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winterspellsfrozenkit · 3 months

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So, I LOVE Epic: This Musical and I'm excited for some of the songs in the Circe Saga, but one of TWO songs that I absolutely DESPISE in this musical is coming out and I'm so stressed out about it.

"There Are Other Ways" and "I'm Not Sorry For Loving You" make me so frustrated because it looks like they fall into downplaying the coercion and abuse Odysseus went through because the abusers are women. AND I HATE THAT.

"There Are Other Ways" is a song between a person who has power to force a person into doing what they want (Circe) and their victim (Odysseus), who can only comply. And from what I've read it has the line "There's no puppet here."

It's really clever writing because if you know the story, you know Odysseus is in a precarious situation and he was told by Hermes that when she asked to sleep with him, he needed to do it. Here's three different translations of the moment Hermes tells him "Don't you tell her no" with the warning from Hermes bolded:

"'And I will tell thee all the baneful wiles of Circe. She will mix thee a potion, and cast drugs into the food; but even so she shall not be able to bewitch thee, for the potent herb that I shall give thee will not suffer it. And I will tell thee all. When Circe shall smite thee with her long wand, then do thou draw thy sharp sword from beside thy thigh, and rush upon Circe, as though thou wouldst slay her. And she will be seized with fear, and will bid thee lie with her. Then do not thou thereafter refuse the couch of the goddess, that she may set free thy comrades, and give entertainment to thee. But bid her swear a great oath by the blessed gods, that she will not plot against thee any fresh mischief to thy hurt, lest when she has thee stripped she may render thee a weakling and unmanned.’

“ ‘And I will tell you of all the wicked witchcraft that Circe will try to practice upon you. She will mix a potion for you to drink, and she will drug the meal with which she makes it, but she will not be able to charm you, for the virtue of the herb that I shall give you will prevent her spells from working. I will tell you all about it. When Circe strikes you with her wand, draw your sword and spring upon her as though you were going to kill her. She will then be frightened, and will desire you to go to bed with her; on this you must not directly refuse her, for you want her to set your companions free, and to take good care also of yourself, but you must make her swear solemnly by all the blessed gods that she will plot no further mischief against you, or else when she has got you naked she will unman you and make you fit for nothing.’

"I will tell you all Circe’s fatal wiles. She will mix a drink for you, blending drugs with the food, but even so she will fail to enchant you: the powerful herb I will give you will prevent it. Let me tell you the rest. When Circe strikes you with her length of wand, draw your sharp sword and rush at her, as if you intend to kill her. She will be seized with fear. Then she’ll invite you to her bed, and don’t refuse the goddess’ favours, if you want her to free your men, and care for you too. But make her swear a solemn oath by the blessed gods that she won’t try to harm you with her mischief, lest when you are naked she robs you of courage and manhood.”’

He had no choice in the matter. It was a "you will have to sacrifice yourself OR you will never get your men back and you won't be safe if you don't do it" moment. While Circe's not telling this directly to Odysseus, it's still COERCION because he knows if he says "No, I want to be faithful to my wife" Circe will harm him. But a lot of people don't know that and are going to continue to perpetuate the idea that Odysseus cheated on his wife. 😒 And they're going to use that line of "There's no puppets here" as "proof" that Odysseus cheated.

If you can sympathize with Ovid's later adaptation of Medusa as a victim of Poseidon, but refuse to acknowledge Odysseus was as much a victim of Circe AND Calypso and claim he's cheating... Please, ask yourself: why is that?

#epic: the musical #epic: the circe saga #odysseus was a victim #i will die on this hill #odysseus loves his wife #odysseus chose penelope over helen of troy #all the man wants is to go home to his wife and son #odysseus #odysseusxpenelope #epic circe saga #odysseus of ithaca #coercion #circe #circe saga #epic the musical #jorge rivera herrans #tw coercion #tw sa

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fuckitwebhaal · 8 months

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I’m desperate to talk about paladin of devotion durge and feel like you will get it. the idea of waking up and the only two things you know about yourself are that you have an unending urge to kill. And that you have taken an oath to protect the innocent. LIKE OK. insane I love it.

I’m playing my paladin durge rn and as I learn more about they’re backstory I’m like. Losing my mind about the fact that somewhere in all that they swore a holy oath. Like damn.

Your brain got just scrambled enough for you to realize that you need to protect the world from monsters like yourself. You remember nothing about yourself other than you are a monster. And so you, with gravy for brains, swear a solemn vow; never again will you hurt an innocent. Never again will you allow another to do so.

And then. You fail.

Hi. I’m obsessed with this ask.

The Dark Urge, by itself, fundamentally rebels against the typical oaths that one might be expected to swear (Ancients, Devotion, Vengeance). After all, at your core, your lot is murder and the cool edge of a knife. The idea of swearing an oath to protect others is… beyond the scope of your capabilities from when you lost your memory. And, if you camp out shortly before recruiting companions, you can think on that.

You might not even remember what you swore. What it stands for. What it’s worth, because it’s worth nothing. If you’re playing a Dark Urge paladin, and you break your oath… the Oathbreaker Knight NPC knows you. Tells you that you’ve broken your oath before, even if you yourself don’t remember it.

So you’ve sworn an oath. Protect the innocent. Everything within you rebels against this idea.

And you fail.

#and you fail.#also I’m obsessed with this being anon. come back. I don’t bite I prommy #bg3 #baldur’s gate 3 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 spoilers #durge spoilers #askbox

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leantailean · 5 months

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Hey for we need to talk about toko. Have you ever shared headcanons for their wedding/proposal. In my mind zuko would be proposing and it would something very intimate for just them. I also think theyd keep keep it secret for a little bit not wanting to rush. For the wedding i like to think it would be iroh walking toph down the aisle. Modern they would so there vows private cause they both seem like people who would want to have those moments just them. Let me know what you think.

Hello anon! Thank you for such an interesting question!

Toph is the one who figured out her feelings for Zuko first. As someone more mature and more collected, she realized how much she loved him and admitted to herself that she is in love much earlier than Zuko.

Zuko's affection for Toph grows gradually, year after year, because she is the only one of his friends who spends the most time with him after the end of the war, stays in the palace for many months, and step by step, over the the next 5-6 years, becomes the closest person for him. he consults with her on political issues, she makes dirty jokes about his ministers and generals, And they are sparring when they have some free time.

Zuko, in his usual manner, is terribly silly and cannot understand his feelings for her. He is afraid of his budding love, afraid that he will ruin everything and lose his best friend. Toph notices his awkwardness, but thinks that she was too ugly and loud for him and made him tired of their friendship. Two idiots.

At some point, Zuko talks about his confused feelings to his uncle, and he, as usual, straightens his brains out. Iroh tells him he is risking losing her. And Zuko, confused with a blushy tomato-red face, catches Toph in the garden the day before her departure home and immediately dumps on her all his feelings. There are no emotions on Toph's face, and when Zuko begins to think about whether to wait until he is hit by a boulder or is it better to burn himself on the spot, Toph suddenly and sharply flies up on a block of earth and kisses him fiercely.

She never says yes. Everything is clear between them.

Toph never comes home again.

She moves from the guest rooms, which over all these years of her frequent visits have practically become her second home, where everything is covered with earth, into the chambers of the Firelord.

Nobody knows except Iroh.

They hide their relationship very carefully from their friends, so when Katara Aang and Sokka come to visit, they don't suspect anything.

Suki guesses.

Another year goes by like this.

And suddenly everyone receives letters inviting them to a wedding.

Zuko and Toph have two weddings.

Firelord’s wedding is a rare thing. Before almost every Firelord ascended the throne having been married already, and for a monarch wedding there was a special very long and solemn ritual. So one of them takes a whole day full of all kinds of ceremonies, worship and libations to spirits and ancestors, swearing oaths and other nonsense, so after 13 hours Zuko just wants to die, and Toph wants to kill someone.

And the second wedding is when Toph, Zuko and 10 very close friends go far outside the city one early morning. It is a quiet improvised wedding that is held by Avatar himself. There is traditional Fire nation and Earth Kingdom treats. In the evening everyone gather around the campfire. Iroh sings an old wedding song for a just married couple which no one of the rest of the company including Zuko has ever heard before. And finally late in the night when everyone is sleeping in their tents Toph and Zuko changed clothes and go far in the fields.

