#his name is bible but we need Jesus

[sins-spookyboogie]

I just needed to post the up close version of this for reasons I will not expand on.

CR : boys over the moon

[friendrat]

The problem with the church today is that so many "Christians" do not actually believe in redemption.

[itsallaboutzayn]

No words just this 🥵🥵

i-

i forgot how to breath for a sec...

why would they put THIS MAN as a villain??

how are we suppost to hate his ass when he looks like THAT?!?!?!?

also, for a first show HE IS DOING A PERFECT JOB

has us all on our feet for him

ugh... i hate it here

[katakaluptastrophy]

You know when you're at a dinner party with God and things start to get...weird...? It's Maundy Thursday, and it's time for more Bible study for fans of weird queer necromancers!

It's currently Holy Week, the week where liturgical Christians reenact the events of Jesus' death and resurrection in real time. And today, it's Maundy Thursday, which commemorates the Last Supper, where Jesus ate with his friends before he was crucified.

Before we get to the Locked Tomb, what's so special about the Last Supper?

There are actually a few significant things that happen during the Last Supper, but this is where Jesus introduces the concept of communion:

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood. - Matthew 26:26-28

This isn't actually the first time Jesus has told his followers they will need to literally eat him:

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. - John 6:53-56

If you're thinking that sounds a bit intense, you're not alone - the Bible says that "many" of his disciples left after being told that they were apparently going to have to eat Jesus to be saved and resurrected.

While many Protestant denominations take this symbolically, Catholicism teaches transubstantiation: that when the priest prays over the bread and wine at mass, they really do become Jesus' body and blood.

With this in mind, let's circle back to necromancers:

"Overseas to Corpus. (She likes the word corpus; it sounds nice and fat.)"

This is probably Corpus Christi College, Oxford (named after the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, where the church celebrates the real presence of Jesus in the eucharist). The symbol of the college is a pelican - there's even a fabulously gilded pelican atop the sundial in their main quad.

What do pelicans have to do with the eucharist? Quite a lot, actually... The pelican is a really old symbol for Jesus, because it was believed to feed its young on its own flesh and blood in times of famine. The pelican on the Corpus Christi sundial is pecking at its own chest.

The pelican, like Jesus, was believed to give its own body to save those it loved.

Okay, so we've talked about Jesus, and weird cannibal birds, but why is this relevant to necromancers?

Specifically, the necromancer, the Necrolord Prime. John Gaius styles himself as "the god who became man", echoing Jesus as "the word became flesh". His entire pastiche of divinity is a sort of bootleg Catholicism. But while Catholicism posits Jesus' offering of his own body as foundational to the salvation and resurrection of humanity to eternal life, John's godhood relies the exploitation of other's bodies as the foundation of an empire of eternal death.

I've mentioned before in discussing Lyctorhood, how vampires have been understood to represent a sort of inversion of the eucharist because instead of consuming Christ's blood to receive eternal life in heaven, they consume other people's blood for an cursed eternal life on earth. John, and the Lyctors who followed him, gained power and eternal life from the consumption, body and soul, of another person.

In Catholic theology, Jesus offered his own body to degradation and death for the eternal salvation of humankind, but John forcibly consumes someone else's in service of his own apotheosis and immortality, dooming humanity in the process. He wants to be a Catholic flavoured god, but without the suffering that entails. But he's perfectly willing to outsource that suffering to others.

There's something just achingly awful about Alecto liking the feel of the word "corpus" - "body" - when she so hates the body that John constructed for her. John describing Alecto as "in a very real way" the mother of humanity and the mother pelican on the Corpus sundial rending her own flesh for her children. John forcing the earth into a personification of femininity and playing Jesus on another's sacrifice. His daughter, unwillingly trapped in her own corpse walking around with the wounds of her significant self-sacrifice like the resurrected Christ but yet again another body exploited by John in support of his performance of godhood. It brings to mind a very different fantastical engagement with Catholicism, where in the Lord of the Rings Tolkien - riffing on St Augustine - suggested that evil cannot create, it can only mock and corrupt. The ethics of The Locked Tomb may be messier than that, but there's something indicative in how John shies away from his creative powers - his abilities to grow plants, and manipulate earth and water - in favour of his dominion over death.

The metaphysical world of The Locked Tomb is clearly not intended to be the same as that of Catholicism. But with hindsight, perhaps John was onto something when he was surprised that he didn't "get the Antichrist bit" from the nun too.

John isn't the Antichrist. But he is, thematically, anti-Christ.

If we're talking about John and Jesus, there's also, of course, the question of Resurrection. But we've got to go through Hell and back before we get there on Sunday...

[thewordfortheday]

Jesus prayed for us “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).

The only infallible source of God's truth is His Word, the Bible. We need to Study the Word, meditate on it and reflect on it everyday. As we do that our minds are renewed, unwanted anxieties, worries and lustful thoughts and hate are replaced by faith, truth and love. We grow in God's wisdom and knowledge. and an inner transformation takes place.

Dear Lord, This Year give us a thirst for Your Word. Sanctify us we pray. In Jesus' Name Amen

[togrowoldinv]

One-On-One

Milf!Wanda x Female Reader

You’re Wanda’s pastor, so when her husband leaves her you reach out to offer her comfort. She tries to push you away on the account that she doesn’t like you, but that changes when she realizes what you could do for her.

Warnings: Kissing, cursing, public-ish sex, fingering (W receiving), oral (R receiving), Wanda being mean but hot

Note: I was just thinking about milf Wanda again lol. Enjoy this one!

Wanda Maximoff Masterlist, Main Masterlist

There is not a strong enough word to describe how much Wanda Maximoff does not like you.

She is outwardly against the way you perform your role in the church and is, in fact, the only member of the search committee that voted against you.

You tried not to take it personally, knowing that Wanda was close with the last pastor.

At first, you tried to make friends with Wanda. You knew you would have to work with her, so why not make things cordial? But Wanda fought against your every attempt to get close to her. Even months into your time at the church, she is still not approving of you.

You got word today that her husband had left her. She is left alone with her two children. Despite how she feels about you, you still have duties as a pastor to check on your congregation. So, you made cookies and drove to Wanda’s house.

Walking up to the door now, you knock and wait for her to open it. It takes a few minutes, but soon one of her young sons arrives at the door.

“Hello Tommy,” you greet him.

“How do you know my name?” He asks.

“I’m Pastor Y/n,” you tell him. “I usually wear a nice robe and am carrying a Bible.” He laughs and nods. He remembers you now. “Is your mom home?”

At that moment, Wanda walks into the living room. She rushes to the door.

“Tommy, what did I tell you about opening the door for strangers?” She lightly scolds him.

