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rattini · 5 months

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Honey Whiskey // x

The honey whiskey's kickin' Go down, go down I think I better go before I try something I might regret But if you wanna free your body tonight It's our secret, it's our secret

The Ghoul x F!Reader

Set years before the events of the Fallout TV show.

The unfortunate plaything of a drug lord with a bounty on his head, you’re dragged to a bar as his little pet. With nothing else to do but drink with them, you try to lose yourself in liquor, wondering how long this was going to be the theme of your life. Luckily for you, the bounty on the head of your captor has attracted the attention of a ghoul with nothing to lose. A man you noticed eyeing you and the men accompanying you from across the room for more than an hour, before letting loose his bullets into the heads of everyone but you. Hazy from alcohol, you ponder if you should return the favour, the only way that has worked for you so far.

You’re used to being a ‘pretty thing’ on the arm of a man trying to prove his power, it had been your primary mode of survival not long since you were evicted from your vault. Sneaking around the desolate wasteland with minimal water and just enough drugs to curb the pain of your current skin affliction got old fast. Your self-doubt had convinced you that surviving alone wasn’t an option. When a group of leering, greasy men cornered you one afternoon in the highest heat of the Mojave sun, your fight or flight response chose fawn. It was easy enough, you figured standards had dropped significantly out here these days, yours clearly had.

Right now, you were tethered to a sweating hog of a man with a severe lack of investment in personal hygiene, who had made himself more than acquainted with your inner thigh. He bragged endlessly about being untouchable, the most powerful fucker in these parts. Men and their need to showboat. Eyes were not on you at present, that you were aware of at least, so you allowed yourself to roll them in response to his gloating. Fortunately, as a perk of being his little toy, you were welcome to help yourself to the liquor decorating the bar where you sat.

Perched delicately on a stool, you had little choice but to sit properly, since you were donned in a less than savoury getup that didn’t really flatter you in the slightest. Either way, it crept uncomfortably far up your thigh, you were pretty sure your asscheeks were stuck to the cracked leather of the bar stool…but anything for easy access, right? That’s all that mattered for you now. You had made your bed, now you had to lie in it, on your back usually. For every grubby prod of his fingers, you sip a little harder at the old whiskey in your glass, a task in itself since your wrists were bound. You had just enough freedom to grip a glass and bring it to your mouth, but your ankles were also bound, so you weren’t going very far any time soon. Swallowing down the sting in your throat, you barely grimaced at the taste as the heat spread through your chest. It was rather pleasant really, or at least, the growing fuzziness in your limbs and face were.

Your boredom grows as the evening drones on, your eyes wander across the room. A dingy old bar, all but a few patrons scared off by your adoring captors. Except one. You’d noticed them from the corner of your eye near an hour ago, focus shifting away from them easily from the liquor. An unmoving figure draped across an old couch, head bowed low, crowned with a cowboy hat with legs lazily spread. You find yourself pondering them some more, intrigued by their mystery, coyness lost on you at this point as alcohol seeps into your bloodstream.

Just as your focus intensifies, you notice their head rise, the brim of their hat revealing a dark, masculine jaw. His body remained unmoving, but you can’t help but feel like his attention is fixated on you. Attempting to shake the feeling of being watched, you turned your own attention fleetingly back to your glass, which was near empty. Disappointed, you attempted to reach over the counter for the bottle of whiskey balancing on the edge of the bar. Unaware of the flesh you were flashing to do so, you park yourself again, fumbling the bottle with your barely free hand to pour yourself another glass and meeting your lips with it. Tilting your head back far enough for the liquid to escape down your throat, you glance once more at the man in the corner. His eyes, visible through dark sockets under the brim of his hat, are hooked on you more obviously this time. Feeling warm and brave, you meet his gaze, trying to decipher what kind of face is hiding beneath the shadows. Visible are his sclera, but his irises appear dark, along with the rest of his features. You didn’t mind his gawking, enjoying the dangerous entertainment it provided for you.

Interrupted by the poking grip of stubby fingers above your knee, your eyes dart back at the raider, drug lord, scumbag whatever-he-was. He wasn’t looking at you, but his hands were wandering all the same. Gliding up the inside of your thigh, causing shudders to rise from the base of your spine. The encroaching tipsiness meant hiding your grimace was more of a challenge, and so you twisted your neck with a look of disgust you hoped no one would notice. But it didn’t go unnoticed. Lifting your eyes again, you notice the man is still looking at you, posture leaned forward, revealing his visage. A ghoul. Not awful on the eyes either. Hell, not that your current company was anything to compare to. He noticed your eyes widen and it cracks a smirk on his mottled skin, head cocking to the side. Unblinking, your cheeks flush hot for a second, your only choice to swallow hard and shake it off.

A sharp tug on the rope slowly cutting into your wrist yanks you from your drifting gaze. A waft of halitosis and liquor exposes his intoxication, which probably also meant his desire to have his way with you was near. Encroaching on your personal space, which didn’t really belong to you anymore anyway, he leans in with an open mouth, ready to take what he wants from your lips. The pungency of his breath almost knocks you off the stool, and when he notices you lean away from his kiss, he makes sure that you do end up on the floor. Crashing to your knees with an audible pop of your joints, you let out a cry that brings a wicked grin to his lips. Stifling a growl as you ride through the pain of your aching joints, you’re ordered to return to your feet. Knowing full well that you’re unable to get up, the raider boss drunkenly draws his shotgun to meet your forehead.

“Up, bitch.”

You shoot him a furious but desperate stare through furrowed brows, despite being in no position to argue with him. You attempt to return to your feet to no avail, through stifled groans of pain that radiate in your kneecaps. Growing more frustrated by your lack of movement, the raider disables his safety and your heart drops. A cold sweat beads rapidly against your back, this time bracing yourself for his inevitable itchy trigger finger.

A gunshot.

Followed by another.

Eyes squeezed tightly shut, reflexes delayed by your assurance that at least one bullet was lodged in your flesh, but no pain followed. Your ears ring from the gunshots and you spring your eyes open to check yourself. The spattered blood of the man accompanying you covered your front, but it seems you were free of any further injury. Vision darting around the room, you attempt to collect your gall and figure out the situation. To your right, two more raiders, the lackeys, guns poised straight ahead of them. To your left, the ghoul on the couch, now standing with a revolver in each outstretched hand. The standoff is short-lived before the ghoul sinks a bullet into the forehead of each raider, splattering their grey matter across the dingey walls of the now abandoned tavern.

Silence fills the room, besides a few debris clattering to the floor and the thudding of your heartbeat pounding through your ringing ears. Your chest heaves as the panic sets in, you may have been spared, but that means very little in the wasteland. You come to the assumption that you’ll be next by association. Unable to return to your feet, your hands reach to cover your head as you hear the clicking of the ghoul’s spurs approach with each heavy step. As the footsteps cease, you dare peek at the boots that have appeared at your knees, following them up until you find the face of the man they belong to. Towering over you, his eyes darken to an almost predatory look. His gloved hand finds your bound wrists and he lifts you to your feet in one rough swoop, propping yourself on shaking legs as you stand uncomfortably close to him.

A knife emerges from its sheath to meet the soft skin of your neck, drawing up to linger on your bottom lip. You don’t take your eyes off him for a second, hoping the familiar deer-in-the-headlights tactic will prove useful once more. It was almost embarrassing how often it had saved your life out here. The ghoul keeps your gaze, unblinking, cocking his head to the side as if he were considering something. His stare bores into you, eyes oddly warm brown to match the heat radiating from under his duster. The blade slowly raises past your eyes, where he still firmly holds your aching wrists above your head. With a swift tug and low grunt from his throat, the rope bindings loosen and release the pressure from your joints, and you check your them for blood.

