#thank heavens for the mirror ruler

[silvrash-797]

Reading the AOC Arranged Marriage AU by @ladye-zelda reminded me that I haven't posted one of the Linktober drawings I completed recently! BOTW was basically the only game I was playing at the time and (until I played AOC and got to see it more thoroughly) I never really liked Zelda's prayer dress. The 10/16/2021 Linktober prompt was "redesign Zelda's outfit," so that's what I chose for the makeover

[promptsinpanem]

From the Ashes We Rise

Summary: (AU) In a world where powerful deities reside in the heavens of Panem above, a young demigoddess named Katniss, possessing the gift of fire, struggles to find her way. As daughter of the benevolent nature god, Katniss accepts her rightful place in the heavens; however, she’s inexplicably drawn to the mortal world, especially to a golden-haired baker’s boy. When everything is turned upside down and brother turns on brother, Katniss must make an important choice and fight for what she believes in. Will she be able to protect her precious boy with the bread in the process?

Rating: T 

Prompt: R2D4: Everlark through the Ages (Ancient Greece)/R6D1: Peeta’s Paintbox (Red)  

Author’s Note: I’ve been wanting to write this fic for a very long time. Thanks, promptsinpanem, for giving me the opportunity! I’m so thrilled to be participating in PiP for the very first time! Thanks to daydreamsandcaffeine for her help with the title! 

***** Katniss 

My eyes flutter open as I wake, feeling far less rested than normal. My immortal body doesn’t require much, neither food (only the special nectar of the gods) nor sleep to sustain itself; however, nights like last night always leave me feeling ill at ease, as if I’m crawling out of my skin.  

I had that dream again. I dreamed of the boy, and the fire…  

I wonder about him sometimes‒Is he safe? Is he eating enough?‒although, I refuse to look in on him. He could be dead for all I know (I hope not), but I paid the price for my foolishness years ago and have vowed never to see him again. 

At least, not during the waking hours.  

Briefly, I ponder asking Morpheus for a potent sleep syrup that’ll send me into the deepest, dreamless state of sleep. Perhaps he would do a trade. 

I decide to keep it in mind. 

With a yawn, I raise my arms above my head and emerge from my fluffy cocoon of pillows and blankets. The large bed is to my liking as is my new place in Victor’s Village. Most of the young gods and goddesses live here, and the dwellings are more than adequate, if not as magnificent and specially customized as the palaces of the major deities. I could have remained with my father, of course, who despite being the present ruler of the gods, has a modest, charming abode rather than a grandiose palace, but I felt it was time to strike out on my own. 

I get out of bed and pad over to my gilded full-length mirror. I stand there, naked, looking at myself. I sleep in the nude sometimes; it’s relaxing and freeing, and I like to imagine I’m floating in a secluded stream. It’s been so long since I’ve been in the mortal world and seen a real stream. Staring at my reflection, I give myself a once-over, then turn to the side and crane my neck to get a better look at the jagged mark between my shoulder blades. Where the beam fell on me, right between where my wings protrude. It still hasn’t faded. I couldn’t believe it even left a mark, though my powers were weakened then, and I was young. 

I’m older now, and much stronger. Nothing like that will ever happen again. I won’t let it. 

As I’m observing myself, I hear a throaty giggle/cackle, and in a burst of black and red dust, she appears behind me.  

“Hey!” I exclaim, hastening to cover myself with a sheet. I hate how she just pops into my chambers unannounced. She doesn’t have an ounce of respect for anyone’s privacy. “Do you mind?” I twirl my finger, and the sheet whips around my body, wrapping tightly and knotting at the top.  

“It’s nothing I haven’t seen before,” the Goddess of Love titters. Well, of course. She prances around naked all the time. But I’m far more modest than her, even if I do enjoy sleeping naked sometimes. 

I turn my head slightly. Although she does regularly flaunt her nakedness, especially when she can get a reaction from someone, she’s dressed today, in her typical all-white attire, and her white-blonde hair is in its usual pixie cut. She’s gone to my bed and is floating just barely above the edge of it. She crosses one leg over the other and cocks her head to the side. “You’ve developed,” she remarks, and I roll my eyes at her in the mirror. “You’re a full-fledged adult now, aren’t you?”

“Jo,” I huff, not bothering to thank her for the rare compliment‒or what I assume was one; maybe she was only mocking me. Coldly, I stare at her reflection in the mirror. “What do you want?” 

“My, how rude,” she snarks. “And you address the Goddess of Love so casually?”  

“How would you have me greet you?” I challenge. 

“Ohh, how about Oh Glorious One or Most Majestic Supreme Being…” She tosses out several more overblown honorifics, and I barely refrain from gagging. 

“Is your ego really so big, Johanna?” I say. 

She smirks at me.  

“Fine.” I give, only in order to get her to go away. “You are looking well today… Oh Beauteous Goddess.” I somehow manage to say it with a straight face and without choking on any of the words. 

Johanna approaches me then. She pats my head like a dog and tells me, “Good little demigoddess.” 

I jerk my head away and scowl. 

I’d often wondered how a goddess like Johanna ever came to earn the title of Goddess of Love, and she explained it to me before. She’d said that there are many different types of love, which she understands well but is also able to remain detached from. And then she’d complained about being beaten out for the Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare. 

“Jo, was there something you needed?” I ask impatiently. 

“Why the rush? You’re not even dressed yet.” 

I am in a rush, actually. 

“I have errands,” I say. For one, I’m eager to visit the forge for a repair to my bow and new arrows, and I’m about three seconds away from popping out on her, no matter how angry it might make her. 

“Ah, then you’d better put something on, hadn’t you?” she says. “I was only popping in to say hello, anyway.”   

Jo is in an exceptionally good mood today, and I don’t even want to imagine why. Most likely, she did something particularly wicked, or naughty.  

As I’m pushing the thought from my mind, she waves a hand. In an instant, my sheet vanishes and is replaced by a flame red dress with a sheer black underlay, giving the appearance of coals in a fire. With a snap of her finger the dress appears to ignite, sizzling and crackling against my skin. I feel nothing, of course. 

“What do you think?” She places her hands upon her slender hips, and I look down to observe the dress. 

“It’s…nice,” I say, taking a closer look in the mirror. The dress gives the illusion that I’m on fire‒kind of unnecessary, of course, considering I command the substance and can easily ignite myself for real at any time, but it is a pretty dress. She bids me to twirl, but I ignore her. 

I remind her that I need to be off, and this time, she doesn’t fight me. I thank her for the dress and disappear. 

***** I get to the forge, and fortunately, Thresh has no other pressing business, so he's able to quickly repair my weapon and whip up a fresh batch of arrows for me. Not that I mind watching him work; he's so methodical, and he doesn't chitchat much. Usually, he only gives me a hello and goodbye greeting, but today, he mentions that my Uncle Snow was just here. 

That's odd.  ***** Once my weapon is done I go to my private woodland retreat to shoot. It’s not a real woods but a hologram, one generated by godly magic, my father's, to be precise. It's lovely, but I wish I could go to Earth to hunt for real. 

After, I decide pay my uncle a visit. I'm curious about why he was at the forge. I know where to search for him, and naturally, he’s in the first place I look–the Arena. 

Uncle Snow greatly enjoys the Arena, which is a large coliseum where the gods, typically the ‘lesser’ gods, challenge one another for sport and accolades, and of course, for the entertainment of the greater gods. It’s one of his favorite pastimes to watch the other gods fight and to place his bets. Sometimes ferocious beasts are conjured as well‒lions, tigers, or occasionally, specially modified creations. And then there are the chariot races, too. 

“Ah, Katniss,” my uncle greets me the moment I materialize in the seat next to him. His snakelike eyes scan me. “You look lovely in red, my dear.” 

My eyes flicker down to my new dress; I can hear the flames crackling against my skin. It is beautiful, but a bit loud, literally. 

“Jo made me wear it,” I say.   

My uncle nods. “Well, it suits you. Although,” he smirks, “you really shouldn’t let the Goddess of Love push you around, my dear.” 

“I don’t!” I protest. “She just…sort of does what she wants.” 

“That she does,” my uncle agrees. 

We watch a battle together, which ends in a stalemate. That happens a lot. 

"Not much sport in it, is there?" Uncle Snow comments. I refrain from asking if it's so boring, then why does he come so often. “Gods fighting other gods..." 

"What would you suggest, Uncle?" 

Uncle Snow thinks on this a moment, but he doesn't answer me. 

“There are the wagers," I offer. "And I hear that when Cato won his fight he made Marvel be his servant for the day. That's kind of...interesting." 

My uncle sneers. “Yes, of course, the accolades and such are all well and good; however, there’s no sense of urgency when death is not on the line. Not like when the mortals battle." He pauses. "Wouldn’t that be something..." 

I almost laugh. 

"Mortals, Uncle?" He wants to bring mortals to the Arena to fight? It'd be a bloodbath. “That’s ridiculous. Not only would a mortal never stand a chance against a god, but it’s impossible to bring a mortal to the mountain." 

“Oh, I assure you, nothing is impossible, my darling.” 

I consider this. 

"Uncle Snow," I begin. "If I ask you something, will you answer me honestly?" 

"Why, of course, my dear. In fact, let’s make a pact right now, shall we?” Hesitantly, I nod. “Let’s agree never to lie to each other.” 

This seems foolish‒What reason do my uncle or I have to lie to one another, anyway?‒but I agree. 

“We’ll do as the mortals do.” He looks at me expectantly, and I’m confused. “Shake on it,” he says, extending his hand. I stare down at it. 

“Now, you put your hand in mine,” he explains patiently, and I slide my palm against his and feel him squeeze my hand. 

“So, then, now that we have our pact, tell me,” Uncle Snow takes a sip from his cup, “what do you really think of Cato?” 

“I think he’s vile,” I answer without pause, and my uncle chuckles. “He brought up my scar,” I say. 

“How rude of him,” my uncle remarks, then sighs. “However, it is your own fault your lovely skin was marred forever, niece. Not even Gloss was able to remove the mark.” 

“I know,” I grumble. “But…he would have died.” 

“Such is mortality, Katniss,” he says without a shred of compassion. “Mortals are not long for this world. It isn’t their world, after all; it’s ours. We’re merely allowing them to live in it. Death will come for the boy eventually.” 

Not on my watch, I think. And I don’t know where that came from. Since when am I the boy’s protector? And besides, my uncle is right; eventually, old age will catch up with him, and it’s not like I can chase him into the Underworld…

I digress, and I'm going to question my uncle about the forge, but another fight is about to begin. This one causes Uncle Snow to shift in his seat. 

“Oh, you’re in for a real treat, my darling," he says. "This is a special event. The God of the Sea versus the God of War.”

[childofchrist1983]

Once God has spoken, there is nothing and no one else who can stop it. It is impossible for any man, principality, or ruler to try and reverse what God has said over anyone's life. There is no such thing recorded in the Scriptures. Every time God spoke, it was final and there was nothing to change it. Whether people were happy with it or not, they could not rise to say anything against God that could stand. This is why, when we think of salvation and all of God's promises, we should jump for joy, because we know that God meant what He said and He has no intention of reversing it. When God spoke of salvation, He meant that it would be eternal and it would be irreversible. Any person who repents and calls upon the name of the LORD Jesus Christ and makes God his or her refuge is eternally saved. Whether the world likes it or not, there is nothing they can do to change it, because God Almighty has the final say.

Every book in the Holy Bible is written under the inspiration of God and His Holy Spirit. What was written has been written under the approval of God and cannot be reversed. When you read the Holy Bible and you become exposed to your freedom in Christ and your identity as a child of God, it should compel you to jump up in joy and rejoicing and to live boldly, because God said what He said and He meant what He said. The Word of God can serve as a mirror in our hearts, exposing our innermost thoughts and revealing to us the things in our lives that we need to discard in order to grow spiritually. Jesus Christ and His Holy Word and Spirit is able to counter every curse, every chain, and every form of bondage. It is alive not only in writing, but also in all spiritually reborn Christians, transforming our hearts and lives day in and day out. This is why the Christian life is a life of transformation. There is nothing and no one else who can make us grow spiritually except for God and His Holy Word and Spirit. This is why we are called new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:7), because He transforms us from being people of sin to being children of God, ever-righteous and ever-glorious in Him.

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for rescuing us from our destructive ways, and setting our feet on His path. Thank Him for lighting and guiding our steps and tending to the road ahead of us. May He help us to seek Him daily as we make this journey, so that we may not stray from Him and wander into ruin and destruction. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for easing our burdens and granting us the rest found in His mercy and forgiveness. May He teach us to walk in His gentleness and grace. Thank Him for providing us the strength to serve Him and for carrying the weight that should have been ours, all in His gracious name. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for faithfully staying with us in all times and places. We have not always sought Him and His guidance, yet He has continuously shown us the way back to Him. May He guide everything that we say and do, and show us the way no matter where He may lead us.

May He empower us by His Holy Word and Spirit to live in the light of His Truth, love grace. May our healing and transformation glorify His name and Kingdom of Heaven and reveal who He truly is to others. May He help us to keep close to Him, so that we may endure until He fully sets us free and brings us to our true home in His Kingdom of Heaven. Thank Him for His Holy Word and Spirit. Thank Him for revealing the Truth of Him and His holiness. May He help us to hold close to Him just as He holds close to us, so that we may live in humble and faithful obedience. If we stray from Him and His path, may He use His Holy Word and Spirit to bring us close to Him once again. May He help us daily to trust fully in Him and His love, provision and care. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for making us anew! May He complete His renewing work in us, ridding us of the sinful words, thoughts and actions that aren’t from Him, so that we may reflect only His love and light and presence in us to this dark and fallen world and the lost souls within it.

