#but the image of roman with lightning powers like standing at the edge of a cliff over the ocean during a thunderstorm?? rad as HECK

[coconut-cluster]

Lexi are you making a superhero au?

....no

#maybe #kinda #not really? i think it'd be cooler if theyre like a uhhhhhh special ops team kinda thing!!! #and roman happens to have powers #like maybe lo's a genius so hes on the team as a strategist #and janus could be a people reader :0 like he talks to suspects or whatever and wheedles info out of them :00 #ask #but the image of roman with lightning powers like standing at the edge of a cliff over the ocean during a thunderstorm?? rad as HECK #Anonymous

[perseusjackson-jasongrace]

weapon? monster? child.

this was a request from ao3 for some roman jason! i hope y'all enjoy

CW: vague manipulation themes

[images have alt text]

Even wolves bow to the law.

Jason Grace wakes up with his alarm. 7:00 a.m., it blinks at him. The first thing he feels is the cool breeze that blows in from the river bordering their camp, and through the window near his bed. They put him here so he’d be the first point of protection should anything from outside try to attack. He took the position gratefully. Lowered his head in thanks and packed up the little he had. From the big warm rooms of the main house where the youngest of them slept, to the straight and narrow dormitories of their assigned cohorts.

His blue eyes, dull and wide, blink as he stares at the roof. He’s one of the luckier ones. He has a whole bunk to himself. People are scared to sleep next to him, or near him. This son of Jupiter, this child of Lupa, this being of Power. What if they shake the bunk in the night and he tears them apart with his father’s lightning.

Jason would never. He is trained better than that. He will have control of his emotions. If he doesn't, innocent people will die. He knows this. A cub got hurt once. He wasn’t allowed to eat for a week. At least not with the pack. He was too young to get food on his own. He must learn the ways of the wolves, for they are the way of the world, and the bearers of the law.

Even wolves bow to the law.

He swings his legs over the bed, and jumps down. His landing is silent. The floorboards do not even creak. They are cold though, but he is used to this. It is the second thing that wakes him up.

The routine goes like this: alarm>roof>floorboards>cold water>clothes> weapon check>breakfast>camp activities.

Everyday. Every Single Day. Always the same thing, never a deviation, never an interruption. We must be organized beings Jason , he hears Lupa in his head over and over again, f or if we are chaos we must expect to be destroyed. Chaos must not exist outside of it’s containment. That was the final lesson. Chaos doesn’t follow rules therefore it should not exist.

Jason splashes cool water on his face, stares at himself in the scratched mirror. Too many demigods looking through the same glass. He wonders if any of them want to see something different? He does. Gods he does, desperately and ungratefully.

He wants to see how blue his eyes can get. And if his hair can be messier than this buzzed golden blonde look. If his hands can be softer than the callouses he always sports. And if his skin can be more golden. Would he look more alive?

He goes to breakfast. They're serving an array of things. Jason gets oats with too much honey. He sits at the edge of a table, nearest to the exit. Some people come to sit at the same table, but they keep a distance that moving closer would not bridge. Their laughter is his curiosity, their questions are his silent answers. He agrees that Silene from cohort three should go with the blue hair ties because it matches her socks. He decides diet coke is the best of the diet cola series. He frowns when Lucian from cohort two shows off their new throwing dagger at the table.

No weapons where you eat. Lupa frowns when he brings a whittled stick to their meal. Why? Because eating is a time of truce and peace. If I bared my fangs at you while you ate how would you feel? And his little eyes had grown wide as saucers, tears filling faster than he could stop them. Yes Lupa , he had mumbled, throwing his tiny spear away. He had just wanted to show her what he could do. He would never use it on them. That was the first of many things he had made and lost. Hard labour is only accepted when it benefits someone else. Another lesson learned.

Even wolves bow to the law.

The sword slips from his grip. Before it hits the floor his other hand is grabbing it. With a low growl he starts again. Twirl, strike, counter, direction, twirl, sidestep. He gets it this time. He allows a small smile. If there was a mirror he would have seen his eyes shine a little brighter.

“Jason!” Someone calls his name from outside. He nearly flinches. With a toss of his sword it pockets as a coin and then he’s jogging towards the door.

“Hey,” He squints the sun out of his eyes, searching for his summouner against the bright morning.

Reyna, a new camper, still young but full of anger, stands in front of him. Her legs are shoulder width apart, hands on her hips. Her tattoo is so pitch black against her brown skin. A single stripe mars her arm. He wonders if her collection of lines will someday rival his. The frown creasing her dark eyebrows is securely in place.

“What’s wrong?”

“They said you have to train me today.”

“Why me?” He frowns, looking around her for older campers. It is not traditional for campers as young as him to be training new recruits. Even if he has been here longer than most demigods. Still the older ones are given duties and responsibilities like this. There is a hierarchy and it starts with the time of your birth.

“Will you teach me?” The demand sort of irks him but only because he has never been asked to do something like this and now it is just being thrown at him with no warning, or training.

He tries not to let it show on his face. He must do a good job because her own fierce expression doesn’t change, react to him. She simply stares.

“Yes,” He motions for her to follow him back into the training center. “I will teach you.”

“What do we start with?” Her excitement is starting to wage war with her anger. They are still little kids after all.

“We start with body training.” He looks her over, assessing the thinness of her arms, the way her legs sway even when she tries to stand still. As if she had been on a ship for too long and her body no longer knows what solid ground feels like.

“What?” She’s back to frowning, glaring at him. “I want to learn how to use weapons. I want to fight.”

“The first weapon is your body.” He says, moving to the center of the room where a large training mat is spread across the floor.

“No, the first weapon is the one I can get my hands on.”

“How will you use a weapon if you can’t even hold it?” He doesn't understand why she won’t follow the order of things. Train your body>wield the weapon>fight the war. That’s how it is. That’s the order.

“My mother is Bellona!” She growls. “I already know how to fight.”

He stands in front of her, considering. They are about the same height, definitely the same age, though his weight is solid, whereas she looks like she’s been eating nothing but berries and cold meats for weeks. No sustenance.

“Okay Reyna,” He raises a brow. Something thrums under his skin, increases his heart rate. He believes it’s excitement. Are his eyes glowing? “If you can lay me down in two minutes, we’ll start on weapons training right away.”

The gleam that enters her gaze, brown eyes brightening like headlights, almost makes him laugh. “Fine.” She gives him a single nod.

And then she’s sprinting towards him, teeth bared, hands clawed in front of her. She fights like it's survival. He knows something of that. He steps out of the way. Her frustration is a spark. And she is dynamite. He is there to watch the world blow up. His eyes are lightning blue.

Wolves may bow to the law. But they hunt the chaos.

#roman jason #jason grace #reyna avila ramirez arellano #jason #grace #roman!jason #pjo #hoo #pjjg fanfic

[iwrestlenow]

Many More To Die (Chapter 3)

TITLE: Many More To Die (Chapter 3)

FANDOM: Sanders Sides (Necromancer AU)

SUMMARY: Roman is now king--and not in full control of his actions. Being kept alive by Logan's magic alone, he heads into the dungeons to see the necromancer for the first time in ten years.

Logan, a little out of control himself, uses his magic to bring the Green Man to his cell, not realizing he's compelling the new king of the Kingdoms. He discovers a strange, unknow power is still actively trying to kill him, uses his powers to try and regain some control over the situation...

And discovers something impossible.

SHIPS: Logince (Logan/Roman), future Moceit (Patton/Janus) and Dukexiety (Remus/Virgil)

WARNINGS: lots of death because necromancy, slash, and more to come as I figure it out ‘cause it’s late and I’m tired. CW in this chapter for some disturbing, vaguely graphic imagery involving blood, fluids (nothing sexual, YET), and a stylized version of a panic attack as well as touch starvation. I experience some mild symptoms myself, but I will admit I haven't done much in the way of research for more extreme samples, but this chapter does feature someone that has literally never experienced human contact doing so for the first time. Ergo, their reaction is a little extreme. Just be safe, mindful, and know that I am eager to learn anything that can help me treat issues like this with the respect and accuracy they deserve.

Also, no betas, we die like men.

NOTES: This is based on the gorgeous piece of art by @gretacticdraws that can be found here. I ended up writing a ficlet for it, and then my brain got swallowed up. Breathe at me wrong, and I’ll write more…hell, who am I kidding? I’ll write more anyway because this? Is self indulgent drivel. XD

Also located at AO3 over here.

“Your Majesty! You have to stop!”

Roman remained silent as the guards trailing him called out, relentless as he stalked through the palace halls. Even as the words made him visibly flinch, cutting into him like a knife, he pressed onwards.

Your Majesty.

Because he was the king now. King Thomas Roman II—with his father (his body, he's just a body now) laying in his rooms to prepare for internment.

He could still see Remus's face...

“Remus—I can't--”

“Roman? Roman, look at me.”

“Father is...he's...”

“Dead. Our father is dead, big brother—and this is why the gods invented necromancers. Go.”

He hadn't trusted it, when his first impulse sent him bolting from the guards that dragged him away from his father's body and into the palace, everything in him screaming to find the dungeon, straining towards the necromancer. It probably wasn't his own thought, he still wasn't in control of his own body, lungs full of cool fog, mind thick and clear and so soft, so light. It seemed wrong to feel that way, heavy morning mist and the air above the clouds, atop the mountain, where not a single speck of dust or vapor could impede his vision.

He needed that, Remus to tell him, to hear someone else that wasn't in the Necromata's thrall having the same idea.

Remus pushed him further into the palace. Roman hardly needed the prompting.

“Stand aside.” he instructed as he reached the gate leading down into the dungeons. Two fully armed guards flanked the relatively small door, and neither of them moved at his command.

“With all due respect, Highness--”

“It's--” Roman's throat clogged around the words, unable to let them out despite the fact that his hands still shook from the chill of his father's skin.

“Let him pass.”

Roman glanced over his shoulder, startled by the sight of the man approaching them. He was dressed in a gentleman's bowler hat, and the black and gold cloak of an assassin, its gleaming clasp a perfect compliment to the scales that graced his otherwise handsome features.

“Lord Janus, you know--”

“How dearly I adore being flouted? Yes, of course, nothing makes me happier than having my subordinates disobey a direct order in front of the king.” Janus managed to purr through the sibilance of every word. Distractedly, Roman swore he could hear the crack of ice forming in the wake of the assassin's frigid demeanor.

