#*chanting*: cain and abel cain and abel cain and abel!!

[melmedarda]

This is my brother and I need a shovel to love him.

⸻ VANDER & SILCO, Arcane

[matan4il]

Daily update post:

Another independent Palestinian terrorist attack happened today, wounding two Palestinians who happened to drive by the terrorists, who intended to shoot at Israeli soldiers. The IDF neutralized them, while one soldier's life was saved thanks to his gear (I found the report on the shooting terrorist attack in both Hebrew and English, I only found the info on the two wounded Palestinians in Hebrew).

During the International Court of Justice's decision regarding provisional measures against Israel, only the majority opinion was read out loud. The minority opinion was published separately. The short of it is that the judge from Uganda found that South Africa didn't have a right to make this case at all, and therefore decided against every single provisional measure SA asked for, while the Israeli judge had the same conclusion, and a few words to add, as a child survivor of the Holocaust. He wrote, among other things, "Genocide is not just a word to me" (a sentiment that should be shared by everyone, not just survivors of genocide, IMO) and that essentially, the ICJ became a stage to put Able on trial for having been murdered by Cain, or in Barak's words, by focusing on Israel instead of on Hamas, South Africa "wrongly sought to impute the crime of Cain to Abel."

This footage aired a few days ago, but since I couldn't find it anywhere in English, I ended up editing it out of an article in Hebrew. What you can see here are two things... First, you'll see the Israeli Air Force following a Hamas squad, where the terrorists are carrying RPGs and going into a building. The IAF then strikes from the air that building, and what really stands out is the secondary explosions after the initial hit, indicating that the building was full of explosives. Second, you'll see Gazans evacuating to safety. As they do, they chant against Hamas. But what really got to me is how they're moving slowly next to Israeli tanks. If they were scared that the Israeli army would shoot at them indiscrimintaely as part of some attempted genocide, they would be rushing it out of there, and likely they wouldn't have even stepped anywhere near the tanks. They can walk slowly next to the IDF, because they're sure that the Israeli soldiers are NOT going to fire at them.

In the last couple of days, we've had repeated reports of Israelis being injured by Hezbollah fire into northern Israel (after civilian communities were continuously targeted, and people got killed by this Iran-funded terrorist group), and that IDF units which have concluded their fighting in Gaza, are now starting to train for a possible war in the north. Let's hope it won't come to that, but the only thing that might stop that option is a diplomatic agreement leading to Hezbollah leaving Israel's border, and there are no signs of those efforts succeeding for the time being.

The final warning before a subponea that the House committee investigating antisemitism had to issue Harvard, because the university hasn't produced the documents it was asked to, sure does make it sound like Haravard has nothing to hide...

Today, 4 months and a day after the Hamas massacre, they started removing the ruins of houses in kibbutz Be'eri, where over 100 members of the small, agricultural community had been slaughtered on Oct 7. This is a first step in re-building the kibbutz.

And this is one of the kibbutz members, Meni Goddard.

In continuation of yesterday's info on the number of Israelis already murdered by Hamas, and their bodies held hostage, today it was confirmed that Meni was murdered on Oct 7, and his body was kidnapped to Gaza. It was already known that his wife Ayelet was also murdered during the massacre. Kibbutz Be'eri currently has 11 members who are known to have been kidnapped to Gaza, of which 6 are bodies held hostage, depriving the dead of their right for decent burial, and their families and community of closure. May his memory be a blessing.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[mythicaldemigoddess-of-deltarune]

Mamtella With Cherri & Sari: Happy Holidays (2023)

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

Credit for Transformers goes to Hasbro

Credit for Helluva Boss & Hazbin Hotel goes to VivziePop

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[Note: click on the drawing to make it a bit bigger to get a better look at it and to see the characters in the said drawing better. :) ]

for some reason, the ship name "Mamtella" and I'm not sure if others will end up liking and using the ship name besides me, the ship name pop into my head because of these two...

but yeah, for some reason the ship name Mamtella, makes me think of something that goes on bread and you eat...

and just so ya know, the Sari in the red dress in both her human form and the disguise form thanks to using Asmodean Crystals that are in her hair-clips.

and the one of Sari that is really close to Cherri, and both are wearing a Holiday/Christmas outfits...

well like I pointed out before, this version of Sari is 23 years old, and at some point her eyes become purple, so even in her robot mode, she will have purple optics.

I kind of want her to get involved with a Robo-Fizz which she ends up nicknaming "Rozz" which comes from the name where she can get the idea from...

Robotic Fizzarolli...when you take some of the letters, you get Rozz.

it's like the name Roz but with two "Z" instead of one but the name is still pronounced like Roz with only one "Z"...

I plan to add that in Falling For The Angel In Disguise over at Quotev (the story is on a little hiatus, I might not update it until either later or tomorrow or 2024. and I know the story isn't 100% perfect and I might not make it very long but I'm going to try my best, even if it has a bit of a Semi-Ship between Swindle and Adult-Sari which might become a full ship later on.)

to which I guess it is a spoiler that I may have said before, that I changed it so the character that was originally the main character turns out to be a faux main character and the new real main character is now the Adult Sari Sumdac.

even though I'm just posting this drawing now on December 30, 2023 and didn't post it on the day it was drawn...

but I was mostly playing on my game console while the other times letting my cat be on me and being all clingy and cute...

and even if I talked about how my cat needed surgery some weeks ago, which I think it started around almost the end of November.

but when I can, I can talk about what type of surgery that they needed.

and if they weren't taken to the vet on time or those who work the vet did anything wrong to my fluffy baby, I would still want to do the Omnigeddon...which I know isn't possible, but if it were...

I would possibly go Feral Earth Angel on Lucifer or Archangel Samael...

I wonder if there could be like a parody of Jerry Springer in cartoon form like a Fanon Crossover AU with Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss (of course wouldn't be canon to the shows)

where it has to do with who's Cain's Real Biological Dad is.

and the audience who are a mix of both hellborns and sinners all scream and chant "Perry! Perry! Perry!" if it's going to be a parody, might as well have the name be Perry....

maybe like Perry Springy or something...

and whoever the real bio-dad of Cain is, wins a slap to the face from Cain and Seth's shared descendant...and it is insensitive to assume that all Cain's descendants will be "evil"...at least being one of his along being Seth's descendant, I can see that both Cain and Abel were at fault, and Cain wasn't given the proper help before his emotional and spiritual depression reached a very dangerous breaking point...

and even if not everyone has to agree me on this, but I can't help but think Abel may have had a little bit of vainglory in him, and both brothers ain't exactly 100% innocent in the actions they have taken...

