michael got us the tickets. We wanted to be with our brother. It was easy to pull Noah along. He didn’t even realize.”

“You realize how this looks, though. A man gets murdered, and his wife’s two brothers are on the train. One of which, they didn’t have contact with until a couple of years ago! What am I supposed to make of this?!” Alex was well aware his voice was beginning to crack. So many emotions raged through him. He wanted to get to know Michael’s brother, wanted that happiness for Michael, but he also was scared of what it all meant. The coincidences just kept piling up around Michael.

“Nothing,” Michael said, stepping forward and taking Alex’s hand. “You’re not supposed to make anything out of this, because it’s not anything! Alex, please.”

“Why did you lie?” Alex croaked, his eyes boring into Michael’s. “Just give me a reasonable explanation. You sat there,” Alex gestured wildly at the table they had sat at not a day ago, “and told you me your siblings found you and you just…neglected to mention they were on this train? Why?”

“Max asked me to. He didn’t want you to think exactly what you’re thinking now. Alex, I would do anything to protect my family. You know that better than most.”

“Oh, do I?”

“You think I got this,” Michael held up his maimed hand, and Alex flinched at the memory that surfaced with it, “for fun? You think I would’ve let you go to the army if I didn’t think you were safer there than you were with me?”

“Let me?!” Alex yelled, near hysterical now. “I chose to go into the army! To protect you, from my father! He would’ve killed you, Michael! You couldn’t have stopped me, even if you tried! Which you didn’t!”

Max was backing away from the conversation, looking startled at this sudden change in subject, but Alex barely noticed. Michael was eyes were wide and tears were threatening to spill over. “I didn’t stop you, because your father threatened you! He said he would do to you what he did to me! And I couldn’t let that happen! Your father was going to kill you one day, and I knew that pushing you away and towards the army was going to save you!”

A ringing silence hung between the two of them as they processed what the other had just said. “He did what?” Alex eventually managed. Michael nodded, a few tears escaping. “So my father threatened both of us.”

“We both thought we were doing what was best for the other.”

“And in the end, it was Jesse Manes who got what he wanted,” Alex finished bitterly. “As per fucking usual.”

“I’m so sorry, Alex.”

Alex let out a broken laugh. “What for? You were trying to protect me, I was trying to protect you…we were both hurting and stopped communicating. Jesus, we’re both fucking idiots.”

Michael let out a surprised laugh as well. “Yeah, we are.”

And without waiting another second, Alex flung his arms around Michael’s neck and pressed him into a hug. Michael wrapped his arms around Alex’s waist and squeezed tightly. Alex felt warm and fuzzy inside, and for a second – as happened often around Michael – he forgot his current predicament. The hug lasted forever, or so it felt to Alex, and it made him feel warm inside, giving him a strength he hadn’t realized he had been missing. In the end, it was Max’s uncomfortable cough that broke the two apart.

“So,” Max said, scratching his ear, “you must be the Alex Michael’s always going on about.”

Alex raised an eyebrow at Michael, who shrugged noncommittally. “I guess I am.”

“Then let’s start over. I’m Max Evans, Michael’s brother.” Max extended his hand to Alex, and Alex took it without hesitation.

“Alex Manes. I’m Michael’s…well, we don’t have a name for it.”

“I think I got what you two are from the many, many, many stories Michael has told us,” Max said teasingly, winking at the pair of them, earning a disgusted scoff from Michael and a chuckle from Alex.

Michael sighed, rubbing his forehead. “So what now?”

Alex rarely encountered three words that could change an atmosphere so profoundly. What now, indeed? “It’s all going in my book, that’s step one.” Alex took out his notebook and traced a line between Max, Isobel and Michael. SIBLINGS, he wrote over the line. “And as for after that? I honest to God have no fucking clue.”

The train slowed down and Michael, Alex and Max watched as the train pulled into a train station. The sign on the platform read LAUSANNE. They’d reached Switzerland.

Their final stop before Paris.

Time was running out.

#malex #malex ff #rnm ff #malex fanfic #roswell new mexico #Alex Manes #Michael Guerin #a disaster bi and a chaotic gay #what could go wrong #otp:I Don't Look Away #my fanfics #my rnm ff #my malex ff #motoe au

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jade4813 · 5 years

Text

Temptation, Chapter 1

Title: Temptation

Rating: NC-17

Synopsis: Iris West is a famous supermodel who has been getting a string of death threats. Barry Allen is the bodyguard hired to protect her. A Westallen AU. Gift for @andie1223 in appreciation of her grand prize-winning contribution to the 2019 Westallen Sock Drive!

Chapters: 1/?

Barry glanced at the clock as he followed the receptionist through the door. His first impression of the office was sleek lines and modern furniture, but small personal touches still made it seem warm and inviting. In silence, he assessed its occupant. She stood and scooted around the desk to offer him a hand, her eyes flicking towards the clock even as she greeted him. Then, after sparing few seconds on perfunctory small talk, she invited him to take a seat as she resumed her position behind her desk. When she folded her hands on its surface, she met his eyes and he had no doubt that he had her full attention.

Prior to the meeting, Barry had done his research on Linda Park. Fresh out of college, she’d become an unpaid intern at a talent management company, working with aspiring models and B-list actresses. From that inauspicious beginning, she had built something of an empire; the staff she employed at the agency that bore her name managed everyone from models to movie stars to even the occasional popular podcaster. In the meantime, she’d established a reputation for being something of a workaholic, with an almost superhuman ability to spot potential in unlikely places. She was also said to be smart, focused, tenacious, with a sense of humor that veered on the sardonic. More than one person described her as having a strategic mind that could put a general to shame.

In the first thirty seconds of meeting her, he had absolutely no doubt everything that was said about her was true. Which meant there was no way to beat around the bush. “So. How can I help you, Miss Park?”

She smiled in appreciation at his forthright question, but her face grew serious as she explained, “I have a client who’s in need of your services. I’d rather not divulge her identity until you’ve agreed to take her case,” she paused long enough for him to give a quick nod of understanding, then continued, “but I think she’s in danger. There have been…letters.”

“Threatening?”

She gave a firm nod. “And escalating.”

“Are the police involved?”

“They are, but in the meantime, I want my client to be safe.”

“Of course,” he acknowledged. “Well, I’d be happy to do an assessment. I have several people who are perfect for this kind of job –”

She shook her head, cutting him off. “Ah, no. That won’t work, I’m afraid. I specifically want you and only you.”

Barry lifted his eyebrows at her in mild surprise. “My staff are all well-qualified, I assure you.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” she agreed readily, with a quick wave of her hand. “But I’m afraid I’m quite insistent on this point. You were specifically recommended to me. I looked into you, and...well, to be frank, I trust you. Of course, I’m sure the rest of your staff are equally as discreet, but –” She broke off, and for the first time, he saw a flash of indecision on her face. Her mask of detached efficiency slipped, and he saw real fear in her eyes. “This person…my client…she’s not just a client. She’s a friend. And between you and me, I’m…well, I’m scared for her.”

He didn’t reply right away, taking a moment to consider her words. As it happened, he had just finished a job so he was available to take on a client, but he was always careful not to rush into a situation before knowing the lay of the land. “When you say you specifically want me and only me, I take it you expect this to be a one-person job.”

“That would be ideal,” she agreed. “We don’t want this to get out to the press, and the more people get involved, the more attention it will draw.”

“I understand. But I have a firm policy. I don’t agree to take on a client if I don’t think that I’m the best qualified to keep them safe. It isn’t fair to them. I will do everything within reason to respect your wishes. That said, if I review the situation and determine that additional protection is necessary, I will call in more members of my team.” When she hesitated, he parroted her words with a slight smile. “I’m afraid I’m quite insistent on that point.”

After another few seconds of thought, she gave a quick jerk of the head in assent. “So, do we have an agreement?”

It was his time to pause in thought. There were still so many questions about the nature of the threat, but Linda was playing things close to the vest. It was unlikely she’d give him more details until she had retained his services. “We do,” he finally agreed. Linda visibly relaxed, leaning back in her chair. “Well, I’ll need to see the letters, of course,” he began.

She was way ahead of him, reaching into her desk drawer to pull out a large manila envelope. At a glance, Barry could see it contained enough letters to cause concern. Though he was tempted to chastise Linda for waiting so long to bring in a professional, he bit back the words and focused on the problem at hand, continuing, “And I’ll need to meet with her, get some more information. Discuss current security arrangements…”

She grimaced, straightening. “Ah. Right. About that.” She threw him a sheepish smile. “That’s going to be a little…complicated.”

“Complicated?”

“The thing is, yours isn’t the first personal security firm I’ve retained for this matter. My client is – well, I suppose you could say she’s reluctant to cooperate.”

He frowned. “By reluctant, you mean –”

“She’s fired the rest of them, actually. Well, I guess to be more accurate, I should say she fired the first four and, when I put my foot down and said I would be responsible for the hiring and firing from then on, made it hard enough for the others to do their jobs that they quit in frustration.”

Barry’s alarm grew. “You mean to tell me that she’s been receiving threats against her life and she’s not taking them seriously?”

He could see Linda’s concern as she shook her head. “No. Well, not entirely, I guess. She has been cooperating with the police. She also upgraded the security system at her house, and she’s been doing everything possible to mix up her routine a little more. Not taking the same routes to get around at the same times of day as usual; that sort of thing. But she doesn’t really want a bodyguard, you understand. She’s been really insistent on that point, actually. I normally try to respect my clients’ wishes whenever possible, you understand, but when you look at those letters…well, she may think her increased security is enough, but I’m not willing to take that chance.

“So if you’re still sure you’re willing to take this case, then your first job is going to be convincing her to cooperate.” As though afraid he would balk at this new challenge, she leaned forward and threw him a desperate look. “I hope this doesn’t change your mind about agreeing to help, Mr. Allen. I know she’s being stubborn, but she really does need your help. If you can’t get her to agree to accept your protection…” Her voice trailed off, as though the alternative was too terrible to contemplate.

“I was referred to you because I was told you’re very good with…difficult clients. She’s not difficult in the usual sense – she’s wonderful, really. I swear. But she can be stubborn, and she certainly is more than proving that now. I came to you, Mr. Allen, because I’m hoping you can get through to her. I’m hoping you can save her life.”

Barry looked down at the folder in his hands and pulled out some of the contents, wanting to get a sense of the seriousness of the threat. A series of photos lay at the top of the stack. They were of a woman, her face partly obscured by large sunglasses as she attended to some errands. There were six in total, but it wasn’t the number that caused him the most concern. In each of the photos, the woman was wearing the same clothes, so they were likely taken on the same day. But each were taken at close range – almost intimately close. While such photographs could easily be taken at a distance with a high-quality camera, Barry had been in the protection business long enough to know that someone with the level of obsession implied by the stack of documents in his hand had progressed beyond the stage of being willing to adore from afar. They’d have wanted to get close enough to touch. The photos were to make sure she knew that they had gotten that close without her even being aware of it – that they could get to her at any time they wanted. And there was nothing she could do about it.

The woman in the pictures was in very real, possibly very imminent, danger. Barry wasn’t sure he would be able to convince her to listen to him, but he had to try. Linda’s concerns weren’t exaggerated; her very life might depend on it.

“I’ll do what I can. You have my word. But I need to get started immediately. Where is she now?”

Barry walked through the front doors to the address Linda had given him. She had called ahead, so he was allowed through with little trouble. When he walked into the large photo studio, he saw it had been set as lavish living room. A woman was dressed in black lingerie and strappy high heels, a silk scarf draped between her fingers. He recognized her from the magazines and the threatening photos in the file. Supermodel Iris West. As Barry stepped closer to the photographer, she threw him an assessing look, her smile sultry.

“All right, you can take a break. I want to check a couple things,” the photographer called out, and Iris rose slowly to her feet.

To Barry’s surprise, she approached. “You’re an odd one, showing up in a suit. You must be new. Sent over by the agency?” she asked.

A little surprised Linda had told Iris he was coming, given what she’d said about her reluctance to work with a bodyguard, he nodded. “I am,” he answered, keeping his eyes locked on her face. He recognized her from her photos, of course, but she was even more beautiful in person. Dressed in nothing but lingerie, she was irresistible. Shoving his hands in the pockets of his suit jacket, he reminded himself to remain professional. “If you have a few moments, we should talk.”

“I have a better idea. Might as well cut to the chase.” She paused, flashing a smile. “At least you’re cute.”

“What do you –” he began, but before he could say anything else, she leapt into his arms. Acting on instinct, he wrapped his arms around her, bracing a palm against the small of her back as she wrapped her legs around his hips. Locking her ankles behind him, she grabbed his tie in her fist and pulled him in for a searing kiss.

#temptation #westallen #barry allen #iris west #fanfiction #my fanfiction #supermodel au #bodyguard au

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star-villager · 4 years

Text

Ezra: Month 1 of Animal Crossing New Horizons!

Hello all! I’m here to tell my journey of the first month of New Horizons on Cillia Island!

There’ll be lots of pictures! I hope you enjoy! Future updates will probably be daily because this is... long at first... but I promise it slows down!

This post covers 32 days (skipping a few). It is indented to be a fun, long, read! I’ll say it’s a 10-15 minute read just to be on the longer side!

-Ezra; Island Resident Representative; Local Island Decorator; Mayor of Cillia (if it had a mayor hehe!)

