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setzappersto-pew · 3 years

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StarKid and Musical Score #2

Pop culture parodies tread fine lines to avoid copyright violations, especially when it comes to music. Some go for a certain mood or genre to evoke the source. Holy Musical B@man! is a great example. Nick Gage and Scott Lamps used strictly synthesizer and an electronic drum kit. They made great use of the standard synthesizer sound, calling to mind ‘80s new wave electronic music; a darker electric guitar sound to capture the gritty Batman from The Dark Knight or The Killing Joke; and light and playful bell tones, representing the innocence of Robin or perhaps the campy silliness of the ‘60s Batman TV show.

When it’s a parody musical of a musical, the challenge is even greater. Enter Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier.

There’s not a lot of interstitial music to set the scenes, but what little there is excels with capturing the mood, like the eerie strings and woodwinds coupled with sporadic percussion during Aladdin’s breakdown near the end. Instead, Twisted features a large number of songs to fill its 2.25 hour runtime, so I’m going to focus on the instrumentals of those for this post. The instrumentation for this show includes keyboard, drums, guitar/bass, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, and alto/tenor saxophone. It’s a much bigger and more varied band than any StarKid show had before or since.

The endeavor that composer A.J. Holmes, accompanied by incredible lyricist Kaley McMahon, set out on was to evoke not only the source material, Disney’s Aladdin, but also other Disney movies of the same era and the Broadway musical Wicked. The Disney references are all over the place, including the Disney-fied StarKid logo. The latter was accomplished via the title (Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier vs. Wicked: The Untold Story of a Wicked Witch), the album cover, the method of role reversal (a villain posed as the hero of their own story), and even a direct reference to the book. But A.J., along with orchestrator Andrew Fox and music director Justin Fischer, took it a step further with several songs to give the audience a truly immersive and magical experience.

To keep it simple, I’m going to link each song--or most, as some I can’t quite figure out--to another Disney or Wicked song that A.J. was likely, or even obviously, taking influence from. The similarities are often in the instrumentation and tempo; chord progressions and adjacent melodies; or lyrics and character situations.

Not a song, but the opening music evokes the haunting strings and bells in the opening of Beauty and the Beast to a tee. Like...it’s a dead ringer, obviously in purpose.

“Dream a Little Harder”: An opening ensemble number like “Belle” from Beauty and The Beast. Introduces the protagonist and the surrounding characters with a sweet and tremulous flute at the beginning and bouncy strings throughout. Lyrics mirror each other, i.e. “Fuck you” = “Bonjour”...Nick’s favorite line, “Marie! The baguettes! Hurry up!”...they all hate Ja’far vs. they all think Belle is weird. Belle is even part of the ensemble, telling Ja’far to keep his “fat face out of the mother fucking book”! It’s a pretty obvious comparison.

“I Steal Everything”: “One Jump Ahead” from Aladdin is the obvious parallel in orchestration, melody, tempo, lyrics, character situation...everything.

“Everything and More”: Again, an obvious parody of “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. Same gentle yet sweeping melody, same lilting tempo paired with vocals timid one moment and powerful the next, lyrics exploring desire for more.

“A Thousand and One Nights”: This one was a little harder, as really none of the Disney princesses have duets with their princes. But I think it pairs well with “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King, at least after Timon and Pumbaa have their moment! The back and forth between lovers talking to themselves about the other has a similar feel. Honestly, this song is pretty original and yet manages to evoke Disney love song perfectly without copying any. The gentle melody, sweeping yet sweet orchestration, and the dialogue really sell it. They knew it was the love song because they went ahead and parodied the cheesy pop covers that ‘90s Disney movies are known for with a true bop performed by Britney Coleman and Carlos Valdes.

“Orphaned at 33″: Perhaps the reprise of “One Jump Ahead”? It’s slower and more melancholy and has similar chord progression and crooning vocals. Maybe “Go the Distance” from Hercules? Both are songs of sadness and longing, but StarKid’s Aladdin is far more pathetic and creepy than Hercules. EDIT: “Proud of Your Boy”, which was cut from Aladdin and put in the stage show, is absolutely the reference here! Again, a song of sadness and longing and self-pity and lamentation of a bad childhood...and StarKid’s Aladdin is still more pathetic. Musical parallels: similar chord progressions, embellishments, instrumentation, time signature, tempo, etc.; starts with delicate notes and Aladdin just talking (this starts at 46 seconds in “Orphaned at 33″, after a prelude); lilting and tiptoeing melody in the middle (1:56 for “Orphaned”, 1:08 for “Proud”); powerful sustained vocals and sweeping winds and strings to finish. I know this song was in the back of my mind, but it just wasn’t coming to me. Thank you @hatchetfieldtheories and @melchron for helping me out!

“Happy Ending”: The last half, at 1:50, really reminds me of “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, specifically at 5:15. The quiet and tense music make way for powerful vocals and are just waiting to burst forth for a showstopping ending. Both songs are also Act 1 closers. I can’t really place the rest of “Happy Ending”, but it all reminds me of Wicked with the powerful rock guitar and drums paired with cinematic strings. Plus, I always love when multiple melodies come together as reprises, most often as Act 1 closers!

“No One Remembers Achmed”: A sillier version of “Gaston” from Beauty and The Beast. The spurned villain’s cohorts are pumping him up and singing his praises! Both melodies are jaunty, though with different instrumentation...Twisted’s featuring sillier sound effects and goofy xylophone.

“Take Off Your Clothes”: A sexier version of “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. Slightly modified melody, and obviously the lyrics, but it’s exactly the same.

“The Power in Me”: A solemn and sweet farewell duet between friends like “For Good” from Wicked. The delicate woodwinds and strings sound similar to the gentle synth in “For Good”. Vocal performances are cautious and tender at first but quickly become strong and confident. “You are the power in me” and “I have been changed for good” follow almost the exact same rhythm.

The titular song has many facets, so I’ll detail them here:

Opening to 1:03 and 5:55 to the end = “No Good Deed” from Wicked, with the same intense strings and percussion. The whole situation and lyrics match, with both Ja’far and Elphaba deciding to just be antiheroes because no one sees them as heroes anyway. “I’ll be twisted, it’s my turn” matches “No good deed will I do ever again” and “I’m wicked through and through”.

1:10-2:06 = “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from The Little Mermaid...it’s Ursula, so of course...but also, the woodwinds and keyboard mimicking brass evoke the same bouncy yet menacing rhythm, akin to an evil polka.

2:07-2:50 = “Be Prepared” from The Lion King. Obviously, it’s Scar’s moment...but also, they have similar deep and primitive drums and woodwinds.

The rest of the songs (”Sands of Time”, “Golden Rule”, and “If I Believed”) I couldn’t really place, but they still evoke the source materials. “Golden Rule” has a classic musical theatre ensemble number feel, with fun strings and woodwinds and delightful choruses; the reprise turns it on its head with menacing piano and bass. “If I Believed” is another take on an “I want” song; the flute and cello pair very nicely together to support Dylan’s soulful voice.

My next post in this series will likely be about the Hatchetfield series: The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, Black Friday, and Nightmare Time. There’s a lot in between, like the AVP Trilogy, ANI, and Starship, but the music for those stands out less to me. They’re great, don’t get me wrong, but I think that the score is not what makes them special. The Hatchetfield stuff, however...is intense.

Thanks for reading!

#starkid #rewatchers1000 #twisted: the untold story of a royal vizier #holy musical b@man #disney #wicked #sk musical score

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kookscrescent · 4 years

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Wings Are Meant To Fly │ pjm

➤ pairing│Jimin x female reader ➤ summary│You finally go your wings, but when you find yourself having a difficult time learning the ins and outs of flying, the last person you want help from offers his. ➤ rating│PG-13 ➤ genre│fairy au, fantasy au, enemies to lovers ➤ warnings│strong language, some kissing, Jimin is simply an asshole, some humor (hopefully lol...) ➤ word count│5k│semi edited ➤ release date│December 9th 2019 ➤ disclaimer│This is all fiction! Nothing mentioned/written are facts and/or real! So please just keep that in mind when reading and enjoy! Thank you ♡

⇥ Masterlist

”God fucking dammit!”

Cursing loudly, you stumble through the thickness of the bushes and trees. Thorns pocking the bare skin on your legs, some of them penetrating the skin leaving behind a stinging sensation.

You look down the length of your body. You have dirt everywhere! The new dress your mother made for this specific day is now completely ruined! The white fabric now stained with brown dirt and green spots of grass.

“Ugh!” you cry loudly in frustration, your hands furiously trying to wipe away as much of it as possible.

Leaves crumble in the tall bushes next to you, “Having trouble?”

The voice startles you, making you jump in shock and making your heart beat uncontrollably. You scoff when you notice who the voice belongs to. Him. Why does he have to be the one to witness this of all the people in the village?!

“Go away.” You grumble and turn your back to him.

But of course he doesn’t listen. He never does. He only ever listens to himself and his father. “But I was enjoying the show.” He pouts, but you can clearly hear the amusement in his voice, and it makes your blood boil.

“I’m serious Jimin, go away!”

Your day has already been crap thus far and you don’t need him as audience for this just to go back to the village and tell everyone how much you suck at learning how to fly.

For over centuries, young fairies have grown into their wings on their 21st birthday. Today was your turn to get yours. You were so excited when you woke up this morning, not caring in the slightest about the presents and the breakfast your parents had prepared for you, you just rushed to the bathroom to look at your new wings in the mirror.

They are beautiful. You have always seen everyone older than you walking around with theirs and flying around the village. It was such a sight and you couldn’t wait for the day you got yours.

You are still amazed when you look over your shoulder and they are there. Pure white and feathery, and just the right size for you.

But your happiness didn’t last very long.

In this village it is also customary to learn how to fly on your own. That means without supervision and without help from any of the elders, just yourself and your wings trying to take off from the ground and stay in the air.

Not that anything would happen if anyone were to teach someone how to fly, but in this village, pride is a major key.

Flying… It sounds easy enough, but it is not! The amount of concentration it takes to get only a couple of centimeters off the ground is enough to give anyone a headache! And once you finally got a few centimeters off the ground, your entire body would spasm, sending you crashing right to the ground.

It is no fun at all! And the fact that Jimin has just witnessed your crash of humiliation is just the icing on the cake. You know that by the end of the day the entire village will know about you lost attempts of flying.

“You know it usually takes a one or two tries for most people, but five tries ____? Really?”

You bend down to grab the nearest rock and you throw it at him, aiming for his face. “Fuck off Jimin!”

The rock isn’t even close to hitting his face. You manage to humiliate yourself even further by throwing like a total loser as well. Great!

Jimin laughs at your poor attempt. “You can’t even throw!”

“Not all of us grew up in the same conditions as you!” You throw back desperately.

Being the son of the fairy king, Jimin grew up in a completely different setting than you. Sure, you went to the same school during your younger years and through your teenager stage, but in private it was all different.

He grew up in a castle with a king as his father, while you grew up in a normal house and your father is by no means a king, he is however an advisor to the king, but being one of the kings advisors doesn’t bring you any privileges in this field per say. Jimin received training in all sorts of things like sports, history and because of his position as the king’s son, he was even permitted flying lessons when he turned 21. You didn’t get any of that growing up. Your fathers takes great honor in his pride as well as his family’s pride, and he is a firm believer in self learning, so the extend of your training – of any kind – was your father trying to get you to play sports with him. He quickly gave up when he realized that it would be to no avail though. You don’t own a single sporty bone in your body!

The rock you just tried throwing is evidence of that!

“I didn’t receive training in rock throwing,” he deadpans with a laugh.

Jimin steps closer to you, standing in your line of sight. You glare at him, wishing that you could smack that stupid smirk right off his face, but you know it will only get you in trouble.

You notice he has retracted his wings, the space on his back being left bare and only covered by his shirt, but you have seen them plenty of times before. They are unlike any other wings. He is a direct line to the throne, royal blood running through his veins and therefor his wings are black. Just like his fathers.

You would never in a million years admit this to him, but his wings are actually quite breathtaking. The color so rare and unique for wings, and when they hit direct sunlight they turn silver – the same color as his hair.

Jimin takes in the sight of you as well. The light layer of dirt covering your white wings is proof that you have fallen to the ground more times then you have stayed in the air. Your dress as well is covered in dirt and mud, and Jimin finds it rather amusing that you haven’t yet mastered the skill of flying.

You sigh in despair, “Seriously Jimin, what do you want?” You just wish for him to leave you alone so you can get a grip on this.

“Nothing,” he shrugs.

“Good, then leave.”

You don’t know if it is the pleading tone of your voice or the way your hope is slowly leaving your body, but eventually, after a few seconds of pondering, Jimin turns and leaves through the bushes. You watch him leave without further words, the tightness in your shoulders slowly loosening and when you can’t see him through the branches and leaves, you breathe deeply, determined to fly.

“How did it go?” Your mother asks as soon as you step into your house. The sun has long set and has been replaced by the moon for the night.

“Did you fly?” she proceeds to ask when you don’t answer her first question.

You head straight for your bedroom. “I don’t wanna talk about it!” You say with a little too much anger and slam the door behind you.

You feel bad for talking like that to your mother. It’s not her fault that you can’t seem to get a grasp on this stupid flying thing!

Faceplanting on your bed, you groan loudly into the pillow – all of your pent-up anger and frustration seeping into the soft fabric.

Why did you have to be born as a fairy? Why could you not just have been born as a human or a troll… Okay, maybe not a troll, but still!

Do you even need the skill of flying? What is it even good for? It’s not like it’s a life or dead necessity.

“This sucks!” You mumble into the pillow.

Despite the fact that you haven’t slept a wink last night, your determination has brought you out of bed at the crack of dawn and back to the same secluded clearing. The sun has barely even woken up yet and the entire village is still sleeping. Not a single fairy is in sight and you thank the great fairy God that your 21st birthday fell on a Friday, which means that today is Saturday and no one will be up for at least a couple of hours.

You learnt from your mistake yesterday, wearing a brand new dress was a bad idea, so instead you opted for a pair of your old leggings and a t shirt you don’t care about. Thankfully it’s not to chilly in the mornings this time of the year.

You can see the small clearing as you push through many branches, your hands providing your face with safety as they pounce back every time they are slightly pushed to the side.

As you make it out of the bushes, you spot a figure sitting on the opposite side of the small field, leaning casually against a tree while eating an apple. You stop in your tracks when you realize just who it is.

“What the hell are you doing here Jimin?!”

He doesn’t even flinch at the tone of your annoyed voice. He briefly lifts his head to meet your eyes before he returns his focus to the apple, taking a big bite, the sound ringing through the empty clearing.

“You’re here?” He feigns nonchalantly.

“Why are you here?” You ask him again stepping closer.

This time he keeps his eyes on yours, a stupid smile appearing on his face. “I was out for my morning run and decided to take a little break.” Another bite of apple goes into his mouth.

Frustrated, you shake your head and cross your arms over your chest. “You were out for your morning run?” You huff. “Right Jimin, whatever.”

You decide to leave. You really don’t have the energy to deal with him today! You’ve barely slept more than a few minutes and you are still angry and frustrated from yesterday. You are practically a bomb waiting to go off!

“I can help you, you know!” Jimin calls after you making you stop and face him.

“What?”

“I can teach you how to fly.”

You narrow your eyes at him. What is his deal? “And why exactly would you do that?”

“Wings are meant to fly,” he smirks arrogantly and then adds on a shrug, “and I’m a friendly soul.”

You could laugh right then and there! Jimin a friendly soul? Right!

In all the years you have known him, he has never once been remotely friendly towards you. Jimin is 2 years older than you, and during your school years, he was always the most popular guy. Everyone wanted to be his friend but he always kept to his close knit circle of friends.

The elite fairies.

They were a group of seven guys, all stemming from similar backgrounds, except for Jimin being higher in rank than all of them. But you don’t really think they look at it in that way. They were all friends, equal so to say.

Or at least that was the vibe you got from them whenever you saw them in the hallways.

But he has never been nice to you! He would always tease you for the way you dressed, the way you styled your hair. He even teased you for hitting puberty later than most of the other girls.

You hated that he felt like he could just tease and make fun of whoever he pleased just because of his father is the king.

“I’m sorry, but did you just say that you are a friendly soul?” You laugh and he has the audacity to scowl at you. “Sure, and I’m your fairy godmother.”

Jimin stands form his spot by the tree, carelessly throwing the remainder of his apple to the ground. He takes slow steps towards you, his hands going into the pockets of his black joggers. “Really? I’ve actually never met my fairy godmother seeing as she died over 100 years ago, but I must say you really do hold up nicely for someone that is supposedly dead.”

If you could just smack him once and get away with it! You can feel your palms itching to do so, but you fight the urge.

“Goodbye!” You growl with clenched teeth.

“I can have you up and flying by the end of the hour.” He drawls his promise seductively, his voice coated with sugar and venom.

Again, you stop walking as his words settle with you. He can have you flying by the end of the hour but at what cost? What does he get out of this arrangement? Would it even be that bad having him teach you how to do it? Sure it would hurt your pride, but you really don’t know how many more crashes you can take before you eventually go crazy and rip off your wings.

Fuck! Are you really contemplating this?!

“What would you get out of it?”

Jimin goes through all of the options in his head, his lips forming a straight line but his eyes dancing brightly with humor.

“A kiss.” He finally lands on.

You almost choke on air. A kiss!? What the hell!

“You want me to kiss you?!” You sputter. “What the fuck? Why?!”

Jimin shrugs, “Call it curiosity.”

“What even…” Your words slowly die down as you feel yourself getting flushed. You hate to admit it, but as much as you hate the guy you are not blind! You think he’s attractive – of course you do, you would be stupid not to think so, but that fact doesn’t make up for him being a complete asshole!

Yet, you find yourself seriously wanting to kiss him… just to see what it would be like…

No! You can’t seriously want to kiss him! It’s an internal battle with yourself, your mind going over all of the pros and cons. The pro is that by the end of the hour you will hopefully be flying with ease, and the cons are that its Jimin who will have taught you how to do it, and he will most likely tease you with it for the rest of your existing life and you will have to kiss him as well.

All though that part can be seen as both a pro and a con depending on which part of your body you ask right now.

“Alright, fine!” You hear yourself speak in the end. “But one kiss. One small peck!” You stress to him.

“Whatever,” he pulls his hands from his pockets and stands in front of you. “Let’s see your wings then.”

You feel a little intimidated to spread your wings right here in front of Jimin. It’s not a difficult task to do, you quickly mastered how to retract and extend them yesterday but having Jimin’s burning gaze on you while you do it… it is a little unsettling.

With a deep breath you let your wings flutter open behind you. It is still a feeling you are getting used to and you still haven’t made up you mind if you like the feeling or not. It doesn’t hurt per say, but its most definitely not a pleasant feeling either. The best way you can describe it is, that it is similar to the feeling of popping a pimple. It sounds gross but it’s the truth. The feeling of something bursting through your skin but it doesn’t hurt it is just unpleasant at most.

As you seem lost in your own thoughts, Jimin takes the opportunity to study your wings. They look pretty much the same as other normal wings, the same white color only yours are a tad bit more feathery, a few of the feathers hanging delicately at the bottom of them giving them a more feminine look, and they are smaller, not by much, but enough to match your physic perfectly.

“So where do we start?” You ask, your arms spreading wide in a shrugging motion. “What should I do?”

Jimin clears his throat, “Firstly,” he begins circling you till he stands behind you. “You need to become one with your wings.”

“What are-“

“You need to know your wings to be able to control them.”

“I can already do that. You just saw me extend them, didn’t you?” You huff annoyed.

“That’s not the same thing,” he tsks. “Being able to extend and retract them is easy enough. It’s a form of control yes, but it’s not the same.” He explains.

Jimin puts both of his hands on your shoulders and you stiffen even further under his touch. Behind you Jimin smirks at your reaction. “You need to connect with your wings.” He continues. “Loosen up, relax your body.”

