#i believe it to be somewhat of a miracle cure

[cistematicchaos]

sometimes, you just need a sapphic to take the place of a weighted blanket and squish you a little. it’s a unique need but not, i think, entirely uncommon. 

[adaptacy]

i am obsessing so hard over gale. like, i kid you not, i started out HATING him cause he was eating my artifacts and seemed completely useless in battle. but then i started a second playthru with my bf and i was like 'well im romancing astarion in my main so i GUESS i'll go for the other pretty boy'

....

it was the start of a very, very, very extreme brainrot fest.

so! as I learn more abt him (im in the shadow cursed lands rn, haven't had the sex scene with him yet so i dont know his character super well/im not super confident in portraying him) take this little snippet of wizard angst cause he needs a hug and i wanna give it to him :)

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“I reckon it’s sweet.” 

“Sweet?” 

“Sweet,” he clarified. “And smooth. Dare I say… simple. I must admit, I was somewhat befuddled with the absence of a necessity for complexities; you required no books, no training, no vexatious intricacies– it came naturally.” He remained fixated on a point off in the distance, perhaps watching the quiet rippling of the lake, just off the camp’s coast, undisturbed by the activity that usually stirred during the day. 

Peace was a mercy, and an uncommon one, but you felt it, here, with him. Like the eye of the hurricane that stalked you throughout Faerûn, the bloodshed and chaos that ruled your everyday life was far from absent, but it was silenced. Screams that echoed in your ears were muted, momentarily, granting you a glimpse of life before your adventure, before the hunt, before the cult, before the illithid’s influence. It would be short, but the fact that it occurred at all was a miracle. 

“Like wine.”

“Wine?” You chuckled, shifting a little closer, his arm coming to wrap around your shoulder, further warming you. 

“I predicted bitterness. A bite, or a sting. I’ve read stories about flavorful affections such as these. Stories. Can you believe it?”

“With how much reading you do? I can,” you hummed, resting your head against his side. 

“Tales, I believed them to be. I’ve seen love. Red love. Irascible, fractious love. Impotent, paralyzing love. Love like a raging sea. A love that I trusted. A fool I must’ve been.” There’s a short, woe-rooted chuckle that escapes him followed by a thin exhale out of necessity, out of defense. You knew who he was referencing, but you couldn’t bring yourself to mention the name. “Any sane soul would regret it.”

“Do you not?”

“There’s little time in this life– certainly, it offers no such room for regrets. I’ve wasted too many moonrises pondering the past.” His fingers graze your arm, and you allow your eyes to fall closed. “Many a wondrous thing I’ve witnessed. More than a man of my caliber should deserve. In a single lifetime, I’ve experienced more than a library's worth of literature could possibly cover.” He smiles, you can hear it in his voice. “From a mage’s best dreams to a direwolf’s worst nightmares– I’m sure I, myself, couldn’t have asked for a more thorough tour of what this plane, and a few others, have to offer.” 

“And yet there’s more.” Your remark is a light-hearted one, as you are sure everyone will have more to reflect on the closer you get to the cure you seek. 

But he sighs. A quiet one, restraint tightening his lungs, and you feel unease. “Amongst it all, I have even discovered what I once argued impossible. Simplicity. A priceless simplicity.” This time, when his arm moves, it brings you closer. He craves the contact, the connection struck between you. “Simplicity in love, of all things.”

Your eyes open to find his gaze no longer on the quiet riverbank, and instead on you. There’s a bruise on his left eyebrow, and a cut on the bridge of his nose. He’s pretty, even with the wounds, but you know they sting. A part of you feels guilty for seeing such beauty in his suffering. Deep down you know there is no Gale without suffering. 

At a glance, that’s all there is; a bruise, a cut, and a solemn smile. An exchange of pity for one another. Even for yourselves. An agreement, silent but strong. 

On further investigation, his eyes hold an unnatural glisten. Only then does it register.

“Gale…”

“It’s what’s best.” You sit up slightly, but you’re met with a gentle hush, and his smile grows, the dimples on his cheeks fired by an unknown audacity. “I’ve come to accept it. It is the decider of my fate– it always has been.”

“There are other ways,” you push out the words, and you find the bite, the sting, that he mentioned. In love, you find the pain. 

“Never did I imagine the world outside my tower to hold such beauties. Such contagious fragility. There are no books on this subject. No studies on this exchange of power. What is a puppet to do when he loses his creator? His puppeteer? When he can no longer stand, no longer dance, no longer perform? When obeying is all he knows, what does he do without direction?” 

He doesn’t sit up, he doesn’t stir. He looks back out to the waters. For guidance, maybe. For peace. For life. You’re left with no choice but to settle with the tide. A hand comes to rest on the dark imprint below his neck, desperate to find answers where the weave fails. 

“I have found simplicity. And, perhaps, that is the final step. I never imagined growing old. I suppose it isn’t meant to be.” He breathes, and you can feel the steadiness of his lungs. He isn’t scared. You can only wonder how long he’s contemplated this decision. “You see me. You look past the strings, my love, but that doesn’t mean they don’t still linger. I am but a man; I am no hero, I am no god. But if your safety is the only accomplishment I ever succeed in, I will lie satisfied in my earthly rest.”

“A few more days,” you whisper, pleading. 

“I only ask of you one thing.” Gale inhales, his heart pumping against your palm, pressing closer to his skin, desperate to feel him, to feel more than the orb, to feel more than Mystra’s design. You find his humanity in the tear on his cheek, the hair on his chest, the irregular mock of his heart’s rhythm. You find his humanity in his love, in his hopeless compassion, in his unwavering loyalty. “Don’t let that damned vampire even think about touching me.” 

He chuckles, and you do too, pulling yourself into his chest, hugging him close. He repays the affection, lips on the top of your head, his every breath lingering on your scalp. The peace remains, but you fear this may be your last serving of merciful tranquility.

You only hope it isn’t Gale’s. 

[hikarry]

Aziraphale likes to be helpful and hates watching humans suffer, as any good angel should. Yet, I don't believe he has permission from Gabriel to interfere and save humans during catastrophes, even if he could. He is sent places to observe and report. Any help he provides is under his own volition.

So just picture how he must have felt when those instances started pilling up. Cain. The Flood. Jesus.

Slowly but surely his incapacity starts to affect him.

How he must have felt, let's say, during plagues.

The Black Plague, for example.

He was sent to Britain to observe, but he can't help it but offer his assistance as a doctor. He can't outright cure them, but he can try to do it without using miracles and offer comfort all the while.

Still, that's not enough.

Many pass by his hand, slowly and painfully dying, covering him in blood and other body fluids.

He tries his best to bring them peace in their final moments, but what good does that do? He could cure them. With a snap of his fingers, he could cure them, but Heaven doesn't let him interfere, and he can't help but feel utterly useless. And that's how Crowley finds him. He was also in Britain, surreptitiously lending a helping hand the best he could, when he came across an exhausted and lost Aziraphale.

He sits across from the angel at a tavern without a word, the angel looking at his own hands while Crowley observed him.

"It's not your fault." He finally says and watches as Aziraphale closes his hands into fists.

"Isn't it?"

"Heaven is stopping you. If something, they are the ones to blame."

They fall into silence again for a few moments. It's uncomfortable and awkward but Crowley endures it.

"Was it a child?"

Aziraphale takes a deep breath and nods, before finally looking up at him.

"She couldn't be older than 4. She just...her skin turned black so fast i myself could barely keep track. Her mother kept crying, begging me to save her, but..." He closes his eyes, swallowing dry. "I could have. I could have saved her. Instead, I let a child slowly decay in her mother's arms." Crowley reached out much out of instinct, touching his fingertips to the back of Aziraphale's right hand. "I can't take it anymore. I can't just watch them die when I literally have the solution in my fingertips, Crowley."

After a few beats of silence, the demon answered:

"Tell you what, leave the healing to me." Aziraphale eyes snapped open. "I'm not as good as an angel in the healing department, but I can do something. At the very least, buy them time. You will only have to worry about guiding them through it."

The angel moves his hand away from his touch.

"Out of the question! You will get in trouble."

Crowley shrugs, trying to look as nonchalant as possible.

"Hell isn't really keeping track of miracles. I've been helping for weeks now. The only thing changing would be us sticking together and sharing the workload."

"...are you certain?"

"Would I offer if I wasn't?"

And that was the plan. They didn't save all, but they saved more than they would have if they didn't join forces. And, be assured, Crowley did get in trouble, but Aziraphale didn't need to know about that.

Wars? All the same.

Take Queen Anne's War, for example.

Aziraphale is ordered by Heaven to side with the British and Crowley sides with the French.

In a war, it's kill or be killed, and even though he was originally built to be a soldier, he stays as far away from the battlefield as he can. Instead, he takes his place as a nurse and helps the wounded soldiers as best he can.

Humans had somewhat developed their medical skills, so most of them were saved. If something, they had to cut a limb here and there, but as long as the human remained alive, that was all Aziraphale cared about.

Until one day, the hospital flooded with patients. The French had invaded an English camp and massacred most of them. Many died that day, even though Aziraphale could have easily snapped his fingers and closed wounds, stitching flesh together as new. His white clothes soon became a shade of dark red with all the dried human blood, and his hands were equally as tainted.

It was a young man, barely 16, that tipped him off the edged. He yelled, begging everyone not to let him die. He was terrified, holding onto Aziraphale's clothes and crying, just begging to be saved. And Aziraphale could have saved him. Just a snap. Yet instead, he had his hands deep in a chest wound, trying to stitch muscle together the human way. The blood was oozing out of the man's body, and his pleas grew weaker and weaker but always erratic and desperate. Suddenly, the boy reached out to Aziraphale's shirt and, with a vice grip, pulled him closer. The angel stopped what he was doing, looking the man in his bloodshot eyes, tears running down his dirty face. And then, there was only silence, the hand falling away from him. Aziraphale dropped the needle and had to step back. He had to leave. He needed air. Air. And there wasn't enough in that bloody tent.

Without paying much attention, he stumbled out of the hospital into the woods nearby, his breathing coming out as if he had run a marathon. The only things he could hear were the yells of desperation and his own heart beating against his chest. Eventually, he dropped on the floor, back leaning against a random tree, as he looked down at his hands stained with still fresh blood.

