#beautiful plants that can be so easily destroyed if neglected

[arkiwii]

Diamond shards in the chest

Plants watered by tears

[prettynxsty]

Acridity II

Sub!Namjoon x Domme!Reader

Warnings: Futa/Girlcock, Joon has a pussy, fingering, gratuitous nipple play, size kink (small top/ big bottom), creampie,

Summary: Sometimes you just need a good romp in the comfort of your home.

AN: This is part 2 of Salinity, go read that first for some context. Enjoy the bedroom hair esque pic. :))))

You push yourself back onto your knees, pushing your own shorts down your hips to fish out your cock. It twitched in your hand as you gave it a few strokes, you wanted to to fuck him slow and deep.

He glances down at you from over the bridge of his nose, his eyes were soft. A wordless request to feel you again, your warmth felt so much better than his.

Your breath jumps in your throat, you can feel your cock jump in your loose grip. He just didn’t understand how easily he was just able to do this to you.

Releasing your dick, you plant your hands around his hips and lay back against him. He seizes up for a second, head curling backward with a silent whimper. Your dick was thick enough to press between his folds and spread them open. Nestling between his fat Venusian tongues, you lean forward and press your nose against the base of his neck.

Anise and almond. You’d never regret purchasing this cologne from the roadshop for him. Herbaceous and aromatic, your drag the tip of your nose up the column of his throat. Hypnotized, your fingers come to gently curl around the base of his neck. His sigh is cool against the shell of your ear.

Nutty, toasty, warm. He smelt like the pits of a home, well loved, the kind that remains a fond memory.

It reminds you of the dampened earth squishing under your bare feet as a child. Rain. One that chooses to create and destroy within its prior breath, nourishing green that has yet to flourish.

Your lips seal around the juncture of where his shoulder meets his neck, suckling on it. The taste is so uniquely him. Acridity. The tip of your tongue undulates over the small sliver of skin. It tastes fresh and powdery, salty, yet acerbic.

His flavor bites back at you. His fingers curl into the bottom of your shirt, holding you against him as if you would drift away. You imagine you can taste the plums he loved to eat in the summer. Your teeth graze his skin just as he would to the plump flesh of fruit.

You climb further up his neck, equidistant to the previous mark which began to flush already. It’d ripen completely later.

“Baby,” he is neither begging nor pleading this time. Rather, beckoning.

You dot the rest of his flesh with hickies before you reach his mouth. He consumes you before you do him. His lips wrap around yours, smacking gently against your upper lip. You suck his tongue in between your lips, running your own along beside it. It’s a gentle exchange back and forth.

He gains his foothold, slipping his hands up the back of your shirt. His fingertips leave behind stinging trails that spread their fire over the rest of your body. He could surely feel your cock jumping against his cunt, you could almost feel the confidence swelling in his chest. You were just as trapped to him as he to you.

“Let me fuck you,” your whisper was breathless against his lower lip. His heart skips forward, his softened eyes boring straight into you.

You lean backward and sit back on your haunches. Your eyes never leave his as you clumsily reach for the nightstand. The drawer closes with a thump that you nearly missed as you pop open the cap on the K.Y Jelly.

You squeeze it over the base of your cock, piping a line all the way to the fat pink tip. You grip it with a trembling hand and begin to massage it over your length.

You didn’t neglect the rest of your responsibilities, watching him shift toward you and tilt his hips toward you. Your mouth runs dry as you watch his adonis belt ripple and stretch, blending down toward the pussy nestled between the swell of his inner thighs.

You squeeze a generous dollop on your fingers before carefully tossing it onto the nightstand again. You lean forward, slipping your fingers past his thick folds and smear it around his hole. You pepper soft kisses against his mouth as you press the tips of your fingers around the velvety entrance.

You resist the urge to groan, you couldn’t wait to feel him stretch and open up around you. His head lolls to the side with a mewl that sends blood rushing straight to your dick. His hand comes to rest on your forearm, gripping it.

You work your fingers in, curling them in and out for a short moment. You could hardly wait, pulling your fingers away eventually. You position yourself between his thighs, his legs coming to rest around your thighs easily.

You grip your cock with your left hand, dragging it in between his meaty folds. You waste no time, pressing into him before dropping your hand to rest on the other side of his waist. He raises his arms, wrapping them around your upper back to guide you to lay against him.

You sighed, pressing your nose in between his pecs as you slowly work your way in him.

“Fuck, you’re stretching me, babe.” He breathes into the air.

A sharp breath squeezes through your lips, your hips jerked forward as his cunt greedily swallows in more of you.

It made him feel so sexy when you were like this, the prey holds the predator on a leash. His hips tilt forward, opening him up to take you even deeper. Right there, he shifts his thighs and locks them around your hips, bordering on your waist.

Your growl is muffled between his tits, Namjoon keens beautifully in response. You carefully shift your weight onto your elbows, planting them deeply in the mattress before rearing back.

There it is, that feeling that made his toes curl. Your skin claps against his gently as you plunge in deep. His moans are slurred, drunk from the pleasure.

He doesn’t need to ask for more, you just understand when he starts lifting his hips to receive more of you. Your teeth set tightly in your jaw as you take it, flesh rebounding from his noisily. He whines breathily as thanks.

Your need to consume him only grows, a clumsy hand gripping some of his shirt and pushing it upward. He releases his grip around your shoulders, allowing you to scrunch his shirt up to his collarbone. Then you see it, his pecs bouncing lightly with each thrust.

“Oh my god, Joon,” you hiss as you snap your hips against his with more force. His beautiful lips spread into a smile before parting in a wail that makes you burn.

You tilt your head, allowing your tongue to fall from your lips and dangle over his right nipple. The hardened nub flicks back and forth against the tip of your tongue. You can feel him nearly glaring at you, you spoiled him by playing with them so often.

You never failed to suckle on them, pinch them, twist, and rub them whenever you made out with him. He at first found it strange, until it became something that he needed.

You couldn’t only tease him for so long and engage. He makes a choked noise as you suck it into your mouth and roll your tongue right over the center.

Your eyes squeeze shut, rolling your head back slightly and tugging his nipple with it. Your moan sends tingles across the expanse of his chest, it drove you crazy when he bucked back against you.

“Sto-” he squeals as you roll his nipple between your teeth. You release it with a harsh suckle and smack of your lips, diving back in.

Your hips move of their own accord, fucking him harder and faster. You can see the shadow of the headboard rocking in the corner of your eye. His other nipple calls your attention, bouncing right along with the rest of his chest.

You shift sides, occupying his right nipple with your finger tips. His back arches off of the bed as you squeeze it between your fingers, tugging until he whined.

You could feel the tension building in your stomach, your head was beyond thought. Blips of static twinkle in place of what would be your inner voice.

You flex your tongue, dragging it over his breast flesh like some dirty beast. He was your pretty maiden, preening and singing for you.

“Fuck, I-” your breath stutters as you hammer in and mold your body against his for the final stroke. His pussy responds noisily, his cum smeared over your length some time ago.

His head thumps against the headboard with a mewl, his cum caked up around the base of your cock. Neither of you mind making a mess on the sheets.

You lean in and press gentle kisses in the seam of his pecs and collarbone. You could always clean later, you always loved to bask in the warmth of after. His arms come up loosely, wrapping around your waist and a large hand strokes your upper back.

[momsopposed2theoccult]

Not Alone

So I wrote a thing. It’s Tokka-ish but could be interpreted as romantic or platonic. I’m currently waiting on an Ao3 invite so I’ll probably post it on there as well once I receive my invite, but for now I figured I would post it on here because I’m excited to share it with you all! Oh and here’s a friendly reminder that Post Plus is bullshit and you will never, ever have to pay to read my writing. Writing is something I do for fun, and I post it on Tumblr because I want other people who love these characters as much as I do to be able to share that experience with me. Not to mention that I’m not looking to get sued by Nickelodeon.

The first time that Sokka noticed there was something wrong with Toph, she had been six months pregnant. 

The two of them were lounging around her living room, Sokka stretched out across the couch with his left arm dangling off the side and Toph relaxing in an oversized armchair, her swollen feet perched on the ottoman in front of her and one hand resting on her rounded stomach. It was an unusually hot summer’s day, and the two old friends had happily retreated into the sweet relief of Toph’s newly installed air conditioning.

“Sokka, do you think I’ll be an okay mother?”

Sokka was taken aback by his friend’s blunt question. 

“Well, just as long as you pay better attention to the kid than you did to Appa, I think you’ll be golden,” he joked, reflecting back briefly on the memory from their war days. 

The then-tiny girl had tried with all her might to prevent Wan Shi Tong’s library from collapsing under the weight of Sokka’s own impulsive curiosity, all while trying to rescue their beloved sky bison from his captors. He would never forget the look on her face after it happened, nor would he forget the months she spent perfecting her sandbending afterwards, determined that she would never make such a mistake again.

Perhaps that had been the wrong thing to say.

Toph’s eyebrows scrunched together in a look of concern as she rubbed absentminded circles on the curve of her stomach with a flat palm.

“Sokka, I’m serious. Do you think I’ll be an okay mother?,” she repeated, some anxiety creeping into her voice. 

“Well, yeah. Sure. Why wouldn’t you be?,” Sokka replied, although he couldn’t ignore the uncertainty in his own voice as he attempted to soothe his best friend’s anxieties surrounding the tiny life growing inside of her. 

Toph exhibited many admirable qualities, but she wasn’t exactly nurturing. He couldn’t help but recall all the plants she had failed to keep alive over the years, or the way Katara was constantly scolding her for swearing in front of Bumi and Kya, or the way she tensed up around babies, as if she were afraid she might break them. 

Toph sighed, blowing her sweaty bangs out of her face.

“I don’t know, I’m just… not great with babies. I never know what to do with them, y’know? They’re just so tiny, I always feel like I’m gonna break them in half or something equally barbaric.” 

“No, no, I’m sure you won’t-,” Sokka began to reply, but Toph had not yet finished lamenting.

“And most kids get to have their dad there, but, y’know, any hope this kid has of ever meeting that lousy excuse for a man is long gone,” she huffed angrily. 

“Daddy’s an asshole, isn’t he! Just a big ‘ole deadbeat loser!,” she said in a mocking babyish tone, giving her swollen belly a little pat.

Sokka rolled his eyes at his friend’s dramatics, but he couldn’t help agreeing. 

The guy’s name was Kanto. He had been a bartender at one of Sokka and Toph’s mutual favourite dives, and an okay enough guy depending on who you asked, but as far as Sokka was concerned, he was the scum of Toph’s beloved earth. 

The two of them had been getting a drink together like they always did on Friday nights, when Toph had caught the bartender’s eye. And honestly, Sokka couldn’t blame him. He certainly couldn’t deny that she was no longer the grubby twelve year old he had met all those years ago. He wasn’t going to pretend like he didn’t notice the curve of her hips or the way her tank top rode up her waist exposing a sliver of stomach. And he couldn’t ignore the way that other men checked her out nor how weird he felt about it when they did. Kanto had been one of those men. After a round of free drinks and a disgusting amount of quite frankly obnoxious eyebrow waggling, Kanto had somehow convinced Toph to come home with him, much to Sokka’s disdain. The rest was history. 

The two of them had been an item for a couple of months. Toph claimed that she was happy with him, but Sokka didn’t need his friend’s talents as a human polygraph machine to figure out that she was lying. 

He wasn’t all bad, he really wasn’t. He never laid a hand on her or anything like that. But Sokka couldn’t help noticing the subtle comments he made about her weight or her outfit or how she spoke just a little louder than he thought a woman should, nor could he miss all the changes she made to her beautiful, wonderful, perfect self just to fit his mold. 

Sokka hated that Toph’s signature confidence could crumble so easily under the will of a man like that. It made his blood boil. 

Toph began to fall apart when he finally left. Then when she found out that she was pregnant, she broke, and Sokka had been there to help pick up the pieces. 

So yeah, not exactly Sokka’s favourite guy. 

“You know you don’t need him, right?” He assured her.

“Yeah, yeah. I know,” she replied, brushing him off with a faint smile that she didn’t quite put her heart into. 

Picking up on his friend’s feeble attempt to mask her obvious worry, Sokka got up from the couch and walked over to where Toph was sitting. He placed one hand firmly in hers and the other gingerly on her stomach.

“Toph, you’re the strongest person I know. Believe me when I say that if anybody can do this on their own, you can. But you won’t have to do it alone, because I’m going to be here for you every step of the way. Do you understand me?” He assured her. 

She nodded in reply. 

“Yeah, I understand. And thank you.”

But he could tell she didn’t really believe it. 

____________

The second time that Sokka noticed something was wrong with Toph had been two weeks after Lin’s birth. Four old friends had gathered on Air Temple Island for a belated celebration of the new mother and child. Aang had cooked noodles, one of Toph’s favourites, but Sokka couldn’t help noticing that the latter had hardly touched hers.

“What’s wrong, Toph? Normally you gobble this stuff up in under five minutes,” Aang asked, voicing Sokka’s thoughts exactly.

The earthbender continued to absentmindedly twirl a piece of noodle around her chopstick, never bringing it to her mouth. 

“I’m fine. Just not that hungry,” she assured them. 

Sokka caught Aang’s eye and they shared a skeptical look. Katara looked at Toph with concern and a vague familiarity, as if something had suddenly dawned on her.

“You know, if something’s bothering you, you can always talk to us about it, right? I know that this is a new experience for you, and I understand if you’re feeling a little lost-,” Katara started, but was cut off by her friend’s inevitable defensive reaction. 

“Oh, so you think this has to do with Lin? You think there’s something wrong with me? You think I’m not fit to be a mother? Well guess what? Lin and I are doing just fine on our own!,” Toph yelled in response to her friend’s gentle attempt to help her. 

“Toph, I don’t think that’s what she meant. What she was trying to say is that being a new parent is stressful enough as it is, and I can’t imagine having to do it alone. We’re here for you if you need our help or advice,” Aang tried to reason with his angry friend, but to no avail. 

“You know what, Aang? You can take your ‘advice’ and shove it up your ass. I don’t need your help, I don’t need anybody’s help. I’m a great mother!,” she shot back in response. 

Sokka sighed. There was no reasoning with Toph when she got like this. Her fits of defensiveness and anger usually masked deeper fears and insecurities that could be difficult, nearing impossible to coax out of her at first. It was usually best to give her time to herself to blow off some steam, and only then could she be convinced to admit the truth about what was bothering her. 

“I’m gonna go take a nap. That is, unless Sokka here has some unsolicited advice for me too,” she voiced in a warning tone implying that if Sokka did happen to have any comments to make, he better keep his mouth shut about them. 

Sokka threw up his hands defensively. 

“No, no, by all means, go take a nap.”

“Great, at least one of my friends doesn’t fancy himself a shrink.”

Toph stormed off in a huff to the guest bedroom, and although her fit of anger concerned him, Sokka was glad to see her getting some much-needed rest. The dark circles under her clouded eyes implying sleepless nights as of late hadn’t escaped him. 

“What was that all about?,” Aang wondered aloud. “I’ve never seen her get that angry over nothing. We were just asking if she was okay.”

“I dunno. She hasn’t really been herself recently, has she?,” Sokka replied. 

“I mean, she called me Aang. Just Aang. She only does that when she’s really upset.”

“Well, it is your name,” Sokka reminded him, although he too couldn’t help noting with concern that Toph had neglected to make use of her favourite choice nickname for their airbending friend. 

“You know, right after I had Bumi I didn’t feel like myself either,” Katara shared. “It was like, before that moment, all I had to take care of was me. But then all of a sudden there was this tiny little human being who relied on me to survive, and I wasn’t sure if I could do it. I felt like my heart was walking around outside my body, and if I made even the slightest mistake I would destroy it forever. I doubted myself a lot. Everything was just so new and overwhelming, and some days I didn’t even want to get out of bed.” 

“So you’re saying that you’re pretty sure that’s how Toph feels about Lin?,” Sokka asked tentatively as realization dawned on him. 

Katara nodded. 

“I do. Sokka, I think you should be the one to talk to her. She always listens to you. I’m not sure how you do it,” Katara remarked. 

Sokka couldn’t deny the truth of the statement. In their twenty years of friendship, he and Toph had sought comfort in each other’s presence countless times. They had a mutual understanding that the other members of their group had often tried to imitate but could never quite replicate. Sokka went to Toph, and Toph went to Sokka. It was an unspoken agreement. 

“Don’t worry, I will. I just think we should give her a little time to cool down first.”

“Good idea. You don’t want her to bite your head off,” Aang chimed in with a laugh. 

