#and how belief is a resigned acceptance of the facts of the situation he's in

[elizakai]

I like thinking about their more canon adjacent dynamic (character wise)

MINI ANALYSIS TIME

Because while I love the soft interpretations, even WITH those let’s be real; that’s not how they’d act off the bat

Horror would be extremely judgmental (fair) and hate Dust for what he did. He’d despise him and probably be very passive aggressive. Making jabs and making his disdain apparent when they have to interact. I think getting a read on Dust is also difficult and would piss Horror off. Horror is unpredictable and has a sadistic streak, if he was mad or manic and had Dust in a corner he’d have no qualms about manhandling the guy. (And Dust probably wouldn’t do much to stop him.)

Meanwhile, Dusttale’s creator was asked once how Dust may feel if he met Horror, to which they said he feels bad for Horror. He likes him, sees him as someone who went through something horribly undeserved. In my mind Dust is somewhat protective of Horror.

I interpret these clashing of dynamics as Horror’s just utter disdain for this guy, and Dust’s resigned acceptance of Horror’s judgment. He’d agree with him if he were to judge himself, but I think a part of him wants Horror’s approval. He doesn’t EVER expect to get it, but Horror is….

While he’s seen hell, he’s almost a less tormented version of Dust himself. Deep down they are the same. Horror has suffered greatly, but even still hasn’t hit the deep end dust has, and I think he’d want to protect that sort of innocence he’s granted. One could think of it as him protecting a piece of himself he himself has already sacrificed. And wanting APPROVAL from him, wishing to be forgiven, craving that small piece of validation or understanding as he tries to reconcile with himself.

Horror’s formed opinion makes sense, he agrees with it, and simply wishes he disagreed, that he could have proof of himself being a FRACTION worthy of forgiveness or understanding.

The judge in both of them has both formed an opinion of the other, and they happen to differ greatly. Horror sees Dust as an abuser and Dust sees Horror as a victim.

I like to imagine that, while reluctantly thrown into the same general vicinity, Horror would grow to be more understanding (again if we are going with a PROGRESSIVE plot line) and come to understand that, yes, he wasn’t WRONG, but there is nuance to the situation. They both have a very grim understanding of what it’s like to be trapped. I think he has the capacity to understand Dust better if he was given time. His hands aren’t clean after all, and he knows what it’s like to be forced into a situation and to feel backed into a drastic decision. He knows what it’s like to lose your autonomy and to feel your mind break itself under pressure.

I think the simple fact that Dust wouldn’t TRY to change his mind or justify himself would be part of why Horror could come to understand him. He’s devestated by his actions, he is by no means a sadist.

Horror coming to understand Dust and sort of reconcile/forgive him I think would be rather BIG for Horror, especially if you factor in other situations he now has to consider. (For example, his Undyne and her drastic attempt at freeing the undergroud…) reconciling his OWN arguably cruel decisions he has made with pure intentions, when he feels there’s no other choice (like his Papyrus and tricking him into doing something so outside of his beliefs, to protect him)

It would also be healing for Dust to get that reconciliation with Horror because again…Horror’s opinion actually may MATTER.

And in the same way that Dust may see Horror as a sort of person to be protected from further harm, Horror would probably pick up on all of the VERY bad habits Dust has that (in my observation at least) are EXTREMELY similar to his own habits/past habits (isolation, obsession, deprivation, paranoia, bringing harm to self etc) and I could see him being sensitive towards those and trying to prevent it worsening (it’s a sore subject💔) Horror is shown to prioritize taking care of those he cares about, even when he’s a bit mad, and he has the capacity to grow an understanding for someone he doesn’t like initially :))

I think they have potential to be VERY good for one another, Horror (while being fucked up) encourages (and maybe forces) better habits and actually has an opinion that matters to Dust, and Dust is inclined to be VERY loyal (Horror needs someone to show him loyalty.) to anyone who cares to give him the time of day, as it’s far beyond what he’d expect, and he’s got the sympathy/protective streak towards Horror as an actual in character detail.

And from there it would be wonderful to explore their dynamic in whatever way you like to interpret it🤫💥

I could go on but I’ll stop here, if you read this all CONGRATS!!!

Share your thoughts I love it

#utmv #undertale #ut au #sans aus #bad sanses #traditional doodle #character analysis #hehe #horror sans #dust sans #murder sans #horrortale #dusttale #horrordust #if you want ;)) #bcs I want ahem #sans #my art #horrortale sans #dusttale sans #I LOVE DYNAMICS URGH I have so many little thoughts I want to spout about #don’t mind the shitty little doodle #also I’d like to clarify that there’s nothing wrong with fanon interpretations I love those too honestly #I see canon as a starting point to base stories upon rather then a restriction of the characters personality #I love bridging canon characterization with fanon ideas/ dynamics #blushes cutely

[threwedaway]

TW: SA, ABUSE

Someone said some victim blamer shit in my reblogs and that's an automatic no, but I needed to share... Because what the hell, man?

I got this reblog and I'm trying to keep my composure. This is probably going to be a rambling mess. I was just trying to make a fun little post about HuskerDust, but here we go!

I crossed out the name, because I don't know how old this person is and I don't know what their experiences are.

This will kind of go back and forth between Angel's situation and general information/experience. I think from what I've seen it won't resonate with everyone, but it is definitely within the realm of possibility and makes sense given his circumstances.

I also use the terms victim and survivor interchangeably as a fair warning.

I know there's been a lot of talk around victim blaming and this is blatant.

I'm aware this is a fictional character. I have, however, worked at multiple non-profits that focus on helping survivors of abuse and SA as well as being a victim myself. So, I am pissed beyond belief.

No one lets themselves be abused. Even in situations where someone resigns themselves to abuse, it is for their survival and safety. It is under duress and it is not someone letting themselves be abused. This person says Angel is doing an awful job saving himself, but in all reality he is attempting to keep himself as safe as he can in the environment he's in.

Husk isn't doing everything right and a relationship with the foundation of it being we both suck and we're both stuck in shitty situations isn't going to be stable, but as I said in my original post, he's telling Angel he's not alone. He's not doing that perfectly, but he's saying even if we can't fix everything I'll be here. He says we're in this together, respects that Angel doesn't want to be saved, and he takes the pressure off. He makes himself a safe place for Angel to vent and makes it clear that he enjoys being around him no matter what.

Trying to force someone can push them towards their abuser and isolate them further or put you and the victim in a lot of danger if you're untrained. Which is what happens in the episode when Charlie comes to the studio. Someone tried to help when he didn't ask for it and it ended badly, which just reaffirms that he cannot accept or ask for help without repercussion.

If you have someone close to you who is in an abusive situation and they don't want to leave for whatever reason, applying too much pressure can be counterproductive. If it is safe to do so (mentally and physically), be there for them. Try and keep the line of communication open so they have a life line if or when they're ready.

Angel is under contract, there has been a pattern of abuse for at least a decade, his self worth is extremely low, there are threats of violence against him and people he cares about and Valentino seemingly provided everything before Charlie and is still providing for his drug habits. That's not even getting into the intricacies of the fact he was trafficked, which makes things more complicated.

Aside from the magic piece of paper, these are real reasons people stay in abusive relationships.

My point is, this is uninformed and victim blaming. The amount of times I've heard from survivors all the reasons they didn't ask for help even though it was awful is too many to count. So many people come out of these situations after years and years and blame themselves for not getting help. It is never the fault of the person being hurt, it is always the fault of the person hurting them.

Angel is trying to save himself and is making steps forward. He's going to the hotel, distancing himself from Valentino and he's also trying to 'break himself' or make himself less appealing to his abuser. While that last one isn't good, he's not doing nothing. He is trying to use the resources he knows to stop the abuse.

Autonomy is very important in situations like this. Of course someone in this situation should ask for help, but if someone isn't ready it's not our place to decide that for them.

This struck a nerve obviously!

No one is a bad victim. We do not judge victims choices to ask for help or not ask for help. We do not imply any survivor of abuse lets it happen somehow.

Keep anything close to victim blaming off my blog. All and all, don't put these words in that order! Ever!

#hazbin hotel #vivzieverse #huskerdust #huskdust #hazbin husk #hazbin angel dust #hazbin #tw sa #tw abuse #angel dust #hazbin valentino

[strawberrygiorno]

I've seen people talk about Kim's daily cigarette and the connection to the lungs and how if he's left in Martinaise he smokes a second cigarette and how that links to his feelings for Harry.

What I haven't seen is people talking about the cigarette also involving fire. Fire, which the game repeatedly uses to represent hope, change, and revolution.

Let's take a look at the lines after his one-a-day habit is introduced:

[Text ID: KIM KITSURAGI - "You mean this?" The light of his cigarette illuminates a fleeting smile. "This isn't cool - it's an unnecessary trial of will. And unhealthy." He flicks the ash.

VOLITION - Keeping the habit within the parameters he's given himself takes a lot of focus. It would be easier to simply quit.

COMPOSURE - Yet were he to quit, he would lose the cool factor. This man relishes his cool quite a bit -- below it all. End ID]

This is clearly an allegory for the way he tries to keep his emotions under tight control, and this includes his desire for something better for Revachol. Volition states that it would be easier to quit than to do what Kim does. Giving up hope, resigning himself to the world he's in, would mean less disappointment, more distance, less pain, but it would mean removing a significant part of himself. That spark is too important to him to extinguish fully. Being in the RCM, though, means he needs to keep that spark as dim as possible. Otherwise, he might draw attention himself or actually process his role in suppressing the change he can't help but want.

This is interesting when coupled with some statements he makes later if you ask him his position on the Moralintern and Dolorianism.

[Text ID: KIM KITSURAGI - "The Moralintern are a fact. I try not to have opinions on facts -- until they change. And," he looks at the city below, "It doesn't look like that's about to happen." End ID]

[Text ID: YOU - "Kim, are you a follower of Dolorianism?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Yes. We all are. Her name, body, and rule are synonymous with humanism. The laws we enforce are Dolorian in origin."

YOU - "I didn't think you were spiritual."

KIM KITSURAGI - "It's not spiritual. It's constitutional. The Dolorian system does not demand faith -- only accordance." End ID]

These answers are both so... empty. There's no belief in either of these systems, just that resignation to the fact of their existence. He is, on some level, aware of what he is supporting. That tiny revolutionary desire of his keeps him from identifying with it, though his refusal to stoke that flame simultaneously keeps him from rejecting it to pursue something he *can* believe in.

So, Kim takes refuge in something he knows is true: facts. He knows how the world works, and he knows that there aren't mysterious things like giant bug cryptids or 2-millimeter holes in the world involved in Martinaise.

Except, there are those things, as well as other things that challenge what Kim holds to be facts, and he is forced to accept that the world is much stranger and much more beautiful than he dared to believe.

Over the course of one week, facts change.

The first cigarette we see Kim smoke that final day comes out almost immediately after Harry wakes up after the tribunal, which is completely understandable. After experiencing the tribunal and seeing Harry in so much pain and abandoned by his precinct, of course Kim is experiencing affection for Harry and anger at the system that created this situation.

Later, looking at the message painted on the ground in oil, Harry sets it on fire. What does he use to do this?

[Text ID: YOU - "Step back, lieutenant." (Set the graffito on fire with a lit cigarette.)

ONE DAY I WILL RETURN TO YOUR SIDE - The fuel oil catches fire immediately with an ominous hiss -- a bright orange flash across the surface of the letters. Black smoke rises from the burning message. End ID]

A cigarette. One spark to set off the massive fire. A fire that warms both of them.

That brings us to Kim's second cigarette he smokes when left in Martinaise. It's a representation of how irrevocably changed Kim is by his experience on this case. Even if he and Harry don't go on to continue working together, this one week has stirred something in Kim that causes that hopeful, revolutionary fire in his lungs to burn a little brighter, and for once he decides to fan the flame.

#disco elysium #kim kitsuragi #it speaks #i hope this is coherent #i have a bunch of other thoughts but it was too hard to get them all into one post #so focusing on the cigarettes for now haha

[girl4music]

WHO IS BEST FOR BUFFY SUMMERS -

RILEY, ANGEL or SPIKE?

No one says it, at least I haven’t heard it being brought up on here, but Buffy and Riley didn’t work as a couple and were fundamentally doomed as one, as Buffy originally predicted, not because they weren’t compatible but because they are too alike in energy.

Buffy is a masculine energy.

Riley is also a masculine energy.

Masculine and masculine do not function well together. Thus, they are immediately wrong for each other and why they are ignored and forgotten about so easily and quickly by the fandom. They are a stagnant couple because they are TOO ALIKE.

Angel is a feminine energy.

Spike is a feminine energy.

The reason why both these relationships often have problems and don’t function well is because of outside factors. They don’t have problems because they’re not meant to be. This is especially true when it comes to Bangel. It is not the people themselves that conflict, it’s the situations and circumstances surrounding those people as individuals and the conflicts the individual person has in their respectful stories. Specifically Angelus being cursed with a soul.

As for Spuffy - is it because of their natures that make them an odd pairing to begin with, this is true. But it is also BECAUSE OF their natures why they are drawn to each other like a moth to a flame too. As soon as Spike gets a soul, this problem is rectified. And while I don’t necessarily believe Spike needed a soul to be the “kind of man” that is right or best for Buffy, I do acknowledge that for Buffy this was how it had to be because Buffy would not accept Spike as a lover under the condition that he was soulless. Thus, her love for him was conditional whereas his love for her was unconditional. The reason why I cannot ship them has more to do with her than it has to do with him.

