#and the first time we met she asked me if i was a model fr and she's told me I'm cute and I'm just like PLEASE SKDKDKS | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jeonfiles · 3 years

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once more to see you | kth 01

pairing: taehyung x reader ft. seokjin

genre: angst, fluff, unrequited love

synopsis: taehyung is the complete opposite of you, and you're so in love with him. he's not interested in you at all, but he's willing to pretend so he won't be known for breaking the sweetest girl in school's heart. he knows you'll end up hurt either way.

warnings: taehyung is an idiot, a lot of pining, y/n is annoyingly dependent on validation, y/n does a lot of silent prayers, y/n is a track star, childhood bsf seokjin (cute), mentions of deceased family member

music for this chap: she had the world , carry me out

a/n: taehyung will disappoint u in the beginning but hes cute i promise

"I get why you like him Y/N," Sohee swallowed the rest of her sandwich before finishing her sentence, "He's so hot. People say he's interested in you too, y'know?"

Sohee visibly tried to get food out from the back of her mouth using her tongue, and it made you chuckle at the sight. "I don't think he does." You sighed, resting your chin in your palm.

You were both situated at the table in the inner corner of the cafeteria, with a full view of who walks in the door, and sometimes you swore you could see Sohee drool when attractive guys walked in that exact door.

"Hello, of course, he does! Even his friend Jimin told Kang Seulgi from Class 1, who told Go Euntaek in class 3, who eventually told his girlfriend Baek Ho-rang who ran to me to tell me the great news." Sohee gasped for air after rambling, and you rolled your eyes,

"Stories change when that many links contribute." You scoffed, sitting back in your chair and reaching for your juice box on the table, taking a huge slurp, which you knew would annoy Sohee.

"You don't believe me? Guess we gotta ask a link closer to the source then." Sohee stood up from her chair, and you looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Park Jimin, get your ass over here will ya?" She nearly shouted across the cafeteria, and now all looks were pointed at you two, and you felt the urge to just slip down the cracks of the floor tiles and hide there forever grow stronger for each nanosecond.

You sunk further down on your tacky, orange chair, but you could still see Jimin's black locks sway a little over the crowd as he walked over to the table you were sitting at.

"What's up sugar?" Jimin smirked at Sohee, and Sohee didn't even budge, and you had no idea how she did it. He was stupidly attractive and could make any girl drop her pants with a comment like that.

"Jimin my dearest, a little birdie told me that Taehyung likes my sweet Y/N, could you confirm?" She batted her long lashes and smiled prettily at Jimin.

He looked to the left, sucked his teeth, and said, "I can't, I'm sorry." You realized you had grown a little too hopeful, and your heart sunk quite a bit when he spoke.

"Does he think I'm pretty at least?" You spoke up, eyes shining when you looked up towards the standing Jimin, the harsh lights in the cafeteria reflecting in them.

"He hasn't mentioned you much, to be quite honest." He shrugged, walking back to his table, where Taehyung and the rest of his friends sat.

Your heart thumped when he met your eyes, and you looked away in panic. The rest of lunch was just Sohee apologizing and you avoiding eye contact with any of the students at the nearby tables.

Jimin mentioned you and Sohee's name several times, he was a loud speaker, and you were so scared of what he was saying you could probably die right then and there.

Saved by the bell, you picked up your stuff and got ready to start running to your classroom, praying you wouldn't meet any of Taehyung's friends, and especially not Taehyung as you ran Usain Bolt style.

You looked down while running, not thinking twice about leaving your best friend behind, you suddenly fell to the ground with a thud. This was surely not one of your glory days.

When you looked up, you wanted to cry. It was none other than Kim Taehyung, and he didn't look pleased. You gathered your things and muttered "Sorry." under your breath probably about 10 times, and he just watched, disappointingly.

"You're a klutz. Why were you running?" He spoke, and your knees turned into jelly when you tried to stand up, you nearly fell and dropped all your stuff again, but he caught you by the arm, straightening you up like it was nothing.

"Uh... Uhm... Err..." you mumbled, and he rolled his eyes, and not in a joking manner. "Fuck that, why are you going around telling people I like you?"

Your breath hitched, and he stared at you coldly. "I didn't! Gosh, my friend Sohee told me someone had told her that you liked me, and- uh... We asked Jimin, and-" He put his hand over your mouth, making you shut up.

"I don't want you two to go around making up baseless rumors about me, it's incredibly annoying for me to go around correcting people who assume shit just because your little friend speaks louder than a bunch of hyenas at a tea party." Taehyung nearly spat, and you took a step back.

You noticed that people were listening in, their stares burning holes in your back. He was livid, and you didn't understand why, you just smiled, praying to god that this would end soon.

"I just thought you liked me-" You began, and he interrupted you, "You thought I was gonna like someone like you? Get over yourself and enter the real world."

The hallway went silent, your lips trembled as hot tears raced down your face, and like the track star you were, you fled the scene and passed the finish line into the bathrooms.

You stayed till the school day ended, not knowing what was unraveling outside the four walls of the stall.

Sohee 💜: 01:12 pm

Y/N, where are you? i heard what happened :( i hate taehyung im gonna chop his sausage off

Sohee 💜: 01:38 pm

taehyung is fighting w doyoung because doyoung decided to defend you this is hilarious

but fr where are you

Sohee 💜: 01:57 pm

doyoung gave taehyung a black eye damn

doyo is on the verge of tears when taehyung said you liked him and not doyo

taehyung cant not have feelings for you like there must be smth deeper going on

Sohee 💜: 03:39 pm

class just ended i'll wait out back

Sohee always knew when to leave you alone, so she did, partially. You usually shut off your phone when you're upset, but she still sends you texts to update you whenever you turn it back on.

This time, it was quite dramatic, and you rushed out of the icky stall and ran (again) to reach Sohee to get the full story, and as you expected, it was interesting.

"Basically, Doyoung punched Taehyung and Taehyung was a little too OP, so he failed to initiate a fight, so it just turned into Taehyung being an ass to Doyoung for defending you." She shrugged, adjusting the straps of her leather backpack as you walked home.

"Taehyung's rep is so tainted right now, I don't know how he's gonna fix this my dear Y/N, so I guess he got his karma. He's an idiot and I'm glad other people are starting to see."

You nodded yes, pushing out a fake chuckle, while silently you prayed that everything would soon be back to normal and that Taehyung would forgive you for the mess you caused.

Being in love with Taehyung for a year had taken a toll on you, and your best friend since freshman year had noticed too. You were different.

You used to be so independent and optimistic, but now you would strive for validation, and you had turned into one of the most insecure people Sohee had ever met.

Sohee tried to pull you away from him, but to her demise, it only got worse when you tried to meet other guys. She figured that the only way for you to disconnect from him was if you had your go with him, or if he treated you like a complete idiot.

You waved goodbye to Sohee as you entered your house, kicking off your shoes and throwing yourself down on the couch. You wanted to scream, but you saw your brother's and another guy's shoes in your hallway, so you kept it inside.

After having watched an episode of Seinfeld, you could hear the floorboards creak, and your gaze found its way to the hallway, where your brother, Yoongi stood, peeking out from his door.

"Ah, Y/N, you're the one who's home?" He smiled brightly, eyes turning into small crescents, which made you awe at the sight.

"Yuppers." You said and sat back again, pressing play to start the next episode. "Who's your guest?" And as you uttered your last word, another head peeked out from the door, and you couldn't help but feel the happiness brew inside you.

It was Kim Seokjin in all his glory, and this time, he looked even hotter. It had been about two years since you last saw him because he moved to Germany to study medicine.

Seokjin had been your neighbor since you were born, and you pretty much grew up with two older brothers who always took care of you.

No one dared to mess with you, because Seokjin and Yoongi always got to them first. That way, you grew up without a care in the world, protected from all evil.

You had no idea when you fell in love with him. It was somewhere during puberty, where your interest in Brad Pitt and Kim Soohyun from Dream High had grown stronger.

You remember Seokjin was scouted for modeling, acting, and even idol groups all through your childhood. He did a few ads, photoshoots, a popular teenage drama called Double Trouble, and even managed to get his own Wikipedia page.

There was no doubt that Seokjin was an attractive man, and in the two years he had been gone, his face fat was completely gone, and he had defined cheekbones, a slimmer and tighter figure, and you thought he couldn't be any more perfect.

"None other than God himself," Seokjin said smugly, opening his arms to greet you with a hug, and you threw your blanket you were covered into the side as you bolted into Seokjin's arms, legs wrapped around his waist.

He slowly put you down so your feet touched the parquet, and you felt a kind of euphoria as he smiled at you again, the same smile he had flashed you as long as you could remember.

Everything about Seokjin had matured and changed, but his smile remained the same. "What are you doing back?" You sniffled, holding back the happy tears that were forming in your eyes.

"Hey, don't get me wrong, I love Germany, but it's a little bland. I miss ahjumnas complimenting me on the subway and the bomb ass food here in SK." Seokjin grinned as he wiped a tear that fell down your face.

Yoongi was leaning against the door frame, smiling at the grand reunion. You knew he liked seeing you two together, and you had a small suspicion about him shipping you guys.

"Please don't ever leave again." You gripped onto his shirt, digging your face down in his chest, and he said, "I swear to god if you're wearing makeup right now-"

You laughed as you pushed him away, placing your hands below your chin and batting your eyelashes dramatically, "I'm all-natural."

"Naturally pretty." Seokjin leaned forward and whispered in your ear, and your heart did a little somersault.

Seokjin's always been a charmer.

You woke up in your room, pink sheets draped over your half-naked body as tons of messages poured in on your phone, vibrating so much it nearly fell off the edge of your nightstand.

You grab it while rubbing your eyes, and you're shocked to see the messages that had exploded on your lock screen.

Unknown: 08:39 am

Hey, it's Kim Taehyung.

Look, I'm sorry for the shit I said to you and I would love to make it up to you in some kind of way.

Maybe I could take you out?

I get it if you don't want to, but I heard you were interested in me so...

What kinda food do you like? Activities, hobbies?

I really wanna make this right :)

You: 08:43 am

oh hey! I'd love to, you kinda owe me one. if it's your treat, I suppose we could get some sushi and boba...

btw I don't like u like that

Contact made, saved as "taehyung <3" at 08:44 am

taehyung <3: 08:47 am

Okay. Meet me at Nori Table at 6 pm. Don't make me wait.

Your heart was palpitating, and when you pressed your phone up to your chest, you could feel your body heat up from your scalp to your toes.

Maybe Kim Taehyung had no interest in you right now, but he sure would after tonight. You were gonna make him love you, soon enough,

Running to the shower a few hours of Seinfeld later, you scrubbed with all your might with your newest strawberry scrub, did your makeup, curled your hair, and sat down on the couch, outfit draped over the armrest of the chair.

It was an hour till you were leaving, so for the time being you sat with hair rollers in your hair, dressed in pink sweats. Seokjin and Yoongi had been awake all night, you had heard them laugh and play Mario Cart all night, it reminded you of old times.

Old times where you went to bed crying because Yoongi and Seokjin's bedtime was later than yours at sleepovers. Thinking back, your parents made a pretty rational decision, but you resented them for it.

When Seokjin left for school in Germany, during your Sophomore year you cried again. You thought it was so unfair that you had to be two years younger, why couldn't you come with him?

You were painfully in love with him, and you had been probably since you were. A few months after he moved, your feelings faded. You were love-free, only to fall stupidly in love again with Taehyung just a year later.

You were forced to snap out of your train of thought because you heard the floorboards creak again. When you looked over at the dark hallway, you saw a tired, yet familiar face smile at you.

Seokjin looked quite disoriented, hair ruffled and eyes puffy, yet he looked like a Greek god. Sculpted to perfection, he smiled at you like he did yesterday and all the times before.

"Morning." He grunted out, his morning voice prominent. You chuckled when you looked at the time, feeling kind of bad for Seokjin who had slept away the majority of his day, which you knew he didn't like.

"It's 5 pm, cutie. Mom said you guys could order takeout, cause she's working late." You stood up, and Seokjin gave you a good look up and down, and then diverted his gaze to the lavender ruffle skirt and white long-sleeve blouse you had neatly hung over the armchair.

"What's the occasion?" He nodded over at the clothes and then your hair rollers and full-face makeup-covered face. He threw a few walnuts from the little bowl on the coffee table into his mouth.

"It's none of your business, but I have a date tonight," you said smugly, and a walnut flew out of Seokjin's mouth in shock.

"A date? Like a real one?" He frantically asked, and you nodded as you walked away with your outfit in hand.

You came back out minutes later, and Seokjin had to hold his mouth shut so it wouldn't drop to the floor. You had matured so well, a white blouse adorning your waist, and the lavender skirt hugged your curves nicely.

You had decorated your neck and ears with golden jewelry, and you had a pair of Air forces dangling from your left hand. You were beautiful, hair let free from the hair rollers, curls swaying as you did a twirl.

"It's alright, I guess." He pretended not to care, and your proud grin morphed into a frown pretty quickly, and he noticed.

He stood up and walked towards you, standing very close. His tall figure was hovering over you. Seokjin leaned forward towards your ear, not whispering this time,

"You're gorgeous." He pushed your curls behind your shoulder, adjusting your golden necklace as he returned to Yoongi's bedroom.

You were screwed.

The time on your phone showed 6:06 pm. You recall him saying ‘don’t be late’. What a hypocrite. It had started to pour down, so you were squeezed up against the brick wall of the restaurant so the ledge above you would shield you from the rain.

You were shaking from the cold, legs exposed because of your skirt. Sighing deeply, you reached down into your purse to text Taehyung, but when you looked up, you saw him running over to you.

He was holding a bouquet of pink delphinium and peonies. You’d always been interested in flowers, and this small gesture made you all fuzzy inside.

“I apologize for my late arrival m’lady. The flower shop was about to close down for the day, and I had to beg the cashier to let me in, promising to buy a huge bouquet if she did.” He smiled as he stood in front of you.

“No worries sir, I haven’t been waiting for long.” You chuckled, as you accepted the bouquet. His eyes scanned every inch of your body, and he said, “You’re shivering. Let’s go inside.”

This was a side of Taehyung you had barely seen before, caring and warm. This was also the side of him that initially made you fall for him.

The memories of him reading stories for children at the hospital was heartwarming. Whenever you went to visit your brother, who has now passed, you would see him read stories for all the unlucky kids.

Your brother, who was only 7 years old talked about Taehyung like a superhero, and it seemed as if Taehyung’s stories were the highlight of his days at the hospital.

Daejung wasn’t a kid you would pity. In his last months in the hospital he never once cried. You believed that Taehyung was a big part of the reason.