“Mom, it’s Pastor Y/n,” comes his defense. Wanda shakes her head, and Tommy walks away.

You’re left with Wanda. She looks you over. She hasn’t seen you in casual clothes before, and her eyes can’t help but fall to your chest. Your blouse is unbuttoned enough to reveal your soft skin. You try to catch her eye, and she snaps out of it.

“What are you doing here?” Wanda asks. Her tone is short.

“I just wanted to offer my condolences. And my grandma’s famous cookies,” you say, holding out the bag.

“I don’t really need your sympathy.”

“I know, but I still thought I’d offer it. After all, Jesus did ask what he could do for us, so we should too. What can I do for you, Wanda? I’m ready to help with anything you need,” you tell her.

“I- I don’t know,” Wanda says. Her usual stiff posture softens a bit.

“How about for now, I come inside, and we can talk or just sit?” You ask.

She steps back and lets you in. The boys run into the kitchen and take a cookie. They go play outside at Wanda’s suggestion they enjoy the nice evening. You recognize that she just needs a break.

It is quiet for a while before Wanda speaks.

“Have you ever been married?” She asks. You shake your head. “Count yourself lucky then.”

“I don’t know about that,” you say. “I think marriage can be beautiful.”

“Maybe,” Wanda says. “Mine wasn’t.”

“It’s not your fault, you know.”

“Ha,” Wanda says sarcastically. “It’s definitely my fault. I’m always the problem.”

“Wanda-”

“No. I am. You know that’s true. We don’t even get along, and it’s once again my fault.”

“I understand you don’t like me much,” you say. “But it’s not your fault. You just don’t want to be my friend. I’ve accepted that.”

“You’ve accepted it? But you’re here,” Wanda says.

“It’s my job,” you say simply. “And I wanted to be sure you’re okay.”

Wanda sighs. You know she’s not okay, but one day she will be. Maybe sooner than she thinks.

“So, what can I do to help you?” You ask her again.

Wanda thinks briefly before speaking again. “Would you consider a personal Bible study with me?”

“I’d love to do that, Wanda. My office tomorrow night?” You ask her.

“I can do that, yes.”

You smile and say your goodbyes to Wanda. The next day Wanda meets you at your office. She is wearing a dress that’s a little low-cut, but you’re not complaining. You’d be lying if you said you weren’t attracted to her.

“Welcome, Wanda,” you greet her. “How was your day?”

“Can we just cut to it, y/n?” Wanda asks.

“Oh, um- sure,” you say. You thought she wanted to start a friendship, but it seems all business with her today.

You open up your Bibles together to read and talk. Wanda doesn’t participate much, but instead you often find her looking at you while you’re reading.

Her eyes once again rake over your body. You’re wearing a more conservative shirt today, being in the church building, but she’s still looking.

You decide to say something about it after an hour of the Bible study.

“Wanda,” you begin. “I don’t mean to pry, but you’re really looking me over tonight. And I noticed it yesterday too.”

Wanda’s cheeks blush before she leans in closer to you. Her arms rest on your desk, pretty close to yours.

“Is it a bad thing?” Wanda asks. “I mean, don’t you like being seen?”

“As your pastor, I really should discourage you looking at me like this,” you say.

“And outside of your pastoral duties?” Wanda wonders.

She stands up from her chair and crosses your desk. Sitting on the edge next to where you are, you see her creamy thighs as her dress rides up.

“Outside of my pastoral duties, I’m very attracted to you,” you tell her. She smirks devilishly.

“Even with how mean I’ve been to you?”

You swallow and nod. Her meanness has only spurred you on further since you met her.

Wanda moves closer to you and you scoot your chair back from your desk. She stands upright and approaches you. One of her legs goes around each side of your waist as she lowers herself onto your lap.

“Wanda,” you say, barely above a whisper.

“Shh,” Wanda says, placing a finger on your lips. “No talking. I just want to fuck you.”

You open your mouth to speak again, but Wanda’s lips quickly shut you up. Her lips on yours ignites a fire in your entire body.

Wanda’s hands pull you closer. One grips your waist under your shirt while the other holds your neck tightly. You never realized how perfect her hands are before.

You move to lift her dress further up her legs. She’s wearing light pink, lace panties. You groan at the sight as Wanda kisses your neck.

Your fingers dip into her center and feel the wetness through her panties. The thin material doesn’t prevent her from feeling the way you’re dragging your fingers over her pussy lips.

“Wanda,” you try to speak again. This time, she puts her finger into your mouth to stop you. You close your lips around the digit and suck on it.

Her eyes darken with pleasure at the sight of you being so submissive for her. She takes her hand and unbuttons your pants.

You move her panties to the side as your fingers push into her. She takes your fingers so well. You want to tell her that she takes you so well, but you just kiss her instead. You get the no talking message.

Her moans when you move your fingers in and out are enough to keep you motivated. She’s enjoying this.

“Fuck,” she whimpers when her hips still. She’s coming against your fingers.

“I thought we weren’t talking,” you say.

Wanda responds by kissing you hard and biting your lip. It’s harsh, but it feels so good. She slides off your fingers and then kneels on the ground. Her eyes tell you what she wants.

She finishes undoing your pants and pulls them along with your underwear down your legs just far enough to access you.

“So fucking wet,” Wanda says, breathily. “You love how much I despise you, don’t you? You still get so wet for me.”

“Fuck, Wanda,” you groan out. You guess the no talking rules only apply to you.

She leans in and licks at your pussy. It doesn’t take long for you to feel close to your peak. Wanda’s definitely done this before. She hums with her own pleasure when she feels you start to come against her tongue.

“Oh, god, Wanda!” You shout, probably too loud for a public church. Hopefully your secretary didn’t hear you.

“So good,” Wanda says as she cleans you up with her tongue.

She then stands back up and pulls her dress back down. You pull your pants back up. Wanda sits against your desk again.

“Same time next week?” Wanda asks.

“Wanda, we shouldn’t be doing this.”

“And yet, we just did it, didn’t we?” Wanda asks, a glint in her eye. “Come on, Pastor Y/n, a little casual sex never hurt anyone.”

You want to disagree, but all you can think about is what she might taste like. So instead, you stand up and kiss Wanda. She’s taken aback, but responds quickly.

When you pull away, there is a knock at the door. Your secretary, Natasha, is at the door.

“Your next appointment is here,” she says once she’s opened it.

You nod and Wanda steps outside. She leaves with blushing cheeks and a secret smile.

“Can you schedule Wanda again for next week?” You ask Natasha.

“Sure. And I’ll cancel anyone’s appointments you have after her,” Natasha says, a smirk on her lips.

“You’re the best,” you say.

