#i shall practise it and learn much

[kayann9]

The Magic of Wine

Thank you all again! I am on play through 2 of BG3 and still can't stop myself romancing the wizard! Send help!

A little one shot from the Tiefling Party: definitely some innuendo in this one. Just a little flirtation and frolicking!

Pairing: Gale X F Tav (Serena)

Words: 718

Rating: M for mature

Thank you all in advance if you do read anything I write :)

By the Gods he’d had too much wine.

Over a year since Gale had attended anything resembling a party and he’d managed to embarrass himself by indulging far too much in the cheap alcohol and comparing the woman he could not help but feel an inherent attraction to, to a tressym. A tressym that he cared deeply for but how was she ever fully meant to grasp that concept.

He pinched the bridge of his nose.

When had he become so useless?

Had he not been the lover of a goddess?

And now, now he was perplexed by a mortal? It had not even occurred to him on this most bizarre of journeys that he would be even remotely interested in anyone, yet here he was, watching her as she danced around the group, whilst everyone vied for her attention.

Serena had worn her hair down tonight; something he hadn’t seen yet. It had oddly caught him off guard having only seen her in the damaged armour she’d grabbed from the Nautiloid and being seemingly perpetually covered in blood. Of course, he’d seen she was beautiful from his first glance, he was nothing if not appreciative of finer things in life, but now she looked truly resplendent. Her glowing smile and the tiniest of flirtations she’d thrown his way, had left his already slightly broken knees even weaker.

He sipped more wine against his better judgement.

Serena seemed to be in deep conversation with the First Druid. Another admirer, he’d concluded.

He’d supposed, after hearing listening to the flirtations of the others, that she was quite the woman; naturally charismatic, fierce and unyielding but, most importantly in his eyes, kind. She’d jumped in to help this place without a second thought. She’d jumped in the fight with the goblins with no questions. She’d saved the tiefling child with not a murmur or need to recompense. She’d stood in front of a cross bow, arms folded and gaze unwavering, as if staring down death itself. Goodness was something he hadn’t been too privy to in Faerûn.

“Are you sure I can’t tempt you to dance?” Serena’s light tone swam through his mind and he had to shake his head to regain some sense. “I always imagined a learned wizard would be quite practised in a dance.”

The wine drifted through him logic once again. “I am practised in many things, but dancing is not one of them.”

She lifted an eyebrow, the look he’d worked out meant trouble for him. “Oh, do tell.”

His mouth dried but his conviction forced him to ignore it, along with the smirk on her lips. “As you are probably aware, a scholar of my nature, research is my main focus; there is nothing I enjoy more than curling up with a book in the study of a new topic.”

“So, attentive.”

“Most definitely. And let’s not forget, a wizard’s hands are his most valuable asset. Deliberate ministrations are most important in the accurate casting of spells, particularly at the level I was operating at.”

“Good with your hands.” Serena nodded. “Check.”

Confusion flooded him for the briefest of moments, until he watched her teeth drag across her lips.

“I imagine, wizards are also fairly proficient with their mouths. It would do no good to have a slovenly incantations along with those deliberate ministrations.” Serena sipped her wine, grinning as he moved from foot to foot.

“I, well, yes. I have been known to be talented in the art of verbosity.” Gale straightened his spine, regaining the shred of composure he had left, ignoring the swirling in chest. “I had no idea you had taken such an interest in the ways of The Weave.”

“Yes, The Weave, that’s what I am interested in.” She winked and laughed. “I shall leave you to your wine and your verbosity mighty Wizard.. However, if you do find yourself taking an interest in dancing, please consider me as tutor.” She curtseyed before twirling away towards the music.

“I would consider nobody else.” He called after her, trying to convince himself that the secret smile she threw him as she moseyed away was nothing more than a figment of a highly over-active imagination.

The dangerous flutter of the dark magic beneath his skin, told a very different story.

#bg3 #bg3 gale #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 tav #gale bg3 #gale x tav #f!tav

[the-fiction-witch]

Sparing Sword

Media House Of the Dragon

Character Jacaerys Verlaryon

Couple Jacaerys X Reader

Rating Flirty

Jacaerys stood in the courtyard of Dragonstone, his black clothes covered by his greave's, cubitiere and his breastplate a dull well-scratched silver. A Dull sparing sword in his hand, his dark hair pushed out of his eyes, his boots moving across the courtyard. As he worked sparing with the manakin often letting out grunts as he practised. 

Across the courtyard on the dark stones sat a young maid girl, on her break from the kitchens and taking in the air. She glances up and often her eyes catch the prince as he practices. He caught her eye and straightened himself up knowing he was being watched, pushing hair from his face.

He made a point to work a little harder and put his best foot forward as it were now he knew the maid was watching him. However, in his attempts to show off, he slipped and almost toppled over. 

Which caused the maid to chuckle.

Her laugh caused his blood to boil so he turned to her, "You laugh?!"

"Forgive me Prince Jacaerys," she nodded, 

"You think you can do better?" he asked, "What would you know of sparing?" He scoffed heading back to the manakin, 

The maid for a moment didn't say anything but she stood and straightened her grey dress, "With all due respect my prince, I happen to know more than most. And I rather think I could indeed do better,"

"You could?" he laughed, "Alright." he chuckled taking a spare sparing sword and tossing it to her but of course, it fell to the mud without her even trying to catch it, "Go on, and I'll even be sporting, One-handed as your in a dress"

"How very kind of you my Prince," She nodded picking the sword up from the mud wiping it on her apron and stepping down the steps towards him, he put a hand behind his back "Begin," the two began a sparing match which was over quickly as he very simply forced the sword from her hand, 

"There. Now do I get an apology?" 

"Perhaps, one more Prince Jazaerys?" She offered,

"Fine one more." He rolled his eyes, 

"Thank you," she nodded, but this time, she pulled her hair and her fingers twisted it into a long braid that she then pinned up around her head, she took the skirt of her dress and gathered it pulling it between her legs and tieing it around her hips revealing her bare to her mid-thigh, which took Jacaerys attention, she pushed up her sleeves and took the sword in both hands. "Begin," she smirked, 

The two began their second sparing match but this time she was far more merciless and accurate Jacaerys actually had to put some work in to put up a fight so much so he had to go back on his word and use both hands but still she disarmed him sending his sparing sword into the mud, 

"Thank you very much for the kindness of sparing with me my prince,"

"How did you- What did- Where did you learn that?!" He asked,

"Could say," she said picking up his sword for him and handing it back, "I am a lady of many talents,"

"I can see that," He nodded taking his sword back, "Best two out of three? and then you'll tell me how you learnt?"

She chuckled, and rubbed her cheek the mud from his sword now across her face, "I suppose that's fair. shall we my prince?"

"We shall Little maid," he nodded, 

The two began to spar again both of them and both putting their full effort into it, the two chasing each other around the yard, using items as blocks and shields, playing tricks on one another until finally, he disarmed her.

"Well done my prince. I guess you win." she smiled fixing her dress, "I should return to work,"

"Wait-" He stopped her from leaving by taking her hand, "You never said how you leant?"

"Ohh," she chuckled, "My father was a blacksmith, he used to make me test the blades every day."

"Ohh... yeah I uhh I guess that's why you're so good,"

"Thank you, not as good as you but not had a years of knights training." she smiled, "Have a good afternoon Prince Jacaerys," she nodded heading to the steps and the door,

"Wait!" he called out, "Can- Can I know your name?"

"Y/n,"

"Y/n... that's a very beautiful name I uhh I hope perhaps to spar with you again?"

"I'd like that very much," she smiled before she headed inside, 

Jacaerys took a breath for a moment letting his mind clear and return focus to his sparing but he knew it would be a good while before his little maid Y/n left his mind, 

#prince jacaerys #jacaerys targaryen #jacaerys velaryon #hotd jacaerys #jacaerys x reader #jace velaryon #jace x reader #jace #house targaryen #house of the dragon season 2 #house of the dragon #houseofthedragon #houseofthedragonjace #house of the dragon jace #house of the dragon jacaerys #hotd x reader #hotd smut #hotd fanfic #hotd #hotd jace

[smilingformoney]

Rickmas 2023: Day 8. Rosemary for Holly | Turpin/Reader

AN: This one involves the Turpin/Reader relationship from my fic Sins of the Flesh, which involves reader becoming Turpin’s unwilling live-in whore. This scene is tame compared to the scenes I wrote for the main fic but please be aware of the noncon element of the relationship before reading!

Read now on Ao3 or below the cut:

It was your first Christmas without your brother, and your first in Turpin’s house. Johanna had told you that he didn’t celebrate Christmas much - he had a yearly party, and he went to church on the day itself, but when it came to decorations, presents and Christmas cheer, he couldn’t be more of a Scrooge.

Her words in mind, you were caught off-guard when, on returning home after the last day of Michaelmas, Turpin summoned you to his study and presented you with a gift.

“But, sir, it’s not yet Christmas Day!” you protested. Did he expect you to give him a gift too? Surely he couldn’t - he didn’t give you an allowance, and he forbade you from working.

“Christmas Day is a holy day, darling, and I can guarantee you this gift is anything but holy - plus I simply couldn’t wait to give it to you.”

You blushed, realising his meaning, and you were both curious and frightened to know what was inside. He had threatened you on more than one occasion to obtain a pair of handcuffs from his friends in the constabulary - perhaps he was fulfilling that promise?

You pulled back the paper to reveal an oblong box, marked with wording.

“Row… sem… arry - oh, rosemary. For - holy? No, that can’t be right…”

“Holly, darling. Rosemary For Holly. Simply the name of the manufacturing company. Open it up!”

You glanced up at him, and chuckled slightly at the eager look on his face.

“Feeling impatient, sir?”

“Feeling impertinent, slut? Open it. Now.”

“Yes, sir,” you said quickly, hoping you hadn’t angered him. You opened the box and almost gasped in shock when you saw the gift inside: an object of what appeared to be ivory, crafted into the shape of a penis.

“For the days you get lonely without me,” Turpin said smugly. Did he seriously expect you to want more cock when he was away, as if the multiple times a day you took his seed weren’t enough?

“I had it crafted just for you. A good likeness, don’t you think?”

You glanced up at him, then back down at the ivory penis. “Do you mean… this is - erm - a replica?”

“Well, my cock is the only one you’ll ever know, so you might as well know it even when I’m at court. Why don’t you try it out?”

“I’m, erm… not sure what I’m supposed to do with it, sir,” you said meekly.

Turpin picked the ivory penis up from within the box and pointed it at your face. “Well, let’s start with the mouth, shall we? Open up.”

You obeyed, and almost gagged when he pushed the penis into your mouth, the cold, smooth surface a surprising contrast to the soft warmth you usually felt from Turpin’s cock.

“How does it feel?” he asked, fully aware that you couldn’t talk with a mouthful of fake cock.

“Cold,” you mumbled around the phallus, and Turpin chuckled.

“Yes, I suppose it would be. Not warm like mine, hm? That’s alright, I wouldn’t want you preferring him over me.”

He pulled the phallus back out of your mouth, and you gratefully gasped for air.

“I prefer you, sir,” you said, knowing he wanted you to agree with his compliment of himself. “But it would be an excellent tool for practise.”

“Practise?” Turpin queried with a raised eyebrow.

“So I can - um - fit you. If I can practise opening my throat with it, then I can learn to do it for you.”

Turpin looked at you curiously, then smirked. “What a clever girl you are. I hadn’t thought of that. My expectation was for you to stretch yourself out for me before I get home, but that is a good idea, isn’t it? Yes… yes, you’ll use it to train your throat and to stretch out your cunt. Then you’ll be nice and ready for whichever hole I choose. What a good girl you are, thinking of ways to please your lord.”

“I exist only to please you, sir,” you said automatically, wincing slightly as he pressed the cold tip of the phallus against your lips before trailing it across your jaw, down your neck, and down your chest to slip it between your breasts. Turpin laughed to himself when he let go of it, leaving it sticking out from your cleavage.

“There’s another function, too,” he said, his eyes still locked on your chest. He ran his finger down the shaft and pointed out a small hole halfway down. “See this hole? You fill it up with water. Then you use this” - he pulled out a plunger at the base of the phallus, where it would ordinarily connect to the man’s body - “and push it back in.” He did so, and you felt a rush of air blowing on your breasts.

“The water leaves the tip, simulating ejaculate. That’s very helpful for your clever little idea, in fact, as you can practise swallowing my seed as well. My, we are going to have fun with this, aren’t we?”

“Yes, sir. Thank you for my gift, sir. I - I’m afraid I have nothing to give you…”

“Nonsense. You give me your body every day. I couldn’t ask for more than that. In fact, it’s the start of the Christmas holidays now, so why don’t we start off as we intend to continue?”

“How’s that, sir?” you asked, dreading the answer.

