#week 26a

[ofliterarynature]

TBR TAKEDOWN: GOODREADS, WEEK 26a

Catching Teller Crow / The Things She's Seen by Ambelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina

I'm trying to trim down my tbr list(s) and I'm asking for your help! Descriptions and more info under the cut. Please reblog and add your thoughts!

* * * *

An extraordinary thriller, told from the perspective of two Aboriginal protagonists, which weaves together themes of grief, colonial history, violence, love and family.

Nothing's been the same for Beth Teller since the day she died.

Her dad is drowning in grief. He's also the only one who has been able to see and hear her since the accident. But now she's got a mystery to solve, a mystery that will hopefully remind her detective father that he is still alive, that there is a life after Beth that is still worth living.

Who is Isobel Catching, and why is she able to see Beth, too? What is her connection to the crime Beth's father has been sent to investigate--a gruesome fire at a home for troubled youth that left an unidentifiable body behind? What happened to the people who haven't been seen since the fire?

As Beth and her father unravel the mystery, they find a shocking and heartbreaking story lurking beneath the surface of a small town, and a friendship that lasts beyond one life and into another...

Date added: 2021

Goodreads: 3.79

Storygraph: 3.88

PRO:

Supernatural + mystery

Aboriginal protagonists!

Sampled the beginning, seemed ok!

Available from the library in my preferred format (audiobook)

CON:

YA

dark/serious/sad

Honestly I think I am leaning towards yes, but interested if anyone else has read it!

[rustyshake]

It's a Brawl Hockey Night in Pittsburgh!

It's that time of the season - we don't like them, and they don't like us.

On Ugly Sweater Night at PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins (15-15-5, 4th in the Metro) (grudgingly) welcome in the Flyers (15-15-4, 5th in the Metro) for the first of four huge Metropolitan battles. This is the last game before the mini holiday break for Christmas.

308 miles separate the two franchises that have deep, bitter memories of each other....

Previous 5 games- Philadelphia Flyers - 2-3-0

The Flyers broke their 3 game losing streak with a 5-4 OT win at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. The game had been all Jackets until the 3rd period when Philly tied it up almost 10 minutes into the final frame. The teams would then continue to trade goals until ending the period tied 4-4. It wasn't until 3:30 into OT that Owen Tippett scored the GWG, sealing his 4 point game (1G, 3A).

Before that, the Flyers had lost three in a row to LA, Detroit and Minnesota.

Sam Ersson is in net for the Flyers tonight. The 25 year old Swede was in net for the OT win against the Jackets where he stopped 21 of 25 shots he faced, allowing 4 and grabbing an .840 SV% and 3.80 GAA.

Overall on the season, Ersson is 7-5-2 with a 3.09 GAA and .881 SV%. He has 1 shut out this season.

The Flyers are led in all three major scoring categories by long time Flyer Travis Konecny (40P, 16G, 24A).

Previous 5 for the Pittsburgh Penguins - 3-1-1

The Penguins have been hit with injury bug right before the holiday break. Owen Pickering sustained a concussion during the game against New Jersey on Saturday, while Marcus Pettersson has been making progress on his return from a lower body injury sustained against Ottawa last week.

The Penguins visited NJ on Saturday and were shut out for the first time since Oct. 25 against the Oilers. It was the third time this season they've been shut out.

Tristan Jarry is in net for the Penguins tonight. He was in net for the shutout loss against the Devils. Jarry is 7-5-2 with a 3.51 GAA and .885 SV%.

The Penguins are led in points and assists by captain Sidney Crosby (35P, 26A. Rickard Rakell continues to lead the team in goals with 15G, 3 of them on the PP.

See everyone at the end of the first period!

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

15th July >> Mass Readings (USA)

Saturday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

and

Saint Bonaventure, Bishop, Doctor.

Saturday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: White: A (1))

(Readings for the feria (Saturday))

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26a God will surely take care of you and lead you out of this land.

Jacob gave his sons this charge: “Since I am about to be taken to my people, bury me with my fathers in the cave that lies in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah, facing on Mamre, in the land of Canaan, the field that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite for a burial ground. There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, and so are Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there, too, I buried Leah– the field and the cave in it that had been purchased from the Hittites.”

Now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful and thought, “Suppose Joseph has been nursing a grudge against us and now plans to pay us back in full for all the wrong we did him!” So they approached Joseph and said: “Before your father died, he gave us these instructions: ‘You shall say to Joseph, Jacob begs you to forgive the criminal wrongdoing of your brothers, who treated you so cruelly.’ Please, therefore, forgive the crime that we, the servants of your father’s God, committed.” When they spoke these words to him, Joseph broke into tears. Then his brothers proceeded to fling themselves down before him and said, “Let us be your slaves!” But Joseph replied to them: “Have no fear. Can I take the place of God? Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve his present end, the survival of many people. Therefore have no fear. I will provide for you and for your children.” By thus speaking kindly to them, he reassured them.

Joseph remained in Egypt, together with his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years. He saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation, and the children of Manasseh’s son Machir were also born on Joseph’s knees.

Joseph said to his brothers: “I am about to die. God will surely take care of you and lead you out of this land to the land that he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Then, putting the sons of Israel under oath, he continued, “When God thus takes care of you, you must bring my bones up with you from this place.” Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7

R/ Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!

Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds.

R/ Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!

Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly.

R/ Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!

You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail.

R/ Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!

Gospel Acclamation 1 Peter 4:14

Alleluia, alleluia. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 10:24-33 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body.

Jesus said to his Apostles: “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! “Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saint Bonaventure, Bishop, Doctor 

(Liturgical Colour: White: A (1))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Ephesians 3:14-19 To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.

Brothers and sisters: I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

How shall a young man be faultless in his way? By keeping to your words.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

With all my heart I seek you; let me not stray from your commands.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

Within my heart I treasure your promise, that I may not sin against you.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 23:9b, 10b

Alleluia, alleluia. You have but one Father in heaven; you have one master, the Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 23:8-12 The greatest among you must be your servant.

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples: “Do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[vivalavili]

“Alright.” He grabs two of the nicest rooms in the most expensive hotel, a good proximity to Disney. “Okay- got them reserved for the whole week. Rooms 26A and 26B. Check in as early as 10am though that’s not required. Can do whenever you want.”

“Ten is fine,” I nod, “we will meet you there. Goodbye.” I hang up.

After getting everyone packed, we take public transport to Naboo and then a taxi speeder to the hotel, hopping out together. Vek, big man, carries his own suitcase and backpack while Ruhn tries to tug his along like his older brother, Luca happily on my hip while I get the rest of the bags, “Ru are you sure you can get it?” I ask gently as we walk towards the doors.

[sunalimerchant123]

Step-by-Step Guide to Online Tax Filing in India for 2025

With each passing year, filing income tax returns in India has become more streamlined and user-friendly thanks to digital advancements. For the assessment year 2025–26, the Online Tax Filing process is easier, faster, and more secure than ever. Whether you're a salaried professional, a freelancer, or a business owner, e-filing your taxes is now the preferred and recommended method by the Income Tax Department of India.

If you're filing your taxes for the first time—or just want to ensure you're doing it right—this step-by-step guide to Online Tax Filing in India for 2025 will walk you through the entire process.

Step 1: Gather All Necessary Documents

Before you begin, collect all required documents, including:

PAN Card and Aadhaar Card

Form 16 (for salaried individuals)

Form 26AS (tax credit statement)

Bank account details

Investment proofs under Section 80C, 80D, etc.

Capital gains statements, if applicable

Rental income details (if any)

Other income sources (interest, dividends, freelance work)

Having everything ready ensures a smoother and faster filing process.

Step 2: Choose the Right ITR Form

The Income Tax Department offers various Income Tax Return (ITR) forms based on your source of income:

ITR-1: For salaried individuals with income up to ₹50 lakh

ITR-2: For individuals with capital gains or multiple income sources

ITR-3/4: For self-employed or business professionals

Select the correct form to avoid errors or rejection.

Step 3: Register/Login on the Income Tax e-Filing Portal

Visit the official e-Filing portal and login with your PAN, Aadhaar, or registered credentials. If you're a first-time user, you will need to register by providing your PAN, personal details, and contact information.

Once logged in, navigate to the ‘e-File’ section to start the filing process.

