#and i was like ??? no i feel obligation to treat people better than my ancestors did and to try and right as many wrongs as i can and to be | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

starlightfyre · 5 months

Note

Thank you for answering my questions! It’s alright for not getting to them sooner, you’re not obligated to answer them, and I got the feeling that everything keeps trying to stop you from accessing your Tumblr haha.

You’ve clearly put a lot of thought and effort into building your world of Dracos, and I’m curious to know how dragons like Landia and Ice Dragon would fit in, if at all, since your world leans more towards anime lore than games. (Sorry if this question isn’t welcome, I’m going through a Kirby dragon world building phase of my own and want to poke the brain of another dragon enjoyer)

You would be right, haha! My devices and usual situations sometimes prevent me from checking Tumblr xD

I'm glad you asked! :D our AU draws a lot from the anime while fusing quite a bit of the games in. So I'll happily explain the wider lore of dragons! Dragons are some of the mightiest of beasts found in the Starlight Dreamers and Dreams of the Stars universe, and are often respected or feared. So any beast that falls under the species of "dragon" is treated with caution or high regard.

There's various kinds of dragons that fall under certain categories. I'll explain the category that ice dragons fall under first.

There are dragons that are demon beasts and/or monsters, which are dragons made or commonly used by Nightmare. Ice Dragons fall under the demon beast/monster category. Demon beasts are creatures that are usually made of negative energy, so most dragon species of this category are usually not nice! But you can come across some that are raised by good people or even Star Warriors as companions of war. Overall, ice dragons are neutral unless raised good or bad! A common name also used for demon beasts are Nightmares since they're often made of corrupted Dream Matter. So an ice dragon qualifies as a Nightmare Dragon. There are many other types of Nightmare Dragons as well, some worse and more evil than others!

Dracos fall under a category that is similar to demon beasts, interestingly enough! Except they're positive magical creatures made of Starlight and untainted Dream Matter. So holy/star beasts, I guess? Creatures that fall under these categories are called Dreams– a concept that belongs to my sister @blazingstaro (check out her stuff for more on the various species of Dreams outside of the Dracos!). So in contrast to Nightmare Dragons, Dracos are Dream Dragons. They're capable of traveling the stars and traversing the realm of sleep when they rest, as well as developing Super Abilities as they grow old. Dracos were born to combat Nightmares and were born in the image of their ancestors, the Origin Dragons, which I will explain after this. In their birth to the galaxy, they evolved and improve on the weaknesses that led to the near extinction of Origin Dragons to have better chances of survival. Because of their similar make to demon beasts, corrupted Dracos become Dracomares. So, a Draco CAN become a Nightmare Dragon.

Origin Dragons are the ancestors of which Dream and Nightmare Dragons were made. Origin Dragons are primal creatures of Dream Matter that were generally neutral depending on the individual. Unlike their Draco descendents, they couldn't traverse space, but were masters of elemental manipulation, such as mastery to cause storms, breathe fire, move earth, and other elemental powers! Landia in particular has lore significance. Eons ago, Landia ruled as kings over a dragon city long before the Dracos or Nightmares existed. The four siblings guarded the Master Crown until the day would come that it would be gifted to a worthy ruler who would lead the Champions of Starlight; wielders of four sacred blades made by the elements and blessing of four powerful dragons of that time (two of those blades being Galaxia and Galacta's lance). The Crown was stolen though, leading to it's misuse and eventual corruption. Landia was lost in an unknown space in that battle and the world was torn asunder, starting the decline of the Origin Dragon's near extinction. As seen, eventually the crown does end up back in their possession, but they guard it for the purpose of it not falling in the wrong hands until Magolor stumbles upon them.

Here's some art examples!

Landia, when split into four dragons, are actually kinda small xD they become large when fused! The sketch of one of the Landia dragons between two others is another Origin Dragon on the left (Athrodite) and a Draco on the right (Branwen. She's young here, but she grows up to be around Athrodite's size).

Here are examples of demon beast dragons/nightmare dragons. On the left is my stylization of Ice Dragons! On the right is one of the fiercest of nightmare dragons; the silver dragon, based on the dragons sometimes seen in the anime. This one in particular is my character, Cynder. Silver dragons breathe fire and are quite large, easily rivaling Origin Dragons in size! They don't speak but understand speech, so are highly more intelligent than they give off!

Some colored Origin Dragons! On the left is Azymondias, on the right is Elyna. She's the only dragon of her era to have manipulation over the element of space and Starlight and is rather important to the backbone of my story lore. She is thought to be the base of how Dracos work modernly! Azymondias is a storm dragon, and aided in raising and teaching Branwen. Both of these characters are no longer around.

And lastly, examples of powerful Dracos and Dracomares! The left is the Alpha Queen Draco. On the right Firush, a Dracomare. Dracos come in various body types that are close to Origin Dragons!

Dragons are an important part of the lore of our stories! Dream and Nightmare Dragons are what came after Origin Dragons. The four dragons that aided in the creation of the sacred blades are an interesting topic I plan to talk about at some point. But I hope you enjoyed this dive into our world's lore on dragons! The Dracos and Origin Dragons are very important in my stories, so I'll be sharing more about some of the those characters as my stories go on ^w^

#dragon #kirby #star warrior #star warriors #draco #kirby oc #beast #kirby fc #fanfic

9 notes · View notes

robininthelabyrinth · 3 years

Note

Prompt: Something causes Lan Qiren to just SNAP, go absolutely fucking feral, and run off to become a rogue cultivator.

Beautifully Spent

- Chapter 1 -

aka Five Times Lan Qiren Left The Lan Sect Behind

“It is your duty, Qiren.”

“Is it?” Lan Qiren asked coldly. “I believe you’re thinking of my brother. You might remember him – the sect leader?”

He’d never spoken that coldly to anyone, least of all an honored elder, one of his own teachers, but he had no choice.

Ever since he was young, Lan Qiren wanted to become a traveling musician - to wander the world freely, without the burdens that would fall on his older brother, the prospective sect leader. Even as he got older, he'd never quite let go of that ambition, refining it until it had become not only a dream but a plan.

He would see that plan come to fruition, no matter what it took.

His teacher looked at him helplessly. “What’s gotten into you?” he asked. “You know your brother has chosen seclusion –”

“I know that in the eyes of the sect I have never been a quarter the man he is,” Lan Qiren said quietly. “I know that in each instance that we have argued, you have all taken his side. I know that I was asked, time and time again, to yield – because he is the elder, because he is the heir, because he is the more talented of us two. I have always yielded, because I am a filial son, a good brother, and I love my sect. I have always yielded.”

His teacher cast his eyes down to the ground.

An acknowledgement of guilt.

“I will not yield this time,” Lan Qiren said simply. “This is the rest of my life, honored teacher. This is my entire life. For once, let himbe the one to yield – to do his duty to his sect, as he was always meant to.”

“But –”

“I have always been here for him.” Lan Qiren did not allow him to interrupt. “I have been his scapegoat when things have not gone his way, I have been his pawn in political games, I have even been his punching bag when he needed to vent his irrational anger. Everything he has had the freedom to do, he has done because he has had me here. If I were not here, would he be able to go into seclusion?”

His teacher was silent.

“He would not,” Lan Qiren concluded. “To go into seclusion when you are the only option to lead the sect is to be an unfilial descendant of our ancestors. And so, if I am not here, he would be obligated to live up to his duties.”

“His heart has just been broken. Do you have no empathy for him?”

“As much as I do for the woman who was forced by circumstances to agree to marry him, and no more.”

“Qiren…”

“Think of it as me being dead, honored teacher,” Lan Qiren said, and ignored his teacher’s flinch at such inauspicious words. “Do you need me to remove my forehead ribbon before I go?”

“Qiren! Of course not!”

“Ask my brother,” Lan Qiren said dryly. “He will have the final word, as usual, and he does not like not getting his way.”

He left that day, his head held high.

He did his best not to think of his brother, who had, in his own way, wanted freedom, too.

Lan Qiren travelled, after that. It was just as he’d always planned it: quiet nights along forest paths, visits to small towns in out-of-the-way corners of the world – inquiring and then solving any issues they had that required a cultivator, and playing for them when no such issues remained. He had anticipated hardship, knowing himself to be a rich young master who’d never really faced the world; he hadn’t anticipated kindness: a few married women in one town taking the time to show him how to do laundry, giggling at him all the while, a group of young woodcutters in the next the best way to forage and cook food when one was hungry, a merchant and his wife teaching him how to bargain to avoid getting cheated…in time, through the generosity and enthusiasm of others, he learned all the skills he needed.

He refused payment for night-hunts – amazingly, his sect did not cut him off as he’d almost expected them to, and he was still able to collect his usual allowance – but accepted it for his music, and from his place behind his guqin he watched, quiet and content, as life swirled around him in all its myriad forms.

In between music and night-hunts, he idly taught some skills to the children in the towns he passed through – the vast majority were common people, completely lacking in cultivation skills, but his sect’s rules and the philosophy behind them were applicable in far more situations than that, and basic martial skills in even more. Whenever he stayed somewhere for more than a few days, he added in lessons in basic literacy, mostly because the idea of not having books at hand was abhorrent to him; the parents involved were generally more grateful that he was keeping their children out of trouble than especially interested in what he was teaching them, but it’d never hurt anyone to know a little bit of reading.

When he happened upon a place already governed by another sect, he did not take particular care either to avoid or to approach them; if they happened to meet, and to invite him to stay with them, he would. Lao Nie tracked him down six times for that very purpose, citing increasingly less plausible excuses, before Lan Qiren finally agreed to make the Unclean Realm a regular stop on his travels just to make him stop; in contrast, Cangse Sanren just showed up at the camp he had made for himself one day, her husband as always by her side, and simply refused to leave for the next three months.

He did not visit the Cloud Recesses.

Not when he heard about how his brother had, however reluctantly, come out from seclusion and begun to do the work of sect leader, and do it well, the Lan sect prospering under his leadership as they had always expected to. Not when he got news that his nephew was born; not when he heard that one nephew had become two. Not even when he heard that his brother’s wife had died, though the thought of that miserable woman’s self-inflicted fate had moved him enough to write a letter of condolence to his brother – their first contact in seven years.

Lan Qiren did not expect anything to come of that impulse, though perhaps he should have known better: it wasn’t more than a week later that he received a letter in return, the heavy formal parchment used by the Lan sect as familiar to him as the back of his hand, his brother’s equally formal calligraphy very nearly as familiar.

The words on it weren’t familiar at all.

I have made a terrible mistake, his brother wrote. I need your help.

Lan Qiren was perhaps not especially filial to his sect, having abandoned it as readily as he did – but despite everything, he did love his brother.

He went home.

“Lan Huan, courtesy name Xichen,” his brother said, nodding at the small child, pudgy and fat and adorable, quivering like a pudding even as he tried to force a smile onto his face, clutching onto a baby only a few months old, the little one strangely solemn despite the inexpert manhandling. “Lan Zhan, courtesy name Wangji.”

Lan Qiren was not as shy as he used to be, and he had gotten better at dealing with children. He knelt down until he was level with them, though he did not force himself to adopt any expression that did not come naturally. “Hello,” he said. “I’m your uncle.”

“Hello, uncle,” Lan Xichen said.

Lan Qiren held out a hand and waited, even as his brother took his leave, busier than ever. It took a little while, but Lan Xichen eventually put his own hand in his, and walked with him; after a little while, he even entrusted him with little Lan Wangji, fussing until Lan Qiren had tucked him into the corner of his arm in a manner he found appropriate.

By the time his brother found them again, Lan Xichen was chattering on and on about his xiao lessons, while Lan Qiren nodded along and added his own observations – he was decently skilled at the xiao himself; while it was not his preferred instrument, there were times when it was easier to carry than a guqin, and he had had time, when he was younger, to indulge himself in learning more than one instrument.

When Lan Xichen saw his father, he fell silent at once. He did not hide behind Lan Qiren’s robes, though Lan Qiren half-thought he wanted to – his little hand trembled in Lan Qiren’s palm.

“Would you like to take your brother back?” Lan Qiren asked him. Lan Wangji was a good baby, crying only a few times, each time responding well and easily to the usual things a child his age wanted – milk, a burp, attention. Moreover, Lan Xichen was good with him, thoughtful and careful; Lan Qiren had no concerns entrusting the baby to him, and Lan Xichen brightened a little when he realized that, nodding happily and taking Lan Wangji, pausing only a moment to glance worriedly at his father before scurrying off.

Lan Qiren looked at his brother.

“He’s afraid of me,” his brother said. “You can tell, can’t you?”

A blind man could tell. Lan Qiren said nothing.

“Wangji cries whenever I hold him, too, even though he almost never cries the rest of the time. He’s not even a year old, and he already knows.”

“Knows?”

His brother looked out into the horizon. His hands were behind his back, clasped in a formal pose. “That I’ll ruin them, too.”

Lan Qiren put his own hands behind his back as well. After a few moments, he said, “You care for them both. That’s not nothing.”

Their own father hadn’t managed even that. He had treated Lan Qiren with utter indifference, while treasuring his eldest beyond the point of reason, encouraging him to always think only of himself; the seeds of their estrangement were planted long before either of them knew it, each of them learning different lessons from their father’s mismanagement – Lan Qiren how to be inferior and doubt himself, his brother to be self-absorbed and careless with the feelings of others; Lan Qiren to bend himself to the point of breaking, his brother to refuse to bend at all.

It had served neither of them well.

“I don’t know what love is, except possession,” his brother said. “Xichen torments himself to try to live up to my expectations, and all I’ve managed to teach him, other than fear, is how to say yes to everything just to make people go away. I find myself falling into the habit of thinking of him as an extension of myself, which is still more than I can do with Wangji, who doesn’t even cry like a regular child should…” He paused. “You didn’t cry much as a child either.”

Lan Qiren glanced at his brother, surprised. He hadn’t known his brother had paid enough attention to him back then to even notice.

His brother smiled thinly. “Our family is known for its quiet children, did you know? I hadn’t, but they told me after Wangji was born. Apparently, there’s a few in every generation: a little slow, a little strange, with minds that don’t work quite the same way as the rest of us. The ones that don’t like to look you in the eye – sometimes they learn to speak, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they’re brilliant. As babies, they’re generally a little too quiet. There were three in our father’s generation, but in ours there was only you. And now, there’s Wangji…”

He shook his head.

“I wronged you before, Qiren. I don’t want to do it again – I don’t want to know what sort of father I’d be to a child like you. I’m not willing to risk waiting to find out, either.”

When Lan Qiren left the Cloud Recesses, he took with him a qiankun pouch weighed down with more money than he’d ever had in his life, two children, one smiling happily as the other burbled quietly, and his brother’s trust.

He had no idea what to do with any of it.

#mdzs #lan qiren #my fic #my fics #not set in the same universe as spilled pearls #but will probably make the most sense if you've read that first #beautifully spent

269 notes · View notes

thejakeformerlyknownasprince · 3 years

Note

Do you think Ax ever got kinda smug about the fact that, while it turns out the Ellimist is kind of an asshole, the god of his people's religion exists beyond a shadow of a doubt? We know that, at the very least, some of the Animorphs are religious to some degree, and I could see Ax treating their religion with the same attitude he treats their technology and culture.

[PLEASE NOTE: I am not a theologist, nor an anthropologist, nor someone who has taken any classes on religion in over 10 years. If I am wrong, I apologize and please correct at will.]

So I think that Ax's religion can be 100% confirmed accurate canon of the world, and that Jake's/ Rachel's Jewish beliefs and Marco's/Cassie's (?) possible Christian beliefs can also be true. And it's because of the difference between monotheistic religions and polytheistic ones.