“You don’t pay me enough to listen to you fuck milfs,” Natasha jokes.

“Well then, maybe next time you’ll just come in and join?” You ask, only half seriously. Natasha chuckles, but you secretly hope she considers it.

Until then, you’ll dream about Wanda and how she felt against your lap. And how her tongue felt against your body.

Until then, you’ll be glad that you reached out to Wanda that day.

[catholic-character-tournament]

Round 5 - Catholic Character Tournament

Jason art credit @Reincao

Propaganda below ⬇️

Jason

Okay it's cannon but like in an alternative universe because Comics. I just think the fact DC made Known Murderer and Reblious Teen with Daddy Issues a Catholic priest in a different universe. Just. Casually.

Jason Todd is may or may not be Catholic in the main timeline of DC Comics, but I the Flashpoint storyline, my man is a priest! He was a drug addict, thief, and in the Blood Brother cult before dying, only to come back to life and decide to become a priest in the hellhole that is Gotham. In the main timeline, he comes back after dying and stuffs a duffel bags full of heads! The common trait before all Jason Todds is that they all have to be as dramatic as possible. Dying and coming back as the most unexpected thing. Unbelievable. I love this man.

Shadow

In sonic destruction (the AI generated fan thing snapcube made a while ago) shadow was catholic or something which I think is reallyyyyyyy funny

Ok listen. I know this is a stretch but hear me out. He says “oh my God” in the Twitter takeovers so we know this is a possibility. I see him as a Christ-like figure because I saw his whole confrontation with Mephiles and was like “this is a thing that happened in the Bible??” and the pose Mephiles shows him in is literally like a crucifixion and Mephiles is meant to be a demon / false prophet reference. And also he’s called a demon in Shadow The Hedgehog 2005 then the guy who calls him that is like “I was wrong I’m sorry” and that also reminds me of a thing with Jesus in The Bible. But the biggest reason is his whole thing with Maria cause I think he’d come to earth and hear Ave Maria once and convert to Catholicism idk he’s like we’re comforted by a female familial figure named Mary sometimes called Maria?? And her color is blue????? Heck yeah I’m in because I Will Cry. Also feel free to share this as propaganda obv even if he doesn’t get in the bracket just. It’s funny.

I feel like he’d battle a lot with being seen or portrayed as a demon and how the aliens he’s related to very much look and act like demons idk lmao- and also I feel like confession would just be good for him I think he needs it for his mental health

There is a debate on the lovely website tunblr that Shadow T. Hedgehog is an allegory for Jesus Christ.

He is Jesus, idk what to tell you. He lived, he was sealed away, he was awakened again and deemed the ultimate lifeforms, he’s angry but not evil, does what he believes is best for people and the world at any given time. Total loser.

[zeauxie]

I DECIPHERED MORE OF THE BLACK BOOK & FOUND MISS HOLLOWAY LORE.

ART CREDIT: @thirdchildart

TW: RELIGION

SPOILERS: the Black Book, Miss Holloway lore

It’s pretty solid foundation for lore, but please keep in mind that I couldn’t make out everything, and there might be some mistakes. If it’s not, then I’m a fool, and my eyes still hurting from an intense squinting session means nothing.

THIS IS WHAT I’VE GLEAMED:

“[They] warned me I was a fool to seek out the lords and I [?] [?] but I hope searching for [a/s_?] will [?] [wor_?]. [p_?] of Holoy Blane/Blame(?) found a way [?] in Hatchetfield. And I [lo_?] [?] me [?] [?] [?] pages in the [b_?] what [?] [ago/I go?] myself [?] [?] world.”

“And now [?] with my mind and per. [D_?] of a mind. Into the Black and White.”

I know it’s not a lot, but…

Here’s why I think this is pretty bitchin’ lore wise.

If my assumptions are correct, Willabella was warned that she was “a fool to seek out the lords”, and I think the people who warned her were the Hatchetmen. It’s also worth noting the the very first page of the Black Book says, “You are a fool to seek the Black and White.”

She also mentions someone named Holoy Blane/Blame “finding a way” in Hatchetfield. I believe Holoy Blane/Blame (probably pronounced Holly) is Miss Holloway, and that Miss Holloway may have been the first to find a way to directly access the Black and White. In Killer Track, Miss Holloway changes her name to Miss Holiday— an absurdly similar name.

The Hatchetverse is notorious for having characters’ identities blatantly lining up with their names.

For example:

Man in a Hurry = Barry Swift

Greenpeace Girl = Harmony Jones

Lex and Hannah Foster have shit parents.

Grace Chasity is pretty obvious— chastity.

The Hatchetverse is full of religious themes.

Mainly Christianity based, and the name “Holoy Blane/Blame” could be a reference to “being holy and blameless” from the Bible, said by Paul the Apostle.

“He has now reconciled by the death of his body, so that he may present you holy and blameless, and above reproach in his sight.” Colossians 1:22.

Basically, Jesus died in a human body to windshield wipe away our sins, leaving us holy, blameless, and innocent.

There are three reasons for why Jesus’ violent death was the sacrifice needed to save people from their sins. He says the three reasons for Jesus’ painful death in a human body was to, one: present us as holy, for we cannot be holy without his sacrifice on our behalf, two: as we still sin in this life, his sacrifices provides forgiveness for our sins, so we are blameless, and three: something about innocence. I can’t remember, but you get the gist.

So, basically, Miss Holloway’s deal with the Lords mirrors Jesus’ sacrifice.

She sacrificed everything to keep evil at bay. She goes around, helping those who cannot find answers themselves. I’d say she also mirrors what Jesus is supposed to embody, especially considering she can literally resurrect. I would also say the Foster sisters embody the myth as well, especially when you know that Lex and Hannah are both in shop class, and Jesus was a carpenter.

The Black Book page line by line:

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I gotta start somewhere. I've been learning a lot about indigenous history and activism as I work on deconstruction, and a sentiment I come across a lot is bitterness towards Christianity. I cannot emphasize enough how much I fully understand. The rough bit is that sometimes when I read their work, I get the implication that there's nothing worth saving in the Church/Christianity- that to hold on to it is to hold on to all the colonialism and white supremacy and yuck.

As a disabled trans Christian, I get that, but it still hurts. I love God and am a Christian despite everything. I want to be an ally to indigenous people, but I want to follow God this way too. I know those aren't mutually exclusive, but it feels that way sometimes. Do you have any insight for me to find peace in this regard?

Thank you.

Hey there, thanks for the question, sorry for the delay!

This is something I've also wrestled with — a question I ask myself over and over, and probably always will. I cannot offer you peace, because as Jeremiah 6:14 says, "There is no peace!" — not while our faith continues to be wielded as a weapon against so many peoples. What I can offer you are some of the thoughts that have allowed me to continue to be Christian with hope that this faith can be better than what it's long been misused for, and the resolve to do my part to make it so.