Step 4: Pre-Fill and Verify Your Tax Information

The Income Tax Department provides pre-filled data based on your Form 26AS, employer TDS submissions, and financial institutions. This includes salary details, TDS, bank interest, etc.

Review and verify all the pre-filled data

Make corrections or additions if needed (e.g., other income or exemptions)

Ensuring accuracy at this stage is crucial for smooth processing and avoiding notices.

Step 5: Claim Deductions and Exemptions

Use this step to declare your eligible deductions under various sections such as:

80C: Investments in PPF, ELSS, life insurance, etc.

80D: Health insurance premiums

80E: Education loan interest

HRA and standard deduction, if applicable

This step helps you reduce your taxable income and increase your potential refund.

Step 6: Calculate and Pay Remaining Tax (If Any)

After all deductions and exemptions are claimed, the system will auto-calculate your total tax liability. If any additional tax is payable, make the payment through:

Net banking, UPI, or debit card

Challan 280 on the tax payment portal

Save the receipt and transaction reference number for your records.

Step 7: Submit the Return and Verify It

After reviewing your return:

Click on ‘Submit’

You must then e-verify your ITR using one of the following methods:

Aadhaar OTP

Net banking

Bank account EVC

Demat account EVC

E-verification is mandatory to complete the Online Tax Filing process. Without it, your return is considered invalid.

Step 8: Acknowledgment and Processing

Once verified, you’ll receive an ITR-V acknowledgment on your email and on the dashboard. The IT Department will process your return, and if everything is in order, you’ll receive your refund (if applicable) within a few weeks.

Final Thoughts

Thanks to the simplified digital process, Online Tax Filing in India has become efficient and hassle-free for most taxpayers. By following the above steps, you can file your returns confidently, reduce the risk of errors, and ensure timely compliance. Start early, keep your documents handy, and double-check the details—because a smooth filing experience is just a few clicks away.

[spiritsoulandbody]

#DailyDevotion A Few More People Could Stand To Be Doubting Thomases

#DailyDevotion A Few More People Could Stand To Be Doubting Thomases Joh 20:24-31 24But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciplės told him, “We saw the Lord.” "Unless I see the marks of the nails in His hands," he told them, “and put my finger in the marks of the nails and put my hand in His side, I won't believe it."26A week later His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace to you!" He said. 27Then He told Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at My hands — and take your hand and put it in My side. And don't doubt but believe."28“My Lord and my God!" Thomas answered Him. 29“Do you believe because you've seen Me?” Jesus asked him. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”30His disciples saw Jesus do many other miracles that are not written in this book. 31But these things are written so that you believe Jesus is the Christ, God's Son, and by believing have life in His name. So Thomas often gets a bad rap. We often call him Doubting Thomas. But the other disciples were nothing but doubters too. They didn’t believe the women. They didn’t believe the disciples from Emmaus. But he gets a bad rap because John’s gospel put a focus on it. Perhaps we should ask the question why. The great thing about Thomas’ response is it is the response we should be thinking of if anyone comes and says they are the Christ. There are and have been many people who have come and are around today who say they are the Christ. Our response to them should be Thomas’ response to his fellow disciples, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” No marks, no holes, you’re not my Jesus, the Christ, bud. The Scriptures say, Rev 1:7 “Look, He is coming in the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even the men who pierced Him, and all the people on earth will mourn over Him.” Jesus deigns to show Thomas his scars and Thomas recognizes Jesus. “Shalom! Peace to you!” So says our Lord Jesus to His disciples again. “Ok Thomas, here’s your chance. Put your finger here and put your hand and my side. See it’s me!” Thomas recognizes that it is Jesus and that He is really raised from the dead. “My Lord and my God!” is Thomas’ reply. Note the Lord does not correct Thomas. He is Lord and he is God. Thomas gets that right. While Thomas, and the disciples as well, are admonished by Jesus for not believing the reports, He gives us this blessing, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” All we have is an empty tomb and the witness of the Apostles and five hundred other witnesses that Jesus rose from the dead. We have the Gospels which report all that Jesus has done. John says these were written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and by believing you would have life in His name. John’s Gospel and by extension, the other Gospels and indeed even all of Scripture is written so that you may believe Jesus is the Christ and by believing possess eternal life. Unlike the apostles at that time, we have the Holy Spirit poured out on all flesh. By the power of the Holy Spirit through this word, God gives us the gift of faith, life and salvation. They all are witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. Believe that you too may have life eternal with Jesus. O Merciful Holy Spirit, always give us your word, that we might hear and believe the good news of Jesus Christ, believe on Him and receive the gift of eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Read the full article

[babatax]

ITR: 5 strategies to increase your tax refund on filing your ITR

FY 2023–2024 income tax return filing and Tax refund deadline: July 31, 2024 is the deadline for AY 2024–2025 income tax returns. salaries individuals are waiting on their employers to submit their Form 16, which should arrive in a week or two. They will be able to simply file income tax returns after they obtain Form 16. Nevertheless, if a taxpayer utilizes other papers, such as Form 26AS, the…

[tealincubusspeckles]

NUMBERS

Key 

Harold (H)

Annabelle (A). Annabelle Anderson= Kind-hearted and smart doctor. Harold's wife. She met Harold while he was handing out toys to children (Santa visiting the sick style & Harold has been running a toy business for a while). She died before the first stages of Harold's Angel Trials. 

David (D)

Mika (M)

Age Speculation Timeline

25H 23A dated +3 years [1934]

28H 26A married +2 years

30H 28A one month D [=28 year difference A & D]

31H 29A 1 year D  

45H Harold studies a demon and gains an interest for magic.

46H 44A 16D Harold begins Angel Trials. Annabelle dies within the year. +12 years

58H 28D Harold finished the Angel Trials

60H 30D David went back home to tell his father he got engaged. David finds Harold putting spell on family mansion then their relationship becomes estranged. David & Laura get married within the year  +3 years

63H 33D one month M [1997]

64H 34D 1year M  

65H 52D 18M [2015] The sex demons arrive.  Harold dies -July?- within the year

54D 20M [2017] The Demon War. 

Seduce Me The Otome Game Timeline:

Harold’s death (Harold concealed his magical powers from his family, though Diana seems to know how he expired.)

David moves Mika into the mansion 2 days after Harold’s death.

Mika meets the boys on the lobby floor. Eventually, the boys agree to help Mika with chores and planning the house party. 

After the house party, Malix threatens to come after the boys. (Diana arrives)

Malix abducts Mika from school.

Diana shows up to threaten Mika.

The boys refuse to return to the Abyssal Plains.

The Episode Series offers the beach, new year/snow, and engagement scenes. Outside of these, the lover's dating life is not explored much. 

2 Years Later Mika is taken to the demon world

Diana intercepts the imps and keeps Mika safe

(Time in the two worlds are different. In human world Mika has been missing for a few minutes, in the demon world probably a days/weeks have passed) Her fiancé, the brothers, and brother's wives appear

A few days up to a week is training.

Incident with lover. (Depends on route)

The couples & Diana go to battle.

Diana suffers loss

In Sam's route their is choice to stay in demon world or go home.

References

https://vamichaelalaws.tumblr.com/post/117671139631/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-angel-trials-in-seduce (12 years)

[rtsprofessionalstudyindia]

A Step-by-Step Guide to Filing ITR for TDS Refund

Completing your Income Tax Return (ITR) isn't solely a legal requirement; it also provides a means to recover taxes withheld at the source (TDS). TDS is subtracted by either your employer or other financial entities from various income streams such as salary, interest, and dividends. When the amount of TDS withheld surpasses your actual tax liability, you become eligible for a refund. Enrolling in the best income tax course online can help you comprehend the ITR filing procedure for claiming a TDS refund.

Step 1: Gather All Necessary Documents

Form 16/16A: This is the certificate of TDS issued by your employer or the entity deducting TDS.

Form 26AS: This document serves as a comprehensive tax statement that encompasses all tax-related data, encompassing TDS deductions.

Bank Statements: They may be required for the validation of TDS on interest earnings.

PAN Card

Aadhar Card

Step 2: Choose the Appropriate ITR Form

ITR-1 (Sahaj): For individuals with income from salary, one house property, other sources (excluding winnings from the lottery), and having total income up to ₹50 lakhs.