He had been nothing but a child pushed into a senseless war. He was scared of death, he didn't want to go, and yet Aziraphale did nothing. He just watched him die in a pool of his own blood while he claimed for the Almighty to save him. But she didn't. And so didn't Aziraphale.

The sun was setting, and he was still sitting in the same place, in the same position, still staring at his own hands. He didn't hear someone approaching and only noticed their presence when two clean hands held both of his.

Aziraphale looked up, silent tears escaping his eyes, and met sunglasses. Crowley was wearing a French General's uniform. Not a speck of blood or dirt on it. He was kneeling with one knee in front of him, and his mouth was moving, but Aziraphale couldn't hear it. Instead, he just gripped the hands on his and let himself tumble forwards, laying his head on Crowley's shoulder. He felt it when the demon reciprocated his hand squeeze and leaned his head against his. None of them talked. There was no need for it. They've been through this before, many, many times, and all Aziraphale needed was a break. A break from all the pain and blood and death. And Crowley offered it to him, even if just for one moment.

Somewhere in the middle of the night, Aziraphale would remove himself from Crowley and squeeze his hands one last time. Crowley ran his eyes through the angel's face, and when he offered him a weak smile, the demon smiled back. With one last squeeze, he got up from the ground and waved his hand in the general direction of the angel, banishing the dried blood from his clothes and hands before leaving, back behind enemy lines.

Neither of them would mention what happened in the forest, much like they didn't mention all the times through the millenia this exact scenario had played out before.

They didn't have the real need for it, really. Talking about it was no use. It would only bring up the bad memories Aziraphale tried very hard to bury as far away from his consciousness as possible.

And it was with stolen moments of silent support when both forgot they were in enemy sides, not only by Hell and Heaven standards, but sometimes by Human standards as well, that they survived the worst of humanity when an angel could do nothing but observe and report.

[felixcloud6288]

Higurashi: Festival Accompanying Chapter 10

While Irie stresses over Satoko's fate, everyone else in the research facility seems to be completely unbothered. Takano had to request permission from Tokyo to have Satoko dissected and Tokyo approved it. So ratting Takano out wouldn't have resolved anything. I guess the ethics committee tends to be underfunded when you're working for a military organization interested in creating bio-weapons.

Irie carries the weight of his sins for killing a man one year ago for his research. He's stated repeatedly to himself how he will one day stand in judgment for it. And now he's weighing his options to decide how to oppose Satoko suffering the same fate as the the 1979 ringleader.

This is a story about redemption, forgiveness, and second chances. Irie's story doesn't have the supernatural elements that everyone else's does, but this recurring theme is still there. The most difficult thing for him is he doesn't have any options that truly can save Satoko. At best, he can only ensure she doesn't suffer a slow death as a test subject.

Okay, I lied. There is ONE supernatural element to Irie's story.

Rika is Oyashiro's priestess and has relived this event multiple times. She isn't hiding how she knows what Irie is planning to do. There are likely several timelines where Irie attempted to escape the clinic with Satoko only to be killed by the Wild Dogs.

Back in Massacre, Rika noted that the village coming together to save Satoko made her realize that miracles aren't made by one person. By the end of that arc, she'd managed to bring all her friends together to fight destiny. And now it feels like Rika is working to gather more allies as well.

It's worth noting that this is a Rika from the distant past. She doesn't have the memories of the Massacre arc. We're not seeing Rika preparing to face Takano in this timeline. We're seeing her planting seeds. She already reached out to Akasaka. Now she's attempting to reach out to Irie.

Of course, there could be some bit of the cumulative Rika or Frederica Bernkastel's will being exerted on this Rika. I've mentioned a few times in Massacre that I think the timeline is somewhat fluid and will self-correct itself based on Rika's actions and will.

I've kind of realized while writing this that I'm applying Takano's own belief to what Rika is doing. Takano said an absolute will shall create an absolute future. And now I'm arguing that Rika has an absolute will and it's paving the way to the absolute future where she lives beyond June 1983.

Back in Atonement, Rika forgave Keiichi for killing Mion and Rena. She did that because there was no way for Keiichi to atone for it. When Rika approached Irie in this chapter, she didn't talk about forgiveness or atonement. There's no actual need for that. Irie is at a point where he's trying to forge his own path to redemption, he just doesn't have an idea how, and maybe he doesn't know if he deserves redemption.

Rika offers to be Irie's test subject in Satoko's place so he can develop a cure for Hinamizawa Syndrome. And the only reason he ultimately accepts her offer is because she believes in his ability and that he is still a good person at heart despite everything he's done.

I'm looking at Rika on the operating table and all I can think is "You guys need to shave her head before you start." Irie is about to cut open Rika's skull to inspect her brain. They pulled her hair into a braid, but she still has way too much loose hair from her bangs.

She's going to wake up and complain of a headache and when they do an x-ray on her, her brain is going to have the same bangs she does.

NIPA BEAM!!!

back

[ragingstillness]

Recently got capsaicin oil on my lips and nose while cooking with jalapeños and it was a terrible experience. I did ultimately find a way to stop the burning but not until I had tried almost every solution the internet had to offer. So I thought I’d share my knowledge with you all so that when/if it happens to you, you know what works.

Disclaimer: your experience may differ from mine depending on your own body chemistry, how much you got on you, and where on your body you got it

Additional info: make sure that if you got it on your hands then wiped your face (as I did) that you use these solutions on your hands as well so you don’t just irritate your face all over again in your efforts to clean it. The oil also stayed under my nails longer than on my skin so clipping your nails short is the way to go.

Possible solutions:

Cold water: works, but the relief from burning is very temporary. Maybe a second or two from first contact with cold water but then back to burning

Soap and water: decent, as you do want to use a substance with fats or oils because capsaicin oil is fat soluble. However, the amount of washing required would take a lot of time with not much relief in between.

Olive oil: the right type of substance but like cold water the relief is temporary

Ice: will numb the burn to an extent. Is also temporary but will last longer than cold water. However, it will do nothing to actually fix the issue, just alleviate the sensation

Milk: somewhat effective. Most effective if you get the oil in your mouth and you drink it, less useful for outer skin contact

Fan blowing air: genuinely a good call. Like the ice it will alleviate the sensation while not fixing the problem but it is a good way to get your concentration back while you try to fix the problem. I used a fan with a spritz function so I could put water on my face then cool it down, gave me a lot of relief

Coconut milk conditioner: while the recommendation is technically to use coconut oil, this is all I had on hand. Pretty much the same as the olive oil. The substance itself is maybe a little more cooling but a huge waste of money for not a lot of relief

Face wash: no relief and no lessening of the issue, not worth the effort.

Aloe: also genuinely a good call. Cools pretty well and when I used it in conjunction with the fan the relief was particularly good. Also the kind of substance you want to be using to dissolve the oil.

Tomato sauce: believe it or not, this is the solution that actually worked. Tomato sauce. I was standing in my bathroom rubbing pasta sauce onto my face then washing it off and repeating. And it worked. What could have lasted 24 hours disappeared completely along with the redness and irritation in maybe two hours. Wouldn’t say it’s a miracle cure, but pretty close. Relief is not immediate during the washing process but you have to keep at it.

I also tried ice cream which may have worked but I tried it after the tomato sauce had already done its job so I can’t really attest to the effectiveness. The internet solutions I didn’t try were submerging my face in a bowl of milk (seemed weird, I’m not a cat, would suck to drown in milk) and vinegar (which just sounds like a bad idea I mean isn’t it slightly acidic?).

Ok I’m done but I hope this helps someone else. The burning wasn’t incapacitating in that I couldn’t breathe or stand up but I was definitely unable to continue the task I was doing when contact happened.

[8bitsupervillain]

Higurashi When They Cry Hou Ch. 7 Minagoroshi pt. 3

Genuine question here for readers, since I read further ahead than where these posts indicate do you want me to stop putting vague "guesses" or jokes about how I know about imminent forthcoming plot elements? Would you rather I just directly talk about how plot thing Z happens shortly, make my vague insinuations, or just stop mentioning it entirely? The other option is I just read, and when something cool/unpredicted happens post about that. (this question ripped from later on in the post because I felt it broke the flow somewhat.) Also, I don't know if anyone saw it earlier, but this is not the first part three.

Shortly after telling Hanyuu to shut it, Rika muses on how Keiichi being able to remember events from Onikakushi last chapter is a miracle. Using this as a motivational tool Rika decides to fight her fate more earnestly than she had done in the past. I haven't posted about it in the playthrough here yet, but this chapter so far is a lot more meta than previous chapters with its outright fourth wall breaks and remarks about the medium.

After this is a TIP section written from someone's grandfather explaining to the recipient of the TIP that their committing suicide because they can't handle how many days he might have left to live. Also that he feels like he's a humiliated man because he is unable to leave any of his achievements to the world. Basically that he's upset that he will be forgotten. He then beseeches the recipient to do better than him. To achieve something. It ends with the rather grandiose statement that the recipient must achieve godhood.

I don't really know who this TIP is explicitly written to, given some dialogue from later on in the chapter I certainly have my theories.

I always did kind of wonder what the deal with those little nurse hats were. You always see them in period dramas with hospitals, but some time around the nineties they seem to have just went away entirely. Maybe there was some sort of medical reason for them, but probably it's just some doctor way back in the day had a thing for women in hats. I was going to make a crack about doctors with hats, but the only ones who really wear any sort of head wear are surgeons.

I think Ryukishi07 has a thing for nurses. Every other version of Takano has a longer skirt. Not that I blame him, sometimes you gotta do things for you.

I know they'll say what it is later (to clarify they haven't identified the disease yet), but I do wonder what Satoko has. I sincerely doubt it'll be an actual disease, and it'll be something like anime mom disease, but I do wonder what it is. I believe I mentioned it in the past, but there's so much incidental dialogue that gets thrown around in these early parts of the chapter that gives off the impression that this will be the final chapter. Stuff like Irie talking about how he's going to find a cure for death, Rika's last ditch effort to fight fate, etc.

I like Hanyuu, she seems like a good kid, god child, thing. I find her pretty relatable with how she doesn't like to hang around Rika being a downer while talking to Irie. Honestly, how often do you find yourself not wanting to hang out with someone for a minute because they're just such a constant bummer to be around?

