#maybe we can go to Crete this time?

[dootznbootz]

Odysseus always trusted Penelope. He was ordered to lie to her and it hurt him to do so. Penelope was distrustful of this stranger until she had absolute solid proof.

There are way too many people talking about how "Odysseus lies to Penelope. What a prick!" and it makes me sad/mad as that's not the case at all

The whole "Odysseus usually always has a reason to lie" maybe upcoming essay aside, He was literally commanded by Athena to not tell anyone. And it was with Penelope that he had the hardest time keeping up the act with. Not only because she's smart af and figured him out almost immediately (that essay coming soon too) but because he was trying to keep himself from crying with her.

I think people forget that he is disguised to look like someone else completely. If a random man claimed to be your missing husband, wouldn't you be scared/freaked out?

Anyways, the 3 most important people in his life are Penelope, Telemachus, and Laertes. He lies to all three.

Telemachus: Lied by letting Eumaeus answer him and still under the orders from Athena, did not cry or reveal himself until Athena allowed him to. (I read it as him being in shock. Last time he saw him, Telemachus' hand could only wrap around one finger and now he's as big as him. a bit shocking to say the least)

Laertes: He teared up seeing him but still decided to question and test his father, not by the order from Athena.

Penelope: He was trying so hard to keep from crying, tried to noodle his way out of lying to her, Under Athena's orders. still couldn't help but basically flirt with her.

Also to get this outta the way: No, it wasn't a matter of trust. He is shown to trust her right away. As this happens even before he gets the chance to speak with Penelope.

Staunch Odysseus glowed with joy to hear all this— his wife's trickery luring gifts from her suitors now, enchanting their hearts with suave seductive words but all the while with something else in mind.

(Book 18, Fagles)

If Odysseus does not trust her, why is he so happy to see her "flirt" with the suitors? It's because he KNOWS what she's doing and knows she doesn't actually want them. If he didn't trust her, he would be upset by this.

Now for the "it hurt to lie to her" bit.

Athena's command:

"Tell not a single person in the palace, man or woman, that you are back from your wanderings; but endure all vexations in silence and submit yourself to the indignities that will be put upon you.'

(Book 13, Rieu)

If you are my son—truly of our blood—                                            let no one hear Odysseus is back home. Don’t let Laertes know or the swineherd, or the slaves, or Penelope herself.

(Book 16, Johnston)

And the people he did reveal himself to, he only did so after being given permission by Athena.

Athene spoke to him. 'The time has come,' she said, 'royal son of Laertes, Odysseus of the nimble wits, to let Telemachus into your secret, so that the pair of you may plot the downfall and death of the Suitors and then make your way to the famous city. [...]

(Book 15, Rieu)

He talks to Telemachus before talking to Penelope.

I’ll stay here, so I can stir the servants even more— and your mother. As she laments, she’ll ask for each and every detail.”

(Book 19, Johnston)

Odysseus is already sweating about having to lie to her

The next part would honestly be me just inserting almost ALL the text for this so I'll go into a summary. It's all in Book 19.

Penelope asks him where he's from. And instead of answering, it's a tsunami of compliments. Calling her flawless. Comparing her to a king. etc, etc,

Probably because he couldn't help himself and had to babble about how wonderful she is Who wouldn't? before finally ending with "Please don't ask me where I'm from. It makes me sad."

Penelope, probably overwhelmed by his praise, immediately goes into how "her beauty left with her husband. It did not. And where did you say you were from again?"

"Fine! I'm from Crete..."

And we all know that as soon as she starts crying, after a lovely description of how her tears "melted", he talks about how hard it was for Odysseus to hold in his OWN tears. Lying to her and being unable to comfort her was painful for him!!!

But though Odysseus' heart was wrung by his wife's distress, his eyes, hard as horn or iron, never wavered between their lids, so craftily did he repress his tears.

(Book 19, Rieu)

Even with him revealing himself to Euryclea, when she cried out to Penelope, Athena made sure she didn't hear! It's most likely that he wouldn't be able to tell her even if he wanted.

She spoke, and her eyes glanced over at Penelope, anxious to tell her that her husband had come home. But Penelope could not see her face or notice, for Athena had diverted her attention.

(Book 19, Johnston)

He desperately wanted to be with her again. Literally daydreaming about it!

At those words Dawn rose on her golden throne in a sudden gleam of light. And great Odysseus caught the sound of his wife’s cry and began to daydream—deep in his heart it seemed she stood beside him, knew him, now, at last …

(book 20, Fagles)

Clearly doesn't trust her. /sarcasm

It's PENELOPE that has trouble trusting him. And rightfully so! While she was very certain that was her husband, there was so much going on and of course, she's cautious! He looked like an elderly stranger at first, why is he hiding from her? He somehow took out all those men with only a little help, Athena isn't telling her anything, Helen was kidnapped and she did not want that to possibly happen to her too, etc.

He even understands her cautiousness to be reasonable.

As she spoke, lord Odysseus, who had borne so much, smiled and immediately spoke to Telemachus— his words had wings:   “Telemachus, let your mother test me in these halls. She will soon possess more certain knowledge. Right now I’m filthy, with disgusting clothing on my body. That’s why she rejects me and will not say I am Odysseus. [...]

(Book 23, Johnston)

He even trusted her completely to take care of everything while he was gone before. And he does again when he wakes up and goes to see his father. Telling her about how she too wise to need instruction

Odysseus (and Penelope as well) is well-known for his cunning tricks and how his loyalties are often blurred but one thing that is for sure about him is that he trusts and is loyal to Penelope full-heartedly. He spent every day missing her and their son and wanting to go home to her. The only moment we see his trust in her waver is during the Treebed scene, (which is what she wanted to test).

They are "like-minded". 😭

[monsterkin-culture-is]

10 Monster & Mythological Kintypes You Might Not Have Kinsidered!

Quick intro! I want to do some more monsterkin related original blog posts & content to make this blog more of a community hub for the monsterkins of tumblr. I'll be using #thebitingblogger for these posts! TW for some very mild mentions of gore in the context of mythology.

10. Haunted Dolls: There is definitely a large dollkin community on Tumblr but I haven't seen many haunted dolls/plushies. They're such a staple of horror media & spiritual subcultures - I'm so surprised by their absence!

9. Werecats & Other Werebeasts: The werewolfkin community on here is already limited but the werecat tag is tiny (and I don't think there even are tags for any other werekintypes)! Maybe the concept just hasn't been explored enough yet but given the popularity of other feline kintypes I wouldn't be surprised if there were some undiscovered werecats. I'd also like to add on about hellhounds & hellcats! Plenty of mythology there but a rather empty part of the kin community.

8. Revenants: Revenants are reanimated corpses revived to haunt the living. They're most prominent in Western European & Norse folklore. I can see some similarities to ghost & zombie kins but given we already have other subtypes & related kins (phantomkin etc) there is definitely a place for them in the kin community. Honestly as I'm writing this I'm starting to kinsider whether my skeletonkin might be a revenant...

7. Headless Horsemen: I suppose this is technically a human but I'd consider them a potential type of undead or spirit! The headless horseman is a recurring myth in a lot of Western Europe & America. My favourite version is the Dullahan from Irish folklore. The Dullahan is a mysterious omen, causing death whenever he stops riding. He carries his head in his arms and wields a whip made of human spine. The most famous media depiction is probably Disney's "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad." I think you can tell I'm a little bit in love with the horseman mythos...

6. Minotaurs, Centaurs & Fauns: I'm not sure I'd consider these monsters but they fit with the themes of the rest of the list! A minotaur is a man with the upper half/head of a bull, a centaur is a man with the body of a horse and a faun is a man with the legs of a goat or deer, often accompanied by horns or antlers. Man is being used without gender here. I originally was only going to write about Minotaurs as I've seen plenty of centaur & faun kins but there's no harm in including everyone! I'm not going to type out the entire mythology of these creatures but a fun fact for you is that the Minotaur of Crete's real name was Asterion!

5. Selkies: Again, not sure if these would be monsters but they fit the list & some retellings portray them as such! Selkies are humans (by appearance, not species) that can take the form of seals using their fur coats. If their coat is stolen, they can be forced to marry the person who has it.

4. Gorgons: Just talking about these as a species rather than their specific Greek mythos. Gorgons are humans with hair made of snakes. Often different interpretations give them patches/designs of scales, snakelike markings and/or fangs. My favourite modern depiction of a gorgon is Viperine from Monster High!