The word 'king,' however, seemed to do the job. The moment it was spoken, both guards flinched, shared a look, and the one on the left moved to open the gate.

Roman descended the stairs, slowing down for the first time since he'd left the balcony. As a boy, he'd been in the cell nearest to the stairs, and in the dreams it was the same...

He was nearly to the bottom when he saw him.

He was standing in front of the bars, hands wrapped around them...and totally absent. Behind his glasses, the eyes that Roman remembered being glittering chips of ice had been swallowed up by a soft blue light that reminded him of every terrifying story he'd ever heard about the Animator with his sightless eyes, white as bone and crackling with the fury of lightning.

There was no crackle to this glow—more like the sinuous curl of flame at the edges, sweeping back against his temples, barely tinted blue and pale as moonlight.

Stopping dead, he was so consumed by the otherworldly beauty of the image he cut that he almost didn't notice the much younger man beside him—only just reaching the necromancer's shoulder with a mop of brown curls and an expression fraught with worry as he focused entirely on the...

...on Logan.

Roman forced himself to take those last few steps down, drawing the attention of the younger man. When he turned to Roman, he saw that his eyes were blue as well—but dark, vivid as the first crop of wild blueberries at the edges of the village that sat in the valley just beneath the palace.

He squinted into the shadows that blanketed the area around the stairs, the same one Roman had hidden in so long ago—and gasped, choking audibly on his own breath.

“Oh...oh, it's—it's you.”

Taken aback, Roman stilled again. “You...know me?”

“The Green Man—well, sure! Logan's told me all about you! But...what are you doing here, kiddo?”

Taking a deep breath—deep as he could manage with magic still forcing his chest to expand and contract, Roman stepped forward into the light. Almost immediately, the boy's eyes widened.

“...oh, ohhhhh, sweet baby, he didn't tell me you were the...the...”

The boy looked half ready to cry as he realized who he was speaking to, catching Roman just a little off guard with the display of empathy. A sudden, irrational urge to reach through the bars and hug the poor kid gripped him so powerfully it hurt—to hide his face in Roman's chest and protect him, to hide his face in those curls so no one could see Roman's tears in turn.

The boy's overly shining eyes hardened just as abruptly as they filled. Turning away from Roman, he laid a solid hand on Logan's shoulder.

“Logan.”

Roman opened his mouth to ask what was happening, what he was doing to Roman...

Then Logan's hand lifted, fingers unwrapping from around the bars, arm extending, and only then did Roman realize he'd closed the distance and walked straight up to the bars with no memory or awareness of even moving.

Everything in him was well past straining, was now screaming for him to take that offered hand, to plow straight through the bars and into something--

“Go on, kiddo.”

“Patton.”

“It's okay, Janny...it's okay, Your Majesty. He won't hurt you.”

The voices—Lord Janus, the boy, Patton—they sounded like they were coming from the end of a long hall, underwater.

The world was growing so quiet. Early morning dawn, cold mist, thick as soup and light as cotton.

Hold on.

He watched, from the heart of the fog bank, as his hand drifted up to mesh with Logan's—just like the dreams. That hand, those fingers, long and lean and surprisingly powerful...as familiar to him as his own name.

Do not let go.

I never have. I never will.

Roman looked from their joined hands to stare into Logan's face—no longer that of a frightened boy in pain, but lean and angular and marked by his imprisonment. Skin just too pale, cheekbones just too prominent, eyes just too shadowed.

Roman decided, with the last of his free will, that it was the most beautiful face he'd ever seen.

He breathed in, clear and deep, a breath of his own volition.

This time, the world only went dark when he closed his eyes and let go his final breath.

**********

Logan was in agony, and he didn't understand why.

It happened suddenly as the Green Man approached, followed the compulsion he'd been pushing since the moment his power had taken over. Logan had only been able to regain his senses once he'd found it and grabbed on, caught the thread of power buried deep in the Green Man's blood and marrow and replaced it with his own magic.

He'd never done this before, not really—but his magic seemed to know the way, seemed to know that this one, this death, belonged to Logan alone.

There wasn't time to wonder before everything began to burn and scream within him, demanding that he turn and run for safety.

Logan didn't listen. He pushed through it, pushed towards the sound of Patton's voice, towards the Green Man, and leaned forward just in time to draw his last gasp deep into his own lungs.

Immediately, it burned. The power in there was foreign, alien and other, too hot and too bright. It was straining towards its target, terrified of its new prison within Logan's body. He could taste lightning on the back of his tongue, lightning and knives and thick, sweet-savory blood.

...and underneath, honey mead. Fresh grass and sweet roses, sunlight and the clash of swords. Loamy earth and the clean grit of damp stone. The Green Man.

He was in so much pain, he barely felt it as he bit the inside of his own cheek and sucked, replacing the savory-sweet of the alien magic with old pennies and sour larvae. Rolling the flavor of those three across his tongue, Logan breathed through his nose...and opened his mouth.

The blue-white light spilled from his lips and slithered past the Green Man's, returning his final breath to him with a fresh thread of power to combat the one that was trying to leech away his very essence. With an icy knot in his chest to clash against the fire ravaging his nerves, he blinked his vision clear, banishing the last of the spirit-blindness from his eyes and begged the gods for aid.

The Green Man stood, eyes shut, still as the grave—then tensed and came alive, greedily sucking air into his lungs.

Something inside Logan's chest relaxed...but everything, everything still hurt like hell.

Only then, dimly, did it register that the Green Man stood before him in the red, white, and gold of the royal family's military dress.

The Green Man...oh, Shadow's Balls, the Green Man was the king's son.

“Logan? Say something, please Logan...” Patton's voice, thin and vaguely panicked.

“Easy.”

The prince—the new king—gasping and coughing, those green eyes riveted to Logan's face.

“Berry.”

Janus—that was definitely Janus, somewhere beyond Logan's vision, which was starting to narrow. It hurt, it hurt, why did it hurt? He was in pain, he was dying...he was on fire. He was being consumed and crushed--

“Logan, stop pulling.”

Blinking, Logan's vision blurred and cleared. Tears? He was...

Was he weeping? He had to be, he was struggling to breathe.

Looking around, Logan realized Patton was crying (his fault, his fault he knew somehow it was his fault) and, standing beside the new king, Janus had a hand on each of their wrists.

The prince still held Logan's hand. Janus's fingers around Logan's wrist were a barely there buzzing awareness, not even that ghost of pressure because Logan couldn't feel anything beyond the fire consuming him, concentrated...

The prince tried to take his hand back. Logan's fingers convulsed around it.

“Don't let go.”

It took Logan a full minute to realize the broken sounding whine had come from his own throat.

“Logan!”

“Patton, easy. It's fine...Your Majesty, are you all right?”

“I...yes. I am unharmed, I'm...I'm back in control.”

“Back in control?”

“Whatever killed my f—whatever killed the king, it nearly killed me, too. I have reason to believe this man saved my life.”

“This man is Necromata, and he's clearly found a way to use magic on you.”

“Which, I repeat, he used to save my life, and if we're very lucky, may yet be able to use to save F...the rightful king. Logan.”

“Don't let go...please.” Logan's breath was coming in short, shallow gasps now. He was trying to take back his hand and begging to be restrained...

Logan was dying. Logan was electrified.

“Young man—Patton--what's wrong with him?”

“I don't know, Your Majesty...Logan? Can you take a breath for me, kiddo?”

Breath. Breathing. Logan could breathe. He shut his eyes...

...two...three...four...

...hold...

...three...five...six...

Logan drew in a breath.

Held it.

Let it out.

Again.

Logan drew in a breath. At some point, he stopped fighting the grip on his hand, drifted somewhere between the present and elsewhere, the core of his power...

Breath. Berry. Breath, br...other. Berry.

He opened his eyes when it started to hurt again. The Green Man was right there, both of his hands wrapped around Logan's one. He felt boneless, but when he looked to the side, he saw Patton pressed against him, one arm around his waist, the other holding Logan's arm across his shoulders so he could support his weight.

“Hey, kiddo. You back?”

Logan could only nod, turning back to stare at the hands engulfing his. Hesitantly, he tried to plant his feet, take his arm back from Patton, and reached out to touch one of the prince's hands.

His fingertips barely grazed his knuckle, and the pain intensified.

“Lo?”

Logan drew a shaky breath.

“Your Majesty...your hands are callused.”

The Green Man blinked, visibly confused. “I...thank...you?...”

“Your hands...are callused.”

“I don't understand...” The Green Man trailed off, then after a moment his eyes widened.

“Wait. You...”

Logan felt his hands tighten around his. It hurt worse, and somehow it was all that was stopping him from shattering into a million glittering pieces.

“Your hands are callused.” Logan repeated. “I can feel them...I can feel it. Your touch...I can feel it.”

#cw: angst #ts logan #ts logic #logan sanders #ts roman #roman sanders #ts creativity #ts patto #patton sanders #ts morality #ts deceit #ts janus #janus sanders #cw: blood and fluids #cw: panic attack #cw: touch starvation #necromancer au #guys i'm writing this for me alone #if you like it bonus points #i'm that nerd #no betas we die like men #this is all the artist's fault i'm just a hapless writer that stumbled across it #my name is liz and i swear to god i will fic again #logince #logan/roman #logic/creativity #WHO LET ME NEAR THE INTERNET

[shuttershocky]

Doctor Roman awoke in the comfort of his office chair, with Da Vinci’s fingers gently drumming the top of his head. A little smile tugged on the corners of his lips. This was nice. Yes, it was good to relax sometimes. He didn’t get a lot of time to rest when he was at work. Like now.

Wait.

“GAH! I’m awake!” 

Roman jolted out of his chair, his eyes rapidly scanning all four corners of the dimly lit Command Room. The monitors had been shut off, and no sounds came over the speakers.

“Good evening Romani,” Da Vinci said, not looking up from her notebook. “I was hoping you would sleep just a little longer. You’ve been working for days on end now. That can’t be healthy. You’re no heroic spirit you know?”

“What did... How did... How did I even fall asleep?” Romani eyed his coffee mug. “Did you... Did you spike my drink? Not cool Leonardo! We can’t be fooling around with humanity at stake!”