My personal opinion? Buffy is better off alone. Who is best for her doesn’t matter if she is fucked up herself. The First Slayer was right. She is alone. She doesn’t have to be but she is because only she can change it. It is her that has to change to make the difference. The excuse is that the SLAYER is cut off and is always isolated as a result and that this is just the way it is. But the PERSON determines their own fate and rewrites the rules since the Slayer is the rule of law. Romantic love never worked for Buffy not because she was the Slayer but because the person didn’t give it half the chance to. She was resigned to isolation from the get go thus isolation always happened. In other words: It is what she always expected, so it was always what she got. It was the inevitable reality to a constant reinforcing of belief. That is what determined her fate. Not the fact she was the Slayer. That was as obsolete as she ever allowed it to be. In a sense she did the same thing as Xena did. Xena never allowed herself forgiveness for her past so her present defined her and her future was one she had to earn. This was not the way it had to be. It was just chosen. And it was chosen mostly subconsciously because it was always the anxiety that plagued her in the back of her mind. It was what she could never let go of, so obviously it would always be something that gripped her tight. Self-acceptance was just impossible for her because she just never allowed it to happen. Buffy is the same - although it wasn’t her past she had to reconcile with. It was her identity. She knew she was the Slayer and that the Slayer was always cut off. And so she resigned herself to the fate of the Slayer long before she knew she had the capability to change it. So it didn’t matter who she would end up with or who was best for her to end up with. She chose to be alone. And so alone is what she would always be. And I personally think that the only time she had ever had her belief that romance wasn’t in the cards for her right was with Riley. She called that one. Every other time, I don’t think the person was ever the problem. Whether that person be a supernatural entity or not. She was the problem… but only because she made it so. That is what I fundamentally believe when it comes to her romantic loves. She didn’t allow it.

#buffy the vampire slayer #riley finn #angel #spike #buffy summers #love #relationship #romance #identity #nature #the slayer

[everlasting-evocation]

"Heaven and Free Will" Stone Ocean and the role of Fate in a Predetermined Reality

Stone Ocean (and Slaughterhouse Five) SPOILERS below the cut.

When it comes to Pucci's "Heaven Plan" I've found that it resembles, to some degree, the way in which the Tralfamadorians of Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse Five" view the world. In the minds of these beings, everything is predetermined and they have come to accept this fate, as any attempts to change the course that the universe has set for them would be futile. Life, for the Tralfmadorians, is not a matter of memory, but rather a map of existence, allowing them to view every point throughout their lives, past, present and future, at once. Death doesn't scare them for this reason, as in their minds death only occupies a small sliver of time compared to the rest of life, despite the fact that after death there is nothing. The human experience is viewed through a linear lens, each step towards death existing for a moment before quickly becoming the past, through this limiting world view death is seen as the absolute end rather than a single step in the process of life.

To view ones memory in their entirety offers the opportunity to accept events as they are and to make peace with what is to come. Every Tralfamadorian knows exactly how and when the world is destined to end, but none of them have any desire to make an attempt to prevent it, because that is what has been decided.

Dio's idea of heaven is much the same.

This mindset is balanced upon the belief that after humanity becomes aware of their fate, they will come to terms with and accept the circumstances of their lives as they are without the desire to change their future. One widely accepted phenomena of the human experience is our assumption of free will, which encapsulates the faith that we choose our own destiny through our actions. Our thoughts guide us, but we are offered the choice to either act upon them, or change the course of our reality. To be stripped of our free will is to lose a piece of our humanity and, as a result, to bring about a hopeless resignation. As Vonnegut states in his novel, "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom always to tell the difference" (Vonnegut, 77.) People may come to terms with their fate, but would this truly be a peaceful shift, or would people only accept their realty because they have no choice? There is a difference between accepting that death is inevitable and realizing that your death, down to the specific date and time has already been decided and there is nothing you can do to change this. It is so painfully human to try and to fail, knowing that your efforts are futile and pushing forward anyway because to accept a seemingly unfair fate means to give in to the will of the universe.

Enrico Pucci himself offers an interesting insight into why his heaven plan would not work nearly as well as he believes. Throughout the series, his hypocrisy becomes evident in his refusal to accept defeat and, in turn, come to terms with the potential idea that his fate is not the same as the plan he has in mind. Coming to terms with death is not easy, even though the process of dying is one of very few shared human experiences. There is certainty in death, and while the time of death may be uncertain, it is unavoidable.

A similar situation plays out in Slaughterhouse Five as Billy Pilgrim relives the events of his life through brief vignettes. There is no true sense of emotion throughout his retelling, only resignation to his fate. He has grown desensitized to the pain and suffering experienced during the war, regarding even the most brutal and violent events with the detached response of "so it goes" completely shrugging off the weight of the world around him. He knows how his story ends and this has no reason to attempt to change or care deeply for the events that unfold around him, knowing that they are all a means to an end.

Of course, in reality there are no aliens or time travel, but these delusions are still a means to escape fate and to rationalize the pain of human suffering. Billy Pilgrim's difficulties with coming to terms with his memories are a direct result of him feeling as though he has been stripped of his free will, trapped in a life where no matter what he does or where he ends up, everything has already been decided and there is nothing he can do to change the course of his life.

So the true question is, what does it mean to be at peace with fate? Is it as simple as numb acceptance or to accept ones destiny would a person need to truly embrace and find happiness in their current life, even with the knowledge of exactly when and how it will come to an end?

As much as I want to answer this question, a part of me genuinely thinks it would be impossible. There are too many factors to consider, alongside personal differences and the question of individuality. There is no true answer to the meaning of life, a question which has been debated for centuries within the field of philosophy. From the mindset of an existentialist, life is what you make of it; however, this viewpoint would completely fall apart without free will.

Maybe fate is as simple as embodying whatever you believe it to be. Some may believe that fate can be changed, while others think that it is predetermined. There's no right or wrong answer and no way to prove one over the other. The truth of existence is as simple or existence as you want it to be, and maybe there is some comfort to be found in that.

#jojo stone ocean #jojos bizarre adventure #jojo part 6 #the heaven plan #Jojo analysis #I don't know what this is supposed to mean #Will definitely write an actually coherent and thought out analysis of this topic eventually but I just wanted to put pen to paper for now

[he-said-irene]

Studies of Solomon Tozer in The Terror

#I am still thinking about #solomon tozer #(and his hands) #but mostly the way his character journey is echoed in his costuming #and how the situation strips these characters of who they think they are #and how he sees himself as this proud marine #this man of action and courage #first in line and first cut down #but as he starts planning mutiny and working with hickey #we see less and less of his uniform #and he acts and motivates others more and more out of fear #until hes just standing there in his shirt crying and practically begging hickey to let them turn back #and run away #and how belief is a resigned acceptance of the facts of the situation he's in #and a confidence and trust in himself and then hickey and then back to himself alone #idk this show is so well made #sol tozer #david walmsley #he-said-irene's art #hand studies #the terror

[cluescorner]

Ranking the Cookies of Darkness by how likely they are to get redeemed

Licorice Cookie. He’s a comedic side-villain, the easiest kind of villain to redeem. Licorice Cookie has been shown to attempt to deescalate certain situations when he believes things are going too far (see the Cookies of Darkness story for the clearest example of this) and his motive for working with Dark Enchantress can so easily be turned into a motive for working with the heroes (he wants appreciation and respect). I think it’s more likely than not that he gets redeemed, especially considering how his redemption wouldn’t have to justify anything TOO horrible.

Poison Mushroom Cookie. They’re a goddamn baby who doesn’t know wtf is going on, they just want to share their shroomies with the world. I debated even including them on the list because IDK if they even need to be redeemed. They don’t even need an arc like Licorice would, just have them make friends with the heroes + the heroes realize that, wow, this literal child literally doesn’t know what the fuck is going on. The only reason they’re below Licorice is because they’ll probably follow Licorice over to the heroes.

Red Velvet Cookie. This is entirely me just wanting something to be true so badly that I grasp onto the belief and refuse to let go. I want to see the heroes realize that the lives of the cakes are just as valuable as those of cookies. I want Red Velvet to realize that whatever his mom is doing will probably endanger the lives of everything that lives, slowly coming to terms with the fact that the person he believes he owes everything to might not be worthy of that trust. I want both groups to meet up as Red Velvet reaches the peak of his doubt, then in a climactic turning point Red Velvet protects the heroes and sends his troops to distract the villains while the heroes + Red Velvet retreat. Red Velvet becomes close friends with Chili Pepper (both being unconventional cookies who weren’t meant to exist) and basically takes on a cool older brother role to the rest of the squad. Will this happen? Probably not, but this isn’t a serious theory list anyways so let me cling onto this idea a little longer.

Dark Choco Cookie. Here’s the thing: I can easily see them going both routes with him. I can easily see them freeing Dark Choco from his curse during the Dark Cacao Kingdom story (either metaphorically through convincing him that he’s still capable of good or literally through killing the fucking sword) and then he becomes a hero. He apologizes to his father (assuming he isn’t dead) and the two rule Dark Cacao Kingdom together. They’ve set this up well; Dark Choco clearly doesn’t WANT to be a villain but believes that he’s doomed to his fate, so when he realizes that there’s still room left to write his destiny he takes that chance and changes for the better. HOWEVER, I can also see them committing to making Dark Choco so resigned to his fate that he just refuses to accept the fact that he’s even capable of doing good. The only thing he can do is stay with the villains and accept his fate, he belongs to the darkness now. Maybe he can have a tragic death in the arms of his father, that becomes a turning point for the story and might be what causes Dark Cacao to take up the fight again. OR maybe the sword will overpower Dark Choco himself (with the help of Dark Enchantress and Pomegranate), turning him into that one skin from Ovenbreak that I know exists but I have no idea wtf it’s called. There is nothing that remains in him but a shadow of who he once was; Dark Choco is nothing but a vessel for the sword. I think he’s gonna be redeemed, but I also can see them committing to the sword being cursed or them doing a ‘redemption equals death’ kinda thing. Either way, I’m probably gonna cry about it and it’ll probably take place during the Dark Cacao storyline. Oh god that storyline is gonna be a banger.

Pomegranate Cookie. She’s just done too much and is far too committed to Dark Enchantress. I actually think that a Pomegranate redemption arc would be the most interesting of any other Cookie of Darkness, but I don’t see Devsis going through with that idea unless literally every other cookie gets redeemed. We all saw the Cookies of Darkness story and what she’s willing to do to her own teammates, let alone other cookies. I personally believe that she’s most similar to Dark Choco (someone who believes they are destined to be part of the Darkness, Pomegranate just accepts it more easily), but I think she’s less likely to be redeemed because of the events of the Cookies of Darkness story + how close she is with Dark Enchantress. Again, I think her redemption arc could be really interesting and so I kinda hope I’m wrong, but I can’t see Pomegranate being redeemed.

I want to see everyone get redeemed, but this is my ranking of how likely they are to be redeemed. I’m, like, 85% sure that Dark Enchantress is going to get a ‘redemption equals death’ deal, even though it’s my least favorite type of redemption and I think having Dark Enchantress/White Lily (if that theory is accurate) have to LIVE with her actions is infinitely more interesting.

TLDR; Licorice and Poison Mushroom will probably be redeemed, I REALLY want Red Velvet to be redeemed, I think Dark Choco could go either way and his storyline is gonna make me cry regardless, and THERES NO FUCKING WAY POMEGRANATE IS GETTING REDEEMED (but I really want her to).  

#cookies of darkness #cookie run kingdom #cookie run #licorice cookie #poison mushroom cookie #red velvet cookie #dark choco cookie #pomegrante cookie #dark enchantress cookie #this list isn't very serious #it's just my brain spilling its ideas into a post #I want all of them to be redeemed but that's not gonna happen #redemption equals death is probably my least favorite trope in all of fiction #because it takes away from the far more interesting prospect of ex-bad guys needing to live with their mistakes #and I think that this could especially interesting in the context of Pomegranate and Dark Enchantress and Dark Choco #because they've all done horrific things but none of them are beyond redemption (at least imo) and them needing to live with themselves #after everything is really cool #but no #have a character give an apology with their death and don't develop them any further or give them a chance to be better #just fucking kill them because redemption arcs are too hard and redemption equals death is easier than writing complicated characters

[the-nysh]

Do you think that Garou is a Coward?

??? 🤔 I'm curious where you got that impression, but:

Kid Garou recognizing the mistreatment of a classmate and speaking up to defend him, then stepping up to defend himself when he becomes the group's next target, because he still firmly believes that mistreatment is wrong - that's no coward.

A fevered, injured Garou aware of his situation and surroundings, but chooses to step forth and fight without ever backing down, even while outnumbered and without even knowing if he's capable of deflecting bullets. Then stands his ground (when he was entirely capable of running away) to bodily shield the shed with his own life, because there was an innocent kid inside - that's no coward.

A Garou acutely aware he should not aggravate Rover who outclasses him, yet despite all rational warning signs, he leaps in to engage Rover as a decoy - risking his own life again so Tareo can escape - perhaps a fool, but that's no coward.

I could go on with more examples, but when his character's put to the test like this, his tenacious spirit & instinct to act (often, to protect) reveal with courage & bravery despite all rational sense of self-preservation. Which is in fact a selfless mark of a hero. :O

Only....he's never allowed himself to believe it. Always pushing back (rejecting) the notion and denying the goodness within himself, convincing himself so hard without ever realizing his alternative potential (beyond that of a monster) either.

