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cosmicluka · 1 year

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Pinch

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Reader (Criminal Minds)

Summary: It’s Saint Patrick’s Day and you’re not wearing any green. At least none that’s visible. Spencer tries to make you regret that, but he wasn’t prepared for your defense.

Genre: Fluff, friends to lovers

Warnings: Slightly suggestive, not proofread at all

Word Count: 781

Part 2

The day was had just begun when (Y/N) shuffled into the office, gripping her too-expensive coffee in one hand and her bag in the other. A yawn escaped her as she made her way to her desk without paying attention to the two men hovering by the coffee pot in the kitchen that watched her as she went past. Ignoring the look that J.J. sent her way as she plopped in her seat ungracefully, the woman rolled her shoulders before she got to work on the paperwork that sat waiting for her.

“Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, lil’ momma.” Derek practically sang as he made his way to her desk with Spencer following close behind. Both men were donned in shades of green that made (Y/N) struggle to keep a straight face. “Yeah, yeah. Happy day to the saint who wasn’t a saint. In fact, did you know that Christianity used today as the cheat code during Lent to party. It only changed when- wait, Spencer, what are you doing?” Her words fell short as she saw the taller man’s arm reach up, slowly creeping closer to her arm.

“You’re not wearing any green. You get pinched. It’s only the biggest trademark of this tradition!” He wiggled his fingers towards her menacingly as she backed away. “First of all, getting absolutely plastered is the biggest trademark. Second of all, I am wearing green! So you can’t pinch me.” She crossed her arms across her chest as if to protect herself from the oncoming assault of his annoyingly perfect hands and pretended not to notice the way his eyes raked over her from head to toe. It was too early to lose her composure due to his antics this morning.

“I’m not seeing any.” He countered as his hands itched closer. “I’m wearing my green bra, if you must know.” She locked eyes with him, hoping to the adorable blush that usually took over his features at the innuendos she made not so sparingly. “You know me well enough to know by now that I am a man of science. Just like the existence of god or local cryptids, unless there is tangible evidence, I don’t believe it. So, until the facts are proven, I’ll pinch you as much as I’d like.” It was (Y/N)’s turn to sputter out an unintelligible response as her face heated up at the smirk that rested on his lips.

“Wait, hold up… Did Pretty Boy just ask to see her underwear? As in nearly naked? Anyone else catch that?” It wasn’t until Derek’s shocked outburst that (Y/N) realized that their little fight had drawn an audience. Penelope and J.J had slack jaws as they stared and Emily just smirked at her when they made eye contact. David let out a boyish whistle from his spot in the doorway of Aaron’s office as he watched on. “I didn’t think the kid had it in him.” He commented.

Heat began to creep up Spencer’s neck as the realization settled in that everyone had heard what he said just moments earlier. (Y/N) cleared her throat and did her best to ignore the way her face burned with embarrassment. “I wouldn’t be opposed to giving you proof once we clock out for the day.” She said with as much confidence as she could muster, which with all the eyes on her at the moment, wasn’t much. Penelope and Derek let out similar noises of what could’ve been shock or excitement, no one was able to tell.

“I wish I could say that I don’t want to break up… whatever this is, but we have a case.” Aaron called from beside David and let a hint of a smile ghost over his expression as he winked at the red-faced duo. “Though it is time the pining for each other stopped.” One by one, everyone walked to the meeting room, leaving (Y/N) and Spencer awkwardly avoiding each others eyes.

“I was being serious, a few minutes ago.” She said just above a whisper. “I-I’m sorry?” The red returned to Spencer’s face full force at her words. “Maybe not like that.” A laugh erupted from her lips as she moved past him to make her way to the other room. “But let’s do something tonight. Our own Saint Paddy’s Day tradition.” Spencer caught up to her with ease and let the back of his hand brush over hers before pulling away. “Our own tradition? I’d like that.” The two tried their best to ignore the constant glances from their coworkers during the debriefing as their thoughts drifted to what their time after work would bring.

#spencer reid x reader #spencer x reader #reid x reader #spencer reid #criminal minds #derek morgan #aaron hotchner #penelope garcia #jennifer jareau #emily prentiss #(y/n)#reader insert #criminal minds x reader

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futurecorps3 · 11 months

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Hi!! Wanted to drop by and say that I love your fics and how you write! I saw that you're taking requests for nikolai and I'm so in the mood for some angst with him after watching season two. So I have this idea where the reader is taken by the darkling as leverage against nikolai (maybe she was one of his grishas before or not) and she tries to escape or something, but nikolai saves her.

Thank you in advance and hope you stay hidrated and happy! 💗

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞

Masterlist<3

Summary: Nikolai is sure he's never been this empty. Pairing: Nikolai Lantsov x fem!reader Warnings: Kidnapping, blood mentions, Nikolai being sad and a bitch to everyone but it's okay bc he's going through something, kinda show!Nikolai for a tiny little second Word Count: 3.2K Requested: Yes

A/N: I added a bit of angsty spice because I'm a SLUT for that good Nikolai hurt/comfort. Sorry for the delay my love and tysm for requesting!!!<3 Hope u like it.

˚ · • . ° .

He wasn't sure how it all came to be. Moments like these made Nikolai realize he was a boy born with tragedy knitted on his skin and calamity running through his blood. His light. His queen. His love. His everything. Kirigan took everything from him.

When in war, everyone knew disastrous things could happen with every coming sunrise. In this specific war, you could wake up with the news that the fold had swallowed the nearest city to yours, or be in the city that was swallowed. Maybe grishas working with the Darkling burnt your house to the ground overnight. Maybe you didn't wake up at all.

The king was aware of the madness going on outside the spinning wheel's walls and all over the country. Kirigan and his army had the upper hand and grew bolder with time, but that wouldn't last, Nikolai was sure of it.

Until they took Y/N.

Not a single guard or grisha seemed to be aware of the enemy taking the one person most precious to the king. She vanished, and he blamed himself. If he hadn't been so stubborn and listened to her, he would've been there.

"There is no clue on where she might be" Zoya asserted, exasperated and scared for her best friend. Saints knew where she was. Tired of seeing Nikolai sitting with a heavy head and puffy eyes trying to work out a way to find his lover. "Time is a crucial matter on these things. But being out there would be a risk. For everyone here." Said Genya, who was standing next to David.

"I can't stand sitting here doing absolutely nothing when she's out there, Genya. Let me go out, it's been three days since t-they..." he couldn't say it. In the past hours, he realized acknowledging the fact Y/N was gone only made his mind run wild over the events that transpired the last time they were together.

