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gracie-p8-officialblog · 4 years

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Deal With The Fallen Angel: Chapter 3

A/N: Oh man, I almost forgot to update this on Tumblr! This is a What-If!AU where Christine doesn’t kiss Erik in the Final Lair and chooses to be his bride. This story is rated T overall due to graphic violence and a major character death. This fic can also be found on Ao3 and fanfiction.net

Gah! It was SO HARD to convert the rooftop scene into dialogue! This chapter is mostly filler but still important!

Also, screw Love Never Dies! This show ain’t canon in my book!

Raoul looked up to the ceiling in a vain attempt to sleep but the events in his mind had continued to loom over him, mocking him for his failures in protecting her. He tossed and turned, hearing that taunting voice in his head.

“The deal is struck…”

Breaking out into a cold sweat, he sighed to himself. Memories of the past few months came back to him…

* * * * *

Six months ago…

The opera house echoed with screams as the corpse of Buquet was being displayed by the mysterious prankster. He ran backstage to meet Christine, who was ashen-faced and trying not to let her tears show.

“Christine…” He began before being interrupted abruptly by her.

“Raoul! We must run away! To the roof! We’ll be safe there!” Her eyes were wide with panic and distress as she darted up the staircase, her cloak trailing behind her.

“The roof? Wait, Christine!” he cried out as he took chase alongside her.

* * * * *

Once they reached the rooftop, Raoul found Christine trembling from the cold and from fear. She turned to face him, shoulders sagging with relief.

“Christine… we must return, now” he said, slightly terrified and confused by the recent murder.

“Raoul, don’t take me back there” she tried not to let her fear show on her face “He’ll kill you!”

“Who would kill me?” he asked, more concerned for his friend than his safety at the moment.

“The Phantom,” Christine tried not to let the tears fall down on her face “No matter what, he’ll always find us. He kills to get what he wants,”

“Christine,” Raoul began, unsure of what to say “There is no Phantom, but only a man, a prankster who has gone too far when he murdered Buquet…”

“Raoul, I know the Phantom exists!” she tried to hide the tremor in her voice as she pulled his chest to her face “He took me the same night as the Hannibal performance,”

“That night…” he silently thought to himself. “Things have changed, Raoul…” he remembered her warning that very night they reunited, that very night when she disappeared, that very night when he let down his guard and allowed her to be kidnapped…

“I remember… there was such a beautiful melody he played,” the young woman mumbled, almost as if she were being hypnotized “It wasn’t like anything I’ve ever heard of before… but when I unmasked him, he was so angry and said I could never be free…”

“Christine,” Raoul gasped slightly, shocked at her revelation. He tried to suppress his anger at that man who tried to keep her in his prison “Did he hurt you?”

“Raoul, he isn’t a bad person,” she quickly defended as she snapped out of her trance, almost as if she read his mind “I remember… his eyes, he looked so lonely and vulnerable… and so lost… underneath all his anger”

“Christine,” he called out gently “Christine…”

“Christine…” a ghostly, ethereal voice called out, the chill of the wind becoming even colder.

“What was that?” Christine asked, finally letting her tears show. His heart began to fill with worry and adoration for Christine. It was obvious she was trying not to let herself become vulnerable; it was easy to spot from the years they spent together. She would try not to burden others with her worries, remembering her plastered smiles and reassurances ever since her father’s death. It was a trait he had mixed feelings over throughout the years. “Things have changed Raoul…” She was right, things have changed.

Seeing her break down crying and crouching in a vulnerable position made the young vicomte’s heart clench. Knowing she saw things he never told her before but could understand what she had been through. But she didn’t have to face the world alone, for he would always stand by her…

During all these years they had been separated, since Gustave Daae’s death, and since they had parted ways for he wanted to be a sailor while Christine went to the conservatory to study music, he never stopped thinking of her. However, his father cut off any communication between them. It was already humiliating enough that his youngest son had been associating himself with the lower class and writing letters to her every day. Little did the late Comte de Chagny know of the blooming relationship between the Vicomte and the violinist’s daughter…

That night of the performance, Raoul had the biggest shock of his life! She really changed so much! The soft-spoken, demure girl he knew was now singing in the spotlight, almost casting an ethereal glow on her as her voice soared like a songbird’s… It was sweet and gentle, yet so clear and powerful… resounding all over the opera house. But her character never changed. She was still the kind-hearted, intelligent, brave young woman he knew and loved.

And as the month had passed by during Il Muto rehearsals, he slowly realized his love for her. It was all so sudden, but it was everlasting… he gently pulled off her hood to reveal the young woman’s tear-stained face and wrapped her up in his arms, cradling her and whispering soft words of comfort.

“Please, don’t be afraid…” he whispered, hugging her even more tightly than the first time “I’m here, nothing will harm you. I’ll be your freedom… I’ll guard you and guide you.”

Christine looked up into his eyes, love in her eyes “Talk to me about summer and light, just be with me and promise me that you’re telling the truth… Please, that’s all I ask of you,”

“Come out of hiding, I’ll keep you safe and sound…”

“I want to be free from the darkness and be with you…”

“Let me lead you from your solitude,” he felt his heart pound over his ears as he kneeled down, almost as if to propose. Now, he feared her reaction, that his love was just her ticket out of fear and madness.

“Anywhere you go, let me go to… Christine, that’s all I ask of you!” She accepted his open embrace, holding his hand as she smiled so tenderly, he knew his feelings weren’t unrequited…

“Share with me one love, one lifetime,” she answered “Say you love me,”

“You know I do…” he slowly walked towards Christine, trying to look suave as he approached her but secretly feared he might mess things up between them. He saw her flush a scarlet colour as she looked at him, like a girl anticipating her first kiss. Tenderly, they kissed, enjoying the close proximity with each other. He twirled her around in giddy excitement before Christine looked as if she remembered something. She turned to face the stairway before hesitantly turning to face him.

“I must go now. They’ll be worried sick!” She played with her long, curly hair nervously “Come with me…”

He was once again beside her, ready to protect her from any threat that would come her way…

* * * * *

Raoul sighed to himself, those empty promises resurfacing… he swore to protect her but he failed that night… now, she had to sacrifice her freedom for his own life. How pathetic was it? No… there was no use moping about, he had to search for help… who knew about the Phantom…? Madame Giry! Maybe she could help him… maybe if he showed his desperation, maybe if he fought harder… he went back to bed, resolving to save Christine from the Phantom’s prison he trapped her in…

* * * * *

Madame Marie Giry sat in her office, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She was unable to sleep that night. “When would Erik learn to let go?”

Marie sighed to herself. She came to care for Erik like a brother and a son… ever since that day he arrived, she sensed his presence and knew what he would be thinking. But Christine couldn’t live like this. The way Erik wanted a bride to compensate for his past… a soft knock interrupted her thoughts and she gingerly opened it, seeing the Vicomte…

“Monsieur le Vicomte…”

“I’m so sorry for waking you up this late…”

“No, no… I…”

“Couldn’t sleep either?” “Oui,”

“Madame Giry, I need your help…”

* * * * *

A/N: Next, a dear old friend of Madame Giry comes to help… Cookies for those who could guess the identity correctly.

#madame giry #Christine Daae #raoul de chagny #my fanfic stuff #fanfic: deal with the fallen angel #Author is angst trash

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a-year-of-musicals · 6 years

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Day 139/365 - Zorro

By Gipsy Kings, John Cameron, Stephen Clark and Helen Edmundson

Deep inside a cave, a band of gypsies stop to rest for the night, while dancing and singing, they listen eagerly as their leader tells them about an old gypsy myth - the infamous story of the legendary hero, Zorro.

Don Diego de la Vega, a wealthy young caballero, is sent away from his California home by his father, Don Alejandro, to school in Spain. He is forced to leave his childhood love Luisa, who is also being sent away by Diego's father. At the same time, Don Alejandro announces that Diego and Luisa's childhood friend Ramon shall become captain of the army, which pleases both Diego and Luisa.