That’s why you fell in love with him. He hadn’t been a superhero in the form of saving lives, but he definitely made a whole lot of sick kids happier.

How could you ever repay him?

Taehyung rested a hand on your shoulder and lead you inside the door, and there stood a beautiful tall woman, black hair to her waist, almond-shaped eyes, and full lips.

She was beautiful. You looked up to see Taehyung’s reaction, and he wasn’t looking at her, he was looking at you. His eyes met yours, and you could’ve sword the whole world stopped.

“Excuse me?” An unfamiliar voice spoke up, and it kicked you right back into reality. It was the pretty woman speaking, an even prettier voice to match her.

“Do you have a reservation?” She questioned, smiling so genuinely from ear to ear. “Yes. It’s on Kim.” Taehyung spoke so confidently.

“Ah, for two. I’ll be your server tonight.” She waved for you to follow her, and before she turned around, you saw her name tag.

Bae Eunmi. A pretty name for a pretty person. Of course, she had to be pretty. Your confidence sunk even lower, and your insecurities grew.

“I’m not interested in her, by the way. I’ve talked to her before. She’s all beauty and no brains. Not for me.” Taehyung whispered into your ear, possibly to reassure you.

You sat down at the table and ordered a huge plate of different types of sushi, maki, nigiri, uramaki, and even sashimi.

This restaurant was fancy, nearly too fancy for your liking. It was huge and flashy, and it made you doubt your outfit choice completely.

The restaurant fell silent since there weren’t many guests here this early. The silence wasn’t awkward between you guys. It was just, too silent, and you decided to break it.

“Do you still write stories?” Taehyung’s face froze. How did you know about the stories he wrote? Had you been stalking him? Was this when everyone would find out how weak he truly is?

“How did you find out... About them?” He asked hesitantly, fidgeting with a small woven basket with bread placed on your table.

“When sun and moon met, moon felt bad. When the moon was alone at night, he cried, because he wanted to shine just like the sun.” You quote his story word by word, it was your favorite paragraph.

He looked at you with a confused look and his eyes told you that he wondered why you knew the story so well.

Before he could speak up, you said, “My brother's name was Daejung. He looked up to you and constantly told me about how he wanted to be like you when he grew up.” You placed your hands on top of his over the table.

Taehyung was speechless. He sat there, body completely frozen as he processed what you just said. The little boy he had mourned for many months was the same flesh and blood as you.

“Daejung told me how he wanted me to marry you because he thought no one else deserved me.” Letting go of his hands, he continued sitting completely still.

First, he felt disappointed in himself. Disappointed of the way he had treated you, how sad Daejung would be if he knew.

Second, he could see him in your traits. Your button nose matched his completely, and your eyes sparkled just the way his eyes did.

Third, he realized he had to take care of you. Fall in love with you, for Daejung. Taehyung had promised the little boy to take care of his friends and family when he has at his worst.

His expression completely changed. It softened, and his eyes looked at you like you were godsent. He believed you were too. It was fate.

join the “once more to see you” taglist

a/n: u guys know the angst isn't over lol u guys r never gonna see the light at the end of the tunnel ! this chapter was originally a bit longer but i have to test the waters and seeing how u guys like it !! pls reblog <3

#taehyung ff #taehyung angst #taehyung fluff #bts imagines #bts ff #bts taehyung #taehyung x you #taehyung x reader #bts v #seokjin angst #seokjin ff #seokjin smut #taehyung smut #fuckboy!taehyung #popular!taehyung #bts x reader #bts x oc #bts

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thewritetofreespeech · 3 years

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I LOVE ur blog SO MUCH!!!

Thanku fr Writing amazing hcs!! Keep it up!!!

If you don't mind...

(Kuroko no baske)

Thanku so much!! Lots of love xoxo

(reader insert may not be necessary!😉)

Awwww!! Thank you!! I’m glad you enjoy and appreciate them ( ´ω` ). Went a little off the rails with this as I was feeling inspired and did full scenarios. I hope that’s ok!

GOM Boys + Sending their kids to school (prompt)

Akashi

“Why don’t you want to go to school?” Akashi asked, holding his son’s hand, as they arrived at the building.

His son, looking positively adorable in his little blazer & tie, looked up at him with big, bright, golden eyes before looking back down. “I don’t want to go.” He repeated quietly. “It’s scary.”

“Scary? How is it scary?” Akashi asked. “You were fine when we did the tour the other day. It’s just like that.”

“But you won’t be with me Papa.” He replied in a soft voice. Worrying his bottom lip and eyes starting to get very wet. “I’ll be all alone.”

Akashi sighed as his son began to sniffle and knelt down in front of him. “Stop crying. Akashi men don’t cry over things like this.” He pulled out his handkerchief to clean the few tears that had fallen. His son giving a small hiccup as he stopped crying. Then Akashi smiled at him. “You won’t be alone. You’ll have a whole room of classmates to keep you company. I was like you when I was little. I was scared I wouldn’t make any friends, or that the other students would hate me. But that didn’t happen. I made friends. I got to spend time with people outside of the house. Uncle Kuroko and Mama were all people I met at school. Don’t you want to make friends like that?”

His son beamed and nodded once before looping his arms around Akashi’s neck to hug him. They then finish walking into school and dropping him off at class. He then walked back to his car alone. Sliding into the back seat when the driver opened the door for him.

“Shall we head to the office now sir?”

“In a minute,” Akashi replied. Leaning back in his seat to rest his head back against the rich leather. A hand over his eyes. “Circle the block a few times. I don’t want to leave them alone just yet.”

Aomine

“Hn? You don’t want to go to school now?” Aomine asked as son stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. Digging his heels in about not wanting to take one step further. “But you have to go to school.”

“No I don’t! And you can’t make me!” The mini-Aomine yelled back. His father sighed.

“Yes, you do. It’s the law and, I would know, I’m a cop.” He pointed his thumb to himself, wearing his uniform, as this was supposed to be a quick drop off before he went in for his shift. “Do you want me to arrest you on your first day of school?”

“You wouldn’t do that!” The little boy replied. All bravado like his father, before his shoulders sank and his bottom lip stuck out. “I don’t want to go. School is boring. And what if the kids are mean to me. I’d rather stay home with Daddy….”

Aomine sighed and rubbed the back of his head. He couldn’t really argue with the school being boring part. He hated school when he was a kid, but he had to go. “Listen, Daddy can’t stay home with you today because he has to go to work. And you can’t come to work with me because, if you do, we’ll catch all the bad guys and then what will I do for work the next day.” The mini-Aomine snickered.

Aomine then leaned down to get eye level with his son. “I’m sure the kids will be nice. There’s bound to be one good egg in the bunch. Maybe you can even find someone to play basketball with.” His son’s eyes sparkled at that. “But, if any kids are mean to you, you tell me and I’ll come back and arrest them.” He held out his handcuffs to make a point. “Sound good?”

His son giggled again and told him, “deal!” before they both walk into the school for drop off. Thankfully, no one at the school was arrested that day. School was his son’s new favorite place. At least for now anyway.

Kise

“Are you sure they have to go now? Maybe we could keep them home for another year??”

“Ryo….” His significant other warned as they got their daughter up to the school, each holding one of her hands, for drop off.

“Don’t worry Daddy! I’ll be fine!” The little girl chirped. Practically skipping the whole way there she was so excited.

“Really? Are you sure princess? Because, if you want to start school tomorrow, Daddy would be totally fine with that.”

“Ryouta!”

“No, that’s ok Daddy.” She replied with a big grin. “I want to go and make new friends! I’m excited to show everyone my new dress you got me.” His princess did a little modeling twirl they had practiced, and Kise’s heart broke into a thousand pieces only to be reformed instantly again with love. “I’m gonna go inside now. See you after school!”

“Do you want Daddy to walk you to your classroom?!”

“No!” His daughter called back. Unaware she had just stomped on her father’s newly reformed heart.

“They grow up so fast….”

“Honestly Ryouta.” His s/o said, shaking their head, as they offered him a tissue. “It’s the kids that are usually crying on the first day. Not the parents.”

Kuroko

“Sweetheart….you have to go to school.” Kuroko tried to reason with his daughter, who was holding her backpack and her breath until Kuroko ‘gave up’.

Of course, she couldn’t hold it that long in the end. Her lungs were very small.

She let out a gasp of air, quickly inhaling new breath into her lungs as fast as she could fill them, but still pouted. “Why can’t you be my teacher Papa?!”

“Because,” Kuroko reasoned, as if they haven’t been over this a hundred times, “you need to have someone else be your teacher. It’s not fair to have Papa be your teacher.”

“But it’s not fair that other kids have Papa for their teacher!” She argued back. “I don’t want to go if I can’t see Papa and have to share him….”

Kuroko sighed before offering them a smile. “We’ll still be at the same school. So I’ll see you at lunch time or on the playground. Ms. Himora is really nice too. You’ll like being in her class. I’ve told her all about you and she’s excited to see your drawings.”

His daughter perked up at that. Art and drawing being one of her passions.

She agreed to go, but only on the condition that she wanted to see this other teacher’s art supplies. Ms. Himora of course showed them to her, and let her color the whole afternoon. Kuroko tried not to seem irritated that by the end of the day his little girl was calling her her favorite teacher.

Midorima

“Do you have your notebook?” Midorima asked as he walked his son to school. “Pens? Paper? Pencil?”

“Yes Dad…” His son replied sullenly, walking beside the taller green haired man as they come up to the school. When he saw the brick building, however, he tightened the hold on his hand.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“Dad I….I don’t want to go to school.” Midorima gave a surprised ‘hn?’ in response, but his son just looked down. Fidgeting with his glasses. “What if….what if the teacher is scary? What if the other kids don’t like me? What if no one wants to play with me?” The young boy began to spiral and sniffling, thinking about all the things that could go wrong.

His father sighed and knelt down in front of him. “What do we always say?”

“Man proposes, God disposes.”

“Right.” Midorima replied. Not seeming phased by how his life’s motto sound so much less intimidating coming from such a cute, small voice. “We have to do our best to make sure things work out. We can’t worry about what could go wrong. That’s God’s job. We focus on the now.” He pulled a key chain out of his pocket and handed it to his son. “Take today’s lucky item with you. It’ll keep you safe.”

“But Dad! What about you?!”

“I’ll be alright. You just make sure you get to class on time and have a good day.”

His son came home later that afternoon to tell him all about the amazing day he had at his new school. His teacher was nice. His classmates really liked him. They even served his favorite in the cafeteria!

Midorima was happy for his son, and choose not to tell him that he had had the day from hell without his lucky item. From that day forward they each got their own.

Murasakibara

“Eh…? You don’t want to go to school?” Murasakibara looked at his daughter as she shook her head. Scuffing her new shoes on the sidewalk. “How come? You have to give me a good reason to skip your first day.”

“I…I don’t want to go…” She replied softly. His little girl incredibly shy. “What if the other kids make fun of me?” Murasakibara hummed a little. He supposed that was a good reason.

For better or worse, his children had inherited his height. It wasn’t so bad for her older brothers. Being tall was an admirable attribute for boys. For girls though…..well….it just made his angel that much bigger of a target.

“If the kids make fun of you, tell them your dad is even taller and he’ll stick them in a tree and leave them there if they make fun of you.” The little girl giggled, clearly picturing the image, but still didn’t seem convinced to go. Murasakibara knelt down so he wasn’t towering so much over her and patted her head. “School is important. You need to go so you can be smart like you Mom. Not a dumb dumb like your Dad.” He smoothed out her hair from ruffling it. It had taken them a while to get it right, and he didn’t want to ruin it. “But, I’ll be here when you get out today and we’ll go get ice cream as a reward. Our secret.”

His daughter beamed at the promise of ice cream and nodded eagerly. She then went off to school without any complaints. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. You could get him to do anything for ice cream too.

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frmartinshomiliesandreflections · 3 years

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15th March >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on John 4:43-54 for Monday, Fourth Week of Lent: ‘The man believed what Jesus had said’.

Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

Gospel (Except USA)

John 4:43-54

Go home: your son will live

Jesus left Samaria for Galilee. He himself had declared that there is no respect for a prophet in his own country, but on his arrival the Galileans received him well, having seen all that he had done at Jerusalem during the festival which they too had attended.

He went again to Cana in Galilee, where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a court official there whose son was ill at Capernaum and, hearing that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judaea, he went and asked him to come and cure his son as he was at the point of death. Jesus said, ‘So you will not believe unless you see signs and portents!’ ‘Sir,’ answered the official ‘come down before my child dies.’ ‘Go home,’ said Jesus ‘your son will live.’ The man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way; and while he was still on the journey back his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive. He asked them when the boy had begun to recover. ‘The fever left him yesterday’ they said ‘at the seventh hour.’ The father realised that this was exactly the time when Jesus had said, ‘Your son will live’; and he and all his household believed.

This was the second sign given by Jesus, on his return from Judaea to Galilee.

Gospel (USA)

John 4:43-54

Go, your son will live.

At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast.

Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. Now this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea.

Reflections (11)

(i) Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

In the gospels Jesus is often portrayed as wary of a faith that is dependent on signs and wonders. He never responds to those who ask him for a sign from heaven before they will believe in him. Those who ask him for signs and wonders seem unaware of how Jesus himself is the great sign from God, in all he says and does. The wariness of Jesus before a signs based faith is reflected in today’s gospel reading when he says to the court official who came to Jesus to ask him to cure his seriously ill son, ‘So you will not believe unless you see signs and wonders’. However, the court official immediately demonstrated that he had a faith that was not based on signs and wonders. When Jesus said to him, ‘Go home, your son will live’, we are told that the court official believed what Jesus had said and started on his way. He believed the word of Jesus, without waiting to see if what Jesus promised would come to pass. Here was a faith that was rooted in the word of Jesus and was not dependent on seeing signs and wonders. The faith of this man represents the kind of faith we are all called to have. We have the word of Jesus in the gospels. We are asked to believe in Jesus on the basis of that word, the inspired account of what Jesus said and did. We listen to the word of the Lord and we respond in faith. We do not ask for a more spectacular sign as a precondition of our faith. The journey of faith will often take us to places that seem barren of any sign of the Lord’s presence. It took Jesus to the cross where he cried out, ‘My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?’ Yet, no matter where our faith journey takes us, the living word of the Lord will always be our faithful companion, and at every step of that journey we can say with Peter, ‘You have the words of eternal life’.

