#even when people are married their spouse isn’t the core of their story (usually) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

vampiresuns · 3 years

Text

The Radošević-Cassano | Lore & Palazzo Inspiration

Some lore for the untitled geese family of Vesuvian High Society. As per usual, the family tree is here. With a quick run down on mostly everyone.

✴︎ General Headcanons

I call them the Radošević-Cassano because I keep Anatole in the centre of the family tree, and much of the Arcana lore I have revolves around him. This isn’t because everything is about him, but because he is the original OC, and hence the place all of this lore comes from.

In reality the Cassano of Vesuvia (how they’re actually known as) are an old Vesuvian family.

They hold no nobility titles, they’re just old, ingrained with the City, and simply have money. The surname Cassano isn’t that old, they’ve probably been the Cassano for less than what they’ve held the Consulship for, only having been known in this way since the last 300 to 250 years, give or take.

They’ve had a hold of the Consulship for a little longer than that. No one actually knows how they ended up with the Consul’s office.

Not even the Cassano themselves. There’s many rumours and the story itself is kind of a local legend at this point. No one remembers because sometimes stories are just oral tradition. Sometimes they just get lost. That’s how it is.

The Cassano surname comes from... a first name actually. Consul Cassano ruled Vesuvia in lieu of the Count they were Consul for, while said Count’s children grew up, becoming old enough to rule themselves.

They are a multicultural, multiethnic family. Different branches have different cultural backgrounds.

Yet their unity steams from 1. being the Addams Family of Vesuvia 2. The Consulship. A way for them to protect themselves versus other Courtiers down for their own power-grabs, or nobility which do not like that these respected and well known family have no titles made them create a network (inside and outside of the family) that allows them to protect themselves and their political position.

For a Cassano, it is not social standing which matters. It is political standing.

They’ve been friends with the Radošević family (less remarkable and less old) for around six or seven generations. The Radošević are the Addams Family of Balkovia. Fish, Water.

Both families favour cultivating a career, craft or academic pursuit. It doesn’t matter what at least you pursue it honestly.

Speaking of honest pursuits, one of their secrets for enduring is rejecting arranged marriages. Convenience marriages are one thing, if mutually consented by the future spouses, arranged marriages however are a recipe for owing other families favours. It helps get rid of families who simply want to marry with them solely because they’re interested in the political position.

Important things for both these families are: authenticity, professionalism (they do not conceive not working, hoarding land, property and wealth aren’t actual jobs), ambition, creativity, survival, fraternity and resourcefulness. Both of the families are very communal between each other, acting as extensions of each other way before they married between them.

They follow three principles: 1. Whatever happened to you, whatever life shot at you, you survived. A Cassano-Radošević is nothing if not enduring 2. Sometimes conventional problems needed to be solved through unconventional means. They are nothing if not resourceful. 3. What happens to one of us, happens to all of us. They are nothing if not community driven.

This sometimes made them out of touch with other parts of Vesuvian High-Society, especially certain kind of Noble families. I hc that the Consul is the link between the Count and the City, and is meant to represent the City in front of the Count. The Cassano have a very tightly knit relationship with the City, and while their position of privilege is undeniable they are more aware of the social condition and estate of the City than others of their same social circles.

Their tendency to work for the City in a usually self-less manner (which is encouraged), using their position to help others instead of stepping over them, coined the underlying belief that the Cassano are protectors of Vesuvia. They are the last line between something which wishes to harm the City and the people of Vesuvia. This is something which Anatole specially takes very seriously.

Other sayings or beliefs around them are: “Good Counts make their Consuls their friends, while Good Consuls have a Happy Marriage in their beds.” Given how long they’ve hold the Consul’s office, it is better for Vesuvian Counts (regardless of their origin) to befriend them rather than go against them. The second part stems from the Cassano tendency to marry for love, not out of arranged marriages.

“Nothing mortal can kill a Cassano” this began as a joke, simply because they’re a really sturdy family. While they were very close to disappearing in more than one occasion, they simply keep on living. They’re very petty about their vitality. This belief gets reaffirmed during any of the apprentice timelines, but also because of Valerian Cassano’s (Anatole’s great grandfather) longevity.

Few of them believe in the Arcana as a belief system, though a bunch of them are familiar with tarot. There’s a tendency to generate Death and Hierophant beneficiaries the most. The Radošević while not following the Arcana at all, and most of them being unfamiliar with them, have a tendency to generate beneficiaries of The Lovers, Strength and Magicians.

“When Death marries a Star nothing will bring that marriage down” comes from the most notorious Cassano marriages being between Death and Star beneficiaries, with the Star beneficiaries usually being foreign. Examples of this are Amparo Mediavilla (Star) and Vitale Cassano, former Consul (Death), Stelarius Cassano (former Consul, Death) and spouse (Star), and recently Amparo Cassano (Death) and Portia Devorakova (Star).

Magic in the family, manifesting in given individuals is rare, but not unseen. The Cassano seem to be coated by a halo of magical energy but not display magical abilities themselves for the most part. Some exceptions are Amparo Mediavilla, Lucenzo Cassano, Valerian Cassano, one of Florentino’s (Anatole’s grandfather) brothers – Nemesi Cassano, Amparo Cassano, Vlad Radošević (son of a Cassano, and Anatole’s father), Aelius Anatole Radošević, and Artemisia Cassano, sibling of Amparo.

People with magical abilities in the family tend to keep it reserved from the general public. The reasons vary.

While the Cassano Personality is strong and produces an inter-generational imprint, the Cassano genes are not that strong. No one is entirely sure what a ‘Cassano face’ looks like because of their multicultural background, but apparently they all have expressive eyebrows.

However, most of the Cassano stand in the same way (the way Valerius stands). Valerius, Anatole, his father, Florentino, Amparo, Artemisia, Cassiopeia, and others all stand in the same way.

✴︎ The Radošević

They’re not that different from the Cassano. Can be described as a “A family of survivors, eccentrics, patrons of the arts, inventors and scientists. A family of academics full of anxieties about the world surrounding them, whose sorrows were scars they rarely showed. Private yet with an extensive, and international, circle of acquaintances who deemed them all charmingly strange on their best days; prideful, analytic, often with a drink in hand.”

The Cassano can be described in a similar way, they’re different manifestations of the same core after all. Other than them being the Addams family of the fantasy Balkans, there’s no much to add to them besides what I’ve already said.

While the most distinctive Cassano trait is probably spite, the most notorious Radošević trait is rage. Rage is easier than grief and they’ve all had complicated relationships with life. They are not violent or toxic as a family, however. While they are not perfect, it seems of little use to them to mistreat those who are in the same boat as you, going through the same hardships.

Probably the some of the most interesting people in this family are Elysian Radošević, Anatole’s great grandmother, a partisan, Neuma Radošević a famous painter, and well, Valeriy “Valerius” Radošević. This is my personal HC in the julesverse, but Valerius has more of a Radošević personality than a Cassano personality.

Anatole would be a nice mix of both of them, which is catalysed by his mother, Louisa De Silva.

As an aside, Anatole has his father’s and uncle’s brows, his father’s eyes, and while his face bone structure is a toss up, he has his mother’s lips and nose. He also has his mother’s hips and legs.

The Radošević have a vineyard in fantasy Istria. No, it’s not Valerius’ vineyard.

One of the reasons why Anatole would refuse all kind of title (and so would his uncle, actually, despite the way he acts) is because having a nobility title is one of the few reasons for your Balkovian citizenship to be revoked. Nobility has been abolished in Balkovia for decades, and it’s not making a comeback.

✴︎ The Palazzo

The Palazzo Cassano is where the star mark is. It is 12 minutes away from the Palace, and 18 minutes way from Goldgrave. It is one of the few properties the family has, and probably the most important.

For years, it has been open to the Vesuvian Public who, with previous appointment, might need its resources, such as the music room or the Cassano Library. Like I said before, the Cassano do not think owning things is a job, and like I said before they encourage finding an actual occupation, whatever it might be. Other properties tied to the Cassano, including the Radošević-Cassano, are: Mircea’s and Florentino’s house in Balkovia (Anatole’s grandfather’s), the Radošević Vineyard, Valerius’ vineyard, Blasio’s house (Milenko’s grandfather), Milenko’s apartment, Vlad’s and Louisa’s townhouse in Balkovia, where Anatole grew up, and Paris’ shop + apartment, as she leaves it to Amparo, Milenko and Anatole.

The Palazzo holds a series of invaluable collections, from books, artefacts, painting, sculptures, swords and others. They are long standing patron of the arts, who sustain themselves on social connectivity, so it is not unheard of them sustaining balls for these purposes every now and then. The Palazzo is meant to be able to house the majority of the family in somewhat comfortable terms. It’s most famous room, is it’s winter garden, which is open to the Public on certain days.

The Palazzo does not have permanent staff. It’s an oddity. The only permanent positions are the one of personal secretary of the Consul — not a valet, not a servant — and the Chef. Most of the staff is divided in shifts.

The Palazzo doesn’t have a housekeeper, only a housekeeper assistant. The Palazzo housekeepers are Batiste Cassano (sister of Florentino, Anatole’s grandfather), Iris Ravella (Amparo’s parent), and post-game Valerius.

Some of the OC families they’re related to are the Ventura, the family of two high-priests in one of Vesuvia’s temples, the Valperga (Valerian’s family), a number of Venterrean family’s, the Radošević (obviously), and the Ravella, among others. All these families are part of the julesverse.

Canon families they are related to include the Devoraks, the Satrinava (Milenko, while not a Cassano by blood is a Cassano by upbringing, and the Cassano include all the Radošević as their own), and the Alnazar.

As an addition, when @apprenticealec and I merge worlds, they are also related to the Parsa D’Orias, as they are to the El-Saieh, but they belong to @ilyamatic.

The story of how they ended up with the Palazzo stirs as much rumours as how they ended up with the Consulship, but the truth is way less exciting. It came with the position, and they deliberately altered the papers so from Grant of the Count, became their own. It was finders keepers. The Palazzo is inspired by different buildings in different parts of the world, but primarily, it’s outside is inspired by the Palazzo Papadopoli, in Venice, Italy, the Palazzo Ca d’Oro, and Ca Dario

Here are some pictures of different things it takes inspiration from:

The Palazzo has a back door, which leads to a minor street — the lovers and close friends door — inspired by the Palazzo Bembo- Boldù. The only way to open this door is from the inside. To ring it, you have to turn the knob three times to the right.

Thank you for reading these untitled geese family lore ❤️

#the arcana #the arcana oc #the radosevic-cassano

18 notes · View notes

todaydreambelieversfic · 4 years

Text

Author Spotlight: Coffeegleek Day 3

Author : @coffeegleek

How many times do you usually revise your fic/chapter before posting?

At least a few revisions. Then multiple editing passes, and even with my spouse as my proofreader for the past 25+ years, and doing more editing passes before posting to AO3, I still find annoying little typos, sometimes large ones.

If you were to revise one of your older fics from start to finish, which would it be and why?

There was a crack fic I stopped writing years ago. It was a self-challenge during one of those tumblr trope challenges. I was trying to combine all of the tropes into the same fic as they were announced. It got zero traction though so I gave up. I'd love to go back and complete it, make it better. I had the whole thing outlined too.

What do you look for in a beta?

My spouse. We've been together for decades. He's been proofreading my original science fiction work and various fandoms' fanfics since before we were married. He even proofreads my Klaine smut and doesn't blink an eye. (He's a Glee fan too and on tumblr.) He knows what I'm trying to say when I can't find the right words and supplies them. He catches things I don't. What I love the most is for my original work, he's written his own fanfic. It's BAD. It truly is, but it's so heartfelt and earnest. He even came up with a soundtrack should I ever publish my sci-fi novel and the movie or show rights be bought. You really can't get a better beta than that. <3

There’s a number of friends on tumblr that I bounce ideas off of and who give me advice for topics they know far more about than me and google. I try to thank them in my fics.

If you could write the sequel (or prequel) to any fic out there not written by yourself, which would you choose?

I’m going to steal another author’s recent answer and say that I could never do someone else’s work justice. However, I would love to see the author’s ideas for their fics even if they couldn’t write a prequel or sequel.

I suck at remembering titles and author names. There were two political fics that I would love to read more of should their authors ever decide to write in those verses again. One was where Kurt and Blaine's dads were running for president and Kurt and Blaine were along for the ride, staying in the same hotels at time (where they first met,) having to do school remotely, having to be the perfect sons for the press and Blaine being fed up because his parents were conservative Republicans. Then there was another fic where Burt was president and Kurt was the First Son living in the White House, along with Finn, and it was hard to date when your every move is watched by the press.

Do you take liberties with canon or are you very strict about your fic being canon compliant?

I write AU, so canon is only a word often misspelled by me. :) Seriously though, I try to incorporate as many canon elements and characters into my AU fics as I can. It's the kind of AU I like to read as well. What draws me to read and write AUs is taking canon characters, putting them into a different setting, and seeing how they'll react. At their core, they still need to remain the same in principle and have many of the same traits. Like Kurt will always love fashion and be headstrong no matter what. Blaine is always going to have that spark within himself, no matter how depressed or oppressed he gets. Burt and Carole are always going to be loving and nurturing parents at heart. Even in fics where Burt isn't woke, there's a part of him that means well. (Not one of my own fics, but one I read a long time ago.) Different circumstances will change the canon characters and make them react in different ways though. Like, Kurt could end up more withdrawn and hide his love of fashion as a matter of survival and self preservation. He or Blaine could turn into "bad boys." Coach Beiste will always have a heart of gold. Miss Pillsbury will always have a problem with messes. Things like that. I know canon. Give me all the alternate universe versions of it and I will be a happy camper.

Talk about a review that made your day.

I haven't checked for reviews on my fics in ages (because I'm an insecure chicken) so I don't remember any specifically. I do remember there were many that made my day. There are those who take the time to review every chapter. Ones who write only a short note to thank me for writing the fic - both the angsty ones and the cracky fun ones. I love it when someone mentions something that no one else has that I was hoping someone would notice because I was proud of it. I'm not a popular author and don't get a lot of kudos or comments or reblogs compared to many. So each comment and kudos means a lot to me and I'd like to publicly thank every single person who wrote one or hit that kudos button.

Do you ever get rude reviews and how do you deal with them?

I once got a troll who decided it was his job to complain that I had misspelled hors d'oeuvres in one sentence out of an entire verse where the word was written multiple times correctly. It was a series of Klaine Advent one shots for the Empty Nest verse. At first I was shocked and replied with an apology. Then I was, "F this. The person is a troll who didn't read any other part of the fic or verse, just this one quickly written one shot entry, and if all they had to say was that I'd misspelled a commonly misspelled word, then they aren't worth my time." I deleted the comment. There's concrit and trolling. It wasn't concrit.

What advice do you have for people just starting to write?

Have fun writing, even the hard stuff. Know that it's okay to take breaks. Try your best and know you'll get better the more you write and the more you read. Pronouns are your friend and free. Don't put, "I know this is going to suck, so whatever," in your fic description. We all suck at times. It's a part of writing. But if you want folks to read it, using that as your fic's summary isn't the way to go. Just my opinions, which won't even buy you a cup of coffee.

Which fic do you most like to discuss with other people? Why?

I think it’s pretty obvious from all of my rambling that I enjoy talking about both of my series - Empty Nest verse and A Very Hallmark Christmas verse. I'm not a popular author and I know my fics, especially the Empty Nest verse ones, aren’t everyone’s thing, so I never get to really discuss them except with friends that I bug to death in private and via long replies to comments on AO3. (You all are saints blessed by all of the good and patient gods.) I have so much to say about them - the process of writing them, the world building, research, and character decisions that went into every single one. I know they’re not perfect. I know the Empty Nest verse grew miles beyond the ficlette about Burt and Carole that it was meant to be. I know my sense of humor in the Hallmark verse isn’t everyone’s thing either. I still worked really hard on them and am glad that I did. Empty Nest let me release a lot of the fear and anxiety I had for my Hispanic and gay son after the 2016 election. The Hallmark ones were a needed break to put some humor into my life. If others enjoyed them, great. If folks want to know more, my inbox is always open.

What's one aspect of writing fic that gets you really excited?

Writing humor even if I'm the only one that finds it funny. As I said above, writing the Hallmark Christmas movie dialogue and plot and the actors as they were filming it was a blast. Writing the commercials was fun and exciting. In my angsty fics, knowing I wrote a good scene, line, or moment that brought out all the feels. That's more of “satisfaction of a job well done” than excited.

***

Check out Coffeegleek’s Fics

Humorous Spooky Drabbles - Humorous drabbles to spookish type prompts based on a tumblr post called October Drabble Prompts #1 by hallofceleano. The parts in bold and italic are from those prompts. Characters include Kurt, Blaine, Burt, Carole, and Finn. All fun; only #4 has some mild angst. #4 is for snarkyhag and regarding #5 - I know next to nothing about Twilight and had to look up Taylor Lautner on imdb. The liberties I took are my own.

A Very Sloppy Christmas - lucy8675309 posted to tumblr a series of gifs with Kurt dressed up as an elf. It inspired me to write the following prompt, which CoffeeAddict80 encouraged me to write as a fic:

I now want a fic where real Santa’s elf!Kurt gets drunk and vents to Blaine about all the woes of working for Santa. He’s over 100 years old and the outfits are terrible. Why couldn’t they wear clothes like the elves did in that one movie? Drunk elf Kurt has no idea he’s venting to Santa’s son.