You try your hardest to relax, but the heat from his hands are making it almost impossible for you to do so. Closing your eyes, you concentrate hard on trying to relax.

“There you go,” Jimin praises you, when he feels your muscles loosen up.

“What now?”

He moves his hands from your shoulders completely, taking the warmth with him. He steps to your front once again but you keep your eyes closed. If you look at him now you will just tense up again.

“Now, you focus all your energy on your wings. Imagine them in your mind, draw out a clear picture of them, what they look like, how they feel, what they would look like in the air.” He lowers his voice with each word, the sound settling in your mind.

You do as you are told. You mind and body focusing on the same thing and slowly you begin feeling a sensation of small shocks through your body.

You begin to panic, “What’s that?” You gasp as another shock runs through you.

Jimin rolls his eyes at you, “That’s the feeling of you connecting with your wings, you idiot!”

“Don’t call me an idiot, you asshole!”

“Then stop being a baby.”

Scowling, you open your eyes. “I’m not being a baby! This whole thing is new for me, okay! You might have gotten this thing on the first try back when you first got your wings, but let me tell you something buddy, you and I are different! My father is a strong believer in self learning, so I didn’t have a teacher to teach me anything about this leading up to it!”

You can feel the anger seething out of you, and you know your entire face is probably red and your eyes close to tears.

“You do have a teacher.” Jimin points out, ignoring the rest of your little rant.

“Then stop being fucking mean to me and teach me!”

Taking a step back, Jimin shrugs his shoulders in an apologetic manner. He doesn’t say the actual words, but you take it for what it is.

Closing your eyes once again, you let your body and mind connect with your wings. The shocks begin again. Short waves running through your body and all stopping in one place: your wings.

As the shocks keep coming, you feel your wings begin to flutter. It starts slow – the soft feathers lightly moving against the morning air, but they quickly gain speed. The fluttering turns into full blown swishes and the leaves on the bushes rattle from the force of it.

The feeling is foreign and unlike anything you have felt before. It feels like your body isn’t yours anymore, like it has gone to a completely different place. The shocks are still running through your body until suddenly they aren’t, and it almost feels like you are floating instead.

“What now?” You ask Jimin confused.

“Open your eyes you moron!”

“Hey! I told you not t-“ Your scolding falls short when you eventually open your eyes to see yourself floating several inches above Jimin.

“What the fuck!?” You gasp in surprise and wobbling slightly in the air from your sudden outburst. You didn’t even feel your feet leaving the ground! When did this happen?

You look at Jimin in utter shock and he just laughs at you, the expression on your face priceless. He slaps his hands smugly, “Now you’ve learned to get in the air, now you need to learn how to control your direction.”

“Okay… how?” You ask still floating above him.

“Same as before really. Focus on where you want to go.”

“Like visualize the place?”

“Yes.” Jimin confirms. “If you want to go left, visualize it. If you want to go forward, visualize it. If you want to fly higher, visualize it.”

“Okay,” you mumble. Once again all of your focus goes to visualizing and connecting with your wings. In your head you repeat the mantra forward, forward, forward! It takes a couple of seconds, but eventually you slowly edge forward, your shadow looming over Jimin as you move.

“Oh my god!” You gasp happily. “I’m fucking flying!”

You can hear Jimin laugh behind you, the sound echoing around you as you fly in small circles amongst the tall trees and bushes.

This is amazing!

Your whole life you have waited for the day when you would finally get your wings and be able to fly! And now here you are! Granted, things didn’t turn out or run as smoothly as you had hoped for, and you have to admit that your pride is a little bruised from having to ask Jimin for help, but you are okay with that and your father doesn’t have to know that you didn’t do it all by yourself.

“How do I get back down?!” You half yell the question.

“Visualize it!” He yells back.

When you eventually land with both feet on the ground, you can’t keep the smile off your face. You just flew! And you didn’t crash and burn like the other times!

You feel a new sense of energy and happiness bubbling inside of you. You feel like you could run a marathon and swim across the oceans.

Wanting to do it again, you don’t hesitate for a second before you are back in the air, giggling like a little school fairy. This time you fly even higher than before. You fly over the tops of the trees and bushes, up where there is nothing but fresh air and quiet. You know you have to be careful when you are this high up and this unprotected. A large bird could easily come and snatch you without a second glance.

In the distance you can see the sun peeking out from the tree line. The bright rays warming your naked arms and you bathe in the feeling of it. Not a single cloud is in the sky and it is a sign that today is going to be a good day.

Slowly and to your dismay, you retreat back down to the ground. Jimin is still there, standing in the same spot as before, his eyes following you back down. In your ecstasy you had nearly forgotten about him.

You retract your wings and a silence falls between you. You know that you are supposed to say thank you to him, but for some reason having to utter those two words to him – to Jimin, is hard, and also you know you have a dept to pay to him.

“Uh,” you begin, nervously scratching the side of your arm. “Thank you for helping me out.” You surprise yourself at how strong the words come across despite the fact that your heart is beating wildly in your chest.

“You’re welcome.” Jimin answers casually.

You catch yourself zoning in on his lips. There are a good few steps between you, but you can clearly see how plump they look, and it makes you wonder what he is like when he kisses. You know for a fact that he has done plenty of kissing and fooling around in the past, several of your girlfriends having fallen victim to his charms but hearing it from someone else and experiencing it yourself are two completely different things.

You swallow the lump in your throat, “Well… bye!” You quickly rush the words out of your mouth and turn on your heal, ready to make a dash for it when Jimin takes a hold of your wrist.

“Not so fast,” he huffs, a small laugh following his words. “I believe you owe me something.”

Eyes falling to his fingers still wrapped around your wrist, you hesitantly look into his eyes. “Really? What’s that?” You feign confusion, your eyebrows raising to play up your act.

Jimin just rolls his eyes at you, “A kiss.” As soon as the word kiss is in the air, your heart begins to race once again. It is beating so fast that you are pretty sure that Jimin is able to see it beating against your chest.

You hum, “Hmm, I don’t remember ever agreeing to kiss you.” Just for good measure, you look around you in confusion as if you are looking for that specific memory.

He tilts his head, boyish smile adoring his plump lips. “Now you might be an idiot, but I know you’re not dumb.”

“Did you just insult me and compliment me at the same time?” You give him a funny look and point a finger at him. “You know that takes a certain amount of talent to do that. Most people just do one or the other. You know, they either choose compliment or insult… it takes-“

“Would you stop rambling,” he interrupts you. “Trying to change the subject won’t work on me.”

You sigh in despair, “Why do you even wanna kiss me?!”

You still can’t wrap your head around it –Jimin wants a kiss from you? Why? You might be a fairy but it’s not like you have fucking magic lips. At least not to your knowledge or to the knowledge of the guys you have kissed in the past.

“Curiosity,” he repeats his previous statement, not providing you any further explanation.

Without letting go of your wrist, Jimin effortlessly spins you around to face him. Your eyes go wide at the proximity of your bodies, your personal space being invaded completely. He’s close, so close that you have to look away in fear that you will start blushing.

But the distance between you seems to be too large for Jimin because he steps closer to you, your breaths mingling and our knees touching. Your heart is beating at an unbelievable pace, your breathing ragged. You need to take a step away from him before you pass out, but it is to no use. Jimin just follows right after you and in the end, you can’t step away any further, your back coming into contact with a large tree.

You nervously eye him, noticing the way the corners of his lips lift into a smile at your little game of cat and mouse.

Meekly, you slump your shoulders. You might as well just get it over with now, rather than drawing it out any longer. A small peck wont hurt.

“Let’s just get this over with.” You grouchily mumble.

“I love your eagerness,” he comments only to receive a glare from you.

Jimin leans closer to you, your faces only millimeters apart and your noses gently brushing each other. It happens before you can even muster a second thought about it. His lips gently settling over yours in what you would barely call a kiss.

You keep still as Jimin frees your wrist, your lips still touching as he instead cups the sides of your face and gently begins moving his lips over yours. You stop breathing for a moment and your eyes flutter shut on their own accord, the feeling becoming too overwhelming for you to keep them open.

Your body completely melts against his, your hands finding their place on the surface of his chest as the pace of the kiss gradually speeds up – going from slow and hesitant to frantic and heated. Gasping softly against his lips, Jimin slips his tongue past your lips, taking the opportunity to explore your mouth. It’s a feeling you welcome, relaxing even further against the tree and slinging your arms around his neck to bring him closer.

Jimin groans when you gently scratch the hairs at the nape of his neck, your fingers combing through the silver locks. The sound vibrating through your lips and down your spine, goosebumps erupting on your skin.

His thumbs gingerly brush across your cheeks in an almost loving manner, your stomach turning in knots at the unfamiliar feeling it leaves you with.

If you had to describe this moment with one word, it would be perfect. This moment just feels… perfect. The way your lips fit so perfectly together, melting into each other and the way he feels pressed against you.

You honestly don’t know how it happens, but you keep kissing, there in the middle of the clearing in the early morning. Not a single thought going through your head other than wanting to keep kissing him. It’s a feeling you could easily get addicted to… and that is what you were worried about in the first place…

Jimin nips at your bottom lip, dragging it out the slightest bit before letting it go and returning his lips to yours, but when it becomes harder to breath, oxygen needed for the both of you, your pull back, your eyes meeting instead. Breathlessly, you stare into his eyes. You don’t know what to say now. What do you say after a moment like this? Thank you?

“T-That was,” you stutter, falling over your own words. “That was… some k-kiss.” You finally manage to breath out in between breaths.

“I never half ass things,” Jimin smirks, seeming like he isn’t affected in the slightest. His hands still cupping your cheeks, but he quickly realizes and in a hurry he retreats them from your face and stuffs them in the pockets of his joggers.

“Uh, I-“

“I’ll see you around ____.” He cuts you off only seconds after you begin speaking. And no later, he turns and leaves through the bushes, leaving you standing against the tree all alone, and confused as hell!

What the hell just happened?!

I hope you enjoyed reading! If you did, remember to like and reblog! - Thank youuu!

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phoneboxfairy · 4 years

Text

A Dance of Stars - Undercover Dancer 2 (1/5)

(I lied. Thanks to @random-rave for the concept, outline, etc etc. Chapter 2 should be up in a couple weeks.) ao3 link - https://archiveofourown.org/works/22918666/chapters/54782566 Magnolia Magic Police Department, lunch time.

The city was going through a rather slow time crime-wise, with only a few reports on minor incidents needing to be dealt with lately. The same thing happened every spring, with more people focusing on enjoying the weather than breaking the law.

That’s why Lucy sat at her desk flipping through an intimidating pile of paperwork while she munched on her chef’s salad. Her brow was furrowed, and she was so caught up in her reading that she didn’t even notice movement at the desk next to hers.

Specifically, she didn’t see Natsu wheel his chair over until his warm hand was massaging her shoulder.

“What’s up, babe?”

“Hey, Natsu. I’m just looking over financial stuff for the wedding and honeymoon. I never realized how expensive this stuff was...” Heavy sigh. Gentle shoulder squeeze.

“Don’t worry. We’ll figure somethin’ out, even if it takes a while.”

“You’re right. Thanks.”

“Hey, no problem.” His words and the swift kiss that followed made her feel a lot better.

Unfortunately their kiss was interrupted when Cana walked in.

“You guys still sorting out money stuff?”

“Yeah...” Lucy let out a sigh. Natsu squeezed her shoulder again. Cana grinned, this sneaky gleam in her eye. “Why? What are you up to?”

“Oh darling, I’m not up to anything. I just had a little idea that could help you out, that’s all.”

“…Idea?”

“Yep! Given certain past assignments, I think you’d be a natural.” Cana winked. Lucy’s face went bright red. Natsu just looked clueless.

“Does this...idea of yours have anything to do with your boyfriend’s club?”

“Only everything, smart girl.” Lucy wailed. Cana rolled her eyes. “Don’t give me that. We all know you had fun dancing last time, and we’ve all seen the videos. You’re damn good at it.”

“She’s phenomenal at it.” Another shoulder squeeze, this one rather amorous. Lucy knew full well what Natsu thought of her dancing.

“Anyway, Bacchus’s club is co-ed, and he’s always looking for new talent…” The lovebirds glanced at each other. Lucy bit her lip, not sure what to do or say or even think about this suggestion.

That was when Natsu broke the silence.

“We could at least give it a try.”

“I guess...wait. What do you mean we, Natsu?”

“Well this is our future we’re talkin’ about. I wanna help.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“Duh, for us.”

“I’m sure Bacchus will let you two audition no problem, but only if you want to.” Cana sat at her desk, filing her nail as she waited for a response.

Lucy thought for a moment, eyes on Natsu the whole time. Then…

“Let’s do it.”

Cana looked mighty pleased with the whole turn of events. Natsu hugged Lucy, clearly thrilled that she was all for this plan.

Lucy smiled...but she knew one thing:

They had a lot of work to do.

~~~ Casual dancing as part of an undercover assignment was not the same as stripping with the intention to earn money. Lucy knew that, and also knew she would have to up her dancing game if she wanted this endeavor to be successful.

In short she would have to put her heart, mind, and soul into this, along with her body.

So she did. She researched and studied, taking notes on a variety of rather steamy strip club video feeds. There was a reason these women were pros. They really knew how to move, how to captivate and seduce with nothing more than the right moves and the perfect expression.

Lucy sighed, suddenly feeling very inadequate.

“Still studyin’?”

Natsu’s voice shook her out of her musing.

“Yeah. Trying to anyway. All these girls seem so...perfect and I’m...not.” Another sigh. He glanced at the screen, shrugged, focused on her.

“You see perfect, I see flat, boring, disinterested. The opposite of you, Luce.”

“You...you mean that…?”

“Duh. Every night you got on stage you always seemed happy to be there. You were winning the crowd and having fun with it. That’s pretty damn perfect to me. But then, you’re perfect to me.”

“Thanks, Natsu.” A sweet kiss with a hint of spice. “Want a special preview of my audition?”

“You bet I do.” Another, arguably steamier, kiss. She giggled and led him to their bedroom with a finger wiggle and a smile.

So she danced for him, giving him the show of a lifetime as she peeled off her uniform.

...Then she handcuffed him to the bedpost and climbed on top of him, eager to convey exactly how much she loved and appreciated him.

Much later, after both were quite satisfied and the cuffs were removed, Natsu pulled Lucy into a cuddle.

“You’re gettin’ better at dancin’.”

“Thanks, love...” Two sleepy mumbles followed by a kiss and a snore as they dozed off in one another’s arms. For the first time since this whole dancing thing reared its head, Lucy felt comfortable with it, even confident…

...All thanks to a certain pink haired goofball... ~~~ Flash forward to the following afternoon. Natsu and Lucy went to Bacchus’s club well before business hours. Cana met them at the door and led them to the main stage area, where Bacchus sat.

Introductions were made. Hands were shaken.

“Lucy, you first. Let’s see your magic.” She gulped, trying to keep stage fright from setting in. Natsu noticed, squeezed her hand, kissed her cheek, whispered.

“You’ve got this, baby. Go on.”

She bit her lip and nodded, then made her way to the stage as the lights dimmed.

Hypnotic beats, the same song she had practiced to countless times. Even last night with Natsu she had been a little shy, a little hesitant.

But not now.

All that hesitation and shyness?

Gone.

Her every move commanded attention. Even the subtle motions like nibbling her lip and unzipping her top conveyed raw sexual energy. Power. Less shy rookie girl, a bit closer to goddess.

And she knew it, from the dark gleam in her eyes and the saucy smile. She dropped the top to the ground, let her hands brush over her breasts, barely concealed by a little black string bikini. Those same hands pushed the soft material to the side, a trick she had learned from all her research. A loud whistle from the corner.

She spun around the pole, turned to face away from her quite captivated audience. Her hips swayed in time with the music, and her skirt fell down her legs.

Another trick, upside down splits. The bikini bottoms were untied and tossed right at her lover, revealing a tiny shimmering thong underneath. One last twirl around the pole, finishing with her legs in the air and her hair swirling around her. Her heart was racing, blood was rushing to her head.

And she was smiling. Holy shit, she had forgotten just how much fun dancing was.

Standing ovation from Cana, Bacchus, and Natsu. No surprise, Natsu was beaming and cheering.

"That's my woman right there!"

Moments later she was standing upright again, re-adjusting her bikini as Cana and Bacchus deliberated. The look on Natsu’s face exuded pure pride over his girl’s talents.

“Pretty hot, Lu.” Cana nudged her boyfriend, who was acting almost...disinterested? Aloof? “What did ya think, Bacchy?”

“I think I’ve seen worse from girls who’ve been doing this for years. You’re hired.”

Instant relief teamed with joy. Lucy squealed. Natsu grabbed her, spun her around, and kissed her.

“Told ya.”

“You definitely did. Thanks, Natsu.” Nose nuzzle. For a few sweet seconds they cuddled, until Bacchus’s voice brought them back to earth.

“Alright, pinky. You’re up.”

Natsu nodded, all smiles as he went to the stage. Lucy relaxed, knowing that someone as confident as he was couldn’t possibly mess this up…

Or, that’s what she thought she knew. She didn’t realize, couldn’t have predicted, just how wrong she could be.

The whole routine, if you could call it that, was a trainwreck.

First sign of trouble – he made a bee line to the pole. His grin expressed confidence. His actions expressed complete and utter foolishness.

“What the hell is he doing?!” She could hear Bacchus growling to Cana over the music. The feeling of dread that had started pooling in her tummy spread through her body, heating her cheeks in an embarrassed blush. If she could have crawled under the table and hid, she very likely would have.

What….was he doing? Well, by the looks of it, he was trying to imitate Lucy’s dance moves...trying being the operative word. It was, after all, rather difficult considering how different their bodies were. A man simply could not do this sort of dance the same way a woman could.

To his credit, he did look pretty sexy when he pulled his shirt up over his head...at least until his arms got tangled.

Then to make the whole thing worse, once he managed to wriggle the shirt off he grabbed the pole, tried to spin but ended up tripping over his own feet and faceplanting into the stage floor with an “oof!”

“Okay, we’re done here.” Bacchus groaned. He gestured and the music stopped. Lucy ran over to help Natsu up off the ground, her need to support her fiance overwhelming any embarrassment she felt...which in this case was a lot.

She honestly wanted to glare at him, but the sad, apologetic look he flashed her quenched any anger. Instead, she felt bad for him, sympathetic. He had at least tried, the poor dummy. So she squeezed his hand, hoping to convey loving support. Right now she knew he needed it.

“Natsu, man, you’re gonna need a lot of work before I let you on my stage again.”

Natsu nodded. He didn’t look embarrassed, mostly disappointed. He sat down while the others discussed scheduling, taking a rare moment of silent thought.

“Thursdays, Fridays, and weekends are our busiest days. We need all the talent we can get to bring customers in.”

“That’s...perfect, actually. It’s down time at the precinct so we’re off Friday through Monday right now.” She smiled. She was trying her best to play it cool but the truth is, she felt pretty excited.

“Great. Now let’s get this over with. Here’s the club’s rules and security waiver. Read through these and sign when you’re done.”

Once all the necessary paperwork had been signed, they shook hands again. Bacchus said something that made Lucy’s eyes brighten. Then he took a swig from his hip flask and went to his office, claiming a need to work on business stuff.

Cana grinned a sneaky grin and patted Lucy’s ass before sneaking off to presumably join her boyfriend.

Business stuff, indeed…

That left Lucy alone with Natsu. She slipped her skirt and top back on then walked over to him. One hand stroked over his shoulder.

“How’re you feeling, love?”

“Bummed but I’ll get over it.” Heavy exhale. Then he took one look at Lucy, grinned, and pulled her into his arms. Flirting and cuddling always helped when he was in a bad mood. “You were incredible out there, by the way. Even better than usual.”

“Thanks.” Sexy grin. They shared a delicious kiss. Her hand ruffled through his hair and their noses touched. “Oh...Bacchus said to tell you something.”

“Huh? What’d he say?”

“He wants to give you a second chance, but only if you take it seriously. Get lots of practice...and don’t just try to copy me, alright?”

“It’s hot when you do it, though.” He nibbled her lip and let one hand roam under her skirt.

“Down, boy. Not till we get home.” Soft giggle and finger waggle. “I can train you if you want. Give you private lessons when we’re not on call...you’ll be dancin’ like a pro in no time...You already have the body for it...” To emphasize this she traced a finger over from his shoulder to his collarbone.

“Private lessons, huh?”

“Yeah. Just you and me, one on one...” She was so close to him she could hear his heart racing as she brushed her lips against his ear. She knew damn well she was playing with fire...oh well, they’d deal with that particular “problem” when they got home… “You like that idea?”

He nodded. His next words, a growl. “I’m all fired up now, Lucy.”

#undercover dancer #natsu x lucy #nalu smut #lucy heartfilia dancing #lucy heartfilia being sexy #natsu what are you doing #stahp natsu #sexy #funny #sweet #work in progress

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purgatoryapotheca · 4 years

Text

List of Types of Graveyard Dirt

GRAVEYARD, GRAVES DIRT

THIS LIST DEALS WITH THE TYPES OF GRAVES THAT ONE WILL COLLECT DIRT FROM---

A lot of people really have no idea that there are different types of graveyard dirt and that in reality, the intention of your spell work should dictate where your dirt comes from. There is also energy from things that happen to grow or its location in a Graveyard or Cemetery that is based on energy, when it is not from a specific grave an offering to the guardians at the gates is sufficient unless it is from a grave that is dictated by its location then a further offering to the spirit within that grave is important as well.

1, 4, 7, 9 and 21 locations are considered important in the strength of the dirt for certain spell workings or rituals

In Santeria or Afro-Brazilian and other workings, the multiple gatherings of different types of dirt are used in creating protection and calling in the orisha’s.

The following is a generalized list of the different types of dirt and what it’s good for.

TYPES OF GRAVES-----

Abortionist (very old grave): This is usually a discounted medical person or a woman that had no medical training and performed abortions, this is a negative use type of dirt, to cause distress to an ill person.

Abused: Dirt from the grave of a person who was physically or emotionally abused can be useful in giving strength and will to remove either yourself or someone from an abusive situation

Abuser’s Grave: This type of dirt would be used in workings dealing with driving a couple apart or causing confusion. Making them stop loving each other, but be careful this can cause a fight so bad that they could seriously harm each other. (See also Gambler’s Grave)

Adolescent (from ages 11 to 19): This dirt is known to cause and promote inattentiveness and irresponsible behavior.

In particular, dirt from the graves of those who are ages 17 to 19, make a good additives in spells where you want to promote interest in another person, romantic involvement, romantic gestures, promote sexual attraction, increase lust, and increase sexual appetites.

There is nothing like budding sexuality to bring about all things sexual and romantic.

ACTOR, ARTIST, DANCER, MUSICIAN, Singer, Composer, Writer and others in the Creative Arts: Dirt from the graves of these creative persons, could be used to inspire a creative spark, and possible success be sure that their type of work is the same type that you want to do. Be sure they were successful and happy in their life, check their back ground history to avoid any of the pit falls that they may have encountered.

An Atheists/ Infidel’s Grave or someone who doesn’t believe in God: There is a magical working using this to cause disruption in a person’s home, to break up a couple or disrupts a person’s place of business

A Catholic’s Grave: If you get dirt from this type of grave (man or woman) from the breast or heart area this is used to help who ever has left you return to you, this can be a family member of any age or someone you seriously care about

(I need to tell you something about this, I was asked to help find a family member who had left unexpectedly after an argument and was gone for more than a year, the family wanted to find this person, so I did a ritual using this type of dirt, but the vision I received told me that it was not going to be good news, so I told the family of what I had seen, well two weeks later the body of this family member was found in a shallow grave. they had been murdered but made to look like they had just left, even a suitcase with some clothes were buried with the body, the person who did this crime was arrested and brought to trial. So sometimes it can have a sad conclusion, be prepared for that.)

Cheaters: Dirt from the grave of a cheater works well for bringing about love triangles and promoting urges to cheat.

Child (from ages 2 - 10): This type of dirt is a wonderful aid when the appearance of child-like innocence is necessary. It also works well for aid in developing new friendships.

Gathering dirt from a poor child’s grave for use in spell work will also aid in acquiring basic necessities (a home, food, etc).

Dirt from a Child’s grave or a 12 year old Child: There are two types of uses for this type of dirt to get people to leave either out of your home (like an eviction or a person who is a “sponge”) or a person you dislike in the neighborhood, I think a 13 year old or young teen would be better because they almost always are rebelling or threatening to run away from home because they don’t like parental authority.

Doctor or Nurse: This dirt can be used either to promote healing or cause illness, depending upon the intent of your casting.

Elderly: This dirt is particularly useful in situations where wisdom, knowledge, and know-how is necessary.

A Family member who truly loved you: For love and protection, best to take from the heart area and give a goodly payment.

Fireman: Protection but mostly for the home especially from all things fiery, especially good if a family member is a fireman, make into an amulet.

Gambler : If you know, for a fact, that the gambler was good, then this dirt can be used to increase luck, better odds, and heighten intuition.

If you are unsure of whether or not the gambler was lucky or not, the dirt can be used to promote someone into taking unnecessary risks.

There is also a negative aspect to using this type of dirt.

The old timers usually referred to a Gambler’s grave because they’d be drinking and taking their woman’s money for gambling but in the 21st century terms I’d say a person who is an abuser, this type of dirt would be used in workings dealing with driving a couple apart or causing confusion. Making them stop loving each other, but be careful this can cause a fight so bad that they could seriously harm each other.

Gangster ---If one wishes to do harm, or to force or coerce someone to act in a certain way, one might use the dirt of someone who "died badly" -- before their time, through execution (not by the law), because their spirit, once invoked, would be inclined to perform evil deeds or to seek very strong justice with little compunction.

A Good Person’s Grave: Excellent for peace in your home and in your work place

Infant : Let’s start with dirt from a Baby’s or Infant’s Grave ---There are a number of magickal workings that use this type of dirt---for example~~~

A Baby’s grave is good for peace in your home, or to have people get along in your home that live with you.

It can also be good for keeping the law away and there is an old time spell that can be use. I will post these spells later in another post

If there is a person you like and you want them to notice you be it man or woman you can use it.

Or to bring back a person into your life.

It can be used to get a job, and there is a formula and spell for that as well.

Also if you have a baby of your own and it has terrifying dreams or cries in a terrifying manner you can use this dirt to help the baby to rest, by putting it in a non-metal jar in the room. It is believed that a negative spirit is surrounding the frightened baby and the bright spirit light caused by this dirt will chase away such negative energies.

Also it can be used to make someone move out of the area. To do this, put together a dirt dauber nest (type of wasp) and dirt from a baby’s grave, put it in the sleeping area (if the person is living with you) of the person you want to have move out, or near the front porch of a person’s house, they will hear the frightened, terrified cry from that spirit and it will make them move or leave. Only they can hear it not anyone else.

Dirt from an infant’s grave can be useful in spells of fertility, or to ensure that someone becomes totally dependent upon you, or when you need to appear indispensable. Also because a baby's vision is somewhat blurry, this dirt can be useful when you need someone to cast a "blind-eye" to something that you're doing

Infant/child who died on Friday the 13th : because the spirit of a young child is fairly obedient this dirt can be used to cause trouble or bad luck to someone.

Infant/ who died on Halloween: Much the same as one that died on Friday the 13th only worse, might be used to haunt a wrong doer, especially a rapist.

INFANT WHO LIVED TWO DAYS OR LESS: Dirt from the grave of a baby who lived less than one day is particularly effective for certain workings where "worldly" influences need to be kept to a minimum.

INFANT OR BABY THAT NEVER CRIED: Usually this means a still born baby, for some reason using this dirt is supposed to make your hens lay eggs if they don’t, good for Urban farmers I guess, I think the formula that is done with it is to help keep the chickens calm to lay their eggs. I have been told also that the dirt from this type of grave is also used in magikal workings concerning being able to enter a place without being seen or making noise. In some other cases to cause lameness or the inability to walk in a person. There is more on this but I have to research it further.

But what I'm concerned about is that it means if the baby was still born, it also means that the spirit never at any point truly entered the body before birth. That is one of the things about souls, they usually don't enter the body completely until the last few hours before birth when they enter the body of the baby is when the contractions begin, now that is not to say that they don't go in and out of the body from time to time while the body is in Utreo but usually the spirit/soul of the child is hanging around the mother/parents in general to see if this family is going to be a good fit and also if it will fulfill the Karmic life path of the new soul. Because the fetus growing inside a woman's body is in essence "a parasite" until it can live independently outside the body, some spiritualist and theologists have also said that the soul doesn't truly enter the body until the baby takes its first independent breath, that is why for ages it has been important to hear the baby cry upon birth.

Lawyer / Judge : This dirt should be used to assist in winning court cases, settlements, etc. It is also helpful when injustice is an issue or when you're rights are being violated.

Madame (female owner of a brothel): For spells dealing with sexuality

MASS DEATH: Either by a major accident in which the unnamed are buried or those who died in a mass suicide (think Jones Town), this type of dirt could be used in major physical harm or death. (Be very, very careful)

But there are different kinds of mass graves. The mass grave of a group of people who were ambushed and slaughtered would be far different than the mass grave of a group of brave soldiers who volunteered for a battle and died there just as the ossuaries where Christian monks donated their remains to the building of highly ornamental bone-chapels, constructed entirely of the skeletal remains of religious devotees. Or from a mass grave of Holocausts victims of WWII

There is no "one size fits all" way to work. You are working with the spirits of the dead. Your contact with them is essential to the work because you have to remember Graveyard work is SPIRITUAL work.

Mentally Disturbed / Insane: To cause insanity, mental instability, etc.

WARNING: When collecting this dirt, do remember that you're dealing with the spirit of someone who was obviously mentally disturbed.

Millionaire: from the grave of a wealthy person might be incorporated into a working for prosperity.

Murderer / Murderess/Killer: The older the dirt, the better in this case. Dirt from the grave of someone who has taken human life and has been executed can be extremely powerful in matters of revenge and causing harm. Use this to drive someone far, far away from you or for hexing, cursing

WARNING: Do be aware that incorporating this type of dirt into your magickal practices can even cause DEATH! This is very unstable energies involved in this type of dirt, know well who is buried and see if they were without moral compass or killed in the heat of passion or self-defense but was found guilty. Sometimes the graves of old cowboys who were hung just for cattle rustling or for doing what he felt was being loyal to the brand maybe better.

There is a sub-category to this

Dirt from the grave of the Unjustly Executed: For example the men and women who were executed during the Salem witch trials, their energies understand revenge for what was done to them, and can be a bit more stable. But even then use extreme caution.

This is the type of grave that you have to be sure this person was executed only to discover that they did not commit the crime, use this persons grave to bring about justice if you feel you have been victimized.

Murder victim/Murdered: This dirt is very useful in matters of injustice or wrong-doing.

A NATIVE AMERICAN CEMETERY: Be careful it has to be from a Cemetery not a sacred burial area or ground from the old timers.

Dirt collected from the graves of Native Americans is the perfect additive for spells and charms of protection. It can also promote a connection between you and your Native American Spirit Guide or to help summon your guide.

When collecting from a Native American Cemetery or grave, it helps to know what would be best to give as an offering or payment, do not use any kind of alcohol, but see what they would prefer, either pollen or corn something that ties into their native American beliefs, it’s possible that payment in using either buffalo nickels or Indian head pennies might be good, but meditate with the spirits of this cemetery to be clear what would be correct.

Nearest Relation: This one is used for protection or to keep the law away, or to protect you from someone who seeks to do you harm, take it from the head and pay this relation a goodly amount of money 50 cents a dollar and bury it right where you take the dirt. Then you can use it in your magical working.

Pet: Dirt from the grave of a personal pet can be useful in matters of the heart, loyalty issues, and protection.

Policeman: Excellent for protection spells, especially for the home or business This is used for protection and they are supposed to “Protect and Serve”, usually from the grave of an officer who died in the line of duty is best---this is a very powerful type of dirt and you do have to give serious payment

Practitioner of Magick: Literally, dirt from the grave of a practitioner can be used for anything.

Priest Nun / Priest / Pastor: Used in situations where spiritual guidance and spiritual protection are needed. Also used on occasion to convey the appearance of goodness and innocence to the outside world.

A Religious Person’s Grave: This is different from a Good Person’s Grave, this dirt is more for Hex breaking, because a religious person always prays to God for assistance. If you feel a negative working is being done to you, making you feel unwell, causing you to lose work, or disruption in the home this dirt will help in a magical working to break that Hex. Lots of times it is someone of your family that always seem to have a direct connection to God, so this is good for Hex breaking and protection especially if taken from the heart area.

Roadside death: There are two uses for dirt from a Roadside Death, the positive is for safe travel, and the negative is the same as Mass Death only it would appear as an accident, in the negative aspect it’s used for revenge. Negative workings I do not recommend.

A Sinner’s Grave: Much like an abusers grave except you can use it to have unwanted people leave your home to never return, or if you are fed up with your marriage or your boy/girl friend and you want to breakup but you want to win the divorce or breakup, that is to come out good in your favor, then you use a magical working with this dirt. A Sinner is not necessarily an abuser but someone who sins and never repents.