God is our Heavenly Father, our Creator and our guide. And Jesus Christ is our LORD and Savior and King. As Christians, we trust Him wholeheartedly and we submit our heart and our lives into His skilled hands. May He shape us according to His design and plan for us, so that we may stand strong in the firing furnace and emerge revealing His craftsmanship as He prepares us serve Him on Earth and in His Kingdom of Heaven according to His Holy Word and will. May He give us the peace and endurance we need each day, and may He use this time to help us grow in His wisdom and strength and to grow in our walk and relationship with Him. May He make us more into the person that He not only created us to us to be, but called us to be from the very beginning.

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for securing a place for all true Christian believers as followers of Christ and spiritually reborn children of God in His eternal Kingdom. Each day, the sun rises and its light and warmth, and the Holy Bible gives us a glimpse of the promised eternity to come. May we continue to walk in the love and light of Christ with our heads held high and our eyes on the finish line. May we lead others to His Gospel Truth and to His light as well throughout this journey with Him. Let us all humble ourselves before God daily, asking Him to forgive us and to strength and teach us to view life through the lens of God and His promises. May He guard our hearts against Satan and the temptations of this world and our flesh. May He give us the peace to find full satisfaction in God and His peace and promises, so that we may live our lives daily in ways that honor and pleases Him. As we seek Him daily, may He reveal Himself to us through the words He has provided and use it to conform the desires of our heart to Him and His love and compassion and grace.

As true and spiritually reborn Christians, we love, trust and believe in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ. We choose to keep Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ first in our hearts and lives and all other worldly desires behind us. He extends salvation to everyone, and we want to show the world the freedom, hope and peace they can have in accepting and following Him. We must ask Him to help us grow spiritually in our relationship with Him and strengthen us and the bonds of love that He has given us, so that our unity may glorify and testify to His power and goodness. Thank Him for calling us to faith and imparting us with salvation and righteousness. May He empower us to live in His will and righteousness, so that we may testify to His soul-saving power as our faith carries us past all doubt, fear, and failure. May He grant us the grace to forgive others who have wronged us, and the humility to seek forgiveness where we have caused strife. May we follow and serve God daily with love, trust, awe and wonder. May Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ strengthen our faith, lift our spirits, protect our hearts, and show us opportunities to help bring others to Him and His Gospel Truth daily. May we do this duty boldly, humbly and faithfully. Seek, follow and trust in the LORD God Almighty always! To God be all the honor and praise and glory!

We must come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with sincere hearts to ask forgiveness and follow Him and His Holy Word and Spirit always. We praise Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the mercy He bestows upon us and we are grateful for His grace and mercy and infinite blessings. By surrendering our hearts and our lives to His will, we see all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. God our refuge and our salvation and our constant provider. We lift our voices to Him in praise for His steadfast love, mercy and understanding. May Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ open our minds and hearts more and more to perceive and embrace Him and His truths. May He help us to find time to pray and read and study the Holy Bible daily and to find power in prayer, praying according to His Holy Word and will. May He help us to come to Him in true repentance and with faith in Him and His grace and merciful nature. May He give us the grace, courage and strength we need to walk with Him and do His will daily. May He teach us to watch our words when we pray to Him and to speak reverently and rightly. May we continually ask God to transform our hearts and make us faithful and humble as we walk with Him daily. We must come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with honest, humble and repentant hearts. We must seek Him and His will and choose to follow Him all the days of our lives. May He help transform our hearts, help us to seek and live for Him above all else and to grow spiritually and build our faith and relationship with Him with each passing day. May He forgive our sinful nature and help us always make Him and our relationship with Him top priority.

As true and born-again Christians, we choose to walk in His righteous path and lead a life that is pleasing to Him. We desire Him and His will above anything else. We desire to walk in accordance with the love and light He has shown to us through His Holy Word and Spirit. We long for a deeper relationship with Him and a deeper fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well. When we fall into temptation and sin, we must turn to Him for forgiveness, strength and guidance. When believers learn to walk in accordance with God's Holy Word and Spirit, they have deeper fellowship with both God and one another. And the sin that could threaten to destroy that fellowship, if confessed (1 John 1:9), is covered in the blood of Jesus Christ and no longer a barrier between us and God. May we ask Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ to forgive us for any sins we have sinned this day or in days past. May we be faithful to Him and His Holy Word always. May He help us to walk more consistently in the light and to not neglect long to confess and forsake any sins that hinder our walk with Him. May He lead us in the direction He wants us to go so that we may seek and serve Him faithfully. God is holy and almighty and deserving of all praise honor and glory. We rejoice in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, knowing He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). May our hearts always be filled with thanksgiving and rejoicing. May He help us to praise Him freely and honestly like all believers who came before us. May we live a life that showcases our love and trust in Him and His Holy Word and Spirit as He uses us draw others to Him and His soul-saving Gospel Truth daily. May He continue guide, correct and protect us, so that we continue to grow in Him and not weaken and stray. May we all remain faithful to Him and to this duty and purpose He has called us to. Seek and put your faith and trust in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ and let Him do the rest. May He humble our hearts and help us focus on following and serving Him daily and helping others with joy and happiness. We lift our voices in praise to Him for His love, mercy, peace, faithfulness and grace - For EVERYTHING!

It is vital that we remain rooted in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit and that we live and walk as a beacon of His light and love and share and spread the Gospel Truth daily, so that the lost souls in this world can come to know Him and be saved. The more we focus on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, growing spiritually by building our relationship with Him, leaning on Him and His Holy Word and Spirit, the better off we will be. Thanks to this and our faith in Him, we know that everything will be alright. And we will forever be grateful to Him. As true and born-again Christians, we believe in Him and His Holy Word and we strive daily to walk in His Holy Spirit. We know though our mortal bodies should die, He will raise us up and into new and glorious bodies (The Rapture). We who are truly His and alive at His second coming will never die, and our bodies will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and so shall we ever be with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven forevermore (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is one of many promises given to us by God Himself. Thank God for His strength and guidance when we are faced with sin and temptation. Thank Him for His mercy and grace. Through Bible study and prayer, God reveals His wisdom and guides us to see opportunities to grow closer to Him and grow spiritually. He gives us direction to live our lives daily according to His will.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven (John 3:5, 14:6), the ONLY way to salvation (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9) and He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26). Jesus Christ the LORD of lords, the KING of kings, the GOD of gods (Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16) - He is the Living, Almighty and Everlasting God (Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 1:8, John 3:16, John 3:36, Jeremiah 10:10). There is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5). We MUST humble ourselves before Him, turning our backs on false teachers, false gods and idols and our sinful ways. We MUST repent and turn back to God and recognize who He is and love Him in return for His great love for us. We MUST make God top priority everyday! May we be motivated to spread God's Holy Word and Gospel Truth to all the Earth, knowing that it is the only hope of all those lost in their sins. Let us not hold out a false hope for men to be saved without the Gospel, but instead, strive to do our part to get the Gospel out to a lost and dying world.

Leaning on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit strengthens us and our knowledge and wisdom about God and His Gospel Truth, exposing these imposters. May God help us to seek and lean on Him daily to gain the strength, wisdom and spiritual discernment needed to expose Satan and his imposters who seek to destroy us and God's ultimate Truth. Everyday, we must remember to share Jesus Christ's Gospel Truth with the world and to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and from the eternal damnation of Hell. In all we say and do, may all praise, honor and glory always be given to Him and His Kingdom of Heaven.

With renewed minds, hearts and wills, let us serve Him humbly and faithfully out of pure love and grateful rejoicing. May He remind us of His presence and to remain at peace, fully knowing that all will be well because He is always with us. Let us seek Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ today and everyday with all our heart and being, looking for His love, light and will for our lives with each step we take. Let us seek to please Him with our thoughts, words, and deeds and seek to advance His Kingdom of Heaven and His glory with our lives. Let us seek Him from a pure and humble heart, and when we so seek, we believe Him and His promise that we will find. May He help us all to be more sensitive to the teaching ministry of His Holy Word and Spirit, relying on Him and allowing Him to speak to us and guide us every step of our Christian journey.

God gave us the Holy Bible - His living and Holy Word - to let us know of Him and His abiding love and care as well as guide and prepare us for all our lives. May He help us encourage one another as we continue our walk with Him and our duty to Him daily. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for being present for all our new beginnings and all our lives. May He redirect any anxiety we feel as He provides countless opportunities for growth and change. May we humble ourselves before God always, asking Him to forgive our sins and make our hearts and lives anew through His Holy Word and Spirit. May He help us make Him and His Holy Word top priority, so we can grow spiritually and grow in our relationship with Him as we apply it to our daily lives. Thank God that we can focus on Him and everything about Him, for that is what keeps us sane and at peace. May our words and actions always be a reflection of Him and His Holy Word and Spirit and will.

May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus! He loves us and He knows what is best for us. Seek, follow and trust in Him - Always!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[marine-indie-gal]

The Japanese Goddess of the Sun, Sister to Susanno and Tsukuyomi (Her Husband). She is known for being the Ruler of the Heavenly Realm (Takamagahara) and together with her own Brothers they are known as the “Three Precious Children”.

Her name was derived from the word “Amateru” which means “Shining in Heaven”. She was famously known for having her own Descendants such as Ninigi-No-Mikoto. She received the privilege of taking care of the Sun. She even had some maids as together they created beautiful clothing for all of the Gods, even if the Maids would always create new clothing every day to represent each of the Weather’s colors.

She is often represented with a Solar Disk for her Power always helped the Growth of Plantations.

In Japanese Mythology, after when Izanagi failed to bring his Wife/Sister (Izanami) back, he cried in tears which resulted in the creation of Other Mythical Creatures and even the Birth of The Three Precious Children (Amaterasu, Susanno, and Tsukuyomi).

In the Myth of how the Sun and the Moon were always separated together, she was once a consort to one of her Brothers (Tsukuyomi, Japanese God of the Moon) as the Sun and the Moon were always together in the Sky.

Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi were invited to a Banquet by Ukemochi (The Goddess of Food). But considering that Tsukuyomi was so disgusted when Ukemochi revealed how she created food (by puking it out to create food) which caused Tsukuyomi to slice her head off clean.

Amaterasu felt terrified of what her Husband did to Ukemochi which made the Two split up as they were hardly seen together in heaven which is why we always see the Sun and the Moon separate away from each other.

In Another Japanese Myth, Susanno (The Japanese God of the Storm and Seas) decided to visit his Solar Sister and asked her to challenge themselves in a duel of God-Making (Amaterasu created Three Female Deities while Susanno created Five Male Deities).

They both claim to be the Winner, but in the course of their Argument, Susanno throws a temper over his Sister as he throws a Horse into Amaterasu’s weaving hall, which causes one of Amaterasu’s attendants to drop dead. She moved into the Cave which made the Sun to be no longer in the Sky thanks to her Trickery Storm Brother.

Without the Sun, the Plants and the Crops wouldn’t grow and even Demons from Yomi (The Underworld) would start to appear on Earth. So the Gods decided to figure out many plans to convince Amaterasu to leave out her own Cave.

However, all of those plans to make Amaterasu leave the cave failed because none of the Gods’ ideas didn’t work (First was the Chickens and the Second was the Mirror).

A Final Plan was left when the Gods convinced Amenouzume (The Goddess of Fun, Partying, and the Dawn) to lure Amaterasu out with a Strip Tease. To lure the Solar Goddess out of the Cave, Amenouzume was naked as she danced around waiting for Amaterasu to come out of the cave as she came to see what was going on.

The Gods immediately closed the Cave so that Amaterasu wouldn’t vanish anymore as the Sun was now back in the Sky during the Daytime again. Susanno was banished for causing the whole mess as he left to the Mortal Realm for awhile until when he found a sword (the Kusanagi No Tsurugi), she gifts it to her Sister as an Apology as her own Sword that her Brother gave went pass down from generation to generation by Amaterasu’s descendants.

SBSP Universe

Amaterasu is The Japanese Goddess of the Sun and even the Sister of Susanno and Kagutsuchi. She is also the Daughter of Lady Izanami and Lord Izanagi as well as the Ex-Wife of Tsukuyomi.

She is a Wise, Kind, Noble, and Devoted Goddess as she is the Main Ruler of Takamagahara (The Heaven Place of All Shinto Deities), her Brother (Susanno) is the Second Ruler considering he also rules the Skies like her Sister as a Sky Emperor. Although despite her Brother’s trickery that she often doesn’t like, she still loves him very much. She often takes responsibility and passion over her duties of taking control of the Sun.

She doesn’t often mind their Younger Brother (Kagutsuchi) despite his fire havoc flaws.

After when her Mother (Izanami) gave birth to their Younger Sibling (Kagutsuchi), she felt sad that their Parents went through a divorce as life was sure rough at first dealing with their own Parents’ divorce when Izanami became the Current Lady of Yomi (The Japanese Underworld). But when Amaterasu grew, she became the Ruler of Kagutsuchi as an Honor for their Father.

She was once married to the Japanese Moon God (Tsukuyomi) after they eventually fell in love they decided to get married. However, their Love was sadly short-lived when Ukemochi (The Goddess of Love) tended a feast over at her own place with the Other Japanese Gods including the Solar and Lunar lovebird deities.

One Night, when Tsukuyomi saw that Ukemochi was preparing the Food by puking it all up to create her own perfect recipes, Tsukuyomi was instantly disgusted by the way that Ukemochi created her own food through her Mouth so he decided to burn all of her hard work in making the food which instantly ruined the Whole Banquet that the Gods were having which heartbroken Poor Ukemochi.

Amaterasu felt sorry for what Ukemochi tried to do on her best work on making the Food as She and her Husband have a fight which lead to a huge break-up as Amaterasu never wanted to hear from Tsukuyomi ever again after what he did for running the Whole Banquet (causing the Sun and Moon to split up).

