#my need for things to be historically accurate will be the death of me someday 😭

[lopsidedtreetrunks]

Despite my back pain lately, I've managed to doodle a couple more Ghostalia character sheets! This time for Matthew and Antonio. When I'm able to actually sit down at my desk again I'll finish these digitally but for now, this is what I've got 😅

Matthew:

He's in Humphrey's role, meaning he's a Tudor nobleman living in his family estate with his arranged French wife who hates being there. I wanted him to still somehow be from Canada despite the nation of Canada not actually existing yet. Therefore I researched a bit and found that Newfoundland was being explored by the British (or at least, the Italian John Cabot went there under the order of King Henry VII) in the late 1400s, so I thought I'd go along with that. Having his parents settle in Newfoundland for the first few years of his life before coming back to England to inherit the estate.

He was still forced to marry Adélie (Monaco - in Sophie's role), but since everything is set roughly 40 years earlier than BBC Ghosts canon, the catholic plot didn't exist and, indeed, Elizabeth I wasn't even queen yet (but on a plus note, massive ruffs weren't quite in fashion yet, so I don't have to draw any heheh). Through a little bit more research, I discovered that Henry VIII declared war on France in 1544, which matches up more or less with my timeline. Adélie plotted against him for going to war with her country and this is what got Matthew killed in the same manner as Humphrey.

Originally, I was going to have him be unable to read because his body had his eyeglasses, but then I discovered that there were glasses in Tudor times that would pinch your nose in order to stay on your face without having to hold them up (I can't even imagine how uncomfortable that would be to wear for any reasonable amount of time 😭), so I thought he could have those instead.

Antonio:

He's in Pat's role, and I didn't really need to change all that much about him. I think Toni is the perfect person to be a scout leader so he just slots in really nicely! It's the 80's so I gave him a mullet (obviously). I was umming and ahhing about keeping Pat's moustache on him, and I've decided I think he suits it, as well as the aviators.

He was born and bred in Barcelona, and met Bella (Belgium - in Carol's role) when she was holidaying there in the mid-70s. He and his best mate Tiago (Portugal - in Morris' role) were at a disco/dance hall and met Bella and her friends; a holiday romance ensued. Which may have accidentally ended up with Bella pregnant with Toni's baby (oopsies). Antonio felt that this was a blessing in disguise (ever the optimist) and he proposed to her not long after she told him she was pregnant. Antonio ended up moving to England to be with her. Tiago would visit regularly, as well as them visiting him, but he ended up moving to England too a few years later.

Antonio was already a scout leader in Spain, so when he moved to England he naturally fell into place in the English scouting troupes. He's always been great with kids which was something Bella admired about him. Unfortunately, he died when his own son Marc (Luxembourg - in Daley's role) was only 8 years old.

#you can probably tell my back is affecting my art bc of how Shitty some of these doodles are bxjsjs #but im trying not to tell myself off for that 😅 #bbc ghosts #hetalia #aph #hws #ghostalia au #hws spain #hws canada #antonio fernandez carriedo #matthew williams #yes toni is doing the macarena and yes i KNOW thats a 90s thing but DO I CARE #the answer is yes but also i thought it was funny anyway 😭 #my need for things to be historically accurate will be the death of me someday 😭 #anyway i thought at least a couple of these doodles were cute enough to warrant posting them now #since idk when ill be able to use my computer again yet #hopfully soon - this bout of pain is slowly getting better but it still hurts a lot in certain positions #those positions beong hunched over a drawing tablet in a seat that has 0 back support bsbsjjs

[thejudgingtrash]

Last but not least: PJO hot takes part IV!

Alright my dudes. I think we’re still in this game for one final round. Anyway here’s wonderwall. And Part 1//Part 2//Part 3!

Percy had actually knowledge about the Greek myths. He didn’t waddle in blindly. Where did y’all even get that?

The new possible Irish myth saga will be PJO 3.0 aka Magnus Chase 2.0 aka The Kane Chronicles 1.2.

Riordan already got the names of gods of that possible saga wrong

Riordan‘s Asian characters only know bitch or bland mode, huh

Stop babying Annabeth for fucks sake. Seriously

How the fuck did Sally afford several private schools for Percy when they were poor as fuck? I guess Gabe had to have a some somewhat decent job but then again playing poker/being a gambler and stealing from your stepson ain’t a cute move

Hazel should’ve been Thanatos‘ kid. To break the classic 12 Olympian mold (yeah Hades/Pluto technically isn’t one but he’s still team major gods) and also to throw the damned Hitler/Pluto aesthetics away

Did any of the kids break their limps or get permanently disabled at some point? Or do they just... die (and mostly stay dead)? I forgot

Where can the kids at Camp Half-Blood actually sneak off to fuck? Percy is legit the only one to claim his own shit as his love bunker. The rest is just fucked I guess or has first hand traumatic pre-college experiences

”Percy cursed“. Literally why, Riordan. Let the kid say fuck. He has earned the rights to do so a long time ago

Did I mention that people lack of basic reading skills in earlier takes? Anyway. Here’s another reminder!

Tbh the gods are egotistical fucks and have killed people for the fuck of it. I don’t see Poseidon being even close to okay with Sally marrying Gabe or Paul

I still don’t understand why Frazel is a thing

Most of you don’t understand how movie production works but that’s okay. Just know that everything inside your head will never be realized and there will be drastic cuts and additions to the books (again)

The electronics not working thing doesn’t even make any goddamn sense? Hermes is the god of the Internet. Does this mean that demigods can use the web just fine but simply can’t call each other? This really came back to bite Riordan in the ass now did it? Wouldn’t it make more sense to use old means of communication once you’re trying to reach more important/godly people or electronics fail in an accute situation?

Turning everyone heteroflexible creates the image that you’re simply liking a character for the fact that they are LGBTQ and not the character itself, just saying. More representation sure, but that itself isn’t a personality trait and shouldn’t be the main focus of a character unless it’s really defining in the story line (Nico‘s arc partially for example)

Tbh, HOO should’ve been aged up mentor Percabeth protecting CHB, with the rest of the gang fucking up Greece with aged Reyna + Nico perhaps. I might post an outline on that AU someday (someone should remind me about that tho)

On one hand you have in depth discussions and people diving into the matter and talking about every nook and cranny and on the other hand people are more then just fine with stereotyping and deflecting. Whut. Okay

Why are people shipping the lie that is Jasper/Jasiper

Stop romanticizing the gods

Dark!Percy is just a cheap way for you to turn Percy into an overpowered asshole and that’s that tea

Being in a relationship isn’t a personality trait, my dear shippers

Riordan‘s timeline is off because the coke rush didn’t last that long

The wasted potential of everything past PJO makes me want to cry

Percy’s fatal flaw isn’t stupid, Riordan just didn’t flesh it out properly which is why there were no real repercussions. A fatal flaw is supposed to be hindering you and not a compliment

The fact that adult people still can’t take jokes about their favorite characters is fucking insane part II

Why the fuck did the Stolls get tossed aside? Bruh. The potential? The stigma as a Hermes kid? They trying to redeem their cabins honor? Imagine one of them as a prophecy kid in HOO (and they’d switch and swap to confuse everyone)? Yes??

Every single one of you that essentially is team poc!Percy because he had a rough upbringing deserves to get slapped. Poverty, abuse, a single parent, etc. doesn’t equate to being poc?!?!? Smells racist just saying

Turning Hazel into Nico‘s sister was cheap af

Stop romanticizing and down playing the myth aspect. Tragedy is essential and will haunt demigods. Thank you, next

Also stop babying Percy

Let’s be honest none of those fuckers make it to college

Annabeth Chase is fucking WHITE part II. She’s not biracial, she’s not ”exotic“, she’s certainly not fucking black. She’s white with a little hint of a tan. That still makes her white. Do you really want to turn her into Ariana Grande 2.0? A fucking botched orange? This is your Annabeth aesthetic? Artists get it fucking right unless you state that you portray her as [spraytan headcanon] which is still fucking cheap let’s be real. Orange Annabeth isn’t part of the kulture

Regardless of the reception of the PJO movies, I’ll never forgive you people for letting Logan Lerman aka the OG white boy™ flop. Throw Tom “lipless but okay booty“ Holland and Timothée ”I missed a few meals“ Chalamet the fuck away!

