#given honour without the requirement for commitment

[xerospaced]

Final thoughts

Yesterday, once again, gave confirmation that the man who is vocal, happy to profess his love and claim you, snaps you up without appreciating the value of waiting, is loud and proud, eager to talk you up and show you off

Is not necessarily the man you ought to depend on nor trust

And once again, the day taught me that the man who moves mindfully, who is cautious when he speaks, avoids inflating your ego, resists luring you into a false sense of comfortability, and moderates his expression of affection

Is often one who possesses the greatest consideration of your feelings

This time, I got a third-person perspective. Unfortunately, impacting someone I love who is deserving of far better

From the mouth of a man so sure in his conviction when he came to his conclusion about my situation despite knowing little to nothing about it as he proudly proclaimed how they manage their relationship

I'm not one for convincing, and, far from being convinced myself, I let him spout his rhetoric

To bear witness, not two months later, the realities of the vapid and changeable intention of man so quick to talk and act without pause

And immediately following that heinous transgression, be rewarded with the reassurance and satisfaction of a man quite his opposite, slow to move and resistant in falling into connection simply based on affection

I would rather the slow. The sure. The patient. The reason.

I would rather the one consistent in distance who is vocal more often when it comes to maintaining our heads and keeping clear vision. Than the man who possesses a tongue quicker than wisdom and opts into the format of loving and commitment before taking time to sit and just listen to what he truly wants, who he's really with, where the desire is rooted and what it is seeking.

I am done trusting men who talk quick and jump quicker.

Half of them don't even know they don't mean it.

This weekend has brought a lot of realities about relationships to the surface. And has reaffirmed my contentment of the space I'm in, giving confirmation to validity of the pace that has been taken.

Pause. Know yourself. Consider the nuance and depths of your feelings. And stop filling peoples heads with dreams and well wishes and fantasies of the wonderful lives y'all could be living. If you just took the time, you might avoid all this nonsense and notice the difference between fun for the moment and potential of significance.

[hieromonkcharbel]

Are we able to hear God when He calls us to take up our cross and follow Him?

Christ addressed this calling not only to His disciples but also to the crowd listening to Him. We have all received the same calling, and in His ineffable Providence, God watches over us. When He sees even a small opening in our life, He enters in and begins His work. He stands at the door of our soul and knocks,l6 and when we open, He enters and takes hold of our life, making angels out of fallen creatures.

How do we make the pain of the heart sweet?

Through humility. By always going down before God with gratitude and with the consciousness that we are useless.

Does suffering always perfect faith?

Of course, how else? And even that is not enough. The Apostle Paul says that the sufferings of this world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed to the children of God in the heavenly Kingdom. It is not important to be freed from a particular trial, but to have grace.

Sometimes God allows a thorn throughout our life that we cannot overcome: for example, an illness. In this case, it is important to surrender to God and give thanks so that grace may become stronger in us than the pain of that thorn. This requires enormous tension; but if you are in the right orbit, grace will do everything for you. If you surrender to God giving thanks with humility, it is easy. There is nothing more comforting than to surrender to God's Providence, to His will, with humility and thanksgiving.

How do we convert pain and suffering into prayer, in order to find life?

Without the Lord we can do nothing, and so there is no surer and more effective way than to cling to Him as our fellow-traveller, as our co-worker in the labour of salvation. We bring everything in our life before Him: if it is joy, we present it with thanksgiving and glori-fication; if it is sadness, we pour out our heart to Him, imploring His help and consolation; if we have a difficult task to fulfil, we rely on His help.

The natural response of fallen man to suffering is self-pity and complaining. It is not easy to turn this natural reaction into something good. When we live under the dominion of sin, we become selfish and capable of committing every transgression in order to survive in this world. 'Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." But everything changes when we surrender to the will of God through faith.

Some of us may suffer a serious or even terminal illness. We pray to God and, even if we do not receive healing, we receive grace and consolation to help us rise above our suffering. We thank God for the honour He has given us to endure suffering so as to become akin to His Spirit. Even if the suffering is caused by our own sins and faults, we can still offer thanksgiving to God for His forbearance and for waiting patiently for our radical conversion so that His will may prevail in our life.

“Flying Over the Abyss”

Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou

[acornsandoaktrees]

so, Greenwood cats.

(hear me out, hear me out)

Norwegian Forest Cats:

larger and more powerful than most domesticated housecats, they're adapted to colder climates, with very thick and long fur. they take 5 years to fully mature. as the name implies, before domestication they occupied Scandinavian forests

Ocelots:

on all fours adults come up to a human's knees. historically, they were sometimes kept as pets by Aztecs and Incans. they take 2 years to fully mature. they're active at twilight and night, and live solitary. they require dense foliage cover, which often means forests

etymology:

while The Hobbit's Mirkwood is not the only instance of the name, Tolkien has admitted its roots to be in early German, Old English, Old Swedish and Old Norse

the Old Norse word for a domestic cat (tom-cat specifically, but isn't it always) is köttr. in terms of lotr-invented animals, Warg is drawn directly from the Old Norse word for wolf, vargr

(side-note: Teldivo was a giant black cat in Tolkien's early development of lotr, later replaced by Sauron, so the idea of Big Version of Real Animal wasn't lost on him)

and what does this all amount to, you ask?

well, that quite neatly for a fantasy world, Greenwood's forests could feasibly be inhabited by large wild-cats known as Kottur.

(as decided by the author of this post, who has a frightenly loose concept of deriving words from others lol)

and with that said, here's a fun fact about Norse tradition: cats were often given as wedding gifts to brides. this was done to honour Freyja, the goddess of love and fertility, whose chariot was pulled by... Norwegian Forest Cats! who would've guessed

also want to add that -- as i've said before but a while ago -- i don't put much stock in elves marrying. they just... live too long for that kind of monogamous commitment. 'til death do us part' doesn't really carry much weight, does it? however, i am willing to say that some elves choose to 'bond' with one another, sort of entertwining their lives without the rather daunting promise of a singular eternity. and yes, polyamoury and divorce. again, they live too damn long for the expectation of one partner in an entire population to be sensical

so to bring this together, here's my concept:

newly bonded Greenwood elves sometimes gift their partners a Kottur kitten, not to be luxuriously treasured pets but to act as hunting companions and protectors. considering Silvans' deep bond with nature, it's plausible, no?

(kittens only, because once Kottur start hitting maturity it becomes nigh impossible to train them)

[nuza3minalqabail]

Maktab Shar3i:

After praising Allah and exalting Him, and sending blessings and peace upon the best of creation, Muhammad ﷺ , we say, seeking help from Allah, the Forbearing, the Bestower:

Allah Ta’Ala said: “And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good."

Know, may Allah guide us and you to the truth and keep us steadfast upon it, that it is necessary to affirm the following:

First: It is possible that there exists a group or groups in Sham and elsewhere who are upon Islam and conceal their state, who have not committed any clear and explicit act of riddah.

Second: Fighting against the Jama’a of Muslims -may Allah honour it- without the presence of a kufri form of tawalli (allegiance) or fighting to prevent the implementation of Shariah is considered transgression and oppression. In this case, some may be sinful for doing it while others may be excused due to the existence of Shubuhaat (doubts/suspicions)

Third: The issue of abandoning Bayah and refraining from fighting under the banner of the State -may Allah honor it- is caused by either the lack of acknowledgment of the caliphate, or by doubts on whether it was established by the bay'ah from the people of hall &Aqd (authority and decision) or by force, or not, which falls into two categories:

1. Those who believe that the appointment of the caliph did not meet the Shar’i conditions, whether due to objections against the people of Hall and ‘Aqd ( authority and decision ) or against the Khalifa himself -may Allah have mercy on him- or due to timing, the requirement of tamkeen, and other doubts. Such a person is excused until the truth is made clear to him with evidence. If the truth becomes evident to him, then he is sinful for not believing in the legitimacy of the Bayah and for not fighting under the banner. His fighting, in this case, has elements of ignorance.

2. Those who believe in the legitimacy of the Khalifa’s appointment but refuse to obey due to partisanship to a group, desire for a position, or other reasons—such a person is a Baghy (rebel). His fighting and banner are based on nationalism and ignorance, even if he declares that he seeks to implement the Shariah.

Fourth: In our contemporary reality, it is not a condition for the validity of Bayah to openly declare it due to considerations of benefit, given the unified fighting of all forms of kufr against the Jama’a of Muslims -may Allah honour it- Indeed, it is prudent for those whose situation is like that of these factions to keep their allegiance secret.

The matter of Bay’ah is, first and foremost, to Allah Ta’Ala, in obedience to His command and the command of His Prophet ﷺ. Allah Ta’Ala said: "And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided."

And Allah Knows best.

[yash-gangele]

What fintech and payments firms must know to ensure data privacy? 

In today’s digital finance ecosystem, fintech firms handle massive volumes of personal data, making robust privacy practices both a regulatory necessity and a competitive differentiator. FinTech’s must now prioritize data protection to build trust and comply with new laws like India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, which imposes stringent requirements and heavy penalties for non-compliance. 

Adapting to New Data Privacy Regulations 

The DPDP Act and its forthcoming rules represent a game-changer for how companies in India handle customer data. FinTech’s must first determine whether they act as “data processors” (merely processing data on behalf of others) or as “data fiduciaries” (akin to data controllers) under the law. This distinction matters because data fiduciaries bear primary responsibility for protecting user data and honouring user rights. While many assume fintech intermediaries act merely as data processors for traditional banks, often their role is deeper. In co-branded services, for example, a fintech might jointly determine data usage, effectively making it a data fiduciary (data controller) alongside the bank. This means the fintech bears direct obligations for consent, security, and honoring user data rights. Fintech firms must revisit contracts with partners to clearly assign data protection duties – including which party handles user data requests or breach notifications. 

The new law also gives individuals the right to access, correct, or erase their data. Fintechs need efficient workflows to honor these requests – often in coordination with partner banks. Establishing self-service data portals and clear internal SLAs ensures that when a user exercises their rights, the response is swift and seamless across entities. 

Balancing User Experience with Compliance 

Fintechs pride themselves on frictionless user experiences yet now must incorporate clear consent and disclosures without alienating customers. For example, an app might add a concise notice or an extra consent checkbox when introducing a new feature that uses personal data – maintaining transparency while keeping the process smooth. The key is to build compliance into the UX so that users stay informed without feeling burdened. 

Fintechs should also ensure compliance with data localization rules – for instance, certain payments data may need to stay on servers within India’s borders – which could require adjusting cloud setups and vendor arrangements to meet these requirements. 

Embracing Privacy by Design 

To truly ensure data privacy, fintech and payments companies must embed privacy and security principles into their technology and operations from the ground up. This “privacy by design” approach means that every new product feature or partnership is evaluated for privacy impact at the design stage, not as an afterthought. Key steps fintech firms should undertake include: 

Data minimization: Identify all personal data being collected and stop collecting anything not truly necessary for the service. Less data held means less risk. 

