#Daniel and the furnace

[pastorhogg]

But Even If...

Faith Without GuaranteesLife Lessons Learned We all like a good guarantee. Whether it’s a warranty on a product, a 30-day money-back return policy, or a weather app that assures no rain on our picnic day, guarantees offer comfort. They’re the insurance of life. But when it comes to our walk with God, Scripture offers something far more meaningful than comfort—it offers commitment. Daniel 1…

[watermel0ns-dumb-cringe]

These are same picture to me

[artandthebible]

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

Artist: Simeon Solomon (British, 1840-1905)

Date: 1863

Medium: Watercolour heightened with white and gum arabic

Collection: Private Collection

Who Were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?

The first time we read about these young men, we meet King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who besieged Jerusalem. He immediately started to take notice of the people living in his new territory: “Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace” (Daniel 1:3–4). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, along with Daniel, were selected as meeting that criteria.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were eventually appointed “administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court” (Daniel 2:49). It didn’t take long for these young men to be tested. King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden idol and commanded everyone to bow down to it (Daniel 3:1–5). The dire consequences of not obeying this command were that the violator would “immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace” (Daniel 3:6). The time had come for these three young men to choose whom they were going to obey: King Nebuchadnezzar or the One True God.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to the golden image. When questioned as to why they had failed to comply with the king’s order, they replied, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16–18). The die had been cast. A furious Nebuchadnezzar immediately ordered the three young men to be thrown into the fiery furnace and, as an added measure of wrath, for it to be heated “seven times hotter than usual” (Daniel 3:20). The king wanted to make a public example of how disobedience would be dealt with under his reign.

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace, the king expected to see a quick and painful death for these young men. But he was stunned to see them walking around in the furnace, unharmed—and someone else was in the furnace with them: “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:25). The king, although antagonistic toward the God of Israel, immediately recognized the supernatural nature of miracle before him. Nebuchadnezzar called the three Hebrew men out of the furnace, praised their God, and honored them, declaring, “No other god can save in this way” (Daniel 3:29).

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The King's Statue

1 King Nebuchadnezzar caused his workers to make a gold statue. It was 30 metres high and 3 metres wide. He built it on the flat land called Dura, in the Babylon region. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent a message to all his government officers. He told them to meet together in the place where the statue was. He wanted them to see that he had built a great statue. 3 So all the officers came. Those were the rulers, the judges, the wise people, and all the leaders in the different regions of the Babylon nation. They all came together to give honour to the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had built.

4 Then an officer shouted aloud, ‘Listen to me, you people from every country and nation, who speak different languages! The king makes this command: 5 Listen for the sound of music from trumpets, flutes, lyres, harps or any other kind of music. When you hear the music, you must bend down low towards the ground. You must worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has built. 6 The king will punish anyone who does not do that. His soldiers will throw them immediately into a very hot fire.’

7 So, when all the people heard the different kinds of music, they obeyed. The people from every country and nation, who spoke different languages all bent down low. They worshipped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had built.

8 Then some wise men went to the king. They told him bad things against the Jews. 9 They said to the king, ‘King, live for ever! 10 You made a rule. You said that everyone must listen for the sound of the special music. When they hear it, they must bend down and they must worship the gold statue. 11 You said that you would punish everyone who does not obey you. You said you would throw them into the middle of a very hot fire. 12 But there are some Jewish men who do not obey you. They are Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. You gave them authority to take care of everything in Babylon region. Those men do not respect your authority. They do not give honour to your gods. They do not worship your gold statue.’

13 When King Nebuchadnezzar heard this, he was very angry. He told his servants to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to him. So they brought those men to stand in front of the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, is it true that you do not give honour to my gods? And you do not worship the gold statue that I have built? 15 Next time you hear the sound of the special music, you must obey my rule. You must bend down and you must worship the statue that I have built. If you do not worship the statue, my servants will throw you immediately into the middle of a very hot fire. There is no god who can save you from my power.’

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered the king, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to say anything to show you that we are not guilty. 17 We serve a great God. If you throw us into the very hot fire, he is able to keep us safe. Yes, sir, he will keep us safe from your power too. 18 But even if he does not save us, we still would not serve your gods. And we will not worship the gold statue that you have built. We want you to understand that very clearly, sir.’

The King punishes Daniel's three friends

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was even more angry with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. His face became red. He said to his servants, ‘Make the fire in the oven seven times hotter than usual.’ 20 He told the strongest men in his army, ‘Tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Then throw them into the very hot fire!’

