#and he has texted me from all his num

[mrschwartz]

Alex Turner for OOR Magazine (October 2022)

Conducted in August 20th 2022 by Willem Bemboom

Alex in the sun on a terrace. Leather jacket, classic shades, a big head of hair in desperate need of a handful of Brylcreem. He almost looks like a time-traveller, someone from another dimension, unmoved by the sounds of the city in the distance and the swelling lunch crowd around us.

He talks slowly and dragging, as if the battery is almost flat.  His pauses in thought are numerous and stretched out, sometimes to determine what he DOES want to say, more often to think about what he does NOT want to say. Apparently he is so used to intelligent or difficult questions, that the easy ones throw him off. What are you listening to? What has changed? What do you think yourself is the most beautiful lyric? Endless silences, you can almost hear the brain cracking. But they are by no means painful. The lesson taken from previous interviews - and in fact the essence of Arctic Monkeys: just let Alex Turner meditate, that's where eventually the best things come from.

The sunglasses meanwhile are being taken on and off every minute. With wide eyes full of wonder Turner turns the casual things lying on the table into a journey of discovery. OOR's old trusted dictaphone for example. 'Reliable stuff', he judges. ‘At worst eats your tape one time, but such a device will not betray you. Two buttons, on, off, record, play. You don't need more options. I want to start working with these things a bit more.”

He weighs the device for a moment, as if he is testing a peach or tomato at the local fruit & veg. A mysterious short laugh follows. Who knows what goes on in that head.

The Car as a record makes an analogous impression, either way in terms of technique and instrumentation.

Right? Texture wise for sure. Old instruments, string arrangements. The ideas are kneaded to songs with human hands. Although this time we also have a Moog.

And the subjects as well seem to come from a different time. Classic Hollywood, faded glory, but also Cold War stuff. In various songs there are spying elements sneaking around.

That’s for sure what I’m doing in the new songs. Think of Gene Hackman in The Conversation, you have to search in circle of people as such.Vague surveillance stuff, listening devices [focuses on the recorder again]. A bit like how this conversation is also being recorded, haha.

Social media seems completely absent, you are far from sketching a contemporary time frame. People talk on the phone together.

Good point. I imagine that phone in Big Ideas like that, on the wall, with a turntable. It is indeed an analog world, there is no apping or anything like that. On the first song on our first record I sing about a phone that is being unlocked [The View From The Afternoon]. You had to press the asterisk key to avoid accidentally turning on your cell phone. We still play that song every night, I’ve now sang it so often that I’m not thinking about those lyrics at all. A few days ago I did have a clear mind and suddenly I realised: gosh, this is not how phones are any more! Back in the days I was more up-to-date with my technological references, on AM there are still text messages and such. That's gone now. I have gone back in time, it seems.

Your previous album took place at the moon. Where - and especially when - is The Car set?

Hm. [long silence] You know what, I really don't have any idea whatsoever. Even for Tranquility Base I now wonder if it all took place at the moon. That sort of thing reveals itself only later, sometimes even a lot later. The music triggers something in me, I build on the atmosphere and the sound, and I just let The Idea run wild - though I refine the lyrics endlessly after they get into shape. But the source? Dunno, that can't be guided or be explained. I did try to steer away a bit more from the sci-fi idiom than on the previous one. Whether it succeeded is question number two. For some reason there’s somehow always science fiction seeping through.

You now refer in several numbers to old movies and showbiz, like the musical Anything Goes, 1930s Broadway, with music by Cole Porter. New fascination?

Hmmm, no. By the way, it is indeed lifted from a movie. Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom begins with the song Anything Goes, from that musical, sung in Chinese. Nice opening, although I’m certainly not the biggest Indiana Jones fan. I suddenly thought about it, so it ended up in that song. That's how it goes with most things. Who knows where it comes from and what it means. It's suddenly there.

Is Sculptures Of Anything Goes a New York song? Apart from the Broadway link you sing about 'city life 09', the period you lived in Brooklyn, and ‘Village coffee mornings, with not long since retired spies’.

As in: written in New York? No, I haven't been to New York in ages. The Village is in there…. I think this is another of those science fiction things. You've been nervously playing around with that empty cassette box for 15 minutes now, and I’m now imagining that it contains City Life 09. I’m fond of the idea there will be a city life cartridge in the future, a simulation that you can board. I’m imagining a full box of those cartridges, from 1929 to 1959 to 1969 to 1979 to 1989 and so on. That’s because I think there should be intervals of ten years to notice a substantial difference in such a huge city. And the 2009 one is missing from that lyric, it's inside the machine because it's used most often. Whether it's also refers to my time in New York… No idea. It's purely a bit of fantasy.

Let’s swap the fantasy for the facts for a little bit: where and when did you start making this record?

Even before the lockdowns, right away after the Tranquility Base tour in South America. In April and May 2019 I wrote the first attempts of new songs, we already recorded some bits in late 2019, but that attempt led to nothing. Only after the lockdowns we came back together again, last summer, in Butley Priory, an old monastery at the coast of Suffolk. No one knew we were there, it was a remote place. It reminded me of our first record, when we went from the madhouse to the countryside for a while as well. We never did that again ever since, until now. Recording a record in England also was a while ago, same counts for a summer album. So there we were again, at the English countryside, as a rrrrock band! [big eyes and a rolling rrrrr] No distractions, like in the city. Extra focus, no prying eyes. All in the same zone. Good morning, you know.

We will come back at that ‘rock band’ part for a bit later. What did a day in Suffolk look like for the rest?

Oh, every morning we got trumpeted out of our beds with a reveille. And a while after a bell was ringing: go to work, lazy bastards! Thereafter a Powerpoint presentation with schedules and tactics. No, just joking, it was the opposite. Very calm and relaxed, everything in our own tempo. These days I find it essential to take the time. That’s because every project has to search and find its own way. As a maker you also have to let a piece of work go its own way. During the summer of 2019 I read a book about movie editing, In The Blink Of An Eye by Walter Murch. Although movie editing is not my discipline, I did get interesting things out of it anyway, there are parallels with how I put together a record these days. Editing usually involves cutting out bad bits. The question that immediately arises: what is a bad bit? Are there bad bits at all? This Sir Murch calls the process of editing the discovery of a path through all the available material. The more you shot, the more possible paths there are. And because I had quite a lot of ideas, more than ever actually, which all wanted to exist, it was extra important to especially follow the feeling. Sometimes I got a direction in mind, and then the piece itself drags you in the opposite direction anyway. It has other ideas. It lives, it is an entity. Let it go. That’s how it went now as well.

You keep on avoiding the meaning of your lyrics. Is the writing of it not a conscious process then?

Hmmm, that always comes last anyway. I am endlessly adjusting and rewriting. When we were working on the music in Suffolk, I hardly sang on top of it. I do believe that at this moment in time I write down what I am experiencing more directly. I'm a bit more open, more honest, apparently inspired by four guys who are just standing together in a room making music.

What do you consider your favourite find on The Car?

Oh… I forgot to bring my cheat sheet. I’ve got a folder with notes, which I planned on bringing with me. But it also feels a little know-it-all and self-conscious to start giving a lecture from my own notes here. My best line… I wouldn’t know! I simply don’t know all the lyrics by heart yet. [long pause] I think ‘Big Ideas’ as a whole is a very accomplished song.

Ah, with the ‘hysterical scenes’ that are reminiscent of a band just breaking through. ‘We had ‘em out of their seats, waving their arms and stomping their feet’ – that’s where the echo of Monkeymania is audible.

Strange times.

Or just The Beatles. ‘Clap your hands and stomp your feet’, is what Lennon sometimes shouted from the stage…

Hm, yeah. No. Here I imagine sort of more like a movie producer giving someone a call. Or something like that.

Big Ideas is full of melancholy – and that counts for more songs in general.

It’s not just in the words, you know. Yes, so that’s how it works for me: the words arise from the feeling the music evokes. The melody supplies the words and ideally they complement each other. In that way, the things it makes you say are indeed not conscious. It purely revolves around what the music allows you to say.

“Over and out, it’s been a thrill”, you sing on Big Ideas. Hello You, Jet Skis On The Moat and Perfect Sense also contain “goodbyes” and “goodnights”. Are you saying goodbye to something?

Yeah, I think that’s fair. That all has to do with where I arrived in life at the moment. I’m 36, the band exists for about twenty years, including the whole run-up. So I’ve been in the band for more than half of my life. You leave things behind, while the clock keeps ticking. People, places, your younger self. Time. Though that’s not necessarily a bad thing, you get new things in return. But it’s human nature to sometimes look back on what has been, what’s behind you. Though I’m pretty good at leaving things behind.

Like loud guitar music for example.

[big eyes] Ha!

The rrrrrrrrock band you just mentioned is not the same as the one from 2006 anymore.

Haha, not on the record, no! But on stage we just keep on rocking, that all co-exists. But you know what’s the funny thing? We could very well still have made a loud guitar record after all. If the music had asked for it, I think I would have obediently followed. When we finished touring in 2019, everything pointed in that direction. Much louder than Tranquility Hotel, in any case. But that started to shift towards a different direction and that’s why we took a break from it at the time. I was afraid I would start forcing things. And sometimes you just have to accept the fact you can’t go back to the riffs from ten years ago. At the end of the tour I knew what kind of songs I wanted to do, with the lights of the stage still in my eyes and the thundering roars of the audience in my ears. Big, loud guitars should have been part of that. That’s what I’m gonna do! I even put on my motorcycle boots to get a hold of that mood. But that didn’t feel right in the end, as said. You’re not that person anymore, your music wants to go in a different direction. Then I can only follow that.

Put the Arctic Monkeys who were recording at the English countryside in 2006 next to the band working at Suffolk last summer. Not to see what has changed, but what hasn’t changed?

Well, everything has changed. [2 minutes of silence while you can almost hear a movie playing in his head] … except for the countryside and England, haha! I did find it more fun this time though. Maybe because right now we finally know what we’re doing. Yes, that has remained the same. The only reason we now can not make a loud guitar record in all peace and comfort, is because we’re still Arctic Monkeys. Everyone has grown up, the essence of the band has grown with us. The faces are a bit more round, the boys call their children instead of their parents, but the feeling remains the same. Life itself happened – and not in an unpleasant way. It’s all good, everything. Yes, it’s fine.

Why did you have more fun now than back then? Did that 20 year old kid that recorded ‘Whatever People Say I Am…’ not know what he was doing?

Not what happened to him, no. It was a great time, but oh dear, so much stress! Now I’m completely relaxed in everything I do. Looking back at 2006, everything was so… tight! My guitar was hanging just below my chin, the strap was almost pinched around my back. That example alone. I let the guitar nicely hang nowadays. And sometimes I even leave it in its stand. The schedules are looser, the people are looser, the music is looser. Less heavy, not as frenetic and whaaaargh! It’s fitting better in its own skin. Just like ourselves. The jacket is hanging loosely unbuttoned. I’m sitting behind a grand piano in the corner. And still it feels like Arctic Monkeys, because we’re still walking the same path, however strange the path winds. The same timeline and the same principles. The path, following the music, is the constant factor. 15 years ago we followed our instinct as young lads and The Record is what resulted from it. Now we’re still doing that, and this time that record is The Car.

Oh yeah, The Car. What kind of car is it?

Just a car.

Does it stand for anything?

No, it’s standing on a roof. The cover photo was taken by Matthew Helders, our drummer. When I saw that photo a few years ago, I immediately knew it had the potential to be an album cover for the band. There’s not just spies and goodbyes in the lyrics, if you listen closely you can hear a few cars. And after [raises voice] Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino the temptation to call something ‘The Car’ is simply too big. It is what it is.

So just a car.

Yep. And that car on the cover in particular.

Where was the photo taken?

If I’m not mistaken, in Los Angeles.

Ah, Los Angeles. There you’re nothing without a car. What kind do you drive?

I don’t own a car. I’m back in London now and it’s just not practical there. No car…

Where did you used to go on holidays as a kid?

Oh, eh, Eastbourne, on the south shore. With my grandparents on the Dotto Train, one of those tourist carts along the beach. But how did we suddenly end up here?

I wondered about this when I heard The Car, the song. Nicely melancholic, you sing about past holidays, falling asleep at the back seat.

But that doesn’t take place in Eastbourne [rolls his eyes]. But where does it take place, I can hear you think… In a parallel universe full of espionage and science fiction, haha!

Sounds exciting. Have you ever tried writing a script yourself?

No. The kind of stories I tell are mostly… based on the music and the melodical ideas, as I already explained. Those bring forth the story. If I wouldn’t have that, I would struggle. I would like to learn this though, sometime, one day. But I’m not working on it now, it’s a whole different skill to the one I’ve currently got on board. Never say never, we’ll see. But definitely not tomorrow [thinks for a bit, laughs]. Tomorrow’s Pukkelpop. There’s no time for drafting scripts. Although it is a world I would like to roam about, one I’d like to explore. At the Priory I had an old 16mm camera with me, one that fits in the palm of your hand and you have to crank up yourself. Still not even close to Hollywood. But ah well, that’s a hobby.

What music are you listening to yourself at the moment?

[two minutes of silence] I used to be able to always draw a straight line from what I was listening to right to the new record, that’s different now, I think. No more adding this, this, this and this and you’ve got the new Monkeys. It’s not as clear what those things are this time, not even for me.

If you could go to Record Palace at the opposite of Paradiso with 50 euros right now, what would you pick from there?

Oh wow, that place is amazing! I actually should stop by there later. We’ve been so busy fine-tuning the show, this morning I only took a walk in the park for a bit… Lovely morning.

But at the moment you’re listening to…

Oh man… After finishing the record, nothing for a while, for a few months. Now it’s starting up again a bit. Headphones on… listening to things. What do I want to share here right now?

I’ll just write down Nookie by Limp Bizkit.

Oh no. Is that a threat? Alright, in that case do… Nat King Cole! The song ‘Where Did Everybody Go’. Why? That’s why.

At There’d Better Be A Mirrorball you actually sound a bit like Nat King Cole. Coincidence?

Ha, that’s nice! Eh, yes, coincidence. On the other hand: what’s a coincidence?

You sing a lot in falsetto, you croon, sometimes you’re channelling Bowie. Are you still looking for your voice or are you finally coming close?

Always in search of! You look for a manner of singing that guides the music the easiest way. A way that’s in tune with the feeling you wanna convey. That’s the hardest part… no, that’s what you’re aiming for, that connection.

Connection with?

With what you can’t really grasp. And can’t understand. Or can’t express into words. How you as a normal little person can become part of that wonder, the music. There’s a technical component to it, by practicing a lot I can reach a higher pitch or hold a note better. Those are means. The purpose is something bigger though. There’s this great song on Sinatra at the Sands, 'Don’t Worry About Me', that he introduces as one of the best songs ever. In one part of a verse he sings a step-up note, bigger and bigger, that fills all gaps in the notes just to get to the next step. It’s off, but because of that it’s actually perfectly right. It stands out. That’s why I call magic. That’s what it’s about. Getting completely lost in that feeling and getting to a place where everything is right. Even when it’s not right. Even more so when it’s not right. Then you know it’s right.

[superjakethegreat]

The Blessing

January 13, 2024

The Lord bless you.

Num 6:24

The key to the words, “The Lord bless you,” is, I believe, to be found in Ephesians 1:3—“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ;” for the blessings prayed for in our text would seem to be chiefly spiritual blessings. Not that we are to think lightly of temporal favors. They are left-hand blessings, if not right-hand mercies; they are gifts to be thankful for on earth, if not graces that take to heaven; provision for the perishing body, if not food for the immortal soul. Health, strength, such a measure of worldly goods as shall keep the wolf from the door, and enable us to owe no man anything but love; children growing up to be a comfort to their parents; a kind and affectionate partner; warm and faithful friends; an untarnished name; and a little provision for those dear and near to us, that their tears over our body may not be doubly embittered by poverty and dependence; who shall say that these are not blessings for which God is to be praised? Viewed by the eye of faith, blessings in providence come down from heaven steeped in mercy.

And yet how short, oh, how infinitely short do these temporal blessings, which perish in the using, fall of spiritual blessings, which endure for evermore! A striking proof of this is that when we are privileged to draw near to the throne of grace with some measure of faith and feeling, the heart’s desire is wholly towards spiritual blessings; and the eye of the soul is so wholly and solely fixed upon them, that there is scarcely left place either in the heart or lips to ask for any other.

But look at the personality of the blessing asked—“The Lord bless YOU.” And yet when the high priest pronounced the blessing he did not fix his eye upon, nor did he address his speech to, any one individual. It was spoken to the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel; and yet the words were so framed as though the blessing were for each individual. Such are God’s blessings—personal, individual. Gracious souls, sometimes, when they have heard the word with any particular sweetness or power, say, “It was all for me.” Well, it was all for you; but are you the only “me” in the place? Might not someone sitting by your side say, “It was all for me?” Don’t think that one alone is to be blessed, and all others excluded. There is enough for each, and there is enough for all.

But there is something so singularly appropriating in the mercy of God when brought into the heart, that it seems as though it were for me, and for me alone. But here is the blessedness of the mercies of God, of the riches of his grace and glory—that one having a part does not exclude the other. It is not like a natural family, where each successive child seems to withdraw a portion of the inheritance from the others; so that, if they had the covetous feelings of grown-up people, the elder might well say to the new-born babe, “We don’t want you, you little robber! Why are you come to take portions with us?” It does not narrow the heavenly inheritance that there are so many to enjoy it; if it did, it would narrow God himself, for God is their inheritance, and in God is enough to satisfy myriads of elect angels as well as myriads of ransomed men. There need be no envy in the things of God; it is excluded by the freeness, fullness, and richness of God’s love.

[and-they-were-tombmates]

Balaam from “Divinerville”

By Ethan Schwartz

In a satirical account, Numbers describes how a local, non-Israelite Transjordanian prophet and diviner is forced by YHWH to bless Israel instead of curse them. Deuteronomy recasts Balaam as a stereotypical Mesopotamian diviner from faraway Aram-Naharaim, making the point that YHWH’s power extends even into the heartland of Assyria.

Central to the narrative of Balaam son of Beor is the fact that his is not an Israelite. When Balak, king of Moab, needs someone to curse Israel and stop their encroachment on Moabite territory, he invites the non-Israelite prophet and diviner, Balaam to perform this task.

Balaam’s Origins in the Prose Account

The specifics of Balaam’s national identity or geographic extraction are ostensibly clarified in the verse when Balaam is introduced:

במדבר כב:ה וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים אֶל בִּלְעָם בֶּן בְּעוֹר פְּתוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר עַל הַנָּהָר אֶרֶץ בְּנֵי עַמּוֹ לִקְרֹא לוֹ...