“I did no such thing,” Da Vinci replied, still scribbling away. “I just gave you decaf, and you passed out before you even touched your mug. Besides, you said it yourself, today’s was a simple, low-threat mission without any risk of failure whatsoever. We can afford to be relaxed.”

“We have to remain constantly vigilant, “ Romani said. “A threat could come from anywhere at any time while Gudako is out there. Now please turn the feed back on.”

Da Vinci rolled her eyes but obeyed anyway, lazily tapping at a few buttons and turning all systems back on.

Roman’s jaw dropped. 

It was a warzone. On the monitors were the crumbling ruins of some European city, the rooftops and streets swarming with soldiers of a uniform both very familiar, and yet not quite. They wore black, metallic armor, and many had blood-red capes draping from their shoulders. They wielded strange weapons, rifles that appeared to shoot bolts of dark energy, which they rained down into the city below, and others held large blades that carved the pavement beneath them as they walked. Overhead, the sun lay edge to edge with the moon. A solar eclipse was about to take place.

Also onscreen was a certain teenage girl, who looked rather peppy for being in such an apocalyptic landscape. She looked right at Da Vinci and Doctor Roman, flashing them a wide smile.

“Hey guys!”

“What... How...” Roman said

“Hey kiddo,” Da Vinci said, completely unperturbed. “Give me a sitrep.”

Gudako clapped her hands.

“Okay, so I’m pretty sure these guys aren’t human. I mean, we thought they were human, but when Mash knocked one legionnaire out and ripped off his mask, these glowing black tentacles just burst out of his mouth like ‘BLAAAAHHH’ and Mash and I were like ‘AAAAAHHHH’ and then Geronimo was all ‘RAAAAAAAAAAAAA’ and he stabbed it repeatedly in the face until it died.”

“Really now?” Da Vinci said.

“No, Geronimo was actually like ‘Stand back, Master!’ and then he stabbed it repeatedly in the face but it didn’t seem fair that he got to keep his cool.”

“Wh-wh-wh-wha” Roman stuttered.

“Anyway,” Gudako continued. “We made contact with the resistance movement and are now in the middle of launching an attack on the head honcho’s palace. Ozy’s giving them hell from the sky, but we can’t move in until Hundred Faces says she’s secured the prison camps all across the city. The bastard inside’s been incarcerating random citizens and using them as mana batteries for his big evil ritual thingy and I’ve got a feeling that whatever it is is invincible so long as it stays inside. Current plan: We rescue the citizens, take away its power source, lure it out, then take it down along with its stormtroopers.”

If Roman had any coherent thoughts upon first seeing Gudako, they were all gone now.

“How are your forces?” Da Vinci asked. “Do you believe they can keep up this assault until the prisoners are rescued?”

“Yeah we’re doing fine! I think Billy’s already killed like, 50 of these Demon-Nazis.”

BLAM

A loud gunshot echoed over the monitor. A sword legionnaire who had been steadily making its way over to Gudako suddenly lost its head, wobbling a little before collapsing backwards.

“If I may correct you Ma’am,” Billy said on the sidelines, pumping a shotgun. “51.”

“51,” The master confirmed. “Oh, oh, you’ll want to hear this it’s gonna be great. I had King Hassan lead the resistance into the propaganda towers. We should be hearing their broadcast in 3... 2...”

Beep

“Cursed Arm,” rumbled the voice of the Old Man of the Mountain over hundreds of loudspeakers on every building. “How dost one tell if the device is active?”

“Er, Great Founder,” Cursed Arm whispered, failing to keep his voice from being picked up by the mic. “You are already on.”

“Oh? A-Ahem. Greetings O’ oppressed and noble souls. Liberation has come in these darkest of hours, and the reckoning of thy enemies is nigh. Arise! Arise! Thou must take up arms and throw off thy shackles! Make your way to every corner of thy city, and purge thy home of the evil that festers within! Hold the love of thy kin deep in your soul, and know thy blade fights on the side of the righteous. And if thou shalt fall saving their home on this most exalted day, I shall deliver thee through the places of death, and into the gates of paradise!

Was that adequate, Cursed Arm?”

“Ohhhhh Great founder!”

Beep

“Pretty cool huh?” Gudako said to the Command Room, a wide grin on her face.

“I-I-I-I-”

“Fantastic work there Gudako, but what will the signal from Hundred Faces look like?”

“Ooh I think that’s it!”

Gudako pointed to a dazzling blue flare soaring high above the fog of war and into the sky. It exploded when it reached the top of its arc, projecting the image of... Of...

It was a hand. Doing the “OK” sign. 

“That’s it! That’s the signal!” Gudako yelled, leaving her hiding place and sprinting through enemy fire. “Everyone who’s not a servant, fall back! Fall back! The big guy’s gonna come out any second no-”

BOOM

Something struck the ground right next to the girl, ripping through anything in its path and covering the screen with debris.

“GUDAKO!” Roman screamed. Even Da Vinci flinched in her seat.

“I’m okay! I’m okay!” The teenager called, waving her arms to clear the smoke. “I had Mash’s Wall of Chalk on me! Anyway, it looks like the boss has arrived.”

In the center of the battlefield stood a red hooded figure, levitating a foot off the ground. Rusted chains encircled his arms, and strange runes Roman had never seen before were etched all over his limbs and face. He had no eyes, the sockets bleeding a dark, oily fluid, and his hands continued to tear up everything in range with black lightning.

“You!” It pointed a shriveled finger at the girl. “You insignificant, wretched, pompous little insect! No one can stop the birth of the Black Sun! My rule is inevitable, and my reign shall see the end of time!”

“Yeah well point me to the bathroom because I’m about to be a real big party-pooper.” Gudako hollered back.

“Fall where you stand child!” it roared, charging her with a sword in hand.

“Gudako, look out!” Roman shouted.

“Don’t forget to test out my mystic code sweetie, “ Da Vinci said. “Took me a whole week to make them.”

“Oh right!” Gudako said, pulling out a pair of metal fists from out of nowhere. They restructured themselves as she put them on, fitting snugly into her smaller hands. 

CLANG

Gudako lunged forward to block the hooded figure’s sword with her right gauntlet. The black energy was repelled by the light blue hum over her arms, as a white light swirled around her left fist. The boss’ eyesockets seemed to widen. It knew what was coming, but was too late to stop it.

“Shoryuken!” The girl yelled, slamming the boss’ face with a fiery uppercut. It was sent flying, slamming through a building which then collapsed on top of it.

She looked back at the communicator, clumsily taking it off and gently setting it down on a nearby wall.

“This can get a bit gruesome. I’ll call you later after I kick its ass. Love you both! Bye!”

Gudako ran towards where the terrifying unknown mage had fallen.

“So you wanna play rough?” She shouted to the shifting rubble. She slammed both gauntlets together, sending an arc of blue lightning between them. “Let’s play rough.”

Both visual and audio feed died at that instant, Da Vinci having shut them off.

Roman’s jaws on the other hand, had not shut the entire time.

“See?” Da Vinci cooed, tapping a pen on her glasses. “All under control.”

Roman turned to her slowly.

“THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE GONE GROCERY SHOPPING!”

#long post #Fate #FGO #Fate Grand Order #fate fanfiction #fanfiction #Wow this ended up way longer than I thought it would be

[wroammin]

Sweet Dreams

Pairings: Prinxiety

Word Count: 1,646

Warnings: almost death, insomnia

Summary: Sanders Sides Anastasia AU. Anx (Virgil) is orphaned at a young age, and grows up without a family. He later meets two conmen, Logan and Roman, who convince him he is Prince Virgil, the missing royal of Russia. They travel far to go to Paris, and along the way, an evil sorcerer responsible for the royal family’s death tries to sabotage their journey.

A/N: this whole thing is based off of a gorgeous drawing by @the-pastel-peach!! (who, by the way, is very nice and patient for waiting like two months for me to finish this) and just to be clear, this is a oneshot!! nothing more will ever come out of this, sorry :/

It had been a long trip. He’d thought about giving up multiple times, maybe run away and try another scheme. One less dangerous, perhaps.

But alas, all it took was one look at Anx, and Roman was glued to his spot on the uncomfortable bed.

Roman couldn’t really sleep. The boat they were on was on some rough waters, and was swaying far too violently for his comfort.

He glanced quickly at Logan, snoring on his own bed a couple feet away. Roman rolled his eyes. Logan always stressed the importance of a good night’s sleep, and never had any trouble getting it. Roman wished he could say the same.

Suddenly, Roman heard the quiet shifting of bed sheets across the room. Anx had turned around in his bed, now facing Roman. His dark brown hair fell around his face in an awkward way, signs of a haircut that had grown too long to be short. Still, it was nicer than Roman’s own mess of a mane. He hated not looking nice, but what could he do? It’s not like he was rich. But he would be soon.

Roman sighed. He reminded himself that it would all be over soon. Anx would go to Prince Thomas and tell him he was his brother, everyone would be happy, Roman and Logan got their money, and then they got away.

Roman would be free to do whatever he wanted. Get a haircut, buy some nice clothes, elope with Anx-

Well, the last one was just wishful thinking. But the way Anx’s hair fell across his face while he was sleeping so calmly was making Roman’s heart do full-on gymnastics routines.

Roman turned around, trying to shake the thoughts out of his head.

Maybe, maybe this was wrong. It wasn’t right, using Anx like this. All he wanted was a family. It wasn’t fair to give him the false image that he was part of the royal family, then leave him and let him figure it out on his own. Figure out that it was all a lie.

Roman turned over, facing Anx again. Or not. Since Anx’s bed was now empty.

Roman shot upward, hitting his head on the bed above his. He hissed painfully, clutching his head. When the initial pain subsided, Roman got out of bed, stumbling over to the cabin door.

The boat was swaying, and it was pitch black, but Roman’s eyes were already adjusted to the darkness. He poked his head out, searching the halls for Anx. Roman spotted him, walking down the hallway up to the deck. Roman called out to him,

“Anx? What are you doing, it’s pouring out there!” Roman whisper-yelled. Anx ignored him. Rude.

Roman considered following Anx or going back inside, internally yelling at himself as he stepped fully out of the room. Roman trailed after Anx, who seemed to be walking really slowly. Probably just sleepy and delirious. And adorable, Roman’s head supplied.