21 So the soldiers tied up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego with ropes. They were still wearing their coats, their hats and their other clothes when the soldiers took hold of them. The soldiers threw them into the middle of the hot fire with all their clothes on. 22 The soldiers needed to obey the king in a hurry. The fire was very hot. As a result, flames from the fire killed the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into it. 23 So the three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell into the middle of the hot fire. The ropes still held them very strongly.

24 What King Nebuchadnezzar saw next surprised him very much. He jumped up and he shouted to his officers, ‘We tied up three men and we threw them into the fire. Isn't that right?’ The officers answered the king, ‘Yes, sir, we certainly did that.’ 25 The king said, ‘But I see four men walking about in the fire! No ropes are holding them and the fire has not hurt them. The fourth man seems like a son of the gods.’

26 King Nebuchadnezzar went near to the door of the oven where the very hot fire was. He shouted aloud to the men inside, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, I see that you are servants of the powerful God who rules over everything. Now come out here!’

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire. 27 Then the king's officers, his wise men and the government rulers and leaders came near to the three men. They saw that the fire had not hurt Shadrach, Meshach or Abednego. The fire had not even burnt their hair or their clothes. They did not even have any smell from the fire.

Nebuchadnezzar's new command

28 Then King Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise the God that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego serve! He sent his angel to keep his servants safe. They continued to trust in their God. So they did not obey the command that I had made as king. They would not agree to serve any other god except their own God. They would rather have died than worship any other god. 29 No other god can save people like their God has done for them. So I make a command for the people of every nation who speak any language. They must never say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. If anyone does that, my soldiers will cut them into pieces. They will knock down those people's houses so that they become heaps of stones.’

30 Then the king gave more authority to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to rule in the region of Babylon. — Daniel 3 | EasyEnglish Bible (EASY) EasyEnglish Bible Copyright © MissionAssist 2019 - Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1162807. All rights reserved. Cross References: Exodus 5:2; Exodus 12:33; Deuteronomy 4:20; 1 Kings 1:31; 1 Kings 12:28; 2 Kings 10:27; 2 Chronicles 22:4; Ezra 4:12; Esther 3:12; Esther 7:7; Psalm 91:3; Isaiah 46:1; Jeremiah 29:22; Daniel 1:7; Daniel 2:12; Daniel 2:46; Daniel 6:1; Matthew 13:42; Acts 5:19; 2 Corinthians 1:10; Hebrews 11:25; Hebrews 11:34; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 13:15

[sonspurs]

son transfer rumors??? BEGONE DEMON!

[letspraynow]

Thank you for tuning into our podcast! We pray these songs of praise will minister to your spirit and bring encouragement into your life. Today's message is "Stand Firm." We will reflect on the testimony of the three Hebrew boys who were thrown into the fiery furnace yet refused to bow down to the king's idol. We will, also, hear about Daniel, who continued to pray to his God despite it being illegal. He stood firm in his faith. Are you standing firm in your convictions? Join us as we listen to these songs of faith and many more. Remember, as you praise the Lord, He gives you joy. The joy of the Lord is your strength, and that strength will help you stand strong. Be blessed.

[kdmiller55]

God Doesn’t Need Man’s Help

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their…

[slowtumbling]

But . . .

A Sermon About Staying Faithful As you probably know I cut my finger this week on the table saw as I was working on wood inlay. We spent most of Tuesday evening at the emergency room at pomerene hospital and then met with a specialist and determined that surgery isn’t needed. Thank you for all of your prayers and messages of support for both of us. We are grateful for your love and care. I…

[rbolick]

Books On Books Collection - Megan N. Liberty

Craft & Conceptual Art : Reshaping the Legacy of Artists’ Books (2023) Craft and Conceptual Art: Reshaping the Legacy of Artists’ Books (2023) Megan N. Liberty, ed. Perfect bound, embossed and ink printed cover. H302 x W229 mm. 118 pages. Acquired from San Francisco Center for the Book (CODEX), 5 February 2024. Photos: Books On Books Collection. Megan Liberty’s traveling exhibition and…

[dwuerch-blog]

Playing with Fire

Still on our honeymoon in beautiful Puerto Vallarta, we are taking it all in! On this night we saw brave people playing with fire. It was a fire show on the beach just after sunset — a sight to behold. How do they keep themselves from being burned? Yikes! U I amuse myself as God always opens my mind to “remember when” and that gives me another blog. Years ago, I remember July 4th in Tecumseh,…

[anniflamma]

Finished the sinking town animation meme. So this animation tells Daniel's story before he met Darius. When he was taken, trained, his friends thrown into the furnace and then saved by God and lastly Belteshazzar's feast and the message on the wall.