_____________

#zuko #toph #zutoph #toko #avatar the last airbender #atla #wedding #my headcanons #otp ship #my ask #thank you!#we need to talk about toko

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wheneclipsefalls · 2 months

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The forest never feel so cold before.

Neteyam's mind wanders more than often as usual as he removes the arrow from sturmbeest, which comes along a prayer afterwards.

He still can't stop thinking over the fact A'bey sweared her oath of fealty to him, and instead of the usual disapproving, harsh glance he'd received from Jake (when the older man is not pleased with the situation), his father ended up pushing him to return the loyalty proven by one of the most fiercest warrior among their clan.

"A'bey..." He could still feel his blood rushing, cold and overwhelming, back then when they're alone, trying to look over the situation. "You know I——"

Before he'd even continue, the warrior with each a beauty mark adorning both her eyes raised one of her arms and stopped him. Her voices was solemn, deep like the sand.

"Neteyam," A'bey watched in amusement as the High Prince's ears swished and folded, one of his obvious weaknesses to show that he's nervous, she'd have to find a reason to hinder it within the ground.

But... It's nice, to know the one she'd follow till the end has a heart that may weave one of the greatest future of the land.

"I didn't choose you because you're the heir of the Olo'eyktan, I chose you solely because I see you."

I see you as the one I would follow.

I see you as the one I would cry for.

I see you as the one I would die for.

For so, may the Old Gods and Eywa be my witnesses, to the one I swear and to it who returns.

I, A'bey te Ti Nì'ite, swear my life to Neteyam te Suli Tsyeyk’itan, forever and always, loyal and sincere.

And she could swear the moment he gave her the faint smile she'd always see around him, in spite of the little discomfort knotting at the pit of his stomach, she'd succeeded.

Oh, no. Sikì would kill her. Tawpto too. Gosh, why is he crying!? Shit, she'd have listened to Tarsem! Her twin brother is right, she'd asked beforehand——

"Sometimes, I must admit that I can't see the vision you guys see along me," Neteyam chuckles as he sees A'bey being a mess. "Lo'ak said I'd be a skxawng if I push him away when I refused to let him join me, Kiri ignored me for a week when I did so as well. Not to say Sikì and Tawpto, I knew you'd heard it back then."

"Which would make you one again if you dared to reject me," A'bey adds on, following his direction as his hands move up to take off one of the ambers from his songcord. "But... looks like I win."

Neteyam’s not sure where to look instead of looking back at those eyes with pride, but even if he don't, the warrior won’t pursue him further. He knows this, and she knows he knows it.

She's like a sister he'd never known, just like Sikì and Tawpto, they're the brother who protected him before he even realized he's closed to death end.

Now, there's another name added to that list.

When she drops her hand away, and moves up to her own songcord, to the way she presents her own jewel of green into his palms, neither of them is surprised by her exit.

Which left him now, alone, with a sturmbeest who's dead and wouldn't be given a proper cut before the young man next to it recovers from his senses.

Neteyam, however, is still surprised by how… strange, this feels after all it happened.

The guilt of running away from all the expectations has been a shadow the whole time it follows him. And it sharpens even more now, when he knows he can't yet figure it out, and align the greatest vision of others within himself.

Tawpto told him there's still time before he became the next Olo'eyktan. But, what if he can't? What if a way turns wrong, and he just accepts the changes as usual.

It all feels wrong. It just feels so wrong.

Maybe he shouldn't, if he could just——

Before he even realized, the night has begun.

And so does the Night Hunt.

Neteyam hid his presence safe and sound, deep and high within the woods as he runs across from ground to ground, jump across from tree to tree, following the cloaked figure as his heart keeps on racing.

When was the last time he'd feel this way? He felt this when he first held Lo'ak's arms, when Kiri and Spider was brought in to their family, when Tuktirey was in his arms. He felt this when he underwent his Iknimaya and succeded in one try, bonding with Yes. He felt this whenever he's in the forest.

But never once those were overwhelming. Those were safe and wouldn't turned his back, capable of him to run and never look back. This, however——

Miracle, would be a suitable word. For how long he'd never felt this way, this free? And if he can, he'd hold onto it forever.

There's a sweet scent of dreams, like the cotton candy Norm brought for him back then. But this, it isn't too sweet. It doesn't sweet into your core, and makes you wanna question if other candy taste this sweet. Instead, it's the kind that makes you want to crave even more.

Neteyam isn't sure how far he'd run. But he knows all too well he's damn for sure when the cloaked figure glided down their spiritual animal.

——When the grace of the eclipse blessed beyond her entirety.

And that's when you noticed him.

You're there, surprise all over your face. "Oh." You said with shock. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize someone would be here."

Neteyam's heart trembles when he tries to surpress the urge to wrap you within his arms. For a while, all he wants is you, just you.

His eyes moved over to your cloak as he tried to take you all in, to figure who you are. It didn't take him long before he realized you're the daughter of one of his father's general, the one who wouldn't be able to be close to the sun.

There's a bitter taste of bile suddenly rises in the back of his throat, he clenches his teeth, before he dropped to the ground.

You rushed towards him next, and before you realised and could back away, his Alpha instinct has already captured the best of his entirety, pulling you into his arms as he tried so hard to be close to you.

Your heart skips a beat, and a shiver races down your spine. Frozen in place, your mind races as you triesd to push him away, trying to make sense of the unexpected touches. You tried to tear off him. He could feel it all, and no, he wouldn't let you do so.

"Don't," He whispers, sending honey bites towards deep of your core as he commands, as he pleads. "Just stay with me."

"Please."

And who'd reject an Alpha, maybe a feisty Omega in heat, but never the subtle Beta who nourishes a line.

The coolness of your coolness and the sensation of your softness remains a stark contrast to the bursting flame of his body. You wouldn't dared to look in him in eyes, and Neteyam can't help but be amused. He'd be frustrated, but he finds you adorable. Never once he'd met a Beta so shy and so, so damn free.

His eyes were fixed on you now, slow trail up and down.

He lets you go after a while, not before taking your hands and plsces it against his own cheeks. You didn't move away, maybe it's just a trick to hinder his mind, but he felt a sense of willingness in you.

Not before your ikran began to swap you away. It throws you across shoulders to its back and glares at him furiously. Neteyam waits for it to attack him, but the Imran jumps off the cliffs instead and rushes off as another troupe of Imran casts over it, binding a cloud of shadows.

Only when a flick of sunlight blinks over, he finally calms down and realises what happens.

A new day dawning.

Okay... So, this is the one shot I promised to Eclipse for when Whithered published. The story started long before Neteyam decided to join the Night Hunt, but it's about his actual first encounter with Y/N. Y/N won't remember much of Neteyam as her instinct is to how closed she's to death when her Ikran pulled her away from Hell Gate. Just so you know, I'm not a writer, nor an editor. So this is pure draft, I just poured in whatever came in my mind. A'bey, Sikì and Tawpto are characters I'm working on to add in Neteyam's troupe, which I'd promised Eclipse as well. It'll take some time again but for now I wish you have a good read, Eclipse. And I'm really, really sorry if I didn't capture either Neteyam or Y/N well like the way you do, Eclipse. I tried my hardest. Here's a background of A'bey btw, if you like:

Name: A'bey

Age: 20, 1 year older than Neteyam

Eye: Amber

Hair: Black, cornrows with a low bun

Physical Features: She is tall and robust, with a beauty mark adorning each of her eyes. She's often seen in armor, wielding bows and daggers.

Bio: Twin sister of Tarsem, stands out among Jake's squad for her unwavering loyalty to the next Olo'eyktan, drawn to the young warrior's exceptional archery skills and leadership potential.

Relationship: Abey views Neteyam as a close friend of her, and frequently shares babysitting stories with him. They bond over their shared experiences in archery and being part of large families. Abey is always protective of Neteyam, especially during hunts, showering her fiesty nature towards him.

Eclipse, I hope you like this! BYE!

- 🥔-anon

Baby I don't know why you say you aren't a writer. You just wrote your own piece of art so therefore you are a writer. Simple as that<3

Love the drama in this! Neteyam is definitely put in a hard spot in this version. It would be interesting to see how he handles it.