ITR-2: Designed for individuals & HUFs without income arising from business or professional profits & gains.

Step 3: Register on the Income Tax E-filing Portal

If you haven't registered on the Income Tax E-filing portal, you need to do so.

Step 4: Fill in Your Personal and Income Details

After successful registration, sign in and pick the appropriate ITR form. Provide your personal and income information as necessary. It is important to be meticulous in reporting all your income sources, including precise details of TDS from Form 16/16A and Form 26AS.

Step 5: Calculate Your Tax Liability

The ITR form will autonomously compute your tax obligation according to the data you furnish. Review the computations to confirm their alignment with your own calculations.

Step 6: Claim TDS Refund

Within the ITR form, in the section labeled 'Taxes Paid and Verification,' input the particulars of TDS deductions made by your employer or other entities. This encompasses the Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) of the deductor, the TDS amount, and any related information.

Step 7: Verify and Submit

Before submitting your ITR, carefully review all the information you've entered. Cross-check your bank account details to ensure a seamless refund process. Once you're satisfied, click on 'Submit.'

Step 8: E-verify Your ITR

After submitting your ITR, you need to verify it. This can be done electronically using methods like Aadhar OTP, net banking, or by sending a physical signed copy to the Centralized Processing Center (CPC) within 120 days.

Step 9: Track Your Refund Status

You can track the status of your TDS refund by logging into the Income Tax E-filing portal. It typically takes a few weeks for the refund to be processed and credited to your bank account.

So, what are you waiting for? Join the best income tax preparation courses online today!

[catolinewsdailyreadings]

Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Reading 1

NM 13:1-2, 25–14:1, 26A-29A, 34-35

The LORD said to Moses [in the desert of Paran,] “Send men to reconnoiter the land of Canaan, which I am giving the children of Israel. You shall send one man from each ancestral tribe, all of them princes.”

After reconnoitering the land for forty days they returned, met Moses and Aaron and the whole congregation of the children of Israel in the desert of Paran at Kadesh, made a report to them all, and showed the fruit of the country to the whole congregation. They told Moses: "We went into the land to which you sent us. It does indeed flow with milk and honey, and here is its fruit. However, the people who are living in the land are fierce, and the towns are fortified and very strong. Besides, we saw descendants of the Anakim there. Amalekites live in the region of the Negeb; Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites dwell in the highlands, and Canaanites along the seacoast and the banks of the Jordan.“

Caleb, however, to quiet the people toward Moses, said, "We ought to go up and seize the land, for we can certainly do so.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We cannot attack these people; they are too strong for us.” So they spread discouraging reports among the children of Israel about the land they had scouted, saying, “The land that we explored is a country that consumes its inhabitants. And all the people we saw there are huge, veritable giants (the Anakim were a race of giants); we felt like mere grasshoppers, and so we must have seemed to them.”

At this, the whole community broke out with loud cries, and even in the night the people wailed.

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: “How long will this wicked assembly grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the children of Israel against me. Tell them: By my life, says the LORD, I will do to you just what I have heard you say. Here in the desert shall your dead bodies fall. Forty days you spent in scouting the land; forty years shall you suffer for your crimes: one year for each day. Thus you will realize what it means to oppose me. I, the LORD, have sworn to do this to all this wicked assembly that conspired against me: here in the desert they shall die to the last man.”

Responsorial Psalm

PS 106:6-7AB, 13-14, 21-22, 23

R./ Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

We have sinned, we and our fathers; we have committed crimes; we have done wrong. Our fathers in Egypt considered not your wonders. R./ Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

But soon they forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel. They gave way to craving in the desert and tempted God in the wilderness. R./ Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

They forgot the God who had saved them, who had done great deeds in Egypt, Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham, terrible things at the Red Sea. R./ Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Then he spoke of exterminating them, but Moses, his chosen one, Withstood him in the breach to turn back his destructive wrath. R./ Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Gospel

MT 15: 21-28

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

[stanbillyhargrove]

Demons - The Rewrite

Chapter 26A: Your Body Looks Like Heaven

Steve's POV

My stomach was twisted into knots and my hands were clammy by the time we pulled up to the hospital and I was seriously contemplating staying in the car.

--

I came back to Cat's hospital room with Hop behind me. Stopped when we saw Billy on his knees.

Pleading.

"Put all our problems behind us and just leave..please? What do you think? Would you be happy?"

Cat smiled so softly, let herself dream for a moment.

B..." she reached out a hand to cup the side of his face and gently pulled his head into her shoulder, wrapping her arms around his back.

She locked eyes with me over his shoulder and I really believed that she would run away if she could.

And I couldn't let her.

"I..."

I cleared my throat, silencing her before she could agree, "Hopper needs to talk to you, Billy."

He pulled himself together a bit and followed Hop down the hallway.

I settled in the chair next to Cat's bed with a huff. She wiped her hand over her cheek, fingers stopping to curl over the tube taped there. The one going down her nose to feed her.

Her eyes widened a little, "is that-?"

"Yeah. Feeding tube."

"I don't like it, it hurts," she rasped, touching her throat.

And I was so fucking...hurt and angry. I couldn't stop myself.

"Good."

Cat dropped her hands into her lap, staring down at them, "so I'm being admitted?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "you are. There's a program in the city that they're going to recommend to your mom."

She hummed and tipped her head back into the pillow.

I needed her to live, even if she hates me for this.

"Could you, for once, think about the people you'd leave behind if you kill yourself? Me, Billy...your mom..Max. People love you, Cat. You need to try for us."

She opened and closed her mouth, huffing a little.

"I'm serious. Talk until you lose your fucking voice if you have to, but this shit needs to stop. I can't be here for you anymore if you stay sick."

"When am I going?"

"Couple days. We'll be here to see you off."

She looked at me, eyes cold, "don't come back, Steve."

And I hadn't talked to her since that day.

I knew she was pissed that I had brought her into a hospital, but what else was I supposed to do? When we found Cat, she was beyond just bandaging up and putting to bed and I had hit my breaking point. It had been now or never that night, our last chance to help her. But no matter how I justified betraying her, I'd still betrayed her and the thought had been building in my head that maybe we couldn't be friends anymore. Maybe she'd want nothing to do with me anymore and that was a hard pill to swallow.

"Steve? Are you home? I just want to talk to you.."

Cat had left multiple messages on my phone like that, but I could never bring myself to pick up. Didn't want to hear her say she hated me for what I did. So I never answered and never called back. I couldn't face what would happen if I did.

"Steve, man, Cat's worried about you. Hell, I'm worried about you, she says you won't answer your phone and you've been really spacey," Billy talked around his cigarette while we leaned against the front of my house.

We'd spent a lot of time together since Cat left, Billy would often show up late at night to smoke and have a beer with me. It was kind of nice, not being alone, I'd started to look forward to his company.

"Yeah," I mumbled, wiping my face, "just haven't been sleeping great," I tried to avoid the topic of Cat.

Billy didn't try to avoid it, he was his usual blunt self about it, "you're avoiding her."

My silence was enough of an answer for him. He grunted and flicked his cigarette out into the driveway, "Max and I are going to see her in a couple weeks. You're coming."

"No..I can't..I.."

"Steve," Billy clapped a hand on my shoulder, "she wants to see you. I'm fucking nervous too but I'll drag you if I have to."

--

"Steve!" Max clapped her hands in front of my face, snapping me back to the present, "come on!"

She was beaming, practically hopping around, she was so excited. I wish that excitement could transfer to me and take away some of my anxiety, the overwhelming sense of dread. I shuffled along behind Max and Billy into the hospital, past the front desk and into the ward where Cat was. I wanted to bolt, to get the hell out of here as fast as I could until I heard her.

"B!" Cat came flying through the hallway and threw herself into Billy's waiting arms.

He clutched her tight, one hand tight on the back of her neck and the other wrapped around her waist, and lifted her off the ground.

"God," he muttered into the side of her neck, "I fucking missed you."

Cat twisted her fingers into Billy's hair and a soft puff of air left her, like she wasn't sure if she was going to laugh or cry, "I missed you too."

She pulled away from him just far enough to splay her hands on the sides of his face and let out a wet laugh, a few tears rolling down her face as she kissed him. After a moment, Billy let Cat back down to the floor and she let go of him to open her arms to Max, who eagerly ran forward to fill them.