Also this is probably my fave expression of Daniel XD Like, Belshazzar tried to make God happy and to spare his life by dressing up Daniel in royal clothing.

[godslove]

¹⁷ “You can throw us into the blazing furnace. The God we serve is able to save us from the furnace and your power. If He does this, it is good. ¹⁸ But even if God does not save us, we want you, our king, to know this: We will not serve your gods. We will not worship the gold statue you have set up.”

—‭‭Daniel 3:17-18

[roastedchik]

Why Jamil is not burning.

No context

[andy-15-07]

Hello! Can you make a Paul Mescal story where Y/N is a famous actress and singer, she was dating a friend of Paul's and their breakup wasn't very friendly, so she and Paul didn't get along very well. They're making a movie together (it could be Gladiator II where she's the sister of the emperors) and they're going to be a romantic couple throughout the movie. It's practically an enemies to lovers (an +18…🫦)

Set on Fire

PAIRING:Paul Mescal x reader

WORD COUNT: 2119 | requests are open (send requests, I will gladly answer them all)

Paul Mescal Masterlist

The roaring heat of the Moroccan desert felt like a furnace, the sun glaring down mercilessly on the film set. Y/N adjusted her tunic, cursing the sweat trickling down her back. It was day four of filming Gladiator II, and things were already tense. Not because of the epic stunts, the heavy costumes, or the sweltering heat—but because of Paul Mescal.

Paul Mescal, the golden boy of the film industry, the one everyone adored, except her.

“Y/N, ready for blocking?” the assistant director called.

She nodded, plastering on her professional face. The cameras were about to roll, and she couldn’t afford to let her personal feelings show.

Paul was leaning against one of the makeshift pillars on set, his leather armor glinting in the sun. He looked every bit the part of a grizzled gladiator, with his tousled hair and piercing eyes. Y/N hated to admit it, but he looked good—too good.

“Try not to trip over your lines this time,” he said, smirking as she walked past.

Her eyes narrowed. “Try not to get winded during the fight scene, old man.”

Paul chuckled, the sound low and infuriatingly attractive. “Touché.”

The tension between them wasn’t just about ego. It went deeper, stemming from her past relationship with James, one of Paul’s close friends. Their breakup had been public, messy, and filled with more drama than she cared to relive. Paul had made it clear whose side he was on, and they hadn’t exactly been cordial since.

“You two have so much chemistry!” the director gushed during a break. “It’s electric! Keep it up!”

If only he knew.

Later, after a grueling scene where their characters confessed their forbidden love, Y/N stormed off the set, fuming. Paul followed her, his boots crunching on the gravel.

“What the hell was that?” he demanded, grabbing her arm.

She wrenched it free. “What are you talking about?”

“You didn’t lean into the kiss.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you wanted me to throw myself at you.”

Paul’s jaw clenched. “It’s called acting, Y/N. Maybe try it sometime.”

“Don’t lecture me about acting, Mescal. You’re not exactly Daniel Day-Lewis.”

Paul stepped closer, his voice dropping. “You know what your problem is? You can’t separate real life from the script. That kiss—it’s not about you and me. It’s about the characters.”

Her heart pounded as he loomed over her, his blue eyes blazing. “Maybe you should stop pretending you’re above it all, Paul. You’re just as involved in this as I am.”

Their animosity hit its peak during a late-night rehearsal. Alone in the empty studio, they ran lines for a heated argument scene.

“You think you’re better than me?” her character shouted.

“I don’t think it—I know it,” Paul shot back, his voice dripping with disdain.

The energy between them was raw, almost too real. As the argument escalated, their voices echoed in the cavernous space.

Suddenly, Paul grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her close. “Do you hate me, Y/N? Or is it something else?”

Her breath hitched, her scripted lines forgotten. “What are you doing?”

He smirked, his voice a whisper. “Getting into character.”

Before she could respond, he kissed her. It wasn’t gentle or rehearsed—it was fiery, filled with the frustration and tension that had been building between them for weeks.

When they pulled apart, both were breathless.

“That wasn’t in the script,” she muttered.

Paul grinned. “Improvisation.”