Love you to pieces, babe! Thanks for sharing<3

#eclipse responds #potato anon<3

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beelzebuddy-catan · 6 months

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The Not Entirely Human-Human Exchange Student pt. 11

Summary: After Cass makes amends with the Mammon and Levi, they work to get Lucifer out of his room. Cass gains a new insight in to why Lucifer not only follow's Diavolo's orders, but gives him his unwavering support. Warnings: Swearing, mentions of death Spoilers: Up through Lesson 14 Characters: Cass (OC), Lucifer, Mammon, Levi, Satan, Asmo, Diavolo, Barbatos, Lilith, Solomon, and various OCs. Previous Part • Next Part

Lucifer followed Barbatos’s gaze to his wings. The last remaining white feathers shifted to the inky black of the rest of his wings. Lucifer closed his eyes and nodded gently, the reality of the situation finally catching up.

Then Diavolo did something Cass never would have expected. He knelt down next to Lucifer. The final piece of the puzzle fell into place. Lucifer may follow Diavolo’s orders because he saved Lilith, but now Cass understood the unwavering support and loyalty he had for the demon.

At his lowest moment, Diavolo joined him. Suddenly, the prince wasn’t Lucifer’s executioner, standing over him waiting to deliver the final blow. Instead, he sat beside him as an equal. A silent promise that by his side, Lucifer wouldn’t be a disgraced angel who was taken advantage of but a respected friend who wasn’t alone.

“If you can ensure that she stays alive, I will make any sacrifice,” Lucifer maintained eye contact with Diavolo as he spoke with measured breaths. “There’s no decision to make. Angel or demon, I will always stay true to my convictions. You have my solemn oath, my allegiance.”

Diavolo nodded, a soft yet sad smile gracing his features. “Would you like to take a moment to say goodbye?”

Asmo was holding back tears as Cass approached him. He seemed like he wanted to give her a hug but was stopping himself. Once she was close enough, she pulled him into an embrace. His body sagged as he fell into her arms.

“Everything’s going wrong,” he sobbed into her shoulder. “First you abandoned us and then Lucifer was holding Belphie hostage and then he was put on house arrest and Belphie was arrested and then,” his words became indecipherable as he gasped for breath.

“Woah, woah, slow down,” Cass said, trying to stay calm. “Let’s start with the first thing. What do you mean I abandoned you?”

Even though he was crying, Cass was able to make out most of what he said. True to her assumption, they had been playing a prank on her and Lucifer trying to get them to get along better. After Cass stormed out, the brothers had come looking for her, only to be told off by Lucifer.

“How could you leave us forever without even saying goodbye? Did you really think we’d be okay with just a text?”

“Can you take a deep breath with me?” He nodded, taking a shaky breath. “I never planned on leaving forever. I was just coming up here for a break and then was moving into Purgatory Hall.”

“Why?”

“Me being there was just causing problems with Lucifer, and I didn’t want it to affect the rest of you.”

Asmo pulled back, letting his arms fall so he could look at Cass. She felt a tinge of guilt about having caused them any stress thinking she was disappearing. They had bigger issues than that though. Her suspicion was right that Lucifer was hiding Belphie from Diavolo, but that might not matter now.

If Belphie was arrested, how much could she really help? Lucifer had said before that he would stand with Diavolo, not Belphie if something happened. Even if Lucifer got involved, what were the odds they could change Diavolo’s mind. Especially since he believed this was his purpose in life.

“What are you going to do about Belphie?”

“I don’t know! No one will talk to each other. Beel only came back because Belphie was arrested, but he gets so angry when he tries to talk about it. Mammon and Levi are wallowing in their rooms because they think you only made a pact with them because of Belphie. And we can’t get Lucifer to leave his room. Cass what if something happens to him? We have to do something.”

“What can I do?” Cass asked. Asmo looked at her like she was their only hope, but why would Diavolo ever listen to her? She sighed before addressing the Nephilim. “It was lovely meeting all of you, or I guess seeing you all again? But I need–”

“You can’t leave,” Hera interrupted. “You just came back. We just found you again.”

Cass looked back at her and the others. They had been laughing and acting like her presence wasn’t that big of a deal. It was as if she’d never been gone, so she figured it wouldn’t matter if she left. Yet, their concern and worry were evident.

Hera was staring at her with wide eyes and seemed to be holding her breath. Zeus wasn’t meeting her eyes, gazing off somewhere behind her. Psi tilted his head, resting it on his hands, his elbows on the table. Narcissus was playing with his hair to distract himself from what was happening. Even Hermes looked shaken up, but gave her a comforting smile, like he understood.

“I can’t lose you again, none of us can. I mean, what about Styx, Cate, Hades?”

Cass wanted to say something to comfort her, but she had nothing. It’s not like she even knew who those people were. Why was it everywhere she went, someone needed her? Why was it up to her to fix things?

“I know, and I’m sorry, but I have to do this. I promise, I’ll come back.”

Cass turned away, knowing she’d feel worse about leaving if she didn’t. As Solomon grabbed her arm and prepared to go back to the Devildom, Cass heard Dion call out, “shit, did you all see we had a Kore and a Narcissus impersonator for Oschophoria.”

---

Teleporting was something Cass didn’t think she’d get used to anytime soon. Even though she’d only done it a few times, it was just as jarring as the first time. Each time, it was as if someone violently pulled the rug from beneath her feet only for her to stumble into an abyss. After a few seconds of vertigo, she was pitched forward into the new location. She tried to catch her footing, but instead crashed into Asmo.

Asmo caught her with ease, holding her tight. “You know I love it when you’re so forward, Cass, but now's not the best time.” Even in the state he was in moments ago, he would make a joke like that.

“Don’t make me regret this,” Cass grumbled, swatting his wandering hands away. “You said Lucifer won’t leave his room?”

“Wait, you should check on Mammon and Levi first.”

Cass nodded before running to Mammon’s room. She knew why Asmo had told her to visit them first. Knowing them, they were probably spiraling. What had Belphie told them in the time she was gone? They couldn’t really believe she made pacts solely because of him? She didn’t even know he was there until after her pact with Levi.

Before she made it to Mammon’s room, however, she collided with Satan at the top of the stairs. While she would have thought he’d be angry, he looked surprisingly calm. Cass wondered for a moment if he’d actually be happy about Lucifer’s arrest were it not for Belphie.

“Oh, hi.” Cass didn’t think it’d be this awkward talking to the brothers. She bounced on her feet, hoping his demeanor wasn’t the calm before the storm.

“Look who decided to come back after all.” His voice was harsher than his expression. Satan looked like he was enjoying how uncomfortable she was. After a moment, however, he smiled and shook his head. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

“You’re not upset with me because of Belphie?”

“I might be if it were true. If you were really making pacts with us for his benefit, then you would have made one with Asmo. You also wouldn’t have told me no at first. If there’s anything to be angry about, it’s that you think I’m that stupid.”

Cass sighed in relief. Reassuring Mammon and Levi she could handle. If she had to also do that with Satan and Asmo, she’s not sure she would have been able to make it through those conversations.

“Speaking of being that stupid, you were probably on your way to talk to Mammon?”

Cass shot him a disapproving look, but he just laughed and stepped to the side. As she went to pass him, she swiveled, giving him a quick hug. Satan stilled before returning the gesture. Cass mumbled a thanks before continuing to Mammon's room.

“MAMMON,” she yelled, banging on his door. “Open up!” Her knocks were met with silence. “If you don’t answer the door, I’ll tell everyone about the time we watched horror movies, and you started cry–"

“FINE!” Mammon yelled back, the door finally unlocking. “That’s how you try and make it up to me?”

“No, that was just to get you to open the door.”

Not that Mammon’s room was ever the most picked up, but it did look like more of a disaster than normal. On the coffee table was the matching souvenir he’d picked out when they were in England. Mammon didn’t look at her when she entered, just stared at the table.

Cass locked the door behind her, crossing the room to join him on the couch. As she was sitting, Mammon stood, walking to the other side of the table. He shoved his hands in his pockets, kicking the edge of the leg lightly.

Even though he wasn’t looking at her, she could see how upset he was. His hair was messier than normal, as if he’d been running his hand through it. It’d only been four days, but he already had dark circles forming under his eyes from lack of sleep.

“You’re upset.”

Mammon finally looked at her. His face was a mix of disbelief and anger. “No shit. Yeah, I mean, fuck, obviously I’m upset. I’m pissed.”

Cass didn’t answer. She didn’t know how to answer. She hadn’t even expected to be in this situation. When she’d left, she figured they’d move past it soon enough. After all, they were the ones that reminded her time and time again that she was just some random, average human.