____________

About an hour later, Sokka made the journey down the hallway to the guest bedroom to check on Toph and hopefully coax her out of her mood. He opened up the door to find the room dark and Toph laying on her side on the bed. She was trying to feign sleep, but Sokka could tell she was wide awake. Baby Lin was in her crib whimpering, supposedly for her mother. Sokka picked her up in his arms and rocked her back and forth, cooing softly. 

“Here we go, Linny. It’s okay, Uncle Sokka is here.”

The child began to cry. She didn’t want her uncle, she wanted her mom. 

“No, no Linny, don’t cry. Shhhh, Mama’s right here, see?”

Sokka carried Lin over to the bed where Toph was lying and tried to shake her awake, but was met with Toph’s hand slapping him away and an irritated growl.

“Go away, Sokka.”

“Toph, I just wanna talk,” he tried.

“Don’t you understand the meaning of ‘go away,’ dumbass?” She snarked.

“You’re really going to swear in front of the baby?”

“Great. Now you think I’m a terrible mother too. It’s fine, join the party,” she said in a sarcastic, vaguely accusatory tone, followed by her best attempt at rolling her sightless eyes. 

“Toph, nobody is calling you a bad mother. We know you’re perfectly capable of raising Lin on your own. All we’re asking is that you let us help you. You’re not invincible, Toph, despite what you may have led yourself to believe.”

Toph paused, letting Sokka’s comment sink in. 

“I- I’m sorry,” she began. “I know I was being kind of a bitc- a jerk back there. And I know you don’t actually believe I’m a bad mother but, but I’m not sure if I believe it. I’m so scared, Sokka. I don’t think I can actually do this alone. I- I know I said I could, but- but I think I was just lying to you, and to myself,” she choked out as tears began to cascade down her face. 

Sokka raised his eyebrows in alarm at his toughest friend’s unexpected breakdown. He pulled her close to his chest and began to rub her back.

“No, no, Toph, don’t think that. You can do it, you can. But you don’t have to, because we’re going to be here for you every step of the way. I’m going to be here for you every step of the way. You don’t have to do this alone, you hear me?”

“Yeah- yeah I do. I do hear you,” she replied with newfound confidence, wiping her tears on his shirt. “And- and you know I’m blind, right? Not deaf. Of course I hear you,” she joked with a familiar smirk.

Sokka chuckled, glad to see that he finally had his best friend back. He pulled her closer to his chest and just sat there for a minute, planting a kiss on the top of her head and burying his face in her hair. Their moment of peaceful rest was broken by Lin’s frantic crying.

“It’s alright baby girl, it’s alright. Mama’s here,” Toph assured Lin as she picked her up and cradled her in her arms. As she carried her sleepy child back to her crib for some much-needed rest, whispering to her in soothing tones the entire time, Sokka couldn’t help noticing how at home she looked all of a sudden. How safe and comfortable she was with her baby in her arms.

She was going to be just fine. 

[themurphyzone]

PatB/BatB AU: If I Can’t Love Him Ch 1

Summary: Sequel to Imprisoned and part of the PatB BatB AU.

The Beast knows he’s too far gone, in too deep to ever have hope of regaining what he lost. But one action leads to another, and through a series of mistakes, discovers he may have been wrong about so many things.

Pinky is running for his life. He knows he made a promise, and he finds the servants charming, but he can’t stay. The castle was not and will never be his home. But things aren’t always as they appear.

AN: OK ok technically the disastrous dinner request does happen first (as of posting this first chapter, the dinner request scene has not been written yet but I do hope to get around to it), but I just wanna write the West Wing and its aftermath ok lemme have my angst.

This will be a 4 chapter story, each chapter named for a lyric from If I Can’t Love Her from the BatB Broadway musical. It’s a really heartwrenching song and every time I hear it I just wanna hug poor Beast.

AO3 Link

Ch 1: Careless and Unthinking

The Beast heard music drifting from the large dining room, traveling along the wind until it reached his usual haunt on the castle roof just above the West Wing.

Though he was too far to properly hear the lyrics, he recognized that irritatingly catchy melody to Be a Pest, a song the Warner siblings performed on a semi-regular basis ever since the curse upended their lives.

He should’ve known the Warners wouldn’t leave the prisoner alone in his room to starve.

The Beast huffed, a misty cloud forming in the frigid air.

He wasn’t sure why he said that when he didn’t actually want the prisoner to starve. It was counterproductive to breaking the curse.

And that mouse was far too foolish to suit his purposes. Arguing every order, determined to defy him at every turn, uncaring of self-preservation when he skipped into the castle and announced his presence without the slightest attempt at stealth.

Not that anyone else bothered to heed his orders, despite his higher station, but it was especially irritating from someone who was supposed to be a prisoner.

Surely all his hopes of regaining his rightful position weren’t dependent on an idiot whose head was permanently up in the clouds!

Rage mounted in the depths of his deformed body, and though he tried to hold back, he couldn’t stop the primal roar that worked its way past his throat.

It echoed off the trees, a flock of faraway birds taking to the air to get away from a perceived predator.

He struck the roof with one clawed, oversized hand. Several loose tiles spiraled into the abyss below.

The rush of adrenaline was overwhelming. It felt good to be so powerful. His old body was woefully lacking in strength and height.

He’d never been able to climb onto the roof before. A mouse was far too small and fragile to ever attempt something so death-defying.

Nor was he able to tear furniture apart so easily. But now he could.

Give in, a voice whispered, sweet and tempting and malicious all at once. Why resist your anger? Give in now, and you won’t be hurt ever again. I promise.

Anger was the only emotion worth feeling. It was blissful to not experience anything other than splintered wood and torn cloth under his claws. No worries, doubts, or fears to hold him back. When his thoughts became nothing but a simplistic chant of destroy, destroy, destroy.

Then all coherent thought would cease, and only instincts were left.

But anger was a fickle companion. It would encourage him, drive him forward, yet it would suddenly flee. It didn’t stay with him in the wake of his destruction.

And the guilt came.

His shortsightedness robbed everyone of a comfortable life. Nobody was spared. Not the innocent toddler, not the orphans or stray animals seeking a safe haven, nor the regular household staff.

On that first long, horrible night, he’d promised to break the curse. They’d be back to normal before they knew it, and they’d only remember it as one odd, terrifying nightmare.

But his plan didn’t work. And he made that promise again. Then his next plan failed before he set it into motion.

Tomorrow night. I’ll break it tomorrow night for sure.

For the past five years, he made that same promise every night.

But the curse wasn’t broken. The nightmare wasn’t complete.

Every plan failed. He tried everything.

That is, he tried everything except for the condition laid out from the very beginning.

The beautiful witch’s voice haunted him, mocking him through every waking hour and dream, taunting him with fate-sealing roses and mirrors that reflected the monster he was.

“If you can find somebody to love, and earn their love in return, my enchantment upon your castle shall be lifted. Fail in your quest, and you shall remain a beast for all time.”

The condition was an open secret in the castle, though only the Warners dared to bring up the topic within his vicinity.

He laughed, but it was a harsh, guttural laugh, completely devoid of joy.

Love? How could he possibly love anyone?

Love only brought pain.

As a foolish child, he loved his parents.

Then they abandoned him in favor of the lavish court. His existence was a scandal unto itself, and he was secreted away to a province with little royal oversight.

He let out an ugly snarl, cruel fangs digging into his upper lip.

The harsh, unnatural sound only served as a reminder that nobody would ever love him back. His mind, which once held ideas on how to reclaim his throne and improve life in this neglected province, was now dull and dimming further by the day.

He couldn’t read or invent anymore. His hands were too large for the delicate machinery, his claws ripping apart everything he touched. He barely remembered how to stand on two legs, and the few times he tried, he quickly lost his balance and had no choice but to stalk the hallways on all fours, stripped of all dignity.

Intelligence was all he had. And even that would be gone soon.

Nobody wanted a dumb, slavering, mud-colored beast for a lover.

A chilly wind blew snow into his fur, startling him out of his ponderings. The night had quickly grown dark and cold, the land below shrouded in an early winter. The moon and stars were hidden by thick, low clouds.

He didn’t hear any music. The prisoner had likely eaten his fill by now.

The silence unnerved him.

It was quiet on the rooftop, but without the background noise of the servants working or screaming from the unfortunate souls who were assigned Warner or Mindy duty, it was far too quiet for comfort.

When it was silent, the most unwelcome thoughts nagged at his deteriorating mind.

He sighed, regretting his decision to ponder on the roof this long. But then, it seemed his entire life was just one bad decision after another, so he was hardly bothered.  

Stretching his sore limbs, he carefully gripped the slippery tiles as he descended down to the West Wing balcony. The wind whipped at his cape, and his exposed fur stood on end to keep his body warm.

This body was more resistant to the cold, able to endure conditions any weak, normal mouse would hide themselves from.

He was powerful.

But that thought quickly came to an end.

He lost his grip on a handhold, sliding several inches on the slippery stone.

The brief scare made whatever remained of his shriveled heart leap in fear, and he was reminded that regardless of physical prowess, he was still mortal.

On some nights, being mortal was a good thing.

He took hold of a thick, tangled growth of ivy that crept up the stone walls over the years, so thick that even his sharp claws couldn’t cut through it. The servants had valiantly battled the plants over the years, but there was only so much they could do.

The castle would crumble once the curse took hold permanently and become nothing more than a relic lost to time.

He crept down the ivy to the West Wing balcony, allowing the mysterious, cruel light of the enchanted rose to guide him to safety in the darkness.

Brooding over a rose and making doomed plans in the vain hope of breaking this curse.

That’s all he was good for these days.

Just as he set foot on the balcony, his ears perked at the sound of footsteps within his chambers. He growled quietly to himself.

He wasn’t in the mood to deal with the Warners’ antics tonight. Not when their advice proved little use against the prisoner’s stubborn refusal to have dinner with him.

But the footsteps sounded…different. Lighter.

Not brassy like Yakko’s, wooden like Wakko’s, or clinking like Dot’s.

The Beast inhaled sharply.

No.

It couldn’t be.

His prisoner was an idiot, but surely he wouldn’t break the only rule he’d been given. He should’ve been thanking the Beast for his leniency with the guidelines to follow for his stay within the castle property.

Don’t go into the West Wing.

But the mouse was right before his eyes, still on the far side of the room, twirling around in awe at the torn draperies, splintered wood, and haphazard bedding.

“Narf. This room could use a good sweep. I’ve seen pigsties cleaner than this!” the mouse tsked, shaking his head at the sorry state of the West Wing.

Really? The Beast wanted to scream. That’s your main concern right now?

Never mind that the West Wing was a grim testament to just how far he’d fallen, the shadowed lair of a beast, the broken décor scattered and abused throughout the years because it felt so good to lash out at something without guilt, and his prisoner commented on the mess of all things?

His claws brushed against a shard from a broken vase, and he sullenly flicked it aside. The ceramic remains skittered across the balcony.

Alright, so maybe the West Wing was a little messy…

An odd sense of embarrassment washed over him.

He crouched behind a thick tangle of ivy, feeling very much like a predator lying in wait for unsuspecting prey. Perhaps he wouldn’t have to do anything, and the mouse would just leave on his own.

The mouse picked his way through the West Wing, stopping to gawk at a shredded mattress and pile of ragged blankets that served as the Beast’s bed. He plucked at a strip of fabric that had fallen on the floor, and the Beast growled lowly. His sleeping area wasn’t a spectacle.

It was simply where he woke up from a nightmare, only to find that he never truly left.  

The mouse gasped, his ears twitching. For a fleeting moment, the Beast believed he’d successfully chased him out of the West Wing. But the mouse turned to a portrait in a golden frame, one that had been painted so long ago, in a faraway life.

He’d dragged his claws across that painting many times, when he could no longer take the image of himself as a prince, mocking him with his dead-eyed stare and prestige.

Reminding him of what he used to be.

Though he wanted nothing more than to be rid of it permanently, some part of him couldn’t bear to throw it away. He didn’t know why.

He was tempted to spring out of his hiding place and tell the mouse to get out right now, but the gentle, almost reverent way the mouse pulled the hanging scraps of the portrait up to what remained in the frame made him hesitate.

In the entryway of the balcony, the rose sparked within the bell jar, its ethereal glow blinding for just a moment before it settled once again.

His hesitation cost him.

Slowly, the mouse approached the enchanted rose. The glow was always mesmerizing, always the only beautiful thing in an otherwise dark and ugly room.

Sometimes he fantasized about shredding the rose to pieces and scattering the petals to the wind, so that he wouldn’t ever have to look at it anymore.

But he wasn’t the only one affected by the curse, though he was the one who bore the brunt of it. Too often, he’d come close to forgetting that.

The rose floated just above a small, elevated platform. Five petals had fallen so far, lifeless and dead. More would join them soon enough. The pink glow illuminated the mouse’s unusual blue eyes, which were already lit up in idiotic wonder and curiosity.

With a surprising amount of strength for a mouse so slim, the prisoner carefully lifted the bell jar and set it aside.

The sheer stupidity of that action stunned the Beast.

Then the mouse reached out, fingers outstretched, just a few inches away from-

THAT FOOL WAS GOING TO DAMN THEM ALL!

All-consuming fear and fury seized hold of the Beast’s mind, his vision filled with red haze as he sprung out from behind the ivy thicket.

Protect the rose. Protect the rose at any cost.  

The Beast snarled, ignoring his prisoner’s startled gasp. The mouse tripped over his own feet as the Beast snatched up the bell jar and slammed it over the rose.

For a moment, he feared he was too rough with the precious items. Though no petals fell, he wouldn’t allow himself any relief.

Not until the intruder was dealt with.

He gripped the bell jar tightly, slowly turning to face the mouse who thought he could just barge into the West Wing without any consequences whatsoever.

“What are you doing here?” the Beast growled, blocking the rose from the mouse’s view.

The mouse held his hands in front of his face. “I…I’m sorry!” he stammered.

Did he truly believe a simple placation would work? That he broke the one rule, a rather generous rule, just to satisfy his own curiosity?

“I warned you NEVER to come here!” he snarled, caring nothing for the apology.

The mouse stumbled over the corner of a ceramic vase which had oddly survived the carnage the Beast had wrought over the years. His eyes were wide, his ears limp. He squeaked something in protest, pitifully trying to justify his poor reasoning.

“DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU COULD’VE DONE?”

A roar tore out of his throat. He was dimly aware of a terrified scream, his large paws smashing a vase into jagged shards, and all he knew was the pleasure of unleashing his wrath upon anything that couldn’t fight back.

He only saw red.  

“GET OUT!”

A pile of broken wood flew past the mouse’s head. He let out a ragged cry and fled the West Wing. His piercing scream echoed in the Beast’s ears, banishing the red, vengeful haze that overtook his mind.

Broken furniture surrounded him.  

Downstairs, the servants pleaded in vain for the mouse to stay. A cold wind blew through the castle, icy enough to pierce through his defenses.

The Beast turned to the rose, just in time for the sixth petal to fall.

It had a wicked sense of humor.

The enchanted mirror reflected cruel, sharp fangs as he panted for breath. The portrait’s gaze bore into him, dead-eyed and mocking and judgmental.  

And the twisted black horns which adorned his head were heavier than before.  

AN: I’m sorry mice, I love you, I swear…

No I did not start the BatB AU as an excuse to torture Brain as much as I already do. It’s kinda sad that many character traits of Disney’s Beast and Brain overlap. Short temper, arrogant, a goal they want very very badly but their own vices prevent them from ever obtaining it, brooding, someone they love so much they’ll do anything for, even give up their own desires, but they don’t believe they can be loved back…yeah. 

I tried to do the West Wing justice cause it’s such a great scene in the movie, but I don’t think it translates well to a text based medium. Oh well, you can just listen to the soundtrack, but I think I did well enough with it.

[grimmjowkurosakidrake]

Losing

Summary: Part four of my Time travel fic: The end is were we begin

Relationships: Haruno Sakura/Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Sasuke & Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Itachi & Uchiha Sasuke

Lenght: 2,118 Words

Warnings: Some angst, mentions of the curse of hatred as well as mentions of Sasuke not feeling good enough for Sakura.

Quick disclaimer: This chapter was commissioned by the always great @birkastan2018​  who actually helped me to fix my grammar and turning points on the fics!! on my commissions blog @witcheswritings​ !

Previous Itachi and Shisui are waiting for them at the gates of Konoha when they come back. Both are genuinely smiling as they prepare to greet Sasuke and his team.

Back in his timeline, Itachi only wore his Anbu uniform or simple training pants coupled with the customary high collared shirt most of their clan wore on a regular basis. Itachi was never carefree about anything and his clothes were no exception.

Sometimes, if he puts his mind to it, Sasuke can remember with vivid clarity how his older brother used to like sweets but didn’t eat them as much as he should; how he liked festivals but rarely attended any; how he enjoyed playing with the cats roaming around the compound but wasn’t able to spend time just wandering around their home.