"I missed you!" Max sniffed, getting teary after being reunited with her friend.

"I know," Cat murmured, gently rubbing down Max's back, "I'm sorry, I missed you too, Max."

Billy cleared his throat after a second, "Cat."

When she looked up at him he nodded towards me, I'd been far enough behind them to go unnoticed until now.

"Steve?" She breathed, slowly letting go of Max.

I smiled tightly, felt my stomach kick up into my throat.

And I really wanted to bolt now. To turn around and get the hell out of here. Cause I couldn't handle it if she still hated me.

She stepped closer to me, arms wrapping around herself. One hand up to her lips to bite at her nail.

"Hey," I croaked past the knot in my throat.

She reached out, like she was going to grab me but dropped her hands, "can I..?"

Immediately, my eyes started getting dewy as I nodded and chewed the inside of my mouth. Cat grabbed the side of my face, gently swiping her thumb over the purple bags that had grown under my eyes before sliding her arms around my neck and holding me tightly.

"Oh, Stevie," she breathed, her breath hitching a little as she buried her face in my shoulder, "you never answered my calls, I thought you didn't want to see me."

And I hadn't realized how desperately I missed her. The soft way she called me Stevie, the light vanilla scent on her skin. It was like a part of me had been missing and when she hugged me the full force of that pain hit.

I tucked my head into her hair, inhaling shakily as I wrapped my arms around her back, "that's not..I'm sorry, Cat. I'm so fucking sorry.." I wrapped my arms tighter around her, fisted my hands against her back and let tears fall, "I'm sorry..I had to call, I had to..I thought you hated me."

"Stevie," she cried, twisting her fingers in the hair on the back of my neck, "Stevie, I don't hate you, you saved me."

--

"When do you get to come home?" Max asked.

The aching emptiness of Cat's absence no longer loomed over us and my face and chest hurt from how happy I was. The last time we saw her, her arms had been wrapped in bandages and there had been tubes feeding her, forcing her to live. Now, we could see flashes of thick scars when her sleeves moved but there were no more tubes. Cat's face had filled out a little, the dark hollows less prominent, she looked more colorful, even wrapped up in her usual dark clothes.

"I'm not sure yet," she smiled sweetly and wrapped an arm around Max to hug her to her side, "could be just one more month or could be two."

Billy's groan was barely covered by Max, "but you're better now, right?"

Cat hummed and reached over to lace her fingers into Billy's, "not yet. I need some more time. I'll be home for New Years though. I'll get to spend a couple days with you guys."

Max deflated a little, but then gave Cat a hopeful grin, "maybe we can have a sleepover?"

Billy snorted, "yeah, as if that would ever be allowed."

Max pouted at him, "why not? You sneak out all the time, just take me with you!"

"Yeah, B," Cat imitated Max's whine with a smirk, "you do it all the time."

Billy looked to me for help but was met with me trying to hold in my laughter and groaned, "you are gunna be the death of me. I will try to sneak us out, shitbird, but you better not get us caught."

--

Julie had let us hang out while she drove to the city so Billy, Max and I could surprise Cat when she came home New Years Eve. We had been planning these two days since we had gone to visit Cat. Max and I had picked out movies to rent while Billy was sent out to retrieve a list of food and snacks that Julie had given us money for. When they came through the door we had a mountain of blankets and pillows for us all to lounge on, snacks set out on the table and a stack of movies to watch. Cat had cried while she grabbed each of us for hugs. We got to catch up and hang out for a while before Billy and Max had to go home for dinner, leaving me with Cat and Julie. I was so used to eating by myself, it was nice to have people to talk to. The three of us got to relax together and chat for a couple hours until Julie went to work and then Cat and I huddled up once again on the pillow mountain.

"So," I started, "how are things going? I mean...are you actually better now?"

Cat rolled towards me, resting her head in her hand with a wistful smile, "not all the way, but a little bit. The beginning was tough, it took a while to find myself again, find the motivation to live, you know? Spent the first while tubed, on constant watch, couldn't even pee by myself," she huffed out a laugh, "but it started getting easier. Lots of talking, no more secrets."

I winced, picturing Cat lying in that hospital bed again, forcing her to survive. My eyes caught the thick scar running down her arm and stayed focused there for a moment.

"Actually, Stevie, you guys coming to visit made the biggest difference. You only get to leave if you're doing well in the program. And after you guys came, I didn't want to mess up coming home and getting to spend a couple days with all of you."

I smiled back at her, glad to have my best friend back. Thought about how much more alive she looked now, the spark in her eyes that had been missing a few months ago was back, along with the color in her cheeks. I felt hope bloom in my chest, wondered briefly if it was too soon to think everything was okay.

"I missed you, Cat."

"Missed you too, Stevie," she murmured, rolling to lay her head on my arm.

--

Billy's POV

Max had dressed for the occasion, I realized when she crept into my room late in the evening. She had picked out all black clothes and looked like she had walked out of a cheesy spy movie.

"Maxine," I smirked, "I think you hang out with those nerds too much."

She grinned and stuck her tongue out at me, "shut up. You ready?"

Slowly, we slid out of my bedroom window and crept to my car to make our getaway. Safe inside my car, Max couldn't stop talking and laughing, whooping like a maniac. We arrived back at Cat's house to join them on the pile of pillows and blankets in the living room. Steve and Max didn't even make it through the first movie before they were snoring loudly. Cat was leaning against my chest, resting her hand lightly on Steve's shoulder while Max held onto her leg. I wanted to lay here forever, basking in the moment, except I couldn't.

"Babe," I whispered into her hair, "can we talk?"

I felt her shoulders tense up suddenly as she nodded, "yeah, okay."

Cat carefully slid away from Max and Steve to follow me to her room. I sat down on the edge of her bed, eyes locked on the floor where Steve had been sobbing after cleaning the bathroom. Remembered how panic had taken over me when I saw her, how destroyed I'd been after.

"B, what's going on?"

She twisted her fingers together as she sat down, just far enough away that we weren't touching. She was guarding herself, thinking the worst.

"Cat, are you really okay? I just...I don't think I can go through that again.."

I watched the tension drop from her shoulders as she reached forward to grab my hand, "I'm okay, I promise."

Tears welled in my eyes, the image of her dying burned into my mind. I grit my teeth to hold myself back from sobbing, clutching at her hand as tight as I could. I didn't want to let go of her ever again, afraid of what might happen if she stumbled in her recovery and I wasn't there.

"Hey," she soothed, pulling me into her arms, "hey, it's okay. I'm getting better, I am. I wouldn't have been able to come home if I wasn't ready. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I hurt you, B, I didn't mean to. It wasn't your fault, you have to know that.."

Cat's small hand rested on the side of my face and gentled me up to look at her.

"B," she whispered, pressing kisses across my cheeks, taking away the tears that had streamed down, "none of this was your fault, I promise. I love you, I love you so much."

Slowly, she inched her lips closer to mine, dragging her soft skin across my cheek until her mouth closed over mine. I slid my hands up her back to hold her gently as I returned the kiss, wishing I could let how much she meant to me pour through my skin. Cat crawled forward to straddle my lap, making a low groan build in my throat.

I tore myself away, breaking the kiss to press our foreheads together, breathing hard as I tried to control myself, "Cat.."

"B," she breathed, "I'm okay," she leaned into me to kiss down the pulse of my neck, "I want you."

I sighed, turning my head to allow her better access to my throat and wondered if she could feel how quickly my pulse was pounding. Panic turned to heat, spreading throughout my body.

I twisted my hand into her hair when she started to leave a purple chain behind, "Cat..I-"

Cat shushed me softly and ran her thumb over my lips, mumbling into my neck, "I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere, B."

I swiped my tongue over her thumb and slowly slid one hand down her side to toy with the edge of her sweater before dipping under it and grabbing her soft skin. She nosed up my jaw to nip at my earlobe, breathing heavily as she ran a hand down my chest.

My breath hitched under her fingers, "Babe."

Cat drug her lips across my cheek to kiss the corner of my mouth before leaning back to look at me, "yeah?"

"Are you sure? We don't have to.."

She smiled and nodded, gently running her nails over my side, "yeah, I'm sure."