“You’re my,” Mammon stopped before changing his mind. “Me, I’m the first demon you made a pact with after comin’ here. Me.”

“I know.”

“So, it all meant nothing to you?” Cass flinched at the words, unsure how he got to that conclusion. “You did all of this for Belphie. Ya made a pact with me because of him.”

“Are you an idiot?” Cass said before she could stop herself. Her hand flew to her mouth and Mammon stared at her in shock. “Sorry that’s, I, it’s just – why the fuck would you think that?”

“Because he said–”

“Mammon, I made a pact with you on my second day here. I barely knew who Belphie was, let alone that he was in the house. Besides, you know damn well I made a pact with you because of Levi and that stupid figurine.” Mammon went to respond, but she cut him off again. “And did you forget that you only agreed to a pact with me because of a cheap piece of plastic?”

“Hey, don’t insult Goldie like that!”

Cass glared at him. “Did you really think it was because of him?”

Mammon sighed before joining her on the couch. He took her hand in his but stayed facing forward. The tips of his ears started turning red as he tried to stay cool. “Obviously not.”

“Then why–"

“I already told ya. Why do I gotta repeat it?” Cass studied his face, waiting for him to continue. “’Cause you’re important to me, dammit! I care about ya, but what if you don’t,” he trailed off, not finishing the thought.

His eyes didn’t leave the hand that he was still holding. Cass didn’t know what she could say that she hadn’t said already or what to say that would make up for her leaving with nothing more than a text. Finally, he dropped her hand, turning to put his arm on the back of the couch.

Cass made sure he was looking her in the eye before speaking. “You know I do.”

“Yeah.”

“Arguably to a fault.”

“Yeah.”

“Can we be good?”

“No more secrets?”

Cass paused. “I have one more.” Mammon eyebrows shot up in a silent question. “But it’s something I have to tell you and your brothers at the same time because it’s not entirely my secret. Do you trust me?”

Mammon grumbled, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Do I trust ya? Now who’s the idiot?”

After making sure Mammon was okay, Cass went to talk to Levi. Levi didn’t turn away from the aquarium when the two of them entered his room. In fact, he just kept complaining to Henry 2.0 why he should never trust humans, except all his reasons were specifically targeted at Cass.

“Levi, I’m going to be honest with you, okay?” Cass said, sitting next to him on the floor. “One of the reasons I wanted to make a pact with you was because I needed to borrow your record. Which, I needed because I couldn’t sleep due to a mysterious voice in the attic. Did that happen to be Belphie? Yes. Did I agree to a pact because he wanted me to? No.”

Levi sighed one of the most dramatic sighs Cass had heard in a while. “Did you hear that, Henry? They trick you into thinking you’re friends and then just use you.”

“You’d never guess I gave Levi an option not to make a pact with me, would you Henry?” Levi’s hand, which had been mindlessly drawing shapes on the aquarium wall, faltered. “I even pinky promised that I wanted to be friends and that I would only make a pact with Levi if he was comfortable with it.”

Cass glanced at Levi, but he was still staring into the tank. “I’ve made mistakes, and I’m sure I’ll make more.” Cass turned, making sure Levi was listening. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “But I never break a pinky promise, Admiral.”

“What the hell is a pinky promise?” Mammon yelled behind them.

They ignored him and Levi held up his hand with his pinky extended. “Promise?”

“Promise,” Cass whispered and locked her pinky around his.

As quickly as she had done before, Levi twisted his wrist and brought her hand up for a kiss. He let go immediately after, covering his face and the blush that appeared. Cass couldn’t help but giggle at the action.

“Hey, don’t ignore me! Cass, what the hell was that? Is it some kind of secret handshake? How come we don’t have one?”

“Shut up, Mammon,” Levi groaned.

---

In terms of bad ideas, Mammon’s had to be at the top of the list. Despite the shared skepticism, no one had any better idea for drawing Lucifer out of his room. It was simple enough, grab the grimoire off Lilith’s empty coffin like Luke had done.

Simple enough, except for one thing, that is. Last time this happened, Lucifer almost killed Cass, Luke, and Beel. The brothers were worried about Cerberus attacking as well, but given their last encounter, Cass wasn’t too worried about the hound.

Cass cast the brothers a weary look before taking a deep breath and stepping up to the coffin. Steeling herself for what may happen, Cass picked up the grimoire as delicately as possible. The second she lifted it, however, the tomb faded, and she was standing in what looked like a distant memory.

Even for the Devildom, it was dark. She could hear movement. There was running water nearby, and it sounded as though someone was in the water. It took her eyes a while to adjust, but even then, there was a thick fog surrounding her that made it hard to see. The waters of the river swirled in a way that demanded retribution.

Someone coughed, gasping for breath. Though they were white, she recognized Lucifer’s wings as he crawled towards a motionless body. Cass wasn’t sure why, but even as a ghost, Lilith looked more alive than she did lying on the ground of the Devildom.

Lilith, who looked unconscious, was next to a river. Her wings and clothes were soaked, as if she’d just been pulled out of the water. Lucifer knelt next to her. His six white wings and clothes were equally wet. The wings hung low from the weight of the water. The tips of the feathers were starting to turn black.

Lucifer’s screams echoed around them as he begged Lilith to get up. Cass was grateful that the sounds were faded with the memory because she was sure it would have destroyed her. She was certain she’d never forget the raw pain and fear still audibly etched in his voice.

“Lucifer?”

Both Cass and Lucifer looked towards the voice. Not too far from Lucifer stood Diavolo and Barbatos. The prince sounded so much younger, less confident of himself. He even stood less assured. It was hard to believe the demon in front of her was the same one ruling over the Devildom now.

Barbatos looked over Lilith’s form before speaking. “Her injuries are far more severe than yours. I doubt she has long.”

A renewed wave of agony washed over Lucifer’s features as he looked between Lilith and Diavolo. “Please” his voice shook with desperation “you have to save her. You, you have to. I’ll do anything.” His voice dropped to a whisper so quiet, Cass only saw him mouth the word please.

“If I do that, it won’t be how you desire,” Diavolo contemplated. He stepped closer to examine the two of them himself. “And, you have to pledge your loyalty to me.”

Even in a memory, Cass felt time grind to a halt. Both Lucifer and Barbatos stared at Diavolo in shock. She knew the course of events, but watching it, being there, was different. Lucifer’s lowest moment was unfolding before her. She was watching him beg for Diavolo to help. With bated breath, she waited for Diavolo to exploit the angel’s fall.

“The Celestial Realm rendered its judgement. The consequences of interfering are immeasurable. Yet, I think the risk is worth taking if you end up on my side.”

“Are you suggesting, no, demanding, that I pledge loyalty to the son of the Demon King?”

“Though this may be the greatest disgrace for the one once celebrated as the pride of the Celestial Realm, I wouldn’t recommend taking much time for consideration,” Barbatos chastised.

Diavolo nodded, a soft yet sad smile gracing his features. “Would you like to take a moment to say goodbye?”

Lucifer looked down at Lilith once more. He brushed a lock of drying hair from her face before tucking it behind her ear. “No matter how far you go or how much time passes, even if you no longer remember me and you’re not yourself, I will never forget you. I wish nothing for you except the happiness you deserve. I will always, always love you, Lilith.”

As he said the last word, the memory began fading and Cass was once again standing in the tomb next to the coffin. She held the grimoire tightly to her chest as she looked forward with blurry eyes to see none other than Lucifer. She fought off the tears, trying to slow her breathing.

Cass wasn’t sure how long they stood there in silence. The other brothers waiting, unsure what either of them would do. Before she had time to second guess herself, Cass marched towards Lucifer. And, with all the strength she could muster, punched him.

#obey me #obey me mc #obey me oc #obey me spoilers #obey me lucifer #obey me asmo #obey me diavolo #obey me barbatos #obey me solomon #obey me belphie #obey me lilith #obey me beel #obey me satan #obey me mammon #obey me levi

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merlinfic · 1 year

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Reader’s Recs!

My heart is readily yours by regulusrules

T | 11,433 | Canon AU | Summary: “Merlin has magic!”

It was all that Uther needed— that momentary hesitation in Arthur’s physique... that doubt thrusted upon him ever since the day he had blinked into a world without loving guardians... that silent second of shock emanating from both sides, surrendering to circumstance and fate.

It was all that Uther needed to thrust the sword he had into the sorcerer’s chest.

