#no ruz gift

[farsi-calligraphy]

A wonderful way to display the names in your family! Perhaps a surprise gift for No Ruz? Click the link above to fill out an order form for your personalized family calligraphy, or email palmstone@gmail.com  Persian / Farsi calligraphy by S J Thomas

[fiddles-ifs]

what are weddings and funerals like in TPK?

Well I assume nobody's getting married at a total party kill-

KIDDING.

RUZAYN

While the real-world inspirations for Ruzayn all have extremely detailed inheritance and marriage laws that were written down far earlier than most, Ruzayn itself is mostly a bunch of islands of anarchists and agoraphobic hermits allergic to being told what to do.

All that’s required for two people to be married is to say “yeah, totes hitched” (not the exact words) upon being asked by people in passing.

In practice, a wedding celebration is usually held on an auspicious day determined by a religious leader known as an udagan.

The married couple (who do not, in comparison to Alandria and those other guys who are incredibly fussy about who can get married, have to be a man and a woman) and their families arrive on separate ships that have their fores painted white.

Once the families set foot on land, the ceremony is usually held with the udagan present to confer blessings, and the couple-to-be exchange axes or swords and oath rings, which are all sacred symbols and usually passed down through generations.

Three animal sacrifices -- one for the land, one for the sky, and one for the sea -- are usually performed, along with a libation of mead and milk. Afterward, there’s usually a foot race, and the losing family has to serve drinks and food to the winning family during the week-long wedding feast and celebrations.

Throughout the whole ceremony (which includes the wedding feast) gifts are given to both the newlyweds and the udagan.

Funerals are only rarely somber occasions.

The deceased is classically put on a ship they owned earlier in life (or was donated, if the deceased didn't own a ship) that's been drydocked on a tall hill, then set alight.

The family will then collect the bones and ashes from the pyre and place them in an urn, kept in the family crypt, along with their sword, ax, and any jewelry they owned in life. An important part of the Ruz coming of age is to steal their ancestral sword from their ancestor's grave.

The Ruz are generally superstitious people and believe the dead can walk if disturbed too much, so it's important for the family crypt to be as far away from civilization as possible, and for the deceased to be cremated.

ALANDRIA

A ceremony isn’t required to be considered legally married in Yvasean countries; all that’s required is to declare that both parties are married in front of a priest.

However, the traditional ceremony involves the bride and groom being led to consecrated ground (usually a church or cathedral) by a procession carrying torches.

A priest consecrates the marriage by tying a piece of cloth around both parties’ shoulders, followed by a wedding feast.

In the villages this usually includes a lot of dancing.

Funerals include a wake, vigil, and goodbye ceremony.

It's custom to wail and throw yourself into the coffin of a close family member or beloved friend.

A funeral procession goes the opposite route from a wedding -- out of consecrated ground, towards the graveyard, which is usually located outside of town in order to avoid disease.

Herbs and coins are thrown into the grave.

The wealthy often have mausoleums made of marble or limestone.

ISKAR

Weddings are many-days-long affairs that involve the entire family.

In order to be legally married, both parties have to have the written consent of an older guardian and a priest of their practicing religion.

Afterward, it's considered bad luck for the two getting married to see each other, so separate living quarters are often arranged until then.

The day of the wedding, the marrying parties will paint their hands, faces, necks, arms, and legs with henna, and be carried on liters or reed mats to the wedding site. The extremely wealthy will arrive on elephants.

Both liters/mats will be sat at the officiant site, which is covered in flowers, and have extremely long declarations of love for each other that people toast to. A priest then wraps a cloth around their shoulders, and the marrying couple feeds each other honey to symbolize the sweetness of their marriage.

Afterward, there's dancing, feasting, and music.

A funeral is somber, quiet, and short. In the Iskarian religion, the dead can't be uninterred for more than three days, which has led to a cultural maximum of three days for a funeral.

The deceased is ritually washed, wrapped in white silk or cotton, and carried to the burial site, which is usually a small mausoleum of limestone, granite, marble, or even precious materials like gold-covered stone.

People then enter prayer, scatter flowers and rosewater onto the grave, and then the deceased's family members return home with visitors. The deceased's family is not allowed to clean the home, cook, or make any appointments or arrangements for three days. Family friends do this for them, as the deceased's family is allowed to mourn and grieve.

MANI

Weddings often last for weeks at a time, during which the caravan will camp out somewhere outside populated areas in order to be considerate of their neighbors. Since marriages and relationships are strictly exogamous, these gatherings can sometimes be huge. If the Mani population is non-nomadic, it's still customary to travel outside since the noise can sometimes be problematic.

Much like in Iskar, the couple will go through a mehendi ceremony, though the dye used is made of turmeric rather than henna.

The couple is led by two happily married couples to a kuppah, which is a special canopy set up with flowers, decorations, bells, and talismans. Both parties carry candles, which are set beside a bowl of wine. A priest of Nabhor (or Clan Mother, if the couple aren't Nabhorrists) consecrates the wine. The couple then dips a piece of bread into the wine and feed it to each other.

Then people dance, drink, and eat to their heart's content for several days. There's also the unveiling of the couple's new caravan or home.

Funerals in comparison are very short -- the burial usually only lasts for a day. Up until the funeral, mourners are forbidden from shaving, bathing, combing their hair, or drinking anything besides coffee, brandy, and other liquors.

Mourners are also expressly forbidden from touching the body.

During the burial, a procession of mourners wearing white or red will lead a wagon carrying the coffin to the internment site. People are encouraged to openly weep and grieve in order to ward off bad luck.

After the internment, the deceased's possessions are burned -- anything that survives is sold to non-Mani as an act of charity, and, again, to ward off bad luck.

Afterward, close family members continue to mourn for another 30 days, during which they continue not to shave or get haircuts.

[talesofsorrowandofruin]

OC Name Meanings Tag

Thanks for tagging me, @words-after-midnight! :D

I’ll do this for the main characters of almost all my main WIPs (mostly to get all their name meanings in one post for my own convenience). Real names are in bold, and the information on them comes from Behind the Name.

Abihira: Saoridhin, “the jealous one”

Irímé: Saoridhin, “dragon”

Ilaran: Saoridhin, ”forsaken”

Kitritúr: “brave”

Lian’s names:

Imrahil: Saoridhin, “happy; light; bright” (also a Tolkien reference)

Kirvoki: Saoridhin, “tranquil”

Vieraneth: Saoridhin, “secret”

Lian: Mandarin, “pity” (also a Tian Guan Ci Fu reference)

Diarnlan: derived from two Avallese words, ediarn meaning “protect” and lan meaning “edge of a sword”

Karandren: Avallese, “good fortune” (fantasy-equivalent-of-Apollo did not give his parents the gift of prophecy when they named him)

Rusudan: Georgian, possibly derived from Persian ruz meaning “day”.

Konstantine’s names:

Konstantine: Georgian version of Constantine meaning “constant, steadfast”.

Vasilij: Variant transliteration of Vasiliy, Russian form of Basil, meaning “king”.

Cheng Yin: Chinese, borrowed from Li Cheng Yin from Goodbye My Princess.

Darejan: Georgian; shortened version of Nestan-Darejan, which was invented by a 12th-century poet and derived from Persian nist andar jahan meaning “unique”.

Ketevan: Either the Georgian version of Katherine or derived from the Persian name Katayoun.

Hariye’s names:

Hariye: Çarisarian, “unique”

Zviad: Georgian, meaning “proud; arrogant”.

Jane: Feminine form of John meaning “God is gracious”

Arthur: Meaning unknown, possibly derived from ancient Celtic words for “bear” and “king”

Ophelia: Derived from Ancient Greek opheleia meaning “help, advantage”.

Yo-han: Behind the Name lists two possible meanings for each syllable, depending on the hanja used. I picked “daylight, sunlight” (曜, yo) and “writing brush” (翰, han) from the list. (In hangeul it’s written 요한.)

Leopold: From Old German liut (”people”) and bald (”bold, brave”), with the spelling influenced by Latin leo (”lion”).

Máté: Hungarian form of Matthew meaning “gift of God”

Rachael: Variant of Rachel meaning “ewe”

Evelyn: Derived from Aveline (meaning unknown; possibly related to Latin avis meaning “bird”

Sinclair: Derived from the name of a French town

Tagging @randomstupidchaos, @sarahlizziewrites, @starlitpage, @drippingmoon, @marigoldispeculiar, and anyone else who wants to do this! :D

[plotting-against-you]

Ellie's Instagram Page 3

Liked by upton_hailey, thatsDr2u, and 1,303,411 others

elle.belle.13 When you text your brother that he's needed at the studio ASAP, and he brings his whole unit like it's going to be a crime scene or something... jaybird a-DAMN-ruz revupkev #overprotectivebrother

View all 700,131 comments

jaybird next time don't just text '911 at studio'

elle.belle.13 my bad...

mouseinthehouse oh i can't wait to hear this story

elle.belle.13 my version or Jay's?

mouseinthehouse both.