Thursday, March 19th, 4pm -7GMT. The virus is present, but just starting. I have been home for not even 24 hours of my job that was supposed to keep me out of town all March. I make a phone call to a local Gamestop, asking if they’re still open, and how the midnight release of Animal Crossing is going to work. The worker tells me I can go pick it up right then, because they’re going to be closing early and had JUST gotten a phone call from corporate that they could give it out early - you can assume what I did /immediately/ after lol.

~~~

Starting was incredibly easy! I’ve had my dead name as my New Leaf Mayor forever, and I loved that city name so Ezra and Cillia it was! And we began! My starting villagers were Cherry and Roald with Cherry Trees (fitting!), and I said I wasn’t gonna restart no matter what... so here we go!

I picked a town that had a West Beach River Mouth as well as a South River Mouth - which matched my town in New Leaf! (The south exit, and the flow of the river - but the west exit would be where my original upper waterfall was so the shape was the same). Picked northern hemisphere (where I am). And placed my house right in a river bend (with the initial plan to section me off into my own island within an island!). Cherry and Roald’s homes were placed along the west-running river right at the top, with not much effort or forethought. Not that it was a bad thing! I knew they wouldn’t be permanent villagers, but wanted to give them some beautiful scenery while they were here.

I can definitely tell that I’m still acting and thinking like a mayor even thought I’m only an island rep. ... this doesn’t change bwahaha!

Day 1 March 19th, was all setup and prep for our REAL day 1! Blathers already was about to have a decent encyclopedia, and I was getting nook miles left and right - already expecting a house instead of a tent the next day. I wasn’t too surprised, I’ve done this song and dance before, and I’m just here to have a great time in my island paradise! Getting Blathers was definitely my highest priority!

Day 2 March 20th, was... difficult... giving 15 things to Blathers one at a time and finding 30 iron for the Nooklings was excruciating lol - but getting fossils and a pole vault to absolutely DECIMATE the weed ecosystem filled me with a glee that I’m sure you can understand. I managed to upgrade my house, get Blathers and Nooks Cranny all in one day *whew*. Now, time to have some fun!

I build my first QR code which was a cool outfit I called PRIDE Coat! It is a black coat with drawstrings and pockets on the front - a lil’ trans flag on the left arm, a bi flag on the right arm, and my (pretty decent!) attempt at a rainbow of paint (in the gay flag colors) falling down my back! And I made an Iwatobi Swim Club Beanie to match the one I wear every day!!

I then played with my Passport a bit to have my title be “Future Fish” which is Free! Eternal Summer (the second season’s) Ending Song!!!! Which I thought was SUPER cute and VERY me. (It’s my second fave anime. I plan on making a Reigisa outfit in the future!!).

Already by the end of Day 2 I had my hair customization options, the tool wheel, and the DIY that I needed to buy. Everything Nook was offering I managed to get my grubby little day 2 hands on! So you KNOW my hair went to pink pigtails IMMEDIATELY. And took /many/ photos. But since my outfits are all the same just imagine the ones you just saw but with pink instead of blonde!

With that it was time to get my 3 villagers that would accompany Cherry and Roald (This correlates to getting the iron for Nooklings!) I wanted to grab the first 3 villagers that I saw just to try some new friends this go around - as I had already planned on making my New Leaf family my permies! So my first three were Ketchup (nice!), Hornsby (Aww!!), and... GALA!?!?

Well how convenient! That was one permie immediately out of the way!! Welcome back, Gala!!! So excited to have you on the island!

Then I caught an Oarfish and saw *GASP* WISP!!!! To which, I immediately ran up to him and demanded he bring my girlfriend, Cece the Squirrel, to the island. He, instead, got spooked, had me collect his spirit, and offered me items. *sigh* Ok - can’t get Cece that way - so I decided to sleep!

How naive I was...

Day 3 March 21st, was both good and bad! I had access to Nooklings, but that was about it. Blathers was getting a crowded amount of critters outside his roped off building, but it would be all worth it, tomorrow. But!! I found my first spider island! Which I sold off to Nooklings and happily went to sleep!

Day 4 March 22nd, had SO MUCH to offer! Blathers, Daisy Mae, Harvy, WHEW. Pretty sure I had a visit from Gulliver either today or yesterday, too! Nothing could POSSIBLY ruin this day!!

Oh how wrong.

How so terribly wrong I was.

Animal Crossing New Horizons is an incredible game that lets you invite so many villagers to your island!

All of them. But 14.

14 Villagers from New Leaf are not available. The Sanrio Characters. And the Amiibo Characters.

No Felyne. No Ganon, Epona, Medli, or W. Link. No Viche or Inkwell. No Rilla, Chai, Morty, or Etoille.

No Toby.

No Chelsea.

...

No Cece.

...

To say that I was devastated would be an understatement. I was absolutely crushed. Not only were 3 of my permies out, but the one villager I couldn’t live without, wasn’t allowed in the game. She didn’t even get a poster.

So I did what any crushed lover would do, and made a memoir to her.

And it started raining. Poetic. (I was only cheered up slightly when I got to catch a Coelacanth!) I didn’t do this until much later (April 4th) but for the sake of not talking about her too much, I would open New Leaf and wrote her a goodbye love letter, which, honestly, makes me tear up whenever I read it.

And I went to sleep.

I have nothing for Day 5 other than scanning all my amiibo cards for the POSTERS which are UNDOUBTEDLY my FAVORITE new feature in the game!!

Day 6, March 24th, GALA MOVED IN! I was so excited, and it was definitely needed. My best friend also came over and we goofed off and we met each other’s villagers! Then I went to an island tour and got A PANSY HYBRID ISLAND!!!! OOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I went crazy. Absolutely destroyed that ecosystem. I went full feral. MINE. ALL MINE!!!

And I caught my first Sturgeon!! Which was awesome because I only had the rare fish left in my March collection! Trying to get a Golden Trout, I made many many fish bait, and got the 200 clam achievement! Which was exciting because that unlocked “Mermaid” for titles!! I doubt I’ll change from Future Fish, but Mermaid would be a second pick!

For Day 7 I went to a good friend’s village and desperately tried to make Chiyuki Fujito’s blue dress from Runway de Waratte... it didn’t work... but I like the attempt! (Will send pics in messenger if you’re curious!).

Day 8, March 26th, was the day ISABELLE WAS HERE!!! Welcome to your island paradise, QUEEN. I definitely dressed for the part ;)

This, of course, opened up tunes and flag options! Flag was incredibly easy. It’s going to stay my picture of Cece until she’s added back into the game (which will probably be never, so...)

The tunes was much harder for me. But since I couldn’t think of anything else I made it “SO. NO. CHI. NO. SA. DA. ME.” from the first Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Opening (which is, ironically, what is playing as I type this... SO NO CHI NO SA DA ME <- was written in time with the music playing. Incredible.) It’s definitely not going to be that forever, but for now it makes me giggle!

Nothing for Day 9 except for a SICK tarantula island :) love those furry babes! I also built my campsite! Tomorrow was going to be big!! Who on Earth was going to move in!?

Day 10, March 28th, now, I have what I like to call “chaotic luck”. I’ll catch the bus, but my gosh did I almost miss it. I was absolutely positive I failed that test, and I did, but the question I messed up doesn’t count and I passed! Cece isn’t in the game but do you know who’s at my campsite??

OFFICE

HETEROCHROMIA

TSUNDERE

TRANS

CAT

EXTRAORDINAIRE

RAAAAAAAAAAAYMOND!!!!

Can you even imagine my face??? Can you IMAGINE the jaw drop?? I moved him next to me IMMEDIATELY.

Day 12, March 30th, I saw kicks for the first time!!! Love that funky newsie skunk!

Day 13, March 31st, I saw Flick for the first time!!! Went on a mad tarantula hunt and made BANK. Fun story, I thought both Flick and C.J. were girls, so when I learned Flick was a boy I was really upset because I thought a canon gay ship was now straight, but WHOOPS they’re BOTH boys! 😎 Nice.

I also saw Celeste for the first time!!! Gosh how I missed her!! I actually sat and got all 200 stars in one night, just because of how much I like wishing on falling stars!!!

Day 14, April 1st, The Nightmare Begins. Love him or Hate him, Zipper was here. I won’t go on about the eggs. Everyone talks about the eggs. They sucked, fishing was a nightmare, not a big fan. I would end up not getting all the sakura DIYs which was very upsetting (but I’ll just get them next year). In INCREDIBLE news I got a golden trout!!! Which was the last thing I needed in my March encyclopedia - and it was on to April hunting! Every night thing I could get, I did! So I decided to set up my last 4 houses, and focus on getting K.K. Slider finally to my island!

The first house sold naturally to Pecan! NICE! I love squirrels so much! She was very welcome!

Day 15, April 2nd, in the interest in getting new villagers, I went on a tour and there she was: MERENGUE! She’s, truthfully, not a favorite of mine. She’s SO cute, but not someone I wanted permanently. However, she’s my other best friend’s FAVORITE and she doesn’t have a switch. So, there was NO WAY I wasn’t taking Merengue onto my island. I haven’t sent my friend pics, yet, but I hope I can soon!! She’s gonna be so happy!

Today was the first day I met C.J. which... stunning. Absolutely jaw dropping. I’m SMITTEN with a TAKEN BEAVER. He calls me fashionista. Asks about my anglersona. Takes selfies of/with me. He’s truly the ideal. I’d invite him back any day!

Over the next 3 days, Freya and Bruce move in as my last 2 villagers giving us a grand starting total of: Cherry, Roald, Ketchup, Hornsby, Gala, Raymond, Pecan, Merengue, Freya, and Bruce! Not bad not bad!

Day 19, April 6th, THE BEST GIRL IS HEEERE. LABEL CAME TO MY TOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME. I might have cried, honestly. I cannot believe someone that incredible would want to come to my island. She asked for me to give her an official look. Are you kidding me? Easy breezy. For my perfect outfit she rewarded me a Label Hat. Oh? DESIGNER? I was awestruck. The design was IMPECCABLE. The flavor was IMMACULATE.

One of my villagers also happened to gift me a Pink SPRITE COSTUME??? I, honestly, have never been more in love with an outfit in my entire life??? A pink Peter Pan outfit??? LEGENDARY.

Day 20, April 7th, I don’t quite remember what day K.K. Slider visited the island when I hit my 3 star rating - so we’ll say it was today lol. That meant ISLAND EDITING, but I didn’t know what to do, yet, so I didn’t worry too much about it!

Label’s hat came in MORE COLORS in the store today. YOU BET I bought all of them. The talent. But this meant that I had a pink hat to match my pink sprite costume and you bet I was LIVING my best life. I had also finished the Anklyosaurus which is my FAVORITE dinosaur so I was LIVING it up.

Later, Ketchup would approach me and ask to move. I was happy for her to explore new lands and bid her farewell, and gave her a sweet goodbye. With that, it was hunting time, and I found the perfect villager that would set everything in motion.

Day 22, April 9th, Label VISITS AGAIN!!!!!! Unfortunately, she asked for a sporty look, which I couldn’t pull off perfectly :/ So no new item from her... but my OUTFIT WAS FIRE AND WE WERE MAD CUTE TOGETHER.

Day 23, April 10th, the villager has moved in, the cryptid gyroid herself, COCO!!!

And her moving in gave me a BRILLIANT idea. I’d like to keep it under wraps for now, but I’m so, so, SO happy she’s here!

Day 24, April 11th, The Fishing Tourney. The Summer tourney will be significantly easier for me, now that I know you can double your points by fishing with someone else, but it took me HOURS to collect all the clams and get to 300 points. It wasn’t really worth it, but I love fish so much so I wasn’t going to miss a SINGLE thing. I got that gold trophy and I’m SO proud of myself.

Also my fishing outfit could slay for MILES

Straight Fire.

Day 25, April 12th, With a golden trophy in hand and the last day of eggies, I was feeling really confident. I had the means and the idea to change cliffs + water for a couple days and just... made what my brain came up with! I’ll keep this vague for now, because I’m really excited about the final results! Just know that everyday I edit a little bit more and come up with more ideas!

Day 26, April 13th, Happy Homestuck, Neil Bangs out the Tunes, and Thomas Sanders goes to the Wedding Day!! And it did NOT disappoint. Label for A 3RD TIME!!! She must like me as much as I like her >w<!! Today she gave out her cap!!! It’s, honestly, not my thing, I’d rather stick with the brim hats, but I do think they’re cute!! So I would buy them all the next day! The Able Sister’s haul on Day 27 was oh my gosh amazing!!! They had the cap, of course, but they also had THE OTHER SPRITE COSTUMES!! Which I bought all of them. And now I wear, near exclusively, this outfit in 5 different colors bwahaha!

Day 30, April 17th, I got my first golden item!!! The slingshot! Nice! Over the past few days, I’ve just been designing, moving houses, and building ramps! Learning new myth debunks, stuff like that!

I was also blessed with 3 encounters :OOOO I didn’t know this was even POSSIBLE!?

Day 31, April 18th, Disaster Strikes. I’ve been moving so many homes that I didn’t consider that a villager couldn’t move in because you were already doing a home thing for the day. So when I went to invite camper Gonzo to my town he declined!? I was devastated. He was SO cute and I thought he could move into Bruce’s house to keep the peace of personalities! I think he’s someone in the future who I’ll ask for a poster of or ask for an amiibo card of! I know I’m going to check the campsite first before moving any buildings from here on out! D’:

And that brings us to today,

Day 32, April 19th, one month from the day I started. I’ve been having the TIME of my life! There’s definitely been some ups and downs, but I have a goal in mind and it’s keeping me so focused! I organized an entire flower field today!! Due to a turnip mishap, I happen to be 2 days ahead of everyone, but I have been good about time traveling other than that. This means that I am fortunate enough to get my Nooklings upgrade 2 days early and they’ll be open tomorrow!!! I’m... I’m so excited!!! I NEED more flower seeds!!!!!!!

The future looks incredibly bright on Cillia island, and I cannot wait to hear about everyone else’s month!!

Thank you for your time. Please enjoy these random favorite photos of mine!

#Animal Crossing #ACNH #My Post #Cillia #Town of Cillia #Ezra #Island Rep Ezra #Mayor Ezra #Star-Villager #LONG #LONG POST #Animal Crossing New Horizons #Pictures #Photos #New Horizons

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buffythecomicslayer · 5 years

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Excerpt from Slayer, book 2: Chosen, by Kiersten White

The world is quiet now.

It used to be so loud. So much chatter, beating, drumming, buzzing buzzing buzzing. The buzzing of it all. It used to keep him awake at night, inescapable, like mites crawling through his veins. Sometimes he would scratch at his arms until they bled, but even the bleeding never dampened the buzzing.

Until it stopped. All the lines to and from the world, all the hungry beings clawing and sucking and pawing at it, everything cut off.

But not him. He is still here. And with everything quiet, he can finally focus. He’s powerless, which is unfortunate but temporary. Everything here is temporary. He will not be.

He strokes his arms, smooth and unscarred, so deceptively human-looking. But he is no human. And this world, this quiet world, this cut-off and free-floating world, this magic-less and empty world, this unprotected and uncontested world, this waiting world—

He will be its god, and everyone will buzz with him beneath their veins, they will breathe and bleed and live and die for him, and it will be good.

Amen.

The demon appears out of nowhere. Claws and fangs fill my sight, and every instinct screams kill. My blood sings with it, my fists clench, my vision narrows. The vulnerable points on the demon’s body practically flash like neon signs.

“Foul!” Rhys shouts. “No teleportation, Tsip! You know that.” Even while playing, Rhys can’t help but be a Watcher, shouting out both advice and corrections. He’s not wearing his glasses, which makes his face look vague and undefined. Cillian passes him, mussing Rhys’s carefully parted hair into wild curls and laughing at Rhys’s frustration.

I take a deep breath, trying to clear my head of the impulse to kill this demon I invited into our home and swore to protect. “It’s just soccer,” I whisper. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t even like soccer.”

“Football, bloody American,” Cillian sings, neatly stealing the ball from me. His shorts are far shorter than the January afternoon should permit, but he seems impervious to cold. Unlike those of us who are translucently pale at this point in winter, his skin is rich and lovely. He passes to Tsip. Tsip is a vaguely opalescent pink, shimmering in the sunlight. She paints her claws fun colors when we do manicure nights and I try desperately not to miss Artemis.

I stay rooted to the ground where I’m standing. Tsip caught me off guard, but that shouldn’t matter. I like her. And the fact that I went from trying to score a goal to plotting a dozen ways to kill my opponent in a single heartbeat is frankly terrifying. I can’t get my heart under control, can’t shake the adrenaline screaming through my veins.

“Gotta take over for the Littles. I’m out.” I wave and jog from the field. No one pays me much attention. Jade is lying on the ground in front of the goal, the worst goalkeeper ever. Rhys and Cillian are body-checking each other in increasingly flirty ways. Tsip keeps shimmering and then resolidifying as she remembers the no-teleportation rule. They’re all happy to keep going without me, unaware of my internal freak-out.

I’ve deliberately kept them unaware. Things here are going so well. I’m in charge. I can’t be the problem. So none of them know how I can’t sleep at night, how my anger is hair-trigger fast, how when I do manage to sleep, my dreams are...

Well. Bad.

They don’t need to know and I don’t let them. Except for Doug, his bright yellow skin almost nineties Day-Glo levels in the thin winter sun. Annoying emotion-sniffing demon. He watches me from our goal, his nostrils flared. I can’t lie to him the way I can to everyone else. I shake my head preemptively. I don’t want to talk about it. Not with him. Not with anyone. There’s only one person I want to talk to about it, but Leo Silvera’s not exactly available.