Strong security and access control: Use encryption for sensitive data and strict access controls. Only authorized staff or systems should access customer data, and every access should be monitored. 

Third-party risk management: Conduct due diligence on cloud providers, APIs, or other vendors that handle your data. Ensure they commit to strong data protection measures, since your data is only as safe as its weakest link. 

Incident response readiness: Have a clear plan for handling data breaches – define steps to contain the incident, notify affected users and regulators, and remediate the root cause. 

Leveraging Cybersecurity Services for Compliance 

Given the complexity of modern privacy requirements, it can pay to get outside help. Engaging professional cybersecurity services or consultants can accelerate a fintech’s journey to strong data protection. These experts can perform privacy assessments, recommend technical safeguards, and even conduct simulated attacks to test your defenses. By investing in such services, fintechs send a message to regulators and customers that they are serious about safeguarding data. 

Building Trust Through Privacy 

Ultimately, ensuring data privacy is not just about “ticking the box” on compliance – it’s about building long-term trust with consumers. Fintech firms operate in an industry where trust is paramount: users need confidence that their money and personal information are safe. A firm that consistently protects user data and handles privacy matters transparently will stand out in the market. In an era of frequent data breaches, a reputation for strong privacy can become a key differentiator. Customers are more likely to use – and stay with – services that give them peace of mind. 

For fintech and payments firms in India and beyond, the mandate is clear. They must rethink data roles and responsibilities in light of new regulations, invest in privacy-centric technology and processes, and possibly partner with cybersecurity specialists to fortify their defenses. By doing so, these firms won’t just avoid penalties – they’ll cultivate the customer trust and brand reputation needed to thrive in the digital finance era. 

[wolint]

COMMITMENT

COMMITMENT

1 Kings 8:61

 

One of the serious problems facing the world today is the lack of commitment, which no longer seems to be part of our society. Even believers, while their lips give service to God according to Isaiah 29:13, are often not truly committed to His ways. To achieve any significant goal or purpose requires commitment. Total commitment, not partial, is where success lies.

Commitment is the act of taking charge of something and seeing it through, the act of keeping a trust without wavering. Life is all about commitment; we commit in all kinds of ways. We are committed to personal goals, financial institutions, matrimony, our families, and we must commit to God—spiritual commitment. We commit to work or organizations, personal goals, relationships, and sometimes even to selfish and sinful pursuits. Commitment involves deciding and acting on that decision with focused and sometimes costly perseverance and then reaping the benefits.

Committing our hearts, minds, and bodies to God is central to a life of faith. In fact, faith without commitment is dead. God requires total commitment from us. However, God does not demand more than we can give; He requires us to do what is good, as stated in Micah 6:8. Commitment isn’t for a while, as we feel, not sometimes but continuous and consistent, totally involved.

Every life’s achievement requires commitment—whether good or bad. Even the scriptures encourage us to commit to the Lord in Psalm 37:5. Commitment involves making the decision to focus on something or someone. The Christian Walk and life should be one with an understanding of and learning to commit our hearts, minds, and bodies to the things of the spirit, which is central to a successful life.

Commit everything you do to God, as stated in Psalm 37:5. Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 14:26-28 that they couldn’t be His disciples if they do not carry their own cross and follow Him. That’s the same for us all; we all must pick up, carry, and keep carrying it in commitment to qualify as His disciples.

Staying the course of a thing is a must for commitment. How long can you wait for something worthwhile? Are you committed to holding out and holding on to the important things in life? Luke 2:25-35 tells us that Simeon waited for the Messiah, and though we weren’t told how long he waited, he was committed to seeing the manifestation of the prophecy given to him. In Luke 2:36-38, we meet Anna, an old prophetess who was totally committed to seeing the Christ, spending her days fasting and praying daily in the temple.

We are all guilty of going through the motions of worshipping God routinely, as declared in Isaiah 29:13, without committing our “whole being” as the Lord wants us to, which is unacceptable to the Lord. There is a great need for commitment in every part of life, especially in our faith. If we commit our lives and trust to Christ, we can achieve great things. God requires us to be obedient, not just accomplished. True commitment will result in obedience. If we cannot commit to God in our general daily lives and things to honour and glorify Him, how do we commit our souls to His eternal keeping?

As Psalm 37:5 says, we must commit our ways, our plans, and everything to God—a commitment that requires faith and trust to see our desires come to pass. Salvation is free, but it takes total, painful, and determined commitment to work it out, according to 1 Peter 4:19. You can’t ask too much of God; you simply need to get committed to Him.

PRAYER: Lord, I pray that I be fully involved in my service to You. May my whole being be committed to worship and glorify Your holy name. In Christ’s name, amen.

Shalom

WOMEN OF LIGHT INT’L PRAYER MIN.

[steveezekiel]

HAVING A FALSE HOPE 2

8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, EACH RECEIVED A FULL DAY'S WAGE. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, THEY ASSUMED THEY WOULD RECEIVE MORE. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ 13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ 16 “SO THOSE WHO ARE LAST NOW WILL BE FIRST THEN, AND THOSE WHO ARE FIRST WILL BE LAST.” Matthew 20:8-16 (NLT)

The first set of workers hired in the parable were the type of Israelites, the Jews. The workers thought, or assumed, they would receive higher wages than the last workers (Matthew 20:10-12).

The basic requirement for whoever would make heaven is salvation through Jesus Christ—being Born again (John 3:3; Romans 10:9,10).

And, the rewards in heaven would be based on the work done by each individual Believer whilst on earth: "FOR we must all STAND before Christ to be JUDGED. WE WILL EACH RECEIVE WHATEVER WE DESERVE FOR THE GOOD OR EVIL WE HAVE DONE IN THIS EARTHLY BODY" (2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT). READ: 1 Corinthians 3:12-14.

The Jew who thought they would be the first, would find themselves to be the last (Matthew 20:16), because they rejected the Son of God sent to them: (John 1:11,12). READ: Romans 9:6-8,30-33

Neither the good work of your parents nor of yours would be considered for a place to be given to you, in God's Kingdom.

Some who were born by committed Christian parents might have the same fate, final result or outcome, like that of the Jews, If they had no personal relationship with Christ Jesus.

Some who were born in the church, by committed parents; Pastors, or one of the leaders in the church, might think they would be given special treatment before God. No.

Someone's parents' walk and commitments with God, would not be considered for any reward. If such a person's personal relationship and fellowshipping with God is not sound.

Do not think the Blessings of God would come on you without your own personal commitments in the things of God, because of your godly parents: 8 THEREFORE BEAR FRUITS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE, 9 And DO NOT THINK TO SAY TO YOURSELVES, ‘WE HAVE ABRAHAM AS OUR FATHER.’ FOR I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. THEREFORE EVERY TREE WHICH DOES NOT BEAR GOOD FRUIT IS CUT DOWN AND THROWN INTO THE FIRE" (Matthew 3:8-10 NKJV).

God will not treat specially, or give a special place, or an opportunity, to anyone in His Kingdom; because of his or her parents' commitments in the things of God on earth.

Although, God respects and honours; and is always committed to the covenant He made with whoever walks intimately with Him.

However, the children of such must come to God personally, and individually, to be saved. Salvation of soul is not automatically transferred, and it cannot be inherited from one's Parents.

If you were born in the church, that is, you were born by committed Christian Parents; yet you still need to have personal encounter or relationship with Christ Jesus.

God would respect the covenant He had with your parents, because of their Faithfulness and Commitments, but that could not be transferred to you automatically, without your own personal relationship, fellowship, and commitment to God.

The first set of hired workers, those hired in the morning, in Jesus' parable; had false hope, thinking their wages would be higher than that of those hired in the evening time (Matthew 20:10,11).

The equal wages given to every worker in the parable, irrespective of the time that each individual was hired, symbolizes the salvation of each person's soul, being born-again, that would be required for an entrance to heaven (John 3:3).

The salvation of those who accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour in the first century is not more authentic than the salvation of those who accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord in the twenty first century.

Equal salvation for all, irrespective of the time, the location, the race or colour, and whatever: 22 WE ARE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD BY PLACING OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. And this is true for everyone who believes, NO MATTER WHO WE ARE. 29 AFTER ALL, IS GOD THE GOD OF THE JEWS ONLY? ISN'T HE ALSO THE GOD OF THE GENTILES? OF COURSE HE IS" (Romans 3:22,29 NLT).

Salvation is NOT transferable and inheritable. A husband's salvation of soul cannot be transferred to the wife, and parents cannot transfer their salvation to their children.

We all stand one by one before God on the last Day; not family by family, or denomination by denomination, or race by race, or colour by colour.

It is a false hope that someone's salvation, or commitments in God's Kingdom on Earth would be considered for your justification, when you personally had no relationship with Christ Jesus.

Being a Jew, a particular race, or colour, being a member of a particular denomination or group, or whatever; would not give you a place in heaven without any personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

The end of those whose names are not found in the Book of Life is hell fire (Revelation 20:15; 21:27). And for your name to be in the Book of Life, you have to repent of your Sins and establish a relationship with God through Jesus Christ (John 3:3; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9,10).

It is my prayer that you will not regret and perish at the end of your journey on earth in Jesus' name.

If you are sick in your body, As you read read this piece, receive your healing now in Jesus' name. Peace!

Take notice of this: IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15). a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20). b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10). c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!

[productivityera]

Life is weird

Today I:

Walked a dog (pet sitting/dog walking business)

Went to bunnings with my mum, bought a lot more than we came in for

Burnt my hand on a long black that was way too hot (from bunnings)

Researched my degree and found that instead of doing an honors year, I am qualified to go straight into my Masters degree.

Drafted an email - asked for help from a fellow research friend for tips and tricks

Read up on gene drives to be used as biocontrol on vertebrates for said email

Found some great potential supervisors - including a lab that focused of biosecurity work (which is my dream career path)

Made an asmr video that kinda slaps

I feel like throughout life, you get stuck in some places where you feel like you've set yourself on the wrong path, where you feel doubt and exhaustion. That has been the past yearish for me - I've been finishing up my Bachelor, and it's taking forever. I have so many unanswered questions about what I'm doing after I graduate (which is completely normal!). A few of those questions have been along the lines of "I have no idea what my life will look like in a few months, so how can I make any commitments now?". As a result of this question, I have been staying in this sort of limbo, forever anxious.

I live about a (maximum) 2 hour commute away from my university. Committing to an honours year may have meant doing this trip 5 times a week for full time study load. How could I possibly amass any savings with that sort of thing, while also keeping myself sane?