Now some people have framed that to mean he's 'running away' from the reality of accepting what it takes to actually be a hero directly, and consider that a form of cowardice. But no, because Garou's not exactly running away; he's still committed to act, just in the only way he knows how. (Without the proper tools -and confidence- to apply himself & his feelings the right way. See link.) Because the difference is, he's acting on the long-ingrained, genuine, but false belief he could never be a hero. Ever since childhood. So he's resigned himself to take the monster's role (depressingly to the end if that's what it takes - just like a martyr) to achieve his dreams for a better world instead. Even if he has to sacrifice his true self -and ultimately his happiness- to do that. :’)

His struggle is actually quite similar to Genos. Paralleling the false belief that sets him back too, in a way. Because even after all this time, with all his achievements & progress marking (to the audience) what he's capable of, Genos is still struck with the self-doubt he's not strong enough and continually dismisses himself as weak. (Much like how Garou dismisses himself as a monster - even right after doing something heroic, like saving Tareo.) Never even realizing where he's actually strong! But is he a coward for believing that? 🤔 (Some might say Genos' hasty decision to become a cyborg, with the option to self-destruct is a form of 'running away' from accepting reality too, but...) Absolutely not. Because he's still compelled to jump in and act despite any self-doubts, beliefs, or second guesses, simply because it's the right thing to do. That's displaying the same courage & bravery with the unwavering tenacity to never give up. Just like Garou would.

So here we are, even when they’re driven by convictions displaying the opposite, Genos runs on the false belief that he is weak (never strong enough), much like Garou runs on the false belief that he cannot be a hero (he must be a monster). :O Which we, the audience, know are untrue. It’s a parallel mindset they share, but different from cowardice, that similarly holds them back and limits them from reaching their true (higher) potential.

So what next? Part of overcoming that struggle then involves someone to help them see/understand (or ahem, deconstruct) how their false belief isn't true. Before they can begin to see the light in a new way. (In a cathartic type of paradigm shift.) In Garou's case, he needs the affirmation he's always had the choice to become a hero - in his own way (not predetermined by the approval of others) and the assurance he can still apply his courage, bravery, and empathy (positive traits he's always had!!) in ways that are constructively truer to himself. Fortunately, he will be getting the help from Saitama & Tareo to see that. :’) As for Genos, his struggle to acknowledge & value himself where he’s strong -beyond physical power- still continues~ 

#opm #garou #meta #anonymous #replies #believing in something false is different from acting in ways that are true #and here when garou (and genos) act in ways that are true to themselves - they prove they're absolutely no cowards

[cosmicjoke]

Alright, chapter 133 of SnK!

I’ve got a few things I want to talk about here.

One of the things that always strikes me about Levi as a character, indeed, one of his defining character traits, is his coolness under pressure.  His calm demeanor, no matter the circumstances.  One of the interesting things to go into is WHY Levi is like this.  

We see it particularly exemplified in this chapter, I think, and there’s a few examples.  For one, they’ve all just lost Hange as their friend and Commander, and this loss particularly impacts and affects Levi, since he was closer with Hange than any of them.  But rather than allowing his grief to consume and paralyze him, Levi immediately begins trying to contribute when Armin says he wants to go over the plan, bringing up Hange’s theory about Zeke and how killing him might stop the Rumbling, etc...  Then Eren transports them to Paths, and everyone reacts with shock and awe, except Levi, who’s expression is duly unimpressed and unsurprised.  We see this from Levi throughout the series, of course.  Situations that present themselves, new and frightening circumstances which throw everyone for a loop and send people into panic, Levi reacts to with calm collectedness, a distinct LACK of surprise or fear.  He really does stand in sharp contrast with everyone else in this situation.  Everyone there is a seasoned war veteran, at this point, they’ve all been through and seen some truly horrific things.  But they still react with a kind of frantic uncertainty here.  They then begin to plead with Eren, Armin and the rest trying to convince him through any means possible, to stop the Rumbling.  They try to bargain with him, show him empathy, make promises, etc...  They make their desperation obvious by saying whatever they think will appeal to Eren.  Levi is the only one who, I think, is fully honest here.  He tells Eren that if he stops now, he’ll let him off with JUST an ass-kicking.  Levi doesn’t try to placate Eren, or show him sympathy, or empathy, he doesn’t try to be gentle or handle Eren with kid gloves.  He tells him flat out he’s going to beat his ass for what he’s done, but he’ll show him some leniency for stopping by not killing him outright.  The thing is, I think Levi’s known from the start of this whole disaster that talking to Eren wasn’t going to work.  Everyone else was holding out hope that if they could just speak with Eren, he would stop, that they could convince him through words.  But like I talked about in my last post, Levi is someone who’s just seen and experienced too much of life’s brutality and unfairness to blind himself to bleak reality.  When the 104th goes running off after Eren appears to them, to try and reach him, Levi just sits down in the sand and has that resigned expression once more, and his expression continues to show a total lack of surprise when Eren puts the 104th back where they started, before they could ever even get close. Levi isn’t surprised, or even dismayed, I don’t think, at Eren’s refusal to talk, because I think he always knew he wouldn’t be willing to.  That he wouldn’t be interested in hearing anyone’s pleas or promises.  I think Levi always knew Eren was hellbent on this course of action, and it was more or less hopeless, trying to appeal to him.  And once again, I have to restate, I think it’s because Levi’s just experienced too much hardship in his life to cling to false hopes.  He’s world-weary and in many ways a realist, someone not given to delusion or fancy.  

I feel like Levi probably glimpsed this uncompromising, hellish bent in Eren back in Liberio, his mercenary compulsion to follow through on whatever plan he had, which is why Levi was so disgusted by him on the airship back then.  He saw a lack of mercy in Eren, and it reminded him of the brutes Levi grew up with in the Underground.  Not just a willingness, but a desire to take from others to satisfy himself.  It’s why, when they’re all transported back to the plane, while everyone else looks horrified and in shock at Eren’s refusal to talk, Levi looks as unflustered as ever, and states with a matter of fact tone that negotiations are over, before asking Armin what it is they do now.  None of this is surprising to Levi.

Levi’s look of despair throughout this final arc continues to strike me as his resignation in the ugliness of humanity and the useless, pointless suffering they inflict on one another.  He’s depressed, and disappointed, because everything happening around them is only a confirmation of all the worst things Levi saw and experienced, growing up.

All this ties into another point I want to discuss, which is Levi’s relationship with Jean, actually.  I’ve found the relationship between the two of them really interesting since way back in the Uprising arc, when Jean was the most vocal in condemning Levi for his violence, declaring with certainty that he would never kill another person.  Jean is disabused of his moralistic superiority not long after that, when he learns first hand the consequences of sticking to ones morals uncompromisingly, nearly losing his life, and forcing Armin to take a life for him.  And it’s Jean who we see, again and again from that point on in the series, grappling with and coming to terms with this difficult lesson.  We see Jean’s respect for Levi, and his understanding towards Levi, grow greatly, after this incident, and Jean himself having to grow, to change and accept that sacrifices are inevitable if one wishes to protect the things and people they care about.  That sometimes even one’s own comfort and moral convictions are necessary sacrifices to achieve those things.  

Levi tells everyone that he’ll take care of Zeke, but admits that he’ll need all of their help to get the job done.  I feel like this is Levi, once again, asking if all of them are ready and willing to get their hands dirty, just like he did before they raided the Cavern underneath the Church on the Reiss property.  He knows he can’t do this job by himself (which is just further testament to Levi’s strength of character, an ability to admit to weakness), but he wants to make sure everyone else is alright with plunging in to a situation in which they’re going to be forced to kill.  Jean is the first to answer, telling Levi and all of them that he’s not going to let the sacrifices they’ve already made, the people they’ve killed in order to get where they are, be in vain, and that he’ll do whatever it takes to stop the Rumbling.  This shows incredible character growth on Jean’s part.  He went from someone who claimed that he would, under no circumstances, take another human life, to someone who declares that he’ll do whatever it takes in order to stop the Rumbling, to achieve a greater good.  And I think this growth on Jean’s part ties directly into his relationship with and the influence of Levi.  Levi never judged Jean for being uncomfortable with killing, never criticized or scolded him for it.  He even told Jean that he couldn’t say, one way or the other whether Jean’s beliefs were right or wrong.  That Levi himself didn’t know the answer to that.  He never tried to convince Jean of anything.  He just told him the truth.  That his failure to kill had put the lives of his comrades in danger, including his own, and that it also caused Armin to have to bear the burden of killing another, one which should have been Jean’s own to bear.  All of that is absolutely true.  And it was really through this lack of judgment on Levi’s part that, I think, Jean was able to grow and expand his own views on killing, and adjust and allow for there to be circumstances in his world view which would justify taking another life.  He wasn’t forced by anyone to change his views.  He changed them based on experience and through Levi explaining to him that there is no definitive right or wrong answer to be found, and through Levi’s simply being honest with him.  He was telling Jean that it comes down to what one is willing to sacrifice in order to protect the things and people they value.  And Jean learned about himself that he’s willing and able to sacrifice more than he ever realized.

But it’s still a struggle, and something all of them, even at this point in the story, continue to battle themselves over.  We see Connie struggling in particular this chapter, looking anguished over what he had to do back at the port.  It’s only Levi who accepts that brutal reality of kill or be killed with a calm understanding, and I think this is probably because, unlike the rest of them, who all had peaceful, probably relatively easy and happy childhoods, without any exposure to violence or real cruelty, Levi, I think it can be safely assumed, probably took his first life while he was still a boy.  And doubtless, that was due to desperate circumstances.  Levi’s life has been one filled with uncertainty.  Growing up in extreme poverty, he never could have known with any certainty where his next meal would come from, or when.  Never knew with any certainty whether he could find proper shelter for the night, or a safe place to sleep.  Never knew with any certainty whether he would be assaulted, or robbed, or if someone would attempt to take his life.  Levi’s life has been one of desperation and a true, unforgiving struggle to simply survive.  And so while all of his comrades have seen and experienced the horrors of war with him, none of them can know with the same level of understanding that true kind of desperation of simply trying to live day to day, that kind of awful and overwhelming uncertainty and fear of not knowing if you’ll be alive from one day to the next.  It’s those kinds of experiences in life that really separate Levi from the rest of his comrades, and in a lot of ways, isolate him from them.  It’s why the extremity of their circumstances and the desperation of their situation in this final arc continually shocks and overwhelms them, but Levi regards it all with his usual, if deeply saddened, calm.

#attack on titan #shingeki no kyojin #Levi Ackerman #jean krischtein #snk 133 #meta #thoughts

[ibijau]

Price of wishes pt7 / on AO3

Lan Xichen meets his new relatives in the Cloud Recesses

Lan Xichen gazes upon the gates of the Cloud Recesses, and feels… 

Not scared, not quite, but nervous certainly. The more he travelled with Nie Huaisang and his brother's disciples, the more Lan Xichen became struck by how much the world has changed while he was clinging to his last believers and trying to survive. Towns are bigger, houses are more durable, people from different places mix, and they sell as common things items that he remembers being rare luxuries. 

The world has changed, and Lan Xichen is striving not to show how unsettled he feels. 

And then, there's this writing business. Out of every passing fashion that had to stick around… 

In spite of how he feels about this writing fad, Lan Xichen has been trying his best to learn. Trying isn’t succeeding. Lan Xichen can read some characters, and he knows certain texts thanks to Nie Huaisang’s efforts, but it simply isn’t enough to maintain the illusion of the person he is supposed to be.

Hopefully, Nie Huaisang’s other plan will work.

The Lan disciple guarding the gate is startled when he's told that the young master of his sect has returned, but by the time Lan Xichen asks that his uncle be warned he lost his jade token in an incident, that young man in white has already accepted his existence. It's not surprising, not when Lan Xichen has already convinced Nie Mingjue whose mind is much stronger, but it's still a relief. 

The Lan disciple dutifully sends a message to master Lan Qiren who arrives quite fast to the gate, followed closely by a boy whose features are eerily similar to Lan Xichen. He got that much right, it seems. 

Lan Xichen bows politely before the man who is now his uncle, the boy who he will call his brother for a full mortal lifetime, and smiles at both of them. He can feel for a moment their doubts about his presence, forming a stronger wall than Nie Mingjue’s did, but he only needs to absorb some of Nie Huaisang’s belief in him to make that wall crumble. It is not hard at all, and Lan Xichen can’t help but feel that those two are almost relieved by his intrusion in their lives.

It was the same with Nie Mingjue. He might act tough and stern, but he is young, not ten years older than Nie Huaisang. He’s also as desperate for company as his brother but in a position that forbids him from seeking out new friends. And now, as Lan Qiren caves into the invasion, Lan Xichen gets a flash of gratitude, because having a nearly fully adult nephew means someone he can rely on. Lan Qiren, like Nie Mingjue, is a lonely man, and shouldn’t be so resigned to it at such a young age.

“You weren’t supposed to be gone this long,” Lan Qiren scolds his nephew. “You should have been here a while ago to help prepare the arrival of the guest disciples. And what's this I hear about your token being lost?”

Nie Huaisang, unnoticed by nearly everyone, lets out a shaky breath.

“My apologies, shufu,” Lan Xichen says with another bow. “A few things came up while I was gone that delayed my return. In fact, I would like to speak to you about this immediately, if you have the time. Wangji as well, this will concern him. And… I think it might be good if Nie gongzi came as well.”