Tbh a less romanticized version of the camps would’ve been more interesting. I’m still put off by CJ (and also the fact that CHB is a summer camp), but had there been more fights and actual deaths that had happened around the camps due to training, etc. you would’ve understood immediately why demigods dipped before the age of 18. The antithetical nature of sweet summer camp and people dying left and right would’ve been amplified

Did Reyna at some point in time even have the time to breath with all of the shit that went down? Her life is simply 24/7 stressful. I get that she wanted to bounce and no longer be in a tiring and demanding position but the hunters ain’t it sis

It’s okay to admit that fanon artwork or fanfics don’t deserve the webspace they are wasting. But phrase that probably in a nicer way

PJO Calypso wasn’t annoying. HOO & TOA Calypso on the other hand...

Alex Pettyfer would’ve been a better Luke Castellan but Jake Abel did an okay job

Percy isn’t an idiot. You are one for believing so

Riordan corrected the stance that Muslims don’t shower during Ramadan (literally how in the fuck did he come up with that in the first place?!) in upcoming MC books. Can he use the same energy to rewrite HOO tho??

Luke’s portrayals in SoM and TTC were straight up trash

Historically accurate PJO would’ve been everything

Monsters can detect demigods by smell. Camo wouldn’t do jack shit ffs

Jason is still bland and making jokes/pointing that out is more than okay

Omfg accept the fact that characters can have multiple facets all good and bad. Reducing them to one specific trait makes them boring and bland. Also it stereotypes

Getting mad over the fact that Clarisse has a boyfriend is still fucking insane

Not everyone needs to be a fanfic writer or an artist, a theorist or someone that analyzes everything phrase by phrase. As long as you’re in the fandom to enjoy works & discussions and remain on the saner side of the spectrum you’re good. You’re valid. Don’t forget that.

Not wanting to stay in a fandom and merely enjoying some of the fruits/benefits as in art/fics/headcanons is also super valid

PJO Reddit, Tumblr, IG and Twitter are a cesspool of chaotic mess and straight up trash but Tumblr > Reddit >>>>>> IG >>>>>> Twitter

Tbh: just try to enjoy a decent book series. It’s all not that deep

#pjo #annabeth chase #percy jackson and the olympians #percy jackson #heroes of olympus #jason grace #hazel levesque #piper mclean #frank zhang #luke castellan #nico di angelo #reyna ramirez arellano #hoo #toa #pjo hot takes

[scenecipriano]

Curse of The Fold (1)

Chapter One: Ten Months Earlier

Description: The year was 1692, a time where women, children, and men feared for their lives of possibly being accused of witchcraft. Two men though, don’t allow this mass hysteria to come between them. Even though the madness Janus and Roman manage to keep their relationship a secret…That is until the summer of 1692.“The only thing that could hurt us. Is the curse of the fold.”

Characters: Patton Sanders, Roman Sanders, Remus Sanders, Janus Sanders, Logan Sanders, Virgil Sanders, and Thomas Sanders

Relationships: Roman/Janus

TW: Unsympathetic Patton, Unsympathetic Remus, major character death, death by hanging, death by fire, executions, witch trials.

Other(s): Based on Salem Witch Trials and not fully historically accurate.

Chapter TW: None

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

February 15th, 1692 Salem Massachusetts

The day was warm, warmer than any other day in the usual cool February month. Roman was out on a walk, the woods was a peaceful place for him to unwound and let his thoughts from the day slip away. Roman sighs as he trails his hand over one of the dead blueberry bushes that grew in the woods.

“Sometimes winter takes the prettiest things away… We need more pretty things in our lives… especially with the hunts going on,” Roman mumbles as rubs a brown leaf between his thumb and index finger.

The hunts were getting intense, women, men, and even children were being accused of associating with the Devil and casting spells and using potions as if something like that exists outside of fairytales.

“Give me your heart and I’ll show you how to feel… Send me your soul and you’ll know what it is to be free~,” Roman stops in his tracks when he hears a soft and melodic voice coming from his left.

He blinks his green eyes and looks around him, he couldn’t see anyone around.

“We all need a deeper purpose, one that’s true and bold~,” the voice sings again, Roman frowns and follows the enchanting sound.

“The only thing that could hurt us… is the curse of the fold~.”

Roman stops and hides behind a tree when the voice sounds much closer, he could hear the stream gurgling just ahead of him. He peeks out from behind the tree and feels as if he was just hit by a runaway wagon.

Before him was a young man, possibly around his age. The man was shirtless, his pale skin stood out against the muted colors of the dead greens and browns that surrounded them. A scar that resembled claw marks was on the left side of his face, but that didn’t deter his beauty, at least in Roman’s eyes it didn’t.

Light blonde hair with specks of red shone in the sun, if Roman hadn’t known any better he would have said this man was even more beautiful than the queen of England herself.

Roman stifles a gasp when the man’s closed eyes flutter open, his right eye was a light green whilst the left was a pale blue.

“Is there someone there?” The man asks.

Roman quickly hides behind the tree once more, he breathes out through his nose and closes his eyes. He tries his best to stay quiet, hoping the man would go back to whatever it was he had been doing before Roman had interrupted him.

After a few minutes of silence, the man goes back to singing, his angelic voice washes over Roman like the waves of an ocean.

“I once knew a man who had fire in his eyes, bloody right hand, he had taken his enemies lives~.”

The song was enchanting, it made Roman feel as if it were being sung strictly for him and him alone.

‘ Isn’t this what they say witches do?’ Roman shakes the voice away, arguing with his conscience that witches weren’t real.

“The past was his torture, the future held his hope~,” Roman nearly jumps out of his skin when the soft voice sings right next to his ear.

A gentle laugh replaces the singing as Roman jumps away from the tree he was hiding behind. He places his hand over his fast-beating heart as he stares at the reddish-blonde haired man.

Even up close he was breath-taking to Roman, a hand with long and slim fingers covered the man’s mouth, as he was trying hard and failing to stifle his laughter as he looks at Roman with those beautiful bi-colored eyes.

“I… I-It’s not what it looks like, I wasn’t trying to spy on you! Your… voice is just very angelic, I only wanted to hear you sing,” Roman offers weakly, he flushes in embarrassment when the man before him lets out a loud laugh.

“Well, I must say it’s not every day when you’ve got someone lurking in these woods looking for a song. May I ask who you are?”

Roman watches as the man offers him a polite smile as he waits for the red-head to answer. He couldn’t help but notice how he was at least a foot taller than the man in front of him.

“I… I-I’m Roman Harford, the pastor’s oldest? M-May I ask who you are?”

The man smiles and offers Roman his right hand, the taller of the two takes the offered hand and gives it a firm shake.

“My name is Janus Delvaux, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Roman Harford,” Janus purrs as he presses a kiss to the back of Roman’s hand.

Roman felt his heart speed up, his face was surely red just by that simple gesture.

“Delvaux? That’s French right?”

Janus smirks and releases his hand, Roman watches as he plucks his white long-sleeved shirt from a low hanging branch from the tree that Roman had been hiding behind.

“Indeed it is,” Janus chuckles as he pulls his shirt over his head, “My father originates from France, but my mother is from Great Britain. Harford though… seems very English, right?”

Roman stares at him dumbfounded for a moment, watching as Janus pulls his head through the top hole of his shirt, along with pushing his arms through the sleeves.

“Right?” Janus prompts, that same smirk on his pale face.

Roman sputters back to reality and laughs nervously, “R-Right! My… My father and mother came over from England when my brother and I were only infants.”

Janus nods, a soft chuckle escaping his pink round lips.

‘ We should kiss him!’ Roman smacks the thought down as he forces himself to grin sheepishly.

“Well, that is mighty interesting, Roman. My parents and I came here when I was four, but enough of the pleasantries, is there anything I can help you with?”

Roman stares for a moment, now that Janus was closer Roman could see that the man wasn’t wearing shoes, opting to go barefoot.

“I… No, no I was merely going on a stroll when I happened to hear you singing. You have a lovely voice.”