Y/N paced back and forth in the grand hall of the royal palace, her heart racing with anger. Nikolai stood in front of her, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression cold and distant. They had been going back on forth for about an hour now, exhausted, but neither of them would give in.

"You're not even listening to me, Nikolai! This is important," Y/N said, her voice rising in frustration. "I am listening, Y/N. I just don't agree with you," Nikolai replied, his tone clipped and dismissive. He came up with a plan to ambush Kirigan, one Y/N considered being ruthless; they knew for a fact he was expanding the fold over some little farmer's village and he wanted to let him just so they could enter to fold and Alina could work her powers out.

The young king was sure that if they were quick enough, the habitants wouldn't immediately turn into Volcra. Still, it was risky and very thoughtless. If it didn't work, hundreds of people would die, which was the last thing the nation needed. Y/N shook her head, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She couldn't believe Nikolai was being so stubborn at a matter like this.

"I can't do this, Nikolai. What if it doesn't work? W-will you be able to live with that in your conscience?" Y/N said, her voice trembling with emotion. Nikolai didn't say a thing, his expression still gone. Y/N took a step back, disappointed.

He knew it was not an easy decision, and had been pondering it for a long time before voicing it to his love. Nikolai, too, battled himself in the classic dilemma he found himself in; was he willing to sacrifice hundreds of people to end a war that had started far before he was even born?

"Y/N, do you think I don't care? It's hard, but it has to be done. Everyone agrees. We'll do our best to get them out of there, but if it doesn't work, they won't die in vain. This could be our one chance to save Ravka," He said, his voice somehow hurt but firm. And with that, Y/N turned on her heel and stormed out of the grand hall, her footsteps echoing off the marble floors.

As she walked through the palace corridors, Y/N couldn't shake the feeling of anger and disappointment that lingered within her. She had always known that she and Nikolai had different opinions on certain matters, but she had never thought it would come to this.

The days preceding the supposed attack were filled with quiet meals, nights sleeping with backs facing each other, and no kisses. Alina and the other grishas knew what was off between the couple, but figured that if someone made even the slightest comment, Nikolai would decide against what needed to be done.

Last thing she said to him was an apathetic "Take care, don't be reckless". Y/N was worried for him but still angry and a bit shocked at them actually risking the lives of breathing, sentient people because of this stupid war. She knew it was a good plan, but either way, lives were to be lost. Nikolai nodded and turned around, mounted his horse and rode down along the other grisha to the border where Kirigan was.

Or was supposed to be.

They waited for hours, even remained hidden for quite some time, and there was no sign of Kirigan. Zoya insisted, against Alina's wishes, to go back to the castle, and they did. They did and Y/N was gone. Maybe the Darkling was more clever than they thought; he figured out the way to weaken the king by taking everything he held dear.

He heard from a friend over in Ketterdam not to love anything, ever. That was his trick and the one thing that kept him alive in many situations while he was working his way up in gangs and gained street credit. He understood that when some minor range inferni approached him with a pale face and trembling hands, saying they had taken the queen and had absolutely no idea when or where.

The king had been too daft, too stubborn to even see through the trap they had set up. It all clicked in that moment, really. The intel on the attack came from an unreliable source, and the former general relied on Ravka's desperation on ending this war. Aleksander knew they'd take anything they could get. He outsmarted the most cunning grishas and royal individuals, hurting the king greatly.

Y/N's absence felt like a never-ending void, and he was plagued with visions of what could be happening to her. No matter how hard he tried to strategize, Nikolai felt helpless, as he didn't know where Y/N was or what the Darkling was doing to her. He ached to embrace her once more, to whisper comforting words in her ear and tell her how much he adored her.

His Y/N was a bold one, and he figured she was putting up quite a fight. He prayed to his saints for her to hold on, to wait and endure until he found where she was. Everyone was working full time, maps scattered in tables with discarded locations, search parties in the land... Nikolai knew this was the time of his ability to find quick solutions to shine. He was going to find her and kill that bastard.

˚ · • . ° .

"Will you stop that already?" Aleksander said exasperated, dodging yet another one of Y/N's blazes being thrown his way. She didn't reply. Hair messy with her gown in shreds inside a cage, all dirty with how much she had wrestled with Kirigan's crew on the way there. Truth is, she had no idea where she was. "He, for once, is right, child. Stop it or he'll put these things on you."

Baghra, in the cage next to her, showed her the iron shackles he had placed. "You'll get sick if you can't use your powers". Y/N sighed, annoyed at everything. She was not scared, not of some coward who caged his own mother out of fear. They were close friends before all of this. With her childhood best friend and boyfriend enlisted in the army, Y/N was left alone. Being one of the most talented Grisha of her age, it was only natural for Kirigan to notice her standing out.

She, of course, knew nothing about his plans and was grateful she had someone to laugh with. "Darling-" "Do not call me that" she spat "Y/N, you know this could've been easier if you allowed it. Your problem is you're too stubborn, too prideful, and way too enthralled by your prince to see clearly." "He's your king, Kirigan. And you're a murderer." Of course, he didn't see himself as such. Everyone with half a brain could see he really thought he was doing the right thing, even when that meant slaughtering countless amounts of people.

The man inhaled sharply and turned around, a certain dramatic flare in his kefta as he did so. Y/N knew he wouldn't dare to hurt her, he needed her alive. But being locked away from everything known in enemy lands was not exactly the ideal situation for her at the moment; even if she scaped she would have nowhere to go. The last conversation she had with Nikolai had been everything but pleasant, and truth be told, she was worried he was worried.

She felt a bit remorseful, her words shot to kill when mad and her soon to be husband's indifference against the fierce words made her even madder, so seeing the situation at hand coolly was not an option when they argued. Also, she knew him well and Nikolai could be too hard on himself most of the time; the speech he was giving himself in that very moment was clear for Y/N.

He most likely was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt, and his head was filled with mean words, whispering that he had been the cause of all this, and that if he had just paid attention, she'd still be there. Of course, there was no way she could ever blame him for the kidnapping/becoming a forceful guest of some lovely little house on the hill, but he could. The demons could be very mean fuckers to the puppy king prince.

That night, Y/N fell asleep on the piles of blankets thinking of those blue eyes. Those blue eyes in the time they spent at sea together. Sunlight danced upon their iridescent sea, unveiling a symphony of hues with delicate glee. Celestial eyes, a glimpse of heaven's embrace, where mysteries and magic interlace. Where she found a place to be.