Later, in Spain, Diego has run away from school and joined a band of gypsies who perform in the backstreets of the city (Baila Me). He is their star attraction, and after showing several tricks to an enthralled audience, he sees Luisa. Luisa persuades Diego to return to California to stop Ramon, who has become a tyrant. Inez, another gypsy and evidently Diego's lover, is not pleased to see Luisa and decides that she and all the other gypsies must accompany them. In California, Diego finds that Ramon has stripped the people of their rights and has put himself in charge ever since Don Alejandro "died." However, unbeknownst to everyone, Don Alejandro is not dead and is being held captive by Ramon. Ramon demonstrates his cruelty by sentencing three men to death for stealing; the men had added rocks to their sacks of grain to gain extra money for their hungry families. As the men are taken away, their women angrily declare their hatred of Ramon and his treatment of the people (Libertad).

After witnessing the cruelty of his old friend, and with the help of Inez (the only one who knows his plans), Diego adopts a heroic alter ego, Zorro, to defend the people of the pueblo (Hope). At the same time, to keep his identity secret, he presents himself to Ramon as an idiot of no real threat. He offers himself to Ramon as a personal servant, a move that angers Luisa, who believes that she brought Diego back for nothing.

The following day, the three men prepare to be hanged. As they are led to the gallows, Luisa and the women of the pueblo lament over the way the pueblo used to be and express hope that things will get better (In One Day). Before the noose can be tightened, Zorro makes a name for himself by saving the prisoners. Zorro swings in spectacularly out of nowhere and manages to appear almost simultaneously as Zorro and Diego, so that no one will suspect Diego.

After another spectacular rescue, Zorro flees from Ramon's guards and find himself in Luisa's room, having walked in on her while she is in the bath. Embarrassed, he lets it slip that he knows her name, but his identity is kept safe from her, and she begins to fall in love with Zorro, just as Diego has always been in love with her (Falling).

Meanwhile, the gypsies cause a stir in the pueblo by drinking and dancing together (Bamboleo/There's a Tale), enticing Ramon's cowardly but warm-hearted Sergeant Garcia. Flirting and joking with Garcia, Inez soon finds a new admirer, and Garcia tries his best to act strong and brave like Zorro. But Inez still has eyes for Diego and finds Garcia merely entertaining. Ramon, initially intrigued by the idea of free wine, eventually turns against the gypsies and their radical ways and tries to prevent their activities. He finally attempts to exert his power by forcing himself upon Luisa, the woman he lusts over but who hates everything that he has become. However, Zorro appears just in time to save Luisa. He forces Ramon to his knees and carves his mark, "Z," into Ramon's chest, as Ramon screams in agony and anger.

The second act opens with the band of gypsies from the prologue reappearing on stage and performing a large song and dance routine. (Entrada)

When the storyline continues, Ramon reveals the full extent of his injury: he is permanently scarred with the mark of Zorro. The gypsies and citizens mock him, and he angrily declares a curfew and that anyone out after the curfew will be shot. The crowd protests (Freedom). Inez tells Luisa that it is too dangerous for her to stay in Los Angeles; Luisa says that she knows a place where Ramon can never find her. Ramon orders the guards to shoot into the crowd. The people flee, leaving Inez and Ramon alone. She tells Ramon that his empire is crumbling around him and that soon his greed will consume him (Bamboleo (Reprise)). Ramon leaves in denial, but her words have a great effect on him.

Diego tries to advise Garcia on how to express his love for Inez, but when she arrives, Garcia becomes embarrassed and runs off. Diego enquires about Luisa's whereabouts. Inez tells him and also admits that she understands that Diego loves Luisa. Diego, dressed as Zorro, finds the cave where Luisa is hiding. Luisa confesses her feelings to Zorro, and the two dance outside the cave together (Serenade). The dance ends with Diego kissing Luisa but then pulling away. Luisa asks him why he's so afraid of his feelings; outside the cave, Diego sadly confesses that he wants to be with Luisa but is afraid that he risks putting her life in danger (A Love We'll Never Live).

The following day, Garcia tries to impress Inez (One More Beer). Ramon, still distressed by Inez's words, goes to confession; he soon notices the priest is actually Zorro, who has learned that Don Alejandro is still alive and is trying to find him. Ramon sets a trap for Zorro, but Zorro manages to escape. Luisa goes to the gypsy camp where Inez transforms her into a gypsy (Djobi Djoba). Ramon bursts in and arrests Luisa. Inez calls Garcia a coward because he does nothing to stop Ramon.

Luisa is about to be executed by a firing squad when Zorro, accompanied by several other men dressed as Zorro, fights off the guards. Ramon puts a knife to Inez's throat and tries to make Zorro choose between Luisa and Inez, but Inez throws Ramon to the ground. She tells Ramon that the love between Zorro and Luisa is a love that he can never know. Ramon produces a pistol from his pocket and shoots Inez. A heartbroken Zorro surrenders and is dragged away by the guards as Ramon forces Luisa to agree to marry him. As Ramon leaves with Luisa, the gypsies appear and begin to mourn as they carry Inez's body away.

In his prison cell, Diego laments his failure to protect the people and blames himself for the suffering of the ones he loves (Hope (Reprise)). Garcia arrives and, admitting his cowardice, tells Zorro that he can take him to Don Alejandro. Meanwhile, Luisa is dressed by attendants for her wedding to Ramon. She wishes that she could have known the true identity of Zorro (The Man Behind the Mask) and laments that in order to protect her love, she must sacrifice it as well as her happiness.

As the wedding begins, Zorro arrives, but this Zorro is revealed to be Don Alejandro, who confronts Ramon about his cruelty. The guards now turn against Ramon, and Don Alejandro orders Ramon to be arrested. But Ramon says that if they dare to arrest him, he will kill Luisa. The wedding proceeds, but just before Luisa gives her vows, Zorro swings into the chapel. During the ensuing sword fight with Ramon, Zorro reveals his true identity to Ramon and asks him to stop fighting, saying that they are brothers. Ramon appears to agree but then draws a small knife. Diego evades the blade and causes Ramon to fall on his own knife. Ramon is fatally wounded and dies.

Diego is distressed by what he has done, when Luisa and Don Alejandro reenter the room. Luisa, seeing that Zorro is unmasked, begs him to show her his face. Reluctantly he does so, and Luisa is shocked by the discovery that Zorro is Diego, but still declares that she loves him. The two kiss and embrace. All rejoice (Fiesta).

Favourite Songs: Libertad, Hope, In One Day, Falling, Bamboleo, Freedom, Serenade, A Love We’ll Never Live, One More Beer, Man Behind The Mask and Fiesta

Favourite Character: Don Diego De La Vega/Zorro

He’s like Robin Hood and Superman. He has a good heart and no matter who he is, he always seems to win Luisa’s heart!