Grunkle Grandpa Cain needs ice cream, a movie and a emotional support hug stat! O_O

Abel needs to learn a bit of more Empathy and be less vainglory if it does turn out he may have been suffering from that vainglory and that might of been the reason why he couldn't see Cain was hurting and was going to break at any moment in a very dangerous breaking point.

it be interesting if in a Fanon AU, Cain goes to Charlie's Hotel to be redeemed, well him and Abel...

anyway since some "ships" aren't always romantic, and there are platonic types which you NEVER use the words "I ship it" on, because it would give the wrong idea...

for family or friendship, where they are just family or friends...

ya use "I fam it" or "I bud it" even with some characters who are friends but end up bonding like siblings even when not being biologically related, you go "I sib it" which the "sib" part is short for sibling.

ya NEVER use the words "I ship it" with those types, you only use "I ship it" for the romantic & in love type ships or like the young love types....it should be considered a unspoken rule between the shippers, to NEVER under any means, call something that isn't a ship "I ship it" when it isn't.

it be like if Fizz and Ozzie weren't the most Adorkable Sweet Potatoes, who are just too cute and being as adorkable as sweet potatoes that they are, have no idea they are technically dads...

even if it might not end up being canon or mention in the show, and I don't mind if it stays in the fanon but I'm still gonna view Fizz and Ozzie being the Dads of the Robotic Fizzarollis that they technically created together, even if Fizz was just the template...

in a Crossover Timeline (which is still in the Fanon)

picture Sari standing next to Rozz (a Robotic Fizzarolli)

and glaring up at Ozzie with Fizz on his shoulder, and she ends up saying these words while pointing at Rozz.

Sari: "you got anything to say to him...?"

Ozzie & Fizz could look confused and in silence until Sari breaks it again by yelling a them while gently hugging Rozz.

Sari: "you two didn't even think before you made YOUR kids, did you?! at least one of my Dads took responsibility! and even if Megatron NEVER found out that I'm his daughter, but he mitosis while in stasis and I could of stayed as a liquid metal human size baby protoform if my Human Father hadn't found me! even if I became half-human by accident and my protoform self was born in my Dad's secret lab on accident, and Dad-2 who I'm also calling Mom, could care less because how he would care more about being the leader of the Decepticons than being a Carrier or Sire! so don't think I'm letting you both get away with being deadbeat Dads like Megatron! you are spending time with ONE of your creations aka one of your Sons, even if I have to kick your butts from here to where the Pit is until you agree to spend time with Rozz!"

and after saying all this, Ozzie and Fizz are processing everything...

then the next thing Sari and Rozz knows, both Fizz and Ozzie end up fainting.

even if the whole idea that Ozzie and Fizz technically being Fathers to all the Robo-Fizz would be more fanon and not likely to be brought up in the show, it's okay if it just ends up being fanon.

plus if Ozzie and Fizz did adopt Oliver, that would give Oliver a lot of Big Brothers to protect him.

Ozzie, Fizz and Oliver is a "I fam it" which has Ozzie & Fizz being the Dads and Oliver being their new son.

I'm still going to fan-headcanon that Megatron has two Moms, which is his Carrier Solus Prime and Mentor Termagax.

Megatronus Prime is the Sire who didn't get custody of his son, but when he tries to bring up the idea of wanting to spend time with him, his Ex-Sparkmate Solus and Solus's current sparkmate/junxie...

would both be giving Megatronus Prime very hateful and dirty looks.

so if Solus Prime was in a TFA Timeline, she would be one of Megatron's Moms, who tends to baby him a bit more than Termagax did.

I also want to ask if it is weird to think that Mammon and Stella might be too perfect together even if it isn't canon and it is just in the fanon...?

their ship name still makes me think of food, like even if the ship name pop into my head a few days ago, the ship name still sounds like something you put on bread...

the ship name Mamtella just reminds me of food....I'm just weird like that. great, now I'm hungry, ya happy Mammon x Stella...?

your ship name made me hungry. XD

well I'm going to hurry up and post this, even though I still wish I had posted it on Christmas instead a few days later but better late than never, and well I was thinking about waiting to post this next year because of something that got me a bit mad before which I'm not gonna talk about in this post.

I will wait a few hours to post another drawing I drew on December 25, 2023...and well I'm going to go watch a movie first and eat some food, because Mamtella all of the sudden made me hungry.

I must be really weird to think the ship name "Mamtella" makes me think of it as something that goes on bread, and it being like toast.

[fluffywolverine]

ok, i’ve gathered my thoughts (more or less) and decided to rank all sandman episodes. before i begin: i LOVE all of them, and putting them in the right order was very difficult. let’s go

i’m gonna sort them from the one i liked the least to my favourite one

- chapter three: dream a little dream of me - this is gonna be controversial, but i must say it. i’m not a fan of constantine, any version of them, that’s just not my type of character. having said that, i think jenna coleman did great job portraying this character! really loved her sass and relationship with dream. all in all, i was very happy, especially given that this issue was my least favourite when i read it;

- chapter one: sleep of the just - i was amazed with it when i watched in during the special screening, and i still love it! it starts the show really well, sets the events properly, shows us characters, and most importantly - the imprisoning scene looked so good! i had chills when they were chanting. additionally, presenting the corinthian that early was a great idea, everything made much more sense afterwards;

- chapter seven: doll’s house - i was surprised when they switched rose’s mother, miranda, with lyta, but it turned out to have much more sense! i liked their relationship and rose herself is much more interesting character here. also all the characters from the house, hal, barbie and ken, zelda and chantal were perfect;

- chapter eight: playing house - making jed the fake sandman? best choice ever. the corinthian being the one who actually saved him, not just giving him the ride was an interesting choice, as it showed a different side of him (i mean who would have guessed he would be so great with kids??). rose entering the dreams of her friends was done beautifully, they were just as weird as dreams can be;

chapter two: imperfect hosts - how on earth did they make me care so much about a character i’ve met like 2 minutes ago?? poor gregory :(((((( cain and abel are perfect, just like in the comics, and so are the kindly ones! i loved the visuals in this episode, especially dream’s journey and gathering what he needed;

chapter five: 24/7 - i was terrified when i thought i will be watching the diner episode, but it turned out rather tame, or at least tamer than the comic. up to some point i even thought to myself “huh, this is not so bad”, and then they started killing each other and themselves and i was like “ok i take it back”. anyway very good episode, quite faithful, with changes in the right places;

chapter ten: lost hearts - a finale that didn’t disappoint me was such a relief after all the mcu shows i’ve watched. they did a great job making everything right, not rushing anything and letting all the events end the best way possible. and i loved teasing another season with azazel and lucifer!

chapter four: a hope in hell - THE BATTLE. this was very difficult to portray, the comic versions never really spoke to me, but THIS?? the visuals, the creativity, the execution - everything was perfect. hell itself was done with so many details, it was scary, but not unnecessary ugly or evil. and gwendoline christie, oh my gosh. legend;

chapter nine: collectors - listen, i just adore the cereal convention. i loved this absurd concept in the comic and i love it in the show, the execution was flawless. besides that was the episode with the biggest amount of the corinthian, so i can’t not appreciate it;

chapter six: the sound of her wings - i cried through the entire half of the episode :’) death was so gentle, so kind, so understanding, so full of love for people and her annoying little brother. it might sound bizzare, but the episode about dying felt heart-warming and soothing. and then the episode was made even better with hob’s story. this is one of my favourite issues and the adaptation did it justice. the entire thing has a special place in my heart.

phew, what a ride. as you can see, i am very pleased with the entire show, it exceeded my (very high) expectations. can’t wait for season 2 (netflix, don’t you even dare cancel it)

[the-gray-ghosty]

During one of Team Free Will's movie nights, when Jody and Claire are over, Dean brings out two fake lightsabers that he bought at the store.

The result is Sam and Dean having a "Cain vs Abel battle rematch," where they have a huge lightsaber fight.