Liked by elle.belle.13, jaybird, revupkev, and 40 others

mouseinthehouse when you bring your wife to work and she gets a candid shot of you looking awesome (photo cred: elle.belle.13)

View all 37 comments

sargeincharge Taking pictures in my precinct while you're supposed to be working? What do I pay you for?

burgess.16 that's a good color on him. elle.belle.13 did you buy him that?

elle.belle.13 yep! 'twas a christmas gift

stellaride you guys are so cute.

Liked by trudyplatt, cruz_control, chiefofthehouse, and 5,990,655 others

elle.belle.13 Shout out to all the fans who voted for this. This moment is dedicated to you. I couldn't have done it without you.

View all 4,331,212 comments

jaybird YEAH BABY. You deserve this win!

elle.belle.13 lol how drunk are you?

sylvie.brett Herrmann gave shots on the house for your win.

kellys3 congrats! a drink on me when you get home!

mouseinthehouse that's my girl!

Liked by burgess.16, upton_hailey, MamaDrManning, and 4,667,819 others

elle.belle.13 Can't believe we get to meet you soon baby. Thank God for your uncles being here. Hopefully, you'll get to meet your daddy soon. #itstime #babytime

View all 3,999,890 comments

upton_hailey I hate how amazing you look while in labor. It should be unlawful.

jaybird we're right here for you. we got you.

trudyplatt Halstead get off your phone and help your sister.

jaybird she told me i could look at it!

thatsdr2u you're doing amazing. now let's welcome Baby Gerwitz so I know if I have a niece or nephew!

mouseinthehouse you're amazing. you're the best person in the world. I'll be home soon to see our little one and you.

Liked by stellaride, mouch, not_march_or_may, and 3,245,671 others

elle.belle.13 TBT to my Lover photoshoot #loverera #pinkorblue

View all 1,220,433 comments

m.lockwood Love this look for you, Ellie!

sweetlil123 loved this shoot. so glad I was able to be a part of it!

mouseinthehouse so.much.glitter.

elle.belle.13 we're still finding glitter, huh? #oops

Liked by upton_hailey, sweetlil123, jaxx.maxx, mandapanda, and 5,790,800 others

elle.belle.13 for those of you who didn't see my tiktok videos, here is the list of songs for my upcoming album! #meetmeatmidnight #midnights

View all 4,900,999 comments

upton_hailey I CANNOT WAIT

elle.belle.13 as if you haven't heard the songs already...

upton_hailey I'm just excited for everyone else to hear them!

burgess.16 will be exclusively playing this in my car at work and at home for the foreseeable future so beware a-DAMN-ruz

a-DAMN-ruz noted.

Liked by thatsDr2u, choi33, mouseinthehouse, and 2,344,712 others

elle.belle.13 I can't even go jogging without my brother following me... #getalife #overprotectivebrother

View all 1,122,634 comments

jaybird if you didn't ditch your security we wouldn't have to do this every time

thatsDr2u i'm with Jay. stop ditching your security.

upton_hailey please listen to them so I don't have to follow you again while listening to him complain the whole time

[jsms01]

LOL Surprise Purple Back too School Essentials Set for Girls, Purple, Size 16"

New Post has been published on https://snikpro.com/product/lol-surprise-purple-back-too-school-essentials-set-for-girls-purple-size-16/

LOL Surprise Purple Back too School Essentials Set for Girls, Purple, Size 16"

Price: (as of – Details)

Perfect for girls ages 3+ in grades 2 to 5, this pink and purple LOL backpack set (11 x 4 x 16 in.) comes w/ a BPA free water bottle, an LOL pencil holder, an LOL lunch bag + a clip. It holds everything she needs for school without being too big for her shoulders. Attach the soft lunch bag (7 x 4 x 9.5 in.) with the included clip for hands free travel. Make school more fun with the familiar comfort of her favorite characters! The main compartment of the backpack fits folders, binders, notebooks, & a lunch box. The mesh side pockets hold water bottles, & the large front zip pocket keeps writing supplies organized. Comes with a pink BPA free water bottle! Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 5 x 0.7 inches; 10.4 Ounces Manufacturer recommended age ‏ : ‎ 7 years and up Department ‏ : ‎ Girls Date First Available ‏ : ‎ June 24, 2019 Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Ruz ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07FS61T2M

Zipper closure 5 PC. VALUE GIRLS LOL BACKPACK SET – Perfect for girls ages 3+ , specifically in grades 2 to 5, this pink and purple LOL backpack (11 x 4 x 16 in.) comes w/ a BPA free water bottle, an LOL pencil holder, an LOL lunch bag + a clip. It holds everything she needs for school without being too big for her shoulders. LOL DOLL BACKPACK FOR GIRLS 16 INCH – The main compartment of the backpack fits folders, binders, notebooks, & a lunch box. The mesh side pockets hold water bottles, & the large front zip pocket keeps writing supplies organized. Comes with a pink BPA free water bottle! INCLUDES A MATCHING LOL LUNCH BAG – Attach the soft lunch bag (7 x 4 x 9.5 in.) with the included clip for hands free travel. Make school more fun with the familiar comfort of her favorite characters! DESIGNED FOR KIDS – An easy to grab top handle lets her hang the bag in her cubby or carry by hand. Zipper pulls make the compartments simple to open and close, and the straps are padded for comfort. FOR GIRLS AGES 3+ – Durable enough to last the whole school year and adjustable as she grows, this cute girl backpack makes a great back to school gift with LOL school supplies!

[fighterkimburgess]

Unintentional Chapter 3 - Discovery

Summary: The gulf between Kim and her friends is wide, Christmas plans change, and an apology is given. Series masterlist here

Words: 3k

Warnings: alcohol

Wanna join my taglist?

—

The next couple of weeks felt like Kim was walking through sand. Winter had hit hard, and Christmas passed quietly. Previously she’d have spent it with Adam and Kev, the three cooking steaks and drinking beers, forgetting about their familial woes. She was invited, but Kev warned her Hailey would be there and Kim couldn’t face it. She lied, said she was spending it with Nicole and Zoe and doing a family Christmas for the first time in years. Instead it was four pm, she had preordered enough Chinese takeout for the next day as well, and there was a Hallmark movie marathon on tv. The knock on her door startled her, and she padded across the living room to check who was there.

Peering out the spy hole it was Jay, and Kim smiled at his appearance as she opened the door.

“Hey, I thought you were going to do a drop off a gift and run?” He came in, giving her a hug and handing over a wrapped gift and some beers with a smile

“What can I say, I figured spending the holiday with you for most of the day was better than a drop and run on my own. Happy Christmas, Kim.”

She went to the small tree in the corner and pulled out his gift, handing it over and taking the sixpack he’d brought to put into the fridge. She pulled out two cold beers, and they opened them up as they tore open the wrapping paper.

One evening when they’d been out getting dinner he’d mentioned how not having Will there for Christmas was going to be weird. The brothers usually bought each other tickets to a Blackhawks game. She’d gotten Jay two tickets for the one the next day so he could keep the tradition going, and his hug for her when she gave them to him made her positive it was the right decision. Jay got her a new cookbook and a gift card to the Italian grocery she liked but was too expensive for going to every day. He apologised for not spending as much money on her as she had on him, but Kim waved it off. They were the perfect gifts, and Kim cancelled her food order, instead putting in the one the two of them usually got.

“You’ll come with me to the game tomorrow, right? I’d usually go with Ruz, but with everything going on…” Jay trailed off and Kim just nodded.

“Sure. If you want me to, it’d be fun. Plus it means technically your present is for me, if that makes you feel better.” He laughed at her comment, clinking their beers as they cheered before taking a swallow.

They ended up watching the Hallmark movies she had on, eating Chinese food and drinking beers, getting progressively drunker as the movies continued.

“Maybe I should do that. Quit my job and move to some little town to learn the real meaning of Christmas, where I meet a man who’s the man of my dreams even though two weeks before I didn’t know he existed and he makes me decide to stay away from the big city and raise a bunch of kids,” Kim rambled, Jay laughing at her extravagant arm gestures.

“You’d be bored in a week. You’re the kind of woman who can do anything, Kim. We should go out some night, I’ll be your wingman and we can both pick someone up.” Kim knew he was drunk for even saying that.

“Ha, thanks but no thanks. I’d be watching you fight the ladies off. Which would be fun to watch, I guess. I just miss intimacy. I miss cuddling. The last time I cuddled someone was with you. And you’re good at it! But it’s weird.” She scrunched up her nose slightly. She could tell precisely the last three times she’d had sex, and it was twice with Adam and once with Matt. She really needed to get laid. Constantly thinking about her coworkers like this didn’t help.

“You’re probably my best friend at this point. We should cuddle. It’s fine to cuddle. Can I stay in your spare bed again tonight? I’m too drunk to drive. We can go cuddle now!” He stood, holding out his hand for Kim, who took it and led him to the spare room. Kim put on a tank top and sweatpants, Jay shucking off his jeans and over shirt before lying down. Once they were horizontal Jay’s arm went around Kim’s shoulders, pulling her closer as Kim curled against him.