Feeling his eyes still on you, you scan back up to his face again, silence filling the entire room as your world still gently spins from the alcohol. The rope remaining tightly around your ankles begins to chafe, rubbing away the top layer of skin. A quick glance down to your feet and back up at him again, hinting. The smirk he flashed you from the other end of the room prior to the shootout creeps back on his lips and yellowed teeth peek through. He practically leans over you, encroaching on your space much like the raiders and those before him had done, but this was different. This time you liked it. The liquor buzz and tingling fear created quite a thrill, one that engulfed your entire skin with prickles and sank into the pit of your belly with a fluttering warmth.

Without uttering a word, he slowly descends. Close enough that you feel the heat of his breath as he meets your face and continues down your form to crouch in front of you, head now level with your navel. Time slows in the room, hazy with excitement, or was it your life flashing before you? Gripping the back of your knee, he slowly reaches down to slice at the bindings on your ankles with the other, almost as if he were savouring the moment, the brim of his hat tickling your lower belly as he tilts his head down. A familiar release, as you reposition your feet to stand more comfortably, skin itching from the rope. The grasp of your knee pit rises until his fingers digs into the meat of your hamstring. Your leg twitches as you imagine the sensation of his rough, ungloved hands wrapped around the underside of your ass cheek. His blade makes contact with your skin once more, cold and stinging on the inside of your calf. Your body stiffens and you hold your breath, before the knife begins to rise up the soft flesh of your leg, past your knees and settling mid-way up your thigh. A gasp escapes your lips as the cold metal tickles your sensitive skin and sends jolts into the heat of your underwear. You dare not move but your body betrays you with a soft tremble. He emits a low hum, humoured by your obvious attempt to hide your growing fear and excitement.

Nonchalantly, he returns to his feet, examining his blade before sheathing it again, the corners of his mouth still curled slightly. As his attention returns to you once more, he reaches over your diminutive form, the collar of his aged shirt almost brushing the tip of your nose. His aroma is powerful, perhaps not in scent, but certainly in the way it makes your belly rise and flutter and tingles creep into your throat. Old leather, Mojave dust, and a musk that was fairly pleasant, all things considered. He recedes with a glass in his hand, your glass, as he knocks back the remainder of your drink before tipping the glass to you with a nod and returning it to the bar.

Stepping around you he strolls over to the body of the man you had belonged to until now and makes quick work of looting his pockets and removing his head with efficiency. He examines the head with a scoff and glances back towards you, almost mocking your choice of company. Grabbing a fistful of hair, the head now dangles by the ghoul’s side as he steps off to leave the bar. As he reaches the fractured door frame, you dare to finally move. First your lips, a wobbly “Thank you.” escapes them, but you remain with your back to him. His gait halts and he twists to peer back at you, raising an eyebrow in surprise, but says nothing still. Perhaps pleasantly surprised by the rarity of manners, perhaps wondering how well those manners could serve him. He stands awaiting you, a dark figure almost filling the doorway. You wonder if he left already, but are met with his widening, lopsided grin. He tips his hat to you and slinks off beyond sight.

Intoxicating…intoxicated. You’re intoxicated. Your fight or flight response drags you back to your sobering reality. You had been spared by a bounty hunter, and a ghoul at that. Unfortunately for you though, the group of thugs providing some sort of protection were now splayed out on the rotting wooden floor, decorated by their own blood. You were alone, again. The reality of your situation sinks in as you fumble to collect the least bloody jacket from one of the bodies as an attempt to cover as much of your bare skin as possible. Your mind has other plans however, as the lingering image of his sultry eyes are fixed into the back of your eyelids, and you can’t help but wonder how those hollowed features would look if you were underneath him.

Fuck.

#this is the first thing like this i've ever posted in my 17 years of being on the internet LOL #fallout #fallout oc #fallout ghoul #fallout ghouls #the ghoul x reader #the ghoul x you #cooper howard #cooper howard x reader #cooper howard x you #cooper howard x f!reader #the ghoul x f!reader #my writing

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ramayantika · 1 year

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Proshitabhartruka Nayika .・。.・゜✭・

My bracelets are gone.

Tears, those sweet friends, departed forever.

Courage left instantly

and my heart

went fastest of all.

They set off in concert

when my beloved decided

to leave.

You should go too, life—

why lag behind that troop

of dear comrades?

~Erotic Love Poems from India

»»————> ●○●○●○●○ <————««

I tugged at his sleeve for one last time, in hopes that my tearful eyes would bid him to stay by my side. His face too lost its pallor. His warm hand caressed mine as his eyes gazed deep into mine, telling them that staying was impossible.

And then when he memorized the curls falling on the sides of my cheeks, my kohl-smudged eyes, the pearl nose-ring and a sad smile on my lips, his eyes travelled downward to the little one growing inside me.

"Will you come back before this child enters the world?"

"Can't make promises, my love."

"Make one right now, so that the gods let you come home to welcome a mother and a baby."

"May the gods wish the same, priye"

Days are desolate, and the nights empty. No warm sheets to the right side of the bed, and no hand to touch the sensations of this playful child in my womb. My friends bring sweets and savoury delights, and my mother narrates the tales of little Krishna for the baby. But who shall kiss my forehead and look at me with shining eyes and whisper me in my ears how divinely beautiful I look in the shade of motherhood?

But then for a moment, I think about my husband's side. Which father would like to stay away from his growing child. Would he not desire to feel his baby's kicks and laugh in delight? Would he not be sad and shed a lonely tear down his cheek at night alone in his chamber thinking about all that he misses about this newfound fatherhood?

How can a husband stay calm when overseas knowing his wife sits alone gazing at the moon, in hopes of him coming home soon? He would want to serve me the weirdest mixture of sweet delights and sour pickels just so I can be pleased.

I sigh in despair and put my head on my mother's lap.

He doesn't even have friends to come over his house daily.

Oh lord, when does his sojourn end?

खाली है तेरे बिना दोनो अखियाँ, तुम गए कहाँ?

Sometimes the nights are warm, and I forget about motherhood. There are desires that I long to give in and fulfill. I want him to touch my skin, and leave light kisses all over me, adoring him like his most cherished thing.

A few monsoons ago, I was making my way to my home when he caught my hand and whisked me to the riverbank. As the rain fell down the mighty clouds, his lips caught my lips, drenched from those moist showers. And then when the clouds raged with thunder, I shivered in fright, but his arms caught me in a tight embrace, as we laughed and admired our warm but wet cheeks, and all was well.

That evening I went home with a wet and discarded veil, and a skirt tied loosely around my hips. I was won and desired in the rain.

But it's autumn now. Dry and empty. The dark clouds have gone on a sojourn too and so has my beloved. No kisses in the rain fall over my being doused in fiery desires.

"मारे के मैं तो सिमट गयी, चुनरी मेरी मुझसे लिपट गयी

ऐसे में तूने जो ली अंगड़ाई, परबत से काली घटा टकराई

पानी ने कैसी ये आग लगाईं"

I caress my stomach, making the baby inside me to go to sleep, and look outside the window. The slight chilly breeze from dawn rushes inside my warm chamber. My fingers feel slightly cold and I almost turn my body to tickle my husband's neck with these cool fingers.

What do I find?