The air in the empty studio was thick with the aftermath of their kiss. Y/N stared at him, her breath catching in her throat. Paul, his eyes still dark and intense, reached out and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.

"I... I don't know what that was," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "Me neither."

He leaned in, his lips brushing against hers. "But I want to know more."

Y/N felt a shiver crawl down her spine. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment. He tasted of whiskey and regret, but also of something raw and undeniable. He tasted of hope.

He pulled back slightly, his gaze searching hers. "Come to my room later," he whispered, his voice husky. "I want to see you again."

Y/N nodded, unable to speak.

Later that night, she found herself standing outside his hotel room door, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs. She took a deep breath, then knocked softly.

The door swung open, revealing Paul in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, his hair tousled. He smiled, a slow, seductive smile that sent a jolt of excitement through her.

"Come in," he said, stepping aside to let her in.

The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the city lights outside. He pulled her inside and closed the door behind him.

"You came," he said, his voice a low murmur.

She nodded, unable to speak.

He reached out, his fingers tracing the line of her jaw. "You're beautiful," he whispered, his gaze sweeping over her.

Y/N felt a flutter of nerves, a mixture of excitement and apprehension. She smiled, a shy, uncertain smile. "You're not so bad yourself."

He moved towards her, his steps slow and deliberate. He knelt in front of her, his eyes locked with hers. "Let me show you how beautiful you are."

He reached out, his fingers tracing the line of her jaw, then moving down her neck, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. Y/N closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment.

He leaned in, his breath warm against her lips. She parted her lips, and he tasted her, a slow, tentative exploration that quickly turned into a passionate kiss. His hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer, and the kiss deepened, their tongues dueling for dominance.

Y/N broke the kiss, panting slightly. "Paul..."

He looked up at her, his eyes dark and intense. "Let me," he whispered, his voice a low growl.

He began to unbutton her shirt, his fingers fumbling slightly with the unfamiliar buttons. Y/N giggled, helping him. He finally managed to free her from the confines of the fabric, revealing the delicate lace of her bra.

He traced the lace with his fingers, his touch sending shivers down her spine. "You're breathtaking," he murmured, his gaze lingering on the swell of her breasts.

He leaned forward, his lips brushing against her skin, sending a jolt of pleasure through her. He gently cupped her breast in his hand, his thumb circling her nipple, eliciting a soft moan from her lips.

Y/N reached down, her fingers tracing the contours of his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart against her palm. She moved lower, her hands exploring his broad shoulders, his toned abdomen, finally resting on the waistband of his jeans.

He watched her movements, his breath catching in his throat. He reached down and unbuttoned his jeans, his fingers fumbling with the clasp.

Y/N, emboldened, took over, her fingers deftly undoing his belt and unzipping his jeans. She slid them down, revealing him in all his glory. He was even more impressive than she had imagined, long and thick, throbbing with anticipation.

She reached out, her fingers tracing the length of him, feeling the warmth of his skin. He gasped, his eyes widening.

"Y/N," he groaned, his voice rough with pleasure. "You have no idea what you're doing to me."

She leaned down, her lips brushing against the sensitive head of his penis, eliciting a low groan from him. She circled him with her tongue, tasting him, exploring him.

He gripped the sheets, his body trembling with anticipation. She moved lower, taking him deeper into her mouth, savoring the taste of him, the feel of him filling her mouth.

He arched his back, his head thrown back, a series of low moans escaping his lips. He reached down, his hands gripping her hair, pulling her closer.

Y/N continued to pleasure him, her movements slow and deliberate at first, then increasing in speed and intensity. He felt a wave of pleasure wash over him, his body trembling with the force of it.

He cried out, his hands tightening on her hair, his body arching off the bed. He felt a release, a surge of pleasure that left him weak and breathless.

He collapsed on top of her, his chest heaving, his heart pounding. Y/N held him close, stroking his hair.

"That was..." she began, her voice husky.

"Incredible," he finished for her, his voice a low growl.

He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering. "I want more."

Y/N smiled, a lazy, contented smile. "I think I do too."

He rolled off her, his eyes still filled with a lingering afterglow. He reached for her, pulling her close. "Come here," he whispered.

She moved beneath him, her body fitting perfectly against his. He lowered himself onto her, the initial touch tentative, then deepening with a groan.

Y/N arched into him, her nails digging into his shoulders. The sheets rustled, the air thick with the scent of their arousal.

He moved with a slow, deliberate rhythm, his hands exploring her body, eliciting soft moans from her lips. He found the sweet spot on her neck, nipping and sucking at her skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his wake.