For context: I am like a little animal that needs nourishment, social life and exercise. If I go without those things, my mental health suffers. So - given that I need maybe one day a week to get in some time with friends, plus an hour (or less) a day doing some sort of exercise - how tf am I going to find a job that will hire me to support my train tickets and city coffees, and save up for a new car and pay off debts? How will I continue my pet sitting business? I have a few returning clients - if I pet sit - leaving for 10 hour days in the city isn't exactly healthy for their pets.

So many unanswered questions, so much has been building in my mind for the past few months. I need answers, and I'm afraid to get them in case they turn up new problems.

For the past year, my focus was to do an honors year - I was told I had to do this before I did a masters course if I wanted to study in the veterinary faculty. Since the veterinary faculty does not do mid-year intakes (which I didn't realize before now), in a round about way, if I do research in the biosciences faculty, I am able to do my masters without an honors requirement. Yay! I can finish my course in 2 years - and be very qualified for a job I am looking to apply for!

So - this turns up a whole new wave of questions and concerns and anxieties for me.

Am I smart enough to do a masters degree? Will my supervisors think so? What if the supervisor that has the perfect research project for me rejects me? What happens if everyone rejects me? Do I look like a smart person on the outside, but really I'm just faking it?

tldr: anxiety about supervisor applications

[crimechannels]

By • Olalekan Fagbade JUST IN; President Tinubu reacts to Supreme Court victory [full statement] I welcome the verdict of the Justice John I. Okoro-led Panel of the Supreme Court on the Presidential Election petitions filed by the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, challenging the ruling of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. The court has done justice to all issues put up for consideration in the petitions on the merits of the law, without fear or favour. There is no doubt, with the profound judgment of today, that our electoral jurisprudence and constitutional democracy are further consolidated and embedded more indelibly in our national identity because of the diligence and undaunted professionalism of the Honourable Justices who presided over the matter. While the verdict of today has laid to rest the agitating discourse over who truly won the 2023 Presidential election and met the constitutional requirements as laid out by law, I want to reiterate that my faith in our nation’s judiciary has never been shaken, not even for a moment, because I know that our hallowed courts of law will not fail to administer justice to all Nigerians in all matters and at all times. Despite the fusillade of pressure and attempts at intimidation by some political actors, the judiciary demonstrated its unequivocal commitment to upholding the rule of law for the upliftment and defense of humanity. It was affirmed once more today, that my party, the governing All Progressives’ Congress, had freely and fairly won the popular mandate of Nigerians, which has since given rise to my leadership of this great nation at a tumultuous period of unprecedented reforms in our history as a nation. With deep gratitude to God Almighty, I solemnly and humbly accept today’s judicial victory with an intense sense of responsibility and a burning desire to meet the great challenges confronting our people. The victory of today has further energised and strengthened my commitment to continue to serve all Nigerians of all political persuasions, tribes, and faiths, with honour and total respect for the diverse opinions and uniting values of our citizens. Our Renewed Hope agenda for a greater and prosperous Nigeria has further gained momentum and I will continue to work from morning to night, every single day, to build a country that meets our collective yearnings and aspirations We are all members of one household, and this moment demands that we continue to work and build our country together. The strength of our diversity and the great citizenship that binds us must now compel us forward in directing the energy of our people towards building a virile, stronger, united, and more prosperous country. In the days and months ahead, I trust that the spirit of patriotism will be elevated into supporting our administration to improve the living conditions of Nigerians. I am prepared to welcome the contributions of all Nigerians to foster and strengthen our collective progress. I send my immense gratitude to all Nigerians for the mandate to serve our country. I promise again to meet and exceed your expectations in service delivery and good governance, working with my team and trusting in the grace of God. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Bola Ahmed Tinubu President and Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria October 26, 2023 #TinubureactstoSupremeCourtvictoryfullstatement

[topchoiceinsurance]

Everything you should know about Super Visa Insurance

Planning a visit to your loved ones in a foreign land is an exciting endeavour, but it also brings a set of responsibilities and precautions. However, along with the excitement, it's essential to consider the safety and well-being of all parties involved. This is where Super Visa insurance steps in as a vital safeguard. In this article, we'll explore the compelling reasons why investing in Super Visa insurance is a decision that ensures not only your comfort but your peace of mind as well.

1. Healthcare Protection: Health emergencies can strike at anytime, anywhere. Super Visa insurance gives you access to quality healthcare coverage in Canada. This is especially crucial given the potentially high costs of medical treatment for visitors. Insurance helps you address unforeseen medical situations without putting a strain on your finances.

2. Medical Expenses Coverage: Even routine medical check-ups and treatments can accumulate expenses. Super Visa insurance covers a range of medical services, ensuring that unexpected costs do not burden you. This includes hospital stays, prescription medications, diagnostic tests, and more.

3. Emergency Assistance: Being away from home during emergencies can be distressing. Super Visa insurance offers emergency assistance services, ensuring you're never alone in challenging situations. Whether it's arranging medical transportation, coordinating with family members, or providing travel advice, these services add an extra layer of security.

4. Repatriation Benefits: In unfortunate circumstances where a visitor passes away while in Canada, repatriation services are an integral part of Super Visa insurance. These services cover the costs of returning the remains to their home country, allowing families to grieve and honour their loved ones in their familiar surroundings.

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Conclusion:  Investing in Super Visa insurance is not just a legal obligation; it's a decision that prioritizes your health, security, and overall peace of mind. From healthcare protection to emergency assistance, Top Choice Insurance offers a comprehensive safety net that allows you to focus on creating cherished memories with your loved ones.

[scarletarosa]

Luciferian Teachings vs Abrahamic

Take accountability for your actions and constantly work to better yourself: it is a very dangerous and irresponsible way to live if you continuously rely upon a higher power to wash away all your misdeeds. Lucifer teaches that we are our own saviours; no-one else can truly save us but ourselves. Yet this takes conscious effort, wisdom, and if you wish, guidance from deities. At the end of the day, no-one can cleanse us of all that we have done wrong, we can only strive towards making amends and becoming better people. Also, no-one is to blame for your misdeeds but yourself; don’t even try to avoid your guilt by using scapegoats.

Embrace the paths of hardship and suffering rather than trying to avoid them: if we are to become wise and strong in character, suffering is the gateway to these virtues. This is why all demons (and some other deities) teach people through adversity; it is how we evolve and leave behind our restrictions. Though along this path, we cannot give in to despair, which is why we are meant to “embrace” this and remain steadfast. We cannot expect things to be easy in life, they never will be; to battle this, we need to train ourselves to become strong, diligent, and wise. Overtime, we will come to realize our full potential and what we are truly capable of. 

We do not exist to serve god: every single thing has a purpose, which all serve the higher function of sustaining existence. From blades of grass and the wind, to the black holes, all things fulfill a mission. Yet for living beings and spirits, our missions are not for the gods, but for ourselves. The purpose behind all of existence is to evolve so that we can reach a higher state of being; though beyond this, only the Source knows the purpose. In life, we must focus on serving ourselves first (not in an egotistical way) so that we can become knowledgeable and healthy. Once we have started to become better and develop wisdom, then we can begin focusing on bettering the world. For without wisdom, the world will continue to make the same mistakes. Overall, the main focus of existence is to forever evolve and grow wiser

Passivity does more evil than good: we may all be familiar with the “turning the other cheek” mentality, which might seem very peaceful and admirable to many people. However, this mentality allows selfish and aggressive people to continue being this way; people are not all good at heart and will use your passiveness to their advantage. The lesson is to become assertive and not allow selfish people to have their way with everything; do not allow them to run the world or even get away with some minor things. If someone says or does something wrong to you, remember to put them in their place (unless it could endanger you). 

Humility and self-respect (no holier-than-thou mentalities): just because you follow a certain deity, it does not make you better than others; we are all ignorant of many things and are all guilty. In the same respect, following a certain god does not mean that you have the right to preach to other people or think that you are going to be saved while others will not. We must learn to remain humble and open-minded of others; yet not to have too much humility since we also need to recognize how to be proud of ourselves in a healthy way. 

Open-mindedness and seeking knowledge: seek to learn everything about everything, you should not limit yourself since ignorance only perpetuates evil. Therefore, we must seek to understand evil so that we can avoid it. If we live sheltered lives and remain in the dark, we will never develop wisdom or true understanding of morality. Understand that you do not know everything and never will, allow this to humble you and make you more accepting of new information. However, you must also learn to question everything and research in-depth until you are absolutely certain of the truth (remember that many books lie and that some historians are even paid to keep darker truths hidden). Remember to not follow groups; learn to think for yourself and not be a “sheep”.

Humans as “god’s chosen ones”: humans were never the chosen race of any deity, we are just one of many other species that they have created. Ironically, humans are actually one of the least favoured species of the gods due to how the majority of our kind is corrupt and because we killed off the majority of the other races during the ancient times. Any group of people who claim to be “god’s special people” are egotistical and have a superiority complex that is very dangerous (as we can see from history). This is also the exact mentality that caused all the Abrahamic religions to feel justified to commit genocide across the world or believe that certain countries should be theirs. Likewise, the Earth also does not belong to us; we are given the honour of living on this planet so we can exist, but can just as easily be taken out of it if we become too greedy. Many deities view the Earth as being more important than humanity.

Question all authorities: we must always recognize that people in authority are meant to serve their people, not vice-versa. If we allow ourselves to be cowardly or lazy, those in authority will do whatever they can to gain more power. Corruption happens slowly at first, disguised as help, but ends up as tyranny (which is what happened in Nazi Germany). If we wish to prevent this, we must recognize that all governments are corrupt and they lie constantly while pretending to be getting better. Every leader must be confronted by their people so they know their place. We cannot allow ourselves to be manipulated or pushed around; recognize when things do not seem right or when governments are being overly controlling so we all can rise to stop it. 

We need a healthy balance between indulgence and temperance: as Luciferians, we highly value things such as patience, charity, moderation, humility, and other virtues, but these must be balanced with other traits at the right times. For example, remain humble but value yourself, be kind but also deliver justice to those who wrong you, be physically healthy but indulge in nicer things when able, do not give away all your money to charity, look after your own needs first; etc. By living in this method of harmony, we are far more healthy and less restricted.

Hell is for all evil people, whether they were Christian or not: the realm of Hell is a twisted land of unimaginable torments. It is this land that is designated for all evil spirits; meant to suffer horribly for all eternity. There is no god who can cleanse all sins and save whoever they want from Hell, especially since it is a place of harsh justice. Christians, whether they like it or not, will be sent here if they are too corrupt.

There are many gods: as we seek for truth, we find that all gods exist. Lucifer himself is the first-born god of this Universe and led the other gods before he Fell during the rebellion. Jehovah is just one god of many, and is nowhere near being the supreme god as he says. We see the supreme god as the Source (where all things begin; known as Atum or Brahman) who has their female counterpart as the Queen of Heaven (Adi Parashakti). These two formless supreme deities exist together as equals and are One in essence; the Source needed their feminine counterpart in order to create since existence requires balance. From these Gods, the other gods began coming into existence.