I know she's not a doctor, but I guess this goes to show the difference between medical doctors and psychologists huh? It probably doesn't say great things that the eleven year old kid looking at a Rorschach's interpretation is butterfly sex, but then again like Rika alludes to, whatever she saw it as during her time as an abuse victim is probably miles worse. I probably should've used psychiatrist there, but I think you get my point.

I knew it was bound to happen, but honestly I like the fact that we're finally learning more about Irie, and Takano. It makes them much more interesting than just being their relatively one note selves from previous chapters. Sure we knew that Takano is an occult fangirl weirdo, but it's also funny to learn about how she apparently has a big stuffed animal collection. It's kind of like learning about how when a game development company back in the nineties approached H.R. Giger about using his art in their game he answered the door wearing basically a dracula cape, but he kept giving the developers tea and cookies. Then afterwards he kept sending them birthday cards and new years cards with just fluffy adorable rabbits on em.

Or with Irie he's not just a lolicon maid fetishist he's actually pretty serious about his job. Of course I also like the fact that these two are getting a chance to be actual characters this time around, and not just they show up for one section and then immediately either leave the plot entirely or die. Or both.

[ashitomarisu]

CURECANONS: Everything I thought I knew about Precure was a lie (Hirogaru Sky Precure)

Supposedly, being the 20th anniversary celebratory season, as I near the end of the watch, a huge roadblock approaches: the huge time gap between Skyland and Sorashido City.

=======================================

MAJOR SPOILERS START NOW

=======================================

In episode 45, Sora, Ellee, and Mashiro are sent back in time via Majestic Chroniclon to Skyland (circa 556). There, they run into the current princess, Ellelain, whom doesn't even know about this "lore" the future cures are telling her.

Fast forward to after the Emperor of Undergu sent his Ranborgs, Princess Ellelain prays for a miracle...

Up until this episode, Sora was told the princess in the tale prayed for a hero, and a precure appeared.

However, this was debunked, when Ellelain's prayers turned her into a Precure herself. Thus, the first Precure was born, Cure Noble. Prior to watching this, it was never clarified when the first Precure ever existed. Cure Ange (from the Heartcatch Precure movie) was initially considered as such, despite the lack of evidence. Now, there is somewhat of an answer as to the lore behind Precure.

With that in mind, let's focus back on the time gap. Skyland, according to the anime, is set in 856 AD. Sorashido City, assuming it is parallel to real-time Earth, is set to 2023. This makes sense with Sora's original clothing and in the kingdom Princess Ellee came from.

Does that mean Sora, Tsubasa, and Ellee are considered to be "archaic" Precure?! This leaves Ageha and Mashiro to be the only modern precure on the team.

I'm seriously bonkers to believe that Toei would expand on Precure lore after 20 years. (Oh, and the many Futari wa references I'll get to after I get through the final few episodes).

[maremote]

i watched tlou hbo ep. 2. giving it a 1.5/5. detailed list of compliants (and 2 things i liked!) below

I was hoping they wouldn't focus on the virus, but I guess they are. Disappointing but not surprising. I think the mechanics of a zombie story are the least interesting part UNLESS you've designed the story from the very beginning to center on the virus, which TLOU is absolutely not, so.

They're really insisting on the impossibility of a vaccine. I'm not sure where they're going with this. What would be cool is if they flipped halfway through or gradually evolved the prequels to show just how much of a miracle it is that Ellie is immune. Otherwise, if there's really no chance at a vaccine, that really kind of deflates the final choice.

"I think what really impressed them was that I didn't turn into a fucking monster," - awkward ass line awkward ass delivery

"You need to stop talking about this kid like she's got some kind of a life ahead of her," - Decent line, a little on the nose.

"Joel and I aren't good people" how about you show us that in any way shape or form instead of having Tess just tell us over and over again that her an d Joel are BAD and SCARY. All they've done so far is smuggle food and meds, get beat up, spoon in bed and try to find Joel's brother

"She told me not to tell anybody and now I'm telling the first people that I-" is an incredibly awkward line of dialogue that should not exist, so I can't even blame Bella for how bad the delivery was.

"Fuck you, man, I didn't ask for this," - compared to how game!Ellie delivers it I simply cannot accept show!Ellie's delivery.

Also, the placement of "fuck you, man, I didn't ask for this," doesn't make sense in retaliation to Joel saying that no cure has ever been found. In the game this is how the exchange goes down:

Ellie's saying "fuck you," because Joel is interrupting her story with sarcastic comments ("Yeah, we've heard that before, / Oh I'm sure she did.) In the show he's just sternly saying that he doesn't believe there's a cure. LET JOEL BE A DICK!

I wish there had been a pause in-between "Okay, Jesus, fine," and "I'll have to throw a fuckin' sandwich at 'em," with the last part maybe mumbled as an afterthought. It would've made the line come off as more natural.

Ellie's "concierge" moment is funny but doesn't make sense in terms of PLACEMENT AGAIN. At this point she has not bonded with either of them. In the game she makes the concierge joke MUCH later when she and Joel are somewhat bonded and not actively trying to get to a nearby location. Make it make sense!!! What is this bastardization!

I don't even hate most of Ellie's lines this episode but her delivery is just not doing it for me. Bella Ramsay's Ellie can be funny but it's not ELLIE. She has some funny moments but it's a different character it's not ELLIE sorry.

Tess knowing Joel raised a gun without even seeing him was a pretty good moment.

Already too much of a "family trip" vibe for me, with Tess and Joel and Ellie. In the original, Joel and Tess are making plans and leading the way and Ellie is just sort of quietly in back. That was for a reason.

Clicker fight scene was SO DARK I could not see Anything At All.

Ellie pointing the flashlight and Joel shooting was a cute moment but NOT THIS EARLY!! NOT THIS EARLY!! SAVE IT FOR WHEN THEY'VE ACTUALLY BONDED THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BOND YET!!!!

Why are they so CLEAN!!

I did like that they swapped out a plank bridge for a bridge made of a ladder with planks layered on top.

"Save who you can save" felt forced as a line

WHY is Ellie fighting Joel on leaving.

Tess's death was um. That was one way to handle it!

[outoftheirdifferences]

“ Have some of this . You’ll feel better . ” - Eileen to Vanellope , handing her a cherry flavored cough drop .

Emergency Fluff and Softness Starters

"Can't believe--"

She hid another wracking cough in her hoodie sleeve; but that couldn't stop it from shaking her small form, sending a ripple of a glitch through it. Verdict was in: this majorly sucked.

"--I need it in the first place."

Still, she was somewhat heartened to see that the cure was in the form of something that at least passingly resembled candy. Given her background, she'd always, no exceptions, prefer that over liquid medicine that tasted like Slaughter Race's sewer water. Accepting the cough drop, she stuffed it in her mouth before looking at the other again.

"I live alone in a literal dump for fifteen years an' never get sick once. Why does it only start now, when I'm living my dream life?"

Hopefully this cherry drop was some sort of miracle health pickup besides just tasting decent; if she had to call in sick tomorrow and miss a day of racing in Slaughter Race, she'd be pretty upset.

[bookoformon]

The Book of Mosiah, Chapter 3. "The Natural Man." Parsha Arafel, "The Fog" continues.

King Benjamin continues his address—The Lord Omnipotent will minister among men in a tabernacle of clay—Blood will come from every pore as He atones for the sins of the world—His is the only name whereby salvation comes—Men can put off the natural man and become Saints through the Atonement—The torment of the wicked will be as a lake of fire and brimstone. About 124 B.C.

King Benjamin means "The Most Enlightened Builder of the House". He says there is a way we can separate from all wierd ideas about the puddle of blood and the lake of fire by looking ahead:

1 And again my brethren, I would call your attention, for I have somewhat more to speak unto you; for behold, I have things to tell you concerning that which is to come.

2 And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God. And he said unto me: Awake; and I awoke, and behold he stood before me.

3 And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy.

4 For the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness, and hath sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayest rejoice; and that thou mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with joy.

5 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord bOmnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

6 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.

7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

8 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.

9 And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.

10 And he shall arise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men.

11 For behold, and also his blood batoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.

12 But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

13 And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even cas though he had already come among them.

14 Yet the Lord God saw that his people were a stiffnecked people, and he appointed unto them a law, even the law of Moses.

15 And many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows showed he unto them, concerning his coming; and also holy prophets spake unto them concerning his coming; and yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood.

16 And even if it were possible that little children could sin they could not be saved; but I say unto you they are blessed; for behold, as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins.

17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

18 For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

20 And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

21 And behold, when that time cometh, none shall be found blameless before God, except it be little children, only through repentance and faith on the name of the Lord God Omnipotent.

22 And even at this time, when thou shalt have taught thy people the things which the Lord thy God hath commanded thee, even then are they found no more blameless in the sight of God, only according to the words which I have spoken unto thee.

23 And now I have spoken the words which the Lord God hath commanded me.

24 And thus saith the Lord: They shall stand as a bright testimony against this people, at the judgment day; whereof they shall be judged, every man according to his works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil.

25 And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls.

26 Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the wrath of God, which justice could no more deny unto them than it could deny that Adam should fall because of his partaking of the forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have claim on them no more forever.

27 And their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever. Thus hath the Lord commanded me. Amen.

Don't get too jazzed about Bloody Mary and the Atonement quite yet- this is just a description of what is supposedly going to happen in about century according to the Gematria above. Remember from the Book of Jacob, the Atonement is mankind's to perform, for all the wicked things it has done. Without it, nothing can be done.

And what is to be the result? Not the Natural Man, like Adam, but one who has the benefit of knowing all human history to help shape his conduct.

As for the real potent meaning of the journey of Christ, the crucifixion, the Atonement and salvation itself in contemporary America, the Prophet continues to go into detail. In the meantime, he thinks people should follow the Laws of Moses.

One thing is for sure, salvation does not apply to anyone who voted for Donald Trump, knew he cheated in that election, watched him commit War Crimes and then said or did nothing.

As the text says, persons like these without boundaries or the ability to withdraw from the forbidden thrills associated with drugs, incest, the pederasty, cheating, violence, corruption, and then the intrigue to cover it all up- they must be judged according to the fruits of their actions.