To you I swear my solemn oaths by regulusrules

G | 3,838 | Canon | Summary: Hours before Arthur's coronation, he receives an oath from his manservant far more significant than any he would have ever awaited. Problem is, the oath is followed by a revelation he never saw coming.

Thanks to anon for sending in these recs!

#other: readers recs #merlin fic rec #merthur fic rec #rating: t #10k20k #canonau #relationship: get together #theme: episode coda #theme: magic reveal #theme: angst #theme: hurt & comfort #merlin: hurt #arthur: protective #rating: e #canon #lessthan5k #arthur: hurt #~#mod danielle

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youwouldntlietopapa · 9 months

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OooOoooooOOoo I saw your reblog the kiss prompts thing?? I feel like Copia would 100% say the "I think this is the part where you kiss me" prompt lmaooo

I love his (s)ass

Okay, I hope you'll forgive me for changing it up just a little. I had an idea I couldn't shake and it fit so well. Includes: Mutual pining, separated, sexting, masturbation +18 only, MDNI

______________________________________________________________

It was late and Copia knew it when he sent the first text. Still, you were almost always awake as late as he was. Even when you were apart. Either way, tonight he needed to talk enough to try.

He'd spent several hours trying to find something to distract him from thinking of you, in his bed, waiting for him. Wearing one of his shirts, with that coy smile. Even that thought was enough to get him going again. Hellfire, he needed this tour to be over.

At least the Dark Lord was feeling merciful. His text was answered almost immediately.

All it will take is one word, he thinks. One word and he will be on his way back. Damn the consequences. Any punishment they could offer would be worth it just to have you in his arms.

What he wants when he gets home is nearly identical to what he wants right now. To strip off any clothing that comes between the two of you and then to drag you to bed. To fuck you until both of you are too exhausted to move. And then to sleep the peaceful, perfect sleep he only finds with you in his arms.

He can feel the silk of the red dress in his hands, pressed against his skin. He can smell your perfume lingering in the air. Copia strains against his sweatpants and he palms himself through the fabric.

He groans shamelessly in the quiet hotel room. A dark spot of precum already showing on the front of his trousers. It's not as good as having you, of having you touch him, but desperate times...

Copia leaves his phone on the bed and gets up with a growl. Whoever is interrupting your conversation had better have a good reason. Like the building being on fire. Or Satan himself asking for you personally at the front desk. He curses under his breath the entire way from the bed to the door, swearing a solemn oath that if it's one of the Ghouls having a laugh, he'll send them back to the pit personally.

Another round of rather frantic sounding knocks only deepens his scowl. "I'm coming!" He barks. At least, he would be, if this stronzo hadn't interrupted.

The door opens just enough for him to look out, glaring, ready to demand an explanation. Instead, he freezes. His mouth hanging open in stunned silence. And the door slowly swings open further.

In the hallway, in the red dress you know he loves, you wait with your phone. Stepping closer with a cheeky smile. Even as your heart thunders in your ears and the urge to throw yourself at him is nearly overwhelming.

"I heard some stronzo was trying to knock your door down. I came to tell them to fuck off."

Copia's mouth opens and closes a few times, staring at you like he's seen a ghost. "H-how???"

"I caught the earliest flight I could. If I had to spend one more day without you, I was going to lose my mind." You take another step closer, pressing up against him. Licking your lips and running your hands over his chest. "Now... I think this is the part where you kiss me."

#inbox meme #ask prompts #ghost fanfiction #papa emeritus iv x reader #copia x fem!reader #MDNI

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adleryoung · 4 months

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HA! His Majesty is back, and now that he's given me a list of names, heads will finally roll! He hasn't seen fit to remove my magick antler, probably because I'll need it for a disguise! Oh, and there is only one name on this list, but this is obviously the ring-leader. Once I find "Kathy-Slou Drew," everything will fall into place and these ungrateful yew-man traitors will finally feel an elf's justice! What's that, my liege? What do you mean by muttering "The horror, the horror" over and over? No no, your adoring subjects are right here, hanging on your every word. Tell them some more of your story while I go take care of this unpleasant business. It will help ease your troubled mind. And don't worry, Kathy-Slou can't hide from The Sisterhood. Not for long. . . .

"By Jove!" the dog lowfolk person exclaimed. "There he is! He was real all along!" "REALLY?" the fancy-dressed femme retorted. "One glimpse! That's all it took to convince you?" "Seeing is believing," he affirmed. "I was somewhat undecided all along, so this was enough to sway my opinion." "I cannot believe it!" the femme screeched. "Why then were you scoffing and naysaying the entire time?! Was that all just an act?!" "Miss Venatrix," the dog stated solemnly, "SOMEONE needs to keep you grounded and focused. You do have a habit of getting too excited and running off without a thought or a plan." "You are not my keeper! I am an adult, fully capable of taking care of myself!"

I was confused. Had they come here to find me, or had they merely stumbled upon the stone circle while in the midst of what looked like a lovers' quarrel? "Indeed," the dog said skeptically. "The only reason I'm still here is the oath your father made me swear on his deathbed. I promised to keep you out of trouble!" "Oh you're always bringing that up!" Miss Venatrix sighed in exasperation. "Father only trusted you because you were his favorite student!" "Is that a note of jealousy I detect?" the dog grinned. "You would have been his favorite student, my dear, had you actually bothered with your studies instead of fantasizing about elves all day. His own daughter, and such a disappointment." "Stick in the mud!" Venatrix shot back. "Flibbertyjibbet!" "Teacher's Pet!" "Harpy Queen!"

This looked like it was getting good. I sat down at the edge of the circle and watched the pair of lowfolk arguing just beyond the wall of underbrush. "ROGER BARKINGTHWAITE!!" Miss Venatrix yelled. "You INFURIATING mel! That is IT! I cannot put up with this anymore! I want you gone! I never want to see you again!" "Fine!" Barkingthwaite replied hotly. "Keeping you out of trouble has been a tremendous burden! I've put my career on hold just to follow you around and keep you from getting yourself killed in reckless adventures! No more! You can wander about in circles until you starve for all I care, solemn oath be damned!" "You seem to forget," Venatrix sneered, "I've saved you more than a few times! You would have died in that bog if I hadn't thrown you a rope of my own silk to pull you out!" "And why was I in that bog in the first place?" Barkingthwaite bellowed. "Following you on another of your mad capers! You would have been shot by that gang of thugs if I hadn't spent nearly my entire inheritance bribing them off! I've been well nigh reduced to beggary, and for what?" "They wouldn't have actually shot me!" Venatrix insisted. "What kind of mel can't call someone's bluff? Your current reduced circumstances are entirely your own fault. At any rate, you should be thanking me for getting you away from your mouldy old ancestral hall and out of that dusty library! I daresay you've spent every waking moment in there ever since we were both children." "The library was safe and predictable!" Barkingthwaite asserted. "That is the proper life of a scholar! Not running around, engaging in fisticuffs with thugs, like some whip-cracking grave robber! And you're the one who should be thanking me! I'm the only friend you've ever had because no one else could put up with your unbearable nonsense!" "WELL I -" Venatrix blurted, then paused. "Well… We two HAVE been stuck together for quite a long time…" "Indeed," Barkingthwaite nodded. "We've helped each other out rather a lot over the years." "And this journey getting here," Venatrix added quietly. "We've gotten each other out of quite a few scrapes." "I must admit," Barkingthwaite admitted, "we do make a jolly good team when the chips are down." He paused for a moment and puffed on his pipe.

"EGAD!" he barked suddenly. "The legend! Of course! The legend of the White Elf! It is said that those seeking the White Elf would face trials to test them, and that there would be a boon awaiting them at the end of their journey!" "What are you getting at?" Venatrix asked suspiciously. "What is the boon?" "Why, it's us!" Barkingthwaite exclaimed triumphantly. "Each other! How long have we been forced to work together while hating each other the whole time?" "I begin to understand," Venatrix murmured. "All those wasted years." "Our journey here was the trial and this is the boon! Do you see? Lord Randal the White Elf, sworn servant of the love goddess Fuma, knew of our plight and set in motion all the troubles we've had on this adventure!" "Forcing us to work together and realize how much we need each other!" Venatrix added excitedly. "Oh how blind we've been!" Barkingthwaite lamented. "We were the perfect team our entire lives and never realized it! But Lord Randal saw it and made all of this happen to teach us our folly!" "A perfect team, you say?" Venatrix asked coyly. "Perhaps not JUST a team," Barkingthwaite mused thoughtfully. "You know, Pellia, my dear, I've never noticed just how beautiful your eyes are…" "And I've never noticed how dashing you look…" "Sweetie!" Barkingthwaite sighed, enraptured. "Honey!" Venatrix sighed back. "Darling, let's never fight again!" Barkingthwaite suggested. "Oh Roger, my love," Venatrix cooed, "Lord Randal in his infinite wisdom has shown us that we were always meant to be soulmates!"