“Night, Kim.”

“Night, Jay.”

Kim woke up in the same position she’d fallen asleep in, Jay’s arms around her, her head curled into his chest. It was safe and comfortable, and for a few terrifying moments she wondered if they’d just ruined their friendship. But she heard Jay’s breathing change as he woke, and he just moved his arm around her and closed his eyes again.

They spent the day together, the morning eating breakfast foods and recovering from their hangovers. Kim cursed turning thirty, Jay glaring at her when she mumbled into her coffee that she regretted it.

It didn’t take too long for the mix of Advil, coffee, and frozen breakfast sandwiches that she’d put together in a fit of industry one day off to make them both feel better. The early part of the day was spent on the couch, watching replays of the previous days football games. When it was time they started getting ready for the game and heading in together, Jay driving in the truck, parking and walking in with her.

The Hawks were winning at half time and Jay decided to get them beers and nachos. She’d offered to pay, but Jay insisted she’d got the tickets, he was paying for overpriced food. Kim was watching the screen, only semi paying attention when a familiar blonde was on the kiss cam. She watched as Hailey and Adam kissed, feeling her stomach turn. It was the first time she’d ever seen them as an actual couple, and they looked happy. Jay arrived back to the seats as they separated, his face like thunder.

“You ok?”

“Nope.”

They watched the Hawks win, Jay’s tension building and Kim could feel it. As soon as the game was over she grabbed his arm, pulling them out of the stadium. They didn’t need to deal with it, didn’t need to run into Hailey and Adam, and she worried about seeing them with the way Jay was. He was heartbroken, and she could tell.

They pulled up at his apartment, and he opened a beer for Kim before he even opened his own. They sat drinking in silence for a few moments before Kim spoke.

“You love her, don’t you?”

“No offence Kim, I don’t want to talk about it. I know you and Adam broke up, but you didn’t have to deal with seeing him with someone else when you had fallen for him.”

“I kissed him when he was still with Wendy.” She’d never told anyone that before, she and Adam planning on bringing it to their graves. “We were at Molly’s, I’d had a bad day, and I kissed him. The next week he tracked me down in the precinct to tell me that he was going to make it work with Wendy, and we shouldn’t talk anymore. So I get it, Jay. I really do.”

He leaned his head back over the head of the couch, staring at the ceiling for a minute before speaking.

“I was going to ask her out. We’ve been flirting for months, and then when Will went under I went to her house to ask her out. I saw how Will was when he couldn’t say goodbye to Nat, and I’d have been the same if I didn’t get to say goodbye to her. But Ruzek was shirtless in her apartment. Puts a damper on the love confession when you can’t even say it to her, but say it to your best friend who’s also her best friend. But yeah, I love her.” He took a long drink, and Kim sat up, about to bare her soul knowing Jay wouldn’t judge her.

“You’re my friend. And anything we say doesn’t go any further than us. I really do get it. I kissed Adam six weeks before he ended things with Wendy, and I hated myself for those six weeks. Then I didn’t get brought up because Voight thought we were fucking. So out of everyone in the unit, I get it. I get the feelings, I get not wanting to rock the boat, and I get realising that it’s not going to happen.” Kim stayed quiet, looking at him closely.

“Dating in work is just a bad idea. A really, really bad idea. But hey, when you do a job like ours what else are you really going to be able to do?”

“Ain’t that the truth! You ok after tonight?” Kim asked, Jay nodding once.

“I think so. Sorry about tonight.”

“You don’t need to be. I’m gonna get an uber home. I’ll see you next week when we’re back in work?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Kim.”

The cases went past, and Kim was barely stopping to pay attention to anything else. Things were still frosty between her and Hailey outside of work, and they’d started taking it in turns to go to Molly’s to not bring the mood down. She went to work and home and back, Molly’s every few nights. Part of her wanted to just forget about Molly’s, but she missed her unit, missed her friends. Antonio had stopped drinking so she went for coffee with him every couple of days after work. Laura had stopped him from seeing the kids, and he didn’t even complain. It worried Kim, but she dealt with it, trying to encourage him.

It was being with Adam on a case that made them talk, standing outside the car, their wires off until they were told to switch them on.

“I want things to go back to how they were between us,” Adam said, looking at her.

“The reason things aren’t how they were is because you didn’t tell me, Adam. You’re a good friend, Hailey was my best friend. Do you think I wouldn’t have been delighted that the two of you were dating? That I wouldn’t be so happy for you? I’m delighted for you. I want you and Hailey to be happy, if that’s together that’s better because it’s someone who gets this job. But I found out because of Jay. You knew we were becoming better friends, we were hanging out. As soon as he found out and left you should have called me to tell me. Even that would have been better.” Her voice was calm, but Kim couldn’t stop the hurt from coming through.

“I know. And I’m sorry. I don’t want to speak for Hailey, but I know she is too. I miss you. She misses you. Come to Molly’s after work tonight? We don’t have to talk, we can use Jay and Kev as buffers. But just spend time together, please?” He was pleading, and Kim gave him a smile.

“Sure. I can’t promise a lot, but I’ll do what I can. It’s going to take time for me to get used to it, ok?”

“Take the time you need. But I’m glad we get to spend time together.” He reached out his arm, Kim leaning into it and giving him a quick hug before their earpieces flared to life and they got ready for the deal.

It went off without a hitch, the two of them making their arrests and bringing them in. It was a big batch of heroin off the streets, and it felt like things were getting easier. She still hadn’t talked to Hailey, but the chill between them was thawing. That night at Molly’s showed her how far they’d come, but that there was still a gap to bridge.

Kim sat around the table, the five of them who still drank with beers in front of them. She was sitting as far away from Hailey as she could, she and Jay opposite each other. They talked about sports, the news about the latest Cubs roster and the way the Hawks were playing. It was awkward and uncomfortable, Adam bringing up the Kiss Cam and Jay and Kim both frowning.

“Yeah, we were at the game too.”

“Oh.”

They separated after that drink, the awkwardness too much for them all. But they survived it, and that was the important part.

It was a week later, everyone sitting around the bullpen when Jay’s cell rang. Kim looked up at the noise, watching as his face turned from passive to frantic. He grabbed his jacket, putting his head into Voight and leaving again. They all looked around at each other, but it was a paperwork heavy day so nobody would miss him while he was gone. Kim pulled out her phone to send him a text, not expecting a response.

Everything ok? Let me know if you need anything.

I might. Will’s on a flight home, we’ll see how he is when he’s back.

She relaxed into her chair a little, at least she knew what had happened. She was pretty sure nobody else in the unit knew why Will was gone, knew about him being in Witness Protection. The story that had been spread was that he was helping set up an ED in Central America, that he was fine but teaching people new skills. On more than one of their tipsy nights Jay had confided the truth in her, that he’d ruined his brother’s wedding and was afraid Will would never forgive him for it.

She was home that evening when there was a knock at the door, Jay standing there. As soon as she opened it he came in, opening his arms and reaching for Kim. She held him for a moment, before they moved to the couch and curled up together.

“What happened?”

It was silent, Jay’s hand stroking her hair, Kim staying still and giving him the time to think before he spoke.

“He’s not the same. He’s anxious, he kept staring out the window, it’s like when we’re on stakeouts. He bought a gun. My brother, the guy who hates them and keeps telling me how awful gunshots are to treat? He bought one. He had it holstered on his hip, like he’s used to having it there. I’m worried, but if I tell him I am I know he’ll tell me it’s my fault.”

Kim moved her arm, running her fingers along Jay’s upper arm as he petted her head. It was peaceful for once, the two of them just there.

“You can’t fix him, Jay. You can’t tell him it’ll be ok, he needs to learn that for himself. And he will. He’s got you, Nat, everyone at Med and everyone at the 21st. You just need to be there for him. He’s probably starting the same kind of thing you had coming back from Afghanistan. As long as he knows you’re there, that’s what matters.”

“You think?” Jay’s voice was low, and Kim could tell there were tears on the horizon.

“I know. He knows you love him. He knows you would never do anything that didn’t help him unless you were forced to. He’s your brother, Jay. You’re all he has left. It’ll take some time, but the two of you’ll be fine in a while.”

Kim could hear the first shaky breath that heralded the start of Jay’s tears, but she just stayed still, continuing her actions. Jay’s breath stuttered as he sobbed, the tears coming thick and fast, some falling onto her head. But still she stayed in her position, letting him hold her and get it out. Did she like the idea of not comforting him? Not in the slightest. But she knew Jay needed to get it out, needed to get the emotions through and she was a safe place for him to do it. She was too proud that she was that safe place for him now, and she needed to stay that for him.

“Thanks, Kim.” Jay pushed another kiss to the top of her head, and when he lifted his head she sat up.

“I figured you needed to get it out. How’re you feeling?”

“I mean, still worried and anxious. But better. Who knew crying would help?” He paused for a moment, spotting the look in Kim’s eyes. “Don’t answer that. Did I miss much after work?”