#gipsy kings #john cameron #stephen clark #helen edmundson #zorro #zorro the musical #ayearofmusicals #a year of musicals #music criticism #musical theatre #musical #musicals

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pope-francis-quotes · 6 years

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24th January >> (@romereports) Pope Francis’ Message for the 51th World Communications Day | Dear Brothers and Sisters, Communication is part of God’s plan for us and an essential way to experience fellowship. Made in the image and likeness of our Creator, we are able to express and share all that is true, good, and beautiful. We are able to describe our own experiences and the world around us, and thus to create historical memory and the understanding of events. But when we yield to our own pride and selfishness, we can also distort the way we use our ability to communicate. This can be seen from the earliest times, in the biblical stories of Cain and Abel and the Tower of Babel (cf. Gen 4:4-16; 11:1-9). The capacity to twist the truth is symptomatic of our condition, both as individuals and communities. On the other hand, when we are faithful to God’s plan, communication becomes an effective expression of our responsible search for truth and our pursuit of goodness. In today’s fast-changing world of communications and digital systems, we are witnessing the spread of what has come to be known as “fake news”. This calls for reflection, which is why I have decided to return in this World Communications Day Message to the issue of truth, which was raised time and time again by my predecessors, beginning with Pope Paul VI, whose 1972 Message took as its theme: “Social Communications at the Service of Truth”. In this way, I would like to contribute to our shared commitment to stemming the spread of fake news and to rediscovering the dignity of journalism and the personal responsibility of journalists to communicate the truth. 1. What is “fake” about fake news? The term “fake news” has been the object of great discussion and debate. In general, it refers to the spreading of disinformation on line or in the traditional media. It has to do with false information based on non-existent or distorted data meant to deceive and manipulate the reader. Spreading fake news can serve to advance specific goals, influence political decisions, and serve economic interests. The effectiveness of fake news is primarily due to its ability to mimic real news, to seem plausible. Secondly, this false but believable news is “captious”, inasmuch as it grasps people’s attention by appealing to stereotypes and common social prejudices, and exploiting instantaneous emotions like anxiety, contempt, anger and frustration. The ability to spread such fake news often relies on a manipulative use of the social networks and the way they function. Untrue stories can spread so quickly that even authoritative denials fail to contain the damage. The difficulty of unmasking and eliminating fake news is due also to the fact that many people interact in homogeneous digital environments impervious to differing perspectives and opinions. Disinformation thus thrives on the absence of healthy confrontation with other sources of information that could effectively challenge prejudices and generate constructive dialogue; instead, it risks turning people into unwilling accomplices in spreading biased and baseless ideas. The tragedy of disinformation is that it discredits others, presenting them as enemies, to the point of demonizing them and fomenting conflict. Fake news is a sign of intolerant and hypersensitive attitudes, and leads only to the spread of arrogance and hatred. That is the end result of untruth. 2. How can we recognize fake news? None of us can feel exempted from the duty of countering these falsehoods. This is no easy task, since disinformation is often based on deliberately evasive and subtly misleading rhetoric and at times the use of sophisticated psychological mechanisms. Praiseworthy efforts are being made to create educational programmes aimed at helping people to interpret and assess information provided by the media, and teaching them to take an active part in unmasking falsehoods, rather than unwittingly contributing to the spread of disinformation. Praiseworthy too are those institutional and legal initiatives aimed at developing regulations for curbing the phenomenon, to say nothing of the work being done by tech and media companies in coming up with new criteria for verifying the personal identities concealed behind millions of digital profiles. Yet preventing and identifying the way disinformation works also calls for a profound and careful process of discernment. We need to unmask what could be called the "snake-tactics" used by those who disguise themselves in order to strike at any time and place. This was the strategy employed by the "crafty serpent" in the Book of Genesis, who, at the dawn of humanity, created the first fake news (cf. Gen 3:1-15), which began the tragic history of human sin, beginning with the first fratricide (cf. Gen 4) and issuing in the countless other evils committed against God, neighbour, society and creation. The strategy of this skilled "Father of Lies" (Jn 8:44) is precisely mimicry, that sly and dangerous form of seduction that worms its way into the heart with false and alluring arguments. In the account of the first sin, the tempter approaches the woman by pretending to be her friend, concerned only for her welfare, and begins by saying something only partly true: "Did God really say you were not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?" (Gen 3:1). In fact, God never told Adam not to eat from any tree, but only from the one tree: "Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you are not to eat" (Gen 2:17). The woman corrects the serpent, but lets herself be taken in by his provocation: "Of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, “You must not eat it nor touch it, under pain of death" (Gen 3:2). Her answer is couched in legalistic and negative terms; after listening to the deceiver and letting herself be taken in by his version of the facts, the woman is misled. So she heeds his words of reassurance: "You will not die!" (Gen 3:4). The tempter’s “deconstruction” then takes on an appearance of truth: "God knows that on the day you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil" (Gen3:5). God’s paternal command, meant for their good, is discredited by the seductive enticement of the enemy: "The woman saw that the tree was good to eat and pleasing to the eye and desirable" (Gen 3:6). This biblical episode brings to light an essential element for our reflection: there is no such thing as harmless disinformation; on the contrary, trusting in falsehood can have dire consequences. Even a seemingly slight distortion of the truth can have dangerous effects. What is at stake is our greed. Fake news often goes viral, spreading so fast that it is hard to stop, not because of the sense of sharing that inspires the social media, but because it appeals to the insatiable greed so easily aroused in human beings. The economic and manipulative aims that feed disinformation are rooted in a thirst for power, a desire to possess and enjoy, which ultimately makes us victims of something much more tragic: the deceptive power of evil that moves from one lie to another in order to rob us of our interior freedom. That is why education for truth means teaching people how to discern, evaluate and understand our deepest desires and inclinations, lest we lose sight of what is good and yield to every temptation. 3. "The truth will set you free" (Jn 8:32) Constant contamination by deceptive language can end up darkening our interior life. Dostoevsky’s observation is illuminating: "People who lie to themselves and listen to their own lie come to such a pass that they cannot distinguish the truth within them, or around them, and so lose all respect for themselves and for others. And having no respect, they cease to love, and in order to occupy and distract themselves without love they give way to passions and to coarse pleasures, and sink to bestiality in their vices, all from continual lying to others and to themselves.” (The Brothers Karamazov, II, 2). So how do we defend ourselves? The most radical antidote to the virus of falsehood is purification by the truth. In Christianity, truth is not just a conceptual reality that regards how we judge things, defining them as true or false. The truth is not just bringing to light things that are concealed, "revealing reality", as the ancient Greek term aletheia (from a-lethès, "not hidden") might lead us to believe. Truth involves our whole life. In the Bible, it carries with it the sense of support, solidity, and trust, as implied by the root 'aman, the source of our liturgical expression Amen. Truth is something you can lean on, so as not to fall. In this relational sense, the only truly reliable and trustworthy One – the One on whom we can count – is the living God. Hence, Jesus can say: "I am the truth" (Jn 14:6). We discover and rediscover the truth when we experience it within ourselves in the loyalty and trustworthiness of the One who loves us. This alone can liberate us: "The truth will set you free" (Jn 8:32). Freedom from falsehood and the search for relationship: these two ingredients cannot be lacking if our words and gestures are to be true, authentic, and trustworthy. To discern the truth, we need to discern everything that encourages communion and promotes goodness from whatever instead tends to isolate, divide, and oppose. Truth, therefore, is not really grasped when it is imposed from without as something impersonal, but only when it flows from free relationships between persons, from listening to one another. Nor can we ever stop seeking the truth, because falsehood can always creep in, even when we state things that are true. An impeccable argument can indeed rest on undeniable facts, but if it is used to hurt another and to discredit that person in the eyes of others, however correct it may appear, it is not truthful. We can recognize the truth of statements from their fruits: whether they provoke quarrels, foment division, encourage resignation; or, on the other hand, they promote informed and mature reflection leading to constructive dialogue and fruitful results. 4. Peace is the true news The best antidotes to falsehoods are not strategies, but people: people who are not greedy but ready to listen, people who make the effort to engage in sincere dialogue so that the truth can emerge; people who are attracted by goodness and take responsibility for how they use language. If responsibility is the answer to the spread of fake news, then a weighty responsibility rests on the shoulders of those whose job is to provide information, namely, journalists, the protectors of news. In today’s world, theirs is, in every sense, not just a job; it is a mission. Amid feeding frenzies and the mad rush for a scoop, they must remember that the heart of information is not the speed with which it is reported or its audience impact, but persons. Informing others means forming others; it means being in touch with people’s lives. That is why ensuring the accuracy of sources and protecting communication are real means of promoting goodness, generating trust, and opening the way to communion and peace. I would like, then, to invite everyone to promote a journalism of peace. By that, I do not mean the saccharine kind of journalism that refuses to acknowledge the existence of serious problems or smacks of sentimentalism. On the contrary, I mean a journalism that is truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans, and sensational headlines. A journalism created by people for people, one that is at the service of all, especially those – and they are the majority in our world – who have no voice. A journalism less concentrated on breaking news than on exploring the underlying causes of conflicts, in order to promote deeper understanding and contribute to their resolution by setting in place virtuous processes. A journalism committed to pointing out alternatives to the escalation of shouting matches and verbal violence. To this end, drawing inspiration from a Franciscan prayer, we might turn to the Truth in person: Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Help us to recognize the evil latent in a communication that does not build communion. Help us to remove the venom from our judgements. Help us to speak about others as our brothers and sisters. You are faithful and trustworthy; may our words be seeds of goodness for the world: where there is shouting, let us practise listening; where there is confusion, let us inspire harmony; where there is ambiguity, let us bring clarity; where there is exclusion, let us offer solidarity; where there is sensationalism, let us use sobriety; where there is superficiality, let us raise real questions; where there is prejudice, let us awaken trust; where there is hostility, let us bring respect; where there is falsehood, let us bring truth. Amen. From the Vatican, 24 January 2018, the Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales. FRANCIS.