Other Luciferian based posts: The Luciferian Path, The Angels

[gisellelx]

regarding the comunion headcanon, would Carlisle confess frequently to a priest then? Saying this because (at least in the catholic side of things) in order for you to take comunion, you have to have confessed your sins recently and done the penitence given by the priest (usually praying). I mean, if you're going by the books (you can just take comunion without it, but your body wouldn't be "pure") and Carlisle seems the man who would be by the books.

Reference post

Anglican churches don't require confession in the same way. It is considered proper to confess as part of the entire process of receiving communion, which is seen as the point of an Anglican service--the whole order is called a "Eucharist." Any order of Anglican prayer begins with corporate confession, which is recited together by the whole worshipping body and followed by an absolution from the presiding priest. The text Carlisle likely would've come closest to learning (from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, but the prayer was in use as early as 1549) is this one:

ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

It's also considered perfectly appropriate in the Anglican church to confess one's sins directly to God. I imagine Carlisle does this with some regularity. So yes, he confesses, but he would not have been brought up with the idea that the had to go into a confessional booth and tell a priest the gory details of everything he and his family had done to sin.

The 7th chapter (CPOV) of Ithaca Is Gorges is titled "What We Have Left Undone," which is a nod to the line "we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone" from the current BCP confessional prayer, which is in wide use across the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church, and often used by other denominations.

[kiranxrys]

Alone Together Episode 1 Transcript - Alexander Siddig & Andrew Robinson

I hadn’t seen a transcript for this episode going around on Tumblr yet and I thought I would quickly make one to share with anyone who would prefer to read or wants to read along/revisit the first episode in text form (and the YouTube subtitles are mostly useless, annoyingly). Please let me know if you think I’ve made an error anywhere and I’ll amend it!

watch: one | two | three | four

read: two | three | four

ANNOUNCER (ON-SCREEN): ‘Alone Together’ - a DS9 companion, Episode 1 - ‘These Days’. It has been about 25 years since the Dominion War ended. The Federation isn’t quite the same. Starfleet is much more consistently militarized these days. Earth may be paradise, but humanity is less ideologically empathetic. Since the recent Romulan attempts to extinguish synthetic life by infiltrating Starfleet Command, benevolence is taking a backseat to security these days. 

Elim Garak has been Castellan of the Cardassian Assembly since the new order was established following the Dominion War. Garak, of course, also has direct control over a newly resurrected Obsidian Order, though not by title. 

Julian Bashir is still a doctor on Deep Space 9 but is also coordinating the activities of Section 31. What we’ve learned is that upon sharing a consciousness with Luther Sloane using stolen Romulan technology, his genetically enhanced brain committed much of what he learned to his eidetic memory. That information had to be contained but could be put to good use. He was given little choice in the matter. Maintaining his cover as a Chief Medical Officer in the Bajoran sector met his needs, and he saw no reason to change.

[fade to black]

JULIAN BASHIR (VOICE ONLY): Mission log, stardate 737114. I’m approaching Cardassia Prime in response to a rather enigmatic request for medical aid from Castellan Garak, the leader of the Cardassian government. Though it’s hardly surprising that Garak might be withholding information, it seems that a reunion of sorts will be forthcoming. I’ve left the Infirmary in the capable hands of Doctor Jabara while I’m off the station. I must admit, I’m not entirely sure what to expect. 

JULIAN (ON-SCREEN): Bashir to Central Command, I’ve just entered orbit of Cardassia Prime, requesting approval to transport to Cardassia.

ELIM GARAK (VOICE ONLY): Stand by, Doctor. Don’t be in such a hurry.

JULIAN: Garak. I didn’t expect you to be at the Central Command, it’s good to hear your voice.

GARAK: My dear doctor, are we starting the lies already?

JULIAN (LAUGHING): It’s true, Garak. It’s good to hear your voice! That’s not a- Look, more importantly, if you’ll grant approval I can beam to your current location.

GARAK: Doctor, I’m not at Central Command. I’ve merely intercepted your subspace communications link. Unfortunately, Doctor, the Federation will not be setting foot on Cardassia today, and, to be quite honest, you don’t want to be here.

JULIAN: Garak, your message suggested some urgency in my arrival. Quite frankly, what the hell am I doing here if I can’t beam down?

GARAK: Would you uh- [laughs] believe pure, unadulterated nostalgia?

JULIAN: Would you?

GARAK (ON-SCREEN): [laughs] I missed you too Doctor. So, how is life on the station?

JULIAN: Well, Bajoran fashions just aren’t the same since you left.

GARAK: I’m sure.

JULIAN: But much of life has returned to what it once was, as much as it ever could, I suppose. Now-

GARAK: I was sorry to hear about Dax.

JULIAN: Thank you. I um… I miss Ezri every day. Ten years. I, well, that is- we, Dax and I, we tried to make it work. I- I was so happy Dax made it back to Trill on time. Cairn and I, we were very different people. He’s a botanist – can you imagine? Dax as a botanist. I suppose it’s why Keiko didn’t seem to mind my business as much. She and Dax had so much to talk about but, well, once the Symbiosis Commission discovered our continued relationship, well, we just uh- we couldn’t-

GARAK: Doctor, there’s no need to explain.

JULIAN: No. Dax always encouraged me to talk about my feelings, though there’s not much else to say, really. I had never really considered being in love with another man, but it was Dax. Ezri, Jadzia, even Cairn, it was Dax, is Dax. But we- we just couldn’t- I didn’t-

GARAK: It is difficult to find a good counselor to sort out our deepest sorrows these days.

JULIAN: I suppose it is.

GARAK: You’re an honourable man, Doctor. You loved Dax, you could do nothing less than your heart demanded. I know the pain of love all too well, especially a love that has everything working against it.

JULIAN: Ziyal.

GARAK: Ziyal, yes. Yes, even exiles have hearts, Doctor. Even [laughs] Elim Garak. When it comes right down to it, he has a heart as well. In fact, my heart is partially the reason why I’m here.

JULIAN: So, this is a house call? Damn it, Garak, why didn’t you tell me on subspace? What- what are your symptoms? Why don’t you want me to beam down?

GARAK: Well, so many questions, one hardly knows which to answer first.

JULIAN: Your symptoms, Garak. What is wrong with your heart?

GARAK: Well, it’s not just my heart, Doctor. Actually the most concerning symptom seems to be a degenerative condition that causes the ill to be especially susceptible to suggestion. Luckily my infection is relatively new, and rather unexplained as my exposure to the public tends to be limited to state functions and the like, you know, the life of a politician.

JULIAN: The ill? Garak, what are you saying?

GARAK: A virus, Doctor. Cardassia appears to be facing a- a minor health issue. We’re trying to contain the infection to one region, but we may have moved… far too late.

JULIAN: A minor health issue? You are a champion of understatement! ‘The ill’ suggests that this isn’t just about you but your ability to hide the facts seems to have been tainted over the years.

GARAK: Doctor?

JULIAN: Since your speech at the Lakarian City memorial, the ridges on your neck have grown paler and your breathing rate has increased.

GARAK: You liked my speech?

JULIAN: Damn it, Garak, you contacted me! How is this the first time that I’m hearing about this? Why is the planet not being quarantined? Your message said ‘medical aid’ – I assumed that I was just coming here as a preliminary consultation having something to do with one of your colonies. Now it sounds like an outbreak that needs to be contained.

GARAK: Doctor, quarantine means announcing the problem to the galaxy. This is an internal matter. You obviously don’t appreciate the severity of this virus, but you needn’t worry – no one is allowed to leave Cardassia, no one is currently being permitted to enter the atmosphere.

JULIAN: I cannot imagine you can contain the population without a reason. Just how bad is it?

GARAK: Oh, I’ve given them a reason, Doctor, but you shouldn’t worry about that. There are more important things requiring your focus right now.

JULIAN: Of course. How much- how many are infected?

GARAK: At last count, the virus had been contained to three continents. Nearly 68% of the population in those regions has been infected.

JULIAN: And you call it a ‘minor issue’ Garak?! That’s a pandemic!

GARAK: Doctor, when I say that the ill have developed a degenerative condition, I speak specifically of their thought processes. It is true that we have determined that it is a virus – a biological contaminant of sorts – but the Central Command is hardly a healthcare organization and while the degeneration is affecting the cardiopulmonary system as well, all of the symptoms seem to be driven by misfiring neurons, and therein lies the problem.

JULIAN: A virus that affects the brain is no small problem. The fact that early infections are showing in terms of dysfunction relatively mild systems doesn’t mean people won’t start to die.

GARAK: Yes, Doctor. And I haven’t.

JULIAN: My God, Garak. You’re infected.

GARAK: Why do you think I contacted you? I want the best.

JULIAN: And hoping that my genetic enhancements will allow me to diagnose your symptoms without scanning equipment?  

GARAK: I really have missed your mistrust, Doctor. The physicians here have the tendency to avoid the necessary dispassion for harder truths. You, however, have a refreshingly forthright bedside manner.

JULIAN: Wow, a compliment. You must be neurologically compromised. Well of course, of course I’ll do everything that I can. Do you know anything more about the virus? How is it passed on? How does it proliferate in the body? Have your doctors attempted any therapies that show any promise?

GARAK: Well, it seems to take several days to propagate in the carrier. During that time, sufferers develop a rather serious cough... [inaudible] …the dispatcher reaches the brain so our assumption it that it is spread through the air. Most hospitals have been closed to all but the infected to try and control the outbreak. As a result, our doctors are learning from their patients as they are treating them. As it stands now, they can only treat symptoms. Medical staff is reporting to external bodies to ensure that anyone studying the infection isn’t also battling a neurological disease. Progress is limited and all too slow.

JULIAN: Garak, I’m not sure how I can help you if I can’t examine you or access your data.

GARAK: Doctor, I’m afraid I can’t allow you to put yourself at risk. After all, I’m counting on you to save us all. And I believe that an outside perspective may be exactly what we need.

JULIAN: So no pressure?

GARAK: You’re a bright man, Doctor – put that genetically-enhanced brain of yours to work.

JULIAN: Well, I can’t examine you from orbit. My shuttlecraft sensors may be able to me that you’re alive, they can isolate you for transport, but they can hardly determine more than the most modest of life signs, and while I can see outward symptoms, Garak, I can’t for the life of me figure out how to see through your skull. I suppose I could transport a tricorder down there for a preliminary scan.

GARAK: I’m afraid I can’t allow that, Doctor.

JULIAN: Oh, of course you can’t. Can you send me your most recent medical scans?

GARAK: Unfortunately, no.

JULIAN: And why not?