And/Or

(ii) Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

In the gospel reading Jesus addresses the royal official as a representative of the Galileans who will not believe unless they see signs and wonders. Jesus was not impressed by a faith that was based on the extraordinary or unusual. Instead he looked for a faith that was based on his word, a faith that took him at his word and responded to that word. This was the faith that the royal official went on to display. The gospel reading says, ‘the man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way’. Because he believed the word that Jesus spoke, his request to Jesus was heard, his son was cured. The gospel reading suggests that while our faith is not to be based on signs and wonders, yet if we entrust ourselves to the Lord’s word and live our lives according to his word then we will see signs and wonders. The Lord’s word will work powerfully in and through our lives. In the words of the first reading, this morning, the Lord will create new heavens and new earth through us. Those who entrust themselves to the word of the Lord will experience the Lord’s creative and life-giving power at work within them. We pray this morning that, like the royal official, we will go on our way in response to the Lord’s word.

And/Or

(iii) Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

There are two signs at Cana in John’s gospel. This morning’s gospel reading is the second and less well known of the two, the first being Jesus’ changing of water into wine at the wedding feast. In the first Cana scene, the mother of Jesus showed great trust in Jesus’ word, ‘Do whatever he tells you’, she told the servants. In this second Cana scene, the royal official also showed great trust in Jesus’ word. When Jesus said to him, ‘Go home, your son will leave’, the evangelist tells us, ‘the man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way’. He did what Jesus told him, he went home, trusting Jesus’ promise that his son would live. The royal official believed and trusted Jesus’ word. Earlier Jesus had said, ‘you people, you Galileans, will not believe unless you see signs and wonders’. Here was a Galilean who did not need to see signs and wonders before he believed. He believed on the basis of Jesus’ word of promise, and, having believed, he then saw signs and wonders, the sign and wonder of his son’s healing. We too are asked to have the kind of faith the Galilean official had, faith in the Lord’s word, the faith that takes the Lord at his word. This was the kind of faith the mother of Jesus called for at the wedding feast of Cana. If we take the Lord at his word, if we surrender to the Lord’s word of call and promise, we too, like the royal official, will come to see signs and wonders. Having taken the Lord at his word, we will see the Lord at work in a life-giving way, in our own lives and in the lives of others.

And/Or

(iv) Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

In the gospel reading this morning, Jesus initially addresses the royal official as typical of all those who will not believe unless they see signs and wonders. Yet, the royal official went on to believe without seeing signs or wonders. When Jesus said to him, ‘Your son will live’, the royal official took Jesus at his word; he believed without waiting to see whether or not his son would be healed. It was only while on his way home from Cana to Capernaum that he heard from his servants that his son had recovered. He set out on his journey home believing on the basis of Jesus’ word alone. We too are called to journey on the basis of Jesus’ word to us. Like the royal official we take the word of Jesus into ourselves, and in the strength of that word we keep setting out on our pilgrimage of faith. We may seldom, if ever, see signs and wonders. However, the Lord has given us something wonder-full in his word. His word is often a word of promise, as it was for the royal official. It can also be a word of comfort, a word of call, or a word of challenge. Whatever form it takes, in the expression of one of the psalms, the Lord’s word will always be a lamp for our feet and a light for our steps.

And/Or

(v) Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

Jesus was critical of those who would not believe unless he did signs and wonders in response to their bidding. In the course of the gospels several people come up to Jesus and demand a sign before they will believe in him. In this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus addresses an official at the court of Herod as one such person, ‘You will not believe unless you see signs and wonders’. However, it turned out that Jesus was wrong in this man’s regard. He believed without waiting for Jesus to perform the sign, the miracle of the healing of his son. When Jesus said to him, ‘Go home, your son will live’, he believed what Jesus said, and started on his way. He believed the word of Jesus, without needing to first see the cure that he so desperately wanted for his son. In many ways this court official is a model for all of us. Like him, we are all called to believe, without insisting on first seeing signs and wonders. We are to believe what Jesus says, and on the basis of that to keep setting out on our way. We are called to take Jesus at his word, as this man did, and to allow the Lord’s word to sustain us on our pilgrim way. If we allow ourselves to be shaped and guided by the Lord’s word, we too will discover new life in unexpected places, just like the royal official who, on setting out in response to the Lord’s word, discovered on arriving home that his son was well again.

And/Or

(vi) Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

Several people approach Jesus for help in the course of the gospels. In this morning’s gospel reading a court official approaches Jesus to come to his home and cure his seriously ill son. This official was probably someone who was attached to the court of Herod Antipas. His request of Jesus met with what seems like a refusal. However, he wasn’t put off; he persevered, ‘come down before my child dies’. In response to this perseverance, Jesus responds to his request. Jesus didn’t respond in the way the man wanted. He didn’t go home with him to cure his son; he simply said, ‘your son will live’. The man had to believe the word of Jesus and he did just that. He returned home on his own, with the promise of Jesus in his heart, and on the way he discovered that his prayer had been answered. When we approach the Lord in prayer, asking for his help, we too can feel that the Lord is not answering our prayer. He does not engage with us in the way we had hoped. When that happens, we must persevere in prayer, like the royal official in the gospel reading. Like him, we will discover that the Lord will answer our prayer, even if not in the way we expected. Like the royal official we are asked to take the Lord at his word and to travel with the Lord’s promise in our hearts.

And/Or

(vii) Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

All kinds of people approach Jesus in their need in the gospels. In this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus is approached by a royal official whose son was on the point of death. The royal official may have been part of the court of Herod Antipas who ruled Galilee during the time of Jesus. Such a person would not normally have approached Jesus but his desperate need brought him to Jesus. He joined the procession of broken humanity that wound its way towards Jesus. Regardless of our position in society, we are all one in our need before the Lord. The royal official’s son was on the point of death. A brush with death often opens us up to the Lord’s presence in a special way. Death brings home to us that we are not self-sufficient, that we are not in control, that we are dependant, and our ultimate dependence is on God. Whenever we pray we are recognizing our dependence on God and on his Son. Through his prayer of petition to Jesus, the royal official was recognizing his own dependence on Jesus as a source of life in the face of death. His prayer was an act of faith. The depth of the royal official’s faith was revealed when he went on to surrender and respond to the word of Jesus. When Jesus said, ‘Go home, your son will live’, he responded immediately. We too express our faith by coming before the Lord in our need and by surrendering and responding to his life-giving word.

And/Or

(viii) Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

Jesus’ words to the court official who came to Jesus seem a little harsh. This desperate father came to Jesus and pleaded with him to come and heal his son who was on the point of death. Jesus’ first words to him are, ‘You people will not believe unless you see signs and wonders’. It is often the way in the gospels that Jesus does not respond to people’s requests in the way that they hoped he would respond. When Mary and Martha told him that their brother Lazarus was seriously ill, he didn’t respond to their request straight away, but stayed where he was for another two days. When his mother told him about the plight of the married couple in Cana, Jesus initially said to her that his hour had not yet come. Perhaps the gospel is reminding us that Jesus is not just at our beck and call. His relationship with us is more complex than that. Yet, in all these gospel passages Jesus goes on to respond to the request, even if not in the way people had initially expected. He doesn’t simply ignore those who approach him. In this morning’s gospel reading, the court official is not put off by Jesus’ apparent refusal. He continues to plead with Jesus and, in response, Jesus speaks a wonderful word of promise to him, ‘Go home, your son will live’. It is said of the court official that he believed what Jesus said. He didn’t need signs and wonders to believe, as Jesus had suggested. He believed Jesus’ word without waiting to see whether it would come to pass. He emerges as a model believer, someone whose faith is not dependent on signs and wonders but is rooted in Jesus’ word. Jesus’ initial reluctant response led him to a deeper faith. That is sometimes the case on our own faith journey too. The darker times of faith, when the Lord seems unresponsive to us, can bring us to a faith that is more deeply grounded, more enduring.

And/Or

(ix) Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

We are only two weeks away now from Holy Week. Between now and Holy Week the Weekday gospel readings are taken from the gospel of John. In today’s gospel reading, the court official showed faith in coming to Jesus and asking him to cure his seriously ill son. Yet, rather than responding to the official’s request immediately, Jesus challenges his faith. Jesus suggests that the official’s faith is dependent on his seeing signs and wonders, in particular, the sign and wonder of his son being healed by Jesus. Yet, the official’s son turned out to be deeper than that kind of faith. Jesus did not go to the home of the official to cure his son. Instead, he simply said to him, ‘Go home, you son will live’. In response to what Jesus said, the gospel reading tells us that ‘the man believed what Jesus had said’. He believed on the basis of Jesus’ word, before he had seen any signs or wonders, before he knew whether or not his son would be healed on his return home. His faith in Jesus’ word was vindicated. Before he reached home, word came to him that his son had recovered. This royal official exemplifies the faith we all need to have, a faith that is based on the word of Jesus, on the promise of Jesus, a faith that is not dependant on signs and wonders. We won’t always see signs and wonders, but we always have the word of Jesus preserved for us in the gospels. The Lord’s word is enough for us. It is what we are asked to believe.

And/Or

(x) Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

We are familiar with the saying, ‘seeing is believing’. The disciple Thomas in John’s gospel refused to believe unless he saw the risen Lord. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus says to the court official from Capernaum, ‘So you will not believe unless you see signs and portents’. Yet, this court official turned out to be someone who did not need signs and portents to believe. He pleaded with Jesus to come to his home and cure his son. When Jesus said to him, ‘Go home, your son will live’, the man believed the word of Jesus, without waiting to see whether or not his son was healed. He believed without seeing. He believed on the basis on the word of Jesus alone. The faith of this royal official is representative of the faith of us all. We too believe without having seen. We have not seen with our eyes the signs and wonders that God worked through Jesus during Jesus’ public ministry. Unlike Thomas, we have not seen the risen Lord with our eyes. Like the court official in today’s gospel reading, we believe on the basis of Jesus’ word to us. Our faith is based on the Lord’s presence to us in his word. The Lord’s presence to us in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, is also foundational to our faith. Yet, without the Lord’s word to us, we would not be aware of his presence to us in the Sacraments and in other ways. Today, we give thanks for the great blessing of the Lord’s word. Like the court official who believed Jesus’ word and then started on his way, we are invited to allow the Lord’s word to guide and direct us on our way.

And/Or

(xi) Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

Today’s gospel reading puts before us the anguished prayer of a parent on behalf of his seriously ill child, ‘Come down before my child dies’. It is a prayer that would resonate with every parent who has known the anguish of a seriously ill child. The prayer of the father is not answered in the way he wanted it to be answered. Jesus did not go down with him to his home. Instead, Jesus instructed the father to go home on his own and promised him that his son will live. The father was being asked to trust the Lord’s promise to him. He set off home, without Jesus, but trusting in Jesus’ word of promise. His journey home was a journey of hopeful faith. In that sense, he represents us all. We are all called to journey in hopeful faith on the basis of Jesus’ word of promise, a word that promises life. Jesus promises that those who believe in him will pass from death to life. We will only experience the fullness of this promise beyond this earthly life. Yet, along the way, we can begin to experience the beginnings of the fulfilment of this promise, just as the father when he arrived home found that his son had recovered. The Lord who will bring new life out of our own personal death also works in a life-giving way in our lives during our earthly pilgrimage. That is why we are called to keep walking in hopeful faith, like the father in today’s gospel reading.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

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lallemxnt · 5 years

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the first time you saw yourself on tv : a : i remember i did a race for the mycosis et the journalist said « tonight you’ll be on the tv at 11pm » i had school the next day but i waited until 11pm to see it and he cut me off at editing m : mec !! so what’s crazy is that when there was the terrorist attack in paris there was this big manifestation and i got interview by BFM tv like « why are you here » and i said something that i found kinda lame but my roommate told me « no it was great it was rlly cool » and they also cut me off at the editing, so the first time i saw myself on tv was in skam a: you’re rlly good on tv m : same for you they shouldn’t have cut you off both laugh the first scene you played together : m: well it was- a : the poni scene m: oh yeah putain that right a : yeah m: it was the poni scene a : there was this mood really uh... you could feel everyone was together and it was ouf first kiss in front of the camera m: our first scene together was the first scene i filmed of my life a: really ? m: yeah a: he was amazing, david stopped and said « if it’s gonna be like that during the whole shooting it’s gonna be great, » he’s too modest the first advice you would give to someone who wants to be an actor ? m: work « like a pig » (french expression) a: yeah yeah, i would say knowing why you’re doing it because in the hard moments it’s what makes us stay, it’s why we wanna shoot, why we wanna support projects, giving life to characters and also the reality of this work, it can goes from everything to nothing, so yeah you have to work like « a pig » the first concert you’ve been to : a : star academy m : kyo a : og yeah, the luck !! m: yeah it was amazing but i was 11 a : it was the period of... what’s his name ? you know i listened to « le mur du son » m: oh yeah denzey * they both sing* your first reaction after getting the characters of eliot and lucas ? a: i was sick m : makes a joke about how his voice was a: and my agent lost his voice so he sent me a message with bottle of champaign and yeah i called my ex girlfriend and i was like « amazing it’s skam » and we broke up one week after m : wow putain its crazy ! i was in korea, basically its rlly funny because it’s the same story as axel, i was in seoul with my ex girlfriend and they called me so i was rlly happy and we broke up one week after a: laughs idk why im laughing m: skam breaks hearts a: right. don’t do skam the first thing you do when you have time for yourself ? a : ohhhh ! you don’t know what i did yesterday ? i watched for the first time harry potter m: ohhh putain a: it’s amazing m: the first one ? a: yes the first one m: the first one is so good a: why did they hide harry potter from me m: they didn’t mec a : it’s amazing, really watch harry potter m: yeah no you’re right a: yeah sorry, little tips i’m giving to y’all, it’s amazing harry potter m: i listen to music or i hang out with my friends because i don’t really have time to do it since one year oh and i also go and i take walks it’s cool the first time a fan recognized you in the street ? a: you it’s skam ? m: yes a: i did an ad for tabbouleh and two days after a girl stopped me in the street and she asked me « it’s you in the ad for tabbouleh ? » and for me i was brad pitt, i was too happy m: me it was in seoul it was for modeling, my agence there told me « you know here you’re famous » and i was like « really ?? » because it’s weird you know and people in korea are really into modeling so when i was in seoul during the evening, girls stopped me and they were like « can we take a pic for instagram? » a: nooo so cool m: yeah and since we’re going back there this year it’s gonna be ... a: ten times worse putain so you know where to go ? m: oh yeah a: great we’re gonna eat great things ! the first time you saw the rest of the skam fr cast ? m: happiness a: you think we’re gonna say « oh really i wouldn’t have taken two or three » no rlly it’s so coo, it’s like a holiday camp m: uh no a work camp haha a: no but it’s amazing and it’s by a producer who’s david hourregue and he’s amazing thanks dad m: thanks dad the first thing you can say about season 5 : a: really ? so... m: arthur becomes a cosmonaute a : did you heard about alexia ? m: no a: because she left to do a mission in the nasa m: and that’s how they met a; its in a package of chocolate m: and they found the gold ticket a : and boum m: in the space a : it’s high, every night we say « see you soon » a : kiss we love you

#axel auriant #maxence danet fauvel #maxencefvl #axel x maxence #maxence x axel #maxel #had missed this sm #skam france #skamfr #skam fr #skam france cast #skamfr cast

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intraosseous · 4 years

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for that ask meme, do all the prime numbers !

first of all aster i love u and second of all hey siri, what are the prime numbers 😂 kidding but seriously i’m so excited to do these. answers are Long (there’s 30 prime numbers within this range) and they’re all in order except for 113 which i want Advice on : )

113: does someone like you currently?

look dude i have no idea. let me tell you about them: the person could literally be a model, has distinct interests and an interesting career, is funny and brilliant and open with people, is a total NJB, like every old lady in the world loves them okay. now, we met in a jewish class, we share values, we text a decent amount, and:

we’ve talked about sex (like w each other), and they’ve what imo is openly pursued me - keeping up and starting new conversations even when it’s kind of dry or awkward, inviting me out, being open to physical contact, and mirroring my body language when we hang...

many signs are there imo, but they’re just so Out Of My League, like not even in a self-demeaning way but just Honestly. and i don’t know how to just let myself be desirable or whatever because i just genuinely can’t comprehend why they’d be in to me? i’m smart and pretty enough i guess but who wants to deal w a shy young trans fag who doesn’t know who they are and takes a million years to get close to people

i’m not saying i’m worthless, they’re just so sure of life and i don’t want to get hurt if they’re not actually looking for what i hope they are w me. plus if i fuck up, we still have to see each other in class at least once a week till may lmaoooo

anyway, on to your regularly scheduled asks!