First, that Christianity isn't unique in being co-opted by colonialist powers.

Any belief system can be twisted for violence, and many have been. If Christianity didn't exist, white supremacy still would — colonialist powers would have found a different belief system to twist into justifying their evils.

That absolutely does not absolve us from reckoning with the evils that have been done in Christianity's name! This isn't about shutting down critiques of Christianity with "uh well it could have been any religion" — as things played out, Christianity is the religion responsible for so much harm, and we need to acknowledge that and listen to groups who tell us how we can make some form of reparations.

But for me at least, there is some comfort in understanding that Christianity isn't, like, inherently evil or something. Recognizing that it isn't unique even in its flaws helps me look at the problem with clearer eyes, rather than wallowing in guilt and shame, if that makes sense.

Next, that there are Indigenous Christians, and Black Christians, and other Christians of color — that oppressed peoples have found things worth cultivating within Christianity! If they can find something worthwhile in this faith, it would be arrogance for me to deny it.

For instance, even when white slaveholders edited Bibles to remove too much discussion of liberation, even when white preachers emphasized verses about slaves being obedient to their masters, many enslaved people recognized how Christian faith actually affirms their equality and the holiness of their desire for liberation.

Black Theologian Howard Thurman opens his 1949 book Jesus and the Disinherited with a question asked to him by a Hindu man who knew the harms white Christianity had done to both their peoples: “How can you, a black man, be Christian?” The long and short of Thurman’s answer is that, in spite of the pain and exploitation too often inflicted by Christians in positions of power, the oppressed have always been able to see past that misuse of the Christian message to the true message lived out by Jesus Christ: a message of liberation for all.

For more thoughts on why and how to keep being Christian in spite, in spite, in spite...I invite you to look through my #why we stay tag.

___

How I wish that Christianity had never gotten tangled up in Empire! but it did, and it still is, and because for good or ill I cannot help that my spirit is stubbornly drawn towards the Triune understanding of the Divine, the best I can do is to use my privilege and what small influence I have within Christian institutions to move us towards decolonization. What some of that's looked like on the level of my personal beliefs:

I am firmly against any form of proselytizing. I don't support evangelism financially, I speak out against it, I don't platform it. (If someone wants to hear about my faith, they'll come to me — I don't run after them. And if someone does want to have that conversation, I aim to make it a dialogue, where we are learning from each other.)

I continuously work to recognize and uproot Christian supremacy within myself — the beliefs I didn't even realize where there until I started digging. That has included challenging any inkling within myself that Christianity is the "best" or "most right" religion. (One book that's helped a lot with that is Holy Envy by Barbara Brown Taylor.)

I seek wisdom from and relationship with Christians of color. Their insights are vital to our faith, and I try to use what small influence I have to uplift them.

On that last note, here are some resources I recommend as you continue to explore these questions:

This First Nations Version of the Christian Bible is gorgeously written, and a great way to explore scripture through a Native lens.

Native by Kaitlin B. Curtice is a lovely poetic memoir that explores how one person has sought to hold both her Christian faith and Potawatomi identity within herself. (She also has a new book out that I haven't read yet but really want to!)

God is Red: A Native View of Religion by Vine Deloria Jr.

Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys by Richard Twiss

I haven't read any of these 4 books but they look good too

This video with advice to non-Indigenous Christians

If anyone has any resources to add, please do!

[briebysabs]

Noda from twitter said that Johann is the Judas of VnC and sent me down a spiral. Because one of Jesus’ missions was to convert sinners and spread the good news. You can interpret that as Vanitas’ whole healing curse-bearers thing. Assume then that Vanitas is Jesus. Bear with me pls. We can also assume Johann spider reveal will be the first turning point before everything goes to shit. Tipping the chain of events that’ll lead to Vanitas dying. What I mean by this is Judas betrays the squad. What’s funny is that Monsieur Spider is working with Ruthven and the extremist chasseurs aka the Church. Now, Judas betrayed Jesus mainly for greed. And it’s possible Johann, if spider, is being paid by Ruthven.

Btw when Judas goes to betray Jesus it’s described as “Satan entered him”. This could like the times we’ve seen Johann’s mask slip and he shows his crueler side. But it’s also a large belief that Judas was trying to scam the chief priests and get back at the Roman government. Judas very much believed in the coming of a mighty Messiah to free them from the Romans but Jesus was being too weak. He thought Jesus needed a little push in the right direction. So he betrayed him, expecting Jesus to perform a miracle and disappear like he always does. That didn’t happen and Jesus got condemned to death. Some ppl think that’s why he returned the 30 pieces of silver. This isn’t explicitly stated in the bible but simply popular theories people have.

Because this wasn’t the plan. Johann could be doing all this to get back at a society who’ve shunned dhams, his family. Initially I said Dante is Jesus but that’s saying he’s betraying Dante. Which I don’t think that’s the case but Dante will get wrapped up into it. So I guess you could still make an argument. He could kiss Dante as an apology , I could see him blowing a kiss at Vanitas to be a bitch. He’s made it very clear he isn’t a fan of him. But now it’s...what comes next?

Because Judas commits sui@ide. I don’t think it’s beyond Mochijun to write smth like that. If Dante or Richie or both die because of his involvement in all this, it’s not impossible. In PH, Alice did technically off herself to protect Oz and Alyss. And we did come back from hiatus to a flashback of Astolfo attempting so I cannot say it’s beyond her. Finally the traitors’ names begin with a J. Imma leave it at that.

[sins-spookyboogie]

Yep it's this one right here .

My brain is fried from this concert. But there's still tomorrow! What on earth will we get next!?

[10yrsyart]

i decided to try something a little different. i often have these discussions in my head as i’m studying the Bible, but Apologetics can be heavy in text and hard to understand. so i thought.. well, i’m an artist. maybe i can make this more palatable. (the place they are at is my mindscape for prayer)

there are tons of places to go from here, and maybe i will in the future. but as someone who is coming out of a foundation of anxiety, this particular message is important to me. there is no condemnation for those that trust in the Lord and His work. He is capable of helping us and carrying us to the finish line 💙

transcript: 

10: Y'know Lord, a lot of people read Matthew 7:21-23 and get scared. “Not everyone who calls out to Me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Jesus: “On judgment day many will say to M, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and performed miracles in Your name!' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws.' “ Let's think about this. What are the “works” of God?

10: Uhm.. oh! John 6:29, “Jesus told them, 'This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the One He has sent.' “ So then, they didn't really believe in You? You said You don't know them.