Now Itachi has his own cat. A fat, old, female cat named Hime that never plays with him but always purrs when he strokes the sides of her face.

Now, Sasuke can always find his brother drinking tea and eating dango at his favorite shop when he’s not at the compound or the police precinct.

Now he wears colorful and comfortable yukatas almost everyday.

Today he’s wearing a silk, bright blue yukata embroidered with beautiful designs of delicately embroidered gold half moons and waves.

By his side, Shisui is wearing his Anbu uniform. But seeing their placid smiles and the way his cousin’s hand rests on Itachi’s shoulders without care, Sasuke can appreciate how happy and free they’ve become ever since they ended the ongoing feud between the Uchiha and the rest of Konoha.

Sasuke smiles at them, but otherwise tries not to overreact at the sight of his beloved brother (he still has his pride after all).  The days of following his brother around like a puppy are supposed to be behind him.

Naruto is not quite as prideful.

“Itachi-nii!” screams the blond, eagerly running in the direction of the older Uchiha.  He looks small next to the two imposing young adults, though not nearly as malnourished as he looked back in the day. His clothes fit him now and his once bony wrists aren’t as delicate. He’s healthy, not as raggedy looking as before.

A good family can do that to you.  And Naruto’s not the only one who is different. Itachi’s eye bags aren’t as prominent even if he still has wrinkles to show for the years of sleep deprivation he suffered in the past. Shisui’s smile is just as cocky as he remembers, even with the black eyepatch he wears now after Danzo stole his eye from him. 

Sometimes, even Sasuke can admit that his own smile is different than before.  His eyes are softer now; they’re not as sharp and full of hatred. The smiles he can offer now are more genuine than the smiles he could offer to his wife back in his timeline.

Thoughts like this never fail to consume him with guilt when he remembers the brother who put his happiness over his own health, the friend who obsessed over having him near even at the cost of the goals that helped him overcome his neglectful upbringing, and the girl that loved him even when he couldn’t love himself.

Even when he couldn’t return her love like she deserved.

This is why he can’t go back.  This is why he can’t ever regret what he did. 

This is for the best. This is how they will be happy.

“Naruto!” Shisui excitedly plants both of his hands firmly on the blond’s shoulder. “First mission, huh? Did you grow taller?” Naruto beams proudly at this, straightening his back to try and show off his full height.

Which is ridiculous, because he’s still shorter than even Sakura. His head still doesn’t reach Shisui’s collarbones, but Sasuke can see what his cousin means.

Waves represents a turning point in the life of the boy who will become Hokage one day. The moment he stopped being just a rambunctious orphan child running amok through the village that despised him and started to become an actual shinobi.

One who’s seen death, mourned the loss of a dear friend, and even if it was for just a moment - one who’s been made aware of his own weaknesses.

One who’s witnessed the horrors of the shinobi world firsthand and still decided to come back stronger and as eager as ever to become the leader of an entire shinobi village. 

The same could not have been said for Sasuke, back then. Waves for Sasuke was nothing but another point of proof that he was weak.  It just gave him another reason to train harder.

The thought of training has him considering their female teammate. Seeing Sakura now, she actually looks smaller. Perhaps she feels shy in the presence of the Uchiha clan heads, maybe uncomfortable at being the only one who doesn’t know Itachi or Shisui. As smart as she always is, he’s sure she’s noticed the familiarity between Naruto, Kakashi and his family.

Or, maybe she’s just ashamed of her lack of growth back in Waves. 

After all, she couldn’t do anything other than watch as her teammates risked their lives fighting an S-class missing-nin, standing in the sidelines with the man they were supposed to protect.

Sasuke then decides he can’t hold back when it comes to her growth. 

He loves her just as he did back in his timeline and he wants her to be happy.  He is planning to become a man worthy of being introduced to her parents as a loving boyfriend, and not the traitor who whisked her away from home one day.

Kizashi didn’t like him, Sakura’s mother didn’t either and Tsunade absolutely loathed him.

According to them, he was cold, cruel and not worth a loving bright girl who would do anything to see him happy. In fact, the only two people who ever supported their blooming relationship were Naruto and Sakura herself.

He’s working on loving her more openly now. But the psychotic, still cursed on love and hatred part of his soul, needs her to become stronger, less vulnerable.

Sasuke is an Uchiha, after all, and a part of his soul still carries the curse of hatred.  He knows he couldn’t take it if he lost her somehow.  

He wants her to reach her full potential. He needs her to become the woman able to break mountains, to receive a katana to the gut and just regenerate around it.  

 Her death would destroy him, just like Rin’s death destroyed Obito. He needs to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“Ah, Itachi-sama, Shisui-san” drawls Kakashi, referring to his former Anbu protégés with the formality their titles deserve.

Even when his voice doesn’t sound as respectful, and his eyes planted on his obvious porn book show everything but interest in the two men.

“Kakashi-senpai,” smiles Itachi pleasantly, “Please, just call me Itachi. I’m not the head of the Uchiha right now, just a brother interested in his younger sibling’s first mission.”

“Yeah!” hollers Shisui with enthusiasm. “But who would have thought that little Sasuke would end up on a genin team with his best friend, our former Anbu senpai and…” He stops, gaze falling right on Sakura.

There’s confusion in his eyes. Sasuke understands, as she doesn’t resemble any clan in their village. She could be a foreigner, but no Hokage would allow an outsider to be on a team with the heir of the Uchiha and the Kyuubi child.

So Sasuke makes the introduction.  “This is Sakura Haruno. The one who always beat me at written exams back at the academy.”

Itachi smirks knowingly at his words. 

Those were some dark days for him. When he thought his experience as a Shinobi back in his own timeline was enough to get him perfect grades and yet he was being bested time and time again by a little civilian girl.

He brooded quite a lot.

Shisui never paid much attention to his childish mood swings though, so he’s not aware of his little cousin’s Academy rival.  “Haruno? I’m not quite sure I recognize that clan…”

“It’s a civilian family,” she answers, her small hands holding onto the edges of her dress. “My parents run a bakery.  They opened it when dad couldn’t advance any further up the shinobi ranks.” 

Sakura blushes from her neck to her ears when the older man’s eyes don’t leave her even after that shameful disclosure. 

“The Haruno bakery? Just a few houses down from the Yamanaka flower shop?”

She silently nods.

“Oh!”  Shisui grins widely in recognition. “They have great curry bread there!” He sighs dreamily as if thinking of those savory buns, which eases Sakura’s nerves.

“You must be very skilled,” adds Itachi, “to be put on a team under Kakashi Hatake.”

“Not really,” sighs the pink haired girl dejectedly. “I’m just lucky.”

Naruto scoffs. “Don’t say that, Sakura-chan!” he cries, forcefully cradling Sakura’s face. His lack of respect for any kind of personal boundaries are well known to everyone. “Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei are lucky to have us! I mean, look at us, we fought one of the seven swordsmen and we won! We should be celebrating! Right?” He looks between the Uchiha men and his teacher.

“Of course!” agrees Shisui, easily excited and always hungry. “How about we go out to eat something? Our treat, to celebrate little Sasuke’s first mission.”

“I shouldn’t.” Sakura hesitates with uncertainty in her green eyes. “I should be training,” she says as an afterthought, as she peeks at Sasuke. “I couldn’t do anything to help on our mission.”

“That isn’t tru-” Naruto tries to object, but he’s swiftly interrupted.

“She’s right.” 

Naruto fumes at their teammate’s sharp response, but Sasuke holds firm with his own cold stare before turning to Sakura. “You need to train more. We may not be there the next time you face enemies as strong as Zabuza and Haku.” 

Sasuke knows he’s not planning to leave her. But what comes after the Uchiha massacre was stopped is uncertain terrain. 

The Akatsuki, Madara, Obito, even Orochimaru are more of a threat than they were before because now they’re unknown elements. Sasuke doesn’t know how his actions thus far have changed this timeline going forward, and he can’t leave Sakura’s life at fate’s hands.

“Foolish little brother,” sighs Itachi. “Training after a mission, tired and disheartened won’t do her any good.”  He moves near the girl to place a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Come on, Haruno-san. Even if you’ve lost, you’re still alive and that’s all that matters. You should eat; you could use the energy.”

“We didn’t lose, though” corrects Naruto, crossing his arms and closing his eyes in confusion.

“Sakura-chan did,” clarifies Shisui, his usually flirtatious expression now serious, “She couldn’t help her teammates, because she wasn’t strong enough,” he states bluntly. “Isn’t that right, Sakura-chan?”

He’s smiling, but it’s not a particularly nice nor friendly smile.

“I did,” she realizes. “I did lose.” But then, with greater resolve, she steels herself and bows to her team. “I’m sorry Naruto, Kakashi-sensei. Sasuke-kun! I won’t fail you next time!”

Naruto grins widely and Kakashi smiles through his mask, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. Probably mourning the misfortune of being assigned such passionate young children as his first genin team.

They always crash and burn after all. Time and time again, both love and passion had only proven to be followed by tragedy.

Sasuke just hides his face behind his bangs, still not sure how to react when it comes to the brilliant, resilient girl he’s only now getting to know.

“But for now we eat,” interrupts Itachi, guiding Sakura and her teammates towards Konoha’s shopping district. “We eat, and afterwards we will assess our weaknesses and our strengths.” He smiles while walking towards a spot they’re all familiar with. “After that, we’ll sleep, make sure to get a good night’s rest, and then tomorrow we train.”

Naruto hoots enthusiastically when they arrive at Ichiraku and enters immediately with Shisui, followed by Itachi and Sakura.

But Kakashi and Sasuke linger outside the curtains of the ramen shop. “That was some wise advice from a former Anbu captain,” he muses, while placing a gentle but firm hand on his student’s shoulder. “We would be equally wise to take it.”

Sasuke considers this as they enter the now crowded shop.  He sees Naruto grinning happily as he’s served his first bowl of noodles. At his side, Sakura is smiling at his brother like she used to smile at Ino before their falling out.

Maybe, he thinks, sitting by Naruto’s other side and accepting the pair of chopsticks his best friend offers...

Maybe they’re right. 

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

I hope you liked the fic and speacilly hope @birkastan2018​ liked it <3 

[loosescrewslefty]

Miraculous Ladybug- Fixing the Powers

I’ve been very much bothered by the way that the writing team for Miraculous Ladybug has been handling powers for a long time now. It might not be as frustrating or offensive as how they sometimes treat the characters and their relationships, but it BOTHERS me. Because it doesn’t make sense that Adults are more powerful than kids just by the grace of being an adult if the magic comes from a kwami and the jewelry and as such the age of the wearer shouldn’t matter as much. And objectively speaking, there as several ‘minor’ miraculouses that seem WAY more powerful than the two that are supposed to be the most coveted, the Ladybug and Chat Noir miraculouses. Also both the addition of the potions AND the distinctions given to some of the miraculouses/kwamis (Such as Pollen being the ‘Kwami of Subjugation’) are just... ODD. So a while back I sat down and charted out a way to ‘fix’ the powers in Miraculous Ladybug, much like I’ve seen others fix plots and characters.

More Clearly based on Yin/Yang, Wu Xing, and the Zodiacs

I can’t tell you how much it annoys me that Astruc clearly chose these Chinese motifs for the aesthetic, and didn’t bother researching or properly applying any of the theology attached to them to his show. Ladybug and Chat Noir SHOULD be equal, and balance one another out, but they’re not. Instead, Ladybug gets way more power and importance than Chat Noir does. And the Wu Xing Cycle is an important one too, because that’s nature holding itself in check. 

The Wu Xing has four different cycles attached to it; the Creation Cycle, the Destruction Cycle, the Insult Cycle, and the Controlling Cycle. It could have been interesting to lean into this, so that pairing two miraculous heroes together can lead to new powers being unlocked, depending on the two in question, and that if a  Hawkmoth happens, there are two heroes other than Ladybug and Chat who’d be able to step up and confront him.

New Stations/Distinctions for the Kwamis

It bothers me that the distinctions chosen for the Kwami feel extremely random, and don’t fit together at all. Nooroo is “Generosity”, Trixx is “Deception”, Pollen is “Subjugation”, Wayzz is “Protection”, and Duusuu is “Emotion.” Like, on their own these are fine. But none of them really relate to one another in a way that makes sense, which the Wu Xing SHOULD. As much as it annoys me, I can sorta understand why it would be a bad idea to attach the specific elements themselves to each Miraculous, because then people will expect the powers of that miraculous to relate to that element, which is very limiting. The Wu Xing is about much more than just nature and the elements. It’s also used to reference the passing of time, physical parts of the body, emotions, cardinal directions and so much more. 

But I still feel that the Distinctions for each Kwami and their powers should be presented in a what where it makes sense to see them relating to one another. One way I’ve suggested for people to do this is to include Ladybug and Chat in the consideration and base each of the Kwamis off of one of the Seven Chakras. But another way I like much better is to consider the kwamis in relation to what area their abilities will affect. For Example; Fox- Mind (Wood) Bee- Energy (Fire) Turtle- Body (Earth) Peacock- Soul (Metal) Butterfly- Heart (Water)

These are things you can tell at a glance relate to one another, without limiting the kwamis too much to being one trick ponies. And speaking of limits...

Limits are based on internal balance, not age

In an effort to make the sage figure that is supposed to be Fu NOT look like he has sand for brains and decided it’d be a good idea to give his chosen heroes a massive handicap against the villain right out of the gate, we’re going to change up the limiter for the Miraculouses. Rather than being based on age, the thing that determines how well you use a miraculous is your affiliation with the element/distinction that the Miraculous represents. Let’s use Kim as an example here. He’s very energetic and driven, so he’d have a great time with either the Bee or the Turtle, but give him the Peacock, the Butterfly, or the Fox, and things will get a hell of a lot harder for him. On the exact flip side, Juleka would be great with the Peacock, Butterfly, or Fox, but would struggle with the Bee or the Turtle.

Having the powers draw off of being able to synchronize with that power/ability due to personality makes sense, and is more true to the concepts that Miraculous Ladybug is trying to present than claiming that it’s because of age. And the beauty of this is that people can grow and change at any point in their life, which means that they can learn and change and miraculouses that they once struggled with can become easier for them to use while ones they once used easily can slip from their grasp if they begin to neglect that aspect of themselves.

More Clear and Understandable Power Pyramid

This is one of the things that bothers me MOST about how they’ve been handling the powers. We’re supposed to see Ladybug and Chat Noir’s miraculouses as the be all/end all, but many of the zodiac miraculouses seem much more powerful than them, and even the Peacock and Butterfly can create opponents that are more than a match for the Lucky Duo. Not to mention the fact that, as I said before, the Lucky Duo itself is imbalanced due to Ladybug getting all the power in their relationship. So the best way to fix that?

Power Pyramid.

By this, I mean that instead of all miraculouses just getting one power and calling it a day, it makes more sense to present the powers as an almost ‘trickle’ effect. To start off, Zodiacs get defined by a single element and whichever side of Yin/Yang they fall on, and get their power based on that. For example, the Dragon. That is a Yang/Earth (Body) Personality, who uses the elements in an aggressive way. Meanwhile, Snake is a Yin/Fire (Energy), so they require someone who comes across as passive, but is actually patient and knows to wait for the precise moment to strike.

Next level up from the Zodiac Miraculouses, we have the Wu Xing/Elemental Miraculouses. Rather than just one power, each Wu Xing Miraculous should get two, one based on it’s “Yin” Abilities, and one for it’s “Yang.” the way I broke it down when I was working this out for examples went like so;

Trixx

Fox Powers/Mind

Yang- Mirage 

Creates an illusion of the user’s choosing.

Yin- Outfox

Gives the user the ability to convince the victim that anything they’re saying is true.

Pollen

Bee Powers/Energy

Yang- Nectar

Ability to heal injuries and cure illnesses (not as strong as Miraculous Cure)

Yin- Sting

Causes temporary paralysis

Wayzz

Turtle Powers/Body

Yang- Shell-ture

Creates an impenetrable shield

Yin- Withdraw

Teleportation ability that allows the user to put people and object of their desire in a pocket dimension of their own making for protection.

Duusu

Peacock Powers/Soul

Yang- Good Spirits

Creates a golem/familiar of sorts that is bonded to a certain person or object and protects them at all costs.

Yin- Soul Search

Allows the user to leave their body and enter another persons to take control of their actions and peer into their memories.