The two of them embraced and kissed passionately. I began to applaud. I had no idea what was going on, but it was the most entertaining thing I had seen in decades.

#furry #adventure #story #plot #cartoon #elf #skunk #tboay #sheep

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regulusrules · 1 year

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Today marks two years since that day I went: WELP, let's see what I can contribute to this neverending fandom! ... and proceeded to post one of the most angst fluffed magic reveals I could have ever thought about.

To you I swear my solemn oaths

absolutely not HYPERVENTILATING from all the love it received these two years. like what do you mean 2.4K people liked this fic to the point of leaving a kudos for it?? and the comments that just keep warming my heart no matter how long it's been??

Insane. Love this fandom to points I cannot point

#readers make the days of the creators #it's a universal equilibrium #merlin #arthur pendragon #bbc merlin #ao3 #merlin fic #merthur #merlin bbc #to you i swear my solemn oaths #king arthur #arthur x merlin #bbc merthur

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feelin-lo · 10 months

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The sleeping Giant.

BP X Big!Riley.

Happy birthday, BP.

Essentially, I came up with a thought, what if Riley was a Giant, And BP stumbled upon his home. And Riley immediately became clingy. :)

Ft, Some of my Moots and OCs. Credits;

BP - @boiling-potato

Ace and Meztli - @aesopsbaby

Rin - @alcohol1maid

Jane - @mystique-flowers-and-sibling-duo

_____________________________

BP had many names. One of them, Was the Spud Sorcerer. As they were a Magical person with an affinity for the root. There had been legends... Of a Giant, Living deep within the valley of The Fallen Castle. The reason the Valley was named this way, was because a castle, once belonging to a wealthy family had fallen off of a cliff due to tremors in the earth... The main tower fell... Creating a crater, opening a cave and leaving behind a beautiful arrangement of rocks...

BP, The Spud Sorcerer, Decided to take a look... Legend of the Sleeping Giant had gotten the better of them... They took a Team; A Cleric, that will talk of deep and meaningful things, dark as the night and as emotional as a sonnet. However, in actual fact, theyre a Golden Retriever in a humanoid form - Rin. A Paladin, who swears by the oath of Love, as seen by the many people in their life... Such as a Demon called Tsukiyomi... And who struggles to wear their clunky armour - Ace. A Druid, Who Loves spending time with animals and wants to keep all the ones they come across, even a Mountain lion if they had their way - Jane. And, A Ranger, Who's the Eye Candy has the rizz of a bard, though deep down he's compensating because he's actually really insecure so seeing people think he's attractive, really helps his self esteem, and because of a missing eye, can barely aim - Lo. The lot of them are close friends.

And the legend intrigued them all... The journey was long, with ups and downs. But eventually... They had arrived. The ruins... Ace and Rin, Who both have an affinity for shiny things, immediately run off, followed by an annoyed Lo, trying to keep everyone together. BP turned to Jane, A solemn look upon their face..."What do you think... We'll find..?" They asked, tilting their pointy hat to see Jane's eyes better.

"I'm not too sure... It could be anything... No one else has come down here, as people told tales of the Giant in bad ways ... I don't think the giant will be bad, They could be really sweet!" Jane smiled, BP chuckled, Jane could always see the good in things.

After a moment, Lo was able to wrangle Ace and Rin back under control after giving them some gold. "Huh... A cave... BP, Should we investigate?" Lo suggested, turning to meet the sorcerer. "I'd say so! I wanna see if we can meet this giant..."

The party nodded, making their way into the cave...The cave was large... Very large... At least 100 feet... At *Least*. Once they were inside... They all split up and looked around...

Jane came across some old technology... It looked like a robot... Holding an old kite... It was still living, though barely... "Hello there, Little one.."She smiled softly, Kneeling down and taking the automation into her arms... "I think I'll Call you... Monsieur Cloudy!" She smiled proudly, Looking at the cloud carvings across its arms... "I should take you to Winter... He's a good friend of mine, an Artificer too. He can help you..."

Meanwhile, Rin found a deep water pocket, inside, a Sleeping merman, Hair and tail as blue as the ocean... Glasses on his face... A few scars on his tail. The merman woke up with a shock and tried to call for help, but his voice was damaged... Rin crouched down, Brushing his hair out of his face... "Hey... Hey don't be scared, I'm here to help."

In a separate room, Ace came across a giant, when Ace tried to call for their Party, The giant lifted them and put a finger over their mouth as it covered most of their face. "Hush, Small creature. You'll wake my brother..."He spoke, his voice velvety and soothing... He's at least 100 feet tall...he has long black hair. His eyes and black and yellow,His skin is red and he has red horns and tail, the tail is adorned with bangles and piercings... His pointed ears are also pierced... Ace was in love.

Lo came across a treasury. Before he could pick anything up, was pinned to the wall he looked up to meet the gaze of a Demon... "Ah~ what do we have here~?" He chuckled, Running a finger under Lo's chin... "A new plaything~? Or... A new pet to call my own~?" Lo grunted and grabbed the Demon, Flipping their positions, The demon against the wall. "I'm not a pet."

The demon blushed, Licking his lips. "Yes sir..."

While all of this was going on, BP came across one final room... Inside .. a sleeping giant. With blue skin and dark hair... He had horns and a tail, His eyelashes white... Even a third eye... The giant woke and saw BP, And immediately started to cry... "A human! I've not seen one in so long!!" He cried, Grabbing BP and nuzzling them into his cheek as tears fell from his white eyes. After some crashing, The red giant came in. Holding ace. "Riley!" The red one said, Shuffling over, Ace smiled at BP with a blush on their cheeks "Look what I found" The blue one... Riley, Looked at the red one and pulled a face with puppy dog eyes."Can I stay with Them!? Please Jasper! Pleaseeeee!!" He cried, showing BP to the red one, Called Jasper. "Riley, I know. I know you miss the humans but... You can just keep all of the ones you find."

"But this is the first one in 100 years!!" "I know but-" "Pleaseeeee?!" "Okay! Okay... Calm down... You can keep them-" "Wait, Wait wait wait! Keep me?" BP Interjected, looking at the two giants. "Oh- sorry... I didn't mean to be rude..." Riley whimpered, immediately getting sad again for potentially offending BP. Jasper glared at BP with nothing short of malice... How dare they make his sweet angel brother cry?!

"hey, Hey... It's ok... But, you can't just keep humans. I'd be happy to come back, to see you again... But you have to be gentle. I'm BP. It's lovely to meet you." They smiled, which seemed to calm the Giant. Jane came in, Holding the robot remains. Rin came in, The Merman on their back. And Lo, With a demon cuddling him, walked in too.

"Hi." Lo said, Looking at his friends, The demon giggling as he snuggled against him.

"Seems we all found something. Mine's called Meztli."

"Mine's called Logan!"

"Hehe Jasper"

"I called him Monsieur Cloudy!"

"And I've found... Riley."

_____________________

(End of part 1)

#oc #original character #lo's ask box ✨#ocs #my ocs #lo ✨#logan ⭐#lo's fics #not my oc #Not my Oc X my Oc

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intermundia · 2 years

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So lots of people know that there is a river Styx in Greek mythology, and that it’s the boundary between Earth and Hades, the river over which the souls of the dead are ferried by Charon. Some others may know that it’s an idiom to “swear by the river Styx,” for the most solemn and binding oaths, the story in Hesiod being that the river goddess Styx sided with Zeus during the Titanomachy. What they might not know is that the word Στύξ, Styx, comes from a root which means like:

1. hated, abhorred (of persons and things) 2. hateful or hostile to one 3. gloomy

In Greek, the way you make an oath is to specify a superhuman power as witness to the declaration and guarantor of its truth. It basically calls down a conditional curse to take effect if the promise is violated. In English, we swear ‘by’ or ‘to’, in Greek, it’s the direct object of the verb to swear. One ‘swore Styx’ instead of ‘swore by Styx,’ basically saying I swear on the hateful river that is the path to death (aka the river which will take me if I fail, a conditional self-curse) that I will do this thing.