She hoped she could see them again soon.

˚ · • . ° .

Five days later, Nikolai made search parties go through the country to see if they could find something, anything, all a desperate measure he never thought would pay off. He was wrong.

"We found Kirigan" were the only words Zoya said, already in her kefta ready to head out. Those simple three words had the king sobering up, getting up from his seat as he felt the numbness of his body leave eagerly. Less than fifteen minutes after, he was outside the castle commanding very small teams of grisha with different tasks. There was no need to get there with the manpower they had a few days back in the fold's border. There was one singular purpose that day; getting Y/N out of there.

Nikolai's mind raced, strategizing and planning, his thoughts a whirlwind of possibilities and contingencies. The rhythmic sound of his heartbeat echoed in his ears, a constant reminder of the stakes at hand. Yet, amid the chaos of his emotions, a flicker of hope burned within him. It was the unwavering belief that he and Y/N shared a love strong enough to defy any darkness, a love that would guide him through the treacherous task ahead.

Alina stood at the edge of the hill, her gaze fixed on the horizon where Nikolai and his small army disappeared into the distance. A knot of admiration swelled in her chest as she watched his retreating figure, the determination evident in every stride. Beside her, Mal followed her gaze, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight. "That man's love for Y/N is unparalleled," he remarked, his voice filled with awe. "I've never seen someone fight so fiercely for another person."

Alina nodded, a wistful smile playing on her lips. "It's true. Nikolai's devotion knows no bounds. He'd move mountains, cross oceans, and face the darkest of enemies for Y/N's sake." Mal's gaze softened as he glanced at Alina, his voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "Just like we would for each other." She met his gaze, a tender warmth filling her eyes. "Yes, just like us."

The wind rustled through the grass, carrying with it a sense of anticipation and hope. Alina's gaze lingered on the distant figure of Nikolai, his silhouette a testament to his unwavering resolve. "Do you remember when we first met Nikolai?" Alina asked, her voice carrying a hint of fondness. Mal chuckled softly, a reminiscent glimmer in his eyes. "How could I forget? He was all charm and wit, always scheming, but with a heart that burned fiercely for his people. And for Y/N."

"He's always been one to wear his heart on his sleeve," Alina mused. "But it's during times like these, when the stakes are high, that you truly see the depth of his love." Mal's gaze shifted back to the horizon, his voice carrying a note of admiration. "He's willing to risk everything, including his own life, for Y/N. It's a rare and beautiful thing."

Alina's voice grew quiet as she added, "We're fortunate to have witnessed such love. It's a reminder of what we fight for." Silence enveloped them as they stood together, their hearts swelling with appreciation for the love that bound them all. In the distance, the sun began its descent, casting a golden, almost hopeful hue upon the land.

˚ · • . ° .

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the land, Nikolai and his small, stealthy army approached the Darkling's stronghold. Their destination was a grand, two-story manor nestled within the heart of enemy territory. The imposing structure loomed before them, its dark façade a testament to the malevolence that lay within.

Nikolai's heart pounded in his chest as they neared the manor, his thoughts consumed by the image of Y/N trapped within its walls. The manor stood as a symbol of their separation, a barrier between them that he was determined to breach. The double doors of the building loomed large, promising the secrets and dangers that lay beyond. Nikolai turned to his loyal companions, his voice steady but laced with urgency.

"We enter quietly," Nikolai whispered, his words carried on a whispering breeze. "Our goal is to locate Y/N and bring her out unseen. Remain vigilant and stay close." The members of his small army nodded, their eyes gleaming with a shared resolve. They understood the magnitude of their mission and the risks involved.

With a nod from Nikolai, they entered the manor, their footsteps silent against the marble floors of the grand foyer. The opulence of the surroundings contrasted starkly with the tension that filled the air. Paintings adorned the walls, and ornate chandeliers dangled from the ceiling, casting a dim glow that danced with the shadows.

Distant footsteps could be heard, a day over for all the grishas on Kirigan's side. No one on sight downstairs, but, ever the paranoid, Nikolai made the five soldiers who accompanied him inside stay behind. It was easier, safer, if he wen't by himself upstairs.

He ascended a grand staircase, each step careful and deliberate, his senses heightened. The second floor held a maze of hallways and rooms, potential hiding places where Y/N might be held captive. His path was shrouded in uncertainty, but Nikolai's determination remained unwavering.

As he crept along the hallway, doors lined each side, concealing the secrets within, avoiding any wandering person in the hallways. The air was thick with anticipation, the silence broken only by the soft creaking of the wooden floorboards beneath their feet.

Nikolai pressed his ear against a closed door, straining to catch any sounds that might indicate Y/N's presence. A faint, muffled whimper reached his ears, and his heart clenched. It was the sound he had been longing to hear, the confirmation that Y/N was indeed within the manor. With practiced precision, Nikolai picked the lock, his hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

The door swung open, revealing a dimly lit room. Y/N was there, her weary form huddled in the corner of a cage, her eyes widening with hope at the sight of Nikolai. The room itself was sparse, lacking the opulence that adorned the rest of the manor. It was a stark contrast, a symbol of the darkness that had enveloped Y/N's captivity next to a sick looking Baghra.

"Oh darling" she whispered, melting the lock that had kept her there for days. The door fell open, and as Nikolai's arms wrapped around Y/N, a surge of emotions washed over both of them. The weight of their separation, the fear and uncertainty that had gripped their hearts, all dissipated in that single embrace. Time seemed to stand still as they held each other, finding solace and strength in each other's presence.

Y/N's body melted into Nikolai's, her fingers gripping the fabric of his jacket, as if she couldn't bear to let go. She buried her face in his chest, inhaling his familiar musky scent, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her cheek. A rush of relief flooded through her, knowing that she was finally safe in his arms.

Nikolai's hold tightened around Y/N, his voice a gentle whisper in her ear. "I thought I lost you," he confessed, his words laced with a mix of vulnerability and profound love. "But I will always find my way back to you, no matter the cost." Tears welled up in Y/N's eyes as she looked up at Nikolai, her gaze filled with gratitude and devotion. "I never doubted you," she replied, her voice filled with unwavering trust.

"We're getting you out of here," Nikolai whispered, his voice filled with determination and love. Together, they left the room, their steps light as they navigated the labyrinthine hallways of the manor. Each turn brought them closer to the freedom that awaited beyond its walls. Nikolai's small army, now positioned strategically throughout the manor, provided cover and ensured their path remained clear.