GARAK: All of my genuine medical records are routinely deleted and replaced with falsified data. All data rods in which those records once existed have been destroyed, all computers in which the data rods were placed have been vaporized. My dear doctor, I’m the leader of the Cardassian people! Especially now, I can’t afford to broadcast my weaknesses to all, to anyone who feels they could exploit them.

JULIAN: The more things change, the more they remain the same.

GARAK: Meaning?

JULIAN: A presumption of godliness, most certainly a great paranoia. You haven’t managed to find yourself a staff that you trust to protect your life. To be quite honest, I’m surprised your staff doesn’t have implants that allow you to control them.

GARAK: Oh, Doctor, your assumptions hurt me deeply! Of course they do. If news of this infection gets out, and I can’t be clearer than this, Cardassia will be devastated. And we won’t be the only world that will fall.

JULIAN: Garak, you seem to believe that I can cure this virus from orbit, without any information.

GARAK: Well, Doctor, this virus doesn’t only infect the average citizen. Everyone is at risk. Everyone – the government, the military. Imagine if only a few of their people were infected. They find it difficult to concentrate. They’re finding themselves susceptible to suggestion. And what if intelligence agents of foreign governments found their way to Cardassia during this crisis?

JULIAN: It could destroy the Cardassia you’ve been rebuilding for over two decades.

GARAK: Yes.

JULIAN: But quarantine would keep foreign nationals off-planet and keep the rest of us safe from infection, assuming it can even infect off-worlders.

GARAK: Again, Doctor, it would announce the problem before we have a solution.

JULIAN: But it could help produce the solution you so desperately need!

GARAK: The risk is too great, Doctor.

JULIAN: Garak! Lives are at stake!

GARAK: Hundreds, perhaps thousands, to save billions. Doctor – will. You. Help. Me?

JULIAN: First and foremost, I’m a doctor, Garak. And I’m your friend.

GARAK: Yes. One more thing we should keep to ourselves.

JULIAN: You know Garak… you are being more paranoid than usual. You remind me of the exiled tailor I met so many years ago.

GARAK: Ah, but as you said yourself Doctor, the more things change-

JULIAN: The more they stay the same. But Garak, so much has changed. You’re the leader of your people.

GARAK: Julian… let’s drop the pretensions, shall we?

JULIAN: Whatever do you mean?

GARAK: You know that I have rebuilt the Obsidian Order, and the reason that I know that you know is because I know that you are working for Starfleet Intelligence. Your posting at Deep Space 9 is merely your cover. Why would a religious sanctuary like Deep Space 9 need a doctor of your capability, with such a limited Starfleet presence? I must admit, you have done an excellent job of obscuring your intelligence role.

JULIAN: Dear, dear Garak. Have you been keeping tabs on me? I suppose of all people you would be the only person I might be able to trust with such information. Assuming any of your conclusions are true. But Starfleet still has a presence and Deep Space 9 is still a major way station for commerce and diplomacy in the Bajoran sector.

GARAK: Of course you can trust me with sensitive information Julian-

JULIAN: [chuckles]

GARAK: -at least until there’s a reason you can’t. Oh, but let’s hope it never comes to that. I do like you; I did from the very beginning. You may be my only true friend. Since Mila’s passing, our all too infrequent exchanges have been my only respite from a world without trust. The political world on Cardassia deplores a vacuum and the old ways are clung to, even after the war. It took me years to bring Cardassians around to another way of thinking. The arts are celebrated, the people are fed. Life is no longer a struggle, but… paranoia is rampant once more.

JULIAN: Then I suppose you’ve been the ideal leader.

GARAK: Well, I do appear to have the appropriate skill set and experience, yes.

JULIAN: You could always go back to being a plain, simple tailor.

GARAK (LAUGHING): You would be surprised by how many of my old vocations I still dabble in. I’ve even taken up taxidermy! Yes, it’s true! But stuffing a tribble isn’t as challenging as perhaps a six-legged [uncertain] marsupial, but it passes the time. And so many wonderful things fit inside an animal that need only trill to appear alive.

JULIAN: [laughs]

GARAK: But as you said Julian, you are my friend, and one of the things I learned from working in the Obsidian Order under Enabran Tain, was that friends are a liability. Enemies are easy. Friends… friends are the challenge. When I was his protégé I had a job to do, relationships were tools to achieve my objectives. I don’t have time for friends, I don’t have room for emotional attachments.

JULIAN: And then you were exiled.

GARAK: And then… I was exiled.

JULIAN: I had no idea.

GARAK: About what?

JULIAN: Am I your only friend?

GARAK: Well… the only one living.

JULIAN: You said that your cardiopulmonary system seems to be demonstrating symptoms consistent with this neurolytic virus.

GARAK: Mm-hmm.

JULIAN: I need to at least access the database being used by the off-site researchers working on a cure.

GARAK: I’m sorry to disappoint you, Doctor – I’ve never been an ideal patient, as you well know. But while I trust you, I cannot risk any access that Starfleet Intelligence might have built into your shuttle.

JULIAN: Garak, you’re tying my hands. Do you have access to a medical scanner? Can you scan yourself?

GARAK: I’ve been a tailor, a gardener, a spy, who’s to say I’m not a doctor as well?

JULIAN: I suppose stranger things have happened.

GARAK: Oh, a shapeshifter saved the galaxy by going for a swim, a Starfleet captain turned out to be a god, a Cardassian legate turned out to be the devil, you were married to a woman three centuries your senior – stranger things, my dear doctor, happen all the time.

JULIAN: You may have a point. Although to be fair, Dax is three hundred years older, not Ezri. Ezri was several years younger than me.

GARAK: Semantics, Doctor.

JULIAN: Ah, here we are.

GARAK: I’m sorry?

JULIAN: I’ve created an encrypted backdoor to your central database.

GARAK: Ooh, of course you did. Yes, but it won’t help you. Our researches are working in a closed system, it is impossible to access their research through the central network.

JULIAN: Damn it, Garak, I’m trying to help you! I encrypted the access, there was no danger to you or you people! I used a fractal regression to develop access points at either end.

GARAK: And I sincerely appreciate your efforts, Julian. That’s why you’re here. And of course that is why I am convinced no one else will be able to save us.

JULIAN: I cannot do this without any information about the pathogen. And even the smartest person in the galaxy would be hard-pressed to develop a cure to an unknown virus quickly enough to prevent its spread or knowledge of its existence to the outside world.

GARAK: I have faith in you, Doctor. And to put your mind at ease, you should know that very few citizens on Cardassia are even aware that they are infected. And I’ve committed the Order to a substantial misinformation campaign to keep it that way.

JULIAN: How long do you expect that to last? The longer the infected believe that they’re free to live their normal lives or even to travel to and from health centers for treatment for whatever malady they believe they have, the faster the real virus will spread.

GARAK: Well, it seems its symptoms vary in their intensity. The cough can be persistent or periodic. And when that initial symptom passes, the neurological symptoms cause sufferers to present a variety of ailments. It is only those doctors who discovered the virus and were subsequently visited by some associates that are aware of the larger problem. And they are the very physicians currently researching the virus on my behalf.

JULIAN: If you are able to contact them then there’s no reason that I can’t access their data!

GARAK: Doctor, we’ve been through this.

JULIAN: Garak, we’ve been through a lot of things!

GARAK (LAUGHING): Yes.

JULIAN: You didn’t call me here to explain Cardassia’s post-war isolationist bureaucracy!

GARAK: [laughs]

JULIAN: I came because a friend in need asked me!

GARAK: You didn’t know why I called you, Doctor. So please, don’t offer me your selfless pretense.

JULIAN: Pretense?! You think after all this time your lives and deceptions would keep me from helping you? I can tell when you’re lying Garak, and you know when I’m telling the truth. I promise you that no one will ever know about your role in the cover-up of the virus, at least not from me.

GARAK: I… I want you to set course for the southern polar region of Cardassia Prime. The magnetic interference will make it more difficult for prying eyes to access your subspace signal. You’ll find that my alleged paranoia has a purpose. 

JULIAN: Computer, set course 118 mark 72.

COMPUTER: [chimes] Acknowledged.

JULIAN: Engage at one-quarter impulse.

COMPUTER: Course laid in. [chimes]

JULIAN: My signal was encrypted from the very beginning. I assume the same is true of the signal you used to isolate and redirect my subspace carrier wave. Isn’t it a little bit late to begin worrying now, Garak?

GARAK: Our signal may be secure between one another, but any system can be breached given enough time and expertise. And what I have to tell you…

JULIAN: Just tell me, Garak. I’m over the polar region as you asked.

GARAK: Yes, so you are, so you are. Now, good, wait- wait… Good. Now that we’re comfortably alone, let me ask you this: do viruses normally pop up undetected in a population with little to no prior warning? And how many unknown pathogens exist in a planetary ecosystem with our level of technological development?

JULIAN: Well, to be quite honest, pathogens can unexpectedly adapt or cross species barriers. Centuries ago on Earth, industrial pollution led to a climate change which in turn caused previously isolated microorganisms to be released into the biosphere.

GARAK: Yes, you truly have an answer for everything.

JULIAN: It comes in handy. But I suspect you’re going somewhere with this so please, continue.

GARAK: Our research has found some… peculiarities in the viral RNA, and admittedly I don’t understand all of the specifics, but, to put it bluntly, the virus has been engineered. I’m sending you two images of the viral RNA we’ve discovered. The images are all that I can risk sending you now. If you can find the source, you may find a cure. Alternatively, if a cure was not developed… you can avenge my death.

JULIAN: Not currently one of my skill sets, Garak. But why the pretense? You could’ve told me this immediately- actually, don’t answer that. I’ll need some time to do an analysis of this to determine what might work to counteract the viral infection. Annoyingly, there is no systemic treatment that I can even begin to research without knowing the underlying cause. But over the last twenty-five years, you must’ve made all sorts of new enemies. According to the latest intelligence, the only dangerous political intrigue is coming out of the Romulan Empire these days.

GARAK: Yes, well, leading a government comes with its own risks, to be sure, Doctor. But why do they have to be new enemies? Of course the Romulans have never been great fans of mine – I mean I left their embassy’s grounds-keeping staff so many years ago. Oh, those poor orchids, they’ll never be the same. And there’s always Kai.

JULIAN: The Kai.

GARAK: Ah, Kira- Kira, dear Kira’s never been a fan of mine.

JULIAN: We both know that Nerys would have never worked this slowly if she wanted to kill you.

GARAK: [laughs]

JULIAN: And she would only kill you. But Nerys is hardly the same person since she left the militia to join the Vedek Assembly, and now that she’s the Kai, this level of genetic manipulation would have to accomplished by someone with intimate knowledge of the Cardassian physiology as well as the capacity to evade security of your medical system.