A Sinner’s Grave After 9 Days: If you want to get rid of someone or leave your home and never come back get this dirt after the person has been dead for 9 days, get the dirt from the area of the sinner’s left foot, leave payment there and make sure its carefully covered, sprinkle it around the house or put into the 4 corners of the room where the person sleeps, whatever dirt you have left over (because you don’t want the dirt to be obvious to the person) tie it up in a handkerchief and throw it into running water and the person will never stop walking.

Soldier: Used for bravery, strength, quick thinking, and getting someone to obey or follow orders, rules, etc. -Spells of protection and domination. (Also of courage) A soldier is obedient and strong and loyal and this dirt can be used in protection and hex breaking as well as domination or to gain courage (as in an amulet or mojo bag)

It’s important to use common sense here. Try to choose a soldier that you think (or know) believed in the kind of cause that you're trying to obtain.

Also, dirt from the graves German soldiers from Hitler’s era make great additives for anything occult related as Hitler was into all things occult.

DIRT FROM 21 soldiers GRAVES: You are asking for nearly a platoon of men and women for very serious protection and courage.

Suicide: For negative workings to drive someone who has done you or your family a serious wrong

A Sunken Grave: If a man leaves his wife or girlfriend and she wants him back she is to get dirt from a grave that has sunken (very old, the coffin may have collapsed) at the head, but she better be sure she wants him back.

A Woman’s Grave: There is a magical working where dirt from the head of a woman’s grave will help a man bring back a woman who has left him.

Woman who died in childbirth: To avoid mis-carrages

Each one of these types of Graves has a specific purpose, with a little thought I’m sure you can think of a few more purposes for the uses of dirt from a specific person’s grave.

But one thing you have to do is to know and learn about the various individuals, what they did, what they were like, usually in obituaries especially if the person was liked or had done positive things, with that information you can make plans to visit that person’s grave to see if they’d be willing to work with you. Going through old micro film records of newspapers and reading the Obits can help.

It does mean you have to know your community pretty well, and I do recommend that you never go alone, especially if the cemetery is not in a good part of town.

Now it is not unusual to go to very old cemeteries such as a boot hill if you live in the west to find a grave of an old time law man or outlaw, even old historical graves can be helpful.

But go respectfully, only take a small amount and remember you have to pay for it and do not desecrate a grave.

ALWAYS BE RESPECTFUL!! AND ALWAYS MAKE PAYMENT

Reference:

http://spiritinfo.blogspot.com/p/types-of-graveyard-dirts-for-reference.html?m=1

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moondustis · 5 years

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what you like / pleaser (m)

pairing: mark lee + reader genre: smut word count: 2,9k warnings: demon summoning, succubus!reader, unprotected sex. this may lack in accuracy on how the whole demon summoning thing works... i apologize summary: “Mark Lee is not an impulsive person, not at all. He likes to think things through so he can do them well. He’s also not a poor choice maker, not that he thinks so at least. That’s why he can’t understand why he’s in his room on a friday night conjuring a demon.”

Mark Lee is not an impulsive person, not at all. He likes to think things through so he can do them well. He’s also not a poor choice maker, not that he thinks so at least. That’s why he can’t understand why he’s in his room on a friday night summoning a demon.

Well, maybe he can. For three weeks now he has been having what you could call weird dreams. To be more specific, wet dreams. It started on a regular tuesday night after a full day of classes, he fell asleep easily, being so tired and what started as a nice, pleasant dream quickly became something more. He can’t even remember how exactly the dream went but it was so intense that he woke up with a killing boner.

At first he thought it was just because it had been a while since he last had sex, one year to be exact. Hookups weren’t really his thing and he was too busy to go around and look for an actual relationship. But the dreams kept happening and by the half of the third week he was exhausted and tired of coming in his sleep.

So here he was after an extensive google search, white chalk on his floor and candles lit, his hand trembling quite a lot as he does exactly what satanic wikipedia has said he had to in order to summon a succubus.

It’s wrong, so wrong, because for one Mark has never believed these things, and he is, or used to be, a nice catholic boy that sang on the church choir. And even if he’s a bit skeptical about the whole thing, making a sigil on your room's floor with white chalk seems like a big deal.

He says the spells, or whatever they’re called, outloud and feels a little silly because nothing happens for a minute, then two.

He’s about to give up when the circle lits up and he falls back on his bed with a loud yelp because holy shit, his room is on fire. Fire that does not look like actual fire and there’s a girl standing in the middle of it. Holy shit, holy fucking shit.

He’s gonna have a whiplash or die, or both because there’s a demon in his room. A demon that he summoned.

“You look quite scared for someone that apparently wanted this to happen.” You say, voice so sweet that it could soothe him if his heart wasn't about to rip off his chest.

“Oh my fucking god.” Is the clever words that come out of his mouth and it makes you laugh. It’s surreal. You look nothing like he expected a demon to look like, no horns, no tail and no black eyes.

“Not even close, baby.” You cross your arms, giving him a pointed look as he takes deep breaths. “Are you sure you wanted this to happen?“

“I’m-Yes.” He manages to say and you just keep staring at him like you’re extremely bored. “I mean you-you kept appearing in my dreams.”

You giggle at his words, looking smug at the mention of the dreams. “So you summoned me because you wanted your dreams to come true?”

Is that what he wanted? He can’t remember quite properly with the demon now standing in front of him. He knows he wanted the dreams to stop but with the enticing girl standing in front of him he’s not sure if that’s all he wants.

“So?” You say after he doesn’t give you a reply, raising one eyebrow. “I can’t do anything if you keep me stuck here. Come break the sigil.”

He moves cautiously from the bed, hands still shaking slightly and watching your every move. The look on your face tells him that you find the whole thing amusing and it makes him feel small. He shouldn’t trust you, breaking the sigil would probably give you full power over him or something like that, the reading he did on the subject hadn’t been very fulfilling.

Still he steps on one of the circles in the sigil, spreading white chalk around and breaking it. The moment he does you step forward in his direction, a mischievous smile on your red tinted lips. The sudden movement startles him, making his arms go up in protection. “W-woah, woah, wait,” he says, voice breaking slightly. “ shouldn’t we like, set some rules? I don’t want to, I don’t know, give you my soul by accident.”

His words make you giggle again, ignoring his protests by continuing to move close to him until you’re almost pressing your chest to him. “Trust me, if you were to give me your soul it wouldn’t be by accident.”

He blinks slowly. “Uh… Okay, I guess?.” That's one less thing to worry about. “Still, don’t we need like rules?” I don’t do stuff like this daily.”

You move your hand to his cheek, and he gets the feeling you’re trying to entice him in someway. “It’s not that complicated.” You almost whisper, hand traveling all the way down to his neck making a shiver run through his body. “I’m here to make you feel good, like I did in the dreams… And in exchange you give me something.”

His energy, his mind supplies. He had done minimal research on succubus, the minimum he had go know before doing this. The demon wiki had told him that succubus sucked the energy out of humans, that’s why he always woke up so tired from the dreams. He wondered for a second if it happening in real life would be worse.

Your hand starts massaging his nape and he’s one second away from becoming putty in your hand. He’s sensitive to touch, always had been, and even if he knows his way around girls they still make him slightly nervous. A demon girl was just to far out of his capacity and he felt almost powerless in front of you. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll take care of you.” Is the words you say before you’re closing the distance between the two of you.

There’s no sparks or special taste but still it’s like a fire ignites inside of him, his lips parting immediately to yours in an embarrassing moan. You know exactly what you’re doing, clearly, kissing him slowly and biting at his bottom lip in a way that would make his eyes flutter if they were open. He doesn’t even realize you’re moving until the back of his legs hit the mattress and he’s falling on it, you following my straddling his hips and settling down on his lap.

He enjoys the weight on top of him, gets the sudden urge to run his hands on your now exposed thighs, that look oh, so soft. He’s distracted by your lips pressing kisses to his jaw, before moving to the spot on his neck that makes him squirm slightly. “You behave so well, Mark.” You mutter between kisses, making him blush a nice shade of pink.

“I-uhm, thank you?” He replies with small and timid voice, cheeks still tinted as you coo at him. You probably see him like a small puppy, a weak human for you to play with. He realizes he’s not that bothered by it when you press closer to him, your lips closing in a bite against his neck.

He would never describe his sex life as anything but vanilla, and he enjoyed it like that, was a big fan of missionary and foreplay that involved his fingers inside a girl. He had never tried the whole power dynamics everyone seemed to be on about, was satisfied with the usual. But with you on top of him, saying things that made his head spin, he wanted nothing more than please you and make you happy. Give you whatever you wished for.

His hands move on their own accord, gripping your thighs like he wanted to earlier and he almost moans at how soft and plush they feel against his hands. Your lips chase his again and he could swear the whine you let out when they finally met is angelic.

The kiss is interrupted by his cell phone going off on his bedside table, an annoying cheerful song indicating that Jaemin was currently calling him. He wouldn’t have even noticed it if it weren’t for the annoyed sound you make as you detach your lips from his, leaving him chasing for it with his eyes closed. “Please do something about that.” You plead, making him open his eyes to be met with the breathtaking view that is your now fully black eyes staring down at him, your lips even more red that they were before. A sight that would be terrifying if he wasn’t so attracted to you.

He only stops starring when you mutter his name again and he finally snaps out of it, muttering a quiet ‘fuck’ while he moves as best as he can to get the phone without making you leave his lap.

The moment he accepts the call he’s greeted with a high pitched scream that is so loud that you can hear it to. “What’s up, man?” Jaemin’s slurred voice says as a loud song plays on the background. “Where the fuck are you?”

“I’m kinda busy right now, bro.” Is what he replies, eyes almost fluttering with the way you’re gently massaging his scalp, sitting so pretty and patient on his lap that he gets the urge to just hang up on Jaemin and continue what you were doing.

“We’re going to Johnny’s party,” it’s Jeno’s voice that says that, as Jaemin mutters something on the back. Mark lets out another string of swear words, did they really call now out of all other times to talk about some party. “You should come.”

You bat your eyes, like you’re trying to convince him that he shouldn’t go to the party and stay here instead. It’s not like he even considered the first option, not with the way you move to press a weirdly kiss to his cheek before you’re kissing his neck again. Not with the way you start rolling your hips just slightly over his. “T-Thanks, dude, but I’ll pass.” He says making you smirk against his skin and he immediately hangs up before even hearing Jeno whining about how he’s gonna miss the best party.

“Don’t you wanna go to the party with your friends, Mark?” You say in a mischievous voice while pouting at him.

“Not really.” His reply makes you giggle again and he takes that opportunity to press another kiss to your lips.

“I’m flattered.” You say in between kisses, hands moving to the hem of this t-shirt and he gets the clue, taking it off and discarding it somewhere in the room. Your fingers immediately move to his chest, tracing patterns on it that makes him shiver and he chases once again your lips, feels like he could kiss you forever.

This time he parts his lips slightly and you let your tongue move against him as he continues to grip your thighs while you circle your hips timidly over his. It’s overwhelming almost how everything that was usually good feels amazing, probably because you are a succubus, but still he feels like his senses are enhanced and he could come from just this.

He has to make you feel good, his mind provides between his other foggy thoughts, and in a moment of boldness he moves his hand slowly to the hem of your dress. When you don’t say anything about it, just continue on kissing him, he dips it inside until his palm is pressing against your very bare center. He lets out a whimper in the back of his throat.

“What are you doing, baby?” You ask and he watches the string of saliva that still connects your lips when you end the kiss. Then he’s looking at your black eyes again, like a child caught doing something they shouldn’t. “I’m the one that’s supposed to make you feel good, remember?”

As if to point out your words you roll your hips with a little more force this time and his eyes roll back. He’s so hard so right, ready to let it go with only a word from you, but still, he feels like he doesn’t feel you around his fingers. “I-fuck, want to make you come.” He moves his fingers so they’re parting your folds and he can press them against your clit. “Please?”

Your lips part a little and the begging seems to get to you because you’re nodding your head and parting your legs slightly to give him more space. He begins to work gentle circles over your clit with the pads of his fingertips, your head coming to rest on his shoulder as you lets out a breathy moan.

He wishes he could listen to your sounds every day, wants to make you feel so good that you are screaming his name. “You’re so good, Mark.” You whisper with your lips against his neck and his finger traces down to press against your entrance. “Such a good boy.”

Your words make a blush set on his entire face and a fire ignite on the pit of his stomach at the same time. “Shit, you’re so wet.” He mumbles adding a finger inside of you, that’s easily followed by another one. He moves them upwards, trying to hit your most sensitive spot while his thumb flicks across your clit.

You grip his face with your hand, moving to desperately kiss him. It’s messy and rushed, your lips parting in an erotic way to let out moans that sound like honey on his ears. His fingers increase the pressure as he picks up the speed and you grip his cheekbone with so much force that it could bruise.

When you come it’s with a moan against his lips and your body shaking on top of his. He can’t take his eyes of the view, pupils probably so dilated that his eyes are black, but not as black as yours.

“Mark, I need you to fuck me right now.” You say, desperation in your voice, after you come down from your high. Your hands move to undo his pants in such a quick motion that for a second he’s left blinking dumbly at you . “Come on, pretty boy. If I don’t have you inside of me at this exact moment I’ll set fire to your whole room.”

He starts moving at your words, removing the rest of his clothes at the same time he tries to watch you getting up to remove yours. It’s a sight, one that he’ll never be able to get out of his head. He has been with girls before, all of them giving him quite the view but this right now is different. There’s something to you that makes his mouth almost water and he wants desperately to touch.

“Gonna fuck me good, huh?” You whisper as you climb onto his lap again, sliding your palm against his dick with slow strokes.

He nods, probably a little too excited as a moan leaves his lips. “I need- shit, need to get a condom.”

You let out a breathy laugh. “I’m a demon, Mark. We don’t need to use one.” You whispers and he feels his head spin a little. “Okay?”

He nods again and you press him against your entrance, your wetness spreading over him. It’s ironic almost, how he feels like he’s having an religious experience as you sink down on him, so warm and so wet that he’s throbbing as you get all of him inside. He curses loudly, hands gripping tightly at your hips. It takes a lot of his willpower not to come right there.

“You feel so good, baby.” You breath, hands moving to his neck as you move in a steady rhythm on his lap. “Filling me up so well.”

He’s sure he’s far from the best you ever had but your praises are so enticing that he lets himself fall for them, moaning loudly as you clench around him. “‘M not gonna last long.” He mumbles, moving to press kisses along your chest as he circles a nipple with his thumb. “Feels so good.”

Your hands move to his hair, brushing the few strands that are pressed to his sweaty forehead. “It’s okay, love.” Your lips press at his forehead and you speed up just a bit. “Wanna feel you coming inside of me. Are you gonna do that, huh? Fill me up with your cum?”

It’s too much. Too much that he can’t help but circle your hips with one arm as he starts to pound inside of you, making you bounce on top of him as he grunts and spills curse words, mouth pressed to your chest. He comes when your walls squeeze him just too good for him to handle, with a quiet chant of your name and arms bringing you as close as possible.

It takes a while for him to come down from it, his whole body shaking slightly when you lift yourself from his lap. You put on your dress as you watch him struggle to get his boxers on. “You gonna stay here?” He asks voice sleepy as he moves to lay down on his bed, patting the empty spot besides him in the hopes that you will. “‘M so tired.”

The last thing he remembers before falling asleep is a giggle coming from your mouth as you press a kiss to his forehead. When he wakes up, you’re gone and he would think that it was all a dream if it wasn’t for the white chalk on his floor.

#mark smut #mark scenarios #nct smut #nct scenario #nct scenarios #laughs nervously

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pamphletstoinspire · 4 years

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25 Quick Tips to Improve Your Confession

In Sacramental Theology there exists an all-important concept for the efficacious reception of any of the Sacraments. This is called Dispositive Grace or Grace of Disposition. What this concept means is simply this: the graces that you receive in your reception of the Sacraments are in direct proportion to the disposition of your soul at the moment of the reception of that specific Sacrament.

In the Sacraments, Jesus touches us directly, in the most personal and powerful way that we could possibly imagine. The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ and Christ unites Himself with us through the Sacraments.

Receiving a Guest

One of the easiest analogies to understand the concept of Dispositive Grace could be the example of inviting a guest to dinner. There is a whole gamut of ways that the guest could be received, from totally poor to excellent. In inviting a guest, you might even forget that you invited him—pretty shabby! Or the guest might come and the door is open, but there has been no prior preparation. Still again, the guest might be received with a meal prepared, but all is done in a rush, in which the guest feels as if he were a burden. Then, there might be preparation for the guest with a welcoming committee, a good meal, and great desert.

Finally, it might be such that the house was cleaned the day before, the favorite food of the guest has been prepared, the guest’s favorite music is playing in the background, and then at the end of the meal the family offers the guest a special gift that the guest really likes! Obviously, every scenario is different. This can be applied with respect to the concept of Dispositive Grace, most specifically to the reception of Jesus in the Eucharist. He could be received very poorly or with an excellent disposition.

Frequent Sacraments

There are two Sacraments that we should receive frequently until we die and meet the Lord—Confession and the Holy Eucharist. In this article we would like to highlight specific ways that we can enhance the graces that we receive in the reception of the Sacrament of Confession, sometimes called Penance or Reconciliation. The suggestions will be very short, but we hope very useful to upgrade your reception of the infinite mercy of Jesus that comes through this Sacrament.

1. Trust. We must have s limitless trust in the infinite love and mercy that comes to us through Jesus in the Sacrament of His mercy, Confession. May this prayer issue forth from our hearts time and time again: Jesus I trust in you!

2. Read Luke 15. An excellent means to prepare us to receive the Sacrament of God’s mercy is to read and meditate upon Luke 15, sometimes called the Lost and Found Chapter.

3. Parables of Mercy. In Luke 15 we encounter the lost sheep and the sheep that is found, the lost and found coin, and the lost and found son—the Prodigal Son. Confession is being found and loved by our merciful Father.

4. Just do It. The modern phrase found on many young people’s T-shirts is Just do it! The devil will prevent you from going to confession. So, kick the devil in the behind and Just do it!

5. Priest-Christ. We must renew our faith that by going to confession to the priest we are really confessing to Jesus, the Eternal High Priest.

6. Biblical Truth. Recall the words that Jesus used in instituting the Sacrament of Confession, the 1st Easter Sunday night, when the Apostles were in the Upper Room. “Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you forgive will be forgiven; whose sins you retain shall be retained. (Jn. 20:21-23)

7. Confess ASAP. If you have had the misfortune of falling into mortal sin, in which you have lost sanctifying grace and friendship with Jesus, do not wait, but go to Confession as soon as possible! If your house were on fire, you would not wait. What about your soul in danger of eternal perdition, do not wait!

8. Prepare Well. As said earlier expressing the concept of Dispositive Grace, the better the preparation, the more abundant the graces. The fault is never in the Sacrament but in the poor disposition of the recipient of the Sacrament.

9. How? Get a good booklet explaining the Ten Commandments in detail and read through it; better said, pray through it. Jesus said to the rich young man that salvation comes through observing the Commandments. Indeed, they are Commandments and not Suggestions!

10. Write it Down. It could be very helpful to actually write down your sins on a piece of paper; this will prevent memory-loss in the moment you go to confession. However, after confession, trash the paper and the sins.

11. Grace of True Sorrow. Of paramount importance in making a good confession is begging the Holy Spirit for the grace of true sorrow for your sins. Imperfect sorrow is called Attrition, which is Fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of Wisdom. It is also one of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Imperfect sorrow is fear of going to hell. This is enough to receive forgiveness for our sins.

12. Perfect Sorrow. However, we want to arrive at perfect sorrow. This means that we are sorry for having sinned because our sins have hurt the One who loves us so much and the One we should love in return—Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

13. Beg for the Grace. We should beg for the grace to attain both imperfect contrition, as well as perfect contrition. Saint Augustine put it concisely: We are all beggars before God.

14. Firm Purpose of Amendment. What necessarily flows from true and sincere contrition of sorrow for sin is a firm purpose of amendment. In concrete this means that we are ready and willing to avoid any person, place, or thing that can lead us into sin.

15. Don’t Play With Fire. In other words, we should not play with fire. We should not walk on a slippery moral slope. We should not walk on thin ice. Often we sin because we place ourselves in harm’s way. We must be firm in avoiding all near occasions of sin!

16. Use images. Of great utility could be as you prepare yourself for confession, as you examine your conscience and beg for true sorrow, to pray before images that raise your mind and heart to God. Three in specific: The cross, aware that our sins nailed Jesus to the cross; Divine Mercy, so that our trust will be infinite; finally, Our Lady, to whom we pray as such: Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