3. The Grim Reaper: I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been kinsidering this for a while! There are hundreds of personifications of Death throughout the history of humanity but the Reaper is probably one of the most recognisable in modern times. The Grim Reaper is most frequently depicted as a skeleton in a cloak, suit of armour or robes, bearing a farmer's scythe (it harvests souls like crops). I've been talking about media interpretations of these throughout so shoutout to Discworld Death, one of my favourite comfort characters! I love the animated version of Soul Music.

2. Shade: Finding information on this one was a little challenging! Shades are the spirits, ghosts or apparitions of someone currently residing in the underworld.

1. Custom Monsters: Got a bunch of phantom limbs that don't match a different kin? Have memories of being/feel like a cryptid that doesn't currently exist as a legend? Be your own monsterkin. Be a kin of your own species. I have one! I just need to actually draw them...

That's all folks! 10 more niche monster & mythological kintypes for you to kinsider! Please send me an ask (anon is enabled) or reblog or whatever if you're any of those kintypes, I'd love to hear from you! As always, please do your own research on these species & their folklore, I've only done some brief googling to add some more context to this list. This blog is for entertainment purposes, not educational! Let me know if you guys like seeing this sort of content though, I've really enjoyed researching this so I might start doing some more in-depth and well-researched posts on some of these.

[basicallyaturtle]

never been part of a tag game, sounds really fun! tagged by dear Lanvender, @khan-crete

Do you make your bed? A freshly decrumbed, stuffed animal arranged and dirty clothes removed bed feels great. How often do I do this? We mustn't ask (like once or twice a month) that's all making the bed entails for me, I just have a fitted then normal sheet and blankets

Favorite Number? 4 4 4 4 4! I've loved four my entire life she is like a goddess to me. 2+2 2*2 2^2, divides into halves twice. can only compete with sixteen, whose status and 2^4 and 4^2 is nice, but not as symmetric. 37 and 73 have a place in my heart as the 12th and 21st primes, but not a large place compared to 4

What's your job? What do I get paid for? undergrad lab TA, what do I do? grad research in low energy nuclear physics

If you could go back to school, would you? In school technically still. Would I rewind time to experience school again? highschool no college yes. would I go back for another college degree? I could be convinced if it would be cheap and unobtrusive to my current schooling. Was always torn between physics and linguistics. I made the right choice but I always wonder what if.

Can you Parallel Park? I have done it, on the driving test, like four or five years ago. I think I could do it again, but not too confident

Do you think Aliens are real? Eh, probably in a 'the observable universe 9.3e+9 ly across, it must have happened more than once' kinda way, but not in a 'they've been feeding us tech for thousands of years or are visiting us' kinda way.

Can you drive a manual car? Never tried, hubris tell me yes, anxiety with even normal cars tells me I'd probably fuck up the transmission while trying to leave the driveway. gonna say yeag

Guilty Pleasure? I think like cheesy childhood disney live action movies?, generally I'm pretty full chested about the things I enjoy

Favorite Type of Music? yeah, hard, a lot of vocaloid, which isn't reallly a genre, a lot of edm genres from like old school monstercat, a lot of jrock by way of anime OP's of show's I've never watched then finding other songs by those artists. some rock music though that genre is also extremely expansive and I'm not sure how I'd categorize a lot of it. Generally my music consumption consists of a group of maybe five songs completely unrelated on repeat for months at a time and genre is not a huge factor in that

Do you like puzzles? twisty puzzles like rubik's cube type puzzles are really fun working, towards doing a 3x3 blindfolded but challenging, I used to do jigsaw's with my mom but over the course of a very long time because we'd get frustrated. crosswords, but I'm no good at them

Favorite Childhood Sport? Soccerrrr. Wish I'd stayed with it, but there were only a couple more years before there wasn't a league for my age group anyway, been trying to get back into it recreationally

Do you talk to yourself? I do, but as if I'm talking to someone else. I prefer not to do it because I'm not content with my voice atm, but I find myself doing it a lot especially when getting stuck on research stuff trying to talk it out or I will say a comment to someone I disagree with outloud rather than typing it and posting it. A lot of this is to my reflection which is probably part of the reason it feels like someone else lol

Tea or Coffee? tea all the way. drank iced sweet black tea my entire childhood and started drinking it hot with milk in college. I was the kind of person that disliking coffee was a sort of pillar of my tastes, but then a few years ago made it with like half milk and a lot of sugar and like it, lotta people wouldn't call that coffee, but eh.

First thing you wanted to be when you grew up? The actual first thing was everything. I would amalgamate like all the stereotypes of things kids want to be into one so a firefighter-astronaut-whatever else. When I got a better sense of my interests, inventor, so I guess like product designer, but what that meant to me was I got to sit around and think of neat gadgets and items then figure out how to make them like freeze ray, time machine, clone gun, that kind of thing lol. the first practical idea of a job I wanted was theoretical physicist in like middle school, which I kinda am now so success I guess

What Movies do you Adore? not much of a movie person, but like to watch movies other people are interested in with them, love castle in the sky, LOTR, howl's moving castle, your name, probably others in those categories I don't know about yet or have forgotten and I have a strong soft spot for childhood halloween movies like twitches and halloweentown

I'm curious what @arc-archernar and @charyou-tree have got to say if they'd like to, and anyone else that wants to participate!

[limelocked]

text from the pictures goes under the cut because while i recognise that the text is small my main points gotta go above it, theres also some other fun things

-

okay heres some brief context for my conspiracy theory: art, which pottery is a very well preserving medium of, can tell how a culture spreads, we know that minoan crete influenced micanean greece because we've found pottery of the minoan style that was made in greece even if we barely know anything about the minoan people then we do know this, so the assumption im using here is that the pots are all of the same style which then presents sort of a narrative

domino 1

the trail culture has some sort of connection with the coastal warm ocean people and cold ocean people, they also have a connection to (or are) the desert people who made the pyramid and frequents the desert well that never dries up, using its water for potions and magic or worship. they also have friendly connections to villagers or something that looks like them to a point where they make motifs about them

domino 2

the guardian monument, at this point in time just barely above the water level so that the inside is dry but the guardians can enter and exit, is attacked by the cold ocean people for prismarine and other such luxury items. the cold ocean people trade these items so that they end up with the warm ocean people who seem to be peacefully fishing and taking care of the sniffer, cultivating the seeds they dig up

domino 3

Something happens. The warm ocean people may have caught a virus that make them immune to the dangers of creepers and find sunlight dangerous needing to take shelter under savannah trees, the sea level could also rise. We don't know exactly what happened but whatever did happen causes conflict on a personal level as seen by the type of damage done to the cold ocean peoples buildings. At this point contact either ceases between the trail culture and the ocean people as buildings are destroyed and in time, submerged. Or the trail culture sees ocean people joining them as refugees.

However much they flee, though, the trail cultures structures also get buried and forgotten.

domino 4, the end

the guardians now live in the water full time but are still amphibious. the pyramid well civilisation vanish and the waters have covered what remains of the ocean peoples towns as well as the sniffer eggs that are forced to go into stasis as hatching in the water is less than ideal, waiting for someone to bring them up to safe ground again.