Roman sucks in a breath when Janus steps closer to him, he could see the freckles come to life on his face due to the sun casting its warm light over the angel before him.

“That’s very kind of you, Roman… Maybe we’ll meet again someday,” Janus murmurs before he walks away, leaving Roman standing by the stream in awestruck.

Roman feels his body hum when that sweet voice starts up again.

“Until he chose his fortune as the curse of the fold~.”

Roman breathes out a sigh as he leans against the treat, Janus’ silhouette disappearing through the muted browns and greens of the woods.

“I must see him again…”

--------

A/N: I work fast- XD 

~TAGLIST~: @imma-potatoo

#sanders sides #roman sanders #janus sanders #pre-roceit #first meetings #tw unsympathetic patton #tw unsympathetic remus #yeah Janus is part french #tw witch hunt mention #um not sure there's anything else #let me know! #also #if anyone wants to listen to the song #it's the curse of the fold by shawn james #enjoy~

[dafukdidiwatch]

Titanic 1997

Alright, I finally caved and watched it.

It could have had a happier ending.

<spoilers>

I was against watching this movie for a long time. I didn’t have anything against the plot, it was just I knew how the movie ended.

The boat sinks.

My mentality was, if I knew how the event ended why bother watching? Like, all the movie was going to do was let me see a bunch of people who is just going to die at the end.

Plus, back then I was really against romance movies of any kind. If it was a movie marketed as a romance, I would be super against it. Meaning the entire lure of Jack&Rose was strike two against this film.

Then, it didn’t help that I knew the end and main plot points because of how big Titanic was. (pun unintended but accepted). I knew the song, the motif, the opening shot, specific lines like “Paint me like your French Girls” and “It was called the Ship of Dreams,” “I’m king of the world,” Jack could have fit on the door. Basically, all the best/iconic parts of the movie.

So it felt like, if I knew plot of the film, for something that didn’t really held my interest, in a very sad event, why do I need to really watch it?

Well, I was wrong. And really wrong.

Overview: Treasure Hunters search for a rare necklace that was lost on the Titanic. Soon they discover information from an unlikely source, an old woman named Rose Dawson, who explains her experience of love and lost on the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

I did not realized that the movie opened in present-ish day. I was expecting to just jump right into actual story, so that was a little off-putting. I was against it at first, because they were going for the whole “flashback” route and I wasn’t really into it. But it grew on me, and looking back it was probably the best way to tell this story. It opened on modern day because that was where we are, but we can’t possibly imagine how/what happened on the Titanic unless someone who has been there tells us. It just makes it feel more real that way. I think Rose explains it the best when that one guy was explaining how exactly the Titanic sank to her: living through it was a different experience than just explaining it.

The transitions between old and new are just beautifully done, both in a long emotional transition as everything fades from old to new to old again, and a quick jump for comedic timing. I never really expected this to be a funny movie, but there are a LOT of good jokes throughout. Old Rose is especially hilarious. She is just old and spunky and didn’t give two shits. I hope to be like that someday. .

The supporting characters are good too. Cal the fiancee was a dick and a trash person and oh so wonderful to hate. Fabrizio and Tommy were the fun party guys just there for a good time. We got to see some cool historical characters brought to life like Margret Molly Brown, who is a fun take charge kind of person. Thomas Andrews the ship builder as a kind and thoughtful man who really did care a lot about the people on the ship. They were like two of my favorite people in the movie.

And speaking of historical things, James Cameron did a lot to portray the movie as historically as possible. Not just the big things with the ship and the historical people. There were so many small moments that were historically important and relevant to the sinking that were included. Like the missing binoculars, wanting the ship to go faster, “woman and children first” to “woman and children only.” There is just a lot of respect in trying to make this as accurate as you can.

The romance felt natural, it was a nice slow burn of just trying to open a new world for Rose. Stuck in a shitty and loveless engagement, ending up just talking to a genuinely kind people. Like, Leo was perfect in his role as Jack. I just love his care free attitude and his kind nature to just try to help. Granted, I wished that there was a....Better Way for them to have initially met, but it just pulls you in that you know you want there to be a way for them to work it out.

I’ve also noticed you don’t really see a genderbend version of the trope, the poor but free traveler and the wealthy but trapped socialite having a romance. It’s always a poor boy and rich girl in those specific roles. Just a thought I had while watching. 

You know, I never actually heard them really play the song “My Heart Will Go On.” I mean as the full song. I was expecting the lyrics to play at some point at least. Instead it was just a motif in little parts throughout the movie, but at all the romantic parts whenever Jack and Rose were really bonding together. And it also got sad when you hear the music over, you know, the ship about to sink. 

God I was freaking crying when Rose jumped back into the ship and Jack and kissing her calling stupid but they just kept kissing! Arg!!! 

Also, have you noticed that there were a LOT of hints to Jack dying when the ship sinks? I get catching the lines foreshadowing the ship sinking, but there were a bunch of moments that also point out his own demise. If I didn’t know about Jack’s death already, I probably would have just chalked it up to specifically the ship sinking.

This movie has a terrible habit of getting me attached to side characters only to watch them die. It also has a terrible habit of getting me attached to characters I’ve never even seen before while I was watching them die. Which makes sense, because this movie managed to really capture just how awful and tragic the entire sinking was. We see people panicked, fighting for the boats, silently accepting their fate, trying to survive, and I couldn’t really blame anyone for their decisions. Like, there were a TON of dick moves that people did, but at the same time you KNOW most of them are going to die so you know they are also just trying to survive as best as they could.

Overall: This film has helped me realize that I didn’t really have a problem with romantic movies, just bad romantic comedies. Basically, just watch this film. It is gorgeous in the set designs and shots. It is funny, romantic, thrilling, horrific, historical, kills you in the feels, literally everything that you could/would ever want in a movie. Is it a long ass time? Yes, over 3 hours. Does half of the movie just cover the ship sinking? Also yes, but it was time well spent.

#dafukblog #dafuking films #titanic #titanic 1997 #titanic movie #week 14 movie

[omg-foreverfilledwithweird-posts]

If Looks Could Kill...

Author’s Note: So IDK WHAT TIME PERIOD THAT ADRIAN WAS TURNED but this is kind of an AU in a sense because this girl killed him instead of him dying in the war (as you can read from the last chapter of my lil’ series ;)) Therefore, I decided that he should be turned in around the 1850′s (I’M HONESTLY JUST MAKING THIS UP SO DON’T FACT CHECK ME ON WHEN HE GOT TURNED AND DON’T COME FOR ME PLZ) And this probably isn’t historically accurate, but here goes... I really hope you enjoy :) SORRY IT’S SO SHORT!!! But I will make it up to you with a longer part next update

Summary: Adrian regales the tale of the first women he ever loved and how the met, set back in the 1850′s, a Victorian Era. Here’s the story of love, lust, betrayal, desire, and death, all fueled by one thing. Hunger. There will be a part 2 coming soon... @ashtonmore @ashtonwalker @mymandrake @drakewalkerwhipped @maxiarapamaya @devineinterventions2

Warning: OKAY SO THERE’S HARASSMENT AND SOMEONE BEING RACIST because it’s the 1850′s and people were terrible to so many people back then, this is a way to show Adrian being protective, Sweetness, Fluff of course for the first part of this little story within a story, it’s gonna be one to remember my lovelies ;)

“Watch where ya going, foozler!” a man barked in Adrian’s ear, causing him to fall in the dirt by the main road. 

Adrian wipes dirt off his cheek, gritting his teeth as he gets back up to his feet, brushing it off his grey dress slacks, adjusting his sleek, ebony top hat, bow tie, and beige blazer. He has to look presentable for the people he’s photographing, he’d never hear the end of it otherwise. His boss is a stubborn, set in his ways man with a bit of a temper, but the job is good money for him, putting food in his mouth and a roof over his head.

He gripped his ancient, Kodak camera tightly in his hands, being sure not to drop it as he walked down the bustling roads of 19th century Paris, France, an entirely new city all for him to explore. Being just a young man from New York, he’s traveled out of the country, yes, but not anywhere this extravagant and wondrous. The sun glowed on his tan skin, illuminating the curiosity and excitement in his hazel eyes, getting a few lustful glances from women in Victorian gowns, white, lacy umbrellas propped on their shoulders when they wave a demure, white gloved hand at him.