“Nah, the usual paperwork day stuff. Hailey asked me to go for dinner next week, I said not yet.” She’d just wanted to change the subject, not wanting to talk about Will anymore, but she felt like she’d put her foot in it.

“Yeah? You should.”

“How are things between you and her now?”

“It doesn’t hurt as much?” He smiled, and Kim copied the motion. “I mean we work together every day. The feelings are still there, but if I can be her friend that’s the important part I think. I’d rather have Hailey in my life as my partner and friend than not at all, regardless of what I’d prefer to happen. Make sense?”

“Yeah, it does. I get it, it’s tough but it’s worth it.”

“Yeah. Have you eaten? Want me to order, I think it’s my turn.”

He ordered Chinese food for them, a grin on Kim’s face as he remembered her order and got an extra portion of egg rolls so they didn’t fight over the last one. They ate and hugged before Jay left, feeling a little bit more at peace with everything.

The next day they came into an untraceable weapon smuggling ring, and Kim had to stay on her A-game. It was complex and twisting, but finally Adam had a CI who broke open and arranged a meet. It was decided she’d go under with him, posing as siblings the next day. So that night she went home, had an early night, and prepared for what felt like the biggest operation she’d done so far.

Chapter 4>>

Taglist: @kellykidd @resanoona @pinkwhitebrown @harleyquinnpuddin @dedlund82 @brookerz122493 @stephanie708

[to-isengard-and-back]

Grimoire Entry for Ostara

Ostara: (Mar 20-23)

The spring equinox rebirth, fertility, and revival. End of the dark half of the year. Marriage and love, rebirth, revival, resurrection (Year of the Witch, pg. 123-24)

History: (https://www.learnreligions.com/history-of-ostara-the-spring-equinox-2562485) -Roman: Thought to have been created by Cesar to mark the beginning of the tropical year, “In ancient Rome, the followers of Cybele believed that their goddess had a consort who was born via a virgin birth. His name was Attis, and he died and was resurrected each year during the time of the vernal equinox on the Julian Calendar” -Persian: “A dynasty of Persian kings known as the Achaemenians celebrated the spring equinox with the festival of No Ruz, which means "new day." It is a celebration of hope and renewal still observed today in many Persian countries, and has its roots in Zoroastrianism. In Iran, a festival called Chahar-Shanbeh Suri takes place right before No Ruz begins, and people purify their homes and leap over fires to welcome the 13-day celebration of No Ruz. -Maya: “The indigenous Mayan people in Central American have celebrated a spring equinox festival for ten centuries. As the sun sets on the day of the equinox on the great ceremonial pyramid, El Castillo, Mexico, its "western face...is bathed in the late afternoon sunlight. The lengthening shadows appear to run from the top of the pyramid's northern staircase to the bottom, giving the illusion of a diamond-backed snake in descent." This has been called "The Return of the Sun Serpent" since ancient times.” -Anglo-Saxon: “According to the Venerable Bede, Eostre was the Saxon version of a Germanic goddess called Ostara. Her feast day was held on the full moon following the vernal equinox–almost the identical calculation as for the Christian Easter in the west. There is very little documented evidence to prove this, but one popular legend is that Eostre found a bird, wounded, on the ground late in winter. To save its life, she transformed it into a hare. But "the transformation was not a complete one. The bird took the appearance of a hare but retained the ability to lay eggs...the hare would decorate these eggs and leave them as gifts to Eostre."”

Myths: (Year of the Witch, pg. 125) -Eostre: anglo-saxon goddess of spring -Pan: incarnation of the horned god, waking of animals -Triple Goddess: the triple goddess takes the maiden form in this time -Persephone (Kore): Returns to her mother and leaves the underworld to bring the light half of the year

Correspondences: (https://thewitchesbox.com/correspondences-for-ostara/) -Colors: Pink, Yellow, Grass Green, All Pastels, Robin’s Egg Blue -Plants: Celandine, Cinquefoil, Jasmine, Rose, Tansy, Viole, Acorn, Crocus, Daffodil, Dogwood, Honeysuckle, Iris, Lily, Strawberry

Rituals: -Spring Cleaning (Modified from the Spring Cleaning and Decluttering Ritual, Year of the Witch, pg. 126-27) Cleansing of the space lets the old out and the new in Tools: White candle, broom, mop, florida water or cleansing essential oils, trash bags, incense. Begin by meditating and lighting your candle with the intention of renewal and cleansing. You can add a sigil to the bottom of the candle if you feel this would help. Begin cleaning in a clockwise circle, beginning at your altar. Move from top to bottom cleaning items off the floor first. Place all items you intend to keep in a central location (bed or table), and place items to be donated or thrown away in trash bags. After tidying, sweep the room in a clockwise circle, then mop in the same way, using the florida water or essential oil in the mop water. After the room is clean and the items you intend to keep are gathered, cleanse the items (this can be done with smoke, or a cleansing spray. Finally return items to their places and cleanse the room with your incense of choice.  

-Egg Dying: Using natural dyes to dye eggs is a great way to appreciate the newly available produce and foliage! Resource on natural dyes: https://www.ediblela.com/news/natural-food-dyes

-Manifestations: I personally wear charmed jewelry as part of my practice so one way to carry a manifestation with you is to charge a piece of jewelry with your intentions. To do this you simply need a container or plate that you can store the jewelry in. Begin by grounding, then write your manifestations down on a slip of paper and meditate with it. Put this paper at the bottom of your container and cover with salt. Add stones and herbs that align with what you are manifesting (i.e. rose quartz for love, lavender for peace ect.). Make sure to cleanse the piece of jewelry you want to use, then every night when you take it off put it in the container.  

A happy Ostara to all, and may this next season treat you well!

[ghostofgnasha]

↕ - a memory that may or may not have happened

A wise Opradush never kept all their Nyarlagroth eggs in one nest thus it was no surprise that the Gumm-Gumm army were frequently spread over vast distances with Generals entrusted with the upkeep and to carry out given orders. This continent of land they called home was a vast one and while the churning seas were impossible to tread by any of their numbers, their race had more than enough patience to march the long way to find all the nooks and crannies fellow trolls tried to hide in when they attempted to refused to pay tribute or make themselves useful in serving their Warlord who protected all of their kind. Warriors could be lost during travel, battle or even sickness which made keeping their numbers healthy important and Gnasha was the type that should respect be served and the signs true, chances would always be offered. Why waste the energy razing to make a point unless it was absolutely necessary? Sometimes a bit of careful nudging would be all that was needed to bring them into line or even provide unexpected boons.

Any stupid enough to claim any of this was done out of softness would be relieved of their heads before their words were finished.

With the latest rise of Klokaron’s might the ruz begin to rise grumpily from their slumber having not particularly enjoyed this particular General’s keenness to abuse every drop of light while it was in their favour. While they were ready to depart immediately, as long as their dawdling did not interfere with their duties they could allow it as it would be ignorant to assume all were carved from the same stone after all just meant some were a poor fit to be under their leadership…. Though if they burned much more Kloka it would be a very different story, there had already been one accident occur almost a season ago and a second was not impossible. Still if they were starting to get restless perhaps an alternative for them to sink teeth into may be wiser and could there any greater joy in hunting for fresher meat after a diet consisting largely of deer and bear for the past fortnight? Stragglers found on the roads were rare and through their status they took priority on the prime food source, this was likely an overdue turn.

Thumping their tail to gain attention with the minimal of noise they watch over the party of seven who swiftly scrabble to attention saluting with the hand not holding a weapon.

“Tell the walkers to gather our supplies, we move out to follow a trail that has presented it’s self upon the bramla. If they are slow do not harry them, they have not been trained in the ways we have and should not be treated as such,” they say with a snort, gold eyeing one in particular who had touched the line though had yet to cross it. Lucky for them.

“They are with us until I choose otherwise but I do not expect any further dawdling than you have already cost us. Dismissed.”

The lot of them scatter like rabbits eager to get moving as much as not wanting to cause any further annoyance proving exactly why none of these will ever stretch beyond their station here, it was simply beyond their ability. At least they are not left waiting long and the march can begin with Gnasha at their head choosing a route that coasts the treeline to give their tag-alongs cover should it be required and would help break up the silhouettes if any if the watch’s the fleshbags sometimes employed carried torches of flame or mystery lights. There would often be an issue with the creatures called dogs being a noisy nuisance though they are wrapped in a reasonably edible form and ill suited with dealing with the issue of roaming trolls.

When checked again the scent whispered that they were not far and behind them they can hear how the nearest were already itching for the tantalising glimpses that lay ahead in in little shelters made of wood and stone where they were perfectly exposed to all and sundry.