One Day, Susanno wanted to ask his Sister up for a Clever Challenge in which they can create their own Art and bring it to life. Susanno drew a Dragon while Amaterasu drew a Kirin as they both claimed themselves to be the Winner which led into a pointless argument to see which one of the Siblings won first. Susanno instantly threw a temper over his Sister as he threw at a fight of Rage by his own Thunderstorms which zaps one of the Places in the Mortal Realm.

Having enough of her Brother’s Temper, Amaterasu decides to stay in a Cave for awhile until Susanno controls his temper and calms himself after the incident that he did.

But as Amaterasu hid in the cave, it caused the Sun to disappear which made all of the Crops and Plants lose their growth causing the People to starve and want to have more sunlight so the Gods figure out a plan to convince Amaterasu to get out of the Cave. They first let out Chickens so she could hear their clucking to make the Sun appear but it didn’t Work. They then try out a Mirror to make her out of the Cave so that she’d see her reflection but that didn’t work as well.

All of the Gods have tried to bring their Ruler back just so that she can continue her duties of taking care of the Sun again so that it may shine on Earth. One of the Gods asked Amenouzume to lure Amaterasu out of her Cave by singing a Silly Song while dancing just so that Amaterasu can hear the call. When Amenouzume does that, it wakes Amaterasu up as she sees all the commotion outside of the Cave which surprises her as she apologizes to her People for abandoning her own duties and continues her own Job as the Sun Goddess again as she brings the Sun back to Earth.

Susanno on the Other Hand was punished for all the trouble he caused as he wandered in the Mortal Realm for a while and even gave Amaterasu her own Sword as an Apology. For that own Sword of hers (The Kusanagi) which passed on from Generation to Generation until when the Modern Times hit.

She does happen to like Neptune because of how he takes good care of the sea but she’s very neutral towards Poseidon (due to his own Vanity). She would certainly like Sandy because of her Intelligence and Strength but she also would like SpongeBob because of his own Great Kindness despite his own flaws.

[creativewaygrace]

Bible Verses on Spiritual Growth

1. 1 Corinthians 11:1- Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

2. 1 Corinthians 13:11- When I as a Child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. 

3. 1 Corinthians 14:20- Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. 

4. 1 Corinthians 2:6- We do however, speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 

5. 1 Corinthians 3:8- Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 

6. 1 Peter 2:2- Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that you may grow up into salvation. 

7. 1 Thessalonians 3:12- And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you. 

8. 1 Timothy 4:7- But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness. 

9. 2 Corinthians 3:18- We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 

10. 2 Corinthians 5:7- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away, and see, the new has come. 

11. 2 Peter 3:18- But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and to the day of eternity. 

12. 2 Thessalonians 1:3- We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, since your faith is flourishing and the love each one of you has for one another is increasing. 

13. 2 Timothy 2:15- Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. 

14. Acts 17:11- The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 

15. Colossians 1:10 So that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. 

16. Colossians 3:16- Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in you hearts. 

17. Ephesians 4:13- Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 

18. Ephesians 4:15- From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 

19. Hebrews 5:14- But solid food is for the mature, for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. 

20. Hebrews 6:1- Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God. 

21. James 1:2- Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trails. 

22. John 15:5- I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. 

23. Luke 2:40- The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was in him.

24. Luke 2:52- And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people. 

25. Matthew 5:48- Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 

26. Matthew 5:6- In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven. 

27. Philippians 1:6- I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

28. Philippians 2:13- For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. 

29. Philippians 4:13- I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. 

30. Romans 8:29- For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the first born among many brothers and sisters.      

[spiritsoulandbody]

#DailyDevotion Jesus, Truly God and Truly Man

#DailyDevotion Jesus, Truly God and Truly Man Heb. 1 He has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He made the heir of everything and by Whom He made the world. 3He Who shines with God's glory and is the Expression of His Being sustains everything by His mighty Word. God the Father made Jesus, His Son, the heir of everything. While planned from all eternity it took place in time when Jesus died, rose and ascended into heaven with His human body. This is important for us because it is why it is important that Jesus is truly human. As Paul says in Roman 8, “17and if children, then heirs, God's heirs, and joint heirs with Christ since we share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory.” We who have been joined to Jesus through faith in Him and baptism are now co-heirs with Him. As members of His Bride, the Church, everything that belongs to Jesus according to His human nature is ours. Even more than that, Peter in his second epistle says through the promises we are participants in the Divine nature as well, that being righteous, holy, merciful, full of grace and the like. Secondly, it was by Jesus the Father made the world. Jesus is the Divine Logos, by whom, through whom and for whom the world was made. John tells us this in his Gospel ch. 1, “3Everything was made by Him, and not one thing that was made was made without Him.” The author Hebrews echos Paul here in Col 1, “15He is the Image of the invisible God, the Firstborn over all creation, 16since in Him was created everything visible and invisible in heaven and on earth — thrones, lords, rulers, or powers — everything was created by Him and for Him. 17He was before everything, and He holds everything together.” While in the creeds we attribute creation to the Father, Jesus is the means He created and sustains everything. There is nothing in creation that Jesus did not create and for whom was created for Him. That said, as a participant in our human nature and through our participation in Him, creation can also be said to have been created for us. We can see this in Genesis 1 where God gives dominion of the world to man looking forward to the time He would join us in creation as one of us. Jesus is the One who shines with God's glory and is the Expression of His Being. Paul expresses it as being the “Image of the invisible God.” In other words, Jesus, according to His divine nature is God and gets His substance from the Father as the source of divine being. He is the mirror image of God, which in this case is a good thing. Jesus Himself tells us in John 14:9, "If you have learned to know Me, you'll know My Father, too. From now on you know Him and have seen Him." So not only is Jesus truly Man, He is truly God as the creeds say, “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God.” Hebrews here also echoes what Paul says from Colossians as quoted above. Jesus sustains all things by His mighty Word. “He holds all things together.” Such is the Jesus we worship, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. But His utterance (the Greek word rhema here) the earth remains in its orbit around the sun, the moon around the earth, day and night, rain and sunshine, He continues to hold all creation together on behalf of His body, the Church and for those who may come to faith and be joined to Him through Her. Would that He would quit speaking everything would fall apart, dissipate and fall into chaos. Heavenly Father, may we continually look to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and give Him thanks and praise for His glory and for creating and sustaining all things, but especially by His grace be made co-heirs with Him in all things. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.   Read the full article

[sm-entertain-me]

Knight in Paradise (M)

Synopsis: Your husband is an atrocious ruler and an abysmal king, committing horrors across the land in the name of power and greed. Calling for a complex and intimate coup d’etat, you decide that the best way to prevent from continuing his lineage is to continue it with someone else more deserving of the throne.

Contains: Yang Jeongin x (f) reader, adult language, explicit depictions of unprotected sex, fingering, marking kink, breeding kink, creampie, Knight!Jeongin, Queen!reader, arranged marriage/royalty!au.

Bitter rivalries. Thoughtless wars. Power-hungry. Waste of life. These are the things that came to mind whenever you were forced to think of your horrid husband, shivering at the very thought of having to be his beloved until the end of days. He had never shown any type of affection towards you, being more concerned with the way you presented yourself to the court rather than showering you with the love that his beloved queen deserved. But then again, the marriage was a result of a treaty rather than true affection. Everything in your husband’s life had been a product of strategy to get ahead, and you were no exception.

“Your Majesty,” a small voice called from behind you as you sat at your wooden vanity, thoughtlessly admiring the delicate features on your face thanks to your handmaidens. Pulling you away from your thoughtless silence, you turned slightly to face one of your humble servants, her bowing slightly to you as your eyes found hers. As she returned to her upright position, she held her hands in front of her apron nervously while looking at the floorboards, “Sir Jeongin is here to see you, as per your summons.”

You had been standing idly by taking care of this kingdom while your husband goes away almost weekly, waging meaningless wars against the surrounding lands just for the sake of acquiring more land. Your husband didn’t care that his kingdom had already reached a level that could easily be compared to that of Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar himself; he craved violent destruction. As queen of these lands, you made a promise to protect your people and in order to do so, you refuse to produce an heir with someone so evil. Instead, you would much rather produce an heir with someone who you knew would be the best fit for king. Someone like Jeongin.

Nodding to your servant, you stood up from your vanity to smooth over the wrinkles in your semi-revealing gown, purposefully pulling the corset down to show off more of your cleavage. Although this meeting was supposed to be strictly for business purposes to usurp your husband’s throne, you couldn’t deny the sexual tension that had been burning between you and Jeongin every time he would be part of your husband’s court. Jeongin would always sneak you passing glances as he stood by your husband, even being as bold as to wink at you one time when your husband was distracted by berating one of the commoners. 

The sound of the door opening slowly caused your attention to shift from your insatiable reflection in the mirror to the subject of your recent desires, Jeongin standing in front of you with a sly grin. As he stood admiring your gentle features, he refused to say a word as he instead placed his slightly calloused hand against your soft cheek, smiling gently as he watched you relax into his touch, “Your Majesty, you have no idea how long I’ve waited to be alone with you like this. I’m honored that you’ve chosen to bear an heir with me instead of your wretched husband. I promise you that I will not disappoint you.”

“Then take me, Jeongin,” You whispered softly to him as you placed a kiss to the inside of his palm, staring back into his eyes with longing. Jeongin didn’t need to be told twice as he immediately leaned forward to capture your lips on his, wrapping his arms around you so that one hand cradled the back of your head while the other slinked around your waist to hold you in place. His lips felt like pure heaven, molding into yours perfectly as your hands instinctively tangled in Jeongin’s onyx locks. As he continued to kiss you with intense fervor, he made an effort to slowly guide you to the inviting bed behind you. 

Jeongin’s tongue slip past his lips to swipe along yours, silently begging for your permission to increase the passion he felt for you. You kindly obliged his request by parting your lips just enough for Jeongin to slip his tongue past, swiping gently along your tongue to experiment with whichever you preferred. While he was busy taking your breath away with every swipe of his tongue, you felt his hand travel south to rest along the plump curve of your backside, kneading the flesh softly. His simple motions caused you to moan against his pillowy lips, your fingers pulling at the strands of his hair in approval.

You hadn’t taken the time to notice that Jeongin had managed to move you all the way across the length of your bedroom until you felt the familiar feeling of your mattress against the back of your thighs, Jeongin slowly pulling his lips from yours to allow you to catch your breath and to look into your eyes. He was delighted to see that your pupils had been dilated to the point where your eyes were completely black, knowing he was responsible for the burning feelings of desire pulsing through you. Jeongin then smirked as he pressed his forehead against yours, panting slightly thanks to the passionate kiss you two shared moments ago, “Forgive me Y/N, for I’m going to absolutely ruin you.”

A shiver crept up your spine after hearing his sinful words, looking up into his eyes briefly before you reached out to grip his shirt in both hands, pulling him back in for another addicting kiss. But instead of staying upright, you gladly allowed for Jeongin to lay you down softly. Feeling Jeongin’s lips form a gleeful smile, you couldn’t help but reciprocate while he continued to kiss you. Although, Jeongin decided to cut this kiss rather short in favor of planting open mouth kisses along the pristine skin of your neck. Normally you would’ve protested since Jeongin’s lips have proven to be so addicting, but the way his lips peppered along your neck and clavicle was nothing to turn your nose up at.

Jeongin paid careful attention to your neck, sucking on the skin to hear you moan his name shamelessly to the ceiling above. Your fingers had a habit of tangling in Jeongin’s hair, pulling at the soft tresses the longer he would suck on the skin. It was Jeongin’s intention to mark every single inch of your neck in defiance of his king, wanting nothing more than to show him who fucked his wife while he was away at war. He wanted to prove that he was the one who deserved to satisfy you every night, who truly deserved to be by your side. 

While he continued to mark you as his and only his, you could feel one of Jeongin’s hands slip to the hem of your dress to pull it up past your hips. Knowing full well what he was intending to do, you gladly spread your thighs apart for easier access to your sensitive core. Jeongin’s lips formed a devious smirk on your neck as he remained on the same area to divert most of his attention to his fingers that were now prodding at your entrance, the tips of his fingers quickly becoming wet with your arousal. This caused you to shudder against Jeongin’s finger, silently begging to be filled with something so you could be satisfied. 

Jeongin fulfilled your wish as he slipped not one, but two fingers inside of your screaming heat. As his fingers pushed deeper inside of you, you had no choice but to arch you back and moan to the ceiling, your eyebrows knitting in pure pleasure as Jeongin began to curl his fingers ever so slightly. After about three experimental strokes along your steadily pulsing walls, Jeongin managed to find your most sensitive spot and immediately began to exploit it while whispering soft praises into your ear. Soft whispers slowly turned into Jeongin’s lips nipping at your ear lobe while his fingers were stuffed deep inside of you, craving every single hiccup and whimper that fell past your lips.

“J-Jeongin, I need you,” You begged shamelessly, not even caring how desperate you sounded despite your high status. You had needs that hadn’t been fulfilled to their full potential, hoping that Jeongin would take pity on you and do whatever necessary to take care of them properly. Luckily Jeongin was feeling generous as he chuckled into the crook of your neck, pulling his fingers out of your slit slowly and admiring the sheen on his digits before placing them in his mouth to lick them clean. You couldn’t help but throw your head back from seeing that sinful scene, contributing to the dull throbbing in between your legs.

While Jeongin was busy removing his undershirt and his trousers, you were tasked with removing your gown, which was a lot harder than what Jeongin. But after all of your years with the court and always having to remove your corset by yourself due to the absence of your husband, you managed to slip out of it with surprising speed and accuracy. Letting out a sigh of relief at not having to be constricted by that demon fabric, you turned your attention back over to Jeongin who was at the foot of the bed, stark naked with his impressive member in his hand.

