#love and devotion

[transparentdreamruins]

"Your face is my heart, Sassenach, and the love of you is my soul." Dragonfly in Amber

[roselyn-writing]

Selviya shared her immortality and powers with Kuai Liang; so that he can stay forever with her, for all eternity along with their children and family. Selviya is immortal, she cannot die or age, if she died, she will simply be reborn in the same body.

[everdeenxmellark]

“no beauty could move me

no goodness improve me

no power on earth, if i can't love her.

no passion could reach me,

no lesson could teach me.

how i could have loved her,

and made her love me too.

if i can't love her, then who?

- if i can’t love her, beauty and the beast

[fixatteddesire]

[uniquedolphin]

Swear your loyalty to me- No.

Swear your undying love for me.

Be mine.

All mine.

Consume me.

And I promise I’ll burn you with my fire.

Tie my fate to your unquenchable spirit.

I’ll be yours…

Always.

[daysrobo]

False awakening

Could I but chase the butterfly 

And journey through the vast 

On the look for novelty to descry 

In hopes it would last

Could I but ride indefinite

And visit where I like

On the back of a lonely elephant

In day and In night

Could I but breathe in the ocean 

And whisper to the fish 

On the cusp of a gentle devotion

In words that I wish

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Chapter 3: Love and Devotion

Narrated by Envoy Reza.

Narrator: The evening prayer bell rang after the Queen and her servants boarded the carriage back to the palace.

Narrator: I began praying in an empty room.

Narrator: I lit a candle, knelt before the statue of God, and recited the holy texts.

Envoy: God will tell us what is the utmost purity and beauty...

Narrator: Under the moon and candlelight, I knelt in peace, enjoying God's salvation in silence.

Narrator: The silence was broken by murmurs.

Narrator: Sweet sighs, words in a seductive tone, accompanied by an unfamiliar yet intoxicating scent.

Narrator: The scent enveloped me in the flickering candlelight.

Narrator: I could not focus on my communion. All I heard was the Queen's alluring murmurs.

Narrator: Not just that night, not just that time.

Lilith: Is she one of the chosen?

Narrator: The angelic smile concealed demonic whispers, with every word prying apart my soul.

Narrator: It could not possibly be her. The sheltered butterfly had never been baptized by God.

Narrator: She would never pray every day, much less devote her life to God.

Narrator: God will never choose her.

Narrator: I'm the one who's thoroughly dedicated to God.

Narrator: I stopped my prayers, raised my head to see the statue was smiling, then closed my eyes again.

Choose either "Do you feel any bitterness?" or "Do you still believe in God?"

If "feel," ...

You: Didn't you feel any bitterness?

Narrator: A pious follower should never feel that way.

If "believe," ...

You: Do you still believe in this so-called god?

Narrator: Of course. I'm the most devout envoy there is.

--

Narrator: A few days later, as I passed by the garden, I noticed the "butterfly" came to the abbey again.

Narrator: The fluttering dress, careless laughter, and the flowers all seemed even more lively.

Narrator: I stared from afar and thought the excess beauty was... Disgusting.

Narrator: If only I could break her wings.

Narrator: I muttered, then shuddered that my mind could conceive such an idea.

Narrator: I returned to the church and served tea to the Queen here to pray, and to Arwen, who was next to her.

Narrator: The duke's daughter...

Narrator: I glanced at Lilith, but she wasn't looking my way, just chatting with those around her.

Narrator: I went back to my room after afternoon tea. Nothing happened.

Narrator: The carriage left and it was time for evening prayer. I stoically unfolded the prayer sheets and knelt before my god.

Narrator: The angels on the stained glass were still detached as ever.

Envoy: God will tell us what is the utmost purity and beauty...

Narrator: I repeated it mechanically in my mind, as the intoxicating scent enveloped me again.

Narrator: I opened my eyes to see Lilith sitting on the altar. She was looking down at me. Her figure obstructed the statue behind her.

Narrator: She slowly replaced the statue and monopolized my field of vision.

Lilith: Now will you answer me, Envoy Reza?

Narrator: It was the smile that had appeared countless times in my dreams. She leaned over, reached out, and softly stroked my face.

