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jungk0oksthighs · 2 years

Text

To Be Damned | The 7 Deadly Sins

Preview, Chapter 00

Pairing - jungkook x reader

Genre - angst, eventual fluff, smut

Word count - 8k

multipart series, multimember series, fantasy au, college au, demon!jungkook

Thornheart 1692

“And your father believes we can save them?” Jimin asked curiously, lowering his felt hat to give himself a better view of the group of young women in the distance. To look at the women nobody would suspect a thing, they looked like normal, average, perhaps even boring, women. Jimin and the others were sat on a grassy field, the grass was so long they were practically hidden, consumed by nature, observing their new surroundings and the people it inhabited.

“I believe we can too, I know that we can.” Jungkook replied with a certain confidence he was well known for. “They don’t deserve to die.”

Jungkook’s father, Ye-Joon, was a powerful warlock who had sent his youngest son and six of his friends on a trip to America, specifically a small town named Thornheart, where there had been rumours of witch trials taking place. Ye-Joon was too well known amongst the spiritual world to go himself, the perpetrators and other magically inclined beings would’ve spotted him in an instant and he too, would’ve been burned at the steak. Despite being undoubtedly the strongest of his kind Ye-Joon had full faith in Jungkook and his friends, he wouldn’t have sent them otherwise. Using dark magic he watched the group from thousands of miles away, inside Jungkook’s family home in Korea. Ye-Joon advised his son he would be contacting the spirit world for updates and channelling the earth to ensure all seven boys were kept safe during their endeavour.

The seven men had arrived in Thornheart a mere 48 hours prior to sitting in the grassy field, unfortunately they had received plenty of attention from the locals, some wanted, some not so much. Being proudly Asian the men were subjected to lots of curious gazes, some women would look at them in awe of their beauty, and with that came the local men staring through them with a darkness behind their eyes, a mixture of equal parts jealousy and disgust.

Their cover story was simple enough, Jungkook’s father was a wealthy tradesman from abroad who wanted to broaden his horizons, he had plenty of goods to offer the small town and wanted to start business there. Perhaps this story was the only thing stopping the racists amongst the community from slaughtering them on the spot.

Thankfully, a spell had been cast to ensure communication would not be an issue, the boys were now able to speak to any person in any language for as long as they lived, it was a gift to be multilingual and fluent in every language, and the men treated it as such. It was problematic enough that there were many physical differences between the group and the people of Thornheart, so the fact that all seven men dabbled with the dark arts themselves had to remain a secret. For their protection.

“Why should we save them? Why is it our lives at risk? Instead let’s take their belongings-“

“Must you have so much greed within you?” Jimin cut Hoseok off, “They have done nothing wrong, no laws have been broken.”

“Only the laws of nature.” Namjoon reminds the group, the rumour of the witch trials being the only reason they had been sent there in the first place. “They’re witches, even if they have not hurt people, there is nothing here that can prove they won’t.”

“You also practise the dark magics Namjoon, does that mean that you too cannot make the same promise?” Seokjin, the eldest member of the group hummed, thick brows raised expectantly. When Namjoon failed to respond the elder man added,

“Where are Yoongi and Taehyung?”

“Yoongi is sleeping.” Jimin stated matter of factly, “But I’m unsure where Taehyung could’ve ran off to.”

“Wherever he is, I hope he’s safe.” Seokjin watched the sun starting to set in the distance, the sky now painted with a beautiful pinky-orangey hue.

The seven men were friends by association, having known each other almost all their lives through family connections. While they were all men of the same age bracket and held similar values in life, their personalities were as different as could be.

Seokjin for example, the eldest man in the group, was often considered to be very self-centred, he didn’t share anything, not food, not water, not even his time nor knowledge. He was a selfish man, who thought only of himself and his own needs. On more than one occasion he would guzzle so much alcohol in one sitting that he would black out and barely remember a thing the next morning when he woke from slumber. Everybody knew Seokjin was the kind of man who would watch a child starve if it meant that he could still eat.

This would infuriate Namjoon, who was known for having a temper. He would call Seokjin selfish and conceited, once or twice the two men had physically scuffled to settle their differences. This was typical behaviour from Namjoon however, as many had described him as a bit of a brute over the years. And it was easy to see why people held that opinion of him, he was brash and had very violent tendencies, filled with rage. There were several rumours that he had accidentally killed a man during one of his nightly brawls. Not that the others ever questioned it, fearful he would turn on them too.

One member of the group however, Jimin, was jealous of Namjoon. He wished that he could stand up for himself as well as Namjoon did, definitely excluding the violence but he knew he lacked a certain masculinity that his friend had. That was one of Jimin’s worst and most frustrating traits, he envied anybody and everybody that crossed his path. For whatever reason it was, he constantly compared himself to others, over-analysing every single difference between he and them that he could find. It was an unhappy life, feeling as though he lived in the shadow of others, he was deemed shallow, though deep down he was angry that he would never be them.

Hoseok was arguably the second strongest young warlock amongst them, as he was addicted to the way it made him feel. It was the same with everything life had to offer, Hoseok was addicted. If he wanted something he would take it, and take more of it, and take more of it, steal it if he had to, until he had it all. It was a craving he had, Seokjin was often thought of as the most selfish member of the group and from an outsiders perspective perhaps that were true, but everybody on the inner circle knew it was Hoseok. He was a thief, he would bargain with others, lie, cheat his way into attaining whatever he wanted. It was pure greed.

Yoongi was the only man Hoseok had ever met who could stand talking to him for longer than an hour, and that was simply because Yoongi did not care about the materialism of things, or any one thing for that matter. Of course he loved and cared deeply for his family and friends, but above all else he was lazy - indifferent to everything, already tired of life itself despite only being in his late 20’s. Some people would describe him as easy going, but the reality of it was that he just didn’t care about anything. It was like he lived in his own head most of the time, always looking forward to his next sleep where he could truly be himself in his dreams. He was a very closed-off man, unreadable to most.

Taehyung was Yoongi’s polar opposite, he loved life, he loved everything life had to offer, excitement and ambition flowed through his veins, along with a burning desire for love. Ever since he was a young boy all he wanted was a wife, a family of his own, but more so the wife. There was a slight problem with this though, giving that Taehyung had built quite a reputation for himself amongst women. He couldn’t stay away from them, while he longed for a long term courtship with one woman - he had never found only one woman worth keeping around. Taehyung was in love with the idea of love, lust and a physical craving got in the way of him ever having or maintaining any kind of monogamous relationship, despite how much he yearned for it.

And then there was Jungkook, son of the most powerful warlock history had ever known. He too was power hungry, driven, thirsty for satisfaction and completion, always wanting to be the very best at everything. There was no denying he was strong, compared to his friends he was in a league of his own and nobody would dare cross him because of it. But Jungkook cared too much about how others perceived him, about people’s opinions and what they thought of him. He had what most others his age lacked, self-worth, nobility and charm. Even that didn’t stop his intrusive thoughts though, nor his craving for others approval. Especially his fathers, which is why he’d agreed to visit Thornheart and save as many witches as he could there in the first place. If it was important to his father it was important to him.

“He’s here.” Jimin gestures to a nearby stable, overlooking the fact Taehyung’s clothes were haphazardly hanging from his tall frame.

Taehyung wore a drunken smile as he returned to the group after being gone for what seemed like hours. Soon after sitting down he watched as the fair-skinned maiden he’d spent the afternoon with exited the same stable, her face flushed pink as she walked to the group of women, presumably her friends or family, with shaky legs.

“I hope for your sake she does not speak of this.” Jungkook scolded, eyes wide with realisation as he looked his friend up and down with disappointment.

“We’re here for the witch trials and nothing more, we do not need any unnecessary attention so could you keep your hands to yourself for a few more days-“

“She won’t say anything, I specifically asked her not to. You know how persuasive we can be.” A simple memory fog spell was all it took to ensure their safety, an underrated card many witches and warlocks didn’t know how to play. Of course, Taehyung had mastered it in his years practising magic.

“You fogged her memory?” Namjoon scoffed, visibly angry, “Why would you do something so-“

“Finally. I was beginning to tire of sitting around, at least Taehyung knows how to make this stay more entertaining.” Hoseok clapped his large hands once, sharing a knowing look with Taehyung.

“What’s done is done. You should rest now, I’ll take the first watch and alert anyone if my fathers suspicions were right.” Jungkook stood proudly, wiping any dirt from his clothes.

“Go and join Yoongi, I’ll be by the large well. Remember why we’re here.”

Jungkook’s back had been pressed against the well for hours, his chin dropping closer to his chest with each exhale, until he finally succumbed to sleep. What felt like minutes passed, it was over as soon as it began, a loud series of bangs snapped him into consciousness.

What was that? Jungkook’s eyes darted around, the sky was black and littered with glistening stars, roughly an hour must’ve passed, that’s when he saw it, a huge smoke cloud near to the stables.

Running so quickly that his tired legs almost buckled under his weight, he panted, praying his friends were not in that stable. The smell was strong and thick, burning wood tainted the air and that’s when he realised his father was right.

The witch trials.

“Taehyung?! Namjoon?!” He roared as he got closer, he saw three huge fires painting the sky with death, women’s screams burning his ears as he finally made it to the stables and attempted to break the door down.

“Jungkook!” Suddenly he was being tackled to the ground, Jimin pinning him to the dirt before putting a single finger to his lips, signalling Jungkook to be quiet.

“What happened? We need to save-“

“It’s no use, the woman Taehyung laid with, she was a witch - the memory fog spell didn’t work on her and she exposed us. We have to leave, now.”

The pair crawled far away to where the others were laid on their fronts, hidden within the tall grass, one final attempt at staying camouflaged. Who were the women screaming if the local folk were after them? It didn’t make any sense, just what had gone on while Jungkook slept?

“I’m sorry.” Taehyung sobbed quietly, “I’m so sorry. I don’t want to die, I don’t want any of us to die!”

“This is your fault, what good will apologising do now?” Namjoon spat, his face inches away from Taehyung, “If you’d just listened to Jungkook-“

“There are innocent people in there, we have to help them! Where are the witches? Why haven’t they done anything?” Jungkook was in disbelief, his eyes wide with shock as the horrific scene before him played out.

“Are they in the stable? Is that their screams?”

The stable was fully engulfed in angry flames, he could hear the screams of multiple women as smoke took over their lungs. Riddled with guilt he went to stand, to help them, before an unknown male voice bellowed,

“They’re there!”

The seven men had no hope, no escape, no plan B, there was no way they were getting out of this situation alive. They all knew that. Jungkook acted quickly and shared a knowing look with Hoseok, who nodded in agreement.

“Stay here, we’ll be back. Stay down. Don’t be seen.” Jungkook bolted towards the unknown voice, recognising him as one of the local racists who had been staring at them often. This wasn’t exactly ideal, far from it, but he and Hoseok had enough power between the two of them to fix this.

“Kneel.” Jungkook breathed, quickly scanning the surrounding area to make sure the local man was alone, “I said kneel.”

The man obliged, sinking to his knees visibly in pain as the fire roared behind him. Hoseok didn’t break eye contact with the man in question, controlling his every move with dark magic. Once Hoseok had full control of the man’s body he shared another knowing glance with Jungkook, who looked down at the clearly terrified local.

“I want you to shout that you were mistaken, you didn’t see us here. You’ve searched this whole field and you didn’t see us here.”

“...My mistake, they’re nowhere in this field!” The man’s voice broke up the sound of the crackling fire.

“The maiden was mistaken, we do not practise black magic. She herself is a witch and was trying to cover her scent. Do you understand?” By exposing the witches he knew he was putting himself and the others in grave danger, but in the moment he realised it was either the witches, or them.

“I understand.”

“She and the other witches here, they tried to frame 7 innocent men for their wrongdoings.”

“The witches framed 7 innocent men, the polite Asian men who visited us from abroad.” He was in a trance-like state, fully obedient to Jungkook. While Hoseok had kept the man from putting up a fight and rendering him physically helpless, it was Jungkook tearing apart his memories and replacing them with new ones. Ripping apart his mind piece by piece.

“Go. Tell the others you were mistaken, you were seduced by the witch and believed their lies.”

“What should we do to the witches?” It was an innocent enough question, but it was enough to make Hoseok panic, eyes shifting to Jungkook for clarification.

“They’re already in the stable.”

Fearing what the other locals thought of him if the witches managed to expose them before they left, he let his pride get in the way and simply kneeled, so that he was eye level with the man.

“Kill them. Kill them all.”

“Jungkook—“

“Tie them to the building, burn and kill them. Make sure not one escapes.” He cut off Hoseok, his eyes black with satisfaction as the helpless local man nodded quickly, gasping for air as he sprinted off to see out Jungkook’s plan.

“Your father sent us here to help them.” Hoseok whispered, “What would he say?”

“It was our only option, the witches here are clearly not our allies.”

Yoongi and the others watched as the two strongest amongst them walked back to the group, calmly, as though nothing had happened when mere moments ago they were all as good as dead.

“What happened?”

“We need to leave.”

“Are you not going to tell us what happened? You expect us to blindly follow you everywhere you go?!” Namjoon chuckled humourlessly, cracking his knuckles as he rose from the grass.

“By all means Namjoon, stay here if you wish. Or you can leave with us and be safe.” Jungkook poked his inner cheek with his tongue, visibly annoyed.

“Safe? With you? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of such thing! It’s laughable how you think you’re always in control—“

Everything went black.

When the group woke it was daylight, the sun stinging their tired eyes as they slowly, one by one, began to come round. They were individually bound with rope, each man wrapped round a tree with their backs pressed harshly against the trunk.

As Jungkook finally opened his eyes he was greeted with the image of a woman standing calmly a few feet away. She was young, he thought she must have been a late teenager, perhaps 20 at a push. Her clothes were disheveled, black soot covered most of her facial features but he could make out that she was pretty, her eyes were big and bright, yet full of sadness. It wasn’t the girl that Taehyung laid with, he thought, he couldn’t work out who she was or what she could possibly want from them. How did they get here? One minute he was fighting with Namjoon, and the next—

“She was my friend.” The girl spoke shakily, emphasising the past tense of her statement. “The woman you laid with was my friend and you had her killed.”

“How did we...Where are we?” Yoongi groaned in discomfort, he was tied to the tree sitting to Jungkook’s right, and to his left was Seokjin.

“What do you want from us?!” Hoseok’s voice was gruff and distant, Jungkook noticed that he was the furthest away out of the men. Perhaps the girl intentionally wanted to keep he and Hoseok separated as he was quite a distance away. And that’s when Jungkook realised. She saw. She heard. She knew.

“Please...We don’t want to hurt you, and I’m sorry about your friend.” Jungkook confessed, his words laced with guilt, even if he did directly sign her friends death sentence.

“We never meant any of this to happen.”

“My mother, my sister, my neighbours, friends... They’re all dead because of you.” She was heartbroken, he could tell. “When this is all over with and you’re left questioning yourselves why, I want you to remember this very moment.”

“If you were going to kill us you would’ve done so by now.” Yoongi rolled his eyes, shrugging beneath the ropes.

“Untie us and we will leave on our own accord.”

“Kill you? No. Death would be too kind.”

“I’m sure we can come to an agreement, please, free us.” Taehyung tried his luck, when the girl refused to back down he stared at her, deep into her eyes until he could feel her, manipulate her.

“Free us.”

Nothing happened in return, it was clear now that the girl who had captured them was a witch. A strong one. That gave her every reason to have their heads, considering what Jungkook had convinced the local man to do to the witches to cover their own tracks. Just as he was starting to connect the pieces together she spoke again, only this time in a language not one of the men could decipher. Her voice was croaky as she mumbled, chanted the strange language repeatedly.

“Jungkook I thought your father cast a spell so that we could understand all languages?” Seokjin was noticeably shaken up, they all were, this girl was a witch who’s family had just died at their hands. Now they were tied up, unable to understand her. She was in complete control of this situation.

“What language is this?”

“I’m not familiar with this kind of spell.” Hoseok watched the girl cautiously.

“What is she doing to us?!” Taehyung panicked, writhing in place as he silently sobbed, he knew this was all because of him, because he allowed lust to direct his decision making as opposed to his mind.

“This is all your fault,” Namjoon barked, “If we manage to live through this Taehyung I swear to you I will never forgive this—“

“What good is fighting going to do now? Lay off him—“

Thunder. Darkness. Heavy rain. Never a good sign when the dark arts are involved, Jungkook thought. The once burning hot sunshine had faded into a wild storm in a matter of seconds. Red lighting bolts started to pierce the ground, dangerously close to the trees.

“Have you ever seen a witch this strong?!” Hoseok directed his question to Jungkook, who was to busy trying to calculate what was going on to pay attention.

“She said death would be too easy?! So she’s not going to kill us? Perhaps it’s all for show?!” Seokjin hoped, hair and face now drenched in rainwater.

The girls chanting continued, the rain fell heavier and the lightning grew closer and hotter. Until suddenly everything stopped. No rain, no lightning, no thunder, even the sun started to show from behind the thick clouds.

“What did you to do us?!” Namjoon roared in her direction.

The scariest thing about this whole ordeal was how calm the girl remained, a witch that powerful could’ve snapped her fingers and had every man there killed in an instant. But she didn’t. Why? What punishment did she deem fit for the crime?

“You will never live a normal human life. Not even a half life, half human half warlock, no, the lives you will all lead will be much, much worse.”

“What did you do?” Jungkook was curious yet cautious, she was obviously very powerful and very angry. None of them were safe.

“I’ve watched you these past few days, your interactions, your opinions, you’re all selfish monsters... I knew something was different about you from the moment our eyes met.” She approached Jungkook slowly, having kept her distance from them until now.

She really was very attractive he noted, the memory of her beautiful yet dangerous eyes would haunt him for the rest of his days.

“Please,” he pleaded, “What did you do?”

“Nothing yet.” She smiled, “But when the sun sets you will all be cursed with a soulless immortality.”