You swore you could feel your mouth water as your eyes rested upon his torso, purposely traveling traveling south to get a better look at what you had been craving all this time. Jeongin’s size was definitely something to right home about; not too thick, but definitely long enough to reach all of the necessary spots that would have your toes curling in no time. To say that he was perfect would be the most accurate description for his member. But you couldn’t admire him for very long as Jeongin immediately joined you on the bed, laying on top of you while making a conscious effort to drink in your nude body the way you had admired his. He certainly enjoyed what he saw, the twitch of his cock making this apparent almost instantly.

“Oh god, you look so damn insatiable,” Jeongin groaned as his hands gripped your hips, him positioning himself in between them while focusing his gaze on your steadily clenching walls. Without needing to say another word, Jeongin made sure his weight was supported above you before he gave himself two languid strokes, guiding himself slowly into your dripping heat. The second Jeongin’s cock slipped past your walls, you became a moaning mess underneath him, immediately wrapping your arms around his shoulders to hold on to him while you tried to collect yourself.

Jeongin was also having a rough time trying to get his bearings together, his cock feeling the slightest ripple of your walls around his length with intensity. You felt like absolute heaven around him, having to put up a pretty hard fight to not release inside of you that instant. Although the whole intention was for him to cum inside of you in hopes of getting you pregnant, Jeongin still wanted you to reach peak pleasure before everything was all said and done. 

When he finally was able to pull himself together, Jeongin began to slowly draw his hips out of you so that his tip remained inside of you. Jeongin had no intention of slipping out of you until he was sure he was finished, him pushing his cock all the way back inside of you to hear you moan out in pleasure. Once he had his hips nestled right against your groin, Jeongin looked down at you with a look that could only be described as pure sin as he pressed his hand on your lower stomach to feel himself, “Fuck I can feel myself already, I wonder how it feels after I’ve fucked you full of my cum?”

Jeongin’s sinful words caused you to shudder underneath him, your nails digging into his honeyed skin to drag along his back in an attempt to keep you anchored while Jeongin picked up his speed. His hips began to snap into your backside with fervor, him reaching down to grab your legs and wrap them tightly around his waist so he could fuck you harder. You happily complied with his wishes, wrapping your legs around him and locking your ankles in place while he grunted with each stroke. Every single stroke that Jeongin managed to inflict on your needy pussy had you moaning out for more, clearly evident in how the volume increased significantly.

Creaking could be heard all throughout the hallway due to the intensity of Jeongin’s strokes, purposely slamming his hips into you at a bruising rate while he kissed along your jaw to encourage more of your addicting moans. Jeongin was doing all that he could to hear every single sound you had in store for tonight, desperate to hear the symphony he waited so long to hear. Every time he heard you moan out for him, you swore you could feel his cock twitch uncontrollably. He simply loved hearing you make such lewd sounds for him, simply because he was the one causing you to make them.

“I-I can’t go much longer,” You admitted as you were struggling to combat the euphoric sensations that were currently running through your body, courtesy of Jeongin’s talented hips and more than impressive length. As if on queue, you felt the coil deep within you snap, sending you headfirst into your first ever orgasm with Jeongin. Intense heat burned through you at a rapid rate as you were spiraling from the effects of your desires, crying out to the heavens above as your vision began to blur in response to the pleasure coursing in your veins. It was everything you had hoped it would be and more.

Jeongin took one look at the lewd faces you were making and threw his head back, knowing he wouldn’t be able to last long himself as your walls tightened around his cock in the most delicious way he had ever felt. The sensation coupled with the loud squelching sound in between your thighs was more than enough to have Jeongin join you on your personal high, groaning out something that seemed to resemble your name as thick ropes of cum coated your walls generously. Both of you had succumbed to your desires within seconds of each other, smiles plastered on both of your faces as you managed to get your vision back to normal.

After moments of intimate silence, Jeongin couldn’t help but move his hand to the side of your face to push a stray piece of your hair behind your ear, smiling softly at you as he then leaned down to press an innocent kiss to your slightly sweaty forehead. You couldn’t help hiding a smile of your own as you finally were able to feel affection from a wonderful man, sighing in what could be considered as relief at Jeongin’s soft touches. It was such a difference from the Jeongin you were exposed to a couple minutes ago as he was pounding you into your mattress without mercy, but still welcomed nonetheless.

More moments of comfortable silence had passed before Jeongin finally deemed it acceptable to slip himself out of you, falling to the side next to you while still breathing heavily. You then cuddled up next to him, allowing him to wrap an arm around your naked body to hold you close to him. Placing your head on his chest, you listening to Jeongin’s heartbeat start to slow to show he was finally calming down from your exciting activities. Due to the calming rhythm of his heartbeat, you quickly became victim to slumber, feeling Jeongin kiss your head one last time before you completely fell asleep.

----------Epilogue----------

Word had gotten around the kingdom that the queen and one of her most respected knights had conceived a child together while the king was away, but no one in the kingdom dared to defy your choice. In fact, they all praised you for your bravery for being so bold to defy the king in such a way. Due to the overwhelming unpopularity of the king, his soldiers had no problem abandoning him in the battlefield somewhere in favor of returning home to witness the coronation of King Jeongin. It was unclear on just how the disgraced king met his end, but all you needed to know is that your people no longer had to be subject to such tyrannical rule. They deserve peace.

As for you and King Jeongin, you two had a healthy baby boy who would be next in line for the throne. But until he gets to be of age, King Jeongin will continue to rule his kingdom without having to result to meaningless wars, allowing the kingdom to prosper the way you had been hoping for the day you became Queen. Jeongin always make sure to shower you with the affection you had been robbed of all these years, never allowing you to feel any less than beautiful. The kingdom finally had a King and Queen that loved each other.

And they all lived Happily Ever After...

[thormanick]

So I read the descriptions of the Artifact, Weapon, Talent and One-Time Domains in Genshin because new weak is approaching and I am dreading my upcoming deadlines

Some conclusions I came to:

Artifact/Weapon/Talent domains’ descriptions mostly talk about stories from the past, particularly they often refer to the priests; the worshipping of a white tree; the hollow tree collecting the stories; people sharing their secrets/asking for wisdom from the tree. I particularly got interested by a phrase in one of Inazuma’s domains which said “perhaps lost causes and unforgettable loves may follow the veins of the earth and coalesce into the fruits of the court's white tree".

Mondstadt domains mostly talk about priests and the tree, or sharing knowledge with the tree, or the tree's ability to consume knowledge. I was intrigued by “Cecilia Garden” and Midsummer Courtyard/Sommernachtgarten because technically both imply a specific place for growing floral species by an ancient civilization (at any time in history Mond’s people will really like their flowers huh). I am specifically focused on the phrase “sea of white flowers” because that video narrated by Dain about Teyvat and Traveller’s journey exists. I also wonder whether Midsummer Courtyard was established after the fall of the first civilization and disappearance of Kairos bc it’s close to the Thousand Winds Temple.

Liyue domains are mostly centred around the adepti/Liyue’s overall history. Or they speak about Formulas (which I am not sure how to interpret - formula as in A Spell or formula as in mathematic/alchemical/medical formula (formula as recipe) or formula as physical (liquid?) object).

Inazuma’s domain on Talent speaks of heaven’s dome shattering ("mirrors shattered") and ocean’s level rising. /My only conclusion is that Celestia is sus./ Weapon domain speaks of "a foolish ruler who dreamed of building a high garden in honor of the white sacred tree over the primordial sands", which kinda brings it back to Mondstadt with its Midsummer Courtyard and Cecilia Garden. But the description of this domain also reminded me of that Parable from the Before Sun and Moon book collection because it speaks of the white tree and the garden and the gardener and the priest and all the rest. I think it's also interesting that such a gardening connection may be found here because Enkanomiya (which is under Snagonomiya in Inazuma region) seems to be directly connected to Mond (Thousand Winds Temple and all Kairos lore).

One-Time domains mostly speak about the characters that are prevalent in region's history/i think may be found in some in-game books or otherwise recorded lore collected throughout the game.

In conclusion,

Everyone is sus, it's all about Ley Lines, White Tree/irminsul and Kairos/Istaroth seems to be very closely connected. I now also think how the priests were worshipping the Trees (the elemental 4* crowns' lore), and Kairos is connected to the role of priest in the Parable, so yeah, they are connected somehow, the domains somehow process the knowledge of the people and condense them into helpful artifacts of various kinds???

Anyways, thank you for reading all of that, hope this was in any way interesting/helpful, see y'all later

[lovingarisu]

locked out of heaven

summary: niragi takes a special liking toward you in one of the games

word count: 1.6k

a/n: if enough people want more of this ill definitely upload more parts! hope you enjoy <3

────

The games were tormenting. Every three days, you were forced to go into an arena and pray to a God you weren't sure even existed so you could live another three days. You often wondered what happened to the world. Was it an alternate universe? Did you get chosen to go to a simulation? Did you have a bad accident and this all just an awful coma dream? You didn't know. All you knew is you had to survive.

That's why you were back in another arena, grabbing a phone and waiting for the registration to finally close. A loud engine revving along with people hooting tore your attention away from the floor. You felt dread wash over you.

People like that usually had no mercy in these games. If they were that excited to have people die just so they could live, they weren't someone you enjoyed being around.

A group of guys walk in with guns either slung on the shoulders or on their legs. They each grab a phone while joking with each other. You roll your eyes at their careless banter.

"Oi, princess," One of the more rugged ones walks toward you when he sees your expression, "Roll your eyes again and you'll be the first one out."

You scoff, crossing your arms across your chest, "I really don't give a fuck--"

The cheerful music coming from your phone takes you out of your rage-filled sentence.

"7 of Spades," You lean your head against the wall. You weren't very good at the physical games, "Capture the flag. Objective: Capture the other team's flag. Time limit: 30 minutes."

You furrow your eyebrows, "How do we know who is on what team?" A random guy says out. The phones flicker to a different color than the blinding white. There was red and black. 

You were on the red team. You scanned the crowd of people to see where your teammates were. One of the loud guys with a gun was on your team. The one who threatened you was on the black team making a dreadful feeling bubble in your chest.

He smirks at your face, "I'm gonna make this game a living hell for you, baby." You scowl at the nasty nickname given.

The guy with the gun slung over his shoulder waltzes over to you with a smirk, "No you won't." Before you can even react to what he is saying, he fires his gun into the side of the dude's face. 

The room fills with terrifying shrieks. The guy in front of your laughs maniacally.

"Oh come on! Let's capture this fucking flag already!" He goes to leave but grabs your wrist tightly, "You are coming with me." 

You shake his wrist off, "No, thank you. I can handle myself."

He laughs, grabbing onto you harder, "You are coming with me unless you want to end up like him," He motions to the guy he just killed, "Names Niragi by the way."

You glare at his back as he drags you through the room into the courtyard.

"Do you have any strategy to this, Niragi?" You say his name in a mocking tone of voice. His eyes narrow at you, his grip on your wrist tightening. You wince at the pain radiating through your arm.

He just smirks. You notice the piercings glimmering in the moonlight. He was charming but from what you have seen, he is completely unhinged. You didn't want to get involved with that full-time.

"Kill them all until we can capture the flag." He waves his gun around in the air.

Yeah. Definitely unhinged.

────

You slide against the wall, chest heaving in panic as you see the remaining black team with laser beams through their heads. Niragi runs his hands through his hair, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He waves the black flag in the sky, jumping up and down in excitement. You furrow your brows at the loud noise, handing shooting up to your head. Blood slowly trickles down your scalp from the ruthless beating you endured during this game.

Who knew people could get so violent trying to protect their lives?

Niragi sighs, looking around, "Are we the only ones from our team left?" You groan out while nodding.

"Fuck," The pounding in your head wasn't letting up, "Yeah, I guess we are."

Niragi kneels down next to you, "Do you want to come back to where I'm from? We have a medic there." You roll your eyes while standing up.

"No," You don't miss the scowl forming on his face, "Thanks for letting me live another three days. I think it's time we part ways." You walk over to the table that had the cards on it and grabbed yours before stumbling out of the arena.

You didn't make it too far down the road before a blunt object came in contact with the back of your head, knocking you completely unconscious.

────

"We can't keep her like..."

"But she is..."

"Niragi..."

"Just let me keep her..."

You kept grabbing bits and pieces of the conversation happening in front of you before going back into the dark abyss of unconsciousness. You finally snap to it when a loud screeching noise happens in front of you. Your eyes struggle to focus for a moment before they finally do. An older man with long hair and sunglasses is sitting in front of you with an expecting smile.

"She's awake!" His voice makes your head pound even harder. You scan the room to see Niragi sitting in a chair casually, biting his fingernails slightly. You cut your eyes back at the man in front of you.

"Who are you?" You don't even try to hide the distaste in your voice. He chuckles at your tone, leaning back in his chair.

"I am The Hatter!" He throws his arms out in theatrics. You look back at Niragi to see him rolling his eyes. For once you feel like you shared the same reaction, "I am the ruler of The Beach. But once I leave it will be up to him." He points at a guy with glasses.

You stare at him pointedly, "Once... you leave? You can leave?!" The excitement in your voice causes him to laugh once more. 

The Hatter paces in front of you for a moment before stopping, "Let me explain the rules of The Beach to you, precious Y/N." Your lip curls up at the nasty name he gives you. Niragi lets out a chuckle at your face making it heat up a bit. 

It seems like this Hatter guy drones on and has a knack for dramatics. By the time he is done speaking you are ready to just go into a bed and sleep. You didn't really care if he took your cards, as long as you got to leave this hellish land one day.