Num 22:5 So [Balak] dispatched emissaries to Balaam son of Beor, to Pethor, which was on the river, [in] the land of his people, to summon him...

The verse has three geographical markers, but all of them are unclear:

The city of Pethor—It is mentioned only in references to Balaam and is unknown elsewhere in the Bible;

The unspecified river;

“The land of his people”—The phrase is tautological, since we aren’t told who his people are. Where else would Balaam be other than the land of his people?

Ammonite

The tautological phrase, “the land of his people,” is found in the Masoretic Text and the LXX. The Samaritan Pentateuch, Peshitta, and Vulgate preserve a different, more correct reading, with the final word in the phrase reading not ʿammo, but ʿammon: “the land of the Ammonites” (ארץ בני עמון).

This situates Balaam in a specific, well-known geographic location: in the Transjordan, close to the land of Israel and adjacent to Moab, which is where we would expect him to be. Pethor would be an unknown city in Ammon, and the unnamed river would be the Jordan.

Balaam the Aramean: His Origins in the Poetic Texts

In Balaam’s oracles, however, he describes himself as coming from Aram:

‏במדבר כג:ז ...מִן אֲרָם יַנְחֵנִי בָלָק מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב מֵהַרְרֵי קֶדֶם לְכָה אָרָה לִּי יַעֲקֹב וּלְכָה זֹעֲמָה יִשְׂרָאֵל.

Num 23:7b From Aram has Balak brought me, Moab’s king from the hills of the East: “Come, curse me, Jacob; come, tell Israel’s doom!”

The verse has two geographical markers in parallel with each other:

Aram is a term that covers a wide area: in the biblical period, Aramean kingdoms were found throughout modern Syrian, as well as near the Sea of Galilee and in the Transjordan, depending on the specific period.

“From the hills of the East” would most likely be a reference to the Transjordanian region, east of Israel, and is a reasonable description of the hilly topography of that region.

Part of the Transjordan was ruled by the Arameans in the late 9th century, following the conquest of much of Israel in that period by King Hazael of Damascus. In that period, then, “East” and “Aram” could refer to the same area. If, as many scholars think, the poetic oracles are older than the surrounding prose narrative, this poetic verse would reflect the more ancient tradition of an Aramean Balaam. The description of Balaam as Ammonite in the prose would reflect a later update, from when Ammon ruled the same region in the 8th century.

Deir ʿAlla

A Transjordanian Balaam fits with an important archaeological find: the plaster inscriptions from Deir ʿAlla, in modern-day Jordan—written in a West Semitic language (either Aramaic or Canaanite with Aramaic influence) and usually dated to the ninth or eighth centuries B.C.E. These preserve an extra-biblical tradition about Balaam.

The first of these inscriptions depicts a Balaam son of Beor (בלעם בר בער) engaging in mantic activity that is strikingly reminiscent of the story in Numbers in both content and form. No mention is made regarding Balaam’s origins in the inscription, but the site of the inscriptions is in Transjordan.

The evidence thus suggests a tradition, shared by the Bible and the Deir ʿAlla plasters, of Balaam as a renowned diviner from a West Semitic people in Transjordan. This location, close to Moab, makes good sense within the story-world of Numbers 22–24, in which Balak the king of Moab hires Balaam. It is almost certainly what the early texts that make up the Balaam story envision.

Aram-Naharaim across the Euphrates: Balaam’s Origins in Deuteronomy

In its reference to the Balaam story, the book of Deuteronomy mentions another, quite different, geographical location for Balaam:

דברים כג:ה ...וַאֲשֶׁר שָׂכַר עָלֶיךָ אֶת בִּלְעָם בֶּן בְּעוֹר מִפְּתוֹר אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם לְקַלְלֶךָּ.

Deut 23:5b …and because [Moab] hired Balaam son of Beor, from Pethor of Aram-naharaim, to curse you.

Aram-naharaim refers not to a Transjordanian Aram or even to an Aramean state in the south of Syria but instead to a region far to the north of Israel, beyond the Euphrates River, near Abraham’s ancestral hometown of Haran, in the heartland of Assyria. The story of Isaac’s and Rebecca’s courtship makes this clear when Abraham dispatches his servant to “the land of [his] birth” (Gen 24:4) to find a wife for his son:

בראשׁית כד:י וַיִּקַּח הָעֶבֶד עֲשָׂרָה גְמַלִּים מִגְּמַלֵּי אֲדֹנָיו וַיֵּלֶךְ וְכָל טוּב אֲדֹנָיו בְּיָדוֹ וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם אֶל עִיר נָחוֹר.

Gen 24:10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and set out, taking with him all the bounty of his master; and he made his way to Aram-naharaim, to the city of Nahor.

Thus, according to Deuteronomy, the river mentioned earlier in Numbers 22:5 would be not the Jordan but the Euphrates. This is how Targum Onkelos (2nd c. C.E.) understood the verse; he translates פְּתוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר עַל הַנָּהָר “Pethor that is on the river” as לִפְתוֹר אֲרָם דְּעַל פְּרָת “Pethor of Aram which is on the Euphrates,” as does the NJPS (“that is by the Euphrates).

Indeed, the Bible often uses the non-specific term “the river” as a reference to the Euphrates. For instance, Joshua’s historical résumé at the conclusion of his career opens with:

‏יהושׁע כד:ב ...בְּעֵבֶר הַנָּהָר יָשְׁבוּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם מֵעוֹלָם תֶּרַח אֲבִי אַבְרָהָם וַאֲבִי נָחוֹר וַיַּעַבְדוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים. כד:ג וָאֶקַּח אֶת אֲבִיכֶם אֶת אַבְרָהָם מֵעֵבֶר הַנָּהָר וָאוֹלֵךְ אוֹתוֹ בְּכָל אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן...

Josh 24:2 …Since time immemorial, your ancestors dwelt beyond the river—Terah, ancestor of Abraham and Nahor—and worshiped other gods. 24:3 But I took your ancestor, Abraham, from beyond the river and led him throughout the land of Canaan…”

Moreover, the Bible elsewhere refers to the Euphrates as הַנָּהָר הַגָּדֹל “the great river” (Gen 15:18, Deut 1:7, Josh 1:4).

Support for this reading comes from the modern identification of a city named Pitrû in Akkadian sources, a connection that may be found as early as the 1903 commentary on Numbers by George Buchanan Gray (1865��1922) of Mansfield College. Pitrû was near Haran, in the heartland of Assyria.

A Mesopotamian Balaam?

A Pethor in the Assyrian region would work well with Balaam’s role as a diviner. Balak hires Balaam because the latter has a reputation for great skill in communicating with the supernatural realm and harnessing its power. While divination was a respected institution across the ancient Near East and Mediterranean, it was especially robust in Mesopotamia. The Akkadian sources reflect numerous kinds of divinatory professionals, often directly paralleling biblical prophets and priests.

Samuel Daiches (1878–1949), a rabbi and Judaica scholar at London’s Jews College, argued that Balaam fits the profile of the type of Mesopotamian diviner known as a bārû, who discerned the divine will by reading omens (especially the entrails of sacrifices). If Balaam was a bārû, that would indeed bolster the case for his Mesopotamian origins.

However, some have objected that Daiches’ invocation of the bārû unjustifiably conflates two aspects of Mesopotamian religious functionaries: (a) divination, the effort to understand the divine realm, and (b) magic, the effort to manipulate it. Whereas the bārû was an expert in the former, Balak hires Balaam to do the latter.

Is Pethor Really Pitrû?

Moreover, the identification of Pethor with Pitrû is problematic. First, Pitrû is not on the Euphrates River itself, but on one of its tributaries, the Sājūr. Second, by the time of Shalmeneser III (mid-9th century B.C.E.), Pitrû had been renamed to Ana-aššur-utter-asbat, and thus would not be the name familiar to the biblical authors. Third, the biblical vocalization, “Pethor,” does not align with what would be expected for a rendering of “Pitrû.” None of these problems is insurmountable, but they should give us pause.

More importantly, a location north of the Euphrates, hundreds of miles north of the Moabite plains, defies narrative logic. Balak’s emissaries have to make the journey to Balaam twice before he agrees to go with them. If Balak is concerned about Israel’s imminent advance, would he send for assistance from someone so far away?

To the Diviner

Balaam’s status as a diviner suggests the possibility that פתורה “to Pethor” in Numbers may not be a place name at all. The consonants of “Pethor” are the same as the verbal root פ.ת.ר ( = פ.שׁ.ר), which can mean “interpret”—including in a divinatory context. Consider Joseph’s discussion of dream interpretation with his cellmates:

‏‏בראשׁית מ:ח וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו חֲלוֹם חָלַמְנוּ וּפֹתֵר אֵין אֹתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יוֹסֵף הֲלוֹא לֵאלֹהִים פִּתְרֹנִים סַפְּרוּ נָא לִי.

Gen 40:8 They said to him, “We each had a dream, but there is no interpreter (poter) for it.” He answered them, “All interpretations (pitronim) belong to God. Go ahead and tell me.”

Thus, the conventional reading of פְּתוֹרָה as “to Pethor” might in fact mean “to the diviner” (Num 22:5). This is how the text was understood by certain classical commentators. Thus, the early 1st millennium C.E. Targum Neofiti translates פתורה as פתורה חלמייה “the interpreter of dreams.” Similarly, the medieval commentator R. Bahya ben Asher (ca. 1255–ca. 1340) writes:

וע"ד המדרש פתורה, נקרא פתורה מלשון פתרון, לפי שמתחלה היה פותר חלומות ואח"כ חזר קוסם ואח"כ עלה לרוה"ק.

By way of midrash, Pethora from the word pitaron (solution), since at first he would interpret dreams, then he started on sorcery, and finally he received the holy spirit.

Even if it is a place name, which in its original context would have referred to some unknown town in the Transjordan, it is difficult to ignore the linguistic connection to the word “diviner.” Indeed, this was likely one of the inspirations for Deuteronomy’s reimagination of the Balaam story.

Deuteronomy—A Late Harmonization

Rather than preserving an independent tradition, Deuteronomy’s placement of Balaam’s place of origin as Aram-Naharaim represents a harmonistic effort to solve the ambiguity present in Numbers. Deuteronomy’s phrase מִפְּתוֹר אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם “Pethor of Aram-naharaim” combines elements that all appear in the Balaam narrative in Numbers—but never together: “Pethor” and “river” (i.e., nahar) come from the prose frame (22:5), while “Aram” comes from a poetic oracle (23:7).

The older layers of the Balaam story in Numbers envision a Transjordanian prophet. In the final form of the text, however, when we read the poetic reference to Aram through a Deuteronomic lens, we see it as a reference to Aram-Naharaim, and we understand Pethor as a city in that region. By casting him from a faraway land, famous for its divination, Balaam becomes the quintessential diviner as well as the quintessential outsider.

Numbers as Satire

Of course, a Balaam from far away Assyria does not make narrative sense. Nevertheless, the final version of the Balaam story, with its episode of the talking donkey, is not meant to be understood as a historical annal with verisimilitude. Rather, it is a satire, where realism is not a controlling factor.

The story is an intentionally crafted, agenda-driven story with a theological claim: YHWH’s power means that he has sole prerogative over authentic prophecy; he cannot be manipulated through the mantic arts. The fact that this great foreign diviner must obey YHWH’s commands and is powerless to curse YHWH’s people testifies to YHWH’s divine superiority:

במדבר כב:ח וַיַּעַן בִּלְעָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל עַבְדֵי בָלָק אִם יִתֶּן לִי בָלָק מְלֹא בֵיתוֹ כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב לֹא אוּכַל לַעֲבֹר אֶת פִּי יְ־הוָה אֱלֹהָי לַעֲשׂוֹת קְטַנָּה אוֹ גְדוֹלָה.

Num 22:18 Balaam replied to Balak’s officials, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, big or little, contrary to the command of YHWH my God.

The story advances this claim in large part by mocking the institution of divination as reflected in both its practitioner (Balaam) and its patron (Balak), each of whom appears (at various points) powerless and obtuse.

Using a Stereotype: Deuteronomy’s Recasting of Balaam’s Origins

Understanding this message, Deuteronomy recasts Balaam’s origins to make him hail from Mesopotamia because of its close association with divination. Through the use of a literary device well-attested in satire throughout history, he thus becomes a regional stereotype.

The term “Pethor” is explicable in light of the literary function of Balaam’s Mesopotamian origins. Whatever Pethor may once have referred to, now it is a fictional place whose name recalls divination. It is as if Balaam comes from a city literally called “Divinerville,” in the far away land of Aram Naharaim.

Source (and view footnotes at): https://www.thetorah.com/article/balaam-from-divinerville

[sachirobabe]

Accidental cuddling | U. Wakatoshi x F!reader

Warnings: Cursing⚠️

An: repost from my wattpad

Female reader.

Wc: 1,341

"What else do we need?" You asked, taking your eyes off your clipboard for a second to look at Ushijima.

"More athletic tape because Tendou used it all." He answers, dusting his hands off on his shorts.

Currently the two of you were stocking up on things that were needed in the storage room. The boys volleyball team was heading to a training camp for a week and there was some very much needed stuff.

You being the manager, decided to make a neat list for the coach so he would know what to get tonight.

"I think that's it." He sighs. "Thank you for staying after, I'm sure you had other things to do."

You waved him off, "Not really, plus it's kind of my job." You finished with a laugh, earning a chuckle from him.

"But still, I kept you here late." He apologizes.

"It's okay, really." You assured. Once you gathered your things, Ushijima locked both the storage room and the gym doors.

Ushijima mentally thanked himself for showering and changing before the two of you went over things, now he has a chance to walk you to your dorm.

"Could I see the paper?" He asked. You nodded and handed it to him, he needed to take a picture and send it to coach.

Before he sent the picture he stopped, "Do you happen to have coaches number?" He says, knowing that he does have it.

"Yeah sure, I can text it to you." You say and take your phone out, ready to type his number. You sent it and saved his contact.

He smiled to himself, he managed to get your number without going through the awkwardness of asking. "Thank you." He says and saved your number as well. The two of you approached the third year dorms, nearing the end of spending time together.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Y/N. Goodnight." He says after mentally preparing what he was going to say for the last 5 minutes.

"Goodnight Wakatoshi." You smiled and entered your dorm. Once you exited out of the shower, you did your nightly routine and got in bed, smiling to yourself that you now got your crushes number.

The morning arrived and the school day went on as usual, today was the first day of the one week camp. The team would leave right after school. You packed the last of your bag and began your walk to the front of the gym.

"I can't believe you got her num- Y/N!" Tendou catches himself as the two of them turned the corner and you were just getting out of your room.

"Oh- hey you two." You greeted. "You startled me." You chuckled.

"Sorry." The two apologized, you told them you were okay.

"Excited for the camp?" You asked, walking in the middle of them.

"Yes." Ushijima simply answered.

"I'm not excited for the car ride." Tendou sighs.

You raised a brow, "It's only an hour and a half."

"Tendou can't stay still for that long, he gets bored." Ushijima chimed in.

"I can sit still, but who's gonna entertain me?!" Tendou gasps, effectively making you laugh. You shrugged and kept walking, soon getting to the gym and getting your bags situated on the bus.

"Coach made us a seating chart because of what happened last time." Semi sighs, disappointed that he can’t chose freely where he’d like to sit.

"You can all blame Tendou's ass for that." You say remembering what happened last time.

Last time, Tendou was crawling underneath the seats to sit with everyone, he accidentally woke up the coach and scared him.

"Why'd you even do that?" Semi asked Tendou and they began to bicker playfully.

Soon enough you all got situated in the bus, you ended up sitting with Ushijima and Tendou sat right next to coach. Semi and Shirabu began teasing the red head.

"Hopefully he stays in his seat this time." Ushijima says out loud, gaining laughter from all over the bus.

You chuckle and agreed with him. You spent the bus ride resting your eyes and listening to music, not paying much attention the the others around you. Apparently you had actually fallen asleep because you felt someone slightly shaking your shoulder.

"We're here." Ushijima says.

"Thanks." You yawn and get out of the seat. You got off the bus and stretched your limbs, "How was your seat, Tendou?" You asked, already knowing how miserable he must’ve been.

He frowned, "It was so boring!"

"Maybe that'll teach you to not go crawling underneath the seats." The coach says as he got out of the bus. You all laughed at Tendou while he groaned, continuing to complain how the coach didn’t even listen to his recent theories he was interested in.

The coach explained about how rooms were done, he trusted Ushijima enough to let you two share a bed since there were a shortage of them.

He apologized for not having an extra room like you always had before, but you didn't really mind. You trusted all the boys and knew they wouldn't do anything.

Semi and Tendou also shared the other bed, the three of them got changed since they began their practice before dinner and then bed.

You took your time getting situated, making sure to keep everything clean, before you too went to the gym to watch them.

After dinner the boys took turns taking a shower, currently Semi was taking his sweet time, while an uncomfortably sweaty Tendou sat on the floor in front of the door.

"I told you to shower after me." Ushijima called out to him, already telling him off.

"I didn't know he'd take this long." Tendou whines, banging his head on the door and Semi yelling at him to stop.

"Was that extra round in that game worth it?" You joked. “You didn’t even win!”

Tendou playfully glared at you, but he fell backwards since he was leaning on the door and Semi had finally got out.

"Dude, what the hell are you doing?" Semi curses, jumping back.

"I was waiting for you to get out! You take so long." Tendou sighs and shuts the door, the shower turned on immediately after that.

"You shouldn't have showered after me." Semi grumbles and lays in his bed.

"I literally told him that." Ushijima says and he too lays down. "I'm not making you uncomfortable am I?" He reassured.

"No, I'm good, really." You smiled.

He lets out a sigh of relief and gets inside the covers. You put your phone down on the nightstand, to charge, and turned off the lamp next to you.

You looked over to see Semi already passed out, snoring softly. "Goodnight." You politely say.

"Goodnight." Ushijima smiled to himself, he thanked to whoever was above that the light was off because he was sure that there was an obvious blush on his face. He was sleeping right next to his crush, the team would make fun of him tomorrow during warmups.

You faced away from him and he did the same. Sometime during the night you had gotten sick of sleeping on your right side, so you turned.

Ushijima had turned as well, he was slightly awake, you were so close to him, he could practically engulf you in a bear hug.

He accidentally put out his hand a little too far and it rested against your arm, you seemed to take the hint and scooted closer. He definitely wasn't expecting this—cuddling with his crush, in the same bed, at a training camp.

He tensed up and you immediately noticed, groggily you asked, "Is this okay?" His heart skipped a beat hearing your voice all raspy.

"Yes, are you?" He whispered. You hummed and snuggled in closer with him.