Lan Wangji, exactly as silent and austere as Nie Huaisang described him, stares at his brand new brother with emotionless eyes. When those eyes turn to Nie Huaisang though, they let a certain curiosity shine through, to which Nie Huaisang reacts by turning a little pink and averting his eyes. But no objection is made to Lan Xichen’s request, and they all retire to the house Lan Qiren shares with his nephew for a private conversation.

It is not an unpleasant place. Austere but elegant, as everything appears to be in the Cloud Recesses. One thing immediately attracts Lan Xichen’s attention: the number of books. This house alone appears to contain as many as all of Qinghe Nie’s library. This makes Nie Huaisang’s panic over Lan Xichen’s inability to read all the more understandable. If the entire sect is similar to Lan Qiren, then Lan Xichen’s meagre powers might not be enough to counter their surprise at a young master who cannot read fluently.

Tea is poured as refreshment for the travellers, and all four of them sit down. Lan Qiren allows his new nephew a moment to drink, then asks again about the delay in returning.

"The situation is this," Lan Xichen explains. "While I was away, something happened and I lost all my memories. I cannot be sure what it was exactly, but I do not appear to have any physical marks on me, nor did I detect anything that would indicate a curse. All I know for sure is that I barely knew who I was when this started."

His new relatives are startled at the news, especially Lan Wangji who glances at Nie Huaisang in a silent question, but with the slightest of push on Lan Xichen’s part they do not think of doubting that story.

"As I wandered, I stumbled upon the Unclean Realm where Nie Mingjue welcomed me and treated me as if we knew each other. I played along and didn't mention my predicament. I thought Nie Mingjue did not feel like an enemy, but I didn't know how much to trust my instincts. After a while, Nie Huaisang realised something was wrong, encouraged me to share my secret with him, and agreed to help me hide this for the time being. We both feared someone might try to take advantage, should my situation be revealed."

"A wise decision," Lan Qiren agreed, a severe expression on his face as he stroked his beard. "It is lucky you wandered into friendly territory, when others might have been less kind than the Nie." 

Meaning the Wen sect, Lan Xichen guesses. There's a feud of sorts between the Wens and the Nie, he understands, but really the whole cultivation world appears scared of them. 

"Our thanks to Nie gongzi for his help," Lan Qiren says. 

"Mn," Lan Wangji agrees, cramming a surprising amount of emotion in that single sound. Or maybe it is the way he's looking at Nie Huaisang, his pale eyes intense and sharp. 

Nie Huaisang blushes intensely and squirms a little, clearly uncomfortable with the attention, or perhaps with being praised over something that never happened. To rescue him from his discomfort, Lan Xichen promptly continues.

“The memory loss is actually rather severe,” he explained. “We are still figuring out what I can and cannot remember. While I was in Qinghe, I dared not say too much to Nie zongzhu, even after deciding he was friendly, because I couldn’t be sure of the extent of that friendship, and I knew I had to think of my sect’s safety. But after making me confess the truth on the way here, Nie gongzi has been of great help in figuring out just how much I have lost. He happened to have with him a number of texts concerning our rules and customs which he shared with me, though I must confess reading is not easy at this time. It causes me terrible headaches after even a very short while.”

Hearing this, Lan Qiren’s concern only grows, marking him to Lan Xichen as a far warmer person than Nie Huaisang prepared him for. Not that he blames his young friend for his judgement: it is not unexpected for a man to behave differently toward a student than he would with a relative, especially when the student is Nie Huaisang, who has made it clear that learning does not come easily to him.

Worried for this nephew he’d never met just half a shichen earlier, Lan Qiren quickly comes up with a plan.  First, he will go fetch a doctor to check Lan Xichen, since an external eye might detect more than he did himself. If they can identify what ails him, they might return him to normal. Should that fail (Lan Xichen will have to use his powers on the doctor as well, though he’s getting tired and might require a large offering from Nie Huaisang that night) they will need to keep the situation secret, for fear that certain people try to take advantage of the situation. In that case, Lan Qiren decides that his nephews will isolate themselves together for a few days, until the lectures for the guest disciples start, so that Lan Xichen can be reminded of the knowledge and behaviours expected of a young master of their sect.

Lan Wangji makes no objection to this plan. His only remark is to ask that Nie Huiasang stay with them until Lan Qiren returns with a doctor, so he can be further questioned about the present situation. Lan Qiren agrees, and leaves the boys alone.

As soon as they are just the three of them together, something shifts in Lan Wangji’s attitude. So far he hasn’t given the impression of a particularly expressive person, and yet Lan Xichen can instantly tell that his new brother is incredibly upset.

“Nie gongzi,” Lan Wangji says, his voice monotone and yet heavy with carefully refrained emotion. “Who is this person sitting with us?”

Nie Huaisang goes pale, as if he might faint, then turns a bright shade of red, before he starts laughing in a nervous manner.

“Ah, just as could be expected of you!” Nie Huaisang exclaims with a painful grin. “Lan gongzi is really something else! Anybody else could be fooled except you, I should have known!”

Lan Wangji makes no answer. Lan Xichen cannot tell if his new brother is aggravated or relieved that Nie Huaisang isn’t even trying to hide that something is wrong.

As for Lan Xichen himself, he feels too keenly the pain of disappointment. While Lan Wangji does appear to be a powerful young cultivator, and strong willed for his age, Nie Mingjue and Lan Qiren were still his superiors. The only reason he resisted where they gave in, Lan Xichen suspects, is because Nie Huaisang has more faith in Lan Wangji’s strength of spirit than in his, creating a weakness in his powers.

“Explain,” Lan Wangji demands, and Nie Huaisang obeys without hesitation.

Not only does he not hesitate, but Nie Huaisang appears sincerely relieved to share his secret as he retells the way he ran away, how he became lost and unknowingly made a deal with a god who then took human form.

Lan Wangji listens, glances over Lan Xichen, and frowns.

“He looks like me. Why?”

From being merely a little nervous, Nie Huaisang panics at the question with such intensity that it nearly makes Lan Xichen physically sick. For a torturous second there is no more belief sustaining him, replaced by a terror that cannot feed him. It doesn’t last longer than a heartbeat before Nie Huaisang pulls himself together and laughs awkwardly, but Lan Xichen is left shaken.

“Well, I ran away because I felt so lonely and unappreciated, right?” Nie Huaisang explains. “And I wanted to not feel alone. And so I thought of you, because I…”

He hesitates, his entire face flushed red. For the second time in just moments, Lan Xichen feels Nie Huaisang’s belief waver, replaced by a sentiment entirely directed toward Lan Wangji.

“I think of you as my best friend,” Nie Huaisang miserably lies, “so of course I wanted someone like you at my side.”

Hit by a sudden realisation, Lan Xichen stares at the young man who gave him a chance to live again. With parts of Nie Huaisang modelled after Lan Wangji, of course Lan Xichen knew already there had to be some attraction involved. But this isn’t mere attraction that he is witnessing. 

Instead, Nie Huaisang is in love with Lan Wangji.

That discovery alone is already painful. In their short time together Lan Xichen has become quite fond of Nie Huaisang and has seen nothing in him that could make him fear the ‘marriage’ part of their deal. To find that he has a rival, one of true flesh and blood, one who doesn’t need the world explained to him, who can read and write and do all those things that matter so much to Nie Huaisang, is like being stabbed in the guts.

But things only get worse when Lan Wangji, so impassible thus far, huffs ever so slightly at Nie Huaisang and smiles at him with all the warmth his nature allows him.

It might not be love yet, but fondness is a first step in that direction.

Meaning that Nie Huaisang might never have needed Lan Xichen and just didn't know it yet.

"Nie gongzi always makes things interesting," Lan Wangji placidly comments, which Nie Huaisang appears to take as criticism, while Lan Xichen suspects it to be a compliment. "I will allow this person to remain." 

"Really ? Wangji, that means lying!" 

"Hm. This person is meant to be my older brother, correct?" 

Nie Huaisang again panics, explains, apologises, but Lan Wangji's attention has shifted to his new brother. Under such a piercing gaze, Lan Xichen feels exposed, though he doesn't detect any bad feeling coming from Lan Wangji, only curiosity and a sharp flicker of hope. 

"He may stay," Lan Wangji repeats. "If he stays long, he will in some years announce that he steps down in my favour. Until then, this person may carry the title of heir." 

Silence falls for a long moment. Lan Xichen hasn't finished processing what this means (more effort, more lies, more pretending, all to fool not only this sect but also all others) when he notices that Lan Wangji is smiling again, while Nie Huaisang starts howling with laughter. 

"Wangji! Lan gongzi! No, wait, it's Lan er-gonzi now, right? Either way, who knew you had it in you to be crafty! Dumping your responsibilities on someone else like this… why, it sounds like something I would do!" 

"You are my friend," Lan Wangji soberly replies, though his eyes shine. "And a bad influence."

Nie Huaisang only laughs harder, joyful and free in a way Lan Xichen has never seen him. 

It might be good to look for new followers quickly, the god decides. Before this fountain of belief dries out as Nie Huaisang realises he already has everything he wished for, sending Lan Xichen back to the misery and despair of his old existence.

#xisang #nie huaisang #lan xichen #lan wangji #lan qiren #a little hint of one sided wangsang in there too #jau writes #xisang wishes au #still no fucking idea where I'm going with this au tbh

[theartofimagining13]

WRITTEN BY: A.Wölf.

BASED ON: Imagine: After a big discussion with your fiancé Tom...

CHAPTER 3 (FINAL): THE WEDDING GUEST

PREVIOUS CHAPTERS: 1 DISENGAGEMENT | 2 THE TALE OF THE OFFENSE

TEASER  |  POSTER

As Pedro had assured, Tom did in fact forgive my little indiscretion. Not without giving me a hard time and making me swear one million times that I would never do it again, of course. It was like a very long trial and I was waiting to be sentenced by my fiancé. But there are always tiny holes in the law that defense attorneys creep into in order to save the guilty from the death penalty. That’s how I was absolved from my sins; my closing argument went something like this:

“It was a one-time thing. I was blinded by anger. And, technically, it wasn’t cheating. I had left my engagement ring on the bedside table.”

Hey, all is fair in love and war; even cynicism.

“And where did you spend the night anyway, Thomas?”

Touché.

Where had he spent the night indeed and why would I believe him? Implying that he could’ve been with someone else as well while I was at home, alone all night, was what finally made him reconsider everything. I obviously snapped when I woke up in the morning and he wasn’t there and… the rest is history. What about Pedro? Well, men understand men. However, Tom never wanted to see him again and they hadn’t spoken since that day. Pedro was found guilty and that friendship was sentenced to death. Case closed. Jury, pound the gavel.

I kept my promise and behaved. I didn’t see nor talked to Pedro the weeks leading up to the wedding, and Tom was obviously a bit paranoid and constantly checking on me. The more I behaved, the more he believed in me again.

The sound of a mug being placed on the coffee table in front of me suddenly brought me back to my living room and the book in my hands. I glanced up to see Tom sitting across from me with a mug of his own.

“Thanks.” I said with a smile as I reached for the hot chocolate he had been kind enough to make.

“Sure.”

I could see that he was nervous. He was sitting on the edge of the couch, just staring at the hot beverage in his hands. His lips parted and closed a couple times until he cleared his throat.

“How are you feeling?” He asked.

“What do you mean?”

“D-do… do you still want to do this?”

I felt a pinch of guilt in the pit of my stomach at the vulnerability in his tone. It resembled a kid’s after they’ve been scolded and traumatized.

“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?” I calmly inquired.

He sighed and placed the mug on the coffee table and hesitated for a while but finally looked me in the eye.

“More than ever.” He said.

I swallowed hard.

“I just-” He carried on. “I just need to know that I’m not pressuring you because… maybe… I proposed too soon and that had something… or a lot to do with what-”

“Tom,” I had to stop him. “You cannot blame yourself for that.” I closed and left the book on the couch to get closer to him and hold his hand. “I made a mistake, and I am here because I want to be. That’s… if you’ll still take me, of course.”

I felt him holding my hand tighter before he leaned in and kissed me tenderly, almost thankful.

“You’re not going to run away on our wedding day, are you?” He half-teased.

I giggled, bit my bottom lip and shook my head as I leaned in for a second kiss. Maybe the Pedro situation still needed closure. Maybe this was it.

Maybe it was wedding jitters.

Someone from the catering service came to my table and whispered something in my ear that sent a chill up my spine.

I gave a discreet nod and then looked at my brand new husband and smiled for him. I waited a couple minutes and excused myself to go to the ladies’ room. I walked in a different direction; towards the parking lot of our wedding venue where a black pickup truck flashed its headlights at me.

“You have got to be kidding me.” I mumbled to myself as I ventured into the woods surrounding the parking lot and up a small hill where the truck was semi-hidden.

I was in a wedding dress and heels, for fuck’s sake. Of course I was mad.

I opened the passenger door and cocked my head at the sight of Pedro in a dark suit, white shirt, undone bowtie, behind the wheel and with beer number who knows in hand, since there were several empty glass bottles scattered on the backseat.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I said while folding my arms across my chest.

“Get in. Close the door.” He demanded.

Once I did, and looked ahead, I realized why he had chosen to park on the small hill. You could see the whole venue from there.

“Are you seriously watching my wedding from the parking lot with a portable beer cooler like a fucking redneck who didn’t get tickets to a concert?”