Jesus: Now read Matthew 12:50.

10: “Anyone who does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother!”

Jesus: My family are those who have been adopted through the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:15-16 says, “You received God's Spirit when He adopted you as His children (…) For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.” These are the ones that I “know.” As for My Father's will-

10: Oh, I know this one. John 6:40, “For it is My Father's will that all who see His Son and believe in Him shall have eternal life.” So essentially, the people saying “Lord, Lord” weren't believers because they trusted in their works to save them, instead of Your work on the cross. And You said You don't know them to prove they don't have the Holy Spirit.

Jesus: They are similar to the crowd I speak to in Revelation 3:15-21.

10: Ah, the dreaded Lukewarmers. “You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing.' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” Yikes.

Jesus: And what do I tell them to buy from Me in verse 18?

10: White garments, among other things..

Jesus: Psalm 51:7 says, “Purify me from my sins and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” And 1 John 1:7 says, “The blood of Jesus, (God's) Son, cleanses us from all sin.” You, for example, are already in possession of white garments. My blood through My sacrifice cleansed them when you believed.

10: So the Lukewarmers don't believe in You either, because they trust in their wealth and possessions instead of You. But they say they're Christians just because they do to Church, or because their families are Christian.

Jesus: Born Again believers with the Holy Spirit never have to fear rejection from Me or My Father. “And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of those He has given Me, but that I should raise them up on the last day.” (John 6:3) As John 14:23 states, We will never take the Holy Spirit away once He's been given.

10: Once “Born Again”, no “unborning again” happening later, ey?

Jesus: Hahah! “No, I will not abandon you as orphans- I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

Jesus: “When everything is ready, I will come and get you so that you will always be with Me where I am.” (John 14:3)

[hussyknee]

Somewhat put off by the spoilers I've read about Mary and George. There's no doubt nearly all relationships in the British court were some level of sordid, but King James, to all intents and purposes, had genuine feelings for his three male favourites, most especially George Villiers. He was no Henry VIII. I don't know why they wanted to reduce the most famous and open homosexual relationship in European royal history to a comedy between a "cock-struck" old lech and a conniving courtier that led him by the nose and then betrayed and murdered him.

All evidence points to George at least being loyal to James (if you discount his love letters as simply sucking up to his benefactor) and even had a fond relationship with his Queen and his son Charles. He was in fact in France when James died, and reportedly cried when he heard the news.

It's even a little heartbreaking because this is right after Nicholas Galitzine played the closeted gay Prince Henry in Red, White and Royal Blue, who in the book is proud of the open and unashamed love between his ancestor and his lover, and the way even James's son Charles I honoured Villiers for accompanying him to the Spanish Court to ask for the hand of the Infanta.

“Actually . . . you remember how I told you about the gay king, James I?”

“The one with the dumb jock boyfriend?”

“Yes, that one. Well, his most beloved favorite was a man named George Villiers. ‘The handsomest-bodied man in all of England,’ they called him. James was completely besotted. Everyone knew. This French poet, de Viau, wrote a poem about it.” He clears his throat and starts to recite: ‘One man fucks Monsieur le Grand, another fucks the Comte de Tonnerre , and it is well known that the King of England, fucks the Duke of Buckingham.’” Alex must be staring, because he adds, “Well, it rhymes in French. Anyway. Did you know the reason the King James translation of the Bible exists is because the Church of England was so displeased with James for flaunting his relationship with Villiers that he had the translation commissioned to appease them?”

“You’re kidding.”

“He stood in front of the Privy Council and said, ‘Christ had John, and I have George.’’

“Jesus.”

“Precisely.” Henry’s still looking up at the statue, but Alex can’t stop looking at him and the sly smile on his face, lost in his own thoughts. “And James’s son, Charles I, is the reason we have dear Samson. It’s the only Giambologna that ever left Florence. He was a gift to Charles from the King of Spain, and Charles gave it, this massive, absolutely priceless masterpiece of a sculpture, to Villiers. And a few centuries later, here he is. One of the most beautiful pieces we own, and we didn’t even steal it. We only needed Villiers and his trolloping ways with the queer monarchs. To me, if there were a registry of national gay landmarks in Britain, Samson would be on it.”

Henry’s beaming like a proud parent, like Samson is his, and Alex is hit with a wave of pride in kind.

He takes his phone out and lines up a shot, Henry standing there all soft and rumpled and smiling next to one of the most exquisite works of art in the world.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m taking a picture of a national gay landmark,” Alex tells him. “And also a statue.”

Like all white liberals, Casey McQuiston tends to romanticise the crime against humanity that is royalty and also that house built by bunch of slave owners that has since housed a progression of genocidal war criminals. There's very little to like about any British monarch. But the relationship between James and Villiers is a significant part of gay history and there's no need to smear it even more than it's already been smeared the last four hundred years, contrary to the actual known facts.

Idk man. I'm sensitive to this stuff Ig. Maybe I'd be a little more positive about it if I watched it, but the trailer gave me "tee hee they're gay" vibes so Idk if I want to.

Edit: so it seems the trailer is misleading and the story is more complex than a "tee hee gay" comedy. I might watch it after all, even if the starkly visible age difference makes me a bit queasy. How tf is Galitzine nearly thirty and a babyface with those razor cheekbones?? Perfect to show how uncomfortable it looks for a middle aged man to get with a kid of twenty.

[slashers-and-rats]

to get back into the groove of writing, let me share an au that i’ve been discussing with @hollowslasher !! they’re fantastic and I’m now obsessed with this

priest!billy au (nsfw)

lemme set the scene…

after the abuse he faced in his home when he was younger, and the gruesome deeds that would follow, instead of being sent off to an asylum, he is instead sent to a nunnery through some means (haven’t worked out that part yet). anyways, he’s sent to the nunnery to find “the way of the lord”, and learn how to be a faithful priest, and repent his passed sins, and all that jazz.

but, billy is billy. he’s obsessive with ideas, he clings to things, and so during his time at the church, he quickly becomes overwhelmed by the ideas given to him. he takes them too literally, too serious, and soon he’s obsessed with the idea that god can save him from the things he does. during this time, he denounces his old name of billy, wipes his slate clean, takes on a new name of micheal (we all know it’s billy, so that’s what we’ll call him), and becomes a priest in training.

billy, on the surface, is a model man. he helps out as much as he can around the church grounds, he perfectly recites bible verses, he memorizes prayers quickly because he’s really just repeating what others say in their voice, he is very strict on himself and follows the rules carefully; he is a devoted man of the cloth, or whatever. sure, he has his few quirks, like when he gets too excited he still drools, and he mumbles things under his breath, and he always has a certain look in his eye, but lots of the fellow members of the nunnery just believe it’s due to his rough upbringing. they don’t know much about him, they just know he didn’t come from a good place, and so they try to give him some grace.