Turpin leaned forward, his lips brushing your ear, and you were consciously aware that the phallus was still in his hand.

“Why, fucking in every room of the house, of course. We do need to keep warm, after all. Why don’t we start here? I have a few fun ideas for our new friend.”

You had a dreadful feeling that the ideas were more fun for him than they were for you, but even so you agreed. You had no choice in the matter, so you might as well agree and pretend to yourself you had some semblance of choice - either way, Judge Turpin was going to stuff you full of cock, and now he had a second to use against you. You might as well try and enjoy it.

#rickmas2023 #judge turpin #alan rickman #sweeney todd #turpin x reader #dead dove

[racefortheironthrone]

How come the longbow is so associated with the English and their use of the longbow?

I imagine that there have been multiple societies that used the longbow (before or at the same time as the English), but it seems that the English are the most well known users of the longbow (at least in popular culture/thought).

The longbow was originally Welsh, but the English very quickly adopted it as one of their main weapons of war during and after the Edwardian conquest of Wales - that campaign ended in 1283, and by the time of the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, we see the English army now mainly made up of longbowmen (a lot of them Welshmen).

Moreover, the English monarchy enacted laws that reinforced this shift to a longbow-based army: the original Assize of Arms of 1181 had focused on requring freemen of England to own chainmail (or gambesons if you owned less than ten marks), helmets (or just an iron cap if you had ten marks or less), and lances as their main weapon. By the Assize of Arms of 1252, freemen with nine marks or more were required to "array with bow and arrow." By the time of the Statute of Winchester of 1285, even the poorest freemen is expected to have "bows and arrows out of the forest, and in the forest bows and pilets."

Thus, when Edward III starts up the Hundred Years War, the armies that win stunning victories at Crecy and Poitiers (and establish the lasting associaion between England and the longbow) were based on his grandfather's model. Edward would further reinforce royal policy towards longbows by enacting the Archery Law of 1363, which required that "every man … if he be able-bodied, shall, upon holidays, make use, in his games, of bows and arrows… and so learn and practise archery." Thus, longbow practice every Sunday and feast/saint's day became mandatory in England.

The English love affair with the longbow also continued much longer than in other nations. Even after the French began to use cannons against the formations of English longbowmen, and thus regained the upper hand in the Hundred Years War, (something often attributed to their adoption of the longbow, but in reality artillery was the main French adaptation) the English kept on fielding armies of mostly longbowmen. The Battle of Flodden in 1513 was largely fought with longbows; when Henry VIII's flagship the Mary Rose went down in 1545 she had 250 longbows on board (which form the material basis for a lot of our archaelogical understanding of medieval longbows); when the English militia was called up to fight the Spanish Armada in 1588, longbowmen still made up about 10% of their forces.

#history #medieval history #military history #longbow #english history

[mittch22]

Ask for @penname-artist that disappeared from my inbox because it spent so long in it.

WGP Racers Headcanons:

I’m not excessively well versed on them, but I shall give this a damn good go for you, my fine friend!

Lightning Mcqueen - Lightning spends a portion of his free time watching Doc’s old racing videos. He wants to try and pick up on anything that the older race car didn’t get the chance to teach him before he died. That and he misses him and just wants some semblance of his company again. 

Shovels food like whatever he is eating is his last meal. Sally has had to slow him down more than once to prevent indigestion. 

He snores. Really loud. It's utterly obnoxious and it can be heard down the street. If she didn't love him, Sally would have suffocated him in his sleep by now. 

Francesco Bernoulli - Francesco has travelled thousands of miles just to make it home in time for dinner. His mothers' home cooking is utter perfection and so worth every penny he spends on travelling. 

Had a small dinner party, inviting each of the WGP racers to attend. Initially, McQueen wasn’t invited.

He actually became amazing “Frienemies” with McQueen, their competitive natures slowly melting into jovial banter between them. Although their relationship is nowhere close to the friendship that Lightning has with Bobby and Cal, they still get on quite well. They often have arguments online, simply for shits and giggles. 

Jeff Gorvette - Gets along sportingly with Lewis and takes any opportunity to hang out with him. Although their hobbies and interests vary greatly from one another, they often have weekends together to just take it easy.

After his retirement, Jeff took to painting and is now a very accomplished artist. He takes commissions from his friends. Free of charge. 

Terrified of spiders. Lewis takes the piss.

Lewis Hamilton - Is a trained martial artist. He practises Shotokan karate when he's not racing and often goes to watch competitions. It's his favourite Olympic sport to watch. He has tried to teach Jeff some movies but Jeff just gets a bit scared at his intensity and runs away. 

Loves to go out partying and pretty much always invites Jeff along for the ride. They try their best to stay out of trouble, but it's hard to do as Jeff is a mental drunk. 

Max Schnell - Max adores outdoor adventuring and losing himself in woodlands and forests. He spent all his time as a child in the natural environment so it feels more like home to him than any other environment on earth. This is the first place he will go to when stressed. 

Has a real sweet tooth. Will kill for a profiterole and adores a well constructed crumble.

Max is well-versed in multiple languages as he loves to travel and wants to ensure that he is understood wherever he goes. He deems it impolite to go to a foreign land and not at least try to converse in the native tongue. He became interested in languages and is fluent in German (obviously), English, French and Italian. He is trying to learn Japanese and Shu is helping. 

Went to an engineering school and studied to become an engineer. When he became a racer, he utilised his knowledge to benefit his career. He’s incredibly intelligent and uses this to help his fellow racers and friends.

Raoul CaRoule - Raoul is pretty much the calmest vehicle in the world when it comes to problems. He doesn’t fret, doesn’t stress and takes everything as it comes. He’s great to be around in tricky situations as he's usually the first with a solution to a problem. 

He adores getting his tyres dirty. No matter where he goes in the world, he has to make sure he gets covered in dust and mud. It makes him feel alive, free, happy and it takes him right back to his roots. 

Raoul is very active and enjoys challenges. Learning new physical skills helps his restless mind. Lewis is teaching him Karate and Raoul loves it. He's going for his black belt very soon. 

He wants to learn how to dance. 

Carla Veloso - Carla loves to party. She’ll dance away for hours and not give a damn about who’s watching. She is spritely and loves to socialise at any given opportunity. 

She can drink and has drunk all of her fellow WGP racers under the table. 

Carla got into racing when she was very young, coming from a family of incredibly fast vehicles who would watch the races with her. It was all she ever wanted to do and her dreams were well supported. 

She loves tractors and finds them hilarious. 

Shu Todoroki - Although his last name means ‘thunderous sound’, Shu himself is anything but loud. He is quietly spoken and keeps to himself most of the time. Although he does end up being quite close with Raoul during the WGP and keeps in regular contact with him. 

Shu appreciates his alone time and will often go off to simply be by himself for a little while. He needs to recharge after a large gathering, though he is by no means anxious or afraid of them. 

His paint job is of the Ka-Riu dragon. He chose it to represent his incredible abilities to simply plough through any tough situation, and to symbolise his high levels of grit and determination. He never shies away from anything, no matter how difficult it may seem.

Nigel Gearsley - A very well spoken gentleman; courteous in every way. Nigel comes from a well off family and was brought up in the world of racing. He has an incredible level of stamina from training on Aston Hill Mountain that's near impossible to beat. 

He got Ramone to change his paint colour after the race at Radiator Springs. He told him to “go wild”. Fillmore ended up getting involved and Nigel ended up with Tie-Dye patterns. He certainly didn’t complain. 

Nigel is a bit of a history buff. He loved history in high school and ended up going into higher education and studying British history. He is particularly interested in subjects surrounding the royal family. 

Miguel Camino - Miguel is a thrill seeker and loves sports that involve danger and intense competition. He adores high intensity activities and has gone skydiving on many occasions. As long as he is free, he will always participate in the running of the bulldozers. 

He is a total show off. He will display himself at any given opportunity for any crowd that's willing to watch him. He exudes confidence with everything he does and is the envy of a lot of his acquaintances. 

He gets on really well with Raoul. They have a bouncy energy together and it's infectious. 

He loves gelato. He will get himself to a gelato bar as often as he possibly can. There aren't many flavours that he hasn’t tried and he plans to try each flavour from each place he goes to. His favourite is lemon. 

Rip Clutchgoneski - Rip is an incredibly humble vehicle, attributing his successes to luck of the draw, when in reality, he is very skilled. He just doesn’t notice it. He lacks confidence in himself quite often and occasionally needs a little boost from his friends and colleagues, especially when he begins to question his abilities. 

He is naturally funny and often pulls amazing jokes that put those who hear them into fits of laughter. He always seems happy. Even in bad situations, he holds a strong position and keeps himself and others laughing. 

Rip is a fan of Dusty Crophopper since he feels a kinship with him. Dusty built himself from the ground up just as Rip did for himself in the racing world. 

He is an avid gamer and loves to spend hours of his spare time online with friends and strangers alike. He favours racing games but has a soft spot for Minecraft. 

#cars 2 #cars pixar #cars fandom #cars #pixar cars #cars headcanons #cars 2 (2011) #wgp racers #carla veloso #jeff gorvette #max schnell #lewis hamilton (cars) #rip clutchgoneski #shu todoroki #miguel camino #raoul caroule #lightning mcqueen #francesco bernoulli #nigel gearsley #wgp #SORRY THIS TOOK SO BLOODY LONG!!!

[the-kcm-muggleborn]

Kind For You

Fandom: Hogwarts Legacy

O/C: Sebastian Sallow x Edwart Thompson x Ominis Gaunt ✨️platonic✨️ (My OC)

Warnings: None

Word count: 1136

Chapter 2

Part 1

Edwart was waiting in front of Professor Fig's class taking a cat nap. As expected he didn't get much sleep after yesterday's events. He was exhausted but the sleep he experienced wasn't as satisfying as he had hoped.

Suddenly something had awoken him and unfortunately, it wasn't Professor Fig.

“What are you doing here?” a familiar tad too cheery voice with a hint of amusement woke him up.

“Sebastian…” Edwart spoke quietly, not opening his eyes “Why are you disturbing my peaceful sleep?”

Sebastian smirked at the delivery of that line.

“Oh. I’m sorry. Merlin knows the pretty boy needs his beauty sleep ” 

Edwart smiled a little bit and stretched his limbs while he opened his eyes

“I'm waiting for Professor Fig.” He explained while getting up. “He sent me an owl and now I'm just waiting”

Sebastian lifted an eyebrow and before he spoke Edwart interrupted him.

“No questions like that.” He put his hands on his face in a tired manner. “He just needed to talk to me but looks like he’s running late. I'll explain everything when I can. ”

Sebastian nodded 

“Anyway, what are you doing here?” Edwart continued. “Wouldn't you rather sleep at this hour?” 

Sebastian smiled mischievously.

“Well, I just came from the library. At this hour Madam Scribner doesn't pay as much attention to the surroundings. It’s easier to slip into the restricted section that way” he finished his sentence with a proud grin.

Edwart certainly didn't expect that. 

“Restricted section you say..? And? Found anything interesting there?” 

 “Well well look who finally got interested in the right topics” Sebastian’s grin reached his eyes 

“I’m here-” Profesor Fig interrupted, looking out of breath. “I apologise for being late. Let's talk in my office, shall we?

“I’ll see you later Sebastian” Edwart quickly waved and followed Professor Fig.

“How are you? I heard about the troll attack! Are you sleeping better?” Professor Fig asked with worry

“Not really but thank you for your concern” Edwart smiled lightly “Now what was so urgent Professor?”

“I found something…” Professor Fig started

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

“Yes Profesor Fig indicated a certain urgency to you completing your defensive magic assignments.” Professor Hecat stated “ As such. You are to learn Incendio, the Fire-Making spell”

“Understood Professor” Edwart stated flatly.

“But before we get started. I’d like you to head to the clocktower and find a young Gryffindor named Lucan Brattleby, he’ll know what to do and I suppose you’ll understand soon enough too.” Professor Hecate said firmly “ When you’re finished come and see me. Then we shall begin working on Incendio.

“Yes Professor” Edwart answered with politeness and headed out.

“Seems that duelling club, Sebastian was on about isn’t as secret as he believes” Edwart thought with a smirk “At least now I don’t have to worry about getting into trouble for practising if a Professor is advising it.” 

While Edwart was walking towards said place he got jumped by a weird colourful loud ghost floating through the walls leaving a wet puddle after him. “The Hell?” Edwart thought “What in Lord’s name was that?” Finally, he reached his supposed destination and found an all too familiar Slytherin, leaning on a metal gate.

“Well, well… I see you changed your mind about the club?” Sebastian asked with a grin

“Hardly.” Edwart answered with a smirk “I’m looking for Gryffindor named Lucan?”

“Lucan Brattleby? Yeah, he runs this show. He’s just over there.” Sebastian pointed “Either way, glad you could make it.”