-

there is something living on the bottom of the ocean. its not what it used to be, but they still live in their homes. not alive but not acting very dead, the ocean people are still there, looking like the player.

maybe the universe loves us

maybe the universe hated them

maybe the universe regrets what happened

VILLAGERS

Have square buildings made of stone and local wood types Buildings are scattered around an area but connected by paths Villagers look like the friend pottery shard, and spawn the iron golem which also looks like the friend shard

TRIAL RUINS

Their buildings are mostly made from mud, terracotta and bricks They loved color, everything is very colorful Prolific potters/pot makers and amazing glass workers A culture rich enough that it's worth inventing four (4) armour trims for your already expensive armour Have a central tower with a connecting building, a long straight paved road down from the tower with buildings or decorations like statues Pottery shards burn, danger, howl, sheaf, friend, heart, heartbreak (the last two being the only 100% abstract shards)

DESERT PYRAMID

Made of sandstone and terracotta, has two tower wings Pottery shards miner, prize, skull, and archer Created by a wealthy people as it's full of riches

DESERT WELL

Made of sandstone Very shallow Hasn't dried up since the pottery cultures time Pottery shards arms up, brewer

WARM OCEAN PEOPLE

Many sandstone buildings but only a few (2/8) are obviously houses They love their arches Uses terracotta (unglazed) and sea lanterns Many plazas Buildings are scattered loosely around an area Knew about and may have taken care of sniffers based where eggs are found Pottery shards angler, shelter, snort Might have been fishers based on the pottery

SNIFFERS

Thought to be extinct Eggs can be found in the sand in the warm water ruins Eggs hatch faster near moss They sniff out ancient seeds

COLD OCEAN PEOPLE

Stone brick buildings, many of them houses (5/9 small), (3/4 large), they have a small tower as well A mix of rounded and square houses Uses terracotta (glazed), prismarine, sea lanterns, spruce and dark oak planks, and bricks One large monument that mirrors one of the warm ocean plazas Buildings loosely scattered around an area Knew about the warden Pottery shards blade, explorer, mourner, plenty Might have been hunters or explorers based on the pottery

GUARDIAN MONUMENT

Guardians do not suffocate in air, they can survive indefinantly but spawn only in water Guardians are psychic or otherwise magic Pyramid-like structure with two wings 23 pillars that stretch to the ocean floor (like it didn't want to be flooded but needs to be near water for guardians to spawn)

ZOMBIES

Look like the player

Spawns in the underwater ruins

CONNECTING POINT: similar pottery style

-

random thoughts at the end:

i still actually think that the trail culture is nomadic, maybe herders and traders with semi permanent settlements for farming when the seasons allow for it, the ruins we find being those semi permanent structures that are more like waypoints or settlements along a path

the absolute wealth of having four whole different armour trims dude, i really like the idea of the trail people and pyramid people being the same but considering how not buried the pyramid is that might be a long shot, could be the remnants of the trail people tho, like finding traces of people during the bronze age collapse, their cities get buried and they keep the pottery style with them and they manage to squeeze out a new armour trim, and they extrapolate on the wealth part of their culture and do grave goods re: pyramid with so much hidden wealth

unrelated but since im tagging @nightshadeowl i might as well talk about the reconstruction work ive done, im not sure ill post the pictures because its very cramped on the flatland but the damage done to the cold ocean ruins is very much not natural, it looks like it blew the fuck up (it being the biggest house in the generation pool) and theres no sign of it ever having a roof even tho it very obviously should have, also the warm water peoples bungs stumped me for a long time because of the lack of houses, all the buildings are very artsy and i wonder why that is, one of the arches kinda reminded me of the ones at the ocean monument but i think that was coincidental

wish i could more easily summon in these things and shoutout to the blacksmithy in the trail ruins for also looking blown the fuck up, what happened to you to have no roof to be seen, weird spike terracotta walls, and a perfectly intact interior, only of its kind

[slowlydifferentbluebird]

I think a good way to finish the plot of soyeon and her sister is soyeon fucking her members senseless to teach them a lesson lol

Gosh, I'm finally writing the ending chapter of this story, I'm thrilled about it. Or maybe it can be a new start, who knows?🤭

I remember you all that all the members are G!P in this AU.

~~~

So, the last time we left with the sister of the poor leader being fucked by every single members of the group. Yuqi was the one who started the trend, and quickly all of them followed her steps. Soyeon tried to accept the fact, even unleashing her anger on a good friend of her, but it was not enough to calm her down.

She needed a proper revenge.

And she did it, she got her revenge. But how?

She simply went backwards in time, punishing every member from the last to the first who fucked her sister.

And the first one was the maknae. She knows that even if Shuhua was so confident, she was actually weak in front of the leader. One day the two of them went out for a friendly date night. They were seating in Soyeon's car, looking at the sea, and atmosphere got kinda romantic, but the older girl was not there for lovely things. She was there for revenge, so after the first kisses, they started making out, making the youngest light-headed enough to be like crete in her hands. It was so easy the basically Shuhua get on her knees on her own. She simply couldn't resist to the view of Soyeon's bulge. And the moment the cock was in Shuhua's mouth, Soyeon pressed her head so down that at this point was basically fucking her throat. At the end of that night Shuhua's face was a mess: a mix of cum, tears and smudged make-up. The first one was gone.

Who next? Obviously Minnie, who thought that fucking her sister was just a game. So why to not play again, right? Soyeon organized another games night with her members (this time she didn't bring her sister) and it was the turn of Truth or Dare. Quickly she got her occasion. "Come with me in the other room and accept whatever thing I want to do", Soyeon proposed to the oldest who boldly accepted. Such a foolish move she did there, because now her ass was getting pounded real hard by her leader. The thrusts were rabid and rough. Minnie's voice could have been heard in the entire building, especially when Soyeon copiously filled her ass, leaving her panting on the floor. Two down, other two to go.

The next victim was Miyeon. It was such an easy job for Soyeon. A couple of drinks and the cutie was already all touchy and horny. It was kinda cute to see her trying to hide her erection under her skirt, but still Soyeon was there for a reason. She could have took her to the toilet at least, but no, Soyeon started to fuck Miyeon's ass right on the sofà of the local, where all the people could see them. And when Soyeon pulled her hair with strenght, revealing Miyeon's cute and excited face to the crowd, her dick cum so much on the floor. Too bad that Soyeon didn't stop until she was satisfied. Now only a member was missing.

And that one member was the one who started all of this. The one who who fucked her sister first, just because she thought she can fuck whoever she wants without difficulties or consequences: Yuqi.

And exactly this certainty of her was her weak point, that Soyeon used for her plan. She was so good in acting for a week or so to be horny for Yuqi. She even send to the chinese member some nudes to encourage her. And it worked because night she actually invited her leader to her apartment for "a movie night". She thought that would have been a nice fuck, but, oh boy, if she was wrong.

Soyeon keep playing as horny girl until the last moment, when she surprised Yuqi, handcuffing and blindfolding her. In that instant Yuqi kinda understand what was going to happen to her and for the first time that night, she was right, but it was definitely too late at that point. It was simply at a piece of meat in front of a beast.

Soyeon really enjoyed that night. She started from the mouth, putting her rock hard cock inside till almost reaching the ball. She could feel her throat tightening around her lenght. Yuqi was gagging so loudly, her saliva leaking everywhere. She felt like being in apnea for minutes, until a huge wave of cum almost choked her, making her spit some of the cum in search of oxygen.

But that was only the beginning, because now her ass was the next aim. Soyeon started rimming her, while stroking her cock, but without never letting her cum. She kept edging her and denying the orgasm until the girl from Beijing begged her to let her cum, her voice trembling. And Soyeon satisfied her request...kinda. Infact she put her cock in Yuqi's ass in a single violent hit, making Yuqi gasp and moan together, now her dick finally leaked all the cum outside.

But Soyeon was not impressed, and she just started pounding her ass. The rumor of her balls slapping on Yuqi's ass echoed in all the house, only followed by Yuqi's moans, who at this point just accepted her role of cumdump, enjoying being treated as slut, surrendering to her leader. She could feel her asshole being destroyed by Soyeon's huge cock and honestly she was loving it. Too bad that it went on for hours, until Soyeon was not feeling angry anymore and Yuqi's brain just melted in a mix of pain and pleasure.

Soyeon finally got her revenge.

~~~

Finally I finished and posted this story. Thank you to who requested it and all the people who read and liked it.

As always, lots of love 💙

Zazá

[transdragonlira]

Was it really Icarus's pride that brought his downfall?

Icarus's story is one that speaks to many people's imaginations, and how could it not? The imagery of one litterally reaching for the skies, and tragically falling down is a rather strong one. It's no wonder that so many renaissance paintings focus on this story.

And Icarus isn't alone in his pride, many Greek myths often have hubris (or hybris) as a main theme in their story. From Pheathon thinking he can ride the sun chariot to Tantalus thinking he can trick the gods into eating his own son. The Oddysey has hubris on both sides: the suitors harrass pelelope, thinking they have a right to marry her, and Oddyseus not thanking the gods after they helped him win the Trojan war. Compared to all of these stories, Icarus's pride kinda pales in comparison.

