#hannah’s name comes before luke’s in the opening credits

[ladyhawke]

10 YEARS OF BLACK SAILS (2014–2017) – Created by Jonathan E. Steinberg & Robert Levine

[new-to-this123]

Monty’s Revenge

As per requested

May I please request a monty x girlfriend reader? where she was raped too and he does everything he can for her and ruins Bryce..  lots of fluff and smut

(I know the request asks for smut, but the direction I took this story, smut didn't fit. When you read it, you'll see why but I hope you'll still like it though) 

 Monty X reader 

warning: swearing, drug use, alcohol, mention and details of rape, fighting 

word count: 2061

NOTES: I haven't posted in a LOOOOONG time. Now that I'm done with school I definitely have more time so I'm hoping to get all my requests caught up!  I hope you guys like this one. 

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

Y/N journal entry

August 27th 2016

Tonight Kat is hosting a party at  her neighbors house. Kats parties are always a good time. Maybe I can get Monty to notice me tonight, who knows, I know people say he's troubled but there's something about him that i just love. 

Anyways i guess i'll let you know how this party goes.  

August 28th 2016

Well lets just say that yesterday didn't go as planned but it was a goodnight! 

I don't remember anything from the party. The only thing I remember is talking with Monty, and Bryce outside of Hannah's house. I was very drunk and so was monty. I woke up in the clubhouse with monty. We both don't know if we slept together, but I think we may have. The signs were all there, I have a few hickeys on my neck, and there's definitely cum in my panties. 

Monty and I hung out all afternoon, then he drove me home. 

Monty kissed me before I left and said he can't wait to see me at school tomorrow! 

I'm so happy! 

Present day (March 2018) 

Y/N was sitting at the lunch table with her boyfriend Monty when Jessica, Clay and Justin show up and sit. 

“Hey Y/N, can I talk to you for a minute?” Jessica asked

“Why?” Y/N asked, since Jessica never really talked to her. 

“It has to do with the trials” Justin  added. 

“Look Y/N has nothing to do with that so leave her out of it” Monty said defensively placing his hand on Y/N’s lap. 

Jessica looks over at Clay and Justin, and takes a deep breath. 

“Y/N there's something i need to show you and it's not easy.” 

“ok ……. So show me” 

“Not here Y/N” Clay adds

“Why not? Anything you have to tell me you can tell Monty!” 

Jessica slides over two pictures.

Y/N looks down at the first one and ,in the corner, she sees Monty passed out on a chair, and in the middle is a naked and passed out Y/N. 

In the second one, Bryce is taking a selfie of him raping Y/N. 

“Where the fuck did you get these?” Monty yelled, grabbing both pictures.

“When were they taken? How did you get these?” Y/N asked with tears filling her eyes.

“There's a box full of them. But i can't tell you when it was.” jessica replied

“We were hoping you would be able to tell us when this happened.” Justin added

“I mean, i.. I don't know, i can't think of a time that i was left alone with Bryce in the clubhouse, Monty has never let that happen.” Y/N replies. 

Jessica, Justin and Clay look over at Monty. 

“Don't fucking look at me! I didn't let this happen!! Im gonna fucking kill him.” Monty said aggressively.

“NO! Let me go talk to Bryce.. ALONE” Y/N said looking at all four of her peers. 

“I want answers and he's the only one who can give them to me.”  

“No way Y/N!” Monty said

“Are you insane?” Clay added

Y/Ns Texts

Y/N: Hey Bryce, wanna grab a coffee at monets after school? 

Bryce: why? Sick and tired of De La Cruz? Never thought you’d last this long anyways. 

Y/N: urg meet me there at 3

“There meeting with him after school, if you don't want me alone you guys can sit at the back of monet's” Y/N said standing up, grabbing the pictures from Monty and leaving. 

“You guys don't come! He’ll know somethings up” Monty said, pointing at Jessica, Justin and Clay.

“Protect her Montgomery” Justin said, looking him right in the eyes. 

Monty walked after Y/N. 

Y/N walked into Monets and saw Monty in the back with Taylor and Kenneth.

“Urg of course he'd bring his lackeys” Y/N thought to herself as she looked at Taylor and Kenneth.

Y/N orders herself a coffee and sits at a table in the middle of Monets, and waits for Bryce. 

At 3;15pm Bryce walked in, went up to the counter, ordered himself a coffee and joined Y/N. 

“Sorry I'm late, got caught up with some of the guys.” Bryce said as he sat down.  

“All cool” Y/N replied

“So what did you wanna talk about huh? Monty being an ass?” Bryce asked with a big smile on his face. 

“No i wanted to ask you when this happened” Y/N said as she slipped him the selfie of Bryce raping her. 

The smile on Bryce's face quickly changed to anger. He leaned forward on  the table and whispered “where the fuk did you get these?” 

“When did it happen Bryce?” 

“When do you think?” Bryce scoffed. 

“ I don't know, that's why i'm asking you?”

“Just know that you wanted it. You were moaning my name the whole time.” 