[skippyv20]

Our Prayer List🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s husband who is having surgery to remove a tumor scheduled on Monday a.m Prayers and good thoughts for our friend who has Stage 1 cancer and on July 7th,  she will have a robot assisted (!) total hysterectomy which is considered a cure. The bonus is that the surgery is considered out patient surgery and she will be able to go home that same day. She would appreciate continued prayers until she is back on my feet.

Prayers and good thoughts for Dame Deborah James’ family as their mourn her loss.  We pray for peace and comfort for the family.   Prayers and good thoughts for Kaitlyn and Matt who have suffered the loss of their baby girl at 21 weeks gestation.  They are having a very difficult time, please pray for comfort.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s daughter who is a whistleblower at her school. Due to that, she is being singled out while others are rewarded.  We pray for Justice.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend who is suffering from incredible stomach pain.  We pray she will go to the hospital.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend who is mourning the loss of her father.  Prayers and good thoughts for her family. Prayers and good thoughts for Dave Meyers going through chemo treatments.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend who is having dealing with challenging pain in both hips and walking is difficult.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend who is very worried about her senior aged parents.  The relationship between her and her parents is somewhat distant.  She has been praying for them to all be closer.

Prayers and good thoughts for Baby James’ great grandmother and family.  His great grandmother is nearing her life here on earth, and will be going home to heaven.

Prayers and good thoughts for our dear friend whose father has just passed away.  Prayers for the family.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s father with Parkinson’s.  We pray for strength for him and family as they face challenges.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s grandfather who had a stroke and is in a coma.  Prayers also for the family.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s daughter who was misdiagnosed with MRSA.  She has been suffering from a variety of infections, the doctors now consulting with infectious disease specialists.  She is in isolation.

Prayers and good thoughts for our Novenas Baby James,  James is still going and he’s started some physical therapy to catch up on some milestones. He’s a bit behind because of his time in hospital, but otherwise he’s a persistent little one with four teeth already! I can’t believe we’re just a couple.of weeks from his first birthday.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend and her family.  We pray for her daughter who is an alcoholic.  We pray for her children.  We pray for her oldest son who is trying to get his life back on track.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend who is going to be audited before approval of disability payments.  Praying all works in her favor.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend and her two cats.  She is very overwhelmed.  Her mother is entering last stage of life, she is dealing with someone difficult in her life, her fears are coming to be true.  She needs prayers for strength in the times ahead.  She is also dealing with an evil landlord.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend who has recently moved to the US and is seeking employment.

Prayers and good thoughts for our dear friend who is in horrible pain caused by a pinched nerve in her shoulder, and extreme pain in her hip.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s daughter and grandchildren age 3 yrs and 18 months.  Her daughter makes too much money for government assistance.  She can’t afford therapy for both.  Our friend helps her as much as she can, but they need help.  They need a miracle.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend who is suffering from heart failure, and feeling so poorly.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s friend, K and K’s daughter.  Her daughter is sober at this time, we pray this continues.  We pray for K who is feeling very anxious.  We pray to Saint Monica to intercede on her behalf.   Prayers and good thoughts for our friend who suffers from bouts of depression, and is feeling alone.

Prayers and good thoughts for our little 9 yr old Novenas boy who has had a bone marrow transplant and is having some complications.  He is a fighter, but he and his family could really use prayers to help them through the tougher days. (Prayers and good thoughts for our 9 yr old Novenas boy.  He has had his bone marrow surgery  recently.  We pray for his quick recovery, that the surgery was a success, and that he will have a great prognosis.)

Prayers and good thoughts for Richard, who is recovering well, but still struggles with speech.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend who had Covid a few weeks ago & haven’t felt right since. Her doctors say she has Long Covid Symptoms! She suffers from anxiety, depression, insomnia and panic attacks. Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s 18 month old granddaughter Allie, who is very, very sick fighting a skin disease in the hospital. Dr’s think she had some type of autoimmune disease & will be battling skin problems her whole life! Dr’s have put her on some type of cancer medicine to see if that will give her some relief

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend who is has surgery for bilateral mastectomy, and is recovering.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s 18 year old daughter who is healing and taking steps forward.  She is still struggling.

Prayers and good thoughts for Carol.  Carol is very overwhelmed by life’s trials.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s cousin who has 4 children, and has terminal cancer.

Prayers and good thoughts for our 8 month old Novenas boy who has had a bone marrow transplant.  Praying for his complete healing and quick recovery.  Praying for him to have a long, healthy, happy life.  Prayers for his family.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend who is estranged from her daughter.  Our friend is overwhelmed with worry.  Praying they will reconcile.

Prayers and good thoughts for Baby James’ “heart” brother William.  He has had surgery and is now recovering, we pray for him to stay strong. He is doing well. We pray for his family.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend whose mother has pancreatic cancer once again.  It is terminal.  Praying for peace, comfort and for all the family to feel God’s loving presence.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s husband from our Novenas, who is battling pancreatic cancer.  He is just out of the hospital.  He is not worse, so that is a blessing.    His 7yr old son is having a hard time.  

Prayers and good thoughts for our dear friend little m who is mourning the loss of her beloved husband, and she is feeling weak & quite tired.  He was her caregiver as well.  We pray for God to place earth angels on her path, to ease her burdens as she moves forward.  

Prayer and good thoughts for our friend’s friend.  She has just had surgery to remove cancer from her arm, but is too ill to have skin graft. Now her cancer is returning and she will need another op or radiotherapy.   Tests ongoing.  She has underlying health conditions and her husband has Alzheimers.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend.  We are praying she doesn’t have a relapse, and can go forward in good health.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s husband who had bowel surgery.  Prayers for his ongoing healing and more energy.

Prayers and good thoughts for Hunnymae who is mourning the loss of her precious sweet furbaby…dear Hunny Mae

Prayers and good thoughts for our dear friend Storm who is struggling with life’s trials.  Praying for her burdens to be lifted.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend Finding the Way Anon and her family who are going through many trials right now.  Praying for their burdens to be lifted.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend PG.

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s friend in Kyiv and her family

Prayers and good thoughts for our friend’s 5 yr old son who has speech delay/echolalia.  Our friend is quite sure he has ADHD , but am now worried that the echolalia means she needs to consider ASD as well.  Also, please pray for our friend as she is so stressed.

If I left anyone out, please let me know…if there are updates or corrections required…please let me know….

God Bless you and thank you for joining us in prayers and good thoughts…🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️

[skiitter]

The Cyberpunk endings are fucking stupid.

V, regardless of the life path, starts the game with a new chance at life. They meet Jackie, take this insane gig, and are aiming for the big leagues. And then it all goes to hell in a handbasket and suddenly, V is being punished for her hubris, for playing Icarus a little too well. Saddled with a nightmare engram and a rapidly approaching end, V is forced to handle these things AND work through whatever Night City throws at her.

And she fucking nails it.

Panam and the Aldecaldos are 100% better off after meeting V. Everyone is. She strives to help, to earn her place at the top, and does it with compassion. It’s not easy, either. Fucking serial killers, rogue AI, corporate espionage, and Relic Malfunctions are literally being thrown at her and V takes it in stride. She bruises and bleeds, but gets the fuck back up. 

She manages to singlehandedly do the one thing no one else could: force Johnny Silverhand to contend with what he’s done, and atone. Takes this symbol of rage and hate and violence and makes him sit there and realize that living that way is not a way to live. He doesn’t regret the places he’s burned, just the people. She teaches him humanity and humility and what it means to be vulnerable and how stupid he was for thinking he was better than those that chose to love him.

V befriends nearly everyone she meets, including a dishonored corporate body guard and a fucking vending machine. She performs emotional labor for 90% of the characters in this game, including allowing her literal, actual body to be used purely for the benefit of someone else. Changes Kerry’s entire life, sets him back on the path he lost so many years ago. Gives Rogue a chance at closure from the most destructive relationship she’s ever had. 

The only person V feels that she has ever let down is Jackie and we spend the whole game carrying that weight. Her entire quest for fame, the whole reason she keeps pursuing the Big Leagues, is for her dead partner. A partner who she never replaces, by the way. Johnny Silverhand becomes her angry, jaded and wise consciousness but never her partner. V does everything she does alone, save for her ghost who no one can see. 

It all compounds. Helping Claire with the drag races. Rounding up Delamain’s feral children. Letting River’s niece and nephew win at the stupid game. Telling the new mayor he’s actually being brainwashed by an AI. Catching SEVENTEEN cyberpsychos. All of that takes time. Time V could spend chasing down a million leads to save her life but this is a game of choices and she chooses to help others.

And this all feels normal. That’s generally what these branching, massive RPG type games play out as. It’s not new, but we all love playing a hero. And make no mistake, V is a hero. She’s not some merc, who bends her beliefs to the highest bidder (this is also why Johnny loves her tbqh. its about the conviction). V has a moral code she will not work against and we as players must work within that code, somewhat. 

The story plays out with V taking on these roles of cleaner, helper, friend, lover, confidant. Its beautiful and immersive and V feels better for it. I felt better for it. And all of that culminates in a massive Fuck You. Fuck you for thinking that, at the end of this, there was any chance of saving yourself. Fuck you for building these connections, loving these people, trying this hard. Fuck you for believing this had a happy ending.

The only person, the only fucking person, who is given a chance at salvation is Johnny. And it is exhausting watching yet another female character have to give her life away so that he can learn a lesson. Putting V back into her body to go rot from the inside out for the next six months is so insulting it borders on cruelty. 

The “best” ending, the Star, where V goes off into the sunset with Panam and her clan to hopefully find some miracle cure is such a slap in the face. Why was this option not available before V dragged her body through Arasaka and into the heart of Mikoshi? Are we to believe that suddenly Panam found something out and only now is it worth pursuing? The only “good” ending is Temperance in that at least something comes from V’s sacrifice and I hate that its to uplift Johnny. 

V did so fucking much for others, emotional, physical, and mental labor, all because that’s the person she is. Runs through the fucking gauntlet of Night City. And, in the end, she earns nothing for it. Fuck your happy ending, fuck your hopes. You can kill yourself on the rooftop, take a suicide mission into fucking space, break out of your own narrative constructs to chase a wild goose, or give your body away entirely. Unsatisfying doesn’t even begin to cover it. 