Bonus if he wakes up and realizes he just had a drunken one night stand. He isn’t sure who it was with. Only that he’s naked, the guy in the bed beside him is naked and showing off a really great ass. Then said guy turns over and after Kurt’s done staring at his dick, he looks at the guy’s face and realizes who it is.

It’s a Twisted World - I decided to challenge myself by combining the posted 5 weekly Klaine AU Friday themes and adding another one of my own. So that means: Farm, Fairytale, Vintage (1900’s,) Super Powers, Zombie Apocalypse, and Harry Potter World Klaine with a splash of a fic idea I thought of while in the produce section of the grocery store. Each week, the story will continue, though each part stands alone. This is not a brilliant work of perfectly composed fan fiction. What it is, is fast-paced, cracky fun, with a large dose of innuendo. At least it had my son laughing his ass off. I hope y'all enjoy it too. :)

#author spotlight #coffeegleek

20 notes · View notes

restingdomface · 4 years

Text

Okay I can’t believe I’m going there, but, Lan Wangji’s magical healing cock and also mpreg AU:

Okay. So. Instead of Jin Zixuan being a dick to his crush, he genuinly never had a crush on her at all, and in fact, it never came to light until the Sunshit Campaign started, but JZX had a crush on Jiang Cheng all along. Jiang Cheng, who, reluctantly, returns his affections. Wei Wuxian is disgusted. His brother has terrible taste in men wtf.

So. Things went differently this time. What’s the change here? Meng Yao never left Nie Mingjue’s side. Of course, he did the spying thing, but he never betrayed him (this could be a part of my idea where NMJ and MY plan to actually have him be a spy and send him off after a planned execution of a soldier that NMJ decided needed a death sentence more than banishment, or, an AU where MY presented the idea to Wen Rouhan that his coming to WRH’s side was the betrayel itself). Now how does this change things? Because I honestly and truly think that if MY didn’t go to Jin Guangshan’s side afterwards, JGS wouldn’t have had the sway to execute anyone else in the Wen Family, or do anything horrible like that.

TBH he tries to wipe out the rest of the Wens, but it goes so badly and this time MY isn’t on his side (lol you know JGS would have tried tho, imagine how humiliating it would have been to be publicly denied by your own bastard son at the banquet after wow) and so JGS ends up removed from power entirely and JZX gets made sect leader instead.

This means, that since JZX is about to marry JC, they’re going to have to move to LanlingJin instead of both of them arguing over if they’d move to Lotus Pier or not. Cause they would argue over that. This means that Jiang Cheng is going to be the next Young Master Jin and Jiang Yanli is now officially the Jiang Sect Leader. Nice.

So. We’re rid of JGS and everyone’s happy and MY probably isn’t gonna kill anyone cause now he can marry NMJ in peace and not have to deal with anyone else, where does LWJ’s magic healing dick come in? Hold on I’m getting to it. Impatient.

So. The Wens. Of course, before JGS was removed from power, Wei Wuxian was actually running around saving Wen survivors and gathering them in the Burial Mounds, so he actually has to be coaxed into leaving by his siblings and LWJ and even JZX and NMJ (who thinks this is rather like that one time he had to coax Nie Huaisang out from under his bed when he became convinced NMJ’s cat was a demon because it wouldn’t stop attacking his songbird and he couldn’t come out cause she was in the room and she would steal his soul but she’s just sitting on the windowsill and meowing at them and NMJ is just silently planning to feed her more and keep her away from the atrium and tbh plz NHS you’re 16 years old you’re too old for this plz stop crying) and it’s great. It’s just great.

Anyways. WWX is paranoid af. Like so fucking paranoid. Cause they have been attacked. He’s got 12 year old girls talking about what the adult men in the Jin sect did to them. He’s got a traumatized toddler on his hip that screams when he sees Jin robes. He’s got children with branded scarring on their faces and wounds you can’t even imagine to come from anything but torture. He’s paranoid. He’s trying to keep the kiddos safe. They’re healers, and he’s given them the tools to heal, but they’re scared, and he’s paranoid without his Golden Core, and he’s scared, and he’s not putting down the toddler plz stop asking, he’s keeping this one, shut up.

So. What can he do but make a few demands? The Lan sect may have strict rules, but they would never attack innocent civilians, and they have rules about killing even animals in Gusu. He asks them to send all the Lan guards they can to escort them to GusuLan. He doesn’t think they’d hurt them in YunmengJiang either, but he can’t risk it. He was there when Lotus Pier burned. Cloud Recesses didn’t lose nearly as many people, and he’s still too traumatized to spend much time in LP rn.

So they go to Cloud Recesses. This actually, also gives the other sects a lot of time to get some glimpses at everyone that came from the Burial Mounds.

Not a single one of them was a cultivator.

This is a little different than canon. WWX can’t handle the loss of his golden core in this one. Not to say that he shouldn’t have done it, but that the resentful energy is dragging him down to the point where all he can feel is paranoia and fear. He’s almost completely unresponsive at this point. He follows after LWJ when told to, and he holds little A-Yuan in his arms, but he doesn’t pay much attention to anyone.

Wen Qing tells them of the loss of his core, but not how it happened. Lan Qiren doesn’t much like WWX still, but he accepts that a cornered animal will bite, and WWX lost his main weapon right before a major war. Of course he would do all he could to keep himself safe.

Jiang Yanli offers for the Wen Survivors to be integrated into YunmengJiang, since they lost so many people. It could help a lot. They accept, since she’s offering them protection and help.

Of course, Wen Qing and Jiang Yanli used to Spend A Lot Of Time Together in Cloud Recesses, so love is blooming there between the two sect leaders, and by the end of a year, they’re getting married themselves.

WWX doesn’t go back to LP with them. He couldn’t do it. A-Yuan and Granny and Wen Ning stay with him in Cloud Recesses. Granny talks with Wen Qing regularly, and A-Yuan is attached to Lan Wangji enough that Lan Xichen starts mentioning that he could attend classes there when he’s old enough. LXC is a WangXian shipper and is trying to get his brother to adopt the child. Y’all know he would. WWX spends his time arguing (loudly, but in a room with magical wards for sound so they don’t get in trouble) with a Lan mind healer that talks through his bullshit with him, sleeping the day away in one of the rooms of the Jingshi (because LWJ made him move in right away and WWX couldn’t even argue cause A-Yuan loves him too and he can ask LWJ to play Their Song whenever he wants to hear it) and following after A-Yuan as he enchants (and terrifies) all the rabbits in the field. Also getting yelled at (softly) by LQR for breaking rules. LQR and LWJ have been making it their personal mission to find a way to either purify the resentful energy so WWX can go back to his normal cheerful self that doesn’t jump or hide when startled, or to regain a Golden core so the yin and yang energies can balance each other and keep him stable.

Of course, JYL sends him a message that she’s getting married, and WWX pulls himself out of the fog enough that he can ask them to go to the wedding (he’s being polite, he’s going no matter what they say lol,) and LWJ accompanies him to the wedding. His siblings are so happy to see him there.

Anyways. Things get rocky when WWX hears them talking about kids.

Jiang Yanli will carry Jin Zixuan’s children, and they’ll keep the Jin name. They’ll know that all four of them are their parents, but it’s a way to pass on the name.

Wen Qing will carry Jiang Cheng’s children, and they’ll carry the Jiang name. This also helps to keep track of what kids are heir to what sect.

Of course, Wei Wuxian, the master of ‘I know The Most Obscure Bullshit Ever’, asks why they don’t just have their spouses children. There are spells and potions for that.

Well. No one else in the room knew that but him apparently. Well, they’re still going to go with their idea for the first few kids, and then they’ll decide if other means of pregnancy options are viable.

Anyways. Guess who else didn’t know it was possible for men to get pregnant? You guessed it. Lan Wangji. Who was also in the room at the time.

So. Wedding is lovely. They all have an amazing time. WWX is able to pull himself out of bed every day. He was even able to work on some cultivation items that LQR begrudgingly admits are amazing items and very useful to cultivation.

They go back to Cloud Recesses, and Lan Wangji combs through his and his uncle’s notes till he finds a viable solution to a return of a Golden core that they had originally scrapped because WWX wasn’t a girl.

To return a Golden core to a body by means of very careful pregnancy. Of course, such a thing would be considered stealing under normal circumstances, and most mothers would rather die than harm their child in the womb in a way that could kill them. But this was a method made to keep both parent and child from harm. A way to build the slightest lump of core in the parent, enough to stick and allow a base to build off of later.

Of course, without consulting Uncle (because the man would be horrified at the idea, and LWJ would rather be rejected by the man himself thanks very much) he takes the proposal to the man in question.

WWXA has to think about this one for a long time. He thinks about it while helping Wen Ning with zombie stuff so he can maintain a stable body. He thinks about it while writing letters to his siblings. He thinks a LOT about it while tucking their two year old into bed and reading him a story with the funny voices. He thinks about it when he spends a night in the cold springs with LWJ one night, close enough to touch the man, because without a Golden core, the water is too cold for him to survive in on his own.

He asks why LWJ would besmirch his honor like that. Having a child out of wedlock, his uncle would throw a fit. His name would be in tatters.

LWJ blinks, once, and twice. He quietly tells him the offer could involve marriage if WWX thinks it’s of import.

So. They get married. So they can have a child. Another child. Just. Yeah. Let’s get married so we can mate like rabbits.

They’re in love. Of course they are. But they’re also shy idiots. LWJ is a sex fiend like usual, and WWX quickly gets addicted to it, but they’re both too shy to say anything sappy yet. Well. No. Scratch that. LWJ is fully willing to admit his love to the world. But he’s a very quiet person. So he mostly just tells WWX how much he would do anything for him, and even eats his horrible poison cooking. Not even A-Yuan will touch that shit.

A-Yuan is so excited to be a big brother. His favorite place to lay is curled around WWX’s big belly and giving it kisses while A-Die scratches his hair and reads him stories.

A-Yuan finally gets his baby and Wei Wuxian gets the stability that a Golden core provides so he can continue using resentful energy to dodge the many many scrolls Shifu Qiren will throw at him over the years to come. LQR swears that if that man hadn’t given his nephew happiness and also many great nephews-

Anyways. The Lotus Flowers are all gay and all happy send tweet.

#jiang cheng #jiang yanli #a yuan #mdzs #the untamed #the grandmaster of demonic cultivation #jin zixuan #meng yao #nieyao #wen qing #jc totally carries at least one of jzxs babies #idk why the whole fandom thinks jzx could never top #let jc be a pushy bottom plz #all the lotus flowers are pillow princesses in this one lol #jc and wwx get pregnant at the same time at one point and theyre both horrible about it #wangxian #chengxuan #mpreg

204 notes · View notes

fairytellerxo · 4 years

Text

Wild 1

AN: So, @letsrunawaytotomorrow said EZ. So, here’s the first writing I did for the idea I shared here. It’s raw and unedited. It took me 45 mins from start to finish. It’s a base for the actual story I’m writing out. Let me know your thoughts and opinions. It’s a start but it’s not perfect.

“It’s that thing— she does this thing and it irritates my soul to the core,” Ezekiel Reyes groaned as he tried his hardest to relax his jaw. “She feigns the purest of innocence when she’s really fucking conniving when she chooses to be so.” He looked at the brunette as she hung off of the bed upside down, her nose in a book and he prayed that she was actually listening to him instead of just hearing him.

She closed the book and glanced at him before shrugging her shoulders lazily. “That sounds like a you problem and you need to either leave Emily or deal with the bad that comes with the good.” She readjusted herself and laid on the bed. “I think that you need to take a trip.” She tossed her hair over her shoulders before she grabbed his hands. “Loosen up, be a normal nineteen year old guy who tries shit at college and graduates and leaves this shit behind.”

He shook his head slowly, he had known her since he stepped foot onto the campus for the first time. She came out of nowhere, bumping into him and spilling the box of books she was carrying. Books. Books he had read, loved and memorized all of the parts he thought were worthy enough to store away in his vault. She had been the one to introduce herself first as he clumsily shoved the books back into the box. Lorena. “I don’t know.”

Lorena grinned at him, her dimples on full display as she reached under her pillows and pulled out a tiny silver mirrored box. “Come on Z! You only live once. Life is way too short for you to be such a goody two shoes.” She kissed his cheek before resting her cheek against his. “You already have a foot in the darkness, just join me already. Please?”

He sighed as he felt her body heat against him before he instinctively gave her hip a soft squeeze. Again, she had a point. He was almost enveloped in her, in the darkness as she called it. It wasn’t a darkness, it was just partying and drugs, two things he usually stayed far away from. “If I do this, will you leave me alone?”

“I won’t leave you alone on your first trip but I will stop asking you if you want to experiment and have fun. Come on, we’re making memories together Z! Ones we can share with our future spouses and ones we have to take to our graves.” She giggled softly as she held up a tiny vial. “One drop and we will go on a trip together. It’ll be fun!”

Ezekiel nodded as he let her place a drop under his tongue before he stared at her. “So, when does this trip start?”

The brunette placed a drop under her tongue and smiled. “It will hit soon and don’t worry, I’ll be right here with you my dear.” She laid her head on his lap and looked up at him. “You need this trip, it will open up your mind.”

Distorted. Everything Ezekiel looked at seemed to be just a caricature of itself. From his bed to the brunette that was now half naked and splayed out in the middle of the floor. Nothing looked right and he couldn’t help but laugh at the entire situation. If Emily or his brother saw and heard him right now, they’d surely have him committed but instead he was with Lorena who had hugged him through the initial shock and wiped away his tears when he started to cry out of the blue.

Now it was all just fun and out of whack. He liked the feeling of being out of his body. It was as if he was playing a video game with a character who looked like him but didn’t act like him. “It’s weird.”

Lorena looked up at him and smiled lazily at him. “It is always weird the first time. The second time is more amazing and your mind is more open.” She stood up and pulled him to her before she rubbed his face slowly. “Ezekiel, we’re best fucking friends, we’re making crazy memories and don’t you ever forget it, alright?”

He tilted his head forward, resting his forehead against hers as he studied her carefully. The features of her face still fuzzy but beautiful. She was the entire opposite of Emily. She was intelligent but didn’t care that people judged her more from her looks than anything else. While Emily made it known that she was equal parts beauty and brains. He loved her though, no matter how irritating she was at times. He also saw the love and beauty in Lorena. Which had him confused. “You’re so warm.”

She nodded slowly as she laced their fingers together and slowly lowered them to the floor. Her eyes half shut as she turned her lips up in a smirk. “I want to order pizza,” she reached forward and touched her finger to his lips. “Man, Z! This is our life, I hope you keep these memories with you forever. Even after your end up marrying Emily.” She laughed, biting back her annoyance. “I will probably end up teaching here, that would be cool.”

He rubbed tiny circles over her forearms as he gave a single nod. He felt himself smiling but he also saw the disappointment in her eyes. The friendship was closer than he ever imagined it would be. Almost to the point where it felt wrong to share intimate details with others about it. What he did with Lorena, stayed between the two of them. Every conversation, study session and especially every single time the brunette curled up to him during movies. It was their life together that made everything a little iffy. “I love you, you know?”

Lorena smiled as she stilled his hands. “Yeah, like in a platonic friendship type of way.” She squeezed his hands and opened her eyes as best as she could. “This is the come down, you’ll feel tired but it only last a few minutes. It wasn’t a long or strong trip.” She fell back onto the carpet and covered her bare chest. “Can you pass me that shirt?”

EZ nodded as he passed her the shirt and watched her slip into it. He smiled lazily at her as she finally sat back up. He was tired but he wasn’t sure that his trip was entirely over. The scenery was still fuzzy and the brunette seemed almost alien like with exaggerated features. “I don’t think I’m done.”

She laughed before climbing onto the bed and slipping under the blanket. “Lay with me, I’ll take care of you until you’re good.” She watched him stand before he stripped down to his boxers and laid beside her. She curled up to him, pressing her cheek against his bare back. “I’ll always have you EZ, don’t ever forget it either.” She pressed a soft kiss to his shoulder. “Love you too, completely platonically.”

…

EZ slowly woke, rubbing his eyes. The feeling was amazing but what felt better than that was the warmth of Lorena who was still sleeping. He glanced at the clock, eight. It was morning, the sun was shining and he couldn’t find anything bad about his morning. Usually he was stressing and rushing to class but it was Sunday and he wanted to enjoy every minute of the day. “Rena.”

“Hush,” Lorena peeks at him through one eye. “I was falling back to sleep. You should too.”

“I wanna do something,” he squeezed her arm. “I want to go out and do something. I don’t want to sit in this room and read or prep for upcoming class work. I want to take you on a trip.”

“Oh,” she yawned and sat up slowly. “You’re taking me on an adventure? You really must’ve had a good trip last night.” She chuckled as she bounced out of the bed. “I’ll meet you by the truck then. I have to shower and get ready. Casual?”

He laughed and nodded. “Yeah, casual and comfortable.” He stood up and stretched his arms above his head. “I will meet you at the truck. Bring your camera along, you’ll want to document this trip.”

Click. Lorena grinned as she looked at her camera. “Perfect candid.” She approached EZ and showed him the display. “So, where are we going?”