17. Pray for the Priest. On one occasion, Saint Faustina left the confessional without peace and she wondered why. Jesus revealed to her the reason: she forgot to pray for the priest before she entered the confessional. So pray for the priest (a Hail Mary or a prayer to the Guardian angels—theirs and yours) and the confession will flow more smoothly!

18. Qualities of a Good Confession. Jesus also revealed to Saint Faustina the three most important qualities of a good confession: transparency, humility, and obedience. To be a good penitent, we must express our sins with great clarity. Then we should make no excuses when we confess our sins or blame others. Finally, we should obey what the priest tells us.

19. Start Right, Close the Door, Begin. Upon entering the confessional make sure that you close the door. Then start with the proper formula: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was… (for example, a month ago). These are my sins…

20. Stay on Topic. In that famous TV Program Dragnet, we heard those all-important words from Joe Friday: Just the facts ma’am, just the facts. So in confession the priest wants to hear: Just the sins, mam, just the sins. Cut to the quick and tell your sins; that is the essential matter for confession, and of course a true and repentant heart!

21. Acts of Contrition and Absolution. The Sacrament concludes with you, the penitent, praying with great sincerity and fervor your Act of Contrition. Then the priest imparts absolution. With the words of Absolution through the ministry of the priest, the most Precious Blood of Jesus washes your soul clean, as white as the snow!

22. An Attitude of Gratitude. Thanks the priest, as you leave thank Jesus for His infinite love and mercy that you have received in this wonderful Sacrament! Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.

23. Penance. The last a final step of making a good confession is to carry out the penance that the priest gave you. Once my spiritual director made a suggestion on the penance. He said always try to do double what the confessor gives you (not that this is absolutely necessary). However, it is a sign of good will and the sign of a really good grace of disposition. God will bless you all the more! God can never be outdone in generosity!

24. Healing the Wounded Heart and Soul. The specific sacramental grace of Confession is that of Healing. Sin wounds our soul, but Jesus heals us. As Jesus healed the many sick and infirm in the three years of His Public life, so He continually heals us through making good confessions. Rejoice in being healed! Indeed, Jesus is the Wounded Healer!

25. Be An Apostle of Confession! You have received so much peace, joy, happiness, love, and mercy through having received the Sacrament of God’s mercy, Confession, now go out and proclaim the Good News! Bring others to this infinite Font of God’s mercy!

FR. ED BROOM, OMV

#25 quick tips to improve confession

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cole-grey-writes · 5 years

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Marriage Broker

Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe

Timeline: Post-Spider-Man: Homecoming

Character(s): Wanda Maximoff, Peter Parker, Natasha Romanov

Pairing(s): Wanda Maximoff x Male Reader (platonic), Peter Parker x Male Reader

Warning(s): swearing

Request: Can you do a platonic Wanda x Avenger!Male reader where she realizes the reader is into Peter Parker and she sets them up but neither of them realize what’s she’s doing until it’s done?

A/n: yay, another request! Sorry for the absolutely long wait, and wow this is really long. But I’m so very happy that you guys like my writing. I really enjoy writing for you guys so pls keep sending me requests : D and thank you for waiting for so long. Hope you enjoy!

Wanda watches as you smile down at your phone. The corners of your eyes are crinkled, your face warm with blush. Wanda eyes you for a moment longer before she crosses the kitchen. She sits at the table, taking the seat across from you. She asks you, “What’s got you so happy?”

You look up, smiling at Wanda while not-so-subtly hiding your phone in your lap. “Good morning, bestie,” you greet her.

You and Wanda met back in 2015, during the whole Ultron business. Even though the two of you didn’t interact much at the time, after the dust had settled and cleared and Wanda had become an official member of the avengers, you came together naturally and started hanging out on a regular basis. You had plenty to bond over because of your close proximity in age and the fact that you both had only just become avengers recently. You became best friends soon after.

“Good morning, Y/n,” Wanda greets back, linking her hands on the table while staring at you suspiciously. She goes to ask you about what's making you laugh so much, but is interrupted. A ping comes from the phone in your lap.

You instantly look down at it, completely forgetting about Wanda, and you erupt with laughter. You lift your hand to cover your mouth when you can’t help but laugh. Wanda has never seen you smile or laugh so… she can’t quite find the word for it. Gushingly, maybe, as if…

Wanda gasps and blurts, “You have a crush!”

Your laugh dies as you look up at Wanda sharply. “What?”

“You have a crush,” Wanda states again and you make a face in response, obviously trying to feign confusion.

“Pfff,” you scoff, waving your hands in a dismissive manner. “What? What do you mean? Me? A crush? Noo, thats-”

Wanda ignores you and asks, “Who is it?”

“What? It’s no one, Wanda, it’s-”

“I don’t believe you,” Wanda says, her accent drawled. She quickly reaches across the table and grabs ahold of your phone. You shout and tighten your grip, trying to keep it from her.

“Y/n, just give it-”

“No, Wanda, let go-”

“No fighting in the kitchen,” Natasha orders, popping up unexpectedly and out of nowhere. It makes you jump and unfortunately for you, Wanda wins the tug-a-war and is able to rip the phone out of your hands. Wanda shouts in victory.

You pout, whining, “Nat!”

Natasha doesn’t turn around from where she’s eating blueberries she got from the fridge, her back facing you. “Don’t blame me for your butterfingers.”

Sighing, you try to get Wanda to give you back your phone but she doesn’t budge. She simply smiles and begins going through your texts. You cross your arms and continue to pout while waiting for her to be done.

It isn’t long before Wanda makes a show of gasping, causing you to blush and look down at your lap. “You really like him,” it's not a question and you can’t tell if that’s worse than if she was asking. You glare, but there’s no heat behind it and you know Wanda knows that.

Natasha, still not looking at you two and instead messing around on her phone, asks, “Who do you like?”

You don’t answer, don’t even acknowledge that she’s said anything, so Wanda tells her, “Peter Parker,” in a sing sing tone.

Natasha smirks. “Spider Jr?” she wonders coyly, even though you and Wanda know she knows who Peter is, and that she knows you both know she knows (which is confusing, but you get the point).

“Yes!” Wanda confirms happily. Groaning from embarrassment, you snatch your phone back, sliding it in your pocket so she has no way of trying to take it again. “Why don’t you ask him out?”

You debate continuing to play dumb but figure she’s already come this far, so there’s no point. You shrug instead, saying, “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“Wha-” Wanda stutters, “it is a big deal, Y/n, this-”

“I almost forgot,” Natasha interrupts, walking over to stand in front of the table so she can look down at you. “You’re needed for a mission briefing with Steve and Thor on the third floor. Starts in thirty minutes, so you better suit up quick. Fury wouldn’t appreciate your tardiness,” and then she sits down with her blueberries and gets back to whatever’s on her phone.

You sigh, standing while grabbing your half filled water bottle and breakfast plate. You drop off your plate in the sink, but keep your water with you.

Wanda’s eyes follow you the whole time. “Y/n,” she says, trying to argue.

“No, Wanda, crushing from afar is just better, alright?” you tell her, pausing on your way out. You shake you head, letting out a defeated sigh. “Saves me from the humiliation.”

Wanda frowns, watching you leave. She can only wonder what she can do for you. Wanda’s never been in a relationship either, so she’s not sure of all the ropes. All she knows is that she wants to help you get the guy.

Next to her, Natasha types away on her phone. The soft clicking noise grabs Wanda’s attention. Wanda is suddenly struck with an idea.

She leans closer to Natasha, smiling sweetly. “Hey, Nat?”

Natasha looks up from her phone. She smirks.

There's a reason Natasha’s skills are never doubted (may the devil have mercy on the poor soul that does doubt her) because when Natasha smirks at Wanda like that, she knows she’s already won the game.

It’s almost too easy. Wanda comes up with the best strategy while you’re away on your mission with Steve and Thor. The only hard part was waiting for those five days for you to get back so she could set her plan into action. And once you did get back, Wanda was instantly in your face about hanging out as soon as possible.

“Wanda,” you interrupt, setting down your bags. You turn to her. “I’ve only been back for five minutes. I have bruises the size of Manhattan, and I’m fucking exhausted. Let me rest.”

Wanda sighs, pretending to pout. “I know you just got back,” she tells you, “but I just… it’s just being away from you for five days made me realize we don’t hang out enough anymore.”

You sigh and flop back down on your bed. “Look, can we talk about this later? I’m really-”

“Friday,” Wanda says suddenly, “friday is a perfect day to hang out.”

“Wanda, no-”

“We can go to a deli shop. You’ve been wanting to try one for a while,” which isn’t a total lie. You have been wanting to go to a deli shop, just not the one Wanda’s referring to. Wanda’s not even able to take credit for the meeting place. Natasha had done some sleuthing for her and found out Peter goes to a specific deli shop after school every day.

“No, that’s not-”

“We’ll meet there at 3:30 sharp,” Wanda tells you, leaving before you can protest further.

All the pieces fell perfectly in order once Wanda had you on board. All Wanda had to do after that was just wait for friday to come (while simultaneously avoiding you so you couldn’t back out, but you know, you didn’t need to know that).

Wanda did just that and when friday came around, she went down to the deli half an hour early to get the rest of her plan set up. Wanda grabbed a seat in a corner where she has eyes one everything.

It wasn’t long before you arrived right on time, exactly 3:30. Wanda watches you look around for her, though she has no doubt you won’t find her. She’s dressed in a foolproof disguise: hair pulled back in a cap and glasses resting on her nose. Steve suggested it, and it always seems to work for him.

You sigh, picking a spot to the side that is out of the way to stand in while pulling out your phone.

You [3:31 PM] where are you?

Wanda pulls out her phone to answer you, waiting a few seconds wanting for it to seem believable.

Wanda [3:32 PM] ill be there soon

You [3:32 PM] i thought we were supposed to meet at 3:30 sharp

Wanda [3:33 PM] that was for you

Wanda can hear you scoff but chooses to not look in your direction.

She tells you she’s with Natasha at the moment. It’s a known fact that mentioning Natasha will always get people off your back.

Wanda [3:34 PM] just go find a seat for us

You put your phone back in your pocket and head over to a table. You barely take one step before you bump into someone. You gasp and start to apologize before stopping. Wanda smirks when she sees the curly brown hair, watching you two the whole time.

“Y/n,” Peter gasps, eyes wide.

“Peter,” you gasp back, pleasantly surprised. Peter smiles and you blush.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he says, before he realizes how that sounds. “I mean, I didn't mean it in that way, I just come here everyday after school and I've never seen you here before. Not that you can’t be here, I mean…” Peter stops himself, face a red, hot volcano.

You giggle, saying, “Likewise.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing here?”

“I was planning to meet Wanda here for a late lunch.”

“Oh,” Peter nods. “Um, where is she?”

“With Nat, apparently, but she said she’ll be here soon, so,” Peter smiles and nods while you stare at him and blush. You stutter, “Well, um, you know, you-you could join us, if you want.”

Peter looks surprised. “I-I would love, uh, really like to join you for your late lunch, if it wouldn’t be a bother.”

You smile. “What? No, of course it’s not a bother, Pete, not at all. I was just about to find a seat, actually.”

“Oh, well, I actually know the perfect seats for us,” Peter leads you over to a booth only a few tables away from where Wanda is seated. You and Peter begin talking but you’re talking too softly for Wanda to hear what you’re saying. Luckily, she can read your lips. You talk mostly about avenging, specifically the recent mission you, Steve, and Thor went on, just easy conversation.

Not that it matters anyway because a waitress is immediately in front of you two, wondering what she could get you to drink. When you two are done answering, the waitress says, “Alright, well, I’ll be right back with those drinks for the lovely couple,” while smiling a toothy grin and walking away from the chaos she left behind.

Wanda can see you and Peter’s cheeks flush dark with blood. You can’t help but smile and cover your mouth. She watches intently while wringing her hands repeatedly, hoping her plan works.

You both try to go back to regular conversation, but it’s shifted now. You cover your entire face with your hands, scrubbing up and down, trying to get the blush to go away before Peter’s hands are suddenly pulling yours away from your face.

Wanda watches, holding her breath. Peter is saying something, but he’s looking down at the table so Wanda can’t make it out, but it makes you smile and laugh. Wanda can’t remember a time when you’ve looked happier.

Peter is smiling and laughing along with you. You reach across the table, tangling your fingers in the hair on the back of Peter’s neck. You lean across the table and softly press your lips against his.

Wanda can’t contain her squeals. This, of course, causes your eyebrows scrunch. You look in Wanda’s direction. Wanda gasps, jumping back in her booth and hiding under the table by laying down on the seat hopefully before you could spot her. She waits for a reasonable amount of time before she allows herself to sneak a peak over the table, where you and Peter sitting across from her.

“Hey, Wanda,” you greet her while Peter sits next to you with a knowing smile.

“Oh,” Wanda says, sitting up straight. “I guess you were bound to find out eventually,” You and Peter nod at that. “How exactly did you know I was setting you two up?”

“The waitress kinda tipped me off,” you tell her. “Her thinking we’re a couple right after you busted me for having a crush on Pete? Please.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I had no idea,” Peter says. You snort and lean a little closer to him. “I'm grateful, though.”

You smile at him, blush, and then turn to Wanda. “I am also very grateful for your help.”

“Well, that's a relief,” she says, then, “now, pay up.”

“Pay up? What are we paying for?” you ask her, sharing a confused look with Peter.

“You didn’t think I was setting you up for free, did you?”

You scoff, mouth hanging wide open. “We didn’t know you were setting us up in the first place!”

“All the more reason to pay me finely for my services,” Wanda holds out her hands. “Fifty each, please.”

“Fifty?” you question, still shocked. “Why do you need a hundred dollars for this?”

“Oh, I don't. I only need fifty, but I need the other fifty for Nat because she helped.”

You and Peter exchange looks and begin pulling out your wallets, causing Wanda to smile in victory. “Fine,” you say, slapping the fifty in her hand, “but you're paying for lunch.”

(NOT MY GIFS)

Main Blog // Other Side Blog

((NO ONE HAS MY PERMISSION TO REPOST MY WORK ANYWHERE EVEN WITH CREDIT))

#wanda maximoff x male reader #wanda maximoff x reader #peter parker x male reader #peter parker x reader #reader insert #marvel cinematic universe

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enbyboiwonder · 4 years

Text

Tagged by @frozenmemories1987

So I don’t really understand how this one works, so I’m just gonna answer all the questions and number them consecutively. Upfront I’m gonna say that I’m not tagging anyone, but as always, if you wish to do it, consider yourself tagged. Also, this is going under a read more. Save the thumbs of any mobile users

01. What was the last movie you watched in theaters?

It’s been months, so I can’t remember, sorry

02. What’s your favorite game to play?

Currently it’s Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2. I hadn’t played it since I got it (and beat it all in one go), and I forgot just how much I love this game. It’s like Pokémon meets Dragon Quest, and it’s amazing. On the one hand, making a team entirely of dragons might be a bad idea, but on the other hand, I freaking love dragons. I should probably synth one with a healing skillset if I’m gonna do that - possibly Cure-all since that’s got Multiheal. My current party is a Lv 20 great argon lizard named Rory, a Lv 24 slime stack with Cure-all named Sticker, and a Lv 19 aquestrian gladiator with Huntsman named Mizuno. When I leave them to their own devices, Mizuno really loves using Penny Pincher, which tbh I cannot fault him for - normal damage plus the chance to pinch a few gold coins? Heck yes. At least he’s got 44 MP, so I haven’t had to change his tactics to “Don’t Use Magic” yet (the skill costs 2 MP)

03. Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate

04. What’s the last show you binge-watched?

NUMB3RS (though I’m still working on that one)

05. Do you have any pets?

06. What’s your favorite fairy tale?

I dunno. I don’t actually read very many fairy tales

07. Who’s your favorite superhero?

Superhero stuff doesn’t normally appeal to me, but I do like Cisco Ramon/Vibe and Ray Palmer/The Atom from CW’s Arrowverse

08. Who’s your favorite Disney princess?

Erm, Rapunzel, I guess?

09. Where’s the first place you’re going to go after social distancing is over?

I know I’m gonna hang out with my friend like we were planning to before this started, but as for where... probably Barnes & Noble since that’s where we usually go, but who knows (I say, knowing full well that neither of us know where to go, and we go to HPB when we’re specifically looking for a book but default to B&N bc of the café and seating area)

10. Cookies or cake?

11. What show could you watch over and over?

Monk, CSI, and Psych, to name a few

12. Favorite song lyric?

See, I have to believe that there’s more than this seems More than a soul in a boat in a sea of sinking dreams And I have to be sure that there’s gonna be a cure ‘Cause, somewhere down the line, I lost that part of me that’s pure

- Where We Belong by Thriving Ivory

13. Favorite season of your favorite TV show?

S14 of CSI, probably

14. What never fails to make you smile/happy?

Seeing I’ve got a comment on AO3

15. How are you doing with all that’s going on in the world (coronavirus, having to do social distancing, etc.)?

My lifestyle hasn’t changed at all, though for some reason I’ve actually been getting way more crocheting and video-gaming done than usual (at the expense, of course, of less reading and writing and TV-watching. Unfortunately). But we have lost business at the doughnut shop so I haven’t been working as many days - usually I work Monday and Friday - which, on the one hand, less money, but on the other hand, I’ve gotten more rest so my bruised ribs (from coughing; I had strep about a month and a half ago, and that always leaves me with a cough for a while, though it’s never been this bad before) are mostly healed now

16. We all love new music to listen to. Name an artist that is underrated/you think people should check out:

Thriving Ivory/Midnight Cinema (same band, different songwriters; Thriving Ivory is more piano-driven and leans more toward alt/alt-rock, while Midnight Cinema is more pop)

17. TV shows or movies?

TV shows

18. Favorite holiday?

Halloween

19. A song that describes you:

I’ve always related to Some Kind of Home by Thriving Ivory

20. Describe your tumblr in three words:

“hella queer animal-lover” idk

21. What’s your favorite hobby?

It depends on my mood, but rn it’s crocheting!

22. What’s your favorite book and/or a really good book you’ve read recently?

CSI: Miami: Cut and Run by Donn Cortez is amazing. I read it back in January and then reread it this month. Probably will be rereading it again before long tbh

Another really good one I’ve read recently is How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by K. Eason. It just came out like six months ago, so the second one won’t be out any time soon, but I am ready for it when it does (more than ready, actually; I can’t wait)

23. What’s your favorite ship that will never happen (or hasn’t happened yet)?

I really wish they had done something with Greg/Hodges. I mean, they had the perfect setup for it in 11.07 Bump and Grind, what with their “man-dates” (that never get mentioned again)!! Their man-dates become a regular thing that they do like every week or whatever, eventually they realize that they’re actual dates and have been for a while and they start consciously dating. Maybe Greg already knows he’s bi and is totally cool with it, maybe David’s been repressed and realizes that, oh, that’s why something’s always seemed like it was missing when he tried dating before: he’s gay.

Unsurprisingly, I have a few 11.07 fics in my WIPs

(But also, considering CSI’s track record with respecting queer people [poor], I’m kinda glad they didn’t. Woulda been nice, though, long as they'da done it right)

A ship that I’m really hoping will happen is Penelope and Schneider from One Day at a Time. I love them so much

24. If you could spend the day with any living celebrity, who would it be?

I would rather meet a celebrity in passing than spend a day with them. I am far too awkward and anxious, and I’m afraid it would not be an enjoyable experience for either of us

25. The best worst movie you’ve ever seen - a movie that you know objectively is trash but you can’t help but really enjoy it:

I don’t think I have any like this

26. When you read, do you prefer an eReader or an actual, physical book?

Paper books all the way, baby

27. Favorite movie?

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, probably

28. What does a normal day look like for you?

I stay in bed reading or playing games on my phone (or, more recently, on my DS) for as long as possible, dick around on here for a while whilst also trying to get at least some SwagBucks in another window, try not to forget to eat lunch, play the free money apps I have on my phone while either listening to music on my laptop or watching shows either on my laptop or the TV, try not to forget to eat dinner, watch some more TV or get some reading or gaming in, try not to stay up too late, take over an hour to fall asleep, maybe if I’m lucky get some writing done at some point during any of this (and if I’m really lucky it won’t be while I’m trying to sleep, but usually it is, damn brain)

29. Have you ever watched a show/movie for one character? If so, who?

Normally when I watch something specifically for someone, it’s for an actor I like, but I started watching CW’s The Flash specifically for Cisco Ramon (well, and Harry Wells and their relationship, but mostly Cisco) and Legends of Tomorrow specifically for Ray Palmer, whom I fell in love with in his ep on The Flash lol

30. What is your ultimate concert (musicians/bands from any period, alive or dead)?

I don’t go to concerts (they seem like they’d be very overwhelming), so, none, I guess

31. Book that you were forced to read in school that you hated the most:

God, I fucking hated To Kill a Mockingbird. Actually, I think the only one I actually liked was The Importance of Being Earnest

#mine #thx for tagging me!

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theonyxpath · 5 years

Link

More Q&A – because YOU requested it! Well, maybe not you personally, but we sure did get a great response to last week’s blog…So We’re Doin’ It Again!

“But seriously, why is International shipping so high on the KSs?”

What backers are seeing from us on the Kickstarter pages are the shipping numbers we have received from our fulfillment partners, and no, they aren’t inflating them and we aren’t inflating them – those are what we are hearing from shippers like Fedex and USPS and others.

The fact is: we are not Amazon. We aren’t C’Mon Games or other companies that send out a massive volume of packages. We’re in the same boat as a lot of TTRPG companies, many of whom are dropping international shipping entirely. Instead, we made the call to give our backers the up-front info so they can make intelligent decisions, while we continue to search for less costly shipping options.