Jungkook frowned, blatantly confused.

“What do you mean? Immortality isn’t—“

“I’ve taken away your human souls, ripped them from your human bodies and replaced them with your sins. You’re all damned to spend the rest of eternity with no soul, all you’ll be is a walking manifestation of everything that’s wrong with this world.”

“Why not just kill us?” Hoseok was quiet, the concept of spending the rest of eternity without a soul weighing heavy on his shoulders. “Why go to all this trouble, for the people responsible for your families death?”

“You behaved like soulless demons, and now that’s exactly what you’ll be. Forever.”

The girl smiled darkly, her eyes flickering with hatred before she vanished, leaving the men tied to trees in the middle of nowhere, Jungkook hoped she was telling the truth about them being immortal, for he knew they wouldn’t survive long like this.

330 years later

Thornheart looked different these days, while it was still a small somewhat gothic looking town in America, it had come a long way since the witch trials. It had everything you’d expect from a small town, a library, a church, only one good movie theatre and a handful of bars. Thornheart was actually famous for its community college, its history programme was on par with that of Ivy-league schools, and only for a fraction of the price per semester.

Once dirt tracks had now turned into actual roads, with cars, moving vehicles that people needed licenses to drive - only three centuries ago children as young as five were expected to ride horses, and that was if their family had social status, or a horse. For most families and children, walking was the only way to get from A to B. Now there were cars, trains, planes, buses, underground transport. He didn’t need magic to get around anymore, no, instead all he needed was a license.

Technology was slowly taking over the world too, hand held computers that could connect anyone anywhere were the newest accessories. Apart from tiny computers for watches that is, they were actually called accessories and they were capable of tracking everywhere a person went. The information gathered from them was definitely being sold to the government but it couldn’t be proven. Well of course it couldn’t be proven, that would be heavily incriminating - but everyone and their stylish dogs with 100K Instagram followers knew that the government was corrupt. All governments were corrupt, in all corners of the world.

Facebook, Google, Netflix, Tinder... there was an app for everything. The whole world at the touch of a button or the swipe of a tiny screen. The new world was incredible, the possibilities were endless anyone was capable of anything and there was a real beauty knowing that there was a community for everything. Even foot fetishists had their forums and Twitter groups, a safe space for them to talk about...toes?

Jungkook’s thoughts were interrupted by the small barista passing him his black coffee to go, another excellent thing about modern day living — caffeine.

“Thanks.” He nodded as he grabbed the cup, the cold September air hugging his legs as he left Starbucks. He’d heard others complain about big money making cooperate chains like Starbucks, but given that he was around when the company used to be much smaller and make much much less money...he figured it didn’t matter too much. He liked their coffee, it was as simple as that.

People looked different these days too, society has simultaneously never been more inclusive yet dismissive of everyone’s differences. Racists, homophobes and misogynists had become somewhat a dying species over the centuries, thankfully, however assholes still did exist. Skin could be permanently marked whichever way a person could want, tattoos were widely accepted amongst all cultures, and piercings too. People could enhance body parts, suck the fat from wherever they wanted, a person could be made up of 75% plastic at this point and nobody would bat an eyelid, as it was considered to be the new normal.

Jungkook blended into the world much like anyone else would, nobody would’ve suspected he was a 354 year old soulless demon. He had dark hair that parted in the middle, exposing his forehead and eyebrows, piercing included. Although he usually detested humans, given that he felt above them and all, he couldn’t deny some of them had fantastic taste. Musicians were among some of the people he actually enjoyed. He was also particularly fond of his tattoo artist, who had completed his right arm sleeve and pierced his body several times.

It was all part of the plan, to fit in, to blend. To look like he really could be a 24 year old history major at the local community college.

Jungkook had money, he had tons of money, after all nobody has an excuse to be broke when they’re older than the banks themselves. Being rich meant he could’ve technically gone to any school he wanted, and that he did, his favourite place to study was Oxford University in England in the 1980’s when everybody was high on ecstasy and the exam questions were genuinely easy. Sometimes he missed the ‘sex, drugs and rock n’ roll’ way of the world, specifically the music that came with it, but if he had to be honest he preferred the times the way they were now. He had nine bachelors degrees, five master’s, and three PHD’s. Because what else was he supposed to do with the rest of eternity?

The group of young men that went to America to stop the witch trials 330 years ago were not as close as they once were. Understandable of course, some people find it difficult to maintain friendships for 10+ years never mind 300+. Occasionally they meet, he takes comfort in the fact that thanks to technology they’re only a simple text or phone call away from each other. No communication or teleportation spells were needed in this century, just an iPhone.

When Jungkook thinks of them he remembers them fondly, he remembers their trip to America... how he had more witches killed than he saved, how he probably could’ve done a lot more to help but decided to save himself first. Above all, he remembers the look in that girls eyes, her sinister yet somehow intimate eyes, the same girl who damned them to an eternity of misery, replacing their souls with their sins.

There was a lot of folklore surrounding those witch trials, a lot of speculation and gossip, some historians even said the events that transpired that day is the true origin story of the seven deadly sins. But Jungkook laughs at those historians who think they know what happened, besides the seven deadly sins were documented long before the witch trials, he can’t correct their wild fantasy stories so instead he likes to play along as the top history student, eager to learn and discuss.

And a discussion he was going to have, not with his new professor, but instead with his friends and fellow demons from years before, every few years they try their best to ‘hangout’ with each other. For the last three centuries it had been purely social visits, most of them having moved states or counties over the years, but this time Jungkook had something he wanted to talk about. Something he’d been researching for almost 200 years to make sure he’d got his facts right before sharing with the group.

The cure.

It was around 11PM when Jungkook walked into the bar, dressed in a fitted black suit with a matching black satin shirt, dress shoes and dark sunglasses. He spotted his friends straight away sitting in a large booth in the far corner, close to the men’s room.

“There he is, man of the hour.” Taehyung rose his glass toward Jungkook, proposing a cheers.

Taehyung looked different now too, much like the rest of them he tried his best to fit in with the humans, perhaps a little too much in his case. He dressed very well for the time, always keeping up to date with the latest trends. Dark brunette hair kissed his high cheekbones as he too had grown it out in an attempt to show off his sharp jaw line. He was sitting next to Jimin, and though he was shorter than Taehyung he took equal pride in his body and had been doing some bulking over the last few years, his plain white shirt tight around his biceps as he shifted in his seat.

“Already got you a vodka.” Taehyung gestured toward a small glass sitting patiently on the table, “No ice. Can tell your a demon from your drink order, what kind of human would drink straight vodka?”

Jungkook sat down and joined his peers, not missing the way a small group of women ogled the men as they all greeted one another. Namjoon, Seokjin and Hoseok had been bulking too it seemed, their casual clothing clinging to their forms in ways that made the female bar tender smile.

“Where’s Yoongi?” Jungkook scanned the bar just in case, but to no avail.

“Running late of course.” Seokjin rolled his eyes, he had four empty glasses stacked next to him already. Just because they were immortal didn’t mean they couldn’t get drunk, in fact, Seokjin looked well on his way already.

“Nice suit, bit much for a 24 year old history major don’t you think?” Hoseok smiled brightly, Namjoon chuckled next to him.

“Nothing wrong with taking pride in your appearance.” Jungkook stated matter of factly, “You all look well.”

“We’ve been working out together, not physically together because yknow Seokjin and Namjoon live in South Korea now but we do the FaceTime and work out 6 times a week now.” Hoseok wiggled his black iPhone, seemingly proud of knowing what FaceTime was. “Isn’t technology crazy these days?”

“Tell me about it, I matched with a little hottie on Tinder and she was at my place within 10 minutes.” Taehyung chuckled to himself, “It’s so easy to get sex these days, yknow you should try it Jungkook. Might stop you from being such an uptight pri—“

“Sorry, sorry I’m late.” Yoongi made Jungkook move up so he could sit at the booth, “I knew I had to be here but I’ll be honest I couldn’t be assed to move until 20 minutes ago. This better be good Jungkook.”

“Ah yes, you wanted to discuss something with us right?” Namjoon asked, while signalling the bar tender to get another round of drinks in. “And then after that we can all get blackout drunk like we always do.”

“Well now we’re all here I’ll get straight to it, I know we’re all very busy men so I won’t waste your time... What if I told you there was a cure to the curse? What if I told you there was a way to get our souls back, a way to undo the spell that witch cast on us.”

The air filled with thick silence, unreadable looks being exchanged from all directions on the table. It appeared nobody expected this from Jungkook, and he knew this would be the case. He’d been researching it himself for so long that it was a normal topic for him, but not to his friends.

“What makes you think we’d want that?” Hoseok was the first to speak, “Why should we want to...get our souls back?”

Jungkook prepared for this, they had all been stripped of any humanity they had when their souls were taken from them. He knew that there was a possibility the others wouldn’t care for the cure, they’d only known this lifestyle for so long after all. His friend was right, what was the appeal in having a soul? Emotions often made things...complicated to say the least.

“So you wouldn’t want to find the bitch that did this to us and finally get revenge?” Jungkook opted for plan B, it would be easier to convince them this way. “She damned us to an eternity of being soulless demons, so if we were to find her, and cure ourselves of this...life...she gave us, wouldn’t that be considered the best revenge? To take back our strength and no longer feel weak to some silly woman who cursed us all those years ago.”

The group looked between each other, nobody said a single word until the next round of drinks had been delivered. Seokjin guzzled his immediately and gestured for another, Yoongi and Namjoon were the first to open their mouths.

“What would happen?” Yoongi was curious, “Would we die?”

“I don’t know.” Jungkook was honest, “I haven’t worked out the finer details it’s an unknown spell written in a lost language... It’s a possibility that we could die though, yes.”

“I’m in.” Namjoon stated matter of factly.

“Me too.” Jimin added, “This isn’t a life, I hate myself, I hate the way we pretend to be human, I hate humans, I loathe humans, I envy how they know nothing of the real world. Know nothing of what’s really out there.” His face was stern, tone serious.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Taehyung held up a slender finger, “I don’t want to die? I didn’t want to then and I definitely don’t now. Call it life call it a half life, a curse; whatever it is I happen to like it. I get by just fine. I’m rich, good looking, I can get any girl I want...No, count me out.”

“How did you find it?” Hoseok had been just as hung up on the magic the witch used against them as Jungkook had been, “And why didn’t you tell me?”

Why didn’t Jungkook tell him? Not the group. Him. Hoseok was still the same greedy selfish demon he always had been, even after three whole centuries.

“I wanted to make sure I had all the facts before I came to you.”

“Ah yes, I forget how proud you are.” Seokjin spat, “Count me out, I want nothing to do with this.”

“You’re saying it’s a possibility that we’ll die, right? Is that the only possibility?” Hoseok quizzed Jungkook, brows knitted together in confusion.

“No.” Jungkook laughed, “There’s also a possibility that we’d get our souls back and return to being human. Have a normal mundane life, grow old, have kids... I don’t know all the details yet, I just wanted to let you all know that it could be possible.”

“How can we find out the outcome of the cure? Before we make any decisions. I think that knowing what would happen for sure would ease our minds.” Hoseok rationalised to the group, all five other men nodding in agreement as they looked to Jungkook for answers.

“Leave it with me, you all should stay in town while I fill in the blanks. That way I can update you appropriately. Trust me, I’m closer to finding the truth than I’ve ever been.”

The men spoke amongst themselves, every one of them curious to how Jungkook had even discovered there was such thing as a cure, and after many, many more drinks, Hoseok couldn’t contain himself much longer.

“How did you find out there could maybe be a cure?” The others watched on eagerly, “How did you know there was a way to get our souls back?”

“I came across a witch 200 years ago who said she needed some DNA, preferably blood of a relative, as in the witches relative, to find out any information... But she was familiar with the language, it’s old, ancient black magic that many are too afraid to use. And now there’s this girl, in my history class... I think she could a descendant of the witch who cursed us-“

“But we never got her name.” Jimin reminded him, he was hanging onto every word that was said to make sense of the situation, “How could you know such a thing?”

“Do you see that girl in the black cocktail dress? Standing near the guy who’s obviously trying his best to get into her pants tonight, the one with the snake tattoo on her left calf? Black fluffy heels?” Jungkook knowingly stirred his 17th, maybe 18th drink as the men turned to the girl he was referring to. There was a reason he picked this particular bar for his friends to meet, on this particular day.

“Okay but the second that guy leaves her side I’m sweeping down on that prey.” Taehyung winked, “She’s gorgeous. And that tight little body-“

“No, really look at her, all of her not just her ass.” Jungkook insisted, a proud smirk evident on his lips, “Watch her face when she turns around.”

You were drunk, that was a given, your friend Jackson had offered to pay for a night out to cheer you up, having feeling a little down recently. It was nearing two years since your mom had passed away, the tragic accident had also claimed your grandmothers life that very same evening. Nobody knew how the fire started, even firefighter officials were baffled. Candle? No. Wires? No. Was it arson? Nobody knew. The Thornheart rumour was that it was intentional, but of course that couldn’t be proven.

It was just you and your younger brother now, your dad worked out of town a lot meaning he was never really home. Leaving you to be the adult of the house 9 times out of 10. Not that you minded, you were always going to look out for your little brother no matter what. It was just rough sometimes, feeling as though you had nobody to turn to, not really.

You missed your mother’s maternal warmth, her reassurance that everything would work out just fine. Sure your dad tried his best, god bless him he tried so hard, but a mother’s love is different. It just is. She grew you, nurtured you, mothered you for 18 years, no amount of counceling was going to repair the damage that had already been done. It was akin to losing a best friend, you were both very close, the women of the family always found strength and comfort in each other. Or at least they did until you were the only female in your family left.

“Want another drink?” Jackson playfully nudged your side with his elbow, pulling you from your thoughts.

Despite his advances he was an old friend from school, a good friend. Perhaps you were selfish to come out with him like this, knowing it probably meant more to him than it did to you.

“I shouldn’t!” You admitted, “I’m kinda wasted.” You laughed, you were so drunk now that the bar was starting to spin, in every direction.

“Plus I do have class tomorrow!”

“Oh yeah right, how’s that going anyway?” Jackson pretended to care, he’d decided to skip college and get a job straight away working as a mechanic. It was good enough for him but you always knew you wanted to be a history major ever since you were little. Something about the rich history in Thornheart and local folklores had always fascinated you, of course you rarely admitted it to anybody because you didn’t want to seem like a complete nerd.

“Yeah it’s going good, I think I need to get going now actually. Starting to feel a little nauseous.” You lied, knowing Jackson would probably invite you back to his place if you hadn’t alluded to vomit. It was an easy get of jail free card, if jail was a slightly awkward conversation with an old friend who you didn’t want to sleep with.

“Yeah sure, come on I’ll walk you home.”

Jungkook watched you stumble away from your stool, the desperate blonde guy still following you as you made you way to exit the building.

“She looks—“

“Exactly like her.” Jungkook cut Namjoon off, “I know it was hard to make out her features that day with all that dirt on her face but I’m telling you, she got close to me after the storm and that girl is her double. I would recognise those eyes anywhere.”

“How do you know it’s not the witch herself?” Hoseok was cautious, “Pretending to be a college student? If she had the power to make us immortal there’s a chance she is too.”

“I made that mistake too, but she had no idea what I was talking about and I fogged her memory yesterday to make her forget the whole conversation, it was quite embarrassing actually, memory fog wouldn’t work if she was a witch.”

As you made your way down the three steps that separated the bar from a raised area, Jungkook couldn’t help but stare. Taehyung was right you were beautiful, and not in a fake Instagram influencer way that every girl was nowadays. You had real beauty, class, elegance, you were sexy—

“Get your hand off me.” Your eyes were wide, dark with fury as you stared down Taehyung, who had gripped onto your wrist as you walked past their table.

“Do I even know you?” Your question was sincere as you scoped over the men, who were now all undoubtedly staring at you.

“Not yet darling, but you will.” Taehyung flirted, winning you to tear your hand from his grip. You looked disgusted, Jungkook noted, your brows were furrowed and your nostrils flared, mouth ever so slightly ajar. And then you looked at him, your features softening a tiny fraction.

“You’re in my history class right?” The question was rhetorical, you knew Jungkook was in your history, you’d seen him in class a few times, he sat directly in front of you.

You’d never seen him in a suit though.

“Yeah, I’m Jungkoo—“

“Yeah I don’t care, keep your friends on a tighter leash when you take them out from now on. Next time your boy pulls something like that I’ll break his fucking hand.” You snapped, exiting the bar quickly with your friend close behind.

The instant dismissal stung a little, but Jungkook liked your confidence, your assertiveness, your strength, he liked how much pride you had — he saw a lot of himself in you, and he wanted to see more of you. Normally human girls would never get his attention, not in a million years... maybe the occasional witch he’d run into every 60 years or so... But there was something about you that intrigued him, he was curious from the moment he first saw you two weeks ago.

“You heard that? It’s like she thinks you’re in charge of me!” Taehyung was, for the first time in 300 years, flabbergasted. “You wait til I see her I’m gonna make her regret those words, we’re talking—“

Jungkook stiffened, “You won’t be touching her.”

“So what’s your plan? Be a student for the millionth time just to get close to her, see if she knows her history and try and build her family tree backwards until we find our witch? That’s gonna take so much time, man.” Yoongi sighed.

“We’re not getting any older.” Hoseok reminded him, “Worth a shot, even if all we get is information. I think it would be worth us all enrolling, so we can keep an eye on her.”

“She doesn’t seem like the type of human that opens up to everybody, I hope you’re prepared for disappointment.” Namjoon breathed quietly.

“But if we all go, there’s more chance of her getting close to at least one of us...” Hoseok was calm, calculated, he was plotting something.

It was to be expected, him wanting to be in on the plan, of course he did, his ego was probably already damaged that he hadn’t been involved prior to this point. Jungkook raised what little vodka was left in his glass to propose a final toast, “To college.”