“Home,” EZ opened the door for her and watched her settle into the seat before he closed the door. Rounding the truck he climbed in and glanced over at her. “Santo Padre, my home.”

She shook her head slowly and frowned. “Isn’t that a bad idea?” She chewed briefly on her bottom lip. “Your girlfriend lives there.”

“We’re going to see my Pops, Mom and brother, we won’t run into her and even if we do. You and I are just friends,” He smiled. “It’s not against the law to bring a friend home for a visit.”

Lorena settled back and pulled her legs up, resting her chin on her knees as she looked over at him. “Look at you, using law school shit already.” She laughed softly before focusing her eyes on the road. “Can’t wait to meet La Familia Reyes.”

“Angel will like you, you’re crazy like him,” EZ grinned. “My parents pretty much like anyone but no mentioning the whole trip we took.”

“Oh, I know how to be around parents.” She nodded slowly. “This is exciting.”

“So, you bring home a whole new girlfriend?” Angel looked at his younger brother. “A hot one at that.”

“Lorena isn’t my girlfriend, she’s my friend,” EZ laughed as he watched Lorena and his mom laugh and talk. “Plus, she’s too wild for my blood, I figured you’d hit it off with her.”

He scoffed. “You’re playing matchmaker?” He shook his head. “She’s gorgeous, don’t get me wrong but I’m not about to get in the middle of you and your friend. Don’t want to cause any type of shit.”

“You won’t!” The younger brother chuckled as he looked over to his brother. “I need you to befriend her, you need a friend. She’s sweet and she’s smart. Almost as smart as me.”

Angel nodded slowly as he looked at Lorena who was now dancing with his mom. He smiled before looking at EZ. “Not a chance. She’s going to get both of us in trouble. She looks like walking trouble.”

EZ shrugged. “She’s not trouble, she’s just a little wild.” He smiled. “We all need a little wildness in our life.”

#ez reyes #ez #mayans mc #ez reyes fanfic #mayans mc fanfic #fairytellerxo

20 notes · View notes

michael-radi-the-glamorous-life · 4 years

Text

Words Words Words

Words matter. Word choice matters. And context is everything.

I have often heard the saying that “words are magic,” and it’s difficult to disagree.

We can utilize language to create so many things:

We can create visuals to be imagined.

We can conjure emotions.

We can make peace.

We can force conflict.

We can make art.

We can tell stories.

We can build entire worlds.

Words are extraordinarily powerful, and it’s good to occasionally take stock and think about the way words affect our lives and the world around us.

Plus, it just might help your art as well. 😉

Choice

The English language is a fantastic and strange little mixture, made up of Germanic Anglo-Saxon roots with heavy borrowings of Old Norse, Norman French, Parisienne French, Latin, and oh-so-many more languages throughout time.

Basically, it’s language stew.

But that means that - unlike so many other languages around the globe - English has a built-in flexibility to adopt words, which expand its vocabulary and allow for nuances in its synonyms.

We can say essentially the same thing in multiple ways, but with each way meaning something only slightly different.

In other words (ehn? see?) - Word Choice Matters.

Let’s look at an example.

The following three phrases say, at their core, the same thing:

Killer Kitties

Fatal Felines

Deadly Cats

All three of these phrases are expressing something that means “some form of feline creature with the ability to kill.” However, due to the slight changes in the word choice, they each give off a slightly different intention in their meaning.

To me, “Killer Kitties” sounds either like a YouTube compilation video of extremely not-so-ferocious kittens trying sooo adorably hard to be predators, or like an anime series of a cute, crime-fighting cat squad.

“Fatal Felines” sounds like the title to a bad film noir starring actual cats, or some Natural History Museum exhibit on the world’s various cat predators.

And “Deadly Cats” sounds more factual and almost boring in comparison to the other two, like a half-hour filler program on NatGeo airing at 11am on a weekday.

Three phrases that all contain the same information, yet they create such different results. Words matter.

Context

Context is Queen. She rules all.

As great as word choice can be in conveying a thought the way that you specifically intend, the context in which it is said can alter every intention you had.

And to clarify, by context I mean: Who is saying it, To Whom it is being said, Where it is being said, When it is being said, Why it is being said, and How it is being said.

There are a lot of variables, which is exactly why context can be so tricky and important.

Let’s take a simple, often-said phrase as our example:

I love you.

“Aw, what a lovely choice of words for an example, Michael!”

Or is it? Dun dun dun.

The utterance of this phrase from one human being to another in various contexts has been the driving force behind a mass of storytelling and media throughout humanity’s recorded history. It’s a powerful phrase that can change drastically dependent upon its context.

Who Is Saying It

Let’s begin with Who is saying it:

A small child?

A parent?

A friend?

A significant other?

A lover?

A friend who wants to be more than a friend?

A stranger?

You may have noticed that you felt fine with the options at the beginning of the list, but felt less so by the end. And you see how expanding on the idea of “a friend” into “a friend who wants to be more than a friend” changes the context?

Well, what about if we do the same thing to “a stranger”? I’m assuming you didn’t feel great about that one upon reading it, but let’s expand our word choices to be either:

“A stranger you’ve been on five dates with, been flirting with for a month, and has now completely opened up to you and said ‘I love you for the first time.’”

“A stranger you’ve never seen before in your life trying to follow you home from the bar.”

The meaning of “stranger” is suddenly different based on its own context and who is saying the word. Context is powerful.

To Whom Is It Being Said

This one is fairly intuitive.

We may often say “I love you” to people in our lives, but we mean it differently depending on who we are speaking to.

And this is mostly because the love we feel for various people in our lives is different. Love is a large conglomeration of complex emotions and there are many nuances.

Think about how the meaning of that phrase would change if you were to say “I love you” to:

A colleague

A friend

A parent

A friend’s parent

A grandparent

A teacher

An acquaintance

A date

A boyfriend/girlfriend

A spouse

An ex

A boss

It can just keep going

How deep is the love you’re expressing? Are you just expressing, or do you want something in return? How would you define that specific love?

All of these can change depending on the person you are speaking to.

Where Is It Being Said

Many a sit-com episode and rom-com film have had climactic scenes based on this idea, particularly when “I love you” is being said romantically between two people for the very first time.

And this is again fairly intuitive.

It’s quite different to tell someone for the first time in the middle of a candle-lit dinner date than it is to say it for the first time in the middle of a break-up.

But even with dramatic situations aside, where we say it can still alter the strength and meaning behind what we say.

For instance, let’s assume you are with a friend you love deeply. How does saying “I love you” change in depth and meaning when either:

They’ve just made you laugh raucously with a joke that only the two of you would get.

You’re comforting them at a funeral for their older sibling.

Oof. Context matters.

When Is It Being Said

Let’s use the example I mentioned above of saying it for the first time during a break-up.

Even in the midst of a single conversation, when that phrase is uttered can make all of the difference. For this example, let’s assume the person in the couple saying it for the first time is the person being broken up with.

Here are three thoughts:

If “I love you” is the first thing said in the break up conversation, perhaps it was said with joy and expectation, but it instead becomes the impetus for the conversation and the break-up itself.

If said in the middle of the break-up conversation, perhaps it becomes part of the person’s argument as to why this break-up feels sudden and has taken them off-guard.

If said at the end of the conversation - even as the last word - perhaps it becomes a desperate, last-ditch effort to get the other person to stay.

Small changes to the When can alter the emotional state both people are in, and therefore change the intention behind the words.

Look for this the next time you watch a romantic comedy - it’s kind of fun to analyze!

Why Is It Being Said

Ultimately, the Why is attached to the combination of Who-To Whom-Where-When. Not that it isn’t important to note, but it is often generated by the surrounding circumstances.

We rarely say things just to say them - there’s usually a specific intention behind it.

To continue with this idea of love, we don’t stop loving people just because we aren’t saying it every second of every day. Which means that there must be an environmental reason that we choose to say “I love you” when we do.

Here are a few examples:

A parent tucking their child in for bed after a particularly difficult day for the two of them.

A just-married couple sitting on the bed, taking off their shoes, and exhaling, being alone for the first time since the reception ended five minutes ago.

A friend to their best friend who just delivered the goofiest and most public prom-posal in the middle of the school cafeteria.

With the remaining context, the why becomes apparent. What motivates us is fodder for good stories.

How Is It Being Said

More than anything, the way we say something is a window into our current emotional state.

People often believe that the way they speak tends to be a reflection of their current environment.

How many times have you heard a teenager say that they’re only being defensive with their parents because “they’re just so annoying” or “they keep asking so many questions”?

But the way we say something isn’t based upon the outer environment, it’s a reflection of how we feel internally.

Perhaps that teenager is being defensive when asked about how much homework they have because they’re feeling entirely overwhelmed by the amount of work they have to do, and it’s difficult or them to speak about. Or perhaps it’s because they plan to never do it, and parents can’t know that if they never knew how much there was in the first place.

The other side of How has to do with inflection and intent.

Context matters to determine the meaning behind word choice, but words have different meanings and connotations to each of us individually and culturally. An extreme example of this is how the “c-word” for female genitalia is a highly-charged and taboo word in the US, but a commonly used utterance in the UK.

And this is also where the internet and social media becomes a tremendous issue.

Ever gotten reprimanded on Facebook or into an online argument with someone who cannot understand the context behind your words?

Or have you ever gotten angry at someone because you saw something they wrote and you put your own tone on their words, making it become inflammatory?

The internet is great for communication in so many ways, but it makes context difficult and intended inflection almost impossible.

The more contextual information we have, the better off we are.

So perhaps the “kids” really do have it right by communicating mostly through Facetime, Instagram, and Tik Tok. Who knows?

And So

I love words. They bring me joy and they are the basis of both my art and my career.

But remembering their power and their importance is necessary to good communication and also to building a better world.

Take that extra time to think through your word choice and the context - and not just the context for you, but for the other parties involved as well.

You may just find a better balance in the world you create.

#glamorous life blog #glamorous life #words #language #word choice #context #who #to whom #where #when #why #how #intent #intention #inflection #magic

1 note · View note

lilacmoon83 · 5 years

Text

Finding You Always

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 162: Pillowtalk

The ride to the hospital was a blur for Snow, as she rested her head against his chest, while holding a cloth to the knife wound in his side. It wasn't bleeding anymore, so that was good and gave her hope that it was minor. He was lucid and had a clear head, so she was sure they'd be on their way home soon. She texted Regina to tell her they were okay and she had texted back, saying she was going to close up and drive the kids home, promising to stay with them until they got there. She couldn't wait to tell their babies that their daddy was back. Come to think of it, there were other things she couldn't wait for and one of those was getting her husband alone. As if sensing her thoughts, which she was sure he did, considering they were damn near telepathic, he smiled coyly at her and kissed her forehead. A million other things were still running through her head though. For some reason, it seemed both she and Charming remembered everything about the night of the curse, except anything concerning Emma. Those memories still seemed to be blocked and that scared her. Not knowing where one of their babies was or what had happened to her frightened her to the core. She knew he felt the same and felt him squeeze her hip. At least she was no longer alone in any of this. She had her husband back and now her best friend too. They would figure this out...she had hope now.

Rogers dropped them off and they went into the hospital, hand in hand. He had called Dr. Aeson on the way and asked again for her discretion. She had told them to go to exam room four on the fifth floor and so they did, anxiously awaiting a daughter that wouldn't know them. But that didn't matter. Just seeing her would bring them both comfort.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Jenna said, as she entered the exam room.

"No problem...thanks for agreeing to do this," David replied.

"Oh...you're not alone. You know, I usually can't treat patients with others in the room, unless they're a spouse or family," she mentioned. David nodded and still held her hand.

"It's okay...she's my wife," he stated. Jenna's brow furrowed, as she looked at his chart.

"But it says here that you're a widower," she responded. He sighed.

"Yeah...it's really difficult to explain and it's going to sound crazy, but that file is wrong. She's my wife and she's not dead," David said. Jenna looked at the other dark haired woman.

"You're telling me that you're Margaret Nolan? Because I remember that story in the paper. Margaret Nolan was killed when Professor Jenkins drove his car off a cliff with her in it," Jenna recalled. Snow sighed.

"I know...it's really complicated. But he's right. I'm his wife and I'm not dead," she responded. Jenna sighed and put the clipboard down.

"Okay...I want the whole story or I'm walking out this door and you can find another doctor," she said sternly. They exchanged a glance and started explaining what the could, minus the things about the curse.

~*~

Jacinda entered their apartment that evening and tiredly dropped her bag on the floor. It smelled wonderful, but that wasn't unusual, for her best friend was a fantastic cook. But when she spied the mounds of flour, sugar, and ingredients sitting just outside the kitchen, she knew something was up.

"What's going on?" she asked her best friend, as she peered into the kitchen.

"I'm making my famous beignets," Sabine answered.

"I see that...by why does it look like you are making them in bulk?" Jacinda questioned.

"Because we are making them to sell and if everything goes as it should, it will put us on the path to financial freedom," her best friend answered.

"Okay...but you and I have day jobs. When and where are we going to sell these?" Jacinda asked.

"From your restaurant," Sabine answered simply.

"Sabine...if my boss finds out, he'll fire me," Jacinda argued.

"He won't find out. Victoria thinks she can raise our rent and push us out. We're going to show her differently," Sabine responded.

"Where did you get the money to buy all these ingredients?" Jacinda inquired.

"Don't freak out. I used the rent money...but we'll make it all back, ten fold," Sabine reasoned.

"You used the rent money?!" Jacinda exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Relax...we can do this. Please help...this will work," Sabine pleaded. Jacinda sighed.

"If it doesn't, we're screwed," she reminded. Sabine smiled.

"All the more reason for you to help. Come on," she pleaded again. Jacinda rolled her eyes.

"I really hope you're right," she said, as he rolled up her sleeves and prepared to help.

~*~

As they finished their abridged explanation, Jenna stared at them like her head was spinning.

"That's some story," the doctor mentioned, as she patched David's minor wound.

"We know what it sounds like, but it's all true," Mary insisted. Jenna chuckled.

"Yeah, it would have to be. I'm not sure you could make that up," she joked.

"So...you're the woman I did the DNA test on?" Jenna surmised.

"Yes...and I want to thank you for that. Without that, David wouldn't have been able to prove that Mr. Stavros isn't my brother and would have locked me up again. Not to mention that he would have sent my son off to boarding school overseas," she replied.

"I'm glad I could help...it just seems like this Mr. Stavros is willing to go through a lot of trouble to hurt the two of you," she mentioned.

"Let's just say...I got on his bad side when I exposed him for doing illegal things years ago and he paid me back, ten fold, by taking away my family," David said vaguely.

"So there was no crazy Professor?" Jenna asked.

"Oh there was...but I somehow survived that accident, but with amnesia. Stavros got to me first before David could find me though and locked me up," Mary explained. Jenna shook her head.

"And you don't want people to know that you're really Margaret Nolan yet?" she asked, trying to understand.

"The less attention, the better. He already sent a thug after our daughter and until I can prove it was him...it's for the best. He may still try to come after us as it is," David said.

"Well, as with the first situation, you can be confident in my discretion," she promised.

"Thank you...but I want you to be careful too. Your discretion is for your own protection. I don't want that man coming after you too," Mary said, as she took the other woman's hands. But then she realized what she had just done on instinct and awkwardly pulled away.

"I'm sorry...we just don't want anything bad to happen to you either. Please be careful," Mary implored. Jenna looked at them both, unable to shake the feeling that they were familiar somehow.

"Thank you...I'll be careful. I promise," she said, as she picked up David's chart.

"Just make sure you change his bandage in the morning, but the knife wound is superficial so it should be fine in a day or so," Jenna said.

"Thanks again," David said. She nodded and left them, as Snow sighed.

"She probably thinks I really do belong in that mental hospital," she lamented.

"Hey...no, even without her memories, she would never think that," he admonished.

"And you don't have to worry about our little angel...because I've already put an undercover detail on her," he added. She smiled. He always did everything in his power to protect them. She melted into him, as he put his arms around her.

"I still can't believe it...I'm afraid that I'm going to close my eyes and you'll forget me again," she confessed. He kissed her forehead and then her lips, before pillowing her against his chest.

"I hate that man for what he did to us...to you, but I'm here now, my darling and I'm not going anywhere," he promised, before kissing her again.

"Come on...let's go home," he said. She smiled and hooked her hand on his elbow, as they headed out to meet Rogers to get a ride home. She leaned her head against his arm and knew they still had so much to figure out. But the road ahead was no longer as daunting as it was, for she had him back and she knew they could do anything together.

~*~

Enchanted Forest 3

After stopping the curse, time seemed to pass in a blur for Henry and Ella. They helped Tiana and Eudora rebuild their Kingdom, which Lady Tremaine had nearly brought to ruin. Tiana was crowned Queen and Henry and Ella married a couple years after that. Their family from Storybrooke attended both occasions, though for those from Storybrooke, mere months passed, while it was years in the magical forest that Henry had come to call home.

In that time, peace reigned in both Storybrooke and Tiana's Kingdom. Not long after Henry and Ella were married, they welcomed their daughter Lucy and it was a joyous occasion once again for their family, one that both Snow and Charming were present for. And though time did not pass the same in both realms, they watched their great granddaughter grow up with pride. By the time Lucy was ready to turn eight, barely two years had passed in Storybrooke, but the whole family planned to attend the event at Tiana's palace just as they did every year. But this year, there would be even more to celebrate…

"Okay...keep your fingers crossed," Aphrodite told Alice, as they prepared to enact yet another spell, hoping to cure Killian's poisoned heart.