But what else could it mean to swear an oath on hate, on shuddering, gloomy loathing? I personally think it could mean that the energy that you would have otherwise given to your hate is the energy that you swear you will use to fuel your commitment to upholding the terms of the oath. The more hatred you have inside, the more you are motivated to stick to terms.

The reason that I'm thinking about hate and motivation and the promises we make ourselves because of Darth Vader (lmao as always) and how his hatred, his specific and personal loathing of Obi-Wan, motivates him in the Kenobi show. He is so deeply and completely driven from this emotional center, he's sworn revenge, sworn to himself, I will abide and seethe in my anger until I can take it out on Obi-Wan himself.

It's the kernel at the heart of who he is, this oath he's sworn to have his hatred motivate him, his hatred as the center, the burning heart of things. He asks "where is HE" over and over, his mind so fixated, all he is able to see is Obi-Wan when he's near, all he's able to think about is Obi-Wan when he's distant. He's a liminal figure already, a walking body that doesn't breathe on its own, caught between life and death. His hatred is what keeps him alive.

Honestly after he "kills" Obi-Wan on the Death Star, I think that this stellar core of hate is snuffed out. Anakin has other hate in general to keep him being Vader, of course, but the shuddering loathing of the man who he loved and who had (in his opinion) betrayed him and cut him to pieces and left him to burn—his oath on hatred was fulfilled, and the hatred may linger ambiently afterward, but it's no longer motivating him forward.

There's no true revenge for him unless Obi-Wan screams and suffers and acknowledges that he's being subject to revenge. By disappearing into the Force, he denies Vader this validation and resolution. Vader tries to destroy his legacy instead, but he's running on fumes, trying to prove that he's gotten the final revenge to himself. It's just not the same without the object of his hate there to suffer.

#darth vader #anakin skywalker #obi-wan kenobi #long post #this is a ramble but u kno #i just say words recreationally on this site #classics #lol #sw meta #i guess #kenobi spoilers #jsut so i don't get more anons lmao i have no ideas what's a spoiler anymore

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officialyourdailyinspiration · 3 months

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Devotional Hours Within the Bible by J.R. Miller

Joseph In Old Age And Death

“And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath and said God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” – Genesis 50:25

Our last study brought us to the close of Jacob’s life. Word was sent to Joseph one day that his father wished to see him. The old man was thinking of his departure. He knew that he must die in Egypt but he did not want to be buried in that strange land. He wanted to lie in the land of promise. So he asked Joseph to swear to him, in the crude fashion of the times, that he would not bury him in Egypt.

Joseph promised. “Swear unto me,” said Jacob. And Joseph swore unto him. It was no mere sentiment that made the old man, as his end drew near, crave to lie beside his father and his wife in the cave of Machpelah; it was his strong faith in God’s promise to give Canaan to his descendants. He believed that the promise would be fulfilled and he wanted his grave to be where the future home of his children would be. Then he wanted his family, though still abiding in Egypt, to have a constant reminder that Egypt was not their home. He knew that his grave in the land of promise would continually draw upon their hearts.

There was another incident. Jacob was sick. Joseph heard it and hastened with his two sons to his father’s bedside. Jacob adopted these boys as his own, taking them in among his own sons, kissing and embracing them, then stretching out his thin, trembling hands and laying them .on the heads of the lads, while he uttered this beautiful blessing upon them: “the angel who has kept me from all harm may he bless these boys. May they preserve my name and the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac. And may they become a mighty nation.”

Then we have Jacob’s death scene. All the sons are there and the dying patriarch, in prophetic words, unveils the future of each in turn. We need not linger on these patriarchal predictions, interesting as they are. But it is interesting to note the blessing pronounced upon Joseph:” “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.” Genesis 49:22-24

It is a solemn moment to a man, when he stands by the deathbed of a beloved and honored father. He lives over again all his own life as he watches the last breathings of his sire, and listens to the last words of farewell and blessing. Those were intensely solemn moments to Joseph. All his honors seemed small, as he stood there by that patriarchal bed and felt on his head the touch of the hand now growing cold in death.

At length the feeble voice ceased to speak. The blessings were all pronounced. Then came the dying charge. “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.” And when Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the Spirit, and was gathered unto his people. What a strange thing is death! He who but a little while ago was breathing out his blessings and his farewells is gone now, away from earth. The old house is empty. The love that thrilled the heart with its tenderness and flushed the face with its glow and warmth, an hour ago has passed from earth! Strange mystery of dying! How orphaned it leaves us when it is a father or a mother that is gone. We never are prepared to lose our parents. No matter how old they are, how ripe their life, how full their years the time never comes when we can lose them without a pang. Life is never quite the same again when they have left us.

It is always so, when either father or mother is gone. Life is never the same again. Something has gone out of our life, something very precious, which we never can have again. Never more a mother’s prayers lost and missed, now for the first day since we were born. No more a father’s love, thought, care, and hope, in this world, lacking now, first, since infancy. The consciousness of bereavement is keener when a parent is taken away in the child’s earlier years, and the loss is greater, in a sense but perhaps the pain is no deeper. No wonder that Joseph fell upon his father’s face and wept upon him and kissed him, when he saw that he was dead. His grief was sore, his sense of loss was great.

Quickly Joseph set about to do all that love could do to honor the name and memory of his father. The body was embalmed. Then followed seventy days of mourning according to the custom in Egypt. After this the patriarch’s dying command was obeyed, and the twelve sons, with many Egyptian friends, among them men of rank, bore the body away to Canaan, and laid it to rest beside the bodies of his kindred.

It was at Hebron, in the cave of Machpelah. This cave is covered now by a great Mohammedan mosque. The entrance is so sacredly guarded that none except Mohammedans can enter it. There are shrines in the mosque for each of the dead who sleep beneath Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, Jacob. In the interior of the sacred building is a small circular opening which leads down into the ancient cave, where, no doubt, the twelve sons of Jacob laid the embalmed body of their father. Mohammedanism cannot always keep such jealous guard over that sacred burying-place, and it is the dream of many that some day this cave may be opened and explored, and that the mummy of Jacob may be found, as, recently, in Egyptian burying-places, the mummies of many distinguished men, including one of the Pharaohs of the days of Moses, have been discovered.

After the burial of his father, the story of Joseph is almost a blank. Only one incident is given. When Jacob was dead, the brothers grew uneasy. They thought that their father’s influence had restrained Joseph from seeking revenge upon them for their sin against him, and they feared that now, when this restraint had been taken away, Joseph would visit punishment upon them . The memory of sin dies hard! It had been forty years since this wrong was committed, and for seventeen years the brothers had lived in the sunshine of Joseph’s forgiveness, nourished by his love, without a word or an act to suggest anything of resentment; yet here we find the old dread still lingering. Guilt makes cowards of men! Sins against love plant thorns in the heart !

Joseph wept when he heard his brothers’ words. It pained him to learn that they doubted his love and forgiveness. When you have been a loyal and faithful friend to another, loving him unselfishly, making sacrifices for him, giving of your life’s strength and skill to help him, putting honor upon him it grieves you sorely to have him misunderstand you, suspect your sincerity and doubt your affection! Seventeen years of such generous love as Joseph had shown to his brothers in Egypt, ought to have made it forever impossible that they should doubt or suspect his forgiveness.

Do we ever treat our friends so? Do we never treat Christ so? Do we never doubt his forgiveness, or question his love for us? Let us not grieve that gentle heart by even the faintest doubt of a love that is infinite in its truth and its tenderness.

Joseph was pained when he heard of the fears and the distrust of his brothers but his patience did not fail. “But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” Genesis 50:19-21

This was his answer to their distrust. It takes a large heart to love on in spite of doubt, suspicion and unwholesome discontent; but Joseph had a large heart. His generous love never failed. In this case its warm tides overflowed the new barriers his brothers’ distrust had cast into the channel, and buried them out of sight. His answer was only a new assurance of affection undisturbed by their treatment; he would nourish them in the days to come as he had done in the past. He would share his honor with them. He would provide for them in the land where they were strangers. He would care for their children. So he comforted them and spoke kindly unto them.