A surge of emotions flowed through me as I leaned forward to meet her lips again and tightened my grip on her hip, holding her close. I had to really focus to keep myself in check when she rolled her hips into me, to stop myself from losing control and pushing her too far. Cat was breathing heavily when she pulled back to grab the bottom of my shirt and pull it off me. She ran her fingers up the muscles of my chest and stopped with the palm of her hand flat over my heart to hold my gaze for a moment. Gently, she pushed me until my back hit the blankets of her bed and then sat back in my lap. Cat let out a puff of air, bracing herself before pulling her sweater off so she was just in her bra. The last time I saw her without clothes on, she was so fragile, looked so close to death, but now, now the gaps between her bones weren't so prominent and she looked so much more alive. She crossed her arms in front of her chest to hide her scars, her eyes misting as she suddenly became self conscious under my gaze.

"Cat," I soothed, sitting back up to grab her hands, "Baby, you're beautiful. You don't need to hide from me."

"You don't think I'm...dirty...or broken?"

I pulled one of her arms towards me, kissing the middle of her palm and then slowly ran my lips up her arm, along the lifted pink scar until I reached her elbow. I raised my eyes to hers, my lips still on her skin when I murmured, "never. I love you, so fucking much..you know that, right? You're everything to me."

Cat smiled, her chin wavering a little as she watched me, nodding slowly, "yeah."

I slid my hands up to her face and pulled her over me as I leaned back down to the bed, bringing her lips back to mine. She breathed in shakily and wrapped her hands around my neck, holding me tightly. My tongue swiped across her bottom lip slowly before she opened her mouth to me, humming softly. Cat's legs hitched up to my hips to straddle me and I slid one hand down the side of her body to rest on her hip, toying with the waistband of her pants. Slowly, Cat's hand left my neck to trail down my chest, stopping when her fingertips hit my jeans. Her lips left mine to kiss down my face and suck a small bruise into the skin under my jaw as her hand slid into my pants to lightly grip my cock.

"Fuck," I groaned, my hips pressing up into her hand.

It's been so long since being touched, even longer since having sex with anyone and I realized now, when my cock kicked just from a hand sliding over it, that I was not going to last. A whine left my throat when she stroked me and I felt the puff of air leave her lips when she chuckled into my neck.

"Let me make you feel good, B," she whispered.

She pulled her hand out of my pants to slide down my body, lips trailing down the dip in my chest and over my abs until her chin touched denim. A grin played on her lips as she nosed along my hip before leaving another bruise as she undid my pants. Small fingers curled into my pants to tug them down, freeing my aching dick. Her hot tongue slid up my shaft, making me gasp when she flicked at the tip.

"Please," I whined, "fuck, Cat, please."

She hummed and wrapped her lips around my dick, slowly sliding up and down, coating me in her saliva. I gasped when I slid into the wet heat of her throat, quickly sending me careening towards release. My hand curled into her hair, trying to gently pull her off with a low whine.

Cat pulled off my cock, leaving it glistening deliciously with saliva and looked up at me, "it's okay, let go, B. Let me take care of you now."

It didn't take much longer when she took me back into her throat for me to be biting back my groans as I spilled into her mouth. She pulled off my cock and nuzzled her way back up my body, trailing kisses along my chest. When her lips reached mine, she rolled her hips into my half hard dick, making me moan into her mouth.

"You okay?" I panted against her lips, "you need to stop?"

Cat kissed the corner of my mouth quickly, "I'm okay, I want to."

I wrapped my hands around her shoulders and hitched up to roll us over, laying her down in the pillows. Her breathing started getting faster as I kissed down her body, trailing my lips between her breasts, over her stomach to the hem of her pants. I slowly undid her pants and started pulling them down, watching her face as I did, making sure she wasn't starting to panic. Cat had pulled her lip between her teeth and gotten dewy eyed by the time I had slid her pants off and dropped them on the floor.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," I soothed, moving up her body to hold her face, "you're okay. You tell me to stop and we stop, okay?"

She nodded slightly, and I knew she was just this side of panicking when I kissed down her neck to her chest. I slid my hands under her back to release the clasp of her bra and pulled it off her arms, dropping it to the floor to palm at her breasts.

"You're okay," I murmured into her skin, trailing kisses across her chest as I kept talking, "I love you...so much, Cat."

I trailed down her stomach, inching closer to her panty line, "you're everything to me."

I hooked my fingers into her underwear, my lips pressed to the light scars on her hip as I pulled them off of her. Her hands slid up to press the heels of her palms into her eyes with a shakey breath. My lips dragged over hips and thighs, kissing over her scars tenderly, keeping my eyes on her face and purposefully staying away from her most sensitive area.

"You with me?"

It took a moment for Cat to let out a shuddering breath and move her hands away from her face, wiping away the few tears that had pooled there.

"I'm here, I'm okay," she breathed.

I smiled against the inside of her leg, "what do you want, Baby? Keep going?" I kissed further up her thigh, "stop?" the sensitive skin before her core, "or I could keep this up.."

The corner of her mouth twitched up as she moaned, "come up here, B."

I pressed a chaste kiss above her slit before moving back up her body to nose along her wavering chin. Her mouth found mine as she pressed a hand to my shoulder, pushing me back until I was sitting against the headboard with her in my lap. Cat's breathing quickened when she rolled her hips against me and I reached a hand up to cup the side of her face, my other hand on her back, holding her close to me. If the last thing I ever heard was the moan that fell from her lips when she sank down on me, I would die happy. It was a sound that I could spend forever listening to, would have dreams about. Her eyes welled up with tears before she dropped her head to my shoulder, clutching at my shoulders as she kept her hips moving. I held her tightly as she whined and moaned into me, whispering curses and I love you's into her hair. Cat slowly calmed down, the tension leaving her body as she was brought closer to an orgasm. She bit into my shoulder as she came and I was soon to follow, a low whine in my throat as my hips thrust up into her.

We laid together for a while, limbs tangled and panting as we came down from our high. Cat started to shake when the high of her orgasm wore off, no longer able to push down her panic.

"Hey, hey," I soothed, smoothing my hand down her back, "you okay?"

Her head shaking was the only answer I got before I pulled her tight to my chest. Her hands balled into fists against me as I continued to rub her back and whisper to her. It took a while before she would slump against me, taking in deep shakey breaths.

"You with me?"

She sniffed and nodded, "y-yeah, yeah I'm okay."

"Wanna get cleaned up?"

Her arms tightened around me, not wanting to let go and I couldn't help the smile that came to my face.

"Alright, I'll carry you," I murmured, shifting my legs off the bed so I could stand up.

I carried her into the bathroom and managed to set her down on the edge of the tub long enough to start the shower water, though she was still clutching at my arm, not letting me go completely. With the water warmed up, I turned to gather her back into my arms and led her into the spray. We had sex again in the shower before going back to Cat's room and cuddling up on her bed, tangled in each other. She fell asleep in my arms soon after getting comfortable and I knew I should also try to sleep but I just couldn't bring myself to miss a second of her. I stayed awake as long as I could, just tracing the lines of her body and listening to the even sound of her breathing before I fell asleep.

Julie woke me up when she got home, early enough that the sun was barely peeking over the horizon. I groaned and wrapped my arms tighter around Cat, not ready to be without her again.

"Billy, Sweetie, you should get your sister home before anyone wakes up," she whispered, her soft hand on my shoulder.

I huffed and nodded, "thanks, Julie."

She smiled and ran her hand down Cat's hair, "you can all come back later. Spend a little more time together before I bring her back in the morning."

She started to leave and then stopped at the door to look back at me, "Billy?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you. For being there for her. You and Steve, you two are the reason I still have my daughter."

I smiled a little, not knowing what to say before she left me to get up. Cat was still half asleep when I pulled away from her and whined at my absence. I smirked and pulled a pillow down into her arms for her to nuzzle into before kissing her temple and sliding off the bed to get dressed.

"B..?"

"Ssh, go back to sleep," I whispered, bending down to kiss her forehead, "I gotta get home. I'll come back though, okay?"

"Okay.." she mumbled, pulling the pillow in tighter to her.

--

Max and I made it home in time, partially because I'd carried her to and from my car instead of waiting for her to wake up. Her eyes wouldn't stay open long enough for her to walk so when I pushed her through the window she immediately curled up in my bed and went back to sleep. I chuckled softly before pulling the blanket over her and settling in beside her.