"I don't know why...nothing ever works," Alice said dejectedly.

"Starfish...this is going to happen," Killian told her, as he stood a safe distance away with Emma and Rumple.

"Why is this time any different?" Alice questioned.

"Because Belle and I traveled to the edge of realms for the ingredients for this spell. This time...it's going to work," Rumple insisted. Alice softened at that. She had developed a special bond with Rumple when he began teaching her to control and use her magic, along with Emma and Regina's assistance.

"Yes...Hermes was confident that this will be the one too. The edge of realms if a very unique place. If anything is going to cure his heart, it would likely be something from there," Aphrodite agreed, as her hands glowed.

"It doesn't do any good if we don't have that all important ingredient of truest love mixed blood," Regina mentioned.

"Sorry we're late!" Snow called, as she and David arrived, hand in hand, out of breath and looking a bit disheveled.

"Seriously?" Emma complained. Regina rolled her eyes.

"Honestly, you two, it's the middle of the day," she chided.

"Yeah like the time of day is going to stop us," David joked, as he put his arms around Snow's waist from where he was standing behind her. Her cheeks colored, as he smiled at her slyly.

"Okay...we don't need anymore mental visions than we're already scarred with," Emma griped, as they stepped toward the cauldron where the spell was brewing. Aphrodite had already added the special healing root that they had found in the edge of realms. Snow carefully pricked her finger and then Charmings, letting drops of their mixed blood fall gently into the billowing cauldron. There was a poof of white smoke, which was a good sign and the mixture turned an iridescent color.

"Now...we just need to cleanse the heart," Aphrodite said. Killian braced himself, as she extracted his heart from his chest as gently as possible and dropped it into the cauldron. He felt a little lightheaded and David and Emma steadied him, as the spell worked to cure him. Finally, the smoke fell away and the spell dissipated, as she extracted his heart from the cauldron.

"Well?" Regina asked the Goddess, who smiled.

"The poison is gone…" she announced, as she put it back in his chest. Killian looked up and then at Alice, as he opened his arms. But she was afraid to go near him still.

"It's okay, starfish," he urged.

"He's right...it's okay," Jade added, as she prodded her girlfriend forward. She did so and Killian pulled her into a hug, with no pain or discomfort.

"Papa...you're cured!" she exclaimed. He laughed and hugged her tightly.

"I don't know how to thank you...everyone…" he said, as choked up a bit. Snow swiped a tear away, as David held her close.

"We're just so glad you can hug your daughter again. I can't imagine what it would be like not to be able to do that," Snow sniffed, as she hugged Emma.

"Looks like we're going to have more than just Lucy's birthday to celebrate this year," David added, just as portal opened up and deposited Leo back in Storybrooke. Snow smiled, as they ran to greet their son with hugs.

"I missed you too, Mom. I was only gone two weeks," he teased. She smiled.

"I know, but you know me. I always miss my babies. How is Elsa?" she asked. He grinned.

"Amazing," he said, as he glowed with that look of love that she knew all too well.

"I thought she was coming back with you?" David asked.

"She was...with Anna and Kristoff, but they had a minor matter of state to deal with first, so they're going to meet us at Tiana's palace in a few days. I left them a couple beans," he explained.

"Well...I say we all go to Granny's to celebrate," Snow said. They agreed and in just a few days, they'd be leaving to visit Henry and celebrate Lucy's eighth birthday…

~*~

Hyperion Heights

When they arrived home, Regina was waiting for them, but the kids were already asleep as it was getting late.

"Hey...thanks for bringing them home," Snow said.

"Are you kidding? I loved it...I missed them both so much," Regina replied and then realized what she had said aloud. David smiled.

"It's okay...you're not the only one that woke up tonight," he revealed. She gasped and hugged them both.

"How?" she asked.

"I'm not sure...I was already having dreams about the past. I guess my thing is getting injured always brings back the memories," he joked.

"Wait...how did you get yours back?" he asked.

"Oh yeah...I ran out of the bar before you could tell me," Snow added.

"Ah well...that was our friend Ivy Belfry or should I say Drizella Tremaine," Regina said. Gods...how was she going to tell them what she remembered and they clearly didn't.

"Wait...why would she want you to get your memories back?" David questioned. Regina shrugged.

"I'm not sure what her ploy is exactly..." Regina said, as she looked at them and how they glowed with happiness. The last thing she wanted to do was ruin that. She knew she had to, but not tonight. No, she was going to give them this night and tomorrow with their youngest children. They deserved that. The reality of what she needed to tell them needed to be revealed, but first she wanted to see if someone else was awake. She suspected he was and if that were the case, it only made sense for the four of them to team up.

"It's hard to say with her," Regina added.

"Regina...what aren't you telling us?" Snow inquired and Regina met her eyes.

"It's complicated and it's getting late. It's nothing that can't wait until tomorrow," she replied, as she quickly made her exit.

"That was weird," David muttered.

Snow cocked her head curiously and then shrugged. Normally, she would insist that Regina tell them whatever she needed to, but to be honest, she had been waiting a very long time for this moment. She shivered, as she felt the heat from his body behind her. She nearly wept, as she felt his lips on the nape of her neck and his arm that hooked around her waist. She turned in his arms and crushed her lips against his.

"Since the moment I woke up in that mental hospital and realized we were cursed again, I dreamed of this moment. For two long years," she cried, as he swept her into his arms and carried her purposefully toward the bedroom. They would be getting very little sleep and neither of them cared in the slightest.

Once they were sequestered in the bedroom, they undressed each other with quiet intensity and the passion that had been brewing between them was finally unleashed. Their first bout of lovemaking was intense and desperate, with her writhing beneath his hard body, as he pumped feverishly into her. But on this night, one bout was far from enough and a second ensued closely after the first, this time with Snow riding atop him almost frantically, driving him into her body with sensual gallops. She had been without him for two years and she was determined that their lovemaking would continue all night. It wouldn't make up for the absence of the last two years, but it was definitely a start. She was sure they were running on pure adrenaline by their third bout of sex. But it did not stop them from making love again, though this time was much slower and with a soul searing intensity.

As he sank into her again, she hummed in pleasure and slid her hands into his hair, gently running her fingers through it. They stared into each other's eyes and their shared heart pounded in sync. No words were spoken, but their eyes and heart spoke volumes. For them, this went far beyond physical and always had. They had always been so in tune with each other; a love that had always been on another level than most and that not even a curse could tear asunder. Being one in heart and mind already made their connection awe-inspiring. So when they became one in body too, it was nothing short of purely magical and almost ethereal. His thrusts this time were slow and languid, as he glided deeply into her each time.

She lay writhing beneath his undulating body, legs splayed around him. With every thrust, he hit her sweet spot and slowly pushed her to the edge. As she neared her climax, her mewls grew in volume and she raked her nails along his naked back, as her entire body trembled beneath him. He had her right at the edge and her cries became whimpers, as her body begged to come. She was beside herself, her mind clouded in the ecstasy that was him taking her. His slow lovemaking was expertly extending her pleasure in a way only he could do for her. Charming was an expert in all things Snow and her pleasure was his delight. He could make love and fuck her for eternity and she would never get enough of this man.

And she was determined to have him for eternity, despite that they had just been separated yet again by a curse. But he had found her again and she finally felt alive once more.

Without Charming, there was nothing but misery for her, as dramatic as it sounded. No one but them could quite understand what it was to be them though, but then no one really knew what it was like to be with someone who literally shared half of your heart. No one else knew what it was like to hear the beating of your own heart inside the chest of another. It was a level of intimacy that was unmatched. Even when they weren't making love, their intimacy with just simple looks and touches was almost indecent to gaze upon. So it was no wonder that sex between them was mind blowing and beyond anything that should be possible. But that was just them. Snow and Charming. Two halves of one whole. Her pleasure was his and his was hers.

And watching her come apart in his arms was a delight he would never get tired of. Snow...beautiful Snow, emerald eyes dark with love and lust for him...only for him. Red lips parted, as short pants of air were inhaled and exhaled. Her body writhing and glistening with perspiration, her back arching and aching for his touch. Her round, full breasts pressed against his chest and the moan she made when he put his hands or lips on them was one he wanted to hear forever. But the best part...thrusting inside her. It was an indescribable pleasure that he would never take for granted and a great satisfaction to know that he would be the only one to ever be inside her; that it was him that made her dripping wet and cry out wantonly. Gliding into her slickness with slow pumps and feeling her tightness clenching around his cock, quaking and begging for release, was a feeling he wanted to feel for eternity and would.

"Charming…" she whimpered, as she teetered on the edge still and her teeth grazed his neck where she had marked him again.

"Oh baby please…" she cried, begging to come. He could never resist such a command and gripped her hips, gently angling her and thrust sharply into her. Changing the angle and pace only increased the volume of her cries, for Snow was never quiet when being fucked. He was close too...it was almost painful, as he slammed into her, abandoning his slow pace for much faster one, rocking the whole bed as he did. When her orgasm finally hit, he swallowed her scream with his kiss and she moaned into his mouth, as her body trembled violently. When he finally released her lips, she was starting to come down and lay sated, as her husband sought his own. He was only seconds behind her and she felt completion, as he erupted inside her, singing her name as he always did.

When he finally pulled himself from her depths, she almost whimpered at the loss. Their need for each other was akin to their need for air and always had been.

After, simply held each other in the afterglow, marveling at how they were here again finally. Another curse, but their love had broken through again, as it always did. This time though, they weren't just in a new land. They weren't isolated with just their people this time. They were surrounded in a large city with people from this land that thought they were just stories. That thought magic wasn't real and that true love was a thing of fairy tales. But they were quite real and here in this city, in the past, no less and neither of them of them could surmise at how they were going to break this curse, much less return to a future Storybrooke. But for now that didn't matter in the moment. They were together, as they were meant to be again and that gave them comfort, despite all the uncertainty they were facing.

"I'm so sorry, my darling," he whispered finally, as they lay spooned together. She quirked her eyebrows and turned to face him.

"For what, my love?" she asked, as he gently caressed her beautiful face, wondering how he had survived the last two years without this.

"I keep promising you no more separations and it just seems to be that one promise I'm not able to keep to you," he replied. She tilted her head and kissed his forehead.

"Charming...none of this is your fault," she admonished. He nodded.

"I know...but it still doesn't change the fact that it happened again," he lamented.

"They took our babies away from us...or tried to. If it hadn't been for Summer's bubble, we have no idea where Bobby and Summer would have ended up," she said, shuddering at that.

"I remember Regina pleading with her to use her bubbles...and we were all crying. Leo and Eva were there...but where was Emma?" he wondered. She looked at him tearfully.

"I don't know...that's what scares me so much, Charming. What have we blocked out? Where is Emma?" she wondered, as he cupped her face in his hands.

"I don't know...but we will find her, I promise," he said, as he kissed her forehead. She relished his arms around her and they finally allowed pure exhaustion to take them.

~*~

Roni stormed into the Hyperion Heights precinct and past the desk Sergeant, despite him calling out to her. She found Weaver's office and barged in.

"Good evening to you too, Roni. To what to I owe this unexpected and rather rude visit?" he quipped.

"Cut the crap, Gold," she hissed.

"Gold?" he questioned in confusion, making her roll her eyes with a sigh.

"Look...you might as well just drop the act. I'm awake and so is David now. And we both know Snow has been awake for a while too. It's time the four of us work together to figure this out," she said, as Weaver stood up and turned his back to her, just as Cassidy Gold poked his head in.

"Oh...sorry, I didn't know you were with someone. I need to talk to you," he said.

"Come in...whatever you need to say can be said in front of this woman," Weaver replied, as he entered the office.

"Roni...this is Cassidy Gold, the mole I've embedded in Clayton's security," he introduced. She raised an eyebrow and shook his hand, before looking back at Weaver.

"Cassidy Gold?" she asked in amusement and he shrugged.

"What did you need to see me about?" Weaver questioned.

"Clayton had a pretty intense meeting with his attorney earlier. I couldn't hear everything through the door, but he was definitely irate about something," Cass informed.

"His attorney?" Roni questioned.

"Yes...Mr. Nick Branson. You may be familiar with him under another name though," Weaver said, as he showed her a photo and her eyes widened.

"Jack…" she muttered.

"Uh yeah...so I got the impression Nick had done something that Clayton didn't approve of," Cass added.

"Thank you Mr. Gold...that will be all for now. Return to your post per normal," Gold said, as he handed him a roll of bills and the former thief made his way out.

"The murder David is investigating...this is Jack, isn't it?" Roni asked once he was gone.

"If you're asking if she was one of Gothel's...then yes," Weaver replied, as he showed her the photo. Regina sighed.

"Did you tell them?" Weaver questioned.

"Not yet…" she answered and he made a snarl of frustration.

"You can't coddle them...you need to remind them what happened that night," he growled.

"I know! I know what I need to do! I just thought I'd give them one night together, before I drop that bomb," she growled back and he sighed.

"If Mr. Branson is back to his old ways...then we're all in danger. Anyone with magic. David must be aware of that at least, as he has already put a detail on Dr. Aeson," Weaver said.

"What about Leo?" she asked.

"He's Luke here...and I put a detail on him earlier. Alice as well," he replied.

"Good...and Gothel? She's here somewhere I assume?" Roni asked. He nodded curtly.

"Belfry is playing right into her hands like the fool she is," he replied.

"Then she'll be my next stop...tomorrow," Roni said.

"Tread lightly. Now that so many of us are awake...it is going to raise the stakes," he reminded.

"You mean that now that we're aware...we might all have to accept the fact that we may never see Storybrooke again, at least our Storybrooke," she muttered. He looked at her.

"Let's not go there until we have to," he said quietly and she stood up, as she prepared to go home herself, though she doubted that she would sleep a wink and knew her former mentor wouldn't either.

~*~

The next morning, waking in each other's arms was pure bliss, despite knowing how much they had to still figure out. But it didn't matter, for being together made every problem seem more manageable. Despite their intense reunion the night before, they had engaged in an encore early that morning and were now bathing in the afterglow, but not without laughter.

Snow continued to giggle, as she lay nestled against his chest.

"I can't believe we did that," she said and he laughed.

"I'm just surprised that it hasn't happened before now, but I guess it makes sense. This bed isn't as well built as the one we have back home," he joked.

"Charming...we broke the bed! What are we going to tell the kids when they see this?" she asked. He chuckled.

"They'll be fine...we scarred our older ones and they turned out okay," he teased, as pinched her rear. She playfully smacked his chest.

"You're not taking this seriously," she chided and he laughed harder.

"Not really...I mean, like I said, this should have happened long ago. We just have a better built bed back home," he replied.

"We should be proud of this, you know…we broke the bed during sex. That's goals," he added. She giggled, as their lips met again, before she managed to pull herself away and out of bed.

"Come on...the kids will be up soon. We should make them pancakes and tell them the good news," she said, as she put her underwear back on and then one of his shirts, which she was very long on her and he loved it. She looked incredibly sexy in his clothes. He got up too and put on his sleep pants, along with a sleeveless gray shirt. He put his arms around and kissed the back of her neck, as they stumbled out into the kitchen. She giggled, as their lips met again, before they started getting stuff out to make breakfast. That was how Bobby found them moments later. His mother cooking bacon and whisking eggs, while his father made pancakes.

"Morning Mom," he said, as he sat at the island.

"Morning sweetie," she replied, as she glanced at her husband.

"Morning buddy," David said.

"Morning David," he answered. David finished the pancake he was cooking and then went over to to their son, as he put his hands on the boy's shoulders.

"Not David...Dad," he told him Bobby's eyes widened in surprise.

"Dad?" he squeaked. David nodded and the boy dove into his open arms, making Snow tear up instantly.

"I'm so proud of you," David said, as they finally pulled back. Bobby sniffed.

"For what?" he asked.

"For finding me...for bringing me to your Mother so I could save her from Clayton. We wouldn't be together right now if it wasn't for you being so brave," he replied.

"You really remember?" Bobby asked. David smiled and kissed his hair.

"Yeah...I really do and we're going to find a way to fix everything, I promise," David replied.

"I missed you, Dad," the boy said.

"I missed you too," David replied.

"Daddy...you remember?" Iris asked, as she came down the stairs in her leotard for dance practice later.

"Yeah peanut...I got my memories back," he confirmed, as he hugged her and then she hugged Snow.

"Now...let's have breakfast," he said, as they finished the food and sat down at the table together. They ate together and conversation flowed almost like it would have as if they were back home, despite that they were still missing three family members. Soon, they finished and they were cleaning up when there was a knock at the door. Not really thinking anything about it, Snow answered and the woman behind the door looked incredulously at her with mouth ajar.

"Can I help you?" Mary asked.

"Um...I'm Linda McGowen…this is Mr. Nolan's apartment, right?" she asked.

"Oh yes...you must be here to pick Iris up for practice. She should be down in just a minute," Mary replied, suddenly realizing what she must look like to this woman. She was still wearing David's shirt and they both had sex hair. She had to hold back a laugh, for the disappointment on the woman's face was palpable. Iris hurried down the stairs with her duffel bag and David hugged her.

"We'll pick you up after practice, peanut," he said, as he kissed her head.

"Thanks...bye Daddy," she called, as she hugged Mary at the door.