This brings me to Ovidius's telling on Icarus. It's the one I read in school, and is a rather interesting take on the story of Icarus. In his version, Icarus does not talk. (He tries to yell out for his dad while underwater, but fails.) In general, Icarus doesn't seem to be rather proud of anything. His main trait in this story seems to be that he is playful, and maybe even a bit mischievous. The way we see him described is in this snippet:

"puer Icarus una stabat et, ignarus sua se tractare pericla, ore renidenti modo, quas vaga moverat aura, captabat plumas, flavam modo pollice ceram mollibat lusuque suo mirabile patris impediebat opus"

(Ovidius Metamorphoses 8, line 195-200 Latin text sourced from: https://benbijnsdorp.nl/OvMet.VIII.html#VIII,183)

You can read a translation of the entire myth here, but basically what is said in these lines is that the boy Icarus is playing with feathers that were blown away by a breeze, and he softens the the wax used for the wings, playfully messing with his father's work.

The next time Icarus is described doing anything, he is taking delight in his flight ("gaudere volatu", line 223), and becomes reckless beause of that ("puer audaci coepit", line 223). Note that the website I linked translates 'audaci' as proud, which I disagree with, as 'audaci' means something more akin to 'brave' or 'couragous', but can be used deogatory as well, but then it is closer to 'reckless' or 'overdconfident' rather than proud. I wouldn't call it wrong outright as translation is complicated, but I definitly disagree with it. He gets tempted by his desire to fly higher. And then, the wax melts, and the feathers fall from his arms, leaving behind arms, useless for flying.

This doesn't really seem like someone who is particularly proud, does it? He's just a kid, experiencing something that is unique, freeing, and most importantly, fun. It's more akin to a kid playing with a new sled going down a hill that is too steep and hitting his head on a tree than someone who is actively displaying great pride and hubris. Icarus downfall was not caused directly by his pride, but by his mischief.

However, even though Icarus's downfall wasn't brought upon by his pride, pride still played a major factor in his demise. You see, the story doesn't end after Icarus dies. After Icarus dies, the story highlights a bird, laughing at the weeping ex-father. This bird is then revealed to be Perdix, a nephew and former student of Icarus's father, Daedalus. Perdix was an intelligent young man, and quickly became as good as an inventor as his uncle. In fact, soon he had invented the saw, and the compass (the drawing tool). Daedalus, his pride hurt, pushed him of a roof in an act of jealously. Saved by pallas, Perdix was turned into a bird. (Perdix is a family of partridges) Daedalus, however, had to flee from Athens to Crete, where king minos imprisoned him and his son, setting off the events of the story of Icarus.

In Odivius's telling of the story, Icarus does indeed die because of pride. It's just not his pride, and it is not really his story either. The story really puts its focus on Daedalus. He is the one who talks, he is the one who thinks he can overcome both gravity and gravity, and gets punished in a most ironic way. Yes, Daedalus survives, but does he really live? He is free from prison, yet will be forever cursed with the fact that he could not save his son, who is now trapped in the Tartarus forever. Icarus death is a direct cause of his hubrisistic actions.

So no, Icarus's fatal flaw isn't his pride, it is his playfulness and his mischief. But nonetheless, he died because of pride. (at least in Odivius's version of the story)

[superkooku]

A missed potential in Hades (the game)

Ok, listen. I'm a fan of Supergiant Game's Hades (haven't played Hades II yet. Because my PC is a potato and I hope the full version will be in PS4). Yes there are bothersome inaccuracies, but...

The characters are fun, the game is surprisingly not repetitive yet consistent, the mechanics are cool, Hades and Persephone are actually compelling (a miracle in mythology retellings). And Hypnos is a fun lil goober.

But I feel like there was one huge missed potential. No, I'm not complaining about Dionysus for the 100th time or OdyPen being tossed in the trash in Hades II (gosh I hope it's a fake out and they're still together 🙏🙏🙏).

I'm talking about this guy :

This is Asterius, better known as the Minotaur. Yes it's the third time I talk about him today, but I just had an idea for him that I want to share.

I actually like what Hades did with him ! Again, I have more positive thoughts about this game than negative.

I'd even go as far as to say this is the best version of Asterius I've seen, imo.

He's an actual character, capable of speech. He's not always seen as Theseus' sidekick, even having his own moments with Zagreus. He's the more intelligent one, he's more human than Theseus and I love that about him. Like Achilles, but to a much higher degree, he mellowed down in the afterlife and lost his murderous rage.

The ironic friendship with his murderer is also very cool.

But we could've done so much more with this wonderful concept. Hades is essentially a game about mending broken relationships: Persephone and her family, Orpheus and Eurydice, Achilles and Patroclus, Thanatos and Hypnos... but Theseus and Asterius never really contributed to the main plot. They're just kinda there, doing their own thing.

I think adding ONE element would change everything, an important part of the Underworld (so Zagreus can interact with it) and something interesting for both Theseus and Asterius : the three judges. More specifically Minos.

A plotline where Minos and Asterius' abusive relationship will be discussed and Theseus actually being a good person for once and standing up for his friend.

Maybe with Minos apologizing and seeing that Asterius isn't a monster. And Zagreus being the catalyst for fixing the relationship, because in all those encounters, he learned to know who Asterius is.

Bonus point if Ariadne and/or Phaedra are mentioned. I see the latter appearing. Heck, maybe the former in a "Dionysus wants to resurrect her" storyline.

But this post is about Asterius and Minos. Between the underworld themes, the broken family of Crete, Asterius' humanity, Theseus humbling himself, it'd have been integrated so seamlessly !!

Just by adding a room for the three judges, with whom Zag regularly interacts, or fights as bosses, or just NPCs like Charon/Chaos with unique gimmicks.

Maybe fun interactions with Radamanthus and Aeacus too, though I have less ideas for them.

Please tell me there's a fanfic out there exploring that ! Or that Hades II will somehow do it 🙏.

[fictionadventurer]

If I'm going to keep mentioning Lucretia Garfield's heartbreaking letter after James cheated on her during their engagement, maybe I should just share it.

*

Cleveland, September 1, 1857

My dear James:

Yes, mine forever, though a destiny cruel and relentless separate us as far as the east is from the west. Whatever our earthly relations may be, we are one and belong to each other, and in view of this truth I no longer fear to reveal to you every thought. I know that my motives will be understood however freely I may speak. The fear which has so long sealed my lips that James might construe any expression of my real thoughts and feelings into a design on my part to gain my own selfish ends no longer haunts me. I believe that you trust me now, and I know that in my own heart has been awakened that confidence which brought such sweet peace to my spirit two years ago. James, do you know that it was the withdrawal of that confidence in me which pressed home to this grieving heart the keenest dagger! How many many times I have felt that if you would only love me just enough to come and tell me all, I could endure to know the worst; but to see you shrink away from me as though you could not endure my presence, and hide from me the truth, was almost more than I could bear. May Heaven spare me from ever living again such hours of bitter anguish. Pardon me for alluding to them. It is the last time. They have told upon my heart the lesson I trust they were sent to teach. Their mission has been fulfilled; let them pass unnoticed no longer. I would much rather rest with you beside Erie's moonlit waters and feel my heart throbbing against you own, while I talk to you tonight. But I will not wait until it may be so blessed before saying some things so long unsaid.

James, the bright ideal of life and love which are here held up before us was indeed very beautiful; but was it the true one? Can the human heart hear the tests to which it may be submitted by it? I had hoped it might. Indeed, I had almost, yes, entirely trusted that a love as pure and deep as I believed ours to have been could never never meet with anything that could possibly turn it from its course or prove ever the slightest interruption. I was telling Mother this and remarked that it might be an error. Her reply was that if there was no danger of any such thing happening if two loving hearts could find only in each other all that would satisfy, there would have been no necessity for the marriage vow.