He finally shuts up and hands you a wristband. Niragi walks over to you, picking up your arm to see what your number is.

He throws your arm down harshly, "Only 86? She had good cards, why can't she be a little higher?" You look at Niragi's wrist to see a number 4. It was a little impressive that he was going to get to leave so soon. You wondered how many cards he had acquired to get that high up.

The Hatter shrugs casually, "If she can prove herself to Ann, then I can give her a higher wrist band. But as of now, she has not proved herself."

Niragi clicks his tongue, "This is bullshit. She did great in the game today-"

You cut him off suddenly by standing up, "I'm going to my room. Can you show me where it is?"

Niragi takes a deep breath, trying to conceal his anger before pointing at the door for you to exit through, "I'll show you. Come on." His hand grabs your wrist again. You look down and notice how pretty his hands were. They looked like he filed them or painted a clear coat of nail polish on the nails.

He was kind of surprising the more you think about it. He protected you in the game from someone he came with, assumingly one of his friends. He was challenging The Hatter for you. It made you wonder what his ulterior motives were.

As he guides you through the luxurious hallways you can't help but ask, "Why are you doing this for me?"

He looks down at you with a cocked eyebrow, "Do what?"

You sigh and look back at his disgustingly pretty face, "Stand up for me and protect me. You just met me today, there's no need for all of that."

He arrives at a door and pushes it open. You look around at the room with a suspicious glare. It smelled like he did. It looked lived in. There were even remnants of food from who knows when.

"I think you are cute-"

You shove him slightly, anger rising in your chest, "This isn't my room. Take me to my room."

He clicks his tongue at you, pushing you back making your body hit the mirror behind you, "I don't think you understand, Y/N. I've chosen you. You are now mine."

You rub your shoulder with a shocked look gracing your features, "I am not a fucking object, Niragi!" He laughs at your voice being raised.

"From here on out you are. You are mine."

And he was right. You were nothing but his object from that day forward.

[aurabird]

Haunted Dreams

Sausage just wants to sleep...but trauma weighs heavy on the mind.

Tw: Nightmares, blood/violence, brief disassociation

Also on Ao3

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

He walked through Mythland, a casual stroll through the streets of his empire to see it in all its restored glory now that he’d removed the corruption that had overun it. His citizens greeted him as he passed and he made a point to at least try and speak with as many of them as he could.

Then the sky grew dark, thunder echoing as lightning split the heavens and suddenly, the citizens around him were gone, as if they’d never been there to begin with.

Sausage knew what the storm meant and he ran; fear in his heart and panic in his mind. He needed to get away, he needed to hide. He was fooling himself, there was no hiding from the harbinger of the storm, no matter how much he wished there was.

He ducked into a building as he was inflicted with a blindness spell, cowering in a corner like a frightened animal. Maybe...maybe if he pretended they weren’t here like Joel did then they’d go away. Positive thinking right? That’s what Gem always told him.

“Hello, Sausage.” Xornoth said with a wicked grin as he came into view, “You and I have much to discuss.”

“No! G-Go away! I don’t work for you anymore!”

The demon laughed, “Oh Sausage, did you really think I’d leave you alone? You will never escape me!”

The next thing Sausage knew was been teleported, now on a netherbrick floor where familiar crimson tendrils were quick to bind him.

The blindness spell wore off and he felt his blood run cold. He knew where he was, he’d been here before when he was still under the influence of corruption. Even now he could almost hear the agonized cries and pleas of those he watched Xornoth torture...that he himself even tortured. Sausage could almost see Fwhip, Gem, and Kathrine bound and helpless, their blood still staining the ground.

“Its a new perspective isn’t it? Being on the receiving end of something you once enjoyed?” Xornoth questioned, twirling a dark, bloodied dagger in his hand as he walked “I cannot let your insolence go unpunished, Sausage.”

Suddenly, the demon was in front of him, its gaze meeting his own. “I wonder how easy you’ll be to break.”

  Sausage jolted upright with a cry, pain radiating in his right arm. He quickly looked at it in panic, expecting to see pulsating crimson veins. Instead, all he saw were the web-like scars where corruption had once been seared in his flesh. His gaze followed them from where they started at his wrist, and ended right over his heart.

He grimaced at the permanent reminders of what he’d done and averted his gaze to the room he was in. It wasn’t a dungeon where he would be tortured, it was his bedroom...in his keep...in Mythland.

There was no storm outside, moonlight shining brightly through the window and casting a gentle glow on the floor and walls.

A nightmare...that’s all it’d been. A remnant of the trauma he’d gone through. Still, there was no going back to sleep, not after that. Maybe...maybe he could go on a midnight walk to clear his head?

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood, going over to his wardrobe and grabbing a simple undershirt, pants, and a cloak. It was a casual attire, much different than what he would normally wear, but it’d work.

Once he was on the cobbled streets he began his walk. Mythland was stunning at night, lanterns lit the paths and fireflies flickered in the air. The sound of night wildlife was therapeutic as it was joined by his quiet footsteps.

The bleating of blood sheep made him smile, with the corruption tentacles gone the symbols of his empire’s culture had come out from hiding, no longer afraid.

All was fine until Sausage could have sworn he saw a shadow move in the darkness. When he turned to look, it was gone.

Just a nocturnal animal he told himself before continuing down the path towards one of the residential areas.

He’d helped design some of the houses here himself and the sight of them made him smile. Light shone dimly through closed windows, alerting him that the residents were safe.

Then, in one of the alleys, he caught sight of a shadow, but it disappeared seconds after he made eye contact with it. A stray dog or cat he thought, that was all, there was no one out on the streets at this hour other than him.

As he continued he noticed that the sounds of the night had gone quiet, his footsteps echoed by another set behind him. He turned, but saw no one, not even the particles of an invisibility potion.

He was tired, that was all. He was tired and just imagining things. He was alone out here...he should probably head back home to rest.

Countless times more on his way back did he swear he was hearing footsteps, close enough to be in earshot, yet far enough away to be unnerving. He also could have sworn the shadow he kept seeing was following him. He knew it was just paranoia, once he was back in bed he’d be fine.

Soon, his home came into view and he went inside, climbing the stairs back to his bedroom.

He discarded the cloak, hanging it on the railing to put away in the morning and made his way over to his bed, not even bothering to get undressed again.

As he passed the mirror by his wardrobe though he froze, the reflection in it drawing his attention out of the corner of his eye. The second he turned to look, he recoiled with a yelp.

In the glass was a man that looked like him, a man dressed in black and grey with piercing red eyes and black veins marring their skin that had a faint crimson light flickering underneath. A sinister grin crossed their face as their gaze met his own.

“Look at you.” his reflection began in a distorted version of his voice, “Pathetic and weak once more. You were so powerful Sausage, you were feared. Don’t you miss it? The strength flowing through your veins, the magic at your fingertips. You could have had so much more too, if you’d stayed.”

It clicked then who the reflection was, it was someone he never wanted to see again, someone that terrified him. “I’m not you. I’m not a puppet for someone to order around.”

His reflection vanished and for a moment, Sausage thought he’d beaten his subconscious. He’d been wrong as he felt a sword go through him, the blade dripping with ink black blood as it protruded from his chest.

“You’re right,” came the voice of his doppelganger once more, “Because I am what you should have been.”

The sword was yanked back out, and Sausage fell to the ground, hacking and sputtering as the life drained from his body. 

“All I have to do, is kill you and take your place.”

The black blade of a corrupted netherite axe tore through the flesh of his neck.

  Once more he awoke with a cry, his hands instantly flying up to his throat instinctively in panic. Once he realized that his head was still attached did he dare open his eyes.

Sunlight came through the window and lit up the room, birds sung outside and the wind rustled the leaves of trees. In the distance, he could hear the faint sounds of his people going about their lives.

Tears formed in his eyes and he began to cry, ugly sobs coming from his throat at what he’d witnessed in his nightmare.

Then it dawned on him...what if he was still asleep? What if he’d just passed into another part of the illusion his traumatized mind was inflicting upon him?!

What if...what if he wasn’t really in Mythland? What if he’d failed in the spirit realm and as punishment he was left to suffer a nightmare for eternity?!

Who was he? The King of Mythland? The servant of evil? The condemned spirit left to be forgotten by those he cared about?

The mental turmoil was maddening and Sausage clutched the sides of his head, “Stop...make it stop...” he pleaded quietly.

A knock on the door snapped him from his spiraling thoughts, bringing him back to what he hoped was reality.

“Sausage are you home? I know you said you wanted to rest but I’m worried about you.”

Gem’s voice was music to his ears and Sausage quickly regained his composure as best he could before heading down the stairs to open the door for her.

“Hey, Gem.” he said with what he hopped was a happy tone, he didn’t want to worry her any more.

The wizard’s smile faded, “Sausage you look horrible, I thought you said you were going to get some sleep and recover!”

“What are you talking about Gem? I feel perfectly fine!” he countered casually, “I’ve been resting like I said I would after all!.”

Gem wasn’t convinced, “Sausage, have you looked at yourself in the mirror?”

The question had been an innocent one, but the nightmare from the night before quickly flashed before him. “N-No, because I’m...I’m afraid of what I’ll see.” he admitted as he wrapped his arms around himself.

"What do you think you’ll see?”

Sausage grit his teeth, his body beginning to shake, “Him, Gem...the corrupted puppet of Xornoth...”

"He isn’t you, Sausage.”

“No...he’s not...” because he’s who I was supposed to be...

Gem broke the momentary silence that followed, “You’ve gone through a lot, Sausage and while I still don’t know if I can fully trust you yet, if you need to talk about anything then I’ll be right over alright?”

Sausage nodded and wrapped his arms around her just to make sure she was real and not another trick played by his mind, “Thank you.”

-

He had spent the next several days working, doing everything he could to keep himself from falling asleep, afraid of what would await him. He’d dozed off a few times and had found himself in several scenarios.

  Sometimes it’d been in the arena, the other rulers falling to his blade over-and-over again, bathing him in their blood while he smiled in sadistic pleasure.

Sometimes he’d be running from a shadow that would always catch him, its claws digging into his mind to puppet him around once more

Sometimes he’d see the wicked grin of his twisted doppelganger as they drove a blade through him, their words poisoning his thoughts and filling him with doubt and fear.

Sometimes he’d be laying helpless as Xornoth tortured him. Trying countless painful methods to ensure that this time the corruption taking over his body would be permanent.

  And when night fell he’d just lay in bed awake, guilt and trauma weighing heavy on his mind. The things he’d done were horrible and now that he was free, he would be hunted relentlessly by the one that had controlled him and the hybrid that still followed them.

Sausage was scared. He needed sleep...he needed help...

That had been the one word shakily scribbled onto the paper he’d tied around a raven’s leg before sending it to the Crystal Cliffs.

-

A knock on the door the following morning forced him to get out of bed and go to open it. Sausage’s movements were sluggish but he managed to succeed in his goal. Gem stood in the doorway, her expression morphing into a grimace once she saw the sorry sight he probably was. “Oh Sausage...what have you been doing to yourself...”

He collapsed into her, unable to hold back tears any longer, “I can’t sleep Gem! Every time I close my eyes the nightmares come, even if its just for a minute. Please Gem, sleeping potions...or even some kind of sleeping spell...just something, anything to help me fall asleep peacefully!”

Gem couldn’t think of any way to reply, only held the broken person in her arms.

“How about we get you inside? See what we can do?”

A distressed  but agreeing sound came from Sausage and Gem helped maneuver him upstairs and back into his bed. The Mythland king looked terrible, his clothes disheveled and his face pale enough that the dark circles forming beneath his eyes were extremely noticeable.

“Tell me everything, Sausage. Tell me about the nightmares and anything that is bothering you.”

So he did. Sausage spilled every detail about his nightmares and paranoia, about every little thing he feared and pondered. Gem listened intently as he spoke, never once interrupting, just letting him get his thoughts out.

By the time he finished Sausage felt as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders, it was...nice.

The last of his energy had been sapped from his venting and the clutches of sleep tried to bring him into their hold.

Gem stroked his head, her sympathetic eyes meeting his own tired ones. “Go to sleep, Sausage.” he coaxed, “I’ll be here to wake you if I sense something is wrong.“

Sausage only gave a sigh, his eyelids slipping shut and lulling him into darkness.

But, for the first time in an unknown amount of days, the nightmares didn’t come. Sausage was at peace, finally able to rest.

[snickiebear]

on your broken knees you pray // rotting tongue, your words decay // oh how sweet the sound of death // my god's hands only know of theft

for @saintwilllem !! thank you for commissioning this piece and allowing me to use your brilliantly delicious concept and wonderful characters from The Changing House <33 (i hope you enjoy reading this as much as i did writing it)

i.

The house, it hungers.

Like a lurking beast, all starving teeth and festering gore, it aches. I know this, of course I know this. Six years old and headless animals at the foot of my bed, flies swarming and feasting and fantasizing. Ten years old and the doors lock, the windows shut, no way out, no one to hear my—

I wondered, in my youth, if the house satisfied its hunger with the things that went missing. The socks and the heads and my hope. But it always seemed to want to taketaketake and I never wanted to give. The house is not a home, oh no, never.

The atrocities, the horrors, they haunt my dreams. One doesn’t live in the house, one survives it. How my parents inhabited the house still bothers me, did they not find the blood pouring from the facets? The carcasses dripping from the ceiling? The locked doors and stuck windows?

(Or maybe, something dark whispers, it only ever wanted you.)

But now, my parents are gone and all that is left is the house. It stands, looming and yet so small, the greenery drained, the paint peeled, the lights dead. It's like nothing’s changed. It's like everything’s changed.

Breathing deeply, I tighten my grip on my backpack. Why was I here? Why did I come back? Gods, I didn’t have to but, but.

