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thatdammchickennugget · 2 months

Text

I could give you 50 reasons

pairing - lorenzo berkshire x nott!reader

summary - enzo starts recieving notes from a secret admirer and is determined to find out who's behind them

warnings - fluff, teasing, kinda insecure enzo, fem!reader

wordcount - 3k

a/n - this was kinda inspired by the song 'hey stephen' by taylor swift. this is also my final entry for the hogmarch challenge :)

Breakfast at Hogwarts was always a bustling affair, but today, the Great Hall seemed to buzz with an energy all its own. Enzo was settled into his usual spot at the Slytherin table between his friends, his mind still reeling from the recent breakup with his last girlfriend.

Despite the lively atmosphere around him, a sense of insecurity gnawed at him. It had been the third time he got dumped this school year. Of course, they always had good reasons too. He didn’t think he was a bad boyfriend at all, but he knew they deserved someone who was just as taken with them as they were with him. But he couldn’t help it. None of them ever had his mind spinning. None of them made him feel the same way you did.

But you weren’t an option. He dared a small glance at you, where you were sitting next to your brother two seats down from him, swatting your sibling’s arm as he tried to steal a piece of toast from your plate.

“Stop it if you want to keep that hand,” you grumbled, fixing Theo with a pointed look as you scooted your plate away from him. “I know you can be a little stupid but you can butter your own damn toast.”

Theo just rolled his eyes and reached over the table to nick a piece of bacon from Pansy’s plate instead.

You looked beautiful even with the glare on your face and your eyes still drooping sleepily. But Enzo quickly dropped his gaze back down to his own food. You were off limits. Theo had told him so years ago. If your brother ever found out about his feelings for you he’d be a dead man. Was he destined to never find the right girl?

A small brown owl swooped down and deposited an envelope onto his plate before flitting away, distracting him from his brooding. He arched an eyebrow, surprised by the unexpected interruption. Who would be sending him mail?

With a cautious glance around the Great Hall, Enzo opened the envelope, revealing an elegant script on the small note tucked inside. The words struck him like a bolt of lightning.

‘I love you because your smile lights up even the gloomiest of days.’

Enzo's heart skipped a beat. His eyes darted around, but there were no obvious suspects among his Slytherin peers. Everyone seemed to be focused on the conversation or fighting hard to stay awake. No one was even looking in his direction.

Reading the note again, Enzo felt a mix of warmth and unease wash over him. Assuming it to be a dumb prank, he folded the note and slipped it into his pocket. His appetite had vanished, so he excused himself from the table, his friends just murmuring in acknowledgement without even looking up.

Despite knowing that one of his friends was probably behind this and it was just a joke, he couldn't help the small glimmer of hope stirring within him.

ੈ♡˳

A day had passed since Enzo received the first mysterious note, yet the enigma had stayed in his mind like a lingering charm. As he settled into his seat for Charms class, he reached for his textbook, only to find another envelope nestled among its pages. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the script adorning the note inside. This time, the words seemed to leap off the page, echoing in his mind like a haunting melody.

‘I love you because your presence alone makes even the most mundane moments feel extraordinary.’

Enzo's pulse quickened, his mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts. Who could possibly be behind these heartfelt sentiments, and why choose to remain anonymous? His eyes darted around the classroom, but no one seemed to be paying him any particular attention.

With a furrowed brow, Enzo folded the note and tucked it away, his thoughts consumed by the mystery once more. Was this really just a prank, orchestrated by one of his friends to lift his spirits after his recent breakup? Or was there something more to it?

Lost in thought, Enzo barely noticed as Professor Flitwick began the day's lesson, his mind far away, consumed by thoughts of the mysterious admirer and the possibility of finding solace in their anonymous affections.

ੈ♡˳

Pushing open the door to the Slytherin locker room, Enzo froze as he ran straight into someone. He quickly reached out to grab your shoulders, making sure you didn’t fall.

"Hey, Enzo," you greeted him casually, a hint of mischief dancing in your eyes. "Have you seen Theo around? I've been looking for him everywhere."

Enzo's heart skipped a beat at the sight of you, his mind momentarily forgetting about the mysterious notes he had been thinking about as he took in your presence. You looked even more enchanting up close, a playful smile tugging at your lips.

"Uh, yeah, he's probably out on the pitch already," Enzo replied, trying to keep his composure despite the sudden flutter of nerves in his stomach. "You might catch him there."