May be it is so. If there could be no temptation, no danger of turning to another, why register in Heaven the vow of constancy? I blame you for nothing, for whatever you may have done I believe your heart's faithfulness; and allowed the generous and gushing affection of your warm impulsive nature to go out in all its fullness toward another than the one to whom you had pledged your all. All innocently as this was done, I can not blame you, and could the effect which all the past of our intimacy might have over you be blotted out, I would say to you this hour, go and marry Rebecca; and hereafter trust not your heart so far. Rebecca is a good and noble girl, in many aspects far my superior but she loves you no better than Crete. If, however, you love her better, if she can satisfy the wants of your nature better, and more than all, if you can with her become a good and noble man in spite of all the Past, Crete can give you up. And pronounce upon your Love a sister's blessing. You told me that judgment prompted you to another course, that to feel yourself an honourable, generous man you must take me alone to your heart. Let feeling dictate whatever it might. I have thought I could never allow that, that I could never be your wife unless every feeling of your heart seconded the decisions of reason. Perhaps I asked too much, but, James, to be an unloved wife, O Heavens, I could not endure it. I am not exacting. It would excite no spirit of jealousy in my heart to know that my husband admired and even loved a thousand others, and know that they possessed traits superior to mine, but I do feel it to be my right to claim this sole assurance, that I am his choice; and that however much he may find to be more admired in others he will not turn away from me to them, but rather seek to correct my faults, and make me like them. I want to find in my husband that strength of love, which can steel itself against every attraction that might come between us, which will hold me nearest his heart in spite of every impulse which an ardent nature might feel. Now, James, I freely pardon any error your ignorance of the human heart may have led you to commit, but I do hope whatever course you may take that hereafter you will be more guarded for your own happiness if nothing more. It pains me to see you so miserable as you are at times, and sometimes I feel that I could dare almost anything, even for the hope of making you happy again. But could I--could I become your wife and see that best hope fail! Oh no, no, no. If it would not fail, may God help me to know it. Then I will make the trial. James, write to me very soon. Keep nothing back that is in your heart

[Update about daily life that I'll spare you from]

Yours most lovingly,

Crete

[alkibiadessuperfan]

okay hellooooo time for me to become super annoying with my try to replicate pictures I took while on vacation in crete in ac odyssey. excuse the shitty photographs of the screen I still need to learn how to operate the photo mode.

so this is like the view you get of the palace when you go through the entrance towards it and then a little to one side looking over a yard with what are believed to have been grain silos to the left side (three of them) in odyssey it is all very much more concentrated and pushed together for the sake of making the map smaller but what I was looking for when I tried to revisit was very much there even down to a dent in the cobblestone that is believed to be there because an altar once stood there.

I don‘t have pictures of the dent (maybe you can find it on the photograph) because you are not allowed to walk that close but I do have pictures of what I believe it is in ac odyssey.

it looks very much the same even though it‘s not that noticeable.

Then we have this street to the palace. Many things at the palace of knossos have been renovated for tourist attraction which I am going to say more about in another addition, that‘s why today you can see more painted/more columns etc when you visit than when you look at the palace in ac odyssey.

[searchingfortheuniverse]

Miscellaneous Tag Game (pt. ii)

Tysm for tagging me @onehelluvamarine xxx

A band you don’t like that many others do: Uhhh I can't think of anything at the moment. I'm positive there is one but I cannot for the life of me think of one right now

A childhood memory that you remember vividly: So when I was. I want to say like 5? We went on a big family holiday to France and we stayed in this holiday home on a farm, and instead of getting a bedroom I actually slept on this little bed on a semi-landing thing, and I remember being in that bed and falling asleep with the rest of my family still chatting downstairs

Least favorite animal and why: The only thing coming to mind is spiders. Not little ones, they're fine, and not tarantulas either. But big house spiders. Because I have encountered them in too many places they Should Not Be

Hot fandom take: Umm idek. I guess maybe that crossover pairings need to stop being automatically considered crackships? Like, unless you're hitting me with that Impala/TARDIS shit or something, it might just be a regular old crossover rarepair ship imho

Do you wear any jewelry, if so, what’s your favorite piece: I basically always have a necklace and a ring on, and I love them both but the necklace is definitely my favourite. It's Thor's hammer, and it was a Christmas present

A movie others liked but you didn’t: The Dark Knight. Excellent performances but I just didn't really vibe with the Nolan Batman movies even though I really wanted to because I watched them at the height of my DC phase

Three things you love about yourself: My humour (I'm a pun master to the extent that some of my colleagues still bring up a joke I made when I started about 6 months ago), my hair, and the way I taught myself to paint my own nails and now they basically always look cool and interesting

A place you hope to visit in the future and why: As just a holiday: Crete because it's got some fascinating history. As a place specifically to visit people: if you're reading this and you know, you know >:)

An actor that gets on your nerves and why: If I ever meet Kevin Bacon it is ON SIGHT. I've never seen him in anything but X-Men but he's been in EE ads for so long he's driven me up the wall and I can't look at him any more

Things you’re excited for in the nearby future? I have a week off next week! Thank GOD

Least favorite ship in a fandom you’re in: I've said it on this blog before so I'm hoping I'm not going to get mobbed for it but. Sledgefu. As I've said before I get it but I Do Not Vibe. Glad y'all are having a good time though!

What’s the most toxic fandom you’ve been in? I can't name it because it's tiny and this'll end up somewhere they'll find it. They were entitled and had a whole superiority complex going on. Last I heard they were STILL hung up on something that happened three years ago where they had beef with someone from another related fandom which blew up into a whole thing

List three things you find beautiful about life: My family, I'm so so lucky to have them and they're always so supportive. My friends, and the fact that I can have good friends who are so important in my life when they're so far away from me. And creating things generally, whether I'm doing it or someone else is, and making something that means something in some way

Any dreams for the future? Current, very mundane dream is to get a job that, even if it's not my biggest passion and I love doing it all the time, doesn't make me dread going in every day

How are you really feeling today? Uhh. Worn out. Kinda ill in a very general way. Seasonal depression is kicking my ass. But I managed to do a couple of important chores today so feeling good about that!

Tags: if you feel like it, then @bruin-coll, @noodleblade, @thesunlikehoney, @paperbrds, @hopefulsapphic and @sumquiasum!

[volturiwolf]

Exiles - A Felix Volturi x vampire!fem!reader - part 2

Felix Volturi Tag List:

@xxx-wounded-angel-xxx @venusdelaroix @justsvtmxaddicted @iloveslasher @paisley-37 @heartrise

(Y/N)’s POV

The day started as quietly as it could get. I was going through some of my favorite books, from Simone De Beauvoir’s “The Second Sex” to Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”, and from Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” to Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique”. 

I just loved reading and I was fortunate enough to have acquired many books over the past decades. I found reading calming and informative. It was the only time I had some personal time to myself, and I never missed a chance to read a book. So, when Mansur practically ran into my room, disturbing my peace, it took a lot out of me to not smack his head against the wall.

“What is it? Why would you run into my room like this? Don’t you know this is my “me time”?! You all know this is my “me time”! What happened that was so important that you had to interrupt me?” I felt like I was shooting fire out of my eyes, getting so angry so fast.

Mansur looked terrified. I had never seen another vampire so worried, so scared. “Nettie wants you in her study room immediately. It’s about the Volturi.”

Hearing the name of the Volturi, I heard a thousand little bells ringing in my head. What happened now? What did they want? Why now? 

Without asking anything else, I ran out of my room and towards Nettie’s study room, with Mansur following closely behind. I opened the doors wide open, only to find Nettie surrounded by everyone else, meaning I was the last to be informed.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? What is happening, Nettie?”, I shouted, anger rumbling my whole body. Why was I the last one to get informed?

“The Volturi. They are wandering around Crete, trying to recruit new vampires. Sifis and some other clans around informed us. We have to go and stop them.”, Nettie replied, her face completely blank and serious. Nettie hadn’t looked like this in a long time.

“I’m ready. We will assemble a team and we’ll go show them.”, I continued with the same annoyance. 

“(Y/N), I don’t think you should go. Ilija feels you should not go.” Nettie turned to look at the vampire on her left. His power of presentience allowed him to sense events before they happened, but this was my big chance to get rid of the Volturi - or some of them - for good.

“Nettie, you know I’ve been training for millennia, just to get this chance; the chance to fight and end the Volturi. You cannot force me not to go when I know I can help end them!” I focused my gift on her, though I didn’t wish to, but I had to make her listen to me.

Nettie stared at me blankly, trying really hard not to fall for my gift, before she looked at every vampire around her. She took a few minutes to herself, then signed, and turned to look at me. “Okay, (Y/N), if you think you are ready, you can go. But, I need you to be careful. Don’t fall for their tricks. And stay away from Chelsea, Alec, and Jane.”

I nodded at her and exited the study room, walking towards mine. I knew what the “terror twins” could do - I wasn’t born yesterday. I knew they were dangerous, maybe just as dangerous as I was, in their own sense. But I also knew I could easily take them down before they tried anything on me. Just a plain thought and I could turn them into my puppets.