The Cyberpunk endings are Fucking Stupid.

Edit: I just wanna briefly say that I don't inherently blame Johnny for the loss of V's body in the final missions. In every instance that he gets it, he vehemently expresses not wanting it. It's not his fault that he's the Male Character all the women must die for. It's the writers who fail V, not Johnny, Silvermerc ship be damned. Johnny is canonically loyal to V and taking her body isn't something his character does lightly, at all. Just really wanna stress that here.

[bex-la-get]

A Second Chance (Ethan x f!MC)

Book: Open Heart, Book 2

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x Natalie Cusack

Word count: 2175

Summary: While the hospital reels from the assassination attempt, Ethan gets his miracle. Sequel to What If...

Author’s Note: So @adiehardfan​​ asked if there would be a part 2 to What If and at the time, I wasn’t sure but this came to me the other day and I thought this would be the perfect sequel piece after I ripped your hearts out (sorry about that, by the way). Enjoy! 😘

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Nor do I remember the specifics from Chapters 10/11 in OPH Book 2. Any and all mistakes are my own. Thank you.

Please, he pleaded silently. Let her live. We have so much lost time to catch up on. Please. Let. Her. Live.

Ethan watched Natalie breath, her chest moving slowly as it rose up and down. He could tell she was struggling, growing weaker by the moment; but he could also see that she was fighting it. Fighting to get oxygen to her lungs, fighting to make it until morning, fighting to stay alive. He brushed some loose hair behind her ear and closed his eyes, listening to the sound of her breathing and silently praying that the combined efforts of Edenbrook and Mass Ken would be enough to save her.

He didn’t sleep that night. Too concerned of what might happen if he closed his eyes, Ethan stayed awake through the whole night, watching Natalie’s breathing and monitoring her vitals. He briefly stepped out of the room to splash some water on his face and wipe away the stray tears that were still sliding down his cheeks but that was the farthest he would be away from her. He refused to leave the room otherwise.

At around 3am, Harper and Naveen arrived with a couple and a young man; Ethan could only assume these were Natalie’s parents and brother.

“Ethan,” Naveen said on the other side of the door, “Dr. Cusack’s family is here.

Ethan nodded, stepped out of the room, and quickly changed out of the hazmat suit to speak with them; he stayed close to the entrance, however, and kept an ear out for the systems monitoring Nat’s vitals. He didn’t want to miss anything crucial while out of the room.

“Mr. and Mrs. Cusack, I’m Doctor Ramsey. It’s good to meet you, though I wish it were under different circumstances.”

The Cusacks shook his extended hand and he turned to Natalie’s brother, greeting him as her mother, Julie, spoke. “Likewise, Doctor. Is there any update?” Her green eyes were filled with concern and worry and Ethan’s heart tightened.

“Not at the moment, I’m afraid. But we have a team working around the clock on a cure; some of the best doctors in the country are working to help your daughter,” Ethan answered.

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Vic, as he had introduced himself, asked.

Naveen shook his head sadly. “I’m afraid not; but thank you for offering.”

Vic’s shoulders deflated somewhat and his father wrapped an arm around him. “Thank you for watching over her, Doctor Ramsey,” Elias said, his voice quiet. 

Ethan nodded. “She would do the same for me; for any of us.”

Elias smiled sadly. “That’s just like my Nattie.”

Julie sniffled and gazed at her daughter through the window, her eyes wet with unshed tears; Harper laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Why don’t we wait in my office? You’ll be comfortable there and it’s close by so we’ll know when there’s updates.” Julie nodded in agreement and the Cusack family quietly said their goodbyes, following Harper down the hall.

Naveen rested a reassuring hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “How are you doing, my boy?”

Ethan shook his head and swallowed back a sob. “Not good.”

His mentor gazed at him sadly. “I wish I could reassure that she would be okay, but I cannot in good conscience say such things. But I do want to believe them.”

Ethan nodded and sniffled. “Me too.” He looked back through the window where Natalie was fast asleep, her chest rising and falling with every breath. “I can’t lose her, Naveen,” he said, quietly. “I-- she’s everything to me. I don’t know what I’m going to do if she doesn’t make it.”

Naveen squeezed his shoulder. “We have to believe she will make it, Ethan. Thinking otherwise will only drive us crazy.”

“I know; I just feel so useless. I can’t help with the cure and I can’t do anything for her in the meantime.” Ethan could feel the tears welling up again but he fought against them. Crying wouldn’t help anything right now.

“Being there for her in her hour of need is doing more than you can possibly imagine, Ethan. Trust me.” Naveen paused for a moment before speaking again. “Does she know how you feel?”

Ethan nodded solemnly. “I told her before she fell asleep. I just wish I hadn’t waited so long. I should’ve told her a long time ago, from the moment I knew.”

“We all have things we wish we could have done differently or sooner. The important thing now is that she knows.” Naveen squeezed his shoulder again then stepped away. “Go. Be with her. We’ll let you know when there’s news.”

“Thank you, Naveen,” Ethan said, making his way back into the quarantine area. 

“Ethan,” Naveen said. Ethan turned to his mentor, finding a sad smile on his lips. “Assuming she makes it and they can make a cure, I hope you won’t let her go.”

Ethan shook his head. “I’m never letting her go again,” he said, resolutely.

Naveen nodded and watched as Ethan once again dressed in the hazmat suit before returning to his place at Natalie’s side.

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

It was nearing six am when several members from both the Edenbrook and Mass Ken teams appeared at the window of the hospital room. Ethan’s heart pounded at their appearance, trying not to let his fears get the better of him. Please be good news, please be good news.

“Well?” Ethan asked, his throat going dry.

Tobias looked to Elijah who grinned and held up a small vial in his hand before handing it to Baz. “We did it. We were able to synthesize a cure!”

Ethan barely held back a sob as he watched Baz and June suit up and join him in the room. “What about the EMT? Rafael?”

“He made it through the night,” Tobias confirmed. “He’s being administered his own dose as we speak.”

Ethan nodded, fighting tears. “Thank you,” he said, quietly. “All of you, thank you.”

“She would’ve done the same for any of us,” Elijah said, looking at his sleeping friend sadly. “I just hope we did it in time.”

Baz and June administered the dosage to Nat and Ethan swallowed hard. “Only time will tell.”

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

“Nat? Natalie. Can you hear me?”

Natalie’s brows furrowed as the familiar voice pulled her out of her deep sleep. 

“Natalie,” the voice said again. “Please Nat, wake up.”

She groaned and slowly blinked her eyes open, squinting through the bright lights of the room. She looked for the source of the voice to find him sitting next to her, a look of worry on his face. “Ethan?” she asked, her voice hoarse.

Ethan released a sound that was a mix of a sob and a laugh. “Oh thank god,” he said. 

Her eyes adjusted to the room around her and she realized he wasn’t wearing a hazmat suit. Her eyes widened. “Ethan, you’re-- you look… normal. What--”

“Elijah and the joint teams synthesized a cure,” Ethan said, helping her move to a seated position in the bed. “You’re okay; the toxin is gone, completely.”

Nat took a shaky breath. “And Raf?”

“Also alive and okay, though he was in rough shape by the time his dosage was administered. It’ll take longer for him to recover but he will recover. You both will.”

Natalie felt tears welling up in her eyes. “Does that-- does that mean I can kiss you now?”

He gave her a watery smile and nodded. Without waiting another moment, Natalie pulled Ethan towards her and kissed him soundly. He cupped her face with his hands and returned her kiss with equal fervor, ignoring the tears slipping down both of their cheeks. “I love you,” he whispered against her lips.

She broke away to cough out a sob and buried her face into his shoulder. He held her tightly and kissed the top of her head, letting his own tears fall freely. “I love you too,” she said through sobs. “I was so worried I wasn’t ever going to be able to tell you again.”

“So was I,” he sniffled. “I love you, Nat. I love you so much. I’m never going to let another day go by without telling you that.”

She looked up at him and wiped some tears away from his cheeks. “Us until the end of time, right?”

He smiled and nodded. “Until the end of time.” He sniffled again and placed another soft kiss on her lips. “Your parents and brother are here; they’ll want to see you. Are you up for visitors?”

She thought for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, I am.”

“Okay, let me go get them.” He placed one more kiss on her lips, this one lingering for a long moment before he broke away, kissed her forehead, then left the room. Nat adjusted herself in bed so she was sitting up fully then waited for her family to arrive.

Less than five minutes later, her mother practically burst into the room, making a beeline for her daughter. “Oh Nattie,” Julie said, when they locked eyes.

Unable to hold back the tears, Natalie began crying, falling into her mother’s tight embrace. Her brother and father quickly joined the hug, holding onto each other tightly, crying tears of relief and happiness that Natalie was okay. She was safe. She was alive.

Ethan stood outside of the hospital room, taking steadying breaths and trying to control the tears that kept slipping out. He was exhausted and was holding it together just enough so he wouldn’t collapse from relief. He sniffled and ran his hands through his hair, sending a silent thank you to the gods that listened to his previous pleadings.

“Ethan?” a voice said.

He turned to the source to find Tobias looking at him, an inscrutable look on his face. “Tobias, hi.”

“Are you okay?”

Ethan glanced into the hospital room where Nat was giving her family a watery smile and looked back at Tobias. “I am now. I--” he hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer to his old friend. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did. I-- you gave her-- me-- us a second chance. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to put into words how much that means to me. How grateful I am.”

Tobias smiled. “It was my honor to help, Ethan. Natalie’s a good doctor, and an even better person. This world is better with her in it. You’re better with her in it.”

Ethan’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Yeah, I know.”

Tobias rested his hand on Ethan’s shoulder and squeezed. “I know our past has been rocky and this year has had its own struggles and difficulties; but I’ll always be around to help if you need it, Ethan. No rivalry or competition will ever outweigh our duty as doctors… or my loyalty to an old friend.”

Ethan nodded thoughtfully, feeling a twinge of fondness for his old friend and [former?] adversary. “Thank you. And the same stands for me.”

Tobias smiled again and he stepped away. “I have to get back to my own hospital and patients. But I’m glad to see she’s doing better.” He nodded respectfully to Ethan. “See you around, Ramsey.”

“See you around, Carrick.”