I do a quick sweep of the perimeter of the castle. Leo loved me. Check the woods. Leo betrayed me. Check the locks on the outbuildings. Leo saved me. Pause and just listen and look, feeling for anything pushing against my instincts. I let Leo die.

I keep walking. Leo loved me, betrayed us, saved us, and then died, and I can’t be sad without being mad or mad without feeling guilty or guilty without feeling exhausted.

Past the meadow, the tiny purple demons are taking turns pushing each other on the tree swing. That, or they’re trying to push each other off. It’s hard to tell with them. With nothing else needing my attention outside, I end up at the front stairs to the castle.

“Hey, Jessi.” I wave halfheartedly to our resident vengeance demon. She’s leading the Littles through an elaborate game of hopscotch. George Smythe, bundled up and barely able to see under a floppy knit hat, is shouting each letter as he lands on it. “G!”

“What?” Jessi snaps at me.

“E!”

“I can take over for you.” I find the Littles soothing. They might be three incredibly hyper children constantly needing snacks, entertainment, and education, but at least none of them ever randomly triggers a kill reflex in me.

“A!”

“No,” Jessi says, her voice as sweet as summer fruit. “G-E-what-comes-next...”

“O!” George course corrects, wobbling on one short leg before jumping to the required O.

“Good! Oh, you’re so clever. Priya, how are your letters coming?” Priya, a tiny moppet with shiny black hair, is crouched over her own chalk work, which looks more like Klingon than any alphabet I’m familiar with. “Very good, darling! You’re really working hard. Hold the chalk with one hand, like we talked about. Thea, love, fingers out of noses, please — that’s a dear.”

And to think, we once considered these children the entire future of the Watchers. I watch as Thea spins until she falls flat on her bottom. Actually, the future of the Watchers is pretty accurately captured here. I pat Jessi on the arm. “So, you can take the afternoon off.”

Everything sweet in Jessi’s voice turns to ice. “I said no. I don’t trust you with these three precious wonders. We have an entire day’s curriculum to get through, and we haven’t even done story time yet or finished our art projects. Are you going to do any of that with them?”

“I— I could?”

“You were going to turn on a cartoon and read while their fertile minds were filled with weeds.”

Jessi doesn’t have her powers anymore, but I’m pretty certain if she did, I would have been vengeance-demoned right into something oozing and seeping. She’s already turned away from me and back to her three charges. Her whole face is full of gentle warmth and absolute love.

“R!” George declares, hopping emphatically down on it. Jessi claps like he’s cured the common cold.

Thoroughly dismissed, I skulk up the stairs and into the castle. Jessi could at least pretend to be nice. She’s got a lot of enemies out there — vengeance is a nasty cycle — and without her powers she’s vulnerable. We took her in despite her obvious hatred for everyone over the age of ten. There was some debate, given her history, but my mom argued in her favor. It’s a little easier to forgive a vengeance demon who made it her immortal life’s work to avenge children than a vengeance demon who specialized in, say, fantasy league sports rivalries.

But Jessi’s dismissal leaves me with nothing to do. I used to have my medical center and my studies, all my little Watcher duties. Even with so few of us, the castle ran as near to Watcher traditions as we could manage. Which in retrospect was absurd, since we didn’t have a Slayer and weren’t actually doing anything Watchers should.

But now everything has changed. We lost Watchers — Wanda Wyndam-Pryce, sulking off into the sunset, good riddance. Bradford Smythe, murdered. Eve Silvera, secretly a succubus demon and murderer, smushed thanks to my actions. Artemis, off to find herself with her awful girlfriend, the thought of whom makes my jaw ache as I grind my teeth. And Leo, who didn’t warn us what his mother was (and what he was) but fought her to give us enough time to stop her from opening a new hellmouth.

And now we have a Slayer, again some more, thanks to Leo somehow returning the powers his mother stole from me. I don’t know how he did it, and it hurts too much to think about, like everything else. I spend so much of my days trying not to think, and it’s harder than it should be. I used to believe that all Slayers did was act without thinking. I was wrong, but I wish it were true. There’s so little acting and so much thinking these days.

It’s good. It’s all good. It’s good, I remind myself, over and over like a chant. Sanctuary, what we decided to turn our castle into, is just starting out, but it’s exactly what we dreamed it could be. We’ve taken in demons who had nowhere else to go. We’re keeping them safe, and ourselves safe, and we’ll keep looking for those who could benefit from the generations of knowledge and abilities we have. We’re protecting, not attacking or destroying.

Between our new demonic additions and existing Watchers, everyone has tasks and times to do them. It’s more work than anyone anticipated, keeping everyone taken care of and fed, making sure the castle runs like it should. But so far everyone is happy. Everyone is safe.

I sink down against the wall, feeling the cold of the stone radiating outward. The unpellis demon, all four gentle eyes soft and brown and hopeful, snuggles up to my side like a dog. It’s more animal than human in nature, nonverbal, and still recovering from its frequent de-skinning treatment in Sean’s demon-drug manufacturing scheme. I saved Pelly from that cellar.

I didn’t save everyone, though.

I wrap my arms around Pelly and close my eyes. Everything is exactly what we dreamed it could be. Except I feel Leo’s loss everywhere, and I miss my twin, Artemis, with a constant, physical ache.

And, worst of all, with enough time after Tsip surprised me to calm down and remind my body there’s no danger...

I still feel like killing something.

#slayer series #kiersten white #books #other media #preview

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dailyaudiobible · 4 years

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12/10/2019 DAB Transcript

Amos 1:1-3:15, Revelation 2:1-17, Psalms 129:1-8, Proverbs 29:19-20

Today is the 10th day of the December. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It's great to be here with you today. As odd as it is, three weeks from today is the end of the year. So, well done! You’ve made it this far. We can do this. We will finish strong together. We have been moving quickly through a lot of territory and talking about the different…the different books and letters that we’re reading and today is no different. In the Old Testament, we will begin the book of Amos, which is another of the minor prophets but…but thankfully we’ll camp out in Amos for a few days. And we’re in the book of Revelation in the New Testament. So, that will carry us all the way until the end of the year. So, let's talk about Amos.

Introduction to the book of Amos:

Amos, this book is likely the earliest collection of…of prophetic utterances that were written down, that are found in the Bible. Amos prophesied in the mid eighth century BC at a time when the northern and the southern kingdoms were actually experiencing peace and prosperity. The thing about Amos was he wasn't trained. Like he wasn't a trained priest, or he hadn’t been raised up for religious work. He…he seems to have been an ordinary person living, basically, the ordinary life of a shepherd and farmer. And we don't know whether he was like just a common laborer who worked on someone's farm or was a shepherd for someone or whether he owned flocks and groves, but he was certainly educated, and he was certainly aware of what was going on around him. He lived in the city of Toccoa, which was about 10 miles south of Jerusalem. So, that means he lived in the southern kingdom of Judah, but his mission was to prophesy in the northern kingdom of Israel and he probably did that just by crossing the border over into Bethel. And we’ll have to go back to the books of Samuel and Kings to remember the northern and the southern kingdoms split. So, the northern kingdom of Israel, its northernmost city would've been Dan and its southernmost city would've been Bethel. So, Amos would've crossed over the border into the northern kingdom and probably given his prophecies in Bethel because this was a major trade city and hub for idol worship in the northern kingdom. But like we just said, the northern and the southern kingdoms were experiencing peace and prosperity that they hadn't seen really since the reign of King Solomon. So, it could seem weird that God would send an ordinary person from the southern kingdom to deliver a severe message of judgment in the northern kingdom. And no doubt for Amos this would’ve been a tough mission to…to get involved in but this is what Amos was told to do. The peace and the prosperity that the kingdoms were experiencing had opened the doors for corruption, which had begun to run rampant in the society. The poor were being oppressed while greed to continue to rule the hearts of those in leadership and Amos forcefully denounces the praying upon the less fortunate, which makes social justice a major theme in the book of Amos. Amos is thousands of years old. So, it would seem like after thousands of years we would see the cycle but we’re still grappling with the same kinds of issues today and the message that we’ll find in Amos is that we are nowhere near as powerful as we think we are and God is much more powerful than we can possibly even comprehend. In fact, what Amos is making clear is that the world is God's, right? The world belongs to God. He made it. It's his not ours and He is absolutely sovereign over all people and all things. So, as we spend a few days here reading from Amos, let's consider our own path and…and wisely choose, as the apostle Peter told us, to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. And, so, we’re reading from the Common English Bible this week. Amos, chapters 1 through 2.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word and as we move into the book of Amos, we ask that You speak to us and as we continue this first part of Revelation here You, Jesus, are speaking to the churches may we as was spoken in Revelation have eyes to see and ears to hear. Come Holy Spirit we pray in the mighty name of our Savior, Jesus. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it is…it is the website, and that's where you find out what’s going on around here. And it's all things Christmas. It’s like the world itself has awakened to the fact that a Savior was born. And we should pay attention to that. I've been watching some of the, you know, like the programs, the Christmas sort of variety programs that come on. And I don't know…I noticed this in the past but maybe never more than this year. Like, wow, I’m watching network television. I’m watching people worship God openly and broadcast it through the networks and it's just a beautiful thing to see. So, it's Christmas time around here and it's Christmas time here at the Daily Audio Bible in the community here.

So, a couple of things about that. One, I talked about this yesterday. Every year we have a Christmas party around the Global Campfire because we’re virtual and we can't all get together in the same place at the same time we just roll with it. We’re a virtual community so we celebrate virtually. And, so, all during this week the lines are open for you to call in your Christmas wishes and Christmas prayers, things that you would say to the community that you've traveled with this year as we approach the holidays. And we compile all of that and then Jill and I, we share for a while and then we just kind of sit back and hear each other. It is…well...I am not a big weeping crying kind of person normally, I think I cry a lot more by myself than maybe publicly, but these Christmas parties, I…I just never get to the end of them without finding myself just in tears of gratitude. And, so, it's just a wonderful time. So, we’re taking those calls this week. The way that you do it is the same way and the same method that you would call in a prayer request like we do every day, same method. So, if you have the Daily Audio Bible app and you use that little Hotline button up the top, that's fantastic. That’s a great way to the call in a Christmas greeting or any of the phone numbers you can use as well. The only rule, because it's the prayer line, the only rule is don’t call in a holiday greeting and a prayer request combined into the same calling. This is the one time you can break that rule. And if you have something going on and need prayer for, call that in and share it, but if you also want to participate in and call in a holiday greeting, do that separately. And we’ll filter it all and figure it all out and make our Christmas party like we do every year. So, we’re doing that all this week, which means we’re doing that today.

And I’ll also remind you we have the Daily Audio Bible Christmas Box, Daily Audio Bible family Christmas for 2019 and it is full of resources that we think will be incredibly helpful, things to keep, things to give away, this is your choice. So, this new book, the God of Your Story, which is kind of the Daily Audio Bible commentary in written form in a 365-day devotional format. We have assigned hardback edition in the Christmas Box this year. Daily Audio Bible Journal 2.0, the Global Campfire candle, your choice of our DAB blend fresh roasted coffee or the boutique tea, the Daily Audio Bible Christmas ornament with our word for the year, “Maintain”, that is only available in the…the Christmas Box is in the Christmas box, a pack of 20 Christmas cards for 2019, Global Campfire pop socket, Global Campfire stickers, Global Campfire postcards. Like, it's full of resources that are just fun to unpack and choose who you’re gonna give them to or where you’re gonna put them or how you can use them. So, check that out while supplies last.

And also reminding you, the God of Your Story is…is actually honestly a good Christmas gift because it's offering the journey the path that we…that we voyage through toward transformation in our lives each year as we go through the Bible. So, it's a wonderful, wonderful way to invite those that you love into that rhythm of life. So, you know, you can get the God of Your Story separate from the Christmas Box for sure. And when you get the God of Sour Story you also have the opportunity get Sneezing Jesus or Reframe, two of my previous books. Those are five dollars ach, I mean you can buy as many of them as you want for five dollars. We’ve…we did that when we released the God of Your story but it's still going on as long as we…as long as we have supplies. And, so, as many as you want. That's…that's our cost. So, these aren’t marked up. That's what it costs. So, I mean even if they were marked up, all of these resources, these are sewn into the architecture and platform that exists to bring God's spoken word to us each and every day. So, but anyway, Sneezing Jesus and Reframe are available as well.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible as we approach the end of this year then I thank you, I thank you. I mean, I’ve said so many times that I don't know what words to use. The words gratitude, the word humility, these are all real, but they’re just smaller than I feel it's…it brings awe to me that we can do this. And, so, I thank you. And I'm in awe of this community that we’re still here and I thank you for your partnership. So, there's a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address, if that's your preference, is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or comment or, right now a holiday greeting, you can press the Hotline button in the...at the top of the app or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that is it for today. I'm Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

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boogiewrites · 6 years

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Choking On Sapphires 21

Title & Song: Stand By My Girl

Characters: Alfie Solomons x Genevieve (OFC)

Word Count: 2800+

Summary: Genevieve is a force to be reckoned with. An intelligent, independent and brutal businesswoman. She’s been intrigued by Alfie since she met him. But where will she draw the line between business and pleasure now that they are working so closely together? Alfie takes revenge into his own hands.

Warnings/Tags: Language. Fighting. Canon typical violence.

A/N: Every chapter of this story will have a song to work as the title and as a soundtrack. Chapter song is Stand By My Girl by Dan Auerbach.

Positive feedback is MUCH appreciated! Reblogs, likes and comments feed this artist to write more!

My Masterlist. (Includes Parts 1-20)

He's standing in a side room of the bakery, bottom lip thrust under his mustache, staring at the door to the main warehouse. He's alone before everyone arrives. He's called you, his men have been instructed and now he waits in the quiet hum and ambient noise of the dusty sepia-toned room. He's focused, feet firmly planted, eyes half hidden under a heavy brow. His hand twitched around his pocket watch, anxious for the time to pass so his plans would be complete.

The brother of the smart-mouthed, recently tongueless Italian man you'd murdered at The Garrison had somehow found his way to him. He'd gone into the meeting with the expectation of it being some sort of con but it never came to pass. Therefore, he seized the opportunity to con them instead.

This man wanted you dead for family, the small group of men he ran with wanted you dead because they were paid to. He tells him he was behind the failed hit on you. Alfie nods slowly as the news hits his ears, the devilish smile that came across his face would've made a man with any intelligence flinch and run. But this one, blinded by his own stupidity and revenge wouldn't see Alfie coming until the bullet from the pistol in the drawer was already embedded into his skull. He accepts their proposal, spit in hand, calm distant eyes sending the men away without a suspicion in the world as to his deceit.

So he'd invited you to the warehouse for the evening, sighting he had something he couldn't bring home with him that he wanted to show you, he'd promised it would be a big surprise. He certainly was a man of his word. Even if he had twisted them to suit his needs in this instance. You believe him, and of course, you do. You trust him.

In following through with this plan, he felt a certain line crossed within himself. He was killing more Italians, that would miff Sabini, he was deceiving you by not telling you about the plan, but he needed you to not know so the men tailing you to the bakery would believe the sudden and swift arrest of you from your car was genuine. He had them do it in a location that would allow the men to not be able to reach the warehouse before Alfie would have all the other men killed before they arrived at the same fate. He has a duplicate car pull up slightly ahead of schedule and as the men on the roof steady to aim to take you out as you enter the bakery, Alfie has his men with their own guns in the shadows finish all but one for him.