He ignored my insult and smiled. Mischievously like only he could.

“I couldn’t miss it.”

“If Tom sees you here, the only thing I’ll be getting on my wedding night is a divorce.”

“You look beautiful.”

Pedro was definitely tipsy. I had just had my first dance with my new husband, and here I was, ten minutes later, in my imprudent lover’s car.

“Pedro, what do you want?” I calmly asked.

“I guess I came here to say… congratulations.” He added with laziness on the last word and while leaning against the car seat headrest. “I sent you guys a gift with the waiter. The one with the gold polka dots. It doesn’t have a note.”

I frowned. Was he crazy?

“Thank you.” I cleared my throat. “I have to go back. You should leave, Pedro. This won’t end well if anyone sees us.”

I reached for the door handle but before I could get out, he took my left hand in his. When I looked at him, he was staring at my engagement and wedding ring set while deep in thought.

“Would you have said yes if I had given you one of these?”

I gave him a don’t-even-go-there kind of look. I hadn’t seen this man since our last encounter that had ended in tragedy and drama over not only Tom finding out about the affair but also Pedro’s strong aversion to any type of commitment. Some people were allergic to shellfish; my lover was allergic to love.

“I thought you didn’t do rings…” I said.  

“You do know why I said that the other day, right?” He asked.

I sighed with frustration and moved my hand away.

“I don’t know… because you hate the idea of marriage?”

“No, mi amor.” He chuckled. “Because I am not the man for you.”

I was starting to get mad.

“You’re too good for me.” He added.

I was mad. He “wasn’t the man for me” and apparently not good enough for me but he sure could fuck me, the shameless son of a bitch, who also added,

“I know what you’re thinking but… things aren’t black or white.”

Something finally clicked and the things Pedro had said in the past filled my mind. “Women like you”, “I feel like Beauty and the Beast.”, “Tom is the man you marry”, “I’m not the man for you.”, and the sight of him now; absolute resignation making peace with the fate he knew we could only share. Or he was settling for.

This man truthfully couldn’t see his own beauty but seemed overwhelmed by mine, which perhaps, I wasn’t seeing either. 

“So, the shades of gray are your many insecurities, is that what you’re trying to say?” I asked.

“I constantly ask myself how you ended up in bed with me.” He took a big swig of beer.

“Well, maybe you won’t have to anymore.” I said with a sarcastic tone.

Pedro got closer to me. He stared at my lips and swallowed hard. I knew he wanted to kiss me but he was restraining himself to somehow “respect” my wedding at little bit. The thought of me in this ethereal white dress, wildly kissing this currently scruffy-looking-fellow, was inexplicably appealing. But I, for once, kept still.

Let him suffer now.

“I will be here until you no longer want me.” He murmured. “Until you tell me you’re sick of me.”

I was furious. I stared straight ahead and saw Tom on the dance floor with a big smile on his face and realized many, many things. Were it not for these deep-rooted insecurities Pedro lived his life with, perhaps, we could’ve had it all. This is all I could ever be to him, a lover, a trophy of some sort because he thought he was unworthy of me. Ironically enough, he was so used to that belief that he would never risk taking a bigger step with me.

If I was such an “accomplishment” for him, then why wasn’t he willing to do something greater to keep me in his life? Truth is, I would’ve loved to be Pedro’s girlfriend at least. I loved the sound of that, even the aesthetic. But that was never even a possibility because he would always self-sabotage. And there Tom was, dancing, celebrating and showing the world he loved me and had me in his life, and all Pedro wanted was a smidgen of that.

I was only an ego boost, and a woman Pedro could not handle in the long run.

I forced a smile for him and got out of the car.

People accept the love they think they deserve, and Pedro, Tom, and I were playing by this rule that formed a triangle of tough love. I wasn’t so different to Pedro. I had sabotaged my healthy relationship. Did I feel like I didn’t deserve it then? Did Tom feel like he deserved my betrayal?

In this moment of clarity, I was sure now that I’d either have to break the chain or force therapy on each of us. I closed the door and started to walk away but Pedro called out my name as he rolled down the window to speak one more time.

“Give me a call when you come back from your honeymoon.”

I half-smiled and walked away.

Had I finally learned?

#IN HIS ARMS #Pedro Pascal #Tom Hiddleston #Fanfic #Fiction #Fanfiction

[hiro-gari]

Something I realized just now at 3 AM..

We usually headcanoned Zenko and Tareo would be the ones who connected Garou with Badd, the fact that both of the kids knowing them (also Tareo now have met Badd in the manga, maybe again soon at the end of battle?).

But let me tell you about this: Remember in webcomic, King accidentally found Garou when he was meditated in the middle of woods, right? And in the manga version, King goes with Badd towards the battlefield, right? What if King becomes the one person who could connect Badd with Garou?? 👀👀✨

King is one of Badd’s coworker who can be trusted on keeping secrets better than any other fellow heroes. Not only that, now he went to the battle location together with Badd and probably must watching over the reckless delinquent hero during combat the whole time until it was ended with the defeat of Garou.

If the headcanon of Badd defending Garou will becomes true (hopefully), King would also be there to witness it, too.

Now imagine when King accidentally encountered the newly redeemed Garou in the middle of forest and Garou noticed him, reassured King that he wont do the whole hero hunting anymore. He just want to talk with King for awhile about two things:

“Is the little brat (Tareo) alright?”

“Is Metal Bat okay?”

Garou asked those things because he knew King was the person who saved Tareo from Monster Assosiation, also the person who came with Badd together and has the responsibility to keep an eye for him.

I was imagining a composed Garou and a frightened King sitting side-by-side near the river, all in a tranquil peaceful forest setting, with Garou calmly asking the questions to King because he was curious and genuinely worried about those two.

Garou regretted the fact he still couldn’t see Tareo again, at least in his current situation, to say thank you for always believing in him and even stood up for him so bravely. He was so proud of the little brat.

On the other hand, Garou was worried about Badd because he rebelled against both his own S-Class coworkers and the higher ups in Hero Association just to defend Garou. Telling them that they went too far and too quick to judge someone from a false assumption. Especially when there’s an innocent honest witness who knows Garou truly, confessing the whole things about the real truth of the Hero Hunter.

Then Badd allowed Garou to escape from the battlefield, resulting in angering most of S-Class heroes.

At that time, Garou realized that Badd endangered himself, risking his job reputation as an S-Class Hero for fraternizing a supposed enemy and rejecting the Hero Association’s order. That’s why Garou asked King if the delinquent hero was okay after the incident happened.

Carefully, King telling him that unfortunately because of the incident, it put a strain between Badd and Hero Association. Badd calling out all of Hero Association’s bullshits about the whole things regarding Garou’s situation. From what King had witnessed in the meeting room, it was like hell during the post-war report meeting.

The whole debate between Badd and HA’s execs finally culminated with Badd walking out from Hero Association in silent fury, declaring he had enough of them and wanted to resign from Hero Association as soon as possible once he finished writing the resignation letter. The next day, Badd was officially not Hero Association member anymore. Then several heroes also one by one following his steps, too.

Listening to King’s explanation, Garou was shocked at how far Badd would sacrificed himself because he helped the Human Monster escaped from the wrath of S-Class heroes. It made Garou felt guilty for making so many troubles in the hero’s life: forcing Badd to fight him against his will at the first meeting, putting him into hospital with heavy wounded body, then destroying him again in their rematch. Now he was indirectly ruined his job, too.

Despite all of those things, the hero still willing to defend Garou to the extent putting himself in “me against the world” situation with the entire Hero Association members. The unwavering strong determination of Badd, Garou really admired it and also being very grateful for him. Because of Tareo and Badd, he still can survive.

In the end, Garou thanked King for telling him the truth, also for listening to Tareo’s message to not bullying him like the most heroes did. Garou respects King because of that.

Before they parted way again, Garou asked King to let Badd know that he was alive and doinb well now, that he wanted to thanking Badd for everything Badd has done for the sake of him.

And he wanted to say, that to him, Badd is his Hero. His ideal Hero.

Garou letting out a gentle but genuine smile when he said that, seems like he was happy to finally finding someone he had been searching for since he was a kid. An ideal hero who has a heart of gold, who has unwavering “Fighting Spirit” and a belief of fairness. Who never afraid to call out people’s bullshits and hate bullying, just like Garou does.

If only Garou could meet Badd in a totally different situation, he wanted to be on Badd’s side. As frienemies, or bestfriends, or partners, or maybe more.. They would be great together. If only Fate allowed them..

King understood Garou’s message and promised he would relay it to Badd once he could find him, since they were not coworkers anymore. But luckily, King has Badd’s phone contact so he would try to notify him soon.

After thanking and wishing eachother the best, King finally left Garou continuing his soul-purifying meditation in the middle of woods and started heading back home quickly as soon as possible. It was so nerve-wracking for King to have a deep talk directly with the (ex) Hero Hunter, not to mention listening to his entire “love confession” for his own (ex) coworker in just a few metres from him, what the hell..

Such a weird day for King, but strangely he was so happy for them both. Now he understand that Garou is not like what his fellow heroes said. Maybe someday Garou would get a second chance (or third?) to meet Badd again and reconciliated with him so they could have much better relationship than before..

—————-

Bonus headcanon:

It would be so good if Garou offering King for martial art training, since King also wanted to strengthen himself. As long as there is a determination, even from a weak man, Garou really appreciated the spirit. He would definitely gives the best martial art training course for King. Maybe the end result wasn’t so good, but at least King was willing to try and that’s what matters.

In return, Garou would ask any new information from Badd. From what King have seen, Garou is like a highschooler boy who got a big crush on his classmate but didn’t have any clue what should he do, at all. Seems like Badd is Garou’s first love, considering everything Badd has done for the ex Hero Hunter made Garou becomes so enamored of him.

King couldn’t help but giving some wise advice for him in case someday Garou comes back to the city to meet Badd again. He hoped his advice would helped Garou on figuring out his true feeling for Badd. How could Garou be able to learn and analyze enemies’ fighting style in a matter of seconds, when he couldn’t even analyze his own feeling himself?? Huge migraine coming through King’s head as he realized his new job as a love consultant for Garou.

On the other hand, King also keep befriending Badd despite they’re technically not coworkers anymore. And I think Badd wouldn’t judge King about him committing a fraud, even he would supporting King wholeheartedly after hearing King wanted to be a better man. Sometimes Badd would hangouts on King’s place playing some games with King and Saitama, or chatting with Genos who happens to accompany Saitama at King’s place.

When King telling Badd about his encounter with Garou, Badd immediately asking him if Garou was okay as he worried so much for that wolfman since he fled from the battlefield. King reassured Badd that Garou was alright and currently still hiding from the public for awhile until the situation good enough for his coming back.

Then King explained all the things Garou had said about Badd, in which made the delinquent hero very flustered. Not expecting Garou would say something sweet like that and even harbouring a crush on him, too! From watching Badd’s reaction, King guessed this is the first time Badd receiving some genuine appreciation and love confession at the same time. Gotta make these “love inexperience” teenagers’ relationship works out fine, then.

There he was. King being a good friend (also a cupid) for both Badd and Garou, relaying messages to both of them regularly: to Garou whenever he has martial art training session with Garou, and to Badd whenever Badd is not busy working for Neo Heroes.

Garou refused to give away his hideout place to Badd as he wasn’t ready to meet Badd yet, no matter how much Badd been wanting to see him. Badd was determinated to find Garou and kick his ass himself for making him worried, and also because he missed Garou so much. While King just wanted all of these teenagers’ love drama ended well so he could rest soon.

At some point, Badd had decided to find Garou himself as he went towards Garou’s supposed location. But once he arrived on there, Garou has already gone. Not only that, King also couldn’t track Garou anymore since probably he probably had guessed that Badd would come to search for him.

Feeling deeply disappointed because he couldn’t see Garou or even heard his voice, Badd returned back to home with heavy heart. Badd was just wanted Garou to say those sweet love confession by himself in front of him. So, Badd could give immediate answer Garou could listen directly that Badd would accept Garou for what he is, and that he was willing to help Garou getting a better life.

But since Garou wasn’t ready yet, what Badd could do?

At the same time on the downtown area of some city, a certain wolfman just starting his first part-time job. Garou hoped this could be a good beginning of his new life as a changed man. He would proved Badd that he can be a better person, because of him..

—————————

—- THE END —–

—————————

Notes:

At first, this headcanon supposed to be a short one but I got carried away, lol! 😂

I noticed King was kinda underappreciated, so why not giving him an important role since he got involved with both of them in canon (although we still haven’t know yet at how much interaction between Garou and King at that webcomic chapter, we only could assumed the probability).