Lilith: You believe in God, believe in kindness, but God only took your piety without giving anything back.

Narrator: I gazed at Lilith. I didn't look away this time and stared straight into her eyes.

Narrator: I saw a completely different me in the reflection.

Lilith: Tell me, do you hate Him?

Narrator: I was chosen by God.

Narrator: I never was bitter nor resentful.

Narrator: Yes.

Narrator: I didn't...

Narrator: I...

Envoy: I... do hate him.

Narrator: She gently brushed her fingertip over the corner of my eye, like a god taking pity on some poor soul.

Narrator: She wiped away a tear.

Narrator: Tears...? I was crying?

Lilith: Poor soul...

Envoy: It's my fault...

Narrator: It was my fault and I must repent... But before I could finish, Lilith softly interrupted.

Lilith: No, it's not your fault. It's God's fault for using your kindness to confine you.

Lilith: I'm just giving you back the freedom you deserve.

Lilith: Only I know the real you...

Narrator: I looked up and saw the sky was dark. The angels on the stained glass lost their luster. My eyes welled up with tears.

Narrator: I could only focus on Lilith's face through my blurry vision.

Narrator: She is so beautiful. Even her voice offered me redemption.

Lilith: Let me choose you, the real, free you, Envoy Reza.

Narrator: Lilith smiled a devilish grin that was even more soothing than an angel's.

Narrator: I reached out to her and finished the final prayers with the line most familiar to me.

Envoy: I shall offer "God" all my piety and love.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 4

[trashy-greyjoy]

really love dynamics that are like 'it honestly doesn't matter if you view them as romantic or platonic, the point is that they love each other. the type of love is inconsequential, all that matters is that it's there'. gotta be one of my favorite genders.

[suparhythm]

A Knight's Oath, a Princess's Heart: A Forbidden Dance

In the kingdom’s castle, defined by duty and valor, there shimmers a thread of gold, delicate yet strong – Princess Amara. My heart, once a stoic shield, now beats in waltz time whenever I stand near her. It’s not just her beauty, though that is a story whispered by beams of the moon on alabaster skin and laughter echoing like wind chimes in a summer breeze. It’s the way her eyes, the color of…

[snek-eyes]

Can we go back to this for a sec? To Aziraphale having to explain the concept of being in love to the other angels? Because I cannot imagine what a trip it has to be, falling in love with someone when that is literally not something you are supposed to be able to do. When it is something you barely understand. When the object of whatever this is isn't supposed to be able to feel this way either, except as time goes on you start to realize it's happening to him too. And neither of you can actually talk to each other about it.

[transparentdreamruins]

Jamie & Claire

[possamble]

hiii everybody are you normal about Falin showing Laios the same little spell that Marcille showed her? are you normal about Falin remembering it fondly enough that it was one of the first things she showed her brother while trying to teach him magic?

[helenes-diary]

at your altar

It's true that I am not a devout person in the sense of any religion, but in love, I am the most devoted believer. When you walk this Earth, the hills shape to your step. As you speak, birds stop chirping and river currents hush; why, if not to hear you better?

The spirits that haunt this world stop moaning to hum softly in the relief of your presence. The pain that has nested in my bones softens, its thorns seemingly shrinking away at the sight of you.

When you reach out your arm, your hand extending for mine, the world slows on its axis. And when you look at me with a softness in your eyes, my heartbeat slows just the same.

It is only when this sequence occurs where I can see clearly to meet your eyes, you return my gaze with nothing but love in your expression that I hear the choirs and I see the sun rise and I feel like this is it… this is as close I get to devotion. I have stood at the door of Heaven. I am blessed despite my sins. I am graced by your ethereal love without expectation or comparison.

How could I ever worship another?

[chappelroans]

to love like a dog

ada limón, roadside attractions with the dogs of america // emily wilson, the odyssey // u.k // andrew kane, how to be a dog // mitski, i’m your man // u.k // u.k

[everdeenxmellark]

“looking at her always confused me;

i could never tell if her beauty was evidence of a god

or if her presence was divinity itself.”

[strawdool]

someone get the crown bc these two wont

original meme down below