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crimsonrevolt · 7 years

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Nature’s Rebirth ( Part II )

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.”

April 1st, 12:00 AM --

Rumors swirl, infiltrating the Selwyn Ball with tales of an awaiting showcase of strength. A reminder that those pure of blood stand strong, unrelenting -- and that they’ll hold fast against any weakness the war might present in them. Magic runs through their blood, as it has always done, and this is their rightful place. But there are those present who don’t agree, who fear the gossip that reaches their ears, and Davina Selwyn sends out a warning to Amos Diggory, asking for his help should anything go wrong. After informing Alastor Moody and Millicent Bagnold of the situation, it is decided that the Order will infiltrate both of the events in an attempt to keep the peace at both.

Only merriment exits in the Diagon Alley celebrations, buzzed spirits wondering if they’ve finally found the break they needed from the chaos, and the ministry hoping that this show of unity will be one that carries throughout the upcoming days. But amongst all the revelry, Frank Longbottom and Selina Sapworthy hope to expose the bitter understring of complacency brought about by the Ministry, and attempt to question those in attendance about their beliefs.

April 1st, 1:00 AM --

A skull beams brightly in the air -- smoke illuminating it’s presence at the Selywn manor, and distracted guests crowd around, wondering what is to come. As the murmur of excitement only grows louder, the figure of the Dark Lord makes himself known, muggleborns and those thought as traitors to their cause hovering under his spell -- sacrifices of their cause. Amongst them -- one Dorcas Meadowes. This is his dominion, and he is about to become their King. Alastor, Amos, Lily Evans, Benjy Fenwick, and Fabian Prewett watch on in horror as the first unforgivable is uttered. This is war -- but without the knowledge of who amongst the masks is on their side, the risks of throwing caution to the wind is too great to undertake, and with all calls for backup to Diagon Alley only resounding with a similar call of distress, they are left alone in the battle. They split up, one group attempting to rescue those under Voldemort’s control, the rest mingling amongst the guests in an attempt to distinguish foe from friend. They are quick to unmask the boasting of Bellatrix Lestrange and Rodolphus Lestrange, and after a brief skirmish, are able to pull them aside for questioning.

Chaos ensures when the same dark mark hovers over wizarding London, it’s symbol one recognized as a harbringer of death, destruction, and it brings the tremble of fear into anyone not bearing the very same symbol on their wrist. Frank and Selina use this as their diversion, drawing upon the fear and attempting to inflame it, but -- a piercing scream calls their attention. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is amongst them, a shield of magic protecting him from everyone who dares to enter into his vicinity. But who he’s carried with him is clear as day. Muggleborns, innocents, and a friend of so many in the Order. Millicent alongside Greta Catchlove, Edgar Bones, Hestia Jones, and Molly Weasley realize that the images they are seeing are merely a projection sent from the Selwyn Mannor, and attempt to quell the panic. However, with most in the street unawares, and Dirk Cresswell, Xeno Lovegood, and Florence Wilson joining in on Frank and Selina’s efforts to instigate the panic, the wizarding population is left attempting to fend for themselves -- with each person not wavering in doing something that’ll ensure their protection, even if it means harming someone else.

In a dark secluded house, Katrina Parkinson hears of the struggles going on in Diagon Alley, and certain that she cannot let such violence continue, she strikes a deal with Orion Black, with him promising to stop the torture and murder of Dorcas Olivia Meadowes in return for his freedom. Little does she know that he has more sinister plans in mind -- spurned on by resentment and anger at being left alone in capture.

April 1st, 2:30 AM --

Dorcas Meadows lays dead -- the first sacrifice. The one personally slaughtered by Voldemort himself. And the purebloods cheer -- this is the spectacle they’d been waiting to see, and it’s only the start of the monstrosities. The Dark Lord calls out to the onlookers, most still masked -- and asks for those amongst them who are brave to show their devotion to the cause. While Rabastan Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy are eager to prove themselves, Septima Vector and Arabella Figg are called forward as well. However, when the two refuse to educate the mudbloods in their midst -- their allegiances are made known, and Lucius and Rabastan turn on Septima and Arabella. Davina and Alastor attempt to usher in control, but the members of the Order and Aversio are left scrambling as the Lestrange family orders death to be unleashed onto any who dared to enter without being worthy of the Dark Lord’s presence. In amongst the fear -- Regulus Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Gilderoy Lockhart flee. Although, unbeknownst to them all, their allegiances have begun to shift -- Peter and Gilderoy in awe of the Dark Lord’s power, and Regulus disenchanted by the spectacle he has witnessed. Voldemort holds strength, there is no question, but his loyalty to the people who support his cause remains to be tested.

Dolores Umbridge and Druella Black attempt to bribe Marcus McKinnon and Charity Burbage to let them escape the ball unharmed. While Gideon Prewett and Gladys Gudgeon attempt to use the panic amongst the guests as a diversion for violence -- seeking the blood of those who have taken pleasure in seeing people who’ve done no wrong killed and tortured. But in amongst the chaos, their showcase of cruelty is witnessed by Fabian and Benjy.

Katrina and Orion arrive at Diagon Alley, where his true intentions reveal themselves. Instead of attempting to speak to the Dark Lord and stop the murder of Dorcas and the other muggleborns, he breaks free. Joined by Cassius Mulciber and the Carrow twins, Orion makes a stand -- and Cassandra Burke must make a choice for what she’s willing to stand for. In amongst the confusion, the crowd is left wondering -- was Aversio a part of the Death Eaters all along? Both masked, both prone to violence, both instigating a problem for the Order, and with Aversio’s motives under question and the image of Dorcas Meadows lying dead on the cobblestone streets -- before her body flickers and fades until it’s as if she’d never been there in the first place -- confusion and fear run rampant.

With the uncertainty and the Aurors nowhere in sight, Caradoc Dearborn now leads the rebellion, joined by Marlene McKinnon and Sirius Black. Masks pulled tight over their faces, Aversio makes a stand that this is the kind of injustice that the Ministry stands for (not Aversio) -- and they will not let it continue. But violence is unwise in the midst of fear, and quickly they learn that it only turns to chaos and being seen as the enemy, their cause further linked to the injustices that the Death Eaters in attendance are instigating. Ted Tonks and Pandora Lightwood attempt to stop the violence portrayed by their cause, horrified of what they are willing to inflict on innocent people, and they are quickly joined by Hestia Jones and Greta Catchlove in an attempt to diffuse the tensions.

April 1st, 6:00 AM --

The streets of Diagon Alley lie filled with blood, it is a dark day amongst the Wizarding World. But despite the panic and confusion, Millicent Bagnold and Alastor Moody appear as a combined force -- announcing that they’ve managed to recover Dorcas Meadowes’ body, alongside rescuing several of those held captive by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named -- and that they’ve managed to capture two Death Eaters, Augustus Rookwood and Calliope Nott from the Selwyn Gala, who might hold crucial information. However, in amongst all of the panic, Amelia Bones has gone missing -- the young Auror’s whereabouts unknown.