GARAK: Yes, although like I said, it is an internal Cardassian matter. I’m sure there are plenty of elder Cardassians who would enjoy watching my life come to an end from torture. Dukat’s father- I mean, uh… [laughs] to one kanar-induced tryst with the man himself, to finally becoming involved with Ziyal, and whatever else-

JULIAN: Wait- wait, wait, wait you- hang on, you- you and Dukat?

GARAK: Ooh, yes. Surprising, isn’t it? Yes, two nights, maybe, before my exile, I’d been feeling quite powerful. I wouldn’t have normally lowered my guard even among my fellow Cardassians. Dukat was enjoying his second bottle of kanar, was looking for someone to blame for his most recent failures to overcome the Bajoran resistance, and there I was. He promised my death from across Quark’s bar. Later that evening he found his way back to my table to apologize – uncharacteristic, absolutely, to be sure. But kanar can do that to a man. We stole away to a quiet corner on the second level to talk, and then we found our way to an unoccupied holosuite.

JULIAN: I don’t know what to say.

GARAK: Well, I don’t need to tell you, Doctor – it was an unplanned direction for my evening to take. And suffice to say it didn’t soften Dukat’s general opinion of me. [laughs] He did keep his distance for a long time afterward.

JULIAN: So, that story had a happy ending, if you’ll pardon the pun.

GARAK: Pun?

JULIAN: Uh, it- it’d be funny on Earth. Though tragic, too – sort of like a sad clown, really. Miles will love it.

GARAK: Doctor, could we perhaps find out what is slowly eating away at me before revealing my darkest secrets to Professor O’Brien over an ale.

JULIAN: Of course, of course. I think the first step is to cross-reference known immunogenic agents that could have been introduced into your system. Even if the virus is a new pathogen, its mode of infection could be a million different things. You should review your schedule and try and determine an environment over which your control was limited, a place where the food and drink could’ve been tampered with or perhaps a place where you could have been unexpectedly exposed to an air assault. But… about this dalliance with Dukat-

GARAK: Oh Doctor, please. Provincial human attitudes aside-

JULIAN: Of course.

GARAK: -your species didn’t always have synthehol, and every species seems to go through a period of poor choices. Believe it or not, Cardassians are a passionate people, a people who yearn to find joy wherever it may lie. And remember, that we were in the midst of a Bajoran occupation and there wasn’t much joy to be had for those of us assigned to Terok Nor. Decades later, my reforms are helping to shape a modern Cardassia.

JULIAN: Understood. Though I take exception to the word ‘provincial’.

GARAK: Oh, of course you do. Now, let me take a look at my agenda… According to my doctors, I could have been exposed more than a month ago.

JULIAN: A month? Well, you certainly waited long enough to contact me.

GARAK: Well, well we do have doctors on Cardassia, and I wouldn’t be much of a leader if I didn’t look to my own people before seeking outside assistance. However, I’m not naïve enough to trust them completely. And what kind of leader would I be if I did?

JULIAN: Fair enough. I need to get some biometric information, please, from you if I’m even to begin researching cures. Can you transport yourself to a hospital with proper scanning equipment that I can access?

GARAK: Oh dear, I- I- I can do better than that, Doctor. I can do better than that. My residence is equipped with some of the best holographic technology in the quadrant – what type of equipment do we need?

JULIAN: I didn’t realize Cardassia had made such strides in holography.

GARAK: Oh, the technology is Federation, actually. Cardassian engineers build wonderful ships, but their work with artificial intelligence isn’t what it should be. Political life has its perks – I even have an EMH.

JULIAN: Well can I talk to him?

GARAK: Doctor, he’s obviously offline during this crisis. We’re wasting time better spent on the issue at hand! Now shall we begin?

JULIAN: Alright. Well the first thing we’ll need is a standard biobed with-

GARAK: Doctor, doctor, wait- I’m detecting a coherent signal directed at your shuttle. Yes, the magnetic currents over the poles should’ve obscured your presence. We may have a problem.

JULIAN: Hang on, it looks like an encrypted subspace signal… but I can’t determine the origin. Stand by, I’m trying- it’s… it’s from Earth. Well, I think I’ve got it. One moment… Jake?

[fade to black]

[CREDITS]

[worldcrawlerhp]

Hermione Granger’s Trial

“We are gathered to hear of the 53 counts of crimes committed by one Hermione Jean Granger:

Arson attempt on one Professor Snape of Hogwarts.

Theft of polyjiuce ingredients from Hogwarts potions stores.

Illegal supply and use of polyjiuce potion to impersonate Hogwarts students Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, and Mimsy the Cat belonging to Millicent Bulstrade—“

“Excuse me sir, the cat was not intentional!”

“Yes thank you Miss Granger. Moving on;

Possession and extended use of an unregistered time turner.

Illegally freeing one Buckbeak, a prisoner due for execution.

Illegally freeing one Sirius Black, a prisoner due for Dementor’s kiss.

Concealing the whereabouts of one Buckbeak and one Sirius Black from authorities.

Kidnapping one Rita Skeeter.

Keeping one Rita Skeeter (unregistered beetle animagus) in a jar for an extended period of time.

Making threats to one Rita Skeeter about her articles.

Starting and masterminding an illegal society named ‘Dumbledore’s Army’.

Practicing and teaching defence spells that were at the time illegal to students.

Lying to High Inquisitor Umbridge about alleged terrorist weapons.

Intentionally entrapping High Inquisitor Umbridge with the Centaurs of Hogwarts forest.

Illegally travelling unaccompanied from school grounds during term time.

Use of magic outside of school grounds.

Breaking and entering the Ministry of Magic.

Destruction of the prophecy hall within the Department of Mysteries, Ministry of Magic.

Destruction of several time turners and experiments within the Time Room, Department of Mysteries, Ministry of Magic.

Performing an unsanctioned obliviation on two muggles, Dr Helena Granger and Dr Martin Granger.

Use of magic to forge muggle documentation of passports, visas, and drivers licences under the names Monica and Wendell Wilkins.

Illegal use of polyjuce potion to impersonate one Harry Potter, Undesirable, however consent was given in this case.

Continued use of illegal undetectable extension charms.

Hiding from authorities as a wanted undesirable.

Hiding from authorities when called in to blood-status questioning.

Accomplice in hiding wanted undesirables Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley.

Threatening one Mundungus Fletcher for information.

Kidnapping one Mafalda Hopkirk and taking a strand of hair without her consent.

Illegally gaining access to the Ministry of Magic under polyjiuce potion.

Theft of Slytherin’s locket belonging to High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge.

Destruction of the residence of one Bathilda Bagshot, Godric’s Hollow.

Attempted destruction of one horcrux, held within Slytherin’s locket, belonging to one Tom Riddle, known as Voldemort, thereby committing partial attempted murder.

Impersonating Penelope Clearwater in front of official Snatchers.

Concealing the true identities of undesirables Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley from official Snatchers.

Complicity and main beneficiary in the destruction of an antique heirloom chandelier of family Malfoy.

Theft of a wand, 12 3/4 inch walnut with dragon heartstring, belonging to one Bellatrix Lestrange.

Theft of a hair of one Belletrix Lestrange.

Illegally impersonating one Bellatrix Lestrange through the use of polyjiuce potion in order to gain access to Gringotts bank.

Accessory to the confunding of two Gringotts security guards.

Accessory to the Imperiosing of Travers Mcgarrin and Bogrod of Gringotts .

Illegally accessing the Lestrange vaults in Gringotts.

Theft of the cup of Helga Hufflepuff from the Lestrange vaults.

Destruction of Goblin-made dragon shackles.

Destruction of underground railroad, entrance floor, and roof of Gringotts bank via illegally riding a dragon.

Intentionally letting a dragon loose in the English countryside.

Breaking curfew in the village of Hogsmeade by apparating into the village after allowed hours.

Illegally gaining access to Hogwarts school.

Destruction of the cup of Helga Hufflepuff.

Destruction of one horcrux, contained in the cup, belonging to Tom Riddle, also known as Voldemort, and thereby committing partial premeditated murder.

Theft of the diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw.

Aiding in the destruction of the diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw.

Aiding in the destruction of one horcrux belonging to Tom Riddle, also known as Voldemort, and thereby aiding in partial premeditated murder.

Destruction of several corridors of Hogwarts school, thereby causing the deaths of 5 Death Eaters.

Solicitor Jenkins, you have the floor.”

“Thank you your honour. It is needless to say that Miss Granger committed all the mentioned acts as direct and indirect ways of freeing the world of Voldemort, something in which she was successful despite all the odds. This has effectively saved thousands of innocent lives and brought back many British asylum seekers to our shores.

I would also like to remind the court that even though a law may exist, that does not make it right, and Miss Granger has shown truly insightful judgement and reasoning in the face of such unjust laws. Many of the aforementioned laws broken by Miss Granger have since been rescinded, supporting my point.

It is also suggested that any punishments required for the remaining offences have been executed tenfold through the unfair persecution of muggle-borns immediately prior and during the Second Wizarding War, being forced into hiding, and suffering the crucicatus cast by Mrs Lestrange. I would like to remind the court that Mrs Lestrange was widely accepted as having mastered the curse, and was imprisoned for life for a list of crimes including submitting multiple of her victims to the cruciatus to insanity. Miss Granger suffered under her wand for approximately twenty minutes.

Therefore it is my suggestion to clear any remaining items and allow the young Miss Granger out of the courtroom as a free woman with a clear record, and allow her to collect her Order of Merlin, First Class tomorrow in person.”

“Thank you Jenkins. Is there anybody here who wishes to press further charges against the defendant?”

There were low murmurs from all corners of the room, but nobody spoke up.

“It is therefore this court’s duty to move to voting of the Wizgamot. All those in favour of a full pardon for the actions just listed, please raise your hands.”

Hands were raised in a sea of red cloaks.

“Those against?”

A couple of members shuffled nervously in their seats but nobody raised their hands.

“With 58 votes for and zero against, this court declares Hermione Jean Granger cleared of all charges. Could Ronald Billius Weasley please take the stand.”

-----

A/N: So this was a little plunny that came to me and I got carried away writing it. I think they would have had to put all three of them on trial after the war in order to clear their names, but when I started writing it I realised that actually... there was quite a lot to what they had done! Anyway hope you enjoyed!

[josefavomjaaga]

Letters from Naples. 1813

All these letters are still from the first half of the year, before Murat (for the last time) joined forces with Napoleon in August 1813. Most of them are only postscripts to “official letters” (which were likely to be opened and read by secret police), some even using an extra secret cipher not used on other occasions, if only to give you this special “007″-feeling.

Translated again from “Helfert, Joachim Murat”.

Mier to Metternich [French, in ciphers].

Naples 16 March 1813.

My Lord Count!