“What’s her name anyway?” Jimin asked as everyone’s glasses clinked together in celebration, glancing quickly toward the exit to ensure you had actually left the building, unable to hear this conversation.

“Y/N.”

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mr-dickalambo · 3 years

Note

Hi my new favourite human! regarding your words, “ damn y'all rrly up for gay science men, so proud” ; I am here to share my story if you are up to listen to it.

Physics, in general, has never been my forte, even if modern physics is one of my elective papers in my college course. So yes, for only for the love of Jim Sarbh and a student who has a basic knowledge about atoms and nuclear reactions and who identifies Homi Bhaba as a great scientist of my subject I had tuned in for Rocket Boys.

regardless to say, I loved the series, OBVIOUSLY!

But... but but but but....

I never felt this much embarrassment on myself and I was literally like WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME?! After 8 episodes I was dumbstruck with the mere idea

1) of simping this hard after a fictionalized version of a man who had died like 50 years ago, a man so respected for his contribution to research and science. Its just so wrong to feel this.. Though I had promptly left that thought because I blame Jim Sarbh for this, due to his phenomenal charming portrayal of Bhaba. Like who wouldn’t love this mad man?

but that was not even the big part..

2) I was scandalised when I realised, HOLY SHIT I SHIP HOMI AND VIKRAM SO GODDAMN MUCH like what the hell. Two renowned respected real-life scientists, and I am squirming here to see them kiss, God take me for I have sinned!

I felt like a nut, like I am all alone, thinking these weird thoughts. (just like when I first realised my true self that I’m bi and none around me would understand me) but I cannot let it go. I decided, yeah I CAN SHIP THE FUCK OUT OF ANYONE I WANT.

But then I found you and others through you, like I found friends who would understand me, like in a community. And hell yeah baby I’m here for the content!

pls tell me, do you have a headcanon for this universe, or maybe a plot for a fanfiction or ficlets? what are your thoughts in general?

p.s. an apology in case any of my words hurts you, it would be purely unintentional..

*screaming* Tbh SAME SAME istg I was like wtf????? Am i ok???? I am so glad alot ppl shipped vikram and homi. Cos mannn I've shipping em since ep1. Fuk morals gay only

I tried writing a fanfic,,,,,it has two chps,it's not that good but I NEED CONTENT!!!! so i made for myself and posted. It's on AO3 ,,,link is some where in my blog I'll send.

Also JIM. FUCKING. SARBH.

That man istg

😩✊

Also this is like the first ask i got????? So special for me

And new fave human damn ty means alot tysm for sharing ya story cos dam it's a mood

And welcome to the fandom bestiee :))) <33

#i am so happy #i am not the only one #i hope this fandom grows #ALSO MY FIRST ASK OMG #rocket boys #jim sarbh #sonyliv #homi bhabha #vikram sarabhai

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rakhma-agape-ahavah · 3 years

Text

Love is a choice.

It isn't a feeling that sits in your chest and grows or withers without reason. It is not based in the biological or chemical makeup of a physical body. It isn't focused into your heart, or your tears, or even into the joy you feel when it comes. It is a choice to plant a seed of love, it is a choice to water it, fertilize it, prune it, and care for it all the while that it grows; and never neglect it.

If love fades with happiness, and when sadness makes its mark, what you think was love has gone because... it was never love.

The Bible makes it clear that love is not a fleeting thing like emotion or circumstances. It is not affected by time, or other people, or places.

Love is a choice.

Because love is patient. When a moment comes and there is frustration or hurt, you have all authority to choose between your temper and patience.

Love is kind. Because in that patience you can choose kindness towards the one who has wronged you.

Love does not envy, and love is not resentful. Because you can choose, when someone receives a gift, or reward, or anything you desired for yourself, to wallow in that envy and breed resentment, or instead share their joy with them in what they received.

Love is not boastful, or conceited. For when you are on the receiving end of what someone else has desired, you can humbly share that joy too. You can choose to see the world from eyes that are not your own, and remember that the sun shines, and the rain rains, on the good and the evil alike for God is wise.

Love is not rude or selfish. Because when you are waiting in a long line, or your day has been difficult, and you are full to bursting with stress and anger, you still have the full authority over yourself to choose whether to only focus on yourself and your woes and snap at someone who has had no part in the negatives of your day... or you can choose patience and kindness toward a stranger whose day may just be worse than yours, but you would never know.

Love takes no offense. Because you can always choose forgiveness; the act of not holding onto anger from the one who has wronged you. Because tomorrow they may not even be the same person who hurt you today, and the anger you hold against the dead only has the power to harm you.

Love takes no pleasure in sin but delights in the truth. When a word of gossip reaches your ears you have the power over your tongue; and your tongue holds the power of life and death in it. Rejoice in the truth regarding your neighbor, and do not be a pitfall to their livelihood. And when your neighbor who is lost comes to find you, tell them the greatest Truth of all. Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and would they listen to you if you had participated in lies?

Love never fails. It is an act of will, a verb, a decision, each and every day, in every moment of that day. Emotions cannot control it, circumstances cannot control it. Only you.

The greatest virtues in the world are these: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. Because there is no failure in choosing to love thy neighbor.

1 Corinthians 13, Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 5:45

I knew someone in college who was born with something missing from his brain that prevented him from feeling emotion. It was something that could not be repaired, because there wasn't anything there to put back what he had lost.

As he grew and learned about what emotions were, he realized his mother wore a look of sadness when he would tell her he loved her. He knew sadness was a negative emotion, and he didn't want his mother to have negative emotions to his declarations of love for her.

So he chose to dedicate his entire life to a career in neuroscience so that one day he would feel emotions as anyone else does, and she would no longer be sad when he said, "I love you"

I hope one day she comes to realize that he has loved her all along. That the ability to love was never taken from him, because it was never an emotion to begin with.

Who would dedicate their lives trying to make someone smile if they had no love for them at all?

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asphyxiateher · 3 years

Text

Only Monsters Come Out at Night

Chapter 5: I’ll Tell You My Sins So You Can Sharpen Your Knife

Summary: Desdemona is slowly losing herself but survival is still critical, especially when she must spend time with Daniela alone. A/N: Thank you all for the support, I’ve been busy with work but this story in my head needs to be written so I can get it out of my system. lol I’ll polish and edit this when I can. :)

To say the previous night was eventful would be an understatement but to Cassandra’s credit, she did not push for more than what Desdemona was willing to give. Now, Desdemona wasn’t saying that Cassandra was gentle or pleasant when she declined engaging in more intimate activities, but Cassandra understood the meaning of “no” and backed off in exchange for learning more about Desdemona. The smaller girl thought she was being clever by saying she would only get physical with her if they took the time to get to know each other better first and she was surprised when Cassandra reluctantly agreed. Des introduced Cassandra to the laptop she had brought with her on their trip and the woman was in absolute awe of the power of modern-day technology. She had begun explaining about what movies were and what she currently had downloaded onto her pc when Cassandra astonished Desdemona with a personal question.

“What brought you all the way out here in the first place anyway, Little One? Don’t get me wrong, you’re the most fascinating group of visitors we’ve had in such a long time, but for a pretty face like you to be stranded out here on your own with me? Seems foolish.” Cassandra asked as she lay on the bed next to Desdemona who suddenly snapped her laptop shut.

“Desmond and I graduated from college and we had money saved up to go embark on what was supposed to be a memorable adventure. I’ve always been into horror and science fiction movies as well as novels and comic books so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tour the castle that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, one of my favorite classics. Look how well that turned out.” Desdemona says bitterly, nervously fiddling with her fingers.

Cassandra attempted to reach out and wrap her fingers around Desdemona’s hand, but she became hesitant and pulled back instead as if she were unsure if the gesture would be welcome.

“Your brother is dead. That is something we cannot undo but I understand your anger. Bela and Daniela are trying at times, but I do love them more than anything really. I have the power to kill at will and I will not falter should anything happen to my dear sisters. You, on the other hand, are persevering in a way that’s admirable, Desdemona. You are innocent and you want to survive. You are stronger for that more than you’ll ever know.” Cassandra tells her quietly, her teeth wedged between her lips as though she may have said too much to her human plaything.

Desdemona was taken aback by what Cassandra had said and it must have shown on her face because Cassandra suddenly looked irritated with how deep the conversation was going.

“If you are not going to allow me the pleasures of your flesh, then allow me to drink from you as I’m quite parched!” She snarled before she pounced on top of Desdemona, her razor-sharp teeth flashing dangerously. One minute, she’s howling in pain the moment Cassandra pierces through her skin and begins drinking her blood and the very next, she passes out from the blood loss while still laying underneath the ill-tempered vampire. She sleeps for a few hours, only stirring awake when she feels a comfortable presence beside her. She groggily opens her eyes only to find Veronica staring at her, concern clearly etched on her face.

“Shh, shh hey, you’re okay now, Dezzy. C’mere, let me take a look at you. You were tossing and turning the whole time after they brought you back down here. I don’t know what they did to you, but we can switch places if you’d like. I think Lady Dimitrescu might take a liking to you.” Veronica says jokingly as she runs shaky fingers through Desdemona’s tangled locks.

Desdemona sighs at the contact and smiles at her best friend’s attempt to soothe her.

“That’s funny, V. Not sure I fancy calling my dentist and canceling all future appointments ‘cause I found a titan of woman with big tits to pull all my teeth for me. Nah, I think I’ll stick to reluctantly donating my blood to three horny vampire women, thank you very much.” Desdemona scoffs out a laugh when Veronica playfully swats at her arm.

“Fuck off, it was only a few teeth and yeah, that crazy bitch has got fists the size of hams so of course she can knock them straight out of me!” Veronica exclaimed. “Ugh. I’ll be honest though Des, I’m scared. Not for me ‘cause I know what’s coming if I keep putting up a fight, but I’m scared for you.” She continues, her voice now a whisper as she lays down on the cold hard stone floor and placing her hand on top of Desdemona’s.

“I’m scared for both of us. Why aren’t you more worried about you?” Desdemona squeezes her best friend’s hand and rests her head against Veronica’s shoulder.

“You’re being forced to entertain three vampires who could bleed you dry the way Elizabeth Bathory did her victims. The way they manhandle you and take occasional sips from you is fucking horrific! I don’t understand how you’re not freaking out over it.” Veronica licks her chapped lips and glances back at Desdemona. “These could be our very last moments alive together. I need you to promise me that you will look for weaknesses that we can use against them. Fight for your right to live, babes, fight for Desmond the way he would have wanted us to. We can’t keep taking what they’re giving us, it will kill us.”

Deep down, Desdemona knew her best friend was right but how could she expect her to put up a fight against three undead creatures that can transform into a massive ball of insects at any given time? She felt so helpless and utterly alone in the way that made her feel insignificant next to her best friend. Veronica was fearless in the face of death and Desdemona felt like a coward. She wanted to survive this ordeal so badly, she practically groveled in submission to be spared from any form of punishment and observing the bruises and cuts along on V’s skin, she felt so incredibly guilty for not putting up a hard enough fight.

“V, I don’t know how to explain it. I want to get out of here as much as you do, but as soon as my mind tells me to do something logical, I do the exact opposite. It’s like I do not want any of Alcina’s daughters to hate me, so I go out of my way to please them. It’s driving me crazy, and I don’t know if I’m just weak willed when it comes to them but fuck it…I just don’t want to die.” Desdemona admits, turning her head to face Veronica who meets her gaze at the same time.

“Nothing wrong with wanting to live a little longer but don’t throw away your dignity for these monsters who don’t give a flying fuck about you. From what the countess herself has said about her daughters is that they entertain whatever pretty little maiden comes their way for a minute before they get bored and eat their corpse when they’re done. Don’t let them belittle you, use you, and kill you when you’re worth more than you’ll ever know.” Veronica tells her before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. Feeling renewed, Desdemona continues to enjoy the few moments of peace with her best friend before they hear the dreaded sound of heels clicking in the dungeon.

“Well, cur, you know what it’s time for and you’ll be delighted to know I have so many wonderful things to show you. Get up, and brace yourself because after this, I guarantee you that you will not be the same after today.” Alcina declares as she unlocks the chamber door to their room.

Veronica grudgingly sits up and sighs, squeezing Desdemona’s hands one last time before standing. “Alcina, what a lovely surprise. I was just beginning to miss you, my lady. Oh, how I’ve been withering away down here knowing that I’ve gone a day without a beating. Thank you oh so much for finally blessing us with your presence.” Veronica says with a smirk only for it to be smacked off her face a second later.

“Silence, heathen! You will speak only when spoken to. For now, you will only be required to observe and shadow a maiden I no longer have use for. As for you, Desdemona, Daniela will be waiting in the library. Do not keep her waiting, dear.” Alcina says ominously, a chill running down Desdemona’s spine at the mere mention of her youngest daughter’s name.

Veronica casts her a fleeting sympathetic look before they both follow Lady Dimitrescu out of the cellar. Once they had gone their separate ways, Desdemona’s anxiety climbed to seemingly immeasurable heights. She came out of her previous encounters with lady Dimitrescu’s other daughters alive so that was good, but what of Daniela? She already gave off the impression that she was delusional and violent when provoked so Desdemona’s chance of survival at this rate was questionable at best.

When Desdemona arrived in front of the entrance to the library, she took a few deep breaths to calm herself. After a few more minutes of contemplating whether she should enter Daniela’s realm, she makes up her mind and crosses the threshold. Her jaw drops at the magnificent sight behold her. She’s in a vast circular room that is surrounded by sumptuous bookshelves and brilliant décor that has her almost envying the fact that this space belonged to someone like Daniela.

“Are you looking for me, darling? Come play with me, I’ll let you live in the meantime.” A shrill voice from behind one of the bookcases catches Desdemona off guard and she nearly trips over herself when she turns to find Daniela quickly approaching her.

“H-hi Daniela, I came to s-see you. How are you doing?” Desdemona asks as she continues to back away from the dangerous woman staring at her with the unmistakable look of hunger in her eyes. Daniela laughs uncontrollably and covers her mouth when she’s done. The red headed woman gives Desdemona an agonizingly slow once-over and licks her lips as though she were feeling ravenous at the sight.

“You’re so sweet to ask. You must have fallen hard for me, but you shouldn’t be surprised; everyone falls for me in time.” Daniela says in an almost sickeningly sweet voice. ‘Ok, so this fucking lunatic thinks you’re in love with her. Good, maybe she’d be less inclined to kill you.’ Desdemona thinks to herself, her back now pressed against a polished marble column.

“Y-yeah, I wanted to see you but only if you weren’t busy. I just thought you could use some company.” Des replies. This pleases Daniela immensely, so she takes a step closer to inhale the other girl’s scent. She was terrified and her blood smelled so delicious because of it. She needed to taste her, absorb everything that was Desdemona and revel in the symphony of her screams when she was done with her.

“I could always use company, especially yours, my love. A few moments ago, I would have been just fine snuggling by the fireplace and having you read with me. Now that you’re here smelling quite tasty, there’s something else I want.” She says with a giggle before instantly making moves so that she was now only a few inches apart from Desdemona’s face.

Desdemona gasps when Daniela reveals her hidden sickle and suddenly tears a long cut through her shirt and pants. Moaning in ecstasy, Daniela begins to pick apart her torn clothing and caresses the smooth expanse of skin that was exposed to her. Desdemona shuts her eyes and turns her head to the side when the other woman lunges at her with an open mouth.

“Ugh, why are you rejecting me? Don’t you love me? Apologize at once and I’ll forgive you. Everybody makes mistakes.” Daniela whispers in a low, threatening tone. Desdemona feels tears begin to form when Daniela lowers her head and begins to suck and gently nibble on her neck. Veronica’s words come to mind about not putting up with whatever form of abuse they were going to give and she tries to summon every ounce of bravery she could muster. She pushes hard against Daniela and frees herself from her grasp. She twists and begins running in the other direction, not looking back at the crazed woman shrieking at her.

“Why are you doing this to me? I thought you loved me!” Desdemona was about to reach the doorway that led out of the library when a massive ball of insects appeared before her. She wasn’t able to react quickly enough so when she tried to turn again, she felt Daniela pounce on her from behind, tackling her to the floor. There was no use struggling against the immortal creature that perched herself on top of her so when Daniela forcefully flipped her onto her back, Desdemona saw her life flash before her eyes the moment Daniela raised her sickle, as if she were ready to swing at her. The logical part of her brain wanted this to end quickly, to spare herself from further embarrassment every time she pleaded for her life. But then there were dark whispers from an unknown entity, her broken survival instincts or those pesky intrusive thoughts perhaps, that were telling her to kiss Daniela in order to calm her down. She doesn’t know why or how it makes perfect sense but it does; Desdemona could either choose to die on her own terms or she could appease this goddess before her and worship her.

‘Where the hell are those thoughts coming from and why do I have a sudden urge to kiss Daniela? Gods help me.’ The frantic thoughts are the last to cross her mind as Desdemona leans up and yanks Daniela close to her level by her pendant.

Daniela’s eyes widen in surprise when she feels Desdemona’s lips press themselves against hers. After a few tense moments of not receiving the response she was hoping for, Desdemona begins pulling away but then she’s pulled back into a more frenzied, intense kiss. Daniela sighs against her mouth, her sickle dropping and causing the sound of metal clanging against the floor to echo in the room. When the need for air becomes too great for the smaller girl, she gently breaks the kiss and Daniela is suddenly looking at her with hooded eyes, desire visible in those beautiful golden hued orbs of hers. “Why did you run away from me? I hate it when my pretty playthings run away from me.” Daniela asks softly, the delicate tone in her voice surprising the both of them.