Y/N swallowed the lump in her throat and asked Bryce again 

“When did it happen?” 

“When did you wake up in the clubhouse with Monty alone?” Bryce replied with a smirk on his face. 

Y/N’s jaw dropped, and suddenly memories of that night flashed through her head.

Hannah’s Party

Y/N is standing outside, holding a beer, sharing a joint with Monty. 

“You know i was telling Bryce on our way here that i hoped you were here tonight.” Monty said as he passed Y/N the joint.  

“I was hoping you'd be here too Monty” Y/N replied, taking a hit off the joint and coughing. 

“Do we have a newbie here” Bryce said as he walked up and wrapped his arm around Y/N.

“ Yes it is” monty replied laughing. 

Y/N walked back into the party and spent all night drinking and smoking with Monty.

Near the end of the night Y/N and Monty were clearly very drunk and high. Y/N was using monty as her support and monty was using Y/N as his. 

Bryce walked up to them “lets go kids! let's get you home” he said as he placed himself between the both Y/N and Monty and wrapped his arms around both of their shoulders.

Bryce walked them to his car, he helped Y/N into the front seat and Monty in the back.

As he was getting ready to drive off bryce said “now now don't fucking puke in my car” 

“No promises” monty drunkenly said from the back, laying down on the back seat, closing his eyes and passing out. 

Bryce placed his hand on Y/N laps. Even in her highly intoxicated state she thought his hand was a little too high up on her thigh and tried to move it. 

“Shhh baby it's ok” Bryce said as he smiled and squeezed her thigh a little harder. 

They got to the clubhouse and Bryce carried Y/N in and laid her on the couch. 

“Monty” was all Y/N could mumble in her intoxicated state. 

“He's in the car babygirl. You're ok. I got you.” Bryce said as he started pulling Y/N shirt off. 

“No” Y/N tried to mumble and squirm away but Bryce overpowered her and stripped her completely naked. 

“I know you want this. Everyone does” Bryce said as he started raping Y/N. 

“The night of Hannah's party. You were supposed to drive us home. Instead you went to the club house and staged the whole thing” Y/N replied, tears building up in her eyes. 

“Naw! Monty walked in on his own and sat in the chair after I got you undressed. And in casual Monty style he was too drunk to notice anything so when i finished i woke him up and told him he fucked you a while ago but i had to leave because it was late and he told me to leave you guys there. He took the credit and look,here you are two years later, still happily together. So why are you bitching, we all got what we wanted in the end” 

Y/N looked at Bryce in disbelief. 

“We all got what we wanted?” Y/N asked a tear falling down her cheek. 

“You got the guy, he got the girl and I got an easy lay” Bryce smiled as he stood up and left. 

“YOU RAPED ME” Y/N yelled as Bryce left Monets and Monty ran to you. 

 “Baby what did he say?” Monty asked wiping away your tears. 

“You walked in when he raped me and you did NOTHING!!!!!!!” Y/N yelled as she pushed monty away running out of Monets. 

“Y/N!! BAAAABE! HOLD UP!” monty yelled running after Y/N. 

“NO! FUCK OFF MONTY!” Y/N screamed tears pouring down her cheeks. 

Monty walked away, angry and heartbroken at what his girlfriend told him. He got to Monets,where his car was parked, and got in and drove towards Bryces house. 

He got to Bryces and went straight for the guest house.

“YOU FUCKING SON OF BITCH” Monty yelled punching Bryce in the face. 

“What the fuck De La Cruz??” Bryce asked, pissed off.

“You raped my girlfriend!” monty replied. 

“She wasn't your girlfriend then and she wanted it! She was moaning my name the whole time” Bryce shot back pushing Monty.

 “NO!!! YOU RAPED Y/N!!!!” Monty yelled again, grabbing Bryce by the collar of his shirt.

“Your bitch wanted it! And if it weren't for that night you two wouldn't be together! So shut the fuck up before i beat you like you dad does” Bryce spat at Monty. 

In that moment Monty’s mind went black with anger and he jumped on Bryce and started punching him over and over again. Kenneth, Taylor, Marcus and Luke all tried to pull Monty off Bryce to no avail. 

“Monty! Stop!” Scott said as he pulled Monty up from the back of his shirt. 

“FUCK OFF” Monty yelled pushing scott, who stood his ground and grabbed monty wrists. 

“CALM THE FUCK DOWN” scott yelled at Monty, as he pulled him out the guest house, to his car. 

“He fucking raped Y/N” Monty told Scott.

“And you fucked him up. Youll be lucky if he doesnt fucking die dude” scott replied. 

“Good, he deserves it!” Monty said, getting into the passenger seat of his jeep. 

“Y/N’s parents are gone for the week, that's where we're going” Scott said as he got into the driver side and drove off. 

“Y/N open up it's me Scott” Scott said knocking and Y/N’s door. 

“Oh my god you are an impatient neighbor!” Y/N said as she opened the door. 

“OH MY GOD MONTY!!!” she yelled as she saw Monty's black eye and bloody nose. 

“You should see Bryce, he looks worse” Monty smiled. 