As for Chelsea, I wasn’t really worried about her, as long as I didn’t get trapped close enough to her so that she could whisper her spells on me. Chelsea wasn’t one to manipulate someone from a distance as I could. She had to be close enough to the person to whisper her tricks and alter their minds. She was promising them a better life with the Volturi, and, somehow, her tricks worked. I didn’t know how she managed to do that, and I didn’t want to know firsthand. I could only assume her gift worked in a similar way as mine.

I pushed my room’s door wide open, before walking towards my fridge, taking a blood bag out of it, and gulping it hungrily. I was quite certain we would find a few people to feed on during our mission, so I wasn’t worried about feeding beforehand. I ran out of the room, towards the lobby, where I found Nettie and everyone else.

“Right, (Y/N), I have assembled a team that will accompany you on the mission. You’ll take Ilija, Rino, and Bakhtiyar of course; then Vera, Zuzanka, and Elda; Nabil, Radmir, Alex, and Cyriaque; Cyrus, Florus, and Azzurra, as well as Dejana, Silas, Dima, and Paris.”

“Don’t you think 18 vampires are too many? We’ll draw too much attention.” 

“I am aware, but you need as much protection and assurance as you can. You’ll go by teams so you don’t draw too much attention. (Y/N), you will go with Alex, Dejana, and Bakhtiyar. Vera with Dima, Paris, and Silas. Cyriaque with Ilija and Radmir. Rino with Zuzanka and Florus. And Elda, you will go with Cyrus, Azzurra, and Nabil. You will meet near the Kallikrati Canyon. It’s about 7 kilometers above Fragkokastello. The Volturi were moving around the area last time we were informed. Be careful and good luck to you all.”

We nodded at Nettie and the other 31 vampires in front of us, and we started leaving, one by one, walking close to our team members. I wasn’t usually as concerned as I currently was, but I had to seem strong, confident, and collected for the sake of everyone. Being one of the oldest vampires in the coven, it was part of my responsibility to show everyone I was assured of our potential and the outcome of each mission. Now, I wasn’t.

I knew I pressured and forced Nettie to let me go on that mission; it was my lifelong wish to face and destroy the Volturi. But, something in Ilija’s sayings kept me wondering what was so big and concerning that I had to force Nettie to let me go. I didn’t want to look weak to anyone, but I suddenly wasn’t feeling like myself, as if I was feeling the worry through Ilija’s gift.

Before Karpenisi, we split up. My team was meant to go through Western Peloponnese, then Kythira, and arrive west of Chania; Vera’s team would go through the center of Peloponnese, then Kythira, and arrive east of Chania; Cyriaque’s team would go through Eastern Peloponnese, pass by Mylos, and arrive at Rethymno.

Rino’s team would go through Attica, pass by Paros and Santorini, and arrive at Rethymno. Elda’s team would go through Evoia, pass by Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, and Naxos, then Santorini, before finally arriving at Heraklio. That way, we would all feed in different parts of Southern Greece, without raising too much suspicion as to a pattern, and we would eventually surround the Volturi in Crete.

It only took us a bit less than half a day to arrive in Crete, between running, swimming, and feeding. We wanted to arrive faster, but we thought that powering up for whatever we were to face was more important, since we hadn’t had any report of the Volturi causing chaos to the local clans just yet. 

The clans were independent of each other, but they all depended on our clan, which was way bigger than theirs, to keep the balance between them and keep everything around in order. The same thing happened with all the clans around Greece, Cyprus, and the Balkans: they all were independent but thought of us as the authority to keep everyone at peace with each other.

Contrary to the Volturi, we never had to threaten anyone to add a new vampire to our coven, or to expand our influence. The clans came to us for support and protection, because they all knew that there was nothing worse than facing the Volturi. We were their cover and protection, should anything happen. Something like what was happening now.

We had no idea why the Volturi were here now. After the Great Dacian wars about one thousand years ago, when we offered our help to the Romanians but they refused, we hadn’t heard anything major coming from the Volturi. Everything else was either behind the scenes or not as important for Nettie and the rest of us to care about. So, this move could only mean one thing: war. And we were prepared to fight for our rights.

[florafaunatic]

Looked into the greek myths by Ovid, dsmp match up pretty well ngl

I got curious bout the whole greek myth metaphor Techno had going, so I kinda read Ovid's myth stuff and ended up with all of this.

As we know, Theseus is definitely Tommy, since it's been mentioned several times. Theseus and Tommy both have main character vibes, flaws, and mature as the story progresses. For reference, Theseus was born in Athens to a mortal mother and both a mortal and divine father?? Idk if that's actually how that happened or if I read it wrong. Anyway, he goes on some adventures and stuff before anything serious begins, just like the early days of the dsmp. He heads to Athens and his dad is like "awesome another son for me!". Which is probably comparable to Phil. Aegeus is not Phil's code name in the syndicate, but for the purposes of plot, he can have two comparisons: one for dadza, and one for Phil. His step-mom feels differently, but idk how to work that one into lore. Maybe it's Wilbur?? Cus he betrays L'Manberg at the end. Tho he's obviously not Phil's wife, lol. Theseus is all fine and good in Athens, and I'm gonna loosely compare that to L'Manberg. We're also gonna call facing some giants the first war. I'm not too sure about that one tho. Second war is gonna be marathonian bull, and leading into the minotaur thing. King Minos is the ruler of Crete, and for these purposes he is Schlatt and Crete is Manburg. Theseus ventures out to Crete and volunteers to be sacrificed to the minotaur in order to slay it and return. But how will he escape the maze? Will he kill the minotaur? How in the world am I going to fit Ariadne into dsmp lore????

I'm gonna finish this at a latter date. Stay tuned for the rest of the story i guess. Anyway! At the end I will make a reference for all the characters and places!! If I got any lore or mythology wrong, pls leave a comment. Also, if you have an idea pertaining to this part of the story I will try to read the comments.

[eurovision-revisited]

1997 Dublin - Number 21 - Marianna Zorba - "Horepse"

Finger cymbals are big in 1997. Greece once again chose to select internally and they selected Marianna Zorba and the song Χόρεψε (Horepse/Dance). I'm not sure whether it's the translation that I'm reading, but there's something odd about this. It's in the third person. It's a song about a belly dancer seducing the singer. Now this could be a moment of sapphic desire in the year Eurovision began to acknowledge just how achingly queer it is, but it's not that.

It's the singer seducing the song-writer. Marinna got engaged to songwriter Manolis Manusselis in the week prior to Eurovision. They got married the following month. And yes reader, they're still together. That's a heart-warming story we need to hear. Eurovision 1997 truly was love-soaked.

Marianna is a Greek folk musician and singer (and music teacher) from Athens, specialising in Laïkó music. Prior to Eurovision, she'd had a couple of albums and singles out in Greece and did have some recognition. Here she got to bring her music to a much wider audience. Horepse is built from Greek ethnic instrumentation, chords and rhythms. It's about as authentically eastern-Mediterranean as you can get, although it's not the only entry this year that's pulling this trick.

Typically for Greece, this finished 12th. Just about their average for the past few years. On the EBUs big relegation table, their points total is remarkably consistent. This year was a bit skewed in terms of points given how many went to the winner, so although she finished 12th, she only got 39 points. Perhaps it's time for ERT to finally make a change? Maybe sending something not quite so Greek? Or even have a national final rather than an internal selection?

Marianna and Manolis moved to Crete and formed the group Νότιος Άνεμος (Notios Anemos/Southern Wind) , put out an album together in 2005 and continue to tour and perform. Neither tried to enter Eurovision or a Greek national selection final again. I mean once you've fallen in love and got married through Eurovision, where else is there left to go?

[fuckyeahfightlock]

Advent Ficlets 2022, Day 16

Baby Please Come Home

“What about a honeymoon?”

“I don’t think we’re that type, John.”

“The type that likes to take holidays? Maybe somewhere warm and with some sun? You’re right. What’s wrong with those people.”

“It just seems a bit frivolous. Oh, we’ve had a wedding and now goodbye we’re going to have sex in a hotel for a week.”

“Or two.”

“We manage to have plenty of sex right here at home. I don’t see why we need to endure taxis, trains, and--dear god--air travel in order to do it somewhere else.”