that being said, it’s still a church, and billy finds himself repressing a lot of himself. he buries those vile, disgusting thoughts deep inside of him, and holds back on his outbursts until he’s alone and can scream into his pillow. he views it as the sin seeping into him. every time he thinks of something dirty, he’s running to the church to pray, or he’s confessing his sins in a confessional, or (on particularly bad days) he’s flogging himself for his falling into temptations. while on the outside he’s a picture perfect, born again boy, on the inside he feels as though he’s always being poisoned by “the devil”.

he becomes attached to this idea of purity. he has to be pure, that’s what they tell him. if he’s not pure, he’s not forgiven, and he HAS to be forgiven. he’s done too much not to be. he worries so much about falling into sin, and yet he sneaks indulgences when he can’t take it. he’s like an addict, he keeps going back because it’s truly all he knows, and slapping this bandage over a bullet wound isn’t helping.

it certainly doesn’t help when he starts making the phone calls. during the wee hours of the night, when the dormitory is silent, billy will call the nuns and priests, and do what we know he does best. he’ll spit vile things, and moan and whine into the phone, and confess all of the dirty things he’s been thinking of. he doesn’t say who he is, he makes sure his voice is inconsistent, and he just throws up all of the horrible thoughts he pushes down inside. usually, in response, the recipients of these calls will mutter prayers, or shame him for calling in such a way, or tell him he needs jesus. and all of this he knows. that’s why he’s there. he tells himself he’s only calling so he can hear those prayers, so that he can feel the shame and it’s like some punishment for what he’s saying, but deep down it’s all lies. he’s just a mutt.

once again, no one really suspects it’s billy. he’s weird, sure, but he’s the sweetest guy you’ll met when the sun is out. also, prank calls aren’t unheard of when it comes to places like that, so. they go about their business, occasionally getting billy’s sick phone calls and dealing with it however they see fit for the time.

until, billy calls one woman, a nun. a pure little lady, or so he thought. billy calls her, like he’d call any one of these people, but as he’s babbling about his nastiness, she isn’t responding in the usual manner. sure, she says he’s sinful, and says he has so much lust inside of him, but it’s said in such a way that… it sounds almost affectionate. she speaks as though she’s impressed by him, as though she finds him amusing or entertaining or something of the like. billy doesn’t notice until he’s pumping his cock, something he has done very hard work to keep from doing. he’s yanking his trousers down and stroking himself and this woman is telling him about how he’s so bad, so naughty, such a dirty man to try and corrupt a nun like her, and he’s reeling. he has to hang up before he gets too far. he doesn’t even cum, he can’t bring himself to, it’s all too much. he’s shaken, he’s thinking hard about her. a new obsession. a new religion in the making.

he focuses in on her. the next day, he figures out which one of the nuns she is. he begins watching her from afar during her daily chores and services. he sits where he can see her during services, he listens in on her confessions, he watches her as she eats… he begins calling her regularly, always getting the same amused responses from her.

at first, he believes she’s some dirty succubus. how could she respond like this to such vile things he’s said? she’s the one in the wrong, she has to be. sure, he’s the one spewing fantasies over the phone, but she’s the one that’s letting him. she’s the sinner, she’s the harlot, it can’t be him. no, he needs to fix her, because he’s the good one. any hoop he can manage to jump through, he does. he doesn’t want to take responsibility or admit he’s just a lustful man, no, it can’t be him. he wants to be good, he wants to be forgiven.

he begins seeing himself as her saviour. he’ll fix her. this is all some covert way of weeding out the sinners, and he’s found one, and now he has to find a way to fix it. his phone calls become harsher, more directed at her, more personal as he speaks about the things he’ll do to her. he’ll flog her for her misdeeds, he’ll wrap his rosary around her throat, he’ll fill her mouth with his cock so she can’t say any unholy things anymore, he’ll make her pray while he fucks her so that she can have a real holy figure inside of her. he will be her retribution. she just responds with the same amount of amusement, but billy can hear her becoming enraptured as well. she touches herself, he knows it. he’s so disgusted with her behaviour, and yet he wants more and more and more

the phone calls become a routine, to the point that when she answers, she knows who it is from the way he chokes a little at the start of his rants. billy becomes obsessed, he begins becoming tangled in a web of his religious duties and his duties to fuck this woman silly. he takes the word of the lord so seriously, and yet… here he is. stroking himself while confessing all of his deepest desires. over the phone he refers to himself as billy, he speaks as he would usually, and she listens. he likes that she listens, deep down. he wants to be heard.

things go south when one day, as he’s sitting waiting for the church service to start, she comes up and sits down beside him. he’s very nervous, immediately becoming fidgety, but he tries to smile and ignore the anxiety bubbling up. he’s never been THIS close, he usually just watches from afar. he’s mesmerized by her when she’s this close, and he has to keep reminding himself not to stare. if you asked him, he’d say he was nervous because he was sitting beside a succubus, and he didn’t know what she was capable of. but, deep down, it was because he would let her take him on the pew if she spoke as sweetly as she did over the phone.

anyways, she sits beside him, and he smiles as normally as he can at her. and she smiles back, and leans over, and all she says is “it’s nice to see you, billy.”. it makes him freeze. it’s like he’s just been slapped across the face, it’s like she just ripped all of his skin off at once. no one has called him that in so fucking long. as well, her knowledge of him being billy directly threatens this new life he’s created. if she knows it’s him, then she could tell others that he’s the one that’s been calling, and he’ll get kicked out again.

he’s sure she sees his panic, because she just pats his knee gently, as if she didn’t just rip his entire universe apart. he physically flinches, and gets up and walks quickly out of the service, something very out of character for such a loyal member like billy. but they don’t think much, since missing one sermon isn’t a problem. but she knows why he’s run, and he does too. and that’s enough to make him terrified.

later, when dinner is over, and people have settled into their rooms, billy catches her in the hall. she was walking back to her dorm, and he snuck up behind her, and pinned her to the wall. he wrapped a hand around her throat, and hissed in her ear that he’ll kill her. he has to, because she’s going to tell everyone his secret, and he can’t have that. he can’t. he’s ready to commit another sin and work for forgiveness again, it’s easier than being barred from retribution altogether. but she’s looking up at him, fluttering her eyelashes, smiling softly even as he’s squeezing her throat. and she just pats his chest and says “your secret is safe with me… as long as my phone keeps ringing, that is”. it baffles billy. she is a whore, she is a slut, she has to be, why else would she want this. she’s squeezing her thighs together, and staring up at him with such adoration, he feels like a saint. he has to run off again, overwhelmed and confused. he should be disgusted by her, he should be seeing her as the dirty charleton she is, and yet… where her skin touched him, he burns. he wants more, he does, he needs ti purify her with his own seed, he needs to fix her. right? he’s the one fixing…? right…?

that’s my intro to this idea. i hope you guys like it, i plan on writing actual stuff for it. the nun will be a fem!reader probably, cuz i don’t really have much of a character for her yet. thank you so much for reading!!