As Tobias disappeared around the corner, Ethan looked back through the window to find Natalie gazing at him, a fond smile on her lips. He returned her smile. “I love you,” he mouthed.

Her smile grew and she mouthed “I love you too” back to him. 

His heart thumped in his chest as he locked eyes with her for a long moment before her attention was called back to her parents. He stood outside the room for another moment debating on whether or not he should stay when a new voice caught his attention. “Are you doing okay?”

He looked to the source and smiled at Harper. He nodded. “Yeah; better than okay.”

She smiled. “Good, I’m glad to hear it.” She looked him over and raised an eyebrow. “Did you sleep at all last night?” Ethan shook his head and Harper nodded knowingly, her lips pursed. “I can tell.”

He rolled his eyes. “Thanks.”

“Just calling it like I see it,” she said, smirking. She stepped towards Nat’s room and gestured forward with her chin. “Go clean up; and maybe take a nap while you’re at it. Or at least get some coffee in you; I know you too well to think you’re going to sleep right now. I’ll keep an eye on Nat for you in the meantime.”

He looked down at his rumpled clothing and chuckled. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. Thank you, Harper.”

She smiled. “I’m happy to help. And I’m happy to see you happy. It’s a good look for you.”

He chuckled. “I’m just glad I have a reason to be happy.”

“We all are.” She glanced at Nat and smiled. “She’s one of a kind, that one. You hold onto her.”

Ethan gazed back at Natalie and smiled. “I plan to.” Forever.

Tag List (let me know if you want to be added/removed):  @genevievemd @jamespotterthefirst @paulfwesley @ethansdique @openheartfanfics @perriewinklenerdie @little-flowers-on-heaven @stateofgracious @coffeeheartaddict @liaromancewriter @potionsprefect @mm2305 @gryffindordaughterofathena @actuallybored @writer-ish @queencarb @takeharryandgo @lsvdw-blog @itsjustwinter​ @imaneditorthankyouverymuch-deac @chaoticchopshopheart​ @ohchoices​ @maurine07​ @oldminniemcg​ @parisa-kh​ @shanzay44​ @uberamsey @izzyourresidentlawyer​ @adiehardfan​ @custaroonie​ @mia143​ @a-crepusculo​ @takemyopenheart​ @toadfrog26 @quixoticdreamer16 @barbean​ @headoverheelsforramsey

[tedturneriscrazy]

Another Saturday, another episode! Let's take a look at Keeping Up A-fear-ances!

(Good lord I'm starting to make myself sound like some sort of content creator)

Oh, okay, we're just starting at that level of intensity, huh?

Chest gem origins

Gwendolyn not being satisfied with managing the curse and determined to cure it? I'm sure this won't be a real world allegory in the slightest.

Oh, so Eda literally just stumbles upon the portal? I could call that contrived, but honestly it's not dissimilar to how Dipper found Journal 3. For that matter, the entirety of Lord of the Rings is predicated on an accidental discovery like this and nobody gave Tolkien shit about it.

Was the eye on the portal cracked in previous episodes? I don't remember.

Seems like Gwen is the "well-meaning but ultimately misguided" flavor of mom.

As an aside, I am now quite curious about how Eda's first trip to the human realm went. Maybe a future episode will cover it? At any rate, I smell a new favorite fic prompt.

The screaming alarms in the Demon Realm will never not be funny to me.

Also, that is a worrying number of hearts. Eda is straight up murdering these poor creatures.

For some reason the gold fang being removable never occurred to me as a possibility, and now I feel like a kid who's discovered that Santa isn't real.

Oh hey, the new outfit! I'm also impressed how close to symmetrical that tearing was.

I need to get a screencap of Luz sleeping on that stack of books because she is adorable.

Also, staying up all night researching? This season seems determined to completely eradicate the notion of Luz being dumb, and I am here for it.

I have a feeling the Hexside mug will be making its way to The Mystery Shack in the near future.

Lilith's first experience with transformation and she seems understandably horrified.

The curse acting stronger when stressed? That seems...important.

Ah, so the dismemberment is from the curse! A surprisingly useful side effect from what we've seen so far.

Can I just say that I appreciate how Eda's reaction to Lilith's first taste of transformation is immediate remedy, explanation, and reassurance? And doesn't make any snarky comments along the lines of "now you know what it's like?" Whatever happened in that week and a half must have been cathartic as hell.

"Always. Always curious." Luz is the TOH fandom.

(Also, Eda, you know she is, considering how much she went on about your "mysterious past" at the Covention)

"Magic bird tornado?!" Luz has a way with words that's just *chef's kiss*.

"Gwendolyn." Eda is already just fucking done.

"MOM?!?!" Jeez, Lilith, you're just now hearing all this?

I was charmed by how motherly Gwen was acting toward Eda, but then she kinda just...dismissed Lilith, and now I'm somehwat less charmed.

(Sweet flea as a term of endearment is kinda cute, though might have some unfortunate implications depending on how you want to interpret it)

"Who knows what they put in those nasty concoctions?" OH WE GOING FOR THE ANTI-VAXXERS NOW YESSSS

Luz and Lilith's reaction to that whole exchange is priceless.

Everyone's perspective here makes perfect sense for who they are and what they've been through.

Poor Lilith. Her cursing Eda is beginning to make more sense.

Ah, thus begins the collaboration.

"We'll be consulting someone very special." Why does that seem so...ominous?

Is there anyone who watched this episode for the first time whose bullshit detector didn't go off immediately when Gwen mentioned finding someone who promised a cure?

Heh, Palm Stings.

Nonbelievers will be blinded by the power of the tome? I'm sure they will be, Wartlop.

I must say, as something of a scientist myself (okay that's not true, I'm a QA tech for a food manufacturer, but I do have a chemistry degree), I am 100% here for the swings being taken at faith healing/"miracle" cures/anti-vaxxers in this episode

Oh, we Wile E. Coyote now, huh?

Also, interesting how much apple blood is being played up in this episode.

Lilith please you're projecting your mommy issues on a literal child

OH WE REALLY JUST WILE E. COYOTE HUH?

You're right, Luz, Gwen's bicep game is goals.

(Somewhat disappointed the scars are from questing and not beastkeeping, but eh)

Why do I get the feeling there's gonna be a future episode where everybody stages an intervention for Eda's apple blood problem?

"Those feathers mean we're driving the beast out" Gwen no

Hooty is holding the brain cell? Oh no...

If that ice cream came from the Night Market it would explain why Lilith sounds drunk.

(Side note: I can't be the only one getting flashbacks to Mermista's ice cream binge, right? Different context, but still)

"Abomi-berry" "Franken fruit" "Key slime pie" These are A+ flavor names.

Oh, there's the transformation...

I must say that whole segment kinda rubbed me the wrong way. The way King's opinion on his dad was changed seemed...I don't know how to describe it. I get that they needed a trigger for Lilith's transformation, but honestly if any part of the episode is contrived it's this.

"¡It really is that good!" So that's what an accent slip in written form looks like. (The upside down exclamation point is used in Spanish, in case anyone didn't know)

I keep half expecting Eda to say "Beep! Beep!" at this point.

Luz is finally asking questions. Took long enough.

Ah, the classic "moving the goal posts to extract more money from a desparate family member" technique.

Luz channeling Scorpion, we love to see it.

There is an exquisite irony in Eda's mom being scammed, I must say.

Ah, so that's where the elixirs went. Dammit, Gwen.

Luz is definitely thinking "Are you fucking kidding me right now?!"

Beast!Lilith is massive.

"Sweet flea?" Gwen just realized she done goofed.

"I can see you still need a little time." God Luz is so fucking smart.

The con revealed.

OH DAMN SCARY MAMA

(Also I am terrified of bees/wasps, so extra scary mama in my book)

The scam is revealed, goblins, getting back into the Wartlop disguise is kinda pointless.

She joined the Beast Keeping coven entirely to cure the curse? That's dedication. A shame you couldn't have spared some of that for Lilith.

Still, I do like badass scary mama Gwen. I'd be down to see more of that.

Owl Beast fight!

I am slayed by the fact that the portraits are now officially a recurring gag 😂

Aw, here's The Moment™️

"My turn to drive" Does this imply cars are a thing on the Boiling Isles after all?

Lilith crying almost immediately💔 She was holding onto a lot of pain.

Yes, King, she was trying to do her best. I mean, road to hell or whatever, but at least Gwen got there in the end.

WHAT?! YOU'RE BREAKING UP LULU AND HOOTCIFER?!?!?!?

Terrace, that's just cruel. (Worthless brownie points for whoever understands that reference)

No, seriously, you can't just give me my favorite inter-character relationship in the series after Lumity and just...take it away like that, come on! 😭😭😭😭😭😭

I know I should remark on how Lilith told Gwen about the circumstances of the curse, how Gwen rightfully accepted responsibility for the whole situation, and how Luz finds the big hair aspirational, but...NOOOO DON'T END THE ADVENTURES OF LULU AND HOOTCIFER WHYYYYYYYYY💔😭💔😭💔😭

"BUT I CAN'T HOLD A PEN!"

I will never emotionally recover from this.

Okay, I think I got that out of my system. Anyway...

Not the only human, huh? Cue the "Belos is a human" theorists going into maximum overdrive.

That said, a tantalizing lore dump.

We certainly do have a lot of garbage. Some of it even holds office. HEY-O!

Setting up the next episode, too. Continuity!

Camp's over, huh? That means it's been three months.

Way to misdirect with Camila, guys. That said, we have now seen Camila cry and I HATE it. (In the right way, I think)

WHAT THE FUCK

HOLY SHIT

CREEPY LUZ IS REAL WHAT

OWJEIWHQGIWWOPQ

(It's hard to keysmash on a phone, even with autocorrect off)

That wraps it up! The flaws in this episode seem more pronounced than any others in the season so far, but the good stuff was really good! Overall a solid episode! I know everybody's looking forward to library Lumity in the next one (so am I), but I'm personally eager to see what they do with Gus. His part is the A plot, after all.

Anyway, I'll be back at this next week! Still hard to believe this is a thing, but that's life, I guess.