Now he was definitely going to be made fun of tomorrow, but that quickly slipped his mind as he began to think of ways to ask you out properly once the two of you got back from the camp.

*do not steal or plagiarize.

[im-in-love-with-pizza-bites]

Ranch Hand: Chapter 12

Farmer!Veteran!Bucky Barnes X Teen!Reader (Small town and Farmer AU)

Series MasterList

Series summary: You ran away from your nightmare of a family, you found a small town, population 200. In this town you meet a retired army veteran turned farmer who hires you as farm hand. Only mystery will you two be able overcome your pasts together.

Chapter Summary: Bucky starts getting ready for you.

Series Warnings: Mentions nightmares, Child abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, war, swearing, mentions death by cancer, mentions of alcohol and illegal substance abuse. please tell me if you see anymore!!! But do so politely please.

Chapter Warnings: Mentions foster care and foster parents

Divider: @skylightlantern

Bucky hasn't talked or seen you in a few days. You were successfully removed from your mom and stepdad's home. Your step dad was getting charged with, child abuse, assault, and driving under the influence. Your mom was being charged with, child abuse, child endangerment, and assault of a officer. She got into a little altercation with one of the cops, Joaquin Torres, who was arresting her. He's okay luckily just a little bruised luckily Sam, who as arresting your step dad jumped in to help Torres. Because this is a small town they normally only have one or two officers on duty at a time. Nothing too big happens here except bar fights and traffic stops.

On to other news, you're currently in a few towns over with a foster family until Bucky is able to take you in. He immediately started the process. Steve built you a bed, and then refurbished some old furniture for Bucky to use in your room. Bucky couldn't get his mind off of you, he had no clue where you were, and he hasn't got to talk to you. But Ms. Peters assured him that you're safe.

"Buck I need your help carrying the bed up." Steve says walking in. "Buck?"

"Huh? Sorry just thinking. Where is it?"

"In my truck, I took it apart but it's easy to rebuild." He looks at his friend concerned. He doesn't think Bucky should do this. He's having a hard time coming back to himself after the accident. Sure Steve has a hard time sometimes but Bucky, he knows Bucky deals with nightmares every night. Sure some aren't as bad and others but it still takes a toll on Bucky but he won't go to see someone. He knows your gonna be a little messed up in the head too, you probably also have PTSD he just doesn't want Bucky taking on more than he can handle.

"Okay lets get it upstairs then." Bucky said putting his work boots on. Steve follows him out to the truck before the get all the pieces into a small back bedroom. It's next door to Bucky's room. It was empty before, except a few boxes and Bucky's flag that he's been meaning to put on the mantle for month. It's was a beige but Bucky planned on repainting it when you moved in. He just needs it to have the basic necessities, bed, dresser, window closet, but Steve did draw a picture of the farm to hang up in your room.

"It looks good."

"Thank you for your help Steve."

"Of course man." He smiles at his friend.

———

You sigh walking down the stairs. These people were nice but you didn't want to be here. You knew no one, and you just wanted to see Bucky and the animal. You start school in a week and you're not ready, you won't no anyone there. You just want to be with people you know and trust. Luckily you can use your phone now. You had it turned off with the battery taken out of it when you were on the run. But now it's back on and you can text your friends.

You have your own room, and yeah it's nice having a bed, and being able to shower. But you don't have a bike, which you hope is still at Bucky's. Your dad bought you that bike a year before his death.

"Good morning." Your foster dad's, Nathan says smiling. He was a stay at home (foster) dad, currently in they have 2 foster kids, you included and their 2 kids.

"Morning." You mumble sitting at the kitchen table next to your foster sister, Phoebe.

"I talked to your caseworker she gave us the number of the guy who's going to foster you after us!" He says as he gives you the breakfast he made.

"You have bucky's number? Can I have it?" You perk up.

"Of course you can."

"Thank you." You smile. You put the number in your phone, deciding you'll call him later. You eat your breakfast in silence as your foster dad and the other children talk. "I'm going for a walk." You say before leaving the table. You out your shoes on and walked out. You looked at your phone as you walked down the street. You should call Bucky.

You click his contact before calling. You hope that he will answer. You need to hear his voice, you need to know that he's actually trying to foster you. You just need to know you can still depend on him. You don't like depending on people, it never ended well in the past, by you don't have a choice here.

"Yeah?" You smile hearing.

"Bucky? It's y/n/"

"Y/n! They gave you my number! Thank goodness I was really worried about you." Bucky says into the phone softly.

"Really?"

"Yeah. How's your foster home?"

"It's fine I guess, they're nice. But they're just I don't know they try to hard." You say.

"They just want you to be comfortable." He tries to assure.

"I know but I don't want to be here."

"Well then I have good news for you! I'm safety proofing the farm so I can be a foster parent!"

"Why would you have to safety proof if I'm the only person your fostering and I'm 14." You say confused.

"I don't know I chose not to question it. What color do you want your room?"

"I don't care."

"Beige it is! I didn't really want to paint it." He chuckles.

"Mhm. Bucky will you be there at the court hearing? Mrs. Peters said I have to testify against them. I don't want to be in the same room as them."

"Yeah I'll be there in the audience I promise." You smile to yourself as you sit on a bench at this random playground you found.

"Thank you."

"Of course. Steve built you a bed and refurbished a dresser for you. So you're room is almost done! Is until next week to get my house ready cause someone from Cps is going to come check it out."

"Do you think I'll be back in marvel falls before school starts?"

"Probably not. But Steve has a friend, Tony who's mentee is about your age, so maybe I can introduce you to him so you know someone." Bucky offers. "He's an okay guy, I guess but maybe he can introduce you to some people he's lived here his whole life."

"I guess I'll meet him."

"Okay I'll talk to Steve. I don't get along with Tony, so Steve will be a middle man."

"Okay buck I have to go bye."

"Bye Doll text me okay? And call me whenever."

"Okay."

Taglist: @rachaelswrites @killerqueenfan @lukajim @lrosenblut26 @worldssidechick @littleolive24 @mischiefsemimanaged @retiredfromglad @katopotato0 @xennityxen @bucky-boo-bear @thekillingjoke-haha @sunny-the-kitsune @i-have-no-life-charlie @tired-spider-siblings @buckymydarlingangel @ducks1011 @evans-stan-thirstthots @buckysbaaee @amorluzymelodia @hanainneverland @bxtchboy69 @wooya1224 @bubs-world @marvelbabes24 @its-sunflower-stardew @lil-mamas-stuff @ogmisslove @austynparksandpizza @wickedravyn @fluffy-bnny @yoruebeautiful @carmellasworld @icrytomuch @teddybear2luv @krissydclayton93 @devilslilbabysblog @masterof-agony @gamingdevil101 @holybatflapexpert @oceaniamaddness

[p-antomime]

Well...

Tw. Dubcon,cheating,drugging and kidnapping.

Izana is your bestfriend and stalker but we'll get to that ltr. Ur stupid husband always cheats on you, he loves u sm but yknow he loves the thrill of doing things that are wrong. So, everytime your husband does you wrong you go to your best friend crying because you think its your fault he cheated. Izana has had enough, despite wanting you all for himself he still wants you to be happy even if he only gets to see you from afar.. Izana had to teach ur husband a lesson. The next the Sanzu went to a club to get his dick wet, was the the moment hes going to strike. While sanzu was fucking another woman without a care in the world, he saw that his phone kept on flashing, he thought that it was you so he just ignored it. It wasnt, it was Izana taking pictures of you outside your window and you were preparing dinner izana thanked him for the oppurtunity to share his cute wife. The next text was a video, a black screen specifically it was your muffled moans crys it can be practicalky heard you wanted it to stop. It was too late when Sanzu saw the texts from izana (who uses a anon phone num he aint dum dum) He rushed back home, and to his horror, Sanzu found your passed out body on the floor. Littered with hickies and the ropes around your brusing your body. Haruchiyo for the first time felt what it was like to be in your shoes. He felt that this happened to his poor wife because he was a horrible husband. He puts you to sleep, but all he can do is stare and cry because your such a lovely girl and how could he do this to you. Morning came and to his suprise you dont rmbr anything izana gave you some pills to forget the whole event. Sanzu was loyal for the next few days, that is only few days. Because the next time he went to the club everything restarted. Izans coudnt stand his stupidity so he just whisked you away all together. When Sanzu was done, he felt a moment of fear. Everything was confirmed when he came home to a trashed house. He got a sense of dejavu. But this time your no longer in the house. The next morning, haru felt what it was like to not be greated by your warm prensense, and you asking hin to come back home safe "Arent you gonna ask me to come back home yn?" He asked the empty house, but to no response of course. At work bonten coudnt stand sanzu, esp mikey who is used to see him all crazy and shit. Mikey liked you, you treated him with kindess like emma did back then. So, he made a search for you while sanzu was still fighting his inner thoughts. While at izana house.. the days u were gone was everday that izana was making love to you telling how much he loves while in his delusion your crys for him to stop are moans of pleasure. Soon, bonten found you and sanzu never let you go. Soft make up sex yknow :"> but.. he found out you forgave izana for everything. Which soon harbored into an obbsession to always to keep you close ad never let you out of his sight.

I hope that this ok :">

🦋

BITCH I-I

I LITERALLY JUST WROTE A SOFT THING WITH GETOU AND HATE SEX WITH MEGUMI AND WHEN I COME BACK, YOU'RE HERE PRESENTING ME WITH A PIECE WITH DUB-CON AND IZANA AND HARUCHIYO

do you love me? no need to say, i think you do

i am speechless, the WOMAN IS TOO STUNNED TO SPEAK... 'cause i thought at first that izana wouldn't be able to get hands on the reader, yknow? i even thought haruchiyo would tape him and his pretty little wife having sex just to make izana jealous, but damn, your mind is much better, much more insightful than mine and that's why ilysm

and i BET MY SOUL that after sending the video of you moaning to sanzu, izana would whisper a "i love you so much, you love me too, don't you? of course you do" in your ear in the AUGE of his pure delusion

and angst with haruchiyo is an aesthetic that I NEVER WANT TO ABANDON! something flipped inside me when you mentioned "deja vu", I think it is my need to write hardcore smut with izana or just my hand itching at the moment to write haruchiyo crying in the rawest humanly possible way...

AND YOU ASKING IF THIS IS OKAY? IT IS MORE THAN OK, IT IS PERFECT!

[nightxlight9]

Inspired from birth ｜ Emptiness that you want to hug

Dialogue with the Bungei Prize-winning author.

Tono Haruka, who received the Akutagawa Prize (1) less than a year after the 2019 Bungei Prize (2), and Sakurai Atsushi, the frontman of BUCK-TICK, who continues to play an active role in music culture after their major debut in 1987 and who this September celebrated 33 years from that day. As if real father and son, as artists of different genres - what do they feel and get from coexistence? That which was not told before; what I always wanted to hear. Here, for the first time, is presented a dialogue that pushes creative boundaries.

ᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠ Resonant feelings

Sakurai: I didn’t think the day would come when we could talk like that. I am very grateful.

Tono: Likewise, thank you very much.

— Sakurai-san, when you read Tono-san’s novel, what impression did it leave on you?

Sakurai: Cultivation shocked me. Not in the sense that I didn’t like it - it is rather akin to art that I like to touch. Regarding the Catastrophe — thanks to the Cultivation I am tempered enough for Tono-sensei’s books; and even though there are a lot of hardcore scenes of sex and violence, it didn't shock me too much. While I was reading, he pulled me in and repulsed me - this both disturbed and soothed. Although it is rather ridiculous to describe my impressions of the novel that way.

Tono: It's hard to share your impressions, isn’t it?

Sakurai: After reading Catastrophe, the emptiness of the protagonist seems to leave an aftertaste. She resonates with the emptiness in me, as if I want to embrace something passionately — but there is nothing to embrace. The feeling was like that. I was the kind of child who started to really get into the festival after it was over. Not having fun in the midst of the fun, but thinking about it when it’s already over. And as I grew up, nothing changed. First and foremost, I come to terms with everything, so [for me] the “emptiness” of Tono-sensei’s novel was refreshing.

Tono: Many people mention the word “emptiness” (решите, что вам больше подходит — “emptiness” или “void”). And the main idea of Catastrophe speaks of “the emptiness of a new era”.

Sakurai: Tono-sensei gives the impression of a composed and calm person, and this is imposing on the main character. It seemed to me that the hero contains not only emptiness, but also a certain composure.

Tono: It’s a bit surprising to hear that Sakurai-san has an emptiness. I have listened to BUCK-TICK since elementary school and I think that this band has more of a well-established dark worldview rather than emptiness. Their world is original, which completely sets them apart from other bands, don’t you think?

Sakurai: Been listening since then, really? Thanks. I am very touched.

Tono: My work couldn’t be called bright either, so maybe [their music] subconsciously influenced me.

Sakurai: Dilettante question, but — The Cultivation and Catastrophe are not about personal experiences, they are a product of the imagination, right?

Tono: Yes, that’s right. I was not describing my own experience, but I designed and took everything from imagination. It is much more interesting to write, thinking about what you yourself have not experienced or what you don’t know about, because you can discover something new for yourself.

Sakurai: That is, before you start working, there is no fully-formed concept, it is formed step by step in the process of writing?

Tono: I sketch out something like a rough draft, but when I start writing, I move away from it, and the result is something completely different. It seems that I am writing it myself, and then suddenly something unexpected appears [in the text], which confuses and complicates everything, but this only makes it more interesting.

Sakurai: Something unexpected — for example?

Tono: In Catastrophe, there is a girl named Irori who gets scared at one point. Before starting the work, I thought about including a child somewhere. But when I was already writing, I surprised myself when, at an unexpected moment, she hid under the bed and watched the hero.

Sakurai: Yes, it happens. Could it be that the story itself is rejecting [the planned] in the process of writing? There are deviations from the original design, and in the end it turns out completely different. These changes are fun, it’s great.

ᅠ Life and art

Sakurai: Although not a first-person novel, do you have the same sudden madness and cruelty as the protagonist, Tono-sensei?

Tono: I think I’m a very decent person. I don’t fight people, I don’t stay up late. In that sense, the main character and I are completely different.

Sakurai: So this madness is purely imaginary?

Tono: It doesn’t really happen. This was not conceived in the characters, and yet from time to time they did things that should not have been done, or found themselves involved in unexpected events due to some minor misunderstandings. So I could, in the heat of the moment, do something rash. I still have some kind of crazy thing in me, and this could have affected the characters.

Sakurai: As I read it, it worried me if you were experiencing what you described, or if you are going to experience it in the near future. It was constantly spinning in my head. Perhaps it bothered [me] from a different point of view, not as a reader.

Tono: There is almost nothing from my life or personal experience in this work. The location of the Catastrophe is Keio University (3), and I also studied there. Is that the issue? I have not participated in such events and do not plan to. *laugh*

Sakurai: Thank goodness. *laugh*

Tono: It’s hard to make a story interesting just by describing how the characters sleep and go about their day, so you have to weave in some twists and turns.

Sakurai: There’s a font of worries in there. Very stimulating. Because of this, when I was already finishing it, it felt a little sad, because I wanted to read on, but it seemed that the end was close.

Tono: Of course, as the saying goes, “This is where everything ends”.

Sakurai: How would you, Tono-sensei, suggest to read [this book]?

Tono: How should I put it... I don’t want to impose on readers [thoughts] like “I wrote with this intent” or “This book needs to be read this way and that way”. I do not want to limit the potential interpretations. I would be happier if they read it on their own, calling it boring if it was boring, or interesting if it was interesting.

Sakurai: It's very courageous.

Tono: If I was debuting as a teenager, it might have been different. But since it happened when I was already 28 years old, I do not take readers’ reactions to heart and am not afraid of it.

Sakurai: II only recently came to this. Probably in my fifties, somewhere around the last three released albums. In my youth, I was still that little tyrant, digging in my heels, so that everything was my way. Now it all seems somewhat extreme. Now I think: “Listen as you like”.

Tono: Do you look up the listeners’ impressions?

Sakurai: I don’t want to worry about [reviews on] social media. Not in the sense of “I don't care,” but in the sense of “I don’t want to worry”. So personally, I am not involved in checking such things.

Tono: Well, I’m checking it. I’m trying to figure out, in general, how people read it. It doesn’t affect how I write, though.

Sakurai: Oh, just to confirm [your thoughts], correct? A sensible approach. Of course, in my case, there should be no paranoia at all. You start taking everything to heart and fears will arise, so it’s better not to get carried away.

Tono: Companies conduct surveys of who use their services, don’t they? It’s kind of like that. If all the experiences are completely different from my expectations, it is worth considering how I write.

Sakurai: A top-notch entrepreneur.

Tono: No, I’m a newbie. *laughter* Not a year has passed since my debut...

Sakurai: A very courageous newbie, from where I am looking.

[At our next meeting, I will already be

the winner of the Akutagawa Prize]

Sakurai: Last December he attended the BUCK-TICK concert in Yoyogi. Even before the Catastrophe was published in the magazine. After the performance, we were able to talk a little in the dressing room, and when he was just about to leave, Tono-sensei said, “By our next meeting, I will win the Akutagawa Prize”.

Tono: Ah, yes, he did. It was probably terribly immodest to say that. But if before you roll the dice you declare that it will come up six, and then it really comes up six, it seems that something amazing just happened, right? I wonder if they will ever say: “Just like he said”?

Sakurai: And the promise was fulfilled. It couldn’t be cooler. He was wearing a mask, so it was difficult for me to see his expression, but I saw that dazzling confidence.

Tono: I often say these things even if I haven’t finished my work yet.

Sakurai: It was the last push, right? Thank you for coming to the concert then.

Tono: How could I not? And the next concert will be the day after tomorrow (September 21*)? I bought a ticket.

Sakurai: Is that true? Wow, I am suddenly nervous.

Tono: Is this the first time you broadcast a concert online without an audience?

Sakurai: We performed without an audience at WOWOW once before, and I had no idea how much tension to expect. And a few days ago we had a film-concert shoot — in a large hall, without an audience. Of course, there was no applause or shouts of joy. After each song there is a complete silence.

Tono: Not very encouraging, right?

Sakurai: Right now I'm trying to get inspired by myself. Even now, during the coronavirus epidemic, there are many things you can get latch on to. I realized that even these days I can be on the same wavelength with the energy of my fans. It was not an ordinary feeling. You also can’t do autograph sessions and meetings with readers right now, correct?

Tono: Yes, there are no autograph sessions yet, and the conversations are taking place online. The Akutagawa and Naoki Awards (4) usually serve a lot of food, but this year there was no such thing, and the number of guests was limited.

Sakurai: Very sorry. Still, it must have been an amazing experience.

Tono: The day after tomorrow the sales of the new album “ABRACADABRA” will start, right? What does it look like finished?