“Ya pretty sure he almost killed him” Scott replied. 

“You went after your best friend?” Y/N asked, leading Monty to the bathroom. 

“Of course I went after him! He hurt the love of my life, and lied to me about it. He’s lucky I didn't kill him.” Monty smiled. 

Y/N wiped the blood of his face and hands. 

“I love you Montgomery” Y/N said, bandaging his hands.

“I love you too Y/N” Monty replied kissing the top of Y/Ns head. 

“Hey you two im gonna head home i'll see you tomorrow.” Scott said, leaving and heading next door. 

“Let's go cuddle and watch a movie” Monty said wrapping his arm around Y/N’s shoulders 

Y/N and Monty ordered a pizza and cuddled for three movies in her bed. 

“Y/N…” Monty said moving some hair out of Y/N’s eyes. 

“Ya?” Y/N replied butterflies in her stomach. 

“I really love you.” Monty said looking into Y/N’s eyes.

“Monty, i can't have sex, i don't know when ill be able to but I'm not comfortable with it right now. After finding out about Bryce, I don't know, i feel different” Y/N said tears building up in her. 

“ Hey baby girl, it's ok, I'm here for you no matter what and it doesn't matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you to be ready. I love you and I'm not going anywhere.” Monty replied wiping away Y/Ns tears and bringing her into a hug. 

[thequeenxofhearts]

Horror House Chapter 2 | Scooby Doo Fanfic

Rated M

Chapter 2

Cleveland, Ohio

The gang stopped in a hotel in Cleveland, they still had a way to go before they reached Hancock, Michigan.

Velma had her own room, where she researched away, Shaggy and Scooby shared a room and Daphne and Fred shared. Shaggy and Scooby were watching R.E.D on the movie channel whilst they ate their snacks. Daphne was finishing brushing her teeth whilst Fred was on the phone to his mother.

“She ok?” Daphne asked as Fred ended the phone conversation. “Yeah, she’s fine. She said she’ll keep an eye on the house while we’re gone, she’s turned off the gas and the heating and she’ll water the plants in the office.” Fred smiled, “But she’s worried about us going to Michigan.”

“We’ll be fine, Freddy. We always are.” Daphne smiled as she climbed into bed with him. “Mom knows that too, but you know what she’s like, she’s worried ever since we started doing this job.” Fred said, Daphne smiled again.

“But it does feel good though, solving cases and helping people who need us.” Fred said. “It does.” Daphne smiled.

 There was a knock on the door, Daphne climbed out of the bed to answer it, Velma was stood at the door with her laptop, Shaggy and Scooby standing behind her.

“I found something.” Velma said, stepping into the room, Shaggy closed the door behind them. “You should probably sit down.” Velma said.

 Fred sat up, Daphne sat on the bed, Scooby sat on the floor next to the armchair where Shaggy sat, and Velma sat at the desk with her laptop. “Like what did you find Velm?” Shaggy asked.

“A lot.” Velma said. “So, I searched the hotels between Duluth and Hancock and I found one hundred.”

Everyone sighed, “Then I reread the files and the night they disappeared, Jessica texted her mom at eleven o’clock at night saying they were staying at a hotel, they were supposed to be at Duluth at six o’clock. They were, according to the credit card statement, at the Wakefield gas station at four o’clock, leaving two hours to get to Duluth at six o’clock.”

Shaggy yawned, “Stay with me Shaggy.” Velma said, Shaggy nudged Scooby awake with his foot.

“So, between four and six they go missing.” Fred said. “Don’t forget the snow storm.” Daphne added. “Right, that would have increased their travel time by at least an hour, so let’s say seven o’clock.” Velma said.

“Keeping on the snow storm,” Velma said, picking up her note pad, “The storm caused interference with the cell phones, so Jessica probably texted her Angela Douglas between four and seven o’clock but the text didn’t go through, and wasn’t received by Angela Douglas, until eleven o’clock.” Velma said.

Fred and Daphne exchanged looks, “That would explain the time difference.” Fred said. “Agreed.” Velma said. “So, I searched hotels between Wakefield and Duluth, with regular vacancy, and I found seven.”

Daphne’s eyes widened, Shaggy sat up in the chair. “Then what?” He asked. “Then I found out that three other people disappeared from Michigan in the last six months; Ryan Jackson, Molly Brown and Hannah Farr. Molly and Hannah were a couple who got lost coming back from Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. I don’t know about Ryan Jackson.” Velma said.

“Maybe their disappearances are linked?” Daphne asked. “Maybe.” Velma said. “But the police report said that after the storm cleared, they drove up the road from the gas station up to Duluth and couldn’t find anything relating to the missing couple.”

“But, they did find a hotel coming out of the Wakefield, it was at the back of the file.” Velma began, “The owners of the Clifford House Bed and Breakfast said that they hadn’t seen Jessica or Harry. Police searched the property but didn’t find anything.”

“So, tomorrow we go to the gas station in Wakefield and then the hotel the police found.” Fred said. “Good idea.” Shaggy said.