He shook the thought out of his head as he reached the end of the hall. Anx had really gone outside in the pouring rain. Roman put one foot on the ladder to go up. Then hesitated.

He really shouldn’t. It was raining heavily outside, and Roman did not want to get wet. Anx was probably just seasick. Very, very seasick if he had to go outside in the rain.

And yet, Roman kept climbing until he felt the rain pounding on his head and his clothes sticking to his back uncomfortably. But all of that went away when he saw Anx, standing on the edge of the boat. He was about to jump off.

“Anx!” Roman yelled, running, then slipping, to the boat’s edge. The storm above growled menacingly as a flash of lightning appeared on the horizon.

There was no response. Roman slammed into the boat’s wooden railing painfully, wincing. He had slipped a bit too far from Anx to stop him.

The wind was howling, and the boat was swinging wildly in the ocean. Roman briefly wondered if there was someone captaining the ship at all. Anx could slip off and into the swirling sea at any moment.

“Anx, Anx listen to me!” Roman tried again. It was in that moment that Roman realized why there was no answer. Anx was still asleep.

His eyes were shut tight, and he had a lazy smile on his face, like he was dreaming of a bittersweet memory.

“Anx! Whatever you do, do not jump!” Roman was desperate now. His voice cracked, and the water bordering his eyes was not raindrops.

Then, Anx swung over the edge.

Roman leaped forward, practically throwing himself off the edge to catch Anx.

There was a moment, where nothing occured. Roman was in the air, Anx was in the air, and the storm stood still. For a second, the gusts of powerful wind collected themselves inside clouds like a bated breath. The raindrops stopped pounding, and the lightning cracked to a halt.

Until Roman felt something brush against his hands, and he grabbed it firmly. Then everything snapped back to reality.

Breathing heavily, Roman leaned his head back on the boat’s wooden railing. Anx breathed in deeply beside him. He was safe.

“...Roman?” Anx whispered. He stared at Roman with his brown, tired eyes, and Roman melted. Suddenly, all of the stress he had felt just seconds before just disappeared. Anx was okay.

He really was.

“What... what happened?” Anx remarked, voice tinted with confusion and exhaustion. He had just been asleep for over a couple hours, but he was still tired. That was strange.

“You almost,” Roman took a moment to steady his heartbeat and take a deep gulp of breath, making Anx smile just a little, “you almost jumped off of the boat.” Roman chuckled near the end, trying to reassure himself that everything was okay, Anx was still very much alive and not drowning.

Anx’s small smile was wiped off immediately.

“What?” He said, realizing the gravity of the situation.

“It’s okay, I caught you.” Roman told him, seeing panic start to display itself across Anx’s face.

Anx was quiet.

“I almost ruined everything.” Anx murmured, running a hand through his wet hair, as raindrops slid down his face. It made it look like he was crying, almost.

“I think the key word that you are not considering, is ‘almost’.” Roman grinned at Anx, trying to diffuse the situation. It had poor effect.

“I was dreaming, Roman. I dreamt I had a family, with Prince Thomas, and,” Anx blinked away the water in his eyes. Raindrops, Roman told himself,

“and we were happy,” Anx finished.

It was Roman’s turn to be silent now.

“Oh.”

Anx sighed, and got up. Roman watched as he took a few steps away, back towards the cabin.

Somehow, he looked even prettier in the rain, with his kind of sad, half-smile.

Anx turned back, raising an eyebrow at Roman.

“You’re not staying out here in the rain, are you?”

Roman shook his head, laughing softly. He winked at Anx as he stood up, something he used to do to the ladies in St. Petersburg.

“Well, only if you promise not to try any more stunts like this. Next time I might slip off deck with you. Then again… I might make a wonderful merman.”

Anx cheered up slightly at that, hiding his smile by turning away and heading back down to the cabin. Roman considered it a success.

[]•[]•[]

Anx couldn’t sleep the rest of the night. He was haunted by that dream.

“Roman?” He whispered. The con-man turned over in his bed at the mention of his name, shooting Anx one of his trademark grins.

“Yes, Prince Virgil?”

Roman’s joking tone quickly disappeared once he took in Anx’s face. It was stained with tears that trailed down his chin. There were a few drops on his bedsheets already.

Roman got out of bed immediately. It’s not like he would be getting sleep, anyway. He made his way quietly to the other side of the room, kneeling beside Anx’s bed.

“I can’t sleep. I keep thinking, what if I have another dream? What if you can’t stop me? What if… what if I hurt you?” The last sentence was so hushed, Roman could barely hear it even when he was only a foot away.

“You won’t.” Roman reassured.

“But how do you know that?!” Anx said. It was loud enough that Logan shifted in his bed, butquiet enough that he didn’t wake up.

Roman considered it. He didn’t know, really. And, being honest with himself, Roman was a bit scared as well. Then, he realized. It would kill him, but if it calmed Anx,

“Move over.” Roman said, dead serious. Anx looked at him strangely for a moment, before Roman looked at him back and raised his eyebrows to ask if he would move over or not.

Anx gave Roman a confused glance, but did as he was told.

Once he did, Roman gently laid down beside him. Anx was cold, and he shuddered slightly as Roman’s warmth began to seep into him.

It was quiet for a moment, and Roman seemed calm. Anx kept glancing at him, expecting him to explain what this was supposed to do. He kept glancing over at Roman, until his eyes got more tired.

Roman was just so warm, and soft, and it was like sleeping next to a cute teddy bear. Anx’s eyes fluttered closed occasionally, but he told himself to stay awake.

Roman took one look at him, and he could tell Anx was about to fall asleep any moment now. He slowly reached over and intertwined their fingers. There was no way anything would happen to Anx on Roman’s watch.

Roman glanced over one last time, seeing Anx fast asleep now, looking peaceful.

No way anything would happen at all.

A/N: sorry if this is horrible, i literally did not edit it at all and i just hit post and felt the regret. but yeah, i live for this au, and if you haven’t heard the anastasia broadway soundtrack you absolutely should, it’s amazing.

General Taglist:

@ultimate-queen-of-fandoms2 @aurinkari @lamp-calm-sanders @heretoreadmyfics @fangirl-328 @friezan-is-tired @i-really-dig-the-purple @5notbrokenjustbent5 @princess-novalin @snazzy-weird-person @shaeshaetheravenclaw @punsterterry @xxladystarlightxx @4amanxiety @ughthatsprettygay @crownswriter123 @sympathetic-deceit-trash @sparkly-rainbow-salt @idontknowhow2namethisshit @cats-vetal-miking-vomit @iassureyouicannotdraw @clonenumber666 @theunoriginaldaisy @magnificentjellyfishballoon

#sanders sides #thomas sanders #roman sanders #virgil sanders #logan sanders #prinxiety #ts roman #thatsthat24 #ts virgil #ts logan #em has a pen #anastasia #sanders sides au #oneshot #fanfic #sanders sides fanfic

[absolutelyabby23]

Where’s Princey? (Sick Roman) (Prinxiety)

Pairing: Prinxiety (Romantic), Slight Logicality if you squint

Summary: (Hurt/ Comfort) Roman is sick but can’t let the other sides know in order to keep his princely image. Everything is normal until Virgil starts to worry and looks for Sir Sing-A-Lot.

Word Count: 2,049 (Sorry it’s so long, I had a lot of fun and a lot of time since I am sick myself)

Warnings: None that I can think of. Some sadness and mentions of loneliness and illness. Please let me know if I need to add anything.

Author’s Note: Feel free to send me prompts for one shots or headcanons! I love to write Sanders Sides.

Everything was spinning and blurry. His head was heavy, his nose throbbed, and his ears ached. Roman stumbled out of bed to his full length golden mirror. He could almost imagine the glass shattering as his appearance came into focus. Pale and sweaty, his nose red and running, Roman was obviously sick. Suddenly, there came a knocking on his door.

“Hey kiddo! It’s breakfast time! I made your favorite breakfast pasta!” exclaimed Patton in his usual cheery voice from outside of the room. “Logan wanted Crofters but I figured I’d surprise you instead!” Roman chuckled to himself, if you could call it that. A rough gasping noise came out instead, crackling painfully in his throat.

“I am truly sorry Patton but I’m going to be rather busy today,” rasped Roman, trying his best to sound regal and like his normal fabulous self. “Thomas needs a lot of video ideas soon and you know I can’t bear to let him down.”

“Oh okay kiddo,” sighed Patton. Roman winced at the very apparent hurt tone that his friend displayed. He knew Logan and Virgil could cheer him up but his heart broke at the thought of hurting his friends. If only they knew the real reason he couldn’t attend breakfast. Perhaps just this once he could make an appearance. Reeling, he stumbled to his makeup table. Nothing a little foundation can’t fix! Right? Putting all of his passion and creativity into his looks didn’t help. His hair still swung messily in front of his face, very greasy and stringy, much to the prince’s disgust. The makeup couldn’t hide his tired eyes or the apathetic expression he couldn’t force himself to ditch.

There was no denying, Roman couldn’t leave his room. He was Thomas’s ego and elegance, the embodiment of grace and beauty. Beauty could not take a sick day. So he never did. The others thought he was incapable of coming down with illness. However, this was so far from the truth. Long nights and adventures in his kingdom left Roman fatigued and susceptible to even the slightest bug. Whenever he was under the weather, Roman simply claimed to be brainstorming and locked himself in his room. That way the others wouldn’t worry. He could still be brave. He could still be a valiant hero. He could still slay. In their minds, he’d always be beautiful. And there was no point in ruining that reputation now. Not when the people he loved and the fans he adored would be watching.

He could see it now. Thomas tweeting that a video would be late because creativity had failed him by falling down on the job. The last time he had been gone, after Thomas’s audition, Logan had to take over and Patton was burdened by caring for him. At least he could bear to let Patton see him then. But with an illness? He couldn’t miss again. He would never do that. Perfection or nothing. So until he was healthy again, he would be nothing.

A low growl interrupted his thoughts. A dragon witch perhaps? No, just his stomach. That pasta had sounded absolutely divine and he could’ve grabbed some cold remedy while he was out. But he knew that this was the price he paid to uphold standards. He was already weak anyway. What harm could a little hunger do?

Meanwhile, Virgil had just woken up. Patton and Logan both knew better than to wake the anxious side up early. He was already sleep deprived as the situation stood. Patton knew to reheat breakfast as Virgil meandered into the kitchen. Looking around, he felt his pulse start to race. Listening to his instincts, he knew. Something was wrong.