Sakurai: After Tono-sensei debuted as a writer, we exchanged messages with him, and it gave me courage. Or if not courage, then determination to write and juggle words. I think it showed itself in the album. Perhaps I’ve managed to open - more precisely, to throw open the door to a vocabulary that I had not used before.

Tono: It seems to me as well, that you succeeded.

Sakurai: Moreover, now I have the strength to use those words.

Tono: Any desire to write a novel?

Sakurai: No way.

Tono: I would read it even if it was very short.

Sakurai: I think it would take an incredible effort from me.

Tono: You were writing song lyrics originally, correct?

Sakurai: Yes, I’m writing. Music has always been on my mind. Although in elementary school I was often praised for [written] reviews of what I have read.

Tono: It was exactly the opposite for me. I was completely unable to describe these impressions. I couldn’t even set it up.

Sakurai: This is amazing.

Tono: I couldn't understand what kind of impressions they were talking about. No matter what I read, everything seemed to me “Well, okay”, but you can’t call that an impression.

Sakurai: In some interview it was mentioned that you were a member of a band when you were at university.

Tono: It was a copy-band, there isn't much to talk about. But Cultivation has a character who plays drums in a band, so that experience influenced the novel.

Sakurai: I’m even a little happy.

Tono: I did a lot of things, but for the most part I gave it all up quickly, so writing is my longest-running occupation at the moment.

Sakurai: Since when have you been writing?

Tono: I started somewhere after I turned twenty, so it’s about seven or eight years old by now. I thought that being on the other side [of the book] was a completely different matter. Like, shouldn’t I become a creator myself and start giving shape to things? Perhaps BUCK-TICK influenced this in some way from the very beginning.

Sakurai: And then a novel ended up being written.

Tono: Yes.

— Did Sakurai-san know that Tono-san was writing a novel?

Tono: The first time I told him about it was when I won the 2019 Bungei Prize for my debut.

Sakurai: I’ve heard something [about this] since he graduated from university, but was amazed when he suddenly made his debut as a writer. However, I was looking forward to [the release of the book]. What kind of work will it be, could not wait to read it — something like that. And I was amazed a second time when Cultivation came out. How did you feel after finishing work on this novel?

Tono: I gained confidence and I decided that I could make it to the final round. I didn’t know, of course, how it would go in the future, if I would end up regretting it.

Sakurai: And he wrote to me about it.

Tono: Yes, that happened. I wrote “I got to the finals”. It was still cooler to report this after receiving the award.

Sakurai: And the coolness of the statement that “next time I meet I will be the winner of the Akutagawa Prize” then went off the charts.

Tono: This is just the beginning.

Different hobbies, same tastes

— This year BUCK-TICK celebrated 33 years from the date of their debut — without breaking up or changing membership of the group. What is the secret of such longevity?

Sakurai: Patience. Group work requires patience. The others and I, by the way, we often say this. But it seems to me that writers are have it more difficult in terms of moral, because they work alone. You have to evaluate yourself. When you are in a group, there is always someone who will express their opinion.

Tono: Perhaps so.

Sakurai: The writers of the old days appear to us to be some kind of alcoholics and drug addicts, down on their luck, with a ruined life — but now people are different.

Tono: In our era, being a writer, you can support yourself with more than just creativity, so in this sense the profession is more reliable than before. And I don’t drink much at all. And you, Sakurai-san, drink a lot, right?

Sakurai: Yes. I am one of those who seek salvation in alcohol. *laughter*

Tono: By the way, do you still read lots of novels?

Sakurai: Recently I reread Mishima Yukio again (5). And also [books] by Numata Mahokaru-san (6) and Taguchi Randi-san (7).

Tono: You’ve loved Mishima Yukio for the longest time, right?

Sakurai: Yes, quite true. It's not just about books — I’ve watched YouTube videos about Mishima Yukio and Kawabata Yasunari (8), and they really are very interesting people.

Tono: I haven’t read Yukio Mishima at all. My preferences in literature are very different.

Sakurai: What is your favorite writer, Tono-sensei?

Tono: When I was just starting to think about the novel, I had no idea how to write, and started by imitating the prose of Natsume Soseki (9). Have you read it?

Sakurai: I love his Heart very much. But now you probably don’t have time to read.

Tono: Right. But they often say that you need to read more, so I think about it anyway. Sakurai-san, do you study other artists’ music?

Sakurai: I’m a slob, so I’m not really up to date, so to speak. But good things still find their way to me. I can catch it on the radio when I’m driving, or hear it somewhere by accident. The youth of today like Kaze-san Fujii (10), don’t they?

Tono: Wow. A bit surprising.

Sakurai: You probably like something harsher, right?

Tono: I love King Gnu (11). Mentioned this in an interview for the monthly Bungei Shunju (12). Many were surprised that the music favored by young people and the traditional image of the Akutagawa Prize are not related.

Sakurai: King Gnu is great. I bought their CD as well. Just like that, I found out about King Gnu when I accidentally heard them. They have such an interesting lead singer.

Tono: Iguchi Satoru-san is interesting, yes. On Twitter, I would send links to [my] videos to anyone, even to the Pope himself. And when I appeared at Music Station, I stunned everyone with my descent down the stairs.

Sakurai: Showed up wearing sandals, yeah. *laughter* Do you watch a lot of TV?

Tono: From time to time. I saw your collab with Shiina Ringo-san at Music Station. “Elopers” is a great song, very powerful.

Sakurai: Really? I am very happy.

You can't lie to yourself

Sakurai: Has the third work been written yet?

Tono: Yes. The events transpire in an institution that raises people with supernatural abilities. The main character attents it along with the rest, tries to awaken superpowers in himself, but since he does not possess them, he gets no progress. This is the story I am writing. It will differ from the two previous works in meaning.

Sakurai: Is there a deadline?

Tono: I want to submit it to the editors by early next year. You, Sakurai-san, also have deadlines, right?

Sakurai: I have deadlines, of course. Release and tour dates might be pre-determined and songs should be worked on accordingly. And I will stubbornly work on them until they tell me: “That’s it, you can't put things off any longer”. However, I still try to keep within the appointed time.

Tono: Are there any serious challenges when you work?

Sakurai: It's very difficult to work when I’m drained. If you try to force something out of yourself, you get only lies, and then it turns out that you are insincere with yourself and with others. You can’t lie to yourself. But with a bit of personal experience and imagination, on the other hand, you can make very good progress.

Tono: You have to rewrite everything a lot, right?

Sakurai: Depends on the song. Sometimes I have to rewrite over and over again, and sometimes I write the first word that comes to my mind and everything is ready. Most often, some kind of shape may emerge first. How is it with you, Tono-sensei?

Tono: More often than not, I have one scene at the beginning, and I start writing based on it. At that time, I do not yet know how the story will develop, I have only scattered fragments, and as they are combined and edited, I am finally getting the feeling that the world of of this work is acquiring its finished form. By the way, I had some trouble coming up with a name for Cultivation, and I was given one piece of advice, do you recall?

Sakurai: Ah, yes, but in my opinion, it was not very good...

Tono: When I asked “How do you come up with names?”, You replied, “It should express the essence, but at the same time cover the whole thing. That word would fit the best”.

Sakurai: Wow, I put it remarkably well. And [I said that] to the future Akutagawa Prize winner, such arrogance. *laughter*

Tono: Even though I didn’t really understand how to apply this advice in practice, I still relied on it.

Sakurai: Cool title, isn’t it? Even though I said there were some disturbing moments when I was reading Cultivation for the first time, I think it read very cleanly. For example: “To my delight, I managed to look great. <…> I just wanted to be beautiful” — here, as it seemed to me, the words are very good - fresh and clear, without unnecessary embellishments.

(2020.09.19)

Sakurai Atsushi, musician. Vocalist Buck-Tick. 66 years of birth. New job: 「ABRACADABRA」

Tono Haruka, writer, winner of the Akutagawa and Bungei awards

END

[theonlygamergost]

Inside the locker(part 1/3)-fd!au

This fanfiction is based on the Family Dynamic au made by @antarctic-bay, if you would like to know more, go check them out!!!

Also please bear in mind that the things written in this might not be canon!

(Also English is not my main language! So sorry for any grammatical error UwU)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Techno’s good grades are the pride of every teacher, yet some students can get  jelous...and take it too far...

(Had to devide this fanfiction on more parts to avoid having a very long post!)

Warnings!: Angst, bullying, swearing, fluff (eventually) 

Hope you enjoy! :3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next part--->

Banging on the door of the locker wasn't working, no one could hear him either way. The school was silent, empty, and as the lights turned off, Techno knew that the only thing he could have done, even if it was cold and uncomfortable, was snuggle in his hoodie and, at least try, to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Techno's geometry class finished late, the professor got carried away and kept them all in class ten minutes more than he should have, using the classic excuse "I am the teacher and I decide when class is over! Not the bell!", it has happened to everyone, let's be honest, and we all hated it.

He had already gotten a couple of messages because of it, one from Tommy, asking if he had to wait for him to get back home, which he replied that there was no need to, and one from Skeppy, asking him if he was down to go get something to eat, which he replied with a polite decline since he was tired.

As he was placing a textbook he didn't need in his locker, he noticed how few people were in the halls at this time, he always left this place as soon as he could, as most students did after all.

But as he was about to close the locker's door, his backpack was yanked off of him, making him yelp and turn around.

Three students with a mischievous grin on their faces greeted him: 

"Hey TechnoNerd! Not surprised to see you here so late, I'm sure that you love staying here, do you?" The three laughed, making Techno slightly angry.

"Give me my backpack, please" you could tell by his tone that he was annoyed, but the bullies weren't here to fight.

They were the only ones left in the hall now.

"Since you love school so much, why don't you stay the night here?" Techno was confused at his phrase. Staying the night here? What are they talking about? That's not possible... or so he thought.

But he couldn't think anymore as they shoved him in his locker, closing the door, laughing. "Enjoy spending the night in there NERD!!!" one of them yelled as they left, making sure no one was around to help him.

"NO- WAIT! L-LET ME OUT! SOMEONE! PLEASE!!!" he banged on the door screaming, using all his energy, just for no one to reply.

His throat went dry from the screaming, his arms got tired after banging on the locker for too much.

This HAD to be a sick joke right! ...

...Right?

Deep down, he knew this wasn't a joke... he knew they weren't coming back...He knew he was spending the whole night in there...God... his brothers were going to get worried sick for him...

Then, he noticed his backpack was gone.

Fuck... my phone was in there...

He realized as he searched his pockets.

His brothers were going to panic... oh no Phil was going to lose it... but there was nothing...absolutely nothing he could have done...

Apart from waiting

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the Pandel household, Phil had come back home early and was cooking dinner, meanwhile, Tommy and Wilbur were playing Super Smash Bros on the switch the brothers bought for Tommy's birthday.

They were actually fifty dollars off... but on the following day, they magically appeared. Wilbur thinks that Phil gave up his savings to buy a new phone and added the money that was needed and Phil think that it was Wilbur who gave up the small amount he gained working at his weekend job.

It was actually Techno who, in the middle of the night, sneaked in the money he won off of bets against Skeppy. He never told anyone about it.

"AH HA! SUCK IT WILBUR! I WON AGAIN!"

"YOU WON ONLY BECAUSE YOU ARE PLAYING PALUTENA YOU SIMP!"

"Calm down boys, the neighbours don't need to know that".

Tommy had won for the third time in a row, and yes, he was good at the game, but spamming neutral aerial on Palutena was more annoying than skilful.

"I'm not a simp! You are just jealous I am better than you!" "Spamming is better than combos? Let me play Mr Game & Watch then!" The two continued arguing as Phil was trying to hold back his laughter, the two brothers arguing were a hilarious sight.  

Talking about his younger brothers... where was Techno?

It was almost dinner time and Techno never stayed out late, it wasn't his thing. Every now and then he would go out with his friends and come back a little bit later... but he would always warn him in advance.

This time, there were no texts, no calls, no warnings... it was genuinely worrying him.

"Has Techno told you anything about coming home late?" The two were focused on their game as Wilbur just answered "nope" and Tommy replied him "He was late after school so he told me not to wait for him to take the bus, don't know anything else" without taking his eyes off of the screen, cursing at Wilbur under his breath so Phil couldn't hear.

Worried, Phil picked up his phone and called Techno's number, putting it on his speakerphone so he could keep cooking:

Beep...beep...beep...beep... the number you are trying to reach is unavailable, please leave a message after the-  

He stopped the call, the living room became quiet... he wasn't answering...

He tried calling him again:

Beep...beep...beep...beep... the number you are trying to reach is unavailable, plea-

And again...

Wilbur paused the game to listen for a reply.

Beep...beep...beep...beep... the number you are trying t-

...and again

Beep...beep...beep...beep... the num-

Where was Techno?

...

In a locker, crying. Helpless...

And scared

[eleathyra-art]

Review by Jô P.: Fragments of your Soul by E. S. Erbsland

“Life gave Arvid a lemon, and she made a  Caipirinha.”

(The original review is in Portuguese, so below is a google translate version in English. Original far below, and link to the source here.)

The review:

Good Morning! I'm not one to comment or create posts... But I stayed up until 03:00 in the morning, reading Fragments of Your Soul.

I want to thank the PL and Shifters teams. Well I'll try to make a brief review, without spoilers. From now on, forgive me if I write or type something wrong. I only slept 3 hours tonight... Anyway, let's go.

Is the book worth reading? YEA! MUCH!

Is the book too big? YEA! But I guarantee you all: no page or scene is unnecessary.

Do you have hot scenes? Few.

It's romantic? It depends on what each reader means by romantic.

Does it have a happy ending? oh! This is the cat's jump!!!! What is happiness? Guimarães Rosa says that "...happiness, we find it in times of chance." AND? READ TO UNDERSTAND.

I'll try to explain...The book follows the structure of ALL books that recreate, or create new mythologies. Anyone who has read Tolkien, Lewis, Frank Herbert will understand. I think it follows the structure of Scandinavian sagas (beowulf type), but I could be wrong...

When I started reading the book I realized where the plot was going: first, the protagonist, Arvid is introduced in her world. His characteristics, mainly psychological (interesting that in her case, the physical doesn't matter, because we'll be very interested in Loke's physical characteristics, and only later, we'll notice his emotional characteristics....). Then how she ended up in the Shadow World. Then the Arvid saga begins: learning to live in a new world, new customs, new languages, finding a way to return to the World of Light. With that, we see her interacting with the other characters.

Eventually, we meet the antagonist, who is also the protagonist (read!). But we're STILL focused on Arvid's new life and the challenges and heartaches she has to go through. Halfway through the book we realize that NOTHING is what it seems, and the story shifts focus and we begin to follow Arvid and Loke's interaction. And from then on I can't say anything else, because I'll give spoilers.

But why is the book good? Because despite dealing with legends, myths, supernatural beings, all characters are in the same struggle as us: earning a living, getting a job, going to college, paying the bills, falling in love with the wrong person, falling in love with the person right, wrong with the right person, right with the wrong person, and, above all, live with every act and choice of everyday life. We've all done things we regret. We've all regretted that we didn't do some things. And we've all had to close the past and understand that when we make a decision, we must back it up and learn to put an end to what's over. And moving on, even when we're finished physically, emotionally, because the world won't stop because we're sad, desperate, or in mourning. The world goes on. The pain is ours but the happiness is also ours. That's why I liked the book: life gave Arvid a lemon and she made a caipirinha out of it. She did what she had to do, with what she could do at that moment. And Loke, the god of Chaos, was what he was: the chaos we all carry inside of us: unfulfilled wishes, or very well-fulfilled wishes that took us the wrong way.

I warn you here: Loke is straight-forward. Many will be bothered by things and revelations about them. I read it myself and said: what is it like? But keep an open mind. Accept the God of Chaos without prejudice. We all have a dark, chaotic little place inside us. Anyone who has done psychoanalysis knows what I'm talking about.

Loke represents the unconscious... Arvid the conscious. Only in this book, the id is stronger. It's up to Arvid to bring the balance... Have you read The Power of Myth? The Hero with a Thousand Faces? These books tell us that we are all on a lonely journey in search of ourselves. When we put together the fragments of our souls, we are whole and we can love each other and love each other. So... we can say that Arvid and Loke, each in their own way, were on a lonely journey that, at some point, they found each other. What were 2 paths merged into one. And they knew how to appreciate the beauty of this meeting, transforming the 2 paths into a single one...

For me, the ending is VERY ROMANTIC and the book is worth it. Insist. Read a different book. Books like that are good for the soul. They bring our fragments together and make us whole, with a smile on our lips, because in the end, we realize that we all just want the hope of being happy. I don't pretend to sound cultured, erudite, nor am I a psychologist/psychoanalyst, but this book reminded me of so many things I learned about psychoanalysis!

Loke is not immoral or chaotic: he is what he is. Someone with his power (shifter and that's the only spoiler I'm going to give) can appreciate life, sex, nature, in a way that we mere humans would never understand. What for us is immoral, chaotic, dirty, perverse, for him, is a fragment of his own soul. I believe his emotions are very basic. He kills because he can, he has sex and falls in love (in many ways - READ) simply because he can. That's why he's all emotion (ID).

As for Arvid, the human, theoretically like all of us, could do the same: kill, love, whatever. But what prevents and prevents us is the deep moral sense and innate charity (EGO). Not that Arvid is a completely rational being. She is passionate, violent and loyal. But her moral sense is what Loke lacks, and Loke's self-centeredness is what Arvid lacks. In other words: a soul is a jigsaw puzzle of fragments of light and shadows, of morality and immorality. Of good thoughts, and perverted thoughts. Of purity and perversity. Of goodness and badness. What makes us human is the ability to know that everyone has a light within them, even when we only see apparent darkness. Arvid saw the light within Loke and Loke saw the darkness within Arvid. Accepting this in yourself and in others is the great adventure of life.

But, more than that, I believe the great lesson of the book is: HAPPINESS IS A DAILY FIGHT. There is no such thing as an entirely happy period. Over 24 hours a day, we experience good, bad, bad, stressful, because life is like that. Alongside the passionate kiss of his partner (o), there is the perrengue of not having money to buy the shoe; beside the job approval, there is the hassle of waking up at 5 am to take the bus. That's life. It's knowing how to live: knowing when to invest with everything for a dream and when to put a stone on the subject, because the subject is over. That's Arvid's great virtue: knowing when to insist and when to give up. This is the lesson that we should take for life... because the subject is over. That's Arvid's great virtue: knowing when to insist and when to give up. This is the lesson that we should take for life... because the subject is over. That's Arvid's great virtue: knowing when to insist and when to give up. This is the lesson that we should take for life. Review of Jô P.