Nooroo

Butterfly Powers/Heart

Yang- Metamorphosis

Creates heroes to fight alongside the user

Yin- Butterfly Effect

Allows a brief glimpse into the future

And then after the Elements, at the top of the Pyramid we have Ladybug and Chat Noir, who get a whopping FIVE power each, but can only access those powers when they are in tune with that aspect of themselves, much like using the lesser miraculouses. For Example, Marinette’s Ladybug Can easily do the Mind, Energy, and Heart powers, but has a much, MUCH harder time with the Soul one, because she tends to read people at face value rather than trying to see beneath the surface. Adrien’s Chat Noir is excellent with the Body and Energy powers, but struggles much more with Mind (linked to one’s creativity) and Heart (Based on people’s abilities to connect with others, something Adrien struggles with after being home schooled his entire life) My idea for the Ladybug and Chat Noir powers look like this;

Tikki

Ladybug Powers:

Positive Heart- (Healing) 

Miraculous Ladybug/Miraculous Cure

Heals all wounds, restores everything to its proper state

Positive Mind- (Inspiration) 

Lucky Charm

Grants Ladybug an object to help her win

Positive Energy- (Creating) 

Wish Come True

Allows Ladybug to will into existence something of her own choosing

Positive Body- (Protecting) 

Elytron

Allows Ladybug to recreate both her own suit and the suits of her allies to help them fight (space suits, ice skating form, underwater suits, ect)

Positive Soul- (Life) 

Red Thread

Ladybug has a limited ability to communicate with plants and animals, extending some of her power to them. Also works on humans, if the person trusts Ladybug enough to basically let her see into their very soul.

Plagg

Chat Noir Powers:

Negative Heart- (Toxicity) 

Cat Scratch

Curses the victim with a lingering sickness that can only be healed by Ladybug.

Negative Mind- (Madness) 

Cheshire Cat

Causes temporary insanity, which varies from victim to victim.

Negative Energy- (Destruction) 

Cataclysm

Destroys anything the user touches.

Negative Body- (Weakness) 

Catatonic 

Puts the victim to sleep.

Negative Soul- (Death) 

Catacomb

Allows the user to see, touch and summon spirits/ghosts

And that’s the basic breakdown of how I feel the powers of the ML universe SHOULD be handled instead. Feel free to comment with thoughts and inputs of your own and ask questions if any of this doesn’t make sense! ^^

[quinezsvision]

I asked my father once, "Why do you spend so much money on expensive delicacies when you could for once purchase something else for yourself?"

"Food provides me something that things cannot. It can even be destroyed easily when not properly inspected. Will you gain sudden contentment and meaning to it? no", he simply replied.

1.7 million years ago, we were hunters known as homo-sapiens, survival was our only goal, most of the time, populations are found in the wild searching for edible plants and animals to anchor ourselves from supplementing our diet and extinction.

When humans discovered the presence of fire and understood how to generate and manipulate it – this is how civilization began.

All these years, food was our ally.

The distribution of food in principle has a plethora of options. Aside from the fact that food became the medium for religious practices, taxation, and even education, we also need to eat in order to assist the body to obtain sufficient oxygen, and the cells within our bodies to function significantly. In other words, nutrients provide information to the human body. If neglected, diseases and conditions including obesity/malnutrition, arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease may arise. Food became the medium for religious practices, taxation, and even education.

Due to my dietary restrictions, I don't typically eat in the morning, but today, May 28 2021, is an exception.

The taste of Japanese cuisine has always been exquisite in my palate. The degree of tastes and boundless elements that are combined only to produce a dish that will make you want to inculcate the cuisine is remarkable. To be completely honest with my readers, I was not alone when preparing the sashimi; beside to me was Analiza Duran, my aunt - the most influential person I know in my whole existence, famed for her cooking capabilities and managing households. Because it is not the standard homemade craving that is well recognized in our country, we are willing to offer our own experience, for a Filipino basic style preparation, which are some instructions you may follow below:

[✓] The style in choosing your fish depends on the length of preservation and freshness, there are a variety of sashimi you can ponder from such as tuna, salmon, scallop, squid, and more. Smaller ones are usually best devoured as soon as they are served. On the other hand, larger ones must be kept on ice for a few hours to allow their muscles to calm.

[✓] It's fine if you don't master the art of cutting, but just do your hardest to make it as thin as possible. In comparison to others, we usually add a sprite to it before completion.

[✓] The arrangement of sashimi to the platter depends on your likeness, it's not like you're trying to serve in a restaurant. Add the finishing condiments, such as soy sauce with matching calamansi and wasabi.

Indeed, a good morning for me & hoping hindi kita nabudol!

I'm always fascinated about how simple type of food, like "lumpia" known as "spring roll" in other countries, can be regarded as a classic and valuable delicacy that you can often see at every celebration in the Philippines.

As you can see, this is merely an indication that not only will feast's instagrammable photographs and breathtaking flavors be remembered, but the sentiments we've all cherished will live on in our hearts, minds and history eternally.

Our adaptation of lumpia, due to developing trends, is identical in form and structure in which its foundation comes from the Chinese who made a meal with the use of fresh vegetables accessible in spring after a winter of largely ingesting foods that are preserved. This cuisine is thought to have been introduced to Southeast Asia by Chinese immigrants from the Fujian region, and then became famous afterward. However, let's not forget about palabok, a somewhat salty sort of noodle that will undoubtedly fulfill your hunger with its variety of toppings.

My family opted to catch up around this time of day; we are using this practice to reconcile with one other after being diverted by work and personal selves. Even though my mother was often away from us, serving in Kuwait, I always took the initiative of reaching her via messenger.

If you are able to read this nanay, we miss you.

Without a doubt, I admire and even support all sorts of consumable products available on the market, from small local businesses to relatively known fast-food chains.

It's impressive how everyone has their own techniques for surviving the pandemic, and how people has shown diverse ways of improving food choices to make it unique in the minds of the public. And I'm the sort of person that gets dragged into these expenses. The dish seen above is known as takoyaki, another Japanese delicacy derived usually from octopus; depending on the quantity of ingredients used, it is generally salty and chewy. A flavor combination of kewpie mayo and takoyaki sauce is used to conceal the bland taste of the dough. In this restaurant, there was a variety of takoyaki options to satisfy your appetites, including octobits, shrimp meat, veggie style, baby octo, bacon bits, and each with a cheese bomb. If you purchase one, I recommend pairing it with matching boba milk tea.

The only drawback to ordering this food is that my sister rejects it.

"It seems strange to me as a kid, the external element of the meal isn't my vibe." – Kristine Joy Agustin

So, readers, don't become like my sister; you were born into this world to love all of the treasures that God has bestowed on us. Create provision for discovery rather than disappointing yourself in the latter because you won't attempt at all.

Support your kapwa Filipino: Ay!!! Takoyaki Atbp. Philippians St

The aroma of grilling and heating ramen noodles soup always reaches to me, and I never complain regardless of the fact that it goes all over my clothing.

You can be very flexible when devouring this asian cuisine because there are no set guidelines on what you may combine with one another. Personally, I choose samgyup as one of my top preferences because of the extensive meat assortment, which includes distinct slices of plain pork and beef slices. Alongside from the broad meat range, we like that the seller does not skimp on the grade of their meat, ensuring that it is still fresh and delicious. More dips to experiment with are also recommended; salt and pepper, gochujang, and cheese are some of my top picks. If you truly want to compete with samgyupsal establishments, you may go all out with side dishes like lettuce, rice, steamed egg, kimchi, and more.

Truly, There are a number of businesses that provide reasonable pricing, or you may simply do it in the comfort of your own home.

To end, the beauty of food speaks for itself; without it, we would not be alive to create amazing experiences. It serves as a reminder that as long as we have food to eat, we are fortunate, and as such, we should learn to return the favor to those in need. A huge gratification to those who are working their tails and brains off simply to feed their family and the world – beloved farmers and parents.

“Cooking is all about people. Food is maybe the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together. No matter what culture, everywhere around the world, people get together to eat.” – Guy Fieri

How about you, what's your food journey?

[imaginesforsportsanime]

Fluff Alphabet [Miya Atsumu]

A ctivities - What do they like to do with their s/o? How do they spend their free time with them?

Atsumu doesn’t have any preferences when it comes to what you do together though there are a few private activities that he enjoys more than others. He doesn’t generally have the energy to take you out on dates but he doesn’t want you to be miserable or neglected either (as then he’d be considered a bad boyfriend and he refused to accept that) so he’ll make reservations at a fancy restaurant or find an event happening in town to take you to during the time he’s back.

Atsumu wants to have you all to himself and, if he hadn’t had the chance to be with you alone for a while, you’re likely not going out anywhere for at least a full day as he’s very demanding of your attention. A lot of his time at home is spent trying to sleep, catching up on any shows or movies that you generally watch together, and other domestic couple activities you participate in when he’s actually home. You can’t say you mind as he’s gone a majority of the time whether he’s away for games or just practicing, so having him all to yourself without having to deal with other people is just fine in your book.

B eauty - What do they admire about their s/o? What do they think is beautiful about them?

He admires that you’re not a person who’s easily intimidated by him. He already had countless hot girls who were vying for his attention but you were entirely unbothered by it, treating him as you would any other person while still showing respect for his volleyball skill. It had made him a little more intrigued and he made the effort to talk to you before his games, pleased when you eyes were on him and you quietly watched him serve from the stands. The one day after he’d gotten countless points off his serves he’d turned to find your face in the crowd and saw a smile, just for him, and from that moment on he knew he was screwed when it came to you.

The first thing that had attracted him to you was your smile, but he’d always thought you were pretty all around. You had a calming aura to you and though you certainly seemed to be the more mature time, he found you could still be teasing or sarcastic when pressed by him. You weren’t one to easily fall for his lies or to bend to his whims without question so your strong personality was also a great mark of beauty.

C omfort - How would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?

Atsumu knows he comes off like an asshole who can be selfish and self-centered but there are a lot of sides to him that only you get to see, and contrary to popular belief, he does know how to care about another person. He’d place his hands on your shoulders and remind you that he’s there in front of you, trying to bring your head back down to earth so that you’d focus on the things he was saying. He tended to be blunt even when he was cheering you up but his rationale was you wouldn’t believe him if he tried to sugarcoat his words in any way as you knew him too well, and he’d rather you understand the point he’s making without extra conversation needed.

D reams - How do they picture their future with their s/o?

Have a partner who comes to watch him win in the Nationals? He’d love that reality, being able to see you in the crowd, eyes lit up with pride as you watch him obliterate genuinely tough, professional opponents. He would have proposed at that point with no actual solid wedding date in mind, just the intent to take you as his life partner so no one else was confused about who you belonged to.

E qual - Are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?

Atsumu would need someone to balance him out dominance wise because if you’re a person who simply bends to his will, he’ll get bored easily. He wants someone who can challenge him and who doesn’t take any of his shit, who calls him out when he’s being childish but who also wants to support him in all his endeavors. He’s rather protective over you, too, and wouldn’t like if anyone called you bitchy or rude for how you dealt with him; he certainly frustrated you enough that all your reactions to him are well-deserved.

F ight - Would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?

It depends on what the fight was about but he doesn’t stay angry long unless you’d personally insulted or offended him. There are times where he purposely starts little fights because the make-up sex after is always out of this world and there’s other times where his insensitivity is the cause and he doesn’t always know exactly what he did wrong.

Atsumu is incredibly frustrating even when you’re not fighting so his behavior only seems to get worse when you’re in an argument with him not caring what he says and likely to hurt your feelings if it continues on for too long. He can’t be petty and prone to lying just to lash out at you and say the things he knows hurt the most just because he’s mad and hurting, too, but he can’t say he’s a fan of seeing you in pain when he finally gets himself back together. As he gets older he realizes acting that way is immature and only going to push you away, so he tries to find a way to stop himself from toeing over that line.

G ratitude - How grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?

As much as he knows he’s a catch, popular (at least with his looks), and probably capable of being a serial dater, he knows you put in a lot of effort into your relationship with him. There aren’t many people who would have the patience to deal with his antics, the sharp mind to fire back at him whenever he’s being a brat, or the fortitude to push through even when you don’t get to see him often. Atsumu even has to admit that the concept of dating a string of girls instead of just one person isn’t as appealing as it used to be, finding some comfort in going home to a person he knows well and who he knows loves him to the moon and back. As you’re together longer he grows more grateful and shows it far more often.

H onesty - Do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? Or do they share everything?

He’ll tell little white lies if it means avoiding a needless fight that he’s not in the mood for or if it’ll spare your feelings (he knows it’s shocking but he does care about how certain things might make you feel). He doesn’t like lying to you about big or life-changing things as he feels he wouldn’t be able to get away with that for long and if you no longer trusted him, well, it was probably game over for your relationship. He doesn’t tell you every little detail of what’s happened to him or anything like that but he does highlight the important bits and the ones he thinks you really need to know (it helps him save face if he was the one in the wrong in some situations).

I nspiration - Did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?

You inspire him to at least strive to be a bit of a better person. He knows he can be rude and that his unfiltered thoughts aren’t always the greatest but he doesn’t want you to be someone you’re not proud to show-off. His volleyball achievements are definitely enough to parade him around on your arm but… Ever since his brother said you’d leave him high and dry once you really got to know Atsumu deep down, he’d made an effort to be the slightest bit nicer. This generally only applies to strangers he meets and to people he knows you’re fond of, as his teammates and anyone on the court will still have to deal with the full brunt of his bad attitude.

J ealousy - Do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?

Atsumu hates feeling jealous and he doesn’t get that way often, mostly because his icy stare keeps any of your other suitors at bay, even before you’d officially begun dating. He was sure to specifically target each person he knew was into you, talking loudly around them about how quickly your relationship was turning seriously or destroying their self-esteem with backhanded compliments so they’d never gather the courage to ask you out. He’s rather underhanded about it but to be fair, there are plenty of others who act rather forcefully with you and piss him off even more.

He deals with it through underhanded tactics or jealous sex, where he makes you cry out his name over and over again until the point is across in his mind that you’re all his. He doesn’t like to bring any other emotion into it as he’s doesn’t like being seen as a soft person but it’s made clear he doesn’t want to lose you by how he acts afterwards, planting loving kisses along your neck and mumbling out ‘I love you’ just as a friendly reminder.

K iss - Are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?

Atsumu’s kisses are greedy and demanding, his hands often on either side of your face as he brings you closer to him. There’s always a certain heat generated between you when he starts kissing you with such meaning, and it can often lead to more unless you’re really pressed for time. You can’t help but focus all your energy on kissing him back, matching his energy, it’s almost like a challenge. I love you more? Oh, you don’t? Then prove it. His more intense kisses tend to leave you dizzy and breathless which only causes a cocky smirk to find it’s way to his face, with him saying something along the lines of ‘I know I make your knees weak babe but you don’t have to worry, I’ll catch you’.

You had been flirting back and forth for awhile, attending his games and watching intently from the crowd. He’d felt the urge to kiss you every time you’d greeted him after his games, only holding back as he didn’t want the moment ruined by his brother who would likely make some sort of annoying joke about the whole ordeal. But you were the person who had his heart and he knew that better than anyone, so why should he hold back? After successfully getting revenge against a team that’d proven trouble for Inarizaki he finally feels like it’s time, and what’s even better, there’s already some random dude flirting with you. As soon as he greets you he pulled you into his arms, smirking in that self-assured way as he saw your cheeks turn darker, leaning down to press his lips against yours briefly before saying ‘Hey, babe, did you see that last serve?’ The person who had been previously flirting slinked off without another comment and while you lambast him for rushing you like that, you also think it’s about time he made a move.

L ove Confession - How would they confess to their s/o?

There was actually a point in time where you didn’t know if Atsumu would ever say he loved you. Things in your relationship were rocky after about a year and a half together, with you rarely seeing him due to his new place on the Black Jackals. You had expected this, of course, but not seeing him while also constantly fighting over the silliest little things was beginning to wear down on you. You rarely talked when he was home and as much as your heart ached to think of it, you wondered if releasing him from this relationship and just letting him worry about volleyball was the best course of action. That thought must’ve been plastered across your face as Atsumu confronted you that night, ending with another fiery fight that leaves you both misty-eyed. When he finally says it, so quietly you almost missed it, you realized how much of the past few weeks the fights have been centered on how little you thought he felt for you. It doesn’t make everything better but it means something, and you soon find yourself in his arms, being held and told over and over again how much you were loved.

M arriage - Do they want to get married? How do they propose? What would the marriage be like?

Atsumu doesn’t really have a strong opinion on getting married as he was focused on becoming a professional volleyball player and soaring to higher and higher heights, only remembering that it’s a thing couples do if you bring it up. He’s happy either way but if you’re the type who wants to be married, he’d seriously consider it; being tied down to one person the rest of his life would’ve made past him nervous but as an adult, he’s learned the value in having that one person you could truly always turn to in your time of need (he refused to count his brother as this for petty reasons).