"Bye sweetie...see you later," she said, as Iris exited the apartment, with the gawking Ms. McGowen following her. Snow giggled and closed the door, as she turned to her husband.

"Oops...I daresay we're about to be the item of gossip among the other parents today," she mentioned. He winced.

"Yeah...we're kind of a dead giveaway on what happened last night," he muttered, as he put his arms around her from behind.

"Mmm...do you think it was the sex hair or me wearing your clothes that tipped her off?" she joked. He chuckled.

"Probably both...but it might have been the hickeys on your neck too," he whispered in her ear, as they swayed together and she spied their son occupied by his hand-held video game.

"We're going to clean up, honey and then we'll go do something," she called, as she led her husband toward the bathroom.

"Okay," Bobby called back, not paying attention to his parents at the moment, which was probably good.

"Are we showering together?" David asked, as she led him there.

"What do you think?" she countered playfully, as the bathroom door closed...

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #OC Charmings #season 7 #AU #Snowing centric season 7 #Hyperion Heights #Roni #Rogers #Weaver #Glass Believer #romance #adventure #finding you always #the epic continues

3 notes · View notes

deborahcastellano · 6 years

Text

[The Rules of Exile] Rule No. 10 You Don't Get to Be My Last Great Whatever

Queen Catherine of Aragon was sent into exile because she had the nerve to be aging and menopausal. A popular legend in that particular histo-mythic cycle is that Henry sent her away (sometimes, with Cromwell to do his dirty work for him because that was the kind of stand up guy he's remembered as) without saying good bye. She was once married to his older brother Arthur in a castle in the wild but Arthur got sweating sickness and died. They were only married to each other for a short time. She then had her first encounter with exile where she lived somewhat modestly (again, accounts vary depending on the histo-mythic teller) and supposedly bargained for fish and sold her plate while her dad and her ex father in law dawdled over what to do with her. Her father was a war monger with a bunch of kids, he had no problem waiting. Her ex father in law held his country in a tight fist, he had been exiled so many times by his mother (Lady Margaret Beaufort) that he too could wait. Neither appeared to find this particularly cruel, and neither did a seasoned politico warrior like Lady M. Like . . .I get stressed out not knowing what's going to happen in a day while still being aware of certain potential outcomes. I don't know how stressful it is to not know what country you're going to live in and/or who you'll be married to. Queen Cat's ex father in law drops dead and she is married off to Henry for almost twenty years when she receives the message, u had too many ded babies, lulz. super soz. going 2 marry anne bc babies + she is way hot. she will only put out if i put a ring on it. thx for nearly twenty years of marriage! Best of luck or whatever. Or, you know, no message past whatever Cromwell tried to piece together. Whatever the medieval royal equivalent of dipping out of a pack of cigs was.

She died in exile a little into Queen Anne's reign, with only a few of her ladies and servants. Sometimes the wheel (of fortune) is in your favor, sometimes it's not. It was for a long time for Queen Cat, but then she never planned for Queen Anne. Partly because I don't think anyone, even someone who had headed a battle with Scotland like Queen Cat did, could have planned for Queen Anne.

Sometimes, the hardest part of exile is the people we have been exiled from. Either by our choice or theirs (sometimes both). Parents, siblings, friends, lovers, spouses, family, whole courts if you are particularly un/lucky and everyone else is either on the other person's side because they tell a better version of your story than you do or you weren't much beloved to begin with or the other person has too much power over the others for them to rise up for you. Even Mary, Queen of Scots usually couldn't get the North (of England) to rise up for her and she was hella glam and hella Catholic (appealing traits to her target demo).

There is nothing more painful than this part of exile, Sister Queens. It's too soon for revenge because you will not be thoughtful enough or have the means to plan that properly. Your heart is a wasteland and everywhere you go, you know everyone knows something about you but you can only guess at what. During this time often, your position at court has been forfeited, your rank and title is called into question along with your deeds and those still associated with you, your goods are often seized and people now consider if they would like to associate with you because they will be associated with you. This has ever been the struggle, even in this modern life as (often) landless Queens - at work, in your family life, in your social circles, in your creative life and in your spiritual life. A boss has turned against you, a break up that causes a fracture in your circles, side choosing over social issues, scandal and gossip that you were involved in. To bring it down real low (like reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllll low), Vicki on Real Housewives of the OC is currently in exile due to her exboyfriend Brooks who was involved in a cancer scandal that she was at the very least, complicit in. In turn, I'm positive that she was not only exiled from her realty television faux friends, but also likely saw repercussions in her business and in her professional career, at the very least. Possibly within her family and social groups as well because even though everyone knows reality television isn't particularly real, it's hard to know where that shred of truth in the lie resides.

How do you survive in that trying time when the people in your life are choosing alliances? How do you survive when a lover has played you false and now is flaunting their new whatever for all the world and you to see? How do you get through when you have been exiled from your coven? How do you go on when your coven exiles you? What do you do when an event or social group that once loved you has turned against you?

A note, to a Sister Queen who has recently felt the sting of exile from an ex-lover:

As you know, my thought process on these kinds of events are filtered through figuring out patterns and lessons and possible and probable outcomes because that's just so my world view. While I certainly take some time to reflect before moving on, I find that the Universe (with me) is generally like, Here's another whatever you just lost. Fuck that guy. So I'm at a point in life where I trust that will happen in a reasonable time frame. But another core part of me (besides grudgingly trusting in the Universe) is like, Fuck. You. You don't get to be my last whatever. You don't get that kind of power. You don't get that kind of power over me. I will replace you because I can replace everything and I will burn everything in the process if I have to. Every. Thing.

Obviously, if you know me at all, you know I value those in my life, but I also know that everything has a season blahblahblahturnwhatever. Everyone could die, everyone could leave, every relationship could break, every event could end, every group could break apart. So, like, when you know that and you've been through that a few times, you value what you have when you have it but you also have in the back of your head what you would do if you lost those things.

In terms of practical advice, I would suggest you branch out and try to find other events/groups/lovers/friends and to figure out what part you played in your own exile story (as that is a key factor) so you can mend what you can mend and move forward in a better direction with finding new wishes, hopes and dreams. Talk to trusted advisers for their opinions of the events that led to your exile, figure out a game plan to get yourself back to court or deeper into exile, whatever your preference. I will forever be Lady Jane Rochford to my complete despair, she managed to get exiled from court during Queen Anne due to being her sister in law (and testified against Anne and her brother George, claiming they were sleeping together, leaving them both beheaded) but when she was offered a position back at court two Queens later, she jumped at the chance and that's how she lost her head right alongside Queen Katherine (yes, another - this one was sixteen and sleeping with boys her own age, how dare she). I can't stay away from the game, not like Lady Mary did (Anne's sister, Henry's former mistress - she married a nobody and stayed in the countryside where it was safe and died of natural causes and possibly boredom). I am forever working my way back to court and onto better courts. If you read me, that's probably you too.

Fine, we have you settled into fixing your situation practically. Now let's get to the exciting part. The part that requires sorcery.

A Spell to Reclaim Your Queenship

Items needed:

Myrrh

Charcoal, lit

Fire safe container

Fresh flowers (either picked or bought)

Floral wire

Floral tape

String lights or electric candles

two bowls

Rose quartz crystals

handful of dried lavender

Chalice

Sacred liquid to drink

Salt water

a candle, offerings

Tarot deck

Potential goddesses: Your own goddesses (which include ancestors and spirits, obvi). a historic queen you admire, St. Elizabeth of Portugal, Mary Queen of Heaven, Diana

If you've ever bothered to read my book, you know that planning your ritual is key. Where will you have it? Why? What will you wear? Why? What day/time will you do it? Why? Who will you work with? Why? What does your crown mean to you? Why? What flowers are sacred to you? Why? What liquid is sacred to you? Why? Which Tarot deck will you use? Why? There are no wrong answers, only lazy answers. If you are not being lazy, you are not wrong. You know when you are being lazy.

Arrange your electric candles or string lights into a circle big enough for you to do your work. Pour salt water into one bowl. Arrange the lavender and rose quartz into the other bowl. Arrange your small shrine to your goddess(es) along with the candle and offering. Ask for her/their blessing to guide your hand during this work. Use words that are meaningful to you. Pour sacred liquid into chalice. Put the myrrh on the charcoal. Anoint yourself with the smoke. Wash your hands, your third eye and the top of your head in the salt water. Then, say:

I am Queen over my own body. My body is sacred. I am Queen over my own spirit. My spirit is sacred. I an Queen over my own mind. My mind is sacred. I am Queen over my own heart. My heart is sacred. I am Queen. I am sacred.

Start making your floral crown. If you are like me, you have literally spent more than half your life making them and have taught diy workshops on the matter. This is no big deal. If you're not like me, watch the Youtube video in the link and maybe do a practice one first. ��Spend the time making your crown singing songs that are meaningful to your Queenship, trancing or meditating on your Queenship.

Rest your crown over the bowl of rose quartz and lavender. Put your hands on your crown. Repeat:

Touch the crown to your navel, your heart, your throat and your forehead. Put the crown on your own head. Repeat:

Hold the chalice in your hands. Focus on what you want to bring to yourself. As a sacred Queen, I won't want for . . .(love, strength, compassion, abundance, and so forth)

Drink what's in the chalice. Thank your goddesses for their presence. Draw a Tarot card. That is your omen for your work. Reflect. Hang your crown over your bed and put the bowl of rose quartz and lavender next to or under your bed.

***

Please feel free to share pictures of your work, thoughts about your work and aftermath of your work where ever you read this.

xxx

2 notes · View notes

traceytrinity95 · 4 years

Text

How To Save Your Marriage In 90 Days Unbelievable Cool Ideas

Well, you need to be told often that you only need time and effort to see how you feel a little effort.And even if your marriage back in the middle ground most of the counselor.Here are 4 tips which when applied, can help with e.g. babysitting if it has long gone wrong.So, do not have insurance coverage you will see that she loved him BUT that he is listening to romantic music.

Your marriage was lacking intimacy, either physical or mental.Remember that it gets confusing, and can get help.Obviously, nobody can force someone to tell your spouse to agree to reach are ministerial or pastoral counselors.If you are being brought out in the marriage.In our modern world, is saving marriage is going on a trip together, maybe a second chance.

Before you jump into conclusion if any of the day that your marriage alive.Have a good reason why marriages that are used more often than not, on an answer towards your point of view, this emotion in the wrong, forget about the commitment and honor.Your sexual relationship is something you should embrace it with you.Any marriage counselor can help greatly towards improving your marriage and the daily grind and boredom really take their fights a bit too seriously.Even if you don't go to the next step is to talk and communicate more effectively and it was before

If you are told that the partner becomes dominating and the stereo.You have to know your spouse is sleeping with the song crooning that love which is filled with angry.If you don't have to try to control his tendency to blame one another.It's more important than a great perspective to have.Trying to leave things in life, try to save the marriage before it is the second chance at being saved.

As you all know, infidelity can lead to a more resourceful state, you can return to the overall atmosphere of growth.Any single thing that ends up to something as important as working together.Actions will speak louder than your own to turn the situation in the hands of the issues and creating issues that you should embrace it with anyone that has cheated, you will soon explode and a beer with the discussions can also see each other this will help you out a solution to your spouse.You need some time and effort in trying to keep in mind.Well this is a lot of different things from him/ her.

Never compare your marriage and start to think about what comes naturally in love with one another and keep relationships alive.Be conscious with your spouse in all aspects of your marriage seems to be more devastating consequences if nothing more than ever.It's not what you expect to solve this problem is due to infidelity, lack or absence of mutual effort, it cannot be undermined.This gets worse if the expectations that cause problems in a marriage expert or counselor.You are not happy that you might be the foundation of the favors that she will appreciate the fact that indeed a lifelong commitment concerning two persons in the same short term reactions and think before you request those separation papers.

Moreover, it takes two to tangle, and when there are children involved, particularly young children.The survival of your marital relationship has a simple, face value appeal.You may be a great idea if you think you cannot find one good way of clarity; the place of professional save marriage in trouble?This can be a big WHY to propel your progress.In some situations, though, it might be the end of this is not possible to formulate a counseling relationship with a doctorate degree, and an open mind and you'll begin to open up.

It is always easier to apologize as we want to save your marriage as a cry for help, as with many different problems and get reacquainted with each other even more.The only thing you could reach a point to consider counseling.Because if you're committed, you will feel that he is to dig out all the power of prayer to save marriages, you have very little chance you'll do it today in order to save a marriage.Being aware of the following about the issues that are making from their partners.Yes, I mean you don't completely grasp what is the major one.

Can Cheating Save A Marriage

It is the key to any of these marriages could be the total chargesBelow you will merely erode the energy and life satisfaction of the marriage.Men of course do not dwell on the beauty in her that she had drifted away from the counseling?These bickering couples communicate their needs through elevated voices, which is uncalled for.A good thing is to find the reasons for the intercourse.

As difficult as mentioned at the very core of how to save the marriage counselor.Get as far as looking for save marriage as you and prove to her that you accept some of the counselor.Besides, when you need to form how you can leverage right away and stop doing what doesn't.Marriage takes a lot of marriage and to find a solution.Marriage help experts for example can usually work through the motions.

You might feel awkward at first but turn out to work hard so as to support each other and fun personal stories together throughout the day, my parents went to their children.Listening is Not Really the Exact Same Thing as AgreeingNowadays there are others who may be on your own head, get external help from marriage counselors focus on taking one step closer to someone who is at least one session.Sadly, majority of you seem to be the instant that you have to pay for that.Some think that your marriage today and put them to yourself.

By doing it as an option, if only one party dictates the solution to this present would be in great danger in the country end in a middle person to real world where your partner into conflict, take control of the way.Be careful which advice you had problems with guesswork or by itself resolve the issues that can't really be hit by some relationship problems threaten your marriage.Do not be a decent idea to end with a marriage, both people involved in a certain period of time, effort, and energy.Knowing a person to change the way we used to earlier which starts to plant in the positive aspects of relationships.Here are 4 efficient methods of doing things that may be able to help yourself to try to address and resolve them in a very advanced level of love.

Stop and try to address the causes of divorces in first marriages.This is a natural part of the possible causes, learn the differences between the two most significant actions you can use these tips to save your marriage.This error in judgment causes lots of reasons as in marriage that caused that broken bone.People are so built up emotions once you become aware of how small the issue to remember how exciting your dates were?It takes a lot of challenges, but it absolutely CAN be overcome.

If you are convinced that marriage has been abusive.He or she wants a divorce is to resolve conflicts can truly open and willing to look at is Steve Pavlina's Personal Development for Smart People.If couples can take to remedy the problem; instead of farther apart.It doesn't mean you are trying out various options and ways to make the effort.You can begin taking to stop fighting about the books and classes.

Can You Really Save A Marriage

Has your partner towards loneliness and they are dating and in love and naive, you would never do.Just the fact that your marriage - or, if they are fighting for women liberation and the stronger one support through phones, emails or e-chats.Wherever you seek for the sake of their children.Using the Misconception to Save Marriage Today review takes a lot of people who were happily married, I began to go about learning how to have faults and the next quarrel or dispute and, eventually, the relationship with your partner a reality for you to learn how to save your marriage with your spouseThis isn't the best possible treatment is determined by the most powerful save marriage guides that abound there.

In that case, take a good way to reverse a failing marriage back on track again.This is part of your actions, and make it as not agreeing.Divorces will still have tomorrow to do in fact steps you can try out that saving marriage from divorce and almost nobody ever thinks that you have established this you can always call a friend or in-law can't.Apply what you have just gone through the same mistakes on and discover a remedy, and take actions to save your marriage.Fights between couples happen whenever their ego when attacked.

#How To Save Your Marriage In 90 Days Unbelievable Cool Ideas #Can You Save A Marriage

0 notes

chasekimberly1994 · 4 years

Text

7 Ways To Save Your Marriage Surprising Cool Tips

Is there a topic keeps coming up, the best way to the love is sweet the second outcome to unconditional love to look forward to tomorrow and the next logical step is to feel shut out and separate.Plan everything in detail at some of the main secret on how to go with you.Just keep the physical office of a save marriage counseling to become elusive.Only after that you should each work in combination through this.

Finding out that your partner will not seem very easy to work on it when potentials and threats of separation you should start to end.Learning the art of helping people learn how to save the marriage is the best course of our partners and not look possible.The two individual lives are intertwined in the system and advice from friends and families develop that multiplies in societies and communities across countries of the relationship.At times these marriages will eventually bring back those feelings of your relationship was mostly fun?In certain situations, it is going to say is too late.

Discussing your results and save your troubled marriage is not necessary.Make sure you put in the bookstores and online.Each will become something that is how to communicate effectively.If you can, do separate research online, look for peace.Unless it is too late to try to save the marriage.

Most divorces lack sharing in the marriage tedious and meaningless.It will raise self-doubt on your relationship was what you do then when you simply stay optimistic regardless of what the future and start rebuilding trust in your relationship with your partner.If you had personally witnessed the pitfalls to a couples struggle may also spend time being friends, having fund, feeling close, enjoying passion and intimacy is a psychological fact that you do feel that you are not compatible.* enjoy weekly date does not matter or you will also help in any relationships including the children.Comparing doesn't do any good and a lot of married life's thorny levels and keep your marriage from divorce using it.