Original Portuguese text:

Bom dia! Não sou de comentar ou criar posts....Mas fiquei acordada até às 03 horas da manhã, lendo Fragments of Your Soul. Quero agradecer às equipes do PL e do Shifters . Bom vou tentar fazer uma breve resenha, sem dar spoilers. Desde já, me perdoem se eu escrever ou digitar algo errado. Dormi só 3 horas essa noite....Enfim, vamos lá. O livro vale a pena ser lido? SIM! MUITO! O livro é muito grande? SIM! Mas eu garanto a todas vocês: nenhuma página ou cena é desnecessária. Tem cenas hot? Poucas. É romântico? Depende do que cada leitor entende por romântico. Tem final feliz? ah! Esse é o pulo do gato!!!! O que é felicidade? Guimarães Rosa diz que "...felicidade, a gente encontra em horas de acaso." E? LEIAM PARA ENTENDER. Vou tentar explicar...O livro segue a estrutura de TODOS os livros que recriam, ou criam novas mitologias. Quem leu Tolkien, Lewis, Frank Herbert, vai entender. Eu acho que ele segue a estrutura das sagas escandinavas (tipo Beowulf), mas posso estar enganada...Quando comecei a ler o livro eu percebi onde o enredo ia levar: em primeiro lugar, a protagonista, Arvid é apresentada em seu mundo. Suas características, principalmente psicológicas (interessante que no caso dela, o físico não importa, porque vamos ficar muito interessadas nas características físicas do Loke, e só depois, vamos reparar nas características emocionais dele....). Depois, como ela foi parar no Mundo das Sombras. Daí começa a saga da Arvid: aprender a viver num mundo novo, costumes novos, línguas novas, achar um jeito de voltar para o Mundo da Luz. Com isso, vemos ela interagindo com os outros personagens. Lá pelas tantas, conhecemos o antagonista, que também é protagonista (leiam!). Mas AINDA estamos centrados na nova vida de Arvid e os desafios e tristezas pelos quais ela tem que passar. Na metade do livro percebemos que NADA é o que parece, e a história muda de foco e começamos a acompanhar a interação de Arvid e Loke. E a partir daí eu não posso falar mais nada, porque vou dar spoilers. Mas por que o livro é bom? Porque apesar de tratar de lendas, mitos, seres sobrenaturais, todos os personagens estão na mesma luta que nós: ganhar o pão de cada dia, conseguir trabalho, entrar na faculdade, pagar as contas, se apaixonar pela pessoa errada, se apaixonar pela pessoa certa, errar com a pessoa certa, acertar com a pessoa errada, e, principalmente, conviver com cada ato e escolha do dia a dia. Todos nós já fizemos coisas das quais nos arrependemos. Todos nós já nos arrependemos de não termos feito algumas coisas. E todos nós já tivemos que encerrar o passado e entender que quando tomamos uma decisão, devemos bancá-la e aprender a colocar um ponto final no que acabou. E a seguir em frente, mesmo quando a gente está acabado fisicamente, emocionalmente, porque o mundo não vai parar porque estamos tristes, desesperados, ou em luto. O mundo continua. A dor é nossa mas a felicidade também é só nossa. É por isso que eu gostei do livro: a vida deu um limão pra Arvid e ela fez uma caipirinha com ele. Ela fez o que tinha que fazer, com o que dava pra fazer naquele momento. E Loke, o deus do Caos, era o que era: o caos que todos nós carregamos dentro de nós: desejos não realizados, ou desejos muito bem realizados que nos levou para o lado errado. Já aviso aqui: Loke é direto na fala. Muitos vão se incomodar com as coisas e revelações sobre eles. Eu mesma lia e falava: como é que é? Mas tenham a mente aberta. Aceitem o Deus do Caos sem preconceitos. Todos nós temos um lugarzinho escuro e caótico dentro de nós. Quem já fez psicanálise sabe do que eu estou falando. Loke representa o inconsciente....Arvid o consciente. Só que nesse livro, o id é mais forte. Cabe a Arvid trazer o equilíbrio.....Vocês já leram O Poder do Mito? O Herói de Mil Faces? Esses livros nos dizem que todos nós estamos numa jornada solitária em busca de nós mesmos. Quando juntamos os fragmentos de nossas almas, ficamos inteiros e podemos nos amar e amar o outro. Então...podemos dizer que Arvid e Loke, cada um a seu jeito, estavam numa jornada solitária que, em algum momento, se encontraram. O que eram 2 caminhos se fundiram em um. E eles souberam apreciar a beleza desse encontro, transformando os 2 caminhos em um único....Para mim, o final é MUITO ROMÂNTICO e o livro vale a pena. Insistam. Leiam um livro diferente. Livros assim fazem bem pra alma. Juntam os nossos fragmentos e nos tornam inteiros, com um sorriso nos lábios, porque no final, percebemos que todos nós só queremos a esperança de sermos felizes. Não tenho a pretensão de parecer culta, erudita, e nem sou psicóloga/psicanalista, mas esse livro me lembrou tantas coisas que eu aprendi sobre psicanálise! Loke não é imoral ou caótico: ele é o que é. Alguém com o poder dele (metamorfo e esse é o único spoiler que eu vou dar), pode apreciar a vida, o sexo, a natureza, de uma maneira que nós, meros humanos, jamais compreenderíamos. O que para nós é imoral, caótico, sujo, perverso, para ele, é um fragmento da própria alma. Eu acredito que as emoções dele são muito básicas. Ele mata porque pode matar, ele faz sexo e se apaixona (de diversas maneiras - LEIAM), simplesmente porque ele pode. Por isso ele é todo emoção (ID). Já a Arvid, a humana, teoricamente como todos nós, poderia fazer o mesmo: matar, amar, sei lá. Mas o que a impede e nos impede é o profundo senso moral e a caridade inata (EGO). Não que a Arvid seja um ser completamente racional. Ela é apaixonada, violenta e leal. Mas o senso moral dela é o que falta em Loke, e o egocentrismo de Loke é o que falta em Arvid. Ou seja: uma alma é um quebra-cabeça de fragmentos de luz e sombras, de moralidade e imoralidade. De bons pensamentos, e pensamentos pervertidos. De pureza e perversidade. De bondade e maldade. O que nos torna humanos é capacidade de saber que todos tem uma luz dentro de si, mesmo quando só vemos a escuridão aparente. Arvid viu a luz dentro de Loke e Loke viu a escuridão dentro de Arvid. Aceitar isso em si mesmo e no outro, é a grande aventura da vida. Mas, mais do que isso, eu creio que a grande lição do livro é: A FELICIDADE É UMA LUTA DIÁRIA. Não existe um período inteiramente feliz. Ao longo de 24 horas do dia, passamos por sensações boas, ruins, péssimas, estressante, porque a vida é assim mesmo. Ao lado do beijo apaixonado da companheira (o), tem o perrengue de não ter dinheiro pra comprar o sapato; ao lado da aprovação no emprego, tem a chatice de acordar às 05 horas pra pegar o ônibus. A vida é isso. É saber viver: saber quando investir com tudo por um sonho e quando colocar uma pedra no assunto, porque o assunto acabou. Essa é a grande virtude da Arvid: saber quando insistir e quando desistir. Essa é a lição que deveríamos levar para a vida..... Resenha da Jô P.

[honeybeewriter]

Angel in disguise

Chapter 2: The New Girl

AN:So this is way at the start of MHA, back at USJ. So we are in it for the long haul. I hope you enjoy chapter two of Angel in disguise. All feed back and comments are welcomed and loved!!

Word count: 2.4k

Who was he? Was it one of kyoka’s friends? His eyes were so beautiful, No No NO distractions (y/n)! You have to focus on your grades, no time for boys!! Your eyes focus on nothing as you walk alongside Power Loader, who is talking about his class and what to expect. A sudden finger snapping in front of your face startles you out of your trance. “(l/n) are you even listening? Geez you're much like mei hatsume, always off in their own little world.” The ginger sighed, shaking his head in shame. “But that's quite alright, if you are anything like her than your a hard worker.”

You quickly bounced back from your daydreaming “Sir all with respect, I was number one in my class. So I can guarantee i'm a hard worker, after all, failure is the key to improving.” Your eyes firm as you watch the floor under your feet. It felt like forever you’ve been walking. Suddenly an arm swings out in front of you as a rather large explosion races out a door. “HATSUME!!” Power Loader growled as he made his over to the girl. 

The salmon hair girl jumps up, this must be mei hatsume.. You thought as you watched your teacher chew her out. “Power loader sensia, I'm sorry for the mess but my precious just needs fine tuning! That's all!!” She chatters on for a bit until spotting you, rushing to you in a heartbeat “You must be the transfer student!!! I'm Hatsume please meetcha!!”  She spoke in a cheerful voice her hand extended to yours, you take her hand shaking it with vigor. “Im (L/n) (Y/n) ‘It’s very nice to meet you”

You meet the rest of the class H, already molding into the small classes family like system. Things were looking super! Filling out paperwork wasn't too bad. Looking among your new class your heart swells with fulfillment, this is where you were meant to be. The smell of smoke and grease, the sounds of metal on metal and the roar of the welder. Everything seemed to be falling into place. You sat at your table with Mei, listening to her ramble about her latest baby. 

-

-

No one in the bakusquad had said anything yet, as soon as they got into the classroom, kaminari was already asking questions “Who was that new cutie with the wings? Is she a new student? Can i have her number?” Jiro stabs the bouncy electric boy with her earjacks shushing him quickly “Kami, stop she’s the girl i mentioned the other week , the exchange student from america, she's my host sister.” Jiro sighed as she explained to the squad not just kaminari. Kirishima and Mina were gushing over the addition to the squad. 

Bakugou was off in daydream land, very uncommon for the blasty boy. Kirishima nudged him, knocking him from his thoughts and let out a ‘OI’ before eyeing everyone who was making goo goo eyes, teasing him over the fact he was spaced out. 

“Oooo looks like bakugou has a crush!!” chimed mina “I saw him staring at her like a pedazo de caramelo” (piece of candy) Sero added into the conversation ‘damn it what did he say’ Bakugou's eye twitched as he reached his limit. “WHAT DID YOU SAY, LOSERS I’LL BLAST YOU ALL TO HELL!” he growled, but Aizawa entered the classroom with a scowl “Bakugou is there a problem” His scarf hovering with a small red glow coming from the older male. 

“Now that we are focused, first, I want to mention tomorrow we will be heading to the U.S.J, It's a facility that specializes in search and rescue. Now onto today's lesson” Aizawa turns to the board and begins his lesson plan, midoriya mumbles filling the quiet room. The teacher turns around shooting a glare to the green haired boy, who stops with a soft apology. 

The bell for lunch rings throughout the prestigious school halls. The classes spilled from their rooms, the chatter of the students grew loud, and kinda nerve racking, there were so many unfamiliar faces. You chewed your lip as you stood alone in the doorway of classroom H, ‘maybe i should just eat in here.. Wait that red hair! I remember that hair!! Maybe kyoka is with them!’  As you thought, jiro comes through the sea of students, with a frown. Behind her you see the same group as this morning. Your wings shuffle behind you as you waved to kyoka. 

Jiro waved back and motioned you to come along, and you quickly made your way over; holding onto her backpack like a lost child. Something you had always done with your mother. Your memories flooded back as you zoned out the chatter of everyone 

“Mommy?!” you hiccuped as you wander the crowded mall, you have gotten separated from your mother. A small 10 year old wanders around the mall calling out for her mother “Mommy!!” Tears bubble in your eyes as you finally sit down and sob. On goers just pass you, not paying any mind to you.  Your wings twitch and fluff around your shoulders trying to keep others out. 

After what felt like hours, a pair of familiar arms scoops up your tired body “Oh angel cake! There, there, momma has you now. It's okay baby.. Momma is so sorry.” Your mother nuzzles your cheek, tears in her own eyes. Mother was so scared that she had lost her little angel. You clutched onto her shirt with a vice grip, your wings shivering. From that point on you always held onto your mother's hand or pants leg. 

Your mind returned to reality as kyoka patted your hand “Hey, I'm going to get some food, anything you see that you like?” She asked with a soft smile. Your eyes wandered the bar of food, finally landing on some rice cakes. “Rice cakes sound pretty good.” Your wings ruffle at the thought of the yummy treat. Kyoka nods and sets you down at the squads table. 

Kirishima, Mina, Kaminari, Sero, and bakugou were already seated and had food. While you were spaced out jiro had pulled over to the side until you zoned back in, so you wouldn't have been frightened by sudden questions from the squad. 

“So what’s your name!” Kirishima grinned “OMG kiri so rude! We should introduce ourselves first!!” Mina squealed before clearing her voice with a cough. 

“Im Mina!” Mina smiles as the rest of the group follows

 “Im Kirishima! It's nice to meet you!”

 “Im Sero.”

“Im Kaminari but you can call me anytime!” Kaminari’s flirting earned him a jab in the shoulder from Mina “owie!! Not cool” Mina shoots a glare towards bakugou who was off was looking off in a different direction. “And that loser is bakugou! His bark is worse than his bite.” That got his attention, nearly snapping his neck as he shoots daggers at the bubbly pink girl “What did you say!!” His eyes drifted over to you. ‘Tsk’  You gave him a soft wave as he turned to his food. “Im (L/n) I’m in class H” 

With that the questionnaire started:

“Is it true you're from america?” 

“Yes!” 

“What's your quirk?” 

“I make objects from my arms.” 

“What about your wings?” 

“They are cosmetic, i was born with them but they are too weak for me to use them” 

“Can i have your num-” 

Before kaminari could finish his sentence jiro stabs him with an earphone jack. “Down boy!” She growled as she sat down next to you. “Here you go, (F/n) “ jiro hands you a small plate with a few rice cakes with some greens. “Yall stop pestering her, she just flew in this morning.” Jiro jabs chopsticks at the group. In a small whisper “kyoka it’s okay i don’t mind.” You gave her a soft smile when she looked at you with the ‘Are you sure’ look. 

Bakugou watches you from the side, laughing and chatting with his frie- extras. Maybe you wouldn't be so bad. He thought as he chewed mindlessly on his hot meal that his mother packed. His mind wandered ‘those wings could be used in defense or attack if she learned.. She mentioned she could make objects, maybe it’s like ponytail’s quirk’  his thought stopped as the bell for class to return rung. He silently growled as he got up with his tray shoving off his friends not bothering to wait for them. 

Mina and kyoka walk you back to classroom H. Mina was first to part to head back to class 1-A, Kyoka staying behind to talk to you “everything going okay so far (f/n)?” She asked as she straightened your tie, “Yes! Everything is going wonderfully! Oh! You better hurry back to class we can talk after school!!” You gave your host sister a warm smile as she began to walk back to her own classroom.

-

-

-

-

After school you and Kyoka meet back at the bus stop along with the squad. You end up exchanging numbers with mina, sero, kirishima and kaminari. Mina would give you bakugou's number over text since he had already started his way home. You wave goodbye to your new friends out the bus window, then turning to kyoka. “Today was amazing!! My classmates are so fun! They understand me and make me feel so welcomed!” you gushed happily to kyoka, who wore a smile as she listened. After awhile the bus came to their stop. Both exiting the bus and heading inside the home. 

Mika and kyotoku sat at the kitchen table, Mika reading a casual book as kyotoku scrolled on his phone, waiting for the two kids. “Mom, dad we’re home!” Kyoka called out as you both took off your shoes. “Hey kiddos! How was school!?” Kyotoku beamed as he looked up from his phone, swinging his arm over his chair. “It was amazing!! I met kyoka’s friends and my classmates are so fun!! I really like U.A!” You respond happily. Both mika and kyotoku smiled as you talked about your day “that’s wonderful, dear. Now are you kids hungry?” Mika asked as she stands up, tying her apron around her waist 

“Kinda.” kyoka says going to the pantry to look for some sort of food. “Also tomorrow class 1-A is going to the U.S.J building for search and rescue training. I should be pretty good at that!” Kyoka pulls down some bowls of ramen, “(y/n) would you like some ramen. Mom makes its really well!” she exclaimed “Hell yeah she does! Mika is an amazing cook!” Kyotoku adds in. “well if she has two five star reviews.. Of course!!” You laugh as mika flusters from the attention. 

“Haha you two didnt have to put me on spot like that!” Mika smiled as she placed a large pot on the stove filling it with broth and veggies. “You two go chance and relax, i'll call you when it’s ready” She gave you both a gentle smile. You and kyoka both go to your rooms and change from the uniform, of course you struggle a bit with your wings but you manage to pull off the garment. You look at your phone as you tug down your tank top. Oh its mina! You pulled up your phone.

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                                                     Mina

Hey girl! Here is bakugou’s # (xxx-xxx-xxxx) 

                                       Oh thank you mina! Are you sure he doesnt mind?

Naaah he might snap and call us names                                                           But he loves us, his ego is just too big lol 

                                                                                       Oh okay lol! Thanks!

-------

You entered in the number that mina gave you and shot him a quick message to let him know that it was you. 

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                                                      Bakugou

Hey! Its (L/N)! Mina gave me your #. 

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Bakugou pulls his shirt up as he wipes the sweat from his face, a ping from his phone catches his attention. Now he might be an asshole but he will look at their group chats and individual messages. He tsked as he set you to his contacts 

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                                                      New extra 

Hey! It’s (L/N)! Mina gave me your #.

                                                           Whatever Extra. Just stay out of my way 

---------

You chuckled as you read his text, not minding it much, kyoka and mina both warning you that he was a hothead and focused on being number one hero.

 Your view of heroes was 50/50. Yeah they helped but a lot of american heroes were greedy and selfish, only doing it for the money. You remembered when young All Might visited america. Even if you were just five, he changed your view on heroes, you wanted to grow up and be like all might. But when your wings were dubbed premature, that did slow down your dream. Once you found out your quirk was truly making things, your dad filled your head with dreams of being a support hero. Making items for heroes, it's not as flashy as being a hero; but you're still helping the people and heroes. So its a dream in the making! 

After dinner you found yourself laying in bed texting each of the squad members:

You learned that kirishima was a manly man, and he loved meat, and sparring!

Mina and you both gossiped about cute people in each of your classes, and talking about how both love dancing!

How despite his flirty nature, Kaminari is actually a hell of a sweetheart and you both got into a meme war. You won his respect. 

Sero was really chill and you both talked and exchanged stories of the past. 

As for bakugou, he asked you questions surprising you and kyoka, who has been sitting with you in your room as you text the squad,while she worked on her music. 

                                                  Bakugou

You got those wings, why aren't you in a hero course?

                                                          Well, my wings are premature and the                                                              doctors say I wouldn't be able to use them.

Fuck the doctors, You can use that                                                              chicken wings if you fucking tried. 

                                                           Haha, I doubt i would be a good hero

Not with that attitude. 