An empty bed and an empty pillow.

My friend can play the veena well. I remember once we attended a festival, and he loved the musical performance so much that he held my wrist and twirled me around amidst the large crowd.

Her music is lovely, but she plays a melancholic tune.

If he were here, he would be penning poetry for me by now.

***

Everybody has gone home. My girlfriends too. Just like the moon shining in all her glory remains alone, I in this well-lit courtyard stand alone in these silks and jewels.

The moon's splendour falls short now. How long until I gaze at his moon-like face?

The breeze whispers something in my ear. And that's it.

An empty courtyard...

***

"Sakhi, a man from that faraway town has got a letter for you about your husband's arrival. My brother is arriving a week later from that place."

»»——⍟——««

Taglist: @eugenephosgene @tamatar-bac @swayamev @navaratna @the-rarest-love @arachneofthoughts @inexhaustible-sources-of-magic @pulihora @krishna-priyatama @vedajananixx

I literally wrote it one day with watching some dance videos related to this and countless articles and paintings.

I wanted to leave this at her loneliness because that's what this nayika does mostly

But you all know me. And I msyelf like to be hopeful. The husband has to come back now when? We never know.

That's hopeful. Maybe he kept his promise and they have a cute child and dance around

Or......

#samridhi writes #ashtanayika #poetry #stories #writeblr #writing

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pierrai · 6 months

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May I request a short fic of a jealous Alastor sucking dick?

Hello! Thank you for your request! Since this is requested as a short (totally short!!) fic, I changed my usual style of bullet points! I hope you will enjoy!

Character: Alastor Catesby Word Count: 2845 Scenario: Jealous Al giving a BJ Warnings: NSFW

Alastor

"Didn't feel like gracing me with your presence today, my lord?"

The snide voice coming from your doorway pulls you out of the world of paperwork you were unwillingly immersed in and back into reality. You hadn't even heard the door open, let alone anyone knocking, but considering who was stood there, it was unlikely he'd even bothered knocking anyway.

"Oh." The small sound that tumbles out your mouth all but gives away that you'd forgotten. You two had made plans today. You told Al you'd drink with him. He raises an unamused brow, and you pause in the middle of your writing to offer him an apologetic frown. "I'm sorry, Al, I forgot. I've been busy with this paperwork all afternoon and still haven't gotten anywhere. I thought for sure we'd arranged this for some other day." You are genuinely sorry, but Al doesn't look as if he buys what you're saying at all as he closes the door behind him and saunters towards your desk cluttered with papers.

"You had a whole week to get all your work out the way for our plans, but of course you decide today is when you should focus on it." He folds his arms and flits his eyes between yourself and the paperwork laid out before you. Seems like he was in an especially bad mood today.

You remember back when you first met him a couple years ago now, he'd scarcely seemed to care about what you did with your time. He'd been the unruly second son of the Catesby family, and you were some lesser lord who occasionally saw him at gatherings. Then when the two of you had the opportunity to talk more, you become one of his, well, simply put... transactional relationships. It was a relationship you both enjoyed when the right circumstances struck and though Al had a less then savoury reputation, you weren't a lord that was overly concerned with morals. You appeared prim and proper and regal, but you'd welcomed Al and his depravity when it benefited you to enjoy that sort of company.

He'd disappeared for a while when his family had kicked him out, though you'd still been in contact through the occasional letter (again, mostly transactional) and only when his title was reinstated and he was given the task of being a liaison between his family and smaller lords, you continued where you left off in your relationship. No strings attached, just now you could have some relief a bit more often than before.

So you can't quite figure out why he's been acting more jealous towards you as of late.

"Look, I apologised, didn't I?" You say. "I got a lot of these documents only recently so, no, I couldn't just work on them some other time. We can go drinking another day, okay?"

He was never ever like this before. He had this sort of relationship with many and never cared if you did the same, but he'd very slowly began to monopolise your time when he could. If you mentioned other people, he'd go eerily quiet for a moment before carrying on as usual. You weren't dense enough to not consider that maybe he'd caught some feelings for you, but if he did, he really didn't do anything to show it. Al was a flirt, but after knowing him for a while, you'd figured out a lot of his actions were for show only and he hardly ever said anything heartfelt.

"Hah." His lips twist up into a sharp and humourless smile. "That's it? You stand me up and have me waiting for an hour and that's all you have to say?"

"Oh, come off it, Al. As if you haven't stood me up a thousand times before. I do it once and suddenly you're up in arms." You huff out a sigh as you pick up your quill from your inkpot again and attempt to sign yet another sheet of paperwork, but before you can finish scrawling the first letter of your name, the paper is suddenly snatched out from under you.

"This is what was so important you completely forgot about me? Some stupid land ownership deed of some nobody farmer?" He tightens his grip on the paper as his eyes scan it line by line, which now has a dark inky streak across it, and thins his eyes at you. "I'm flattered."

"A stupid land ownership deed that I'll have to request a new copy of, thank you very much," comes your dry reply. Some part of you wants to argue back more against Al, but the exhausted part of you that's been on the receiving end of his weird pedantry one too many times releases another heavy sigh, and you put your quill back down so you can massage your temples instead. "Look, today isn't a good day. Can't we just reschedule? I'm too busy to deal with you right now."

Al raises a brow as he slowly lowers the now-crumpled deed back down to the desk. He doesn't seem to care that you're clearly exhausted (not that he ever did) and seems more perturbed that you're blowing him off for what he sees as nonsense.

"How cruel. After I travelled all the way here, you're just going to send me off again?" He sneered, a mirthful smirk still tugging at his lips.

"Al..."

"You know, it's no problem if you want to work. I'll just watch." He begins dragging a chair over from the side of the room, parking it right in front of your desk opposite you, and sprawls himself across it. "You get to do your work, and you're not standing me up anymore." His smile is less than pleasant.

You don't say anything back to him, only setting your eyes on him in an unsteady glare, opening and closing your mouth twice to try to tell him to leave, but you know he won't obey. The only way you'd get him out of your study at this point was by force, and you didn't exactly want that either.

It's better to let him just sit there for now. Perhaps you're just procrastinating the inevitable. You will have to shoo him away eventually but you really, really just want to finish these stupid documents so you can finally focus on something else. You're certain you can tune Al out if you try hard enough.

It's difficult though. Al keeps picking up random items on your desk—quills, ornaments, paper work—and analysing them before tossing them back down where they didn't belong. He was annoying, but manageable, you told yourself.

Manageable until you suddenly feel something touching your leg from underneath your desk, and your hand freezes in the middle of writing a new signature.

"Al, stop it," you chided him quickly, jerking your leg to shake him off, but he simply ignored you and flicked over to the next page of the document he was reading. His foot found it's way to your leg again, caressing it's way up and up until it was almost touching your inner thigh.

You probably should've just backed away again, but for some reason you let him continue. The hairs on the back of your neck were raising with anticipation and the hand holding your quill was clenched hard. When Al's foot reached between your legs and he suddenly pressed the tip of his toes hard against your crotch, you let out a less-than-dignified gasp and attempted to knock his advances away again.

"Alastor." You stressed each syllable of his name through gritted teeth, and he smugly met your eyes with a raise of his brow. This man was exhausting. "I let you sit here, so stop with this. I-I don't have time for it—I have to finish all of this, and then worry about this stupid dinner party and—"

"Dinner party?" Al echoed, planting both his feet back on the ground as he leant forward in his chair and tossed the document aside. "Ahh, I see. You stood me up because you made other plans instead. You thought if you just didn't show up at all, you wouldn't have to deal with me either. You could go to your insignificant little dinner party free of worry."