--

Cat went back to the hospital the next morning and spent another month in the rehab program. But she eventually came home and was so much healthier and happier when she did. She came back to school with us and would have to do extra courses at home in order to graduate on time but she didn't mind. Steve and I were happy to sit and help her with the work whenever we could. We watched Steve graduate a few months later and gathered at his house with the kids to celebrate. He found a job at the mall a while after and started saving up to move out. The three of us would still be together as much as possible, we were basically inseparable until Cat and I graduated. Then the subject of moving came up again.

"Where do you wanna go, Baby?"

"I thought your plan was California, B," she smiled.

"Yeah, but is that what you want? We don't have to go if you don't want to, I'll change my plan for you if you ask me to."

She leaned into my shoulder, "I want to go with you...sit on the beach...lay in the sun...but.."

My shoulders tensed, "but?"

Cat looked down at her hands and twisted her fingers together, "I think we should ask Steve to come with us...it doesn't feel right to leave him behind."

Honestly, I was glad she asked. The three of us had been through so much together and I couldn't imagine one of us not being there. Steve was the only guy I could turn to and I didn't want to lose that, nor did I want to separate him and Cat. Moving across the country would probably be hard on Cat, not knowing anybody, if Steve came with us it would be easier. The three of us were each other's family now.

I exhaled the tension from my body and turned to kiss the top of her head, "we'll need to find a bigger apartment. "

@charmed-asylum

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

12th June >> Mass Readings (GB)

Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest (England & Wales)

and

Thursday, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time (Scotland).

Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I))

(When a Feast of the Lord is celebrated on a weekday there is only one reading before the Gospel, which may be chosen from either the first or second reading)

Either:

First Reading Isaiah 6:1-4, 8 ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.’

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:

‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Or:

First Reading Hebrews 2:10-18 ‘He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin.’

Brothers and Sisters: It was fitting that God, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, ‘I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.’ And again, ‘I will put my trust in him.’ And again, ‘Behold, I and the children God has given me.’ Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 23(22):1-2a. 2b-3. 5. 6. ℟1

R/ The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.

R/ The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Near restful waters he leads me; he revives my soul. He guides me along the right path, for the sake of his name.

R/ The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You have prepared a table before me in the sight of my foes. My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing.

R/ The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. In the LORD’s own house shall I dwell for length of days unending.

R/ The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

(When a Feast of the Lord falls on a weekday, there is no reading after the Psalm and before the Gospel)

Gospel Acclamation Ezekiel 36:25a, 26a

Alleluia, alleluia. I will sprinkle clean water on you, I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. Alleluia.

Gospel John 17:1-2, 9, 14-26 ‘For their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.’

At that time: Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. ‘I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. ‘I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Thursday, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time (Scotland)

(Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: C(I))

First Reading 2 Corinthians 3:15-4:1, 3-6 ‘God has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.’

Brothers and Sisters: Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for the sake of Jesus. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 85(84):9ab, 10. 11-12. 13-14. ℟8

R/ Show us, O LORD, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.

I will hear what the LORD God speaks; he speaks of peace for his people and his faithful. His salvation is near for those who fear him, and his glory will dwell in our land.

R/ Show us, O LORD, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.

Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have kissed. Faithfulness shall spring from the earth, and justice look down from heaven.

R/ Show us, O LORD, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.

The LORD will bestow his bounty, and our earth shall yield its increase. Righteousness will march before him, and guide his steps on the way.

R/ Show us, O LORD, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.

Gospel Acclamation John 13:34

Alleluia, alleluia. A new commandment I give to you, says the Lord, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 5:20-26 ‘Go first, be reconciled to your brother.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgement.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, “You fool!” will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[pagingevilspawn]

I have a request for Izzie to meet Jo. Neither or only one of them is aware of the other's identity.

aviothic

wc: 1k.

pairing: none. jo and izzie friendship

summary: izzie and jo meet on a plane, unaware of who they're talking to

rating: general audiences

warnings: mention of alcohol and alcohol consumption

AN: this took forever to answer, but here's a quick blurb that i typed out :)

_____

aviothic

(n) —the strong desire to be up in the air or to fly

Shuffling into row 26A, she sat back into her seat and let out a sigh of relief. Bumping her way through the aisle had been proven to be difficult, since at every turn there was one more person hauling their suitcase into the overhead compartments. Her carry-on sat at her feet, and she closed her eyes for the briefest moment, letting a moment of peace wash over her.

As she relaxed in her seat, she could feel the tension release from her shoulders, the stress from the day slowly washing away. It had started out fine, she got up early after going to sleep hours before she normally did the previous night, grabbed a bagel and coffee from the hotel’s complimentary breakfast, and made it to the airport on time, with more than thirty minutes to spare before she would need to fuss over which direction she needed to head in.

It was all good, until her flight got delayed an hour. She could deal with an hour. It wasn’t like she had anyone anxiously awaiting her arrival at home other than Luna, who seemed to be full of pre-teen sass nowadays. She loved her daughter, she did. But as much as she loved her, not hearing complaints over every single thing for the past two days had been a well deserved vacation.

But then her flight got delayed a further two hours. Then one more, leading to four straight hours of sitting in uncomfortable airplane chairs, eating fast food, and squinting to see the scenes playing out on her phone's screen.

She didn’t need to wait long before the seat next to her was occupied, a woman with near jet black hair brushing a strand out of her face as she settled into her spot, pulling a book out of her purse.

The woman turns and gives her a smile, “Hi, I’m Izzie.” she extends her hand, her friendly grin never leaving her face.

She smiles back, placing her hand in Izzie, “Jo,” she introduces herself back, tucking a strand of dirty blonde back into her bun.

“You from New York?” Izzie questions, just as they hear the flight attendant over the speakers, announcing that they’ll be taking off soon.

Jo shakes her head, “No, Washington. I’m here for work.”

“Same here.”

Before they can say anything more, the plane is ascending into the air, and they each pop a stick of gum into their mouths, one mint, the other pineapple.

They sit in a comfortable silence, Izzie reading through her book, while Jo takes advantage of the free wifi, responding to some emails on her laptop. When her phone lights up with a notification, she lets out a sigh, expecting it to be work related, but smiles when she sees that Luna had sent her a picture.

“How old is your daughter?” Izzie asks, realizing her mistake after a second. “Sorry, my book’s getting boring and I'm practically bursting at the seams to do anything but read it.” she apologizes, and Jo gives her a reassuring laugh.

“No, it’s okay,” she pulls up the photos app on her phone, and swipes until she gets to the photo she took of her little girl the week before. “She just turned eleven, but acts like she’s sixteen.”

Izzie studies the photo, a small smile gracing her lips. “She’s beautiful,” she tells Jo. “I have a sixteen year old at home, and god, do I wish she was eleven again.”

“Yeah?”

She shakes her head. “Oh yeah. Normally she’s well-behaved, but sixteen means that she wants to go to parties and hang out with boys, which her dad hates. He’s adamantly against the idea of her dating anyone until she’s thirty.”

“I don’t blame him. You remember guys at sixteen?” Jo teases, her mind automatically going back to the shroud of boys she used to attend school with. The pretty ones were always the jerks, she’d learned that the easy way.

Despite what TV liked to show, guys at sixteen did not look like magazine models. More often than not, they were sweaty, pimply faced, and as immature as a second grader who heard a fart joke.

“Oh trust me, I do. I got knocked up at sixteen.” Izzie raises her soda in a mock toast, and Jo can’t help but laugh,

“Lived in my car at sixteen,” she lifts up her own drink and clinks it against the other woman’s cup.

Izzie hums, “To… our crappy situations when we were sixteen years old.” she downs the drink, Jo doing the same.

“This would be better if it was alcohol,” she pipes in, and both woman smirk, flagging down the attendant who was passing out drink, ordering a mini bottle of vodka each.

The women go into easy conversation from there, laughing and talking like there was no tomorrow, and a few hours later the plane comes to a descent for their layover in Kansas. As they pack up their bags and exit the plane Izzie turns to Jo, a grateful smile on her face.

“It was wonderful meeting you Jo. I’m pretty sure I would’ve passed out from boredom if I had to read that book for a second longer,” she grins, patting said book that sat under her arm.