2: do you ever get good morning texts from anyone?

mm indeed, both in the atypical form of “youre not gonna believe what i dreamed last night” from my best friend, and more recently, in the cutesy way from this person i’m talking to, although they’ve chilled out a little in the last week

3: if your s/o smoked pot, would you care?

if it wasn’t to like run away from their problems and like, everything in moderation, nah, it wouldn’t bother me terribly

5: what were you doing at 11PM last night?

falling asleep!! this week has very much been a late-night week (mostly for good reasons)

7: what would you do if you’d found out you’d been cheated on?

yikes. probably pull away for a hot second, talk to the cheater once i was more calm and try to figure out why, and then probably stop seeing them because that would take my trust and my interest in that person away so fast

11: you can only drink one liquid for the rest of your life - what is it?

WATER. my whimsical answer is lemonade, but water, holy shit. hydrate or diedrate, y’all

13: what time do you go to bed?

i try really hard to go to bed by 10 but since college started my bedtime is anywhere from 6PM-3AM with no consistency whatsoever and that’s on period

17. do you hate the person you fell the hardest for?

absolutely not

19. is there someone that makes you happy every time you see them?

YEAH so many people. both of my best friends, the person i’m talking to, my dog, the two girls in my intercultural communications class, my favourite coworker, this old lady named sally and this old man named mark from congregation emanu el, the list goes on 😂

23: were you happier four months ago than you are now?

oh HELL no, i am in a much better place now

29: do you have a best friend?

i have two! my roommate and i have known each other for six years and sometimes i wish we could be attracted to each other bc we work so well together as people and that would just make things easier on everyone yknow? and my other best friend, @perdixandpolybius , who i would kill a man for and who keeps me creative, and who gives the best freakin hugs, holy shit, i love u, she and i have recently discovered the joys of facetiming and i now have a billion lovingly-taken but still very ugly screenshots of the two of us jkggjlggjg

31: who was your last call/text message from?

call was from lynn (@ p and p ^), text was from That Person :p

37: do you have any good friends of the opposite sex?

i am non-binary so. gd bless. but anyway all of my really close friends are girls, but i have acquaintances of all genders, and several fellas from shul that i hang with as well

41: do you think age matters in relationships?

hoo boy. yes especially when you’re super young, and i hate huge age gaps between like teens/young twenty y/os and their partner is like late twenties plus. i just think it’s strange on the older one’s part and that it can’t lead to a totally healthy relationship because of the power imbalance. as you’re older i think it matters less but at the same time couples with more than five years between them either amaze or weird me out

43: how many people have you had real, strong feelings for since high school ended?

during high school, only one. after high school, none yet, but i’m really hoping the thing w the person i’m talking to now pans out

47: honestly, what’s on your mind now?

whether or not to take online classes so i can have more hours at work next semester, how to get down w the person i’m talking to, what the next steps would be for my transition, whether or not to cut my hair

53: what was the last thing you ate?

taco bell baybee

59: when was the last time you took a long drive?

probably when i went to visit my family in september (drive was almost four hours)

61: have i ever TPed someone’s house?

no but christ i want to lmao

67: do you curse around your parents?

hell no wtf!!! they’d kill my ass so hard and like cuss me out as they did lmao

71: have you ever been dumped?

solid yes and that shit hurted

73: have you ever casually made out with someone you werent seriously involved with?

nope! i haven’t had my first kiss yet but we trying to change that lol

79: what makes your heart flutter and a big cheesy smile come to your face?

the thought of falling in love w someone and spending the rest of my long gay jewish life w them

83: do you miss your last sweetie?

i miss talking with her but we’re working on it. above all she was a good friend and a really smart person

89: do you cook?

i can make food into different looking food through the use of ovens and spices and i will eat it. can i Cook though? absolutely not

97: are you a tease?

only out of the fear that people don’t actually want me so i one have to put out a little like that but i two don’t go the whole way because why on earth would they want -me- yknow

101: hugs or kisses?

hugs are fantastic but i want to be kissed so desperately you don’t even know

103: what is the first thing you notice abt the opposite sex?

gd bless. the first thing i notice about people is their height + physical size in comparison to mine , and then their hair, brows, and teeth

107: what physical traits do you look for in a potential love interest?

if this is asking what my type is, basically small dark and handsome lol

109: what was the last movie you saw?

the lighthouse ! w That Person ofc. 8/10 would recommend

#asks #long ass post alert lol #answered

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queenofcarrots · 6 years

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Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens (a meta)

This is a meta about Rey, Finn and Kylo Ren and their interactions in The Force Awakens. I don’t write much meta and this isn’t intended to be a work of scholarship, I just want to investigate the relationships that these three characters have with each other. One million thanks to @red-applesith and @thisgarbagepicker for talking through this with me and being so encouraging.

There are lots of great meta about Rey and Kylo Ren, particularly coming out of the Reylo fandom. There are also good meta about Finn, but several of those I’ve seen come from an anti-Kylo direction. There does seem to be a general preference in the fandom to keep the dynamics between those characters neatly split between "Finn and Rey" vs. "Rey and Kylo". I haven’t seen an extended meta that focused on these three characters equally, so that’s the space I want to fill with this meta. I’m interested in considering these characters together, not setting them up against one another.

Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren / Ben Solo have strong connections with each other as pairs and as a group of three, culminating in the showdown scene in the forest on Starkiller at the end of The Force Awakens. This scene and the one that immediately precedes it (the bridge scene, in which Kylo kills Han Solo), along with the kidnapping scene on Takodana, are the only scenes in either of the two sequel movies in which these three characters appear together on screen. But these scenes are only the culmination, so let’s start by looking at the scenes where these characters either appear together or refer to each other.

Rather than break the scenes down by character pairing or grouping (Kylo/Finn, Finn/Rey, Rey/Kylo, or Kylo/Finn/Rey) I’ll move through the film chronologically, marking each scene which includes a pairing as KF, FR, RK, or KFR. This way we can see how these relationships move through the movie, and in some cases how they affect transitions between scenes, or how groupings change within scenes. I’ll mark the scenes with minute marks, mostly in order to make sure to keep things in order, but also to make it easier for people to check on this if they want.

There’s not only the grouping, there’s also the running theme of Family: Kylo’s issues with his family, particularly his father, and the Skywalker legacy lightsaber, Rey’s mysterious background, and Finn’s utter lack of a known family. I think family is so important for these three, and this theme also has an impact on their relations with one another. So I want to bring this out in the meta as well.

The first several scenes we’ll look at are KF scenes, apart from one. Kylo and Finn are the first of these characters to meet, in the first extended scene of the film, and this meeting has serious implications for the film moving forward (arguably it’s the catalyst for the rest of the movie - nothing would have happened as it did if Kylo hadn’t let Finn go on Jakku). I think it’s relevant that the first scene takes place on Jakku, where we find out later that Rey is living only miles away from the current action. So although she isn’t physically present in these scenes, and we won’t even know she’s there until later in the film, her presence is arguably relevant to this scene. (Heck, one could argue that even this early scene is a KFR scene, because of that.)

Minutes after landing on Jakku (5:47), Finn is marked by the blood of his fellow stormtrooper, after which he has a bit of a breakdown. (I can’t help but think of a baptism by blood when I watch this scene.) As @secretreylostan pointed out to me in a recent ask, it’s only after this bloody handprint that Finn has his breakdown; up to this point he appears to be doing what all the other Stormtroopers are doing.

Kylo shows up immediately after.

He does these things in short order, each of which tells us something about him as a man or what he wants to do:

Demands the map to Luke Skywalker (his objective) (7:10)

Kills Lor San Tekka after being challenged about his Family (his sore spot) (7:30)

Freezes the blaster bolt (his strength in the Force) (7:35)

Orders Poe to be taken in for questioning (his objective, his ruthlessness) (8:19)

Orders all the villagers to be killed (his ruthlessness) (8:31)

Senses Finn disobeying a direct order, doesn’t do a dang thing about it (his compassion) (8:54)

He’s just been built up over two minutes as being absolutely strong, deadly, ruthless, and then his introduction ends with Finn. There’s no reason for him not to strike down Finn right then and there. But he doesn’t.

He does release the blaster bolt that he’d frozen earlier, which could be interpreted as a warning shot to Finn (and I’ve seen it interpreted that way in other meta). But it’s clearly not meant to touch Finn or hurt him physically.

At this point we interrupt our KF fest to meet Rey (10:43). Her entire introductory scene is Rey by herself, but we do get the theme of Family here too - that is, it is apparent she doesn’t have one. She works by herself, lives by herself, depends on scavenging for her food, and she counts the days by carving notches in the wall of her home. Hundreds and hundreds of them that we can see.

The next scene that I would call a KF scene is blink-and-you-miss-it (19:25): When Finn goes into the chamber to get Poe, he tells the stormtroopers guarding him, “Ren wants the prisoner.” The other stormtroopers let him take Poe away. Does this imply that Finn had worked directly with Kylo before? Or perhaps as suggested by @red-applesith (and as the novel confirms) it simply demonstrates that Kylo is indeed a high-ranking member of the FO, known by the stormtroopers, a person of enough importance that his name alone conveys authority. In any case, the guard doesn't question Finn's motives or request any kind of proof.

The next KF scene is when the FO discovers that Poe has escaped, and Kylo knows immediately that it was FN-2187 who helped him (22:24). He says, “The one from the village. FN-2187.” I think he’s being reminded of his act of compassion on Jakku, and of the consequences of such compassion. Note that he doesn’t indicate to Hux how or why he noticed FN-2187 on Jakku. Perhaps because he considers it a weakness. [Going out of order for a moment, on p. 237 of the TFA novel, Snoke takes Kylo to task over his compassion for Rey, berating him with: “It isn't her strength that is making you fail. It's your weakness.” - his weakness being the same compassion he showed to Finn at the very beginning of our story.]

The next scene I want to mention is technically about Finn only (and he’s not even in it), but it includes that theme of Family so I want to be sure to mention it, because it ties in with Rey’s earlier introduction (23:42) - perhaps this is an FR scene after all. This scene happens directly after Finn and Poe are shot down over Jakku, when Phasma and Hux are talking about FN-2187. We learn he was sent to reconditioning after Tuanul, and that he had no prior signs of non-conformity. We also see a picture of wee Finn in the lower left of this shot - our first indication of his childhood.

The next scene is a KF scene and begins with an interesting transition: From Finn looking down on Niima Outpost to Hux and Kylo talking about getting the droid (26:12). I think it’s interesting because it brings us into the scene with Finn on our minds - much as Finn is apparently on Kylo’s mind. At this point Kylo is still focused 100% on BB-8-and the map, but he also wants to talk about the capability of Hux’s soldiers. He doesn’t trust them now, and makes clear references to FN-2187 committing treason, although he doesn’t call him by name. In this scene Kylo is thinking of two things: getting the droid (and thus the map to Luke Skywalker), and the treachery of FN-2187. Regarding the theme of Family, it’s in this scene we learn that the stormtroopers under Hux’s command are “programmed from birth,” so we can make further assumptions about Finn’s childhood, and his lack of a family (similar to Rey).

Finally, our first FR scene, when Finn and Rey meet meet on Jakku (28:00). Once the FO come calling they escape from Jakku on... the Millennium Falcon, aka Kylo’s dad’s ship (31:42). Can we call this Family? Can we really stretch and call this scene KFR?

Finn and Rey have met, so now it’s time for Kylo to learn about Rey. I think this scene is particularly interesting because it begins with assumptions of what’s important up to this point: update on the droid, oh no there’s FN-2187 messing things up again. But then we have “The Girl” and things get really interesting. (I think of this as a KF scene that shifts to KFR).

After Rey and Finn escape from Jakku, poor Mitaka is sent to give the news to Kylo. He tells him three things:

The Droid escaped on a stolen Corellian YT Model freighter

FN-2187 may have helped

They were accompanied by A Girl

Kylo’s reaction to each piece of news is really interesting. Hearing about the escape on the freighter, he makes a joke (The droid… stole a freighter?) - although surely he is reminded of his father, even if he doesn’t believe this is his father’s ship? So I’m also tempted to tag this scene with Family.

Hearing about FN-2187 helping the droid escape sets Kylo off; he lights up his saber and destroys the console. He is angry - not only has this trooper escaped but he’s actively thwarting him in his quest to track down Luke Skywalker.

But hearing about The Girl changes his demeanor. He still seems angry, but it’s a focused anger rather than the violent anger of a moment before: Dragging Mitaka across the floor, holding him up by the neck: What Girl?

This is the beginning of the change in Kylo’s objective, set in his very first scene, from finding Luke Skywalker to finding The Girl.

In the very next scene of the film (37:45), Finn and Rey run straight into Han Solo - Kylo’s dad - pulling him into the story - pulling Kylo’s Family into the story. They help him escape, in the Falcon, along with BB-8 (don’t forget BB-8, he still has the map to Luke Skywalker!)