Virgil had never really bothered with getting along with Roman. They fought and teased each other in videos but ignored each other in the mindscape. Perhaps it was a mutual treaty… or a fear of what could be. But after he had revealed his name and Roman seemed to sympathize with him, the two became closer. Just a smile or a Disney joke here and there. Perhaps a meme war or help with makeup. Virgil would never admit it, but he had begun to care for Princey. And that’s when he started noticing the disappearances.

For days at a time, Roman would stay in his room, not talking to anyone. Lately these had become more frequent and were quickly becoming disturbances to any calmness that Virgil possessed. Patton and Logan existed long before Virgil became a light side. Perhaps they would know something. The two spectacled sides were lounging on the couch, Logan wrapping his arms protectively around Patton who was snuggled into the logical side, a small frown on his face.

“Have you guys seen Roman?” Virgil asked, trying to hide the growing worry in his voice. Logan didn’t even turn around before offering his reply over the small and soft whimpers of the man he was comforting.

“He said he’s busy Virgil. Too busy for Patton as it would seem. I think it would be best to leave him be for now,” Logan said, a sharp edge to his words as he enunciated each syllable in passive aggression.

“Aren’t you guys worried though? He’s been missing a lot,” Virgil inquired, hoping to get more information from the other two. Patton looked up and shattered the anxious side’s heart with a sad smile that would have even Satan himself sobbing.

“He seems to be fine Virgil. And if not he can save himself. That’s what heroes do r-right? He’s a big kiddo now. No need for Dad anymore,” Patton mumbled. Virgil wasn’t going to stand for this. Sure Roman could be hot headed and self centered at times, but he would never hurt Patton. Not like this. Something was definitely wrong.

“Roman?” Virgil asked as he knocked on the prince’s door. No response came at first. Roman was in a fitful sleep on the other side. Nightmares of writer’s block, unsubscribes, and disappointment filled his head.

“No! Please don’t go! I can do better! Please don’t leave me alone!” moaned Roman in pure, unadulterated agony. Panic filled Virgil as the adrenaline kicked in. Without further questioning, Virgil summoned as much power as he knew how and was able to appear inside of the room.

“Too much effort…” he mumbled, slightly dazed, before snapping to attention at the sight before him. Roman was thrashing around in bed, his crown pajamas showing signs of increased sweating, pleading with an invisible audience. He was at a loss for what to do. He began to approach the bed when Roman violently sat up, breathing heavily, not noticing his dear friend beside him. However, horror filled the romantic side when he saw the object of much of his affection peering curiously at him.

A high pitched scream filled Virgil’s entire being as Roman dove under the duvet. Virgil certainly did not miss that sound but he was more concerned about his friend rather than his current lack of hearing.

“Ro… hey Princey are you okay?” asked Virgil, trying to sound calm and rational with a hint of caring. Patton and Logan were much more equipped for this. Roman tantrums were not a force that Virgil knew how to stop. But wait… was that Roman… crying?

They say that nobody looks beautiful while crying, in fact most everyone can pull rather ugly faces while upset. But as Virgil pulled the covers away from Roman, he swore he had never seen something so majestic. Perhaps it was just the effect that Roman had on people, or maybe Virgil had gotten too fond of the prince. Nonetheless, Roman looked like a lightning storm. Intense and calm. Fearful yet wonderful. Oh God, what was this man doing to him?

“Please go away,” whispered Roman, sniffling and trying to hold back a cough. “I don’t want to burden you. I can conquer this.” He turned his face away, sheltering his heart from Virgil’s exit. Probably his final exit. There’s no way that Virgil would ever talk to him, ever love him now. Roman was weak and foolish, not the brave arrogant role that he often portrayed. Roman suddenly felt a surprisingly warm hand clasp his own clammy hand. The other hand turned his face and he was met with a shocking pair of iridescent eyes.

“I know you can. But that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. You’ve been so brave for so long. But you can be brave and sick too Roman,” whispered Virgil in a calm and reassuring voice. That voice saved for protecting Patton from spiders and Logan from distressing deep sea documentaries at midnight. Now it was meant for him. To save him from his worst fear.

“I’m so alone Virge,” the creative side sobbed. “How could anyone love me now? I’m selfish and I’m awful. I’m letting down Thomas. I’m letting down the fans. I snapped at Patton. I call Logan names. I’m awful to you.” Virgil said nothing for a minute.

“You’re not selfish Ro. You’re thinking of me and the others now. You’re causing yourself to suffer so we don’t have to deal with you. That’s delusional. We want to help. You just have to let us in.” Virgil wrapped his arms around the other side, not caring about the health repercussions. “You’re not bad Roman. And that’s why I love you Princey,” Virgil said softly, pressing a kiss to the other man’s forehead.

They sat for hours just talking and holding each other. Roman opened up about his fears, his perfectionist tendencies. Virgil listened and softly argued that it’s okay to be imperfect. People still love imperfection. Even anxious emos with attitudes. Virgil was able to convince the prince that even sickness, wouldn’t make him less of a hero. And he was definitely still fabulous. The fans, Thomas, and the sides would love him no matter what happened.

“Come on Ro. I think it’s time you got the care you need,” Virgil said as he pulled the other side to his feet. Virgil guided Roman into the living room, where Patton and Logan sat watching a documentary on veterinary clinics. Patton gasped when he saw Roman. The moral side leapt to his feet and enveloped the still pale and shaking Roman in a loving, fatherly hug.

“Pat I’m so sor-” Roman began but Patton cut him off.

“It’s okay kiddo. I think it’s time we got you some soup.” Roman couldn’t hide the wide grin that spread across his face. The two sides bounded towards the kitchen, leaving Virgil with Logan. The logical side broke his deadpan to offer Virgil a small smile of appreciation.

“You did good Virge. I guess my hypotheses about Roman were correct,” Logan smirked knowingly.

“More than one?” asked Virgil, noticing the blush that warmed his cheeks under his foundation. He glanced back at Princey laughing with Patton in the kitchen and felt his heart skip a beat. Did Logan know?

“I figured that something with Roman was not in correlation with his usual behavior. I wanted to address it but Patton insisted that we let Roman do his work. I love Pat but he can be too trusting at times. My first assumption was that he would not listen to me or Patton. This was correct. My second assumption being that the solution would involve you.”

“And why is that?” stuttered Virgil.

“Because we were simply meant to be!” sang Roman in a still hoarse voice behind him. The creative side winced at a voice crack and then swept Virgil off of his feet in an amazing feat of effort from the sick side. He kissed his chemically imbalanced romance while Patton squealed at his OTP getting together and Logan complained about Roman stealing his dramatic metaphorical thunder.

A day later, Virgil was sick as well. Roman snuggled next to his sneezing boyfriend who glared at him in a teasing manner. There were no more secrets to secure a reputation. Virgil was right. Nobody hated him like he thought they would. He wasn’t a failure. He no longer felt alone and knew he could count on his friends. Sometimes even the hero needs a helping hand. They just need to know that it’s okay to ask.

Taglist (let me know if you want to be added!): @monstercupcake61176

@completelyclevername

#virgil/roman #virgil sanders #virgil #sanders sides fanfiction #sanders sides #prinxiety #sick roman #roman #roman sanders #logan sanders #patton sanders #one shot #thomas sanders #shortysetter23writes

[dailybiblelessons]

Monday: Reflection on the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Revised Common Lectionary Proper 23 Roman Catholic Proper 28

Complementary Hebrew Scripture Torah Lesson: Exodus 19:7-20

So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. The people all answered as one: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after.”

When Moses had told the words of the people to the Lord, the Lord said to Moses: “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and prepare for the third day, because on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. You shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful not to go up the mountain or to touch the edge of it. Any who touch the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch them, but they shall be stoned or shot with arrows; whether animal or human being, they shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain.” So Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes. And he said to the people, “Prepare for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled. Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer him in thunder. When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Semi-continuous Hebrew Scripture Torah Lesson: Exodus 32:15-35

Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the covenant in his hands, tablets that were written on both sides, written on the front and on the back. The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved upon the tablets. When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” But he said, “It is not the sound made by victors, or the sound made by losers; it is the sound of revelers that I hear.” As soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. He took the calf that they had made, burned it with fire, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.

Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?” And Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn hot; you know the people, that they are bent on evil. They said to me, ‘Make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off’; so they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”

When Moses saw that the people were running wild (for Aaron had let them run wild, to the derision of their enemies), then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. He said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side, each of you! Go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill your brother, your friend, and your neighbor.'” The sons of Levi did as Moses commanded, and about three thousand of the people fell on that day. Moses said, “Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of a son or a brother, and so have brought a blessing on yourselves this day.”

On the next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, blot me out of the book that you have written.” But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; see, my angel shall go in front of you. Nevertheless, when the day comes for punishment, I will punish them for their sin.”

Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf—the one that Aaron made.

Complementary Psalm 34

I will bless the Lord at all times;  his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord;  let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me,  and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me,  and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant;  so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,  and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps  around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good;  happy are those who take refuge in him.

O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,  for those who fear him have no want. The young lions suffer want and hunger,  but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me;  I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Which of you desires life,  and covets many days to enjoy good? Keep your tongue from evil,  and your lips from speaking deceit.

Depart from evil, and do good;  seek peace, and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,  and his ears are open to their cry.

The face of the Lord is against evildoers,  to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

When the righteous cry for help,  the Lord hears,  and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,  and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous,  but the Lord rescues them from them all. He keeps all their bones;  not one of them will be broken. Evil brings death to the wicked,  and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants;  none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Semi-continuous Psalm 97

The Lord is king!  Let the earth rejoice;  let the many coastlands be glad!

Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;  righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him,  and consumes his adversaries on every side. His lightnings light up the world;  the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,  before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness;  and all the peoples behold his glory.

All worshipers of images are put to shame,  those who make their boast in worthless idols;  all gods bow down before him.

New Testament Epistle Lesson: Jude verses 17-25

But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; for they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies. Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Year A Ordinary 28, RCL Proper 23, Catholic Proper 28 Monday

Bible verses from The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All right reserved. Selections from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright 1985 by Consultation on Common Texts. Image Credit: St. Matthias (Jude) by El Greco, via Wikimedia Commons. This is a public domain image.