April 5th, 10:00 AM --

Dorcas Meadowes’ funeral.

April 6-12th

Riots, Disorder, Destruction continue -- instigated by Aversio and the Death Eaters alike, with the Order and the Ministry focused on putting an end to the violence. However, their focus has turned to the Death Eaters, with most of the wizarding population now fearing Aversio’s power, the danger they present is only one they inflict upon themselves.

April 13th, 9:00 AM --

Millicent Bagnold announces her run for Minister of Magic.

April 16th, 8:30 AM --

Death Eaters enter into the run as well, and amongst them -- Rodolphus Lestrange, Druella Black, and Orion Black all vie for power. But who amongst them all will win... still lies to be decided, and with the Wizarding World torn at all sides, there is no question that this will be a bitter war.

April 16-30th --

The Death Eaters attempt to instigate further questions of the Ministry’s power by unleashing destruction of muggle villages, and attacking members of the Order, while the Aurors and the Ministry attempt to keep things in a precarious state of control. Aversio meanwhile is in an internal struggle, with a multitude of members questioning their alliance, and those who are set attempting to force those wanting to leave into compliance. The leader of Aversio -- still unknown to everyone in the organization, makes his stance clear: Attempt to leave at your own peril and he urges those who’ve remained loyal to attempt to dismantle the notion of having a Minister of Magic altogether. They need a new system in place, one that will not allow this to happen again.

Birthdays:

April 3rd: Isaac Bones April 8th: Amos Diggory April 19th: Arabella Figg

*please message the main if you have any questions about this plot drop and we’ll attempt to clear everything up for you. your character can be a lot more involved than they are in this -- as it is only a rough outline and we tried to leave a lot of things open to interpretation, or for characters to step in. please don’t write past the end of April in game time.

#crtevent #crtadmin #hp rp #first wizarding war rp #lsrpg

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theroseandcrown · 3 years

Text

The Rose & Crown: Chapter Twenty-Three (Part One)

Rating: M Chapters: 23/24

Summary: The Doctor falls further than he ever has before in his quest to find the end of the loop. He has abandoned his name and everything that comes with it in the hope that Clara will stay with him in their altered reality. It is now up to Clara to bring the Doctor back to life before she loses him forever.

Read this story on another platform: Archive of Our Own Fan Fiction WattPad

The air felt frigid and damp upon his pale skin, bringing with it a sense of familiarity that only the oncoming storm could provide. Far off in the distance beyond the rigid mountainous highlands, a streak of lightning claimed the pale evening sky like splintering glass. The earth rumbled beneath his feet as the boom of thunder soon followed. His calculating eyes were fixed upon an unmasked figure standing several paces in front of him. Her long black cloak rustled with the howling wind. Neither of them made a move as the tension in the air grew between them. His hearts raced with anticipation at her benighted presence before him. Whatever reason for her ultimate quest to discover his location, there was only one thing he needed to know.

“How did you find me?”

********************

Amidst the silence that had befallen the interior walls of the TARDIS main control room stood the form of her silver-haired Time Lord on the upper platform. A maroon-coloured velvet jacket hung on display upon the metal coat rack beside him. He hesitantly reached out and allowed his hand to run its course over the fabric of the sleeve as if searching for imperfections. Lifting the jacket by its collar, he removed it from its position of rest and gracefully placed on his armour. His fingers slowly traced their way down the seams of the lapels towards the buttons on the front as the garment embraced him like an old friend. Inhaling a deep breath in preparation of what was to come, he took hold of the railing and descended the stairs. He came to a sudden stop near the last few steps as his eyes met with Clara’s favourite chair, now empty and cold. He was alone. The memory of their last conversation from that very spot bled into his mind so clearly, it was as if she never left it.

The Doctor stood quietly at the console, his attention fixed to the view-screen as he manually updated the TARDIS interface with the data from his most recent maintenance. Though tedious and time-consuming, he rather enjoyed the distraction from the constant apprehension he felt towards their impending future. Patience had never been one of his strongest attributes. He was a man of action, constantly moving forward, the first to react whenever the moment called for it. His own personal agenda for any given circumstance had almost always paralleled each other; swoop in, save the day, rinse and repeat. But now, as the anticipation lingered in the air, he felt every bit of it tightening the rope bound around his hands. Unless all the cards were to suddenly play out in his favour, he had no choice but to hang up his coat in defeat. As strange and exposing as that felt, after everything he and his companion had been through so far, perhaps it wasn’t so terrible a thought after all.

Clara took to her reading while he worked, her legs comfortably propped on the railing as she took up occupancy in her chair. Her fingers softly grazed the familiar pages of Jane Austin’s “Pride and Prejudice” for what felt like the hundredth time since coming aboard. The brief moment of descent into the world of a truly enthralling story was the closest she could come to exploring on her own without the threat of danger lurking in any given direction. The people she discovered there were oftentimes the only example of humanity she had left to cling to. Being the sole representative of the human race aboard the TARDIS, the only person qualified enough to remind her of where she came from was herself.

His wistful eyes shifted towards her for a brief moment before returning to the screen. “If you’re hoping to discover an alternate ending, I’m afraid I have some bad news for you,” he offered.

“I don’t read it because I know how it ends,” she noted, her attention drawn towards the page. “No matter how many times I’ve read it, I always find something I hadn’t noticed before. An unrealized emotion, a meaningful glance, a deeper understanding of the characters. It’s as if I’m meeting them for the first time all over again. I find it quite inspiring, actually.”

“If you say so.”

She frowned at his predictably apathetic response and did her best to ignore him, seeing no point in defending her obsession with the written word any further. Returning to the story, she tried to concentrate on the words and phrases in front of her but found her mind beginning to wander. “Can I ask you something?” she inquired from behind the pages.

“I assume you’re being rhetorical,” he replied, reluctantly engaging himself in her idle conversation between tasks.

She lowered the book and closed it neatly in her lap before swinging the chair around to face him. “Why were you so afraid to tell me how you really felt?” she asked delicately as if the question might shatter the illusion he had created around their friendship to protect himself. Though she bore a great appreciation for how far their relationship had come, she often found herself revisiting the memories of their past with an entirely new perspective. Every word, every touch, every glance in her direction had all been called into question ever since the day his true feelings for her were revealed. Perhaps the patterns had always been there but until recently had gone unnoticed. She wasted so much energy trying to decipher who they were to each other that she failed to realize she might have been searching in the wrong place.

“You want to discuss this now?” His brow raised at her inquiry as he continued to monitor the ship’s diagnosis. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m sort of in the middle of something,” he informed her.

“Well, can’t we do both?” she prodded further.

He sighed concededly and thought to himself, ‘Sure, why not?’ He took a moment to find the words to reply that would sound the most meaningful. It wasn’t often he thought about the parameters of their relationship nor felt the need to devise a scientific explanation to define it. They simply just... were. Though confident in his ability to express his love for her, he knew very well that it hadn’t always been that way. “If you must know, I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. I doubted myself and my ability to become the man I wanted to be for you. I still do, but I’m willing to try,” he answered, fully prepared to leave it at that.

“Have all your romantic relationships been this difficult for you?” she pressed on.

“Have I been trapped inside a paradox loop with all of my previous relationships? No, I’d say this is a first,” he answered, returning to his work.

“You know what I mean.”

Exhaling another exasperated breath, he had little choice but to accept the fact that she had no intention of backing down from the conversation. “Time Lord courtships work very differently from what humans are accustomed to. Genetically speaking, my people mate for life so they must be very sure of whom they wish to mate with.”