This horrible house was never home and yet I have never felt more alone outside of it.

Weak.

Maybe, in some twisted way I missed it. Maybe.

I don’t know.

Knuckles paling under my grip, I take the first step on to the yard. The door flies open. And and and

Oh.

Oh.

Welcome home.

ii.

“What are you?” I breathe, taking a step back. It's useless, the windows and doors locked as soon as I stepped inside. I escaped once, it won’t happen again, I know. Unless, well.

The House (and how do I know? One look and it's instinctual, it's a primal knowledge. Oh, oh it's you. It's you. It's always been you.) smiles, it looks wrong on the face it's stolen. Too crooked, not enough teeth. Deathless. Lifeless. “Yours.”

“I don’t want you,” spitting fire and shaking hands. Another step back, he — it?— steps forward. “You— you’re a monster.”

Fingers, mismatched and differing lengths (a child’s, a man’s, a woman’s, a molding bone), grab my chin harshly, thumbing the jut of my jaw almost gently. Bruising, demanding. “I am yours,” the House swears, “or I am nothing at all.”

Then it— he?— falls to his knees, fingers trailing down my chest like a forest fire, igniting. The House kneels at my feet, bowed head like a sinner. And for once, deserving sits within reach. I reach out, the House’s hair dirty and matted, I do not let go.

iii.

I blink, he blinks back. A mirror. A ghost. It's disgusting how much I want to reach out and touch, it's horrific the way I watch the House — Yahya, I remind myself because the House is a person now, a man now— swallow, memorizing the column of his throat. The House walks and speaks and fucks just like any other living thing. An unwanted thrill sparks down my spine at the thought.

“You killed them,” I say, pushing him away from me, “you killed them, to— to lure me here? To— to get me to come back?”

Yahya tilts his head, predatory. “How else was I supposed to get you home?”

“This,” I snarl, “is not home.”

His hands cup my face, fingers digging into the apple of my cheeks, I let him because. Because. “Why are you fighting?”

Teeth flashing, I wrap my hands around his wrists, “Why shouldn’t I? This is prison, you are my jailer.”

“Oh,” he murmurs, leaning in close. Breath stills in my lungs, halting. “No, my love, no. This is not jail, you are no prisoner. This is heaven, you are its ruler.”

He kisses me, tonguing open my mouth, teeth clicking and he consumes me whole, breathing in my very essence. I return the fever, clawing at his back, yanking at his hair as he tries to pull away.

“Then let me out,” against his lips, hips slotted together (perfectly, too perfectly). “Let me leave.”

Hands at my neck, pulse fluttering. Yahya looks at me, wearing a dead man’s face, lips kiss bruised and hair wild. Hunger gleams in his eyes, a look I know all too well, he kisses me again, drowning me in him.

I go willingly.

iv.

I am knife and wound and he. Well, he is the hand that holds the knife, the fingers that dig deepdeepdeep into the wound, blood pooling and mouth drinking in the pained gasp, not flinching as my teeth cut his tongue—

The house hungers.

So do I.

Hands grasp, unholy and utterly selfish and I return the grip with fever, yanking on his hair to look him in his eyes. We study each other then, carnivorous. He holds himself still inside me, waiting for the command, for the order.

“What am I?” I ask, ragged and raw.

His lips drag against the skin of my neck, teeth at my pulse, hands on my wrists, “God.”

It's shades of white after that.

v.

“I can’t let you go,” Yahya says after after after. “You don’t know the world like I do.”

I don’t answer, closed eyes and boneless. He continues, “You don’t understand how they could hurt you. I won’t let them, that’s why you must stay here. Where I can watch you.”

“And the hurt you’ve produced?”

“I never hurt you, my love.” Fingers trace the bumps of my ribs. “I was protecting you, I am your shield, I am your knife.”

I hum, turning over to give him my back, fingers twitching as his kisses down my spine, hands at my hips.

He’s wrong. He knows nothing of terror, nothing of protection. My lips twitch into a smile as I look at the ceiling. That’s the difference between us, I suppose.

vi.

“Where did you get this body?” Maybe the question should remain unasked.

“I stole it.” Yahya looks up from the book he’s reading. “The boy, you liked him. He didn’t deserve you.”

“And you do?”

His face twists into something monstrous, “Of course I do. Who else but me? Don’t ask stupid questions.” He stands, fist curling. "I protected you when no one else did. I loved you when no one else did. You are mine, mine. You are my God. No one can have you, no one but me."

I ignore the heat in my belly in favor for the chill down my spine.

vii.

Losing time happens in the house, it gets worse now that he can actively distract. Shutters closed, doors locked, windows shut. Darkness consumes and we rot inside, we rot within. Some days I cannot tell where he begins and I end, we blur so constituently.

Drowning, I think, was a mistake.

He steals everything, the breath from my lungs, the thoughts in my head, the free will of my limbs. He claims I am a God and yet he holds the strings in his hands, scissors in the other.

Puppetry and godhood, a child’s tale, a man’s nightmare.

It is as if he’s trying to climb into my skin, make room for his body within me, and god above I give him an inch, he shoves a mile. It's disgusting, it's revolting, it's never enough.

I want him and hate him in equal measure.

I should have never come back.

I should have come back sooner.

This needs to end. Get him out my of my fucking head, pull out the roots he’s grown so silently around the muscle of my heart. Loneliness is a small price to pay to rid oneself of insanity. He’s the air I breathe, like a smoker, like a disease.

“Oh,” he says, “here you are, I was looking for you.” Fingers on either side of my neck, squeezing.

There won’t be much to look for soon.

vii.

He sleeps, it's the only time of peace. Slipping silently out of bed, I go to the kitchen, digging through the drawers until I find it. Lighting the match, the flame jumps, burning brightbrightbright.

I drop it.

viii.

The doors were unlocked, the foolish house trusting a bit too much. The fire rages and there’s screaming. Unholy. Delightful. Like a melody, a song. His face presses to the window, clawing at the glass. Why? Why? Why? Unspoken but heard all the same.

Smoke billows in the air and from the street I inhale slowly, letting it settle deep in my lungs, replacing every touch he’s ever made. “You say I am your God.” A twist smile, a wild laugh, throat bared as the heat of the house seeks to caress me once more. “So I say you shall burn.” Godhood has never appealed until now, until destruction drips from my fingertips like blood.

Sirens roar somewhere around me as I turn away from the house, taking a step into the new world.

ix.

“How does a man become a god? How does a house become a home?”

“Oh, don’t you know? You love it.”

[besanii]

For the anon thing, I started following Shattered Mirrors before I even had a Tumblr. I just kept the masterpost open and refreshed on a daily basis. I still keep it open in one of my tabs and check it periodically to make sure I didn't miss anything accidentally. I love pretty much all of your writing, but Shattered Mirrors has a special place in my heart.

Hi nonny! Thank you for your kind words :)))  Have some more SM!!

Shattered Mirrors 70

[directly precedes #26]

In the end, it is Nie Mingjue who lands the killing blow, taking off Wen Ruohan’s head with a swing of his mighty sabre. Lan Wangji watches it happen from only metres away, fending off the Qishan soldiers charging their way up the grand staircase towards the Nightless City stronghold and their king. He doesn’t register it at first, not until he looks down to see the head of Qishan’s monarch at his feet, dark eyes staring lifelessly up at him, mouth still twisted in a snarl.

It is strange, he thinks numbly as weapons clatter to the ground around him, that the once-fearsome ruler of Qishan who had been the cause of decades of grief for Gusu and its allies is now reduced to little more than a bloodied corpse separated from its head.

“You alright, Er-dianxia?” Nie Mingjue asks gruffly, shaking off the worst of the blood from his blade with a flick of his wrist before wiping it on the corpse of a Qishan soldier. “Not much to look at, is he? Still, I’d say it’s an improvement.”

“Wangji congratulates Qinghe-wang on his victory,” Lan Wangji says, bowing to Nie Mingjue as he approaches. “Wangji has heard many stories of Qinghe-wang’s prowess in battle. It is an honour to be able to witness it in person.”

Nie Mingjue waves him off with a snort. “Gusu-er-dianxia is too generous with his words. It is I who must thank Gusu for the chance to take this dog’s head from his body.”

With Wen Ruohan and both his sons dead, the Sunshot War is officially declared over, and all fighting ceases on the front lines as soon as the news spreads. The majority of the surviving troops gradually begin the journey home, but some remain behind, tasked with overseeing the dismantling of war camps, processing prisoners of war, as well as rebuilding the villages and towns affected by the fighting.

Lan Wangji is immediately recalled to Gusu on Lan Xichen’s orders. Despite his desire to help, he knows he cannot defy Imperial orders again, so he has Lan Guoyan stay behind in his place, packs his bags and sets off for the capital. Everywhere they pass on their way back to Caiyi bears the marks of war—villages burnt, orphans and widows on the streets, injured soldiers in makeshift hospitals, once-fruitful and lush fields scorched and blackened beyond recognition. It will take many years of careful management to set things right again; in the meantime, the best they can do is to clean up wherever they can and provide the support and supplies their people desperately need.

He rides for the palace as soon as they enter the city.

Ordinarily, customs dictate that returning officials and soldiers must bathe and make themselves presentable before appearing before the Emperor as a sign of respect, but Lan Wangji knows it will make no difference now whether he carries the dust and grime of the road on him or not. He dismounts hastily at the gates to the Imperial Palace, where Eunuch Yang is already waiting.

“This servant greets Er-dianxia,” he says with a low bow. Lan Wangji nods.

“Yang-zongguan.” He hands off the reins of his horse to one of the soldiers who had followed him here. “I am here to see my brother.”

“Yes, Er-dianxia,” Eunuch Yang says, holding out an arm in the direction of the main hall. “Taizi-dianxia has tasked this servant with bringing Er-dianxia to the Great Hall immediately upon his arrival.”

The Great Hall.

Lan Wangji takes a deep, calming breath.

“Then I must trouble Yang-zongguan,” he says with a curt nod.

It is almost midday by now, which means the court’s morning session should have ended a while ago—but when they arrive at the Great Hall and Lan Wangji’s presence is announced, the entire court turns their heads to look at him. Lan Xichen stands below the throne, one arm tucked behind his back and a calm, neutral expression on his face as Lan Wangji strides down the aisle dividing the civil officials from the military. Not a sound escapes their lips, but he feels their eyes on him, their censure and disapproval burning into the dirt-stained cape trailing behind him.

He sinks to his knees before the dais, and touches his forehead and hands to the floor.

“Greetings Taizi-dianxia,” he says, voice loud and clear in the hall despite the words being directed to the floor. “I ask forgiveness for not having time to make myself presentable to Taizi-dianxia before coming here today.”

Lan Xichen inclines his head in acknowledgment, but his expression does not soften.

“Huangdi is welcome back to court,” he says. “You are to be commended for your part in the war, and in the execution of the tyrant Wen Ruohan. For this, Huangshang has bestowed upon you the title Hanguang-wang. You are granted Hanguang Manor as your permanent residence, effective immediately.”

Lan Wangji exhales. The message is clear—as a prince who has come of age, Lan Wangji is no longer permitted to live within the Imperial Palace; instead, he is granted a title and a residence in the city, and is only permitted to visit the palace on official business, or when summoned. His brother, as the Crown Prince, had moved out of the Inner Palace and into the Eastern Palace when he too had come of age. Lan Wangji keeps his head lowered to the ground.

“Er-chen thanks Huangshang for his generosity,” he says. After a pause, he continues. “There is one further issue for which I must ask Huangshang and Taizi-dianxia for their forgiveness.”

A tense, pregnant pause follows. This, Lan Wangji knows, is the real reason why the court has been kept back long after the morning session has ended, the reason why he has not been permitted to rise to his feet.

“What offence has been committed that Hanguang-wang must ask for forgiveness?” Lan Xichen asks, keeping his voice carefully devoid of any tell-tale inflection.

“Replying to Taizi-dianxia,” Lan Wangji says. “While stationed at the camp in Jiangling, a messenger arrived from Yunmeng seeking aid. Even knowing there were many things suspect about both message and messenger, I abandoned my post to travel to Yunmeng without first seeking permission.”

Murmurs break out amongst the officials at his declaration. As a soldier, abandoning your post during war is an act of desertion, punishable by death. For Lan Wangji to have committed such an offence, as the commander of the Jiangling front and a member of the Imperial Family, even if he escapes execution, punishment is inevitable. All eyes shift towards Lan Xichen, still as a statue above them, looking down impassively on his younger brother prostrate before him.

“That is indeed a grave offence,” he says. “An offence punishable by death. Do you acknowledge this?”

“Yes, Taizi-dianxia.” He ignores the collective intake of breath around him. “I accept whatever punishment Huangshang and Taizi-dianxia see fit.”

“Taizi-dianxia!” A voice rings out in the hall and there’s a flurry of activity as the ranks of the military officials part to allow one of their own to kneel behind Lan Wangji in the aisle. “Hanguang-wang has indeed committed a grave offence, but this lowly official dares beg Taizi-dianxia to take into account the many great deeds Hanguang-wang has accomplished in the war against Qishan, and spare him from execution!”

And then, as though his words had broken a dam, the officials in the hall—both civil and military alike—fall to their knees and prostrate themselves before Lan Xichen.

“We beg Taizi-dianxia show mercy!”

Lan Wangji raises his head enough to meet Lan Xichen’s eyes briefly, before lowering his gaze again. “Taizi-dianxia, wrongdoings must be punished. If the Son of Heaven breaks the law, he is just as guilty as the common folk. What example would I set the people of Gusu if I shirk the consequences of my actions?”

Through all of this, Lan Xichen remains quietly listening and observing each of them in turn. He holds up a hand for silence; a hush falls over the court as they await his ruling.