#A Ordinary 28 Monday #Moses #theophany #God speaks with Moses #God appears to the Israelites #Moses and Aaron #idol #Levites #atonement #plague #bless the Lord #righteous #evildoers #righteouosnessjustice #foundations of God's throne #divisions #mercy #save by snatching from the fire

[i-w-p-chan]

Miss- err, Mr. and Mr. Croft, Part 11/Underworld

Important Author Note: Unless it is specified who says which part, the dialogue typically alternates between Tsuna and Hayato.

WARNINGS: OOC, Language (there is a lot of cursing), Violence, Indiscriminate Killing (Tomb Raider Typical Killing- applies to humans, animals, and mythical creatures), Dialogue Heavy, Set In The Tomb Raider Games 'Verses, So May Not Make A Whole Lot Of Sense If You Don't Know TR (unless you, like me, don't mind that), Uses Dialogue From The Game, Collection of Snippets/Drabbles/Scenes Featuring Tsuna's And Hayato's Adventures In The TR Games, Beware Of Unexpected Mood Whiplashes, Ship Teasing, Slight BoyxBoy (why do I even warn about this anymore?), Platonic 5927 (To The EXTREEEEEEEME!), Snark, Badass Tsuna And Hayato, Badasses In Dresses, Perverted Swords, Cute Hammers, And As Always: Shameless Self-Indulgence/Ridiculousness.

Disclaimer: Don't own TR or KHR.  

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Underworld

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'Darling~' Cal cooed, 'Make sure that you watch your backs down there. Your behinds look delectable in these diving suits; make sure you don't end up with any unfortunate incidents with tentacles, alright?~'

"Aw, Cal~ I love you too darling~" Tsuna embraced Cal, who was giving Tsuna and Hayato last minute pep talk before he sent them off to the bottom of the Mediterranean to explore, and caressed his edge, "We'll take care."

'Good! Ha~ya~to~ I mean you too, you know?'

Hayato twitched; he had wanted to avoid this, but… "Yes. Thank you, Cal."

Just… how could Tsuna corrupt such an old sword in the span of a couple of years was beyond him.

"We'll see you later, Cal~" Tsuna kissed Cal's pommel.

'Oooh.' Cal appeared to shiver, 'See you later.'

.

The two watched a tentacle retract through a hole.

Tsuna looked at Hayato with amazement.

Don't you dare tell Cal about this! Hayato made a face and gestured.

(Hayato's facial expressions and gestures were highly expressive.)

You're no fun, Tsuna scrunched his nose.

(Actually, so were Tsuna's.)

.

"Norse this time, huh?"

"Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Arthurian, and others. We were bound to come across Norse eventually."

.

Tsuna looked at the Kraken, eyes wide and a crooked grin starting to spread across his lips.

"Don't start!" Hayato twitched, "Does Cal see into the future or something?"

.

Hayato looked down at the Kraken's carcass, "What did the thing ever do to you?"

"It was in the way. Literally."

"You're a menace."

Tsuna preened.

.

Tsuna's eyes sparkled, actually, so did Hayato's.

"Could it be?"

"That Thor's hammer is REAL?"

The two honed in on the gauntlet on the other side of the door like a shark; simultaneous big grins spread across their faces.

"Hehehe"

"Ehehehe."

.

"I can't believe we let them sneak up on us like that," Hayato grumbled.

"Did he just say Amanda Evert?" Tsuna narrowed his eyes, "I was right, I should have killed her in Bolivia."

"Didn't even have the decency to personally come look down here."

"Maybe we should give her a visit. Do you think Cal would mind?"

"Nope, not at all. I believe he'd be ecstatic."

.

'Hey, what happened?'

"We're going to visit an 'old' friend, Cal."

"And retrieve what was taken from us."

"So, Cal, you up for going on a murderous rampage?"

.

"You just don't know when to die, do you?" Tsuna's eyes narrowed, his lips turning up in a bland smile, "Jacqueline Natla?"

"A trait we have in common." Natla smiled blandly back, the action brought attention to the burn scar on her right cheek, which extended down her neck and her chest under the white clothes she wore (Tsuna and Hayato knew the scar extended farther than that).

.

'Ugh, what a bitch.'

"True, that."

.

"Great. A sinking ship."

"Better or worse than a sinking submarine?"

"What's the difference? Both of them are sinking."

.

"Ugh. Spiders."

.

"Did you hear that?"

"Back to obsessing over sudden sounds again?"

.

"Why did it have to be tigers? Why couldn't it have been lions?"

"Are you ready for more babies? Especially after last time you had to part with them?"

Tsuna sniffled; Hayato put a comforting arm around him as Excalibur cooed gently.

"There, there."

.

"This feels like being back to basics."

"Nothing modern."

"Nothing except us, the greenery, the mountains, the rocks, the ancient buildings, and a couple of tigers."

"And spiders."

"That, too."

.

"Great. There are giant lizards now, too."

.

"The Great Pit of Giant Lizards. Or something."

"Or something."

.

"You know, those mechanisms always impress me. Like, how do they make it work? And how do they last all those years?"

.

Tsuna stared giddily at the gauntlet he just wore to be able to move a huge door to open it, "Wow!"

"Oh, no! He has superhuman strength now! Run for your lives!"

'Run! Run!'

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny."

.

Tsuna and Hayato stared at the initials carved into the pedestal.

They looked at each other, "By god, Richard you ass."

"It was literally under our feet. The whole time."

.

"Hey! I can move this!"

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Hayato clutched at the pedestal, "Tsuna! Don't do it so quickly! Whoa! TSUNA!"  

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"Aw. It works for a limited time?" Tsuna pouted as he looked at the no-longer glowing gauntlet.

"Thank god!"

.

Tsuna giggled as he saw Zip's reaction to the crypt.

"Tsuna, be mature."

"You're not doing better than me, Hayato."

.

"Thralls?"

.

"Oh, those are thralls."

.

'TSUNA! HAYATO!'

"Cal?"

Tsuna cocked his head to the side; Cal's call came to them telepathically, which was strange, because Cal would literally teleport to them in case he needed them (or they needed him), so why would he-?

Tsuna and Hayato looked at each other with wide eyes and started sprinting down the corridor; the others were in troub-!

The place shook, causing the two of them to stumble.

"A bomb?!"

.

"Put the gun down." Hayato aimed his gun at Zip.

"Don't test us, Zip." Tsuna's eyes narrowed.

"Explain," Hayato hissed, "What exactly happened around here?"

.

"Where's Alister?"

"Cal's not here either."

'We're coming to you. Don't worry about us. Worry about the fakers.'

"Alister's with Cal," Tsuna said.

"You two." Hayato gestured to Zip and Alister, "Get out before the roof comes down."

.

The two doppelgangers made in Tsuna's and Hayato's image aimed their guns to shoot at an unsuspecting Alister.

Cal intercepted the bullets just in time, his form glowing green and orange. He released a great wave of green and orange energy that caught the two doppelgangers and threw them towards one of the walls. Then, Cal shot off, stabbing himself right through the chest of Tsuna's doppelganger and releasing more energy.

The doppelganger screamed as the energy tore through him.

Tsuna took the chance created by Cal's actions and launched himself at Hayato's doppelganger. After he got a good grip on the doppelganger, Tsuna released his flames, engulfing the two of them in them.

The second doppelganger's screams reverberated in tandem with the first one.

In the mean time, Hayato grabbed Alister and high-tailed it out of the burning manor.

Tsuna and Cal didn't follow after them until after they were sure that not even ashes were left of the doppelgangers.

.

Tsuna surveyed the group of people gathered at a distance in front of the manor: Winston and Hayato, tending to an injured Zip and a shaken Alister.

Cal hovered near Tsuna and gently butted his pommel against Tsuna's shoulder, 'Sky- Tsuna?'

Tsuna smiled at him and gently stroked down his blade, "You did a good job in there, Cal."

"What now, Tsuna?" Hayato looked at Tsuna from where he was still standing next to Alister.

"Now," Tsuna started, "We go find the belt. Then the hammer. Then, we burn Natla to death. This has gone on long enough, and it's time to end it." Tsuna's eyes glowed orange.

Hayato's eyes glowed red in response as he grinned a grin full of teeth while Cal glowed in his entirety, 'Ooooh, you're making shivers race down my blunt edge.'

.

"We're on a time limit, Hayato. Get on my bike."

"… … … … fine!" Hayato grudgingly rode on the bike behind Tsuna, tightening his hold as Tsuna sped up, "Ohmygod why did I even agree to let you have driving priority whenever we're on a time limit?!"

"Because I'm awesome, just like that!"

.

"That… was a close call."

.

"Great, giant spiders."

.

"There are four pieces missing and four doors to go through."

"Reminds me of that time with the elemental stones. Shall we separate?"

"And each of us tackles two of the doors again? Yeah."

.

"So, room one- what did you face?"

"Crushing stones. Not very fun to go through. But very fun to watch crush the giant spiders that chased after me. You?"

"Fire and swinging poles. No spiders to speak of, but I don't think I'd fancy the smell of burning spider."

"On to room two."

"Wonder what we'll find."

.

"So?"

"Spears and blades. You?"

"Actually nothing. I only had to crawl through an opening between fallen rocks."

"So not fair."

.

"And now we descend into the underworld."

"We've been descending into a lot of underworlds lately, haven't we?"

.

"Look at this beautiful pool of blue."

"I don't think it's meant to be swum in, Tsuna. So don't go dive bombing into it."

.

"We have the gauntlets, the belt and coordinates to our next destination. It's time we got us Thor's hammer."

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"OH MY GOD! IS THAT A YETI THRALL?!"

"Well," Hayato started, his guns aimed at the aforementioned yeti thrall, "Where's a powerful yeti-slaying weapon when you need it?"

Cal burst into the air, wreathed in green and orange energy, 'Did you call?~'

"Yes." Hayato smirked as Cal floated in front of him, positioned so that the grip was in Hayato's direction and the blade was bared in the thrall's direction.

Hayato grabbed Cal, who began to emit red energy as well.

Then the two started yeti-slaying.

Tsuna watched, mouth in an 'o' shape.

.

Tsuna stared, enraptured, at Mjolnir where it floated on top of a pedestal, surrounded by cloud-like mist sparking with lightning.