[queerprayers]

okay so i recently bought myself a bible!!! it’s very exciting for me hahah and i’m proud of myself because it feels like i’m taking my faith into my own hands, ya know?

anyways, i just wanted to share something that i’ve been feeling guilty/conflicted about.

so i’ve been going through and bookmarking verses that relate to important things in my life that i struggle with (anxiety, depression, loneliness, anger, etc.) in hopes that they would comfort me. but when i read verses like these (“cast all your worries on him” “do not be afraid” etc) that are supposed to help with anxiety i feel irritated. because i just don’t understand them. “cast all your worries on him”? that makes no sense to me. i don’t know how to do that. i don’t know what that means. i can’t just stop being anxious. idk i just wish it brought me comfort but it doesn’t. sometimes i read verses that i know help and comfort a lot of people but they just don’t touch my heart? like i don’t feel anything.

sometimes i feel a bit abnormal because i feel like i experience and feel God and Their truth way more often outside of the bible? like in the beauty of nature, laughing with my friends, hugging my sister, etc.

ughhhh it’s just really difficult to struggle with mental health and be a christian (at least for me) because i feel like some other christians think that God can magically fix all of my problems, and that i shouldn’t be sad because i am loved and saved and stuff, and that if i just pray everything will be fixed, and that i just shouldn’t be afraid or anxious because the bible says so! anyways, sorry for the rant. hope it was somewhat coherent. i just hope i am not alone in feeling like this. (also wow i’m so sorry this is extremely long haha)

Hello! First, this isn't too long and it was more than coherent! New rule: no apologies in my inbox for the vibe of the asks. Come as you are. <3

Second, I'm so excited for you! The Bible is a beautiful manuscript and we're so blessed to have access to it. But—you're definitely not alone in having issues with connecting with it. Here are some thoughts:

We are loved and saved and also, that doesn't fix everything. Maybe it should, and in a better world it would, but it doesn't. Telling someone their faith should fix their depression is just as toxic as telling someone it should fix their cancer. (I'm not saying I don't believe in miracles, but miracles cannot be our expectation— I personally leave my life open to miracles, but do not depend on them.)

You are definitely not alone in being annoyed by the verses that well-meaning people parrot when others struggle. When I was hospitalized after a mental health crisis, I received a card from my mother with one of the "do not be afraid" verses on it— I don't even remember exactly which verse it was, I just remember that it made me so angry. How could anyone say that to me? I was alone and hurting and sick and someone from thousands of years ago telling me to "stop it" wasn't gonna do anything.

I've changed my perspective since then, and now look at the context in the passage when I have reactions like that— who is being told to not be afraid? Is it a comfort? A command? A hope for the future? A desperate statement trying to convince?

We are not the primary audience of the Bible. Each book has a specific context and audience, and if it doesn't feel like it's for us, it's probably just… not. That doesn't mean we shouldn't read it or that it's not meaningful, but that it might take research and empathy across centuries to connect with it. You don't need to feel guilty if that doesn't come naturally—it doesn't for a lot of people.

Everyone is comforted and helped by different things. Something not helping you shouldn't be bringing you guilt, and I'm sorry it is. It isn't your fault that an ancient document isn't curing you.

I think the Bible should be important in all Christians' lives, but it's not the only thing. It doesn't replace doctors or therapists or nature or loved ones or reality TV or music or anything else that helps us survive in this beautiful, broken world. God gave us the Bible, and They also gave us the beauty of nature, laughing with friends, and hugging our siblings.

A note: the people in the Bible also felt God through nature and loved ones more than through documents, and they also weren't "fixed." The Bible is a record of humans failing and hurting and looking for God. You are so not alone.

Check out this ask for some resources when getting into the Bible, and also check out my bible and prayer tags!

Wishing you patience with yourself, the easing of guilt, blessings while you enjoy the experiences that God has given you, and the curiosity and motivation to look further into the Bible, on your own time and from your own perspective.

<3 Johanna

[365days365movies]

Historical July III: Ben-Hur (1959) - Part I

Jesus Christ, it’s Jesus Christ!

Here’s the deal, people: we’re going to treat this one as we’d treat any normal historical figure or story, divorced from religion or belief. After all, Jesus Christ, as a human being, probably did exist. Now, was he the son of a Judeo-Christian God conceived via immaculate conception in the womb of Mary? Don’t know, and it doesn’t matter! This is a history post, people, so I’m focusing on the man himself, and the world he was living in at the time. So...how to begin?

Born in 4 BC in Judea, under the rule of King Herod, Jesus Christ was a Jewish man raised by Mary and Joseph of Nazareth. Now at this point, things aren’t...great for the Jews of Judea. Rome has taken over their kingdom, and they don’t like their weird one-god religion, it’s gross. So, they’re a somewhat oppressed group, and massacres of their firstborn sons aren’t exactly unheard of.

Jesus was raised in Galilee, in the town of Nazareth with his mother, father, 4 brothers, and unknown number of sisters. Yes, really. Jesus wasn’t an only child. He was also a weird kid by some accounts, leading historians to wonder if he was mentally unstable. Yes, really. He’s trained as a carpenter or builder in his youth, and adopts it as a major profession. And as a teenage, he starts to claim the Lord God Yahweh as his “father”. Which, to be fair, was probably pretty common at the time...but not quite in the way that Jesus meant.

Jesus is all grown up at this point, but he’s not alone as a holy man in Judea. John the Baptist is a preacher and prophesier who baptizes people in the River Jordan, cleansing them of their sins. Well-respected holy man, basically. He tells of a man more powerful than him who will cleanse EVERYONE of their sins, a new Messiah. Which is a VERY old concept in Judaism, dating well before Christ.

Jesus does to be baptized by John, who declares him to literally be God’s son. And then, John told a dude that he shouldn’t have gotten a divorce and marrying his brother’s ex-wife. That dude was King Herod, and he arrested John the Baptist, before eventually having him beheaded. Yup.

Some time passes, and Jesus does a bunch of stuff (according to scripture) and makes a bunch of sermons and speeches. He gains 12 major followers, or the Disciples, and he performs the famous miracles. Y’know, curing a leper, raising the dead, loaves and fishes, walking on water, all that jazz. Now, your belief in the veracity of those miracles is just that: belief. And power to you if you do, power to you if you don’t I’m not one to proselytize, or to judge for beliefs. And again, that’s not what this is about. Soooooo, while Jesus is getting famous, we also get to meet the man in the big ruler chair, Pontius Pilate.

Pontius is a Prefect of Judaea, appointed in 26 AD (when Jesus is about 30). He’s a true Roman, believing in the traditional polytheistic religion, and throwing in from emperor love in there. Emperor of Rome at this time, by the way, is Tiberius Caesar Augustus, stepson of Octavian, and a very successful general (of course). And Pontius is a rich kid, with a reputation for his...less-than-stellar relationship with the Jews of Judea.

By the way, is “Jews” offensive? Please let me know if it is, and I will gladly change my rhetoric here.

Anyway, Pontius gets word that some asshole is calling himself the son of a God, which is an Emperor thing! But, whatever, right? Not the worst problem in the world, I guess. Well, he’s not the only one against Jesus, as the Jewish elders, also known as the Pharisees, call Jesus on these claims, to which he reacts angrily at them. I’m skipping over a lot of shit, but let’s just say that Jesus had people PISSED.

Enter Judas of Iscariot.

Judas was one of the twelve apostles, Jesus’ original disciples. And Judas was approached by the elders with a bargain: betray Jesus to us, and we’ll pay you 30 silver pieces. Now, Judas may or may not have had other reasons, but he did so in any case. He was now poised to help set Jesus up for a big fall.

But Jesus knows that he’s been betrayed, or at least that someone will betray him. He gathers his disciples for a final dinner, a concluding meal, a...aaaaaa...on the tip of my tongue I swear...oh, whatever. They have brunch.

This is where is “Miracle of Transfiguration” is said to take place, and if you’ve ever been to a Christian communion, this is the bread and wine portion of the service. Jesus leaves to pray at the garden of Gethsemane, hoping to be spared punishment. True believers would say that he knew what was coming through divine providence, but the fact of the matter is, the coming punishment was very common, and he DEFINITELY knew what was coming. And it was bad.

Then, all hell breaks loose. Judas arrives with a mod sent by the Pharisees, and they arrest him right there. He’s brought to trail against the judges, the Sanhedrin, and is accused of claiming to be the Son of God, which is a big fat no-no. One, it’s blasphemous, and two, doing so would position as “King of the Jews”, which fans of Jesus Christ Superstar would agree is both a VERY catchy song, and also a VERY FUCKING BAD THING. Right, Alice fucking Cooper?

See, the Romans were TERRIFIED of the concept of a Jewish figure that could unite the Jews against them. Because, as with all historical empires, they were built of the back of slaves, and these slaves were Jewish. If an uprising were to happen...well, think Spartacus, but WAY FUCKING WORSE. So, now that Jesus is basically claiming that title, it’s time to throw him to the wolves.

Pontius Pilate is put in charge of this second trial, where Jesus again affirms his position. Pilate talks to Herod to be tried, and Herod (being an absolute dick) dresses him up and marches him down the street on a donkey. But after that, Jesus is released without further question. So, it’s all good, right?

Oh, it’s not? Pontius asked the mob whether or not they wanted to spare Jesus or a murderer named Barabbas, to honor a Passover tradition? And the Pharisees told the mob to shout for Barabbas and sentence Jesus to death? And Pontius “washes his hands of it”, basically giving in to mob rule? And Jesus is gonna be crucified? Oof. That’s pretty fucked. as is the succeeding mockery and Crown of Thorns placed on his head. And now...the punishment.

Crucifixion is fucked, y’know that? It was, as I’d said before, a common practice at the time, and it’s always been super fucked. Hell, you saw Spartacus! Or at least read my recap of it, maybe. It was horrific. Tied and nailed to a cross, and hung for people to see as you slowly wasted away from starvation, dehydration, and blood loss. Fucking absolutely brutal, as executions go. And that’s not the only thing they did to Jesus, but you know the story of the Passion from here. And then, according to Scripture...

But again, that’s a different story. You may be wondering why the hell I even got into this story. After all, this isn’t Passion of the Christ, it’s Ben-Hur. Well, here’s the thing: Ben-Hur didn’t exist. It’s actually based on an 1880 book by Lew Wallace, called Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. Yeah. It’s one of the most influential Christian stories of all time. So I kind of had to get into this, because it’s both central and incidental to the story, and the climate of the film. After all, it’s fucked for every Jewish person in Judea at this time.