He dips his hat to them, flashing a big, heart-stopping smile and sending them a small, coy wink, making them giggle and whisper to each other when they continue to walk past him.

Perhaps this city will be more fun that I expected... he thinks fondly to himself with a growing smile.

He stops in front of a seamstress shop, a glass wall revealing a series of intricate and hand-sown gowns, dresses, suits, and rolls of fabric hanging on the back wall. He looks at the address written on the yellowed envelope in his hand, nodding when he sees he’s at the right place. 

Adrian pushes past the doorway, looking around the quaint, lovely shop, spotting an older man with white hair, going in all directions, stroking his beard and pushing up his black spectacles before noticing Adrian’s presence. A large, eccentric grin takes up his entire face, the prominent laugh lines and crows’ feet making an appearance when he walks over, clamping a friendly hand on Adrian’s shoulder.

“Ah, you must be the allusive and talented Mr. Adrian Raines! It is truly a pleasure and an honor to have you in my humble shop,” his grin widens.

Adrian tips his hat, “The pleasure’s all mine, sir, and thank you. I hope I live up to your illusions of me and do you proud, sir.”

“Call me Onry! And they are far from illusions, Mr. Raines. I’ve heard great things about you and your work in the photography field. That is why I insisted you come to Paris! You have quite an eye for these things, my boy,” Onry says, guiding Adrian towards the back room with the subject he will be photographing is staying.

Adrian smiles bashfully, “Thank you, Onry. That’s all very kind of you to say, but-”

His words are lost when he sets eyes on a woman, laughing at something one of her friends said, sitting upon a white painted stool. She wears a beautiful, gold and rose-colored gown with a string of pearls around her neck that contrasts extraordinarily with her golden, brown skin. Adrian is rooted into place, mesmerized by the woman’s beauty, only seconds after laying eyes on her. The flush in her full cheeks, the angle of her jaw, the curl of her raven hair, pinned at the back of her head with a few escaping to frame her face, her warm, cocoa eyes, her soft, pink, impossibly irresistible lips, everything about her made him frozen with admiration for this one women.

The most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.

She finally sees his staring and tilts her chin up, scrutinizing him from across the room, “Didn’t your mother teach you that it’s impolite to stare?” she says, her voice smooth and music to his ears, laced with a lilting, French accent.

“Not when the woman I’m looking at is this...” he meets her eyes, flashing the same smile he did to those girls just moments before. “Astoundingly beautiful.”

She appears unfazed, laughing at him, “Your charms won’t work on me, mon cheri, I’ve dealt with my fair share of American boys. You’re just like the rest of them.”

“And what makes you so sure of that?” he asks, humoring her.

Onry clears his throat from beside Adrian, touching his shoulder to bring him back to reality, “Mr. Raines? I am well aware of my dear friend, Luella’s wit and beauty and how enticing she can be to men, but we don’t have much time. I need this picture as soon as possible.”

Adrian answers, eyes still on Luella, “Yes, sir. Right away, sir.”

Adrian sets up his camera in front of Luella, her friends moving out of the shot as Onry sets everything up for the background, smiling proudly when everything is finished and Adrian is ready to take the photo.

Luella places her hands in her lap, straightening her back in the stool, and tilting up her chin, a small smile gracing her full lips. He’s almost too awestruck from her bewitching beauty. He tucks under the hood and snaps the photo, knowing whatever the outcome, she will look absolutely stunning.

After a few more shots and tucking away his camera, Onry takes one of the photos he shot and sets it into Adrian’s hand. 

“I thought you might enjoy this photograph, Mr. Raines,” he cracks a knowing smile. “Safe travels, my friend, and have a wonderful time in our wonderful city.”

Adrian smiles graciously and tucks the photo into his pants pocket. He walks up to Luella, extending his hand to help her off the stool. She cuts her dark eyes to him before hopping off herself, brushing past him and out the door. He hurries after her, speeding up so he’s by her side, walking with her.

She sighs, “What is it you want, Mr. Raines?”

“Adrian is preferred if we’re going to be friends,” he smiles. “And Luella? Doesn’t it mean warrior?”

“It does,” she looks at him from the corner of her, lips edging into a small smile. “I see you aren’t as dim-witted as I expected you to be.”

“I think the name is pretty fitting.”

She smiles. “Why do you think my father chose it for me?” she asks him before getting shoved into the wall by a burly, large man.

“Hideous slave! Go back to your master where you belong,” he shoves her again, her shoulder painfully hitting the wall. She winces, lunging for the man to fight back, but Adrian puts himself in front of her.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she whispers through gritted teeth, a hand on her hurt shoulder, he scowls at the man and the bruise blossoming on her skin.

“Some warriors need to know when to choose their battles,” he whispers to her. “Let me help you.” 

He turns back to the man with a deep frown, “That is no way to talk to a woman. Or anyone for that matter.”

The behemoth of a man chuckles darkly, “She’s not a person, she’s living dirt! Human scum! Woman belong in the kitchen, cooking and cleaning for their husbands. She belongs in the fields! Now step away from her so I can finish what I started!”

Adrian pushes the man away from her, making him stumble backwards, “You will not lay a hand on her, you cretin. If anyone is living dirt, it’s you, people like you that are intolerant and cruel, putting others down for no reason at all. So run along before you get hurt because none of us want that,” he says, towering over the man, eyes darkening with anger.

“What ya gonna do, boy? Hit me?” the man raises his fists. “I’d like to see you try.”

Adrian swings his fist without hesitation into the man’s jaw, making a loud crack as the man falls limp to the ground, knocked out cold. Adrian turns to Luella, shaking out his fist, the other hand on her arms, comforting her.

“Are you alright, Miss Luella?” he says, looking for the bruise he’d just seen on her shoulder, but not finding it. How peculiar...

“I’m fine,” she gulps audibly, looking up at him through her thick lashes. “Thanks to you. I could have handled it myself, mon cheri. This is what I go through everyday on these streets, it is nothing new.”

He frowns, shaking his head, “You shouldn’t have to.”

“The world isn’t fair, beau,” she smiles sadly. Before he can speak, she rises on the toes to press a soft and quick kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, Mr. Raines. Hopefully I can repay you someday for what you did for me.”

“You could go to dinner with me,” he beams, breath catching in his throat even after she pulls away, he rubs the spot where her lips brushed, flushing intensely. She flashes an amused smile, taking his breath away. 

“You’re only in town for a day or two, Mr. Raines. That wouldn’t be very wise for me to get attached.”

“I could stay,” he blurts out without a second though.

“La mignonne...” she says with a soft chuckle, brushing a hand across his cheek affectionately. “You really shouldn’t,” her face dims.

“I would,” he says.

“I’m sure you would,” she smiles, despite her best efforts, unable to resist his charms. “But what would this dinner entail?”

“Just before sunset, tomorrow,” he says, taking her hand and pointing her finger in the direction straight ahead, just where the water lies. A few trees and grass for places to sit and talk together. “A picnic.”

“It does sound lovely,” she smiles wistfully at the thought, before looking him in the eye. “But I cannot go.”

He frowns. “Why not?”

“I have a ball to attend tomorrow, a masquerade soiree for Onry, he’s throwing the celebration at his estate,” she tilts her head when a smile makes a way to Adrian’s lips. She matches his expression, “What is going on through that head of your, mon cheri?”

“I could escort you,” he steps closer to her, chuckling nervously as his nerves begin to take over. “If you’ll have me.”

She considers this for a moment and despite her mission, she smiles kindly at him, knowing the party will be dangerous for someone like him. Taking his hand in hers, she squeezes it for assurance. “I do not think it would be... safe for you to go. It is... not your way of life.”

“Let me go,” he grasps her hand in both of his, bringing it to his lips to kiss her knuckles, making her meet his eyes. “I would die a happy man if I were to have the pleasure of escorting a Queen like yourself.”

She flushes, tucking a curl behind her ear, “Are you sure?”

“More than anything.”