 The next morning, the gang had breakfast in the café across the road, then Fred put the coordinate into the Mystery Machine’s GPS and the gang headed to Wakefield.

 After stopping a few times for food and to use the bathroom, the gang finally arrived in Wakefield. “I think that’s it up there.” Velma said, pointing to an upcoming gas station with a sign on the roof WAKEFIELD GAS AND FOOD

“Luke Alexander, one of the last people to see the couple alive, should be working in there.” Velma said.

 Fred pulled into the gas station, “We could use some gas too. Shag fill her up, Daph and I are going to see if we can find Luke Alexander and speak to him.” Fred said as he, Daphne and Shaggy climbed out of the van. Scooby was wrestling a tube of Pringles, Velma was reading over the files.

Shaggy started putting gas in the Mystery Machine and Fred and Daphne went into the store.

They walked up to the counter where a young man stood on his phone. The young man was tall and skinny with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes which remained glued to his phone. His name badge read ‘Luke’

Fred cleared his throat, “We’re paying for gas from pump number four.” He said, casually. Luke looked up from his phone and at the computer screen, “That’ll be twenty-six dollars.” He said, Fred put $30 on the counter, Luke looked up at Fred. “Hey, you’re those detectives, Fred Jones and Daphne Blake, right?” He asked. Daphne nodded. “What are you doing here?” Luke asked. “We’re investigating the recent missing persons case.” Fred said.

Daphne and Fred showed him their detective badges, “We know you were interviewed by the police after the disappearance.” Daphne said. “Yes, I was.” Luke said, “Which case are you talking about?”

“What do you mean? Were there any other missing persons cases you were interviewed for?” Fred asked. “Just Ryan Jackson, he’s my cousin.” Luke said. “I’m sorry.” Fred apologised. “It’s nothing to worry about.” Luke said.

“When did he disappear?” Daphne asked. “October thirty-firstlast year, after my Halloween party.” Luke said. “He told me he was staying at that hotel in Ironwood, Clifford House I think he said. When he left my party, he was going to stay at the hotel.”

“How far is Ironwood from here?” Daphne asked. “About twenty minutes up the road. There’s not much around it, only grassland, but there’s a diner a little further up.” Luke said. “Thank you, Luke.” Fred said. “There is someone who might be able to help you. I don’t know what his name is, but I know he lives in a caravan park, he used to work for the family who own Clifford House.” Luke said. “The caravan park is down the road, first left and straight on.”

“Thank you so much for the help.” Daphne said. “Here’s your change.” Luke said. “Keep it, thanks for the help.” Fred said. “Thanks man.” Luke said, smiling slightly. “Oh, one more thing, can we stay in the parking lot for a while?” Fred asked. “Umm…sure.” Luke said, confused, looking at the them both.

 Fred and Daphne stepped out of the store, “I realise that what I said to him sounded suggestive.” Fred said, Daphne laughed.

They return to the van and Fred moved into the parking lot next to the gas station. Velma signs into their online detective portal and brings up the missing persons files and bring up Ryan Jackson’s file.

“Yes, Luke Alexander is Ryan Jackson’s cousin and he did disappear on October thirty-first last year.” Velma said. “The missing persons report was filled out on November third, Luke was interviewed on November fifth, as he was one of the last people to see him.” Velma said.

“Everyone else at the party was drunk, I guess?” Shaggy asked, “Drunk and doing drugs.” Velma said, “There was also a drug investigation and Ryan’s disappearance was kind of put on a shelf, until all of the party goers were interviewed, it affected the case, but none of them were suspects.” Velma said.

Daphne looked at the laptop, “Luke said in his statement that Ryan wasn’t drinking at the party and he didn’t know about the drugs, but he was staying at a nearby hotel.” Daphne said.

“Like, what hotel was it?” Shaggy asked. “Clifford House.” Daphne said. Velma Google searched Clifford House. “The hotel opened thirty years ago, the owners are Thomas and Luelle Clifford, they named the house after themselves.” Velma said, in an odd voice. “So, lots people name things after themselves.” Daphne said. “That’s why its weird.” Velma said.

“They have five children.” Velma said, then, “Oh, had.”

Had?” Shaggy asked.

“One of their daughters, Beatrice, was murdered in the house nine years ago.” Velma said. “What?” Fred asked.

“It says she was murdered by a guest named Jack English. He had apparently been out drinking and returned to the hotel, when he walked up the stairs he bumped into the children and out of nowhere he threw Beatrice down the stairs.” Velma said.

“Oh my god.” Fred said. “She was only five and the fall broke her neck and spine, she died straight away.” Velma said.

“Jack English was given a life sentence.” Shaggy said, as he looked at the laptop. “Yeah, some jackass made up rumours that the Beatrice was haunting the hotel, plus it was the sight of a murder. Loads of people started visiting the hotel, but then the Clifford’s warned people that if they were only coming to the hotel to ‘find Beatrice’s ghost’ then they were asked to leave.” Velma said.