The next scene is with Kylo, Hux and Snoke on Starkiller (49:27). This scene does three important things: first, it reminds us that the objective is still to find Luke Skywalker. We can’t forget that this is still supposed to be Kylo’s main mission! Second, in this scene we discover that both Snoke and Kylo are aware of an awakening (perhaps having to do with Rey, making this a RK scene), but but also, third, Snoke informs Kylo that BB-8 is on the Millennium Falcon, along with Han Solo (and, we can presume that Kylo himself connects the dots at this point: The droid was with FN-2187 and a girl in a stolen freighter on Jakku, now it’s with Han Solo on the Falcon, ergo FN-2187 and a girl are with them now). One might argue this makes this a KRF scene, and also there’s that Family again, getting more and more wrapped up with everything else.

In the next scene (51:19) we have Rey, Finn, and Han. First, Rey helps Han stabilize the Falcon, then we have Rey and Finn learning for the first time about Luke’s wayward apprentice, although neither of them realize who exactly he is. (Note that the camera is solidly focused on Rey as Han says (53:02), “One boy, an apprentice, turned against him, destroyed it all”, and my Reylo heart sings a little song). The entirety of this scene brings Rey closer to Han (Family), and I label it KFR because it includes Finn and Rey, but Kylo is there in spirit.

The next stop for this group is arriving at Takodana (54:48), and meeting Maz.

There are important conversations between Han and Finn and Han and Rey in the scenes right after they land, and they serve to bring both of the younger characters closer to Kylo’s dad. I choose to tag all of these both with FR and with Family:

Han arms first Finn (55:00), then Rey (55:32)

Han knows Finn is lying about who he is (I’m talking specifically about his admonition: “Women always find out. Always.”) I have heard that Han recognized his boots as stormtrooper boots, but I have no reference for this.

Han offers Rey a job

They all go in and meet Maz (57:39), and then the very next scene is Kylo’s scene with Darth Vader’s mask (58:52). I think these two scenes are interesting contrasts, the first with Finn and Rey, along with Kylo’s dad (FR, Family), hoping Maz can help them; the second Kylo alone, begging for his grandfather (Family) to help him.

Takodana is where Finn and Rey finally separate: first Finn decides to run away to the Outer Rim, and then Rey is kidnapped by Kylo Ren. This first part of the Takodana story is FR with a dollop of Family.

Finn, who has at this point been on board with helping to get BB-8 back to the Resistance, picks back up on his plan to run away when he learns the FO is probably on its way, asking her to go with him (1:02;15); he also finally tells Rey the truth about his background, and we as an audience learn that he was - like all of the stormtroopers - taken from his family, and he never knew them.

As Finn leaves the building, Rey has the first hints of her Force vision, hearing her own voice as a child calling out from the basement (1:04:00). Recall that at this point although the FO is preparing Starkiller they are also planning to attack Takodana, so as Rey has her vision, Finn is preparing to leave and Kylo is preparing for his arrival.

The force vision is the first time we have RK scenes from Rey’s point of view. This is when Rey first sees Kylo Ren: in the rain (saving her?) (1:06:07), then in the forest (1:06:29). Both times he is masked.

At the moment Starkiller fires (which is visible from Takodana for reasons unexplained by science, but I’ll allow it) (1:09:47):

Kylo Ren is watching from the Finalizer. He does not appear to approve. (1:10:07)

Finn is packing to leave, but pauses to watch with the others. (1:10:19)

Rey is running through the forest, away from the lightsaber, but ends up being followed by BB-8. (1:11:06)

While Rey is running away, she has her first in-person experience with Kylo, RK, when she sees his ship from the forest (1:11:39). It’s after she sees his ship that she runs back to the castle, accompanied by BB-8.

Immediately after this, Maz gives the Skywalker lightsaber to Finn to give to Rey, effectively forcing them back together (1:12:09). She could have given it to Han, but she didn’t. He really can’t leave now; FR are back together again (with a Family connection to Kylo provided by the lightsaber)

While Finn and Han fight stormtroopers, Rey comes back to the castle with BB-8 (still concerned over that map to Luke Skywalker! Don't forget!) but is presented with stormtroopers - which she shoots (1:12:45). She’s just found out that Finn was a stormtrooper. Does she think about him at this time? If she does, it doesn’t stop her from shooting. Does this count as FR?

Kylo comes off the ship and heads to the fight, but when he’s told that the droid was seen with a Girl he immediately heads into the forest (1:13:06). Is it because of the mention of the droid, or the mention of the girl? I’m pretty sure it’s the girl, but either way, solid RK scene.

Finn takes the lightsaber as his weapon and fights with it for several minutes (beginning at 1:13:54). I’m going to count these scenes as KFR because at this point the Skywalker lightsaber is so caught up with Kylo, and Rey, and Kylo’s Family.

The next relevant set of scenes are Kylo and Rey meeting in the forest (beginning at 1:17:13). There has been so much written about these scenes so I’m not going to say much here, except that it’s so very clear that his objective for getting the droid (and thus the map) has been completely overtaken by his objective to (literally) get the girl. Up until this point it hasn’t been clear but his actions here make it absolutely so. Kylo uses the fact that Rey’s seen the map as an excuse to take her and leave. We know from previous scenes that Snoke doesn’t want the map in the hands of the Resistance, so even if he takes Rey he really should still take the droid! But he doesn’t, because he’s in awe. Our first extended, in-person RK scene.

Finn and Han are distraught watching Rey carried away by Kylo (1:18:45): KRF with a big helping of Family. This is the first time that Han has seen his son in our story. The circle of Rey, Finn, Kylo, and Kylo’s family is beginning to grow tighter.

Then we have more Family: Leia, Kylo’s mother, arrives with the Resistance (1:19:47). Poe brings Finn to Leia, and Finn has now met both of Kylo’s parents (1:22:24).

There is a brief scene where Han and Leia talk about their son (1:24:10), a good Family scene, which segues directly into the Interrogation scene.

As with the Takodana forest scene there’s been so much good Reylo meta written about the RK Interrogation scene (beginning 1:25:38), so I won’t dwell on it too much. For the purposes of this meta I will say that Kylo’s line “Murderers, traitors, and thieves” is clearly a reference to Finn (he’d referred to his treason in his earlier conversation with Hux), but also (per @thisgarbagepicker and @red-applesith) ‘thieves’ could be a reference to Han Solo and/or Maz (who had the lightsaber, perhaps stolen at some earlier point from Kylo), and ‘murderers’ could refer to Han Solo as well; in any case we have both KF and Family. I’m also interested in his unmasking (at 1:26:15) vs. Finn’s unmasking. Rey has only met an unmasked Finn; how might she have felt if she had met him masked? Is she thinking about Finn when Kylo takes his mask off and she first sees his all-too-human face?

Much of what Kylo says to Rey in this scene is projecting, but I want to note especially his line “so lonely, so afraid to leave.” (1:27:06) I’d like to think that this is not only him reading her mind and thinking about his own loneliness, but that it’s also a callback to his interaction with Finn on Jakku: KF. That was a man who was not afraid to leave, and who in fact left.

After digging around in Rey’s mind (including touching on his own father, Han Solo, although it’s not clear that Rey knows their connection - Family again) Kylo finally gets around to looking for the map (at 1:27:52), at which point Rey turns the tables on him because she’s a fucking badass, and he never gets the details of the map after all. He’s so far from where he started, his objectives are so thrown off, and it’s all because of that dang stormtrooper.

womp womp

Kylo immediately goes to Snoke (1:29:10), but he just wants to talk about The Girl (it’s an RK scene); it’s not until Hux comes in that they talk about the droid and the map (remember, his objective?). Hux wants to use Starkiller to destroy the Resistance, but Kylo asks for more time, and “guidance” to get the map from The Girl (it is unclear what kind of guidance he thinks Snoke may be able to provide). At this point Snoke seems more interested in destruction, but he does ask for The Girl to be brought to him.

RK scene: Kylo returns to the room to discover that Rey’s escaped, presumably on her own and using her Force powers, and has a tantrum (1:31:27).

Meanwhile Finn is reporting to the Resistance about Starkiller base, in a pretty solid FR scene (plus Family, since both of Kylo’s parents are present) (1:32:12). They figure out how to destroy Starkiller, but Finn is insistent that he must be there on the planet to disable the shields. I really love this scene because Finn is being quite devious. He wants to get to Starkiller to rescue Rey from Kylo (he admits this to Han later), and he uses his knowledge of the base as leverage to get them to send him there. Finn is joining with the Resistance in order to 1) take care of Rey; 2) escape (he still hasn’t forgotten his own objective, but he won’t leave until he knows Rey is safe).

As Rey attempts to make her way out of the base (beginning 1:35:04), both Finn (with Han and Chewie) and Kylo are searching for her, Finn having come with Han on the Millennium Falcon. After they land Finn finally admits that he’s only there for Rey, although he does help get the shields shut down. These are several scenes that fit together, KR, FR, Family.

Once the shields are down, Finn and Han first come up with a plan to get Rey, who they still think is being held captive, then find her wandering the ship (1:40:59). Note that Rey can’t tell Finn how she escaped: “How did you get away?” “I can’t explain it, and you wouldn’t believe it.” - she can’t tell him. This is between her and Kylo. A FR scene with K in the corner.

Then we get to the bridge scene (beginning 1:44:36), which is where the shit really hits the fan. It’s the first time since Takodana that we have Rey, Kylo, and Finn (KFR) together in the same physical location (although Finn and Rey are at a distance, according to the script for TFA they can see and hear what is happening on the bridge, and Kylo can see them).

Other metas have mentioned Kylo’s unwillingness to challenge Han, and the appearance that he’s actually trying to run away from him as he crosses the bridge. I want to think about this scene considering those two things, and everything in this meta up to this point, particularly Kylo’s interactions with Finn:

First was Kylo’s willingness to look the other way when when he sensed FN-2187′s disobedience on Jakku, which led directly to:

FN-2187 escaping from the FO, with their Resistance prisoner

FN-2187 saving the droid and somehow ending up with Han Solo on the Falcon (Family)

FN-2187 bringing Han Solo to Starkiller, where Kylo has basically just been forced to kill him

After killing Han, Kylo looks up to see Rey and Finn (1:50:13). The camera focuses a close-up on Finn. At this moment, Kylo Ren has just killed his father. We know from TLJ and from the script and the novel that 1) Kylo didn’t hate Han, and 2) he immediately feels that the killing has weakened him, not made him stronger. No wonder he’s so angry at Finn! Look at how much he’s lost from that one, single act of compassion.

Now we come to the Starkiller forest (beginning 1:51:00), which, again, there has been a whole lot of Reylo-focused meta written about. This scene moves from KFR to KF (after Rey is knocked out) then to RK (when Finn is knocked out) then finally to FR (when Kylo is knocked out). That seems really poetic when I write it out like that.

The opening conversation is very focused on Family. I’m not certain about Kylo’s opening “We’re not done yet,” (is he talking to Rey, referring to what happened during the interrogation, or to Finn, referring all the way back to their interaction on Jakku, or is he speaking more generally about what just happened?) but his next lines, “It’s just us now. Han Solo can’t save you,” seems to me to be both a threat to them, and a reminder to himself that he’s just killed his dad.

Kylo knocks Rey against the tree first, presumably to keep her out of the way while he dispatches Finn (KF). Finn takes the lightsaber (Family) and the fight proceeds. Kylo doesn’t kill him immediately, instead he prances around, taking his time. He wants to cause Finn pain - this is personal for him. He burns Finn’s shoulder just because he can. Once Finn actually gets a hit in Kylo knocks the lightsaber out of his hand, punches him around, and cuts up his back. Oddly enough he doesn’t spear him though or cut off a limb, which he could have done easily. Interesting, right? Is he dealing out compassion for Finn even now? (Or, as @thisgarbagepicker and @red-applesith suggest, it this Kylo being an arrogant twat, considering the murder of Finn a waste of time, considering that the planet is about to explode? A cat playing with a mouse, up until the mouse bites back? I kind of like this idea too.)

Next is all Rey and Kylo (RK). After she is able to call the Skywalker lightsaber (an example of Kylo being denied his own Family), he fights her very differently than he fought Finn. He isn’t trying to hurt her (in the novel he states "I could kill you right now. But there is another way."), and he even offers to be her teacher in the Force. Then she kicks his ass and takes Finn to safety (FR).

She does take a moment to look at him over her shoulder, Skywalker lightsaber in her hand (Family), as she follows Chewie and Finn onto the Falcon (FR, RK). (I find this an interesting parallel with the end of TLJ.)

But the movie’s not over!

The final relevant scenes are all FR and Family. First, Chewie, Finn and Rey arrive at the base (2:00:09), and Rey meets Kylo’s mom (Family) - another nice hug for Rey.

The last FR scene in the film is Rey saying goodbye to Finn in the hospital (2:02:32).

Leia (Kylo’s mom, remember) and Rey say goodbye, too (at about 2:03:10) - Family.

Then, finally, our last bit of Family, Rey (with the Skywalker lightsaber) meets Luke on Ahch-To (2:05:55).

Coming after the climax in the forest these small scenes are a bit of a letdown, but they set Rey on her way for her next journey, and push her deeper into Kylo's family/story - setting her up for her next chapter in The Force Awakens.

In conclusion, we can see that the characters of Rey, Finn and Kylo Ren are tied together in various groupings throughout The Force Awakens, particularly around Kylo's family, especially his father, Han Solo, his father's ship The Millennium Falcon, and the legacy Skywalker Lightsaber. Additionally, @thisgarbagepicker pointed out that throughout TFA, Finn, Rey, and Kylo are all given the chance to leave something destructive behind. Finn succeeds at Tuanul, leaving the First Order; Rey succeeds in leaving Jakku (although she’s forced into it, a bit, and it’s not until her conversation with Maz that we’re sure she’s not going to go back), and Kylo fails - and he’s still working towards it at the end of The Last Jedi.

I started extending this meta into The Last Jedi, but it became clear pretty quickly that the addition of the Force bond and the characters of Luke Skywalker and Rose Tico change things, especially around the concept of Family, so eventually I’ll do a second meta looking at the same themes in TLJ.