Luella nods, meeting his eyes with a determined smirk that captures Adrian’s heart in an instant, knowing this woman will surely be the death of him. “Very well, meet me here, tomorrow night just before sunset and my coach will take us there.”

He beams, “Thank you, Luella.”

Her heart clenches, hiding it with a lip curling grin, “It’ll be a night to remember, mon coeur.”

She lets go of his hands, sending the American one last smile before turning on her heel and walking down the sidewalk, bustling with life, but all he sees is this one woman. 

He grins as he watches her leave, deep in his heart knowing this is the girl he will spend the rest of his life with.

PART 2 COMING SOON!!!! Tell me if you want more ;)

#adrian raines #bloodbound #choices fanfic #choices stories you can play #adrian x mc #adrian x ember #ember #beauty #pretty proud #victorian

[phdmama]

10 Fics I Love From 2016

It’s so funny, going through the first 20 pages of the 2016 fics, I’ve read SO MANY of them. Here are some fics from that year that I loved, in no particular order!

As always - check the tags before reading!!

One Day to Believe in You by @mediaville

A mysterious force compels Louis to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Even when it's really inconvenient.

Harry blinks and has the nerve to look surprised. "You think about me when you get off?"

"Yes," Louis says. He wonders how hard he'd need to punch himself in the face to knock himself out.

"Often?"

"Yes, Christ, Harry," Louis groans. "Probably eight times a week for going on six years now. On average, you know. More when we were touring, less when I've been visiting family. Anything else you'd like to know?"

This one is relatively short (7774) and it just made me laugh out loud! A fun, easy read.

Tug of War by @cherrystreet

Louis' husband dies suddenly and he is left with nothing. Well, not really nothing. He has Harry. And a St. Bernard puppy named Link, whom his late husband left behind for him. Louis takes care of Link and Harry takes care of Louis. Everything is okay until suddenly, it isn't.

This one is brutal but beautiful. Brutiful.  Wonderfully written - I was so way to read this, but it was absolutely worth it!

Paint the Sky with Stars by @icanhazzalou

On 10 April 1912, Harry Styles boards the finest ship the world has ever seen. Still grieving the death of their mother, he and his sister are being sent to America to live with a callous uncle who cares more about his business connections than family. Harry prepares himself for a long, disappointing voyage alone in his stateroom.

Louis Tomlinson has borrowed and saved, and finally has enough to purchase a Third Class ticket to America. With all of his belongings in a single ruck sack, he boards the Titanic filled with hope for a brighter future. Never one to sit still, he can’t resist exploring the massive ship, and soon goes sneaking into First Class in a stolen steward’s uniform.

By a twist of fate, Louis finds himself in Harry’s stateroom, entranced by the most attractive man he’s ever laid eyes on. He keeps returning day after day, even if he doesn’t understand what it is about Harry that continues pulling him in. That’s all right; Louis has a week to figure it out, and Harry is plenty willing to help.

Except they don’t have a week. They have four days. Because on 15 April, their entire world will be turned upside down.

Or, the historically accurate Titanic AU with a happy ending.

OH MY GOD. This one is gorgeous, so beautiful writtern, amazingly researched! SO GOOD.

Hiding Place by @alivingfire

Louis never wanted a soulmate, didn’t really care for the whole Bonding thing at all, really. Enter Harry Styles, who’s wanted to be Bonded for as long as he could remember. With one fateful meeting in an X Factor bathroom, Louis gets a dagger on his arm and the realization that just because Harry is his soulmate doesn’t mean it’s mutual.

From the X Factor house to Madison Square Garden, from the Fountain Studios stage to stadiums across the world, Louis has to learn to love without losing himself completely, because someday his best friend will Bond to someone and replace Louis as the center of his universe. Meanwhile, Harry begins to think that maybe fate doesn’t actually know what it’s doing after all, because his other half has clearly been right in front of him the whole time. All he has to do now is convince Louis to give them a chance.

Okay this is tagged slow build and they’re not kidding, but it’s amazing. Such lovely writing, and a really cool story. I’m not normally a huge one for soul mate fic but this one really changed my mind!

run away home by @hattalove

Louis stands, in the middle of a clearing with his hands in his pockets, and stares. This boy—God, this gorgeous, gorgeous boy. He seems so clumsy, confused at the best of times, but there’s a wisdom about him as he speaks, a maturity that belies his age.

Louis is hopelessly, wildly attracted to him.

or, louis is a successful jockey down on his luck, struggling to get his life back on track after an injury. harry has a horse, a house fit for a prince, and a broken heart.

it takes them a while to figure out that they need each other.

This is another slow burn, another beautifully written, wonderful story, it’s so lovely!!

Coax the Cold by @mediawhorefics

England, 1897.

English Professor Louis Tomlinson’s passion for the occult has been a source of mockery and derision for most of his life. When he hears whispers of a travelling freak show newly established in London claiming the existence of a monstrous sea hybrid, half-man, half-fish, Louis sees it as his ticket to credibility amongst his peers. The summer he spends undercover working on the show, however, gives him much more than that.

ANOTHER SLOW BURN, what is up with that?? Very well-written, and a lovely, unique plot as well. Sort of meloncholy. Beautiful.

You’re the Light by @allwaswell16

Before beginning a new graduate school in the fall, Louis Tomlinson decides to spend the summer working in Chicago as an editor’s assistant for the Chicago Tribune newspaper and staying with his old college roommate. What he finds on his first day of work is a tall, gorgeous editor named Harry who has the most beautiful green eyes he’s ever seen—and who also happens to be his new boss.

Another one I just loved. Great story, wonderful writing. And of course, you must read the second piece THAT WAS WRITTEN FOR ME.

Take My Breath Away by @realitybetterthanfiction

There is a prestigious school in the British Royal Navy classified as Premier Delta - or as it is known by its flyers, 1D. These select pilots are an elite set of Naval lieutenants who are trained in the skill of aggressive aerial combat. They are instruments of war, trained in times of peace. They are dogfighters, relentless and fearless in their mission to protect their beloved country. From their lofty vantage, they are always watching, waiting, and ready to lay it all on the line.

Lt. Harry Styles, call sign Sparrow, is a prodigy when it comes to flying. The owner of an unrivaled Naval pedigree, being a pilot was always written in the stars for Harry. With his trusty RIO, Lt. Niall Horan, Harry has made an unprecedented ascension in the ranks of the Naval aerial combat elite, and has been recruited to the esteemed Premier Delta flight school, carrying on his family’s legacy. What he finds there are unexpected friendships, perilous challenges, and something beyond what he ever thought possible. Because as his father had always told him, before the great Captain Styles went tragically missing in combat, you don’t fall in love with the sky, you fall in love with what keeps you on the ground.

OMG. So not only do I absolutely fucking LOVE this fic, think the writing is phenomenal and LOVE THE AUTHOR SO VERY MUCH A LOT, this fic also really brought me into fandom, and helped me make some of the very best friends I’ve had, so yeah. I LOVE THIS ONE.

i wanna get dirty with you by @a-writerwrites

“You good?”

The man’s voice rang out like clear bells from a church tower, light and airy with a gentle rasp like a knife on toast.

It took Harry a moment to realize he was talking to him.

“Me?” Harry squeaked out, his voice a bit wobbly around the edges.

“Just waiting for you to get settled, sweetheart.”

This guy was a naturalist? The headmaster of an outdoor preschool? Harry felt a little woozy. Like he might collapse or propose. He wasn’t quite sure.

**** Harry is a kindergarten teacher. Louis is revolutionizing education--one child at a time. A conference may be an unlikely place to meet someone, but somehow Harry finds Louis and Louis helps Harry find himself.

Teachers! Natural education! Lisa! YES!

Just Tell Me the Song and I’ll Sing It by @myownsparknow

Louis is an architecture student who can only think about the future. Harry is a baseball player who can only think about right now. Both are lonely for different reasons. Boybands bring them together.

Or, this may just be a long love letter to Louis’ voice, I’m not sure.

Based on the following prompt: Harry and Louis are university students who go to the same bar on the weekends. The bar has karaoke and Louis likes to sing Disney/Musical/Boyband songs sometimes. Harry thinks he's cute so he starts singing Disney/Musical/Boyband songs and flirting with him while he's on stage.