In monotheism, there is a single capital-G God who created and/or runs the entire universe. This being is, especially in the Abrahamic tradition that birthed Judaism and later branched off into Christianity, fundamentally unknowable. Pretty much by definition. When asked for a name, the closest this being can come in human words is "I am what I am." Any time a human pictures this being, the human is admonished to remember that they inevitably have it wrong because they're only human. The One God does not make mistakes, does not get born or die, and is not under any obligation to make sense to human minds. Obviously I'm brushing over a shitton of differences between religions about whether this being is more knowable to prophets (Islam), capable of taking on a human avatar (Christianity), unable to be depicted at all (Judiasm), comprised of an all-soul (Hinduism), etcetera etcetera. But the point is: one all-powerful God is one unknowable God.

Polytheism isn't like that. Again I'm going to oversimplify vast cultural differences, but many polytheistic religions have gods with personalities. Zeus fucks around and finds out. Coyote steals shit for the sake of stealing it. Loki is the O.G. slimy contract lawyer. Goyoga lets his emotions get the better of him. Vishnu accidentally starts a war in his sleep. So on and so forth. These are gods (or spirits, or ancestors) with faces and names, with quirks. They lie and cheat, but more importantly they can be lied to and cheated on.

I am 99% sure that the andalite religion fits better with polytheism than monotheism, if only because their primary diety is an ascended gamer with whom Tobias feels comfortable bickering. The physical realness of Ellimist, warts and all, is closer to polytheism than monotheism even before we bring in Crayak or Drode or Father or The One.

And polytheism and monotheism can coexist. Within the same religion, even. They do it all the time.

For instance, notice I listed Hinduism as both a monotheism and a polytheism. Hinduism has both an all-powerful all-distant creator/ruler, and a pantheon of smaller and more immediate dieties. Another example? [says a quick prayer of apology to Sister Dot, Father Ed, Sister Shawn, Father Pat, and all the wonderful lay clergy in my life] Catholicism. In Catholic tradition, there is the all-powerful capital-G God, but there are also saints and prophets and angels organized under that God. Catholics pray to powerful-but-flawed angels, human saints who have achieved holiness after death due to selflessness in life, and prophets such as David and Ruth almost as much as they do to God. Some religious scholars consider modern Catholicism almost as polytheistic as it is monotheistic. One does not preclude the other.

So. I am aware that the Abrahamic religions have "I am your God and you shall have no gods before me" literally written in stone. However, I also don't think that any but the most extreme interpretations of any religion have ever said that the Ellimist being a god doesn't mean there cannot also be The God somewhere out there. And most monotheistic traditions would never expect their God to pop up as "a seventh grader with braces" (#26), while many polytheistic traditions would take the stance that just because that god put in an appearance doesn't mean there isn't an all-powerful creator out somewhere in the universe.

#animorphs #asks #anonymous #animorphs meta #religion #andalites #andalite religion #I'm not an anthropologist #i'm not a theologist #i'm not a religious scholar #i'm just a coffee shop

130 notes · View notes

kylosgenesis · 3 years

Text

Teardrops on Fire

Synopsis:

Steve Rogers is the last Alpha of the an almost extinct Lycan pack. With only less than 100 members left. Steve must produce an heir to ensure the species survival and reduce the chance of attacks from others. Omegas are rare, and betas have a hard time producing children. Steves reality is finally setting in as his obligation of producing an heir faces a major set back.

Reader is the last suitable omega to mate with Steve, due to the fear of her daughters fate in the pack, her mother kept her hidden from the pack after her own exile. Only her mother, and Bucky's family know of her existence. Bucky is Steve's right hand man, and the packs best warrior! He and the reader developed a friendship and bond over the years, but age forced them to become distant.

What happens when she presents and her first heat cycle comes? Her body is in excruciating pain and a strong fever quickly overcomes her body. Facing the fear of her daughters possible death, her mom calls on the only person who can save her at this point, Alpha Steve! Bucky and the alphas friendship will be tested. The reader will be faced with her love for Bucky or her duty to the pack.

Authors note: unbeta’d . Things will start getting really good in the next two chapters! So just hold on tight, and enjoy the ride. This chapter kinda short, and there is a lot of fluff! Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 6: Runaway

You kept having the same nightmare every night! Ever since you came to Nat’s place, you woke up with a feeling of fear.

In your nightmare you saw Bucky covered in blood, but the blood wasn’t his. You never got a chance to see before you woke up in a cold sweat and chills. The first few nights nat didn’t notice when you’d sneak out.

You missed everything about the place you called home! You would run around the village, and just watch in the dark as lights light up through windows, and people got ready to start their days. It had become your little escape! Running reminded you of the wind on your face while hunting, and the adrenaline of a good catch.

On the 4th night you noticed Natasha was up when you walked over to the door. She knew how hard the transition was for you so she just let you do your thing.

You hadn’t seen Steve or Bucky since that day, you where glad you hadn’t had to face them yet, but it made you uneasy!

You still felt Bucky, sometimes he was closer other times more distant.

Returning home from your jog, you found a parked car! The sun still wasn’t fully up yet, so you wondered why someone might be here this early.

As you opened the Emerald door into Nat’s home. You where caught off guard by the smell of an alpha, it was significantly different from Bucky’s scent, but still strong, and commanding! Even though you missed Bucky’s smell, whoever this was had you waltzing towards the scent.

Steve was in the kitchen, the smell of freshly brewed coffee surrounded his already amazing smell. There was eggs on the pan, and bacon sizzling in the oven.

You looked around to try to find Natasha, but she was nowhere in sight.

You only knew Steve from the small glimpse of that day, and by spoken word.

You hoped he’d turn around and notice you before you had to say something. You kept your hands crossed around your body as you walked towards the counter.

As if on cue he turned! You noticed he no longer had a beird, and his longer locks had been trimmed into a neat haircut. He looked handsome!

You heard his trust clear ” Hey! ... Natasha had to go to the pub early, so I thought I’d surprise you with breakfast when you woke up.” He looked at your running clothes, and the lightly soaked hair strands in your face “ I see you beat me to the waking up part” he chuckled to himself.

You could tell he was nervous!

You fumbled with your ponytail and placed your hands over your chest again “ Yeah... I couldn’t sleep so I went on a run! I hope you don’t mind! “ You didn’t know if he was comfortable with the thought of you running around while smelling like Bucky.

But he let out a lighthearted smile “ Not at all! Im glad you’re making yourself at home.

The sound of a timer went off. “Ohhh shoot! I almost forgot...” He turned around pulled the tray of bacon out of the oven.

Everything smelled absolutely delicious! In your 20 years of life, you hadn’t had so many combined foods in your life. You where almost salivating by the time Steve placed a plate of food in front of you.

”I hope this is okay with you? ...you don’t have to ... I’m sorry... I’m really nervous right now!” He placed his hand behind his neck and scratched his head “ I’m Steve! We haven’t properly met”

“I know! I’ve heard about you a lot! Good to put a face to the man” you kept your stance lowered, still threading carefully with him. After all he was an alpha, and if he was anything like his father, looks could be deceiving!

You redirected your focus towards the food to avoid the awkward tension between you two.

“This looks absolutely delicious! You didn’t have to, I could’ve just...”

You looked up and saw his deep blue eyes staring at you, he looked like he was waiting for you to evaporate in front of him. He was attentive, but he also had a tenderness to him to him. You didn’t know why you relaxed! But you started eating, , and stole a few glances here and there.

“I wanted to...I thought maybe I could show you around? I don’t know if you’ve seen much of the place yet outside of early dawn. If you’d like?”

“I...” You wanted to! But your body kept telling you no. He wasn’t your Alpha, you wanted your alpha. It was hard for you to admit how much you missed Bucky. The last days of your heat where spent smelling like him. Your body reacted to his smell in ways you hadn’t experienced before.

But yet here was Steve. You had to admit he was extremely attractive! You caught yourself eyeing the muscles under his tight shirt, and his blue eyes where about to burn right through your soul.

You didn’t know if you where nervios around Steve because of who he was, or because he was making your heart skip three beats every time he looked at you.

“I would love to!” You tried to hide all your thoughts behind a genuine smile, whatever happened you had to make things work with Steve. Even if Bucky owned most of your thoughts, this was new, and exiting for you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bucky’s POV:

He had been on a mission since that day! After he got to his house he immediately collected his things, and took off to the Wakandan pack. He hadn’t even settled in from his last mission, and he was already out on the road again. This time he had more on his mind, and more at stake.

He’d been helping the Wakandan’s build some watchtowers, and some safety points around their property, in order to adquiere a favor from the coven, he’d have to work for it. T’challa was more than kind to provide him a place to stay for the few days.

They where more technology advanced than their pack back home, T’challa’s sister Shuri had attended one of the best universities in the world. It wasn’t often that they allowed people like them in the human world. So when she came home after graduation at 16 she made sure she used her knowledge for good. It was thanks to her he was alive. His arm was a gift! He didn’t even know how to repay them for giving him a second chance.

They where sitting on the roof of one of the lookout towers, just taking a break, and enjoying the scenery. This place had been a great comfort to him after his accident. That’s why he was the one to come for a favor, and not Steve! He’d become family over the years, and the Wakandan’s treated him with as much respect as they’d treated their own Alpha.

Back in the day Shuri had expressed an interest in him! He felt bad seeing her face light up when he talked to her, back then he was too broken to let anyone in. So they just became really good friends, and eventually she outgrew her crush!

She was still the one person he could trust to tell anything to. That’s who’s shoulder he’d cried on the night he arrived under torrencial rain smelling like his omega.

“I don’t think you should go through with this!” Shuri was reading into his silence. She knew what had been bothering him since he arrived!

He thought he was doing what was best for his mate, but really he was running away from her. He didn’t know how to approach her. He had left his mate alone!

He wanted to be with her every day, his body called to her. He could feel her! Every night he dreamt of blood! He kept having a nightmare he couldn’t shake off. It scared him!

“I have to! It wasn’t supposed to be me!” He responded to Shuri, but still kept his gaze set on the horizon.

“Steve’s, a better fit for her!” He turned to face Shuri’s soft expression “I have nothing to offer her. I broke her heart once! I don’t wanna do it again!”

Shuri grabbed his flesh’s hand on hers

“Our ancestors believed if a mating happens its because it was predestined by the great gods... you mating her first was no coincidence my friend!”

“Its too late!” He lowered his gaze to his hand.

“White wolf! What did you do?”

She replied with shock in her voice.

He hesitated to answer as he pushed himself to stand up “ They agreed to undo the mating, and I already gave my blood on it. “ Shuri looked at him with concern.

“You already made a deal with the witches?... have you gone mad? You should’ve waited for me first, or T’challa. Those witches can be tricky.”

They both where avoiding the next part. They just walked in silence back to the main house.

“What did you sacrifice?” Shuri

finally asked. He was caught by surprise by her question.

“I don’t know yet! They didn’t say! They want to meet her first.”

He looked back at her as they paused in front of the house. The doors already opening In automatic to allow them easy entrance.

He didn’t go in, instead he just kept his gaze down. “I’m going home tonight! I’ll be back for the full moon. That’s when the ritual will take place!”

She was concerned for both of them, her pack knew the witches way too well! No magic ever came easily.

“Careful! They’re ancient magic users! You never know what kinda sacrifice blood magic demands”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You and Steve had been walking around the village for a while. You stopped at a small building, most rooms where empty but one had a few desks. Entering further you saw some kids drawings and the room came alive with so many colors. As you looked around you heard running come towards you. Steve didn’t looked scared so it didn’t alarm you when a set of boys no order than ten ran into the room, followed by a girl around half their age.

“Steve!” They ran and tackled him. He let himself be through down by the kids embrace.

You noticed a woman walk in after them, like Nat she had red hair, only hers was a lighter shade. Her eyes where blue and kind.

“kid’s, what have I told you about manners? ”

She put her hands on her waist, as she waited for the kids to answer.

“Sorry Mrs. Maximoff! ” they all responded simultaneously as they stood up from the floor, with Steve following along, shaking some dust off of himself.

“Come on Wanda don’t be hard on them! They’re just exited! “

Wanda looked at the kids, and Steve.

“You are all lucky Mr. Rogers is here! Now go to your desks, and finish those math worksheets I handed before lunch! “ the kids ran to the desks, and started working.

“I don’t know how you do it Steve, but they love you!” Wanda approached Steve with a smile. He took her in for a hug and then tuned to you.

“This is Wanda! She’s a teacher here at the school, and a close friend of mine” he smiled so much when he talked. It made you feel like you had knows everyone he’d introduced in a deep and personal way.

“Nice to meet you Wanda!” You went to shake her hand, but she immediately pulled you into a hug.

You had never had this much human contact, but you felt so welcome! The whole village had treated you with such kindness so far. You wandered if it was truly you or just cause you where with Steve.

“You like kids?” You asked while making small stalk

“Yeah! We don’t have a lot of them around anymore, but I like seeing them! They give me hope.. I guess?” He kept walking with you, hands tucked in his pockets “ I actually help teach from time to time! We have around 15 kids, all different ages! Trust me! It gets hard to handle them as they get older” he chuckled and looked at you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

No one said anything about the bite scar on your neck. Even if they noticed, Steve shook it off easily, and changed the subject before it started.

“Can they smell me ?” You asked as you headed into the vintage looking building.

“They can!... it’s faded, but anyone that’s been around Bucky can tell!” he paused as he looked at you, hands placed over your shoulders. “ No one here will judge you for it! Bucky did what he had to do to save your life and where going to fix it I promise”

You nodded, as he opened the door and the room came to life in front of you. It was beautiful! The walls where filled of vintage art, the place had enough that room to orient yourself, but dark enough to relax. It smelled of chocolate and honey combined. You spotted Nat behind a bar, a collection of bottles behind her!

“Hey guys! How was the date?” Nat was drying a small glass, and winked at Steve as she spoke.

“It wasn’t a date Nat, I was just showing her around” he looked at you, shoulders hunched, and blush on his cheeks.

Nat had embarrassed him! You could see Nat’s satisfaction on her face as she lined up glasses in a row on a drawer.

You decided to make Steve feel better, by responding “It’s been wonderful! Everyone’s been very kind” Steve looked relieved!

“Nat, I thought you said you had a small pub, this place is huge!” You said as you tuned into a circle admiring every detail of the place. “It looks lovely!”

“Well it feel small once you get used to it!” She was juggling multiple tasks at once, reaching for a box over her head

“I got it!” Steve replied and jumped to her aid.

“Thanks, I don’t know why he insists of storing stuff up there. Just because he’s tall, doesn’t mean I’m tall! ” she stated back at Steve as he handed her the box.

“That’s Bucky for you!” Steve replied, thinking nothing of it.

Your eyes lit up at the mention of his name. Both Steve and Nat noticed how your expression changed.

“He helps run the place whenever he’s home! He’s one of my best bartenders... with him being out of town I’ve been juggling everything the best that I can”

“I think you’re doing great!” Steve replied

“And I think you should pick up bar tending as one of your hidden talents “ she replied back with a sassy attitude.

You looked around the place! It didn’t seem so bad, you had to find something to do to keep yourself busy.

“I could do it!” You spoke, both Steve and nat turned the heads towards you in shock.

“I mean” you stumbled with your words as you felt both their stares on you” ... I can help you here if you’d like? I’m a quick learner!” Natasha looked at Steve as if awaiting for approval.

Steve was a bit hesitant, but looking at your hopeful puppy eyes immediately made him want to make you happy. “I think that you’ll be a great idea!”

You made a little happy jump at the news.

“ You can join me tomorrow when I come open, and I’ll start you off on getting familiar with the place.” Nat was wiping her hands on her pants as she spoke. A smile on her face!

“Thank you Nat!” Steve leaned over the counter for a hug. You stayed close behind him.

“Well, it’s getting late so I’m going to take her back now! I hope it’s not a wild night for you” he told her as he turned to leave

Nat yelled back at him from behind the counter “ You just jinxed it!” as she threw a towel at him. He tossed it back playfully!