Jody, Cas and Jack all cheer on Sam, yelling and chanting as he swings his green lightsaber at Dean. Claire (and sometimes jack too) cheer on Dean, who is wielding a red lightsaber.

Cas (the unofficial referee) has to argue with Dean multiple times about whether Sam can use his psychic powers to help him win. "I'm just using the force!" " but that's totally cheating! I don't have psychic powers, it's not fair for you to use yours!" "That sounds like a you problem Dean." *Sam bops Dean in the head with a fake lightsaber*

EDIT: my good pal @mosses-emporium wrote a fic about this!! Check out their post below!!

[joydoesathing]

References I've noticed while reading the Servamp manga

The names of Mikuni’s shop and doll seems to be derived from the biblical story of “Cain and Abel”. Abel was the younger son of Adam and Eve who was slain by his older brother Cain out of envy (well ain't that a clever one). After this incident, Cain was banished to the Land of Nod where he built his own city and fathered a line of descendants starting with Enoch.

Berukia being originally from Romania and his love for skewering stuff seems like a strong Vlad the Impaler reference.

There was this one Norse mythology story about the god Baldur wherein he was accidentally murdered by his blind brother Hodur cuz the poor dude was tricked by Loki. The C3 member with mentioned code names all have the names of gods present during Baldur’s murder incident (Shuuhei = Loki, Tsurugi=Baldur, Yumikage=Hodur, Jun=Thor).

The spell the Tsukimitsu siblings chanted to teleport Mahiru and Kuro to London is a clear reference to The Wondeful Wizard of Oz. 

[caoscompanion]

Witch Laws:  

There’s an Infernal Parole Board.

It is a hex that keeps Ambrose imprisoned in the house. Though astral projection, though disallowed, is a loophole to the hex as shown in the previous episode.

Displays of Power:

Lilith is spying on the Spellmans through the scrying mirror she created and sees Batibat.

Batibat breaks the scrying connection by breaking the mirror.

Lilith is able to travel through dreams from quite a long distance away, though the accuracy of where she lands is off, as she can’t find Sabrina at first, and travels through Ambrose and Hilda’s dreams to get there. However, the fact she can walk through one dream to another when on the other side of town shows considerable power.

Lilith is also shown to levitate

Sabrina, after learning how to do it from Lilith (gin clear mind, self-induced sleep and clear intent), also travels through the dreams, though these are the dreams of those in her house, so she’s able to be more accurate with her direction.

Sabrina glamours Salem to look like herself

Spells: .  

Protocols for a demon in house are you seal the house to contain the entity to prevent it from escaping into the world. The Latin spell for this is “Ex spiritibus neam sie te aeris. Qui Omnipotentiam Tuam parcendo clavem ad. Ostium ligate Diabolum hunc! Hoc captionem, et daemonium ab grandus cincinno” Roughly translated: The air will thus bar the spirits. The key to your almighty power. Entrance bind this trap and lock this grand demon.

Zelda appears to traps the demon the first time with the spell “turpis et infernis in terris pariunt. Adiuro vos tamen hoc graecas munus”  Roughly translated, the beginning means, hell on earth and ugly, and the last sentence makes no fucking sense as far as I can tell. It’s possible it’s a type of bastardised Latin that became popular in alchemy etc in the 1600s. Such Latin can be near impossible to translate.

Sabrina traps Batibat using the spider familiars to create a dreamcatcher, chanting; "Turpis et infernis in terris pariunt. Et furantur verba haec locutus sum vobis Laetitia. Punctum baculus parit malediction. Adiuro vos tamen hoc graecas munus." Hell on earth and ugly and these words I spoke to you. and then something about sticking and charging a role.

Magical Objects:

Sabrina has let a demon out of Edward’s Acheron.

The demonic metranomes from Batibat seem to keep them asleep; they can’t be touched while they’re asleep, as Sabrina tries and gets a shock from it.

Lilith wakes up Sabrina by sticking a hair pin, sharply, into a fetish doll she had made of her. It makes sabrina’s actual finger bleed and pulls her out of the enchanted sleep.

Grimoire:

Hilda often uses a little foxglove to help her sleep.

Dream Analysis:

Sabrina’s dream is a direct mix of her lives. She’s set entirely in her mortal high school, but the students are witches. She is marrying Harvey, but is asked to run away with Nick. We also see Harvey’s witch hunter nature shown even before Sabrina knows he’s a witch hunter; foreshadowing. We also see Zelda portrayed as cold and unemotional, and Hilda as soft and romantic, which is perhaps the subconscious way Sabrina perceives her aunts. When she is attacked by the Hunters, she sees no one helping her, showing she feels alone in her duality.

Ambrose’s dream is all about being alone, having no connections, feeling no one will mourn his death. Feeling trapped, and being stuck in a vicious circle that never ends. He quite literally dissects himself, misquoting Hamlet as he does so and when he eats his own heart, he claims it tastes bitter, reflecting how he feels about his situation, and those who are free and untrapped around him.  Blackwood’s grant of freedom to him in the dream is foreshadowing of the false promises Blackwood makes to him in the future. Ambrose dream is the first time we bump into Lilith.

Hilda’s dream is a mixture of sexual exploration and feeling confined and trapped and belittled by her sister, unable to escape her or her criticism. We also have Lilith’s second appearance in the dreams interrupting the flirting between Hilda and Hawthorne. Hilda declares no one has ever cooked for her before, and we have it confirmed that she is a virgin. Zelda in the dream is cruel and mocking and unsupportive, which shows us how Hilda feels about her sister much of the time. She declares ‘you never want me to happy do you’ and ‘I’m sick to death of being the put upon one’. Hilda slaps Zelda and binds her mouth, calling her an insufferable bitch. Yet, even when she’s bound her and she���s on her date, Hilda only talks about Zelda, showing that her sister will always be a part of her life no matter what, and that’s what she can’t escape, for good or for bad. Which concludes with Hawthorne having sewn them together, permanently. Batibat calls Zelda her ‘dark half’

Zelda’s dream starts with her talking to children about the origin story. This shows Zelda’s maternal inclinations, her focus on children, and as she’s teaching them about Eve (a part she played) and their Satanic bible, it also shows what else Zelda focuses on; the Church of Night. Having the Dark Lord visit reflects her desire for the family to rise in the Church. She sees Hilda as bright and bouncy, but also perfect; she sees Hilda getting all the praise and approval of the Dark Lord, showing not only her own self-doubts but also that she sees Hildain a more positive light than she ever admits out loud. Faustus reperesents thr Dark Lord, because he’s the closest thing to Satan, and Zelda’s attraction to him also reflects her ‘in awe’ feelings towards the Dark Lord, so it’s all compounded into one. While Hilda’s nightmare was being bound to Zelda forever, Zelda’s nightmare was losing Hilda forever, when she kills her and she doesn’t resurrect (also foreshadowing as that happens in part 3) and we actually do not see her kill Hilda again out of malice and irritation ever again. We also parallel the Cain and Abel story where the Dark Lord asks where is Hilda and Zelda replies “Am I my sister’s keeper?”

Infernal Phrases

I treated her like hell rot

For the love of Lucifer

For Satan’s Sake

Mythology:

Batibat is a sleep demon who fills people’s dreams with sublime nightmares. She lulls them to sleep, separates them so their dreams don’t cross over (implying this is possible) and then plagues them with horrific nightmares. Her purpose for the Spellmans was for someone to set her free, but in general she messes with people for the fun of it apparently.