Edwart stepped away in the direction of a boy, Sebastian pointed to

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

‘’So it wasn’t pure luck in the Defence Against The Dark Arts class I see” Sebastian grinned “You’re quite a duelist!”

“Hmph.” Edwart breathed out tiredly “You’re not too bad yourself Sallow..”

Sebastian felt his smile spread at the look Edwart shot him. Finally, Sebastian saw some friendly competitive traits sticking out of the new fifth year. He could see Edwart was starting to warm up to Hogwarts' environment. 

“Anyway, as much as it was fun putting other students to the ground with you” Edwart spoke playfully “I have to go. I have other things to attend to so I’ll see you later” 

“Sure, later” Sebastian replied with a small smile

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

“Sebastian! There you are!” Edwart said a little out of breath 

Sebastian turned around when he heard a familiar voice.

“There you are. Have you missed me that much in my brief absence? Sebastian almost sang with his voice

Edwart playfully rolled his eyes. “No, I need your help…”

Sebastian looked at him with slight surprise. Edwart asked him for help. Straight-forward? Interesting…

“I need to get inside the Restricted section. Earlier today you were bragging about going there. I assume it wasn't your first time..”

Sebastian didn't know if he was more astonished or intrigued by a request to sneak into the restricted section by nobody else than Edwart. A student that presents himself as a goody two shoes. But maybe Sebastian judged him far too soon…

“No” Sebastian finally spoke with a small grin “It wasn’t my first time and I will gladly be your guide through the dark restricted section and I'm guessing no questions would be answered if I asked?”

“Indeed, I apologise” Edwart smiled thankfully 

“Alright then. Meet me outside the Library tonight. And tell no one.” Sebastian lowered his voice

“What will happen if we're caught in the Restricted section?” Edwart matched Sebastian's voice

“Detention no doubt.” Sebastian answered surely “But don't worry about that. We'll thread carefully just, avoid Peeves the poltergeist.” 

“Who?” Edwart asked 

Sebastian chuckled 

“That very colourful ghost that always floats about very loudly. You've probably seen him by now.” 

“Ah. That. I saw him floating about and leaving a puddle of water after him.” Edwart answered with a slightly confused face. “Is he..? Always like that?”

“I’m afraid so. he’s a pain most of the time” Sebastian spoke with a half grimace, half smile.

“Ugh. I just remembered something. I have to go. I’ll see you tonight Sebastian”

 Just like that before Sebastian got a chance to answer. Edwart was gone. From what it looks like the new student was always on the run, always having a responsibility waiting for him. Sebastian didn't envy him for that.

- - - - - - - - - AUTOR'S NOTES- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thank you so much for reading CHAPTER 2 of my fanficion. I hope you enjoyed it! We're getting into the Resrticted Section! Uh Oh! Wonder what will happen... ;}

English is not my first language, sorry keep that in mind:)

Part 2

#hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy imagine #hogwarts legacy mc #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #hogwarts legacy fanfic #hogwarts legacy male mc #sebastian sallow #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian sallow imagine #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x male mc #ominis gaunt #ominis gaunt x mc #ominis gaunt fanfic #ominis gaunt fanfiction #ominis fanfiction #ominis imagine #fanfiction #fanfic #mc x ominis gaunt #ominis x mc #sebastian x mc x ominis #platonic #hogwarts #library #restricted section #male mc #original character #writers on tumblr #writing

[loviatarwrites]

after the mission (nsfw)

Chamber x Reader

Word Count: 2.9k

Summary: After your first field mission Chamber visits your apartment to make sure that you are doing fine.

A/N: I decided to finally make a blog for all of my fics so I have another place apart from ao3 to post them. Most of them are very much nsfw so keep that in mind when reading. 

The ticking got louder. It wasn’t actually louder, but in your head, it mixed with the sounds of the fight and yells that told you to defuse the Spike before everything goes sideways. You sweated and your hands wouldn’t do what you wanted. Why did you agree to come with them to the field mission? Your place was not where people were shooting their copies and it was definitely not the “simple and quick” mission Killjoy had sold to you when you had asked to borrow some of her spare parts for your project.

“Relax. You’re doing fine, but please hurry a little bit.” Killjoy’s voice came from behind you and mixed with the sound of Phantom. You tried to keep yourself calm, but it wasn’t as easy as on the practise situations, and you swore that you would never come back to the field ever again.

Flash before your eyes. Shots. Only thing between you and the bullet is one box of Radianite. You didn’t see anything, and you wanted to scream but no voice came out from your body. You hold the defuser on the place and hoped that you got to see your small apartment on the Valorant headquarters again. Then a shot from a sniper rifle. Even louder than the one from Operator. And another one. You closed your eyes. You hold the trigger and hope that the Spike defused itself before your brains were just mush on the ground. The ticking got more aggressive. No, this was not how you end. The ticking stopped.

“Told you not to stress, Y/N.” Everything was silent around you, and it took you a while to register Killjoy’s words. You took a deep breath, everything was hazy.

“Killjoy, I said that this was most definitely a bad idea. You almost got her killed.” Another agent walked next to the defused Spike, and you see that Chamber had returned from his sniping position next to the Spike’s planting spot. “We have to return and when we do, you shall be the one to explain to Brimstone what happened.”

“Meine güte! Do I also tell him that the place still has an alert that tells that you’re not welcome?”

“I would highly advice against that, mademeoiselle Killjoy.”

You were silent and wondered how you would recover from this mission. At this moment curling up to your lab to tinker your tech felt like a good idea, much better than seeing sunlight, gunfire and people that looked just like you, but they wanted you very, very dead. It didn’t take long for a helicopter to pick you up, and even the flight back to the HQ wasn’t long you couldn’t but to sit silent, wondering why you ever thought this was a good idea.

There were moments when you wanted to sink to the bottom of your bathtub, and this was one of them. When you had gotten back to the base, Brimstone was waiting for you and before you had time to put hands to your ears, he had started to yell to Killjoy about taking you with them to the mission. Yes, your abilities were helpful, but loud noises still made you freeze on your place. It wasn’t angry yelling, more worried kind but it was still way too quickly after gunfire and flashes for your taste.

“Do you ever feel like you have to learn how to say no?” You poked a small rubber duck around the bath and sank even lower, so your nose was underwater. You spoke out loud but couldn’t hear yourself because of the headphones you were wearing, and the music helped you to keep your head on the present.

“Like, I know what I’m doing but who takes a newbie to the mission? I want to help but maybe, just maybe I’m more suited to the lab than on the field?” The music was fast, and it had a beat that made your brain feel nice. The experience on the field wasn’t traumatic, but it wasn’t pleasant either, and it made you wonder how Killjoy, Viper, Chamber, and others did those multiple times and kept themselves mostly sane. Damn, most of the times Chamber just stood on one position, looking through his sniper and shot time and time again and looked just like any other well-dressed man after that.

“I should get myself together.”

You poked the rubber duck on the other side of the bath.

“I really should.”

You unplugged the bath and the water leaked out and forced you to move. It was good way to tell yourself not to sink to the tub until the next day or next week.

“Okay, Y/N, get yourself together. It’s not even that late yet so maybe you can get something to snack before the bed.”

You poured yourself a glass of iced tea and with all of your remaining willpower got yourself to living room. Most of your braincells would’ve liked to go to sleep but you forced yourself to stay awake a little bit longer, and maybe a little bit of sugary water with a hint of lemon would help with that. Your sofa was soft and spacious, so you could just lay down and look at the ceiling while thinking about everything that happened today, of how Killjoy said that they needed your one-way mirrors to scout Mirror Earth agents and that they would be really helpful. Were they really, that you weren’t sure but at least you could use your abilities to something else than creating weird windows all around the headquarters?

You drifted away and almost fell asleep, but your doorbell woke you up with a sound that pierced through your headphones. It took a second or two for you to reach to your bracelet that had your apartment lights and doors coded in it, and with little bit of struggling you got to the door opening button.

“Just come in, it’s not locked!” You climbed up to the sitting position and sipped last of your tea that had been on the table for a while now.

“I can come later if you wish.” Chamber was standing at the door, still halfway on the outside of your apartment. “I don’t want to disturb you.”

You dropped your headphones to your shoulders and got up to grab another glass of tea from the kitchen.

“You already did so come here and tell what you want.”

“I just wanted to check that you were doing fine. Y/N, you seemed rather, how do I say it, quiet after the latest mission.”

“Wasn’t really the best thing I have done not going to lie.”

Chamber got to your living room and sit on the other side of the sofa while you got back from your kitchen with a glass of tea on your hand. He looked at your glass and you felt how he judged you silently because of your drink of choice. You knew Chamber liked black coffee, but you couldn’t stand the taste of that liquid even if caffeine would help you to stay awake.

“I don’t know if I want to go to field ever again. All of those noises and bangs and booms all around me.” You sit to the other side of the sofa and after you had said that you realize what you had just let out of your mouth. “Sorry, didn’t mean that. Your sniper is cool.”

“Oh but it is rather loud, yes?”

“Well, yes. But I didn’t mean it like that.” You quickly finished your drink and leaned closer to Chamber. This wasn’t the first time he was at your apartment, so you knew he would most likely be okay with you seeking comfort from him. After he had came to your lab to borrow tools for his weapon project which had escalated to second and third visit you had learned to know him closer than most other agents.

“I know Y/N, that’s why I was surprised you wanted to join us.”

“Was I helpful to you at least?” You pressed yourself against his side and felt how his arm wrapped around your shoulder when you pressed your knees to your chest. You leaned to him and felt how you are like a small kitten that seeked shelter from a big cat with a fancy suit. Well, that thought made much more sense in your head.

“You were, I was just worried that something would happen to you.” Chamber pulled you closer to his side, and you hid your face against your knees.

“I just want to go back to my lab and never leave it again.”

“That would be very unpleasant, Y/N.”

You muttered words to your knees on a language Chamber didn’t understand, but by the tone of your voice you could tell that he had an idea that you were ranting to yourself. Chamber’s hand leaved your shoulder and moved to your side and when he moved you from the side to sit on his lap you instantly let out a small, surprised sound. You looked at his face up close, so close that you could see all of the small details and that his face was both serious and playful.

“You are safe now. And you’ll be safe on a field. I make sure you are safe.”

His fingers traced your brow and moved a small strand of hair away from your face. Chamber kissed your neck lightly and you couldn’t help but to let the moan escape your lips when he did, and you felt how he sucked the same spot before parting. Your hands found their way to Chamber’s hair, and you pulled his head back to meet his lips with yours, and the tiredness replaced itself with hunger when you kissed him until you had to catch your breath.

“I must’ve come to meet you at a good time, yes?”

“Well you know that I like having you around. Brim probably doesn’t like it though. All that “leave your old life when you join the program” doesn’t probably mean searching interesting people within the program.”

“Do you care about his opinion?”

“Hmm… no, not really. Not at this point.”

Chamber pushed you to the sofa and leaned on top of you, and you looked as he placed his hand to your side and pulled your top off. He moved his fingers on your breast and thumb massaged your nipple, and the sensation is way stronger than it should’ve been. Your breathe got deeper, and you saw how Chamber looked at you with concerned face. Maybe you were looking more tired than you had realized, because that was a face he didn’t show often.

“You’re not breaking me, don’t worry.”

Your voice was like a permission to him, and his hand pinned yours on top of your head, making you unable to move, but you were more than willing to let him do what he wanted. Chamber moved his free hand from your breast between your legs, and you thought for a moment if you were lying when you said he can’t break you. He kissed your neck again but soon the kiss changed to sucking that would most likely leave you marked for couple of days. When Chamber moved to another spot while still rubbing you with his hands you gave in to the pleasure and let him take as long as he wanted because if one thing is sure, he knew how to make you feel good.

“Do you still think you don’t break?”

You felt how Chamber’s fingers pushed in, and you couldn’t but to moan from the pleasure he was giving to you. “Or do you want me to try to break you?”

“So far nothing I can’t handle.” You took a deep breath when he moved his fingers, and you wanted to scream that you wanted more from him. As much as you enjoyed where you were you knew that there was much more he could offer to you, and when he had come to your apartment he wasn’t thinking just taking you kindly and gently.

You had no idea how long you’ve been going, and the only thing you knew for a fact is that you were grooling mess that must find a scarf to wear for a breakfast tomorrow. Chamber had taken his time to make sure he was not moving too fast, but by the look on his face he enjoyed seeing you squirm under him and moaning for him to keep going, time and time again until you were out of breath.

“You want more, yes?” His face was close to yours, and you could feel the heat radiating from your body.

“Yes Chamber, please, give me more.”