Kyoka giggled as she pointed to the phone “Dude he actually likes you! He never speaks to us like that! You tamed him!” You both share a laugh before texting him ‘Goodnight’  Kyoka closes her book and gives you a smile. “Well i'm heading to bed since we are training tomorrow. So goodnight, (f/n)” you nod as she left, saying your goodnight as well. You stare at your phone screen a little longer. 

                                  New message from ‘Bakugou’

                                                                                                  Goodnight

Goodnight,Tinker-Wings

[rickssugarplum]

Monthly Pains

This is for everyone who has to deal with their unwanted visitor every month. It ain’t fun. Thank you to the anon who requested and I hope you’re feeling much better! ❤

(Rick C-137 x Reader) SFW, Slight Swearing, Period, Cramps, In pain, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort

You’re on your period and dealing with the pain that goes with it. Rick takes care of you.

                    ___________________________________________

You were in your bedroom, groaning in agony. Still in your pajamas, you were suffering from your monthly visitor. Yes, menstruation was a natural process. But it’s also considered natural for a male mantis to be decapitated after mating. So, nature wasn’t always a friend. It could be a cruel bitch. And it was to you today. Your lower stomach was in so much pain, you couldn’t move. You were sweating profusely in normal temperature and your whole body was sore. Clutching your pillow, you wished it would all go away. You didn’t even have the strength to get medicine. Luckily, you had pads on you so you didn’t have to worry about leaking out.

A ping sound erupts from your phone and you grab it from your bedside. Looking at the last message, it was Rick.

Hey. You home? 

You didn’t know what he wanted. But whatever it was, you couldn’t move. With all the strength left in your body, you text him your response.

I am but I’m sick.

You hoped that would be enough and he would leave you alone. Yet, two minutes later, another text comes up.

Really? You’re sick? Are you 5? I’m coming over

Now annoyed, you leave him another message before he could think of coming to your house.

I’m on my period, you dick

Within ten seconds after sending that text, the green portal flashes in front of your bed. You just sighed into your blankets. “Ugh...Rick please...”

Rick saw you whining in pain and realized it wasn’t just the slight cramps most tend to get.

“Oof. Y-you got it really bad, huh?” 

A muffled yes came out of you. It was too painful to move. Suddenly, you feel the bed shift by your side and a cold hand rests on your forehead.

“What can I do for you, babe?” he asked quietly.

Without a second thought, you answered, “Can you get my ibuprofen? To help with the pain? I-I actually need my heating pad too....”

Rick scoffed. It made you wince a little, thinking you might have sounded like a drama queen. But, the pain was unbearable.

“I can get you better pills that would be waaay more effective. I-I’ll go get it.” he shot a portal once more before entering back in.

Well, you hadn’t expected him to go out of his way for you like that, but you were pleasantly surprised. It kept on going when he came back with not only the medicine, but a heating pad, packs of chocolate, and...a bottle of lotion?

“Here, baby. I got you some other things in case you needed to take-take care of some other symptoms.”

Making a lame attempt to sit up, your eyes widen at Rick’s thoughtfulness. You absolutely needed chocolate for cravings, while you also experienced muscle soreness.

Coming toward you, he grabbed the bottle of medicine.” L-let me give you this.” Giving you a capsule of his painkiller, Rick put a bottle of water by your lips to let you wash it down. You laid back into your pillows, with Rick sitting close, his tall stature towering over you.

He took the heating pad and plugged it in the nearest outlet. Putting the setting on a comfortable warm temperature, he placed it on your lower stomach under your sheets. You could already feel your cramps subsiding. Then, Rick crawled in bed with you to sit behind you.

“Let me- let me rub your back, baby...”

Adjusting yourself to get comfortable, you watch Rick grab the bottle of lotion and pumping a bit on his hands. He rubs them together before massaging your shoulders. Your eyes closed at the feeling of his hands. They were being very careful in loosening your stress knots.

“Mmmm.,.That feels nice...” you mumbled appreciating him helping you. In response, you felt a light kiss by your ear, making you shiver.

“Feeling any better?” he asked softly. 

“Mhmm...” you affirmed. Out of nowhere, your stomach started growling. Embarrassed, you told him you were feeling hungry.

“Waaaayyyy ahead of you, baby.” he handed you a chocolate bar to num on while he was massaging your sore muscles. You giggled as you opened the wrapper and begun eating the candy. Your tastebuds were satisfied and stomach nourished.

“Thank you, Rick...This is all so nice.”

A light chuckle is let out of him. “It’s nothing. Must suck to deal with this every month, huh?” 

“Yeah...But..this-” you motion to him and the things he brought for you “-makes it less painful.” you admit to him.

Rick’s hands stroked up and down your back as he finished performing your massage. When he was done, he wrapped you in his arms from behind you; letting you rest in his lap.

“I’ll be here for whatever you need today, beautiful. J-just say the word..”

Your head rests in his neck as you start to feel really tired again. With your body working overtime to get rid of what was no longer needed, it left you with major fatigue.

You yawn quietly. “I...think I just wanna sleep again. Y-you can stay with me, right?”

He didn’t speak, only laid you down to rest on your fluffy pillows and held you close to him, while his lips caressed your cheek. With that, you knew his answer.

Laying your head on his chest, you start to drift with his warm body close to yours. 

This was always a horrible time of the month, but Rick could make it a little bit better.

❤

[no-heart-no-soul-t]

IDK WHAT TO CALL THIS :)

Okay so. First time writing something.... don’t judge, I used Milli’s and mine names bc it was easier for me to write like that?

Also timeline is really bad because idk... jdadn first time writing a story QwQ

Whoever is going to read this I am sorry :)

pairing: Milli x WooYoung (love you @jaes-sweaterpaws​ <3)

genre: crack? fluff? IDK d sdskdsad

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First day of uni after holliday? Boring as hell. 

That’s what went through Milli’s head when she woke up to her alarm blasting through whole apartment. She just turned it off and rolled over bed, snuggled to her blankets and tried to drift back to sleep. That’s when her roommate woke her up by splashing cold water on her. “Good morning sunshine.” Tami smiled at Milli and went out of the Milli’s room. To be exact she wasn’t happy by the way Tami woke her up and yelled at her “YAH! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!”, and Tami yelled back “BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO BE LATE LIKE LAST TIME!”. Milli went to do her morning routine. “I made you omelete, eat and I am going to go change,” Tami called at Milli from the kitchen.

The two finally went to uni. Milli is studying IT major while Tami is studying English major. Their schedules were so different, but always found time during lunch to talk with each other. Cheesy as always. They said their goodbyes in front of the main building and went to their classes.

Milli came to classroom all tired and dead on the inside she just put her laptop on the desk and laid her head down on her hands. Suddenly she heard someone pulling chair next to her and that startled her. When she looked up she saw a guy she has never seen in her classes.

“Oh, did I startle you? I am sorry,” says the guy with apologetic smile. She just stared at him. Why did she stare? First, because she never saw him. Second, he was so beautiful it hurt her on the inside.

“Are you okay? Did I scare you that much?,” he asked all concerned about her. “Ah oh no, I just- I have never seen you here before,” she said while scratching her neck. “Oh, right. I am new here. Me and my best friend changed uni’s. My name is WooYoung. Nice to meet you,” he said with a sweet smile while looking at her. “Milli. Is your friend also IT major?,” she asked while looking behind him. “Ah you have a beautiful name and no, he is English major. With dance on the side, well I have dance on the side too,” said with a wink her way. She blushed but then realization hit her “Oh! I have a friend in English major too.” “Really? What’s her name? I can text San to introduce himself so the four of us can sit together at lunch,” again that sweet smile. “Her name is Tamara, but she prefers Tami,” WooYoung took out his phone and started texting, “but, you want us to sit together at lunch? Why?,” she asked all confused. He looked at her beautiful green eyes and said, “Yeah? Why not? I just… you seem like a nice person. Plus you are the first one I am talking to in this uni who isn’t San. You don’t want to get to know each other?,” he asked all nervous, scratching his neck. “Ah no no it’s not like that,” she said while shaking her head, “it’s just that no one really wants to talk to me or Tami for some weird reason? I am just surprised that’s all,” again scratching her neck. He was going to say something but she cut him off - “We will surely join you and San for lunch,” she smiled. “Perfect!” he said all excited.

In the middle of lecture Milli’s dm’s on tumblr started blasting up. Tami and Milli prefer Tumblr because they found each other on it and became best friends thanks to that.

angelicdemontami: THE FOK angelicdemontami: HOW SOME HOT GUY JUST ASKED ME TO GO TO LUNCH W HIM? angelicdemontami: anD HE SAID U WILL BE THERE?! SPILL THE TEA FFS

jaes-sweaterpaws: is his name San? angelicdemontami: YES NOW SPILLDALDLSADL jaes-sweaterpaws: yah chill… his friend asked me to lunch with them but i told him you are also eng major like his friend 

angelicdemontami: SO?! how he knows me or sndajpodôa

jaes-sweaterpaws: i told wooyoung your name and he texted san your name i guess??

angelicdemontami: BISH he doenst kno how i look wdym?!! 

jaes-sweaterpaws: maybe he asked someone and they pointed at you?

angelicdemontami: k, makes sense...but still THE FOK?!!!! 

jaes-sweaterpaws: chill out and concentrate on your lecture smh owo also cya at lunch uwu

angelicdemontami: imma kill ya :) he is so HOT 

angelicdemontami: wait he lookin at me the FOK-------

jaes-sweaterpaws: going off bye byeee~~~

angelicdemontami: wAIT NO!

Milli closed Tumblr page while chuckling and started to take notes. She didn’t notice that WooYoung was looking at her whole time how she smiled at her screen while texting with Tami. After that Wooyoung’s Facebook chimed from new messages. When he opened them he saw they were from San who has a nickname “SanTan”, because let’s be real, his duality? Even WooYoung doesn’t understand that. Ironic, because San calls WooYoung “Sexy Performer”, San always says he is too sexy to stay alone.

SanTan: yo that girl Tami? she cute

SexyPerf: is she? 

SanTan: yes god bless the girl u made friends with

SanTan: also… where we will meet? 

SexyPerf: I should thank god for meeting Milli lol.. and Idk that pinkish coffee shop nearby?

SanTan: yessir! 

Lecture ended and WooYoung leaned in to Milli, “Hey sooo… about lunch.. let’s go to that pinkish coffee shop nearby?,” “Sure! We love to go there. Almost no one goes in there,” “Perfect! See ya there!” WooYoung smiled and went out of classroom.

Lunch was already here and Milli and Tami were sitting at the coffee shop waiting for WooYoung and San. “So… how did you get to talk to WooYoung?,” Tami asked while sipping on her Iced Lavender Tea. “Psh. I was taking a nap on my desk like usual and he startled me by pulling the chair right next to me,” “You mean the chair that no one sits on?,” “Yes, exactly that one. And he apologised for startling me and we got to talk to each other and yeah somehow he asked me to go to lunch,” “hmm hmm.. oh there they are?,” Tami asked while looking out the window, habit she has while thinking about something.

WooYoung and San entered the coffee shop and looked around. San’s eyes found Tami and he nudged WooYoung and pointed to their table. When they sit down (WooYoung next to Milli, and San next to Tami), they greeted each other. “So… what should we get at this coffee shop?” WooYoung asked while looking around. “Depends what are your preferences,” Tami replied while munching on her baguette. Her dry humour present anywhere at anytime. “Hm… what are you having?,” San asked looking at what Tami had in front of her. “Four kinds cheese baguette with bacon, vanilla muffin and Iced Lavender Tea,” Tami answered looking down, refusing to look at San. “And what do you have?,” WooYoung looked at Milli. “I have ham and cheese sandwich, chocolate muffin and caramel macchiato,” she answered while looking at Tami who was very nervous. Waiter came to the table and asked the boys what they wanted. “I’ll have four kinds cheese baguette with bacon, vanilla muffin and Iced Americano,” San answered and after that WooYoung, “And I will have ham and cheese sandwich, chocolate muffin and also Iced Americano.” Waiter looked at them and then at Milli. She just shrugged and said, “I guess they believe us, not like you Brian.” Brian scoffed and said “Wait till Jae hears about you going on dates without telling him first place,” “It’s not a date. Also where is my BFF Jae?,” Milli asked while looking around. “I don’t know. You are his BFF, Milli, you should know,” Brian said while smirking and going away. She just scoffed and sipped her macchiato. “You know each other?,” San asked while looking at Brian who was already making their orders. “Yeah, we got to know each other during one party we were dragged to by older kids,” Tami answered while again looking out the window in thoughts, “and somehow we became friends with love-hate relationship,” she added and kept on munching on her food. “We just became best friends? Me and Jae, and Tami and Brian,” Milli also added while looking at her glass. Brian came with their orders and looked at Tami, “Hey, you okay angel?,” all concerned. “Oh? Yeah… just thinking about school stuff..,” Tami answered totally out of it. Everyone, except Tami, saw how San tensed after hearing Brian say “angel” to her. Brian looked at him with confused look and then back at Tami, “Well if you say so. I’ll bring you your tea to go,” Brian answered and went back to work after some students called him to take their orders. 

They continued to talk to each other while eating. Everyone was having a good time, except Tami. I’ll just ask her later what happened, Milli thought.

After lunch they all went back to their classes. San and Tami had their next class together while WooYoung and Milli had separate.

While at class WooYoung texted San,

SexyPerf: yo, ask Tami for Millis facebook or num or somethin

SanTan: hmm why didnt u ask be4

SexyPerf: i forgot stfu can u do dat?

San sighed and nudged Tami’s arm which startled her and she looked at him with big grey eyes.  “Sorry didn’t want to startle you. I just- WooYoung asked me to ask you for Milli’s sns or number,” “Oh no it’s okay I was just deep in thought,” she said with soft smile, “and yeah of course here’s her Instagram,” she said while writing Milli’s nickname on Instagram. San texted WooYoung Milli’s instagram and got only “thx” as reply. He shook his head and then realized he should ask for her contact info too. So he gently nudged Tami and smiled at her “Sorry, buuuut… can you give me also your contact info? I just… want to be friends with you and yeah..,” Tami looked at him all confused because no one ever asked for her contact info. But then she wrote at paper her Instagram and looked back at her laptop taking notes without saying anything. San just chuckled because he found it cute.

Meanwhile Tami’s Tumblr dinged with messages,

jaes-sweaterpaws: u gave san my ig?

angelicdemontami: yeah he said wooyoung asked for yo contact info

angelicdemontami: why?

jaes-sweaterpaws: bc wooyoung followed me and san also and i didnt give them my ig so i found it weird lol

angelicdemontami: ah yeah should have write u 1st sorry

jaes-sweaterpaws: nah is okay 

angelicdemontami: wdy want to eat today:)

jaes-sweaterpaws: les go to that thai place at the end of street that just opened

angelicdemontami: YAY CaLL

jaes-sweaterpaws: should ask wooyoung if he and san want to join?

 Tami looked at screen all nervous and thought about it.. Then she looked at San who was looking at his laptop screen taking notes.

angelicdemontami: yeah sure

After that she closed Tumblr tab and got back to taking notes. 

WooYoung heard his phone vibrate with message. He looked it was from Milli on instagram and instantly opened it.

millispawspaws: hey wooooo! wanna join me and tami for food after uni w san?

WooYoung smiled while replying,

woosexyperf: yeah sure 

woosexyperf: where?

millispawspaws: new thai place at the end of street

woosexyperf: sounds nice okay  cya

millispawspaws: yay! cya!

This girl… WooYoung thought while texting San on FaceBook,

SexyPerf: Yo we going eat after uni

SanTan: huh ?

SexyPerf: milli texted me to join her and tami to that new thai place at end of strt

SanTan: ooooo okay cya

All classes have ended and WooYoung and San were waiting at the gate. After 10 minutes Milli came and apologised, “Sorry looks like it will be only three of us,” San looked at her and WooYoung asked, “Why? Where’s Tami?,” “She had to go to tutor someone. It came last minute. She said she is sorry…” after that they went to the restaurant and talked for an hour already. In the middle of conversation Milli’s phone flashed with incoming call from Tami.

“Yo Tami what-” “Milli come and take me home please,” Tami said while crying on the phone. “What happened? Where are you?” Milli all stressed asked while packing up. “I met Jake my ex while at the library and he… he made fun of me while kissing his new gf… and now I am a mess please just come and pick me up..” “I am coming don’t cry.” Milli stood up and just apologized and left the restaurant.

The next day Milli apologized again to the boys at the coffee shop. Tami came in, also apologized and sat next to San who pulled her closer and told her everything is gonna be okay.

~Time skip 6 months~

“Milli WAKE THE F UP,” Tami screamed at Milli who was still sleeping even thought it was already 10AM.  “Why are you yelling, Jesus, it’s Saturday..” Milli answered still drowsy. “Did you forget our outing with WooYoung and San? We are supposed to set of at 1PM!,” “Oh SHIT!,” Milli screamed while running around apartment to get dressed and looking like a human being. They planned to go to the sea and chill there for five days, since school was closed down for some reconstruction or whatever. They already rented small cabin right next to the beach.

It was 12:30PM when they heard knocking on the door. Tami went to open it. When she opened it, WooYoung and San just went inside while saying “Wassup~”, she just shook her head. “Where’s Milli,” WooYoung asked while looking in to the kitchen. “Packing up, she, again, overslept,” Tami answered while punching San on the arm because he ruffled her hair. “Yah! Stop punching me every second of my life,” San said while sitting on the couch. She just rolled her eyes and went to her room for her bags. Meanwhile WooYoung went to Milli’s room, where he found her packing up bikinis. He went in and back-hugged her, “My sweetie pie again overslept, I see,” “Stop calling me that, and what I overslept tch,” she just continued to pack her things. WooYoung pouted at her. 

When they came to the cabin Milli and Tami just ran in leaving bags with the boys, who just looked at each other and shook their heads. The cabin had four bedrooms, two on first floor, two on second floor, two bathrooms, one at each floor, and big living room attached with kitchen. First day was mostly about napping and eating. 

On the Second day, they decided to go for a walk around the town. WooYoung held Milli’s hand the whole time during the walk with the excussion of “not getting lost.”

Third day, was beach fun? Tami and Milli woke up at 8AM to go to the beach, while San and WooYoung were still sleeping. It was 10AM when San and WooYoung woke up. When they came to the kitchen they saw a small note, “We went to the beaaaaaaach~~~~ come find us later uwu -Tami and Milli,” boys just shook their heads and went out to find them. 