"No, just—" you throw down your quill again, frustration building even more, "—why do you always have to twist things into the worst possible interpretation. I forgot because I had—have—a lot of work! I didn't do it on purpose."

Al scoffs. He doesn't refute what you've said, but you can tell it hasn't made him feel much better either. When Al was upset, that was that. Explanation be damned, he's going to stay upset.

He stands up suddenly, and when he rounds the corner of the desk and comes to stand right in front of you, your heart does a nervous little jump in your chest. Your mouth opens to say his name in what might be fear, but it's swallowed up when he suddenly drops down to his knees and tugs the chair you're sat on closer to him.

"What are you—" You're cut off for the umpteenth time that day when his hands tug at the buttons of your pants and then quickly dive into your undergarments to fish out your half-hard cock. The sensation of Al's cold fingers against your own heated skin only sends more blood rushing down to your crotch rather than your brain, which can't decide whether it's okay with what's happening or not.

"You can tell whatever nobody invited you to that dinner party you already have plans," Al says snidely, glaring up at you as he works his hands roughly up and down your shaft to make it harder. You want to refute him and push him back, but he suddenly dives his head down between your legs and closes his mouth around the whole length of your cock.

"Wait, Al—"

The wet heat of his tongue forces a gasped moan out of your throat, and you push your hands against Al's head weakly. He holds it firmly in place, unphased, eyes focused and determined as he hollows his cheeks around your member, furrowing his brow in what's likely satisfaction rather than discomfort when it grows to it's full hardened length. You can't help it. Even if you rationally don't want this, your body has decided that you do. Al's mouth has always felt good.

One of his hands grips at your thigh, while the other strokes its way up your leg. The lewd slurping sounds coming from his mouth are only clouding your mind with more lustful thoughts, as is the feeling of Al's tongue running along the side of your shaft roughly. You really should tell him to stop, but the words crumble as soon as you try to speak them.

He begins bobbing his head eagerly, the hand that was caressing your leg moving up to hold the base of your shaft as he repeatedly forces it as deep down his throat as it'll go. You have to admit, he is skilled at this. Even if his method is possessive and rough, it's overwhelming how good it feels. You have to move one of your hands from his head to clap it over your mouth. With your head tilted back, you can barely swallow down all the moans.

This was the first time Al was using sex to get your attention. You'd started noticing more and more that he would get jealous over silly things, and though he'd easily brushed it off at first, he soon progressed to flirting as a way of drawing your attention back to him. You didn't know why he even got jealous in the first place when your relationship was always something the two of you agreed was casual and transactional. Now here he was using sexual acts as a way of keeping you in your place. If these acts of jealousy became commonplace... Ahh, you didn't care to dislike the idea right now. You'd probably welcome it. It felt so good after all.

Your cock pops out of his mouth with a terribly lewd and wet sound, but Al is quick to resume the attention it was getting by licking up and down the side while his hand roughly jerks you off, pumping up and down tightly. He brings his fingers to the very end of your penis, lightly pinching just under your glans so clear fluid begins leaking out your tip. That makes Al smirk with clear satisfaction. With your length wet with both your own precum and Al's saliva, you gaze down at him, flushed and breathless, and wonder if he's going to take this a step further by riding you at your desk. You'd probably let him at this point, too horny to say no.

He closes his mouth back around you again instead, making more lewd slurping noises as he begins his steady pace, up and down, up and down. It's not long before you're letting out small moans and gasps, biting down on your index and middle finger so you won't attract the attention of any servants passing by. The other hand you've began running through the strands of Alastor's hair tightens subconsciously, and Al's eyes thin in warning before he presses his teeth against the skin of your cock.

"Ah—!" Another less than-dignified gasp. Even more so now considering it was half a moan as well. You let go of Al's head and glare down at him while he meets your eyes with a raise of his eyebrows and a mischievously smug look in his eyes.

His tongue licks where he'd bitten teasingly from inside his mouth, and your body tenses as pleasure seeps back in to cover the slight amount of pain he'd caused. Even though it had hurt, both you and Al knew you didn't mind the occasional amount of pain in the sessions between the two of you.

The assault on your cock continues in earnest and as you get closer to your climax with each passing second, your hips begin rising from your chair to buck your length deeper into Alastor's mouth. The pleasant sounds of him adjusting to your length and letting out gurgled moans when you hit the back of his throat only make you more eager, but no more eager than Al who snakes his arms under and around your hips to suck you in deeper.

"Gonna—cum—" You can barely get the words out. Not like Al ever cares, but you've always been nice enough to warn him in case he ever wants to pull out. He doesn't seem to care this time too. His arms hug your waist tighter as you arch your back so much you're barely sitting at your chair anymore. Nails dig into the skin showing from where your pants have been further tugged down but you don't care about any pain they bring. Your own hand comes to rest on Al's head again, gripping the strands of his hair while the other covers you mouth before you can let out a loud, climactic moan.

The hot coil in your stomach comes completely undone and your body twitches as you feel your release hit you all at once. Hot, white cum spurts out your tip and down into Alastor's throat. He doesn't even pull back, gulping down each drop stubbornly and keeping his mouth firmly in place even as you ride out your orgasm with a couple thrusts of your hips, wanting to prolong the bliss for as long as you can. It feels amazing. So amazing that you've forgotten you and Al had been arguing mere minutes ago, and so amazing you tell yourself you're glad you didn't give him the boot sooner. God, you could do this forever.

You sink back down in your chair and let your arms fall back to your sides, letting out a few more shuddering, breathy moans and letting your head dip forward after throwing it back in sheer ecstasy. Mind fuzzy, you just about manage to open your eyes to watch Al slip your dwindling cock out of his mouth, a line of cum and saliva breaking away between them when he licks his lips and gulps down whatever's left in his mouth. The sight is nice. It's easy to see why Al managed to sleep around with so many.

Finally his eyes meet yours again and though your mind is a mess of exhaustion and post-sex clarity, you offer the smallest of smirks.

"While I appreciate your service, I don't think you've prolonged it enough for me to miss my dinner party arrangements." You don't know if you're teasing him on purpose or stating a fact. Al smirks haughtily, and his hands move back from your hips to in between your legs so his hands can tease your sensitive cock and bring life back into it again. Excitement rises in your chest whether you want it to or not.

"Good thing I'm not finished then."

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fundielicious-simblr · 9 months

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(Adalynn's POV)

My family threw us a sip n see for little Bethany! They wanted to be able to 'shower' us in gifts since little miss was a total surprise to us and we have nothing for little girls. The party was all girls, so Mason was there for the beginning to take pictures and say a few words, then he left with whichever of the boys wanted to hang with him (which was most of the older boys). All the girls from my family as well as other family friends were all invited to wear pink and bring their daughters, it was a wonderful afternoon of fellowship, prayer, and laughter. Getting to see my cousins that live far away was amazing as we don't have many opportunities to be together, so this weekend was another one for the memory books.

My mum is one of my biggest supporters and I thank the Lord everyday for her, she was one of the happiest when we told the family that we got the little girl we'd been praying for. Even though we're all grown and most of us live with our own families, she still acts like the mum we had as small children and is always there to offer advice and a helping hand when needed.