So here he sits. In the muggy warehouse, staring at the metal double doors waiting, willing his needed outcome to come forth through that door. The man who hired him sits across from him in his office, he turns his face to the other side to the phone on his desk in anticipation, ringed fingers fidgeting in his beard, eyes alert and roaming. It rings, he excuses himself with a nod, putting his feet up on his desk, fingers on his free hand twisting the chain on his glasses as he nods and grunts into the receiver.

You're in custody. You're fine but you're furious. He can hear you screaming in the background, the muffled sounds of a door thudding rhythmically, he's sure your vicious little feet are beating against it in a rage only a scorned woman knows, your hands in cuffs, the pretty dress you'd worn all askew. He informs them in his few, shadow-like words to give you the letter he'd written and make you as comfortable as possible. He hangs up the phone with a nod, hand moving smoothly to his desk drawer as the man looks down the long corridor outside of his office.

Alfie turns to see what he'd needed to carry through on the action he'd just started. Olli comes in, bringing in rum that had been promised earlier with the group's arrival.

"That the call for the kill?" the man asks, looking out towards Ollie as he walks down the long corridor.

"Preemptively, yeah, mate." he responds with a series of nods, pulling the pistol from his drawer and shooting the man in the head, point blank before he even knew what had hit him.

"Well." he sniffs. "'At's 'at, innit it?" he says with a nod, thumbing his nose. "You know what to do wif 'im." he grumbles, pulling on his coat as Olli approaches.

"Where shall I send the barrels, sir?" he asks, taking the gun from his hands.

"I 'ont fuckin' care...Timbuktu?" he says with an annoyed shrug. Grabbing his cane and heading back home to wait for your release.

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

As soon as you're out of the station doors you're reminded of how furious you are at his actions. You see Joseph holding the door open to your car as you stomp your way across the street. You stop before you bend to enter the car.

"Did you know about this plan of his, Joseph?" you ask harshly, shaking the previously balled and thrown piece of paper that holds Alfie's excuses, your body language reading hostile.

"No. Absolutely not Miss!" he shakes his head, his eyes wide and apologetic. You hadn't truly suspected him to be in on it, he'd just been available to take your anger out on. "Mr. Solomons sent me to get you as soon he returned back to your estate."

"Take me to the bastard, Joseph." you groan as you pull your dress angrily into the car with you. You sat and stewed in how mad you were the whole ride home. How could he not tell you about this plan that involved you? How could he embarrass you? To allow you to be arrested and treated in such a way? Had you let him forget who you were and what you could do? What sort of man kills to defend you, but won't impart the knowledge of the plans to do so to you?

He's sitting in a turned out chair to be facing you as you enter the dining room. He can tell by the quick trot of your feet that you've not taken to his plan well. He'd expected this and sucks his teeth, followed by a deep breath. He'd hoped you'd understand his business strategy and take it in stride as part of being involved in business together. But apparently, you'd decided to take this particularly personally. He rises from his chair, head down and waiting for the abuse that was almost guaranteed to occur.

"Alfie!" he hears you screech before the maid even finishes her greeting to you. No Mr. Solomons used in reference to business...he knew you'd taken it all entirely personally.

"In 'ere." he shouts towards the doorway, facing your wrath head-on. He hadn't expected you to come in with this level of intensity after the long drive home but rage seemed like something you were never typically short on.

"Who the fuck do you think you are Alfie Solomons?!" you shout as you appear in full revved up form to be framed by the doorway. You looked a bit worse for wear than he anticipated, his nose flinched just slightly with the feeling of guilt.

"Well ya went and answered ya own question dinnt ya sweetie?" he says, shaking his head in obvious response. He can hear your huff of breath from your side of the room as your shoulders and hips moved in an almost sultry tandem as you stalked towards him, your hands in fists at your sides and slowly rising.

"I am so far past my limit for your smart fucking mouth right now Alfie I swear to God!" you say shoving him with both hands on his shoulders, he moves back slightly.

"Geneveive, calm down, I only did it for your own good now, you can surely see that, yeah?" his face more than annoyed at you laying your hands on him. You didn't care you wanted to tackle him against the wall and choke him with his own cane.

"I don't need you to fix my problems for me, Alfie! And to not TELL ME?" you shout in his face. Your shorter form rising on your tiptoes to press into his personal space, your shoulders squared, hands itching to grab hold of him and hurt him. "It was a consequence of MY OWN actions and you have NO right to interject like this!" you're shaking with anger, embarrassment, your pride was screaming for being assaulted in such a way. You feel like such a fool to have thought that he actually thought of you as an equal. You didn't need him to fit the role of protector for you because you didn't need or want it from him.

He opens his mouth to respond but you cut him off, your hand rising to point at his chest.

"You made me look like a fucking FOOL, Alfie! Leaving me in the dark like this?! I'm not some god damned damsel that needs to be fucking saved! Then I was fucking brutalized being put into that fucking police wagon?!" you screech, your body tensing so hard you jolt with the delivery of your words. He looks you over to see the bruises and scratches and tears in your dress to back up your statement, lump in his throat growing. "You don't try to pull the wool over my eyes when I'm the fuckin' WOLF Alfie! I am not some SHEEP to blinded from the harsh realities of our world!" you scream in anger, your face tensing as you do so, hands shaking.

"It weren't nothin' like that, Gen, yeah? They was gonna try to kill you, either way, weren't they? I see now I was wrong to think you'd see it rationally and not take it so personally." he pauses to roll his eyes and take an exasperated breath. Your eyes go even wider somehow, your nostrils flared, your teeth bared.

You can't help that your hand raises back to slap him across the face. The edges of your vision are glowing red as you look at him. That smug, wide-eyed feined innocence to guilt in his defense of himself. He catches your hand by the wrist and his bottom lip disappears under his mustache, sitting under his flared nostrils that exhaled angrily at you.

"Now don't go actin' like a child on top of this fit you're throwing now, eh?" he says, his head dipping down closer to yours to speak with a hiss of anger. You have the thought to hit him with your other hand and as the impulses from your brain shoot down to your fist he reaches out to grab it before it moves, he shakes his head and glares down at you as you struggle mildly in hopes he'd just let you go. You're relieved and annoyed that he's smart enough not to. "Ya gonna go actin' like a little girl everytime I gotta do business with ya and somethin' don't go your way?" he asks with words dripping of condescendence. You don't see any reason not to push back if he's going to continue his avalanche of disrespect.

You're so angry you just elect to make a noise of frustration and butt his forehead with yours, you knock his hat off with the force. "How dare you speak to me like that." your voice is low and heavy as your brow right now, your face clearly reading hostile towards him.

"Or fuckin' what, Gen, yeah?" he asks, now more animated than he had been. He just uses his grip on your forearms to move your body and shove you away from him. "If ya go 'n hit me, yer only provin' me right, innit ya?" he asks, brushing his shirt off, leaning to reach for his hat that had hit the floor.

You don't think much in the next few seconds. Your muscle memory kicks in and you've tackled Alfie. Slamming against a side table that rested against the wall, knocking off candlesticks and vases of flowers before you take him down to the ground.

"Fuckin' hell, Genevieve!" he gruffs out as he moves to control your arms that are coming at him fast, your hands clawing at his throat to choke him. He uses his larger form to roll you over, pinning your legs down, you manage to get one arm free in the struggle, That one arm desperately grasping the ground above your head, it's met with the cold metal of a candlestick and you swing it at him like you're delivering a right hook and he moves off of you quickly, making the metal hit your tiled floor, cracking it. His eyes move to the chunk of misplaced floor your small but fierce frame has caused with the metal object. "Ya tryin' to fuckin' kill me?" he shouts, his eyes wide but a scoff still in his voice. You're already working on getting up as the object makes its impact, but he's already standing, knowing you aren't going to stop now unless he stopped you first. He knew of a knife you kept in a rather, intimate space on your body, and he knew he had to get it before you remembered you had it. This really wasn't how he'd wanted to get his hands on you.

"You don't deserve death you lying...patronizing...fucking... disappointment of a man!" you growl and pace your words with your movements, as you stand in a fighting stance. You lunge at him again, he spins and grabs you, holding your back against his chest and the constriction of your movements makes you shout and growl out in anger as he lifts your feet off the ground as you kick. "Get off me you fucking mongrel!" you shout and squirm. His forearm slips around your throat. You immediately kick the edge of the table, forcing his back with a hard thud into the wall behind him. Your hands hold a talon-like grip on his forearm, trying to force him away, causing your adrenaline to surge. Your hips are struggling against his, you feel one of his arms loosen and you aren't sure the cause of this for a moment until you feel his forearm grip even tighter around your neck. You squeak out as you feel his hand raising up your skirt. Your eyes are wide and you elect to use one of your hands, previously holding his arm back from restricting your air too much with, against his hand that was now grasping at your inner thighs. Your feet kick back and try to hit him but you're met with the stone of the wall behind him, you hit his legs and this proves to not be enough to deter him. You rasp out his name in hopes to appeal to his emotions, as your nails scratch up the back of his hand as it clumsily searches the apex of your thighs. If your face hadn't been red from the forearm against your throat it would have been now in a mix of intense vulnerability and another wave of rage. You gasp and realize what he's going after too late. His fingers tug the leather strap that sits high up your thigh and hip. You don't have time to dwell on the thought long of figuring out when he'd seen your thigh strap before. You feel the cold metal of his rings, the scratch of the sharp bits of the filigree surrounding the gemstones as his fingers slide in the crease of your squirming thighs, he tugs out the small switchblade-style knife.

You growl at him again, pushing one of your feet against his inner thigh, bringing your hips up enough to kick back and hit him in the general area of his balls. Which was good enough for you as he lets you go. He's doubled over, face just as red as yours, both gasping for breath. You grab his wrist and yank his hand that holds the knife away from him, taking it from him.

"You ever do business that involves me again without consulting me on it and I might just fucking kill you next time!" you shout, pointing at him with the knife still open. His screwed up expression looks to you as he reaches over to hold himself up on the edge of the table. He rests his weight on his elbows, watching you as the plethora of emotions you were feeling plays across your face. You disappear in the direction of your wing, hiding your face before the tears that were in your eyes fell. He knows better than to chase you for any reason he may have, so he groans and shuffles his way back to his room.

Pt 22 You Should Be Glad You’ve Got A Man

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nyrator · 4 years

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the story of the Ryuutama campaign of Kresna we started a few months agoo

okay so

Ryuutama, that game with that character Sagi I drew? Well, it be finished~

And mannnn, what a fantastic game from start to finish. I’m not going to lie, I’ll be honest- tabletop games aren’t for me, I think. I’m pretty terrible at roleplay, honestly- maybe if I had the right character? But either way, yeah.

Kresna provided a game that someone like me, who doesn’t really enjoy these games, really, really enjoyed. He is a fantastic GM, I mean absolutely stellar- and not just saying that because he’s my boyfriend/best friend, he’s got talent, I mean it.

So, campaign was basically four adventurers (Sider, Lord Simon Darquias, Sully, and Sagi, the “S” team) meeting up in a port town to deliver mail in a land that’s enjoyed peace ever since the great King of Palatora ended the war and spread kindness throughout the land. Two nations are Palatora and Ryder. Sider, a countryboy and chef for a Count from a Honeyhollow, has a letter to deliver to the King of Ryder, and ends up meeting with a Noble, Lord Simon Darquias (the best character), a flamboyant above-it-all general from Ryder who is meant to accompany him to the kingdom, master of dramatic poses and introductions, slamming his sword into the ground as he states his title- until a city guard has to remind him not to brandish his weapon. This happens multiple times.

While they meet, a young scholar named Sully, a hunter who left her home to journey like her great-grandfather and to prove herself to her family as responsible, runs into the two, and she’s offering her map skills to assist- in exchange for travelling with them, she gets to fill out her map. They end up going to the post office, where they’re told it’d be faster to deliver their message to the King of Ryder on their own. But if they’re doing that, to bring the post with them, as adventurers going to other towns is how mail gets delivered in these parts. Plus, they get paid, which of course, draws the interest of the merchant calling himself Sagi (that’s me!), who worms his way into the party (flattering Lord Darquias) and thus our motley crew is born, and spend the night together (with Sider sleeping outside, with Sagi’s Sheep of Golden Fleece).

So they travel through Palatora, complaining about Sagi’s Sheep (who he wants to sell, but is in general a loud and ill-behaved pack animal) and the joys of other party members having to rope it, crossing streams, they run into a couple camping who are delivering map in the opposite direction- telling them that the King of Palatora seems to have fallen ill, and his son is starting to form forces for some reason. After spending the night with this couple, they get to the post office and take on another mail job to the capital of Palatora, which warns the party of demihumans and nekogoblins. Lord Darquias, master of of many talents, including signing his name, tries to sign the contract for the mail but is beaten to it by Sully, of course. All enjoy a fine meal too that evening, sans the cheap Sagi of course, which benefits them later on.

Of course, after sleeping at an inn, the Sheep goes missing- having chewed through the rope, though Sider, having formed a bit of a bond with the Sheep, manages to find it. Lord Darquias, meanwhile, manages to get himself covered in wine, somehow, while already being covered in mud and ink as well. The party travels through rainy hills, all having their own ways to travel down a large slope (though Sully’s attempts at shield surfing were not successful...), and eventually come across an old abandoned house.

Taking shelter from a big storm, the party resides there- Sully goes to collect firewood, but doesn’t return, causing Sider and Lord Darquias to search for her, while Sagi stays at the house should she return. The search yields no results, and so they return to the house- except Sagi has now also disappeared, leaving only the Sheep.

The two search the attic to no avail- except the door locks them in. They manage to escape through the window, and discover a cellar entrance with a broken lock- there, they find Sagi and Sully, tied up in the basement. Nekogoblins did it- and are now trying to rob the Sheep, and thus, the party attacks. Except, the nekogoblins eventually run away in fear... from a zombie right behind the party, leading to another battle.

The party, now in a place cleared of enemies, decides to cook (but fail), camp (also fail), and rest for the night. While everyone else collapsed on the floor to sleep, Sagi chose to sleep in the single bed available.

The next morning they head out towards the capital, after Lord Darquias manages to impressively stab his foot after doing one of his poses, while Sagi tends to be attacked by his sheep again (the sheep does a lot of damage to people during travel). They still end up making it to the capital, where Lord Darquias makes another grand introduction, sans sword this time, starting to learn that throwing his sword everywhere is becoming a bad idea. The guard, exhausted by him, just hands him a map and lets the party in.

The city is intricate- One needs a map to explore it, and Lord Darquias is probably not the best one to handle a map- him trying to find the post office left Sully feeling dead inside, and she made sure to immediately find another map for herself. Sider makes sure to deliver the mail before Lord Darquias even has a chance to open his mouth again, and the party is paid.

While at the post office, the party also learns of a festival going on- a Festival of the Hunt. Lord Darquias is enamored by the poster of the man towering before slain monsters, but after teasing from Sider, sticks his nose up and declines such an event.

Afterwards, the party decides to explore the city a bit and split up- Sagi and Sully explore the fountain area, while Sider and Lord Darquias head off to buy some general wares (where Lord Darquias buys a beautiful azure windbreaker as a cape- the salespeople sold him well)