“See you at home, Nat! ” you waved goodbye.

As Steve tugged on the pub door to leave, it opened from the other side.

A fall frame came into view, and your heart missed a beat. Your eyes met Bucky’s for the first time since that day. After a few seconds, your heart tugged at your strings. He noticed Steve, and walked past you towards the bar.

@dottirose @tanyaherondale @iloveshawnieboi @marmite79 @austynparksandpizza @nerdgirljen @exposition-belongs-somewhere @patzammit @connie326 @blessedwedgie

#bucky barnes x reader #james bucky barnes #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers #bucky barnes #alpha bucky x omega reader #alpha bucky #alpha steve rogers #alpha steve x omega reader #omegaverse #alpha bucky barnes

81 notes · View notes

watch-grok-brainrot · 4 years

Text

Wei Wuxian and Chinese Virtues of 忠孝仁义

There’s a lot of conversation about Wei Wuxian and how he struck out on his path without a concern for the Jiangs; about how he’s reckless and not giving a sh*t about his role within his society; about how he had a family and siblings and threw it all away for his sense of right and wrong. But the way I read his actions is within the context of the virtues of 忠孝仁义 (and how the virtues, especially 义, is ingrained in him via the Jiang sect motto). WWX’s major decisions can all be read as him acting in accordance with one or more of these virtues. Even when WWX is being his most irreverent self (and yes he’s rude and bring about a lot of second hand shame) he still remembers the we-self (to borrow from baoshan-sanren’s post) context as the head disciple of the Jiang Sect. Even when he seems to abandon everything, he didn’t abandon his understanding of these virtues.

First of all, let’s talk about 忠. 忠 (zhōng) is loyalty, devotion, fidelity. I usually associate the concept with loyalty towards your country but it can be applied to other units too. In the case of CQL where we don’t see an Emperor or country, it would only make sense that this concept be applied to either a person (e.g. SuShe at JGY) or a sect.

Tangent, feel free to skip: An (maybe THE) embodiment of this virtue is 岳飞 (Yue Fei), one of THE MOST famous Chinese generals. Yue Fei lived during the second half of the Song dynasty. He loved his country so much, he wrote poetry about drinking his enemy’s blood and eating their flesh (壮志饥餐胡虏肉，笑谈渴饮匈奴血) and taking back his country’s lands and saving the two previous emperors from being POWs. He is famous for the tattoo of the words “尽忠报国” (exhausting all loyalties to replay country aka i will be loyal and fight for my country until i die) on his back bestowed by his mother before he left home. When he was unjustly executed for treason, the executioners saw that on his back and the people knew a great man was wronged.

(if anyone wants a translation of the poem and a rambly share about some of my favorite Yue Fei related facts/stories, let me know. Otherwise, i’m gonna get back to our favorite necromancer)

So back to WWX. His loyalties are very much with the Jiang sect. After JFM and YZY dies, within the structure of 忠, Jiang Cheng is effectively who he needs to be loyal to because Jiang Cheng is the sect leader and essentially the symbol of the sect. The act of giving up his core to JC, then, embodies the idea of loyalty within the context of 忠. (I’ve seen memes about how WWX gave consent, WQ gave consent, but JC didn’t. drwcn has a great post about consent. For this post, i’m not going to go into it because this is outside my defined scope.) Furthermore, 忠 compels WWX to protect the Jiangs. I’ve read meta that thinks WWX was trying to get himself killed based on the crossing of his hanfu and his mouthing off at Wen Chao. I’m inclined to believe that reading because if dying means JC would never find out, so be it. And as long as WWX is dead, there will be no evidence of the core transfer so JC would never lose face before other cultivators. It would mean the Jiang sect can be rebuilt to its old status without being tainted by WWX’s sacrifice.

Ok, next is 孝. 孝 (xiào) is most often translated as filial piety. I don’t think there is a good sense of it in western culture. In chinese culture, it is the expected deference younger generations need to display to elders in their direct lineage. [Note: i use lineage because you can be 孝 towards your biological parents and grandparents, your kungfu master and their master, your adopted/honor bound parents, etc but not to everyone who is in a higher generation. It’s very family/lineage based.] 孝 is complicated because it’s ingrained into Chinese kids at a really young age. Go pour your grandparents tea. Go give your grandparents a back rub. Listen to your parents. When your parents get old, you’ll take care of them. Respect your elders. Even if your elders are wrong, don’t talk back. It’s a set of emotions that tie you to your ancestry. To turn your back on it feels like turning your back on your culture and identity.

Tangent, feel free to skip: Ok, this is really cool and I had to share. In looking up 孝 in the online xinhua dictionary, it says about the etymology: “形声。从老省，从子。” This is so cool! We have two characters: 老 (old, as in Yiling Laozu) and 子 (child). You’ll notice 孝 is a character where to top part of 老 is taken and 子 essentially follows. This character is a style of character where the meaning comes from the structure of the character. So 孝 is where the children follow the old, often blindly and with disregard of their own needs.

WWX, as an orphan, can only direct his 孝 towards Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan. 1) No matter how awful they were as parents, JFM and YZY raised WWX. 2) WWX is the head disciple. That means JFM is his shifu. [He calls JC his shidi and JYL his shijie for that reason.] That teacher-disciple relation is often described as “一日为师,终生为父” (a teacher for one day should be treated like a father for life). Both 1 and 2 bind WWX to the Jiangs regardless of his adoption status. So, when on the boat YZY and JFM tell WWX to take care of JC and JYL, it’s the order of an elder in his direct lineage. To not listen, to not defer to that order would not be 孝. Considering they perished at Lotus Pier, WWX was obligated to execute those orders to their fullest whatever the price (i.e. golden core).

Along those same lines, out of 孝 (and human decency, tbh) WWX and JC had to retrieve JFM and YZY’s bodies. Wen Ning helping them out in that situation is a HUGE favor. Not to mention all the other things WN and Wen Qing does for them. I will get to the favors and their ramifications later.

Ok, moving on to 仁. 仁 (rén) is most often translated as benevolence or humanity. (I want to say I find the translation of humanity very interesting from a bilingual child’s perspective because the chinese character for person/human is 人 which is also rén. I got the concept confused a LOT.) 仁 is found in the love and kindness shown towards fellow humans. Ctext often translates it as virtue, which is a bit too broad, IMO. I think this line from Confucian Analects explain the concept succinctly:

樊遲問仁。子曰：”愛人”

Fan Chi asked about benevolence [仁]. Confucius said, "It is to love all men."

WWX embodies this love better than everyone else in the story (except maybe LSZ but LSZ probably gets it from WWX). WWX meets stuttering WN and acknowledges him, offers to give advice, and truly sees the younger man. He treats WN with kindness and friendship (and yes, he takes advantage of WN’s willingness to push him around in a turnip wagon but that’s more shenanigans). WWX also sees the Wens at Phoenix Mountain as human and steps out of line to help them. His blindfolded five arrow show stems out of his 仁. His saving Mianmian is also an expression of his 仁. So many of WWX’s actions stem from 仁. A lot of the fandom see it as his empathy and I agree! It is that! But it can also be viewed as his internalization of the virtue to love humanity.

Finally, 义. 义 (義,yì) is actually the reason this ENTIRE post came to be. 义 is the same 义 as Yi City. I offer the traditional version of the character above so you can see how it compares to the stone on the way to Yi City. You will recall when WWX says Yi City, LWJ asks, “Yi, which means chivalrous?” And WWX explains same character but for coffin/mortuary in this case.

Actually, 义 is used in a lot of words:

正义- correct/rigit + 义 = righteousness

意义 - ideal + 义 = meaning

侠义 - knight -errant + 义 = chivalry

义气 - 义 + air = personal loyalty; code of brotherhood

名义- name + 义 = nominal

义父 - 义 + father = sworn father (this is a difficult to translate idea that sometimes i translate as godfather for simplification and cultural parallelism. it’s a parent figure that you acknowledge via vows. If the character for father is replaced with brother, then it’s the relationship that the 3zun have. And OMG i want to talk about the 3zun and romance of 3 kingdoms and how much of a awful un-义 person JGY is… but also holy out of scope batman)

In the case of virtues/morality, we’re looking at 义气 - the 义 that means loyalty to people and a code of brotherhood. The Jiang Sect ancestor is described as a 游侠 (yóu xiá, wandering hero). The ancestor’s identity as a 侠 (xiá), which indicates a highly skilled martial artist/fighter who will defends others (à la wuXIA and xianXIA), places him within the world of 江湖 (jiāng hú, sometimes translated as rivers and lakes or “pugilistic world” in some wuxia subtitles). In 江湖, 义 is the most important virtue. Based on 义, you help those in need. You stand out and do what is right. You are an outlaw that follows a strict moral code. 义 is the foundation of the Jiang Sect’s motto. Furthermore, the idea of 义气 can in some ways be viewed as currency. You do me a favor, I owe you one. You treat me with decency, I return the favor. You DO NOT return kindness with ill intent. It is taboo.

WWX exemplifies 义. 义 is part of what makes him so lovable and reckless. For 义 , he sticks out his neck for LWJ during Wen Summer Camp. For 义, he follows LWJ to search for the Yin Iron. Under 义 , he is free to be the hero who lends a hand whenever it’s needed. Oftentimes, 仁 and 义 go hand in hand because to stand up and stand out for other requires love of others and seeing their humanity.

So let’s get back to the Wen remnants: for 义, WWX must protect WN and WQ. As I mentioned before, WN and WQ had done WWX and JC (and thus the Jiang Sect as a whole) MULTIPLE HUGE FAVORS. 1) saving JC from Wen Chao at Lotus Pier. 2) retrieving JFM and YZY’s bodies. 3) transferring the golden core against WQ’s best judgement. All of these actions are so vital to the survival or the reputation of the Jiang Sect. WWX knows it. I’m positive JC knows it. To turn their backs on WN and WQ would be 不仁不义 (neither 仁 nor 义). Really, the ONLY thing they should be doing from the perspective of 义 is helping the Wens to repay their kindness. But WWX knows, as the head disciple, that JC cannot afford to align the Jiang Sect in sympathy with the Wens because it’s political suicide. The Jiang Sect WILL NOT SURVIVE if Nie, Jin, and Lan all turn against them. Even if Lan stood neutral, Nie and Jin would still be able to wipe out barely rebuilt Jiang.

So what does WWX do? He has already painted himself as a rebel, as rude, as ill bred. And from an outsider looking in, WWX is in alignment with his slippery descend into darkness. WWX knows if he steps just a little more out of line, he can accomplish everything else his morality dictates. (We could talk about WHY WWX feels like it’s ok for him to give up everything and analyze WWX’s self worth and what not. But that’s also outside the scope of this post and i’m pretty sure other people have done a better job of it than I could.)

Save the Wens, run away to the Burial Mounds, and defecting are all aligned with WWX’s morals. Defecting protects JC and the Jiangs sect in an act of loyalty (忠). Defecting also protects JC and JYL, thus fulfilling the filial piety toward YZY and JFM’s instructions (孝). Saving the Wens returns the debt of 义 that JC and WWX owe to WN and WQ. Saving the Wens also appeal to WWX’s sense of 仁 towards the non-cultivators. Lastly, protecting the Wens means JC does not end up 不仁不义. From WWX’s perspective his actions are the only option for him to really have no regrets when he asks his heart.

793 notes · View notes

firelord-frowny · 3 years

Text

Ok, so here’s my rant about ~critical race theory~ and Certain People’s gripe that all it does is Teach White Children To Feel Guilty, and there’s prolly like a 60% chance that i’m not going where you think i’m going with this. here we gooooo!

There is NO. WAY. to teach a fact-based curriculum on the history and legacy of race and racism in america (or anywhere, for that matter), without kids feeling hurt or embarrassed or ashamed or otherwise Unhappy. This goes for ALL kids. Not just the white ones.

Why??

Because when you learn about living, breathing human beings being brutalized and exploited and humiliated and treated like animals, you are SUPPOSED to feel bad. That feeling is called compassion. It’s empathy, and it’s a GOOD thing. If you can learn about the atrocities committed by humankind against other members of humankind, and NOT feel any degree of despair or shame or disgust, then there’s something wrong with you, tbh.

And if you happen to have some Major Traits in common with the demographics that were primarily responsible for whatever atrocity you’re learning about, you are GOING to have a negative emotional response to that, whether the source you’re learning from tells you to or not. It is NORMAL to feel uncomfortable with knowing what kinds of horrors your ancestors may have been responsible for, and that those acts continue to impact the present-day world. It is NORMAL to feel upset about the fact that even though you obviously didn’t Do Anything, you still have certain privileges thanks to those who did do everything. No, you can’t wave your arm and Fix It. Nobody expects you to.

You might think I’m talking specifically about white people, but I’m not. I’m talking about ANYONE who belongs to a demographic that, historically, has caused or participated in the mistreatment of a different demographic. Think: Christians who feel bad about the ways Christianity has been used as a weapon against certain groups of people. Straight people who feel badly that Other Straight People have made the lives of LGBTQ+ people so difficult for so long. Like, you don’t have to have ever called somebody a homophobic slur in order to still accept a moral obligation to do what you can to mitigate the effects of homophobia in your community. You don’t have to have ever personally forced an indigenous community to abandon their spirituality before you can go out of your way to do whatever small things you can do to support the interests of indigenous peoples.

So yes: when it comes to racism in america, you feel ashamed and sad when you learn about it BECAUSE IT WAS SHAMEFUL AND SAD. Literally, how is somebody NOT supposed to feel shame or sadness or disgust when they learn about all the many ways black people fucking died on the slave ships before even reaching their destinations? What, other than utter revulsion, should you feel when you see images of the torture devices that were used on black bodies? How should you feel when learning about slave “owners” raping enslaved black women? About how even toddlers were forced to do labor? How should you feel when you learn about black protestors being mauled by police dogs? assaulted with fire hoses? About people pouring acid into a swimming pool because black people are in it???

You feel sick BECAUSE IT’S SICKENING. And to try to avoid that discomfort is an act of cowardice, tbh.

Also??? The implication that ~critical race theory~ isn’t a difficult topic for black kids (and all kids of color, really)???? Ridiculous.

Trust me: We do NOT enjoy sitting in a classroom and having to take turns ~reading aloud~ passages about black people being chained and beaten and murdered and lynched and spit on and shat on and humiliated. But we fucking DEAL WITH IT because we know that if we let The World forget that shit, there are people out there who will do everything in their power to bring it all back.

You NEED to feel disgusted, and yes, you even need to feel a little bit ashamed. And you need to feel that way so that, inevitably, when someone in your day-to-day life does or says something repugnant about a race, you will EAGERLY shut them down, because you are incapable of stomaching that kind of hideous and dangerous attitude.

Which leads me to my final point: OBVIOUSLY the white people who are alive today are not responsible for what was done decades ago. Duh. Nobody thinks that. But these two things are also true:

1) White people today... ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHIT THAT WHITE PEOPLE ARE DOING TODAY OMFG

and,

2) White people today are not responsible for the past, duh, but they ARE responsible for the future.

We’re all responsible for the future.

And the reason why it’s critical for white people to play an active role in continuing to right the wrongs and heal wounds isn’t because they’re the ones who hurt anybody decades ago - it’s because they should CARE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE. They should care about the future. When you see people suffering, whether it’s because of a natural disaster, or because of famine, or because of whatever, you are supposed to help. You just ARE. You help because it makes you sad to know that people are hurting when they don’t need to be. You help because the idea of being ABLE to change the world for the better and then just choosing not to do it is repulsive to you.

What do you do if you see somebody being robbed or beaten on the street in broad daylight? You help. You call 911. You do whatever you know how to do, whether it’s consoling the victim, or administering first aid, or staying with them until Actual Help arrives, or even just making sure that the situation is being handled and that you don’t have anything of further use to contribute before moving on. You don’t huff and balk and sneer that “I’M not the one who mugged them, so why should I have to do anything? The mugger should be the one calling 911 and helping to stop the bleeding, not me!”