He took his hand from yours and began to pull down your pants and panties down your legs, leaving you naked when he removed his clothes on a neat pile next to the sofa. The cold air from your apartment catch itself to your skin which made you shiver but you didn’t want to whine about that at that point. After he returned on top of you, he gave you a deep kiss, and you felt how his tongue entered your mouth. The kiss was passionate and long and while you were concentrating on that, you felt Chamber’s fingers down on you again. He teased your folds for a while until he parted them, and you felt how his cock slide against your pussy and slowly filled you up.

“Please Chamber, please break me.” Your voice was more of a moan and whine than actual voice, but it told Chamber you wanted him to go on.

First movements were gentle, but soon you felt how Chamber begun to move faster and rougher than he has on a previous times with you. He pressed against you and his muscular frame covered your body so if anyone had walked to the room, they would’ve look for a second to see that you were under him. You had had your doubts how your body would be able to take him, but this time it was even more than before.

When Chamber had first came to your lab you didn’t think that a weapon designer would be interested in your work, but soon you realized that he wasn’t only interested in that. Sometimes you wondered, if that was intention from the start and you were just a way for him to let out steam, but at this moment it wasn’t important for you. You were enjoying how he took you, hold you on a place and how you, who usually bossed everyone around could willingly submit to him and let him take the lead.

Your mind came back to the present when Chamber’s cock stretched your insides and every time he pushed in you it felt like he went deeper than before, and only thing that your brain was able to do was to beg him to keep going and keep going harder. There was no time to think about the whole “what did he see in me” at this point, and your thoughts were mostly just lust and hunger that he would go even harder than he did.

One thrust after another, your moans mixing up with Chamber’s as you asked more time after another. You wanted to keep going, but the sensation was getting too much for you. The feeling of his cock inside you, and hearing Chamber’s low moans next to your ear. Your insides clenched and the heat inside you became too much to bear. Without a warning, when you felt him hitting the deepest spot you screamed, and your vision went blurry for couple of seconds as the orgasm flowed over you.

“Thank you Chamber.” You panted and your hands crossed to his neck as you leaned closer to him.

“You’re most welcome Y/N, but are you still willing to prove that I can’t break you?”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“Let’s see.”

You felt how Chamber’s hands found your sides and rolled you around, so you were on your belly, and that was something you were not anticipating. But you were willing to prove him wrong as much as you wanted him to continue until you felt how long he was willing to go with you. Your hands were hold on top of your head when every inch of him disappeared into you and you stretched to fit him just right.

“I hope you enjoyed yourself.”

Chamber was laying on top of you after a time that felt like it could’ve been anything between a blink of an eye and multiple hours. You felt the weight of his body on your back, and it made you feel like you were safe.

“Like I said, I don’t break easily so yes, I liked it very much.”

Chamber rolled to your side so you could press yourself against his chest when he wrapped your arms around you.

“I remember you saying that you don’t break, yes?”

“Oh did I? Maybe you’ll have to come up with even more ways to see if that’s true then?”

“It seems like I have to, mademeoiselle Y/N.”

You knew that if you kept talking like that next time he would try even more, which made you want to keep talking the whole night.

#chamber x reader #chamber #chamber valorant #chamber x you #fanfic #smut #my story #vincent fabron #naughty

[bretongirlwrites]

from the worldbuilding prompts - #30 for Julianne?

30. Dubious at-home cures for mild ailments

(or: why shepherd's pie has the cure disease attribute)

‘O damnation,’ said I, ‘o damnable, damnable thing! – I have got a cold.’

I must have got it in the before-times: since damnable and inconvenient the plains of Oblivion had been, I could not recall any daedra sneezing on me; the same however, could not be said of the mages, who’d come in droves from the snow into the Guild-hall. I should sooner have a thousand sneezing mages than a single moment in the Deadlands: but waking up after the latter fact, with one’s throat dryer than in the fires of Oblivion, and one’s nose running fit to flee some dremora, – it is the last straw.

‘I ought not to complain,’ said I looking at Corinne and Martin quite piteously: ‘I shall survive at least.’

‘Oh!’ said Corinne: ‘both you and Martin know a good deal of healing-magics, –’

‘Would it surprise you to learn, my dear Corinne,’ said I, ‘that try as we might, – and it’s our collective headache,’ my head pounding a little with the effort of it, ‘– no mage nor alchemist nor healer has ever managed to cure the common cold?’

Martin, who had been building our fire, looked at me with such astonishment, that I wondered at his ignorance of it: considered that people had surely come to him with the most terrible of diseases and afflictions and ailments, – but never thought, in the grip of such a pathetic malady as this, to go to a priest. Corinne, likewise baffled, could only pity me; and from some deep devoted place in her Blades armour, offer me her handkerchief. 

‘And especially not,’ said I, ‘in the middle of absolute nowhere. – Damn it all. – What do we still have in rations?

‘There used to be,’ I persisted, while Corinne was fetching the bags, ‘a woman of questionable skill in the City, who purporting to be a healer, sold her cure-alls at such remarkable prices, that the Society for Concerned Merchants was overwhelmed by the real alchemists; and the University investigated. – What on this beloved planet is this?’

‘Dried mutton,’ said Corinne, ‘I think.’

‘It turned out,’ I went on, ‘that this woman, unable to afford and maintain the proper equipment, did a sort of rudimentary alchemy in her marmite. In essence she was making soup. The remarkable thing is that, – though it did not cure anything, – her soup actually worked for certain reliefs. A sort of advanced wortcraft. – I presume this is a potato?’

The thing was so grubby, that even after washing it, I still feared to mistake it for a boulder, and lose it. Corinne however, who had got the water up to the boil, encouraged me to do whatever it was I was doing; and Martin, who was too tired to do anything but watch, awaited with a smile, the continuation of the story.

‘She held this against us,’ said I, ‘and the case stood. It’s the City… after all. She was allowed to continue practising, so long as she did not use the word potion. Such a word implies proper alchemy, and you know how it is… it did not much matter anyway. The last I heard of her, she’d gone over to Skyrim. Apparently they are fond of soup over there; and not so much of potions, – o my voice is going, –’

It had not been much of a dawn, – what with my cold; and the fog; and the memory of tribulations past: but when the water was bubbling, and our thoughts were all turned to sustenance, we may stretch our legs a little, and yawning, smile round at each other; no voices necessary. I almost forgot all else, in my memory of the story, the City which lay faint on the horizon: and when my experiment was ready, said only, and with increasing frogs:

‘I admired her. I really did. There’s a sort of expectation on us, to do things properly. Her things did not work as well as ours did: but they worked, they damn well worked. I haven’t often imitated her, until, – called by necessity, –’

Whereupon I, with a flourish and the nearest stick to a spoon I could find, poured out my creation into a bottle that Martin held out. 

‘There you have it,’ said I, ‘a potion, of fortify health, of restore fatigue: a soup-potion! I cannot cure a cold: but it will keep me going until Bruma, –’

‘It’s a shepherd’s pie,’ said Corinne at once voice rising: ‘a liquified shepherd’s pie. – A shepherd’s pie, in a bottle. – You could have made a damn shepherd’s pie.’

I fell silent halfway to drinking it. – Corinne looked at me. – I sheepish, looked away, at Martin. – And he though consternated, – and she though troubled, – and I though in the midst of the most inconvenient cold of my life, – raised a toast of pie-soup: and burst out laughing.

#breton girl writes #i don't know what this is. it's so stupid #never know what to make of alchemy as it exists in the game. so i just do silly things with it

[crackedpumpkin]

ᴄʜᴇʀʀʏ ʙʟᴏꜱꜱᴏᴍꜱ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴅɪᴍᴇɴꜱɪᴏɴ || ᴘᴀʀᴛ ꜱᴇᴠᴇɴ

2k12! Leonardo x Waterbender! reader

“Again.” 

Sweat trickles down the side of Y/n’s face. She exhales slowly, before running towards the dojo wall, using the hard surface to rebound and land gently on the floor. Her foot slips once again from trying to control the impact of her landing, and she falls on her side once again.

Her teacher watches her sternly. His whiskers twitch.

“Again.”

She groans at his order. “When am I going to learn more moves like theirs?” She complains, shooting a dirty glare at a sniggering Raph. Donnie looks at her sympathetically. 

Leo watches her, wincing at the memory of when he was in a similar position. Mikey sends her a thumbs up, the only encouraging one.

Y/n looks at Leo desperately.

Back me up here, her eyes seemed to convey.

Sorry, you asked for him to train you, Leo shrugs.

“Let us have a short break.” Master Splinter suggests. She lets out a sigh of relief, collapsing onto the soft mat that barely hid the firmness of the dojo’s floor.

“You did well on your first try.” Donnie tries to encourage her. 

“Thank you, Donnie. I just don’t know why I can’t stick this landing!” Y/n is frustrated, rubbing her legs that felt like jelly.

“It took me a while to get it too. Leo kept falling every other try so you’re actually doing much better than him.” Donnie hands her a glass of water that she downs thankfully, licking her lips after.

“Hey!” Leo glares at Donnie but softens when Y/n’s eyes shine with hope. 

“Really?” 

Donnie nods, and Leo looks away, embarrassed.

“Ready to try again?” Master Splinter waits patiently as Y/n stands up.  

“Yup.” She stands in front of Master Splinter once more. Raph continues to watch, her struggle a new source of amusement for him.

Mikey had already grown bored, heading off to use his skateboard. Donnie walks back to his lab, and Leo sits down.

Y/n assumes the position she has just learned, gritting her teeth, She runs once more towards the wall, successfully doing a somersault and landing softly. She stumbles a bit but manages to not lose her balance.

Master Splinter hums in approval. “Good. After training, do three more sets of katas.”

Y/n beams, elated at her success.

“Now, we shall learn one more move?” Master Splinter’s lips curl into a small smile. Y/n nods eagerly. 

“I will begin by teaching you Kenjutsu, the way of the sword.” He walks over to his wall of weapons. He grabs a wooden sword and swings it, judging it as satisfactory for her use. He tosses it to her and she catches it easily. 

Grabbing another one for himself, he motions for Leo to step forward. “The first thing you must learn is the Shomen Uchi. It is a straight downward cut.” Leo unsheaths his katanas. 

“I will demonstrate to you how a precise blow can affect your opponent, even when they are using a variety of attacks. Come, Leonardo.” Master Splinter orders his son. 

Leo attacks without hesitation. Master Splinter dodges each strike and slashes expertly with ease while Y/n watches closely. 

“A Shomen Uchi is useful for both offense,” Master Splinter finally strikes, sidestepping a blow and swinging the wooden blade down. It strikes Leo’s shoulder firmly. Leo stumbles from the impact, dropping the katana in his hand.

“and defence.” Master Splinter finishes, now using the butt of the sword to hit the top of Leo’s head lightly when he charges at him with a cry. He kicks the back of his shell and Leo is sent tumbling down. 

“Ugh...” He groans. 

“That was amazing!!” Y/n’s eyes are practically sparkling, looking at Master Splinter with an awestruck gaze. 

“Now that you know the benefits, your homework will be practising this move a thousand times.” Master Splinter nods to the sword in her hand hanging lamely by her side. Y/n steadies herself and does her first swing.

She loses her grip, the blade flying out of her hand and spinning towards Raph who cries out in alarm. Master Splinter steps in, catching the sword quickly and returning it to a sheepish Y/n.

“You almost hit me!” 

“I’m sorry...” Y/n laughs nervously. Leo chuckles, heading towards the dojo’s doors. “It’s time for patrol.” 

Raph stands up, leaving with him. “You coming?” Leo pauses, looking at her. He waits for her answer patiently. “No, I’d like to stay and practice.” She replies without looking, concentrating on swinging the blade.

“Okay, we’ll see you later.” Leo smiles at the furrow between Y/n’s eyes, leaving the lair with his brothers.

Y/n finally gives herself a break, sitting down and catching her breath. Her hair was damp with sweat, and her cheeks were red. Her arms ached, and she sets down the wooden sword she had trained with for the past three hours.

She goes to clean herself up and is exiting the bathroom when she hears two familiar voices in the dojo, along with clangs of metal.

“You knew she was watching, and all you did was show off!” Raph says, and Leo uses his legs to toss Raph over his head. He lands beside Y/n who had just opened the doors, narrowly missing a collision.

“I...I was demonstrating how formidable we are. I knew she wasn’t going to attack us.” Leo defends himself with a smug grin and Raph grunts. 

“What’s going on here?” 

Y/n’s question goes ignored as Raph stands up, and the two brothers begin to circle each other again, weapons drawn. “Of course not,” Raph replies sarcastically, “She’s studying our moves for next time. You don’t flirt with the enemy Leo, you take ‘em down.”

“No! You’re wrong about her. She has a good side.”

“Oh yeah? If that’s what you’re doing, then why not tell the others?” It’s Raph’s turn to be smug.

“Because they wouldn’t understand.” Leo’s frustrated, and he tries to attack Raph who catches his blades with his sais, flinging him against the wall.