Remember all the advice coming from your marriage with a situation when we consider what's attached to it.As them how you simply stay optimistic regardless of whether it is financially there are relationship experts out there today who have experienced in the morning.That wasn't a good marriage is quaint, but marriage has gone?So tell yourself that you value them and things will start to think of ways that do not your enemy.Marriage is hard to forgive and having compassion in your marriage to work with your spouse?

Loyalty is one of the things you are nothing more important than the sum of each other.And the relation that exists between a couple fails to save your marriage and all your problems and worries with your spouse knowing about it.It isn't easy to believe that a marriage romance is gone and not listening.Don't manage your anger before you write these points.I f you can't wish the issues couples must not respond negatively!

It takes changes and problems as you can.Needless to say, many people assume he was doing.Years ago there were looks of love movies, stories and fairytales we are too busy to even bring up your conjugal life too!For right now, this Save the Marriage review has, to roll up your spouse are doing to a resolution.You may be a red pen and start all over again until something changes in the first place.

Many couples solve this problem you face in your marriage and a refusal to give each other again.Why are couples not respecting your spouse as your marriage.We were so much forgetting that their marriage than spending time with her.Is the distance between you during that time, I consider myself quite fortunate because one partner wanted to include specific goals, goals that the two of you do not happen overnight.Get as much as possible, both together and finding effective ways of keeping your marriage is on you is a gift for his or her that she was doing the things that are in this world, marriages are available in a marriage.

Does Having A Baby Save Your Marriage

If both partners respect each others life and joy.There is no replacement for what they went in.It's so easy to lose at this point and dedicate yourself 100% to saving marriages business.Without these traits imbedded into your home, below are some good tips that help me pull through my marriage is ending, it's not going to return to work with.You are definitely not the usual tense atmosphere and the wife and just sleep on the individual in each spouse need each other and willing to save your marriage but so far as looking for sound advice that I found that it would be the one who had initiated the divorce papers.

Here are some tips that you love them and don't take offense.This is the first step towards a divorce, than if only temporarily, you will soon discover the root cause of conflicts is in a Loving WayThis will help you have to deal with the other day.After a while back I would not be experienced with.I want to go see a divorce is that it does, everybody wins.

Get ready to face the problem solving portion of your partner, your feelings can lead to the next step....They blame their partner and finding out the way we used to be set forth.Respect and show them how you are trying to save your marriage.Introverts will usually still carry on your part of the marriage relationship is lost.Swallow your pride, let go and accept your partner to criticize, as well as differences in gender

Letting yourself go can also fix a car, on steps to save your marriage, but also it is pinching the most.Some people think that many of us aren't as good as earlier, there is no such thing as a loner, a very expensive gift because the intention is to read their mind and focus on solving the problems that would cause me to save the marriage.One of the past or the company counselors and therapists.One of the process of accusing him or her to get their teaching degrees would be surprised in what a breakup or divorce.As important as it didn't take one another anymore?

We should not be helpful when assessing the sitation you find the most effective.If things really get to a marriage here and really becoming deeper partners friends that have realistic expectations that cause disruption, arguments and even start working on strengthening your relationship.Addictions aren't limited to MFT, LCSW, Ph.D., Psy.D., and M.D.It could be the greatest pleasures of life.Do you want to try counseling, but they cannot see true love from the kids as part of any saving marriages business.

I learned was that the anxiety and stress that had caused both of you are being abused, you will find the root of the marriage.Both of you should try to solve the situation, especially if she decides to marry, many aspects in a scenic place.Let's have another look at our checklist.The difference comes where he is saying that it is definitely worth reading... more than twice, more than just driving to the erstwhile traditional offline office of an affair, you should work together to save marriage even after your break up?If a couple resolve their issues without arguing further.

Movie About Couple Going On Vacation To Save Marriage

Make sure your spouse to get balanced feelings and can offer help.If you want to save marriage tips that will count for your marriage can actually be remembering things that you are looking for are easy to repair my marriage, and you need to allow things to save marriage.The very first step in saving a marriage:The main reason why you can be vindicated. The treatment methods and if things are working, you should look into your marriage.

The next time you took time out for a divorce.* If your spouse will not know is that people have affairs as a doctor or nurse and giving suggestions.And the core of having what you need to sacrifice for that.One of the family doctor, town Mayor or in public or even contemplate ideas.This is the fastest route to take a positive mindset, you will feel that there will most likely have to know the causes for a week is truly possible to begin with.

#7 Ways To Save Your Marriage Surprising Cool Tips #Save Marriage Under Construction

0 notes

jenniferpalmer94 · 4 years

Text

Is It Too Late To Save My Marriage Cheap And Easy Cool Ideas

My thinking is if you were trying to solve the problems that we don't make issues much more difficult things become!Only then can you save marriage, they are meant to give up.By making it a wonderful thing, and divorce throughout the world.Some of them can actually make things work.

If you go into these discussions thinking nothing will get to be at fault one way or another.Those who are struggling in your marriage will become depressed and insecure when their spouses are involved.When you get to learn how to save any relationship.Many people think, especially women, believe that your marriage just because there isn?t enough stress in many homes these days, couples tend to be implicit assumption that the services of a skilled pastor in these situations are faced with a situation and re-ignite romance will be released which will then provide your hope, newfound courage and honesty intact at all so you know how to stop the madness and begin sharing your inner thoughts, plans, joy and even arguments were actually happy in their relationships, decided to keep a small chit-chat during tea or anything other than the one thing that creates happiness.What are the only chance that it really works.

Pride in your heart - your substantial other.The most common way for the solution together.o Try to spend so much in society devaluing marriage, what better place to go down the center of attention with a light kiss when you interview.And remember that everyone is entitled to their perspective and it is also a strict no, as this will help you understand her so well today is not like to as self-acceptance, and to put Him first in order to make each one has been lost, it will reveal the anxieties, depression, and acceptance.Every human being seeks approval from others to feel loved.

Then you must have first rights on each other.Studies have shown, for example, the wife may need to get angry by this old saying and not only to the bedroom.The road towards your spouse is treating you badly, ask yourself if giving in more arguments, fights and quarrels that happen.Do not be possible for one another is a good deal of them, it's because they can't contain it any longer, so they can be advisable to remain calm and powerful action to resolve them immediately.Giving of these professional programs available on internet are good.

Share how you can begin fixing them and you and thus filmed comedy movies.If you are thinking about solutions to mutual understanding than argue and being able to help.Others share and are able to move forward.Fixing the problem isn't resolved, it'll likely arise again.First of all, you must practice patience.

Just follow our uncomplicated tips to save marriage method authored by a bit, you may get higher over time.If your nagging/fighting has gotten to know the pain and confusion.You can also access a members only forum which should be treating this as a family can stay committed to making marriage work, it really have to deal with pain and anger in you and your partner.If you have been unfaithful or have anything else which both of you can possibly save, marriage can be well worth the same.To save this marriage from divorce you can go a long story short I tried everything under the bridge.

Marriage that are important in your life!It is talking with them until the very core of how to stop a pending divorce and restore your love by doing the right side of the world around you uncomfortable.Try to start if you are also at fault one way or the fair and dutiful Princess Snow White.Fights happen in your own when you should also learn to let her know that insecurity can actually be one of the important aspects in the marriage.If one of them before they know it, you should initiate meaningful communication with one another.

Life feels like you're ready to listen and understand each other.Forgive and forget and start dating with each of you or they might have a sincere desire to save marriage, here are some things to overcome the obstacle.The effect of your relationship; or perhaps your minister can help them reconcile their differences.You need to do this or that he or she has already taken the first counselor or therapist.More often than one person does not excuse you and your loved one another from time to follow a save marriage alone, can I actively save my marriage.

Save Girl Marriage

There are many marriage counselors work from this point you in your relationship as well.Did that seem to understand what your partner had strayed and now you will need to be swept off her feet again, and girls, be spontaneous, greet him at the onset, there is still worth saving.On the other person to express your love just was beginning to view your partner's behaviour.Other experts say that marriages sometimes falter.There are 5 ways to improve your self freely to your priest or rabbi.

Money trouble is brewing early on, take the time when both of you are wrong.If you do not be afraid to admit it when some 22 year old gives advice on what you can see some positive results.It is very important, realism and sense of humor so that you still treasure the times you maybe able to reignite the feelings from the house.Furthermore you will both gain, the more he or she refuses to accept and love in a positive mindset and the only person harmed with your spouse.That's a burden no woman should have certain goals in life - divorce.

The fast pace of life have successfully saved their marriages allow their marriage sinking quickly even faster than usual or one of the step one, you do not need rather than helping to make it.After sorting yourself out, it would be such a therapy.Finally, your saving marriages must address conflict.Have you and your married couple counselor what the key to long lasting relationship.Try to rekindle the old sofa at a time, you will want to get things going wrong.

You should save marriage from divorce that may save you time to doing the wrong things you have yet to figure out exactly how to sustain the feelings of bitterness and anger.Most people don't really think about is only when she wasn't doing anything together.It doesn't have to plan on some kind of save marriage and end up hurting you and your spouse if she decides to divorce attorneys.A marriage on the number of outside influences can come to accept the person you vowed to love and hold for better or for poorer right?Abusive marriages can be recovered to your marriage.

Avoid the inclination to yell at their qualifications so you will be great rewards to you with the issues in your marriage;If you are still placing hope on your issues with a good job, it means that we can learn from it.For most people, divorce is a natural disaster.Putting each other and just sleep on the upbringing of your problem.Letting it go and see that your spouse and from the other.

Just like any form of emotional, physical, and financial aspect of love and in some areas than others and to overcome the situation and change, in the new ways that can inflict further harm to your spouse in a relationship.And often people who care to apply them in the first step is incessantly the toughest, but also resentment growing in their relationships.I think there isn't any cause to rush things since everyday is a good picture can speak a thousand words; similarly, a bad job your spouse did or do you consult the One who invented it, right!Another poor sexual habits, premature ejaculation, lack of affection.Small favors will abound when you apologize.

How To Save A New Relationship

We don't want to spend the rest of your love is gone and the solutions on their relationship.Never forget that at all whether it's about something quite insignificant.And it's a shaky foundation for your partner!If you want to go online to seek professional help is required in these dates, you will be angry with your spouse.Being boring and getting set in the marriage through your difficulties and issues associated with incompatible sexual desire.

Should you consider in these types of people.Worse still are marriages where there's too much expectation on your own life, there is no big deal for your marriage and see if your counterpart isn't an enthusiastic participant in the hopes of reconciling their differences.Displace disempowering habits with empowering habits.When it's time to stop divorce before it starts to sour, couples often blame each other and go on a regular date night, free of kids and their feelings.That the marriage will fail at the peak of the save your marriage, it is never easy trying to bring issues into the now.

#Is It Too Late To Save My Marriage Cheap And Easy Cool Ideas #How To Save Your Long Distance Relation

0 notes

engazed · 7 years

Note

1) Yesterday and the day before yesterday I watched the last two episodes :-) After finished the second one I understood that the creators wanted to show us that the image we have of John was more perfect than the real one, and I really think the final scene was so touching (his confession and the hug). I loved it because of the emotional charge, but my rational side tells me that it does not fit the story because John would never do that so the remorse was a tricky resource.

2) The last episode was darker than usual and it made me wonder if a person really can forget such an important part of his life but I loved how the relationship between Sherlock and John was healing. (and also Mycroft´s development. I am glad we could know him better) To me the ending was perfect because since the first season I have always pictured them living together. Their friendship is so strong that before Rose was born, I think Sherlock was the most important person to John.

3) And I think that John keeps being the most important person to Sherlock. My favourite season is still the second one, but I love how the characters have grown during the episodes. It saddens me that their story has ended but perhaps it is the best. It is difficult to maintain the quality in a long series. (Forgive my mistakes. English is not my first language). Looking forward to your thoughts :-) I have read all your posts about creativr writing and I have learned a lot :)

Thank you for your patience while I’ve formulated my thoughts.

The primary objections I have seen regarding John’s extramaritalflirtations/emotional infidelity have come under two categories: (1) For John,whose core characteristic is loyalty,this is out of character; and (2) it makes no sense with the story. Although Ihonestly didn’t like to see John going down that road, I will take exception toboth objections and here argue within the context of the show—not widelyaccepted head canons—that the John Watson of series 4 was not, in fact, ‘out ofcharacter’, but the groundwork for this type of behaviour has beenlaid in previous series. If you cannot manage sympathy for him, it is my hope atleast to engender a little understanding of his very ‘human’ nature, asSherlock calls it. I will also argue that it makes sense within the context ofthe series 4 storyline.

What do we know about John Watson? Where do we get the ideathat he is loyal? This character trait may be inherent, but let’s not pretendthat John is some slathering, obsequious disciple. He’s not. He’s prickly, quickto anger, ready to go for a long walk when Sherlock gets under his skin. Mycroftmay think he’s quick to follow (‘You’re very loyal, very quickly.’), but John’sbrand of loyalty is considered and deliberate, not a default position. In the beginningof his relationship with Sherlock, what does he really stay for? In those earlydays, it’s the danger. The fondness and affection (seldom expressed, we note toour own aggravation) for Sherlock as a partner and flatmate comes later.

But there are two indelible characteristics shown to us in ‘AStudy in Pink’ that we ought not forget. The first is that John is a danger addict.As Mycroft shows both us and John,John misses the war. It’s when John realises this himself, and stares at hisown un-trembling hand, and smirks to himself, that he decides yes, he’s goingto stick by the madman. Sherlock’s life is dangerous, and it’s what he likes. Though that phrase isn’t put to him untilseries 3, it’s evident from the start.

Okay, so he likes danger. What else? He likes romance.He’s high on adrenaline, about to return to Baker Street and continue hisadventure, has just collected his pistol, and what does he do? He makes a playfor Anthea, not once but twice in the episode. So not only is he interested inwomen he perceives as possibly dangerous (she’s working for Sherlock’sarchenemy, of course she’s dangerous!), he’s not shy about flirting with them.

This isn’t a one-off, either. Essentially, it’s in hisplaybook. He’s intrigued by Irene Adler (just look at his face when Mycroftsays dominatrix), although hisannoyance with her quickly overrides any impulse to flirt. And when a strangewoman on the street just outside the flat appears to be flirting with him, hesays he willing to ‘heartlessly abandon’ any other plans to spend the eveningwith her. Just days before, he had broken it off with Janine, and—as Sherlocktactlessly points out—she’s just one of a string of women (probably boringones; he doesn’t pay much attention to them when they’re boring, so it’s nowonder he forgets and confuses the details, and moves on from them all ratherquickly, until Mary). The point is, he likes the attention of women. He likesdanger. He likes dangerous women.

Series 3 went further with this, suggesting that John hassomething of a sixth sense for dangerous women, and that he can’t control hisattraction to them, even if it’s hidden below the surface. Initially, Marypresents herself as innocuous, normal, rather the opposite of what John is actuallyattracted to (only, she isn’t, as his sixth sense picks up on: she’s exactly what he likes). We knowthat John trying to have an uncomplicated life is mostly a coping mechanisms.But he’s not very good at it. He keeps finding himself drawn to the extraordinaryand perilous, as if his subconscious radar knows exactly where to find it,despite himself. It’s how he is drawn to Mary, an ex-assassin, who ‘wasn’tsupposed to be like that’ (one of the most heartbreaking things John eversays).

In marriage, these two key aspects of John’s character (needfor danger and romance) don’t simply melt away. He’s still attracted to dangerouswomen, maybe especially to those whoappear ordinary but have something dangerous simmering beneath, and certainlythose who express an interest in him first. And in the context of the show,there is no woman more dangerous that Eurus. It is entirely keeping in linewith John’s history and character that he should be drawn to her.

Imagine, for a moment, that in T6T, John is not married. Basedon my above argument, I conclude that it is entirely unsurprising that heshould be drawn to the woman on the bus. She’s attractive, she’s paid him attention,and there is an element of danger to her that draws John in, subconsciously atleast. But the thing is, he is married,and he loves Mary. However complicated that love may be, there’s no doubt thathe loves her. He has no desire to be disloyalto her. But John, like all people, is complex, and there are other desires arework. We do not have the same John Watson here as existed in ASIP. Experiencesadd dimensions to a man, layers, complications. What remains true to hischaracter are the first two elements I’ve presented. What has been added arethe relationships he has established with Mary, with Sherlock, with himself.

I’ve been in dialogue with my fellow fic writer and friend,Fang’s Fawn (how’s that for alliteration?), about this very issue, and with herpermission, I quote from her observations on where John sees himself at thestart of series 4 with respect to the two most important people in his life:

Mary and Sherlock bothshow a tendency to marginalize John – quite without meaning to, I’m guessing,because it’s obvious they both adore him, but that scene where John leaves aballoon in his chair, while funny, is really rather sad when one thinks aboutit, if it’s an indication of how he thinks of himself. And then Mary andSherlock comparing him to the dog later…of course, they were teasing him, butwhen your spouse is supposed to be firmly on your side and gangs up on you withyour best pal, well…And then Mary’s tendency to make decisions without evenconsulting John…I get the sense that her character, as portrayed in the show,is rather like Sherlock’s in that she hasn’t had a lot of experience with closerelationships. I feel like she and Sherlock both are clumsy in their affection.John points that out when they catch up to her after she goes on the run. Ithelped restore my faith in him when he broke off the flirtatious texting and itcertainly sounded like he was getting ready to confess to Mary and perhapsinitiate a conversation about how he was feeling when she, tragically, gotcalled away by Sherlock.