“You have all made valid points,” he says, nodding his head slowly as he considers their arguments. His face gives nothing away. “Such a grave offence cannot be overlooked, of course, and due punishment must be dealt. However—” He raises his voice when it looks like the officials may protest, “—what Lin-jiangjun says is not without merit. Without Hanguang-wang’s efforts, victory against Qishan would not have been possible. With this in mind, Hanguang-wang shall be sentenced to thirty-three strikes with the disciplinary whip.”

Lan Wangji sinks to the floor, an odd calm falling over him. A public whipping is one of the lighter punishments for the crime of desertion, but a harsh one nonetheless. No one watching would think he had gotten off lightly because of his status as an Imperial Prince, especially not when it must be endured publicly. He thinks of the message still tucked away inside his robes, of the length of red ribbon resting over his heart, of the massacre left behind in Lotus Pier, and knows in his heart that he would do it all again.

“Wangji gives thanks to Huangshang and Taizi-dianxia for their benevolence.”

--

Notes:

Huangdi (皇弟) - Imperial Younger Brother, opposite of Huangxiong (皇兄)

Er-chen (儿臣) - Son and Subject, used by princes to refer to themselves when talking to the Emperor - in this case, LWJ is thanking his father in absentia (because LXC is representing the Emperor as Regent, thus his decisions are considered on behalf of the Emperor).

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master post is here: besanii.tumblr.com/shattered-mirrors-master-post

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buy me a ko-fi: ko-fi.com/besanii

[love-overcame]

Prayer for the Spirit of Man

Lord God, I thank you for your presence in our midst, for it is written that where two or three are gathered in your name you are in our midst. ___________________________, I bless you in the name of Jesus. I honor you in the name of Jesus. I invite you to be present at the surface. _________________________, I need you to remember a few things. You are light from Light, for it is written, nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising (Isaiah 60:3). You are fire, for it is written, the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord searching all the inmost parts of his being (Proverbs 20:27). The Bible says that Jesus Christ came to baptize in the Holy Spirit and in fire (Matthew 3:11), and I decree over you that your flame is now being mingled with the fire of Jesus Christ. You are breath, for it is written that the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). You are that breath. You are wind, for it is written that the wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit (John 3:8). You are love for it is written that God is Love and you were created by love from love and for love. You are smoke, for it is written: there went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it (Psalm 18:8). I charge you with the strength and life of Jesus Christ, for you are strengthened with might by his Spirit in the Inner Man. Lord God, I praise you for ____________________. I speak over _____________________ right now and command the immediate removal of every impaling object, spear, arrow, tracking device, chain, handcuff, blindfold, gagging device, and counterfeit garment. I call for _____________________ to have oil of anointing poured over his/her head in large quantities. (I give a you a large and warm vile of oil that never runs out. Place it in your belt for safe keeping) I call for ____________________ to be washed in living water and ministered the bread of life. I call for the stripes of Jesus to be applied to every wound and affliction of ________________________. I call for the application of the healing balm of Gilead, and I speak that the Sun of Righteousness will rise over ________________________ with healing in his wings. I open up a light emanating the glory of God over _______________________ and call for the issuance of new garments of righteousness in his/her favorite color. Thank you, Lord God, for the healing and restoration manifesting in _____________________. Amen.”

The human spirit is a component of our creation that has been poorly understood. For this reason, the Church has been quite inefficient in ministering to the spirit of man. Most of the ministry I have personally witnessed has catered more to the soul than to the spirit. We are a three-part being, and God has a plan to minister to every part of us (1 Thessalonians 5:23). This prayer will target the spirit of man. It is extremely powerful, and can be applied to the spirit in a general sense. It can also be applied to the seven facets of the human spirit individually. These seven facets mirror the seven redemptive gifts of Romans 12: Prophet, Teacher, Exhorter, Ruler, Servant, Giver, and Mercy. In the underlined portions of this prayer, you will address the person’s spirit. For instance, if you were going to speak this prayer over me you would say, “Daniel’s spirit.” To target the specific portions of the spirit you would say, “Daniel’s prophet,” or “Daniel’s exhorter.” If the human spirit is held captive or in a region of captivity, there may need to be specific warfare before this prayer is effective.

From the book, “Prayers That Shake Heaven and Earth” by Dan Duval

[dashedwithromance]

Slithered Here From Eden - Princewitch

KINGDOM OF THE WICKED SPOILERS!!! I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW SPOILERY THIS FIC IS. THE HEIGHT OF SPOILERS!! THE PEAK OF SPOILERS!! THIS IS A VERY LOUD WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KINGDOM OF THE WICKED SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT DO NOT KEEP READING IF YOU DONT WISH TO BE SPOILED THANK YOUUUUUU

anyways here is my first princewitch fic!! i hope you guys like it, and let me know if you have any ideas for fics for those two. im a little nervous to put this out here - ive written only cressworth and original stuff for a while, so im kinda nervous this wont be in character or will be weird in my style. anyway, please let me know if you like this, and if its something you want more of. im already working on a few others, courtesy of @duchess-of-nothing-and-nowhere ‘s brilliant ideas, but send in any requests you have!!! i hope you guys enjoy, thank you!!!!!

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Hell was, well, hell.

Her husband was busy doing whatever kings of Hell did in their spare time, which she was thankful for. She didn’t wish to run into any of the Wicked, but Pride was close to the top of the list. Not the worst offender, however. The Prince she’d once tentatively called an ally had claimed that spot with his spectacularly humiliating betrayal. 

The worst part was that she still didn’t understand. His motives, his feelings, his aims - all were shrouded in mystery, one that seemed to taunt her at every twist and turn. Bastard. 

Contrary to her preconceptions, her rooms were actually rather beautiful. Similar to the style of the house Wrath had rented in Palermo, but it felt different. Darker. Her quarters were styled in black and gold, with serpent scones lining the walls. The fire flickered in a menacing fashion, though she’d long since learned it had more bark than bite. 

Shadows crept along the floor until they curled at her feet like a cat, announcing the presence of the one demon prince she wished to see the least. 

“What do you want.” Emilia barely gave him a glance before he walked him, arrogance pouring off him. As if he owned the damn place. 

Infuriatingly beautiful as usual, he wore a dark suit, flecked with golden patterns, not unlike the tattoo she knew adorned his shoulder. Her attention flicked to the wicker basket he held gingerly in his hands. Covered with a soft blue tea towel, it looked like something plucked off the streets of her home, not something that belonged within the obsidian walls of the kingdom where wickedness ruled with abandon. 

Silence was his only reply as he looked her up and down. The gaze threatened to set her alight; with rage or desire, she wasn’t entirely sure. Once, the bed that loomed behind her would’ve offered a taunting distraction and a fragile but desperate wish. Now, it only annoyed her, reminding her of the moments she’d failed so magnificently at seeing through his façade.

Still no response. They hadn’t spoken since her wedding, and their last words had been less of a conversation and more of throwing of well-deserved insults on her behalf. He’d told her that she knew nothing of his motivations, and to assume he wished her harm was foolish. She’d told him a few carefully chosen expletives, complete with a hand gesture that would’ve had her mother wringing her hands. Wrath had spent the days prior skulking outside her quarters, never saying a word, only letting his shadows pollute her already foul mood. She might’ve had the slightest amount of sympathy for him, had he not betrayed her, lied to her, married her to his brother and thoroughly pissed her off in the process.

He placed the basket down on the table at the other side of the room. Looking up, Wrath raised a carefully groomed brow. Apparently, princes of Hell had beauty routines.

His mood was undetectable through his face, but the shadows that followed him gave it away, if only slightly. They were the same dark as a summer night; dark enough for comfort, but not the soulless black pitch she’d seen him wear so often. An interesting combination for a prince who seemed to care not a whit whether she lived or died after he’d gotten what he wanted.

Wrath pulled back the cloth covering the basket to reveal – food. A carefully curated selection of her favourites, smelling like they’d been plucked off the serving plates of the Sea & Vine.

She nearly salivated at the sight – the food she’d eaten in Hell had been a sore spot for her. Though nothing was wrong with it, it lacked the love of homemade food. The flavour that came with knowing that someone lovingly made every single bite. There were no laughing families who cooked here, no fathers to taste-test, or sisters to tease while they made sangria side by side.

  “How on earth did you find this?” The words slipped out before she could correct herself. ‘Earth’ was perhaps not the right term, though she couldn’t truly tell where she was. Under, felt more accurate. Below.

He looked at her as if she was missing the obvious – and she was.

The food smelt like she was used to because it was what she was used to. The same recipes, made with the same care as every meal that came from the Sea & Vine kitchens.

Panic enveloped her faster than joy.

“Did you hurt them?” She hissed, desperately searching his appearance for any sign of violence. He was wearing black, that much was true, but either he cleaned up exceptionally well, or there was no blood to be found.

“Hurt them?” Wrath’s tone was even, but she could hear how he scoffed. The nerve, “No. I even paid for it.”

Her heart still beat fast enough to burst from her chest, so he continued, “Relax, witch. No harm has come to them, nor will it, if you comply with my brother’s terms.” There was no audible threat in his tone, but she knew it went without saying. Comply, be Pride’s blooded wife, or her family would receive the same fate as Vittoria. It hurt to even think about, however brief the thought was.

She was going to throw something right at his beautiful, awful face. Maybe the basket, once she was finished devouring her favourites. Wrath would certainly look ridiculous enough with a basket slammed over his head, if he didn’t kill her first.

“It’s not poisoned, if that’s what you fear.” Emilia blinked, unsure how to respond. He seemed to be lingering, if demon princes could ever linger. Why wouldn’t he leave?

She nodded, restraining a biting retort about how she was sure that fact was a deep disappointment for him. Remembering the odd rules of demonhood, she thanked him.

Still, he wouldn’t leave. Just stood there, watching her with those golden eyes that peered into her very soul, reaching inside and setting her alight. His gaze was unnerving.

Her patience, which had thinned dramatically since becoming a co-ruler of Hell, waned, “Are you waiting for payment?”

He laughed. Actually laughed. A short, biting sound, but a laugh nonetheless.

“I could smell your foul mood from my own House. Perhaps this will appease you.”

Appease her. As if it were that simple. As if he hadn’t tricked her, lied to her by omission, made her into an even greater fool than the one she was.

“Perhaps if you deigned to be truthful, I would be more polite.” Lies, but worth a try. If only he would tell her something, anything by way of explanation. Even if it was brutally cruel and benefitting a member of the Wicked. Anything but the agony of anticipation.

Apparently this evening was full of more surprises, because Wrath then pulled out a chair, and gestured for her to sit down, like they weren’t sworn enemies. The thought of a biting retort was attractive, but the smell of food was too much. The scent of all her favourites, food she’d spent hours labouring over in the past, wafted towards her like an irresistible gift.

The basket held everything she dreamt of. Wrath laid the table with his harvest as she tried not to gape at the sight. Twin glasses of sangria, somehow still delightfully cold. The comforting smell of garlic and fresh herbs permeated the air. Plates piled high with a mix of all her favourite things: a selection of antipasto, a side plate of bruschetta, a bowl of pasta, and a small dish of cannoli. If she closed her eyes, and forgot the presence of the prince in front of her, she could picture being back home, surrounded by her family and loved ones. If she thought hard enough, she could faintly smell Vittoria’s favourite perfume, the one she made for herself.

When she opened her eyes, the dream faded away, and there was only Wrath sitting across from her. Despite all the effort she presumed he must’ve taken to fetch the food, he sat watching like he thought it was attack him. Or she would. A laugh escaped her lips, almost hysterical, at the situation. Her, Queen of Hell, sat with her husband’s brother, another demon prince, as they ate food from her family’s restaurant. Comical, if disturbing.

“It won’t bite,” She said, eagerly helping herself to a plate. His eyes flickered with the promise of his bite, and she fought to keep any sign of her reaction off her face. Now was not the time to think of his kiss, or goddess forbid, his tongue. Watching carefully, he followed suit, piling his plate high with a mirror of her own. If she didn’t know the strength that lurked beneath that bronze skin and manicured hands, she would’ve called it sweet.

The food was – the food was heavenly. The taste of home, the love of her family, the promise of safety offered in those few bites brought her more joy than she thought possible. She wanted to stretch out the meal forever, as long as time would permit. If this was the last time she would taste such heaven, she wanted to remember it.

Despite her anger at the demon sitting across from her, curiosity embedded itself in her mind. How could he have known? How could he have known this was exactly what she needed, what her soul craved? Just as he’d done with the orange blossoms after Lust, he’d somehow known her mind and soul needing nourishment, and brought it as a gift to her door. Perhaps there would be a price to be paid, someday, but for now, her happiness was enough.

It was ridiculous and Nonna would’ve scolded her dearly, but it was the first semblance of normal she’d had since signing her name over to Pride. The meal sent flashbacks of the time she’d spent after Lust had invaded her mind; the days she’d spent lying in bed, a stranger in her own body, while Wrath sat like a comforting guardian demon. They hadn’t spoken, but he’d delivered her meals thrice daily, and never left her side unless to fetch her clothes from his mysterious source, or to give her privacy if she’d asked. He’d even brought her reading materials, though they were filled with battle strategies, not the steamy romances she craved. At the time, she’d thought it was a sign that maybe, just maybe, Wrath was different. Now, she only felt the white-hot flush of shame. Her appetite faded, and she pushed the plate away.

He catalogued her change in mood with a barely perceptible nod of his head. Truly, she had no idea what he was thinking. Sometimes she thought he was terrified for her, her witch-blood and mortal heart acting as a beacon for all those whom Pride had made an enemy. Sometimes she thought he wanted to kiss her until her lips were swollen and she begged him for release. Sometimes she thought her presence disgusted him to a never-ending degree. A mystery.