What a pity

Knowing the temptation to break rank risked getting the better of the ruz if they wait much longer they order them to attention immediately then send the walkers into the trees where they are to stand by until given the signal to join them for fleshbag or not until they were certain of the safety of the area lest an ambush be waiting. Despite the grumbling from the weaker members of their party a glare quickly sets them right with the reminder that insubordination would be acceptable by no one. Quickly they take their things and melt back into the shadows where it would be impossible for those without the gift to see them. With another thump of their tail, they descend onto fours to help mask their much larger build and launch straight into a charge as eager as the rest for the soon to be carnage and oh what one it would be!

Foolish things that they were no alarm could be sounded for their watch had retired to bed early much like the rest had expecting a quieter night and by the time the dogs started to raise the alarm the village was already filled with hungry trolls with even more coming when the bellow is sounded. The death trap is further emphasised by the screaming of those snatched from their beds or farm tools wielded in a poor attempt to drive them back shattering upon stone and the sobbing tears. With such easy pickings it is rather tame prey for their liking but it would at least keep the lot of them sated for a good while and not a trace would be le-

The General lifts their head with a maw well-stained catching a fleeting glimpse of one of the small ones bolting beyond the walls likely hoping to be spared. Flashing a grin they tilt their head left, right, left again as though counting before perusing this little thing with such an incredibly indulgent gait that it gives it more than an ample opportunity to escape for it’s daring. By intention or not they only becoming more delighted each time it looks back in terror until it finally is able to dive into the now unguarded woods and the visual is lost. With a long hummed sound as they approach their movements become more akin to a languid cat in how they sniff the air curiously pretending to truly have no idea where it had fled. The mystery of whether it would chose to run or to hide intrigues so they decide to play with it a little more by aimlessly wandering or deliberately rustling branches above as if to shake them of their spot. The act is kept up perhaps too long but they felt in too good a mood not to.

“Such a clever little rodent,” they say with an almost sing-song tone while slinking it’s direction.

Finally they zero in on it’s hiding place and press their armoured snout against the trunk that hid the child given away easily by how with each draw of breath spoke so or the noisy whimpering. How easy it would be to simply rip the trunk aside and pluck them from the splintered remains like that of fleshy fruit that had turned just ripe but they decide they shall not do so, instead they give it a chance to choose a fate it felt most fitting to have... With a little incentive of course. A pair of claws begin to scrape erratically down the bark far higher up while wondering if it would decide to leap straight into their jaws or would it manage to hold it’s nerve as the sound grows ever closer and closer to the tiny hole that must have been used to squeeze inside?

 Click

 Crack

 Click

 Crack

 Hm.

The boy is left alone.

[anotheronechicagobog]

Volomag and Vodka

Part 1

A/N: Volomag is a painkiller similar to aspirin, please do not take them both at the same time, your liver may not be able to process them at the same time resulting in death.

This story is also posted on Wattpad under the username chantalis

Written by @anotheronechicagobog

The title comes from what I think Voight would say once he realized how all his subordinates were looking at each other :D

Living with one of your coworkers was... Interesting to say the least. Hailey was just happy that Rojas wasn’t also her partner otherwise they would see way too much of each other and wouldn’t have the sister bond they’re working so hard on forming. When Hailey left earlier, to go have breakfast with Jay, Vanessa didn’t think anything of it. It was becoming more and more common for her to wake up to a note on the fridge saying that Hailey was somewhere doing something with Jay. They were partners, had survived a lot together,were totally in love with each other, and they refused to acknowledge their own feelings. So Vanessa found it odd in no way at all. It was one fateful Friday morning that something was different. A short but precise note was left on the fridge in Hailey’s swirly writing, but something was, not out of place, somewhere it was not supposed to be. In direct sight line from the coffee maker, in the little nook that herald the washer and dryer, was a basket that held Hailey’s dry load from last night that hadn’t been folded yet on top of said dryer. Even with the distance between Vanessa and the article of clothing, the fact that it still slightly crumpled up, and only pieces of it were visible from the voids between the white plastic, she could clearly recognize the shirt. The faded dark green cotton t-shirt with grey lettering stood out like a sore thumb amongst Hailey’s red, blue, and black clothes. The same t-shirt Halstead wore the first time Vanessa went to watch the blackhawks game at Ruzek’s place for the first team game night. His army rangers t-shirt.

It happened more and more over the next couple of months, Jay staying over and sleeping with Hailey, in her bed, and at least him but usually both being gone by the time Vanessa got up. She’d woken up or come back late and peeked in Hailey’s room enough times to see them dead asleep, wrapped in each other, and fully clothed. She started listening out for them, to see if they were doing anything... Eventful. But nope. She heard them, but they never had sex. Or did anything even remotely steamy. There was only a thin wall between Vanessa and Hailey’s rooms, she could hear everything but the specifics. She could hear talking, murmuring, laughing, and oddly enough, singing. From both of them. She didn’t know what was going on, but she had never seen either of them so well rested. And apparently, she wasn’t the only one. Kim was asking her if she had a boyfriend, “no, no boyfriend. Just a new pillow.” Jay, who’d been pretending not to listen raised and amused eyebrow at Hailey, and action that was only noticed by Hailey and Vanessa. And the guys ribbed Jay about finally getting laid. “She must be real special if she’s making you smile.”

“Huh?”

“Ruz is right, you’ve been smiling more, you’re definitely seeing someone.”

“And getting laid.”

“RUZ.”

“Guys,” Jay interrupted the beginning of an argument, “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m not seeing someone. Or getting any.”

“What? No way man, I don’t buy it. You definitely have a ‘I just had mind-blowing sex’ vibe about you.”

“You know I don’t get the chance to say this often, but Ruzek is right.”

“HEY!”

“Seriously guys. I’m not hooking up with anybody, haven’t for a while actually, I’m just sleeping better.”

“Really?”

“How?”

“I got a different bed.” That last line made Hailey inhale her coffee.

Around New Years, Jay went to spend his vacation time with the other Halstead in New York. Leaving Hailey without her bedtime companion. This resulted in the blonde woman falling asleep everywhere that wasn’t her bed. Seriously, she fell asleep in Vanessa’s bed once. This time Vanessa found her asleep on the couch, the TV still playing Wonder Woman. There had been a new addition to Hailey’s regular wardrobe. A chain, the pendant or whatever was on it, was tucked underneath her shirt. The chain wasn’t one you’d usually find with a necklace, one of those bumpy ones that were usually reserved for dog tags. When Vanessa found Hailey sleeping on the couch on January second, she found that she was right. The metal had fallen out from under her shirt due to her position, and when Vanessa pulled a blanket around her she got a good look at them.

Halstead, Jay

1234567890

AB NEG

CATHOLIC

Hailey Upton was wearing a set of Jay’s dog tags. She was shocked, so shocked it left her trembling. She was shaking as she took out her phone to snap a picture. She quickly retreated, to move the photo into a locked folder. If whatever they were got out, it wasn’t going to be through her. Once she calmed herself down fury started to cocoon her. Hailey was fucking awesome, had a fucking terrible childhood, and Vanessa was going to be damned if that fucker didn’t know what he had. So she called him. “Listen up you adicto al gel para el cabelo-“

“Rojas?”

“Don’t you dare interrupt me Halstead o juro por Dios que volare a Nuevo York y te amenazare en persona.”

“I’m sure that you have a very good reason to be threatening me- are you threatening me? It feels like you’re threatening me- in Spanish but it’s three am.”

“I don’t know what you and Hailey are doing but if you hurt her I’ll rip of your balls and turn them into a pair of earrings and give the to Hailey on her birthday. Are we clear?”

“... Yes.”

“Bueno.”

“We- we’re not...”

“Hm?”

“We’re not sleeping together- well, okay, we’re sleeping together- but it’s JUST sleep. Not sex. Just sleep. Cuddling. And eating together... and stuff. Just, uh, not sex. I’m telling the truth. Promise.”

“I know.”

“How did you find out?”

“Lot’s of little hints. What really solidified it was seeing you dog tags around her neck.”

“Oh. Yeah. Those were part of her Christmas gift. Just... I wanted her to know that she’s important to me.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t hurt her, she doesn’t deserve that.”

“I know. I won’t.” Then she hung up, he got the message, and Vanessa really didn’t want to hear him stutter in her ear anymore.

[fiddles-ifs]

WORLDBUILDING WEDNESDAY: Romance & Courtship

While the real-world inspirations for Ruzayn all have extremely detailed inheritance and marriage laws that were written down far earlier than most, Ruzayn itself is mostly a bunch of islands of anarchists and agoraphobic hermits allergic to being told what to do. Customarily, inheritance follows a version of the irl Mongol Empire succession law: the youngest child inherits the majority share, while the older siblings get lesser but equal parts, whatever that looks likes. Practically, there’s not really any way to enforce this, but honor and oaths are as important as breathing to the Ruz, so only very rarely do you encounter problems.

Much like Alandria, Iskar, and other countries, marriages between the Ruz Khans are more often than not arranged -- though if the engaged parties find each other incompatible no one can force them into marriage. The Ruz are highly against forcing anybody into anything, or being forced to do anything, and so there are usually no political repercussions for this. Usually.