Y/N reached down, her fingers finding the sensitive skin beneath his waistband, circling him gently. He gasped, his grip tightening on her hips.

"Y/N," he groaned, his voice rough with pleasure. "You're incredible."

She leaned up, kissing him deeply, her tongue tangling with his. He responded with a ferocity that matched her own, his hands moving lower, exploring the hidden depths of her body.

Y/N felt a shiver crawl down her spine as his fingers found the most intimate parts of her. She arched into him, her body trembling, a low moan escaping her lips. Paul's eyes, dark and intense, met hers, and she saw the raw desire mirrored in their depths.

He moved inside her, slow and deliberate at first, then with increasing urgency. Y/N cried out, her body arching against him, the pleasure building to an unbearable crescendo. She felt him inside her, every muscle tightening, every nerve igniting.

The world seemed to fade away, replaced by the sensation of his body moving within her. It was a primal, overwhelming experience, a release of all the pent-up tension and unspoken desires.

Paul followed soon after, his body trembling above hers as he erupted inside her. They lay spent, their bodies slick with sweat, their breaths ragged. Paul held her close, burying his face in her hair.

"That was..." she began, her voice husky.

"Incredible," he finished for her, his voice a low growl.

He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering. "I want more."

Y/N smiled, a lazy, contented smile. "I think I do too."

And as their bodies began to stir again, they knew this was just the beginning of a passionate, unforgettable affair. This time, it wasn't just about physical pleasure; it was about emotional connection, about exploring the depths of their intimacy and discovering the true meaning of passion.

They continued to make love throughout the night, their bodies moving in a rhythmic dance, their passion building to fever pitch. They explored each other's bodies, their hands and mouths a whirlwind of sensations.

In the morning, they woke to the gentle rays of the rising sun, still entwined in each other's arms. They lay in comfortable silence, the aftermath of their passion a warm, comforting glow.

Paul leaned down, his lips brushing against her hair. "Good morning," he whispered, his voice husky with sleep.

Y/N smiled, snuggling closer to him. "Good morning."

They spent the rest of the morning in bed, lazily talking and laughing, their bodies still tingling with the afterglow of their lovemaking.

As they lay there, Y/N knew that this was just the beginning of something special. The tension that had simmered between them for so long had finally been released, replaced by a deep, passionate connection.

She looked at Paul, his face peaceful in sleep, and a wave of happiness washed over her. She had never felt this way before, so completely and utterly connected to another person.

She knew that their relationship wouldn't be easy. They still had to overcome the lingering effects of her past and the initial animosity between them. But she also knew that they were strong enough to face whatever challenges came their way.

As she drifted back to sleep, she held onto the feeling of Paul's arms around her, the warmth of his body against hers. She knew that this was just the beginning of their story, a story filled with passion, adventure, and love.

[withleeknow]

minho and https://open.spotify.com/track/4gAIUEY7VkeiKQOPwIYaYb?si=oZNdDS-aTUm9V7bEycscDQ 🩷🩷

flower.

pairing: minho x reader genre/warnings: established relationship, fluff, a teeny bit angsty?; minho's pov word count: 0.7k note: i am very sorry if this is bad i wrote most of this while half asleep so please forgive me kshdkfhsk

as always, i’d appreciate any thoughts or comments you may have, and please drop a like and/or reblog if you enjoy reading ♡

main masterlist / request masterlist / ko-fi

one day if a flower blooms in your heart would you be able to understand me?

Flower - DANIEL

minho has been up for a while now, just lying here with you as you snuggle close to him like you can't help but gravitate toward him even in your sleep. one of his hands slips under your shirt where he gently traces the smooth skin of your waist, careful not to rouse you from slumber.

he fails though. maybe a particular swipe of thumb over your body was too ticklish.