#rey #finn #kylo ren #han solo #meta

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romancatholicreflections · 6 years

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1st January >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflection on Luke 2:16-21 for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God: ‘She treasured all these things’. Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God Gospel (Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia & Canada) Luke 2:16-21 The shepherds hurried away to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; it was exactly as they had been told. When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception. Gospel (USA) Luke 2:16–21 They found Mary and Joseph and the infant. When the eight days were completed, he was named Jesus. The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Reflections (7) (i) Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God I am very fond of that blessing of Aaron that is to be found in the first reading. I often find myself praying it for someone who needs prayers. It is a lovely prayer of intercession. The last line of the prayer is ‘May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace’. It strikes me that this prayer has been fulfilled in a wonderful way through the birth of Jesus, Mary’s son. In and through this child, God was uncovering his face to us, and bringing us peace. When we look upon the face of Mary’s child, we are looking upon the face of God. This is why we can venerate Mary not only as the mother of Jesus but also as the mother of God. Mary was proclaimed Mother of God at the Council of Ephesus in modern day Turkey in the year 431 AD. The Council was expressing its conviction that Mary’s son was not only fully human but was also fully divine. In the frailty and vulnerability of this new-born child, God was uncovering his face. God was being revealed in a way that was profoundly new. Jesus was not only Mary’s son but God’s Son. In the words of Saint Paul in today’s second reading, ‘When the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman’. There was so much more to this new-born child than met the eye. The rich identity of this baby had been revealed to the shepherds by an angel as a ‘Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord’. According to the gospel reading, the shepherds repeated to Mary what the angel had said to them about her child. We are told that Mary treasured the words of the shepherds and pondered them in her heart. It was as if Mary was trying to come to terms with who her child really was. The feast of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, gives us all much to treasure and much to ponder in our hearts. God is uncovering his face to us through Jesus; God is drawing near to us through Jesus, the same Jesus who is now the risen Lord in our midst. We are invited to go on treasuring and pondering this good news, like Mary, and to continue glorifying and praising God for it, like the shepherds. And/Or (ii) Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God Because we have grown so accustomed to our yearly celebration of the feast of Christmas, it can happen that the events we celebrate at Christmas no longer surprise us. We can easily cease to be amazed at them. Today on the feast of Mary, Mother of God, which is the octave day of Christmas, we see Mary, in the gospel reading, marvelling at what has happened, treasuring the events of Christmas in her memory, and pondering them in her heart. The image of Mary put before us in this morning’s gospel reading is that of the contemplative woman who ponders the marvels the Almighty has done for her and for all people. She ponders in response to what the shepherds said to her. The shepherds had preached the gospel to her. They repeated to her what had been told to them by the angels, ‘Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord’. This is the good new of great joy, the gospel. It is this good news that she treasured and pondered over. The same gospel has been preached to us, and we are invited to treasure it, to ponder on it and to respond to it, as Mary did. Today is new year’s day, a day to make resolutions. What better new year’s resolution could we make today than that of adopting Mary’s stance before the gospel? Today’s feast invites us to share in Mary’s sense of awe and wonder before God’s merciful love, made known to us in Jesus, Mary’s son. As we look towards the new year, which begins today, we ask Mary to help us to treasure the gospel as she did, so that Jesus might come to others through us as he came to us through Mary. And/Or (iii) Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God Mary was declared to be Mother of God at the council of Ephesus towards the end of the fifth century. This was as much a declaration about Jesus as it was about Mary. It is because Jesus is both human and divine that Mary the mother of Jesus can be declared to be the Mother of God or in the language of the Council, the Theotokos, the God bearer. The title ‘Mother of God’ is one of Mary’s more exalted titles. Yet, at the heart of the gospel reading for this feast is the simple scene in Bethlehem of Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus lying in a manger, being visited by the shepherds who had been tending their flocks in the fields. Mary’s new born child is completely dependent on her and on Joseph for survival. Without their loving care this child would have had no future. Mary was first and foremost a mother and it was her motherly care and Joseph’s fatherly care which allowed Jesus to become the adult he became with the enormous consequences of that for all of us. As we celebrate the feast of Mary as Mother of God, the gospel reading puts the emphasis on Mary as mother. It also draws our attention to Mary as the contemplative, reflective woman. The gospel reading declares that she treasured all the things the shepherds said and pondered them in her heart. There was indeed much to ponder because her vulnerable new born child was the unique revelation of God to us; he was Emmanuel, God-with-us. The unique identity of her child meant that Mary’s own identity was special. She was mother of Emmanuel, mother of God, and there is much to ponder there, not only for Mary but for all of us. And/Or (iv) Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God Today is one of the great feasts of Mary and, of course, it coincides with New Year’s day. In more recent times we have come to appreciate Mary as the disciple of Jesus, who models for us what it is to be a faithful disciple. On today’s feast, however, we focus on Mary as the mother of Jesus. Before Mary became the disciple of Jesus, he learned from her. It was through Mary and Joseph that Jesus was initiated into the religious traditions of his people. Even more fundamentally still, it was from Mary that Jesus received his human life. She was the flesh and blood from which the human body of Jesus was formed. The Word became flesh through her. As Paul in our second reading states, Jesus was born of a woman, born of Mary. Jesus’ first dwelling was in Mary’s womb. Today is new year’s day. Mary’s life was instrumental in ushering in not only a new year but a new age. This is the age when, according to Paul in that second reading, God sent his Son, born of a woman… to enable us to be adopted as sons and daughters. Because of this new age that was ushered in by the son of Mary, the Son of God, we can face each new year with hope and confidence. As Paul says in that reading, we are the adopted sons and daughters of God; the Spirit of God’s Son has been poured into our hearts, crying ‘Abba, Father’; as adopted sons and daughters of God, we are heirs to eternal life. There is a great deal to treasure and to ponder here, just as in the gospel reading today Mary is described as treasuring the words of the shepherds and pondering them in her heart. Because we are sons and daughters of God, who can look to Jesus as our brother and to Mary his mother as our mother, the door of the new year is open to new graces. We can make new resolutions, knowing that following through on them is not down to us alone. We have been greatly graced, through Mary’s son, and the Lord’s grace and power is there to enable us to follow through on our resolutions. When Mary gave birth to Jesus, it was a new beginning for her, for Joseph, for Jesus and for all humanity. Today, the feast of Mary’s motherhood, New Year’s Day, is a good day for all of us to make our own new beginning in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. And/Or (v) Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God The gospel reading for today’s feast day is also the gospel reading for Christmas day. However, our focus today in the gospel reading is on Mary, the mother of Jesus. In one of the very early councils of the church, the council of Ephesus, Mary was proclaimed Mother of God because Jesus, her son, was understood to be God, God in human form, God with us, Emmanuel. The title ‘Mother of God’ is probably the most exalted title that Mary has been given by the church. Yet, in today’s gospel reading we are given an image of Mary as a young woman who has just given birth to her son, probably in a cave where animals were brought for shelter and feeding. The exalted is present in the simplest of settings. The shepherds who have come in from the fields have a story to tell, the story of the appearance of the angels who announced that this child was none other than a Saviour, Christ the Lord. The shepherds proclaim the gospel to Mary, Joseph and all who were present with them; they become the first evangelists. Everyone who heard this gospel, we are told, was astonished. However, Mary was not only astonished. Luke tells us that she treasured the words that the shepherds spoke and pondered them in her heart. She is reflective, even contemplative, before this extraordinary news, this gospel. The same gospel has been preached to all of us, and Mary models for us one of the ways of responding to the gospel. We too must treasure this good news and ponder it in our heart. There is an extraordinary mystery here that cannot be fully explained because it is inexhaustible. The Word became flesh; God became human; this young woman from Nazareth is the mother of God. In today’s second reading, Paul has his own way of expressing this mystery. God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law; God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba, Father’. Mary must have pondered on how greatly she had been graced by God. We have all been greatly graced through Mary’s son. Treasuring and pondering on how we have been graced allows this grace to touch us deeply so that we become channels of God’s grace, God’s favour, to each other. Having been so greatly blessed, we are to be a source of God’s blessing for others, as Aaron and his sons were a channel of God’s blessing for the people of Israel, according to this morning’s first reading. And/Or (vi) Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God Mary was declared to be Mother of God at the council of Ephesus towards the end of the fifth century. This was as much a declaration about Jesus as it was about Mary. It is because Jesus is both God as well as human that Mary the mother of Jesus can be declared to be the Mother of God or in the language of the Council, the Theotokos, the God bearer. The title ‘Mother of God’ is one of Mary’s most exalted titles. Yet, the gospel reading for this feast describes a very humble and simple scene. We are given a picture of Mary and Joseph and their child, lying in a manger, a feeding trough for animals. They are being visited by the shepherds of the fields, and these shepherds have a wonderful story to tell about a visitation by angels while they were watching over their sheep and who announced to them the birth of a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. The shepherds repeat this gospel that had been told to them; they become the first preachers of the gospel in Luke’s story of Jesus. It is said of Mary that she treasured all these things that the shepherds said to her and pondered them in her heart. She treasured the gospel and pondered it in her heart. She has much to ponder because the child to whom to whom she has given birth and to whom she is mother is a unique child, who has a unique relationship with God. This makes Mary’s motherhood somewhat unique. The shepherd’s proclamation of the gospel gave Mary much to ponder but it gives all of us much to ponder. The birth of Mary’s son had huge implications for us all. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading that because God sent his Son born of a woman and then sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, we have all been drawn into Jesus’ own special relationship with God. We are all sons of daughters of God, calling God ‘Abba’, Father, as Jesus did. This is our baptismal identity. There is a great deal for us to treasure and to ponder here on this New Year’s Day and during the coming year. In today’s gospel reading Mary shows us that prayerful pondering and treasuring is an important part of our response to the many ways that we have been graced by God’s sending of his Son. And/Or (vii) Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God We have been celebrating the feast of Christmas and our focus has been on the child Jesus. Today’s feast places the focus on the mother of the child, Mary. We celebrate Mary as the Mother of God because we believe that her child, Jesus, was God in human form. The title ‘Mother of God’ affirms something very important about Mary’s child. This was, indeed, a fully human child in every sense, with all the same needs and vulnerability as any child. Yet, this particular child revealed God to us in a way no other child before or since has done. In looking upon the face of this particular child, we are looking upon the face of God, the face of God’s mercy. There is a mystery here which is not possible to fully fathom with the use of human reason alone. There is a great deal to be reflected upon here and, ultimately, surrendered to. This morning’s gospel reading presents Mary as doing just that. In response to the story that the shepherds had to tell, we are told that Mary ‘treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart’. She treasured and pondered the announcement of the angels to the shepherds, ‘to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour who is Christ, the Lord’. ‘Saviour’, ‘Christ’, ‘Lord’ – these are very striking titles for her new-born child. There is indeed a great deal here to be treasured and pondered, not just for Mary but for all of us, because Mary’s child was born ‘to you’, to each one of us. Our faith, and the content of our faith, is ultimately a gift from God, but it is a gift to be treasured and pondered. We spend our lives treasuring and plumbing the depths of God’s gift of his Son to us and of God’s relationship with us through his Son, in the Spirit. Mary’s contemplative attitude before God’s mysterious gift is a model for us all. As we begin this new year today, we pray that during the coming twelve months we might grow in our appreciation of the way God ‘has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing’, in the words of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Fr. Martin Hogan, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin, D03 AO62, Ireland. Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Parish Website: www.stjohnsclontarf.ie Please join us via our webcam. Twitter: @SJtBClontarfRC. Facebook: St John the Baptist RC Parish, Clontarf. Tumblr: Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin.

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punkscowardschampions · 5 years