Jo smiles back, tucking a hand of hair back behind her ear “Same here, and I’m glad I was able to prevent death by book,” she shuffles her grip on her carry-on. “I’m guessing this is your stop?”

“It is. Thanks again Jo. Hope your daughter doesn’t drive you up the walls too much,” she says.

“Yours too,” she waves goodbye and goes to find the nearest bathroom. It wasn’t she was washing the suds off her hands that she puts it all together.

Izzie, Kansas, Sixteen year old daughter. She brought up that she had another kid, a son at some point in their conversation as well.

Well dammit, seems like she just met the woman her husband left her for.

That’s gonna be one hell of a story to tell Meredith once she lands back in Seattle.

[megashadowdragon]

**1.**Punching Gilgamesh the moment you are summoned/enter a fight/enter a room is not reasonable and should not be done at any time -Gudao

1a. Not even when he barges into the Camelot Room and threatens to everyone, especially when he does it to make your female counterpart marry her -Gudao

1b. Apparently PTSD is not a viable excuse to punch someone when you see him harassing someone. Noted.

2. Just because I am a King, does not mean I can give people nicknames. Makes me wonder how Gareth felt about being called Best Boy by Merlin.

3. Eating contests are apparently not allowed, seems food shortages are common with my counterparts.

4. As it turns out, screaming "To Valhalla" is not the best idea when you step onto Iskandar's Chariot. Especially so when you are right in front of the enemy.

5. Frankenstein is not a doll, do not dress her up. No Arthur, not even if she tilts her head and makes cute growls -Gudao 5a. Okay! Only if its a sundress! -Gudao

6. Getting together four of my other counterparts and forming the Saber Rangers is not allowed, especially if we have Excalizords. Seems the other servants aren't fond of needlessly big robots that take too long to combine.

7. Motorbikes are not to be used at any point or time in Chaldea, no, not even when Iskandar decides to hold the "Chaldea Grand Prix" -Da Vinci

7a. THE SAME GOES FOR OTHER VEHICLES YOU MONGRELS, UNLIKE YOU FUCKS, SOME OF US NEED BEAUTY SLEEP AT 3 AM! -Gilgamesh

8. Just because I can use a sword, doesn't mean I am allowed to attack my Cu Chulainn with it. I swear, he walked into it.

9. Apparently I am not allowed to compliment people? Turns out after I left the beach where I hung out with a sweetie named Kiyohime, along with master, Kiyohime attempted to burn someone alive because I said that master looked like a dashing man. I highly doubt she did.

9a. The smell is still stuck to my trunks Arthur -Gudao

10. My liege... My OTHER liege, please don't ever get Red Saber to sing "Total Eclipse of the Heart" again when I am about to utilize Galatine -Gawain

11. We know you are fascinated in other cultures, but please. Stop talking to the Servants of France about Sasaki Kojirou, we don't know if you made up his nickname, but he is not the "Savior of France" - Jeanne D'Arc

12. I would suggest that you stop entering the Camelot Room by screaming "Where is my love! Guinevere!", while it as funny once or twice, I can't stand to see either Lancelots' become depressed anymore -Arturia Altria

13. No offense... But please stop patting my head so much, I know you are basically my Uncle, but people are getting the wrong idea -Mashu

14. While Proto League is an acceptable nickname for the servants of your war, please don't ever enter a fight and scream it out again. We know you enjoy it, but it can get obnoxious after a while - Random Mob 1

15. Proving that I am male by either fighting or pantsing myself is no longer allowed after Heracles decided to do the same thing when a recently summoned Shakespeare made him question his own gender -Da Vinci

15a. Having the entire male team to pants themselves in front of the enemy is not a viable tactic against Archers, no matter what you watched beforehand and despite how fun it is -Robinhood

16. Just because Merlin suggested it, I shouldn't instantly do it. Its odd, almost like no one trusts Merlin, he seems just like my one.

17. "I saw a pest" is not a viable reason to drop a Corrupted Grail into the Babylon Room, we understand your dislike towards the King of Heroes, but Ishtar and Ereshkigal were caught up in the rage.

17a. "I was bored" is not a viable excuse to kiss a female servant while under the effects of Merlin's illusionary spell, Gudao has yet to leave his... specially enduced Coma.

17b. "I saw this scene-" is not a viable reason to go to a prior singularity and ask Muramasa to create a specific weapon, it is time wasting, no matter how strong the weapon is.

18. Suggesting to Rayshift to the point before someone dies is not a good idea, no matter how much fun it is for you to watch the "Crazy Murder Loli" die.

18a. Getting Fou'd is not a good reason to Rayshift back to your fight against Beast VI just so you can "Finish the Fucker Off".

19. Using a voice manipulator made by Merlin is not a good way to get people to be afraid when you shout a noble phantasm.

19a. Shouting "Stella" is not allowed, Arash prematurely shot off his Noble Phantasm while training and now we have to resummon him.

20. Just because we have a Simulation Room, does not mean I can alter the device to allow me to see someone from the past.

20a. We know you miss her, we do too. If you want to speak, you can come talk to us -Proto League

21. Trying to host an "Engry MIYA" talk between Nameless and Alter is not a good idea, just... Don't.

22. While having a Picnic is fun, please don't host them in the middle of a fight.

23. Just because a rabbit killed Gawain in a movie, does not mean you can threaten to cook Fou alive.

24. We know you love kids but come on, you can't just take Nursery Rhyme and Jack out to "Play Fetch" with the Dragons in France every after-noon.

25. Blaming someone that isn't even a servant isn't a viable way to shift blame.

26. I've been banned from the Kitchen, apparently forcing my way in and cooking the meals before Nameless is not a good idea. He looked ready to cry.

26a. Turns out mentioning the fact that Muramasa was far more willing to let me into his kitchen when I visited him was not a good idea. I don't think Nameless likes me much.

26b. "Just because I have the alcohol" is not a good excuse to get a few of the servants including Mashu drunk at dinner.

27. Just because you technically existed before Back to the Future 1 and 2, does not mean you can threaten to sue the creator, even if you can go back in time freely.

28. NO, NEVER DO THAT AGAIN, NOT EVEN IF KIYOHIME ASKS NICELY, WE SHALL NEVER REPEAT THE EVENTS OF YESTERDAY AGAIN.

29. "Look what I found" is a sentence that I am never allowed to speak when I am holding something bigger than my head or smaller than my hands.

30. Turns out that breaking my own arm is not the best way to get Nightingale to calm down. Never thought Merlin would be wrong.

31. "Sure you can touch my Excalibur" is not the best way to differentiate between Arturia's Excalibur and my own when someone asks to hold it.

31a. "But mine is bigger" is not a good response when Arturia talks about how easy her seals are to remove from her Noble Phantasm, nor is it alright to use when talking about when how she made Mordred.

32. Stealing Gilgamesh's potion of youth and putting it in the Soup that EVERYONE ended up eating is the easiest way to have myself barred from missions for a week.

33. Just because people are afraid of it, doesn't mean you should hug it. Not even if Merlin says to.

34. Just because someone stole your food, does not mean you should "Call in a favor" and have Elizabeth sing until someone gives up who stole it

34a. Update: The above applies to Nero as well.

35. Just because I have an innate fear of the Lancer version of my female counterpart, does not mean I can steal her horse and run away because of that fear.

36. Making King Hassan say "Omae wa mou shindeiru" is not allowed, especially if you reply with "I'm already dead" just to mess with him.

37. You are fond of Mordred, we understand. But please stop teasing her. Calling her cute will be her death - KotR

38. We understand that being locked in a single room with Nobunaga can be hard, but saying it was like prison is not fair.

38a. Quoting an abridged anime is not allowed, especially if it has "Sluts" and "Prison" in the same sentence, we still don't know where you got that swim team outfit.

38b. Making a mini Excalibur and saying "Blade of Promised Prison Riots! SHANKCALIBUR" is not allowed at all, Edmond almost had a heart attack.

38c. It is noted that the Arthur and Nobunaga were almost forced to kiss, but utilizing time manipulation to see Romani's death and threaten him with "Spoilers" is not allowed.