As they emerged from the grand entrance of the place, relief washed over them. The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a gentle glow over their escape. Nikolai held Y/N close, their eyes meeting in a silent understanding. The grand, two-story manor now stood as a symbol of their victory, its walls unable to contain the power of their love and determination.

In that moment, as they left the manor behind, they knew that they had conquered not just the physical barriers but also the darkness that had threatened to tear them apart. Hand in hand, they embarked on a journey towards a future where their love would be the guiding light, ready to conquer this war and build a new world belonging to the both of them.

˚ · • . ° .

Hi! Thank you so much for reading, hope you enjoyed:) Hey, that scape seemed a bit too easy... right? 👀

Remember, the best way to support writer’s works on here is by REBLOGGING WITH TAGS. I’d very much appreciate it if you did!

Thanks again, stranger. Hope you have a nice day<3

NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO REPOST AS THEIR OWN/TRANSLATE/OR COPY MY WORK IN ANY PLATFORM OR SPACE WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT CONSENT.

#nikolai lantsov x reader #nikolai lantsov imagine #nikolai lantsov ff #nikolai lantsov imagines #nikolai lantsov smut #nikolai lanstov #nikolai lantsov fluff #nikolai lantsov hurt/comfort #nikolai lantsov x you #nikolai lantsov x oc #seige and storm #paddy gibson x reader #paddy gibson #grishaverse #shadow and bone #grishaverse x reader #YAS

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bitter69uk · 25 days

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“Whenever Diana Ross goes shopping in Paris, it is a sign of what a famous person’s charisma can do. One day, she wanted some trinkets to wear to go dancing. After having lunched with friends at Maxim’s, her mile-long stretch limousine (something rare even in Paris) pulled up, and she was the first outside on the sidewalks in her floor-length sables at noon. Off she cruised to E. Oxeda, the Faberge of antique jewelers. Inside, she threw her sables on a chair. She jumped up on a Louis Something desk, her fake hair flying at half-mast. She crossed her legs, dangled them as she selected in ten minutes an antique pearl necklace, a diamond clip and some earrings that did the shake, rattle and roll between her cheeks and hair. The image of fame came when the bill was drawn up. “Would you like some identification?” asked Diana. Mme Oxeda said: “No, Miss Ross. We will deliver the jewels to your hotel this afternoon before six.” And this was a high Saturday when no banks could be called to verify her astronomical check, drawn on a bank across the Atlantic Ocean. It could have easily been an imposter, a drag queen, a professional thief. But Diana Ross’ super glamour is so authentic, it can’t easily be imitated.”

/ Andre Leon Talley in the book Mega-Star (1984) /

All hail the Queen! Call her Miss Ross! Happy 80th birthday to durable, volatile veteran pop diva, occasional (Oscar nominated) actress, sequin enthusiast, all-round glamour icon and one of Detroit’s finest daughters – the fabulous Diana Ross (born 26 March 1944)! Understandably everyone loves Ross’ music (both with the Supremes and solo), but I particularly treasure Ross’s spectacular 1975 film Mahogany in which she plays a struggling aspiring fashion designer who achieves the pinnacle of supermodel mega-stardom in Italy. It’s an unassailable so-bad-it’s-GREAT camp classic in the tradition of Valley of the Dolls, Mommie Dearest or Showgirls (and Ross’s outrageous costume and wig changes surely sparked the imagination of generations of Black drag queens, including “Mama Ru” himself). Fittingly, La Ross is currently one of the official muses of Saint Laurent’s Spring / Summer 2024 campaign – and it feels like a belated Mahogany moment! Portraits by David Sims.

#diana ross #the supremes #motown #diva #ysl fashion #lobotomy room #gay icon #glamour #kween #fierce #sequins #mahogany #detroit #david sims #fashion photography

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pigeonwit · 2 months

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everyone say happy saint david's day to HIM!!!

(photo by minnale_photography on instagram - thanks again oviya!)

#im sorry actual saint david. im a fake welshie now. the only saint david i recognize is Him #billie the kid #billie the kid musical #haha billie the kid you want to announce something on saint davids day sooooo bad

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arcadianambivalence · 1 year

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Les Mis Letters - 1.3.1 - The Year 1817

It’s the chapter that feels like the literary equivalent of “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” so I thought the best summary would be through song…

Restoration, monarchy, and the French Academy The third book of Les Miserables starts with context From gibbet to the guillotine, headlines lay the scene Of 1817 and all that will come next.

Mathurin Bruneau (Not a Louis? Gotta go!) Berri for Sicily fell, Brugiere is a hot sell Napoleon is turning green; Louis, Number Eighteen Picard at the Odeon until the curtain fell.

It’s book three of the novel We just met Valjean, and now we’re moving on It’s book three of the novel Until we meet Fantine, it’s 1817.

Abbé Louis: Finance; Talleyran: Chambellan Pellegrini, Bigottini, Potier, applause Lord Byron, Saint-Simon, David d'Angers rock on! Selves to Egypt goes, Colonel to Pasha.

Madame Saqui goes on tour; Prussians from the last war Cardinal Fesch won’t give up yet, (a Bonaparte, I’ll bet) Felicite de La Minais, another Bossuet Fabvier in Lyon, Civil Code is going strong.

It’s book three of the novel We just met Valjean, and now we’re moving on It’s book three of the novel Until we meet Fantine, it’s 1817.

Divorce gets the sack, Catholic church is coming back Hotel de Cluny, La Harpe and Thermes Riverside Conspiracy, Black Pin goes free Cafe Lembin has their champ, Valois in the Bourbon camp.

Elba to St. Helena, everyone is telling ya The Meduse quite a mess, Gericault a success Steamboat (useless thing), fossils and piety French Academy theme: Happy when you study.

It’s book three of the novel We just met Valjean, and now we’re moving on It’s book three of the novel Until we meet Fantine, it’s 1817.

Paer plays L’Agnese for the Duke of Orleans Loyson getting old, envy grows bold Charles Dauton lost his head, Ourika is being read Blue ribbons, big hems, powdered wigs are out again Austerlitz is being changed, government is rearranged Getting over awful weather in our new morocco leather!

No divorce, you’re stuck with me; traitors land on their feet General Bourmont, Bonapartist? (or not?) Pierre-Paul Royer-Collard wants baser to stay small Gregoire wants in parliament, can’t the man just take a hint?