I should also mention, then, that we’re essentially watching an adaptation of...well, Christian fanfiction. Which is interesting, right? I mean, that’s what this is! Although, to be fair, I still prefer Monty Python’s Life of Brian.

And with that said, shall we enter into Judea? 

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Recap (1/2)

It’s the time of the Census of Quirinius, as ordered by Augustus Caesar himself! Granted, this census was actually performed in 6 CE instead of 33 CE, as the movie portrays, but NEVER MIND THAT! Because said census has caused the migration of Joseph and his wife Mary from Nazareth. It is in Bethlehem after this that Mary gives birth to a child. But this is no ordinary child, nooooooo. This...this is a special baby, I can tell.

Fast forward about 33 years, and this son of a carpenter is starting to be worshipped as some kind of Messiah. But let’s not talk about that right now. Instead, we focus on a newly promoted Roman soldier, Messala (Stephen Boyd), and his comrade Sextus (Andre Morrell), both of which are newly appointed to Judea. Sextus is talking about the crazy-ass shit that’s happening right now, including some magic baptist named John, and said carpenter’s son, who could be the long prophesied King of the Jews! But again, whatever. Messala brushes it off.

But just then, they receive word of a visitor: a prince of Judea named Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston). He’s also an old friend of Messala, despite the fact that he’s Jewish, while Messala is a Roman. However, their bond comes from the fact that Messala once saved Judah, although the circumstances are unrevealed. But that bond is tested by the future of Judea.

See, the current Emperor, Tiberius Caesar Augustus, is a pretty massive anti-Semite, and he’s sent Messala and Roman legions to take out a potential coming rebellion amongst the Jews, stirred up by this rabble-rouser carpenter’s son. This upsets Judah, fearing for the fate of his people. Meanwhile, loyalist Roman Messala doubles down on his devotion to emperor and country, ensuring that Ben-Hur and his family will be spared. Hoo-boy, one of these stories.

Messala reunites with Judah’s mother Miriam (Martha Scott), and his sister Tirzah (Cathy O’Donnell), the latter of whom he flatters greatly. Another “hoo-boy” there, but moving on. Judah gives his friend a horse as a gift, and things seem OK...until politics comes into the situation. The more things change, amirite? Anyway, yeah, Messala wants Judah to rat on potential Jewish rebels, Judah refuses to do so, Messala says “fuck the Jews”, and Judah says “fuck Rome”, and it’s quite a good exchange! But at the end of it, a friendship is over, and Messala leaves enraged.

Soon after, the family’s servant and merchant Simonides (Sam Jaffe), arrives from a journey to establish trade for the family in the east, and is quite successful. He also brings back his daughter Esther (Haya Harareet), another servant of the family who wishes to ask permission from Ben-Hur to marry. The two were childhood friends, and now, Esther’s grown up and...Batman Begins?

Yeah, that’s literally Rachel Dawes in Nolan’s Batman films. Daughter of a rich boy’s servant, they reunite as adults, fall in love for a hot sec, even though there’s another man in the picture between them. I know these two films are wholly unrelated, but goddamn, this was something I can’t not see. Well, we’ll see if her husband-to-be gets his face half burned off.

Anyway, the two get to know each other a little better, and fall in love despite Esther’s betrothal to this David dude. They kiss, but Esther reluctantly leaves. Just as well, because things are about to get worse for Jerusalem, Judea, Judah, and the Jews. The Roman Legions have arrived to the city, and with them is the new governor, Valerius Gratus (Mino Doro), known for being a bit unforgiving to the Jews. Ben-Hur and his sister watch his welcome parade from above, and Tirzah leans on the wrong section of the roof.

A roof tile falls, and hits the Governor on the head, injuring him and causing him to fall off his horse. While Judah tries to tell them it was an accident, the Romans don’t care, and are about to take them into custody. Messala shows up, and does nothing to stop their capture, like a solid asshole. Hoo-boy. A familiar story, once again. Messala even checks the roof to verify that it was an accident, but does nothing to help Judah or his family, like the dick he is.

Well, Judah’s a prisoner, and after no trial and much tribulation, he manages to escape and grab a spear, making his way to Messala’s office, rightfully enraged. Judah attempts to plead with his old friend, only to find that Messala’s just...just the biggest asshole in the world. He decides to make an example of Judah, to discourage any treason, and to affirm his own status. And because of this, Judah swears vengeance on Messala. Damn. I hope he gets it.

Simonides and Esther also go to plead for mercy for Judah, only for Messala to imprison Simonides as well. I mean...fuck Messala, dude. Meanwhile, Ben-Hur is sent on a procession with other prisoners through the desert, and it denied water as a part of his punishment, because FUCK MESSALA, DUDE. He pleads for help as the falls to the ground with exhaustion. And he gets it...from a familiar back of the head.

Fast-forward by three years! On a Roman galley, the newly-appointed general Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins) comes to look at the slaves that row the ship. He picks out the sick, or those who are to be punished. He also interviews (and whips) the now impressively bearded Prisoner 41, AKA Judah Ben-Hur. Quintus notices the fight and rage in Judah’s eyes, and tests bth him and the entire crew by forcing them to row faster. Some people pass out, but Judah? Nah, he’s staring Quintus down the WHOLE time. Like a goddamn badass.

Later, Judah is ordered to go to meet Quintus in his quarters. Intrigued by Judah and his beliefs in his god, the two strike up a conversation. Quintus, funnily enough, is an atheist, but is also an opportunist. He offers Judah the opportunity to, of course, be trained as a gladiator. He doesn’t agree or turn it down, but does question what drove Quintus to atheism. Quintus angrily turns him out, just as the enemy is seen on the horizon.

An epic battle commences on the sea, and we see these ships LITERALLY collide. To be fair, they may have been miniatures, but if they were, they look DAMN good. Seriously, this is an awesome battle. But not for the slaves down below, as the enemy ship is about to ram them, which will mean all of their deaths, as they’re chained to the floor of the ship. 

Sure enough, the ship is rammed, and water floods in as the Macedonians aboard the ship attack the Romans. The attack goes very badly for the Romans, but Judah and some of the slaves manage to escape their chains, in part due to Quintus allowing Judah to be free of his chains earlier. Once making it to the top, Judah actually joins the fight, attacking and killing Macedonians. He also saves Quintus from drowning after being thrown overboard. The battle seems lost, but the two are rescued by another Roman ship, and learn that the battle was a victory! 

And with that, Quintus thanks Judah for saving him, and the two return to Rome under great applause and praise for the victory. The Emperor, Tiberius Caesar (George Relph), congratulates him, and learns about Judah and the false accusation against him. However, he can’t pardon him. Instead, he turns ownership of him over to Quintus, who can do whatever he wants.

Months pass, Judah becomes a champion charioteer, and Quintus Arrius now sees him as a son. He formally adopts the 36-year old man who looks 46, and Ben-Hur is now Judah Bun-Hur Arrius. He’s introduced to the upcoming governor of his homeland of Judea: Pontius Pilate (Frank Thring). And, uh...yeah. I think some shit’s about to go down in Judea.

Judah knows the same thing, and is yearning to go back to Judea to save his mother and sister. Arrius attempts to get him to hold off for a hot sec, but Judah’s gotta go. And with that, he travels from Rome to Judea. On the way, he happens upon an oasis, where he rests and meets Balthasar (Finlay Currie), a man looking for another 30-something from Nazareth. Also, I think he’s one of the Wise Men? 

The two are well-met, when they also happen upon a horse-keeper, whose prized white racing horses are being mistreated by a terrible driver. The owner of the horses is Sheik Ilderim (High Griffith), a man who is...ONE-HUNDRED PERCENT WEARING BROWNFACE RIGHT NOW. It’s extremely distracting, and not helped by the fact that he’s a “sheik”, has multiple wives, and is obsessed with his horses. Whoof, man. Anyway, Ben-Hur, an old hand at horse-racing, is able to say what SHOULD be done to make those horses a team, impressing the Sheik enough to invite him to his tent.

He brings in his horses to meet Judah, and I gotta say, those are some handsome horses, each named after stars. The Sheik notes that the horses will be brought to Jerusalem, where they will face Rome’s prize racer: Messala. Which, yeah, freaks Judah out a little. Ilderim asks Judah if he’d be willing to race his horses, and against Messala. He refuses, and Balthasar correctly guesses that he desires to defeat Messala by killing him, not just humiliating him.

Balthasar turns him against this path, and Judah replies that only a miracle would see Messala otherwise punished. But Balthasar’s seen miracles before: a voice from the darkness told him to witness the birth of a Messiah, whom he now goes to Jerusalem to find. Toldja he was a Wise Man. Balthasar and the Sheik retire for the night, as Judah turns to leave. But the Sheik points out that there are no rules in the chariot race: people die out there. Eh? EHHHHHH?

Judah returns home, a now-decrepit manor. He comes in and finds Esther, still there, and shocked to see him alive after so long. She reveals that she’s living there with her father, who was captured, tortured, paralyzed, and eventually released. The Romans took everything, and still have his mother and sister, who are likely dead by now. Everything is basically turbo-fucked.

Still, Simonides and Judah happily reunite, as do Judah and Esther. They acknowledge that the feelings they have for each other have not changed, and Esther never did get married after all that. And so, they kiss, and finally come together. After that, they have a talk. Realizing that he plans to find and kill Messala, she begs him not to, preaching the words of a young rabbi (COUGHJESUSCOUGH), and begging him to embrace forgiveness. That seems...hard for him to do, though. Esther is convinced (probably rightly) that this will lead to Ben-Hur’s death at Messala’s orders. Speaking of that asshole...

The next day, Ben-Hur makes himself known to Messala, bearing the name of Roman consul Arrius. Messala’s shocked at this turn of events, and at the fact that he’s a fuckin’ ASSHOLE. Judah gives to him a golden dagger as a gift, then asks what’s happened to his family. Messala, the proper asshole, doesn’t keep track of prisoners. Judah forcefully demands that he finds out, or face his understandable wrath. Good. Fuck Messala, he’s a prick.

And this is a good place to pause! Intermission time, baby!