We have seen the impact of King’s genuine wise advice on Saitama, that’s such very good trait from him. Seeing how it turned out well for Saitama, why not King becomes love consultant for these dumbass-in-love teenagers? 😚💕

I apologized if this headcanon looks sucks waaaah forgive me, I start writing this at 4 AM and just finished at 6 AM with a little to no sleep, I’m so sorry 😅🙇💦

Any other thought about this headcanon, anyone? 👀✨😳👉👈 @hiro-gari @the-goddessfighter @garous-nipple

Thank you so much for reading this another silly headcanon! I hope you enjoyed it 😭🙏💕💞💖💝💐

Also thank you, Lilia, for always putting up with me and the whole random dumbass writings of mine! You’re the best, ilysm 😘💖

Have a nice day, guys! 🍀🌻

-Little1993lamb-

—————————

~Lilia:

Awe my goodness yeesss, some love for King!! He fits the role of confidant SO perfectly, he’s never really judgmental except of himself 😔, and seems like he’d be a great listener. Although yeah he’d be terrified of Garou at first 😭😂 but once he realizes his questions are those of someone genuinely concerned, he chills out a bit *King Engine quiets slightly*

Garou being worried about Tareo and grateful that he stood up for him 😢 aww my heart.. I so hope for a reunion between them after Garou’s through being awakened and all

And Garou learning about the hell Badd raised after the fact 😩 like he’s already feeling shitty and taking a Long Shower to clear his head, now he’s feeling responsible for getting his ideal Hero fired basically :// it’s the perfect conditions for him to just confess everything to King don’t let him find out he’s bff’s with Saitama yet tho 😳 awkward

This bonus headcanon!! Yes!! I was reading the webcomic and getting so sad that no one would genuinely take the time to even consider training King 😩 I was like, there’s a perfectly good martial artist right!! there!! waiting for a redemption arc!! Even if he doesn’t end up being the best at it, maybe Garou could at least help with boosting King’s confidence a little bit aww... and in return he’s just like passing little love notes between them because they’re clueless teenagers 😂 But he seems like the romantic type, I doubt he’d mind too much 😌 but I’m sure that witnessing their terrible awkwardness would get frustrating askdkdksk NOW KISS ALREADY

Thank you anon, I always appreciate your writings so much 😚💗💕🌸 you never fail to brighten my day ILY!!

#UGH THT BRIEF BADD/TAREO INTERACTION #he's thisclose to figuring out who the 'old dude' that saved him is #i wanna believe murata's super into these next chapters and that's why he's being so productive #lets hope :') #also I always look forward to hearing from you 😩💕 #i’d love to talk to you more actually 🥺👉👈 hhhh #ok ilysm pls get some rest 💕 #submission #opm #garou #metal bat #batarou #king

[begrudginglytumbling]

An Uncle’s Wisdom

Summary:

Sometimes, just sometimes, it pays to listen to your elders.

or Lan Qiren would like more grandchildren, please and thank you, and Wei Wuxian's ridiculously low levels of self-worth will not be stopping him from creating the family they all deserve.

(Can be found on AO3 too)

Wei Wuxian was decidedly not in the mood when Lan Qiren decided to visit.

He wasn’t even sure he’d be able to tolerate anyone other than Lan Zhan around him at that moment.

…and if he was being completely honest with himself, he might not be able to tolerate even Lan Zhan’s presence.

Yet, regardless of what was going on, when Lan Qiren came round for tea, you sat your arse down and had tea. It was awkward and stilted, yet Wei Wuxian managed to dredge up enough politeness to get through it, and not actively throw the man out.

At least, he thought he’d managed to present a sufficiently acceptable front until Lan Qiren set his teacup down, nudged the coaster to sit parallel to the edge of the coffee table, folded his hands primly in his lap and said, “Now then Wei Wuxian, will you continue with this farce, or would you like to try the truth?”

The flinch was inevitable, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help it, the words stinging more than usual.

He felt fragile, sitting there under Lan Qiren’s gaze, fingers fiddling with his teacup.

Lan Qiren sighed after the silence had stretched on a little too long. “Know that I do not enjoy it when you force my hand, Wei Wuxian.”

Wei Wuxian merely blinked, uncomprehending and still struggling to find the words that usually came so effortlessly, as Lan Qiren pushed himself to his feet and made his way to the bathroom.

Realisation was a horrible thing, sending ice dripping down his spine when Lan Qiren re-emerged carrying the small bin they usually kept next to the sink. Wei Wuxian knew what was in that bin, and he desperately wanted to forget.

But Lan Qiren seemed insistent on reminding him, pointedly setting the bin down in front of Wei Wuxian, before gracefully sitting beside him.

“Talk to me.”

“Why?” Wei Wuxian’s voice came out quiet and hoarse, his vision blurring as tears gathered on his lashes.

“Because you are struggling, and sometimes talking to someone outside of the situation can help bring things into perspective.”

“Perspective? What other perspective is there?” Wei Wuxian laughed, a wet and pitiful thing. “You can see for yourself, I’m a failure. My existence has a single purpose, and I can’t even do that.”

“Single purpose?” Lan Qiren snapped, clearly indignant at such a term. “Do you deem me a failure then? For spurning this so called ‘single purpose’? For refusing to find a mate and raising a child I have born from my own body?”

“No!” Wei Wuxian cried, grasping at Lan Qiren’s sleeve, eyes wide and horrified. “Uncle I would never suggest that!”

A warm dry hand pat comfortingly at Wei Wuxian’s clenched fists. “Then why do you insist on accusing yourself of such things, hm?

“Because I…I…” he couldn’t help turning his eyes to the bin, to the white sticks littered at its bottom, the bolded ‘Negative’ clear as day on every single one of them.

He startled when Lan Qiren’s slipper came into view, kicking the bin carefully away. “They are not the sum of your worth. Your ability or inability to procreate is not the sum of your worth.”

“But…”

“Have you had your fertility tested?”

“…no?”

“Then if you must lay blame for this, how do you know the fault lies with yourself? Perhaps the fault is Wangji’s.”

Wei Wuxian’s response to such an accusation was an instantaneous and vehement, “No!”

“But you do not know,” Lan Qiren pointed out, even as Wei Wuxian shook his head, refusing to even entertain such an idea.

“Lan Zhan is perfect, this is my fault, not his.”

“My boy,” Lan Qiren sighed the sigh of the long suffering and resigned. “As much as I love my nephew, I will be the first to admit he is not perfect.”

“You…!”

Lan Qiren held up a hand, halting the words likely to spring forth in defence of Lan Wangji, “Let me finish. I do not say this to slander him. I say this because I am fully aware that humans, by their very nature, are not perfect. We are not infallible creatures. As I said, if you must find fault then my nephew is just as likely to blame as yourself.”

Shoulders slumping, a tear finally escaped to roll down his cheek. “But I just want to have a family with Lan Zhan.”

“And what makes you think carrying the child yourself is the only option for that? There are other paths you can explore. Adoption is always an admirable path to take, and, it would seem, is becoming something of a family tradition.”

“You would not think less of me?” Wei Wuxian asked, voice small.

Lan Qiren softened as much as his stiff posture would allow, reaching out to cup Wei Wuxian’s cheek, “a-Xian, how could I think less of you for doing the very same thing that I have done when I took in my nephews? How could I think less of you when Xichen has done the same with his mates and given me a-Yi to dote upon?”

“But don’t the Lan need a blood heir?”

“Blood does not matter. We are not the Jin, nor are we the Jiang. A good heart, a just soul. These things matter. Family matters. By blood or by bond, family is the most important.”

A smile curved Wei Wuxian’s lips. Watery though it may be, it was still true.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

“Uncle? Wei Ying?”

The pair turned to see a lightly frowning Lan Wangji standing in the doorway.

“Ah Wangji, you’re home, good.” Dropping his hand to give a reassuring squeeze to Wei Wuxian’s shoulder, he rose to his feet and straightened his clothes. “I shall return in a week’s time. I trust you shall both be here?”

“Of course, Uncle, but…”

“Just tend to your husband, Wangji, and I shall deal with the rest.”

-x-

They were honestly not quite sure what had happened, but a week later, as promised, Lan Qiren swept into their home ladened with forms and files and annotated paperwork.

The three sat at the dining room table, Lan Qiren on one side, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian on the other. A relatively thick folder was pushed towards them.

“Following our discussion I took it upon myself to make some enquires. This is Wen Yuan. He is three years old and an orphan. His parents were tragically killed in a car accident, following which he was placed in some less than satisfactory foster homes before his remaining family could be found and contacted. Unfortunately, due to varying circumstances, his family have been unable to offer the care he needs.”

Wei Wuxian reached out a trembling hand to open the file, his breath hitching at the photograph of an adorable little boy. “Lan Zhan?”

“Mn.” A strong arm curled around Wei Wuxian’s shoulders, holding him safe and secure.

“The child’s birth family would like to maintain contact and are accepting of the fact his name will change with the adoption. What matters to them is that the child is loved and well cared for.”

“How…why him?” Wei Wuxian asked, fingers still tracing the curve of a cheek, plump with baby fat.

“As I have already told you, to the Lans, family matters. I believe, even at such a young age, this boy embodies those beliefs of the Lan. I believe he would thrive under your care, and I also believe that you would thrive within a large family.”

-x-

Three Years Later

Wei Wuxian could happily say that the party was going to be a rousing success. With a glass of Uncle Four’s latest batch in one hand, and a plate piled high with various foods made by his sister, his Lan Zhan, and the budding culinary skills of Wen Ning, Wei Wuxian couldn’t stop smiling even if he tried.

Taking a seat next to a gently smiling Lan Wangji, he turned his attention to the people gathered in their garden.

Nie Mingjue stood, shoulders slumped and chastised, as Wen Qing listed all the things he needed to do to care for his health. Clearly the instigators of the dressing down Nie Mingjue was receiving, Meng Yao and Nie Huaisang sat to one side, smug little smiles on their faces.

Lan Xichen and Wen Ning were sat beside a heavily pregnant Jiang Yanli, talking about this and that in gentle tones, while Jin Zixuan fluttered about tending to Jiang Yanli’s every need.

Granny Wen and Lan Qiren had taken over the comfortable garden chairs under the shade of an umbrella, swiping at their phones in that awkward way some technologically challenged older people had. But they were content, radiating pride as they told stories and showed off various photos of their grandchildren and family, and shared the odd image that the other didn’t already have.

Jiang Cheng was splayed out on the grass, Lan Yuan, Lan Jingyi, and the neighbour’s kid Ouyang Zizhen sat on his back cheering about defeating the great evil water ghoul. All the while little three-year-old Jin Ling sat giggling and happily whacking his uncle’s head with a foam sword.

This, this is what he’d wanted all those years ago, when he’d had a bin full of negative pregnancy tests and was so very close to just throwing Lan Qiren out of the house.

This was the family he’d always craved

What he’d always wanted.

Snuggled against Lan Wangji’s side, the scent of sandalwood under his nose, and the sounds of family filling his ears, Wei Wuxian could admit that sometimes, just sometimes, it paid to listen to your elders.

#mdzsbingo #The Untamed #Lan Qiren #Wei Wuxian #Lan Wangji #my writing #fanfiction writing #there are family feels #and I made LQR into a good parent because I didn't feel like making him a villian this time #especially when I could pair him with Granny Wen looking at pictures of their grandkids and bragging to each other

[libermachinae]

Fault Lines Under the Living Room

Part III: Watch - Chapter 9: Smog Layer Rolling In

Available on AO3 Chapter Summary: The trio compare notes. Chapter Word Count: 3578

---

Beyond the city, Vitrious was a patchwork of barren plateaus with deep crags of lush valleys between, dense vegetation knotting together until only those adapted for such environments would have any hope of navigating them. Drift set his shuttle down on the flat plain, well within sight of the parked Decepticon craft, and took a moment to vent before he rose from the pilot’s seat and made for the hatch. He checked the cell was secure, catching Grit’s optic as he passed; there was a glare, but no sharp remarks as Drift turned his back on them.

The soil was a hard-packed conglomeration of quartz, granite, and limestone that sparkled even under Vitrious’s perpetually overcast weather, but Drift’s gaze was up as he approached the too-familiar vessel. The hatch was open and Rodimus was sitting on the ramp, Ratchet standing at his left shoulder. They waved but put up their hands, stop, when he started coming closer.

“Sorry,” Rodimus said over comms.

“We don’t know how far the effects extend,” Ratchet explained.

Drift stopped where he was, stance wide and swords glinting.

“Do you really have the Enigma?” he asked.

“It’s not the kind of thing we could make up,” Ratchet said.

“Where did you find it?”

“Another Autobot left it on the Lost Light,” Rodimus said. “Arcee. Don’t know where she got it from, but she hid it on this shuttle and took off. We tried to follow her, but some things—I got us hit with a satellite.”

“A satellite,” Drift repeated.

Rodimus nodded.

Drift raised his two fists and bounced them together.

“Hit you.”

“We’re not going to get very far if that’s where your suspension of disbelief ends,” Ratchet said. “And anyway, we both played a part getting into that mess. I wasn’t the most communicative pilot.”

Rodimus shifted, looking down at his pedes, then grinned. Without making optic contact, Ratchet matched it.

“A lot of things were said, but that’s beside the point.” Rodimus waved his hand. “We lost control of the shuttle and by the time we got it back, Arcee was gone.”

“Why would she do that?” Drift asked. An object that dangerous needed to stay far away from Cybertronian hands, especially anyone aligned with the civil war factions. To abandon it like that was either negligence or malicious, and he found himself glancing at the sky, wondering whether someone else was on their way to retrieve it.

“Didn’t tell us,” Ratchet said. “Didn’t even tell us it was here. Had to find it ourselves.”

“Both of you?”

Ratchet and Rodimus glanced at each other.

“Who else?” Drift pressed.

“What?” Rodimus asked, both their gazes snapping back to him.

“Who else was with you? You can’t form a combiner with just two people.”

“That’s where it gets complicated,” Ratchet said. Unlike Rodimus, who had taken to glancing at the ground again, spoiler twitching to give the illusion his whole frame was in motion, Ratchet’s optics and posture were steady.