Two years from the Hundred Days, a few years from the new craze. Flotsam floats confusedly, pell-mell through history Parisians now take the stage, arranging a fine game. Where’s Valjean? Who’s Fantine? Someone say before I scream!

It’s book three of the novel We just met Valjean, and now we’re moving on It’s book three of the novel Back to Jean Valjean As Victor Hugo tangents on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on…

…

A big thanks to The Siècle Podcast’s research that made this random idea possible:

http://thesiecle.com/supplemental11/

#les miserables #les mis letters #les mis #*wipes sweat from my brow*

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scotianostra · 5 months

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On November 11th the year 1100 Matilda of Scotland married Henry I of England.

They might be the Auld Enemy, but many events in history tie our two nations together, none less so than this marriage. Edith (to give her the name she was christened,) of Scotland was born circa 1080 at Dunfermline, she was the daughter of Malcolm III King of Scots 'Canmore' and Saint Margaret.

Henry, her husband was the fourth son of William Rufus, son of William the conqueror, the marriage not only helped forge relations between Scotland and England but also brought the Saxons back into the fold in England.

Because Princess Edith/Matilda had spent most of her life in a convent, there was some controversy over whether she had actually taken vows as a nun, which would have rendered her ineligible for marriage. The Princess testified she hadn't taken vows and her time in the convent was for her education rather than any Pious reason

Edith and Henry were married at Westminster Abbey by Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury, she was crowned queen as Matilda, a Norman name. The marriage led to improved relations with Scotland. Matilda often acted as regent for her husband during his frequent absences. She commissioned a learned Monk, named Thurgot, to write a biography of her mother who was later to become Saint Margaret.

Following the example of her saintly mother, Matilda devoted herself to good causes, and often washed the feet of the poor. Though Henry was seldom faithful to his Queen, theirs was generally considered a good and happy marriage by royal standards and helped to unite the rival claims of the Norman and Saxon houses. She gave birth to a daughter, Matilda, born in February 1102, and a son, William, called "Adelin", in November 1103, who died in a boating accident aged 17.

Matilda died on 1st May 1118 aged 37–38 at Westminster Palace and was buried at Westminster Abbey. Her son and heir to the English throne drowned in 1120 and Henry remarried in an attempt to produce a son as heir, this was fruitless and left Empress Matilda, who had grown up in Germany, to take the throne, this never happened, Stephen of Blois, another of William the Conqueror's grandsons seized the throne. Matilda tried to regain control with the help of her Norman relatives and her uncle, King David I of Scotland, but that's a different story

There was an attempt to have her canonised, which was not pursued. She was fondly thought of by her subjects. The inscription on her tomb in Westminster reads: "Here lies the renowned queen Matilda the second, excelling both young and old of her day. She was for everyone the benchmark of morals and the ornament of life."

#scotland #scottish #history #England #English #Roualty

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nerdygaymormon · 11 months

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What do you think about Charlie Bird getting engaged?

I'm thrilled for Charlie and his fiancée, Ryan. I sincerely wish Charlie and Ryan all the happiness in life.

————————————————————

I feel for queer members like David Archuleta and Charlie Bird who have to make choices about their life & faith in a public way where everyone can make judgements of those choices.

High-profile queer people in the LDS Church have been important in bringing some understanding to the larger church membership. David Archuleta and Charlie Bird both have been open and vulnerable in navigating their path, and they've done so with a lot of grace.

Members have followed their coming out journeys and struggles to reconcile their faith with their orientations. It has been powerful to watch these men cry as they recognize the choices they feel are right for them will put them at odds with the Church. I hope non-queer church members can see that queer people are being held to a standard that they would absolutely reject if told to also live the same way.

One thing their stories highlight for me is that non-queer people are determining what's acceptable for queer people, like that queer people should live without love or intimacy. People who will not be impacted in any way are making the rules. That seems wholly unjust. People who must live with the consequences don't have a voice in the councils where the decisions about them are made.

Our church is losing incredible queer members, and many of their families are following. If we can't do better, we will continue to lose them and others who recognize it's wrong what we're doing to queer Latter-day Saints.

#queerstake #charlie bird #david archuleta

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sophierequests · 1 year

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the ring // holiday event

Navigation┃Main Masterlist┃Request

Pairing: David Kostyk x gn!Reader

A/N: Everybody say thank you to Lizzie (@juneberrie) for giving me this idea.

Summary: David's Christmas present turns out to be a bit more valuable than the reader had expected.

Genre: Fluff

Word Count: 700

Warnings: Proposals, couples being happy??

David was nervous. In all honesty, nervous was an understatement. He was anxious, afraid, jittery, skittish, uneasy, and basically every other synonym for the word nervous that there is. The worst thing was, that he didn’t even know what exactly he was nervous about. Was he nervous about saying something wrong? About having picked the wrong moment? Or was he just nervous about potentially getting rejected?

The only thing he knew is that he was eternally grateful that you accepted his offer of spending the first day of Christmas together. It made things easier for him. He didn’t think that he would have been able to pop the question with every single one of your shared friends around. As much as he loved them, only the thought of that being a possibility made him tense up.

But now he had no excuse for pushing the inevitable any further. You had spent the entire evening baking and eating Christmas cookies, having a lavish dinner, and eventually settling down on the couch to have a glass of wine and unwrap the few presents you got the other.

His hand fidgeted with the small box in his pocket, anxiously waiting for the perfect point in time to do what he had been waiting to do for what felt like ages. It had taken him almost four months to be satisfied with the ring. He had occasionally put in all-nighters under the ruse of simply having too much work to do. Instead of slaving away at some random project however, he spent the night planning and creating the perfect ring for you. It was a secret he kept from basically everyone in his life. Not even Genya or Nikolai were aware that he was planning to propose. They had all suspected that he might do it sometime soon, but him proposing on Christmas was something no one suspected. And you didn’t either.

“Saints, David these are so cute!” you grinned as you unpacked the soft pair of Fabrikator-made gloves he had thrown in as a disguise for the actual present he had been planning to give to you. T

“You’re always complaining that your fingers are threatening to fall off whenever you come to visit me in the workshops. I thought these gloves would at least keep you from freezing to death on your way to see me,” he replied, one hand still on your other gift.

“My fingers shall remain on my hands for another day,” you laughed, putting them on the table next to you. “Thank you, David. I love them. You know me so well.” You leaned forward to hug him, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek which he happily accepted.

“I’m glad. I was worried you didn’t like the colour,” he replied, his voice hitching a bit on the last syllable. He knew that you would like the colour. It was your favourite, after all. And it was also the same colour as the stone he put into the prong of the ring.