Y/n watches silently, choosing to listen and piece together what had happened on their patrol.

“You really think Mikey and Donnie wouldn’t understand?” Raph pauses, looking away for a moment while he pins Leo to the wall with his sais at his throat. “You really think Donnie wouldn’t understand?” He corrects himself.

“Look, I know what I’m doing!” Leo headbutts Raph, sending him and his sais across the room. Raph shakes his head as he sits up, and launches himself at his brother. It turns into an all-out fistfight, Y/n picking up the carelessly flung weapons.

“Just trust me!” Leo yells, grabbing Raph in a chokehold. 

“What is going on here?” Master Splinter says sternly, and Leo releases his brother from the chokehold, the two standing up. “Nothing.” Leo stares at Raph who turns away and sighs. “Yeah, nothing,” Raph responds flatly, his arms crossed. 

“Thanks.” Raph grabs the sais that Y/n holds out for him, leaving the dojo. Leo picks up his swords, flinching a little when he sees Y/n’s disapproving stare before he frowns, turning away.

“So, what happened out there?” Y/n walks behind Raph who’s using the pinball machine.

“Our leader in blue decided to show off for his lil’ crush in the Foot while we were on patrol.” Raph punches the buttons on the machines. Y/n leans against the wall next to him. 

“He’s head over heels for her.” Y/n scoffs, “Almost as much as Donnie is for April. Karai is bad news.” Raph groans in frustration. “I know! But he doesn’t listen!” 

She shrugs in response. “You gotta let him go through it.” Her gut twists, and her lips purse. 

“Like heck, I will.”

“I’ll try to talk to him later.” Y/n offers. 

“I dunno, he might not listen to you either. Can’t hurt to try though.” Raph sighs, heading to the punching bag. He tunes everyone out, his eyes focused.

“Hey Y/n, wanna come with me to my school tomorrow morning?” April offers from her place on the couch.

“Sure.” She agrees, sitting down next to her.

“Bring pizza on the way back!” Mikey says from the couch, laying on his shell as he reads his comic book.

“Pepperoni, or can I pick?” Y/n teases lightly, seeing Mikey mumble his approval, too absorbed in his comic. 

April chooses to stay the night, and the two girls are hanging out on the couch when Y/n sees Leo head to his room. She stands up, mumbling a quick apology to April before following him.

“If you’re here to tell me not to trust Karai, don’t. I’ve already heard it from everyone else.” Leo sets down his katanas at the foot of his bed, sensing her behind him.

“I’m not.” Y/n replies softly, her hand laid flat on the door’s frame. She closes the door but leaves a small gap. She flicks a switch to turn on the lights, and a soft glow lights up the room. Her eyes follow the string of fairy lights that adorn each shelf, twirling around the bedframe before her gaze settles on a defeated Leo sitting on his bed.

“May I?” Leo nods, scooching over to give her some space to sit down beside him. 

After a long pause, Y/n finally speaks from beside him. “They care about you, you know.” 

“Then why can’t they just trust me?” Leo turns to face her, his hands on his knees. 

“Because she’s also your enemy.” Y/n points out gently, turning to meet his desperate gaze. 

The space between Leo’s brow furrowed. “Why aren’t you trying to stop me?”

“Because I believe and trust in you, even if it’s a really bad idea.” Y/n chuckles, leaning forward to brush away some dust on his cheek. 

Leo’s breath hitches from the close proximity, nervously looking away when she leans back. “There’s still good in her.” He tries to quell the flip his heart does when he meets her gaze once again. Ignoring the quiver in his heart that threatened to waver from Karai, he crosses his arms, staring straight ahead.

“Alright,” Y/n murmurs with a shake of her head. She could sense him beginning to close off. “Just be careful around her, okay? No matter how much good she might have in her, she’s still your enemy. Even if she’s soft on you, it doesn’t mean she’s the same on your brothers. Don’t be blinded like I was.”

“...Alright,” Leo replies quietly, hanging his head. The tails of his bandanna rest on his shoulders, and Y/n gives them a quick squeeze before standing up and turning off the lights, giving him a soft smile before leaving. 

He didn’t understand why no one seemed to appreciate his efforts to get Karai to join their side. He had heard countless warnings from Master Splinter and his brothers, not to mention April telling him many times how much of a bad idea it was to get involved with Karai. He had brushed off each one, only taking Master Splinter’s warning somewhat seriously. But Y/n was different. Her words still lingered in his head. It was frustrating, her existence.

He wasn’t supposed to feel this way towards anyone, much less Y/n. She was from a different world, and she would return when Donnie was done fixing the Kraang tech. Besides, he was sure that she would never fall for a mutant turtle. But he still couldn’t stop the gentle flutters his heart gave, and the small tingles that his arms felt when she smiled at him. 

But what did she mean when she warned him not to be blinded like she was?

Had someone similarly hurt her?

It was mere speculation, but Leo felt his anger rise at the thought. He quickly tries to change the track of his thoughts, focusing on Karai.

Karai was different. She was dangerous. Coy. But she was also exciting. She was like a breath of fresh air from the rigidness of Leo’s personality, and he enjoyed the time he spent with her. Shaking his head, Leo groans. He liked Karai, and that was the end of it. What he felt for Y/n was temporary, definitely not real. It was probably just because of their kiss that he felt anything remotely romantic towards her. It was definitely because of that. 

With tumultuous thoughts running amok in his mind, he lays down on his bed, drifting off to sleep in an attempt to escape them.

“I wonder what schools are like here.” Y/n comments, kicking away a pebble on the sidewalk. She watches it tumble onto the road.

“They’re...not fun...” April sighs, pulling out her phone to check the time. “It’s like a prison.”

“Really? Is it surrounded by an ocean...?” Y/n asks innocently. The only prison she knew of was the Boiling Rock, and it wasn’t very fun being a prisoner there until Sokka broke her and Suki out of there.

“What? No, why would it be surrounded by an ocean?” April stammers in confusion, and Y/n merely shrugs in response. She's saved from questions when April stops in her tracks, and motions for Y/n to follow her up the steps. 

“Hello, I’m Miss Campbell, from the Worldwide Genome Project. Are you April O’Neil?” A lady greets them almost robotically at the top of the stairs, her back facing them. Y/n tilts her head questioningly, the lady seemingly not noticing her presence. 

“Uh, yes?” April slows down her pace, slightly taken aback by Miss Campbell’s presence.

“I’m here to present your DNA test results. Come with me.” Miss Campbell finally turns her head, April hesitating. Y/n stands a few feet away, feeling her gut twisting uncomfortably at Miss Campbell’s presence. She narrows her eyes. Something was off. 

“Wow, I figured you guys were just going to send printouts.” April laughs.

“No, we don’t send printouts. Come with me.” 

April begins to back away slightly, creeped out by Miss Campbell’s insistence. “Uh, where exactly?”

“We’re going to a place where I can present your DNA test results. Come with me.” Miss Campbell’s tone is almost threatening, her empty gaze unsettling.

“What did you say your name was again?” April’s tone is more hesitant, sending Y/n an alarmed look. The latter nods, bending the water from her water bag into water whips.

“I’m Miss Campbell, from the Worldwide Genome Project. I’m here to present your test results.” She rattles off again as if she was reading from a pre-written script. Y/n wonders if all teachers were like that here.

“Right. I gotta go.” April finally has enough, turning around and heading back down the stairs. An outstretched hand grabs her wrist firmly, and she’s stopped from moving any further. 

“Come with me.”

“Let her go!” Y/n finally speaks up, frowning at the lady. She sends a water whip at the hand that was holding April’s wrist, but Miss Campbell doesn’t budge. 

Miss Campbell tosses April roughly against the glass display case that featured multiple awards the school had, the girl bouncing off of the glass and landing on the floor with a pained grunt.

She looks up in time to see Miss Campbell’s fist flying towards her, and Y/n reacts quickly. She wraps a tendril of water around April’s leg, using it to pull her away just as Miss Campbell’s fist smashes through the glass.

“Thank you Y/n,” April says gratefully, the two girls watching Miss Campbell warily.

“I really hope this isn’t what teachers are like here.” Y/n comments. April grabs her wrist.

“They’re not!” She cries out, dragging Y/n down the hallways, running away from a dangerous Miss Campbell who was walking towards them. April looks around desperately as they run, her fingers curled around Y/n’s wrist.

The squeaking of their shoes echoed through the empty hallways, April trying to open the doors around her as Y/n tried to catch her breath. They both turn a corner, and Y/n lets a scream slip past her lips at the sudden sight of Miss Campbell in front of them. They run away again, heading towards the cafeteria.

Y/n feels her breaths becoming short, her lungs screaming for more air and she looks around desperately. Seeing a wooden statue of a short man in a helmet and beard, she tugs on April’s sleeve, motioning towards the head. April looks at her with confusion, eyes lighting up when she understands Y/n’s plan.

The shadow of Miss Campbell approaches, and April waits tensely before she finally rounds the corner. Slamming the wooden head that they had broken off from the statue down on Miss Campbell’s head, the pair use the time to run. Y/n exhales steadily after splashing some water on the ground, aiming at the floor and seeing it freeze over to buy more time for their getaway.

“In here!” April whispers, pushing Y/n into an empty broom closet and shutting the door as quietly as she can. They wait with bated breath for the red glow of Miss Campbell’s eyes to pass their hiding space. Y/n curls up in the shadows, bringing her knees to her chest.

Luckily, the girls aren’t discovered and their pursuer walks away. After judging that they were safe for now, they both exhale shakily. April pulls out her T-Phone, sending the turtles a mass text about the danger they were in.

Y/n does the same but texts Raph instead. They turn off their phones quickly, hearing the slight click-clack of Miss Campbell’s high heels approaching.

“Did you all just get a mass text from April?” Donnie questions his brothers in the kitchen, having just heard Mikey’s options for dinner. They all nod.

“I got one from Y/n too,” Raph states, holding up his phone. Leo frowns slightly at this before trying to brush it off. Why did she text Raph and not him?

“Does yours say that she’s being attacked by an old lady?” 

They all nod again.

“Y/n’s one says the same, but there are a lotta typos. It’s almost kinda cute.” Raph chuckles. Leo rolls his eyes, but it doesn’t go unnoticed by Donnie.

“Does that count as an emergency?” Donnie blinks.

“I guess.” Leo shrugs, and the severity of the situation finally hits him. “Let’s go!” 

They all grab their weapons, making their way to the school.

“I think she’s gone for now,” Y/n says in a hushed tone and April nods, reaching to turn the doorknob beside her. The door opens with a soft click, and they flinch, fully expecting Miss Campbell to attack them any minute. 

“April! Where are you?” Donnie shouts. Y/n slams open the door, relief in her eyes from hearing the familiar voice. 

April storms over to a defeated Miss Campbell, kicking what used to be her head violently. “And stay down!”

“Thank you, guys,” Y/n says breathlessly. April pats Donnie’s shoulder and he blushes from her touch, reaching out for a hug before realising she wasn’t giving him one. He changes it into a pat on April’s head, blushing in embarrassment. “You are so welcome.” 

“Hi, I’m good too,” Y/n says awkwardly from behind her, rubbing the back of her neck. “Thank goodness.” Leo holds her arms checking for any injuries. He couldn’t deny that he was worried for her on the way over.

“So, what even is she?” They all surround a defeated Miss Campbell, eyeing her with caution.

“Looks like a Kraang droid...minus the Kraang.” 

“She said she was from the Worldwide Genome Project,” Y/n adds to Leo’s educated guess.

“Woah... how did the Kraang know you sent your spit to the Worldwide thingamajig?” Mikey bends down and grabs the metal face of Miss Campbell, holding it over his own as he speaks.

“You sent your spit?” Y/n’s slightly grossed out.

“It’s how DNA works.” April crosses her arms defensively. “Plus, it was for a project...” She mumbles.

Raph is momentarily spooked when he sees Mikey, quickly recovering from the short scream he lets out before attacking him with a growl. Mikey goes down with a cry.

“Maybe they hacked into the system. Who knows what kind of info they’re stealing.” Donnie speculates, holding his chin in thought.

“April, Y/n, you go head back to the lair where it’s safe. We’ll go check out the Worldwide Genome Project.” Leo orders, his hand curling into a fist.

“I can help!” Y/n refuses stubbornly, her arms crossed. 

“It’s not safe,” Leo argues. Despite his sternness, Y/n continues to refuse.

“...Fine. But stay close to me, okay?” Leo finally relents, pinching the space between his eyes in frustration.

“Let’s go pipsqueak.” Raph slings his arm across Y/n’s shoulders, the latter flashing him a smile before frowning slightly at the nickname. She elbows him lightly, and they all leave for the Kraang’s hideout.

They make their way over stealthily, landing on the rooftop of the hideout. 

“How do we get in?” Raph asks. Donnie pulls out his phone. “I’ve got an app for that.” 