“It was just us,” Rodimus said. “I didn’t know what to do. Ratchet had just said he was—“ He froze, looked up at Ratchet, then went on. “He was leaving, and the glowy thing in the wall seemed like a good distraction from that.”

“We were both under immense stress,” Ratchet said, laying a hand on Rodimus’ spoiler. The twitching stopped. “Maybe the Enigma picked up on that. It decided we were a good enough match that it could link us together while it looked for someone else.”

“A holding pattern,” Drift said. The word came up automatically; in reality, his attention was being yanked between Rodimus’ slight smile, Ratchet’s hand, and the fact that the latter had apparently been in the process of deserting. That didn’t sound like the Ratchet he knew.

“Yeah, exactly, that’s what Cyclonus called it,” Rodimus said, oblivious to his internal struggle.

“You’ve heard of it?” Ratchet asked.

“Only briefly, and my sources weren’t that trustworthy.”

“Tell us what they said anyway,” Ratchet said, his hand moving into soothing strokes along Rodimus’ spoiler. Drift found himself looking at the ground. “We still know next to nothing about this thing, beyond that it’s a pain in the aft and poor judge of character.”

Drift shook out his hand and unsheathed his sword, twirling it in front of him in basic patterns. Better to be frank with his restlessness than let it distract him from the matter at hand.

“It’s rare, and terrible,” he said. “Bonded sparks without a physical connection to stabilize them try to overpower each other.” He thrust his sword forward, grimacing at the blunt movement. “The case studies all described once-friends trying to rip each other apart, just for a few minutes’ peace.” There must have been instances of final components being introduced, but he hadn’t bothered to log them to his memory. He’d been looking for horror stories to break up the boredom. Shockwave’s archives had been an indulgence.

“Hasn’t been easy,” Ratchet said, “but it was never that bad.” Even from this far away, his gaze was like a physical touch on Drift’s plating. He tried to ignore it as he moved into his next step in the pattern.

“We did organize an entire shuttle to keep me from frying Ratchet’s circuits,” Rodimus said. “Oh, and meditated!” His spoiler flicked, briefly dislodging Ratchet’s hand before he put it back. Their disturbed looks switched to matching grins again, and Drift now recognized it for what it was: a private joke.

Drift paused to regard them, their easy postures combined with the gentle way they moved around each other. Nothing like what he had filled his head with all those years ago.

“Why did you come?” he asked, sheathing his sword. “You said you need my help.”

Rodimus stood up, creating a gap between them.

“Like Ratchet said, it hasn’t been as bad as what you heard,” he said, “but we can’t live like this forever. Ratchet’s—”

He stopped, optics flashing, and Ratchet closed the distance again, pressing a hand to the back of his neck.

“It’s been a challenge,” Ratchet said. “We can function, but neither of us can fulfill our responsibilities while we’re like this, especially if we’re at risk of pulling someone into it. We need some way to minimize the effects or, ideally, cut it off. Unfortunately, that falls outside my area of expertise.” He dropped his hand.

“But we were thinking: weird spark stuff, bonds between people. That’s kind of what you’re all about, right?” Rodimus stood, the corner of his lips quirked up in a hopeful grin.

Drift stared at it. His hand was frozen, still wrapped around the hilt of his sword.

“Cyclonus suggested Spectralist meditation practices might influences the effects of the Enigma,” Ratchet said with a resigned acceptance that, in another situation, Drift might have prodded at. Ratchet was handing him a free turn in their old game, only it wasn’t a game anymore and Drift found himself with a miserable hand.

“And you want me to…”

They looked at each other, more than a glance this time.

“Well, was he right?” Rodimus asked. “Is there anything you can do?”

Unlike most answers in Drift’s life, this one came with little inner turmoil.

“No. There isn’t.”

Spectralism was a war religion. A subset of Alchemists had felt their belief system had become too tied up in the politics of the war, especially after the Acuity had announced a passive alliance with the Autobots. The Alchemic apostates believed that, by focusing on the body, one could transcend the factional gulfs that divided their species, and named their new movement Spectralism, in reference to the standard spectrum of light emitted by their photonic cores. It was a modern religion designed around the issues of its time. Not ancient long-lost artifacts of questionable ethics.

Rodimus’ spoiler drooped and Ratchet’s optics dimmed. Rodimus straightened up a moment later, brave smile on, but the way Ratchet sunk into his own plating told Drift far more about their shared headspace.

“That’s okay!” Rodimus said. “We can figure something else out. Or not! Ratchet’s been warming up to me. Bet we could make it a few years at least before we—”

His words choked off and Drift had to look away, anger roiling beneath his plating. He hated that he couldn’t just feel sympathy for their situation; wrapped up in it was the knowledge that they had come, not for him, but for something he might provide. He had always been a tool for other mechanisms, from his days on the streets up through his rise in the Decepticons, and hoping for any different after he defected, after the war ended, after he joined Rodimus’ side kept demanding a steeper price.

He was still trying to figure out what he could say that Deadlock would not have when the plasma bolt caught him.

It hit his right shoulder from behind and sent him sprawling. He landed on the hard ground and gasped as pain, numbness, and the tingle of backup sensors raced up his armor in rapid succession. Calibration had not finished before he was trying to get up again.

“Drift!” Ratchet and Rodimus yelled.

He grunted and tried to see who shot him but had to roll away to dodge a second bullet aimed for his helm. He heard a second, quiet shuttle landing beside his own and realized his mistake.

The third shot went wide, expecting him to keep rolling in the same direction, and he took advantage of the lost second to leap to his feet and lunge at Grit’s crewmate, frozen at the edge of the hatch. His left sword came up to block another volley and then he was on the Decepticon, spinning and shoving him to the floor of the hatch with his gun arm pinned behind his back. There was nothing he could do to stop the remote-piloted shuttle, though, already taking off while the other two scrambled aboard. He shoved the Decepticon into the ground, then jumped over him. Someone was shouting, but he didn’t hear the words. If he could catch the underside of the ship—

He missed. The thrusters fired just as he leapt and sent him hurtling, skidding across the plateau. He tumbled end over end, plating banging against the solid ground, until at last he came to a stop on his back, staring at the open sky.

He struggled to sit up. The pain wasn’t bad, but vertigo had him misjudging the weight of his frame. He heard the shuttle flying away before he could see it, followed by gunshots. He started to roll over, a delayed evasive maneuver, before he realized that the blasterfire was coming from the ground. Rodimus and Ratchet had retrieved weapons and were shooting at the retreating shuttle while their own sat idle.

“Go!” Drift shouted. He hoped that was what he’d said. “Don’t let them break atmosphere.” He swayed onto his feet, looking around for the sword that had flown from his grasp.

A pulse flew by his helm, singing the air itself, and he turned around to see the Decepticon crumple to the ground, gun falling out of his hand.

“Not leaving you behind,” Rodimus said.

“Not like we’ve had great luck chasing people off world anyway,” Ratchet added.

Above their heads, the shuttle’s thrusters pulsed as it prepared for the final push to break atmosphere. Already it was receding from view, the planet’s smog layer rolling in to cover its retreat, and Drift knew it would be off his own ship’s sensor range long before he got it airborne. He tried to gauge how far a ship like that could travel before it needed to stop for fuel.

“You okay, Drift?” Rodimus asked.

Drift shut off his comms.

He picked up his sword on his way back to the shuttle. The Decepticon was lying on the ground, clutching his hip; warm energon seeped from between his fingers. Drift doubted he would die from the wound, but the bleeding was enough to make anyone panic, which was exactly what he needed right now. He pointed his blunted weapon at the Decepticon’s throat, allowing the curve of the blade to cut a hair-thin line in the plating housing his central energon line.

“What’s your name?” he asked. “How important are you to Grit?” Voice trembling slightly; good. Most Cybertronians knew the difference between shivers of fear and barely-concealed anger.

“Spur,” the Decepticon squeaked, trying to back away from the sword while keeping both hands on his hip. Drift noted the dent in his helm where Rodimus had shot him earlier. “We were stationed on the same moon. We’re business partners.”

“Are they coming back for you?”

“Yes!” Spur nodded his head, optics bright and wide. “They’re coming back with reinforcements, and they’re going to be mad if something happens to me.”

Drift would have groaned, had he the energy. Even if Spur was lying (most likely) the possibility of Grit reaching out to other rogues put Vitrious in a much riskier situation than it had been in before. Suddenly, it was no longer a matter of stopping a single slave trade operation: now there was information on the line, harder to predict and much more complicated to contain. Once he had the immediate threats neutralized, he was going to have to determine whether the Galactic Council should be tipped off to the vulnerability of this sector, a question of whether safety from Decepticons was worth the Council’s brand of planetary defense.

That was a problem for the future, though, one he was able to brush aside as he sheathed his sword and leaned down, hoisting Spur with his good arm while he used his bad one for balance.

“What? Hey, wh—”

“You know where they’re going,” Drift said. “Give me the coordinates.”

“N-no! What would I—”

“You want to get back together with your crew, right?” Drift asked, dropping Spur back into the ruined cell. “Give me the coordinates and I’ll make sure you’re still online when we drop you off.” It was a bluff, of course, but Drift had always had a talent for making bots think the worst of him.

He received the packet over a broadband comm frequency. After scanning it for viruses, he diverted it to the ship’s navigation system, then popped open one of the panels in the wall and retrieved a pile of stained rags. He crouched beside Spur and dropped the rags so he could catch one of the Con’s desperate hands and pry it away from his wound.

“Wait—”

“Relax,” he commanded, deftly retrieving his cuffs so he could clip one end around Spur’s wrist and the other to the lower frame of the cell where it extended slightly from the floor. It would make for a less comfortable trip, but that was what he got for breaking Drift’s things: Grit had shorted the locking mechanism and brute forced the failsafe. It would be a time-consuming fix, both whatever patch job he could throw together and the eventual repair stop he would have to make at a legitimate mechanic.

Satisfied Spur was secure, he pulled away Spur’s other hand and started to mop up the spilled energon with one of the rags. Already, the flow had slowed, but he wanted to see the damage for himself before he trusted self-repair.

“Here,” he said, pushing the pile to Spur. “Pack the wound with that to slow the bleeding. I’ll take a closer look once we’re airborne.”

Spur stared at the rags like he had no idea what to do with them, which Drift doubted. One did not make it through a war like theirs without learning the tricks to keep a body from dying.

“Why?” he asked.

Drift received a ping from the navicomp and waved off Spur’s question, retreating to the pilot’s console to confirm the flight path. As he had suspected, the destination was not far. Even doubling the computer’s estimated travel time, which had become necessary since the last time he’d wormed his was into the engine, it would still barely be enough time to prepare for a conflict. He hit a button to raise the hatch and input the commands to prepare for takeoff. Faint voices were buzzing through the ship’s comm system, and he entertained the idea of shutting that off, too.

“Gonna get that?” Spur asked, optics angling to the speaker.

“Don’t know,” Drift said, playing with the volume control. The sound dipped so low he might have mistaken it for a piece of his thoughts, too indistinct to even be called nonsense.

“It’s your team, right?”

“No, not really.” He shut it off, the sound of the engine filling the space so immediately he didn’t have time to miss it.

“I would’ve killed you, if it hadn’t been for them.”

Drift glanced back. Spur had taken his suggestion and was packing the wound, and there was defiance in his posture now that he was not stooping to keep himself from bleeding out.

“No, you wouldn’t have,” Drift said. “You were aiming for my helm, right? The finials make me look taller than I really am. Your shot would have missed my cranial casing by less than an inch. A blow like that would knock me down, make it look like you had hit, but I would have received more damage from the fall itself than the gunshot. Provided I landed with my palm down, I would have retaliated before you got your finger back around the trigger.” He turned back to the viewshield. Ratchet and Rodimus had disappeared, the Decepticraft’s hatch was shut, and the engines were coming online.

Spur huffed.

“Autobots are weird.”

“I’m not an Autobot.”

“Nah, but they are.” There was a clink of metal, as though Spur had tried to gesture with his bound hand. “Never seen them give a scrap about a bot like you.”

A notification came up: shuttle primed and ready.

“Listen,” Spur said. “You’ve clearly got some sort of history. I don’t care what. But in my experience, there’s no bigger nuisance in the universe than an Autobot who decides to care about something, especially if it happens to be none of his business and all of yours. So, in the interest of not getting shot again, can you at least make sure you have those two under control?”

Drift leaned his head back to look at the ceiling. He wasn’t an Autobot. Not anymore, Rodimus had seen to that, and he’d never really wanted to be one, anyway. Did he care about things in a fundamentally different way from how Ratchet and Rodimus did? Had the divides in their species been driven down that far? Or had they been the reason for the war in the first place? He didn’t have an answer for that. But maybe Spur had a point. Without looking, he turned the comms back on.

“—on’t go yet, just listen, we—”

“What.”

“Drift!” Rodimus said.

“What’s your fuel pump pressure?” Ratchet asked. “Feel anything loose or out of alignment?”

Drift shook his head. There was a twinge in his shoulder and the usual weight of his body, but those were manageable.

“I’m fine,” he said. “Grit’s collecting reinforcements. I’m going to intercept. You two should head for the nearest Council-aligned planet and wait there; if you hear even a rumor that Cybertronians have started moving in, let the local enforcement division know.” They would alert the Galactic Council security forces, and then Vitrious would be out of their hands.

“We’re coming with you,” Rodimus said, though the tone was all wrong. He sounded like Ratchet.