“Love, are you alright?” you asked, slightly caught off-guard by the tenseness he emitted. He had been acting strange for the entire evening, but you had just chalked it up to the stress the holidays brought with them.

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“You’ve been so nervous today, is everything okay?”

“Actually, there is one thing I need to ask you.” Now or never, he thought, straightening out his back to feign the confidence he wasn’t feeling. You gave him a quizzical expression, suddenly feeling uneasy at his sudden change of demeanour.

“Uhm, of course.”

“I’ve been thinking about this for quite some time now, and I am quite nervous to actually go through with this. I’ve never been good at decision-making. I’m constantly trying to push any monumental decisions back as long as I can. But there is one decision I’m very sure of and that I’d like to make a bit more permanent.” All the puzzle pieces seemed to fall into place when he slid off the sofa to get on one knee. “Y/N Y/L/N, will you do me the honour of marrying me?”

You didn’t even manage to get out a proper response before falling into his arms, engulfing him in a tight hug he hadn’t quite expected.

“Is that a yes?” he asked sheepishly, tightening his grip on your waist.

“Of course it’s a yes!”

Taglist:

Grishaverse fics in general: @yesshewrites1 @dal-light

David Kostyk: @juneberrie

#david kostyk imagine #david kostyk #david kostyk x reader #shadow and bone #shadow and bone x reader #grishaverse x reader #grishaverse

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bowandcurtsey · 2 years

Note

hello hi hello AINE👑💖 can i pls request nozel, william and fuegoleon with their crush who is very very dense like the boys r tryna give hints all the time and she doesnt notice? But she very much likes them but is having a hard time exressing her feelings? Thank u stay safe Aine❦︎❦︎❦︎❦︎❦︎❦︎

Hello Anonyyy ! Thank you and I hope you’re safe! Aha and you put a little crown after my name, hehe you're so cuteee. (/▽＼*)｡o○♡

Nozel | William | Fuegoleon x f! reader

tw: unchecked works

Nozel Silva

It's not that hard to tell that he likes you really. His favouritism is over the top. It's obvious and he does not care.

"Why does y/n get a drink and we don't?" Solid would complain.

"She doesn't ask stupid questions like you."

Yeap, he could be plain obvious and you'd still think that he treats you as "just someone he trust a little more than others"

Besides sending you gifts, he would also send you home often, he gives you more leeway whenever you made a mistake.

Everyone teases the both of you, (at this point everyone is frustrated that the two of you won't confess) but you would still deny that you and Nozel were anything more than "just good friends".

At one point Nozel would really start questioning himself, were you really that dense or were you actually not interested in him but you were just being nice to him.

Of course it was not the truth, you just had a hard time even telling him how you feel and you couldn't bring yourself to believe that Nozel Silva could actually fall for the likes of you.

Until one day, Nozel overheard your conversation with Letoile when she was visiting the Eagles' HQ.

"I think he sees me as a good friend that's all~" you voice came from the pantry, "he deserves a beautiful noble lady that is strong and smart, not like me, hahahaha!"

Nozel was in a grumpy AF mood the whole day. Until evening, he decided to ask you once and for all.

"y/n. do you like me?" he asked you directly.

You blinked at him but he was staring at you intently, waiting for an answer. You were freaking out inside but you managed to pull yourself together to answer him that you did in fact like him, "more than just normal friends"

"great. I like you too."

You both stayed in silence until you reached your home.

"So, I'll pick you up at 6 this saturday for a date." the grumpy royal was no longer that grumpy anymore.

William Vangeance

William had the patience of a saint. He finds you cute whenever you're so dense and innocent about him liking you.

He would gift you presents and be very obvious about it too.

"Let's go for lunch, y/n." he'd only ask you, and you'll happily skip out along with him. Some days you would ask someone else whether they wanted to go together as well, and it amuses William to no ends because it meant that you were really dense about him wanting to spend time alone with you.

He knows that you like him, Mimosa accidentally told him once, but he felt like it wasn't the time for him to be in a relationship at the moment because of the whole elf thingy.

Regardless, he courted you even though you did not know of his courtship. He took care of you silently and spend time with you whenever he could.

"You will never feel that you're ready ready, captain." David told him once, "what if you just miss out on her like that? Or are you assuming she'll always be waiting for you?"

William didn't think much about what David said, because he saw that you were still always happy to be with him. Until one day your father decided to set up a blind date for you. And you went. And William freaked out.

He flew all the way to look for you and sat from afar, watching you and the guy sit through a date. He was feeling antsy throughout because you both looked like you enjoyed each other's company.

William walked up to your table, startling you and your date. He made a lame excuse that there was some emergency back at the base. Well you were dense, so you believed him and dumped your date.

But the moment you were both out of that man's sight, William confessed to you.

"I was stupid not to tell you this earlier y/n, but I like you very much and I hope that you'd go out with me."

Fuegoleon Vermillion

He's as dense as you, don't worry. But he's not as dense as Yami, thankfully.

He would question himself every single time he dropped a hint and you didn't catch it.

Was it not obvious enough? Or did you not like him? But you seemed pretty interested every time?

He would pretty much crack his mind thinking about how you felt. And even though everyone told him that they were pretty sure you like him too, he still doubted himself a little. Because "what if they were wrong?"

He was absolutely teased by Mereo for this, "could you just man up and just confess? What's the worst that could happen?"

He was worried that if you didn't feel the same way as him, it would make the friendship awkward.

He tried dropping more obvious hints in the next few months. He only brought you as dates to events, he only went out alone with you and he even brought you out on dates and gave you flowers.

He asked Leopold to ask you how you felt about him. And you said, "He's an incredible man, and he's my precious friend!"

He confessed one day when he saw William passing you flowers. He couldn't stand the jealousy. The lion finally found his courage to speak out his feelings.

"Because you didn't confess, I thought you did all these because you cared for me and just wanted someone's company!" you explained, "Also, the flowers were not from William, there were from Mimosa but she fell sick so she asked someone who was passing by to bring them to me!"

-end-

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oaky-doky-henry · 1 year

Text

Hey everyone! Its your crunchy, munchy, birkenstock rockin, hippie, nature, druid dad!

Happy Holidays!

It’s important during this wonderful time of year to give recognition to the religions and cultures that celebrate during this time of winter! As an American, I see the corporate idea of Christmas overshadowing what’s truly important! I was watching the Grinch the other day with my beautiful boys and lovely wife, when I totally realized what is truly important about Christmas! It’s not always been over the top with gifts and decorations and old saint nick!