“Why aren’t all Storypath Games the same?”

I’m assuming that this is in reference to the Storypath System, and not the settings for each game line that uses it. Because that’s the only way the question makes sense to me.

One of my goals with the Storypath System was that it be flexible enough to work as the basis for any game we care to create with it, and part of that design was that the basic system would then have additional rules attached to it depending on the game line’s needs.

Or, here is more from Eddy Webb, who has been overseeing the Storypath games, as well as doing design work on the system. He sez:

Each game takes the core system and tweaks it in a variety of ways to better emphasize what’s important in that game. A game about myths like Scion doesn’t need comprehensive weapon mechanics, but a game about salvaging equipment like Dystopia Rising does.

Basically, Storypath was never intended to be exactly the same with every line that uses it, like a generic system, but to allow a base level of familiarity so players just need to look into specific, game line intrinsic, additional rules.

“Why won’t you publish all the Clan/Tribe/Tradition/etc books again?”

OK, that’s a multi-part answer, so let me unpack a bit on this one.

First, and very specifically, we aren’t recreating the “Splat books” as we do new editions because those lil’ books aren’t cost-effective to create with our current publishing model. We do however, love to gather the “splats” into larger books like we’ve already done with Lore of the Clans, or Lore of the Bloodlines.

Which brings us to the second part of this, which is what I touched on in last week’s blog, which is that we don’t have carte-blanche to create just any WoD (or CofD or Exalted) books that we want to create. We have to have their pitches approved by our licensor, White Wolf/Paradox, before we can do any work at all on projects.

So what I’m saying is that we wouldn’t just recreate the old splat books, but we would do a differently formatted version, and that version still needs to be greenlit by our licensor. And right now, that has not happened.

Aeon Aexpansion art by Pat McEvoy

“Why are there approvals stages for Scion or Scarred Lands- don’t you own those?”

The business productivity answer is that we try and keep our processes the same in game book creation to make them go through the stages consistently.

The RichT answer is that I want to be able to review, tweak, and fine-tune the game lines my company owns. I mean, I do it with our licensed game lines, so by crackee, I’m doing with my own durn games!

“What stores carry your books?”

Y’know, I don’t actually know all of them at this point! What we hear from our sales partners at Studio2 and Indie Press Revolution, is that more and more stores are ordering as they become aware that we are putting select books into the distribution/retail channel.

So the notices I see are focused on which distributors have ordered what, although I do still get a chance to chat with retailers who pledge during our Kickstarters. Some of those folks have been with us since our first KSs, like our friends at Trollune in France, and more come on board with each KS.

Mighty Matt McElroy is a lot more hands-on with stores and retailers, and maybe we’re at the point where he’d be willing to pull together some sort of Retailer list we could post on this site. I will ask him very, very, nicely if such a thing could be added to his already massive workload.

But be sure that we truly appreciate each and every order from retailers that our sales partners receive. A Friendly Local Game Store is one of the best places to learn about all sort of games, new and old, and we’re glad we were able to figure out a way to once again get books into those shelves!

And if your FLGS doesn’t yet know that they can order books from their favorite distributor like Changeling: The Lost 2nd Edition, or Scion: Origin and Scion: Hero, or Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau and others, with even more yet to come like V5 Chicago By Night and the Trinity Continuum books, then please, let them know, let us know, let the world know, that you want them to order our books for you!

Witch Queen art by Nate Pride

“What are YOU excited about that’s coming from Onyx Path?”

Scion: Demigod and Titanomancy to continue the core Scion mythological experience, and Dragon and Mythos to show how Scion has potential beyond that experience. Trinity Continuum: similarly, very excited to bring back Aeon and Aberrant as lines and especially to revisit Adventure! and deliver an exciting game that emulates all the Pulp Genre excitement that I’ve loved during countless hours reading Doc Savage and The Avenger, but in a way that’s compelling for a modern audience. Then, to finally expand from the three original game lines to other time periods and genres with new games that we’re working on but haven’t announced yet.

Legendlore is another game line I’m really looking forward to. In fact, I think the developed text should be coming my way later this week, or next week, and I can’t want to see what Steffie De Vaan and team have done to take this long-established world and bring it up-to-date and relevant like I mentioned about TC: Adventure!

White Wolf gamelines: For CofD, I’m champing at the bit to start sharing Deviant: The Renegades during its Kickstarter. I’ve loved the concept of the wronged seeking revenge for what was done to them since the project was conceptualized, and Dave and Eric and crew have really delivered on that premise, and more! It’s gut-wrenching, horrific, but also empowering!

For Exalted 3rd, I’m really glad we’re finally doing the Storyteller’s Guide, which combined with another book we’re waiting to hear back on from WW, will provide players and prospective Storytellers with a lot of answers and material that fill in some of the blanks in the core EX3 rulebook. Hopefully, these sections will allow even more players to “get” Exalted 3rd, and so they’ll all want to GET Exalted 3rd!

And, of course, I really can’t expand on much for WoD without the OK from WW/Paradox, but we’ve been so thrilled by the reaction to the V5 Chicago By Night Backer PDF that I’m really looking forward to the next WoD projects from Matthew Dawkins, as well as finally delivering our outstanding 20th Anniversary projects!

Distant Worlds art by Rutledge

They Came From…!: Speaking of Matthew, he is gravely hard at work digging into new sources of fun and inspiration for the follow-up They Came From game, and I’m such a fan of the whole genre/time period it covers that I can’t wait to read it!

Creature Collection 5e: for Scarred Lands looks to be gorgeous! I’m both jealous that Johnny Hodgson was able to pull together so many fantastic artists, and thrilled that our efforts with his Handiworks Games is producing such a fantastic book. Look for its KS soon!

These aren’t advertising blurbs here folks! I truly am excited to be able to bring all of these game lines to life, and to be part of bringing them to all of you – as well as those poor misguided souls who don’t yet read this scintillating blog, or know of our:

Many Worlds, One Path!

BLURBS!

Kickstarter!

Keep an eye out in this space as well as on our social media for the Deviant: The Renegades Kickstarter that will be launching after August wraps up!

Onyx Path Media!

This Friday’s Onyx Pathcast features an interview with one of the unsung new talents of Onyx Path and one of the nicest people working in the TTRPG industry: Meredith Gerber! Go to https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/ or to your favorite podcast venue!

No Onyx Path News this week, with Matthew having been away at Tabletop Scotland! But here’s a nice photo of his group at that convention enjoying a session of They Came from Beneath the Sea!

Here’s our upcoming Twitch schedule, and as you can see, it’s getting very full of content! Between Travis Legge’s Myths & Matchmakers for Scarred Lands, Near Dark Studios‘ Chicago by Night, our very own Pugmire: Paws and Claws and Aberrant: Collateral Damage, and more, we think you’ll find something to entertain you! Even if you don’t, we’d very much appreciate a follow on www.twitch.tv/theonyxpath!

Outside our Twitch channel, the Botch Pit have started up a new chronicle for Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2nd Edition! And if you’re not into actual plays, they also do breakdowns of lots of our other games: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQfcGvYILEV1vznP5__bOWg

Did you check out the www.gamerstable.com for their actual play of A Slippery Conspiracy? No? Well, now’s the time to catch up and give their actual play of They Came from Beneath the Sea! a listen!

Devil’s Luck Gaming continues with Pirates of Bloodwater for Scarred Lands right here: https://www.twitch.tv/DevilsLuckGaming Also check them out for an excellent Shadowrun actual play they’ve started. We know it’s not our game, but we’re happy to promote such a fine cast of players.

If you’re a fan of Scion, check out https://ragnarokandroll.podbean.com/, a podcast that tracks all the way from first edition Scion: Hero to Scion: Ragnarok, but is now looking into the second edition of the game!

We’re going through Wraith: The Oblivion character creation over on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/jflNxrN3i6o And part two will be uploaded this week!

Drop Matthew a message via the contact button on matthewdawkins.com if you have actual plays, reviews, or game overviews you want us to profile on the blog!

Please check any of these out and let us know if you find or produce any actual plays of our games!

Electronic Gaming!

As we find ways to enable our community to more easily play our games, the Onyx Dice Rolling App is live! Our dev team has been doing updates since we launched based on the excellent use-case comments by our community, and this thing is awesome! (Seriously, you need to roll 100 dice for Exalted? This app has you covered.)

On Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle (from Amazon) and Nook (from Barnes & Noble).

If you enjoy these or any other of our books, please help us by writing reviews on the site of the sales venue from which you bought it. Reviews really, really help us get folks interested in our amazing fiction!

Our selection includes these fiction books:

Our Sales Partners!

We’re working with Studio2 to get Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau out into stores, as well as to individuals through their online store. You can pick up the traditionally printed main book, the screen, and the official Pugmire dice through our friends there! https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire

We’ve added Prince’s Gambit to our Studio2 catalog: https://studio2publishing.com/products/prince-s-gambit-card-game

Now, we’ve added Changeling: The Lost 2nd Edition products to Studio2‘s store! See them here: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/all-products/changeling-the-lost

Scarred Lands (Pathfinder) books are also on sale at Studio2, and they have the 5e version, supplements, and dice as well!: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/scarred-lands

Scion 2e books and other products are available now at Studio2: https://studio2publishing.com/blogs/new-releases/scion-second-edition-book-one-origin-now-available-at-your-local-retailer-or-online

Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/

And you can order Pugmire, Monarchies of Mau, Cavaliers of Mars, and Changeling: The Lost 2e at the same link! And NOW Scion Origin and Scion Hero are available to order!

As always, you can find most of Onyx Path’s titles at DriveThruRPG.com!

On Sale This Week!

This Wednesday, we’re offering our monthly Exalted 3rd Edition PDF for Hundred Devils Night Parade!

Conventions!

Save Against Fear: October 12th – 14th GameHoleCon: October 31st – November 3rd PAX Unplugged: December 6th – 8th 2020: Midwinter: January 9th – 12th

And now, the new project status updates!

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY WEBB (projects in bold have changed status since last week):

First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep)

M20 Victorian Mage (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

Exalted Essay Collection (Exalted)

Dragon-Blooded Novella #2 (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Exigents (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Many-Faced Strangers – Lunars Companion (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Contagion Chronicle: Global Outbreaks (Chronicles of Darkness)

Player’s Guide to the Contagion Chronicle (Chronicles of Darkness)

Contagion Chronicle Jumpstart (Chronicles of Darkness)

N!ternational Wrestling Entertainment (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Creating in the Realms of Pugmire (Realms of Pugmire)

Redlines

Tales of Aquatic Terror (They Came From Beneath the Sea!)

Kith and Kin (Changeling: The Lost 2e)

Wraith20 Fiction Anthology (Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition)

Crucible of Legends (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Lunars Novella (Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Yugman’s Guide to Ghelspad (Scarred Lands)

Vigil Watch (Scarred Lands)

Pirates of Pugmire KS-Added Adventure (Realms of Pugmire)

Second Draft

Tales of Good Dogs – Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)

Dragon-Blooded Novella #1 (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Across the Eight Directions (Exalted 3rd Edition)

One Foot in the Grave Jumpstart (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2e)

Scion: Demigod (Scion 2nd Edition)

Titanomachy (Scion 2nd Edition)

Trinity Continuum Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum Core)

Terra Firma (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Monsters of the Deep (They Came From Beneath the Sea!)

Development

M20 The Technocracy Reloaded (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

Creatures of the World Bestiary (Scion 2nd Edition)

Heirs to the Shogunate (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Scion Companion: Mysteries of the World (Scion 2nd Edition)

Legendlore core book (Legendlore)

City of the Towered Tombs (Cavaliers of Mars)

TC: Aeon Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition core rulebook (Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition)

Masks of the Mythos (Scion 2nd Edition)

Scion: Dragon (Scion 2nd Edition)

TC: Aberrant Reference Screen (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Manuscript Approval

Creatures of the World Bestiary (Scion 2nd Edition)

Cults of the Blood Gods (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

W20 Shattered Dreams Gift Cards (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th)

W20 Art Book (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th)

Post-Approval Development

Trinity Continuum: Aberrant (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

V5 Chicago Screen (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Deviant: The Renegades (Deviant: The Renegades)

Let the Streets Run Red (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)

Scion LARP Rules (Scion)

Geist 2e Fiction Anthology (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2nd Edition)

Oak, Ash, and Thorn: Changeling: The Lost 2nd Companion (Changeling: The Lost 2nd)

Editing

Night Horrors: Nameless and Accursed (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)

Lunars: Fangs at the Gate (Exalted 3rd Edition)

TC: Aeon Ready-Made Characters (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Hunter: The Vigil 2e core (Hunter: The Vigil 2nd Edition)

Chicago Folio/Dossier (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

City of the Towered Tombs (Cavaliers of Mars)

Post-Editing Development

Memento Mori (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2e Companion)

DR:E Jumpstart (Dystopia Rising: Evolution)

Pirates of Pugmire (Realms of Pugmire)

Indexing

ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!

In Art Direction

Contagion Chronicle

Trinity Continuum: Aberrant

Hunter: The Vigil 2e

Ex3 Lunars – Contracted.

They Came from Beneath the Sea! – Contracted. Sketches still coming in.

TCfBtS!: Heroic Land Dwellers

Night Horrors: Nameless and Accursed

Ex3 Monthly Stuff

DR:E Threat Guide – Helnau’s Guide to Wasteland Beasties – Contracted.

Deviant (KS) – Contracted. LeBlanc’s art already in.

Trinity RMCs – Contracted.

Cults of the Blood God (KS) – Sending out art notes.

Chicago Folio – Art notes going out this week.

Mummy 2 (KS) – Got Matthew’s notes.

In Layout

CoM – Witch Queen of the Shadowed Citadel

Dark Eras 2 – Files with Aileen

Trinity Continuum Aeon: Distant Worlds

VtR Spilled Blood – With Josh.

DR:E Jumpstart

Aeon Aexpansion

Proofing

C20 Cup of Dreams

V5: Chicago – Inputting errata.

Geist 2e – XX’s and then Indexing.

Signs of Sorcery – Inputting errata.

M20 Book of the Fallen

DR: E – Inputting errata.

At Press

Dragon Blooded – Deluxe at Studio2, shipping wrapping up.

Dragon-Blooded Cloth Map – At Studio2, shipping wrapping up.

Dragon-Blooded Screen – Shipped to Studio2, shipping wrapping up.

Trinity Core Screen – At Studio2.

TC Aeon Screen – At Studio2.

Trinity: In Media Res – PoD proofs coming.

Trinity Core – Printing. PoD proofs ordered.

Trinity Aeon – Printing. PoD proofs ordered.

Shunned By the Moon – PoD proof coming.

Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

On this date in 1346 – Hundred Years’ War: The military supremacy of the English longbow over the French combination of crossbow and armored knights is established at the Battle of Crécy. Thus spawning whole rafts of longbow lovin’ moments in gaming! (Also can be seen as a victory for the common man that will echo through history and turn out even more badly for the French nobility 400-some years later).

#Onyx Path Publishing

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raccoonwritings · 5 years

Text

A Drink Away from Honesty (Ch. 6)

Childhood Friends AU (angst with a happy ending, be warned)

Lucas is an oversharing drunk, Eliott is both desperate and dramatic, and everyone is trying to just keep everything straight.

Or alternatively, Lucas and Eliott were childhood best friends until a storm tears them apart and brings them back together.

(Title from “Don’t Miss Me?” by Marianas Trench)

Chapter 6: The Second One

Lucas (16) and Eliott (18)

Jeudi 17:09

Lucas’ plans with the boys are abruptly canceled when he gets called back home for an apartment meeting. He knows they have to talk about Manon and where’s she’s going to be living, considering she moved out a little while ago to travel to London with Charles. He doesn’t know how this is going to go and he’s already dreading it. He likes Manon, but it isn’t obvious to see that Mika and Lisa prefer having her around more than him.

He sinks into the couch and waits for the others to arrive, which they do moments later. Manon sits on the arm of the couch to Lucas’ left and he has to admit he’s missed her. She hasn’t even said anything, but the presence she gives off is a comforting. Without her, he’d probably be sleeping in the park or hopping couches. He owes her a lot, he knows, and he really would give her as much as he can, except he really needs his own mental space right now.

From: Chloe

Hi Lucas! Would you want to go out on a date, like a proper one? Maybe tomorrow?

Lucas groans and he tries to ignore it and actually follow the conversation going on between his roommates, which he immediately checks out of once he realizes they are talking about Manon’s trip and he just really wants to be playing video games and ordering junk food with the boys.

“So, you expect us to just let you live here again? Just like that?” Mika says, dramatically staring out the window of the living room. Manon looks at him and looks at Lucas, who returns a ‘you know he’s kidding look’. He’s proven right just a few seconds later when Mika runs over to the couch, wrapping his arms around her and screeching that of course, she’s always welcome there, but that she just has to take Lucas’ room.

“Excuse me?” Lucas exclaims.

“Are you kidding, Lucas? You’re going to let this poor sweet soul sleep on the couch? She deserves to have her room back. She did live here before you did, no?”

“Yeah, she did, but she left the room to me when she left!” Lucas knows he isn’t going to win this argument and Manon looks absolutely petrified to be the cause of it.

“It’s really okay, Mika, I can sleep on the couch. I slept well, anyways,” Manon insists, trying to deescalate the situation.

“No, no, no. You deserve your room back. You’re like family to us, and Lucas is more like a cousin.”

“More like a second cousin,” Lisa adds.

“Guys!” Manon looks incredulous and upset.

“Whatever, I’ll clean my stuff out and you can have the room back in the morning.” Lucas pulls himself out of the couch and heads towards his room.

“No, Lucas, she’ll have the room back tonight,” Mika demands.

“Mika!” Lucas can hear Manon as he enters his bedroom and he just really needs to be alone right now. He knows he’s not that close to them, Lisa and Mika specifically, but he didn’t expect to have it thrown in his face so flatly. The apartment felt so much better before Manon left.

Time passes slowly while he packs up his measly belongings, throwing them begrudgingly and haphazardly into his moving boxes. He’s only gotten two small boxes stuffed before there’s a knock on the door.

“Salut, Lucas,” Manon enters, looking a bit shyer than she was before. He can tell she feels bad about the situation.

“Hi Manon, what’s up?” He says, not bothering to look at her. He knows he shouldn’t be directing the anger towards her, but he’s upset and he isn’t going to hide it.

“I’m really sorry about before. I didn’t think that they would do that.” She offers, awkwardly standing in the entrance to her old room. Lucas takes the initiative to clean off enough of the bed so they can both sit.

“Come here,” he tells her, patting the space on the bed next to him. She takes the offer graciously, walking to join him and sitting cross legged.

“I really am sorry, Lucas. I really don’t mind taking the couch.” She smiles at him sadly, but Lucas can’t distinguish whether or not she’s actually thinking about the roommate situation.

“It’s alright, Manon. The couch is fine, just as long as I have a place to sleep.”

“How are you doing? Have things gotten any easier?” Her tone suddenly shifts to concern.

“Things are okay. They’re fine,” he dismisses. He doesn’t really want to talk about anything, especially after what just happened, but he feels a small hand on his shoulder and looks to find Manon’s eyes boring into him.

“Lucas. I’m here to talk, please tell me you still know that.” He knows, he’s just afraid.

“I know, Manon. There’s just nothing to talk about,” he shrugs. He doesn’t even have to look at Manon to know she doesn’t believe him. “I just want to finish packing up.”

Manon remains silent for a second, clearly thinking about something. “You know Lucas, we could share the room and the bed. If you want too. I’m probably going to spend more time at Emma’s house than here, and when Charles comes back, I can just grab my suitcase and that way you don’t have to pack and repack. I mean, it’s not like we haven’t shared the room before,” she smiles down at the floor, appearing to be reminiscing about when they first shared the room for an extended period of time. Lucas tries to ignore the thought of back then, not because he doesn’t appreciate what she’s done for him and the support she’s provided, but because he doesn’t have the emotional stability to do that right now.

He takes a few moments to think about the possible resolution. “Wouldn’t Charles be upset about you sleeping in a bed with another guy?” He has to question that, at least.

“Lucas, we both now he would find you as a threat.” His insides shift at her statement, not because it’s intended to be hurtful, but because he remembers the state she found him in and the cause of said state.

“Okay,” he says, because it’s really the only thing that his brain can formulate. “We’ll share. Only if it’s okay with you.”

“Of course, I suggested it.” Her smile really is lovely, and he can feel himself relax a little bit. “Thank you, Lucas.” She hugs him and he holds her there just for a second extra because he’s missed his friend, who he wouldn’t dare call that because it would go straight to her supportive ego.

Vendredi 18:45

The fact that Lucas finds himself waiting in a coffee shop on a Friday afternoon waiting for Chloe instead of with his friends is probably the worst thing that could have happened to him this week. She had kept texting him yesterday, so finally he had agreed, saying that he would meet her for coffee, then they could decide to go somewhere else.

The coffee shop itself though, despite being the backdrop for such an unpleasant meeting, was quite nice. It was small and quaint, and Lucas thinks he’d actually come back in the near future, as long as he doesn’t have to go on an obligated date. He sits at a table in the corner, where he can see the windows and will have time to mentally prepare when he sees her enter.