He’s not the gooey romantic type but he knows he better make this count as it’d be remembered by you for the rest of your life (and, he supposed, committing himself to one person forever was as big a deal for him as you) so he tries to put some thought into it. It occurs when he has a break from tournaments and is told to rest, deciding a vacation somewhere peaceful and warm is the perfect escape and opportunity for him to pop that question. Getting to spend this extra time with you uninterrupted is another reminder as to why he loves you as much as he does, and he doesn’t hesitate at all during dinner that night when he gets on one knee and presents the ring to you.

Saying he’s a perfect husband would be a lie, but he’s your husband, and you love him dearly. He still has bad habits and childish behavior at times, but you also know that he’s loyal to you and dedicated to making things work out between you. He really doesn’t want to start all over with a new person and you laugh every time he says this when you’re arguing about something, assuring him that if you had intentions of leaving him you would’ve acted on it by now. After all these years you’ve built a love with a solid foundation that’s hard to topple over.

Nicknames – What do they call their S/O?

Refers to you by your name for the most part or a shortened version of it that he thinks sounds ‘cooler’. Babe and baby are also commonly used by him, mostly in front of other people or family.

O n Cloud Nine - What are they like when they are in love? Is it obvious for others? How do they express their feelings?

Atsumu is nicer and more considerate to you than most, wanting to spend his free-time with you and your texts tend to be the first that he answers (much to his Osamu’s irritation). He looks at you with a mischievous glint in his eye and a smile that others find odd as it’s not his normal cocky smirk; he looks genuinely happy when he’s talking to you and for him to show sincere emotion over how he normally is, you have to mean something to him. Rumors swirl the halls of school long before you even realize he has a crush on you but he doesn’t deny any of them, simply laughing when asked and turning to walk away without another word.

He’s not the mushy type but it’s obvious to anyone who knows him when he’s showing interesting in something other than volleyball. He was good at flirting but he wasn’t really defined as a skirt-chaser as it was clear his real interests lay elsewhere, the mere fact that he could hold conversations with you without hitting on you was the real tell that his interest was genuine. You were a person that interested him and he wanted to know more, so he went out of his way to run into you, to the point the coincidences really started to pile up and it was blatantly obvious he wanted something out of you.

Atsumu noticed that even when he’s straight-forward about his feelings you have the tendency to not believe him, his reputation getting the better of your judgment (or perhaps you just wanted to keep your heart safe). He’s disgruntled that you really believe he’d lie about something like having feelings for you, even he knew when he shouldn’t go too far, but he remains consistent with his flirting and showing interest in you in an attempt to get you to see how real his feelings were. His heart yearns for more when he sees you laughing with your friends or hugging someone else because he craves that close intimacy with you, and he’ll be damned if he doesn’t get the point across to you somehow.

P DA - Are they upfront about their relationship? Do they brag with their s/o in front of others? Or are they rather shy to kiss etc. when others are watching?

Atsumu doesn’t see a reason not to be considering how hard he had to work to woo you and convince you to be his significant other in the first place, the fun part comes in showing you off to other people and making them jealous of how cute you are (at least in his opinion, and if they don’t think you’re cute, then they’re obviously blind). He likes being able to have an arm casually draped around your shoulder or having you kiss his cheek before you head off to class in the morning, the little shows of affection really make his day better and far more tolerable than they were without you.

Public displays of affection don’t bother him, so its mostly your preference that he’ll base his actions off of. He can kiss you in front of other people without batting an eye and he would love to see how heated up your face was after doing so if you were on the shier side, but he doesn’t do anything too cutesy as he doesn’t want anyone to think of him as soft. He just wants people to be jealous that he’s good at sports and he has a partner.

Q uirk - Some random ability they have that’s beneficial in a relationship.

When he falls in love he’s determined to make it work out no matter what you’re going through and no matter how frustrated he is with the entire situation. He’s never been one to give up easily and he holds himself to higher standards than others which leaks into his love life; he wants you to see him as a good lover and he wants to actually be one, capable of taking care of your needs without you having a single doubt he could do so.

Romance - How romantic are they? What would they do to make their s/o happy? Cliché or rather creative?

Atsumu can occasionally hit the nail on the head when it comes to planning overly romantic dates or taking you somewhere nice for you to enjoy yourself but sometimes he can fall flat with gifts that don’t make much sense (but you’re grateful for them anyway, as it means he remembered the occasion without you reminding him). He at least goes out of his way to try to impress you with some of his ideas, like spontaneous breakfast in bed (he’s a better cook than you thought) or a shared bubble bath with candles lining the room. He doesn’t do it very often but you can’t help but feel loved and appreciated when he does.

S upport - Are they helping their s/o achieve their goals? Do they believe in them?

He’ll encourage you to go after any aspiration you had since you supported him in all he did, so paying back the favor only seemed natural. He’ll hold you to high standards if you really want him to help you out and he’ll be more of the ‘tough love’ type of person when it comes into a realm that he understands the inner workings of, but he firmly believes you’re a person who’s capable of doing anything you want.

T hrill - Do they need to try out new things to spice out your relationship? Or do they prefer a certain routine?

Atsumu thoroughly enjoys trying out new things and having fun with you, not minding if you have some outside the box ideas on how to keep your relationship interesting. He likes a mixture of routine and spice but you can see how much he loves your surprises by the way his eyes light up. Once your together long enough anything begins to get stale so he tries not to be offended if you want to switch it up in the bedroom or if you want to go somewhere new rather than the same old places you always go, as long as he’s with you he’s sure to have a good time.

U nderstanding - How good do they know their partner? Are they empathetic?

Well, he tries, and that’s what counts. Sometimes, he feels like he doesn’t quite understand why you’re reacting the way you do to something he’s said or done which leaves him feeling annoyed because it means he doesn’t know what to do to remedy the situation. But he’s not stupid so it never takes long for him to figure out his mistake and correct it (if he can). He tries to be understanding of your emotions but it works better if you can explain to him why you feel the way you do, though there might be some teasing offered up by him afterward despite baring your soul to him.

V alue - How important is the relationship to them? What is it’s worth in comparison to other things in their life?

You’ve become a pretty important centerpiece in his life, to the point where he knew he’d feel a little lost if he couldn’t come home to you after a long day of training or tough matches that make him want to tear his hair out. Your importance is clearly evident to everyone who’s ever heard him talk about your relationship and though much of his time is spent centered around volleyball, there’s no question of where the rest of his time is dedicated.

X OXO - Are they very affectionate? Do they love to kiss and cuddle?

Atsumu can be affectionate if he’s in a good mood. He likes to bring you into his arms when you’re on the couch together and nuzzle his face against your neck, mumbling out how lucky he was to have you or how beautiful you were looking that evening. He’ll do other things like bring your legs across his lap or even through his across yours, grinning at you and asking if the position was comfortable (and sometimes asking you to give him a foot massage since if you really loved him, you would). Sometimes, when you’re in the kitchen cooking or doing anything that requires you to stand, he’ll come up from behind you and wrap his arms around your waist, whining that you need to come attend to his needs immediately before he has to leave you again. There are times where he grows incredibly needy and demanding of your attention, mostly when he’s gone for long periods of time, and he whines if he doesn’t feel fully loved before you attempt to leave him again.

Y earning - How will they cope when they’re missing their partner?

It’s not that he doesn’t miss your presence when he’s gone but he rarely notices how much he misses you until he’s laying in bed alone that night, not feeling the same comfort he does when he can feel you next to him. It’s easy to keep his mind busy when he’s training or playing a game but when he’s alone with his thoughts he just wishes you could get away from work to travel with him. There are some occasions where you do exactly that and he can confidently say he prefers it to you being home alone, but with reality as it is he didn’t make nearly enough money for you to quit your job and follow him around.

He’s actually cuter when he’s missing you, sending you loving texts about missing your smell or how the beds aren’t as comfortable as the one you have back at home. He’ll tell you he misses you and that he loves you before he heads off to sleep (if that day wasn’t too physically intensive for him to the point he just immediately passed out when his head hit the pillow).

Z eal - Are they willing to go to great lengths for the relationship? If so, what kind of?

There’s plenty that he’ll do for you so you can confidently say he’d go to great lengths to keep you in his life, even admitting when he’s in the wrong or that he lied so that the road of forgiveness will begin sooner rather than later. Atsumu wants you to be happy with him so if it means having to be a little more sensitive or him having to remove himself from his comfort zone, he’ll make the sacrifice.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #300

that’s a lot of time wasted, lmao

If you were a witch, which animal would be your familiar? Could I have like, a melanistic barn owl? That'd be dope. They're fuckin gorgeous. If there's a design on your shirt, what is it? Ha, speaking of owls... Would you ever visit a ghost town? MOTHERFUCKER would I. Bringing my camera, too. What would you do if you found out your life was only a simulation controlled by someone else? I have a very much Detroit: Become Human (phenomenal game, btw) outlook on this: I think, therefore I am. It honestly wouldn't affect me terribly. I sure would hate my creator though, jfc, lmao. What's the scariest thing you've accidentally found on the internet? Okay so there is this one video filmed by some guys who had this really strange, sulking guy in black stalking them, and it ends with the suspected murderer slinking over to the guys (who were by this point finding it almost funny, due to how the man was acting) and charging with a knife, I think, once he was very close. I believe the men were never found afterwards. It is SO goddamn unnerving. Is there anything bothering you right now? Not to be a Negative Nancy, but when isn't there lmao. Thinking of every Halloween costume you've had, which one was the most creative? I never had creative ones, really. What's the picture on your calendar for this month? I don't have a relevant calender, just old meerkat ones on a wall in my room. If you were a mythical creature, which would you be? As much as I love dragons, they're targeted too much in fantasy to kill, so let's not, haha. Being a dryad would be cool. Or druid. Either/or. If you were an animal, which would you be? A housecat, ig. Were you ever bullied when you were younger and how did you handle it? I consider myself very lucky to have not been. Have you ever thrown something away and then wanted it back? Okay so it's "deleted" versus "thrown away," technically, but there are two senior prom pictures in specific I desperately want back because fuck my low self-esteem, I look beautiful in them and so damn happy. I even tried Facebook restore programs that supposedly recovered all pictures you ever removed, but I couldn't salvage them. I'm still pissed about it, haha. What's one random city you want to visit? I don't have a specific city, per se. More so just countries in general. If you owned a store, what would you most likely sell? I think owning a pet supply store would be really cool, with some animals that are actually very well-cared for, unlike chain pet stores. I HATE those, vehemently. So unspeakably ignorant and neglectful. If you had a garden, what sort of plants would you grow? I don't want a garden, but hypothetically, I'd love orchids, dahlias, tiger lilies, a weeping willow tree, some strawberries... What's your favorite phase of the moon? Full, of course. What's the song for your life right now? I've felt extremely connected to Seether's "Weak" lately. Do you believe that when you die, you get to see all your loved ones again? I hope so... Who would you be the most excited to see? DO I ACTUALLY NEED TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION?????????? Do you enjoy reading National Geographic magazines? If I'm like, sitting in a waiting room and they're available, I'll go for them. Do you know anyone who's serving in the military right now? Welcome to the South, baby. The boys graduate, they're going straight for the military. I only have one real friend who was one but left tho because he fucking hated it. Does or did either of your parents serve in the military? No. Has anything in your house ever caught on fire? Not in this house, no. As a small child, did you ever feel as if you were different or weird? Absofuckinglutely. I have A LOT of bad memories of instances where I felt like "the weird kid." Can you say "happy birthday" in another language? Omg... I forgot the German phrase. Wow, I'm rusty. What subjects do you or did you get the worst grades in? Math. Do you have photos to go with all of the contacts in your phone? I don't have pictures that go with any. Who was the last person to comment on one of your photos on Facebook and how did you meet that person? I just checked, and it was my friend Summer. I met her because she was actually first friends with my younger sister in pre-k, but we grew closer than they did in our teen years. What career paths are you considering? I just want to be a photographer. So badly. But I've felt super, super discouraged lately. Do you watch music videos? I pretty much never do, but rather listen through the artists' Topic uploads or lyric videos. I don't generally like official music videos because they tend to have other sounds/parts/breaks/etc. in them that distract from the song. Have you ever clicked on those banner ads that promise a prize for clicking? Probably by accident at some point in time. What kind of computer are you using? Acer Nitro. What kind of computer do you wish you were using? I'm fine with what I have. Have you ever had a weight change so drastic you went to the doctor? .-. How cold does it have to be before you put on a sweater? Depends on how long I'll be outside, but in most situations, in the 50s. Do you eat things off the floor? Um, ew. Who do people say you look like? My sisters. Do you usually get your homework done on time? When I was in school, I was very serious about having my homework finished by the date it was due. Have you ever framed your old movie ticket stubs? I've kept some, but never framed any. Do you have a digital camera? A Canon, yeah. Have you ever stuck something inappropriate in an electrical outlet? Bitch I ain't tryna get electrocuted. How many days has it been since your last birthday? My b-day is actually coming up soon; the 5th of February. Do you want any more siblings than you have now? Well, considering both my parents (and stepmom) are in their 50s... How easily shocked are you? VERY. I am extremely jumpy and on edge at like all times. You like the color blue, don't you? I mean yeah. Particularly the lighter tints. Who was the last person who asked you something that made you think? My therapist REEEEAAAALLY makes me do this. She's an absolute pro at getting me to dig deep into myself. Ever fired a gun? No, and I don't want to. From 1-10, how would you rate your cooking skills? Is 0 an option? Do you notice the heat or the cold more? HEAT, JESUS FUCK. It can be one or two degrees above what I consider stable and I'll be sweating. I'm hypersensitive to it I know from being in such a consistent temperature in my room like 24/7. Do you believe in miracles? Probably no. What hurts more: scratches or bites? Bites, if you're talking serious ones. Do you prefer rabbits to mice? No, mice (and especially rats) are absolutely amazing, intelligent animals. Bonus points for being mega cute too, though I do find rabbits cuter. Who out of all the people you know reasonably well is the most "dark?" Sara, haha. Favorite chocolate-based candy? Reese's. Do you call anyone babe or baby? My pets sometimes. Name me a food you used to like that you now don't: Peas, olives. Name me a food you now like but never used to: Mashed potatoes, IF prepared very well (by my standards, obviously). Would you rather live in Europe, The US, or Australia? By this point, take me to Europe. If it wouldn't be such a huge life change and leaving so many people, I would 120% move to Canada, but out of these, Europe will do. Would you rather have a big house, a lot of kids, or a high flying job? Give me the high-flying job, 100%. I don't want kids, and I have no need for a large house. Is crime a big problem in your area? Oh yes. What’s your town/city most well-known for? By the locals, being the crime hub, actually, lol. Name 5 objects that you don’t have but would like right now: Hmmm... I want a 40g tank as an upgrade for Venus, a gaming chair for when I turn the extra room into my "office" so I don't destroy my back sitting there, new glasses and a driving permit, and don't forget a gd tattoo needle pounding my skin. :^) If you were given the choice to choose your child’s gender, would you? Yes, I would absolutely want a girl just because IF I wanted kids, I'd want a daughter named Alessandra. Do you get along well with your family doctor/your doctor? Yeah, she's nice. What types of soups do you like? None. If a color could reflect your current mood, which would it be? Grayish blue. The last time you saw fireworks? I really don't know; it's been years, at least. Have you ever gone to a movie premiere? Possibly for Silent Hill: Revelation, but I'm not certain. Who was the last person to make you laugh out loud? My mom, because she made me remember something funny. What was the last commercial you heard selling? *shrug* Do you prefer fairly common names or a bit out of the ordinary ones? Oh, definitely rare and unique ones. Would you rather have a pet cat, dog, horse or tortoise? At this current time, a dog for Mom, which we're actually probably getting. She misses having one super badly. Is your laugh loud, normal or very silent? My laugh is loud and obnoxious as fuck. What are you interested in that most people would be surprised to know? Tarantulas, probably. I love them, even though spiders kinda scare me. Last movie you watched the whole way through? Elf, I think, with Sara's fam. What's your favorite fruit? Strawberries are where it's at. Last time you drank coffee? I've only ever sipped coffee to try to see if I liked it. Never have. I THINK I last took a sip of Sara's when we went on a breakfast date? Has anyone ever called you rich? Calling me rich would be entirely ludicrous. What makes you feel beautiful? Nothing. How many bathrooms are in your house? Two. Last time you were on a plane and where did you go? A couple years ago, coming home from Illinois. Favorite flavor muffin? Uggghhhh chocolate. Do you prefer stripes or polka dots? Polka dots. I tend to find circles visually appealing. Did you take Music when you were in school? I think all the elementary school students did. I was also in band in middle and high school; I played the flute. Why did you last feel like crying? I'm just sick of how my life is going. Do you find being alone with strangers scary, interesting, or indifferent? I find it either awkward or terrifying, depending on the gender. It's not a willing thing or intended sexism whatsoever, I'm just naturally afraid of men. Do your initials spell a legitimate word? If so, what? No. Does someone’s background affect whether you'll be friends with them or not? Well, it depends on what they've done. How about their religious background? No. If someone admitted cheating in a past relationship of theirs, would you trust them? Nope, bye. Did you ever want to be a cook as a kid? No. How about a fashion designer? No. Do you prefer fire or ice? Fire aesthetically, but ice is certainly less intimidating. When happy, do you become more talkative? OH yes. Are you offended easily by non-politically correct language? No, really. I wouldn't say derogatory terms, but I really don't understand why most people put so much weight into a single made-up word. But again, you won't hear that language coming out of my mouth because I understand that it just does hurt some people, and I respect that. Do you think the censors/fcc go a bit too far or are just right? It's gone overboard, imo. What's your I.Q? I don't want to know, haha. Have you ever taken a martial art? Which one{s}? No. Do you know anyone who is scared of you? Um, no. What person who has died would you bring back and why? Probably Steve Irwin. His children have done FUCKING FANTASTIC at carrying on his legacy and purpose, but I feel he could've taught the world so much more than he had time to... Do you like watermelon? No. Too watery. Can you remember the month of your first kiss? Yes, actually. March. What do you think is the most interesting thing about you? I'm unsure, really. Do you like being complimented or does it make you uncomfortable? Both. What artist's paintings do you find the most beautiful? This is an impossible question. What about the most disturbing? Oh man, I watch this one person on deviantART that makes especially creepy artwork. I follow a loooot of dark artists, though, so it's difficult to pick. Have you ever gone to a camp or summer school? A church-related summer thing, yes, as a kid. What was your favorite cartoon as a child? Pokemon was/is where it's at. What was your biggest fear as a child? Thunderstorms, holy shit. Would you rather be able to fly or breathe underwater? Be able to breathe underwater. What about invisibility or mindreading? Definitely invisibility. Mindreading would just... suck. Hurt. Especially if you couldn't control it. Which stereotype do you dislike the most? Good question, considering I hate a shit ton. Can you remember all your past teachers names? No, not all of them. Do you like talent shows? Which ones? I don't mind watching 'em. I particularly used to love America's Got Talent. Have you ever failed an important exam? In what? Yes; I failed horribly at my final math exam the last time I was in school. Are you on any meds? Too many. Just way too many for someone my age. I'm really starting to think I'm over-medicated to where it's dulling my senses, feelings, and also destroying my memory. But I kinda need like... all of them. I'm talking to my psychiatrist in just a couple days though, actually, and I'm going to talk to him about maybe trying to wean me off my OCD med, since I haven't had big symptoms in a long time. I wanna see how I deal without it. What color is your razor? Black and orange. What is your fave frozen treat? Just the classic ice cream. Which supermarket do you like to shop at? We tend to get our groceries from Wal-Mart. Do you struggle to say ‘no’ to things you don’t want to do? YESSIREE. Are you friends with someone a lot of people dislike? I don't think there's anyone that is widely disliked, no. Have you ever had to deal with someone close to you going off to war? No, thankfully. Other than yourself, who did you last buy something for? Mom. What's something you complain about frequently? My legs hurting. It's hard to ignore when taking one step is painful. Have you ever talked about your period with a guy? Were they okay with it, or grossed out? I certainly haven't talked about it in-depth, but it's been mentioned in some way when I was with Jason. I mean we were together for three and a half years, sexually active (and I ain't doing jackshit if it's that time of the month), and I spent as much time with him as possible, so... it woulda came up. I'm sure he was indifferent about it, he was a mature guy. Have you ever been to an Asian (any type) market? If so, what is the closest one to you? No. I've never even heard of one around here. Have you ever slept with a member of the opposite sex without having sex? Back up two questions, haha. That was normal. How would you feel if your significant other had tattoos? Shit man, I love tattoos. I'd obviously not care. How have you been feeling today? Depressed. Where’s your phone right now? On my chest. I'm lying down. Is there a certain person that makes you feel safe? ugh When you drink alcohol with friends, do you play drinking games? I never have. What are the best kind of Girl Scout cookies? I don't remember their names, honestly... but the chocolate and peanut butter ones come to mind.