If the engaged parties (usually between the ages of 16-25 upon first meeting) find each other compatible, usually they begin courting. Courtship can involve a few things -- gifts, strolls around town or in nature, love songs and dedicated poetry. Raiding together is also a surprisingly popular practice, since no one wants to be married to a dishonorable person and the only way to really get to know how someone reacts to stress is in battle. Popular engagement gifts include combs (of either bone or silver if you want to be super romantic), newly forged weapons and armor, and -- if you’re feeling especially generous -- a brand new ship.

A critical part of Ruz courtship is the khamag kholma (lit. “shared home”), in which the engaged parties move into their own space a year before the set wedding date, to test how well they’d work together in their own household. The families of the Khans more often than not have a dedicated space for this -- a smaller house on a small piece of land -- but common families often simply move into a relative’s house.

There’s very little discernable difference between common and noble families in Ruzayn -- both culturally, and in courtship. 

Ruzayn does not do. Fancy. Or even really laws, for that matter, at least ones that are written down. All that’s required for two people to be married is to mutually agree “yeah, totes hitched” (not the exact words) upon being asked by people in passing. In practice, a wedding celebration is usually held on an auspicious day determined by a religious leader known as an udagan. 

The married couple (who do not -- in comparison to Alandria and Iskar and those other guys who are incredibly fussy about who can get married -- have to be a man and a woman) and their families arrive on separate ships that have their fores painted white. Once the families set foot on land, the ceremony is usually held with the udagan present to confer blessings, and the couple-to-be exchange axes or swords and oath rings, which are all sacred symbols and usually passed down through generations. Three animal sacrifices -- one for the land, one for the sky, and one for the sea -- are usually performed, along with a libation of mead and milk. Afterwards, there’s usually a foot race, and the losing family has to serve drinks and food to the winning family during the week long wedding feast and celebrations. Through the whole ceremony (which includes the wedding feast) gifts are given to both the newlyweds and the udagan. 

Obviously there are universal taboos -- consanguinity, abuse, etc., which generally follows the Ruzayn belief of “eye for an eye.” It’s culturally understood that causing harm in your romantic life will come around, usually sooner rather than later.

Polyamorous marriages are also widely accepted. Divorce is twice as simple as marriage -- the usual process is simply packing up your things and leaving your marital home, no questions asked.

Ruz people tend towards 1-2 children, though the infant mortality rate in Ruzayn is incredibly high, due to Ruzayn’s harsh climate, lack of available resources, and the hard life undertaken by mercenary families in Ruzayn. A child doesn’t receive a name until the age of two, along with their first haircut (postryzhennya). This day is considered their birthday, and the day their education officially begins. Most parents in Ruzayn allow their children to discover consequences on their own time -- they won’t warn you against sticking your hand in a fire, because otherwise you’ll never learn that it burns. This doesn’t mean that Ruz parents are unkind to their children -- Ruz families are often incredibly close-knit. Superstitions such as smudging a stripe of soot across a child’s forehead to confuse bad spirits, dressing them in lucky colors (blue and white) until their first hair cutting day, etc. are widespread across the islands. 

People in Ruzayn live with their parents until marriage or until they can move out on their own. Twins are somehow exceedingly common and considered ill omens; a common practice with twins is to offer one as an adopted child to another family. It’s a cultural belief that the pair of them will be each others’ deaths if they grow up too closely, which is most likely a socioeconomic backlash of having such an unflexible inheritance system.

In contrast, people who have the same postryzhennya are considered spiritual twins who are destined to be friends for life. 

[talesofsorrowandofruin]

Name Meaning Tag

Thanks for tagging me, @anjaspace! :D

I’ll do this for the protagonists of Totentanz and Like Snow on Hungry Graves (the first two are fictional names, the other two are real ones):

Diarnlan: derived from two words, ediarn meaning “protect” and lan meaning “edge of a sword”

Karandren: “good fortune” (fantasy-equivalent-of-Apollo did not give his parents the gift of prophecy when they named him)

Konstantine: Georgian form of Constantine, which means “constant, steadfast”

Rusudan: Georgian name derived from the Persian word ruz meaning “day”

Tagging @vellichor-virgo, @happyorogeny, @sleepy-night-child, @zmwrites, and anyone else who wants to do this! :D

[margridarnauds]

📂

One month later....here we are. 

Something I want to bring into a fic but, in case I don’t: Lazare, before getting with Ronan, literally only knows how to kiss closed-mouthed and very, very properly. Ronan, meanwhile, kisses like an overzealous puppy. (Or, possibly, more aptly, like someone who grew up in a very rural, very closed-in environment and so has zero experience with kissing until high school prom, where he doesn’t know specifics, but he’s giving it his whole heart.) It took them several tries before they figured out how to kiss properly. 

Another thing that I was saving for a fic but tbh might as well add it here: When Marie-Therese was finally able to be reunited with her Uncle Artois, we know that she gave him a ring, from her own account, that belonged to her father. 1789!Artois, when he received it, just...stared at it, for a moment, the full realization of what he’d done and what he’d lost washing over him. It’s one of the factors for why he became more conservative and religious later in life. (Which triggered a MASSIVE blowout fight with Lazare.)

In a modern AU, Ronan gives Laz a raccoon plushy as a joke gift. Laz keeps it on his desk and is willing to death glare anyone who questions why it’s there. 

Lazare doesn’t actually just own one coat - He owns an entire collection of identical blue coats, in case one of them should get a bullet hole or scorch marks on it, and he generally wears them until they begin to fray or wear out. When they first moved in together, Ronan opened the wardrobe and just saw this. Massive collection of blue coats, all of them identical, and, on one hand, it was incredibly Lazare, but on the other hand, Ronan’s reaction was also something along the lines of “Really, Lazare? The fuck?” 

Ronan tends to call Lazare “Zarig” or “Lazig” as a nickname, along with “mon amour”, generally when he’s sleepy, drunk, or trying to seduce Lazare. He also tends to just call him “Mon Lazare”, sometimes with an emphasis on the “mon”, usually cuddling closer to him when he says it, or else pulling him closer (and it’s usually accompanied by “Mon Ronan”.) Lazare doesn’t have a specific nickname from Ronan (he's physically incapable of using “Roro”), but he does, as time goes on, relax enough to call him “mon coeur” and, in particularly emotional moments, “ma vie” and “mon bonheur” (”my happiness”). 

Olympe has no issues, meanwhile, with calling Solène “Soso” and is, in general, of the four of them, the one who’s biggest on pet names. “Mon trésor” (”my treasure”) is a particular favorite, and it makes Solène emotional every single time. But also. Olympe could literally call Solène ANYTHING and Solène would be hearteyes about it. (Solène, in the universes where the Mazuriers are Bretons, calls her “Loenig” (”Little Animal”.)

In universes where Ronan’s Breton, his favorite song to sing to Lazare, without Lazare knowing the meaning, is “Ar Soudarded Zo Gwisket e Ruz” (”The Soldiers Were Dressed In Red” - A very beautiful-yet-depressing song.) 

Fuck it, while I’m here. He also calls Laz “Ma Gwaz” (”My husband”) and  “Ma Soudard” (”My soldier.”) Laz has no idea about what the terms mean until much, much later. He tends to see Breton as...Ronan’s Thing. He develops an appreciation for it because he loves Ronan, but it isn’t something he really understands, and so a lot of Ronan’s Brezhoneg he just....puts away as “*Ronan Sounds*”. (Also means that Ronan can insult him in Brezhoneg without him knowing.) 

The Peyrol family chateau? Is totally, ridiculously haunted. It’s like. “People mention it and lightning suddenly strikes out of nowhere” levels of haunted. The De Peyrols, as a family, have been some very unhappy, very miserable people, and they carry that on after death. Lazare, meanwhile, has absolutely no belief in ghosts and firmly believes that ALL homes have floors that creak unexpectedly and windows that mysteriously open in the middle of the night. (Ronan is the one to break it to him, especially since Lazare’s ancestors, as a general rule, do NOT like him.) 

Margrid and Orléans have the type of relationship where they are fundamentally in agreement as far as their life goals, philosophies, politics, religious beliefs, etc. so they don’t really have MAJOR, blow-up arguments - Instead they have a series of long-running lovers’ quarrels. One of the major ones, in a Modern AU, is Star Wars (Philippe, who owns a bizarrely high def version of the Christmas Special that he rolls out EVERY Christmas) VS Trek (Margrid, who thinks Star Wars is stupid, though ends up coming to love it specifically because it’s stupid.)

Orléans is, of the two of them, much bigger on pet names, along with a more polite, casual “mon cher” that is more for when they’re not alone, he also uses “Ridot”, “mon coeur”, “ma râleuse” (”my complainer”), “ma tigresse”, “ma petite souris” (”my little mouse”), the latter of which HAS been known to cause murder attempts. She has “Philou” for him, but she doesn’t use it to his face because using THAT is too much like admitting that she likes him, along with “Mon Vieux” (”My Old Man”). 

Also, Orléans ribs Margrid about coming from the Alsace region. So much. Especially when she has one of those little moments where she drops a little bit of the dialect in without thinking.  