“I think we should check out the hotel.” Velma said. “No, we need to go somewhere else first. Luke said a man who used to work for the family lives in a caravan park down the road.” Daphne said. “He might be able to help us before we go to the hotel.” Fred said.

“Alright then.” Velma said, “Let’s go.���

[dailybiblelessons]

Saturday: Preparation for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

This week's blog post is here. It has information about apocalypses and summaries and links for the week ahead.

More information about the complementary and semi-continuous series is here: Which Series?

Complementary Hebrew Scripture from The Writings: Daniel 4:28-37

All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king said, “Is this not magnificent Babylon, which I have built as a royal capital by my mighty power and for my glorious majesty?” While the words were still in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven: “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: The kingdom has departed from you! You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals and gives it to whom he will.” Immediately the sentence was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from human society, ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers and his nails became like birds' claws.

When that period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me.

I blessed the Most High,  and praised and honored the one who lives forever. For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty,  and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,  and he does what he wills with the host of heaven  and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can stay his hand  or say to him, “What are you doing?”

At that time my reason returned to me; and my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom. My counselors and my lords sought me out, I was reestablished over my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven,

for all his works are truth,  and his ways are justice; and he is able to bring low  those who walk in pride.

Semi-continuous Hebrew Scripture from The Former Prophets: 1 Samuel 3:1-18

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Then the Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.”

Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.”

Complementary Psalm 16

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;  I have no good apart from you.”

As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble,  in whom is all my delight.

Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;  their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out  or take their names upon my lips.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;  you hold my lot. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;  I have a goodly heritage.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;  in the night also my heart instructs me.

I keep the Lord always before me;  because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;  my body also rests secure. For you do not give me up to Sheol,  or let your faithful one see the Pit. You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy;  in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.¹

¹Peter uses these verses in his address on the Day of Pentecost, in Acts 2:25-38. Beginning with “For you do not” Paul uses these verses when he preaches at Pisidian Antioch in Acts 13:13-43.

Semi-continuous Canticle: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the Lord;  my strength is exalted in my God.¹ My mouth derides my enemies,  because I rejoice in my victory.

“There is no Holy One like the Lord,  no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly,  let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge,  and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken,  but the feeble gird on strength.

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,  but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven,  but she who has many children is forlorn. The Lord kills and brings to life;  he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich;  he brings low, he also exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap,  to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,  and on them he has set the world.

“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,  but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail. The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered;  the Most High will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;  he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.”

¹Mary uses the same idea in her song of praise, which we call The Magnificat, recorded at Luke 1:46-55.

New Testament Gospel Lesson: Mark 12:1-12

There are parallel passages at Matthew 21:33-46 and Luke 20:9-19.

Then he began to speak to them [the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes] in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this scripture:

‘The stone that the builders rejected  has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing,  and it is amazing in our eyes’?”¹

When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away.

¹Psalm 118:22-23

Year B Ordinary 33 Saturday

Selections from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings copyright © 1995 by the Consultation on Common Texts. Unless otherwise indicated, Bible text is from Holy Bible New Revised Standard Version with the Apocryphal / Deuterocanonical Books (NRSV) copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All right reserved. Parallel passages are as indicated in Modern English Version (MEV), copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When text is taken from the MEV, the passage ends with (MEV) and the foregoing copyright notice applies. Footnotes in the Christian Scriptures that show where a passage from the Hebrew Scripture is used are from The The Holy Bible: New International Version ® (NIV®), copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. When text is taken from the NIV, the passage ends with (NIV) and the foregoing copyright notice applies.

Note: The links in the titles above take you to Amazon, where you can purchase them and benefit The Lectionary Company. Image credit: Parable of the husbandmen. Book miniature. 11th c., via Iconography of Passion Week. This is a public domain image.

[londontheatre]

Rufus Norris’ CABARET starring WILL YOUNG, who reprises his award-winning performance as the Emcee, and LOUISE REDKNAPP, making her stage debut as Sally Bowles, is breaking records at the box office as the production begins its UK tour.

Playing to packed houses at the New Wimbledon Theatre where the production opened on 21 September and broke box office records for a 12-show run, CABARET is proving a hit with audiences across the country as sales of the landmark musical are exceeding expectations. At Theatre Royal in Brighton, CABARET is officially the highest grossing single week-long musical in the theatre’s history, and at Malvern Theatre, the show’s sales have smashed records as the highest grossing single week-long musical or play.

Currently in Malvern Theatre, CABARET continues its autumn tour until 9 December, and visits Cardiff New Theatre, Leeds Grand Theatre, Milton Keynes Theatre, The Lowry in Salford, Edinburgh Playhouse, Churchill Theatre Bromley, Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre and Brighton Theatre Royal.

CABARET features show-stopping choreography, dazzling costumes and some of the most iconic songs in musical theatre including ‘Money Makes The World Go Round’, ‘Two Ladies’ ‘Maybe This Time’ and of course ‘Cabaret’. The production turns Weimar Berlin of 1931 into a sassy, sizzling haven of decadence, and at its dark heart is the legendary and notorious Emcee, who performs nightly at the infamous Kit Kat Klub.