The sort of mystery put from the beginning into the sending of Prince Cariati to Vienna, and the rumours which circulate in the public on the object of his mission, can only cause offence to the French government and will necessarily increase the bad blood of the Emperor Napoleon towards the King, which is already sufficiently pronounced without it. Since his arrival in Naples the king has not received a word from the Emperor; the queen has had two letters, but she thought she had to conceal them from her husband because of their content. The Duke of Berthier told the king at the moment of his leaving the army to return to Naples, that he believed him to be too good a Frenchman not to be sure that he would willingly sacrifice his crown if the interests of France required it. This statement, which the King supposes to have been ordered by the Emperor to prepare him for what he must expect, has increased his distrust and anxiety for the preservation of his kingdom. Knowing the King's character, I fear that this will lead him to some step contrary to his position and his true interests, and will give France a pretext of necessity for the realisation of a project which perhaps for the moment should not yet be put into execution. The departure of the Queen would be in this respect a real calamity for this country, because she prevents by her wise and reasoned advice, and her pleas, many steps dictated by the first movement of the King's hot temper, and which would end up by completely dividing him from the Emperor. At first, on his return, he intended to summon the Estates or Deputies of the kingdom and have himself crowned of the Two Sicilies; it was only by dint of persuasion and entreaties that the Queen succeeded in turning him away from this project.

Accept etc

Mier

Prince Cariati was Murat’s special envoy sent to Vienna  to start negotiations with Austria, apparently behind Caroline’s back.

Metternich to Mier [French, concept; original in ciphers].

Vienna, 20 April 1813. By Neopolitan courier.

Prince Cariati has acquitted himself to me of the commission he is charged with. He told me that the King desired only the preservation of the throne of Naples; that he would renounce his claims to Sicily and was not aiming at any acquisitions; convinced, however, that his existence would sooner or later be threatened by the great preponderance of France, and knowing the liberal views of our august master, H. M. wished to have a guarantee which would ensure his future existence; that this guarantee could only be given to him by Austria, and that the king was ready, on the other hand, to support our approach, if necessary, by all his military forces.

I answered Prince Cariati that the policy of the Emperor did not require to be commented on, that it was sufficiently known in Europe to be generally appreciated at its just value. That we desired only a state of peace deserving of the name; that far from any excess in our designs, and not subjecting the good to the prospects of an often illusory better, we had succeeded in winning the confidence of all the great powers to the point of seeing them, France not excepted, solicit us to change the subordinate attitude of a merely intervening power into that of mediator. That consequently His Imperial Majesty was assembling great military forces to support his words of peace and to bring them to a successful conclusion; but that the mediating Power had no longer any choice; that he could only hope to succeed in so far as he was actually prepared to support his words by war.

As Prince Cariati kept repeating to me that this was undoubtedly the King's way of judging these questions, and that His Majesty had only the most pronounced desire to prove to us that he would be able to uphold, against all odds, the commitments which he had made, I asked him if he had sufficiently precise instructions to enter into a real negotiation with us and full powers to complete it. He replied that he did not; that he felt that full powers were necessary for our own safety, but that as for the instructions I could be assured that the King's views were invariable, and that those which His Majesty had expressed to him at the time of his departure from Naples were confined to the widest possible latitude.

The present courier (an officer of the guards who accompanied Prince Cariati here) is sent by him in secret to Naples. He asks for full powers. You will not have, Count, to meddle in the substance of an affair which is very delicate in itself, and you will keep strictly to the terms of my answer to Prince Cariati above, without taking a step to engage the King to send the document requested by his envoy. You will add, however, that the Emperor nourishes particular feelings of esteem for the King; that His Majesty's policy is entirely conservative, and that he only wishes to see the King rule the people who have devoted all their attachment to him, and that His Majesty is very sensitive to the marks of confidence which this Prince gives him. You can be sure that no evidence of this feeling has ever caused regret to any power.

As Prince Cariati is making his report to the Duke of Gallo, you can speak to him about the present communication, and you will testify to him with the confidence which we personally have in him the conviction that, if we are ready to listen to the King, it is up to him to provide his Envoy with all diplomatic guarantees.

You will also satisfy yourselves that by virtue of the present instructions you have little to add to what I have lately prescribed to you.

If I’m not mistaken the “Duc de Gallo” was minister of foreign affairs in Naples. His ... ability to adapt to several consecutive goverments at odds with each other would later result in a rather awkward situation for him: He refused to go to Vienna for the Congress of 1814 because there he would have met his ex-queen, Maria Carolina of Habsburg.

Mier to Metternich [French, in special ciphers, "très sécrèt"].

Naples this 27 April 1813.

On the return of the King I will carry out your orders, I distrust the minister too much to speak to him about it. He is persuaded of the forthcoming reunion of this country with the great Empire, and always thinking more of his own interests than those of his country and his sovereign, he does everything possible to win the goodwill of the new French government in advance and thereby secure lucrative positions for himself under the new reign. He is known as such from the past and his present conduct has not earned him an appreciation. X. also advised me not to confide in him too much.

I have the honour to be ut in litteris

Mier.

Yes. “X.” would mean “Joachim”. We have literally reached the level of a Bond movie now.

Mier to Metternich [French, in particular ciphers, "très sécrèt"].

this 30 April 1813.

We have consulted with X. about what to say to his wife. I will always keep strictly to your orders, but do not let me miss your instructions. X. requests your friendly advice on what he should say, do, ask, stipulate, promising to follow your advice in everything. All that is required is the preservation of the present fortune and independence.

I have the honour etc.

The book’s author adds a footnote here with an interesting remark:

In Nicomede Bianchi "Storia docum. della Diplomazia europea in Italia I" p. 2 we find the assertion that Metternich had already made contact with Caroline Murat in Paris, and that he had succeeded in turning her away from her imperial brother; Caroline had thus become "nelle mani del principe di Metternich il migliore instrumento per sospingere il re di Napoli a passare nel campo de' nemici della sua patria e del suo benefattore".... Since the "X" of the despatches I reproduced can only refer to King Joachim, and "sa femme" is therefore Caroline Murat, who at that time cannot yet have been fully aware of the contacts with the Viennese Cabinet, this results in the opposite of Bianchi's assertion, which, incidentally, would also be in irresolvable contradiction with other facts and circumstances.

My personal footnote to the above letter: May I find it a little piquant to see Murat ask Metternich for advice on how to break the news to Caroline? “Dear Metternich, as you have slept with my wife, how do you think I should got about this?”

Mier to Metternich [French, in ciphers, postscript 1].

Naples 29 June 1813

My Lord Count!

The article of the Moniteur relating to the isle of Ponza has enraged the King, to the point of making him ill. He has sent Mr. Durand, Minister of France, a very strong note on this subject which states, among other things, that this is the second time that the French gazettes have taken it upon themselves to insult him, and that at the third such article he would respond by dismissing the Minister of France from his State.

The Emperor Napoleon intends to ask the King of Naples again for 20,000 men.

His Majesty gave a negative answer, declaring that not a company of his army would leave the kingdom unless commanded by him in person.

All these measures of the Emperor persuade the King more and more that Emperor Napoleon nurses hostile designs against him and that he would have already put them into execution if he were not too busy on another side. Not omitting any occasion to humiliate him, doing everything to finally weary his patience he has the air of provoking him and finding a pretext of his annihilation in the resistance to his will.

The King sets himself up for any event, and I am convinced that only one Senatus Consult is needed to deprive him of his kingdom.

I have the honour to be ut in litteris

Once more we have Murat getting ill when under stress or in great emotional turmoil. And this time, Mier even has an extra secret postscript to the secret postscript:

Mier to Metternich [French, in special ciphers, 'très sécrèt', postcript 2]

this 29th June 1813.

Napoleon has had the Queen informed that war with Austria was inevitable; that he needed troops; that consequently she should engage the King to place 20,000 men at the disposal of the Viceroy of Italy. Their Majesties await with impatience the answer to Cariati's proposals in order to know the course to be followed in the event of war between Austria and France. The King is still determined to support our interests

Please give me your instructions on the conduct I should follow in the event of war with France

I have the honour etc.

If this is true, if it really was already known in Naples by the end of June that Napoleon wanted war with Austria (which means that Napoleon must have been decided already at the beginning of the armistice and a long time before his meeting with Metternich in Dresden), this is diametrically opposed to the claim of Napoleon-friendly historians, who tend to accuse the allies of not having been sincere in their peace proposals in mid-1813. And it makes me feel like crying, considering how many people at this point put all their hopes in Napoleon making peace. Which he apparently never even seriously considered.

[wallwriterstuff]

The Necessity of Love

So inspired by this post from @lord-diavolo-is-watching 

Okay imagine this : the brothers had a hard time to adjust to the Devildom, so for their first night they all slept together in the living room and the brothers (everyone but Luci, Satan and maybe Mammon) asked if they shouldn't pray because that's what they usually do before going to sleep and Lucifer simply told them:

"Starting from today we don't pray anymore. Father has forsaken us."

Have a fic that literally no one but @ikemen-lover159 asked for :)

Summary: On their first night in the House of Lamentation, Lucifer gives it it’s namesake by lamenting on all the sins that brought them to the Devildom, trying to pinpoint where it all went wrong.

Warnings: Angsty as hell because we don’t know what fluff is here, Satan being somewhat cruel, the boys in distress, questioning the problem of evil.

Words: 2722 because I couldn’t stop once I started please forgive me

I would like to note that for any religious folk reading this, I mean no offence by posing the problem of evil as a way to question God. I followed what seemed like a logical thought process for Lucifer in a time of great grief and pain for all the brothers. In no way is it meant to belittle beliefs of any nature but this fic’s intention is to show how belief might be questioned. I have tried to handle the topic sensitively and apologise if anyone feels it was handled wrong. 

Since their very creation they had been taught to love. They had been taught to be patient, to be kind and to be devout. They had been taught the importance of purity, of chastity and charity. They were supposed to embody the traits that humanity would strive for in their quest for virtue, and they had worked for centuries to become all that He had intended them to be. Among the ranks of angels, there were few higher than them thanks to their devotion and adoration to Him and His cause.

The hypocrisy was stifling.

Lucifer had been created first, famed for his beauty and grace as he diligently served Him. He knew nothing other than the blind loyalty to the man who had breathed life into his lungs and raw power into his soul, not until he was taught compassion and love and everything good. He had been good. He’d been the best at being good! He had been chaste and pure and kind and ensured that his brothers were to. They shared no blood, but they were brothers none the less, created one by one and entrusted to one another to be guided down a virtuous path. They had all been good…hadn’t they?

It had been Him who had asked them to watch humanity, to give the lesser beings something to strive for as they grew into the world gifted to them. His adoration for them was clear so the Celestial Realm had followed suit. Lucifer had devoted himself whole heartedly to learning to love the strange little creatures far below, reaching up their hands as though virtue and grace was something they could snatch from the heavens. He had taught his brothers to do the same and they had spent endless stretches of time watching over the little ones when even He had seemed to grow bored of his creation. Belphegor and Lilith had taken his teachings to heart the most - Lilith perhaps a little too literally.