Her eyes lowered to the floor for a moment, unable to help but feel slightly disenchanted by his answer. Had their romantic involvement with each other not been forged by unfortunate circumstances, there would have been no way to know which direction their relationship would have gone. “It couldn’t have been easy for you then, not having a choice,” she replied.

He stood silently for several moments as he recalled the anger he felt after discovering the terms of their friendship had been violated by Missy’s hands. Though difficult to accept at first, over time it had allowed him to overcome his fear of letting Clara into his hearts. There had been no manual available to advise him on how to feel for her, but her patience and compassion for him were well worth the struggle it took to learn. He remembered the pain he once harboured as punishment for longing to be with her. A pain he was far more willing to suffer than face the devastating thought of her absence from his life altogether. “Some things are easier to live without than others,” he professed softly, his eyes stealing a brief glimpse of her before returning to the screen. “Nothing is ever easy when you’re truly invested in it enough. That’s what makes losing it so hard. Our friendship was far more complex than the choices we were forced to make. You still had your whole life ahead of you. You had the freedom to choose to stay with me of your own free will. Or you could have left the TARDIS and never looked back if you wanted to. It may not have been the choice I would have wanted, and I cannot say without a doubt that it wouldn’t have broken me severely to see you go, but it still would’ve been yours to make.”

Meeting his familiar form with her sympathetic expression, she finally came to understand all that he had sacrificed at the cost of getting too close to her. The love he had imprisoned inside himself was his only protection against the pain he’d endure if she ever decided to leave him for someone else. She could only imagine what that must have been like for him when they were apart. If only she had known sooner, things might have turned out much differently between them. “And how does it make you feel knowing that if I had to do it all over again, I would still choose you?”

Turning around to face her, he smiled warmly and gazed into her eyes. “Deeply honoured,” he answered tenderly. “I can only hope you feel the same. That you bear no resentment for what I’ve done to you. No matter what may happen to us in this cycle or the next, I promise to always love, cherish, and protect you for as long as you’ll have me.”

Charmed by his words, a coy smile formed over her lips. “Are you proposing, Doctor?” she teased.

The question caught him by surprise. “Is that what you want?” he asked, unsure of how to respond.

Taking a moment to consider her answer, she set her reading aside and lovingly glanced in his direction. “No,” she confessed as she stood and made her way towards him. She placed her hands in his and held them with delicate care. “I already have everything I could ever ask for. What we have is very special to me. I don’t want anything to change between us, Doctor.”

“Nor do I,” he agreed, not wishing to lose any part of what they were to each other.

“Besides, going into battle against a lunatic on a prison planet isn’t exactly how I’d imagine spending my first days as a married woman.”

“Ah, yes. I could see how that might spoil the moment,” he admitted, genuinely adoring every second she remained in his grasp. As he held her, he thought about how many times he tried to tell her how she made him feel yet the words would not escape him. He was so afraid of what she would say that he buried them deep inside himself. But now, everything they were before had been altered by their intense love for each other. The very nature of their relationship was the sole cause of his inner turmoil, the reason he’d been avoiding his pursuit of reaching the end. It was only a matter of time before he’d run out of excuses for keeping them there. Even the ship’s never-ending maintenance was just another unnecessary diversion from his original plan to save them. Though he knew he couldn’t lie to her forever, perhaps he no longer had to. Perhaps this was his chance to finally open her eyes to another possibility in front of them. An opportunity to show her what they could truly become together. “Although, there’s always the alternative,” he implied.

“Alternative?” she asked curiously.

Gazing into her eyes, he felt the strong sensation of nervousness rising within him. He found himself both scared and vulnerable standing before her, hoping that even the smallest piece of how far their relationship had come was worth risking what he was about to say. Glancing towards their held hands, he lightly stroked his thumbs over their surface and tried to find the courage to expose his greatest weakness for her. Though his apprehension in the matter made it difficult to find the right words, his hearts would not allow him to retreat from them now. “What would you say if I asked you to consider sharing a life with me here inside of this reality?”

Her eyes narrowed as she studied him, unable to prevent her confusion from expressing itself on her face. “What are you talking about?”

Inhaling a deep breath, he pushed his fears aside and forced himself to continue. “What if I could offer you a reason to stay in the loop with me, a chance to create a future of our own together?” Hesitating for only a moment, he lowered her hand and gently placed it against her middle. “Starting here.”

She found herself taken aback by his gesture. As her mind began to process what he was asking, she quickly realized how bewitched he had become by her ability to carry for him. She believed his sudden increase in intimacy over the past few weeks was his way of savouring their last moments together. But in reality, it was all part of his greater purpose to seduce her into conceiving his child so she would agree to stay with him. “Is that what you’ve been doing to me? Bedding me night after night to ensure I fall pregnant again?” she accused him.

“Would it be wrong of me if I said yes?” he asked, attempting to mask any sign of guilt behind his endearing expression.

“Doctor, we’ve talked about this,” she scolded.

“I know, and I haven’t forgotten the risks,” he assured her. “But if you believe I’m prepared to throw everything we have away so easily, then you are greatly mistaken. How can you possibly expect me to give you up when I’ve become addicted to the happiness you bring to me? You’ve given me more to live for in this life than I ever thought possible. From the very first moment I felt our child’s warmth thriving inside of you, my craving for it has only grown stronger. And now that I’ve seen what we are truly capable of, can you blame me for trying?”

She sighed with mild confliction at his words, knowing how badly they both wanted this life despite what it would mean for the rest of the universe. They had set off on this journey together with the understanding that the path in front of them would be a difficult one. She just hadn’t realized how quickly he would slip away from being who he was meant to be the longer they stayed on it. Though it pained her greatly to see him so lost inside, she couldn’t bring herself to fault him for wanting so desperately to provide her with a family of her own. “I don’t blame you, Doctor,” she answered softly.

“I’m relieved to hear you say that. Because, in a way, this is all your fault if you think about it,” he added, smirking to himself.

“Wait, hang on. My fault?” she inquired defensively. “How so?”

He smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her closer. “You make it very difficult to resist you.”

Though flattered by his love-struck diversion, she rolled her eyes and attempted to bring him back to reality. “Very charming, but we both know the only way to ensure the future is to see this through to the end. I don’t see how getting me with child on purpose is going to help us defeat Missy.”

“Perhaps we won’t have to. As long as we can convince her you haven’t given birth yet, she’ll never know the difference. We could buy ourselves an eternity together,” he offered, amused by his misbehaviour.

“Right. Just so I’m clear, the new plan is to keep me pregnant forever, never age, and hope Missy doesn’t catch on,” she frowned, realizing how even more ridiculous that sounded out loud.

“You’re right, that’ll never work. Two of those things can be easily maintained. The other would require a miracle worker,” he teased.

Her eyes narrowed at his attempt at humour. “Not all of us have the luxury of being a two-thousand-year-old stick insect. You’re lucky I still tolerate you.”

“Admit it, this isn’t the first time you’ve been swept away by my charm,” he remarked bearing a wide flirtatious grin.

“Maybe,” she smiled amorously and wrapped her arms around his neck. “But now I have the advantage. You’ve revealed your true intentions to me. All I have to do is resist you.”

“You can certainly try,” he cheekily replied, bringing his hands to rest upon the sides of her waist. “But I must warn you, I’m very resourceful.”

“Is that so?” she asked, concealing a small laugh behind her smile.

“You should probably surrender now. It’ll save time,” his grin brightened.

“Oh, I see. And this is the part where I’m supposed to let you win, is it?” she wondered, raising a curious brow at their light-hearted role-play.

“Perhaps I already have,” he suggested, his eyes lowering to the space between them. His hand slid from her waist and pressed against her belly, holding her body firmly to the console. “It could already be too late for you.” He allowed his fingers to spread between her hips as he searched deep inside of her for any sign of life. Though it was still too early in her development to determine how far along she might be, he remained hopeful it wouldn’t be much longer before he had caused her to swell for him again. “I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.”