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Ali & Tommy

Ali: yo yo yo Ali: i'm back to civilization, using the term loosely there but Ali: what i miss Tommy: hey girl hey Tommy: oh you know several family feuds Tommy: standard Ali: oh the joys Ali: reckon i'm right on time for the next one Ali: soz I didn't have signal, what you want me to do lads Tommy: reckon you have a fair point Tommy: and solid excuse Tommy: if I had someone to do, my phone would be off too, like Ali: i've made the case for not spoiling the areas natural beauty with phone masts but appaz 'not the fucking point' Ali: no chance of getting away with that, city boy Ali: gutted x2 Ali: should be jelly though 'cos 😍 Tommy: Oh honey I am Tommy: Sickeningly so Tommy: much like your socials of late Ali: Haha piss off Ali: its the honeymoon phase Ali: and you can't act like you'd rather witness the death rattle of my last playing out like Tommy: Well yeah, never a more legit word spoken Tommy: Poor Marls Tommy: Bet she took to the heartbreak like a duck to water though Tommy: as for you and Carls, you've been in that phase for bloody ages Ali: I know, I'm evil Ali: not her first, or last, which says it all Ali: Not even Ali: anyway, gotta milk it, you'll see when you're being gross yourself Tommy: Not evil just scandalous Tommy: We've all had our heads turned by the straights Tommy: Can't pretend I'm not thrilled that you got kissed instead of your head kicked in, love that you got lucky there Tommy: Yeah even, you too been circling and flirting since the dawn of summer if not time Tommy: I think not. I'm nothing but fab in all things Ali: More Marilyn than Hitler Ali: one for the bio, thanks Ali: Ha, laughable, no one is immune to my charms also I do the kicking so Ali: coming up roses forever baby bro Ali: Exactly 😏 gonna be vomit-inducing 'cos you're gonna be thinking yours is the greatest love story ever told 🙄😉 Tommy: stick it on your tinder when the honeymoon's over kid Tommy: welcome welcome Tommy: And Marls thought she was so tough. Not immune to a curb stomp were you, babe Tommy: roses are cliche as hell so agreed Tommy: could be, sister, could just be Tommy: surrounded by sapphic role models in you and your boo Ali: could do it now Ali: sooooooo modern like that, darling Ali: omg shut up 😞 didn't mean to and not funny Ali: psh, as if you wouldn't be buzzing your tits off if someone got you roses Ali: umm not telling you you're doing this whole 'gay' thing wrong but you know the girl ones aren't for you, yeah? 😂 Tommy: yeah but will ya or are you too 😍 Tommy: real question is, has Carls taken to her new status like a duck to water or more like water off a duck's arse Tommy: calm down dear I won't mention the ex again, scout's honor Tommy: atm my tits would be pleased if anyone looked their way at all but we ain't on my sob story, here for your love Tommy: 😂 well now it makes sense Ali: only just got back, like Ali: can deffo take a day of recuperation Ali: not asked tbf Ali: i don't need a label on her or what we're doing Ali: poor baby 😥 Ali: wish you'd let me look at your profiles, pimp em up pimp you out Tommy: but she's still 😍 too, yeah? Tommy: not scared her off like Tommy: Oi! Take your own advice and take a day off Tommy: You can come when I hit the town if you're wanting to wingwoman that bad Ali: Oi yourself! Ali: Scared her off indeed Ali: trusted me enough to go into the wilderness alone like Ali: duh Ali: not even a question Ali: though really need to find you a lad there as well Ali: but you can have a hometown holiday romance, special enough for ya snowflake? Tommy: Probs just wanted to stretch. Caravans are well cramped Tommy: Piss off Tommy: You just don't want me third wheeling you and your girl 'cause you reckon I'll make it awks when she finds me more fun to dance with than you Tommy: Gotta take her and get her initiated though 🌈 Ali: yeah a 2 man tents well better Ali: melt 🖕 Ali: oh you gonna steal my girl? okay 😂 Tommy: You trying to say you didn't look at the stars? Get to fuck you lying scrag 😂 Tommy: Could do, she is cute Ali: Am I that predictable? Sigh Ali: Might be modern but draw the line at family 3way Ali: if anything, a step back Tommy: You ain't invited, honey Tommy: Full offense Ali: Finders keepers I saw her first bitch Tommy: Only 'cause I was miles away Tommy: play fair you dirty bisexual Ali: When you get a mans Imma call bagsy then Ali: wanna talk fair Tommy: we'll both be in wheelchairs minus our own teeth by then so I'll race ya Ali: 😏 oh hush Ali: secretly getting all the d and keeping it dl Tommy: 😂 Tommy: I wish Ali: 👀 Tommy: You filthy perv Ali: how did you know Tommy: Carls told us Tommy: we're that close now like Ali: well, that's a stop coming onto me if I've ever heard one 😂 good one, babe Tommy: 😂 Tommy: Get a lot of that, does she? awks Ali: You said yourself, she cute Tommy: Gotta do some kicking, kitten. Have you learned nothing from your previous? Tommy: 🥊 Ali: how not to keep a woman? Ali: harsh but Tommy: legit Tommy: fuckboy free inbox though Ali: yeah Ali: got their uses though, ain't they Ali: don't be too picky like Tommy: Not for me but you do you, darling Ali: 🤷 Tommy: with your luck they'd fall for you anyway tbf Ali: Like you don't remember having to hold Ma back Ali: weren't that long ago Tommy: Blocked that shit way out Ali: those were the days tho Ali: but fine, won't invite ronan to the gay club Ali: imagine Tommy: For you. Aged ma + 25 Tommy: poor bitch Tommy: Probs had to get her roots done Tommy: Which one was he again? The curly haired gypsy Ali: s'alright, marlene still fancied her and carly also said she would Ali: not doing bad old girl Ali: one of Ali: first and worst, some would say Tommy: OMHG REALLY Tommy: get it ma Tommy: oh that cunt Tommy: hit it Celine 'cause it's all coming back to me now Ali: yeah Ali: smug bitch Ali: no one in this family can keep it to themselves, apparently Ali: 😂 mhmm Ali: lives where Carly does, and was kinda her boyf when I met her Ali: official, like Tommy: reckon I'll steal your girls it's that saucy mare you gotta watch Tommy: Disgusting Tommy: You two fucking by association before you got near Tommy: That's some funny shit Ali: Real talk Ali: someone warn Da Ali: not me 'cos awks when I'm fuming at her for running off with my woman Ali: oh honey you don't even know Ali: we have a list Tommy: On it Tommy: Love getting shot in the face myself so I'm well keen to twirl past with that message Tommy: 😂 Tommy: How long a list we talking? Ali: Interpretive dance it out for him Ali: the most vague form of communication Ali: You actually wanna know or? Tommy: I'll get workshopping rn 'cause ma ain't go no chill Tommy: she won't wait and we know it Tommy: You tell me, sister, do I or not Ali: She's a busy woman Ali: if Rock didn't look so much like Da's side I'd question it frankly Ali: You know how I roll, scandalous from the womb to the tomb baby Tommy: When the adoption jokes ain't just craic Tommy: ooops Tommy: that's why we're the irish twins 'cause same girl same Ali: She's got some nerve, us all out here raising the devil child Ali: give him to his real daddy the inn is full bitch Tommy: 😂 Tommy: puts him in the postie's bag like back you go lad Tommy: he's kinda fit bet ma would Ali: oh babe Ali: hate to bring this bad news to you but he left Ali: probs got a modelling contract, eh 😏 Tommy: 💔 Tommy: pissed on my parade proper there Ali: i am so soz Ali: maybe i traumatized him Ali: okay you can get with carly once but that's it, then we're even Tommy: Not gonna ask what you let him see Tommy: between you and JC every sunday Tommy: 🎉 Yes Ali: knock on my door son, gonna get what i give you Tommy: 👏 Ali: idc if you're just trying to bring the bills, SIR Ali: we don't want 'em Ali: liverpool days got us all forever scarred Tommy: Too real to deal Ali: when you back fr though Tommy: Patience 🦗 Tommy: I got scholarship stresses Ali: must suck being talented enough for one, like 😉 Tommy: Says the genius Tommy: what's your IQ again? Ali: check the tinder lad Ali: put that on there too, how i get all the ladies Tommy: 😂

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frmartinshomiliesandreflections · 3 years

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25th March >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on Luke 1:26-38 for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of The Lord: ‘Let what you have said be done to me’.

Solemnity of the Annunciation of The Lord

Gospel (Except USA)

Luke 1:26-38

'I am the handmaid of the Lord'

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.

Gospel (USA)

Luke 1:26–38

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Reflections (7)

(i) Solemnity of the Annunciation of The Lord

The question of Mary in today’s gospel reading ‘How can this come about?’ is a very human one. It is the kind of question that is asked by others in the gospels. When Jesus was with his disciples in the wilderness in the presence of a hungry crowd, they asked him, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?’ When we stand before a situation which seems beyond our resources to deal with, we all find ourselves asking the same kind of question, ‘How can this be?’ ‘How will I deal with this?’ It is a question many people are asking in this time of national and global emergency. The angel Gabriel’s answer to this question of Mary invited her to trust not in herself but in God. ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you’. A lot was being asked of Mary and it would make great demands on her, but she was not being asked to take on this task of being mother to God’s Son in the strength of her own resources alone. With this reassurance, she surrendered to the demanding role that God was giving her, ‘Let what you have said be done to me’. Mary has often been described as a model disciple. In today’s gospel reading, she models a faith that trust in God’s power and, because it trusts in God’s power, stands ready to do what God asks. The question, ‘How can this be?’ ‘How will I get through this?’ can inhibit us, hold us back, but, as in the case of Mary, it can also open us up to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

And/Or

(ii) Solemnity of the Annunciation of The Lord

The feast of the annunciation celebrates the moment when Mary said ‘yes’ to God’s call to be the mother of God’s Son. The gospel reading suggests that her ‘yes’ did not come without a struggle. When God first approached her through the angel Gabriel, Mary was ‘deeply disturbed’. When Gabriel went on to announce God’s purpose for Mary’s life, Mary was full of questions, ‘How can this be?’ It was only when Gabriel spoke for the third time that Mary surrendered to what God was asking her through Gabriel, ‘Let what you have said be done to me’. The gospel suggests Mary’s ‘yes’ to God’s call did not come effortlessly; it was not a foregone conclusion. Yet, because of her ‘yes’ we have all been greatly blessed, and, so, today, on the feast of her annunciation, we give thanks for her generous response to God’s call, which has been a source of grace for us all. The portrayal of Mary in this morning’s gospel reading suggests that our own response to the Lord’s call will never be easy; it will always involve something of a struggle. The reading also suggests that, as in the case of Mary, our saying ‘yes’ to the Lord will be a source of blessing for others. My relationship with the Lord may be personal, but it is never private. It always has consequences for others. When I am generous in my response to the Lord’s call, as Mary was, others are helped to come to the Lord. Mary has been described as the first and the model disciple of the Lord; we look to her to inspire us as we seek to take to Lord’s call to heart; we ask her to pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

And/Or

(iii) Solemnity of the Annunciation of The Lord

In the gospel reading this morning Mary is portrayed by Luke the evangelist as someone whose initial response to the call of God was to raise questions. After she was greeted by the angel Gabriel as ‘highly favoured’, Luke tells us that she was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean. Then when Gabriel announced that she would give birth to a child who would be called Son of the Most High, she asked, ‘How can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ Mary’s questioning did not cease when her child was born. When the shepherds came and told her all they had seen and heard, Luke tells us that Mary treasured their words and pondered them in her heart. When her twelve year old son went missing and was eventually found in the Temple, Mary questioned him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this?’ When Jesus answered her question by saying that he must be about his Father’s business, Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph did not understand what he said to them and that Mary, in particular, treasured all these things in her heart. The picture Luke gives us of Mary is of a woman who is full of questions, who ponders deeply on all that was happening in her life so as to understand it more fully. She models for us a reflective faith, a faith that seeks to understand. Theology has been described as faith seeking understanding. Mary was a theologian in that sense. Indeed we are all called to be theologians in the sense in which Mary was one. Like her, we too ask questions about God and Jesus and about what it means to respond to God’s call to us in Jesus; like her we are invited to ponder the great mysteries of our faith so as to grow in our understanding of them. As people of faith, we are to be searchers after truth, like Mary. In our searching we have the encouragement of the Lord’s promise to us, ‘Seek and you will find’.

And/Or

(iv) Solemnity of the Annunciation of The Lord

There is a lot of very concrete information at the beginning of this evening’s gospel reading: Galilee, Nazareth, Joseph of the house of David, Mary. There is reference to a very particular place, Nazareth in Galilee, and to a very particular couple in that place, Joseph who was betrothed to Mary. It was that particular couple in that particular place at a particular moment in time whom God chose in a special way for the sake of all of humanity. It was to that couple in that place at that time that God’s Son was entrusted for all of us. The gospel reading concludes with the confident declaration, ‘Nothing is impossible to God’. Yet, the one thing that God cannot do is to force our consent. God’s purpose for our lives was dependant on the consent of this particular woman in this particular place at a particular time, and, also, on the consent of her spouse, Joseph. Mary’s consent to God’s messenger allowed God’s purpose to come to pass for all of us. In a certain sense, at the moment of the annunciation, Mary represented us all; we all waited for her to say ‘yes’ to God on all our behalves. All of humanity’s deepest aspirations were focused on this particular woman, place and time. At the annunciation, God’s call met with the complete human response, ‘Let what you have said be done to me’. Luke is presenting Mary here as the exemplary disciple, the one who hears the word of God and keeps it. Because of her exemplary response to God, she became a source of blessing for all of humanity. If we can enter in some way into her response to God’s call, we too will be a source of blessing for others.

And/Or

(v) Solemnity of the Annunciation of The Lord

The gospel reading portrays Mary as saying ‘yes’ to God’s call on her to become the mother of God’s Son. Yet, the gospel suggests that her response to God’s call did not come easily to her. Initially she was ‘deeply disturbed’ by the greeting of the angel. She raised a probing question in response to the further words of the angel. ‘How can this come about?’ she asked. She eventually arrived at the point where she could say, ‘Let what you have said be done to me’. However, the reading suggests that she only came to that point after a lot of struggle. We are reminded of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. His prayer eventually brought him to the point where he could say, ‘Not my will but yours be done’. Again, that was only after a great struggle, in the course of which he had prayed, ‘Remove this cup from me’. The experience of Mary and of Jesus suggest that responding to God’s call, remaining faithful to God’s will for our lives, will always involve a struggle of some kind. The nature of that struggle will be different for each of us. However, we engage in that struggle knowing that we are not alone in it. The power of the Most High will overshadow us, as it overshadowed Mary; the Holy Spirit will come upon us, as it came upon Mary. In our struggle to be faithful, we are also encouraged by the words of Gabriel to Mary, ‘nothing is impossible to God’. As Mary’s adult son, Jesus, will go on to say, ‘for God all things are possible’. Mary herself is also a resource in our struggle to be faithful to the Lord’s call, which is why we ask her to intercede for us, ‘Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death’.

And/Or

(vi) Solemnity of the Annunciation of The Lord

Whenever the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord falls during Holy Week, as it did this year, it is always transferred to the Monday after the Second Sunday of Easter, which is today. In other words, the church always wants us to celebrate this feast, even if we cannot celebrate it on 25th March, which is its usual day. This highlights how significant the church considers this feast to be. For the evangelist Luke, who gives us the story of the annunciation of the angel Gabriel to Mary, this moment is the beginning of the gospel. The gospel is proclaimed for the first time by Gabriel to Mary. Gabriel announces to Mary the good news that she is to conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to Jesus, who will be called Son of God. He will be a king who will reign over Israel and his kingdom will have no end. Mary, according to Luke, is the first to hear the gospel. She is the first to have the opportunity to respond to the preached gospel. According to Luke, after some understandable perplexity and questioning, she responded with all her being to the word of the gospel that Gabriel preached to her, ‘I am the servant of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me’, or in another translation, ‘let it be with me according to your word’. Luke invites us to look to Mary as the one who made not only the first response to the preached gospel but also the most complete response. Every time the gospel is preached, every time we hear the Lord’s word, we can do no better than say with Mary, ‘let it be with me according to your word’. She allowed her life to be shaped by God’s word, by God’s will and purpose as expressed in his word. In this way, she anticipated her adult son’s response to God’s word, to God’s will and purpose, as expressed in today’s second reading, ‘God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will’. Mary followed her Son before he was conceived; we are called to follow him as our risen Lord in the same complete way as she did.

And/Or

(vii) Solemnity of the Annunciation of The Lord

The question of Mary in today’s gospel reading ‘How can this come about?’ is a very human one. It is the kind of question that is asked by others in the gospels. When Jesus was with his disciples in the wilderness in the presence of a hungry crowd, they asked him, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?’ When we stand before before a situation which seems beyond our resources to deal with, we all find ourselves asking the same kind of question, ‘How can this be?’ ‘How will I get through this?’ The angel Gabriel’s answer to this question of Mary invited her to trust not in herself but in God. ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you’. A lot was being asked of Mary and it would make great demands on her, but she was not being asked to take on this task of being mother to God’s Son on the basis of her own resources alone. With this reassurance, she surrendered to the demanding task that God was giving her, ‘Let what you have said be done to me’. Mary has often been described as a model disciple. In today’s gospel reading, she models a faith that trust in God’s power and, because it trusts in God’s power, stands ready to do what God asks. The question, ‘How can this be?’ can inhibit us, hold us back, but, as in the case of Mary, it can also open us up to the working of the Holy Spirit within us and through us.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

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scarlet-blues · 7 years

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[FR] Bro

Chatting with Sang-mi and Akihito felt refreshing. Bruce quickly became too busy with his new friends to pay attention to stress and the chaos that crept closer and closer with each minute that was the fashion show. He didn’t felt on edge anymore- he didn’t felt alone. He was happy.

“Ahah- 와우! It’s late! Sorry boys, I gotta shower real quick. i have training today.” Sang-mi said as she quickly got up with her cellphone in hand. “It was great to meet you Bruce. We all can talk again tomorrow. Or tonight, but i doubt you two will be awake by the time i arrive.” She let a few giggles escape.