With a nod of thanks, you flashed him another quick smile before disappearing down the corridor, leaving Enzo to ponder the encounter as he made his way to his locker.

As he opened the door, his heart skipped a beat as he spotted yet another envelope tucked inside, nestled among his Quidditch gear. His hands trembled slightly as he reached for it, his mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts.

Inside, he found another note, written in the same elegant script:

‘I love you because you're not afraid to be yourself, even when the world tries to tell you otherwise.’

Enzo's breath caught in his throat as he read the words, his mind swirling with a mixture of emotions. As he headed out onto the Quidditch pitch, his mind was filled with questions, but one thing was certain: the enigmatic notes had ignited a spark within him, one that refused to be extinguished. He had to figure out who was behind them.

ੈ♡˳

As Enzo joined his friends for dinner in the Great Hall the next day, his thoughts were still consumed by the notes that seemed to be appearing with increasing frequency. Despite his attempts to focus on the conversation around him, his mind kept drifting back to the words he had received, his hand absentmindedly touching the folded papers tucked into his robe’s pocket.

Lost in his thoughts, Enzo barely noticed as an owl swooped down and deposited yet another envelope onto his plate before flitting away. A mix of anticipation and apprehension swirled within him as he recognized the familiar handwriting.

Gingerly, he opened the envelope, revealing the latest note hidden inside:

‘I love you because you have a knack for telling the worst jokes with the best punchlines, leaving me in stitches every time.’

As the conversation at the table continued around him, Enzo couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at him. With each passing day, the weight of the unanswered questions grew heavier, and he knew he couldn't keep it to himself any longer.

Summoning his courage, Enzo turned to his friends, his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his stomach.

"Hey, guys," he began, drawing their attention with a pointed look. "I need to talk to you about something."

His friends exchanged curious glances, eyebrows raised in interest as they waited for him to continue.

"It's about these notes I've been getting," Enzo explained, his words carefully measured. "I've been getting one every day. Any idea who could be behind it?"

A chorus of teasing laughter erupted from the group, and Enzo felt a pang of frustration at their reaction. He had hoped they might take this concerns seriously, but it seemed they were content to dismiss it with a joke.

"Awe, how cute," Blaise said with a smirk, shaking his head in amusement. "Our Enzo has a secret admirer."

Enzo's jaw tightened, his frustration mounting as he struggled to find the right words to convey the seriousness of the situation.

"Probably that first year who tripped over her own feet because she was staring at you this morning," Mattheo laughed, pointing over to the Hufflepuff table. “She’s over there right now if you wanna go shoot your shot.”

Before Enzo had the chance to tell his friend to fuck off, you spoke up from across the table, your voice cutting through the chatter with surprising firmness.

"Hey, cut it out, guys," you said, fixing his friends with a pointed look. "Enzo's obviously concerned about this, and it's not fair to make fun of him."

Enzo felt his ears heat up at your defense, a rush of gratitude flooding through him.

“Well, don’t get your hopes up, mate,” your brother decided to include himself in the conversation, ignoring the disgusted look you sent him as he kept talking while chewing his food. “Can’t imagine what they look like if they feel the need to hide behind those notes instead of just talking to you.”

"Whoever's writing those notes is probably just nervous to come forward. They might be scared that Enzo doesn't feel the same way," you spoke up again, looking notably less confident than just a moment ago as you poked around your plate with your fork.

“Yeah,” Pansy cut in, glaring at Theo and squeezing your arm under the table. “I think it’s cute. You guys just aren’t able to identify something romantic even when it hits you in the face.”

But Enzo barely heard Pansy as his mind whirled with the implications of your words. Could it be possible that the anonymous sender was feeling just as unsure and vulnerable as he was?

As the teasing continued around him, Enzo couldn't shake the newfound determination that had taken root within him. He had to find out who was behind the mysterious notes, not just for his own sake, but for theirs as well.

ੈ♡˳

Enzo sat in his dimly lit dorm room, the silence enveloping him as he carefully laid out the notes he had received over the past weeks. Each one carried a different sentiment, each one bearing the same elegant script that had become so familiar to him.

‘I love you because you always find beauty in the smallest of things, like the way the sun sets or the sound of raindrops.’

‘I love you because you have a smile that could rival a Cheshire cat's, especially when you're up to no good.’