They found them, lying on the blankets, sunbathing. “Damn, they aren’t making it any easier,” San said while slowly going to them. WooYoung came and hugged Milli, who just screamed and smacked him on the arm, “What the HELL! Woo, I’ll kill you I swear,” and started chasing him around. They ended up in the sea just splashing water around and laughing. At some point, they ended up really close to each other. WooYoung was looking in to Milli’s green eyes, and slowly started to lean in. “What are you trying to do?...,” Milli just whispered while WooYoung pulled her closer. “Kiss you,” and he kissed her softly as if she was made of the softest glass. 

When they parted Milli looked at WooYoung all confused. “Milli, I-,” WooYoung tried to say something but was caught off by Tami’s screaming, “LEAVE ME ALONE JAKE WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE,”. Milli came out of water and went to Tami who was screaming and pushing at her ex, Jake. “LEAVE,” Tami screamed again. San was nowhere to be seen. “Tami, let’s just talk huh?,” “NO. You CHEATED on me because I DIDN’T want to sleep with you after only going out for two months!,” WooYoung came and asked, “What’s going on? Who the Hell are you?,” while looking at Jake who was holding Tami so strong she was sure she will have bruises. “It’s between me and Tami. Leave,” Jake said while trying to drag Tami away. Suddenly Jake was separated from Tami and was on the ground. “Touch her again and I will kill you,” San growled at Jake while going to hug Tami to his side. “Who are you? How dare you touch her?,” Jake coughed while standing up looking at San. San just smirked, “I am her boyfriend. Some problem with that?,” Jake looked at Tami who was just covering at San’s side. “No. Didn’t know she had someone.,” “The HELL. LEAVE Jake you hurt her more than enough,” Milli screamed at him and shoved him away. Jake, at the end, left without a word. When he was gone Tami just packed up and went back to the cabin. Took shower, changed and locked herself in her room.

Milli sighed when she came to the cabin with boys. “It was her ex that cheated on her?,” WooYoung asked. “Yeah.. after that, she didn’t want to date anyone or catch feelings for someone. That’s why she has that “hate” relationship with every guy she knows,” Milli said while going up the stairs to take shower and change and check on Tami.

“San, you okay?,” WooYoung looked at San who was pacing around nervously, “If I ever see him again nearby her I will just kill him,” San said, finally sitting down on a couch. “I just, love her just like you love Milli. But, I can understand she wouldn’t get together with me,” San said defeated, standing up again and going to bathroom to take shower first. He went straight to his room and locked himself up same as Tami.

Milli came down and found WooYoung sitting alone on a stool in kitchen, “Where’s San?,” she asked looking around. “Locked himself in the room,” “Oh, he and Tami are really similar,” Milli said with small chuckle. She sat next to him and.. silence. After five minutes of silence WooYoung spoke up, “Look Milli, I really, really like you- no, scratch that. I am in love with you Milli. And I want us to be together. So- Will you be my girlfriend?,” he asked while holding her hand looking deep in to her beautiful green eyes. She looked at him surprised, “I--, Woo I--,” “You don’t have to answer right now, but I hope for a yes,” he interrupted with sad smile, and that sad smile made Milli spill, “I love you too WooYoung I really do,” “Is that a yes?,” he looked at her surprised, full of expectations, “Yes, Youngie, I will be your girlfriend!,” and he took her head instantly in his hands and kissed her softly and full of love. 

They didn’t hear small soft pit-patting on the floor but broke apart after, “So you two are finally together?”. They turned and saw Tami still crying and sniffing but also smiling at them, “Yes we are. But come here for cuddles,” Milli answered standing up and going to Tami. Tami backed up with hands up, “No, it’s okay… where’s San?,” “Locked up in his room,” WooYoung answered while hugging, together with Milli, Tami softly. Tami broke the hug and went to San’s room. “They should already confess their feelings,” Milli murmured. “Yeah, it’s really sad to see them going around each other and don’t confessing their feelings they have for each other for so long…,” WooYoung answered while back-hugging Milli. “But, now let’s just the two of us cuddle,” he whispered in to her neck, kissing it softly. “What about them?,” “They will figure something out… need time for themselves.” 

When they came in to Milli’s room on the floor, WooYoung started kissing her neck softly and murmured, “Gosh, I just love how you smell all the time,” he turned her around and started kissing her on the lips. First softly, then it became hungry kiss full of passion. They ended on the bed, WooYoung on top of Milli taking his shirt off, smirking at her, “Now, let’s have some fun.”.

[lawrenceop]

Holy Land Retrospective - Day 5

Reminder: clicking on the link for each photo (links are all in red text) will take you to the Flickr page where you can see the photo in larger sizes.

Start with DAY 1, or go back to DAY 2, or DAY 3, or DAY 4, read on!

CHRISTMAS IN BETHLEHEM 

Bethlehem is surprisingly close to Jerusalem, only about 45 minutes’ drive so we could have a later start after a late night coming back from Galilee. We prayed the Rosary as we journeyed to the city called the ‘House of Bread’, and very soon we saw the concrete wall topped with barbed wire that bisects the landscape and surrounds the city where the Prince of Peace had been born. Crossing the military checkpoint was a simpler process than I had expected: we were scrutinised by several gun-toting soldiers and then waved on. On the other side of the wall, there was colourful grafitti and art that gave expression to the sadness of this situation. 

It was a rather sobering start to our pilgrimage to the Grotto of the Nativity. But, then again, Jesus had been born into a similar situation: his parents had travelled the long distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem because of a census ordered by the Roman emperor, whose might and military presence controlled the local populace. This was a violent and brutal age. The emperor’s Judean vassal king, Herod, would order a massacre of innocent baby boys, but it was his imperial governor, Pilate, who would eventually finish the job and execute the true King who had been born in Bethlehem. But despite what the powers of this earth might imagine, God is ultimately in charge, and all are subject to his providence and governance.

“Why this tumult among nations, among peoples this useless murmuring? They arise, the kings of the earth, princes plot against the Lord and his Anointed. "Come, let us break their fetters, come, let us cast off their yoke." He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord is laughing them to scorn...

The Lord said to me: "You are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day.

Now, O kings, understand, take warning, rulers of the earth; serve the Lord with awe and trembling, pay him your homage.” (from Psalm 2)

PHOTO 20: Bethlehem is built on a rather hilly area with the Basilica of the Nativity at one of the highest points it seems. Emerging from narrow side streets onto the white-stone paved Manger Square that shone in the bright sunlight, we heard the joyful peal of bells coming from the Basilica. The ancient church itself, which dates to 529, looked like a fortress. We were faced with a blank wall of monumental white stone blocks and in a corner, a small opening that only a child could walk through; everyone else would have to stoop to get into the church. This is the main doorway into the Nativity Basilica, and it had been made successively smaller by Muslim caliphs who had sufficient respect for Jesus to not destroy the church but they wanted to make it harder for people to get in! However, these rulers were inadvertantly preaching about the Incarnation. For thus the Almighty God had bent down to come to us in humility, becoming a little child in Bethlehem!

When we entered the Basilica of the Nativity, which is built over the cave where Jesus had been born, we heard the singing of Byzantine chant, the chink of small bells on golden censers, and we saw a huddle of people around the iconostasis who were gathered for the Divine Liturgy. The ancient liturgical forms and chants give life to a building as ancient as this, and it brought me an awe-filled joy to hear the priests singing in this church. It seemed fitting that as we recalled the first Christmas night when the angels sang in the heavens, that we should hear bells and song as soon as we approached this place.

Golden mosaics (recently restored) gleamed on the walls of the church, and these date to the 12th century. This photo shows the Genealogy of Christ according to St Matthew, which is read on Christmas eve. Above the row of the ancestors of Christ are arches within which are enthroned Bibles and inscriptions from the decrees of various Councils of the Church concerning the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ. Scripture and Tradition, therefore, are represented on the walls of this ancient Basilica because both together reveal and point to the person of Jesus Christ whose birthplace we had come to venerate. 

“So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.” – Mt 1:17

PHOTO 21: After a votive Mass of Christmas in the adjoining Catholic church (run by the Franciscans, as in all the holy places of Israel), we returned to the Basilica of the Nativity. The Grotto, which is right under the main Sanctuary of the church, and which is part of a network of underground caves (including one in which St Jerome lived), would only be opened after the Divine Liturgies had finished. So, we waited in silence, and the crowds gradually swelled, jostling to get down some rather steep steps descending into the cave where Jesus Christ had been born.

The steps are just to the right of this photo - everybody is facing it. And from this south transept of the Basilica, one can see the whole nave of the church that was built by the emperor Justinian in 529. He intended it to be “of such splendour, size and beauty that none even in the Holy City [of Jerusalem] should surpass it.” Happily, this 6th-century Basilica in Bethlehem is now the oldest church to have survived among all the holy sites – the Constantinian basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, for example, was largely destroyed by the Fatimid caliph Hakim in 1009 who had built a huge fire even over the Empty Tomb of Christ! The church has witnessed 1400 years of a turbulent history in the Holy Land as the armies of Persians, Fatimids, Byzantines, Franks, Turks, and modern-day Israel have all sought to control the area. But despite some vandalism and pillaging, it has survived. Those mosaics, the great wooden roof, the 4th-century pillars of the nave painted with Latin saints in the 12th-century – all which can be glimpsed in this photo – are survivors of a great history. 

In 1009, when Hakim tried to eradicate the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, this entire church survived because the local Muslims protected it. Why? Because since 639, they too had been allowed to come into this same south transept where we were now standing for their own prayers. Suddenly, the abstract notions of religious tolerance and of divine hospitality, welcoming the stranger into the house of God, become very concrete, and this situation in Bethlehem again gives us some insight into the mysterious workings of divine Providence. No one, after all, could have expected God to become Man but often God governs his creation in unexpected ways and through unexpected persons.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder.” – Isa 9:6

PHOTO 22: After lunch and some time in a shop owned by the local Christian community, we visited the Shepherd’s Field a few minutes drive from the Basilica where they had received their angelic annunciation: 

“Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” – Lk 2:10-12

A beautiful little chapel marks the site, again built over some caves where the shepherds would have taken shelter from the elements, and standing under the resonant dome of the chapel, we sang a Christmas carol that echoed the angelic chorus: Gloria in excelsis Deo! (cf Lk 2:14). A number of little altars with paintings of the shepherds are found in this chapel, and I was particularly taken by this one. It illustrates a line in the Gospel that I seldom notice:

“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them." – Lk 2:20 

The shepherds, like us, are pilgrims, and two millennia ago they had gone in faith to the Manger of Bethlehem, to that some spot which we had waited hours to see and touch and venerate and contemplate in prayer. So, like them, we too are now filled with joy as we return to our homes. Therefore, let us also glorify God and praise him for all we have heard and seen on this Holy Land pilgrimage!

PHOTO 23: We returned to Jerusalem with some hours to spare before dinner so while some plunged into the pool or into their beds for a siesta I, of course, plunged straight into the Old City of Jerusalem and headed for the Holy Sepulchre. On the way there, I passed one of these shops and couldn’t resist some freshly-pressed pomegranate juice which they served combined with shaved ice and some syrup. On a hot afternoon such as this it was wonderful! 

Pomegranates were numbered among those fruits that Moses’s scouts (or spies) brought back to the people of Israel to show them the fruitfulness of the land that God had promised them: 

“And they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they brought also some pomegranates and figs.” – Num 13:23

The promegrantate, therefore, is a symbol of God’s promise to make us fruitful if we remain united to him. Thus Jesus says: “He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5)

PHOTO 24: I’d brought a fish-eye lens with me on this trip to the church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is Golgotha, or Calvary, the “Place of the Skull”. The people, coming from East and West, were part of a long queue that went down the stairs and reached the main entrance. They had come to see the place where the Lord of Life had died, giving his life so that we might have life. 

“And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." – Lk 13:29-30 

The Latin (ie: Roman Catholic) chapel and altar is just to the right of this photo, next to the site of the Crucifixion. This is the Greek Orthodox chapel here on the summit of Calvary, and a Greek Orthodox priest stands watch at all times, often hurrying along those who are taking too long. What people do when they get here is to crawl under the altar, and they can place their hands (or objects) into the hole there which reaches down to the rock of Calvary itself. On my final visit here, I lowered the Crucifix attached to my Rosary into that cavity. 

On this occasion, I came to pray, to observe, and to take a few photos of this unique and holy site. 

“We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because, by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.” – St Francis of Assisi

PHOTO 25: Leaving the Holy Sepulchre church at sundown, we saw many Orthodox Jews rushing towards the Jewish quarter. It was Friday evening, and the Sabbath was about to begin, and they were on their way to the synagogue for prayers. In our hotel, the lifts (elevators) were automated on this night so that you would not push the buttons of the lift, and the meal was slightly more festive in honour of the Shabbat. 

This photo was taken at the Jaffa Gate, known in Arabic as ‘Bab el-Khalil’, the ‘Gate of the Friend’, which was built in 1538. As always in Jerusalem, all three of the great so-called Abrahamic religions are very visible: The Muslim inscription here is in praise of Allah and his friend, Ibrahim (Abraham), beneath which a Jewish family is passing on their way into the city, and of course, a Christian friar in the white habit of St Dominic is looking on!

May we all grow in friendship, converging on the One who is the greatest Friend to humanity, and who is the only Gate to heaven.

Tomorrow: Via Dolorosa; Mass and a miracle in the Empty Tomb; Hosannas from the Mount of Olives; and visiting Mount Sion. 

[ficsandpieces]

I was looking through the list of already made asks and I saw juniors first steps and was wondering we could also get juniors first word(s)???

YES YOU CAN, ANON \( ´ ▽ ` )/

Reiji’s twins:

The first thing his son said was “Num-num” because Reiji was cooking something that smelt really, really good and stirring the pot with one hand while keeping up a running commentary to the baby balanced on his other arm and, well baby has a good appetite and was hungry

The next thing the baby knew he was out of his father’s arms and being seated on the kitchen counter, Reiji in front of him and eagerly showing him anything and everything that he can get his hands on in the hopes of hearing him say it again

So far he’s tried a tin of tomatoes, an apple, expired cup noodles (which went straight into the trash after his son knocked it out of his hand and scowled at him), cloves of ginger,various condiments ranging from salt and sugar to vinegar, a head of broccoli and a bag of potatoes

Reiji even raided the fridge in his excitement at his boy’s first word, presenting to him butter, a bottle of fizzy drink (Baby squealing and clapping his hands in glee when Reiji opened it with a ‘pop’, which wasn’t quite the reaction he had been hoping for but still warmed his heart nonetheless), some leftover chocolates and a spiky fruit which he had no idea why or how it was in the fridge to begin with and that he himself didn’t know the name of

A little disheartened when another vocal miracle did not manifest, Reiji idly picked up a container of leftover fried chicken from the previous night and shook it half-heartedly at his boy

“Num-num!”* Reiji, not believing his ears, shook the container again and was rewarded with another baby version of the word for food and his son trying to take the container from him

He spent the rest of the day calling up everyone he knew (and texting and emailing those who either hung up on him or did not take his call) to both sob at and boast about his boy’s first word

(Ranmaru listened with some understanding at first, but a sizable vein-pop manifested on his temple after ten minutes of listening Reiji repeat himself

Camus hung up when Reiji paused to take a deep breath to recover

Ai, who had been in the middle of something, very sensibly switched off his phone after confirming it wasn’t about work

Reiji blubbered to Ai’s voice mail for a whole twenty minutes before realising that Ai wasn’t even there)

The Kotobuki family ended up having leftovers for days after that since right afterwards Reiji’s mother came over, equally as exhilarated as her son at the news, and the two of them whipped up enough food to feed a few small countries in a frenzy of excitement

»»————-　  ♥ 　————-«« »»————-　  ♥ 　————-««

“You wanna count with Daddy all the ways Daddy loves you? Okay~! One, Daddy loves you so much I would climb the bi–ggest, hi–ghest mountains if you wanted me to. Two, Daddy would do anything, anything in the world for you and your brother and your mommy but you knew that already, right? Three, Daddy would even, well, Daddy would even give up karaage for you. But you wouldn’t torture Daddy like that, right? You love Daddy just as much, don’t you? So much so much sooooo much~”

Reiji’s cheerfully bouncing his baby girl on his lap, enjoying their father-daughter time together

Apparently his daughter thought differently because one little arm flailed and her hand landed on Reiji’s lips, stopping up his mouth momentarily

“What’s that, my baby girl? You think Daddy’s talking too much? Noooo, you need to learn to appreciate the charm of a man who has a way with words like Daddy does—”

“Da!”

This time Reiji’s mouth stopped moving on its own accord

His little girl cocked her head at him, wondering why it was suddenly so quiet

“Dada?”

His mouth moving without forming any coherent words, Reiji stared at his daughter in his arms

His lips trembled and he had to swallow before speaking again

“Say that again for Daddy?” His voice was hoarse, his arms shaking as he held his baby girl up

“Da!”

He broke down completely then, throwing his head back, his puzzled daughter clasped tight to his chest as he bawled openly

Reiji was inconsolable for the rest of the day and the next

His S/O had to spend at least half an hour wiping the tears from his face and coaxing him to tell her what happened while his daughter was trying to squirm out of his grasp and towards her mother

Camus’ daughter:

“ ‘anda!”

Camus froze and stared at his daughter in his arms, who was holding out her arms to Alexander at his feet

“Did you just say ‘Alexander’, angel?”

“ ‘anda!” she insisted, still trying to make her way to Alexander himself, now on his feet and wagging his tail at her, a sign that he was ready to play horsie again

It was the sound of their daughter throwing a minor tantrum that made Camus’ S/O pop her head in to check on them and be greeted by the sight of Camus holding his daughter up with both hands, his face buried solidly in her hair, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs while their baby squirmed and bawled

Alexander was up on his hind legs and leaning on Camus, his nose nudging his arm to release the toddler so that they could go galloping around the house again

Ai’s son:

His son noticed that every time Mommy said a certain word she would either kiss Daddy on the face somewhere or Daddy would do the same for her

And baby boy loves getting hugs and kisses

“Hai?”

Ai stared at his son, his boy holding up his arms towards him with a very expectant look on his face

“What was that again?”

His son tried again, experimentally rolling the word around in his mouth to get it right

(Daddy was very big on saying words correctly)

“Ai!”

Ai.exe and a thousand other programs hung on the spot

Rebooting system, please wait…

“Did you…  Could it be that you just said my name?”

His son was getting impatient

“Ai—” he whined, lips pulling into a pout at how the word wasn’t working and no hugs and kisses were forthcoming

There were times when Ai really, really felt that he was going to cry and never failed to be surprised when no tears came out

That day rated among the top three

The only way Ai could relieve the sudden strong waves of emotions that were threatening to overwhelm him was by holding his son tight to him, his head in the crook of his baby boy’s neck

Baby was delighted that the word was finally working

“Say it again?”

“Ai!”

“Again.”

“Ai?”

“Once more.”