Hayato noted that the gauntlets and belt which Tsuna wore didn't just glow blue, like usual, but also orange.

The mist whirled around the hammer, almost storm-like, and the lightning increased; Tsuna raised a hand towards the hammer.

A stream of lightning and fire connected Tsuna's hand with the hammer as Tsuna walked forward towards it.

Then, Tsuna finally grabbed the hammer and lightning flashed almost blindingly.

'Wow, what a light show. Did the same thing happen when you reassembled me?'

"The light show? Kind of. The dramatic atmosphere? Not so much. We already had your pieces when we reassembled you; we simply just had to put you back together."

The light receded, and Tsuna returned into view.

Tsuna held Mjolnir reverently and spoke, "Mjolnir, slayer of giants and the Midgard Serpent."

Then, a little girl's voice echoed through the chamber, 'I'm Mjolnir! Thor's mighty hammer! Rawr!'

"Of course you are, cutie~" Tsuna cooed at Mjonlir.

'Who are you calling a 'cutie', Sky?! I'm a big, bad hammer! I spank naughty giants on their bottoms! FEAR ME!'

'Cute.'

Hayato nodded in agreement, he could see Tsuna barely restraining the urge to cuddle the hammer.

"Now, darling." Tsuna smiled, "You can do more than that, right?"

'Of course! Who do you think I am?!'

.

"May I call you Mimi?"

'… … … You may…'

"Aww~ Thanks~"

.

Tsuna and Hayato completely tore through the mercenaries on Amanda's ship, Tsuna holding Mimi and Hayato holding Cal.

"There is no kill like overkill~" The four sang in unison, Mimi adding in more creepiness via giggling at the end.

.

Tsuna and Hayato worked their way across the room to reach the entrance where Mimi was to work her magic; both of them were silent and somber (even Mimi and Cal were silent as well). It was the end of their journey, their quest, to finding the truth of what happened to Amelia.

It was the end of their journey. Here. In this world.

Tsuna could feel it already- Hayato could feel it as well.

They had informed Winston, Alister and Zip. Tsuna was going to send them a message when the time came.

Tsuna and Hayato shared a look and continued.

.

Tsuna stared over the edge where the thrall Amelia fell into a pool of Eitr.

Tsuna clenched his fists.

Oh.

Hayato put an arm around Tsuna's shoulder.

Cal and Mimi hissed, snapping Tsuna and Hayato out of their grief to notice Natla who was approaching them.

Tsuna grabbed Mimi who was already sparking with lightning and Tsuna's fire while Hayato grabbed Cal, also glowing with green and red energy.

.

"She's such a fucking escape artist," Tsuna hissed and tugged a strand of hair out of his face.

'Let's go kill her! Let'sgolet'sgolet'sgo!'

"Alright, Mimi. You'll get to punch right through her body and obliterate her."

"And take down the Midgard Serpent," Hayato added.

It was then that Amanda entered the room.

The three stared at each other. Mimi and Cal bristled.

"Aw-kward." Hayato cleared his throat, "Well, Amanda. Fancy seeing you here."

"That's not the point." Amanda scowled, "Where is she?"

Tsuna raised Mimi, "She went off to raise a serpent." He smiled blandly, "Don't worry, we're going to chase her down and tear her limb from limb and then reduce her into nothing."

Mimi sparked with lightning in agreement.

The room shook as yeti thralls stalked down the corridor leading into the room.

Amanda retreated towards the middle of the room, farther than the entrance, and faced the corridor.

Hayato raised Cal and swung him in the direction of the yeti thralls, releasing a wave of green and red energy that sliced through the thralls with disturbing ease.

"Go, Tsuna. Get that bitch. I've got those."

Tsuna's eyes glowed orange, "I will. And then I'll come back to you."

.

"You will be consumed by fire and ash," Tsuna muttered darkly, as he glared up at Natla.

.

"Mimi, are you ready?" Tsuna asked Mimi as he stared at Natla who was attempting to stabilize the unstable Midgard Serpent.

'YES! LET'S GET HER!'

Tsuna smiled grimly, Hayato was going to kill him for this stunt.

(But how else was he supposed to kill an apparently immortal goddess?)

Tsuna raised Mimi, who frosted over from Tsuna's ice, and threw her at Natla, nailing her in the back and slamming her into the Midgard Serpent. Mimi unleashed the frost in her body towards Natla and the Serpent, acting like a medium for Tsuna's ice, and causing both Natla and the Serpent to freeze over.

Mimi flashed back to Tsuna's hand before she got caught up in the ice herself; she relished in the warmth that spread through her as Tsuna channeled his flames through her body.

As Tsuna strapped her to his back, she sent her own energy, her own inner flame, to Tsuna.

Tsuna settled in a ready stance, very much the same stance he used while facing Boaz all those years ago: feet spread apart; one arm extending behind him with his palm raised and expelling flames; the other arm extending in front of him with palm facing his foe.

The gauntlet and belt glowed with blinding orange light; Mimi channeled more of her energy through Tsuna, who narrowed his glowing orange eyes at Natla and the Serpent.

Tsuna breathed in, out.

And then he unleashed a devastating torrent of flames and lightning.

.

After what felt like hours but was probably minutes in reality, and when Tsuna deemed that he achieved his aim, he cut off the fire.

In the middle of the great chamber, where the Midgard Serpent and the construct that helped raise it were, there was nothing.

The Midgard Serpent was gone. Natla was gone.

Tsuna heavily panted, his arms shook, steam was rising from his hands, and he felt that the gauntlets actually melted into his arms despite not appearing to have done so.

'We did it! YEAH!'

"Yeah…" Tsuna made to leave, moving his shaking, tired limbs, but he dropped to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut off.

'Come on TSUNA! Let's go! Get up! Smol Storm and the perverted guy are waiting for us! GET UP! Getupgetupgetupgetupgetupget-!'

"Alright! I'm getting up!" Tsuna dragged himself to his feet and limped towards the entrance.

.

Hayato grinned viciously towards the corridor leading to the room he was in; the corridor itself was torn apart from the intensity of his and Cal's assault on the incoming thralls.

Next to him, Amanda panted in exhaustion.

And then Tsuna limped into the room from the other entrance.

Hayato rushed to him in time to support his weight before he fell to the ground in exhaustion.

"Tsuna…?"

Tsuna let out a breathy laugh, "It's done! It's finished!"

"And Natla?"

"She's gone!"

"And why the fuck do you look like you're about to keel over any moment?"

Tsuna snorted, "Because I am! About to keel over, I mean."

"Are we in a rush to leave?"

"No, don't think so."

"Then, sit. Take a breather. I'll take care of you."

"So," Amanda started, "That's it? She is gone, the Midgard Serpent is gone?"

"Yeah."Tsuna took Mimi off his back, Amanda twitched back, clearly remembering Tsuna using the hammer against her. Tsuna put Mimi in his lap and gently stroked the top of her head, "You did a good job, Mimi."

'YEAH!'

"You can add 'slayer of annoying Atlantean goddesses' to your titles."

Mimi preened in his lap.

Cal, not to be outdone, also laid himself in Tsuna's lap next to Mimi.

'Darling~ I missed seeing you all hot and sexy while you're taking down an Atlantean goddess! Oh, woe is me!'

'Stop being so dramatic!'

'You were there! Tell me! How was he?'

'… … … okay! So he was cool…'

Hayato snorted.

"Hey, Hayato?"

"Hmm?"

"Look, I got the cool energy-channeling hammer as well."

"You're still on about that?"

"Yessss."

.

Ten minutes later, Tsuna's head snapped up and he started to frantically paw at his diving suit until he took out the phone he hid in it earlier.

"It's time already?"

"Yeah." Tsuna typed in a quick, short message to tell Alister, Zip and Winston about what happened and what was going to happen.

The moment Tsuna hit 'send'. A white light flashed and washed over them, taking them away

.

Tsuna slammed into shaking ground, and dragged himself up. He was in a… ship? He swayed; god, he was still tired. His legs shook, but he refused to let them buckle from underneath him.

Water burst into the corridor and swept him up, it was too strong for him to do anything more than attempt to hold onto something.

More importantly, where was Hayato?

.

End chapter 11

#miss- err mr. and mr. croft #khr #khrtr #tomb raider #sawada tsunayoshi #gokudera hayato

[asherahlives-blog]

The Pool of Asherah

The dream started with an ordinary-enough yet unusual situation: I was hanging out with two women friends (I didn’t know these women in the dream) at their home, preparing to spend the night there because I was going to accompany the one named Lynn on a road trip the next day as part of my education. I’m 62 in life, and I was 62 in the dream. 

We talked and laughed and had dinner; while cleaning up after the meal, an additional friend knocked and came in through the kitchen door. In unison, Lynn and Lesley said, “Elizabeth Power!” and dissolved in laughter. I was perplexed. Quite aware of my awake-life in the dream, I remembered a friend of friends named Elizabeth Power. I didn’t really know her, but when I met her once, her humor and wisdom were apparent.  

Together, we laughed uproariously for what seemed like ten minutes when I asked, “What time do we leave tomorrow, Lynn?” and she responded, “3:15 am to get to Memphis on time for my meeting.” Elizabeth Power piped up, saying, “It’s 2:30 now! Already tomorrow, girls!” and we practically shouted with laughter, astonished by  the passage of so much time in such a short space of reality. 

In the dream, I had no doubt Lynn spoke of Memphis, Tennessee, since we all lived in the Nashville area, but once we reached our destination, it didn’t seem at all like the Memphis I’ve visited before. Not in the least. Lynn, Elizabeth Power (we always addressed her by her full name) and I took what seemed like the shortest road-trip ever, even though the trip west on I-40 is about 3 hours long and boring, especially in the dark. But we three ladies, absolutely energized by our conversation and laughter, weren’t tired at all. Elizabeth Power, noting there was plenty of time, wanted Lynn to stop at a friend’s home on the river, so Lynn drove there first. 