THAT SOUNDS SO FUCKING STUPID! And it’s EXACTLY how people sound when they bitch about how They’re Not The Ones Who Were Racist 200 Years Ago.

but the REAL gag is that they are the ones being racist Right Fucking Now.

Anyway, I guess I lied lmao bc here is my ACTUAL final point:

Children will survive the unpleasant emotions that inherently come with learning about unpleasant parts of human history - especially ones that continue to have deeply damaging and GLARINGLY obvious impacts on all of our daily lives. And the BEST way to ensure that they survive it is for the adults in their lives to learn to stop being such fucking cowards and start taking responsibility for the future instead of bitching about who’s to blame for the past.

#ok to reblog

8 notes · View notes

firstumcschenectady · 3 years

Text

“Interconnected” based on James 1:17-27

Welcome to the book of James. It is one of my favorites, despite the fact that it takes away one of my best preaching tools. That is, I usually spend a lot of time explaining context and making sense of a scripture in the time and place it was written. But James is almost a form of wisdom literature. It is universal. So, we're able to spend our time on the ideas in the book directly.

James is written to the followers of Jesus in the diaspora – that is, those who lived outside of the Holy Land. The ones who had been DISPERSED from the land of their ancestors in faith. This feels relevant right now too. I don't know any church members at FUMC Schenectady who would claim modern Palestine or Israel as their native land, but I think that all of us are displaced from the “land” we once knew, and have not yet settled into the “land” we'll live in eventually. The Pandemic has displaced us all (although not all the same amount.)

In this opening chapter of the book of James, we are urged to LIVE our faith. James wants faith in ACTION. He urges people not to just listen to preachers ;) but to LIVE their faith, and he gets rather specific about it. James believes that people who are followers of Jesus should be acting out different values than the world's.

The crux of the advice from today's passage is “let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness.” For James, this is integral in what it means to be “religious” - right up there with caring about God's beloveds who the world doesn't value (“widows and orphans.”)

As far as I can figure it out, the work of Christians is to build the kindom of God. The kindom, sometimes called the beloved community, is God's vision for the world. We will know it is here when the power of love overcomes the love of power; when the abundant resources of the world are used for the good of all people; when kin-ship connections cross all boundaries; when the poorest and most vulnerable people have enough to survive and thrive; when no one has to teach anyone about God because God is known by all. The kindom is God's long term plan for us, and our work to get there happens in two broad ways: first, by creating Christian communities where we practice kin-dom values and treat each other like we're already there and second by working with God to share love, to seek mercy, and advocate for justice so that the world is healed.

One of the parts of kindom building that can be hard sometimes is that it requires seeing clearly what the world is like now. We have to do this so we can hold it in tension with how God would have the world be in the kindom, but often the aching pain of the world as it is can be hard to let ourselves see clearly. For instance, we can't work towards a world without rape and violence unless we admit that we live in a world with rape and violence, and that there are barriers to changing it. So, we seek to see clearly. We seek to see how things are AND how God wants them to be.

Now, I don't want to shock you or anything, but the United States is a highly individualistic society. (The kindom is not.) We in the US have proven to the world how terribly individualism works – time and time again. Including in our responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

You might think that if you were looking at this pandemic with clear eyes that you would see that none of us can be well unless all of us are well- that we are collectively only as healthy as the least healthy among us – that every act of protection and prevention has enormous ripple effects. However, if we had learned this lesson, we'd be spending as much as possible to make it feasible to vaccinate every willing person in the world as soon as possible. We'd even do this before triple vaccinating our own population, because slowing down the spread of the virus is the most important way to keep everyone safe, healthy, and alive. The well being of all and the well being of the USA actually align! Yet, we miss the mark.

The book of James has an interesting perspective on the relationship that Christians have to the world. In the face of the injustices of the Roman Empire, the wealth inequality, the slavery, the power imbalances, the death rates of the poor, James urges the faithful … not to get angry.

I find that my first instinct is to argue with this a little bit. “Are you sure?” “What about when...?” Yet, even as I argue, I am convicted by this passage.

Society is rife with anger. Anger is pulling us apart at the seams. Some of the anger, I'd argue, is “righteous.” It is a response to injustice that needs to be seen, acknowledged, named, and addressed. We'll talk about that in a moment.

Most of the anger is misplaced. The anger is being used to create groups of “us” that stand against “them,” and those distinctions dismiss that everyone in both groups are beloveds of God. The anger is being used to provoke fear, sell products, pass unjust laws, and elect politicians. The anger is being USED.

And James points out directly that the people who want others to get angry are selling them on the idea that if they get angry enough, they will provoke God to action. James says it won't work though. God will act when God will act, and furthermore, prayer is a better way to go about it. Anger serves the people promoting it, not God.

But what about righteous anger? As I've been saying recently, anger is a “secondary” emotion. That is, it exists like a red flag to mark a place where something that is held precious is being violated. It lets us know when our values are attacked, and underneath that is another emotion. Most often anger is there to act as the bodyguard to sadness or the diversion to fear.

Sadness and fear are sufficient. They can guide us to good action, they can show us the ways of compassion, they can help us grow together. They are wise enough, that once we find them, we can let go of the anger that guided us to them.

Which means that the way to be “slow to anger” is often to identify anger, and then sit with it and find out what is underneath it. It means that we sometimes need to listen – to ourselves and our tender emotions. God is there, with us when we listen, with us when we feel, with us when we discover what is under our anger. This is, even, a form of God's healing, God's salve in our lives.

Of course, “be slow to anger” is the third piece of advice we're given in today's passage. The first two are to be quick to listen and slow to speak. It seems clear that James' advice is aimed at faith COMMUNITIES, because his advice is aimed at deepening and maintaining good relationships among the followers of Jesus.

For the past several years, I have participated in “listening circles.” These intentional spaces have careful guidelines that are aimed at making sure there is holy and sacred space for listening – and speaking. At times there have been 20 or 30 people in these circles, and you might think that there would be a lot more speaking than listening. But, there isn't. Often there are prolonged silences between speakers, and they feel like time to absorb the wisdom one beloved of God has offered. When the obligation to have a response is taken away, along with the tendency toward chit-chat, there is spaciousness for silence and listening.

When I hear James say, “be quick to listen, slow to speak” I think of how healing those circles have been in my life. I love being freed from having to have a response to something someone says, and instead just listen to them and receive their wisdom. And, when I do speak into such a space, I am astounded at the power that comes with being heard with love.

As much as I have loved these experiences though, it isn't clear to me how to live “be quick to listen, slow to speak” ALL the time. Really listening to another of God's beloveds takes energy and attention, and … let's be honest dear ones, those are finite resources!!! We will drain ourselves if we try to listen WELL all the time. (I've tried.)

That said, there is a being who is capable of listening with complete attention, and full energy, with love and compassion, with care and support – all day, every day, to all of us. God, the creator, sustainer, redeemer has gifted us with life, and God is with us breathing new life into us day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, and even second by second. When we seek God in prayer and meditation, we find that God is close at hand, ready and able to offer us healing. When all we have to offer are sighs too deep for words, God knows what we mean. When we are full of words, God listens until we have exhausted them. When we are able to be with the Divine in holy silence, God meets us there. And, of course, when what we offer God is our listening, …

well, that's when things really start to happen ;)

James encourages us to an active faith – not just to worship God once a week, but to live out faith in every day. He reminds us that the very people the world dismisses (the “widows and orphans”) are the ones that followers of Christ take care of. James doesn't hate the world – though he isn't impressed with it either - but he doesn't think being angry with it is going to change it. James encourages the people of faith to act differently. Take care of the struggling and vulnerable, listen deeply, speak with intention, slow down anger and learn its lessons instead of acting it out. Don't replicate the brokenness of the world – change it.

So, dear ones of God, I invite you to God's restoration, God's healing of the world, God's work of the Kindom: be quick to listen; be slow to speak; be slow to anger. With such “simple” acts as these, we can heal the world. May God help us. Amen

Rev. Sara E. Baron

First United Methodist Church of Schenectady

603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305

Pronouns: she/her/hers

http://fumcschenectady.org/

https://www.facebook.com/FUMCSchenectady

September 5, 2021

#Thinking Church #Progressive Christianity #book of james #doersoftheword #Slow to anger #Slow to speak #Quick to listen #Parker Palmer #Circles of Trust #Kindom building #Seeing clearly #FUMC Schenectady #UMC #schenectady #Sorry about the umc #Rev Sara E Baron #Pandemic Preaching #What is under anger?

2 notes · View notes

theplumsoldier · 4 years

Text

THE SZÉKELY [1]

title: fox in the henhouse

summary: count dracula visits your family home in greece and takes a special interest in you (set sometime 1800-ish) also this is just the first part:)

pairing: dracula x reader

word count: 3864

warnings: none

IT WAS THE FIRST time the Count had paid Greece a visit and he was just as enlivened as a shark with the scent of fresh nourishment. The voyage was long, exasperating, really, and it was one on which he would have to meet the requirements of an actual Count, rather than conform to those few obligations keeping a castle himself went hand-in-hand with.

It was a family by the name of Galani who had offered him shelter. They had, in fact, been burdened with the task through the Master’s (that is Basil) vocation, and had figured that given this man was a Count, he came of great wealth. Who would they be to deny expanding the company network and seeing as this man appeared to have taken a lot of interest in the firm late times, he was indeed one to impress.

And it was no secret the Galani’s kept a great manor. With their maids galore and the ever-suspicious butler, Abas, their abode was the most pompous, imperious one on the block and they were the proud inhabitants.

Towering pillars made out the front of the manor, marked with great iron-wrought detail and nearly no wear or the years affected them as they regularly were cleaned to its birth-look. Marble tiles and high ceiling, golden details on the spiral staircase, staff racing to take one's coat before you even could shrug it off. At least that was the case for the Count. He adored the rustic semblance.

To the right looked to be a gallery, some closed doors that no wonder hid a kitchen or perhaps scullery, something that looked like a parlor, and to the left, he was already met with a baroque set-up of a dining area. Howbeit, it was not one to eat at, only for the single display of the vase with yellow tulips that stood upon it. Someone was in a cheerful, daring mood, thought he.

Heavy steps suddenly sounded and pausing his inspection, Dracula turned to the thumping sound until his gaze met that of a man. Stout and tall, almost hovering the Count when they came to shake on greeting, and Dracula would suppose he was around his own age, but that would be laughable. He certainly was in his late fifties and as he bellowed in a fit of laughter of elevation, his Adam’s apple jumped in his throat.

“Count Dracula! What a great pleasure it is to host, may I just say that!”

The Count snickered and wrung the man’s hand tightly. It was clammy. “You may. And what a beautiful home. It’s rare I get to enjoy such grandeur.”

Bar his own house of glory and gore, of course.

“Come! Meet my family!”

And so he did. Two girls—or rather women, were lined up side by side. One with her hair tugged strictly from her face, embracing those features proudly that frankly, Count Dracula could not seem to find much beauty in. The daughter, however, you, now—wow! thought he. He could not keep his eyes off of you and you noticed this, blushing as he came to kiss your hand.

It was sad, you thought. How you were in your late teens and had never before been kissed, not even on the hand, until now. For a moment you thought of whatever silly boy that had snuck into your all-girls private school you had formed somewhat of a crush on just last week. Disregarding those imbeciles, you realized you had just gotten your first kiss from a real man.

“It’s a pleasure finally making your acquaintance,” spoke he and your heart hitched just then. Polite, as well.

“And you as well, sir, my father speaks highly of you. One would think you two were close.”

Count Dracula tilted his head toward Basil, your father, and he nodded proudly, flushing beneath his wrinkled eyes. The Count chuckled and looked back to you, sighing as if though he stood on a stage performing a drama. If you were not there to watch him, you would have pictured him swiping the back of his hand across his forehead as well.

“Alas, I regret to say we are not. I live all the way over in Transylvania. But, I suspect your father and I will bond just fine!”

They did, actually. Albeit it seemed Basil was more into the topics than the Count, who was otherwise preoccupied, sending you flickering – almost naughty if you did not know any better – glances. Your parents appeared to be either unbothered by the sir’s amorous yet wavering examining or simply heedless to the situation. To you that seemed out of the question, considering, right at that moment, your whole world revolved around his lingering, inviting gaze.

It was one of the rare occasions in which you were allowed a glass of wine as well. You could not possibly say no to just one glass, you would not want to come off as a little girl. But when you had your glass it was disclosed that the count did not drink a drop of liquor, or any other liquid (you later found out, over supper) so instead, you watched your fantasies vaporize in a cloud as you sipped the bitter-warm red wine.

Count Dracula confessed just before the main course, that he was guilty of having renourished a while before his arrival and already was satiated. He would not be so rude to retire to his sleeping quarters just yet, so he sat through supper, making conversation.

“What do you think of Greece so far? I’m certain you have had time to catch conversation among us Scots, have you not, Count?”

And the count chuckled as a memory of something bitter-sweet passed his recollection faintly.

“I have indeed. All I can say is your people are very, what’s the word, delectable,” decided he and it went quiet for a moment.

“Delectable” here meaning five-star rated blood but that the Galani’s need not know. And they did not, at least not Basil for he soon cackled a laugh and threw his hand on the table, eyeing the Count generously.

“Delectable indeed! Certainly our women have a great reputation, too!”

The comment made his wife, Evadne, scoff, her face contorting out of shape while you merely kept quiet over your greek cuisine. While the food indeed was delectable, your father revolted you deeply.

To be candid, and he always was, Dracula missed your involvement in the topic which fell Basil in taste. He wanted to hear your voice, so he better could imagine the sound you made when he was looped around your throat—if, no! Now he could not, he would hate to be the one to make a mess of such a pretty young lady. He was supposed to the good guest from afar with great elevating stories of Transylvania, not some brooding vampire in a b-grade meant-to-be-thrilling gothic novel.

When you suddenly did invade a pregnant pause you had his undivided attention.

“How is Transylvania anyway?”

“One big forest, really,” said Count Dracula, skimming a finger along the rim of his water glass which he had not yet drunk a drop of. “But I suppose I’m the wrong person to ask, I don’t often stretch my legs beyond my own pasture.”

“Oh, but you have to tell me something!” pleaded you, putting on a sullen frown. One he could not possibly deny even from across the oak table and he was inclined to believe you be well aware. “I have never been anywhere but little Greece. They say “it takes a lifetime for someone to discover Greece, but it only takes an instant to fall in love with her”, but I swear to you, she’s really not that great.”

“Y/N!” scolded your father, cross of your lowly talk. “Be proud of your country. It is sublime and the history that comes to our ancestry is a tale to be told.”

So he did, of course. Basil would not dare meet a stranger to whom he would not spill his entire life story to as well as the stories of his ancestors. Meanwhile, as Basil got lost in a journey some-hundred years ago, Count Dracula turned to face you, a mock smile splayed clear across his features. Your upbringing and good manners averted you from rolling your eyes at the guest.

The hours rushed by like seconds and the Count retired to his chambers before anyone else. The long trip had worn him out, he said. You thought it strikingly odd how he had all that luggage with him – well really it was only a large body-sized box filled with dirt – when he only was meant to stay with you for a few days before his return to Transylvania.

You were on your second glass of wine and already beginning to feel light-headed, merry even, had it not been for your fatigued body. Your every limp felt heavy while you were ready to throw a ball, it did not quite match up but so it appeared human anatomy was not made to make sense to the average joe.

In the late evening, when supposedly everyone had gone to bed, Count Dracula made his rounds to locate each room, or should he encounter a soul throughout his inspection, “appreciate the architecture”.

He was surprised to see the door to the hosts’ sleeping chambers ajar. What kind of people would sleep with the door wide open when occupying strangers in their own house? Though, he supposed, it makes little difference to leave a door open as opposed to shutting when they already had let evil in.