I just can’t even with Cynthia. First of all, she’s one of the most lovely people I’ve ever met, and I was blessed enough not only to hang out with her for a weekend, but to get to hear her read from her own work, and my god, that is a gift. She’s such an amazing writer, she has such a gift with languge, it’s stunning.

Okay that’s it. I have no idea how people do these things (fic rec) regularly, man, I’m exhausted. All the linking.

OH. Just because, Imma add in a couple of my favorites of the fics I wrote in 2016.

An Ocean View for @taggiecb and @realitybetterthanfiction

He’d rented out the entire Inn. What was the use was being a multimillionaire member of a world famous boy band, if he couldn’t do something extravagant for his best boy, his only boy. He’d asked the staff to relocate to the Guest House, so that he and Harry could have complete privacy. Three whole days with no stunting, no paps, no appearances. Nothing but Louis, Harry, and the Pacific Ocean to sing them to sleep.

or

It started with the sheers, and got completely out of control from there.

What’s Another Word For...

What happens when Harry goes on Tumblr. (This is quite possibly one of my favorite things I’ve written ever.)

#fic rec #my fic #now I want to reread every single one of these

[royalbluehues]

Sidereal

A/N: Have you figured out my hints yet? This is my first-ever series. I’m excited because I have been conjuring up this image for about a good year now. I’m hoping you all will like it as much as I do. 

I also would like to let you know I plan on writing a lot more, and that Loki will come into the story, you just need to be patient. Also, I might take a while posting because I’m working on my college apps, so please don’t pick on me for not writing and delivering faster. Anyways, here’s the first part of our story. 

*All characters from Marvel belong to Marvel. None of the things I have created are historically accurate (though I did try to incorporate real things in) or are real.

Title: Sidereal

Chapter: 1/?

Summary: This is the story of a fallen queen. 

Author: royalbluehues

Warnings: None

Pairings: Loki x Reader 

Sid-ereal (adjective)

       Determined by, or from the stars.

Part 1: The Ascent.

The last rays of the sun shined brightly, and nebulas above blended into the light blue sky. Birds flew, gliding in the air, and a laugh escaped your throat as you and your ladies in waiting walked together with linked arms on the grounds of the small festival.

Your father was hosting a tourney in the fields of your kingdom, tents had been put up, with gorgeous carpets that laid beneath your feet. It was a celebration of another anniversary of your parent’s marriage. They had been together now for roughly three thousand years, and as always, a grand celebration took place.

One of the stable boys told one of your ladies of a man that came from Vanaheim- a seer. He had predicted that the stable boy would collect great sums of wealth someday, and even rank to a noble.

“A nobleman?” You had laughed, “some folly, if you ask me.” But curiosity had been picking at you ever since she had told you that morning. As you were walking, and as subtly as you could, you quickly glanced around to see if you caught sight of this man. This all stopped once you approached a tent that could fit at least a dozen people. In it, a table sat in the center with food piled on it, each a masterpiece in itself. You and your ladies took your respective seats as the servants came forward to serve you your tea.

“My princess, have you begun practicing on the turnings?” Caelia asked as she sipped her tea delicately. She was one of your older handmaidens, no more than a few hundred years or so.

“Yes,” You took a bite of a fig tart, the flavors dancing on your tongue, “Though it’s quite boring. I will never know how father mustered the energy to sit through those lectures.”

“It is a great practice.”

You shrugged, setting your fork down and brushed a few crumbs that fell on your hand. Your family was responsible for the changing of the moon, the stars, and the sun.  It was a gift that was passed on from generation to generation, and mostly to the first borns. Your father, King Ake, First of His Name and First Born of Arvid, had mastered the difficult practice well, and he expected just the same from you. “In time it will be. For now, though, I would prefer to go see the new gowns the dressmaker has created.”

One of the girls laughed, her spoon clinking against the tea cup. “My lady, you have so many dresses already!”

“The more the merrier,” you said, taking another bite of your tart before replying, “at least for me.” All three ladies laughed, and you did too. After a moment, you spoke again. “Where did you say this seer was, Renna?”

The red haired girl looked up from her cake, furrowing her eyebrows in thought. “The boy said it was one of the more smaller tents. You aren’t actually considering going, are you my lady?”

“Of course not,” the lie fell easily from your mouth as you sipped your tea, “The camp is too large. I was just thinking how many foolish noble women have already went to go see him for a reading on their love lives.”

Caelia gasped. “My lady! You mustn’t say things like that!”

You arched an eyebrow at her, taking another sip. You allowed the flavor orange to settle into your mouth and you took your time to swallow. Caelia held her saucer and her teacup in her hands as she looked scandalised at you. “Is it not true?” She narrowed her eyes and pressed her lips together. And the air in the room quickly became tense as you stared at her, waiting for her response. “Well?” You asked sharply, your annoyance quickly rising.

“I mean no disrespect my lady, it is just that the nobles are good to your family. Even with the food shortage and all, I just don’t think it wise to be gossiping…”

You scoffed, settling comfortably back into your chair. “You rile so quickly, Caelia.”

She said nothing, but poked around at her fruit. You ignored her after that, not caring whether or not she was angry with you. The sun soon began to disappear, and you had a perfect view of it. You watched the day turn into a blend of dark purples and oranges. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The death of a day and the birth of a night. It’s always been my favorite time.”

The ladies murmured in agreement, and you watched as noblemen and women pass by the opening flap of the tent. Three soldiers walked by, two struggling to carry a large fire pit, the silver gleam of the soldier’s armor and the object reflected against the setting sun. You watched as they lit a fire, making it large. In the distance, there were other soldiers doing the same: placing fire pits around the perimeter of the camp.

“Those fires will not keep away the creatures,” Aelga, the other handmaiden, quipped from beside you, “by morning we will all be dead.”

You gave a little laugh, watching as small fires became raging works of art. “Father made sure that the camp is surrounded by the best guards. We will be fine.” You took a sip of your now cold tea, and set it aside. Once the sun sets, creatures, uglier than one can imagine, come out. This was the reason why the sun and the moon were created:  to drive away the creatures of Hel. Luckily, the solution to this problem was light- a source that your family could create in an instant, and something you were still mastering.  

A boy, no older than a fifteen popped into the tent and bowed down to you.

“My lady, dinner will be served near the King’s tent.” He quickly left, and you stood from your chair, looking over to the three woman and nodded once before exiting the tent by yourself.

You made your way through the crowd of people, once they noticed who you were, they all bowed respectively.

You walked towards the table, climbing each step until you reached your seat. You stood by it, and examined it. The wooden chair was heavy, carved by the finest craftsman in Bjartsjord. You lightly traced the knots with the tip of your finger. The endless knots had no beginning and no end- the stars and the moon and the sun all connected as one. A chair besides you scraped against the floor, making you turn your head.

Your younger sister, Dagny stood by you and greeted you, “Sister.” The people gathered around their tables, each pouring wine into their cups. “Will you believe that Mother allowed me to visit the marketplace at this time of day?”

You raised both eyebrows, “I believe she’s finally putting faith in you.”

“Oh hush, you old mule.”

The nobles cheered below, and you turned to watch your father step out of his tent, with you mother by his side. Her eyes shined, and her auburn dress contrasted nicely against her skin tone. She was beautiful. Your father, with his arm linked with your mother’s, smiled once he saw you and your sister. He stood tall and mighty, everything in which a King should look.

They took their spots in the middle of the longtable, and your father placed both his hands on top of his large chair. “My friends! Hillevi and I are joyful to know that you came to celebrate the anniversary of our marriage. Tonight we implore you to eat; tell the stories of your victories and revel in the happiness Hillevi and I have shared together in the past centuries.”

The noblemen raised their cups and horns, and cheered before chugging away at their wine. You sat in the chair, examining the people, picking around at a piece of bread.

“Not hungry?” Dagny asked, taking a bite of her fish.

“No. I had something earlier.” As you said that, something caught your eye. In the dark, someone stood wearing a black hood, and it was as if time stopped. The voices of festivities dulled, and you heard the beating of wings. As soon as it started, it stopped, and you blinked a few times, unsure of what just happened.

The Vanr.