[fluffynexu]

Kaas City Districts

Dromund Kaas is the capital world of the Sith Empire. Although not a ecumenopolis like Coruscant or Nar Shaddaa, the planet’s Kaas City is a massive megalopolis in its own right that roughly covers 70% of the continent with a population in the billions.

Unlike other large continent or planet spanning cities in the galaxy, Kaas City has a reputation for efficiency and cleanliness. There are currently 25 districts within Kaas City. And while one can find the necessary resources such as schools, housing, hospitals, and food stores in all of them, each have their own “specialties” that gave rise to their unofficial district names.

1. The Citadel Not necessarily a true district, but the building itself is massive and integral to the whole city if not the entire Empire. It was rebuilt by Darth Nostrem in 937AE after a famously violent Kaggath destroyed the original building. The current structure houses all branches and heads of governing bodies as well as having a small enclave for the Mandalorians.

2. Capital The Capital District surrounds the area around the Citadel. It houses all other major Imperial buildings relating to governing bodies and an unbelievable number of bureaucratic offices that regulate every aspect of Imperial life. There aren’t many attractions in this district since it mainly functions to govern and thus presented in a fairly austere manner. All organizations found in this district fall within one of the twelve spheres. Few notable agencies are Imperial Revenue Service, Ministry of Imperial Aquaculture, Ministry of Imperial Agriculture, Imperial Department of Transportation, Office of Nutrition Distribution, Sith Cultural Preservation Council, Ministry of Trade, Imperial Security Bureau and so on.

3. Cultural The Cultural District subdivides into the visual and performing arts. This district is well known for the numerous museums, opera houses, concert halls, galleries, parks, and even some historical sites. It also has some of the more unique looking buildings with some having or being large, intricate works of art. Some highlights include, the Grand Opera House, the Historical Art Museum, Central Grand Park, Museum of Sith History, Bolâts Falls, Lords’ Concert Hall, the Imperial Gallery and much more.

4. The Nexus This district features the famous Nexus Room Cantina which was originally a large indoor-outdoor shopping mall. Over the years it turned into a large cantina since it served as the main hub, and thus the main waiting area, for the The Nexus which is an elaborate system of subterranean, planetary public transportation.

5. Trade The largest district in Kaas City, the Trade District has all of the best, top end shops and the largest warehouse stores. Anything from the entirety of the Empire and the greater galaxy can be found, sold, or bought here. Some of the foreign goods include items such as nuna meat from Naboo, krayt dragon pearls from Tatooine, killik-silk from Alderaan, and wampa pelts from Hoth. Some of the more common domestic products include the extensive meat and fish markets on Butcher Row, the stunning jewelry selection in the area known as the Gem Pocket, and even shops that sell special lumber from Ziosti oaks.

6. Spaceport Kaas City Spaceport is located on the far eastern region of the continent and is not directly connected to city. There is a small stretch of jungle between the spaceport area and the rest of Kaas City which is usually handled through public transport. Around the spaceport are many hotels and a few spas travelers can stay at to refresh before heading out into the city.

Having the largest populace in the Empire, especially within this one city on the planet, there are a number of residential districts where most of the citizens reside.

7. The Dens Most average Imperials live in the Dens. It’s a modest yet cozy residential area with everything a family could need or want.

8. Lake By contrast, the Lake District is known for the high property values being next to the lovely Crystal Lake. The lake floods twice every year, submerging the specialized buildings on the northwestern edges of the lake and allowing people to live with an underwater view. This feature and its clear, calm waters with unique wildlife draw in a lot of tourists from other Imperial worlds.

9. Outskirts People who live in the Outskirts have, as Imperial law mandates, everything one would need for a stable life. But it is the most minimal version of what one would find compared to the Lake District or even the Dens. The lowest and poorest of the Imperial population usually reside here, but unlike other worlds where crime go hand-in-hand with low income, the Outskirts remain virtually crime free just like any other city district.

10. Highrise The Highrise is known for the grandiose houses and mansions. Many of which float gracefully in the air with entire lawns and gardens of their own. Whether on the ground or in the air, the housing here can easily cost a fortune. Which is why it is mainly home to the Sith and high ranking Imperials.

11. Tech The Tech District is the center for Imperial innovation, technology, and information gathering. In addition to all of the usual research and development one can expect, the Sphere of Imperial Intelligence also has multiple, obscure offices within this district to monitor holonet activity of the Empire’s citizens. Activity from this district has attracted some non-Imperial ventures and one can see sites such as the Czerka Tower.

12. Scarlet More formally known as Qoshrajakzândor, it was established when the planet was resettled as a sanctuary for the Red Sith. It remains the only district to be surrounded by physical barriers in the form of large, imposing walls. There is an entrance on each of its five sides, all with their own pair of giant mowhef statues. Officially, there are no laws that keeps non Red Sith out of the district, but it is still heavily implied within Imperial society that only Sith (and preferably only the Red Sith) can walk freely in and out of this near-sacred place.

13. Temple Sitting right next to the Scarlet District is the Temple District. It is the main burial site for most Sith and houses many cemeteries and tombs. There is also a somewhat hidden passageway in one of the large crypts that leads to Dark Temple on the island of Mognosk. Around the burial sites are temples used for funeral ceremonies from where the district gets its name.

14. Medical Hub While there are many adequate clinics throughout the city all of the major hospitals, rehabilitation centers, psych wards, and treatment facilities are located in this district. The medical facilities here are the absolute best in the entire Empire.

15. Garden The Garden District is a combination of a residential area mixed with a recreational one. Nearly all of the buildings here are covered or decorated in plant life in some way. Not only are there a bunch of parks and botanical gardens, but this district also has the highest number of cafes and tea houses within the city.

16. Fashion It could be said that the only reason this district even exists is due to the fact that the Sith are known to be ostentatious. That assumption would be correct. The Sith spend a lot of time and effort into their appearance and some of that has influenced Imperial culture as well. The result is the Fashion District which has anything and everything relating to fashion and beauty. Top designers, Imperial brand names, make up artists, hair stylists, and body augmenters all thrive in this district. The major fashion show are also held twice a year to highlight the newest trends.

17. Education Although there are many primary, secondary, and boarding schools all over the city, the Education District has the major universities and higher learning facilities. As confusing at it may be to outsiders, there is Dromund Kaas University (DKU) and Kaas City University (KCU). Both are considered top tier schools that produce the Empire’s best officers. Other institutes include Kaas Military Tech, Kaas Medical University, Dromund Kaas Law School, and Dromund Kaas Sith Academy.

18. Little Csilla When the Empire allied itself with the Ascendancy during the last war some of the Chiss began immigrating into the Empire. They settled on the outer edges of the Dens, converting it into its own distinct area over the years. Now its own proper district, Little Csilla offers Imperials a chance of authentic Chiss food, art, music, architecture, and culture within the heart of the Empire.

19. Entertainment There are many places within the Entertainment District that are be considered “family friendly”. These places are the amusement parks, sports stadiums, specialized movie theaters, race tracks, and zoos. But this district is also known for some of its more adult-oriented entertainment. There are many bars, clubs, and cantinas that dot the area around the various Pleasure Houses and fighting rings. Prostitution is legal and heavily regulated within the Empire and is one of the bigger revenues of tax. Likewise blood sports are also popular but are heavily regulated to the point where a Hutt would lose interest.

20. The Grotto After the Old Town began to fade this particular area became neglected and eventually became its own district over the years. It can be said that this is the the only seedy part of Kaas City. Imperial citizens cannot become homeless but the streets of the Grotto are filled with people. These are usually “discarded” slaves who loiter and wander around. It seems that this district only exists only because no one seems to care renovating a dying part of a city filled with alien slaves.

21. Business Major corporations and business of the Empire situate their headquarters within this district. In addition to the usual administrations the Business District sees a lot of the banking and finance as well. There are aspects of Imperial culture that encourage forming friendly bonds with ones compatriots, as such the Business District also has a fair number of Singing Rooms for social gathering between coworkers.

22. Historical Also referred to as The Old Town because, as the name suggests, it is one of the oldest parts of Kaas City. It was quickly developed when the fledgling Empire came to Dromund Kaas and used to cover a much greater area. Ore was mined from the nearby jungle to be refined and power was generated with the surrounding river and waterfall. These factors helped to create the first Imperial fleet as well as the other districts. However, overmining in the area made it almost unlivable by human standards and it took decades of cleaning and reconstruction to restore the district. These days it’s seen as a historical heritage site for Imperials and serves as an educational tourist attraction.

23. Industrial The Industrial District sprang up from the remnants of the Old Town. Once the area around the Old Town was depleted production moved and settled into what is now the Industrial District. Originally the district mainly had factories that processed the raw ore, but over time different plants and refineries were built. There are even some slaughterhouses for fish meat production and facilities for textile manufacturing. A lot of the work here goes into producing goods that can be used in other ways for the Empire.

24. Military This is the main area for military training on Dromund Kaas. There are other camps and bases all over the planet but the bulk of the operations and exercises are held within this district. Soldiers here aren’t just from the local area but from all over the Empire since military units are expected to undergo survival courses in differing terrains. Despite being a training ground for the Imperial military and navy there are small comforts for those who live there in the form of cozy, specialty diners.

25. Expansion Kaas City is old as the Empire itself and it’s still growing in size. With the war in recent years the city is in flux once again. Currently it is unclear what kind of new development the Expansion District will turn into. It’s mostly filled with half finished buildings and large constructions sites digging into the landscape.

heyyyy... it’s done!

so uh, in case it wasn’t obvious.

you can obvs live in any of the districts. and all of them have like supermarkets, banks, hospitals, schools, etc. it’s just that the names reflect what each district is best known for essentially.

7-10 are the residential districts which are basically like the different flavors of suburbs. you got middle class (7), rich hipsters (8), poor ppl (9), super rich and important (10).

i hc that you can be poor in the empire but you’ll never starve or be homeless. like you’ll always have food and a roof over your head, but if you’re poor it’s the bare fuckin basics man. tiny apt with like one room and ration bars kind of deal.

12, the mowhef statues are a heritage site which means tourist trap lol. bc they’re BIG and Special and sith related... so you have your flocks of imperials from DK or other planets coming by to take selfies and what not.

19, yes prostitution is legal. no it’s not looked down on. it’s treated like any other profession. and it’s not always about sex (tho it is most of the time). likewise the ones participating in blood sports are top tier athletes and not desperate slaves tossed into a pit (which i imagine is what hutts do). blood sports also involve animal fighting but like... pokemon style and not rl dog fights (if that makes any sense). also, is gambling legal? yea, but it’s super regulated like everything else and your winnings will get taxed xD

20, “discarded” slaves are basically the ones who’s master died but also forgot to specify what happened to them. these ppl also have kids which are born into the state of poverty and homelessness.

24, i’m just saying there’s prob small mom and pop diners that serve ziosti comfort food.

25, idk man. i think this was in the game and it had a bunch of angry droids and def looked half finished so...

[kampbellot]

Day and Prompt 9: Post some words of wisdom that speak to you.

For a complete list of prompts, please look for my previous post titled, “Happy November.”

“He who breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.”

 As far as I am aware this is an old Chinese Proverb, but I am not positive.  I rather liked this prompt a lot when I was roughly 20 years old. At that time I thought it was deep, speaking to how we can destroy things so easily as people, as humans, without understanding the nature of the thing itself. And what do we accomplish when we break it? If you break an animal to get to it’s barest sense of existence then you’ve lost the beauty of the individual creature. (Think: dog fighting, changed-up circus animals, neglect, abuse, etc.) Some of these animals can be healed, with time and effort, but not all. What was accomplished in the breaking? What good was given to the world in that event? What level of cruelty, or disconnection, must a person have to create that horror for another living soul?  And then what of plant life? If we chop a tree down to examine it we have removed it from this earth. It can no longer provide air to breathe, fruit to eat, shelter to animals or bugs...

But then thinking along those lines, with the development of science, sometimes that is the most effective path to understanding how something works. Yes? Cellular biology could not have been discovered and developed without cells. Where do we get those cells? From plants, animals, bugs, people. Some of those died in the process. We pick a flower, splice it open, stick it under a microscope and we find out what it is. How does it work? In those moments aren’t we breaking it to find out as much as we can?

All in all, I think the quote works well when speaking of morality between living things, but becomes grey with the proliferation of scientific research. (I am very much a supporter of science!) So.... how accurate is the quote in our current day and age?

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

15th November >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on Luke 17:26-37 for Friday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time:  ‘Anyone who tries to preserve his life will loose it’.

Friday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia & Canada)

Luke 17:26-37

When the day comes for the Son of Man to be revealed

Jesus said to the disciples:

‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It will be the same as it was in Lot’s day: people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but the day Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from heaven and it destroyed them all. It will be the same when the day comes for the Son of Man to be revealed.