Desdemona’s voice wavers when she speaks, but she steadies herself by cautiously wrapping an arm around Daniela’s neck. She doesn’t know why she’s actively reaching out to touch the dangerous red-headed woman, she can’t explain why she’s craving for more contact, but she does and it’s scary as hell. “B-because I don’t want my f-first time with anyone to be meaningless. I’ve n-never gotten this close with anyone before and…I want it to be special. Call me old fashioned, but I’d rather you slit my throat right now before I give myself to you. I need to know you on a deeper level.” Desdemona’s cheeks are flushed a deep crimson color as she admits this, not knowing why she’s opening herself up like this to Daniela but those darker thoughts that linger somewhere in her mind are praising her.

Daniela takes a sharp breath in response to Desdemona’s words and quirks an eyebrow at the smaller girl. She was completely stunned by the revelation.

“Wait, you’re running away from me because you haven’t…not with anyone else before?” Daniela asked carefully.

Desdemona nods, wondering why this would matter to her at all. Daniela was going to slit her throat for wasting her time and-

“Oh Desdemona, why didn’t you tell me sooner? I didn’t mean to make you so nervous! Don’t get me wrong, I’m disappointed that I don’t get to make you mine tonight but I’m willing to wait for you. You’re my soulmate and if you want to get to know me before we get close, then we’ll do just that.” Daniela says, her voice huskier now than it was a moment ago. She reaches in between their pressed bodies and lowers her hand so now that her fingers were skimming along smooth skin until Daniela reaches Desdemona’s underwear.

Underneath Daniela’s fierce, lust filled gaze, Desdemona moans into the other woman’s ear when she feels Daniela cup her womanhood possessively. This prompted Daniela to capture Desdemona’s lips in a ravenous kiss that left her feeling both thirsty and wanting more. The smaller girl, on the other hand, was quickly losing herself in the kiss, not understanding why the dark voices in her head were pressing her to do more. She couldn’t hear Veronica’s words of warning but instead sinister whispers that poisoned her thoughts. Desdemona was almost fully convinced to give herself to Daniela in that moment but then she remembers the conversation she had with her best friend earlier. This was all about survival, that’s all this should be about. She should not be indulging herself like this with these…creatures. ‘Your masters. Address them appropriately.’ The wicked voice in her head is not her own. Alarmed, Desdemona breaks the kiss with Daniela, who dives in again to lick Desdemona’s lips.

“Mmm, judging by the way you kissed me, you want me to be your first, don’t you? I can wait for you darling, but only if you promise that when you’re ready, you’ll come find me. Not Bela, not Cassandra nor my beautiful mother. I want to be the one to break you in. My sisters always get what they want but this, I want this more than anything. Pledge yourself to me.” Daniela murmurs darkly, her teeth gently nibbling on Desdemona’s earlobe.

Desdemona wants to shove her off and run away again while she has the chance. She wants to take Veronica’s hand and escape Castle Dimitrescu together. She just wants to go home, mourn her twin brother with her family and be somewhere safe and quiet and away from all of this.

Instead, Desdemona smiles at Daniela and tucks a few stray strands of red hair behind her ear. It was adorable how Daniela quickly leaned into the touch, a smile of her own gracing blood smeared lips.

“I’m yours, completely. I’ll take good care of you if you promise to do the same to me.” Desdemona says, her voice not following what her brain was trying to command her to say. ‘Kick, scream, run! Don’t let them control you, don’t let them compel you to do anything you don’t want to do –‘ ‘Obey. Listen to your masters, they own you and your body. You are theirs to do as they wish. You belong to them and nobody else. Do not disobey or you will be punished.’

There it was again, the sinister voice that did not belong to her and it was overwhelming.

Whatever rational thoughts Desdemona had as she continued to embrace Daniela in her arms had left. The last thing Desdemona remembers thinking about before she got up to join Daniela in her favorite corner to read was how much darker and menacing the bruises and hickeys all three sisters left on her skin were starting to look. They were deep red and purple, black spider veins were also beginning to sprout and spread throughout her body.

Were Lady Dimitrescu’s daughters subtly infecting her with some kind of disease or were they creating a bond with her every time they bit and clawed at her? Desdemona’s thoughts lingered on the last part before she uncharacteristically ignored what had just transpired between Daniela and herself. Ties had been indeed created but what Desdemona can’t help but wonder what the cost to sharing a dangerous bond with all three women was? She doesn’t think on it much longer as she’s seated on Daniela’s favorite couch and Daniela rests her head on Desdemona’s lap, a chosen book for her to read aloud in hand. Her mind is placated and the desire to please her Mistress takes over. Nothing else mattered anymore.

#only monsters come out at night #resident evil 8 #resident evil village #RE8 Village #Lady Dimitrescu's daughters #Alcina Dimitrescu #Lady Dimitrescu #Lady Dimitrescu's daughters x ofc #Bela Dimitrescu #Bela Dimitrescu x OFC #Cassandra Dimitrescu #Cassandra Dimitrescu x OFC #daniela dimitrescu #daniela dimitrescu x ofc #mine #chapter update

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howwelldoyouknowyourmoon · 3 years

Text

Religious Trauma Syndrome: How Some Organized Religion Leads to Mental Health Problems

By Valerie Tarico

Marlene Winell interviewed March 25, 2013

At age sixteen I began what would be a four year struggle with bulimia. When the symptoms started, I turned in desperation to adults who knew more than I did about how to stop shameful behavior—my Bible study leader and a visiting youth minister. “If you ask anything in faith, believing,” they said. “It will be done.” I knew they were quoting [3] the Word of God. We prayed together, and I went home confident that God had heard my prayers. But my horrible compulsions didn’t go away. By the fall of my sophomore year in college, I was desperate and depressed enough that I made a suicide attempt. The problem wasn’t just the bulimia. I was convinced by then that I was a complete spiritual failure. My college counseling department had offered to get me real help (which they later did). But to my mind, at that point, such help couldn’t fix the core problem: I was a failure in the eyes of God. It would be years before I understood that my inability to heal bulimia through the mechanisms offered by biblical Christianity was not a function of my own spiritual deficiency but deficiencies in Evangelical religion itself.

Dr. Marlene Winell is a human development consultant in the San Francisco Area. She is also the daughter of Pentecostal missionaries. This combination has given her work an unusual focus. For the past twenty years she has counseled men and women in recovery from various forms of fundamentalist religion including the Assemblies of God denomination in which she was raised. Winell is the author of Leaving the Fold – A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving their Religion [4], written during her years of private practice in psychology. Over the years, Winell has provided assistance to clients whose religious experiences were even more damaging than mine. Some of them are people whose psychological symptoms weren’t just exacerbated by their religion, but actually caused by it.

Two years ago, Winell made waves by formally labeling what she calls “Religious Trauma Syndrome” (RTS) and beginning to write and speak on the subject for professional audiences. When the British Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychologists published a series of articles on the topic, members of a Christian counseling association protested what they called excessive attention to a “relatively niche topic.” One commenter said, “A religion, faith or book cannot be abuse but the people interpreting can make anything abusive.”

Is toxic religion simply misinterpretation? What is religious trauma? Why does Winell believe religious trauma merits its own diagnostic label?

Let’s start this interview with the basics. What exactly is religious trauma syndrome?

Winell: Religious trauma syndrome (RTS) is a set of symptoms and characteristics that tend to go together and which are related to harmful experiences with religion. They are the result of two things: immersion in a controlling religion and the secondary impact of leaving a religious group. The RTS label provides a name and description that affected people often recognize immediately. Many other people are surprised by the idea of RTS, because in our culture it is generally assumed that religion is benign or good for you. Just like telling kids about Santa Claus and letting them work out their beliefs later, people see no harm in teaching religion to children.

But in reality, religious teachings and practices sometimes cause serious mental health damage. The public is somewhat familiar with sexual and physical abuse in a religious context. As Journalist Janet Heimlich has documented in, Breaking Their Will, Bible-based religious groups that emphasize patriarchal authority in family structure and use harsh parenting methods can be destructive.

But the problem isn’t just physical and sexual abuse. Emotional and mental treatment in authoritarian religious groups also can be damaging because of 1) toxic teachings like eternal damnation or original sin 2) religious practices or mindset, such as punishment, black and white thinking, or sexual guilt, and 3) neglect that prevents a person from having the information or opportunities to develop normally.

Can you give me an example of RTS from your consulting practice?

Winell: I can give you many. One of the symptom clusters is around fear and anxiety. People indoctrinated into fundamentalist Christianity as small children sometimes have memories of being terrified by images of hell and apocalypse before their brains could begin to make sense of such ideas. Some survivors, who I prefer to call “reclaimers,” [8] have flashbacks, panic attacks, or nightmares in adulthood even when they intellectually no longer believe the theology. One client of mine, who during the day functioned well as a professional, struggled with intense fear many nights. She said,

“I was afraid I was going to hell. I was afraid I was doing something really wrong. I was completely out of control. I sometimes would wake up in the night and start screaming, thrashing my arms, trying to rid myself of what I was feeling. I’d walk around the house trying to think and calm myself down, in the middle of the night, trying to do some self-talk, but I felt like it was just something that – the fear and anxiety was taking over my life.” Or consider this comment, which refers to a film [9] used by evangelicals to warn about the horrors of the “end times” for nonbelievers.

“I was taken to see the film “A Thief In The Night”. WOW. I am in shock to learn that many other people suffered the same traumas I lived with because of this film. A few days or weeks after the film viewing, I came into the house and mom wasn’t there. I stood there screaming in terror. When I stopped screaming, I began making my plan: Who my Christian neighbors were, who’s house to break into to get money and food. I was 12 years old and was preparing for Armageddon alone.”

In addition to anxiety, RTS can include depression, cognitive difficulties, and problems with social functioning. In fundamentalist Christianity, the individual is considered depraved and in need of salvation. A core message is “You are bad and wrong and deserve to die.” (The wages of sin is death [10].) This gets taught to millions of children through organizations like Child Evangelism Fellowship [11] and there is a group organized [12] to oppose their incursion into public schools. I’ve had clients who remember being distraught when given a vivid bloody image of Jesus paying the ultimate price for their sins. Decades later they sit telling me that they can’t manage to find any self-worth.

“After twenty-seven years of trying to live a perfect life, I failed. . . I was ashamed of myself all day long. My mind battling with itself with no relief. . . I always believed everything that I was taught but I thought that I was not approved by God. I thought that basically I, too, would die at Armageddon.

“I’ve spent literally years injuring myself, cutting and burning my arms, taking overdoses and starving myself, to punish myself so that God doesn’t have to punish me. It’s taken me years to feel deserving of anything good.”

Born-again Christianity and devout Catholicism [13] tell people they are weak and dependent, calling on phrases like “lean not unto your own understanding [14]” or “trust and obey [11].” People who internalize these messages can suffer from learned helplessness. I’ll give you an example from a client who had little decision-making ability after living his entire life devoted to following the “will of God.” The words here don’t convey the depth of his despair.

“I have an awful time making decisions in general. Like I can’t, you know, wake up in the morning, “What am I going to do today?” Like I don’t even know where to start. You know all the things I thought I might be doing are gone and I’m not sure I should even try to have a career; essentially I babysit my four-year-old all day.”

Authoritarian religious groups are subcultures where conformity is required in order to belong. Thus if you dare to leave the religion, you risk losing your entire support system as well.

“I lost all my friends. I lost my close ties to family. Now I’m losing my country. I’ve lost so much because of this malignant religion and I am angry and sad to my very core. . . I have tried hard to make new friends, but I have failed miserably. . . I am very lonely.”

Leaving a religion, after total immersion, can cause a complete upheaval of a person’s construction of reality, including the self, other people, life, and the future. People unfamiliar with this situation, including therapists, have trouble appreciating the sheer terror it can create.

“My form of religion was very strongly entrenched and anchored deeply in my heart. It is hard to describe how fully my religion informed, infused, and influenced my entire worldview. My first steps out of fundamentalism were profoundly frightening and I had frequent thoughts of suicide. Now I’m way past that but I still haven’t quite found “my place in the universe.”

Even for a person who was not so entrenched, leaving one’s religion can be a stressful and significant transition.

Many people seem to walk away from their religion easily, without really looking back. What is different about the clientele you work with?

Winell: Religious groups that are highly controlling, teach fear about the world, and keep members sheltered and ill-equipped to function in society are harder to leave easily. The difficulty seems to be greater if the person was born and raised in the religion rather than joining as an adult convert. This is because they have no frame of reference – no other “self” or way of “being in the world.” A common personality type is a person who is deeply emotional and thoughtful and who tends to throw themselves wholeheartedly into their endeavors. “True believers” who then lose their faith feel more anger and depression and grief than those who simply went to church on Sunday.

Aren’t these just people who would be depressed, anxious, or obsessive anyways?

Winell: Not at all. If my observation is correct, these are people who are intense and involved and caring. They hang on to the religion longer than those who simply “walk away” because they try to make it work even when they have doubts. Sometimes this is out of fear, but often it is out of devotion. These are people for whom ethics, integrity and compassion matter a great deal. I find that when they get better and rebuild their lives, they are wonderfully creative and energetic about new things.

In your mind, how is RTS different from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Winell: RTS is a specific set of symptoms and characteristics that are connected with harmful religious experience, not just any trauma. This is crucial to understanding the condition and any kind of self-help or treatment. (More details about this can be found on my Journey Free [15] website and discussed in my talk [16] at the Texas Freethought Convention.)

Another difference is the social context, which is extremely different from other traumas or forms of abuse. When someone is recovering from domestic abuse, for example, other people understand and support the need to leave and recover. They don’t question it as a matter of interpretation, and they don’t send the person back for more. But this is exactly what happens to many former believers who seek counseling. If a provider doesn’t understand the source of the symptoms, he or she may send a client for pastoral counseling, or to AA, or even to another church. One reclaimer expressed her frustration this way:

“Include physically-abusive parents who quote “Spare the rod and spoil the child” as literally as you can imagine and you have one fucked-up soul: an unloved, rejected, traumatized toddler in the body of an adult. I’m simply a broken spirit in an empty shell. But wait...That’s not enough!? There’s also the expectation by everyone in society that we victims should celebrate this with our perpetrators every Christmas and Easter!!”

Just like disorders such as autism or bulimia, giving RTS a real name has important advantages. People who are suffering find that having a label for their experience helps them feel less alone and guilty. Some have written to me to express their relief:

“There’s actually a name for it! I was brainwashed from birth and wasted 25 years of my life serving Him! I’ve since been out of my religion for several years now, but I cannot shake the haunting fear of hell and feel absolutely doomed. I’m now socially inept, unemployable, and the only way I can have sex is to pay for it.”

Labeling RTS encourages professionals to study it more carefully, develop treatments, and offer training. Hopefully, we can even work on prevention.

What do you see as the difference between religion that causes trauma and religion that doesn’t?

Winell: Religion causes trauma when it is highly controlling and prevents people from thinking for themselves and trusting their own feelings. Groups that demand obedience and conformity produce fear, not love and growth. With constant judgment of self and others, people become alienated from themselves, each other, and the world. Religion in its worst forms causes separation.

Conversely, groups that connect people and promote self-knowledge and personal growth can be said to be healthy. The book, Healthy Religion [17], describes these traits. Such groups put high value on respecting differences, and members feel empowered as individuals. They provide social support, a place for events and rites of passage, exchange of ideas, inspiration, opportunities for service, and connection to social causes. They encourage spiritual practices that promote health like meditation or principles for living like the golden rule. More and more, non-theists are asking [18] how they can create similar spiritual communities without the supernaturalism. An atheist congregation [19] in London launched this year and has received over 200 inquiries from people wanting to replicate their model.

Some people say that terms like “recovery from religion” and “religious trauma syndrome” are just atheist attempts to pathologize religious belief.

Winell: Mental health professionals have enough to do without going out looking for new pathology. I never set out looking for a “niche topic,” and certainly not religious trauma syndrome. I originally wrote a paper for a conference of the American Psychological Association and thought that would be the end of it. Since then, I have tried to move on to other things several times, but this work has simply grown.

In my opinion, we are simply, as a culture, becoming aware of religious trauma. More and more people are leaving religion, as seen by polls [20] showing that the “religiously unaffiliated” have increased in the last five years from just over 15% to just under 20% of all U.S. adults. It’s no wonder the internet is exploding with websites for former believers from all religions, providing forums [21] for people to support each other. The huge population of people “leaving the fold” includes a subset at risk for RTS, and more people are talking about it and seeking help. For example, there are thousands of former Mormons [22], and I was asked to speak about RTS at an Exmormon Foundation conference. I facilitate an international support group online called Release and Reclaim [23] which has monthly conference calls. An organization called Recovery from Religion, [24] helps people start self-help meet-up groups

Saying that someone is trying to pathologize authoritarian religion is like saying someone pathologized eating disorders by naming them. Before that, they were healthy? No, before that we weren’t noticing. People were suffering, thought they were alone, and blamed themselves. Professionals had no awareness or training. This is the situation of RTS today. Authoritarian religion is already pathological, and leaving a high-control group can be traumatic. People are already suffering. They need to be recognized and helped. _______________________________

Statistics update:

Numbers of American ‘nones’ continues to rise

October 18, 2019

By David Crary – Associated Press

The portion of Americans with no religious affiliation is rising significantly, in tandem with a sharp drop in the percentage that identifies as Christians, according to new data from the Pew Research Center. …

Pew says all categories of the religiously unaffiliated population – often referred to as the “nones” grew in magnitude. Self-described atheists now account for 4% of U.S. adults, up from 2% in 2009; agnostics account for 5%, up from 3% a decade ago; and 17% of Americans now describe their religion as “nothing in particular,” up from 12% in 2009.