My sisters and cousins joined heads together to plan the food and decor for the afternoon, since it happened between lunch and dinner they arranged sweet and savoury finger food with the usual punch fountain. Macie and Celeste did the breadrolls, hummus & vegetable platter, and the mini sandwiches; The rest of the girls found different bakeries to provide the doughnuts, cake pops, an array of cookies, and an amazing cake - all in pink!

I absolutely love getting to be with all 7 of my sisters, especially when they came together to help plan this for me. Now that we're older and our relationships have changed now that we can understand each other better, we just get along much better and our relationships are so much deeper. The younger girls have blossomed into such beautiful young women and I'm so excited for their future, obviously praying for them as well!

It's always great to be back with my girls too, Kyleigh, Madelynn, Valentina, and I have such a great bond that I constantly thank the Lord for. We started courting, getting engaged, and getting married all around the same time so we all leaned on each other - there was once a time we were all pregnant together too! Right now none of us are pregnant, but that can change at any time!

#fundie sims #fundiesims #quiverfull sims #quiver full sims #modest sims #sims 4 legacy #collins family #collins legacy #homeschool sims #sims 4 baby shower #sims 4 sip n see #gen 3 #mason and adalynn #gen 4 #post #i kept forgetting whether i had given certain people a pink outfit so i had to keep going back to check #luckily for me i had already set some peoples outfits to be pink by default #the hardest outfits to plan were for maggie abbey and brittany since they have more options when it comes to clothing

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castyourline · 2 years

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C. S. Lewis on Tolkien, “The value of the myth is that it takes all the things we know and restores to them the rich significance which has been hidden by ‘the veil of familiarity.’ The child enjoys his cold meat, otherwise dull to him, by pretending it is buffalo, just killed with his own bow and arrow. And the child is wise. The real meat comes back to him more savoury for having been dipped in a story; you might say that only then is it real meat. If you are tired of the real landscape, look at it in a mirror. By putting bread, gold, horse, apple, or the very roads into a myth, we do not retreat from reality: we rediscover it. As long as the story lingers in our mind, the real things are more themselves. This book applies the treatment not only to bread or apple but to good and evil, to our endless perils, our anguish and our joys. By dipping them in myth we see them more clearly. I do not think he could have done it any other way.” “The dethronement of power: J. R. R. Tolkien, The Two Towers (being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings) (London: Allen and Unwin, 1954) and J. R. R. Tolkien, The Return of the King (being the Third Part of The Lord of the Rings) (London: Allen and Unwin, 1955), in Image and Imagination: Essays and Reviews. Edited by Walter Hooper. Cambridge University Press. 2013: 108.

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deathlessathanasia · 1 year

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“Zeus. A curse on all those philosophers who will have it that none but the Gods are happy! If they could but know what we have to put up with on men's account, they would not envy us our nectar and our ambrosia. They take Homer's word for it all,—the word of a blind quack; 'tis he who pronounces us blessed, and expatiates on heavenly glories, he who could not see in front of his own nose. Look at the Sun, now. He yokes that chariot, and is riding through the heavens from morn till night, clothed in his garment of fire, and dispensing his rays abroad; not so much breathing-space as goes to the scratching of an ear; once let his horses catch him napping, and they have the bit between their teeth and are off 'cross country, with the result that the Earth is scorched to a cinder. The Moon is no better off: she is kept up into the small hours to light the reveller and the diner-out upon their homeward path.

And then Apollo,—he has his work cut out for him: with such a press of oracular business, it is much if he has any ears left to hear with: he is wanted at Delphi; the next minute, he must be off to Colophon; then away to Xanthus; then back at a trot to Clarus; then it is Delos, then Branchidae;—in short, he is at the beck of every priestess who has taken her draught of holy water, munched her laurel-leaf, and made the tripod rock; it is now or never; if he is not there that minute to reel off the required oracle, his credit is gone. The traps they set for him too! He must have a dog's nose for lamb and tortoise in the pot, or his Lydian customer departs, laughing him to scorn. As for Asclepius, he has no peace for his patients: his eyes are acquainted with horror, and his hands with loathsomeness; another's sickness is his pain. To say nothing of the work that the Winds have to get through, what with sowing and winnowing and getting the ships along; or of Sleep, always on the wing, with Dream at his side all night giving a helping hand. Men have to thank us for all this: every one of us contributes his share to their well-being.

And the others have an easy time of it, compared to me, to me the King and Father of all. The annoyances I have to put up with! the worry of thinking of all these things at once! I must keep an eye on all the rest, to begin with, or they would be making some silly mistake; and as for the work I have to do with my own hands, there is no end to it; such complications! it is all I can do to get through with it. It is not as if I had only the main issues to attend to, the rain and hail and wind and lightning, and as soon as I had arranged them could sit down, feeling that my own particular work was over: no, besides all that, I must be looking every way at once, Argus-eyed for theft and perjury, as for sacrifice; the moment a libation has been poured, it is for me to locate the savoury smoke that rises; for me it is to hear the cry of the sick man and of the sailor; at one and the same moment, a hecatomb demands my presence at Olympia, a battle in the plain of Babylon; hail is due in Thrace, dinner in Ethiopia; 'tis too much! And do what I may, it is hard to give satisfaction. Many is the time that all besides, both Gods and men of plumed helm, have slept the long night through, while unto Zeus sweet slumber has not come nigh. If I nod for a moment, behold, Epicurus is justified, and our indifference to the affairs of Earth made manifest; and if once men lend an ear to that doctrine, the consequences will be serious: our temples will go ungarlanded; the streets will be redolent no longer of roast meat, the bowl no longer yield us libation; our altars will be cold, sacrifice and oblation will be at an end, and utter starvation must ensue. Hence like a pilot I stand up at the helm all alone, tiller in hand, while every soul on board is asleep, and probably drunk; no rest, no food for me, while I ponder in my mind and breast on the common safety; and my reward? to be called the Lord of all! I should like to ask those philosophers who assign us the monopoly of blessedness, when they suppose we find time for nectar and ambrosia among our ceaseless occupations. Look at the mildewed, cob-webbed stack of petitions mouldering on their files in our chancery, for want of time to attend to them: look only at the cases pending between men and the various Arts and Sciences; venerable relics, some of them! Angry protests against the delays of the law reach me from all quarters; men cannot understand that it is from no neglect of ours that these judgements have been postponed; it is simply pressure of business—pressure of blessedness, if they will have it so.”

- Lucian, The Double Indictment

#lucian of samosata #greek gods #zeus #lol #quotes #excerpts

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tnedibleoils · 16 days

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A Festival of Devotion, Modaks and Diyas

As the day arrives, it’s time to welcome the god of wisdom and fun, Lord Ganesh, into our home. Known for his deep love for family and his fondness for modaks, he is known as the remover of obstacles and harbinger of new beginnings. Ganesh Chaturthi is a spectacular that brings families, friends, and communities together. From mouth-watering scrumptiousness to a glittering, sparkling atmosphere, it is joyous.

Let’s bring Ganesh home!

Bringing the almighty of new beginnings is a heartfelt celebration known as Sthapna. It begins with carefully preparing a thali. Adorned with flowers, incense sticks, kumkum, sandalwood paste, and most importantly, diya and oil from the manufacturer of lamp oil. Each of these elements symbolises different aspects of devotion and creates an impeccable ambience of reverence and celebration. This plays an important role in the Sthapna. Preparing the aarthi thali is an art that can be aesthetically prepared.