Meanwhile, Sagi gets involved with a gambler- Betting money on a game of dice, called Down to One. The man gives him a free game to try it out at first, and then they gamble for real- First one to roll a 1 wins, with the dealer going first. And of course, Sagi loses both games, lost some money, and lost some pride having lost said money to a gamble, but fair’s fair, after all, as the gambler disappears into the crowd. Sully consoles him with a portrait she drew of his face so Sagi can have his revenge and try to earn his money back another way- and boy, did she crit that drawing roll, a perfect portrait of the gambler.

Anyway, the two groups meet back up, and then decide to go to the guild for the hunt afterall. Sider and Lord Darquias have been having a rivalry going on for a bit- even arguing who signs them up for the Hunt first (Sider wins). The party’s healed, and the hunt begins.

Sider and Lord Darquias first compete for cheers from the crowd- Sider doesn’t receive any, while Lord Darquias receives some cheers- the people love a good show. The party first encounters some boars- two small and one large, before fighting two wolves, all while Lord Darquias tries to gain morale from the crowd- before finding a chicken roaming the battlefield. Huh. Sully tries but fails to grab it, but Sagi succeeds- using it as bait to tease a wolf (but tossing it to safety while attacking), and the party beats the wolves, but not without major struggle.

There’s one more enemy left to fight the weakened party- a giant bear. By some freaking miracle, the party defeats the bear. Don’t ask me how. Bloodied and exhausted, the party receive tons of cheers from the crowd, fill out a bunch of paperwork for their victory, and get a well-deserved bath and rest.

The next day, after winning the hunt, the party is invited to the Prince’s Ball. After splitting up again and doing a bit of shopping, the party go to the castle and end up in a strange meeting with the Prince- Lord Darquias of Ryder is sure to give a fine introduction of himself, despite all the tensions in the air lately, and the Prince speaks and congratulates the party.

After going to the castle’s private chambers for the night, they are confronted by a royal retainer- Anabelle. She tells us of a devious plot- a plot to kill the good King. And not only that- to frame someone for his murder. Who? Someone from the Kingdom of Ryder, Lord Darquias. Because the darned fool just can’t stop announcing his freaking name everywhere he goes, he’s the perfect scapegoat.

The King is being murdered tonight, and the party has to escape. Anabelle is a part of a small group of retainers against this treason, and so is helping the party escape, giving them clothes of retainers (and Lord Darquias a female outfit, to boot- two male and two female outfits), and so the party ready themselves to escape to the sewers in the dead of night.

Sider and Lord Darquias manage to talk their way past the first set of guards, but another guard lies waiting in front of the sewer exit- and with the Sheep, it’s even harder to explain. So, using Sider’s magic to summon a pile of leaves, the party creates a fire as a distraction. Classic, classic arson, the solution for everything. Anyway, they convince the guard to break down the door- the sewer leads to water for the fire, after all, and as he runs to put it out, the party runs into the sewers, abandoning their retainer garb and travel through a maze of sewers, into the river, with the mountains of Ryder seen in the distance (cue Lord Darquias pose)

As they continue on the run as accused criminals, the party crosses a rickety bridge thanks to the help of Sully and her useful rope. Sagi and his Sheep couldn’t cross the bridge, though, but still make it across a different path. Finding another house to take shelter in- before being attacked by bandits, no doubt in part thanks to Lord Darquias’ idiocy in handling the situation.

After beating the bandits, a few escape, with the defeated ones tied up. The group end up spending the night inside this house- but of course, in the middle of the night, the bandits return- this time, with friends, to take back the people we captured. There were two groups- a large group of bandits, with the leader riding on a FREAKING GRIFFON bursting through the door to block the exit.

Instead of fighting, Sully ends up giving them money- 1,000 gold, as a matter of fact, in agreement that they can take their friends and the money and we can leave. The boss accepts this agreement, and the party is saved from having to fight an army and a freaking griffon. Really clever moves, Sully, no one saw that coming and we were expected to be captured.

Anyway, the party continues, foraging for foods, travelling through a swamp- mushrooms and herbs all around. Everyone debates trying the mysterious herbs and mushroms, and so Sagi ends up trying one of each, taking a few for the road to see if he can pawn them off (he can’t).

After the swamp was a small town, where they discover the herbs are white night chrysanthemums and are good, while the mushrooms are... bad. Huuuh.

After some general buying and selling, the party spends the night here, with Sully insisting to refer Lord Darquias as... Simon. And thus, Simon had to adapt to not declaring his name everywhere he went, and to start learning to get off his high horse.

Oh yeah, and of course, Sagi gets very sick thanks to the mushroom, whoops.

Of course, next morning, sheep’s missing again, but Sully tracks it down. Sider, after many unsuccessful attempts in the past, finally cooks a decent meal, and Sagi is healed from the sickness.

The group continues their travels, going through a desert towards Ryder, when they see a merchant travelling on a carriage, who they decide to ask for a ride to the kingdom. Except, they recognize this merchant- At least, Sagi and Sully do.

So, it turns out, this guy is named Marcus- the gambler from the capital of Palatora. And he doesn’t seem to recognize the party, but boy do they recognize him. And of course, Sagi, with the portrait Sully drew, creates a convincing story of how he’s a wanted criminal, being falsely framed for a hand in the murder of the King, among other crimes (illegal gambling, domestic abuse...), and that they believe he’s innocent- but wish to travel with him to cross the border. Confused and concerned, he eventually allows the party to journey with him- for a price. They decide to gamble for it, Down to One, to see if the party rides for free.

Sagi, of course, loses immediately, before he can even roll- upsetting Sider and Simon, who at this point want to murder this man, but Sully and Sagi restrain them and agree to pay 1,250 gold to travel with him.

Sagi and Sully, who are without passports, hide in the merchant’s secret compartment hidden in the carriage, and travel across the border- Stating their business, Sider claims he’ll be done in three days, and after an inspection of the carriage, they’re allowed passage.

After journeying for a ways, they reach the capital of Ryder- their destination. Marcus invites them into a warehouse, where he’s known as “Chris”. The party is seen as favorable to the group in the warehouse, and is offered a job- to deliver a package to the palace, disguised as messengers of the 56th Battalion of the Eastern Front. 1,500 up front, 1,500 afterwards once the package is delivered. Sagi, of course, accepts this job immediately, to the concern of his party. But this way, they have access to inside the castle to deliver Sider’s note to the king as well.

The morning before the job starts, the party explores the capital- where Sagi convinces Simon to venture to a Fortune Teller- this way, Sagi doesn’t have to spend money, and they can figure out if they’ll even survive whatever mission these shady guys have planned. His fortune describes Simon as an herbalist- a man with a turbulent future, but good for a career change, leaving Simon to think. He’s also suckered in to finding out his lucky color, as well as other bits of dime and nickeling him out of money. Good times.

Sagi ends up buying some local Red Moon Wine- with the intent to peddle it later- but Sider begs him for some. Sagi agrees- for a 10% cut on all his future profits, where Sider, gleefully drunk, accepts.

The group later on meet up with Marcus (or “Chris”), acquire their uniforms, and leave the Sheep in Chris’ hands, though Sagi is sure to give the Sheep a firm rub, just in case they need to track him again later.

With Sagi carrying the package, the four enter the castle and speak with the king- stating their business, with Simon doing his best to avoid being recognized- but also a bit sad at not being recognized by the king as one of his generals at all. The party delivers the parcel, and the letter- of which Sider claims was given to him in passing, hiding his official duty. The King of Ryder reads the letter, finding out the Count of Honeyhollow is aware of tensions in the air, and wanting to arrange a meeting immediately. And so they’re sent by the King with a message to deliver to invite the Count, a trusted family member of the King, and safely bring him to meet with him. (I’m a bit fuzzy on what the letter said, my notes get sparse around this part admittedly). The king is also to make sure to cut funding to the 56th battalion for their bumbling about.

As the party leaves, with knowledge of the letter in hand, a huge explosion shakes the castle- the package was a bomb. The party has to flee from the chaos, guards chasing after them, keeping doors open and doing their best to escape the castle walls. They manage to get through the closing gates, but are stopped by two guards on the path to the meeting place with Marcus/Chris, and have to fight (one poor guard was stuck fighting a scarecrow, unfortunately for him), and knocking the guards out, the party continued their escape to the back of Marcus’ carriage.

They go riding through the night path, the chaos in the distance, throwing lanterns and whatever they can to impede the guards chasing behind them- Sagi receiving the payment owed to him, thankfully, but definitely not enough for the job he just did. The carriage comes to a halt at a northern gate (?), where the party is thrown (jumped?) from the road into the river below.

At this point, Sider’s player had decided to leave the game, and vanished in the raging current, fate unknown but presumed the worst. My notes have basically become footnotes at this point, so a lot of this is from memory, but I’ll do my bestt

Anyway, so yeah, party has now been accused of killing one King, and accidentally blown up another. Things are kinda messed up right now. The party manages to get to land, into a mushroom-y area- Simon’s world is kind of messed up right now, but in this area, be begins to study the land (as now a Noble/Healer), and Sully begins to wisen up after dealing with all these experiences, with treachery and with nobility (Hunter/Noble). Sagi remains a Merchant, though. Sagi, however, ends up splitting the money for the job (at least, the 1,500 from the latter half of the job) evenly between the three of them after all they went through, instead of keeping it for himself.

Travelling through a muddy forest, they stumble and muddy themselves, before stumbling across a den... containing a chimera. They battle the best, and honestly, it was fairly easy to kill, somehow, with Sully making sure to claim some parts of this beast. The party continues, stumbling into a small- literally- village, filled with nekogoblins. The party explores the village, does their shopping (doing their best to fit their heads into their tiny buildings), and find a shack they can all fit in to sleep into. Sully, before bed, brings the meat of the chimera through the nekogoblin village... where a meowscular chef, with a scar over one eye, proceeds to cook the meet for all the nekogoblins in the village, a downright party, where Sully and the villagers feast like never before at this wonderfully cooked chimera meat. Sagi and Simon, meanwhile, had no idea any of this was going on. Huh.

Anyway, the three continue on their journey, but after buying so many wares, Sagi feels it’s time to purchase another pack animal to journey with the party. And in a rural stable, the pack animal given to him is... a capybura. Much friendlier and easier to manage than the Sheep, but the Sheep was sure to still accompany them on their journey.

The group has options on where to go- and ultimately choose to go to the Eastern Front to have their letter delivered to the Count- still disguised in their 56th Battalion outfits, of course.

There, conditions are rather poor- the 56th battalion doesn’t recognize them, but doesn’t really care. They’re overworked and underpaid. Simon is more and more defeated by his lack of recognition- he, a highly honored general, now simply regarded as a lowly messenger. There’s also this huge guy, Doug. Dude and his friends cut in line for food, have arm wrestling competitions, real schoolyard bullies. Of course, Simon knows how to talk the trash and run his mouth- eventually declaring that he is truly Lord Simon Darquias, and he will have Doug demoted- to which no one believes or cares, except to just annoy Doug, and eventually gets destroyed in an arm wrestling competition after trying to be rational and civil about things afterwards. Sagi, unfortunately, lost the bet he placed on Simon to somehow win. He’s not very good at betting.

The two meet again outside of a shop tent, where after more trash talking, Lord Darquias gets decked in the stomach by Doug. Dude is huge and powerful. With that, they leave him alone for now, and come up with a plan- if they can’t win by force with this guy, win by brains and tell the commanding officer his rank. And so, they do just that, with his passport and badges and all- and the officer did not believe him at all and confiscated these belongings, another crushing blow to Lord Darquias’s ego.

However, soon it’s time to line up in attention- a visitor is arriving. And not just any visitor.

The King of Ryder has survived, badly injured, but survived- and with him, another man they recognized. Except this time, decked out, looking of a much higher class- Marcus. Chris. Also known as: Karmakoff. A leader in his own right (of exactly what I don’t have written down, but he’s a leader of Northern Ryder, basically). And the King, very cross, makes sure that the 56th battalion remains, and that the messengers remain- Staring the party straight in the eye, he interrogates them. Asking for what the heck is really going down.

And so, they’re honest- Their names are Lord Simon Darquias, Sully, and... Connor. They give Sagi a vile look, but Sagi rarely goes by the same name, this is just one of the few times he was actually asked for a name in the campaign, and so it still checks out. They accuse Karmakoff as the head of the operation, but are thrown into jail in the camp- placed behind bars for days and days.

Until finally, the King and Karmakoff return. With the Count of Honeyhollow, who proceeds to question our heroes as well. He believes them- their story checks out, and though saddened by Sider’s loss, he knows these are the people sent on the journey to deliver the message and end the upcoming war. But the King is still uncertain, and Karmakoff is still too trustworthy.

That’s when Sully brings out the Ace Attorney in her.

For you see, we still had that portrait, explaining him being there in our getaway. He admits to letting the party travel in his carriage, and claims that picture could have been drawn at any time after seeing his face. But Sully points out- the paper was wet and dried from the river they fell into after the carriage ride. And the ink on the paper was also wet and settled on the paper as well- Meaning, the picture had to have been drawn before they fell into the river, meaning, they met him before the carriage ride and getting locked up!

This of course caught everyone off guard, but with evidence this damning, Sully succeeds at proving our innocence (again, freaking Sully with these crazy swerve balls that Kresna has to give to her- and shout outs to Kresna for allowing this and changing the story accordingly, we were not meant to win this interrogation, or that one bandit attack earlier honestly)

And so, the King, needing more time to think, takes the paper and agrees to let them free. The Count returns to them their belongings, including Lord Darquias’ passport and badges, and they discuss how to handle Karmakoff and what to do- more evidence to find of his wrongdoing, to prove he was involved with the attack on the castle. And so the party, with the Count, journey back to the capital of Ryder to search for clues- now given badges to prove their authority when searching.

After some travelling, the party learns more about Karmakoff and how he came into power as the son of a previous offer and how he climbed the ranks. Afterwards, the Count parts ways, wanting to meet with them once evidence has been gathered.

The group explores Ryder, does general shopping- Lord Darquias acquiring herbs and such, Sagi meeting a weird lady to sell Nekogoblin staffs he acquired in the village, a very interesting lady. She also has things to sell, except, no, she doesn’t. Meanwhile, Sully also gets involved with her- and sells the chimera horn, of which she is completely smitten by. Sully promises to bring her more chimera meat should she ever come across another, as this lady loves the meat.

Sagi also finds a strange mask merchant, and decides to buy his wares with a straight face- Lord Darquias, meanwhile, is freaked out by the variety of strange and peculiar masks for sale, all with different expressions. Sagi buys a mask of Anguish, Horror, Blank Stare, Discomfort (to reflect how Lord Darquias looked at the time), and a Young Lady’s face to stand out from the rest. Lord Darquias also asks for any nicer masks, and so Sagi is given a mask of Bliss as well, because that one never sells.

Anyway, after all their shopping, the group goes to the warehouse where they received their mission- except, everything’s changed. It’s just a general store now, a farmer’s market. The three go in separately, interacting with different people- Sully talks to the shop keep to get some information, but fails to get anything. Lord Darquias speaks with a strange man obsessed with... aubergine, and learns a looot about aubergine from this guy, who seems to only care about aubergine. And so he convinces Lord Darquias to buy some, and also manages to steal Lord Darquias’ heart... somehow. Ryder is a strange, strange place. Sagi spoke with an old deaf woman, saying he was new to the area, and she thought he was a “nudist”. So of course, Sagi just reverts back to trying to sell the sheep instead, and also fails.

After receiving no information, Sagi makes one more attempt, talking to the shop keep. He pretends to look for a job selling wares, but the owner is uninterested. After a talk, about how he got this place after a job at the castle and how he got ripped off, they have a gamble, where Sagi wins his first gamble (Down to One, of course), but loses the second one for information- Where the old man gets to ask Sagi a question. He offers Sagi a smoke, and the two share a long smoke, choking Sagi a bit. Asks him what Sagi is after, why he wants to find the guy he got the shop from, and Sagi explains how he too was ripped off after doing a job for this guy, and just wants to get even. The old man tells him to wait for him at the tavern, that he’ll be there at sundown.