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2019/1018/Numbers-of-American-nones-continues-to-rise

_______________________________

Marlene Winell interviewed by Valerie Tarico on recovering from religious trauma Uploaded on January 31, 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIfABmbqSMA

24:12

On Moral Politics, a TV program with host Dr. Valerie Tarico, Marlene Winell describes the trauma that can result from harmful experiences with religious indoctrination. Dr. Winell explains that mental health issues are widespread and need to be understood just as we understand PTSD. There are steps to recovery, treatment modalities, and resources available as well. She now refers to this as RTS or Religious Trauma Syndrome. _______________________________

Links:   [3] https://www.biblestudyonjesuschrist.com/pog/ask1.htm  [4] https://marlenewinell.net/leaving-fold-former  [8] https://journeyfree.org/article/reclaimers/  [9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Thief_in_the_Night_%28film%29  [10] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6%3A23&version=KJV  [11] https://valerietarico.com/2011/02/04/our-public-schools-their-mission-field/  [12] http://www.intrinsicdignity.com/  [13] https://www.maryjohnson.co/an-unquenchable-thirst/  [14] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A5-6&version=KJV [15] https://journeyfree.org/category/uncategorized/ [16] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qrE4pMBlis  [17] https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Religion-Psychological-Guide-Mature/dp/1425924166 [18] https://www.humanistchaplaincy.org/ [19] https://www.christianpost.com/news/london-atheist-church-model-looking-to-expand-worldwide-91516 [20] https://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/  [21] https://new.exchristian.net/  [22] https://www.exmormon.org/  [23] https://journeyfree.org/group-forum/ [24] https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/

_____________________________________

Get God’s Self-Appointed Messengers Out of Your Head

Valerie Tarico Which buzz phrases from your past are stuck in your brain? “God’s messengers” were all real complicated people with biases, blind spots, favorite foods and morning breath. They were not gods and they are not you. So how can you get them out of your head or at least reduce them to muffled background noise?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElfyYA420F0

#religious trauma syndrome #Marlene Winell #Valerie Tarico

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rucbarthatbowtiesarecooldw · 3 years

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Saturday Afternoon Session

Guide Us O Thou Great Jehovah

Sustaining of church leaders

If I Listen With My Heart

Elder Jeffrey R Holland

John 14: 26-27 etc

Care more about each other and heal each others wounds.

This latter day depression is more a loss of self confidence.

How do we find the covenant of Peace? By turning to Him who said He would have mercy on us and with everlasting kindness bring peace to our children.

Practice peace in a personal way – applying peace through the healing balm of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

The help and peace we need is not the kind the world give us – but the powers of heaven which we can access by living according to the principals of righteousness.

Patience, longsuffering, gentleness, love unfeigned.

Wickedness never was happiness.

The price is a currency of tears and regret.

ABUSE IT NOT OKAY – EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, MENTAL, OR SPIRITUAL.

Everyone has the right to be loved, feel peaceful, and find safety at home. Please may we try to maintain that environment there.

No one can use a sharp tongue and unkind words and still sing on tune the song of redeeming love.

Elder Jorge T Becerra

Insistent and intentional ministering

Make it into a friendship and don’t force people before they are ready for what you are offering them – can apply to gospel and relationships

EVERYONE IS NESSECARY AND NEEDED IN THE CHURCH – those who may be strong and those who may be struggling.

People in the future including those who are yet unborn will be blessed by those who continue on or return to the covenant path

Elder Dale G Renlund

Some unfairness cannot be explained

How can I alleviate unfairness?

Even though it was unfair Christ choose to suffer for your sins and for mine

They haven’t revealed how or when – but they will

Christ will consecrate the unfairness for our gain

Focus on developing faith in Jesus Christ – that He has both the will to make it right and the power to do so.

Have compassion, try and make things right in the sphere of our power to do so

Like walking a mile in anothers shoes? See things through others eyes

Empathy, understanding, charity

Right now we are Gods hands and that is how He does something?

We will not be judged by what we say, but by how we treat the vulnerable and disadvantaged.

All that is unfair about life will be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ

Rather then becoming bitter let Him help you become better

He understands all unfairness

Come Ye Children of the Lord

Elder Neil L Anderson

Our journey did not begin at birth. And it will not end when we take our last breath at the end of mortality.

Children are loved by God

side note: While I would not personally get an abortion, I understand it can be the only choice some people have in some cases so just love everyone in my opinion and let it be between themselves and God. I need to worry about my own salvation – not someone elses – and I have no right to judge anyone.

The savior loves each precious child

Elder Thierry K Mutombo

Don’t be blinded by the subtle craftiness of men

The Savior will be the light to all who hear his words

President M Russell Ballard

You need to know both the Father and the Son

Knowing that we are loved by HF will help us know that we belong

side note: All of my close friends moved two hours away right when covid started so I completely feel this isolation and a lot of the time don’t feel like I belong. My ward boundaries were then completely redone as well and it’s so hard to make friends now. My closest family is also over an hour away and I don’t have a car so I can’t see them. I have a cousin who goes to the same college as me but he recently got married and so they mostly think of each other and when they go down for family dinners they forget about me. Haaha yep not like I’ve had multiple breakdowns this semester

Hope in Christ is not wishful thinking – it is an expectation which will be realized

At least I belong to God’s family??

1 scriptures and latter-day prophets confirm everyone faithful in keeping covenants will have the opportunity for exhalation

Missed #2 again ugh haha

3 waiting upon the Lord implies continual obedience and continual progress towards Him – implies action, is not a waiting room

4 God offers eternal life to all His children – all of those who accept the Saviors gift of repentance

5 our confidence in these assurances is rooted in our faith in Jesus Christ – all promised blessings are made possible through Him

We all have God given gifts and talents which can be used to build up the kingdom now

shut up i was not crying this whole talk nope.

Rejoice the Lord is King

#ldsconf #general conference #genconf #tumblrstake #church of jesus christ of latter day saints #april 2021

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bts-ficrecs · 4 years

Note

Any jungkook angst with no smut? Thank you!

yes hello. ‘tis me. Finally responding to you after 31498237 months.

i rarely read full on ANGST because my weak heart cannot take it, ok. So i don’t have a lot to share and most of the fics i read are pretty short. i don’t think any of what i read are series bc omg can u imagine a full on series with NO HAPPINESS!! I WOULD D WORD!!!!!!!1 sjadflakwe but i’ve included some angsty series in the 2nd half of this compilation!

as requested, no smut. i’m sorry if i missed something and it does have smut 🙏 also this ask made me realize how many angsty fics DO have smut involved, lololol we’re all a bunch of emo hornies and tbh,,, i’m not even gonna deny that 😂 ok ok i’ll stop rambling now.

* m/n: mai notes can also be read as “my notes”. ha ha ha wow i’m so punny.

HAVE READ:

⊱ ┄ A Fallen Bookmark on A Thursday Afternoon by @cutaepatootie

summary: He came to you like the air comes into the train station after the fast arriving of the machine. It comes fast and unexpected, making you hoist your head to look at the long vehicle and the people inside. It is so fast you can’t even distinguish the different wagons. As the train comes to a stop, the wind that it creates plays with your hair, leaving you breathless. That’s how Jeon Jungkook came into your life.

⊱ ┄ A Mark of Betrayal by @jimlingss

summary: Forgotten as the eighth deadly sin; each time one betrays, a mark will be signed on their skin…

⊱ ┄ A Piece of the Moonlight by @jimlingss

summary: For your loved ones, the people who are waiting at home, the people who have died - you will fight. And sometimes to fight means to sacrifice: who you really are and the person you really love.

⊱ ┄ Blue Orchids by @inktae

summary: You were eighteen years old when Jimin’s name showed up on your hand.

m/n: this is like… one of THE og bts fics and i will always promote it bc IT DESERVES TO BE READ BY EVERYONE

⊱ ┄ Delirium by @sseudanym

summary: What to feel, when it’s all gone.

⊱ ┄ Give Me Your Hands (I Will Pick the Stars for You) by mindheist (AO3)

summary: I miss you like the moon misses the sun, destined to chase you until the end of time.

m/n: this is the only mxm fic here. it’s jungkook x taehyung :) i hope it won’t deter you from reading it though! it’s an absolutely beautiful story.

⊱ ┄ In My Head by obiwrites (AO3)

summary: The one where you and your long time boyfriend aren’t on the same page

⊱ ┄ It’s Enough by @dark-muse-iris

summary: Preparing dinner reminds you of all the struggles you’ve experienced in your marriage. Your husband Jungkook, ever your anchor, tries to cheer you up with gentle words.

⊱ ┄ Mamihlapinatapai by @tayegi

summary: Mamihlapinatapai (noun): a look shared by two people, each wishing that the other would initiate something that they both desire but which neither wants to begin.

⊱ ┄ My Beauty, My Blood by @7cypher

summary: With Namjoon out of the picture, Jeongguk has to step up and be the sole successor to the organization laid out before him. However, guilt doesn’t escape him very easily, and neither does your persistence.

⊱ ┄ Resentment by obiwrites (AO3)

summary: It was an ugly kind of sad. The kind that kept you up at night, that weighed heavy in your chest and made you feel like you couldn’t breathe, it made you feel like molasses—made your limbs drag and your body ache. You’d heard of the physical effects of depression—but you weren’t expecting this.

⊱ ┄ The Train of Lost Souls by @inktae

summary: The moment you step inside the train, you are given two options. You can choose to live or you can choose to move on. You are dead, but it’s up to you to do something about it. The choice is solely yours.

m/n: ok so this is technically a Hoseok fic since the reader is interacting with Hoseok, but Jungkook is a part of this fic and IT HURTS ME SO MUCH SO I HAD TO INCLUDE THIS OK

⊱ ┄ The Swirling Ways of Stars by @inktae

summary: Jeon Jungkook doesn’t feel like home.

⊱ ┄ Untitled by @floralseokjin

summary: He noticed you almost instantly. Like the wind blowing autumn leaves past his heels, he felt you near him. His body an instant constant buzzing as he stood inside the kitchen, back against the counter where he watched you outside. The separation of the living area and the balcony window feeling miles away regardless of how close he was to you…how close you were to him…

⊱ ┄ We Were by @gukyi

summary: Not all once upon a time’s have happily ever after’s.

⊱ ┄ Water Ripples by @inktae

summary: It may be a mistake caused by unreachable forces, but it is not a curse, like some may think. Meeting each other, being able to touch each other but being forbidden to stay close beyond the limits of the sea could be considered torture — where is the pleasure in getting a taste of something you cannot have, an ephemeral spark in the night? in getting wings that can’t make you soar, no matter how many times they flutter?

m/n: i made the mistake of rereading this when i was compiling this list and yes i am crying again. hooo booyyy.

HAVE NOT READ YET:

⊱ ┄ Below Thunder Showers by @inktae

summary: Min Yoongi leads Earth with a stern hand and a pair of cold eyes. You lead a withered space station that’s been losing hope for years, mind tired and heart torn. Jeon Jungkook is no more than a broken soldier who’s slowly losing his humanity, but his longing for the rain keeps him tied to the ground. Three paths converge again when the two worlds clash, and as precarious as they were, it does not stop you from falling in love for a second time.

⊱ ┄ Blossom by @dimpled-gukkie

summary: “Blossom, blossom, blossom. As unexperienced as I may be in the field you really didn’t think I’d only bring one weapon did you? It’s no wonder your gang has gone to shit ever since your dad died, it’s clear that you’re incompetent as well as incapable of being a good leader.” He laughs, raising the gun to point at you. You raise your own and he just smiles again before setting his weapon down. “You know what, how about we do this the old fashion way? I heard guns weren’t your specialty anyways.” Shrugging off his coat you spot the long dagger tucked into his waistband. “Cmon sweetheart, show me just how dangerous you are.”

⊱ ┄ Contradict by @drowsymochi

summary: Jungkook is a name you hear often around the crowded city of Seoul, South Korea. Jungkook is the leader of Bangtan, a gang that has acquired a worldwide audience. The gang is stationed in Seoul, creating a feeling of uneasiness on the streets. Everyone in the city has been acquainted with one of the members at some time, being that they’re always around. For the most part, they don’t harm innocent civilians unless they commit a crime that the members find worthy of punishment. That penalty can range from bankruptcy, to torture and eventually death, which makes the city wary of their words and surroundings. If only you had been as terrified as everyone else.

⊱ ┄ Downfall by @donewithjeon

summary: Your hesitation cost you dearly, and you swore never to let it happen again.

⊱ ┄ Drown For You by @callistojjk

summary: There was something in that enormous tank, hidden in the murky water. All you knew was that you weren’t allowed inside the room and that it used to hold something dangerous.

⊱ ┄ Drag Me Down to Hell by @kimvtae

summary: There’s a darkness to your city, a murderous underbelly filled with crime and deceit that you’ve sworn to avoid at all costs. But the universe has funny ways of forcing your involvement in the form of a notorious mob boss and his young daughter.

⊱ ┄ Expensive Mistakes by @honeyedhoseok

summary: Your night spent swindling at the pool table goes left when your lackluster skills are found to be false, so it’s a good thing Jungkook has some supernatural abilities to keep D and his friends from recollecting their money–but his help comes at a price.

⊱ ┄ Fierce And Delicate by @mintseesaw

summary: Jungkook and y/n had been brought in two different worlds. Jungkook living an unfortunate life and y/n being controlled by her parents all her life. Despite the imperfect relationship, they completed each other like a puzzle there is. Jungkook has one promise he intends to keep: to always make you happy. In the process of fulfilling your wish he had once declined you of, he kept a secret from you. And unintentionally, he has done more damages than expected…Every action, and every decision… could be blamed by the flawed past.

⊱ ┄ Fallout Technical Report by @pantaemonium

summary: You knew you should not go into the darkness of night, even if your hope had run thin. The monsters were free to walk the earth, and some of them were still as human as you.

⊱ ┄ Fear in Your Eyes by @gukyi

summary: There’s a werewolf in that forest behind your house, they told you, and he’ll eat you before you can even beg for mercy.

⊱ ┄ First Light by @inktae

summary: “Have you ever felt like the world is too loud sometimes?” “No. For me it’s always quiet.”

⊱ ┄ Finding Beauty in Your Darkest Places by @jungtaeyoongles

summary: Everyone has their issues, and everyone deals with them differently. Jungkook thinks that avoiding his problems is the best option out there. AKA Jeon Jungkook is the newest patient at the Omelas Specialized Psychiatric Clinic, and he just wants to get in and out as quickly as possible so that he can go back to university and be with his friends again. Of course, that doesn’t work out according to his plan.

⊱ ┄ Gravity by @donewithjeon

summary: The universe works in mysterious ways. What you didn’t know was that the world would give you the best at such a young age.

⊱ ┄ I Got You On My Mind by @bangtanbombimagines

summary: In a world where soulmates can share thoughts, you never imagined that the sweet voice in your head would belong to a guy like Jungkook.

⊱ ┄ Lost Boy by @hoshikimatata

summary: You are the only girl Jungkook keeps coming back to, and you thought that made you the one to save him. But in the end, he’s the only one who can save himself.

⊱ ┄ Let Me Stay Close To You by @9uk

summary: You were finally free from the worst nightmare of your life in high school. The doors of college welcomed you with open arms, you were set on living your best life in here, away from the toxicity back at home. That shimmer of hope in restoring your life, was somehow effortlessly crushed by a tap on your shoulder. “Hey Y/N, why don’t you say we catch up for a moment?”

⊱ ┄ Left Behind by @bbfairy

summary: Every person is required to go through a series of tests to see if they’re smart enough to be a part of the upper, elite district. You and Jungkook are childhood friends. Jungkook’s dream is to live with you in the elite class, but deep down, you’ve always known that you’ll fail the exams. For ten years, you wrote letters to give him on the day of his expected departure.

⊱ ┄ Lie to Me by @hugseoks

summary: It had seemed so easy for you to move on, did you even care at all?

⊱ ┄ Pull Me Down by @starryeyedgukk

summary: “Do you regret it?” “What?” “Falling in love with me? It feels like I only weigh you down.” “I’ll let you pull me down to the depths of hell if that’s what it means to love you.”

⊱ ┄ Rooftop by @thelillzmonster

summary: An unrequited love burdens your fragile heart. And when an unfamiliar, isolated boy is thrown into the mix, you’re not sure whether it all turns for the better or worse.

⊱ ┄ The Burning Flame by @bangtanfanfiction

summary: You’re sent as a scout from the Academy into enemy territory, tasked with the mission to make sure their king doesn’t unleash another war on the four nations. During your quest, you get tangled up with a lone rider, as stubborn and hard as the scales of his dragon.

⊱ ┄ The Black Veil by @jungcock

summary: You never wanted to be a vampire, yet you had been 21 years old for the last 2 centuries. You never wanted a relationship either, yet you incidentally make a very human Jeon Jungkook fall in love with you, twice.

⊱ ┄ Waste It On Me by @byeoltoyuki

summary: Being a journalist, you were familiar with the concept of taking risks and pushing your limits to get the best story. But when a gangster by the name of Jungkook tries to involve himself in your quiet, safe personal life, you are forced to reconsider the limits of your comfort zone, your boundaries, your morals and even your feelings.

⊱ ┄ Why I Hate You by @floofyeol

summary: Jeon Jungkook’s only regret, is knowing her in the first place.

⊱ ┄ Watchdog by @kpopisthereasonihavenolife

summary: Being kidnapped, then ‘accidentally’ eavesdropping on a lot of Intel that was specifically not for outside ears, was definitely not your way of being ‘recruited’ into the mafia world. Much less end up with a companion who didn’t seem very fond of you, but stuck guarding and watching you. A Watchdog sort of man he was, and almost entirely too suffocating.

⊱ ┄ Written on the Sky by @inktae

summary: Time is, without a doubt, merciless.

⊱ ┄ What Happened by @bangtanfanfiction

summary: You and Jungkook’s relationship was on the tip of the edge. Is there any possibility to get it back up?