After this incident, Joseph lived fifty-four years but nothing whatever is told us of these years. We can picture to ourselves a ripe and beautiful old age, full of honors and full of usefulness. He had saved Egypt and there is no reason to suppose that he failed to receive the gratitude of the people of the country unto the end of his life-course.

We know that his life continued beautiful to its close. Sometimes old age does not fulfill the prophecy and the promise of the earlier years. Sometimes men who live nobly and richly until they have passed the meridian of their days, lose in the splendor of their character and the sweetness of their spirit as they move toward the sunset. A great many sermons are preached to the young. No doubt youth has its perils and needs constant warnings. But there is need also of wise words of counsel to those who are growing old. Old age has its perils and its temptations. It is hard to bear the honors of a good and worthy life, as they gather about the head when the years multiply, and not be spoiled by them. It is hard to keep the heart humble, and the life simple and gentle, when one stands amid the successes, the achievements, the fruits of one’s life’s victories in the days of a prosperous old age. Some old men grow vain in their self-consciousness. They become talkative, especially about themselves and their own past.

The ease and freedom from care which come sometimes as the fitting reward of a life of hardship, toil and sacrifice do not always prove the happiest conditions, nor those in which the character shows at its best. Some men who were splendid in incessant action, when bearing great loads and meeting large responsibilities, and in enduring sore trials, are not nearly so noble when they have been compelled to lay down their burdens, drop their tasks and step out of the crowding, surging ranks into the quiet ways of those whose life work is mainly finished. They chafe in standing still. Their peace is broken in the very days when it should be calmest and sweetest. They are unwilling to confess that they are growing old and to yield their places of burden and responsibility to younger men. Too often they make the mistake of overstaying their best usefulness in positions which they have filled with wisdom and honor in the past but which with their waning powers they can no longer fill acceptably and well. In this respect, old age puts life to a crucial test.

Then sometimes old age grows unhappy and discontented. We cannot wonder at this. It becomes lonely, as one by one its sweet friendships and its close companionships fall off in the resistless desolation which death makes. Then it is hard to keep sweet and gentle-spirited when the hands are empty and one must stand aside and see others do the things one used to do himself. Feebleness of health, too, comes in ofttimes as an element which adds to the hardness of living beautifully when one is old.

These are some of the reasons why old age is a severer testing time of character, than youth or mid-life. Many men who live nobly and richly while in their prime, fail in their old age. The grace of Christ, however, is sufficient for the testings and the trials of the old as well as of the young. We should set ourselves the task of making the whole day of life to its last moments, beautiful. The late afternoon should be as lovely with its deep blue and its holy quiet, as the forenoon, with its freshness; and the sun-setting as glorious with its splendor of amber and gold, as the sun-rising with its radiance and brightness. The old, or those growing old, should never feel for a moment that their work, even their best work, is done, when they can no longer march and keep step in the columns with youth and strong manhood. The work of the riper years is just as important as that of the earlier years. Young men for action, old men for counsel.

The life that one may live in the quieter time, when the rush and the strife are left behind, may be even more lovely, more Christ like, more helpful than was the life of the more exciting, stirring time that is gone. Life ought to grow more beautiful every day to its close. Let no one think that he has finished his task of sweet, true living when he has got safely through the years of mid-life, into the borders of old age. No! we must not slacken our diligence, our earnestness, our fidelity, our prayerfulness, our faith in Christ, until we have come to the gate of eternity. God’s plan for our life takes in all.

Chalmers wrote: “It is a favorite speculation of mine, that if spared to sixty years of age, we then enter the seventh decade of human life; and that this, if possible, should be turned into the Sabbath of our earthly pilgrimage, and spent sabbatically, as if on the shores of an eternal world; or, as it were, in the outer courts of the temple that is above, the tabernacle that is in heaven. A beautiful thought, and as true as beautiful. Old age is a time for waiting, praying, hoping, and for reflecting to others, something of the peace and love of the heaven we are nearing, and of the Christ we hope soon to see.”

At last the time came for Joseph to die, as this time must come to all. “Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” Then the record goes on giving the end of the story: “So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.”

Embalming was a costly process. When the body had been prepared, it was wrapped in bands of fine linen and placed in a stone or wooden coffin or mummy case. The Egyptian funeral rites were very elaborate. Because of his great service to the country, Joseph might have had a burial with the highest honors; but he refused all this. It is said that among the ruins of that wonderful land there has been discovered a tomb which it is thought was prepared for Joseph. It is near the pyramid of one of the Pharaohs. It is the tomb of a prince. It bears the name “Eitsuph” or Joseph, and the title “Abrech” which means “Bow the knee.” If this tomb was prepared for Joseph he refused to have his body rest in it. He was not an Egyptian but an Israelite. Like Moses, afterwards, he preferred to share the reproaches of his own people, rather than receive the honors of a heathen nation. Joseph was not buried at all in Egypt. His body was embalmed there but not entombed. Egypt had long been his home. It had been the scene of all his honors and triumphs. His wife was an Egyptian. His friends were Egyptians. But he was still a loyal Israelite, and would not lie in an Egyptian grave. He would be buried in an Israelite grave. This is the first thought which Joseph’s dying command suggests.

But there are other thoughts. In the Epistle to the Hebrews when the faith of Joseph is spoken of, it is remarkable that it is this command concerning his bones that is mentioned. “By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.” How did this show his faith? It showed that he believed God’s promises concerning his people. His faith was so strong, that he refused to be buried at all in Egypt; his burial must wait until his people went up out of Egypt to their own land.

Mark the difference in the dying requests of Jacob and Joseph. Jacob, too, refused to be buried in Egypt. He had spent seventeen happy years there, and his family was well settled, with his son honored in all the land. But he could not die until he had the pledge from his children, that he would be buried beside his kindred. Joseph’s request was different. He was not to be buried in Egypt, yet his body was not to be carried to Canaan until his people should go there. He was so confident of their exodus that his mummy was not to be laid in the grave at all until they went back to the land of promise.

There was a special reason why Joseph made his will in this way. He wanted even his bones to do good after his death. His people would need all the influences that could be put into their lives, in the long, dark years of trial before them, to keep alive in their hearts the memory of the promises, love for Canaan, and the hope of possessing that land. The graves of their fathers were there, which made the country dear to love and hope. But Joseph felt that his mummy left among them unburied, waiting to be carried away to Canaan and buried there, would do more to keep hope alive in their hearts, than if it lay at rest yonder in the cave of Machpelah. Every time they saw it they would remember why it was unburied, and their thoughts would turn toward their land of promise .

By and by it grew very dark in Egypt. The dynasty of the Pharaohs who had been Joseph’s friends gave way to a new dynasty who cared nothing for his memory and were jealous of the growth of the Israelites. Bitter oppression followed. In those days of gloom, who knows how much the unburied mummy of Joseph, with its unspoken words of hope, helped to keep the people from despair?

Then one night there was great excitement in Goshen. The hour of departure had come. Here is the record: “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” Exodus 13:19. Then followed forty years of weary marching and wandering, and during all this time the mummy of Joseph was in the camp.

At length there was a funeral one day at Shechem, and those bones, in their Egyptian mummy case, were laid to rest by Joshua. Here again is the record: “And Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor.” When tourists journey in the Holy Land, they are shown at Shechem the tomb of Joseph. It is but a little way from the pit at Dothan, into which his brothers cast him to die. So the great wrong is righted, for the world now honors his grave.

We may take two lessons from Joseph’s dying words. One is a lesson of faith. “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid.” He would die but God would live on and his work would go on. “God buries his workmen but carries on his work .” We have only our little fragment to build in the wall. Then we shall die but the work will go on, for God lives on and his plans and purpose shall not fail.

The other lesson is, that we should live so that the memory of our life and its influence, when we are gone, shall inspire those who stay behind. “The memory of the just is blessed.” Proverbs 10:7. Joseph’s embalmed body, kept among his people, spoke not only of his noble work in the past but declared ever the word of hope for the future. It said: “This is not your home. You are but tarrying here as strangers and pilgrims. By and by you will go on.”

Such should ever be the impression that our life makes and that our memory keeps alive in other hearts. We should so live that when we are gone, every recollection of us shall make others think of heaven as home. We have not lived at our best if the memory of our life only makes our friends think of us. The true life must ever speak of spiritual and eternal things!

Let us seek then to be so filled with Christ that every influence of our life shall incite men upward, toward God, and onward, toward imperishable things, starting in every heart, the prayer of divine longing for our heavenly home!

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