The witch hunters in Sabrina’s dream quote the bible ‘thou shalt not suffer a witch to live’.

Dialogue:

“Never open a magic box if you don’t know what’s inside it” - Zelda  

“Your attempts to conciliate your duality will only bring you pain and suffering” Dream Zelda

"Sometimes the oldest simplest magic works best”- Sabrina

[akhuna]

So I Finally Started to Watch “Sabrina” Yesterday

I know I am super late (as usual), but here are some thoughts. I watched the first two episodes. I didn’t put spoiler warnings, because I guess everyone else has already watched it. (There are spoilers in here.) I’m also super bad with names. Just sayin’.

I am not quite sure if I should be amused or annoyed with the “textbook satanist witch things” as depicted in MA/Reformation Age writings (witches eat human flesh, worship Lucifer, like to play cruel jokes on the humans, etc.) It’s cool, but sometimes a bit much. (like, yeah, yeah, I got it. Path of Night, Church of Night, etc.)

Talking about the Church of Night, the High Priest reminds me a little of Kenneth Branagh

I REALLY like Ambrose, that’s a cool way to separate Salem the familiar from Salem the snarky comic relief.

I’m not sure about the “buddy” element they put into his character.

But I LOVE his robe.

How many eyebrow pencils does Sabrina go through per month? (seriously. How many?)

All of the young witches wear a ton of makeup.

One thing that PISSED ME OFF is when the history(?) teacher (Sabrina’s homeroom teacher) is transformed, the FIRST THING THEY DID TO SHOW THAT SHE WAS DIFFERENT IS THAT SHE IS NOT WEARING GLASSES ANYMORE. Also, she has her hair down and wears tight dresses. SERIOUSLY WTAF. This trope has to DIE. Maybe they can offer it to Satan, he can have it. (Note: She has to get rid of the glasses and have her hair down because she is BADASS AND SEXY NOW. As I said. This trope has to die.)

I am not much for scary of spooky stuff, but I was surprised that I could watch the first both episodes fine.

 I liked the scene when Sabrina meets Salem and that spirit thing is basically “Yeah, in response to your chant in the woods earlier ...”

why does she just accept it and nobody checks whether this is an evil spirit or something? I mean, she just got cursed and her aunts are like: “Oh, your familiar just came to you like that? Cool!”

The fact that the teacher is now evil and working for the antagonist reminded me A LOT of Grimm. Just sayin’. It’s not bad, but you notice (maybe it was intentional)

The “Zelda kills Hilda” scene reminded me A LOT of the scene between Cain and Abel in Neil Gaiman’s Sandman. Just sayin’ (the scene in the sandman is so sad and emotional)

is the chanting (for curses, etc.) done in Latin or in Italian? It sounds like Italian to me

I didn’t expect the pun on the club they form to work in my first language (watched with subtitles, because I forgot to opt out), but it was a nice thing

The hay labyrinth scene - especially with the short switch to the teacher’s office was fucked up and well done

I kinda liked that the high priest advertised the Church of Satan’s beliefs only to switch to “satanist” (as in the MA / Reformation Age writings, see above) version during the “black baptism”

Salem is a super cute kitty and I love him, he takes his job very seriously

So, of course this is much different from the light-hearted series I watched as a teenager, but it’s not bad. I’ll see how the rest of the first season goes, or rather, the next couple of episodes.

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Wed., Mar., 11, 2020

St Sophronios Patriarch of Jerusalem

This Saint was born in Damascus. As a young man he became a monk at the Monastery of Saint Theodosius the Cenobiarch in Palestine, where he met John Moschus and became his close friend. Having a common desire to search out ascetics from whom they could receive further spiritual instruction, they journeyed together through Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor, and Egypt, where they met the Patriarch of Alexandria, Saint John the Almsgiver, with whom they remained until 614, when Persians captured Jerusalem (see also Saint Anastasius the Persian, Jan. 22). Saint Sophronius and John Moschus departed Alexandria for Rome, where they remained until 619, the year of John Moschus' death. Saint Sophronius returned to the Monastery of Saint Theodosius the Cenobiarch, and there buried the body of his friend. He laboured much in defence of the Holy Fourth Council of Chalcedon, and traveled to Constantinople to remonstrate with Patriarch Sergius and the Emperor Heraclius for changing the Orthodox Faith with their Monothelite teachings. After the death of Patriarch Modestus in December of 634, Sophronius was elected Patriarch of Jerusalem. Although no longer in the hands of the Persians, the Holy Land was now besieged by the armies of the newly-appeared religion of Mohammed, which had already taken Bethlehem; in the Saint's sermon for the Nativity of our Lord in 634, he laments that he could not celebrate the feast in Bethlehem. In 637, for the sins of the people, to the uttermost grief of Saint Sophronius, the Caliph Omar captured Jerusalem. Having tended the flock of his Master for three years and three months, Saint Sophronius departed in peace unto Him Whom he loved on March 11, 638.

Saint Sophronius has left to the Church many writings, including the life of Saint Mary of Egypt. The hymn "O Joyous Light," which is wrongly ascribed to him, is more ancient than Saint Basil the Great, as the Saint himself confirms in his work "On the Holy Spirit" (ch. 29). However, it seems that this hymn, which was chanted at the lighting of the lamps and was formerly called "The Triadic Hymn," was later supplemented somewhat by Saint Sophronius, bringing it into the form in which we now have it. Hence, some have ascribed it to him. Sources Greek Orthodox Archidiocese of America (GOARCH)

Genesis 4:16-26 NKJV

The Family of Cain

16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of [a]Nod on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.

19 Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and [b]flute. 22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.

23 Then Lamech said to his wives:

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have [c]killed a man for wounding me, Even a young man [d]for hurting me. 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

A New Son

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him [e]Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” 26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him [f]Enosh. Then menbegan to call on the name of the Lord.

Footnotes:

Genesis 4:16 Lit. Wandering

Genesis 4:21 pipe

Genesis 4:23 slain a man for my wound

Genesis 4:23 for my hurt

Genesis 4:25 Lit. Appointed

Genesis 4:26 Gr. Enos, Luke 3:38

Proverbs 5:15, 6:3 NKJV

15 Drink water from your own cistern, And running water from your own well. 16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, [a]Streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be only your own, And not for strangers with you. 18 Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. 19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be [b]enraptured with her love. 20 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, And be embraced in the arms of a seductress?

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He [c]ponders all his paths. 22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin. 23 He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Footnotes:

Proverbs 5:16 Channels

Proverbs 5:19 Lit. intoxicated

Proverbs 5:21 observes, lit. weighs

6:3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend.