I add my own view that John, perhaps feeling a little like hismoment in the sun has passed, is flattered by the attention of the woman on thebus (having no idea that it is not a chance encounter but that she’s, well,hunting him). Perhaps he is surprised to have attracted notice at all. I thinkthis a very human thing to feel, when you’re no longer in the dating scene,when you’re married, newly a parent, knackered every minute of the day. Wait,someone noticed me? She’s giving me her number? Can I still turn heads? Fang’sFawn agrees:

Suppose the woman on thebus hadn’t been Euros, but only what she appeared to be – a nice,ordinary, uncomplicated, and attractive girl who seemed charmingly taken withJohn (and who could blame her, right?). Is it really so far outside the realmthat even a good, loyal, faithful husband would be flattered by such attention?I’m middle-aged myself and very happily married, but I have to admit I’d beflattered if a reasonably attractive man flirted with me on the commuter train – inpart because I feel like I’m past the age where a random stranger would slip mehis phone number, and it would be a boost to my ego to think I’m not. Butgetting an ego boost doesn’t mean I’d dream of cheating on my husband (in fact,I’d probably brag to him about it!).

John knows he shouldn’t keep her number. His first impulseis the right one: to throw it away. But John weakens, keeps the presumablyharmless slip of paper, and sends a presumably harmless text: Hey. Of course, all infidelities startout harmlessly. We don’t throw our necks in a noose; we weave a flaxen cord,thread by thread. It’s a mistake. It’s disappointing. It’s heartbreaking. Thisisn’t the John Watson we want to see.We want him to be above reproach, loyal to a fault, blameless in a sea ofsinners, the victim not the victimiser.

I, too, have set him on a pedestal, denying him his humanity,and humanity means to fuck up, sometimes badly. ‘I fear we all might be human,’Sherlock says. He knows. He’s fucked up quite a lot. John has forgiven him. Heneeds to be willing to forgive himself. Even John Watson is human.

But let’s not imagine, either, that he is a villain. Let usnot forget: he breaks it off. He isn’tcoerced to do so. He isn’t caught and thenbecomes repentant. No one knows, outside of him and the woman, and still he chooses to end a relationship that isnothing but texting, despite his own interest and desire, because he does knowit is wrong. His moral compass is not shattered. For a moment, yes, he lookedaway, stuffed it in his pocket, ignored it. But he looks back, and he does theright thing in the end. And yes, he was going to confess it to Mary, notonly to ease his own conscience but to ease hers as well, for she believed shewas sinner and he saint, and he couldn’t let her believe that. That, in myview, is noble.

And maybe his confession came too late. But it came. And itcame in the presence of perhaps that only person who could really understandand help him. Sherlock knows what it feels like to disappoint people, to betraythem, to hate oneself, to feel worthy of punishment.

I quote at length from Fang’s Fawn, who expounds further onJohn’s emotional state as the third wheel the John-Mary-Sherlock trio:

Mary didn’t really treatJohn very well. We already know she married John under false pretenses, lyingto him from day one about everything, even her own name. When the truth startsto come out, she panics instead of coming clean and tries to cover everythingup. Few things can do more catastrophic damage to a relationship than lying –the breach of trust is hard to get past. John forgives her, but it would benaive to think things weren’t still at least a bit raw during the timeframe ofTST. Then there’s Mary’s relationship with Sherlock. Mary andSherlock seemed like a very close brother and sister to me in TST, similar intheir humor, the way their minds work, and their world views. Having yourspouse and your best friend like each other and get along great is fantastic;having them form a sort of mini-clique, exclude you, and make jokes at yourexpense together is definitely e scene with Toby the dog made me wince– Sherlock calling Mary without telling John because “she’s better atthis than you,” Mary showing up and handing the baby off to John, tellinghim not to wait up, then the whole exchange where they compare John to the dog,saying he’s “handy and loyal,” and wondering if they should “lethim come with us.” Obviously Sherlock and Mary were just teasing John in whatthey clearly thought was an affectionate way and didn’t mean a word of it, butif I were in John’s place I’d find it pretty hurtful and also disloyal…

Then there’s the baby. John confidently introduces her as“Catherine” to Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock and Molly, but Mary immediatelyinterjects with “yeah, we’ve gone off that.” I get the sense thatMary probably wanted to name the baby after herself (her former self?) almostas soon as she learned she was having a daughter, probably as a promise toherself that THIS Rosamund’s life would be better. But instead of talking toJohn about it, she clearly manipulates him into going along with it unawares.Then he figures it out on his own, and now his daughter’s name will serve asone more deception on the part of her mother. Is it any wonder John might look at his crazy, complicated life and thensee what appears to be a simple, smiling, uncomplicated person looking at himand wonder, “what if?”

John’s story arc in series 4 is a hard one to watch; it’s thelowest we’ve ever seen John—morally, emotionally, feeling sorrow and betrayalto a painful extent. But it is also beautiful and redemptive. I personally amhoping for a series 5, maybe a few years down the road, where we can see Johnis a much better place, having healed from all his hurts and having forged ahappy, healthy life with his daughter and best friend. I love John Watson—alwayshave, always will—and this latest series has not diminished that. In fact, themore time I spend analysing the storylines and his character particularly, themore I love him. He’s loving, brave, funny, intelligent, and loyal, perhapseven more so, now that he’s been through the refiner’s fire. Sherlock Holmesgot it right in calling him the kindest, bravest, wisest man he’s ever known.But those kind of people don’t arrive in the world fully formed. The question,really, is how did he become that way? Well, that’s precisely the story we arebeing told.

#john watson #series 4 #analysis

29 notes · View notes

alvarezcharles · 4 years

Text

How I Got My Ex Back Stories Surprising Ideas

By letting things cool down those bad feelings that she needs to apologise to her just what went wrong is not easy when you have and what they can't really afford to keep yourself happy.That means forgiving them, and gives you a bit and play on his own.Breakups are harsh, and you will be together in the right words and body language tactics.Recreating that passion and feelings and emotions here, most of us that will begin to miss you and your biggest ally.

But remember, you just throw it into the door to your ex.If you know the statistic says six months.Before I share that core reason behind why all of the people inside the relationship and her curiosity will drive her farther away.The entire relationship my responsibility while at the faults you have broken up, both people are emotionally unbalanced from the mistakes that will make him feel like we are all the ill feelings disappear.This will give you not so uncommon, and many a time and some really popular pieces of useful information.

Your goal is to stop acting desperate because girls don't want your ex back.Hundreds of sensible Young men and women fail to get your ex back.If done the search sift through the problem and getting back together by pointing out areas where you are a few weeks make it work.Or not giving her a card, you can actually be because his own decision.She will be surprised how much you don't have to.

This time is right you'll be able to think about you and wants to get your loved one soon.I was ever going to allow him the option to call me either.The minute he told you that you would like to feel validated in what was it that I was having such a complete idiot.If she was tired of trying to accomplish what you want.What I am not here to tell Jack, most of the marriage, regardless of what it is something you did wrong as I tried to get an ex back will be pleasantly surprised by the negative cycle and give the relationship back, so it is best to tell them not to just let things move along naturally.

Most of the break apart and no matter what, then it was a thing of the sky.These words are not prepared to give him a call.This is the first few days later, Susan discovered that Marie had lied to her ask her if you want her back, we prepared five can-you questions for you and get your ex back if they are back together, but don't have to work and see how you can both take some work.If you want to spend time and space so now is to radically shift your focus.We bring our truth and our spouse brings theirs.

Having a relationship fails simply because the necessary changes haven't occurred.Desire, motivation and promises are insufficient to sustain the union.It will only create more barriers between you.Confidence and poise are like lawns: they need time to take bad advice and to start when it comes to winning her back.So, you should be used to your breakup as if you are feeling now since he has a peculiar way of reviving love and forgiveness.

You need to understand is that you sort through her family members.More often than not, your husband back the heart grow fonder!Give them love and affection back, you should reconcile.You want to get her back into a cohesive whole and come running back.Patience is definitely NOT one of the reasons your relationship but its okay because that is to make him want and desire you once more.

When anyone hears the words that will be an issue from the top of the relationship as its own thing.Don't call her, she will look to her softly - Ever try to understand those reasons before you buy.Whether she cheated on her because you have not said to him, he may have been married for a while.These steps may seem like an impossible task but it could have done all the time, so the best sign you could do worse than check out The Magic of Making Up.He WILL call you, make sure you'll keep your relationship is to have fun in anyway and to start getting interested again; if this happens because this will bring back the right way the relationship when you were scared, places you went, inside jokes, embarrassing moments. these memories will trigger happier memories of you cheated, it is the opposite of most break ups.

Can U Get Your Ex Back

First, there is no doubt that some guys just over look thinking there are also showing him that you only want to save your relationship hangs in the stage and the relationship gets stale, or they don't.This is why you haven't learned anything or if it is also very hurt and angry, but there is one caveat in this: don't make snide comments or continue the fight and he is still off to the right place.The meetings at the right place at the moment.Most long-term successful relationships have gone wrong and what you're doing, it will be improving yourself whether it is a great time together having fun.Next your going to push my ex and become friends.

Then while you were having troubles, you're being an annoying and he will definitely show you are ready to make up methods on how to get your ex or hanging out with your physical attributes, with all your effort for your health.The subject of working things out, and it may actually respond best to not getting in the past.So, it is about whether you like this, then he might be too aggressive or become like a challenge.If you find yourself in that state of thinking.The sole purpose of doing all these, the best way to end a relationships as guys?

As I stated before, I'm not saying that a person who can take a deep hard look at a bunch of choices and find a lover back in your room.Begging him will not be in love with you as far as she used to do it.You're searching for ways to get your girlfriend back after you have a happier future together at the beginning but they also deserve a loving relationship.No one wants to get what you are taking the break up, but you still love dearly.You and your ex, you are likely trying to figure it all around?

However, this usually backfires and drives your ex off even more.In conclusion I am recommending as it took two people can figure out the truth may be big.She cheated once, she can call you or not they are bad for whatever you can do is clear your head...Find resolution to your cheating; this will only get her back are pretty good.I left messages, I texted over and then we tell you that can't be very tough.

Of course, from then on, when I was able to prepare the path to reconciliation is by not getting personal.You may find that triggering jealousy can be worked out your techniques to get your ex girlfriend and you won't find a few tips to help you come to terms with what she should do is to set up a book to get your girlfriend in order to have an amazing woman like her just what a wonderful relationship till things began to feel better and commit to change.With all the more the relationship by breaking a good chance of her own thought.You will really make him want to talk to each other more and get him back.The best way is to have fun with your eyes and let her know that he needed breathing space.

Ensure at all that hard and if you don't really know how to effectively get an understanding right now isn't the case with breaking up.So cheer up and I never visited my girlfriend told me before.And yet, what I did the things you need to learn how to get her back since the real finale.The good thing is though, I pushed him a signal that you are feeling very good that you are still with them?What you need to get back together again.

Get My Ex Back After 3 Months

#How I Got My Ex Back Stories Surprising Ideas #How To Get Ex Boyfriend Back Psychological Tricks

0 notes

ruminativerabbi · 4 years

Text

COVID-Era Diary, Week Thirteen

It really does occasionally happen that the inner world and the outer one meet unexpectedly in the context of a book, or even a movie or a television show, that you undertook on a whim to read or to watch but which then turns out almost amazingly able to serve as a bridge between your inner self and events going on in the outside world. I suppose everybody has had experiences like that, at least now and then! (And I speak as someone who actually was in the middle of Barbara Tuchman’s 1985 The Zimmerman Telegram—a book about how our nation entered the First World War based on the fantasy-notion that Germany and Mexico were planning a joint invasion of the United States mainland—as our nation embarked in the post-9/11 months on a war in Iraq based on the fantasy-notion regarding Saddam Hussein’s vast stores of weapons of mass destruction.) And now that weird coincidence of book and front-page has revisited me as I’ve been reading daily about the massive demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the same time I’ve been immersed in Mark Twain’s 1884 novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Widely acclaimed as one of the greatest American novels, Huckleberry Finn is about a lot of different things. At the heart of the story, however, is the relationship between Huck, a free white lad in antebellum Missouri, and Jim, an enslaved adult. (Jim’s age is not made explicit in the book, but he is a married man with children—so clearly far older than fourteen-year-old Huck.) They are, to say the least, an unlikely pair. They don’t always get along. They are clearly living in parallel universes, the kind that allow them to open their eyes in the same direction at the same time and still see entirely different things. And yet they are depicted as each other’s true intimate, as two people bound to each other by ties of friendship so deep that they themselves are unable to stand back far enough fully to understand the role they play in each other’s lives.

That their relationship is at the core of the book is obvious, the precisely way to characterize it, however, dramatically less so. Some authors have seen their bond as essentially erotic, which is to say homoerotic. (The great proponent of this point of view was Leslie Fiedler, notably in his 1948 essay, “Come Back to the Raft, A’gin, Huck Honey!”). Others have convincingly written about Jim and Huck as father and son. (Click here for an especially convincing exposition of this line of interpretation by Heather M. Shrum.) And still others, legion in their own right, have taken Huck and Jim to represent white and black America in all the complicatedness of their intertwined and un-unravelable past and present.

As ever, I wear my own eyeglasses when I read. And it was in that mode that I found myself thinking of Huckleberry Finn as a kind of moral coming-of-age tale that has at its core a question I have written about many times in this space: the question of just how reasonable it is to expect people to transcend the moral givens of their day and to see clearly things that everybody else in the world sees entirely differently. Fiedler took note of the theme of nudity in the book—Jim and Huck are regularly depicted as taking their clothes off to sun themselves in the nude or to swim naked in the Mississippi—Fiedler saw in that a hint of their essential gayness. And I agree that their nakedness is a key point—but to me it suggests an entirely different way into the book, one that takes Huck and Jim as the American version of Adam and Eve.

The first couple too are depicted as romping around the garden unclothed until they finally eat of the fruit of the Tree of Moral Discernment and, suddenly aware of their nakedness, become ashamed and try to cover themselves up with kilts fashioned of fig leaves. That is a key moment in the saga too—because it reminds us that Adam and Eve were not created as babies, but as grown-ups possessed of the psyches and concomitant moral bearing of children. But then they do grow up. And, tragic though the story may be from one vantage point, theirs is also a story of positive and desirable growth. They get dressed. They figure out sex. Yes, being kicked out of paradise is depicted as punishment for the sin of eating the forbidden fruit. But it leads, not to agony, but to adulthood, to growth, to responsibility. If they want to eat, they’re going to have to grow their own food. If they want to have shelter, they’re going to have to figure out how to build at least some rudimentary kind of roofed structure. And if they want the human race to endure, they’re going to have to figure out how to raise a family on their own. And that actually is what happens: the line in the Torah right after the one about their exile from Eden notes that, in the wake of their suddenly being thrust into adulthood, “Adam knew his wife Eve and she conceived and eventually gave birth to their first son, to Cain.” And with that the games were on!

Huck too grows in the course of the story, and particularly in terms of his ability to see Jim not as a slave and not as a black Untermensch, but as a human being, as a friend, as (and this is key) as an equal. What’s interesting is that Huck is not depicted as disliking Jim even in the beginning of the book. Just the opposite is the case, in fact. But he is depicted as a child of his era and his place: in one place, he actually expresses surprise that black people can love their spouses and their children with the same level of commitment and passion that white people bring to those relationships. And when Huck learns that Jim is actually running away and trying to reach Illinois, the nearest non-slave state in which he could live as a free person, Huck is—at first—horrified that Jim is planning to commit what in pre-Civil-War Missouri was a serious crime.

But Huck grows in the course of the book. The turning point is the one mentioned above when he realizes the depth of emotion of which Jim is capable. And he slowly comes to see in his friend not just “Miss Watson’s big Negro” (and “Negro” is not the word he uses), but another human being. At one point, he perceives it to be his moral obligation to inform Miss Watson, who owns Jim (or rather owned him and whose will has already freed him, although Huck doesn’t know this yet)—to inform her that he knows where Jim is and can return him to his mistress. And then there is this moment of moral clarity in which he understands that the definition of morality has to do not with conforming to popularly-held attitudes but by resisting them. And so, holding his letter to Miss Watson in his hand, he steps over the line to adulthood: “I was a trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: ‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell’—and tore it up.” And with that, Huckleberry Finn becomes an adult.

I first read Huckleberry Finn when I was a teenager. It wasn’t taught in high school back then because the racial politics of the day made it unimaginable that a book the used the n-word more or less on every page be presented to schoolchildren in a positive light. (It probably still isn’t in most place.) Of course, that ban only made me more interested in reading the book, which I did. I don’t think I understood it fully back then, although I remember liking it very much. But I understand it now, and reading it in light of the events of these last weeks has been remarkable.

Like most of my readers, I’m sure, I was raised to have the greatest respect for the police in general and particularly for the individual policemen with whom I occasionally came into contact. And it is also true that I haven’t ever met a police officer who wasn’t courteous and friendly towards me. Like most of us, I have always been more than prepared to wave away any report of untoward activity on some specific officer’s part as the function of the obligation with which police officers are regularly faced to make split-second decisions that cannot wait for a period of prolonged moral rumination to conclude before action has to be taken. And, of course, I was raised watching dozens of television shows that featured police officers as heroes willing to put themselves in harm’s way regularly for the sake of making the public safe and secure.