Part of why Orléans hates Fersen SO MUCH is that Fersen has such a glittering military career, which Orléans was denied. Louis was dead on when he said that Orléans motivations were jealousy towards him and Fersen, but he didn’t understand the cause. (He thought it was that Orléans was in love with Marie, and that’s what Marie gathered from what Louie said, but, while Orléans’ bitterness over their failed friendship was part of it, in the end, it was that refusal to let Orléans be something USEFUL/that feeling he was being held back that spurred it on.

.......also ONE for Irish Mythology, because why not, I’m here - Sreng ends up taking up drawing, which means that there are a TON of pieces of Bres hanging around. Bres is THRILLED and will gladly show anyone his nude sketches. (Sreng has been known to have to hold in his laughter in the wee hours of the morning, because he sees these shadowed, dignified paintings, and then there’s Bres, drooling on a pillow, taking up more than three quarters of the bed despite being the smaller one.)

[suraanahita]

Sepandārmazgān (سپندارمذگان) is an Iranian or Zoroastrian festivity commonly called the “Iranian Valentine’s day” (more accurately it is like a mother’s or woman’s day). It is truly dedicated to one of the 7 Amesha Spentas, Spənta Ārmaiti (𐬁𐬭𐬨𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬌 𐬯𐬞𐬆𐬧𐬙𐬀). Physically represented by the Earth (zam, zamyad), her essence is the ‘focus of the mind’ to induce serenity, peace, and loving bliss. She is the “harmonious thought” that brings abundance through the furthering of life.

This celebration is celebrated on the day/ruz spandarmad of the month/mah of spandarmad (same name/day-month festival; around the 5th per Fasli calendar and 18th of February per Gregorian calendar), both of which are in reverence to this Bounteous Immortal. Revered on this day is the great Earth, and consequently, women, whom Spandarmad is a patron/protector of.

Armaiti is also one of the great protectors from evil, as seen in the Denkard where she is known to defend the souls of the just. In one passage, she shields the baby Zartosht/Zarathustra alongside two other feminine Yazatas.

It is clear that this day is very special for women. Men usually will give gifts to their wives, daughters, etc. Historically “maidens” would choose husbands for themselves and people would share treats like raisins and walnuts.

On this day as well is another festival known as Jashn-e Barzegaran (festival of agriculture/farming). Spenta Armaiti is also honoured on this day, and prayers for a good harvest are observed. Special charms or signs are posted on doors to protect against evil.

In the modern day, jashn-e barzegaran is also known as the Iranian version of “Mother’s Day”...

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Here’s A Fun Fact: Artaxerxes II prayed to Spenta Armaiti to heal his daughter (Atossa) when she fell ill. She is recognized in-text as “Hera”, the Greek goddess of women, family, and child-birth.

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(A little etymology and info about Spenta Armaiti)

Root Ar- means “to flow”/“to fit in rightly” (PIE root *h2er-; shared also with Aša, cosmic flow/order). -Maiti means “contemplation, meditation”. The epithet of the her name is Spənta, which means an auspicious or bounteous life-force.

The noun Av. ārmaiti- may derive from PIIr. *harámatiš. It has a cognate in Sanskrit ‘aramati’, piety/devotion. Although Old Indic arámati- may stem instead from the verb arəm man-, ‘thinking in correct measure’; balanced thinking.

She is seen related to Tušnamaiti, “quiet mediation”, as well as Daēna, “conscience; to observe/reflect” (spiritual insight). Both Yazatas directly correspond with something of the mind; the ‘sacred focus’, and thus great wisdom that is gained; new-found awareness.

Throughout the Gathas specifically, she has powers that “give regeneration”, “thrives” , “blossoms”, or “grows” (e.g., varedaitī ārmaitiš, also see: Y 34.10-11, Y 51.4-5). Another epithet given to her is “vaηuhīm”, brilliant and generous, for she brings us good things. To support this as well is her association with another yazata, Rata, who personifies charity and abundance.

Y 16.10: “We worship you, Spəntā Ārmaiti, as (our) dwelling”; “he struck this earth… saying: “go forth, beloved Spəntā Ārmaiti.”

Bundahišn 26.78: “The duty of Spandārmad is the nurturing of creatures […] her abundance is such that all creatures live through her.”

“Ármaiti is the perfect silence of contemplation which widens to the highest, most blissful consciousness.”

(A. Farahmand)

So I would really explain her as ‘Calm Thinking’, or perhaps ‘Devoted Zeal’. Abstractly speaking, she’s the life-furthering state of peace that musical thoughts can flourish out from. In this tranquility, negative energies cannot affect one’s mind and self. Devotion to divinity is simply a mental state of peace and love.

Furthermore, we choose HARMONY/Armaiti the same way we choose Ushta (Joy), we must continue to earnestly walk upon the three-fold path of Asha, divine truth.

She is the daughter (MPers. dugeda) of Ahura Mazda and his wife, as well as one of his holy abstractions (as an Amesha Spenta). She is also the mother of humanity. Technically speaking she is the Iranian chthonic Earth-Mother… which has relevant Indo-European mythological relations, the father-sky (Ohrmazd) + mother-earth (Spandarmad) = physical life, allowing our intangible selves to be birthed into the physical reality. It was though Ohrmazd’s first creation/son, Gayomard, that his “seed”/essence mixed with Spandarmad’s, and from the plant that sprouted, the human race (mashya and mashyane). What Ahura Mazda engenders in the heavens, Spenta Armaiti births and furthers on Earth.

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Yasna 12.2: “I choose the good Spenta Armaiti for myself; let her be mine. I renounce the theft and robbery of the Cow, and the damaging and plundering of the Mazdayasnian settlements.”

Yasna 48.6: “She shall indeed give us good dwelling, she shall give us enduring, desired strength of good purpose. Then through Asha, Mazdā made plants grow for her.”

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Going back to her meditative qualities, the incense Esfand (or Espand) used in modern negativity clearing rituals (cleanses “evil eye”) most Iranians practice is said to be derived from Spenta Armaiti herself, etymologically. This would not be surprising as this Immortal protects humankind from the Destructive/Evil spirit. Thought this was interesting to note!

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To conclude,

Zoroastrian culture clearly acknowledges the “divine feminine” in God-hood, and reveres in it fervently.

[prazite]

Praz/Ruz Eating Ice Cream~

Ohh HECC! Ruzne shouting out Präzy for an ice-cream! Gosh, what a sweetheart <3 Gift from my close friend, Deky! Gosh imma owe you for this one<3

[flightofaqrow]

The twins are late, as usual with holidays, but they're here to drop off some gifts for not-dad. those gifts being a couple bags of the expensive sunflower seeds and a new 9,000 grit sharpening stone. Happy father's day, not-dad.

Not-Dad Day 

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many mentees have teased qrow over the years about such things, but this particular gesture rings different the closer he gets to Libra and the more time he spends, here, in one place. he stands dumbfounded - a look he wishes Hunter wouldn’t be seeing so often since graduating, and Ruz... frankly probably saw enough to be sick of even before then. he’s not sure what surprises him more: that it somehow never seems to tarnish either of their images of him, or the incredibly apt gifts they didn’t even bother to wrap, and that’s the best. who needed to waste the time or awkwardness of a scene of opening them. 

oh yeah, and then there’s the fact that they’re giving him those gifts for a late father’s day. ...and his only argument against it would be that they’re already grown and so any celebration is hardly necessary.

but he had played some small part in that growth, and they clearly find him worth celebrating, anyway. that’s something he must struggle to get used to, and it makes his heart twist in on itself for a couple beats, trying to wring out even the barest drop of self-respect into his blood. he accepts right from each of their hands.

he has no idea what sunflower seeds from that kinda fancy bag taste like, but his birdbrain can’t wait to find out. whetstones run in short supply when he loses them all the time, but he’ll have to find a safe place for one so nice. it feels something like coming full circle to receive that which can maintain his weapon,  an extension of himself, a piece that he had shared with them. now they all take care of each other.

“uh,” he reaches for his hair and fidgets to find words, sadly even the softest voice still sounds like gritty grumbling, especially over a stumbling tongue, “thanks a bunch. this is... listen, it means a lot ...coming from you kids.” if they can even be considered kids anymore, “ i’m really proud of you, you know?” 

that might be overstepping, but really it’s just stepping into the place implied, right? and they’ve grown so much - into good fighters, and good people. what more could a teacher and definitely-not-step-dad ask for?

[ayoub06me]

The 25 Worst People Ever

While their square measure heaps of individuals we tend to may have enclosed on this list, we tend to were restricted to solely twenty-five slots. In several cases, our call was created for the U.S. because of the evil nature of the individuals’ crimes.

Moreover, there gave the impression to be a general agreement regarding what constitutes badness during a human. folks like potentate and commie square measure perpetually on these styles of lists (yes, they’re on ours as well).

The real challenge came, however, indecisive World Health Organization was the worst among the worst. repeatedly the individual’s infamy has become immortalized in legend, even to the purpose of redaction history.