‘I love you because, despite your insistence that you're not a morning person, you somehow manage to be the most entertaining person at breakfast.’

As he sifted through the notes, his mind buzzed with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. The possibility that you could be behind them lingered at the back of his mind, fueled by your defense of him earlier. He couldn't help but feel a surge of hope at the thought.

‘I love you because you inspire me to be a better person every day.’

‘I love you because you listen with both your heart and your ears, making me feel truly heard and understood.’

‘ I love you because, simply put, you're everything I never knew I needed but now can't imagine living without.’

The more he read, the more convinced he became that you were the one behind the notes. The way the sentiments echoed moments they had shared, the way they seemed to capture the essence of your connection—it all seemed too perfect to be mere coincidence.

A surge of warmth flooded through Enzo as he entertained the idea that you could be the one who had been reaching out to him all along. It felt right, somehow, as if everything he had been searching for had been right in front of him all this time.

His fingers traced over the words of each note, lingering on the one that had struck a chord within him:

‘I love you because you make me feel like I'm home, no matter where I am.’

The words echoed in his mind, stirring up memories of your first year at Hogwarts, back when he was in his second year. You had confided in him about feeling overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity of it all. He remembered how he had stayed up with you, offering words of reassurance and companionship until you felt more at ease. You had said it felt more like home with him there.

As Enzo reflected on that memory, a realization began to dawn on him. The sentiment expressed in the note mirrored the connection he had felt with you from the very beginning. You had always been a source of comfort and familiarity to him, just as he had been to you.

A flicker of excitement coursed through him. But alongside that excitement, a wave of uncertainty washed over him. What if he was reading too much into it? What if his feelings were leading him astray, clouding his judgment? Also, if it was really you, how would Theo react? He decided that your brother would be a problem to deal with at another time.

Despite his doubts, Enzo couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to explore this further. With a newfound resolve, he reached for a quill and a piece of parchment, his hand trembling slightly with nervous anticipation.

Carefully, he composed a response, his words a reflection of the emotions swirling within him. He poured his heart out onto the page, expressing his gratitude for the notes and his longing to discover the identity of the sender. He finished his letter off with a question: ‘Meet me on the astronomy tower?’

And then, with a steady hand, he folded the parchment and sealed it with wax before tucking it away in his pocket. With a determined look on his face, he made his way to the owlery to send it your way.

ੈ♡˳

As Enzo arrived at the astronomy tower, his heart raced with anticipation. He couldn't shake the nerves that coursed through him as he waited for you, his mind consumed by thoughts of what might come next. Would you show up? Would you admit to being the one behind the notes? The uncertainty gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside, focusing instead on the hope that blossomed within him.

When he heard the soft footsteps approaching, Enzo's heart skipped a beat. He turned to see you standing there, the moonlight casting a soft glow around you, illuminating your features in a way that took his breath away. For a moment, neither of you spoke, the weight of the moment hanging heavy in the air.

Then, with a shy smile, you stepped forward, your eyes meeting his with a mixture of nervousness and determination. "Enzo," you said, your voice barely above a whisper. "I…you were right. I guess I wasn’t as sneaky as I thought I was being, hm?"

Enzo's heart pounded in his chest as he waited for you to continue, his gaze fixed on yours with unwavering intensity. He could feel the tension building between you, a silent understanding passing between you as you stood there in the quiet of the night.

Finally, you took a deep breath, gathering your courage as you met his gaze head-on. "I... I've been the one sending you the notes," you admitted, your cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I couldn't keep it a secret any longer. I just had to let you know, even if you didn’t know it was coming from me. I... I love you, Enzo. I have for a while."

Enzo felt his breath catch in his throat at your confession, his heart soaring with a joy he had never known. Without hesitation, he closed the distance between you, his hands reaching out to cup your face as he leaned in to capture your lips in a tender kiss.

As your lips met, time seemed to stand stil. In that moment, everything else faded away—the doubts, the uncertainties, the fears—all of it washed away by the overwhelming tide of emotion that surged between you. It was as if the entire universe had aligned to bring you together in that moment, your hearts beating in perfect harmony as he gently cupped your face in his hand.

The kiss was soft yet electrifying, igniting a fire within that burned brighter with each passing second. Enzo's touch was gentle yet possessive, his fingers tracing the curve of your cheek as he deepened the kiss, pouring all of his love and longing into his touch.