As the Sthapna is complete, the next festival delight is food. Festival means food. Ganesh Chaturthi is known for its delectables, symbolising devotion and love. Yes, the main star of the festival is Modaks. Made of coconut, lentils, and jaggery fillings steamed or fried in oil from some of the best sunflower oil manufacturers in India, it is considered Ganesha’s favourite. Apart from these puran poli, sweet flatbread or even savouries are made. The festive is now a joyous celebration with Sthapna, Aarthi, and a delectable feast. This Ganesh Chaturthi, let the atmosphere be filled with the divine presence of Lord Ganesha, with family and friends, and the aroma of the delicacies; let the heartfelt prayers be as memorable as Ganesh Chaturthi.

About Sundew Sunflower Oil:

Tamil Naadu Edible Oils is the leading manufacturer of lamp oil and exporter of lamp oil, which produces premium-quality oil for cooking and lamps. As one of the best cooking oil manufacturers in Tamil Nadu, TNEO is committed to delivering quality oils that are affordable as well as light in texture. The oil is versatile and enhances the taste of every dish and every cuisine effortlessly. Choose Sundew or Jayaa Jyothi from Tamil Naadu Edible Oil.

#manufactureroflampoil #sunfloweroilmanufacturersinindia #exporteroflampoil

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roman-catholic-mass-readings · 1 year

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8th July >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Saturday, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Kilian, Bishop and Martyr

Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Saturday, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Green: A (1))

First Reading Genesis 27:1-5,15-29 Jacob obtains Isaac's blessing by fraud.

Isaac had grown old, and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see. He summoned his elder son Esau. ‘My son!’ he said to him, and the latter answered, ‘I am here.’ Then he said, ‘See, I am old and do not know when I may die. Now take your weapons, your quiver and bow; go out into the country and hunt me some game. Make me the kind of savoury I like and bring it to me, so that I may eat, and give you my blessing before I die.’

Rebekah happened to be listening while Isaac was talking to his son Esau. So when Esau went into the country to hunt game for his father, Rebekah took her elder son Esau’s best clothes, which she had in the house, and dressed her younger son Jacob in them, covering his arms and the smooth part of his neck with the skins of the kids. Then she handed the savoury and the bread she had made to her son Jacob.

He presented himself before his father and said, ‘Father.’ ‘I am here;’ was the reply ‘who are you, my son?’ Jacob said to his father, ‘I am Esau your first-born; I have done as you told me. Please get up and take your place and eat the game I have brought and then give me your blessing.’ Isaac said to his son, ‘How quickly you found it, my son!’ ‘It was the Lord your God’ he answered ‘who put it in my path.’ Isaac said to Jacob, ‘Come here, then, and let me touch you, my son, to know if you are my son Esau or not.’ Jacob came close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, ‘The voice is Jacob’s voice but the arms are the arms of Esau!’ He did not recognise him, for his arms were hairy like his brother Esau’s, and so he blessed him. He said, ‘Are you really my son Esau?’ And he replied, ‘I am.’ Isaac said, ‘Bring it here that I may eat the game my son has brought, and so may give you my blessing.’ He brought it to him and he ate; he offered him wine, and he drank. His father Isaac said to him, ‘Come closer, and kiss me, my son.’ He went closer and kissed his father, who smelled the smell of his clothes. He blessed him, saying:

‘Yes, the smell of my son is like the smell of a fertile field blessed by the Lord. May God give you dew from heaven, and the richness of the earth, abundance of grain and wine! May nations serve you and peoples bow down before you! Be master of your brothers; may the sons of your mother bow down before you! Cursed be he who curses you; blessed be he who blesses you!’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 134(135):1-6

R/ Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good. or R/ Alleluia!

Praise the name of the Lord, praise him, servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord in the courts of the house of our God.

R/ Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good. or R/ Alleluia!

Praise the Lord for the Lord is good. Sing a psalm to his name for he is loving. For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself and Israel for his own possession.

R/ Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good. or R/ Alleluia!

For I know the Lord is great, that our Lord is high above all gods. The Lord does whatever he wills, in heaven, on earth, in the seas.

R/ Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good. or R/ Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation Psalm 118:135

Alleluia, alleluia! Let your face shine on your servant, and teach me your decrees. Alleluia!

Or: John 10:27

Alleluia, alleluia! The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 9:14-17 When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast.

John’s disciples came to him and said, ‘Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth on to an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saint Kilian, Bishop and Martyr

(Liturgical Colour: Red: A (1))

(Readings for the memorial)

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

Either:

First Reading 2 Chronicles 24:18-22 'You have deserted the Lord: now he deserts you'.

The Judaeans abandoned the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, for the worship of sacred poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. He sent them prophets to bring them back to the Lord, but when these gave their message, they would not listen. The spirit of God took possession of Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said, ‘God says this, “Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord to no good purpose? You have deserted the Lord, now he deserts you.”’ They then plotted against him and by order of the king stoned him in the court of the Temple of the Lord. King Joash, forgetful of the kindness that Jehoiada, the father of Zechariah, had shown him, killed Jehoiada’s son who cried out as he died, ‘The Lord sees and he will avenge!’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

OR: --------

First reading 2 Maccabees 6:18,21,24-31 I am glad to suffer because of the awe which he inspires in me

Eleazar, one of the foremost teachers of the Law, a man already advanced in years and of most noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth wide to swallow pig’s flesh. Those in charge of the impious banquet, because of their long-standing friendship with him, took him aside and privately urged him to have meat brought of a kind he could properly use, prepared by himself, and only pretend to eat the portions of sacrificial meat as prescribed by the king. ‘Such pretence’ he said ‘does not square with our time of life; many young people would suppose that Eleazar at the age of ninety had conformed to the foreigners’ way of life, and because I had played this part for the sake of a paltry brief spell of life might themselves be led astray on my account; I should only bring defilement and disgrace on my old age. Even though for the moment I avoid execution by man, I can never, living or dead, elude the grasp of the Almighty. Therefore if I am man enough to quit this life here and now I shall prove myself worthy of my old age, and I shall have left the young a noble example of how to make a good death, eagerly and generously, for the venerable and holy laws.’ With these words he went straight to the block. His escorts, so recently well disposed towards him, turned against him after this declaration, which they regarded as sheer madness. Just before he died under the blows, he groaned aloud and said, ‘The Lord whose knowledge is holy sees clearly that, though I might have escaped death, whatever agonies of body I now endure under this bludgeoning, in my soul I am glad to suffer, because of the awe which he inspires in me.’ This was how he died, leaving his death as an example of nobility and a record of virtue not only for the young but for the great majority of the nation.

OR: --------

First reading 2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14 'The King of the world will raise us up to live for ever'

There were seven brothers who were arrested with their mother. The king tried to force them to taste pig’s flesh, which the Law forbids, by torturing them with whips and scourges. One of them, acting as spokesman for the others, said, ‘What are you trying to find out from us? We are prepared to die rather than break the laws of our ancestors.’ With his last breath the second brother exclaimed, ‘Inhuman fiend, you may discharge us from this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up, since it is for his laws that we die, to live again for ever.’ After him, they amused themselves with the third, who on being asked for his tongue promptly thrust it out and boldly held out his hands, with these honourable words, ‘It was heaven that gave me these limbs; for the sake of his laws I disdain them; from him I hope to receive them again.’ The king and his attendants were astounded at the young man’s courage and his utter indifference to suffering. When this one was dead they subjected the fourth to the same savage torture. When he neared his end he cried, ‘Ours is the better choice, to meet death at men’s hands, yet relying on God’s promise that we shall be raised up by him; whereas for you there can be no resurrection, no new life.’