Since its Broadway premiere in 1966 and the famous movie version with Liza Minnelli and Oscar winner Joel Grey, CABARET has won a staggering number of stage and screen awards including 8 Oscars, 7 BAFTAs and 13 Tonys. Norris’ production has enjoyed two smash hit West End runs and has picked up 2 Olivier Awards.

Internationally renowned singer/songwriter, WILL YOUNG, reprises his Olivier Award-nominated performance as the enigmatic Emcee. Ever since winning the inaugural series of Pop Idol in 2001, Will Young has been one of the UK’s most popular and successful music artists. He holds the record for the fastest selling debut single in British chart history, and has enjoyed a phenomenal career in music with four No1 albums, as well as acting alongside Dame Judi Dench in the film Mrs. Henderson Presents.

[See image gallery at http://ift.tt/1FpwFUw]

  LOUISE REDKNAPP rose to fame as a member of the girl group Eternal. She left the band to carve out a successful solo career achieving an impressive twelve Top 20 singles, including the hits Naked and Stuck in the Middle and selling over 5 million records with 5 albums. Since then she has rarely left our television screens and most recently wowed the nation with her dancing skills finishing ‘runner up’ in the 2016 series of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing.

The cast also includes Susan Penhaligon as Fraulein Schneider. Best known from the popular television series Bouquet of Barbed Wire and the sitcom A Fine Romance with Judi Dench, Susan’s film appearances include Under Milk Wood, The Land That Time Forgot and Paul Verhoeven’s Soldier of Orange. Extensive stage credits across the UK include Dangerous Obsession, Mrs Warren’s Profession and The Constant Wife. West End credits include Three Sisters and The Real Thing.

Joining her are: Basienka Blake (Fraulein Kost), Linal Haft (Herr Schultz), Charles Hagerty (Cliff Bradshaw) and Nick Tizzard (Ernst Ludwig). The company is completed by Maria Garrett, Sophie Hirst, Luke Jackson, Katrina Kleve, Jordan Livesey, Liam Marcellino, Alicia Mencia, Jack Mitchell, Hannah Nicholas, Helen Siveter and Matthew Wesley.

Rufus Norris is Director of the National Theatre and a multi-award winning theatre and opera director. For the National Theatre, he has directed The Threepenny Opera, wonder.land, Everyman, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, The Amen Corner, Table, London Road (Critics Circle Award), Death and the King’s Horseman, Market Boy. Other theatre includes Vernon God Little (Young Vic), Les Liasons Dangerouses (Broadway – five Tony Award nominations), Festen (West End and Broadway) The Country Girl (Apollo) and Afore Night Came at the Young Vic (Evening Standard Award). Film credits include London Road and Broken.

Choreography is by Javier De Frutos who won the Olivier Award for his work on this original production of Cabaret. Named by the Evening Standard as one of 2016 most influential people, he’s one of only three artists in the history of the Olivier Awards to receive nominations in all dance categories. Other awards include an Evening Standard Award for The Most Incredible Thing in collaboration with Pet Shop Boys, Critics’ Circle Awards for Milagros with Royal New Zealand Ballet and Fiction for BalletBoyz named Best of Dance by The Arts Desk and Top 10 by the Guardian for 2016.

You may have seen this show before, but go again! This production has everything you loved about the original with a few added elements to keep it fresh and relevant. “Life is a Cabaret old chum, go see the Cabaret!” Read our review of Cabaret

CABARET – TOUR DATES 2017

Thursday 21 – 30 September Box Office: 0844 871 7646 New Wimbledon Theatre http://ift.tt/2lAJSam

Tuesday 3 – 7 October Box Office: 0844 856 1111 Blackpool Opera House wgbpl.co.uk

Tuesday 10 – 14 October Box Office: 01684 892277 Malvern Festival Theatre malvern-theatres.co.uk

Tuesday 17 – 21 October Box Office: 029 2087 8889 Cardiff New Theatre newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

Tuesday 24 – 28 October Box Office: 0844 848 2700 Leeds Grand Theatre leedsgrandtheatre.com

Tuesday 31 October – 4 November Box Office: 0844 871 7652 Milton Keynes Theatre http://ift.tt/2sD3ccd

Tuesday 7 – 11 November Box Office: 0843 208 6000 Salford Quays, The Lowry thelowry.com

Tuesday 14 – 18 November Box Office: 0844 871 3014 Edinburgh Playhouse http://ift.tt/2lAPTDS

Tuesday 21 – 25 November Box Office: 020 3285 6000 Churchill Theatre Bromley churchilltheatre.co.uk

Tuesday 28 Nov – 2 December Box Office: 00353 1 677 7999 Dublin, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre http://ift.tt/RbxcU5

Tuesday 5 – 9 December Box Office: 0844 871 7650 Brighton Theatre Royal http://ift.tt/2sC8YdY

Further dates to be confirmed…

http://ift.tt/2kGcPmX LondonTheatre1.com

[laureviewer]

My Year in Pictures: 2016

Having realised I posted so little last year, it’s time to get back into it with a lovely little memory post - my year in pictures, once more!