She closed her eyes and gasped from under her breath as he applied a deep pressure to her womb. The sensation of it quickly ignited the fire within her as he worked to stimulate her maternal appetite for him. His power over her was exhilarating. She felt every beat of her heart as it quickened in rhythm. Her breathing deepened the more control he placed over her. Unable to help herself from falling hopelessly under his spell, she opened her eyes to meet his tender gaze. “Be careful what you wish for, Doctor,” she whispered, pulling him towards her to embrace him with a passionate kiss.

His body pressed against hers as he became lost in her arms. His strong desire to protect her was made even more aware by his unrelenting hunger for her conception taking priority in his mind. It gave him a sense of vitality knowing that as long as they remained entrapped together, his claim over her fertility would forever be bound to him. Her incessant longing to fill the void inside of her with life consumed him. He could feel her desperation for it pulsating beneath his palm. He would do anything to provide her with the relief she required. He knew the battle to save themselves from the virus’s control over them had been lost long ago, and he no longer cared. Slowly removing himself from her lips, he leaned away to see her face in every detail. “I want this life with you, Clara. A chance to prove to you that I have what it takes to protect you and our children. A chance to care for you and stand by your side as they grow within you. What we are capable of creating together has only happened between our species a handful of times in the entire history of the known universe. Don’t you see? We are compatible, you and I.” His glance returned to her middle where he stroked her delicately, his fingers grazing over the thin fabric of her dress. “I can make you happy in this new life, just as you have made me. All you have to do is say yes.”

Her heart fluttered so fiercely in her chest it was almost frightening. The moment between them became still with anticipation as she searched inside of herself for an answer. He was offering her a choice. A choice he no longer felt he could be trusted to make on his own anymore. He was asking to be released from the terrible burdens he’d been harbouring within him all this time. As she peered deeply into his eyes, she could see how utterly torn he was inside. The man she knew him as before never would have allowed himself to become so divided by which decision was easy and which was right. Whatever demons had been the cause of his internal battle with himself, he no longer had the strength to fight them. It had taken her until this very moment to realize that the man standing before her had been drowning in the sea of his addiction for her longer than he would ever dare to admit. If she had any hope of rescuing him, she would have to be strong enough for both of them. Her eyes fell to where his hand caressed her middle and gently placed her hand over his. “You know how badly I want this, Doctor. I want more than anything for us to be a family, to have a life of our own we can share together. You’ve seen inside my mind. You’ve been inside my dreams. You don’t need to prove yourself to me to know that I would carry your child in a heartbeat if you asked me to.” Taking a deep disheartened breath, her eyes met his again. “But is this the world you truly wish our children to be raised in? To be trapped here on the TARDIS forever because someone out there will always want to hurt them? Have you forgotten about our daughter or what must happen to her if we were to stay?”

His eyes narrowed as they passed back and forth to each of hers, studying her expression with guarded precision. “Of course I haven’t,” he answered defensively, suddenly realizing his terrible mistake in assuming she would be on his side in this. Releasing her from his grasp, he slowly stepped away and took a moment to find the words that would explain what had been eating him up inside. He ran a hand down his face and attempted to mask his increasing disappointment as his thoughts began to reorder themselves. Once composed, he looked to her more sternly. “Have you any idea what you are asking of me? Do you not realize that I am being forced to make an impossible choice? Either Quynn becomes everything she was raised to be, or never exist at all. You might as well be asking me to kill her. Is that what you want?” He watched as his companion’s eyes lowered to the floor in conflicted silence. He sighed heavily and tried again to appeal to her heart. “I reached through to her, Clara. I know I did. Somewhere out there our daughter is trying to find us. For all I know, we could be walking straight into a trap. But if I’m wrong, then there’s still a chance she could be a part of our lives. As long as she is on our side, there will be no army for us to run from. Her terror will be at an end. Together we could be sparing countless species across the universe from death and destruction. And in return, we could have everything we’ve ever wanted right here. We would never have to leave this reality. Can’t you understand? We’ve been given a chance to start a new life together, a chance to have a family of our own. Isn’t that winning enough?” he pleaded, desperate for her acceptance.

“Winning? Is that what you think this is?” she responded, her eyes lifting from the floor to meet his. “When we first started this, I knew there was a chance I would never see my friends or family again. That they would never know what happened to me. But I chose to stand by your side because you made me believe we were going to change the future together. That the lives of those who had suffered at the hands of Quynn and her army would be saved. If we stay, then you will be condemning the billions of people she has killed to their fate. They will die over and over again for all of eternity because of her.”

Turning his back on her, he approached the edge of the platform and gripped the railing to steady himself. It took everything in his power to calm his emotions. “Everyone dies eventually, Clara. I can’t save them all,” he replied solemnly.

“Yes, you can,” she insisted, taking a step towards him. In his silence, her underlying heartbreak began to take its toll on her. “What happened to you, Doctor? What happened to the man I fell in love with?”

Losing all control of himself, he quickly turned around to face her and allowed his voice to rise with intensity. “He became a coward! Is that what you want to hear? That I’m afraid of things going back to the way they were before, spending my days pining away for you, unable to tell you how I feel?”

“What are you saying, that you want Missy to win?” she insinuated, astonished by his confession. She caught herself staring at him in disbelief as his expression quickly shifted towards that of ineradicable defeat at her inquiry. “Oh my god. You are, aren’t you? You’re giving up. You intend to put a child in me so you can give up being the Doctor,” she accused him.

“Maybe so,” he confessed without the slightest hint of hesitation.

“But you are the Doctor. There is no one else,” she replied imperatively as if the man standing before her had died leaving no trace of his former existence behind to be saved.

“Maybe I don’t want to be the Doctor anymore!” he shouted angrily as he approached her. “What if everything I ever wanted is right here in front of me?!”

She backed herself against the console and attempted to swallow her intimidation of him as he came closer. It took every bit of courage she had left to stay strong in his presence. “Have you fallen so hard for me, Doctor?”

A short cynical laugh escaped him at the question. “Is that so wrong?” he asked, raising his arms from his sides and allowing them to fall limply into place. “After all this time, after everything I’ve done, don’t you think the universe owes me this? Do I not deserve happiness?” He waited for a response from her as she silently stared at him through her stilled expression. Turning away, he paced for a few moments while trying to gather his emotions as they bled all over the floor. Once calm, he turned to face her again. “The life you carried inside of you, the life I helped bring into this world, I desire more of that feeling with you. Please, all I’m asking is that you at least consider what we could have together,” he begged her.

Having lost herself in the heat of the moment, she allowed her defensive nature and disappointment in him to take control. “This isn’t about me, is it? This is about what you failed to do as a father all those years ago,” she declared harshly, then immediately felt the sharp pain of regret after saying it. Her mouth dropped open in shock over her own words but it was too late to take them back. She watched helplessly as he placed a hand over his shattering hearts and turned from her, utterly crushed and saddened by her painful accusation. The sight of it was unbearable. “I’m so sorry, Doctor,” she confessed softly as tears welled in her eyes. “That was cruel of me.” She felt her stomach turn at how sick she felt just then, her arms coming around to hold herself tightly. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath to clear her mind and find another way to reach through to him. “I know you miss them, but I will never be able to replace the children you have lost.” After a moment, she opened her eyes and lifted her gaze hoping he would turn to face her once more. He remained silent in her presence, unwilling to abandon his outward glance. She sighed and tried again to gain his acknowledgement. “You once told me that as long as they still lived within you, you would never give up fighting to save those who would suffer the same fate. No matter what happens, we will still have each other. We both know Missy will never stop until every star and planet has burned by her hands. If you allow her to win, then this world you so desperately wish to create with me will become a very small place. How can we teach our children about the wonders of the universe if there is nothing left of it?”

Placing his hands on the console, he braced himself upon it and hung his head in devastation. “Are you saying no then?”