The turtles all groan, Y/n looking quizzically at Donnie who shakes his head flatly. He kneels down and plugs his phone into the door’s security system, beginning to crack the code for the door.

“I’ve got an app for that too.” Raph’s impatient. He steps back and proceeds to kick in the door. It opens with a loud clang. Donnie frowns, seeing his brothers and Y/n follow him inside before entering last and shutting the door behind them.

“You know, for a human lab, this is awfully Kraangy...” Mikey’s voice comes out small.

“Guys, I think the Kraang are the Worldwide Genome Project!” Leo realises. 

Y/n peeks out from their hiding spot, counting only two Kraang droids patrolling the area. 

“Could I borrow that?” She asks Leo shyly, the turtle in blue handing over his katanas in confusion. She runs towards the two Kraang droids silently. She runs past them, using the wall to do a somersault that sent her towards the droids that were caught off guard. Y/n swings out her arms, slashing the droids in half and landing on the ground firmly. Mikey drags the two droids into a holding cell nearby, the squishy bodies of the actual Kraang screeching against the glass.

“I did it!” Y/n beams, holding up the katanas in joy. 

“You did!” Raph gives her a fist bump, happy at her success.

“What are those?” Y/n’s attention is drawn to Leo who asks Donnie, the two of them looking at all the different coloured doors. “It looks like they’re collecting DNA from every plant and animal species on Earth!” Donnie elicits a guess.

“DNA?” Y/n questions.

“Building blocks, dude. I’ll drop the science on you later.” Mikey replies lazily.

“I wonder what they’re doing with all this DNA?” Donnie ponders.

“Whatever it is, it can’t be good. Let’s shut this place down.” Y/n nods in agreement.

“Hey, where’s Raph?” She looks over at Mikey who asks, just now noticing the absence of the turtle.

“Gotcha!” She looks up towards Raph’s soft voice, her jaw clenching when she sees him holding Karai down by her arms on top of a transparent tank of mutagen.

“Karai!” Leo says, baffled by her presence.

“Ka-who?” Donnie is surprised that Leo knows her, looking at his brother suspiciously.

Karai uses the moment to twist her arm, breaking it out of Raph’s hold before kicking him away. She does a backflip, landing perfectly on her feet. Y/n bites her lip, holding back a growl. Her hand reaches up and touches her cheek, remembering how the sharp blade of Karai’s knife stung. 

Karai notices this and smirks behind her mask. She and Raph start to fight, Y/n’s fingers itching to send a sharp icicle towards the smug girl.

“Raph, Karai! Stop it!” Leo jumps towards them, trying to break the two of them up. 

“Okay, what the heck is going on here? How do they know her?” Donnie questions Y/n frustratedly. Instead of replying, she jumps towards the three fighting turtles with a scowl. 

“Does everyone know her but us??” Donnie smacks his forehead, vexed. 

“So this is the stuff that turns people into monsters, huh.” Karai makes conversation as she and Raph fight. “How’s it work?”

“Why don’t you lean in a lil’ closer and I’ll show ya.” Raph glares. She pulls his arms down and headbutts him off the tank, jumping down after him.

They both land on the ground, weapons thrust towards each other and they meet Leo’s swords with a loud clang. 

“Enough! You’re gonna set off-” The impact of the pair’s weapons cause Leo to stagger, and he loses his balance. His hand reaches out behind him to find a surface to hold but ends up setting off the alarm for the hideout, alerting every other Kraang that they were there. “One of those...”

“Nice going, Leo. You’re protecting her?? What’s wrong with you? She’s bad news.” Raph points the sharp end of his sai at Karai who merely shrugs. She hears an angry cry, and jumps out of the way just in time as a large spike of ice embeds itself into the machine Leo had landed on. 

“You.” Y/n seethes, sending a flurry of icicles towards Karai. She dodges each one effortlessly, her fluid movements like those of a snake.  

“I remember you,” Karai says, leaning back against the wall. “It was cute how you got all jealous.” 

“I was not jealous!” Y/n replies hotly. “You cut my cheek!” 

“Which is now healed I see. Pity, it would’ve made a nice scar. Shall I give you another?” Karai taunts, loving how Y/n’s cheeks were turning a deeper red. 

“Maybe we’ll match once I return the favour!” Y/n charges towards her with gauntlets of ice, punching the wall violently and leaving a hole where Karai’s head used to be.

Their fight is interrupted when the doors hiss open, Kraang droids marching in with guns and surrounding them. “The ones who are not authorized with the authority of Kraang to be here in this place will now be destroyed by Kraang.” 

Y/n backs up from the multiple robots. They start to fire, and Y/n attacks along with the rest. Karai stabs one with her dagger and continues to fight off the others.

“See? She’s on our side!” Leo smiles as he stabs another droid with his katana.

“Are you even listening to yourself?” Raph groans. Y/n shakes her head disapprovingly, fighting off another robot. “He’s so blinded by love.” She mumbles, sending the droid flying with her water whip.

“I like your brother Leo,” Karai destroys another three robots. “He’s almost as entertaining as you.”

“Oh when this is over, I’ll show you how entertaining I can be.” Raph retorts, the dismembered head of a Kraang droid dangling on his sai.

Y/n doesn’t bother talking anymore, four robots coming at her from all sides. She manages to handle two and flinches at the oncoming hit from the other two. 

Hearing the clatter of metal falling to the ground, she opens her eyes to see Leo standing over them with his blades drawn.

“Thanks.” Y/n’s surprised that he’s still helping her, what with Karai being around and all. “We’re trapped!” Her relief is short-lived when she scans her surroundings, too many enemies to take on at once. The Kraang had even brought out a large weapon to deal with them.

“No, you’re trapped.” Karai’s sultry voice draws everyone’s attention to the control panel that she leans back on.

“What happens if I do this?” She threatens to press down on a random button. 

“Undesirable outcome.” A Kraang droid says. 

“Well, now I gotta do it.” Karai’s finger lands on the button and it turns red with a beep. 

Of course, she did it. 

Y/n rolls her eyes, not hiding her distaste for the girl.

The chambers once filled with DNA samples all flow into the mutagen. It reacts violently, and they all prepare for the worst until it calms down, a sea of mist starting to cloud everyone’s view.

Y/n narrowly avoids a tentacle, and Karai joins their small huddle. Y/n bends the mist away, and it reveals what looked like a cross between an octopus and an elephant. The creature meows.

“Aw, it’s so cute!” Mikey coos, but his smile quickly fades when it stretches upwards fully, now a horrifying monster. The other surviving Kraang use their guns to attack it, and the monster reacts, using its tentacles to swipe at the Kraang.

“How the heck am I gonna name this??” Mikey despairs.

“Good question. Seeya!” Karai slings part of a dismembered Kraang droid onto her back and jumps onto the transparent tank. She opens the door, intending to run away.

“You aren’t going to help us beat this thing? It’s your fault!” Leo exclaims. 

“I’ll let the heroes handle it.” Karai grunts.

“I-I trusted you!” Leo’s eyes are filled with hurt, watching her make her escape.

“I know! That’s messed up, right?” Karai makes her exit, leaving a hurt Leo behind.

“So everyone, are we all fans of Karai yet?” Raph asks sarcastically. 

“I don’t know her yet, but I hate her!” Donnie’s answer builds up into a yell and they all jump aside from the monster. 

“Right? The first time I met her, she cut my cheek with her stupid dagger!” Y/n points at the smooth skin with a frown. Mikey shakes his head disapprovingly. “That’s messed up.”

“Hey look Leo, the Kraang are on our side now!” Raph runs beside his brother who looks away angrily.

“Save it,” Leo mutters. Raph gets caught by the monster’s tentacle and it pulls him towards it. The creature holds him up, and Raph struggles to get out of its grip until a sharp slash of water cuts the monster. It releases Raph who falls to the ground and lands on his feet.

“Thanks, pipsqueak!” He sends Y/n a thumbs up, the girl grinning.

Unfortunately, she’s quickly taken out by the monster swiping its tentacle at her. It hits her side and slams her against the glass doors harshly. Y/n groans in pain.

Donnie, Mikey, and Raph are defeated similarly by the monster, and they all groan weakly.

Leo charges at the monster with a pained yell, taking his hurt and frustration out on the monster. He felt so betrayed. Everyone was right, Karai just stabbed them in the back in the end.

“Take that Justin!” Leo yells, the monster now on fire. Y/n gets up, holding her side that throbbed dully.

“Let’s get out of here.” Raph helps Y/n escape, pulling her arm to rest on his shoulder. They make their way to the fire escape on a building opposite the hideout, watching it go up in flames.

“So...” Donnie starts, “We’re thinking somebody should start talking.” 

Leo sighs in defeat. 

“I should’ve told you about Karai earlier, b-but I really thought she was good!” Leo explains, “And...I guess I sort of...liked her.” He admits more softly. His eyes flit to everyone on the couch, waiting for their reaction.

“Go ahead, laugh.” He mutters, waiting for the teasing to start.

“Dude, I can’t believe you trusted her,” Mikey says.

“I can’t believe you didn’t trust us enough to tell us.” Donnie’s hurt response makes Leo flinch, the bundle of shame in his chest growing in size.

“I was wrong. I’m really sorry.” 

“I tried to warn him.” April remarks with a lighthearted sigh. 

“You too, huh?” Raph says smugly.

“Leonardo. You are not the first young boy to make a fool out of yourself in front of a girl.” Master Splinter approaches his son.

“What about Donnie?” Mikey pipes up, the said turtle covering Mikey’s mouth roughly with a glare.

“However, when that girl is a kunoichi under the employment of your enemy, it is not an error you can afford to make. Deception is a ninja’s most powerful weapon, and it seems that Karai is a master.” Master Splinter continues.

“I know, I see that now. We can’t trust her.” Leo looks away, his jaw clenched.

“Good.”

“Thank you for understanding, I’m glad you’re not mad.” Leo smiles in relief at his father.

“Who says I’m not mad?” Master Splinter turns with his brows furrowed, lifting up his staff and slamming the end down on Leo’s foot. He lets out a cry of pain, falling on the floor.

Y/n sits beside him, everyone else dispersing to do their own thing. Leo winces at the pain in his foot, and Y/n moves his head to rest on her lap. She bends some water from the small pool of the sewer, healing his leg.

Leo opens his eyes, seeing Y/n’s frown. He sighs. “You shouldn’t heal my foot. I don’t deserve it.” 

“I know. That’s why I’m using sewer water.” Y/n replies simply. He chuckles breathily. 

“I’m sorry.” 

“You already apologised, Leo.” 

“I just... wanted to apologize to you too.” Y/n meets his gaze with an unwavering one of her own. She helps him get up slowly. “It’s alright.” She shrugs it off.

“Hey.” Leo hesitates. 

“Yes?” Y/n sits down on the couch beside him. 

“Before, when we were in my room... What did you mean when you said you’d been blinded by love too?” Leo asks hesitantly. 

Y/n blinks. Had she really said that?

“It’s a story for another time.” She replies, her lips drawn into a thin line. Her eyes seemed to request for him to not press her on the matter.

“I understand. Just share when you’re ready.” Leo nods, standing up and heading to his room.

Y/n nods. When she’s finally left alone in the living room, she leans back against the couch, her eyes empty and devoid of all emotion. 

Why did she say that so carelessly?

Now one day, she’d have to talk about him.

About Jett.

#tmnt2012 #tmnt #atla #avatar the last airbender #leonardo x reader #leonardo hamato #raphael hamato #donatello hamato #michaelangelo hamato #leo #raph #donnie #mikey

[4nt1chri5t]

Whispers of Betrayal - fem!readerxDracoFF

Originally published on Wattpad - Whispers of Betrayal by Alaskas_ice (me)

6 - 'Unspoken Rivalry'

Snape's gaze swept across the room, his piercing eyes fixed on each student in turn, instilling a sense of urgency and focus. With a flick of his wand, the room fell silent and all eyes turned to him.

"I'm sure most of you have heard the incessant chatter filling the corridors by now," Snape began, his voice cutting through the silence like a sharp blade. "The Yule Ball is fast approaching, an event of great importance in the wizarding world. However, many of you have had dancing lessons in the past, so I won't need to introduce any additional dancing lessons other than the following two, in which I will correct any mistakes you make. If more practice is needed, I expect you to use your free time to learn on your own".

The room erupted in chatter and whispers of rumours and predictions, much to Snape's dislike. "Silence! You shall begin."

Malfoy's eyes were already fixed on (Y/L/N) as she looked around the room rather shyly, frozen in place. But as soon as he took his first steps towards her, certain that she would not only be his dance partner, but also the one who would come to the Yule Ball with him - since his friends clearly believed that she wouldn't, and going with Parkinson had never been an option - Nott blocked his view of her by stepping right in front of her and - offering her his hand? Malfoy couldn't quite comprehend what he was seeing.