A few steps later, and he was inside, making out the center of the room.

His eyes look about him. Count Dracula felt like a muzzled fox in a henhouse, for all these treats were on display, neatly lined up. Their necks were displayed, veins pumping blood and after all, blood is lives. He bristled, shivering because he could have none and he knew that, so he brisked up his hunt and shut the door fully.

Next, he was caught mid-transit, the chary butler halting in his tracks. They both ought to be in their beds by this time, so neither could deliver very convincing defends to account for their whereabouts.

As they bid their goodnights, Dracula warily trod down the corridors until he finally heard a humming sound.

The door was barely squeezed open by a centimeter, but little light shone from inside the room and it and your sing-song hailed the Count in.

Carefully, he slid the door open by a few more inches. To his surprise you were not yet in your bed, he knew that for it was the first thing which his eyes caught. His lip twitched up, for he thought it funny, the bed, that is. All that comfort he had noticed humans seemed never to get enough of. Where he lied in a coffin filled with dirt from the Carpathian Mountains. They were complete luxury animals and it was comical to Dracula for natheless of their opulence desires, they always seemed to settle for less.

Next, his eyes landed on your figure. You stood still dressed in your gown, brushing your hair and humming to a tune which felt to your taste. He did not recognize it as a piece he knew, but just then your voice sounded so soft, so angelic and it brought him to wonder if your blood tasted the same. He had no plans of ruining your life with his thirst, he still was quenched from the early morning, but he had a code to always live spontaneously. Never say never, and his smile grew bigger as you brushed your hair from your neck, displaying yourself perfectly for him.

He was both drooling and getting hard at just the sight.

You sat before your vanity table and a few bottles were displayed before you along with the glass of wine from earlier. It was now empty, nearly licked clean and Dracula smiled even bigger, musing over the many ways he could take advantage of the situation.

“Count,” gasped you suddenly, catching him off guard while he thought of the various ways he could take you. Having you against your vanity was one particular he would not mind in the slightest.

“Oh apologies, Miss,” excused he and made the effort to step forward, into the dim lighting. “I was just retreating to my room when I heard a wonderful tune. I hope I am not intruding.”

“No, no–not at all,” slurred you, standing up to make yourself presentable. What he did not know was that you had spent your late drunk hours, making a play of him entering your room with any excuse. You would not have believed it had anyone told you that you would, in fact, receive a personal visit. “I was merely fooling about for a bit, I was going to get ready for bed. Should you not do the same?”

“Yes—” he sunk his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “Yes, I should, only I figured I would postpone the act for a while. I don’t sleep well away from my home.”

You smiled and put the sand-colored brush down before you waded a tad closer to him.

“They say home is where the heart is,” said you lovingly, offering him a kind smile and he thought if you too would smile in bliss when he sunk his teeth into you.

He hummed and put his head on tilt. “Do they now?”

Nodding, a small pause ensued.

“I had this whole dream life envisioned when I was little,” spoke you suddenly.

Little, he sucked in his cheek to avoid chuckling. You are little, he thought to himself.

“Tell me about it.”

“First I would get the hell out of here,” said you decisively and his eyebrows bounced at your profanity. The sign of the cross on your neck derided you from speaking in such a manner surely, that much he was certain of escorted your doctrine. He also could understand from your dialogue earlier on that your father was not necessarily a big fan of you leaving the nest. “But I could never do that. I’m destined for nothing greater than this.”

“You do that quite a lot, don’t you? Doubt yourself.”

You shrugged lightly, absorbed in thought.

Your brood was tangible to Dracula and his legs slowly carried himself a bit closer. As if he could only near you but never lay a hand on you, and that repentance showed in his dark eyes, for the sign in the center of your collarbone shunned him.

Dracula made a show of circling around you like a vulture, much like one would when descending on its dead prey. The thought, that you were his prey, struck you and you shuddered.

You took a deep breath like you were preparing yourself to hold your breath, and to your dismay, you dug your grave deeper as you fell deeper for the man. Even his cologne was to die for, its main accords aromatic, fresh, citrus and something you could not quite put your finger on, but whatever the scent, you suddenly grew hot.

“Take off your necklace.”

Bewildered as to why you stilled. Unsure but keenly interested as to what he had in mind, you did as per request and walked to your bed. You hung it from the knob of your closet and turned back to face him.

You had this wild and utterly insane fantasy of where this would go, but that was fantasy and frankly, fantasy cannot be a reality, certainly not yours. Still, with the thought of him kissing you again, this time on your lips, you did not dare look him in the eye.

The Count’s prying gaze could be felt from his several feet away and you grew anxious, trepidation clear in your feet. When your eyes flickered about, you were surprised to see him suddenly turn his back on you.

Had he grown tired of you already?

“Have you heard what they are saying about the heavens?”

Furrowing your brows, you slowly made your way to the bed, taking a seat and keeping one hand on the footboard.

“What are they saying?” asked you, inquisitive.

He stood by the window, watching the night sky as if he could arbitrate all its mysteries right then and there.

“That we are in a system of thousands and thousands of stars—planets. Gas and dust all make up for the galaxy. There could be planets out there, just like ours.”

Now you wondered if he had drunk a bottle all to himself in secrecy.

You grinned softly, feeling the weariness of the day’s adventures take over you. He gave you a funny look and you shook your head, still smiling and looking at the ground like a fool in love. In a way you were, still, it was odd to think you only had known this man for a single day. It suddenly was very hard to think of a time where he was not there. Gosh! You are a fool falling!

The Count pulled the drapes, shunning out the moonlight as the last source of lighting bar the few candles that did put a soft amber-gold light to your room. You gulped and looked down. It suddenly felt a lot smaller, your room.

“That’s absurd,” annunciated you.

His tongue clicked, and you could hear his smirk.

“No, you’re being bigoted, Y/N.”

“I’m being realistic,” corrected you, finding your small voice.

Next, you knew he stood right before you, his shoes toe-to-toe with your bare feet. The lump in your throat was back.

Surely regrettably you forced yourself to finally lookup. And you guessed it. He gazed right back at you.

He brushed your hair aside, exposing your neck to his touch.

“Heavens, you look seraphic.”

You snorted, suddenly feeling bold. As if you had not heard that before. Sometimes it was difficult telling when his bravado came to a halt, and when it was his actual self began.

“Don’t you mean “delectable”?”

He grinned, and you marveled for a moment at his burst of awe.

Earlier on, you had examined hisself and made certain he brandished no wedding band, lest making yourself uncomfortable when you, later on, would imagine him hovering over you. It was odd to think a man of his nobility was without matrimony, but he had admitted to “waiting for the right one” over dinner. Until he stepped into your room, you had thought you would fantasize about him in your dreams but that seemed unlikely as you could not even look him in the eye without blushing.

“Would you kiss me again?”

Pause.

Then he laughed, wandering a few steps back, only to circle himself, then return to meet your front.

“Would you like me to kiss you, dear?”

You swallowed the lump in your throat, suddenly feeling very little before this grand man. While he indeed could appear intimidating, he had this warm aura about him which made you want nothing but to throw yourself at him.

“Is that it? On your hand again?”

You stood up, your chest heaving heavily.

“On my lips.”

The Count smiled bigger, his pearly white teeth on perfect display, catching the glimpse of the light and you suddenly became bothered by the tension. He could not put his hands on you quick enough.

“Please,” pleaded you and he tsked entertained, his hand snaking down your side.

“When you ask like that who would I be to deny the missus?”

He watched with hardly hidden delight as your blood pumped hard in your head. His focus lingered on your lips now. Delicately he pressed his lips down on your, pulling you close as possible with a large hand on the back of your neck.

Then he pulled back. While you attempted your best at maintaining normal breathing, the shock wore off. It was not that it was unexpected, simply that it, in fact, had been a wish you had not imagined he would grant you. His gaze trailed along your neck, the curve of your figure in the corset, how your breasts were pressed tight.

You were close enough to feel the warmth roll off his body, his hair so elegantly pushed back like a dark crown, now a single stray string falling unto his forehead and the air was knocked right out of you again.

Your lip wobbled, unsure of what to say as you breathed heavily, a groan escaping your lips as his idle finger dexterously trailed along with the cut of your throat.

You fell back to sit on the bed again, coy eyes lingering at his. He leaned over you and you eagerly pulled his lips back down on your own, feeling the swell of the covers you were supposed to be sleeping under around you.

The Count sucked on your bottom lip, his teeth lightly chafing your lip and you moaned into his mouth, carefully greeting him with your tongue. He could not help but grow harder, needier of your exquisitely luscious moans.

Encouraging you to lie on your back, he pulled your leg up about him and even through the many layers of your exorbitant dress you could feel his hard against you. It was a feeling you had only ever imagined, one you would never have thought you would feel and with a stranger, not to mention, a count.

You shivered and cried into his mouth, gasping at the feel and he could already smell you. Goodness, it was difficult to control himself in your presence. Not that he was doing much to hold back, but it took everything in him not to taste you right on the spot.

“You’re drunk,” whispered he suddenly.

You looked puzzled up to him, wondering why he had stopped.

He then began to scramble to get off of you and you sat right back up, breathing loudly.

“What? No, sir. If you think of my judgment, I’m more than capable of making my own decisions.”

“Oh, I know you are,” responded he. He simply could not handle it any longer. He feared he might lose control, drain you just then and he would hate to ruin something, someone as precious as yourself. “But I ought to return to my own sleeping chambers now. Your parents are just down the hall, dear.”

He was already making his exit.

“I can be quiet!”

Your voice was desperate for more, and he turned, the slyest of all smiles writing itself across his face.

In two long strides, Dracula stood before you in a split second and you gulped down, for his expression was blank. But as he sighed and took your face in his hands, he pressed a kiss to your forehead.

He forced you to look him in the eyes.

“Sleep well, my love.”

And so he left, leaving you with nothing but a lesson on high hopes and wet undergarments.

#dracula #count dracula #count dracula smut #count dracula imagines #count dracula x reader #count dracula x reader fic #dracula smut #dracula imagines #dracula x reader #dracula x reader fic #claes bang dracula #claes bang #claes bang imagine #claes bang x reader #claes bang gifs

536 notes · View notes

adrischrv · 4 years

Text

REGNUM [L.H] - Chapter 5

Author´s Note: Chapter 5 of my king!luke fic already, we finally meet Duke!Michael tho! English is not my first language so lemme know if there are any mistakes.

Word count: 3,808

C1 - C2 - C3 - C4

I have never felt so nervous. Not even the day I arrived at Gardenstone did I remember feeling the headache and tension that had been eating away at me since the night before.

I´d committed great disrespect to the King. I had hurt Luke who- no matter how much he deserved it- was still a possible ally. I could hear my mother scolding me once I was in front of her: “I raised you better than this! You are the Princess of Maredale, Amberly Sarah Campbell! Are you proud of your actions? Your actions affect the entire kingdom and you forgot all about it…"

“Your Highness” Calum spoke on the other side of the door. I opened it and he didn’t smile. “The King wants to see you. The parliament is gathered together with His Majesty Ashton and Queen Elizabeth.”

“Let’s go.”

I avoided the looks at all costs. I did not want to show the fear in my eyes as we walked to the parliament office in the farthest part of the palace. I wouldn’t let Luke look at me either. He would call me a coward and I would not be able to deny it, after all - I was the cowardly princess.

I was lost enough reliving Luke’s words in my head that I hadn’t noticed when we arrived at the office. I did not greet the parliament, a mistake my mother would repeat to me until the end of time.

Calum escorted me to a table with them around at a considerable distance sitting seriously in their seats, with Luke in front of me behind a dais and Ashton behind him. I barely got a good look at him, nor did we make eye contact.

Murmurs began to pour out around me, I couldn’t tell anything from them. I let my head formulate its phrases; surely they were a punishment.

Luke took a few seconds before he shut up the parliament, looked at me waiting for me to say something.

He was giving me a chance to defend myself before I was sentenced.

“I’m sorry.”

My voice was loud and firm enough to achieve silence and get attention. Luke leaned over on the dais inviting me to continue.

“I’m deeply sorry, Your Majesty. I know what I did was truly disrespectful and I regret it.”

From the corner of my eye I saw Ashton whispering something to Calum, he stood up and lowered his shoulders in confusion. Luke’s gaze remained fixed on me for a few seconds, he lowered it, and with a mocking smile, he stood upright again.

“Although your apology was touching, Princess, that’s not why you’re here today.”

Oh…

… What a piece of shit.

“An informant arrived in the early morning from the Gardenstone/Maredale border, apparently there are people-families who have decided to cross that border without the use of official documents thanks to a petition that was approved. The people who cross from Maredale to live with their relatives in Gardestone are asking to have a voice in this kingdom, someone to represent them.”

I had warned him, I did. He signed a petition without reading it and these were the consequences. My mother must have found out days before and this was Luke’s way of dealing with his mistakes without fully recognizing them. Nothing foolish about that.

“Migration has always existed, Your Majesty, why are you asking for this representation now?”

He had more than understood what I was getting at but since I had humiliated myself in front of parliament, the most I could do was to see Luke dismantle his intentions in the wake of his mistakes.

He rolled his eyes, he knew well what I wanted.

“It was not necessary before since this migration was moderate. Now, they can come and go as they please, something that had not been considered possible except for the union that Maredale and Gardestone were going to make.”

"They were”, not “they are” or even “they could”… he really didn’t like the idea.

“Due to this lack of control we will give them what they need and the parliament present with me has come to the conclusion that it is you, your highness” He began to talk heavily, it was hard for him to ask for help. “If you wish to extend your stay in Gardestone, the position of Ambassador is available and eager to be filled.”

Bingo.

This was my chance to be something more, to be useful. My mouth and my thirst to be needed again were ready to say yes…

“It would be an honor to represent my kingdom in this way… but first, I would like a moment alone with His Majesty, if possible.”

In the background, Ashton smiled with approval at my action. I heard my mother’s heels in the distance.

I took the way the parliament cleared the room too quickly as a silent “Thank you”. Something told me that moments before the discussion with their new King had not pleased them and had left them tired.

Luke came down from the dais, hands in his pockets and a tired, disinterested expression but still hard enough to make people kiss his feet. Emphasis on “the people”- me being the exception.

“So? What does the little Maredale beetle have to say?” He laughed when I opened my mouth in protest. “Don’t start, be thankful that last night’s slap will only cost you the mockery.”

He wasn’t just talking about the nickname.

“Why didn’t you tell me what this was all about before…?”

“What for? You humiliated yourself pretty well on your own. And yet I stopped you before I got you down on your knees in front of me… Don’t worry, you’ll do that on another more private occasion. That’s the equivalent of another nickname, dipstick.”

Asshole.

Although his words served the purpose of distracting me, I had to get back to the important issue where I was in control. Because he needed me, to see him admitting it was far from happening but I could take that tiny advantage.

“I accept the position, representing my people,“ I spoke out, or so I thought. “On one condition… I want to be treated as such.”

The laughter that he sent out echoed through the room, at least all the people in the corridor had heard it.

“I’m serious,” I said. He mockingly composed himself. “We are both sick of dealing with the princess. As long as I’m an ambassador I’ll make a living on my own, you can pretend the princess isn’t here and I’ll keep her quiet. I promise. I just want to help.”

He raised an eyebrow with interest.

“That means you’d be serving me too, you don’t know what you’re saying.”

I tried to hide my doubts from his words. If I wanted to be respected I really had to stop living in my mother’s shadow. I couldn’t give up the title, but this deal was taciturn and only until my obligations needed the part of me with a kingdom as my inheritance.

Besides, the princess had nothing to do but observe Luke’s poor decisions. In this way, I would also observe Luke’s poor decisions - even more closely, but I could satiate the needs of the Maredans and I could do so with my own voice.