The Christmas season is more than just the celebration of Santa Clause! The traditions of religions really made this holiday season what it has become today!

The Jewish celebration Hanukkah is an eight day long holiday! This year its celebrated December 7th through December 15th! Every night is celebrated by the lighting of a candle on the menorah! It symbolizes how the Maccabees revolted against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. According to the Talmud, a later text, the Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting! Aside from lighting the menorah they also celebrate by singing special songs, such as Ma'oz Tzur. Reciting the Hallel prayer. Eating foods fried in oil, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods. Playing the dreidel game, and giving Hanukkah gelt!

So for all my Jewish kiddos! Happy Hanukkah!

The Christian celebration of December 25th symbolizes the birth of their messiah, Jesus of Nazareth! The Christian bible tells about how Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin and was told by angels that she’d give birth to the messiah. So her and her fiancé, Joseph, traveled to the city of David. She gave birth to Jesus in a stable, since there was no room for them in the inn! And shepherds came to see, being guided by the star. The star is now known as the Christmas Star!

So for all my Christian kiddos! Merry Christmas!

A lot of people would (and still do!) celebrate the Winter Solstice! Aka the hibernal solstice! Its the shortest day of the year! They would decorate trees for good luck, they would feast and sing and spend time with those they loved!

So for all my kiddos! A very happy solstice!

Love you lots! Hope you have a wonderful holiday season! Spend it with those you love!

COEXIST!🌟🎄💖

#henry oak loves you!#henry oak on tumblr??#dndads henry #henry oak is a cool daddy #dungeons and daddies #henry oak #dndads #dndaddies #henry oak best grandparent!#rocks rock #holiday #hannukah #christmas #happy holidays #coexistence

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dankengine2005 · 2 months

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Morgan and Skarloey celebrating Saint David's Day

Dydd Dewi Sant Hapus Pawb! Rwy'n dod o Gymru, a heddiw yw Dydd Dewi Sant. Adeiladais fy OC Morgan, sy'n hanu o Gaerdydd, y capitol Cymreig, a Skarloey, am resymau amlwg.

Happy Saint David's Day, everyone! I'm from Wales, and today is St David's Day. For obvious reasons, I built my OC Morgan, who hails from Cardiff, the Welsh capital, and Skarloey.

#thomas the tank engine #minecraft #minecraft build #thomas and friends #trains #ttte oc #ttte skarloey #wales #welsh #cymru #cymraeg

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jomiddlemarch · 1 year

Note

Heyy hope you're having a happy and restful end of the year :)

For the Christmas and holiday writing prompts,

13 for darkliina

Thanks!! (Love your darkliina fics so much! They're keeping me sane while I re-read the books and await season 2 of the series)

“You’re impossible,” Alina announced, walking over the settee across from Aleksander and letting herself plop down onto it in a way so graceless even kind Genya would have said was unbecoming of someone of her status. She toed off her finely made shoes and grimaced at her aching feet. She would have done better to wear her First Army issued boots, made to cross a thousand leagues, though Saints knew, it was possible she wouldn’t have fared any better. Aleksander slipped a chased silver marker between the pages of the book he’d been reading and closed it.

“You must tell me what I have done that has left you so defeated, milaya. Or are you exasperated? I can hardly tell,” he said. “First though, have a cake. The kitchens have outdone themselves and it can only sweeten your temper.”

“Not everything can be solved by eating cakes, Sasha. Not everyone wants cakes when they are hungry,” Alina said, admitting to herself that this did seem to be a particularly enticing array.

“Then a cheese bun, you like those and they’ve done something with the spices the envoy from Malabar brought, it’s quite remarkable and there’s plenty of tea. Or I can send for something stronger from the cellars,” Aleksander said.

“If I have a sip of anything hard, I’ll drift off. I’m better off with the tea and the bun,” Alina said, enjoying even more watching Aleksander deftly pour out from the samovar, the steam curling around him the way his shadows did when he was content. She took a bite of the pastry and found his description of the cheese bun was, if anything, an underestimate of the kitchen’s latest achievement.

“So how exactly am I impossible, Alya?” he asked after a few moments, allowing her to finish nearly all of the pastry and lick her fingers, her Imperial Court manners forgotten in a way that pleased them both.

“You’re impossible to buy a gift for,” she said. “You’ve lived too long and traveled too far—”

“I have no need of a gift, milaya,” he said, stopping when she raised her hand in gesture that promised a glittering fall of light if he continued to speak.

“You’re about to tell me I’m gift enough or our life together is,” she said. “Or perhaps that you want for nothing since your shadow has been matched with my sun. Some utter nonsense.”

“I cannot correct you,” he replied. “I would have said all of that and more. That we are beyond giving gifts, you and I, and—”

“You aren’t getting me a gift?” she interrupted. “Then what has David been hiding under about twelve yards of muslin in his workshop, as if I wouldn’t notice something that requires twelve yards of muslin to be concealed, and why have you sent Fedyor to the avenue of merchants just when I would be expected to be practicing with Master Botkin and why does Genya keep smiling at me as if I’m a maid about to be given my first drink of medovudhka? Why is Ivan smiling the same way? It’s terrifying, Sasha.”

“You are quite observant,” he said. “Though I had thought better of Ivan, to reveal anything in his expression—”

“Yes, well, don’t try to distract me. You have clearly gotten me half a dozen gifts, maybe more, and I spent the entire day walking around every stall and shop in Os Alta trying to find something for you.”

“I truly don’t need anything, Alya,” Aleksander said softly. “You, everything we have together, far exceeds any gift I could ever hope for. If you don’t find something, it’s all right—”

“Oh, I found something,” she said. “You thought because I said you were impossible I came home empty-handed?”

“I may have done,” he said. “Shall I wait to see what it is?”

“I should probably tell you now. Hang on, let me just…” she said, rooting around in the inner pocket of her kefta, bringing out a tiny clay cask she offered to him so he could see the stamp of the bee in the curve of the belly.

“It’s snowdrop honey,” she said. “Sankta Elizaveta’s flower.”

“It’s very rare, very precious, milaya,” Aleksander said. “I shall savor it.”

“You don’t have to,” she said. He frowned, confusion evident in his dark eyes, and Alina smiled. “There’s plenty more. I bought the hives.”

“You bought the hives?”