So in January we had just got back from travelling and had Christmas back in England, so really very little happened as we were very tired and broke and searching for jobs. But we saw our lovely friends who we’d missed loads over the last four months - I will always be grateful for those who stick around for us to come back to. 

Gacy? Storge?

In February, we did what we do every year - make sure we don’t go out on Valentine’s Day because of the ridiculous prices and busy-ness, and went out for dinner for an anti-Valentine’s instead. 2 for 1 cocktails are fun when one of you has to drive ;) 

George, Stacey, James and I (AKA Universally Challenged) lost at the pub quiz in the Comrades Club, though we really won as coming dead last means you get FOOD.

Tash, Beth and I also met up for Beth’s birthday, when we went to Soton for the ultimate student night in Jester’s - that student club where you have to wear old shoes because God knows what crap you’re going to get from the sticky floors in there. 

In March, I took THE PLUNGE. One I had been wanting to take for years. I got a tattoo!! My little Mantine is on my left thigh, happily swimming around like the manta rays we swim with in Fiji on our round-the-world trip (though he is a little smaller than the ones we met). It was sore but not as bad as I thought… though doing it on your ribs like I thought I wanted originally might be a different story. This is a photo of it on the day: 

And how could George, Stacey, James and I pass up a Misugo’s and Creams? 

God knows what we did in April, other than watching Eurovision with Alec… where a face swap meant that a celebrity turned up out of the blue!

In fact, April (or really March 30th) saw me start my new job with the Haulfryn Group as a Marketing Executive, where I still am today. 

In May, Beth came up to see me, and we took a lovely summery walk around Virginia Water Lake. 

Then James and I made sure we went to Comicon in London, where we finally got to meet our idols, the Yogscast & Hat Films! They really were lovely, especially their man man Lewis, who made sure to talk to us for ages despite the hours-long queue behind us! 

In June, Stef and I showed our mutual love/obsession with sushi by having a sushi-making session (though I may have got a bit tipsy and got impatient with all the fiddly rolling!). 

For those of you who remember (or care) the Queen turned 90 in June, so at work we had a ‘dress like a royal’ day. I won and my fellow Marketer/graphic designer Hannah (AKA Kate Middleton) came second! 

July marks the second half of the year, and also when my year started to pick up. That always seems to be the case with me - I do so much more exciting things in the second half! Though nothing could top my 4 months travelling, I’m sure. 

James and I took advantage of my company being the owner of holiday parks throughout the UK and took a trip down to Paignton, Devon, to stay in a luxury lodge, relax, and see his lovely cousins who live down there. We even had a hot tub!! 

We also finally met his cousins’ hairless kitties, who are actually gorgeous and not weird like so many people think about hairless cats. They were so friendly, though it is a bit weird stroking something without any fur! The female with a little bit of fur is named Lumi, and the completely bald male is Kuro (photo credit to Elise Preston for the latter). 

Those eyes though.

James and I also took advantage of the lovely scenery around us and the hot Summery days to play Pokemon Go, as it had only just come out then! 

I was also reunited with my uni girls again in Shoredich (2 out of 3 of them) and we had a lovely time, eating delicious street food and catching up (dat oversized bag wow)!

My nephew also turned 1 on the 16th of July, so my sister had a birthday party for him. 

In August I saw the girls (and Freddy!) again at a Hong Kong Drinking Team gig in London; perfect location for all of us to meet up! 

I also took time off work to spend time with my little sister Harriet at the beach…

…had more sushi and plum wine with Stef at Mikado’s…

…and saw the girls (all of them this time) again in London!)

Also in August, James and I took a day trip into London to take advantage of Harriet’s Merlin pass! 

We had crocodile and ostrich burgers at Shaka Zulu (a cocktail, burger and chips for £10 in the middle of London, whaaaat?) and then went onto Maddam Toussards - somewhere I’d never been, but had wanted to ever since seeing loads of them dotted around countries you’d never even think they’d have them on our travelling adventures. 

We met loads of celebrities there too #blessed.

With that chaotic month over, September didn’t slow down that much, with our friends Rosie and Josh having a leaving party before they jetted off to South America to do some travelling. 

See my Facebook timeline for an amazing video of Josh’s dancing!

My sisters and I also took my dad out for a late Father’s Day trip into London to again take advantage of Harriet’s Merlin passes - we went to the London Dungeons and the Aquarium! The Dungeons were brilliant, having not been there for ages, - of course my dad pointed out every inaccuracy, and Amelia being pregnant meant she couldn’t go on the little rides they had in there, haha!

Beth also came down to go to one of James’ gigs…

…and I was sad to have to move offices in September, as my commute would be slightly longer and I’d miss reading by the beautiful Thames on my lunch breaks. 