“Are you alright?”

Dagny touched your arm, her eyes hinting concern. “Y-yes. Everything’s fine. Just daydreaming.”

The event left you uneasy, with a hair raising effect on your body. The urge to go look for who it was frightened and intrigued you. You stayed put though, making the decision to go look for him later.

Part 2

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@i-venoidea

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[firstumcschenectady]

"Afterlife?" based on Job 14 and Mark 12:18-27

I want to start today by asking for your trust – particularly from those who are here particularly for the baptism.  I do know that the first hymn and the scriptures have been an odd match for a baptismal Sunday so far, and it is going to get worse before it gets better, but it IS going to get better, I promise.

The question of “what happens after we die” is relevant to us for two separate reasons.  One reason is entirely personal: we want to know if we are simply mortal and if we cease to exist when we die.  The other may be just as personal, in a different way:  we want to know if the connects we have to those who have died before us are still alive or if they only feel that way.

Both of these are good reasons to want to know, but nevertheless, we don't know what happens after death.  And our believes about it end up being profoundly personal. If we are looking at afterlife through the lens of the Christian Tradition, there are three big questions people to disagree over:

Does afterlife exist?

If there is an afterlife, do both heaven and hell exist, or just heaven?

If both heaven and hell exist, how are people sorted between them?

While many people have deep conviction about their answers to these questions, and believe their answers to be the “normal” ones, the truth is that Christians have disagreed about this for about as long as there have been Christians.

For centuries, Christianity has taught about afterlife and the existence of heaven and hell, all while arguing about the means of sorting people into each.  Yet,  there is also a large group of Biblical Scholars who think that we've gotten those assumptions wrong.  They say that 1st century Jews, Jesus, and the earliest Christians did not believe in heaven and hell the way we do.  At best, heaven and hell were temporary resting places while waiting for bodily resurrection that would come along with the Kindom of God on earth.1  More commonly, people believed that there was nothing until the moment of universal bodily resurrection, which they expected to come within the first generation after Jesus.  For some others the perspective of Job 14 was accurate:  humans die but at least God doesn't.

For the most part, I think afterlife is an aside to Christianity.  The goal is to build the kindom on earth, not in heaven.  However, the reality of deaths of those we love and the looming reality of our own deaths don't let us go.  We really want to know, and for many people, what they believe about afterlife profoundly connects to how they understand God.  

Now, this is the fifth and final sermon in a sermon series comparing the salient points of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, the tradition of the Christian Right, and what I've been calling “Jesus-followers”.  (That final group is us.)  Moralistic Therapeutic Deism was discovered through sociological research on the belief system on teenagers, and we have reason to believe it is the default belief system of most Americans.  Unfortunately, as we've found, its a rather problematic belief system, at least in my opinion.  It consists of 5 intersecting assumptions:

"A god exists who created and ordered the world and watches over human life on earth."

"God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions."

"The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself."

"God does not need to be particularly involved in one's life except when God is needed to resolve a problem."

"Good people go to heaven when they die."

Today we are looking at the 5th and final point, “Good people go to heaven when they die.”

Of course, if you asked most people what Christians think, that would be a key part of the answer, “good people go to heaven when they die,” but – of course - our tradition is far more complicated than is generally known.

Historically, I think the concepts of heaven and hell came into clarity in the 3rd or 4th century, as that's when the fights over who went where really picked up.  So let's look at our three questions:

Does afterlife exist?

Christians of good faith disagree about this one.  Some, including some in this community, say, “no.  This life is all there is, so let's make the best of it instead of pretending there is more.”  Others, including some in this community, say, “I think so.  I've had some experiences that lead me to that conclusion and/or it just feels right.”  Still others simply aren't sure.  Because the “word on the street” about Christianity so profoundly conflates belief in God with belief in afterlife, I feel the need to say this explicit: all of these are faithful statements that are congruent with knowing a loving God through Jesus.

So, the second question, which presumes an answer of “yes” to the first one about afterlife existing.  The second question is:

2.  If there is an afterlife, do both heaven and hell exist, or just heaven?

I'll admit that I nuanced this one to lead to a particular answer.  While I'm not always confident about afterlife (and yet sometimes I am, it is a confusing place inside my head), I never think there is a hell.  It just doesn't make the tiniest bit of sense to me that over the long run anything but God's grace could win out.  I read one time a suggestion that people continue to have free will after death, and so if heaven is unity with God, people can take AS LONG AS THEY WANT to get there, but in the end, they will because grace wins.  Put another way, I simply don't believe in a God of eternal punishment, it is incomprehensible to me.  That said, I think most modern Christians believe in a heaven and a hell, and most of them think it is heresy not to.  (oh.  Well.)

I think that for most people who believe that “good people go to heaven when they die” and the unspoken but obvious corollary “bad people go to hell when they die” there is a desire to believe that there is fundamental justice in the world and that bad things are punished and good things are celebrated and even if we don't see evidence of that on earth, it will get balanced out later.  I can understand a desire to believe that!  

Now, for me the third question is null and void, but since Christianity has spent the past 1600-1700 years fighting over it, I guess we should take a moment to hear the arguments. ;)

3.  If both heaven and hell exist, how are people sorted between them?

Possible answers:

In order to get into heaven you have to BELIEVE the right things ( “Justification by FAITH.”) This is the primary perspective of the Christian Right, although it intersects some with the next idea.

In order to get into heaven you have do DO the right things.  For many of those Christians there is a list of good things and a list of bad things to guide behavior. ( “Justification by WORKS” or “Works Righteousness.”)  

In order to get into heaven one must be baptized.  This is often even subconscious now.  This is one of the strongest arguments for infant baptism.  It is also one of the strongest arguments against it.  Some in this mindset will claim that only baptism in their PARTICULAR part of Christianity will matter.  However, when Christianity was much younger, this often resulted in people refusing to be baptized until the very last moment.  (I think, in fact, this is the historical basis for the Catholic ritual of last rites.) They thought that once baptized all their sins were forgiven, and if it was done late enough they wouldn't have time to sin.  I'm not kidding.  This was very common practice.

In order to get into heaven we need God's grace, and God's grace given to us results in our ability to have faith.  (“Justification by grace alone though faith.”) UMC option Thus it is not what we do or do not do; nor what we believe or do not believe that results in our welcome into heaven.  It is simply God's nature.  This does raise a rather large question about those who do not believe in God though.

As a reminder of how complicated all of this is,  I do not think that our Gospel lesson supports or disproves any of the schools of thought.  Rather, it urges humility.  The Sadducees were trying to trick up Jesus, and they brought him a tricky question in order to do it.  The question supported their belief about what happens when we die, but Jesus' answer did not let them trip him up.  He says, ““Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.”

This passage keeps me humble.  I don't know what it means, I don't know what heaven is like,or if it exists, and that's OK.  Many of us are not same worldview as moralistic therapeutic deism who say  “good people go to heaven when they die” or the Christian-Right who say that and have clarity over who counts as “good.”  Many of us simply don't know what happens after death.

I think that at the core, the questions of if afterlife exists or not and whether there is cosmic justice are really questions about existential anxiety.  That is, as beings who are conscious and who know we are mortal, we struggle with the reality that someday we won't be (at least in this form) anymore.  

I think that our shared, all the way back to Jesus, Christian Tradition offers Jesus-followers two ways we can respond to existential anxiety and the claims of the other traditions.  If we are about continuing the work of Jesus – about building the kindom and inviting others to be partners with us in building the kindom – then our work does not end with our deaths any more than Jesus' did.  This is not same as individual afterlife, but is really powerful in a different way. Certainly the ways that each of us work towards the kindom is unique, but the end goal is shared, and after we are gone others will be following up on our work with theirs … until the kindom comes.

The other piece of our response to existential anxiety is simply trusting in God.  Whether or not we cease to exist at the end of our lives, God and God's memory will still hold our lives, our loves, our actions, our thoughts, and our feelings.  And, whatever is on the other side of the proverbial curtain – God IS and God is GOOD and what will be is possible to trust in.