“Ai!”

“Again.”

“Bai?”

“Not ‘bai’. ‘Ai’. Come on.”

“Bah.”

Ranmaru’s son and daughter:

Ranmaru’s filling up the cat bowls with food, ignoring the meowing cats twining around his ankles and trying to climb up his legs

Points sternly at Niko who had managed to make his way up to the kitchen counter and was getting ready to make a head-start on dinner

“You. Scoot.”

Niko replied with a disappointed meow, ducked his head under Ranmaru’s scowl and leapt off the table

“Ko!”

Ranmaru’s hand stopped moving, much to the vocal dismay of the three other cats around him

“Ko!”

The cats’ dinner temporarily forgotten, he stepped out cautiously into the living room, still not believing what he thought he heard

His daughter was on the sofa where he left her, Niko stretched out on her lap, letting her run little hands roughly through his fur while she chattered to him in baby talk

“What was that?”

His little girl looked up and grinned gummily at him

“Ko!” she repeated, gathering and holding up what she could of the yawning cat in her arms

Unable to control the huge grin that was spreading across his face, Ranmaru dropped everything he was holding, scooped up both baby and cat and ran out of the room with an elated whoop

His S/O, startled out of what she was doing by the door abruptly slamming open, looked up to have both a giggling baby and a disgruntled cat thrust into her face

“She just talked!”

His S/O blinked and stared in surprise at Niko, who was beginning to look fed up with this whole business

“The hell are you looking at, I’m talking about Tsubaki! Here, say it again!”

He knocked his daughter and cat together excitedly under the worried eyes of his S/O

“Ran, don’t-please be gentle with the baby–”

“Nah, she’ll be fine. She’s tougher than she looks. Tsubaki, who’s this?”

“Ko!”

“Ya hear that? Our girl’s first word! Oi, Sousuke! Where’re you, kiddo?”

And off he goes to look for his son, cat and daughter tucked securely under each arm

»»————-　  ♥ 　————-«« »»————-　  ♥ 　————-««

Sad to say, Ranmaru wasn’t around much during his S/O’s pregnancy and the first few years of his son’s life

His boy’s actual first words were “mama” to Ranmaru’s S/O

It was one of the extremely rare occasions when Ranmaru was home and staring with some trepidation at his son who had been placed in his lap and was gazing back at him placidly

Shit, he’s fucking tiny! And why’s he so soft? What if I drop him and his head cracks wide open? What if I hold him too hard and he explodes?

Ranmaru was completely out of his depth

The only thing he could do was hold the baby gingerly and make sure he didn’t slip off his lap

Ranmaru was on the verge of giving up and getting up to hand off his son to his S/O when his boy curled a small hand around his and looks up at him

“Ba?”

The look of absolute trust in his boy’s eyes pierced right through him

“Baba?”

Ranmaru held him up at arm’s length and stared at him while he processed the sudden feelings of protectiveness that were rising up rapidly from deep inside him

Aww no. Fuck it all to hell.

Ranmaru breathed out a long, long sigh of resignation when he realized what just happened

He brought his son closer and carefully held him to himself

“Guess you’re stuck with me now, eh?”

His baby laid his head on Ranmaru’s chest and closed his eyes

“Yeah, that’s right. You just take it easy. Your old man’s here. Dad’s got your back.”

He gingerly smoothed fine baby hair away from his boy’s face

“I’m here for ya, kiddo. I’m gonna do my best so you stick with me too, alright?”

His son yawned as he snuggled down, one small hand resting over Ranmaru’s heart

The feeling of actually being a father now swelled up inside him once more

“I’m gonna take that as a ‘yes’ then. That’s my boy.”

[itsyourchoicedevotionals]

Frightening Place

“O Lord, please rescue me from the hand of …Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, …But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become …too many to count.’” Gen 32:11-12NLT

Twins are fun, absolute opposites, and very much alike. Our immediate family has three sets of twin boys. One granddaughter described her set as the ‘lookout and the ornery one.’ My son described his as ‘the judge and the party.’ The other granddaughter described hers as ‘the fighter and the instigator.’

In the situation of our text, Jacob and Esau were more of the instigator—fighter type twins. Papa’s boy Esau was out doing his hunting thing. Momma’s boy Jacob was home cooking. Esau came home famished. Cook Jacob traded Esau a bowl of soup for his ‘firstborn’ rights.

As Isaac aged, he wanted to place the blessings of God upon his favorite first son. He sent Esau to kill the game, then prepare his favorite stew. Upon eating the meal Isaac would give his blessing to Esau.

Rachel assisted Jacob in fooling Isaac into believing Jacob was Esau, and stealing the blessing. Esau returned and learned Jacob had stolen his blessing. Raging, he set out to kill his conniving twin. Mother Rachel facilitated Jacob’s escape to Uncle Laban’s.

Alone, frightened for his life, Jacob had a dream, in which God spoke to him. “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants… I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you,” Gen. 28:13, 15NASB. No man could get clearer direction and promise from God than Jacob got.

Lou and I were settled into a church; had good friends, wonderful neighbors, and a lovely home. God began dealing in my heart to return to my home area. Although this would mean less travel distance to Lou’s work sites, I was frightened. Abuse, school bullying, rapes, heartbreaks, all the traumas of my life occurred in that area. The few good memories from home were outnumbered twenty-to-one with the nightmare memories.

In a vision, God swooshed me through time to seeing myself, eight years old, hiding in the hallway. I was saying ‘I promise you God, my parents will live with me. They’ll not cry because they had to live in a nursing home.’ “…if a woman makes a vow to the Lord, …binds herself by an obligation in her father’s house in her youth…” Num 30:3NASB.  Because of the vow, I knew I had to return to my hometown.

Like God was with Jacob, God was with us in the move. He detailed every step we took. Leaving my home was extremely hard. As I cried about my house, Matt 19:29NLT came alive,; “…everyone who has given up houses …for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return…” God has been faithful.

Are you in a frightening place? We’re going to all be asked to do frightening things. How will we respond? We can: — Stay at Uncle Laban’s with our families and be resented. — Seek God’s Word for direction. — Put our situation in God’s hands and trust Him entirely. — Like Jacob, remind God of His promises.

What will you do? Rest in His character? God’s name and His character are identical. Rev 19:11NIV “…a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True…” It’s your choice. You choose.

PRAYER: Papa God, Help myself and these readers to trust You obediently. Give us courage to turn our backs upon the familiar, grasp Your promises and run to the frightening place with You, in Jesus’ name I pray.

by Debbie Veilleux Copyright 2020 You have my permission to copy and paste this devotional for others. Please keep my name with this devotional as author. Thank you.

[jaseyspace]

Adventures with Little Class 1-A

to start this out No I do not own Buko no hero Academia Second this story is mine but characters are not. third sorry I'm not good at fanfiction at all. This is nonsexual so please no making it weird. No hate comments if you didn't like that, but constructive criticism is greatly appreciated ^-^

(This is a platonic CGL Shinsou x Midoriya x Todoroki, I made Shinsou Asexual Panromantic so he loves Midoriya and Todoroki in a more romantic love) (Shinsou is a little Midoriya is a Cg and Todoroki is a switch but mainly a little) 3rd pov: Today was a snow day, so that meant the students could stay in the dorms to wait out the snow day. For some of the students that meant a big play date for the littles and caregivers in the common room or in their dorms. For Shinsou that meant being little in his room all alone, he never ha a play date with anyone except for Todoroki in little space. He was afraid of getting outcast-ed more than he already felt and get mad which he knew would scare the other littles and CGs. The reason was because of his quirk no matter what people would call him a villain, or because he looked scary due to his insomnia. Midoriya and Todoroki were the only ones he was little around, he only trusted them because they weren't afraid of him, or so he knew. He just wanted to be trusted and not feared, no matter what head-space he was in. In little space Shinsou was shy-er than usual but with Midoriya and Todoroki he was a sweet, dorky, playful baby. He loved to cuddle, play with his plush kitten and dinosaurs, his favorite game to play was ninja, wearing his scarf like a ninja mask and well you know you get the gist. He was soon taken out of his thoughts when his phone buzzed, it was Midoriya! M-Hey Shinsou do you wanna play with the other littles? S-no..they'll just get scare of me and run away, they don't like me T~T M- Well you know what, you don't need to pay them any mind, you know that you're a good boy and you have every right to have fun in little space as they do. S- I-I scawred M- do you want me to come and get you? S-yes pwease M-alright daddy's coming get your little space bag ready. S-okie daddy So with that Shinsou got out his little bag and got out what he wanted to take down stairs. Down stairs Midoriya was thinking about how lonely Shinsou must be. So He got out his phone and texted Shinsou when he was finished he told Ururaka to watch Todoroki. "Hey Ururaka can you please watch Todoroki? I need to go get something up stairs." "Sure thing Deku, he's so cute." The brunette coos at the duel haired little, who giggles at his hair being ruffled. Midoriya nods and heads off up stairs to get Shinsou, he knew that there was gonna be some controversy for the little but he wasn't gonna let the others bring him down. Going up stairs he gets to Shinsou's room and knocks on the door. "Shinsou buddy, its me Midoriya." It only took a few seconds for the door to open where the taller boy stood. In a purple shirt, and black overall with the skeletal drawing down to his knees, black boots, and a black choker with a ring on it. "Do you have everything?" "I no have my stuffie Rwen" Ren is a plushie dog that Shinsou got that's from this show that he loves to watch. "Its okay, why don't we look for Ren together?" Midoriya offered Shinsou nods eagerly with his backpack on his back, so they looked around. Finally Midoriya found Ren in Shinsou's drawer that held some of his clothes. "I found Ren baby, he was in your dresser drawer." "Rwen!" Shinsou cheered and quickly grabbed his stuffie, he thanks his 'dada' and holds his hand. "Are you ready now little one?" Shinsou was nervous about seeing the other, he was afraid he'd 'ruin' their fun and scare them away. Midoriya sense his little's nervousness, and squeezed his hand kissing his cheek. "I promise that I will be there for you always no matter what happens." Shinsou nods and agrees to go down stairs, so that's what they do. Walking into the common room, Midoriya already has a mental arsenal ready if things go south. "Hi guys I'm back" "Hey Deku did you fi-" Everyone saw them, they saw Shinsou holding Midoriya's hand with his left and a stuffie in his right. Midoriya could sense the tension but didn't care he wanted to make Shinsou feel welcome and not outcast-ed. "come on Shi look there's Todoroki" Shinsou smiled seeing Todoroki, who sat up and went over, Shinsou sat on the many combinations of blankets on the floor. "Todo" He greets, Todoroki hugs Shinsou sweetly and shows him his kitten plushie. Some of the students go back to what they were doing, others stare but were met by the angry glare of daddy Izu. Ururaka was the first to try and brake the ice, by talking to Mina who was watching Sero play with Kaminari. "So Mina where did you get Sero's pacifiers?" "Oh I got them from the store actually, I just get little crafts to decorate them for Sero."  "ooh that's smart, I see that he likes them too-" Just as Ururaka finished Sero pulled on Mina's shirt, and made a soft whine. "Yes baby?" Sero points to his bag "What do you want baby you have to use your words" "game" "Oh do you want your 3DS?" Sero nods so that's what he gets, thanking his mommy and goes back to Denki to play video games. Kirishima being the daring little he was went over to Shinsou, who went to Midoriya to hide while Todoroki went to play with Iida. Shinsou was too shy to go and make friends on his own, he was afraid to mess up and scare them. He was 'hiding' in Midoriya's lap, when Kirishima came over, and started a conversation. "H-Hey Shisou" Shinsou didn't really know if Kirishima was really talking to him, he points at himself and Kirishima nods. Kirishima sees Shinsou's stuffie and asked "who that?" Shinsou was shocked he actually started a conversation and was a little nervous to reply. He was too little to activate his quirk but he knew nobody else knew. "his name Rwen" "Ooh coowl this Sunkiss" Kirishima shows Shinsou his sunrise colored dragon, slowly progress was being made. "Coowl, this is dada." Shinsou says pointing to Midoriya, the green haired boy chuckles and waves at Kirishima, who waves back. Kirishima goes over to Bakugou and says "this my daddy" "Awesome!" Bakugou couldn't help but crack a smile and asked "Are you making friend Kiri" "Uh huh this is Shisou, he has stuffie Rwen." "Cool maybe Sunkiss and Ren can be friends too" "Yeah best fwiends like me and Shisou" Shinsou's eyes went wide "w-we frwiends?" Kirishima nods "yeah why not?" Shinsou smiles and gives thumbs up at Kirishima, both of their caregivers chuckle. "Wanna cowor?" Kirishima asked going through his bag and getting out a coloring sheet and crayons, Shinsou's eyes light up and he nods. So far things were going well, Midoriya slowly dropped his guard while talking to the other caregivers. "So Midoriya I didn't know Shinsou was a little" Mina says Midoriya nods "yup and he's adorable, him and Todoroki get along really well." "Really? He's kinda intimidating" Sato asked looking at the little color "well you don't know him that well" "That's true he doesn't really talk" Sato says giving him soft eyes, Jirou then says. "Well I mean when you've got a quirk like that not many people are gonna talk to you, and I wouldn't blame them. Especially if you don't know their intentions." Shinsou knew that they were talking about him and he didn't like it, he never liked all of that attention. He stopped coloring and started to whimper "Jirou stop it you're gonna make him cry, and then you'll piss deku off." Mina says, Jirou giggles "Oh please he knows its true, and Deku getting pissed off don't make me laugh." Said caregiver was trying to keep his cool, that was until he saw Kirishima comforting Shinsou. "Well you wonder why he barely speaks when you have judgmental so called 'supportive' classmates like yourself." Midoriya says coldly "I think he'll be a great hero, your past upbringing doesn't define how you turn out to be in the future. Your quirk doesn't define who you are either." Todoroki goes over and hugs Shinsou as he slipped into little space, Shinsou nuzzles into Todoroki feeling a little better. He then walked over to Midoriya feeling hungry, and asked. "D-dada" "yes bud" "C-can I has num nums pwease?" "Hm sure why don't we asked if your friends can have food too?" So that's what Shinsou did, well more like him and Kirishima walked over and asked if their friends could eat too. Most said yes some said no, so Midoriya went into the kitchen to make chicken nuggets. He knew that most littles loved chicken nuggets. While he did, Shinsou went over to Kirishima and his friends. "Do you guys wanna pway super spies?" Kirishima asked Shinsou shrugged confusedly "how you pway?" "Gotta be wreal qwiet, and sneak arwound." "sownd wike when I pway ninja" "Ooh you a ninja?" Kaminari asked excitedly Iida chuckled at his littles excitement, it was cute watching the boys play pretend. "hey boys?" Ururaka called out the boys looked over seeing Momo who was wearing a white shirt with a pastel purple overall dress and light pink thigh high socks. "huh?" Kirishima replies "Can Momo play secret spy too?" The boys nods sweetly, and so they put on their bet 'super spy disguise'. Shinsou's was his scarf, covering his mouth like a mask, Kirishima put on his black bandanna. Kaminari puts on his fake sunglasses and so does Sero, Momo used her quirk to make pretend spy gear. So now the game of super spy has begun, tiptoeing and shushing each other to sneak around the place. Todoroki wasn't into playing spy, he wanted to Midoriya make chicken nuggets, well right now they were in the oven. For some reason he liked to watch things cook while in little space. So Midoriya got his laptop out, and turned on a cooking show for the fire and ice wielder. Sucking on his pacifier while watching the show, Shouto was very amused by his entertainment. Once the chicken nuggets were ready and cooled off Midoriya called for the littles. "Alright little spies come on out, I've got chicken nuggets!" One by one they all came out, but before they could try and grab the nuggets their caregivers told them to wash their hands. When Shinsou had finished he waited to get his nuggets, while some of the others pushed and fussed. "hey guys remember to thank Midoriya" Shoji says, Shoji was a babysitter for some of the littles, he loved to play with them since it was easy with all of his arms and eyes. "Tank you Midowiya" they all said "Tank you daddy"His littles smiles "You're all very welcome" When Shouto and Shinsou got to their daddy for nuggets Shouto asked "Daddy c-can I has appi juice?" "Sure love can you bring me your cup?" Shout nods after getting his plate of nuggets, he takes it to the table and goes to grab his Allmight sippy cup. Shinsou puts his nuggets on the table too, and goes to grab his own blue sippy cup that had Pac-man on it. "D-dada, can I has pink dwink?" Midoriya giggles at his bashful little who held out his sippy cup for him. Midoriya nods and tells Shinsou to go back to the table, and that he'll give him his drink in a minute. Sitting at the table Shinsou ate his nuggets quietly with the other some what rowdy littles. Midoriya walked over with the drinks for his littles and they thanked him. Sitting down next to Ururaka with a huff the girls giggle and the gravity girl comments. "tiring right?" "Oh god yes, but they're cute so its worth it." "Yeah, I never thought Shinsou was a little." "Well he is, he's a good one too, both him and Todoroki are very sweet. I can see that Kirishima is the leader of the group though." Bakugou chuckles "Yup he loves to play, so its good he gets to hang out with his little friends when he can." "He's super sweet though" "Tch, that's my little dragon, tough and loud but, cute and sweet." "nice nickname Kaachan" "thanks..deku" "Hey Deku do you have any nicknames for Shinsou and Todoroki?" "Well Todoroki is Todo and Shinsou is Sou." "I call Momo my little princess" And just with that mention from Jirou, Momo looks at her mommy. "Sorry baby just talking about you" Momo continues to eat giving her thumbs up, Deku giggles. "What about you Iida and Mina?" "Well I call denki Thor, because he likes the movie." "I call Sero a scare crow, he loves them and thinks they're cool. He also kinda looks like one." "That's so cute~" Ururaka cooed As they talked the littles finished up their food, and went back to the blanket covered floor. Shinsou still drank his strawberry milk while Izuku played with his hair, Shouto was sitting in Ururaka's lap holding his favorite dinosaur stuffie. "Sou" Shinsou looked up "Did you have fun?" He nods and giggles as Midoriya starts to tickle him, squirming and laughing as his daddy's fingers danced across his body. "Dadaahhh!" He squealed surprising everyone, not many people had seen this side of Hitoshi, but Midoriya had and it was one of the cutest things ever seeing him giggle and shriek. Letting him calm down, Midoriya stopped his reign of tickle torture and held Hitoshi to his chest and started to pant. "I'm glad you had fun baby boy" Todoroki crawled over to Midoriya and asked for his paci, once calm Toshi did the same. Suckling softly on their pacifiers both boys curled up to Midoriya, as did the other littles with their caregivers. Some where getting sleepy, others wanted to play some more but their caregivers were tired. "Dada?" Shinsou says tugging on Midoriya's shirt "hm?" "Tank you"