So, the group meet up at the tavern and wait with the Count. And wait, and wait, and wait. Until finally, it’s closing time, and the Count is very impatient. Sure enough, there’s the old man, wondering what took them so long, smoking outside of the “no smoking” tavern. Gives Sagi the keys to the warehouse and leaves, not wanting to be involved with any of this.

And so begins the infiltration to the warehouse- a stealth mission to find evidence, while not disturbing Karmakoff’s men, who are sitting around playing cards and drunk. Lord Darquias keeps an eye on them, while Sully and Sagi sneak upstairs to search for crates- After a lot of tense searching (so many close rolls), Sully finally found more explosives, and with that, we alerted the Count to bring the guards to seize the place.

The guards did just that, arresting the men who were there- one of them being the man who gave them the mission, the right hand man of Karmakoff, giving a salute with his armband on his arm, before being taken away.

And then, after a night’s rest, the final session.

The group wake up and prepare- Sully buys some armor to be safe (keeping her eyes protected with sunglasses from the gleaming bald, black forehead of the merchant), and Lord Darquias visits a fortune teller one last time- being told his future contains... lots of aubergine. Also told his lucky color for half price (except the original price was doubled), and a weather report too- she walked outside and saw it was nice and sunny. She also didn’t recognize him at all, but she never forgets a face. As soon as he left, Sully goes in and asks what his name was. She claims it was “Farquad”. Classic.

Anyway, we travel back through Ryder to discover battles are already happening- The nationalists of Karmakoff vs the normal people, all there is is confusion, no one knows why they’re fighting, there’s just fighting everywhere. The King meets with us and tells us Karmakoff’s plan- he’s going to Palatora to meet with and murder the Prince of Palatora, in the name of Ryder, and cause an international incident and die a martyr in the name of nationalism. And so we’re given 20 of the King’s best knights, and need to get through the city and stop him. Meanwhile, Sully gives the King and the Count directions to the Nekogoblin village- it’s so hard to find, that they’ll be safe there. The party makes their way through the fighting, only to come across a hefty man, also fighting anyone he sees with his bare fists... Doug.

So the party ends up fighting Doug (I thought we’d be fighting back to back against the nationalists, personally) as well as his two companions, but other than Lord Darquias getting hit pretty hard a few times, he was defeated fairly easily, and his cohorts ran away carrying him.

Arriving in a carriage, Sully drives with Sagi’s assistance, plus two of the strongest knights with us, as the other knights traveled in their own carriages. We arrive at the swamp forest near Palatora, where we continue on foot- with Sully finding their tracks on the move.

The party decides to perform a pincher manuever on the enemy group, as they still haven’t left the forest- half the knights on one side, and their group with knights on the other. Beginning the attack, they send one knight on his own to set flames to their tents- to help signal to the Prince that something’s going wrong, just like Lemony Snicket would have wanted. Meanwhile, the battle goes on, and Karmakoff tries to escape- but is halted by the flames. So, he calls for his dragon, and the final battle begins.

Sully and Karmakoff basically fought it out one-on-one, I debated getting Sagi involved given their history, but it just felt right to have it between those two. So Sagi aimed to kill the dragon first to help humiliate Karmakoff. Lots of big hits, lots of poetry- including throwing a random die and randomly bumping into it to roll it for old time’s sake of Down to One (no real reason other than for fun), and sure enough, Sully almost dies to a crit, but gets a crit back on Karmakoff, and eventually kills him. Meanwhile, Sagi and Lord Darquias fought off the dragon, Sagi had a bit of trouble hitting it, but they managed- with Lord Darquias dealing the final blow, slaying the dragon and cheering.

And with that, it was over. The Prince arrived, the King arrived, lots of talking was to be had, but our motley crew was to be regarded as heroes for what they’ve done, and given enough riches to live comfortably for life.

Days later they were rewarded, and asked what they’d do. King was blinded in one eye for life, of course, but hey, not completely our fault. Lord Darquias would live that aubergine life, open an apothecary on the mountains of Ryder, and get married to the aubergine guy. Yeah. Sagi, aka Rohan Valois, would continue to journey with the Sheep and the Capybura, making a modest living, trying to get more money by selling his journal of all the events that happened on their journey, the Story of Rohan Valois. And Sully would return home, get the horse she wanted all journey-long, and continue travelling the land, expanding her maps and visiting all the people on her journey to thank them. And who knows, maybe find another chimera for the weird Ryder buyer to eat and live happily ever after with.

AND THAT’S THE CAMPAIGN

I uh

started writing this at like, 12:40AM, and now it’s 4AM, but look, this had to be chronicled, okay?

Dude, it was such a good campaign. I can’t describe to you the variety of interesting NPCs we’ve encountered, the fun events, the good stuff, mannn. Kresna was a fantastic GM, Lord Darquias was a fantastic, hilarious character with great development, and Sully was the MVP with the whole “let’s draw a sketch of this guy” and then getting to use it in an Ace Attorney like scenario. Mannn, Sully’s player really thought outside the box, really great stuff. Also helped that Sully’s rolls were like the best early on to kill a lot of stuff. Sider’s player ended up leaving halfway unfortunately, but glad we still managed to continue on (helped that it managed to fit into the narrative fairly okay)

Sagi I felt I definitely could have played better- Originally just a merchant meant to rip people off, but I never felt really good about that, or how to play him properly beyond “try to sell the sheep and make money”, yeah. I’m very bad at roleplaying in general (especially verbally), but still, it was good fun, lots of good people. Ended up at level 6, double Merchant double Technical, with 2,400 gold at the end (before any rewards), so could’ve done better making money, but honestly that goal wasn’t that major by the time the story got rolling, mannn

And really, shout outs to Kresna, for devising the campaign, getting us all involved, and making something phenomenal. Everyone else is inspired by his campaign to make their own, and it was just so perfect, man. His writing, his NPCs and acting and dialogue for them, his on-the-fly making of stuff, mixed with his twists- We joked that the gambler would end up being the final boss, and he and a spectator friend posted logs that was basically them planning that out before the gambler was even introduced, godddddd.

I probably got some events wrong/misunderstood and probably spelled a lot of stuff wrong but hey, that’s life (it was all done in a discord call on a weekly every-other-week basis, good times). I think I got the general message across, anyway. Our team got very good rolls throughout honestly, I’m happy with how the game turned out and how every decision led somewhere interesting, basically.

Everyone remaining now wants to do their own campaigns and admittedly I feel a bit burnt out on it at the moment so not sure if I’d join them, but we shall see what the future holdsss, but yes, fun timesss now I should go to bed and rest my typing hands

#text stuffs #kresnyan~#ryuutama #long post #nyrator plays games and stuff #how do I even tag this

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tigy-the-gaymer · 4 years

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Mathematical Foundations: Card Counting Lesson Six Part 1

Mathematics of Card Counting Introduction: lo khung 2 ngay Mathematics explains in clean detail the whole lot about card counting and the sport of blackjack. Because mathematics is a machine of absolutes, your "picks" approximately when to hit or increase your guess must no longer surely involve preference. A clever card counter is a computer. They make most effective the movements that furnish them the highest possible mathematical gain. So some distance we've had a few quick discussions concerning what gain approach and how mathematical records play a position while counting, but in this section we will go into a whole lot extra element. This phase might be the most tough to apprehend, however with a touch patients I guarantee the pieces will fall into region. Because of the viable difficulty, this phase turned into written with the common reader in thoughts. Even if you have not taken a math magnificence on the grounds that high faculty, by the give up of this lesson you may have a entire information of the way arithmetic controls your income and your danger.

There are several factors you have to learn to have a whole information of the maths underneath the playing cards. First we can talk the cardboard counting use of anticipated profitor - how tons you're prevailing from an summary mathematical point of view. Then we will take blackjack out of the abstract by way of reading wellknown deviation or - what you'll really anticipate to be winning whilst you account for the guidelines of the game. Once you understand standard deviation, we can speak its implications for danger and the way to decrease this danger to the factor in which it basically does no longer exist. Finally we will find out about possibilities for exponential income.

Expected Profit In short, Expected earnings is how plenty you would win, if your winnings were best based on the chances you had in opposition to the on line casino. This is the start line for identifying how a whole lot cash you'll make counting.

In mathematical phrases predicted earnings for any unmarried blackjack hand would be as follows:

A x B = P

Advantage x Bet

Expected profit

Since we do now not know in advance of time exactly what cards you will get, it makes sense to apply averages for gain, wager, and anticipated earnings. When discussing common we could use the abbreviation "av". This changes the anticipated anticipated profit system to:

avA x avB = avP

Avg gain x Avg wager

Avg Expected Profit

Of direction you may also be playing a couple of hand, so we have to multiply your earnings for each hand you play. This offers us the final formula for card counting expected earnings:

avA x avB x H = avP

Avg Advantage x Avg Bet x Number of Hands

Avg Expected Profit

As you may see, growing any individual of the 3 numbers on the left will result in an boom to your anticipated earnings. Not only that, due to the fact they're increased, even small will increase will stack up and lead to a lot higher earnings in the long run. At first the very best manner to increase your anticipated income could be to play greater fingers. For instance, gambling 2000 palms as opposed to one thousand arms will double your anticipated profit. Over time but, the other numbers may have increasingly more of an impact. Lets say for example that you have performed a million hands. If your common bet remains the same at $a hundred, then adding half of 1 percent for your benefit ought to realistically mean an delivered predicted income of over five hundred thousand dollars.

So, now that we have a components for predicted earnings, what percentage need to you operate in region of each letter? Well it depends on numerous factors, maximum of that you have some control over. Lets communicate via them separately starting from the perfect (wide variety of arms) and running our way to the most complicated (common advantage).

Number of Hands Played After perfect counting, most blackjack professionals bear in mind this the most critical factor to making earnings. This range is also the maximum straight foreword. The greater you play the greater you are going to make. However, there are methods to growth the number of arms you play besides playing extra hours. The approaches to increase how many palms you get in according to hour are as follows:

1. Faster Dealers - Casinos and counters will have a surprising amount in common, and speedy sellers are excellent for both of them. Because anybody that isn't always counting is at a solid downside in opposition to the house, the predicted earnings equation turns into an predicted loss equation. This approach the greater hands the average gambler receives in, the extra money the on line casino makes. So in general, casinos will strive their excellent to rent and assist fast sellers. This is good news for you.

Obviously the quicker the dealer is, the greater fingers you'll get in. Most other expert blackjack gamers will tell you that this is the first component you have to search for while trying to pick which desk to play at, and I totally agree. Over the long term the rate of the dealer can have a big impact on your bankroll. It will also save you time which you can use for everything from the occasional meal to training extra blackjack.

There is however a disadvantage to a quick supplier. The drawback is that a fast dealer can make it a lot tougher to matter (counting turns into even extra hard as extra people be a part of your desk). Dealers have a quite easy task, and lots of them have been doing it for years. Because of this some dealers will deal at a lightning pace. If your counting isn't always razor sharp this will cause missed counts and definitely cast off any benefit stepping into greater arms will provide you with. When you get to a casino, try to sit down down on the desk with the quickest supplier, however in case you begin losing the remember due to their speed, the pleasant component you may do is rise up right now and discover a slower table. If this occurs, go away yourself a mental reminder to exercise counting down decks as quickly as you've got the danger.

The fastest sellers are nearly continually younger to middle elderly men. Of direction you must not assume that this may constantly be proper, so make certain to look at some different sellers to look exactly how fast they work earlier than picking a desk. Again, a fast dealer is the single most crucial component to search for once your counting is strong at a lickidy pace.

You need to also take note of whether or no longer the casino uses automatic shufflers. These have made their way into maximum current casinos as they allow dealers to spend much less time shuffling and greater time dealing. There are negative aspects to them as well, but these will only come into play whilst preforming superior strategies.

2. Less players at your desk- This is one of those things casinos and counters strongly disagree approximately. If you are counting, you need as few people gambling on the same table as you can. The much less people there are the faster hands will move. Not only will this boom the wide variety of hands you get in, but it'll additionally permit you more hands in superb counts which correctly increases your common advantage as well.

The quantity of people at your table isn't as conceivable as locating a quick provider however there are ways of controlling this all the identical. One factor you can do is to try to choose a table in which there are either the fewest humans, or the humans who've the smallest quantity of chips at the desk. Again neither of these will guarantee that greater people don't take a seat down or that the ones already at the table might not purchase-in for greater, but it's going to assist slightly. Another factor you can do once you have already sat down is to invite people coming in in the event that they might watch for the subsequent shoe to begin. For a few unknown purpose gamblers assume it's far a terrible idea to are available for the duration of a shoe. This of direction makes no experience in any way but you could use this belief on your advantage, preserving others out so you can get via more hands greater fast.

There is likewise one disadvantage to card counting with as few human beings as viable. Playing via yourself could make it a whole lot more apparent that you are counting. The digital camera operators will handiest have you to observe at that table so your having a bet patterns end up more seen. If you sense like you have been getting warmness I could propose gambling at tables with two or three other gamers. This may not have a massive impact on the variety of fingers you could play consistent with shoe and could possibly permit you to play for longer stretches of time, allowing you to get greater arms in over all.

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polishandpaperbacks · 4 years

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Hey everyone! Today on the blog I have an excerpt post from one of my favorite author’s next books, Chosen. Chosen is the second book in the series, and it takes place in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Presumably there are spoilers from the first book below this line, so don’t read on if you haven’t read Slayer. Instead, go out and buy Slayer and devour it immediately!

Nina continues to learn how to use her slayer powers against enemies old and new in this second novel in the New York Times bestselling series from Kiersten White, set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Now that Nina has turned the Watcher’s Castle into a utopia for hurt and lonely demons, she’s still waiting for the utopia part to kick in. With her sister Artemis gone and only a few people remaining at the castle—including her still-distant mother—Nina has her hands full. Plus, though she gained back her Slayer powers from Leo, they’re not feeling quite right after being held by the seriously evil succubus Eve, a.k.a. fake Watcher’s Council member and Leo’s mom. And while Nina is dealing with the darkness inside, there’s also a new threat on the outside, portended by an odd triangle symbol that seems to be popping up everywhere, in connection with Sean’s demon drug ring as well as someone a bit closer to home. Because one near-apocalypse just isn’t enough, right? The darkness always finds you. And once again, it’s coming for the Slayer.

And onto the Excerpt!

Chapter 1 1