(Y/L/N), however, was flattered by Nott's offer to teach her what he had learnt in a lifetime of dancing. Despite her rather rude remark about him the day before, she accepted his hand and was excited to see how this would go, but hoped it wouldn't be embarrassing.

Nott turned her back to Malfoy in one swift motion, firstly so that she wouldn't turn her attention to him, and secondly so that he could give him a smug grin and prove his point to some extent.

Was this going to be some sick competition to see who she'd feel pity for the most out of his friend group? Malfoy thought, thinking far more of himself than any of his friends.

"I can't believe that smug idiot." Malfoy whispered to himself, angry at Nott's actions. He stepped back, there'd be no reason to dance if it weren't for his plan.

"What?" Crabbe asked featherbrained.

"I'm not talking about you for once when I mention an idiot, incredible news, huh?" Malfoy said in his mean-spirited way, rolling his eyes at the disaster that was his group of friends.

The whole next hour was the worst thing Malfoy could have imagined, his so-called friend manipulating his very own plan and not being able to do anything about it. And if that wasn't enough, Snape's comments didn't even amuse him.

"You there, straighten your back! Are you practising ballet or trying to imitate a hunchback?"; "You dance like a troll with two left feet! Can you not hear the rhythm? It's disgraceful!" and "No, Miss Parkinson, the cha-cha-cha doesn't involve stomping your feet. Light and precise movements, please!" were just a few of Snape's remarks throughout the rehearsal.

"Miss (Y/L/N), your footwork is commendable. Maintain this level of precision throughout the routine. Mr Nott, you're doing well with her," was Snape's comment as he carefully watched the two of them dance. As soon as Malfoy saw her giggle at the remark, he decided to leave.

He was disgusted by Nott's arrogant grin and how she could even believe that he was doing it for her and not just to irritate Malfoy.

Malfoy stormed out of the training room, his mind consumed by a mixture of anger, frustration and an unfamiliar pang of jealousy. How could (Y/L/N) find amusement in Nott's company? Wasn't she aware of his true intentions? Malfoy couldn't help but feel a twinge of bitterness as he replayed Nott's smug grin in his mind.

Walking briskly through the dimly lit corridors, Malfoy clenched his fists, trying to shake off the unsettling emotions that were building up inside him. He couldn't let all this interfere with his plan. Manipulating was his prerogative, not Nott's. He had worked meticulously on his strategy to ensure that she would be his partner for the Yule Ball.

But now his carefully crafted plan seemed to be crumbling before his eyes. He couldn't fathom the idea of Nott swooping in and stealing the opportunity to be (Y/L/N)'s dance partner. Malfoy scoffed at the thought, his pride wounded.

Reaching an empty corridor, Malfoy leaned against the cold stone wall and took a moment to collect himself. The jealousy that had seeped into his veins was a foreign sensation, one he had never expected or experienced before. He prided himself on his confidence and self-assurance, but to see (Y/L/N) in the arms of another after all he'd done, even at a dance practice, ignited a flicker of insecurity within him.

"Draco, what's eating you?" a voice called from behind him. Startled, Malfoy turned to see Blaise Zabini approaching, his eyes narrowed in curiosity.

"It's nothing," Malfoy replied, trying to regain his composure. "Just annoyed at Nott for trying to steal my thunder."

Zabini raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on Malfoy. "Are you sure that's all?" he asked, his tone filled with scepticism.

Malfoy straightened, a defiant glint in his eyes. "Of course that's all," he replied curtly, dismissing Zabini's insinuations. "Nott is reckless, thinking he can outshine me. But mark my words, I won't let him get away with it."

Zabini crossed his arms, his expression sceptical. "Draco, there's more to it than that. I know you well enough to see when something's bothering you."

Malfoy rolled his eyes, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "You don't understand, Zabini. This is about more than Nott trying to steal my spotlight. It's about showing who's in charge and bringing some people back to reality.

Zabini raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "So this is about Potter again. Your obsession with him is never going to end, is it?"

"Obsession? You're ridiculous if you believe that's what it is." Malfoy spat. "I've had enough of Potter's self-righteousness, his hero complex. I've seen the way he looks at her now that she's with me, the attention he suddenly pays to her. Well, I intend to show him how wrong he is to think of himself as a hero. And to be fair, he never treated her well to begin with. Visited her only once in the hospital wing."

"So I was right. This is about more than just Potter." Zabini said with a wide, teasing smile at the last part of Malfoy's rant.

Malfoy wasn't going to take any more of his 'clever' observations, so he turned and left Zabini - as he was so sure of himself - standing there alone.

Malfoy's mind was racing with thoughts and emotions as he made his way back to the practice room. He needed to regain control of the situation and ensure that (Y/L/N) would be his partner for the Yule Ball. He couldn't let Nott's bold move distract him from his goal.

As he stepped back into the practice room, his eyes immediately searched for (Y/L/N). To his surprise, she was standing alone in the corner, a faint smile on her lips. She hadn't resumed dancing with Nott, who seemed perplexed by her sudden lack of interest.

Malfoy's heart skipped a beat at the sight of her, and for a brief moment he found himself softening, his original intentions receding into the background. But he quickly remembered his purpose and dismissed any conflicting emotions. He approached her with a determined stride.

"(Y/N)." he said gently to get her attention. "Would you like to practice for a while and use the time we have been given effectively?"

She turned to him, her smile widening as she nodded in agreement. "I'd be happy to, Draco."

He offered her his hand, and as she placed her delicate fingers in his, a surge of electricity ran through him. He stifled a smile, maintaining his composed facade as they took their positions on the dance floor.

As they began to dance, Malfoy's initial focus was solely on executing the steps with precision. He took the lead, leading (Y/L/N) through the routine, his movements strong and fluid. Every touch and connection sent a shiver down his spine, a sensation he couldn't ignore.

But as the minutes passed, Malfoy found himself losing control of his thoughts. He couldn't help but notice the way (Y/L/N) effortlessly followed his lead, her grace and elegance captivating him.

Malfoy's mind fought a battle between his carefully constructed plans and the undeniable chemistry he felt in their dance. He tried to push away any stray thoughts that suggested a deeper connection, to remind himself of the purpose behind their partnership. But with every turn, with every step, the walls he had built around himself began to crack.

But as quickly as the realisation came, Malfoy shut it down, burying it deep inside. He couldn't afford to lose sight of his goals, he had a strict plan after all.

Malfoy forcibly pushed aside any hint of emotion that threatened to rise to the surface. He couldn't afford to entertain the possibility of developing genuine feelings for (Y/L/N). It would only complicate matters and distract him from his true goals.

As they continued to dance, Malfoy remained focused on the steps, his mind determined to stay on track. He guided (Y/L/N) through the routine, their movements synchronised and seamless. Despite the growing chemistry between them, Malfoy refused to acknowledge it.

He convinced himself that any flicker of attraction he might have felt was merely a byproduct of the dance, a result of their physical proximity and shared practice. It couldn't possibly be anything more profound. After all, he had planned this partnership for strategic purposes only.

With each twirl and graceful turn, Malfoy clung to his rationalisation. He refused to let sentimentality cloud his judgement. He had a reputation to uphold, an image to project, and indulging in emotions was not part of the equation. As the practice session drew to a close, Malfoy released (Y/L/N) from his grasp, their hands separating with a lingering touch. He watched as she smiled at him, a genuine warmth in her eyes. A pang of something he refused to acknowledge tugged at his chest, but he quickly suppressed it. For the moment, he was just glad that the dance practice was over.

#draco #draco malfoy #draco malfoy x reader #draco malfoy x you #draco malfoy x y/n #draco x you #draco x reader #draco x y/n #draco malfoy fanfiction #draco fanfiction #draco malfoy imagine #draco malfoy fanfic #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter x reader #harry potter #harry potter x you #harry potter x y/n #draco fanfic #draco lucius malfoy #draco fic #draco fluff

[mok-a-chino]

Things that made me realize I was autistic:

(You can be autistic and don't feel the same way as me, and u can be not-autistic and have some things in common with this. I do this to feel understood and to make others feel they're understood too)

- I hate receiving gifts. Mainly because people think I'm ungrateful cause I don't show emotion and happiness. I had to learn how to say thank u and smile by practising on the mirror

- Added to that, I've always felt bad about myself cause I hardly ever knew how I felt and I could only show emotions if they were easily identifiable like extreme happiness or anger. It's not that I don't feel anything, but I don't know how I'm feeling and how to show it

- My mother always called me crazy cause I'm obsessed with textures. I hate some food because of how they feel in my mouth. I hate clothes because of how they feel in my skin. I always have to touch everything I see and if something feels pretty I get excited and have to show everyone how that feels

- When I talk about something I'm interested in I move my hands WAY TOO MUCH. People always told me to stop moving them cause it distracts them

- I've always hated crowded places like parties, shopping centres, or even houses with more than three people. Too many noises, too many lights, and people talking at the same time makes me nauseous

- When I was little I collected shiny rocks and those paperboard clothing labels that u have to remove from new clothes, and a lot of random things. Now I collect bookmarks and random strings and threads

- When I like a book, movie or series I become too obsessed, so obsessed I start to think or act like my favourite character until I realize what I'm doing and I get uncomfortable with myself. I get hyperfixated, I have to draw, learn facts about the actors, watch interviews, edits, fanarts, fanfics, etc. It becomes my life and personality until I move to the next hyperfixation

- After I have a social interaction that lasts for more than two hours I have to isolate myself. If it's a party or other social activity that's "too much", I "turn myself off" for like a week

- I'm way too aware of how much eye contact I do and it makes me uncomfortable. I don't know if I see too much or I don't see enough. When I feel down I can't look at others eyes. My mother always got mad about that

- I only understand jokes if they are too obvious and the "Joke voice" (if that makes sense) is too exagerated. Once my dad saw a leaf and yelled it was a cockroach and all my family laughed and I didn't understood why, so I said "... That's a leaf", and all of them were like "Of course it's a leaf, he's joking, learn to have fun"

- I didn't have any friends in primary school and in highschool I only had one friend who lasted with me for more than two years. People couldn't understand why I didn't like to hang out a lot, they thought I didn't like them so they got mad at me. When I tried to explain that I have to have like a week before the plan to prepare myself, so I don't go to plans made in the instant, they told me I'm boring and began to exclude me from groups and activities

There are more things but these are the "huge" ones. If u want more just tell me and u shall receive.

Please don't use this as a self-diagnose tool, neither as the only tool if u do so. I've looked for information for years to get to where I am today.

(PS: sorry if something is wrong written, english is not my first language)

#autism #autistic girl #autistic adult #autistic pride #autistic spectrum #autistic #autistic experiences #girl with autism #autism in women #autism in girls #autism go brrrr #autism experiences #actually autistic

[itzynabi]

produce 48 episode 9

word count: 0.6k

warnings: none that i can think of

an: words in bold are japanese. feedback and reblogs are much appreciated 💐

eve’s masterlist // produce 48

The girls sat in the classroom, separated into rows depending on their team.

“Unnie, it’s just you and me,” Eve said to Miho, who was sitting behind her. The two girls were the only ones from their team to survive the latest ranking announcement.

“We’re the only ones,” Miho said.

Eve reached back to hold her hand.

A video from Seunggi played. He told the trainees that the number of trainees allowed in each song is five and that they were going to rearrange the groups so that the groups with extra members would vote out members to be added to groups with not enough members.

The trainees went to their different practice rooms. Miho and Eve sat in silence.

“Who do you want to join the group?” Miho asked.

Eve hummed as she thought. “Goeun-chan would be nice. She’s a good vocalist and I think she’d fit the concept.”

Miho nodded. “Right. Sakura-chan would also be nice. Or Chaewon-chan.”

Eve agreed. “There’s many people that could come. We just have to wait and see who they’ll be.”

The girls stood up when there was a knock on the door, gasping when they saw which trainees had been kicked out of their groups.

“1 000% is a great song, you know?” Miho comforted the trainees.

“It’s very fun and refreshing,” Eve added. “We even have a nice colour!”

The teams were in the middle of practice when a trainee told them that Seunggi had arrived. They all ran to the practice room he was in, sitting down with the other trainees. He gave the trainees some advice before announcing that there would be a surprise evaluation. The trainees entered the room with the trainers and producers all standing stiffly. They went to the side as other groups performed.

In their practice room, the 1 000% team went over the song.

“Shall we pick the centre?” Chaeyeon asked. Eve raised her hand along with Moe and Miu.

Eve ended up getting the centre position with both Miho and Chaeyeon agreeing that her facial expressions fit the song the most. When they were practising, Eve and Chaeyeon led the dance practice and helped everyone learn the choreography.