#so basically just read all of inktae's fics lol #bts fic recs #jungkook angst #bts scenarios #jungkook fanfic #yes i wrote 'smutties'#fite me #g recs #anon #f:jjk

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hupomoneblogs · 3 years

Text

Shifting the Struggle Perspective

Life is hard. This week has been hard. I started my last year of college, so I was already entering this week with so many emotions, but I have been struggling physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. I am not sure if anyone feels like this, but sometimes I find it difficult, as a Christian, to ask for help or to admit when I am struggling. Why is this? Well, from my personal experience it seems like we have painted the Christian life to be this picture-perfect lifestyle. It's as if you cast all your worries and cares onto Jesus and you no longer have any more worries or cares for the rest of your days. There is also the narrative that if you are struggling as a believer then it is your fault because it means you are not trusting God enough. This is the narrative I have often believed. Here is my perspective: It is okay to struggle. I think that the beautiful thing about struggling is that it is a humbling experience. Why? Because it allows God to shine bright and big in my life. Yes, as His daughter He does already shine bright and big in my life, but because I still wrestle with sin sometimes I get off track and try to make myself the focus rather than Him. But when I’m struggling my faith says, “Okay God, this sucks and I really cannot seem to find a way out, please help me.” and my God being the strong and omnipotent God He is, comes down and rescues me from whatever has a hold of me fulfilling everything that Zephaniah 3:17 declares about God, “The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will delight in you with singing.” But what about the moments when it doesn’t seem like we are being rescued right away? Here is my honest opinion: I think it is okay to sit in the mundane with Jesus. I think it is okay to wrestle with God in the hard things. When I say ‘wrestle’ with God I don’t mean hating Him with every fiber of your being, what I mean is being open and honest with Him that this struggle or trial is hard, confusing, or frustrating. This is a common practice of mine. Of sitting with God and just telling Him everything that is on my mind and giving Him room to speak. Believe me, He wants to listen and He wants to speak into your life, situation, current circumstances, etc. However, in these quiet moments, the pain or struggle doesn’t always dissipate right away, but I do have a lot more peace leaving that time than I did when I entered. This is what I think shifting our perspective on struggling is all about. It’s about realizing that the pain will not always go away immediately, but even in the midst of it our God will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV). Now hear me out, I know that some of you may be reading this and think, “Well He’s God why can He not take the pain away?”, well He definitely can! “For nothing will be impossible with God!” (Luke 1:37). But I would like to submit one of my thoughts to you: I think if God took all of our pain away immediately every single time we asked Him to, I think we would fall into a habit of greed and just keep wanting more and more and more from Him and no life lessons would be learned. I think we would appreciate Him less and less because He would just continue to give us what we wanted when we wanted it. However, if we suffer in our pain while clinging to the Lord when we come out of the pain we can look behind us and see all of the purpose the pain, heartache, and suffering created. Jesus never promised that we would never suffer. He tells us clearly that we are going to struggle, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV). Jesus overcame the world by sacrificing Himself and taking on all of the pain and suffering we deserved by dying on the cross. When He was buried all of our sins were buried with Him in the grave and when He rose from the dead on the third day He walked out victoriously and every dark thing was left behind in the grave. Those who are in Christ will

always walk victoriously. Because we walk victoriously in Jesus Christ we can,”..glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5, NIV). So walk with Him amid your pain, struggle, trial, or whatever else. Because there is no one, absolutely no one that understands your pain and your suffering more than Jesus Himself.

#the strugge is real #struggle bus #faith #perseverance #victory #victory in jesus #christianity

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averyscarlet-blog · 3 years

Text

Project Clypse

Hello there stranger! If you don’t know who I am, or you’re too lazy to read my name, I’m AveryScarlet! You can simply call me Avery or Av. And if you know me on fanfiction.net, mostly through my works Mercury Alchemist or Final Fantasy Versus XV, welcome! Now, for a while now, I’ve been wanting to write up my own original story. Issue with me, thanks to college in the past, I haven’t properly developed the mindset to write a full-blown novel. I’ve gotten so used to typing up a chapter or two in a month before publishing them that I can’t properly focus as an actual writer should.

As much as I want to focus on writing some of my fanfiction, I can’t because I’m focusing on studying for NCLEX. So if you’re waiting for the next chapter for FF Versus XV... It’s almost done! It’s just gonna take a while. But as you can see below, I’ve been working on something else. I’m sure you’re confused as to who these characters are in the chat and why I’m pushing so many out. Well. I’ll tell you. This is my way of practicing for a story I’ve been... REALLY wanting to write for a long time. It doesn’t have a definite name, so I’m calling it Project Clypse. Which partially comes from the group my main characters are in.

Now, I thought of writing up their character bio’s but..... I’m not really that good at it as I used to be. I used to for when I was active in RP’s but I’m so rusty that I doubt I can keep up with whomever I’m chatting with. So, I’m just summarizing certain details you need to know about them! Not all of it because that'd be spoiling the story of every character. Now, with all that’s said and done, let me start explaining key points of Project Clypse.

Premise/Background

The story is centered on a world called Avarus, which you can say is sort of like Earth, except it was made with someone else's version of life. Or, it used to be. Avarus is one of the few remaining worlds that has an active patron God, who has chosen to go under the alias Belial. The world was originally created and governed by another, Belial’s younger sister, Soleil. After Avarus’ creation, and the birth of man, she was killed by an unknown assailant. But before she died, she was cursed to experience an endless cycle of death and rebirth into various random worlds. She will live a short mortal life, then die from either natural or unnatural causes.

According to Belial, this curse is bestowed only to Celetials who have performed a dire sin. While there is no definite way to lift the curse, Belial hopes that by locating and retrieving her while she's still alive, or at the very least obtain her soul, then he could find the proper means to spare his sister of her cursed fate and return Avarus's true patron Goddess. Because of her demise, life on the planet started to decay. To prevent its destruction, Belial forced the planet to stop rotating, hoping to delay it long enough for him to find Soleil.

However, there were dire consequences to this act. His actions indirectly causing the world to cease rotating; time became non-existent as a result. This, inevitably, killed off most of the remaining life in the world due to the imbalance of the ecosystem as one half of the planet became stuck in perpetual darkness, and the other being dried up caused prolonged exposure to the sun's light.

The only life that Belial was able to salvage was her sisters creation; humanity. Those that survived after the planet ceased its rotation found themselves unable to age. They can still die, but their bodies will no longer decay. During the first Century since Soleil’s death, the God went through various countermeasures to keep the world and the life still inhabits it safe until he can find his sister.

However, a strange plague began to manifest. Soon, it began to devour most of the remaining populace, creating a dark entity in the process; the Astrals (will explain in a different section).

While Belial was successful in wiping out the infected, the God realized that he cannot keep the last remnants of humanity safe. Not while there are still Astrals lurking about. So he put them to sleep, sealed them in a place that only he knows. However, because of the sudden absence of time and life, the world began to deconstruct itself each time he departed in search for her in other worlds. Realizing he cannot manage Avarus and search for his sister at the same time, he found an alternative. Since his conception, he had noticed a peculiar type of living being popping up now and then in a variety of sentient species. So he sought them out.

Eventually, gathered enough to temporarily replace humanity and trick the world itself into thinking life still exists. At first, he gathered adults since he knew nothing can grow in Avarus once they’ve lived in the world for a certain period of time, but because of their attachments to the worlds they originated from, it was difficult to convince them to remain. Then he thought up of another solution, one which he knew his sister would frown upon. Children. With their young minds, they’ll easily forget their place of origin and can be easily trained in the necessary skill in traversing through different worlds. And, after learning that the Astrals have branched out to those said worlds, learn how to handle their sudden enemy.

Their goal is simple; to locate and, if possible, retrieve Soleil and eradicate the Astrals.

Main Characters

Note: Just in case you did not know... I. Cannot. Draw. As much as it pains me to do this, but I need you guys to have some sort of idea on how they look like. I cannot find the original artists of the artworks; mostly because google imaging is shit and Pinterest tends to... Send you elsewhere. So of you know the artist, please PM me so I can give them credit. If you know they don't want their works republished, I'll remove it and try to figure something out. I take no credit whatsoever on the art! I merely scoured the internet for any references I could use. If you're wondering why I'm not.using actual people... You know how awkward that is?

Anyway, much of these are concepts so expect changes in the future. I tried to discuss as little as possible about each character. And let me tell ya.... That was a lot I had to cut off, so if the explanation is a bit messy, that was from me trying to select what to remove to avoid revealing too much.

. . .

Sound

‘I have to be better. I have to be a better leader. I have to be a better lover. I have to be a better sibling. If I don’t... then I’ll lose everything again. If I must, I’ll sacrifice my identity for a third time if it means protecting them.’

Credits to: T0Q00(?) - Okay, on Pinterest it has the person’s name AND link to their twitter account. The thing is... it’s empty. Their entire page is empty. At least I found the artist’s name?

Also known as the Glutton King, Sound is one of the leaders of his faction, Tunera Clypse and a member of Mythral. He is a first generation Nors. While not as lazy as Noise, he’s not really a fan of getting involved in fights with people. When it comes to killing Astrals; that’s an entirely different story.

Outwardly, he displays laid back, playful, and very concerning outlandish behavior. And by outlandish, I mean his... eating habits. Sound likes to experiment with his stomach. He’ll do absolutely ANYTHING to eat whatever he deems as edible. He also - absolutely - lacks any sense of shame (ex. walking out of the shower and to his room without a towel, slapping Noise’s butt). Although limited to communicate via writing, he makes sure that every single thing he writes is worth reading. Many are even surprised at just how fast he writes his messages. Then again, after years of practice, it’s expected he’d adapt.

Sound is self-aware of the fact that he’s a fictional character and will randomly break the fourth wall, causing much confusion to his friends several times. While not as dark as his previous self, Fell, he maintains some of his views towards life and tends to be as vocal - via writing - of his previous self's beliefs.

As a Cursed Blood, his curse forces him to conceal his face behind a customized Fox Mask. Depending on the amount of facial skin that was exposed, a person can live up to several minutes to several hours before inflicted with sudden death. If a person were to see the entirety of his face, they will die on the spot from unknown causes. He has a Physical Curse as well, which causes him to inflict a certain degree bad-luck to whoever hears his voice. While it’s rarely anything life-threatening, Sound is forced to become selectively mute. Although he tries his best to remain silent, he tends to accidentally let it a few words or sounds slip. Which usually occurs when he sneezes, and when he does, it is immediately advised by his friends to duck and cover.

After undergoing the Ascension Ceremony, he joined the faction Tunera Clypse and then gave up his original name, becoming the next Sound. Unbeknownst to him, his actions later in life has caused him to unknowingly become the Vessel of Gluttony. It is unknown if his eating habits is the reason he became the vessel or it’s the other way around. Either way, he has shown to be fully capable of controlling the abilities that comes with being a Vessel. Sound merely chooses not to use them.

. . .

Ayane Koronashi

“If my brother had left the orphanage that day without me, I would simply smile. If Ulric presented me his latest girlfriend, I’d smile. Smiling is all I can ever do without being a nuisance. I could never show them my pain. I want to cry but my curse renders me incapable of doing so. But now it’s better. I’m better.”

Also known as the Black Fox. Ayane is the younger twin sister of Sound. Like her twin, she is also a member of Tunera Clypse and Mythral; as well as a first generation Nors. Despite being an active member, unless accompanied by her brother, Ayane is rarely allowed to participate in any scouting or combat-related missions. The main reason for this is her curse. While also a Cursed Blood like her brother and some of their friends, the unnatural causes that led to sudden conversion to a cursed blood caused her condition to be unstable. At the beginning, she was unable to retain her original form and would take the shape of a fox.

After some time and practice, she has learned to maintain most of her former human appearance, leaving only a pair of fox ears to replace her human ears and a tail (not by choice) as an extra ligament. Not only that, some of her internal organs remain similar to that of a fox. Because of this, she is unable to eat certain foods that are potentially poisonous to her (or generally unhealthy). She was told that eventually, if nothing is done, she will permanently take the complete form of a fox. She cannot surgically remove the fox parts as they will simply grow back.

Side-note: No, they did not try or plan to remove her fox ears. The curse replaced her human ears so they cannot remove them without indirectly making her deaf.

Her personality is the somewhat similar to Sound’s, but is far more excitable and outgoing than her brother. Just like a fox, she is clever and witty, which she demonstrates many times during combat. She has a tendencyto steal things without her knowledge. While this isn’t necessarily kleptomania, as objects appear in her hands at random, she still tries get over her childhood habit. She does have a tendency to be reckless, though this is stems from her need to be useful as her curse leaves her unable to perform all of the necessary abilities that is required of a Nors.

Another thing to know is her intense hatred towards cats. Which will be explored at a later time.

As a Cursed Blood, she can take the form of a fox. While the size varies, depending on her emotional state, she is commonly seen to change into the size similar to an elephant. If she performs multiple transformations, she will regress to a regular sized fox and sleep for an extensive period of time. She has been recommended to avoid constantly rely on her full fox form as it will hasten the progression of her curse.

After undergoing the Ascension Ceremony, she followed her brother and joined the same faction as him, but unlike him, did not join as a core member so she did not have to give up her original name. Because of the current state of her body caused by her Cursed Blood, her emotions has unknowingly lead her to become thenext Vessel of Envy.

. . .

Reihana Toelle Ur Kamaria

“Why was I born like this... what did I deserve to be cursed like this!? All I want is to hold someone without fearing I’ll crush them. I can’t be the receiver forever!”

Or Rei for short. Is a member of Mythral and is a second generation Nors. As a floater, Rei rotates between the three factions, but she usually works with Tunera Clypse. Known for her terrifying brute strength, Rei is feared by many and is challenged on a near daily basis. Because of her strength and seemingly indestructible nature, she is (much to her annoyance) sometimes used as a human shield. While she is able to take on an army by herself, Rei tries not to go all out in fear of accidentally killing her allies in the crossfire. In terms of mental maturity, aside from Xavier, she is slightly more competent and is level-headed enough to not participate in childish activities. Most of the time.

Rei prefers to ‘punch first, talk later’ when confronted, though the talking never happens as her opponents is either obliterated or immediately knocked out after one hit. While she can be aggressive at times, she merely acts out on this person's due to the rumors that were spread when word of her curse began to circulate. Those closest to her have witnessed her carefree and adventurous nature. She is also cautious and careful of her surroundings, becoming more thoughtful in the usage of her strength as a result.

As much as she loves the thrill and adrenaline that comes from combat, she prefers not to fight too often. Mostly because it usually leads to unnecessary mass destruction. She craves for proper physical contact, but due to her curse, she forces herself to avoid it as much as possible.

Being the physically oldest, next to Percy, she tends to act like the big sister of the group, which Rei has admitted she finds embarrassing. Still, she works hard in trying to act as moral support for her friends. That doesn’t stop her from losing her temper when a certain line is crossed.

As a Cursed Blood, she is cursed with immeasurable strength. Her strength doubles based on who or whatever is the strongest in a world that she sets foot in. That, of course, excludes Celestial’s as the strength of the divinity is almost non-existent. By default, back in Avarus, her usual strength is enough to crumble an entire building. In other worlds, it depends. To help control and regulate her strength during combat, she uses a large amount of Astral Dust to create form-fitting gauntlets around her lower arm. She was meant to become the Vessel of Wrath but was instead changed to be the candidate for the Vessel of Pride.

. . .

Perseus Vlahos

"I used to believe that being a hero will allow you to cement your place in history. But over time, I learned that the farther in time your name is shared in time, you become nothing more than a mere legend. Or worse, a myth. Stories can be altered, changed. If that’s the case, I’d rather not be remembered at all. I didn’t work this hard just to be written off as a bedtime story.”

Christened under the name ‘Percy the Naive’ by his best friend, later life-long rival, Wilhelm, he is the current wielder of the legendary sword; Excalibur, and member of Infernum Poncitator. Grandson of Rayner, Percy is one of the few third generation Nors in Avarus. He is a kind young man and is respected amongst his peers (well, most of them) and superiors, so much so that he has been offered the position of leader of the faction. Percy refuses as not only deems himself unworthy, but out of respect for those that have lived in Avarus longer.

He displays many the ideal traits of a knight, eventually becoming viewed as an ideal knight by others. However, deep down, Percy perceives himself as the opposite. He feels he is a dishonorable fraud and is not proud of his status as Excalibur's chosen wielder. If he was given a chance to do it over again, Percy would immediately abandon his decision never search and locate the sword.

After joining Avarus, in a short span of time, Percy was able to easily establish himself as a sort of leader figure within his faction. While serious most of the time, especially during missions, due to his time with other Nors, has displayed a degree of patience and tolerance towards whoever he is assigned. Still, he never forgets their main objective and takes charge if he deems the assigned leader incompetent. Which happens more times than he refuses to count. He tries to maintain a cool head, but will severely reprimand others if the situation calls for it.

Proficient in the ways of the sword, he garnered the attention of (the then Mongrel) Mitchell. He was very reluctant in taking in a squire. But eventually, Percy relented after the younger boy attempted to fight against an Astral and nearly lost his life. He plans to one day pass down Excalibur to Mitchell once he gains the strength to surpass Percy.

At the moment, Percy is the current Vessel of Wrath.

. . .

Noise (***** Rallus)

“I tried all of my life to give my dad a reason why he shouldn't be treating his body the way he did. I tried all of my life to keep my friend in line so I'd never have to be the one to discipline him. And yet... If only I didn't try so hard, they'd still be alive.”

Author’s Note: Yeah I... legit do not know who this belongs to. There’s the artist’s signature so that’s the good thing. Problem is....

After escaping from the confines of his original world, Eingesperrt City, and, with the help Sound, joined Avarus and assumed the title of Noise. Unlike others that were gathered in the past, Noise is a regular human being. Something only Sound knows. Regardless of the danger, he became one of the leaders for Tunera Clypse, later joining Mythral after adapting to his new lifestyle.

He wears one of the Artifacts in order to copy and use only one ability of his choosing. As long as a piece of original user is within the Artifact, Noise can use it for as long as he wants. However, if its been removed and replaced with something else, the previous copied ability cannot be used ever again.