THE DEMON APPEARS OUT OF nowhere. Claws and fangs fill my sight, and every instinct screams kill. My blood sings with it, my fists clench, my vision narrows. The vulnerable points on the demon’s body practically flash like neon signs. “Foul!” Rhys shouts. “No teleportation, Tsip! You know that.” Even while playing, Rhys can’t help but be a Watcher, shouting out both advice and corrections. He’s not wearing his glasses, which makes his face look vague and undefined. Cillian passes him, mussing Rhys’s carefully parted hair into wild curls and laughing at Rhys’s frustration. I take a deep breath, trying to clear my head of the impulse to kill this demon I invited into our home and swore to protect. “It’s just soccer,” I whisper. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t even like soccer.” “Football, bloody American,” Cillian sings, neatly stealing the ball from me. His shorts are far shorter than the January afternoon should permit, but he seems impervious to cold. Unlike those of us who are translucently pale at this point in winter, his skin is rich and lovely. He passes to Tsip. Tsip is a vaguely opalescent pink, shimmering in the sunlight. She paints her claws fun colors when we do manicure nights, and I try desperately not to miss Artemis. I stay rooted to the ground where I’m standing. Tsip caught me off guard, but that shouldn’t matter. I like her. And the fact that I went from trying to score a goal to plotting a dozen ways to kill my opponent in a single heartbeat is frankly terrifying. I can’t get my heart under control, can’t shake the adrenaline screaming through my veins. “Gotta take over for the Littles. I’m out.” I wave and jog from the field. No one pays me much attention. Jade is lying on the ground in front of the goal, the worst goalkeeper ever. Rhys and Cillian are bodychecking each other in increasingly flirty ways. Tsip keeps shimmering and then resolidifying as she remembers the no-teleportation rule. They’re all happy to keep going without me, unaware of my internal freak-out. I’ve deliberately kept them unaware. Things here are going so well. I’m in charge. I can’t be the problem. So none of them know how I can’t sleep at night, how my anger is hair-trigger fast, how when I do manage to sleep, my dreams are … Well. Bad. They don’t need to know and I don’t let them. Except for Doug, his bright yellow skin almost nineties Day-Glo levels in the thin winter sun. Annoying emotion-sniffing demon. He watches me from our goal, his nostrils flared. I can’t lie to him the way I can to everyone else. I shake my head preemptively. I don’t want to talk about it. Not with him. Not with anyone. There’s only one person I want to talk to about it, but Leo Silvera’s not exactly available. I do a quick sweep of the perimeter of the castle. Leo loved me. Check the woods. Leo betrayed me. Check the locks on the outbuildings. Leo saved me. Pause and just listen and look, feeling for anything pushing against my instincts. I let Leo die. I keep walking. Leo loved me, betrayed us, saved us, and then died, and I can’t be sad without being mad or mad without feeling guilty or guilty without feeling exhausted. Past the meadow, the tiny purple demons are taking turns pushing each other on the tree swing. That, or they’re trying to push each other off. It’s hard to tell with them. With nothing else needing my attention outside, I end up at the front stairs to the castle. “Hey, Jessi.” I wave halfheartedly to our resident vengeance demon. She’s leading the Littles through an elaborate game of hopscotch. George Smythe, bundled up and barely able to see under a floppy knit hat, is shouting each letter as he lands on it. “G!” “What?” Jessi snaps at me. “E!” “I can take over for you.” I find the Littles soothing. They might be three incredibly hyper children constantly needing snacks, entertainment, and education, but at least none of them ever randomly triggers a kill reflex in me. “A!” “No,” Jessi says, her voice as sweet as summer fruit. “G-E-what-comes-next …” “O!” George course corrects, wobbling on one short leg before jumping to the required O. “Good! Oh, you’re so clever. Priya, how are your letters coming?” Priya, a tiny moppet with shiny black hair, is crouched over her own chalk work, which looks more like Klingon than any alphabet I’m familiar with. “Very good, darling! You’re really working hard. Hold the chalk with one hand, like we talked about. Thea, love, fingers out of noses, please—that’s a dear.” And to think, we once considered these children the entire future of the Watchers. I watch as Thea spins until she falls flat on her bottom. Actually, the future of the Watchers is pretty accurately captured here. I pat Jessi on the arm. “So, you can take the afternoon off.” Everything sweet in Jessi’s voice turns to ice. “I said no. I don’t trust you with these three precious wonders. We have an entire day’s curriculum to get through, and we haven’t even done story time yet or finished our art projects. Are you going to do any of that with them?” “I—I could?” “You were going to turn on a cartoon and read while their fertile minds were filled with weeds.” Jessi doesn’t have her powers anymore, but I’m pretty certain if she did, I would have been vengeance-demoned right into something oozing and seeping. She’s already turned away from me and back to her three charges. Her whole face is full of gentle warmth and absolute love. “R!” George declares, hopping emphatically down on it. Jessi claps like he’s cured the common cold. Thoroughly dismissed, I skulk up the stairs and into the castle. Jessi could at least pretend to be nice. She’s got a lot of enemies out there—vengeance is a nasty cycle—and without her powers she’s vulnerable. We took her in despite her obvious hatred for everyone over the age of ten. There was some debate, given her history, but my mom argued in her favor. It’s a little easier to forgive a vengeance demon who made it her immortal life’s work to avenge children than a vengeance demon who specialized in, say, fantasy league sports rivalries. But Jessi’s dismissal leaves me with nothing to do. I used to have my medical center and my studies, all my little Watcher duties. Even with so few of us, the castle ran as near to Watcher traditions as we could manage. Which in retrospect was absurd, since we didn’t have a Slayer and weren’t actually doing anything Watchers should. But now everything has changed. We lost Watchers—Wanda Wyndam-Pryce, sulking off into the sunset, good riddance. Bradford Smythe, murdered. Eve Silvera, secretly a succubus demon and murderer, smushed thanks to my actions. Artemis, off to find herself with her awful girlfriend, the thought of whom makes my jaw ache as I grind my teeth. And Leo, who didn’t warn us what his mother was (and what he was) but fought her to give us enough time to stop her from opening a new hellmouth. And now we have a Slayer, again some more, thanks to Leo somehow returning the powers his mother stole from me. I don’t know how he did it, and it hurts too much to think about, like everything else. I spend so much of my days trying not to think, and it’s harder than it should be. I used to believe that all Slayers did was act without thinking. I was wrong, but I wish it were true. There’s so little acting and so much thinking these days. It’s good. It’s all good. It’s good, I remind myself, over and over like a chant. Sanctuary, what we decided to turn our castle into, is just starting out, but it’s exactly what we dreamed it could be. We’ve taken in demons who had nowhere else to go. We’re keeping them safe, and ourselves safe, and we’ll keep looking for those who could benefit from the generations of knowledge and abilities we have. We’re protecting, not attacking or destroying. Between our new demonic additions and existing Watchers, everyone has tasks and times to do them. It’s more work than anyone anticipated, keeping everyone taken care of and fed, making sure the castle runs like it should. But so far everyone is happy. Everyone is safe. I sink down against the wall, feeling the cold of the stone radiating outward. The unpellis demon, all four gentle eyes soft and brown and hopeful, snuggles up to my side like a dog. It’s more animal than human in nature, nonverbal, and still recovering from its frequent de-skinning treatment in Sean’s demon-drug manufacturing scheme. I saved Pelly from that cellar. I didn’t save everyone, though. I wrap my arms around Pelly and close my eyes. Everything is exactly what we dreamed it could be. Except I feel Leo’s loss everywhere, and I miss my twin, Artemis, with a constant, physical ache. And, worst of all, with enough time after Tsip surprised me to calm down and remind my body there’s no danger … I still feel like killing something.

_______________________________________________

And now for even better news...Chosen is on sale on January 7th!!! So go to wherever you buy your most anticipated reads and make sure Chosen is on your list. I will have a review of this one up **hopefully** within the next week or so.

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eventuallyfall-blog · 7 years

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13 envelopes

pairing: reader x lin summary: After graduating from UCLA, you would find any way to escape having to go back home. Lucky for you, your Aunt Jasmine Cephas Jones had organized a way for you to have the adventure you’d never gotten to have before. You’re ready to take her up on the offer. warnings: rpf (naturally), mentions of teen pregnancy, swearing a/n: so this chapter is the Best and y’all should appreciate it for the cutest ever tagged: @defenestrate-yourself-please @justabravelittleblogger @decayingtrash @andschuyler

(part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (part 5)

Ever since the MET, you couldn't get your mind off how it felt in comparison to the trips to outdoor theaters in LA. Envelope four held a new challenge, that much you knew. But upon seeing the three hearts drawn on it, you decided to put it off. So instead of opening it the minute you got home, you spent the next day deciding what kind of new phone to get. You hadn't had a new phone since you were sixteen – the same little first generation iPhone you'd gotten for your sixteenth birthday. It had been a nice, solidly dependent phone for the past eight years but perhaps it was beyond time you got a new one. What you settled on was a gold iPhone 6s and a plan that guaranteed you unlimited data. To your great surprise, it only cost you five hundred upfront – you'd spent more last week on a single pair of shoes. That made it easier to justify the cost of them, really.

But the fourth envelope couldn't be put off forever even as Hamilton was in the process of moving from rehearsals to previews, limiting your experience with the musical now. Pippa was insistent that you wait until the premiere to experience it and Aunt Jasmine sided with her. Which meant the fourth envelope was now heavy on your mind as you entered week two of being in New York City. Whatever it was had to be faced soon and so you sat on the bed of the room you'd been given, steadying your breath. It can't be that bad, you assured yourself.

Honey bun,

So far you've done more than you ever thought you would do, huh? You've lived with a stranger (who I bet you're already getting to know pretty well!), you've gone to the MET... and you're going to do way more. I've laid out a few adventures for you, but one adventure you've gotta try is asking someone out. Guy, girl, whatever you happen to be into, you've gotta go and ask someone out. Why?

Well, in my personal experience, just going for it and taking a leap is easy when it just concerns you. Getting on a plane with only a backpack when it's just being on your own is easy. It's easy to take a leap for a career – moving to a new city to audition for a tv show? Easy. Putting your heart on a line and taking a risk that you might get rejected? That's terrifying. Love is terrifying in that regard – you risk more than just pride when asking someone out. And you need to take that risk at least once in your life. Ask someone out – take a leap of faith. Here's to hoping it works out for you!

And if not, I've included five hundred dollars for you to take yourself out to a nice dinner anyway. Once you've completed this task, you may open envelope five. And to make sure you complete this task, Pippa's going to bother you about who you plan on asking out once you've gotten to this point.

All my love, Aunt Jas

Your heart stopped. Your aunt had to be joking. Find someone and ask them out? All because she thought it was easy to get on a plane with only a backpack and leaving behind all your electronics? You considered calling your mother and telling her you were coming home, calling the entire trip off. But then you remembered the invite to the premiere of Hamilton. At this point, you wanted to see the rest of Lin's stunning masterpiece and how it'd look when it was on the stage. According the letter, Pippa was going to ask a lot of questions about who she planned to ask out. You briefly considered simply pocketing the money and going straight to envelope five. And as angry as you were at the suggestion that you had never asked anyone out in your life, you couldn't find it in you to ignore the instructions in the letter.

Ignoring the instructions in the envelope and proceeding to envelope five without following through felt a bit like cheating. You'd followed every other instructions to the letter, so you figured what was the harm in this one? And you realized that there was someone you wanted to at least get to know better, though you'd never tell Pippa that. You had a feeling with all she pushed Lin on you she was on a mission to set the two of you up. Why, you couldn't figure out. You were certain that eventually in time it'd make sense. How, you weren't sure.

Still, you were nervous as you found yourself backstage before the evening show and wishing you'd at least also bought new jeans while Pippa had took you shopping on fifth. You felt like a disaster in the old raggedy jeans, only grateful that at least you knew your face wasn't a disaster. Suddenly a lot that could go wrong with this entered your head – he could have a girlfriend, he could be gay, he could have thought you and him were just friends. It didn't feel very brave, tapping on his shoulder to get his attention. It didn't feel brave when his dark eyes were on you, making you wonder if running was an option. “Uh, so... I was wondering if,” you said, the warmth in your cheeks making it very clear that this was a bad idea all around. But you made it this far and you'd be damned if you didn't see it through. You were stubborn like that. “If you'd, er, like to go to dinner... with me. Like... as a date.”

You could feel the heat rushing up to your cheeks yet again as he seemed to look you over – was he trying to figure out the best way to let you down? “I was hoping you'd ask me out, honestly,” he said and he actually sounded relieved to your great surprise. “I mean, I have a total lack of game so I was worried if I asked you out, I'd freak you out and you'd... not want to go out with me.”

It was like your brain short circuited. For once, you were left at a total loss of what to say. If there had been one thing you'd been good at for the past six years, it was figuring out how to say something. But now there was no wit to respond to the idea that a very cute Broadway star who wrote the most insane, genius thing you'd ever heard wanted to ask you out. “Oh,” was your brilliant response. “So... that's a yes?”

It seemed to dawn on him he never gave a yes or no answer to a yes or no question. “Oh! Yes, it's definitely a yes,” he said, causing you to smile slightly as his blush. “However, can I make a request?”

“Cool,” you managed to get out. “Yeah, of course.”

“Can it be breakfast instead? An early one, at that? My nights have gotten a little hit or miss on availability.”

Breakfast. Non traditional. “That would be nice, actually. I just got a new phone... if you'd like the number to help me break it in.”

His grin was more than encouraging. “Absolutely,” he said. “And I hate to go and kick you out after getting your number, but your aunt and Pippa will kill me if I let you see the previews before opening night so...”

Suddenly nothing in your backpack was right for the date. Everything was too casual or too formal and you suddenly needed to get a new outfit specifically for this date. The five hundred packed in the letter went straight to the new outfit. A simple dress and white converse to match – something that said “I just threw this old thing on”. At least, that's what you hoped it said. You weren't the kind of person who woke up at 4:30 am for breakfast, but it turned out Lin's schedule was as crazy hectic as Pippa's (you rarely saw her at the apartment anymore) so you would have to make some sacrifices to your sleep schedule to keep the date.

Monday was going to be exhausting for you, you could already tell as you pushed yourself out of bed and pulled the new yellow dress that complimented your skin tone nicely over your head with a big yawn. You didn't want to fuss too much – it was a ponytail and tinted moisturizer with the butter gloss from NYX in vanilla cream pie kind of date you decided. Something that made it seem like you naturally woke up beautiful with little effort.

The last date you had been on when you were on had been three years ago and went horribly when you had told the guy you didn't plan on sleeping with him. Which was at the front of your mind in worry. You were certain that Lin wasn't that kind of guy but it was still a worry. A bridge you'd cross when you get there, you decided. Besides, when you arrived at the diner and saw him you felt like your heart stopped. His shoulder length hair was up in a bun and he'd already ordered some coffee, it would seem. You slide into the other side of the booth with a bright grin. “So... hi there.”

Lin grinned upon seeing you and there it was again – your heart stuttering in instant reaction to him. All of a sudden you wondered how it was even possible he was on a date with you of all people in the world. Sure, you'd asked him out but it just didn't seem like he should have agreed to begin with. “Hi,” he said and you realized you'd missed his voice already. “So. I've been thinking about that thesis of yours.”

“Oh,” you said, a bit surprised. He was thinking about you? A Broadway star thought about you? “What were you thinking about my thesis?”

“I was thinking that you've got to let me read it,” he said, leaning forward towards you with his eyebrow quirked up. “Since Hamilton and In The Heights both revolved around representing communities of color, it'd be interesting to hear your own views on representation in media.”

“Well, they've grown a bit more refined since college,” you said with a light grin, the two of you ordering a crazy amount of food that you were certain neither of you would ever be able to finish. Which mean that at least you weren't going to be hungry for a while. “But I suppose I could let you read the baseline thoughts on the subject. Though that's just the first dissertation, actually. I had to write two. The first was for a media studies class, the second was for my creative writing class.”

“Oh, so you write too?”

You nodded, taking a sip of the coffee before slightly gagging – it was a bit strong so you poured nine packets of sugar and five creams into your coffee. “Yeah, but nothing like you do. It's just... for fun, really. I was more trying to do script doctoring back home. Or some other kind of editing job, actually. It's easier to criticize than write.”