39. Just because Merlin asked, does not mean you should dress up as a "Cutesy Idol" and perform a song with a voice changer on in front of a camera for his "Magi*Mari" stream, Romani has yet to heal from that wound.

40. Looking Mordred in the eye and saying "Mordred, I am your father" is not allowed, especially when you have her surrounded by all the versions of her "Father", even the ones that just look like "Him".

41. "I solomly swear I am up to no good" is not what you say while standing behind the Director in the Lost Room, she died once already, we don't need her worrying about what you will do.

41a. "Remember that time you became a Loli" is not to be said around Olga Marie after what happened after she was... Killed.

42. Quoting Kamina from Gurren Lagann is banned, especially after everyone believed you were actually erased from the throne. Only to find you a month later taking off an invisibilty cloak and sneaking into the mens bathrooms to shave.

43. Anime is fun to watch, but please. Stop trying to explain why a certain character would be within the Throne of Heroes.

43a. Stop. Asking. When. I. Will. Summon. ISSEI HYOUDOU! -Gudao

43b. BOOSTED GEAR SCALE MAIL! -Arthur

43c. BOOSTO? -Siegfried

44. Valentines is a wonderful thing, we get it. But making everyone in Chaldea chocolate by going around and hunting in various areas is not needed, we have too much already.

45. Stop Rickrolling, that was so early 2000s, get with the golden times old man -Kintoki

45a. EX-

46. Commenting on the impractical armors of the female knights that walk around is not needed, we have gotten complaints about how they feel harassed -Staff Member

46a. I just wanted to help out... -Arthur

47. I am not to sing anything ever again, the reason isn't because I am bad, no. Everyone agrees I am quite good. But its the genre I sing coupled with my Charisma rank. Seems love songs should not be sung. How sad.

48. Just because I have cat ears, does not mean you should give me Catnip - Atalanta

48a. The same was repeated for Alter.

48b. Along with Tamamo Berserker.

49. "Merlin told me to do it" is no longer an excuse that is accepted, even if he did make you do it.

50. LITERALLY ALL THE THINGS ON THIS LIST ARE BECAUSE OF MERLIN, STOP LISTENING TO HIM.

51. I'm only responsible for a quarter of these, stop blaming me for your troubles, Normies -Merlin

Kiyohime asks Arthur what to do to catch Gudao's attention. Arthur tells her to turn into his most cherished person. She turns into Gudako and tries to force Gudao into sex.

[siiinfilled]

26A for selina from @megavclt​

Surely he knew the drill by now. Once every month, for two to three days, he was all hers. It should’ve been a week, but it seemed that her body knew that his wasn’t quite like hers, so it had adjusted accordingly. Selina didn’t mind: what they lacked in days, they more than made up for in other things. She never thought she’d experience what being pounded senseless was like, but it seemed to come so easily to Virgil.

She was in heat a little early this time, and the unwelcome aches between her legs had already started when she heard him arrive. She managed to wait for him by the door to her room before flashing him with her pair of ruby red lace panties and smiling coyly at him, leaving her bedroom door open and her moving to her bed. All without going out of his line of sight.

[casspurrjoybell-15]

EN of LOVE - LOVE MECHANICS

Chapter 26a - Deju Vu

*Warning: Adult Content*

It’s been two week’s since Vee Vivat’s confession in the pub and Mark Masa can’t stop thinking about his ex-lover, even though he practically rejected him, by walking away. Despite ignoring him since the Ploy incidence, Vee’s handsome face fills Mark’s addled brain all day and night. The two dramas that had unfolded at the pub had left Mark, surprised, stunned and speechless, to say the least. So relying on the advice from his family and friends, he has decided to show himself to his ex-lover in a manner, that is out of character to his true self and personality. Mark’s longing for Vee has not decreased at all, even though he has let a full month pass since the first incident. 

‘He hurt and tortured me and now I’m doing the same to him.’

“You’re still distracted, Mark,” Fuse tells his friend. 

“I’m tired of this atmosphere around you, you just sit here like a zombie. Each day is worse than the one before. I feel like I’m living in the dark ages.”

“If you feel that way, go somewhere else, don’t come sit next to me.”

“You’re sulky and quiet because he hasn’t come to see you,” Fuse says sitting across from his friend. 

“Are you waiting for him again?”

“Who said I’m waiting for him,” Mark stresses in a unusually high pitched tone. Registering his friend’s quizzing look, he adds... 

“I’m fine Fuse. Really,” Mark tells his friend he’s fine, but his eyes keep drifting to the door.

“If you had just listened to your husband and let him explain, It wouldn’t have to be like this.”

“Who’s my husband?” Mark turns to Fuse in haste.

“Vee’s your husband. What? You think you’re the husband? 

The campus moon rolls his eyes and laughs. Because Mark is popular, many people, boys and girls alike, come up to him to flirt or just to talk. Mark entertains them mainly to get his mind off Vee, which never works. 

‘I talk, flirt, hug, kiss other boys, but Vee’s face just overlaps theirs. But I can’t take him back, not yet, he has to try harder. It’s only been two weeks since his embarrassing confession at the pub and he’s already disappeared, typical.’

“The third years are studying hard, maybe Vee is just busy,” Fuse says, trying to comfort his friend.

“Busy my ass. He’s not interested in him anymore,” Win corrects the campus moon, then turning to Mark, he continues with...

“You slept with that junior, Nook. Vee caught you half naked with the dude. Then you act all chill about it. Not cool man.”

“How do you know about that?”

“Dew’s Daily’ post, headed ‘Under the Bed.’ Would you like me to read it out to you?”

“How did she find out about it?”

“Well, since you’re not talking to Vee, maybe you should go and ask Nook what he knows about the situation.”

“You know a lot about other people’s business.”

“What other people’s business. This about my friend and my senior mentor,” Mark huffed and turned away from his friends. 

He didn’t want to fight with anymore, it’s useless. As useless as his waiting for Vee.

‘Is it okay to wonder where he is? Is it okay to wonder is he’s alright? Is it alright to wonder who he’s with? I’m so tired of my foolishness.’ 

An hour after the junior boy’s discussion of Vee’s absence, the man in question arrives to their classroom. Spotting the junior he was looking for, Vee yells across the room...

“Fuse, you are needed for a promotional job.”

“Couldn’t you have just text me? Or are you really looking for someone else,” Fuse sniggers.

“Ehmm...Come on, let’s go.”

“Are you crazy? Do you think I’m free? I’m the faculty moon. Please speak to my manager and wait in line. Thank you,” waving to Win, who stands to face Vee, crossing his arms across he chest.

“I’m really must apologize. Our moon is not available today,” Win tells Vee.

“Don’t mess around. I’m being serious here.” 

“I’m serious too, Vee. I can’t come. Yihwa said that I had to help her with some work for the University,” Fuse speaks earnestly.

“Oh,” Vee moans softly and nods 

“What am I suppose to do?” 

They exchange looks, then Fuse looks at Mark.

“If it’s not a problem, can my friend substitute for me?”

“What take Win?”

“No he’s my idiot, you can’t take him. Take Mark.”

On hearing his name, Mark lifts his head to glare at Fuse, who just shrugs his shoulders and smiles sweetly back at him...

‘Damn friend.’

“Do you think your friend will come with me?” Vee asks Fuse, his eyes drifting to Mark’s beautiful face, that is turning an uncomfortable red.

“So? 6 o’clock to night at the Moon and Star club-house. Okay?” Vee informs Fuse. 

“Okay.” 

Before exiting his eyes search for Mark’s face, before quickly looking away again. Mark and Vee’s eyes had only met for a few seconds but it was enough to unnerve the younger boy into thinking that those beautiful eyes have the power to wash away all the damage, the older boy had caused. Just meeting Vee’s gaze for a second had made Mark’s brain empty... leaving him to feel  black and unable to think. Mark was started out of his stupor when both Fuse and Win plopped down in front of him, resting their heads in their palms of their hands. Twin cuteness overload. And with puppy dog eyes, implored their friend.

“Pleeeease.”

“I don’t know?”

“You want to go. I Know you do?”

“I don’t..”

“Believe me,” Fuse says to Mark before he can finish his sentence.

“He’s right Mark. You miss him. He misses you. Just go and if nothing happens, then you’re just helping out a friend. If there is still something between the both of you, then you’ll know what to do next.”