OR: --------

First reading 2 Maccabees 7:1,20-23,27-29 Make death welcome, so that in the day of mercy I may receive you back

There were seven brothers who were arrested with their mother. The king tried to force them to taste pig’s flesh, which the Law forbids, by torturing them with whips and scourges. But the mother was especially admirable and worthy of honourable remembrance, for she watched the death of seven sons in the course of a single day, and endured it resolutely because of her hopes in the Lord. Indeed she encouraged each of them in the language of their ancestors; filled with noble conviction, she reinforced her womanly argument with manly courage, saying to them, ‘I do not know how you appeared in my womb; it was not I who endowed you with breath and life, I had not the shaping of your every part. It is the creator of the world, ordaining the process of man’s birth and presiding over the origin of all things, who in his mercy will most surely give you back both breath and life, seeing that you now despise your own existence for the sake of his laws.’ She said to her youngest son, ‘My son, have pity on me; I carried you nine months in my womb and suckled you three years, fed you and reared you to the age you are now (and cherished you). I implore you, my child, observe heaven and earth, consider all that is in them, and acknowledge that God made them out of what did not exist, and that mankind comes into being in the same way. Do not fear this executioner, but prove yourself worthy of your brothers, and make death welcome, so that in the day of mercy I may receive you back in your brothers’ company.’

OR: --------

First reading Wisdom 3:1-9 The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God

The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, no torment shall ever touch them. In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die, their going looked like a disaster, their leaving us, like annihilation; but they are in peace. If they experienced punishment as men see it, their hope was rich with immortality; slight was their affliction, great will their blessings be. God has put them to the test and proved them worthy to be with him; he has tested them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a holocaust. When the time comes for his visitation they will shine out; as sparks run through the stubble, so will they. They shall judge nations, rule over peoples, and the Lord will be their king for ever. They who trust in him will understand the truth, those who are faithful will live with him in love; for grace and mercy await those he has chosen.

OR: --------

First reading Ecclesiasticus 51:1-8 Thanks to God the saviour

I will give thanks to you, Lord and King, and praise you, God my saviour, I give thanks to your name; for you have been protector and support to me, and redeemed my body from destruction, from the snare of the lying tongue, from lips that fabricate falsehood; and in the presence of those around me you have been my support, you have redeemed me, true to the greatness of your mercy and of your name, from the fangs of those who would devour me, from the hands of those seeking my life, from the many ordeals which I have endured, from the stifling heat which hemmed me in, from the heart of a fire which I had not kindled, from deep in the belly of Sheol, from the unclean tongue and the lying word – the perjured tongue slandering me to the king. My soul has been close to death, my life had gone down to the brink of Sheol. They were surrounding me on every side, there was no-one to support me; I looked for someone to help – in vain. Then I remembered your mercy, Lord, and your deeds from earliest times, how you deliver those who wait for you patiently, and save them from the clutches of their enemies.

EITHER: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 30(31):3-4,6,8,16-17

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Be a rock of refuge for me, a mighty stronghold to save me, for you are my rock, my stronghold. For your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Into your hands I commend my spirit. It is you who will redeem me, Lord. As for me, I trust in the Lord: let me be glad and rejoice in your love.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

My life is in your hands, deliver me from the hands of those who hate me. Let your face shine on your servant. Save me in your love.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33(34):2-9

From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad.

From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise his name. I sought the Lord and he answered me; from all my terrors he set me free.

From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. This poor man called, the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress.

From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere him, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is happy who seeks refuge in him.

From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 123(124):2-5,7-8

Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

If the Lord had not been on our side when men rose up against us, then would they have swallowed us alive when their anger was kindled.

Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

Then would the waters have engulfed us, the torrent gone over us; over our head would have swept the raging waters.

Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

Indeed the snare has been broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 125(126):1-6

Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, it seemed like a dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on our lips there were songs.

Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels the Lord worked for them!’ What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage as streams in dry land. Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

They go out, they go out, full of tears, carrying seed for the sowing: they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves.

Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 15(16):1-2,5,7-8,11

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you. I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God.’ O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel, who even at night directs my heart. I keep the Lord ever in my sight: since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand happiness for ever.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 22(23):1-3a,5-6

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

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

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit. He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

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

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life. In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 39(40):2,4,7-10

Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

I waited, I waited for the Lord and he stooped down to me; he heard my cry. He put a new song into my mouth, praise of our God.

Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings, but an open ear. You do not ask for holocaust and victim. Instead, here am I.

Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

In the scroll of the book it stands written that I should do your will. My God, I delight in your law in the depth of my heart.

Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly. My lips I have not sealed; you know it, O Lord.

Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 88(89):2-5,21-22,25,27

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever, that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your dynasty for ever and set up your throne through all ages.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

‘I have found David my servant and with my holy oil anointed him. My hand shall always be with him and my arm shall make him strong.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

‘My truth and my love shall be with him; by my name his might shall be exalted. He will say to me: “You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me.”’

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 95(96):1-3,7-8,10

Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.

O sing a new song to the Lord, sing to the Lord all the earth. O sing to the Lord, bless his name.

Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.

Proclaim his help day by day, tell among the nations his glory and his wonders among all the peoples.

Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.

Give the Lord, you families of peoples, give the Lord glory and power; give the Lord the glory of his name.

Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.

Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’ The world he made firm in its place; he will judge the peoples in fairness.

Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 105(106):19-23

O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people.

They fashioned a calf at Horeb and worshipped an image of metal, exchanging the God who was their glory for the image of a bull that eats grass.

O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people.

They forgot the God who was their saviour, who had done such great things in Egypt, such portents in the land of Ham, such marvels at the Red Sea.

O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people.

For this he said he would destroy them, but Moses, the man he had chosen, stood in the breach before him, to turn back his anger from destruction.

O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 109(110):1-4

You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.

The Lord’s revelation to my Master: ‘Sit on my right: your foes I will put beneath your feet.’

You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.

The Lord will wield from Zion your sceptre of power: rule in the midst of all your foes.

You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.

A prince from the day of your birth on the holy mountains; from the womb before the dawn I begot you.

You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.

The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change. ‘You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.’

You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 116(117):1-2

Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. or Alleluia!

O praise the Lord, all you nations, acclaim him all you peoples!

Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. or Alleluia!

Strong is his love for us; he is faithful for ever.

Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. or Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation Mt5:10

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia!

Or: Jn17:19

Alleluia, alleluia! For their sake I consecrate myself, so that they too may be consecrated in the truth. Alleluia!

Or: 2Co1:3-4

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed be God, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows. Alleluia!

Or: Jm1:12

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy the man who stands firm, for he has proved himself, and will win the crown of life. Alleluia!

Or: 1P4:14

Alleluia, alleluia! It is a blessing for you when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ, for the Spirit of God rests on you. Alleluia!

Or: cf.Te Deum

Alleluia, alleluia! We praise you, O God, we acknowledge you to be the Lord; the noble army of martyrs praise you, O Lord. Alleluia!

EITHER: --------

Gospel Matthew 10:17-22 The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 10:28-33 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body

Jesus said to his apostles: ‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows. ‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 10:34-39 It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household. ‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.’

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 9:23-26 The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously

Jesus said: ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self? For if anyone is ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his own glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.’

OR: --------

Gospel John 12:24-26 If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I tell you, most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life. If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.’

OR: --------

Gospel John 15:18-21 The world hated me before it hated you

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice withdrew you from the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the words I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they kept my word, they will keep yours as well. But it will be on my account that they will do all this, because they do not know the one who sent me.’