“You need to be careful,” He broke the silence with a warning, as if she treated Hell like a stroll along Sicilian streets.

“It would help if you told me anything.” She hated the petulant near-whine of her voice, but it couldn’t be helped. She had nothing and no-one in the world, but she needed an ally. Or, if she couldn’t have that, information would have to do.

“I’ve already told you too much.” Lies. Complete lies.

Her questioning had bored him, she assumed, as he stood up to go, leaving the remnants of their meal scattered around them. Wrath cast one last look at her before stalking out, taking the shadows with him.

Just as she was about to curse his name, she spotted a bouquet of orange blossoms on the dresser.

Bastard.

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Tags: @shadowturtlesstuff @otome-azarada @chococannolii @beccalovesbooksstuff

[writingtoforgetreality]

Pancakes To Cure The Nightmares - The Devil´s Daughter Chapter Four (Lucifer Morningstar x Daugther!Reader)

[Lucifer-Masterlist], [The Devil´s Daughter-Masterlist]

Previous Chapter / Next Chapter

Summary: Your first night on Earth ended with you having this recurring nightmare again. To your luck, Dan was right by your side and calmed you down. He suggested you to come with him to work so his team could help you further.

Words: 1,914

Warnings: Lucifer Season 5 Part 1 spoilers, nightmares (flashback in italics), sassy reader (we´re getting there y´all), I know right now it seems like a Dan x Reader but I PROMISE it isn´t

If you like my work & wanna support me: a coffee would be highly appreciated ❤

Your night was peaceful. As peaceful as it had not been in forever. Though, at like 6 am, Dan was already in the kitchen, preparing the pancakes he promised you, he heard a piercing scream coming from Trixie´s room. Immediately, he left everything behind and sprinted towards you. When he opened the door, and thank God you did not lock it, he saw you writhing in the bed. Your face showed displeasure. Slowly, Dan made his way over to you, soft reassurances out of his mouth. Nightmares were nothing new to him. When Trixie was younger, she got them every now and then. The worst thing one could do was shaking the dreaming person awake. This could cause even more fear. Dan´s hands reached out towards your shaking frame, lightly touching you.

“(Y/N)? It´s me, Dan. You´re safe here. Nobody can hurt you. You´re okay.” he repeated these words like a prayer and after a short time you had stopped tossing. Your eyes shot open and you were faced with Dan right in front of you. The sight of him made you let out a small scream. Not because he was scary but because you kind of forgot that you were at his house.

“It´s alright, (Y/N). Nobody´s here but me.” his smile managed to calm you down. Your breathing was still irregular and your heart was hammering against your chest. Ashamed of what just happened, you averted your gaze from him. For a few minutes neither of you said anything. The only thing you could feel was a strong, warm hand rubbing soothing circles on your back.

“Sorry.” was all you could bring yourself to say.

“What are you sorry for?”

“Everything. For invading your house and now for screaming like a crazy ang-um person.”

“Last time I checked, I was the one who invited you in. As I said, it´s fine.” Dan´s statement made you grin. He was too pure for this world. God would take a liking in him for sure.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” he tried.

“About what?” your clueless expression made the man next to you chuckle.

“Your nightmare?” he said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. To you, though, it sounded as if he wanted to get more information out of you. In your defense, you were not the best when it came to reading people. It was not like you ever really cared about that. Not until now at least.

“Oh...just a weird dream. One that keeps recurring every other night. Nothing to worry about.” your smile at the end made Dan drop the topic.

“Okay, um. I´m preparing the pancakes I told you about yesterday. Meet me at the kitchen when you´re ready, yeah?” he stood up and walked his way over to the door but not without looking back at you. A small smile was written over your face, one that he copied. Then, he was gone again.

~nightmare flashback~

Your chambers were rather quiet today. Everyone had canceled on game night. Apparently they were all doing heavenly duty. Whatever that meant. Another day all alone. What would you be doing today? Overthinking? Daydreaming? Something like that. Your thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock on your door. This knocking technique did not sound familiar to you. When you did not have much to do you started noticing the small details. Like how Michael always knocked four times. How between the third and fourth knock was a longer pause. How Gabriel kind of knocked the words “Gabriel is here” on your door. Or how Raphael used his palm instead of his knuckles. Or how God did not feel the need to knock at all. So who was at your door right now? Another angel, maybe? Highly unlikely, though. Before you had time to process, your door was swung open. All you could muster was a blinding warm light that made your eyes squint. After a few moments, when you adjusted to the brightness, you could see a red-ish figure standing in the middle of your chambers. It had broad shoulders that did not match the rest of its body. itshead, in comparison, was way too small. But wait a second. Its head. Were these horns? You had to take a closer look to assure yourself that you were not hallucinating. Its face was deformed, almost like it had been burned one too many times.

“Daughter.” a deep, manly voice echoed trough the walls. No. No, that was not possible. It could not be. Michael had told you about the Devil´s appearance and it came pretty close to what was standing in front of you right now. Besides, Lucifer was in hell. He was hell´s ruler and if he was here now then it meant that hell was without supervision.

“You really think you can hide from your true self, (Y/N)? You are my offspring. A little Devil. More sooner than later you´ll be just like me.” his arms raised in a convincing way, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

“I AM NOTHING LIKE YOU.” your throat was burning by how loud you screamed.

“Your wings are meant to do great work. You and I, we would be a great team. Torture is in your nature, like it is in mine. Give in, (Y/N). We both know that you want it.” Satan came closer to you, grabbing you by your shoulders and pulling you towards your door. No matter how loud you screamed, how hard you fought, no one heard you and you felt hopeless. No, this was not you. You were not like your father. You did not have any torturous desires. You were an angel, not a torturer. Right before the Devil could push you through the door you had never been through, your eyes shot open. Breathless and shocked of the images that previously danced in your mind.

~nightmare flashback end~

In the bathroom, you tried to wash away the dark images by splashing cold water in your face. That seemed to work quite well. You were definitely feeling way better than yesterday. A look in the mirror reassured your thoughts. Today, you were more like yourself. Hopefully, you would not scare Dan away by your sudden change in behavior. He would most likely understand it, though. When you exited the bathroom you were met with a smell of what you assumed to be pancakes. This would be your first time trying actual breakfast. Sure, you had breakfast in heaven but it was not actual breakfast. You were beyond excited to say the last.

At the end of the hallway you came to a stop and watched Dan in the kitchen. How he flipped the pancakes in the pan like he had never done anything else. The sight of him made you smile widely. Before he could catch you staring at him, you made your way over to the kitchen as well.

“Are you sure you´re a Cop and not a professional chef or something?” this question made him look at you with confusion at first. Looked like you did need that sleep after all. Dan could tell you were way more comfortable today.

“Chef in the morning, Cop the rest of the day.” he matched your tone. “I already put some on your plate. Maple syrup is on the table. I didn´t know how much you wanted on your pancakes.” he pointed to the dining area. You sat down where a full plate was positioned. Unsure of how much syrup would be appropriate you waited for Dan to finish the last pancakes. As he sat down opposite from you with his plate, you noticed his wide eyes, how proud he was of these pancakes. He was cute, really. How he got excited over the small things in his life. Dan was the first to grab the maple syrup and poured a good amount of it all over his plate. After that he handed the bottle to you and you poured just as much all over yours. The first bite tasted heavenly. Did you really use that word? During breakfast, neither of you talked much. You simply thanked him for his efforts.

“Do you want a cup, too?” he asked as he poured himself a big cup of freshly brewed coffee.

“Yes, thank you.” the confidence in your voice hid the fact that you had never even tried it before. There was a first time for everything, right? The first gulp was kind of disgusting but the more you drank the more you liked it. After you guys finished everything, you helped him bring the dishes to the sink.

“I´ll do them later when I get home.” he motioned for you to follow him.

“So, (Y/N). I thought about something. How about you accompany me to work today? We have a great team that could help you out. How does that sound?” the man was in his bedroom, searching through his dresser to find something suitable for work.

“Sounds good. Not to be rude or anything but...do you have any other clothes? There´s nothing wrong with them, they just look rather scruffy.” you stated without a second thought. Suddenly you heard laughter erupt the room Dan was currently in.

“There she is.” he chuckled while exiting his bedroom with dark jeans and a grey tight fitting shirt that hugged his muscular body.

“Didn´t even notice your muscles last night. Working out a lot, I see.” by now your confidence had fully returned. A blush started to slowly rise up his cheeks.

“Aren´t you a bit young to flirt with an old guy like me?” his left arm came up the scratch the back of his neck.

“I´m not flirting, I just like intimidating others. So...about the clothes?” you quirked your eyebrows as you remembered him yet again of your unsuitable outfit.

“Right. Give me a second. I think there should be some of Chloe´s clothes around here somewhere.” Dan ran over to one of the dressers in the living room, opening various drawers to search for anything that you could wear.

“Chloe?” you questioned.

“Trixie´s mom. There you go, that should work for now.” Dan handed you a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a white basic shirt. Grabbing everything you walked over to the bathroom to change into the borrowed clothes. They fit you surprisingly well. Taking another look in the mirror you started gaining faith again. Faith in the future. Faith in Earth. You were finally home.

“(Y/N)? We should head out or I´ll be late for my shift.” Dan´s voice could be heard from the entrance hall where he was currently busy with tying his shoes.

“I´m coming!” you answered while jogging towards him. After you put your shoes on you opened the door and were met with a warm breeze. Hard to imagine that yesterday, you were freezing and today you were perfectly fine with a shirt only.

“Ready?” Dan asked you from the driver´s side after you put your seat belt on.

“I was born ready.” the smirk that followed afterwards made him let out a low laugh. He was glad that you felt better already. Yes, you were a sassy one, one that kind of reminded him of Lucifer, but the only difference was that he genuinely liked you. And he definitely liked this version of you better than the one he was met with yesterday.

~to be continued~

Next Chapter 

Published (09/14/2020) by Cathy

Tags: @fandomqueen2003, @natashaashleymarvelromanoff, @severewobblerlightdragon, @tenderlyunlikelyexpert, @zoseph, @comicbucky-s, @dad-ee-drea​, @xbarrjallenx, @marvelofwitch, @aceofspace95, @julessbrown, @thevelvetseries (let me know if you want to be tagged <3)

[babbushka]

Omg, okay, *shuffles notes* alright I have 3 requests but I’m going to break them up because I would never want to be selfish. Thank you in advance if you decide to choose any of them, you’re amazing and you should know it (which I’m sure Flip makes sure you know). So my first thought is, how emperor Kylo went about courting us (based on the ideas we threw around the other day)

Kylo is no stranger to women, this the entire kingdom knows. He is a good emperor, a strong emperor, has many concubines and treats them all exceptionally well. 

He is confident in his ability to provide for the women who warm his bed, and when he takes you back to the palace after burning your city to the ground with your help, he assumes it’ll be no different with you. 

Oh, heavens above was he wrong! 

He finds that even on the journey back to Naboo, he’s tongue tied around you. Where his speech normally comes in clear and strong, he finds himself stammering and stuttering over words, finds the tips of his ears blushing crimson when you smile at his attempts. 

Back at the palace, he gives you a suite all your own, even bigger and grander than any of the other women’s quarters, for you are deserving of nothing but the best. He visits you, or at least...well, he tries. 

He’s never been this shy before, around anyone the way he is with you. He doesn’t feel like the proud ruler of 35 years of age, he feels like a weak-kneed solider entering the army at 17 once again, unsure of every step he takes. 

For you are so beautiful, so smart and so well spoken. You are so funny! He’s never met anyone as funny as you, and your sharp quips have him laughing out loud, a feeling he hasn’t had in many many years. He’s completely wrapped around your finger, but he can barely work up the courage to show you. 

He’ll practice staring at his own reflection in mirrors made of polished silver, will practice approaching you and asking you to accompany him for a walk about the palace grounds, or on a journey into the city. He’ll arrange for big bouquets of flowers to be delivered to your suite, he’ll request your company to dine with him -- but whenever he’s put in your presence, all he can do is stammer and stare, starry eyed and so enamored with you, so shy. 

You take the lead in many situations, carry the conversation so he may simply gaze upon your face, and he is grateful for it. He wants to hear everything you have to say, wants to know every thought inside your head. He wants it all, and you’re happy to give it to him, so happy, for you are enamored with him as well. 

His children see this, they see the way you two look at one another. They realize that they’ve never seen their papa look at anyone the way he does you, and they can tell your sweet loving gazes are a far cry above the sultry lusty looks their mothers give him. 

It is his children, who one day skip their lectures and race to your temple. They pray to the goddess which act through you, ask for their help, their assistance in bringing their papa and you closer together. 

The goddesses of love in all varying forms hear the children’s prayers, and they come to them in dreams and visions, with detailed plans for little schemes to bring them together. 

The children are elated that the goddesses will help, and so the next few weeks are filled with such occasions, while the children do their best to stifle their excited giggles whilst hiding in the bushes. 

It is one of these such schemes, where you and Kylo have your first kiss. They have secretly and separately arranged for you and Kylo to be in the gardens by the big fountain one evening. When you both arrive, you’re surprised, but then again, not really surprised to see one another in the moonlight. 

The schemes have become more and more obvious, with the children dropping hints here and there, and when he sees you, Kylo makes a soft remark that he’s sorry that his children caused some mischief once again. 

You can only smile, and approach him gently, placing your hands on his chest and kissing him ever so softly on his lips, a silent reply that this was no mischief at all, that there is nothing to apologize for. 

His arms wind around your waist, and pull you closer to him, and the two of you pretend not to hear a few excited gasps coming from just beyond the fountain, as Kylo grins against your mouth, the two of you melting into one another’s embrace underneath the stars.