“No.” Commands had never suited Drift’s voice; even now, it came out sounding like a demand. “I can’t help you, and I sure as slag can’t protect you. What happens if the Decepticons find you? Or worse, get onto the ship and find the—” he glanced back at Spur, “—the you-know-what? Then it’s not just Vitrious: everyone’s problems get so much worse.” His fingers were drumming the console, an anxious non-beat. “I’m sorry that you wasted so much time coming out here and that you’re having to live through this. Really, I am. But I need you to let me do this.” Once Grit was taken care of, he would regroup with them and do what he could to help their situation, what little it was. But his list of debts was long and this one came first.

“We don’t need your help or your protection,” Ratchet said. “Believe it or not, we’re more than capable of taking care of ourselves, and we can recognize when someone else’s problems are more pressing than our own. We’re coming to help you, Drift.”

His hands wrapped around the yoke.

“I’m not going to—”

“We’ve still got a tracker on that shuttle,” Ratchet went on. “So, you can either ping us the coordinates now and let us strategize on the way there, or you can wait for us to catch up in the middle of—of whatever this is. Your call.”

Drift’s engine growled. He heard a hiccup from behind and turned his glare on Spur, who looked inappropriately unrepentant for a mech cuffed to the floor.

“I hope you know I hate you both.”

“Hey!” Rodimus yelped, but Ratchet laughed, and a moment later Rodimus’ nervous chuckle floated through as well.

#maccadam #transformers #dratchrod #drift #ratchet #rodimus #my writing #longfic #fault lines

[questionsonislam]

I want to be a Muslim but I live in a non-Muslim country.

I was born in a Christian country, but I have met Islam. Islam is a religion to which I feel closer, and I have always believed in Allah in my heart.

However, I suffered many psychological disorders: Introversion, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc.

In addition, I have pancreatitis and lung disease. I am getting medical attention. My parents passed away when I was 14. I have been living with my brothers since then and receiving financial support from my paternal aunt.

However, she hates Islam and Muslims. There are no Muslims or mosques where I live; so, I feel lost. I cannot move because of my health problems.

If I start to practice Islam, I feel worried that I will not get any help. For example, I cannot have halal food, clothing and other things. I have no money. How can I become a good Muslim in these circumstances? I need your help.

The purpose of the creation of man is to know and recognize the Creator. He can be known only through the prophets and books He sent. We can find the answers to questions like why Allah created us, what He wants from us, and what will happen to us in the end in those two sources.

First of all, we should know that Allah loves His servants. He has promised man eternal life and Paradise life, which will give him eternal happiness. He created man with this purpose and subjected him to a test in the world so that he would gain that eternal happy life. This test consists of His commandments and prohibitions. It necessitates obeying the prophet and following his path.

Its way is to practice Islam well. To practice Islam well means to be happy both in the hereafter and in the world.

The way to practice Islam well can be summarized as follows:

1. To obey Allah's commands and prohibitions.

To fulfill the deeds of worship that are fard and wajib and to avoid major sins. The way to do it is through worship.

Allah associates the purpose of creation with worshipping and states the following:

“I have only created Jinn and men, that they may serve Me.” (adh-Dhariyat, 56)

It can be said that man is programmed to worship. Allah says that following this program gives man a good life:

“Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure… " (an-Nahl, 97)

2. To say prayers.

Prayer (dua) enables man to be in contact with Allah all the time. Talking to Him, informing Him of of one’s problems and needs are possible only through prayer.

Allah states the following: “Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer).” (al-Mumin, 60)

Allah does not make His servant say a prayer that He will not answer. This belief is considered a remedy for all psychological problems of man.

3. To rely on Allah (tawakkul).

Tawakkul (to rely on Allah) means fulfilling your duties and trusting Allah. He who relies on and trusts in Allah will feel secure. As a matter of fact, the following is stated in a sacred hadith:

" I am just as My slave thinks I am. I will treat Him as he knows Me.” (see Bukhari, Tawhid 15, 35; Muslim, Dhikr 2)

Therefore, a Muslim who trusts in Allah is not afraid of troubles, difficulties and hardships.

A person who trusts in and relies on the divine promise “Sustenance comes from Allah; He is the one that gives sustenance; He is the absolute Sustainer” mentioned in various verses of the Quran does not fear for his livelihood. Sustenance will come from where he never expects disguised as causes.

However, there is a rule of trust: The person puts his trust in Him after he has done his best and acted in accordance with causes. After using his partial free will, he surrenders to the universal will.

4. To look at the people above in worship and the people below in misfortunes.

One way of practicing Islam well is to look at the people that are superior to him in terms of taqwa in worship and the people below in misfortunes. For, man can definitely find many people who are in a worse situation than him; therefore, he should be thankful in any case.

The following hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) should be accepted as a principle in life:

“Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (Allah); thus, there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.” (Muslim, Zuhd, 64)

How should a Muslim living among non-Muslims act?

Since Islam has all the human values accepted by the civilized world, no one who lives Islam well is excluded; he is even appreciated by those around him.

He might not always say that he is a Muslim everywhere and he can worship secretly so as not to be harmed and in order to get rid of prejudices.

The best and most effective way of practicing Islam is to represent Islam with one’s words and behaviors, to live with one’s behaviors and to light a candle instead of fighting the darkness.

It is a known fact that prejudices against Islam are widespread today because Muslims do not practice true Islam properly.

#Allah #god #islam #quran #muslim #revert #convert #revert islam #convert islam #reverthelp #revert help #revert help team #help #islam help #converthelp #prayer #salah #muslimah #reminder #pray #dua #hijab #religion #mohammad #new muslim #new convert #new revert #how to convert to islam #convert to islam #welcome to islam

[eruffin68]

The Christian Soldier: Ready For Spiritual Warfare!!!

II Timothy 2:3 – 4 KJV

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Every day, whether you realize it or not, you are fighting a struggle. The devil wants your life in his hands. His aim is to kill, steal, and destroy everything in your life that is good and Godly. You, too, have a plan from God. Finally, it is so that you may have fellowship with Him and eternal life through His Son Jesus.

It's no secret that Christians are fighting a spiritual battle. With each passing day, the battle that we are fighting becomes more difficult. The enemy's onslaught and tactics appear to have no bounds. We are up against an adversary that has worked against all that is sacred and righteous from the beginning of time. He will stop at nothing to wreck our lives and prevent us from doing the work we've been asked to accomplish.

God and the devil, on the other hand, are at odds over you and your life, and you must choose a side. You are not permitted to sit on the barrier. Because this is primarily a spiritual conflict rather than a physical one. The battle isn't solely between people; it's also a battle of ideas, values, and beliefs. The battle is between the values of God and the values of the devil. The battle is between the principles of God and the principles of the devil. The battle is between God's kingdom and the devil's troops. This is referred to as "spiritual warfare."

We can choose to ignore it, but the fact remains that on every hand, we are at odds.

Satan will use all means at his disposal to keep the church from being all that it can be for God's glory. He has no problem with churches that merely exist, but he despises those who strive to be fruitful for the Lord. If we want to win the battle, we need to be prepared.

If this church is to be ready, we, the people who make it up, must also be ready. We are the church, and we have a responsibility to do all possible to overcome. The attributes necessary to live a triumphant Christian life and beat the adversary are revealed in the verses we've just read. We need to be equipped and have the qualities and discipline of a soldier of Christ in this spiritual combat. Let us take a moment to evaluate what is required of us if we are to live a successful life: The Christian Soldier At War and Ready to Fight

The efforts of a Christian to live a faithful life are described in numerous ways in the New Testament:

1. Both as a walk and as a race

2. However, the term "warfare" is used the most frequently.

B. Ephesians 6:10-20 is one of the most important scriptures on spiritual warfare.

The apostle to the Gentiles referred to himself and his coworkers as soldiers on several occasions. He referred to the Christian life as a battle. Somehow, this strong soul-winner compared himself to a soldier, and the church to an army of soldiers, journeying, battling, suffering, enduring, and conquering. This noble preacher saw his ministry as more than just maneuvering and drawing rations; it was a war that required him to give everything in order to win. "Thou therefore suffer hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," Paul wrote to Timothy, whom he referred to as "my son" and whom he adored.

So, there are some characteristics of the “good soldier of Jesus Christ!”

First, The Christian Soldier's Allegiance Must Be Demonstrated.

James 4:7 reads, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” In this verse, two commands are given: submit and resist. These are actually commandments that the Lord expects His followers to obey. This is a list of military terminology that every Christian soldier should be familiar with and follow. We have the privilege of serving the Captain of the Lord's host, and we have a responsibility to obey His commands and live in accordance with His will. As good soldiers we are enlisted to resist the will of the devil and to walk in the will of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We must be dedicated and faithful soldiers to the kingdom of God and to His cause.

Submit is a word that refers to a position. “We must arrange ourselves under the authority of the Lord Himself,” it says. Without good leadership, no effective campaign has ever been documented in history. The armies that won battles had strong leaders in charge and obedient soldiers who carried out their orders. We must subject ourselves to the Lord's authority if we are to be victorious in this spiritual battle.

Secondly, We Must Be Tenacious and Durable!

How many times have we heard the question of how we should deal with Satan's attack? How will we be able to fend off his advances and deception? Resist him! is the answer to this frequently asked question. “Stand against him, oppose him in every situation,” this indicates. In any sector, there is no place for compromise. We can't give in to anything the devil puts in front of us.

We are to endure hardness. We should not allow ourselves to become easily discouraged if we are to endure hardness. It means we're ready for battle at any time of day, whether it's early in the morning or late at night. It means that we should not be intimidated by the enemy's threats. It indicates we will not give up because of the casualties all around us. A good soldier never considers resigning!

A Christian soldier is charged to be “strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might,” Ephesians 6:10 KJV. As Christian soldiers, we must have force, might, and strength. But keep in mind that this isn't fleshly strength; it's strength that comes from the Lord. Those who are conceited enough to assume nothing will never happen to them are great targets for Satan’s wrath. They are venerable because of their self-confidence. The truth is that we can't stand up to Satan and defeat him from within. He delivers things that are pleasant to the senses. If we want to be victorious, we must have God's power operating in us. One of the best ways to operate in God’s power and anointing is Romans 12:2 states, “and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” To be durable and strong in the Lord we must let ourselves be transformed by the Lord and renewed in our way of thinking to God’s way.

Thirdly, Good Soldiers Are To Be Deliberate In Their Actions!!!!

Paul said, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life.” All the things that happen in life do not distract a good soldier. His primary goal is to accurately portray the Lord Jesus in the battle and to ensure that He triumphs. Distractions may result in getting struck by the wicked one's fire dart. Distractions may make us vulnerable to spiritual assassination. Distractions may cause us to turn away from the truth, making us exposed to satanic attacks.

James 4:8 states, “draw nigh to God, and he will draw to you.” What a promise we discover for the cross-bearer. If we just get close to God, He will get close to us! Only the first step is required of us. Take the first step by seeking the Lord, and he will faithfully draw near to us. Isn't that a wonderful thought? All we have to do is take a step of faith toward the Lord, and we can be assured that He will always work in our favor. Be deliberate in your action to seek the Lord and stand on the right side of the Kingdom of God. I went through a period in which it seemed as if my life was dry spiritually. It was all because I did not seek the Lord deliberately. I did not set aside any time dedicated to daily prayers. Prayer can be powerful in regards to drawing us closer to God and helping to fight spiritual wickedness. There are powerful examples of prayer throughout the scriptures that can help you on your journey to draw nigh to the Lord. We must cleanse our hands and purify our hearts

Lastly, We Must Show Love

My pastor always says the Christian soldier is to show love. She would then follow it with the statement, “love is what it does!” Love is an action word. My mother always said, “give them their flowers why they live!” So, it is our action. How we live displays that we are Christian soldiers ready to wage war on the devil. It is through this Agape type love or the love of God that we can conduct spiritual warfare and fight wickedness.

We need to reach a point in our spiritual lives where we are bothered by what we see in the world. When we consider the state of the world, our hearts should be heavy. The fact that those around us are lost and on their path to an eternal torment should concern us. It should trouble us that our wonderful Lord is now unwelcome in many parts of the world. A decent cross soldier will be burdened by the requirements of this life. He will not be oblivious to other people's needs. He will not be content to live his life without a desire to reach out to people for Christ.

We are in the midst of a major battle for God's kingdom. We are His mercenaries. We're fighting for His cause and fighting His wars, and we must persevere until the finish. It is a soldier's life to never surrender and to never experience defeat. Addressing his troops, Garibaldi said, "I don't have any joy, quarters, or provisions to offer. Hunger, thirst, forced marches, warfare, and death are all on the table." Soldiers of the cross should be no less brave or willing to suffer and sacrifice than soldiers battling for an earthly ruler. God's kingdom is advanced through sacrifice and the perseverance of His servants in the face of adversity. It is both our honor and our responsibility to give everything we have to further God's work on earth.

We must have and keep a positive attitude. If we want to win, we must have a right perspective. Being a Christian soldier means to fight wickedness on every hand. It is an action word just like the word love. My mother always said, “I got to make 100 because 99 ½ won’t do! We are full time soldiers because it is our way of life.

Here are some resources that can help you in your Christian Walk:

Great Study Bibles

Bibles for African Americans

Free Spiritual Warfare E-Books

Spiritual Warfare

The Christian Soldier

#Spiritual Warfare #Christian Living #Spiritual Battles #Religious #Spiritual #Spiritual E-books #Bibles #study bibles #christian soldier