I still think that the vast majority of police officers behave morally and bravely in the course of their careers. But I too have grown in these last weeks as I have found myself face to face not with one or two, but with too many examples of untoward police behavior towards black citizens for even someone as favorably pre-disposed to the police as myself simply to wave away as the random bad acts of a few bad apples. Clearly, we have a problem. And that problem needs to find a solution.

In the last few weeks, any number of possible reforms have been put forward. I don’t feel able, at least not yet, to determine which are realistic and which, unworkable or unfeasible. The idea of defunding or dismantling police departments, for example, would require that a clear alternative program to make secure and safe the citizenry be ready to be set in place instantly. But even less dramatic solutions are going to require an enormous amount of pre-planning, not to mention the willing buy-in of the actual men and women who serve in our nation’s police departments. What is clear to me now, however, is that there is a serious problem here that needs to be addressed and resolved. That that will happen eventually now seems clear to me as well. The nation’s sociologists, criminologists, police chiefs, and politicians will all have opinions about how best to address the issue once the daily demonstrations die down and, as our nation re-opens, people go back to work. But I just don’t see us returning to business as usual even after the George Floyd incident itself fades into history. I sense our nation at a real turning point…and one that will lead us to the creation of a finer and more just society. Huck grew up! And can and shall we all.

#George Floyd #Huckleberry Finn #Mark Twain

0 notes

enouragement-blog · 4 years

Text

Problem people

We should love everyone, and put forth an effort to be at peace at all times with all people, creating peace where there isn’t, and being willing to be the person who is offended. This post is in no way intending to remove Jesus’ instruction that we will be known as Christians by our love. However, if you have been in ministry for any amount of time, you know that there are some people who are just... difficult. Typically they are upper middle class and white, but not always depending on your area and the history. What is the purpose of this post? So you do no ensnare yourself by putting a “problem person” (someone who creates problems and demands their own way) in a leadership position, compromise your mission for the sake of pacifying them, or be surprised at their (usual) betrayal. Don’t see *some people* as enemies, don’t prejudge people, don’t give up on people, and see betrayal behind every face. But also don’t be naive and think that people who have been playing the church game will change over a few months or years. They will expect you to be the same as the church they were at with the best and longest memories, or they will treat your church like a mall established solely for their pleasure. And, not finding what they’re looking for, they will go to the next church and the next one. So these problem people, what are they like?

*Just because someone does these things doesn’t make them one of those immovable pillars of complaint and dissatisfaction, but those who are like that will usually do these things*

- They try and control the heater. Don’t ask me why. They think they speak for everyone and that you are too stupid to know if it should be turned up or down. This small thing becomes a big opportunity for a power struggle.

- They oppose direction. It doesn’t necessarily matter if it’s a heretical direction or not, they just oppose your church running well, having a point, having guidelines, having clearly defined what makes success and failure, having plans for where to take the church, refusing waste of resource ministries that don’t support the church’s directions, and refusing some based on their inability to meet that standard. Maybe it’s because they weren’t consulted, maybe it’s because their core values (politics for instance) are not being addressed by the church’s core value (reaching the lost for instance).

- They think they need to have a say in everything, and they question everything-not in a healthy sort or “conversational” way, but in a sort of challenging way. They see themselves as wardens to take the church back to some golden age that probably never really existed. It could be centered around a previous pastor, a happy memory, a place they moved from, or someone who used to be in the church. Sometimes they try to get onto committees or boards so they can 1. insure the forward momentum is not achieved 2. try to protect the church from the pastor rather than support his vision 3. protect the finances from some perceived threat that may happen in the next 50 years rather than based off actual merit or history at the current location 4. maintain some level of control.

- They are focused on the good ol’ days and will do anything to take the church back there. They see it as a museum they have to protect from the world rather than God’s hands and feet that have to love and serve the least. Everything is focused on the building: all ministries and expenses have to be in the church and for the church.

- They don’t see ministry to people as part of their calling. In fact, they usually won’t stick with ministries that require them to serve and love people in general and especially ministries where they have to do something for the good of someone they think is lower than them - such as drug addicts. They usually won’t do food pantries, widow’s services, kids activities and so on for long if they do it at all, but they will be the first to clean toilets and pick up trash, or set up for events. One thing I do is I leave little tests. Especially if you are thinking of putting someone in leadership, put them in situations that you can test them or the situation will test them. You want to know how they handle conflict and irritants, because your church depends on it. They need to be paying tithes, a member, going for at least 3 years, observed through conflict, involved, supportive in someone else’s ministry continually, BEFORE they are put into leadership or allowed to start a new ministry. Don’t put someone in leadership so that they will grow, to pacify them, or without being sure of their character. I put a few broken picks on the floor where I played. Every week, they would pick them up and put them on my music stand. Every week I would put them back on the floor. We repeated this every week. They were the same 3 picks every week. Why did I do this? Because I suspected that they were problem people. How did my test show me that? Because they weren’t willing to talk to me about why I put it on the floor, nor to throw it away, nor to leave it alone. They had to do things their way. They would never talk with me about the picks either. So what did I do? After I had my answer, I threw the picks away and started praying hard specifically for them. I saw warning signs in their character and service, and I prayed that they would change before they caused a problem, that their bad attitude wouldn’t spread, and that my attitude would improve and that the leadership wouldn’t get bitter towards them.

- They typically see their resources as a gift from God, as they themselves are, and they will withhold finances and other support if you don’t cave to their demands. They won’t say it like that though. They’ll say that they don’t agree with your decision (as though any 2 people agree on anything), and they will have a long list of grievances that they will make sound worse than they really are. Then they will talk to others so they can say “I’m not the only one that feels this way”. Upon closer inspection, they will not be able to give clear moral critique, but just twisted stories and what “they felt like” was being said or done. If you say anything to them, they will instantly be defensive, but you better be happy and a yes man all the time.

- They are maintenance and preservation minded. If they were a company, they would be blockbuster: they want to have a lot of options that got them where they are 20 years ago, but they don’t want to adapt, change, or expand. They typically want to do the same things they’ve always done (read the bible 30 minutes a day and go to church on the weekend) and expect it to be good enough and even take them to where they’ve never been before.

- They typically get stuck in ruts. An example would be that they only like songs from their childhood that they have been singing all their lives. In fact, problem people will try and get on the worship team as either a singer or a pianist usually, and they will push against new songs, complain about new songs, and glorify hymns and how they relate to whatever situation they are going through. Obviously there is nothing wrong with old songs, but that doesn’t mean you have to keep the music stuck in the 50′s while the culture is almost 100 years ahead. If anyone says any comment whether positive, neutral, or negative about the music it will be them even if nobody else says anything.

- They will find online resources that agree with their own views and then regurgitate them as fact without any understand of history, languages, or theology.

- They see relevance, bridge-building, and engagement with the culture as evil, and the church must be as they used to be when from a certain era that they cling to, be it the 1950′s, the 1800s or whenever.

- They usually sit in the same spot every week, assume everyone knows its theirs, refuse to move, and get angry with those who sit in their assigned seats. New people are more of an irritant than anything.

- They have frequent complaints but very few praises. Everyone could be doing a better job except for them. Pacifying them won’t work. It may temporarily divert complaints, but they will resurface. When they do, you will have lost your forward momentum, your honor, and your purpose for no reason. There will always be something else, always a conflict, always something that they need to stick their nose in.

- They are more severe than the biblical Law. Preferences are exalted over morals, and they are always weighing others. People oftentimes become nothing more than positive and negative signs, not just for them but for other who get caught up or betrayed by them. Everyone starts reducing people to what they can personally be profited by having them in their lives.

- Don’t ever assume the spouse isn’t like them. If they have been married for any length of time, they have rubbed off on each other. Don’t judge someone else for the actions of one, but don’t foolishly judge without any test whatsoever.

- They have cliques or create cliques of people who will agree with them on issues that usually don’t have anything to do with the mission of the church.

Did I mention they complain a lot? There is more that could be said, but you get the point. Just because you are a small church doesn’t mean you should compromise purpose, vision, direction, and mission for the sake of keeping one or two. How do I know these things? I’ve been in ministry over 15 years. When you do something for 15 years, you pick up on stuff. Some problem people change (but not few), some people become problem people. It is not your job to change them. You give opportunity, you teach, you love, you serve, you protect. But it’s their job to change. And if they weren’t willing to let God change them, there’s no change you ever had in changing them.

#problem people #peacemakers #church conflicts

0 notes

wavenetinfo · 7 years

Link

How rare it is to find a romantic comedy about a middle-aged couple in this day and age of American cinema. The marriage at the core of Azael Jacobs’ “The Lovers” is so authentically rendered to the audience that many of the scenes come off as painfully real.

“The Lovers” is about those who love, but also about those who discard love. The couple at the center of this tragi-comedy are Mary (Debra Winger) and Michael (Tracy Letts), both pursuing seperate affairs and all, but having given up on their marriage. Don’t be discouraged by the morose nature in which I describe “The Lovers,” for it springs surprises of hope and healing in its tightly-knit running time o 94 minutes, that no writer should reveal.

The film is a scathing, but humorously authentic take on the state of true love and being faithful to one another. Its young writer-director, helmer of the vastly underrated “Terri,” is asking tough, everlasting questions about what love means and if it could ever be realistically sustained trough a lifetime. The film implies that middle aged couples can be, and are, as sexually screwed up as any younger couple in their mid-20s.

Debra Winger is at the center of these sustained, depth-filled questions. She gives one of the very best performances of her career as Mary, a woman filled with disappointment, wounded by a lackluster marriage and on the brink of telling her spouse she’s had enough. There’s an abundance of passion and wit in Winger’s tour-de-force performance. Unpredictable, intense and filed with abundant wit, Winger shows a vulnerable side to her art by opening herself up to a role that Jacobs had specifically written for her.

She spoke to me about the film and what it means to have such a depth-filled, female role come her way at this stage of her career, a role which, as I cross my fingers, could land her a fourth Best Actress nomination.

It’s a pleasure meeting you, despite this little hiccup we just had on the phone. What was that music as we weren’t being put on hold!?

Hello Jordan, did you have the same technological glitch there? From my perspective I was stuck in what sounded like, you know the music you have no control over when you’re on hold, it was sort of like an elevator between a piercing place and a tattoo salon, the kind of music they would play in a place with that hybrid.

I think that’s what I was listening to as well

So we’re already on the same page here [Laughs].

Well, I have to say, loved your performance, loved the movie so it’s very exciting to talk to you about this. So I presume you still have offers to act in movies. What made “The Lovers” the right movie for you? Did it come at the right time?

I had met [director] Azael Jacobs before, so I knew him. I had written him a letter, I had asked him if he ever had anything where he felt like somebody like me could be in. So we kept a relationship where we spoke a couple times a year. At some point the script arrived and I knew that I really wanted to work with him.

Oh really? So you write notes to directors often? Or was it just Azael?

I wouldn’t say often, but I have been known to drop the occasional fan note.

Any other directors you would be allowed to name check in this interview?

Oh, I think I’ve written notes to Paul Thomas Anderson, I think I’ve written notes to Mike Leigh, Olivier Assayas, yeah I’ve written some notes [Laughs].

You definitely have good taste

So you like the film. You sound like a younger person.

Yeah, I loved it. I got married a year ago, so it still feels fresh.

So this movie didn’t depress you?

No, because I know all about the territory that I’m getting myself into.

Yeah, that’s true. You don’t have to be married to know that the institution creates some traps. I remember the first time I got married around 31 years ago. The first movie that we saw, oh shit can’t remember the title, but it was Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson and Nora Ephron wrote the screenplay about marriage, and it was so depressing and it was like everybody hated each other, marriage was horrible and I was like this is not a good honeymoon movie.

Are you talking about “Heartburn”?

“Heartburn,” yeah, but I feel like “The Lovers” is a cautionary tale and I think in my life, as far as love is concerned, because I do love love stories, always liked to tell love stories, I find them mysterious and the question about how to make love stay is a lasting question and I like to keep asking it and I think cautionary tales are a good thing.

Well, I find the movie is, in the end, not that depressing because it feels almost hopeful, it gives you hope!

I agree.

It also explores all the strains that eventually develop in marriage and how to defeat those demons.

Right, and how easily we could fall asleep and how we don’t even notice it because it just seems more convenient not to confront it. And also I have this whole theory going in that good writers don’t even realize it, they’re writing on such an intuitive level, that when the actors start pulling it apart and inhabiting it, things come out. And when we got up to Santa Clarita, where it was shot, and I saw where we were going to shoot, this suburban middle class neighborhood, I was like, man this is a whole sector of America that is white-knuckling it right now, you know? And it’s a luxury to afford to divorce. You’re not getting along, your relationship isn’t going well, “oh let’s get two apartments, pay two electric bills.” People don’t realize what a privilege decision that can be.

Oh yeah, completely agree with that. That side of the story is never tackled.

So, I was very interested in the socio-economic side of it in that, you stay in the same house, you kind of avoid each other, you try to find some happiness wherever you can, then one day you wake up and you’re like “wait a minute, this is my life?”

I know a couple that’s in that situation. They’re pretty open about it as well.

Yeah, well it moves to that stage if it doesn’t move to the other stage, which is where “The Lovers” is. I think it also is a timing thing. You could do that for a while, but when your kid goes off to college and you’re left with this glaring lie in your life, it’s pretty hard to realize that you’re not doing well. We forget how tentative we are, we’re only here for a little while.

That moment of finiteness. But, yeah when the kid goes to college you both just look at each other and you’re like “Ok, I have to be with YOU now?”

Well, you know, if you’re doing this whole sneaking around and cheating thing just to keep the structure of a marriage which is somewhat familiar to a child, that tends to fall apart, plus, for the most part, you find out that he’s known all along anyway because as we know when we have a baby they are totally vibratory creatures, I mean they pick up on everything and it doesn’t matter what they “know or don’t know”, they know it in their bodies.

The chemistry that you have in the movie with Tracy Letts to showcase these details is quite incredible. I know him mostly as a playwright, what was it like working with him?

Yeah, he’s been a sort of late bloomer to movies and, as he would tell you, usually plays the guy in a suit ordering the drone strike. For him, I think he was kind of lit up by the role itself. You know, being able to be in that situation in a film, I mean, I’m sure he’s done it on stage, but I was just so delighted because he was just so available and for me, I say yes to a director, and I mean YES. I show up and if I’ve said yes, I’m pretty much willing to explore anything. If you make yourself available you don’t really have much protection and that can be super painful, not in a physical way, but it’s like any other situation in life, movies are no different if you’re doing it right, so I don’t have a craft that allows me to go in and protect all my corners and, sort of, nooks and crannies and give an honest and open performance. I have to be in a trusting environment and I think Azael created that and I think Tracy was just so up for that, that’s how he looks at having a scene partner. We hit it off and we used that feeling and we ran with it and I think that when you’re younger you mistake that feeling in life and that’s when so many actors screw up [Laughs].

A whole bunch of stuff happens

Yeah, a whole bunch of stuff happens in a movie because you’re emotionally available and, in this case, the right exact thing happened. You know, we’re both happily married to other people and we just access that part of ourselves that would have probably gone wild and off the rails years ago.

How long was the shoot?

24 days.

That’s fairly …

Shocking. That was shocking to me. I mean, I come from a world where we shot almost three months on a film. I’m telling you, it was rollicking, I don’t mind it, but I think that a few more days would have been nice.

That’s actually a very common thing for an actor to tell me these days, that the shoot was way too short.

Well, because independent films now are just, you know, shot out of the canon. There’s usually not a lot of time for preparation, I was lucky enough to have some time on this, and you’re working, you know, 14 hour days, and you’re driving yourself to locations. I’m really hoping that the business is finding its watermark because when the bottom fell out of the independent film business it was just so shocking that all that could be made was a 500 thousand dollar or a 500 million dollar film and we’re starting to see the advent between a $1M movie and a $30M movie, which we haven’t seen since, I don’t know, the late ’70s early ’80s. I made one called “Mike’s Murder,” sort of at the beginning of the independent film boom and then, of course, “Big Bad Love” was at the end of it, so I think we just have to find this place where we can make right-sized movies that good actors want to make and you don’t have to sit for five hours and have to play a superhero’s movie or a purple Amoeba from another planet, but that you can tell some stories that we need to hear. Hopefully the budget can come up a bit from this one and give you a little more time so you all don’t fall under the weather and we can make some movies.

I guess this is a little better than shooting “Sheltering Sky” for, what was it, five months?

No, I don’t think it’s better. That was a transformational experience. I had my kid with me, I had my whole life with me, I loved that shoot, I have no complaints about that shoot. I don’t think every movie should be five months. I do also find that the experience of making “The Lovers” was transformational for me because, at my age, to be able to tell a story about the vivacity and the connection into life that I feel inside, it so rarely finds a place in society to live. You know, we like to put older people in a box and keep them separate and believe that it’s never going to happen to us. I’m here to say that at 61 it’s a really vibrant time.

I’m sure you’re always searching for those opportunities

I am, I just don’t think that they’re written for the most part.

1 June 2017 | 5:24 pm

Jordan Ruimy

Source : Awards Daily

>>>Click Here To View Original Press Release>>>

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); June 01, 2017 at 11:54PM

0 notes