Her tears making their way down her face, she felt every bit of her heart breaking for him. As unfair as it was to bear the weight of this decision on her shoulders alone, deep down she knew she had made the right choice. “I’m sorry, Doctor. But we cannot hide ourselves away watching from a distance as the rest of the universe falls apart all around us. No one else should have to die for our love.”

Fighting his tears, he slowly gathered himself to a standing position and attempted to regain himself in her presence. “You’re right, of course. Always right,” he spoke softly, turning around to face her one last time. “Forgive me. I was being selfish.” He forced a weak smile to his face before lowering his eyes to the floor and removing himself from the room.

Tearing the memory from his thoughts, he approached the console and began buttoning the cuffs of his sleeve to prepare himself for the ultimate battle against his enemies. His expression remained stern and focused as his mind plotted out exactly what was to happen next. The sound of his infant daughter cooing from her bassinet beside him drew his attention. He silently peered down to observe his child’s small form in every detail as if taking one last look at her before offering his final farewell. Retaining his distance, he returned to the view-screen. The man staring back at him from its reflection was far from recognizable. His eyes had become cold and calculated. The lines on his face had deepened with unwavering concentration. His moment of truth had arrived. The time had come for him to show his enemies what he was truly capable of, no matter who stood in his way. The darkest hour was finally upon him. There would be no turning back from it now. There was no way to know what the future had in store for him in the end. All he knew for certain was that his Clara was gone. And no matter if he won or lost, he was going to get her back.

#dr who #dr who fan fiction #dr who fanfiction #12th doctor #doctor who #doctor who fanfiction #twelfth doctor #the doctor #twelve/clara #clara oswald #whouffaldi

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ourmrmel · 5 years

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Mel Feller Lists his Quick Quotes – Pick Me Ups

By Mel Feller, MPA, MHR

Mel Feller Seminars, Coaching For Success 360 Inc. /Mel Feller Coaching

When things get tough, many people turn to a motivational quote for a bit of inspiration. Some of these pithy sayings have become celebrated parts of society’s lexicon. Mel Feller also says, there is a little bit of implicit coaching that is happening when you are reading it. It is building that self-efficacy in that kind of dialogue that you are having with yourself.

Quick Quote Pick-Me-Ups

"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Charlie Parker, American jazz musician

"The victim who is able to articulate the situation of the victim has ceased to be a victim; he or she has become a threat." James Baldwin.

"Growth is demanding and may seem dangerous, for there is loss as well as gain in growth. But why go on living if one has ceased to grow." May Sarton

"When you get into a tight place and it seems you can't go on, hold on, for that's just the place and the time that the tide will turn." Harriet Beecher Stowe

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." Elizabeth Kubler Ross

"It is more blissful that man be taken from pain than pain be taken from man for if pain be taken from us, it may come again..." Julian of Norwich

"Tragedies serve as an express elevator to spirit." Dan Millman

"Healing is a matter of time, but it is at times also a matter of opportunity." Hippocrates

"People wish to be settled: only as far as they are unsettled is there any hope for them." Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear-not absence of fear." Mark Twain

"If you want to see the brave, look at those who can forgive. If you want to see the heroic, look at those who can love in return for hatred." Bhagavad-Gita

"Hate is not conquered by hate. Hatred is conquered by love. This is a law eternal." Dammapada, Buddhist scripture

"What would it be like if you lived each day, each breath, as a work of art in progress? Imagine that you are a Masterpiece unfolding every second of every day, a work of art taking form with every breath." Thomas Crum

"When old words die out on the tongue, new melodies break forth from the heart; and where the old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with its wonders." Rabindranath Tagore

"Most people have to delve into the dark areas and go through them before they reach a state of freedom, light and serenity." Cristina Grof and Stanislav Grof, M.D.

"So, whenever a doctor tells you that you have an incurable or fatal disease, look him squarely in the eye and tell him--- ---! (Whatever is your favorite expletive). Then go out and find yourself another doctor-one who believes in the body and not in the disease." Lawrence Badgley, M.D.

"Throughout history the human mind and the human spirit have overcome and endured problems and situations that seemed insurmountable." Les Brown

"A turning point is life's way of giving you a chance to move ahead spiritually, though you must reach for the gift yourself." Harold Klemp

In Chinese, the character for crisis means both "peril" and "opportunity."

"Our task is to say a holy yes to the real things of our life as they exist." Natalie Goldberg

"Everything in life that we really accept undergoes a change." Katherine Mansfield

"The only antidote to the irreversibility of history is the faculty of forgiveness." Hannah Arendt

"It is impossible for anything to be lost, for in the divine economy, nothing can pass away. The little flower which bloomed once, blooms forever." Neville

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein

"We all have angels guiding us....They look after us. They heal us, touch us, comfort us with invisible warm hands....What will bring their help? Asking. Giving thanks." Sophy Burnham

"We are most deeply asleep at the switch when we fancy we control any switches at all." Annie Dillard

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." Joseph Campbell

"In my life's chain of events nothing was accidental. Everything happened according to an inner need." Hannah Senesh

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melodie Beattie

"Bless a thing and it will bless you. Curse it and it will curse you...If you bless a situation, it has no power to hurt you, and even it if is troublesome for a time, it will gradually fade out, if you sincerely bless it." Emmet Fox

"Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears." Kahlil Gibran, the Prophet

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." Helen Keller, Optimism

"You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair." Chinese proverb

"There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body; the soul is on its knees." Victor Hugo

"We shall draw from the heart of suffering, itself the means of inspiration and survival." Winston S. Churchill

"I guess that the giants in life are those who just keep growing on the manure of every crisis and setback." Lynda Bloomberg

"Real success comes when you learn to act as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on God." Oprah Winfrey

"We know finite disappointment, but infinite hope." Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The choice today is no longer between violence and nonviolence. It's either nonviolence or nonexistence." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"My life is my message." Mahatma Gandhi

"It's not the strongest species that survive, not the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change." Charles Darwin

"If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find, in each person's life, sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostilities." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy." Abraham Joshua Heschel

"Interviewer: If your house were on fire, which object would you take with you?" Jean Cocteau: The fire!

"Always forgive your enemies-nothing annoys them so much." Oscar Wilde

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." Oscar Wilde

"He who has a why to live can bear almost any now." Nietzsche

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." Alan Watts

"True love and prayer are learned in the hour when love becomes impossible and the heart has turned to stone." Thomas Merton

"I have come to appreciate how most of spiritual practice is learning to be kinder to one another." Aldous Huxley

“The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted, uncared for, and deserted by everybody." Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"No matter how lonely you are, the world offers you imagination." Mary Oliver

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." The Serenity Prayer attributed to Reinhold Neibuhr

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flames by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light." Albert Schweitzer

"Why is it that people always need love and understanding the most at a time when they probably deserve it the least? Lou Holtz

"Don't throw anyone out of your heart." Neem Karoli Baba

"Inside yourself or outside, you never have to change what you see, only the way you see it." Thaddeus Golas

"Be here now." Ram Dass

"The sun be warm and kind to you. In the darkest night some star shine through." Langston Hughes

"Deep peace of the running river to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you." Gaelic blessing

"No ray of sunshine is ever lost, but the green which it awakens into existence needs time to sprout, and it is not always granted for the sower to see the harvest. All work that is worth anything is done in faith." Albert Schweitzer

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead

"We have a long, long way to go. So let us hasten along the road, the road of human tenderness and generosity. Groping, we may find one another's hands in the dark." Emily Greene Balch, Nobel Peace Laureate

Mel Feller, MPA, MHR, is a well-known real estate business consultant and speaker, specializing in performance, productivity, and profits. Mel is the president of Mel Feller Seminars with Coaching For Success, Inc. and Mel Feller Coaching, a real estate and business specific coaching company. His three books for real estate professionals are systems on how to become an exceptional sales performer. His four books in Business and Government Grants are ways to leverage and increase your business Success in both time and money!

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