[damonblack966]

What does it mean when you dream about the Devil

We all engage in the act of dreaming. It may not occur every single night; however, even if it happens as seldom as once a week, each one of us rests our head and delves into the realm of dreams. As many are aware, dreams possess a highly symbolic nature. They are filled with imagery that often serves as preludes or allegories for the circumstances, individuals, or dilemmas currently dominating our waking existence.

Dreams offer a gateway to tap into the depths of our subconscious, provided certain elements of the vision are comprehended. Yet, deciphering them can prove challenging if the symbolism eludes us, leaving us to ponder the significance of encountering the devil in our dreams.

Dreams featuring the devil can be unsettling, but they need not be so. Let us explore the multifaceted symbolism embodied by this infernal entity and its implications for the dreamer. Demon Dreams: Symbolism

For many, dreams about the devil is a horrifying experience usually involving a visit to hell. But not all dream encounters with Satan fit the nightmare mold. There is also a range of interesting and complex ideas about the devil in dreams.

To better understand such a powerful symbol from your subconscious mind, you must first understand its history and varied symbolism in different religions.

History In 1923, Sigmund Freud—a dream psychologist—studied a patient named Frank who claimed to be possessed by the devil. When Frank dreamed about the devil, he only became more convinced that he was possessed.

Freud concluded that Frank’s nightmares were caused by his own feelings of stress and fear.

Psychology The devil is often associated with evil and negativity, but it doesn’t indicate that something terrible will happen in your life.

Carl Jung believed that you manifest the devil in a dream because you’re scared of being caught for your misdeeds. However, it’s essential to understand that dreams about devils don’t necessarily foretell evil tidings. In fact, many psychologists believe that dreams about devils can be beneficial, as they warn against negative energies or past mistakes.

Religious Beliefs Devil mythology has been a part of religion for centuries, and each faith has its own interpretation.

Demons are a common feature of the Bible, appearing in both the Old and New Testaments. Demons are evil spirits that cause temptation in devout Christians to sin or tempt them to worship other gods. Jesus is considered a symbol of hope for Bible’s followers and says they should be careful of the devil’s deceit.

Islam has a similar take on the devil and commands its followers to walk away from the wrong path, or they’ll be ridden with a moral burden for the remainder of their lives.

The devil also made an appearance in Buddha’s life, asking him to abandon his journey towards enlightenment.

Demon Dream Meaning: Interpretations Nightmares about demons may be a bad experience, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that evil spirits possess you or that you’re going to go crazy. The meaning of your demon dream depends on what the demon represents in your life.

In many cultures, demons are thought to be fallen angels. They are not necessarily evil but rather the result of humanity’s free will to choose how we use our powers.

By paying close attention to the details of your dream, you’ll be able to develop a close relationship with your subconsciousness and better your waking life.

Let’s take a look at the various types of devil dreams and the potential meaning they may hold in your everyday life.

Red Devil Seeing a red devil in your dream indicates that you are passionate about something, but this passion has taken control of your life. It has come in the way of your relationships and is now affecting your mental health.

If you’ve been working overtime at your current job or pulling all-nighters to ace the upcoming university exam, it is time you take some days off to focus on what really matters: you and your loved ones.

Black Devil The black devil is a symbol of evil, and if you see one in your dream, it means that your heart is filled with hatred, jealousy, and envy. Aramaic religions say that seeing a black devil in your dream represents your dark side. It’s a reflection of your true desires, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re an evil person.

Old folklore and legends say that those who tend to use their power for evil are paid a visit by the black devil himself from the underworld.

You may have been misusing your power without even knowing that you’re doing so. It’s time you reflect on the decisions you have made so far and think critically if they have caused harm to anyone.

Human Form The Devil is known for its craftiness and may appear in front of you as a beloved person from your life. It doesn’t necessarily mean the devil is trying to trick you, but he may make it harder for you to understand the dream’s true meaning.

These types of dreams signify that you may have hurt someone and are now suffering from a sense of guilt. If you want the devil to stop chasing you, you must seek out the person you hurt and apologize to them.

Child’s Form If the devil pays you a visit in the form of a child in your dream, it signifies that you feel great remorse towards a kid. You may have caused them harm and are now experiencing feelings of guilt. The dream may indicate that you have suffered a great loss if you’re a parent. Maybe you had a miscarriage, stillbirth or your beloved child took their own life.

While it’s hard to move ahead, these dreams are considered a positive sign of good luck.

Woman Form The female devil symbolizes that your personal life is ridden with guilt. It’s not because you caused harm to someone but because you simply believe you do not deserve the life you have built for yourself. These dreams aren’t a bad sign but a message from your subconscious to take your mental health seriously.

Talking To The Devil This dream can be interpreted to mean that you’re trying to control your own destiny. You may feel that you’re in a situation where you have no control over what happens to you, and it could be your subconscious mind’s way of letting you know that even though things seem bad, they will get better.

Dreams, where we are talking to the devil or Satan, can symbolize our inner struggle with our own negative thoughts and feelings. It may also represent our battle with temptation and desire for something we know is wrong. If you have this dream, it could indicate an issue inside yourself that needs to be addressed immediately.

Getting Attacked By The Devil The devil, a negative force in your life, is attacking you in your dreams. This dream might be a warning that something terrible is going to happen. It could also mean that there is some evil influence in your life.

This dream is usually linked to feelings of guilt or shame about something you have done or are doing. You may also feel attacked by someone else’s anger and negativity towards you.

Being Watched By The Devil The devil in dreams is often associated with evil and temptation. When you dream about the devil watching you, perhaps someone is trying to deceive you or mislead you into taking a certain path. It’s also possible that this dream warns against doing something that will lead to your downfall or destruction.

The devil in dreams can take many forms — he can appear as an old man or woman, an animal, or even a monster. He may also appear as an attractive person who tempts you with promises of riches and fame when in reality, they’re working toward your downfall.

Marrying The Devil A dream about marrying the devil could symbolize your fears or worries. This is because, in the dream, you are marrying Satan, who is viewed as the embodiment of evil.

The devil can also represent an aspect of yourself that you feel is evil or immoral. For example, if you have been cheating on your spouse and feel guilty about it, then marrying the devil in your dream represents this aspect of yourself.