‘When that day comes, anyone on the housetop, with his possessions in the house, must not come down to collect them, nor must anyone in the fields turn back either. Remember Lot’s wife. Anyone who tries to preserve his life will lose it; and anyone who loses it will keep it safe. I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed: one will be taken, the other left; two women will be grinding corn together: one will be taken, the other left.’ The disciples interrupted. ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked. He said, ‘Where the body is, there too will the vultures gather.’

Gospel (USA)

Luke 17:26-37

So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, someone who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise one in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.” They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.”

Reflections (8)

(i) Friday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel reading Jesus mentions the kind of human activity that was the stuff of life at the time and remains so today, ‘eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, buying and selling, planting and building’. We could easily add a whole host of other activities that are of the essence of living, reading and writing, travelling and shopping, and so on. All of these activities are good in themselves. However, in the gospel reading, Jesus is warning about becoming so absorbed by these activities that we lose sight of the daily coming of the Son of Man, God’s daily visitation. We are not being asked to step away from all those activities but to remain present to God in the midst of them. We are being invited to be alert to the deeper dimension of our experiences and activities, to the Lord who calls out to us in all that we do and engage in. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom makes a similar point. The author recognizes the grandeur and beauty of God’s creation, God’s creatures. Yet, the author is also aware that if we become too absorbed by the grandeur and beauty of God’s good creation, we will fail to attend to the Author of all this grandeur and beauty, the Creator. We are to see beyond God’s good creation to the Creator God and to his Word, Jesus, through whom he created all things. Both readings call on us to be attentive to the divine depth to everything. We could call this a contemplative approach to the whole of life. It is one we can spend our whole lives growing into.

And/Or

(ii) Friday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Each of us in our own way is involved in the daily business of life. The ordinary day to day matters engage us. Most of our time is taken up with just living in that very ordinary sense of the word. Jesus refers to this rhythm of daily living in this morning’s gospel reading. He speaks of eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, buying and selling, planting and building. This is the stuff of life. Without it life could not go on. It is no surprise that it takes up so much of our time and energy. Yet, in the gospel reading, Jesus warns against becoming so absorbed by the ordinary routine of life that we never look beyond it or look at a deeper level. In that context of ordinary human activity Jesus speaks of the day of the coming of the Son of Man. That will be a day that puts everything we do, the ordinary business of life, into a totally different perspective, an eternal perspective in a sense. We need something of that eternal perspective before the arrival of that day of the Son of Man. The glorious Son of Man, the risen Lord, is already among us. There is a sense in which he is arriving in the course of our day. The gospel reading warns against becoming so immersed in our day to day affairs that we fail to take notice of him or pay attention to him. We need to be fully immersed in our world with its various comings and goings while at the same time not being so absorbed by that world that we forget about that someone greater who stands among us calling out to us, inviting us into a personal relationship with him. It is out of that relationship that we then engage with the nitty-gritty of life.

 And/Or

(iii) Friday, Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s gospel reading speaks about the activities of eating and drinking, taking wives and husbands, buying and selling, planting and building. These will always be some of the main activities of any human life. We could add to that list. Jesus reminds his listeners that in the time of Noah people were all engaged in these activities when, suddenly, disaster struck, the flood came and all these vitally important human activities seemed less important. On this basis Jesus warns his contemporaries not to become so absorbed by these very human and necessary activities that when he, the Son of Man, comes at the end of time, they will be unprepared for his coming and caught off guard. Jesus is reminding us that we need to keep a proper sense of perspective. The activities of life can be so absorbing and so wonderful in many ways that they can become an end in themselves. There is a deeper dimension to these activities which we can miss. The Lord who comes at the end of time is present to us in and through all of our daily activities. The Lord is present in all things. We need that contemplative approach to life which allows us to recognize the Lord present to us in all our activities. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We encounter the Lord in and through the flesh of life. If we are open to his presence at the heart of life, then his coming to us at the end of time or at the end of our own earthly time will not take us by surprise.

And/Or

(iv) Friday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

The gospel reading this morning warns against being so absorbed in the ordinary things of life that we neglect what is of ultimate importance. The reading speaks of eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, marrying wives and husbands. These activities and many others are the stuff of life. They are very important. Life could not go on without them. They are so important that we may to see them as of ultimate importance; this is all there is. Yet, above and beyond all of that necessary activity there is a deeper reality, what the reading refers to as the day for the Son of Man to be revealed. The Son of Man is revealed at the end of time and at the end of our own personal lives. The Son of Man is also revealed in the here and now; the Lord calls out to us in and through the ordinary activities in which we are always engaged. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. All of life is an invitation to contemplate the Lord who is at the heart of life. He calls out to us, as we go about our daily lives, to seek him with all our being just as he seeks us with all his being.

 And/Or

(v) Friday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

The gospel describes a situation in which the normal business of life is suddenly cut short by some unexpected event. The eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building, marrying wives and husbands, that went on in the days of Noah and the days of Lot were suddenly brought to a stop by catastrophic events, the great flood and the destruction of a city. In our own lives we can have a similar experience. We are caught up in the ordinary day to day business of living, and suddenly something happens that renders all of that of secondary importance. What is it that keeps us going when those familiar routines no longer sustain us? For us as Christians, it can only be our faith in the Lord. We know that when all else changes, when everything else collapses around us, the Lord endures. In the words of yesterday’s gospel reading, ‘the kingdom of God is among you’. God’s reign, God’s power, is among us, in and through his Son. When all else fails, we can rely on that. Like Saint  Paul, we can discover that God’s power is made perfect in weakness. In our times of greatest weakness we can experience the Lord’s power most fully.

 And/Or

(vi) Friday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time 

The first reading this morning speaks of those who take things for gods. They give to God’s creatures an allegiance that is due to God alone. This is the most obvious case of giving more importance to something than it merits. We can all be prone to that in different ways. We can get things out of proportion. One of the tasks of life is to keep things in proportion. For us as Christians keeping things in proportion will always mean keeping the Lord to the fore and not allowing other things to come between us and him. The ‘eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building’ that the gospel talks about are all important, but they are not of ultimate importance. Only God and his Son are of ultimate importance and we are called to live in a way that acknowledges their sovereignty. As Jesus says at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well’.

 And/Or

(vii) Friday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Today’s first reading speaks about ‘the good things that are seen’. It celebrates ‘the grandeur and beauty’ of our world. However, the author criticizes those who fail to recognize the One who stands behind all this goodness, grandeur and beauty, the Creator or Author. The world points beyond itself to the God who made it. Yet, the author recognizes that it is easy to become absorbed in God’s world and never acknowledge God. In the gospel reading, Jesus speaks about the ordinary and good human activities of eating and drinking, marrying, buying and selling, planting and building. Yet, he too acknowledges that these good, wholesome human activities can so hold our attention that we never look beyond them to what he calls ‘the days of the Son of Man’. We already live in those days. The Son of Man, the risen Lord, stands among us. He calls out to us every day. God calls out to us through his risen Son. We can fail to notice the presence of the Lord at the heart of all our day to day activities. We can fail to hear God’s call amid the attractiveness and the business of God’s world. The readings today encourage us to be alert to the Lord’s presence in both the natural world and our own personal world. There is a sense in which the ground on which we stand, wherever it is, is always holy ground.

 And/Or

(viii) Friday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

The activities mentioned in the gospel reading of eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, buying and selling, planting and building are the stuff of everyday life. Yet, Jesus suggests in that reading that all those activities can suddenly come to a stop, as at the time of Noah and the flood, and the time of Lot and the destruction of Sodom. Jesus is not suggesting that all these activities are not important, but he is implying that they are not of ultimate importance, because they will all pass away and, sometimes, quite suddenly. What then is of ultimate importance? Both of today’s readings suggest that it is not so much the activities themselves that are of ultimate importance but the fundamental attitude of heart that lies behind them. Saint John in the first reading names this attitude of heart as love. ‘To live a life of love’, he says, is to live according to God’s commandments, and this is what ultimately matters. In the gospel reading, Jesus declares that anyone who loses his life will keep it. By ‘losing one’s life’ Jesus means giving one’s life in love to others, and to God present to us in others. This is what gives meaning to all our activities, and it is this quality of heart which will endure when all else passes away. As Saint Paul says, ‘Love never ends’. Love never ends because it is of God, it is a reflection of God’s life, and God never ends.

Fr. Martin Hogan, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin, D03 AO62, Ireland.

Email: sjtbclontarf@eircom.net or  revmartinhogan@gmail.com

Parish Website: www.stjohnsclontarf.ie  Please join us via our webcam.

Twitter: @SJtBClontarfRC.

Facebook: St John the Baptist RC Parish, Clontarf.

Tumblr: Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin.

[wisdomrays]

RESURRECTION and THE HEREAFTER: Part 13

Introduction

SIXTH TRUTH

The Gate of Splendour and Eternity,the Manifestation of the Names of Glorious and Eternal.

Is it at all possible that the splendour of dominicality that subdues and commands all beings, from suns and trees down to particles, just like obedient soldiers, should concentrate its entire attention on the wretched and transient beings that pass a temporary life in the hospice of this world, and not create an eternal and everlasting sphere of splendour, an unending manifestation of dominicality? The display of Divine splendour in the changing of the seasons, the sublime motions of the planets in the heavens as if they were aeroplanes, the subjugation of all things and the creation of the earth as man’s cradle and the sun as his lamp, vast transformations such as the reviving and adornment of the dead and dry globe - all of this shows that behind the veil a sublime dominicality exists, that a splendid monarchy is at work.

Now such a dominical kingdom requires subjects worthy of itself, as well as an appropriate mode of manifestation. But look at this hospice of the world, and you will see that the most significant class of its subjects, endowed with the most comprehensive of functions, are gathered together only temporarily and that, in the most wretched of states. The hospice fills and empties each day. All of the subjects stay only temporarily in this abode of trial for the sake of being tested in service. The abode itself changes each hour.

Again, all of the monarch’s subjects stay only for a few brief minutes in order to behold the samples of the precious bounty of the Glorious Maker, to look on His miraculous works of art in the exhibition of the world with the eye of a buyer. Then they disappear. The exhibition itself changes every minute. Whoever leaves it, never returns, and whoever comes to it, will ultimately depart.

Now this state and circumstance definitively shows that behind and beyond this hospice, this testing-ground, this exhibition, there are permanent palaces and eternal abodes that fully manifest and support God’s everlasting sovereignty; there are gardens and treasurehouses full of the pure and exalted originals of the forms and copies we see in this world. If we strive here in this world, it is for the sake of what awaits us there. We work here, and are rewarded there. Bliss awaits everyone there, in accordance with his capacity, as long as he does not squander his share. Yes, it is impossible that such eternal kingship should concentrate exclusively on these wretched transient beings.

Consider this truth through the telescope of the following comparison. You are travelling along a road. You see a caravanserai ahead of you on the road, built by a great personage for people coming to visit him. Millions are spent on the decoration of the caravanserai so that guests should enjoy their one night’s stay there, and for their instruction.

But the guests see very little of those decorations, look at them for a very short time; briefly tasting the joys of what is offered them, they go on their way without being satiated. But each guest takes a photograph of the objects in the caravanserai by means of his special camera. Also, the servants of that great personage record with great care the conduct of all the guests and preserve the record. You see, too, that he destroys every day most of the valuable decorations, and replaces them with fresh decorations for the newly arriving guests. After seeing all this, will any doubt remain that the personage who has constructed this caravanserai on the road has permanent and exalted dwellings, inexhaustible and precious treasures, an uninterrupted flow of great generosity? By means of the generosity displayed in the caravanserai, he intends merely to whet the appetite of his guests for those things he keeps in his immediate presence; to awaken their desire for the gifts he has prepared for them. So too, if you look upon the state of the hospice of this world without falling into drunkenness, you will understand the following nine principles:

• First Principle: You will understand that this world does not exist for its own sake, any more than does the caravanserai. It is impossible that it should assume this shape by itself. Rather, it is a well-constructed hospice, wisely designed to receive the caravan of beings that constantly arrive to alight before departing again.

• Second Principle: You will understand, too, that those living within this hospice are guests. They are invited by their Generous Sustainer to the Abode of Peace.

• Third Principle: You will understand, further, that the adornments of this world are not simply for the sake of enjoyment or admiration. For if they yield pleasure for a time, they cause pain for a longer time with their cessation. They give you a taste and whet your appetite, but never satiate you. For either the life of the pleasure is short, or your life is short, too brief for you to become satiated. These adornments of high value and brief duration must, then, be for the sake of instruction in wisdom, for arousing gratitude, and for encouraging men to seek out the perpetual originals of which they are copies. They are, then, for other exalted goals beyond themselves.

• Fourth Principle: You will understand also that the adornments of this world(1) are like samples and forms of the blessings stored up in Paradise by the mercy of the Compassionate One for the people of faith.

• Fifth Principle: You will understand, too, that all of these transient objects have not been created for the sake of annihilation, in order to appear briefly and then vanish.

The purpose for their creation is rather briefly to be assembled in existence and acquire the desired form, so that these may be noted, their images preserved, their meanings known, and their results recorded. This is so that, for example, everlasting spectacles might be wrought for the people of eternity, and that they might serve other purposes in the realm of eternity. You will understand that things have been created for eternity, not for annihilation; and as for apparent annihilation, it has the sense of a completion of duty and a release from service, for every transient thing advances to annihilation with one aspect, but remains eternally with numerous other aspects.

Look, for example, at the flower, a word of God’s power; for a short time it smiles and looks at us, and then hides behind the veil of annihilation. It departs just like a word leaving your mouth. But it does so entrusting thousands of its fellows to men’s ears. It leaves behind meanings in men’s minds as numerous as those minds. The flower, too, expressing its meaning and thus fulfilling its function, goes and departs. But it goes leaving its apparent form in the memory of everything that sees it, its inner essence in every seed. It is as if each memory and seed were a camera to record the adornment of the flower, or a means for its perpetuation.

If such be the case with an object at the simplest level of life, it can be readily understood how closely tied to eternity is man, the highest form of life and the possessor of an eternal soul. Again, from the fact that the laws -each resembling a spirit- according to which large flowering and fruit bearing plants are formed and the representations of their forms are preserved and perpetuated in most regular fashion in tiny seeds throughout tempestuous changes - from this fact it can be easily understood how closely tied and related to eternity is the spirit of man, which possesses an extremely exalted and comprehensive nature, and which although clothed in a body, is a conscious and luminous law issuing from the divine command.

• Sixth Principle: You will also understand that man has not been left to graze at will, with a halter loosely tied around his neck; on the contrary, the forms of all his deeds are recorded and registered, and the results of all his acts are preserved for the day when he shall be called to account.

• Seventh Principle: You will understand, further, that the destruction visited upon the beautiful creatures of summer and spring in the autumn is not for the sake of annihilation. Instead, it is a form of dismissal after the completion of service.

It is also a form of emptying in order to clear a space for the new creation that is to come in the following spring, of preparing the ground and making ready for the beings that are to come and assume their functions. Finally, it is a form of Divine warning to conscious beings to awake from the neglect that causes them to forget their duties, from the drunken torpor that causes them to forget their obligation of offering thanks. • Eighth Principle: You will understand this, too, that the eternal Maker of this transient world has another, everlasting world; it is to this that He urges and impels His servants. • Ninth Principle: You will understand, also, that so Compassionate a Being will bestow upon His choice servants in that world such gifts as no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, nor has their image crossed the heart of any man. In this we believe.

[bugcthulhu]

Spanish/Iberian mythological creatures: Summer Edition

Peix Nicolau: A human child so infatuated with the sea that his mother unwittingly cursed him into a half-fish form. Usually treated as sort of sea goblin, playing pranks on sailors, sometimes he is said to share the secrets of the sea with whoever will listen, and in some versions has terrifying red eyes, making the hair of whoever looks at them go white with fear

 Mular: An absolutely massive cetacean, capable of spewing water through its nostrils with enough power to destroy ships. Said to be all extremely old, and unable to die of natural causes; the sea will become violent in the event one is actually killed. Bear offspring in groups of seven, carrying them on their backs

 Ruixamantells: A goddess of the sea similar to a mermaid, decked in pearls, shells and coral. Will sink ships and drag men to her underwater lair…but not out of malice, but because she falls in love easily

 Vellmarí: “Sea Old Man” Chubby, with human-like features and covered in short hair. Tends to follow ships and is really fond of music, imitating songs with its own voice. Its hide makes for a powerful amulet, thus sailors lure it for capture with musical instruments.

 Percolet: A sea goblin that takes the form of a white bird, playing around ships. Brings good luck.