“I’m not too tired, but i’m sure i’ll either be too lazy to leave my bedroom or someone from my agency will call me and try to explain me stuff i already know. So yeah.” Ahikito pointed out. At first he seemed weird to Bruce, but the albino quickly became fond of him. He was incredibly funny, despite his constant neutral expression. That loosely reminded Bruce of Enzan sometimes.

Bruce nodded, getting up and stretching- but this time, without letting out screeches that could rival a Banshee’s. “I don’t know if i’ll sleep or not. I’ve spent so much time uncounscious that i’m still trying to grasp reality a bit.” He let out a nervous laugh, scratching his neck.

“Were you sleeping or trying to transcend to another dimension?” Akihito inquired, while Sang-mi let out an amused chuckle.

“At this rate, i guess both.” The albino replied with a monotone voice.

“Wild.” The dark-haired boy took his phone out of his backpack to check the time. 7:45 PM. “While i already took two showers today and am not looking foward to a third one, i wanna check this hotel’s menu for the room service. I bet they have good pizza.”

Bruce snickered. “I thought models followed strict diets.”

“They do. I do too. But i’m feeling rebellious.” Akihito got up, putting his phone away and grabbing his backpack and plastic bag, still full of chocolates.

A chuckle. “And here i am, worried about a single slice of cake.” The albino thought out loud.

The three said their goodbyes and made their way back to the lifts that lead to their rooms.

As he strolled down the fancy hall, Bruce sighed. “This isn’t so bad after all. But pretty much nothing started yet, so i’d rather not let my guard down.” He mumbled to himself, gaze seeming vacant. Despite Sang-mi and Akihito’s instructions, Bruce couldn’t shake off the a certain feeling off him. He still felt lost. He had no expectations about the following days- it all felt like the calm before a horrible storm. He had stared at his schedule back at home four hours and hours, to the point he had already memorized more than half of it, but he still felt...adrift. He hated this feeling. It made him feel vulnerable, confused and anxious.

Frowning at his own thoughts, he turned right, reaching his room’s hall. He could make out Alyosha’s form in the distance- standing still like always. He wondered if the man had stood there for all of this time without a break.

Bruce’s walking, however, came to a halt when he heard his name being called. The voice came from behind his and it sounded...extremely familiar. He turned around, and his eyes widened.

...no way.

Talib.

Some feet away from Bruce stood a black man with dyed blond hair in dreads, tried back by a rubber band. His eyes were olive green and there were yellow markings on his cheeks, a praxis from his family. He wore a dark grey shirt adorned by details in orance and dull purple, along with a pair of black pants and shoes.

Bruce gasped, his surprised expression turning into a bright smile, and ran towards the man, hugging him with all the strenght he could muster. “Talib!” He couldn’t help but laugh, after all, his best friend was there. That man was literally one of Bruce’s closest friend- they didn’t met personally much, since Bruce lived in Japan and Talib in America, but they texted each other is a dialy basis, chatting about silly nonsence or just things from their lives.

Omega was Bruce’s childhood best friend. Talib was his work best friend. And now he had both of them here with him. He couldn’t ask for more- well, maybe he could, but he was satisfied enough.

Talib ruffled Bruce’s hair, squeezing the albino back. “I haven’t seen you in ages, bro! How you doing? You’ve been offline for a while.” He wrapped an arm around Bruce’s shoulder after their broke their hug.

“Aah, sorry. I’ve been...sleeping. Lots.” The albino’s cheeks became pink. “But well, aside from the fact that i’ve been stressed non stop for weeks, constantly anxious, feeling lost, terrified and exhausted, overall feeling like i want to bury a hole and stay there for the next millenium, i’m fine. What about you?” Bruce sounded casual. And laid back. More than usual.

Talib laughed. “Sleeping during all of this time? That’s spartan, man. Well, i’ve been doing alright. Not as crazy as you, maybe a bit stressed, but alright. Although i wish i had brought Kimani with me.” Kimani was Talib’s dog, a white and striped Whippet. It was his most prized possession and his greatest (animal) partner. “I left Kimani with Raoul, but i trust him enough to take care of my other fluffy friend.”

“Other fluffy friend?” The albino inquired with an amused tone.

“Yep. There’s you and Kimani. You two are my friends, and both of your are fluffy.” Talib said with a playful smirk.

Bruce chuckled. “I thought Whippet dogs had short fur.”

“Still fluffy to me, through. The texture, at least.”

“If you say so. Who am i to change your definition of fluffy.” Bruce pouted, but kept his amused tone. As they approched his room’s door, the albino explained to Alyosha who Talib was and the bodyguard greeted both of them.

“Hey, you left Kimani home, but i brought my dog with me.”

“Dog? I thought you had a cat though?”

“Now i have both.” The albino chuckled. “Come, we can get some grub to eat, watch some boring news channel or just play with Tango and Shiro. Sounds good to you?”

“Couldn’t be better.” Talib ruffled the other’s hair again, earning another pout from Bruce as they entered the room.

This entire chaotic situation just became less worse.

#event: Fashion Run #((TALIBBB))#((THE BRO))#((sob bruce changes so much when he's with talib))#((he gets a lot more relaxed and laid back))#((he algo gets 70% more dorky))#((same for talib tho usually he's a bit more composed but with bruce there's the strong dORK FACTOR))#((translation: woah!))#sang-mi yeom #akihito matsumiya #talib behre

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tekowolfsbane · 7 years

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Tale of a Murderor

Chapter 1 - Fresh Meat Darkness falls over a desert land; with skulls and dehydration filling the bottom of the cup, it is then topped with skin piercing sand. As one fateful night a mysterious conversation fills the echoing corridors of a tall stone building, that has stood for decades slowly degrading as many travel by. A slender women puffed her cigarette dunking and darkening the room, she sat dominantly in her high chair as it towered over a short stubby man while he gave his proposal to the lady. "I can't let this happen!" The Short man demanded. "If this is why you have brought me here then I will leave immediately!" "Well aren't you quick to jump to conclusions?" The women smirked sucking her life away. "All I need is a few months and I assure you he will change..." "What makes you think this murderer will change after he's employed to do exactly what he was imprisoned for!?" He yelled as she smiled creating more vapors curling around her body. "This isn't your average Company...He will get quite the surprise when he gets here" A wicked grin spreads right up to ears as the smoke escapes her lips. "Bring him along he has 3 months and if you fear he hasn't changed you can take him back, but this is much more worse than prison...." 500 miles away from the institute is the most secure prison in America; with walls stretching over 10 foot, with many attempts leaving cracks and some scratches since it was built back in the 1900's, Not one criminal has escaped and for good reason. The jail is full of the worst inmates in the world, some even not based in America; they have flown from all over the world and put in the tightest of rooms and people, all of them big muscular and frankly scary. One day this slammer got some fresh meat. Four Men stood in line as the Governor checked them all out; first in line was Bones, he was a big lad with muscles complementing his shirt, tattoo's and scars covering his upper body and his tiny legs barely lifting his weight. Next was Rocky he was your typical sized man regular height, weight and tone and finally Savage he didn't seem to look like he knew a lot or speak for that matter but he was slightly beefed up but not as much as Bones, Oh I forgotten one...There was a lot of difference between the three with this guy he was tiny, in fact in between them he was barely visible cramped between Savage and Bones, this little one's clothes looked like it was draped over him, they were so baggy he had to roll up his sleeves and tuck his trousers in his socks, his sneakers looked stolen in fact it all was probably stolen and his dog tags just poking out from the white shirt underneath. The heat was sweltering making it hard to breath, the sweat from the two big guys helping the runt; with it running to his wrists making them slip out, a huge grin was on his face as the Governor drew close. "STAND STRAIGHT FAGGOTS!" The officer instructed. "Bones, convicted for theft and before arrest smashing 5 officers ribs and bones...Don't think we won't just kill you if you act out of line" Bones snarled as the governor walked past unfazed. "Rocky, responsible for being able to crack concrete and aiding in the theft" Rocky smirks as he breaks a large rock in his hands....the chief not moved. "Savage, jailed for explicit uses of dynamite and fierce attacks on officers" Savage glared trying to intimidate him but the head just snuffed at him. "And finally D-...E-Erm Deo?" "Yo wha'sup?" Deo smirked as the Governor stood before him. "DON'T TALK TO TH-" Shouted the Officer beside him as he got cut off with a raised hand. "Are you sure your in the right place?" He asked Deo slightly bending down to his level. "You tell me?" Chuckled Deo as he smugly rocked back and forth in front of both of them. "STAND STRAIGHT I SAID!!!" The officer demanded. "Whoops sorry pal" Deo giggled. "I guess I shouldn't be so bold yeah?" "What are you smug about boy? A simple beating will wipe that look off your face" The Governor explained as the officers readied there batons. "OH PLEASE NOT THAT!" Deo sarcastically pleaded. "JUST SLAP MY WRISTS AND SEND ME TO A CORNER!" He fell to the floor exposing his unchained wrists to the Chief. "How did you!?" The Head exclaimed as Deo's wrists were quickly bonded. "Maybe you shouldn't expect big bald guys coming into your prison ey Chiefy?" Deo laughed as his hands were rapidly shackled. "You address me as Governor, Nothing else you hear me!?" Yelled the Chief spitting in Deo's Face. "Nice Slobber you got there" Deo smiled. "Maybe I'm not in the right place? But who knows there was only evidence of me with a gun nothing ELSE!" Deo Raged as he was smacked across the face with a baton. "YOU NEED TO LEARN SOME MANNERS BOY!!" Exclaimed the Governor. "I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU WEREN'T BEATEN TO DEATH THE FIRST NIGHT!!" The Head of the institute left in a rage as he was humiliated by a infant; he struggled on his feet as they were dragged along by the guards to get moved into there cells, he barely was able to stand when they got shoved in the holding rooms. Each criminal was taking into a separate area and questioned for general details; Where they live, Any Relatives and what they were convicted for. This was simple for the others but with one prisoner it caused a lot of distress for him and the officer that was interrogating him; he was in the room for well over 5 minutes, not saying a word and refusing to cooperate. It came past 20 minutes and the convicts outside were waiting on him and getting very impatient. "I'll ask you again and if you don't say it this time we'll have to use force" The Guard sighed in frustration. "Where are you from?" "Why don't you beat it outta' me" Deo scuffed rocking in his chair. "WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR 20 MINUTES!! TELL ME OR ELSE!!" The Guard yelled with all his force throwing his chair to the floor. "If you say 'or what' you will be shot where you sit!" With a big sigh and rolling his eyes he stopped rocking on his chair and sat forward with his hands clumped in a fist, he looked directly into the cops eyes and spoke with great sympathy. "Boston....Massachusetts" Deo sighed looking to the floor. "34 Terrace St, You happy now!?" "That weren't hard now was it big Baby?" Snarked the Guard while writing the information down. "Any Family or Relatives?" "I DON'T NEED TO TELL SHIT ABOUT THAT OKAY!!!" Deo lunged towards him but held back by a officer behind him. "WHY DON'T YOU FUCKING LOOK IT UP!? I'M NOT SAYING SHIT ABOUT MY FAMILY! I'M FUCKING INNOCENT YOU HEAR ME!? I DIDN'T DO FUCK ALL TO THAT WOMEN!" "Calm down..So no relatives?" Cautioned the Guard as reinforcements were going to be called in any minute. "DIDN'T I SAY FAMILY!!! I HAD ONE A'RIGHT! A FUCKING GOOD ONE...." Deo slumped back in his chair. "A real good one...but then she...she died..." He was practically on the floor as his life was presented on a board to the guard; all about his father leaving him at the age of 8, breaking his mothers heart causing her depression and then finding out the news she was addicted to pills and at the age of nine coming back from school she had overdosed herself and she lay lifeless in the tub not knowing what could happen he was on the streets for 10 years and in a gang got him in the mess he is now. The Interrogate sat there in shock as the once arrogant kid were melting in the chair before him, tears running down his now deformed face from the excessive droplets coming from the eyes of a crook. "M-Maybe I'll get details off the governor about your arrest? If your not feeling up to it?" Gulped the guard as he reduced a kid to a puddle. "Yeah...." Sniffed Deo as he whipped memories from his face. "They won't be any hold-up's either next time..." Everything seemed to skip Deo that day from the many questions he was asked by several officers, being searched and being given his prison uniform, the bundle of blankets, cups and plates, then getting seen by the doctor which didn't take long as he was in fine shape and finally being shoved into a cell with the 3 he met today; These three were a gang for sure, all from Boston and all looked like they knew nothing but to cause trouble. Bones was stood at the back dominating the room with his strength, Rocky carving into a stone like it was bread and Savage grumbling on the bench to himself...Deo just sat beside him and with a little growl from Savage he just shrugged it off and leaned on the wall putting both feet onto it. "So your the runt who took on the Governor?" Bones spoke in his american accent. "Yeah what of it!?" Deo spat still pissed after the interview. "Nothing man, takes guts to do that, me and Bones give you props to that" Rocky smiled stopping his sculpting in the process pointing at Bones. "Yeah well I don't fucking deserve to be here" Deo puffed in anger. "Ha none of us do, But who'll believe us?" Rocky chuckled continuing with his model. "They had no fucking proof with me! All I did was had a gun in my hand at the scene...THAT'S IT!" Deo fumed. "That's all they need....Especially with a baby like you" Bones joked. "Did you just call me a Baby?" Deo looked at bones with fury. "I did, I heard you crying" Bones laughed as Deo stood with dominance near him. "What are you going to do about it?" "THIS!!" Deo violently said leaping onto his opponent swinging around his neck, the brute underneath him tried grasping the twig on his shoulders, but because it was only a stick it was impossible to lay a punch into the twerp, The runt on his back were grabbing his bulky neck trying to choke his foe; since his hands were doing nothing he ripped off his dog tags and latched them around his throat the only thing saving the opposer were the one thumb separating the chain from his nape. Rocky and Savage stood there seeing who would kill the other and become there leader, at first they thought the kid would have perished a few minutes back but the fight was getting intense, But there fun was soon drawn to a close when guards flown from every angle separating the two and putting them in different cells.

***************************AUTHORS NOTES*****************************

Before publishing any more chapters I will only post this chapter on Tumblr until I get more people wanting more... If you would like to follow more of this story you will find it in my gallery on DA: http://furryfluke.deviantart.com/gallery/ On another note I apologise in the future for my bad German writing I noticed after learning some of the language that it’s shocking but I may change it in the future once I learn more thank you and enjoy

#story #teko #wolfsbane #tale #of #a #murderor #TF2 #tf2 scout #tf2 spy #tf2 medic #tf2 sniper

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