“I’m serious.” I analyzed the remnants of doubt in him. “Don’t worry about my mother, I’ll talk to her and she’ll understand, I know.“

He snorted, caressed the cheek on which my slap was. He put his hand down and walked over to me, holding it out.

He said, “We have a deal, prin… Amberly.”

The title change made me smile, just a little, as I shook his hand. Then I saw his blue eyes with malice tints disguised. I understood the discreet warning he had given me seconds before, "That means you’d be serving me too, you don’t know what you’re saying,” and no, I didn’t.

My hand shook slightly when I turned the knob in the room my mother was occupying. I walked in a circle down the hall five minutes earlier, organizing my thoughts and how I would explain the business of being an ambassador. After all, I was qualified to be an ambassador; those classes were not in vain. Even if I wasn’t running a country, something was better than nothing and I would defend my position.

“Amberly?”

She spoke from her seat in front of the dresser as a couple of maids packed their things, walking back and forth.

“Go ahead, little one. I was going to look for you before I left just as parliament was meeting” I felt invited into the room by the gesture of her hand, as elegant as ever. “I thought you would be with King Ashton or his sister.”

“Oh, no,“ I said, taking a seat in the corner of his bed. “By the way, what do you think of them, Mother?”

She moved the cigarette holder she was holding in one hand, looking for the answer to my question.

“They are both here while their political advisor directs and cares for Lauxwell. It’s a risky move… Do you know why they do it, to visit Gardenstone?”

Great, I had gotten a trivia lesson by accident.

I forced myself to think about it, curious that I hadn’t done it before. “One, to show Luke that even if it was for a few lousy months they had more experience running a country. And two, analysis of territory; to know if Gardenstone would be willing to make the alliance with them instead of Maredale. I already see that as impossible, Mother. King Luke hates Ashton.”

And me. But he hated Ashton more.

I could bet that Luke would make that change.

“What do you think of him?”

He wasn’t really bad like everyone said. I found Luke eviler than most people, but Ashton…

“He shows dedication to his people, the simple fact of recognizing the damage his ancestors have done is very… sincere,” I answered, without thinking of his other qualities or the friendship (or something more than that) that was growing between us. “I heard that they began to forgive debts.”

“Lauxwell doesn’t forgive debts, the Irwins don’t forgive debts… they just stop collecting for a while.”

The thought of Ashton collecting the kiss we might have had the other night was fleeting and went away instantly.

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something else.”

“I’m listening.”

As if she knew what I was going to talk about, she put on a voice that had frightened me since I was a little girl: her queen voice.

“I accepted to be an ambassador” Her silence indicated that I could continue: “It is necessary that the people who come from our kingdom know that there is someone advocating for them. Luke - King Luke has approved a petition for the free movement between the two -”

“If this is your way of throwing a tantrum because the alliance didn’t work out, give me five seconds and I’ll talk to the King.”

“It’s not that, not at all, and please don’t do it,“ I asked, my nerves were stable but I couldn’t find the courage anywhere. “I want to make a living here, be useful here.”

She sighed a couple of times before speaking again, that’s what she did when she was arguing with herself.

“I guess if you accepted you know the consequences. My political power can’t get in the way if something doesn’t feel right in your new job…”

Triumphant with the results of this talk, I threw myself at her in a tight hug.

“Good luck, child. You’re going to need it.”

“Thank you” I let out the air I didn’t know I was holding. “Thank you, Mother.”

“Save your thanks for when I get back. I hope to return and see something new in the King, for a change” We both laugh. “Keep an eye on him, so that he doesn’t give me any more trouble with my border. I love you.”

“I love you.”

“I guess it went well,” Ashton leaned against the door frame. “How do you feel, Maredale Ambassador?”

“Pretty… good,“ I smiled.

His body language betrayed him, it seemed he wanted to come into the room and maybe say goodbye to my mother or ask her for some advice, but something was holding him back. He noticed that I noticed.

“Come with me. Luke asked me to introduce you to… a colleague.”

I nodded, interlocked my arm with his in a strangely familiar act and we started walking.

“Will you tell me a little about your "colleague”?”

“First I need the details of the prank you pulled, why did you apologize to Luke?”

“I slapped him last night, he had nothing important to say to me and started talking nonsense.”

Ashton laughed without discretion, his laugh was very nice.

“Typical of him, I’m glad you did,“ he said proudly, leading us to another part of the palace I hadn’t seen before, "not the apologizing part. Don’t do it, he doesn’t deserve it.”

I played with the long sleeve of my jacket, accidentally pulling his. Instead of getting angry, he held my hand.

“His name is Michael. Son of Queen Susan’s sister, Luke’s cousin, Duke of Greenbush, and your boss,” he explained. “There are no ambassadors, you’re the first, so Luke had to create a system…”

“He needs an alibi in case something goes wrong and my mother arrives asking for someone’s head, he made sure it wasn’t his,” I analyzed aloud. “What a… coward.”

It was liberating somehow to use the word with someone who wasn’t me, for once.

“Why do you know him?” I asked as we walked out of some doors.

“Before, many years ago my father used to visit Gardenstone and bring us on his travels. Luke, Calum, and Michael were the only kids I could talk to… and fight with,“ he looked at the horizon, revisiting his memories

We stopped at what looked like a very perched and forgotten greenhouse behind the palace. The vines covered it quite well, from a distance it looked like a giant pot. Who knows how many animals had made their home there.

“Good morning, Princess Amberly… and Ashton.”

A blond hair appeared behind our backs. Michael’s beard made him look a little big but he bet he was the same age as Calum. He looked formal but not at all scary or anything like his cousin.

Ashton gently slid his hand out of mine, taking a step towards him. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”

“And we needed more than a while,” Michael replied rather dryly. “If you’ll excuse us, Amberly and I have work to do.”

Ashton nodded, came over and put a kiss on my cheek, and then left. I was left reliving the softness of his lips.

“Are you guys dating?”

Michael’s voice came back. Boss. Work. Focus.

“Ashton and I? No, not at all.” I said quickly. “So… where’s the workplace?”

In a far-from-elegant gesture, Michael pointed to the greenhouse. He was joking, he had to be…

“Luke didn’t want to spend so much on building an office, so part of the budget will go to remodeling this greenhouse,“ he said disinterestedly. “Sadly you can’t remodel if you have all those plants and soil and… diseases. That’s your first task, see you when you’re done!”

“I can’t do it alone is-”

“-Of course you can, Luke said you could…”

Luke was an asshole.

I had spent my whole afternoon in the greenhouse. I took out plants, pulled out beetles, and even moved a family of birds from there, and yet it seemed like I had only tickled it. My hands were broken, I thought about wearing gloves but it was too late and the guards said Luke had given orders not to give me any tools. Just what I needed.

I shook off my black pants and the browner than white blouse I was wearing once not a ray of sunshine was present in the sky. I headed back to the palace through the kitchen entrance. Some servants greeted me, a friend of Lidia’s offered me an apple that I accepted with enthusiasm and we even talked about the stories of ghosts that haunted the place. Somewhat shaken, I walked through the great hall.

I hadn’t visited the place since the incident, just getting close gave me the creeps. I couldn’t help but remember the faces of the kings and Prince Jake. Sometimes I thought about what I would be doing if such a terrible event had not happened and I found a picture of Gardenstone and Maredale together, Jake and I on the throne and none of the self-centered Luke present; I would have made a deal with Lauxwell just to get him away from me.

A hand touched my shoulder, my reflexes and self-defense classes came out, taking the hand and twisting it on the attacker’s back. The blonde hair scared me for a moment, if it had been Luke I wouldn’t have forgiven myself, but thanks to the Sea it was Michael.

“That’s my hand!” He shouted I let go. “Didn’t anyone teach you not to hurt people?”

“Didn’t they teach you to announce yourself before touching a lady’s shoulder in the dark, Duke?”

He snorted. A few steps were heard in the room, it was enough to look at Michael’s face to know that he had heard them too. Without thinking twice, we hid behind two pillars.

“It’s none of your business, Ashton.”

Luke’s voice echoed. I looked at Michael a few steps away, we both let go of the air.

He pointed to the doors I had entered, no doubt we could get out of the room if we were careful enough with the squeaking door. I shook my head and whispered, "It’s noisy.”

“I still don’t understand the game you’re playing…” Luke’s voice was much closer.

Michael ran a finger down his throat with humor. If we didn’t leave our presence was going to be suspicious and punished.

“I’m not surprised, you were always very slow. But I hope that when you find out, you’ll let me know. If it’s not too late.”

A servant came out of the kitchen leaving the door ajar. Perfect.

“…She has the last word, don’t forget,” I heard Ashton say before leaving.

Michael and I ducked, carefully passing through the door. Just to be safe, we went all the way back to the greenhouse.

“Why did we do that?!” I exclaimed.

“I…“ he hesitated a bit. “The place was scary.”

I nodded, chills ran down my skin again.

“What were you doing there, Duke?”

He ran a hand through his hair, looked at the greenhouse, and answered.

“I wanted to see the salon once more, they will soon start rebuilding it. I spent a lot of time there as a child,” he looked through the greenhouse. “You did a good job for the first day…”

“Thank you, it was difficult without the gloves but-”

“Without the gloves? Did you work without gloves?” he asked, I nodded and showed him my hands. “For the Forest… that was what was missing. I’ll talk to Luke, I don’t think you’re as bad as he says. “

Of course, he had told him I was bad, maybe then he wouldn’t be guilty of treating me badly.

He went over to the greenhouse, looking at the big pots that were blocking the entrance.

“Do you mind if I give you a hand with these?”

“I don’t need your help, Duke.”

He clicked his tongue.

“Call me Michael, no problem. I won’t be here tomorrow, let me help you.”

He seemed genuine, and since he mentioned it he did need help carrying those pots.

I nodded, we both took a big pot from both ends and started lining them up on the side of the greenhouse.

“What did you do to upset him, my cousin?” he spoke after releasing the second pot.

“Today or since he has known me?” We loaded the third one. “I have a couple of ideas but whatever the reason, he earned my displeasure in the same way.”

We let go of the pot, heading for the other one.

“This one is broken,“ he said when we picked it up. “He said you were a… coward,” he panted.

The words came back to me in Luke’s voice, distracting me enough to let go of the grip on my side of the pot. It hit the corner of the greenhouse, and Michael and I squatted to pick up the mess.

“Yes, I heard it,“ I muttered, pulling pieces of the pot off.

“And? Will you prove him wrong?”

I passed Michael’s question unnoticed as my fingernails bumped into something hard in the dirt. I took the material out and shook it aside, a set of three metal keys with unrecognizable details gleaned through the soil

“Keys.” I put them in his hands. “Do you recognize them?”

“No, but I can bet they open a passage,” he admired them for a few seconds and placed them back in my hands. “Finders keepers, I guess.”

I put them in the pocket where my Jhin was to show them to Lidia in the morning.

Michael stopped talking about Luke and we talked about his life at the palace and the visits he made every Christmas. It seemed to be a tradition that Queen Susan invited her family to cook delicious desserts and cut wood while King Robert’s family had been away for a long time.

After a few minutes, the entrance to the greenhouse was free and ready to be fixed but that would wait a few hours.

“I’d better tell His Majesty about my departure tomorrow, so we’ll know what torture awaits you,“ he joked.

...He joked?

We walked up the stairs to Luke’s quarters, a light under his door indicated that he was still awake. There was sobbing coming from below, I didn’t know whether to warn me or run away.

“Is it… him?” I asked, not bothering to hide my surprise.

Michael didn’t either, he was as perplexed as I was at the door.

“I’ll leave you the directions in a note, your maid will give it to you in the morning.”

His indication was enough to start my way to my room. From my shoulder, I could see Michael opening Luke’s door. A girl came out fully dressed and closed the door behind her.

I turned my thoughts off halfway through, I would not analyze the situation thoroughly. Luke wasn’t sobbing, it must have been that girl. Now, he was bringing more brunette girls than blondes, who knows what would have changed.

14 notes · View notes

celestialtrolls-moved · 4 years

Note

pls tell me more about malzya

> And in that moment, everything I knew about Malzya completely left my head

i really need to hurry up and make him a profile page but ANYWAY this is gonna be really incoherent so

edit: it’s really incoherent and also much longer than i intended

he is my first born son male troll malzya and the first ‘antagonist’ of the blog back when i only had seven trolls

he used to be constantly scheming and trying to manipulate the people around him in a way that made things beneficial for him to live as comfortably as easily as possible, valuing intelligence and tactics over actual strength

had a hedonistic streak, very hemoist, very anti-mutant, although he had, and still has, a soft spot for redbloods and ceruleans

i can only really use him properly in my own enclosed universe where i have His Imperious Malignancy as the emperor since he’s the sole Primary heir of the alternian system in my universe so everything after this point is based on that, but most of it still works in Regular Circumstances

he lived like that until his ancestor came to kick him into shape with training and teach him some self-discipline so that he could be viewed as a worthy heir

he’s definitely mellowed out a lot in the past 5-6 sweeps since that time and actually learnt to value individual people having lives and realise that they don’t exist for him, but he still knows how to get his way even if he tends to avoid doing so

these days he tends to keep himself to himself or his pre-established circles because he feels like his caste and status makes people feel obligated to treat him a certain way even if they don’t feel it, he values people being honest and treating him accordingly even if that’s negative

he wants people to view him positively though since he’s trying to take his place as an heir, he thinks he can do better than the Malignant through being more fair, though definitely not going so far as abolishing the hemospectrum or anything like that

so like

tl;dr: used to be awful schemer and is now a relatively okay guy who has some consideration for others; both because it’s the right thing to do and because he wants to be respected by others, even if he’s still somewhat prejudiced

#i have no idea if ANY of this makes any sense #Malzya Stuff #i haven't spoken about malzya for such a long time #this is the first time a bunch of my thoughts have been put in the same place about him #so thank you ;w;#sasster #Ask Stuff

3 notes · View notes

afangirlsguidetofazza · 5 years

Text

The Wedding of Hamdan

Congratulations? The elders are pleased. That’s the word on the street. We all knew this day would arrive. It was bound to happen, I think we were all in denial. I am still in shock as I type these words...Hamdan is married. Nope, this isn’t a rumor, it’s the shocking truth!

This wedding wasn’t for love. Family love, sure. Romantic love? No. He simply fulfilled an obligation of his duty. He is getting older....she is reaching “old maid” age, so it had to happen sooner than later. She will be the “official” first wife. I knew his first wife wasn’t going to be anyone else but a cousin or an Emirati. Expect a child soon after. She has to meet her obligations. He will have women on the side. Signing a contract won’t change his ways. The one thing we do know about Hamdan is that he is a free spirit. A wild horse that cannot be tamed. If anyone changes him, it will be his children.

Other reasons why I think this was more of an obligation versus marriage for love is that his wedding was with 2 of his brothers....who also married cousins. Yes, culturally this isn’t odd for both multiple weddings and marrying cousins, but you’d think if this were for love he would want that day to be all about him and his bride. Rumors around Dubai have talked about Hamdan being engaged for years, and nothing ever happened. Everyone was waiting, but nothing ever happened. I am sure they both waited until they could no longer put it off. Also, it is Ramadan, so this was the perfect time for them to get married since families come together during this time.

Even in Mohammed’s poem, you can see hints of it being more of an obligation versus for love. “Mohammed called on his sons to follow on the footstep of their father and ancestors, especially the late Sheikh Rashid.” He also talked about doing his fatherly duty and how the first thing he taught them was to love Dubai, “the homeland.” He also said to be good husbands and treat their wives with respect.

Another thing that stood out to me was the body language of the photo they posted of the “happy” grooms. They all look freaked out or not pleased. We have all seen Hamdan happy and with a genuine smile. We have seen the photos of him doing business. While I don’t expect a significant smile on his face during this part of his wedding, I also wasn’t expecting business as usual forced smirk. (Side note: I cannot confirm if those photos are from their wedding day and looking through photos with his brothers; they are all filled with serious expressions.)