New King James Version(NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. Source: Biblegateway.com

[kevinallenbank-blog]

Leviticus 1

The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock. 3 “If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD. 4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. 5 Then he shall kill the bull before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 6 Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces,7 and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 And Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; 9 but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering[a] with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 10 “If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, he shall bring a male without blemish, 11 and he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 12 And he shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar, 13 but the entrails and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 14 “If his offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or pigeons. 15 And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar. 16 He shall remove its crop with its contents[b] and cast it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes. 17 He shall tear it open by its wings but shall not sever it completely. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

The very first verse here has the LORD calling out from the tent of meeting. In Exodus, we have Moses’s first encounter with God in a burning bush. From that we have many times that “The LORD said to Moses.” I am honestly not certain but would think that the only person that could hear the LORD would be Moses. Many times, Aaron, at least, was there, but no mention of him hearing. We find the LORD in Mount Sinai giving his commandments and making the mountain shake. Now, we are at the tent of meeting, and the LORD called Moses and spoke to him FROM the tent. The LORD was in a place, that was the center of his people. The most holy place wherever they would be the tabernacle or tent of meeting, and this is where the LORD was, much closer and among his people. This is of course a foreshadowing to the Holy Spirit. All the cultures around at this time believed their god was actually somewhere, being a temple or an idol or something. They could get favor from their god from visiting their god and asking their god. We have the Holy Spirit always with us, always able to speak to us. And, God calls out from the tent of meeting. Even when we are not looking for the LORD, he is calling out to us. He is wanting us to come to him. He is holy, and in a holy place, and is calling us to come to this holy place. I believe that is the principal for the first verse. The LORD is always around us and is calling for us to commune with us. He then gives instructions in verse two when we bring a sacrifice. I remember a couple of verses earlier in the bible, the first when Abraham was out to sacrifice Isaac, he told his attendants that himself and Isaac would go and worship the LORD. Later, when Moses went to Pharaoh and asked for permission to leave, he wanted to leave to worship the LORD in the wilderness. I often thought, what was worship? Was it sacrificing? Chanting? Praising? Praying? I really don’t know. Was everyone worshiping the same? I don’t know. What I do know is how people at that time believed they had to sacrifice to their gods. One may sacrifice perhaps a small animal so that they may have a prosperous year, but instead of their crops growing, there is drought. They then sacrifice a better animal, and still drought. They sacrifice more and more, all to please their god. Finally, having nothing left to sacrifice, they start sacrificing their children. Here, the LORD tells you, that WHEN you sacrifice, this is what to sacrifice. No more. You do not have to keep on making a sacrifice after sacrifice, with each one being dearer to you. The sacrifice that he tells you to make is enough. You do not need to do more. Again, a glimpse of Christ. All we need is Christ. We do not need Christ plus 100 hours of community service, we do not need Christ plus anything. Christ plus anything is a false gospel. Christ is enough. Now, we live like Christ, and in doing so, bring Christ to others, but the LORD as already determined what is needed to reconcile us to him. It was and is a sacrifice, which was fulfilled through Christ. The sacrifice had to come from the flock or the herd. In other words, it was to come from not an animal you would hunt or capture, but an animal that you probably remember being born into the flock or herd. You helped raise this animal, and when there was an animal without blemish, you immediately knew which one they were talking about. Think about it, the best male sheep, goat or bull, one that traditionally, you would mate and keep so that you produce more perfect animals, is one that you must sacrifice. The one that can perhaps ensure the next generation of healthy animals is now the one that will be gone forever. These animals were also animals that did not eat other animals and were thought of as gentle. Next, male, and without blemish. The best in the herd or flock. God does not want “credit” he wants our best. I think about praying, are we giving him our best, or are we giving him something to “get credit?” Are we going to church to worship and thank the LORD, or are we going to “get credit?” Are we loving and serving others, or merely doing an event here and there, or giving money here and there to “get credit” God is aware what is our best, and when we are giving our best. When I read that, I recall the story of Cain and Abel, where one gave his best, something that was valuable. Next, you are to enter the presence of the LORD, or the tent of meeting, after you make the sacrifice. You make the sacrifice before the meeting, and then enter. The sacrifice is not cruel. In all examples, the animal is killed and then burned, not burned first or sent to suffer needlessly before death. Before sacrifice, the person making the sacrifice would put their hand on the animal to make atonement. In other words, the person is saying that they have sinned. That the wages for sin is death, and I deserve to die, but instead of me dying, I am going to transfer my sin to this innocent, gentle creature. Of course, this is what we do now. We go to Jesus, we raise our hand to him, stating that we have sinned, that the wages of sin are death, and we deserve death for our sin, and Jesus is taken the punishment for sin, just as the animal took the punishment for our sin. The principal is that Jesus accepts and makes righteous those who reach out to him. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, without blemish. Just as a person transferred his sin to an animal where death was sentenced, Jesus voluntarily takes this upon him. Next, we learn how to make the sacrifice. The meat is cut up and scattered so that it is fully consumed, not partially. I would imagine the animal coming through to the tent would get dirty on the trail, and before sacrificed, this animal was cleaned, and gave detail to cleaning the legs of the animal, so that when it is sacrificed, it is completely clean. The mere fact of agreeing to do the sacrifice was not enough, it was to remain clean and perfect from presentation to the sacrifice being consumed. It then says that the aroma is pleasing to the LORD. Do I think the LORD thinks that the smell is so pleasing because how it smells? No, I think it is because what it represents. A person that can come to his presence and is welcomed to his presence. Finally, we had the sacrifice for birds. These were for poor people, people that would not have a flock or herd. Even if they were poor and did not have a flock or herd, there was a way to make a sacrifice that meant just as much to the LORD than the best heifer without blemish. Later, when Jesus and Mary make a sacrifice for the birth of Jesus, being the first-born son, we find that they sacrificed a bird, as they were poor. Again, the sacrifice is a representation of Jesus’s future sacrifice. The principal being that God finds a way for people to come to him. God always finds a way. If it appears the kingdom is only open to certain people that do certain things, God finds a way, and he always finds a way for people to be reconciled to him.

[magethepodcast]

The Occult: Hidden Knowledge in the World of Darkness with Josh Heath

Terry Robinson chats with Josh Heath, COO of High Level Games and host of Werewolf: The Podcast discuss the occult; how different game lines in World of Darkness handles the occult; the Eldritch horrors of H.P. Lovecraft; Aleister Crowley’s Thelema and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn; the Yazidis; Neo-Paganism; occult understanding vs occult knowledge; Orders within the World of Darkness most associated with the occult; secrets and mysteries; initiatory magic; expressions of the occult in Vampire: The Masquerade; the Sabbat; the Cain and Abel/vampire paradox; the Tremere; Vaulderie and Quintessence; Nephandi; Guide to the Sabbat: A Sourcebook for Vampire the Masquerade; Mudang; RPGs as storytelling and LARPs as theatre; “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law;” yoga as an occult practice; hidden knowledge; wisdom passed down in lineages; mystery cults bearing the hallmarks of the occult; Jack Tripp; Opus Dei; Sufism; Kabbalah; the Wyrm; Gnosticism; street level occultism; the Arcanum; rituals in society and rituals in occult; Snowhaven.

Books to read to further your occult knowledge:

The Mystery-Religions

Three Books of Occult Philosophy

Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation

Songs of the Shaman: The Ritual Chants of the Korean Mudang

The Golden Dawn: The Original Account of the Teachings, Rites, and Ceremonies of the Hermetic Order

The Book of the Law

Contact us at magethepodcast@gmail.com with questions, comments, or feedback.

Subscribe to Mage: The Podcast on iTunes, Google Play and TuneIn.