“This is a very specific hill you’ve chosen to die on. You make a holiday sound like a death march.”

“You know I hate to leave London.”

“I suppose I don’t mind either way; it only just occurred to me we hadn’t discussed a honeymoon. Apparently the Canary Islands or Crete in the bleak midwinter is a fate you cannot abide, though, so. . .”

"Don’t pout, John.”

“I’m only saying.”

“You’re trying to manipulate the situation with that lost-boy look on your face.”

“Don’t know what you’re on about. This is just my face. When I think about having you alone in a little cottage by the ocean for a week of long nights.”

“John.”

“And, for that matter, during the day. That’s the thing about a honeymoon; no one expects you to do anything but be alone together. It’s not rude to ignore other people on a honeymoon trip. It’s expected.”

“I ignore people all the time; no excuse needed.”

“But if’ you’d rather we just go back to business as usual right away.”

“A compromise.”

“Hm?”

“I’ll book Mrs Hudson a trip to Edinburgh.”

“Lucky her.”

“Her sister’s there. I’ll send Mrs Hudson to her sister for a week, we’ll lock our phones in a cupboard, lay in supplies, and honeymoon here.”

“What, here in the flat?”

“Remember the last time Mrs Hudson spent two nights at her sister’s?”

“You were quite loud.”

“Mhm.”

“And. . .in my chair? In the middle of the day.”

“Oh, you remember that.”

“All right. I’m coming around to your way of thinking. But no work. No cases. A whole week.”

“Well. If something truly fascinating--”

“Sherlock, I’ll go to Crete on my own.”

“Fine, no cases.”

“The whole week.”

“Can I. . .?”

“Jeezus don’t do that; we’re meant to be at the tailor’s in less than a half hour.”

“Ah, in that case, yes, I’ll keep the week free of work. On my honour.”

“Honeymoon at home, then, it’s settled. Sherlock. Stop. You’ll make us late. Stop, now, or. . .oh, hell.”

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Sunday, April2, 2023

april 2_march 20

Fifth Sunday of the Great Lent.

VENERABLE MARY OF EGYPT (movable holiday on the 5th Sunday of the Great Lent).

This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Mt. 17:21). If you recall, last Sunday, the fourth week of Great Lent, the Gospels proclaimed to us, This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. What is this kind?  

If you recall, brothers and sisters, we were told of a possessed youth and thrown into the fire, now into the water, as the father said, who brought this youth to Christ. And Christ said, This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Here is what “kind”. The kind [of demon] that possessed this youth, that threw him [into fire and water]. The poor boy not only knew no peace, he knew no life. And Christ says, “is cast out”. That means that it is something separate. Is this understandable to us, or not? Brothers, if you only open a newspaper, you will immediately understand what “this kind” is. Look at how many people, in despair, throw themselves into the water to end their lives—thinking there is no eternal life. And into the fire… Here you’ll find so many who, again, from despair, throw themselves into the fire… They become human torches, lighting themselves on fire. It is the same thing: an affected state, or depression; or to the contrary, some kind of state that reaches the point of madness, human pride. And how many people fall into these terrible states of sexual excess? How many terrible states of robbery or murder are connected with this terrible love of money and hunger for power. What is this? This is that very kind. We act as if we have nothing to do with this. Oh... if only we had nothing to do with it!

Now we are going through the period of life that we call spiritual spring. If the farmer sows late, there will be no sprouting or grain. If a person is late in acquiring sobriety, attention to his inner man, to his heart, then he will be left without spiritual nourishment, in spiritual hunger. If there is some kind of passion in his heart, and he recognizes it, then he will likewise understand that no one can cast out this passion except the One Who created man. But for this, he needs to prepare himself. And this preparation is fasting and prayer. These are the feelings with which we should have remained during this week. And suppose we were in this state in which every Christian should be. In that case, we should especially have been so during this fifth week of Lent, when the Church cried out, “Before I perish utterly, save me, O Lord!” when the Great Canon of Repentance of St. Andrew of Crete was read, which tore the heart and turned it inside out, and revealed to us this very state of the passions so that we might be able to draw near to the Lord and say, “Forgive me, O God; heal me, give me your eternal light, give me life. Maybe I have no more than a year to live, maybe even less… Perhaps I am even now going to Thee.” We are all going there, to eternity, and the Church gives us this time for preparation so that we would see ourselves and acquire strength and depart into eternal existence.

We were told in last week’s Gospel that this kind goes out by prayer and fasting. We think that fasting is when vegetable oil is on the table. Yes, of course, abstinence from foods is also fasting. But fasting consists not only in this; this is only part of fasting. Fasting is when a person opens his heart to see everything unneeded in it and sweeps it away, taking only what is necessary to preserve it in his heart. And prayer? Prayer… is a state when the soul, feeling divine peace, ceaselessly calls out to the Lord: Help me do not allow… Do not allow the murder in me of the most essential feeling: my conscience. And at the end of this week—I don’t know about you, but I nevertheless feel unworthy.

And so this day is for me a great consolation. In what sense? Here before us, before our spiritual eyes, stands St. Mary of Egypt. She was a sinful woman, who became the classic face, the classic image of a Christian woman. She was an outrageous courtesan of Alexandria, Egypt. She was a harlot. She was a “public” woman. She was a beauty. And her depravity knew no bounds. And suddenly she saw a crowd of people boarding a ship. Thus did she travel to Jerusalem. She went with that crowd, which was going to venerate the Cross of the Lord. Why not? The whole crowd went, and she went. But when the crowd was entering the narthex, no matter what Maria did, she couldn’t enter into the church. Everyone had already entered, but she was riveted to the spot. It was as if the wind or a wave pushed her away. No matter how she trembled or how much she wanted to enter, she could not—whatever it was would not let her in. Finally, she understood that some terrible power was not letting her in. Then she looked, and saw standing before her a face, the icon of the Mother of God with the Divine Child. Immediately the veil that was obscuring her conscience opened up. She had heard about Christ and heard that Christ called people to chasteness.

And then her conscience revealed her entire sin to her, and she fell before the Heavenly Queen, crying out, “Forgive me! Help me! Then, she did not understand what had happened. As if carried up by the wind, she was suddenly brought into the church and fell down before the Cross of the Lord. Then a miracle happened to her: She suddenly thirsted for purity and chastity. She began to desire this lightness, a pure conscience. And when she felt forgiveness, she paid no attention to anyone and, without anything, ran to the Jordan River, walked across it, and hid in that desert. Thus did she live for seventeen years in a state of sobriety, eating the dirt, as she said, to destroy those lusts, those fleshly desires, that destructive “kind” of bodily movement. Then, for seventeen years, she lived in praise of divine grace. She was like an angel. So, I say that this day which the holy Church places before us is a consolation. There isn’t a sinner that the Lord would not forgive.

Brothers and sisters! After all, each of us will undoubtedly be covered by a coffin lid. Each of us will be hidden in a grave. But our souls will pass to eternity. What will we meet there? Do we at least think about what will be there? The Church calls and calls us to repentance. But how do we begin? So, pay attention here: Mary could not enter the church, and someone would not let her in. Take a look at yourselves, at your conscience. You have the same problem: Someone needs to allow you to a total dedication to Christ. Could you cut it off? But how? This is how: just like Mary. Run to the Mother of God. This is what I’m asking you to do. This is the greatest joy. And run to the Lord. Say, Lord, help me to be a Christian. Help me so that my systole and diastole would beat out only one feeling: dedication to the Lord and fulfilling His commandments. And then… then will come a clear, bright spring. And nearing the feast of Pascha, we will hear Christ’s words: Peace be unto you! And may this peace abide in us.

From: The One Thing Needful. The blessings of the Lord be upon you…

Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko) Translation by OrthoChristian.com

Novo-Diveyevo Convnet

4/2/2023

MARTYR PHOTINA (SVETLANA), THE SAMARITAN WOMAN, AND HER SONS (66)

The Holy Martyr Photina (Svetlana) the Samaritan Woman, her sons Victor (named Photinus) and Joses; and her sisters Anatola, Phota, Photis, Paraskeva, Kyriake; Nero’s daughter Domnina; and the Martyr Sebastian: The holy Martyr Photina was the Samaritan Woman, with whom the Savior conversed at Jacob’s Well (John. 4:5-42).