"you're so warm."

the words come out a little slurred, a little muffled from where your face is tucked into the crook of his neck, safe and sound on this chilly saturday morning. you stir awake for long enough just to say that, and before he knows it, you're off to dreamland once more, from where you probably won't return for at least another hour or so.

minho halts instantly. you're none the wiser, still sleeping peacefully with your soft breaths fanning his collarbones.

cold, mean, unwelcoming, standoffish, callous. you could name any synonym of these words and he's probably been called that before, by friends and by strangers alike. some of them didn't utter it with malicious intent, but rather it was only a passing comment said in a teasing manner, with a lightheartedness that they didn't think he would mind because, well, apparently he just didn't have enough heart to take it as anything other than a joke.

he's used to it, he's gotten numb to it. somewhere along the way, minho accepted that maybe his name is merely one of those synonyms. it's fine, it doesn't matter. he doesn't really mind it because at the end of the day, none of these people could ever be you.

you're the only person whose opinion he cares about. when all is said and done, he doesn't care if the rest of the world thinks cold and heartless, as long as you know who he is. you're the only thing that matters; everything else just simply... falls away.

he's always struggled with opening up, even if the person on the receiving end is you. it doesn't come naturally to him at all. minho was never raised to be openly affectionate, and it just isn't an inherent trait that he possesses. he's not the kind of guy that tells you he loves you every hour of every day, nor is he the type to smother you with gifts and kisses and grand gestures on a daily basis.

no, minho's love comes quietly, rooted in almost every mundane aspect of life that it's often easy to miss if you don't know where to look. his love comes in the form of packed lunches and home-cooked dinners, of a blanket draped over your form after you've fallen asleep at your desk while working on a project for work. of his hand holding tightly onto yours when you get overwhelmed in crowded places. of his eyes always looking at you as though you're the eighth wonder of the world and he'll never get tired of being mesmerized by you. of texts asking if you've eaten. of sporadic videos of soondoongdori simply sleeping or munching on treats, accompanied by no other message or explanation.

there's a million ways that minho cares for you; he doesn't have to shout it from the rooftops for you to know. you do know, and that's enough for the both of you.

but it's not until you uttered those simple words just now that minho realizes how much he needed to hear them out loud. he's well aware that you didn't mean it like that. you meant it quite literally, because sometimes he does run hot and you've always loved that. your personal human furnace to keep you nice and toasty whenever you wanted. he knows it and yet, he still lets the words wiggle their way inside his ribcage and make a home there. they settle somewhere beside his heart and mend something in him that he didn't notice was cracked and chipped, worn away after years and years of people telling him he was callous.

minho isn't sure how long he's been holding his breath, but the very second he inhales again, everything feels lighter, like he's finally leaving behind some of the weight that he's been carrying with him his whole life.

his fingers resume their ministrations on your soft skin as he presses a kiss to your forehead. he holds you a little tighter, and everything feels like it's going to be okay.

even in your half-asleep state with your mind completely elsewhere, you still manage to take his breath away. maybe you really are the eighth wonder of the world after all.

all rights reserved © withleeknow. reposting, translating and/or modifying is not permitted by any means. [posted 19.05.2024]

[guidingchatgptstory]

The Vessel

The city bustled around him—honking cabs, chatter from crowded sidewalks, and the ever-present drizzle that coated everything in a film of gray. Yet none of it touched him. Not really. Not anymore.

His name had been Daniel Foster, a struggling fitness model barely scraping by in the streets of Manhattan. That was before the thing inside him woke up.

It had started a week ago when Daniel found a strange pendant tucked into the back pocket of a jacket he bought from a thrift store. Jet black and ice cold to the touch, it was etched with glyphs that looked older than language. He wore it on a whim.

That night, the dream came—a voice without a mouth, whispering of strength, dominion, and eternity. He awoke drenched in sweat, heart pounding… and feeling different.

Each day since, his body changed. Muscles thickened, his frame broadened, and veins surged with unnatural vitality. But it wasn’t just physical. He began to lose time—blacking out and waking miles away, the taste of iron in his mouth, people staring with fearful awe.

Now, walking between the yellow cabs with the rain hissing off his skin, he wasn’t Daniel anymore. At least, not entirely.

The entity inside him called itself Kael’Thar, a war spirit of ancient origin, bound to mortal vessels. It had lived dozens of lifetimes through chosen bodies—always the strong, always the ambitious. Daniel had been the perfect shell.

But possession came at a cost.

Daniel’s soul still lingered beneath, a flickering candle inside the roaring furnace of Kael’Thar’s power. He could feel himself, screaming behind the eyes that no longer obeyed his will.

Kael’Thar relished the attention—the way people moved out of his path, the magnetic way strangers stared, unable to look away. Power wasn’t just about strength. It was about presence. And now, he had both.

But deep inside, Daniel plotted. He wasn't ready to be erased. Not yet.

And Kael’Thar, arrogant and ancient as he was, had underestimated the will of modern man.

Because when power was shared between two minds in one body, there would come a reckoning.

And the city would burn before either one gave up control.