Follow us on Twitter @magethepodcast

[cksmart-world]

SMART BOMB

The completely unnecessary news analysis

by Christopher Smart

December 28, 2021

HOW TO CELEBRATE JAN. 6 FOR REAL PATRIOTS

1 – Get out your buffalo-horn woolly hat, paint your face and chest and run up and down the steps at the Utah Capitol Building screaming, “Freedom! You Mothers. Freedom!”

2 – Get your local militia group to dress in camou and march through City Creek Mall with AR-15 assault rifles calling out, “Nancy, where are you? Oh Nancy, we'll get you.”

3 – Take your megaphone and Confederate battle flag and goose-step around the Federal Building on State Street chanting, “U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A.”

4 – Buy some Army surplus flack jackets and some thick rope and tie nooses so you and your patriotic buddies can stand outside of the Jazz game yelling, “Hang Mike Pence. Hang Mike Pence.”

5 – Put on your “Trump Forever” T-shirts and get some baseball bats and bear spray and drive to the east entrance of the Salt Lake County Government Center and chant, “Stop the steal. Stop the steal. Stop the steal.”

6 – Invite the neighbors over and order some pizza and watch Donald Trump's Jan. 6 news conference on your wide-screen where he will tell real Americans that he's still president and to keep hating Democrats and any lame Republicans who won't kiss his rosy-red fascist ass.

JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE TO SEE BACK TO GOD'S CREATION

As all well-informed citizens of Planet Earth know the most sophisticated telescope ever — dubbed James Webb — has been launched into space and will be able to see back to the beginning of everything — some 6,000 years ago. As God-fearing men and women know, Heaven and Earth were created in six days and on the seventh day God rested. Now, NASA scientists will be able to see Adam create Eve out of a rib and then watch as Eve flirts with a snake and eats an apple. They will leave the Garden of Eden and have two sons, Caine and Abel. Soon astronomers will be able to look back and know why Caine killed his brother. Other momentous occasions will be analyzed, such as Noah's Ark. Good Christians know the Almighty told Noah to build an Ark 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high so he could save his family and other creatures from the Great Flood. Until now, scientists have only been able to view the Ark at Williamstown, Kentucky, where there is a life-size replica at Ark Encounter Park, near I-75 at exit 154. James Webb will resolve other issues, too, like dinosaurs were millions of years old — they really went extinct in the Great Flood when Noah could not fit them on the Ark. The meek shall inherit the cosmos — or something like that.

THE WAR ON CHRISTMAS IS OVER — FOR ANOTHER YEAR

Let's just declare victory and get the heck out of here. Unfortunately, the United States didn't do that in Afghanistan after year two when the Taliban and been savaged and on the run. Nonetheless, the strategy might be perfect for the mirage that is the “War on Christmas.” We won. Deck the halls and jingle bells. The late Rush Limbaugh was a champion of fighting the War on Christmas because some people were going around saying, “Happy Holidays” — taking Christ out of Christmas and making it into a holiday for capitalists of all faiths. The nerve. They were even saying “Happy Holidays” in schools and teaching our children anti-Christian stuff, like other people have holidays, too. Trump declared he had won the War on Christmas last month on Newsmax, which was a huge bummer for Fox News, where the talking heads have been beating that drum for as long as Wilson and the band can remember. And if that weren't bad enough, President Biden isn't even talking about the war, according to the Deseret News. At a recent holiday party Biden even said, “Merry Christmas.” It just kind of ruins stuff for folks who want to feel victimized so they can lash out at someone, like that muslim from Kenya, Barack Obama.

Post script — That's a wrap for another year here at Smart Bomb, where we keep looking on the bright side so you don't have to. A lot of media outlets and pundits take a look back at this time of year to remind us of how lucky we are — or not. Actually, there's little news over the holidays, so they do it to fill space. Whatever. There was Covid, Covid, Covid; Jan. 6, Jan. 6, Jan. 6; Impeachment; sex assault; Cuomo; Zillionaires go to space; Afghanistan; Facebook; the drought and a whole bunch of other stuff that gives you headaches. And let's not forget this: The Salt Lake Tribune's Person of the Year, wait for it... The Great Salt Lake. That's right folks, the person of the year is a lake — a shrinking lake at that. Nonetheless, it does symbolize the leadership acumen here in Utah and across the nation. There really are very few problems we can solve these days. Too many guns? Sorry, can't fix it. Lack of universal healthcare? Sorry, can't fix it. Education too expensive? Sorry, can't fix it. Critical Race Theory? Oh, yeah, we can fix that — no more Critical Race Theory in our schools. And so it goes. But take heart, in the immortal words of the late prescient scribe Hunter S. Thompson: “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”

Well Wilson, you and the guys in the band turned pro long ago. So here we go, like it or not, zooming (no pun intended) into a New Year. And we ought to do our best to get off on the right foot. So what do you and your band of brothers have to jump start 2022:

If life seems jolly rotten, there's something you've forgotten And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing, and... Always look on the bright side of life Always look on the bright side of life Life is quite absurd, and death's the final word We must always face the curtain with a bow Forget about your sin, give the audience a grin Enjoy it, it's your last chance anyhow, so... Always look on the bright side of death Just before you draw your terminal breath Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it Life's a laugh and death's a joke it's true You can see it's all a show, keep 'em laughing as you go Just remember that the last laugh is on you, and... Always look on the bright side of life Always look on the bright side of life...

(Always Look On The Bright Side of Life — Bruce Cockburn)

[pastorerickmiller]

ATTENTION: Abortion hypocrites. Got a wake up call for you! Can we all get out panties from bunching up and stop the circle jerk of “abortion is murder” chant. Let’s be clear! Hating is murder. You hate Biden? Murderer you are. Why don’t you do missionary work. Go to the countries where rape is above 50%. Where abortions have the exact same mortality rate as the rape instance because they are done in backally, unlicensed and illegal means. I am not for abortion at all but I am also not a heathen to think that those women have it easy. Who is there to help them after the abortion? Or is there before the abortion? Are you offering the grace and mercy of Jesus that God promises? No you are not. You are bumping your gums because 1. Your punk nature hasn’t done a damn thing in your own community to talk to young girls and women. 2. You confuse one sin as more sinister than others. Like Hatred which kills more than anything. Killed satan. Killed Cain as he killed Abel. Adultery kills, heresy kills, idolatry kills ( you know politics for the stupid who thinks a president is only for Christians) a president is a leader of all people. Trans, colored, religions, cults, atheists, criminals, ethnic groups, you name it! He has a responsibility to more than just Christians. He has to make decisions and still deal with God at the end of the day. Get your head out of your colon! work out your salvation with all fear and trembling because you murderer; you have sins you have to manage! The Bible says pray for your leaders not try to be God over them. Grow the hell up! This why the American church is going into discipline. People like you! Hypocrites! #readyourbible #biblestudy #youinhd #jesus #god #faithoverfear #truthwar #gospeltruth #reformed #reformedtheology #americangospel #christianfaith #repentandbelievethegospel #mentalhealthawareness #anxietyrelief #anxietyawareness #depressionawareness #abortion #biden #maga #conservative #democrats https://www.instagram.com/p/CKm4yg_lyZv/?igshid=h35szh0g5tgl

[fanficfreekspn]

1-2: Curses All Around (8-End)

 ☙①❧  |  ☙②❧  |  ☙③❧  |  ☙④❧  |  ☙⑤❧  |  ☙⑥❧  |  ☙⑦❧  |  ☙⑧❧ 

Sam opened his eyes and a smile immediately sprang to his face as he turned to run his fingers through the blonde curls to his left. 