For you, it felt like coming home. In Enzo's arms, you felt safe, cherished, and utterly loved. It was a feeling unlike any other, a sensation that filled you with a sense of completeness that you had never known before.

As you finally pulled away, your breaths mingling in the crisp night air, Enzo's eyes met yours with an intensity that took your breath away. There was a depth to his gaze, a silent promise.

"I love you," Enzo whispered, his voice soft yet filled with an undeniable sincerity. "I love you more than words can express."

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes as you gazed back at him, overwhelmed by the depth of emotion that swelled within your heart. "I love you too," you replied, your voice barely above a whisper. "More than anything."

His other hand found the small of your waist, pulling you closer against him as he rested his chin on the top of your head. You felt the small laugh escaping his mouth, his chest vibrating against your forehead as you leaned against him. “Theo is going to kill me, isn’t he?”

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skaldish · 7 months

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People who say Loki isn't real because there's no evidence he was worshiped are really annoying. How do I rebuttal?

By understanding this is not a proper argument to begin with.

This argument in its entirety typically goes something like this:

Loki isn't a god because he wasn't worshipped in ancient times. If he was, he would have had locations named after him (place-names), people carrying his namesake, and the presence of a cult following. Since Loki wasn't a god in pre-Christian Norse society, it would be inappropriate to consider him one now.

The origins of this argument are Asatru Folk Assembly. The full argument made by Stephen McNallen goes like this:

There was no devotion given to Loki in ancient times. No place-names marked ritual sites for him; no human bore names related to him; there were no priests or priestesses of Loki. Some modern practitioners of Asatru have apparently considered this an oversight, and one occasionally hears toasts to Loki at Asatru gatherings today. However, I strongly discourage this in the Asatru Folk assembly, and I do not permit horns to be raised to him in my presence. My experience is that Loki-toasts are followed by discord all-around bad luck.

Believe it or not, this is not a valid argument.

Logical argumentation is a kind of math, and an argument will always be invalid if it follows an invalid formula, no matter how true its predicates are.

Here's an example:

Some people are pagans, and some pagans are white nationalists. Therefore, some people are white nationalists.

This is an invalid argument because it follows an invalid formula. We can see this by reframing it:

Some people are herbivores, and some herbivores are deer. Therefore, some people are deer.

The "Loki wasn't worshipped" argument is riddled with these kinds of flaws, and not just ones that follow this particular formula. There's also issues of rocky facts, unfair standards, and general argumentative fallacies:

Heimdallr also doesn't have place-names, and is considered a god.

The absence of developed, structured cultus is not the litmus test of "worship" within the context of Old Norse religions.

The argument is predicated on the idea that the Old Norse people conceptualized "gods" the same way that the Greeks and the Romans did, in that this term applies only to high beings with widespread followings.

Same applies to how the Old Norse people conceptualized "worship." We have no idea how they defined it.

The argument's evidence does not consider all possible data, i.e. attestations found in extant Scandinavian oral traditions.

I can go on, but basically the argument is predicated on assuming the Old Norse people did polytheism according to what we think polytheism should look like.

But honestly? All of this actually doesn't matter, because the ultimate goal of this argument isn't to win the debate of whether Loki's a god or not.

It's to get people to associate "Loki's followers" with "degenerate behavior."

By painting Loki-worship as both factually incorrect AND superstitiously unlucky, it implies that anyone worshipping Loki is not right in the head somehow; that the can't think or reason correctly.

Many of Loki's followers correlate with the political and social Left. They're often queer/gnc and/or neurodivergent, and support socialist policies and rejection tradition. If worshiping Loki is deemed irrational and dangerous, then it stands to reason that these things are also irrational and dangerous, and therefore all of this must be a sign of degeneracy. Or so the argument would suggest.

The fallacies in the argument are there by design, because that is how cryptofascist writers radicalize reasonable people.

The best way you refute these arguments is to deny them a platform. Delete them from your inbox. That doesn't mean you have to ignore them though. You can always speak up about them on your own time. Personally, I try to make sure that whatever it is I bring up about them will be useful to the community at large, as opposed to being an angry hate-letter to those provoking conflict. (It's a philosophy I use regardless of what the motivations of an issue are, simply because devoting my attention to the community makes for a better online experience and is ultimately more effective in the long-run.)

#answered #lokean #norse paganism #lokideity #heathenry

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