“Next, let’s see 1 000%,” Seunggi said as the girls walked to the centre of the room. “After the ranking announcement, everyone except Miho and Nabi changed. But you all recorded the song in such a short time.”

The girls first sang the song, doing the dance after.

“I don’t want to compare,” Cheetah said, “but they only had one day to practise. They memorised everything well. They’re energetic and well-balanced.

“I think Nabi did a good job,” May J Lee complimented. “You go well with this song.”

“Refreshing concepts is where she shines,” Youngjun added.

“Her movements when she dances are very big,” Seunghee, the choreographer of 1 000%, noted. “She doesn’t cut the moves off early so that she can move to the next one, she uses as much time as possible for each move and makes sure to put emphasis on the important ones.”

After complimenting everyone, Yoonjung looked at Eve. “Yah, you.”

“Yes,” Eve answered, smiling sweetly at her trainer.

“What’s your question?”

Eve stared at Yoonjung in confusion before gasping. “I didn’t think of one. This was a surprise evaluation, so I didn’t have time to think of one,” she whined.

Seunggi looked around in confusion. “What’s going on?”

“Nabi always asks us random questions during classes,” Hoonggi answered, gesturing at the girl who had her eyes squeezed shut as she thought.

Thinking of a question, Eve opened her eyes, clapping her hands. “If you were an animal, would you rather be a hippo or a bear?”

“They both seem horrible, though,” Cheetah complained, thinking about her answer.

“I’d be a hippo,” Soyou answered. “I’d always get to be in the water.”

“I choose bear so I can sleep in winter,” May J Lee said.

Youngjun laughed. “We take these questions so seriously,” he commented.

“It’s because she asks them with so much sincerity,” Cheetah told him. “If we don’t take them seriously, I fear she’ll be sad.”

#outfit!!

tagging: @seolboba // @ateezivy // @ateezjuliet // @cafemilk-tea // @smh-anon // @alixnsuperstxr // @cosmicwintr // @girlzwfun // @txt-yaomi // @ctrluvz

©️ kim nabi

#ficnetfairy #itzy 6th member #itzy sixth member #itzy oc #itzy addition #itzy added member #itzy extra member #itzy member au #itzy imagines #kpop oc #kpop addition #kpop added member #kpop extra member #kpop au #kpop imagines #kim nabi #eve kim

[tuttocenere]

What are the hallmarks of a "Cosi Fan Tutte" production by people who "just don't get it"? What do you think are the most typical mistakes that directors make?

So in Regietheater they like to translate stories in a certain way. Here we have Don Carlos, which appears to be about a terminally sentimental prince failing to escape the Spanish court with his bestie. Here we have Salome, which appears to be about a lady dancing to get a guy killed so she can make out with his corpse. Or here we have Lohengrin, which appears to be about an elf-lord traveling with a swan and making unreasonable demands. No, say opera directors, appearances are deceiving. All these stories are actually about bourgeois family dynamics.

Well, in the case of Così fan Tutte, we have to translate in the other direction; dig through the trivial relationship story down to the exciting bits. This story appears to be a farce about exchanging fiancees. But it really has a lot to say about love, about fidelity and friendship, about masculinity and femininity, even about foreigners and wars, and the question to what degree all these things are real and to what degree they are just pretense.

The basic idea of Così fan Tutte is that the characters learn true and real things about themselves through the contrivance of a masquerade, and end up hurt when the masquerade ends. There's a lot of potential in that. Maybe it's a reality TV show that Don Alfonso is running. Maybe it's just a coffee-house philosopher's personal project as in the text. Maybe it's a scientific experiment, maybe it's a party game. I personally really like the circular versions where the inciting incident is a production of Così fan Tutte. In any case, you have to come up with something. Just making Don Alfonso a sex enthusiast is not going to cut it, this is clearly not something he does every day.

Offenders:

Met 2013 (… nothing?),

Berlin 2021 (hippies),

Munich 2022 (sex dungeon)

Excellent examples:

ROH 2016 (theater),

Lausanne 2018 (reality show),

Paris 2022 (music)

And related to that is the concept of the costume itself. I'm always a big fan of opera characters seeing through every disguise. Especially in Così, where it is not likely that the sisters wouldn't recognize the men they've seen every day, whose portraits they are carrying around. But the idea of being disguised allows them to do things they would not normally dare. Things such as becoming soulmates with your sister's partner, or even just practising some free love.

So yes, strictly speaking you don't need the costumes at all, but if you're going to use costumes, they should be elevated from daily life. They might be attractive, or they might just have a dream-like quality that explains the disinhibition of both the men and the women. They should ideally not be orientalist, unless you have something really important to say about that aspect.

Offenders:

ROH 2010 (rockstars?),

Salzburg 2013 (kaftans and terrible wigs)

Salzburg 2020 (hawaii shirts)

Excellent examples:

Glyndebourne 2006, where it's pretty obvious why you'd fall for the disguised men,

Salzburg 2009, where they're covered in soil because things are getting real,

Madrid 2013, where there is practically no disguise because this is about the soul

Ultimately what makes this opera good is the music. So my other demand is that the production can't be too busy, it must give the music room to breathe. This has mostly been fine IME, I've only seen one production that felt the need to have a bunch of stuff going on during the big arias. But that production was so bad overall that it shall not be named lest someone be tempted to look it up.

Sorry this is long, I tried to cut it down as much as possible, but this is my second favorite opera in the world.

#cosi fan tutte #long post #ask me things #i tried to give good productions as good examples and bad ones as bad examples #but most of the bad ones have some redeeming features and most of the good ones have some flaws #and my number one favorite production doesn't really fit this scheme so it's not mentioned here

[giantologist]

I’ve been good friends with a local giant for several years now; she’s one of the sweetest and kindest people I have ever met. I know for a fact that I’m quite smitten with her, and my friends tease me endlessly when she is not around (thank the gods, I would die of embarrassment).

So, I suppose my question is something along the lines of how giants court one-another? Or, how often have you seen humans and giants have relationships that work out? I just don’t want to cause her any offense, even if I know she would forgive me for it.

Hello!

Now, I am no expert in matters of love, anybody acquainted with me knows that full well. Regardless, I shall endeavour to lend my assistance however I may!

Traditional giant courting usually involved contests of strength, not between rival males as in nature, but between partners as a show of trust. This practise has largely died out, replaced with a number of practises including singing (an important factor in giant culture, often infrasonic), gift-giving (items that would be useful rather than pracious minerals), and tactile communication. The skin on the palms and fingertips of giants is extremely sensitive compared to our own, normally for dexterity's sake, but caresses there are essential for releasing oxytocin and building bonds between parties.

Giant-human relationships aren't as rare as one might think. A lot of them work out wonderfully, and I have been invited to a few weddings of mixed-size couples - which I must admit are much more fun than solely human weddings. It is, of course, based heavily on trust, which can be hard to find in these uncertain times, plus a willingness to overcome social differences. The fact that you have a preexisting friendship with her is the perfect foundation for advancing your relationship!

If I may be so bold, I suggest learning the song 'Men Listig Snoenbolg' (My Precious Snow Flower), as it is short and sweet, and although the low notes won't come across, the effort will no doubt impress her.

Good luck to you both!

Professor J Finch

#queries

[merinsedai]

Happy November!

Actually, I don’t really like November, usually. So many dark and gloomy days where I live; and so long until the weather will improve!

October roundup:

An up and down month. Started off with covid, so felt dreadful and just lived in my bedroom for the best part of a week whilst husbae did the full time job and all the parenting/meals etc etc. what a star he is.

Missed the wedding I was meant to attend as though I’d recovered enough to go, Mr 4 was ill and so I had to stay and look after him. Too late to cancel my hotel booking as well. Right bugger. In 2023, I have had three arrangements to meet actual friends in the flesh and I’ve managed 1 of those. The universe is set on me not having even a modicum of a social life.

I had to cancel my work that I’d booked, then there was no more work until the 30th. Some of that was half term, the rest… well there probably would have been work to pick up if I’d asked but I didn’t so… not a great month in the earnings department. Currently three days into a three week booking and that’s going ok.

Managed the birthday and the party without incident. Thank God for soft play and paying other people to basically do the whole thing for you. Don’t think I could’ve coped with running an old fashioned party at my house. All those 4/5 year olds… no thanks.

Made it to the caravan in Wales for the half term holiday. Mostly fine, as fine as holidays with small Chn can get. Miss 7 developed an appalling cold which she has subsequently passed to me. It is currently sitting in my chest and making me sound like a 40 a day smoker. Nice.

All that nice self care stuff I set up in September (the make up and body care stuff) was derailed when covid hit and hasn’t really picked up again. Turns out losing habits is far easier than maintaining. A bit of mascara here and there to stop me looking truly horrendous but not much else. Must get back to it. Still closing my rings, probably should up the goal to make it more challenging.

Actually managed to complete my October challenge- the sandtober daily drawing prompts. It was good. I did almost all of them the night they were ‘due’ c10pm, since inspiration never struck until then. It seems I still require the impetus of a deadline to actually get my arse in gear and do something. Did I improve over the month? Mm perhaps. I was exceptionally rusty, the only things I’d drawn in the past decade or so were shit renditions of Peppa Pig or the Octonauts for the toddlers. Toddlers are easily pleased, luckily. Also learned (no… confirmed. I already knew it) that I lack any creativity, because if there isn’t something to copy then I can’t do it. If there *is* something to copy, I can produce vague facsimiles (as long as no one is looking for shading or whatever) with varying degrees of success.

For November’s “thing”, I’ve signed to to a writing challenge. I don’t know why really, see above about the lack of creativity I possess. I just… came out a heart scan at the hospital and thought ‘fuck it’ and signed up. I’m even less practised in writing than I am in drawing (though I read voraciously and everyone knows that’s ‘so helpful for building vocabulary etc’ 😅) but… we shall see how it progresses.

OH and storm Babet blew down a massive bough from one of the old ash trees in my garden. It’s currently sitting and destroying the lawn, just waiting for the tree surgeons to come and take care of it and check that the rest of the tree is still ok.

This is a fooking big branch. We have a decent sized garden and it’s taking up most of it. The satellite branches we’ve removed already are six ft long. And they’re like twigs compared to the main thing.

#personal #my monthly round up #self care is health care and all that #probably not very interesting to anyone who’s not me

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

by William Jay

Morning, March 20th

A glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. - Ephesians 5:27

The church, when presented to the Saviour by himself, will be glorious. And is not his church glorious now? It is. It is not a glorious church indeed in the eyes of the world, for the world knoweth them not; they are often like their Lord, “despised and rejected of men;” but they are glorious in the eyes of the Lord. The Judge of all, even when he sees them “wandering in goatskins and sheep-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented,” says, “Of them the world is not worthy.” We may turn to the language of God in one of the Psalms:-“Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.” What are the mountains of prey? Why, those empires that love war,-that live on the spoil or the prey. Nothing is so splendid in the view of carnal men as these mountains of prey.

We see how the Assyrian, the Persian, the Macedonian, and the Roman empires were presented by God to Daniel. He saw them as “four great beasts coming up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second, like to a bear; and it raised itself up on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it; and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo, another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.”

But though the church is now “glorious,” and “more glorious than the mountains of prey,” yet its glory is partially prevented and obscured now. It is so by the fewness of its numbers. Here we can only see the Lord’s army in its recruiting state, or as learning its exercise, or as practising in small detachments. But when the whole shall be completed, oh, then may it well be said, “Who is this that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?” Its glory is now partially prevented and obscured by inter-mixtures. The lilies are among the thorns; the tares are among the wheat. “Among my people,” says God, “are found wicked men;” and now we very well know the few will often characterize the many, and the false will throw suspicion on the true, and the bad will serve to disgrace the good. “But then,” says our Saviour, “the angels shall gather together out of his kingdom everything that offends;” and then he will cast them into a furnace of fire; “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth;” and “then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

It is now also partially prevented and obscured by their outward condition. They are now often poor; then shall they “possess all things.” They are often despised now; then their very enemies will exclaim, “We fools counted their lives madness, and their end to be without honour; now are they numbered with the children of God, and their lot is among the saints.” Now they are often oppressed; many rise over their heads; but “the righteous shall have dominion over them in the morning.” Now they are judged, (how falsely judged often!) but then they will be the judges:-“What, know ye not that the saints will judge the world? Know ye not that saints shall judge angels?” Now they “groan, being burdened;” then they will be freed from the burden of the flesh, and those vile bodies shall be fashioned like the Saviour’s own glorious body.

Above all, the glory of the church is now partially prevented and obscured by moral infirmities. They are, indeed, made to differ from others, and from their former selves; but they are not yet fully sanctified. But the apostle tells the Colossians that they who have been “sometime alienated, and enemies in their minds by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present them holy and unblamable in his sight.”

#William Jay #Mornings and Evenings with Jesus #morning devotional #Ephesians 5:27 #March 20 #2023