Since his recruitment, Noise adopted an extremely lazy personality. He’s so lazy that somehow even snoring consumes too much energy. To make sure he’s awake most of the time, Sound forced Noise to set up a sleep schedule, so that when he’s ready, he has enough energy to do SOMETHING. However, no matter where he is, he’ll take every opportunity to take a nap. He doesn’t care. As long as he gets to close his eyes, Noise is fine to sleep wherever, even if it involves napping righ at the edge of a volcano.

He’ll get annoyed if anyone that dares try to wake him up and he’ll be in a fowl mood for the rest of the day. The only exception is the fox girl and his lover. Despite this, he displays a certain degree of kindness. It’s just really hard to tell if what he’s doing is truly an act of kindness or he’s just too lazy to do things such as delivering a ‘motivational speech’. He can be blunt when he has to be, and he tends to come off as a jackass rude because of his personality. However, this is his way of showing he cares. Noise will flat out tell you if he dislikes you.

Another thing to know about him is his crude sense of humor. Combined with his blunt and rude nature towards people, mostly acquaintances and strangers, it always leads to various... Misunderstandings. Worst case scenario? A fight. He'd improve if he could, but he won't.

Look, if you haven't figure out that he's lazy after reading all this, gooood luck.

For reasons unknown, despite becoming the next Vessel of Sloth, it remains dormant within him. They thought of extracting it to learn the causes that led up to its current dormant state, but Sound intervened in time as he knew that extracting it by force will kill the the vessel.

. . .

Michael/Raphael/Gabriel/Uriel/Saraqael/Raguel/Remiel/etc

‘Dragons are raised under the false pretense that they are the supreme species above all others. But that merely obscures the truth; the truth that we’re just as vulnerable as anyone else. There are various ways to kill aside from piercing our hearts with a spear.”

Author’s Note: Just so you know, HE’S BLONDE and has green eyes! This was the only option I have that closely resembles how I envisioned him! There was another because he gives off the same atmosphere when you look at him but... he’s from an otome game. And I only learned that recently so, if the same goes for this one? WELP. Oh and he has patches of dark brown scales on part of his skin.

Neither a Quietus Nors nor a resident of Avarus, Michael is a dragon. His version of his race if capable of transformation, but can only change into the form of the last creature they devoured. Whole. Rather than his true form, in order to remain working in Avarus, chose to work in the form of the former Prince of Edrakon, a world where dragons were enslaved and cruelly treated as mere objects. Despite his appearance not being his own, he maintains an intimidating and powerful aura, which is easily distinguishable even within a large crowd.

Due to the high esteem he holds towards his race and his pride as a Dragon, he can come off as domineering, even becoming critical towards other versions of his race if he finds something illogical or nonsensical in their appearance and their abilities. While he does act this way, he finds it absolutely disgusting to find dragons place themselves in a position of power and abuses their power in controlling another species. Another aspect of him is that he looks down on dragons with physical defects, which is mostly directly aimed as himself due to his extremely poor eyesight. Thus, forcing him to rely on his human form to watch glasses. He also has a very confusing naming system; where he changes his name based on the date, time and temperature.

Micheal held the potential required to become a Nors, but because of his age, he was unable to undergo the necessary steps to fully integrate into Avarus. While others are reluctant to have him join their ranks, several others, for different reasons, allowed him to remain. This eventually allowed others to accept his addition to the organization.

As the one in charge of organizing and handling most of Avarus’ internal affairs, a job the Nors, even the Ex-Anima/Animus, are reluctant in taking up such an important position; he takes his job very seriously. Although he does express some contempt towards humans, this does not extend to the people he works with. He cares about them to a certain degree, which is shown by he constantly reprimands whoever acts risky during a mission.

He is the current Vessel of Pride, something he only learns of later on. Despite the fact Micheal is a vessel, Belial believes this is only temporary. He isn’t particularly close with Belial, but he respects the God enough to follow his orders.

. . .

Ulric Soknawo

'In my tribe, I was considered an outcast. You can thank the unnatural union that birthed me. Now? It hasn’t changed much, but at least I’m no longer considered the runt of the pack.’

Whose other name is Kuckunniwi, is a former member of the Aniwaya Tribe. In their world, his people are Natives who worshipped a guardian Wolf Spirit. According to them, in return for their unyielding loyalty and devoted nature, it granted the people with the power to take the form of the spirit they have worshipped for many generations. So long as they use that power to protect the forest, it shall provide them protection. Ulric is the third, second youngest, illegitamate son of the Tribal chief Tamaska and grandson of Wolfram.

As per tradition, all tribesmen are given two names, one for their human form while the other is for their inner wolf. Despite being allowed to use either name like others of his tribe, he refuses to be use his wolf name due to the meaning behind it. After being discovered by Ayane, she brought and recruited him to Avarus. Ulric is considered to be a Third Generation Nors due the fact his father was (oddly) not born a Nors, or had to potential to be converted into one.

Ulric tends to act like the stereotypical lone-wolf, choosing to remain in solitude and observe from a distance. He likes to spend his quiet time alone, though he does allow others to sit next to him when asked. Many have pointed out that he never smiles, but, as much as he hates to quote Noise, states that if there is no reason to smile, there is no reason to put so much effort in abusing his facial muscles.

As much as he loves being a wolf, he finds certain aspects of his second nature to be... aggravating. Depending on the season and the weather, it deals a the effects his wolf instincts on his human nature. Because of the two separate natures continually clashing, he tends to act irritable and his temper worsens, especially during the night. Ulric holds a strong belief that one’s nature, regardless of your race, should never control a one's personal feelings.

He holds an unyielding loyalty to his loved ones, almost to the point of willing to kill for them if the situation calls for it, but his actions are subtle and tends to be the exact opposite of how he truly feels. Only two people in his life have been able to decipher his behavior, and he cherishes them for it. Ulric has a bit of a temper as well but is able to keep it in check. His temper, however, is what led him to becoming a Cursed Blood. His curse forces him to foresee the deaths of whomever he romantically falls in love (or at least feel an interest) with.

Any attempts at interfering will only hasten their death.

. . .

Xavier Wozwald Hawthorne

'Murderers are dumbasses, always killing because of their unchecked emotions and pented up desires. Hence why most of them clumsily try to hide their crime. Serial killers are more... sofisticated with their craft, but their ego always gets in the way. If they weren’t complete dumbasses, they would have lived a long comfortable life. I should know.’

Note: Yes, this is obviously Vflower. Did I know that before? No. Do I plan to change the art reference? Yes, but only when I find one that’s not a god dang real-life person’s online avatar. XD Seriously, each time I thought I found one... it’s an utaite or vtuber.

Is a member of Mythral and a First Generation Nors. Like Rei, he is a Floater, which allows him to particiate in mission for all three factions. However, he prefers to work with those in Tunera Clypse as, since they mostly handle scouting and recruiting missions. As long as he doesn’t remain in Avarus for too long, he's fine with accepting any mission related to Tunera. Xavier will still accept missions from other factions, but that's merely to fill up his quota.

Despite appearing around the age 12-14; which was not by choice, Xavier is in fact mentally older than most of his fellow Nors. Known for his sharp tongue, Xavier is one of the few known Nors to have been granted permission to travel outworld immediately after undergoing the Ascenscion Ceremony.

Due to the experiences his past life went through, Xavier has a very grim outlook of the world and displays little to no respect towards authority figures. And that includes his current patron God; Belial, which only worsens after being told by the God that he is unable to help Xavier grow into the appropriate intended size. Unlike most Nors, he displays a high degree of critical thinking and intelligent. He is, if not more, level-headed than one of his friends; Percy. Though that doesn’t stop the teasing. While confident in his abilities in terms of combat, Xavier knows the limits of his current smaller body.

In order to compensate, he creates an excessively large scythe as compensation, but he's too proud to admit this.

Because of his level of maturity, he has been labeled as a 'Midget Grandpa'. Which he fails at trying to prove otherwise by collecting certain tthings that are considered out of date by their standards. Eventually, it became a soft of hobby for him to collect such things.

Xavier tends to display a sadistic nature while in combat, choosing to taunt his opponent by constantly pointing our their obvious flaws deficits and toy with them until the last minute. Most times, he will use his child-like appearance to his advantage to further torment his opponent/victim. Comically enough, if his opponent is a cold-blooded criminal, Xavier will compliment and , depending on their actions, congratulate them; much to the annoyance of those involved.

Like Sound, he has both a Physical and Blood-based Curse, but unlike the latter, Xavier was born with both. His Physical Curse has caused severe permanent scarring on his right arm, making it appear similar to third degree burns. If freed from any type of coverage, such as bandages, his arm will painfully be set a blazed, forcing him to conceal his arm at all times. As a Cursed Blood, Xavier has a similar effect of a Siren, except his hypnotic singing forces someone to commit suicide. Every time he uses this curse, he temporarily falls into a coma.

. . .

Succu(bus) Kilmer

Like her name suggests, Succu is a succubus, but belongs to a different version of her species. Due to being a demon, she is forbidden to reveal her true name. Succu is neither a Nors nor a Cursed Blood. She’s more of an illegal immigrant after sneaking her way into a group of Nors when they were scouting for potential recruits. There have been many attempts in trying to relocate her back to her original world, but she is able to seduce her attackers and slip away. Eventually, Belial declared that she will be allowed to remain as a resident, so long as she contributes in their mission to locate Soleil.

While they do seduce those of the opposite sex, her source of food is not as grotesque as several others. She does seduce her victim, but moves her body in a way that her victims find alluring. Succu will then massage certain parts of their body as a means to relax them. To assure that they will not attempt to escape, she will release pheremones that nulls the victims senses. What she devours isn’t the flesh of her victim nor does she devour their soul, she merely devours the emotions she was able to invoke until her hunger is quenched.

Succu is flirtaceous and very... very.... VERY- Well, you get the point. While she doesn’t flaunt her beauty, she does know how to use it to her advantage. However, despite many approaching her, Succu has only eyes for one, and is willing to wait as long as possible for that person to reciprocate her feelings. Succu, although assertive and open with her feelings, is not the type to force them onto someone.

She does like to express herself by getting physical - very physical. Not the way that you’re thinking, you perverts. She finds it more convenient to allow her actions to talk rather than saying things verbally. Since she’s an outsider, she notices several things that not even Pery or Ulric have noticed, and both are outsiders as well considering the fact they grew up outworld before being recruited. Regardless, she remains silent for the sake of remaining by her beloved’s side.

Succu is often mistaken as the Vessel of Lust due to her nature, and, on her part, finds it’s tiresome to prove that she is not.

Side Characters

Tank Mortem

A former member of Tunera Clypse and Mythral, Tank has been assigned to act as one of the engineers in maintaining the Infernian Generator due to his body’s condition and the issues of his mental state. He seldom participates in missions but, despite being given strict orders not to, joins in anyway. Due to the limits of his mental capacity, Tank has difficulty interacting with others. Quite literally.

Beatrix Staccato

Is a researcher and inventor in charge of the tools and weaponry utilized by most Nors and Ex-Animus. Having taken over most of the unfinished projects since the passing of his master, Beatrix has dedicated all of his time in improving the welfare of the world and its inhabitants. However, most of his experiments tend to be a bit... over the top. If he’s not thinking of new potential products that may benefits the Nors, he’ll make whatever comes at the top of his head, and most of the time it’ll lead him to make the most outrageous and unnecessary items. Beatrix prefers to remain in his lab/home at all times, rendering his social interactions with the three factions to be limited via holographic meetings.

‘Nyx’ Pierrot

Leader of Vanidicus Persona, she is one of the oldest Nors - next to Constantine - making her the default leader of her faction. Much about her is a mystery. Even her behavior can be viewed as... questionable. Not outlandish, that’s Sound’s department. Her behavior is so odd that it’s enough to baffle even Belial. She takes her leadership over her faction very seriously, however, as part of her nature, the requirements in joining and maintaining your membership vastly deviates from the original. However, looks can be deceiving. Aside from her seniority, there is a reason why she was given the position of leader.

Mitchell Pierrot

He prefers to be called as ‘Mitch’ after being told, and proven, by his sister how much of a tongue twister his name is if repeated constantly in a single conversation. While he is the younger brother of Nyx, Mitch opted to become a submember of Tunera Clypse upon undergoing the Ascension Ceremony to be in the same faction as his mentor, Perseus Vlahos. Compared to the Nors in his batch, he is viewed as weak by many as he is unable to perform the abilities that is expected of him to develop after becoming a Nors.

Constantine L. Refrain

Nothing is truly known about him except that he’s a chronic smoker. Nobody truly knows who he is, no one even knows which faction he belongs to. It’s nearly impossible to question these things as he is constantly surrounded by a shroud of - barely tolerable - smoke. All that is known is that he’s been around longer than most of the Ex-Animus. Constantine usually frequints the Silent Siren Bar, staying there for hours until he’s either drunk or needs to receive another pack of cigarretes from Beatrix. He says they’re for medicinal purposes buuuuut...

I’m pretty sure black smoke isn’t normal.

Stefan Mal Sorcier

Is Percy’s second pupil. Although, it was more like Percy was forced into taking in another after his continual refusal to become leader of Infernum Poncitator. Outwardly, he is aloof and always appears smiling, which unsettles Mitchell even when they’re alone. His politeness is found unusual by many and causes others to feel wary around him. Even the dragon finds himself is unable to remain in the same vicinity as the young man. Despite being full of many secrets, Percy accepts him as is and tries his best to teach him all he can, which Stefan appreciates.

Kyline Necro

Considered as the mascot ambassador of Avarus, like the soul that was fused with her upon birth, she mostly lounges around and has little participation in any missions in and out of Avarus. This has caused her to be disliked by many, most especially Ayane. The only person Kyline has gotten close to is Noise; mostly because they share the same favored sleeping spot. On a side, she acts a physician, or surgeon if you like to get technical. She has a strange fondness of picking apart and replacing specific limbs with doll parts.

Yu-Yan Chi Ryou

Was once one of the strongest Nors from Xavier’s batch until he was inflicted by an unknown disease during one of his missions. While there is no name for the disease, it has caused much of his bones to undergo crystallization; rendering him immobile due to the pain that comes from even the smallest of movements. Since he is incapable in participating in any activities, Yu-Yan has since been forced to be confined to a wheel chair for the rest of his life.

Anita Eine Kleine

Is the fighting instructor of the Mongrels and a member of Infernum Poncitator. Anita is a highly-skilled caster, able to conjure and manipulate various elements. She absolutely hates the term ‘witch’, even going as far as to cast a minor curse in making a person temporarily mute if they refer to her as one. Which Sound found rather offensive when he found out about the curse, something she deeply apologized for. She participates in some Scouting Missions but only if personally requested by someone from Tunera Clypse.

Victor Stein

Is Beatrix’s (only living) research assistant. He is the sole survivor of the Night of the Black Moon. Although having physically recovered, the damage to his mental state has left a deep scar on his psyche. He fears yet obsesses over the sensation of pain. There is not one instance where he isn’t found sowing over his own intact skin. While Victor knows his addiction found uncomfortable by others, he finds it extremely difficult to control his urges.

Wolfram

Grandfather of Ulric and most of his siblings, he is an Ex-Anima (or retired Nors) and a former member of the original Mythral. As the more experienced and one of the longest surviving resident of Avarus, he acts as a mentor to those who seek his guidance. However, in terms of combat, his skills are very limited as he has become permanently stuck in his wolf form. The only grandchildren he's ever personally met are Ulric and Seeing, who have both ironically became his favorite. While acting as a mentor, he is rather strict, constantly parting lessons in order to make sure none make the same mistakes he committed when he was younger, many of which he refuses to share.

Diantha Anemone

Despite being still a Liberi, Dia still participates in many activities meant to be done only by Nors. She originally wanted to become a part of Tunera Clypse due to the many adventures imparted by Sound. But after having a first hand experience in one, it traumatized her to the point where she wants to merely work as a Librarian, a position many people avoid.

Echo & Yell

Fellow teammates of Sound and Noise. As part of the four heads leaders that overwatch many of Tunera Clypse's activities, both in and out of Avarus. They mostly take charge of delegating the members while the other two take an active role in leading many scouting missions off-world. Contradicting her name, like Sound and Noise, her personality is the completely opposite. Due to her sociophobia, she is extremely shy and is unable to speak when talked to, only whispering her sentences as she talks. Yell, however, is the only one whose personality fits the mantle she inherited. Due to her curse, she has to raise her voice after every two hours. If not, she will fall into a coma, and she can only be awaken by *************.

Important Figures

Belial

Credits to: @airtrees0507 (Again, another artist who... disappeared from the internet. How do I keep finding refrences where the artist is just gone?)

Is a Celestial and the younger brother of Soleil. However, despite his godly status, he does not have any of the expected gifts. Neither a god of creation, life, or death, he has been given the title God of Void by his peers. Because of this, he is incapable of maintaining Avarus by himself, forcing him to use alternative (and questionable) means in preserving the world his sister created. Like his title, Belial is unable to express emotions, giving blank demeanor. He does, however, hold some semblence of emotions within him. Yet despite this, he has little to no understanding of life, death and emotions. Even after centuries since he over his sister’s role as Patron God, he still has no understanding to all living things, almost to the point of coming off as insensitive and heartless.

Belial has a deep devotion to his sister, having gone through great lengths to make sure to maintain her world and willingly sacrifice the lives of many. Despite knowing her distaste towards such acts, he holds onto the hope of one day finding her.

Soleil

Credits: Um... Lucare Eu??? Sorry, I’m just basing it off the signature. Once again, can’t find the artist themself so...

The true patron goddess of Avarus and the older sister of Belial. Aside from her status as the original creator and caretaker of her world and the life that once flourished within it, not much is known about her. While her exact cause of death is unknown, she was cursed to live an endless cycle of death and rebirth in various worlds. In order to restore the world she created and loved dearly, Belial dedicated his life in searching for her soul and freeing her of her curse. As a Celestial, she was said to have chosen to take the form of her first ever creation and first mortal friend.