What he doesn’t expect is for Chloe to enter, followed by Eliott and Lucille. Nothing could’ve prepared him for that sight, the sight of Chloe and Lucille chatting happily, while Eliott’s eyes don’t stop looking at him. Lucas knows this day couldn’t get any worse.

“Salut, Lucas!” Chloe greets, kissing him on the lips softly. She sits in the chair next to him while Eliott and Lucille sit across from them. Lucas is bitter, he knows, so he takes Chloe’s hand and intertwines their fingers. She gives him a big smile and returns to her conversation with Lucille. He can feel Eliott’s gaze on him, but he doesn’t dare look.

“Sorry to interrupt ladies, but I’m going to go get some drinks, would like anything?” He stands, scooting behind Chloe’s chair and around to the front of the table.

“A hot chocolate for me, please.” Lucille answers first, smiling at him genuinely. He hates that she has been so nice for so long.

“A decaf coffee, please.” Chloe offers him a smile, and just for an added bonus of spite, he kisses her on the cheek. When he looks at Eliott, he can see the jealousy smeared everywhere. Lucas is enjoying making him like this, he’s not going to lie. Eliott was the one who gave him up anyway, and honestly, he has no right to be jealous.

“I’ll help you grab the drinks, Lucas,” Eliott chimes in and suddenly, Lucas is on edge. He doesn’t want to be alone with Eliott, but it seems he doesn’t have a choice. To think he could have gotten a moment by himself, to extract himself from possibly the worst situation ever, was all a pipe dream.

“Okay,” Lucas says through gritted teeth and doesn’t bother to wait for Eliott to meet him at the front of the table before walking across the store and getting on the long line for drinks.

“Hi,” Eliott joins him, standing to his left and looking down, trying to catch Lucas’ eyes.

“Hi.”

“How are you?”

“Fine.”

“Well, I’m great, thanks for asking.” Lucas looks up at him, angry that he could be so casual, when he sees Eliott staring up at the board, seemingly trying to decide what he wants.

“Are you stalking me? How did you even know I was going to be here?” Lucas needs the answer to this question, because all Eliott’s presence is doing is making a bad situation even worse.

“No, Lucas, I’m not stalking you. Lucille and I ran into Chloe on the bus and she mentioned she was meeting you here and offered us to join. She and Lucille seem to have hit it off quite well,” Eliott explains, glancing over to the girls who are heavily involved in some topic of conversation.

“Ah okay. Nice to see you and Lucille are back together.” Lucas looks away, but can see Eliott turn his entire body towards him.

“Why would you say that? We haven’t been together for years.”

“Then why were you on the bus together?” Lucas asks, before he gets to the front of the line, happy that this conversation will stop for a second. He orders all of the drinks, including one for Eliott (not that he wanted to, the cashier asked Eliott if he wanted anything and of course he wanted something). He moves down to end to wait for the drinks.

“Just so you know, we aren’t together, but we still talk when she comes home for break. I’m single, and it’s nice to see your jealous.” Excuse him?

“I’m not jealous. What would I be jealous of? I have a lovely girlfriend sitting at the table over there.”

“Don’t bull shit me or yourself, Lucas. You don’t like her, you know what you like, and she isn’t that.” His tone was laced with a bit of venom, but more so at the fact that he knows that Lucas is pretending. He knows what it’s like for Lucas to be real and he seems aggravated that he has become fake again. If Eliott had stayed and not broken his heart, maybe he wouldn’t have to be fake.

“How about you leave me alone and go back to your life without me,” Lucas seethes and goes to grab the drinks, which are now ready, to bring back over Chloe and Lucille.

“Living without you is something I don’t ever want to experience again.”

Lucas’ heart nearly stops. He’s still so angry, but he hears the genuineness in his voice, and fuck, does he want to believe him. He has to stop thinking so he can deliver the drinks without completing spilling them.

“Here you go, love,” he says, superficially sweet, and thanked by Chloe with a kiss, to which he overexaggerates, for the purpose of pissing Eliott off. He can see, by the look in Eliott’s eyes, that he is succeeding.

“Wow, you know Chloe, you seem very mature for your age,” Lucille says, genuinely impressed by something Chloe must have said while Eliott and him were getting drinks.

“It’s because I’m dating an older guy,” she replies, wrapping her arms around Lucas’ shoulders. He smiles at her and looks at Eliott, who is drinking his coffee bitterly. As if Lucas was the one who’s jealous.

Lucille is digging in her bag for her phone, that’s ringing rather obnoxiously. When she fishes out and answers, her facial expressions immediately change to horror as she excuses herself to the restroom. Chloe seems concerned and apologizes, only to excuse herself and follow Lucille. Eliott chugs the rest of his drink and gets up.

“Come on, we’re leaving.” Honestly, that sounds like a great idea, but he doesn’t want to be alone with Eliott, not yet anyways.

“I’m good, thanks.” He sounds cold and he doesn’t care.

“So what, Lucas, you’re going to be fake for the rest of your life? You’re going to sit here and pretend to like a girl you have no interest in?” Eliott stares into his soul and it aggravates the shit out of him. Eliott is getting to him.

“I like her, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he gets up so he can talk to Eliott face to face. “Why don’t you just leave me the hell alone? Why do you care so much about me? I didn’t matter a year ago, so why don’t you stop pretending?” He gets in Eliott’s space and glares up. He’s done taking this shit.

That’s when Eliott pushes him towards the door. “Let’s talk outside.”

They leave the coffee shop and stand just out of view of the windows. “Lucas, I’m not pretending to care, I always have. Every single second I’ve known you, I’ve cared. Please tell me you don’t actually believe that I don’t care about you.” Eliott steps closer and runs a hand through his hair. Lucas wants to cry. His heart is broken, and he wants to heal, but he doesn’t trust the one person who can help.

“You are pretending, Eliott! You dropped me without a second thought. I wasn’t important to you and you’re trying to make yourself feel better!” The tears are starting to come, and the panic is beginning to rise.

“Every word of that is wrong, Lucas. You’re the only thing that has ever mattered to me, don’t you get that?” His tone is soft and lacking accusation. His hands cup Lucas’ face and he wipes the tears off with his thumbs.

“Stop trying to fix this, Eliott. You can’t put this one back together. I want to let you back in, but I don’t trust you anymore and I don’t think I ever can.” He looks up and sees the tears forming in Eliott’s eyes. Maybe he finally got the message.

“Please, please tell me I can do something,” he’s pleading now and Lucas’ heart is breaking.

Lucas shakes his head somberly. Eliott waits a few moments.

“Okay, I’ll leave you alone, but I just need one last thing.” He takes a hand off Lucas’ cheek and runs it through Lucas’ hair, stopping at the hair at the back of his neck. Lucas feels his head being pulled, and suddenly Eliott’s lips are against his and the taste of tears is caught in between. This is the first kiss in years that have felt like something and it’s killing him. His brain snaps out of it when he realizes that it’s raining and they’re outside, in public.

Lucas pulls away so fast he almost falls back. When he steadies himself, he sees Chloe, who seems to have left the coffee shop in search of him and Eliott. She’s looking at him with disdain and confusion.

She saw them.

Lucas (13) and Eliott (15)

Lundi 17:00

To Lucas, everything means something. His friendships with people mean the world to him, his relationship with his parents is everything, and that kiss that he had with Eliott a few weeks back was vital to his being. He truly thought that it meant the same to his best friend as it did to him, but it didn’t, apparently, because a few weeks later, Lucas and Eliott were sitting on the living room floor of Eliott’s apartment when the doorbell rings. In walks a very pretty girl, with short, curly brown hair and eyes like Eliott’s who introduces herself as Lucille, Eliott’s girlfriend. His heart shatters and Lucas doesn’t think he’ll ever forget the sound it makes when it does. It’s loud and disastrous, horrifying and detrimental. He doesn’t quite understand why his heart breaks in the manner that it does, because it’s just his best friend, who looks so incredibly happy with this girl, and he should be supportive and loving and accepting of this girl who seems to have won over Eliott’s heart. He realizes then, that it hurts because he thought he had a chance to win Eliott’s heart and, in reality, he doesn’t. The realization hits him so hard, harder than anything has because he recognizes that he’s attracted to his best friend. Everything makes him feel woozy.

He offers a greeting to Lucille, but excuses himself, saying that he doesn’t feel well and wishes to return home. Eliott looks sad and looks like he knows something is wrong but doesn’t want to get into that conversation while Lucille is there. He’s appreciative of that, at least.

The walk back home is short and he’s glad when he reaches the front door, but he hears his parents fighting as soon as he enters. It’s just an added bonus to his shitty day, and he decides against doing his homework, opting that sleep sounds so much better than anything else.

Lucas (14) and Eliott (16)

Vendredi 22:22

In totality, Eliott and Lucille dated for just over a year. They broke up and got back together many times over the course of that period, but Lucas has added it up and knows that they time they spent together was longer than he cared to think about. Over that time, he had come to the realization that he likes Eliott. Not that he’s gay, but it’s Eliott. His best friend. His other half, practically. He hasn’t been separated from him since they were little, and he didn’t ever want to be apart from him. Unfortunately, his feelings are unrequited, and he has to live with that, but he can as long as Eliott doesn’t date anyone else.

“You know, Lucille and I have been talking, and I think we may get back together,” Eliott brings up casually one Friday, while they’re drinking in Eliott’s bedroom. They had been broken up for a month at this point and Lucas had felt the best he had in a long time. He would give anything for Eliott to remain single.

“I don’t think you should,” he says, swigging down some beer.

“Why not?” Eliott questions.

“I don’t know, you guys have broken up and gotten together so many times, don’t you think it’s better if you guys just ended it?” Lucas ponders, looking to his best friend and hoping they can just switch the topic. He really doesn’t want to talk about Lucille anymore.

“I kind of feel like she’s the only one for me. Who else is going to like this mess?” He gestures to himself. Oh, boy, that is not the question he should be asking Lucas, especially considering he’s had quite the handful of beers.

“So many people! So many people would like you!” Lucas exclaims, not knowing where he got his burst of energy, but just accepting it because what he said is incredibly true.

“Aw, you’re sweet, Lucas. I know you like me, but I need someone who likes me and wants to kiss me,” Eliott admonishes, with his head looking down to the floor. Lucas’ stomach churns, wanting to tell him everything about how he feels, but is scared of the reaction and doesn’t know exactly what to say, so he lets the alcohol speak for him.

“Would it be so bad if I liked you like that too?” He asks softly, and dear god, he has never seen someone’s head snap up that fast.

“Lucas, what did you just say?” He gets up out of his chair and walks to where Lucas is sitting on his bed. Lucas gulps and wishes he hadn’t said anything.

“Nevermind, it’s not important,” he gets up and tries to escape this conversation that he’s not ready to have. He’s not ready to lose his best friend because his dumb brain doesn’t know how to stop liking him. Eliott catches him before he can make it out the bedroom door and holds Lucas against his chest.

“What did you say, Lulu? Tell me, please,” Eliott pleads gently. Lucas shakes his head. “Why not? You just said something and I want to make sure I heard it right. Please, Lulu.” His eyes are kind and warm, despite being a bluish green color, and Lucas loses himself in them.

Lucas determines that if he’s going to lose his best friend over this, then he may as well get it over with. He’ll deal with the pain and go back to liking girls, to being normal.

“Would it be so bad if I liked you the way you wanted too?” It’s softer than it was last time and Eliott just looks at him in awe. There’s so much fondness and love in his expression that Lucas dreams of staying there just like that forever.

“Are you just saying this because you don’t want me to feel bad or because you actually like me?”

Lucas buries his head in Eliott’s shoulder. “The second one.”

“Lulu, look at me.” With a shaky breath and butterflies in his stomach, Lucas pulls his head from the place where it was hiding to give Eliott what he wanted. A hand slips into the hair at the nape of his neck and Lucas loves it when his friend plays with his long locks. Eliott’s lips crash into his and he gasps and moans at the same time, making Eliott chuckle against his mouth. Lucas clutches at sweatshirt Eliott is wearing and tugs him closer, because fuck, this is great and good and wonderful and everything he has wanted since that game of truth or date over a year ago and he doesn’t want it to end.

Eliott pulls away after a minute, with red cheeks and puffy lips and Lucas chases his mouth like it’s the air he needs to breath. He has no shame, not anymore. Soon there’s tongues on tongues and it’s the hottest thing Lucas has probably ever experienced, and he can’t help but moan. The hand in his hair is gripping tighter, not letting Lucas go, and fuck, like he would want to be anywhere else.

When they finally do pull away mutually, Eliott rests his forehead against Lucas’ and smiles so wide it hurts Lucas’ face. “If you couldn’t tell, I like you like that too.”

#elu #elu fic #lucas x eliott #eliott demaury #lucas lallemant #skamfr #skam france #skam fr

102 notes · View notes

jalikacherie · 4 years

Text

With Christmas around the corner, kids are begging their parents for pets. Some of the little ones know the breed they want. It’s crazy to see these kids giving the specifics. I already have a dog who is my Emotional Support Animal, so my son thinks we should get another dog for him.

Although it’s not happening, it makes me wonder what it is that makes these kids want a dog. Is it for companionship or do they just think it’s because they’re cute? Is it because of all of the holiday commercials with dogs and cats? Maybe you should adopt a pet for the holidays! (Shameless plug for the animal shelters!)

In any case, purchasing a pet can be super expensive. There are expenses such as: buying your pet, shots, licenses, first vet visit, food, leashes, and all the other little necessary accessories. If you got it, you got it but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should spend it. Here are a few reasons why you should adopt a pet instead of purchasing one from a local pet store or breeder.

1. You’re Saving A Life

This is one of the biggest reasons why you should adopt a pet. There are a lot of kill shelters that are still around. If dogs do not get adopted, they will eventually be put down. Some dogs are deemed unadoptable and it’s not always because they have bitten someone. Some may gain that title by sitting in the pound for a while and being looked over, some may look ratty or undesirable, some are mutts, others may just be taking up space that another more desirable dog could fill.

2. You Save Money

When you purchase from a breeder or a pet store, they will charge you hundreds and thousands of dollars for animals. If you go to an animal shelter, you can get the same breed of dog for a fraction of the price. For example, here in Houston, the BARC center is running a special with the following prices:

Waggy Wednesday – $10 for Dogs adoption fees every Wednesday in December!

Feline Friday – $5 for Cat & Kitten adoption fees every Wednesday in December!

And SPCA Houston has (let’s say) dogs, for the following prices:

$95 for Small Dogs, $195 for Puppies & Purebreds, $45 for Seniors (7 years and older)

$55 for Large Dogs, $95 for Puppies & Purebreds, $25 for Seniors (7 years and older)

$25 for Cats, $75 for Kittens, $15 for Seniors (7 years and older)

There are so many other animals and pricing. You can see the rest of the pricing by clicking on BARC and/or SPCA Houston.

3. Shots Are Included

Some, if not all shelters will give the animals shots when they receive them. This is to ensure the health of the animal. After that, your animal will need their annual shots.

4. Spay and Neuter Services Are Included

This prevents more animals from ending up in shelters. It is a way to control the animal population and prevent people from breeding.

5. Every Animal Needs Love

Yes, there may be a lot of mixed breeds in shelters or animals that dog look beautiful but you know what? They deserve to be loved just as much as the full bred. Besides, if you’re lucky, you may even get your hands on a full-bred right there at the animal shelter.

6. Making Room For Others Strays

When you adopt a pet, that leaves room for other animals to be housed while they wait for adoption. There are periods when there is no room for new intake and you know what happens to those animals? Some are sent to kill shelters to be euthanized. Sad huh?

7. You’re Doing A Good Deed

I know some people feel like they shouldn’t do anything good for others unless they get attention for it. Well, rescuing a dog for a shelter is a good deed so eat your heart out and show off how you rescued your poor sweet animal *eye roll*

8. You’re Helping Shelters Remain Open

When your shelter receives donations and business, it helps them remain open so that they can continue to rescue animals. The funds they receive go to food, housing, and pay for employees.

9. You’re Giving These Animals Another Chance

Not all animals in the shelter were picked up off of the street. There are a bunch of them that have been surrendered by their owners. If a good person adopts these animals, you can save them for those who would force them to fight each other. Of course, this does not apply to cats.

10. It Puts Bad Breeders Out Of Business

Did you know that many breeders breed these animals and keep them housed in terrible conditions? Did you know that they force these animals to have babies nonstop so that they could keep making money off of the puppies? Once the parents are deemed useless, they are killed and discarded. You may think that you’re getting a puppy without any behavioral problems but tell me, how does a breeder keep a close eye on all of those puppies and train them and love them? Exactly! That’s not to say that all breeders are bad, but most are. The ones that are is what we call puppy mills.

****Bonus****

Imagine adopting an animal that has never been loved or taken care of properly! They’ll love you like no other and that will make you happy. Pets are good for the soul. They make you happy, he’ll keep you in shape, and they are good companions.

I will always be an advocate for pet shelters. That’s where I got my Princess from. I only paid $50 and she had her shots, license, and was spayed. Then, I took her to see a vet at Banfield Pet Hospital, which is inside of Pet Smart. I used a coupon that made it free since it was a first-time visit. So, I only ended up paying about $18 and that was for flea prevention. So all in all, I would say that I did well in the money-saving department. I love getting more bang for my buck. I’m always looking for coupons and deals to save money when I shop.

#gallery-0-5 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-5 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-5 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-5 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

My Princey Princess!

She’s hugging me!

Her other bestie!

Sleepy!

Just chilling!

Here’s a collection of my little Princess who is my Emotional Support Animal. I adopted her last year in June. When I first got her she was super shy and didn’t want people in her face but she laid in my arms and turned away from everyone else who tried to touch her. That’s how I knew she was the doggy for me!

Buying your child’s new pet does not have to break the bank. Adopt a pet and Save Millions of animals’ lives. Go to your local animal shelter as find your child’s companion, today. If you don’t know where one is located, you may locate one by using the adopt a pet website. You may do so by clicking here.

Check out my previous holiday post. I’m sure many of you will enjoy my Holiday Survival Guide! If you haven’t already, sign up for my email list and follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

With Christmas around the corner, kids are begging their parents for pets. purchasing a pet can be super expensive. Here are a few reasons why you should adopt a pet instead of purchasing one from a local pet store or breeder. With Christmas around the corner, kids are begging their parents for pets. Some of the little ones know the breed they want.

#adopt a pet #cats #Dogs #holiday gifts #holiday guide #pet adoption #save a life

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sweetstraykids · 5 years

Text

Bet

Pairing: Hyunjin x Seungmin

✨✨✨✨✨

"He's not straight, look at him." Jisung said pointing towards the new guy at school.

"I am and no straight guy looks like that, he's gay." Seungmin argued.

"You just want him to be so you can date him."

"Damn right I do."

"Why don't you just figure out for yourself. Hey Hyunjin over here!!!" Felix yelled gettin his attention

"What.are.you.doing??" Seungmin asked glaring bullets at his friend.

"I had a class with him and invited him to have lunch with us. Hey Hyunjin what's up?"

"Hey, what's up?"

"Okay everyone introduce yourself."

"I'm Jisung"

"Minho, his boyfriend." he said rapping on arm around his waist protectively.

"Jeongin"

"Chan"

"Woojin, his boyfriend"

"Changbin, Felix's boyfriend" He said rapping an arm around Felix's waist and glaring at the taller.

"I'm gay" Seungmin said and the others almost facepalmed at his words "Seungmin, I meant Seungmin, but I'm also gay."

"I'm J-Jeongin" He said trying to hold back his laughter.

He nodded along to everyone's name trying to remember names to faces. When Seungmin came a smile appeared on his face at the younger's words.

"Sit next to Seungmin." Felix said pointing to the empty seat, the only one left at the table anyway.

He sat next to the blushing boy with a smile on his face cute he thought.

What did I just say??? That's not how I want my first introduction with him to go, at least he might remember me more than the others that way, Seungmin thought to himself.

There was a soft "hi" coming from the taller and he turned to look at him and he said a soft "hi" back.

The group just talked about random things until it was time for the next class in which they all separated their different ways.

~time skip brought to you by chensung~

Seungmin and Jisung bet $10 that Hyunjin is or isn't gay, Seungmin is determined to get his money and a date while at it. But you can't just ask someone's sexuality out of the blue, it has to be brought up some way and Seungmin was thinking about a way he could do it all day.

The group decided to hang out at Jeongin's after school along with their new addition Hyunjin. Seungmin was waiting at Chan's car for him, chan, Felix, and Changbin to go to his place, Woojim would ride too but since he's the only other one with a car he has to drive others.

"Oi, come on Felix just me a little bit." Chan asked in aussie language and he turned to see Felix holding a cup of ramen and Chan looking at him with pleading eyes.

"No, for me cuz. Jeongin has food at his place."

"But it's so far."

"It's a 5 minute drive."

"Yeah that's so long."

"What are they bickering about this time?" Changbin asked coming up behind him, scaring the bejesus out of him.

"Noodles." Changbin looked up at him puzzled "Felix has ramen and won't give any to Chan and he's upset."

"But Jeongin has food."

"Too far."

"Ah. Guys can we go now Woojin already left 10 minutes ago."

"Excuse you i'm right here still." Woojin said appearing from the other side of the car.

"Hush, for dramatic effects."

"Yeah, ok." Woojin sighed "Anyway let's go babe and stop arguing with Felix."

"Fine and we weren't arguing."

"You very much were." Jisung but in from beside Woojin.

*time skip brought to you by luwoo*

They were all sitting and standing in Jeongins kitchen eating all the food in the house. Jeongin walks in from changing his clothes in his room and sees that there's no food.