October saw Stef turn 23, and we had a big house party over her’s, which was great fun! Sam debated heavily with her mum, we took some great photos, and I saw Laura again for the first time in nearly 2 years. ^-^ 

We also went back down to Devon to see James’ cousins again…

…went to MCM again and met Tomska, another of our Youtube heroes…

…and finally I went down to Soton to go with the girls to Oceana for Halloween! We had such a good time at predrinks together in our posh little hotel rooms.  

Sadly, James’ gran passed away at the end of September. However, she very lovingly left her home to James, and so we had spent the whole of October and November doing it up, so that we could finally live together after 7 whole years of being together. It took weeks of painting and sorting and carpets and quite a bit of our savings, but it was totally, completely worth it, just to be finally living together after so long.

In November, our lovely neighbour, Joe, installed our shower for us and put up the beautiful splashboards that we picked in a stunning slate colour. 

November marked our 7 year anniversary - can you believe it?! 

So, at the end of the month we went to the Ice Bar and Winter Wonderland, both of which we’d never been to before, so it was lovely and a completely new experience, going around one of the biggest Christmas markets in the UK. 

And what anniversary would be complete without sushi…

Weirdly, PM Theresa May came to our work on Friday to open our new Maidenhead offices, being the constituent for Maidenhead. She had her funky shoes on and looks suitably confused. This may be when one of our managers asked “Is Brexit actually going to happen?” 

December was SUCH a busy month. Not least because James and I FINALLY MOVED IN TOGETHER!! My cats tried to sabotage our efforts however by camping in my last pile of dirty laundry…

We moved in on the 2nd of December, and due to our efforts of the previous couple of months, it very quickly felt homely and cosy. We bought 2 sofas from the charity shop, put up the Christmas decorations, and - most importantly - made sure both our computers fit in the living room for optimal gaming time!

Despite being pretty ill the first week, it was great.

Our good friend Lynne even made us this lovely moving in present!

After all that excitement, I had a very early birthday party on the 10th of December, seeing all my friends in the local pub, The Squirrels. 

I also made sure to see the girls from uni one last time this year in London for dinner and drinks.

In the middle of December, Haulfryn had a Christmas party, which I could take James along to. It was really fun - it was a masquerade mall in Reading, with a three-course meal and wine, as well as acrobats and other acts to keep as all entertained, and a casino for James to try his luck! Having been at Haulfryn for almost a year now, it’s nice to be able to go to a big event like this. 

For my birthday this year, James really went all out. I had no idea what he had planned - only that we were going to London, and I had to wear my Pokemon dress! So I donned it and off we went.

First he took me to Sticks ‘n’ Sushi in Covent Garden for a late lunch - and as all I seem to eat is sushi you’ll know how incredible that must have been!

Mmmm big decanter of sake.

Then afterwards we got on the tube to Hammersmith, where the London Philharmonic Orchestra were playing… and what were they playing? Pokemon!

It was incredible - they played music from all of the games, telling the stories of the games throughout, and showing a lot of the game footage on their screen. It was incredibly nostalgic, amazingly well done, and even if you aren’t a fan of Pokemon, the Philharmonic are obviously incredible, and so the music was flawless. 

I couldn’t have asked for a better (or geekier) birthday. Thank you James. 

On the 23rd, Hong Kong Drinking Team had been asked to headline the ‘best of the year’ show in the Facebar, and so I went along - and they didn’t disappoint. While most of the acts were heavy, James and his band dressed up as Christmas characters (James: Santa; Jack: Jesus; Dave: sexy Christmas pudding,#; Luke: Bongle the Bear from Rainbow (he thought it was a reindeer in the fancy dress shop); and Charlie: sexy elf). And boy, was Charlie a sexy elf. They did Santa Baby and Charlie was especially camp. My favourite gig of theirs for the whole year!

Christmas was incredibly special this year, as for the first time James and I didn’t have to balance our days - we were just together. As cheesy as it sounds, it was magical! 

For Christmas Eve, we went to a onesie party up a the Squirrels to see in the big day.

Christmas Day saw us opening our stockings together, and then going to the Squirrels for Christmas drinks. 

Afterwards we had a lovely Christmas dinner with the Skinners and a chilled out evening.

On Boxing Day, after seeing my Mum and Amelia, James and I had my dad and Harriet over, as my dad hasn’t had a family Christmas in a few years. It was great - we played Cards Against Humanity (which my dad loved!), I cooked, and James’ parents came over late afternoon.

The last few days of the year were just as exciting. On the 30th, it was the Squirrels’ landlady’s birthday, and so we had an 80s night up the pub!

James also met Jess’ South African boyfriend Adrian, and now I’m worried about us staying together… they have a proper bromance going on!

Seeing in the New Year was just as great, with karaoke, dancing, and lots of booze. 

And lastly, as I put on a bit of weight travelling and got out of my fitness regime, I took up running this year rather than paying for the gym. It’s amazing how much more you want to exercise when you don’t have to travel as well! I smashed my distance goal for the year, and running has now become part of my lifestyle as well as an easy way to keep healthy. 

Thank you 2016, it’s been an incredible year. Here’s to the next - the first one of me being a ‘proper’ adult, responsible for a home. Gulp.