He laughed. “Easier to criticize than write,” he repeated with a slight grin. “I'm going to use that as a retort next time someone criticizes my writing. So what was the dissertation for your creative writing class?”

“It's a great line... granted there's a lot of great lines I come up with,” you said and realizing that the sleep deprivation was definitely helping with the confidence. You supposed anything that helped you feel more on his level would help you out. “Uh, the creative writing dissertation was actually... about the world building of Harry Potter. Please, please don't laugh at what a nerd I am!”

To your great surprise, his eyes light up and his grin seemed to grow even bigger if that was even possible. “You're joking,” he said, running his hands through his hair. “Just when I couldn't think you'd get anymore amazing, you wrote a dissertation on the world building of Harry Potter! That's... that's literally the coolest anything anyone has ever done! You have to let me read that one too.”

And with that, the conversation flowed all the more easier. From the minute he geeked out over you writing a dissertation about Harry Potter, all reservations you could have possibly had melted away. He was a geek in the best possible way. Which made it easier to dive into conversations about Doctor Who, Buffy, and various bits of literature that had been required in various classes. He mentioned that he went to Wesleyan, telling you all about how it was a university in New York City. He mentioned that he grew up in New York City and how his first musical had been based off his home neighborhood of Washington Heights.

The more the two of you talked, the more time got away from the both of you. It seemed like only ten minutes had passed since the two of you got to the dinner but before long his phone was ringing. His eyes went wide as he noticed the time as well. “Shit, that's Lac,” he said as he hit answer on the phone. “Yes, I know. Time got away from me, I'm already on my way.” He hung up without letting Alex get another word in. “I'm... so sorry, I have to go.”

Lin waved the waitress over to settle the check. “It's okay,” you said even though you really wished he could stay longer. “I mean, you are starring in a big Broadway show so you're probably in high demand. It was... nice. This was very nice.”

He grinned at you. “Maybe we could do it again sometime,” he said, leaning in to press a quick kiss to your lips. You were too stunned to respond. “I'll text you later.”

#lin manuel x reader #reader x lin manuel miranda #reader x lmm #lin manuel imagine #lmm x reader #13envelopes #mywriting #it's shorter than last time #but still pretty decently long i guess #but anyway #congrats i guess #love y'all #enjoy like it whatever you wanna do #glad we're at part iv

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08/13/2021 DAB Transcript

Nehemiah 5:14-7:73, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Psalm 33:1-11, Proverbs 21:8-10

Today is the 13th day of August, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible, I’m Brian, it is wonderful as it always is to be here with you today as we take the next step forward together through the Scriptures and we find ourselves sitting in the book of Nehemiah at the moment, in the Old Testament. And, we will continue our journey today by reading chapter 5 verse 14 through 7 verse 73.

Commentary:

Alright so, as we continue our journey through the book of Nehemiah, we are getting a first, like a front row seat to an excellent picture of leadership and calling and mission and so and we’ve been working through that over the last couple of days which we continue to do today by simply observing the events that happened and Nehemiah's responses to them. And so, we did see how Nehemiah planned the whole thing out and how things moved along really, really quickly, until they didn't. And then all the obstacles of intimidation and taunting and discrediting and the threat of actual violence against the people, the inside job of the nobles taking advantage of the commoners right…right within the Israelite community. All these things we’ve watched Nehemiah deal with over the last couple of days. Today, we see a couple of things. One, we…we see an account of Nehemiah saying that he as the governor did not impose the needs of the governor, the resources that the governor needed upon the people because they were already stretched as thin as they could be. And so, essentially out of his own pocket, he cared for the needs, well his own needs as the governor which included feeding 150 people a day and so quite a few animals and cooking and resources were needed and wine and oil and all of this. And he paid for it so as not to put the burden on the people, so as not to slow down the work. So, we see that this calling, that this mission that Nehemiah is on to complete this objective of giving a wall, a secure wall around Jerusalem, nothing is making him deviate. It is such a burning thing that he's doing it for free. It's that kind of a thing, I would do this for free, I love this. This is what I'm supposed to do, well that's exactly what he's doing, only it's more than that, he's doing it for free but he’s also paying for it to happen. And so, that gives us a sense of the single minded, purposeful commitment that Nehemiah had to what he was called to do. And, he also mentions how there weren’t a bunch of houses in Jerusalem, it’s a pretty empty place and man, like he's the governor, this is the time to pick the prime real estate in the forming city. Like this, this is the time to build the legacy for generation after generation after generation in your family because you have this ground-floor opportunity, but that wasn't his calling and that wasn't his mission and so that’s not what he did and then he faced some really, really dirty politics. So, a conspiracy theory was hatched against Nehemiah and he was invited to come talk about what was going on to have a meeting in the Ono Valley and Nehemiah's response was I'm up on this wall doing good work, I’m not coming down off this wall. Like, I’m not abandoning my mission to come talk with you guys, who have only threatened and taunted us. And so, four times he does the same rejection, I’m not coming down off this wall. This is my mission. I am not coming down off this wall, to commune with you and hear garbage that is coming out of your mouth. And so, they send him an open letter so that he can become, well he’s supposed to be terribly intimidated and incredibly threatened by…by the rumor because the rumor, if it gets back to the king and the king believes it, Nehemiah is dead because the rumor that's being hatched is that Nehemiah wanted to rebuild this wall and have the temple in place and the prophets in place so that he could be declared the king and that he would be the king of Jerusalem, there was no truth in that. Nehemiah wanted to finish the wall. It wasn't trying to be the king. There was no truth in that. And he said as much, and then he redoubled his efforts to continue the work so that the people would not be discouraged or intimidated. And, then there's this prophetic utterance that Nehemiah should go into the temple because people are coming to kill him, and these prophets quote, unquote prophets had been hired by the very people doing the taunting, so that Nehemiah would flee to the temple and this would discredit him like he needed to flee there to escape some sin, some kind of thing that he had done wrong, so that he would be discredited and so that this story could start to take root and discourage the people away from Nehemiah. Nehemiah is like somebody like me, the governor doing this specific job should I…should I be on the run. And so, we see again as with every other situation that Nehemiah faces, he turns to God and actually that's how this narrative works, is it Nehemiah's explaining a lot of the situation in prayer form. That's how we find out what's going on is that he's pouring this out to God. This is where he's taking his complaint or is discouragements. He turns to God because this is his mission and he is doing this mission on behalf for God believing this is what he supposed to do and so he turns to God in these circumstances, because only God can rescue them. This is an act of service to God for God. And so, we see Nehemiah doesn't deviate. When opportunity arises, he doesn't deviate. When challenge arises, he doesn't deviate. When the progress has to be slowed down, he doesn't deviate he just moves forward slower. When they can redouble their efforts, they move faster but they don't deviate from the mission. This is where it becomes so helpful for us to consider, because all the things that Nehemiah and the people are facing as they try to rebuild the wall are the kinds of things that we face in one way or another, and they have every reason to quit. I mean, they have plenty coming against them to say that this…we just can't get this done but they don't stop and that's usually how success materializes. We don't stop we keep going until we get there because we have a burning passion inside to see the completion of whatever it is, no matter what happens.

Prayer:

And so, Father we've all felt pulled toward something in some direction. And our culture really, really pulls, even our Christian subculture pulls us toward how big and how much influence and how many people and how spread out can this be, when that's not really the normal way of things. We each have assignments. We each have missions and we each face challenges as we work toward those objectives and goals and so often, we might keep trying to endure and have stamina but this picture in Nehemiah of continually turning toward You is beautiful and necessary and so often is the missing piece in our own story. We get discouraged. We think You're not in it, we think You've abandoned us so we abandoned it. When it was just challenge, we just needed to endure. We just needed to keep moving forward. And so, come Holy Spirit into this. Reignite the things within us that have gone by the wayside that we have not completed because we gave up, but they’re still there. Come, Holy Spirit, we pray in Jesus name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, that’s the websites. It’s where you find out what is afoot, what is happening around here and so be sure to check that out. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, just push the drawer icon in the upper left-hand corner, that’ll open up a drawer and you can check everything out from there. Check out the Community section. In the community section, you'll find different links that can connect you to other listeners on social media. It can keep you informed on the things that we post and any announcements that need to be made so check that out. But also in the Community section is the Prayer Wall and that is…that is something that is always available, always there, day or night. No matter where you are in the world, no matter what is going on, you can always reach out for prayer. And, if you find yourself, I don’t know, just kind of swirling in a fog of things that keep you focused on yourself because you're in pain or because just the circumstances of life, bringing a lot of anxiety or maybe keeping you awake at night. It's profound what happens when we force ourselves to turn outward and may be away from just focusing on ourselves. We begin to focus on others realizing that we’re not the only one going through something. Maybe what we’re going through is unique, maybe nobody else in the whole world is experiencing it, but everybody, everybody is enduring something at some point. If we ever get to experience absolute perfection, it's…it's brief. We have challenges and we have to cling to the Lord, of course, but clinging to one another, knowing that we are one body, and when one part of the body hurts, we all hurt. The prayer wall is just a place to know, like, I can, yeah, I can reach out for prayer but this anxiety that I’m feeling, I can focus this energy into good by praying for my brothers and sisters who are also enduring something. And so, the Prayer Wall is always there, so check that out.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There's a link on the homepage. If you’re using the app you can press the Give button in the upper right hand corner. Or the mailing address is P.O. Box 1996 Springhill, Tennessee 37174.

And as always if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app which is the little red button up at the top and that works no matter where you are in the world as long as you have internet. Or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that's it for today, I’m Brian, I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Prayers and Encouragements:

Hello DAB, it feels nice to just be kind of more constantly in this prayer wall/prayer call, it’s just nice. This is People on the Water from Indiana and I’m calling just because I’m happy. I’m calling because I just heard Zach's message on, gosh, the 22nd of July and he just, it just, it was just nice to hear it. He was saying Psalm 42 caste your cares upon Him for He cares for you. Considering another ladies ship wrecked situation and he himself is going through a rough patch in marriage and just the way he explained that I wanted thank you Zach that was encouraging and eye-opening and just your faith to see beyond your own struggle calling in for a prayer but then also calling in to pray for someone, that's cool. So, thanks for that. Love you DAB. Bye.

Good morning DABers, John O’Conner here calling in from South Sudan, it’s been quite a while since I called in but anyway. I’m calling in to speak to a young man, 24 years old, who said his father recently passed away and he's found himself growing closer to the Lord. But then, that his struggle with loneliness which, because of some physical deformity, he found it difficult to be around people. Lord I pray for this young man. He could have easily been one of my Shawns. I speak to his heart even right now. May Your peace that passeth all understanding undergird his heart and mind. Open his eyes, spiritual eyes, that he will see that his identity is in Jesus Christ, not in some physical deformity. Father help him to understand that regardless of whatever deformities we have in this world you have brought us out in this world for a purpose. May he develop that sense of purpose and maybe pursue that purpose. Thank you for answering this prayer. Thank you for touching him, and Father, thank You for healing him in all areas of his life and elevating him so that he will understand that he is the righteousness of God in Christ. In Jesus matchless name. Amen.

Hello, DAB family this is the Disciple that He Loved in Ohio. I am calling with an update and a praise. Thank you so much for all of you who prayed for my daughter. I have a 15-year-old whose been suicidal for years. I have noticed such a change in her heart and behavior since I called and asked everyone to pray. She did make a really bad decision last week but she was repentant when I corrected her and didn’t threaten to commit suicide, which is a big step in the right direction for us. We have an appointment with a psychologist on Thursday, we really hope that he will be able to get to the root of what’s causing all these behaviors and mental health problems. I just really covet your prayers family. I just, my daughter is so lost right now. I spent my whole life teaching her about Jesus and she’s committed her life to him once as a very young child and once in a public confirmation ceremony at church when she was 12. But now she says she doesn’t even think He exists. So just pray that she would turn back to Him, that she would know who He is. I just pray for everyone out there who has kids that have wondered away from God or have mental health issues. I thank you for all of your prayers. They are working. Please keep praying for my daughter Alexis.

Greetings Brian and DAB family this is Viv. My encouragement to everyone today is that you are not here by chance. Whether you stumbled on the app or found it through a friend or got handed a DAB card, with God nothing is by chance. He wastes nothing. And we use even the worse days of our lives to His glory and to give us a testimony of His love and redemption. Susan, God’s Yellow Flower, I am rejoicing with you what an amazing answer to prayers. I’m overjoyed to hear that Keith’s tumors are gone and you’re being able to breath a little and enjoy your grandchildren. Thank you for the update. Well and how wonderful to hear James’ encouragement just after Susan’s call, to God be the glory. Father God, Lord Almighty, we thank you for these two praise reports and the countless others that are being celebrated in this community. We acknowledge that you are the giver and sustainer of life and there’s nothing to hard for you. So, as we celebrate the victories and continue to submit the needs to you, I just ask Father for Your grace over all of us. I think of Eugene and his social challenges and pray that You will encourage and surround him with love wherever he goes. Thank You for his faith in You and may You continue to strengthen him in this regard. Thank You for this community and for Brian and his faithfulness and thank You for Your grace and mercies that are new everyday. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. This is Viv, peace to all and by for now.

Hey Daily Audio Bible family it is Doctor John with a praise report. All you prayer warriors, you know, I’m calling and I say I’m a huge fan of miracles, I love miracles but mostly they’re experienced by other people, I experienced a miracle on Friday. I called you guys, I could not, literally could not see out of my right eye. It was dark and light if I looked at something really bright, I saw visuals of light coming through. I was blind in my right eye, when I called as a complication of my glaucoma surgery last Tuesday. And, I called you guys, my wife prayed over me and she had another one from our church put me on the prayer team. I laid down, two hours later I got up and my vision was back. And, I’m a medical person, I’m a doctor and I’m like, yeah that’s just a miracle. So, all of you Daily Audio Bible prayer warriors, thank you so much for those of you who called, for those of you who don’t call. It’s the majority of us that don’t call in but are still praying for everybody on the prayer line. And it makes a difference. So, if you ever feel like your prayers don’t make a difference just, I’ll tell you, they do. This is the second, absolute miracle that I have seen through prayers for me and my family. So, I was prepared to be blind. My wife was really upset and she’s like why and I said I don’t care because we are so blessed and if I lose my vision, it will be for God’s glory. You know, naked I came into the world and naked I will leave. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. And so, God is glorified through your prayers. Thank you everybody.

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