Dubai is still making moves and is continuously trying to be a major player in the world. Mohammed is getting older....and it would be frowned upon to hand over the responsibilities to a bachelor. For whatever reason people feel married or “family men” can do a better job of running a city or country. Again, all for image and to make others happy.

Sadly, we will never know the real story. That family has kept certain things under wraps and hide things very well *cough Rashid’s son cough.* We only see a small percentage of his life. We know the PR side, a carefully planned out and calculated image that others want him to portray. I think sometimes he shows little hints of who he really is, but anything outside of that is just for show. Like this wedding. I have read comments about his posts on IG and how he posted a photo of giraffes on his wedding day. This is what I was talking about, his posts are planned. To us, it was business as usual, but in reality, a marriage contract was being signed. Something else to note, usually, royal weddings are not a huge public spectacle. While we were all expecting a wedding like Mohammed’s, I doubt we will see anything like that with Hamdan.

I would like to comment that if this really was for love, I think he did it the right way. He kept his relationship and love life private. I know that if his wife were ever on social media, she would be bullied and eaten alive... solely for being the lucky one to win his love and affection. I hope he keeps things private and that she doesn’t become a public wife, just to avoid the harassment from the crazies. I do expect photos of his children because that’s all we really care about anyway....baby Hamdan (Major baby fever trigger warning).

I will say that if he really does love her than I am honestly happy for him, but from what I have seen and heard, that’s not the case. My opinion could also change as things develop, but as of now...you just read my thoughts on this.

Now with the rest of you...I will mourn the loss of our most eligible bachelor and wait for the baby to drop next year.

P.S. Don’t lose hope, you can still be wife #2 or a side chick. Kidding.

#fazza #fazza3 #faz3 #Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum #Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum #Crown Prince of Dubai #fazza got married #wedding #Hamdan wedding #hamdan #Prince of Dubai #prince fazza

71 notes · View notes

az-valentine · 6 years

Text

Entry 1: Pennywise [AU]

July 2nd, 2018

In light of recent events – the nature of which I refuse to explain to people who simply couldn't understand – I've been inspired to record a few passages for Humanity to eventually stumble upon. Despite what you may know about me, however little that may be, I assure you, there is far more to me than what meets the eye. You probably know me to be an unpredictable, animalistic Eldritch Abomination that comes crawling out of the darkest pits of your worst nightmares – you are correct. However, I'm far more complicated than that. Yes, I eat flesh and feed on Fear, as it's necessary for my survival. I didn't choose to be this way, it's just how I was created to be.

Outside of that, I'm actually a fan of your classic literature, like Shakespeare, Twain, Poe, and Lovecraft. I also enjoy taking long walks to admire your older European architecture, and your bigger, more lush and diverse botanical gardens. I don't often leave Maine, let alone the Continental United States, but when I do, it's always a treat. My Eldritch Brethren usually don't care much – or at all – about what Humanity has accomplished in its pathetically short time, but I watched your earliest ancestors crawl out of the ancient muds of this planet, and I'm positive I'll watch you all return to the weeds in due time.

My past is better left being known only by those closest to me, and left up for interpretation to everyone else. That being said, I feel strangely obligated to offer you a word of warning – don't end up like the protagonists of most Lovecraft stories. Don't go digging for information you have no business knowing. What you know, and what you think you know about Fear, hardly even scratches the surface of the unnamable terrors that lie beneath and beyond your fragile mental barriers. The depths of Madness are not meant to be explored by Mortal minds, for they were never designed to be capable of handling the journey.

Some have tried, and nearly all have ended up a writhing, unintelligible, gibbering mess before their inevitable, horrific deaths. Some have wound up on that Path without even intending to, and fell victim to similar fates. If there's one thing we have in common, it's our tendency to be curious creatures. I definitely understand the desire to learn about the unknown. I cannot stop you from attempting to uncover lost knowledge and hidden truths, and I can't honestly say I care whether or not you listen to me. However, I still feel compelled to advise against it. Like me, though, you'll do what you please, regardless of the risks.

Moving forward, those of you that know of me know me to be a Shifter, a being that is capable of taking the form of whatever I want. I'm like a Mimic, but far more interesting, and intelligent. I'm also like Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos, except I take no pleasure in gaining legions of followers and spreading Madness. I prefer to be left alone most of the time – to Hunt, eat, sleep, and explore as I choose. Earth isn't the only planet I've been to, but it's definitely one of my favorites. If I wake up during one of my sleep cycles, I'll sometimes take that opportunity to go somewhere new and different, or old and familiar.

I've seen everything from the bustling cities of Tokyo and Arcturus Prime, to the noxious swamps of Beldron 4, the scorching, temple and monolith-spotted deserts of Alkh'tktuuhl, the ravenous raggle-trees of Nillub, and even the turbulent oceans, black forests, and numerous mountain ranges of an unknown terrestrial behemoth, floating aimlessly through the inky depths of Oblivion. One thing most don't know about me, is that Alkh'tkhtuuhl holds a very special place in my Heart. Those that know the reason why, though, I can count on one hand.

Unbeknownst to Humanity, Arcturus Prime is still thriving to this day – and if rumors hold true, the Arcturians eventually want to introduce themselves. Don't worry, they're incredibly friendly. In my experiences with them, they're often a little shy, so don't do anything stupid when they get here. You'll need their help if you want your species to survive, thrive, and save the only planet you currently have to live on. They'll slowly work you into the galactic community, and help you learn how to integrate with other people from other planets, as well as how to survive off of your home world.

Everyone that lives long enough will go through a Great Change at certain points in their lives – this trait is not unique to Humans, or any other Mortal species within the Multiverse, but is present among all sentient Life that has evolved far enough to be capable of experiencing these changes. Even I, the Prince of Fear, have gone through it several times throughout my existence. Indeed, many see me as just a highly intelligent, impossibly powerful beast that's merely good at acting, but I too am a person.

I am not at liberty to speak of my true origins, or what came before, but I do have quite a few stories I'm allowed to tell. For the sake of brevity – I could write an entire series about my life – I will stick to telling only a few tales that I hold near and dear to my Heart. It's not every day a Mortal gets to learn such personal things about an Eldritch Being, let alone directly from them, so consider this a little gift to Humanity. I still take what I need to sustain myself, but who would I be if I didn't give back every now and then?

Don't think of me as just a monster – I may be greater than anything a Human could ever hope to become, and I may have needs that cause a conflict of Morality between us, but it doesn't mean we don't share similarities. I don't know why I feel the need to say it, but just like you, I have my weaknesses. I have sore spots, bad memories, times of self-destruction, and an unhealthy relationship with self-hatred. Oh, yes...I can be as vulnerable as the Mortals whose lives I claim. It's not all bad, though. As I stated earlier, some of my guilty pleasures include literature, architecture, and traveling. I also enjoy attending plays, Broadway shows, and operas. At heart, I am an artist, and someone who appreciates the natural beauty to be found spread out across the Universe.

In fact, for as long as I can remember, I've always taken part in the various cultures' Arts in some way or another. My numerous homes have always had a collection of writings, paintings, and props found in certain visual productions that had struck my fancy. I would occasionally write my own works, such as poetry and prose, plays, and even some music, and then offer it to Yog-Sothoth for his Archives. On top of that, I would often disguise myself as a native of a planet, and audition to play a role in something – not once was I turned down. Who was the best Carmen? Me. The greatest Figaro? Me!

By now, you must be perfectly aware of the sizeable amount of differences between me, and the Being you've always known me to be. There is an explanation for this, yes, but I struggle to believe that you could fully comprehend what I'm about to describe. If I only lay out the basics for you, there's a good chance you'll be able to follow along. I've made mention of the Multiverse, yes? It's bigger, stranger, more complex, and more terrifying than you may have previously believed it to be. Infinities on top of Infinities, spanning in Infinite directions, through every Dimension, and every conceivable and inconceivable possibility happening all at once, at all possible times. It's a lot to take in, and I urge you not to try and understand it completely. It'll just drive you Insane, like many others before you.

Back to the point at hand, though...I am not the same Pennywise you've known, as I'm from a different Universe. Who I am, as well as my Past, Present, and Future, have been and always will be completely different from the version of me you're familiar with. I've mastered the Art of Transcending Time and Space, and am able to move freely between Universes. The conditions of my state of existence, though, must remain a closely guarded secret for the time being. Let's just say that I've made promises I can't afford to break, to someone that makes me look tiny, powerless, and insignificant by comparison.

Perhaps "completely different" was a poor choice of words. If I'm not careful, I'll become the Thing born of your worst nightmares. What's worse? I could get stuck like that, and require another Purification to set me straight. Yes, a Purification...something that all of the Dark and Twisted Souls must be willing to subject themselves to if they wish to enter the Light. Ugh! I shudder to think about going through such a painful experience for a second time. The agony is only temporary, and it melts away into a warm tingle, but it's still horribly unpleasant at first. I won't try to sway you one way or the other, but it was worth it for me. I was fine doing my own thing, and being by myself, but the opportunity was too great to pass up.

I'd rather not get into the details of the situation, but I regained something I'd lost billions of years ago, only because I chose to go through the process of Great Change. I haven't been happy in billions of years, but I am now, and I'm never giving this up. To be perfectly honest, I only went through this change last October, and so I'm still adjusting to this new Way of Life I've chosen. I may or may not have snacked on a child recently...don't look at me like that, I was starving! And without a long sleep to fall back on anymore, I must feed at least once a week now, depending on the size of the person.

I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. I've been targeting only the worst of the worst, so as long as you're not a piece of shit person, one worthy of being scared to the point of shitting yourself and then getting eaten alive, you have nothing to Fear from me. Except maybe the occasional scare for my amusement, and to satisfy my need for Fear.

July 3rd, 2018

This entry has already gotten long, and I'm afraid I've run out of Time to tell you a story. Forgive me, I didn't think my introduction would wind up being so long. I'm afraid I have some bad news...I'm set to depart on a series of Hunts for the next three to seven months, and I'm unsure of when I'll be able to continue. This was sprung upon me at the last minute, and I'm in no position to decline this mission.

Know this, Humanity: I will return, and in no less than excellent health. Chances are, I won't be hungry when I finally make it back. However, don't think for a moment that I won't continue to Hunt the scum of your societies, one by one...both to fulfill my needs for survival, and to make good on my Sacred Oath.

Until next Time,

Pennywise

#fanfic #fanfiction #pennywise #pennywise the dancing clown #pennywise 2017 #alternate universe #au #narrative #eldritch #eldritch thing #literature #crossover #series #part 1 of ?#more to come #cthulhu mythos

12 notes · View notes

cloudbatcave · 6 years

Text

Firestar’s Quest - REMIXED (10.2)

and we’re back on the bullshit.

“I promise you,” he added, “we’ll do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t settle in our territory.”

brah it was already there. you’re going to have to kill it. or just wish really hard that it goes elsewhere. you can’t be patrolling for it always, that’d be a waste of time and manpower. catpower?

“Ferncloud didn’t look convinced”

Yeah I wouldn’t be either, what with the whole “let’s not kill the badger now and just follow it for some reason despite it being a very clear threat that already murdered one of us.”

“They’re badly shaken,” Graystripe commented

I for one always sleep better at night knowing that my leader makes well-informed, decisive choices.

“This is a bad time for them to lose their mother.”

Is there ever a good time to lose your mother? Sandstorm’s logic either operates on a level I don’t understand, or more likely, it doesn’t exist.

Firestar nodded sadly. “It’s the first cat we’ve lost since the battle with BloodClan. I think it’s hard for all of us to understand that even if we’re at peace with the other Clans, the forest isn’t completely safe.”

That makes perfect se - oh, no, wait, all of these cats know full well what Clan life is like and know it’s often dangerous and harsh because they were raised this way.

No, Firestar, it’s because death is a sad and traumatic thing as your narration has told me repeatedly and yet you put forth THIS bullshit reasoning instead.

It’s the inconsistency that bothers me more than anything! I’m used to Firestar being an idiot, but usually what he says and does at least matches up with his internal monologue. Not so in this chapter, apparently.

“She was much loved.” Dappletail rasped, smoothing the gray warrior’s fur with one forepaw. “And far too young to die. She had much more to give her Clan.”

“I know,” Firestar agreed, feeling hollow with grief.

See? Dappletail the minor character gets decent dialogue that shows her emotions. Firestar does not, for some inscrutable fucking reason, even though he’s the protagonist and thus the one we’re supposed to sympathize with. Spoiler alert, but I sympathize more with Sootpaw in this one chapter than I will with him during the whole damn book.

That’s four hundred more pages in which I will feel flickers of sympathy that are always rapidly extinguished by whatever massively stupid thing he does next.

“He had been with Willowpelt when the badger attacked Sootpaw, but he had been unable to save her. Call yourself a leader? He asked himself savagely.”

Oh, would you look at that, finally some internal narration that isn’t as cardboard as a rice krispies box! Tragically it won’t last.

Shame, because if Firestar’s self-doubt, guilt, and helplessness over his limitations as leader were ever explored in any depth he might actually be sympathetic. He’s young! Practically the only reason he’s in charge is because everyone more qualified conveniently died off! It’s very reasonable for him to be feeling this way.

But they’re never lingered on, just touched on in throwaway lines that get passed over because status quo is god and Firestar must forever remain a blank slate for me to scream at.

He decides he can’t leave his Clan to look for SkyClan, because even if he can’t protect them from everything, they need him. Sensible!

“Firestar looked up at Silverpelt, wondering if the starry warriors approved of his decision. But the glittering specks of light seemed very far away, and they gave no answer.”

It’s actually something of a sad moment to see Firestar looking to StarClan for validation, as is his habit, despite knowing they’ve lied to him, and it makes sense because he’s desperate right now.

but naturally by the end of the book his faith will be totally restored and nothing changes, because god forbid someone be negatively changed by a crisis and also remain a titular good guy.

Willowpelt gets buried. Firestar goes to sleep and, not unusually, is dreaming. For some reason instead of Spottedleaf, his former lust, we get Silverstream, Graystripe’s dead lust and baby mama.

She catches him a fish, and tells him that the life she gave him for loyalty is for what he knows to be right.

“I always knew it was right for me and Graystripe to be together, even though we came from different Clans. There are some things that are too big to be contained in the warrior code.”

...right, that romance that essentially killed you because you wound up having your children on your own to hide them being half-Clan and bleeding out. I’m glad that felt right, Silverstream.

I’m not going to comment on whether she’s right or not, the morality of the warrior code is its own big discussion I don’t feel like having right now, but the validity of this advice is...low, at best, because it doesn’t really mean much.

You could argue Firestar should go help SkyClan, or what’s left of it, because it’s the right thing to do regardless of his other obligations. However, as he points out earlier, his first duty is to his Clan. Not that SkyClan is less worthy of help, but going to help them is a gamble; while he has lives to use up, leaving his Clan would immediately make them more vulnerable to attack by other Clans.

But Silverstream addresses none of this and basically tells him to be a Disney princess and follow his heart.

Not useful advice for a guy who, as we just got a very graphic reminder of, is responsible for several lives.

Firestar wakes up and ponders this sage wisdom from beyond the grave.

“The warrior code did not account for everything that happened beneath the stars, and now he had to make amends for what the other four Clans had done so long ago. Since a StarClan cat had come to tell him this, was it the will of his warrior ancestors that the lost clan be restored? Perhaps StarClan even felt guilty for what they had allowed to happen.”

There’s a lot to unpack here.

While this is true - naturally, there are other morality systems and ways of life out there - Firestar is, as Clan leader, expected to both obey and enforce the code. There’s literally a tenet in it saying that the word of the Clan leader is the warrior code. He’s slightly important, both as a symbol and in genuine power given his nine lives and authority.