Lilith.

The agony her name brought was almost unbearable and his fist clenched of its own accord, nails scratching through the delicate fabric of the chair he had sat himself in by the fire. Her love for humanity had been so great it had led her to temptation. The rules were clear, to alter her lover’s lifespan was not an option but his sister was young and as it often did, youth had given way to impetuousness. Lucifer was no fool. He knew the likelihood of their love being accepted amongst the ranks of already sceptical angels, lesser and disobedient angles, was slim. He had thought he had more time to make Him and everyone else see reason, to craft an argument so well made it could be unshattered by any attempts to counter it. He had vetted the man, knew he was virtuous and good and deserving of the love of an angel. If only she hadn’t been so rash in attempting to save his life…

Lilith.

He hissed, the sting in his chest to real to subdue and file away. There was not a moments peace from the grief and the pain he and he alone had to shoulder now. Her only crime had been to love another too much. How could obliteration be the fate she deserved for following His teachings? His crime was worse, he had known it the moment he had suggested it to his brothers, but again it had come from a place of love. He had loved Lilith so deeply the desire to save her had become a maddening need. His own survival had seemingly depended on it, or so it felt like. His brothers had loved him enough to walk right behind him, standing tall as they leapt into the fray. When He had declared that they were all guilty of a grievous sin it had enraged him because…he’d never intended that. His love for his sister had driven him to a rebellion that placed his beloved brothers in just as much danger as she was in.

In the strangely still aftermath of it all he’d come to the conclusion it was his fault, lying on a cold, dirty floor as he waited for something to come and end his misery. When Lilith had began to fall he’d dived with her, his brothers continuing the fight in his stead as he plunged in a desperate attempt to save her. It was all he had ever wanted to do and things had spiralled so far beyond his control it was laughable. Only as she lay dying, his heartfelt goodbye pouring from him as he committed one last act of betrayal out of love for her, did he finally understand exactly how this would end. He had intended to take the blame, to suffer whatever punishment he must in exchange for the lives of his brothers, whose only real crime was to follow a flawed and imperfect angel like him. He still hadn’t seen it even then, the flaws in His Father so many humans were starting to see as they bickered about how best to honour Him.

He hadn’t expected to fly right into the middle of their execution.

He had returned to find them restrained but struggling, fire in their eyes and hope in their hearts. For him to return without Lilith crushed them. Beelzebub, the gentle giant beloved by every angel he had ever met, had gone limp so suddenly that those restraining him sagged to the floor under his sudden dead weight. Dazed at the loss of their sister the six of them had been entirely ready to accept punishment, to join her in returning to the nothingness they’d been created from. He knew differently, he knew she was alive and well now, and as an all-knowing Father Lucifer was sure that the powerful man before him knew it to. Watching Michael’s sword come swinging towards Mammon’s neck, the brother he had known and loved longest, had cleaved his heart in two – quite literally at that.

The bitter anger and betrayal he’d felt, the desperate need for vengeance, it swelled and burst out of him in a great shaft of light that flittered about angrily, the malevolence in it quite obvious. Once its humanoid figure had formed and the light had dimmed, the howl of rage the embodiment of his wrath let loose had shook his very bones. It had taken a lot to restrain Satan when he was first born, and Lucifer knew he had only made things worse by creating him. He honestly hadn’t meant to, but the rage had been too much. Mammon being put to death, his brother calmly taking it as though he deserved to pay for Lucifer’s crimes…it had been too much, and yet not enough. Not enough for their Father, who knew the grief was a greater punishment than death could ever be.

So, with one mighty shove He had pushed them all away.

The fall itself replayed in his head still and he doubted he would ever be granted peace from the memory. Shattering the barrier between the Celestial Realm and the human world had felt like crashing through ice, the shards cold and sharp as they sliced through his skin and the stinging wind did little to soothe the wounds. The cold had quickly become fire, Celestial grace unable to leave the Celestial Realm being dragged up and out through every pore in his body until it combusted and set ablaze the wings so many had fawned over. His brothers screams echoing in his ears, his bones popping like firecrackers as his entire form was diminished. Landing in the Devildom had quite honestly been painless compared to the rest of it all. The slap of cold, hard dirt on his back, stealing his air, was actually a welcome relief, since it meant he no longer had to Fall.

He wasn’t sure what had happened to the others or if they’d tell him their experience, given time to heal, but as his body slowly put itself back together he had been greeted by the animal that would become his familiar. The peacock had strutted regally towards him and pecked at the remaining feather and bone the impact hadn’t quite shed him of. He had stared aimlessly at the sky, letting the peacock preen him as new wings grew in. He had lay there thinking of all that had led him to this moment and reached the conclusion that something had to be flawed. So what was it? Was love flawed? Was humanity? Was it both?

It had been a few days since that moment and he still wasn’t sure of the answer. His brothers were all finally awake, Diavolo granting them power and healing their injuries like an old friend, welcoming them to the Devildom as though they were always meant to have fallen into the depths of its depravity. Their new home was lavish beyond anything they could have imagined and yet…it was too much. To spend all the millennia from the dawn of creation up until now revering the simple things, refuting greed and luxury, made it difficult to be thrust into a world where an opulent lifestyle was not only expected but required. They embodied different virtues now. Pride, greed, envy, wrath, gluttony and sloth. They had been warned of these seven deadly sins and tried their best to aid humans in avoiding them, and now…now they were them. It was all his fault.

Belphegor would happily blame humanity from now till the end of time he was sure, but their predicament to him seemed to stem from love. Lilith had loved a human, and he had loved Lilith, so he started a rebellion and their love for him meant his brothers had joined him on a one-way ride down to the Devildom. He had tried to use that same love since, praying for the forgiveness of his brothers. His Father had quite diligently ignored his pleas and though Lucifer was still undecided if it was love, humanity or both that was a flawed concept, he had reached a conclusion that was equally as harrowing as it was satisfying.

God did not love.

An all-loving Father would have offered a chance at forgiveness, wouldn’t he? An all-loving Father would not have been so cruel as to condemn them to a fate where they would have to endure their grief in a place too unfamiliar still to call home. Death would have been a mercy, so an all-loving Father would have granted them that surely? They were here because they had loved one another too much, and their Father had not loved them enough. It was decided then. Love was a flawed concept. His Father had been wrong to place such high value on such a tempting sin.

“Dammit all!” Leviathan’s howl of irritation and pain had his eyes lifting from the fire crackling in the hearth. Tears pricked at vivid orange eyes, his fingers desperately scratching at the scales that now coated various patches of skin. The digits came back bloody and Mammon’s eyes widened.

“Hey, hey! Stop it Levi, here, here let me see.” He gently forced his brother’s trembling hand away from the self-inflicted wounds. “Hang on, let me get something.” Mammon left in a hurry and Lucifer looked over each of his brothers in turn. The rooms were too lavish, and they weren’t used to sleeping so far apart from one another, so a compromise had been made and plush duvets had been bought down to the living room. Belphegor had yet to wake, his sleeping patterns completely irregular now his body was adjusting to the sloth in him. Satan was engrossed in a book about Devildom history, the only one who was seemingly keen to be down here. Asmodeus had turned his back on them all, huddled in his duvet and staring aimlessly at the bookshelf before him.

When Mammon returned with a bowl of water and a cloth, Levi couldn’t help the quiet sniffle that left him.

“Th-thanks.” He mumbled, trying desperately to keep it together. Beelzebub wasn’t even trying. Protectively wrapped around Belphegor as the latter snored softly, the grief and torment in his eyes was obvious as he watched his older brother hurting.

“The scales are really dry, maybe you should take a bath.” Mammon suggested quietly. His loud, boisterous personality was gone, replaced instead by something horribly timid. Lucifer felt another pang of guilt and anger. He had done this to them all.

“Maybe…maybe we should pray?” Asmodeus’s voice was equally as quiet, weak and uncertain. Lucifer clicked his tongue, his eyes moving back to the flames. He heard the rustle of Amso moving but couldn’t bring himself to look at him. He didn’t want to see any of them if he was honest, the brothers he’d failed. Satan’s quiet snort didn’t go unnoticed.

“Asmo-“

“We usually do before we go to sleep so what’s the harm?” Beelzebub demanded. He had had little patience for Satan since his appearance, convinced that he was the reason they had been tipped into the Devildom and stripped of any chance of re-joining his beloved sister, the final piece to the puzzle that was Beelzebub, Belphegor and Lilith.

“In case you haven’t noticed, he seems to be done listening to you.” Satan sneered.

“Like you would know, you weren’t even an angel! You don’t understand any of it!” Asmodeus protested, “Right Lucifer?” Lucifer couldn’t bring himself to answer. He had tried. He had prayed and prayed and prayed only to be ignored time and again. Their Father didn’t love them, he had abandoned them to this place. He had taught them all to love and gone back on his own word. Lucifer clenched his fist once more, the anger and grief roiling in his gut and making him feel oh so sick.

“All I’m saying is if your blessed Father was all-knowing he would have foreseen this happening, wouldn’t he? So, if he knew it was coming, and is all-loving, why wouldn’t he correct your course? Why not help you avoid this truly terrible fate?” the way he drawled each word really gave it time to sink in and the answering silence spoke volumes.

“He’s…got a point.” Mammon muttered uncomfortably.

“Of course I do, the sooner you accept it the faster you can start adjusting to life here. It might not be all bad. Did you know the Devildom has over 300 types of demon inhabit it?” Satan stated matter of factly.

“And now we do.” Beelzebub said softly. The silence that rang in his ears made Lucifer’s head spin. He pushed up from his chair, levelling each of his broken, beaten brothers with his calmest stare. They all knew better than to question the tears in his eyes or the slight waver in his voice.

"Starting from today we don't pray anymore. Father has forsaken us."

He quickly buried himself in his own bedding after that so they wouldn’t see how much it truly pained him to say it. He pretended not to hear Asmodeus cry himself to sleep. He pretended he couldn’t hear Mammon trying to calm a pained Levi begging him to take the scales away and give him his wings back. He pretended not to hear Beelzebub’s quite goodnight to Lilith, his solemn vow to look after Belphegor woven into the tender words that carried through the air. He pretended to ignore it all even though every bit of pain his brother’s oozed was soaked up by him like a sponge, adding to his own torment. He pretended not to feel Mammon’s hand on his shoulder to as he passed him to settle down to sleep to.

“Have we really been forsaken?” he asked him quietly. Lucifer swallowed thickly.

“Father has forsaken us…but we will not forsake each other.” It was all he could think to say to comfort his younger brother. He would forsake none of them. He would make them whole again as best he could. He hadn’t made a deal with Diavolo for nothing. Even if the world around them changed, even if he himself became unrecognisable to the people that once loved him, everything he would do from then on would always be in the name of family.