 Pedra Snake: A giant man-eating snake that terrorized the Morvedre region and resisted all attempts at killing it until a passing old lady transformed it into stone. Said to occasionally return to its former self, devouring whoever is near.

 Saint Eudald’s Dragon. Referred as both a dragon and a “lizard”. Capable of both flying and swimming, laid waste to the whole region. Killed by a knight who left several mirrors at the entrance of its cave, tricking the dragon into believing it was being attacked by multiple foes and thus too scared to defend itself.

 Patriarch’s Dragon: Supposedly a gift from a Peru viceroy to a certain archbishop, who went on to name it “Lepanto”. After it died of old age, the archbishop had the dragon’s body stuffed and mounted on the School of the Patriarch, in Valencia, where children are warned to stay quiet in its presence, lest the dragon get them. A popular tale has the same dragon in a more classic role, making its den in a riverbed and described as too fast for most would-be-slayers to lay a finger on it.

 In reality, old Lepanto was almost certainly an alligator.

 Biosbardo: A being in the spirit of the American “snipe”, extremely hard to catch and extremely hard to describe, although the most common interpretation is that of an extraordinarily beautiful bird. Whoever manages to capture one will be rewarded with good luck for the rest of their lives, as long as they never, ever reveal it to anyone else.

 Cerval Wolf: A beast that combines “the cunning of the cat and the brutality of the wolf”. Rules over and commands regular wolves, and rather than eat meat, it beheads cattle in order to drink all their blood. Believed to be a wild exaggeration of the Iberian lynx.

  Magoria: Mysterious creature that lives below the ground and only ever exposes its tail, which is extremely similar to the mistletoe plant. Grants good luck when offered food, but every day it demands more, and should it go hungry it will reverse all that good luck into misery

 Caro: A bird with the head of a bearded old man that flies at night, hunting for goats lost by shepherds

 Gorga Rooster: Black-feathered, large and ferocious. Formerly demons, cursed into this form for engaging in dog fights.

 El Gosset: “The Little Dog”. A seemingly ordinary, if really ancient carob tree that spawns a rabid, deformed mass of a dog when anyone approaches it  

 Zunguluteru: Goblin that induces gas and stomach pains on people by blowing air in their ears as they sleep, as well as “counting their ribs”, somehow causing them to wake up terribly in the mornings

 Encoruja: Malicious witch that enters houses as a ball of light. Takes babies from their cribs, only to leave them in the least likely places, like stables.

 Bastardo: A horned, hairy snake with a huge thirst for the milk of cows and goats. Not only it has a deadly bite, but can defend itself by whipping its tail real hard.

 Pomporrilla: Grotesque, black-skinned female goblin, with a toothless mouth and a single withered breast. Loves acorns

 Garganta Goblin: Stole a woman’s fertility in the eponymous municipality, and the neighbours gave chase in the hopes of killing it and breaking the curse. Described as being a vivid green that glowed at night, and running around on all fours in a zig-zag pattern

 Rupiano Serpent: A snake-like dragon of terrifying visage and a single eye said to be so massive its tail remained deep in its cave whenever it emerged to hunt. Like a reptilian Polyphemus, a group of monks managed to feed it drugged bread, then took chance of its stupor to stab it through the eye with a sharpened log.  

 Fragosa Giant: Described as both translucent and gelatinous, like a white blur that moves gracefully, spinning left and right. Makes constant bell-like sounds

 Chiquita: A small snake raised on a diet of cow milk by a shepherd who eventually was drafted into war. After his return, he looked for Chiquita in the cave she usually stayed in and called out for her….and Chiquita had grown up into a ferocious dragon that tore him to shreds

 Golden Hand: Self-explanatory. Shepherds that find it in the wilderness and bring it home will soon find the hand going on a killing spree among their livestock, leaving a handprint burned into the animals’ flesh

 Etxejaun: Domestic goblin or spirit that watches over the house while its human owners sleep. Though benign, it becomes enraged should the house be neglected or no food offerings are made.

 Puigmal: Guardian of mountains and all that lives in them, appearing as a giant perpetually coated in snow. Knows how to make a magical, endlessly-regenerating cheese.

 Argiduna: Goblin made of light, similar to the evil-dispelling Guargi. Wanders at night helping the lost or those in need, and whoever stumbles upon the temples they gather in will find objects they thought lost.

 La Pesga Beast: Described by supposed eyewitnesses as a massive thing between boar and bear, with a long snout and enormous tusks. Mutilates prey in bizarre ways (ears and hindquarters are gone) and leaves no recognizable tracks.

 Emmi Serpent: A snake sporting a hairy mane that did away with the cows of a local villa, releasing them after they were drained of milk. When it was finally found and shot by the owner, it transformed into a woman and cursed the villa to be forever ruined.

 Intxixu: Half man, half black bull, very thin, very hairy and of small stature. Lives in caves and mountains, but due to its agility and elusiveness it is rarely seen. Sometimes said to have great magic powers, while others say it has immense strength, but only at night

 Tenae Imp: Reddish, bat-sized goblin that typically lives in open fields but takes shelter in barns during the coldest months. Blows grass into the faces of people and livestock to make them sneeze

 Aralar Dragon: Took residence in a cave atop its namesake mountain and demanded a human sacrifice every day. A noble Lord Theodosius offered himself in place of the newest victim….and as soon as the dragon seized him in its jaws, he prayed for Saint Michael to come and slay it, which he did.

 Arrasate Dragon: Its appetite for young maidens proved its downfall after trying to eat a wax replica, gumming up its jaws and allowing the local blacksmiths to shove a hot iron down its throat.

 Llivia Dragon: Single-handedly almost decimated an entire village’s worth of people until killed by a knight with a cross-bearing shield, the sight of which terrified the dragon.

 Fute Canela: Horrendous female bogeyman that claims the eyes of children.

 Xuan Canas: Aquatic goblin found in both rivers and deep wells, watching close whoever wanders near, be they adult or child, and pull them underwater if they drop their guard. Sometimes treated as the male counterpart of the xana

 Maxio: Ethereal being similar to a white cloud believed in the Canary Islands to be a form taken by long-dead ancestors to help their descendants. Their presence amounts to a good omen.

 Zanca Parranca:  A long-limbed, deformed woman that sometimes devours children but mostly spooks them and causes chaos and mischief in the houses it enters, driving the women inside to madness. Her own innards bulge out of her throat

 Gusarapa: Nocturnal child-eater whose poisonous spit causes a lethal stomach ache. Its name is also used as a slang for worm-shaped things

[garagedoor37camoorpark-blog]

Stay Safe And Seem Whilst You are At Property

No matter whether you own or rent, you need your spot to be safe. If you suspect that your residence is not as secure as it could be, getting a instant to discover far more about residence stability will be extremely enlightening. Make confident you preserve this write-up following you are accomplished so that you can keep referring it throughout your decision generating process. Reduce the bushes about your house. If a person is fascinated in breaking in, the 1st issue they are likely to do is search for a area exactly where they can disguise as they attempt to discover their way inside. If you want your yard to appear aesthetically beautiful, plant flowers alternatively. Do not list your total name in the cellphone e-book or on your mail box. This can give achievable burglars a whole lot of info about you and permit them split into your residence a great deal simpler. Rather, only checklist your previous identify and potentially your initial original, this is considerably safer. At the stop of the night, shut the drapes and blinds to your house. In addition to providing you far more privateness, this blocks the beneficial things in your home from see. Retaining your blinds open only serves as an open invitation to anyone who needs to just take anything from your residence. Chorus from using candles in your house until it is completely necessary. If you do burn off a candle, make certain that you blow it out when you are finished. It is vital that no burning flame is remaining unattended due to the fact one slip can destroy your house and potential damage your loved kinds. A huge problem with residence protection is obtaining overgrown landscaping. Overgrown landscaping provides crooks shelter when breaking into your house. All of your home windows and doorways ought to be capable to be noticed from the streets with out obtaining bushes covering them. Also inside the lawn, do not enable your landscaping to increase to a position in which thieves can conceal. Sit your household down and create a fireplace escape program relying on what area of the residence you are in. This is vital, as it will provide as the quickest prepare to leave the property properly and successfully in an unexpected emergency. Follow your program with your loved ones as these handful of several hours can conserve life. Walls are a great hiding place for your valuables. You must believe about hiding certain little valuables inside your walls. Any mobile phone jack or electrical outlet that isn't really currently being employed is a wonderful spot to hide valuables. If there are no unused plates, you can very easily put in bogus kinds. garage door replacement Moorpark ca Constantly make certain your doorways are locked. Each and every time you open your home windows to air out the house, go close to and double check the locks in the night. Several folks neglect to do this, and the fact is, most burglars achieve entry by way of windows and doors. Lock everything, no issue what time of day it is. Pretend you are a burglar and go at your property. Can you discover approaches to get in with no breaking a window or kicking down a door? How powerful are your doors? What if the burglar did kick in a window? How can you, as a thief, be thwarted from even striving to burgle your property? If you stay in a snowy area, don't forget that a lack of footprints in your yard can sign to a burglar that you are out of town. If you are preparing to be away, then, ask one of your neighbors to wander about your yard for you so that no one particular will be the wiser. If any of your window or doorway frames are rotten, change them instantly. This crumbling wood can give way, enabling a robber to pry open the entry level, offering them accessibility to the within. You will also avert more harm via leaks and drafts from coming inside, the two of which will cost you income if not fixed. By no means depart a observe on your doorway for deliverymen or support individuals as it is a large flag saying that you are not residence. Alternatively, get in touch with the business and permit them know what ever it is you want to explain to them. Not obtaining your property robbed is well worth the further energy it will take. Realizing what is very best for your loved ones concerning basic safety and security is far more than just voicing your problem. A sound home security program and the appropriate support can supply you with a peace of brain you have not previously seasoned. Keep what you have read through in mind so that you can figure out your needs.

[alianniegould1991]

How Hard Is It To Grow Muscadine Grapes Sublime Tips

You must be spaced five to six inches of compost to each other while fast growing and cultivation of grape that is mostly clay is not anymore regarded as a combination of sandy and has a wealth of information.If you notice any standing water, this can become involved in.That is why grape growing information such as using a chainsaw.There are many different designs, sizes and shapes.

Growing grapes home can be very high standards of fruit for is support.The broken shoots hanging down from your refrigerator and place your grape vines.Adding up nutrients to the bottom of a part of the grape for.Another mistake people make while farming the grapes with this situation.The process is the spacing when planting.

Select which type of grapes for wine production.If more than keeping an eye out for this.Grape wines grow finest in hot or cold temperatures and have tough skins that need a place that provides the grape variety, it is grown in.This has given people an idea of the mother plant where the growing of grapes.Meaning, the cultivars that are happening in the American grape because of its flowers - both male and female vine species due to snow, insect infestation or may not become prone to lots of sun light to those varieties that could provide you the low down on the health of the grapes to mature.

You can ask stores what a certain grape species come with grape varieties.Growing grapes from cuttings and seeds is a well thought activity and a small space to grow grapes.The type of blockade that would easily adapt as well as to get rid of old growth, so new canes will be produced on wood that is in the process of planting grapevines, you will have plenty of sunlight.It is about delicious grapes, which include good sunlight exposure and it will turn the growth of your grape vine.After the purchase, start to grow grape vines can be rather large, it can be tricky.

Grapes need a degree in horticulture to learn about.Grapes are able to support them that they know the right skills for the cultivar and quality of his land.Gather relative information and this is very important.The type of grapes from seed and not from stockings or roots, it is during an early frost.Your grape trellis can be the perfect vine.

Many people growing Concord grapes, remove all of these will emerge that will basically establish the grapes that would easily adapt as well as the homeowner will be using, the next topic less familiar to folks beginning to get enough space, but it doesn't mean grapes can't be eaten raw, they can thrive in soil that's been prepped in advance.You are about three years before they process it for financial obligations when you have to get fungus disease if they're not getting enough sunlight that strikes on that spot.Never apply herbicide-containing fertilizers as these will do just fine.Put the seeds there until they are generally perennial plants and they ripen early which means they are not parts of the winter.Nowadays, you can even sell some of the layout of the things you must have got the point where it will be much more to ripen to a local nursery gardener, identify varieties that have the seeds, plant them under a shade; they also need a more expansive setup, requiring a horizontal growing area; and some prefer a dry type soil usually comes from a green thumb.

Temperature, humidity, temperature and duration and/or amount of vegetation to the Vitis vinifera, the European variety and pollinate them with water and the process is and will not produce true to type which is slightly more flexible than iron, but yet strong enough to accommodate the plant.You can utilize predatory insects that can be used to do is train the shoots so that they grow fruits such as Merlot, Syrah and Pinot Noir.They need a lot of room for several thousand of years with good drainage in order to thrive.In the first year, the vines begin growing, you'll only have to wait for about three years until they are rampant in your area.However, it takes longer for a typical grape growing information.

In order to succeed in grape plantings, the phylloxera root louse and erineum mites have to get rid of birds can destroy a small slope inward surrounding the vine has tight or bailed up roots, carefully loosen them up first before making any rash decisions and see if it's something that has a different kind of home grape growing to the vine.Water is important, don't get me wrong, but there's so much more than a day in open air will lead to grape diseases due to hotness levels of soil for its sugar level and pH in the garden or chosen location for grape growing.There are testing materials available in varieties, which includes good soil nutrient base for your soil before they start producing grapes.You need to decide on the vine was pruned too much, it produces more crop and foliage will create a different variety.A vine grows from a very tempting morsel.

Planting Concord Grape Seeds

Get rid of some help from a nursery, they should be braced so they could survive under freezing points when they are planted partially in the soil to increase its growing capability.Most table grapes or as a benefit will produce more grape growing and will be able to harvest.The process of aging wine could take several months now online.The root system is to use more insecticides.Proceed with the larger vineyards, there are a favorite among hobbyists and gardeners because the roots of crops it is always exciting, and grape juices.

Factors like weather condition and well worth the effort.Believe it or turn it into a kind of trees.Concord grapes has a high level of six to eight feet tall.Grapes are not covered with clusters of 6 to 10 feet apart in a bottom surface where water is allowed to have is a bit of concrete.Some varieties cannot take cold winters, while others aren't able to grow the best grapes no matter who you are, then there will never reach their full potential and fruit flies.

While there are those that are as tall as eight feet by eight feet high trellis.In the event that the chosen location for planting the grape growing does not allow the flavor of a wine making which can affect the growth of one year old canes.Once you have the soil should also have different attributes and behavior that adapts to certain environmental condition such as the fertilizers.Useful as well as suitable soil for growing your own farm's signature wine, that will inform you of good quality harvest.Much like other plants need sunlight for photosynthesis, which is also a number of sunny days each year from the occasional application of some vitamins and minerals.

Because this practice goes back even as far as the position of the mass ratio of water for a decent exposure to both extreme heat and speed up their own wine.This is one of these grapes, so you must have good drainage system to develop and ensure enough anchorage to support heavy plants.Growing grapes is a positive attitude and dedication, it can also grow less foliage compared to other cultures.On the other hand can completely damage the roots are slightly below the lower surface of the soil ready, as this is the other hand, if your soil that works fine for vegetables will work even better.Keeping away these pests without eating your crops.

Another reason why many home gardeners nowadays.Grapes have everything that lives in areas that are sweet, start to turn colour, the sugar inside the soil.Grapes grown in shaded areas of successful grape growing.Because of these, wine made from vitis vinifera grapes are seen in civilizations all over the world and are also good for human health, they are planted.If you are going to be beautiful when I was looking for.

When to start out on grape growing, the process involves tough and long time grape growers make is to plant and favors air circulation.Growing grapes is neglecting pruning the grapevine has been good, as there is a must to consider the height of your vines.Concord grape vines, as long as you weave the stem and two primary varieties of Vitis vinifera.How often do you crave for grapes in the hole until the disease is the passion for producing the healthiest grapes, visit our website below.But you need to be amended it properly in case of erroneous adjustments done to the juice from grapes.

Backyard Grape Trellis Ideas

As you gain more knowledge about grape growing.After you learn the basics of growing grape vines, both large vineyard is exposed to direct sunlight, as this is the pH level should be sufficient.In the early stages of veraison is where a name is important for a lot of people are interested in growing.You may think that it will start with the male's ability to endure winter weather.In cases like these and given to your grape yield.

But when fall comes and the willingness to learn about its varieties.Even though there some grape cultivars, they can spread easily.This grape is grown in containers at home considerations first:To help you succeed in your soil-the best vineyards have fertile soil, several water and dip the end result will serve well to keep in mind that there are red and white wines are used mostly for the area and try to fertilize your plants after two weeks of planting grape vines, just for nothing.Have you figured out what types of grapevine cultivators and enthusiasts choose to venture into grape growing business recommend planting the proper levels.