OR: --------

Gospel John 17:11-19 Father, keep those you have given me true to your name

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one like us. While I was with them, I kept those you had given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except the one who chose to be lost, and this was to fulfil the scriptures. But now I am coming to you and while still in the world I say these things to share my joy with them to the full. I passed your word on to them, and the world hated them, because they belong to the world no more than I belong to the world. I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth.’

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

Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Liturgical Colour: White: A (1))

(Readings for the memorial)

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

Either:

First Reading Genesis 3:9-15,20 The mother of all those who live.

After Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman replied, ‘The serpent tempted me and I ate.’ Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this,

‘Be accursed beyond all cattle, all wild beasts. You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust every day of your life. I will make you enemies of each other: you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. It will crush your head and you will strike its heel.’

The man named his wife ‘Eve’ because she was the mother of all those who live.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

OR: --------

First reading Genesis 12:1-7 All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you

The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing.

‘I will bless those who bless you: I will curse those who slight you. All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you.’

So Abram went as the Lord told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had amassed and the people they had acquired in Haran. They set off for the land of Canaan, and arrived there. Abram passed through the land as far as Shechem’s holy place, the Oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘It is to your descendants that I will give this land.’ So Abram built there an altar for the Lord who had appeared to him.

OR: --------

First reading 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-11,16 The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House

Once David had settled into his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies surrounding him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘Look, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent.’ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go and do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.’ But that very night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel; I have been with you on all your expeditions; I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will give you fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall dwell in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked continue to oppress them as they did, in the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel; I will give them rest from all their enemies. The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’

OR: --------

First reading 1 Chronicles 15:3-4,15-16,16:1-2 They brought in the ark of God and put it inside the tent that David had pitched for it

David gathered all Israel together to bring the ark of God up to the place he had prepared for it. David called together the sons of Aaron and the sons of Levi. And the Levites carried the ark of God with the shafts on their shoulders, as Moses had ordered in accordance with the word of the Lord. David then told the heads of the Levites to assign duties for their kinsmen as cantors, with their various instruments of music, harps and lyres and cymbals, to play joyful tunes. They brought the ark of God in and put it inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered holocausts before God, and communion sacrifices. And when David had finished offering holocausts and communion sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.

OR: --------

First reading Proverbs 8:22-31 Before the earth came into being, Wisdom was born

The Wisdom of God cries aloud:

The Lord created me when his purpose first unfolded, before the oldest of his works. From everlasting I was firmly set, from the beginning, before earth came into being. The deep was not, when I was born, there were no springs to gush with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I came to birth; before he made the earth, the countryside, or the first grains of the world’s dust. When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there, when he drew a ring on the surface of the deep, when he thickened the clouds above, when he fixed fast the springs of the deep, when he assigned the sea its boundaries – and the waters will not invade the shore – when he laid down the foundations of the earth, I was by his side, a master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence, at play everywhere in his world, delighting to be with the sons of men.

OR: --------

First reading Ecclesiasticus 24:1-4,8-12,18-21 From eternity, in the beginning, God created wisdom

Wisdom speaks her own praises, in the midst of her people she glories in herself. She opens her mouth in the assembly of the Most High, she glories in herself in the presence of the Mighty One: ‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and I covered the earth like a mist. I had my tent in the heights, and my throne in a pillar of cloud. Then the creator of all things instructed me, and he who created me fixed a place for my tent. He said, “Pitch your tent in Jacob, make Israel your inheritance.” From eternity, in the beginning, he created me, and for eternity I shall remain. I ministered before him in the holy tabernacle, and thus was I established on Zion. In the beloved city he has given me rest, and in Jerusalem I wield my authority. I have taken root in a privileged people, in the Lord’s property, in his inheritance. Approach me, you who desire me, and take your fill of my fruits, for memories of me are sweeter than honey, inheriting me is sweeter than the honeycomb. They who eat me will hunger for more, they who drink me will thirst for more. Whoever listens to me will never have to blush, whoever acts as I dictate will never sin.’

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 7:10-14,8:10 The maiden is with child

The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’ Then Isaiah said:

‘Listen now, House of David: are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men without trying the patience of my God, too? The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign. It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel, a name which means “God-is-with-us.”’

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 9:1-6 A Son is given to us

The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone. You have made their gladness greater, you have made their joy increase; they rejoice in your presence as men rejoice at harvest time, as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

For the yoke that was weighing on him, the bar across his shoulders, the rod of his oppressor, these you break as on the day of Midian.

For all the footgear of battle, every cloak rolled in blood, is burnt, and consumed by fire.

For there is a child born for us, a son given to us and dominion is laid on his shoulders; and this is the name they give him: Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 61:9-11 I exult for joy in the Lord

Their race will be famous throughout the nations, their descendants throughout the peoples. All who see them will admit that they are a race whom the Lord has blessed.

‘I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God, for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation, he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity, like a bridegroom wearing his wreath, like a bride adorned in her jewels.

‘For as the earth makes fresh things grow, as a garden makes seeds spring up, so will the Lord make both integrity and praise spring up in the sight of the nations.’

OR: --------

First reading Micah 5:1-4 He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord

The Lord says this:

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old. The Lord is therefore going to abandon them till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth. Then the remnant of his brothers will come back to the sons of Israel. He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God. They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace.

OR: --------

First reading Zechariah 2:14-17 'I am coming', says the Lord

Sing, rejoice, daughter of Zion; for I am coming to dwell in the middle of you – it is the Lord who speaks. Many nations will join the Lord, on that day; they will become his people. But he will remain among you, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. But the Lord will hold Judah as his portion in the Holy Land, and again make Jerusalem his very own. Let all mankind be silent before the Lord! For he is awaking and is coming from his holy dwelling.

EITHER: --------

Responsorial Psalm 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

My heart exults in the Lord. I find my strength in my God; my mouth laughs at my enemies as I rejoice in your saving help.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

The bows of the mighty are broken, but the weak are clothed with strength. Those with plenty must labour for bread, but the hungry need work no more. The childless wife has children now but the fruitful wife bears no more.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

It is the Lord who gives life and death, he brings men to the grave and back; it is the Lord who gives poverty and riches. He brings men low and raises them on high.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

He lifts up the lowly from the dust, from the dungheap he raises the poor to set him in the company of princes to give him a glorious throne. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, on them he has set the world.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Judith 13:18a-19

You are the highest honour of our race!

May you be blessed, my daughter, by God Most High, beyond all women on earth; and may the Lord God be blessed, the Creator of heaven and earth.

You are the highest honour of our race!

The trust you have shown shall not pass from the memories of men, but shall ever remind them of the power of God.

You are the highest honour of our race!

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 44(45):11-12,14-17

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words: forget your own people and your father’s house. So will the king desire your beauty: He is your lord, pay homage to him.

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

The daughter of the king is clothed with splendour, her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold. She is led to the king with her maiden companions.

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

They are escorted amid gladness and joy; they pass within the palace of the king. Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers: you will make them princes over all the earth.

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 112(113):1-7

May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore! or Alleluia!

Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! May the name of the Lord be blessed both now and for evermore!

May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore! or Alleluia!

From the rising of the sun to its setting praised be the name of the Lord! High above all nations is the Lord, above the heavens his glory.

May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore! or Alleluia!

Who is like the Lord, our God, who has risen on high to his throne yet stoops from the heights to look down, to look down upon heaven and earth? From the dust he lifts up the lowly, from the dungheap he raises the poor

May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore! or Alleluia!

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:46-55