"What the heck you guys? You can't eat all of the food."

They look at him, some with food sticking out of their mouths.

"Sorry."

"It's ok, I don't know what else I expected after school."

When they all finished their food they went into the basement to play some games.

"We don't have enough controllers for video games, so what about uno?"

"Yeah sure." They agreed and sat in a circle while Jeongin got uno.

"All of you know how to play correct?" He asked as he sat down and passed out the cards.

"Yes" They all said and nodded their heads in agreement.

"Good, i'll start."

*small time skip brought to you by winkun*

"Please Changbin don't do this to me."

"I have to Felix i'm so sorry." He said as he laid down a plus 4 "Uno, Blue" he said as Felix picked up the cards with a pout.

"Uno" Hyunjin shouted with glee and a big smile took over his face. "Uh, Seungmin it's your turn." He said with a face of confusion and waving his hand in front of the heart eyed boy.

"Oh huh? Yeah."

Chan and Woojin look at each other as if they have a plan in mind, "hee hee." is all you can hear from Chan, but no one seemed to notice.

*lee time skip brought to you by taeten*

It was late at night and Woojin was on the phone with Chan trying to figure out the Seungmin and Hyunjin situation and how to help the poor souls.

"Seungmin obviously likes him that's clear and i'm pretty sure Hyunjin feels the same, but how to help them?" Woojin asked

"We could have them stuck with each other where it's just the two and they're forced to talk to each other."

"We could, but the question still is how to do that though."

They sat there in silence for a few minutes until Chan yelled "I got it!"

*the next day*

"Hey Hyunjin, Seungmin come here for a few seconds." Chan yelled across the school yard to the two that were with the group.

"Hey what's up?" Seungmin asked

"Okay, so you know how Woojin's birthday is coming up?"

"Yeah"

"Well I'm trusting you two to set up his surprise birthday party, because i believe you can keep a secret." He of course didn't tell Woojin this last night because he really did want it to be a surprise.

"But I don't really know anything about y'all yet."

"It's okay, Seungmin can help you, right?" He asked looking at the younger smiling and he had no other choice but to say yes. "Great, I trust you two, thank you."

*after school, it's a friday btw*

"Okay so what does he like?" Hyunjin asked looking at all the party supplies

"Umm.... Chicken, bears-

"How about this?" Hyunjin interrupts him as he puts on a tall rainbow hat and matching glasses that were too big for his face. Seungmin giggled

"Perfect."

They walked around the store finding things he likes and putting them in the buggy. When they were done with it and they thought they had enough they brought it to the cashier.

"Thank you Chan for paying for this." Seungmin said as he looked at the price and Hyunjin nodded in agreement.

*time skip to party*

It was now Monday the day of the party, Chan was going to go on a date with Woojin as Hyunjin and Seungmin started to set up and people started to show. The two got closer as they spent the last few days together.

“And done.” Hyunjin said as hanged the last streamer. They backed up and looked at their work, they were very proud of.

“Yo what’s up losers?!” Felix shouted as him and Changbin let themselves in.

“Hey!” Hyunjin and Seungmin said in unison

“Wow! Woojin will love it.” Felix said with shock.

Everyone arrived and they were just waiting for the special boy and his boyfriend to show up.

“They’re coming hide!” Seungmin shouted once he got the text from Chan.

“Surprise!!” Everyone screamed as they walked in. Woojin was in such shock he could only stare open mouthed and wide eyed.

“Oh my god.” Woojin finally said, tears starting to form. “thank you so much” he turned to Chan.

“I’m not the one who decorated this. It was them two.” he said pointing to Hyunjin and Seungmin. “They did awesome.”

“So that was your plan?”

“Yep.”

“Thank you.” He turned to the two with a smile on his face.

“It was no problem and happy birthday.” Seungmin answered.

“Happy birthday.”

“Happy birthday!!” Everyone rose shouted in unison.

After opening presents and eating cake and spending time together the crowd went down to just the nine.

“I did not do that!” Chan yelled

“You did! You did!” They all yelled back except for Hyunjin who wasn’t here when it happened.

“I did not run into a pull while we were playing freeze tag!”

“You did, I specifically remember chasing you and then you face planted a pole!” Jisung chocked our then busted out laughing.

They all laughed for a few minutes until they calmed down.

“Hey we’ll put everything up.” Seungmin said pointing to Hyunjin as they got up from the floor.

“Thank you.” Woojin said

They went to the kitchen to put the dishes in the sink to wash them.

“I had fun setting up the party with you.” Hyunjin said looking over to the other by his side.

“Me too.” Seungmin said looking at him with a smile.

They starred at each other for a few minutes until...

#Seungmin #Hyunjin #Seungmin fanfic #Hyunjin fanfic #Stray kids #Hyunjin x Seungmin #Stray kids fanfic #kpop #kpop fanfic #fanfic

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quileutlove · 5 years

Text

Faerie

So, this mini series is Inspired on a writting prompt: “Magic is the norm. Some excel at it, some are only okay, and others are against it completely, despite being able to use it. Your main character is the latter.”

My name is Anna, the first born of Jason and Agatha Bishop. You may have heard my family name before, more specifically the name Bridget Bishop, my great great-grandmother. And if by any chance you still can’t connect the dots I will give you three words… “Salem witch trial”. And this is my story…

Monday

- Anna stop- My mother said- You need to come.

So the thing my mother needs me to go is the Bonfire that is held near La Push beach, for some reason she needs to get on the chief’s good side, just in case he finds out that we are witches. To me that’s just so not necessary. Why you may ask, the answer is simple, because I’m against IT. Our power have caused too much pain and suffer, not only to others but to my own family as well. Bridget Bishop? Hanged in Salem in the witches Trial. Mary Bishop? Don’t get me started on her poor life… So you see, I have every right to be against it. But, unfortunately, I was the first born which means that from all my brothers I have the strongest power, oh the irony. I mean, I can’t say that I don’t agree with my mother’s approach to the subject, I may not use it but we are a coven of 7 and all of them use their magic, so stay hidden may be a little harder then I make it to be. The only good side in all of this is that the bonfire is only on Friday, so I still have time to convince her that I don’t need to go.

I’m not, at all, a morning person, so saying that I have a bad mood during the first classes would be a understanding, specially because the first one is with the “La Push Gang”, the not so awesome name given to the boys, and the girl, that belong to Sam’s little cult. This people are so clueless, I mean they fear a bunch of boys that run around half naked but, hey “lets be friends with the girl that is NOT AT ALL a witch”, pathetic…

I started heading to class ignoring all the turmoil that happened every morning, and also ignoring the stares from the gang, you see there is more than one reason that I don't wanna go to the bonfire and the reason has a name… Leah. After the whole Sam fiasco me and Leah got REALLY close, we talk every minute of every day, we would go out every time she could, those sort of things, and then Bella happened. I swear up to this day I still don't understand, Leah hated that girl with every bone of her body but still she ignored me for her, she would spend all of her time with the girl because “she was fragile and in need of help”, her words not mine. It didn't take a witch to understand what was happening to us, so i shielded my heart and backed away from her, although she didn’t liked that move that much, or anyone from the group for that matter. But it’s my life, and my heart, we are talking about I don’t give up to peer pressure.

- Good morning Anna- Seth says while siting in the chair right by my side.

- Hello Seth- I don’t tend to talk to no one that much, especially Seth.

- Are you okay?- He asked looking straight at me, like he was trying to see trough my soul, searching for signs of something.

- Yes Seth, I’m fine.- This boy is seriously starting to get on my nerves.

- So how was the weekend?- He asked with that usual happiness that made me wanna puke.

- Fine, just like every other weekend you asked me about.- Bad mood? Check.

- Leah has been trying to talk to you, have you changed your number or something?

- Nop.- I said popping the ‘p’- I just don’t wanna talk to her.

-Oh Anna, don’t be like that. She really misses you.

- And I really don’t care.- I was so sick of this talk that I up and left.

I walked straight into the woods, people here talk about giant wolves and some dangerous activities happening in them but we have a say for that: “A witch ought never to be frightened in the darkest forest… Because she should be sure in her soul that the most terrifying thing in the forest was her”, and I sure as hell I’m not afraid of some animals. Walking trough the trees, the mud and all the nature made me feel at peace, that was my element. I could feel the wind whispering in my ears, the sun heating my face, the hearth smiling at me, I could get lost in all the sensations for hours and still would never be enough for me.

- Anna what are you doing.- Leah came screaming out of nowhere.- It’s not safe in here!

- That is none of your business Leah. I can live my life the way I want.- I huffed before turning to face her, but got the scare of my life. She looked sick, REALLY sick. Like she haven’t slept for days in a row, her clothes were all muddy and her hair was a mess, I got taken back by that.

- Anna everything you do is my concern.- She sounded defeated.

- No, is not. You made that choice!- I was struggling so bad not to cry that I was mentally begging my ancestors for strength.

- I didn’t choose anything! She needed help, are you really that selfish that you couldn’t see that!?- Oh she is mad, she is really mad.

- ME?! SELFISH!?!? Leah you totally forgot I even existed, so why so much anger just because I choose to do the same?- I guess people really don’t like when you do to them what they do to you, well… Her problem.

- I did not forgot about you! Dammit Anna, you were all I could think about- And now the lies start. Momma once said this could be easily solved by a spell, too bad I’m against it.

- Right, now I’m the one who is wrong.- I shook my head, I was so tiered of this situation-. My fault, your fault, what does it matter?? I’m not changing my decision Leah, so, just stop ok!?

I walked out of there with a pull on my heart telling me to go back, the same pull I got every time I was near her. I wanted to know what the pull was but at the same time I was scared of the answer.

I got home after the witches time which means I didn’t get the chance to talk with my mother, one day down, 4 more to go…

#quileute #twilight #leah clearwater #magic #fanfic #crepusculo #wolves

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kzbrandt · 3 years

Text

Alcoholism

Clink, Drink, Sink… Did I just walk off the brink?

Alcohol has taken everything from me. I hate it more than you can ever imagine. First, it took my mother and birthed the horror of our relationship. Then, right under my nose, without even noticing it, it took my father. Both walked over the ledge into a sea of addiction and carelessness. One lost their sanity, while the other drowned his impetus.

To be honest, my mother was one of those people where the habit became painfully obvious, she dug herself an early grave and it was no surprise to anyone once she lied down in it. My padre on the other hand, all could see it but me. Maybe I just didn’t want to believe it, maybe in my eyes the man who saved me could do no wrong. He only had a few each night just to take the edge off. What was wrong with that? It’s not like he ever hurt anybody? What I didn’t realize is he was only hurting himself.

It would take 10 years to finally recognize this rug pitifully covering a dirty floor. How could I condemn a man who raised me, he was given no favors, no easy paths were ever found around here. How can I blame someone whose own mother abandoned him to a mental institution, while his father found solace in whores rather than anything outside of a bar? They bowed down and worshipped their demons, at least he was still putting up a fight.

Every Night I dreamed of the one who possessed him, he was oblivious of course, but like always I was burdened with the truth. You can't lie to an empath, especially when various superpowers were already in play. Fear. This alone consumed me, every dark corner or shadowy precipice filled my heart with dread. I knew what might linger there, hidden under the opaque and terrifying sheets. I’ve heard his roar and felt his grip, seen its reflective eyes mirrored within my father's itching for complete control.

The Devil always finds me, since I was very young I have felt the horned one’s pursuit. Prayers and protective signs only kept them away for so long. Sometimes I dreamed of ending it all, but I wouldn’t let them entrap me so easily. Most teenagers prefer late night parties and social frivolity under their parents' slumbering eyes. Not me, I never bode well in this respect. People are simple when you know what to expect from them. Humans let you down, disappoint or betray you. Even my own dad, as much as I love him, would rather drown, shipwrecked in a bottle, rather than try to swim for shore, not even if I begged. When it came down to it, I always believed I was more important, wasn’t it easier to choose his only daughter rather than addiction? How many times did he promise me and his words fell as empty as his glass each night?

Piece by piece he lost himself until he wasn’t my father anymore. He had chosen the one who sneers and had only one ambition. He had already taken so many and most fell too easily into his grasp, while others were coaxed gradually and didn’t realize until it was too late. The conquest was what he loved the most, the select prey that was clueless even as they were devoured. Not even when his cancer spread terminally did they look up from their limitless loch of gluttonous, idolized debauchery.

His true name was Holicus, one of the old ones festered and brought to life in the realm of the Abyss. Many evils were birthed there, where even a single ray of light refused to enter. The Catholic Church likes to claim only a venerated man has the power to exercise and cleanse a soul, but this is just another lie. One of many they like to tell. Religion is nothing but a plagued web men in power loved to weave. It spun their cruelty, secured their dominance, they didn’t spread hope, but disquietude. This isn’t to say there aren’t select individuals who still serve Abiel, but they grow fewer by the second. Not even the whitest soul is immune to the draw of Lucataerius or as many know him, Diablo.

I can’t believe looking at the past and present, that this could’ve been what God wanted? A church that was blind to the monsters it invited in and when finally granted the sight, hid and obscured the truth. In it’s omission pacified crimes too horrible to speak of. The violation of all those poor children was just the tip of the iceberg.

I was never very good at small talk or making eye contact, but slaying demons was something I was quite good at. Demoniac was a condensed powder extracted from the center of these godless creatures. Over the years I have accumulated a very impressive collection. By day my bedroom was that of a normal fifteen year old teenager. It was simple with pink walls, a small spring mattress and the expected amount of clutter associated with disorganization. By night with the click of a button hidden under the floorboards, this seemingly average room was transformed.

Under the cover of night when my chronic insomnia took hold, I would work in my secret laboratory, tracking and experimenting with strange and unnatural substances, harvested for one purpose. Under my father’s nose I was fighting the shadows, the demons, the monsters that continued to ravage the living.

Certain things only grow in the moonlight and some bloom for one night, others a couple months. The trick is knowing the location and time of year. This knowledge is only granted to the elite, initiated into the Vulvun Oculus. At the head of this secret organization was Japunte Black Moon. He found me when I was only a baby, plagued with a strange supernatural illness. As an infant I had one birthmark in the shape of a cross centered on my forehead, the sign of Abiel, King of the light realms. This insignia called to both forces of nature, good and evil. My mother couldn’t stand to nurse or even touch me and so only a newborn, I dwindled on the ledge between life and death.

My father grew desperate and Harold, who was raised catholic got the number of a strange voodoo doctor. This was how it all began, the first steps taken before the journey. If it wasn’t for Japtunte I don’t know how I would’ve survived adolescence. Some girls were concerned with normal things like boys and accessorizing, not me, I got nightmares that animated before me changing the fabric of my reality. No wonder I barely slept, too afraid to relive the darkest recesses of my imagination, sleep deprivation was a welcome reprieve. The things we dream aren’t supposed to come true, such things were meant to remain in horror flicks.

I remember looking at the other girls wishing I could be like them, so pretty and perfect, so happy. Why couldn’t that be me? Usually this is when my lovely African mentor would pipe in, “Krista with such gifts comes with specific obligations, you have a responsibility to use your talents and not waste them.” So serious all the time, how does he do it? How does he stay the course so consistently?

I reached my breaking point in my 17th year, my maiden hood would leave me to make room for young everlasting-love. It was right about this time I abandoned the Vulvun Oculus and moved in with my uncle. I needed a change of scenery, something different and new. Running seemed to be branded into my DNA.

It worked for maybe a year. I joined the cheerleading squad, made some friends, fell in love, I was just your regular junior in high school. It was bliss while it lasted. No matter how hard I tried, they would never forget who I was, the shadows always found a way to creep in.

Friday, October 31st, the day of the Halloween dance, 2010. It was unseasonably warm, 75 degrees and humid. Typical Michigan weather. It was just outside Belleville High that I received the call that would shake me awake, dreaming for too long now. How could I ever forget this conversation, if you could call it that?

“Kris, you need to come home now. He’s taken your father, I’m sorry.” Click.

Running my soft cashmere hands through blanched but radiant yellow hair, I felt the chill of a rogue breeze, ominous and dark. The message was clear, a demon had possession of someone who was very dear to me. Jetting off in my blue and white uniform, I needed a pair of wheels no matter who they belonged to. Something fast…

Two monstrous wheels ensconced in chrome and leather, off all alone begging to be saddled. What kind of woman would I be if I didn’t oblige? I was surprised how easily this metallic stallion roared to life. Barely flicking the throttle, the engine purred and miles blurred the colors of Columbia Drive. Imagining how peculiar I must have looked never entered my mind as I kept the ocean calm within, readying for any outcome, any obstacle.

Japunte liked to call me the Exorcist, but like any skill it needs to be practiced, rehearsed. I was more than a little rusty, how did I know if I would I be strong enough? Calling to the angel who always stood by my side, silently I prayed for strength and protection. In the reflection of passing carrs I swore that I could see white wings extending out. There was such a rooted comfort in knowing that I wasn't alone in this fight.

The closer I got to Saint Clair Shores, the more prominent his smell became. It was Holicus, how could I not recognize his repugnant oversaturated odor? My father finally reached the bottom of the bottle and found who was waiting for him, on Halloween no less.

Holi. impregnated man with the knowledge to brew him into being. Most of the time he’s harmless, even Jesus partook, although he had a vigor that was intangible. It was the ones who possessed something he lusted for and not easily acquired, those were the souls he needed, such a feast was worth the wait. Arriving at a familiar destination, 20220 Rosedale drew near. This was my childhood home. While I lived with my mother, this was heaven, my one and only escape from the corrupt black iron doors that reached out and never retracted, entrapping you in their icy grip for all eternity.

Imagination can be a dangerous game, it can build bridges and towers to the most magnificent places, or it could host your worst nightmares. No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to stop playing.

Even though it grew late with no sunlight left to spare, I could see the past so easily. There I was only ten years old making mud pies with a strange boy who loved to climb our made up kingdom atop the trees. How easily time passed us by, never had I been so happy or had a more suitable playmate.

Now that I thought about it, Doug was a mystery to me. I couldn’t remember a single thing about his family or his life, only the time we spent together. I didn’t even know his last name. A few months later he had just up and disappeared, moved out without saying a word. That would be the last time my partner in adventurous endeavors would venture to my side of the road. I liked answers and the reasons why, but sometimes we are only made and never opened, keys amiss this door would remain forever closed and elusive. Life would wash it away, another memory, another dream.

Silencing the engine, I slid off my lustrous brushed and borrowed hog slowly walking towards the front door. Not a single light was lit, an eerie sense of dread settled over me and I wondered what was waiting for me inside… Turning the cool door knob, the entire house felt dead and rotten. What had happened here? Where was my dad?

Striding through the dark living room a shadowy figure was seated across a dusty checkered floor. The shell of my father breathed uneven, choppy and shallow.

“So, you finally came home, Krista Star. It’s too bad you just missed your daddio, haha.”

“It’s time for you to leave.”

“Leave, why? He invited me in, little by little he made room and I won’t be evicted, not even by you. What can a cheerleader do against me?”

“I have dueled you before, if only by blood. You may remember him, Constantin Excalibur.”

Silence chilled the suddenly very small room. Continuing to shrink and contract with a petrifying veiny pulse.

“One daughter remade, one thorn wrapped in crimson shade, Excalibur remains, forged from the far away Valean glade… This isn’t possible?” Sweat trickled down a grey and sickly looking brow, lined with three distinct wrinkles.

“Believe it… Holicus. You took my mother, but you won't’ take him, I won’t allow it. I reveal myself to you, Holicus demon of the under realms, by the order of Abiel we cast you out!” As I finished speaking, angelic symbols of the Vale, once hidden, burned brightly illuminating the kitchen, and so the rest of the house. Light from an insurmountable army of Angels obliterated every demon in sight, pulling the plug on Holicus and all who followed him. Of course, most drink would still be stained with his residue but it was now devoid of flagitiousness.

My power came from the soldiers of Abiel, who served him willingly. I am one of them, maybe not a worthy comparison but a follower all the same. An unholy screech pierced the walls and everything vibrated so hard the foundation threatened to crumble around us. With all the strength my soul could muster, I whispered the sacred, hidden words of Abiel, secrets of the white fire.

Few knew of them, even among angels. I won’t abuse what he has given me, I may lose faith in myself, but I’ll neve lose faith in him. Straying in thought I fought against the current, thrashing against the tide I managed to come to the surface.

“K-Krista? What’s happening, where am I?”

“Dad don't worry it's all okay now, but we may need to talk about some things...”

Alcoholism, it sneaks up on you, before you know it the reflection you thought you knew morphs into something alien and unfamiliar. I may have removed the demon, but his essence remains. How many more will you drink before you put down the glass and live your life? Prepare yourself, the Darkness is coming, how will you be fighting drunk or sober?

Happy Halloween, Sincerely, the Exorcist.

#halloween #alcoholism #fantasy #darkening #universe

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