In some cases, a dream about marrying the devil is a symbol of someone else’s negative personality traits. This can happen when you are close to someone with these personality problems but don’t want to admit them because they are similar to yours.

In conclusion Dreams of the devil can be interpreted in numerous ways. Some believe that dreams of evil spirits refer to the thoughts and feelings inside our own minds, while others believe that demons are actually attacking us in our sleep.

[drconstellation]

Inside the Dirty Donkey

**Warning! This meta contains spoilers and speculation for S3. Do NOT tag Neil!**

Time to get comfy, folks. Get your drink of choice, be it a cupperty, coffee, or nip of sherry, and find a seat. You’ll definitely want to be sitting down for this one. We’re going to the pub!

The name is apparently a favorite of NG’s, used in his short story “We Can Get Them For You Wholesale.” And it also appears in the Sandman AU.

In the short story above the protagonist is a jilted lover who tries to organize an assassin for his fiancé who is having an affair with another man at their shared workplace. He meets the ‘salesman’ of the firm he contacts at a pub called the Dirty Donkey, and it escalates from there. The story is freely available online, so you can search it up if you really want to read it, it won’t take long. It mentions a pale horse, which is usually what Death rides in on, and is appropriate in the context of that story.

The question we need to ask is how does the name The Dirty Donkey apply to the Good Omens AU? Are there any context to the name at all?

There are several meanings for a dirty donkey:

Its a slang or joke name for a black horse (not particularly a dark horse, that has a different meaning altogether)

A cocktail

A sex position (I’ll let you look that one up yourself…)

Probably the first thing we need to talk about, though is an actual donkey itself, in relation to Jesus, as S2 is full of Jesus references and hints to the Second Coming in S3. Yep, it was all there in front of us, but we were too focused on other things. If you remember your Bible teachings, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, because he came in peace. In ancient times leaders rode horses if they went to war, or if they came in conquest. But arriving by donkey meant you came with peaceful intentions.

But Jesus didn't turn up in S2, you say. And certainly not on any hairy beast. Ah, but he did - metaphorically. Gabriel as Jim turned up - he came up the street, by (the Dirty) Donkey, walking through spilled blood tomatoes, then mentioned his arms were no longer sore (because he had been taken off the cross.) MrPeriod talks more about how Jim represents Jesus here, and it might be worth revisiting it at length another time, as there is quite a bit to unpack there.

There are also the two big golden lions perched on either end of the bar inside the pub, that look rather ominous. The lions are strongly connected to Jesus and his resurrection, representing his return. (I'm still planning to have a better look for more lions in both S1 and S2, but that is still a WIP at the moment.)

There is also the scene in 1941 where the Nazi zombies stagger into the Dirty Donkey and spy on Aziraphale and Crowley through the windows through to the book shop, but all they manage to get is “Banana, fish, gorilla, shoe lace with a dash of nutmeg.” It sounds a bit like a cocktail reference – well, the nutmeg is definitely a GO ref to a certain cocktail – but the cocktail called a Dirty Donkey has cinnamon in it, in the form of cinnamon schnapps, not nutmeg – plus chocolate liqueur and rum. So maybe not.

But perhaps the most important thing we have to examine is the conversation about Jane Austin that Aziraphale and Crowley have in the pub, in S2E2. Because its got so many levels you just about need a break for extra oxygen half way down. Ha! And you thought it was a couple of funny throw-away lines about how Aziraphale saw human romance...

OK, this is the section of dialogue we are going to look at:

AZIRAPHALE: If you're going to invoke fiction, you might as well do it properly. CROWLEY: Properly? AZIRAPHALE: You remember Jane Austen? CROWLEY: Yeah. I'm not gonna forget her in a hurry, am I? The brains behind the 1810 Clerkenwell Diamond Robbery. Brandy smuggler. Master spy. What a piece of work. AZIRAPHALE: She wrote books. Novels. CROWLEY: Jane? Austen? AZIRAPHALE: Yes! CROWLEY: Whoa, bit of a dark horse. Novels, eh? AZIRAPHALE: Yes. They were very good. CROWLEY: Well. No, I'm just surprised, that's all. You think you know someone. AZIRAPHALE: She had balls. CROWLEY: Well.... AZIRAPHALE: Cotillion balls. People would gather and do some formal dancing and then realize they had misunderstood each other and were actually deeply in love.

Ready to dive into the levels on the Jane Austen conversation? Let's go...

Level 1: It’s a conversation about the novelist Jane Austen, and it sounds like they both met her, but they remember her in different ways – and Crowley’s memory is rather surprising!

Level 2: There is a mention of a robbery. This makes the parallel with the 1967 scene in S1E3 Hard Times, where Crowley has a secret meeting in the Dirty Donkey to plan a robbery to steal holy water from a church. The robbery in the above conversation involves diamonds (are you taking note/s? This is important!) from Clerkenwell, a district of London of some notoriety. It was famous for it watchmakers and jewelers, but it was also the home of Oliver Cromwell, who has a link to the 1650 date mentioned in S2E1 and the Eccles cakes, to Charles Dickens (author of A Tale of Two Cities, a book of note for GO) Oh, and both times Crowley is wearing a "Tactical Turtleneck", which others have noted he wears when he is doing his own master spy work, such planning or discussing robberies, or sneaking into Heaven to rob them of information!

Level 3: There is Aziraphale’s idea about how a romance should be conducted, by hosting a cotillion ball with formal dancing, because he's read all those romantic novels by Austen. And we get to see that played out in S2E5 in the eldritch ball. Crowley's idea of a romance was to get caught in the rain and kiss, then - vavoom!

Level 4: Why mention this apparently fictional side to an author of fictional romance? Well, on one hand, it’s an interesting but dark set-up for a joke later at the beginning of S2E6. I ended up discussing it at length here, but the short of it is that it is our usual human custom not to speak ill of the dead, and this is a form of extreme black-and-white thinking. Here, Aziraphale speaks of the good/white side of Jane Austen, that is well known, but Crowley speaks of the black/supposedly forgotten or unspoken bad side of Austen.

Level 5: Here’s the S3 information. Have you been paying attention? Did you take note? The parallels were the robberies between a church, and diamonds? That she was a brandy smuggler? Do you know where they smuggled brandy from? And do you know where Austen actually lived? On the South Downs, overlooking the Channel to France…

Whew. I think I need a drink after that. Cheers!

[Edit: I've recently finished a meta on the Bentley and how that relates to black horses, and it's occurred to me why the ethereal lift, or "hellevator," is in the entrance to the Dirty Donkey. Black horses are symbolic spirit guides between the worlds of the living and the dead, so this makes the perfect place to put the lift!]