"What about me?" a voice called from his right as she snaked her fingers up around his chest.

"There's enough Sam for everyone," he whispered as both faeries giggled. "I just need to check on my sister," he sat up and crawled off the bed. Without bothering with a single stitch of clothing, he walked through the suite to the adjoining room and peeked in to find Lily within a pile of men and women, all covered in various colors of glitter. 

He smiled as he glanced down at his chest to see himself covered in glitter as well.

"Mmmm, good morning," Lily offered him a sleepy smile as she grazed her eyes over her brother's nude body.

"You were right," he grinned at her. "Faerie sex is awesome."

"Mmmmm hmmmm," she stretched out her arms and yawned. "I want to go to Poseidon Gardens today and bathe in the volcanic springs."

"When in Rome..."

She burst into a bright smile. "You know I have a thing for water, right?"

"No," he pushed a woman out of the way and sat on the edge of her bed. "Tell me."

"I'm not sure what it is, but I get... so excited when I pass a lake, stream, river, ocean... whatever. It's like it calls to me. I have to get it."

"Could it have something to do with Llyr's blood running through your veins?"

"Quite possibly," she grinned.

He reached over the man to her side and ran his fingers down her bare arm, to her hand, and then laced his fingers through hers. She flashed her eyes up to meet his as a breath caught in her throat. "What do we do with the Nymphs?"

"We let them wake up on their own," she slid out from between a man and woman and climbed onto his lap. There, they stared into one another's eyes for a moment before she walked off to grab her things.

.

Dean had just dozed off and was jolted awake when his phone rang. "Sammy?" he answered before realizing that he had received a text. He then pulled the phone back to view the dozens of photos Sam and Lily had taken the night before.

He sighed as he threw the phone down and walked into the kitchen for coffee. "They're in Rome."

Castiel took a look at the photos. "They are indulging in alcohol, drugs, and sex."

"What are those blue marks on Lily's arms?" Garth pointed out. "She looks like a Pictish warrior."

"I've never seen them before," Dean rubbed his eyes before taking a drink of his coffee.

"You seem stressed, Dean," Castiel watched him.

"I'm sitting here, waiting for my brother and sister to have sex, Cas. Yeah, a bit."

"It may not be as bad as you think."

He and Garth both glared at him.

"Throughout history, siblings have married; half-siblings even more so. The Egyptians, Incas, Japanese, Koreans... to keep royal bloodline pure, they intermarried..."

"Please stop," he rolled his eyes.

"Cain even married his sister..."

"You are not helping, Cas. Please!"

"You and Sam... and I suppose even Lily now are descendants of Cain and Abel. Perhaps this was meant to happen?"

"It is the least heinous of the sins they could commit to break this curse," Garth actually supported Castiel's argument.

"Wrong is wrong," he shook his head.

"Well... it is up to Dionysus' discretion..."

Dean stopped and walked up to him. "What did you say?"

"The curse, it was given to Dionysus to govern. It's up to him to break it. When he is appeased, it will break."

He began to laugh and patted him on the back. "Cass, you're a genius!" he walked out to the garden and looked around before finding a spot of grass and dropping to his knees. "Oh, Great Dionysus... please hear my prayer... I would really like your help in this curse business of my siblings..." he waited for a moment. "The God of wine and pleasure, right? I've got a whole cellar of honey wine I'm sure my sister wouldn't mind parting with..." he looked up to see a tall, tanned man in a black suit standing before him.

"You called?" he waited.

"Dionysus?" he looked him over. "Aren't you supposed to be fat and eating grapes or something?"

He cocked his eyebrow and tilted his head. "That was centuries ago, I've slimmed down. You can still have fun and be fit."

"Touche," he rose to his feet. "About this curse..."

"Your brother and sister are having the time of their lives. Lily is showing Sam the world and doing it without hiding behind her false face. She's being the Fae she was born to be."

"What are they doing to break the curse?"

He smiled at him. "What would you like for them to do?"

"The tablet wasn't exactly specific."

"No, but it is powerful. They are fighting a lot of their impulses, but starting to lose out against them."

He sighed as he looked around the garden.

"The reason these curses were so vague was to allow the nature of the persons or people who touch them to guide them. It is not in their nature to sodomize animals, eat human flesh, or kill someone they love."

"It's not exactly in their nature to sleep with their sibling, either."

"But it is in their blood, isn't it?"

"So what happens when the curse is broken, huh? They're just supposed to go back to the way it was a week ago? This will ruin them."

"The third curse is the least of their worries, dear boy. They're about to revive Biccus and open a portal to the Cauldron of Wisdom. If I were you, I'd be more worried about that."

In a flash, he was gone.

.

Lily floated in the rich, hot waters and closed her eyes for a moment as she tried her damndest to fight the curse and think. Her mind was swarmed with a warm flood of thoughts as she realized that her grandfather was speaking to her. She caught one specific idea as her eyes flashed open to find Sam in front of her.

"I got another text from Dean," he knelt in the water in front of her. "The only way to break the curse is to give in."

"I know," she sighed.

"I'm getting really tired of fighting it, Lily. I don't know how much more I can take."

"I have an idea..." she placed her hand on his chest. "But you'll have to trust me... completely."

"I've trusted you since the moment I realized you were my sister."

She ran her fingers through his hair as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

"Not here," she whispered.

"Every moment I can't kiss you is causing me pain..." he gritted his teeth.

"Shhhhh, I know, Sammy," she pushed his hair out of his face. "I know," she pressed her forehead against his. "I'll make it better, I promise."

.

"If the final curse works like the first two," Dean spoke to Garth and Castiel, "Then they'll have to come back here to activate the final sigil."

"I would assume so," Castiel nodded in agreement. "That will most likely open the portal."

"Then where is Biccus in all this?" Garth asked.

"We're still missing something," Dean walked over to the cask and dropped to his knees. He opened the lid and threw it open before searching the inside. He grabbed the linen that had protected the tablets for centuries and tossed it aside before running his fingers over the velvety lining and came across a hole in the lid.

Castiel made a face and turned to find Dean opening a secret compartment in the lid of the cask. "You know, since touching activated the tablets, I'd be careful..."

He discovered a box and opened it to find a brass ring holding an enormous red stone between two talons. The urge to pick up the ring was overwhelming, he had never felt quite such a call to anything as he was to touch the ring. His ears began to ring and his body filled with pain as the need to touch the ring overwhelmed him.

"Dean?" Garth watched him as his eyes widened in excitement and he picked the ring up out of the box. His eyes began to glow red as he rose to his feet and his lips spread into a wide smile.

.

Sam paced the floor as he waited for Lily to return from her secret endeavor. When the door opened, he turned to find her walk in with a man and woman he had never seen before. He stopped and frowned as he watched them glance at one another and turn to him.

Lily turned and locked the door before turning back to find all three sets of eyes waiting. "Names are not necessary," she swallowed nervously before walking over to the desk and reaching for the letter opener. She quickly sliced the palm of her hand before handing the opener to Sam.