It is said that, despite having blessed with the gift of creation, she was known to be a lonely goddess. Those that new her describe as someone that’s physically there but is spiritually detached.

The Oracle

Is a title given to those with the ability to commune and guide the spirits to the Empyrean Plain, more specifically Avarus’ residences due to the absence of Soleil. The Oracle acts as the divine anchor on the world to aid Belial in prolonging the world’s existence. They are also the main source of Belial’s divine power; both of which are maintained through her prayers. The gender and species of the Oracle is non-specific, but it if preferred by Belial if they are humanoid and have the ability of speech for the sake of communication.

The current Oracle is Aniela Fischl, who, unlike her predecessors, is able to foresee various futures. She does so by carefully peeking through the leylines and selects various possibilities that solely benefit Avarus. No one is allowed to meet her except Belial and her assigned Seekers.

The Seekers

The guardians, caretaker, and acting medians between the Oracle and the residents of Avarus. Their duty is to ensure that the chosen Oracle remains within the Spiral Tower and that he/she fulfills their duty, even going as far as to grant their wish regardless of the consequenses. Each Seeker has only one desire, and that’s to protect the Oracle at all times.

Races

Liberi

Age Range: Birth or 5 to 10 years

Although that is the official term, ‘Mongrel’ is what they are commonly referred as. It is the used for the for the children taken to or born in Avarus. Mongrels spend most of their young lives training within the safe walls of the Aldebaran Academy. They are forbidden from leaving as, according to Belial, they are the extremely fragile during this point of their lives. Regardless of their age, depending on how well they’ve performed in training, they will be given the right of undergoing the Ascension Ceremony. Those who fail are xxxxxxxx xx.

Due to their young age, their behavior is more sporadic than that of a normal child. Their reflexes are enhanced, almost to the point where it becomes difficult to contain them. Mongrels lack common sense so they tend to act out without fully understanding the impact their actions have. While childish and friendly by nature, Travellers are advised to approach with caution. Those who act beyond the expected norm are called Prodigies.

Quietus Nors

Age Range: (Physically) 14-19, (Mentally) 10 or above

Or simply called, Nors. After their graduation, every Nors is immediately sent to work. Depending on the final results of their training prior to undergoing the ceremony/procedure, each is individually assigned into one of the three factions ; Infernum Poncitator, Vanidicus Persona, and lastly, Tunera Clypse (formerly called Tunera). Those that are assigned to neither of the factions are assigned to more menial jobs alongside the Ex-Animus,

Despite their young minds, they have quickly adapted into their new forms. Due to time becoming almost non-existant in Avarus, Nors age at a rapidly slow rate. Though known to be childish by nature due to the gap of their young minds to their bodies, they dangerously lack empathy and display little to no compassion and remorse towards others. In worst cases, some act selfishly on their own accord. On a positive note, they lack any emotions that may hinder their mission in locating Soleil; such as fear.

Only two of the three current generations of Nors differ greatly from the first:

First Generation Nors - Are those converted or directly born within Avarus with the blood of two Nors. Those born in the first generation share two specific physical characteristics; raven black hair and golden eyes. They all share the same abilities upon conversion/birth, but it depends on the individual which ones they should master. Unless they happen to be a Cursed Blood, they are unable to obtain different abilities to call their own. They are required to undergo the Ascension Ceremony.

Second Generation Nors - In terms of personality, they are considered half as bad as those in the first gen. Unlike the previous, second generation Nors are considered slightly weaker, however, they have a better chance of obtaining other abilities outside of Avarus. Their hair is slightly lighter shade of black but their eyes remain the same. They too are required to undergo the Ascension Ceremony.

Third Generation Nors - While rare, they do tend to appear once in a while. It’s not exact how one falls into this category. The closest is being the grandchild or who has an anscestor that was a Nors. Because of their circumstances, these Nors are far weaker as they cannot use any of the standard abilities. Third Generation Nors are far difficult to locate as their potential doesn’t surface until they are of a much later age, rendering them incapable of taking necessary training to hone their abilities and undergoing the Ascension Ceremony. They do not share the common personality or physical traits of a Nors. One thing every Nors in this generation share are sky blue eyes, which emit a faint glow when in the dark.

Ex-Animus (or Anima for singular)

Age Range: (Physically) 30 to 40, rarely appears in their early 20′s

Are individuals who are retired from their duties as a Nors. Although Nors generally age at an excessively slow rate (due to the effects of Avarus), after a number of cycles (which refers to the number of batches that underwent the Ascension Ceremony), they will be given the order to retire. Regardless whether they are willing to or not, there is nothing they can do once the order has been issued. Once one becomes an Ex-Anima, they are completely cut off from their original faction and are unable to leave Avarus for the rest of their life.

Not only that, they are unable to defend themselves like they used to as they can no longer control Astral Dust and use the abilities from their time as a Nors,Basically. Basically, Ex-Animus’ are left to fend for themselves.

Factions

Every Nors is allowed to join any of the three factions; Infernum Poncitator, Vanidicus Persona , and Tunera Clypse. There is an option to not join any of the factions; they are called ‘Floaters’.

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buttons-beads-lace · 3 years

Text

This is a wild departure from what I usually post here, but I had some half-formed thoughts on this in my drafts from ages ago and then something reminded me of it, so. Below the cut: religion, philosophy, Hell and behaviorism.

I recently saw a post from someone who left an abusive church, about their experience of rejecting some of their church's beliefs while still believing they were going to hell for doing that. And it reminded me of a post I saw a while ago, citing C. S. Lewis and talking about the concept of taking Pascal's Wager seriously. Like. Asking yourself, if you thought going to hell for rejecting Christianity was a real possibility, would you still want to reject Christianity? (Pascal's Hot Take™ is that the rational choice with such high stakes is to go to church just in case.) And like. After significant thought. I just can not take Pascal's Wager seriously. It comes from how I feel about punishment when humans do it to each other- tldr, that it doesn't actually work for the purpose we want to use it for, and really we should be avoiding it as much as possible. It's not the best way to change people's behavior, and seeing everything in terms of rewards and punishments prevents us from recognizing better solutions to our problems. It's sort of understandable that we want to punish people who hurt us. When we're hurt badly we feel desperate, we feel like we have to do whatever it takes to protect ourselves. We lash out. We want to fight back and punish those who hurt us because it makes us feel safe and in control again. And yes, there may be some situations where we don't have have a better way of dealing with people who are doing something harmful than by using force to stop them. But that's all because we are mortal and limited beings. We don't always have the ability to fix things the way we'd like to. We do things that seem like the right choice but are actually doing the opposite of what we want. We're vulnerable and we get scared and have fight-or-flight responses. God, on the other hand. Humans can't hurt God. God doesn't overreact out of fear. God doesn't try to fix a problem and end up making it worse because it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. God has infinite capacity to absorb anything we might do without being harmed, and infinite power to heal and make things right. (Right?) When I had to read Anselm's "Cur Deus Homo?" in college back in like 2009 I already thought it was bullshit, this idea that punishment is as inevitable as the laws of thermodynamics, that someone has to suffer in exchange for every sin, that actual forgiveness as in not making someone pay full restitution for all harm done is either morally wrong or physically impossible even for God. Why anyone would want to believe they live in such a world, I can't imagine. And then I started learning about behaviorism, and what happens in practice when people take the idea that punishment is a fundamental building block of the world to the extreme, and you can bet that did not change my mind! Punishment isn't necessary. If it's not necessary for human beings among ourselves, it's sure as fuck not necessary for God. The idea of an all-powerful and benevolent God who also as a regular practice causes human beings to suffer "because they've sinned" fundamentally does not make sense to me. I cannot dredge up a single particle of concern in my heart for the idea that I'm actually risking anything by not being a Christian. It doesn't make sense. Either people who believe that are wildly mistaken about their concept of Hell, or they're wildly mistaken about their concept of God.

#lace's personal stuff #religion/#christianity/#thought 1: a christian theological argument resting on the concept that behaviorism is bad #is going to have an audience of like 2 people in the world #thought 2: ...and both those people already follow me don't they #so actually this is relevant and on-brand

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alphaofdarkness · 4 years

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not me here for the oc ask ! can't wait to answer the ones you asked me, tomorrow i have my exam and then i shall live again haha ! but now i'll ask you 1, 2, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 31 — i know, it is a lot ( you don't have to do them all 💕) , but i really want to know something more about your wonderful babies and Dany ofc ! I missed her sm during this semi-hiatus 🤧💕💕💕 hope you're doing fine, sending you lots of love 💞💕💘

@carmenio Edgy!! 🥺 so happy to hear from you! ✨ I love these kinds of asks, especially on my many, many OC babies! I hope these answers are good and interesting to thee! I’ll present more info on Dany to some way, some how cause I love her 😭💖

I have gone and included the other questions you asked as well! 🤗 Let’s dive in! 😳

1. Gone and Answered Here ! UwU

2. Do you have a personal favorite among your OCs?

Personal favorite is often shown in the one I draw the most lol, which for a long time was Danielle LWW, but just because she was also my wolfsona at the time. After I made my own personal one I think I went onto Sam for a good while, also eventually going to Dany from Bsd!

So a tie between two beautiful girls, Sam is definitely my favorite LWW Oc, she is just precious and the one I hold the most and most always feel terrible and bad when I put her through it TM.

Also Dany is my self insert, U//w//U, she has definitely allowed me to slowly self love and allow me to appreciate myself, especially the parts of me I didn’t think to much about or consider so appealing, I think? She has definitely been changing gradually into more of myself since I first came up with her almost 2 years ago! Watch me slowly knock her down to my height of 4′9″, let her have her 3 inches for another year maybe lol.

My dearest Atsushi agrees lol ✨🐯

17. Any OC OTPs?

👀 lol yesss~ so many and so many crack ships too, which I'll answer next 😂

I’ll just go on and list them off, plenty more of them but~:

DanyJay

SoraYama

LidiaTom

AlikLucy

IsabelleKayla

AlexanderIsabelle

DarkwolfmonJatomon

JatamonRaiwolfmon

EarthamonHounmon

HumaamonWolverimon

And lastly TakaSam is the one I have definitely drawn and thought of the most! They are the top OTP and just best trope of Childhood Friends to Lovers trope, also filling in that trope of Oblivious to both of them but everyone else 🙄. While SoraYama may have been the OG Couple in my story, my love and warmth for TakaSam is unmatched TwT.

It is wild cause I always draw anguish between them as could-have-been-lovers-had-it-not-been-for-death, but recently been drawing them purely happy and content. Total sweethearts, the love everyone wants, excluding possibility of being old friends or not!

18. Any OC crackships?

L o l, I never seem to focus on the main couples because of this specific thing.

I’ll again just go off in list an maybe add a trope or something to get an idea of them:

DanyYama: Rivals, Constantly arguing, and can be petty as heck, but oh the potential and just possibility of opening up after the traumaTM 👀 also the couple that is always in your face about being in a relationship.

DanySora: Sparing partners, the sass and stubbornness, BiPan solidarity 👀

DanyLidia: Pure, wholesome, best friends and so much hugging and lifting from the tol to smol, the nature love vibes

SamJay: Wholesome, soft, healing together from traumaTM, protectiveness, also their Digimon were lovers and married in their previous life, what does that make us? 😳

SamDany: Mostly sibling-like relationship, but damn they have that Sun and Moon tropes?! How can you not possibly ship them!

SamLula: Shy and Confident, Bisexual/Lesbian solidarity 💕✨

JaySora: Opposite of the DanyYama tropes, why are our partners constantly arguing, can they please stop, pure and soft together.

DanyTaka: Digimon Au specifically, Oh you and I are the voice of the revolution? We are rallying up the troops together? Oh boi my Digimon feels love for yours, am I falling for you or are we falling together? Depression buddies but also each others hope and spirit boost ;;w;;

Any of the Warriors with the Sins: A whole lo t of mess, and just not healthy ... but I can already seen fandom people sayin g otherwise~

LustWrath: Spicy, no strings attached kind of deal.

WrathEnvy: ...Oof um, not healthy, kind of manipulative, we are devils there is nothing but toxic vibes.

PrideWrath: Rulers, King and Queen vibes, Yeah we are toxic for each other, f*** off.

19. Introduce an OC that means a lot to you (and explain why)

Definitely Darkwolfmon! I am sure I explained in the first question why, but again I consider her to be that other half of me, the part of me I never discovered or the parts that essentially fill in the gaps within me. She is my precious partner Digimon and has honestly come a long, long way since I first created her. I believe sometime in 2009-2010, so almost 11-12 years since. She was the first ever OC of mine and is one I hold closest too in my heart.

For the longest time, even too now, I have always wanted her to just manifest at my side. Go on this journey of life together. While she might not be physically here like my child-self would want, she is still in my stories, my imagination, my inspirational drive. I think that is definitely more than enough, I don't know where or who I would be without having created her. I probably wouldn’t have a whole tale of OC’s and stories to tell if it wasn't for her.

I am more than grateful and thankful that I am who I am because of this lovely Oc of mine. I can only hope to have her at my side for the rest of my days!

20. Do any of your OCs sing? If they sing, care to share more details (headcanon voice, what kind of songs they like etc)?

Most, if not all, my OC’s can sing! Their voices and tones vary, to which I cannot give a straight answer on how I headcanon most of their voices right now ^^; I will say that Danielle has a British accent to her voice as well as Spanish speak, and Sora has a Russian accent to her voice, so may be just lightly deep, but not to much.

I will definitely go with my Bsd Oc/Self Insert Danielle Mika Mason, however! Because I have gone and done a thing on how she would speak in her Japanese and English Dub! Other than me also being her voice, her Japanese VA would be Yui Ishikawa, same VA of the queen herself, Mikasa 💕 English VA would be Barrett Wilbert Weed, with an English accent, good Veronica from the Heathers! You can have a listen to her here in this post!

Dany is meek when it comes to her singing, she will often be caught humming and softly singing something, but quickly tends to stop around others. She is often back and forth with how she sounds and often shuts down when she hears someone she considers better than her. She just needs some encouragement and a gentle push from someone she really cares about. When she does feel the push and genuineness from someone she will sing her heart out. But of course prefers to sing for only that one special person~ can ya guess~ 🐯

31. Pick one OC of yours and explain what their tumblr blog would be like (what they reblog, layout, anything really).

Oh boi! I literally have moodboards to add to this! I pick Samantha, or Sam!

She would totes have a Tumblr blog, and Instagram! You always look forward to see what she post and just feel an instant calmness and warmth when you see it! She is always tagging her things appropriately, a soft and warm spring like layout that is shades of yellows, golds, orange, white; an occasional blue and teal as well! She would reblog anything of her aesthetic, golds, yellows, dance and ballet related things (may even post videos or poses of herself in practice and dance related things), cafe shops, sweets and desserts, warm night lights, cats, lots and lots of cats and felines of all shapes and sizes! Her best friend/boyfriend, Takaru always cameos in her stories and posts 💖

She would also reblog or spread awareness of any issues happening in the world, marking them and making her own voice heard as well. In spur moments, you may see her not tag things, but will likely go back to name things accordingly. She would also reblog anything of Bi Pride too!

28. Your most dangerous OC?

Hmmm,,, my most dangerous Oc, I am taking the notion that they are just plain dangerous and likely of evil intent in their actions. Because plenty of my Oc’s on their own are dangerous in their own right, such as the Legendary Wolf Warriors, who have a great power at their paws. They can be destructive in their actions if they lose control or use it for the wrong intentions, which they wouldn't do of their free will.

I will say Danielle and Sam are the strongest of the seven, because of their powers of Darkness and Light, respectively. Their souls created the others, so the other Warrior’s power does not match theirs. They can definitely be lethal together if used for the wrong reasons or if they are under the control of a Human or Deadly Sin.

Which leads me to say that the most dangerous of my OC’s with the worst intentions and evil thought processes that makes them dangerous is likely the Deadly Soul Sin Pride, or Mikka Penelope King/Pride as her solid name goes.

She is definitely the most sinister of the seven sins, even worse than Wrath, who you may figure would be the worst. She has a calculating mind and is very precise in her actions and ways of manipulation. She has a poison within her veins that is just as deadly, capable of blinding others or even killing without remorse or care. While she may be a ghost like entity in my stories, a person/digimon holder in my Digimon College Au, she has enough power to influence people to fall under pride and vanity in the most dangerous level possible, heck even possess them if she wishes. That makes her stronger, as well as the other sins. Does not matter if she is dead or fades away for a while, her influence remains and if it does, than she can exist for a long as she desires.

48. OC who is a perfect cinnamon roll, too good for this world, too pure

Lol I saw cinnamon roll and instantly had a list of ocs ready, honestly any child OC I have is instantly a cinnamon roll and to good and put for this world, please treat them all kindly!

Current top Oc’s that come to mind are Haruko Mason-Nakajima, along with their nameless sister/pup! They are the sweetest babies ever and love them so much. Too good and pure, especially nameless pup with her love for tigers; she wants to grow up and be like her sibling and papa 🥺🥰 You can see the post on them here!

Next up is my precious flamey boi named Alik Azure Mizuhara! A next gen. LWW, son of Sora and Yamato! A little sightless boi with the softest heart and warmest empathy for others. Very much like his mother in likeness and pure curiosity of the world’s secrets and tales. His father worries for him a lot, but gradually learns to trust in his ability to guide himself. Don’t worry too much about him, he is very smart and knows how to care and guide himself!

Thank you so much for the time and questions you asked me Edgy! I had so much fun with these and gave me a chance to gush about my dearest OC’s! I do hope you find them of interest! 🤗🥺🥰

May your day be beautiful and amazing!! 🥰✨💖

#alpha's art #alpha howls #oc ask questions!#long post #the legendary wolf warriors #bungou stray dogs #bsd oc #danielle mika mason #carmenio #edgy is passing by... ✨

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