Dawn was approaching as we parked and headed down a grassy, wooded path.Somehow, I knew this visit was for me; I knew this too was part of my education. The lessons of the past few years have been anything but exciting (more like excruciating), yet for this lesson, I tingled with anticipation. I realized we walked purposefully into a vortex, Elizabeth Power taking the lead. Like a little girl, she skipped along the pathway covered by large pinkish stones, turning to encourage Lynn and me onward. Clearly, she had been here before and knew what was ahead. Lynn spoke to Elizabeth Power and turned around, returning to her car and the meeting she was due to attend. Elizabeth motioned for me to continue, saying “They’re waiting for you, darling! I’ll be along.” Then I was alone. So, I continued. 

The stones in the pathway were very large and their color simply stunning, a golden-pink with white veins, like worn, unfinished marble. Now, a stream was rushing alongside the path, and suddenly the path opened to a huge room with a natural pool in the center, surrounded by the same pink marble. The path of stones ended with one last stone, more worn than the rest, jutting out in the center of the pool. 

I realized I was young, wearing summer sandals, white shorts and a flowy white blouse. I noticed people all around the pool, and others on the path behind me, gently encouraging me to…dive in? I was incredulous, since my mind knew it was a cold, early morning February day. I saw Elizabeth Power, and she nodded. The warmth in her eyes conveyed a joyful, “Yes!” 

Diving in seemed like the most natural, logical thing I ever did. The water was warm and cooling at the same time. It was healing and nurturing. I turned to look at the next person standing on the diving spot; a very old man, stooped over, wearing his best clothes, clean but ragged and wrinkly. He was poor, yet unashamed because in this healing place, all were made welcome. We floated around together, the lines on his face relaxing, his smile becoming a radiant with bliss.

Someone held out a hand and I clambered out of the pool, dripping, but nobody cared. The floor was slightly elevated toward the center with channels along the edges to direct the healing water back to the pool. My white clothes clung to my body, but I wasn’t chilled. In the company of many others, some wet and others dry, we went into another large room with tables of wonderful, fragrant food and drink. The walls and floor were white marble, not polished, but with a patina of antiquity. I thought of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture, and the way his ideas bridged the outdoors and indoors in a seamless oneness.

A hush came over the assembled people and Elizabeth Power’s voice, quivering with elation, announced, “She’s here!” An unusual electricity swept over me and I was suddenly and entirely dry. My white attire was gleaming. Some of the people darted around furtively, as if  trying to hide from whoever this “She” was. I had the impression that it wasn’t a good idea to look into her eyes.  I was told to sit on the floor in a darkened storage hallway, but then I caught a glimpse of Her. I wasn’t going to sit on any floor after that!

She was a Goddess, and I knew it. It seemed as though her being was encased in an ancient wooden statue. She seemed unable to move freely, but She was alive and powerful, even though encased in the wooden form so old it was petrified. The statue was about six feet tall, with a long flowing dress carved from the wood, similar in fashion to a Grecian goddess, and I remembered the immense statue of Athena on display in Nashville’s Parthenon. And yet, the residual paint on her face reminded me of Durga, a principal Goddess in the Hindu pantheon, and it would not have surprised me to see multiple arms spring from her form. Her form glided around the room, as if looking for someone.

Elizabeth Power motioned to me from across the room, holding my gaze as I began to walk toward her. I didn’t notice who was behind me until I felt a tap on my shoulder and heard Elizabeth Power laughing again. Whirling around, I looked straight into “Her” eyes and she into mine. I heard “I am Asherah, and so are you” and a lightning bolt ripped through my being with a loud crackling sound as “She” crumbled to dust. A woman’s laughing voice said, “All clear, my darlings!” The gathering merrily resumed and I awakened from the dream.

                                       ***

It was one of those dreams that was really a vision, with a clarity and intelligent aura of truth and authenticity well beyond physical reality. I knew nothing of Ashera before the dream. Sure, I had heard the name and probably pulled an Ashera card from a deck of Goddess cards before, but I didn’t remember anything about her except ‘ancient,’ so the research began. From one of the first (and best) articles I found, I was astonished to read the following: “They worshiped Her [Asherah] under every green tree,” according to the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament). The Bible also tells us Her image was to be found for years in the temple of Solomon, where the women wove hangings for Her. “In temple and forest grove, Her image was made of wood…carved of a tree, and perhaps the image was a stylized tree of some kind.“The archaeological record suggests that Asherah was the Mother Goddess of Israel, the Wife of God, according to William Dever, who has unearthed many clues to her identity. “She was worshiped…throughout the time Israel stood as a nation. Asherah’s image decorated household shrines. [Many images of  Asherah] emphasize Her breasts, suggesting Her role as a fertility goddess, but Her nature [is] as a mother in general.  She no doubt aided in the concerns of mothers, including conception and childbirth, but was probably also the mother of all, a comforter and protector in an uncertain world. Inscriptions from ancient Israel tell us that Yahweh and “his Asherah” were invoked together for personal protection. Her identification with trees suggests that Asherah was also Mother Nature…She was, in other words, everything you would expect from the feminine half of the divine creative duo, a Great Mother. Who was She, this lost Goddess of the Hebrews? And why is She no longer worshiped in the Judeo-Christian religions of today? Asherah’s image was lost to us not by chance.” 

I thought about ‘Elizabeth Power,’ and how Elizabeth, wife of Zechariah, mother of John the Baptist and Mother Mary’s cousin, was an aid to young Mary’s concerns about becoming a mother, how she comforted and protected Mary in her new and uncertain world, how she empowered Mary to become the Mother to Christ and Mother to the World. Additional research connect Asherah with both the Tree of Life and Sophia (Greek) or Hokmah/Shekinah (Hebrew), the Goddess of Wisdom. For example, Proverbs 3:13-19 says,“Blessed are those who find Wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. By Wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place.”

There is a whole wealth of knowledge about ancient Sumerian, Ugarit, Babylonian, Egyptian, Roman and even Hindu Goddesses, but the stories intermingle and specificity is rare. Many Goddesses were depicted with serpents and many others, lions. Asherah is associated with Ishtar, Astarte, Inanna, Anahita, Sekhmet, Libertas and even Durga, Supreme Mother Goddess of Hinduism. One thing is certain about the Biblical Asherah, however, and that is her banishment from Judaism and later, Christianity. Her name was  removed and replaced with “tree”  or “grove of trees,” and all semblance of Asherah worship, from altar pieces to “Asherah poles” were burned or banned. “Scratch the surface of the Bible stories just a little and you’ll find the serpent staff and the tree worship of Asherah under every green tree, but in official monotheistic doctrine the obvious meaning of these symbols is disavowed. And so we lost Asherah, the Wife of God, the Tree of Life, and the ability to access Divine Wisdom.” It’s time for the grand return of Asherah. We need Divine Wisdom like never before! Stay tuned, because it appears I haven’t begun to scratch the surface of what this is going to mean for me.

Libby Maxey is a Visionary Voyager into the "What If?, wife to her twin flame, minister, mother, nana, writer of books and blogs, transgender advocate and egalitarian. Her book titles I Am Liberty and One Becomes One are available on Amazon.com.

Asherah articles:  

1. Parts I, II and III of https://thequeenofheaven.wordpress.com/2010/10/27/asherah-part-i-the-lost-bride-of-yahweh/

 2. http://www.asphodel-long.com/html/asherah.html

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asherah

[dailybiblelessons]

Monday: Reflection on the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Monday: Reflection on the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Revised Common Lectionary Proper 23 Roman Catholic Proper 28

Complementary Hebrew Scripture: Exodus 19:7-20

So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. The people all answered as one: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after.”

When Moses had told the words of the people to the Lord, the Lord said to Moses: “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and prepare for the third day, because on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. You shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful not to go up the mountain or to touch the edge of it. Any who touch the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch them, but they shall be stoned or shot with arrows; whether animal or human being, they shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain.” So Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes. And he said to the people, “Prepare for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled. Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer him in thunder. When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Semi-continuous Hebrew Scripture: Exodus 32:15-35

Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the covenant in his hands, tablets that were written on both sides, written on the front and on the back. The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved upon the tablets. When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” But he said, “It is not the sound made by victors, or the sound made by losers; it is the sound of revelers that I hear.” As soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. He took the calf that they had made, burned it with fire, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.

Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?” And Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn hot; you know the people, that they are bent on evil. They said to me, ‘Make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off’; so they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”

When Moses saw that the people were running wild (for Aaron had let them run wild, to the derision of their enemies), then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. He said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side, each of you! Go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill your brother, your friend, and your neighbor.'” The sons of Levi did as Moses commanded, and about three thousand of the people fell on that day. Moses said, “Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of a son or a brother, and so have brought a blessing on yourselves this day.”

On the next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, blot me out of the book that you have written.” But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; see, my angel shall go in front of you. Nevertheless, when the day comes for punishment, I will punish them for their sin.”

Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf—the one that Aaron made.

Complementary Psalm 34

I will bless the Lord at all times;  his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord;  let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me,  and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me,  and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant;  so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,  and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps  around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good;  happy are those who take refuge in him.

O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,  for those who fear him have no want. The young lions suffer want and hunger,  but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me;  I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Which of you desires life,  and covets many days to enjoy good? Keep your tongue from evil,  and your lips from speaking deceit.

Depart from evil, and do good;  seek peace, and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,  and his ears are open to their cry.

The face of the Lord is against evildoers,  to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

When the righteous cry for help,  the Lord hears,  and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,  and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous,  but the Lord rescues them from them all. He keeps all their bones;  not one of them will be broken. Evil brings death to the wicked,  and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants;  none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Semi-continuous Psalm 97

The Lord is king!  Let the earth rejoice;  let the many coastlands be glad!

Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;  righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him,  and consumes his adversaries on every side. His lightnings light up the world;  the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,  before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness;  and all the peoples behold his glory.

All worshipers of images are put to shame,  those who make their boast in worthless idols;  all gods bow down before him.

Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice,  because of your judgments, O God. For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;  you are exalted far above all gods. The Lord loves those who hate evil;  he guards the lives of his faithful;  he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.

Light dawns for the righteous,  and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,  and give thanks to his holy name!

New Testament Epistle Lesson: Jude verses 17-25

But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; for they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies. Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Year A Ordinary 28, RCL Proper 23, Catholic Proper 28 Monday

 Bible verses from The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All right reserved. Selections from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright 1985 by Consultation on Common Texts. Image Credit: Image Credit: St. Matthias (Jude) by El Greco, via Wikimedia Commons. This is a public domain image. Matthias is another name for the Apostle Jude.

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