And that brings us full circle to say, that while I know it is awful to acknowledge death while celebrating a new life, I am happy to say that the kindom building and the goodness of God will outlast even the life of the baby baptized today life and thanks be to God for that!  Amen

1 (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/april/13.36.html?paging=off)

#FUMC Schenectady #Thinking Church #Progressive Christianity #UMC #Sorry about the UMC world #Schenectady #Rev Sara E Baron #MDT #Sermon Series on MDT #Jesus Following #Christianity is complicated #kindom comes #Trust God #Build the kindom

[prolifeproliberty]

I need advice for witnessing to an unbeliever, and I'm not sure who to ask at this point. I used to try to witness to people when I was 14 and always butchered it, and I'm a little traumatized by how it turned out. I'm super scared of pushing people away--to the point where I haven't even tried in years. My unbelieving friend is good-hearted and sweet, but vulnerable and depressed right now. I only know him online, and we only started chatting recently, but we're already close friends. (cont.)

(cont.) One question I'd like answered is, is it okay if I don't hide the fact that I'm shy about having this conversation (because of how these conversations have ended up in the past for me?) I've heard that you "absolutely have" to sound confident, but I want to be genuine, too. We're very genuine with each other and having this kind of talk is out of character for me, even as necessary as it is to have it. I know I can't be embarrassed about sharing my faith but it's difficult not to be. (c.(cont.) I'm not an inexperienced Christian and I am reading up about this, but any advice you can give would help, really. And if you think someone else would have a better answer, by all means redirect me. For the most part, if you can think of ways to start the conversation that wouldn't sound awkward, that would be lifesaving ;-; I just think God is pushing me to save this guy (who i'm also unfortunately starting to get a crush on, not that that's relevant) and I'm so so scared of messing up.(cont.) I didn't have room in my last ask, but thank you, by the way. This is really important to me if you couldn't tell. I'm tired of feeling like a fake Christian for being too scared to be a witness, since I fully understand how important it is ;; It's bothered me a lot for years now. So thank you in advance for helping me.

Thank you for reaching out!

First, know that you cannot save your friend. Only the Holy Spirit can create faith in someone. You can’t argue or debate your friend into believing. 

So before you do anything else, pray. Pray for the salvation of your friend, and pray for the help of the Holy Spirit in your conversations with him. 

Second, absolutely be genuine. Relationship is crucial in apologetics, as is your friend believing that you are being honest with him. If he thinks you’re putting on an act or trying to sell him something, he will shut down. 

Third, don’t expect conversion in a single conversation. Most people who convert to Christianity as adults only do so after years of exposure to the Christian faith and many people “planting seeds.” You might be only one of several people the Holy Spirit uses to save your friend. Don’t put it all on yourself, and don’t push for a dramatic conversion story. And, as I’ve said and will keep saying, all glory for someone’s conversion goes to God. 

There are many different thoughts and theories on the most “effective” ways to witness to someone. Ultimately, all you really need to do is speak the truth in love. 

However, there are some good tools to have on hand to help you do that. 

“But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you [g]are blessed. And do not fear their [h]intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15 but [i]sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a [j]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and [k]reverence; 16 [l]and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.“

(1 Peter 3:14-16)

Your first step is to know why you believe. Is it because Christianity makes you feel good? Is it because your parents raised you that way? Is it because you “just do”? If you’re thinking any of those, you need to take a step back to reexamine your faith before trying to make the case to your friend.

“12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified [f]against God that He raised [g]Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”

(1 Corinthians 15:12-19)

The central fact of the Christian faith is that Jesus died and was raised from the dead. Without this fact, Christianity is meaningless. If someone could prove that Jesus was still dead and buried, I would walk away from the church right now. Seriously. Christ’s resurrection is the ONLY reason to be a Christian. 

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become [a]united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [b]in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old [c]self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be [d]done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is [e]freed from sin.

8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, [f]is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

(Romans 6:1-11)

If we are baptized into Christ but Jesus is still dead, then our faith is meaningless. But if we are baptized into Christ and He is alive, then we too will be raised from the dead and be united with Him in that resurrection. That is the central hope of the Christian faith for which St. Peter tells us to be ready to make a defense. 

If someone asks you why you are a Christian, the basic answer is: 

“Jesus lived a perfect life in my place, died to pay for my sin, and was raised from the dead after three days and ascended into heaven to secure my eternal life with Him in paradise after I die. Someday, Jesus will return and raise all the dead, and both living and dead will be judged. Having been baptized into Him, I am clothed with His perfection, and so I will not be judged on my own merit but on the merit He earned for me. That same clothing is available to all who have faith in Him.”

But how do we know that Jesus rose from the dead? The simple answer is that: 

The Resurrection of Jesus is a historical fact recorded by four different authors who either were eyewitnesses themselves or who recorded the testimony of eyewitnesses. 

These records were written, copied, and distributed within the lifetime of the eyewitnesses. 

We know this for multiple reasons, including that absolutely none of them mention the destruction of the Jewish Temple, a major geopolitical event prophesied by Jesus which occurred in 70 AD, about forty years after the Resurrection. If these records were written or even edited after 70 AD, the destruction of the Temple would have certainly been included as further proof that Jesus knew what was coming. 

Those same eyewitnesses traveled the known world sharing their story, and faced poverty, rejection, imprisonment, torture, and death for doing so. 

They received no earthly, material benefit for their testimony, and yet continued to insist on the truth of what they saw. 

These same records name other eyewitnesses and encourage the reader who lived at the time of writing to go and ask these eyewitnesses themselves. 

We know that we have accurate copies of these original records because our first copies date to within two centuries of the original writing. Compared to other historical documents written around that time or earlier, this is incredible. 

These records refer to historical events that can be independently verified by other secular sources, including those hostile to the faith. 

If Jesus died and then rose from the dead, we have much more reason to believe Him when He claims to be God, performs miracles, and promises resurrection for those who trust in Him. We also have reason to take Him seriously when He refers to Old Testament Scripture as the Word of God and quotes it in debates with the religious leaders of the time.

If we then believe both the Old and New Testament as the Word of an all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present God, we can see from those writings that God loves us, sent His only Son to die for us, and wants us to live eternally with Him in paradise. We also see that we do not deserve any of that, as we are all inherently sinful and corrupt. We cannot remove that corruption ourselves, any more than a dirty rag can clean itself. However, as I said above, Jesus’ perfection can and does cleanse us and make us able to stand before God with confidence in our salvation and in our Savior. 

There are several excellent books that I recommend to help you learn about defending your faith:

History, Law, and Christianity by John Warwick Montgomery (Makes the historical case I just made, and goes into more depth on how we can trust the four Gospels as historical documents)

Why Should Anyone Believe Anything at All? by James W. Sire(The first half describes what makes a good foundation for believing anything, and then the second half applies that to Christianity)

The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel(Lee Strobel is a former journalist and the former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune. As an atheist, he investigated Christianity intending to prove it false, and ended up doing the opposite. In this book he makes a case for the Resurrection based on the same kinds of evidence that a court would use to reach a verdict.)

I especially recommend the first two. I’m a little biased in favor of Montgomery, as my Christian Apologetics professor in college was his protégé. All three of these are excellent explanations of why Christians believe what we do and how to explain that to nonbelievers.

Also, if your friend or anyone else tries to attack your faith by attacking the Bible, saying it was assembled by people who arbitrarily decided which books to keep and which to throw out, or tries to use non-canonical books to dispute the Scriptures, check out this one:

The Canon of Scripture by F.F. Bruce

With all of this information in mind, remember that honesty and love are going to be your guiding principles in any apologetics discussion, led always of course by the Holy Spirit. Use the information I provided as it’s needed, and don’t try to bury your friend in information. 

Be sure to start by asking him what he thinks about Christianity and why he doesn’t believe that it’s true. Try to answer the particular issues he is facing first. Make sure you listen to what he has to say, and make him feel heard. Emphasize the grace and love of Christ for all human beings, including him. Make sure he knows he is welcome in Christianity.

If he brings up the problem of evil (a.k.a why God “allows” evil in the world), let me know and I can get into that (that’s another long post). Also, if he does express interest in the faith and needs help finding a church in his area that will preach Jesus’ death and resurrection as the central fact of Christianity, I’m happy to help with that as well. 

I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any questions!