“And, of course, the land they’re on. The valley where the snowdrops grow. It came with a lovely dacha, with a proper pechka. And there’s only one viable approach, so Ivan is satisfied with the security perimeter.”

“Alina, you astonish me,” he said.

“See, you did need a gift. You needed to know you could be astonished, Sashenka,” she said. “I just knew honey was the easiest conduit. It’s really a wonder you have any teeth left in your head the way you are with sweets.”

#darklina #prompt fill #fluff #holiday gifts #friendlyneighborhoodstan #alina x aleksander #canon au #honey #gift giving

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momentsbeforemass · 1 year

Text

What motivates you?

(by request, my homily from Sunday)

I’d like to talk with you today about what motivates you.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns His followers not to be terrified, to not live in fear. Why?

In Jesus’ time, Roman-occupied Judea was a bomb. Waiting to explode.

The Jewish people were looking for the next King David, the next Judah the Maccabee to lead a rebellion against Rome. All they needed was someone to rally them and the revolution would be on.

Jesus knows what’s coming their way. So does everyone else. It’s that obvious. And they have a lot of reasons to live in fear.

Because it’s going to get worse. A lot worse. They will get their rebellion against Rome. And it will end horribly – one hundred thousand people will die and the Temple itself will be destroyed – when Rome has finally had enough.

In the face of that, Jesus doesn’t tell them to stockpile weapons or pack a bug out bag. He doesn’t tell them to get a second passport. Instead, Jesus tells them – not to live in fear.

And you’re thinking, “Wasn’t the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD? The last time I checked, we were a few years past that. Thanks for the history lesson. But this doesn’t really apply to me.”

Actually, the Church Fathers like to point out that what Jesus is telling people to not be terrified by – is pretty normal stuff.

Jesus’ list of “wars, insurrections, earthquakes, famine, plagues?” As St. Augustine puts it, this is the “common condition of nations.”

And he’s right. Look at the news. There’s a war in Ukraine. There are insurrections in Hong Kong and Iran. In the last few weeks we’ve had major earthquakes in Indonesia, the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, and elsewhere.

Closer to home, the drought that’s drying up the Mississippi is already driving up food prices and will get even worse if we don’t have a really wet winter. And for plagues? We all know the answer to that one.

Which means that Jesus’ warning doesn’t have an expiration date. So what exactly is Jesus trying to tell us?

Jesus is trying to tell us to be careful about what we focus on, about what we let in. Because if we focus on the things that terrify us, if we let in things that fill us with fear, that’s what will motivate us. And we will be deceived.

As you know, there are people who are happy to deceive us. There are multi-billion-dollar businesses built on deceiving us. If you and I live in fear? We will be easy to deceive.

With so many people in the business of selling fear – and anger, which is just a secondary emotion that grows out of fear. With so many people mindlessly repeating that stuff on social media, it’s hard for us not to be afraid.

Is there anything you and I can do? How do we respond?

We respond by choosing what we let in. By being intentional about what gets into us – to motivate us.

And it starts by choosing to let in the simple, basic baptismal call of every Christian. To reflect the love of Christ poured out for us. The love that our hearts are filled with. The love that keeps our hearts beating.

To let that love motivate us, in everything that we do.

What does that even mean? It means to be intentional about what you let in. To recognize that what you let into you - will become what motivates you. And to choose only those things that will motivate you to be who God made you to be.

Starting with the love of Christ. And coming back to the love of Christ. Over and over. Day by day. Hour by hour.

Judging everything else you let in by the love of Christ, and your high calling to reflect the love of Christ. And intentionally rejecting anything that does not reflect the Love that made you.

What does that look like in practice?

One of the people it looks like is St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Mother Cabrini.

And you’re thinking, “That’s an impossible standard. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. She started 67 different institutions – schools, hospitals, orphanages – only the great saints do stuff like that.”

Before she was a saint. Before she ever founded anything. Before she was Mother Cabrini. Before she was a nun.

She was Maria Francesca Cabrini. The youngest of 13 children on a small farm in northern Italy.

She was inspired by the sisters who taught her at the little school in her village. So she studied to become a grade school teacher and got her teaching certificate.

But she didn’t start out with the grand and the glorious. Actually, she didn’t even get to start out teaching third graders full-time.

She had to balance her career with her parents’ failing health. So she worked part-time as a substitute teacher, while she took care of her mom and dad.

The key to it all – and why Maria became who she became – is how she did it.

She didn’t do it resentfully, begrudging her parents for holding back, from keeping her from being a teacher. She didn’t do it in fear, wondering what would happen to her after her parents died.

She let herself be motivated by the love of Christ poured out for her, the same love that’s poured out for you and for me.

She let herself be motivated by the love that her heart was filled with, the same love that your heart and my heart is filled with.

What separates Maria from the rest of us, why she eventually became Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, is that she worked to keep her focus on the love of Christ.

This wasn’t a one and done for her. She kept coming back to the love of Christ in prayer. Over and over. Day by day. Hour by hour.

Hers was not a breakthrough followed by perfection but a lifetime of dogged persistence. Coming back to God again and again. Because of that, God moved in her and through her to do all of the things that we think of, when we think of her as a saint.

What separates Maria from the rest of us, is that she judged everything else that she let in by the love of Christ, and by her high calling to reflect the love of Christ. She intentionally rejected anything that did not reflect the Love that made her.

We see it in one of the prayers that she composed for herself, rejecting by name the things in her that did not reflect that Love. It goes like this:

Fortify me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit and give Your peace to my soul that I may be free from all needless anxiety, solicitude and worry. Help me to desire always that which is pleasing and acceptable to You so that Your will may be my will. Amen.

That is how you and I do it.

Take this prayer of Mother Cabrini. Go to the first sentence of her prayer, to the underlined words. Those are the things that Mother Cabrini saw in herself that did not reflect the love of Christ.

Replace hers with yours. Instead of anxiety and worry, maybe yours are anger or fear, maybe doubt or loneliness, maybe envy or pride.

You don’t have to tell anyone, this is between you and God. But do it.

Whatever they are, name the things in you that do not reflect the love of Christ. Name the things in you that do not reflect your high calling to reflect the love of Christ.

Then pray this prayer, your version of her prayer. Over and over. Day by day. Hour by hour.

And watch as God moves in you and through you in ways you would never imagine.

Sunday’s Readings

#What motivates you #What you let in #God #Jesus #Catholic #Christian #Church #Fear #Love #Intentional #Mother Cabrini #Prayer #Love of God #Moments Before Mass

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