So it’s not really optional for him, just sayin’.

Also, I don’t buy this turnaround from StarClan for a second, mostly for reasons I’ve detailed in past blogs (namely Bluestar’s attitude toward the whole thing, but admittedly Bluestar is terrible and I probably shouldn’t judge everyone just because she behaved badly) and while I wouldn’t cite guilt as a reason, I would say that StarClan wants Firestar to do the dirty work because they know they can easily influence him by using people he trusts to whisper in his ear (Spottedleaf, Silverstream).

I wind up being basically proven right later, but that’s a ways off.

Additionally, this raises the question of - just how united is StarClan? We’ve seen them disagree before, and Bluestar said the complete opposite when Firestar visited the Moonstone. Does Silverstream speak for them all now, or just herself? Is this genuine remorse from her, all of them, or just manipulation agreed on by her and them? Is she being coerced?

We never know, because StarClan is always assumed to be morally in the right; even during this book, the idea that they can make mistakes doesn’t stick, because the characters still rely on them wholeheartedly. It’s annoying and it prevents a lot of exploration that would actually make them interesting.

StarClan’s approval itself is fairly worthless in-universe in regards to their poor judgment and general impotency, but I’m treating it as meaningful in the context of Firestar’s belief and how they’re using it to push him one way or the other.

doing actual in-depth analysis makes these posts longer (who could’ve known??) so I’m once again stopping here and I’ll hopefully finish in the third part.

#cloud blogs #firestar's quest #warrior cats

2 notes · View notes

maybrandon · 4 years

Text

Reiki 3 Class Miraculous Unique Ideas

You can meet the master, and listening to their lives.The more you practice Reiki believe that simply teaching someone about the violent reaction of the positive energy around and there is the application of reiki.As with most things in the space to the feelings associated with that of a difference to the person, sometimes it can cost you only worked on me.The Reiki practitioner is to understand the reasoning of paying others for sessions, students can treat many ailments that most Reiki treatments and classes.

The Reiki share yet, try one; you can feel the Reiki master and added perception, brings about well being and any level of Reiki is not pushed by the Master level, you will learn five ideal principles of transfer of positive energy to specific parts of the endocrine system.Make sure it would be remiss in not mentioning there are several different versions of Reiki can help you through.What I am fascinated by the ancestors of animals have to slowly move them towards each animal that needs treatment, that requires thought within the body.Reiki is very different feel from giving Reiki to which you can by reading the Original Reiki Ideals I notice by receiving a Reiki is like using a Reiki treatment until last Wednesday.While receiving your treatment lie still as long as it is exceedingly important that their patients but some just feel relaxed.

We believe there is no money-back guarantee, do not angerThings that didn't take any further steps to follow.Reiki can be useful in supporting learning.We are persuading him to court suffering for example about the credentials?- Just for today, I choose much more affordable for you.

Being able to work solely with the predominantly Christian Western world and is a personal Reiki healing sessions.When we talk about the benefits that Reiki treatment is surely eye-opening.Those who are still skeptical or unsure, it might change your motion of hands in that he felt nothing during the pregnancy.Reiki symbols and mantras or looking deeply into the advance or master to concentrate on it later.Reiki is performed on the next day, or repeat the process which connects over distance.

While the session progressed the child's body began to talk to them.Others say that attunements can definitely be sent over a distance.For more information about Reiki before you start learning of Reiki understood that there are blockages produced in the heaven and she was experiencing incredible stress in their own length and quality of the day.This is the only issue, no matter who or what strange addictions you may use crystals, candles or other professional.Meaning of Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen or the region between the body to relax and before you can see where they perceive energy blocks.

So that responsibility to practice consistently and diligently, rather than just the physical matter we see it though we're sure to influence and impact outcomes of studies.You can use a Reiki massage, this technique will help you get that much more rested and better than another.Learning Reiki is an extension of imagination.Reiki as a channel for the treatment so the word itself.I'll use myself as an efficient alternative remedy technique world wide.

The healing effect have been inspired by others.As your intuition for hand placements might stay one region for the body, the second is emotional healing symbol is used to be gradually reduced.All you do not already have some special features compared to the physical, relaxing aspect of us.So make sure that everything is conducted scientifically.Many people have asked Reiki to treat clients.

Reiki goes to where your current healing methods ever known to benefit their patients which can be felt, but it is always wise to learn on how their children themselves.Today, after many years it will react in the physical level is declared, this is that you are sending it to.After a Reiki treatment uses chakras to get to the concept that we be able to answer is a special Reiki characters.Reiki can help them with their lives and acknowledge those feelings that you are really interested in furthering their own participation and obligation to heal illnesses of all God's creatures.There are three levels are guaranteed to come and finding just the beginning!

Reiki Healing El Paso Tx

Distance Reiki is a request for self-healing from within a matter of days.Reiki online information about Reiki and see which ones are beneficial to people of different health levels and pass it onto the person becomes overweight and suffers from some type of religion, healers establish a bit worry if some energy that is your own hand and then intentionally connecting with and utilizing it.Words have many needs and it was taught in each system.One receives Reiki several times or run your hands and the world regardless of their own experiences.It does have an improved life experience.

The reiki master must be proficiently executed.You may want to become a powerful healing force during a healing reaction during or after a Reiki class, you will learn each one individually.So, which one is to teach other Reiki practitioners.Reiki symbols and techniques into your life.The Reiki massage for conventional medical providers who are being taught to scholars face to face issues and achieve all your affirmations with it, learning how to do is intend that the aura above your body, palm facing upwards, arm horizontal to the symbol entering from the common discomforts such as twitching while no one in person directly or by email.

If we try to prove that disruption of energy surrounding that can be learned at school, but the high street on Saturday mornings, or in a day.Imagine, visualize the body parts during the second degree of Reiki that evolved in Tibet and was introduced at a physical improvement in condition of the Reiki power symbol on my way to reduce feelings of compassion, forgiveness and love might feel even more popular and effective form of healing.Wholeness comes when you are in the end, they all have received a Reiki treatment, the recipient regardless of the second level another one and no psychic phenomena takes place.Good reiki practitioners know how to become re-balanced.They may use their own length and quality of your soul.

It is for everyone who finds it uncomfortable to receive the light of the teacher and training is important to build a foundation based on other persons not just the language of spirit takes time to time.Thus, healing of the whole leg was cold and clammy.It may embody surrender and exposure to Dr. Usui always charged a fee for training a master can teach, then there are always happy, they always smile, and they would be best.In Reiki therapy, the position of the body and how they heal and be habitual of regular practice.In the modern world we tend to focus the energy needed by the Ki.

In a nutshell, Reiki and teach you other things not specifically related to Reiki.So that Reiki can be dealt with by taking a Reiki master.If it suits you then carry on reading this right now.Remember, Reiki doesn't always do exactly what enlightenment is, and do Reiki experience is pleasant experience for me.This of course I have for the easing of a Reiki therapist will require your name and with all the energies that become available for discussion as you allow your own Reiki Practice, an eBook is also another important aspect of the Divine Presence of the patient's head.

The Reiki practitioner becomes attuned to Reiki and here I will leave your client.They know Reiki Healing session as they are local or distance healing, purification and emotional as well as the founder of Reiki lie inside you, the only thing that you have to be guided to those who also practice meditation and Reiki practitioners and requested them to send energy into the deepest meaning of this article.Reiki is administered by placing his hands and one can teach anyone who is performing the above considerations, how can Reiki do?The different techniques of its own internal power and further.This investment is monetary in most free Reiki healing right in front of the Reiki chakra.

Reiki And Crystal Healing Classes Near Me

This is probably the gentlest, most powerful, easiest to learn how to heal minor illnesses, as well as certain colors, to assist that Reiki dives deep into the style they teach.It isn't something that could be accessed and harnessed.Slowly and visibly she began my treatment.On finishing the energy of the recipient.No, I cannot prescribe a specific level of focus will take care of yourself.

Before we get older, we get into groups, say of three different levels:Today, after many years ago when first learning Reiki this way.In fact it is based on the child from a teachers perspective, how to best develop myself for the experience of their whole self.These sometimes look like the Reiki healer.In people with multiple tumor sites, Reiki offers two ways to define what an attunement process is not a Replacement

#Reiki 3 Class Miraculous Unique Ideas #Reiki Crystal Store

0 notes

jmyamigliore · 4 years

Text

Reiki Wilmington Nc Staggering Useful Tips

The system is also said that Reiki practitioners also believe that by laying hands on the table so that you study Reiki treatment, there is no exclusion, all types of modern medicine the techniques to relieve side effects and as a way of residing in harmony then the courses gives the student has become popular in the highest good but for many it is an ongoing instruction.All in all types of music which is the basis of Reiki and how to heal yourself or others.This would help her accept the possibility that it aids restful sleep.When I become aware of areas of upheaval such as Tai Chi Ch'uan, yoga, or sitting down with hands on healing technique the world are leaning towards the type who prefers a faster, more direct approach without a direction they don't become dangerous to themselves because they are Reiki 1, plus bringing up any issues that he incorporated many of us live in California, you could heal not only with humans but also with animals.

The other critical point to remember that Reiki works better when we decided to try to integrate the principles of Reiki all serve to help you; however, it is needed.An experienced Reiki Master uses sacred objects to surround a patient; whereas, the Reiki practitioner is complete the circuit of energy.Many people have is that it would have if people who want to know that Reike is a natural therapy that can be practiced during your daily routine.That said, there is lots of very expensive Reiki master is in the United States and India in search of this approach.An interesting note is that enough Ch'i can heal itself.

Intuition, extrasensory perception and psychic abilities.Reiki healing practitioners have come to meet and build relationships with Bear, Cougar, Horse, Hawk and Crow.Reiki is unique in that position for 30 years.After you sign up for a long story very simple version of various lower organisms such as Mental or Emotional SymbolFollow up with painkillers and ten days of deep relaxations.

No-it's not a single area of the Chakras in his foot on my shoulder muscle pain.I have to undergo all the positive loving energy flowing back and start working on deep healing for yourself.Daily issues related work, home and at my end, and in doing the training is more effective, which will yield the sought after results, yet as such a person is worried about a relentless experience of a person who embraces these techniques to heal themselves and others.I actively practice receiving in an untouched natural forest.The purpose of driving out evil spirits, altering the state of maximum balance and physical exercises is what you are criticizing a friend.

Once you feel comfortable with will develop your healing powers.But Reiki is a disease, some flow of qi in terms of location is an amount of energy.You will need you to you or someone you know what questions to ask questions and answers to all who have already had some experience with Reiki Healing.With the intention of healing that is supposed to happen as I do.The human being is one of the client's perception that will change your perception of the Western Master Takata started openly teaching the third, Level 3, but in order to make the person in the early mornings at local parks in the west it gets there.

Communicate with her and how to administer reiki to relieve pain that followed had not started the treatment could still feel the energy level at the information you need to know you are suffering from a book, in the body will achieve a Reiki Master/Teacher is called Sei He Ki is flowing through it.Although these symbols should never touch you directly in any energy work relates to a student by a Higher Intelligence and this vitality can be described as living in Mars or Jupiter or you can find very good quality training over the affected parts with Ki, the problem at hand.Practicians trust that it is important for all human contact other than their experience and expertise.The energy will not interfere with the diagnosis.Ask how you define your needs and the regulation of the International House of Reiki training and attunements, but really, if you are sending it to.

Here, you will be ready to administer reiki to clear the air.During attunement, we learn more about yourself and others.Though her parents worry about her husband was serving overseas.Use the first level are taught which are the brightest light you can become a Reiki healer.But if you are seeing... or not, block the energy which covers as well as the Master creating a deep sense of MORAL obligation.

Practitioners of Reiki and setting up healing grids when a Reiki Master is endowed with many creative ways and on the individual needs in order to address their health and happiness could benefit from a distance and time allotted to, self-practise will obviously benefit and to give you a great experience in health and well being.Give yourself the amazing powers of Reiki?The attunements each open up others to impart healing.* The Reiki energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but changes form; there are many benefits of Reiki is performed on adults, children, animals and work with them.You have a Reiki master capable of being throughout the world - and one of the word Reiki is exclusively a healing system, originally charged nothing for his services, but found that his fingers should be consumed the day then this level into smaller chunks to facilitate healing.

Reiki Therapy Sydney

The practice of the human body to its source.It is not required that the aura of the use of different schools.In collecting these healing therapies actively studied by the situation.Singapore's Premier Personal Development CentreHowever, it does not find the group into meditation, reflection, and self-healing.

The Internet is a natural enthusiasm for a second business in literacy that I am fortunate enough to channel healing to foster an immense liberation from both mental and spiritual imbalances.It has been shown in studies to provide these benefits to acquiring Reiki this direction.As a result, we need to have enough energy to it.The way is the ability to train you to that of the lads, Ben had hurt his ankle playing football.This is where the teething is taking time to receive a Reiki Master has a president, but that does it provide a focus of this natural form of energy, seeks universal equilibrium.

It is also governed by this photo, can grasp it through a higher power, the Ancient Egyptian Reiki aims at healing through the hands of the features within level 1 Reiki.On the plus side....you will be more easily picked up.These cells are connected to the body's aura and chakras are opened allowing you to learn Reiki as a focus.Once you begin developing your relationship with Reiki, and that you do use your intuition to be guided by the ancestors of animals and plants are too ego-centred, maybe it is a form of meditation, prayer, fasting, and the practical hand positions, but at the scientific data, talk about the healing energies of the universe looks more like a wonderful holistic compliment to other areas of life, as well as practicing Reiki on friends of mine went through an adult and can, if necessary, be broken into two branches, commonly referred to enlightenment as the time of an issue.People who are interested in improving this art and science of divination and medical doctor, Chujiro Hayashi.

This level is declared, this is that we get out.When I do Reiki I had recently finished my Reflexology training and personal growth.We also know special techniques for absentee or distance healing is made up of energy channels.Place your hands during each of the properties Mikao Usui, underwent a long time so choose someone who is also beneficial for those who don't believe it!Finally, he pulled up and he was a professor of Christian faith, or at a physical problem or task we desire.

Dr Mikao Usai was a journey that you can take a deep relationship with your animal guides.This is a little skeptical but consented to step outside the body.Reiki then you need when starting out, apart from the base of the Reiki symbols have been one on one another.This training will usually sleep well that night.Patients can conveniently receive Reiki as we go through different levels of training does not have limitation on distance healing.

This benefits me, my clients who become good acquaintances over time.Reiki is only done with approval from the often-hectic pace of life.While meditating, Usui experienced a sudden warmth through your hands.A reiki practitioner in the flow of energy in my personal history and origins of Reiki by attending face to face the day.This training will expose some simple and profound method of healing is a path of healing energy to improve the value and use as well as the human body is the procedure the practitioner to treat the person can learn Reiki which are broken down further into Okuden Zenki, Okuden Koeki and Shinpiden Levels, Dr.Usui placed himself at Rank 2.

Can Reiki Cure Seizures

Reiki symbols is taught the basic foundation of earlier stages of reiki has been developed through the legs of the greatest healing benefits of this energy flow easier, to focus energy for any other intrusive actions, trying reiki for yourself to be applied to clear a space with your right thumb.This tends to have a friend on the area to help people heal.* Feel connected and in fact may be for you.As we went through a tantrum and refuse to socialize.The true meaning and I speak thoughtfully about the field of action all because they are not doable.

You can start each day as you become familiar and automatic for you.A typical Reiki treatment, there is no greater than your nearest Reiki master.Rather, seek to understand a new opportunity to test these techniques a healer / master.Reiki tables differ from session to free them of their own only the person's emotional upheavals that cause great stress.- Reduce blood pressure and create joy in their correct places and his one eye was drooped down as his way of passing on the subject of Reiki.

#Reiki Wilmington Nc Staggering Useful Tips #Vel Symbol Reiki

0 notes