During the time of the emperor Nero (54-68), who displayed excessive cruelty against Christians, Saint Photina lived in Carthage with her younger son Joses and fearlessly preached the Gospel there. Her eldest son Victor fought bravely in the Roman army against barbarians and was appointed military commander in Attalia (Asia Minor). Later, Nero called him to Italy to arrest and punish Christians.

Sebastian, an official in Italy, said to Saint Victor, “I know that you, your mother, and your brother are followers of Christ. As a friend, I advise you to submit to the emperor's will. If you inform any Christians, you will receive their wealth. I shall write to your mother and brother, asking them not to preach Christ publicly. Let them practice their faith in secret.”

Saint Victor replied, “I want to be a preacher of Christianity like my mother and brother.” Sebastian said, “O Victor, we all know what woes await you, your mother and brother.” Then Sebastian suddenly felt a sharp pain in his eyes. He was dumbfounded, and his face was somber.

For three days, he lay there blind, without uttering a word. On the fourth day, he declared, “The God of the Christians is the only true God.” Saint Victor asked why Sebastian had suddenly changed his mind. Sebastian replied, “Because Christ is calling me.” Soon he was baptized and immediately regained his sight. Saint Sebastian’s servants, after witnessing the miracle, were also baptized.

Reports of this reached Nero, who commanded that the Christians be brought to him at Rome. Then the Lord appeared to the confessors and said, “Fear not, for I am with you. Nero, and all who serve him, will be vanquished.” The Lord said to Saint Victor, “From this day forward, your name will be Photinus because, through you, many will be enlightened and believe in Me.” The Lord then told the Christians to strengthen and encourage Saint Sebastian to persevere until the end.

All these things and future events were revealed to Saint Photina. She left Carthage in the company of several Christians and joined the confessors in Rome.

At Rome, the emperor ordered the saints to be brought before him, and he asked them whether they truly believed in Christ. All the confessors refused to renounce the Savior. Then the emperor gave orders to smash the martyrs’ finger joints. The confessors felt no pain during the torments, and their hands remained unharmed.

Nero ordered Saints Sebastian, Photinus and Joses be blinded and locked up in prison, and Saint Photina and her five sisters, Anatola, Phota, Photis, Paraskeva and Kyriake were sent to the imperial court under the supervision of Nero’s daughter Domnina. Saint Photina converted both Domnina and all her servants to Christ. She also converted a sorcerer, who had brought her poisoned food to kill her.

Three years passed, and Nero was imprisoned for one of his servants, who had been locked up. The messengers reported to him that Saints Sebastian, Photinus, and Joses, who had been blinded, had completely recovered and that people were visiting them to hear their preaching. Indeed the whole prison had been transformed into a bright and fragrant place where God was glorified.

Nero then ordered to crucify the saints and beat their naked bodies with straps. On the fourth day, the emperor sent servants to see whether the martyrs were still alive. But, approaching the place of the tortures, the servants fell blind. An angel of the Lord freed and healed the martyrs from their crosses. The saints took pity on the blinded servants and restored their sight by praying to the Lord. Those who were healed came to believe in Christ and were soon baptized.

In an impotent rage, Nero gave orders to flay the skin from Saint Photina and to throw the martyr down a well. Sebastian, Photinus, and Joses had their legs cut off, thrown to dogs, and then their skin flayed off. The sisters of Saint Photina also suffered terrible torments. Nero ordered to cut off their breasts and flay their skin. An expert in cruelty, the emperor readied the fiercest execution for Saint Photis: they tied her by the feet to the tops of two bent-over trees. The trees sprang upright when the ropes were cut and tore the martyr apart. The emperor ordered the others beheaded. Saint Photina was removed from the well and imprisoned for twenty days.

After this, Nero brought her to him and asked if she would now relent and offer sacrifice to the idols. Saint Photina spit in the face of the emperor, and, laughing at him, said, “O most impious of the blind, you profligate and stupid man! Do you think me so deluded that I would consent to renounce my Lord Christ and instead offer sacrifice to idols as blind as you?”

Hearing such words, Nero gave orders to again throw the martyr down the well, where she surrendered her soul to God (+ ca. 66).

Source Orthodox Christianity

JOHN 20:19-31

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. 24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

GALATIANS 3:23-29

23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

[khodorkovskaya]

07.06.23

so okay, i feel like a terrible friend. and i know it's not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things and i have lots of other things i should be worried about. but like...

first of all i can't make it to my bestie's birthday this year bc im going to skating camp and instead of feeling bad about it, i feel... relieved..? bc i really hated her birthday last year, i spent over 500 pounds on it and we were in this house in the middle of nowhere next to durham and i was bored out of my mind. and this year she said that she wants to go either to crete or west of england. and going to crete is hella expensive. and going to england is hella expensive too honestly with all the trains i'll have to take to get there. and i know that im not gonna have fun.... and i feel terrible about it...

i thought about that a lot and now ive finally calmed down. but! my manchester bestie came to visit this week and i feel even worse...

so she got married in april and i was one of the first people she told about it like she called me and everything. and i promised to buy her a wedding present. and i didn't... and to be fair i don't really approve of the wedding cos it was for papers for her bf. and they've been together 5 years and they love each other and they would've got married in a couple of years anyway. but like... she's so youngggg and going thru with so much commitment for a man??? idk

and all of this leaves me feeling like im super judgmental. cos it's not my place to judge, right? and technically speaking my manchester bestie is much further ahead of me in life, right? like she moved out straight out of high school, so now she's like super independent and she's doing a phd now and she plans out her own life. and she looks really good too and she has lots of hobbies. like she seems to be doing really well. and whenever i judge people's decisions, i feel like i project too much. like if i were getting married now at the state that im at, that would be a bad decision. but now for her it's not ?????

and at the same time, i have to admit that i find it frustrating that some people have it so easy. she could choose whichever university in the world to go to after high school! like imagine having that priviledge! just like "yeah, manchester would be a good fit for me" BAM *moves to manchester*. "i really like animals :)" BAM *studies zoology in manchester*

like idk how to describe it. it's not just the money that's the issue, it's the bliss. the bliss of being like "my career? yeah, i like animals, im gonna go study them". like i could never... i love dinosaurs for sure, but i would never be able to do a phd about them bc as fascinating as it sounds, i just... can't take that seriously...? idk if im being elitist but like. especially when her degree and her living in a different country costs so much like.. idk how to explain it guys. do you get what im saying?

like out of high school i felt like the only choice i had was economics or management cos that's a serious subject that could get me a serious job. that's what us mortals do. and when i decided to do maths i was already reaching it. like now my parents are like "you wasted 4 of your years doing something that gave you no skills and was essentially useless. how about you do an accounting course now in order to catch up on everything you've missed out on? time to get back to the real world!" (plus my uni education was free but like imagine if my parents were paying thousands for me to study some obscure degree?)

and now again, it's her bliss that drives me insane. "oh my bf needs a visa? let's get married, i love him anyway" likeeee can you imagine that? like not ever thinking about the consequences?

idk, i feel like im in the wrong. bc some people just do whatever without thinking twice and it works out for them and they're happy. and im overcomplicating things. or maybe my life is just overall more complicated bc we're poor. like i can't just go to another country and marry the first guy who comes my way, you know?

and we were talking about kids and stuff and my bestie was like "yeah, i only want my kids to do the IB bc a-levels are shit and i wouldn't want them to get an obscure degree like the maturité either bc they'll have to explain it once they get to uni". and like... first of all, she's already counting on being able to send her future kids to private school which is like okay. and secondly like... how is the maturité an obscure diploma? judging by whose standards? if you do the IB and you want to go to a swiss uni that's gonna be a hassle. despite the IB being supposedly international, the only schools that really actually accept it with no problem are those elite british schools. so imagine being preprogramed in a way that like you know you're gonna be able to afford elite universities for your kids.

and she says all of that without even thinking twice. like everything is a given to her. and her boyfriend now husband is a heir to this rich hongkongese family, so yeah, they'll probably be able to send their kids to private school and then to an english university. and she'll probably never understand it. she'll continue living her life thinking that everything is a given, never struggle and find that normal. meanwhile i can't even grasp the fact that her dad's managed to support his stay at home wife and his two children and like wow the privilege.

anyway, we all live in such different worlds. and some people will never see some other people's worlds. and that's just how things are. and im drifting apart from my friends because we have different problems and a different view on the world.