Sam watched as she raised her bleeding hand to the woman and waited. The woman smiled and touched her cut before licking her finger. Within the blink of an eye, she had turned into a genetic replica of Lily. He became excited as he did the same and watched as the shapeshifter turned into a clone of him.

Lily winked at him before taking the hand of the Sam without a sliced palm and pulling him to her bed. He smiled before diving in to press his lips against hers and swoop her into his arms to carry her off to his bed.

.

Biccus, with the aid of Dean's body, finished taping Garth up and placing him in the greenhouse just after he repaired Lily's angel warding and ridded himself of Castiel by the time he saw Sam and Lily walk through the house and head straight for the tablet. He smiled as he took his time in returning to the house.

Sam looked around as Lily reached for the tablet. "Where is everyone?"

She stopped and looked around as well. "Not sure."

He stopped her by grabbing her hand. "Do you really think it worked?"

"I really hope so," she let out a deep breath before placing her hand onto the tablet. He followed by placing his hand over hers. The tablet began to change and glow into the final sigil as they stepped back and stared at the three tablets.

As if on autopilot, they held hands and began chanting as all three tablets glowed red and disappeared. Sam reached for them and threw them into the fireplace as the brick began to break away and stir. A huge portal flashed brightly as wind whipped throughout he house. The siblings squeezed one another's hands before walking through.

Dean peeked out from the pillar behind them and smiled as his eyes glowed red and he jumped in behind them.

Lily and Sam stepped into the dark, dank cave and looked around. In the center was a roaring fire and upon it a cauldron, bubbling with golden liquid. Overlooking the cauldron was a woman with the longest, curliest strawberry blonde hair either had ever seen. As they approached her, Lily's skin began to crawl with swirly blue markings and she noticed that her attire had changed to that of what resembled Xena, Warrior Princess.

"Daughter of Neimh," the blonde looked her over. "You have found your way to the Cauldron of Wisdom. What is it you wish to know?"

"Cerridwen," she felt the need to bow. "My brother and I..."

"Half-brother," she interrupted her.

"He is my brother," she corrected her. "We are here as a result of breaking a curse, nothing more. We want nothing."

"Speak for yourself!"

They turned around to see Dean standing there in the armor of a Roman soldier, his eyes glowing bright red.

"Biccus, I presume," Cerridwen called to him. "Right on time."

Lily frowned as she turned back to Cerridwen. "This was a test?"

"In which family do your loyalties lie, Lilwen? The House of Adam, or the House of Llyr?

She looked down at her leather armor, carved with intricate celtic designs and noticed a sword hanging from her hip. She knew. She knew if she used the magic of her family, it would bind her to the Sidhe. She also knew that using her magic was the only way to save Dean from being bound to Biccus for the rest of eternity.

"Out of my way, Faerie," Dean demanded as he drew his sword. "I have earned a drink from the Cauldron."

"You've earned nothing," she angered as she drew her own sword.

He smiled as Sam shifted his feet, looking for something to use to help her. There were no weapons in the cave, save the one brought and he had nothing.

"I've got this, Sam," she waved her hand and pushed him to the side of the cave.

"No, Lily! You don't have to do this alone," he pleaded.

"Yes, I do," she briefly met eyes with him before swinging her sword to defend herself against Dean.

Sam watched helplessly from against the cold stone wall as his brother and sister fought. It became apparent very early on that Lily was completely outmatched by the Roman soldier's sword and he began to fear the worst.

That was, until, Lily produced two replicas of herself that surrounded him. He wasn't sure which was really her and began to swing his sword around, missing the real Lily. She in turn elbowed him in the gut. When he fell over, she placed her right hand on his forehead and her eyes began to glow gold. She mumbled off a few very ancient Celtic words as Dean dropped his sword and fell to his knees. He opened his mouth as his eyes began to glow brighter before the ring fell from his finger. He blinked once more before his eyes returned to normal.

"Lily?" he looked up at her as she released Sam. She panted, dropping her shoulders before turning around to Carridwen.

"You used the magic of your family to save your human brothers. You have earned a drink from the Cauldron."

She glanced down at the bubbling cauldron. "I'm not sure I'm ready for the responsibility that drink would come with."

The Goddess slowly began to smile. "It will be here when you are, Lilwen Manon Winchester."

Lily's face fell into surprise. "So I'm free to return?"

"You chose both families, you are bound to both. You did well," she nodded proudly. 

"Thank you," she bowed before turning to her waiting brothers. 

"Where do I even start?" Dean asked her.

"Later," she took his hand before reaching for Sam's. A portal began to form until the entire cave was filled with wind and they walked through it.

.

The three Winchester siblings stood silently in Lily's living room and stared at the walls for a moment, taking in all that had happened over the previous week. Finally, Sam turned to his sister and looked down at her.

"Are you... okay?"

Tears filled her eyes as she finally allowed her shoulders to relax. "I will be. You?"

"I need a drink," he walked off to the bar.

She nodded in agreement before walking off to the back porch and taking a seat, looking down in the water of her coi pond. Dean walked out and sat in the seat beside her.

"Lily?" he asked for the fourth time.

"Hmm?" she turned and looked up at him.

"Are you all right, sis?"

She fought with her emotions as she shook her head and looked away.

"I take it... the third curse..."

"We didn't do it," she informed him. "I cheated the curse."

"Then why can neither of you look the other in the eye?"

She sighed as tears welled in her eyes. "We used shapeshifters. It wasn't technically us..." her lip began to tremble, "But it was him," she clamped her eyes shut.

His heart broke at her torment as he reached over and took her hand. "It wasn't him..."

"But it looked like him... felt like him," she whispered. "I thought we were cheating... but it was just as bad."

"And what was the alternative, huh? You did what you had to do. You found a loophole, you didn't do it."

"Then why does it feel like I did?" she looked up to find Sam watching them from the doorway.

"Dean, could you give us a minute?"

He nodded, sighed, and kissed his sister's forehead before walking off into the house. Lily rose to her feet and waited as her brother approached her.

"Sam..."

"What the hell are you doing to yourself, Lil? Huh?"

"You're telling me..."

"We had no control over anything, at least... I didn't. You did. You fought the curse and won."

"Did I?"

"Think about this for a moment. Think about what we'd be doing right now if you hadn't thought about bringing in the shapeshifters. How do you think that would feel?"

She was speechless.

"You did what you had to do, we both did. The curse is broken. You won the right to stay here with us... Celebrate that."

"I can't get the images out of my mind."

"Do you honestly think I can?" he sniffed before wiping under his nose with the back of his hand. "It wasn't me. And the only reason it wasn't is because of you. You kept me from making the biggest mistake of my entire life. I can't..." he momentarily lost his voice. "I can't imagine what I would do if I'd woken up this morning with my sister in my bed. Because of you, I didn't have to."

Her shoulders began to shake as the floodgates breached. He threw his arms around her and held on tight as they both cried, the stress of the entire ordeal releasing as they comforted one another.

"I love you, Lily," he whispered into her hair.

"I love you too, Sam," she closed her eyes and held on tight.

〈⍟ Part 7 •:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾ ⍟ ☽

[starlightbisexual]

my brother is writing an essay which he's quite stressed about and when he's stressed he doesn't really pay attention to what he's saying so as he's flipping through his textbook I heard him ominously chanting "dan and phil, cain and abel, jesus and judas, caesar and brutus" and honestly I don't know what to make of that