So, we tend to acknowledge the subjective and polemical nature of such a task and that we encourage you to depart your own opinions within the comments below.

At any rate, we tend to gift to you our list of the twenty-five worst folks ever.

25-Attila the Hun

Attila wasn’t simply any Hun, he was the leader of the Huns, and beneath his rule, the Hunnic empire consisted of virtually something that didn’t fly a Roman flag. it’s been aforementioned that there’s no extant first-person account of his look, that isn’t shocking considering the fate of most of the people World Health Organization interacted with him.

However, he was a person with a passion for invasion. It had been a passion thus nice that on his thanks to acquiring his bride, Honoria, he determined to prevent in Italy…and destroy it. Razing a rustic on the eve of your wedding? unusually wicked.

24-Maximilien Maxmillien Marie Isidore de Robespierre

Generally speaking, revolutionaries tend to be lauded for his or her spirit and temperament to require a stand. Max, but — though being a frontrunner within the revolution — determined that he would rather live to tell the tale in infamy and instituted what has come back to be called the Reign of Terror.

As we tend to all grasp, anyone World Health Organization starts one thing known as a Reign of Terror belongs on an inventory of dangerous people…period.

23-Bloody Virgin Mary

Imagine your name is prefixed by the word “bloody”. That in itself ought to be enough to order a spot on our list. however, will that even happen? Queen of {england} of England, it seems, had a passion for burning folks at the stake, notably those that opposed her ideologies, thus the nickname.

22-Emperor Hirohito

This Japanese Emperor was the mastermind behind one thing that came to be called the Rape of Nanking (what was the capital of China). Raping the capital town of the foremost thickly settled nation on Earth? This list is for you.

21-Genghis Kha

Founded what would eventually become the biggest contiguous empire in history and nearly managed to overcome not only 1 however 2 continents. Compared to several folks on this list he was comparatively benign, however, a minimum of giving up the prospect to surrender before continuing to destroy everything in view.

Just to color an image of what that might seem like, some historians have calculable that the Iranian population didn’t come to pre-Mongol levels till someday within the late twentieth century.

20-Caligula

Sometimes it appears that being an Emperor was incongruent with maintaining your mental health. Case in purpose – this guy. What started with a touch gambling and wasteful outlay quickly became a circus of bloody mayhem.

But not solely did killing become his favorite recreation, however, he conjointly complete that he was God and so ought to have a sculpture of himself erected within the Temple of the capital of Israel for folks to worship. No marvel Rome burned to the bottom.

19-Muammar Gaddafi

Issuing troopers sildenafil to assist them rape and kill girls, indiscriminately capital punishment his folks, and sponsoring international terrorists, he was solely the second still-serving state leader in history to possess arrest warrants issued against him.

Translation: he was very, very dangerous at his job. thus dangerous if truth be told, that even Fidel Castro Ruz once delineated him as being reckless.

18-Ayatollah religious leader

Although the ruthlessness of this man ne’er ceased to astonish the trendy world, we tend to at List25 weren’t shocked by his lack of fine behavior. however does one expect your oldsters to discipline you with a reputation like religious leader As-Sayyid Ruhollah Mostafavi Musavi Khomeini?

17-Jeffrey Dahmer

Not solely did he kill seventeen men and boys, the murders all concerned rape, mutilation, mania, and pattern. to create things worse, he somehow got the concept that he may flip his victims into submissive “zombies” by drilling holes in their skulls and filling them with boiling water whereas they were still alive.

16-Nero

Yet another half-crazed Emperor. It’s laborious to be worse than having your mother dead and poisoning your blood brother. Oh, wait, however regarding burning prisoners in your garden in the dead of night as a supply of light?

last updated on Transfiguration, 2019

15-Jim Jones

The leader of the People’s Temple, a cult that was forced to relocate from the city to the jungles of South American nation wherever he managed to convinced over 900 of its members to kill themselves with cyanide. That’s the biggest loss of Yankee civilian life in one event before 9/11.

14-Saddam Hussein

For over twenty years leader served because the President of Asian nation instituting genocidal campaigns against the Kurds, Shabaks, Yazidis, Assyrians, and Mandeans.

What’s a lot of, he gave the impression to have Associate in Nursing impulsive need to manner} invade neighboring countries and once things didn’t go his way he would simply do away with his frustration on his people…with a chemical weapon.

13-Leopold II of Belgique

It’s spectacular that from such a little country may come back such a huge tyrant. Deciding that his country wasn’t large enough Leopold did what any leader would do and visited Africa…to begin his own. In what’s the contemporary Democratic Republic of the Congo, he managed to subject, torture, and kill over three million folks with great care he may sell some ivory.

12-Osama Usama bin Laden

As the face of the contemporary terrorist act and therefore the founding father of FTO, he lived an honest portion of his life with a $25 million bounty placed on his head by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In spite of that, he managed to evade capture for the higher a part of 3 presidential administrations before tasting Yankee steel.

11-Mao Zedong

“Revolution isn’t a ceremonial dinner, nor Associate in a Nursing essay, nor a painting, nor a chunk of embroidery; it can’t be advanced softly, gradually, carefully, with consideration, with all respect, politely, plainly, and with modesty.

A revolution is an Associate in Nursing battle, Associate in the Nursing act of violence by that one category overthrows another. ”Well aforementioned Mao…exactly why we have a tendency to created guaranteed to reserve an additional spot on our list.

10-Idi Amin Dada

Few folks in history will say they’re directly accountable for killing 0.5 1,000,000 folks, and this Ugandan dictator is one in all them. In power from 1971 to 1979 his resume enclosed human rights abuse, political repression, ethnic ill-treatment, illegal killings, nepotism, corruption, and gross economic misdirection.

9-Dr. H. H. Holmes

One of the primary documented serial killers in Yankee history, he designed a building specifically for the aim of killing his guests. placed but two miles from the 1893 Chicago World’s honest, he would lure guests to “Murder Castle” wherever he had rigged all of the bedrooms with gas lines, soundproofing, lime pits, etc..

He would then proceed to torture and kill them, ultimately dissecting their bodies and commercialism the items to medical colleges.

8-Vlad the Impaler

You know you belong on this list once you square measure the only inspiration for the foremost illustrious evil spirit novel of all time – Dracula.

And to relinquish you a thought of why, here could be a list of a number of his favorite pastimes: nails in heads, alienating of limbs, blinding, strangulation, burning, alienating of noses and ears, accidental injury of sexual organs (especially within the case of women), scalping, skinning, exposure to the weather or animals, and boiling alive.

7-Judas Iscariot

6-Pol Pot

The leader of the terrorist organization and Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia within the Seventies, he managed to relocate the whole population of the Kingdom of Cambodia onto farms wherever they slaved away planting seeds that might grow into food that nobody would be allowed to eat.

And this is often why we tend to study economics…so that in contrast to our pal political leader Pot, we tend to don’t starve a simple fraction of our population to death. however that’s not all, Pot {and the|and therefore the|and conjointly the} terrorist organization were also accountable for mass executions in places called Killing Fields.

And though nobody is sure of the toll, it’s been aforementioned that to save lots of ammunition, the executions were typically administrated victimization spades, axes, hammers, and sharpened bamboo sticks.

5-Elizabeth Bathory

A Hungarian Lady from the 1500’s World Health Organization has been labeled the “most prolific feminine serial murderer in history” and has come back to be called the “Blood Countess” or “Blood Queen”. we tend to at List25 believe those to be applicable titles for somebody speculated to bathe within the blood of virgins to take care of their youth.

According to court records, Elizabeth and several other accomplices would lure young ladies to their habitation so proceed to beat them, burn them, bite the flesh of their faces, freeze them, perform surgery on them, starve them, and abuse them sexually.

4-Adolf potentate

Ruining the lives of tens of many folks, being accountable for a lot of deaths than anybody else in history, and destroying a whole continent…all at intervals half dozen years? Words cannot describe.

3-Ivan IV

He was the primary of the Tsars and along with his resume, it’s shocking that the Russians allowed there to be any longer. throughout one in all his escapades to a European country, he had a thousand prisoners brought before him each day to be dead.

Assuming that he got a full night’s sleep (8 hours) that might mean witnessing one execution for each minute he was awake.

2-Joseph commie

To start with, he managed to starve a whole country (Ukraine). however as dangerous as that’s, it falls way wanting to showcase the amount of badness this man was capable of. In classic dictator fashion, he had several of his nighest friends and confidants dead. Total kill count: around sixty million.

1-Heinrich German Nazi

As the leader of the SS, Chief of German Police, and head of the secret police, he in person coordinated the deaths of nearly ten million folks and once the war was over not even his former colleagues wished something to try to to with him. Cyanide anyone?

There is little doubt that these square measure the worst folks ever! Did we tend to miss someone? World Health Organization does one assume ought to air this list. or even you’d value more highly to look at these twenty-five Leaders accountable for The Worst Genocides Ever Committed.